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China strives to preserve hopes of motherhood

Xinhua) 10:03, October 06, 2025

A nurse takes care of a newborn baby at a hospital in Wenxian County, Jiaozuo City, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 1, 2025. (Photo by Xu Hongxing/Xinhua)

BEIJING, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- When five-month-old Linlin, a pseudonym, was diagnosed with a rare disease, her doctors took an important step. Before beginning treatment, they removed and preserved part of her ovary to protect her ability to have children in the future.

The treatment Linlin needed, a hematopoietic stem cell transplant, can be life-saving but often comes at a cost, as it may cause irreversible damage to ovarian function and fertility. When Linlin's mother learned of this risk, she was determined to do everything possible to safeguard her daughter's chance of becoming a mother.

Each year, a significant number of women and girls are diagnosed with either cancer or rare diseases, and even after successful treatment, many are left unable to have children because of chemotherapy, radiation or surgery, said Du Rui, chairperson of the China Women's Development Foundation.

This is not only a personal loss, but also an issue that impacts family happiness and social harmony, Du added.

With advances in medical technology, China has introduced a range of measures to help female patients preserve their fertility. As the country is working to save lives, it is also striving to improve the quality of lives.

BUILDING "NOAH'S ARK" FOR PATIENTS

Linlin's ovarian tissue is being stored in the cryobank at the Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital (BOGH), waiting to be "woken up" for the chance to serve as the source of new life.

This frozen "Noah's Ark" was initiated by Ruan Xiangyan, founding director of the department of gynecological endocrinology at the BOGH.

Since Ruan introduced the technology of ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation to China in 2012, nearly 900 female patients suffering from cancer or rare diseases have had their ovarian tissue stored in this cryobank. Among those having their ovarian tissue transplanted, two have successfully given birth to healthy babies.

"It's a tragedy when treating an illness takes away the chance to have children," Ruan said. "We must protect women patients' right to motherhood."

In order to make ovarian freezing services accessible to more people, Ruan has helped train doctors from over 300 hospitals across the country for the past seven years. Thanks to collective efforts, a nationwide fertility preservation network has been established, allowing ovarian tissue from as far as Hainan, China's southernmost island province, to be transported to the BOGH cryobank within 24 hours.

Endometrial cancer, another women's health issue, used to be virtually a death sentence for a woman's chances of having children.

"Treatment for endometrial cancer often involves removing the uterus, which brings tremendous psychological pressure and a deep sense of loss due to the fertility impact for young patients," said Wang Jianliu, Party chief and deputy head of the Peking University People's Hospital.

More than a decade ago, Wang's team broke with conventional thinking by combining multiple medications and, when necessary, integrating traditional Chinese medicine in treating this form of cancer. This approach has achieved a complete remission rate of over 90 percent for endometrial cancer. So far, 109 patients treated via this method have given birth to new lives.

Wang envisions a future where an increasing number of cancer patients can undergo treatment with medications that safeguard both their health and their chances to become mothers.

ADDRESSING NEW CHALLENGES

Protecting fertility is not just a medical issue, as it also requires policy support and coordinated efforts across society.

The Chinese government has prioritized improving its population development strategy and establishing a policy system to boost birth rates.

In 2024, the Cancer Foundation of China, the China Women's Development Foundation and a pharmaceutical company signed strategic cooperation agreements to promote a full-chain cervical cancer prevention and control system, as well as a public-interest program designed to preserve women's fertility while preventing and treating cervical cancer.

Experts are also acting on this call. Zhuang Ya'er, secretary-general of the China Population Association, suggested incorporating oncofertility into the national fertility support system and improving health insurance coverage to ease the financial burden on patients.

Ruan has observed that many doctors remain unaware of the reproductive damage that chemotherapy and radiation can cause to patients. She has urged health administrations to mandate that medical institutions fully inform patients and their guardians about the potential severe impact of such treatments on ovarian function and fertility.

In building a childbirth-friendly society, Ruan believes that protecting the reproductive rights of patients is not only a medical challenge, but also a measure of civilization.

"Every life deserves respect, and every hope deserves to be safeguarded," she said. "Our efforts aim to help more women patients see light in the darkness."

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Hongyu)
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg will be among more than 70 people of different nationalities to leave Israel on Monday after they were seized aboard an intercepted Gaza aid flotilla.

Most, if not all, those being released from Israeli detention will be flown to Greece, where they will be able to get flights to their home countries, their respective governments said on Sunday.

Those flying out of Israel on Monday include 28 French citizens, 27 Greeks, 15 Italians, and nine Swedes.

Twenty-one Spaniards separately returned to Spain on Sunday from Israel.

The release still leaves several foreigners in Israeli custody, including 28 Spanish nationals.

All had been on board the 45-vessel Global Sumud Flotilla carrying activists and politicians, who had been aiming to get past an Israeli blockade to deliver aid to Gaza, where the United Nations says famine has taken hold.

Israel started intercepting the ships in international waters on Wednesday. An Israeli official said on Thursday that boats with more than 400 people on board had been prevented from reaching the Palestinian territory.

The Italian and Greek foreign ministries said their released nationals would on Monday fly from Israel to Athens. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on X that the 15 Italians would have assistance for a subsequent transfer to Italy.

France's foreign ministry said the 28 French citizens would be flown to Greece. They accounted for most of the 30 French nationals Israel seized aboard the flotilla.

The Swedish foreign ministry did not say where the Swedes would fly to, but Swedish media said they, too, could be put on the flight to Greece.

A first group of 26 Italians already left Israel on Saturday. But the last 15 had to wait for their judicial expulsion from the country as they refused to sign a form allowing their voluntary release.

Several of the Italians in the first group said after returning to their country that they were subjected to degrading treatment by the Israeli authorities.

Saverio Tommasi, a journalist for the online media site Fanpage, said he was hit in the back and on the head by his Israeli captors.

"We were treated like old monkeys in the worst circuses of the 1920s," said Tommasi, cited by the Ansa press agency.

Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told AFP that embassy staff in Tel Aviv had been able to visit the nine Swedes in detention.

"Late Sunday, the Israeli authorities informed us that they were set to authorise the Swedish citizens to leave Israel tomorrow (Monday) by plane," she said.

One of the Spaniards who returned home on Sunday, Rafael Borrego, told reporters that those detained by Israel had suffered "repeated physical and mental abuse", including receiving blows and being forced to the ground.
Thousands of Jet2 staff are in line for a share of a 58 million payout from the travel giant.

Jet2 said more than 5,700 workers will receive payments after joining its employee share plan scheme.

Workers who joined the inaugural ShareSave scheme in 2022 will now receive payments after it matured at the start of October.

It said an 84% increase in the firms share price over the period, from its original share option price of 7.66, means there is a return on the amount of investment by staff of more than 26 million.

Workers who have invested the maximum monthly amount stand to gain 15,261 if they opt to sell their stock.

Employees may choose to retain their shares and reinvest rather than taking out the potential payouts.

Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2 said: We continue to grow and succeed by focusing on a simple philosophy of people, service, profits and we are delighted that our hard-working colleagues can share in the success that they helped create.

Their passion and tireless dedication to delivering industry-leading levels of customer service is what drives our continued success, so we are incredibly pleased to see that effort rewarded through our ShareSave scheme.

Last month, Jet2 cut its winter flight programme and said earnings will be towards the lower end of forecasts after it cautioned over a difficult market.

The group  which has seen the song used in its adverts, Hold My Hand by Jess Glynne, become a social media trend  said it would trim seats on sale by 200,000 to 5.6 million for the upcoming winter season, although this will still be 9% higher than a year earlier.

It flagged a less certain consumer environment and said holidaymakers were booking even closer to the departure date.
The Conservatives would abolish business rates for high street shops and pubs if they win the next general election, the shadow chancellor has announced.

Sir Mel Stride said businesses need hope as he set out what he described as a "radical plan to rebuild our economy".

He told the Conservative Party Conference on Monday: "Under Labour, many have seen their business rates double.

"We need to get business rates down. In fact, we need to go further - much, much further.

"So, today I can announce that as a direct result of getting public spending under control, a future Conservative government will completely abolish business rates for shops and pubs on our high streets.

"End of, finished, gone."

Sir Mel set out plans to slash 47 billion from public spending as the Conservatives continue to battle dire poll ratings, with some surveys putting the party in fourth place.

He insisted Tories need to hold our nerve as voters appear to turn to Reform UK.

The party has seen a number of high profile defections to Nigel Farages party in the lead up to the conference and Sir Mel delivered his speech to a half empty hall.

The former cabinet minister said all things are possible and the party needed to set out bold policies to win back support ahead of his keynote speech at the Conservative Party Conference on Monday.

His comments come a day after polling guru Sir John Curtice told an event on the fringes of the event in Manchester that the party was undoubtedly on course to finish fourth behind the Liberal Democrats.

But Sir Mel said that, with four years to go until the next election, anyone attempting to predict the outcome was being pretty brave.

If you were interviewing me in 2019 and I was a socialist, youd be saying: Mel Stride, youve had the worst result for the Labour Party since the 1930s, youre never going to get back into office, he said.

And look what happened five years later. All things are possible.

And what weve got to do is hold our nerve and, as we are at this conference, come forward with credible, bold, relevant policies, and thats exactly what were doing.

The Conservatives have made stronger economy one of the slogans of their conference, and Sir Mel attempted to reclaim the partys reputation for economic responsibility in his first conference speech as shadow chancellor.

His plan includes swingeing cuts, including 23 billion in savings by preventing people with low level mental health problems from claiming sickness benefits and restricting welfare eligibility.

On Sunday, the party said it would ensure only British citizens can access welfare, but the plans will also see EU nationals with settled status continue to be eligible, in line with the UK-EU treaty.

Sir Mel said this made no difference to his numbers, as they already excluded payments to EU nationals.

"I want to make a very clear statement to you today: those savings will mean we can urgently bring down government borrowing, because we cannot deliver stability unless we live within our means, he told the conference.

"No more pretending we can keep spending money we simply do not have. It falls to us, as today's Conservatives, to do the responsible thing. That's the right thing for our country and it's also the right thing for the next generation.

"So, to younger people, I say: we will get debt off your back. We can and we will. "I want to go further to send an unequivocal message to those young people starting out in life: if you work hard and do the right thing, the Conservative Party is on your side.

"So, we will reduce the benefits bill, and as a consequence we will fund tax cuts that are laser-focused on aspiring young people.

Along with his proposals for spending cuts, Sir Mel also proposed giving new workers a 5,000 national insurance rebate when they get their first full-time job, that they can then put towards buying a home.
Tributes have poured in from the cast of Rivals in honour of the late Dame Jilly Cooper.

The author who was known for her bonkbusters including Riders, Rivals and Polo died unexpectedly on Sunday morning after a fall.

Some of the cast members of the hit Disney+ series, based on the book of the same name, have since shared posts in memory of the late writer.

English actor Alex Hassell, who plays Rupert Campbell-Black in the show, posted a photo of the two together on his Instagram page, describing Dame Jilly as a magical woman who changed his life.

He said: Quite aside from the great wealth of joy, comfort and excitement her writing has given so many, she was such a generous spirited person to be around.

She was so kind and supportive to me in portraying her hero Rupert. Im so pleased I got to see her on set the other day, and pretty much the last things she said to me was that she was proud of me. Gorgeous and caring to the last.

She shall be greatly missed. We will continue to do our utmost to honour her. My thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this difficult time.

The cast of Rivals including author Dame Jilly Cooper (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

His co-star, Emily Atack, who portrays Sarah Stratton in the series, also posted on Instagram, with the caption: Ill never forget the first time we met. Your warmth and kindness soared through me with that first hug, and then every hug since.

To be taken into your world was the hugest honour and a once in a life time privilege. I cannot begin to explain how much we will miss you. Thank you for letting us into Jilly World, there really is no place like it.

Sending all my love to Jillys wonderful family. Praying that you all feel somewhat comforted by knowing and seeing just how adored she was. What a woman, what a legacy. We love you Dame Jilly.

Victoria Smurfit, known for playing Maud O Hara, also paid tribute and said: Our divine Queen has gone to the sky.

Her words will live forever but the way she made you feel, when in her company was human sunshine.

Jilly was everything that was good about being a person. Paddington bear with a naughty twinkle. All love to her beautiful and loving family and friends.

Will miss that Dame so much.

The executive producers of the Disney+ adaptation said they are broken-hearted at the news of her death.

Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Alex Lamb said: We are broken-hearted. Jilly was and always will be one of the worlds greatest storytellers, and it has been the most incredible honour to have been able to work with her to adapt her incredible novels for television.

Others commented on the tribute post made by the production company behind the hit series, Happy Prince, including Danny Dyer, who portrays businessman Freddie Jones.

Jilly Cooper attending the UK special screening of the new Disney+ drama Rivals at Ham Yard Hotel, central London. (Lucy North/PA)

Meanwhile Gary Lamont commented: There is nothing like a Dame. A privilege to have been in her orbit.

Disney+ UK described Dame Jilly as a true trailblazer in British literature while Penguin Books UK, the publishing house behind many of her novels, said she was an inspiration to a generation of women, writers and more.

Actress Dame Joanna Lumley, who starred in Dame Jillys 1970s sitcom Its Awfully Bad for Your Eyes, Darling, told BBC News: She was entirely generous, hugely talented, prolific, enthusiastic, meticulous and wholly loveable: a darling friend and a brilliant person.

She will be missed and mourned by millions, not least by me. I adored her.

Others who have paid tribute to the late writer include TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp, comedian Helen Lederer, historian Simon Montefiore and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth  who said she was a powerhouse of positivity.

Jilly Cooper attending The Oldie of the Year Awards, at Simpsons in the Strand, central London. (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

A number of authors have also recognised her and her legacy, including Jill Mansell who credited Dame Jilly for inspiring her to be a writer.

She said: Pretty sure I would never have become a published novelist if it werent for Jilly Cooper, whose brilliant works inspired me to want to write and brought endless happiness to millions of readers. She was completely fabulous.

While Australian-British author Kathy Lette said: A twinkle has gone out of the world.

Jilly Cooper knew how to disarm with charm. But beneath the mischief, she was searingly insightful on class, sexism, motherhood & marriage; a Jane Austen in jodhpurs. A loving & loyal friend, shell be dearly missed but joyously remembered.

Dame Jilly was known for her steamy fiction focusing on scandal and adultery in upper class society.

Her hit titles also include Mount! and The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous, along with her most recent work Tackle!

Her children Felix and Emily said in a statement: Mum was the shining light in all of our lives. Her love for all of her family and friends knew no bounds.

Her unexpected death has come as a complete shock. We are so proud of everything she achieved in her life and cant begin to imagine life without her infectious smile and laughter all around us.

Dame Jillys agent Felicity Blunt said it was the privilege of her career to have worked with a woman who has defined culture, writing and conversation since she was first published over 50 years ago.

Dame Jillys funeral will be private with a public service of thanksgiving will be held in the coming months in Southwark Cathedral to celebrate her life, with a separate announcement made in due course.
President Donald Trump on Monday said hed consider a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker who conspired with the presidents late friend, pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, to traffic and abuse minor girls in multiple states.

He also said hed been asked for a pardon by Sean Diddy Combs, the hip-hop mogul who was sentenced to more than four years in federal prison following a federal prostitution conviction last week.

Speaking in the Oval Office during an event on approving a new mining road in Alaska, Trump was asked whether hed consider clemency for Maxwell, a British socialite who was indicted on sex trafficking charges after Epstein, who once described himself as Trumps best friend, hanged himself in a New York detention cell while awaiting trial on similar charges in 2019.

You know, I haven't heard the name in so long. I can say this, that I'd have to take a look at it. I would have to take a look, Trump said.

He then said he would have to speak to the DOJ and stressed that he did not know anything about the matter despite the case dominating headlines for months over a bipartisan effort to force release of case files from the Justice Departments attempt to prosecute Epstein.

President Donald Trump talked about potential pardons for Diddy and Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell on Monday. (Getty Images)

I'll look at it ... a lot of people have asked me for pardons, he added.

Trump also said Combs, who he called Puff Daddy  a nickname the rapper hasnt used since being acquitted of weapons and bribery charges a quarter-century ago  had asked him for a pardon as well.

The presidents comments about Maxwell came hours after the Supreme Court denied her appeal, which her attorneys had file on the grounds that she should never have been prosecuted because a prior non-prosecution agreement prosecutors reached with Epstein in Florida should have been applied to her as a co-conspirator with the deceased pedophile.

The Department of Justice had called on the justices to reject that argument, with Solicitor General D. John Sauer arguing that the U.S. attorney who oversaw that agreement would have needed to obtain permission for the terms to apply outside that district.

Maxwell was indicted in New York federal court in 2020 for crimes associated with Epsteins decades-long scheme to recruit young women and girls  some as young as 14 years old  then sexually abuse them.

From 1994 to 2004, Maxwell and Epstein worked together to recruit young girls and entice them to travel to Epsteins properties, according to prosecutors. During a monthlong trial in 2021, survivors testified in federal court in Manhattan that Maxwell had groomed them, taken their passports, and sexually abused them.

President Donald Trumps relationship with Epstein and Maxwell has come under renewed scrutiny after the Justice Department sought to draw investigations to a close despite the presidents pledge to release the so-called Epstein files that critics argue could expose a wider conspiracy implicating powerful figures.

Maxwells attorney, David Oscar Markus, told The Independent in a statement that her legal team was deeply disappointed that the court had declined to hear her case.

But this fight isnt over. Serious legal and factual issues remain, and we will continue to pursue every avenue available to ensure that justice is done, he added.

Maxwell, who is now 63, is not scheduled to be released from prison until 2040. Her best chance of early release is a presidential pardon, though legal experts warn that public statements suggesting that a pardon is even remotely on the table could encourage Maxwell to do anything she can to secure one.

Markus, her attorney, has previously said Maxwell would welcome one, though she has not formally sought a pardon from Trump.

Alex Woodward contributed reporting from New York
The prospect loomed of the EUs support for Ukraine being further hampered by some of its members after the billionaire Andrej Babis won the Czech Republics parliamentary elections. Babiss campaign pledge of halting military aid to Ukraine aligns him with the prime ministers of Hungary and Slovakia, Viktor Orban and Robert Fico. It marks a stark turnaround, because the outgoing Czech centre-right government of Petr Fiala has backed Ukraine since it was invaded by Russia in 2022. The likely incoming prime minister has pledged to review a Czech-led international drive launched by the current Czech government, which has supplied 3.5m artillery shells to Ukraine since 2024.

After meeting the Czech president, Petr Pavel, Babis said labelling him as a potential troublemaker was not fair. The 71-year-old, Slovak-born Babis stressed he was pro-European and wanted Europe to work well. Every year, we send 2.5bn in the budget to Brussels. And of course Brussels is helping Ukraine. So I think we are there, Babis said. He also told Ukrainian media that Ukraine was not prepared for the EU and that we have to end the war first. Babis said he was ready to discuss this with Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

US diplomats are to tell UN member countries that the Cuban government is actively supporting Russias invasion of Ukraine with up to 5,000 Cubans fighting alongside Moscows forces, according to Reuters. The news agency, citing an internal state department cable, reports that the Trump administration is mobilising diplomats to lobby against a UN resolution calling on Washington to lift its decades-long embargo on Cuba. In recent weeks, Ukrainian officials have warned US lawmakers about the growing scale of recruitment of Cuban mercenaries by Russia.

After North Korea, Cuba is the largest contributor of foreign troops to Russias aggression, with an estimated 1,000-5,000 Cubans fighting in Ukraine, the cable said. Reuters said officials at the Cuban mission to the UN did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The US state department declined to provide further details on the Cuban fighters but a spokesperson told Reuters: The Cuban regime has failed to protect its citizens from being used as pawns in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) are dueling to become governor of New Jersey. Its one of two marquee races. (AP)

The government shutdown is now entering its first full week. So far, neither Democrats nor Republicans look any closer to a deal.

Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries threw down a gauntlet and challenged House Speaker Mike Johnson to a televised floor debate, which Johnson rebuffed.

A maxim of Washington is that typically, nobody wins a government shutdown. This is why each side seeks to blame the other, with Republicans blaming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and calling it a Schumer Shutdown, while Democrats accuse Republicans of shutting down the government over not protecting tax credits for the Affordable Care Acts health care marketplace.

Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) are dueling to become governor of New Jersey. Its one of two marquee races. (AP)

But determining who wins a shutdown is a fools errand.

While a poll from The Washington Post showed that a plurality of Republicans blame President Donald Trump and the GOP for the shutdown, its a difficult barometer to measure. Typically, the person who blinks in a shutdown loses.

That makes New Jersey and Virginias gubernatorial elections next month the perfect barometers. New Jersey and Virginias elections are unique products: the states hold their elections in odd years and therefore, they serve as a barometer for the national mood and typically serve as a tea leaf for next years midterm.

Historically, the party out of power wins these races. In 2009, New Jersey elected Chris Christie, elevating him to national status for winning in a blue state. And in 2021, Glenn Youngkin seemed to offer a path forward for Republicans in Virginia despite its increasingly Democratic tilt.

Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears significantly trails former Democratic congresswoman Abigail Spanberger in the race to become governor of Virginia. (Getty)

Republicans faced mixed opportunities in New Jersey and Virginia this time around, despite the fact they did better in both states last year than expected.

Given its critical mass of federal workers, Virginia has served as ground zero for cuts put in place by Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency. Plenty of them have already lost their jobs.

Virginia law prohibits governors from running for consecutive terms, so Youngkins lieutenant governor Winsome Earle-Sears is running for his old seat. Spanberger has sought to tie Earle-Sears to DOGE and the government shutdown. Curiously, Earle-Sears has not received an endorsement of Trump, which complicates her effort.

Meanwhile, Earle-Sears has sought to tie Spanberger to Democrats in Washington who want to hold out for an extension of the subsidies. Virginias economy is usually hit by government shutdowns. In fact, the one time the presidents party won Virginias governorship came in 2013, when Republicans led by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) shut down the government to defund the Affordable Care Act, which led to Terry McAuliffe winning.

Earle-Sears has sought to repeat the anti-transgender attacks that Trump made against Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, even running an ad saying Spanberger Abigail Spanberger is for They/Them  NOT Us.

But Sears has consistently polled in double digits behind the Democratic nominee, former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger. The most generous poll shows Sears down by 10 points.

That means that Republicans have largely resorted to investing in the New Jersey governors race. Rep. Mike Sherrill, who flipped a red seat in 2018, is running on the Democratic side. Like Spanberger, Sherrill is a decidedly moderate Democrat, she has touted her record as a Naval helicopter pilot.

By contrast, Republican Jack Ciattarelli is running again in New Jersey. Republicans feel they have a legitimate shot after Trump got within six points of Kamala Harris last year thanks to shifts with Asian-Americans and Hispanic voters.

But so far, only one poll from Emerson College shows the race being competitive. Others, including from Fox News, show Sherrill has as much as an eight-point lead.

In addition, Ciattarelli received an unwelcome surprise when Russell Vought, Trumps director of Office of Management and Budget, announced he would cancel the Gateway Tunnel as part of his retaliation against Democratic states because of unconstitutional DEI principles.

And unsurprisingly, both states races have been rocked by scandals to varying degrees. In Virginia, Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones has come under fire for saying that his rival should be shot.

In New Jersey, the inspector general for the the National Archives and Records Administration launched an investigation into how Ciattarellis campaign obtained military records of Sherrills, which included private information.

As of right now, it seems like Democrats have a better shot at flipping Virginia than they do holding New Jersey, where term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy is not as popular.

But if the shutdown is continuing into next month, which is a distinct possibility, and Democrats win decisively in both states, Republicans might have to change course.
Julia Wandelt, pictured, is accused of stalking Kate and Gerry McCann, whose daughter Madeline was three when she disappeared in Portugal. Photograph: Go Get Funding

A woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann broke down in the dock as a Leicester jury was told she was a conspiracy theorist who could not be the missing child.

Julia Wandelt, 24, is accused of stalking Kate and Gerry McCann, the parents of Madeleine who was three when she disappeared on holiday in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz in 2007.

At the opening of her trial, she was described by the prosecution as an emotional manipulator who launched a three year-long campaign of harassment against the McCanns, including calls, messages and turning up at their address.

The crown court jury was told that Wandelt, from Poland, would claim to have memories of being in their household, being part of family events and playing with Madeleines siblings, though this should not be believed.

The prosecutor, Michael Duck KC, said: One might be tempted to think that has some measure of credibility. But at this very early stage of the trial, can we make it clear that Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann.

At these words, Wandelt, wearing a white shirt, began crying loudly, stood up and attempted to leave the dock through a back door leading to the cells.

She was comforted by her co-defendant Karen Spragg, 61, who hugged her and appeared to be telling her to stay calm. Spragg, from Cardiff, is accused of joining Wandelt in her stalking campaign of the McCanns. The pair deny the charges.

Duck said Wandelt had no familial link to the McCanns and that, during the trial, the jury would be shown detailed scientific evidence to support that.

He said Wandelt was nearly two years older than Madeleine would be, an inconvenient truth that she had tried to make excuses for by saying that she looked young for her age.

When faced with awkward propositions, attempts were made to find a way around them but she had nowhere to go when faced with scientific evidence, he said.

The jury was told she had previously pretended to be two other missing children, Inga Gehricke from Germany, who was born eight years after her, and Acacia Bishop from the US, whose grandmother stood trial for the girls murder but was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

The court heard how Wandelt used ChatGPT to make fake pictures that she sent to Madeleines younger sister, who is now an adult, that purported to show them both as young children.

In messages to Amelie McCann that Duck described as emotional manipulation of the first order, Wandelt introduced herself as this girl that went viral saying she thinks shes Madeleine McCann. She said she had had hypnosis and got so many flashbacks about being Madeleine, something the prosecutor said would have been extremely distressing for Amelie.

Wandelt is also accused of sending messages, voicemails, emails and letters to Kate and Gerry McCann, as well as turning up in their Leicestershire village and at their home between 1 June 2022 and 21 February this year.

The jury was told how she called Kate McCanns number on what appeared to be 60 occasions and left voicemails that were played to the court.

In one, Wandelt could be heard to say: If Im her then everything will be OK, and if Im not, as you probably think, then I will leave you alone.

She said: I know I look fat and I know Im not pretty  but I know what I know and I know what I remember.

Wandelt blamed large corruption for the reason she had not been identified as Madeleine, and said the media had made her look crazy, adding: Dont give up on our daughter because Im not a liar and Im not crazy.

The trial continues.
Jane Goodall in Paris on 18 October 2024. Photograph: Joel Saget/AFP via Getty Images

In a lifetime studying the behavior of chimpanzees, Jane Goodall became something of an authority on the aggressiveness of alpha male adults. Now, in an interview released just days after her death, the famed primatologist reveals what she would do with Donald Trump, Elon Musk and other human beings she saw as showing similar traits: launch them on a one-way trip into space.

The insight into Goodalls thinking comes in the Netflix documentary Famous Last Words, recorded in March and kept under wraps until her death last week at the age of 91.

Related: Jane Goodalls grasp of chimpanzees and alpha males

There are people I dont like, and I would like to put them on one of Musks spaceships and send them all off to the planet hes sure hes going to discover, Goodall tells interviewer Brad Falchuk during the revelatory 55-minute special discussing her life, work and legacy.

Would Musk, the SpaceX founder and Trump ally with a penchant for apparent Nazi-style salutes and firing thousands of federal workers, be among them, Falchuk wanted to know.

Oh, absolutely. Hed be the host. You can imagine who Id put on that spaceship. Along with Musk would be Trump and some of Trumps real supporters, she said.

And then I would put [Russian president Vladimir] Putin in there, and I would put [Chinas] President Xi. Id certainly put [Israeli prime minister Benjamin] Netanyahu in there and his far-right government. Put them all on that spaceship and send them off.

It is not the first time that Goodall, a champion of environmental advocacy, has been critical of Trump in particular.

In a 2022 interview with MSNBC she said he exhibited the same sort of behavior as a male chimpanzee will show when hes competing for dominance with another. Theyre upright, they swagger, they project themselves as really more large and aggressive than they may actually be in order to intimidate their rivals.

In the Netflix interview, the first in the streaming networks new series capturing the thoughts of iconic world figures to be broadcast only after their death, Goodall further explained her thinking.

We get, interestingly, two types of alpha. One does it all by aggression, and because theyre strong and they fight, they dont last very long. Others do it by using their brains, like a young male will only challenge a higher-ranking one if his friend, often his brother, is with him. And you know, they last much, much longer, she said.

She also examined the politicization of behavior, and what her studies had taught her about aggressive behaviors shown by groups of humans and chimpanzees when confronted with something they perceived as hostile, even if no threat existed.

Chimps see a stranger from a neighboring community, and they get all excited, and the hair stands out, and they reach out and touch another, and theyve got these faces of anger and fear, and it catches, and the others catch that feeling that this one male has had, and they all become aggressive, she said.

Its contagious, she added. Some of these demonstrations that turn aggressive, it sweeps through them. They all want to become and join in and become aggressive. Theyre protecting their territory or fighting for dominance.

Falchuk asked if she believed it was the same for humans. Probably, sometimes yes. But I truly believe that most people are decent, she said.

My biggest hope is raising this new generation of compassionate citizens, roots and shoots. But do we have time? I dont know. Its a really grim time.

Goodall, born in London five years before the start of the second world war, likened the fight against the darkness of present-day politics to Britain standing up to Nazi Germany, and the spirit of obstinance shown by Winston Churchill.

That doesnt mean you dont have moments of depression, but then you come out of it and say, OK, Im not going to let them win, she said.

Its like Churchill in the war, his famous speech, well fight them on the beaches, well fight them in the streets and the cities, then he turned aside to a friend and was heard to say, and well fight them at the ends of broken bottles because thats all weve bloody well got.

Goodall, in a post-interview address to camera, ended with a message of encouragement for those fighting against political oppression and the climate emergency.

Even today, when the planet is dark, there still is hope. Dont lose hope. If you lose hope, you become apathetic and do nothing, she said.

And if you want to save what is still beautiful in this world  if you want to save the planet for the future generations, your grandchildren, their grandchildren  then think about the actions you take each day. Because, multiplied a million, a billion times, even small actions will make for great change.
Sir Ridley told the British Film Institute audience that most recent films are s--- - Mike Marsland/WireImage

Sir Ridley Scott has said he only watches his own films because most modern movies are mediocre.

The 87-year-old Oscar-nominated director of Alien, Gladiator and Blade Runner lamented that the film industry was drowning in mediocrity.

He made the comments during a talk at the British Film Institute on Sunday, in which he told the audience that most recent films are s---.

Sir Ridley said: The quantity of movies that are made today, literally globally ... millions. Not thousands, millions  and most of it is s---.

Sir Ridleys latest screen credits include the release of Gladiator II last year and blockbuster biopic Napoleon with Joaquin Phoenix in 2023 - Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection

While in conversation with Luke Scott, his film director son, he added: I think a lot of films today are saved and made more expensive by digital effects, because what they havent got is a great thing on paper first. Get it on paper!

Later in the discussion, Sir Ridley was asked if he had a comfort film he liked to revisit, to which he responded with a scathing critique of the industry at large.

Well, actually, right now, Im finding mediocrity  were drowning in mediocrity, he said, adding: And so what I do  its a horrible thing  but Ive started watching my own movies, and actually theyre pretty good! And also, they dont age.

Sir Ridleys latest screen credits include the release of Gladiator II last year, starring Paul Mescal, and blockbuster biopic Napoleon with Joaquin Phoenix in 2023.

Sir Ridley and Paul Mescal on the set of Gladiator II, which was released last year - Aidan Monaghan

Scott added that he recently rewatched his 2001 war film Black Hawk Down and wondered: How in the hell did I manage to do that?

Discussing other films not made by the four-time Oscar nominee, he said: I think occasionally a good one will happen, [and] its like a relief that theres somebody out there whos doing a good movie.

However, the director would not be drawn into naming specific examples.

The 87-year-old said its a relief when somebody makes a good film - David Appleby

Sir Ridley also said retirement would be impossible for him and confirmed that production was complete on his next project, a sci-fi film starring Jacob Elordi titled The Dog Stars.

Elsewhere, he also said he had started to write a third Gladiator after his second instalment became one of last years highest grossing films at $464.2m worldwide.

Speaking about the potential for Mescals character, Lucius, he divulged: Hes around and he technically is the Emperor of Rome.

I have a footprint about what I think it should be, he added.
Visiting Loch Druidibeg 20 years ago, you might have spotted swans on the water, geese on the banks and curlews surveying the sheep grazing the slopes that rise dramatically from the waters edge.

Today, the waters have fallen silent. Eerily so.

Crofter Donald-John Cameron, 53, believes white-tailed sea eagles are responsible for the silence, and is convinced they killed five Shetland pony foals that vanished from his hillside farm earlier this year.

He says: I see the eagles stalking the ponies. We have no other predators here.

Sea eagles, which are thriving in Scotland after conservation efforts led by NatureScot, are also being blamed for the deaths of sheep and dogs. And now some crofters want the right to kill them.

Mr Camerons family has farmed this land on South Uist in the Outer Hebrides for generations, and the ponies are the crown jewel of his agritourism business, Long Island Retreats.

Donald-John Cameron lost five Shetland pony foals from his land in spring and summer

Hes the only crofter on the island who owns Shetland ponies, and theres a sentimental attachment too. They have been in his family for generations, alongside sheep and Angus cattle, and his daughter, Cara, loves to name the foals.

He says Cara, four, was planning to name one of the animals that vanished, and struggles to understand what has happened to it. As he speaks, he puts a protective hand on Candy, one of the surviving foals, saying proudly: I spent 20 hours a day guarding that.

NatureScot, which is a Scottish Government agency, has analysed sea eagles nests and found no evidence of lambs or the missing ponies, and the National Centre for Birds of Prey has said it is unlikely the raptors could fly off with a foal. But Mr Cameron believes NatureScots investigation was insufficiently thorough and crofters fears are not taken seriously.

Donald-John Camerons daughter Cara, four, with one of their ponies, called Candy - Donald-John Cameron

He says: They just shoot down anything we as farmers and crofters are saying in preference to re-wilders. We need to decide: do we want people living here or do we want these birds here that are decimating everything we have? They brought the birds here. They can find the solution to how we can live together.

Loch Druidibeg, near Mr Camerons farm, is part of an RSPB-managed nature reserve where a pair of white-tailed sea eagles have made a nest overlooking the water. They survey their territory like soldiers in a watchtower.

A white-tailed sea eagle with a dead lamb on a hillside in Scotland - Blickwinkel/Alamy

NatureScots insistence that white-tailed sea eagles are not behind the disappearances of livestock on the island has done little to quell wider frustration among farmers and crofters that they are not being listened to.

Jon Gillies, 62, the chief executive of the company that manages the South Uist estate, agrees - and is calling for the right to shoot down the eagles.

He says this years attacks have led him to stop taking his show cocker spaniel on walks with him in the hills because I dont want my dog to be killed. And he thinks the law that allows crofters to shoot a dog if it attacks animals should be extended to sea eagles.

Mr Gillies says: I think that a crofter should have the right to protect their livestock, and I dont believe that livestock should be sacrificed to protect another species.

Ian Morrison, 52, a fifth-generation crofter on the island, says he has had three lambs taken by eagles this year and fears he will not be able to pass his flock of sheep down to his two children.

He says: If it carries on, I have to think about doing away with the sheep. It seems to be getting worse and worse every year. We dont have the accommodation to put [the sheep] inside.

NatureScot offers compensation for harmed livestock, but Mr Morrison said he did not put in a claim. Each lamb is sold for about 120, meaning he lost around 360. He said he was given two kites to ward off the predators, but one broke the next day.

Sea eagles fact file

Angus MacNeil, former SNP MP for the Western Isles, says: Some of these naturey types dont give a damn that people are losing their income. The sea eagle [] has got a buffet, called agriculture, providing him with high-calorie, dense food.

[Conservationists] imagine that the bird is living in nature alone. But its survival of the fittest: the bird that eats in agriculture will have an advantage.

Duncan Orr-Ewing, head of species and land management at RSPB Scotland, said: We recognise that on very rare occasions white-tailed eagles take live lambs, and this can be distressing for farmers and crofters, but the scientific evidence suggests that this is infrequent and is also highly geographically restricted.



A spokesman for NatureScot said: NatureScot has long accepted that white-tailed eagles predate lambs in some locations and the impacts on farms and crofts can be significant. Of the 11 successful nests in the Uists and Benbecula this year, lamb remains were found in five, with birds making up the vast majority of all prey remains across these nests.

It is a criminal offence to intentionally kill a raptor, and since 2020 in Scotland, the penalty has been up to five years in prison and unlimited fines.
by Charles Siegel

Sixty-five years ago this month, the John Coltrane Quartet entered Atlantic Studios in Manhattan for three days of recording sessions, over the course of a week. It was the first time the band recorded together. The four musicians  Coltrane on tenor and soprano saxophones, McCoy Tyner on piano, Steve Davis on bass and Elvin Jones on drums  remarkably produced enough material for three albums, and then some, in those three sessions. Some of the recordings are jazz classics  Equinox, for example, a Coltrane blues composition. Others include beautiful renditions of standards like Every Time We Say Goodbye, Summertime, and But Not for Me.

These three sessions involved intense, concentrated work by musicians at the top of their game. But in just the second song they recorded, on the first day, lightning struck in one take. On Friday afternoon, October 21, 1960 these four men recorded My Favorite Things  13 minutes, 46 seconds of pure transcendence. My Favorite Things (Stereo) (2022 Remaster)

I dont know how many times Ive listened to this recording, but its got to be hundreds. And after having listened to it so many times, I still cant describe it in any way that really does it justice. Its just ineffable.

Most people associate the song with Julie Andrews. She sang it in the movie version of The Sound of Music. My Favorite Things from The Sound of Music (Official HD Video) But that movie only came out in 1965. The Sound of Music started out, of course, as a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. It was based on the story of the real-life von Trapp family, as described in the 1949 memoir of its matriarch, Maria Von Trapp. It was first performed on Broadway in November 1959, with Mary Martin as Maria.

In October 1960, then, and even in March of 1961 when the recording was released, My Favorite Things was not the chestnut it is today. But Coltrane decided to try it. The version the quartet recorded is entirely different from the original cast recording sung by Mary Martin, or the later movie version by Julie Andrews, both of which are prim and perky.

Coltranes version starts with a four-bar piano introduction, played twice. The famous opening line of the song in E minor, played as E-B-F#-E-B-E-F#-E (Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens), is inverted to B-E-B-A-G-C-G-F#, setting the tone for how the song is going to be turned inside out. On the first and third beats, Elvin Jones hits two different cymbals; the second one has a majestic, vaguely eastern quality, foreshadowing the raga-like sound Coltranes soprano sax will produce. (He was studying Indian ragas at the time.) Then a piano vamp starts, and we are off. Coltrane plays the theme, then Tyner vamps again on different chords, then Coltrane plays the theme again, this time going to E major (Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes), then back to the E minor beginning theme.

The E minor and E major themes together comprise the songs A section. The song also contains a B section, at the end of the form. This is when the lyrics turn glum: When the dog bites/when the bee stings/when Im feeling sad. But Coltrane never gets to the B section until nearly the end, after 12  minutes. And even then, as one of his biographers, Lewis Porter, states, the B as written ends in G major, so that all the E major and minor before gets resolved. But Coltrane stays in E minor at the end, leaving it more brooding, thoughtful. Its like one gigantic chorus.

In the meantime, as Porter puts it, he stretches out the sense of time. He quotes Coltrane telling a French interviewer in 1962 that this piece is built, during several measures, on two chords, but we have prolonged the two chords in order to set the scene and make it last. In fact, we have extended the two chords for the whole piece. This decision is what enabled the quartet to so completely alter the feeling of the tune  to reimagine it entirely into the musical meditation it became.

Once Coltrane is back to the E minor, for 20 seconds or so, we hear lovely swirls of notes from his saxophone. Then, at about 2:18, Tyners solo starts. It takes up a bit less than one-third of the entire recording, but for me the piano solo has always been the reason this track is immortal.

Coltrane loved the song from the start. Porter, in his biography John Coltrane: His Life and Music, quotes him as telling a French interviewer, Lots of people imagine wrongly that My Favorite Things is one of my compositions; I would have loved to have written it, but its by Rodgers & Hammerstein. Tyner, however, said he didnt even like the song at first. How, then, to explain the beauty of his solo?

Its impossible, really. As hackneyed as it may sound, its a journey. The playing isnt technically overpowering or virtuosic, but shimmering, iridescent. The youngest member of the quartet, Tyner somehow was just 21 when it was recorded. But there is a lifetime of musical wisdom and authority in this solo. Most pianists could live to 100 and never record anything so lovely and evocative.

The solo toggles between E minor and E major. Again, there isnt a lot of flashy or rapid playing. Perhaps thats one reason it works so well  it contrasts with Coltranes antic, swirling sheets of notes. Lyricism set beautifully against tumult.

The chords are entrancing. You hear them over Jones loping waltz rhythm, which calls to mind the quiet but insistent sound of rain on a roof. Only for about 30 seconds, in the middle of the solo, does Tyner play something other than chords or octaves, when he tosses in a short figure.

This figure is the one time in the entire solo that Tyner makes a mistake. At 5:03, you can hear him accidentally hit two keys at once. I think of this little moment as proof that this track was in fact recorded by human beings, and not by musical gods. That one little wrong note, out of the thousands of notes in the piece, imparts a kind of wabi-sabi cast to the soundscape.

Just as the quartet deconstructed My Favorite Things on this recording, they would play it very differently live. Coltrane told the French interviewer that My Favorite Things was my favorite piece of all those I have recorded. I dont think I would like to do it over again in any way, whereas all the other discs Ive made could have been improved in some details. This waltz is fantastic: when you play it slowly, it has an element of gospel thats not at all displeasing; when you play it quickly, it possesses other undeniable qualities. Its very interesting to discover a terrain that renews itself according to the impulse that you give it. Thats, moreover, the reason we dont always play this song in the same tempo.

Several recordings of live performances exist, and it is striking to hear how the renditions evolved. In 1963 at the Newport Jazz Festival, Roy Haynes is subbing for Elvin Jones on drums; the tempo is faster, the rhythm spikier. This time Tyner does play long lines of single notes. The song is over 17 minutes long. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14EergYBa9o

At Newport in 1965, Jones is back on the drums, playing much more actively and dynamically than on the studio recording. Tyner again plays single-note lines. This version is a bit shorter than the 1963 one, but its still played faster, and is still longer than the studio take. The crowd chants for more at the end, but the announcer tells them that its almost midnight and time to go home, but please come back tomorrow for Duke Ellington, Dave Brubeck and others. The quartet clearly knew the power of the song as a set-closer  indeed as the close to the entire day of music at the festival. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wxi4UCfvw7o

Less than a month later, they performed at a festival in Belgium. This performance was filmed for a documentary, and the performance of My Favorite Things can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehYM_cg2DHI&t=886s If the musicians were at the top of their game when they first recorded in 1960, they were at the absolute zenith of their art now, in August 1965.

This performance is nearly 21 minutes long. It makes for riveting viewing. There are many closeups of each musician. Each man is intently absorbed in his own playing, yet somehow interacting with the others perfectly. Jones told the New Yorkers jazz critic, Whitney Balliett, Every night when we hit the bandstand  no matter if wed come five hundred or a thousand miles  the weariness just dropped from us. It was one of the most beautiful things a man can experience. If there is anything like perfect harmony in human relationships, that band was as close as you can come.

There are shots of Coltrane, eyes closed, literally seeming to fight his saxophone to coax more notes out of it. Jones, dripping with sweat, is blasting away with unrestrained power, but maintaining the beat with precision. Jimmy Garrison, who had grown up in the Philadelphia jazz scene with Tyner and had become the quartets regular bassist in 1962, anchors it all. The images of him, deep in concentration, and the extreme closeups of the strings on his bass, are strikingly beautiful. He is the calm at the eye of the storm.

As for Tyner, this solo is almost unrecognizably different from the studio recording. At the beginning, at 3:30, we hear those gorgeous chords. But barely 30 seconds later, he is weaving beautiful single-note lines over different chords. A minute and a half later, he is pounding away at the chords with both hands. Then more lines. Then starting at 7:20 he is literally banging the piano with his fists. A quiet interlude at 8:15 moves us back into E major.

The solo goes on for another four minutes. Then Coltrane comes back to the stage, after having retreated to the back during Tyners solo, and blows for seven more minutes. For long stretches his eyes are tightly closed. What is he thinking?

Hes not thinking at all. Coltrane was once quoted as saying that overall, I think the main thing a musician would like to do is give a picture to the listener of the many wonderful things that he knows of and senses in the universe. Thats what I would like to do. I think thats one of the greatest things you can do in life, and we all try to do it in some way. The musicians is through his music. Watching this footage, you can see him devotedly, intensely, doing just that.

Coltrane only had two years to live. He would die of liver cancer at 40 in 1967. He had become a very spiritual man  a process which started in 1957 when he finally quit heroin. That journey, and the continued musical evolution that went along with it, are fascinating subjects in their own right.

Some people worship John Coltrane  literally. He was canonized, 15 years after his death, as St. John Coltrane in the African Orthodox Church, and Sunday Mass is held every week at the St. John Coltrane Church in San Francisco. The church is a community institution, a performance space, an organizer of food drives and social engagement. It began when its founder heard Coltrane play at the Jazz Workshop, in the North Beach neighborhood. He told a New York Times writer, It was as though he was speaking in tongues and there was a fire coming from heaven  a sound baptism. That began the evolutionary, transitional process of us becoming truly born-again believers in that anointed sound that leaped down from the tone of heaven out of the very mind of God, stepped from the very well of creation and took on a gob of flesh, and we beheld his beauty as one that was called John.

Sometime back in the late 1980s or early 90s, I attended a Sunday service at the church when I was in San Francisco. It was a unique scene. People were chanting prayers along with a live band playing Coltranes music  mostly his later, explicitly religious works like A Love Supreme.

I dont worship John Coltrane. But when I lie on the floor and listen to My Favorite Things, it might be what for me could be called a religious experience. Some people say that nature is their cathedral. For me, those 13 minutes and 46 seconds, that four men recorded 65 years ago this month, might be something like that. When I enter them  especially the four-minute, 45-second interior chapel of McCoy Tyners piano solo  I do feel something close to the sublime.
More than 1,000 pro-Gaza protesters descended on Trafalgar Square on Saturday - Martin Pope/Getty Images

Sir Keir Starmer has warned pro-Palestinian activists that just because there is a freedom to protest on Oct 7 does not mean it is the right thing to do.

The Prime Ministers spokesman implored people to show humanity and remember the heinous Hamas attacks on Israel as he tried to ward off mass protests on the second anniversary of the massacre that sparked the Gaza war.

The rallies are set to take place at universities across the country on Tuesday, two years on from the tragedy that left almost 1,200 people dead and many more injured or kidnapped.

Protest organisers have pledged to continue despite pleas from community leaders, police chiefs and politicians to postpone the events in the wake of the Yom Kippur terror attack on a Manchester synagogue last week.

In a statement to mark the Oct 7 anniversary, Sir Keir vowed to always stand tall and united against those who wish harm and hatred upon Jewish communities as he warned of rising anti-Semitism on British streets.

Almost 500 people were arrested in central London at the weekend for expressing support for the terrorist group Palestine Action.

Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, had pleaded with pro-Gaza activists for at least a few days of respite to give the Jewish community time to grieve. However, more than 1,000 turned out to protest on Saturday.

On Monday, Sir Keir joined calls to cancel the rallies on Oct 7, warning students that they should not necessarily protest just because they are free to do so.

Asked if the protests should go ahead on Tuesday, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said: The demonstrations in support of Palestine Action that we saw over the weekend and have been talked about ahead of tomorrow are going ahead despite the pleas, grief and fears that have been felt by the Jewish community.

As the Home Secretary said, people should demonstrate humanity. Just because there is a freedom to protest doesnt mean that you should necessarily go ahead with these gatherings, given the context.

Hundreds of people held a vigil for the victims of the Manchester synagogue attack - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Obviously the police will operationally take decisions on their own merits, but as the Home Secretary said over the weekend, people should have humanity when making these decisions.

Asked if that applied to all pro-Gaza protests, not just those in support of Palestine Action, he said: I think in all cases people should demonstrate humanity.

He added: People should remember the heinous terrorist attack on Israel on Oct 7, and that should be front of all of our minds tomorrow.

In his statement marking two years since the Hamas attacks, the Prime Minister branded rising anti-Semitism in Britain as a stain on who we are as a nation.

He described the massacre in Israel as the worst attack on Jewish people since the Holocaust and reiterated calls for the Israeli hostages to be returned while aid is sent to Gaza.

Reflecting on Oct 7 2023, he said: Since that awful day, so many have endured a living nightmare. When I spoke with some of the families of the British hostages, I promised them in person that we will not cease in our efforts to bring their loved ones home.

Sir Keir Starmer and Shabana Mahmood spoke to members of CST, which provides security for the Jewish community - UNPIXS

But back here in the UK, our Jewish communities have also endured rising anti-Semitism on our streets, in our country. And last week, a horrifying terrorist attack on the holy day of Yom Kippur in Manchester.

This is a stain on who we are, and this country will always stand tall and united against those who wish harm and hatred upon Jewish communities.

At Queen Mary University in London, organisers are planning a rally entitled: Two Years of Genocide, Two Years of Resistance.

At Kings College in London, students are invited to a talk entitled: Why It Didnt Start On October 7th.

Students at Strathclyde University in Glasgow are urged to grab your flag and keffiyeh and attend a Protest 4 Palestine.

At the University of Sheffield, the Revolutionary Communist Party refused requests to move the date of its rally, citing the cost of having to reprint posters.

Credit: BBC Breakfast

In Birmingham, protesters will hold a vigil for Palestine to honour our martyrs. Posters advertising the event said: Two years of genocide, 100 years of resistance.

Students at Goldsmiths, University of London, are also planning an event, which is advertised as a night of remembrance and resistance.

The Prime Ministers spokesman said last weeks protests in support of Palestine Action were not British and not patriotic at a time when this whole country is united in expressing and feeling devastated at the horrendous attack on the Jewish community.

More than a thousand pro-Gaza protesters descended on London on Saturday, holding placards in support of the proscribed terror group in Trafalgar Square and unfurling a banner over Westminster Bridge that read: I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.

On Saturday night, some protesters chanted long live the Intifada outside No 10 Downing Street.
Adrian Daulby died during the terror attack at the Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue on Thursday - Family Handout

Hours before the funeral of Adrian Daulby, a Jewish worshipper killed in Thursdays terror attack, Rabbi Daniel Walker returned briefly to the Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue in north Manchester.

Four days on from the car and knife rampage that left two of his flock dead, he found a scene frozen in time.

The inside of the shul had hardly changed from the moment that horror struck on the morning of Yom Kippur, Judaisms holiest day.

In the back row, he found Mr Daulbys machzor prayer book, still turned to the page he was reading from at around 9.37am  the moment he would have heard the first screams as Islamist terrorist Jihad Al-Shamie deliberately rammed his black Kia into worshippers outside the synagogue.

As al-Shamie ditched his vehicle and began stabbing congregants, advancing towards the synagogue with a hoax suicide belt strapped around his waist, several brave Jewish men threw their weight against the doors to block the attacker from getting inside.

Mr Daulby, a quiet and reserved man, who had recently survived a battle with cancer, leapt up and ran to one of the doors. He stood firm with the others as the killer tried to barge his way in.

Al-Shamie, 35, who had already murdered one worshipper and was surely intent on killing more, even resorted to throwing plant pots against the glass windows. However, the synagogues defenders would not budge.

When the sound of police gunshots rang out, and al-Shamie collapsed dead to the ground, those huddled inside the synagogue must have believed the danger had passed.

That was until Mr Daulby, 53, and Yoni Finlay, a fellow congregant, fell to the floor, both shot by a police bullet that had penetrated the door. Mr Finlay survived but Mr Daulby was killed.

Rabbi Daniel Walker said Mr Daulby didnt run away from danger and became a tremendously strong hero - Reuters /Phil Noble

Addressing the hundreds of mourners gathered for Mr Daulbys funeral service on Monday, Rabbi Walker said: When evil struck, he sought to secure the building. All of you who know and love Adrian know he was a quiet man.

In that moment of need, that quiet man became a tremendously strong hero.

Adrian didnt run away from danger. Adrian ran to help. Adrian was righteous in his passing. Adrian was righteous in his life. He was a kind soul, a gentle soul.

The most important thing is that we live Adrians legacy. He was saving the lives of his community. There is none holier, there is none greater, there is none higher. A great, great martyr.

Earlier in the day, Mr Daulbys funeral cortege stopped at the synagogue as his grieving relatives paid their respects. His family stepped out from the convoy, led by a black hearse, and looked out at the front doors of the building, where a single bullet hole can be seen in the door.

The procession was escorted by police to the Agecroft Jewish Cemetery in Salford where hundreds of mourners  from Mr Daulbys relatives and close friends to former classmates and those who had never even met him  gathered for a 30-minute ceremony.

One of Mr Daulbys nieces fought back tears to tell mourners: Adrian will be dearly missed. He never deserved what happened to him. He died a true hero. We just want you to know how loved you were.

Another niece said: Our tradition teaches us, to save a single life is to save the world. Adrian did just that.

Mr Daulbys niece said: To save a single life is to save the world. Adrian did just that - PA/Pater Powell

Mr Daulby, a keen birdwatcher who lived just a 10-minute walk from the synagogue, had recently survived a cancer battle and had been weighing up whether to attend the Yom Kippur service on Thursday.

Speaking to The Telegraph after his funeral, Sharon Baum, his former classmate, said: A lot of people thought a lot of him.

If you had gone up to him in school and said youre going to be a hero in 40 years, he would have said no way.

Melvin Cravitz, 66, was also killed in the attack. His funeral service took place on Sunday.

Mr Finlay, another congregant Andrew Franks and security guard Bernard Agyemang remain in hospital and are said to be in a stable condition.

Hundreds of mourners  from relatives and close friends to former classmates and those who had never even met him  paid their respects to Mr Daulby - PA/Peter Powell

Al-Shamie, who was on bail for an alleged rape, was shot dead by police. He was not known to counter-terror police but did have a criminal history.

Police say he may have been influenced by an extreme Islamist mindset.

Counter Terrorism Policing North West is leading the investigation into the attack.

Four people arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts remain in custody after police were granted a further five days to question them on Saturday.

They are two men, aged 30 and 32, and a woman, 61, all arrested in Prestwich, and a 46-year-old woman arrested in Farnworth.

An 18-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man who were arrested in Farnworth were released with no further action on Saturday.

Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, said the attack raises deep questions about community relations in the UK.
Pro-Palestine protesters on a march from the University of Londons SOAS to UCL in May 2024. Photograph: Vuk Valcic/ZUMA Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

University leaders have cautioned students planning to take part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations to coincide with the anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attacks, warning them that expressing support for a terrorist organisation is a criminal offence.

Up to 10 events  variously described as vigils, rallies and debates  are thought to have been planned on or near campuses on Tuesday, including an inter-university march in London, involving students and staff from several London institutions.

It will be the second anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel, which left 1,200 people dead, many more injured or kidnapped and sparked the Israeli offensive in Gaza, which has killed more than 65,000 people.

Universities UK (UUK), which represents vice-chancellors and acts as the voice of the sector, wrote to members last week after the attack on Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester, warning that the anniversary was a potential flashpoint and urging members to review security arrangements.

Vivienne Stern, the UUKs chief executive, said: While universities must be places where contentious views can be expressed, and while universities have a legal duty to uphold free speech, we urge students and staff participating in protests to remember that 7 October is the anniversary of an atrocious attack on innocent people, and that expressing support for a terrorist organisation is a criminal offence.

Details of the London march are posted on Instagram under the banner headline: Inter-university march. Two years of genocide and our institutions remain complicit. It calls for a walkout of classes at 2pm, with the route taking in Kings College London (KCL), the London School of Economics, University College London and finishing at SOAS.

Other 7 October events have been advertised at the University of Sheffield, where the Revolutionary Communist party is staging a rally for Palestine, and Strathclyde University, where the Palestine Solidarity Society is staging a Protest 4 Palestine, while KCL Students for Justice for Palestine has an evening of debate and discussion called Why it didnt start on October 7th.

Stern said there has been a deeply concerning rise in antisemitic incidents in the last two years and the UUK has worked closely with university leaders to tackle this. She urged university leaders to maintain close contact with Jewish student groups and to publicise mechanisms for reporting antisemitic incidents.

We have signposted resources to help universities combat antisemitism both from Universities UK and from the Community Security Trust and the Union of Jewish Students, she added.

Louis Danker, the president of the Union of Jewish Students, said: We respect the right to protest and the importance of free speech within the law. There are 365 days in the year and on one of them  7 October  Jewish students seek the space to mourn their loved ones murdered in southern Israel.

Moreover, marking two years of resistance on 7 October echoes the explicit justification and glorification of the Hamas terrorist attacks on campus witnessed over the last two years.

No Jewish student should have to stand by as others glorify a day that marks such loss for our community. We have written to vice-chancellors and university leaders to remind them of their obligation to stand against the glorification of terror.

On Monday evening Keir Starmer urged students not to take part in what he called un-British protests.

Writing in the Times, the prime minister said: Let me just spell that out for a moment: people on our streets calling for the murder of Jewish people they have never even met, for something they are not responsible for. A total loss of empathy and humanity not in some faraway land but right here in the heart of our country.

And today, on the anniversary of the atrocities of 7 October, students are once again planning protests. This is not who we are as a country. Its un-British to have so little respect for others. And thats before some of them decide to start chanting hatred towards Jewish people all over again.

On Saturday police arrested almost 500 people in London at what organisers hoped would be the biggest demonstration so far against a ban on the proscribed organisation Palestine Action.

The demonstration went ahead despite Starmer calling on protesters to call it off to respect the grief of British Jews, while Jewish leaders described the action as phenomenally tone deaf after Thursdays killing of two people in the terror attack on a Manchester synagogue.

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The education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said: The horrific tragedy in Manchester makes clear now more than ever that there is absolutely no place for antisemitic abuse or harassment, hate speech or violence in our society.





I would urge those planning to protest to show decency and humanity when deciding whether to do so, given the immense pain many people in the Jewish community will be feeling on 7 October.

I remain steadfast in my support for university vice-chancellors in tackling the scourge of antisemitic abuse and harassment on campuses, and I have written to them in support of their efforts.
Alexander Spatari/Getty Images Brownstone row house steps decorated with pumpkins for Halloween, New York City.

As Halloween approaches, its the perfect time to plan a trip to a destination that comes alive with the spirit of spooky season. From historic cities and haunted castles to over-the-top theme park celebrations, these spots capture the magic of October in unforgettable ways. Halloween isnt just about scaresits about stories, traditions, and celebrations that connect us across cultures, says Aaron Sagers, a TV host, journalist, and paranormal expert. Whether youre chasing scary thrills or the cozy charm of fall festivals, these are the best places around the world to celebrate Halloween.

01 of 13

Ireland

Steve Cukrov/Adobe Stock A sign for the Leprechaun Museum in Dublin, Ireland.

It only makes sense to begin in Ireland, widely regarded as the birthplace of Halloween. The ancient Celts marked the end of the harvest season with Samhain, a festival when they believed the veil would be at its thinnest, explains paranormal expert Sagers. County Meath remains at the heart of these traditions, the home to the Hill of Ward, where ceremonial fires once blazed, and todays lively Puca Festival. In Dublin, travelers can also take the adults-only Darkland tour at the National Leprechaun Museum, which delves into Irelands darker folklore. And, of course, this is also the homeland of Bram Stoker, whose early years inspired his creation of "Dracula."

02 of 13

Transylvania, Romania

Salvatore Laporta/KONTROLAB/LightRocket via Getty Images An exterior view of Bran Castle in Romania.

Few places capture the imagination at Halloween quite like Bran Castle, often referred to as Draculas Castle. While it was never actually the confirmed inspiration for Bram Stokers "Dracula," its shadowy halls and Gothic towers still set the scene for one of the worlds most iconic vampire legends. The history doesnt get in the way of Bran being a fang-tastic location, says Sagers, noting that the castle is also home to ghostly lore beyond its pop culture fame. For an unforgettable experience, time your visit with the Bran Castle Halloween Party, which Sagers calls one of the best in the world.

03 of 13

Orlando, Florida

Gerardo Mora/Getty Images A general view of the atmosphere during Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort.

Universal Orlandos Halloween Horror Nights has become the gold standard for spooky attractions in the U.S., drawing fans from around the world. Each fall, the event transforms the theme park into a labyrinth of haunted houses inspired by blockbuster films and original storylines. HHN is the single best haunted house attraction in the U.S., says Sagers, who grew up in Orlando and has seen the event evolve over the years. While film tie-ins like Friday the 13th and Five Nights at Freddys are favorites, Sagers insists the original concepts are the most impressive. His 2025 pick? El Artista, a chilling tale set in a 19th-century Spanish manor where a tormented artist opens a portal to the other side.

04 of 13

New Orleans, Louisiana

BackyardProduction/Getty Images Halloween decorations on a French Quarter building in New Orleans.

No Halloween list would be complete without New Orleans, where ghost stories linger around every corner. It feels imbued with the dead, and the dead can dance hereand they dance to jazz, says Sagers. For him, part of the magic of New Orleans at Halloween is dropping in without a rigid plan: take a ghost walk, wander through a historic cemetery, then end the night with boos and booze at Beachbum Barrys Latitude 29.

05 of 13

Key West, Florida

Joe Raedle/Getty Images A crowd cheers at the Fantasy Fest Masquerade Parade in Key West, Florida.

Key West may seem like an island paradise, but its other name, Cayo Hueso (Spanish for "Bone Cay"), hints at a darker past. Conquistadors once believed the native Calusa tribe had used the island as a graveyard, and some say spirits remain trapped here, unable to cross the surrounding waters. One thing is certain about Key West: there are a lot of ghost stories, says Sagers, noting that the island is also home to Robert the Doll, one of the worlds most infamous haunted playthings. Visitors can even join a paranormal investigation of the eerie artifact. And for those seeking more revelry than chills, the islands 10-day Fantasy Fest transforms the southernmost city into a party that even rivals Mardi Gras.

06 of 13

New York, New York

Maite H. Mateo/VIEWpress/Corbis via Getty Images People taking part in the Village Halloween parade in New York.

New York may not always get the recognition it deserves for its haunted history, but Sagers is quick to remind travelers of its spooky credentials. It always disappoints me when NYC doesnt get appropriate love for all its haunted history, he says, pointing to figures like Harry Houdini (buried here and rumored to haunt McSorleys), legendary ghost hunter Hans Holzer, and even the still-active Hook & Ladder Company 8 firehouse, better known as Ghostbusters HQ. The city also hosts the Village Halloween Parade, a 50+-year tradition that Sagers calls the nations best. For a true glimpse of Halloween in New York, he suggests queuing up Lou Reeds Halloween Parade and embracing the weirdness that makes the night so unforgettable.

07 of 13

Salem, Massachusetts

Heidi/Adobe Stock Sign in front of the Corwin House also known as the Witch House in Salem.

Best known as the home of the infamous 17th-century witch trials, Salem has since become one of the countrys top Halloween destinations. Each October, the city hosts the Haunted Happenings Festival, which draws more than a million visitors with parades, markets, and themed events that grow more spirited as Halloween night approaches. There are few places that have a buzz like Salem during its Haunted Happenings Festival, says Sagers. Travelers should plan well ahead and make hotel reservations early, as things book up quickly, but the commuter rail makes it an easy day-trip if youre staying in nearby Boston.

08 of 13

Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown, New York

kirkikis/Adobe Stock The headless horseman rides again in Sleepy Hollow, New York.

Made famous by Washington Irvings The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, this area embraces its spooky reputation each October. Its such a Halloween town that the air is probably 75 percent pumpkin spice, jokes Sagers, who recommends visiting for seasonal events like the Twilight Village and the Great Jack OLantern Blaze, where thousands of glowing pumpkins light up the night. Gothic landmarks such as Lyndhurst Mansion and the historic Tarrytown Music Hall add to the spooky vibe.

09 of 13

Virginia City, Nevada

John Elk/Getty Images Historic buildings in Virginia City, Nevada.

Once a bustling silver mining hub, Virginia City is now best known for its spectral side with historic saloons, creaky wooden sidewalks, and a reputation as one of the most haunted towns in America. Ive had significant paranormal experiences here, especially at the famous Washoe Club, says Sagers. The best time to visit is October, when the entire town transforms for Hauntober, a monthlong festival featuring nightly ghost tours, cemetery walks, haunted saloon experiences, and even the Comstock Paranormal Convention, where fans can join investigations and meet ghost-hunting experts, including Sagers.

10 of 13

Long Beach, California

Christian Hundley/Travel + Leisure Exterior of the Queen Mary ship in Long Beach, California.

The RMS Queen Mary, a storied 90-year-old ocean liner-turned-floating hotel, has earned a reputation as one of the most haunted places in the U.S. Nicknamed the Grey Ghost, its said to harbor lingering spirits from its years at sea. The Queen Mary is an icon in paranormal circles, notes Sagers. The ship becomes especially popular in October during Dark Harbor, a Halloween festival with immersive haunted mazes and themed scare zones on board.

11 of 13

Estes Park, Colorado

Vincent Mercer/Travel + Leisure Interior courtyard view of the Stanley Hotel.

Built in 1909, The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park has become nearly as famous for its ghost stories as for inspiring Stephen Kings "The Shining." Paranormal activity has been reported for decades, from phantom footsteps to objects mysteriously moving on their own. I tend to think the landmarks reputation is well-earned, says Sagers. Each October, the historic property leans into its spooky legacy with Halloween balls and themed events that pair perfectly with its Rocky Mountain setting.

12 of 13

Mexico City, Mexico

Rebeca Herrera/ObturadorMX/Getty Images People dressed up at the Day of the Dead celebration in Mexico City.

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is one of Mexicos most important cultural traditions, honoring loved ones who have passed on with altars, offerings, and vibrant celebrations held on Nov. 1 and 2. In Mexico City, the holiday took on an even grander scale in 2016 after the James Bond film "Spectre" inspired the launch of a massive annual parade. Since then, Dia de Muertos and elements of modern Halloween have merged, says Sagers.

13 of 13

Tokyo, Japan

Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images Pedestrians dressed up for Halloween in Tokyo.

Tokyo has quickly become one of Asias top destinations for Halloween, thanks to its mix of street celebrations and theme park spectacles. In Shibuya, massive crowds gather each October in elaborate costumes for parades and parties that feel more like a citywide festival than a single event. Tokyo has increasingly become a major center for October celebrations filled with cosplay, parades, and parties, says Sagers. Beyond the streets, parks like Tokyo Disneyland, Universal Studios Japan, and Sanrio Puroland host their own seasonal events.

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Two large dogs killed a 2-year-old boy while the owner of a day care center in Georgia, who told officials she was napping, left him unattended, police said.

When first responders arrived at a residence in Valdosta at 3:45 p.m. Saturday, they discovered the child was dead, Valdosta police said in a statement.

Earlier that day, a woman dropped the toddler off with Stacy Wheeler Cobb, 48, who was operating an unlicensed day care center at her residence, police said.

The boy was not attended to be there for more than two hours, and Cobb told officials she was napping and thought the child was, as well, the statement said.

The boy appeared to have gotten outside and into Cobb's backyard. He opened a kennel and released two large Rottweilers, which attacked and killed him, police said.

The victim was the only child at Cobb's home at the time, the statement said.

Cobb was arrested Saturday, police said. She has been charged with two felonies: second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children.

Jail records Monday showed that Cobb is still in the Lowndes County Jail, and it was unclear whether she has an attorney.

"This is a horrible and tragic event that should have never occurred, but because of negligence on this offenders behalf, a mother has tragically lost a child," Valdosta Police Chief Leslie Manahan said in the statement.

Police, who did not identify the victim and the family, are investigating.
Melbourne, Australia  Australian prosecutors on Monday filed an appeal seeking a longer guaranteed prison term for Erin Patterson, who was sentenced to life for poisoning four of her estranged husband's relatives with death cap mushrooms but will be eligible for parole after 33 years.



Victoria state's Office of Public Prosecutions said in a statement that it had filed the appeal to the Victorian Court of Appeal, claiming the sentence handed to Patterson a month ago was "manifestly inadequate."



Patterson was sentenced to life in prison in September by the Victorian Supreme Court for the murder of three people and the attempted murder a fourth, all of whom were lunch guests at her home in 2023.



Patterson fed them beef Wellington pastry dishes laced with toxic mushrooms. Her motive remains a mystery.

Convicted murderer Erin Patterson (L) leaves the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, Sept. 8, 2025. / Credit: WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty

Prosecutors argued last month that she should never be eligible for parole. Her lawyers had asked for Patterson to serve 30 years before she could be considered for early release.



Justice Christopher Beale set a non-parole period of 33 years, meaning she could potentially be set free in 2056 at the age of 82.

"Your victims were all your relatives by marriage. More than that, they had all been good to you and your children over many years, as you acknowledged in your testimony," Beale said when he delivered the original sentence. "Not only did you cut short three lives and cause lasting damage to Ian Wilkinson's health, thereby devastating extended Patterson and Wilkinson families, you inflicted untold suffering on your own children, whom you robbed of their beloved grandparents."

It was never disputed that Patterson served the mushrooms or that the pastries killed her guests. The jury was required to decide whether she knew the lunch contained death caps, and if she intended for them to die.



Patterson's lawyer Richard Edney told Beale last week that she would lodge an appeal against her jury convictions within a month.



Three Court of Appeal judges will hear both appeals on a date that is yet to be set.



Patterson was convicted in July of murdering Don and Gail Patterson, the parents of her husband Simon Patterson. She also murdered Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, and attempted to murder Ian Wilkinson, who spent weeks in a hospital, the court ruled.



Simon Patterson was also invited to the lunch but declined.

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jeremietardieu/Getty Images A glass of champagne in an airplanes first class seat.

Those four little words can turn an ordinary travel day into something extraordinary. The anticipation builds as the gate agent smiles, prints out a new ticket, and says, You got an upgrade. For frequent flyers, its the closest thing to hitting the jackpot. And while luck certainly plays a role, seasoned travelers say there are ways to tip the odds in your favor.

"Reaching airline elite status definitely bumps you ahead in the upgrade queue," Joe Cronin, president of International Citizens Insurance, told Travel + Leisure. "But for an average traveler, buying smart trumps collecting miles."

That's why he says rather than waiting around to rack up those points and miles (that airlines seem to be making harder to accrue anyway), the best move is to try and buy your way in at a discount.

"The ideal moment to snag an upgrade is two to three weeks before your flight; that's when airlines sneak out noticeably cheaper premium tickets," Cronin said. "Do not upgrade immediately after you've booked because fares usually soften in the weeks that follow. When the departure window narrows, log in again within one to two days before departure. Airlines often slash prices a day or two before a flight to fill the remaining spots."

However, Sara Wilcox, a Fora Advisor, says you may not even have to wait that long to get a deal on an upgrade.

"If you live in a hub city, you already know that status upgrades are basically impossible to get these days. But there's a little secret: if you're going to fly at least one week later, you can often book the flight and then, after you buy it, go back into the reservation in your app and see if it offers you an upgrade," Wilcox told T+L. "Chances are, the fare you paid plus the upgrade fee will be much less than if you had just bought the first-class ticket originally."

As Wilcox noted, you will likely have to give up a few of your frequent flier miles for this, but "you'll get a cheaper first-class seat, if that is your goal."

You also can get more strategic about the airlines you book with in the first place. "Some airlines let you bid for upgrades the day before a flight, which can land you a premium seat for a fraction of the normal cost," Jesse Neugarten, founder and CEO of Dollar Flight Club, said.. "I've seen upgrades to business class go for just a couple of hundred dollars this way, even on long-haul international flights. It just depends on how full the flight is. If you want to increase your chances, fly when demand is low."

There is one more way you can get in those comfy seats in the first few rows of an airplane, and that's by appealing in person. Ruchi Harnal, founder of Harnal Travel, explained that you can try to "arrive right when the check-in window opensairlines sometimes offer upgrades at the counter for far less than the original fare." It's a move Neugarten has also used, noting that he's "personally scored international business class seats for as little as $200 extra using this strategy."

Really, getting a deal on an upgrade is a whole lot of good luck and lots of patience. "Watch the seat map instead of the clock. The moment you spot premium rows tightening, snag the upgrade before prices jump again," Cronin added. "But if the map stays bare until the last minute, you might soon see flash sales for connecting trips, zero in on shorter flight segments on regional jets, as this is where upgrades usually cost less."

Lastly, Cronin said to "always check prices in the airline app; the mobile version often refreshes with sweeter offers before the desktop version catches up."



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Security personnel stand on the roof of an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois, Sept. 24, 2025. Photo: Jim Talamonti / The Center Square

(The Center Square)  Designated protest times are being ordered by the mayor of Broadview, Illinois, after chaotic protests this past weekend.

Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompsons office announced an executive order establishing fixed protest hours for between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily around the Beach Street Immigration and Customs Enforcement Processing Facility.

I have repeatedly said that I intend to defend the protesters constitutionally protected free speech rights, Thompson said in a statement. I support their cause. But the repeated clashes with ICE agents in our town are causing enormous disruptions in the quality of life for my residents whose rights I have taken an oath to protect. We live here. Our residents live here and deserve dignity and respect.

Thompson said in recent weeks, the demonstrations have escalated into unsafe situations.

For example, on Saturday night, October 5, around 8:00 p.m. Broadview had a very aggressive crowd of protesters and the situation got out of control, Thompson said. We had over 60 state troopers helping and we had to seek additional assistance from other local police departments who rushed to Broadview to help. And Broadview residents had to suffer through that mayhem.

In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson issued an executive order to make Chicago an ICE free zone. Johnsons office said the executive order creates clear mechanisms to prohibit federal immigration agents from using any city-owned property in their ongoing operations in Chicago.

The measure directs that City employees immediately report any attempted use of City property for immigration enforcement; any such instance will be reported to the Office of the Mayor and the Corporation Counsel, Johnsons office said.

Tax dollars will also be used for signage from the mayors office that private landowners and leaseholders can post on their property.

The signage clearly states that no federal immigration agents may enter for the purpose of civil immigration enforcement and that the property may not be used as a staging area, processing location, or operations base, the mayors statement said.

All this comes as Chicago joins in a lawsuit against the Trump administration that the Illinois Attorney General announced Monday to block the use of National Guard troops in Illinois.

I don't think any American would disagree that Chicago needs more law enforcement reinforcements, that they need more resources, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday. Look at this headline from over the weekend. At least 30 people shot during the weekend in Democrat-run Chicago. Five of them were killed in one weekend. This is completely unacceptable. And the president wants to make American cities safer, and he's willing to work with anyone to do it.
A California biotech tycoon has been found guilty of orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot to kill a father of six and former business partner after their oil deal collapsed.

Serhat Gumrukcu, 42, of Los Angeles, faces a mandatory life sentence for the 2018 abduction and killing of Gregory Davis, who was taken from his Vermont home and found shot dead at the base of a snowbank, according to the US Attorneys Office.

Gumrukcu, the founder of Enochian Biosciences, was found guilty of hatching the deadly plot after Davis  a father of six whose wife was pregnant with their seventh child  threatened to sue him over a soured oil deal.

Serhat Gumrukcu is facing a life sentence in connection with the 2018 abduction and murder of Gregory Davis. @docserhat/Instagram

Prosecutors said the biotech tycoon recruited his friend Berk Eratay, 38, who then used a second intermediary, Aron Ethridge, 45, to hire hitman Jerry Banks, 37.

On Jan. 6, 2018, Banks arrived at Davis home in a vehicle fitted with flashing red and blue lights, posing as a deputy US marshal and telling the unsuspecting father of six he needed to come in for questioning.

Banks then abducted Davis from his Danville home and murdered him, prosecutors said.

Davis body was discovered in a snowbank a short distance from his home in Barnet, Vermont, on Jan. 7, 2018.

Following his murder, investigators quickly discovered emails and messaging indicating the tension between Gumrukcu and Davis over the failed oil deal, resulting in Gumrukcu being interviewed twice by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, prosecutors said.

Gregory Davis was found shot at the base of a snowbank after he was taken from his Vermont home in January 2018. Melissa Davis

Investigators later discovered Gumrukcu had lied in each interview, but cellphone data, purchase records, bank documents, emails, and messages ultimately exposed him and his co-conspirators roles in Davis kidnapping and murder, according to the US Attorneys Office.

Around 2017, Gumrukcu was brokering a multimillion-dollar biotech merger with Enochian Biosciences built around his purported HIV cure  a high-stakes deal that prosecutors said made silencing Davis all the more urgent.

Prosecutors said Davis threat to take legal action over their failed oil transaction could have jeopardized Gumrukcus bid to gain control of Enochian Biosciences.

Gumrukcus downfall came in May 2022, when he was arrested and taken into custody. He was convicted in April of murder-for-hire, conspiracy, and wire fraud.

Serhat Gumrukcu tried to hide his role in the murder of Greg Davis by paying one man to pay another man to pay the hitman, who shot and killed Greg Davis on a January night in Vermont, stated Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher.

Uncovering Gumrukcus responsibility for this murder involved years of determined investigation by the men and women of Vermonts United States Attorneys Office, working closely with the FBI and the Vermont State Police.

Banks and Ethridge were arrested in April 2022. Eratay was arrested in May.

Banks was sentenced to 200 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and Eratay received a sentence of 110 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Ethridge was sentenced to 140 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.

Gumrukcu was brokering a multimillion-dollar biotech merger with Enochian Biosciences built around his purported HIV cure  a high-stakes deal that prosecutors said made silencing Davis all the more urgent. @docserhat/Instagram

Last month, Davis widow, Melissa, slammed Gumrukcu in court for shattering the lives of her and her seven children by killing her husband, Vtdigger reported.

I stand here today not only as a widow, but as the mother of seven children whose lives were shattered the night Gregg was taken from us, she told Gumrukcu during a Sept. 25 court appearance.

You thought you could silence my husband, but your lies die here in this courtroom.

During that same court appearance, Gumrukcu had his sentencing pushed to November.

He is looking at a mandatory life sentence.
East China Sea  Over the deep blue waters of the East China Sea, a Canadian military aircraft surveys the vast expanse below. The CP-140 Aurora, a maritime patrol aircraft operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force, is designed primarily to hunt enemy submarines  but this crew is on a different mission: tracking North Korean vessels engaged in illicit trade that violates United Nations sanctions.

"There are definitely some boats that look more suspicious than others," the captain currently deployed on the operation tells CBS News as he pilots the plane. The Canadian air force asked CBS News not to use the captain's name as he is still on active duty.

Operating in international airspace over international waters, the mission  known as Operation NEON  takes the plane close to Chinese territory, often triggering a dramatic response by Beijing, which intercepts the Aurora on multiple occasions during its mission while a CBS News crew is onboard.

Operation NEON is Canada's contribution to a coordinated multinational effort to support the implementation of U.N. Security Council sanctions against North Korea, as U.N. member states seek to apply pressure on Pyongyang to abandon its programs developing weapons of mass destruction.

NEON is an intelligence gathering mission  they take photos, video and log suspicious vessels in the East China Sea, and then share the information with the United Nations' Enforcement Coordination Cell.

The mission is based out of Kadena Air Base in Japan  the largest U.S. Air Force base in the Asia-Pacific region  known as the "keystone of the Pacific" due to its strategic importance.

During the mission, a Chinese supersonic fighter jet appears and approaches the Canadian air force plane.

Unhappy with the Canadian presence, the Chinese pilot hails Aurora's captain, who calmly responds: "I'm a Canadian aircraft operating in international airspace, carrying out the duties of all nations."

A Chinese fighter jet, flying just four wing lengths' away  less than 200 feet  comes closer than any Chinese fighter has come to the Aurora throughout its mission while CBS News is onboard / Credit: CBS News

There is no verbal reply from the Chinese, but the Chinese fighter jet shadows the Aurora for another 30 minutes or so.

"As long as things remain professional and safe, this mission continues unabated," Brigadier General Jeff Davis, who commands the Canadian operation, tells CBS News.

Soon after, the Chinese fighter jet disappears, but it's only a temporary halt to the Chinese actions. A few hours later, another jet appears, this one carrying missiles. All crew members move into position to document the second intercept.

The jet, flying just four wing lengths' away  less than 200 feet  comes closer than any Chinese fighter has come to the Aurora throughout its mission.

China has been North Korea's economic lifeline since international sanctions were imposed on Pyongyang in 2006, after its first nuclear test.

But the sanctions clearly have not had the desired effect. Russia and China used to be opposed to North Korea's nuclear development, but not any more.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrive at a military parade in Beijing, China, Sept. 3. / Credit: Sergei Bobylev/AP

China has been a vital economic lifeline for the Kim regime in Pyongyang, propping up North Korea's economy. More recently, Russia has also played a big role, giving the North oil in exchange for ammunition and troops deployed in support of Russia's war against Ukraine.

The Kim dynasty has long hoped to force the world to accept North Korea as a nuclear power. It's currently estimated to possess approximately 50 nuclear weapons, and is on the verge of developing a long-range missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the U.S. mainland.

Near the end of August, while meeting South Korea's new president, President Trump said he wanted another meeting with Kim Jong Un. They met three times during Mr. Trump's first term, but the summits garnered no results toward denuclearizing North Korea.

Kim has said since that he's open to continuing the dialogue only if Mr. Trump abandons his government's "absurd obsession with denuclearization."

While these Chinese intercepts of the international sanctions enforcement mission over the East China Sea are expected, they undeniably increase the risks for the Canadian crew.

"It can add some stressors," the Canadian pilot tells CBS News. "Sometimes they're trying to maneuver, but we try to mitigate as best we can and keep the aircraft safe."

After nine hours of intelligence gathering, the Aurora finally heads back to base  mission complete, under the most trying of circumstances.

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(COLORADO SPRINGS)  One man is dead and another is in the hospital with life-threatening injuries after an early morning shooting on North Academy Boulevard, near Vickers Drive, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD).

CSPD reported that around 2 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5, officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 3500 block of North Academy Boulevard, and when they arrived, they found two men who had been shot. One of the men was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, and the other man was dead at the scene.

Detectives from the homicide unit took over the investigation and are gathering suspect information. This is an active investigation, and anyone who has information is asked to contact CSPD at (719) 444-7000. To remain anonymous, call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (719) 634-7867 or 1-800-222-8477.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
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Police in New Orleans are searching for answers after a suspect in a deadly carjacking was found with a gunshot wound to the head



Raymond Wells, 21, was accused of fatally shooting Carl Morgan, 36, in a carjacking on Sept. 30

Just 15 minutes after the shooting, Wells was found inside the car with a gunshot wound and pronounced dead after several days in the hospital

Police in New Orleans are searching for answers after a suspect in a deadly carjacking was found with a gunshot wound to the head 15 minutes after the crime.

According to NOLA.com, WDSU and WVUE, 21-year-old Raymond Wells was accused of fatally shooting Carl Morgan, 36, on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) said Wells was suspected of fatally shooting Morgan and stealing his car at around 5:15 p.m. local time that day as he was picking his son up from daycare on the city's Canal Street.

Wells then allegedly took off in Morgan's car, leaving the father and son in the parking lot of the daycare. Just 15 minutes later, the vehicle rolled to a stop on Interstate 10 in Metairie, a town just outside of New Orleans city limits, and Wells was found unresponsive behind the wheel.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Oct. 1, NOPD Deputy Chief Nicholas Gernon said that Wells had been shot once in the head and was in "extremely grave condition" at a local hospital.

"Should Mr. Wells recover from his wounds, he will be booked with first-degree murder," Gernon said at the time.

By Sunday, Oct. 5, NOPD spokesperson Karen Boudrie confirmed to NOLA.com and WVUE that Wells had died that morning.

Sean Gardner/Getty A New Orleans Police car photographed in the French Quarter.

During the Oct. 1 press conference, Deputy Chief Gernon alleged that Wells may have been breaking into cars near New Orleans' Bienville Street just before the carjacking incident and was spotted by some bystanders, whom he shot at, along with some nearby vehicles.

According to Gernon, those people were cooperating with police, and investigators are trying to determine if anyone shot back at Wells.

Following the carjacking, NOPD officers were able to track down Morgan's car using automatic license plate readers, per NOLA.com. Investigators were notified about the car being stopped at around 6:30 p.m. Officers quickly found Wells suffering from a gunshot wound inside, and he was transported to a local hospital.

The Jefferson Parish Coroner's Office is set to perform an autopsy on Wells, Boudrie added.

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Friends and family have identified Morgan as a sous chef at the beloved French Quarter restaurant Brennan's and a father of one.

In an Instagram post, the restaurant wrote that Morgan's "senseless and untimely death is heartbreaking."



"Carl was a devoted father, loving partner, cherished son and friend to all. His remarkable talent, positive energy and immeasurable impact will be sorely missed at Brennans," the restaurant added.



"Hug your loved ones tighter, give grace, be nice and live big like Carl," the post concluded.

A GoFundMe page organized to support Morgan's partner, Lisa, and son, Silas, has so far garnered more than $45,000 in donations.

"We lost our friend far too soon," the page reads. "The shock still hasnt faded. Losing someone with that kind of energy and presence leaves a hole you can feel. He wasnt just a chef  he was a force. He pushed, inspired, mentored, and made every kitchen feel alive."



The fundraiser message continued: "But more than anything, Carl was a family man. His son, Silas, was his world  his reason, his pride, and his heartbeat. And right there beside him was Lisa, his partner in life  his rock, his love, and his best friend. Every long day, every grind, every ounce of passion Carl poured out was for them. Together, they were his home and his purpose."

Speaking to WVUE, Shawn Anglim, the pastor at First Grace United Methodist Church  which neighbors the daycare center where Morgan was picking up his son  said that teachers heard the gunfire and ushered the children inside just moments after the shooting.



"One of the teachers heard the gunfire on Bienville and said, 'Let's get inside,' and they immediately moved all the children inside," Anglim said.

The daycare has now added extra security during the dropoff and pickup times, Anglim said, and the church is considering implementing additional safety measures.

"As we move through this time, well all make a decision together," the pastor told WVUE. "A man lost his life. A child lost his father. A partner lost her love of her life, and we all lost a vibrant light in the city of New Orleans."



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In this photo released by the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) on Monday, October. 6, 2025, rescuers remove the body of a victim from the rubble of a collapsed building at an Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia.(BASARNAS via AP)

SIDOARJO, Indonesia (AP)  Indonesian crews recovered a dozen bodies Monday as they searched for young people missing after a prayer hall at an Islamic boarding school collapsed last week, bringing the death toll to 61.

The structure caved in on Sept. 29 when the students, mostly boys between the ages of 12 and 19, were performing afternoon prayers. The building at the century-old Al Khoziny school in Sidoarjo on Indonesias Java island was undergoing an unauthorized expansion.

Only one student escaped unscathed, authorities said, while 99 were treated for injuries and released. Four suffered serious injuries and remained hospitalized Monday after undergoing amputations.

With no more signs of life from beneath the tons of rubble three days after the collapse, authorities last week turned to heavy excavators to help them progress more rapidly.

The National Disaster Management Agency said rescue workers pulled 12 bodies and at least seven body parts from the rubble Monday. They continued their search for two students reportedly still missing. No survivors are expected.

Authorities said most of the bodies were in a condition that made them difficult to identify. Grief-stricken relatives provided DNA samples to help with identification at the Bhayangkara police hospital in the neighboring city of Surabaya, the capital of East Java province.

The Disaster Victims Identification teams said they had managed to identify 17 bodies by Monday and had handed over them to their families for funerals.

___

Karmini reported from Jakarta, Indonesia.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Farmer Ed Gein stands with his attorney William Belter at the Wabsara County Court

Netflix is revisiting the case of Ed Gein in season 3 of Monster, Ryan Murphys true crime anthology.

Known for crimes that shocked 1950s Wisconsin  and later inspired horror classics like Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre  Gein remains one of the most infamous figures in American criminal history.

After his grisly crimes were uncovered, Gein spent his final years in psychiatric confinement far from the farmhouse that once horrified the nation.

So, how did Ed Gein die? Here's everything to know about the last chapter of his life and where he was buried.

Ed Gein was arrested in 1957 and institutionalized

AP Photo/Paul Shane Ed Gein waits for the judge to call court to order in Wautoma, Wisconsin on January 22, 1968

Gein was put in the spotlight in the 1950s when authorities discovered he had not only committed murder but also exhumed graves from nearby cemeteries, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

He used human remains to craft household items and clothing, including masks and bowls. It was also reported that Gein's complicated relationship with his mother led him to create a body suit from female skin.

His crimes escalated to murder, and in 1957, he was arrested after killing Bernice Worden, a local hardware store owner, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Investigators later found the severed head of tavern owner Mary Hogan in his home, linking him to her disappearance years earlier.

A police raid uncovered gruesome evidence. The Wisconsin native filled his home with body parts, including preserved organs and genitalia. The findings fueled speculation about necrophilia, but he denied the allegation.

The media then dubbed him The Butcher of Plainfield and The Plainfield Ghoul. While Gein confessed to killing Worden and Hogan, he was only convicted of the former's murder.

Ed Gein died in 1984 from cancer

Bettmann/Getty Images Ed Gein in Wabsara County Court

Following his arrest, Gein was diagnosed with schizophrenia, per A&E, and declared mentally unfit for trial, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

He was committed to Central State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, then transferred to Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison, Wis., where he remained for the rest of his life.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Gein pleaded not guilty, claiming insanity, and avoided a trial. Eventually, though, he was ruled competent and convicted of Wordens murder during a second trial in 1968. After Gein was found guilty, he continued to live under psychiatric care.

He died at age 77 on July 26, 1984, from respiratory failure caused by cancer.

Ed Gein was buried next to his mom and brother

Bettmann/Getty A police officer examines the farmhouse kitchen of Ed Gein

Gein was buried in Plainfield Cemetery, in a family plot next to his mother and brother, according to the United Press International (UPI).

But even in death, the public didn't forget about him. Visitors began chipping away pieces of his headstone, taking them as souvenirs. The damage became so severe that caretakers struggled to maintain the site.

Ed Gein's grave was vandalized

Bettmann/Getty Ed Gein on November 20, 1957 in Madison, Wisconsin

In June 2000, Geins 150-pound gravestone vanished from Plainfield Cemetery. Authorities suspected it might surface online, as other Gein-related items  including dirt from his property  had previously been sold on eBay.

Waushara County authorities initially suspected that the gravestone theft might have been linked to occult activity, per the New York Post.

Geins headstone was never returned to the cemetery. Today, Geins grave remains unmarked. The grassy patch between his mother and brother is all that remains of his final resting place.

Ed Gein's crimes inspired Psycho, among other movies

Bettmann/Getty Ed Gein is taken to the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory to face a lie detector test

Geins story has inspired countless books, documentaries and films.

Robert Blochs 1959 novel Psycho, based loosely on Geins crimes, was adapted into Alfred Hitchcocks iconic 1960 film. Later, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Silence of the Lambs drew from Geins grotesque legacy.

Most recently, Netflix's season 3 of the Monster anthology focuses on Gein, reigniting interest in his life and the cultural impact of his crimes. The show stars Charlie Hunnam as Gein and Laurie Metcalf as his brother Augusta.



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Visitors view the tomb of Amenhotep III, who ruled ancient Egypt between 1390 B.C. and 1350 B.C., in the Valley of Kings in the southern city of Luxor, Egypt, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, as it opened to visitors for the first time in more than two decades. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

LUXOR, Egypt (AP)  Egypt on Saturday opened a tomb of a pharaoh for visitors after more than two decades of renovation in the southern city of Luxor, as it prepares for the official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

The huge tomb of Amenhotep III, who ruled ancient Egypt between 1390 B.C. and 1350 B.C., is located on the western side of the famed Valley of the Kings. It was found in 1799 by two people and its contents were looted, including the sarcophagus, Egyptian antiquities authorities said.

It has been under a Japanese-led, three-phased restoration project for the past two decades, including renovating paintings of the pharaoh and his wife on the tomb walls, said Mohamed Ismail, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

Its a very fascinating tomb, he told The Associated Press at the scene, adding that it includes a frame of the stolen sarcophagus box, with the lid in place where it would have been.

The tomb starts with a 36-meter (118-foot)-long, 14-meter (45-foot)-deep, downward-sloping passageway beneath the Valley of the Kings. It includes a main burial chamber for the king, and two other chambers for his wives, Queens Tiye and Sitamun.

Unlike other ancient tombs in the valley, the tomb is not fully decorated, Ismail said. Its paintings show Amenhotep III with a group of ancient Egyptian gods, and the burial chamber contains inscriptions of scenes from the Book of Dead, which is a collection of spells aimed at directing the dead through the underworld in ancient Egypt.

The mummy of Amenhotep III was moved by ancient priests to the tomb of his grandfather, Amenhotep II, also in the Valley of the Kings, according to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. The severely damaged mummy is showcased at the museum along with 16 other mummies of 17 kings and queens of ancient Egypt.

Amenhotep III was one of the most prominent pharaohs of the 18th Dynasty of ancient Egypt, which ruled between 1550 B.C. and 1292 B.C. Known as Amenhotep the Great, he ascended the throne as a teenager and ruled for up to 38 years, according to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.

The tomb's reopening came less than a month before the official inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza Pyramids. The museum is scheduled to open Nov. 1.

The reopenings are part of Egypts efforts to attract more foreign visitors to revive the tourism sector, a major source of foreign currency. Tourism, which depends heavily on Egypts rich pharaonic artifacts, suffered a long downturn after the political turmoil and violence that followed a 2011 uprising.
Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu Meets With Trump At The White House (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump reportedly snapped at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a phone call Friday as the pair discussed the administrations peace proposal in Gaza.

The tense interaction occurred during a phone call last Friday, shortly after the militant group Hamas responded to Trumps peace initiative for Gaza, Axios reported Sunday. Despite Trumps view that the development was a significant achievement in his efforts to end the Gaza conflict, Netanyahu reportedly expressed skepticism, which Trump perceived as a lack of support. (Subscribe to MR. RIGHT, a free weekly newsletter about modern masculinity)

Bibi told Trump this is nothing to celebrate, and that it doesnt mean anything, a U.S. official with knowledge of the call told Axios.

I dont know why youre always so f*cking negative. This is a win. Take it, Trump shot back, according to Axios.

Netanyahus recent actions have reportedly strained his relationship with Trump. A botched assassination attempt on Hamas officials in Qatar, which resulted in the deaths of five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer, heightened diplomatic friction between Israel and the Trump administration. A frustrated Trump reportedly said after the strikes that [Netanyahus] f*cking me. (RELATED: Hes F-ing Me: Trump Reportedly Furious With Netanyahu Over Qatar Strikes)

Everyone  and I mean everyone  is exasperated with Bibi, an administration official familiar with the ongoing peace negotiations told Axios in a report published late September.

A senior White House official argued that Netanyahu might be adopting reckless measures to shore up political support, possibly driven by concerns over his impending corruption trial. Furthermore, Trumps advisers have reportedly commented on Netanyahus bizarre preoccupation with U.S. social media narratives about his country.

Notably, Trump forced Netanyahu to publicly apologize to Qatar Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani during a trilateral phone call in the Oval Office on Sept. 30.

The Daily Caller reached out to the White House but did hear back as of publication.

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Reuters

Weve moved to Live Updates for coverage of this developing story. Follow the latest here.

For the second time in two days, a Trump-appointed federal judge in Oregon delivered a blow to the presidents effort to send National Guard troops into Portland, temporarily blocking the deployment of National Guard members from anywhere in the US to the city.

The late Sunday ruling expanded on a more narrow Saturday ruling that prevented the administration from sending Oregon National Guard troops to the states largest city, which President Donald Trump has said is necessary to quell protests at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility  a claim strongly disputed by local and state officials.

The hastily scheduled Sunday hearing came after officials in both Oregon and California objected in court to Trump reassigning federalized guard troops in Los Angeles to Portland in an apparent effort to get around the judges Saturday order.

There is no rebellion in Portland, both states said in a motion asking for the expanded order. There are no laws that defendants are unable to execute with regular forces in Portland.

Law enforcement officers stand guard outside the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters in south Portland, Oregon, Sunday. - Carlos Barria/Reuters

Portland is one of several Democratic-led cities where the Trump administration has called for the deployment of federal troops in the name of protecting federal immigration personnel and property amid Trumps sweeping crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

Heres what we know:

Judge pointedly questioned Trump administration attorney

During Sundays hearing, which lasted less than 30 minutes, US District Judge Karin Immergut pressed and occasionally interrupted the Justice Departments lawyer, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Eric Hamilton, expressing frustration over what she characterized as an apparent attempt to sidestep her Saturday order.

Karin J. Immergut at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington, DC, on October 24, 2018. - Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images

Mr. Hamilton, you are an officer of the court. Arent the defendants simply circumventing my order? Immergut said.

The judge noted the Saturday order blocking Oregon National Guard troops from being sent to Portland relied on her finding that the president appeared to have exceeded his constitutional authority by federalizing the troops because protests in Portland did not pose a danger of rebellion. Conditions in Portland had not changed when the Trump administration moved to mobilize members of the California National Guard to the city instead, Immergut said.

During Sundays hearing, attorneys for the plaintiffs also pointed to a memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calling up to 400 Texas National Guard troops into service in Illinois, Oregon and other US cities. The attorneys argued any temporary restraining order blocking National Guard troops from California should also include troops from all 50 states and Washington, DC, which the judge agreed with.

What the judges ruling says

In granting the second temporary restraining order Sunday, Immergut blocked the Trump administration from deploying federalized members of the National Guard in Oregon.

She also denied a Justice Department request to stay, or pause implementation of, the ruling.

The temporary restraining order is in effect until October 19, and a hearing will be scheduled for October 17 to decide whether it should be extended for another two weeks.

Even as the deployment was being debated in court, the increasingly contentious protests and counterprotests outside of the South Portland ICE facility continued Sunday night.

Two people were arrested by the Portland Police Bureau overnight, the department said, bringing its total arrest count outside the building to 36 since nightly protests began in June. That figure does not include arrests made by federal law enforcement agents.

Ruling is both celebrated and slammed

About 100 California National Guardsmen arrived in Oregon early Sunday morning, and that deployment was expected to double by the end of the day before the judge issued her order, according to a sworn statement from Brigadier General Alan Gronewold, the leader of the Oregon National Guard.

President Trumps actions are an effort to occupy and incite cities and states that dont share his politics, and I believe that we should expect him to continue to push the limits of his authority, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said in a statement late Sunday night. The President can expect Oregon to stand up to him at every turn.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield praised the Sunday ruling by Immergut, writing in a post on social media: The president cant keep playing whack-a-mole with different states Guard units to get around court orders and the rule of law. In a video response, he added, We do expect the federal government to attempt to appeal this ruling.

We just won in court  again, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a post on X referencing the Sunday ruling. Trumps abuse of power wont stand.

Before Sundays ruling, Newsom vowed to sue over the deployment of California troops in Portland. This isnt about public safety, its about power. The commander-in-chief is using the U.S. military as a political weapon against American citizens, the governor said in a statement.

Meanwhile, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller issued a scathing critique of Sundays ruling, calling it one of the most egregious and thunderous violations of constitutional order we have ever seen.

There is no legal distinction between a state volunteering guardsmen to guard the border and volunteering guardsmen to guard a federal immigration facility, Miller said. Either we have a federal government, a supremacy clause, and a nation, or we dont.

CNN has reached out to the Department of Justice for comment.

Chicago and other cities targeted by Trump

The other city in the administrations crosshairs over the weekend was Chicago, where Trump authorized 300 members of the Illinois National Guard to protect federal officers and assets against ongoing violent riots and lawlessness, over the objections of city and state leaders.

Chicago and Illinois leaders filed suit in federal court Monday, asking a judge to block the deployment, calling it illegal, dangerous, and unconstitutional.

Its a strategy Trump first deployed to quell anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles in June  the first time a president had federalized National Guard troops against the wishes of a states governor in over half a century.

They want mayhem on the ground, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker told CNNs Jake Tapper on Sunday. They want to create the war zone so that they can send in even more troops, he said, referencing last weeks massive ICE raid at a Chicago apartment complex that shattered windows and detained dozens of people overnight.

Later Sunday, after learning of the plan to send Texas National Guard members to multiple states, including Illinois, Pritzker said in a statement, We must now start calling this what it is: Trumps Invasion. It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another states military troops.

Portland police officers talk to a man near a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland Sunday. - Ethan Swope/AP

The brave men and women who serve in our national guards must not be used as political props, Pritzker added.

The ramping up of pressure in Portland and Chicago comes as the Trump administration touts the effectiveness of a federal task force deployed in Memphis to support local law enforcement.

273 arrests have been made in just under a week and 73 illegal guns seized, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a post on X Sunday.

While the task force is composed of federal law enforcement officers, the National Guard hasnt yet been officially stood up in the city and isnt expected to be up and running for another couple of weeks or so, Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis said during a community meeting Thursday.

CNNs Andy Rose, Chris Boyette, Lauren Mascarenhas and Amanda Musa contributed to this report.

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The dome of the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. Photo: Warren LeMay / Flickr /CC BY-SA 2.0 / Cropped from Original

(The Center Square)  Despite federal setbacks for diversity, equity and inclusion programs, Illinois has spent millions of dollars in the past few years for new, high-paying government jobs to increase the amount of state contracts that go to businesses owned by racial minorities, women and people with disabilities, an investigation by The Center Square found.

Yet, at least on paper, the relatively new Commission on Equity and Inclusion is farther from its goal than when it began work in 2022.

The agency's budget also has nearly doubled in the four years since it was created, and commissioners, who are allowed to do outside work, and some staff have seen their salaries balloon to about $150,000 a year, raising questions of what taxpayers are getting for the money.

"They created this additional layer of government on top of that," said Tom Demmer, a former Republican state representative who voted against the commission's creation. "If they weren't happy with what the situation was, adding another layer of government on top of this probably would not contain the solution to the problem."

One of the commission's primary tasks is to achieve an "aspirational goal" of awarding 30% of total eligible state contract dollars to those businesses. That goal has existed for four decades -- although most of that time the target was 20% -- and was previously overseen by another state department.

That department, Central Management Services, reported it had met the goal as recently as 2019. In that fiscal year the state identified about $649 million worth of contracts that went to the businesses, or about 21% of the total that were tracked. Certain projects that are unlikely to draw a significant pool of minority and women-owned businesses can be excluded from the goal calculations.

Data in the new commission's latest annual report, for the fiscal year that ended in 2024, indicates the figure dropped to about 4%.

But that figure is not actually included in the report. Instead, the commission altered the way it reports the percentage in a manner that inflated it.

Rather than report the 4% in adherence to previous annual reports, the commission calculated how close the figure was to the goal. It reported 13%.

It's unclear why the change was made. The commission's staff did not respond to multiple requests from The Center Square in the past week to comment for this article.

During the commission's tenure the total amount of contract dollars awarded to the target businesses has grown, but that has been outpaced by a rapid expansion of contracts that were deemed subject to the 30% goal.

Programs that are based on diversity, equity and inclusion -- commonly described by the acronym DEI -- have been scorned by President Donald Trump and his administration and have led this year to threats of federal funding cuts for governments and other institutions that have the programs.

High-paying government jobs

The commission was borne, in part, from the findings of a state task force in 2018. The group reported significant obstacles that prevent African-American-owned businesses from netting state government contracts, including complex bidding processes, too-short notices of available work and potential discrimination.

"The Task Force recommends that all procurement personnel at state agencies and institutions of higher education ... regularly engage in diversity and inclusion training to ensure exposure to a myriad of cultures, races, and ethnicities," the Fair Practices in Contracting Task Force concluded in 2018.

The group also recommended additional state funding to help correct the problems.

In 2021, Democrat state lawmakers voted to create the Commission on Equity and Inclusion, appropriating about $3.3 million for the first fiscal year it was partially in operation. Since then, its annual appropriation has more than doubled to about $7.3 million, according to the Office of the Comptroller. It's a relatively tiny portion of the overall state budget.

Much of that cost has gone toward government salaries for dozens of people who earn, on average, more than $100,000 each year. The median individual income in Illinois is about $42,000, according to the most-recent U.S. Census Bureau figures.

The agency is helmed by seven governor-appointed commissioners who each earn more than $147,000. The chairperson, Nina Harris, makes slightly more at about $155,000, according to state salary data. The commissioners' salaries have increased about 21% in three years.

The commission meets monthly for up to two hours, according to meeting agendas. The commissioners are allowed to have other paying jobs unlike other paid state appointees to the Prisoner Review Board and the Educational Labor Relations Board. And those board members are paid less than the Equity and Inclusion commissioners.

The commission's major task is to aid the success of the longstanding Business Enterprise Program, which sets the goals for contract awards to businesses that are owned by minorities, women and people with disabilities. The program has its own larger council, the members of which are unpaid for the work.

Demmer, the former Republican state lawmaker, was hired this year by the Illinois Policy Institute -- which criticizes state spending -- to analyze policy.

"These are appointees of the governor, and it comes with a pretty substantial paycheck," he added.

A spokesperson for Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, did not respond to a request to comment. He recently directed state agencies to make plans to cut 4% of their spending after The Center Square exposed the increasing budgets under his watch.

The commission is also supported by a growing staff of more than 30 people. It is allotted the equivalent of 52 full-time employees.

Nearly half of the current staff are classified by the state as administrators and have salaries of about $100,000 or more, according to state salary data. Executive Director Alexandria Wilson is paid about $155,000.

Nikita Richards, a communications officer who handles media inquiries, is paid $132,000. She did not respond to several requests to comment nor to a detailed list of major points contained in this article.

In its first full fiscal year of operation, the commission's efforts aided a substantial increase of businesses that were certified by the state as being majority owned by racial minorities, women and people with disabilities. In 2023 that number reached 5415, a 63% increase.

For the fiscal year that ended in 2024, the commission reported that those businesses had been awarded about $1.3 billion worth of government contracts, a 13% increase from two years earlier. But the total number of project dollars available to the businesses that were identified by the commission more than doubled to about $33 billion. That had the effect of cutting the percentage that is subject to the 30% goal.

An annual report noted that the big increase in available contract money was the result of "enhanced compliance reporting from agencies and public institutions of higher education and a refinement of reporting guidelines."

The commission helps the businesses navigate the state contracting process and fields complaints of discrimination. It also is charged with overseeing DEI training for state employees.

The commission's "vision is to be a trailblazing leader in fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive procurement environment where supplier diversity, equity, and inclusion are celebrated, and opportunities are accessible to all, driving positive social impact and economic growth," Wilson, the executive director, wrote to the governor and state lawmakers early this year in an annual report.
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP)  On a recent afternoon, Kenrick Modie finished untangling his fishing net in a quiet Caribbean village.

As he slipped into a hammock at his home overlooking the sea, he worried that his life and livelihood could be wiped out by a U.S. military strike.

Modie lives in the Caribbean twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, which is now entangled in a geopolitical face-off between the United States and Venezuela, just 11 miles away.

U.S. President Donald Trump, is giving instructions to shoot and kill people, Modie said about recent U.S. military strikes targeting suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean as it bulks up its military presence in the region. "What could we do? Were just a little dot.

His concerns heightened after Trump declared in a memo obtained by The Associated Press that the U.S. was in an armed conflict with drug cartels in the Caribbean, alleging they are trying to bring deadly poison to U.S. shores. And on Friday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he had ordered another strike on a small boat he accused of carrying drugs in the waters off Venezuela  the fourth since revelations that Trump told lawmakers he was treating drug traffickers as unlawful combatants.

Meanwhile, Venezuela has accused the U.S. of military buildup and aggression, prompting President Nicolas Maduro to place the countrys military and civilians willing to take up arms on high alert.

Stuck in the middle is Trinidad and Tobago, a nation with a multimillion-dollar fishing industry that employs thousands of fishermen who cast their nets almost daily to sustain themselves and their family.

If we die, we die

Trinidad and Tobagos Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has said that drug cartels have contributed to pain and suffering in her country, and she has urged the U.S. to kill them all violently.

She also said she is willing to grant the U.S. access to Trinidad and Tobago, if needed, so Americans can defend Guyana from neighboring Venezuela, which has claimed two-thirds of Guyana as its own.

Maduro said that Persad-Bissessars willingness to grant such access is like declaring war against Venezuela. The Venezuelan president has called for a return to good relations with its Caribbean neighbor, even as Trinidad and Tobagos government claims theres no bad blood between the countries.

While those in authority trade words and military commanders ramp up their posturing, dozens of fishermen in Trinidad and Tobago feel their lives are at risk given the ongoing U.S. strikes and escalation of tensions with Venezuela.

If we die, we die, thats how this life is, Modie said.

He fears being killed by a U.S. military strike while out fishing because he believes his boat could be mistaken for a drug-smuggling vessel. Modie said he hasnt seen substantial evidence that those killed in the U.S. strikes were indeed transporting drugs. He also worries about innocent fishermen being killed and falsely labelled as narco-terrorists by authorities, with the dead men being unable to clear their names.

Fishing in fear

Only seven miles separate Trinidad and Venezuela at their closest point. On a clear day, Venezuela is visible from the village of Icacos, which is located on Trinidads southwestern tip.

Driving around Icacos and neighboring Cedros village, dozens of boats strewn along the shoreline show how heavily these communities depend on fishing.

Fishermen in these two villages say they are already under threat from pirates, and the military buildup at sea now adds yet another threat.

Watching three other fishermen unload their catch for the day at the Cedros Fishing Complex, Kamal Bikeran said his crew now stays in shallower waters and arent going as far out to sea as before, because of the tension involving the three countries.

The U.S. has come there, and the Venezuelan military is saying they are more present, so you have to watch out, Bikeran said. At any point in time, outside there, you could be taken out.

Forced to fish in shallower waters, Bikeran and other fishermen said the heightened regional tension is drying up their livelihoods, as they are now catching fewer fish.

Trump gave fishermen a reason to worry after the first U.S. military strike on Sept. 2, which he said killed 11 suspected narco-terrorists.

Boat traffic is substantially down, Trump said in early September. I dont even know about fishermen. They may say, Im not getting on the boat.

Two more fatal U.S. strikes have since followed. At least two of the three operations were carried out on vessels that originated from Venezuela, riling some Caribbean leaders.

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in late September, Caribbean leaders referred to the region as a zone of peace.

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley appealed for dialogue to avoid a war between the U.S. and Venezuela. The prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, described the foreign militarization of the waters near Venezuela as exceedingly troubling.

Fishing in fear has become the new reality, said Shyam Hajarie, who has been a fisherman for more than 40 years. The Cedros native, like others, depends on his daily catches to support his family. Hes unsure if the military buildup in the Caribbean would soon affect fish prices at the market.

Just praying that everything works out with this situation with Venezuela and the U.S., he said. That they make peace and not war.

____

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
Protesters react to tear gas during an opposition rally on the day of local elections in Tbilisi, Georgia October 4, 2025. REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze

Protesters react to tear gas during an opposition rally on the day of local elections in Tbilisi, Georgia October 4, 2025. REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze

By Felix Light

TBILISI (Reuters) -Georgian prosecutors on Monday charged five opposition figures with attempting to overthrow the government, after protests on Saturday culminated in clashes between police and demonstrators in the capital of the South Caucasus country of 3.7 million.

Georgian opposition supporters rallied in central Tbilisi on Saturday, with some leaders promising a "peaceful revolution" on the day of local elections that were boycotted by the largest opposition blocs.

Minutes before polls closed, a smaller group of protesters attempted to seize the presidential palace, before being repelled by riot police using gas and water cannon.

The charges against the five men carry a maximum prison sentence of nine years. Officials have said the protests represented an attempt to seize power.

Separately, Georgia's Interior Ministry later said that 13 people had been detained in connection with the unrest.

Deputy Interior Minister Alexander Darakhvelidze said the detentions were carried out in connection with laws on attempting to overthrow the government and overturn the constitutional order and taking part in mass public disorder.

Georgia has been rocked by protests for over a year, with supporters of the opposition accusing the ruling Georgian Dream party of authoritarianism, and of seeking to drag the country, once among the Soviet Union's most pro-Western successor states, back towards Russia, allegations it rejects.

The protest movement has dwindled in recent months, though nightly demonstrations still close Tbilisi's central Rustaveli Avenue.

In October 2024, Georgian Dream won a comfortable victory in parliamentary elections. The opposition said the outcome was fraudulent; Georgian authorities said the polls were free and fair.

Under Georgian Dream, ties with Western countries have soured. In November, the party said it was freezing European Union accession talks, abruptly halting a long-standing national goal.

Georgian Dream says it is not pro-Russian and that it eventually wants to join the EU, whilst also keeping the peace with Moscow and preserving what it calls Georgia's traditional Orthodox Christian values.

The party is widely seen as controlled by billionaire ex-prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is sanctioned by the U.S. for what it calls his promotion of Russian interests.

(Reporting by Felix LightEditing by Andrew Osborn and Nia Williams)
After being laid off from Meta in 2023, Alaina Appleman decided she was done with Big Tech and global media. Provided by Alaina Appleman

Alaina Appleman moved to Singapore for work and has held roles at three American companies over the past decade.

After being laid off from Meta in 2023, she decided to try something new.

She became an independent travel designer and finds her new job flexible and fulfilling.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Alaina Appleman, an independent luxury travel designer based in Singapore. Her words have been edited for length and clarity.

Two years ago, I was laid off from Meta. It was disappointing, but it gave me a chance to think about what I wanted next.

I never imagined I'd end up designing bespoke travel experiences. On paper, my resume was all Big Tech and global media, not exactly a direct path into the world of luxury safaris and private yachts.

Still, travel has always been my personal obsession. I've visited more than 100 countries, spent hours digging into obscure corners of the internet for destination research, and have always been the go-to trip planner for friends. After the layoffs, I saw a way to turn that passion into a career.

My professional path up to that point had been steady. I started out in Washington, DC, at National Geographic and continued for 11 years. I worked my way up through marketing roles in the TV and film divisions.

In 2015, after completing my MBA at Georgetown University, the company offered me the opportunity to relocate to Singapore. Within weeks, I was on the other side of the world.

I arrived in Singapore with an open mind, curious to see where the opportunity would lead me.

Appleman was offered a transfer to the Singapore office and relocated in two weeks. Provided by Alaina Appleman

After just over a year in National Geographic's Singapore office, I worked for two other American multinationals  first at Time Inc. and later at Meta  in marketing roles. The work was fast-paced, global, and intellectually engaging.

After losing my job at Meta, I knew that I wanted to stay in Singapore.

Setting out on my own

I launched my business as an independent travel designer in 2024, contracting with Blue Sky Escapes, a boutique agency based in Singapore, with advisors working across the Asia Pacific region.

The financial commitment wasn't as daunting as I'd anticipated. By operating under the company's licenses, brand, and resources, it worked much like a real estate agent under a brokerage.

The investments to start my company were minimal, and I made that back within a few months after my first bookings. I work from home, so there's no need for an office. When I'm invited on familiarization trips, most of the costs are covered by the hotel, tour operator, or tourism board, but I usually pay for my own flights and certain participation fees.

Appleman, in Bhutan, has the opportunity to visit the destinations she recommends to clients. Provided by Alaina Appleman

It's all part of the investment, since it allows me to personally experience the destinations I recommend to clients. One of the reasons I jumped into this career was the low risk of getting started.

In my first year, I sent guests on 61 trips across 35 countries, with 42 more already booked into 2026. Unlike my work in Big Tech, this business isn't easily scalable, since I customize every detail to each client's interests and preferences. The trips I design range from a single night at a luxury resort to three-week adventures in Africa, with commissions typically between 10% and 20%.

Three months ago, I booked a group of friends in their 50s and 60s on a trip to the Faroe Islands. They rode a zodiac boat into grotto caves and enjoyed a private concert by local musicians in acoustics they described as unlike anything else.

I also arranged a private dining experience at a fisherman's home, where he shared stories of supplying langoustines to Michelin-starred restaurants, royalty, and billionaires. My goal has always been to create lasting memories.

Alaina Appleman, in Sri Lanka, now has the flexibility to work from anywhere. Provided by Alaina Appleman

Success on my own terms

Living in Singapore has its advantages. It's a major regional hub, allowing me to build personal relationships with suppliers and stay updated on the latest offerings. The connections I've made here have proven invaluable, particularly in time-sensitive situations.

Unlike corporate life, there's no monthly paycheck. Profits are only realized after trips actually happen. My day-to-day is also very different. In my corporate life, my calendar was filled with meetings.

Now, while I have fewer formal meetings, I'm often glued to my phone, speaking with local partners, curating experiences, booking accommodations, and collaborating with clients. When clients are traveling, I'm actively making sure everything runs smoothly.

While the hours are long, I now have the flexibility to work from anywhere. I've booked accommodations from a safari lodge in Sri Lanka, joined calls from a snowy mountain in Japan, and answered client texts while wandering through an abandoned palace in Iraq. Big Tech had its perks, but I appreciate these even more.

Changing careers is disruptive, but it was the reset button I didn't know I needed. You don't have to already "be in the industry" to break into something new; I certainly wasn't.

Do you have a story about moving to Asia that you want to share? Get in touch with the editor: akarplus@businessinsider.com.

Read the original article on Business Insider
French woman Gisele Pelicot, the victim of a mass rape orchestrated by her then-husband Dominique Pelicot at their home in the southern French town of Mazan, and her son Florian Pelicot are surrounded by French police as they leave after a hearing in the appeal trial filed by Husamettin D., one of the 51 people convicted in her rape trial, in Nimes, France, October 7, 2025. REUTERS/Alexandre Dimou

French woman Gisele Pelicot, the victim of a mass rape orchestrated by her then-husband Dominique Pelicot at their home in the southern French town of Mazan, and her son Florian Pelicot are surrounded by French police as they leave after a hearing in the appeal trial filed by Husamettin D., one of the 51 people convicted in her rape trial, in Nimes, France, October 7, 2025. REUTERS/Alexandre Dimou

NIMES, France (Reuters) -Gisele Pelicot returned to court on Monday to face the only man, out of 51, who appealed his guilty verdict in a mass rape trial that shocked France and attracted worldwide attention last year.

Pelicot, 72, has become a feminist hero both at home and abroad for waiving her right to anonymity and standing up to her abusers in court, turning the trial into an examination of the pervasiveness of sexual violence.

Her case prompted deep soul-searching in France, spurring debate on whether to shift to a rape law based on consent and prompting the medical community to deepen its understanding of drug-facilitated assault.

Pelicot made no statement as she arrived at court and appeared composed. Several dozen people waited outside the court with banners showing her their support.

Dominique Pelicot, who admitted drugging his wife Gisele and over nearly a decade recruiting dozens of men online to rape her while she was unconscious, was sentenced to 20 years in jail. All of the Frenchman's 50 co-defendants were also found guilty of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault.

Among them, Husamettin Dogan, a former construction worker in his forties, was sentenced to nine years in prison on charges of aggravated rape. An appeals court in the southern city of Nimes will hear his appeal up until Wednesday.

His lawyer Sylvie Menvielle said her client believed he was participating in a libertine threesome for which he didn't know at the time Gisele Pelicot had not given her consent, so he could not accept the guilty verdict.

"He was facing someone who was acting with extraordinary manipulation and perversity," Menvielle told Reuters, referring to Dominique Pelicot.

In French criminal law, intent is crucial in assessing guilt.

(Reporting by Antony Paone, writing by Juliette Jabkhiro, editing by Richard Lough and Alexandra Hudson)
NEW YORK  "Good Boy," a new horror movie told from the perspective of a dog, took three years to make. The timeline wasn't affected as much by COVID-19 or the Hollywood strikes as it was the film's star.

"He can only work an hour or two a day," Ben Leonberg tells USA TODAY. The lead character of "Good Boy" (in theaters now) is his Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever, Indy (who, to the newsroom's delight, joins Leonberg for the interview). "Our time was our most important resource. It's like working with a little kid."

Filmmakers always say, " 'Don't work with kids or animals.' And part of the reason for that is that once they're done, they're done."

Filmmaker Ben Leonberg makes his feature directorial debut with the horror film, "Good Boy." The movie's star, his retriever Indy, is pretty comfortable in front of the camera.

Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox

In Leonberg's directorial debut, Todd (Shane Jensen) and his dog, Indy, relocate from New York City to a remote cabin once owned by Todd's grandfather. Todd's sister, Vera (Arielle Friedman), is worried about her brother's plan, believing the cabin is haunted. Indy immediately senses something doesn't feel right and tries to protect Todd from a supernatural force that threatens their lives.

Filming began when Leonberg, 37, and his wife, producer Kari Fischer, left New York during the COVID-19 pandemic for a remote rental in Morristown, New Jersey. The filmmaker says "Poltergeist" and the trope of the dog sensing trouble before the humans do were inspirations for the film. Most of "Good Boy" is shot from Indy's eye level to give the audience the dog's view. Leonberg didn't use CGI or a second dog for Indy's performance. The filmmaker also reveals that his dog didn't have to learn any new tricks or commands for his role.

"A tight close-up of just (Indy) being still  that always took a lot of effort and a lot of trial and error," Leonberg says. "But having him wander through the house, sometimes that was really easy. We would make literal breadcrumb trails of his food for him to follow, to kind of control how he would get from point A to point B."

Indy the dog stars as the canine best friend of a man whose new place is haunted by a dark spirit in "Good Boy."

Leonberg demonstrates this with Indy, using a hand signal and a few crumbs to get the retriever to walk across the studio.

In real life, Indy is in fact a very good boy. As for the dog's next project, Leonberg doesn't see another film in Indy's future, but anything is possible.

"It'd have to be another project where someone was willing to work just a few hours a day, getting a few shots a day, which if there's anyone else famous in the movie doesn't usually work," he says. "But that said, for the right Super Bowl commercial, for the right dog food, he's ready to sell out."

Sounds as if Leonberg and Indy are just waiting for the paw-fect project.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Good Boy' horror movie introduces a new star, a dog named Indy
A 60-year-old man was arrested Monday in Australia after police said he fired up to 100 bullets at passersby, injuring 20 people in the country's most populous city.

New South Wales police said they were called on Sunday evening to a street in Sydney's Inner West, where the alleged gunman was firing at random cars and police. One man with a gunshot wound transported himself to the hospital following the incident, police said. He is in a "serious" condition.

Another 19 people were treated for shrapnel or shattered glass injuries, with several taken to the hospital, authorities said.

Acting New South Wales Police Superintendent Stephen Parry said "anywhere between 50 and 100 shots" were fired between 7:45 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. local time on Sunday night in Croydon Park, a suburb of Inner West.

A large contingent of police swarmed the area and locked down the street before entering a unit above a business and arresting a 60-year-old man. They seized two rifles from the scene.

The accused shooter was also taken to the hospital and treated for wounds sustained during his arrest, police said. No charges have been filed against the alleged gunman yet.

Joe Azar, who was working across the road, told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper that he heard what he thought were fireworks or rocks being thrown at windows.

"Some guy's windshield blew up, then the bus stop glass shattered," he told the newspaper. "The surreal feeling kicked in like, 'Oh, this is what's happening.'"

"It was frantic. It all happened so quick, so I couldn't comprehend what was going on," he added.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon described the shooting as "serious and terrifying." The gunman's motive was unclear but there were "no known links to terrorism activity or any gang activity," he told local radio station 2GB. A police investigation is ongoing.

Mass shootings are relatively rare in Australia.

A ban on automatic and semi-automatic weapons has been in place since 1996, when a lone gunman killed 35 people in Port Arthur, Tasmania.

In August, alleged gunman Dezi Freeman went on the run in the bush after being accused of killing two police officers. He remains at large.

And in 2022, six people, including two police officers, were killed in a shooting near the small Queensland town of Wieambilla.

Mark Sanchez facing multiple charges after allegedly attacking truck driver, getting stabbed

In the Mail: Viewers respond to last Sunday's 60 Minutes

Second life for California trees burned in wildfires
By Nidal al-Mughrabi

(Reuters) -Khalil Al-Hayya, the senior Hamas official who survived an Israeli raid on Qatar last month, was heading back to indirect talks with Israeli counterparts on Monday over President Donald Trump's plan to end the Gaza War.

Hayya, who lost a son in the current Gaza war and two sons in previous conflicts, has been based with other Hamas leaders in Doha.

He has become increasingly influential in the militant group as other top Hamas officials have been killed in Israeli strikes, among them Ismail Haniyeh on a visit to Iran and Yahya Sinwar in the Gaza Strip.

On Monday, he was in Sharm el-Sheikh for indirect talks with Israel on Trump's 20-point plan that will include exchanging Israeli hostages in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Hayya has been at the heart of ceasefire talks throughout the Gaza war that erupted when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, prompting a sweeping Israeli offensive that has flattened much of the enclave since then.

HAYYA NOW SEEN AS GROUP'S MOST INFLUENTIAL FIGURE ABROAD

An earlier ceasefire initiative had been on the agenda for discussion between the 64-year-old and other Hamas leaders when they were targeted in Israel's September 9 attack on Doha, in which six people were killed but no top Hamas officials.

Hayya, widely seen as the group's most influential figure abroad since Haniyeh was killed by Israel in Iran in July 2024, is part of a five-man leadership council based in Qatar that has led Hamas since Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the October 2023 attacks, was killed last year.

Hailing from the Gaza Strip, Hayya is a veteran member of the Islamist group. Regarded as having good ties with Iran, a vital source of arms and finance for Hamas, he has been closely involved in the group's efforts to broker several truces with Israel, playing a key role in ending a 2014 conflict and again in attempts to secure an end to the current Gaza war.

Hayya has been part of Hamas since it was set up in 1987. In the early 1980s, he joined the Muslim Brotherhood, the Sunni Islamist movement from which Hamas emerged, along with Haniyeh and Sinwar, Hamas sources say.

In Gaza, he was detained several times by Israel.

In 2007, an Israeli airstrike hit his family home in Gaza City's Shejaia quarter, killing several relatives. In 2008, his son Hamza was killed by an Israeli airstrike.

In the 2014 war between Hamas and Israel, the house of Hayya's eldest son Osama was bombed, killing him, his wife and three of their children.

TIES WITH IRAN, TALKS WITH SYRIA

Hayya left Gaza several years ago, serving as a Hamas point person for ties with the Arab and Islamic worlds and basing himself in Qatar. He accompanied Haniyeh to Tehran for the visit in July during which he was assassinated.

He has been cited as saying the October 7 attacks had been meant as a limited operation by Hamas to capture "a number of soldiers" to swap for jailed Palestinians.

"But the Zionist army unit completely collapsed," he said in comments published by the Hamas-linked Palestinian Information Center, referring to Israel's military.

He has said the attack succeeded in bringing the Palestinian issue back into international focus.

Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people and abducted 251 others in the attacks, according to Israeli tolls. More than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's offensive in Gaza since then, according to the Gaza health ministry.

Alongside leading Hamas delegations in mediated talks to try to secure a ceasefire, he has performed a range of other high-profile political work for the group.

In 2022, he led a Hamas team to Damascus to mend ties with former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, broken a decade earlier when the movement endorsed the largely Sunni uprising against Assad, a member of the minority Alawite sect.

The breach had strained a regional alliance built by Iran to counter Israel and the United States.

(Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Edmund Blair and Janet Lawrence)
Taylor Wily died in June 2024, allegedly after a medical transport company dropped him, causing a head injury (Getty)

The family of actor and former sumo wrestler Taylor Tuli Wily has filed a lawsuit alleging he suffered fatal injuries after being dropped in a wheelchair by a Las Vegas medical transport company.

Wily, perhaps best known for his role in the reboots of Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I., died on June 20, 2024, in Hurricane, Utah, at the age of 56. Details of how his death came about have not previously been made public.

According to the filing, a ramp on one of GMTCares vans failed when Wily was on it. As a result, he fell and struck the back of his head on the pavement, the lawsuit says.

The wrongful death complaint, filed in September, accuses the company of negligence during the October 3, 2023, incident. The lawsuit names Wilys estate, his widow Halona Wily, and their two children as plaintiffs.

Representatives for GMTCare have not publicly commented on the case.

Wily, born in Hawaii, competed in sumo wrestling from the late 1980s until the mid-1990s. As wrestled under the name Takamikuni before eventually retiring due to knee problems. He also fought in UFC matches where he was billed as Teila Tuli.

Taylor Wily played the recurring character Kamekona Tupuola in Hawaii Five-0 and also Magnum P.I. His family has filed a lawsuit over his death. (CBS)

During a match against Gerard Gordeau, Wily landed a punch that broke Gordeaus hand. The referee ended up calling an end to the fight, declaring Gordeau the winner on a technical knockout.

Wily later had a recurring role in the series Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I. where he played the same character, Kamekona Tupuola.

He also had a role in 2017 comedy film Forgetting Sarah Marshall, where he played a hotel worker who befriends the main character in the movie, played by Jason Segel.

The Independent has contacted GMTCare and Richard Harris Law Firm for comment.
A screen capture from video shows trekkers leaving their campsite, as unusually heavy snow and rainfall pummeled the Himalayas, in the Tibet Region, China, October 5, 2025. Geshuang Chen/Handout via REUTERS

A screen capture from video shows trekkers leaving their campsite, as unusually heavy snow and rainfall pummeled the Himalayas, in the Tibet Region, China, October 5, 2025. Geshuang Chen/Handout via REUTERS

By Ryan Woo

BEIJING (Reuters) - Hundreds of trekkers stranded by a blizzard near the eastern face of Mount Everest in Tibet have been guided to safety by rescuers, Chinese state media reported, as unusually heavy snow and rainfall pummelled the Himalayas.

Some 350 trekkers had reached the small township of Qudang, while contact with the remaining 200-plus trekkers had been made, CCTV reported on Sunday. Its Monday evening news bulletin did not provide any updates.

Tibet media released a video showing trekkers being welcomed with hot soup in a communal hall, before boarding busses that took them away from the area.

Visitors to the remote valley of Karma, which leads to the eastern Kangshung face of Everest, were in the hundreds this week, taking advantage of an eight-day National Day holiday in China.

"It was so wet and cold in the mountains, and hypothermia was a real risk," said Chen Geshuang, who was part of an 18-strong trekking team that made it to Qudang.

"The weather this year is not normal. The guide said he had never encountered such weather in October. And it happened all too suddenly."

Chen's party descended from the mountains on Sunday and was greeted with sweet tea by villagers after enduring a harrowing evening of heavy snowfall combined with thunder and lightning.

Hundreds of local villagers and rescue teams had been deployed to help remove snow blocking access to the area, where nearly 1,000 people had been trapped, according to an earlier report by state-backed Jimu News.

The remaining trekkers will arrive in Qudang in stages under the assistance of rescuers organised by the local government, CCTV reported.

The CCTV report did not say if local guides and support staff of the trekking parties had been accounted for.

'HARDLY SLEPT'

Snowfall in the valley, which lies at an elevation averaging 4,200 metres (13,800 feet), began on Friday evening and persisted throughout Saturday.

"It was raining and snowing every day, and we did not see Everest at all," said Eric Wen, who survived the ordeal.

His trekking party of 18 had decided on Saturday night to make their way back from their fifth and final campsite, concerned by the continuous snowfall.

"We only had a few tents. More than 10 of us were in the large tent and hardly slept," Wen told Reuters on Monday.

Wen said his group had to clear the snow every 10 minutes.

"Otherwise our tents would have collapsed," he said.

Two men and a woman in the group suffered hypothermia when the temperature slipped below freezing, even though they were sufficiently attired, Wen said.

But his expedition party emerged largely unscathed, including eight other expedition guides and several others who tended the yaks transporting their equipment and kit.

NORTH FACE

Karma valley, first explored by Western travellers a century ago, is a relatively pristine part of the Everest region. Unlike the peak's arid north face, it boasts lush vegetation and untouched alpine forests, fed by meltwaters from the Kangshung glacier at the foot of the world's highest mountain.

It was unclear if trekkers near the north face, which draws large numbers of tourists due to its easy access by paved road, had been affected.

October is a peak season, when skies usually clear at the end of the Indian monsoon.

To the south of Tibet in Nepal, heavy rains triggered landslides and flash floods that have blocked roads, washed away bridges and killed at least 50 people since Friday.

Thirty-seven people died in separate landslides in the eastern Ilam district bordering India.

A South Korean trekker died in Nepal and his body was recovered by a rescue helicopter on Monday, said Tulsi Gurung, president of Nepal National Mountain Guides Association. His guide was rescued.

The hiker, whose name was not given, climbed the 6,476 metres (21,246 feet) Mera Peak on Saturday.

(Reporting by Ryan Woo in Beijing, Casey Hall in Shanghai, Marius Zaharia in Hong Kong and Gopal Sharma in Kathmandu; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Louise Heavens, Ros Russell, Saad Sayeed and Chizu Nomiyama)
The flag of the U.S. state Ilinois is seen in this illustration taken, August 21, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

By Nate Raymond

(Reuters) -Illinois filed a lawsuit on Monday seeking to block U.S. President Donald Trump from deploying hundreds of federalized National Guard troops into the streets of Chicago.

The Democratic-led state and the city of Chicago filed the lawsuit hours after a federal judge in Oregon on Sunday temporarily blocked Trump's administration from sending any National Guard troops to police Portland, Oregon.

The lawsuit took aim at a decision by the Trump administration over the weekend to federalize up to 300 members of the Illinois National Guard over the objections of Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker and another 400 from Texas to deploy into Chicago.

"These advances in President Trumps long-declared 'War' on Chicago and Illinois are unlawful and dangerous," the complaint alleged.

The Republican president is deploying the military to Illinois based on a "flimsy pretext" that alleges an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in a suburb of Chicago needs protecting as protests outside the building over Trump's immigration crackdown continue, according to the lawsuit.

The state argues that the Trump administration as a result cannot satisfy the legal prerequisites to allow it to federalize National Guard troops without Pritzker's blessing and is violating the Posse Comitatus Act, a federal law which sharply limits the use of the military for domestic enforcement.

The lawsuit also argues Trump's actions violate the U.S. Constitution's 10th Amendment, which protects states' rights, by usurping Pritzker's role as the commander-in-chief of the National Guard in Illinois and by infringing on the state's authority over local law enforcement.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The move to deploy troops to Illinois is the latest example of Trump expanding use of the U.S. military in his second term, which has included deploying troops along the U.S. border and ordering them to kill suspected drug traffickers on boats off Venezuela without due process.

National Guard troops are state-based militia forces that answer to their governors except when called into federal service.

National Guard troops have been deployed to police Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and Trump has said he would send troops to several other Democratic-led cities, including Chicago and Portland, regardless of objections from local government officials.

A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from using U.S. troops in California to fight crime on September 2, but that ruling is on hold while the administration appeals.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Alexia Garamfalvi and Aurora Ellis)
Illinois filed a lawsuit Monday in an attempt to block the Trump administration from deploying federalized National Guard troops on the streets of Chicago, but the judge assigned to the case indicated she wouldn't take any action until Thursday at the earliest.

Attorneys for the state had urged U.S. District Judge April Perry to issue a ruling immediately after lawyers for the Justice Department acknowledged that members of the state National Guard and members of the Texas National Guard could be activated in the city as soon as Tuesday.

The judge said she needed time to go through the government's response to the suit and scheduled a hearing for Thursday, and she declined to sign the state's temporary restraining order in the meantime.

The suit alleges the administration's efforts to send the National Guard into the state are illegal and unconstitutional.

The American people, regardless of where they reside, should not live under the threat of occupation by the United States military, particularly not simply because their city or state leadership has fallen out of a presidents favor, the Illinois attorney general's office wrote in the filing, which names President Donald Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll as defendants.

The Trump administrations illegal actions already have subjected and are subjecting Illinois to serious and irreparable harm, the suit says.

The White House maintained Trump's actions are lawful.

Amidst ongoing violent riots and lawlessness, that local leaders like [Illinois Gov. JB] Pritzker have refused to step in to quell, President Trump has exercised his lawful authority to protect federal officers and assets. President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement.

Representatives for the Justice Department, Army and Department of Homeland Security didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. The Defense Department declined to comment.

A federal judge in Oregon issued two separate orders over the weekend temporarily blocking the Trump administration from sending federalized National Guard members from California  or any other state  to Portland, Oregon. Portland and Chicago are part of a wave of Democrat-run cities and states that Trump has targeted with federal troops.

This country has a longstanding and foundational tradition of resistance to government overreach, especially in the form of military intrusion into civil affairs, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, wrote in one of her rulings.

The suit brought on behalf of Illinois and the city of Chicago makes similar arguments about federal overreach.

The Federalization Orders deployment of federalized military forces to protect federal personal and property from 'violent demonstrations' that 'are occurring or are likely to occur' represents the exact type of intrusion on State power that is at the heart of the Tenth Amendment," it says.

The deployment of federalized National Guard, including from another state, infringes on Illinoiss sovereignty and right to self-governance. It will cause only more unrest, including harming social fabric and community relations and increasing the mistrust of police. It also creates economic harm, depressing business activities and tourism that not only hurt Illinoisians but also hurt Illinoiss tax revenue, the suit says.

The city and the state want a judge to declare the administrations federalization and deployment of the National Guard of the United States or any state National Guard or the deployment of the U.S. military in Illinois as "unconstitutional and/or unlawful."

Trump had been threatening to send the National Guard into Chicago for months, and he gave the green light to do so over the weekend.

The suit denies theres any emergency in the city or that there is a need for federal troops.

"The supposed current emergency is belied by the fact that Trumps Chicago troop deployment threats began more than ten years ago," the suit says, pointing to a 2013 tweet in which Trump wrote, "we need our troops on the streets of Chicago, not in Syria.

He has since worked to "demonize cities where Democrats had been elected as leaders" and provoked unrest in the state by surging federal law enforcement to target undocumented immigrants and protesters outside an immigration detention facility in the suburb of Broadview, the suit says.

"Among other things, Trump and Noem have sent a surge of SWAT-tactic trained federal agents to Illinois to use unprecedented, brute force tactics for civil immigration enforcement; federal agents have repeatedly shot chemical munitions at groups that included media and legal observers outside the Broadview facility; and dozens of masked, armed federal agents have paraded through downtown Chicago in a show of force and control," the suit says.

"The communitys horror at these tactics and their significant consequences have resulted in entirely foreseeable protests," it adds.

The suit also points to Trump's remarks to a gathering of military leaders last week, which it described as his pitching "his plan to use American soldiers to punish his political enemies."

"He told them that they must prioritize 'defending the homeland' against the 'invasion from within' in American cities run by 'radical-left Democrats,' specifically including Chicago. He stated his intention to use our neighborhoods 'as training grounds for our military," the suit says.

Pritzker said in an interview Sunday on CNNs State of the Union that federal authorities are the ones that are making it a war zone" in Chicago.

Trump has threatened to send the National Guard into other prominent Democratic-run cities against their wishes, as well, including New York, Baltimore and New Orleans.

The rate of serious crimes has dropped dramatically in those cities and in Chicago in recent years. Statistics from the Chicago Police Department show the murder rate through the end of September was down 29% compared with the same period last year. Overall crime is down 13%, according to the police department.

Trump previously deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. In early September, a federal judge in California ruled that his deployment of Marines and National Guard members there was illegal. D.C.'s Democratic attorney general has also sued to challenge the deployment of troops in the capital.
CHICAGO  A federal judge on Oct. 6 decided to allow National Guard members to deploy to Illinois over the objections of Gov. JB Pritzker, who slammed the Trump administrations mobilization of troops as an "invasion of Illinois by the federal government."

U.S. District Judge April M. Perry decided at an emergency hearing on Oct. 6 that National Guard troops can deploy at least until Oct. 9, when the federal judge for the Northern District of Illinois scheduled a hearing over the matter. Perrys decision came in response to a lawsuit filed on Oct. 6 by the Illinois Attorney Generals Office asking Perry to stop Trump from deploying troops.

The hearing at the Everett McKinley Dirksen United States Courthouse in Chicago came hours before Texas National Guard members were expected to board a flight bound for Illinois and as troops from the Illinois National Guard are expected to begin training for deployment as soon as Oct. 7, according to Trump administration lawyers.

Chicago protests push back against increased federal immigration raids A pastor reads the Bible during a standoff with police officers outside the Broadview ICE facility, after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered increased federal law enforcement presence to assist in crime prevention, in Chicago, Ill. on Nov.1, 2025.

Attorneys for the White House said troops from Texas could deploy "tomorrow at the earliest." The federal government attorneys could not answer Perrys questions regarding where exactly the troops would deploy.

Pritzker called a news conference shortly after Perry made her decision to reiterate that the Trump administration is deploying troops despite vociferous objections from local leaders.

"He clearly has decided to declare war on a great American city," the governor said of Trump. "Our people have been subjected to violence, intimidation and harassment."

Perry said in court on Oct. 6 that she could not immediately issue a decision regarding the troop deployment because the court had to review hundreds of pages of court filings in the case.

Anything deployed troops did before then could potentially be used as evidence against the Trump administration, said Perry: "If I were the federal government, I would strongly consider taking a pause on this until Thursday."

Around 300 Illinois National Guard members are expected to deploy. As many as 400 members from Texas are expected to deploy.

More: Can National Guardsmen deployed to US cities claim conscientious objection?

Midway Blitz ramps up

Judge Perrys decision comes amid a rush of activity in and around Chicago related to the White Houses Chicago-area immigration crackdown known as Operation Midway Blitz which President Donald Trump launched last month. Trump has said the crackdown is necessary to catch "the worst of the worst" criminals who are immigrants.

Earlier on Oct. 6, Illinois State Attorney Kwame Raoul filed a 69-page lawsuit over the Trump administrations move to deploy the National Guard, prompting the hearing in Perrys courtroom. Across the hall on the 17th floor of the downtown Chicago courthouse, a detention hearing was held for a woman accused of ambushing federal agents; she appeared in court in bandages after being shot by agents.

In another courtroom, a hearing was held in a case brought by local news organizations against the Trump administration over federal agents aggressive tactics towards journalists covering protests. Across the Chicago River, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson held a news conference slamming the upcoming deployment.

"The only radical is a president trying to deploy the National Guard on our city from across the country," said Johnson, a progressive who is frequently targeted by the White House. "We do not want the National Guard on our streets.

Also on Oct. 6, Johnson issued an executive order prohibiting federal immigration agents from using city property to stage operations. Its unclear what legal authority the order holds.

Hundreds arrested, Black Hawk helicopters, alderperson detained

The numerous hearings and words of condemnation from Illinois officials come on the heels of a heated week in the city.

Immigration agents rappelling from Black Hawk helicopters stormed a South Side apartment building they said held members of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The raid left the building a wreck. Among 37 people arrested were two "confirmed" members of the Venezuelan gang, according to a Department of Homeland Security statement.

In addition to Johnson, some city officials have taken prominent stances against immigration enforcement agents. Alderperson Jessie Fuentes, a City Council member representing a historically Puerto Rican neighborhood, was handcuffed and detained by immigration agents after asking agents whether they had a warrant to arrest a local resident.

Homeland Security officials are facing challenges in federal court in Chicago to making arrests without a warrant. But a hearing regarding the arrests was delayed following the government shutdown.

Immigration enforcement authorities say that they have arrested over 800 "illegal aliens including worst of the worst criminals" since launching the blitz.

Among people Homeland Security officials recently celebrated the arrest of were Stefan Cseve, a "criminal illegal alien from Austria" convicted of sexual assault; Cristobal Carias Masin, a native of El Salvador convicted of statutory rape; and Angel Galindo Viveros, a Mexico native convicted of armed carjacking.

A full account of the people arrested by immigration enforcement agents, including their immigration status and criminal background, could not be independently verified.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas, Illinois National Guard headed to Chicago
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest to condemn the Israeli forces', after Israel intercepted some of the vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla aiming to reach Gaza and break Israel's naval blockade, in Geneva, Switzerland, October 2, 2025. The banner reads : Solidarity with attacked flotilla and massacred Gaza. REUTERS/Olivia Le Poidevin

By Olivia Le Poidevin, David Latona and Howard Goller

(Reuters) -Israel said it deported on Monday campaigner Greta Thunberg and another 170 activists from an international flotilla it prevented last week from delivering aid to Gaza, sending them to Greece and Slovakia.

Earlier, Swiss and Spanish activists from the flotilla said they were subjected to inhumane conditions during their detention by Israeli forces. Monday's expulsions brought to 341 the total number deported from 479 detained.

Israel's foreign ministry issued a statement, accompanied by photos of Thunberg at the airport, saying all participants' legal rights had been upheld and the only violence involved an activist who bit a female medic at Israel's Ketziot prison.

An Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson said Thunberg, a Swedish campaigner primarily for climate change, boarded a plane at Ramon airbase in Israel's Negev Desert. Israel has dismissed the flotilla as a publicity stunt.

The deportees are citizens of Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Denmark, Slovakia, Switzerland, Norway, the UK, Serbia, and the United States, the foreign ministry said.

DEPORTED ACTIVISTS ALLEGE MISTREATMENT

Among nine members of the flotilla who arrived home in Switzerland, some alleged sleep deprivation, lack of water and food, as well as some being beaten, kicked, and locked in a cage, the group representing them said in a statement.

An Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson rejected the allegations.

Spanish activists also alleged mistreatment on their arrival in Spain late on Sunday after being deported.

"They beat us, dragged us along the ground, blindfolded us, tied our hands and feet, put us in cages and insulted us," lawyer Rafael Borrego told reporters at Madrid's airport.

Swedish activists said on Saturday that Thunberg was shoved and forced to wear an Israeli flag during her detention, while others said they had clean food and water withheld and had their medication and belongings confiscated.

ISRAEL SAYS CLAIMS ARE COMPLETE LIES

Israel's foreign ministry has described widespread reports of detainees being mistreated after the flotilla was intercepted as "complete lies".

A spokesperson told Reuters over the weekend that all detainees were given access to water, food, and restrooms, adding: "they were not denied access to legal counsel and all their legal rights were fully upheld".

On Sunday, the Swiss Embassy in Tel Aviv visited 10 Swiss nationals and said all were "in relatively good health, given the circumstances."

Former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, who was also on the flotilla, said there had been "mistreatment, but that was nothing compared to what the Palestinian people suffer every day".

Spanish journalists Carlos de Barron and Nestor Prieto said Israeli authorities signed a statement on the deported activists' behalf claiming they had entered Israel illegally.

"They placed documents in Hebrew in front of us, denying us the right to a translator, and we did not receive consular assistance because they did not allow the (Spanish) consul to enter the port of Ashdod," Prieto said.

Consular staff have visited activists at the prison, according to statements from several countries whose citizens were detained.

(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin, David Latona, Alexander Cornwell and Howard GollerWriting by Charlie Devereux and Howard GollerEditing by Alexandra Hudson)
Jerusalem  Israel and Hamas have started indirect talks on a plan to end the war in Gaza.

An Egyptian official  speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the talks  told The Associated Press that the talks started at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday.



Egypt's state-owned Al-Qahera News TV station reported that the talks began with a meeting between a Hamas delegation and Arab mediators, who were expected to meet later with an Israeli delegation.

Negotiators were expected to discuss President Trump's 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, which was sparked two years ago, on Oct. 7, by the Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel. Mr. Trump presented his plan during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House last Monday.

Hamas  which is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., Israel and many other nations  issued a statement on Friday saying it agreed to some of the key points in the plan, including releasing all the remaining hostages, living and deceased, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. It also said it agreed to handing over control of Gaza to a transitional international body.

But Hamas did not immediately agree to other points in Mr. Trump's proposal, including some related to its disarmament and future role in Palestinian politics.

Mr. Trump on Sunday urged the negotiators to "move fast" in the talks, calling ongoing discussions between Hamas and other nations in the region about the ceasefire proposal "very successful." He said they were "proceeding rapidly."

A woman kneels next to a grave at the Kibbutz Nir Oz cemetery during a ceremony commemorating the two-year anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel. / Credit: Ilia Yefimovich/picture alliance/Getty

"The technical teams will again meet Monday, in Egypt, to work through and clarify the final details," Mr. Trump said. "I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST. I will continue to monitor this Centuries old 'conflict.' TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OR, MASSIVE BLOODSHED WILL FOLLOW  SOMETHING THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE!"

On Monday, the Israeli Hostages Families Forum, which represents most of the families of those still missing, sent a letter to the Nobel Prize committee urging them to bestow the Nobel Peace Prize on Mr. Trump for his "unwavering commitment and extraordinary leadership" in seeking a deal to bring the remaining captives home.

The forum said it was backing Mr. Trump for a Nobel "with hearts full of gratitude and a profound sense of momentous urgency," lauding the president's "determination to bring peace."

"At this very moment, President Trump's comprehensive plan to release all remaining hostages and

finally end this terrible war is on the table," the forum says in its letter. "For the first time in months, we are hopeful that our nightmare will finally be over. We are confident that he will not rest until the last hostage is brought home, the war has ended, and peace and prosperity are restored to the people of the Middle East."

Egypt's foreign ministry said the talks would focus on "establishing the necessary humanitarian and logistical conditions for implementing a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas."

According to Mr. Trump's proposal, the exchange would see the 48 remaining Israeli hostages released. Israeli officials believe about 20 of them are still alive. After that, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners who are being held by Israel would be freed. Of those prisoners, 250 are serving life sentences and 1,700 are from Gaza and were detained after the Oct. 7 attack.

The talks will also "address the details of the process in line with the plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at ending the war and alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza," Egypt's foreign ministry said.

Displaced Palestinian children search for items that could be used as fuel for cooking in a pile of burning garbage at the Bureij camp for refugees in the central Gaza Strip, Oct. 6, 2025. / Credit: EYAD BABA/AFP/Getty

Amid the signs of a potential deal, Israeli strikes continued Sunday in Gaza, although CBS News sources said there were fewer than before Mr. Trump's proposal was announced. The IDF said it "struck and eliminated a terrorist cell armed with explosive devices and mortars that were intended to be used in terror attacks against IDF troops in the area of Gaza City."

An Israeli government spokesperson said Sunday that "certain bombings have actually stopped inside of the Gaza Strip," but they added that there is "no ceasefire in place at this point in time."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CBS News' "Face the Nation" on Sunday that Israel's bombing of Gaza would need to stop for the remaining hostages to be released.

"I'd give it a 50% shot of happening, because both sides feel the pressure to get this done. Israel feels the pressure from the U.S., and Hamas feels the pressure from Qatar, from Turkey, from Egypt, from Jordan, and from Saudi Arabia," former senior Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas told CBS News on Monday, referring to the possible hostage and prisoner swap. "As for the rest of the plan, the likelihood goes down from 50% to maybe 10%. I just doubt it's going to happen. Even this phase is going to be as ambiguous and amenable to interpretations, and I don't see it going smoothly."

Ohad Ben Ami, who was captured by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack and released in a prisoner swap in February, said he was eager for a deal to get done.

"Now it seems like there is hope," Ben Ami said over the weekend at an event. He added that felt betrayed by Israel's government.

"I love my country, and I love the people, but our government is disconnected. And until now, I have the feeling of insult. I feel that they abandoned me," he said.

During his time in captivity, Ben Ami was first held above ground in a series of apartments in Gaza before being moved down into Hamas' vast tunnel network underneath the Palestinian territory, where he said he and other hostages were kept in squalid conditions and not given enough to eat.

"I'm here with you. I speak and I talk, but in my mind, I'm down there," Ben Ami said at the Sunday event. "Until they  come back, all the 48 (remaining hostages), I cannot live. I'm still a hostage. I'm a free man, but not in my soul."

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Democratic Virginia AG candidate apologizes for violent, inflammatory texts
Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) poses for a portrait in his office in Washington, D.C., on May 6, 2025. - Josh Morgan/Imagn Images

Maine Rep. Jared Golden, the only Democrat in the House to vote for the Republican-led government funding bill, drew a primary challenger Monday who accused him of consistently siding with the GOP over his own party.

State Auditor Matthew Dunlaps bid sets the stage for a high-profile showdown in a district Democrats will likely need to hold to regain control of the US House. Golden represents one of the countrys most competitive districts, winning his 2024 race by less than a percentage point while President Donald Trump carried it by roughly 10 points.

Dunlap told CNN ahead of his announcement that Democrats are very, very disenchanted with Jared, and that Golden overplays the difficulty of winning the district.

Its not a hostile wilderness. These are my neighbors and friends. I know them well, and I feel welcome in every community in the state, Dunlap said.

In a statement, Golden said he represents a district that is fiercely independent.

Its one of the most ideologically diverse districts in the country, and deserves someone who represents it as it is, he said.

Golden broke ranks to vote with Republicans last month on a funding bill to avert a government shutdown, which was blocked by Senate Democrats.

Defending the vote in a statement, Golden said that the shutdown is the result of hardball politics driven by the demands far-left groups are making for Democratic Party leaders to put on a show of their opposition to President Trump.

Its one of several instances of Golden crossing party lines throughout his career, frustrating some Democrats even as he has burnished an independent reputation.

Dunlap pointed to Goldens support earlier this year for the SAVE Act  GOP legislation that would have required proof of citizenship to vote  saying that it was just inexplicable to me.

I feel like we have one of the best election systems in the country, said Dunlap who served as Maines secretary of state from 2005 to 2011 and again from 2013 to 2021. People ask me about the SAVE Act vote, and I said, well, it really wasnt a tipping point, but it was a weathervane. It told me where people are.

Golden, meanwhile, referred to Dunlap as a 30-year party crony who was trying to recreate himself as a progressive.

Dunlap lined up with the national Democratic argument that Republicans should reach a deal to restore health care funding that could otherwise expire soon.

But he was critical of party leaders and declined to say whether he would back House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries if elected.

I dont think anybody in Democratic leadership has necessarily draped themselves in glory in this cycle, and when I am in that position to make that decision, Im going to listen to what people have to say, Dunlap said.

On the Republican side, former two-term Gov. Paul LePage announced a campaign for the district seat in May, writing on social media that weve had too many years of Washington, D.C. trying to control the people. It is time to put the people before politics.

And LePages campaign reacted to the developments in the Democratic primary, saying in a statement that Matt Dunlap sees what we see, Jared Golden is hiding.

Maine people say they never see Jared Golden in their towns or communities. Jared Golden spends more time trying to please his New York, Los Angeles and Cambridge donors than he does talking to the people of Maine, LePages campaign wrote.

This story has been updated with additional information.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Brendon O'Hagan/Bloomberg via Getty Stock image of an Air New Zealand plane

NEED TO KNOW

Reuben Jeremy Finn, 30, was sentenced in court on Sept. 29 in relation to charges after he and a partner were arrested for 'excessively' kissing while on an Air New Zealand flight in November 2024

Finn 'admitted' to the crime, which occurred during a flight between Auckland and Nelson, New Zealand

Finn's partner, Bronte LeLievre, also admitted to the acts and will be sentenced in November

A New Zealand man was sentenced after being arrested for "excessively" kissing and fondling a partner while on a flight.

On Sept. 29, 30-year-old Reuben Jeremy Finn appeared in Nelson District Court, where he was sentenced to 6 months of community detention and 12 months of intensive supervision, according to reporting by The New Zealand Herald and New Zealand outlet The Press.

The sentence came after he and his 32-year-old partner, Bronte LeLievre, were arrested while flying between Auckland and Nelson on Nov. 13, 2024.

Google Maps Nelson District Court

While on the domestic flight alongside 48 other passengers and two flight attendants, Finn and LeLievre were repeatedly asked to stop intense public displays of affection, which flight attendants said were making others uncomfortable.

After being asked to stop once, Finn placed his hand inside LeLievre's bra. The couple reportedly pretended to be asleep when they were approached by a flight attendant.

They were arrested, and both "admitted" to the charges, per The New Zealand Herald. The duo was charged with performing an indecent act in a public place.

While in court, Finn was concurrently charged with two counts of shoplifting, theft at a dwelling and possession of methamphetamine utensils, according to The Press.

He appeared in front of Judge Garry Barkle, who said that the couple caused much embarrassment and discomfort via their actions. The judge noted that Finn had 21 previous convictions, which he had accrued from 2016 to 2024.



Community detention is comparable to a curfew and "requires an offender to remain at an approved residence at certain times specified by the court," according to New Zealand's Department of Corrections.

Finn's conviction will leave him confined at home between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. local time, The Press reported.

The department noted that intensive supervision is a type of "community-based rehabilitation sentence."

Brendon O'Hagan/Bloomberg via Getty Stock image of an Air New Zealand plane

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Intensive supervision is "imposed if the court deems that a sentence of intensive supervision would reduce the likelihood of someone offending again by supporting their rehabilitation needs and reintegration back into the community."

In court, Finn's lawyer Steven Zindel noted that he struggled with addiction and was described as appearing "quite high" by the flight attendants at the time of his arrest. Finn also reportedly had a "significant" struggle with gambling.



LeLievre will return to court for her sentencing in November.



PEOPLE contacted Air New Zealand, the Nelson District Court, the New Zealand Police and Finn's lawyer, Steven Zindel, for comment on the incident, but they did not immediately respond.



Read the original article on People
A new doll is making its way to the Barbie lineup, but not all fans are pleased with its physique.

On Monday, Oct. 6, Mattel announced the launch of a brand new Barbie doll modeled after U.S. Olympic rugby medalist Ilona Maher. The 29-year-old rugby star, social media personality and body positivity advocate, took home a bronze medal with the U.S. rugby team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"Being part of Team Barbie is about showing girls that confidence isnt something to shy away from, but something to own," Maher said in a Mattel news release. "Im honored to use my platform to empower the next generation to find that spark of confidence within themselves and let it drive them toward unlocking their limitless possibilities."

Mattel created an entirely new body sculpt for Maher's doll, which the brand says "celebrates strength with a straighter, more athletic torso, visibly defined arms, shoulders, and legs, plus sculpted core and back muscles."

But fans, of both Barbie and Maher, were quick to nitpick its appearance, with most disappointed by the lack of the doll's muscular display.

"We love to see it, but would have also loved the dolls to fully reflect the actual body build of each athlete," one Instagram user commented.

"Sad to see those fabulously varied female bodies shrunk to Barbie standards," another commented. "Where are the muscles?!"

Ilona Maher, a rugby star, worked with Mattel to bring to life a new Barbie doll that features a muscular build in the likeness of Maher.

More Ilona Maher: Ilona Maher isn't afraid to take up space. The Olympian is paving the way for more girls

Rugby fans ask for addition of Canadian players

In addition to Maher's doll, Mattel also created three one-of-a-kind dolls for other female rugby stars, including Ellie Kildunne of the United Kingdom, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe of New Zealand and Nassira Konde of France. These three dolls are not for sale though.

Mattel's Team Barbie dolls, including (from left to right), Ellie Kildunne of the UK, Ilona Maher of the U.S., Portia Woodman-Wickliffe of New Zealand and Nassira Konde of France. Only the Maher doll will be available for purchase in 2026.

Other Barbie and rugby fans were disappointed to see the omission of Canada's Olivia Apps, who helped her country bring in the silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"Im obsessed!!!!!" one Instagram user wrote. "But seems like you missed a pretty important team. Give us a doll for Canada! You have so many incredible players to choose from."

How to buy the Ilona Maher Barbie doll

The Ilona Maher Barbie dolls will be available for purchase in 2026, a Mattel news release states.

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mattel's Ilona Maher Barbie sparks debate on realistic portrayal
Simply Recipes / Adobe Stock

Nothing is juicier than a tip from a seasoned butcher. After all, theyre the ones carving, trimming, and slicing every day. If anyone knows which cuts deserve more love, its them. I'll go as far to say theyre the Michelangelos of the meat counter.

So, when I asked a few butchers which cut of beef they consider the most underrated, their answers revealed both smart value picks and surprising perspectives.

The Panel of Butchers

Ed Campbell: Butcher at Kings Food Market in Hoboken, N.J., with more than a decade of experience

Danny Arriaga: Assistant butcher at Whole Foods Market in Weehawken, N.J., with 13 years of experience

Brian Guarnaccia: Butcher at Stew Leonards in Newington, Conn., with five years of experience

The Most Underrated Cuts

Simply Recipes / Adobe Stock

Chuck Roast

Campbell applauds the chuck roast for its affordability and versatility. While filet mignon is prized for its tenderness, he points out that it's not likely a cut you can eat every day. On the other hand, he says chuck roast is super flavorfuland a fraction of the price. It shines in pot roasts and stews, where slow cooking transforms it into something deeply rich and comforting.

Simply Recipes / Adobe Stock

Porterhouse

Arriaga surprised me with his choice: porterhouse. At first, I thought, How could a premium cut be underrated? But his reasoning made sense. From a value perspective, he explains porterhouse offers the best of both worldsNew York strip steak on one side and tenderloin on the other.

Because porterhouses are cut from the rear end of the short loin, the tenderloin section is larger, making it especially prized. Compared to a T-bone (cut from the front section, where the tenderloin tapers off), porterhouse gives you more of that luxurious filet mignon. And while filet mignon sold on its own can be more expensive, the porterhouse is often priced more competitively thanks to the bone and New York strip attachment.

The catch? Cooking. Arriaga wisely notes that with two different cuts of meat on the same bone, it can be tricky to get the cooking times right, since the tenderloin cooks faster than the strip.

Simply Recipes / Getty Images

Boneless Short Ribs (Denver Steak)

Guarnaccia went in a different direction, choosing boneless short ribs, also known as Denver steak. It doesnt have the same reputation as the premium loin cuts, but it comes in at a lower price point and its just as tasty and tender, he says.

He loves serving boneless short ribs as a steak, but also braises or smokes them depending on the occasion. That versatility is a win for home cooks.

On a personal note, I love slow-braised short ribs in red winea hearty dish perfect for special occasions. With their marbling and fat, short ribs have the richness of ribeye but also the meaty structure of a New York strip, which is the best of everything.



Read the original article on Simply Recipes
Smoke rises from Gaza after an explosion, as seen from the Israeli side of the border with Gaza, October 6, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

By Andrew Mills

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (Reuters) -Hamas officials were in Egypt on Monday ahead of talks with Israel that the U.S. hopes will bring a halt to war in Gaza and release of hostages despite contentious issues like disarmament of the Palestinian militant group under Donald Trump's plan.

Talks were set to begin as the war reaches its two-year mark with the majority of 2.2 million Gazans homeless and hungry in a sea of rubble after Israeli strikes that have killed over 67,000 Palestinians, mainly civilians, Gaza health officials say.

Israelis are still haunted by October 7, 2023 when Hamas-led militants stormed over the border into Israeli communities, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies - the single bloodiest day for Jews since the Holocaust. Hamas' attack ignited the war.

Israeli negotiators were due to travel to Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh later in the day for talks focused on freeing hostages, part of the U.S. president's 20-point blueprint for ending the two-year-old conflict.

A Palestinian official close to the talks was sceptical about prospects of a breakthrough given deep mutual mistrust, saying Hamas and other Palestinian factions worried that Israel might ditch negotiations once it recovered the hostages.

The Israeli delegation includes officials from spy agencies Mossad and Shin Bet, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's foreign policy adviser Ophir Falk and hostages coordinator Gal Hirsch.

However, Israel's chief negotiator, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, was only expected to join later this week, pending developments in the negotiations, according to three Israeli officials. Spokespeople for Dermer and the prime minister did not immediately comment.

The Hamas delegation is led by the group's exiled Gaza leader, Khalil Al-Hayya, whose visit to Egypt was the first since he survived an Israeli airstrike in Doha, the Qatari capital, last month designed to kill top Hamas officials.

Negotiators from Hamas will seek clarity on the mechanism to achieve a swap of remaining hostages - both alive and dead - for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, as well as an Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza and a ceasefire, according to a statement put out by the Islamist group late on Sunday.

A thorny issue is likely to be the Israeli demand, echoed in Trump's plan, that Hamas disarm, something the group insists cannot happen unless Israel ends its occupation and a Palestinian state is created, a Hamas source told Reuters.

Netanyahu, whose country has become internationally isolated over its devastation of Gaza, says a Palestinian state will never transpire, defying Western countries that have newly recognised Palestinian independence.

An official briefed on the negotiations said he expected the round of talks kicking off on Monday would not be quick.

"Negotiations will last at least a few days if not longer. There won't likely be a quick agreement because the goal is to reach agreement on a comprehensive deal with all details worked out before the ceasefire can begin to be implemented," he said.

"Hamas and Israel have agreed to the fundamentals of the Trump 20-point plan. The next phase or phases of talks are designed to tackle the specific details, which in the past has been a lengthy process."

Trump was optimistic. "I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST," he said in a social media post.

Trump's plan is the most advanced effort yet to halt the war, the longest, most destructive and deadliest ever in generations of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

The war has caused a humanitarian disaster with many Gaza Palestinians at risk of famine and suffering from a lack of safe shelter and medical care, international aid groups say.

The first phase of the talks deals with the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinians jailed in Israel. There are 48 remaining hostages in Gaza, 20 of whom are alive.

Hamas on Friday approved the hostage release formula and several other elements of Trump's plan but sidestepped trickier points, including calls for it to disarm and yield power in the Gaza Strip.

Trump nevertheless welcomed Hamas' response and told Israel to stop bombing Gaza.

WARY HOPE AMONG GAZANS FOR AN ELUSIVE DEAL

Palestinians who have watched numerous efforts to end the war through mediation by Egypt, Qatar and the United States fail are hoping all the same for a quick agreement this time.

"If there is a deal, then we survived, if there isn't, it is like we have been sentenced to death," said Gharam Mohammad, 20, who is displaced along with her family in central Gaza.

The area where she lived has been heavily bombed for the past several weeks, and hundreds of houses were demolished.

Domestically, Netanyahu is caught between growing pressure to end the war  from hostage families and a war-weary public  and demands from ultra-nationalist members of his coalition who insist there must be no let-up in efforts to annihilate Hamas.

Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on X that ceasing the military campaign would be a "grave mistake." He and Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have threatened to bring down Netanyahu's government if the war ends.

But opposition leader Yair Lapid of the centrist Yesh Atid party has said political cover will be provided so the Trump initiative can succeed and "we won't let them (far-right ministers) torpedo the deal".

(Reporting by Ahmed Fahmy in Sharm el-Sheikh, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo and Andrew Mills in Doha; writing by Michael Georgy; editing by Mark Heinrich)
North Korean 'IT Agents' Have Allegedly Funneled $1 Billion Into Kim's Nuclear Program

Thousands of North Korean IT workers have reportedly penetrated the tech sector in the U.S. and other affluent nations, using artificial intelligence to create false work and identities.

This operation is allegedly providing financial support to Kim Jong-uns government, in direct violation of international sanctions.

North Korean agents are masquerading as regular applicants for high-paying remote tech jobs, committing identity theft and resume fraud.

The FBI believes that this operation has channeled anywhere between hundreds of millions and $1 billion to the North Korean regime over the past five years, supporting Kims goal of transforming the Democratic Peoples Republic of North Korea (DPRK) into a nuclear-armed power, reports the Fortune.

The FBI has labeled the operation as one of the most extraordinary international fraud enterprises in history, presenting multiple layers of risks for companies that are deceived by it.

Also Read: North Korean Hackers Swiped $600 Million Worth Of Crypto In 2023, Expected To Carry Out More Attacks

Companies are exposed to corporate security threats from foreign government agents infiltrating their internal systems and legal risks from inadvertently breaching sanctions against North Korea.

Victims of this scheme include Fortune 500 companies, aerospace manufacturers, and US financial institutions. The North Korean workers have also impersonated HVAC specialists, engineers, and architects, utilizing AI to generate blueprints and obtain municipal approvals. The operation has extended its reach to companies in Europe, Saudi Arabia, and Australia.

This is a code red, U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro warned at a July press conference. Your tech sectors are being infiltrated by North Korea. And when big companies are lax and they're not doing their due diligence, they are putting America's security at risk.

This infiltration poses a significant threat to the security of companies and nations alike. The operation not only breaches corporate security but also violates international sanctions, thereby posing a legal risk. The funds funneled through this scheme are aiding North Koreas nuclear ambitions, posing a significant threat to global security.

The infiltration of the tech sector, a critical component of the economy, could have far-reaching economic implications.

The situation calls for increased vigilance and stringent security measures to protect against such sophisticated fraud operations.

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Retired NYPD Chief Joseph Michael Herbert, whose 38 years as one of New Yorks Finest included the arrest of the notorious New York Zodiac Killer, died in his Rockaway Beach home on Sept. 30.

The hero cop was 68.

He was the best boss I ever worked for and the sharpest detective I ever met, retired homicide Detective Louie Savarese said of Herbert. He lived and breathed the job, and the only thing he loved more than the NYPD was his wife, Barbara, and his daughter, Kristen.

It was an honor and privilege to work for and with him, Savarese said.

Retired NYPD Chief Joseph Herbert served 38 years and earned the Medal of Valor before retiring in 2017. He died on September 30 at the age of 68. Tamara Beckwith/NY Post

A Brooklyn native, Herbert joined the NYPD in 1981 at the age of 23  and shot up through the ranks to make detective in just five years  earning the Medal of Valor in 1985.

Among his career highlights was the arrest in 1996 of Heriberto Seda, the Zodiac serial killer who gunned down three innocent New Yorkers and wounded half a dozen others in Brooklyn and Queens.

Heriberto Seda, a suspect in the Zodiac killings, flanked by Detectives Louis Savaresse, Joe Herbert, and Thomas Maher outside the 75th precinct in Brooklyn. New York Post Archives

Herbert was part of the squad that busted the notorious Zodiac Killer. Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Post

Seda, who is currently serving a 235-year sentence at the upstate Clinton Correctional Facility, earned the moniker by targeting victims with specific zodiac signs and the alignment of the stars.

The killers bust was just one of Herberts many achievements on the job.

Affectionately nicknamed Pork Chop by the rank and file, he was assigned to the Joint Terrorism Task Force following the terror attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

Herbert looking excited during his promotion to Sergeant Detective Squad. Tamara Beckwith/NY Post

Herbert, far right, after his promotion to sergeant in 1996  on his way up the ladder. Tamara Beckwith/NY Post

He held the rank of deputy chief and commanding officer when he retired in 2017.

Joes command of crime conditions and criminals was unrivaled in our department, former NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce told The Post. His word at compstat was considered gospel.

He was a wonderful man with little ego and a great colleague, Boyce added.

A Brooklyn native, Herbert called it quits in 2017 with a string of successes on the job. NYPD Counterterrorism

An avid New York Rangers fan, Herbert enjoyed retirement in Rockaway Beach, doting over his granddaughter and working on an autobiography, his family said.

He brought calm to every room, met challenges with sharp wit, stood by friends with loyalty, and lived each day with love and integrity, according to his obituary.

A wake will be held Monday from 2 to 4 p.m., and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Denis S. OConnor Funeral Home in Far Rockaway, with a funeral mass at St. Francis De Sales Church and burial at Resurrection Cemetery on Staten Island, the funeral home said.

His family asks that contributions be made in to the First Responders Childrens Foundation.
FILE - A rig and supply vessel are viewed in the Gulf of Mexico off the cost of Louisiana, April 10, 2011. AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

NEW YORK (AP)  A group of countries that are part of the OPEC+ alliance of oil-exporting countries has agreed to a small boost in oil production, citing a steady global economic outlook.

The group said after a virtual meeting on Sunday that it will raise oil production by 137,000 barrels per day in November, they same amount it announced for October. The group has been raising output slightly in a series of boosts all year, after announcing cuts in 2023 and 2024.

In a statement the group said the move was due to a steady global economic outlook and current healthy market fundamentals. It added the production adjustments may be paused or reversed as market conditions evolve.

Saudi Arabia holds significant influence in OPEC+ as the dominant member of the OPEC producers cartel, and Russia is the leading non-OPEC member in the 22-country alliance.

Along with Saudi Arabia and Russia, the group that met Sunday is made up of Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman. Their next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 2.
Westmoreland County DA Shawn Price.

NEED TO KNOW

Shawn Prince is facing several charges including kidnapping and making terroristic threats

His alleged victim accuses him of kidnapping her following a "domestic incident" that took place two days before her eventual escape

Prince allegedly threatened to cut her friend's child's throat before driving her into the woods and keeping her for a night, per authorities

A Pennsylvania man was arrested over the weekend after a woman who claims he abducted her escaped while he was dozing off.

Shawn Prince, 29, was arrested on Saturday, Oct. 4 in Kentucky, days after his alleged victim reported him to police in Scottsdale, Pa., the Westmoreland County District Attorney's Office said in a statement.

The alleged victim's family had requested police conduct a welfare check when they had not heard from her in two days following a "domestic incident" with Prince, according to the statement.

When police responded to the woman's residence on Wednesday, Oct. 1, they found it empty, with the door open and her cellphone inside.

While police were still at the scene, they received a report that the woman had called 911 and was at the police station.

She alleged Prince had kidnapped her following the "domestic incident" two days prior, on Sept. 29, threatening to cut her friend's child's throat if she did not go with him, the DA's office said in the statement.

Prince is accused of then driving her to a wooded area that she did not recognize, put a gun to her head and forced her to stay there the night. The following morning, they drove out of the location and Prince made the woman drive as he was "nodding off," she told police.

The woman recognized the area they were in and drove herself to the police station, where she was able to escape him. Prince allegedly fled in the vehicle and threatened to burn down her home, the DA's office said.

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Prince was arrested in Kentucky, where he was awaiting extradition as of Saturday.

He is facing charges of kidnapping, simple assault, terroristic threats and harassment, the DA's office said in their statement.

Online court records do not indicate plea or attorney information for Prince.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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Authorities say they have found no evidence so far that a fire at a property owned by South Carolina circuit court judge Diane Goodstein was arson.

In a statement Monday, State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel said, per the Associated Press, At this time, there is no evidence to indicate the fire was intentionally set. SLED agents have preliminarily found there is no evidence to support a pre-fire explosion.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of a fire that destroyed the home over the weekend, leaving three people hospitalized. The blaze, which happened Saturday on a remote part of the states Edisto Island, nearly burned to the ground a beachfront house owned by Judge Diane Goodstein and her husband, former Democratic state Sen. Arnold Goodstein, authorities said.

Multiple fire departments responded to the blaze at the house situated next to a marsh on the barrier island. Videos circulated on social media show the house engulfed in flames, with plumes of smoke billowing into the air.

Local law enforcement partners have been alerted and asked to provide extra patrols and security, the South Carolina Supreme Court said in a statement to CNN, adding that the court will remain in close contact with investigators.

Heres what we know so far about what happened and who was affected.

Was Goodstein in the house at the time of the fire?

Goodstein was reportedly walking her dogs on the beach at the time the fire broke out around 11:30 a.m. ET on Saturday. In her first comments following the fire, she told the Daily Mail on Monday morning that she was alright.

How many people were hurt in the fire?

A total of three people were injured in Saturdays fire. One of them was airlifted to the Medical University of South Carolina, and two others were taken to the same hospital, local TV station WCSC reported, citing Colleton County Fire Rescue Capt. K.C. Campbell.

The extent of their injuries is not known, and their names have not been released.

How did people escape from the house?

WCBD

The people who were in the Goodstein home during the fire escaped by jumping from an elevated first floor, the St. Paul's Fire District said in a social media post.

The house is located on a barrier island in a remote area that creates challenges for firefighters, the fire district explained.

Due to the remoteness and layout of the lot, the occupants had to be rescued from the backyard via kayaks and brought to Colleton County EMS, where they received medical aid, the post said.

What are authorities investigating?

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is leading the investigation into the cause of the fire, which is still active and ongoing. Keel said that a report will be issued by agents when they are finished and have determined the cause of the fire.

Who is Judge Goodstein?

Diane Goodstein has been a state judge for 27 years. She recently oversaw a controversial case from a voter who sued the Election Commission of South Carolina over the release of voter registration documents requested by the federal government.

The documents contain sensitive information, like names, addresses, birthdates, drivers license numbers and the last four digits of a persons Social Security number.

The Department of Justice was looking to compare the voter registrations with a separate database in its effort to root out alleged illegal immigrants who the Trump administration suspected of unlawfully voting in South Carolina elections.

Last month, Goodstein blocked the states Election Commission from releasing the data. The ruling put her at odds with the Trump administration and the states Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, who filed an emergency petition to overturn the decision.

About a week later, the state Supreme Court lifted the restraining order put in place by Goodstein, saying the judge didnt make it clear what damage she believed the plaintiff would experience if the data was released to the federal government.

Goodstein has reportedly received death threats for weeks related to the September ruling.
Hackensack Meridian Health Emily Coira

NEED TO KNOW

Growing up, Emily Coiro watched her beloved grandmother suffer from leukemia and lymphoma

The experience inspired her to become a blood cancer nurse in a stem cell ward

She eventually decided to donate her own stem cells, saving the life of a stranger

When Emily Coiro was 3 years old, her beloved grandmother was diagnosed with leukemia. About 25 years later, her grandmother learned she had lymphoma.

Inspired by her health journey, Coiro decided to work with patients who had blood cancers. In 2019, she became a stem cell transplant nurse. Even though her grandmother hadn't needed a stem cell transplant, seeing her struggle with illness and undergo chemotherapy was a life-changing experience for Coiro.

"Blood cancer is special to me, because of her," says Coiro, 34, who lives in Totowa, N.J. I love my Grammy. Shes always been my biggest supporter  she's helped me be who I am." The two talk and text often, and fortunately, Coiro's grandmother is well and in remission.

Coiro worked for six years as an inpatient nurse at John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Program. She cared for patients getting chemotherapy and radiation in the days before receiving a potentially lifesaving stem cell transplant.

"Sometimes it's the only option for survival," Coiro explains. "It's horrible to get a diagnosis of a blood cancer requiring a stem cell transplant. It's very scary  and I just want to be their greatest support system."

A lot of her job, she says, was encouraging patients to take things one day at a time. Its really hard, she says. You see a lot of patients be like, Okay, I just have to get through this and then I'll be okay. "



It was after she started working within Hackensack Meredian Health that she participated in a nursing residency program, where she learned that anyone can sign up to be a donor. In winter that year, she went online to order free sample kits from NMDP (formerly known as the National Marrow Donor Program and Be The Match). She ordered a kit for herself and her husband; it's a simple cheek swab. "We did it together," Coiro says.

I actually thought my husband, being 100% Italian, would be a great match for everybody in New Jersey. Northern New Jersey is like 100% Italian, she jokes. "I never thought they'd call me.

But they did. In May 2024, Coiro had just graduated from nurse practitioner school and accepted a new position as an outpatient stem cell transplant nurse (she'd been working as an inpatient nurse on the stem cell transplant floor). Three days after her graduation, she received a call from NMDP saying she matched with a leukemia patient.

Hackensack Meridian Health Emily Coiro donates her stem cells

My jaw just dropped to the floor. I was like, "Are you sure? Are you sure it's really me? Am I the right person?" Coiro says. She asked if they had mixed up her sample with her husbands.

Coiro was assured that she was the match, and she immediately began the testing and screening process to make sure she qualified to donate.

I was so nervous, she says. I was worried that I wasn't going to be a good donor."

She wasn't worried about the retrieval process because she knew what to expect, but she was afraid something else might disqualify her.

If you get a cold or anything, that pushes back the process," she says. I had to make sure that nothing could happen to me because if something happened to me, that meant that I would jeopardize the recipient."



Over the summer, about five days before she was scheduled to donate, she gave herself injections to help blood cells from her bone marrow go into her blood so they could be collected.

It feels like the flu, like you have a bad virus and you get kind of achy in your bones," she says. Because the bones are literally just spewing out blood cells. You feel your bones working.

The day finally arrived for her to donate her stem cells. It happened to be her grandmother's birthday. This is a sign that everything will be okay," she remembers thinking.



Hackensack Meridian Health Emily Coiro during stem cell donation

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She didn't mind the six-hour procedure. You're in a big comfy chair the whole day, she says. You're just chilling. It helped that all the nurses she worked with  and the nurses she was about to start working with  visited her while she donated.

"This is a life-saving opportunity, and it's amazing to do as a nurse, Coiro says. I just want to do everything I can to help.

These days, in Coiro's new position as an outpatient nurse practitioner, she is often working with people who are donating stem cells to strangers. She's able to connect with them and share her experience.

While she has never met the person who received her stem cells, she thinks about them every day, she says. She's proud of what she's done  and so is her grandmother.

I think she's probably still not over it," Coiro says. "She sends me text messages saying, 'You're my hero.' "

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Smoke rises from Gaza after an explosion, as seen from the Israeli side of the border with Gaza, October 6, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Andrew Mills

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (Reuters) -Delegations from Israel and Hamas began indirect negotiations in Egypt on Monday that the U.S. hopes will bring a halt to the war in Gaza, facing contentious issues such as demands that Israel pull out of the enclave and Hamas to disarm.

Israel and Hamas have both endorsed the overall principles behind President Donald Trump's plan, under which fighting would cease, hostages go free and aid pour into Gaza, the closest they have come to an end to fighting.

The plan also has the backing of Arab and Western states. Trump has called for negotiations to take place swiftly towards a final deal, in what Washington hails as the closest the sides have yet come to ending the fighting.

'MOVE FAST' SAYS TRUMP

"I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST," Trump said in a social media post.

But both sides are seeking clarifications of crucial details, including over issues that have wrecked all previous attempts to end the war and could defy any quick resolution.

Trump has told Israel to suspend its bombing of Gaza for the talks. Gaza residents said Israel had scaled back its offensive substantially, although it had not halted it altogether.

Gaza health authorities reported 19 people killed by Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours, around a third the typical daily toll of recent weeks when Israel has been mounting one of its biggest offensives of the war, an all-out assault on Gaza City.

DELEGATIONS ARRIVE

Egyptian state TV reported that the talks had begun at the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh.

The talks commenced on the eve of the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the war, when fighters killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.

Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians and left the majority of 2.2 million Gazans homeless and hungry in the rubble of the enclave destroyed by relentless bombardment.

Egyptian sources said Hamas was seeking clarification of several details, including guarantees that Israel would follow through with promises to withdraw its troops from Gaza once the militants give up their leverage by freeing their hostages.

WARINESS ABOUT PROSPECTS OF BREAKTHROUGH

With Israeli forces blasting their way through Gaza City and flattening neighbourhoods as they advance, Gaza residents say a ceasefire now is their last hope that the enclave will emerge habitable.

"If there is a deal, then we survive. If there isn't, it is like we have been sentenced to death," said Gharam Mohammad, 20, displaced along with her family in central Gaza.

Inside Israel there is clamour for an end to the war to bring home hostages, although right-wing members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet oppose any halt to fighting.

Though Trump says he wants a deal quickly, an official briefed on the negotiations, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he expected the round of talks kicking off on Monday would require at least a few days.

An official involved in ceasefire planning and a Palestinian source said Trump's deadline to send all hostages back within 72 hours could be impossible to meet in the case of bodies of dead hostages, some of which would need to be located and recovered from burial sites scattered across the battlefield.

A Palestinian official close to the talks was sceptical about prospects of a breakthrough given deep mutual mistrust, saying Hamas and other Palestinian factions were worried that Israel might ditch negotiations once it recovered the hostages.

The Israeli delegation includes officials from spy agencies Mossad and Shin Bet, Netanyahu's foreign policy adviser Ophir Falk and hostages coordinator Gal Hirsch. Israel's chief negotiator, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, was expected to join later this week, pending developments in the negotiations, according to three Israeli officials.

The Hamas delegation is led by the group's exiled Gaza leader, Khalil Al-Hayya, who survived an Israeli airstrike that killed his son in Doha, the Qatari capital, a month ago.

Negotiators from Hamas will seek clarity on the mechanism to achieve a swap of remaining hostages - both alive and dead - for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, as well as an Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza and a ceasefire, according to a statement put out by the Islamist group late on Sunday.

A thorny issue is likely to be the Israeli demand, echoed in Trump's plan, that Hamas disarm, a Hamas source told Reuters. The group has insisted it will not disarm unless Israel ends its occupation and a Palestinian state is created.

On Monday, Israel deported scores of activists it detained last week from a flotilla attempting to bring aid to Gaza, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.

(Reporting by Ahmed Fahmy in Sharm el-Sheikh, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo, Andrew Mills in Dubai; Additionall reporting by Ludwig Burger and Ayhan Uyanik in Frankfurt and Ahmed Elimam and Tala Ramadan in DubaiWriting by Michael GeorgyEditing by Mark Heinrich, Peter Graff and Ros Russell)
Pulaski County Sheriff's Office Robert Ellerd; Charles Homan; and Jackson Homan.

NEED TO KNOW

Robert Ellerd, Jackson Homan and Charlie Holman were arrested

The three allegedly threatened to kill an 18-year-old's family if he did not leave Little Rock

The kidnappers allegedly forced the victim to play Russian Roulette

Authorities in Arkansas arrested a college director, among two others, on the accusation they kidnapped an 18-year-old and threatened him so he'd break up with his girlfriend.

Robert Ellerd, 54; Jackson Homan, 23; and Charlie Holman, 20, were arrested on Monday, Sept. 29, in connection with an alleged kidnapping in Sherwood, Ark., earlier last month, Sherwood Police confirms to PEOPLE.

The victim is an 18-year-old, per police.

According to a police report cited by Arkansas Business and WLTX, the alleged victim was driving his girlfriend's vehicle from Little Rock to Sherwood on Sept. 20. Upon reaching Sherwood, the teen was approached by Jackson who allegedly put his arms around the victim's throat and tried to get him out of the car.

The suspects then allegedly drove the victim to another location, where they tied him to a chair and played Russian roulette with him, he told police.

He recalled them "spinning the cylinder," he allegedly told police, per Arkansas Business and FOX 16.

The teen accused the suspects of threatening him and demanding he break up with his girlfriend.

They allegedly threatened to kill his family if he doesn't leave Little Rock, per the police report, Arkansas Business and WLTX reported. He was eventually let go.

A motive behind the alleged crime was not immediately clear.



Ellerd is engaged to the teen's girlfriend's mother; Jackson is a friend of the teen's girlfriend's late brother, per authorities.

Ellerd was employed as the Director of Financial Aid at the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Tech as of Thursday, Oct. 2, the college confirms to PEOPLE.

They declined to make a further statement but added that the circumstances of his arrest are not related to the college.

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Jackson has been charged with kidnapping, aggravated robbery and making terroristic threats, according to online jail information.

Ellerd and Charlie have also been charged with the same offenses, per the police report, FOX 19 and Arkansas Business reported.

Online court records do not indicate plea or attorney information for the suspects.

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NEED TO KNOW

A Texas mom has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting four of her children in her vehicle, killing 2 and injuring the other 2

Brazoria County Sheriff's Office revealed at a press conference that the alleged shooter was 31-year-old Oninda Romelus

Brazoria County Sheriff Bo Stallman said that the "quick actions of responding deputies" saved at least one child's life at the scene of the incident

A Texas mother has been charged with murder after she allegedly shot and killed two of her children and injured two others, police have confirmed.

At around 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, authorities responded to a report of four children shot inside a vehicle in Brazoria County, the Sheriff's office said in a news release on Facebook. The suspected shooter was later identified in a press conference as the childrens mother, 31-year-old Oninda Romelus.

Deputies immediately began providing lifesaving aid to the children until medical personnel arrived, Brazoria County Sheriff Bo Stallman said. The quick actions of responding deputies are believed to have saved at least one childs life.

Brazoria County Sheriff Bo Stallman confirmed in the press conference that a 13-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl died from their injuries. An 8-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl survived the shooting and are in stable condition in the hospital.

Deputies were called to a gas station in Angleton, where Romelus had stopped, local outlet Click 2 Houston reported. Police confirmed that the shooting did not take place there, however, adding that they weren't initially aware they were responding to a shooting.

Romelus was later arrested and charged with two counts of murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and is being held on a bond of $14 million, per the sheriffs office.

The two surviving children were interviewed by police and are cooperating with their investigation, said Stallman.

"Investigators are collecting evidence and working to determine exactly what happened. All individuals believed to be involved have been detained, and there is no ongoing threat to the community, the sheriffs office said.

KHOU 11/Youtube A mother has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting dead her two children

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The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office, where Romelus is listed as a permanent resident, is assisting the Brazoria County Sheriffs Office with the investigation into the incident.

Brazoria County Sheriff's Office Facebook The Brazoria County Sheriff's Department

This tragedy has shaken our community, and we are all feeling the loss, Stallman said. Im proud of the deputies whose quick response made a difference, and I want to thank the people of Brazoria County and surrounding areas for their prayers and support for these children and our first responders.

PEOPLE has reached out to the Brazoria County Sheriffs Office and Montgomery County Sheriff's Office for comment but did not immediately receive a response.



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A fallen tree sits atop a house following heavy rain and strong winds on Friday, in Bangkok, Thailand, October 4, 2025. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Monday ordered urgent relief efforts after flooding triggered by days of heavy rain and storms hit 16 provinces over the past week, killing 12 people and affecting more than 100,000 households.

The Interior Ministry said the floods inundated parts of northern, central and northeastern Thailand, with Uttaradit province in the upper northern region, where five people were killed, among the worst hit.

"The water rose so rapidly and we moved to the roof but it was collapsing and we had to leave," a resident, who gave only his first name, Sakchai, told state-broadcaster ThaiPBS.

"We're staying at a temple now," he said.

Anutin said officials were working to deliver aid and assess the damage done. They were also preparing for more rain as the monsoon season kicks in.

"Thailand is facing floods, storms and landslides across many provinces, causing extensive damage to property and loss of life," he said at a task force meeting.

Last year, 22 people were killed by flash floods and mudslides caused by monsoon rains across Thailand.

(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat, Editing by David Stanway)
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Everett Potter has been a lifelong fan of traveling by train. His new book, "National Geographic's 100 Train Journeys of a Lifetime," talks about some of the best trips he's taken by rail in more than 30 years of covering rail travel on six continents.

A study published in 2025 by Hitachi, a rail equipment manufacturer, revealed that 31% of 11,000 people surveyed worldwide anticipate relying more heavily on rail transportation in the future.

Ahead of the publication date, Potter sat down with USA TODAY to speak about his love of rail travel and why more people should think about seeing the world by train.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

The Orient Express is among Potter's favorite train routes.

Question: How did this project come about, and what was the reporting process like?

Everett Potter: The project came about over decades, quite frankly. I ended up doing some feature stories for National Geographic, and I got pegged as the train guy.

Ive been working on this book for 35 years or more. I started riding trains the first time I did a Eurail pass years ago.

It had been going on piecemeal for a very long time. I didnt know Id be putting all this travel and wisdom into a book. The actual writing of the book came along fairly quickly because I had so much experience riding these rails.

The Ghan runs from Darwin on Australia's North Coast to Adelaide on Australia's South Coast, crossing the rugged Outback.

What makes train travel different from other ways of getting from A to B?

These journeys are really about enjoying the moment. Being on the train, particularly if its a historic train, a notable train that was built to connect an empire, for example, that has excitement for history buffs. Its more of an overall experience.

A lot of the train travel Ive done and Ive witnessed is really about slow travel.

The whole thing in Europe now, right now, with night trains is very exciting. There was a time about a decade ago when night trains almost ceased to exist. That changed, of course, because theres a green consciousness that Europeans have that we dont participate in quite as heavily. The overnight trains are interesting because you dont have to spend money on a hotel that night when youre traveling between two cities.

Your travel is public transportation the entire way, and being in a city center is where most people want to be.

The Napa Valley Wine Train is a great way to drink your way through California wine country without having to drive.

Which was your favorite trip? How can you even pick one?

The ones that stand out to me are kind of a varied bunch.

Ive taken the Glacier Express in Switzerland probably 20 times. Thats definitely a favorite.

If youre going to take one extraordinary over-the-top train for your honeymoon or something like that, the Orient Express is still hands down one of the most memorable experiences Ive ever had.

Other favorites include the Machu Picchu-Cusco route in Peru, the Bernina Express in Switzerland, South Africas Blue Train  kind of a safari on wheels, or on tracks; The Ghan in Australia  a journey through the great center of the great country of Australia. It gives you time to experience the vastness of the Outback.

In the United States, the California Zephyr, which runs from Chicago to San Francisco, or the Empire Builder from Chicago to Portland and Seattle, are worth the trip. The observation cars are great; you get to mix and mingle with the crazy cast of characters who take the train in America.

The California Zephyr passes along the Colorado River.

Do you think the US will ever improve its rail travel infrastructure?

Its going to be a long, slow process. Joe Biden, he allocated quite a few billion dollars to improve our rail infrastructure, especially for Amtrak, but its a very complicated situation in terms of tracks.

The Durango and Silverton Railroad is a scenic day trip in Colorado.

For high-speed rail in this country, the tracks are just not sufficient to handle high-speed trains. In other parts of the world, theres a will from the governments involved to get these things done and a way to get these things done.

We decided, postwar, to build a highway system that is extraordinary, but in many ways, it was done at the expense of building out a bigger rail network.

What else should people know about train travel?

There are many ways to travel by train. It doesnt have to be a five-night journey through the Australian outback.

The Mount Washington Cog Railway in New Hampshire is dear to my heart. It was the inspiration for all of the Swiss cog railways.

Potter said the Mount Washington Cog Railway in New Hampshire is particularly special to him.

The Durango and Silverton Railroad in Colorado and the Napa Valley Railroad, which is a Wine Train in California, are both great day trips.

I like some of the short trains very much in this country. The same goes in Europe; you can take a regional train on the French Riviera. For Americans, its the most extraordinary sightseeing. Sometimes, whats in Europe as an incidental form of transportation is wildly exciting to Americans because theyve never seen anything like that.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Night trains, wine trains and more: The rail revival is here
By Jarrett Renshaw, Ernest Scheyder and Gram Slattery

(Reuters) -Trump administration officials have discussed taking a stake in Critical Metals Corp, four people familiar with the discussions told Reuters, which would give Washington a direct interest in the largest rare earths project in Greenland, the Arctic territory that President Donald Trump once suggested buying.

If finalized, the deal would mark the latest political twist for the Tanbreez rare earths deposit, which former President Joe Biden successfully lobbied to have sold to New York-based Critical Metals for far less than a Chinese firm was offering. Washington has recently taken stakes in Lithium Americas and MP Materials, underscoring Trump's desire for the U.S. to benefit from growing production of minerals used across the global economy.

Details of the discussions about Washington's interest in an equity stake in Critical Metals have not previously been reported. The four sources declined to be named, citing the sensitivity of the negotiations.

"Hundreds of companies are approaching us trying to get the administration to invest in their critical minerals projects," a senior Trump administration official told Reuters in response to a request for comment. "There is absolutely nothing close with this company at this time."

Critical Metals did not respond to repeated requests for comment via email and phone. Greenland is a semi-autonomous part of Denmark and the Danish Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Rare earths offer strong magnetic properties critical to high-tech industries ranging from electric vehicles to missile systems. Their importance is spurring an intense push for fresh supplies by Western countries looking to lessen their dependence on China's near total control of their extraction and processing. Critical Metals, which agreed to buy Greenland's Tanbreez deposit last year for $5 million in cash and $211 million in stock, applied in June for a $50 million grant through the Defense Production Act, a Cold War-era piece of legislation aimed at boosting production of goods for national security purposes. In the last six weeks, though, the administration has begun discussions with the company about converting the grant into an equity stake, three of the sources said. If the deal goes through, a $50 million conversion would mean a roughly 8% stake in the company, although negotiations are not final and the final size of the stake could be higher or the deal itself could collapse, the same three sources said.

Administration officials have considered reallocating $2 billion from the CHIPS Act to fund critical minerals projects, Reuters reported in August. The law, formally known as the CHIPS and Science Act, was signed into law by then-President Joe Biden in 2022 and aims to lure chip production away from Asia. The Critical Metals investment discussions were delayed by the administration's negotiations in recent days for a 5% stake in Lithium Americas, two of the sources said. The U.S. government shutdown is not expected to affect the negotiations, given that high-level staff involved in the discussions are considered essential government workers, two of the sources said. Part of the discussion centers on how warrants would be issued to give Washington the stake, one of the sources said. Warrants give their holders the right to buy stock at a set price. The equity stake would be separate from a $120 million loan the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM) is considering to help the company develop Tanbreez, according to two of the sources. An EXIM spokesperson was not immediately available to comment. GREENLAND'S APPEAL Even before Trump expressed an interest in acquiring Greenland, Washington had long-running economic interests in the Danish territory. Biden officials were visiting Greenland's capital Nuuk as recently as last November trying to woo additional private investment in the island's mining sector. Trump also sent Vice President JD Vance to the island in March. One of the largest U.S. Air Force bases is in northern Greenland. The Tanbreez project is expected to cost $290 million to bring into commercial production, the company has previously said.

The EXIM loan would be used to fund technical work and get the mine to initial production by 2026. Once fully operational, the mine is expected to produce 85,000 metric tons per year of rare earths concentrate. The site also contains gallium, which China subjected to export restrictions last year, and tantalum. Greenland's mining sector has developed slowly in recent years, hindered by limited investor interest, bureaucratic challenges and environmental concerns. Currently, only two small mines are in operation. The remote, cold location of Tanbreez is seen posing challenges to its development, although the deposit is located near a major waterway.

(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw, Ernest Scheyder and Gram Slattery; Writing by Ernest Scheyder; Editing by Veronica Brown, Jason Neely and Edmund Klamann)
Washington  The Trump administration is considering a significant financial aid package for farmers, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions. The package could include more than $10 billion in relief.

The White House is focusing on soybean farmers, since they've been hard hit by the Chinese boycott on American soybeans. Discussions about the package are still in early stages, one of the sources said.

The Treasury Department and Agriculture Department are involved in the talks. Top White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said on CNBC on Monday that "we've had numerous meetings over the last week or two" about "what we're going to do" about the hit farmers have taken. He promised the administration would take "big measures" and "those big measures are going to be public really, really soon."

Hassett acknowledged, "Right now, the silos are full, and there are soybeans sitting on the ground with tarps over them. That's unacceptable to the president." He also said the administration is "calling up all our soybean customers around the world as part of our trade negotiations."

In 2024, China purchased $12.6 billion worth of soybeans from the U.S., federal data from the Agriculture Department shows.

As harvest season gets underway this year, China has made no U.S. soybean purchases.

Last month, President Trump suggested some financial aid for farmers could come from tariff revenue. The Treasury Department says the federal government has collected roughly $215 billion in tariffs in the 2025 fiscal year, which began in October 2024 and ended Sept. 30.

"We're going to take some of that tariff money that we made, we're going to give it to our farmers, who are, for a little while, going to be hurt until the tariffs kick into their benefit," the president told reporters in the Oval Office on Sept. 25. "So, we're going to make sure that our farmers are in great shape, because we're taking in a lot of money."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting of senior military leaders convened by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Virginia, U.S., September 30, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

(This October 3 story is repeated without any changes to the text.)

By Ted Hesson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Donald Trump's administration is preparing to set a refugee admissions cap at 7,500 people this fiscal year, a record low that prioritizes white South Africans of Afrikaner ethnicity, three people familiar with the matter said.

If finalized, the planned cap would be a steep drop from the 125,000 put in place last year under former President Joe Biden and reflect Trump's restrictive view of immigration and humanitarian protection.

Trump, a Republican, slashed refugee levels during his 2017-2021 presidency as part of a broad crackdown on both legal and illegal immigration. After returning to office in January 2025, he froze refugee admissions, saying they could only resume if it was determined to be in the interest of the U.S.

Weeks later, Trump issued an executive order prioritizing refugee entries from South Africa's Dutch-descended Afrikaner minority, saying the white minority group suffered racial discrimination and violence in majority-Black South Africa. South Africa's government has rejected those claims.

The first group of 59 South Africans arrived in May, reaching a total of 138 by early September, Reuters reported previously.

The White House, State Department and Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the planned 7,500-person refugee ceiling in fiscal year 2026, which began on Wednesday. The New York Times first reported the plans.

John Slocum, executive director of Refugee Council USA, urged other elected officials to push Trump to bring in more refugees, saying in a statement that such a low limit would be "jeopardizing peoples lives, separating families, and undermining our national security and economic growth."

Trump officials had previously discussed annual refugee admissions ranging from 40,000 to 60,000, Reuters reported in recent months.

At a side event at the United Nations General Assembly last week, top Trump administration officials urged other nations to join a global campaign to roll back asylum protections, a major shift that would seek to reshape the post-World War Two framework around humanitarian migration.

(Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
President Donald Trump speaks during a celebration for the 250th anniversary of the US Navy aboard the USS Harry S. Truman at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on Sunday. - Alex Brandon/AP

A government shutdown that could leave some military service members without paychecks didnt stop President Donald Trump from visiting one of the largest naval installations in the world on Sunday to celebrate the US Navys 250th birthday.

Trump told a large crowd of sailors in Norfolk, Virginia, that service members will still be paid despite the government shutdown, which he blamed Democrats for creating.

We will get our service members every last penny. Dont worry about it, Trump said to applause and cheers. The Defense Department informed active-duty and reserve military members in late September that they would not be paid after September 30 until Congress approves funding for the agency, according to a memo viewed by CNN.

He also announced support for across-the-board pay raises for every sailor and service member in the United States Armed Forces, before likening Democrats to a gnat above his and the Republican Partys shoulders.

But, we have to take care of this little gnat thats on our shoulder called the Democrats, he said. They want to give all of our money to illegal aliens that pour into the country.

Trump was joined by first lady Melania Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who each gave remarks.

The event is Trumps latest effort to celebrate the US military ahead of next years national semiquincentennial. He hosted a parade in Washington over the summer to celebrate the Armys birthday, though he later voiced some private disappointment at aspects of the spectacle.

The parade also fueled criticism that Trump, who had long called for one, was politicizing the armed forces. Initially planned as a smaller event, it grew to the largest display of military might in the nations capital in at least three decades.

Throughout the Sunday speech, Trumps political lines didnt draw a major response from the crowd. Most attendees watched politely, only applauding at his references to the Navys strength and getting pay raises for military members.

Trump also touted his deployment of the National Guard to US cities, telling the sailors that he will send in whatever is necessary to combat crime.

You know what? We send in whatever is necessary. People dont care. They dont want crime in their cities, he said.

Trump has previously announced the authorization for hundreds of National Guard members to deploy to Chicago; Memphis, Tennessee and Portland, Oregon. On Saturday, a judge temporarily blocked his plan to deploy troops to Portland, but Trump quickly ordered the California National Guard to deploy to Oregon instead. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has announced plans to sue over the deployment.

Trump spoke Sunday alongside the USS Kearsarge and the USS Harry S. Truman, the latter of which returned to Norfolk in June from a lengthy deployment in the Red Sea battling Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Sailors cheer as President Donald Trump speaks during a celebration for the 250th anniversary of the US Navy aboard the USS Harry S. Truman at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on Sunday. - Alex Brandon/AP

There were no obvious signs that the government shutdown was affecting the celebration as thousands of sailors in dress whites gathered to hear from the commander in chief. Trump, writing on social media last week, accused Democrats of trying to destroy this wonderful celebration of the U.S. Navys Birthday.

Trump told military brass assembled last week at an unusual in-person gathering in Quantico, Virginia, that the US wasnt building enough Navy ships  and that some of the ones they were building were ugly.

Im a very aesthetic person, and I dont like some of the ships youre doing aesthetically, he told the group.

He said he was aiming to add more than a dozen ships to the Navys fleet with an increase in military spending.

At the same event, Trump proposed using US cities as training ground for the military. In the days since, hes ramped up federal law enforcement interventions in Portland and Chicago, against the wishes of those cities leaders.

Sundays event  called Titans of the Sea  was intended to showcase the Navys cutting-edge fleet, and inspire the next generation of warriors to carry Americas strength across every ocean, a release from the organizers said.

CNNs Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, Casey Gannon and Emily Condon contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
U.S. President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn of the White House upon his return from Bedminster, New Jersey, to Washington, U.S., August 19, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Donald Trump said Monday that all medium- and heavy-duty trucks imported into the United States will face a 25% tariff rate starting November 1, a significant escalation of his effort to protect U.S. companies from foreign competition.

Trump last month had said heavy truck imports would face new duties on Oct. 1 on national security grounds, saying the new tariffs were to protect manufacturers from "unfair outside competition" and that the move would benefit companies such as Paccar-owned Peterbilt and Kenworth and Daimler Truck-owned Freightliner.

Under trade deals reached with Japan and the European Union, the United States has agreed to 15% tariffs on light-duty vehicles but it is not clear if they will face that rate for larger vehicles.

The Trump administration has also allowed producers to deduct the value of U.S. components from tariffs paid on light-duty vehicles assembled in Canada and Mexico.

Larger vehicles include everything from delivery trucks, garbage trucks, public utility trucks, transit, shuttle, and school buses and tractor-trailer trucks as well as semi-trucks and heavy-duty vocational vehicles.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce earlier urged the Commerce Department not to impose new truck tariffs, noting the top five import sources are Mexico, Canada, Japan, Germany, and Finland "all of which are allies or close partners of the United States posing no threat to U.S. national security."

Mexico is the largest exporter of medium- and heavy-duty trucks to the United States. A study released in January said imports of those larger vehicles from Mexico have tripled since 2019 to around 340,000 today, according to government statistics.

Under the North American free trade deal USMCA, medium- and heavy-duty trucks move tariffs free if at least 64% of a heavy truck's value originates in North America, via parts like engines and axles, raw materials such as steel, or assembly labor.

Tariffs could also affect Chrysler-parent Stellantis which produces heavy-duty Ram trucks and commercial vans in Mexico. Stellantis had been lobbying the White House not to impose steep tariffs on its Mexican-made trucks.

Sweden's Volvo Group is building a $700 million heavy-truck factory in Monterrey, Mexico, due to start operations in 2026.

Mexico is home to 14 manufacturers and assemblers of buses, trucks, and tractor trucks, and two manufacturers of engines, according to the U.S. International Trade Administration.

Mexico opposed new tariffs, telling the Commerce Department in May that all Mexican trucks exported to the United States have on average 50% U.S. content, including diesel engines.

Last year, the United States imported almost $128 billion in heavy vehicle parts from Mexico, accounting for approximately 28% of total U.S. imports, Mexico said.

(Reporting by David Shepardson, Christian Martinez and Susan Heavey; editing by Costas Pitas and Chizu Nomiyama )
President Donald Trump hailed the U.S. Navy during an event commemorating the Navy's 250th anniversary Oct. 5 at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, saying that America's enemies "tremble at the sight of a Navy ship" and that military members will receive a pay raise.

The celebration to "mark 250 years of MARITIME DOMINANCE in the United States of America!" as Trump described it in a Truth Social post, took place amid a government shutdown as military personnel work without pay and thousands of federal employees are furloughed.

At the event, Trump blamed the Democrats for the shutdown and promised "across-the-board" pay raises for service members.

"Despite the current Democrat-induced shutdown, we will get our service members every last penny, he said. "Dont worry about it. Its all coming. Its coming. And even more because Im supporting the across-the-board pay raises for every sailor and service member of the United States Armed Forces."

Days before the event, Trump called out Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries by name as people responsible for the impasse and for putting a damper on the celebrations.

"Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, and the other Minority Radical Left Democrats tried their best, through the ridiculous Government Shutdown, to destroy this wonderful celebration of the U.S. Navys Birthday, and to stop our Military Servicemembers from celebrating American Naval History," Trump posted Oct. 3. "However, I believe, 'THE SHOW MUST GO ON!'"

Wearing a red "USA" hat and a red tie, Trump began his address aboard the USS Harry S. Truman with a chant of "Bravo Zulu," a military and naval signal meaning "well done." The president was joined by first lady Melania Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth.

"Every tyrant and adversary on the planet knows their choices," he said. "Very simple. It is leave America in peace or be blown up in fire and fury never seen before."

Trump also repeated his pledge to commit $1 trillion in military spending.

UFC event at the White House

Trump also revealed the date for the White House's UFC event in 2026 in honor of Americas 250th birthday, which was announced in July. The date: June 14, which coincides with Trump's birthday.

"And on June 14th, next year, we're going to have a big UFC fight at the White House," Trump said. "Right at the White House, on the grounds of the White House."

Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter, is expected to be involved in planning the UFC fight. The White House had announced the date as July 4, 2026.

Trump attended a military parade June 14 in Washington to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. The event, which coincided with Trumps 79th birthday and Flag Day, included a procession of thousands of soldiers in uniforms past and present, military vehicles, musical performances and fireworks.

Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is a White House correspondent for USA TODAY. You can follow her on X @SwapnaVenugopal

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump celebrates Navys 250th anniversary as shutdown drags on
President Trump ordered 300 California National Guard members to Oregon Sunday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced. - Spencer Platt/Getty Images

A federal judge on Sunday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from sending any National Guard troops to Portland  a ruling which came as the administration stepped up attempts to send out-of-state National Guard troops to the city after the judge earlier denied mobilizing Oregon National Guard troops.

Shortly before a Sunday evening hearing prompted by President Donald Trumps mobilization of the California National Guard to Portland, Trump also ordered the deployment of hundreds of Texas National Guard members to Illinois, Oregon and other locations in the US, according to the states governors.

US District Judge Karin Immergut  a Trump appointee  voiced skepticism toward the administrations arguments to deploy the National Guard from the start of the hearing, expressing frustration over what she characterized as an apparent attempt to sidestep her original Saturday order.

Addressing Deputy Assistant Attorney General Eric Hamilton late Sunday, she said: Mr. Hamilton, you are an officer of the court. Arent the defendants simply circumventing my order?

The tense hearing, which lasted less than 30 minutes, saw Immergut press the Justice Department lawyer, occasionally interrupting him to insist he answer her questions directly.

In recent weeks, Trump has ordered the deployment of federal troops in Democrat-led cities such as Chicago and Portland, arguing military deployments are necessary to protect federal immigration personnel and property amid violent protests carried out by domestic terrorists.

The anarchy described by the president is strongly disputed by Democratic state officials and locals who say they dont want or need federal help.

A protester stands draped in an American flag watches as law enforcement officers try to disperse protesters near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, Ore. on Sunday. - Ethan Swope/AP

On Saturday, Immergut granted a temporary restraining order blocking Trump from mobilizing the Oregon National Guard to Portland, the states largest city, ruling that city and state officials are likely to succeed on their claim that the President exceeded his constitutional authority and violated the Tenth Amendment in ordering the deployment of federal troops.

The state on Sunday amended its original complaint against calling up the Oregon National Guard in federal district court and filed for a second temporary restraining order to pause the presidents efforts to mobilize National Guard troops from other states.

About 100 California National Guard troops have already arrived in Oregon and more are on the way, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said Sunday, calling the presidents move an apparent attempt to intentionally sidestep Immerguts initial ruling.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement before Sundays ruling, At the direction of the President, approximately 200 federalized members of the California National Guard are being reassigned from duty in the greater Los Angeles area to Portland, Oregon.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is planning to sue over the deployment of National Guard troops from his state, he said in a statement, calling it a breathtaking abuse of the law and power.

Kotek also said Sunday that the Department of Defense has ordered the Texas Adjutant General to deploy 400 Texas National Guard members to a number of states, including Illinois and Oregon.

We must now start calling this what it is: Trumps Invasion, Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois, a Democrat, said in a statement Sunday after the Illinois National Guard was informed of the pending deployment to his state.

Kotek said she had received no direct explanation from the president or Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth about the specific need for this action, saying: It is unclear how many will go to what location and what mission they will carry out.

There is no need for military intervention in Oregon. There is no insurrection in Portland. No threat to national security. Oregon is our home, not a military target, Kotek said in a statement Sunday.

Referring to the president, she told reporters: I kind of dont even care at this point where he is getting his information, because he is intentionally disregarding the facts on the ground.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield praised the Sunday ruling by Immergut, writing in a post on social media: The president cant keep playing whack-a-mole with different states Guard units to get around court orders and the rule of law. In a video response, he added, We do expect the federal government to attempt to appeal this ruling.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller issued a scathing critique of the Sunday ruling, calling it one of the most egregious and thunderous violations of constitutional order we have ever seen.

There is no legal distinction between a state volunteering guardsmen to guard the border and volunteering guardsmen to guard a federal immigration facility, Miller said. Either we have a federal government, a supremacy clause, and a nation, or we dont.

CNN has reached out to the Justice Department for comment.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said earlier in a statement responding to the amended complaint: The facts havent changed: President Trump exercised his lawful authority to protect federal assets and personnel in Portland following violent riots and attacks on law enforcement.

Police and Federal officers stand guard an area by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, Ore. on Sunday. - Ethan Swope/AP

The Saturday decision by Immergut to block the deployment of the Oregon National Guard said the president appeared to have federalized the Oregon National Guard absent constitutional authority and protests in Portland did not pose a danger of a rebellion. The judge said Oregon attorneys showed substantial evidence that the protests at the Portland ICE facility were not significantly violent leading up to the presidents directive.

While the judge noted that recent incidents cited by the Trump administration of protesters clashing with federal officers are inexcusable, she added they are nowhere near the type of incidents that cannot be handled by regular law enforcement forces.

Immergut warned some of the arguments offered by the Trump administration risk blurring the line between civil and military federal power  to the detriment of this nation.

Last month, a federal judge in California ruled the Trump administration broke the law when it deployed thousands of federalized National Guard soldiers and hundreds of Marines to suppress protests against ICE actions in Los Angeles.

The decision barred troops from carrying out law enforcement in the state, but the White House has appealed the decision.

Immergut, in her opinion, said incidents in Portland are categorically different from the violence seen in Los Angeles when the president federalized troops there.

Neither outside the Portland ICE facility nor elsewhere in the City of Portland was there unlawful activity akin to what was occurring in Los Angeles leading up to June 7, 2025, the judge wrote.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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President Trump urged negotiators set to meet Monday for crucial talks aimed at ending the war in Gaza to "move fast" as hopes for a peace deal grew after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a hostage release could be announced this week.

Tuesday marks two years since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that sparked the war.

"There have been very positive discussions with Hamas, and Countries from all over the World (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) this weekend, to release the Hostages, end the War in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have long sought PEACE in the Middle East," Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday. "These talks have been very successful, and proceeding rapidly."

He added: "The technical teams will again meet Monday, in Egypt, to work through and clarify the final details. I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST. I will continue to monitor this Centuries old 'conflict.' TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OR, MASSIVE BLOODSHED WILL FOLLOW  SOMETHING THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE!"

Residents of the Nuseirat area continue their daily lives despite 24 months of Israeli attacks and the blockade in the Gaza Strip. / Credit: Khames Alrefi/Anadolu via Getty Images

On Friday, Hamas said it had accepted some elements from the U.S.-led peace plan that Mr. Trump outlined last month. Under the plan, Hamas would release the remaining 48 hostages  about 20 believed to be alive  within 72 hours. It would also give up power and disarm, which Hamas has not agreed to do.

The delegation led by top Israeli negotiator Ron Dermer will leave Monday for the talks in Sharm el-Sheikh, Netanyahu's office said. An Egyptian official said the Hamas delegation had arrived. U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and senior adviser, are joining the talks, a senior U.S. official confirmed to CBS News.

Discussions will focus on the proposed exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, Egypt's foreign ministry said.

In a brief statement on Saturday, Netanyahu said he hopes to announce the release of all hostages "in the coming days" and that "our goal is to contain these negotiations to a time frame of a few days."

But he signaled there would not be a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, something Hamas has long demanded.

Nearly two years of Israeli attacks and blockade have left the city's infrastructure in ruins, forcing residents to struggle daily to access essential needs such as food, water, medicine, and electricity. / Credit: Saeed M. M. T. Jaras/Anadolu via Getty Images

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CBS News' "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Sunday that the release of hostages from Gaza is the "most emergent and immediate phase" of the peace plan.

"Beyond that is what happens after that, and that is, how do we ensure that we can create and help build a Gaza free of terrorism, free of Hamas, free of anything like Hamas," Rubio said. "And that's going to take work and some time not just to agree on, but to implement."

On the hostages, Rubio said the "expectation is that this happens quickly," though he wasn't clear on a specific deadline. He acknowledged that there are some logistical hurdles, including Israeli bombardment.

"Reality is, this is a war zone. I mean, this is a place that's suffered a tremendous amount of destruction. That fighting needs to stop," Rubio said. "You can't release hostages while there's still bombardments going on."

CBS News team members in East Jerusalem reported that there were Israeli bombardments underway, including strikes on Saturday.

As hundreds of thousands of people marched across Israel, several European cities and elsewhere in support of ending the war, the foreign ministers of eight Muslim-majority countries issued a joint statement welcoming steps toward a possible ceasefire.

They also underlined their commitment to the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza, unifying Gaza and the West Bank and reaching an agreement leading to a "full Israeli withdrawal" from Gaza.

Israel and Hamas have been at war since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led terrorists attacked southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Since then, Israel has waged an intense aerial bombardment and ground campaign in the Gaza Strip. More than 66,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, which does not specify how many of the dead were civilians or militants.

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A sign advertises flu and COVID-19 vaccines at a CVS pharmacy in Miami, Florida, U.S. September 4, 2025 REUTERS/Marco Bello

(Reuters) -The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday recommended COVID-19 vaccines should be administered only through a shared decision of a healthcare provider and the individual, moving away from a broader backing for the shot.

The new recommendation, which aligns with that of its panel of outside experts, maintains access for the shot through health insurance.

(Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)
(Reuters) -The U.S. CDC on Monday pulled broad support for COVID-19 shots, saying they should be administered through shared decision-making with a healthcare provider in accordance with recommendations from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s hand-picked vaccine advisory panel.

The new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation maintains access for the shot through health insurance.

The recommendations come at a turbulent time for the CDC, which recently saw the ouster of its former Director Susan Monarez after resisting changes to vaccine policy advanced by Kennedy. Monarez said she was told to rubber-stamp the committee's recommendations without reviewing the scientific evidence.

The acting director of the CDC, Jim O'Neill, also signed off on the advisers' recommendations against use of the combined measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine before the age of 4 years. Instead, shots will be given for measles-mumps-rubella with a separate vaccine for varicella, commonly known as chickenpox.

The immunization schedules will be updated on the CDC website by Tuesday, the agency said.

Kennedy, a long-time anti-vaccine crusader before taking on the nation's top health post, has sought to rewrite the country's immunization policies through a series of far-reaching actions. They included dismantling the national vaccine advisory board of outside experts and reconstituting it with hand-picked members, many of whom shared his opposition to the widely used COVID vaccines.

The panel made its recommendations at a two-day meeting in September that highlighted deep divisions over the future of the U.S. immunization schedules under Kennedy.

Several medical experts warned that presentations at the meeting that cast doubt on vaccine safety could lower immunization rates, even though they felt the recommendation itself had not restricted  and perhaps even expanded  access for some people.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, an influential U.S. medical group, has already broken from federal policy and pushed its own vaccine recommendations, suggesting all young children get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in August cleared updated COVID-19 vaccines for everyone over age 65, but limited its approval for younger people to those with health risks.

The three approved COVID shots are made by Pfizer with German partner BioNTech, Moderna, and Novavax with Sanofi.

(Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru and Michael Erman in New York; Editing by Leroy Leo and Bill Berkrot)
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. discusses the findings of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) latest Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network survey, during a press conference at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 16, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo

By Patrick Wingrove, Maggie Fick and Julie Steenhuysen

(Reuters) -U.S. Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. could deliver a policy win for the Trump administration in just a few months after the Food and Drug Administration enlisted GSK to help it fast-track approval of a decades-old drug to treat an autism-related disorder.

The FDA's unusual move will allow it to bypass a lengthy label update for generic versions of the drug, leucovorin, or new clinical trials, a tactic academics, lawyers and doctors questioned.

A GSK spokesperson told Reuters it plans to complete the new use application for the branded version of leucovorin as quickly as possible.

Once the British drugmaker does that work, the FDA would normally take about four to six months but could process the request even faster, said Giuseppe Randazzo of the Association for Accessible Medicines, a generic medicines lobby group.

The accelerated process will give doctors additional justification to prescribe the drug for cerebral folate deficiency, a metabolic disorder that can lead to a range of neurological symptoms including some associated with autism, delivering on Kennedy's promise to President Donald Trump and the Make America Healthy Again movement with which he is aligned.

Without robust evidence, the label change represents at most a hollow bureaucratic victory, said Ameet Sarpatwari, a pharmaceutical policy researcher at Harvard Medical School.

However, the drug, which is used to mitigate toxic effects of certain cancer treatments and sells for $34.14 for a bottle of 30 high-dose pills on Cost Plus Drugs, would more likely be covered for the condition by insurance plans with the label change.

An HHS spokesperson said the evidence clearly supports leucovorin's ability to address the causes of cerebral folate deficiency and improve patient outcomes.

DEMAND RISES AFTER TRUMP PROMOTES DRUG

Demand for the drug has increased, first after a February CBS story about its use in a nonverbal five-year-old boy, and more recently after Trump promoted its use.

"My nurses have been saying the phone is ringing off the hook," said Dr. Larry Gray, an expert in developmental and behavioral pediatrics, who sees patients with autism at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.

Because the treatment is not approved for autism, the institution's policy has been to only offer it in clinical trials, which are rare. The drug is FDA-approved, however, so doctors can prescribe it off-label.

Kennedy has declared the rising rates of autism in the U.S., now estimated at 1 in 31 children by age 8, to be an epidemic and had pledged to find some answers behind its cause as well as cures by September.

At a White House event on September 22, Kennedy, Trump and other health officials backed leucovorin as an autism treatment. They also warned against the use of Tylenol by pregnant women, saying studies suggested a link to autism. Health experts and medical groups called that warning dangerous and without sound scientific basis.

RELYING ON OBSCURE RULE

The FDA was able to speed the process by using an obscure rule to reinstate GSK's approval application and request a label update adding cerebral folate deficiency, based on the agency's own analysis of 40 patient cases found in a review of literature from 2009 to 2024.

GSK sold the drug as Wellcovorin until 1997. A generic version, which is also called folinic acid and is a form of folate or vitamin B9, is now made by U.K.-based Hikma.

Once GSKs application is approved, U.S. law requires generic drugmakers to match the change.

The more commonly used label update process for generic drugs, which requires consultation with generic drugmakers, typically takes up to a year and a half, according to Skadden lawyer Rachel Turow. It is typically used for cancer drugs after new uses are proven in clinical trials, she and several other lawyers said.

Aaron Kesselheim, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, described the process being used as "very atypical," and said that without the FDA sharing its data or trials, it is hard to know if the agency is following the normal standard of evidence.

LIMITED AVAILABLE EVIDENCE

Dr. Andy Shih, chief science officer at the advocacy organization Autism Speaks, said the evidence for leucovorin's use was limited and potentially suggestive of benefit for a small subgroup of autistic children. Larger trials are needed, he said.

The evidence is based on four studies, each of which involved 50 to 60 patients, with three of them done by the same author, said Dr. Karam Radwan, director of the Neurodevelopmental Disorders Program at the University of Chicago, who uses the drug in his practice.

"You want to replicate that with a different lab, in a different setting, to make sure we have enough support" for the change, he said.

Three mid-stage trials are underway studying a new, liquid version of leucovorin as an early language impairment treatment for children with autism, according to the government clinical trials site. The earliest data is expected around December.

The trials are being led by one autism researcher in partnership with the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and Autism Speaks, and involve up to 80 children each.

Larger, more conclusive trials would take years. The FDA's approach does not require new trials.

This change should be based on scientific evidence, and so far, studies supporting its use are not robust, Radwan said.

(Reporting by Patrick Wingrove in New York, Maggie Fick in London and Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago; Additional reporting by Robin Respaut in San Francisco; Editing by Caroline Humer and Bill Berkrot)
By Patrick Wingrove, Maggie Fick and Julie Steenhuysen

(Reuters) -U.S. Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. could deliver a policy win for the Trump administration in just a few months after the Food and Drug Administration enlisted GSK to help it fast-track approval of a decades-old drug to treat an autism-related disorder.

The FDA's unusual move will allow it to bypass a lengthy label update for generic versions of the drug, leucovorin, or new clinical trials, a tactic academics, lawyers and doctors questioned.

A GSK spokesperson told Reuters it plans to complete the new use application for the branded version of leucovorin as quickly as possible.

Once the British drugmaker does that work, the FDA would normally take about four to six months but could process the request even faster, said Giuseppe Randazzo of the Association for Accessible Medicines, a generic medicines lobby group.

The accelerated process will give doctors additional justification to prescribe the drug for cerebral folate deficiency, a metabolic disorder that can lead to a range of neurological symptoms including some associated with autism, delivering on Kennedy's promise to President Donald Trump and the Make America Healthy Again movement with which he is aligned.

Without robust evidence, the label change represents at most a hollow bureaucratic victory, said Ameet Sarpatwari, a pharmaceutical policy researcher at Harvard Medical School.

However, the drug, which is used to mitigate toxic effects of certain cancer treatments and sells for $34.14 for a bottle of 30 high-dose pills on Cost Plus Drugs, would more likely be covered for the condition by insurance plans with the label change.

An HHS spokesperson said the evidence clearly supports leucovorin's ability to address the causes of cerebral folate deficiency and improve patient outcomes.

DEMAND RISES AFTER TRUMP PROMOTES DRUG

Demand for the drug has increased, first after a February CBS story about its use in a nonverbal five-year-old boy, and more recently after Trump promoted its use.

"My nurses have been saying the phone is ringing off the hook," said Dr. Larry Gray, an expert in developmental and behavioral pediatrics, who sees patients with autism at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.

Because the treatment is not approved for autism, the institution's policy has been to only offer it in clinical trials, which are rare. The drug is FDA-approved, however, so doctors can prescribe it off-label.

Kennedy has declared the rising rates of autism in the U.S., now estimated at 1 in 31 children by age 8, to be an epidemic and had pledged to find some answers behind its cause as well as cures by September.

At a White House event on September 22, Kennedy, Trump and other health officials backed leucovorin as an autism treatment. They also warned against the use of Tylenol by pregnant women, saying studies suggested a link to autism. Health experts and medical groups called that warning dangerous and without sound scientific basis.

RELYING ON OBSCURE RULE

The FDA was able to speed the process by using an obscure rule to reinstate GSK's approval application and request a label update adding cerebral folate deficiency, based on the agency's own analysis of 40 patient cases found in a review of literature from 2009 to 2024.

GSK sold the drug as Wellcovorin until 1997. A generic version, which is also called folinic acid and is a form of folate or vitamin B9, is now made by U.K.-based Hikma.

Once GSKs application is approved, U.S. law requires generic drugmakers to match the change.

The more commonly used label update process for generic drugs, which requires consultation with generic drugmakers, typically takes up to a year and a half, according to Skadden lawyer Rachel Turow. It is typically used for cancer drugs after new uses are proven in clinical trials, she and several other lawyers said.

Aaron Kesselheim, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, described the process being used as "very atypical," and said that without the FDA sharing its data or trials, it is hard to know if the agency is following the normal standard of evidence.

LIMITED AVAILABLE EVIDENCE

Dr. Andy Shih, chief science officer at the advocacy organization Autism Speaks, said the evidence for leucovorin's use was limited and potentially suggestive of benefit for a small subgroup of autistic children. Larger trials are needed, he said.

The evidence is based on four studies, each of which involved 50 to 60 patients, with three of them done by the same author, said Dr. Karam Radwan, director of the Neurodevelopmental Disorders Program at the University of Chicago, who uses the drug in his practice.

"You want to replicate that with a different lab, in a different setting, to make sure we have enough support" for the change, he said.

Three mid-stage trials are underway studying a new, liquid version of leucovorin as an early language impairment treatment for children with autism, according to the government clinical trials site. The earliest data is expected around December.

The trials are being led by one autism researcher in partnership with the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and Autism Speaks, and involve up to 80 children each.

Larger, more conclusive trials would take years. The FDA's approach does not require new trials.

This change should be based on scientific evidence, and so far, studies supporting its use are not robust, Radwan said.

(Reporting by Patrick Wingrove in New York, Maggie Fick in London and Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago; Additional reporting by Robin Respaut in San Francisco; Editing by Caroline Humer and Bill Berkrot)
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Trump administration said on Monday that funds from a U.S. government program that subsidizes commercial air service to rural airports are set to expire as soon as Sunday because of an ongoing partial government shutdown.

The U.S. Transportation Department said the subsidies in the Essential Air Service program are expected to expire as soon as Sunday after the department transferred unrelated funding from the Federal Aviation Administration as an advance. The department is in the process of notifying carriers of the shortfall and alerting communities of the potential impacts.

The government has about $350 million in annual funding.

In May, the White House proposed cutting funding by $308 million for Essential Air Service, which is popular with Republican lawmakers because it provides services to rural, largely Republican areas.

During the first Trump administration, the White House proposed killing the Essential Air Service program, but Congress opted to boost funding.

The program generally subsidizes two round trips a day with 30- to 50-seat aircraft, or additional frequencies with smaller aircraft. The department says under the program about 65 communities in Alaska receive service and 112 communities in the other 49 states and Puerto Rico that otherwise may not receive any airline service.

"Every state across the country will be impacted," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at a press conference, noting it has bipartisan support. "We don't have the money for that program moving forward."

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
By Emma Rumney

-Exports of U.S. spirits fell 9% in the second quarter, according to a report by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States published on Monday, which warned that trade tensions were hitting demand in key markets.

The decline marked a sharp reversal from 2024's strong export performance, with steep drops across major markets including the European Union, Canada, Britain and Japan, which together represent 70% of total exports by value, DISCUS said. The trade association represents top spirits makers, including Jameson Irish whiskey maker Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman, which produces Jack Daniel's.

Canada saw the most dramatic fall, with U.S. spirits exports plummeting 85% to below $10 million in the second quarter. The majority of Canadian provinces continue to ban American spirits from their shelves in response to U.S. tariffs targeting Canada, although the country removed retaliatory tariffs in September.

Exports to the EU, the industry's largest market, dropped 12% to $290.3 million, while shipments to Britain fell 29% to $26.9 million and those to Japan decreased 23% to $21.4 million, with DISCUS also citing trade tensions.

"There's a growing concern that our international consumers are increasingly opting for domestically produced spirits or imports from countries other than the U.S., signaling a shift away from our great American spirits brands," said DISCUS President Chris Swonger.

Other consumer goods industries have warned about rising anti-American sentiment following the sweeping tariff regime and other policies pursued by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Denim maker Levi Strauss warned in August that it faced risks of "rising anti-Americanism" as a consequence and that some consumers could shift away from U.S. products. McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski told investors in May that the company had also observed an uptick in such sentiment, particularly in Northern Europe and Canada.

The export slump comes as American whiskey producers contend with slowing domestic sales and record-high inventory levels, DISCUS said.

Swonger said that the spirits sector is deeply interconnected, meaning U.S. tariffs hit the industry as a whole. He urged the Trump administration to work toward restoring zero-for-zero tariffs with trading partners.

(Reporting by Emma Rumney, Editing by Louise Heavens)
FILE PHOTO: The new Google logo is seen in this illustration taken May 13, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

By Mike Scarcella

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Monday to halt key parts of a judge's order requiring Alphabet's Google to make major changes to its app store Play, as the company prepares to appeal a decision in a lawsuit brought by "Fortnite" maker Epic Games.

The justices turned down Google's request to temporarily freeze parts of the injunction won by Epic in its lawsuit accusing the tech giant of monopolizing how consumers access apps on Android devices and pay for transactions within apps.

A federal appeals court in July upheld the judges sweeping order against Google.

The injunction issued last year by U.S. District Judge James Donato requires Google to allow users to download rival app stores within its Play store and make Play's app catalog available to competitors. Those provisions do not take effect until July 2026.

The judge also said Google must allow developers to include external links in apps, enabling users to bypass Google's billing system. That part of the injunction is due to take effect later this month.

Donato issued his order in a lawsuit that Epic filed in 2020 against Google, alleging its restrictive app store rules violated antitrust law. Epic won a jury trial in San Francisco in 2023. Google has denied any wrongdoing.

Google has called Donato's order unprecedented, and said it would cause reputational harm, safety and security risks and put the company at a competitive disadvantage if allowed to take effect.

Google in its Supreme Court filing said the changes would have enormous consequences for more than 100 million U.S. Android users and 500,000 developers. Google said it plans to file a full appeal to the Supreme Court by October 27, which could allow the justices to take up the case during their nine-month term that began on Monday.

Epic has said Google is relying on what it called "flawed security claims" to justify its control over Android devices. Epic had urged the justices to allow Donato's injunction to take effect "so consumers and developers can benefit from competition, choices and lower prices."

In July, a three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the injunction, ruling that the record in Epic's lawsuit was "replete with evidence that Google's anticompetitive conduct entrenched its dominance."

Google faces other lawsuits from government, consumer and commercial plaintiffs challenging its search and advertising business practices.

(Reporting by Mike Scarcella in Washington; Additional reporting by Andrew Chung in Washington; Editing by Will Dunham)
BETHLEHEM TWP.  The soybeans used to make soy milk and tofu can now be used to make firefighting foam that can extinguish a fire threatening your neighborhood.

And several fire departments in Stark and Tuscarawas counties are considering buying SoyFoam.

Its inventor says the product comes without the high cancer risks of "forever chemicals" known as PFAS or per- and polyfluoroakyl substances in traditional firefighting foams.

The chemicals are believed to threaten the health of firefighters and others at fire scenes and accidents, and they can contaminate drinking water or a structure where they're used.

Related: Firefighters from 10 different departments battle Bethlehem Township storage barn fire

The Ohio Soybean Council and Erie Valley Fire and Rescue, which covers the township and Navarre, held a demonstration of SoyFoam Sept. 30 at Cedar Crest Farm, a farm off Shepler Church Avenue SW that grows corn, hay and soybeans.

In a harvested corn field, Erie Valley firefighters in their gear deployed a foam made by Georgia-based Cross Plains Solutions from soybeans that was mixed with water.

In three of four demonstration fires where wooden pallets or diesel fuel were set ablaze, the firefighters applied the foam-water mix with a hose. In a fourth demonstration, a firefighter used a handheld extinguisher with the foam-water mix.

In all of the demonstrations, the foam and water mix extinguished the fires within a few seconds.

Why SoyFoam for firefighting?

Erie Valley firefighter/medic Mike Nichols uses a can filled with SoyFoam and water to put out a pallet fire during a demonstration of its effectiveness in real-world firefighting situations at Cedar Crest Farm in Bethlehem Township.

Erie Valley Fire Capt. Ryan Shanower said his department is considering buying the soybean foam product. Based on the department's review, SoyFoam appears to be safer to use and safer for the environment than foams the department has used in the past. And it appears to be just as effective in putting out fires as traditional foam, he said.

"The benefits of it far outweigh the use of traditional foam," Shanower said.

He said firefighters from Jackson Township, Brewster, Strasburg and Bolivar also attended the demonstration.

Firefighting foam works by breaking the surface tension of water, allowing water to more effectively extinguish a fire. The result is less water needed to put out a blaze.

Shanower said chemical foams worked well at putting out fires as well as around leaking vehicles in danger of bursting into flames.

But, "now we have firefighters dying from cancer who use (chemical firefighting foam) so much," he said. "The problem was it was the best stuff on the market."

What is SoyFoam?

Dave Garlie, managing partner of Cross Plains Solutions, talks about the effectiveness of SoyFoam to firefighters and soybean farmers at Cedar Crest Farm in Bethlehem Township.

Chemist David Garlie of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, said it took him about 12 years to develop SoyFoam. He was on hand at the demonstration to answer questions.

He said a friend who was a firefighter challenged him to develop a foam without the cancer risks. Garlie said he started experimenting in 2012. He immediately looked at soybeans but they become rancid when exposed to water.

Garlie said he stepped up his efforts around 2022 to find a foam with a shelf life of 10 years that would be biodegradable. He worked with the fire safety program at Chippewa Technical College, which tested his foam. He said by May 2024, he had a product ready to sell. Working with a partner who had a plant in Dalton, Georgia, they got a trademark for SoyFoam.

Garlie said in the past 17 months, they've sold it to about 150 fire departments in Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. He is eager to break into the Ohio market.

The plant in Georgia, which started with a capacity of 5,000 gallons a day, is now making 22,000 gallons a day. He said his product costs $179 for a five-gallon bucket, less than the $240 to $400 for traditional firefighting foams.

Chuck Stiver of Next Gen Bio Solutions in Medina County has agreed to become a distributor of SoyFoam in Northeast Ohio if it takes off here. He narrated during the demonstration and explained that the foam and water mixed at a ratio of about 1-to-99 for a standard fire where wood was burning.

Erie Valley firefighters use SoyFoam and water to put out a pallet fire during a demonstration at Cedar Crest Farm in Bethlehem Township. Several area fire departments are considering switching to soy over other chemicals.

After the Erie Valley firefighters sprayed a blanket of foam over a pallet that had been ablaze, Garlie dipped his hands into the white foam and held them up to show the crowd. He then allowed people to touch the foam on his hands.

Cathy Habrun's family has owned Cedar Crest Farm for three generations. As a hospital nurse, she once met a firefighter who blamed his cancer on exposure to traditional firefighting foam.

About two months ago, she was reading an article in a publication by the Ohio Soybean Council about SoyFoam. She contacted Cross Plains Solution and invited the company to hold a demonstration on her family's farm.

Local firefighters and soybean farmers watch a demonstration of SoyFoam showcasing its effectiveness in real-world firefighting situations at Cedar Crest Farm in Bethlehem Township.

Habrun's daughter Laura Eckinger, who helps run the farm, was excited about the increased demand for soybeans that would result if a soybean firefighting foam became a popular product.

You can reach Robert at robert.wang@cantonrep.com.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Erie Valley Firefighters demonstrate soybean foam in putting out fires
Greta Thunberg has spoken out after landing in Greece on Monday, 6 October, following her deportation from Israel alongside 170 other members of the Global Sumud Flotilla.

The Swedish climate activist, 22, was part of an international flotilla of 42 boats that were intercepted by Israel last week. The flotilla was seeking to break Israels naval blockade of Gaza and deliver a symbolic amount of aid to the famine-stricken territory.

Israel said it deported members of the flotilla, sending them to Greece and Slovakia.

In an Instagram video, Ms Thunberg said Israel's blocking of the flotilla delivering aid violated international law.
From left to right Presidents of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zeljka Cvijanovic , Denis Becirovic, Zeljko Komsic , Kosovo's President Vjosa Osmani , Croatian President Zoran Milanovic , President of Albania Bajram Begaj, Natasa Pirc Musar, President of Slovenia and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Montenegro President Jakov Milatovic and North Macedonia President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova pose for a photo during the Brdo-Brijuni, Process Leaders' Meeting in Golem, Albania, 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of the capital, Tirana , Albania on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025 .(AP Photo/Vlasov Sulaj)

GOLEM, Albania (AP)  Leaders of the Western Balkan countries on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to a joint European future, pledging to deepen cooperation and accelerate reforms that would bring the region closer to the European Union.

The presidents of the Western Balkan nations gathered in Golem, Albania, 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of the capital of Tirana, in an annual gathering. It is part of a diplomatic initiative launched by EU members Slovenia and Croatia in 2013 to support EU enlargement to the Western Balkans  a region that includes Albania, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Kosovo.

In a joint declaration, the leaders highlighted their shared vision toward the European perspective of our entire region.

"We reaffirm our commitment to support European integration and inclusive regional cooperation with the objective of a peaceful, strong, stable, prosperous and united Europe," it said.

The countries are working to join the EU but are at different stages in their membership path, with Montenegro and Albania ahead and Serbia, Bosnia, Kosovo and North Macedonia lagging behind.

The EUs openness to accept new members has grown since the all-out war in Ukraine started on Feb. 24, 2022. There are concerns the war in Ukraine and Russias deepening confrontation with the West could spill over into a region still scarred by its own conflicts.

The countries welcomed the role of a 6 billion euro growth plan aimed at advancing reforms in the region.

But Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar also urged Brussels to speed up the process, adding that security and peace in Europe is at stake.

The largely ceremonial annual gathering was led by Albanian President Bajram Begaj, Pirc Musar and Croatian President Zoran Milanovic. Members of Bosnia's tripartite presidency and the presidents of Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia also attended.

The initiative was named the Brdo-Brijuni Process after two locations  Brdo pri Kranju in Slovenia and the Brijuni Islands in Croatia  that are symbolic of reconciliation and diplomacy.

It seeks to strengthen political dialogue and promote reconciliation after the wars of the 1990s, with tensions still simmering  for instance, between Serbia and Kosovo.

___

Semini reported from Tirana, Albania.
Tourists rolling suitcases through Europes historic centers have been at the center of debate for years. Reports of bans, steep fines, and angry locals circulate often, yet most of them sit somewhere between rumor and fact. A few stories stretch the truth, others have a sliver of reality, and together theyve kept alive the idea that luggage wheels might be more than just noisy.

The uncertainty hasnt gone away. Each new headline leaves visitors wondering if one city will actually follow through. That back-and-forth has turned the humble rolling bag into one of the oddest talking points in European travel, less about what it carries than the questions it raises on old stone streets.

Where The Rumors Began

Image via iStockphoto/ArtMassa

Venice was one of the first cities tied to suitcase rumors. Back in 2014, reports spread that tourists faced fines of hundreds of dollars for dragging luggage across its fragile bridges and marble steps. The situation was murkier than headlines suggested: proposals largely focused on commercial trolleys, though the press initially reported tourists might be included. Still, the story stuck, and Venices car-free layout made the idea feel believable.

Nearly a decade later, the story repeated itself in Dubrovnik. In 2023, claims circulated that its UNESCO-listed Old Town had banned rolling suitcases. Locals had indeed complained about sleepless nights and the damage caused to cobblestones. While the Croatian tourism board denied any official ban or penalties, the mayor did launch a Respect the City campaign, which urged visitors to carry their luggage instead of dragging it.

What Is Happening Now

Reports about tourists being fined in Dubrovnik for rolling suitcases through Old Town spread fast, but they werent true. City officials confirmed that no law bans luggage wheels and no fines are being issued. The confusion came from the Respect the City campaign, which focuses on education, not punishment. It asks visitors to move quietly, protect the old stone streets, and travel responsibly. Dubrovnik still faces heavy tourism pressuremore than 289,000 visitors in the first half of 2023 compared with around 41,000 residentsbut suitcase penalties arent part of the solution.

Some outlets also suggested that future expansions might force visitors to leave larger bags outside the city walls and use couriers to deliver them. While these claims drew attention, Dubrovniks government has not confirmed or enacted such requirements. What is true is that the mayor has been vocal about curbing overtourism, especially after UNESCO warned in 2019 that careless visitor behavior threatened the citys heritage status.

The issue is less about suitcases themselves and more about the clash between tourism and preservation. Cobblestone streets look beautiful in photos, but werent designed for plastic wheels. The clattering sound carries into residential windows late at night, frustrating locals. On top of that, the constant friction can contribute to the wear on surfaces that date back centuries. For a city already struggling with cruise ships, tour buses, and overcrowding, noisy luggage has become a symbol of larger problems.

What Travelers Should Do Instead

Image via Getty Images/VukasS

While rolling bags remain perfectly fine in European destinations, Dubrovniks campaign shows how local governments are rethinking the balance between tourism and daily life. It may be smarter for visitors to switch to a sturdy travel backpack, duffel bag, or a hybrid that can be carried when needed. These alternatives make moving through cobbled streets faster and quieter, and they avoid fueling further debate about restrictions.
Getty Police tape (stock image)

NEED TO KNOW

The body of a woman was found inside a large cardboard box in the Arizona desert

The woman was identified as Carolyn Ann Bosher, 57, of Las Vegas

Police said an investigation into the death is currently ongoing, and they are asking anyone with information to reach out

A woman was found dead inside a large cardboard box in the Arizona desert.

Authorities responded to a call regarding a suspicious package in a remote desert area east of Kingman on Sept. 5, according to a press release shared by the Mohave County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) on Oct. 3.

The caller stated that he had discovered a large cardboard box while surveying his property and that he believed a deceased person was inside it.

Detectives were called to the scene and confirmed there was a deceased female subject inside the box. Fingerprints were taken from the victim and the victim was later identified as Carolyn Ann Bosher, 57, a transient of Las Vegas, the statement continued.

Getty Kingman, Ariz.

Police said that another person on the scene stated that he had observed a vehicle with the trunk open the night prior in the area where the body was discovered.

However, the man said he was unable to identify the vehicle because it was dark outside, per the statement.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

The MCSO said they made contact with their counterparts at the Las Vegas Metro Police Department (LVMPD) and were told that the victim had been arrested in Las Vegas on charges of indecent exposure the week prior, on Aug. 30.

Authorities said there's no indication that the victim was killed at the scene.

An investigation is currently ongoing, and the MCSO urges anyone who may have information regarding the incident to contact their agency at 928-753-0753 and reference DR# 25-033587.

PEOPLE reached out to the MCSO and LVMPD for comment on Sunday, Oct. 5, but did not receive an immediate response.



Read the original article on People
Guinness World Records/Instagram Joao Marinho Neto

NEED TO KNOW

The worlds oldest man, Joao Marinho Neto, turned 113 on Oct. 5, celebrating his birthday with a party with loved ones

Neto became the world's oldest man in November 2024, and he told Guinness World Records his secret to longevity

Neto's milestone came months after he celebrated world's oldest person, Ethel Caterham, on her 116th birthday

The worlds oldest man just got older!

On Sunday, Oct. 5, Joao Marinho Neto, who Guinness World Records named the worlds oldest man late last year, turned 113 years old. Neto, who is from Brazil, celebrated the milestone with a big birthday bash that was planned for him by his loved ones, according to Guinness.

Neto was born on Oct. 5, 1912, in Maranguape, a municipality in the Brazilian state of Ceara. He is now the last surviving man born that year, and the 26th oldest man to ever live, per Guinness.

The record-breakers birthday bash should come as no surprise to those who have learned his secret to a long life, which he shared when Guinness named him the worlds oldest man in November. Neto told Guinness that the secret to his longevity is being surrounded by good people as well as making sure his loved ones are close by.



Neto  who was already the oldest known living man in Latin America  was 112 years and 52 days when he earned the title following the death of John Tinniswood of the United Kingdom.

Neto  who is not the oldest living person, a title held by 116-year-old Ethel Caterham of the U.K.  was born into a family of farmers, and he worked in the fields alongside his dad starting at age 4, per Guinness.

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.

Neto welcomed four children  Antonio, Jose, Fatima and Vanda  with his first wife, Josefa Albano dos Santos, and later welcomed three more kids  Vinicius, Jarbas and Conceicao  with partner Antonia Rodrigues Moura, according to Guinness.

Six of Netos eight children are still living, and he also has 22 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Netos 113th birthday party comes a few months after he celebrated his fellow Guinness record-holder on her birthday.

In August, he nodded to oldest living person Caterham as she turned 116, according to LongeviQuest.

He was informed of Caterhams birthday by granddaughter Valeria Marinho, who told LongeviQuest that her grandad was enthusiastic about sending her a birthday greeting. He rocked sunglasses while holding up a sign that included pictures of the U.K. native and read Feliz Aniversario  Happy Birthday in Portuguese  photos shared by LongeviQuest and Guinness show.

The birthday wish marked the first documented communication between the worlds oldest woman and the worlds oldest man, per LongeviQuest, as well as the first recorded birthday greeting exchanged between supercentenarians in different countries.

Read the original article on People
FILE - In this photo provided by the New Zealand Defence Force, divers survey the area around HMNZS Manawanui on the southern coast of Upulo, Samoa, after the Manawanui ran aground and sank on Oct. 6, 2024. (AC Jese Somerville/New Zealand Defence Force via AP,File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  New Zealands government said Monday it had agreed to pay 10 million Samoan tala ($3.6 million) in compensation to Samoas government, a year after New Zealand sailors drove a navy ship aground on a reef off the Pacific Island nation.

All 75 people on board evacuated to safety as the boat foundered about 1.6 kilometers (a mile) off the coast of Upolu, Samoas second largest island before it caught fire and sank. The wreck of HMNZS Manawanui remains at the site of the sinking on Oct. 6, 2024, and a decision about whether it will remain there hasn't been made.

The vessel sank due to failings of the crew and ship, an official inquiry found. The ships crew didnt realize the vessel was on autopilot and believed something else had gone wrong as it plowed toward the reef, according to a report that highlighted the lack of training, qualifications and experience among those on board.

The compensation announced by New Zealand foreign minister Winston Peters on Monday was the full amount requested by Samoa's government, a spokesperson for Peters said. It will be drawn from New Zealand military funds.

We have responded to the Government of Samoas request in full and with good faith," Peters said in a statement. We have always said we will do the right thing.

Samoa's government didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

New Zealand officials would continue to work with the Samoan counterparts to decide the future of the wreck, Peters said. Work so far has included the removal of fallen shipping containers, pollutants and military equipment.

An independent wreck assessment and environmental studies are expected, according to a statement from New Zealand's military.

It is pleasing to note that monitoring by the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa has shown the seawater in the area is clear and uncontaminated from elevated hydrocarbons resulting in the warning on fishing being lifted completely in February, Capt. Rodger Ward of the New Zealand Defense Force said in a statement.

The military recognized the impact that the sinking has had on the people of Samoa, particularly the communities of the South coast, Ward said.

The specialist dive and hydrographic vessel had been in service for New Zealand since 2019 and was surveying the reef that it ran aground on. Its sinking provoked alarm about environmental catastrophe for Samoan villagers living on the coast where it capsized, who said they feared permanent damage to the fragile reef ecosystem.

The military said work was underway to implement the wide-ranging recommendations made by a Court of Inquiry into the disaster, which published its final report in April. Any disciplinary proceedings against those on board have yet to be determined, Monday's statement said.

The vessel, one of only nine in New Zealand's navy, was the first the country had lost at sea since World War II.
TLC (2) Darcey, left, and Jasmine, right, both argue with their husbands over their deteriorating mariages

NEED TO KNOW

Darcey challenged her husband Georgi to "file for divorce" on the Oct. 5 episode of 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? as tensions continued to rise following the rocky conclusion to their Bulgarian vacation

Meanwhile, Gino called Jasmine to confront her about the $70,000 he believes she owes him and accused Jasmine of using him to get a green card

Gino claimed their marriage was a "scam" and informed his estranged wife that he called immigration on her

Trouble found both Jasmine and Darcey on the latest episode of 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? as both ladies battled their husbands over their deteriorating marriages.

First, Darcey challenged her husband Georgi to file for divorce as tensions continued to rise following the rocky end to their Bulgarian vacation.

Darcey made the declaration during a feisty fancy dinner with her sister, her husband Florian and their friends, Svet and Roxy, after she and Georgi openly bickered about their fight in Bulgaria, communication issues and more of their ongoing marital problems.

After playing the blame game with each other, Georgi insisted that he felt he is always wrong in Darceys eyes, making it difficult for him to open up to her.

Then dont be married! she exclaimed. File for divorce. Is that what you want?  Because thats what it feels like you want.

TLC Darcey challenges Georgi to "file for divorce" after an argument in front of family and friends at dinner

Earlier in the day, Darcey expressed concerns about her relationship to Stacey after the twins took part in an aerial silks class in hopes of releasing old baggage and ushering in new, more positive energy.

In a confessional, Darcey revealed that she and Georgi were barely speaking to each other following the big blow-up at the end of their trip a few days prior. We havent even talked to each other about what happened on our last night in Bulgaria, she explained.

After the class, Darcey told Stacey that Georgi was hesitant to give me his half of the rent for the month upon returning home. Darcey later said Georgi eventually caved after she started a group chat with herself, her husband and her dad.

Darcey also suggested that, rather than communicating with her, Georgi said he wants half his money back for her portion of the trip to Bulgaria. Stacey was astonished by the allegations, calling Georgi a greedy, greedy, greedy motherf----- in response.

TLC Darcey tells Stacey about the problems she and Georgi had after the rocky end to their Bulgarian vacation

You deserve to be treated like a queen every day, Stacey told her twin, who feared her husband was trapped in an avoidant mindset. Their relationship, she later noted, had begun to feel like two ships passing by.

Later that evening, Georgi seemed miserable as he sat across the table from his wife at dinner. In a confessional, Georgi admitted that he was still hurt by how the end of the trip to Bulgaria played out, and that things had gotten uncomfortable between him and his wife.

Im not going to pretend that everything is okay when its not really okay, he explained.

Back at dinner, Darcey revealed that she was triggered by Georgis suggestion that he was interested in traveling alone. But Georgi felt it was a misunderstanding, and she overreact[ed].

TLC Frustrated, Georgi stares at Darcey as they argue at dinner

You disrespected me first by telling me Im with you because I did this  for your money and all this, he explained.

Darcey acknowledged her error, and later admitted that she still has healing work to do with herself. But she suggested Georgi needed to do the same.

Still, Georgi felt that he sometimes couldnt pinpoint what exactly is wrong in certain circumstances, suggesting that it seemed like everything [he] did was wrong sometimes.

You know what? Keep blaming me! Darcey said sharply, in a quiet tone. Hes never going to change! Only when [and] if he wants to for himself.

No, Im always wrong, Georgi complained, causing Darceys blood to boil.

Thats when she put divorce on the table, leaving the room in complete silence.

I think for her to just drop that whole thing on the table, I think was kind of like, crazy, their friend Svet said in a confessional. So something has had to happen [that was] bigger than this, just what we heard.

TLC Darcey listens to Georgi as they bicker about their relationship

Also during the explosive episode, Gino finally called Jasmine and shared the scathing letter that he personally wrote to her, venting all of his feelings about their failed relationship.

At one point, Gino said it was obvious that Jasmine used him for a green card. I find the timing of you receiving your green card and sleeping at Matt's house very significant, he explained in the call, later calling their marriage the biggest mistake of my life.

TLC Jasmine shots at Gino as he reads his scathing letter to her

Oh my god, Jasmine groaned in response while sitting on her bed. But Gino demanded that he finish and went on to claim that Jasmine "stabbed me in the back, used me and broke my heart.

Before the call, Gino told producers that he wanted to share his letter with Jasmine so he can close this chapter of my life and be done with it. He then informed Jasmine that he felt let down by his now-estranged wife.

I really thought you loved me when we spoke for three years while you were in Panama, he began. But Gino then suggested that things took a turn for the worse upon her arrival in the United States.

You treated me horribly daily, he stated, and it was as though you never really wanted to be with me.

TLC Gino shouts at Jasmine while reading his letter to her

After accusing Jasmine of using him for her green card, Gino then confronted her with the numbers he calculated while writing the letter. He went through his itemized list, including $40,000 for all I transferred to Panama, $10,000 for the wedding, $1,225 for her green card, $1,000 for his work on the K-1 visa process and $5,000 for a divorce lawyer.

So all this money adds up to a good $70,000, Gino shouted at Jasmine. You never intended to be with me! This was a f------ scam and its marriage fraud to the T.

Jasmine maintained she did nothing criminal and argued that the marriage didnt work while Matt watched helplessly from the doorway.

But Gino disagreed with his wife. You never did anything for me! he yelled, adding Go back to Panama!

This caused Jasmine to burst into tears on the other end of the phone.

TLC Jasmine weeps as Gino accuses her of marriage fraud and tells her he has contacted immigration

Leave me alone! Jasmine wailed. You have never had empathy for me. The fact that you choose this moment  just to trap me. What kind of person are you?

But Gino was furious. What do you mean this moment, Jasmine? I just found out you're pregnant with some other guy's kid, and we were supposed to have a baby together!

Jasmine reminded Gino that he was not interested in having sex with her before screaming, You hate me! into her phone, but Gino contended, You knew it was a scam from the beginning!

Okay, then go to immigration! Deport me! Go ahead! Jasmine weeped, to which Gino replied, Ive already gone to immigration! Youll hear from them soon.

TLC Matt holds his head in his hands after listening to Jasmine's big argument with Gino

Jasmine broke down even more, and scolded Gino for making me sick over their marriage drama. From the door, Matt begged his girlfriend to calm down.

But Gino was relentless. Im going to take action right away, he told his emotional wife and she sobbed on the other end of the line.

Before he could continue, Jasmine hung up the phone on him. Tears streamed down her face as Matt held his head in his hands behind her.

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90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on TLC.

Read the original article on People
CBS Boston/YouTube Luz Pineda

NEED TO KNOW

The woman who pushed a 63-year-old off a bus in Boston has agreed to a plea deal

Luz Pineda, 32, was sentenced to two years of probation on Friday, Oct. 3, for the Sept. 8 incident

She has also been ordered to stay away and have no contact with the victim"

The woman who pushed a 63-year-old off a bus in Boston has agreed to a plea deal.

Luz Pineda, 32, was sentenced to two years of probation on Friday, Oct. 3, for the incident, according to a statement from the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office.

During her probation, Pineda can't ride the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (known as the MBTA), which is the public transportation system in the Greater Boston region. She has also been ordered to stay away and have no contact with the victim.

Her probation conditions also include a three-month period of home confinement, with the exception of medical appointments for herself or her children, and anger management and mental health treatment.

CBS News reported that Pinedas attorney said that the 32-year-old feels "deeply regretful and sorry" for her actions. "She makes no excuse for her conduct," the attorney said.

Pineda  who was charged with one count of assault and battery on an elder or disabled person with injury  initially pleaded not guilty, per the outlet.

The altercation occurred on Sept. 8 around 1 p.m. local time, according to the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office.

Officers were alerted of the incident "after a radio call for a disorderly subject."

Pineda and the victim "got into a verbal argument over the victim not getting off the bus to let Pineda out," per the statement.

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"The argument turned physical when Pineda pushed the victim off the bus onto the sidewalk," the D.A.'s office said.



Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty MBTA bus (stock image)

The female victim had a cut on the corner of her left eye and blood coming from her head, per the statement.

"Pineda changed her clothes and hairstyle after leaving the bus to avoid being identified," the D.A.'s office said in its statement.

Witnesses said the victim remained on the ground for about 10 minutes and later received medical attention, per Boston 10. The older woman was transported by paramedics to a nearby hospital, where she was treated for a concussion and broken blood vessels.

CBS News reported that Pineda, in addition to attacking the woman, also kicked her shopping cart off the vehicle.

Local outlet WCVB reported that Pineda had her 3-month-old baby with her during the altercation. Pineda's attorney said she was heading home from a medical appointment for her infant, per CBS News.

Read the original article on People
Sen. Alejandro Moreno, left, of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) scuffles with Sen. Gerardo Fernandez Norona of the National Regeneration Movement Party (Morena) during a session in Mexico City on Aug. 27. (AFP via Getty Images)

Tens of thousands of Mexicans are set to gather downtown Sunday in a choreographed tribute to President Claudia Sheinbaum, who closed out her initial year in office with approval ratings north of 70%.

Apart from her personal popularity as Mexicos first woman president, polls show strong support among poor and working-class Mexicans for her continuation of social-aid programs launched by her predecessor and mentor, ex-President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum screams during the annual shout of Independence (Grito de Independencia) as part of Mexico's Independence Day celebration on Sept. 15 in Mexico City. (Hector Vivas / Getty Images)

Sheinbaum, who took office last Oct. 1, has embraced and expanded Lopez Obradors leftist social agenda, often repeating his mantra: For the good of all, the poor first.

But, amid the plaudits, there is also a disconnect: Polls and interviews show deep concerns about crime, the economy and, increasingly, the defining issue of corruption  the elimination of which is a central plank of the presidents Morena movement, founded by ex-president Lopez Obrador.

Almost three-quarters of respondents (73%) gave Sheinbaums government a negative rating for its handling of corruption, the poorest mark to date for its anti-corruption efforts, according to a poll last month from the newspaper El Financiero.

We are seeing the same corruption as in past governments, its very disappointing

Lorena Santibanez, medical student

While crime remains Mexicans most pressing concern, many cite corruption as a core issue that could eventually erode trust in the administration of Sheinbaum, whose term lasts five more years.

We are seeing the same corruption as in past governments. Its very disappointing, said Lorena Santibanez, 25, a medical student. I want to give la presidenta the benefit of the doubt  its her first year. But I dont have much hope.

Almost daily headlines here highlight instances of alleged graft, nepotism and other questionable behavior within Sheinbaums ruling circles. Some reports have focused on relatives or close associates of the retired Lopez Obrador, whom Sheinbaum regularly extols as a visionary and exemplar of moral integrity.

The corruption revelations tend to range from the somewhat venal  party bigwigs living on limited government salaries enjoying lavish lifestyles  to more insidious allegations of Morena officials in league with organized crime.

Making a social media splash this summer were news reports on the ritzy vacations of various Morena heavyweights, notably Andres Manuel Lopez Beltran, the son of the ex-president, who serves as Morenas party secretary.

His stay at a $400-a-night Tokyo hotel and reported $2,600 restaurant bill sparked outrage in a nation where many earn $10 a day or less. Amid the escalating reports of Morena officials enjoying the high life abroad, Sheinbaum signaled her disapproval.

Power must be exercised with humility  that is my position and always will be, she told reporters. We have a responsibility with the movement we represent, and the principles that we represent.

Read more:How Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stepped out of AMLO's long shadow

No allegations have touched Sheinbaum, a scientist and longtime academic known for her austere lifestyle and serious demeanor.

We havent heard of any scandal about her, of corrupt relatives, or family members in public office doing business, said Jose Farias, 54, a bus driver. That has helped her remain popular, along with the fact that people view her as well-prepared, intelligent and honorable.

Sheinbaum, who was recruited into public service by Lopez Obrador while she was an obscure academic and he the mayor of Mexico City, is now the standard-bearer for Morena. It is a movement that, in little more than a decade, has become a juggernaut.

Morena dominates government, the judiciary and other facets of Mexican life in a way that has drawn inevitable comparisons to a previous Mexican political colossus  the Institutional Revolutionary Party, known as the PRI, which ruled Mexico in authoritarian fashion for much of the 20th century.

The PRI is now greatly diminished, and Morenas model differs from the PRI playbook of rigged elections, institutionalized graft, repression and an all-powerful president. But many of Morenas old guard, including Lopez Obrador, earned their stripes as PRI operatives.

Its very hard to explain Morenas hegemony without acknowledging that it cannibalized a lot of what was left of the PRI, said Carlos Bravo Regidor, a political analyst. And a lot of what was left of the PRI was criminal governance and complicity with criminal organizations."

Read more:Paraguay believes fugitive ex-Mexican state security chief wanted to start a criminal cell

Such complicity has become more problematic as the Trump administration has essentially declared war on drug cartels, designating a half-dozen Mexican crime syndicates as terrorist groups. Several recent scandals have suggested Morena politicians were in cahoots with organized crime.

Morenas top member of the Senate, Adan Augusto Lopez Hernandez  a former interior minister, ex-governor of Tabasco state and lifelong associate of Lopez Obrador has publicly denied links to a mob known as La Barredora (The Sweeper). The alleged leader of La Barredora, a former security chief in Tabasco, is now imprisoned in Mexico after being arrested as a fugitive in Paraguay.

It was Lopez Hernandez who, while governor of Tabasco, appointed the alleged mob chieftain to the security post. The senator says he knew nothing.

Even the Mexican navy, ranked among the nations most-trusted institutions, has been implicated in a far-reaching fuel-theft scheme, with 14 suspects arrested so far. One is a nephew of the admiral who served as secretary of the navy under Lopez Obrador. In response, Sheinbaum defended the admiral and said he helped denounce the thievery.

Read more:How 'El Diablo,' a corrupt Mexican lawman, helped create a narco-state

Repeatedly, Sheinbaum has been put in the position of declaring that no one is above the law. We wont cover up for anyone, has become a presidential mantra.

Some reformers have credited Sheinbaum with confronting corruption, while others say she has been too cautious, too hesitant, to take on a problem deeply entrenched in Mexican politics.

A lot of people inside Morena are saying, Lets push out the bad apples,  noted Bravo Regidor. But whats rotten is the barrel, not the apples.

Earlier this year, the president publicly pressured Morena to institute a strict anti-nepotism policy. But her plan ran into strong headwinds in a party where patronage is rampant.

Luisa Maria Alcalde Lujan, a lawyer who presides as president of Morena, has been mocked for declaring that the party is nepotism-free. Both of her parents were prominent in the government of Lopez Obrador, and her sister is the attorney general for Mexico City.

Its so false when politicians from Morena say there is no corruption, said Miguel Angel Garcia, 32, a salesman. Yes, Sheinbaum is more honest. But she has a lot of work to do.

Special correspondent Cecilia Sanchez Vidal contributed to this report.



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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Sipa USA/Newscom

On Saturday, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against President Donald Trump's deployment of federalized Oregon National Guard members in Portland. In response to a lawsuit by Oregon and the city of Portland, Immergut concluded that the deployment exceeded the president's statutory authority and violated the state autonomy protected by the 10th Amendment.

Trump responded to that decision by ordering the deployment of federalized California and Texas National Guard troops to Portland. On Sunday, Immergut rejected that switcheroo, saying it was "in direct contravention of the court's order issued yesterday." To underline that point, she expanded her TRO to cover "the relocation, federalization or deployment of members of the National Guard of any state or the District of Columbia in the state of Oregon."

Since Trump himself appointed Immergut, it would be hard to characterize her TRO as the work of a "Radical Left Lunatic" bent on obstructing his agenda for political reasonshis go-to explanation whenever judges rule against him. Rather, her decision upholds the principle that the president is not above the law, which in this case means he is not free to ignore the restrictions that Congress has imposed on his use of the National Guard.

"This case involves the intersection of three of the most fundamental principles in our

constitutional democracy," Immergut writes in the opinion she issued when she approved the initial TRO. "The first concerns the relationship between the federal government and the states. The second concerns the relationship between the United States armed forces and domestic law enforcement. The third concerns the proper role of the judicial branch in ensuring that the executive branch complies with the laws and limitations imposed by the legislative branch. Whether we choose to follow what the Constitution mandates with respect to these three relationships goes to the heart of what it means to live under the rule of law in the United States."

Trump presented the Portland deployment, which he announced in a Truth Social post on September 27, as a response to protests at the city's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. "At the request of [the] Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem," he wrote, "I am directing [the] 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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

As he did when he deployed California National Guard troops in response to Los Angeles protests against immigration raids in June, Trump invoked his authority under 10 USC 12406. That statute authorizes federalization of National Guard personnel in three circumstances: 1) when "the United States, or any of the Commonwealths or possessions, is invaded or is in danger of invasion by a foreign nation"; 2) when "there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States"; or 3) when "the President is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States."

Trump argues that both of the latter two conditions existed in Portland as of late September. Immergut disagrees.

In a June 19 decision addressing the Los Angeles deployment, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, which includes Oregon, ruled that the president's findings under Section 12406 are entitled to "a great level of deference." But the appeals court rejected Trump's "primary argument" that his use of that law is "completely insulated from judicial review." It said courts "may at least review the President's determination to ensure that it reflects a colorable assessment of the facts and law within a 'range of honest judgment.'"

While the 9th Circuit thought the Los Angeles deployment probably met that test, Immergut says Trump's rationale for sending National Guard members to Portland does not. From June 11 through June 25, she acknowledges, the protests in Portland "included violent behavior and required an increased law enforcement presence." But after June 25, she adds, "the protests were generally peaceful in nature with only sporadic incidents of violence and disruptive behavior." And "by late September, these protests typically involved twenty or fewer people."

To back up Trump's assessment of the situation in Portland, Immergut notes, the government cited "only four incidents of protesters clashing with federal officers in the month of September." They included "a makeshift guillotine" that protesters erected to "intimidate federal officials"; two incidents in which protesters shined flashlights in the eyes of drivers at the ICE facility; and an online picture of "an unmarked ICE vehicle." While "these incidents are inexcusable," Immergut says, "they are nowhere near the type of incidents that cannot be handled by regular law enforcement forces," and "they occurred at least two weeks before President Trump issued his directive."

More generally, Immergut writes, recent events in Portland are "categorically different from the violent incidents" that the government described in Los Angeles. Trump's assertion that he was "unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States," she concludes, "was simply untethered to the facts."

That determination, the government argued, was supported by the need to deploy additional federal law enforcement personnel from other states. But that "proposed test," Immergut says, "would allow the President to call in the National Guard whenever one law enforcement office receives support from another office, which is a routine aspect of law enforcement activity. If the President could equate diversion of federal resources with his inability to execute federal law, then the President could send military troops virtually anywhere at any time."

Immergut was similarly unimpressed by the government's description of "violence elsewhere in the country," which it said supported the concern that "peaceful protests in Portland might escalate into violence 'at any moment.'" Neither "violence in a different state" nor "the mere potential for future escalation" can "provide a colorable basis" for invoking Section 12406, she says. "To accept Defendants' arguments would be to render meaningless the extraordinary requirements of [Section 12406] by allowing the President to federalize one state's National Guard based on events in a different state or mere speculation about future events. In other words, violence elsewhere cannot support troop deployments here, and concern about hypothetical future conduct does not demonstrate a present inability to execute the laws using nonmilitary federal law enforcement."

What about Trump's claim that he faced "a rebellion or danger of a rebellion" against the federal government's authority? Although the 9th Circuit did not address that prong of Section 12406 in the California case, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer did, and Immergut found his conclusions about the historical meaning of rebellion persuasive.

"First," Breyer wrote, "a rebellion must not only be violent but also be armed. Second, a rebellion must be organized. Third, a rebellion must be open and avowed. Fourth, a rebellion must be against the government as a wholeoften with an aim of overthrowing the governmentrather than in opposition to a single law or issue."

Applying that definition, Immergut concludes that "the protests in Portland were not 'a rebellion' and did not pose a 'danger of a rebellion,' especially in the days leading up to the federalization." While the government "presented evidence of sporadic violence against federal officers and property damage to a federal building," she says, it did not offer "any evidence demonstrating that those episodes of violence were part of an organized attempt to overthrow the government as a whole."

Because Trump's federalization of the Oregon National Guard was not authorized by statute, Immergut says, it "also violates the Tenth Amendment," which reserves to the states powers "not delegated to the United States by the Constitution." The Constitution authorizes Congress to "provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions." The president therefore "lacks constitutional authority to federalize the National Guard once he exceeds the constitutional authority that Congress granted him."

Since Trump is "federalizing the Oregon National Guard absent constitutional authority, his actions undermine the sovereign interest of Oregon as protected by the Tenth Amendment," Immergut writes. "Oregon has a Tenth Amendment power to control its National Guard to the extent it is not cabined by the Militia Clause." In other words, she says, Trump "'interfere[d] with the constitutional balance of power between the federal and state governments' by federalizing state National Guardsmen for federal service when no statutory or constitutional authority permitted their federalization."

As Reason's Autumn Billings notes, a lawsuit that Illinois filed today raises similar objections to Trump's National Guard deployment in Chicago. While it's not clear how the courts will assess the situation there, the decisions in the 9th Circuitincluding the ruling that allowed the Los Angeles deployment to continuesuggest that facts do make a difference as a matter of law. At the very least, the president can invoke Section 12406 only based on "a colorable assessment of the facts and law within a 'range of honest judgment.'" Although Trump prefers to invent his own reality, that is not good enough to meet the legal requirements for calling out the National Guard.

The post Why a Trump Appointee Ruled That His National Guard Deployment in Portland Was Illegal appeared first on Reason.com.
by Silvia Torriti

China is the world's largest producer and consumers of tobacco, with 300 million smokers and over a million deaths per year. Dozens of provincial divisions have already tightened regulations, and the Healthy China 2030 plan aims to reduce adult smokers to 20%. For months, Shanghai has been experimenting with bans even in outdoor sensitive areas. Meanwhile, civic activism is growing, and students are also pushing for smoke-free campuses.

In China, it is open warfare against smoking. This is a very serious problem for a country considered the largest producer and consumer of tobacco in the world, with over 300 million smokers and more than one million people dying each year from smoking-related diseases.

In the first half of last year, 24 provincial divisions had already introduced local regulations to combat tobacco consumption. Meanwhile, the national Healthy China 2030 initiative, which aims to reduce the percentage of smokers aged 15 and over to 20% by 2030, has been in place for some time.

The city of Shanghai was a pioneer in tobacco control in China, being the first to ban smoking in indoor public places in 2010. Since then, anyone caught lighting a cigarette in places such as schools, hospitals, public transport and restaurants will first receive a warning and then a fine of 50 to 200 yuan (approximately 6 to 24) if they resist.

In an effort to further reduce tobacco addiction, in March this year, the city launched a pilot programme to combat smoking in outdoor public spaces as well. According to guidelines published by local authorities, tourist sites, schools, restaurants and bars throughout the city are required to post no-smoking signs in waiting areas and train staff to discourage smoking. Citizens can report violations by calling a government hotline. Individual offenders face fines of up to 200 yuan (approximately 24), while establishments can be fined up to 30,000 yuan (approximately 3,600).

The initiative appears to have been very well received by residents. Responding to a survey conducted by the city's health regulators, over 90% of respondents admitted that they did not tolerate being constantly exposed to second-hand smoke while walking down the street.

Among them is Zhang Yu, a financial employee by profession and fervent anti-smoking influencer. Several videos posted on Chinese social media show Zhang politely but firmly confronting those who violate the smoking ban in shopping centres, apartment buildings, hospitals and other public spaces in Shanghai, urging them to put out their cigarettes or leave.

Smoking is a very personal matter, but when it harms others, it becomes a really bad thing, he told Sixth Tone. He added that most of his interventions are resolved without major problems and that only in rare cases, when faced with stubborn smokers, has he been forced to call the police.

Support for Zhang on social media is almost unanimous, with many saying they have started to follow his example and encouraging him to keep it up. Among the ranks of anti-smoking advocates is Xu Lihong, a 26-year-old healthcare worker from Chengdu with over 5,600 followers on Xiaohongshu.

We are not asking smokers to quit for good, but we believe that the freedom to smoke should not come at the expense of others right to avoid second-hand smoke, said Xu, proclaiming herself 'ambassador for tobacco control.

To make anti-smoking measures in her city more effective, the activist suggests clearly distinguishing between areas where smoking is permitted and those where it is not. She has noticed that when no-smoking signs are clearly visible, people are much more likely to comply with her requests.

According to Xu, the penalties for those who violate the law are too lenient and therefore ineffective. Despite the difficulties, the young woman is steadfast in her commitment and has built a network with other anti-smoking activists to share experiences and offer support. I hope for a future where all public spaces are free from second-hand smoke, she said.

Zhang Ruicong, a university student from Zhejiang province, said she was verbally abused after asking someone to stop smoking on an escalator at a railway station. She also saw several men in a restaurant who continued to smoke next to children, despite repeated requests to stop. Many people consider smoking to be normal or are afraid of causing problems by talking about it, she said, highlighting the deep-rooted social attitudes in China towards this habit. She added that even her mother considers her position to be extreme.

Despite everything, the young woman remains optimistic. She believes that the younger generation is leading the change on this issue and, citing her university's smoke-free campus campaign, she reiterated her belief that students are catalysts for social progress.

The change in attitude towards smoking is also reflected in popular culture. Recently, several comedians have incorporated a kind of anti-smoking propaganda into their shows, which has been well received by audiences nationwide.

Particularly indicative is an incident that took place last August in Shaoxing, the birthplace of Lu Xun (1881-1936), one of the leading intellectuals of modern China. A mural depicting the famous writer smoking, located at the memorial dedicated to him, was at the centre of a heated debate after a visitor complained, concerned about the negative influence the image could have on young people. The man, a certain Mr Sun, did not hesitate to file a complaint via the Zhejiang provincial government platform, believing that the artwork risked making smoking seem appealing to teenagers.

Public opinion was divided between Sun's supporters, who believed that public spaces should avoid images that tend to normalise smoking, and his opponents, who argued that removing or altering the iconic portrait would only be a waste of public resources. Furthermore, for the latter, doing so would have meant distorting history, since at the time of Lu Xun, smoking was not considered a vice, nor was it condemned as a danger to public health. In the end, the second side prevailed: the local cultural authorities decided to preserve the mural, as it was considered part of Lu Xun's historical image.
by Lisa Bongiovanni

According to a survey conducted by the Korea Rural Economic Institute, only 40.4% of respondents said they would organise Charye - one of the rituals that characterise today's traditional harvest festival. In 2016, the figure was 74.4%. This is an indication of the changes taking place in Korean society. For the younger generations, the holiday that marked the return to their hometowns has become the season for travelling abroad.

Seoul (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Today is Chuseok, one of the most important traditional holidays in South Korea. Nearly 500,000 vehicles travelled from Seoul to the provinces to reunite with family in anticipation of today's festivities.

However, a survey conducted by the Korea Rural Economic Institute (Krei) highlights how this tradition is also being affected by the sudden changes in Korean society. Only 40.4% of respondents said they would organise Charye - one of the rituals that characterise the day - compared to 74.4% in 2016, highlighting a trend that is set to continue.

Krei attributed this decline to several factors, such as the simplification of customs, the increase in smaller families and changing values among the younger generations.

Chuseok, or Harvest Festival, falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. It recalls the country's agricultural roots by celebrating the autumn harvests that ensured survival or a good quality of life in preparation for the arrival of winter.

It is known internationally as the Korean Thanksgiving Day, originating as an occasion to give thanks to nature and ancestors, in line with the Confucian roots of this holiday.

The day is marked by a series of rituals, beginning with the first of these: the Charye. The family gathers around a table laden with numerous dishes arranged according to the cardinal points. Rice liquor is poured into each glass on the table corresponding to each ancestor.

All this is offered to the ancestors. The dishes are prepared without garlic and spring onions because, as in other cultures, they are considered repellents for otherworldly spirits and would risk driving them away.

Once the table is ready, all family members bow in hierarchical order according to age. Incense sticks are burned to invite the spirits of the ancestors, and the window is opened as if to let them in. Once the Charye is over, it is time for all the guests to eat.

Among the most common dishes are Jeon, savoury pancakes made with vegetables, fish or meat; Japchae, stir-fried potato noodles; and Songpyeon, sweet crescent-shaped rice dumplings filled with beans, chestnuts, sesame or honey, steamed on pine needles for a distinctive aroma. It is said that sipping the water that the ancestors drank during the ritual makes fears disappear.

After eating, families visit their ancestors' graves and clear away the weeds that have grown over the summer: a gesture called beolcho, part of the Seongmyo practice. The day continues with other convivial events.

These include Ssireum, a form of traditional wrestling in which participants compete to throw their opponent onto their back using only their arms. As evening falls, people gather for Ganggangsullae, a dance - a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2009 - in which women dance in a circle wearing traditional Hanbok dresses, singing and enacting scenes from rural life. It is a prayer for a bountiful harvest. The day ends by going outside to watch the full moon, which is said to be the largest and brightest of the year.

The decline in participation in traditional rituals is mainly driven by the younger generations. For many young people, Chuseok no longer coincides with a return to their hometown, but becomes an opportunity to travel abroad, driven by an increasingly global mindset and digital literacy that offers new ways to stay in touch with family.

It is no coincidence that Seoul-Incheon International Airport expects a record 2.45 million passengers during these holidays.

According to Justin Fendos, a professor at Dongseo University in South Korea, holidays abroad are an interesting indicator of this generational difference: while for those in their forties and fifties, the first experience outside the country occurred on average at 31 or 40 years of age, for those in their twenties and thirties today, the age drops to 21 and 26.

However, the results of the Krei survey can also be linked to several other factors.

The fast-paced Korean work culture makes it difficult to fulfil all the complexities of rituals such as Charye. Even those who do not renounce tradition are adapting it to modern needs: traditional dishes are increasingly being bought ready-made and the traditional Ganggangsullae dance is watched on television.

A transition is underway in which ancestral rituals are being simplified and adapted, finding new forms within a rapidly changing society.
In Pakistan's northeastern province, the local government stopped funding stipends for female public school students three years ago. Although meager (200 rupees or $US 0.70) every six months, the money was crucial for female attendance in rural areas. Across the country, spending on education is declining, and 38 per cent of children, especially girls, remain out of school, while early marriage and forced labour are on the rise.

Peshawar (AsiaNews)  A scholarship programme for girls in public schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the troubled province in northwestern Pakistan, has been inoperative for three years.

According to sources in the provinces Elementary and Secondary Education Department, the government has not funded the programme since 2022, effectively terminating a measure that helped reduce the female school dropout rate in rural areas for more than a decade.

The province introduced the programme in 2008 when it was led by the Awami National Party (ANP), which sought to increase girls school attendance and combat early dropouts.

Each student in grades six to ten received a small but crucial stipend of 200 rupees (US$ 0.70) every six months, provided they maintained at least 80 per cent attendance in school.

According to the Education Department, 3.8 billion rupees per year is needed to cover costs for approximately 600,000 beneficiaries. But for the past three years, funding requests have been held up between the finance and education departments with no money released.

Since then, the current administration (backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), announced a rise in the stipend to 500 rupees (US$ 1.75) per student. However, despite the promise, no funds have been made available. The PTI is the party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently serving time in prison.

The headmistress at a public school in Peshawar told the newspaper Dawn that the girls were overjoyed when they received the scholarships, and that they used the money to buy uniforms and school supplies. Now Students and their parents regularly ask for payment of stipend but we have no reply to their queries, she lamented.

Schools continue to regularly submit the necessary application to the Education Department, without a response.

A senior education department official said that the finance department is responsible for the suspension. The latter claims that the impact of the scholarships is minimal compared to the allocated funds, deeming public spending on such a programme ineffective.

Teachers, however, tell a different story. Since the programme was launched, girls' enrolment has increased and absenteeism has significantly decreased, especially in the most remote villages and poorest areas.

The same situation is observed at the national level. According to a recent Save the Children report, Pakistan's public spending on education is at an all-time low, while 26 million children, or 38 per cent, are not in school, one of the highest levels in the world.

According to government documents, the percentage of GDP allocated to education has steadily declined since 2018, when it fell from 2 per cent to 0.8 per cent. Since the start of the current fiscal year in July 2024 to March 2025, spending on education has decreased by 29 per cent.

Another problem is climate-related disasters, such as heatwaves, which lead to school closures. The 2022 floods disrupted the education of nearly three million children.

For girls, the situation is more complicated, not only in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but also in the rest of the country; in Balochistan, southwestern Pakistan, 75 per cent of girls do not attend school, victim to early marriage or forced labour.

Data from 2021 shows that nearly one in 10 children between the ages of 10 and 14 is out of school, while an estimated 19 million girls are married before their 18th birthday.
Today's headlines: in Egypt, meetings with Israeli and Hamas delegations on the logistical details of the agreement could take longer than expected (and in the meantime, people are still dying in Gaza). Defence agreement signed between Australia and Papua New Guinea to counter China. Nine dead in new hospital fire in India. The Council of Europe calls for a platform for dialogue between Russian democratic forces in exile.

CHINA-TIBET-NEPAL

Over 200 climbers are stranded by a snowstorm on the Tibetan slopes of Mount Everest. Chinese state media report that the authorities have managed to contact all of them, while about 350 other hikers have been rescued by emergency services. Unusually heavy snowfall for this time of year trapped the hikers in the Tibetan valley leading to the eastern side of Mount Everest over the weekend, during the national holidays in China. Meanwhile, south of Tibet, in Nepal, 40 people were killed by severe flooding and landslides caused by the same storm.

GAZA-ISRAEL-PALESTINE

Negotiators from Israel and Hamas are meeting in Egypt to discuss the technical and operational details of implementing President Donald Trump's proposed peace plan for Gaza, including the logistics of handing over Israeli hostages. Sources from the Emirati website The National explained that Egyptian bulldozers are expected to receive authorisation from the Israeli army to enter Gaza, where they will be taken to specific sites to assist in the search and exhumation of the remains of deceased hostages. The operation appears complex. It is likely that the delivery of the hostages, both living and dead, will take place over a week rather than three days, as envisaged in Trump's plan, one of the sources said. Meanwhile, however, Israeli bombing continues: Palestinian sources report another 24 deaths in the last few hours.

AUSTRALIA-PAPUA NEW GUINEA-CHINA

Australia has signed a new defence agreement with Papua New Guinea, the first in over 70 years, as part of Canberra's measures to prevent China from expanding its military presence in the Pacific. Under the Pukpuk defence treaty, the two countries commit to providing mutual assistance in the event of an attack. The treaty provides for up to 10,000 Papua New Guinean citizens to serve in the Australian Defence Force under a joint cooperation arrangement.

INDIA

At least nine people died last night in a huge fire that broke out in a hospital in India. The affected facility is the Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur. While the local government of Rajasthan has ordered an investigation into the devastating incident, the families of the deceased patients have reported flaws in the safety systems and a lack of adequate equipment to extinguish the flames that caused the casualties.

INDONESIA

The death toll from the collapse of the Al Khoziny Islamic school a few days ago in the Indonesian city of Sidoarjo, in the province of East Java, has risen to at least 50. Using excavators, rescuers removed 80% of the rubble late yesterday evening, finding the remains of the victims, mainly teenagers. Rescue operations are expected to be completed today, with 13 people still missing.

RUSSIA

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has approved a resolution to create a platform for dialogue with Russian democratic forces in exile, a project inspired by Vladimir Kara-Murza and other Russian opponents abroad, who consider it a historic event that brings Russians together with Belarusian opponents in European institutions, despite differences with Navalny's group and others, including Ukrainians and Estonians.

ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN

A group of representatives from the US Customs and Border Protection agency has arrived in Armenia and will remain there until 11 October to work with their Armenian colleagues in assessing the possibilities and identifying areas that need improvement in order to make the Trump Corridor between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, and the routes connected to it, calculating the investments needed to ensure border security, as per the agreements signed in the Washington memorandum between Yerevan and Baku on 8 August.
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Putin says China's Global Governance Initiative closely linked to Russia's vision for Eurasian security

Xinhua) 10:11, October 06, 2025

SOCHI, Russia, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's Global Governance Initiative is closely aligned with Russia's vision for Eurasian security, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.

Speaking at the plenary session of the 22nd annual meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club, Putin said that aligning the two frameworks is appropriate for advancing Russia-China relations and holds global significance.

Putin noted that both the Russian and Chinese heads of state attended commemorations in each other's countries. These events marked the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and acknowledged the shared sacrifices of both nations in defeating Nazi Germany and Japanese militarism. During the two occasions, the leaders discussed current international affairs and explored ways to strengthen bilateral relations in sectors such as the economy, culture and education.

Regarding China's pilot visa-free policy for Russian citizens, Putin stated that Russia would introduce a reciprocal policy for Chinese citizens and would strive to expedite the process.

In his address to the Federal Assembly in February last year, Putin proposed building an architecture of equal and indivisible security across the Eurasian continent.

Since then, Russia has expressed its readiness to work with BRICS and the countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to establish a new Eurasian security framework. Such a framework could take the form of a multilateral interaction model, involving the Eurasian Economic Union, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, and other Asian or European countries willing to participate.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Hongyu)
6 October 2025 15:42 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

On October 6, the Baku Military Court continued the trial against citizens of the Republic of Armenia, with the announcement of documents related to the rocket attacks on the city of Ganja during the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020, Azernews reports.

According to court materials, the Armenian armed forces, in gross violation of the ceasefire and international law, including the Geneva Convention, targeted residential areas, educational and medical facilities far from the front line, using 9K58 "Smerch" (BM-30) and 9K72 "Elbrus" missiles on October 4, 5, 8, 11, and 17, 2020. These strikes resulted in acts of terrorism, large-scale destruction, civilian casualties, and significant damage to private property.

The documents reveal that 26 civilians were deliberately killed, including 10 men, 10 women, and 6 minors, and 175 people sustained injuries, including 61 men, 66 women, and 48 minors. Investigators conducted crime scene inspections, medical examinations, and collected witness testimonies, as well as statements from legal heirs and injured parties.

The trial of the Armenian citizens accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, and other offenses linked to Armenias military aggression continues.
6 October 2025 21:12 (UTC+04:00)

The open court hearing in the criminal cases against citizens of the Republic of Armenia  Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Gukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan and others  who are accused of committing crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including the planning and waging of an aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, as well as terrorism, financing of terrorism, forcible seizure of power, forcible retention of power and numerous other crimes in connection with Armenias military aggression against Azerbaijan, continued on October 6.

Azernews reports that at the hearing held at the Baku Military Court before a panel presided over by Judge Zeynal Agayev, with Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev (reserve judge Gunel Samedova) as members, each of the accused was provided with an interpreter in the language they understood and with lawyers for their defense.

Present at the hearing were the accused persons, their defense counsel, some of the injured parties, their legal heirs and representatives, as well as the prosecutors representing the state prosecution.

The court proceedings continued with the reading aloud of the case file documents.

First, documents concerning the rocket strikes on the city of Ganja during the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020 were read out.

The documents examined state that the Armenian armed forces grossly violated the ceasefire regime and norms of international law, including the provisions of the Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949 concerning the protection of civilians during armed conflicts, and on October 4, 5, 8, 11 and 17, 2020 struck residential areas, non-military civilian facilities and the civilian population in the city of Ganja, which is located away from the front line, with rockets of the 9K58 Smerch (BM-30) and 9K72 Elbrus types.

Thus, the Armenian armed forces committed acts of terrorism and other crimes that resulted in large-scale destruction not justified by military necessity, caused injuries and deaths among civilians, and in particular the destruction of civilian property in significant quantities.

During the preliminary investigation, for each of the incidents in question on-site inspections were carried out; the bodies of the deceased were examined by a forensic medical expert and the expert opinions were included in the case materials; forensic medical examinations of the injuries of the wounded persons were obtained and attached to the case file; the legal heirs of the deceased victims were identified and interviewed; decisions recognizing injured persons as victims and their subsequent questioning in the case were ensured; as well as witness questioning and other investigative actions were carried out.

The documents state that as a result of the rocket attacks on the city of Ganja on October 4, 5, 8, 11 and 17, 2020, 26 civilians were intentionally killed and 175 people sustained bodily injuries of various degrees.

Of the 26 deceased, 10 were men, 10 were women and 6 were persons under the age of majority. Of the 175 injured persons, 61 were men, 66 were women and 48 were minors.

A large amount of damage was inflicted on civilian infrastructure facilities located in the city, on vehicles, residential houses and other buildings.

According to the documents, based on the protocol of the initial on-site inspection dated October 11, 2020, it was determined that the Armenian armed forces struck Ganja using a ballistic missile.

Investigations established that the explosion occurred as a result of the detonation of an operational-tactical missile of the 9K72 Elbrus type  produced in the USSR after 1978 and designated in NATO classification as SS-1c Scud B.

It is most likely that the missile was launched from a distance of up to 275 km, from the settlement of Vardenis in Armenia, towards Ganja. The R-17 single-stage liquid-propellant ballistic trajectory missile was produced in the former USSR and its production was discontinued in 1987.

Because missiles of this type belong to operational-tactical weapon systems that are strategic means for the armed forces of the former USSR and also the armed forces of CIS states, the right to employ them belongs to the head of the relevant state and, with his consent, to the defense minister.

When such missiles are used not against precise military targets but against residential areas and civilian infrastructure, they result in severe consequences  namely, mass human casualties and large-scale destruction.

After this, the accused David Manukyan addressed the court, stating that issuing an order to deploy the missile systems shown and to use them was not within the powers of the leadership and army of the fictitious regime.

Judge Zeynal Agayev stated that at the current stage the process of reading out the documents is underway. After the reading of documents is completed, the defense will be given an opportunity to express its position.

Then the lawyer of the accused Arayik Harutyunyan requested in court that copies of the documents examined in the hearing be provided.

Presiding Judge Zeynal Agayev stated that copies of the documents would be provided.

Thereafter, documents were read concerning the facts of rocket fire at the territories of the districts of Goygol, Tovuz, Dashkasan, Samukh, Siyazan, Kurdamir, Gabala, as well as the city of Mingachevir and the Goygol National Park during the 44-day Patriotic War.

Then the lawyer of the accused Levon Mnatsakanyan filed a motion for a confidential meeting with the person he defends.

Judge Zeynal Agayev granted the motion and a recess in the court was announced.

After the recess, the hearing continued with the reading of documents.

One of the documents read out concerned rocket attacks on the city of Barda by the Armenian armed forces during the 44-day Patriotic War, carried out from locations outside the war zone.

The documents examined state that as a result of rocket attacks on Barda at different times during the Patriotic War, 29 people  including children, women and elderly persons  were intentionally killed and 112 were injured; a large amount of damage was inflicted on civilian infrastructure facilities located in the city, on vehicles, residential houses and other buildings.

The review of the documents was accompanied by photographs related to the criminal cases.

The court proceedings will continue on October 9.

It should be noted that under the criminal case regarding numerous criminal acts committed during the course of the aggressive war carried out by the Republic of Armenia state, its state bodies and officials, its armed forces and illegal armed groups  on the basis of direct leadership and participation, verbal and written orders, instructions and directives issued, material, technical and personnel support provided, centralized management and under strict control  aimed at the military aggression against the territory of Azerbaijan and contrary to domestic and international legal norms, and carried out with the direct and indirect participation and leadership of, among others, Robert Sedraki Kocharyan, Serj Azat Sarkisyan, Vazgen Mikaeli Manukyan, Vazgen Zaven Sarkisyan, Samvel Andranik Babayan, Vitali Mikaeli Balasanyan, Zori Hayk Balayan, Seyran Musheghi Ohanyan, Arshavir Surenovich Gharamyan, Monte Charles Melkonyan and others  15 accused persons are charged.

Those persons  namely Harutyunyan Arayik Vladimiri, Gukasyan Arkadi Arshaviri, Sahakyan Bako Sahaki, Ishkhanyan Davit Rubeni, Manukyan David Azatini, Babayan David Klimi, Mnatsakanyan Levon Henrikovich, Beglaryan Vasili Ivani, Gazaryan Erik Roberti, Allahverdiian Davit Nelsoni, Stepanyan Gurgen Homeri, Balayan Levon Romiki, Babayan Madat Arakelovich, Martirosyan Garik Grigori, Pashayan Melikset Vladimiri  are charged under Articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan: 100 (planning, preparing, initiating and waging an aggressive war), 102 (attacks on persons or organizations enjoying international protection), 103 (genocide), 105 (extermination of the population), 106 (slavery), 107 (deportation or forcible transfer of population), 109 (persecution), 110 (forcible disappearance of persons), 112 (unlawful deprivation of liberty contrary to norms of international law), 113 (torture), 114 (mercenarism), 115 (violation of the laws and customs of war), 116 (violation of international humanitarian law norms during armed conflict), 118 (military robbery), 120 (intentional killing), 192 (illegal entrepreneurship), 214 (terrorism), 214-1 (financing of terrorism), 218 (creation of a criminal organization), 228 (illicit procurement, transfer, sale, storage, carriage and possession of weapons, their constituent parts, ammunition, explosive substances and devices), 270-1 (acts endangering aviation security), 277 (assassination of a state or public official), 278 (forcible seizure and retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional order), 279 (creation of armed formations and groups not envisaged by law), and other articles.
6 October 2025 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

In a world increasingly driven by clean energy ambitions, Azerbaijan is positioning itself not merely as a producer or transit countrybut as a regional architect of green energy connectivity. Its recent high-level engagements in Kazakhstan underscore a critical dimension of this strategy: leveraging partnerships with Central Asian countries to construct a multi-vector, sustainable energy corridor between East and West.

During "Kazakhstan Energy Week" in Astana, Azerbaijans Minister of Energy, Parviz Shahbazov, held a series of strategic meetings with Kazakh officials and international energy leaders. The agenda was clear: deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation in green energy, enhance trans-Caspian energy connectivity, and accelerate joint regional infrastructure initiatives aimed at transforming the Caspian basin into a pivotal green energy corridor.

Azerbaijans energy transition is not simply about replacing fossil fuels. Its about ensuring long-term geopolitical relevance in a shifting energy landscape. As global markets move beyond hydrocarbons, countries that control the flow of clean energy will command new forms of influence. By integrating itself into Central Asias renewable energy ambitions, Baku is ensuring that Azerbaijan remains at the center of the evolving Eurasian energy map.

This strategy is most visible in the "Central Asia-Azerbaijan Green Energy Corridor," a project that seeks to connect renewable energy-rich countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to European markets via Azerbaijan. The initiative is more than a pipelineit is a power bridge, combining electricity interconnectors, green hydrogen potential, and fiber-optic infrastructure that also supports digital transformation.

During his speech at the APRECA Ministerial Roundtable, Shahbazov emphasized that this corridor represents not only a technical solution but a strategic transformation. "The creation of the geostrategic Trans-Caspian Green Energy Corridor, which will connect the electricity systems of our countries for the first time in history, is fully consistent with the policy priorities of President Ilham Aliyev," Shahbazov said. "It opens up broad opportunities for the development of the Middle Corridor as a green bridge connecting Europe with Asia and China through the Caspian Sea."

The traditional Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan energy partnership, long centered around hydrocarbons, is evolving. While Kazakh oil continues to be shipped through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipelinewith 3.38 million tons transported since 2023both sides are clearly pivoting toward long-term green cooperation.

In meetings with Kazakhstans Minister of Energy Erlan Akkenzhenov and Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev, discussions moved beyond oil logistics to include infrastructure modernization, the feasibility study of the green energy corridor (expected to launch in November), and the future role of the Zangezur Corridor and Middle Corridor in supporting green energy trade.

Kazakhstans full backing for the green energy corridor was made explicit by Minister Akkenzhenov, who reiterated Astanas support for this "strategically important project," underscoring its alignment with both countries' long-term energy diversification goals.

Azerbaijan is not acting alone. Its coordination with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan under the Caspian Green Energy Corridor initiativeformalized in April 2025is a model of regional green diplomacy. Backed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the tripartite agreement aims to interconnect the energy systems of all three countries and create a viable, scalable route for clean energy exports to Europe.

The groundwork was laid during the COP29 summit in Baku in 2024, where the leaders of the three countries signed a landmark strategic agreement on green energy. Today, the partnership is being operationalized with feasibility studies, stakeholder engagement, and alignment with broader initiatives like APRECA (Accelerated Partnership for Renewable Energy in Central Asia), coordinated by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

In a meeting with IRENA Director General Francesco La Camera, Azerbaijan reaffirmed its commitment to aligning its national and regional initiatives with global decarbonization goals, particularly in developing shared infrastructure, energy storage systems, and smart grids.

Traditionally viewed as a transport and trade route connecting China to Europe via Central Asia and the South Caucasus, the Middle Corridor is now being redefined as a "green corridor." With Azerbaijan's leadership, the region is exploring how electricity interconnectors, renewable power flows, and even fiber-optic data lines can turn this transport route into a full-spectrum infrastructure artery.

Incorporating the Zangezur Corridor into this architecture adds another layer of strategic depth. By strengthening east-west logistics while embedding clean energy systems into transport frameworks, Azerbaijan is turning geography into long-term advantage.

Moreover, Azerbaijan is also pursuing parallel routes for green energy export, such as the Caspian-Black Sea-Europe, Azerbaijan-Turkiye-Europe, and Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkiye-Bulgaria corridors. These initiatives reflect a deliberate strategy of diversificationnot only in energy sources but in partnerships and export pathways.

Azerbaijans green energy diplomacy with Kazakhstanand the broader Central Asian regionis a case study in how energy transitions can be strategically leveraged for regional influence, economic diversification, and geopolitical security.

As global energy systems become increasingly decarbonized and interconnected, Azerbaijans proactive efforts to lead, connect, and innovate in the Caspian region position it as a central node in Eurasias energy future. What began as a fossil-fuel transit hub is rapidly becoming a linchpin of green energy geopolitics.

With the support of international financial institutions, alignment with global sustainability goals, and a growing network of strategic partnerships, Azerbaijan is not just adapting to the energy transitionit is shaping it.
6 October 2025 17:22 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) has announced that the country has officially received approval to export meat to Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

This decision comes after Pakistans Animal Quarantine Department fully complied with Azerbaijans veterinary and food safety standards.

Following the announcement, TDAP held a meeting with meat exporters and relevant agencies to discuss strategies for entering the Azerbaijani market and expanding export opportunities.

As part of these efforts, TDAP plans to send a delegation of Pakistani meat exporters to Baku in November 2025. Leading Azerbaijani importers have also been invited to an exhibition in Pakistan, aiming to strengthen direct trade and business ties between the two countries.

TDAP official Ather Hussain Khokhar emphasized that this milestone underscores the high quality of Pakistani meat and reinforces the countrys international reputation as a reliable halal producer.
6 October 2025 17:43 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The 11th Baku International Book Fair has opened at the Baku Expo Center, featuring the participation of hundreds of local and international organizations, Azernews reports.

Among the most visited pavilions was the booth of ICESCO's Regional Office in Baku, which attracted a diverse range of visitors, including academics, students, publishers, and culture enthusiasts.

Throughout the fair, the booth has served as a hub for dialogue and the exchange of ideas. Visitors have had the chance to explore publications from five different countries, engage in discussions on scientific and literary heritage, and learn more about ICESCO's initiatives in education, science, and culture.

Dr. Abdulhakeem AlSenan, Director of ICESCO's Baku Regional Office, noted that the strong interest reflects growing attention to ICESCO's mission.

"Our booth has become a vibrant platform for communication, idea-sharing, and promoting a culture of reading and knowledge exchange," he said.

Over the course of the seven-day fair, more than 220 events will take place.

The significant interest in ICESCO's booth underscores the importance of this space for cultural exchange and intellectual dialogue.

Note that the main task of ICESCO's Regional Office in Baku, which opened on April 29, 2025, is to coordinate cooperation between the countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia  Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

This region is home to unique cultural treasures, ranging from the Great Silk Road to various examples of intangible heritage, and is capable of playing a significant role in shaping the global cultural landscape.

With its rich cultural legacy, Azerbaijan joined the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO) in 1991.

Since then, Azerbaijan has actively promoted the preservation of its Islamic cultural heritage.

The country successfully collaborates closely with various organisations, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Islamic Development Bank, the Islamic Conference of Parliamentary Union, and the Islamic Conference of Youth Forum.

The 11th Baku International Book Fair runs until October 7 at the Baku Expo Center.

This year's fair, under the theme "Technoman: yesterday's legend, today's event," provides a platform for in-depth discussions on the role of technology in shaping human life within the modern scientific and cultural context.

The event features 41 international organizations from 18 countries, alongside over 100 local publishers, printing houses, and book-related institutions.

Over 250 events, including masterclasses for both children and adults, book presentations on topics like inclusion, book signings, conferences, symposiums, contests, as well as reading and music sessions are being held throughout the fair.

Notable authors and scholars from countries including Turkiye, Argentina, the UK, Lithuania, Qatar, and more are participating in the event.

Shuttle buses are available for visitors from "Elmlr Akademiyas," "28 May," and "Koroglu" metro stations to the Baku Expo Center. Entry to the fair is free, and it is open daily from 10:00 to 20:00.
6 October 2025 13:30 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Ersin Tatar arrived in Azerbaijan on October 6 to participate in the 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), Azernews reports.

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6 October 2025 17:33 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Azerbaijan on October 6 to participate in the 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), Azernews reports.

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6 October 2025 17:47 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Azerbaijan on October 6 to participate in the 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), Azernews reports.

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6 October 2025 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Ryanair, one of Europes largest low-cost airlines, has announced the cancellation of hundreds of flights in Germany, Azernews reports, citing Bild.

The reductions will affect the last three weeks of November, the first two weeks of December, and the last three weeks of January. However, the airlines schedule for the Christmas holiday period remains unchanged for now. Some route restrictions may extend until March 2026.

The biggest cuts will be at Memmingen Airport, where 27 weekly flights are being canceled. Overall, Ryanair plans to reduce its flight frequency by 4% in November, 6% in December, and a significant 30% in January. In Berlin, only 170 of the 246 flights scheduled for January will operate, and Cologne airport will see 44 routes removed from the schedule.

Ryanair attributes the cutbacks to the high airport and security fees in Germany. Dara Brady, Ryanairs Chief Sales Officer, previously warned that without a revision of the current tax policies by the German government, further restrictions would be unavoidable.

Aviation experts warn that Ryanairs decision could weaken competition in Germanys air transport sector and potentially lead to higher ticket prices. Following Ryanair, WizzAir has also reduced its flight frequency in Germany for the winter season.
Free speech is under attack here in America again, and the usual suspect, the Peoples Republic of California is the culprit. Inspired by EU efforts to suppress free speech, radical pro-censorship legislation copying their methods is working its way through the California legislature.

The legislation would require internet platforms to censor speech and impose huge fines and lawsuits on them if they do not. It would require removal of any posts or comments that upset transgenders, homosexuals, racial groups, and others. It is built to enforce woke political orthodoxy. It uses the term "hate speech" a term of Orwellian Newspeak used by despicable totalitarians who hate FREE speech. A post on a North Carolina internet site could be vulnerable, although the site and the poster had no actual connection to California. The vagueness of what would trigger this censorship makes it particularly dangerous to freedom of speech.

https://thefederalist.com/2025/10/06/californias-vague-hate-speech-bill-would-force-big-tech-to-censor-mainstream-conservative-views/

One only has to look at how such laws have been used in Europe. In France, feminist activists have been charged with "hate speech" for posting that women need their own spaces where biological males are not present. A member of Finland's parliament was charged with hate speech for posting a Bible verse. A German pensioner was charged for posting online that the country's flailing Minister of Economic Affairs was "an idiot". A French senator was prosecuted for posting "immigration kills" after a brutal rape and murder of a young French girl by an illegal alien.

Maybe the best solution is just to expell the Peoples Republic of California from the United States.
McAvoy provided buildings for Lister Community Secondary School; a new performing arts wing extension to the existing school located in the London Borough of Newham, England.

Merstham Park School; a new secondary school building located in Redhill, Surrey, England with buildings from McAvoy.

Another project which contains buildings from McAvoy, Orsett Heath Academy; a new secondary school building located in Essex, England.

A Lisburn-based modular building manufacturer has been purchased by a European investment firm.

McAvoy, which produces both permanent and temporary modular buildings, has been sold to Duke Street, an investment company that focuses on companies with an enterprise value between 50m and 350m.

The building firm has experienced growth in revenues in recent years, with the accounts for the year ending April 2024 for McAvoy Holdings posting a turnover of 75m, up from 59m the prior year.

It has more than 160 employees in five locations across Ireland and the UK, including its headquarters in Lisburn where it can design and manufacture 1,200 modules per year.

The company's clients, which include firms in the health, education and pharmaceutical fields, receive modules that are often over 70% complete by the time they leave the factory

Merstham Park School; a new secondary school building located in Redhill, Surrey, England with buildings from McAvoy.

It has been owned by Blantyre Capital for the past five years, during which time it experienced substantial growth and profitability improvements, reflecting increased demand.

Ron Clarke, CEO of McAvoy, said: Securing the backing and support of Duke Street, one of Europes most well-respected investors, underscores the strength of our proposition.

They join at a critical time in the modular building industry, when the need for high-quality solutions has never been higher.

Our company is uniquely positioned for further growth with a model that combines operational excellence, sophisticated design and deep sector expertise.

Ron Clarke, McAvoy Group chief executive

We thank Blantyre for their commitment and support over the past five years. Together, we have achieved significant growth, establishing McAvoy as a trusted provider of high-quality, adaptable modular buildings across the UK and Ireland.

Joe Thompson, partner at Duke Street, says: McAvoy is a sustainable, well-capitalised and market-leading business that has a strong reputation for building premium modular solutions.

In the last few years, the exceptional management team, led by CEO Ron Clarke, has successfully taken to market a new and differentiated modular product, SmartSpace, that exceeds building regulation requirements.

Duke Streets acquisition of McAvoy complements our long-held investment focus in essential social infrastructure services that provide the backbone to the economy.

McAvoy provided buildings for Lister Community Secondary School; a new performing arts wing extension to the existing school located in the London Borough of Newham, England.

Johann Scheid, investment director at Blantyre, said: We are delighted to have partnered with Ron and his outstanding team at McAvoy.

Over the past five years, McAvoy has undergone a transformational period, successfully launching SmartSpace and expanding its modular rental fleet while delivering a broad range of new permanent modular buildings across education, healthcare, and other key sectors.

Another project which contains buildings from McAvoy, Orsett Heath Academy; a new secondary school building located in Essex, England.

Snowstorm traps hundreds of hikers on Mount Everest

We are confident that McAvoy has found an excellent new home in Duke Street for its next chapter of growth.

We wish the company, its management, staff, and new shareholders every success in the future.
It started as a prank: Belfast Elvis impersonator on rubbing shoulders with stars and why he turned down Robbie Williams
OpenAI is racing to beef up its AI computing resources (AP)

Semiconductor maker AMD will supply its chips to artificial intelligence company OpenAI as part of an agreement to team up on building AI infrastructure, the companies said.

OpenAI will also get the option to buy as much as a 10% stake in AMD, according to a joint statement announcing the deal.
Scottish band Biffy Clyro have said they are excited to get back to their wee gang in Northern Ireland, with Belfast the first stop on a UK and European headline tour in January.
Owen Johnston, 21, is also accused of repeatedly punching and pulling out clumps of her hair during an attack at his flat in the New Lodge area.
No guarantee dangerous bacteria wont return at crisis-hit maternity hospital after 28-month delay for works

Friction at private meeting as Health Minister says Trusts reputation is in the gutter

The delayed maternity hospital at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast

Garrett Hargan Mon 6 Oct 2025 at 07:30

Completion of a crisis-hit maternity hospital in Belfast is facing a further 28-month delay  but minutes from a private meeting reveal that "none" of the three options to fix the water system can give a "100% guarantee that the issue was fixed or won't emerge again in the future.
Base opened by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt who spoke of his wifes struggles during her first pregnancy

CEO of The Parent Rooms Michelle Bradley with her daughter Alexis

A Belfast-based charity that aims to support parents has opened new premises to deliver workshops and counselling.

With backing from the Department of Healths core grant scheme, The Parent Rooms has set up its wellbeing hub on Gordon Street in the city centre.

It was officially opened by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, who told of how his wife Lynda Bryans suffered antenatal depression during her first pregnancy.

CEO of The Parent Rooms Michelle Bradley with her daughter Alexis

The Parent Rooms opens new wellbeing hub in Belfast

He added that its services will be vital in ensuring the charity can provide counselling and peer support for parents.

Chief executive of The Parent Rooms, Michelle Bradley, told this newspaper that the new space can provide a path towards recovery.

This building represents hope, community and transformation for parents who are struggling with their mental health, she said.

For too long, parents in Northern Ireland have faced barriers in accessing the right support when they need it most.

Thanks to the Department of Health core grant, we now have a dedicated space where parents can find help, connection, and a path towards recovery.

The Parent Rooms, then known as We Are Pangs, was founded by Michelle 11 years ago. It started out as an informal online peer support group by the new mum who, at the time, was struggling with postnatal anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

In June 2019, after five years of offering help to more than 700 mums and dads, it incorporated as a charity to develop and grow a regional peer support network across Northern Ireland for parents experiencing mental health difficulties.

When the pandemic hit, the group moved back online, delivering one weekly video.

However, as demand increased, The Parent Rooms began to diversify its services and started to deliver wellbeing programs.

Michelle with Health Minister Mike Nesbitt

This was to teach parents coping skills and helping them to build resilience so that they could take control over their own recovery, explained Ms Bradley.

Weve had thousands of parents reach out to us for support. That number is rapidly growing as pressures on parents continues to mount and access to timely and appropriate mental health care is difficult.

By combining therapeutic services, peer support, social connection and advocacy, the organisation helps parents to rebuild their wellbeing, strengthen family relationships and create lasting positive change.

Mr Nesbitt added: On a personal level, just over 30 years ago, my wife had clinical depression.

It was antenatal concerning the birth of our first child and she could have used a mother and baby unit at that time, so Im still determined to advance our plans to deliver one of those in Belfast.

A parent room would have been really useful to her, because the work of The Parent Rooms is invaluable in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of parents across Northern Ireland.

I am delighted to officially open their new building, which will provide a safe and supportive space for parents and families for many years to come.

The Department of Health is proud to support this important work through our core grant funding.

More information can be found at www.theparentrooms.co.uk

Read more Photograph of rapist who failed to appear in court released by police

Lynda Bryans: 'I couldn't fathom why I had clinical depression because I was the most optimistic person
Enniskillen bomb survivor Jim Dixon remembered at funeral after death aged 88

Family and friends of Jim Dixon outside his funeral at Enniskillen Independent Methodist Church

Enniskillen bomb survivor Jim Dixon has been remembered by mourners as one in a million.

During his funeral at Enniskillen Independent Methodist Church yesterday, he was described as a man who didnt let his horrific injuries diminish his faith, and that he was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend.

The 88-year-old former businessman, who died last week, was just 10 feet away from the IRA bomb when it went off on November 8, 1987, during a Remembrance Day service. Eleven people were killed and over 60 were injured.

Rev Samuel Aiken noted that the large congregation attending Mr Dixons funeral demonstrated the impact he had on the local community.

He also praised Mr Dixons strong faith.

Jim faced incredible, awful injuries and circumstances, he said.

There are many who would have turned away, but he did not. Jim fought a good fight, finished the race and kept his faith.

Mr Dixon is survived by his wife Anna, daughters Suzanne, Sharon and Serena, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Family and friends of Jim Dixon outside his funeral at Enniskillen Independent Methodist Church

Rev John Dixon read the familys tribute and shared several stories.

These included how Mr Dixon knew Anna would be his wife since the age of 15; the time he renovated a van into a mobile home for his family; and how he managed to walk his daughter Sharon down the aisle despite his severe injuries caused by the bombing.

He ensured his home was one of love, laughter and loyalty. Anna and the family are left with many happy memories of Jim as a husband and father, Rev Dixon said.

Mr Dixon and his wife founded the Ely Centre in Enniskillen, a charity that provides support and assistance to retired police officers, security force officers, and armed forces veterans and their families who have been physically or psychologically injured or bereaved as a result of their service.

Director of services at the Ely Centre, Lee McDowell, paid tribute to Mr Dixon, saying the impact of his life on others was impossible to fully explain.

Jim showed up, Jim showed up everyday, and he showed up for everyone, Mr McDowell said.

Enniskillen bomb victim Jim Dixon. Photo: Brian Little/Presseye

News Catch Up - Sunday 5 October

He added that Mr Dixon was respected by everyone he met.

To know Jim was to be changed by Jim. We are all better, stronger and more compassionate because we were blessed to have him in our lives. He respected those who held differing perspectives on our past and always surprised many during our meetings and speaking events in confirming that he was a proud Irishman, a unionist, and Gaelic-speaking Christian from Clones.

He really was one in a million, whose perspective is so desperately needed in our country.

His legacy will not just be in the memories we cherish, but in the way we now try to live  with a bit more patience, a bit more kindness, and a lot more heart.
A Fermanagh filmmaker and author has outlined his determination to make a two hour movie about the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) to redraw the balance of historical perspectives towards the organisation.

David McCann has previously produced short films on the RIC and now wants to embark on his most ambitious project yet having already cast actors and earmarked a host of locations across county Tyrone.

Despite being turned down for financial help by three funding bodies, McCann is keen to push ahead with his production and is holding a fundraising night on October 15 at the Westville Hotel in Enniskillen at 7.30pm in a bid to start filming in the coming months.

Filmmaker David McCann

His three previous films no longer than 15 minutes  one of which won the Spotlight Award for Short film  centre around the fictitious RIC Sergeant Collins, who is also the subject of McCanns most latest book The Green Fella.

The 53-year-old is using sales from the book, which can be purchased on Amazon, to help fund the project and plans to donate any money left over to the Air Ambulance charity and the Bright Eyes Animal Sanctuary in Fermanagh.

Until 1922 the RIC were the police force in Ireland before being replaced by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) in Northern Ireland and Garda Siochana in the Republic of Ireland.

McCann told the Belfast Telegraph: The film is going to be 120 minutes and will be set between 1920 and 1922. It will mostly be filmed in Tyrone and there are a few locations in county Monaghan.

Ive organised the cast and crew, the extras, uniforms, equipment, vehicles and the locations and Im ready to go. I just need help with the funding.

Im not doing it for political reasons. Im doing it for historical reasons.

He added: I am involved with an American Kickstarter crowdfunding programme and hopefully we can raise money through sales of my book and on the fundraising night in Enniskillen.

Its important to me to make the film to tell the story of the Royal Irish Constabulary from their perspective in the 1920s and attempt to redraw the balance of historical perspectives towards the organisation.

Im not doing it for political reasons. Im doing it for historical reasons.

Also theres a lot of people relying on me like those who own the vehicles that would be involved in the film and people that own some of the locations. I feel Ive let them down a little by not getting funding from the various organisations and think I have a duty to them to finish the project after I'd promised them that I was making a film.

Mr McCann, who was once a Garda reserve, added: I had no family members in the RIC but I used to read about it and found it interesting, and thought there's a story in that.

The Enniskillen man plans to direct and produce the film and says he is inspired by legendary Hollywood directors David Lean and John Ford.

Id love to get started before the end of this year though my aim is to do most of the filming in February and March next year, added McCann.

Filmmaker David McCann

News Catch Up - Sunday 5 October

It would be an intense schedule. We could be up at five in the morning filming to nine oclock in the evening some nights.

My previous films are on YouTube and Im hoping once this one is made to screen it on other platforms. Im very passionate about it and am determined to get it done.
Nurse is struck off for grabbing and wrestling dementia patient at Co Antrim care home

Craigavon-based Adrian-Micai Pocol had also received a suspended jail term over incident, but sentence was reduced to a fine on appeal

Adrian-Micai Pocols ban by a tribunal follows his conviction at Belfast Magistrates Court for mistreating the care home resident, who he had tried to drag from a sofa. Stock image.

Stephen Gordon Mon 6 Oct 2025 at 07:21

A nurse who grabbed and wrestled with a distressed 66-year-old dementia sufferer has been struck off.
Meet NIs schoolgirl writer who has released her debut novel: Its difficult to be taken seriously at 14
Families of the victims of the Shankill bomb have met with the body empowered to investigate Troubles killings in a bid to uncover those who were behind the attack  and if an agent of the state was involved.

Nine innocent people were killed and scores more injured when an IRA bomb ripped through a busy fish shop on the afternoon of October 23, 1993.

Two IRA men were responsible for the bombing, Thomas Begley and Sean Kelly.

Begley died at the scene while Kelly was arrested and convicted of nine counts of murder.

He was released in July 2000 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

Some of the family members of the victims  Gary Murray, Michelle Williamson and Charlie Butler  met with the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) with loyalist activist Jamie Bryson.

A spokesperson for the families said they were greatly encouraged by the ICRIR approach.

The body is the right vehicle by which to pursue truth, justice and ultimately accountability in respect of all those who played any role  including planning, preparing or sanctioning  the IRA terrorist attack, they said.

Those in attendance also emphasised there can be no block on truth, regardless of whether this leads to political consequences (such as if there are uncomfortable truths around the leadership or senior figures now within Sinn Fein).

It is also important [that] the question around whether there was an Agent AA (by that name or any other) involved is fully answered.

The aftermath of the Shankill bombing

News Catch Up - Sunday 5 October

The ICRIR has previously received criticism from victims, survivors and families; however the families of the Shankill bombing victims said they are confident in the body.

Established in December 2023, the ICRIR aims to provide information to families, victims and survivors of Troubles-related deaths and injuries and promote reconciliation.

Its chief commissioner is former Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan, while its commissioner for investigations is Peter Sheridan, a former senior PSNI officer.

However, the body is facing significant restructuring after the British and Irish governments agreed on a new approach to dealing with the legacy of the Troubles recently.

The ICRIR will determine what type of investigation will be appropriate or necessary in different circumstances.

The families have urged the Secretary of State to ensure the body is properly resourced and equipped with the necessary powers to fulfil its statutory objectives.

Their spokesperson added: The Secretary of State and Northern Ireland Office need to understand that there are more than nationalist groups with an interest in legacy.

[We] reiterate [our] concern as victims of the IRA that a small but noisy network of nationalist legacy activists have been allowed to drive both the narrative and the process around these matters. That must end.
A lorry driver had a lucky escape today when a tree blown down by the winds of Storm Amy fell on his vehicle at Dunadry in Co. Antrim. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON

A pedestrian is soaked on Oxford Street, Belfast, on Friday as a car passes through a large puddle in the heavy rainfall of Storm Amy. Stephen Davison.

Flooding on the Shore Road during Storm Amy on the 3rd October 2025 (Luke Jervis/Belfast Telegraph)

3rd October 2025 As Storm Amy batters Northern Ireland trees have been blown down and uprooted at Ballyclare Memorial par. Mandatory Credit Presseye/Stephen Hamilton

A lorry driver had a lucky escape today when a tree blown down by the winds of Storm Amy fell on his vehicle at Dunadry in Co. Antrim. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON

NIE Networks said tonight it will have restored electricity supplies to all households and businesses impacted by Storm Amy by later today.

Around 100 properties are expected to be without power this morning with crews restoring the remainder throughout the day.

Some 1,500 homes here were still without power yesterday after damage caused by Storm Amy.

NIE Networks and the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) worked throughout the weekend to restore power.

As many as 65,000 homes experienced outages at the height of the storm, and 1,457 incidents were reported to the DfI, including fallen trees and flooding.

The impact also affected public transport, with speed limits in place on the railways following disrupted services.

Storm Amy has caused widespread disruption (Jonathan McCambridge/PA)

In an update tonight, Alex Houston, NIE Networks operations manager, said: At its height, Storm Amy caused 65,000 households and businesses to lose power as high winds caused widespread damage. The last remaining customers will be reconnected on Monday and crews are being redirected to those areas to ensure that happens.

We would like to thank those impacted for their patience while our crews worked through the damage caused by the high winds. I would also like to thank our teams and contracting partners who once again stepped up and worked long hours over the weekend to ensure power could be restored as quickly as possible.

There are no reported school closures today, and public transport should be back to normal.

A pedestrian is soaked on Oxford Street, Belfast, on Friday as a car passes through a large puddle in the heavy rainfall of Storm Amy. Stephen Davison.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins thanked the staff who had been working to restore power, as well as those dealing with the rest of the aftermath of the storm. She aded: The damage caused by the severe winds and heavy rain was significant with many roads, including the M1, M2 and M22, impacted by fallen trees and associated debris.

The fact that 1,457 incidents, including 1,018 obstructions such as fallen trees and over 350 flooding incidents have been reported across the North, paints a picture of the scale of what was being dealt with.

I pay tribute to DfI colleagues and all multi-agency partners who were out on the front line during these very dangerous and challenging times.

They have been working hard to clear the affected parts of our road network, to mitigate the effects of flooding through proactive measures, maintaining critical drainage infrastructure as well as restoring power and water to homes and getting the public transport network back to normal. This is the work that so often goes unseen, but is essential in reconnecting our communities and making our road network safe.

Storm Amy was partly caused by Hurricane Humberto, with Met Office meteorologist Becky Mitchell saying the remnants of that weather system were swept up into the jet stream towards Ireland and Britain.

Looking ahead to the weather this week, Ms Mitchell expects a quite cloudy start to today, perhaps with some drizzly outbreaks.

It does look to turn drier and brighter for most places by mid-afternoon, so some good sunny spells will be developing, she added.

Coastal areas still look quite cloudy generally, but inland we look to have some brightness.

It should be largely dry and a slight breeze inland, but coastal areas, where its cloudy, will be quite blustery. Were in quite a warm air mass, so temperatures will reach 17C or 18C across Northern Ireland, above average for the time of year.

As for tomorrow, weve got a weather front moving in, so it will be cloudy at first with outbreaks of light rain across the whole of Northern Ireland.

The rain will gradually be clearing through the day, so hopefully by the mid-afternoon we should have some good spells of sunshine and light winds.

It will be quite cool and maximum temperatures tomorrow will be a bit lower; were looking at about 15C.

After Tuesday, Ms Mitchell said high pressure looks to take charge, leading to settled conditions, but not necessarily dry all the time. She added: Were not expecting any strong winds through the rest of the week, but there will be rain and cloud at times, possibly some mist and fog as well.

Storm brings down trees in Limavady

Ms Mitchell confirmed that Northern Ireland has had an October-record-breaking gust at Magill again, and that climate change means more powerful storms with occur with greater regularity going forwards.

Climate change does mean were going to expect more frequent and stronger storms across the UK. We generally see higher wind gusts and records being broken each storm season.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins

News Catch Up - Sunday 5 October

Looking ahead, she emphasised that, while each individual storm season is difficult to predict, but on a general basis, our longer-term outlook is that we will expect more frequent and stronger storms in the UK for the next 10 to 20 years.
A viable device was left outside Ms Kimmins office on Sunday nightFirst Minister Michelle ONeill condemned incident

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has said she will not be deterred after a pipe bomb was left outside her Co Down constituency office over the weekend.

Police have confirmed a device left outside the office on Monaghan Street in Newry was viable.

The office is shared by both the Minister and Sinn Fein MP Daire Hughes and is used by a number of party workers and politicians.

Ms Kimmins and Mr Hughes spoke alongside First Minister Michelle ONeill at Stormont on Monday afternoon about the incident.

The Infrastructure Minister said threats and intimidation would not deter her from carrying out her work.

"This is a reckless attack but it won't stop me in my role as Minister to do what I have to do to deliver for people here, she said.

"It won't stop me as a very proud MLA for the people of Newry and Armagh, but I think it's important to say that this has a profound impact on our staff, on our own family. It has a personal impact right across the board.

When we take up office to represent people; we do that because we care.

"But that has consequences when things like this happen on our own family and friends who are now concerned and worried.

"We will not be deterred. We continue to stand up for what's right and for our communities right across the board.

Police and specialist Ammunition Technical Officers attended the scene in the Monaghan Street area of Newry having been called before midnight on Sunday, with work continuing into the early hours.

The device was placed outside the office used by a number of Sinn Fein workers and politicians.

It is understood a metal pipe shaped object was left in the area which required the street to be closed off while the PSNI attended.

First Minister Michelle O'Neill reacts to bomb attack on Sinn Fein Newry office

Images from the scene show a specialist machine was deployed to deal with the alert, with the specialist teams making the object safe and recovering it for further examination.

Michelle ONeill said the attack underlined the importance of dialling down online rhetoric in relation to political issues.

"Anybody that walks into public life does so to serve the public. And we all can disagree. We should disagree well, she said.

"But when it comes to attacks on individuals, on their character, on threats to life, intimidation, because you don't agree with somebody's policy on a particular issue, that's not acceptable by anybody's standards.

Collectively we should stand shoulder to shoulder to say no to that dangerous rhetoric, no to that intimidation.

We should be free to do our jobs and actually articulate our political view of things. We'll sometimes agree and sometimes we won't.

But we should not be subjected to intimidation or terror or violence or violent threats.

Offering his support, UUP deputy leader Robbie Butler posted: Appalling on every level. Violence or threat of violence is abhorrent and wrong. My support to Minister Kimmins and MP Daire Hughes.

Anyone with any information please inform @PoliceServiceNI.

SDLP Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty also offered his condemnation.

He said: I am shocked and appalled at the news that a bomb was left at Sinn Feins office on Monaghan Street.

Those responsible are to be condemned.

Violence and intimidation have absolutely no place in our society."

Police and ATO deal with a suspicious object on Monaghan Street in Newry on October 6th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott)

The PSNI have urged anyone with dashcam footage in the area to contact them.

PSNI Inspector Walker said: Were grateful this morning to local people for their patience while we worked to make the area safe.

"An investigation is now underway and detectives would ask anyone with information, or who may have captured dash-cam or CCTV footage from the area which could help with their investigation, to call them at Ardmore on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 1648 05/10/25.
All 16 Irish citizens that were detained by Israel from the Global Sumud Flotilla on route to Gaza have been released and are on their way home, Tanaiste Simon Harris has said.

The Irish contingent were among hundreds of people detained in international waters by Israel and held for a number of days. They included Sinn Fein senator, Chris Andrews.

"I can confirm that the Irish citizens detained in Israel have been released and are currently on their journey home.

This welcome outcome was secured after a weekend of intensive efforts by officials from across my Department, including the Embassy team in Tel Aviv, working in conjunction with international partners, Minister Harris said.

I know that this has been a difficult time for both the Irish citizens and their families, and I pay tribute to their strength throughout. Dublin-based officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade remain in close contact with family members who have requested our support, and will continue to update them.

The Tanaiste also said there are other Irish citizens on board other flotillas which are destined for Gaza. He said the Department of Foreign Affairs advises against all travel to the Gaza strip but that Irish officials will be monitoring their journey.

I am also aware of a number of Irish citizens participating in other Flotillas en route to Gaza and have instructed my Department to closely monitor that evolving situation. While my Department continues to advise against travel to the Gaza Strip, in this case our clear priority is to ensure the welfare of our citizens.

As we welcome our citizens home, Ireland will continue to call for all efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas, and unhindered humanitarian access to the people of Gaza at scale, Mr Harris said.

The flotilla, which set sail in late August, marked the latest attempt by activists to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of the territory where Israel has been waging an offensive since Hamas October 2023 attack. Israel says that the blockade is legal and has called the flotilla a provocation.

Adalah, a legal centre in Israel representing the activists, said detainees have alleged abuse and physical violence while in Israeli custody.

Asked about the allegations, an Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson accused Adalah of repeating outright lies.

All the detainees legal rights were fully upheld, and they were all given access to water, food, and restrooms.

"They were not denied access to legal counsel, and of course, no physical force was used, the spokesperson said.
Inviting Tommy Robinson to Israel was a foolish move, a former foreign secretary has warned.

Sir James Cleverly said the far-right activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was using a pro-Israeli posture to be anti-Muslim.

Israels diaspora and combating antisemitism minister Amichai Chikli has described Robinson as a courageous leader on the front line against radical Islam.

Tommy Robinson has been invited to Israel by its diaspora and combating antisemitism minister Amichai Chikli (Maja Smiejkowska/PA)

Mr Chikli also said he was proud to host Robinson in Israel later this month, in mid-October.

Speaking at the Politico Pub during the Conservative Partys Manchester conference, Sir James said: Obviously, theres a broad coalition within the Israeli government.

I have no doubt that a number of other people in the Israeli government are as uncomfortable with that as I am.

The shadow communities secretary suggested the invitation did not come from Israel but instead a member of the Israeli government.

He later added: I think its a foolish move on behalf of the individual that did that.

Tommy Robinson and others of his ilk are now wrapping themselves up in a pro-Jewish, pro-Israeli posture because basically, its an opportunity to do what they really want to do, which is to be anti-Muslim.

So, I think its an error, Ive said so, and Tommy Robinson is no friend of the Jewish community, whether it be in the UK or anywhere else in the world.

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Mr Chikli wrote on X that Robinson was a true friend of Israel and the Jewish people, in the aftermath of the terror attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester on Thursday.

In a follow-up social media post, Robinson said: I confirm that immediately following my October 13th trial, I will travel to Israel.

He said he would visit Jerusalem and the Knesset, the site of the Nova Festival, the World Holocaust Remembrance Centre Yad Vashem, and the Jabotinsky Institute.

I also hope to get into Gaza, Robinson added.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council have criticised Mr Chiklis decision.

Tommy Robinson is a thug who represents the very worst of Britain, the organisations said in a statement.

His presence undermines those genuinely working to tackle Islamist extremism and foster community cohesion.

Minister Chikli has proven himself to be a diaspora minister in name only.

In our darkest hour, he has ignored the views of the vast majority of British Jews, who utterly and consistently reject Robinson and everything he stands for.

Asked to respond to Mr Chiklis invitation to Robinson, No 10 said the Board of Deputies and JLC have been crystal clear that that individual does not speak for them and he clearly does not speak for the decent, tolerant, patriotic majority of this country.
Labour is complicit in abuse towards the Jewish community, shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel has said.

Speaking at a Conservative Friends of Israel event at the Tory party conference in Manchester, Dame Priti claimed Labour had lost any moral purpose.

Israels deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskel had earlier said that Labours recognition of the state of Palestine was a grotesque betrayal of truth, of justice and of Britains Jewish community.

She also claimed that uncontrolled immigration had led to the importing of the demonisation of Jews.

Dame Priti told Conservative Party members on Sunday evening: These are shocking and difficult times for the Jewish community, and made all the worse by Labours dreadful decisions, which have actively undermined our relationship between the United Kingdom and Israel.

And in doing so, Keir Starmer has damaged our national interests and made it harder for Britain to help chart that course towards a sustainable end to this terrible conflict and bring peace to the region.

And while Labour have indulged in gesture politics, and Keir Starmer has allowed his left-wing backbenchers and trade union campaigners to dictate British foreign policy, its the Conservative Party that stands with Israel against such weakness in the face of terrorism.

Amid shouts of shame on Starmer, Dame Priti added: Labour is supporting a Palestinian Authority which still continues with this pay-to-slay policy, a policy which provides financial payments to the families of those who attack Israel and are killed or detained.

They have lost any moral purpose whatsoever. Labour is complicit in the appalling abuse we see across our streets and across Britains Jewish community.

Sir Keir Starmer (Suzanne Plunkett/ PA credit)

Ms Haskel accused the Labour Government of betraying British Jews.

She said: They (Labour) choose to recognise a Palestinian state less than two years after Hamas carried out the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.

This was not a step towards peace, it was a grotesque betrayal of truth, of justice and of Britains Jewish community.

It was a betrayal of truth because it rewarded Hamas, the terror regime that murders civilians and still holds 48 hostages in dungeons of terror.

It was a betrayal of justice, because it tells the families of the murdered and the kidnapped that their suffering can be brushed aside for political convenience.

And it was a betrayal of Britains own Jews, because it echoes the dangerous message that Jewish security is negotiable, that appeasing extremism matters more than defending morality.

Ms Haskel added: Britain is being changed, and not always for the better.

The event was hosted by Lord Eric Pickles (Victoria Jones/PA)

Out of control immigration, particularly from Islamist communities hostile to your values, is reshaping your society.

It is fuelling antisemitism on your streets. It is straining your social cohesion.

It is importing the demonisation of Jews and the hatred of the Middle East into British cities.

We saw it in the marches calling for Israels destruction. We saw it in the intimidation of Jewish students and Jewish families, and we saw it in the way some in Labour rushed to appease those crowds rather than confront them.

Israel knows the struggle when we live with it daily. But we have learned a harsh truth: you cannot appease extremism, you must confront it, because once extremism believes they can dictate your politics, they will not stop until they control it you.

Hosting the event was Lord Eric Pickles, the UKs special envoy for post-Holocaust issues, who said: The problem that we have is that politicians are really good at feeling sorry for dead Jews, but theyre not so good at looking after live ones.

Labour has been contacted for comment.
Peter Randle has given blood more than any other donor in NHSBT history (Handout/NHSBT/PA)

One of the countrys most prolific blood donors has urged people to donate blood and help society.

Peter Randle started giving blood when he was 18 when he was at university.

The 69-year-old grandfather from Coventry has since given blood 138 times.

Peter Randle has type O negative blood (handout/NHSBT)

The financial adviser, who has O negative blood, told the PA news agency: When I was in my 30s I became aware that my blood group is what they call a universal blood group, which means in an emergency they can give it to anyone.

So I realised that it was more important for me to give blood which is what motivated me to keep giving.

He added: Its just something you can do to help society so I would encourage everyone to do it  particularly if youve got the rarer blood groups like mine, then then you should really try and find the time to do it.

If you give every three months, if you dont do anything else particularly good during that time youve always done that.

It comes as NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) thanked blood, organ and stem cell donors as it celebrated its 20th anniversary.

NHSBT was established in October 2005 when the National Blood Authority, UK Transplant and Bio Products Laboratory merged to create one organisation.

Since it began Mr Randle has donated blood 88 times  the highest number of donations in NHSBTs 20-year history.

A further 41 donors have donated more than 80 times.

Mr Randle, who is well known to nurses at his local donation centre, told PA: I was diagnosed with something quite accidentally really, called haemochromatosis, which is where your blood produces too much iron and that iron can attach itself to your organs if you dont control it.

I was OK because I was giving blood regularly, because thats the treatment for it, to take blood regularly, they then allowed me to go every two months when other donors are allowed to donate every three months.

Its a win-win because I can give more often and people will benefit from it.

So I put my foot on the accelerator then and now go about every eight weeks.

NHSBT is calling for O negative donors to come forward as well as people with B- blood and black heritage donors.

To mark its 20th anniversary, NHSBT has highlighted some of its achievements over the last two decades, including:

 33,727,426 blood donations. 4,341,851 whole blood donors, 32,929 plasma donors and 77,815 platelet donors. 286,166 people who have joined the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry. 50,198 cord blood units collected. 83,941 solid organ transplants. 46,020 solid organ donors. 18,416,561 opt ins on the Organ Donor Register. 99,020 corneas donated. 10 people have donated all of blood, plasma, platelets and stem cells through NHSBT.

It also said that 53 new blood group antigens and 104 new blood group alleles have been discovered by NHSBT scientists.

Simon Elmore received a kidney transplant in 2015 (handout/NHSBT)

Dr Gail Miflin, chief medical officer at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: The work that we have done as an organisation over these last two decades is truly life-saving and life-improving and we couldnt have done any of it without the millions of generous blood, organ, plasma, platelet and stem cell donors who have put themselves forward to help those who need it.

We cannot thank them enough for everything they have done and continue to do.

She added: As well as our blood, organ and stem cell donation services, we also have a multitude of incredible teams who carry out world class research and deliver leading clinical services that help us to develop and scale up new offerings for the NHS, translating breakthroughs into real-life products that reach patients, saving and improving lives.

We look forward to seeing what the next 20 years bring  and to continue to welcome our existing donors alongside the new, so we can work together to save and improve the lives of all of those who need it.

NHSBT highlighted how 12,000 people have died in the last decade while waiting for an organ transplant and there are more than 8,000 waiting for a transplant, as it urged people to register their decision on the organ donor register.

Simon Elmore competed in the Transplant Games after he received a kidney in 2015 (handout/NHSBT)

Simon Elmore, who received a kidney transplant in 2015, described how incredibly special organ donation is as he thanked the family of his donor.

The 50-year-old from Belper, Derbyshire, who has since competed in the Transplant Games, said: My kidneys suddenly failed when I was 33 and I was added to the transplant waiting list.

Five years into that wait, I had a stroke and fell seriously ill. At one point I wasnt expected to survive the night.

Since I received my transplant, now a full decade ago, Ive gone on to live life to its fullest. I now have the chance to open my eyes every day and smile.

Organ donation is incredibly special and I send my thanks to my donor family and all of the donor families out there, as well as all of the staff across NHS Blood and Transplant and the wider NHS, who work to make the transplants happen.

NHSBT is also calling for people to sign up to become stem cell donors, particularly more young men.
French outgoing prime minister Sebastien Lecornu, who resigned just a day after naming his government, arrives to deliver his statement at the Hotel Matignon in Paris (Stephane Mahe/Pool via AP)

Frances new prime minister Sebastien Lecornu has resigned less than 24 hours after naming his government and after less than a month in office.

His resignation plunges the country into a deep political crisis and leaves French President Emmanuel Macron with few options.

The French presidency said in a statement that Mr Macron, who has been hitting record lows in opinion polls, has accepted his resignation.

Mr Lecornu had replaced his predecessor, Francois Bayrou, in September to become Frances fourth prime minister in barely a year, during a prolonged period of political instability.

French outgoing prime minister Sebastien Lecornu delivers his statement at the Hotel Matignon in Paris (Stephane Mahe/Pool via AP)

French politics has been in disarray since Mr Macron called snap elections last year that produced a deeply fragmented legislature and a political impasse.

Far-right and left-wing politicians hold more than 320 seats at the National Assembly, while the centrists and allied conservatives hold 210, with no party having an overall majority.

A faithful ally of Mr Macron, Mr Lecornu said conditions were no longer met to remain in office after failing to build a consensus.

It would take little for it to work, Mr Lecornu said in his resignation speech.

By being more selfless for many, by knowing how to show humility. One must always put ones country before ones party.

With less than two years before the next presidential election, Mr Macrons opponents immediately tried to capitalise on the shocking resignation, with the far-right National Rally calling on him to either call for new snap elections or resign.

Then-defence minister Sebastien Lecornu, right, and President Emmanuel Macron talk at the end of an address by the president to army leaders in Paris in July (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP)

This raises a question for the President of the Republic: can he continue to resist the legislature dissolution? We have reached the end of the road, far-right leader Marine Le Pen said.

There is no other solution. The only wise course of action in these circumstances is to return to the polls.

On the far left, France Unbowed also called for Mr Macrons departure, while voices on the left urged the revival of a coalition made up of leftists, socialists, greens and communists.

The resignation rattled investors, sending the CAC-40 index of leading French companies plunging. The index was down by nearly 2% on its Friday close.

Ministers appointed just the previous night found themselves in the bizarre situation of becoming caretaker ministers  kept in place only to manage day-to-day affairs until a new government is formed  before some of them had even been formally installed in office.

Agnes Pannier-Runacher, the newly reappointed minister for ecology, posted on X: I despair of this circus.

Sebastien Lecornu delivers his statement at the Hotel Matignon in Paris (Stephane Mahe/Pool via AP)

Mr Lecornus choice of ministers has been criticised across the political spectrum, particularly his decision to bring back former finance minister Bruno Le Maire to serve at the Defence Ministry, with critics saying that under his watch Frances public deficit soared.

Mr Lecornus main task would have been to pass a budget as France is faced with a massive debt crisis.

At the end of the first quarter of 2025, Frances public debt stood at 3.346 trillion euros, or 114% of GDP. Debt servicing remains a major budget item, accounting for around 7% of state spending.

Other key positions remained largely unchanged from the previous cabinet, with conservative Bruno Retailleau staying on as interior minister, in charge of policing and internal security, Jean-Noel Barrot remaining as foreign minister, and Gerald Darmanin keeping the Justice Ministry.

Seeking consensus at the National Assembly, Mr Lecornu consulted with all political forces and trade unions before forming his cabinet.

He also vowed that he would not employ a special constitutional power his predecessors had used to force budgets through parliament without a vote and would instead seek compromise with legislators from the left and the right.
US Supreme Court justices declined to take up the case (Alamy/PA)

The US Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein.

On the first day of their new term, the justices declined to take up a case that would have drawn renewed attention to the sordid sexual abuse saga after President Donald Trumps administration sought to reduce criticism over its refusal to publicly release more investigative files from Epsteins case.

Lawyers for British socialite Maxwell argued that she never should have been tried or convicted for her role in luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein, a New York financier.

She is serving a 20-year prison term, though she was moved from a low-security federal prison in Florida to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas after she was interviewed in July by deputy attorney general Todd Blanche.

A poster featuring Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein (AP)

As is their custom, the justices did not explain why they rejected the appeal.

Mr Trumps Republican administration had urged the high court to stay out of the case.

Maxwells lawyers contended that a non-prosecution agreement reached in 2007 by federal prosecutors in Miami and Epsteins lawyers also protected his potential co-conspirators from federal charges anywhere in the country.

Maxwell was prosecuted in Manhattan, and the federal appeals court there ruled that the prosecution was proper. A jury found her guilty of sex trafficking a teenage girl, among other charges.

Maxwells trial featured accounts of the sexual exploitation of girls as young as 14 told by four women who described being abused as teenagers in the 1990s and early 2000s at Epsteins homes.

Neither Maxwells lawyers nor the federal Bureau of Prisons has explained the reason for her transfer, but one of her lawyers, David Oscar Markus, has said she is innocent and never should have been tried, much less convicted. Mr Markus also was the lead lawyer on her Supreme Court case.

Maxwell was interviewed by Mr Blanche at a Florida courthouse. She was given limited immunity, allowing her to speak freely without fear of prosecution for anything she said except for in the event of a false statement.

She repeatedly denied witnessing any sexually inappropriate interactions involving Mr Trump, according to records released in August meant to distance the president from the disgraced financier.

Epstein was arrested in 2019 on sex trafficking charges and was accused of sexually abusing dozens of teenage girls. A month later, he was found dead in a New York jail cell in what investigators described as a suicide.

The Epstein case had consumed Mr Trumps administration following an announcement from the FBI and the Justice Department in July that Epstein had killed himself despite conspiracy theories to the contrary, that a client list that attorney general Pam Bondi had intimated was on her desk did not actually exist, and that no additional documents from the high-profile investigation were suitable to be released.

The announcement produced outrage from conspiracy theorists and Trump supporters who had been hoping to see proof of a government cover-up.

That expectation was driven in part by comments from officials, including FBI director Kash Patel and deputy director Dan Bongino, who on podcasts before taking their current positions had repeatedly promoted the idea that damaging details about prominent people were being withheld.

Mr Patel, for instance, said in at least one podcast interview before becoming FBI director that Epsteins black book was under the direct control of the director of the FBI.

But the Justice Department said its review of evidence in the governments possession determined that no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.

The department noted that much of the material was placed under seal by a court to protect victims and only a fraction of it would have been aired publicly had Epstein gone to trial.

Faced with fury from his base, Mr Trump sought to quickly turn the page, shutting down questioning of Ms Bondi about Epstein at a White House Cabinet meeting and deriding as weaklings supporters he said were falling for the Jeffrey Epstein hoax.
The Belfast peacemaker or the Baghdad warmonger: Can Tony Blairs GFA success translate to Gaza... or will shadow of Iraq haunt him?

Those who worked alongside Blair during the Good Friday Agreement talks give their take on if the former Prime Minister will be able to replicate his work in Northern Ireland as he returns to the Middle East.

Kurtis Reid Mon 6 Oct 2025 at 07:22

Sir Tony Blair has never returned to Belfast without his past walking ahead of him. The city, more than most places, holds the two versions of him in uneasy balance.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

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BENNINGTON  Zachary Dumas, 39, who was acquitted in June of attempted murder, but convicted on two other felony assault counts, was sentenced to 15 to 30 years behind bars, with credit for time already served, last Friday in Bennington.

Back in the summer of 2023, Dumas prompted a days-long manhunt throughout Bennington after the alleged attempted murder and robbery of an acquaintance. He was found guilty on two of the three felony counts, and acquitted of the most serious of the charges  attempted murder  at his trial last June. He was found guilty of felony assault and robbery with injury and felony aggravated assault. The jury, comprised of eight men and five women, deliberated for just over 50 minutes on the first day of a scheduled two-day trial before returning with a mixed verdict.

Dumas made a brief statement to the court right before the sentence was announced at a hearing on Friday, acknowledging his crime and apologizing to the victim for hurting her. For her part, the victim in the attack presented her own statement, which was read by a victims advocate.

I will happily do whatever it would take to get him (Dumas) the longest sentence possible because, I am telling you, next time he gets out of jail, he is going to kill somebody, the victim said in her statement. Its not a matter of if hes going to end up killing a woman, its a matter of when.

I am telling you without a doubt that next time hes going to make sure there is no witness. Its just a matter of who the next victim will be.

Dumas was charged back in 2023 with attempted murder and other charges in an attack on a female acquaintance at the Applegate complex in early September that year.

Dumas was initially charged with two felony counts  attempted murder, assault, and robbery with injury stemming from the incident. Prosecutors amended the initial charges the week before his November 2024 trial was to begin, adding a count of aggravated assault and enhancing all charges to habitual offender status due to his lengthy felony record and allowing the state to seek a life sentence if he was found guilty on any or all of the counts.

That November trial never took place.

Just before the trial was set to begin and a jury had already been seated, Dumas accepted a plea deal with prosecutors calling for him to plead guilty to a single count of assault and robberythe agreement called for a 3 to 20-year to-serve prison sentence. The exact sentence was to be determined at a contested hearing in February 2025.

Dumas was all set for the contested sentencing hearing back in February, but the hearing never took place.

Instead, the defendant was allowed to withdraw his guilty plea after unshared information surfaced that the complaining witness had admitted to using drugs right before she was scheduled to testify at his November trial.

Before the trial began, State Prosecutor Jared Bianchi was informed by the complaining witness, who had been scheduled to testify that very day, that she had used illegal drugs just prior to her testimony. A decision was then made in the Bennington States Attorneys Office to pursue a proposed plea deal instead of starting the trial with a victim who had just admitted to being under the influence of drugs as the main witness.

Unfortunately, prosecutors failed to inform the defense when they discovered this detail last November. That information, had it been known, had the potential to help the defense at trial, possibly during cross-examination of the complaining witness, and could have influenced Dumas as to whether to make that crucial decision to plead guilty through a deal or continue to trial.

According to Vermont law, prosecutors must divulge any information about a complaining witness that might help exonerate a defendant as soon as they become aware of that information.

That statute stems from a 1963 U.S. Supreme Court ruling called Brady v. Maryland. Brady (as its commonly known) requires prosecutors to reveal any statements from witnesses, as well as any physical evidence that contradicts the prosecution's witnesses  evidence that could help the defense impeach a prosecution witness or any evidence that could reduce the defendant's sentence.

Such so-called Brady evidence is significant because it helps ensure that defendants receive a fair trial and that their right to due process is protected. That prompted Bennington Judge Jennifer Barrett to offer Dumas the option of withdrawing his plea deal.

Initially, Dumas wanted to proceed with the sentencing hearing, but after speaking with defense attorney Kate Lamson for several minutes behind closed doors, Dumas decided to withdraw the plea and face a new trial. That trial ended in his conviction on two of the three charges.

According to the initial affidavit, the victim told investigators that Dumas had come over for money to buy crack. When the victim told Dumas the money she had was for rent, Dumas allegedly blocked the exit to her apartment with his bicycle, put an arm around her neck from behind until she lost consciousness, and then left with the backpack.

Dumas started serving his sentence immediately after the hearing. According to the Vermont Department of Corrections, Dumas is currently at the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Center in Rutland. He is scheduled for possible release sometime between 2038 and 2053.
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.
The exterior of an ADU built by Averill Cook of Wendling Farm in Williamstown. ADUs, often referred to as in-law suites or granny flats, are secondary housing units located on the same lot as a primary residence. They can be attached to the main home, such as a converted basement or garage, or exist as separate structures within the propertys boundaries.
On Friday, the team that conducted the $750,000 Reconnecting Communities feasibility study will release its final report, recommending whether the city should repair or remove the deteriorating bridge over Marshall Street, which divides the busy area between Main and River streets.
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Abbott launches worlds first dual-chamber leadless pacemaker system in India

October 06, 2025 | Monday | News

Wireless communication and synchronisation between two leadless pacemakers

Abbott, a global healthcare company, has announced the launch of AVEIR dual chamber (DR) leadless pacemaker system - the first of its kind in the world. This tiny high-tech device helps the heart beat properly  without wires (leads) or surgical pockets used in traditional pacemakers.

Until recently, leadless pacemakers could only support one chamber of the heart, because getting two separate devices to work together in sync was a major challenge. Abbott has changed that with its breakthrough implant-to-implant (i2i) technology. This innovation allows two tiny leadless pacemakersone in the upper chamber (right atrium) and one in the lower chamber (right ventricle)to communicate with each other in real time, beat by beat. For the first time, patients can benefit from true dual chamber leadless pacing, helping the heart beat more normally and synchronouslywithout the need for wires.

The AVEIR DR leadless pacemaker system includes two tiny devices - AVEIR VR, which helps control the heartbeat in the lower chamber (right ventricle), and AVEIR AR, which supports the upper chamber (right atrium). Each of the two leadless pacemakers is roughly about one-tenth the size of a traditional pacemaker. Once implanted and paired, these devices communicate with each other on every heartbeat with the i2i technology. This tech utilises high-frequency pulses to relay messages through the naturally conductive characteristics of the bodys blood between each leadless pacemaker. This method uses far less battery power than inductive, radio frequency or Bluetooth communication which are other alternatives used in implantable medical devices or traditional pacemakers.
Maharaja Agrasen Hospital partners with MedLern to launch digital learning platform

October 06, 2025 | Monday | News

To integrate MedLern's advanced digital learning solutions with the hospital's existing healthcare infrastructure

image credit- shutterstock

Maharaja Agrasen Hospital, one of New Delhi's leading multi-specialty healthcare institutions, has announced a strategic partnership with MedLern to launch an innovative digital learning platform. This collaboration aims to enhance medical education and improve clinical outcomes through advanced digital health technologies and comprehensive training programs.

The partnership will integrate Bengaluru-based startup MedLern's advanced digital learning solutions with the hospital's existing healthcare infrastructure to provide multimodal training programs, skill enhancement programs, and evidence-based training modules. The system will enable real-time learning assessments, interactive case studies, and collaborative knowledge sharing protocols to elevate healthcare delivery standards.

Dr Deepak Singla, Medical Director at Maharaja Agrasen Hospital, commented, "This partnership represents our commitment to embracing digital transformation in Hospital Training. We have always had culture of continuous learning and training. MedLern's digital infrastructure and multi-lingual and multi-modal content will enable all our teams to learn more effectively and deliver more precise, efficient care to our patients."

Deepak Sharma, Co-Founder & CEO of MedLern, added, "We are excited to collaborate with Maharaja Agrasen Hospital, known for its excellence in patient care. This partnership will showcase how digital learning technologies can enhance traditional training models, engaging all stakeholders and aligning their training investments to strategic focus."


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Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman has made an appearance at Paris Fashion Week almost a week after she filed for divorce from her husband Keith Urban.

The Australian-American actress, 58, embraced casual elegance  wearing an oversized white shirt and blue trousers with pointed black heels to the spring/summer 2026 Chanel fashion show on Monday.

Nicole Kidman poses for photographers upon arrival at the Chanel Spring/Summer 2026 collection presented in Paris Photo: Aurelien Morissard/AP.

The Babygirl star posed alongside the two daughters she shares with Urban  Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 14.

Kidman petitioned on September 30th to end the 19-year marriage in a Nashville court in a filing that stated the marriage suffered irreconcilable differences.

The actress and Grammy-winning country musician, 57, both raised in Australia, met in 2005 at a Los Angeles event honouring Australians and were married in Sydney the following year.

Margot Robbie was at the show. Photo: Christophe Ena/AP.

Kidman and Urban were red carpet fixtures throughout their two-decade relationship, with Urban joining his wife at the Oscars and Kidman attending music events such as the Academy of Country Music Awards.

The filing includes a childcare plan, agreed on by the couple and submitted for a judges approval, which says Kidman will be the primary residential parent to the couples two daughters, having them for 306 days per year with Urban taking them for the other 59.

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The detailed agreements suggest that the divorce had been in the works for well over a month at the least.

The marriage was the first for Urban and the second for Kidman, who shares two children with her ex-husband Tom Cruise.

Sunday Rose Kidman Urban, Nicole Kidman and Faith Margaret Kidman Urban pose for photographers. Photo: Christophe Ena/AP.

Australian actress Margot Robbie, The Last Of Us actor Pedro Pascal, Nosferatu star Lily Rose Depp, and US super model Kendall Jenner were among the other stars at the fashion show in Paris.

The celebrities posed in a room filled with giant planet-like sculptures, some of which hung from the ceiling and acted like lamps to light up the runway.

Designer Matthieu Blazy said: For this first Chanel show, I wanted to do something quite universal, like a dream, something outside of time, and I was fascinated by the universe of stars, a theme so dear to the House. We all observe the same sky, and I think it provokes the same emotions in us.
Sixteen Irish citizens detained by Israel during the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla have been released and are on their journey home, the Tanaiste has said.

Simon Harris said those detained would continue to be provided assistance.

They were held after Israel intercepted around 40 vessels taking part in the flotilla, which was taking aid to Gaza.

Simon Harris (Brian Lawless/PA)

Organisers say the flotilla was arranged to carry humanitarian aid for Palestinians, break Israels blockade of Gaza and raise awareness.

The detainees were taken to a detention centre in Israel.

In a statement, Mr Harris said: I can confirm that the Irish citizens detained in Israel have been released and are currently on their journey home.

This welcome outcome was secured after a weekend of intensive efforts by officials from across my department, including the embassy team in Tel Aviv, working in conjunction with international partners.

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I know that this has been a difficult time for both the Irish citizens and their families, and I pay tribute to their strength throughout.

Dublin-based officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade remain in close contact with family members who have requested our support, and will continue to update them.

He added: As we welcome our citizens home, Ireland will continue to call for all efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas, and unhindered humanitarian access to the people of Gaza at scale.
One of the biggest fish ever caught in Ireland has been landed off the coast of Donegal.

Aoife McGettigan caught a bluefin tuna, weighing 760 pounds (344kg), which she battled with for more than an hour to bring alongside the boat and have measured.

She was on a visit home in Killybegs from Australia and went out with Killybegs Fishing Trips. Her brother Declan was the skipper of the boat.

In a post on Facebook, Declan said: "A day to remember for us, we have just gone and broke the record here on the Fiona tee, we have caught the biggest tuna ever on our boat, a butter ball at 760lb, and to make it extra special it was my baby sister that's home from Australia that caught it."

He went on to say that Aoife had to "battle" to get the fish alongside the boat and she put up a "brilliant fight" to secure the biggest tuna he had ever seen.
A leading provider of services for people with disabilities has been ordered to pay compensation of 44,000 to a social care worker who was discriminated against because she was not Caucasian and not a man.

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled that Saint John of God Community Services discriminated against Julie Kelly in breach of the Employment Equality Act 1998, on grounds of both gender and race.

WRC adjudication officer, Catherine Byrne, noted that the charity exercised discretion in terms of the pay scale on which care workers are placed, if the care worker has a relevant qualification.

Ms Byrne said that this discretion has been exercised in the case of two of Ms Kellys colleagues.

However, she claimed it was with regret that the only reason the same discretion was not applied to Ms Kelly was because "she is not Caucasian and not a man.

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Ms Kelly, who has worked with St John of God Community Services since 2002, complained to the WRC. She said that her employer had discriminated against her by not recognising her degree in social science and her years of experience as a social care worker.

The WRC heard that the charity operated different pay scales for staff with and without qualifications. These have the same salary, except qualified staff are eligible for a long service increment after reaching the 12th point of the scale.

However, Ms Kelly said she was unaware that she had been placed on the salary scale for unqualified social care workers after she successfully applied for a permanent role in 2006.

The WRC heard that Ms Kelly was never encouraged to obtain training, which indicated the charity had appointed her because she was qualified for the job.

It heard evidence that a male colleague, who was recruited in 2011 and who had the same degree as Ms Kelly, negotiated to be placed on the pay scale for staff with qualifications.

The WRC was also informed that a Polish colleague of Ms Kelly was moved to the pay scale for qualified staff after discovering that she was on the other pay scale. She was also reimbursed for the non-payment of the long service increment.

Ms Byrne said the evidence was sufficient to raise a presumption of discrimination.

A representative of the charity argued that Ms Kellys male colleague was not a true comparator because he negotiated to be placed on the qualified pay scale on joining the charity.

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However, Ms Byrne said there was an element of deception by the charity as the complainant was required to submit a copy of her degree certificate when she took up a permanent position.

The charity noted there was a reference in Ms Kellys contract that she may be required to pursue a further 3rd level qualification, also suggesting she did not meet the criteria for being placed on the qualified pay scale.

However, the WRC noted that was a reference to a course funded by Saint John of God, for staff working with people with challenging behaviours, as clarified by Ms Kelly in November 2023. This was therefore unrelated to the two pay scales.

Ms Byrne said if Ms Kellys male colleague had been treated as an anomaly, there was room for the charity to have another anomaly.

The WRC heard that there were two other female social care workers out of 33 staff with similar qualifications who remain on the unqualified pay scale.

Ireland Three arrests after assaults and dangerous driving incidents in Kilkenny Read more

Ms Byrne remarked that they might also have an argument that they have been discriminated against.

She concluded that for a variety of reasons which were not explained, some employees were treated differently and more favourably than others.

The WRC also concluded that Ms Kelly had been discriminated against on grounds of race, as it did not accept the charitys argument that she was less qualified than her female colleague, who had a postgraduate qualification from Poland.

It ordered the charity to pay 34,000  the equivalent of 26 weeks pay  to Ms Kelly for the discrimination as well as 10,000 for the long service increment she had missed out on.
18-year-old Aadya Srivastava, from Headford in Galway, has been crowned Miss Universe Ireland 2025.

The Galway-born teenager, who now lives in Cross, Co Mayo, is in her second year of a law, politics, and economics degree at the University of Galway.

Srivastava said she was genuinely shocked when she was called in the last three and was not expecting the win.

First runner-up was Natalia Gradzka (28) from Santry in Dublin, and second runner-up was Maksuda Akhter (36) from Malahide in Dublin.

(L-r) Maksuda Akhter, Aadya Srivastava, and Natalia Gradzka

Speaking after her win on Sunday night, Aadya Srivastava said: This win is so special to me and I really wasnt expecting it all because all of the girls here had such amazing and inspirational stories.

"As a proud Irish woman of Indian heritage, I want the opportunity to amplify the voices of diversity and resilience and be an advocate for justice and compassion.

Finalists from all over Ireland competed for the Miss Universe Ireland crown at a ceremony with special guest performances from BFamous Stage School.

Miss Universe Ireland 2024, Sofia Labus from Cork, crowned Aadya who will go on to represent Ireland at the 74th Miss Universe 2025 final.

On November 24th, Thailand will host the global event where women from more than 100 countries will compete for the crown currently held by Victoria Kjr Theilvig.
Plans for a five-turbine, 500 foot wind farm close to the Willie Clancy Summer School in Co Clare is striking a sour note with locals.

This follows more than 200 objections lodged with Clare County Council against the wind-farm plans by the Swiss-owned Illaunbaun Wind Farm Limited, which is seeking a 10-year planning permission.

Illaunbaun Wind Farm Limited is a subsidiary of the Swiss-based international renewable energy developer, JC Mont-Fort Holding SA, that has developed projects in eight countries and currently has a portfolio exceeding 5GW of renewable electricity generation capacity.

The firms plans West Clare concern a large site 4.2 km northeast of Milltown Malbay, 2.9 km from the Clare coast and 5.2 km southeast of Lahinch across five townlands of Tooreen, Slievenalicka, Illaunbaun, Lackamore and Drumbaun.

In one objection, Deirdre Culligan of Kilrush told the council that there are already existing or permitted wind farm turbines in the wider Miltown/West Clare region.

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Ms Culligan stated: Adding another large development risks over-saturation, where turbines from multiple sites combine to create a substantial change in skyline, undermining the rural character, scenic beauty, and sense of place for residents. This was a key reason for prior refusals near Miltown.

In his objection, Odhran Lynch said: This development would be overwhelming in terms of view in all directions, inescapably dominant and unpleasantly encroaching.

Mr Lynch from Rockmount, Miltown Malbay, said that the proposed entrance to the wind farm is directly across the road from our property and I am deeply concerned about the level of noise, dust, and disruption this will cause.

He said: In setting up home here in Rockmount, we never anticipated or expected a wind farm to be constructed in our local community here and potentially impact our day-to-day life in such a negative and fundamental manner.

In its objection, the Moy Opposition Group asked how the council can justify the construction of 150 metre tall turbines, when people applying to build houses are limited to the height of the skyline.

The group states: It appears to be one law for the normal people and another law for the big developers.

Climate An Bord Pleanala approved 10 new wind farms in 2024 Read more

A planning statement lodged with the application states that the proposal is justified by a clear and compelling national, regional, and local need.

The planning report states that it supports legally binding climate action, renewable electricity generation, and energy security. It aligns with Project Ireland 2040, spatial planning and infrastructure policy, and contributes to Irelands commitments under both national legislation and EU directives. The proposed development forms part of a needed and timely transition to a sustainable and climate-resilient energy system.

The report states that the layout of the proposed development has been carefully designed to minimise potential environmental impacts whilst optimising the energy generation from the wind resources available at the site.

A decision is due on the application later this month.
The presidential race has boiled down to a clear choice between Government and opposition, after one of three candidates dramatically quit the contest.

Fianna Fail candidate Jim Gavin announced he would be withdrawing from the race after acknowledging he had made a mistake, in a move that shakes up the competition and posed questions for his main backers in the party.

The late night statement came hours after Mr Gavin faced repeating questioning during a televised debate and subsequent media doorstep about claims he owed a former tenant thousands of euro.

The Irish Independent reported the experiences of a tenant who said he had failed to recover 3,000 in overpaid rent from Mr Gavin 16 years ago.

The Dublin man said he was in financial difficulty at the time and lost the property, also acknowledging the tenancy was not officially registered.

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Mr Gavin, 54, told reporters: If it happened, Im very sorry that it happened. Im looking into it and I will deal with it with urgency.

Fianna Fails presidential candidate Jim Gavin (Conor OMearain/PA)

Through the party press office after 10pm, he announced: Recent days have given me cause to reflect. I made a mistake that was not in keeping with my character and the standards I set myself. I am now taking steps to address the matter.

I have also thought long and hard about the potential impact of the ongoing campaign on the wellbeing of my family and friends.

Taking all these considerations on board, I have decided to withdraw from the presidential election contest with immediate effect and return to the arms of my family.

Taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, who had some pushback within the party for driving Mr Gavins candidacy, said his decision to end the campaign was the correct one.

The bombshell exit from the race now puts question marks over Mr Martins decision making, after the partys nomination process brought disquiet and criticism among backbenchers.

Mr Gavin  who had supported from Mr Martin, deputy leader Jack Chambers and other senior figures  secured the partys nomination after a contest against MEP Billy Kelleher.

In his ultimately unsuccessful search for Fianna Fails nomination, Mr Kelleher argued that nobody who leads a democratic party could be unhappy with having a robust, rigorous debate within the party about picking a candidate.

Former party leader and taoiseach Bertie Ahern also told reporters he was disappointed the party leadership had not expressed support for his own potential bid for the Aras, while former Fianna Fail minister Mary Hanafin said leadership making a phone call would have made a difference about her own consideration of entering the race.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin with former Dublin Gaelic football manager Jim Gavin (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Gavin, who was among three candidates alongside Fine Gaels Heather Humphreys and left-wing independent Catherine Connolly, will remain on the ballot paper.

His decision to drop out came after a Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll put him in last place on 15 per cent, behind Ms Connolly (32 per cent) and Ms Humphreys (23 per cent).

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People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy  who is backing Ms Connolly along with a range of independents, Sinn Fein, the Social Democrats and Labour  said the withdrawal of Mr Gavin clarifies the nature of this campaign.

Paul Murphy from People Before Profit-Solidarity (Brian Lawless/PA)

In a statement, he said: It is now a straight choice between a Fine Gael former Minister, Heather Humphreys and a leading independent opposition TD, Catherine Connolly.

People have a choice between a candidate who stands up for the developers and corporate landlords who have profited from Fine Gaels and Fianna Fails disastrous housing policy and a candidate who stands up for those who suffer from this housing crisis.

It is a clear choice between a Fine Gael candidate who supports the Governments moves to scrap the Triple Lock and fundamentally undermine neutrality and a candidate who defends neutrality.

Presidential independent candidate Catherine Connolly on the campaign trail in OConnell Street, Dublin (Conor OMearain/PA)

He added: It is a choice between a Fine Gael candidate who suggested that the Occupied Territories Bill wont make any difference and a candidate who has been consistent for decades in opposing Israeli occupation.

I am looking forward to the coming one on one debates between Heather Humphreys and Catherine Connolly. I have every confidence that Catherines authenticity will continue to shine through.

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Catherine Connolly said Gavin made "the right decision for himself and his family".

In a statement on his withdrawal from the presidential election, she said she wishes him well.

"Anyone who seeks to make Ireland a better place through public service should be commended."

During Sundays televised debate on RTEs The Week In Politics, Ms Humphreys said she had the experience to do this job.

Presidential candidate Fine Gaels Heather Humphreys (Conor OMearain/PA)

I was a minister for 10 years as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht I supported Creative Ireland, I supported a roll out of investments in our cultural institutions, she said.

As Minister for Business, I travelled the world opening doors for Irish businesses with the IDA and Enterprise Ireland, opening doors so that they could get new markets.

So Im experienced in terms of international relations, and then when it comes to people, as Minister for Social Protection, I stood up for people, and I rolled out Budgets that put money into peoples pockets when they needed it.
Presidential candidate Heather Humphreys has said there is much more that unites rather than divides communities during a visit to a Belfast school.

Ms Humphreys, who remains in the race to succeed Michael D Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain along with Catherine Connolly, spent the day in the Northern Ireland capital after the number of candidates shrank to two following the withdrawal of former Dublin GAA manager Jim Gavin.

She visited St Dominics Grammar School on the Falls Road in Belfast, which counts former Irish president Mary McAleese among its former pupils.

In August Ms Connolly visited Belfast and was hosted by People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll.

Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly with People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll during a visit to Culturlann McAdam O Fiach in Belfast in August (Jonathan McCambridge/PA)

Speaking to media after her visit, which saw her meet school staff and pupils at the all-girls school, Ms Humphreys said it had been really good to speak with the current pupils, young women who she said she hopes will be the next leaders of Ireland.

She learned about a shared education signature project which sees St Dominics work with Friends School in Lisburn to look at shared history.

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Their focus was a collaborative approach to the teaching of events of 1916 around the Battle of the Somme, a key battle in the First World War, which saw the sacrifice of large numbers of soldiers from Northern Ireland, and the Easter Rising in Dublin, a significant event in the Republic of Irelands journey to independence.

Ms Humphreys hailed a most enjoyable morning.

I discussed cooperation with other schools, and there is a cross-community project going ahead on 2016, which is the commemorations of the 1916 Rising and also World War One; theyve worked very closely together .. there is so much more to unite us than divide us, she said.

Ms Humphreys, who is from a Protestant background and grew up in the border county of Monaghan, described herself as a person who wants to unify the country, bring people together, build bridges, and follow in the steps of Ms McAleese in reaching out the hand of friendship.

Despite residents in Northern Ireland not having a vote in the Irish presidential election, Ms Humphreys said she felt it was important to come.

Its important that I come here, and its important that I am in this school where Mary McAleese, the last Ulster woman who was president of Ireland, and in fact the first Ulster woman who was president of Ireland, (attended), she said.

Former president of Ireland Mary McAleese (Brian Lawless/PA)

As you know, I am an Ulster woman as well, and I will be very privileged and very honoured to be the second Ulster woman to be Uachtarain na hEireann.

It is important to speak to young people because if our future is ever to be unified we must work with young people, and thats something that I am very committed to doing, and if elected as president, I want to bring young people through a schools programme from Northern Ireland and from the Republic of Ireland together.

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She said she understands the sensitivities of the constitutional question, and said she knows many unionists who also see the benefits of working together.

I only live six miles from the border, and I come from a minority tradition in Co Monaghan, and I feel I can speak to people, and I do understand the differences, and its only through conversations that we can deepen the understanding of communities and bring them together, she added.

Ms Humphreys later went on to visit Ulster University and Queens University in Belfast and meet with community groups.

Catherine Connolly, the other remaining candidate in the race for Aras an Uachtarain, visited Belfast on August 28th, then hosted by People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll.
A woman has been charged with the murder of a 47-year-old Czech national whose body was found in an apartment in Carrick on Suir in Co Tipperary over the weekend.

Karolina Kovacova of OCallaghans Lane, Carrick on Suir, appeared before Clonmel District Court on Monday.

The 24-year-old was charged with the murder of Pavel Javorski at OCallaghans Lane, Carrick on Suir, on October 4th.

Detective Garda Ruairi Ryan gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.

He told the special sitting of the court that he arrested Ms Kovacova shortly after 2pm on Monday.

He informed Judge John OLeary that Ms Kovacova made no reply when he subsequently charged her with murder.

The accused, who is also a Czech national, was aided by a translator in court. The translator was also required during the formal charge of the accused prior to the court sitting.

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Sgt Tom OBrien said that gardai were seeking a remand in custody in the case until tomorrow, Tuesday, October 7th.

Ms Kovacova (24) will appear in Clonmel District Court by video link tomorrow.

Defence solicitor, Aidan Leahy, made an application for free legal aid. Judge OLeary granted free legal aid and assigned Mr Leahy.

Mr Leahy said that Ms Kovacova would find being remanded in prison very difficult, arising out of her lack of proficiency in English. He asked that she be given every assistance while in custody.

Judge OLeary directed the prison governor to provide the accused with every support possible.
The National Youth Council of Ireland has urged all eligible young voters to register today for the presidential election before the deadline passes.

The deadline to register to vote is Tuesday, October 7th.

The National Youth Council of Ireland (NCYI) is also highlighting the simplicity of online registration.

Kathryn Walsh, NYCIs Director for Policy and Advocacy, said: "Irelands youth population is significant, with over 630,000 young people aged 18 to 29 eligible to register to vote in Ireland. This represents almost 1 in 5 of those of voting age in Ireland.

This means young people could prove hugely influential in the coming presidential election. A recent RED C poll we commissioned showed that most people believe that politicians are not representing young peoples interests.

"This has to change. And one of the most effective ways to change it, is to get young people registered and using their vote."

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The presidential election takes place on Friday, October 24th.

Explained Presidential election 2025: How to register, how to vote and how the count works Read more

Ms Walsh added that they encourage more than 62,000 young people who have recently turned 18 and are now eligible to vote to register.

We know from our work with young people that the vast majority want to vote, but not all are aware of the deadline or of the need to register," Ms Walsh said.

For those unsure whether they are registered, the NYCI advises checking online at www.checktheregister.ie. For those not yet registered, the process can now be completed online at the same site. You will need to provide your PPS number, date of birth and Eircode.

The NYCI provides further information and FAQs for first-time voters on youth.ie/vote.
Volodymyr Zelensky has called for tougher sanctions for British firms supplying parts for Russian drones being used to bomb Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president criticised allies for supplying components to Russia, claiming hundreds of thousands of foreign-made parts were used in a strike on Sunday morning in which several people died.

Mr Zelensky said in a post on X that microcomputers for flight control produced in the UK were found in drones used in the attack, along with other parts from other allies, including the US.





In the fourth year of the full-scale war, Russia continues to obtain components for producing weapons. During the massive combined strike on Ukraine on the night of October 5, Russia used 549 weapon systems containing 102,785 foreign-made components  from companies in the United  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) October 6, 2025

Four people, including a 15-year-old, died and six more were injured in Sundays combined drone and missile strike on Lviv, according to regional officials.

It was the largest aerial assault on the historic western city and surrounding region since Russias full-scale invasion on February 24 2022, according to Maksym Kozytskyi, head of the local military administration.

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Separately, a nighttime assault on Zaporizhzhia killed a civilian woman and wounded nine others, including a 16-year-old girl, while six people, including a child, were injured in Sloviansk, a key city in the eastern Donetsk region.

In a post on X on Monday morning, Mr Zelensky said: In the fourth year of the full-scale war, Russia continues to obtain components for producing weapons.

During the massive combined strike on Ukraine on the night of October 5, Russia used 549 weapon systems containing 102,785 foreign-made components  from companies in the United States, China and Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the Netherlands.

It is crucial to shut down every scheme that circumvents sanctions, because Russia uses each one to keep killing. The world has the power to stop this Volodymyr Zelensky

Mr Zelensky said Ukraine is preparing new sanctions against those who help Russia, with proposals to curb the supply schemes.

He added: Partners already possess the detailed data on each company and each product  they know what to target and how to respond.

This week, the G7 sanctions coordinators will meet, and we expect a systemic decision to ensure that the sanctions are truly effective.

It is crucial to shut down every scheme that circumvents sanctions, because Russia uses each one to keep killing. The world has the power to stop this.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said the UKs arms exports regime is among the most robust in the world but would look into any concerns.

He said: We will always stand by Ukraine and ensure were doing whatever it takes to ensure that they are able to resist Putins despicable and ongoing invasion of the country.

The Ministry of Defence has been contacted for comment.
Frances new prime minister Sebastien Lecornu has resigned less than 24 hours after naming his government and after less than a month in office.

His resignation plunges the country into a deep political crisis and leaves French President Emmanuel Macron with few options.

The French presidency said in a statement that Mr Macron, who has been hitting record lows in opinion polls, has accepted his resignation.

Mr Lecornu had replaced his predecessor, Francois Bayrou, in September to become Frances fourth prime minister in barely a year, during a prolonged period of political instability.



French outgoing prime minister Sebastien Lecornu delivers his statement at the Hotel Matignon in Paris (Stephane Mahe/Pool via AP)

French politics has been in disarray since Mr Macron called snap elections last year that produced a deeply fragmented legislature and a political impasse.

Far-right and left-wing politicians hold more than 320 seats at the National Assembly, while the centrists and allied conservatives hold 210, with no party having an overall majority.

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A faithful ally of Mr Macron, Mr Lecornu said conditions were no longer met to remain in office after failing to build a consensus.

It would take little for it to work, Mr Lecornu said in his resignation speech.

By being more selfless for many, by knowing how to show humility. One must always put ones country before ones party.

With less than two years before the next presidential election, Mr Macrons opponents immediately tried to capitalise on the shocking resignation, with the far-right National Rally calling on him to either call for new snap elections or resign.



Then-defence minister Sebastien Lecornu, right, and President Emmanuel Macron talk at the end of an address by the president to army leaders in Paris in July (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP)

This raises a question for the President of the Republic: can he continue to resist the legislature dissolution? We have reached the end of the road, far-right leader Marine Le Pen said.

There is no other solution. The only wise course of action in these circumstances is to return to the polls.

On the far left, France Unbowed also called for Mr Macrons departure, while voices on the left urged the revival of a coalition made up of leftists, socialists, greens and communists.

The resignation rattled investors, sending the CAC-40 index of leading French companies plunging. The index was down by nearly 2% on its Friday close.

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Ministers appointed just the previous night found themselves in the bizarre situation of becoming caretaker ministers  kept in place only to manage day-to-day affairs until a new government is formed  before some of them had even been formally installed in office.

Agnes Pannier-Runacher, the newly reappointed minister for ecology, posted on X: I despair of this circus.



Sebastien Lecornu delivers his statement at the Hotel Matignon in Paris (Stephane Mahe/Pool via AP)

Mr Lecornus choice of ministers has been criticised across the political spectrum, particularly his decision to bring back former finance minister Bruno Le Maire to serve at the Defence Ministry, with critics saying that under his watch Frances public deficit soared.

Mr Lecornus main task would have been to pass a budget as France is faced with a massive debt crisis.

At the end of the first quarter of 2025, Frances public debt stood at 3.346 trillion euros, or 114% of GDP. Debt servicing remains a major budget item, accounting for around 7% of state spending.

Other key positions remained largely unchanged from the previous cabinet, with conservative Bruno Retailleau staying on as interior minister, in charge of policing and internal security, Jean-Noel Barrot remaining as foreign minister, and Gerald Darmanin keeping the Justice Ministry.

Seeking consensus at the National Assembly, Mr Lecornu consulted with all political forces and trade unions before forming his cabinet.

He also vowed that he would not employ a special constitutional power his predecessors had used to force budgets through parliament without a vote and would instead seek compromise with legislators from the left and the right.
Semiconductor maker AMD will supply its chips to artificial intelligence company OpenAI as part of an agreement to team up on building AI infrastructure, the companies said.

OpenAI will also get the option to buy as much as a 10% stake in AMD, according to a joint statement announcing the deal.

It is the latest deal for the ChatGPT maker as it races to beef up its AI computing resources.

Under the terms of the deal, OpenAI will buy the latest version of the companys high performance graphics chips, the Instinct MI450, which is expected to debut next year.

This partnership is a major step in building the compute capacity needed to realise AIs full potential Sam Altman, OpenAI chief executive

The agreement calls for supplying six gigawatts of computing power for OpenAIs next generation AI infrastructure, with the first batch of chips worth one gigawatt to be deployed in the second half of 2026.

AMD also issued OpenAI with a warrant allowing the AI company to buy up to 160 million shares of AMDs common stock. That amounts to about 10% of company based on AMDs 1.6 billion outstanding shares.

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The warrant will vest based on two milestones tied to the amount of computing power deployed, as well as unspecified share-price targets.

Shares of AMD spiked 25% before the opening bell on Monday. Shares of Nvidia, which have repeatedly set new record-highs this year, fell slightly.

This partnership is a major step in building the compute capacity needed to realise AIs full potential, said OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman. AMDs leadership in high-performance chips will enable us to accelerate progress and bring the benefits of advanced AI to everyone faster.



Shares of AMD surged after the announcement (AP)

The deal is a boost for California-based AMD, which has been left behind by rival Nvidia. But it also hints at OpenAIs desire to diversify its supply chain away from Nvidias dominance.

The AI boom has fuelled demand for Nvidias graphics processing chips, sending its shares soaring and making it the worlds most valuable company.

Last month, OpenAI and Nvidia announced a 100 billion-dollar partnership that will add at least 10 gigawatts of data centre computing power.
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BusinessWorkplaceAI Opinion This botched government report should be wake-up call on AI hype Elizabeth Knight Business columnist October 6, 2025  3:07pm

October 6, 2025  3:07pm 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 203 View all comments

Deloitte Australia, botching a report to a federal government department thanks to AI doing some of the heavy lifting, is a canary in the coalmine for the technology being as big a hazard in the workplace as it is an aid. Who knew (outside the tech industry and those well-versed in tech lingo) that your average AI assistant was capable of hallucinating? These so-called hallucinations are created as part of the AIs pattern-matching process, especially when the model has limited or biased training data and a lack of real-world understanding of the problem its trying to solve. This leads to the AI model guessing and delivering results that sound right but arent factually accurate. (Word of warning and point of irony: I used AI as a reference for the above definition.) Corporate Australia is wildly excited about the productivity charging technology that is AI. iStock

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The reason AI models resort to guessing when they are short on real information is that they also possess an innate desire to please the one asking the question. And this desire means that an AI model would rather use dubious sourcing and incorrect interpretation to deliver a wrong result than nothing at all. Its also what has left Deloitte red-faced and, as reported by The Australian Financial Review, forced it to issue a partial refund to the federal government. The original report, which reportedly cost $440,000, created by Deloitte for the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, contained a completely fabricated quote from a federal court judgment and invented academic references. Related Article Exclusive

AI From hallucinations to High Court: Can AI administer justice? A revised version of the document has now been uploaded to the departments website minus the fabrications and typos. The AI-fabricated references and citations (alongside a smattering of grammatical errors) in the original document were outed by one of the academics quoted in the original report. So Deloitte picks up an ignominious distinction and the department wins a discount. It would be fanciful to think that this is an isolated case of AI going off the rails.

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Beating up management consultants may have become something of an Australian sport these days, but they arent the only ones using AI at work. Corporate Australia in particular is wildly excited about the introduction of this productivity charging technology. It is the new toy that everyone wants to play with before reading the instruction manual, and most fans realise there are plenty of wrinkles that need ironing out. There is already plenty of evidence of companies adopting AI with an eye to eventually replacing workers doing more process-driven administrative jobs, but some, such as Commonwealth Bank, have learnt the hard way that there is a big gulf between what AI can do in theory and what it delivers in practice. The adoption of generative AI, in which the model learns from existing data and can then spit out text videos and pictures when asked a question, is still in its infancy, so mistakes will be made. In Deloittes case, using AI to help put the report together wasnt the problem; instead, it was the firms laxity in getting the report checked by humans before it was stamped customer ready.

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AI Why AI chatbots get it wrong and how to handle their hallucinations Adding insult to the injury, Deloitte markets itself as a firm that can educate its corporate clients on how best to deploy AI. Its glossy marketing material contains the boast that deploying Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI across an enterprise requires the same level of operational strategy and action it takes to manage a manufacturing line or complex supply chain. In other words, even the experts in using AI appear vulnerable to tripping up. There has also been criticism of Deloitte about transparency around its use of AI in the report. The new version reportedly includes an explicit concession in the methodology that generative AI was used for what the firm called traceability and documentation gaps.

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There have been media reports indicating concerns about citation accuracies which were contained in these reports. Deloitte conducted this independent assurance review and has confirmed some footnotes and references were incorrect, the department says on its website. It makes you wonder just how many worms are in the can being opened by AI. The Deloitte snafu certainly lifts the lid on a couple of big ones, and there will almost certainly be many more such mistakes in the future. This isnt an argument against AI, but there is a need for a codified set of checks and balances to be put in place, and its probably going to take more unfortunate bouts of hallucinations before we get there. The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the days trading. Get it each weekday afternoon.
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Exclusive NationalHealthcare Podiatric surgeons to be stripped of title amid confusion Charlotte Grieve Updated October 6, 2025  2:04pm ,first published October 6, 2025  1:34pm 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

Podiatric surgeons will be stripped of their title and forced to change the name of their profession after a review found widespread confusion among patients and the wider public about their level of qualification. The national healthcare regulator, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), announced on Monday that podiatric surgeons would be forced to rebrand as surgical podiatrists from October 2026 after approval by state and federal health ministers. Orthopaedic surgeon David Lunz, who says the new title for podiatric surgeons is still problematic. Steven Siewert This is an important step in giving consumers greater clarity and transparency around the practitioner they are seeing and their training and qualifications, Podiatry Board of Australia chair Kristy Robson said. AHPRA said the 12-month transition period would allow those affected to make the necessary administrative changes, and support would be provided before the title podiatric surgeon is banned from October 5 next year.

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Related Article Investigation

Healthcare Sole destroying: How surgeons wield scalpels without medical degrees A joint investigation by this masthead and 60 Minutes in 2023 revealed patients were being disfigured by podiatric surgeons and then horrified to discover these practitioners could perform invasive surgery without a medical degree or mainstream surgical training. Robson defended the quality of training and skills possessed by these practitioners, who perform a range of complex foot and ankle procedures. The title change does not alter the standard of care provided but will help guide consumer expectations and allow for informed decision-making, Robson said. However, orthopaedic surgeons remain unconvinced the change is clear enough.

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David Lunz, former president of the Australian Orthopaedic Associations Foot and Ankle Society, said patients would still be misled by the new title and operating podiatrist would be more accurate. The term surgical has the connotation of being a surgeon, he said. Its still a problem. Related Article Healthcare Deformed, shocked, unable to walk: When foot surgery goes wrong Lunz said it was ridiculous to suggest current standards were sufficient, because the training was not accepted worldwide and was not approved by the Australian Medical Council or any mainstream surgical college. He rejected claims that concerns held by orthopaedic surgeons were motivated by a turf war and said he had treated a handful of botched cases in recent years.

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The impact is devastating, he said. Some of their problems are simply not fixable. Thats the issue. Following the joint media investigation, Melbourne Law School fellow Ron Paterson was appointed to lead a review that examined the higher-than-average rate of complaints about podiatric surgeons. He examined AHPRAs notifications data covering a 13-year period, and found complaints about podiatric surgeons were 8.8 times higher than those about specialist orthopaedic surgeons and five times higher than for general podiatrists. Paterson determined there was a pattern of dissatisfaction but not widespread safety and quality problems. There is some evidence that some procedures done by a small number of podiatric surgeons are not safe or of acceptable quality. Some patients have suffered significant harm, he found.

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Patersons review found patients were alarmed to learn their podiatric surgeon was not a medical practitioner and the continued use of the title was confusing and problematic. While backing stripping these practitioners of the title surgeon, the review stated it was not possible to stop them using doctor as this was not a protected title. Related Article Exclusive

Healthcare Health minister deeply concerned by podiatric surgery revelations amid industry push for Medicare funding The title-change was one of 14 recommendations that spanned registration, training, title, advertising, handling of complaints and safety and quality of the system for podiatric surgeons. AHPRA has already implemented three other recommendations, a spokesperson said, including cracking down on false advertising by some podiatric surgeons to take a tougher, deterrent approach to repeat offenders, and improving clinical advice and regulatory tools to police bad behaviour. The spokesperson said the remaining recommendations would soon be implemented.

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Patersons review also acknowledged areas for improvement in broader healthcare regulation, including backing calls for greater transparency over prior complaints and medical negligence lawsuits against practitioners so patients could make informed choices about their healthcare. After the review was published last March, the Podiatry Board of Australia completed additional consultation on the proposed title change, which included 240 submissions from practitioners, professional bodies, patients, insurers and regulators. AHPRA said the title change reflected the paramount principles of the national law, which include public protection and supporting community confidence in regulated health professions, AHPRA 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.
South Australian police have deployed technology previously used in a high-profile murder case in the search for four-year-old boy Gus Lamont, who went missing on his familys outback sheep station.

Lamont was last seen playing on a mound of dirt at about 5pm on Saturday, September 27, on his familys Oak Park Station homestead.

The boy was reportedly left alone for half an hour before his grandmother attempted to call him inside, only to find him missing.

The family searched for three hours before calling police, with state emergency services, helicopters and Aboriginal trackers descending on the sprawling station for 10 days searching for the boy.

SA Police Acting Commissioner Linda Williams said today that a special drone with infrared technology had been sent out to search the property throughout the weekend.

South Australian Police Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott said the family had been spoken to by officers a week ago about the boys declining chances of survival, but crews had kept searching.

We are confident that we have done all we can to locate Gus within the search area, he said.

At this point, no trace of Gus has been located. No tangible pieces of evidence, such as footprints, a hat or clothing, have been located to identify any direction of travel to assist searchers.
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NationalVictoriaCourts Fresh charge for man accused of helping dispose of Isla Bells body Erin Pearson October 6, 2025  3:08pm 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 man accused of helping an alleged killer move his victims body around Melbourne suburbs in a fridge is facing a fresh charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Eyal Yaffe, 58, and co-accused Marat Ganiev, 54, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday over the death of 19-year-old Brunswick woman Isla Bell, whose body was found at a suburban tip in November last year. Isla Bell had been missing for more than six weeks before her remains were found inside a fridge dumped at a recycling facility. Court documents show Yaffe, who is on bail, was previously charged with assisting an offender. Recently, he has also been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice by concealing and disposing of evidence between October 19 and 30 last year.

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Related Article Courts Murdered, stuffed in a fridge and driven across Melbourne. What police allege happened to Isla Bell On Monday, the court heard forensic experts had been unable to determine a cause or time of Bells death because of the length of time between her alleged murder and her body being discovered. Associate Professor Hans de Boer, a pathologist at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, said it was unclear if the bone fractures and lacerations on Bells body were caused during or after her death. He noted Bells body had been collected by a rubbish truck before being taken to a Dandenong tip. The bone fractures, the court heard, included blunt force or compression-type injuries to her skull and eight ribs.

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De Boer said an examination of Bells hair revealed the previous consumption of substances including methamphetamine, a cocaine metabolite, cannabis and non-prescribed methadone. These, the expert agreed, could severely alter a persons conscious state and cause death. Eyal Yaffe is accused of covering up Isla Bells death. Facebook He also said that during his investigation he was made aware through Bells medical records that she had lived with borderline personality disorder, ADHD and post-traumatic stress disorder, and had a history of domestic violence and alcohol challenges. The pre-trial hearing is expected to continue on Tuesday.

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Crime Remember their faces: Women killed in Australia Police allege Ganiev, of St Kilda East, murdered Bell at his home on October 7 last year. Yaffe, of Hampton, is accused of helping Ganiev get rid of Bells body. Police allege that after Bell was murdered she was sealed inside a fridge that was driven across Melbourne for days before it was dumped at a recycling facility. In opposing changes to Yaffes bail earlier this year, police revealed the father had family in Israel and had planned to travel on a return ticket to Bulgaria. More than 20 of Bells friends and family packed into a two-row courtroom on Monday to hear details of the case. If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 131 114, or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636.
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Updated NationalVictoriaAntisemitism Sheer horror: Pro-terrorism graffiti removed after uproar Hannah Hammoud, Emily Kaine and Alexander Darling Updated October 7, 2025  4:19pm ,first published October 7, 2025  7:17am 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 Australian Federal Police are investigating pro-terrorist graffiti in Melbournes north, which sparked widespread criticism from Australias political leaders on the anniversary of October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. A pro-Palestinian protest also proceeded as planned, with organisers saying calls from the prime minister and premier to not demonstrate on the day ignored Palestinians plight. Police are investigating two acts of vandalism in the form of graffiti praising terrorist group Hamas in Fitzroy on Tuesday morning. The local council says the graffiti has been removed. A prominent billboard in Fitzroy has been vandalised with a pro-Hamas message on the anniversary of the October 7 attacks. Alex Coppel The phrase Glory to Hamas was scrawled on a billboard at the busy intersection of Alexandra Parade and Brunswick Street. About 500 metres away, the Fitzroy Officeworks on Alexandra Parade was also targeted, with graffiti reading Oct 7, do it again and Glory to the martyrs defacing the building. Officeworks said the graffiti had been painted over.

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Further north, in Preston, a banner featuring the phrase Glory to the martyrs was spotted hanging over a pedestrian overpass on Bell Street alongside the Palestinian flag. The incidents occurred on the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, attacks in which Hamas murdered 1200 people in Israel and took 250 hostages. In response, Israel launched a two-year campaign that has killed an estimated 67,000 Palestinians so far. A UN commission of inquiry has labelled Israels actions in Gaza as genocidal. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the graffiti plastered across the Fitzroy billboard. The terrorist propaganda defacing a Melbourne billboard on the anniversary of the October 7 murders is abhorrent, he said. The people responsible must face the full force of the law. The AFP [Australian Federal Police] will work with Victorian police to bring them to justice.

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A pro-Palestine demonstration went ahead as planned in Melbourne on Tuesday evening, hours after the graffiti incidents. The Free Palestine Coalition Group had urged people to gather near the National Gallery of Victoria, which was previously targeted by anti-Israel protesters because of its association with the prominent Jewish Gandel family. At 5pm, about 150 people gathered in the Queen Victoria Gardens, opposite the NGV, where 16 police officers were stationed. Although the gatherings organisers asked attendees not to display signage, posters or flags, several Palestinian flags and a sign saying We shall rebuild were on display. After the speeches, several protesters held white bags meant to symbolise dead bodies. The atmosphere remained peaceful as the group began their walk to state parliament, with numbers growing to about 250 people. The pro-Palestinian rally in Queen Victoria Gardens on Tuesday. Luis Enrique Ascui Albanese said on Monday that the anniversary of the Hamas attacks was not a day for demonstrations and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said they were deeply disrespectful.

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Speaking at the pro-Palestinian gathering, rally organiser Nour Salman described the prime ministers criticism of the demonstrations as absolutely atrocious. Nour Salman at the vigil honouring those killed in Gaza. Charlotte Grieve Salman rejected Albaneses characterisation of the gatherings, and said that missing from political statements about the rallies was any acknowledgment of the Palestinian lives lost since the war began. This is exactly why this vigil is taking place, Salman said. On Tuesday morning, a commemoration was held at the Goldstone Gallery in Collingwood, marking the anniversary of the October 7 attacks. The event, which began at 6.29am  the same time sirens were heard at the Nova music festival in southern Israel  was organised by Jewish artists Nina Sanadze and Danny Ben-Moshe, and included an all-day vigil featuring speeches, victim name-readings, poetry and music.

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Graffiti painted on the wall of the Officeworks in Fitzroy. Sanadze described her reaction to seeing the words defacing the Fitzroy billboard as just sheer horror. I nearly screamed just seeing it on a day like this, she said. It was up there for a good five hours before it was taken down. I was thinking, how can I get up there and paint over it? Its beyond horrific, upsetting and, unfortunately, while Im surprised every time, its not so surprising any more.

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Australian Jewish artists Nina Sanadze (left) and Danny Ben-Moshe have created an exhibition to commemorate the October 7 attacks. Eddie Jim Sanadze said her exhibition aimed to forensically detail the events of October 7 through witness testimony. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, also the defence minister, labelled the graffiti attack disgraceful and deeply offensive. This day can only be one thing, and that is a day of commemoration and remembrance, Marles told ABC Melbourne. Its a deeply solemn day, and to have that message scrawled in that way is obviously disgraceful, and we need to be a society which is cohesive, which looks out for each other, and that is obviously a message of division. When asked if the graffiti would be treated as an act of terrorism, Marles said he was unsure but added that he had no doubt it would be looked into.

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Hamas is a terrorist organisation, he said. Hamas was responsible for the terror attack which occurred two years ago on this day, in which 1200 innocent people lost their lives  a message of that kind scrawled on this day is deeply disgraceful. I certainly think that there are people in our society today who do feel threatened, and I think that  is very much a matter of concern to the government. We are doing everything in our power to stand by the Jewish community as they face acts of antisemitism. We need to be a country which looks out for each other, and part of being a multicultural society, with all the diversity and richness that comes with that, must also be an accompanying care that we have for each other, and this [billboard] is a message of division. This is not a message which is designed to provide for the care of others within our community. And that is in part why this is absolutely a disgraceful message to have at any moment, but particularly on this day. Vandals accused of turning Australians against each other

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Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said the graffiti attacks were revealing of a vicious streak running through Australia. Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. James Brickwood Its as despicable as it is predictable, he said. I believe were overwhelmingly a decent people and a decent country, but there are those among us who revel in bloodshed and who support terrorism, and its something which I think should shock all Australians. It should make us resolute and united in fighting because its just utterly contemptible that theres an element in our society that thinks this way and also acts on it.

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Ryvchin said those responsible for the vandalism were intent on dividing society, adding that this sort of behaviour had become normalised. I tend to think that the people who do this know exactly what theyre doing, he said. They want to provoke reaction. They want to turn one group of Australians against another ... this sort of behaviour has become routine, and its become normalised, and to a large extent, theres a great impunity that goes with it. Theres very little legal consequences, theres very little social consequences, and it wont simply evaporate tomorrow. A pro-Palestine protest on August 24. Activists plan to march through Melbourne on Tuesday evening. Wayne Taylor Allan said the words scrawled on the Fitzroy billboard were hateful and not a representation of the states great multicultural society. It has no place, and its even more hateful on a day where we stand in support of a Jewish community that is grieving the second anniversary of the single biggest loss of Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, Allan said. I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.

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Opposition Leader Brad Battin said: Graffiti glorifying a terrorist organisation has no place in our community. On this day especially, its disgraceful. I stand with Victorias Jewish community and remember those who lost their lives in the October 7 attacks. Related Article Updated

Victorian Parliament Hate speech laws pass parliament as Liberals claim freedom of speech is at risk Caulfield MP David Southwick said the words plastered on the billboard were triggering for members of Australias Jewish community. To have people glorifying a terrorist organisation in Melbourne, its just beyond belief, Southwick told ABC Melbourne. Weve got laws  they need to be used. Nobody should be doing this  its shameful in terms of how the Jewish community has been targeted over the last two years. And something needs to be done. Words are not good enough from our leaders. Theyve actually got to get out and do something.

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Fitzroy locals disappointed by horrible graffiti People passing the vandalism in Fitzroy said the graffiti was disappointing, and added that vandals had previously targeted the billboard. One person, who didnt want to be named, said: Its just so horrible to see. Police are investigating both Fitzroy incidents, and said in a statement: There is absolutely no place at all in our society for antisemitic or hate-based symbols and behaviour. Loading Yarra City Council workers visited the scene on Tuesday morning and photographed the graffiti.

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In a statement on Tuesday, federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the graffiti was deeply disturbing, and called on the AFP and ASIO to help police track down the vandals. Related Article Israeli-Palestinian conflict Two years after the October 7 attack, Israel is at war with itself Hamas is a listed terrorist organisation in Australia. Supporting them is not free speech, it is a crime, Ley said. Those responsible must face the full force of the law. Victorians deserve to feel safe in their own community. On Monday, Albanese called for decent human behaviour to mark Tuesdays anniversary of the attacks. [Tuesday] is not a day for demonstrations, he said, as the premiers of Victoria and NSW condemned the protests organised in both states to mark the second anniversary of the atrocities.

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Allan said Tuesdays planned protest in Melbourne was unacceptable. Today should not be a day about protest, she told ABC Melbourne. Today is a day to stand with those in our community who are mourning the loss of life and what occurred to you in that horrific terrorist attack on October 7, 2023. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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PoliticsFederalForeign relations Neighbours Albanese and Marape build a fence  but not to keep China out Shane Wright October 6, 2025  4:56pm 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 55 View all comments

Papua New Guinea has likened a formal defence treaty with Australia to a fence protecting two homes and not a shield against Chinese aggression, after prime ministers Anthony Albanese and James Marape signed the agreement on Monday. The Pukpuk treaty, Australias first formal alliance since the ANZUS treaty was signed in 1951, commits the near neighbours to coming to each others aid and to contributing to regional stability across the South Pacific, which is being targeted by China as part of its efforts to broaden its diplomatic reach. Prime ministers Anthony Albanese and James Marape sign the Pukpuk treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea. Dominic Lorrimer The treaty was supposed to be signed in Port Moresby last month when Albanese visited the capital for the 50th anniversary of independence, but the PNG cabinet could not form a quorum in time to ratify the pact until recent days. Similar to the ANZUS treaty, the agreement with PNG means that an armed attack on either nation in the Pacific is considered an assault on the other country that would be dangerous to each others peace and security and the security of the Pacific.

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The treaty, which was proposed by Marape, also allows citizens from Australia and PNG to train and serve with each others defence forces. Speaking in Canberra, Marape said the treaty was not aimed at China but served as a formal recognition of the strong links between PNG and Australia. This treaty was not conceived out of geopolitics or any other reason, but out of geography, history and the enduring reality of our shared neighbourhood, he said. It is about one bigger fence that secures two houses that has its own yard space. This is not a treaty that sets up enemies but consolidates friendships, and China, weve been transparent, we have told them that Australia has become our security partner of choice and they understand our alliances here.

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Albanese, who later this month heads to Washington for his first formal meeting with President Donald Trump, said Australian foreign policy was based on three pillars: the US alliance, regional engagement and the support of multilateralism. Related Article Pacific diplomacy China is relentless: US diplomat warns Beijing could be influencing PNG treaty delay He said the Pukpuk treaty was an example of those three pillars at work. This is a concrete example of Australia accepting the invitation and the idea from Papua New Guinea that we step up this relationship to an alliance, he said. I see this very much as lifting our relationship to the next level. The agreement prevents the nations putting in place agreements with other nations that may compromise the Pukpuk treaty.

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As part of the treaty, Australia and PNG will increase the number of joint military exercises, share more intelligence gathering and recruit citizens into each others defence forces. There are currently about 3990 personnel in PNGs defence forces, mostly in the army. Marape has suggested up to 10,000 people from PNG could serve with the Australian Defence Force under the terms of the treaty. Albanese said that over time it could be really substantial numbers. He said PNG citizens would join with residents of the Five Eyes nations  Australia, New Zealand, Britain, Canada and the United States - in being able to join the ADF. People who are permanent resident in Australia will have the same rights as current members of Five Eyes to serve and participate in the Australian Defence Force, he said.

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As part of the treaty, defence co-operation between the two nations will substantially increase. The Coalitions acting home affairs spokesman, James Paterson, said he welcomed the treaty. When reports first broke about a delay in the finalisation of this agreement, I said that I hoped that the Albanese government was able to tidy this up and get this agreed, and I do welcome that they have now done so, he said. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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The US Supreme Court has declined to hear Ghislaine Maxwells bid to overturn her conviction for helping the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls, steering clear of a case that continues to hound President Donald Trump and his administration.

The justices turned away an appeal by Epsteins former girlfriend who is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being found guilty in 2021 on charges including sex trafficking of a minor. By doing so, the justices let stand a lower courts decision upholding Maxwells conviction. The justices did not explain their reasoning in turning away her appeal on Monday (Tuesday AEDT).

Ghislaine Maxwell with Jeffrey Epstein. AP

Maxwells lawyers contend that her conviction was invalid because a non-prosecution and plea agreement that federal prosecutors made with Epstein in Florida in 2007 also shielded his associates and should have barred her criminal prosecution in New York.

Were, of course, deeply disappointed that the Supreme Court declined to hear Ghislaine Maxwells case. But this fight isnt over. Serious legal and factual issues remain, and we will continue to pursue every avenue available to ensure that justice is done, David Oscar Markus, a lawyer for Maxwell, said.
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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
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Irish car sharing service GoCar has partnered with Enterprise House in Carlow to provide two shared vehicles for local businesses and entrepreneurs that use the co-working space.

The partnership, announced today, will see a VW Taigo and Nissan Qashqai made available at Enterprise House, which is operated by Carlow Community Enterprise Centres CLG as part of the Connected Hubs initiative.

The service is designed to give businesses using the hub flexible access to vehicles without the costs associated with owning and maintaining their own fleet. Enterprise House is home to 28 companies employing 150 staff.

Joe Quirke, head of GoCar, said the partnership would make transport smarter and more affordable while supporting sustainable travel options for enterprises and entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses.

Kieran Comerford, director of Carlow Community Enterprise Centres CLG and head of economic development at Carlow County Council, said tenants at Enterprise House are passionate about sustainability.

Having car sharing available on-site is just one step we can take to support greener transport solutions - not just for our tenants, but for the wider community, he said.

Carlow Mayor, cllr Paul Doogue, welcomed the initiative as part of the councils wider sustainability agenda. He encouraged businesses, remote workers and individuals across Carlow to use the service, describing it as a practical and affordable option that supports our goal of reducing emissions and congestion in the town. Connected Hubs is Irelands national network of over 300 remote working facilities. The addition of GoCar vehicles to the Carlow hub joins existing sustainable transport options including e-bikes provided by Bolt.aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
FIANNA Fail politicians and party members were today trying to come to terms with the sudden resignation of their presidential candidate, Jim Gavin, on Sunday night.

Mr Gavin abruptly resigned after appearing on The Week in Politics programme on RTE earlier that day where he seemed unable to answer a question about money that he allegedly owed to a former tenant. His resignation sent shockwaves through the Fianna Fail party, while it also raised the issue of how it chose its candidate in the first place, after Mr Gavin was personally selected by taoiseach Micheal Martin.

Mr Gavin was in Co Carlow last Thursday, when he spent the day meeting the public while accompanied by Fianna Fail elected members, including minister of state Jennifer Murnane OConnor, MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu and local councillors. The whistle-stop tour of the county saw Mr Gavin visiting Tyndall College, St Leos College and Bosom Buddies Womens Shed in Carlow town, the Fighting Cocks GAA Club near Rathoe and Tullow Mart.

Jim Gavin receives a club history from The Fighting Cocks GAA Club with Minister of State Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, John McDonald, cllr John Pender and Cathal Shanahan, club chairman

The local party was delighted with the reception that Mr Gavin received while he was here, and so his resignation must have been an even bigger blow to them.

I am personally disappointed at Jim Gavins decision to withdraw from the presidential election. I canvassed for Jim here in Carlow and saw the very positive engagement he had with people on the ground, said Ms Murnane OConnor. Therefore, I do deeply regret that there is no longer a Fianna Fail candidate for people to support in this election.

Many of my colleagues have expressed a desire to review the process by which we select presidential candidates, to take into account the views and opinions from everyone in the party. I think this is a good idea so that we can learn from this experience. MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu was interviewed on RTEs Liveline about the resignation. She said: The Jim Gavin that I got to know over a very, very short period was a very good candidate on paper, with a lifetime of service and achievement, but he wasnt a politician.

Most of what he had achieved was as a volunteer and as someone who wanted to serve his community and his country with distinction, I might add.

But he wasnt used to the pressures of political public life, and he wasnt afforded the time to adjust. The time just wasnt there. He wasnt used to television, cameras, microphones, the glare of the media, public debating or rating. She continued: I canvassed with him over three full days between Carlow and Kilkenny. I saw the enthusiasm, the character, the commitment, the energy, and he certainly had the makings of a good politician. But this is not a race like any other election race. Councillor John Pender, cathaoirleach of Tullow Municipal District, felt that Mr Gavin had no choice but to resign.

Jim Gavin with principal Gerry McGill and Anthony 'Star' Geoghegan during his visit to Tyndall College in Carlow

Im extremely disappointed by what happened. Wed been out canvassing with him here in Tullow on Thursday and he went down very well.

The revelation (about the money owed to his tenant) made it untenable. I was surprised. He didnt deal with the question very well on Sunday. It looked like something was afoot. It was untenable for him to stay, said cllr Pender.
IRISH butchery talent was in the spotlight in Dingle recently as Murphys Craft Butchers of Tullow took home two coveted gold awards at the prestigious Blas na hEireann food awards.

Their innovative black charcoal ribeye steak and flavour-packed chicken Italiano dish wowed judges, earning top honours for Jim and Bernadeta Murphy.

A delighted Jim said: Were absolutely thrilled to take home two gold awards at Blas na hEireann.

Its a real honour to have our products recognised on such a respected stage and it reflects the hard work, passion and craft that goes into everything we do.

At the end of the day, its about bringing our customers something truly special and awards like this show were on the right path. Jim and Bernadeta are no strangers to winning awards as theyve previously scooped the best chicken product at the World Butchers Olympics while their pork sausage was named the best in the World Butchers Challenge in America.

Murphy Craft Butchers, established in 1909, is a family-owned business with a legacy spanning five generations of master butchers.

Among the winners were Bergin Family Butchers, Naas, who took a silver award for their signature 12 hour slow cooked featherblade with creamy mash in the Ready Meals category. These successes highlight the remarkable skill, craftsmanship and commitment to quality that define Irish butchery today with customers across the country reaping the benefits.

Now in its 18th year, Blas na hEireann stands as the largest competition celebrating quality Irish produce on the island.

Each year, the awards culminate in one of the biggest gatherings in Irish food, as producers from every corner of the country converge in Dingle.
Sean McCarthaigh

An inquest into the death of a male pedestrian killed in a hit-and-run incident in north Dublin last year has been put on hold after gardai revealed an individual is to face criminal prosecution over the fatal collision.

Michael Mikey Farrelly, 40, sustained traumatic injuries when he was struck by a stolen vehicle on Coast Road, Baldoyle, at around 1am on July 17th, 2024.

The driver of the vehicle and his passenger, who are suspected of being members of the so-called Lucky Dip criminal gang, a loose network of around 60 teenagers based in Ballyfermot, Inchicore and Blanchardstown who specialise in car theft, failed to remain at the scene.

Inspector Fearghal OToole told a sitting of Dublin District Coroners Court on Monday that, providing an update on the case, further progress has been made since the last sitting of the inquest in April.

Insp OToole applied for an adjournment of the hearing of the full inquest under Section 25 (2) of the Coroners Act after informing Coroner Clare Keane that the DPP had given a direction in the case and criminal proceedings have commenced.

No details of any charges were revealed during the brief hearing.

The coroner granted the application and adjourned the inquest until a date to be fixed after the conclusion of related criminal proceedings.

At the opening of the inquest into Mr Farrellys death six months ago, Dr Keane revealed that the deceased had to be identified through DNA profiling due to the extent of his injuries.

A blood sample from the victims body was matched with a DNA sample taken from his father, Philip Farrelly, which confirmed they were biologically related.

A postmortem on the body of the deceased attributed the cause of death to polytrauma.

Mr Farrelly was returning to his home in Sutton after a night out with his family when he was struck by the stolen vehicle around 50 metres from the entrance to the housing estate where he lived.

The victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene, had been attending Riverdance at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin with relatives, after which they had gone for some drinks in a local pub near his home.

The Hyundai Kona involved in the fatal crash had been stolen the previous evening from outside a house in Malahide.

It was subsequently involved in an interaction with gardai after it failed to stop while driving in an erratic fashion shortly before the hit-and-run incident.

Mr Farrellys death featured in a special report on RTEs Prime Time last April in which his brother, Conor, claimed the justice system was failing to respond to the wave of car thefts caused by a network of teenage joyriders.

At least one of the people in the car was actually on bail and under curfew at the time the accident happened. He shouldn't have been out. He should have been at home, said Conor.

He added: It makes you think that we have no proper solution to deal with people who can go out and steal a car, get arrested, go before the courts, be bailed, be put on curfew. And then they're brought home, they walk in the front door, and then they walk straight out the back door, and they do it again that night.

A number of teenagers, including the suspected ringleader of the Lucky Dip criminal gang, were arrested over the fatal crash but later released without charge.

At Mr Farrellys funeral mass, mourners heard he had fulfilled a lifetime dream by recording an album of his own music shortly before his death.
By Rebecca Black, PA

Presidential candidate Heather Humphreys has said there is much more that unites rather than divides communities during a visit to a Belfast school.

Ms Humphreys, who remains in the race to succeed Michael D Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain along with Catherine Connolly, spent the day in the Northern Ireland capital after the number of candidates shrank to two following the withdrawal of former Dublin GAA manager Jim Gavin.

She visited St Dominics Grammar School on the Falls Road in Belfast, which counts former Irish president Mary McAleese among its former pupils.

In August Ms Connolly visited Belfast and was hosted by People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll.

Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly with People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll during a visit to Culturlann McAdam O Fiach in Belfast in August (Jonathan McCambridge/PA)

Speaking to media after her visit, which saw her meet school staff and pupils at the all-girls school, Ms Humphreys said it had been really good to speak with the current pupils, young women who she said she hopes will be the next leaders of Ireland.

She learned about a shared education signature project which sees St Dominics work with Friends School in Lisburn to look at shared history.

Their focus was a collaborative approach to the teaching of events of 1916 around the Battle of the Somme, a key battle in the First World War, which saw the sacrifice of large numbers of soldiers from Northern Ireland, and the Easter Rising in Dublin, a significant event in the Republic of Irelands journey to independence.

Ms Humphreys hailed a most enjoyable morning.

I discussed cooperation with other schools, and there is a cross-community project going ahead on 2016, which is the commemorations of the 1916 Rising and also World War One; theyve worked very closely together .. there is so much more to unite us than divide us, she said.

Ms Humphreys, who is from a Protestant background and grew up in the border county of Monaghan, described herself as a person who wants to unify the country, bring people together, build bridges, and follow in the steps of Ms McAleese in reaching out the hand of friendship.

Despite residents in Northern Ireland not having a vote in the Irish presidential election, Ms Humphreys said she felt it was important to come.

Its important that I come here, and its important that I am in this school where Mary McAleese, the last Ulster woman who was president of Ireland, and in fact the first Ulster woman who was president of Ireland, (attended), she said.

Former president of Ireland Mary McAleese (Brian Lawless/PA)

As you know, I am an Ulster woman as well, and I will be very privileged and very honoured to be the second Ulster woman to be Uachtarain na hEireann.

It is important to speak to young people because if our future is ever to be unified we must work with young people, and thats something that I am very committed to doing, and if elected as president, I want to bring young people through a schools programme from Northern Ireland and from the Republic of Ireland together.

She said she understands the sensitivities of the constitutional question, and said she knows many unionists who also see the benefits of working together.

I only live six miles from the border, and I come from a minority tradition in Co Monaghan, and I feel I can speak to people, and I do understand the differences, and its only through conversations that we can deepen the understanding of communities and bring them together, she added.

Ms Humphreys later went on to visit Ulster University and Queens University in Belfast and meet with community groups.

Catherine Connolly, the other remaining candidate in the race for Aras an Uachtarain, visited Belfast on August 28th, then hosted by People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll.
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Indocement, through its subsidiary PT Semen Bosowa Maros, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Makassar City Government, on 2 October 2025, to collaborate on the utilisation of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) produced from the citys waste management system.

The agreement was formally signed by Syamsul Rijal, director of PT Semen Bosowa Maros, and Munafri Arifuddin, Mayor of Makassar, in the presence of Christian Kartawijaya, president director of Indocement; Hasan Imer, director of Indocement; and Budi Hartono, general manager of operations at the Maros cement plant.

This partnership represents a strategic milestone in supporting the governments efforts to advance sustainable waste management while reinforcing Indocements long-standing commitment to green industry principles. By integrating RDF as an alternative energy source, Indocement and the Makassar City Government are fostering strong cooperation between the industrial and public sectors  contributing to environmental protection, energy efficiency, and sustainable development in Indonesia.
A group of Hamilton Medical Center (HMC) Environmental Services employees recently received advanced training and certification in cleaning and disinfecting. The inaugural group of Environmental Services employees graduated with their certification in June.Certified employees include: Erika Bucio, Bryson Clark, Beatriz De Ochoa, Margie Narra, ReginaSexton, Amber Watkins, and Emily Wilson.The Certified Health Care Environmental Services Technician (CHEST) certification equipstechnicians to stay compliant by providing advanced training in proper cleaning, disinfecting,and preventing infection in health care environments.Achieving this certification is another way Hamilton shows commitment to safety andexcellence, said Amy Carroll, Infection Prevention specialist.The Environmental Servicestechnicians play a critical role in infection prevention, and this training supports them indelivering a safe and clean environment for patients and staff.The training covers infection prevention and control, effective communication and decision-making, best practices for selecting the right equipment and disinfectants, how to disinfectpatient rooms, extra steps to take in isolation rooms or waste streams, the patient experienceimpact of the cleaning and disinfecting process, team problem-solving, and specialconsiderations.The training goes beyond standard cleaning procedures and delves into how to disinfect indifferent situations, specialty areas and isolation rooms, all while guiding participants towardindustry best practices.
China urges Mexico to follow WTO rules, protect interests of Chinese firms

Xinhua) 10:13, October 06, 2025

BEIJING, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- China urges Mexico to comply with the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in its anti-dumping investigations, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies, the Ministry of Commerce said on Friday.

A spokesperson for the ministry made the remarks in response to a media inquiry about Mexico's recent four anti-dumping investigations into Chinese products, including float glass and PVC tarpaulins.

China firmly opposes protectionist measures that harm its legitimate rights and interests, and will monitor the development of the investigations closely, the spokesperson said.

It was noted that this year, Mexico has opened 11 anti-dumping investigations into Chinese products to date -- nearly twice last year's total -- while China has continued to exercise restraint in launching trade-remedy investigations.

Against the backdrop of the United States' excessive use of tariffs, China holds that all countries should work together to oppose unilateralism, curb the spread of protectionism, and refrain from imposing restrictions on China under various pretexts due to external coercion, according to the spokesperson.

In response to Mexico's proposed tariff increases and other restrictions, the ministry has launched an investigation into trade and investment barriers in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

"Based on our findings and actual circumstances, China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies, including measures in trade and investment," the spokesperson said.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Hongyu)
Matches, tents, and starting a fire. What boy in the early 60s wasnt captivated by Scouts, both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts? The reaching into the hidden mysteries of self-reliance and independence in the forest, lakes, and mountains captivated hundreds of thousands. It sure did me.

In 1962, my family lived in Brainerd, and I attended OLPH. Some of my fondest memories are of the years I spent as first a Cub Scout and later as a Boy Scout. Mrs. Neligan was our Cub Scout Den Mother for several years. We met weekly in her home up the hill on Lerch Street. Mr. Haskins (father of Dennis Haskins, Mr. Belding of Saved By The Bell fame) was the leader of the Boy Scout Troop that met in the basement of St. Stephen's Hall at OLPH.

Cub Scouts was play with supervision, snacks, and uniforms. All I really remember was Mrs. Neligans kindness and the worst case of Poison Ivy I have ever had. Across the street from their two-story white frame house was a vacant lot. One afternoon after scouts was over, waiting on my Mom, I started swinging on thick vines draping down a sturdy Oak tree. Oh, the exhilaration! In the next few hours, I began to itch. The rope-like vine was the mother of all Poison Ivy tendrils. Red bumps and lesions appeared everywhere: my arms, my legs, my face. I couldnt even close my fingers. I scratched for days the oozing pustules. The only palliative from the pharmacy was brownish Calamine lotion. It was misery. It passed, but I learned to identify and avoid poison ivy, oak, and sumac, and later taught my own children.

Boy Scouts was a step up. It was a combination of adventure and accomplishment. When youre a boy, you cant wait to start a fire! Need I say more? But in Boy Scouts, you learned how to build a fire safely. Matches were held protectively by adults. You learned how to tie knots, like a bowline or a half-hitch. You learned how to sharpen and use an axe. You learned how to sail and canoe. And there was so much more. You could learn new skills of lost arts and earn a Merit Badge. Enough Merit Badges and you could advance in rank from Tenderfoot to Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle. One of my merit badges was earned in Code. You had to demonstrate a proficiency in either Morse Code or Semaphore, signaling with flags. I chose the less demanding, semaphore. I imagined being on the pinnacle of a high mountain with arms and flags extended at 3, 6, 9 or 12 oclock positions, sending life-saving messages to a surrounded garrison of brave Gurkha soldiers in Timbuktu.

While flags fed my imagination, the cooking merit badge fed my stomach. Preparing for a camping trip is fun. The right gear all fitted together just says BOY. Be Prepared was the Boy Scout Motto. It has served me well throughout my life. Once, I was fulfilling the requirements for the Cooking merit badge. (Little round buttons of cloth sewn to shirt or sash featuring embroidered symbols of appropriate competency.) My chef special was beef stew. Doesnt seem like much now, but then it was, as Baby Bear said, Just Right. First, I put the ingredients together at home and packed them carefully in plastic bags in the requisite official Boy Scout backpack. Once at the campsite, you cleared a safe space, arranged stones around the periphery, and carefully built a fire of dry small twigs, with larger branch pieces above, and topped it off with even larger boughs. Then out of the magic backpack came the totally awesome tin cook set with skillet, pot, and plate, carefully nesting together. Into the pot went all the ingredients. Over the simmering coals, suspended on a craftily fashioned green branch, went the pot. In a few minutes, Wah-Lah, warm beef stew, with potatoes, carrots, salt, pepperand grit, dry leaves, and soot. But it was delicious. All agreed, even Mr. Haskins. I was in like Flint!

There are so many things about Boy Scouts that helped to create a very healthy culture. It was really a neighborhood thing. Parents were involved. There was the monthly Boy Scout magazine, which was full of directions for all kinds of handy woodcraft. There was the Boy Scout Handbook handed down from my two brothers, a sort of Boy Scout Bible. There were camping trips, with night fires and ghost stories, like Von Doon and my favorite, The Chicken-Legged Lady, which I told my own children and has fueled their imaginations to this day. And of course, for my brother and me, there was the Army-Navy Surplus Store on Brainerd Road. Wow! They had more stuff! Shovels that turned into axes. Gas masks. Down sleeping bags. And all the totally cool gear! There were knives that had 24 tools, from spoons to saws to scissors. (This was right before James Bond. Ian Flemming got his cool ideas for gadgets from General Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Boy Scouts in Britain in 1908.)

But do you know one of the most important things I acquired while camping? I came to learn what the secret ingredient of all food preparation is, the one seasoning that makes anything taste like a Three-Star Michelin chef-prepared culinary experience. The 100%, always perfect spice, is hunger . (When you are really hungry, really, really hungry, even Bunny White Bread eaten alone with water tastes like manna.)

Scouting was a significant part of my growing up. Adult volunteers, combined with the structure and clear mission, helped shape that generation of boys. On my honor I will do my best  To do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. That was Good Stuff.

-----

Doug Daugherty can be reached at dedsr1952@gmail.com.
Lyndia Lynn E. Green Johnson, 76, was born on February 8,1949, in Boaz, Alabama.

She passed into eternal rest on Monday, August 25, 2025, following a lengthy illness while receiving care at The Rossville NHC Skilled Nursing Home.

Lynn was the daughter of the late Clovis E. Green Sr. and Bertie Mae Strickland Green. She was raised by her late paternal grandparents, P.D. and Oglera McWhorter of Chattanooga. Her brother, Clovis E. Green Jr. predeceased her passing.

Lynn attended Central High School graduating in 1967. She attended Cleveland State and Chattanooga State, where she earned an Associate Science of Nursing Degree. She worked at the Diagnostic Center, Memorial Hospital, Teppers Clinic and Merastar Insurance. At one time Lynn, being Lynn, ventured west working in a mine when a nursing job was unavailable.



She was ranked in the top five women in the Dart Association of Tennessee and Special Events Coordinator for the Chattanooga Darts Association. Lynn was a community volunteer raising funds for Area 4 Special Olympics, Junior Achievement and multiple other nonprofit organizations. Lynn was associated with the Battlefield Church of the Nazarene.



Lynn was known for her love of animals, especially horses and dogs. During her leisure time she enjoyed riding her horse while exploring the surrounding areas.

Friends and family are invited to A Celebration of Life honoring Lyndia Lynn E. Green Johnson on Friday, Oct. 10, at 2 p.m. at Battlefield Church of the Nazarene, 3220 Battlefield Parkway, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. 30742. Pastor Joe Brown will be officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Horse Haven of Tennessee which is the states largest and oldest equine rescue dedicated to the care, rehabilitation, and rehoming of abused and neglected horses. Contact information is Horse Haven of Tennessee, P.O. Old Brookhaven Farm Road, Seymour, Tn. 37865.


Lee University nursing majors Hope Gunn, Nickolas Lard and Madelyn Pitney have been named recipients of the Bradley Scholars program, an initiative of Bradley Medical Center.

I am so thankful that Lee University has such outstanding support from our hospital clinical partners, said Dr. Amy Jo Perry, dean of Lees School of Nursing. This collaboration with Bradley Medical Center is essential to address the current nursing shortage and establish a pipeline of exceptionally trained and supported registered nurses to meet the healthcare needs of our local community.

Each student will receive $7,500 every semester for a total award of up to $45,000 in exchange for a commitment to work as a nurse at Bradley Medical Center for two to three years after graduation, based on the number of years they will receive the scholarship. During their time at Lee, the Bradley Scholars will complete the majority of their required clinical experience at Bradley Medical and are encouraged to work optional employee hours as nurse technicians.

Im grateful Ive been selected as a Bradley Scholar and am so excited to partner with this organization while Im in the early, foundational stages of my nursing journey, said Ms. Gunn, a junior nursing major at Lee. Im delighted to learn, grow, and challenge myself through this program and believe this will be formative in my development as a nurse, alongside the distinct and remarkable Christian nursing education I have received at Lee.

The program began in the fall of 2024 with five students, Sarah Cate, Emony Kemp, Emma Miles, Noah New and Emma White. Ms. Miles, who graduated in May, now works as a registered nurse at Bradley, and the others will graduate in the spring of 2026.

Bradley Medical Center is proud to partner with Lee University to support the next generation of nurses through the Bradley Scholars Program, said Dr. Tammy Seay, vice president and chief nursing officer of Bradley Medical Center. Through this program, students receive mentorship throughout their academic journey and gain valuable clinical experience. We are excited to invest in these future nurses and look forward to the contributions they will make to our community.

For more information about the Bradley Scholars Program, visit leeuniversity.edu/academics/nursing/bradley-scholars-nursing-scholarship/.

For more information about the School of Nursing, visit leeuniversity.edu/academics/nursing/.
Our culture conditions us to see everything as black-and-white, good-and-evil, where everyone has to choose a side. Spoiler alert: life isnt just about Team A versus Team B. Its more like a buffet where you can load up on both/and options.Some believe our Christian faith requires us to be either warriors or servants. Why not be both? I mean, who says you cant stand for Christian values and love your neighbor at the same time? Speaking of faith, we have a song that goes, Let hope rise and darkness tremble. It serves as a reminder for anyone who believes in something greater than themselves.Many people envision a future straight out of a disaster movie.You know the one: everyones in torn clothes, fighting over the last can of beans. Their choices in careers, relationships and outlooks show this gloom-and-doom mindset. The glass isnt just half-empty; its a cracked vase on a rickety table, spilling everywhere. All they see is darkness.I spent time with my friend, Karolyn Marino, who teaches with more energy than a double shot of espresso. Seriously, her energy could power a small city! Her mission? To teach every childno matter where theyre starting fromand build a classroom that feels like a warm hug.In Miss Karolyns class, kids know theyre not just safe; theyre cherished. And guess what? Shes one of the top teachers in her district, because kids learn best when they feel loved and valued. Who wouldve thought?We need schools that serve the academic and non-academic needs of children. This includes better access to online tools, statewide partnerships and available resources. Unfortunately, too many of our state leaders view education as a broken system. When they are campaigning, they cite accomplishments, but once they are in office, the system is irrevocably broken. We are stuck with that recurring mindset here in Tennessee.We also discussed character education, which is crucial in helping students make meaningful contributions to society. In a world where right and wrong are like two guys arguing over the last slice of pizza, maybe its time to revisit the basics of character development. Loving your neighbor should be as natural as breathing. If it isnt, lets lead by examplepractice what we preach, people!Martin Luther King Jr. once said, The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and critically. Intelligence plus characterthat is the goal of true education. His words still resonate today.Im a huge fan of public education, but lets be realweve taken a few wrong turns down some sketchy rabbit holes. No excuses. We have all been sold a bill of goods, and we need to kick those out-of-state education saviors and big-money interests to the curb.At times, we have lost sight of the importance of education entirely. If we want to win back parents trust, we need to return to the basics. Parents need to be at the table alongside educators.Check out the Nations Report Card [ https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/nations-report-card-paints-bleak-picture-of-education-in-aftermath-of-the-pandemic ]. Its not pretty. Even though critics will have to concede that Tennessee [ https://www.tn.gov/education/districts/lea-operations/assessment/naep.html ] is trending in the right direction, nationally, reading and math scores are a huge concern.On the bright side, some states have discovered that phonics-based methods, tutoring and summer literacy camps are effective.Who knew? Catching kids up and not letting them fall through the cracks is a wise investment.Heres the deal: we need to return to fundamental educational reforms that genuinely matter to parents.Lets tackle the real issueslike how to get kids to read, write and do basic arithmetic.It isnt a secret that many children are struggling with math and reading, while a few adults are still busy debating which bathroom children should use.A one-size-fits-all approach will not work in education. Public education in Tennessee is at a crossroads. Change is inevitable in education, and we should welcome the discussion. People say education is broken beyond repair, but I reject that point of view. We make small victories every day in our classrooms. Our wins far outnumber our losses, and recognizing those setbacks only makes us stronger. However, we must acknowledge both the good and the bad.If we want to regain trust, we need to focus on real educational outcomes, rather than getting distracted by the latest trendy nonsense peddled by out-of-state experts. At the end of the day, parents want to know that their kids are actually learning something that will help them be successful in the future.Strength isnt about cramming more bad education policies down the throats of taxpayers; its about conquering what you once believed was unachievable. When that spark of hope appears, darkness has no choice but to retreat. So let hope soar and make darkness tremble. Trust me, the future of public education is brighter than you imagine!JC Bowman, executive director of Professional Educators of Tennessee, a non-partisan teacher association located in Nashville.
The city Industrial Development Board on Monday voted to keep the ball rolling that could lead to a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district for Northgate Mall.

The proposal, that would involve the replacement of the aging sewer and water system at the mall, still has to go to an Application Review Committee, the County Commission and the City Council.

It would be a $15 million, 20-year TIF, though Jon Meshel of mall owner CBL & Associates said it is hoped to pay off the construction costs much sooner.

He said CBL would do the work upfront and "take the risk," then have the amount spent repaid later by property and sales taxes from new business at the mall and on adjacent parcels. The current baseline taxes would not be affected, it was stated.

The completed sewer system would be taken over by the city, and the water line would go to Hixson Utility District.

The TIF would rely on $5 million in increased property taxes and $10 million in increased sales taxes.

The work would be carried out from Jan. 1, 2027, to Jan. 1, 2028.

Attorney Betsy Knotts of Bass, Berry and Sims, said the firm is finalizing a legal opinion that will say there is no legal problem with the use of sales tax proceeds. She said that has been done on other mall TIFs in Tennessee.

She said Water Street Public Finance would be giving a third-party view of the deal. Then a seven-member Application Review Committee would examine it at a meeting on Oct. 20 at 9:30 a.m. at City Hall. It will include two members each named by the IDB, the city and the mayor as well as one from the Chamber of Commerce. The IDB members will be Jim Floyd and Nadia Kain.

Attorney Knotts said the Nashville-based firm is working for the city, but that its costs would be paid by the mall owners.

Cherita Allen, of city economic development, said the mall, which opened in 1972, is in danger of failing without the TIF help. She said the value of the mall has dropped from $50 million in 2017 to $28 million in 2024.

She said property taxes peaked at $1.1 million in 2017, but were $575,274 last year.

Brent Goldberg, newest member of the IDB, asked if the ring road at the mall would be included in the project, while noting that sewer pipes go under it. Mr. Meshel said there is an issue on if the road is wide enough to be accepted by the city. He said the mall "would love to have the city take it over." Mr. Goldberg said the City Council could waive the width requirement.

The IDB elected new officers with the departure of Chairman Kerry Hayes, who has moved to Nashville.That role will be taken by Althea Jones. Gordon Parker becomes vice chair, Mr. Floyd secetary, and Ms. Kain, assistant secretary.
Officials of the Centerstone mental health group said Monday they plan to submit a proposal to resume mental health services for the Hamilton County Schools.

The school board narrowly voted recently to drop the agreement with Centerstone. At a later board meeting, in which a number of speakers advocated the return of Centerstone and others praised the board vote, a majority of the board again declined to reverse the earlier vote. Afterward, county school officials said an RFP would go out for the provision of mental health services.

Cornerstone officials said in a video news conference with Chattanooga media, "Cornerstone held a memorandum of understanding to provide school-based behavioral health services in Hamilton County for more than a decade. The MOU that puts these professional counselors and therapists in schools has been terminated by the Hamilton County Board of Education, removing Centerstone school-based services from 50 schools and impacting thousands of students.

"As discussions have continued around Centerstone's MOU with the Hamilton County Board of Education, both the spirit and the letter of the agreement have been the subject of misinformation and claims that are simply outrageous and egregious in nature.It is imperative that we address any misinformation, hearsay, and conjecture by providing the public with the facts and the reasoning behind school-based behavioral health care in Hamilton County, Tennessee.

"Centerstone involves parents and guardians in every child's treatment process.ome individuals in Hamilton County have stated publicly that Centerstone does not involve parents in their child's school-based behavioral health services, and these statements are simply untrue.

"We believe parents and guardians are central to the process of providing mental health care to students. Written parental consent is an imperative first step.

"Prior to any minor receiving services with Centerstone.Parents and guardians also review, discuss, and sign the written versions of the care plan, ensuring full transparency and collaboration with the Centerstone provider.

"The only caveat to this situation is with students of ages 16 and older, that per Tennessee Code 33-8-202 have the same rights as adults with respect to outpatient mental health treatment. However, even under this mature minor law, Centerstone advocates for parents and guardians to participate within the course of treatment for all age groups.

"In addition, we support parent-guardian rights to access and review all health records of their children. We believe children and families need care, and we are going to stand up for that mission and that purpose.

"Mental healthcare is for everyone. Behavioral healthcare is not political. Centerstone provides therapy and counseling to its clients, regardless of their background, and has enjoyed bipartisan support for its efforts from Tennessee's government leaders at the national, state, and local levels for decades.Therapy helps kids feel empowered.

"Concerns have been raised that therapy somehow disempowers children or creates obstacles to development. Rather, therapy helps our clients build resiliency as they develop skills necessary to process and cope with challenges of life.

"Stronger and more resilient people can build a stronger, more resilient nation where help is recognized as a human need.Centerstone providers are carefully vetted and undergo background checks.

"Members of the public and the Hamilton County Board of Education commented that they don't know who Centerstone school-based care providers are, and that they do not know what background checks Centerstone completes. Centerstone upholds incredibly high standards for background checking and placing in school-based therapists.

"All Centerstone school-based therapists are master's-level educated, fully background checked, and even fingerprinted per the request of the school system. Our therapists are held to the highest standards of professional and ethical conduct.If our partners in education would like to do more to evaluate or screen Centerstone team members, we can accommodate such a request.

"Therapy does not promote any particular ideology. Our mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based mental health and substance use services to anyone in need, regardless of their individual background, identity, or circumstances.

"There have been claims of inappropriate LGBTQ content on our website, and we are here to set the record straight.Some of our website content is tied to past grant-funded programs operated under guidance from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA.

"From time to time, content from programs we no longer operate may remain on our site. While those specific programs may have ended, the pages sometimes remain visible through search engines, cached results, or external links.This website content is not used or distributed as part of our school-based therapy services.

"Additionally, we actively review and update our website to ensure all materials reflect Centerstone's mission of safe, evidence-based care, and feedback from the community helps us identify and remove outdated or inappropriate content quickly.

"Further, Centerstone's clinical team members follow strict professional and ethical guidelines, and any inappropriate content is never shared with children, teens, or families that we serve. We believe these ethics align with the values of the Hamilton County School System and its belief that every student belongs.

"Centerstone is willing to take part in a competitive bidding process. As the Hamilton County Board of Education has now produced a request for proposals, or a request for qualifications for school-based behavioral health care services, Centerstone will participate in that application process.

"Centerstone employs some of Tennessee's most qualified and competent care providers who use the industry's best evidence-based practices to provide individualized care to all of its clients. We are happy to put our qualifications and our capabilities through a test in an RFP or RFQ process.

"Therapy is not allied with any religious group. While we cannot engage in faith-based practices in public schools, our providers are sensitive to each client's religious views and values.

"Hamilton County puts $23 million towards mental health in schools. We think that's phenomenal. With that $23 million, and the $0 we bill to the school district for our services, the cost to Hamilton County's budget for mental health services remains $23 million.

"We are not here to take over or to take public interest into the private sector. We work with our educational partners to provide more comprehensive services to children in schools. Our efforts supplement and do not detract from the work that school district employees are doing.

"Therapy does not disrupt core learning classes. Centerstone school-based therapy sessions are scheduled to avoid disruption of core academic instruction, such as math, reading, and even required physical education or exercise time. Datas show that students in school-based therapy have better attendance, stronger test scores, and improved social skills.

"Students who receive school-based therapy also have lower rates of suspension due to behavioral problems. For anyone who is struggling with their mental health, please know that you are valued, and help is available. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24-7, 365 for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis, and Centerstone's phone lines remain open at 877-HOPE,123 for anyone who is interested in our services, including the families of Hamilton County who have had the choice of participating in school-based therapy services eliminated without their approval.

"To file any compliments or concerns, Centerstone can be reached at 888-463-6705, or 615-463-6655."
This year Chattanoogas beloved community tradition marks a milestone - the 10th Anniversary of Gratefull! Area residents and visitors are invited to join the celebration of a decade of shared meals and fellowship at this citywide Thanksgiving luncheon.On Thursday, Nov. 20, from 11:30 a.m.1:30 p.m., the middle of the 200 block of East Martin Luther King Boulevard will transform into one long table where everyone is welcome to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal - free of charge.Officials said, "Gratefull began in Chattanooga in 2014 and, over the past 10 years, has grown into the citys most culturally diverse and inclusive Thanksgiving event."Each year during the week leading up to Thanksgiving, cities across the country close a street to host their own Gratefull meal, bringing strangers and friends together to share a table, build understanding, and strengthen community ties."The concept of Gratefull has spread beyond Chattanooga to cities throughout the Southeast, including Milan, Nashville, Huntsville and Dalton."For those who wish to give back, luncheon attendees are encouraged to bring supplies to benefit The Maclellan Shelter for Families. Needed items include nonperishable food, coffee supplies, disposable plates and silverware, toothpaste, diapers and laundry supplies. Collection bins will be available onsite.Hundreds of volunteers are needed to make this 10th Anniversary event possible. To sign up as a volunteer, visit www.ihelpchattanooga.org. To learn more about sponsorship or support opportunities, contact Dawn Hjelseth at dawn@rivercitycompany.com, or call 423-265-3700.
A Chattanooga man has been sentenced to serve five years in Georgia state prison followed by 25 years of probation in a fentanyl trafficking case.

Afterward, District Attorney Clayton Fuller of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit vowed "to keep Tennessee trash behind bars."

A Catoosa County jury convicted Ladarius Nollie, 35, in a one-day trial that was held before Chief Superior Court Judge Brian House, who also set the sentence.



On Jan. 8, Catoosa County detectives responded to an anonymous tip that Nollie was at the Econo Lodge motel in Fort Oglethorpe, and had active warrants through Walker and Hamilton counties.

Detectives located Nollie inside a motel room with two women - a mother and her adult daughter.Upon entering to arrest Nollie on his outstanding warrants, detectives observed methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in plain view. A further search of the room revealed a large bag of powdered fentanyl hidden under the mattress, weighing just under 10 grams.Evidence at trial established that Nollie had rented the motel room and brought the drugs himself.Testimony further showed that Nollie provided the narcotics to the mother and adult daughter in exchange for sexual acts. Video evidence played for the jury captured Nollie asking one of the women whether she thought the detectives would search under the bed, and then remarking, They aint going to find it.The case was investigated by Detectives Zach Roden and Chris Lyons of the Catoosa County Sheriffs Office. The trial was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney David Wolfe, with support from Victim Witness Advocate Ashley Nicholson and District Attorneys Investigator Christy Smith.District Attorney Fuller praised the coordinated effort that brought the case to justice. He said, This verdict was delivered because of the strength and dedication of our law enforcement and our trial team. I want to thank Assistant District Attorney David Wolfe and his team for standing strong in the courtroom, and Sheriff Gary Sisk and his team for their tireless work to keep Catoosa County safe from fentanyl.

"This defendant not only trafficked poison into our community, he preyed on vulnerable women. We asked for a stiffer sentence, but thats okay - because if you think crossing the state line to traffic fentanyl, here is a free pass, think again. Stay in Tennessee.

"Tennessee trash who bring their poison to Catoosa County will get an all-expenses-paid trip to one of Georgias finest institutional resorts - behind bars. Thats my promise to the people of this circuit and the Chattanooga region."
A team of scientists led by the Paul Drude Institute for Solid State Electronics (PDI) in Berlin has cracked open the black box of precursor chemistry, revealingfor the first timethe hidden reaction pathways of a key compound used in the growth of complex oxides. Their predictive framework shifts synthesis from trial and error to a controllable, transparent process, paving the way for faster, more precise, and cost-effective manufacturing of advanced thin films.

From Guesswork to Predictive Control: Decoding Metal-Organic Precursor Chemistry PDI / npj Comput. Mater.

Metal-organic (MO) precursors are the chemical building blocks at the heart of atomically precise complex oxide materials. Yet in vapor-phase deposition techniques like MOCVD, ALD, and hybrid-MBE, they have long been treated as a black boxtheir reactions poorly understood and often dismissed as just another knob to tweak.

A new study, recently accepted for publication in npj Computational Materials, changes that. By combining computationally intensive quantum mechanics with the efficiency of ReaxFF, and metadynamics, researchers mapped the complete reaction landscape of titanium isopropoxide (TTIP), a common precursor for complex oxide growth. The team revealed hidden steps, potential roadblocks, and byproduct pathways, transforming MO precursor chemistry into a more predictable and controllable process.

Metal-organic precursors are the workhorses of complex oxide growth, said lead author Nadire Nayir, head of PDIs Computational Materials Science group. Understanding their reaction pathways allows precise element incorporation, lowers evaporation temperatures, and improves control over material composition and stoichiometry. Yet the real challenge, she explained, lies in the reactions complexity. Molecules branch into multiple pathssome yield useful products, others end in metastable byproducts or dead-ends. These can slow or even trap the process. For decades, chemists struggled to predict which pathways would succeed.

Nayir underscored the dedication of the teams talented and self-driven PhD studentsBenazir Yalcin Fazlioglu (co-advised by Roman Engel-Herbert and Adri van Duin) and Cem Sanga (advised by Nayir)for tackling this challenge. The team efforts led to the development of a multiphysics framework that  unlike previous models  bridges thermodynamic driving forces and kinetic constraints, enabling reliable predictions in complex systems beyond the reach of equilibrium models. This strategy lets us understand and eventually control reactions that were previously opaque, Nayir said. As Harald Schafer noted 50 years ago, without knowledge of reaction pathways, one cannot control or exploit them. Now, we can anticipate reaction outcomes and refine our models in real time.

Collaboration was key: simulations were led at PDI with contributions from Penn State and Istanbul Technical University. One of the most exciting parts of this project was the constant dialogue with experimentalists, which was vital in shaping and refining our model she added, crediting Roman Engel-Herbert, PDIs director and leading the h-MBE experimental efforts, for his invaluable discussions and guidance.

Engel-Herbert emphasized the impact of this collaboration: Before this work, the process was somewhat of a black box. Working closely with the simulation team allowed us to think about our experiments differently. Now, we can see the reaction landscape, including metastable intermediates and dead-end pathways, which helps us design smarter synthesis strategies. He continued This project highlights the power of dialogue between theory and experiment, enabling us to see problems through each others eyes.

The project also nurtured young talent. Through PDIs outreach efforts, Physics undergraduate Irem Erpay from Istanbul Technical University made meaningful contributions to the research, showing that high-impact science isnt limited to PhD-level work.
Sarah Mullally, the first woman to be named Archbishop of Canterbury in the history of the Church of England. | Photo Credit: Facebook/ Archbishop of Canterbury

Gafcon, a worldwide Anglican movement, has voiced strong criticism following the appointment of Dame Sarah Mullally as the first female archbishop of Canterbury.

Gafcon leaders criticized Mullallys support for introducing prayers of blessing for same-sex marriages and her 2023 comment suggesting that some same-sex relationships could be blessed, asserting that these actions demonstrated she had failed to uphold her consecration vows.

The Most Rev. Laurent Mbanda, chairman of the Gafcon Primates Council, stated in a message to the Gafcon community on October 3 that the Church of England had chosen a leader who will further divide an already split Communion.

Due to the failure of successive Archbishops of Canterbury to guard the faith, the office can no longer function as a credible leader of Anglicans, let alone a focus of unity, he continued. As we made clear in our Kigali Commitment of 2023, we can no longer recognize the Archbishop of Canterbury as an Instrument of Communion or the first among equals of global Primates.

While some may see Mullallys appointment as a historic milestone for women in church leadership, Mbanda emphasized that many Anglicans still believe that episcopal leadership should be reserved for men.

He expressed concern that Mullallys actions indicate a failure to uphold her vows, stating, When she was consecrated in 2015, she took an oath to banish and drive away all strange and erroneous doctrine contrary to Gods Word, and added, And yet, far from banishing such doctrine, Bishop Mullally has repeatedly promoted unbiblical and revisionist teachings regarding marriage and sexual morality.

He pointed to her 2023 remarks, when asked whether sexual intimacy in a same-sex relationship is sinful, in which she said that some such relationships could be blessed, and noted that she also voted in favor of blessing same-sex marriages within the Church of England.

Anglicans believe that the church has been given authority by God to establish rites and ceremonies and to settle doctrine controversy, and yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to Gods Word (Article XX), Mbanda explained. The church cannot bless or affirm what God has condemned (Numbers 23:8; 24:13). This, however, is precisely what Bishop Mullally has sought to allow.

According to Mbanda, since the new Archbishop of Canterbury has failed to guard the faith and has been complicit in introducing practices and beliefs that violate both the plain and canonical sense of Scripture and the Churchs historic and consensual interpretation of it (Jerusalem Statement), she cannot provide leadership to the Anglican Communion.

He added, The leadership of the Anglican Communion will pass to those who uphold the truth of the gospel and the authority of Scripture in all areas of life.

Mbanda recalled that Gafcon first convened in Jerusalem in 2008 to restore the Anglican Communion to biblical foundations.

He stated that Mullallys appointment indicates that Canterbury has surrendered its authority to lead, leaving Gafcon to take responsibility for guiding the Communion forward.

Gafcon has scheduled a major gathering of orthodox Anglican bishops in Abuja, Nigeria, from March 3-6, 2026, called the G26 Bishops Assembly, to discuss these issues, which is expected to be the most significant gathering of faithful Anglicans since 2008, according to Gafcon.
Home News Archbishop blasts UN, member states for turning blind eye to Christian persecution

Christians are being violently persecuted across the globe while world governments and international bodies continue to ignore the crisis, said a top Vatican diplomat, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, accusing the United Nations and its member states of failing to respond to what he described as the worlds most severe and widespread religious persecution.

Archbishop Gallagher, the Holy Sees secretary for relations with states, told the U.N. General Assembly last week that more than 360 million Christians live in places where they face high levels of discrimination and violence, according to Catholic News Agency.

He said the attacks have increased in recent years and include destruction of churches, imprisonment, forced displacement and killings.

The data show that Christians are the most persecuted religious group worldwide, Gallagher said. Yet the international community seems to be turning a blind eye to their plight. He also criticized the erosion of religious freedom more broadly, calling it one of the most urgent threats to peace.

In his remarks, Gallagher linked the persecution of Christians to a larger failure by global institutions to uphold the right to religious belief and expression. He said true religious freedom must allow individuals and communities to practice and profess their faith publicly and privately, without obstruction.

He also condemned what he described as a culture of death promoted through abortion and euthanasia, and called on nations to defend life from conception to natural death. The right to life, he said, is a fundamental prerequisite for the exercise of all other rights.

Gallagher also warned against the growing use of surrogate motherhood, calling it a violation of the dignity of women and children. The Holy See, he said, was renewing its call for an international ban on the practice, Vatican News reported.

Throughout his speech, the archbishop framed the global neglect of Christian persecution as part of a broader moral collapse, where economic and political interests have replaced basic human rights. He cited a range of crises, including poverty, armed conflict, climate change and systemic inequality, which he said continue to erode dignity and stability.

He called for the cancellation of debts owed by the poorest countries, arguing that these obligations trap nations in poverty and should be forgiven as a matter of justice. He urged a global recommitment to human development policies that place individuals at the center of economic planning.

Last month, Bill Maher, host of the long-running HBO show Real Time, criticized American media and public discourse for ignoring the large-scale killings of Christians in Nigeria.

They are literally attempting to wipe out the Christian population of an entire country, Maher said, referring to attacks by Islamist terror group Boko Haram. If you dont know whats going on in Nigeria, your media sources suck.

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who was on Mahers panel, praised him for raising the issue and criticized what she said was a lack of media coverage.

Maher noted that since 2009, over 100,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria and 18,000 churches burned.

Gallagher also addressed numerous global hotspots and conflicts, including Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Syria. He reiterated Pope Leo XIVs call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and denounced attacks that violate international humanitarian law.

The Holy Sees representative argued that global peace cannot be achieved through power politics or military escalation, and instead urged nations to invest in diplomacy, disarmament and development. He proposed that a fraction of global military spending be redirected to eradicating poverty, hunger and climate degradation.

He also addressed the need to reform the U.N. and return to the core principles of the 1945 Charter, saying the current multilateral system suffers from a crisis of credibility. The U.N., he asserted, must avoid being diluted by new ideologies and instead focus on the original aims of peace, justice and respect for law.

Pope Leo XIV has also called on the U.N. to be a forum for moral clarity and collective action, not a platform for ideological power struggles.

Gallagher warned the U.N. body that silence and inaction in the face of such violence amounts to complicity. He said freedom of religion is not just the absence of persecution, but the ability to live ones faith fully and without fear.

The archbishop closed his address by urging world governments to prioritize the protection of the most vulnerable, including those targeted for their beliefs and to reject policies that reduce people to economic units or political pawns. He described the poor as potential builders of a more humane future.
Home News Open morgue: Christian groups call for safe passage of civilians trapped in Sudans North Darfur

At least 260,000 civilians remain trapped in Sudans El Fasher city, the last government stronghold in Darfur, amid reports of indiscriminate shelling, mass killings and the occupation of churches by fighters. Christian groups are calling for the immediate creation of evacuation corridors and safe passage for those surrounded by the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF.

The appeal comes after what activists have described as a brutal attack in which an RSF drone strike killed 15 people and injured 12 others at a crowded market in El Fasher on Tuesday. The Resistance Committees in the city said the market bombing followed a string of killings meant to bring the city to its knees and break the will of its residents, France 24 reported.

The groups' urgent call for action was issued just days before Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known by the name Ali Kushayb, attended his verdict hearing Monday at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where the Sudanese militia chief was convicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during brutal attacks in Darfur. The ICC found Abd-Al-Rahman guilty of several crimes, including rape, murder and torture committed between August 2003 and April 2004.

On the Friday prior to the drone strike, the RSF shelled the city with heavy artillery, targeting residential areas, markets, hospitals and displaced persons shelters.

El Fasher has become an open morgue today due to the continuous heavy artillery shelling since dawn, the El Fasher Resistance Committees Coordination said in a Facebook post, calling the strikes violent and indiscriminate.

Amid escalating violence, more than 100 Christian groups and humanitarian organizations have jointly called for safe, voluntary and dignified passage for civilians in El Fasher, where the siege has lasted 17 months, according to the U.K.-based group Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

The RSF is accused of blocking exits, erecting walls at the edge of the city, and targeting men and boys attempting to flee.

El Fasher has become the main battleground between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, in Darfur and is the last city in the region not under RSF control. The siege has persisted despite a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding its removal.

In April, RSF forces took over the nearby Abu Souk and Zamzam camps, which housed more than 700,000 displaced people, and converted both into military bases.

Between May and September, RSF shelling struck the Sudan Episcopal Church in El Fasher six times, killing two people sheltering inside during a strike on Sept. 5 and injuring five others. Seven people remain missing following that incident, according to CSW.

The RSF advanced into the northwest of El Fasher on Sept. 16, entering both the Abu Souk camp and the al-Nasir neighborhood. The Christian community evacuated from the last two churches where they had been sheltering.

Reports indicate the RSF are now occupying the Pentecostal and Episcopal churches, using them to deploy troops and position snipers.

On Sept. 17, RSF fighters attacked a mosque near the Abu Souk camp, killing at least 70 people, including three medical personnel.

The U.N. Human Rights Office has warned that civilians face impossible choices with no safe exit from the city. They can either remain and risk death by bombardment and starvation or flee and face the threat of execution, sexual violence or abduction, CSW noted.

From outside the city, U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator Denise Brown described the immense difficulty of reaching the area.

Speaking from Tawila, about 31 miles from El Fasher, she said her team had to travel through three countries and use three airplanes, followed by a three-day drive to bypass frontlines. Tawila now hosts around 600,000 displaced people, mostly from El Fasher, U.N. News reported.

Brown called the region one of the epicenters of a humanitarian catastrophe.

Across Sudan, over 12 million people have been displaced in what is now the worlds largest displacement crisis. Brown warned of deteriorating conditions in camps where access to clean water, sanitation, and food remains scarce. Diseases such as cholera, dengue fever and malnutrition are spreading rapidly.

Brown also mentioned widespread reports of conflict-related sexual violence, including rape, gang rape and sexual slavery.

Aid convoys carrying food and medical supplies have been stalled for months. Roads are blocked by mines and unexploded ordnance, and at least 120 aid workers have been killed since the war began in April 2023.

Sudans $4.2 billion humanitarian response plan remains only 25% funded, leaving frontline workers without resources.

Since the start of the civil war between the RSF and the military, at least 40,000 people have been killed, and more than 24 million are now acutely food insecure.

A joint appeal by local and international NGOs this week urged world powers to take urgent steps to prevent further massacres and to ensure aid access into El Fasher.

The World Health Organization said last week that Sudans cholera outbreak, initially declared in July last year, has now spread to all 18 states. More than 3,000 people have died of the disease in the past 14 months.
Home News King Charles awards Mission Aviation Fellowship with 50th Anniversary Medal for 8 decades of service

King Charles has decorated a pair of British expats for their service with Mission Aviation Fellowship.

Siobhain Cole and Dominic Sant were awarded The Kings 50th Anniversary Medal, which marks the jubilee of Papua New Guineas independence from Australia.

The MAF has run humanitarian aid flights in Papua New Guinea (PNG) since 1951.

The award is meant for those who have made significant contributions to the country during its five decades of independence.

Cole was presented with her medal by the Honourable Tony Wouwou, governor of Papua New Guinea, and Solan Mirisim, Telefomin District Member.

She grew up in Lincoln and after seven years in the RAF, joined MAF in 2014 as ground operations manager based in Telefomin.

It was a great honour to receive this medal, but we feel very strongly that it reflects MAFs aviation service over the past seven decades  we are just the ones who are here now," she said.

"Its very much a team effort and this award is for all the MAF staff in PNG who have worked throughout the years to serve the isolated people of this country.

Sant began work as an engine fitter for Rolls-Royce, but in 2022 moved his family from Leeds to the Western Highland Province of Papua New Guinea, where he serves as country director.

He previously met the King in April of this year when His Majesty launched a new MAF aircraft at RAF Northolt to mark the charitys 80th anniversary.

Commenting on his award, Sant said, Its a great honour that MAF has been acknowledged by His Majesty King Charles  not only through this special medal, but also in personally commissioning an aircraft to serve the people of PNG earlier this year. This aircraft, entrusted to MAF  is not just a machine  its a lifeline, a bridge between isolation and connection.

This medal is not just an accolade  its a recognition of many airmen and women who have dedicated their lives to reach isolated communities. Im proud to receive it on behalf of Harry Hartwig  MAFs first pilot in PNG  and hundreds of inspiring men and women who have loved and served this country through MAFs air service ever since.

The Honourable Solan Mirisim, who was formerly a MAF Traffic Officer, thanked the organization for its contribution to his country.

For MAF to receive a kings award on PNGs Independence Day marks that MAF has been here to provide services to the communities around Telefomin District," he said.

"MAF is a lifeline to [our] people, and we need the MAF family to stay with us because communities rely on [MAF aircraft] to travel safely.

This article was originally published at Christian Today
Home News Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship founder Tony Evans is restored to ministry after discipline for undisclosed sin

Elders at the 11,000-member Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church in Dallas, Texas, announced Sunday that while founder Pastor Tony Evans has been restored to ministry after stepping down more than a year ago due to a sin that was not publicly disclosed, he won't be returning to a staff position or any leadership role.

Dr. Evans acknowledged in a public statement falling short of God's standard and a need to submit to the church's discipline and restoration process. We are pleased to report that Dr. Evans has fully submitted to the church's discipline and restoration process, Chris Wheel, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowships associate pastor of outreach, told the congregation on Sunday.

Wheel said Evans' 12-month restoration program included counseling with outside non-staff professionals and pastoral mentoring, along with stepping away from pulpit ministry. He said elders were satisfied that Evans demonstrated evidence of genuine repentance and godly sorrow, along with humility and a renewed desire to honor God.

In alignment with biblical principles and unanimous affirmation of the elder board, Dr. Evans has successfully completed this restoration journey, Wheel said. While he will not be returning in a staff nor leadership role at OCBF, we joyfully look forward to seeing how God uses Dr. Evans' gifts and calling to proclaim the truth of Scripture with clarity and conviction for the strengthening of the body of Christ.

In June 2024, after 48 years of leading his church, Evans, 75, revealed he fell short of biblical standards a number of years prior, and his failure was serious enough to warrant stepping away from his ministry. Though he did not reveal what the sin was, he was quick to point out that he had not violated secular laws.

"The foundation of our ministry has always been our commitment to the Word of God as the absolute supreme standard of truth to which we are to conform our lives. When we fall short of that standard due to sin, we are required to repent and restore our relationship with God," Evans said in his confession.

"A number of years ago, I fell short of that standard. I am, therefore, required to apply the same biblical standard of repentance and restoration to myself that I have applied to others. I have shared this with my wife, my children, and our church elders, and they have lovingly placed their arms of grace around me," he said. "While I have committed no crime, I did not use righteous judgment in my actions. In light of this, I am stepping away from my pastoral duties and am submitting to a healing and restoration process established by the elders."

It remains unclear if elders and Evans family were told the exact nature of his sin. Evans son, the Rev. Jonathan Evans, who is expected to be formally confirmed as the megachurchs new lead pastor soon, said his father only confessed to his family that he had fallen short a few days before sharing it with the church, and he did not share any more than what was disclosed to the church.

Three days [before the public confession], my dad would call us [his family] and tell us the exact same thing he told you. No more. No less. Jonathan Evans said during a Fathers Day sermon in 2024.

Oak Cliff Bible Church also did not reveal any additional details about the nature of Evans sin.

Wheel cited Lamentations 3:22-23 and Galatians 6:1 as the Scriptures that were used to create the framework for Evans discipline.

Keep watch on yourself lest you too be tempted. Restoration when pursued with gentleness and self-awareness reflects the very character of Christ and safeguards the health of the entire church body. In keeping with this biblical framework, the elder board exercised deliberate and prayerful discretion regarding the timing, the manner of disclosing specific details throughout the restoration process, he said.

This was not done to conceal wrongdoing, but rather to uphold the integrity of the process, to protect the dignity of all involved, and prevent unnecessary speculation or sensationalism. Our desire has always been to handle this matter in a way that honors both truth and love [during] Dr. Evans discipline and restoration process.

After the church elders prayed over him and took communion to mark his restoration, Evans also sat with his son for a Q&A, during which his son told him, Man, Im proud of you.

It's one thing to watch you preach the Word. It's another thing to watch you live under its authority even when it hurts, Jonathan Evans declared to his father.

Evans then revealed that his restoration felt bittersweet because of everything that he had to go through.

It's certainly bitter when you've done something for 48 years every day, every week, and then youre no longer doing it. And it's your fault. And that creates a wound in your soul. A wound in the soul that's not easily [healed], he explained. And so, I have felt the angst of that, the pain of that, the struggle of that. But I also understand that when you go through something, you have to relate to God in a deeper place. You have to experience him in a deeper way.

He further explained that the church created a restoration policy to help members and leaders when they fall see church as a hospital of restoration and not just a place where you go.

It's one thing to see a sign that says emergency room. It's another thing to have doctors and nurses and medicine on call when you needed to go there. And so, that was instituted. And over these many years, many people have come through this process. So when it came my turn, I could not apply to others what I was unwilling to apply to myself, Evans said.

I had to submit to the very process I helped to install and say, you know what  I need to apply the Word to me as I applied it to everybody else along the way. Because if we're going to be a Bible church, that just can't be a name. You got to come underneath the Bible and underneath the prescribed governance, which are the elders in this case of the local church, he added.

Evans noted that while church discipline was difficult, he was comforted by the fact that his children did not lose their faith because of his sin, and his son would be continuing his legacy.

Knowing that there was not just going to be an empty seat but a new chair and that you would be sitting in it made losing my chair durable, manageable, because I know who's in that chair, he told the new Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship lead pastor.
Home News Supreme Court rejects churchs request for legal costs in COVID-19 lockdown case

The United States Supreme Court has denied a Kentucky churchs request for an appeal to allow it to be awarded legal costs after successfully challenging the states COVID-19 pandemic lockdown rules.

In an orders list released Monday, the Supreme Court declined without comment to hear oral arguments in the case of Maryville Baptist Church et al. v. Beshear, Gov. of Kentucky.

At issue was whether Maryville Baptist Church was entitled to attorneys fees and other costs related to their successful litigation against Beshear over COVID-19 restrictions.

In April 2020, as some state governors issued lockdown measures for churches and other gatherings, three members of MBC filed a complaint against Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear.

According to the lawsuit, the three plaintiffs had attended a drive-in service on Easter Sunday wearing facemasks and avoiding personal contact with others. Despite these measures, the attendees received notices on their cars from Kentucky State Troopers saying their license plate numbers had been recorded and they were expected to undergo a 14-day quarantine.

The lawsuit had argued that state and local officials went too far in preventing mass gatherings at the church and were acting beyond the limits the Constitution permits.

Soon after the lawsuit was filed, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit unanimously ruled in favor of the church and its pastor, Jack Roberts.

"Assuming all of the same precautions are taken, why is it safe to wait in a car for a liquor store to open but dangerous to wait in a car to hear morning prayers?" the panel opinion said.

"The Governor has offered no good reason so far for refusing to trust the congregants who promise to use care in worship in just the same way it trusts accountants, lawyers, and laundromat workers to do the same."

Although the church and its members were given permanent injunctions and Beshear rescinded the restrictions, the church and its legal representatives did not receive any award for costs.

A district court denied them the status of a prevailing party and thus being eligible for compensation due to the case being considered moot over the lifting of the restrictions.

In March, another three-judge panel from the Sixth Circuit issued a unanimous opinion rejecting the churchs claims, with Chief Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton, a George W. Bush appointee, authoring the ruling.

Any ongoing relief the Church enjoys at this point comes from the Governors revised orders and later legislation by the General Assembly, not from a federal courts orders, wrote Sutton.

Because the Church gained only preliminary injunctive relief before this action became moot, it does not qualify as a prevailing party eligible for attorneys fees.
Home News Trump calls on Democrat Va. AG nominee Jay Jones to resign over violent text messages

President Donald Trump has called on Jay Jones, a Democrat nominee for Virginia attorney general, to drop out of the race over disturbing text messages he sent in 2022 that recently came to light.

Jones, a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, is running against Republican Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, with the election slated for Nov. 4.

Recently, Jones has garnered national attention for text messages he sent back in 2022 in which he joked about having a fantasy of shooting to death a Republican political opponent.

In a post on Sunday to his social media site Truth Social, Trump called Jones a Radical Left Lunatic and denounced the SICK and DEMENTED jokes made by the Democratic candidate.

Democrat Jay Jones should drop out of the Race, IMMEDIATELY, and the People of Virginia must continue to have a GREAT Attorney General in Jason Miyares who, by the way, has my Complete and Total Endorsement, Trump wrote.

Vice President JD Vance also weighed in on the Jones text message controversy, taking to his official X account to declare that this very deranged person should drop out of the race.

Last Friday, the National Review reported on a series of text messages Jones sent in 2022 to Republican House Delegate Carrie Coyner shortly after he resigned from office.

In the text messages, Jones talked about Virginia Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert, stating that if he had Gilbert in the same room as Adolf Hitler and Pol Pot and had only two bullets in a gun, he would shoot Gilbert with both bullets.

Three people, two bullets  Gilbert, hitler, and pol pot  Gilbert gets two bullets to the head, Jones texted. Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time.

Coyner had asked Jones to stop, adding that It really bothers me when you talk about hurting people or wishing death on them.

Jones comments sparked outrage from many Republican officials who have called on him to resign. He has also been criticized by Democrats for his rhetoric, including Democrat gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger.

After learning of these comments [on Friday], I spoke frankly with Jay about my disgust with what he had said and texted, stated Spanberger, who did not call for him to drop out.

I made clear to Jay that he must fully take responsibility for his words. What I have also made clear is that as a candidate  and as the next Governor of our Commonwealth, I will always condemn violent language in our politics.

For his part, Jones issued a statement shared by ABC News affiliate 8News in which he apologized to Gilbert and his family for the remarks he made at the time.

Reading back those words made me sick to my stomach. I am embarrassed, ashamed and sorry, stated Jones. I cannot take back what I said; I can only take full accountability and offer my sincere apology.

Virginians deserve honest leaders who admit when they are wrong and own up to their mistakes. This was a grave mistake and I will work every day to prove to the people of Virginia that I will fight for them as Attorney General.

While Jones comments have been denounced by elected officials from both parties, Jones has expressed no intention of dropping out of the race for attorney general.
Home News Trump lauds 'very positive discussions on peace plan despite Hamas not agreeing to all points Hamas has agreed to 3 points of Trumps 20-point plan ahead of meetings in Cairo

Despite Hamas not agreeing completely to U.S. President Donald Trumps 20-point Gaza peace plan, the president said Sunday that very positive discussions had occurred between Hamas and Arab and Muslim countries.

There have been very positive discussions with Hamas, and Countries from all over the World (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) this weekend, to release the Hostages, end the War in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have long sought PEACE in the Middle East, Trump wrote to his Truth Social platform.

This statement echoed comments he made to reporters before attending the 250th anniversary celebration of the U.S. Navy, where he said that countries surrounding Israel had some very good meetings with Hamas and suggested the hostages could be released very quickly.

I think its going to go very quickly. Well let you know soon, Trump said.

The reporters could be heard asking President Trump about the deadline he had set for Hamas, a point which the president did not respond to.

On Oct. 4, President Trump posted a note to Truth saying, I appreciate that Israel has temporarily stopped the bombing in order to give the Hostage release and Peace Deal a chance to be completed. Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off. I will not tolerate delay, which many think will happen, or any outcome where Gaza poses a threat again.

President Trump also posted a longer message to Truth Social, in which he called Hamas a ruthless and violent threat to the Middle East, while giving them a deadline of 6 p.m. EDT on Sunday to reach an agreement, threatening that all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas.

President Trump has previously threatened Hamas in similar ways, however, those deadlines have similarly passed without apparent consequence.

Meanwhile, Hamas senior official Khalil al-Hayya arrived in Cairo, Egypt, on Monday morning for meetings with mediators from Egypt and Qatar ahead of the indirect talks with Israeli negotiators.

Hamas has stated that it is willing to release the living hostages in one release, but claimed it will need time to locate the remains of the deceased hostages.

At the same time, senior Hamas political bureau official, Mahmoud al-Mardawi, denied reports that the group is willing to surrender its weapons, calling the claims fabricated and baseless.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aaty told Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat that the disarmament of Hamas is a "Palestinian issue that will be dealt with within the Palestinian framework.

Hamas has only agreed to three points of the Trump plan: the release of hostages in an exchange with Palestinian security prisoners, the surrender of administrative authority over Gaza, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops.

Meanwhile, Israel has said that it will not accept any agreement that leaves Hamas in power in Gaza.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, Hamas will be disarmed and the Strip demilitarized. This will happen either via a diplomatic route according to the Trump Plan  or via a military route by us.

This article was originally published at All Israel News
Home News UK lawmaker demands reinstatement of nurse suspended for misgendering convicted pedophile

A U.K. member of Parliament has called for the reinstatement of a nurse who was suspended for correctly using male pronouns for a convicted pedophile. The case involves allegations of religious discrimination, racial abuse and institutional bias within the National Health Service.

Claire Coutinho, the shadow equalities minister and Conservative MP for East Surrey, last week met with nurse Jennifer Melle at Westminster to discuss the disciplinary action taken against her, the conservative group Christian Concern reported.

Coutinho said she would write to the chief executive of the Epsom and St. Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, as well as to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), to advocate for Melles reinstatement and to question why she is under professional investigation.

Melle, 40, was suspended in April, a month after going public with her case, which originated from a 2024 incident involving a patient referred to as Mr X.

A male inmate convicted of child sex offenses, Mr X was transferred from a mens prison to a male hospital ward. While his medical records identified him as male, the name board next to his bed displayed a feminine name.

Melle, a senior nurse with over a decade of service in the NHS, used male pronouns to refer to the patient during a phone call with a doctor. The patient, who overheard the call, reportedly reacted by yelling, Do not call me Mr! I am a woman! before shouting racist words at Melle and physically lunging at her. He had to be restrained.

Despite the abuse, Melle said she continued to provide care and pain relief to the patient. She told hospital officials she could not refer to the patient as a woman due to her Christian beliefs, but was willing to use his chosen name. The hospital launched an internal investigation and issued her a final written warning, referred her to the NMC and redeployed her.

The NMC described Melle as a potential risk to the public for refusing to affirm the patients gender identity.

Melle has since filed a legal case against the NHS Trust alleging harassment, religious discrimination and human rights violations. Her case is being supported by the Christian Legal Centre, the legal arm of Christian Concern, and a full employment tribunal is expected to take place in 2026.

Melle remains suspended on full pay. She has also criticized the Royal College of Nursing for failing to assist her during what she called the most traumatic time of her life. A paying member at the time, she said the RCN declined to take up her case and instead told her to do a reflection to avoid similar situations.

Melle has since joined the Darlington Nursing Union, which sent a letter to Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressing concern. Streeting issued a statement condemning the racism directed at Melle but said he would not intervene in NHS gender identity policies or meet with her.

The Times reported that public figures, including author J.K. Rowling and Cabinet Minister Kemi Badenoch, have expressed support for Melle since the case became public.

In her first public comments following the meeting with Coutinho, Melle said she was deeply encouraged by the MPs willingness to engage. She said the last several months were emotionally and professionally overwhelming, adding that her Christian beliefs and integrity had been disregarded.

I havent done anything wrong. I spoke truthfully, I acted professionally, and I stood by my Christian beliefs. But it feels like theres no place for people like me in todays NHS, she said.

Melle also criticized institutional responses to her ordeal. Ive felt abandoned, not just by my employer, but by the very institutions that are supposed to protect nurses. The Royal College of Nursing and the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, has left me to face this alone. That betrayal cuts deep, she said.

Andrea Williams, Christian Legal Centres chief executive, said the NHS failed to protect Melles rights and chose contested gender-identity policies over biological reality.

She added, Jennifer has not been disciplined for any professional failing, but for speaking truthfully and acting according to her conscience.

Williams called Melles case a critical test of how freedom of belief and expression are treated within public institutions. She also claimed that some NHS Trusts are disregarding Supreme Court rulings on similar matters, which she described as unlawful.

The NHS Trust initially declined to investigate the racist abuse against Melle. It launched an inquiry into the incident only after significant national media attention, and Melle has not received a direct apology.

Melles suspension is part of a growing number of contentious disciplinary cases against NHS nurses involving gender identity disputes.
MAJOR UPDATE: A Fathers Fight Against Trans Medicalization Could Change Everything

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Get full access to CP Insider for just $4.99!This special launch offer is only available to the first 500 insiders, so act fast. Once the offer ends, the price will go up to a one-time fee of $9.99 for full access, so dont miss out! Secure Your Exclusive Access at: insider.christianpost.com

For those who dare to contend with gender ideologyespecially in the courtsthe process is long and often brutal. In this Season 5 bonus episode of Generation Indoctrination, host Brandon Showalter revisits the ongoing legal battle of Ted Hudacko, a California father who has been fighting for years after his teenage son was subjected to gender medicalization, despite a family court order explicitly prohibiting any gender-identity related surgery.

After a federal judge dismissed his case last year, Hudacko is now appealing to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, with oral arguments scheduled for October 8, 2025, at 9:30 AM (Pacific). This case could set a precedent on whether government doctors can conduct experimental medical procedures on minors without proper consent.

In this gripping update, Hudacko explains his legal arguments, the doctrine of qualified immunity, the denial of judicial notice regarding historical medical atrocities, and the broader implications for parental rights and medical ethics in America.

Watch the live Ninth Circuit hearing: https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/media/live-oral-arguments/
Trumps Religious Liberty Hearing, Pastor Robert Morris Sentenced, House Of David Season Two

link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 06:45 06:45

Top headlines for Monday, October 6, 2025

We break down five key takeaways from former President Trumps Religious Liberty Commission hearing, highlighting reports of hostility toward faith in schools. We also cover the sentencing of Gateway Church founder Robert Morris, who will serve six months in prison as part of a 10-year suspended sentence. Plus, we get a sneak peek at season two of the hit biblical drama House of David, as creator Jon Gunn shares how the series will explore Davids rise as a fearless warrior.

00:11 5 highlights from Trump's Religious Liberty Commission hearing

01:05 Robert Morris pleads guilty, sentenced for child sex abuse

01:55 Pastor says he was 'denied access' to interfaith chapel at DFW

02:42 Charlie Kirk's murder sparked 'revival': March for Life president

03:27 3 suspected Hamas terrorists arrested in Germany, planned attack

04:12 Virginia order bars males from competing in girls' sports

05:04 'House of David' creator: season 2 highlights David as warrior
Home Opinion A TikTok Rapture date prediction is wrong. Shockingly, no Jesus return

Im sure youve seen that a few weeks ago, someone appeared on TikTok claiming Jesus was going to return in the Rapture between September 23rd and 24th. Unfortunately, lots of people believed him.

Even though the Bible clearly says, But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone (Mark 13:32).

God took me to see the future and then he brought me back  On the 23rd and the 24th of September, 2025, I [Jesus] will come to take my church, proclaimed Joshua Mhlakela of South Africa. Scores of folks basically shut down their lives waiting for Jesus to arrive in September.

Even though the Bible clearly says, But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone (Mark 13:32).

September 23rd and 24th came and went, and  shockingly  no Jesus. Believers who got rid of their cars, quit school, and left their homes unlocked for those who arent Christians posted videos of their disappointment.

Even though the Bible clearly says (all together now), But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone (Mark 13:32).

John MacArthur used to say that whenever he preached on the Second Coming, although he would directly cite Mark 13:32 in the message, people would invariably come up to him afterwards and ask, So exactly when is Jesus going to return? Hed joke: It doesnt say no one knows the day or hour except John MacArthur.

If any of you out there is maintaining Christianitys official false prophet list, given the Bibles clarity on Rapture knowledge dates, Id like to propose that anyone claiming to know the day of Jesuss Rapture be instantly branded a false prophet and added to the list. We could also talk about bringing back the Old Testament penalty for being a false prophet (death), but that might be going a bit too far.

As an aside, have you ever wondered about the people making these predictions? Do you think they actually believe theyve gotten a vision from God and are like the one televangelist who claimed Jesus would visit him every night, sitting on the end of his bed while they talked, or are they lying to just get attention, money, etc.?

Your guess is as good as mine.

In any event, while we can joke a little bit about the lack of discernment on the part of those fooled by the latest fake Rapture prediction, we need to realize that non-Christians laugh about us just the same in believing Jesus will return, period. You think some guy who may have never actually lived is going to appear in the sky and take you to be with him?!

If we step outside the Christian bubble we live in for a minute, you have to admit such a claim can sound sort of out there. So, whether your position on Jesuss return is pre-tribulation, post-tribulation, no-tribulation, or something else, lets ask the question of why anyone should think Hes going to come at all?

What are the odds?

Shortly after I became a Christian, I bought myself a Holman Master Study Bible (which I still have) that had a section listing out all the Old Testament prophecies thatJesus fulfilled. While there are around 300 such prophecies, some are duplicates, shortening the list to 109 distinct predictions that concern His first coming, made hundreds of years before His birth.

While some skeptics try and brush these aside, saying Jesus deliberately lived in a way to fulfill them or the New Testament writers fabricated the accounts of his life, historians who have studied the life of Christ (including secular ones) say differently. Plus, its hard to fake prophecies like those found in Daniel 9 or Psalm 22 that directly showcase the timing of His first coming and details of His death.

These facts are important because they speak to the trustworthiness of the predictions about Jesus second coming, including those He spoke Himself. If His first coming prophecies were fulfilled down to the letter, why believe anything will be different with those that concern His return?

When it comes to Christs first coming foretellings being fulfilled just by chance, mathematician Peter Stoner, in his book Science Speaks, calculates the odds of just eight prophecies being accidentally fulfilled in the life of one man to be 1017 or one hundred quadrillion. Math folks will tell you that anything that exceeds 1050 power is the exact same thing as zero chance, and this probability is exceeded with 20 fulfilled prophecies (and remember, Jesus fulfilled over 100).

Prophecy as a whole takes up a full 1/5 of the Bible, and of that, 1/3 refers to the Second Coming of Christ. And while 100+ prophecies talk about His first coming, over 200 mention His second. Of the 46 Old Testament prophets, less than 10 speak of His first coming, but 36 speak of His second.

Further, 1,500 passages in the Old Testament refer to Christs 2nd coming, and 1 out of 25 verses in the New Testament also refer to it. Looking at it from a different angle, for every time the Bible mentions His first coming, it mentions His 2nd coming 8 times. Jesus Himself refers to His 2nd coming 21 times.

So what, you ask?

When the Jews wanted to emphasize something they were about to say, they used to preface it by repeating the word amen (a Hebrew term that means truth, certainty, or so be it.) to intensify the meaning, underscoring the reliability and importance of what followed. You see Jesus do this quite a lot in the Gospels.

With prophetic talk about Christs Second Coming outdistancing His first by 2 to 1, it seems God is saying to us amen, amen where Jesus return is concerned.

This is why we can trust what the Bible says about Christs Rapture. Just remember one important thing about it, especially when folks pop up on TikTok or elsewhere saying they know when its going to happen:

But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone (Mark 13:32).
Imagine a routine equipment alert on your production line. A seasoned maintenance engineer rushes to the machine, guided by an AI co-pilot  a digital entity armed with every manual, every schematic, every byte of operational data your company possesses. Together, they pull up a 25-step runbook. The AI shines at first, correctly identifying a hard-to-find oiling inlet, saving the engineer precious time.

But then, in a fraction of a second, the system falters. The digitized manual is missing a single, critical detail: the specific grade of industrial grease required. To bridge this gap, the AI  powered by a world-class large language model (LLM)  doesnt admit what it doesnt know. Instead, it hallucinates, confidently suggesting WD-40, a lubricant it learned about from public internet data. This moment of internal failure is completely invisible; the AI presents its fabricated answer with the same authority as a fact from the manual.

The engineer freezes. He knows WD-40 is a solvent, not the high-pressure grease thats required. Using it would be disastrous, leading to catastrophic equipment seizure, millions in damages, and a prolonged shutdown. He manually overrides the AI, wondering: what would a junior engineer, trained to trust the system, have done?

This isnt a hypothetical situation. Its a failure my team uncovered during early proof-of-concept tests with equipment maintenance manuals for a prospective customer in manufacturing. And it served as a stark warning: the probabilistic guessing of generative AI (GenAI) is fundamentally unsuited for high-stakes industrial operations.

However, there is a solution to this foundational crack in AI 2.0 and its about more than simply better data  its about transforming data into verifiable and actionable knowledge.

Probability vs. actuality  The anatomy of an AI failure

Consider the near-miss with the lubricant. That wasnt a bug. In fact, the LLM did what it was supposed to do  be helpful. These models are masters of correlation, not causation. When faced with a knowledge gap, an LLM doesnt know its missing information. Instead, it predicts the most statistically probable next word or phrase based on its training and the context from the manual provided in its prompt. Lubricant correlates strongly with WD-40 in its vast dataset scraped from the web. The model isnt reasoning; its pattern-matching.

For industrial applications, where precision and safety are paramount, this is an unacceptable risk. We cannot build the future of autonomous operations on a foundation of most probable. We need a system grounded in actuality  one that not only understands what is in the manual but, critically, recognizes what is not. This means building a system that, when it finds no answer, immediately states, I dont have this information, and escalates the query to a human expert or another designated system.

To do this requires the sophisticated blending of the appropriate AI and data tools into a strategic knowledge management system that exploits the best of LLMs and deterministic, logic-based systems.

Building knowledge management into AI early

The core challenge isnt a lack of data, but the fact that the data is typically fragmented, disorganized, and unstructured. Industrial enterprises are swimming in diagrams, manuals, and tribal knowledge that machines cannot reliably understand without context. This is where a robust knowledge management strategy becomes the most critical pillar of any serious industrial AI initiative. Before we can achieve reliable autonomy, we must first:

Make data AI-readable, not just digitized. We need to move beyond simple document ingestion. Tables, scanned diagrams, and color-coded safety manuals are subject to machine misinterpretation. Even the most advanced multimodal models struggle to consistently identify semantic details in complex industrial diagrams. We need the AI to know, not guess, that a specific pump (P-101) is connected to a motor (M-101), requires a specific lubricant (ISO VG 460), and has a maintenance schedule tied to runtime hours. A shared ontology  a knowledge dictionary  becomes essential, ensuring every term has one unambiguous meaning, traceable across multiple languages. The AI community often refers to this structured, interconnected knowledge base as a knowledge graph. Every table becomes a set of complete statements, every diagram  a structured text file, every chart  its description. Incorporate formal reasoning. Once this structured knowledge is in place, the AI can use formal logic, not just statistical probability. If a procedure calls for a lubricant, the AI can query its knowledge base for the exact specification linked to that exact piece of equipment. If the information is missing, it doesnt guess. It flags the datapoint and its response becomes: I have identified the lubrication point, but the required grease specification for this component is not in my knowledge base. Please verify from an approved source. This is a safe, explainable, and trustworthy interaction.

This two-step process forms the basis of a new knowledge management system currently under active development at GlobalLogic, a Hitachi Group Company. And its potential role in the realm of industrial AI couldnt be timelier. The necessity for this level of factual grounding is most critical in environments where precision is paramount. For instance, in the semiconductor industry, maintaining complex equipment within fabrication plants leaves no room for error. This is a point emphasized by one of our pilot customers, Hitachi High-Tech America, also a Hitachi Group Company, specializing in semiconductor manufacturing equipment, analytical systems, and electron microscopes.

Alexander Zhivotovsky, Associate GM, Metrology, and Analysis Systems Division at Hitachi High-Tech America, Inc., said it best recently, when asked about what aspect of AI is critical in his business. In maintaining our complex semiconductor metrology systems, there is no room for ambiguity, he said. Grounding AI in verifiable facts from our own engineering documents is a fundamental requirement for reliability. We look forward to our collaboration with GlobalLogic to build a system where all guidance is traceable and trustworthy.

GenAI: The ultimate human-machine interface

Within our industrial knowledge management system, GenAIs vital role will not be as a decision-maker, but as the ultimate human-machine interface  a universal translator making deep institutional knowledge accessible without sacrificing reliability, as well as the tool to help maintain the structured knowledge. It will excel at bridging the gap between human intuition and machine logic:

From unstructured to structured: An engineer will be able to upload a grainy photo of a part number, and GenAIs multimodal capabilities will identify it, find the corresponding entity in the knowledge base, and pull up all associated documentation and operational history.

From query to action: A technician will be able to ask in natural language, Whats the standard procedure for replacing the primary bearing on the main conveyor motor? The GenAI will parse this query, translate it into a formal query for its reasoning engine, and then present the precise, step-by-step procedure in clear, human-readable language.

The path forward

This knowledge-first approach carries another crucial advantage for any CIO: efficiency. By reserving the computationally intensive GenAI for the human interface and relying on a lean, deterministic reasoning engine for core logic, our system becomes significantly more energy efficient. This isnt just a cost-saving measure; its what makes the vision of embedding intelligence directly into the equipment on the factory floor  true edge AI  achievable and scalable.

The next time our engineer from the opening story approaches that equipment, the interaction will be fundamentally different. The AI co-pilot, grounded in a deterministic knowledge base, wont just provide the procedure; it will state, The required lubricant is ISO VG 460, as specified in maintenance document #7B-4 for this component. That junior engineer, now on the job, isnt faced with a dangerous guess; they are given a verifiable, traceable fact.

This is how we build trust. The journey from a helpful but flawed co-pilot to a truly autonomous operational system isnt a leap of faith into a black-box algorithm. Its a deliberate process of building a verifiable knowledge foundation, ensuring every automated decision is one we can stand behind, explain, and trust. The future of industrial AI isnt just intelligent; its intelligible.

For more on GlobalLogics approach to AI, check out: https://www.globallogic.com/enterprise-ai/.

# # #

Yuriy Yuzifovich is Chief Technology Officer at GlobalLogic, a Hitachi Group Company. GlobalLogic is a trusted partner in design, data, and digital engineering for the worlds largest and most innovative companies. Since its inception in 2000, it has been at the forefront of the digital revolution, helping to create some of the most widely used digital products and experiences.
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In July, Eitan Fischberger got an email from an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson asking if he wanted to go to Gaza. Fischberger, who is thirty-one, is a former air force technician in the IDF who publishes a Substack called Fisch Fileswhere, as he told me, he critiques media outlets for failing to do genuine journalism with integrity. Recent posts include Keep the New York Times out of Gaza, Hamas-Tied Journalist Agrees to Stage Famine Scene for Cash, and a piece that references a Palestinian journalist who was killed in a targeted Israeli attack: Meet Anas al-Sharifs Replacement at Al Jazeera: Hes Also a Member of Hamas. Raised in New York and New Jersey, Fischberger moved as a child with his family to Efrat, a settlement in the West Bank. He has since amassed more than fifty-three thousand followers on X and regularly appears on Israeli podcasts and news shows as a pundit. Now, suddenly, he had a chance to do some reporting of his own.

A few days after receiving the email, he drove to Kerem Shalom, a crossing on the Gaza-Israel borderthe name translates as Vineyard of Peacewhere military officers handed him a bulletproof helmet and a flak jacket and drove him across. Three, four minutes, twists and turns, and we saw what we saw, Fischberger told me. On a wide expanse of concrete sat pallet after pallet of supplies earmarked for Gaza: cooking oil, flour, bags of rice, tomato paste. Also around him were content creators bearing selfie sticks and filming on their phones.

The trip was one of a handful of recent delegations organized by various arms of the Israeli government, including the Diaspora Affairs Ministry, aimed at winning the media warthat is, countering the proliferation of reliable reports that Gazans have been suffering amid genocide and famine. Public perception of the circumstances among people in the United States, given its sway over peace negotiations, has proved to be critical, and Israel has focused its attention on content creators with American reach: in addition to Fischberger, invitations have been extended to Noa Cochva, a former Miss Israel now living in New York; Xaviaer DuRousseau, a MAGA booster; and a spirituality influencer who goes by Jeremy Awakens. Weapons change over time, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister, said during a recent meeting with influencers in the US, and the most important ones are on social media. He highlighted the role of TikTok and X, in particular. The Diaspora Affairs Ministry has claimed that messaging from trips coordinated by its office has reached over fifteen million views within just a few days, reinforcing Israels position against Hamass smear starvation campaign and underlining the critical role of influencers and content creators in exposing this lie to millions worldwide.

Fischberger and his fellow content creators have been granted privileged access to Gaza, where Israel has blocked international media, save for occasional embeds with the IDF. Journalism organizations have clamored to get inas expressed in an open letter from June coordinated by Reporters Without Borders, calling this a situation that is without precedent in modern warfare. Local reporters have faced threats, discrediting of their work, and hunger; press freedom groups estimate that some two hundred have been killed. (The IDF did not respond to requests for comment.)

That day at Kerem Shalom, Brigadier General Effie Defrin, the IDFs chief spokesperson, gave his spiel, Fischberger said, putting blame on the United Nations for failing to distribute aid. Defrin also made clear that anything posted online would first have to be cleared by the IDF, in the case that I accidentally filmed something that could jeopardize operational security. Fischberger didnt have a problem with that. I am very open about my biases, he told me. I love my country. I generally trust the IDF.

Israels PR crisis of the moment revolved around aid: humanitarian organizations were accusing the country of severely curtailing distribution, and the UN found that more than a thousand Gazans had been killed by Israeli forces while coming to collect supplies. Fischberger held his phone to his face and started recording. He addressed one video to Cindy McCain, the executive director of the UNs World Food Programme, asking why she wasnt delivering the aid behind him: Is it because you could, God forbid, make Israel look good? He clambered up on some pallets to pan over what he said was six hundred trucks worth of supplies; he posted the video on X with the caption View from the top of Mt. Aid in Gaza. Fischbergers clips looked similar to those of his fellow creators who, in video after video, filmed themselves on their phones as they walked past pallets and declared that they were revealing the truth about Israels delivery of aid to Gaza. The uniform message: Israel was providing the aid, but the UN and other organizations were failing to deliver it.

For most of the influencers at the scene, the coverage ended once they headed home. But as Fischbergers videos circulated online, he successfully pitched an op-ed to the Wall Street Journal. The resulting piece, Gaza Starvation Photos Tell a Thousand Lies, condemns the failings of aid organizations, not Israel: food meant for children, he writes, is left to rot. He elides the exact nature of the trip, writing only that he embedded with the IDF, and he is identified as an American-Israeli journalist. (The Journal declined to comment on the editorial process.)

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Not long after Fischberger and I spoke, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported that an Israeli-American firm called Bridges Partners LLC had filed a disclosure under the Foreign Agents Registration Act stating that it had been hired by the Israeli government to recruit and pay influencers to assist with promoting cultural interchange between the United States and Israel. Through a campaign called the Esther Project, the Israeli government would allocate Bridges up to nine hundred thousand dollars to find and compensate willing influencers. Responding to the news on his Substack, Fischberger wrote, Lets be clear: every single country tries to influence the United States, and they all use influencers to do it. He told me that neither Israel nor Bridges Partners had paid him to visit Kerem Shalom and joked that he had, in fact, lost money paying for gas.

As for his Kerem Shalom videos, Fischberger said that anyone who doubted their validity after learning of the Esther Project is just looking for a reason to try and delegitimize them. When I asked if he considers his work to be propaganda for the IDF, Fischberger firmly rejected the categorization. People can call me a propagandist, he replied. Im just describing reality as I see it. Of the IDF, he said, if theyre manipulating me into spreading a certain message, theyre doing a really good job of it. I dont even notice it at all.
Federal officials have opened inquiries into California State University for allegations of antisemitism and claims of racial discrimination tied to a diversity hiring initiative.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has launched an investigation into claims of antisemitism and was reaching out to employees to gather evidence, Chancellor Mildred Garcia said in a message to the entire CSU community on Friday that was seen by Bloomberg.

The U.S. Education Departments Office for Civil Rights is examining CSUs past participation in The PhD Project  a nonprofit that works to diversify business education  over claims of racial discrimination.

The Los Angeles Times was first to report on the inquiries.

Federal investigators had subpoenaed Cal State LA for employees personal contact information, the newspaper reported. The campus, one of 22 in the CSU system, hosted a Gaza Solidarity Encampment during nationwide protests over Israels war in Gaza.

One of our 22 campuses, Cal State LA, received a discrimination complaint (antisemitism) in 2024 and is working with the EEOC to resolve that matter, according to a statement from CSU. As part of that campus-specific process, Cal State LA received a subpoena from the EEOC for contact information for its employees. This review is still ongoing. This is the only subpoena that the CSU has received.

The Justice Department and the EEOC is also pursuing similar investigations on antisemitism and discrimination across the University of California as well.

Garcia said CSU has always complied with state and federal law and doesnt give preferential treatment based on race or religion. The university is cooperating with the federal inquiries, she added.

CSU participated in The PhD Project for university job postings until 2024, a university spokesperson said in a statement without explaining why it ended the association.

Top photo: Pro-Palestinian students and activists protest at an encampment in the campus of California State University in Los Angeles, California, on May 6, 2024. Photographer: Etienne Laurent/AFP/Getty Images.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. restarted six of its breweries in Japan on Oct. 2 after a cyberattack forced the beer maker to halt production and shipments for several days.

The drinks company is still investigating the root cause of the incident and is also assessing potential impact on earnings, a spokesperson said on Monday. Asahi had earlier said that most of its 30 plants in Japan temporarily stopped production, but did not disclose how many were affected due to the hack.

Some parts of the system are still shut and the company is processing orders manually to prioritize its supply framework, Asahis spokesperson said, adding that the timeline for full restoration of systems remains uncertain.

The ransomware attack sparked concerns that retailers may soon run out of Japans most popular beer Super Dry. Retail chains Seven & i Holdings Co., Lawson Inc. and FamilyMart Co. had warned customers of possible shortages of the top selling brew in the coming days.

Rival Japanese brewers have started tightening supplies to restaurants after demand surged following Asahis production halt. Kirin Holdings Co. said Monday it will start adjusting deliveries of beer and other beverages to restaurants beginning Oct. 9. Sapporo Holdings Ltd. has restricted shipments of beer and chuhais  flavored alcohol-based drinks  to eateries since Oct. 3, while Suntory Holdings Ltd. said it is limiting supplies of some products.

Meanwhile, Asahi said it is gradually restarting soft drink production. Supplies from two factories resumed on Oct. 5 and the company is preparing to revive operations at five other plants, it said, without specifying the timing.

The outage at Asahi, which started Sept. 29, is the latest among a growing wave of cyber incidents globally, that have hit industries from carmakers to financial firms. The hack underscores Japans vulnerability to cyberattacks, where even brief halts can ripple from factory floors to store shelves and restaurants given the countrys intricate supply chains.

Asahi will need to slash its fourth-quarter operating profit outlook by approximately 83% in Japan and 38% globally, if the disruption continues through the end of this month with no corrective actions, analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein Japan KK led by Euan McLeish said in a note to clients on Friday. The company may also have to face out-of-stock penalties from major retailers, they said.

Shares of Asahi rose 1.6% in Tokyo on Monday, after a more than 7% plunge last week.

Top photo: A billboard for Asahi Super Dry beer in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. Some retailers in Japan are warning customers of possible Asahi Super Dry beer shortages after a cyberattack paralyzed production and distribution at Asahi Group Holdings Ltd.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
A United States Air Force C-141 Starfire is framed by soybean stalks as it prepares to land Aug. 10, 2004 at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. (John Kuntz/The Plain Dealer) The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio  In a typical year, China buys 25% to 30% of the U.S. soybean crop, but this is not a typical year.

Embroiled in a trade war with the United States, China hasnt purchased a single bushel of this years harvest, according to Kirk Merritt, executive director of the Ohio Soybean Association, and that has farmers across the state anxiously wondering when things might change.

Ohio ranks from fifth to seventh in soybean production among states, depending on the year, Merritt said, with the largest concentration of farmers in the northwest quadrant of the state.

In most years, China would have already pre-booked billions of dollars in soybean orders from the United States, he said.

I think its an effort on their part to not buy our beans as part of the negotiation process, Merritt said. I think theyve probably stated that.

It doesnt help that China -- in response to Trump imposing trade tariffs on China - slapped a 35% retaliatory tariff on imports of U.S. soybeans, making them less competitive in price with other major producers, including Brazil and Argentina.

They have not prohibited buyers from buying our beans, he said, they have just made it too expensive, essentially.

What really galls farmers is that Argentina temporarily waived certain taxes on its soybean exports, making them more attractive to Chinese buyers, just before President Donald Trump decided the U.S. government would provide Argentina with a $20 billion financial aid package.

Its hard for Ohio soybean farmers to swallow that just a day after Argentina maneuvered to supplant our market share in China, the Trump Administration announced it will send taxpayer money to Argentina to prop up its failing economy, Ohio Soybean Association President Rusty Goebel said recently in a written statement.

Chinas decision to not buy U.S. soybeans could be an unwillingness to assume the cost of the retaliatory tariff, said Seungki Lee, an agricultural economics professor at Ohio State University, or an attempt to get the United States to soften its trade-related demands.

But China could eventually be forced to buy more soybeans from the United States if Brazil and Argentina experience problems with their harvests, which occur between January and June in South America, Lee said.

Double whammy

Soybean farmers in Ohio are not only dealing with a drop in demand related to China and geopolitical issues, said Eric Richer, associate professor of farm management at Ohio State University Extension, but also lower crop yields due to the late summer drought.

The most active farmers I think are talking with their elected officials about improving export demand in whatever way they can, Richer said.

At the same time, some are considering whether they should store their soybeans in hopes that they can get a better price in the new year.

But that has a big if attached to it, Richer said. Farmers have to find a place to store their soybeans, he said, and some may be forced to sell if they need cash to pay debts.

Every farm has its unique situation, Richer said.

China looked to Brazil for more soybeans during trade tensions with the United States under Trumps first administration, Merritt said, but then returned to its usual buying pattern. But, he said, China has been looking to become less dependent on the United States soybeans in general.

Merritt said that if China does not start buying U.S. soybeans soon, it could place economic stress on farmers, necessitating financial support from the federal government.

Soybeans are planted in Ohio in April, May and June, Merritt said, and harvesting is underway. He said that on Aug. 1 it looked like Ohio was going to have a strong soybean crop, but then a lack of rain dimmed expectations.

We continue to speak out and advocate for a trade deal that will benefit farmers, Merritt said, but the urgency is increasing every day.
The initiative falls under the countys Adult Protective Services (APS) program, which assists residents aged 60 and older who face physical or cognitive challenges that limit their ability to care for themselves. Getty Images

ELYRIA, Ohio  The Lorain County Commissioners have approved new funding to help protect and support vulnerable older adults, responding to the growing demand for in-home medical and wellness checks.

Commissioners voted unanimously to authorize a $12,600 purchase of service agreement between Lorain County Job and Family Services (JFS) and the Lorain County General Health District. The funding will enable nursing staff to make home visits to older adults, monitor their health and identify early signs of neglect or mistreatment.

Like many communities across Ohio, Lorain County is seeing a steady rise in its older adult population. Out of Ohios 88 counties, Lorain County ranks 10th in growth of senior citizen population change from 2020 to 2024, according to the Chronicle Telegram. As of July 2024, residents age 60 and older made up 28% of Lorain Countys populationhigher than the statewide average of 25.6%.

The proposal was presented to commissioners by Chris Cabot, director of Lorain County JFS, who highlighted the growing importance of adult protective services as the population ages.

As we all know, the population is growing, Cabot told commissioners. Medical advances are helping people live longer into life. This contract is to provide nursing services for our adults in their home  to check vital signs, to treat wounds and to make connections with our adults who dont obviously have a lot of connections all the time.

The initiative falls under the countys Adult Protective Services (APS) program, which assists residents aged 60 and older who face physical or cognitive challenges that limit their ability to care for themselves. APS works to prevent unnecessary institutionalization, promote independence and address conditions that threaten the safety or well-being of older adults.
NITI Aayog chief flags trade imbalance, hints at more reforms by Diwali

India's trade strategy could fall behind in global markets unless it expands exports to China and lowers import tariffs on raw materials, the head of a government policy think tank said on Monday.With Asia set to drive global growth, engaging with China was essential to boost India's manufacturing exports, said B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog while releasing the quarterly Trade Watch report."If you don't focus on Asia, if you are not able to sell much to China, it is pointless because it's a $15 trillion economy. You can't avoid that economy, he said at a press briefing, underscoring China's critical role in India's exports.Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is seeking to diversify exports and cut manufacturing costs after US President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to as much as 50% from August 27 over Russian oil purchases.India's exports to China fell 7% in 2024 to $15.1 billion, while imports rose 10% to $109.4 billion on higher shipments of items such as electronic goods and chemicals.The report underscored Indias weak performance in key sectors such as leather and footwear, where exports stood at $5.5 billion in 2024, just 1.8% of global trade worth $296.5 billion.Non-leather footwear, a global market valued at about $110 billion, remains largely untapped."India imposes 10% tariffs on key footwear inputs, while Vietnam and Italy levy near-zero rates," the report said, recommending tariff cuts to boost competitiveness.With similar reliance on China for sourcing, Vietnams lower duties give its producers a cost edge, said lead author Pravakar Sahoo, adding that high tariffs on plastics and vulcanised rubber sheets make Indian products less competitive.
The University of Western Australia (UWA), one of the Australia's prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) institutions, has announced plans to establish two campuses in Indiaone in Mumbai and another in Chennaimaking it one of the first major foreign universities to enter the Indian higher education market after the government allowed international institutions to set up independent campuses.Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Professor Guy Littlefair, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Experience) at UWA, said the decision reflects the universitys long-term commitment to Indias rapidly expanding education sector and its potential to become a global hub for higher learning.The University of Western Australia is looking at establishing two campuses, one in Mumbai and one in Chennai, he said. We absolutely believe we have an opportunity for students in India and from around the region to come to India and have a world-leading qualification.Professor Littlefair said Indias location and demographics make it one of the most significant regions for international education growth over the next two decades. We will have to wait and see how India performs as an international education destination, but it is certainly going to be a hub, he noted. Given the policy changes by the University Grants Commission and the governments decision to welcome foreign universities, we felt this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.He added that UWAs entry is not a short-term move but part of a broader strategy to build a sustained academic presence in India. This is not for the short term, we are here for the long term, he said. We are looking to develop a comprehensive university offering programs across the arts, humanities, techno-sciences, and health.Indias higher education market, estimated at around 100 billion dollars, has become increasingly attractive for global institutions. Professor Littlefair said UWA sees the move as both an academic and economic opportunity. It is a big market for sure, and one that provides significant stimulus to the economy, he said.Explaining the choice of cities, he said Mumbai represents Indias financial heart and has a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, making it a natural location for the universitys expansion. Chennai, on the other hand, has a high demand for studies in engineering, computer science and the techno-sciences. For us, setting up in both cities was an easy decision, he said.UWA has already received a letter of intention from the University Grants Commission and is working towards establishing its physical presence in India. Professor Littlefair said the university anticipates opening its doors to students by August next year.The university is still assessing whether to establish the campuses independently or through a joint venture with an Indian partner. We are working through whether to set up as a joint venture or on our own. There are pros and cons on both sides, he said. Whatever happens, we will be delivering something significant here in India for students who are looking for such opportunities in the future.He also assured that the quality of education at the India campuses will match UWAs standards in Australia. We have to provide courses offshore to the same standard as those we provide in Australia, he explained. There will be some local nuances, but the offerings will be identical in quality.UWA will focus strongly on student experience, offering a blend of classroom learning, field work, community engagement and research-based internships. We focus on the student experience, not just in the classroom but through field work and community engagement, he said. We leverage our research expertise and offer internships and work-integrated learning.While Professor Littlefair did not disclose the scale of investment, he confirmed that it would be substantial. Establishing two campuses in a foreign country is a significant investment, but one that is well worth making, he said. We see nothing but great opportunity here in India.With this move, Indias goal of becoming a global education hub appears to be taking firm shape, as foreign universities begin to translate policy reforms into on-ground partnerships and campuses.


This is Dhira Chaliha Hazarika, the first female pilot from the state of Assam, India.

In 1961, at the age of 21, she earned her Pilots A Licence.



And in September 2025, at the age of 85, she returned to the skies, taking the controls of a historic Tiger Moth biplane over the pic.twitter.com/rpGJPl8Jby



 anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) October 6, 2025

Although Dhira Chaliha Hazarika's name may not appear in every history book, she is still considered legendary in the eyes of Assamese skies and the dreams of many young women as the first Assamese woman pilot.At 85, Dhira decided to go to the skies once again, a time when most people slow down.Anand Mahindra, Chairperson of Mahindra and Mahindra , took to X (formerly Twitter) to commemorate Dhiras achievement by writing: She deserves a place in Indias Aviation Hall of Fame simply for being a trailblazer.But for flying again at 85, she belongs in a global Hall of Fame for her courage, her resilience, and her life-affirming spirit, Mahindra added. He also shared the latest clip of Dhira flying over the picturesque landscapes of Berkshire and the River Thames.Dhira Chaliha Hazarika was born in Jorhat in 1940, and her first memories are as expansive as the skies she aspired to traverse. Perhaps the beginning of a lifelong obsession, she would climb trees in her home and watch warplanes over the Burma front.During a period when women were expected to conform to predefined roles, Dhira was lucky to have a father, Kamaleshwar Chaliha, who supported her in following her dreams. Following her graduation from Guwahati's Handique College, Dhira noticed an advertisement in 1959 that would forever transform her life: the Assam Flying Club offered six fully-funded scholarships for pilot training.Dhira would practise flying in Tiger Moths and the indigenous Pushpak, two-seater propeller aircraft, twice a week. Each flight taught not only technical abilities but also courage, patience, and precision because there were no modern conveniences like sophisticated navigation or dependable radio contact.Dhira Chaliha became the first female pilot of Assam when she earned her Pilots A Licence in April 1961, at the age of 21. Her solo flight was from Borjhar to Tezpur. While she was flying between Guwahati, Tezpur, Jorhat, and Shillong, the people of Azara gathered to watch her land.Despite the practical challenges she facedsuch as difficult terrain and no radio communicationshe mainly recalls the excitement.Dhira had to make some sacrifices along the way. She wanted to become a commercial pilot, but her priorities changed when she married Kamal Hazarika and moved to London. Her decision to put her family before her profession was one that many women in her generation were forced to make.However, Dhira would continue going to flying clubs in London to tell everyone about her passion for flying.Over 60 years later, Dhira flew again over England in a Tiger Moth at the age of 85, marking one of the most poignant moments in her life. She flew over Berkshire and the River Thames with Captain John Towell at the controls.This specific Tiger Moth was not a typical aircraft; it had been in Hollywood productions such as Thunderbirds and The King's Speech.As the first woman pilot in Assam, Dhira is currently writing her autobiography, which will chronicle her years in the sky.
IT services firm HCLTech Ltd on Monday (October 6) said it has joined the MIT Media Lab, a globally recognised research and innovation ecosystem at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), to collaborate on next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) research.The partnership marks a significant step in HCLTechs commitment to shaping the future of AI and driving breakthroughs in emerging technology domains, including quantum computing, through collaborative innovation.As part of this engagement, HCLTech will gain access to the MIT Media Labs extensive research resources and innovation networks. This will enable deeper collaboration with faculty, researchers, and innovators working on next-generation technologies.The company said that the association will also facilitate co-development of projects aimed at translating meaningful AI research into impactful and scalable real-world solutions.Jessica Rosenworcel, Executive Director of the MIT Media Lab, said, "We welcome HCLTech to the MIT Media Lab at a pivotal moment in the evolution of artificial intelligence. "Their commitment to exploring applied AI aligns with our mission to design technologies that empower humanity. We look forward to dynamic collaboration that may advance responsible, human-centred innovation in AI and beyond.""We are thrilled to collaborate with the MIT Media Lab at the forefront of applied AI research. By engaging with MIT Media Labs world-class faculty and researchers, we aim to explore co-development of AI innovations that create real-world impact, said Vijay Guntur, Chief Technology Officer and Head of Ecosystems at HCLTech.Shares of HCL Technologies Ltd ended at 1,414.00, up by 20.75, or 1.49%, on the BSE.
France's new prime minister named a government on Sunday (Oct 5), bringing back former finance minister Bruno Le Maire to serve at the defence ministry, where he'll help oversee French military support for Ukraine and address threats to European security posed by Russia.Other key positions in the new cabinet, announced by President Emmanuel Macron's office, remain largely unchanged, with conservative Bruno Retailleau staying on as interior minister, in charge of policing and internal security, Jean-Noel Barrot remaining as foreign minister, and Gerald Darmanin keeping the justice ministry.But the life span of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's new minority government risks being short, facing hostility in Parliament where it lacks a stable majority.Macron's opponents on the left of the National Assembly are mustering efforts to bring down Lecornu with a no-confidence vote, and the far-right National Rally party of Marine Le Pen is pushing for snap legislative elections.The immediate priority for 39-year-old Lecornu, a centrist and close ally of Macron, is to keep his job. Macron promoted Lecornu  previously the defence minister  last month as France's fourth prime minister in a year, after his predecessor was ousted by the deeply divided parliament amid turmoil over spending cuts.The prolonged political instability is complicating French government efforts to tackle the country's budget difficulties and weakening Macron's position domestically as he wrestles with pressing international challenges, including wars in Ukraine and Gaza and the shifting priorities of President Donald Trump.Le Maire  a former government heavyweight as finance minister until last year  takes over as defence minister from Lecornu, whose promotion to prime minister put him in the hot seat of the political turmoil that has gripped France for more than a year, with minority governments lurching from crisis to crisis, collapsing in short order one after the other.The political deadlock is rooted in Macron's stunning decision to dissolve the National Assembly, parliament's powerful lower house, in June 2024.That triggered a legislative election that the French leader hoped would strengthen the hand of his pro-European centrist alliance. But the gamble backfired, producing a splintered legislature with no dominant political bloc in power for the first time in France's modern republic.Other than Le Maire, the most notable new cabinet appointment is Roland Lescure as finance minister. France's economy is one of the world's biggest and the second-largest in the European Union. But France's ballooning deficit and debts are worrying investors and dividing political opinion. Lescure previously held more junior roles under the finance ministry until last year.Lecornu will face a key test on Tuesday (Oct 7) when he gives a speech to the National Assembly, outlining his government's direction and his plans for crafting next year's budget  a pressing but divisive national priority.He announced Friday (Oct 3) that he will not use a special constitutional power to force a budget through parliament without a vote  as predecessors have done  and will instead seek a compromise with lawmakers from the left and the right.Unions and activists have staged three days of nationwide protests since Lecornu's appointment, including one that shut down the Eiffel Tower on Thursday (Oct 2), protesting expected spending cuts to public services.
Feature: Chinese investment injects new momentum into Portugal's century-old cable manufacturer

Xinhua) 10:39, October 06, 2025

Liu Jianlong (L), equipment manager of China's Hengtong Group in Portugal, discusses technical issues with Alcobre's Chief Operating Officer Carlos Granja in the factory of Alcobre in Ovar, Portugal, Oct. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xun Wei)

LISBON, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- Portugal's oldest cable manufacturer Alcobre celebrated its 115th anniversary and inaugurated a new production unit on Thursday.

Standing before the newly expanded facilities, Chief Operating Officer Carlos Granja was filled with emotion: "I have worked in this factory for more than 30 years, and I am grateful to Hengtong for bringing it new vitality."

Founded in 1910, Alcobre mainly produces low-voltage cables and is one of the pillar enterprises in Ovar, a city in northern Portugal. In 2016, it was fully acquired by China's Hengtong Group. Since then, with the injection of Chinese management and technology, the century-old factory has been revitalized.

According to Huang Chao, general manager of Hengtong Portugal, Alcobre's operations have achieved continuous and steady growth since the acquisition: total revenue has tripled and net profit has more than doubled.

This year, the company also launched a new production line for OPGW (Optical Ground Wire), laying a foundation for its expansion into the medium- and high-voltage power market.

Granja expressed full recognition and appreciation for Hengtong's arrival. "At the time of the acquisition, there were still some doubts," he told Xinhua. "But after years of working together, the Chinese staff have impressed the whole factory with their strength and diligence. The initial doubts have long since vanished, and today we are working very happily together."

Felipe Silva, nearly 60, is one of Granja's longtime colleagues and the factory's most senior product design engineer, with over 40 years of service at Alcobre.

"Since Hengtong took over the factory, I have been constantly exposed to new products and technologies from China," Silva said. "It makes my work increasingly interesting -- it feels wonderful."

Silva especially enjoys discussing technical issues with Liu Jianlong, the group's equipment manager in Portugal. Pointing to the factory's newly introduced wire-drawing machine, they noted: "The old machine had been running for more than 30 years. Although still usable, its efficiency was far inferior to this new model."

According to Liu, the new wire-drawing machine uses advanced technology and processes, with a high degree of automation. Its production efficiency is more than three times that of the old equipment, while energy consumption has been reduced by over 20 percent.

"It greatly reduces the labor intensity of workers, and has impressed everyone with Chinese technology," Liu added.

Over the nearly 10 years since the acquisition, the number of local employees at the factory has increased by 25 percent, significantly boosting local employment. Leveraging its global operations, Hengtong has also provided broader career development opportunities for local staff.

Huang said the company plans to add nearly 100 new local jobs and achieve another fourfold increase in output value by 2030.

Chinese Ambassador to Portugal Zhao Bentang said Hengtong's investment in Portugal has not only contributed to local economic development and job creation, but also promoted the upgrading of the country's cable and fiber-optic industries, injecting fresh vitality into China-Portugal economic and trade relations.

Zhao's opinion was echoed by Portugal's Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida, who said: "This investment is very welcome because it comes from a company strongly committed to innovation."

"We highly value investments that add value, create more wealth, more jobs, and better wages. This is the type of investment we truly appreciate, and in this case it is very welcome," said the minister.

Chinese Ambassador to Portugal Zhao Bentang and Portugal's Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida, inaugurate a new factory of Alcobre in Ovar, Portugal, Oct. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xun Wei)

This photo taken on July 21, 2025 shows a view of Hengtong Group's Alcobre cable plant in Ovar, Portugal. (Xinhua/Xun Wei)

This photo taken on Oct. 3, 2025 shows an inside view of the new factory of Alcobre in Ovar, Portugal. (Xinhua/Xun Wei)

This photo taken on Oct. 3, 2025 shows new wire drawing machine in the factory of Alcobre in Ovar, Portugal. (Xinhua/Xun Wei)

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Hongyu)
Dirty sodas  creamy, flavor-packed soft drinks  have gone from a Utah cult favorite to a national craze with brands like Pepsi and Taco Bell joining in.

Beverage expert Tony Vieira says the concept isnt entirely new  people have been mixing milk, syrups, and soda for decades, from root beer floats to DIY Pepsi-and-milk concoctions.

While trends come and go, Vieira believes dirty sodas could evolve beyond a fad, inspiring more creative dirty twists in both nonalcoholic and alcoholic drinks.

If youve scrolled through social media lately, youve probably seen people raving about dirty sodas  fizzy drinks mixed with cream, syrups, and flavor shots. What started as a regional Utah favorite has bubbled into a national trend, with big names like Pepsi and Taco Bell getting in on the action.

But are dirty sodas the next big beverage boom or just another sugar-laden fad?

To find out, ConsumerAffairs spoke with Tony Vieira, a beverage industry veteran whos helped shape brands like Anheuser-Busch, Blue Moon, and White Claw. Vieira has watched countless drink trends rise and fizzle  and he has some thoughts on where this ones headed.

The origins of dirty soda

While the idea of mixing soda with milk and other flavorings has gained widespread popularity recently, where did the trend originate?

My earliest recollection goes back to the 1970s when I drank Pepsi with milk, inspired by Penny Marshall from Lavern and Shirley, Vieira said. I was about 10 years old, and my entire neighborhood of kids gathered in my backyard to make our own Pepsi and Milk concoctions. Of course, root beer floats predate that moment.

One could also argue that cocktails were the original dirty sodas. And if we think about it further, what about coffee or tea? Who was the first person to add milk? In the broadest sense, dirty soda is at least as old as soda itself.

The recent craze

According to Vieira, the appeal of dirty soda appears to be driven by a confluence of cultural influences and market dynamics.

Consider the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines, created by Segway inventor Dean Kamen in 2009, he said. The Freestyle dispensers redefined soda dispensing in much the same way that the Instant Pot reinvented slow cooking.

Consumers were suddenly able to customize up to 150 different flavor combinations at the press of a button. This kind of customization could be considered a form of real-time dirty soda creation.

More recently, Vieira credits Swig, the Utah-based soda company that gained popularity for its appearance on the reality show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, for officially coining the term dirty soda.

Will the trend last?

While only time will tell if dirty sodas stand the test of time, Vieira believes this is one trend that has lasting potential.

I tend to view the beverage market through what I call a compound lens, he said. This framework allows the market to be analyzed through a series of focused perspectives that reveal specific consumer segments and emerging trends.

The concept of dirty soda seems to be rapidly evolving into what I would call a beverage formulation free-for-all. Both nonalcoholic and alcoholic companies alike are experimenting with new versions of dirty, from lemonades to functional beverages to mixed cocktails.
The Simpsons doesnt typically address the real-world problems facing Americas education system, unless there really are some schools run by bloodthirsty cannibals.

And as far as we know, greased-up, half-naked Scottish caretakers falling out of air ducts isnt a common occurrence.

But this weeks episode, Keep Chalm and Gary On actually touched on an important development thats been in the news a lot lately. The episode finds Superintendent Chalmers losing his job and going to work as a custodian at Mr. Burns nuclear power plant. It isnt long before Chalmers stumbles upon a horde of mutant snails, whose slimy secretions turn out to have highly profitable anti-aging properties.

The reason why Chalmers loses his superintendent job is due to a plagiarism accusation, made anonymously by Bart and his friends. Why? Because Chalmers was forcing the students to place their phones in Yondr Pouch-like bags for the entirety of the school day, thus ruining their ability to cheat on assignments with the help of A.I.

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Apart from the stuff about mutant snail mucus, this is all really happening. Schools across the country are currently turning to companies like Yondr to lock up students phones. As NBC News recently reported, Yondr pouches are used by about 2 million students in schools in all 50 states.

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But these pouches arent cheap, costing $30 per student for the pouch, training and support to start up the program. And while most of us can agree that students probably shouldnt be spending school hours watching TikTok videos of A.I.-generated kittens battle sharks, instead of learning, this money could arguably be far better spent elsewhere. Especially because the pouches themselves are reportedly super-easy to hack.

So really, come to think of it, all Bart Simpson needed to do was Google how to hack the pouches instead of straight-up trying to ruin a mans life.
David Cross called out several of his comedic idols for participating in the whole gross thing known as the Riyadh Comedy Festival. My god, Dave (Chappelle) and Louie (C.K.) and Bill (Burr), he wrote. Clearly you guys dont give a shit about what the rest of us think, but how can any of us take any of you seriously ever again?

The criticism hit close to home for C.K. Its funny because David and I were roommates when we were 19 years old, the comedian told Bill Maher on Fridays episode of Real Time. We lived together in Boston. And we were just scrappy young guys.

Fellow Riyadh critic Mark Maron was there as well, working as a dishwasher in a local coffee shop. We were just kids trying to be comics in Boston, C.K. remembered. David had this bit about shaving the Popes pussy. That was one of his bits. And I just loved him.  David Cross wrote an open letter to Larry the Cable Guy telling him to quit comedy, you can look that up, because he hated him. So hes an opinionated guy.

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Not only is C.K. not mad about slams from Cross and Maron, he thinks his old friends might be right. Look, I think the whole discussion is worthy, he told Maher. Im glad these guys brought this stuff up. Im glad that people are challenging this thing, because you shouldnt just pretend its something its not.

C.K. explained that hes grateful for Cross brickbats because you should say that side too. When are you appeasing? When are you engaging? I have mixed feelings about it, too. I struggled about going once I started hearing what everyone was saying.

So why go at all?

C.K. told Maher he plays countries all over the world, and he was fascinated by the idea that Saudi Arabia was loosening its cultural restrictions. I thought, thats awfully interesting. That just feels like a good opportunity. And I just think comedy is a great way to get in and start talking, he explained. And theres Saudi Arabian comedians there. Im going to a comedy club in Saudi Arabia the first night I get there to just see whats going on. I love stand-up comedy, and I love comedians. So the fact that (Saudi Arabia) is opening up and starting to bud, I want to see it. I want to be part of it. I think thats a positive.

Whether or not you agree with C.K., at least his reasoning is more nuanced than those of fired festival comic Tim Dillon, who gave this rationale for attending: Were taking the money.

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Despite comedy restrictions around the Saudis religion and government  neither of which C.K. has jokes about  he landed on participating in the festival. Theres some good in it, maybe some bad in it, but I think for me it cuts towards going, he said. Thats my decision.
Comedian Jessica Kirson was as surprised as everyone else that she was invited to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, considering that shes 1) Jewish and 2) gay. Before she agreed to perform  and she did appear at the festival in late September  she got a guarantee from the event that she could be openly out as a lesbian on stage and perform gay material.

Apparently, the set was well-received. On Real Time With Bill Maher, Louis C.K. marveled about a woman whos a lesbian and Jewish who did a show there, and she got a standing ovation. A check of the comedian roster shows only one stand-up who fits that description.

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Like C.K., who discussed blowback from his fellow comedians with Maher, Kirson is all too aware of the criticism from peers and fans. A quick review of the comments section on one of her recent Instagram posts reveals frustration like:

Hey I love you but why the fuck are you selling out to authoritarians? Like seriously.

Heartbroken Jessica. You should be ashamed.

Lost a fan. Genuinely disappointed. Not allyship

Why did you do it @jessykirson? You were my favorite and I just dont understand. I guess theres nothing like cashing a juicy check from the same people whod throw you in prison for half your jokes.

You know you didnt have to go, right? We understand it was a lot of money, we arent stupid. You made your choice.

Unlike C.K., who still halfheartedly endorses the festival, Kirson is now expressing public regret about participating.

I hoped that this could help LGBTQ+ people in Saudi Arabia feel seen and valued. I am grateful that I was able to do precisely that  to my knowledge, I am the first openly gay comic to talk about it on stage in Saudi Arabia. I received messages from attendees sharing how much it meant to them to participate in a gay-affirming event, Kirson said in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter. At the same time, I deeply regret participating under the auspices of the Saudi government.

Kirson said she was deeply sorry to all the fans and followers who were hurt by her decision to perform, and pledged to donate her entire fee to an unnamed human rights organization.

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I have a special relationship with my fans because of the vulnerable nature of my comedy and the trust they place in me as part of the queer community, she explained. To my fans: I see you. I hear you. Your voice matters to me. I love you all, and I am genuinely sorry for making a poor decision that had repercussions I didnt fully consider. I will take full responsibility for my actions and dedicate myself to making amends, so that my words and choices reflect the respect and care you deserve.
Fox News anchor Jesse Watters claims that he has an inside source from the decentralized left-wing political movement antifa, but the source looks suspiciously similar to Watters mole from inside the Mexican Mafia, who just so happens to have the same narrow, lifeless eyes as an inexplicably popular actor-turned-comedian-turned-right-wing-podcaster.

Right now, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers are marauding across Americas major cities and abducting hundreds of residents, legal or otherwise, in mass deportation raids. The chaos that the Department of Homeland Security brought to the streets of cities such Chicago and Portland has, predictably, sparked backlash from the citizenry, who have organized protests and attempted to obstruct ICEs mass kidnapping campaign in any way they can. Naturally, the right-wing media machine responded to such demonstrations by painting the protesters as the aggressors and ICE as the innocent secret police suffering at the hands of left-wing extremists, so, in their coverage of the conflict, Watters and his team set their sights on the network of loosely connected activists known as antifa.

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But when Watters trotted out a supposed former antifa member named Eric who claimed that the movement recruited him to perform political violence when he was in the ninth grade, fans of both Watters astounding history of personally infiltrating dangerous criminal organizations and True Romance said that Eric looks suspiciously familiar

Now, obviously, the only evidence supporting this theory that Rapaport is the man underneath the mask every time Watters needs an inside source on the Rights boogeyman group of the week is that he has similar eyes to the men (or man) featured in Watters reporting. Yes, the I AM RAPAPORT: STEREO PODCAST host has been sliding further and further toward the extreme Right over the last few years, but neither of the men (man?) interviewed on Jesse Watters Primetime have voices that sound remotely similar to Rapaports signature, raspy gurgling.

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Nobody with any critical thinking skills would ever believe that this Eric actually joined antifa as a bomber and vandal when he was 14 and spent nearly a decade with the group, only to come running to the hardcore conservative side of the fence once Watters called. However, we dont have enough information at the moment to prove that Rapaport is the paid actor behind the bandana.

In fact, the circumstances might point to the contrary being true. Wrote one Twitter user, The best evidence against this being Michael Rapaport is that whoever this actor is got booked.
In a California bar where everybody knows your name, there was a friendly tippler parked at the rail. And just like in the classic sitcom Cheers, the guy holding court and nursing a frosty mug was named Norm.

The journalistic detectives at the San Bernardino Sun recently dug through old newspaper articles to discover Norms connection to their neck of the woods in Redlands, California. It wasnt a far-fetched scavenger hunt  Glen and Les Charles, the two brothers who co-created Cheers, went to school at the University of Redlands. Les, who graduated in 1971, frequented a local tavern/pizza parlor called the Gay 90s, where he also worked as a bartender. The seeds of a sitcom idea were being planted.

Les Charles has acknowledged his memories of the place  including his specific recollection of a Norm-type barfly  found their way into scripts, according to an AP story published in 1993.

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The Sun asked its readers if they had any idea who the real-life inspiration for the Norm-type barfly could be, and within a week, the paper had answers. The mystery lush was most likely a fellow by the name of Norman Baffrey, at least according to reader Michael Tacchia.

Guy DeRoos, who eventually bought Gay 90s, was a customer at the time Les Charles was pouring cold beers. He remembers Baffrey as kind of heavyset and he had a place at the end of the bar where hed always hold forth. He always wore a coat and tie, just like Norm.

Two local librarians did a deep dive and confirmed Tacchias suspicions. They uncovered a joint interview with the Charles brothers, published in a 1984 issue of The Sun, in which they explained that they chose to set a sitcom in a bar because of the range of personalities who might hang out there, either as bar staff or regulars.

After all, said Glen, bars in Boston are very neighborhood, social-type establishments.

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When they populated their fictional watering hole, the Charles brothers based them on people, and composites of people, we had known.

For example, there was a guy who was there all night, every night, and every beer he had was his last beer, remembered Les. So we put that in.

Once George Wendt landed the role, he made it his own, said Les. The characters a lot more George than that guy.

That guy, Norman Baffrey, worked for San Bernardinos Parks and Recreation Department (another sitcom reference!) when he wasn't enjoying a cold one with friends at Gay 90s. He passed away in 1994 after a stroke.

Ive been told its me, so I guess its my claim to fame, the real Baffrey, then 61 years old, told the Sun in 1993. I used to be quite heavy, and I vaguely remember (Les Charles) working behind the bar.

Obviously, Baffrey said, he remembered me.
Modified: Monday, 6 October 2025 21:30 BST

Frank Davies

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GBP/EUR Forecasts: French Political Uncertainty to Dominate

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The Pound to Euro exchange rate (GBP/EUR) gained ground at the start of the week after the sudden resignation of Frances newly appointed Prime Minister, Sebastien Lecornu, triggered fresh political uncertainty in Paris.At the time of writing, GBP/EUR was holding close to 1.15118, up roughly 0.3% from the start of Mondays session.The Euro (EUR) came under pressure on Monday after French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu unexpectedly stepped down less than a month into his tenure.Lecornus resignation, which came shortly after unveiling a new cabinet, reignited fears over Frances deepening political divisions and the governments inability to push through key fiscal reforms.With public debt already standing at more than 110% of GDP, concerns are mounting that Frances failure to deliver a credible 2026 budget could further erode investor confidence in the Eurozones second-largest economy.The ongoing political chaos has also fuelled speculation about President Emmanuel Macrons own position, with some analysts warning that continued instability could strengthen the hand of the far-right National Rally party.These fears overshadowed the release of the Eurozones latest retail sales data, which may have otherwise lent some modest support to the single currency after reporting a rebound in sales growth in August.The Pound (GBP) enjoyed moderate gains against the Euro on Monday but struggled to build momentum against other major currencies.Cautious sentiment prevailed among GBP investors ahead of a scheduled speech by Bank of England (BoE) Governor Andrew Bailey later in the day.GBP investors look to Bailey to shed more light on the central banks near-term policy direction.Should he reaffirm that further rate cuts remain on the table, the Pound may come under renewed pressure.Looking ahead, Frances ongoing political crisis is likely to remain a key driver of movement in the Pound to Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate.If signs emerge that President Macrons position is weakening, or if political instability intensifies, the Euro could come under further selling pressure.Meanwhile, comments from European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde on Tuesday may provide the next key test for the single currency.With no major UK data due, Sterlings movement is expected to follow broader market sentiment in the near term.

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A jeweller is offering designer engagement rings and wedding bands at a much cheaper rate than highend retailers, giving Aussies the chance to save thousands of dollars.

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Aussie jeweller Temple & Grace has been making clients' engagement and wedding ring expectations a seamless process over the years, as well as saving them up to 40 per cent off when compared to other high-end jewellery stores

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Is China an enemy of Britain? The Director General of MI5 evidently thinks so. In 2023 Sir Ken McCallum declared that more than 20,000 people in the UK had been approached covertly online by Chinese spies.

Sir Ken spoke about the epic scale of Chinese espionage. Recruiting informants online would surely be interpreted by most reasonable people as an unfriendly act. Its what an enemy would do.

However, our weak and pusillanimous Government doesnt regard China as an enemy. It has just stopped the trial of two British-born men who had been accused under the Official Secrets Act of spying for China.

Now well never know whether or not Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry were guilty of the charges which the Crown Prosecution Service originally brought against them following a thorough police investigation.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the trial was scrapped after National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, who was personally appointed by Sir Keir Starmer, ruled that the Government could not brand China an enemy in court.

Christopher Berry leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court in central London last year, having been accused of spying for China

Well never know whether or not Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry were guilty of the charges which the CPS originally brought against them, writes Stephen Glover

It is almost inconceivable that the Prime Minister was unaware of this decision. Attorney General Lord Hermer, who is responsible for the Crown Prosecution Service, must have been involved.

Starmer, Powell, Hermer: here is the familiar dopey trio that recently handed over 35billion of our money to Mauritius to rent a base on the island of Diego Garcia, for which a previous British government had already paid more than 50 years ago.

Jonathan Powell apparently believed that calling China an enemy  which would have been necessary to bring a charge under the Official Secrets Act  would have been at odds with the Governments publicly stated view. This is that China poses only a geostrategic challenge.

Labour has been nuzzling up to China since winning power. Rachel Reeves went to Beijing in January to flash her teeth at members of the Chinese Communist Party, and to drum up more trade and investment. One can only wonder what they made of her.

The sinuous Jonathan Powell slipped off to Beijing in July to powwow with his opposite number. Though this wasnt exactly a clandestine trip, you would need to have been a reader of the Chinese state press to learn about it.

Ive studied Mr Powell since the days when he advised Tony Blair about making concessions to the IRA. We can speculate confidently that the Government didnt want a trial involving alleged spies that might have embarrassed the Chinese Communist Party.

Yet this was no trivial matter. According to a story in last Thursdays Guardian, British prosecutors suspected that Chinas fifth most senior official was in receipt of intelligence from Westminster in a controversial and now abandoned espionage case.

The paper claimed the Crown Prosecution Service said in April 2024 that a senior member of the Chinese Communist Party and a politburo member had received politically sensitive information from two British researchers who were charged with spying for China.

This important person is understood by the Guardian  which may have received assistance from our own security services in publishing its story  to be Cai Qi, the de facto chief of staff to [President] Xi Jinping.

Rachel Reeves meets with Chinese vice-premier He Lifeng while visiting Beijing in January

In other words, this is big stuff. Things might have been said during a court case that would have alienated the Chinese leadership. Its not hard to see why the Government preferred the trial not to go ahead.

How supine and myopic Labour is in its dealings with China. David Cameron and George Osborne were misguided in sucking up to Beijing ten years ago, but we have learnt a lot since then about the repressive and expansionist nature of the Chinese regime.

China is a major trading partner of the UK, though it exports much more to us than we do to them. Britain trades with all kinds of disagreeable countries, and China is no exception.

But this trade should not blind naive Labour panjandrums to the reality of China  which is that it is our enemy. Remember that no less authoritative a person than the Director General of MI5 says that it is engaged in spying on an epic scale.

Im not saying we should prepare for war against China. We are far too feeble to contemplate that. I have misgivings about the under-resourced British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales enraging the Chinese by recently sailing through the contested South China Sea with a depleted carrier group.

This is the other, and contradictory, aspect of British policy. Reeves and Powell butter up the Chinese, and we have just sent a new sympathetic ambassador to Beijing. Yet under pressure from the Americans, who want us to play our traditional supportive role, we are prepared to annoy the monster.

But at home the Government bends over backwards to please Beijing, which will almost certainly be allowed to build a new mega-embassy in the City of London despite concerns about eavesdropping on highly sensitive information. Two suites of anonymous rooms and a tunnel were redacted in Chinese plans for security reasons.

It is reported that China is periodically switching off the water supply to British diplomats in our Embassy in Beijing to put pressure on the Government to grant its demands for the mega-embassy. A strong Government wouldnt let itself be bullied. What do you think ours will do?

Theres another row near Oxford, where Peking Universitys HSBC business school wants to expand its campus in Boars Hill, a village overlooking the Dreaming Spires. When the campus was acquired in 2017 for 8.8 million, its ultimate owner was the Chinese government.

Opponents of the scheme point out that within the direct line of sight of the campus are several Oxford University departments that conduct sensitive scientific research as well as numerous high-tech companies in the Oxford Science Park and the Culham Innovation Centre.

Many of our cash-hungry universities already welcome Chinese students into sophisticated laboratories, where they will learn things that might well be useful to the Chinese state.

Some of our universities are so dependent on money brought by Chinese students that they would collapse without them. Almost 20 per cent of students at Liverpool University are Chinese. There is a similar proportion at University College, London, rated among the worlds top ten universities.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Communist Party is believed to be behind a spate of takeovers of British private schools. More than 30 have been bought by Chinese investors in the past decade. Beijing will educate some of its own cadres on our soil.

Chinese companies (which owe complete loyalty to the Chinese state) already own large pieces of important infrastructure including 10 per cent of Heathrow Airport, and 27.4 per cent of the new nuclear power station being built at Hinkley Point C in Somerset.

China has lots of money, and we are eager to get our hands on it irrespective of the threat to our long-term interests, and despite China being our enemy. I believe that, if necessary, the Government is prepared to manipulate the criminal justice system to please Beijing.

This is what decadence looks like. We abandoned our dignity and our principles long ago. Now Labour is compromising our security to ensure that our new masters are happy.
There is only one course open to the Tories. The polls show them in third place by vote share and, incredibly, in fifth place by seat projection.

The electorate has not forgiven the mistakes of the last government. What, then, can they do?

They must be the adults in the room: the party of order and discipline, the party of living within our means, the party prepared to make unpopular decisions for the long-term good of the economy.

Will that win them the next election? Maybe not. But it will at least keep them viable in the event that a future Reform government goes the way of all populist parties and disappoints its supporters.

Opening the Conservative conference yesterday, Kemi Badenoch committed her party to withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). What was telling was not so much the policy as the serious tone in which it was presented, the preparation that had gone into it, the way in which she anticipated possible problems with implementation.

To say, Lets quit the ECHR is easy. Were all fed up with judges overturning deportation orders on grounds that some foreign criminal might not get the right healthcare in his country of origin.

Kemi Badenoch committed the Tories to withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights in her opening speech at the Conservative conference

Ms Badenoch arrives in Manchester with her husband for the Conservative Party conference

But Badenoch was doing much more than making promises. She had asked her Shadow Attorney General, Lord Wolfson, a serious and highly regarded KC, to look at what needed to change for Britain to be able to enforce repatriation orders. Lord Wolfson, who was not personally against ECHR membership, heard evidence over several months, considering all the possible snags.

What would withdrawal mean for the Good Friday Agreement? For the Windsor Framework (the post-Brexit legal agreement between the UK and EU)? For our Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU? What other treaties might need to change?

What about domestic statutes, such as the Human Rights Act? What about the way immigration tribunals work? What about the wider context of judicial review  that is, the right of judges to look at political decisions?

Lord Wolfson looked at these things thoroughly, with the result that the Tories have a robust and roadworthy policy.

Labour has shown it is incapable of marginally slowing the rise in benefits spending, let alone reversing it

Will it make a difference with voters? I doubt it. Few people, other than political anoraks, are interested in process. Slogans trump substance. Still, it is the right thing to do.

It was, after all, Britains fondness for slogans over substance that got us into this mess. Sir Keir Starmer keeps promising to deport illegals, but the numbers carry on rising. David Cameron had the same problem.

Nigel Farage has not yet had the chance to let us down. But not even his keenest supporters claim that detailed policy is his strong suit. During a recent TV documentary, he was asked how he planned to remove all illegals from Britain when there might be as many as 2 million, and when no other country had ever managed such a thing.

Its an aspiration, he replied cheerfully. When the interviewer said that Reform voters might be expecting more than an aspiration, Farage opined that all policy commitments were aspirations.

My guess is that Reforms style  airy and broad-brush, but also angry and indignant  is going down better than the Tories nerdy obsession with legal changes. For now.

Still, some voters do care about the feasibility of manifesto promises. They may, at present, be fewer than 50 per cent; but they are more than 17 per cent, which is where the Conservatives are polling.

What goes for immigration goes for economics. Labour came to office thinking there was a lever marked growth that the Tories had for some reason refused to pull.

In fact, our economy is weak because we keep voting to weaken it. We demand generous welfare payments, the pensions triple lock, paid sick leave, the right to work from home, a state monopoly in healthcare. Undoing these things would be unpopular, but would deliver growth.

Labour has shown it is incapable of marginally slowing the rise in benefits spending, let alone reversing it.

Reform baulks at saying unpopular things. It backs the triple lock and wants to lift the cap on child benefit, while at the same time promising huge tax cuts.

Again, I suspect it is capturing the popular mood better than the Tories, with their unexciting insistence on balancing the books.

The question is whether that mood will last when the collapse comes. It may happen under a future Reform government, though my guess is that it will happen sooner, under Labour.

When it is clear the money has run out, that our quangogracy and administrative state have led us to ruin and we need a thorough overhaul of how we are governed, there will be a demand for a party with a plan.

Argentina needed to touch bottom before it turned to the radical libertarian Javier Milei. Britain itself needed to go through the trauma of the IMF bailout and the Winter of Discontent before it was ready for Margaret Thatcher.

From Badenochs point of view, this will seem unattractive. Must she wait for a crash before people are willing to listen to her?

Not exactly. Wait is the wrong word. If they want to be heard when the time comes, the Tories need to put the work in now, explaining what the problem is  we are spending beyond our means, and we are run by unaccountable judges and bureaucrats  and setting out their solutions.

It will be unrewarding work. They will get scant recognition. The polls will barely flicker.

But, unless they do it, they have no chance of recovering.

There is, of course, another risk. By setting out their detailed plans on immigration and deportations now, they invite Reform to filch them. To which the proper response is surely: Good. If Reform acquires serious and deliverable policies, so much the better for Britain.

Which brings us to the final paradox. The Tories and Reform are very likely to be contesting the next election on near-identical manifestoes. The two parties may appeal to different electorates, both geographically and socio-economically; they may have a very different vibe; but they are closer on policy than either likes to admit.

The best way to bring Britain back to secure borders and growth would be for the two Rightist parties to agree not to field candidates in seats they could not win  the prospect that stalks Labours nightmares.

Reform activists loathe the idea, but I sense that Farage is more realistic. He spoke at his party conference of lack of government experience being his biggest weakness, and he knows how hard it is to find hundreds of qualified parliamentary candidates.

Above all, he knows that, in order to make the required structural changes, he needs a mandate rather than just a majority. Being elected, Starmer-like, with 34 per cent of the vote would be a weak position to take on the entire administrative state.

Is this, then, what the Tories are reduced to? Being the sensible, pro-business party that appeals to a non-populist constituency so as to be the junior coalition partner in an eventual Reform coalition?

There would be no dishonour in that. But the likelier outcome is that Reform wins on its own and then fails to make the unpopular decisions that would bring our budget back into balance. At that stage, there will surely be a market for a party offering economic seriousness.

A plan for victory at the election after next, then? For a party that has existed for three-and-a-half centuries, that is surely an eyeblink.

Lord Hannan of Kingsclere is president of the Institute for Free Trade
Even as Kemi Badenoch was addressing the party faithful for the first time as their leader yesterday, there was talk of plots to unseat her.

One of the factors causing particular unrest is the dire state of the party organisation.

Leaked figures show that attendance at the conference in Manchester is down almost 25 per cent on last year.

Only 3,500 members are registered compared to the 7,000 who were at Reform UKs conference in Birmingham last month.

The 3,500 is a major reduction from the 4,700 who attended last year. Nigel Farages Reform UK, meanwhile, has smashed through the 250,000 membership barrier. Labour has 309,000 members, a 50 per cent drop on the highs of the Jeremy Corbyn era.

Kemi Badenoch delivers her speech during the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester

The Tories membership, I hear, has slumped below 120,000 for the first time.

And they have altered the rules to make it more difficult to oust a leader. They now need a third rather than 15 per cent of their 119 MPs to trigger a contest.

One former Cabinet minister said to me: If by the end of this week nothing has changed, thats when MPs will become really restive, especially looking at how thinly attended our once great gathering of the clan has become.

Little-known fact about Philip Collins, new editor of the Left-wing monthly magazine Prospect: he used to share a house in Londons Notting Hill with Michael Gove, who now edits Right-wing magazine, The Spectator. And they say politics isnt a small world!

There will be fewer flags during the Tory conference than at the Labour gathering last week. They have been banned from the conference hall. So much for being the patriotic party.

Lucy Powell, front-runner to succeed Angela Rayner as deputy Labour leader, is already distancing herself from Starmer. People are sick of us just going on about Nigel Farage all the time. Were trying to out Reform Reform. Lets get back on to what were actually doing to fix the problems that this country faces, she says.

Dame Patricias buckets of tears for Betty

Dame Patricia Routledge, TVs Hyacinth Bucket, who died last week, was a great friend of the late Commons Speaker Betty Boothroyd.

The spinsters shared a northern bond and were both tremendously theatrical yet privately shy. Dame Patricia recited some Shakespeare at Bettys memorial service but was overcome by emotion and did not quite manage it.

Eagle eyes on edgy Starmer

If Sir Keir Starmer looked terrified during his party conference speech, maybe this was why: the Eagle twins, Angela and Maria, were sitting next to each other in the MPs section of the audience.

Angela Eagle was demoted from the Home Office in the recent ministerial reshuffle, while Maria was sacked.

The twins are Labours equivalent of the Mitchell bruvvers in EastEnders.

They were staring at Starmer like two indignant kestrels.
Buried in the depths of No 10 Downing Street, on the desk of national security adviser Jonathan Powell, sits a special phone for secure communications with his counterpart in the White House. It might ring at any time of the day or night.

This phone will have been red-hot in the past 48 hours amid explosive claims that Powell was a critical figure in the collapse of the prosecution of two Britons accused of spying for China.

Powell, it has been claimed, was unwilling for China to be depicted as an enemy of Britain in such a high-profile matter  so the entire legal case against the two men fell apart, no doubt to the dismay of President Donald Trump and his administration.

The result has been a diplomatic storm, yet that wont stop Sir Keir Starmer deferring to 69-year-old Powell on all international matters. The Prime Minister will continue to seek Powells opinion even before he calls on the wisdom of the Foreign Office or new Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.

Powell was a surprise appointment last November, four months after Labours landslide election victory, and has been central to everything the Government has done on the world stage since.

He helped shape British efforts to bolster Ukraine, and was sitting close to Starmer at his first White House meeting with President Trump in February.

'Buried in the depths of No 10 Downing Street , on the desk of national security adviser Jonathan Powell, sits a special phone for secure communications with his counterpart in the White House,' writes Andrew Pierce

He is also deeply involved in the decision  which backfired  for Britain to recognise a Palestinian state, even though terrorist group Hamas gave no assurances about the fate of the remaining 48 Israeli hostages.

The decision was driven by political tactics rather than policy, with Starmer desperate to throw some red meat to his increasingly vocal critics on the Labour Left.

But tactics and strategy have been at the heart of Powells extraordinary career. Directing operations around the world from Downing Street, he is in deeply familiar territory.

Powell, after all, was Tony Blairs foreign policy adviser and chief of staff from his time as Leader of the Opposition to his last day as Prime Minister in 2007. The two men continued to work together after government, when Blair trousered tens of millions of pounds advising presidents, sheikhs and dictators.

At times, Powell has kept one foot in the past. He often makes the mistake of referring to the current prime minister as Tony.

Known for his intellect, Oxford-educated Powell can be brusque to the point of rude and speaks so rapidly, his delivery has been likened to machine-gun fire.

He was a key figure in the Northern Ireland peace talks which led to the 1998 Good Friday agreement.

Blair shook the hand of Martin McGuinness, the Sinn Fein minister who was once the IRAs brutal second-in-command, but Powell refused to do the same. His feelings towards the IRA were coloured by the fact they had ambushed his father in Northern Ireland during the Second World War and shot him through the ear. Air Vice-Marshal John Powell survived the attack.

Usually, the national security adviser is a career diplomat. But in this case, as a political appointee, Powell is not subject to the same scrutiny. The Cabinet Office has refused to let him be grilled by

Parliaments national security strategy committee.

The Conservatives have called for a parliamentary investigation into why he has been given special-adviser status  meaning he does not have to answer to Parliament, even though he deals directly with foreign governments on behalf of our own.

The scrutiny is needed. The mistakes on his watch are piling up.

Powell was in favour of Lord Mandelson becoming US ambassador, for example, and was heavily involved in the deal that led to Britain handing over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

Powell is delighted to be back at the heart of government with a role taking in what had previously been two jobs: that of national security adviser and foreign policy adviser to No 10.

One person with knowledge of the arrangement said when he got the job: Its impossible for Jonathan Powell to do both of those jobs well. The growing list of errors suggests that prediction is coming true.
King Charles's goddaughter, India Hicks, has revealed why she took her daughter out of school to attend Paris Fashion Week.

The 58-year-old, who is the daughter of Lady Pamela and David Hicks, took to her Substack account to write a piece about the trip.

According to India, taking her 17-year-old daughter Domino out of school for a day or two, 'raised a few eyebrows - chiefly [her] own'.

However, she added, she felt that taking a trip can be educational, and, she noted, her daughter's headmaster is 'forever urging the importance of 'real-world experience".'

The entrepreneur and writer then jokingly wrote: 'frankly, what could be more instructive and certainly amusing than witnessing a world in which grown adults panic over seating charts?'.

According to India, who is also a photographer, the excursion got off to a tricky start when ahead of their departure, they realised Domino's passport was at school, leading to a 90-minute detour.

However, they made it to their Eurostar seats, with India remarking that 'Paris, in all its absurd and exquisite glory, awaited'.

Describing her own relationship with fashion, India said it was 'slightly ambivalent', praising it for its 'capacity to delight, provoke, and occasionally scandalise'.

India Hicks' 17-year-old daughter Domino (pictured, left) is seen posing with Heidi Klum (pictured, right) during Paris Fashion Week

Less positive, however, she wrote, is 'the self-importance that so often accompanies it'.

India said: 'Fashion should be expressive, not oppressive. Yet it remains one of the most powerful industries on earth - an empire built on beauty, aspiration, and billions.

While at Paris Fashion Week, the mother-daughter duo attended Christian Louboutins show (which India described as a 'delirious cocktail of sequins, theatre, and self-aware excess').

The designer, who has known India since they were in their 20s, hosted what she described as a 'spectacle' - complete with a performance by the Sapeur-Pompier de Paris marching band, during which Christian joined in, playing the drum.

The 'joyous' event with its irreverent theatricality and 'celebration of imagination' reminded India why she had originally fallen in love with fashion, she wrote.

It was not the only outing they had in Paris: the following day, India and Domino attended a event hosted by the World Monuments Fund, 'an organisation devoted to safeguarding endangered cultural heritage around the world,

The gala, marking the organisation's 60th anniversary, was artistically directed by Zoe de Givenchy - a friend of India's - and was 'a monument to good taste'.

Returning to the topic of whether the trip was educational, India wrote that it 'undeniably' was.

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER: The elegant duo also attended a gala - hosted by the World Monuments Fund - while in Paris

But, she concluded: 'In a world increasingly run by algorithms, learning to navigate a Parisian seating chart might just be the ultimate survival skill - though I reminded Domino theres a great deal more to life than who gets the front row.'

The trip comes several months after India, who was a bridesmaid at Charles and Diana's wedding, recalled a 'nerve-wracking' encounter in her younger years.

Photographer India remembered the occasion that her 'thoughtful' godfather tasked her with taking the family Christmas card photo - despite being 'young and inexperienced' at the time.

The 57-year-old was invited by Charles to photograph himself alongside his former wife, Princess Diana, and their sons William and Harry. She revealed in an interview with Hello! magazine: 'So, I went to Highgrove and photographed him and Diana and the boys, which was quite nerve-wracking.'

At the time, India had recently finished photography school and was 'quite young and inexperienced', but her 'thoughtful' godfather entrusted her with the job anyway.

She said that Charles had taken a big 'risk' when employing her as photographer since she 'could have been a complete idiot with a camera'.

The fashion designer called the King 'a very considerate godfather', and spoke affectionately of his dutiful habit of always remembering to write Christmas and birthday cards.

She also praised the monarch's vision for the future, as well as his long-standing commitment to combating climate change and backing for green energy. She said he was 'ahead' of the curve' in his progressive beliefs.
Many have bashed Murphy for embellishing Gein's crimes for the series

Ryan Murphy's latest Netflix show Monster: The Ed Gein Story has been fiercely criticized by viewers for its creative 'liberties' with many frustrated by its 'fake' storylines.

The latest in the anthology series arrived on the platform on October 3 and focuses on the convicted murderer, grave robber, and suspected serial killer.

Starring Charlie Hunnam in the titular role, the eight-episodes explores Gein's heinous crimes, however, annoyed viewers have blasted Murphy for embellishing some of the facts of his case.

One aspect of the show that has irritated fans is the introduction of Gein's supposed girlfriend, Adeline Watkins, played by Suzanna Son.

On the show, the pair are engaged in a romantic relationship, but in reality, the real-life Adeline refuted these claims. In a 1957 article, she insisted that reports of a romance were a complete exaggeration and that the pair had only known each other a few months.

Another area of backlash has stemmed from the depiction of Gein using a chainsaw to kill his victims.

Gein confessed to killing hardware store owner Bernice Worden and tavern owner Mary Hogan, both of whom were killed with a firearm.

In Murphy's series, however, Gein kills them using a chainsaw, like Leatherface does in the 1974 film Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which was loosely based on his crimes.

Charlie Hunnam plays Ed Gein in Ryan Murphy's Monster: The Ed Gein Story

The series shows Gein using a chainsaw to kill his victims, which did not happen in reality

Additionally, Gein is portrayed as to having killed his older brother, Henry Edward Gein. Henry was found dead aged 43, with the coroner listing the cause as asphyxiation.

While many have speculated that Gein was responsible for his death, this theory was never proven.

On the show, he also killed babysitter Evelyn Hartley, whom he abducts, tortures, and kills in retaliation for her taking his babysitting job.

While Hartley did go missing in 1954, she was not abducted or killed by Gein.

At the end of Monster: The Ed Gein Story, he is seen assisting the FBI in helping to catch Ted Bundy, but this did not happen in reality.

Gein was arrested in 1957, almost two decades before Bundy committed his murders.

Viewers have vented their annoyance at Murphy's embellishments on social media.

Taking to Reddit, one complained: 'Now here's the thing, I could forgive all this if it's revealed at the end that it's all "fantasy and myth" this series could have saved itself by being an examination of how myths become widely believed.'

Gein was a body snatcher, grave robber and murderer. He was remanded to a psychiatric institution, where he died aged 77

They continued: 'Someone who watches this series to completion and takes it at face value will come out thinking that Ed killed people with a chainsaw, he is the confirmed killer of Evelyn Hartley, Adeline Atkins knew he what he was doing and was fascinated by it, that Ed had a fling with his second victim, and hell, that he is the reason Ted Bundy got caught.

'It's dogsh**, but I doubt I'll be able to keep anyone from watching.'

Another wrote: 'I knew he [Murphy] embellished some things in Dahmer and the Menendez brothers, which for Dahmer was for sure making it seem like one of the victims was dating him, but there was still a lot of truth to what the series depicted.

'However, the Ed Gein Story is just soooooo far from what happened.

'Making Adeline an accomplice, being involved with one of the victims, killing the babysitter because she "stole the job," and the fact that SO much of the show is about Adeline being an accomplice too is just asinine.

'I never expected this to be fully based on facts, but to have this much "creative liberty" is going to have people think it's all true. Super frustrating. They didn't have to do all that, it still would have been a great series.'

A third slammed: 'Ryan Murphy doesn't care about facts or any victims of his series. He sensationalizes, romanticizes, and glamorizes, real life killers and make them "hot."

'His ideas are good for maybe 2.5 seconds then he has to take someone else's story and make it his own. Gotta make that green somehow.'

In a separate thread, one posted: 'Why couldn't they stick to just the facts of this case! That is enough to be a great series. All the fake storylines just take away from the series in my opinion.'

Another Reddit user branded the show 'much more historically inaccurate than I expected.'

'They take way too many artistic liberties,' they continued. 'I even googled some of the stuff he supposedly did, and a lot of it never happened.

Gein is escorted from the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory to the county jail after confessing to two murders

Television writer, director, and producer Ryan Murphy has been critiqued for embellishing Gein's story for his series

'The show invents characters like a romantic interest, suggests he influenced or consulted on other crimes, exaggerates his psychological state, and misrepresents his family and relationships

'Anyone else find it tonally all over the place? Like half thriller-drama, half accidental comedy? I wanted to like this because the Monster series was intriguing and I learned stuff about Dahmer and the Menendez brothers, but this just feels like modern Hollywood slop.'

Agreeing, another commented: 'It was terrible in so many ways. Most of it was completely fictionalized and not at all what happened.

'It went off on so many ridiculous tangents and jumped time back and forth for no apparent reason. And the end? Comically bad. Please stop giving Ryan Murphy the green light to keep churning out Z-grade horror-porn.'

Others, however, have learned to take Murphy's biographical crime drama anthology with a pinch of salt.

'I've always found Murphy's shows to be entertaining,' one said. 'I'm not particularly interested in Ed Gein, so I haven't watched this show, but I used to love Nip/Tuck and I also really enjoyed his Mendez Brothers show. I guess I must be his target demo!'

'To be fair, I feel like most of Ryan Murphy's shows have always been very wild and over-the-top,' another commented.

'I'd never take them at face value... I kind of assumed this would be exploitation schlock from the images and trailers.'

A third added: 'I don't know why people are still outraged and surprised by a Ryan Murphy production it's like watching Tyler Perry movies and still surprised he's a sh** writer and director.'

Besides Monster: The Ed Gein Story, Gein's horrific deeds and twisted psyche has provided the inspiration for  among others  Norman Bates in Psycho, Leatherface in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs.

Between 1947 and 1952, he exhumed the bodies of nine freshly-buried women, bringing the corpses  along with the women he murdered  back to his farmhouse, where he would flay them and cut up their bodies.

After his arrest, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and, after being found not guilty by reason of insanity in 1968, committed to psychiatric hospitals until he died of respiratory failure in 1984, aged 77.
Have you heard? Popular US YouTuber Candace Owens is actually 50 per cent human, 50 per cent serpent. In the late 1980s, CIA operatives in upstate New York spliced together human DNA with that of the particularly venomous saw-scaled viper, implanted it in an egg and incubated it. The result is Owens.

How do I know? A guy on TikTok said so. An Instagram influencer who saw her in real life swore there was a little fork at the end of her tongue. Plus weve never actually seen Owens full DNA profile so we cant be sure, can we?

If you havent heard of Owens, you soon will, because she is set for an epic legal showdown against French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte  or Jean -Michel Trogneux, as the YouTuber likes to call her. Thats because Owens insists the First Lady of France was actually born male. Yes, the chic, Chanel-clad mother-of-three was, according to Owens, once the possessor of viande et deux legumes (meat and two veg).

For months Owens has been pushing this theory on her YouTube channel, even alleging that Brigitte is actually her own brother. Pictures of the First Lady and her sibling are shown side by side as damning evidence, because of course its totally bizarre for a brother and sister to look alike.

While cracking this mystery, Owens preens like a modern-day Poirot, when in fact shes more cop Frank Drebin from The Naked Gun. The theory that Madame Macron is her own brother? Shot down in seconds by the fact that the real Monsieur Trogneux is alive and has appeared in public alongside his sister.

While cracking this mystery, Candace Owens preens like a modern-day Poirot, when in fact shes more cop Frank Drebin from The Naked Gun

Nevertheless, millions of monobrain-celled followers across the world have lapped up Owens nonsense. An estimated one billion people worldwide know of the story, causing the Macrons significant distress.

In July, they fought back, taking the highly unusual step of filing a US defamation lawsuit, calling out Owens verifiably false and devastating lies and pledging to provide pictures proving Madame Macron is a woman (the mind boggles). Even this is not enough for Owens, who has said she will demand that Macron undergoes a medical exam to prove her sex. Yes, this God-fearing truthseeker will only be happy when a 72-year-old lady is in stirrups, being confronted by a rubberglove-wearing doctor. Disgustingly, she adds: Were coming for her medical records.

Lets call this what it is: bullying, on a global scale.

It doesnt matter whether your husband is the president or how much youve got in the bank. To know that millions are looking at your facial features, your figure, poring over your history, gossiping and sniggering? Horrible.

Yet online bullies like Owens get away with it time and time again because they wrap themselves in the noble-sounding banner of free speech. In response to the lawsuit from the Macrons, Owens cried: In contravention of a sacred precept of US Constitutional Law, the President and First Lady of France ... have filed a baseless defamation suit against an independent American journalist.

How predictable: the sacred precept of free speech, which allows you to peddle whatever vile rubbish you like.

Owens is just one of many who interpret freedom of speech as the freedom to spout nonsense, to ruin reputations, to hurt whomever you want. Another American controversialist who called upon the free speech defence was Alex Jones, who insisted the 2012 Sandy Hook elementary school massacre  in which 20 children and six staff were killed  was a hoax, causing incalculable distress to the families involved.

Imagine: you lose your child, you are drowning in grief, and some red-faced ranter is telling the world its all lies.

In July, Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron fought back, taking the highly unusual step of filing a US defamation lawsuit, calling out Owens verifiably false and devastating lies

Meanwhile, no doubt Owens will stand in court and  with proud, patriotic fervour  talk about her First Amendment right to free speech. Shell cast herself as a seeker of the truth, a good old-fashioned journalist who must be free to air her findings.

But this, of course, is pure baloney. There is one big motivator for the peddling of nonsense on an industrial scale, and it is money. The more outlandish the claim, the more attention Owens gets. Controversy equals clicks. She has even sold merchandise including a Man of the Year T-shirt featuring Brigitte Macron.

The whole sorry saga speaks volumes about how easy it is to monetise bullying these days. Owens could have done great things. Shes eloquent, intelligent, beautiful, well connected. She was once feted by senior Republicans, including President Trump. She could have achieved high office herself, but is instead making a living by saying the French presidents wife once had a penis. A filthy business thats making her filthy rich.

In an ideal world, the Macrons lawsuit would be the humbling of Owens. Shed be forced to apologise, lose millions, lose face with all those toothless hillbillies who hang on her every word.

Sometimes  rarely  the conspiracy theorists who ruin lives do pay for their viciousness. Alex Jones was found liable for defamation and was ordered to pay $965million (870million) in damages to the families of the Sandy Hook victims. I doubt Owens will be made to pay in the same way. Shell say she believed she was telling the truth, and cite her right to free speech.

President Macron has admitted they were advised against bringing this case. They know theyll probably lose  because in America, winning defamation cases against well known figures requires you to prove malice, not just that the person has lied.

But, Macron claims, this is about honour. Its about standing up to the bully, and I salute them for it. As for my claim that Owens is half human, half snake: OK, this is unverified . . . But, then again, can we really be sure that someone so devoid of feeling and compassion is 100 per cent human?

Give 'breast is best' a rest, Penny

How kind of Penny Lancaster to donate breast milk to her stepgranddaughter when the babys mother, Kimberly (above with Penny) wasnt producing enough and Penny was feeding her own baby son. Buthow tellingabout thecontinuing pressure to breastfeed, too. I have seen women pushed to the edge of madness by the breast is bestmantra. Though Ibreastfedall four of mine, I never really enjoyed it. As my wise mother said: To bond with someone you dont need to put your nipple in their mouth.

Why this picture's a giveaway

News of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urbans split is sad, and surprising considering their frequent public displays of affection (PDAs). On red carpets they snogged and stroked like teenagers taking their first date to the back of a Fiat Uno. Maybe PDAs should be relabelled Pre-Divorce Alerts.

Apparently, King Charles is very concerned about the impact social media is having on young people. Too right. It is a mental health catastrophe. It is ruining childrens ability to relate, to concentrate, to feel happy in their own skin. It is peddling porn, violence, radical ideologies. When even the monarch  not known for being down with the kids on TikTok  is sounding the alarm, isnt it time we banned social media for under-16s?
Launching her new business last week, just a month after signing a huge partnership deal with Marks & Spencer, the stylistturnedinfluencer Melissa HoldbrookAkposoe announced to her hundreds of thousands of fans that the secret was finally out.

After becoming well known for her laundry and lifestyle hacks, tips and secrets, it was only a matter of time before Melissa brought out her own range of products.

But the Daily Mail can reveal that the launch of her new line, Le Luxe, which includes scent boosters, washing detergent and fabric mist, has been overshadowed by concerned consumers claiming that Melissas new laundry products could cause fertility issues.

This, Im told, has caused Melissa, 34, quite the headache, so much so that she has blocked all of her critics in an attempt to silence any negative messaging in the runup to the ranges launch.

And now experts have confirmed to the Daily Mail that the ingredients used in Le Luxe products might indeed be harmful to people looking to conceive.

Olivia Musa, who owns The Male Fertility Clinic, which has locations in both London and Manchester, said on TikTok last week: I am not going to say the name of this influencer, but she is really popular. She has just started a new business releasing a perfume scented laundry detergent.

I own a fertility clinic in London and Manchester. And we are always seeing men and women who are wondering why their fertility results are so poor.

So the reason I feel compelled to put a post out is because of how damaging fragrance can be to hormonal health, there are so many hidden disruptors.

The stylistturnedinfluencer Melissa HoldbrookAkposoe launched her new line, Le Luxe, which includes scent boosters, washing detergent and fabric mist

The three Le Luxe products at the centre of the controversy: the laundry beads, 40, tumble dryer sheets, 35, and a clothes mist, 30

Melissa gained her online presence through being UK rapper Stormzys stylist

So I posted to say: If you want to be a mum or dad, choose fragrance-free and see beyond the marketing.

If you are sleeping in sheets and wearing clothes that are doused in perfume, then you are putting your hormonal health at risk. I wish the woman all the success, but I am just looking out for friends and patients.

Fans flooded Olivias comment section after the video received half a million views, thanking her for spreading awareness.

And while Olivia chose not to name her target, in the social media world it was no secret who she was talking about.

I got blocked for talking about a product which could make it harder for the girlies to fall pregnant in the future, Olivia said.

After receiving some hateful comments, she posted another video: Just a reminder that this was not a personal attack. As someone in the field, my obligation is to help men and women who are unaware that these types of products may be best avoided when trying to conceive.

The Daily Mail asked fertility expert Dr Robin Mesnage, research fellow at Kings College London, to review the three Le Luxe products at the centre of the controversy: the laundry beads, 40, tumble dryer sheets, 35, and a clothes mist, 30.

And the results prove that Olivia was right to raise some concerns with her followers.

Olivia Musa, who owns The Male Fertility Clinic, hinted on TikTok that such products may be harmful to those looking to conceive

Ive poured my heart and soul into Le Luxe to ensure that every product reflects the highest level of premium quality, Melissa told fans following the launch of the new line

Essentially, most fragrances contain endocrinedisrupting chemicals, which can disrupt hormone production, harm ovarian follicle development, and are linked to issues such as irregular menstrual cycles, reduced sperm count and higher miscarriage rates.

Dr Mesnage said: These products contain plastics and polymers, preservatives such as phenoxyethanol, and chemicals such as quaternary ammonium compounds.

Some of these ingredients have been linked to endocrine-disrupting effects and have even shown reproductive toxicity in animal studies.

There are also studies suggesting that similar effects may already be occurring in human populations exposed to these toxic substances.

Laundry products often combine plastics, preservatives and quaternary ammonium. Each of these has raised health concerns, ranging from skin allergies to impacts on fertility.

The launch of Le Luxe was designed to see Melissa expanding her influence via a new brand of luxury scented laundry products that bring high-end fragrance to everyday care.

The promotional material reveals the scent beads are infused with 12 per cent perfume and tumble dryer sheets enriched with 25 per cent perfume.

The website adds: Le Luxe leaves your laundry so irresistibly fragrant that subtlety doesnt stand a chance.

The Daily Mail asked fertility expert Dr Robin Mesnage, research fellow at Kings College London, to review the three Le Luxe products at the centre of the controversy

Known on Instagram and TikTok as melissaswardrobe, 34, has a combined following of 633,000.

She gained her online presence through being rapper Stormzys stylist and her success in persuading her followers to buy products coined the phrase Mel made me do it.

Naturally, Stormzy then released a song in 2022 entitled Mel Made Me Do It, after her.

She first got into styling by experimenting with a fashion blog when she was 20 years old and got her big break when she was contacted by Maya Jama, presenter and exgirlfriend of Stormzy.

One thing led to another and, after becoming personal stylist to the likes of Anthony Joshua as well as Stormzy, she began working with luxury brands such as Dior and Chanel, and even branched out into interior design.

She is renowned for her Midaslike ability to sell out the beauty, homeware and fashion picks that she recommends on her personable Instagram Stories.

An M&S jacket that she featured in a post went on to sell out in under two weeks and helped drive the fifth highest online sales day for the brand.

Her love for M&S products bagged her a huge deal with the high street retail giant last month when she was revealed as the new face, she made her debut as the host of Love That, a weekly YouTube shopping show on which she gives fashion advice and tips.

She also runs Its A Lifestyle, Hun, a blog and Instagram account where she hands out expert recommendations and lifestyle lessons for the modern cosmopolitan.

Following the launch of her new business Le Luxe, she released a message to her followers and fans. Ive poured my heart and soul into Le Luxe to ensure that every product reflects the highest level of premium quality, she said.

It has taken years of dedication to perfect these creations and I couldnt be prouder to finally share them with you.

Everything that carries my name must embody what I stand for: uncompromising quality, a truly luxurious experience, and products that make a meaningful difference.

At its core, Le Luxe is about transforming the everyday  elevating simple routines into moments of indulgence and joy.

Its often the smallest details that shape how we feel about ourselves and our lives, and Le Luxe exists to make those little things matter in a beautifully big way.

Melissa has been approached for comment.
Hilaria Baldwin was forced to address rumors about her marriage to Alec Baldwin after fans noticed that she hadn't been seen wearing her wedding rings recently - and she didn't hold anything back in her sassy reply.

The mom-of-seven, 41, has been competing on Dancing With The Stars this season, and has been paired with partner Gleb Savchenko, performing some seriously steamy routines on the big stage.

Her husband, Alec, 67, has been by her side every step of the way, appearing in the audience to support his wife of 13 years.

But recently, some fans had taken notice that her wedding ring had been absent in some of her social media posts.

However, according to Hilaria, there's no trouble in paradise for her and Alec, as she responded to rumors in a video posted to Instagram Sunday.

In the video, she seductively cuddled with a Beetlejuice stuffed animal, as she displayed a comment from a user named Cammy, asking where her wedding rings were.

'Don't worry Cammy, got my Alec stand in here while he is gone working,' Hilaria wrote in the caption, adding a crying-laughing emoji.

'And ring is right here (though I don't wear to practice because it hurts with the crazy stuff we are doing),' her message continued.

Hilaria Baldwin was forced to address rumors about her marriage to Alec Baldwin after fans noticed that she hadn't been seen wearing her wedding rings recently - and she didn't hold anything back in her sassy reply

Her husband, Alec, has been by her side every step of the way, appearing in the audience to support his wife of 13 years

The mom-of-seven has been competing on Dancing With The Stars this season, and has been paired with partner Gleb Savchenko, performing some seriously steamy routines on the big stage

Last month, she also addressed Alec's busy schedule when he didn't appear at one of the DWTS shows.

'So, Alec is doing a movie right now,' Hilaria told Fox News Digital.

'He's doing a movie, he's doing a show, he's been traveling so much. He'll be here next week, but we're juggling,' she explained.

However, all of her seven children have been in the audience to watch Mom.

Hilaria and Alec are parents to daughters Carmen, 12, and Maria Lucia, four, and Ilaria, two as well as sons Rafael, 10, Leonardo, nine, Romeo, seven, and Eduardo, five.

'We had a certain plan to be in New York right now and then all of a sudden the universe opened and I was offered this incredible experience,' Hilaria explained to the outlet.

'And so I packed up all the kids and in a day. I signed the contract to do 'Dancing with the Stars' in between landing and getting our luggage,' she shared.

'This has been a really wild whirlwind that I'm so grateful for, and it's imposed some shifting.'

'We had a certain plan to be in New York right now and then all of a sudden the universe opened and I was offered this incredible experience,' Hilaria explained to the outlet

The yoga expert took to Instagram showing their trip to the Magic Kingdom in Anaheim, California with her dance partner in tow

And while Alec's been gone, it looks like her partner, Gleb, has been stepping up.

Last week, he accompanied the mother-of-seven and her kids on a trip to Disneyland.

The yoga expert took to Instagram showing their trip to the Magic Kingdom in Anaheim, California with her dance partner in tow.

Hilaria captioned the shot: 'Magical @disneyparks! From rides to princesses and cars I'm pretty sure Edu is adopting Savchenko.'

Hilaria said she and her kids 'had the best day,' wrapping up her post in saying, 'So excited for @dancingwiththestars @disney night on Tuesday! #dwts.'

Viewers can catch Hilaria and Gleb on Dancing With The Stars this Tuesday night, as they are set to compete for the fourth week.
She has issued two public apologies over the years in response to upset

The dancer and singer, 37, wore the offensive costume to a party in 2013

Julianne Hough has once again left many horrified after her blackface Halloween costume resurfaced online over a decade later.

The Dancing with the Stars pro, 37, shocked partygoers in 2013 when she dressed up as Suzanne 'Crazy Eyes' Warren, played by Uzo Aduba, on the Netflix show Orange Is the New Black.

For the look, Julianne wore her locks in a knotted hair do and dressed in a bright orange jumpsuit which also featured a name badge.

She also controversially painted her face black. Blackface is deemed racist and incredibly offensive. Traditionally it was used to portray a caricature of Black people.

While Julianne has twice apologized for the offense caused by her costume, many have been left stunned after seeing it for the first time.

Taking to Reddit, one wrote: 'I often think about how Julianne Hough didn't see a problem with blackface until she was literally inside that Halloween party.'

Another asked: 'Why couldn't she have just used her actual face to dress as the very obvious white woman main character if she wanted to do OITNB so badly?'

A third quipped: 'You'd think famous people would get like a crash course in Common Sense and Social Awareness from their PR reps the day they need to hire one.'

Julianne Hough's offensive Halloween costume from 2013 has resurfaced in a Reddit thread

The Dancing with the Stars professional darkened her skin as she dressed as Orange Is the New Black character Crazy Eyes

'Like how can you be in the public eye and so unbelievably ignorant that you didn't think this would be unacceptable?' asked a fourth.

Another responded: 'Oh my GOSH???? WHAT THE F***.'

'How dim can a person be???' asked a sixth.

Shortly after photographs were published of Julianne's offensive costume, she issued an apology online.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, at the time, she said: 'I am a huge fan of the show Orange is the New Black, actress Uzo Aduba, and the character she has created.

'It certainly was never my intention to be disrespectful or demeaning to anyone in any way. I realize my costume hurt and offended people and I truly apologize.'

Julianne apologized again in 2021 when she faced criticism over the controversial CBS competition show, The Activist, which pitted activists against each other.

'Wearing blackface was a poor choice based on my own white privilege and white body bias that hurt people and is something that I regret doing to this day,' she said

Suzanne 'Crazy Eyes' Warren was played by Uzo Aduba on the Netflix show

Julianne addressed the controversy surrounding her blackface in a statement shared in 2021

'However, the regret that I live with pales in comparison to the lived experiences of so many.

'My commitment has been to reflect and act differently. Not perfectly, but hopefully with a more developed understanding that racism and white supremacy is harmful to ALL people.'

Julianne isn't the only celebrity to have caused upset with an inappropriate Halloween costume.

Chloe Sevigny sparked outrage after she dressed up as dead Princess Diana two years after the royal died following a car crash in Paris.

Bill Maher also caused backlash after he dressed as a dead Steve Irwin just weeks after the Crocodile Hunter's death in 2006.
First Lady Melania Trump cut a casual-cool figure as she joined her husband in Virginia for the celebration of the U.S. Navy's 250th birthday on Sunday - as she issued a rallying cry to the crowd.

Melania, 55, took the stage this weekend to greet the Navy, as she yelled out, 'Hooyah, Navy!' three times to the crowd.

The word 'hooyah' is often used as a battle cry in the U.S. Navy to help build morale among recruits.

She was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd, and recalled her experience with sailors from the USS George H.W. Bush, in 2018, and the 'pride and professionalism of the sailors' she met on that vessel.

It was a full day for The President and the First Lady, who kept her look quite relaxed, even though the pieces totaled over $1,000.

She sported a dark brown, oversized leather bomber jacket by Lamarque, which retails for $745.

The jacket features a sharp collar and silver zipper.

She paired the jacket with a crisp white button-down shirt from one of her favorite designers, Dolce & Gabanna, along with a pair of blue skinny jeans from shuttered brand m.i.h. jeans.

First Lady Melania Trump, 55, cut a casual-cool figure as she joined her husband in Virginia for the celebration of the U.S. Navy's 250th birthday on Sunday - as she issued a rallying cry to the crowd

She sported a dark brown, oversized leather bomber jacket by Lamarque, which retails for $745

She paired the jacket with a crisp white button-down shirt from one of her favorite designers, Dolce & Gabanna, along with a pair of blue skinny jeans from shuttered brand m.i.h. jeans

To top things off, Melania slipped on a pair of $595 black crocodile skin loafers from Emme Parsons and a $55 USA hat from the Trump store.

She wore her long, light brown locks in loose curls, tucking her hair under the cap.

Upon arriving in Norfolk, President Trump and the First Lady observed a demonstration of naval sea power from aboard the USS George H.W. Bush, which included displays of firepower as well as various maritime aircraft, including F-18s and F-35s, taking off from aircraft carriers.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of the Navy, John Phelan, were also in attendance.

After Melania took to the crowd, President Trump made a speech, as he called for pay raises for sailors after blaming Democrats for the government shutdown.

'Do not worry about it,' Trump said as he promised to get sailors their money back when the government reopens. Sailors in attendance cheered and clapped.

Trump blamed his political opponents for the mess in Washington, telling the crowd, 'we have to take care of this little gnat that's on our shoulder called the Democrats. They want to give all our money to illegal aliens that pour into the country.'

The President also noted that there was a 'waiting list for people wanting to get into the United States, Navy, Coast Guard, Marines,' and even the Space Force.'

Melania Trump wore quite the expensive outfit to the Navy's 250th anniversary celebration

She wore her long, light brown locks in loose curls, tucking her hair under the cap, which is for sale at the Trump store

After Melania took to the crowd, President Trump made a speech, as he called for pay raises for sailors after blaming Democrats for the government shutdown

When the Trump's arrived to the UN earlier last month, both the escalator and his teleprompter malfunctioned

The President and First Lady's weekend appearance comes just a few weeks after the couple was caught in an intense, finger-wagging conversation caught on camera outside the White House.

The President and his First Lady were filmed having an animated exchange through the windows of Marine One as it landed on the South Lawn on Wednesday night.

At one point, Trump was even seen waving a finger at his wife, and Melania was captured shaking her head.

However, as it turns out, the two were not in the midst of a fight, though that's what critics may have wanted to believe.

Forensic lip-reader Jeremy Freeman told Daily Mail that Trump wasn't 'having a go' at Melania, but rather, talking about what was happening this week at the United Nations summit in New York City.

The lip-reader believes that Melania said of the escalator incident to her husband: 'You just continued', to which he replied: 'It was unbelievable. How can you do that.'

When the Trump's arrived to the UN earlier last month, both the escalator and his teleprompter malfunctioned.

Trump wrote the nation a message on Truth Social after the incident, typing, 'A REAL DISGRACE took place at the United Nations yesterday - Not one, not two, but three very sinister events!'

He said that given the escalator incident, it's 'amazing that Melania and I didn't fall forward onto the sharp edges of these steel steps, face first. It was only that we were each holding the handrail tightly or, it would have been a disaster.'
An estimated 80 to 100 million adults in the US may have fatty liver disease and are unaware of it.

The liver often remains silent even when diseased, which is why diagnosis is frequently a surprise and occurs when the condition has reached the advanced stages.

Nearly 96 percent of adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), one of the most common forms of liver disease, are unaware of their condition, experts have warned.

While liver disease is hard to diagnose because the symptoms such as fatigue and nausea mimic other conditions, Toronto-based internal medicine specialist Dr Siobhan Deshauer says there are 12 tell-tale signs that she always looks for in patients.

Liver disease can be caused by a wide range of factors, including viral infections such as Hepatitis B and C and Hepatitis A, alcohol abuse, metabolic disorders, medications, and genetic disorders.

NAFLD specifically is primarily caused by metabolic dysfunction, not alcohol. It's closely linked to obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

While many people may be familiar with jaundice (the yellowing of the skin), according to Dr Deshauer, the liver can reveal its distress in unexpected ways, starting at your fingertips.

An estimated 80 to 100 million adults in the US may have fatty liver disease and are unaware of it. The liver often remains silent even when diseased (stock image)

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'Your fingernails are constantly growing through a complex, energy-intensive process,' she said in a YouTube video.

'Because of that, changes in your overall health often show up there first - and liver disease is no exception.'

One of the first signs Dr Deshauer mentions is Muehrcke's lines on fingernails.

She said: 'These are horizontal white lines that run across the nails, not on the nail plate itself, but in the tissue underneath.

'You can test it yourself: apply pressure to the nail and the lines will temporarily disappear. Since they're in the nail bed, they don't grow out with the nail.'

These lines are linked to low levels of albumin, a crucial protein made by the liver that helps keep fluid in your blood vessels, transports hormones and drugs, and maintains pH balance.

Low albumin can lead to swelling, fatigue, poor healing, and drug buildup, often due to liver disease, kidney problems, or malnutrition. High albumin is rare and usually caused by dehydration.

Another subtle but important clue is a condition called Terry's nails.

'Normally, nails have a pinkish hue due to blood vessels under the nail bed,' Dr Deshauer explained.

'But with liver disease, that tissue changes and becomes pale. If the lunula, the half-moon at the base of the nail, is still visible, that's normal.

'But when the whole nail is ghostly white, I start thinking about liver dysfunction.'

Like Muehrcke's lines, Terry's nails also reflect low albumin levels seen in liver failure.

Dr Deshauer also sounded the alarm about 'nail clubbing'.

'Ask someone to place their nails back-to-back,' she says, demonstrating with her own hands in a YouTube video.

'If there's a diamond-shaped gap between the nails, that's normal. If not, and the nails appear bulbous or rounded, that's clubbing.'

Clubbing can be genetic, but when new or unexplained, it often suggests chronic problems involving the heart, lungs, or liver.

A distended abdomen is another major warning sign of liver damage.

'People often assume the person is pregnant,' Dr Deshauer says, pointing to an image of a woman with a swollen belly. 'But it's actually ascites, fluid buildup in the abdomen caused by portal hypertension, a result of advanced liver scarring.'

Portal hypertension is high blood pressure in the vein that carries blood to the liver, usually caused by liver scarring (cirrhosis), leading to complications like variceal bleeding, fluid buildup, and spleen enlargement.

This fluid can total more than 500floz in extreme cases, leading to difficulty breathing and severe discomfort.

While liver disease is hard to diagnose, Toronto-based Dr Siobhan Deshauer says there are 12 tell-tale signs that she always looks for in patients

It can be treated with a procedure called paracentesis, where doctors drain the fluid with a needle.

One of the more disturbing signs of liver disease is a phenomenon known as 'caput medusae.'

This is a physical sign of portal hypertension impacting the intestines, spleen, pancreas, and liver, which manifests as engorged, snake-like veins radiating from the belly button area.

'As blood struggles to move through a scarred liver, it finds new routes. Tiny veins under the skin around the belly button start to bulge,' Dr Deshauer said.

'It creates a web-like pattern we call caput medusae, named after the snake-haired figure from Greek mythology.'

It's not just visible veins that are a problem. Internally, especially in the esophagus, veins called varices can swell up and burst.

Dr Deshauer warns that this is one of the most dangerous complications of liver disease because if a swollen, abnormal vein ruptures, it can trigger life-threatening bleeding.

A more common symptom of liver disease involves having a red flush on the palms, a condition known as palmar erythema.

'It shows up over the thenar and hypothenar areas of the palm, but interestingly, it usually spares the center,' says Dr. Deshauer. 'The culprit? High estrogen levels.'

Estrogen levels rise in liver disease because the liver can't break the hormone down properly. This can also lead to another telltale sign: spider nevi or tiny bursts of blood vessels.

This is true for both men and women.

'Spider nevi look like small red dots with tiny blood vessels radiating out,' Dr Deshauer said. 'If you press on them, they disappear - then refill when you release.'

While one or two may be normal, three or more suggest elevated estrogen, particularly when the person isn't pregnant.

Moving back to the hands, if you spot muscle wasting, this could be a cause for concern.

'The liver helps metabolize nutrients and store energy,' Dr Deshauer says. 'When it's failing, the body begins breaking down muscle for fuel.'

Early muscle wasting in liver disease can be seen as visible thinning or hollowing of the muscles in the hands and temples, with prominent bones and sunken areas.

Another symptom known as Dupuytren's contracture or the Viking grip also impacts the hands when it comes to liver disease.

'This one is fascinating,' Dr Deshauer said. 'Dupuytren's contracture is when the fascia of the palm thickens and tightens, pulling the fingers inward.'

Dr. Deshauer suggests trying the 'tabletop test.' This involves laying your palm flat on a surface. If you can't touch the table fully, it may be due to a contracture.

The physician also recommends another test to detect liver problems.

'Your fingernails are constantly growing through a complex, energy-intensive process,' says Dr Deshauer. 'Because of that, changes in your overall health often show up there first - and liver disease is no exception'

She said: 'Ask the patient to hold their arms out and extend their wrists.

'In cases of [a condition known as] hepatic encephalopathy, they'll develop an involuntary flapping tremor - called asterixis.'

This neurological sign arises from ammonia buildup in the blood, a toxin that the liver normally clears. In advanced cases, patients may even develop confusion, personality changes, and, in extreme cases, coma.

One of the more subtle yet unpleasant ends of the spectrum, however, is bad breath. But it's different than typical morning breath, Dr Deshauer says.

'There's a smell I'll never forget,' she said. 'It's sweet, almost musty, and it comes from toxins like dimethyl sulfide that are exhaled in liver failure.

'We call it fetor hepaticus - literally, 'foul odor of the liver.'

Bad breath generally occurs in the later stages of liver disease.

The last two symptoms the doctor covers are jaundice and bruising.

'Jaundice happens when bilirubin builds up,' Dr. Deshauer explains. 'It turns the skin and eyes yellow, and even darkens urine to a tea color.'

Bilirubin is a byproduct of red blood cell breakdown, and when the liver can't process it, levels spike.

And lastly, in liver disease, the liver stops producing thrombopoietin (TPO), which is the key hormone that signals the bone marrow to make platelets, leading to thrombocytopenia (low platelets).

The liver is also responsible for synthesizing most blood-clotting factors, and its dysfunction leads to a decrease in these factors and impaired blood clotting.

These dysfunctions lead to unexplained bruising or excessive bleeding, which are sometimes the first outward signs of something wrong internally.
Scientists have determined that how the brain shape changes with age could indicate early signs of dementia.

Experts are finding that the best way to understand how the brain ages is not by examining individual parts, but by studying its overall structure and how its different regions interact with one another.

In a large study, researchers from Irvine, California and Tenerife, Spain, used brain scans to measure these shape changes. They discovered that as people age, the brain does not shrink evenly. Instead, it changes shape in specific ways.

The bottom portions of the brain, responsible for essential functions such as breathing and heartbeat, and the front parts, critical to certain cognitive functions, tend to expand outward.

The top parts, crucial for language functions, and the back parts, involved in visual processing and motor control, tend to compress inward.

The distance between matching areas on the left and right sides of the brain, especially in the front, also increases.

The physical pulling apart of the brain's hemispheres is a powerful indicator of reduced communication and coordination between the left and right sides of the brain. When the connection between hemispheres weakens, the brain's network becomes less efficient.

These specific shape changes, confirmed across multiple groups, were directly linked to poorer cognitive skills, such as reasoning, marking them as a clear physical sign of cognitive impairment.

Scientists now believe the key to understanding brain aging lies in studying its overall structure and the interactions between regions, rather than analyzing individual parts in isolation (stock)

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As the US population continues to skew older, rates of dementia in the US are projected to balloon in the coming years, with the current estimate that cases will rise from the current seven million to nearly 13 million by 2060.

A normal facet of aging is gradual brain shrinkage. On average, the brain shrinks by about 0.2 percent per year after 60. By the time a person reaches 80, their brain may be about 10 to 15 percent smaller than it was in their 30s.

Dr Niels Janssen, the senior author of the study and a professor at Universidad de La Laguna in Tenerife, Spain, said: Most studies of brain aging focus on how much tissue is lost in different regions.

What we found is that the overall shape of the brain shifts in systematic ways, and those shifts are closely tied to whether someone shows cognitive impairment.

To uncover how the brain's shape changes with age, the researchers conducted a massive brain mapping project.

They started with a vast dataset of over 2,600 brain scans from adults ages 30 to 97, some of whom have dementia. They used one large set of scans as their main test group and a second, completely independent set to double-check their results.

They measured the brain's geometry, both its shape and form, in two ways. First, they looked at the brains global shape by virtually placing 400 points on its outer surface.

They then measured the distances between matching points on the left and right sides, creating a detailed map of where the brain was expanding or compressing.

This analysis measured the physical separation between matching areas of the left and right brain. Part A shows that this separation increases with age, most dramatically in the brain's temporal and frontal lobes. Part B reveals that this pulling apart starts early in deep brain regions, spreads to the front and back of the brain in middle age, and is eventually accompanied by a squeezing together in a specific parietal area in the oldest groups

Second, they measured the distance between specific partner regions in the left and right hemispheres. Finally, they connected these physical measurements to real-world function.

Using advanced statistics, they tested whether these patterns of expansion and compression were linked to the participants' age, their performance on memory and reasoning tests and whether they had ever been diagnosed with a cognitive issue.

This allowed them to see not just how the brain changes shape, but how those specific changes might affect a person's cognitive abilities.

The aging brain undergoes a specific and dramatic reshaping, not just an overall shrinkage. Particular patterns of expansion and compression were strongly linked to peoples brain health.

Memory problems were linked to expansion in temporal lobe regions, commonly known as the memory centers. One of the study's most striking findings involves the entorhinal cortex, a vital hub for memory in the medial temporal lobe.

The research suggests that age-related brain reshaping may physically squeeze this fragile region against the base of the skull.

Since this area is also where toxic tau protein first builds up in Alzheimer's, the team proposed that these mechanical and gravitational forces could be a previously unknown reason for its extreme vulnerability.

Dr Michael Yassa, co-author of the study and a neurobiologist at the University of California, Irvine, said: This could help explain why the entorhinal cortex is ground zero of Alzheimers pathology.

Part A in the graphic reveals that in people with clinical impairment (like dementia), their brains have both a strong 'pulling apart' in memory regions (red) and a unique 'squeezing together' in posterior areas (blue) that is not seen in normal aging. Part B shows that different cognitive issues have their own geometric 'fingerprint.' Poor Memory is linked to the memory centers stretching apart. Poor Executive Function (planning/reasoning) is tied to the brain's posterior regions compressing. Poor Working Memory is associated with widespread compression across the brain's lateral surfaces

If the aging brain is gradually shifting in a way that squeezes this fragile region against a rigid boundary, it may create the perfect storm for damage to take root. Understanding that process gives us a whole new way to think about the mechanisms of Alzheimers disease and the possibility of early detection.

Poor executive function, which includes planning and reasoning, was linked to compression in parietal regions, areas for integrating information and vision.

The patterns seen in people with clinical impairment, such as a dementia diagnosis, were even more pronounced than in healthy aging, suggesting this reshaping accelerates with disease.

Janssen said: This isnt just about measuring brain shrinkage. Its about seeing how the brains architecture responds to aging and how that architecture predicts who is more likely to struggle with memory and thinking.

The conclusion that the brains geometry could serve as a biomarker for dementia marks a paradigm shift in the diagnostics of Alzheimers disease and the other forms of dementia that involve shrinkage in the hippocampus and frontal cortex.

Their findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.

The sagging of certain parts of the brain could be detectable long before massive cell death occurs.

A routine MRI could be analyzed to detect this. A specific pattern of expansion and compression could flag a patient as high-risk years before memory tests show a clear problem.

A neurologist can examine a map of a patient's brain and identify a pattern that is highly specific to Alzheimer's, such as strong temporal lobe expansion paired with parietal compression, versus a pattern indicative of another disorder, leading to more accurate diagnoses and targeted treatment plans.
A mom has revealed how one of the happiest days of her life, giving birth to her son, turned into a horrible blur due to a rare cancer diagnosis.

Danika Hilmer from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assumed she would be leaving the hospital with her third child, Banks Mohwinkle, after giving birth in October 2022. Instead, she was given 'devastating' news.

After giving her an injection to try and stop her post-birth bleeding, doctors were still unable to prevent Danika from hemorrhaging and ordered her a blood test.

Within 30 minutes, the results revealed that Danika had acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer.

In the US, around 22,000 people are diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) each year, and it is the most common form of acute leukemia in adults, characterized by its rapid progression over the course of a few weeks.

However, it's uncommon in people under the age of 45. The average age of people when they are first diagnosed with AML is about 69, and it is uncommon in people under the age of 45.

Hilmer's case was highly unusual as she was just 32 at the time of her diagnosis.

After doctors discovered the leukemia in her blood, the new mom had her newborn taken from her arms and was rushed to another hospital to start chemotherapy treatment immediately.

Anika Hilmer, 34, in the hospital with her newborn son Banks Mohwinkle and older sons Beckett, 13, and Perry, 8. Hours later, she discovered she had a rare cancer

After doctors discovered the leukemia in her blood, the new mom had her newborn taken from her arms and was rushed to another hospital to start chemotherapy treatment immediately

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Hilmer stayed in the hospital for a month, leaving her then fiance to care for their tiny son and the other two children, until she was able to return home a few days before Thanksgiving.

The stay-at-home mom underwent two further rounds of chemotherapy followed by a successful stem cell transplant in January 2023 and has been in remission since.

Hilmer says giving birth that day 'saved her life' and fears what stage the cancer would have been detected at if the blood test had been carried out any later.

The time course of AML progression can vary, but it typically progresses within weeks to months, with the number of abnormal cells in the blood increasing quickly.

Unlike solid tumors, AML doesn't use a traditional stage numbering system.

Symptoms of AML, such as fatigue, weakness, unintentional weight loss, and night sweats, are often missed as they are vague and can be mistaken for common illnesses.

As the disease progresses, they can become more apparent, with easy bruising, bone pain, frequent infections, and significant enlargement of the spleen or liver, raising concern.

The five-year survival rate is around 30 percent. Hilmer says she experienced no unusual symptoms during her pregnancy other than sciatica, a pain, numbness, or tingling that starts in the lower back or buttocks and radiates down the leg.

She believes that if it weren't for her pregnancy, she might not have caught the cancer in time.

Hilmer said: 'This pregnancy absolutely saved my life. I went to the hospital that morning fully anticipating just having a baby, and that was it.

'After I had him, I was haemorrhaging so I was losing a lot of blood, and the doctors and nurses were unable to get it to stop.

'They tried to give me a shot at one point to stop the bleeding, but it didn't work.'

Bleeding after pregnancy is normal and called lochia, but excessive bleeding, large clots, or foul odor may signal a complication.

Hilmer continued bleeding for around an hour after giving birth.

At one point, the doctors considered sending her for a hysterectomy to stop it.

But before opting for the procedure, the doctor who performed the delivery decided to order blood work to see if that could reveal what was behind the excessive bleeding.

In the US, around 22,000 people are diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) each year and it is the most common form of acute leukemia in adults, characterized by its rapid progression over the course of a few weeks

Hilmer says giving birth that day 'saved her life' and fears what stage the cancer would have been detected at if the blood test had been carried out any later

Unexpectedly, the doctor returned and explained to Hilmer that she had AML. Topping things off, she also found out she had Covid, so she had to be cared for in an isolation room, treated with medical staff wearing layers of personal protective equipment.

She recalled: 'They ended up taking a blood sample, and it only took 30 minutes for it to come back.

'The doctor came back into the room to tell me that the results showed that I had acute myeloid leukemia.

'My fiance and I were both in shock. My baby was taken out of my arms, and I was rushed away to a different hospital where I had to start chemotherapy right away.

'I am very thankful that the doctor decided to do blood work instead of that surgery because I probably wouldn't be here today. My platelet counts were so low that I would not have been able to stop bleeding.'

Platelets help blood clot, making them essential for stopping bleeding and healing wounds.

Because she had no symptoms, the mother-of-three said the diagnosis came as a complete 'shock'.

She said: 'I kept thinking that when I got to the other hospital, they would tell me it was wrong, but when I got there, they confirmed that it was true.

'I spent the next month in hospital, going through chemo, and it was very depressing.

'I was hormonal because I'd just had a baby that I could not be with and was only allowed a couple of visits from my newborn, as well as my other two children.

'It was isolating. I was not doing very well mentally at that time because it was all so much.'

Hilmer, pictured here, says she experienced no unusual symptoms during her pregnancy other than sciatica, a pain, numbness, or tingling that starts in the lower back or buttock and radiates down the leg

Hilmer, pictured with her partner and their three children, hopes sharing her story will highlight the importance of preventive health care

After undergoing a stem cell transplant, Hilmer said it took another year before she had her strength and energy back and felt like herself again.

A stem cell transplant allows doctors to give higher doses of chemotherapy than normally could be given.

The process involves high-dose chemotherapy to eliminate leukemia cells and stem cells, followed by the infusion of healthy donor stem cells, which can then target and destroy remaining cancer cells.

The blood-forming stem cells used for a transplant can come either from blood or from bone marrow. Sometimes stem cells from a babys umbilical cord blood are used.

Thanks to the stem cell transplant, Hilmer made a recovery. However, this June, she found out she has Stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer, and she underwent a double mastectomy to treat it.

Invasive ductal carcinoma, also known as infiltrating ductal carcinoma or IDC, is the most common form of breast cancer, accounting for 80 percent of all breast cancer diagnoses.

It occurs when abnormal cells growing in the lining of the milk ducts change and invade breast tissue beyond the walls of the duct. Once that happens, the cancer cells can spread.

Hilmer hopes sharing her story will highlight the importance of preventive health care.
First year resident doctors have today 'overwhelmingly' voted to strike amid a row over jobs.

British Medical Association (BMA) officials announced 97 per cent of those balloted previously known as junior doctors  voted in favour of taking action.

The move could see the NHS face six months of disruption.

A third (34 per cent) of resident doctors responding to a BMA survey, which closed today, said they had no substantive employment or regular work from August 2025.

This rose to more than half (52 per cent) among second year doctors.

The BMA said no strikes are currently planned, but talks with the Government on pay 'will now have to produce a solution on jobs as well as the 21 per cent pay erosion resident doctors have endured since 2008 to avoid future action'.

Resident doctors have already taken industrial action 12 times since 2023, crippling services and forcing health bosses to cancel an estimated 1.5million appointments.

Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA's resident doctors committee, said: 'Doctors have spoken clearly: they won't accept that they face a career of insecurity at a time when the demand for doctors is huge.

British Medical Association (BMA) officials announced 97 per cent of those ballotedpreviously known as junior doctors voted in favour of taking action

'Yet successive governments have been unable to embrace the changes both doctors and patients are crying out for.

'It makes no sense that despite the need to bring down waiting lists and increase capacity for patients to be seen, thousands of willing and skilled doctors are unable to find the work to begin treating them.

'The NHS 10 Year Plan currently offers a paltry 1,000 training extra places when there are already 20,000 more applicants than places.

'The result of today's ballot makes it clear that the Government will now need to step up to the plate.

'By putting these two disputes  pay and jobs  together, we are now giving Government a chance to create a plan that supports and develops the workforce of the next generation.

'Patients need doctors to have jobs. Doctors need to know they will have jobs. And they need to know they will be paid what they're worth.

'We do not want to have to strike, but we will if we are left with no choice.

'The Government has the power to end both of these disputes now: it must use this opportunity to make the changes that are desperately needed.'

Earlier this year, a YouGov poll found 48 per cent of Britons oppose resident doctors going on strike, while 39 per cent support them taking action

Responding to the announcement today, health minister Stephen Kinnock said: 'Training bottlenecks are a very real issue for resident doctors, which is why the government is already working on a range of measures to tackle them.

'We are creating 1,000 additional training places, taking steps to prioritise UK medical graduates and conducting a review of postgraduate training to make sure the system works for doctors.

'The result is that current first-year doctors will emerge from their foundation training into a very different professional landscape from that which exists today.

'Striking over something the government is engaging with the BMA on would be both needless and counterproductive.

'It risks setting back the progress we are already making on rebuilding the NHS and improving the training experience for resident doctors.

'I would urge the BMA and their new leadership to continue to work with the government, rather than opting for more damaging strikes, which will harm patients, doctors themselves and the NHS as a whole.'

During their first foundation year after finishing their medical degree, resident doctors in England earn a basic salary of 38,831. In their second year, this rises to 44,439.

Medics are often expected to work night shifts, weekends and longer hours for extra payments.

Responding to the announcement today, health minister Stephen Kinnock said: 'Striking over something the government is engaging with the BMA on would be both needless and counterproductive'

After eight years or more as a resident doctor, salaries can progress to around 70,000.

The BMA claimed first year resident doctor pay is 21 per cent lower in real terms than it was in 2008.

It wants pay for the group to be brought back in line with the level it was at 17 years ago, when they say their value of their pay started to be eroded.

The claim is based on a measure of inflation called the Retail Price Index (RPI)  this includes housing costs and shows higher price increases than some other inflation measures.

The BMA points out that many resident doctors have large student loans and that interest on these is calculated using RPI.

However, the government says RPI is outdated.

Instead, it uses the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) to calculate inflation and pay increases.

CPI looks at the cost of goods and services based on a basket of household items.

Using the CPI measure, the government says resident doctors' current pay is fair.

Analysis from health think tank the Nuffield Trust has suggested that pay has fallen 5 per cent since 2008 if CPI is used.

Earlier this year, a YouGov poll also found that 48 per cent of Britons oppose resident doctors going on strike, while 39 per cent support them taking action.

YouGov said this 'marks a shift in opinion' of public support of striking junior doctors last summer, when the majority of Britons  52 per cent  said they supported the action.
Olivia Attwood opens up on divorce rumours as she admits she and Bradley Dack 'really weren't getting on very well' as she reflects on using partying to cope


Anti-woke former New York Times opinion editor Bari Weiss has been confirmed as the new editor-in-chief of CBS News.

Weiss, 41, will also run a new debate program covering thorny topics including immigration and the ethics of editing embryo genes, per the Wall Street Journal.

The media tycoon issued a statement on Monday confirming her new role via an email to subscribers from her own publication, The Free Press.

'As of today, I am editor-in-chief of CBS News, working with new colleagues on the programs that have impacted American culture for generationsshows like 60 Minutes and Sunday Morning  and shaping how millions of Americans read, listen, watch, and, most importantly, understand the news in the 21st century,' she said.

CBS will also acquire The Free Press, which has more than 1.25 million subscribers, for around $150 million.

Weiss will report directly to Skydance Paramount CEO David Ellison, whose company Skydance recently merged with CBS' owners at Paramount. Tom Cibrowski will remain CBS News' president but Weiss will not have to report to him.

Weiss quit the New York Times in 2020 over its 'illiberal environment'.

In her career announcement on Monday, she wrote that she 'fled' the broadsheet because she felt like it was nothing more than 'a fancy logo and a motto that many had abandoned in exchange for devotion to a set of narrow, partisan ideas'.

Anti-woke former New York Times opinion editor Bari Weiss (pictured in November) has been confirmed as the new editor-in-chief of CBS News, according to the New York Post

Weiss will report directly to Skydance Paramount CEO David Ellison, whose company Skydance recently merged with CBS' owners at Paramount

'I wanted to be a part of that more than I wanted to cling to the prestige,' Weiss wrote.

Weiss touted herself as a centrist, saying that in her new role she hopes to provide news for the American 'mainstream' who are currently 'being ill-served' by traditional media.

'If the illiberalism of our institutions has been the story of the last decade, we now face a different form of illiberalism emanating from our fringes,' she wrote.

'On the one hand, an America-loathing far left. On the other, a history-erasing far right. These extremes do not represent the majority of the country, but they have increasing power in our politics, our culture, and our media ecosystem.

'Overlooked by all these so-called interlocutors are the enormous numbers of smart, politically mixed, pragmatic Americans. The people who believe, unapologetically, in the American project.

'This is the actual mainstream. These people are the overwhelming majority of the country. And they are being ill-served.'

Weiss has been 'informally consulting' CBS for 'a while,' a source previously told the Daily Mail.

Her hiring by new Paramount Skydance CEO Ellison, the son of billionaire Trump ally Larry Ellison, is set to make waves within the CBS newsroom after a tumultuous year.

In October, Donald Trump sued the network over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris that he claimed was deceptively edited.

In the spring, 60 Minutes Executive Producer Bill Owens and CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon both resigned over concerns with the company's direction.

Paramount ultimately agreed to pay Trump $16 million to settle the lawsuit.

Tom Cibrowski (pictured left)will remain CBS News' president but Weiss will not report to him

Weiss has been 'informally consulting' CBS for 'a while,' a source told the Daily Mail

That settlement paved the way for the administration's approval of an $8billion merger between Skydance Media and Paramount last month.

Staff at CBS News are now fretting over the expected arrival of Weiss, who has regularly criticized the state of legacy media and left-leaning views.

'There's real fear in the building right now,' our source said.

'Veteran reporters who've been here for decades are whispering about whether they'll still have a job by the end of the year.'

A source told The Wrap that Paramount is expecting resignations once Weiss is hired.

'Staff morale is at an all-time low. People are scared, plain and simple,' our source added. 'Everyone knows a news boss mean big changes, and no one feels secure.'

Weiss has surfaced a fierce critic of legacy media after leaving the Times in 2020.

Ellison, meanwhile, is the 42-year-old son of Larry Ellison, a long-time Republican donor worth roughly $300billion.

He is an actor turned producer with no background in news, but is bolstered by his deputy, former NBCUniversal exec Jeff Shell.

This is a breaking news story with updates to follow.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt raged at CNN's Kaitlan Collins in a hostile exchange over Donald Trump's threats to deploy National Guard troops to Portland.

Leavitt, 28, grew irate at Collins, 33, in the White House press briefing on Monday after the CNN star questioned what the president would do in response to a federal judge blocking his National Guard deployment to the Oregon city over the weekend.

Collins noted that the judge was one that Trump appointed in his first term and that the deployment was blocked because the court found it was 'untethered to what was actually happening on the ground.'

'Which local officials in Portland have said that the National Guard is needed there, if any?' Collins asked.

Leavitt snapped back: 'With all due respect to that judge, I think her opinion is untethered in reality and in the law.'

'We are appealing that decision, as you know we expect a hearing on it pretty quickly, and were very confident in the presidents legal authority to do this, and we are very confident we will win on the merits of the law.'

The exchange heated up as Collins responded: 'But no local officials that you can point to that have said we need the National Guard?

'Because I spoke to the police chief of Portland last week, he said that the presidents claims just dont match up with whats happening on the ground.'

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt slammed CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins on Monday in a fiery exchange over Donald Trump 's threats to deploy National Guard troops to Portland

Collins questioned the White House over claims that its deployment of National Guard troops is an overreaction in some cities, to which Leavitt snapped that she should 'go on the ground and take a look at it for yourself'

The spat unfolded after a federal judge blocked Trump's attempts to deploy Texas National Guard troops to Portland over the weekend

Leavitt appeared irate at Collins' line of questioning as she said she encouraged her 'as a reporter to go on the ground and to take a look at it for yourself.'

'Because theres been many members of the press, not press in this room, but independent journalists, some of whom well be inviting to the White House very soon to share their stories, because they have been in the middle of these riots, and they have witnessed the anarchy that is taking place night after night,' she continued.

'Its on video. You should play it on your show. You have a great opportunity in primetime on CNN to show your audience.'

The press secretary told Collins that she was 'probably talking to partisan Democrat officials who are opposed to everything everything this president does.'

'You should also ask the people who live in Portland. Weve actually heard from many members of the community who have said that this is complete civil disobedience.

'Its a mess. Its been loud. Its being troubling for neighbors in the community who are just trying to live peacefully. And these people are not there to peacefully protest. They are there to cause mayhem and havoc.'

The clash unfolded on the heels of a growing controversy surrounding President Trump's use of National Guard troops being deployed to Democrat-led cities

Videos from Portland show crowds of black-clad, left-wing protesters regularly causing trouble outside an ICE depot in the city.

Local residents have complained their lives have been made utterly miserable by the round-the-clock noise and chaos that is unfolding in response to Trump's immigration crackdown.

But anti-ICE protesters have been branded violent thugs, with independent journalist Katie Daviscourt left with a black eye after being attacked by an Antifa protester.

The clash unfolded on the heels of a growing controversy surrounding Trump's use of National Guard troops.

The White House has attempted to use troops from Texas to crack down on crime in a number of Democrat-led cities, including Portland and Chicago, even as the city's leaders say it would be unnecessary.

On Sunday, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker accused Trump of trying to 'invade' his state, saying around 400 National Guard troops would be sent to Chicago to deal with anti-ICE protesters and Trump's so-called war on crime.

'We must now start calling this what it is: Trump's Invasion,' Pritzker said in an X post. 'No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.

'It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another state's military troops.'
Are YOU the owner of the stolen Range Rover?

A Range Rover which was stolen in Harrogate has been tracked down 5,000 miles away in Pakistan.

The black Range Rover Sport was taken from the North Yorkshire town in November 2022.

The SUV's onboard tracker briefly showed its location as Karachi, a city in Pakistan, to British officers earlier this year, before Interpol asked for assistance from police in the country.

A request for an international investigation into how the car was smuggled abroad has been submitted.

Expensive cars stolen in the UK by organised gangs are often shipped to Pakistan, and usually hidden inside containers with 'used car parts' or 'household goods' labels on them.

Once taken from their owners, the cars are often given fake chassis numbers and local number plates.

A Karachi-based dealer with knowledge of the grey market said: 'The demand for foreign luxury SUVs has surged.

'In most cases the buyer doesn't know it is stolen; others are simply looking for a good deal.'

A Range Rover which was stolen in Harrogate has been tracked down 5,000 miles away in Pakistan (Stock photo)

In 2022 and 2023, the Range Rover Sport was the most type of vehicle to be stolen in the UK.

As a result, the manufacturer upgraded its security systems, amending thousands of second-hand cars.

International trade law expert Osama Malik explained that even if recovered, the car stolen in Harrogate's ownership may now be questioned by a local buyer.

He told The Times: 'Pakistan is bound to return the car. However, the current owner of the vehicle will most likely involve the Pakistani courts as a bona fide purchaser for value who has legally purchased this vehicle.'

In 2022, a luxury Bentley that was allegedly stolen in London was found 5,000 miles away in Pakistan, according to Pakistani police.

The Bentley Mulsanne V8 Automatic was recovered by Customs Enforcement agents following a tip-off which came from a 'friendly nation', the agency said, with local media suggesting it was British intelligence who helped.

Customs agents requisitioned the car from outside a house in Defence Housing Authority (DHA), an affluent neighbourhood in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city.

It's long been known that gangs are stealing luxury cars from British driveways before whisking them abroad within hours for sale in the Middle East and Africa.

Other expensive vehicles, including Range Rovers and Rolls-Royces, are shipped to Eastern Europe and then smuggled into Russia for use by sanctions-dodging Kremlin elites.

The highly sophisticated nature of the criminal gangs fuelling Britain's 1.77billion-a-year car theft epidemic is shown by their use of 20,000 high-tech devices to trick keyless entry systems.

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Stolen cars are then rapidly driven to Dover and loaded onto ferries before victims, lenders or the police can react.

One police investigator said a car could be shipped abroad with cloned number plates before the owner had even been able to report it stolen.

A report this year contrasted the professionalism of gangs overseeing this 'comprehensive logistical process' with the lax police response - which has seen charging rates drop to just 2.6 per cent in 2023/2024.

Stolen cars are often broken into parts that end up in second-hand dealerships or scrapyards in Cyprus, the UAE and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where they are sold into other Middle Eastern and North African countries.

The illegal trade has driven an 82 per cent increase in car insurance premium quotes since 2021, according to the report, Organised Vehicle Theft in the UK: Trends and Challenges, by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).

About 130,000 vehicles are stolen each year in the UK - many from driveways or on streets outside homes.

One gang operating in Oldham, Greater Manchester were jailed last year after being linked to nearly 100 stolen cars.

The group arranged for prestige cars including Range Rovers, Mercedes, Porsche and BMWs to be stolen to order before being shipped off to the Middle East, or broken down for parts.

Ringleader Asif Hussain was jailed for 15 years after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal, conspiracy to handle stolen goods, conspiracy to export, and fraud.

A gang, based in Oldham, Greater Manchester, were previously linked to almost 100 stolen cars, which were stolen and shipped off to the Middle East, or broken down for parts. Top row, left to right: Asif Matadar, Shewaz Rehman, Imran Taj. Bottom row: Zeeshan Ali, Adam Elwood and Mohammed Irfan

The RUSI report says organised crime groups have 'shopping lists' of makes and models, indicating many are stolen to order.

While manufacturers have made it harder to hack into keyless entry systems, criminals are beating them in a tech 'arms race' by using specialised devices costing as much as 20,000.

These typically work by 'relaying' or amplifying the signal of the victim's key fob, often located inside their home, to trick vehicles into believing the fob is nearby.

Sellers in Bulgaria and Poland advertise devices designed for specific high-end models including Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Lamborghini, Lexus and Porsche.
French car giant Renault has become the latest motoring industry victim of a cyber breach - confirming UK customer personal data was stolen during the breach.

Renault Group UK emailed drivers to confirm that a third-party data processing business used by the car firm was targeted by hackers.

As a result, 'some customers' personal data has been taken from one of their systems,' Renault said.

It has been reported that some owners and customers of Dacia vehicles, which are also made by Renault, have also been affected.

The company stressed that no financial data, such as bank account details, or password data was compromised in the attack.

But it said data accessed in the hack included some or all of: customer names, addresses, dates of birth, gender, phone number, vehicle identification numbers and vehicle registration details.

It comes in the wake of a spate of cyber attacks on global businesses, including Jaguar Land Rover, which has seen the car maker suspend vehicle production for a month, struggle to register new models and send UK suppliers into a financial meltdown.

French car giant Renault has been hit by a third-party supplier cyber breach - and UK customers' personal data has been snared by hackers

Renault has not disclosed how many customers are affected by the cyber incident.

It added that no direct Renault Group UK systems have been compromised.

A spokesman for Renault UK said: 'We are in the process of contacting all affected customers, advising them of the cyber attack and reminding them to be cautious of any unsolicited requests for personal information.

'Concerned customers should consult https://www.renault.co.uk/data-privacy.html or contact our data protection officer at dataprivacy@renault.co.uk.

'We wish to apologise to all affected customers.

'Data privacy is of the upmost importance to us and we deeply regret that this has occurred.'

Renault Group UK has emailed drivers to confirm that a third-party data processing business used by the car firm was targeted

It comes as rival JLR continues to try to recover and restart its global operations in the damaging fallout of the cyber attack on its systems on the last day in August.

This caused the UK's largest car manufacturer to halt production entirely, with assembly lines unable to complete a single model throughout the month of September.

Last week, JLR said it expects to restart some production within 'the coming days', with some of its factory workers returning more than a month after the hack was carried out on 31 August.

According to the BBC, manufacturing processes will initially resume at JLR's engine factory in Wolverhampton as its vehicle plants in Halewood, Merseryside, and Solihull in the West Midlands remain paused.

JLR has for more than a month been grappling with restarting its IT systems and vehicle production lines following its high-profile cyber breach

Experts have warned the production shutdown could hit the group's bottom line by around 120 million, with the firm usually thought to 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 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 JLR's 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 seeks to restart production.

Downing Street said it had been 'a concerning time for workers at Jaguar Land Rover and, of course, across the supply chain'.

A raft of other businesses have also been hit by major cyber attacks in recent months, including beer giant Asahi, high street retailer Marks & Spencer and nursery group Kido Schools.
Britain's biggest car maker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) will reportedly restart some of its production lines on Monday as it looks to recover from the major cyber attack that's downed the business' operations for more than a month.

According to the BBC, manufacturing processes will resume today at JLR's engine factory in Wolverhampton, some five weeks after its global workforce was told to down tools.

Vehicle outputs at its car plants in Halewood, Merseyside, and Solihull, West Midlands, are due to recommence later in the week, though exact timing has yet to be confirmed.

However, outputs are likely to remain limited for several weeks, with full production capacity not expected immediately.

It comes after the group said some sections of its manufacturing operations would commence amid a 'controlled, phased restart of our operations'.

JLR paused all manufacturing on the morning of 1 September after being targeted by hackers.

The restarting of outputs come as experts have warned the extended production shutdown could hit the group's bottom line by around 120million, with the firm usually thought to build about 1,000 cars a day.

Manufacturing processes will resume today at JLR's engine factory in Wolverhampton, it has been reported

More than 30,000 staff working across JLR's UK production sites - which usually make about 1,000 cars a day - have downed tools in the West Midlands and on Merseyside for over a month following the 'cyber incident'

The British car firm, which has been paralysed since the security breach by hackers on Sunday 31 August, said last week that it had 'informed colleagues, retailers and suppliers that some sections of our manufacturing operations will resume in the coming days'.

Daily Mail has contacted JLR for comment.

The 'cyber incident' - which is unprecedented for the automotive sector - has meant that JLR has been unable to produce a single model in the month of September across its vehicle plants in the UK, Slovakia, Brazil and India.

The pause has also left its suppliers in limbo leading to calls for urgent financial support, with the Government announcing it would underwrite a 1.5billion loan guarantee to JLR to give suppliers some certainty over payments.

The loan, from a commercial bank, will help to bolster JLR's cash reserves as it pays back companies in its supply chain, who have been majorly impacted by the shutdown.

The cyber attack - which is unprecedented for the automotive sector - has meant that JLR failed to produce a single model in the month of September

The British car firm, which has been paralysed since the security breach by hackers on Sunday 31 August, last week said it had informed 'colleagues, retailers and suppliers that some sections of our manufacturing operations will resume in the coming days'

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 31 August, ministers have been in contact daily with JLR and cyber experts, as the company seeks to restart production.

Downing Street said it had been 'a concerning time for workers at Jaguar Land Rover and, of course, across the supply chain'.

And JLR isn't the only car maker left reeling from a cyber attack.

Renault has recently confirmed it has been caught up in a similar hack, which impacts UK customers.

Renault Group UK has emailed drivers in Britain to confirm that a third-party data processing business used by the car firm was targeted by hackers.

As a result, 'some customers' personal data has been taken from one of their systems,' Renault said.

It has been reported that some owners and customers of Dacia vehicles, which are also made by Renault, have also been affected.

The company stressed that no financial data, such as bank account details, or password data was compromised in the attack.

But it said data accessed in the hack included some or all of: customer names, addresses, dates of birth, gender, phone number, vehicle identification numbers and vehicle registration details.

JLR's car plants in Halewood, Merseyside, and Solihull in the West Midlands (pictured) are expected to restart production this week

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'.

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.'
Chinese car makers have officially taken over the bestseller charts in the UK.

In September, three Chinese models made it into the top selling models list, 'signaling a major shift in the market's balance of power' according to industry experts.

BYD, Jaecoo (owned by China's largest auto exporter Chery) and MG (owned by SAIC Motors) all saw their models place in the top 10 models registered last month - a huge achievement considering how new these brands are to the UK market.

Ranking highest, Jaecoo's 7 SUV was in fourth place, only being beaten by stalwart favourites for British buyers, the Kia Sportage, Ford Puma and Nissan Qashqai.

BYD's Seal U came in sixth and the MG HS ranked in eighth.

The Jaecoo 7 saw 6,489 cars registered, while 5,373 BYD Seal U's were snapped up and 5,173 MG HS models were bought. It's the first time BYD has entered the top 10, despite its well-documented EV battle against Tesla.

Three Chinese car makers have models in September's top 10 bestselling car models: Jaecoo's 7 SUV (pictured) ranks in 4th, BYD's Seal U in 6th and MG's HS in 8th

6,489 Jaecoo 7s were sold, 5,373 BYD Seal Us and

Chinese models achieved a market share of more than 10 per cent in the last quarter new research from Schmidt Automotive Research shows, smashing through a threshold and threatening established brands.

While Jaecoo secured its place in the top five best-sellers in September, sister brands Omoda and Jaecoo together also achieved another marker, fastest-growing brand entries

After its strongest performance to date, surpassing 10,800 combined registrations, it became one of the fastest-growing automotive marques ever launched in the UK. This is only a little over a year after Omoda entered the UK market - and only eight months since the launch of Jaecoo UK.

This mirrors Schmidt Automotive's findings that Chinese manufacturers are increasingly gaining market share across the UK at a rapid pace, with Chinese models accounting for 11.8 per cent of the UK's new passenger car market in the most recent quarter.

Schmidt Automotive points to China's Chery Group - representing Omoda and Jaecoo and the Chery own brand - as having the 'most impressive gains so far this year' despite BYD claiming most of the headlines.

The UK is now BYDs largest international market, according to the Financial Times.

Sister brands Omoda and Jaecoo together also achieved another marker: the fastest-growing brand entry

MG sold 22,777 new vehicles in the last quarter. The HS is September's 8th best-selling car

SAIC's MG remained the Chinese brand market leader though, accounting for 22,777 new vehicles in the quarter (although this was down by almost 2,000 units compared to the opening quarter of the year).

When you combine the three largest Chinese brands, BYD, MG and Chery, they make up 90 per cent of all Chinese-brand models entering the UK during Q3.

Chinese makers are also leap frogging incumbent Western brands, with MG's sales in Q3 surpassing Vauxhall's 19,733 units, and Chery coming within 1,400 units of doing the same, Schmidt's research finds.

BYD is close to doing the same, having sold 11,271 cars in Britain in September, up from 1,150 just a year earlier, according to SMMT data. Vauxhall registered 12,120 cars.

UK is likely being being prioritised by Chinese OEMS over EU markets when it comes to BEV deliveries, Schmidt Automotive believes because the UK isn't impacted by the EU's anti-subsidy tariffs placed on Chinese-made passenger cars. These range from 17 per cent (BYD) to 35.3 per cent (SAIC).

However most of Chinese manufacturer growth has come from non-BEVs.

MG's sales in Q3 surpass Vauxhall's 19,733 units, and Chery comes within 1,400 units of doing the same, Schmidt's research finds

Chinese models achieved a market share of more than 10 per cent in the last quarter new research from Schmidt Automotive Research shows, threatening established marques

For legacy players the rampant growth of Chinese brands pose a problem; household names now facing tougher competition than ever before.

Geoff Hurst, Senior Director for Automotive Advisory at NTT DATA UK&I, comments that the 'clear evidence [from September SMMT figures] of Chinese brands starting to disrupt the current market' is due to their 'combination of competitive pricing and improving quality' - something that's resonating with UK buyers 'who are typically less brand loyal and more motivated by value'.

He says: 'This shift should serve as a wake-up call to established manufacturers in the UK.

'As Chinese brands build credibility and scale, the market will only get more competitive and engaging in a pricing war will not be sustainable. Premium brands need to focus on building loyalty and delivering greater value through customer experience, innovation and service in order to keep pace, or else they risk losing greater market share to these new Chinese challenger brands.'
If you have heard reports of a rather sweaty woman in gym gear running around the streets of Saffron Walden brandishing a crisp 50 note and cursing under her breath, that was me.

After the gym, I had stopped off at the health food shop to stock up on a few things, giving the assistant the 50 tucked into my leggings.

The assistant refused my money. But surely it's legal tender, I cry, you can't refuse it. She doesn't budge, saying that head office has told them not to take 50 notes because of fakes.

Off I went to the butcher's shop opposite, where I know the staff, asking if they could break the note. Same again, no 50 notes, but they suggested going to a bank.

Not such a bad idea. But my bank, Barclays, closed long ago and now there are only two left in town.

So I ran to Nationwide, where there was a long queue. Explaining the problem, I asked the waiting customers if I could ask the cashier if he would change it. They all said yes, of course. One gentleman took one look at my Queen's headed note, saying with great confidence that it wasn't a fake. That felt like a small victory. There was so much chatter the cashier stepped out to take a look at the offending note.

Counting the cost: Cash made up just 9 per cent of payments last year, compared to being used for half of all transactions a decade ago

He agreed that it's not a fake. Yeah, another victory. 'But are you a Nationwide customer?' he asked. It felt like a trick question, and it was. Nationwide does not change money if you are not a customer.

As you can imagine, by then I was ready to raise an Essex peasants' revolt against shops that don't take money and banks that don't change banknotes. As luck would have it, one of the kind ladies in the queue opened her wallet, checked her cash, and offered to change my 50.

My first call is to the Bank of England. Can vendors refuse to take cash? Yes, says the press officer, they can. Even though cash is legal tender, it's a concept which has a narrow technical definition in law  to do with contracts  and no one is obliged to accept it in exchange for goods.

Why, though, is cash usage shrinking so fast? Is it because vendors find cash so messy to deal with? Or are business owners being forced by the payment giants to go digital so they can charge them more? Or do most people simply prefer using cards or increasingly, mobile payments apps? Chicken and egg, probably.

Whatever the reason, cash is under the kibosh. It made up just 9 per cent of payments last year, compared to being used for half of all transactions a decade ago.

It is predicted to fall to 4 per cent over the next ten years. Yet here's the thing: what happens in emergencies?

Imagine if a cyber hack or indeed, cyber warfare, brings down the banks? Or if there are blackouts, as happened in Spain and Portugal recently? Or other crises, such as another lockdown or war?

Being resilient is why countries such as Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands have warned their citizens to always keep cash in reserve. They are also introducing new legislation ensuring vendors must accept cash.

The European Central Bank is also alert to the dangers.

All households have been advised by the ECB to store cash at home in case of digital systems failing, as they will.

In contrast, the Bank of England does not have the mandate to give such warnings  that's up to the Government.

Interesting, though, that its Governor, Andrew Bailey, told a recent Citizens' Panel in Wolverhampton, that he always carries cash with him in case of emergencies. Does that include any 50 notes, I wonder?
A host of household names could quit the stock market in a 600billion exodus from London, analysts have warned.

AstraZeneca, Shell, BP and Rio Tinto, are among those seen to be 'at risk' of moving their main listings to New York in what would be a devastating blow to the City.

Analysis by broker AJ Bell identified ten London-listed firms that do so much business in the US, or have so many shareholders there, that they may be tempted to make the switch.

The combined value of the firms  which also include Compass, Experian, Bunzl, Smith & Nephew, Rentokil and Fresnillo  is 620billion.

No respite: A host of household names could quit the stock market in a 600billion exodus from London, which would be a blow to Rachel Reeves

'An onslaught of UK-listed companies upping sticks for the US would be terrible for the reputation of the London market,' said Dan Coatsworth at AJ Bell.

Miners Glencore and Anglo American, worth a combined 73billion, have ruled out moving to New York. But it is feared an exodus by other top firms could see them change their mind.

CRH, Flutter, Indivior and Ferguson have made the switch while Ashtead and Wise are in the process of moving. Coatsworth said there is a list of UK firms that could 'make a good argument for switching their main stock listing to the US.'

He added: 'The more companies that move, the more the topic will be discussed in the boardroom by other companies that have a US presence.'

The latest bout of anxiety about an exodus comes after AstraZeneca last week announced plans for a full listing in New York alongside London  sparking fears it could lead to a permanent move.
Aston Martin is set for heavy losses this year, after the British luxury carmaker was forced to slash production forecasts in response due to economic ructions.

The group told investors on Monday that US trade tariffs and other challenges in the global macroeconomic environment had weighed on demand in North America and the Asia Pacific region.

Aston Martin warned US tariffs add a further degree of complexity for UK automakers, as it called for more proactive support from the Labour government to protect the interests of small volume manufacturers.

It is now on course for full-year earnings before nasties to come in at the lower end of market consensus, with underlying losses of more than 110million.

The update came as Aston Martin confirmed it would begin deliveries of its its mid-engined, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle 'Valhalla' during the final quarter of 2025, when it will also start deliveries of its new Vantage S and DBX S models.

But Aston Martin thinks it will only deliver around 150 Valhallas over the period, behind initial forecasts.

Aston Martin shares slumped 7.9 per cent to 74.9p in early trading. They have lost nearly a third of their value over the last 12 months and more than 80 per cent over the last five years.

Aston Martin's debut quarter for its Valhalla model is set to disappoint

And it warned actual deliveries could be even lower as a result of ricks associated with the current US federal government shutdown potentially impacting final US homologation timing and the ongoing uncertainty created by the US tariff quota system.

Aston Martin now expects total wholesale volumes for all vehicles in 2025 to decline by mid-high single digit percentage when compared last years total of 6,030.

And it says that it could end up with negative free cash flow in the second half of the year.

It comes after 1,430 wholesale unit deliveries in the third quarter, behind expectations and below the 1,641 achieved over the same period last year.

Aston Martin blamed the shortfall on weaker than expected demand including in both North America, with the continuing tariff impact, and APAC (including greater China).

It said: The global macroeconomic environment facing the industry remains challenging.

This includes uncertainties over the economic impact from US tariffs and the implementation of the quota mechanism, changes to China's ultra-luxury car taxes and the increased potential for supply chain pressures'.

It highlighted the cyber hack suffered by Jaguar Land Rover, which is currently placing suppliers around the country at risk, as potentially intensifying disruption.

In response, Aston Martin cut capital expenditure forecasts for the year from 400million to 375million, and management is preparing to slash costs.

It said: This will also include a review of the future product cycle plan in response to market and regulatory dynamics.

It is expected that this will result in lower capital investment in engineering and development than previously guided.

'The Group continues to engage with both the US and UK governments to secure greater clarity and certainty.

'Whilst positive dialogue on this matter has been achieved directly with the US government, the Company continues to seek more proactive support from the UK government to protect the interests of small volume manufacturers, like Aston Martin, who provide thousands of jobs, making an important contribution to local economies and to the wider UK automotive supply chain.'

Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'Volumes remain the sticking point - despite new models, sales arent reaching levels needed to turn a profit, let alone generate positive cash flows.

'Management is cutting costs and delaying spending while pointing one finger at US tariffs. But, with wholesale volumes now expected to fall mid-to-high single digits this year, the road to recovery looks long and windy, with no end in sight.'
Mosman Oil & Gas earlier this month unveiled a new report by industry consultant Sproule which laid out a technically credible project at Sagebrush, in Colorado, with a gross value pitched between $40million and $80million.

For context, thats more than 10-times what the AIM share price reckons the companys worth.

Unsurprisingly, Mosman called it a very significant milestone.

Beyond the estimates, however, the report marked something much more significant albeit it was a little bit subtle too.

Mosman is a nano-cap player in the sector, and, whilst its had its enthusiastic followers, its efforts have generally lacked the scale of many of its would-be sector peers on AIM.

Yet, here was Mosman releasing, pre-test, a detailed independent assessment of its Sagebrush project penned by a well regarded international consultancy.

Frankly, it laid down a marker. It signalled a different methodology, arguably one thats expected of larger, more established, better resourced operations.

In a way it underlined that Mosmans team is running a more traditional industry playbook.

For a company with a market cap of around 6million, with around 1.4million in the bank (A$2.26 million) and a tepid track-record, it seemed like an important but not obvious departure.

That said, Mosman has been going through a transformation.

Sure, arent we all

Now, on AIM in 2025, finding a small cap firm mid transformation is frankly shooting fish in a barrel.

As the junior bourse is showing signs of revival after a few years of choked capital and dwindled trading liquidity, and as the markets survivors emerge into the light, it isnt hard to find the pivots, revamps, restructures or reboots amongst each days news flow.

But there are a few factors that market this story as different, interesting and one to watch.

But, well come back to this shortly. First, lets rewind very slightly.

The Vecta distraction

Mosman kicked off its reboot when it switched its attention to helium, from previously a mixed bag of Australian exploration assets, and small scale oil production in North America.

It wasnt alone in this thinking. The move came as a number of other small-caps turned to helium  a valuable gas thats essential for industry, but not a combusting hydrocarbon.

Whilst not a unique endeavour, Mosmans move to helium quickly caught the attention of investors as it opened this new strategy with a joint venture in five planned wells located in eastern Colorado, referred to at the time as the Vecta project.

It ended in disappointment, after well results failed to match the expectations.

Vecta, in retrospect, was the wrong project at the right time.

Nevertheless, somewhat in the background, Mosman was putting together a quite different proposition.

Howard Mclaughlin, at the time Mosmans head of US operations, identified the Sagebrush and Coyote Wash projects in Western Colorado, in the four corners region.

More substantiated

When you compare Eastern Colorado from Western Colorado, the area we were looking at in the West is more traditional, drilling deeper, using 3D seismic, and lots of well control data, explained Mclaughlin, who today is Mosmans chief executive.

From a geologist's point of view, you can really get into it, roll up your sleeves and work up plays.

The prospects that Vector put together in East Colorado were generally based on surface geology. That is a proven methodology as long as the surface is somewhat similar to the subsurface.

As it turned out after we drilled the first couple of wells, there was a, a complete disengagement between what was happening in the subsurface and what was happening on the surface.

So, we could see that coming after we drilled the second well. We decided, if the third well is a bust then we were done there.

But we did generate some interest in the market, and we did meet a lot of very important people in the helium business.

The Sagebrush and Coyote Wash projects (the latter is much larger and currently less proven) are much more fundamental and a lot more attractive, according to Mclaughlin.

A closer look at Sagebrush

Maybe the most attractive part of Sagebrush is that it already has a deep well drilled.

Another significant matter is that theres the possibility that it can tap both helium gas, and oil, from parallel operations. Its a factor that could materially boost project development options, though more data will be needed first.

The presence of an existing well, drilled in 1993, allows a company of Mosmans financial means to get a foothold.

Not having to drill from scratch is saving Mosman something in the region of $3million to 4 million, according to Mclaughlin.

And, to put that another way, the saving would equate to more than half of Mosmans current market value.

That immediately captured my attention, Mclaughlin said.

It means we have a real advancement in project timing. Were not starting at grassroots exploration. The well already had a gas analysis that already tested commercial helium. It's got high reservoir pressure, so, pretty much everything we needed.

This is a real project with real value and a lot of upside.

Mosman is guiding that it will conduct the well testing hopefully before the end of 2025.

Among the next steps before that will be the final sign off from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to greenlight the programme.

A successful test at Sagebrush will unlock a development project. After that, Mosman will move on to look at the options for gas processing and route to market.

Therell also be the not-so-small matter of Coyote Wash.

Sagebrush is more of a proof of concept. Coyote Wash is the meat and potatoes, thats really where the significant value is going to lie.

For all intents and purposes, the geology is not that much different than Sagebrush because they are quite close together, so our expectation is we will have four, five or six times as much helium in rock as Sagebrush.

At this point, it probably goes without saying that success at both Sagebrush and Coyote Wash will render the company practically unrecognisable from its recent incarnation.

Time will tell whether the company can complete its reinvention. But, what you can always guarantee, with Mosman the story will never be dull.
Shawbrook handed a boost to the London stock market yesterday as it became the latest business to announce plans to float.

The challenger banks initial public offering (IPO)  delayed earlier this year by market turmoil  could see it valued at up to 2billion.

The announcement came as Rachel Reeves held talks with other potential listing candidates, including banks OakNorth and Starling, at a meeting hosted by Goldman Sachs.

The Chancellor is due to follow that up today at a JP Morgan Tech Stars event in London where she will seek to highlight the merits of the UK stock market to companies including payments firm SumUp and digital lender Monzo.

She is considering a stamp duty holiday for newly-listed UK shares  though some argue that the Government must scrap the 0.5 per cent tax on share trading

altogether to make London more attractive. The Treasury is under pressure to act as the City reels from a shortage of stock market listings in recent years and an exodus of firms to rival exchanges such as New York.

IPO: Specialist small business lender Shawbrook has announced plans to list on the London Stock Market which could see it valued at up to 2bn

In a vote of confidence in the UK yesterday, Shawbrook finance chief Dylan Minto said London remains a very attractive venue for raising capital.

Beauty Tech Group  whose products are favoured by the likes of Kim Kardashian and Serena Williams  and US data centre giant Fermi made their London debuts last week.

Tinned tuna firm Princes, whose brands include Branston baked beans and Napolina olive oil, has also said it plans an IPO.

And speculation is mounting that digital bank Revolut is considering a dual listing in London and New York.

Laura Janssens, head of European investment banking at Berenberg, said the end of 2025 could prove a turning point for the UK IPO market.

Shawbrook said its flotation would help fund growth and help boost its profile in Britain as well as allowing its private equity backers, BC Partners and Pollen Street, to cash in some of their stake.

The specialist small business lenders listing would mark a return to the public markets for the company after it was taken over by the firms in 2017.

Fears for the future of the London market were stoked last week when pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca announced that it was going to list its shares directly on Wall Street.

Recent figures suggested the City has fallen below Mexico and Singapore in the world rankings for IPO fundraisings this year.

And analysis by broker AJ Bell has identified ten London-listed firms worth 620billion that do so much business in the US, or have so many shareholders there, that they may be tempted to make the switch to New York.

Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, said: Shawbrooks potential flotation provides another reason to be optimistic towards London again as a global financial hub.
An investor exodus from UK stocks gathered pace last month amid growing fears over an economic doom loop.

Latest figures from funds network Calastone showed 692million was pulled from UK-focused equity funds in September, up from 657million in August.

That was despite growing hopes of a rebound for the London stock market  which yesterday hit an intra-day record high of 9516 before closing at 9479.14.

It continues a long-term trend of investors dumping UK stocks stretching back more than four years and was described as seemingly unstoppable by Edward Glyn, head of global markets at Calastone.

Glyn said the exodus had been muted in recent months amid hopes that some investors were starting to see value in the UKs cheaply-priced stocks.

But the brakes appear to be off again amid sluggish UK growth, staggering debt and fears over next months Budget, as well as rising premiums or spreads having to be paid by corporate borrowers to cover the perceived risk of default.

Latest figures from funds network Calastone showed 692m was pulled from UK-focused equity funds in September, up from 657m in August

Glyn said: Doubtless, seeing the UK market reach record levels while still not looking expensive has given some sellers pause for thought.

The doom loop of negative commentary on the UK economy may now be winning out. Outflows are on the rise again.
The first time Jackson found a so-called Schuylkill Note, it was hidden between hot dog buns he had purchased from a major grocery chain in August 2023.

The creepy notes - which are typically 19-line messages filled with gibberish conspiracy theories - have been plaguing the Northeast of the US for years, and are named after the Pennsylvania town they were first spotted in.

'I had heard of them before, so I was excited that I found one, but really creeped out that it was in my food,' Jackson, who did not give his last name, told the Daily Mail.

After calling the store in Schuylkill County to report the discovery, the woman who answered sounded surprised. But when Jackson returned to exchange the item, another employee told him a very different story.

'She said that they find the notes all the time,' he said. 'We got our exchanged item and checked it off as a weird, once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.'

But it wasn't. Two weeks later, Jackson stumbled upon another note stashed inside a box of breakfast fig bars sold by a different store in the same area.

'We did the same thing, copied it, called the store and they said to come in,' the Auburn resident, 42, told the Daily Mail. Once there, he received the same message from staff: this happens all the time.

The first time Jackson found a Schuylkill Note (pictured) - a 19-line note filled with gibberish conspiracies - it was hidden among hot dog buns purchased from a major grocery chain

Since finding the first note in 2023, he and his wife have found around 50 Schuylkill Notes, especially on hiking trails in the county

The notes have been popping up on hiking trails and in food packaging since 2019, and continue to appear today.

They are mainly found in Pennsylvania, but a few have been picked up in New York, Ohio, Maryland, and Virginia, a public Google Maps showed.

From Walmarts and Wegmans to an exhausting list of nature trails, these little notes consist of 19 lines of text and appear to be written in fragments consisting of conspiracies about JFK, secret societies, and random nonsense.

'SECRET SOCIETIES (SS) ties to terror' m/shoot'gs/riots...r not report'd; JFK warn'd of SS,' one note found along the Appalachian Trial started.

'A secret sign sys unites SS. SS' symbs. ties to Saturn, god of TIME/ Lord o/t Rings: Toyota's rgs, Nazis' black sun...' it continued.

Most notes have been left in clear packaging sealed with a paper clip. Some have been thumbtacked to trees and others to logs.

People have also reported finding them inside Crystal Light flavor packets, boxes of Velveeta mac and cheese and candy and chocolate bar wrappers.

Many notes are found on the trails near Schuylkill. Most are left in clear packaging sealed with a paper clip. Some have been thumbtacked to trees and others to logs

'Nothing is done about it,' said Jackson, who is now a moderator on a Schuylkill Note Reddit forum.

Since finding the first note in 2023, he and his wife have found around 50 in total - many on hiking trails around the county.

'Once you know the trick to spotting them, you can find one on most hiking trails in the southern Schuylkill County area,' Jackson, a photographer who often hikes and mountain bikes, said.

But how the notes end up where they do and who is planting them remains a mystery - with even local law enforcement still in the dark.

Neither Police Chief, Jeff J. Walcott, of the Schuylkill Haven Borough Police, nor Sheriff Joseph G. Groody, of the Schuylkill County Sheriff's Office, had heard of the notes when contacted by the Daily Mail.

'This is the first time I've ever heard of this,' Groody said. 'I have no idea what you're talking about.'

Similarly, Walcott told Daily Mail: 'Our police department has not received any of these types of reports... I do not have any incidents reported or experiences with the mentioned random notes.'

However, despite filing no police reports, many people have taken to social media to reveal their findings. The notes even have their own channel on Reddit.

Tim Howe, 42, who lives in Montgomery County, a neighboring county, found his first note in March 2022.

Tim Howe, 42, who lives in Montgomery County, a neighboring county, found his first note in March 2022. He found two more near Astyra Park

He was hiking in the Appalachian Trail near Hamburg and discovered the message in a fire pit. A few hundred yards away, he found another placed on a rock near a tree.

'To be honest, I was a bit creeped out,' Howe told the Daily Mail.

He was then left frightened when 'two guys rolled up' and wondered if they were responsible since the trails were usually empty on weekdays. But he later learned they were conservationists.

After learning about the outbreak of notes on Reddit, he has since been on the hunt for more - and found two more notes near Astyra Park just last week.

He claimed he has noticed patterns in when the notes appear. Often there will be a sudden spike, and then a period of months before another collection surfaces.

'I honestly don't know [why],' the dog sitter told the Daily Mail.

There are many theories about who the note culprit could be - with one of the most plausible being that they work in a distribution center, which would explain why so many have been found inside packaging. But as of yet, there is no serious suspect in the frame.

Schuylkill Notes - named after the Pennsylvania town they were first spotted in - have been popping up on random trails and in food packaging since 2019

From Walmarts and Wegmans to nature trails, these little notes consist of 19 lines of text and appear to be written in fragments consisting of conspiracies about JFK, secret societies and random nonsense

'To me, it's just littering,' Howe said.

There seems to be no public threat to safety. Neither Howe or Jackson were concerned about the prospect the notes could be laced with anything.

Jackson, however, worries that the note creator, who many presume to be mentally ill, could go on to carry about a more sinister act.

'There was fear because the person doing it was exposing a vulnerability in the supply chain,' he told the Daily Mail. 'If they could slip a note in that easily, what else could they do to the products?'

The FDA launched an investigation into the notes after receiving more than 20 complaints over four years, including from Jackson's wife, about the cryptic notes being found in food packaging.

All 20 complaints came from residents in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, area.

Schuylkill County Sheriff Joseph G. Groody (right) told the Daily Mail: 'This is the first time I've ever heard of this.' Similarly, Walcott said: 'Our police department has not received any of these types of reports

'We were told the FBI was involved. We would periodically follow up and one day we were told the case is closed. We followed up again and were told the same thing,' Jackson said.

Ultimately the FDA was also unable to do anything since there had been no food contamination and deferred to local jurisdictions.

'FDA investigated the matter and determined, based on the product/packaging process and various plant locations, that these localized incidents are more suited for complaint referrals to the jurisdiction of several PA State and/or local agencies,' an FDA spokesperson told the Daily Mail.
My teen daughter has been sent vile comments on Facebook, pressured for nudes on Snapchat, blackmailed on TikTok, and even witnessed a murder on Instagram.

And yet, despite all of this, I don't support a social media ban for under-16s in Australia.

The government says the ban - which comes into effect on December 10 - is designed to limit the harmful impacts of social media on children, and the move has been applauded at the UN as a 'world-first'.

Under the new laws, platforms must take 'reasonable steps' to prevent Australian kids from creating accounts on their websites, and deactivate existing ones.

But as far as I'm concerned, this is doomed to fail. It won't protect children, nor will it keep them safer - and it might actually make things worse.

Have you ever met a teenager? They are invariably more tech-savvy than most parents, and far more so than the politicians in Canberra behind this scheme.

While we're fumbling with the Wi-Fi, they're downloading VPNs, making burner accounts and logging into platforms we've never heard of.

If they want to get online, they will - and bans will only push them towards secrecy and lies.

Daily Mail senior reporter Jonica Bray (above, with her husband and children) says the under-16s social media ban risks pushing teenagers into secrecy and darker corners of the internet

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and radio presenter Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli - who has long campaigned for an under-16s social media ban - celebrated at an Australian pub in New York City after they spoke about the 'world-first' legislation at the United Nations last month

Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has put social media companies on notice - but she is keen to emphasise that the legislation is more of a 'delay' than a ban

Yes, social media is toxic. It can be dangerous, addictive and harmful.

It's filled with predators, bullying, distorted body ideals and harmful algorithms that fuel endless doom-scrolling - eroding girls' confidence and radicalising lost boys.

I've seen it. I know it. But pretending a law will keep kids away is naive.

Instead of protecting them, the ban risks creating a hidden online world. Parents may think their kids are 'safe' while, in reality, they're still exposed and totally unmonitored.

As a parent, I would rather face the ugly truth. I would rather have the arguments, the awkward conversations, the eye-rolls at the dinner table, than pretend an untested law will keep children offline. Teenagers will bypass it in minutes.

And here is the bigger problem.

While the government pats itself on the back, the real culprits, the social media giants, walk away untouched. These billion-dollar companies put profit before people every single day.

Just the other week, my 17-year-old sat on the school bus and watched, frame by frame, a graphic video of Charlie Kirk being shot at an American university.

Photos and clips of the assassination appeared in her feed just like cat videos. At what age do we decide that is acceptable? Never. Not at 17, not at 27, not at any age.

Jonica's daughter Caja has been harassed online, pressured for nudes and even blackmailed - yet she still believes that the new legislation will only cause more harm

Jonica (pictured with her three sons) says parents are fooling themselves if they believe the social media ban for under-16s will work as promised

And yet there it was. No warning. No filter. Just another clip spat out by an algorithm.

I have given up reporting content on Meta. Racist abuse? Ignored. Homophobic bullying? Apparently fine. Even when I report death threats, I receive the same infuriating message: 'This does not go against our guidelines.'

If the Australian government wants to make a difference, forget headline-grabbing bans. Force these platforms to regulate. Fine them until it hurts.

Stop allowing billion-dollar corporations to replace their own safety teams with AI bots while real children are left to sift through what gets missed.

And let's just imagine for one second that the ban actually works.

Do we really believe the dangers disappear on a child's sixteenth birthday? All this law does is throw them in the deep end with no practice, no lessons, no lifelines, then tells them to swim. That is not protection - that is negligence.

Worse, the ban risks creating a divide.

Wealthier, tech-savvy kids with VPNs and multiple devices will stay online; poorer children with less access to money and information won't. Suddenly, we have a hierarchy of who is connected and who is cut off.

'Wealthier, tech-savvy kids with VPNs and multiple devices will stay online; poorer children with less access to money and information won't,' writes Jonica

Think I'm being dramatic? Ask teenagers how well the high-school phone bans are working. Ask how many bring burner phones to lock inside those expensive magnetic pouches the government spent millions on.

And what about vulnerable kids? The ones who haven't found their place in the schoolyard but have found comfort in online friendships that bring them joy?

What about the teenagers in rural towns, for whom a screen is their only connection with other teens? For them, social media isn't poison - it's a lifeline. Taking it away doesn't protect them - it punishes them.

The truth is, parents who believe this ban is the answer to their prayers are fooling themselves. They'll sigh with relief, point to the government and think the job is done.

But their children will still be able to access hardcore porn with a click, encounter predators in gaming chatrooms, and find the dark web if they wish.

This ban does not make children safe. It only gives parents a false sense of security while teens disappear deeper into a world we can no longer see.

I would much rather teach my kids about the dangers of social media platforms now, while I still can.

I want to guide them, correct them, argue with them and prepare them for a digital world that isn't going anywhere.

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After more than 20 years, the mysterious death of 34-year-old Susan Perkins remains unsolved after she was kidnapped from a salon in Florida with a friend.

But her family continue to search for the man responsible for Perkins' death, and say they believe her friend who was also abducted and survived is the key to solving her murder.

On August 31, 2004, Susan went to help a friend tint the windows of a day spa in Altamonte Springs close to her home where she and her two sons lived.

But as they worked, a masked gunman forced the pair of friends to hand over their purses and get into Perkins' red Ford Focus, according to the Altamonte Springs Police Department.

From there, the suspect made them drive to a Washington Mutual Bank and withdraw money from their accounts at the drive-through ATM.

The gunman, described as a black man of medium build, wearing a green army jacket and armed with a rifle, then forced the women into the trunk of Susan's car.

Retired detective Bill Nuzzi said that Susan 'knew about the emergency release in the trunk,' allowing her to 'reach up and open it'.

The women managed to leap from the trunk of the car, but Susan hit her head on the pavement as she escaped and was later pronounced dead.

On August 31, 2004, 34-year-old Susan Perkins (pictured) was a victim of a robbery-gone-wrong as she was killed after leaping from the car that snatched her and a friend

Susan's niece, Holly Perkins (left), said her family is certain there's more to the story and continue to hold onto hope that justice will be served

Susan had gone to help a friend tint the windows of their day spa close to her home where she and her two sons lived. The salon was based on Maitland Avenue, Altamonte Springs (seen above)

Her car was then found abandoned less than a block from the kidnapping scene after the suspect fled.

Police were left with little to aid their investigation as nearby neighbors and potential witnesses had evacuated or were kept in their houses expectant of an oncoming storm.

'The cameras didn't work at the ATM, the lights didn't work in the parking lot,' Nuzzi added to MyNews13.

Yet, her niece, Holly Perkins, said her family is certain there's more to the story and continue to hold onto hope that justice will be served.

'So while we don't have answers right now, we're hoping the public can hear and maybe somebody will see it... just the slightest bit of information,' Holly told the Daily Mail.

Holly said the Perkins family had a close relationship with Susan's friend that jumped out of the trunk with her.

'She was really close friends with my Aunt Susan and my Aunt Sara, so she was very close friends with the family. We all loved [her],' Holly continued.

But after the incident, they never heard from her again.

Susan's red Ford Focus was later found abandoned less than a block from the kidnapping scene after the suspect fled

Susan had been helping a friend at a salon when they were kidnapped

Family members speculated that Susan's friend's sudden silence indicated something sinister in how Susan met her end.

According to Holly, the second victim of the robbery-gone-wrong was interviewed by police but had very little to offer up.

'[Police] basically told our family that she didn't give them any information. She didn't really know anything,' Holly said.

'Basically, it was a black man that had abducted her, and that's it.'

'We're hoping we can bring [her] out of wherever she's hiding and that she will at least recount the events that happened that night,' Holly said.

Holly said the family have struggled to move on without knowing who is responsible for Susan's death.

'She's a very beloved person in the family...she was just a very warm, welcoming - I can hear her laugh. She gave me the best hugs, the best advice,' Holly said.

'You would think after all this time, I would be relishing in memories of her instead of thinking about the tragic way that her life ended, but it's just the only thing that I think about and I feel angry.'

Susan's son, Russ Wiginton (pictured) was 14 when she died

'She was literally everything. Everything you'd want in a mom and everything you'd want in a best friend,' Wiginton said of his mother (pictured together)

Susan's son, Russ Wiginton, was only 14 when the tragedy happened.

'My mom and I had a really close relationship. She was the one person I always confided in for everything,' he told MyNews13.

'She was the one, no matter what I needed to talk about, I wasn't afraid to talk to my mother.

'Im never going to see her smile, Im never going to hear her laugh  its really hard.'

Susan's younger sister, Sara Wakefield, recalled the close relationship she shared with her sister.

'We could finish each others sentences - our boyfriends would joke, If you date one you better be ready because the other one is going to be around too,' she told the outlet.

Both Wiginton and Wakefield said, if nothing, they too want to find answers to Susan's death.

'Anytime there is a story, there is one-side, there is the other side and there is the middle. We dont know what that middle is and that is what we need to find out,' Wiginton said.

Susan's younger sister, Sara Wakefield (right), said she hopes that their family can find closure through new information

The gunman, described as a black man of medium build, wearing a green army jacket and armed with a rifle, forced the women into the trunk of Susan's car after robbing them in the drive-thru of a bank

Wakefield added: 'It gets harder as the years go on. You start to heal and its like a wound that just keeps opening.

'I miss her, every day, every day of my life. I feel that emptiness every day.'
By the age of 12, Barbara Newhall Follett was already a published author and widely regarded as a literary prodigy - a 'child genius' whose imagination captivated critics and readers alike.

But in 1939, when she was 25, she disappeared without trace, her brief fame slipping quietly into obscurity.

Now, her half-nephew, Stefan Cooke, who has spent nearly 15 years researching her life, is seeking to resurrect Follett's name and legacy.

'That's gonna be my job. To get her story out there again because it's such a great story,' he told the Daily Mail.

'I wanted people to appreciate the wisdom that she had at such an early age.'

Follett shot to fame in 1927 with the publication of her novel The House Without Windows & Eepersip's Life There.

The novel told the story of the titular Eepersip, a young girl who flees home to live in the wild.

She is brought back by her parents but vanishes again permanently, in an eerie parallel of Follett's own fate.

Barbara Newhall Follett was a celebrated author by the age of 12 but disappeared without a trace when she was 25

The daughter of an Ivy League scholar and a writer, Follett was homeschooled and socialized mostly among adults

Through his publishing house, Farksolia, Cooke has posthumously published her final novel, The Lost Island, released her letters and reissued The Voyage of Norman D, which is an account of Follett's time on a ship.

He also continues to investigate what might have happened in the lead up to Follett's disappearance - and has his own theory about her fate.

Born in New Hampshire in 1914, Follett was raised by parents immersed in the literary and academic worlds.

Her father, Wilson, Cooke's grandfather, was a scholar who taught English at Dartmouth College and Brown University before becoming an editor at Yale University Press and Knopf, while her mother Helen was a writer.

Follett's extraordinary literary talent blossomed from a young age: homeschooled and mostly socialized with adults, she began writing long before most children can spell.

By her mother's account, she often wrote letters to friends and family, taking inspiration from the natural world around her.

She had produced her first 4,500 word short story at the age of six. Two years later, she finished a novel. When that manuscript telling the tale of Eepersip was lost in a house fire, Follett, unable to abandon her character, reconstructed the entire book.

'To write a novel-length book and then to have her manuscript burn up in the house fire, its only copy lost, and then to re-create it - I mean, that shows a great level of dedication,' Cooke said.

Follett's extraordinary literary talent blossomed from a young age: she began writing long before most children can spell.

According to Follett's description: 'It is about a little girl named Eepersip who lived on top of a mountain, Mount Varcrobis, and was so lonely that she went away to live wild.

'She talked to the animals, and led a sweet lovely life with them - just the kind of life that I should like to lead.'

Critics were enchanted, calling it 'unbearably beautiful'.

In a New York Times article, one reviewer said: 'It is hard not to wax enthusiastic over this wonderful little book.'

She later went on a 10-day excursion to Nova Scotia accompanied by a family friend. Upon returning, Follett published her next book, inspired by their adventures, titled The Voyage of the Norman D.

By 14, she was being labeled as a child prodigy.

But just as her literary star was rising, her personal life began to unravel. A tragic turning point came when her father left his family for a colleague, devastating the young Barbara and her mother who were plunged into poverty and emotional turmoil.

Cooke is the grandson of Wilson Follett and his mistress. His mother, Jane Follett Cooke was the first child in Wilson's second marriage.

Her debut novel, The House Without Windows & Eepersip's Life There, told the story of a girl who ran away from her family to live in the wild

She took a 10-day excursion to Nova Scotia with a friend and wrote her second book loosely based on their travels

After a fractious trip together, Follett and her mother became estranged.

She stayed with friends in California while receiving psychiatric care and was enrolled in junior college. At 15, the young writer ran away to San Francisco and was detained by police for refusing to return to her guardian.

In a newspaper interview, she defended the decision: 'I came away because I felt I had to have my freedom. I felt utterly suppressed, almost frantic, under the plans that had been made for me.

'I did not want to enter college nor live the standardized existence. I have never been to school in my life.

'Perhaps I might like it - I do not know. But this I know: I do not want to like it.'

She later returned to the east coast, resumed writing and met Nickerson Rogers in 1931. They married three years later.

She went missing at 25 years old and has not been seen or heard from since

However, when she discovered he was having an affair, Follett soon realized their marriage could not be salvaged despite her efforts.

In 1939, she left home with just $30 in her pocket, and vanished - never to be seen or heard from again.

Because her husband waited two weeks to report the disappearance and finally did so under her married name, no one drew the connection to the precocious author until years later.

Her own mother remained unaware that she was missing until the 1940s.

'Barbara was right there in the 1920s and early 1930s struggling to make a way forward and she did admirably,' Cooke said. 'I am really really proud of her and the strides she made and the bravery she showed.'

To this day, the reason for Follett's disappearance is a mystery. Some people have speculated suicide, others thought she had followed in the footsteps of her character Eepersip, a few even pointed to murder, either at the hands of her estranged husband or someone else.

In November 1948, a deer hunter found human remains tangled in tree roots near Squam Lake  a sanctuary of Follett's.

While a Harvard pathologist determined that they belonged to a missing local girl, discrepancies led Cooke to believe that the body may have been that of his aunt.

Cooke believes that his aunt died by suicide but does not have solid proof

Eye glasses were found at the scene when the girl wore none, the shoes were a size and a half too big, and none of the belongings could be identified by the family.

Cooke recalled that when he first heard about the body, his heart sank. 'I was 99 percent sure that this was Barbara,' he said.

The remains, however, later disappeared, too.

'When I started this research, I did think that Barbara might have started a new life at the age of 25 with a new identity. I spent a lot of time imagining what might've happened to her.'

His theory now is that Follett took a train to Plymouth, Massachusetts, staying the night to think things over at a barn she and her husband rented, then walked the next morning to a nearby lake and died by suicide. He imagines that she may have hugged her favorite tree before passing.

Cooke maintains a website devoted to Follett, where he has documented her life and history.

Commenters frequently chime in to share their thoughts on her disappearance.

Of his aunt's struggles to make her way through the hard times, Cooke said: 'I am really really proud of her and the strides she made and the bravery she showed'

Many people have speculated about what happened to Follett, wondering if she died by suicide, was murdered or disappeared to live a new life under an assumed identity

One wrote: 'It occurred to me, too, that Barbara may have adopted a new identity and penned some work under a pseudonym.

'I thought it most likely that she would have gone back to writing childrens books, since shed had success with that but none of her adult stories.

'So I dug around trying to find anything about a writer of childrens books during that period - somebody whose identity may have been a secret or mystery - and could find no one that fit that description.'

Another guessed: 'It was December of 1939 and the War was raging in Europe. She knew how to sail.

'Cut her hair short, assume a male name, the British wont ask many questions about Able Seamen willing to ship aboard a tramper for the North Atlantic run. Wild? Perhaps, but she had the skill, and the imagination.

'I dont see it as any less likely than a murder for which theres no proof either. In a strange way, she lived her art Vanishing as the world descended into war into a moment of infinite potentials. I hope she came out to a good one.'

A third said: 'I have read a lot about Barbara and it really sounds like there may have been foul play on Nicks part. It sounds like he felt trapped in a marriage while in love with someone else.'

Cooke, however, thinks that her husband was unhappy and wanted a divorce but was not involved with her disappearance.

Reflecting on his aunt's life and the speculation over her death, he concluded: 'She was capable of absolutely anything.'
A shameless Irish woman has boasted about exploiting an Australian visa loophole, mocking the system and draining taxpayer funds - prompting the immigration minister to issue a stark warning.

Dearbhla Kelly, from Derry in Ireland, admitted that she, along with many friends, applied for asylum as a way to extend their stay in Australia once their working holiday visas run out.

Openly ridiculing the immigration process, Ms Kelly said while she does not meet the strict requirements, the lengthy processing times mean she can remain in the country for years.

'You're never going to get the visa. I wanted it to buy me time until I found another visa that I was going to go under,' she bragged in a TikTok video.

'Processing times were like 34 months - so like three years - and that buys me a load of time to figure out what visa I want to go under. So that was grand.'

Genuine refugees are able to seek asylum in Australia under the Protection Visa if it is unsafe for them to return to their own country and the cost of the application is just $50.

While submissions are being processed, applicants are placed on a bridging visa, allowing them to live and work in Australia until a final decision has been made.

In her video, Ms Kelly explained that after seven years in Australia on various visas, she needed a new one but was unhappy with the legitimate options.

Dearbhla Kelly, from Derry in Ireland, admitted that she, along with many friends, applied for asylum as a way to extend their stay in Australia

'Student visas are so expensive, and you only have a limited amount of hours you can work, or a company won't take you,' she said.

'So I was like, nah, not going on that. It's a no go.

'The other one was finding an Australian man and marrying him, basically paying him money to put you on a partner visa. I was like, I'm not doing that either.

'So one of the other options was to seek asylum.'

She admitted that many in her situation simply pose as refugees on their applications and live and work across the country for years while their cases are processed.

Kelly even claimed she used a personal incident from her past to justify her application.

'So when I was applying for the visa, and the true story that I told them of what happened to me years ago, I was in a sectarian attack,' she said

'Somebody from another religion threatened me.'

Ms Kelly claims many of her friends had successfully stayed years longer in Australia

Weeks after submitting her application, she was called in for questioning.

'I get an email saying I need to come in for an interview at the immigration office,' Ms Kelly said.

'It was on a Friday and I was going to Melbourne that evening.

'So I went in, gave my fingerprints and a photo, just so they could see I'm not like a terrorist or anything in my country.

'The guy was like, oh, I don't really see Irish people in here. And I was like, yeah, I'm seeking asylum from Ireland,' she continued laughing.

Unfortunately for Ms Kelly, she received a refusal notice on October 5, 2024.

But she admitted she was still shocked because she knew so many others who had been living on the bridging visa for years.

'I had said to somebody about this stage, and they're like, no, it's going to take months and months and months for them to get back to you.

'Like, you have loads of time. I said, perfect, happy days.

Unfortunately for Ms Kelly she received a refusal notice for her application

'So it was a Friday night, Jazzy was playing in Sydney. And I was like, of course I'm going to see Jazzy.

'Like, she is the disco dancing queen. Like, whatever I had an unbelievable night at Jazzy.

'Woke up on a Saturday morning, to this refusal notification, and I was all, what? What? So I clicked on it.

'I literally woke up, and I showed my friends and I was like, jeez. They couldn't believe it, there were four of them in the room.

'I was so hungover I couldn't speak to anybody for about two days.'

The letter stated that because she did not meet the criteria she had 28 days to leave the country.

Now living back in Ireland Ms Kelly still finds the situation amusing.

'It's just so funny. I tell everyone, why did I leave Australia? I got deported.'

Other people claimed they used the same loophole

Some people in the comment section were outraged

Her brazen confession sparked furious debate in the comments section, with some boasting they had also taken advantage of the same loophole.

'I did the refugee visa as well, bought myself another three years. I got refused, appealed, and stayed another 10 months before I decided to leave,' one wrote.

'You should have appealed it, would have got yourself another year,' suggested another.

But not everyone was amused. 'I'm glad they deported you,' wrote one angry commenter.

'The system is so broken, you should never have had the option of a refugee visa,' agreed another.

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Immigration Minister Tony Burke said: 'It used to be that the Irish had to break the law to get to Australia, but those days are long gone.

'We don't have any patience for frivolous claims, they might delay the date of departure but they won't prevent it.'

Daily Mail has contacted The Department of Home Affairs and Ms Kelly for further comment.

A breakdown of Home Affairs data seen by the Daily Mail shows that, in July 2025, India was the top country of origin for residents seeking a protection visa in Australia, at 365 individuals.

That was followed by China (233), Indonesia (144), Fiji (100), Pakistan (95), the Philippines (89), Malayasia (67) and Nepal (57). 34 people each applied from war-torn Ukraine, Papua New Guinea, Kenya and Colombia.
It's been almost a week since a bombshell tip about a longtime Trump confidante was delivered to the Daily Mail via text message.

'Hearing Corey Lewandowski got fired,' said the White House leaker on Wednesday. Inside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the claim seemed to spark confusion.

'I'm not sure if he was fired,' a senior communications aide told the Daily Mail. 'Hearing he was furloughed as part of the federal government shutdown. Been getting messages about this all day.'

Six sources  two in the White House, three in the Department of Homeland Security (where Lewandowski is employed as a temporary staffer) and one Republican operative  gave the Daily Mail different explanations for why Lewandowski might be out.

One White House source said, 'They want him out.'

For his part, Lewandowski  often referred to as DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's de facto chief of staff  issued a furious denial on Wednesday.

'How are those sources doing today?' he emailed the Daily Mail.

Hours later, Lewandowski took to Twitter, posting: 'I thought it only fitting today to share the words of the famous Mark Twain... The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.'

'Hearing Corey Lewandowski got fired' said the White House leaker on Wednesday. Inside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the claim seemed to spark confusion

For his part, Lewandowski  often referred to as DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's (pictured, right) de facto chief of staff  issued a furious denial on Wednesday

But five days after the Daily Mail first reach out to the White House, they have yet to address this reporting, directing questions to a DHS spokesperson, who said they 'could not comment.'

The relative White House silence stands in stark contrast to how official Washington typically responds to damaging reports about staffers in good standing  with a firm statement of the president's 'full faith' in the individual in question.

Then on Monday, the Daily Mail was told that there is an effort underway to oust Lewandowski  and it is being lead by White House Border Czar Tom Homan, according to a top GOP operative.

Last month, Homan found himself under the spotlight. Sources told the Associated Press that Homan was under investigation since late last year for accepting $50,000 from an undercover FBI agent.

Homan allegedly accepted the money  before he was tapped to serve in the administration  from an operative posing as businessman interested in government contracts related to the Trump's illegal immigration crackdown.

The bribery probe has reportedly been closed by the US Justice Department. Homan has not responded to the Daily Mail's request for comment.

Five days after the Daily Mail first reach out to the White House, they have yet to address this reporting, directing questions to a DHS spokesperson, who said they 'could not comment.'

The Daily Mail was told that there is an effort underway to oust Lewandowski - and it is being lead by White House Border Czar Tom Homan (pictured), according to a top GOP operative

On Thursday, Lewandowski fueled further speculation about his future by tweeting about the New Hampshire governor's race.

'Everyone says being a Governor is the best job in Politics. I agree,' Lewandowski posted on X, after having spent the weekend in New Hampshire.

Lewandowski declined to say whether or not he expects the president's endorsement should he seek office in New Hampshire.

A run for governor could hypothetically offer Lewandowski a graceful exit ramp from the administration. Indeed, 'grace' is not something typically associated with the controversial Trump foot solider.

Earlier this month, the Daily Mail reported on a memo laying out accusations that Lewandowski improperly accepted a combined $50,000 from the Chinese Communist Party and Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu's Likud Party.

A senior DHS official denied the report, telling the Daily Mail that Lewandowski never received any foreign money.

Lewandowski was abruptly let go from Trump's 2016 campaign after being charged with simple battery for grabbing a female reporter, Michelle Fields, during a press event. The charges were later dropped.

In 2021, he was pushed out of Trump's orbit again after the wife of a GOP donor, Trashelle Odom, accused him of stalking and harassing her at a Nevada charity dinner.

Lewandowski was charged with misdemeanor battery, but the charges were dropped after he agreed to community service, a $1,000 fine and an apology to Odom.

Lewandowski was abruptly let go from Trump's 2016 campaign after being charged with simple battery for grabbing a female reporter

Lawyers for Lewandowski have said their client 'was not charged with assault or stalking in Clark County, Nevada. In fact, the case against Mr. Lewandowski was dismissed.'

Finally, Lewandowski was booted off Trump's 2024 campaign after reportedly clashing with campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita.

But, against the odds and raising eyebrows among Trump's closest allies, he returned to the fold again after Trump defeated Kamala Harris.

For now, Lewandowski remains in his position  as a special government employee of DHS  a role meant to be temporary and limited to 130 working days per year without federal salary or benefits. A source at DHS said Lewandowski had about 60 days left on his term, which could take him to the end of the year.
A Polish woman who claimed to be missing Madeleine McCann broke down in tears when a jury was told she is not the missing girl.

Julia Wandelt shouted out 'no' in Polish before rushing to the back of the dock when prosecutor Michael Duck KC said there was 'scientific evidence' she is not Madeleine.

Wandelt, 24, went on trial on Monday accused of stalking Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry, by calling them, emailing them and turning up at their home in Rothley in Leicestershire.

The court heard that on one day alone, she called Kate McCann 60 times, referring to her as 'mommy' and claiming to have memories of the night she was abducted.

She also sent messages and pictures of herself to Amelie McCann, one of Madeleine's younger siblings, along with a message begging for a DNA test, the court heard.

She is accused of turning up at Gerry and Kate McCann's Leicestershire home with co-accused Julia Wandelt (pictured), 23, a Polish woman who has claimed to be the couple's missing daughter Madeleine

Madeleine McCann's (pictured) disappearance while on a family holiday in Portugal's Algarve at the age of three in 2007 is one of the most widely reported missing child cases in history and remains unsolved

Wandelt, a Polish national, appeared at Leicester Crown Court alongside Karen Spragg, 61, of Caerau in Cardiff, who is also accused of stalking Kate and Gerry McCann causing them 'serious alarm or distress' between June 1 2022 and 21st February 2025.

Wandelt is in custody, Spragg is on conditional bail. They both deny the charges.

The court heard that from June 2022 Wandelt 'began to make attempts to persuade anybody who was prepared to listen that she was Madeleine McCann'.

Prosecutor Micheal Duck KC said Wandelt, for a period of three years, 'pursued the myth she was Madeleine McCann' and pursued Kate and Gerry by 'electronic communication, direct telephone calls, visits to their village and ultimately visits to their home address'.

Mr Duck told the jury: 'Her contention over the almost three years which followed was that she must have been abducted and taken to Poland where she lived with people who erroneously claimed to be her natural birth parents.'

She also claimed to have memories 'of the manner of her abduction' and of being Madeleine.

Mr Duck said those memories included, on occasions, reporting to remember growing up in the McCann household and interacting with Madeleine's younger twin siblings Sean and Amelie, now in their 20s.

He said she also remembered 'being part of family events and very specific family events'.

'One might be tempted to think that this has some measure of credibility but can we, at this very early stage in this trial make this clear: Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann.'

It was at this point Wandelt called out 'no' in Polish and broke down in tears before moving to the back of the dock where she was comforted by Spragg.

When the case resumed after a short break, Mr Duck told jurors they will hear 'unequivocal scientific evidence' that Madeleine McCann is the natural daughter of Kate and Gerry McCann and 'this lady Julia Wandelt has no familial line to them at all'.

He said there was evidence Wandelt used AI tool Chatgpt to try to back up her claims and when evidence did not fit she simply 'moved the goalposts'.

Mr Duck said: 'Why Julia Wandelt chose to pursue the entirely false claim that she was Madeleine McCann may not be a straightforward question to answer and, fortunately, it is not one which you are required to answer.

'Because whatever belief you may hold, nothing gives you the right to pursue and stalk people just because you want them to bend to your will and do as you demand or request.'

The court heard she sent a message on social media to Amelie McCann along with images 'designed to persuade Amelie that there were similarities between them to support the connection they were someway related'.

He said those images had been manipulated and features of them altered 'in an attempt to persuade the viewer that those two individuals were more alike than they were'. They were recovered from Wandelt's phone when she was arrested in February.

Mr Duck said there were 'basic facts' which showed she was not Madeleine, including that they were not the same age.

He said when faced with awkward questions Wandelt 'adjusts her contentions and tries to explain it away' by suggesting it was 'not difficult to fake a date of birth certificate' and claiming she looked younger than he years.

Mr Duck said: 'But when faced with unequivocal scientific evidence you have no where to go.'

LISTEN: The Trial of the McCann 'Stalkers'. Listen to the latest on this Daily Mail podcast

The court heard she also did not limit her claims to being Madeleine, and at one point claimed to be another missing child, German Inga Gerhicke and later Acacia Bishop, who was abducted from her great grandmother's house in Salt Lake City, Utah.

He said it was in June 2020 that she first started trying to contact the McCanns, and called the hospital where they both worked.

She got through to the hospital communications manager 'and engaged in a lengthy conversation in which said that she believed that she was Madeleine McCann'.

Mr Duck said that on that occasion her attempt was foiled but 'far from being deterred, she made further attempts' to contact them.

She emailled Gerry McCann in June 2023 claiming she had 'similar shape of ears, face, lips and I have the gap between the teeth' as Madeleine and claiming to have no memory of her childhood adding: 'I can be your daughter it is very possible I am her.'

In the message to Amelie, sent in January 2024, she wrote: 'I know you will probably not answer me but I will try. I am this girl that went viral saying I was Madeleine McCann.'

She told her that she had flashbacks and memories of being Madeleine which Mr Duck said was an attempt to 'manipulate'.

She wrote: 'Can you do a DAA test with me I will pay for it. I am not crazy, media made me look crazy

I need you to believe me Amelie. I can tell you about my memories' before urging her to ask Kate about an Opal gold necklace saying 'ask your mother if she ever had anything like this'. She finished the note: 'Write me I beg you.'

Mr Duck said: These memories simply cant have existed'.

He said Amelie didn't reply and did not tell her parents out of 'concern about the effects on them'.

Mr Duck said Wandelt was 'once again not deterred by the refusal to engage simply adjusted her approach and her target'.

In April 2024 she managed to get hold of Kate's mobile number, which she has not changed since Madeleine disappeared.

During a single day in April 2024 Wandelt called or messaged Kate's telephone on over 60 occasions.

Jurors were played a voicemail left by Wandelt on Kate's phone in which she said: 'Please try. We have nothing to lose, if I am her.... I know I am fat and not pretty like Madeleine was in the past but I know what I know and I know what I remember.

'And I know there is large corruption out there. Dont give up on your daughter I am not a liar I am not crazy I just want to know they truth.'

She also sent messages claiming she knew things only 'you and Madeleine and Gerry would know' which Mr Duck said was a 'piece of stark manipulation'.

In another message she said: 'I know I am fat and ugly I have depression and PTSD but please give me one chance. I beg you you are my real mother I remember you give me a chance to prove it.'

In another she said: 'You are mommy you know it is me.'

She claimed to remember spoon feeding Sean in the family kitchen adding: 'I remember you came to the room before the abduction happened and you were rubbing my head saying you loved me and would find me.'

Opening the prosecution on Monday, Mr Duck told jurors that one of the 'many tragic consequences for Madeleine's' parents, Kate and Gerry McCann has been their constant inability to escape that unwanted glare of publicity that came with that tragedy.

He said their faces have become 'immediately recognisable worldwide' and the attention they have received has not always been compassionate.

Mr Duck said: 'They have been embraced by millions of people around the world who empathise with their position but there remain a group of individuals which continues to fail to acknowledge their plight and perpetuates conspiracy theories which heap further misery upon the McCann family.

'Unfortunately these two defendants belong to that latter group but as far as they are concerned their behvaiour is not typified by an offhand comment in a newspaper comments page or a some post on social media it .. reflects a well planned campaign of harassment which extended, in Julia Wandelt's case for over two and a half years.'

Mr Duck said that in the time since Madeleine's disappearance on 3rd May 2007 the McCanns have had to endure 'not just the unimaginable trauma of not knowing the whereabouts of their young daughter but also the compounding of that trauma caused by the vitriol which some members of the public have chosen to continue to demonstrate'.

He said: 'It is a sad fact that being thrown into the public limelight can cause you to be subjected to the cruellest of taunts and to be regarded as a legitimate target for those who possess their own inexplicable motives.'

The trial, due to last three weeks, continues.

Karen Spragg, 60, pictured arriving at Leicester Magistrates Court earlier this year

It is alleged she made unwanted contact with the McCanns, turned up at their address and sent letters, calls, voicemails and WhatsApp messages, which amounted to stalking. Pictured: Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry McCann

Madeleine McCann's disappearance while on a family holiday in Portugal's Algarve at the age of three in 2007 is one of the most widely reported missing child cases in history and remains unsolved.

To learn more about this case, search for The Trial of the McCann 'Stalkers', wherever you get your podcasts.

For an ad-free experience, subscribe to The Crime Desk and access our entire collection of award-winning true crime podcasts without interruptions.
A California commune filled with 'dirty hippies' is closing down after losing a 25-year battle with its local government.

The so-called Yee Haw commune is a 12-acre makeshift settlement in Trinidad, California, a remote seaside town with a population of about 300 residents.

Its supporters said the communes longtime owner Charles Garth provided a makeshift option to combat Trinidads steep housing costs. About ten people currently live at the commune.

Critics said Yee Haw posed a biohazard because of a lack of fire and carbon dioxide detectors, electrical hazards, wood stoves without flues and unsafe structures.

They slammed Garth as irresponsible and claimed he had 25 years to improve the settlements conditions.

Now, Yee Haw is set to shutter after the Humboldt County board of supervisors - which oversees Trinidad - voted to abate the settlement.

Rex Bohn, Humboldt Countys first district supervisor, said at the September 23 board meeting: It's time to do the right thing and clean up the property for the area.

The Humboldt County board of supervisors voted to abate the Yee Haw settlement

The so-called Yee Haw commune is a 12-acre makeshift settlement in Trinidad, California

Critics said that the commune posed a biohazard, while supporters said Yee Haw offered an alternative to fight Humboldt County's steep housing market

He added in an exasperated tone: We have given 25 years of code enforcement, trying to bring [Garth] in line.

What's the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again with the same result?

Photos previously captured of Yee Haw showed the community consisting of makeshift outhouses made from plywood and buckets.

Containers with human waste inside were spotted in the illegally-constructed homes.

John H. Ford, Humboldt Countys director of planning and building, said last year that Garth owed $63,000 in fines, penalties and administration costs.

That amount is now estimated to be around $100,000, according to the Times-Standard.

The commune had last been granted a nine-month compliance period in January but failed to do so.

Charles Garth (pictured) is the commune's longtime owner, although the property was recently transferred to his son's company

Photos of Yee Haw showed the community consisting of makeshift outhouses made from plywood and buckets

Containers with human waste inside were spotted in the illegally-constructed homes

Bohn explained: 'Nothing - nada - nothing has happened.

'It's not about who the neighbor is. It's not about the housing. We've got rules we've got to stand by.'

The drama surrounding Yee Haw began in May 2001, when Humboldt County officials served the settlement with its first abatement notices.

It was discovered that most 'homes' lacked smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Motor vehicles were also found being lived in with extension cords running through the windows, according to SFGATE.

At the September board of supervisors meeting, Garth pleaded for more time.

He said: I need a new deal. Come on, you guys. I'm doing the right thing.

Your director has already stated numerous times that there's no way to build affordable housing.

I can build affordable housing all day till the cows come home. I can build it. Just let me do it.

Residents began to butt heads with county official back in May 2001 when the were served abatement notices after finding dangerous code violations on the property by the Planning and Building unit

The drama surrounding Yee Haw began in May 2001

Humboldt County officials said that Yee Haw had been 'given 25 years' to be compliant

Yee Haw's shuttering could be complicated by the fact that the commune is now under the ownership of Evergreen Non-Profits, which is headed by Garth's son James.

The company was established in 2022, according to California state documents.

A letter signed by the Humboldt County planning and building department that was viewed by the Daily Mail listed James A. Garth's address in Eureka, California - about 23 miles from Trinidad.

Garth transferred the property - 450 and 473 Quarry Road in Trinidad - to Evergreen Non-Profits on February 26, 2025, as per a quitclaim deed viewed by the Daily Mail.

Evergreen Non-Profits was represented at the latest board of supervisors meeting by Allen K. Ng, who is listed as the companys chief financial officer.

Ng identified himself as a long-term member of this community with a career in land management and construction.

He said: We've recently taken ownership of the property known as Yee Haw and are fully aware of this difficult history and serious water quality concerns.

Allen Ng said Evergreen Non-Profits was making a plan to get things in better shape'

Humboldt County supervisor Rex Bohn is pictured above

The commune is now under the ownership of Evergreen Non-Profits

Ng claimed that Evergreen Non-Profits had done water testing, removed metal and was making a plan to get things in better shape.

An unidentified member of the community also spoke at the board of supervisors meeting to make his case for Yee Haw and its longtime owner.

He said: Charles is not made for bureaucracy. He's taken everything you've told him to heart.

More than half the people have left. He's cleaned up and he cleans up often.

The unidentified man also accused Humboldt County of having no accommodation for Garth.

He added: The mans trying his best. Hes just not trying like you might expect him to from someone who knows how to go through the bureaucratic process, but hes just unaccommodated.

Steve Madrone, the fifth district supervisor, represents Trinidad - where Yee Haw is located.

The supervisor said: 'I have gone to bat for this community for my entire six-and-a-half years here as a board member over and over again.

Promises keep being made but then they don't get fulfilled. There are limits to our ability to trust and believe that these things are going to happen if we give more time.'

Renters in Humboldt County need to earn 1.5 times California's minimum wage to afford the average monthly rent. Pictured homes in Trinidad, California

Rent in the county has gone up by about 21% in the last five years, leading to makeshift homes such as the one pictured

Humboldt County supervisor Steve Madrone said he was 'concerned' about housing in the area

Madrone added: 'I'm always concerned about housing. [Yee Haw] has been housing for a lot of people.

'As somebody said, regardless of the code issues, it is still a whole lot safer place to be than out on the streets. I don't know anybody that would disagree with that but it doesn't mean we can look the other way.'

One tenant of Yee Haw, who has lived there for six years with her family, said she knows from an outside perspective they look like a 'bunch of dirty hippies' but that she values her community and the cabin she lives in.

Renters in Humboldt County need to earn $24.46 per hour - 1.5 times the California minimum wage - to afford the average monthly asking rent of $1,272, according to the California House Partnership.

It was estimated that 6,015 low-income renter households in Humboldt County do not have access to an affordable home.

Meanwhile, rent in the county has gone up by about 21 percent in the last five years.

California recently rolled back a landmark environmental law in an attempt to build more homes as the state grapples with a widespread homelessness crisis.

The state's Democrat governor Gavin Newsom scaled back the California Environmental Quality Act, which then-governor Ronald Reagan passed in 1970.

The law ensured that both state and local governments performed environmental impact reviews before starting new construction projects.

Developers said the bill allowed opponents to delay projects for years by tying them up in bureaucratic challenges.

More than 187,000 people are homeless in California - 24 percent of the entire homeless population in the US - according to the Public Policy Institute of California.
The Victorian Government gave more than $100,000 to a trans prison program which helped a paedophile dad who molested his daughter serve his jail term in the relative safety of a women's prison.

The taxpayer-funded grant came less than three weeks before Autumn Tulip Harper was sentenced to jail in Victoria's female maximum security prison, the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre.

Jacinta Allan's government announced it had allocated a further $30,000 on top of the $75,000 it had given to trans organisation Flat Out and its 'Beyond Bricks and Bars program on August 7 last year.

Harper, not their birth name, who is also known by their court-issued pseudonym 'Hilary Maloney' to protect the identity of their victim, was jailed on August 26.

At their pre-sentence hearing, Witt Gorrie, the coordinator of Beyond Bricks and Bars, wrote a report for Harper which was highlighted by Judge Nola Karapanagiotidis as Harper was sentenced to a minimum 30-month jail term.

'I accept that Mr Gorrie has the expertise and experience to give evidence on these issues and his evidence was not challenged,' Judge Karapanagiotidis said.

'The report indicates that all trans women who enter the womens system are placed in solitary confinement upon reception and remain there for anywhere from five weeks to their entire prison sentence.

'Placement in long-term solitary confinement is restrictive and has significant impacts on a persons mental health.

Autumn Tulip Harper was jailed for molesting their daughter

Harper before his transformation

Witt Gorrie wrote a report for court which was relied on by Harper

'In Mr Gorries experience in working with trans women in the prison system, all have also "reported transphobic bullying and harassment", along with sexual harassment and abuse, within the custodial environment.

'He also referred to some of the common difficulties and delays around receiving, and appropriately monitoring, hormone replacement therapy in custody.

'Mr Gorrie considers that as a young trans woman you would be particularly at risk in prison.'

Harper's lenient sentence and allocation to a women's prison after he was convicted of abusing his five-year-old daughter sparked outrage amid claims it has set a 'dangerous precedent'.

The Australian Federal Police, acting on a tip from US law enforcement, raided Harper's home in Clayton South, in Melbourne's south-east, on September 15, 2023.

Investigators discovered Harper subjected his five-year-old daughter to 'persistent sexual abuse' between May and June of that year.

Harper sent 77 child abuse files via Discord to his United States-based paedophile master known in court documents as 'Samuel Booth'.

The details of Harper's offending, who pleaded guilty in the Melbourne County Court in July 2024 to charges including persistent sexual abuse of a child under 16, are too harrowing to publish.

An unnamed individual hijacked his Facebook page and changed the cover picture to the words: 'I'm a pedo'

Womens Forum Australia chief executive Rachael Wong demanded in a letter to Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan that she review Harper's sentence

Detectives discovered Harper had been in a 'master/slave' relationship with Booth where he would order them to perform daily tasks and film them.

'These directions included brushing your teeth or showering, but also included instructions for the sexual abuse of your daughter,' Judge Karapanagiotidis said.

Harper initially expressed 'hesitance and concern', once telling Booth that 'she is my daughter and I shouldn't be doing it'.

'Booth encourages and instructs you to engage in a variety of sexual and perverse acts with your daughter,' the judge noted.

'He occasionally offers you affirmations that you made him "so hard and proud" and that he is "impressed by you" and that "you did so good" and are "such a good girl".'

Harper told police they 'felt terrible and horrible' about the offending.

'You felt tied to Booth because you were not in a good mental state,' Judge Karapanagiotidis said.

'Booth seemed to care, which is not something you had much of. You feel your life had gone terribly and everything got worse.'

Harper's lawyers submitted the fiend was 'completely lacking connection in life' and they experienced pervasive feelings of rejection and lack of self-worth.

Harper was presented as a victim who was exploited by Booth.

Former Victorian Minister for Equality Harriet Shing (pictured) announced taxpayer funds for the Beyond Bricks and Bars

'At first, he was attentive and caring and someone with whom you could share every aspect of your daily life,' the judge noted.

Forensic psychiatrist Dr Rajan Darjee said Harper 'identified as a female, living as a female and hormonally female' and exhibited a common 'pattern of sexual abuse seen in females'.

'This pattern of sexual abuse is one which a more dominant male pressurises, manipulates and/or coerces a female who has access to a child... to sexually abuse that child and/or to make that child available to him to sexually abuse,' Dr Darjee wrote in his report.

'The person who drives this offending is the dominant male who is able to use a vulnerable female to do what he is sexually motivated to achieve.'

Shortly after Harper pleaded guilty, an unnamed individual hijacked his Facebook page and changed the cover picture to the words: 'I'm a pedo'.

'(Harper) felt the man she connected with cared for and was nice to her, and due to her low self-esteem, lack of assertiveness, loneliness, submissiveness and desperation to be noticed and cared for, it was easy for him to pick up on her vulnerability and manipulate her into the master/slave relationship where he took control of her life,' Judge Karapanagiotidis said.

'He then involved her in sexual exchanges and then coerced her to sexually abuse her daughter and take videos and photos to share with him.

'She [Harper] was not inherently motivated by deviant sexual interests or any other motive, except doing what he told her and keeping him happy, to sexually abuse her daughter.'

Womens Voices Australia founder Jasmine Sussex said the Harper case was a grim consequence of the state allowing gender self-identification

The Department of Justice and Community Safety refused to comment on Harper's location.

'When considering placements, Corrections Victoria considers the safety of the individual prisoner and the safety of other prisoners and staff, as well as the security of the prison and relevant legal requirements,' a spokesman said.

However, the Harper case has drawn anger from women's rights campaigners.

Womens Forum Australia chief executive Rachael Wong demanded that the Victorian government review the sentence, claiming the 'extraordinary leniency sets a dangerous precedent'.

Womens Voices Australia founder Jasmine Sussex said this was the grim consequence of the state allowing gender self-identification.

'This is an obscene human rights violation by the Victorian government against the most vulnerable group of women in the state - those incarcerated,' she said.

'All decent-minded Victorians are sickened by this craven government policy.

'It forces the County Court to lie to a five-year-old girl surviving her fathers evil sexual assault and aggravate his offence with state-sanctioned abuse - claiming the paedophile rapist is a woman.'

Mr Gorrie referred to some of the 'common difficulties and delays around receiving, and appropriately monitoring, hormone replacement therapy in custody'

According to a government media release, the Beyond Bricks and Bars program 'provides culturally appropriate and holistic support to trans and gender diverse people at risk of incarceration and in prison'.

The program also 'helps justice workers improve their understanding of the diverse needs of trans and gender diverse communities'.

'Im delighted to celebrate the success of Australias leading organisation providing life-saving support to trans and gender diverse people in our justice system,' then Minister for Equality Harriet Shing said after the taxpayer funded cash injection.

Mr Gorrie said 'relationships and community connections are fundamental to the support we provide'.

'These are the things that keep our community alive, safe and out of prison. Everyone deserves to have their community in their corner when theyre going through the hardest period of their lives.

'Trans and gender diverse people behind bars are a part of our community and are fierce advocates for trans rights.'

Harper was jailed for a maximum of four years and nine months.

The County Court heard Harper would most likely be housed in solitary confinement at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre.
Visit Cornwall, the body which promotes Britain's most popular tourist destination, spent over 100,000 on a website redesign as it was going bust, the Daily Mail can reveal.

The collapse of the body tasked with promoting the seaside county to tourists stunned locals because of the notorious number of people who head there every summer - and seemingly unlimited demand for Cornish holidays.

But the agency today announced it had gone into voluntary liquidation due to 'insurmountable financial problems' - blaming a perfect storm of anti-tourism sentiment, unreliable weather and unaffordable rental prices.

And the Daily Mail can reveal that despite its looming financial difficulties, Visit Cornwall recently spent 111,556 on developing their new website - which will now not be used.

That sum represents over half of the total its accounts suggest it currently owes.

The latest accounts seen by the Daily Mail show it lost 114,000 over the last two years and has 196,528 in debts due this year.

The website is still working today - with a home page featuring a medley of professionally shot video clips of activities like mountain biking, kayaking, swimming and walking the famous - and since the Raynor Winn scandal - infamous Salt Path.

Chairman of the Visit Cornwall board Jon Hyatt said he was 'desperately disappointed' by this outcome and the team had explored 'every avenue possible' to avoid it

Chairman of the Visit Cornwall board Jon Hyatt said he was 'desperately disappointed' by this outcome and the team had explored 'every avenue possible' to avoid it.

Tourism businesses in Cornwall, which is famed for its family-friendly beach holidays, pay between about 100 and more than 2,500 a year, depending on their size and membership type, for marketing with the firm.

The organisation had received grants from the Shared Prosperity Fund for four years.

That 2.6billion cash pot was launched in 2022 under the previous Conservative government's levelling up campaign.

But the entire government scheme is due to end next March, with no sign of a replacement.

Cornwall saw a boom in visitor numbers during Covid with foreign travel limited and many families opting for a staycation.

Cornwall's tourism board has gone into voluntary liquidation due to 'insurmountable financial problems'. The Daily Mail can reveal that despite its looming financial difficulties, Visit Cornwall recently spent 111,556 on developing their new website

Despite 2billion being injected into their economies every summer, residents have moaned that holidaymakers were a 'nightmare' and made their communities 'hell on earth'.

Last year Cornwall faced its worst summer visitor numbers in a decade, and this summer is not predicted to be much better.

But now, after summers of bashing holidaymakers and begging them to stay away, Cornish shopkeepers and holiday businesses have reported a huge decline in earnings and a drop-off in tourists this year.

They claim increasing perception of unaffordability has steered the vital British market to choose overseas rivals like Spain, Italy and Greece instead of the clotted cream and pasty county.

Despite the declining visitor numbers to the county - Visit Cornwall more than doubled its turnover from 288,164 in 2023 to 603,800 last year but still failed to make a profit as its operating costs more than tripled in one year.

Mr Hyatt said the organisation's non-executive voluntary directors - responsible for its strategy - had worked 'tirelessly, in an extremely challenging environment, to create a long-term sustainable future for Visit Cornwall'.

Its six paid employees will be supported throughout the liquidation process and will receive redundancy payments.

Mr Hyatt thanked staff, along with members and partners, for their 'commitment and contribution', adding: 'Visit Cornwall will be missed.'

Visit Cornwall more than doubled its turnover from 288,164 in 2023 to 603,800 last year but still failed to make a profit as its operating costs more than tripled in one year (pictured: its revamped website)

Mr Hyatt, who said the closure was 'the right thing' for staff and members, explained a different model not so dependent on such grants could be the way forward.

He said: 'We believe that there is potential for a new organisation to be that voice based on membership and business income alone, and not reliant on grant funding...

'There are many more businesses that could be members of an organisation like this and a number of potential partnerships to explore.

'That was our goal and the need of the visitor economy and your support for Visit Cornwall gave us the drive to keep working to the last.'

Last month, a string of shop owners and residents in St Ives, the county's most coveted destination, told the Daily Mail that they have noticed a huge decline in earnings and a drop-off in tourists this year.

'You always see people complaining about the tourists but it's important to us,' waitress Ella Erijota said.

'I've noticed a massive decline in the amount of visitors this summer and it's concerning.

'Cornwall relies on tourism and needs it to survive.'

'It's been a lot quieter this year, I've definitely noticed a decline in tourism,' St Ives resident and shop worker Charlotte Cooper said.

Ms Cooper, along with several other business owners, explained that they had noticed a significant reduction in earnings this summer.

'I blame overpriced holiday homes for deterring tourists. You can get an all-inclusive holiday abroad for the same price as renting a home here for a couple days.

'And the money people do spend on B&Bs isn't even going into the town, it's going to owners elsewhere.'

She added: 'There are hardly any jobs outside of tourism, if you haven't made enough money over the summer you're struggling the rest of the year.'

The slump in visitors in Cornwall echoes similar trends in Spain where a relentless campaign of anti-tourist protests have been 'scaring away visitors'.

The wave of protests gripping the country have led to a fall in spending, declining nightlife and crumbling businesses.

Skylar Michael worries this is a fate that Cornwall could begin to face.

'I've noticed a massive decline in tourists and it's not a good thing, we rely on them,' she said.

One of the biggest gripes locals have had with the tourism industry in Cornwall is the rise in second homes purchased by out-of-towners for the purpose of renting them out during the busy season.

The St Ives community believe this has priced out locals and some of their more 'traditional' tourists.

Cornwall's tourism is thought to have taken a dip amid rabid anti-tourist sentiments from locals

Jess Astle, who works in a beachfront shop, explained: 'A lot of people now stay outside of St Ives and are day trippers because the price of Airbnbs has shot up.

'St Ives is outpricing itself with the cost of accommodation and even the price of a meal is outrageous.'

Despite locals declaring a war on tourists after a frenzy of Brits on lads' holidays turned the quaint town into 'Benidorm on steroids' during the summers when lockdown restrictions were still in place, Ms Astle said locals were let down when they didn't visit again.

'People were also disappointed when tourists didn't return after Covid,' she added.

'It's not just the cost of visiting that is deterring visitors from sampling some homemade ice cream on the gleaming pier, it is also the unpredictable nature of British weather.

'The weather is a massive reason why people aren't coming here, people just don't associate British weather with a summer holiday,' explained shopkeeper Ewa Bubczyk.

'There's nothing to do when it rains, sun is super important. Whereas if you go abroad it's cheaper and good weather is basically guaranteed.'

On top of that, journeys can take over six hours from urban centres such as London and Manchester, with several transfers required to reach some of Cornwall's most picturesque locations without your own car.

'We're right at the end of the country, a lot of people drive here but even the parking is a nightmare,' Allison Peters, who has worked in St Ives for 33 years, told the Daily Mail.

'We've not got modern facilities and it makes it a bit of a logistical nightmare to come here.'

Last year Cornwall faced its worst summer visitor numbers in a decade, and this summer is not predicted to be much better

Cornish shopkeepers and holiday businesses have reported a huge decline in earnings and a drop-off in tourists this year

According to South West Business Council (SWBC), 2024 saw Cornwall endure its worst summer visitor numbers for a decade.

SWBC's chairman, Tim Jones, told the BBC that 17 per cent of bars and restaurants had shut down in the area.

Cornwall's tourism industry is worth roughly 2billion annually, or 15 per cent of the local economy, so many people are worried about its decline.

However, others are overjoyed by dwindling tourism.

'I'd love it if tourism keeps declining,' a retired resident told the Daily Mail.

'St Ives has become a victim of its own success, I think from a local point of view a few less people wouldn't go amiss.

'It's changed and not for the better, it needs to return to the old way, to pre-Covid.'

The struggle felt by locals is only escalating as seven community groups have called for a devolved Cornish parliament as it doesn't want to be 'England's holiday park'.

Meanwhile, in July, Cornwall Council called on the Government to recognise the area as a 'fifth nation' in the UK - a notion that many agree with.

But as communities continue to criticise visitors, they risk isolating themselves and feeling the pinch even more.

Andrew George, Liberal Democrat MP for St Ives, said: 'The post-Covid bounce is well behind us. The trend towards very late bookings has increased.

'The unusually good weather during the school holidays kept numbers up to a certain extent, but the trend of recent years can't be ignored.

'If Cornwall is to retain the tourism segment of its changing economy, it needs to look closely at the facilities and infrastructure it offers.

'When you're on holiday you want to be able to travel and park with ease and not to search endlessly for a decent loo!'
The military veteran accused of shooting dead two teens in a random attack at a remote Arizona campsite made eerie posts about the killings and his presence at the crime scene on social media.

Thomas Brown, 31, was arrested Thursday and charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the May 26 killings of Pandora Kjolsrud, 18, and Evan Clark, 17, in the Mount Ord area of Tonto National Forest, near Phoenix.

Brown was allegedly camping with his wife in the area at the time before she left the trip one day early, leaving him alone.

It was during that extra day that Brown allegedly killed the two teens, and the motive remains a mystery.

According to investigators, Brown then inserted himself into the case in the days after the murders, coming forward with tips and handing over drone footage he had captured of the area.

Now, a Daily Mail review of the suspect's social media accounts has revealed that he made several posts linking himself to the slayings.

Online, Brown nonchalantly places himself at the scene of the shootings - and, in one chilling statement, complains about the 'rando adults' he encountered at the campsite on the day he allegedly killed the two teens execution-style.

On May 24, Brown posted a series of photos of his dog Snoopy at Mount Ord, writing that the pup had 'claimed Tonto for himself.'

Thomas Brown was camping with his wife Nicole (pictured together) before she left the trip one day early, leaving him alone

Days after the murders, the suspected killer posted about them online and placed himself in the area at the time

At the time, Brown's wife Nicole was still apparently with him on the camping trip.

The 31-year-old suspect told investigators the couple had gone to the national forest on May 23 through May 26, but his wife left the morning of May 25, leaving him alone for one night.

It is not clear why Brown's wife allegedly left the camping trip early without him.

On his return home, Brown updated his Facebook friends about his night alone at the campsite, hinting at some issues with fellow campers.

'I'm regretting staying one more night lol! Got a gang of rando adults playing music and camping next to me though!' he wrote.

'I picked up Culvers on the way home, totally worth it! Snoopy gets another treat after having Nicole give him a shampoo shower/tick check and I gave him a conditioner shower/tick check,' he added along with images of a dog.

Pandora Kjolsrud, 18, (pictured) and Evan Clark, 17, were shot dead in the Mount Ord area of Tonto National Forest, near Phoenix, in May

The two teens had gone on a camping trip together and were supposed to return on May 26. (Pictured: Evan Clark)

It is not clear if Brown was referring to Clark and Kjolsrud in his social media post.

But not long before posting the lighthearted complaint about his fellow campers, investigators allege he shot and killed the two victims in a senseless attack.

Meanwhile, Brown appeared to carry on with a normal life, keeping up with his regular posting habits which largely focused on politics critical of President Donald Trump.

That same day, he shared a Truth Social post from Trump, writing 'Happy Memorial Day?'

On May 29, the suspected killer directly addressed the murders of Clark and Kjolsrud, sharing a link to a local news article and writing, 'Nicole, Snoopy, and I were there days before. Terrible news, especially with the last days of school just prior.'

Four months later, he was arrested on suspicion of the murders.

In a press conference Friday, Maricopa County Sheriff's Captain David Lee said investigators were aware of Brown's social media but did not divulge what they had found.

Brown served in the military for 10 years

On May 24, Brown posted a series of photos of his dog Snoopy at Mount Ord, writing that the pup had 'claimed Tonto for himself'

In one chilling post in the hours after he allegedly killed the victims, he complained about the 'rando adults' he encountered at the campsite

But Lee revealed explosive details about how the net finally closed in on the suspected killer thanks to his own comments, witness statements and DNA evidence.

Following the murders, several tips had come in from the public including from Brown himself, Lee said.

The 31-year-old told investigators he had seen the two victims inside their car on the day of the murders. He also said he had drone footage of the area and handed it over.

Tips also came in to law enforcement from another group of campers who said they had encountered a man 'acting strange' in the area. That group left on May 26, Lee said.

With suspicion mounting over his possible involvement, Brown was ultimately tied to the murders when his DNA was found in the victims' SUV, according to court records.

A pair of gloves found near the scene was also found to contain DNA belonging to Brown, Kjolsrud, and Clark, as well as the victims' blood, the records show.

But the motive for the double homicide remains a mystery. Investigators have not found evidence of a connection between the victims and Brown, who served 10 years in the military and has no known criminal history.

It is not clear why Brown's wife Nicole allegedly left the camping trip one day before her husband

The suspect has no known connection to the victims and his motive remains a mystery

'As far as we know they were complete strangers,' Lee said.

Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan called the murders a 'senseless violent act' and said the remote location and terrain of the crime scene had slowed the investigation.

The suspect is also believed to have acted alone, with officials assuring the community there is no ongoing danger.

Footage posted online by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office shows Brown's vacant expression as he was perp-walked into the precinct Thursday.

Dressed in a khaki t-shirt and shorts and camo-patterned crocs, Brown was led from a car and into the building by two law enforcement officers in handcuffs.

After being processed, he was placed in a cell, staring ahead expressionless and sitting with his back straight and hands carefully placed on his knees as the door was shut, locking him inside.

Brown's arrest now brings an end to the victims' families' months-long agony.

Brown, 31, was arrested Thursday on first-degree murder charges

The suspected killer was perp-walked into the sheriff's office HQ in a video shared online

Brown was seen sitting expressionless in a cell following his arrest for the teens' murders

Speaking at Friday's press conference, Kjolsrud's mother Simone choked back tears as she said, 'For the last four months, I have prayed every day that her killer will be brought to justice.'

'We are all devastated and miss her every day. All of life's beauty feels less bright without her here.'

Kjolsrud and Clark - who both attended Arcadia High School in Phoenix - had decided to go on a camping trip together over the Memorial Day weekend to 'celebrate the start of summer vacation,' Simone previously told AZCentral.

Clark's mother Sandra Malibu Sweeney told the outlet she had been wary about the trip because it meant the teens would be off grid.

Her worst fears became a reality when the pair failed to return home as planned on May 26.

Simone contacted law enforcement and Maricopa County Sheriff's Office deputies searched the campsite just off State Route 87 near Mount Ord, finding the bodies of the two teens who had both suffered gunshot wounds to the head. Their vehicle was found in a different location than their bodies.

It is unclear if the victims were friends or romantically involved.

Kjolsrud was remembered for her 'vivacious personality' and 'infectious smile that brought joy to so many,' and love of camping

Evan Clark's mom (pictured together) said now that the suspect is in custody 'everyone can sleep safe knowing this person can't harm anyone else'

In a statement to 12News, Clark's mom said the arrest finally gave her the 'closure I desperately needed.'

'The past four months, I've been haunted every night by the murder of my son. I hope now that they have someone in custody, everyone can sleep safe knowing this person can't harm anyone else,' she said.

Meanwhile, Simone vowed that her daughter's 'light and love and beauty' would not be overshadowed by her killer's actions.

'The darkness she encountered on that day that she met her killer will not her life... is darkness will not overcome her light,' she said.

'My daughter Pandora was a beautiful, brilliant light in this world. She was so full of joy and life and love.'

In the aftermath of the murders, heartbreaking tributes to the two teens were shared on GoFundMe campaigns launched to support their families with funeral expenses.

Kjolsrud was remembered for her 'vivacious personality' and 'infectious smile that brought joy to so many,' and love of camping, according to a GoFundMe.

'She loved music in all of its forms and enjoyed playing violin, cello and guitar. The outdoors is where she truly felt at home. She loved camping, horseback riding, kayaking and hiking with friends and family,' it reads.

Pandora Kjolsrud's mother choked back tears as she spoke at Friday's press conference

Investigators revealed chilling details about the suspected killer's actions in the aftermath of the murders

'Animals adored Pandora and she had a special bond with her two little dogs, and never failed to stop and greet any dog she passed on her hikes and neighborhood walks. She was a friend to so many and a beloved daughter.'

In a GoFundMe for Clark's family, his mother shared her 'insurmountable' grief at losing her only child.

'Evan wasn't a typical teenager. He was funny, bright, kind and entrepreneurial. He was an old soul who was sensitive and loving,' she wrote of her son, who enjoyed 'concerts, photography, cars and trips to Malibu.'

'Evan wrote me letters, the last of which he gave me on Mother's Day that was so touching it made me both laugh and cry. He was special. He deserved a long life.'

Brown is now facing two counts of first-degree murder.

He appeared in court overnight on Thursday where a judge ordered him to be held on $2 million cash bond. He is next due in court for a status conference hearing on October 8.
A police marksman 'used excessive force' when he shot dead an unarmed father-of-two in a foiled prison break, a misconduct hearing has been told.

The experienced firearms officer, whose identity is protected and known only as W80, fatally shot Jermaine Baker at close range as he sat in the front passenger seat of a stolen Audi A6 near Wood Green Crown Court in north London on December 11 2015.

Police suspected Mr Baker and other conspirators were about to free dangerous prisoner Izzet Eren - a member of the extremely violent Tottenham Turks gang - from a custody van en route to his sentencing hearing for firearms offences.

W80 was part of the team who stopped Mr Baker, as he and others waited for the prison van to arrive.

The officer said Mr Baker ignored his repeated demands to put his hands on the dashboard, and thought the 28-year-old was reaching for a weapon in his bag when he fatally opened fire at close range.

A replica firearm was found inside the Audi, although Mr Baker was not holding a weapon at the time he was shot.

Counter-terrorism specialist firearms officer W80 was never charged by the Crown Prosecution Service, although he is facing a gross misconduct hearing amid claims he used excessive force to contain Mr Baker, breaching the police's Standards of Professional Behaviour.

Gerry Boyle KC, the lawyer representing at the Met on the first day of a misconduct hearing in west London today, said W80 used force 'that was not necessary and/or reasonable and/or proportionate, and said while the officer acted out of honest belief Mr Baker was reaching for a firearm, 'that belief was mistaken and not reasonable to believe'.

Jermaine Baker was fatally shot by an armed police officer known by the cipher W80 whiletaking part in a foiled prison break

W80 faces being sacked if found guilty of gross misconduct.

The hearing was told long-serving W80 went to at least two briefings in the days before the operation which 'expressly reminded him that the discharge of his firearm had to be a last resort'.

But W80 later told investigators he was concerned Mr Baker was armed, and was worried about him moving his hands from his lap quickly, telling them he had 'always been taught that action beats reaction'.

He said in interview: 'This quick movement of his hands and his failure to put his hands on the dash and to obviously surrender made me believe he was going for a gun.

'I perceived an imminent threat to my life and the life of my colleagues.

'I could not wait to see if he produced a gun because if I did by that time he would be in a position to shoot me or my colleagues.

'I decided that I had no option other than to fire in order to achieve rapid incapacitation to prevent an imminent threat to life.'

W80 said he was certain he ordered Mr Baker to put his hands on the dashboard, but admitted this was not reflected in audio footage from the Audi, which had been bugged by police.

Mr Baker, 28, was a father-of-two from north London when he was killed in Wood Green nearly ten years ago

In 2022, an inquiry ruled Mr Baker 'lawfully killed' by W80, but found police made numerous failures in the planning and execution of the operation.

Inquiry chairman His Honour Clement Goldstone concluded that W80 'held an honest and genuine belief that Mr Baker was moving in order to reach for the firearm' when he shot him.

'As such, W80 perceived that Mr Baker posed a lethal threat I draw the conclusion, on the balance of probabilities, that the perceived threat from the actions and movement of Mr Baker was such that W80 honestly believed that it was reasonably necessary for him to shoot at Mr Baker.'

Mr Goldstone said he 'found no evidence to support a finding that race played any part in Mr Baker's death'.

He also said W80's 'overall credibility' as a witness 'remained largely intact'.

The inquiry chairman highlighted a number of failures.

This included that public safety should have been  but was not  the primary objective of the operation.

It also found intelligence that the conspirators had only been able to source an imitation firearm was not passed on to W80 and others.

It said officers had failed to consider any possible outcome other than an armed stop, and that they failed to engage with the Prison Service about the prisoner's escape risk or tell prison van staff of the planned jail break.

Failures to keep notes of meetings showed 'an arrogant, dismissive attitude towards formality and a failure to appreciate the importance of accountability and maintaining an audit trail', the inquiry found.

Margaret Smith, Mr Baker's mother, said her family could not accept the inquiry's findings and that her son had been raising his hands in surrender before he was shot.

She said at the time: 'Jermaine was dead before he got in that car. His life was taken for no good reason. As I have always said, he should have gone to prison like the rest of the men in the car.'

Tia Demetrio, the mother of Mr Baker's daughter Alexia, said the schoolgirl had grown up 'petrified' of police officers as a result of her father's death.
A father of six who was murdered and dumped in a Vermont snowbank had a hit put out on him by his multimillionaire business partner, federal prosecutors revealed.

Gregory Davis, 49, was abducted from his Danville, Vermont, home and shot dead in January 2018 in a murder-for-hire plot orchestrated by Turkish biotech tycoon Serhat Gumrukcu, 42, of Los Angeles, California, according to the US Attorney's Office.

Gumrukcu schemed the murder after Davis - whose wife, Melissa, was pregnant with their seventh child when he died - threatened to take legal action regarding a failed oil deal between them. He is now facing a mandatory life sentence.

Enochian Biosciences founder Gumrukcu called upon his friend, Berk Eratay, 38, to arrange, through a second intermediary, Aron Ethridge, 45, for hitman Jerry Banks, 37, to show up at Davis' home posing as a Deputy US Marshal, prosecutors said.

Banks drove to Davis' residence in a car equipped with red and blue emergency lights and told the unsuspecting father he needed to be questioned.

The killer then kidnapped and murdered Davis. His body was found near his house a day later.

Investigators immediately made the bone-chilling discovery of tense text and email exchanges between Davis and Gumrukcu.

Documents previously reviewed by the Daily Mail exposed that Davis had been planning to report Gumrukcu and his brother to the FBI for allegedly lying about profits from the oil deal from years prior.

Gregory Davis (pictured with his wife, Melissa) was abducted from his Danville, Vermont home and shot dead in January 2018 in a murder-for-hire plot

Turkish biotech tycoon Serhat Gumrukcu (pictured) was found guilty of organizing the murder of Davis

The killer then kidnapped and killed Davis. His body was found near his house a day later (pictured: the crime scene near where Davis was found)

Davis threatened to report Gumrukcu around 2017, when the murderous gene therapy researcher was trying to acquire a majority stake in Enochian Biosciences, which claimed to be developing treatments for cancer, hepatitis and HIV.

The indictment alleged that any complications surrounding the oil deal would have jeopardized his ability to obtain a majority stake in the company.

'In the weeks that followed Daviss death, Gumrukcu biotech deal closed,' a government sentencing memo obtained by The Sacramento Bee reads.

'Gumrukcu was paid millions of dollars. And he almost got away with it.'

Prosecutors said Gumrukcu lied to the FBI during the investigation, and that cellphone location information, purchase and banking records, and messages ultimately linked him and his co-conspirators to Davis' death.

Gumrukcu was arrested in May 2022 and has been in custody since. He was found guilty of murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in April, according to an IRS press release.

'Serhat Gumrukcu tried to hide his role in the murder of Greg Davis by paying one man to pay another man to pay the hitman, who shot and killed Greg Davis on a January night in Vermont,' Acting US Attorney Michael P. Drescher said.

'Serhat Gumrukcu is a ruthless criminal whose greed drove him to order the death of his own business partner,' FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli added.

Prosecutors said Gumrukcu (pictured) lied to the FBI during the investigation, and that cellphone location information, purchase and banking records, and messages linked him to Davis' death

Gumrukcu (pictured) was arrested in May 2022 and has been in custody since. His sentencing was postponed at the end of September and was rescheduled for November

Hitman Jerry Banks (pictured) was sentenced in September to 200 months in prison

Prosecutors have also previously questioned the legitimacy of his medical background and the PhD he allegedly earned in Russia. They found that he is unlicensed to practice in the US.

Banks, of Fort Garland, Colorado, and Ethridge, of Henderson, Nevada, were arrested in April 2022. Berk Eratay, 35, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was arrested in May.

Banks, Eratay and Ethridge were sentenced in late September hearings, while Gumrukcu's sentencing was delayed until November.

Banks will serve 200 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Eratay will serve 110 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Ethridge will serve 140 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

To Davis's widow's dismay, the judge postponed formally imposing Gumrukcu's sentence at the conclusion of his trial, as requested by his lawyer, Susan Marcus, according to Vtdigger.

While Melissa Davis, the deceased's wife, forgave Eratay in court, she had harsher words for the plot's ringleader.

'You thought you could silence my husband, but your lies die here in this courtroom,' she told Gumrukcu in court on September 25, when his sentencing was postponed.
A hero police dog pinned a topless burglar down to the floor after stealing thousands of pounds worth of jewellery.

PD Moose and his Cleveland Police handler rushed to Stockton, in County Durham, to catch Adam Kirby, 38, as he was causing damage in the area.

A haul of necklaces, rings and earrings as well as cash were found in Kirbys pockets, while other items, including a Jimmy Choo bag, were located in a nearby area where he had been hiding.

The thief received a sentence of two years and four months in prison and was fined a victims surcharge of 228.

Click the video above to see PD Moose in action.


A man armed with explosives was arrested while he was camped out on the steps of a church that hosts an annual mass for the Supreme Court.

Louis Geri from Vineland, New Jersey, was arrested around 6am today by the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.

Metropolitan Police Officers were assigned to cover Saint Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, D.C., for the annual Red Mass event.

The Red Mass ceremony marks the opening of the Supreme Court's annual term. It is intended to 'invoke God's blessing on those responsible for the administration of justice as well as on all public officials,' according to the church's website.

Police officers found Geri, who had set up a tent on the steps of the cathedral, according to a statement by the department.

Cops discovered that the 41-year-old had been previously banned from the church and said that he refused to leave the premises.

The officers arrested Geri, but found suspicious items inside the suspect's tent, including vials of liquid, possible fireworks, and a Molotov cocktail.

Geri was primarily charged with Unlawful Entry, Threats to Kidnap or Injure a Person, and Possession of a Molotov Cocktail.

Police officers arrested Louis Geri, who was found with a Molotov Cocktail inside his tent, which he had set up on the steps of Saint Matthew's Cathedral

The church hosts the Red Mass which marks the opening of the Supreme Court's annual term

The Explosive Ordinance Disposal team and the Arson Task Force responded to the scene as well.

MPD noted in their statement that the investigation is ongoing and is working with the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigations Washington Field Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

The area was secured, but police encouraged the public to remain alert and report any threats or emergencies immediately.

The 9am church service for the event proceeded; however, no Supreme Court members were in attendance, according to CNN.

Cardinal Robert McElroy said during the service that he hopes members of the Supreme Court and other legal practitioners can help restore hope, as he has 'witnessed a dramatic collapse of faith in institutions of all kinds,' according to the outlet.

This year marked the 73rd Red Mass, an occasion that has frequently included the President of the US, the Chief Justice of the United States, Associate Justices, and other high-ranking officials, according to the John Carroll Society.

The mass frequently includes presidents and other high-ranking officials (From left President Joe Biden, President Barak Obama, President Bill Clinton, and Nancy Pelosi)

Other religious figures, such as Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II, and Pope Francis, have visited the Cathedral as well (Pope Francis pictured)

The Red Mass tradition began in America in 1928 at Old Saint Andrew's Church in New York City, but the first John Carroll Society-sponsored Mass was in 1953.

The John Carroll Society is an organization of Catholic professionals that supports the Archbishop of Washington and includes around 1,200 members.

Saint Matthew's Cathedral is approximately four blocks from the White House.

In 1963, the funeral of President John F. Kennedy was held in the Cathedral, and it is memorialized by a marble plaque on the floor, commemorating the place where his casket was situated during the funeral.

Other religious figures, such as Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II, and Pope Francis, have visited the Cathedral as well.
The deaths of more than two children a week in England are linked to their parents being closely related.

Mortality records show that cousin marriage was a contributory factor in 128 child deaths during the 12 months to March 2024, a higher annual tally than seven years ago.

Deaths of children with parents who are close relatives average 2.47 a week, according to the data, which was prepared for the National Health Service in England.

This surpasses the murder rate of one child per week across England and Wales, according to homicide figures from the Office for National Statistics.

Cousin marriage, or consanguinity, is popular among couples from South Asian and Islamic communities, particularly those with Pakistani heritage.

It is a tradition brought from their home countries to protect family wealth, culture, ethnic identity, religious belief and extended kinship.

But the practice can have far-reaching medical consequences. British Pakistani families account for under 4 per cent of births, yet their offspring suffer around a third of child genetic problems  including fatal skin, brain and muscle conditions  according to the NHS and academics contributing to a major study in Bradford, where cousin marriages are common.

Mortality records show that cousin marriage was a contributory factor in 128 child deaths during the 12 months to March 2024

A row over cousin marriages reached a peak last week when Tory MP Richard Holden called for government action to ban them. He said the NHS should stop taking the knee to damaging and oppressive cultural practices, including the weddings of close cousins.

The MP was reacting to a report published by NHS Englands Education Programme which suggested that first-cousin marriage had benefits, including stronger extended family support system and economic advantages. The report, condemned as woke by critics, admitted that such weddings increased the chance of genetic or congenital abnormality in children.

But it asserted that other factors such as births to older or very young parents, smoking, alcohol use and IVF also contributed, none of which were banned in the United Kingdom. It has since been removed from websites.

It was reported yesterday that, according to the latest mortality figures, more baby deaths are linked to cousin marriages than to drug abuse in pregnancy.

A separate analysis linked communities with high rates of cousin marriage to substantially higher claims for disability benefits.

Two Scandinavian countries have either outlawed cousin marriage, or plan to. In Norway, it became illegal last year. Sweden is expected to ban it next year.

Many of the children involved die soon after birth.

Thousands more from consanguineous marriages survive, thanks to the skill and care of NHS doctors  but with appalling physical or mental problems. These include low IQs, blindness, deafness, blood ailments, heart or kidney failure, lung or liver ailments and serious muscular, neurological and brain disorders.

A report in the respected Oxford Journal of Law and Medicine earlier this year condemned cousin marriage in Britain and across the world. It said: The central fact is that most Muslim people are highly consanguineous and most non-Muslims are not.

The practice of such unions caused children to die prematurely and face lifelong intensive medical treatment as NHS doctors struggled, often unsuccessfully, to save them, it continued, before concluding: Should one marry ones cousin? No. Can we ban cousin marriage? Yes. The latest figures for child deaths linked to consanguinity were prepared by Bristol University, which maintains Englands National Child Mortality Database.

They reveal a rise in the death toll since 2018, when a Daily Mail investigation discovered that cousin marriages were a factor in an average of two child deaths every week. Our figure in 2018 was derived from 545 children born to closely related couples who had died in childhood during the previous five years, according to the Department for Education which at the time collated the NHS mortality data.

In 2018, in the Yorkshire and Humberside region of the NHS  embracing Bradford, Kirklees, Leeds, Sheffield, and Rotherham  doctors said they were dealing with 600 cases a year of sick youngsters and babies born to parents who were cousins.

They predicted the 600 would quadruple to 2,400 by 2031, according to an official public health report.
Support for Pauline Hanson has nearly doubled in less than a year, as the Coalition continues to take a battering and Labor pulls ahead, according to a new poll.

Newspoll, which surveyed 1,264 voters between September 29 and October 2, found the primary vote for One Nation had risen to 11 per cent.

The rise was almost double the party's performance at the May 3 election and surged to its highest level of support since 2017.

Meanwhile, the Coalition suffered yet another setback, as its primary vote hovered at 28 per cent.

The approval rating was just one per cent higher than its all-time low of 27 per cent in September - the lowest level since Newspoll began surveying voters in 1985.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley's net approval rating also plunged to minus 20, with 51 per cent of voters dissatisfied with her performance and just 31 per cent satisfied.

Her support has steadily fallen since the May election, recording minus seven in July, minus nine in August and a minus 17 in September.

Labor's core support rose to 37 per cent - the highest primary vote for the ALP since June 2023.

Pauline Hanson's One Nation party has gained traction, with a recent poll revealing that support for the party has nearly doubled

The government was also leading on a two-party preferred basis, with Labor at 57 per cent and the Coalition at 43 per cent.

Anthony Albanese also held a significant lead on preferred prime minister, with 52 per cent compared to Ley's 30 per cent.

Ley's dwindling support comes as she struggles to keep the party united amid infighting and instability.

Shadow cabinet minister Andrew Hastie, who resigned last week, openly questioned Ley's stance on migration and net zero goal on emissions and energy by 2050.

Hastie joined a growing number of MPs who questioned the goal of net zero by 2050 - a subject which has long divided Liberals.

He also shared a lengthy social media post which linked Australia's housing affordability crisis to overseas migration.

Liberal senator James Paterson said Hastie's departure from the shadow cabinet was unfortunate but understandable.

'He's done the right thing and the honourable thing, because he could not agree with the approach under (Opposition Leader) Sussan Ley,' he told ABC radio on Monday.

It comes as Opposition Leader Sussan Ley faced a tumultuous week, with the Coalition's primary vote remaining at a historic low

'When you respect the Westminster conventions, as Andrew does, as I do, then the only responsible thing to do is to step down from the frontbench.'

Paterson insisted Hastie's decision was not a signal that Ley could face a challenge to leadership.

There wasn't going to be a spill against Ley in this term of government, he added.

'This isn't about the leadership, this is about his fundamental convictions on issues of policy and his desire to pursue those from the backbench,' he said.

'We have just come off at the worst loss in the 80-year of the history of the Liberal Party and, necessarily, we're going through a period of introspection and debate, and part of that has to be public.'

A decision on who will take over Hastie's shadow portfolio of home affairs will be made in the coming days.

Deputy Liberal leader Ted O'Brien admitted that the party looked 'messy' after Hastie's resignation, but said that was part of the process after its May election loss.

'This is democracy at work ... but this is the way you get good policy, and we're not shy of going into bat and debating policy, and that's really what you're seeing here,' he told Nine's Today program.

Support for Labor has only grown since the election, as Anthony Albanese holds a whopping lead on preferred prime minister with 52 per cent compared to Ley's 30 per cent

Asked about the Coalition's prospects since its election drubbing, Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce said MPs had to 'accept the blame and spread the pain'.

'One Nation is going up - that tells you something about what the views of the people are with regard policy structure,' he told Seven's Sunrise program.

Asked why some conservative voters appeared to be abandoning the coalition for One Nation, Joyce said it was part of a global phenomenon.

'This is what you are seeing around the world with Nigel Farage in England, Marine Le Pen in France ... the Republicans,' he added,

'But the Labor Party shouldn't get too carried away.'

While the Coalition has recorded a slump, support for the Labor Party has only grown since its landslide election victory.
A frustrated Aussie has lashed out after she was locked out of her account for the second time in less than four months, despite changing banks.

Katie McMaster, 36, had to visit an HSBC branch in Melbourne last week to verify her identity after she was locked out of her personal accounts.

She had switched from her previous bank, ING, in June after a similar issue left her unable to access her money for two days after her account was suspended.

Ms McMaster, who works as a personal assistant, said she'd jumped through multiple hoops to have her HSBC account unlocked but was unsuccessful.

'There is something seriously wrong with the banks in Australia,' she said.

'I can't believe I'm already making another one of these TikToks, but it's happened to me again.'

Ms McMaster realised she'd been blocked from her HSBC funds when she logged into online banking and couldn't see any accounts.

Initially thinking it was a technical issue, she called the bank and learned her account had been flagged for fraud.

Ms McMaster (pictured) only learned the account was blocked when she logged into her internet banking

Ms McMaster said she received no notification from the bank and had no suspicious transactions.

'I was advised that I needed to go into a branch and verify my identity with 100 points of ID and they couldn't tell me as to why the restrictions had been put on,' she said.

'I thought that this was a little bit strange as normally the banks can at least tell you as to why the restrictions have been placed.

'Once I got into the branch, I provided the teller with 100 points of ID, they added it to my account and said that I would need to now wait two to three business days for a response from HSBC.

'Again, they couldn't tell me as to why the restrictions were taking place, only that I had to wait while they investigated.'

The personal transaction account only received Ms McMaster's monthly salary and was used for her standard everyday transactions.

'Guys, I am just a regular girl in Melbourne,' she said.

'The only bulk incoming payment is my salary from my job that I've been at for almost three years - same employer, same bank account, always paying monthly.

HSBC (pictured) has locked Katie McMaster out of her personal account for eight days with no explanation

'The outgoings are just my mortgage, my bills and expenses for the cost of living, the occasional restaurant or bar here and there, and my phone bill.

'It's very stock standard. Uber might be the most random one.'

As of Monday, Ms McMaster has been locked out of her accounts for eight days and still hasn't been given a reason why her account was flagged.

Having learnt from her experience with ING, she had asked how she was meant to cover her daily expenses the first time she visited the bank branch.

'I asked the teller, "What am I supposed to do with no access to my funds for two days?", and she just laughed and said, "Good question",' Ms McMaster said.

Several commenters under Ms McMaster's video shared their own horror stories about being locked out of personal accounts.

'HSBC just did something very similar to me. I am moving all my accounts from them this week,' one said.

'Same thing happened to me THREE times in the space of seven months! Westpac!' another wrote.

'I had CBA do this to me last month and then ING did the same thing to me 2 weeks ago,' another said.

Australian banks are permitted to block accounts for several reasons, including suspicious activity, money laundering or if an account is compromised.

Ms McMaster has lodged a complaint with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority and plans to switch banks once her accounts are unlocked.

She called for a large-scale review of Australia's existing bank laws.

'How are the banks given so much control that they can stop you accessing your funds and deciding what you want to do with your money?' Ms McMaster said.

'I think a review on all Australian banks needs to be done as soon as possible as this can't be happening to everyday consumers.'

Daily Mail has contacted HSBC for comment.
No-nonsense Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents in Portland wheeled a protester away from a demonstration on a flatbed cart when he refused to walk himself.

The agency shared footage of the shock interaction after President Donald Trump noted the city is 'burning to the ground' as demonstrators take to the streets to rail against the administration.

In the video shared on Sunday, a protester wearing a black hoodie is face down on a metal cart, with his hands restrained behind his back and his feet leaning over the cart.

The cart is pushed by agents as the song 'Ridin'' by Chamillionaire plays, with the lyrics 'they see me rollin', they hatin'.'

'Refuse to walk? We'll give you a ride,' the X post was captioned.

Within hours, more than three million people had seen the video.

Portland has been gripped by anti-ICE protests since Trump vowed to deploy the National Guard to deal with crime.

The move was temporarily blocked by a federal judge on Saturday following a lawsuit brought by the state and city.

No-nonsense Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents in Portland wheeled a protester away from a demonstration on a flatbed cart when he refused to walk himself

The agency shared footage of the shock interaction on social media, warning: 'Refuse to walk? We'll give you a ride'

President Donald Trump noted the city is 'burning to the ground' as demonstrators take to the streets to rail against the administration

Trump hit out after the judge's ruling, insisting 'Portland is burning to the ground.

'It's insurrectionists all over the place, it's antifa. You've seen it  the place is burning down and they pretend like there's nothing happening.'

According to California Governor Gavin Newsom, he skirted the ruling by deploying 300 federalized members of the California National Guard to Oregon on Saturday night and early Sunday to respond to protesters.

Newsom said his state intends to sue, describing the move as a 'breathtaking abuse of power.'

U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, who was appointed by Trump during his first term, made the temporary ruling and is awaiting further arguments.

She said the relatively small protests the city has seen did not justify the use of federalized forces and allowing the deployment could harm Oregon's state sovereignty.

'This country has a longstanding and foundational tradition of resistance to government overreach, especially in the form of military intrusion into civil affairs,' Immergut wrote.

'This historical tradition boils down to a simple proposition: this is a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law.'

Portland has been gripped by anti-ICE protests since Trump vowed to deploy the National Guard to deal with crime

Protesters seen in the streets as tear gas is used to disperse the crowds at a protest on Saturday in Portland

The Trump administration has appealed.

State and city officials sued to stop the deployment last week, one day after the Trump administration announced that 200 Oregon National Guard troops would be federalized to protect federal buildings.

The president called the city 'war-ravaged', a characterization Oregon officials described as ludicrous.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in the city has been the site of nightly protests that typically drew a couple dozen people in recent weeks before the deployment was announced.

Generally speaking the president is allowed 'a great level of deference' to federalize National Guard troops in situations where regular law enforcement forces are not able to execute the laws of the United States, the judge said, but that has not been the case in Portland.

Plaintiffs were able to show that the demonstrations at the immigration building were not significantly violent or disruptive ahead of the president's order, the judge wrote, and 'overall, the protests were small and uneventful.'

Federal agents wore face masks and goggles as they dealt with protesters on Saturday in Portland

Demonstrators gathered outside a downtown Immigrations and Customs Enforcement facility on Saturday

Protesters were detained on the streets, but local authorities insist the matter could be dealt with without the National Guard

'The President's determination was simply untethered to the facts,' Immergut wrote.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield called the ruling 'a healthy check on the president.'

'It reaffirms what we already knew: Portland is not the president's war-torn fantasy. Our city is not ravaged, and there is no rebellion,' Rayfield said in a statement. He added: 'Members of the Oregon National Guard are not a tool for him to use in his political theater.'
Keir Starmer's national security adviser could be hauled before MPs to answer questions about the collapse of the Chinese spying case.

Jonathan Powell is facing calls to appear before Parliament to explain why charges were dropped against two British men accused of passing secrets to Beijing.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker, previously warned that the decision gave a green light to hostile states and said he was considering bringing a private prosecution against the men.

Ministers have so far refused to explain what happened, prompting MPs to demand that Mr Powell, who is Tony Blair's former chief of staff, appear before Parliament.

Mr Powell could be held in contempt of Parliament if he refused to appear before the joint committee on national security strategy, according to a senior Commons source.

Prosecutors dropped the cases against Christopher Cash, 30, a former parliamentary researcher from London, and Christopher Berry, 33, an academic from Oxfordshire.

The pair were charged with spying under the Official Secrets Act by passing information to a high-ranking member of the Chinese government  allegations they deny.

Days before the charges were dropped, Mr Powell gathered senior Whitehall officials including Foreign Office permanent secretary Oliver Robbins to discuss the evidence, it was reported.

Jonathan Powell (pictured) is facing calls to appear before Parliament to explain why charges were dropped against two British men accused of passing secrets to Beijing

A meeting involving top Whitehall officials allegedly concluded that China would not be described as an 'enemy' (pictured: Chinese president Xi Jinping)

Mr Powell has previously been criticised for spearheading the Chagos Islands deal under which sovereignty of the territory is ceded to Mauritius. Pictured: aerial view of Diego Garcia

He told the top-secret meeting that China would not be deemed an 'enemy' of Britain at the trial, according to The Sunday Times.

Experts have said that, without such a classification, it would be impossible for the Crown Prosecution Service to bring a successful prosecution under the Official Secrets Act.

Mr Powell has previously been criticised for spearheading the Chagos Islands deal under which sovereignty of the territory is ceded to Mauritius.

The decision to discontinue the spying case was said to have come from 'the very top', according to witnesses, the paper added  something the Cabinet Office has rejected as 'completely false'. Government sources said Mr Powell did not have a decision-making role.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was 'very disappointed' at the collapse of the case and denied there was any ministerial interference.

Asked if China was an enemy of the UK, she said: 'A 'challenge', is, I think, the word that I would use.'

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith accused No 10 of being a 'threat to national security'.

'We will push for a full debate in Parliament. This Government must be forced to come clean about whether it blocked justice to appease a hostile state,' he told Times Radio.

Former Cabinet minister Gavin Williamson said: 'There are real concerns here that the national security adviser seems to have interfered in a case and is not actually defending our democratic institutions' (file image)

Parliamentary aide Christopher Cash, 30, (pictured arriving at court in April) and British teacher Christopher Berry, 33, were each charged with the offence of spying under the Official Secrets Act. They denied any wrongdoing

They were set to face trial this month, but proceedings against them were stopped on Monday, sparking criticism from Downing Street and MPs. Pictured: Christopher Berry (right)

Former Cabinet minister Gavin Williamson, who serves on the national security committee, said: 'There are real concerns here that the national security adviser seems to have interfered in a case and is not actually defending our democratic institutions, but seems to have sided with and kowtowed to Chinese political and business pressure.

'If this is the case, it is extraordinary and reflects poorly on him and the PM. If it is not, he needs to make clear that this is the case.'

Alicia Kearns, the shadow national security minister who previously worked with one of the accused, said it was 'outrageous' that Mr Powell had not appeared before MPs.

She added that he should have appeared 'long ago' to answer questions about the Chagos Islands.

Luke de Pulford, of the InterParliamentary Alliance on China, said there were 'big questions to answer', adding: 'Powell has form  first Chagos, now this. What's going on when the man in charge of national security is causing the collapse of the biggest espionage case that I can remember.

'This is the kind of thing that you don't sweep under the carpet just to please China.'

The Cabinet Office said: 'The decision not to proceed with prosecution under the Official Secrets Act was made by the CPS independently of government. We do not recognise the meeting as described.'

ANDREW PIERCE: Starmer's security chief Jonathan Powell is a shadowy figure with more influence than any minister

STEPHEN GLOVER: How supine Labour is in its dealings with China. And what a scandal if they have compromised our security to keep our new masters happy
Shocking body camera footage caught the moment California police fatally shot a shovel-wielding man outside an elementary school.

Anaheim police have said they received a call about a suspicious man who appeared to be homeless and under the influence of drugs standing outside of a home and holding a brick at around 12:10pm on September 15.

An officer arrived at the scene about half an hour later.

But around the same time, dispatch received a second call from an employee at the nearby John Marshall Elementary School reporting that a man matching the description of the previous caller was now near the campus.

The school employee said he was 'just pacing around' with a broken shovel and had been loitering in the area for about an hour.

He had first been in the parking lot of the school, and was later pacing along Falmouth Street, she explained.

Just minutes later, an unidentified police officer saw the suspect - identified as Rudy Anthony Martinez II, 36 - using a crosswalk with the shovel slung over his shoulder.

'Oh s***,' the cop could be heard saying in the newly-released dashcam video as he approached the suspect.

Rudy Anthony Martinez II, 36, was fatally shot by Anaheim police on September 15

Shocking dash camera footage shows Martinez approaching a cop car with a broken shovel, which he then smashed into the vehicle

The incident happened right outside an elementary school, causing it to go into lockdown

As soon as Martinez noticed the officer, he could be seen running toward the patrol car with a shovel raised over his head.

Martinez then proceeded to strike the car several times, prompting the officer to get out.

'Sit down,' he said as Martinez once again struck the vehicle. 'Sit... you're gonna get shot.'

At that point, body camera footage shows Martinez charged directly at the officer with his shovel raised - prompting the officer to fire at least four shots, striking the suspect, who fell to the ground on his back.

The police officer then reports that there was an officer-involved shooting, and first responders arrived on the scene to administer first aid.

They then brought Martinez to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead about half an hour later.

Police noted that the officer was not injured in the incident, and a shovel with a broken handle was recovered from the scene.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office is now investigating the shooting.

An unidentified officer fired at Martinez as the suspect lunged at him with the broken shovel

Martinez was seen falling on his back, motionless and he was pronounced dead about half an hour later

Officers recovered a broken shovel from the scene

The barrage of gunfire prompted John Marshall Elementary School to temporarily lockdown, ABC 7 reports.

Police said class was in session during the incident, but none of the students were exposed to the shooting.

In a statement, the Anaheim Elementary School District said the school 'immediately initiated a lockdown... 'out of an abundance of caution.'

'At no point was there a direct threat to our students or staff,' it said, adding: 'We are in constant communication with the Anaheim Police Department and are following all established safety procedures to ensure the wellbeing of our school community.'
The BBC is said to have banned its staff from using terms like 'sweetheart' and introduced new sexual harassment training in the wake of several bad behaviour scandals.

Employees are reportedly being told to fill in screen skills passports 'designed to create a better, more welcoming and safe place to work' as part of the latest package of measures.

The guidance also warns against microaggressions - such as comments on people's accents or remarking on curly hair.

A new reading list includes controversial books like White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo and Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race, by Reni Eddo-Lodge.

One production worker revealed to The Sun it was now 'hard to remember everyone's pronouns' claiming she had been told off for calling someone 'hun'.

The BBC has said the training is 'not mandatory' for its staff.

It comes as the BBC has been hit by a slew of bad behaviour scandals in recent months, with MasterChef host John Torode axed for allegedly using a racist term, which he denied.

His co-star Gregg Wallace was investigated over claims of swearing and inappropriate sexual language.

And the revelations followed Strictly Come Dancing's Giovanni Pernice being stepped down last year after an investigation upheld allegations of bullying language.

The BBC has banned its staff from using terms like 'sweetheart' and introduced new sexual harassment training in the wake of several bad behaviour scandals (file image)

The BBC has been hit by a slew of bad behaviour scandals in recent months, including against both MasterChef co-hosts John Torode (L) and Gregg Wallace (R)

A BBC worker claimed she was 'hounded' until she'd done her training and informed she would not be employed unless successful completion had taken place.

She said: 'It's like walking on eggshells, whether it's about race, your sex or your preferred pronouns.

'Increasingly, we have runners who are LGBTQ+ and it's hard to remember everyone's pronouns, so I just call them "hun", but now worry that's wrong, too.'

The employee said she had got 'called up' for calling someone 'a babe' and recalled the term was seen as 'unprofessional' despite her intending it as a compliment.

She said: 'Since then I've felt I have to be really careful. I just keep quiet and say nothing. It feels like woke gone mad.'

The 60-minute Screen Skills training course for freelancers sees staff asked to complete a multiple choice quiz with modules including 'tackling harassment and bullying at work'.

Another condemned behaviour is interrupting someone else at work- a trait among 'indirect, often unintentional expressions of bias which come out in seemingly harmless comments but can have an immediate or cumulative effect'.

Strictly Come Dancing's Giovanni Pernice was stepped down last year after an investigation upheld allegations of bullying language (file image)

'Silver fox' and 'baby-faced' are also seen as ageist.

It is understood the screen skills training is not mandatory for staff and content of the pilot, for freelancers, is being reviewed.

A BBC spokesman said: 'This training is not mandatory for BBC staff.

'ScreenSkills ran a pilot for its Training Passport with BBC Studios, ITV Studios and Sky for freelancers across the industry which is now being rolled out more widely, but the claims made do not reflect the content of the course.

'In particular we don't recognise these references to language, and the books/texts referred to are not in any recommended reading lists in training across the BBC.'
The father of an aspiring teacher who was allegedly shot dead by a career criminal as she slept in a South Carolina frat house has called for her killer to receive the ultimate punishment.

Stephen Federico, the father of Logan Haley Federico, 22, has demanded the repeat offender who allegedly killed his daughter, Alexander Dickey, 30, be hit with the death penalty.

'He executed Logan,' Stephen told the South Carolina Daily Gazette on Wednesday, 'I want him dead.'

The grieving dad, who is determined to get justice for his daughter, added that Logan would have agreed that Dickey should be sentenced to death.

'Logan believed in accountability. She forgave, she forgot, but she believed people should be held accountable,' he explained to the outlet.

'She wants justifiable vengeance; she deserves it.'

Logan, of Waxhaw, North Carolina, was visiting her boyfriend at the University of South Carolina on May 3, when prosecutors say Dickey went on a violent rampage involving theft, grand larceny, arson and murder.

Stephen previously told the Daily Mail her trip was meant to be a weekend of celebration on the cusp of graduation.

Stephen Federico (left), the father of Logan Haley Federico (right), 22, has demanded the repeat offender charged with his daughter's death, Alexander Dickey, 30, be hit with the death penalty

Repeat offender Alexander Dickey (pictured), 30, has not yet entered a plea in Logan's murder case

Logan (pictured) was an aspiring teacher who was visiting her boyfriend when she was killed

But Logan's joyful weekend visit took a fatal turn when Dickey allegedly crept into the Columbia, South Carolina, fraternity house where she was staying with her boyfriend.

Prosecutors say Dickey - who has been charged with at least 48 crimes related to 14 incidents since he turned 18 - broke into the house and went into the bedroom where Logan slept.

He allegedly woke her up and forced her to her knees, naked and screaming for help, before he fatally shot her in the chest with a stolen 12-gauge shotgun.

Dickey is believed to have then fled the scene in a stolen car. He was arrested the next day.

He is being held at the Lexington County Detention Center without bail and is awaiting trial. He has not entered a plea in the case.

Since Logan's cold-blooded murder, Stephen has berated the lawmakers behind soft-on-crime policies that allowed Dickey to walk free despite his extensive criminal history.

Stephen (pictured with Logan in 2022) previously told the Daily Mail her trip was meant to be a weekend of celebration on the cusp of graduation

A North Carolina Congressional hearing was held on September 29 about the murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, 23, who was also allegedly killed by a repeat offender, Decarlos Brown Jr., 38.

Stephen attended the meeting, taking the opportunity to share the grim details of his own daughter's death.

'He should have been in jail for over 140 years for all the crimes he committed,' Stephen said of Dickey at the hearing.

'You know how much time he spent in prison? A little over 600 days in 10 years.

'He's only 30 years old. He was committing 2.65 crimes a year since he was 15 years old. But nobody could figure out that he couldn't be rehabilitated.

'Well, you'd have to put him in prison to see if he could be rehabilitated,' Stephen said. 'Isn't that the idea of prison? But no.'

Stephen's plea for capital punishment came a day before Chief Prosecutor for Richland County, Democrat Bryon Gipson, released a letter stating he is unsure if he plans to pursue capital punishment.

Logan's joyful weekend visit took a fatal turn when Dickey allegedly crept into the Columbia, South Carolina, fraternity house (pictured) where she was staying with her boyfriend

Stephen (pictured) attended the September 29 meeting, taking the opportunity to share the grim details of his own daughter's death

Attorney General Alan Wilson has stepped in, responding to the prosecutor by assigning Senior Assistant Deputy Attorney General Melody J. Brown of his office's death penalty division to assist Gipson's review.

'Soft on crime is a problem. This happened because of that,' Stephen said at the heated Congressional hearing. 'I promise you, you will be sick and tired of my face and my voice until this gets fixed.

'I will fight until my last breath for my daughter. You need to fight for the rest of our children, the rest of the innocents, and stop protecting the people that keep taking them from us.'
A stalker fixated with Prince Harry was reportedly twice able to pass within feet of him during his UK visit last month.

On September 9, the woman was allowed to enter a 'secure zone' at a hotel in central London where the Duke of Sussex was present for the WellChild Awards.

Then two days later she was intercepted by a member of Harry's private staff at the Centre for Blast Injury Studies in west London, at which there was no police presence.

The woman is said to be on a list of individuals known to be obsessed with the royal which was compiled by a private intelligence firm for the Prince's personal security team.

Her mental health status is unknown but it is believed in the past she has followed the Duke around the globe.

Her visits have even extended as far as Harry and Meghan's three-day visit to Nigeria in May 2024.

The Prince was shocked after his taxpayer-funded police protection was taken away once he and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, announced they were moving to the US and stepping back from royal public engagements.

The Duke said earlier this year that it was 'difficult to swallow' being told that the couple's security was being revoked by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) back in 2020.

A stalker fixated with Prince Harry (reported to be the woman circled standing behind the vehicle the Duke of Sussex was travelling in) was reportedly twice able to pass within feet of him during his recent UK visit

The stalker was allowed to enter a 'secure zone' at a hotel in central London where the Duke of Sussex was present for the WellChild Awards. Pictured: Prince Harry (right) playfighting with nine-year-old Gwen Foster (left) using swords made from modelling balloons at the WellChild Awards last month

The Duke of Sussex arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London on April 8, 2025, for the start of his appeal against a High Court ruling on his legal claim against the removal of his taxpayer-funded police protection when he is in the UK - an appeal he ultimately lost

Harry challenged that ruling during a two-day hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in April.

While the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court's decision, the Metropolitan Police voluntarily provided personal security to the Prince during his visit last month, sources told the Mail.

It is understood that senior Met officers 'acted on their own initiative' to offer him protection while he was in the capital for the WellChild Awards.

The Duke is a patron of the charity, which supports seriously ill children and their carers.

Sources say officers contacted Harry's representatives ahead of his arrival for the high-profile ceremony on September 8 to offer him protection for that day.

It is understood that the Met's decision was made without the involvement of either the Home Office or the Royal Family and was instead based on the highly publicised nature of the event and the fact that many children would be present.

But the Duke, 41, who made the trip from his home in Montecito, California, where he lives with his wife Meghan and children Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, was only given protection for the day of the event  and was said to have felt 'abandoned' after having to fund his own security for the remainder of his visit.

A friend of Harry said the Duke was acutely conscious that his status put those around him in danger, something over which he felt 'enormous guilt', The Telegraph reported.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, laughs with 13-year-old Grace Tutt (centre), recipient of the Special Recognitions award at the WellChild Awards

That may go some way to explaining the small amount of time Harry has spent in his home country since he and Meghan emigrated to the US.

However, the incident with the stalker is likely to have fuelled the Prince's fears about his safety this side of the Atlantic.

'It should not be left to two office staff to act as extra eyes and ears or provide a physical barrier,' the friend told the newspaper.

'That should not happen. It is only going to take one motivated, lone individual for this to go south very quickly.'

Neil Basu, the former head of the UK's counter-terrorism police, called the decision not to carry out a formal risk assessment for the Duke a 'mistake'.

He argues that despite the Prince standing down from his royal duties, the risk profile he faces as a widely recognisable public figure has if anything increased.

He added that the most viable threat posed to the royals was an individual fixated on a specific figure.

'There's even a specialist team set up within New Scotland Yard to deal with fixated threat assessments, because there were so many  normally the head of state by a country mile, more than anybody else  but nevertheless, certainly other members of the Royal family. And it is the hardest thing to guard against.'

Harry and Meghan saw the removal of their police protection as a way of trying to strongarm them into returning to the UK - since they felt that without security, visiting Britain would paint a target on their back.

The Duke of Sussex claimed he was singled out for inferior treatment when the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) stripped him of his top-level security in February 2020, following 'Megxit'.

The 'Royal Bombshell' edition of the Daily Mail which broke news of the couple's dramatic decision

While previously Harry was entitled to a fully armed security detail, he now reportedly has only a liaison officer to contact, who is not security vetted.

The Duke continues to push for a full risk assessment of his safety, something he has been denied since April 2019 - when he was placed in the highest category, level seven alongside the Queen and then prime minister Baroness May.

Indeed, multiple people have been handed jail time for either plotting to kill Harry or making threats against him.

There are reportedly three people currently walking free who have in the past served time for planning violence against him.
Pensioners in their 90s have been admitted to hospital for taking cocaine as the number needing treatment has soared by a third in just two years.

Of 723 snorting seniors who sought medical treatment for using the Class A drug in the year to March, eight were aged above 90.

Twenty-eight who required NHS help were in their 80s, while 70 sniffers were between 75 to 79.

Cocaine use among middle-aged and older Britons has rocketed in recent years, with experts warning of a wave of coke-driven dementia cases.

The drug can irreparably harm hearts, arteries and stomachs, as well as damaging teeth, skin and important proteins.

British adults are now consuming record amounts of cocaine, with the country ranking second highest in the world for use, behind Australia.

But the elderly aren't leaving it all for the youth of today.

There were 156 pensioners treated for longer-lasting cocaine addiction, with others treated for withdrawal, depression or psychosis that could have been caused by the drug.

Pensioners in their nineties have been admitted to hospital for taking cocaine as the number needing treatment has risen by a third in just two years (stock photo)

But of 23,644 people treated for cocaine, pensioners only made up three per cent.

Zaheen Ahmed of drug addiction experts UKAT told The Sun: 'Some older people experiment with cocaine because they have more disposable income, fewer responsibilities, and more free time.

'Others may be using it as a way to cope with loneliness, bereavement or the mental health challenges that can come with ageing.'

Some people, who experimented with the drug in their youth, might be using it again without realising it is even more dangerous for the elderly, who can be impacted by age-related conditions or mixing it with other prescription drugs.

Britain is home to the biggest cocaine market in Europe, according to the National Crime Agency.

The most stark consequence is that in 2023, cocaine-related fatalities in the UK reached 1,100  roughly a thousand times that seen 30 years earlier in 1993, when the total was 11.

And the highest drug-death rate is among men in Generation X, particularly those aged 40-49, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Early signs of cocaines dementia danger came in 2021, when a consortium of Portuguese and Brazilian investigators warned that using a small amount of the drug even on a single occasion may cause significant brain changes.

Their study, in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience, discovered that in laboratory mice, a single episode showed up in post-mortem examination of their brains as alterations in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.

Numerous studies have implicated damage to these brain areas in Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia.
Mark Latham's ex-girlfriend was spotted smiling as she left a police station after her lawyer claimed she had been left distraught by her arrest at Sydney Airport.

Nathalie May Matthews, 37, was taken into custody shortly after her flight from Dubai landed at Sydney at about 7am on Sunday.

Authorities later charged Ms Matthews with accessing or modifying restricted data held in a computer, intentionally recording an intimate image without consent and intentionally distributing an intimate image without consent.

The jet-setting businesswoman spent Sunday night behind bars in Surry Hills Correctional, before fronting Parramatta Local Court on Monday where she was granted bail.

Her lawyer Daniel Wakin said outside his client had been left 'distraught' following the arrest at Sydney Airport.

Ms Matthews, dressed in an all black ensemble, flashed a smile as she left Surry Hills Police Station with her handbag by her side.

Mr Wakin said Ms Matthews had been given 'proper treatment' during the arrest.

'She was distraught, of course... coming home to find yourself arrested,' he said.

Nathalie Matthews smiled as she left Surry Hills Police Station on Monday

Ms Matthews is an international businesswoman and former adult entertainment creator

Ms Matthews was granted bail after spending the night in custody

Ms Matthews, who did not enter pleas on any of her three charges, will front court at a later date.

In July, Ms Matthews, a 37-year-old businesswoman who shuttles between Sydney and Dubai, applied for an apprehended violence order (AVO) against Mr Latham.

Latham, an independent NSW Upper House MP who once ran for PM as Labor leader, and Ms Matthews had been in a rocky romantic relationship for about two years.

Mr Latham denied allegations he abused Ms Matthews during the relationship and is contesting the AVO.

The matter remains before the courts and is expected to be heard later this year.

In unrelated events, Mr Latham was booted from Royal Randwick on Saturday afternoon before undefeated supermare Autumn Glow smashed her rivals to win the Group 1 Epsom Handicap.

Latham has vowed to take legal action after being escorted out of a members-only restaurant at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Saturday afternoon.

The 64-year-old, now a NSW Upper House MLC, was photographed leaving the Grand View Restaurant flanked by two police officers at about 1.45pm, in an image obtained by the Daily Telegraph.

Ms Matthews and Mr Latham had been in relationship for two years

Mr Latham was booted from Royal Randwick on Saturday afternoon

It's understood management asked Latham to leave before contacting police, citing a ban imposed by the Australian Turf Club (ATC).

Late on Saturday night, Latham launched into a blistering online tirade, branding the ATC's actions 'outrageous' and threatening legal action.

'Thanks to the loving genius who sent this to me. Unlike those I will be suing for the decisions they took today,' he wrote on X.

He claimed an ATC director had greeted him warmly earlier in the day, making 'no mention of any problem whatsoever' with him being on course.

'I have never been notified of such, had a hearing or process about my rights as a guest of an ATC member, as I was today,' he said.

Latham argued he had attended Randwick as a guest of a member with a valid pass and revealed he had visited Rosehill Racecourse, operated by the ATC, just weeks earlier.

'I was at Rosehill four weeks ago as a guest of a member, not a word said all day,' Latham wrote.

In another post, Latham slammed the timing of the confrontation.

Latham argued he had attended Randwick as a guest of a member with a valid pass

Ms Matthews was granted bail on Monday morning

'The first I heard of a concern was when an ATC staffer came up during the running of a race (sacrilegious) to say 'there's a board decision showing that you're not welcome here',' he said.

'I replied that can't be true because less than an hour earlier, one of four ATC directors greeted me warmly, asked for my advice and did not say a word about any such decision.'

He claimed the staffer 'couldn't produce any document to support his claim,' so he refused to leave until police arrived. 'I didn't leave because the request was BS,' he wrote.

The ATC confirmed the incident, saying Latham had breached conditions prohibiting suspended members from attending races.

'We can confirm an incident occurred regarding a former member who had been subject to disciplinary proceedings,' a spokesman said. 'He was asked to leave the racecourse.'

Police later confirmed they were called by ATC officials to remove a 64-year-old man from the members' area.

'The man complied and there is no further police action,' a NSW Police spokesperson said.

The drama follows a 12-month good behaviour bond and suspension placed on Latham's membership earlier this year.

Ms Matthews spent a night in custody in Sydney

The ATC recently passed a resolution banning suspended or resigned members from attending race meetings.

Latham resigned his membership in June after accusing the club of 'lousy customer service, incompetent management and a complete lack of collegiality' in a fiery post on X.

Latham was asked to attend a Racing NSW disciplinary hearing last month after he allegedly verbally abused a staff member at the Rosehill Racecourse in April.

He is still awaiting the results of the hearing.
Terrifying footage captured the moment a Hungry Jack's worker was allegedly bitten and scratched by a customer, leaving him with gruesome injuries.

Zachary Myers was working his shift at Hungry Jack's, at the OTR service station on the Augusta Highway in Port Augusta, a coastal city in South Australia.

The 28-year-old was cleaning up after closing the fast food outlet when a woman entered just before 1am.

The woman allegedly turned violent after Mr Myers told her that the store was closed and was no longer taking any orders.

'She wouldn't take no for an answer, that we are closed,' Mr Myers told 7News.

'It was her fighting dirty, biting, scratching, everything under the sun. She just lost it.'

A passer-by filmed the brutal attack from outside, capturing the violent outburst.

In the footage, the woman lifted a stool over her head and hurled it toward Mr Myers before grabbing onto him from behind while allegedly biting his back.

Hungry Jack's worker Zachary Myers was allegedly attacked by an angry female customer after he told her the fast food restaurant was closed

Mr Myers suffered multiple cuts, scratches and bruises to his face

The 28-year-old was taken to hospital for treatment after the female customer allegedly left deep bite marks to his back and arms

Mr Myers struggled to free himself from the woman's grasp as she allegedly continued to bite and scratch him.

The angry customer was eventually pushed away and held at arm's length before she turned and left the store.

Mr Myers suffered multiple cuts to his face and deep bite marks to his back and arms during the alleged assault.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and Mr Myers was taken to hospital for treatment.

Police arrested a 38-year-old Port Augusta woman and charged her with assault causing harm, throwing a missile and disorderly behaviour.

The woman was bailed and is set to face Port Augusta Magistrates Court on November 17.
Donald Trump has unveiled a plan to 'restore the American dream' with a vow to work with builders to begin construction on new houses.

The President urged mortgage financing companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to 'get Big Homebuilders going' in a a Truth Social post on Sunday.

He noted the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) had 'kept Oil prices high' prior to him resuming office and said while 'it wasn't right', the same thing is now happening in the housing market.

'It wasn't right for them to do that but, in a different form, is being done again  this time by the Big Homebuilders of our Nation,' he wrote.

Trump acknowledged that the people he was calling out 'are my friends, and they're very important to the SUCCESS of our Country.'

He vowed to ensure they could get the funding they needed to reignite the industry.

Donald Trump has unveiled a plan to 'restore the American dream' with a vow to work with builders to begin construction on new houses

In a Sunday Truth Social post, Trump urged mortgage financing companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to 'get Big Homebuilders going'

'Now, they can get Financing and they have to start building Homes,' he warned. 'They're sitting on 2 Million empty lots, A RECORD.

'I'm asking Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to get Big Homebuilders going and, by so doing, help restore the American Dream!'

Trump reportedly met in August with top US bank executives to discuss his administration's plans to privatize the finance firms, which guarantee over half the nation's mortgages and have been under federal conservatorship since the 2008 financial crisis.

Since then, the companies have rebuilt capital reserves, repaid their Treasury loans and returned to consistent profitability.

Shares of both firms, currently traded on over-the-counter markets, have surged amid speculation about privatization plans.

The pair guarantee more than half of the nation's mortgages.

Analysts noted that while Trump has been willing to risk economic turmoil in his wide-ranging tariff agenda, there may be more sensitivity to drama in mortgage rates

Trump acknowledged that the people he was calling out 'are my friends, and they're very important to the SUCCESS of our Country'

Taking the firms public would end a far-reaching government backstop that was intended to be a temporary reprieve, but could also make mortgages pricier and harder to obtain if the entities guaranteeing fully return to the private sector.

Analysts noted that while Trump has been willing to risk economic turmoil in his wide-ranging tariff agenda, there may be more sensitivity to drama in mortgage rates, which are highly visible and familiar to many consumers.

'Tariffs may have impacted the stock market, but they did not result in immediate price hikes at Walmart or Dollar General,' TD Cowen analyst Jaret Seiberg wrote in May.

'By contrast, the price of mortgages will respond to each recap and release development. That makes the political cost more immediate. It is why we expect a slower and more deliberative process.'

Citi chief executive Jane Fraser met with Trump at the White House, a source told Reuters. Trump also met BofA chief executive Brian Moynihan and his team, a second source said.
President Donald Trump dropped the 'f-bomb' as he hit out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call discussing a potential ceasefire deal with Hamas.

The president called Netanyahu on Friday to share that Hamas signaled that was ready to negotiate the release of all their Israeli hostages, and was reportedly left surprised when the Israeli prime minister did not share his enthusiasm.

'Bibi told Trump this is nothing to celebrate and it doesn't mean anything,' a US official with knowledge of the conversation told Axios.

Trump then reportedly fired back: 'I don't know why you're always so f***ing negative. This is a win. Take it.'

The unidentified US official also claimed the dynamic between the two world leaders in Friday's call was contentious and that Trump was left annoyed.

Those familiar with the conversation on both sides described how Netanyahu viewed Hamas' response as a rejection of Trump's plan, and he wanted to coordinate with American officials on their response to avoid the narrative that Hamas answered the call for a ceasefire positively.

Meanwhile, Trump said there 'have been very positive discussions' - and saw Hamas' actual response as an opening for a deal.

President Donald Trump reportedly dropped the 'f-bomb' as he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday

The two world leaders eventually reached an agreement to begin ceasefire negotiations with Hamas

Despite what they described as a 'tough and firm' discussion, US officials emphasized that Trump and Netanyahu eventually reached an agreement.

'Ultimately, President Trump wants peace, and that's what matters most,' one of the officials said.

'This administration is already working closely with Israel to accomplish that.'

The negotiations have been arduous - leading Trump to curse out Netanyahu several times over the past few months..

In June, the president went on a tirade when both Israel and Iran violated a ceasefire.

'We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don't know what the f*** they're doing,' he said before boarding Marine One en route to a NATO Summit.

It was also revealed last month that Trump had been complaining about Netanyahu's preference to use military power over negotiations and a cease-fire to resolve the ongoing war in Gaza.

'Hes f***ng me,' Trump said, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Netanyahu was said to have viewed Hamas' response as a rejection of Trump's plan

But an opening for negotiations came late last week when Hamas - a designated terrorist organization that has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007 - expressed their openness to releasing the remaining hostages.

It also said it is ready to cede governing control to 'a Palestinian authority of independents (technocrats) based on Palestinian national consensus and with reliance on Arab and Islamic support'.

Following the phone call with Netanyahu on Friday, Trump insisted the Israeli prime minister had gotten on board.

'Netanyahu had reservations but I told him that this is his opportunity for victory,' Trump told Israeli television's Channel 12 on Saturday. 'He accepted it. There is no other choice, with me you have to be okay.'

'Bibi went too far in Gaza and Israel lost a lot of support in the world,' Trump added. 'Now I will bring back all that support.'

Netanyahu then also released a recorded video message praising Trump and emphasizing the parts of the US president's remarks that he agreed with.

Hours later, he also abided by Trump's calls to halt airstrikes on Gaza.

By Saturday, Trump claimed Israel had accepted an initial withdrawal line - a plan that has been shared with Hamas officials as well.

'When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal, which will bring us close to the end of this 3,000 YEAR CATASTROPHE,' the president wrote on Truth Social.

Gaza City is pictured on Sunday, after Netanyahu agreed to halt airstrikes in the area

Hamas has called for a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Gaza City is pictured here on Friday

Yet the Trump administration's 20-point plan has not been fully agreed to by Hamas.

Under the proposal, Hamas would be expected to release all the hostages, while Israel would have to 'release 250 life sentence prisoners plus 1700 Gazans who were detained after October 7th 2023, including all women and children detained in that context'.

Trump is also ordering Israel to resume 'full aid' into the Gaza Strip even if Hamas ends up rejecting the proposal.

Perhaps the most important parts of the proposal state that Israel is not to 'occupy or annex Gaza' and that no one who lives in Gaza 'will be forced to leave'.

This is quite the departure from Trump's initial plan to have the United States own Gaza and redevelop it to make it the 'Riviera of the Middle East'.

However, the plan did say there would be a 'Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energize Gaza.'

In order to now get the proposal through the finish line, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner are traveling to Egypt, where indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel are expected to begin on Monday.

Trump's envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are traveling to Egypt, where indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel are expected to begin on Monday

In the meantime, the president has expressed optimism that a deal may finally be reached.

'There have been very positive discussions with Hamas and Countries from all over the World (Arab, Muslim and everyone else) this weekend, to release the Hostages, end the War in Gaza, but more importantly finally have long sought PEACE in the Middle East,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social page Sunday night.

'These talks have been very successful and proceeding rapidly,' he continued.

'The technical teams will again meet Monday, in Egypt, to work through and clarify the final details. I am told that the first phase should be completed this week and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST.'

'I will continue to monitor this centuries-old "conflict,"' the president concluded.

'TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OR MASSIVE BLOODSHED WILL FOLLOW - SOMETHING THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE.'
Trump advisor Stephen Miller was dubbed 'the face of evil' by his own cousin in a lengthy social media post sparked by sweeping Los Angeles ICE raids.

Alisa Kasmer wrote the scathing message denouncing her 'border hawk' relative for his leading role in Donald Trump's immigration crackdown in July, but it recirculated over the weekend.

Kasmer, who said she is related to the White House's Deputy Chief of Staff through his father's side, outlined how she watched Miller transform from a little boy she adored into a politician she can't stand.

'I am living with the deep pain of watching someone I once loved become the face of evil,' Kasmer, who lives in LA, wrote.

She recalled babysitting Miller when they were young, painting him as the 'awkward, funny, needy middle child who loved to chase attention' and 'the sweetest with the littlest family members.'

Kasmer once viewed him as conservative and 'maybe misguided,' but ultimately 'lovable and harmless.'

'But I was so deeply wrong,' she said. 'And the realization that I didnt know you at all? It guts me. I grieve what youve become, Stephen.

'And I grieve what Ive lost because of it. I grieve your children I will never meet. I grieve the future family youve stolen from me by choosing a path so filled with cruelty that I cannot, and will not, be a part of it.

Controversial Trump advisor Stephen Miller (right) was dubbed 'the face of evil' by his own cousin in a lengthy social media post sparked by sweeping Los Angeles ICE raids

Alisa Kasmer (middle) shared images of Miller (right) throughout his life in her post, detailing how he was once someone she adored

Her social media message was sparked by sweeping ICE raids in Los Angeles over the summer

'I will never knowingly let evil into my life, no matter whose blood it carries - including my own.'

'But most of all, I grieve for those directly harmed by your actions. For the communities here in Los Angeles, our shared home, for all of California, and the rest of the country, terrorized by the cruelty you have brought upon us all.'

After expressing her sadness, she went on to berate the immigration policy architect, calling him 'cruel and hallow.'

She referenced her and Miller's Jewish roots and the stories of surviving pogroms and the Holocaust they were told growing up.

'How can you do to others what has been done to us?' she asked, directing the question at Miller.

'How can you wake up each day and repeat the cruelty that our people barely escaped from?

'Youve destroyed so many lives just to feed your own obsession and ego and uphold an administration so corrupt, so vile, I can barely comprehend it.'

Kasmer also claimed most of his family, except his immediate family members, have chosen not to associate with him.

Miller, who has been credited with handling immigration policies under both of Trump's administrations, declared over the summer that the president wants at least 3,000 ICE arrests per day.

Despite this lofty target, the rate of immigration-related detainments has dropped in recent months, according to data collected by the nonpartisan Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC).

Miller (pictured), who has been credited with handling immigration policies under both of Trump's administrations, declared over the summer that the president wants at least 3,000 ICE arrests per day

Dr. David Glosser (pictured), Miller's uncle, has also criticized the political advisor

In July, ICE reported making roughly 990 arrests each day - a staggering drop from the daily rate of 1,224 arrests in June.

Trump has also maintained that the primary targets of his tough policies are migrants with violent criminal backgrounds.

But government-released data has revealed that the number of arrested migrants without criminal histories has surpassed the number of those with a record.

The Guardian reported in late September that approximately 16,525 people with no record were detained, while about 15,725 with a record were. About 13,765 people with pending charges were also arrested.

About 71.5 percent of detainees have no criminal convictions, according to TRAC.

Kasmer is not the first one of Miller's relatives to publicly criticize him.

Miller's uncle, retired neuropsychologist and outspoken critic of Trump, David Glosser, has repeatedly discussed his disapproval of the conservative firebrand.

'Stephen is just an ambitious functionary of [Trump's] dark impulse,' Glosser told the Daily Mail in November 2024.

Kasmer (right) described Miller (middle) as a funny and sweet child (pictured: a photo shared by Kasmer on Facebook)

Government-released data has revealed that the number of arrested migrants without criminal histories has surpassed the number of those with a record (pictured: LA ICE protesters in June)

In a 2018 interview with Anderson Cooper, Glosser called Miller an 'immigration hypocrite.'

In a Politico piece, Glosser explained the struggles his family faced while coming to the US from the village of Antopol in Belarus during the early 20th century.

'Had we not been able to enter America when we did, Stephen Miller would never exist,' Glosser told Cooper.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Kasmer for comment.
A 33-year-old woman who tried to poison her estranged husband with antifreeze has been charged with attempted murder.

Kristen Hogan from Ridgefield, Connecticut, was arrested on Friday and accused of putting antifreeze into a bottle of wine and iced tea at her husband's home.

The pair have been locked in a bitter custody battle relating to their child.

On August 10, her 34-year-old husband drank a small amount of spiked wine and kept waking up sick in the middle of the night.

The next day he began to vomit, according to documents released by the Connecticut state police.

The victim called his mother, who arrived to find her son slurring his words, staggering, and vomiting.

The father was rushed hospital, where first responders initially thought he was experiencing a stroke.

They soon came to realize he was suffering from ethylene glycol poisoning, an ingredient in antifreeze.

Kristen Hogan was arrested on Friday after she allegedly went to her husband's home and put antifreeze into a bottle of wine and iced tea

Hogan from Ridgefield, Connecticut, is in a custody battle with her husband for their child

He was admitted to the ICU and was placed on Dialysis suffering from renal failure. Doctors asked the man what he had consumed, and he told them about the wine.

Ridgefield Police detectives seized the wine and submitted it to the Connecticut Forensic Laboratory for further testing.

The man immediately suspected that Hogan was the culprit behind the poisoning because he was notified while he wasn't home that she had connected to his Wi-Fi.

Although it appears they do not live together, Hogan had full access to the home.

When detectives asked the man why he believed it was his estranged wife, he said that Hogan would become the complete owner of the residence and would gain full-time custody of their child.

Officials reportedly found internet searches on Hogan's phone that included potassium cyanide, potassium ferricyanide, citrate-cyanide, potassium thiocyanate, and monoethylene glycol.

However, during initial questioning, she denied knowing what the chemicals were.

Additional searches for how much of these substances a person would need to ingest to die were also found, according to the documents.

Hogan initially denied having any knowledge of the incident or involvement

Detectives asked the husband why he believed Hogan did it, he said that she would become the complete owner of the residence and would gain full-time custody of their child

Hogan later remembered she purchased monoethylene glycol on Amazon because she was 'using that specific chemical to clean the carpet at her mother's house,' and said the substance never left her parents' home.

When detectives confronted her about the bottle of wine and her husband testing positive for the substance, she initially denied the claims.

Still, she allegedly said, 'she never wanted to kill him but just wanted to make him sick as payback for being mentally abusive.'

Hogan then said she didn't know how much of the chemical she poured into the bottle of wine.

Detectives told Hogan that their child may have potentially consumed some of the poison, which she denied being possible.

The documents also noted that, before his wife's arrest, she began acting more cordially and offered to come over and cook something that was out of the ordinary for their relationship at the time.

Hogan was charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of interfering with an officer.

She is being held on a $ 1 million bond.
Its 17 stores across the country will close early 2026

The brand's online store will close by December 31

An iconic footwear brand has announced all its stores across Australia will shut for good after a quarter of a century in business.

Famous Footwear informed customers it was closing down in a shock announcement shared to its social media pages on Monday.

The retailer, which has been operating for 25 years, explained its online store will close on December 31.

The brand's 17 stores, located across NSW, Queensland and Victoria, are set to close in early 2026.

Famous Footwear made the announcement about its closure in an Instagram post along with the caption: 'The end of an era.'

'It's with sadness we announce the end of our journey,' the statement read.

'Famous Footwear will be closing permanently, with our online store open until December 31.

'We loved helping you find your famous fit for more than 25 years. We're truly grateful for the loyalty and support from our community over the years.'

Famous Footwear announced it was shutting down

The retailer was popular among customers as it sold women's shoes at affordable prices.

Customers shared their devastation online, with some claiming the store's closure was a sign of the 'grim reality' facing many Australian businesses.

'As a small business owner watching big companies go down, just really show us all such a grim reality. I hope something changes soon!' one person wrote.

'I know Big W is really struggling. I hope we dont lose them next.'

'Where do I go for my shoes now? Will miss your store,' a second person commented.

'No! You guys were so good such comfortable shoes and such a reasonable price this is sad,' a third person chimed.

A fourth added: 'So sad! You guys to me were the only brand at the time that I found size 5 heels, boots for my small feet', while another person wrote: 'No way! My fav place to buy shoes'.

Famous Footwear also announced a closing-down-sale, with customers given a further 30 per cent off on items.

The brand thanked its customers for their support over the past 25 years

'Shop our last sale ever. Stock is limited and once it's gone, it's gone,' the brand wrote.
Democratic Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has slammed the Trump administration for using federalized National Guard troops from Texas to 'invade' liberal states.

In a late night X post on Sunday, Pritzker revealed 400 members of the Texas National Guard will be deployed to Illinois and Oregon, among other locations, to deal with anti-ICE protesters and Trump's so-called war on crime.

'We must now start calling this what it is: Trump's Invasion,' Pritzker said. 'No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.

'It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another state's military troops.'

Shortly after his revelation, it emerged that a late-night court hearing had taken place in Oregon where Trump-appointed judge Karin Immergut blocked federalized National Guard members from any state from being deployed to Portland.

Trump is particularly cracking down on states run by liberal governors, claiming on Sunday that Oregon is 'burning to the ground' after describing Chicago, Illinois as the 'world's most dangerous city.'

Pritzker had called on Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott to 'immediately withdraw any support for this decision and refuse to coordinate.

'There is no reason a President should send military troops into a sovereign state without their knowledge, consent, or cooperation,' Pritzker added.

JB Pritzker revealed 400 members of the Texas National Guard will be deployed to Illinois and Oregon

Pritzker had called on Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott to 'immediately withdraw any support for this decision and refuse to coordinate

'The brave men and women who serve in our national guards must not be used as political props. This is a moment where every American must speak up and help stop this madness.'

Abbott confirmed on Sunday he had authorized the call-up. 'You can either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let Texas Guard do it,' he wrote on X.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has also condemned Trump's actions, after it was revealed that 200 members of California's already federalized National Guard were being sent to Oregon after a judge temporarily blocked Trump's efforts to federalize local troops.

Newsom warned back in June that other states would soon be targeted as he battled to block Trump's plan to federalize his troops to respond to anti immigration enforcement riots on the streets.

On Sunday, he called the deployment 'a breathtaking abuse of the law and power' and warned: 'The commander-in-chief is using the U.S. military as a political weapon against American citizens.'

California and Oregon joined forces to sue the administration in an effort to block the deployment, and late on Sunday U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut gave them a temporary victory.

She temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deploying any National Guard units to Oregon, including the California National Guard.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield had argued that Trump was seeking to circumvent an order Judge Immergut made on Saturday blocking the deployment of the Oregon National Guard.

Protests have gripped the streets in Oregon (pictured) since Trump announced he would deploy the National Guard

Federal agents, including members of the Department of Homeland Security, and the Border Patrol, hold back protesters while deploying a smoke grenade outside a downtown U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility

Trump is particularly cracking down on states run by liberal governors, claiming on Sunday that Oregon is 'burning to the ground' after describing Chicago , Illinois as the 'world's most dangerous city'

She had dismissed Trump's assessment of the city as 'war-ravaged' and issued the temporary order pending further arguments.

She said the relatively small protests did not justify the use of federalized forces and allowing the deployment could harm Oregons state sovereignty.

'What was unlawful yesterday is unlawful today,' Rayfield said. 'The judge's order was not some minor procedural point for the president to work around, like my 14-year-old does when he doesn't like my answers.'

Rayfield added that Oregon 'will absolutely not be a party to the president's attempt to normalize the use of the United States military in our American cities.'

A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed about 200 federalized members of the California National Guard who had been on duty around Los Angeles were being reassigned to Portland.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek said about 100 arrived Saturday and around 100 more were en route Sunday.

Kotek said there had been no formal communication with the federal government about the deployment.

She said the latest move by federal officials is an attempt to circumvent Saturday's court ruling that blocked deployment of Oregon's guard members.

Federal agents stepped in to detain a protester outside an Illinois ICE processing facility as Trump ramped up law enforcement presence

Protesters have also gathered this weekend in Chicago, Illinois, as locals rail against Trump and ICE

Trump deployed the California National Guard to Oregon in an effort to circumvent a court order

'The facts on the ground in Oregon havent changed,' Kotek said during a news conference Sunday.

'There's no need for military intervention in Oregon. There's no insurrection in Portland, theres no threat to national security.'

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland has recently been the site of nightly protests.

The protest was relatively small and localized to just one block of the city of 650,000 residents, Kotek said.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the president is 'specifically targeting cities that lean Democratic' or have leaders and residents who speak out against the administration's abuses of power.
Fears have grown a man accused of murdering Isla Bell may never face trial after it was revealed the Melbourne teenager's body was so damaged by a garbage truck that authorities have not been able to determine how she died.

Marat Ganiev, 54, of St Kilda, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Monday where horrific details about the alleged crime were revealed as part of a preliminary hearing.

The court heard forensic experts were unable to determine how the 19-year old died due to the state of her body upon its discovery at a tip in Dandenong, in Melbourne's south-east, six weeks after she was allegedly killed.

Police allege Ganiev murdered Ms Bell just after midnight on October 7 last year, with his mate Eyal Yaffe, 58, accused of helping him dispose of her body.

Forensic pathologist Hans De Boer told the court experts could not determine how Ms Bell died due to severe decomposition and damage caused within the garbage truck that dumped her body at the tip.

Devastated friends and family of the teenager packed into the courtroom to hear the shocking evidence.

Detectives allege Yaffe became involved in the alleged crime after receiving a call from Ganiev a day after Ms Bell is said to have been killed.

The following day, he allegedly drove to Ganievs St Kilda East apartment and dropped off a new black fridge, returning on October 17 to remove the old one wrapped in plastic.

Two men have been charged after police found suspected human remains in their search for 19-year-old Isla Bell (pictured)

Eyal Yaffe leaving Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Monday

That fridge was later found to have contained Ms Bell's battered remains.

'Its not possible to exclude that all injuries were sustained postmortem,' Dr Boer said.

Under cross examination by Mr Yaffe's barrister Ian Hill, KC, the court heard the doctor could find no evidence Ms Bell had been strangled to death.

Just last week, the Supreme Court of Victoria heard a man initially accused of murdering and dumping an elderly woman in a garbage bin was allowed to plead guilty to her manslaughter over similar post mortem damage to her body.

Stephen Fleming, 47, admitted the charge after accepting a deal that came with a sentence indication that will see him eligible for parole in just seven years.

Unlike Fleming, Homicide Squad detectives have suggested they have a strong case against the pair despite not knowing exactly how Ms Bell died.

During a bail application for Yaffe last year, the court heard police believed to have captured snippets of Ms Bell's murder on CCTV.

Homicide Squad detectives allege a camera outside Ganiev's St Kilda East apartment complex captured what appeared to be him attacking Ms Bell.

Marat Ganiev, 53, of St Kilda appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Monday charged with murdering Isla Bell

Yaffe (pictured) is accused of helping the man who allegedly murdered Isla Bell conceal his crime

Cameras recorded Ms Bell entering his apartment at 9.27pm on October 5, but she never left alive, police alleged.

From a gap in the front kitchen window, police allege Ms Bell's head could be seen 'whipping around' as she was struck by Ganiev.

'She falls to the ground and Ganiev can then be seen striking her on the ground of the kitchen,' court documents stated.

'What appears to be Bell's head can be seen rising up before being pushed back down by Ganiev's arm.'

The footage allegedly captured Ms Bell alive between 12.43am until 2am when she vanished from sight.

Police allege Ganiev went to work cleaning the apartment over the following days.

Ms Bell had allegedly moved in with Ganiev just two days earlier - a day after her frantic mother reported Ms Bell missing to police.

During that hearing, the court heard Ms Bell had thought she had found the man of her dreams in the days before she was allegedly brutally murdered by a man more than twice her age.

Isla Bell (pictured) was last seen leaving her Brunswick home, in Melbourne's inner city, about 6pm on October 4. Her remains were found at a tip six weeks later

Police alleged Ms Bell texted her friend just hours before her alleged murder expressing her happiness.

In a Snapchat post sent on October 7, Ms Bell, who was last seen leaving her Brunswick home in Melbourne three days earlier on October 4, told her friend that she had 'found the best sugar daddy', court documents stated.

Ms Bell told her friend a 'sugar daddy' had lavished her with gifts and 'saved her from sex traffickers'.

On Monday, the court heard Ms Bell had struggled with drug addiction leading up to her death, with traces of methamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis and methadone found in her system.

Upon Ganiev's arrest, Ms Bell's heartbroken mother Justine Spokes issued a gut-wrenching statement in memory of her daughter.

'I am so, so sorry my darling daughter,' she said at the time.

'I could not protect you from your complex illnesses and this cruel world.

'I was so proud of your choices this year, your strength to endure despite your suffering.

Ms Bell's mum Justine Spokes addressed the media upon her daughter's alleged killer's arrest last year

Isla Bell was allegedly murdered by a man she had only just met

'All you ever wanted was to create, make and nurture life, to love and be loved.

'We were so much looking forward to being reunited as a family again; my heart aches and cannot reconcile that's not going to happen.'

She said her daughter was 'the gentlest soul, the kindest human and free spirited'.

'I will connect to you in spirit my care bear and no one can take that connection away from us,' she added.

The hearing continues.
A 60-year-old man understood to be going through a marital breakdown was allegedly behind a public shooting in Sydney.

Officers arrived at Georges River Road in Croydon Park, in inner-west Sydney, shortly after 7.45pm on Sunday following reports a gunman was firing indiscriminately.

The alleged gunman has since been identified as Artemios Mintzas, a 60-year-old transport worker.

He remains in custody at Burwood Police Station and has not yet been charged.

Police believe between 50 and 100 bullets were fired from the window of a unit Mintzas was renting above a business on the street.

It's understood he did not have a firearms licence and was previously unknown to police.

At least 16 people were injured, including two men who were taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Investigators have not yet determined a motive. No link has been established to terrorist ideology or gang activity.

Artemios Mintzas (pictured) was arrested following a shooting in Sydney's inner-west

Mintzas has been identified as the man who allegedly fired at passersby from a window (pictured) in Croydon Park

Police have established a large crime scene (pictured) and are working to establish the motive for the shooting

Mintzas is understood to have been renting the unit from which he allegedly fired from (pictured, officers in Croydon Park on Monday)

Acting Superintendent Stephen Parry said one of the hospitalised men, aged 50, was in a moving car when he was shot in the neck and chest.

'They were a passenger in a vehicle which had a number of other family members in it,' he said.

'My understanding is that the injuries are not life-threatening and he is expected to survive thankfully.

'All the persons in the car were adults. There were three persons in the car.'

The 50-year-old man, who transported himself to hospital, underwent emergency surgery. As of Monday, he remains in a serious condition.

NSW Ambulance paramedics also treated another three people for minor injuries before transporting them to Canterbury Hospital.

Two others self-presented to a nearby police station with minor injuries while another has been transported to a nearby hospital with unconfirmed injuries.

Paramedics were pictured attending to an individual in a stretcher at the scene of the shooting.

The shooting and subsequent stand-off with police lasted two hour (pictured, police talking with pedestrians at the scene)

It's believed between 50 and 100 bullets were fired during the shooting (pictured, officers at the window Mintzas allegedly shot from)

Large amounts of damage were done to nearby buildings, cars and a bus stop (pictured)

Heavily-armed specialist officers were able to enter the unit from which Mintzas was allegedly shooting and arrest him about 9.30pm.

'The tactical plan was executed extremely well,' Act Supt Parry said.

'There was an exchange of gunfire between police and the alleged offender prior to the tactical operation being initiated.

'He suffered minor injuries to his eye socket - as the glass windows were smashed during the incident.

'He's being interviewed this afternoon and will be charged with a string of firearm offences.'

Several nearby buildings, cars and a bus stop were damaged during the two-hour shooting and subsequent stand-off with police.

'This was a highly dangerous operation, and police put themselves at serious risk of death or injury,' Act Supt Parry said.

'One bullet went straight through the window of a police car. Had that vehicle been occupied, the officer would likely have sustained fatal injuries.

It's understood Mintzas was in the midst of a marital breakdown at the time of the shooting (pictured, damage at the scene)

Heavily-armed specialist officers were able to arrest Mintzas about 9.30pm (pictured officers at the scene)

A man in his 50s remains in a serious condition after being shot in the neck and chest (pictured, the scene on Monday)

'It's incredible that no-one died.'

Taxi driver Nick said he had been driving in the area when his vehicle was sprayed with bullets.

'As I was driving by I just heard a "bang, bang, bang" on the passenger side of the taxi, and then I looked next to me and I saw a couple of holes in the window and I didn't even realise there was actually a hole in the roof as well,' he said.

'I smelled the gunpowder, but I assumed because it was grand final night that somebody had thrown firecrackers.

'So I pulled up near the corner but then I thought maybe it's not safe, because I kept hearing the shooting noises. So I pulled up near McDonald's and I realised it was real shots.'

Acting Assistant Commissioner Trent King claimed the shooting was 'almost unprecedented in Sydney'.

'It's a high-calibre rifle that he used for the incident as well,' Commissioner King told Today on Monday.

'Very, very concerning. That's certainly part of the investigation that's commencing today.'

An investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
A South Carolina judge whose beachfront property burned to the ground in a possible arson attack on Saturday had issued a decisive ruling against the Trump administration just weeks earlier.

Diane Goodstein, 69, saw her sprawling $1.5 million home go up in flames on Edisto Beach as her family, including her ex-senator husband Arnold Goodstein, were rushed to hospital.

Authorities are now working to determine what may have caused the blaze at the four-bedroom, four bath property.

But sources have said the circuit court judge has received death threats in the past few weeks following her controversial decision to prevent the state from handing over sensitive voter registration documents to the federal government.

Trump's Department of Justice had requested South Carolina officials turn over the personal data of more than 3.3 million voters, including names, addresses, birthdates, driver's license numbers and the last four digits of their Social Security numbers.

The administration would then compare the data to a different database, maintained by the Department of Homeland Security, to see how many registered voters on the list match up with noncitizens listed by immigration agents, The New York Times reported.

One voter, Anne Crook, attempted to halt the process by filing a lawsuit against the South Carolina Elections Commission. On September 2, Goodstein issued a temporary restraining order in the case, halting the hand over of voter information.

She wrote in her brief ruling that 'there is a likelihood that immediate and irreparable damage will result to Plaintiff if her personal information data is released in violation of her right to privacy,' according to court documents obtained by WRDW.

South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein issued a decisive ruling against the Trump administration last month

The decision put her on a collision course with the Trump administration and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster

Weeks later, Goodstein's $1.5 million beachfront property burned to the ground

The decision put Goodstein at odds with both the Trump administration and South Carolina GOP Governor Henry McMaster, who filed an emergency petition to appeal the lawsuit and the temporary restraining order on September 5.

McMaster argued that Crook's case was 'unlikely to succeed on the merits' that were cited in the lawsuit and said that denying his petition would be a 'miscarriage of justice.'

'Whatever Crook or anyone else thinks of DOJ's request, the way the circuit court tried to stop the Commission is wrong,' the governor hit out at Goodstein.

He went on to argue that Goodstein failed to explain whether she believed the lawsuit was likely to succeed, which is required for a court to intervene, as he tore apart Cook's arguments.

'Beyond the legal arguments, appreciate what Crook really says: The state cannot give the last four digits of her Social Security number to the federal government.

'But the federal government already has Crook's full Social Security number (as well as every other South Carolinian's) because the federal government issues those Social Security numbers,' the governor argued.

'It's untenable (to put it mildly) to insist that the State cannot tell the federal government something that the federal government already knows.'

McMaster concluded by arguing it could be detrimental for the state to ignore the Department of Justice's request - as its order suggested that any state that fails to comply could face legal cases or lose state funding.

'Lawsuits against the federal government are not minor affairs and the drain on the State's resources (in time, talent and treasure) would be substantial,' the governor lamented.

Trump's Department of Justice had requested South Carolina officials turn over the personal data of more than 3.3 million voters

The federal government requested the voters' names, addresses, birthdates, driver's license numbers and the last four digits of their Social Security numbers. Election officials are pictured checking in voters in Columbia, South Carolina, in February 2024

'(In fact, the taxpayers would be paying for both sides of that case),' he pointed out.

The State Supreme Court ultimately sided with the governor, overturning Goodstein's temporary restraining order in a six-page opinion on September 11.

The opinion criticized Goodstein for failing to detail what kind of damage would be caused in the release of personal information of voters.

It also noted that Goodstein ordered the Election Commission not to comply with the request for voter information before they had received notice of the lawsuit, which the court said was a violation.

Then, just days before Goodstein's home was destroyed, another judge ruled that the state can continue handing over voter information to the federal government.

One woman sued to prevent the South Carolina Election Commission from turning over the data. South Carolinians are seen here casting their ballots in the 2024 presidential primary

'The "right to privacy" constitutional provision does not encompass the sharing of data between the sate and the federal government to secure federal elections,' Judge Daniel Cable ruled last Wednesday.

'Federal law likely requires the Election Commission to provide the requested information to the DOJ.'

Following the ruling, interim director of the South Carolina Election Commission Jenny Wooten released a statement noting that 'most of the information requested by the DOJ is already publicly available and may be purchased by any registered voter in South Carolina.

'In addition, the SEC has previously entered into agreements with other states to share voter data for the purpose of maintaining accurate voter rolls and strengthening election security.'

Wooten then noted that any future decisions about sharing data with the Department of Justice will be made only by a public vote of the board.

In the meantime, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is working to determine whether the fire at Goodstein's home on Saturday was an act of arson or if it was just an accident as they step up patrols and security in the area.

But South Carolina Chief Justice John Kittredge told FITSNews that the fire resulted from an 'apparent explosion.'

Goodstein's four-bedroom, four bath $1,155,200 home stretching up three stories went up in smoke at around 11.30am on Saturday

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is currently investigating the fire

'Judge Goodstein was walking on the beach when the fire started,' he said.

'Her husband, Arnie, was in the house with children and perhaps grandchildren. The family had to escape by jumping from a window or balcony. Im told there were injuries from the fall, such as broken legs,' he said.

Of the three family members rushed to hospital, one was Goodstein's husband Arnold - who reportedly leaped from the burning building after helping other family members escape.

'Arnies injuries may have been the most serious, for he was airlifted to the hospital,' Kittredge added.

Goodstein's husband sustained multiple broken bones in his hips, legs and feet following the fall, the outlet reported.

Another of those hospitalized is said to be Goodstein's son, Arnold Goodstein II.

His condition remains unclear.
President Donald Trump mocked Al Sharpton with an unflattering photo of the reverend as he called for the FCC to consider canceling his network's license.

Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday to air out his grievances against the host of MSNBC's PoliticsNation.

He also shared a photo from 1988 of a then-overweight Sharpton, donning a serious facial expression as he held onto his suspenders.

Sharpton also wore a red shirt, brown slacks and a medallion around his neck.

But in his rant about the political activist, Trump seemingly mixed up MSNBC and NBC, calling for FCC head Brandon Carr to 'look into' the latter for running Sharpton's show.

'I knew Al Sharpton for many years, not that it matters, but he was a major TRUMP fan,' Trump began.

'Hed ask me to go to his fake Rallies all the time, because I brought BIG Crowds, and he couldnt get anybody to come without me.'

Trump then referenced Sharpton's involvement in the 1987 Tawana Brawley rape hoax, in which a 15-year-old Black girl falsely accused four white men of kidnapping and raping her.

Donald Trump shared a 1988 photo of a then-overweight Sharpton, donning a serious facial expression as he held onto his suspenders (pictured)

Trump (left) said he and Sharpton (right) used to get along and that Sharpton was a 'fan' of his

Sharpton (pictured) recently came under fire after it was revealed that he allegedly accepted $500,000 from Kamala Harris' campaign weeks before a gushing interview with the then-presidential candidate

He described the racially polarizing case as 'one of the worst low-level scams in history.' He said that it set back Sharpton, who served as Brawley's family's advisor, 'BIG TIME!'

'Then he got to know Brian Roberts, Chairman of Fake News NBC, who gave him what would become one of the lowest-rated shows in television history,' Trump went on.

'Roberts is afraid to take him off because it wouldnt be politically correct.'

Roberts is the CEO of Comcast, the parent company of NBCUniversal. NBC and MSNBC are two distinct networks under the NBCUniversal umbrella.

But Comcast announced last year that MSNBC would be spun off from NBCUniversal into a separate publicly traded company called Versant and renamed MS NOW.

Roberts' alleged unwillingness to pull PoliticsNation, a weekend news program, from the air is why Trump said the FCC should evaluate the license of NBC - likely meaning MSNBC.

He said NBC airs 'almost exclusively positive Democrat content.'

'Likewise, ABC Fake News - About the same thing, 97 percent negative to Republicans!' he added.

The president (pictured) took to Truth Social on Sunday to air out his grievances against the host of MSNBC's PoliticsNation

Trump referenced Sharpton's (right) involvement in the 1987 Tawana Brawley (left) rape hoax, in which a 15-year-old Black girl falsely accused four white men of kidnapping and raping her

Trump has called upon FCC head Brandon Carr (pictured) to 'look into' Sharpton's network

Trump has thrown around this 97 percent negative statistic in previous take-downs of left-leaning outlets, although it is unclear where he sourced this figure.

Sharpton recently came under fire after it was revealed that he allegedly accepted $500,000 from Kamala Harris' campaign weeks before a gushing interview with the then-presidential candidate.

Sharpton's sit-down with the former vice president drew scrutiny for his softball questioning, with the conservative Washington Free Beacon releasing campaign finance records that claimed his nonprofit was paid handsomely before the interview.

Harris' campaign allegedly gave two $250,000 payments to Sharpton's National Action Network on September 5 and October 1.

And on October 20, Sharpton's went on to praise Harris' 'extraordinary historic campaign' in a gushing interview, and branded Donald Trump 'hostile and erratic.'

MSNBC has stayed silent over the payment, despite suspending Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough in 2010 for making $4,000 in campaign donations.
Lucy Letby is reportedly set to keep her 12,000-a-year NHS pension despite being in sentenced to life in prison.

The former neonatal nurse, 35, is currently serving 15 whole-life sentences for murdering seven babies and attempting to kill seven others.

Judges have refused to grant her an appeal against her conviction, meaning she will die in prison - but the nurse is still eligible to receive her taxpayer-funded pension from the age of 65 to her death.

The Health Secretary has the power to suspend NHS Pension Scheme benefits if a staff member is convicted of a crime.

According to NHS Business Service Authority guidance, pensions can be forfeited when an offence is 'gravely injurious to the state' or leads to a loss in confidence in the NHS.

It can also be removed for acts of treason or convictions of more than 10 years under the Official Secrets Act.

Since the 1970s, 33 people have lost their NHS pensions - including serial killers Harold Shipman and Beverly Allitt.

Lucy Letby, 35, is currently serving 15 whole-life sentences having been convicted of murdering seven infants

Child killer Beverley Allitt, known as the 'Angel of Death' also lost her pension after she was convicted of killing four children at Grantham and Kesteven Hospital in Lincolnshire in 1991.

Serial killer Harold Shipman's pension was also forfeited for his crimes, meaning his wife did not receive it on his behalf.

Colin Norris, the nurse who murdered four women in 2002, also saw his pension removed.

Letby worked in the NHS for nine years and based on her final salary of 30,000, could be entitled to 12,340 a year, the Telegraph reported.

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst MP, a member of the Justice Select Committee, told the publication: 'Whilst I cannot comment on the specifics of this particular case, as a matter of principle, where a professional, particularly in fields like medicine or nursing, commits a crime that fundamentally breaches the trust placed in them, their pension should be forfeited.

Letby worked in the NHS for nine years and based on her final salary of 30,000, could be entitled to 12,340 a year

'It would seem perverse to expect the public to fund retirement benefits for individuals whose actions have so gravely damaged confidence in the very institutions they served.'

It is understood that former health secretary Steve Barclay looked into removing Letby's pension at the time of her conviction, but it was never finalised.

Letby has always maintained her innocence and, following her convictions, at two trials in August 2023 and July 2024, questions have been raised about the validity of the medical evidence presented at Manchester Crown Court.

Following two failed attempts at an appeal, her defence team have now lodged a series of new expert medical reports with the Criminal Cases Review Commission, the body which assesses potential miscarriages of justice, in a bid to set her free.

The Department of Health and Social Care declined to comment.
Prosecutors have confirmed they will appeal mushroom murderer Erin Patterson's prison sentence, claiming it is manifestly inadequate.

Patterson, 51, was in September jailed for life for killing three of her lunch guests by serving them a meal laced with death cap mushrooms.

Prosecutors were pushing for a prison sentence of life without parole but Victorian Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale showed Patterson mercy by giving her a 33-year non-parole period.

The judge cited her difficult conditions in custody, including being in solitary confinement for at least 22 hours a day, as part of his reasons for giving her a chance at parole.

The Victorian Director of Public Prosecutions on Monday evening confirmed it would appeal Patterson's sentence.

'We confirm that a DPP appeal has been filed on the basis that the sentence handed down to Erin Patterson is manifestly inadequate,' a spokeswoman said in a statement.

The decision has surprised many as while there was conjecture Patterson might appeal her sentence, it was widely expected prosecutors would not appeal.

Patterson's new barrister Richard Edney indicated last week that his client would indeed appeal her murder and attempted murder convictions, although the paperwork was yet to be lodged.

Prosecutors have said they will appeal Erin Patterson's sentence because it is inadequate

Don and Gail Patterson were both murdered by Erin Patterson

Heather Wilkinson (left) also died. Her husband Pastor Ian Wilkinson was the only survivor

Patterson disposed of evidence involved with the fatal mushroom dinner on August 2, 2023 at her local garbage tip where she was pictured on CCTV

Patterson's appeal period was set to expire at 11.59pm on Monday.

However, a new practice note resulted in her appeal extensions being automatically granted if they were filed with 56 days of sentence.

A jury found Patterson deliberately served beef Wellingtons that were laced with death cap mushrooms to her lunch guests in July 2023 at her Leongatha home in regional Victoria.

Her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66, all died after eating the meal, while Heather's husband Ian fell seriously ill but survived.

She was convicted of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

Patterson has always denied the offending, claiming it was a horrible accident.
China threatened to retaliate against the UK if ministers targeted it under foreign influence rules, it was claimed today.

The measures introduced this summer mean that 'agents' of other powers face criminal prosecution if they fail to disclose activities.

However, only Russia and Iran were included in the 'enhanced' tier for people to declare what they are doing.

According to the Guardian, Beijing warned the Foreign Office it would hit back when there were reports earlier this year that parts of the state could be added to the top level of restrictions.

The claims of wrangling about the Foreign Influence Registration scheme emerged amid a bitter row over what caused the collapse of a spying trial.

China threatened to retaliate against the UK if ministers targeted it under foreign influence rules, it was claimed today. Pictured, President Xi Jinping

Keir Starmer's national security adviser Jonathan Powell is facing calls to appear before Parliament to explain whether he had any part in the collapse of a spying trial

Prosecutors dropped the cases against Christopher Cash, 30, a former parliamentary researcher from London, and Christopher Berry, 33, an academic from Oxfordshire.

The pair were charged with spying under the Official Secrets Act by passing information to a high-ranking member of the Chinese government  allegations they denied.

Keir Starmer's national security adviser Jonathan Powell is facing calls to appear before Parliament to explain his role.

Days before the charges were dropped, Mr Powell reportedly gathered senior Whitehall officials including Foreign Office permanent secretary Oliver Robbins to discuss the evidence.

He told the top-secret meeting early last month that China would not be deemed an 'enemy' of Britain at the trial, according to The Sunday Times.

Experts have said that, without such a classification, it would be impossible for the Crown Prosecution Service to bring a successful prosecution under the Official Secrets Act.

Government sources stressed Mr Powell did not have any decision-making role, and only evidence that had been provided between 2021 and 2023 could be used in the case as the new National Security Strategy did not apply retrospectively.

The sources suggested that views expressed by a judge in a separate spying case earlier this year could have changed the CPS calculation on whether to go ahead.

Senior Commons sources have warned that Mr Powell could be held in contempt of Parliament if he refused to appear before the joint committee on national security strategy.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker, previously warned that the decision gave a green light to hostile states and said he was considering bringing a private prosecution against the men.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was 'very disappointed' at the collapse of the case and denied there was any ministerial interference.

Asked if China was an enemy of the UK, she said: 'A 'challenge', is, I think, the word that I would use.'

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith accused No 10 of being a 'threat to national security'.

'We will push for a full debate in Parliament. This Government must be forced to come clean about whether it blocked justice to appease a hostile state,' he said.

The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy has been trying to get Mr Powell to give evidence for months. As a special adviser rather than a civil servant, it is up to ministers whether he is permitted to appear as a witness.

A senior Commons source told the Daily Mail that Mr Powell must now explain the situation in person, suggesting there could be a contempt of Parliament motion if he resists.

'He is knee deep in this,' the source said.

In July the then-Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden said that Mr Powell would give evidence to the joint committee.

'The National Security Adviser has periodically appeared before this committee, or its predecessors, in the past,' he said.

'The rules state that, ultimately, it is up to Ministers to decide whether special advisers or civil servants appear.

'The National Security Adviser is a special adviser. That is unusual, but it is right that I came to the decision that I did in the end, because I understand the committee's desire to hear from him, and he does occupy a specific position in this sphere, which is important.'

The committee had wanted to take evidence from Mr Powell in September after Mr McFadden gave the go-ahead, but that has already slipped.

Former Cabinet minister Gavin Williamson, who serves on the joint committee, told the Daily Mail that Mr Powell's situation was 'quite extraordinary' and everyone should feel 'deeply uneasy'.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has warned of the impact of the trial collapsing

'There seems to be a sort of sense that he believes he can operate without any form of accountability or oversight

'He really needs to be brought to Parliament and needs to either make it clear he hasn't been responsible for the collapse of this prosecution, or at the very least account for it and why it has happened.'

Sir Gavin added: 'He could be in the embarrassing situation of getting dragged there, which isn't really what should be happening.'
Donald Trump has demanded that negotiators working to end the war in Gaza 'move fast,' warning that any delay could lead to 'massive bloodshed.'

The US president issued the urgent call on Sunday night ahead of a critical round of talks in Egypt today, where mediators are racing to secure a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages.

Trump claimed that discussions between the US, Israel, Hamas and regional powers had been 'very successful,' saying technical teams would meet again today to 'work through and clarify the final details.'

In a Truth Social post, he wrote: 'I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST.

'I will continue to monitor this Centuries old 'conflict.' TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OR, MASSIVE BLOODSHED WILL FOLLOW  SOMETHING THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE!'

Asked what would happen if Hamas refuses to agree to the deal in a CNN interview, Trump said the group would face 'complete obliteration'.

His warning comes as American, Qatari, Egyptian and Turkish mediators prepare for what could be the most decisive round of negotiations since the conflict began almost two years ago.

Reports indicate that preparatory talks between the two sides in Cairo were due to begin at 10am local time (8am BST).

The White House's 20-point peace proposal includes an immediate halt to Israeli air strikes, a phased withdrawal of troops and the release of dozens of hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian detainees.

Hamas has accepted parts of the plan, including the formation of a technocratic Palestinian administration to govern Gaza, but is resisting demands to disarm or play no future role in the territory's leadership.

Last week, Trump issued a hard ultimatum saying Hamas must accept by Sunday evening or 'all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas.'

Speaking to reporters earlier, the US leader insisted the plan already had broad backing. 'We don't need flexibility because everybody has pretty much agreed to it, but there will always be some changes,' he said.

He added: 'It's a great deal for Israel, it's a great deal for the entire Arab world, Muslim world, and world, so we're very happy about it.'

A huge explosion seen in Gaza after an Israeli strike on a building on September 14. Israeli and Hamas delegations are to meet in Egypt today for negotiations to end the war

US president Donald Trump, after meeting senior military officials last month. He has ordered the mediators to 'move fast' to secure a deal, warning there could be 'massive bloodshed'

Trump also said he believed hostages would start to be freed 'very soon,' following comments from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that air strikes must stop before any release can happen.

'You can't release hostages while there's still bombardments going on,' Rubio told CBS. 'That has to stop, but you also have to work through the other logistics. We want to get the hostages out as soon as possible.'

Israeli strikes, however, continued over the weekend. A government spokesperson said that while 'certain bombings have actually stopped inside of the Gaza Strip, there's no ceasefire in place at this point in time.'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorised Israel's delegation to attend the talks in Cairo and has reportedly made clear that negotiations should be wrapped up within a few days.

Hamas is sending a delegation led by senior negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, who survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Doha last month.

They are expected to join US envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Qatar's foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at the summit.

A senior Palestinian official told the BBC that mediators had worked behind the scenes to convince Hamas to soften its stance and avoid repeating previous rejections of ceasefire deals.

The official said the group was persuaded to 'leave contentious points such as the fate of its weapons and Gaza's governance for the negotiation table.'

Meanwhile, tensions between Trump and Netanyahu, however, appear to be growing after reports of a heated phone call between the two leaders over the proposed ceasefire.

Trump and Netanyahu at a press conference last month where they unveiled a 20-point peace plan. Tensions are said to be brewing between the two leaders after a heated phone call

According to US outlet Axios, Trump phoned Netanyahu on Friday to share what he believed was a breakthrough - Hamas' signal that it was ready to negotiate a full release of Israeli hostages.

But the prime minister reportedly downplayed the development, telling him it 'doesn't mean anything.'

'Bibi told Trump this is nothing to celebrate and it doesn't mean anything,' a US official told Axios.

Trump is said to have snapped back: 'I don't know why you're always so f***ing negative. This is a win. Take it.'

Officials familiar with the exchange described the conversation as tense and said Trump was frustrated by Netanyahu's lack of enthusiasm.

The Hamas-run health ministry said another 70 people were killed since Saturday after more Israeli bombardments.

Israel launched its campaign after Hamas-led militants stormed southern Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.

As of October 2025, 48 Israeli hostages remain in Gaza after the Hamas assault. Only about 20 are believed to be alive, held as negotiations intensify for their release.

Residents in Gaza examine a collapsed high rise building after an Israeli strike. Hamas has accepted parts of the plan, but is resisting demands to disarm

Trump unveiled his 20-point Gaza peace proposal at the White House on September 29, 2025, alongside Benjamin Netanyahu, as part of a US-backed framework to end the war.

The plan demands an immediate ceasefire, full return of hostages - alive and dead - within 72 hours of agreement, phased Israeli troop withdrawal, and disarmament of Hamas.

It also envisages a transitional governance structure led by technocrats under international oversight.
Gisele Pelicot was mobbed by a huge crowd outside a French court today as she faces one of her rapists, who has appealed his conviction.

She was surrounded by police, her lawyers, and relatives, including her son Florian, as she made her way into the courthouse in Nimes.

Her daughter, Caroline Darian, however, was missing after she revealed she no longer speaks to her mother.

The only rapist left challenging his judgement for sexually abusing the 72-year-old is claiming he was 'trapped' by her husband.

Last year, Husamettin Dogan, 44, was sentenced to nine years in prison for raping Pelicot after her then husband, Dominique Pelicot, invited him via an online chatroom to abuse her while she was unconscious.

However, Dogan, one of 51 men found guilty of rape at Dominique's invitation, argues that he was misled into believing she had consented.

Dogan's defence team said he plans to appeal against both his criminal responsibility and the sentence during the trial in the southern city of Nimes from Monday to Thursday.

'He maintains that he never went to the couple's home with the intention of raping anyone,' one of his lawyers, Jean-Marc Darrigade, said. 'He is deeply affected by the fact that he could be labelled as a rapist.'

Dogan's fight is not with the main plaintiff, Pelicot, whom he 'respects deeply', Darrigade said. Instead, it is with Dominique, 72, 'the cynical man who trapped him'. Pelicot was not mandated to attend today's hearing, but chose to do so.

The Turkish man, who has arthritis and appeared at the first trial using a walking stick, is technically still a free man as his appeal has put his prison sentence on hold.

'I'm not a rapist,' the construction worker said during the first trial. 'This is too much for me to bear. He's her husband. I never thought that guy could do this to his wife.'

Gisele Pelicot was seen arriving in a French court today. She was not mandated to attend today's hearing, but chose to do so

Pictured: Painter and decorator Husamettin Dogan, 44, at the court today. He was sentenced to nine years in prison last year for raping Pelicot after her then husband, Dominique Pelicot, invited him via an online chatroom to abuse her while she was unconscious

Gisele Pelicot arrived with her son, Florian. She survived almost a decade of rape involving dozens of men after she was unknowingly drugged by her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, will attend appeals court in southern France today

Dogan visited the Pelicot family home once, in June 2019.

During the first trial, he was at first not prepared to accept the charges against him.

He said Dominique sent him a message saying he was part of a sexually adventurous couple and they were seeking someone to take part in sex while his wife 'pretended to sleep'.

He says he received a message, supposedly from Pelicot, saying she agreed to him coming over. Dogan then headed over to their home in the small southern town of Mazan that same evening, where he was led into the main bedroom.

'I started foreplay, I saw she didn't react. I said, 'She's dead, your wife.' (Dominique Pelicot) said, 'No, you're imagining it.' He penetrated her and she lifted up her head a little,' he said.

Dogan said they continued for at least half an hour, until he clearly heard Gisele Pelicot snoring. He then decided to leave, he said.

Reminded by one of the judges of the definition of rape - an act committed 'through violence, constraint, threat or surprise' - he initially conceded.

'I admit it was rape,' he said.

But at the end of the trial in the southern town of Avignon, Dogan again said he was not a rapist.

His lawyer said the appeal hearing would give his client more time to present his case.

'They found that Mrs Pelicot was being controlled' by her then husband, he said. 'Can't we also conceive something similar for the few minutes during which Dogan faced this exceptionally perverse man who mastered all tricks of persuasion?

'I don't think it's offensive to discuss it a second time,' said Darrigade.

Gisele inside the courtroom with her son as she hears Husamettin Dogan's claims that he was 'trapped' by her husband

Gisele seated inside the court among lawyers as she awaits the hearing

Outside court, a crowd gathered in support of Pelicot holding up signs that read 'Stop rape culture' and 'Support to Gisele'

Dominique Pelicot, 72, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping and organising the mass rape of his wife

Initially, 17 of the 51 convicted men said they would appeal against the verdict, but 16 gradually dropped out, leaving only one appeal.

Pelicot's lawyer, Antoine Camus, said she would have preferred not to face the ordeal of attending another trial but would be present at the four-day trial at Nimes court of appeal.

'She will be there to explain that a rape is a rape, that there is no such thing as a small rape,' Camus told Agence France-Presse.

Dominique was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drugging his former wife and inviting dozens of strangers to rape her while unconscious.

He had had laced his wife's food and drink with tranquilisers to render her unconscious before inviting men he met online to take part in sordid rape and abuse fantasies that he acted out with them and filmed in their retirement home in the small Provence town of Mazan and elsewhere.

The images and footage were only discovered when he was caught in September 2020 upskirting women at a local supermarket, with a subsequent police search of his home revealing the thousands of photos of his wife.

Now serving a prison sentence in solitary confinement, Dominique will appear as a witness at the appeal court trial. He is expected to repeat what he said at the first trial: 'I am a rapist - like everyone else in this room.'

Following the brave waiver of her anonymity during last year's trial, Pelicot has gone on to become a feminist icon across France and the globe.

The former logistics manager, had insisted the first rape trial in 2024 be held in public to raise awareness of drug-induced rape and abuse. 'It's not for us to have shame, it's for them,' she said in court.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he assumes Russia was behind the incursion of 'reconnaissance drones' that sparked chaos at Munich Airport and left over 10,000 passengers stranded this weekend.

He added that the frequency of the incursions in Europe's airspace was unprecedented even compared with Cold War times.

Merz noted that all the drones responsible for the disruption had been on reconnaissance flights.

'Our assumption is that Russia is behind most of these drone flights,' he said.

Munich Airport, one of Germany's biggest, was forced to cancel flights late on Thursday and Friday, before reopening from 7.00am local time (6.00am BST) on Saturday.

The disruption, which saw 46 departures from the airport cancelled or delayed, came as the country celebrated German Unity Day on Friday, a national holiday.

Munich was also gearing up for the final weekend of Oktoberfest, which attracts more than six million people to the city a year, according to the official website.

The incursion was the latest in a series of suspicious drone overflights in European Union airspace and NATO member countries.

Airports in Denmark, Norway and Poland have recently suspended flights due to unidentified drones, with Romania and Estonia pointing the finger at Russia.

Moscow has brushed off the allegations, however.

A soldier of the German armed forces demonstrates a HP 47 drone jammer during the defence exercise 'Red Storm Bravo' in which civilian and military coordination is trained and led by German army Bundeswehr in Hamburg, Germany, September 26, 2025

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he assumes Russia was behind the incursion of 'reconnaissance drones' that sparked chaos at Munich Airport and left over 10,000 passengers stranded this weekend

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The first disruption due to drone sightings, on Thursday, caused more than 30 flights to be cancelled and left nearly 3,000 passengers stranded.

Police said drones were spotted throughout that day in areas close to the airport, including the towns of Freising and Erding.

Erding plays host to an airfield used by the German military. It was reported in German media that some of the drones were spotted flying over the facility, although police could not confirm this.

The sightings caused the closure of both runways.

A police spokesman told AFP that there were 'two simultaneous confirmed drone sightings by police patrols just before 11pm (on Friday) around the north and south runways'.

'The drones immediately moved away, before they could be identified.'

Bild newspaper, citing information it had obtained through a classified report, said on Saturday that the drones that sparked chaos in Munich were military reconnaissance drones, suggesting they were not drones that could be acquired off-the-shelf.

Germany's defence minister said that the country must improve its anti-drone defences, but warned against a hasty response to airspace incursions by Russia which would risk falling into 'Putin's escalation trap'.

The airport closure comes as revellers flock to Munich for its world famous Oktoberfest Beer Festival

A severely damaged house in the village of Wyryki in eastern Poland, where one of the Russian drones that breached Polish airspace collided with the building

'Putin knows Germany very, very well,' Boris Pistorius said of the Russian President, who was a KGB agent in East Germany in the 1980s.

'We mustn't fall into Putin's escalation trap,' he added. 'If we shot an aeroplane down, he would claim the airspace violation was just pilot error and we had shot down an innocent young man,' he told Handelsblatt.

Early on Friday German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the first night's incident was a 'wake-up call' on the threat from drones.

'The race between the threat from drones and the defence against drones is becoming more and more difficult,' he told Bild, adding that 'more financing and research' on the issue was urgently needed at the national and European levels.

The German government is expected on Wednesday to sign off on plans for a change in the law to let the army shoot drones down if necessary.

Some 20 Russian drones crossed into Poland and three Russian MiG-31 jets entered Estonian airspace in recent incidents.

Copenhagen and Oslo airports were also forced to shutdown after mysterious drones were spotted near airports and military airspaces in September.

Speaking to a summit in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi on Thursday, Putin mocked Europe's panic amid fears Russia is sending drones to test the continent's response to provocation.

He was sarcastically asked by the Russian moderator: 'Why are you sending so many drones to Denmark?'

'I won't do it again. I won't do it again - not to France or Denmark or Copenhagen,' Putin said.
This is the astonishing moment an illegal migrant took to the skies to paraglide into Europe, landing in a Spanish enclave over a heavily fortified border fence.

Stunned police raced to the area after witnessing the daring aerial crossing on security cameras.

But all they found from a search of the spot where the mystery man landed was the abandoned multi-coloured paragliding gear in the undergrowth.

The successful border breach was the first of its kind ever attempted or accomplished in this particular area between Morocco and Spains North African enclave of Ceuta, opposite Gibraltar.

Similar paragliding attempts have been made before in other parts of the border region.

Footage of the historic action showed the migrant flying over the Jebel Musa mountain in Morocco before he landed on European soil in Ceuta's Sidi Ibrahim area, which is popular with weekend hikers and mountain bikers.

An investigation was ongoing today to try to discover the paraglider's identity. It was not clear this morning if he was a Moroccan or sub-Saharan African.

Local reports today pointed to him being in his early twenties amid speculation he had timed his crossing to coincide with the regular transfer of migrants from Ceuta to the Spanish mainland to decongest its crowded CETI reception centre.

A well-placed police source said overnight: 'We don't think many more will try it. It's expensive and risky and something you need to be experienced in.'

An illegal immigrant stunned police when he successfully paraglided into Europe, the first of its kind in the area

The illegal arrival managed to escape, leaving behind the multi-coloured paragliding gear he had used

Ceuta, one of Spain's two North African enclaves, is more used to dealing with migrants climbing over the heavily-fortified fences that separate it from Morocco.

Others have jumped into the sea to swim to Ceuta.

The risky entry method is far less used, but a Somalian who managed to swim to Ceuta from the Moroccan town of Beliones, just over four miles away, is currently awaiting a transfer to the Spanish mainland.

The Civil Guard are said to have been alerted to the possibility of an aerial crossing this summer after groups of sub-Saharan Africans who had managed to make it to Morocco recorded videos they posted on TikTok showing paragliding gear.

One local paper claimed overnight they had even published a guide on how to do it and marked out recommended routes where the border fencing was 'more vulnerable.'

In May, a police officer was injured after trying to prevent migrants from climbing into Ceuta from Morocco over the two parallel fences, each approximately 32ft high and topped with inverted razor wire.

Electronic sensors and high-intensity lights also integrate a system designed to be impassable.

In August Spain's Ministry of Interior revealed 1,452 undocumented migrants had managed to get into Ceuta by land between January 1 and July 31, a 7.2 per cent increase on the figure for the previous year.

As well as climbing over the border fencing, some are smuggled into the North African enclave in cars.

In November 2019, police arrested a Moroccan kamikaze driver who smashed through a border checkpoint at high speed with 52 African migrants, including a five-month-old baby in the back of his van.

Four people needed hospital treatment after the incident. The 34 men, 16 women and two children in the back of the van were all sub-Saharan Africans.

They were picked up by police after fleeing the vehicle once it had reached Spain, with many running towards Almadraba Beach before taking shelter from the rain on the roof-covered terrace of a coffee shop near the seafront.

Several migrants arrive in Spain after a boat carrying 30 people was rescued. The country has been struggling with an influx of migrants arriving in small boats

In May 2015, an eight-year-old boy was found curled up inside a ball inside a suitcase on the same checkpoint after police stopped a Moroccan teenager paid to take him across the border.

The youngster, who was called Adou Ouattara and came from the Ivory Coast, later became the subject of a book written by a journalist who detailed his family's desperate attempts to be reunited in Europe.

A month later, police opened up the bonnet of a battered car at the El Tarajal border to find a migrant from Guinea squashed up widthways with his upper body by the hot engine and his legs near the windscreen washer.

In February 2017, hundreds of bloodied and emotional Africans were filmed shouting 'Viva Espana', 'We Love You Espana' and 'Boza, boza', which means 'Victory, victory' as they beat their chests in a show of joy at making it across the border fencing into Ceuta from Morocco when it was around half the height it is now.

Many were bare-chested and barefoot, and others were bleeding from deep cuts they had suffered crossing into Europe.

Local authorities said at the time they believed around 900 immigrants had attempted to storm the fence, and more than 400 had managed to cross it.
Rachel Reeves is expected to announce a raft of new planning changes ahead of next month's Budget in her desperate bid to boost sluggish economic growth.

The Chancellor is scrambling to fill an estimated 30billion black hole in the public finances before she presents her next tax and spend package on 26 November.

She is said to be hoping that, by getting new planning changes through Parliament prior to the Budget, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) watchdog will judge they could add about 3billon to the economy in the long term.

This would relieve some of the huge pressure on Ms Reeves to raise taxes again next month, in order to plug her spending gap.

But, even if the OBR does give a favourable view of the Government's growth measures, she is still expected to unveil a slew of levy hikes due to the perilous state of the public finances.

In one revenue-raising measure, the Treasury is said to be considering an increase in the tax on bank profits.

Ms Reeves has been told she could raise 2billion a year by restoring the bank surcharge, a levy on banks' profits that comes on top of corporation tax, to 8 per cent.

The previous Tory government cut the surcharge from 8 per cent to 3 per cent in 2023 in a bid to keep the City of London competitive.

The Daily Mail recently reported the Treasury is examining options for adding VAT to services that are currently exempt, among other potential Budget tax hikes.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting vetoed a VAT raid by the Treasury on private healthcare, but there is speculation VAT could be expanded to things such as taxi fares, even if the headline rate is not changed.

Rachel Reeves is expected to announce a raft of new planning changes ahead of next month's Budget in her desperate bid to boost sluggish economic growth

In her speech at Labour's conference in Liverpool last Monday, Ms Reeves admitted that tough 'choices' are coming on 26 November, as stalling growth and rising borrowing costs lay waste to her plans.

The Chancellor insisted she was going to keep taxes 'as low as possible', but acknowledged the position has been made even harder by 'global headwinds'.

According to The Guardian, Ms Reeves has been looking for ways to strengthen Labour's Planning and Infrastructure Bill in the House of Lords.

This could include making it easier to build projects that are likely to have a minimal environmental impact, or making it easier to adapt project plans once they have already been approved.

Other changes could include further restrictions on who can bring a judicial review against an infrastructure project and how many times they could do so, as well as banning judges from quashing a planning approval if legal cases are still being heard, the newspaper reported.

But, by pushing for significant changes to the Bill, Ms Reeves could risk making the legislation harder to pass despite hopes it will receive Royal Assent before the Budget.

A Government spokesman said: 'The Chancellor and the Housing Secretary [Steve Reed] are working together to reform the outdated planning system that's been holding this country back  so we can build the 1.5million homes hardworking people need and have given the green light to projects like the Lower Thames Crossing to drive jobs and growth.'

In her speech at Labour's conference in Liverpool, Ms Reeves admitted that tough 'choices' are coming on 26 November, as stalling growth and rising borrowing costs lay waste to her plans

Tory shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride warned 'more tax rises await' for Britons because Ms Reeves had 'blown a vast hole in the public finances

The i Paper reported that Ms Reeves is considering imposing a tax hike on bank profits next month.

Ahead of the Budget, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has been calling for a windfall tax on bank profits by reversing the Tory cut to 3 per cent. It has estimated that restoring the levy to 8 per cent would raise 8billion over four years.

But industry figures are warning the Chancellor not to risk economic growth by taxing the sector more.

In a letter sent to Ms Reeves last month, UK Finance chief executive David Postings said: 'Efforts to boost the UK economy and foster a strong financial services sector would not be consistent with further tax rises on the sector, which already makes a substantial contribution to the public finances.

'The emphasis should be on continuing to implement an agenda of regulatory reform that allows for an appropriate adjustment in risk appetite.'

In his speech to the Tory conference in Manchester on Monday, Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride warned 'more tax rises await' for Britons because Ms Reeves had 'blown a vast hole in the public finances.

'Under Labour, nothing is safe from the taxman,' he added. 'Not your job, not your home, not your pension, not your farm, not your business, not even that which you simply wish to pass on to your own children.

'You name it, theyll tax it. And we say enough is enough.'
Eric Clapton is locked in a privacy row with his neighbour over plans to overhaul their 2.3million home, which he says will 'jeopardise' the 'peace' of his countryside 'sanctuary'.

The 80-year-old guitarist has hit out over plans by his wealthy neighbour to upgrade their lavish Surrey Hills mansion.

Clapton, known by fans as Slowhand, has filed an objection against the proposal. submitted last year, to demolish and rebuild the property.

Owners of the home want to renovate it with a huge open-plan kitchen, dining area, boot room, snug, master bedroom, his-and-hers study and a dressing room.

They are also seeking to install a terrace and basement with three more en-suite bedrooms.

However, Clapton has written to his local council insisting his neighbour's plans would constitute a 'significant and unacceptable invasion' of his privacy.

The music legend also fears the design of his neighbour's new 'elevated terrace' would overlook the swimming pool of his Italian-style villa.

In his letter, Clapton said: 'As a public figure, my privacy is both a personal and professional necessity.

'The property is frequently used for private meetings and media-related work that requires discretion and seclusion.

Eric Clapton is locked in a planning row with his neighbours over their bid to renovate their home, which he claimed would infringe on his privacy

'The proposed design, particularly the elevated terrace and extensive glazing, jeopardises this essential privacy.'

The one-time Cream and Yardbirds musician was also concerned about the risk of noise coming from his neighbours from the planned terrace.

The octogenarian rocker added: 'Hurtwood Edge has been my sanctuary for over 50 years  a place of retreat, peace, and privacy

'The estate's tranquil, rural character is highly sensitive to changes, and the proposed development poses a significant threat to these cherished qualities.'

He claimed the 'sloping nature' of the site, combined with the elevated terrace, would create a 'clear, downward-facing view' into the 'private' areas of his home.

'This constitutes a significant and unacceptable invasion of my privacy,' he added.

Clapton has lived in Hurtwood Edge, near Ewhurst, for more than 50 years, reports the Telegraph.

His country bolt hole was built in 1910 and is where Clapton penned some of his most influential work, including his song 'Layla', written about his ex-wife, model Patti Boyd.

Clapton, 80, feared the renovation would ruin the 'peace' of his Surrey Hills home (pictured is the village of Ewhurst)

As well as highlighting his privacy concerns, Clapton also warned about the potential impact on the 'vibrant nature of our environment', which he feared could be 'lost'.

Representatives for his neigbours have defended the renovation plan.

In planning documents, they said: 'The rationale behind the proposed replacement residential development is to provide the applicants with a high-quality of design with maximum energy efficiency home that will allow for them to be seen through their retirement years, involving low running and maintenance costs and the ability for in-house care and support.

'The proposed replacement dwelling house and garage would not result in a material increase and the respective built form would actually improve the character and views of the Green Belt.'

Despite Clapton's opposition to the proposals, planning officers have now approved the renovation.

Daily Mail has approached Clapton's representatives for comment.
Xi, Bangladeshi president exchange congratulations on 50th anniversary of ties

Xinhua) 10:40, October 06, 2025

BEIJING, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Saturday exchanged congratulatory messages on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

In his message, Xi noted that China and Bangladesh are traditional friendly neighbors with a long history of exchanges.

Over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, regardless of changes in the international and regional landscape, China and Bangladesh have always fostered friendly relations on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, setting an example of mutual respect, equality and win-win cooperation between countries, he said.

In recent years, China and Bangladesh have continued to consolidate political mutual trust, expand high-quality Belt and Road cooperation as well as practical cooperation in various fields, and further deepen their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, said Xi.

The Chinese president stressed that he attaches great importance to relations with Bangladesh and stands ready to work with Shahabuddin to take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote common development, so as to better benefit the two peoples and make greater contribution to world peace and development.

For his part, Shahabuddin said that over the past 50 years, Bangladesh and China have forged a deep friendship based on mutual respect and trust, as well as enduring cooperation, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples.

He noted that Bangladesh highly appreciates China's important role in promoting regional peace, stability and common prosperity, and expressed gratitude for China's long-term valuable support for Bangladesh's sustainable development.

He expressed the belief that with the joint efforts of the leaders and peoples of the two countries, bilateral cooperation will yield even greater results.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Bangladeshi interim government's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus also exchanged congratulatory messages.

Li said that China highly values the development of China-Bangladesh relations, and stands ready to work with Bangladesh to take the 50th anniversary as an opportunity to accelerate high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, as well as collaboration across various fields, and promote the continued growth of the China-Bangladesh comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

For his part, Yunus said that since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations 50 years ago, the friendship between the two peoples has grown stronger, bilateral ties have developed steadily, and cooperation has yielded fruitful results, which is worth celebrating.

Bangladesh is committed to promoting new achievements in the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, he added.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Hongyu)
France's new Prime Minister Sebastian Lecornu has quit just 27 days after being appointed in the position.

President Emmanuel Macron on Monday accepted Lecornu's resignation, the Elysee Palace said, plunging the European nation further into political deadlock.

French politics has been in turmoil since July 2024, when snap parliamentary elections resulted in a hung parliament.

The sudden resignation came just hours after Lecornu, the former armed forces minister, appointed his new cabinet.

After weeks of consultations with political parties across the board, Lecornu, a close ally of Macron, on Sunday had appointed his ministers, and the cabinet had been set to hold its first meeting on Monday afternoon.

But parties across the board in the National Assembly fiercely criticised the composition of Lecornu's cabinet, which was largely unchanged from Bayrou's, and threatened to vote it down.

Opponents and allies alike, either found it too rightwing or not enough, raising questions on how long it could last, at a time when France is already mired deep in political crisis, with no group holding a majority in a fragmented parliament.

'Mr Sebastien Lecornu has submitted the resignation of his Government to the President of the Republic, who has accepted it,' the Elysee's press office said on Monday morning.

France 's new Prime Minister Sebastian Lecornu has quit just weeks after being appointed the position. Pictured: Lecornu delivers a statement at the Hotel Matignon in Paris, on October 3, 2025, before a round of consultations with political parties ahead of the announcement of the new government

President Emmanuel Macron on Monday accepted Lecornu's resignation, the Elysee Palace said, plunging the European nation further into political deadlock

Macron's decision to call a snap parliamentary election last year deepened the crisis by producing an even more fragmented parliament.

Lecornu, who was only appointed last month, was Macron's fifth prime minister in two years following the toppling of Francois Bayrou and his government in a confidence vote.

Bayrou gambled that lawmakers would back his view that France must slash public spending to rein in its huge debts. Instead, they seized on the vote to gang up against the 74-year-old centrist who was appointed by Macron last December.

He had wanted to cut the equivalent of some 35billion from public spending - with national debt currently sitting at 114 per cent of GDP.

And he specifically wanted to cut two public holidays, and freeze pensions and welfare payments, while making thousands of civil servants unemployed.

Bayrou officially submitted his resignation in September after lasting just nine months in office.

Major rioting then swept across France less than 24-hoursafter Macron appointed Lecornu.

The chaos was all linked to a 'Let's Block Everything' campaign ultimately aimed at forcing Macron to resign.

As the violence intensified, Bruno Retailleau, the Interior Minister in the outgoing government, said: 'This is not a citizens' movement in any way.

'It's been hijacked by the ultra-Left, and some are determined to carry out violent actions. There is an insurrectional mood.'

'Everyone is sick of Macron, and his government,' said Nicolas, a 19-year-old student involved in a Paris protest at the time.

Riot police forces use a water cannon to disperse protesters during a demonstration part of the 'Let's Block Everything' protest movement, at the Place de la Comedie, in Montpellier, southern France, on September 10, 2025

French Riot Police stand back as Wafu Brasserie burns after catching fire during violent clashes near Chatelet in central Paris on September 10, 2025

'The new prime minister will be as useless as the last one.'

There is no centralised leadership to 'Block Everything'  making it similar to the infamous but hugely effective Yellow Vest (Gilets Jaunes) movement.

The protest movement was social media based, and supported by the CGT (Confederation of General Workers), the largest trade union in the country.

Lecornu became the youngest defense minister in French history and architect of a major military buildup through 2030, spurred by Russia's war in Ukraine.

A former conservative who joined Macron's centrist movement in 2017, he has held posts in local governments, overseas territories and during the president's yellow vest 'great debate,' where he helped manage mass anger with dialogue.

He also offered talks on autonomy during unrest in Guadeloupe in 2021.

One of his key assets for Macron was that he was not what is known in France as 'presidentiable', namely someone who harbours ambitions of winning the Elysee Palace for themselves.

Lecornu is 'a loyal soldier who doesn't have too much charisma or presidential potential,' one ministerial adviser told AFP on condition of anonymity last month.

His departure intensifies concerns about the country's ability to get a grip of its finances.

Successive French governments have tried and failed to impose significant public spending cuts as the country struggles under the weight of high public debt, persistent budget deficits and political fragmentation.

France's CAC 40 stock market index fell 2 per cent in early trading, with banks leading losses. The index is up by around 7 per cent for the year but has lagged the double-digit gains enjoyed by European peers.

Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, said: 'To lose one prime minister is unfortunate, but four looks like a major crisis. Markets were blindsided by the news this morning that yet another resident of the Hotel Matignon has departed, resulting in yet another new chapter in the torrid drama that is the French government.
An Australian father is being hailed hero for cleaning up a local stormwater creek filled with rubbish, including used syringes, after the mess was left by the council.

A fed-up Joel Carroll spent Friday sorting through the huge piles of trash dumped in Cessnock's Black Creek, in the NSW Hunter Region, at risk to his own health.

He documented his efforts in a series of posts to social media, which drew praise from dozens in the community and, somewhat ironically, the local mayor.

'Are we living in a f***ing third world country?' Mr Carroll said as he filmed the trash in the basin. 'I can't drive past this without doing something about it because I don't want to end up having this s*** run down our river and into the f***ing ocean.'

Mr Carroll spent the day picking through the catchment, which runs through the town's centre and north until it joins the Hunter River and flows out to sea.

Among the wild and worrying items he documented were a bottle full of syringes, a muddied sex toy, bags of discarded clothing, a homemade bong and a used condom.

'The level of rubbish was simply ignored for too long and I couldn't turn a blind eye,' Mr Carroll told Daily Mail.

'I don't want this to promote negativity towards the homeless, but people should remember to donate through the right channels because a lot of the mess looked like it was donated items that were rifled through and then discarded.'

Local father Joel Carroll (pictured) spent a day clearing waste from a Cessnock creek after railing against local authorities for failing to take action

Residents said Black Creek, which runs through Cessnock and onto the Hunter River, was left riddled with trash for weeks despite being in full view of passersby

Viewers of the video were outraged, asking why local representatives had not taken action, while others offered to join his clean-up effort.

'Mate, I have no words for you, no words for the strength, guts and determination to enter that disgusting f***ing mosh pit and do something about it', one woman wrote.

'I know the various tent set-ups around town are bad enough but I never realised the stormwater drains were polluted with all this disgusting rubbish to end up in our waterways', another wrote.

'I remember, when as kids, we would use the drains as a safe way to walk to our grans with no need to cross roads, the only hazard was an occasional bottle sometime broken,' someone else wrote.

'This level of rubbish is a disgrace!'

Cessnock Mayor Daniel Watton also commented on the video, praising the local father's efforts before claiming to have engaged the responsible authority.

'Council has referred this to Hunter Water, who are the responsible authority for the creek,' he wrote.

'We've requested that the waste be removed and for the site to be monitored regularly going forward.'

The following day, Mr Carroll posted a separate video telling his followers Hunter Water, a state-owned water authority, had cleared the remaining rubbish.

Mr Carroll documented a range of unhygienic finds, including a bottle filled with syringes (above), sex toys, a condom among the mounds of rubbish

His footage showed the whole area was covered in trash which seemed to have been piling up for months

An after-shot of his efforts once he single-handedly cleaned up the area. He said the government department agreed to collect the trash bags

Grateful residents shared images of the cleaned-up catchment in the days following his efforts - while reminding the local council to stay on top of the issue.

'Well done to you Joel Carroll and thank you', a local woman wrote on a community Facebook page.

'So many people these days want to protest and carry on about pollution and the environment but sit back and do nothing about it like Cessnock City Council or maybe it's also the responsibility of Hunter Water Board.

'This is an absolute disgrace and shame on the council for doing nothing especially as it's been like it for weeks.

'Why do the local community bother to pay land rates when this happens where does the money go. All this rubbish is in our waterways causing all kinds of problems.

'But it's great to see a local hero like you Joel who didn't sit back complaining or protesting but took it upon yourself to do something about it you are definitely a champion and full credit and thanks to you.'

Hunter Water praised the efforts of the local community but urged residents not to risk their safety and instead to allow trained contractors to carry out the work.

'We encourage everyone to help protect our waterways by keeping rubbish out of gutters and drains, returning trolleys to supermarket bays, and picking up litter before it can be washed into the stormwater system,' it told the Daily Mail.

'Small actions by the community can make a big difference in keeping our waterways clean and healthy.'
Campaigners have urged MPs not to cave in to 'bullying' as China was accused of switching off the water supply to British diplomats in Beijing to pressure ministers to approve its London 'mega-embassy'.

The ploy is said to be the latest tactic by President Xi Jinping to ensure he gets approval for his plans to build a complex at Royal Mint Court in the City.

Despite grave security fears, the Government is expected to soon waive the plans through in a bid to appease China.

Whitehall sources say staff at the British Embassy in Beijing are languishing in a crumbling building with the water cut off for hours on end and they are even being forced to use a squash court as a temporary office.

One source said that despite a 100 million contract being awarded in 2020 by the Foreign Office, China has refused to allow work to start while its own plans are in limbo.

They said: 'Sometimes our water supply goes 'missing' which is an interesting way of putting it. They are using our embassy to force us to do something about their embassy. Our one needs a complete remake. It is neglected. This behaviour is not very sporting or diplomatic.'

Today, campaigners described the claim as yet another reason Britain should turn down China's embassy plans.

The Government has delayed a decision on the planning application for the Chinese embassy in London

Benedict Rogers, co-founder of Hong Kong Watch, tagged Communities secretary Steve Reed in a post on X.

'Absolutely outrageous behaviour by the bullies of Beijing,' he wrote. 'Yet another reason why @SteveReedMP should say a mega NO to #China's mega embassy.'

Tory MP Iain Duncan Smith has also urged ministers to turn down China's proposal.

'It is an appalling tactic and yet the UK Government seems prepared to give China this mega-embassy which everyone knows is a security risk,' he said.

'It is embarrassing for them. I call it 'Project Kowtow'.'

The row erupted in 2018 when China bought the 215,280 sq ft site for 255 million from the Crown Estate.

Security fears were raised due to the land's proximity to sensitive underground communications in the Square Mile.

Those who have fled Hong Kong's Chinese regime also fear the embassy will be used as a base to hunt them down.

In 2022, the plans were turned down by Tower Hamlets council but they have been resubmitted.

Former housing secretary Angela Rayner called in the proposal last year to make a final decision on it.

Her replacement Steve Reed is now expected to approve it imminently.

A consultation on the plans has taken place, with top planning lawyer Lord Banner KC saying they 'cannot lawfully be granted'.

The ploy in Beijing is said to be the latest tactic by President Xi Jinping to ensure he gets approval for his plans to build a complex at Royal Mint Court in the City

The mega-embassy row has also intensified as it emerged that a trial against two men accused of spying for China collapsed because of the Government.

Christopher Cash, 30, and Christopher Berry, 33, allegedly passed intelligence to a high-ranking Chinese official

Labour decided to withdraw the evidence of a civil servant who was due to describe China as an enemy.

Without this testimony, the two men could not be tried under the Official Secrets Act.

Keir Starmer's national security adviser could now be hauled before MPs to answer questions about the collapse of the Chinese spying case.

Jonathan Powell is facing calls to appear before Parliament to explain why the charges were dropped.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker, previously warned that the decision gave a green light to hostile states and said he was considering bringing a private prosecution against the men.

Ministers have so far refused to explain what happened, prompting MPs to demand that Mr Powell, who is Tony Blair's former chief of staff, appear before Parliament.

Mr Powell could be held in contempt of Parliament if he refused to appear before the joint committee on national security strategy, according to a senior Commons source.
This is the shocking moment an illegal pet lion cub broke free and mauled an 11-year-old boy in Thailand.

The one-year-old animal, named Mahaesee, escaped from her chains and attacked young Arthit Nueangnui on the evening of October 4 in Kanchanaburi province.

Security cameras showed the lioness charged down a residential street, sending locals running and screaming in fear at around 9.15pm.

Arthit and a group of boys tried to flee, but the big cat lunged at him, knocking him to the ground and ravaged his side.

Before the beast could rip further into the boy, neighbour Sarawut Tokaeo, 43, bravely stepped in. He ran over and hit the lioness on the head several times until she released the boy.

Both Sarawut and Arthit were injured in the struggle, but the animal eventually retreated to its owner, 32-year-old Parinya Parkpoom, who arrived.

The pair were rushed to the hospital and are now recovering, according to officials.

The next day, wildlife officers arrived at Parinya's home to sedate Mahaesee and carry it away on a stretcher for veterinary checks.

Security footage shows the moment the beast went after an 11-year-old boy after it broke free

The boy suffered cuts after the lion lunged at him and knocked him to the ground

A neighbour was also rushed to the hospital and treated for injuries when he attempted to save the boy

Attapol Charoenchansa, director-general of Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), said: 'The owner has been charged with violating Article 15 of the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act, which bans permit holders from releasing wild animals.

'This case should serve as a warning for others to act responsibly when keeping dangerous wildlife.'

The charge carries a maximum fine of 50,000 baht (1,150) and up to six months in jail. Parinya has since apologised to the victims' families and has promised to pay all medical bills. He also agreed to hand the lion over to the authorities.

Explaining how the lion escaped, Parinya said: 'I didn't realise the chain had broken until a villager called to tell me the lion had escaped and attacked a child. I rushed out right away, secured the lion and brought her back inside.'

He also said: 'This accident was entirely my fault.'

Before moving the lion from the property, officials tranquilised it as residents watched on

Neighbour Sarawut, known locally as Boy, said: 'This isnt the first time the lion has escaped, its happened twice before. We all believe its because the owner has been negligent.

Athit's mother, Lek expressed her gratitude to the neighbour, but noted that the incident had left her son 'traumatised'.

She said: 'Right now, both my son and I are in a terrible emotional state after what happened. I had to turn off the TV at the hospital so he wouldnt see the news about himself, especially the CCTV footage. Its traumatising.

'This incident didnt just cause physical injuries. It left deep psychological scars as well. I wasnt with my son when it happened. Hes incredibly brave, he didnt cry at all when he called me. He just told me he was already at the hospital.'

The lion's escape left residents running and screaming in fear on October 4

The boy's mother said her son is 'traumatised' after the incident

A photographed released by authorities shows the lion chained to a kitchen table. The owner has been charged with violating wildlife laws

She added: 'When I asked him what happened, he said he was very scared. He told me, "The tiger bit me. It pushed me backwards and knocked me to the ground. It was going to do something to me, and then pressed its paw against my chest. So I pretended to be dead, because I knew if I struggled, I wouldnt survive. Then P Boy came to help me. He punched the tiger."'

Lek also described how the attack could have turned fatal. 'My son is so small and thin, if it had bitten his chest, it would have reached his lungs and organs for sure,' she said. 'Now hes so traumatised that he cant sleep at night. I have to sleep beside him.'

She continued: 'Recently, the doctors had to reopen the wound because it was bleeding again. Right now, all I want is for him to recover fully, without infection. Taking time off work isnt an issue; we can earn money later.

'What matters most is that my son heals and becomes the cheerful, lively child he used to be. As for accountability, the owner has been checking in regularly and is covering all of the medical expenses.'

Owning a lion in Thailand is legal, but only with official permits. Owners must register and microchip the animal and follow strict safety rules set by the Department of National Parks.
Greta Thunberg will be deported from Israel today after reports that she was detained in a bug-infested cell with little food or water and subjected to harsh treatment.

The Swedish climate activist is among more than 70 people of different nationalities set to leave Israel after they were seized aboard an intercepted Gaza aid flotilla.

Most, if not all, of those being released from Israeli detention will be flown to Greece, where they will be able to get flights to their home countries, their respective governments said on Sunday.

Thunberg, 22, was one of 437 activists, parliamentarians and lawyers who set out from Europe to deliver aid to Gaza by breaching Israel's 18-year maritime blockade of the enclave as part of the Freedom Flotilla, comprised of more than 40 vessels.

According to Swedish foreign ministry officials who spoke to people close to the activist, Thunberg spoke of her harsh treatment at the hands of Israeli prison guards.

An email sent by officials, according to the Guardian, reads: 'The embassy has been able to meet with Greta. She informed of dehydration. She has received insufficient amounts of both water and food.

'She also stated that she had developed rashes which she suspects were caused by bedbugs. She spoke of harsh treatment and said she had been sitting for long periods on hard surfaces.'

'Another detainee reportedly told another embassy that they had seen her [Thunberg] being forced to hold flags while pictures were taken. She wondered whether images of her had been distributed,' the Swedish ministry's official reportedly added.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg (C) and Brazilian activist Thiago Avila (R), along with other activists, after the Israeli navy intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza on October 1, 2025

In footage posted to X by the Israel Foreign Ministry, Swedish climate activist Thunberg is seen among those being detained by officials

Turkish activist Ersin Celik, who took part in the Freedom Flotilla, said: 'They dragged little Greta [Thunberg] by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others'.

Most of the seized activists are being held at Ketziot, also known as the Ansar III prison, a high-security facility in Israel's Negev desert that is ordinarily used to hold Palestinian security prisoners accused of involvement in terrorist activities.

Talking to the Daily Mail, Sharren Haskel, Israel's deputy minister of foreign affairs, said Thunberg wasn't being held in a 'prison' but a 'detention area'.

'Everything that is being provided is quite comfortable and convenient, and is being supervised, but I'm sure they'll try and push more propaganda,' she said in regards to claims that the activist was being treated badly.

Those flying out of Israel on Monday include 28 French citizens, 27 Greeks, 15 Italians, and nine Swedes.

Twenty-one Spaniards separately returned to Spain on Sunday from Israel.

The release still leaves several foreigners in Israeli custody, including 28 Spanish nationals.

All had been on board the 45-vessel Global Sumud Flotilla carrying activists and politicians, who had been aiming to get past an Israeli blockade to deliver aid to Gaza, where the United Nations says famine has taken hold.

Israel started intercepting the ships in international waters on Wednesday.

An Israeli official said on Thursday that boats with more than 400 people on board had been prevented from reaching the Palestinian territory.

The Global Sumud Flotilla said its vessels were being boarded by military personnel, as it approached Palestinian territory, with cameras taken offline in a post on social media

Thunberg was part of the controversial convoy of around 43 boats and 500 activists and aid workers sailing on what they describe as a 'peaceful mission' to deliver supplies to Palestinians in Gaza

Greta Thunberg has been hauled off her 'Freedom Flotilla' by Israeli naval forces as it neared the besieged Gaza Strip

Acording to Swedish foreign ministry officials who spoke to people close to the activist, Thunberg spoke of her harsh treatment at the hands of the Israelis



The Italian and Greek foreign ministries said their released nationals would on Monday fly from Israel to Athens. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on X that the 15 Italians would have assistance for a subsequent transfer to Italy.

France's foreign ministry said the 28 French citizens would be flown to Greece. They accounted for most of the 30 French nationals Israel seized aboard the flotilla.

The Swedish foreign ministry did not say where the Swedes would fly to, but Swedish media said they, too, could be put on the flight to Greece.



A first group of 26 Italians already left Israel on Saturday. But the last 15 had to wait for their judicial expulsion from the country as they refused to sign a form allowing their voluntary release.

Several of the Italians in the first group said after returning to their country that they were subjected to degrading treatment by the Israeli authorities.

Saverio Tommasi, a journalist for the online media site Fanpage, said he was hit in the back and on the head by his Israeli captors.

'We were treated like old monkeys in the worst circuses of the 1920s,' said Tommasi, cited by the Ansa press agency.

Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told AFP that embassy staff in Tel Aviv had been able to visit the nine Swedes in detention.

'Late Sunday, the Israeli authorities informed us that they were set to authorise the Swedish citizens to leave Israel tomorrow (Monday) by plane,' she said.

One of the Spaniards who returned home on Sunday, Rafael Borrego, told reporters that those detained by Israel had suffered 'repeated physical and mental abuse', including receiving blows and being forced to the ground.

Nine members of the Gaza aid flotilla arrived home in Switzerland on Sunday after being deported by Israel, with some alleging they had been subject to inhumane conditions whilst in detention there, the group representing them said.

Israel did not immediately comment on the new allegations.

Its foreign ministry previously described reports that detainees had been mistreated as 'complete lies'.

Nineteen Swiss nationals, including the former mayor of Geneva Remy Pagani, were aboard boats in the flotilla of dozens of vessels that tried to deliver aid to Israeli-blockaded Gaza.

They were taken into custody on Wednesday by Israeli forces who intercepted the flotilla at sea and taken to Israel's Ketziot prison, according to the Waves of Freedom flotilla group.

Nine of the group returned to Geneva on Sunday afternoon.

'The participants condemned the inhumane detention conditions and the humiliating and degrading treatment they suffered upon their arrest and incarceration,' a statement by the group said.

Israel said on Sunday that the legal rights of the activists were being 'fully upheld', that no physical force was used and all detainees were given access to water, food, and restrooms.

Detainees described conditions of sleep deprivation, lack of water and food, as well as some being beaten, kicked, and locked in a cage, the statement added.

Waves of Freedom said it is 'deeply concerned' about the ten Swiss nationals who remain detained by Israel.

On Sunday, the Swiss Embassy in Tel Aviv visited the ten Swiss nationals in prison to provide consular protection.

'All are in relatively good health, given the circumstances,' it said in a statement, adding it is doing everything possible to ensure their prompt return.

The Waves of Freedom said some have gone on hunger strike and appear weakened.
Only one knife thug has been jailed for five years under an SNP crackdown on possession of blades, the Mail can reveal.

The SNP government increased the maximum penalties for knife-carrying and handling offensive weapons in 2016 from four to five years.

But Justice Secretary Angela Constance has admitted only one person has received a sentence of five years since 2019.

It comes amid concern that Scotlands zero tolerance policy on knife crime has been effectively abandoned amid overcrowded prisons and criminal justice budget cuts.

Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: This highlights the SNPs soft-touch sentencing culture. Given the recent spate of violent and fatal attacks, the public will rightly be alarmed about the complacency of SNP ministers when it comes to tackling this spiralling problem.

It sends completely the wrong message to offenders, who can see there are unlikely to be serious consequences for carrying blades.

Rather than pushing their weak justice agenda, the SNP must ensure those carrying deadly weapons are properly punished.

Responding to a written parliamentary question asked by Mr Kerr, Ms Constance said over the last four financial years for which data is available, there was only one custodial sentence of five years for knife possession, in 2019-20.

The SNP government increased the maximum penalties for knife-carrying and handling offensive weapons from four to five years in 2016.

Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr Scottish said the statistics highlighted the SNP's 'soft-touch sentencing culture'

She said this represents approximately 0.09 per cent of all (1,141) convictions under this section of the Act in that financial year.

The supposed crackdown on Scotlands knife menace was launched back in 2016, with ministers sending a strong message to those caught with blades that the consequences could be severe.

Former Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill announced the move in November 2012  but the legislation which allowed the increase only came into force in 2016. Victim Support Scotland said at the time that the move would help to serve as a deterrent to anyone thinking of carrying a blade.

Thousands of knife-related cases have been dropped, diverted from prosecution or handled in low-level courts with more lenient sentences.

The number of offenders getting jail time has also plummeted by a third in a decade. In the past three years alone, 915 cases of children caught with knives or other offensive weapons have been referred to the Childrens Reporter.

Campaigners and politicians have now demanded the Scottish Government and Crown Office carry out previous pledges to take tougher action on those caught with weapons.

The number of people prosecuted for weapons possession rose from 1,849 in 2021/22 to 2,051 in 2022/23  the latest data available  according to Scottish Government figures.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'We increased the maximum penalties for knife possession and handling offensive weapons in 2016 from four to five years and the average length of custodial sentences for weapons possession imposed by independent courts has increased by 52 per cent between 2007-08 and 2022-23.

'We remain focused on tackling the issue of violence and have made it clear no one should carrying a weapon at any time in any place.

'Whilst of little comfort to any victims, knife crime has fallen significantly over the past 15 years with a 69 per cent decrease in emergency hospital admissions due to assault with a sharp object between 2008-09 and 2023-24.

'However, no incidence of knife crime is acceptable and this Government remains resolute in our determination to tackle this issue.'
Grant Shapps has revealed how his father-in-law was standing next to the victim fatally injured by a stray bullet during the Manchester synagogue attack last week.

The former Defence Secretary described the harrowing moments inside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue as his father-in-law, Michael Goldstone, and others fought to keep the attacker, Jihad Al-Shamie, from breaking in.

Mr Shapps told Sky News that Mr Goldstone was 'part of the crew' trying to block the entrance as the terrorist, armed with a knife, attempted to smash through.

'They'd locked them, but this maniac was still trying to get in,' he said.

'He had a seven-inch knife, he was stabbing it against the window, trying to break it.

'He was trying to kick down the doors and eventually he goes and picks up flower pots which were out front and is trying to break the glass using those.

'All the time behind the door, my father-in-law, the rabbi and others were all trying to organise themselves to make sure that each of the doors was held closed.'

The former Conservative MP said his father-in-law was positioned 'next to' Adrian Daulby, 53, who was fatally injured by a stray bullet as police tried to neutralise the attacker.

'Very, very tragically, the gentleman that they helped to position on the door next to where my father-in-law was was the one who died from that stray bullet intended for this terrorist that unfortunately came through the door, hit somebody in the leg, and then actually someone on their body.

'He went straight down. My father-in-law describes him as immediately knowing that, unfortunately, he wasn't going to make it.'

The former Defence Secretary described the harrowing moments inside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue as his father-in-law, Michael Goldstone (circled), and others fought to keep the attacker, Jihad Al-Shamie, from breaking in

Grant Shapps has revealed how his father-in-law was standing next to the victim fatally injured by a stray bullet during the Manchester synagogue attack last week

Adrian Daulby, 53, (pictured) was killed at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall alongside 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz

Mr Daulby is believed to have been shot dead by police as he tried to prevent Al-Shamie from entering the synagogue.

Another man, Yoni Finlay was also reportedly shot while trying to barricade the door, according to his family.

The 35-year-old was hit in the chest and is now recovering after having undergone major surgery last night, his 15-year-old son, Uriel, said.

Speaking to ITV News, the teenager - who was at home asleep during the terror attack - said: 'I spoke to Rabbi Walker, he told me that he and my dad barricaded the doors with a couple of other people and, in the process of the armed police shooting the terrorist, one of the bullets hit my dad in the chest.

'He was shot accidentally by a bullet that went through the door.'

The schoolboy added: 'My dad is a complete hero, he saved so many lives, and I'll never, ever forget that.'

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is continuing to examine the use of lethal force by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) firearms officers during the incident.

Two worshippers were killed in Thursday's terror attack. Dad-of-three Melvin Cravitz also lost his life, with hundreds of mourners attending his funeral in Pendlebury on Sunday.

Three others remain in hospital with serious injuries including a security guard with car-impact wounds and a Community Security Trust (CST) worker who suffered multiple stab injuries.

On Sunday, counter-terrorism officers said the investigation was 'continuing at pace'.

A general view of the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue after police lifted the cordon today

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Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, was shot dead minutes after he targeted Heaton Park Synagogue

GMP confirmed that warrants for further detention were granted for four individuals arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism in connection with the attack.

The suspects can be held in custody for up to five more days. Two others - a man and a woman - were released without charge last week.

Speaking after the incident, Sir Grant criticised protests that took place in the days following the attack, calling them 'insensitive.'

Asked about proposals to expand police powers to restrict such demonstrations, he said: 'We always have to balance civil liberties, of course.

'The trouble is, if you allow these things to go completely unfettered that some people start to think that kind of very extreme behaviour might be acceptable - and we've seen them afraid on too many of those marches: people breaking the law, being arrested, climbing monuments, abusing the police.

'I think there does have to be a line drawn at some place. Of course, freedom of speech is something we cherish hugely in this country.'

He added: 'How bloody insensitive was it for those people to go out the very next day and go and join those protests.

'I mean, have some humanity is what I'd say. If it requires some adjustments to the law, then I think the Government on this case would have my full support.'

Al-Shamie, 35, is understood to have entered the UK as a young child and been granted British citizenship in 2006 when he was aged around 16.

It is believed his name has not appeared in initial searches of police and security service records, and he is not thought to have been under investigation.

Neighbours of the synagogue killer said he had lived there since around 2021, and one neighbour remembered a baby also living at the address but could not recall seeing a woman living there.
Shameless university students nationwide are set to stage a series of 'sickening' pro-Palestine protests on the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

Rallies are set to take place on Tuesday on the two-year anniversary of the terror atrocity, which saw almost 1,300 people slaughtered by marauding extremists.

The onslaught, which also led to Hamas thugs kidnapping a number of hostages and dragging the bodies of dead Israelis through the streets while Palestinian crowds cheered, sparked the war in Gaza.

Now, thousands of British students are gearing up to march on university campuses as part of series of 'resistance' rallies.

It comes after more than 500 people were arrested in London for allegedly expressing support for the banned terror group, Palestine Action, over the weekend.

And on Thursday, hundreds of other activists held protests in London and Manchester - just hours after the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue terror attack rocked the nation's Jewish community.

Britain's Jewish leaders, as well as university chiefs and senior politicians, have now voiced their repulsion at the timing of tomorrow's planned demonstrations.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews said it was 'disgusted by reports of recent hate-filled protests on university campuses'.

Students across the UK are set to march on universities in support of pro-Palestine rallies - on the anniversary of Hamas's October 7 terror attack against Israel, tomorrow

Jewish leaders have hit out over the so-called 'resistance' events (pictured are pro-Palestine demonstrators at the University of Manchester)

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'In the wake of the terror attack on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation it is clear we need fundamental change of mindset to drive out anti-Jewish incitement at all levels of our society, including from our universities,' a spokesman added.

Keith Black, chairman of Jewish Leadership Council, was also sickened by the scheduled events on the anniversary of Hamas's massacre in Israel.

'Protesting on campuses on October 7 is a disgraceful and deeply upsetting strategy to cause maximum pain to Jewish students,' Mr Black said.

'The content of these demonstrations is likely to be anti-Semitic and incite violence. For those involved to claim any kind of moral authority is a lie, these protests are driven by hate.'

At Queen Mary University in London, organisers are planning a rally dubbed: 'Two Years of Genocide, Two Years of Resistance'.

Students at Goldsmiths, University of London, are also gearing up for an event, advertised as a 'night of remembrance and resistance'.

At nearby King's College in London, students have been invited to a talk entitled: 'Why It Didnt Start On October 7th'.

While in Strathclyde University in Glasgow, students are urged to 'grab your flag and keffiyeh' and attend a 'Protest 4 Palestine'.

'Wear your keffiyeh, bring your voice, and join us as we demand divestment from Israel and justice for Palestine,' one post advertising the rally on Facebook said.

It later adds 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' - a chant critics have branded anti-Semitic, because it implies the destruction of the state of Israel.

Pictured is a poster for one of the pro-Palestine marches on October 7 in Glasgow dubbed 'disgusting' by Jewish leaders in Britain

In Birmingham, protesters will stage a vigil for Palestine to 'honour our martyrs', with posts for the event saying: 'Two years of genocide, 100-years of resistance'.

Meanwhile, at the University of Sheffield, the Revolutionary Communist Party refused pleas to move the date of its march, citing the cost of having to reprint posters.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has demanded any student caught attending such rallies should be 'kicked off their courses' with immediate effect.

'University chancellors need to stamp out the virulently anti-Jewish hatred running amok on their campuses,' the Conservative MP added.

'These groups are showing their true colours by holding rallies celebrating their heroes in Hamas two years on from the sickening murder of 1,200 people in what was the worst single massacre of Jews since the Nazi Holocaust.

'Any student attending ought to be kicked off their courses.'

Baroness Deech, a former Principal of St Anne's College, Oxford, also expressed her anger at the planned marches.

'As a new academic year begins at British universities, it is painfully clear that authorities have failed to tackle extremist events and ideology on campus,' she said.

'Not only are multiple pro-Palestinian events insensitively scheduled on the two year anniversary of Hamas's heinous terror rampage, but their promotional materials talk of "fighting", "resistance" and even "dismantling" Israel.

'The tragic events in Manchester have shown us what can happen when such hateful, violent rhetoric is normalised and it is now incumbent on university leaders to enforce a zero-tolerance policy to ensure the safety of its frightened Jewish students.'

Pictured is a protester in London being carried away by police from a pro-Palestine rally on Saturday

Isaac Zarfati, executive director of StandWithUs UK, said Jewish students have been subjected to 'vile' levels of 'Jew hate, intimidation, ostracisation, and even violent assault' over the past two years.

Mr Zarfati warned a recent report conducted by StandWithUS UK, showed Jewish students in Britain now faced 'terrifying levels of racism... day in, day out and it shows no sign of abating even following the terrible events in Manchester'.

'The deliberate scheduling of "resistance" events on the anniversary of Hamas's October 7 terror atrocities is particularly grotesque,' he added.

He called on the Prime Minister and education secretary to 'get a grip of rampant anti-Semitism and extremism' now seemingly raging across university campuses.

Louis Danker, president of the Union of Jewish Students, said he respected free speech and the right to protest.

However, Mr Danker said on October 7, many Jewish students would be seeking 'to mourn their loved ones murdered in southern Israel', and pleaded for rallies to be held on another date.

He added: 'Marking "two years of resistance" on October 7 echoes the explicit justification and glorification of the Hamas terrorist attacks on campus witnessed over the last two years.

'No Jewish student should have to stand by as others glorify a day that marks such loss for our community.

'We have written to Vice Chancellors and university leaders to remind them of their obligation to stand against the glorification of terror.'
A college student killed in a Tesla Cybertruck crash was trapped inside the vehicle as it burst into flames due to a design flaw involving its doors, a lawsuit has claimed.

Krysta Michelle Tsukahara, 19, was one of three who died when the vehicle smashed into a tree at high speed in Piedmont, California, last November.

Her parents have now launched legal action, alleging that Tesla, led by Elon Musk, knew about the design flaw for years but failed to fix it.

Krysta, a second-year student at Savannah College of Art and Design, along with friends Soren Dixon, 19, who was driving, and Jack Nelson, 20, were all killed in the crash after the vehicle caught fire.

A fourth passenger was injured but survived.

Carl and Noelle Tsukahara first filed a lawsuit against the carmaker in April and have now amended it with a detailed 36-page wrongful death claim.

According to the suit, Krysta initially suffered only minor injuries, but when the Cybertruck's battery ignited, she died from burns and smoke inhalation.

The complaint highlights that the vehicle's battery-powered doors can fail if the power cuts out, and that Krysta was unable to escape because the manual release was too difficult to locate.

Krysta Michelle Tsukahara, a second-year student at Savannah College of Art and Design, was one of three who died following the crash last November in Piedmont, California

All three were recent graduates of Piedmont High School who had returned home for Thanksgiving break when the crash occurred

Nelson, left, and Dixon, right, who were stars of the Piedmont HS Lacrosse team, both died in the collision

The teenager 'suffered unimaginable pain and emotional distress' while trapped in the rear of the burning vehicle, the lawsuit states.

Speaking to The New York Times, her father said his daughter's life could have been saved if it had been easier to exit the car.

He told KTVU Fox 2: 'Krysta was a bright, kind, and accomplished young woman with her whole life ahead of her.

'We've had to endure not only the loss of our daughter, but the silence surrounding how this happened and why she couldn't get out.

'This company is worth a trillion dollars, how can you release a machine that's not safe in so many ways?'

Family lawyer Roger Dreyer added: 'This lawsuit is about truth and accountability.

'The design of this vehicle failed Krysta. There was no functioning, accessible manual override or emergency release for her to escape. Her death was preventable.'

All three victims were recent graduates of Piedmont High School who had returned home for Thanksgiving.

A fourth passenger, Jordan Miller, was the sole survivor after a witness used a tree branch to smash a window and pull him to safety.

Dixon, who was behind the wheel at the time, was found to have cocaine in his system and a blood alcohol level of 0.195  more than twice the legal limit.

The California Highway Patrol's preliminary investigation concluded that alcohol, drug impairment, and excessive speed caused the driver to lose control.

The Daily Mail has approached Tesla for comment on the allegations made in the lawsuit.

It comes after a similar incident took place last month in Western Germany which saw a shop-owner desperately attempt to free a man and two children from a burning Tesla after its retractable door handles failed to open, but to no avail.

The tragic accident took place in Villigst on September 14 after the vehicle drove off the road while attempting to overtake another car in the village, according to police.

The Tesla crashed into a tree and burst into flames. Three people trapped inside were burned alive, while another child, aged nine, was able to escape and rushed to hospital.

Speaking to local media at the time, eyewitness Roman Jedrzejewski said he desperately tried to open the door using the vehicle's retractable handles but was unable to.

Jedrzejewski, who runs a paint shop which is located directly opposite the site of the crash, was working when he suddenly heard 'really loud braking noises' and 'really loud squealing tires' before hearing an explosive bang.

The shop owner says he noticed smoke rising from the other side of the street and grabbed a fire extinguisher with no hesitation and ran towards the burning vehicle.

He tried to put the fire out, but he said the extinguisher 'didn't help'.

'I wanted to save people', he said, but he soon realised that he wouldn't be able to get the victims out of the vehicle.

'The car was hanging halfway in a tree at head height, and the front was burning. But they just couldn't get it open; I wanted to pull the children out'.

Despite his desperate attempts to free the victims, however, Jedrzejewski is haunted by the fact he was not able to save them.

And in August, a Florida jury also decided that the family of a dead college student who was killed by a runaway Tesla should be awarded more than 178million in damages.
Author Dame Jilly Cooper, who sadly died yesterday after a fall aged 88, delighted her loyal fans with a surprise cameo appearance in Disney's adaption of her best-selling novel Rivals.

The 'Queen of the bonkbuster' was famed for her raunchy romance books, selling more than 12million copies throughout her glittering career.

She was best known for her book series The Rutshire Chronicles which follows a group of wealthy and mostly upper-class families embroiled in scandals, often of a sexual nature.

The second and most famous instalment Rivals, published in 1988, was adapted for television by Disney+.

Last October, Dame Jilly's fans were over-joyed when they spotted a blink-and-you'll-miss it cameo by the author herself in the programme.

They noticed her in episode five, just as the character of Lizzie Vereker (Katherin Parkinson) is having the most salacious parts of her latest novel read out in a restaurant.

As the racy scene is read out, the camera pans in on a fellow diner - Dame Jilly - who flashes a cheeky giggle as the racy lines are read out.

Keen-eyed viewers took to social media to point out the moment the Rutshire Chronicles writer playfully appeared on screen.

Dame Jilly made a cameo appearance in episode five of the Disney+ adaptation of her novel Rivals

The Rutshire Chronicles (pictured) author sadly passed away aged 88 on Sunday after a fall

'ADORE that Jilly Cooper has a cameo in #Rivals', wrote one, while another added: 'The Jilly Cooper cameo is perfection. The whole thing is a blast - camp as Christmas!'

One fan wrote: 'Yep. Loved it when she popped up. And at just the perfect moment.'

The show features a star-studded cast of David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Emily Atack and Danny Dyer, Katherine Parkinson, Oliver Chris and Claire Rushbrook.

The story is set in 1986 and follows the cut throat world of television, including the tense rivalry between Rupert Campbell-Black (Hassell) and Lord Tony Baddingham (Tennant).

And, during a series of parties and luncheons in Lord Baddingham's country pile, steamy affairs and star-crossed yearnings are explored.

Dame Jilly's children Felix and Emily said her death on Sunday morning has come as a 'complete shock'.

They said in a statement: 'Mum was the shining light in all of our lives.

'Her love for all of her family and friends knew no bounds. Her unexpected death has come as a complete shock.

'We are so proud of everything she achieved in her life and can't begin to imagine life without her infectious smile and laughter all around us.'

The racy eight-part series is based on Jilly Cooper's raunchy 1988 novel, and follows the cutthroat world of independent television in 1986. Right, Bonkbuster queen Jilly Cooper pictured in 1973

As the racy scene is read out, the camera pans in on a fellow diner - Dame Jilly - who flashes a cheeky giggle as the racy lines are read out

Dame Jilly Cooper's agent Felicity Blunt issued a similarly warm tribute, saying the author was 'sharply observant and utter fun'.

In a signal of how she remained very active in her later years, Dame Jilly held a party for the cast at her home in Gloucestershire in August.

Also among the attendees was friend Andrew-Parker Bowles, the former husband of Queen Camilla.

The 'famously naughty' former Army officer is said to have been the inspiration for Campbell-Black.

The novelist lost her husband, Leo Cooper, to Parkinson's disease in 2013.

The author had known him since she was nine years old and refused to send him into a care home even when his condition worsened.

Dame Jilly confessed that she only continued to write novels in her later life to pay for her husband's medical bills.

Her agent Ms Blunt said in reaction to her death: 'The privilege of my career has been working with a woman who has defined culture, writing and conversation since she was first published over fifty years ago.

'Jilly will undoubtedly be best remembered for her chart-topping series The Rutshire Chronicles and its havoc-making and handsome show-jumping hero Rupert Campbell-Black.

'You wouldn't expect books categorised as bonkbusters to have so emphatically stood the test of time but Jilly wrote with acuity and insight about all things - class, sex, marriage, rivalry, grief and fertility.

'Her plots were both intricate and gutsy, spiked with sharp observations and wicked humour.

'She regularly mined her own life for inspiration and there was something Austenesque about her dissections of society, its many prejudices and norms.

'But if you tried to pay her this compliment, or any compliment, she would brush it aside.

'She wrote, she said, simply 'to add to the sum of human happiness'. In this regard as a writer she was and remains unbeatable.'

She added: 'Emotionally intelligent, fantastically generous, sharply observant and utter fun Jilly Cooper will be deeply missed by all at Curtis Brown and on the set of Rivals.

'I have lost a friend, an ally, a confidante and a mentor. But I know she will live forever in the words she put on the page and on the screen.'

The executive producers of the Disney+ adaptation of Dame Jilly's novel Rivals have said they are 'broken-hearted' at the news of her death.

Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Alex Lamb said: 'We are broken-hearted. Jilly was and always will be one of the world's greatest storytellers, and it has been the most incredible honour to have been able to work with her to adapt her incredible novels for television.

'Crawling around on her sitting room floor with storylines on pieces of paper, sitting up late at her kitchen table holding hands with love and our tummies with laughter, receiving scoldings and heaps of wisdom in equal measure, watching her eyes sparkling as she sat behind the monitor on set watching Rutshire brought to life - every moment spent with Jilly Cooper was bloody marvellous.

'We have been so lucky to be able to call her our friend - and know that her legacy will endure in her writing, her television and the encouragement to have fun that she gave us all.'

The pair act as executive producers on the hit series which is produced by Happy Prince.

Queen Camilla said in a message: 'I was so saddened to learn of Dame Jilly's death last night.

'Very few writers get to be a legend in their own lifetime but Jilly was one, creating a whole new genre of literature and making it her own through a career that spanned over five decades.

'In person she was a wonderfully witty and compassionate friend to me and so many - and it was a particular pleasure to see her just a few weeks ago at my Queen's Reading Room Festival where she was, as ever, a star of the show.

'I join my husband the King in sending our thoughts and sympathies to all her family. And may her hereafter be filled with impossibly handsome men and devoted dogs.'

The message was signed 'Camilla R'.

Rivals features a star-studded cast of David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Emily Atack and Danny Dyer, Katherine Parkinson, Oliver Chris and Claire Rushbrook

Dame Jilly Cooper and her husband Leo, who died in 2013 aged 79, pictured together in 2013

Dame Jilly pictured with husband Leo Cooper and their son Felix with his wife Edwina in 2001

Born in Hornchurch, Essex in 1937, Dame Jilly grew up in Yorkshire and attended the private Godolphin School in Salisbury.

Her father was a brigadier and her family moved to London in the 1950s where she became a reporter on The Middlesex Independent when she was 20.

She has said she moved to public relations and was sacked from 22 jobs before ending up in book publishing.

Her work has been adapted at various points, including an ITV series of The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous with Coronation Street star Stephen Billington and Downton Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville, while Marcus Gilbert starred in a Riders series during the 1990s.

She won the inaugural Comedy Women in Print lifetime achievement award in 2019 and was made a dame for her services to literature and charity in 2024.

Dame Jilly's funeral will be private in line with her wishes, according to her agent.

A public service of thanksgiving will be held in the coming months in Southwark Cathedral to celebrate her life, with a separate announcement made in due course.
Hamas terrorists received top-level orders to commit sickening acts during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, aimed at creating 'shocking scenes' including instructions to behead victims and cut off their limbs.

The chilling directives have come to light in a series of documents released for the first time by the Israeli Foreign Ministry ahead of the two-year anniversary of the massacre.

The merciless violence that day claimed 1,200 lives, mainly civilians, and saw 250 others taken hostage in the single-worst slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust.

In an operation order for the massacre, issued by the headquarters of the military wing of Hamas - the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigade - thousands of militants are instructed to 'expel the settlers using their vehicles'.

'Priority is children and women. Detain between 1750 prisoners. Seize mobile phones and any carried documents,' an order for the attack, code-named 'Toofan Al-Aqsa', read.

More instructions refer to the devastating attack on Israel's kibbutzim near the Gaza Strip, where entire communities were slaughtered and homes were ransacked and burnt to ashes.

'Attack Kibbutz [Mefalsim] with the aim of inflicting the maximum possible human losses, taking hostages, and establishing positions inside until further orders are issued,' a mission description said.

In sinister handwritten notes, commanders are instructed to ensure attackers produce 'shocking scenes'.

Noa Argamani was taken into Gaza from the Nova Music Festival on October 7

A gunman, brandishing his AK-47 assault rifle - ordered pair of Israelis driving slowly along the road to stop their car

Hamas gunman is seen taking a civilian hostage after shooting many others in cold blood

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'[The footage] will be used as propaganda: broadcast and circulated everywhere, so that they will be seen by our people. The goal is to incite the masses to go out and support us. In parallel, the incursion forces should instil terror and fear in the enemy,' a description outlining the massacre's 'operational principles' read.

'Fighters must be urged to inflict as many casualties as possible in every house beheading, shooting heads of families, running down soldiers with vehicles, destroying tanks, cutting off limbs, etc,' it continued.

The directives called on terrorists to slaughter entire Israeli communities at the kibbutzim on the Gaza periphery, including women, children and the elderly.

'The plan calls for preparing spectacular acts that will wipe out whole neighbourhoods and kibbutzim,' an instruction said.

'One example given is to pour gasoline or diesel from a special tanker, burn the site and broadcast the images. Breaching openings in the barrier (gates).'

Militants also carried guides to hostage-taking and Arabic-to-Hebrew phrasebooks, one of which included the line 'put your hands up and spread your legs'.

Other directives instruct terrorists to take and publish photos 'that explode emotions' and lead to the 'motivation of our people in the West Bank and also inside (Israel) and Jerusalem'.

They should 'shoot soldiers in the head at point blank range', as well as 'slaughter some of them with a knife' while they are in a 'kneeling position with their hands extended above their heads'.

Terrorists are instructed to produce 'scary images' for maximum impact, such as footage showing 'a number of car bombs that will explode in a building or place, causing terrifying destruction, and a heart-warming sound, and a burning fire'.

Bodycam video shows early moments of Hamas massacre in Israel

Adel Rubin (L), who lost both her parents during the 2023 October 7 attacks, reacts as she visits a house that was left heavily-damaged after the event in Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel on October 6, 2025, a day before the second anniversary of the attacks

An Israeli Israeli flag is left in house that was destroyed in a battle between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants on Saturday's Hamas attack on the kibbutz on October 14, 2023 in Be'eri, Israel

Palestinian militants drive back to the Gaza Strip with the body of Shani Louk, a female civilian, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023

Hamas systematically used rape and sexual violence during the massacre as part of a 'deliberate genocidal strategy', according to a report by the Dinah Project, an all-women group of Israeli legal and gender experts.

Former hostage Ilana Gritzewsky, 31, has publicly spoken out about being sexually assaulted by her captors in Gaza after she was abducted from her home on Kibbutz Nir Oz, where she lived with her partner, Matan Zangauker, who is still being held in the Strip.

'I remember that they hit me and I screamed, and then there was darkness. When I woke up, I was half-naked surrounded by terrorists,' she said in July.

'They beat me. I went through hell. My bones were broken, but that didnt compare to the psychological pain I was put through,' she added. 'Nobody should experience what I did.'

Other documents recovered after the massacre reveal how terrorists were given detailed instructions to film and broadcast the assault.

One manual shows step-by-step instructions militants were given on how to livestream the atrocity using mobile phones, Skype, and social media platforms like VK.

The guidelines instruct the Hamas operatives how to clean their camera lenses, disable incoming calls, switch SIM cards, and even give advice on how to upload footage privately if internet access is unavailable.

The attack started at 6.30am when thousands of rockets were launched from Gaza to Israel; most of the strikes were aimed north at Tel Aviv and surrounding cities such as Ashdod and Netanya.

Palestinians transport a captured Israeli civilian, center, from Kfar Azza kibbutz into the Gaza Strip on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023

The chilling directives have come to light in a series of documents released for the first time by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, just days before the two-year anniversary of the massacre

Hamas seen raiding kibbutz of Be'eri, tiny farming community . Gunman seen setting light to hous

Around 7.00am, armed militants, garbed in body armour and carrying AK-47 assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, arrived to the Supernova festival in the Negev desert.

There, a rave turned into a terrifying bloodbath as terrorists murdered almost 400 young people, just three miles from the Gaza border on the grounds of Kibbutz Re'im.

Some 44 partygoers were kidnapped to Gaza, including Noa Argamani, who spent 246 days in Hamas captivity before being released in an Israeli rescue mission alongside Shlomi Ziv, Andrey Kozlov and Almog Meir Jan.

A video of her being dragged away from Nova by two Hamas terrorists on a motorbike as she screamed in terror was shared widely, and became one of the most recognisable pictures in the wake of the massacre.

Kibbutz Be'eri, where houses were burnt, bomb shelters fired upon and hostages taken, was one of the worst-hit communities in the Hamas-led attack.

Some 101 civilians and 31 security personnel on the 1000-person kibbutz were killed, and a further 30 residents and two more civilians were taken hostage. Nearly one in 10 people at the kibbutz were killed or taken hostage that day.

Some 62 residents, including five soldiers and a member of the Shin Bet, and 18 security personnel were killed in Kfar Aza, while a further 19 civilians were taken hostage.

The assault on Israel triggered a massive military retaliation that has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health authorities there.
Another council could soon take legal action to evict asylum seekers living at a migrant hotel, the Daily Mail can reveal.

Wirral Council has confirmed it has opened up a legal file to investigate the possibility of taking enforcement action to prevent a Holiday Inn Express hotel in its area being used as migrant accommodation.

The move is a potential headache for the Home Office which fears that any successful action to force asylum seekers to be moved from a hotel could set a precedent, leading to other councils winning similar claims.

It follows the initial success of Tory-run Epping Forest District Council in Essex winning a temporary injunction on August 19 this year ordering asylum seekers to leave The Bell hotel in the town within 24 days.

The council took its action after an Ethiopian man at the hotel sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl and a woman, leading to a series of protests in the town this summer and copycat demonstrations outside other migrant hotels across the country.

The temporary injunction was overturned by the Court of Appeal on August 29, allowing up to 138 migrants to stay in The Bell, after it was challenged by the hotel owners and the Home Office.

Appeal judges agreed with Home Office claims that that the initial judgement could have a serious impact on the Governments ability to house refugees and lead to further demonstration against asylum hotels.

Anti-migrant protesters in Epping last August. The Tory-run Epping Forest District Council in Essex won a temporary injunction on August 19 this year ordering asylum seekers to leave The Bell hotel

The Holiday Inn Express in Hoylake, on the Wirral. Wirral Council has confirmed it has opened up a legal file to investigate the possibility of taking enforcement action to prevent

Epping Forest District Council is pressing ahead with its legal challenge with a hearing due at the High Court on October 15 when it will argue that using The Bell Hotel as an asylum hostel goes against its designated planning use as a hotel for paying guests.

Despite the Court of Appeal judgement suggesting that the future case is unlikely to succeed, it has not deterred Wirral Council from potentially fighting a similar claim against the housing of migrants in the Holiday Inn Express in the seaside town of Hoylake.

The council on Merseyside insisted in response to a Freedom of Information request from the Daily Mail that it was currently not fighting a legal case against the use of the hotel which would have challenged the policy of the Labour Government.

But the council added in its response: There is an ongoing planning enforcement investigation relating to this property.

The Legal section is supporting and advising on this ongoing enforcement case and

has a legal file open for this purpose.

The council refused to divulge any details related to the ongoing enforcement investigation, citing that it did not have to do so as files regarding council investigation can be exempt from FOI requests.

The hotel in Hoylake has been used to house asylum seekers since 2022 when RNLI volunteers on a training day were controversially kicked out midway through their stay to make room for migrants.

Protesters and counter-protesters outside a different hotel in Hoylake in August

The Bell Hotel in Epping. Epping Forest District Council is pressing ahead with its legal challenge with a hearing due at the High Court on October 15 when it will argue that using The Bell Hotel as an asylum hostel goes against its designated planning use

It has also been a target for protests since 2023, fuelled by local outrage over plans to house single male migrants, rather than families at the 56 room three star hotel, even though the proposals have never been carried out.

The councils FOI response added: The Council is aware of the public protests requiring a police presence that have taken place in the immediate area of the property and understands the interest surrounding the use of the hotel, however it is not in the public interest at this time to release information contained within the planning enforcement case file.

I can confirm that Wirral Council holds the information you requested. However, we are

withholding that information since we consider that the following exceptions apply to it.

Paula Basnett, the Labour leader of Wirral Council, confirmed in August after Epping Forest District Councils initial legal success that she had asked officers to seek urgent legal advice to see if the local authority could oppose the use of the Holiday Inn Express for asylum seekers.

She said at the time: The situation in Wirral with the continued use of hotels as asylum accommodation is unacceptable.

Recent legal developments in other parts of the country have shown that councils can successfully challenge the Governments approach.

In light of this, I have instructed that urgent legal advice be sought on whether Wirral Council can pursue similar action to protect our communities.

Wirral has always shown compassion towards those in genuine need. But compassion does not mean central government can impose poorly thought-through, short-term solutions that undermine local communities and ignore democratic accountability.

A spokesperson for Wirral Council said it had nothing to add to its FOI response.
A two-year-old was killed in Georgia by his babysitter's rottweilers after she took a nap and left him unattended for at least two hours, police said.

Stacy Wheeler Cobb, 48, was booked for the death of Kaimir Jones on Saturday by the Valdosta Police Department in Lowndes County. She was given felony charges of second degree murder and cruelty to children in the second degree, according to county jail records.

'This is a horrible and tragic event that should have never occurred, but because of negligence on this offender's behalf, a mother has tragically lost a child,' said Leslie Manahan, chief of the Valdosta Police Department.

Police, firefighters and South Georgia Medical Services responded to a dog attack on the 3800 block of Pecan Drive in Valdosta on October 4.

There, they found the little boy dead in the backyard of an unlicensed daycare ran by Cobb. He had been mauled to death by her rottweilers.

That morning, Kaimir's mother, Adrianna Jones, dropped off her son at Cobb's home before going to work. In a gofundme created by Adrianna after her son's death, she said that Cobb's daycare came 'highly recommended.'

While Cobb was meant to be watching Kaimir, she went to take a nap and left the little boy unattended for at least two hours, according to investigators.

In that window of time, Kaimir managed to make his way into the backyard of the house and open the kennel for two large rottweiler dogs who proceeded to attack him.

Two-year-old Kaimir Jones was killed in a rottweiler attack at an unlicensed daycare on Saturday

Stacy Wheeler Cobb, 48, was charged with second degree murder and cruelty to children in the second degree by the Valdosta Police Department for the death of Kaimir

Kaimir's mother, Adrianna Jones, said she was unaware that Cobb owned the rottweilers

The boy died at the scene. When police arrived, Cobb told them she was taking a nap and thought that Kaimir was as well.

On her gofundme page, Adrianna said she was unaware that Cobb owned the rottweilers. She also said she knew something was wrong after Cobb, who usually communicated throughout the day, didn't respond to her messages for around three hours.

At that point her motherly intuition kicked in and she left work early to check on her son and see what was happening. By the time she arrived at the house, eight police were already there, she said.

'They were already inside taking pictures and so forth,' Adrianna wrote on the fundraising page.

'This was a heartbreaking, devastating and traumatizing scene that I wouldnt wish on anyone. I found my baby like this.'

Cobb was arrested on site and taken to the Lowndes County Jail. Animal custody officers also took the two rottweilers involved in the attack as well as a third dog that was in the home.

Adrianna, who is a single mother, set up her fundraiser to help pay for funeral expenses for her son. She explained that she did not have life insurance for her two-year-old.

Adrianna, who is a single mother, set up a fundraiser to help pay for funeral expenses for her son

Adrianna said her motherly intuition kicked in after she hadn't heard from Cobb in three hours so she left work early to check on Kaimir

The dog attack occurred on the 3800 block of Pecan Drive in Valdosta, Georgia

The gofundme surpassed its original goal of $14,000 and currently stands at $14,736 raised. A new goal for $24,000 has been set.

There has been a rise in dog bite fatalities across the United States in recent years. DogsBite.org, a nonprofit that tracks dog attacks, recorded 63 dog bite fatalities in 2023. Children made up 24 percent of those victims.

There is not yet data available for this year or last year, but the 2023 figure is the highest number of recorded deaths caused by dogs since 2005.

Out of the 523 canine-caused deaths since 2005, pit bulls contributed to 66 percent of them, and pitbulls and rottweilers combined contributed to 76 percent of them.

Just last month in September, a 10-year-old girl was mauled to death by her family's XL Bully dog, which is a breed closely related to pitbulls.

Earlier that month, a one-week-old infant was killed by his family's husky-pitbull mix that had no prior instances of violence.
Haunting surveillance footage shows a masked intruder who broke into a home and tied a family up before making off with cash.

The suspect targeted the property just before midnight on Saturday, pointing a gun at one of the victims as he sat on the family's porch in North Philadelphia.

Gloria Rodriguez, 13, told ABC6 that her father was outside when the robber ordered him inside at gunpoint.

Rodriguez and her mother were watching a movie when the intruder barged inside, echoing the dystopian Purge film series about an America where all crime is legal for one night a year.

The suspect restrained the family with zip-ties while demanding money, striking the father's head with gun before fleeing with $1,000.

The robber oddly told the family to 'have a nice day' during the break-in, which lasted just five minutes, ABC6 reported.

Surveillance video captured the suspect, masked and clad in all black, leaving the home and walking down the sidewalk with what appeared to be a slight limp.

The family said they did not recognize the robber, but noted that he spoke Spanish.

The masked suspect was captured on surveillance footage outside the family's home in North Philadelphia

Gloria Rodriguez, 13, and her mother, were inside watching a movie when the intruder entered

Footage showed the suspect walking down the sidewalk with what appeared to be a slight limp

A neighbor told ABC6 that he believes the suspect may have used an electric scooter parked around the corner to make an escape.

Residents expressed disbelief that the incident occurred in their 'safe' neighborhood, where the victims have lived for nearly seven years and never experienced anything like this.

Rodriguez added her father is still being treated for a head injury and remains in the hospital.

It was the second violent home invasion in the city over the weekend, according to ABC6.

According to the Philadelphia Police Department, the number of violent crimes in the city has decreased by almost 10 percent in the last month versus the month prior.

Armed robberies were also down more than 14 percent.

The Daily Mail reached out to the Philadelphia Police Department for comment.
A woman from Maine who taught herself butchery by watching YouTube videos said her first attempt to slaughter a sheep with a knife was 'awful.'

Home butcher Susannah Koch, 34, taught herself about the unique hobby after reading up on it and watching online videos on how to divide up farm animals with a hacksaw, she told Bangor Daily News.

The Swanville local is just one of many homesteaders and farmers who have quite literally taken matters into their own hands because of how swamped traditional butchers are in the area.

Butchers across the state have been busy since the Covid-19 pandemic, and in turn, that created a 'surge of interest' in locals to do it themselves, Colt Knight, an Associate Extension Professor and State Livestock Specialist at the University of Maine, told the outlet.

Koch said she first started by following a step she read in a book: to slit a sheep's throat.

Although the experience was 'awful,' it led her to a more immediate and less traumatizing way to kill.

She now opens fire with a .22 revolver on the animal's skull, killing it right away.

'It was very daunting, because its like, "This is food. I dont want to screw it up",' Koch said about when she first started killing her own animals.

Susannah Koch, 34, taught herself butchery by watching YouTube videos, but she said the first slaughter of her sheep was 'awful'

'And then over time I learned, you dont really screw it up, you just maybe have some uglier pieces.'

After shooting the animals dead Koch then pulls out its guts, removes its hide and hangs its lifeless body out to dry for three to four days so the blood can drain.

Once that part is over, she starts the hours-long cutting process with a knife and hacksaw before placing pieces in her chest freezer to enjoy later.

Koch said that if some of the cuts go wrong she ends up using them as ground mutton or stew meat.

Along with the informative YouTube videos and reading, Koch said a local woman with butchering experience also helped her learn more about the cuts of meat.

So far, she has processed three of her own sheep, a deer and several rabbits - who she referred to as 'friends.'

'They are like friends to me, but I also feel like Im doing a good thing in making sure they dont go to waste, and taking on that burden myself instead of just letting somebody else do it,' Koch explained.

Although she feels like she has more control over the animals' deaths, Koch said it's not a process she looks forward to.

She said the compassion she feels for the animals is something that is common in the homesteader and farming community.

Koch added: 'All of the people I know are very concerned with the quality of life that their animals are having, and not having a stressful experience at the end.'

She initially read in a book that it was best to slit a sheep's neck, but Koch has since taken on a different approach: a .22 revolver to their skull

While home butchery has become a big thing in Maine, 'mobile slaughter' businesses have also been popping up.

Those individuals visit farms to kill and process animals on site, per the outlet.

The change in larger, commercial butchers to private, home-based operations have created a less stressful environment for customers.

Butchers have become so swamped that many customers have been added to waitlists for up to a year.

The facilities where livestock is normally held is also an issue as each one comes with extensive costs and needs to meet specific regulations, Knight said.

He said the crowded butchers would mellow out if more people brought their own livestock in at different times.

After shooting the animals dead Koch then pulls out its guts, removes its hide and hangs its lifeless body out to dry for three to four days so the blood can drain. (Pictured: An image of Koch's sheep)

For Koch, she said inexperienced homesteaders tend to misjudge how long it takes to raise an animal, making it hard to get appointments at a butcher.

And even if they do get their hands on an appointment, Koch said it costs about $300 to $400 to get a sheep or pig butchered.

The price also depends on the weight of the animal. Beef often costs more to get sliced up.

Koch believes doing it on her own is the only way she can save money, and that although the task seems very daunting, it's not too different from what most of us are used to.

'We can ignore that its a life that had to die so that we can eat,' she stated.

'Lots of lives. When you go to the grocery store, thats lots and lots of animals that have died so that we can eat. When you do it yourself, you just have a different appreciation.'
Oakland's new mayor is taking a shockingly practical approach to rescuing her battered city.

Barbara Lee, a 79-year-old progressive firebrand, is ramping up police recruitment, clearing homeless encampments, and slashing red tape to secure federal money, all in a bid to reverse years of violent crime, urban decay and political chaos.

Lee has stunned critics and allies alike by embracing a back-to-basics strategy since taking office in April, despite her progressive bona fides.

Her tactics have included reopening long-shuttered firehouses, reinstating high-speed police pursuits, and personally touring blighted streets in a hands-on crackdown on RV encampments and illegal dumping.

The turnaround effort follows the downfall of ex-mayor Sheng Thao, ousted in a recall election before being indicted on federal corruption charges.

Lee stepped in to finish her term and is now leaning on decades of political clout in Washington - and an unexpected appetite for tough municipal management to stabilize a city that residents feared was slipping into ungovernable chaos.

'Right now, I'm trying to make sure that the city gets more unified,' Lee told the Wall Street Journal from Oakland City Hall. 'That we do the work here.'

From crime improved crime stats to clean-up crews, Lee's early moves mark a notable shift for one of America's most liberal cities and signal a growing trend along the West Coast to focus on public safety, basic services, and visible enforcement.

Oakland's new mayor, Barbara Lee, 79, is taking a shockingly practical approach to rescuing her battered city ramping up police recruitment and clearing homeless encampments

For a city that's seen its police force lose hundreds of officers, and its streets flooded with RVs, tents, and open-air drug use, even smallest of actions has had an effect

In June, Oakland was once again turned into a dystopian Mad Max-style hellscape as cars and fireworks exploded during multiple street takeovers in the Democrat-run city

Lee's back-to-basics strategy appears to be a simple one: to make the city livable again.

'You see her everywhere,' said Ray Bobbitt to the Wall Street Journal. Bobbitt is a longtime Oakland businessman spearheading a $5 billion renovation of the Oakland Coliseum stadium. 'She is the perfect person at the perfect time.'

Lee, who became Oakland's first black female mayor after stepping in to finish Thao's term has traded the halls of Congress for the cracked pavement of International Boulevard.

Since her swearing-in this April, Lee has helped reopen all 25 of the city's firehouses for the first time since 2002.

She has accelerated police hiring and begun reinstating high-speed chases.

She's green-lit enforcement against illegal street racing 'sideshows,' and ramped up garbage removal through a new initiative called Keep the Town Clean.

For a city that's seen its police force lose hundreds of officers, and its streets flooded with RVs, tents, and open-air drug use, even smallest of actions has had an effect.

The turnaround effort follows the downfall of ex-Mayor Sheng Thao, ousted in a recall election before being indicted on federal corruption charges

Oakland's crime numbers, while still high, have shown improvement. Robberies are down 41%, homicides are down 21% compared to last year. Pictured: destroyed cars in Oakland wasteland

Dozens of 4,100-pound yellow blocks now sit along a road that used to be lined with RVs

Oakland City Councilman, Ken Houston, is seen walking through the streets of rubbish

Along high-crime corridors in East Oakland, concrete barriers now prevent encampments from returning.

A 4,100-pound yellow block now sits in front of Sue Tong's metal supply business - a welcome relief after years of fearing for her safety.

'I couldn't even go outside my business, I was too scared,' Tong said. 'Now, I'm so happy.'

Oakland's crime numbers, while still high, have shown marked improvement.

Robberies are down 41 percent and homicides are down 21 percent compared to last year, according to police data.

But public confidence remains fragile and earlier this year the city was ranked the second most dangerous in the US.

The number of homeless people in Oakland has jumped nearly 18 percent since 2019, before the pandemic exacerbated the problem in most US cities.

The problem has gotten so bad that gigantic shantytowns have formed in certain parts of the city.

Oakland is also prone to crime sprees, with residents growing quite accustomed to chaotic smash-and-grab robberies.

An exclusive report for DailyMail.com revealed that Oakland has potentially the most dangerous square mile for crime in all of the US

In July 2023 Oakland Police Department was forced to issue a public safety advisory citing an uptick in home invasion robberies'

A resident walks along a homeless encampment at Toll Plaza Beach near the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge toll plaza, pictured July 2024

A homeless encampment in Oakland, California, under a freeway bridge

In early 2024, an exclusive report for the Daily Mail revealed how Oakland had potentially the most dangerous square mile for crime in all of America.

Three gas stations and fast-food joints that surround Oakland airport became notorious for vehicle thefts.

Within a single square mile, cops claimed criminals had struck a dozen times or more per day, every day, mainly targeting victims who are headed to and from the airport.

Also shuttered was the city's only In N Out Burger due to soaring crime - the only restaurant the chain has ever closed in its history.

A 54-year-old branch of Denny's also closed its doors in Oakland last the same year amid threats to 'the safety and wellbeing' of staff and customers.

Denny's closure follows that of Subway and Starbucks drive thrus - all of which have became magnets for car thieves.

Encampment blocks that were a common sight in Oakland are slowly being cleared away

Huy Nguyen, head of the Oakland Police Officers' Association, applauded the mayor's efforts but warned the department is still running on fumes.

'Crime is down at the moment, but we don't have cops to respond to calls,' he said. 'We're losing six officers a month.'

Lee has budgeted to bring the force up to 700 officers - still far short of the 877 needed for full strength.

But in a city where calls to 'defund the police' once rang loudly, even that modest goal is a shift.

The mayor's focus on the mundane has resonated with weary residents.

In just a few months, Lee's team has removed more than 30 tons of illegal garbage.

RVs and tents are beginning to disappear - especially along downtown arteries and commercial zones.

'Oakland literally needs to clean up,' said real estate investor Isaac Abid, who's leading a private downtown revitalization campaign.

'In my mind, one of the ways you convey safety and security to your community is by keeping it clean.'

Oakland became synonymous with mass looting, rampant crime and sprawling homeless encampments that cover entire city blocks

A homeless man can be seen sleeping amid piles of trash and clothes. Pictured, July 2024

Abid, who once supported another mayoral candidate, said he's been encouraged by Lee's results. His team has begun hiring private 'ambassadors' to scrub graffiti and clear trash in a 20-block radius.

Business owner Sanjiv Patel wasn't so lucky. After enduring monthly break-ins and daily shoplifting at two convenience stores, he sold them in May.

'Essentially, it was death by a thousand cuts,' Patel said. 'And eventually, you just run out of band-aids.'

Even Mayor Lee admits it is not enough.

'I understand their frustration, because I don't feel like we're moving fast enough,' she said. 'But I'm moving as fast as I can.'

Lee's rise as a practical-minded city leader is striking.

Best known as the lone vote against war authorization after 9/11, she spent 27 years in Congress advocating for peace, equity, and progressive causes.

Now she finds herself fixing potholes, funding cops, and pleading for housing grants from Washington.

Her critics remain skeptical. Edward Escobar, who helped lead the recall of former mayor Thao, said Lee 'learned to serve up a word salad of nothingness' during her years in DC.

Still, there's no denying she's put in the legwork. Since April, she's been spotted at church meetings, local diners, neighborhood tours - asking residents what they need.

'She's out there meeting people, listening, showing up,' said council member Ken Houston, who partnered with Lee to clear blighted blocks in East Oakland. 'We are all on the same mission - to try to accomplish real change.'

Despite signs of recovery, few believe Oakland is out of the woods.

Commercial vacancies remain high and youth violence is spiking. And no one knows if the city can hold on to its fragile public safety gains with so few officers.

Across the Bay, San Francisco's mayor Daniel Lurie has embraced a moderate, clean-streets agenda.

In Portland and Seattle, progressive strongholds are pushing to expand police forces and restore order to shattered downtowns.

In Oakland, the pivot may be even more dramatic. For years, the city was a favorite punching bag of conservatives and even Donald Trump has floated sending troops there.

Her critics remain skeptical. Edward Escobar, who helped lead the recall of former mayor Thao, said Lee 'learned to serve up a word salad of nothingness' during her years in DC

Across the Bay, San Francisco's mayor Daniel Lurie has also embraced a moderate, clean-streets agenda

Oakland, according to Trump, is 'so far gone', despite the Oakland Police Department announcing a 28 percent drop in crime in the first six months of 2025.

'We're not going to stand for that,' Lee said defiantly. 'We're going to continue to resist it.

'This is not leadership - it's an attempt to score cheap political points by tearing down communities he doesn't understand,' Lee added.

Officials fear that should Trump deploy the National Guard to the area, as he has announced for DC, that it would exacerbate already existing crime and incite protests across the state.

Carl Chan, an Oakland Chinatown leader, told the East Bay Times that a takeover such as that would be 'disastrous' for the city.

'If they send the National Guard to take over, there will be tons of protests within the city,' Chan said. 'We don't want to go from one extreme to another.'
A judge whose $1.5 million beach house burned down after a suspected arson explosion has spoken to the Daily Mail in the wake of the inferno.

Judge Diane Goodstein, 69, said: 'I'm alright,' when contacted Monday morning, two days after her property in Edisto Beach, South Carolina, was consumed by flames.

Goodstein sounded cheerful over the phone and said she would be 'happy to direct you to a court administrator' to answer further questions about the fire.

The judge was out walking on the beach when the suspected arson attack happened - just weeks after she had issued a decisive ruling against the Trump administration.

Her former Democrat state senator husband Arnold Goodstein jumped from a first floor window to escape the blaze and suffered multiple broken bones. Two others were also hospitalized.

Authorities are now working to determine what may have caused the four-bedroom, four bath home to go up in smoke.

Several reports said the circuit court judge had received death threats over the past few weeks following her decision to prevent the state from handing over sensitive voter registration documents to the federal government.

Trump's Department of Justice had requested South Carolina officials turn over the personal data of more than 3.3 million voters, including names, addresses, birth dates, driver's license numbers and the last four digits of their Social Security numbers.

South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein issued a decisive ruling against the Trump administration last month

Weeks later, Goodstein's $1.5 million property in Edisto Beach burned to the ground

The decision put Goodstein at odds with both the Trump administration and South Carolina GOP Governor Henry McMaster, who filed an emergency petition to appeal the lawsuit and the temporary restraining order on September 5.

There is no suggestion of any MAGA link to the fire, but Democrat Congressman Daniel Goldman took to X to slam Trump's Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller for 'doxxing' judges.

'Stephen Miller and MAGA-world have been doxxing and threatening judges who rule against Trump, including Judge Goodstein,' Goldman wrote.

'Today, someone committed arson on the Judges home, severely injuring her husband and son. Will Trump speak out against the extreme right that did this??'

Miller was quick to respond, branding Goldman's suggestion 'deeply warped and vile.'

But Goldman then called Miller out again for failing to directly respond to his claims.

Footage from the scene showed powerful flames engulfing the beachfront home on Saturday.

'Chief Justice John W Kittredge is aware of an incident involving Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein. At this time, SLED is on the scene and will begin investigating as soon as the fire has been contained,' the court said Saturday in a statement.

'Local law enforcement partners have been alerted and asked to provide extra patrols and security. The Judicial Branch will remain in close communication with SLED.'

South Carolina Chief Justice John Kittredge said that the fire resulted from an 'apparent explosion' but officials are still investigating.

'Judge Goodstein was walking on the beach when the fire started,' he said.

'Her husband, Arnie, was in the house with children and perhaps grandchildren. The family had to escape by jumping from a window or balcony. I'm told there were injuries from the fall, such as broken legs,' he said.

Goodstein's husband Arnold reportedly leaped from the burning building after helping other family members escape.

The fire at the four-bedroom, four bath home began at around 11.30am on Saturday

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is currently investigating the blaze

'Arnie's injuries may have been the most serious, for he was airlifted to the hospital,' Kittredge added.

Goodstein's husband sustained multiple broken bones in his hips, legs and feet following the fall, the outlet reported.

Another of those hospitalized is said to be Goodstein's son, Arnold Goodstein II.

His condition remains unclear.
A Minnesota Department of Human Services employee, whose Tesla vandalism spree in Minneapolis was caught on video, is still employed by the state.

Taxpayers are continuing to pay the salary of Dylan Adams, a fiscal policy analyst at the Minneapolis DHS.

In March, Adams racked up more than $21,000 in damages during work hours as he walked around the city with his dog and keyed the electric cars.

When asked about consequences Adams may have faced for his vandalism, a DHS spokesperson confirmed to the Daily Mail that 'Dylan Adams is a current employee.'

The spokesperson also said, 'no public data exists with respect to disciplinary action.'

Adams' acts of vandalism were caught on video because Teslas are equipped with 360 degree cameras and automatically record when someone approaches the vehicle.

Despite the damning footage, Hennepin County District Attorney Mary Moriarty declined to pursue criminal charges against Adams. Her office instead said it would seek a 'diversion' of the case.

'This is an approach taken in many property crime cases and helps to ensure the individual keeps their job and can pay restitution, as well as reducing the likelihood of repeat offenses,' Moriarty said.

'Criminal prosecution remains a possibility should unlawful behavior continue.'

Taxpayers are continuing to pay the salary of Dylan Adams, a fiscal policy analyst at the Minneapolis DHS who was caught on video vandalizing Teslas

Adams' acts of vandalism were all caught on video because Teslas are equipped with 360 degree cameras and automatically record when someone approaches the vehicle

The videos of Adams' vandalism clearly show him keying four Teslas, three of which were in downtown Minneapolis and one that was at a Target in Northeast Minneapolis

District attorney Moriarty has been criticized in the past for her progressive approach in dealing with criminals.

One of her biggest controversies came in 2023, when she played a key role in overturning the conviction of a man who was arrested for murdering a flower shop employee during a robbery in 2004.

She has established a first-of-its-kind Conviction Integrity Unit dedicated to re-examining past convictions and pursuing 'appropriate relief' for those convicted.

Her office also announced this year that it would stop prosecuting felony cases that stem from low-level traffic stops.

Moriarty announced in August that she would not be seeking reelection in 2026.

Her approach to criminal justice was extended to Adams as well, which frustrated police and some members of the Minneapolis community.

Footage shared by Minneapolis Police shows Adams calmly walking up to one of the vehicles before casually keying it

Minneapolis Police Department Chief Brian OHara said: 'Our investigators are always frustrated when the cases they poured their hearts into are declined,' adding that victims of crimes usually feel the same way.

The videos of Adams' vandalism clearly show him keying four Teslas, three of which were in downtown Minneapolis and one that was at a Target in Northeast Minneapolis.

Since President Donald Trump was elected and Tesla owner Elon Musk began publicly backing him, the electric vehicles, their charging stations and dealerships, have all become targets of politically-motivated violence by left-wingers.

The government worker took his dog with him on the vandalism spree

Some have taken it a step further, calling Musk a Nazi and saying he should be killed. Tesla owners have reported public attacks ranging from verbal abuse and curse words to physical assault.

As a state employee, Adams' boss is technically Governor Tim Walz, who was presidential candidate Kamala Harris's pick for vice presidential running mate.

In March, the same month Adams was recorded vandalizing Teslas, Walz disparaged Elon Musk and his electric car company at an event in Wisconsin.

The governor said he gets a 'little boost' from watching Tesla's stock drop, before adding that if a person owns a Tesla, 'we're not blaming you. You can take dental floss and pull the Tesla thing off, you know?'

The FBI and the Justice Department have said they will treat attacks on Teslas and their related facilities as 'domestic terrorism' because there is a strong likelihood of a political motive.

That has led to some people online calling for the federal government to step in and prosecute Adams where the state has not.
A San Francisco judge is considering granting early release to a 91-time felon just five years after he allegedly killed two women while driving high on meth.

Career criminal Troy McAlister was arrested in 2020 after he fatally struck two women, Hanako Abe, 27, and Elizabeth Platt, 60, on New Year's Eve in a crosswalk, according to authorities.

McAlister, who was on parole and allegedly operating a stolen vehicle while high on meth and under the influence of alcohol, is facing vehicular manslaughter charges over their senseless deaths.

But now the alleged killer could see the light of day again as Superior Court Judge Michael Begert is set to possibly have McAlister avoid prosecution through a diversion program.

On Friday, McAlister appeared in court with his attorney Scott Grant who requested his client's case be transferred to Drug Court, an intensive treatment program overseen by Begert.

Angry protestors also gathered outside the Hall of Justice to demand justice, chanting against McAlister's possible release.

'Troy McAlister has been charged with 81 felonies over the course of his multi-decades career here in San Francisco, and we don't think that someone should be given infinite chances to ultimately correct course,' Scotty Jacobs, the director of the grassroots organization Blueprint for a Better San Francisco, told KTVU.

Jacobs, who said McAlister has been 'repeatedly released back to the streets' through the diversion process, stood with others to fight for justice for Abe and Platt.

Troy McAlister could be released from jail by San Francisco Superior Court Judge Michael Begert just five years after he allegedly mowed down two women in hit-and-run

Elizabeth Platt (left), 60, and Hanako Abe (right), 27, were killed on New Year's Eve in 2020 after they were struck by a car while on a crosswalk in San Francisco

Judge Begert is set to possibly have McAlister avoid prosecution through a diversion program that would see him enter rehabilitation and exit jail

'While there are certain people who should be granted diversion and ultimately given the opportunity to rebuild their lives, Troy McAlister has demonstrated that despite being given that opportunity multiple times, he has continued to pose a threat to San Franciscans and we believe he needs to be in jail.'

Protestors gathered nearly 30 minutes before McAlister was due in court as they held up signs with pictures of Abe and Platt on them.

Forrest Liu, an activist with Stop Asian Hate, echoed Jacobs' concerns over the alleged killer being set free.

'You had an individual who had committed 91 felonies and they had been let out and given a second chance, a third chance, a fourth chance, and they ended up stealing a car and killing two innocent women,' Liu told Abc 7 News.

Blueprint for a Better San Francisco went on to credit District Attorney Brooke Jenkins for pushing for restoring focus on public safety following the recall of former DA Chesa Boudin.

Boudin was booted from the role after facing increased scrutiny for being too soft-on-crime, specifically with repeat offenders like McAlister.

Boudin was sworn into office on January 8, 2020 after running on the promise to take a new approach to crime by not prosecuting lower-level offenses. He lasted just two years as the San Francisco DA.

In response to pushing for his client to be released through the rehabilitation program, Grant acknowledged the 'extremely tragic case that he said 'was overcharged.'

A crowd of protestors gathered outside the Hall of Justice Friday to demand justice for the victims and see that their accused killer stays behind bars

'I want to acknowledge that this is an extremely tragic case. Mr. McAlister and I both offer our sincere condolences to the families of Ms. Abe and Ms. Platt, and I assure you that Mr. McAlister mourns for them and their families every day,' Grant told KTVU.

'He remains open and willing to apologize to the families for his part in their loved ones deaths.'

Still, Grant said he does not believe his client got a fair shake for his alleged crimes.

'We have always believed that this case was overcharged, and we have always intended to seek diversion. We were waiting to file a motion for diversion until after the preliminary hearing because we would have had a better idea of what charges remained after a judge reviewed evidence and testimony.

'However, instead of having a preliminary hearing in March, the District Attorneys Office assembled a secret grand jury where the defense was not present and therefore I did not get to question any of the evidence or cross-examine any of the witnesses. I am still waiting to receive the full transcript from the grand jury, which has only been turned over in part.

'We cannot proceed to trial without having received and reviewed that transcript in full. For now, we are seeking the courts consideration and approval for diversion.

'We cannot proceed to trial without having received and reviewed that transcript in full. For now, we are seeking the courts consideration and approval for diversion,' he continued.

McAlister is seen being arrested following the fatal hit-and-run. He was on parole at the time and was accused of ramming into the women with a stolen car while high on meth and under the influence of alcohol

Abe's mother, Hiroko Abe, is seen praying over a memorial set up for her late daughter and Platt following their deaths

Grant said that if his client is allowed to be released, he would receive treatment, including regular check-ins and electronic monitoring. McAlister would also be sent to live in a long-term residential facility.

'Study after study shows that targeted, heavily supervised treatment programs like the kind offered via diversion are less expensive and promote long-term safety far more than incarceration,' the lawyer added.

He is not eligible for mental health diversion because of the DUI charge, the District Attorney's office ruled.

In response, Grant said he would file opposition to the DA's position.

McAlister is due back in court on October 28, and protestors promised to be there again to try and block him from being set free.

The Daily Mail contacted Begert and Grant for comment.
Ukraine's former prime minister has accused China of being an 'accomplice' in Moscow's bloody invasion of his besieged country.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk lashed out at Beijing, dismissing claims the Asian superpower was 'neutral' in Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin's savage effort to overrun Ukraine.

Mr Yatsenyuk, who was Ukraine's PM between 2014 and 2016, claimed China was 'liable and responsible' for the war, which has been raging for almost four years.

He accused Chinese President Xi Jinping's regime of aiding Putin's murderous onslaught, funding the Kremlin and others to keep it going from 'behind the curtains'.

In a fiery speech in London, Mr Yatsenyuk said: 'China is neutral? Sorry, it's BS. It is not true. China is not neutral. China is an accomplice.

'China is responsible and liable for the war that Russia waged against Ukraine. China is providing the lifeline to Russia. China is financing the war chest of Russian Federation. China is buying Russian oil.

'China is supporting Russia in circumventing sanctions. China is using Russia as a ram in UN Security Council.'

Mr Yatsenyuk accused Beijing of 'pretending to be a very kind panda' while continuing to fund Putin's invasion and propping up his allies.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin walk at the personal residence of the Chinese leader Zhongnanhai in Beijing last month

Ukraine's former PM has accused China of being an 'accomplice' in Russia's invasion of Ukraine (pictured is a building in Zaporizhzhia after being hit by a Russian drone attack over the weekend)

Arseniy Yatsenyuk (pictured) lashed out at Beijing , dismissing claims the Asian superpower was 'neutral' in Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin 's effort to overrun Ukraine

Speaking during a panel at military think-tank RUSI, the retired PM warned Russia was unlikely to end its invasion, claiming Putin had neither the intention nor the ability to withdraw his forces, who have suffered an estimated one million casualties so far.

He added China was 'sponsoring North Korea', which has sent thousands of conscripts to the frontlines, and of giving the secretive state a 'financial lifeline'.

His comments come amid fresh claims China is supporting Russian attacks by supplying critical satellite intelligence to the Kremlin.

Oleh Alexandrov, a senior official Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, said Beijing and Moscow were working closely to identify Ukrainian targets.

'There is evidence of a high level of co-operation between Russia and China in conducting satellite reconnaissance of the territory of Ukraine in order to identify and further explore strategic objects for targeting,' he said.

He added that in recent months sites hit by Russian attacks included facilities owned by foreign investors. In August, a Russian missile strike on a US-owned appliance factory in Zakarpattia, western Ukraine, injured 15 people.

Kyiv has widened sanctions targeting Russia's military-industrial base as well as its foreign partners. In his nightly address on Saturday, President Zelensky revealed he had signed three decrees imposing restrictions on 33 individuals and 27 companies.

The new measures sought to disrupt Russia's war effort by targeting drone and optics manufacturers as well as Shenzhen Weiliao International Trade Co, a Chinese firm supplying parts for Shahed-type drones built at Alabuga factory in Russia.

Putin has ramped up his drone and missile strikes in recent weeks to record levels, despite urgent efforts to try and negotiate a ceasefire or peace deal.

Firefighters extinguish a van on fire in a backyard of a residential house damaged during Russian drone and missile strikes over the weekend

It's led to a furious response from US President Donald Trump, who in an attempt to woo Putin invited the Russian despot to Alaska for talks on Ukraine, and broker a peace pact.

Despite POTUS saying the meeting had been a positive one, within hours of Putin returning to Moscow, Russia launched one of its most barbaric barrages of the war so far, pummelling Ukraine with hundreds of suicide drones and missiles.

And in a fresh provocation, Putin last month breached the airspace of a number of European countries, sparking outrage. It saw MiG-31 fighter jets breaching Estonian airspace for 12 minutes and a drone barrage flying over Poland.

Meanwhile in Denmark, a series of drones have been spotted close to Danish airports, prompting accusations Russia was behind the incident.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen last week warned a 'hybrid war' in Europe is underway, describing it as 'the most difficult and dangerous situation since the end of the Second World War'.

On Saturday, Lithuania was forced to temporarily close its main airport after a series of hot air balloons flew close to the airspace. It's unclear who was responsible for the incident. But the recent level of Russian activity over Europe's skies has led to fresh accusations against Moscow.

Lithuania's former foreign minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, warned Europe is facing its own 'Pearl Harbour' moment, in a nod to the savage attack launched by Japan against the American naval base that dragged the US into the Second World War.

Speaking to the Telegraph yesterday, he said: 'Are we accepting the reality that we might already be at war, or are we still believing we are in control? We are allowing higher and higher levels of escalation with no proper answers.

'If that continues, we need to expect a Pearl Harbor day for Europe, when the escalation will be so impossible to ignore that it will bring about a Western reawakening.'

Ukraine has long called for increased support to aid its fight against Russia.

Ukraine has called on more weapons to be provided to counter the Russian military (pictured is a Russian 'Grad' self-propelled 122 mm multiple rocket launcher firing)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on fresh support from EU and Nato allies

Speaking to defence experts in London last week, Mr Yatsenyuk dismissed the offer of security guarantees by the West as unworkable.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other allies in the so-called 'coalition of the willing' are committed to putting 'boots on the ground' in a form of peace-keeping mission to bolster Ukraine's security, should a peace deal be agreed.

Defence think-tank the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the smallest force to achieve such a role would need to be around 6,000 people.

But there are concerns over how long such a mission would last, and how much it will ultimately cost the UK taxpayer to sustain.

However, in his speech to defence experts in London, Mr Yatsenyuk said: 'Your people, sorry to say, have to realise that this is the threat to your own security, to your own life.

'Russia wants chaos in your countries. They want to undermine this fragile stability that you enjoy

'Investing into Ukraine, you are not just helping Ukraine, you are investing into your own security.'

The former PM said Britain is a 'superpower' and must continue to act like it.

But he criticised the EU and NATO for its indecision, with allies stuck in a state of seeming suspended animation over whether or not to take a tougher stance on Putin's escalatory aggression.

It comes amid pleas from Ukraine for NATO to impose a no-fly zone above parts of the country, which could ease the pressure on Ukraine's military, that is forced to defend the skies against Russian missile and drone onslaughts on a near-daily basis.

Hitting out, the retired Ukrainian prime minister - who was in charge of the country when Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 - said: 'We can win this war, but actions are needed.

'Putin is playing for time. He believes time is on his side and the more we are dragging our feet, the higher chance Putin has not to win this war but to drag us into an into a never-ending war of attrition.'

A Russian strike in Chernihiv region, Ukraine, on the night of October 4, 2025

He warned one of the biggest threats facing Ukraine now is 'inconsistency and unwillingness to pass bold and strong decisions' from allies in Europe, NATO and the USA, with the latter still mulling over whether or not to supply long-range Tomahawk missiles.

The tech could be a potential game-changer for Kyiv, allowing it to strike deep into the heart of Russian territory, bringing Moscow into range.

However, Putin - who Trump accused of being a 'paper tiger' - has hit back and warned against such a measure.

'This will lead to the destruction of our relations, or at least the positive trends that have emerged in these relations,' he said in a televised address.

But Mr Yatsenyuk said European and NATO allies should not 'underestimate' their own capabilities or feel threatened by Putin, whose military force had been 'greatly diminished' by almost four years of war.

'Instead of coalition of the willing, we need to have coalition of the billing to pay for both purchases of arms in the European Union and in the United States,' he added.

'Otherwise, it sounds like cheap talk, like hot air because instead of doing something, the way I read it, we pretend to do something. We are just kicking the can down the road. But that's not the way to find the solution.'

As well as continued military support, with kit, ammunition and supplies, Ukraine is also seeking allies to approve unlocking 300billion of frozen Russian assets to help fund its fight against Moscow.

However, there is a debate raging around whether using these funds is legal, which is threatening to stall any effort to provide Ukraine with much-needed cash. It comes amid claims Kyiv could face a $150billion-$170billion 'budget gap' in the next three years, Mr Yatsenyuk warned.

A Russian soldier is seen training to assault through trenches before heading to Ukraine

The former economist insisted Ukraine should legally be supplied with the frozen assets, saying: 'Russia committed an act of aggression. Russia commits atrocities and crimes against humanity in Ukraine.

'So, it is about justice whether we can bring Russia to justice, and the confiscation of the Russian assets is the best way to show that the world will not give any kind of leeway to Russia and that the world will punish Russia for everything Russia has committed.'

Speaking of China, he added: 'China is interested in the defeat of Ukraine and defeat of the western world.'

Over the weekend, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had launched more than 50 missiles and around 500 attack drones overnight Saturday and into Sunday morning.

At least five people lost their lives in the strikes and around 10 people were left injured, the president added.

The regions of Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zaporizhzhia, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, Odesa, and Kirovohrad all targeted.
Chilling new footage shows the extremist behind the Manchester synagogue terror attack just seconds before he carried out his atrocity.

Just yards from the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, Jihad Al-Shamie's battered hatchback can be seen driving to where worshippers are gathering at around 9.30am.

Moments earlier a man in a light brown coat and wearing a black backpack - believed to be Al-Shamie - can been seen walking furtively towards the synagogue and then away from it.

Al-Shamie had been confronted by security and left, returning shortly afterwards after fetching his car, a black Kia Picanto with a distinctive missing rear wheel trim.

Seconds after it is visible being driven past in new footage obtained by the Daily Mail, the Syrian-born 35-year-old extremist attempted to smash his way inside the building as Rabbi David Walker and courageous congregants barricaded the doors.

Within seven minutes of being called, armed police - visible pulling up in the clip - shot Al-Shamie, with hero worshipper Adrian Daulby, 53, tragically being fatally hit by a bullet as he tried to keep him out.

A second member of the congregation, 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz, suffered fatal injuries after being attacked in the road by the knifeman.

A man wearing a black backpack believed to be Jihad Al-Shamie can been seen walking furtively towards Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall less than 30 minutes before launching his murderous attack last Thursday

Jihad Al-Shamie's black Kia hatchback drives along Middleton Road in Crumpsall at 9.30am last Thursday morning, seconds before ploughing into Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue before launching an attack which left two worshippers dead (time stamp is incorrect)

A passer-by flees as panic sets in once Al-Shamie launches his murderous attack on Yom Kippur

Armed police and fire crews were on the scene of the synagogue attack in Manchester, with attacker Jihad Al-Shamie shot dead just seven minutes after the first 999 call

The mayhem, staged on the Yom Kippur - the holiest day on the Jewish calendar - saw the 35-year-old knifeman ram his car into a crowd of people before then trying to 'stab everyone in sight'.

Seven minutes after the bloodshed began, Syrian-born Al-Shamie was shot dead by police, who at the time feared he was wearing an explosive suicide device - which later proved to be fake.

It comes after earlier footage which appears to capture the weight-lifting terrorist in the minutes before his attack.

That clip, filmed on doorbell camera, seems to show bearded Al-Shamie walking down a road following an earlier confrontation outside the synagogue, in which he was told to leave.

The suspected Islamist extremist, who was on bail for rape at the time of the attack, was recorded at 9.22am walking in a yellow coat.

Then, at 9.26am, Al-Shamie is seen driving towards the synagogue in a black Kia Picanto, which matched the one he used to ram into worshippers.

Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, was reportedly caught on camera moments before heading off to carry out his terror attack on Thursday morning

The attacker was caught on camera armed with a knife trying to get into the synagogue

Emergency services were alerted to the chaos at 9.31am, with firearms officers arriving at the scene and killing the 35-year-old within seven minutes.

Two Jewish men Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, died in the attack, the latter believed to have been hit by police gunfire as firearms officers shot Al-Shamie.

Three people remain in hospital, while police have detained four people on suspicion of terror offences.

Mr Daulby was among those bravely attempting to keep the doors of the worship centre closed during Al-Shamie's knife rampage.

His family last week paid tribute to him, hailing Mr Daulby as a 'down to earth man whose final act was to save others'.

'Adrian Daulby was a hero and tragically lost his life in the act of courage to save others, he will forever be remembered for his heroic act on Thursday 2 October 2025,' they said in a statement on Friday.

'The family is shocked by the tragic, sudden death of such a lovely down to earth man.

'His final act was one of profound courage and he will forever be remembered for his heroic act on Thursday 2 October 2025.'

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Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, was shot dead minutes after he targeted Heaton Park Synagogue

Greater Manchester Police confirmed two innocent victims sheltering in the synagogue were hit by rounds discharged by armed officers.

The force said: 'Adrian was one of the brave worshippers attending the synagogue at the time of incident and prevented the attacker from gaining access to the premises.

'It is currently believed that Adrians injury may sadly have been sustained as a tragic and unforeseen consequence of the urgently required action taken by our officers to bring a vicious attack to an end.'

Brian Bell, the synagogue's chief executive, previously claimed Mr Daulby was one of those shot, having put his life on the line to courageously protect the terrified worshippers trapped inside.

'He was an unassuming member of the synagogue who actually rose to the terrible danger, because he ran to close all the doors, back and front,' Mr Bell said.

He added it was while the 'gentle' 53-year-old was holding one of the doors closed that he was shot during the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.

Another man, Yoni Finlay was also reportedly shot while trying to barricade the door, according to his family.

The 35-year-old was hit in the chest and is now recovering after having undergone major surgery on Thursday evening, his 15-year-old son, Uriel, said.

Speaking to ITV News, the teenager - who was at home asleep during the terror attack - said: 'I spoke to Rabbi Walker, he told me that he and my dad barricaded the doors with a couple of other people and, in the process of the armed police shooting the terrorist, one of the bullets hit my dad in the chest.

Yoni Finlay (right) saved lives by helping to barricade the door of Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue during Thursday's terrorist attack, his son Uriel (now 15) said

'He was shot accidentally by a bullet that went through the door.'

The schoolboy added: 'My dad is a complete hero, he saved so many lives, and I'll never, ever forget that.'

Rabbi Daniel Walker was among those who attempted to barricaded the door to the synagogue and was later hailed a 'hero' for his efforts.

Four people have been detained on suspicion of terror offences.

On Sunday, counter terror police were granted more time to hold them in custody, as investigators continue their work to understand 'the full picture' of what happened, a spokesman for Counter Terrorism Policing North West said.

Two other people, a man and a woman, were released without charge after they were arrested on the day of the attack.

On Thursday evening, pro-Palestine activists were branded 'disgusting' for staging anti-Israel rallies in Manchester and London hours after the terror attack.

Activists also ignored pleas to postpone a major demonstration in London on Saturday, in which some almost 500 people were arrested.

Organisers of the protest, Defend Our Juries, said 1,000 people attended the event to 'oppose genocide and the Palestine Action ban'.

Palestine Action was proscribed as a terror group by the government earlier this year.
Donald Trump's critics have claimed that he has 'lost it' after he said he warned about Osama bin Laden before he masterminded the 9/11 attacks.

The President was addressing navy officers in Norfolk, Virginia, on Sunday when he praised the SEALs who stormed Bin Laden's compound and 'put a bullet in his head.'

Then, Trump added that he 'had to take a little credit' for warning about the Al-Qaeda chief a year before the attack on the World Trade Center.

'And please remember I wrote about Osama bin Laden exactly one year ago, one year before he blew up the World Trade Center,' the president continued. 'And I said, 'You got to watch Osama bin Laden.'

'And the fake news would never let me get away with that statement unless it was true.'

Trump was referencing his book The America We Deserve, which he co-wrote with Dave Shiflett and was published in January 2000. It did not make any warning about Bin Laden, only referring to him once in general terms.

Trump also said he had spoken with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth about Bin Laden. Though it is unclear when the conversation may have taken place, as Hegseth was a young man in college when the book was published.

'But I can tell you there's a page in there devoted to the fact that I saw somebody named Osama bin Laden and I didn't like it, and you've gotta take care of him. They didn't do it. A year later, he blew up the World Trade Center,' Trump told the troops.

Donald Trump said on Sunday that he warned of 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden in a book he co-wrote a year and a half before the deadly terrorist attacks

Trump at his Mar-a-Lago home in 2000, the year when his book 'The America We Deserve' was published. An excerpt from the book does mention Bin Laden

Bin Laden was well known to US authorities before the 9/11 attacks. He was on the FBI's most wanted fugitives list for his role in a string of bombings in 1998 targeting US embassies

'So, [I] gotta take a little credit because nobody else is going to give it to me. You know the old story: If they don't give you credit, just take it yourself.'

The White House did not immediately respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment seeking an explanation for Trump's comments.

The President's critics erupted online after clips of his speech went viral for the eyebrow-raising claims about Bin Laden.

'What the f***ing f*** is this maniac talking about. He told Pete Hegseth about Osama bin Laden a year before 9/11??? Pete Hegseth was a 20-year-old college kid a year before 9/11. Trump needs to be removed from office. He's completely lost it,' one X user rattled off.

CNN's resident 'fact-checker' Daniel Dale also vigorously pushed back on Trump's claims.

'The president claimed his 2000 book warned the authorities they needed to deal with Osama bin Laden. Pure fiction. The book has no Bin Laden warning. Which people have noted since 2015. Because Trump has told the same fake story for ten years,' Dale wrote on Monday.

'Does Trump even know what year it is?' California Governor Gavin Newsom questioned after Trump's Bin Laden claim quickly went viral.

Still, the President did indeed make a passing reference to the jihadist in his book.

Trump also said he had spoken with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth about Bin Laden. Hegseth was a young man in college when the President's book was published in 2000

His book refers to 'a shadowy figure with no fixed address named Osama bin Laden'

Trump at a signing event for his book in January 2000

'One day we're all assured that Iraq is under control, the UN inspectors have done their work, everything's fine, not to worry,' the book states.

'The next day the bombing begins. One day we're told that a shadowy figure with no fixed address named Osama bin Laden is public enemy number one, and US jet fighters lay waste to his camp in Afghanistan. He escapes back under some rock, and a few news cycles later it's on to a new enemy and new crisis.'

The terrorist mastermind was well known to federal authorities at the time of the attacks.

In fact, he was on the FBI's most wanted fugitive list for his role in a string of bombings in 1998 that targeted US embassies around the globe.
Environmental activist Greta Thunberg has been given a hero's welcome after arriving in Greece following her deportation from Israel.

Thunberg, 22, was one of more than 70 activists, lawyers and journalists of different nationalities who were deported after they were seized aboard an intercepted Gaza aid flotilla.

She landed at Athens International Airport to an awaiting crowd of hundreds, who all cheered and chanted 'Free Palestine' and 'Long live the flotilla' as she walked through them holding a bunch of flowers.

The defiant activist smiled and raised her fist as she marched through the crowd.

She called the Global Sumud Flotilla 'the biggest ever attempt to break Israel's illegal and inhumane siege by sea'.

'That this mission has to exist is a shame,' she added, urging the world to act to prevent Israel's 'genocide' of the Palestinians.

'We are not even seeing the bare minimum from our governments,' Thunberg said.

Some of her fellow activists who were detained on international water by Israeli troops have claimed they suffered a spate of abuse, ranging from sleep and medication deprivation to beatings, and having automatic rifles pointed at their heads.

They have also said they had dogs set upon them, were forced sleep on the floor, were subjected to insults and were made to watch footage of the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.

But a number of other flotilla members said they noticed Israeli forces appeared to target Thunberg for harsher treatment.

Greta Thunberg was met by cheering crowds of supporters as she arrived in Athens today

Thunberg and other activists seen walking through Ramon International Airport before being deported

The activist claimed throughout her detention, she had 'little food' and was subjected to 'harsh treatment'

Turkish activist Ersin Celik, who took part in the Freedom Flotilla, said: 'They dragged little Greta [Thunberg] by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others.'

Lorenzo D'Agostino, an Italian journalist, added: 'I saw with my own eyes that they draped an Israeli flag over her while soldiers took selfies with her.

'Greta is a strong and courageous woman, but during detention, she looked deeply shaken.'

An email sent by officials, according to the Guardian, reads: 'The embassy has been able to meet with Greta. She informed of dehydration. She has received insufficient amounts of both water and food.

'She also stated that she had developed rashes which she suspects were caused by bedbugs. She spoke of harsh treatment and said she had been sitting for long periods on hard surfaces.'

'Another detainee reportedly told another embassy that they had seen her [Thunberg] being forced to hold flags while pictures were taken. She wondered whether images of her had been distributed,' the Swedish ministry's official reportedly added.

Saverio Tommasi, an Italian journalist, added: 'I was beaten from the moment we entered the port until the very end.

'Blows to my back, blows to my head  and they [the Israeli soldiers] laughed, laughed at all of it. Anyone who failed to keep their eyes down was punished with a hit to the head.'

Rafael Borrego, a Spanish activist and lawyer, told Reuters: 'At any time that any of us called a police officer, we risked that seven or more fully armed people entered to our cell, as they did on mine, pointing us with weapons at our heads, with dogs ready to attack us, and being dragged to the floor. This happened on a daily basis.'

Israel's foreign ministry has since dismissed all claims of mistreatment of members of the flotilla as 'brazen lies', posting on X on Sunday evening: 'All the detainees' legal rights are fully upheld.'

The national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has said he was 'proud' of the way staff behaved at Ketziot.

He said in a statement on the activists: 'They should get a good feel for the conditions in Ketziot prison and think twice before they approach Israel again.'

The Australia and New Zealand branch of the Global Movement to Gaza, which is part of the flotilla, said the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) had informed the family of an activist that he had received shoulder and rib injuries after being assaulted during his vessel's interception.

It said the DFAT had been told the man was later attacked while in prison, slapped in the face, mocked and verbally abused, denied clean water and kept awake as guards shouted at him throughout the night.

D'Agostino told how Israeli forces ignored their pleas for medication and stormed into their cells in riot gear while holding automatic rifles.

The former mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, echoed these claims, saying that the prison yard by her cell had been decorated with a huge photograph of a bombed-out Gaza, with a caption in Arabic that read: 'Welcome to the new Gaza.'

She said it showed that the jail was 'the prison of a fascist state', adding that when 'we asked for a doctor, we were told that that was for humans'.

Acording to Swedish foreign ministry officials who spoke to people close to the activist, Thunberg spoke of her harsh treatment at the hands of the Israelis

In footage posted to X by the Israel Foreign Ministry, Swedish climate activist Thunberg is seen among those being detained by officials

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg (C) and Brazilian activist Thiago Avila (R), along with other activists, after the Israeli navy intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza on October 1, 2025

Most of the seized activists are being held at Ketziot, also known as the Ansar III prison, a high-security facility in Israel's Negev desert that is ordinarily used to hold Palestinian security prisoners accused of involvement in terrorist activities.

Talking to the Daily Mail, Sharren Haskel, Israel's deputy minister of foreign affairs, said Thunberg wasn't being held in a 'prison' but a 'detention area'.

'Everything that is being provided is quite comfortable and convenient, and is being supervised, but I'm sure they'll try and push more propaganda,' she said in regards to claims that the activist was being treated badly.

Thunberg, 22, was one of 437 activists, parliamentarians and lawyers who set out from Europe to deliver aid to Gaza by breaching Israel's 18-year maritime blockade of the enclave as part of the Freedom Flotilla, comprised of more than 40 vessels.

Most, if not all, of those being released from Israeli detention were set to be flown to Greece, where they will be able to get flights to their home countries, their respective governments said on Sunday.

Those flying out of Israel on Monday include 28 French citizens, 27 Greeks, 15 Italians, and nine Swedes.

Twenty-one Spaniards separately returned to Spain on Sunday from Israel.

The release still leaves several foreigners in Israeli custody, including 28 Spanish nationals.

All had been on board the 45-vessel Global Sumud Flotilla carrying activists and politicians, who had been aiming to get past an Israeli blockade to deliver aid to Gaza, where the United Nations says famine has taken hold.

Israel started intercepting the ships in international waters on Wednesday.

An Israeli official said on Thursday that boats with more than 400 people on board had been prevented from reaching the Palestinian territory.

The Italian and Greek foreign ministries said their released nationals would on Monday fly from Israel to Athens. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on X that the 15 Italians would have assistance for a subsequent transfer to Italy.

France's foreign ministry said the 28 French citizens would be flown to Greece. They accounted for most of the 30 French nationals Israel seized aboard the flotilla.

The Global Sumud Flotilla said its vessels were being boarded by military personnel, as it approached Palestinian territory, with cameras taken offline in a post on social media

Thunberg was part of the controversial convoy of around 43 boats and 500 activists and aid workers sailing on what they describe as a 'peaceful mission' to deliver supplies to Palestinians in Gaza

The Swedish foreign ministry did not say where the Swedes would fly to, but Swedish media said they, too, could be put on the flight to Greece.

A first group of 26 Italians already left Israel on Saturday. But the last 15 had to wait for their judicial expulsion from the country as they refused to sign a form allowing their voluntary release.

Several of the Italians in the first group said after returning to their country that they were subjected to degrading treatment by the Israeli authorities.

Saverio Tommasi, a journalist for the online media site Fanpage, said he was hit in the back and on the head by his Israeli captors.

'We were treated like old monkeys in the worst circuses of the 1920s,' said Tommasi, cited by the Ansa press agency.

Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told AFP that embassy staff in Tel Aviv had been able to visit the nine Swedes in detention.

'Late Sunday, the Israeli authorities informed us that they were set to authorise the Swedish citizens to leave Israel tomorrow (Monday) by plane,' she said.

One of the Spaniards who returned home on Sunday, Rafael Borrego, told reporters that those detained by Israel had suffered 'repeated physical and mental abuse', including receiving blows and being forced to the ground.

Nine members of the Gaza aid flotilla arrived home in Switzerland on Sunday after being deported by Israel, with some alleging they had been subject to inhumane conditions whilst in detention there, the group representing them said.

Israel did not immediately comment on the new allegations.

Its foreign ministry previously described reports that detainees had been mistreated as 'complete lies'.

Nineteen Swiss nationals, including the former mayor of Geneva Remy Pagani, were aboard boats in the flotilla of dozens of vessels that tried to deliver aid to Israeli-blockaded Gaza.

They were taken into custody on Wednesday by Israeli forces who intercepted the flotilla at sea and taken to Israel's Ketziot prison, according to the Waves of Freedom flotilla group.

Nine of the group returned to Geneva on Sunday afternoon.

'The participants condemned the inhumane detention conditions and the humiliating and degrading treatment they suffered upon their arrest and incarceration,' a statement by the group said.

Israel said on Sunday that the legal rights of the activists were being 'fully upheld', that no physical force was used and all detainees were given access to water, food, and restrooms.

Detainees described conditions of sleep deprivation, lack of water and food, as well as some being beaten, kicked, and locked in a cage, the statement added.

Waves of Freedom said it is 'deeply concerned' about the ten Swiss nationals who remain detained by Israel.

On Sunday, the Swiss Embassy in Tel Aviv visited the ten Swiss nationals in prison to provide consular protection.

'All are in relatively good health, given the circumstances,' it said in a statement, adding it is doing everything possible to ensure their prompt return.

The Waves of Freedom said some have gone on hunger strike and appear weakened.
Ex Loose Women star Saira Khan faced a furious backlash from viewers today as she branded flag-raisers 'a bunch of saddos who drink a lot' when backing Gary Neville's claim that 'angry middle-aged white men' are dividing Britain.

Saira, 55, appeared on Jeremy Vine's Channel 5 chat show this morning alongside journalist James Max, 55, as the trio discussed the former Manchester United and England defender's comments.

Neville, 50, posted a video on LinkedIn on Friday - around 24 hours after Syrian-born terrorist Jihad Al-Shamie attacked Jewish worshippers at a synagogue in Manchester - in which he said division is 'mainly created by angry, middle-aged white men, who know exactly what theyre doing'.

After playing the clip, Jeremy asked his panellists for their thoughts, to which Saira replied: 'Well, I agree with him. I really applaud Gary Neville talking about topics that other people just shy away from.

'I'm British-born, born in the 70s and look, flying the flag a lot of people do not have a problem with it and in this country historically we fly flags when it's a national sporting event, jubilees, etc. Nobody has a problem with it, but this just feels, at this time, led by certain groups of people to be divisive and I completely agree with him.'

Host Jeremy, 60, tried to interject to make a comment, but Saira cut him off to continue her rant.

She claimed she recently saw four men at a roundabout 'climbing up a ladder, creating nuisance putting up flags'.

'And do you know what I thought?' she said. 'I thought, it is 2.30 in the afternoon, why are you not in a job? Or why are you not volunteering somewhere? Why are you doing this? Causing a public nuisance and also causing a health hazard.

Ex Loose Women star Saira Khan, 55, branded flag-raisers as 'a bunch of saddos' who 'drink a lot'

Gary Neville (pictured) posted a video on LinkedIn on Friday in which he said division in Britain is 'mainly created by angry, middle-aged white men, who know exactly what theyre doing'

'I'm sorry but down my street where I live there isn't a single flag and you cannot say to me that because we are not flying the flag, we are not patriotic.'

Giving his own thoughts, James said he believes Neville 'makes a point that the flag is being used in a divisive way' and that the State has been 'negligent with how it's managed our flags' which has 'allowed other people to take it for themselves'.

However, he did take aim at Neville for singling out one group as the perpetrators of dividing Britain.

'That being said, when you start saying this is just angry, middle-aged white men then I think that's problematic in itself.

'And I think the second point is that he then goes on to blame Brexit and as soon as you do that you are basically taking away from the power of your argument because you're basically putting your flag up to say well this is what I believe and then you're dividing.

'So, he is being as divisive by his words because of how he's framed his argument and the comments that he makes, some I think are well founded.'

Jeremy then replied: 'It's odd to say these are angry middle-aged white men who are trying to divide us because the word angry suggests they actually really not in control of themselves.'

Saira quickly interrupted him by saying: 'They're not. If you see a lot of men on marches that want these flags up they are white, angry men who are dissatisfied with their own lives so the only way they can do it is by going out and being like that. That's what I see on a lot of these protests.'

Giving his own thoughts, James Max (pictured) said he believes Neville 'makes a point that the flag is being used in a divisive way' and that the State has been 'negligent with how it's managed our flags' which has 'allowed other people to take it for themselves'

Jeremy Vine (pictured) said: 'It's odd to say these are angry middle-aged white men who are trying to divide us because the word angry suggests they actually really not in control of themselves.'

When Jeremy then asked whether she thought the men she saw hanging flags on the roundabout where 'lagered up', she said: 'Well, I was in a car and I saw them and there was evidence that these men probably drink a lot.

'I'm sorry but just by the shape of their bodies, and I don't care if that sounds controversial, I'm making a judgement on their appearance.

'Wearing capes, they had the scarves [flags] wrapped round as capes, as I was kind of filming them and they were giving me gestures and I just thought you're saddos, you're absolute saddos.

'And a lot of people, from my own background, we love the flag, I hold the flag, I'm a massive England fan. My husbands and kid are going to watch England play next year, we're gonna be flagged up, but do we need it every single day? We've never had it, so why now?'

James then added: 'I think also nobody complains if you go down Regent Street or Oxford street and the flag is flying, and so it should be. So, it's about claiming the flag and it being used appropriately by the State because if it was then we wouldn't have this issue where people feel that they have to fly it because they're trying to make a point.'

Angry viewers quickly took to social media to share their own thoughts on the discussion and Saira's comments, with one saying they had to 'turn it off' because they 'couldn't listen to Saira Khan shouting any longer'.

Another said: 'Of course Saira Khan has an axe to grind with our flag. If people choose the United Kingdom for their home they shouldnt have a problem with it. We are flying it now so get use to it. Patriotism has nothing to do with racism

'#jeremyvine why cant your female guest just talk instead of shout and rant, Christ almighty straight out of the left wing playbook,' a third posted.
Two teenagers have been jailed for stabbing a 15-year-old boy to death in a savage gang-related machete attack.

Daejaun Campbell cried out 'I'm 15, don't let me die' as he was ambushed and killed in Woolwich, south-east London, on September 22 last year.

Imri Doue, 18 from Woolwich, has been named today for the first time after a jury convicted him of murdering Daejaun in July following a trial at the Old Bailey.

His co-accused Marko Balaz, 19, from Abbey Wood, south-east London, was convicted of Daejaun's manslaughter and admitted drugs offences.

In a televised sentencing on Monday, Judge Sarah Munro KC handed Doue a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years and handed Balaz 11 years in custody.

Daejaun's mother Joelle Taylor faced her son's killers in court and said: 'I keep asking when will this knife crime epidemic end?

'The reality is actions like yours tear families and communities apart.'

She condemned her son's killers as 'pathetic cowards' and added that her son was let down repeatedly by the system that was 'meant to protect him'.

Daejaun Campbell (pictured) cried out 'I'm 15, don't let me die' after he was ambushed in Woolwich, south-east London , on September 22 last year

Imri Doue (pictured), 18 from Woolwich, has been convicted of murdering Daejaun

Marko Balaz (pictured), 19, from Abbey Wood, south-east London, was convicted of Daejaun's manslaughter and admitted drugs offences

Daejaun was a 'true character' who was playful and cheeky and planning a 'new start' just before he was killed, she said.

Addressing the dock, Mrs Taylor said: 'Your actions have inflicted immense pain on me and my family and I struggle to write something that is not overwhelmed by raw emotion and anger that I feel.'

Mrs Taylor criticised the killers for their 'lack of remorse' and said their sentence should reflect the 'devastation' they had caused.

Speaking outside the court, Mrs Taylor said 'Justice hasn't been served - it will never be.'

In a statement on behalf of Daejaun's family, Shalina Brown said the country's leaders - Sir Keir Starmer, Sir Sadiq Khan and David Lammy - talked of reform 'while our children die'.

She said: 'You talk about unity while your inaction tears families apart.

'You issue condolences, then return to comfort. We live with the aftermath.

'Your words build nothing. Your silence buries everything.'

Ms Brown said 'the system' had not failed but 'abandoned us'.

Daejaun's mother, Joelle Taylor (pictured) condemned her son's killers as 'pathetic cowards' and added that her son was let down repeatedly by the system that was 'meant to protect him'

She said: 'Until it learns to protect the innocent before it comforts the guilty, more mothers will stand where I stand, and more names like Daejaun's will be carved into stone long before their time.

'Those who choose violence are given chances. Those who choose love are given graves.'

In her sentencing remarks, Judge Munro echoed Mrs Taylor's words, telling the court: 'As she rightly says, enough young lives have been lost already.'

Daejaun had been 'sucked in' to a life in which carrying a knife was the 'norm' and the defendants took away his chance to turn away from his 'criminal behaviour', she said.

The court had heard how Daejaun was targeted for a 'gang check' when he was spotted near a house the defendants were visiting.

As he was attacked, he screamed for 'help' and threw a large knife which hit a metal fence and broke apart.

Daejaun fell to his knees in the street having suffered two stab wounds and six superficial cuts.

Doue was caught on video dropping his machete and leaning down to pick it up as he made off.

In a statement on behalf of Daejaun's family, Shalina Brown (pictured) said the country's leaders - Sir Keir Starmer, Sir Sadiq Khan and David Lammy - talked of reform 'while our children die'

Jurors heard the motive for the killing was unclear but that Daejaun had been carrying money and drugs, possibly crack cocaine.

Doue had previous convictions for carrying a 'kukri' style knife in 2021 and having a machete and affray relating to a fight in October 2023 in which a male suffered a cut to his face and a stab wound.

Balaz had previous convictions for carrying knives and possession of cannabis.

Daejaun was friends with aspiring rapper Kelyan Bokassa, 14, nicknamed Grippa, who appeared in a music video entitled Gotta Eat, in which he was seen crouching beside a floral tribute to his murdered friend.

In a separate incident, Kelyan was fatally stabbed in January by two 16-year-old boys with machetes on a bus in Woolwich.

Earlier this year, the two teenagers involved were detained for at least 15 years and 10 months after pleading guilty at the Old Bailey to Kelyan's murder.

Daejaun and Kelyan's murders, though not directly related, bore striking similarities and have resulted in pleas by their families to end the 'senseless killings'.

Previously Kelyan's mother Marie Bokassa made an appeal for authorities to do more to stop the violence, saying: 'Our streets are bleeding'.
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has long faced criticism for being too soft on Vladimir Putin during her 16-years in power, where she tried and ultimately failed to build lasting ties with the authoritarian Russian leader.



The pair, who speak each other's languages fluently and who both grew up in communist states, kept in frequent contact throughout her time in office and were understood to share a grudging respect.

But the 71-year-old, who was in power during Russias 2014 invasion of Ukraine, has consistently faced accusations of cosying up to Moscow and being too slow to help Kyiv.

Most recently, in an explosive interview with Hungarian outlet Partizan, the former chancellor blamed Poland and the Baltic states for Putin's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Merkel, who led the country from 2005 to 2021, said she blamed Poland and the Baltic states for the severance of diplomatic ties between Russia and the EU, which she said led to the invasion just a few months later.

This isn't the first time Merkel's comments and actions in relation to the long-standing conflict between Russia and Ukraine have raised eyebrows.

In 2008, she opposed Ukraine's NATO membership, blocking the country from joining the defensive Western alliance.

Justifying her hesitation surrounding Ukraine's Membership Action Plan years later, Merkel said she had no regrets, arguing that Putin would have interpreted it as a 'declaration of war'.

She insists that if Ukraine had been allowed to join the alliance, Putin's invasion would have happened a lot sooner.

In her memoir, Freedom, published in 2024, she said Ukraine's desire to join NATO should be balanced with security concerns for the military alliance as a whole.

Putin has consistently voiced opposition to Ukraine joining NATO, warning that such a move would have 'very negative' consequences for Europes security and that it would be met with a 'harsh response'.

But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disagreed with Merkel that her decision prevented the war from breaking out earlier.

Merkel and Putin speak each other's languages fluently and both grew up in communist states: she in East Germany, and he an ex-KGB agent stationed there in the 1980s

He described her opposition to Ukraine's NATO membership, backed by then-French President Nicolas Sarkozy, as a clear 'miscalculation' that emboldened the Kremlin.

In another heavily criticised move, Germany built two gas pipelines directly linked to Russia under Merkel's leadership - making the nation's industries dependent on Moscow.

By 2020, Russia supplied more than half of Germany's natural gas and roughly a third of all the oil used to heat homes, fuel vehicles and power factories.

The then-chancellor said the pipelines would promote German business interests and secure a peaceful relationship with Russia.

But fellow EU and NATO members in eastern Europe strongly opposed the move, while Polish MP, Radoslaw Fogiel, said German gas money funded Russia's war on Ukraine.

German businesses were subsequently crippled when sanctions against Russia were introduced, forcing the country to search for other, expensive supplies.

In November 2024, Merkel's made her last visit to Moscow before stepping down as leader.

It marked her 20th trip to Moscow following a series of earlier visits with the Russian president - one of which ended in a humiliating spectacle for the 71-year-old.

Angela Merkel claimed that Vladimir Putin had deliberately brought along his pet Connie to their first meeting in an attempt to intimidate and unnerve her, knowing she was scared of dogs

She has now claimed she believes Putin enjoyed her discomfort at the 2007 meeting in Sochi

In the middle of their talks at Putin's Sochi summer residence in 2007, Merkel claimed that Putin had deliberately brought along his pet Labrador Connie in an attempt to intimidate and unnerve her.

Merkel had once been bitten by a dog and has been scared of them ever since.

'I don't think the dog will scare you,' Putin said, as he pulled Connie away.

The Russian leader, at the time, dismissed the claims that he deliberately tried to scare her, telling German publication Bild: 'I did not know anything about that,' when quizzed on his intentions.

The incident became infamous in Germany with claims that it was part of a power strategy by Putin to gain an advantage in their all-important talks.

At a previous meeting in 2006, the Russian president was understood to have gifted Merkel a small black and white stuffed toy dog, as if to prepare her for the unwelcome meeting with Connie a year later.

Speaking to The Times, Merkel claimed he knew perfectly well that she was frightened of dogs.

'I could tell from Putin's facial expressions,' she said, 'that he was enjoying the situation'.

In a recent interview with Partizan, Merkel argued that Poland's refusal to support the Minsk Agreements - a pair of key international agreements between Russia and the EU - emboldened Putin to properly invade Ukraine in 2022.

Following the secession of Donetsk and Luhansk, two Ukrainian regions that broke away from the country to become what Russia calls its republics, representatives from the two countries and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) signed the first Minsk agreement in September 2014.

This agreement sought to establish a ceasefire between Russia, Ukraine and the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR).

Merkel claimed that the first Minsk agreement 'brought about calm' between 2015 and 2021 and gave Ukraine, which had been defeated by Russia during a summer counter-offensive in 2015 that aimed to take back its land, time to 'gather strength' and 'become a different country'.

The initial agreement didn't appear to hold any sway with Putin, or his lackeys in Donetsk and Luhansk.

By January 2015, just four months after the first Minsk agreement was signed, Russia and the DPR had engaged in a heavy battle with Ukrainian forces despite the Kremlin's interests being met.

Minsk II was signed the following month, which also did not prevent further fighting. Between 2015 and 2021, Russian forces had killed or wounded more than 5,000 Ukrainian troops in defiance of the ceasefire agreement.

But Merkel said that it was only by 2021 that she 'felt that Putin was no longer taking the Minsk Agreement seriously.

'That's why I wanted a new format where we could speak directly with Putin as the European Union.

'Some people didn't support this. These were primarily the Baltic states, but Poland was also against it'.

She added that these four nations were 'afraid' that 'we wouldn't have a common policy towards Russia'.

Merkel dismissively added in the interview, which was translated into German and then English: 'In any case, it didn't come to fruition. Then I left office, and then Putin's aggression began.'

A view of a burning industrial park where humanitarian goods were stored, after a Russian attack on Lviv, Ukraine on October 5, 2025

At least five civilians died after Russia launched drones, missiles and guided aerial bombs at Ukraine on Saturday night into Sunday, in a major attack that officials there said targeted civilian infrastructure.

Moscow fired 53 ballistic and cruise missiles and 496 drones, Ukraines air force said. President Zelensky reported that nine regions were targeted.

Four people, including a 15-year-old, died in a combined drone and missile strike on Lviv, according to regional officials and Ukraines emergency service.

It was the largest aerial assault on the historic western city and surrounding region since Russias full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, according to Maksym Kozytskyi, head of the local military administration. Earlier in the war, Lviv was seen as a haven from the fighting and destruction farther east.

In a Telegram post, Kozytskyi said Russia launched about 140 Shahed drones and 23 ballistic missiles across the region.

At least six more people were injured, according to a statement by Ukraines police force.
An aspiring lawmaker in Maine has touted claims that 5G cell phone technology causes Covid-19 and that Obamacare was set up as a child-trafficking operation.

Justin Cartier, a longtime resident of Bangor who is running for City Council, shared a series of posts on his now-deleted X account promoting a range of wild beliefs.

His bio on the social media platform read that he was 'Tired of he [sic] uniparty and the woke agendas of the Blackrock Pedo Puppets,' Bangor Daily News reported.

Cartier confirmed to the outlet that the account belonged to him before it was deleted less than 24 hours later.

His account reportedly reposted the 5G and Obamacare conspiracy theories, as well as claims that Jewish people control politics and society.

When asked about his post stating that 5G causes Covid-19, Cartier told the outlet that 'there's interesting coincidences.'

'Like in 1918 when the Spanish influenza first started, that's when we rolled out AM/FM radio,' he said.

'And if you follow the rollouts of each thing, including radar, coming out, there's different sicknesses that started at the same time. Are they related? I don't know.'

Cartier also referenced videos of people comparing the growth of plants that are placed next to Wi-Fi 'signals,' claiming that 'we're basically turning our children into guinea pigs by putting all these cell phone towers and 5G transmitters on top of all the schools.'

Justin Cartier, a longtime resident of Bangor who is running for City Council, wrote on X that he was tired of 'the woke agendas'

Cartier claimed that 'we're basically turning our children into guinea pigs by putting all these cell phone towers and 5G transmitters on top of all the schools'

'The amount of funding we have to do for our special ed at our schools here in Bangor is huge. And what is contributing to that? Could that be a piece of the puzzle?'

The Food and Drug Administration has found no consistent or credible scientific evidence of health problems caused by the exposure to cell phone radio frequency.

Cartier also re-shared a video of a public commenter at a local school committee meeting who criticized diversity, equity and inclusion and declared the LGBTQ+ community a 'pedophilic degenerate cult,' Bangor Daily News reported.

'Reposting a video doesn't necessarily mean I agree with everything,' he told the outlet.

'It could have been to create discussion around it. But there's certainly unelected elites, I don't know what religious affiliation any of them would have, that are in control of the world as we know it... I think it's just to create discussion and ask, "What if?"'

Cartier, who said he is not currently registered with a political party, will face eight other candidates in his City Council race.

The candidate, who ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for a Maine House seat, said his goals include lowering taxes and using his personal addiction recovery experience to help Bangor overcome its biggest challenges.

Cartier was convicted of four misdemeanors between 2003 and 2013 that he attributed to his alcohol addiction, the outlet reported.

'The city was such a wonderful place to grow up. It was safe, it was clean. It's not the same safe city it once was,' he said.

Cartier was convicted of four misdemeanors between 2003 and 2013 that he attributed to his alcohol addiction

His goals include lowering taxes and using his personal addiction recovery experience to help Bangor (pictured) overcome its biggest challenges

Cartier's account reposted content that claimed Obamacare was created for child-trafficking purposes. Pictured: Former President Barack Obama

'Our taxes are getting out of control and a lot of my neighbors are having trouble putting food on the table to cover the increase in taxes.'

Cartier said budget cuts could be made to allow for the funding of mental health services and peer recovery programs, noting his personal experience with addiction and homelessness allows for a unique perspective.

'The same things that made me an addict are the same things that make me very good at carpentry, which is my chosen business today, and the same things that will make me good as a City Councilor,' he told Bangor Daily News.

'I don't give up. I don't let up. I keep coming.'
A young make-up artist has died after inhaling nitrous oxide balloons which left her with fatal blood clots on her heart and lungs.

Amy Louise Leonard, 20, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, had been puffing on the party drug commonly known as 'laughing gas' before being hospitalised on September 29.

The beautician admitted to her mother she had been using the gas shortly after falling ill, but tragically it was too late as doctors uncovered the clots on her vital organs.

Despite the efforts of medics Amy died after three days in their care, turning her devastated mother Catrina Proctor's life upside down.

Ms Proctor said her daughter had been staying at a hotel and was planning on going out with her friends when she collapsed.

She said: 'I didn't know that Amy Lou had been admitted to hospital until someone told me. I went straight there and asked her what had happened.'

The 39-year-old said her daughter then revealed she had been 'using balloons' full of nitrous oxide, which is currently classified as a Class C drug in Britain with those found using or supplying it facing criminal charges.

The drug gives users burst of euphoria lasting just seconds, with experts warning it can starve the body of oxygen, damage the nervous system and in severe cases lead to paralysis, clots or sudden death.

Amy Louise Leonard, pictured with her baby sister Porscha, had been puffing on the party drug commonly known as 'laughing gas' before being hospitalised on September 29

The beautician, pictured with her nephew Clayton, admitted to her mother she had been using the drug shortly after falling ill, but tragically it was too late

Amy, pictured with her baby sister Porscha, died after three days in care at Bolton Hospital

Ms Proctor said Amy had been complaining about pain in her legs before her death, which the grief-stricken mother now attributes to her use of laughing gas.

Amy, who was in a car crash in 2021 which left her with an ankle injury, had also been battling with her mental health in the months leading up to her death.

Ms Proctor said: 'Amy went to the gym quite a lot and was very active, so when she started to feel pains in her legs I told her she needed to go to the doctors, but she was quite stubborn.

'She kept saying it was low iron - but that wasn't true. The pain was from what the nitrous oxide was doing to her body.'

The heartbroken mother also told how Amy's condition quickly deteriorated, saying: 'She collapsed on Tuesday and couldn't speak. The doctors at Bolton Hospital were keeping her alive.

'It was so scary, I was just thinking it was a dream. She suffered cardiac arrests a couple of times and she passed on Thursday.

'We knew that even if Amy-Lou did come out of this induced coma, it might not look good because she was already starved of oxygen.'

Paying tribute to her daughter, who was one of four children, Ms Proctor added: 'Amy Lou was the life of the room and would always make people feel welcome, she was just so bubbly and happy.

Catrina Proctor, pictured centre left, has revealed her heartbreak after her daughter's death

Ms Proctor said Amy, pictured as a young dancer, was 'so happy' and 'the life of the room'

Ms Proctor said Amy, pictured, suffered multiple cardiac arrests and was 'starved of oxygen'

'She was doing really well with her make-up and was getting really good at it. She started working at the Crown of Beauty on Bury Road in Bolton this summer.'

Ms Proctor is now calling for stronger action against shops selling nitrous oxide and is raising awareness about the dangers of the drug.

She said: 'I didn't know anything about balloons. I've seen them on the street, but that's it. I wish I'd have known when Amy-Lou told me she was low on iron that balloons were the real reason causing her legs to be sore.

'I don't want this to happen to any other family. Balloons are not harmless. What's wrong with just enjoying yourself with friends, without having to take drugs? What's wrong with a couple of wines and having a dance?'

'This is not a good way to enjoy yourself - it only offers a three-second high.'

The family have launched a GoFundMe after the tragedy to help with unexpected funeral costs. They are planning a pink-themed service to honour Amy.

Ms Proctor added: 'She loved pink. We're planning a pink balloon release on Saturday this week and at some point next year we're hoping to get the Blackpool Tower lit up pink, because it was one of her favourite places.'
A brave Wisconsin brother was fatally shot after leaping into action to protect his pregnant sister when her boyfriend opened fire on them.

Tyler Sadowski, 20, was gunned down in Barron while trying to save his 17-year-old sister, Makayla, from the gunman on Wednesday, police said.

The unidentified suspect, who officials confirmed was Makayla's boyfriend, shot the pregnant teen in the stomach before turning the gun on himself.

Tyler was found dead at the scene, while Makayla and the boyfriend were rushed to the hospital. Their conditions were unclear, but family said the baby miraculously survived.

The siblings' cousin, Shanay Conyers, told KARE 11 that the two had just returned home Wednesday when 'they heard like a pop, so Tyler went to go see what was happening.'

That's when Makayla's boyfriend opened fire, killing Tyler and wounding the seven-month-pregnant teen, the cousin said.

'She was expecting, so they had to take the baby, and the baby is stable,' Conyers explained.

'Makayla was in surgery for quite a while [on Wednesday]. She has been surgery again [on Thursday]. They expect to have to do another surgery [on Friday].'

Conyers said the siblings' mother had been waiting in the car outside the home with Makayla's two-year-old daughter.

Tyler Sadowski, 20, was fatally shot in Barron while trying to protect his pregnant 17-year-old sister

Tyler's sister, Makayla, was seven months pregnant when she was shot in the stomach by her boyfriend

Another cousin of the two, Isela Sadowski, created a GoFundMe that described Tyler's 'heroic act of love.'

'In a heroic act of love, Tyler stepped in to protect his sister. In doing so, he lost his life. Tyler was only 20 years old, a young man full of kindness, laughter, and light,' the fundraiser stated.

'He was the sweetest son, brother, and uncle, always ready to lend a hand, always putting family first.

'Losing him has left a hole in our hearts that can never be filled.'

Conyers described Sadowski as 'probably the nicest, sweetest person you would ever meet.'

'Always a smile. The most contagious laugh. He wouldn't ever hurt a person. So, to hear out of everyone it was Tyler is really hard,' she told KARE11.

In a gruesome twist, Makayla's boyfriend posted a video of the attack on SnapChat, the Barron County Sheriff's Department said.

'That's gotta tell you something right there,' Conyers told KARE11. 'If you post something like that, you definitely a violent person.'

The shooter was discovered at the scene with a self-inflicted gunshot wound

'He was the sweetest son, brother, and uncle, always ready to lend a hand, always putting family first,' Tyler's cousin said

Sadowski's mother and Makayla's two-year-old daughter were waiting in the car when the shooter opened fire

The Turtle Lake Public School District issued a warning to parents that their children may have seen or received the clip.

'He apparently shared a graphic video of the shooting on Snapchat, where some Turtle Lake students could have received the message and could be upset,' the district said in a statement.

'Please talk to your children tonight about this incident. Our counselor will be available tomorrow to discuss any needs your child may have.'

The shooter was reported to have last been an enrolled student in the school district's middle school four years ago.

He was expected to be charged after being discharged from hospital, police said.
Furious residents of a quaint North Carolina town say they have had enough after enduring years of loud parties, car races and gunshots ruining their sleepy neighborhood.

Locals in Heritage Village in Harnett County say they have been plagued by unruly gangs of youths tearing apart the streets and hosting raucous parties late into the night.

Angela Crossman, 59, described 'squealing tires' constantly bombarding her quiet retirement, and told Fox8 her reports to law enforcement have fallen on deaf ears.

'Im miserable because Harnett County wont do their job,' she said.

Crossman said the county's noise ordinance policies are intended to give repeat offenders fines up to $500, but cops have largely ignored the noisy intruders despite locals' complaints.

She said she has contacted the Harnett County Sheriff's Office numerous times without any action being taken, and appeared emotional as she pleaded: 'I'm just asking them to do their job.'

The unruly locals are not being cited because they're 'not hurting anyone', Crossman said she was told, as she fumed: 'At the very least, give them a citation, smack them on the wrist.'

Furious residents of Heritage Village, a quaint North Carolina town, say they have had enough after enduring years of loud parties, car races and gunshots ruining their sleepy neighborhood

Locals in Heritage Village in Harnett County say they have been plagued by unruly gangs of youths tearing apart the streets and hosting raucous parties, as resident Angela Crossman, 59, (pictured) said she has been left 'miserable'

Crossman said she has been left 'miserable' by the boisterous locals, and said it has been 'driving me crazy.'

She said she moved into Heritage Village several years ago in hopes of settling down and retiring in a community long-term, but her plans were ruined by the constant noise.

'You dont make a large purchase of a house intending to spend the next 30 years being miserable,' she said.

Crossman said she is disturbed by rowdiness on any given day, a nuisance that was not just reserved for late at night as it occurs randomly during the daytime as well.

Asked what she has to put up with, she said: 'Loud, booming music from the neighbors, gunshots, cars running up and down the road, squealing tires.'

She said deputies have visited her street after several complaints, but says she was told 'there's basically nothing they can do.'

'Its up to them whether they cite them. As long as its not hurting anyone, its okay.'

Locals described 'loud, booming music from the neighbors, gunshots, cars running up and down the road, squealing tires' disturbing them at all hours of the day

Crossman said her home (pictured) has been plagued by the constant disturbances

Crossman said she is disturbed by rowdiness on any given day and time, a constant niusance that has been 'driving me crazy'

Asked about her complaints of gunshots, Crossman claims she was told that her neighbors are 'within their rights' to fire off shots on their own property, per Fox8.

'They dont care about their neighborhood. Thats what drives me crazy,' she said.

Crossman is not alone in her complaints about the street, with social media users sharing their experiences after the 59-year-old came forward with her reports.

A Facebook user said her grandmother also lives in Heritage Village, and described it as having 'gotten pretty bad' in recent times with constant disturbances.

'She moved into the wrong neighborhood if she wanted peace,' one local commented.

Another said Crossman was 'definitely in the wrong neighborhood for peace and quiet.'

The Daily Mail has contacted the Harnett County Sheriff's Office for comment.
A 14-year-old boy suspected of shooting six teens in a city centre sent a chilling text to his social worker after carrying out the attack.

The teenager reportedly sent the message, reading: 'Check the news hehe', before he was reported missing hours after the shooting in Gavle, Sweden, on Saturday.

Local media reports claim the suspected shooter was already on the police's radar and that he did not want to reveal his plans on Saturday to social services after they reached out following concerns he was hanging out in the wrong circles and that he would commit an act of violence.

Gunfire broke out at around 2am in the Soder area of the port city which is lined with bars and restaurants, sparking a huge emergency response.

Photos from the scene showed police swarming the city centre and cordoning off the street as victims were carried to ambulances.

Witnesses have said the gunman fired his pistol at close range straight into a crowd of people standing outside some restaurants on Sodra Kungsgatan, Expressen reports.

The teenager was arrested shortly after the shooting, near the crime scene. He was quizzed over the incident by police over the weekend.

The victims are not believed to have been intended targets, and according to the investigation, the shooting is suspected to be gang related, as per Expressen.

Photos from the scene on Saturday show police swarming the city centre and cordoning off the street as victims were carried to ambulances

He is suspected of six counts of attempted murder and aggravated weapons offences, police said.

Detectives working on the case have confirmed they have a 'relatively good' idea of the timeline of evets but are yet to find a motive.

Police spokesperson Tobias Ahlen Svalbro said: 'We have questioned a lot of witnesses and we have more witnesses to hear during the day.'

The victims, mostly young adults but including people under 18, were all taken to hospital, Ahlen-Svalbro added.

Of the six who were shot, none suffered life-threatening injuries, while two of the injured were released from the hospital on Saturday.

Shariar Rad, who owns a restaurant just yards from where the shots were fired, told how his staff had taken in three of the wounded before ambulances arrived at the scene.

Residents at the described their shock, with one woman telling local radio: 'You don't really want to be out late at night.

'You're worried about your children. What a society we've created. It's crazy.'

Another witness added: 'It feels terrible. Six people are being shot a few meters away from me.'

Sweden's Minister of Justice Gunnar Strommer said: 'Victims of crime, their loved ones, and all the people in Gavle who wake up today to grim headlines and feel worry and fear about the violence and what it is doing to our society.

'The act is yet another dark example of the significant capacity for violence among criminals and the constant risks of new violent acts simmering beneath the surface.'

Gavle, home to around 80,000 people, is 86 miles north of Stockholm and is Sweden's 13th largest city.
Gisele Pelicot returned to court in France today to face one of her rapists as he appealed his conviction, but her daughter was nowhere to be seen after the two women stopped speaking following a rift during the first trial.

The 72-year-old, whose story shocked the world, was surrounded by police, her lawyers and her son Florian as she arrived at the courthouse in Nimes.

The only rapist left challenging his conviction for abusing Gisele is claiming he was 'trapped' by her husband.

Last year, 44-year-old Husamettin Dogan was sentenced to nine years in prison for raping Gisele after her husband, Dominique, invited him via an online chatroom to abuse her while she was unconscious.

While Gisele was accompanied by relatives as she made her way into the court, her daughter, Caroline Darian, did not attend. The pair have not spoken since the first trial, when Darian accused her mother of turning the tragedy into a 'spectacle.'

Once a close supporter, she stood by her mother through the harrowing 2024 trial of Dominique Pelicot, Gisele's husband and the man branded the Monster of Avignon.

He was jailed for 20 years for drugging, raping and arranging for dozens of men to assault his wife over nearly a decade.

But behind the courtroom scenes, Darian said she felt pushed aside and hurt by her mother's actions.

The 46-year-old communications manager from Paris has since spoken publicly about their falling out, describing how she felt 'abandoned' as her mother's case gained worldwide attention.

She said the breaking point came when her mother told her to 'stop making a spectacle of yourself' after she shouted insults at her father as his sentence was read out.

She had yelled: 'You will die alone like a dog in jail!' in fury at the man she says destroyed both their lives.

Although she never spoke of it during the trial, Darian later revealed she believes she, too, was abused by her father.

Gisele Pelicot returned to court once again to hear the appeal of one of the men convicted of raping her. She was accompanied by her son, Florian

Gisele's daughter, Caroline Darian, who had supported her during the first trial, was nowhere to be found during today's hearing

She said she came to that realisation after police discovered disturbing material on his computer, including thousands of explicit videos and images of Gisele being attacked, and a deleted folder named 'My Daughter Naked.'

In that file, officers found two photos of Darian, then in her thirties, asleep in beige underwear she did not recognise.

'I do not sleep in that position. I have never seen that specific pair of underwear before, and I would never have gone to bed dressed like that,' she told investigators.

Convinced by what she saw, Darian told the court that she too had 'probably been raped and abused' by her father.

She said her mother refused to accept the possibility, assuring her: 'Your father is incapable of such a thing.'

Darian said she and her brothers begged their father to tell the truth about the photos, but he always denied it.

She believes her mother could have persuaded him to confess, but instead stayed silent. 'And that, I can never forgive her for, never,' she told The Telegraph.

After the trial, as Gisele became a global symbol for survivors of sexual violence, Darian said she felt forgotten and erased from the story.

'Gisele was certainly raped. She was chemically subdued, of course. The only difference between Gisele and me is that for her, there is proof. For me, it's an absolute tragedy,' she told the court.

She added that despite her mother's fame, 'my mother isn't an icon - not to me.'

Darian said her pain is 'two-fold' because while her mother chose Dominique as a husband, she had no choice in being his daughter.

She said she has accepted that they will never be close again. She added that if she were to bump into her at a supermarket, she would just say hello and goodbye.

Gisele Pelicot was seen arriving in a French court today. She was not mandated to attend today's hearing, but chose to do so

Caroline Darian during a hearing for her father's rape case in November 2024. She said she felt 'abandoned' during the first trial

Gisele is now living with her new partner, a former Air France steward named Jean-Loup, but Darian said she failed to 'fulfil her contract as a mother' to her.

While her daughter kept her distance, Pelicot returned to court to confront one of the men who violated her.

Dogan, one of 51 men found guilty of rape at Dominique's invitation, argues that he was misled into believing she had consented. His defence team said he plans to appeal both his conviction and his sentence during the trial in Nimes, which runs from Monday to Thursday.

'He maintains that he never went to the couple's home with the intention of raping anyone,' one of his lawyers, Jean-Marc Darrigade, said. 'He is deeply affected by the fact that he could be labelled as a rapist.'

Darrigade said Dogan's fight is not with the main plaintiff, whom he 'respects deeply,' but with Dominique, 'the cynical man who trapped him.'

Gisele was not required to attend today's hearing, but chose to be there. Dogan, who appeared at the first trial using a walking stick, is still technically a free man as his appeal has suspended his sentence.

The Turkish man, who has arthritis and appeared at the first trial using a walking stick, is technically still a free man as his appeal has put his prison sentence on hold.

'I'm not a rapist,' the construction worker said during the first trial. 'This is too much for me to bear. He's her husband. I never thought that guy could do this to his wife.'

Pictured: Painter and decorator Husamettin Dogan, 44, at the court today. He was sentenced to nine years in prison last year for raping Pelicot after her then husband, Dominique Pelicot, invited him via an online chatroom to abuse her while she was unconscious

Dogan visited the Pelicot family home once, in June 2019.

During the first trial, he was at first not prepared to accept the charges against him.

He said Dominique sent him a message saying he was part of a sexually adventurous couple and they were seeking someone to take part in sex while his wife 'pretended to sleep'.

He says he received a message, supposedly from Pelicot, saying she agreed to him coming over. Dogan then headed over to their home in the small southern town of Mazan that same evening, where he was led into the main bedroom.

'I started foreplay, I saw she didn't react. I said, 'She's dead, your wife.' (Dominique Pelicot) said, 'No, you're imagining it.' He penetrated her and she lifted up her head a little,' he said.

Dogan said they continued for at least half an hour, until he clearly heard Gisele Pelicot snoring. He then decided to leave, he said.

Reminded by one of the judges of the definition of rape - an act committed 'through violence, constraint, threat or surprise' - he initially conceded.

'I admit it was rape,' he said.

But at the end of the trial in the southern town of Avignon, Dogan again said he was not a rapist.

His lawyer said the appeal hearing would give his client more time to present his case.

'They found that Mrs Pelicot was being controlled' by her then husband, he said. 'Can't we also conceive something similar for the few minutes during which Dogan faced this exceptionally perverse man who mastered all tricks of persuasion?

'I don't think it's offensive to discuss it a second time,' said Darrigade.

Gisele seated inside the court among lawyers as she awaits the hearing

Outside court, a crowd gathered in support of Pelicot holding up signs that read 'Stop rape culture' and 'Support to Gisele'

Dominique Pelicot, 72, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping and organising the mass rape of his wife

Initially, 17 of the 51 convicted men said they would appeal against the verdict, but 16 gradually dropped out, leaving only one appeal.

Pelicot's lawyer, Antoine Camus, said she would have preferred not to face the ordeal of attending another trial but would be present at the four-day trial at Nimes court of appeal.

'She will be there to explain that a rape is a rape, that there is no such thing as a small rape,' Camus told Agence France-Presse.

Dominique was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drugging his former wife and inviting dozens of strangers to rape her while unconscious.

He had had laced his wife's food and drink with tranquilisers to render her unconscious before inviting men he met online to take part in sordid rape and abuse fantasies that he acted out with them and filmed in their retirement home in the small Provence town of Mazan and elsewhere.

The images and footage were only discovered when he was caught in September 2020 upskirting women at a local supermarket, with a subsequent police search of his home revealing the thousands of photos of his wife.

Now serving a prison sentence in solitary confinement, Dominique will appear as a witness at the appeal court trial. He is expected to repeat what he said at the first trial: 'I am a rapist - like everyone else in this room.'

Following the brave waiver of her anonymity during last year's trial, Pelicot has gone on to become a feminist icon across France and the globe.

The former logistics manager, had insisted the first rape trial in 2024 be held in public to raise awareness of drug-induced rape and abuse. 'It's not for us to have shame, it's for them,' she said in court.
A gang responsible for exporting almost half of the mobile phones stolen on Britain's streets has been dismantled in an extraordinary sting operation.

Scotland Yard's commissioner hailed the series of raids as the 'biggest counter-phone theft operation in the world.'

Roughly 300 officers smashed into 28 homes across London simultaneously in the dead of night to arrest groups of pickpockets and robbers behind an epidemic of snatch thefts.

Two days previously, two Afghan gang leaders thought to be responsible for shipping 40,000 stolen devices to China and Hong Kong were dragged from their car and arrested in north London.

The two men, codenamed Heron and Seagull, are at the head of a gang responsible for fuelling Britain's 70million-a-year phone theft epidemic and were caught with a bundle of devices wrapped in foil to block their tracking signal, police chiefs said.

The car driven by the pair, aged 34 and 32, was a people carrier that had been converted into a mobile 'chop shop' used to disable and transport the stolen devices.

The men had sent thousands of phones to the very same high-rise block in Hong Kong that was infiltrated by Mail reporters in an investigation in July.

The Mail tracked a phone stolen from an estate agent on London's iconic Baker Street across the globe to the office building, where it sat alongside hundreds of thousands of other handsets.

Officers armed with Tasers stop a specially adapted people carrier and arrest alleged gang leaders codenamed 'Seagull' and 'Heron.' The pair are thought to have exported 40,000 phones stolen in London to China and Hong Kong

Body worn footage of one of the suspected gang leaders as he is wrestled to the ground and handcuffed in the sting

The pair used a specially adapted people carrier that had been converted into a mobile 'chop shop' equipped with multiple chargers to test the phones and tin foil to wrap them in to block the tracking signal

Police chase and arrest two thieves on e-bikes who committed a series of phone snatches across central London

Some of the bundles of phones wrapped in tin foil seized in Operation Echosteep

Undercover Mail reporters took the above image of mobile phones from around the world inside the same office block in Hong Kong where Heron and Seagull had allegedly been sending devices stolen on Britain's streets

Scotland Yard's enormous policing operation came about because of a chance discovery made on Christmas Eve at Heathrow Airport.

A woman had tracked her stolen phone to a nearby warehouse and spoke with a security guard who happened to be a former Metropolitan Police officer, according to detective inspector Mark Gavin, who would later lead the operation, codenamed Echosteep.

'Together, they found her phone in a box with 894 other stolen devices,' he added.

This discovery allowed the Met to identify suspects and, for the first time, piece together vital intelligence about a sophisticated supply chain involving gangsters from around the world.

Detectives established that there were three levels of criminal involved in the operation.

On the streets are the thieves, who can make between 300 and 500 for every phone they steal from an unsuspecting member of the public.

'Sometimes we see these almost Fagin-like characters who bring in a load of phones at a time from various street-level thieves,' Mr Gavin said.

The next level up are the individuals who run shop premises where the stolen phones are collected.

Then, at the head of the operation are the criminals who export the devices in bulk to their contacts overseas, with just under a third sent to Algeria, 20 per cent to mainland China and seven per cent to Hong Kong.

Seagull and Heron are thought to be at this top level, Mr Gavin said.

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The operation came about after a chance discovery on Christmas Eve of almost 1,000 phones at Heathrow Airport that were to be shipped to Hong Kong labelled as batteries

A team of Territorial Support Officers about to raid the home of a suspected phone thief in Enfield, north London

Officers arrest a Bulgarian woman accused of stealing phones across the capital

'One thing with these gangs that is very unusual is that different groups of various nationalities all work together and cooperate like normal businesses because there is so much money to be made,' he added.

'There is less of the tribal rivalry you get with drugs gangs. Indeed, we are seeing many drugs gangs move into this space because the profits are so good and there is much less risk.

'We are shifting some of our county lines and firearms resources onto tackling phone theft.'

A stolen phone can be blocked by network providers in the UK but can still function on foreign networks.

Demand is high in China because Chinese-made phones are often designed to block internet usage, whereas European models allow free use of the web.

Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, who commended the Mail's own investigation tracing stolen phones across the globe, said:

'This is the biggest counter mobile phone theft operation ever in the UK and probably in the world.

'And given we're breaking down the business from the thieves, the handlers and the exporters, we should see a big effect on the amount of mobile phone theft in London.

'We have put together an intelligence picture that has led to this organised crime network that is exporting 40,000 phones to Hong Kong  which is about half the phones stolen in London.'

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, who commended the Mail's investigation which tracked phones to Hong Kong, hailed the police operation as the biggest of its kind in the world

Officers who raided the home in Enfield in the early hours of September 25 led a Bulgarian suspected phone thief to the police van in her dressing gown

A man was also arrested at the property on suspicion of stealing mobile phones. His explanation as to why so many were at the home was that he 'found them in a bin'

The three levels of criminals behind Britain's phone theft epidemic

The criminals driving Britain's 70million phone theft epidemic are split into three tiers, according to detective inspector Mark Gavin, who led Operation Echosteep. At street level, thieves will use a range of tactics to steal as many devices as they can from members of the public  including snatches at speed on e-scooters, pickpocketing or traditional street robberies. 'Sometimes we see these almost Fagin-like characters who bring in a load of phones at a time from various street level thieves,' Mr Gavin said. These thieves can make between 200 and 400 for every phone they can sell on to a handler. Roughly 80 per cent of the phones stolen and fenced are Apple iPhones. The stolen phone trade is unique in that criminals from different groups and nationalities work together, Mr Gavin added. In the case of the gang that was dismantled by Echosteep, the thieves were largely Bulgarian and eastern European  but the kingpins were Afghan nationals. The mid-tier level are the individuals who run shop premises where the stolen phones are collected. Then, at the head of the operation are the criminals who export the devices in bulk to their contacts overseas. Advertisement

Among the properties raided simultaneously at 5am on September 25 was a home in Enfield, north London, which housed 13 people, including three generations of the same family.

About 30 officers from the Met's specialist public order unit, the Territorial Support Group, stormed into the house and arrested a Bulgarian man and woman accused of snatching phones across the capital.

The woman, wearing a purple dressing grown, was handcuffed and marched into a waiting police van as officers scoured the home for stolen devices and other evidence.

Sir Mark said the operation would make a 'huge dent' in the wave of phone thefts on Britain's streets, but voiced his frustration at tech giants such as Apple for failing to stop the trade.

The Met has been in conversation with Apple for more than a year about implementing a 'kill switch' that would render a stolen phone useless, and have asked that serial numbers are displayed more prominently so recovered devices can be reunited with their owners.

Currently, just 20 per cent of recovered phones can be returned.

But the US firm, which launched the iPhone 17 last month, has so far taken no action.

'I don't know why they wouldn't want to help make their customers safer,' Sir Mark said.

'Many of us will remember when the theft of car stereos was very common but it doesn't happen anymore because they're fully integrated into the car.

'So one simple design change eliminated the problem. They could kill demand overnight by implementing these simple changes.

'If a stolen phone was only usable for a few spare parts then it would be worth far less to the thieves, the middlemen and the gang leaders.'

Some of the devices discovered by police at the property in Enfield

(L-R) Sir Mark Rowley, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, policing Minister Sarah Jones and Commander Andrew Featherstone, the Met's lead for tackling phone theft

Kymani Wilson was jailed for robbing mobile phones while riding e-bikes

Wilson and his accomplice, Claude Parkinson, above, led police on a chase from central London to Islington last May

At least 230 phones were stolen every day on average in the UK last year. This is twice as many as five years ago and the total is rising.

London is the epicentre, with 75 per cent of phone thefts, but the problem is nationwide, with every major police force recording thousands of stolen phones every year.

Even rural areas such as Suffolk, Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire cannot escape the problem.

Policing minister Sarah Jones, whose two sons have both been robbed by phone thieves, said the operation was 'a brilliant example of lots of different parts of the Met Police coming together to tackle very serious organised crime.'

She added: 'Almost everyone knows somebody who has had their phone stolen in London.

'We need to break this business model and this is the largest single operation the world has ever seen that does this.'

The Met is hosting an international conference with 27 other countries next May where countering phone theft measures will be discussed with politicians and policing leaders.

So far this year, personal robbery has dropped by 13 per cent and theft is down 14 per cent.

Commander Andrew Featherstone, the Met's lead for tackling phone theft, said the force still had plenty to do but insisted that these statistics contradicted any narrative that London was not a safe city.

'No doubt that for certain parties it suits them to say London is the most dangerous place on the planet,' he said.

'But these statistics show this simply isn't true. 'We are not suggesting it's the safest place on earth either but like most things the reality is somewhere in between, and we have made some really good ground here in cutting down these acquisitive crimes.'
The prized bravery medal of a naval officer who died trying to save trailblazing pilot Amy Johnson has emerged for sale.

Lieutenant Commander Walter Fletcher dived into the freezing water fully clothed after Johnson's aircraft ditched in the Thames Estuary in a snowstorm in January 1941.

Johnson, the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia, was never seen again.

The mysterious cause of her crash and death fuelled speculation that continues today. Some experts believe she was killed by the boat sent to rescue her.

Lieutenant Commander Fletcher, who had leapt into the sea from an armed trawler in a desperate bid to rescue her, was pulled unconscious out of the water suffering from exhaustion and hypothermia.

He died in hospital days later and was awarded a posthumous Albert Medal for gallantry which was presented to his grieving family at Buckingham Palace.

His emotive story can be told with the upcoming sale of his medal at auctioneers Dominic Winter, of Cirencester, Gloucestershire, for an estimated 10,000 to 15,000.

His medal had remained in the family for over 80 years but spent the last few decades gathering dust in a cupboard in a south of England home before its recent re-emergence.

Johnson completed her epic 11,000-mile flight from Croydon Airfield to Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory in a second-hand de Havilland DH60 Gipsy Moth in 19 days in May 1930.

Amy Johnson, the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia, died in 1941 when her aircraft ditched in the Thames Estuary during a snowstorm

The prized bravery medal of the naval officer who died trying to save pioneering pilot Amy Johnson after her plane ditched in the Thames Estuary in 1941 has emerged for sale. Above: The posthumous Albert Medal

Her exploits made her into an overnight sensation and one of the most instantly recognisable personalities of the day.

She is said to have inspired Katharine Hepburn's character in the 1933 film Christopher Strong and received the CBE for her 'flying achievement'.

At the beginning of the Second World War the patriotic Johnson joined the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA).

She was among women who delivered aircraft to RAF bases.

On January 5, 1941, she left Blackpool, Lancashire, in an Airspeed Oxford for delivery to RAF Kidlington, near Oxford.

It is thought that she must have become so disoriented by the fog that the 37-year-old flyer's aircraft came down miles off course in the Thames Estuary.

Historian Dr Alec Gill claimed Johnson was sucked into the propeller of the rescue vessel and then the circumstances surrounding her death were covered up.

His theory was backed up by the son of a naval reservist aboard the ship, HMS Haslemere, who claimed his father saw Johnson get 'dragged under the boat'.

Dr Gill said in 2016: 'The Royal Navy did not want to admit to the Royal Air Force - or indeed a nation at war - that they had killed Britain's favourite female pilot.'

There was no inquest into Johnson's death because her body was never recovered.

Lieutenant Commander Fletcher's valiant attempt to save her, documented in his Albert Medal citation, reads: 'On 5th January 1941, Lieutenant Commander Fletcher took his ship to the rescue of Miss Amy Johnson, who was piloting an aircraft which had fallen into the sea.

'Snow was falling and it was bitterly cold. The seas were heavy and a strong tide was running, he dived in fully clothed.

'This brave and selfless action, which cost him his life, was typical of the fine spirit which Lieutenant Commander Fletcher showed at sea and under fire while serving with the Channel Mobile Balloon Barrage.'

Lieutenant Commander Walter Fletcher dived into the freezing water fully clothed after Johnson's aircraft ditched in the Thames Estuary in a snowstorm in January 1941

The front of the medal awarded to Lieutenant Commander Walter Fletcher

The Daily Mail's front page report of Amy Johnson's death

Lieutenant Commander Fletcher was born at Kibworth Rectory, Leicestershire, in 1908 and after finishing school joined the Merchant Navy School Ship, HMS Conway.

He passed out as a midshipman in 1924 and served on HMS Royal Sovereign, Dauntless and Nelson across the Mediterranean and in the Atlantic.

He was a navigator on the James Wordie Arctic expedition in 1934 and in September 1940 he joined HMD Haslemere, part of the Mobile Balloon Barrage Flotilla in the English Channel and Thames Estuary.

Lieutenant Commander Fletcher's medal is being sold by auctioneers Dominic Winter, of Cirencester, Gloucs, with a 10,000 to 15,000 estimate.

The poignant Rolex watch he was wearing during the fateful rescue attempt is also offered for sale for an estimated 3,000.

Henry Meadows, militaria specialist, said: 'The Albert Medal, in its various forms for Land & Sea, in gold and bronze, is far, far rarer than the Victoria Cross.

'Amy Johnson was and still is iconic. Her mysterious disappearance is still speculated to this very day.

'She rose to fame, almost overnight, after she became the first female pilot to fly solo from Croydon Airfield to Darwin, Australia, a distance of 11,000 miles, which she did in only 19 days.

'It is a huge privilege to be able to offer this medal, along with the Rolex wristwatch worn by Lieutenant Commander Walter Fletcher on that fateful day.

'I hope the estimate is an attractive starting point, but I expect strong competition from collectors, museums and institutions as this is a unique opportunity and has never been on the market before.'

The sale takes place on October 9.
Ex-Cabinet minister Lord David Frost today told his fellow Tories they are being 'far too positive' as he warned the party: 'We're on the edge of ceasing to exist.'

The Conservative peer, the UK's former chief Brexit negotiator, attacked the 'torpor' of the party under Kemi Badenoch's leadership.

He said the Tories were in a 'terrible mess' and an 'appalling situation' as they continue to lag behind both Reform UK and Labour in opinion polls.

'Everything is getting worse and it has done so consistently since November last year, he said, as Mrs Badenoch prepares to mark her one-year anniversary as Tory leader.

Mrs Badenoch's first 11 months in charge have seen a steady stream of defections from the Conservatives to Reform.

Lord Frost, who backed Robert Jenrick in last year's Tory leadership contest, has often been touted as a possible switcher to Nigel Farage's party.

Earlier this year, he said he was 'not emotionally committed to the Conservatives' as he declined to rule out standing for Reform in the future.

Lord Frost has also lavished praise on Danny Kruger, the former Tory MP who joined Mr Farage's outfit last month.

He spoke out as a new poll showed half of Conservative members thought Mrs Badenoch should not lead the party into the next general election.

The YouGov survey found 46 per cent thought Mrs Badenoch should stay in charge when the country next goes to the polls, while 50 per cent thought she shouldn't.

The poll of more than 650 Tory members, conducted between 26 September and 2 October, also showed 64 per cent supported an electoral pact with Reform.

Andrew Rosindell, the Conservative MP for Romford and a shadow foreign minister, on Monday urged his party to work with Reform to avoid the 'calamity' of another Labour government.

Ex-Cabinet minister Lord David Frost told his fellow Tories they are being 'far too positive' as he warned the party: 'We're on the edge of ceasing to exist.'

Lord Frost, who backed Robert Jenrick in last year's Tory leadership contest, has often been touted as a possible switcher to Nigel Farage's Reform UK

A YouGov survey found half of Conservative members thought Kemi Badenoch should not lead the party into the next general election

'Our electoral system can't accommodate two parties that are broadly conservative,' Mr Rosindell told GB News.

His comments came as Lord Frost used a Conservative conference fringe event to tell party members they should 'stop rubbishing' Reform and Reform voters.

'The mood at this conference so far is far too positive. We have to be honest about the situation that we find ourselves in,' he said.

'We've got to start acknowledging the terrible mess we're in.'

Lord Frost set out how the Conservatives had lost around 10 million voters since the 2019 general election, when Boris Johnson secured an 80-seat majority.

'In an electorate of 48million, we've got 4.5million people supporting us,' he said of the Tories' current level of support.

'This is an appalling situation for a mainstream party.'

On the threat to the Tories posed by Reform, Lord Frost added: 'The torpor of the party over the last year has meant the obvious strategy of trying to recreate a proper strong Conservative Party is now much more difficult, because there already is another one.

'And it's doing better than we are in the polls. So it's very easy to understand why people might say: 'Why bother? It already exists'.

'We aren't showing we understand why things went wrong in 2019 to 2024, so nobody really believes we'll avoid the mistakes next time and nobody is listening to us as a result.

'Everything is getting worse and it has done so consistently since November last year. We were on 25 per cent of the vote then, we're on 16 per cent of the vote now.

'So no prescription for the party works unless we accept that the situation is extremely bad and we're on the edge of ceasing to exist as a mainstream party.'

Lord Frost later told his fellow Tories to 'stop rubbishing Reform, or at least stop rubbishing people who vote for Reform;.

'We too often behave... like we've got some sort of right to votes on the Right,' he continued.

'We look entitled, like this is our role and somehow these people have come along and taken it from us and isn't it unfair, and isn't it unjust.

'Largely people who vote for Reform are conservatives, they're on the Right. Many of us know them, we all know this.

'If we want to rebuild the Right, we aren't going to do it by rubbishing them and telling ourselves they're stupid for having gone across.

'We need to rebuild and reach out.'
A mother and father who were celebrating their four-year-old daughter's birthday by drinking in a hot Spanish motel bath have died.

Military police officer Jeferson Luiz Sagaz, 37, and his partner Ana Carolina Silva, 41, who owned a nail salon, were found dead in Sao Jose, in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, on the night of August 11.

The couple had spent the day celebrating their daughter's birthday at a food park, drinking alcohol, before later going to a nightclub and checking into the Dallas Motel.

They were last seen around 11:30pm, according to local reports.

The next day, when they failed to pick up their daughter who had been staying with Jeferson's sister, relatives raised the alarm and reported them missing.

The couple were later found dead with no signs of injury in their motel bathtub, where the water reached 50C, while a space heater was also turned on high.

Chief Medical Examiner Andressa Boer Fronza said on October 1: 'The cause of both deaths was exogenous poisoning, favouring the process of heatstroke with intense dehydration, thermal collapse, culminating in organ failure and death.'

Toxicology tests revealed traces of cocaine and very high blood alcohol levels.

Military police officer Jeferson Luiz Sagaz, 37, and his partner Ana Carolina Silva, 41, who owned a nail salon, were found dead in Sao Jose, in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, on the night of August 11

The couple had spent the day celebrating their daughter's birthday at a food park, drinking alcohol , before later going to a nightclub and checking into the Dallas Motel. Pictured: Jeferson Luiz Sagaz, 37

The couple were later found dead in the motel bathtub, where the water reached 50C, while a space heater was also turned on high. Pictured: Ana Carolina Silva

The Civil Police carried out 16 forensic reports, examining the motel room, the couple's car, and security cameras, and ruled out electric shock, drowning, carbon monoxide poisoning, or third-party involvement.

Chief of Police Felipe Simao Gomes said: 'These circumstances, combined with the substances found on the bodies, led the Civil Police to conclude that the cause of death was sudden and not due to third-party intervention.'

Ana Carolina's family issued a statement rejecting speculation that she was a habitual drug user and raised concerns about possible forced ingestion.

The couple had been together for nearly two decades and were parents to one daughter.

Friends and colleagues described them as sociable but not known for drug use, and police confirmed there was no history of violence in the relationship.

Chief Simao added: 'It may be that the physical constitution, both his and hers, were not compatible with the use of a substance like that, especially when combined with alcohol.'
The grand prisoner free-for-all has moved up a gear with plans to free more than 800 of them to tackle crowded jails in Scotland.

It's a 'necessary and proportionate response to an emergency situation', according to Scottish Justice Secretary Angela Constance.

And it follows two other schemes which recently saw around 790 criminals let out early, so the tally is heading towards 1,600.

They're not all harmless, white-collar criminals either, as there are plenty of hardened thugs among their number.

It shouldn't be a shock that violent crime is rising when the SNP is determined to release convicts who are a clear danger to public safety.

The argument from the SNP and its liberal backers is that prisons fuel reoffending  but the same is true of the mass early liberation of criminals.

Some of those getting ready to quit their cells will be sad to leave the Xboxes and state-of-the-art gyms behind  the equivalent of an early hotel check-out.

This is the prison system which organised a visit from a Zimbabwean tribal dance troupe and fly-fishing lessons for 'people in their care', as criminals behind bars now must be called under politically correct guidelines.

Inspectors have described HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow  Scotland's largest prison  as being in a 'wretchedly poor state'

Angela Constance has said releasing criminals early is a 'necessary response'

Those who aren't games console fans will be happy to regain their freedom  and if they do end up back inside, it probably won't be for long.

And they can keep in touch with their friends and relatives using in-cell landline phones provided to them by the taxpayer.

They used to be handed mobiles under a wheeze dreamt up by hapless Humza Yousaf but (surprise, surprise) the handsets were used to orchestrate criminal acts  so the whole scheme was abandoned at a cost of 6million.

Around 440 prisoners will be released in three tranches in November and December, with a further 100 per month let out from January to April, or 840 in total.

Christmas will come early for a lot of those currently 'in the care' of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), so they'll miss out on turkey and all the trimmings  and a fix of their chosen drug, smuggled in by drones, corrupt staff or helpful visitors.

For the communities they terrorise it will be far from a festive treat, but the notion that prison provides respite for them by locking up dangerous criminals was long since cast aside by the clueless do-gooders who run Scotland's excuse for a penal system.

Sentences handed down by the courts are an irrelevance when prisoners are freed early en masse.

In June and July last year, 477 prisoners sentenced to less than four years and with less than 180 days left to serve were released early.

SNP ministers then cut the automatic release point for short-term prisoners from 50 to 40 per cent of their sentences, leading to another 312 criminals being freed in February and March this year.

We might as well close the courts down if they're going to be routinely ignored  but then the SNP has shut quite a lot of them already.

The current logic is that criminals shouldn't go to prison if it's possible to spare them the ordeal  unless it's absolutely necessary.

So anyone who falls short of Hannibal Lecter status can expect a stint painting some park benches  paying for their law-breaking by the 'sweat of their brow', as former Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill once promised.

Yet in some cases those on Community Payback Orders (CPOs) get away with knitting or making hedgehog dens, which doesn't sound excessively taxing.

An artist's impression of the new HMP Glasgow, set to replace HMP Barlinnie. The new facility is expected to run millions over budget

Last year it emerged 820,000 hours of unpaid work had yet to be completed by offenders who had been handed CPOs  a backlog equivalent to about 93 years.

Fewer than one in five of the orders are completed in the same year as they are imposed  hardly swift justice.

We're constantly told by ministers and the hand-wringing supposed experts who feed their soft touch agenda that prisons don't work.

It doesn't seem to have occurred to any of them that prisons should be reformed to make them more effective when it comes to punishment  and rehabilitation.

There aren't many credible alternatives to prison, and the SNP's record on building new jails is about as risible as you'd expect.

The cost of constructing a flagship jail to replace Barlinnie in Glasgow has soared tenfold to nearly 1billion  and its boss Michael Stoney says he wants it to be similar to a Costa coffee shop.

Mind you, inmates at the notoriously lax Castle Huntly open prison in Perthshire have been offered barista workshops in the past, so maybe Mr Stoney's onto something.

It's a fair bet that not many voters would be in favour of giving prisons a coffee shop vibe.

They'd prefer a dose of old-fashioned Porridge  but those days are long gone.

Mr Mackay, Fulton Mackay's tyrannical prison officer, would spend most of his time processing inmates for an early exit if the sitcom was set in a Scottish prison in 2025.

Inmates at Castle Huntly open prison have been offered barista workshops in the past

Porridge's Mr Mackay would have a very different role if the sitcom was set in 2025

HMP Glasgow, which will replace Barlinnie, will be 'net zero' and 'trauma-informed'  meaning it will be designed to recognise the distress suffered by inmates.

That's good to know, as we wouldn't want murderers and rapists to be in an environment that traumatised them, let alone one where the carbon footprint was problematic.

A former chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, Colin McConnell, once said he wanted a 'golden age' for prisoners  which will recognise their 'human frailties' and 'temptations'.

This would involve seeing convicts as 're-claimed and returning citizens' and ending our 'apparent obsession with incarceration, disproportionately impacting as it does on the most deprived in our society'.

The impact on victims wasn't mentioned, of course, and nothing has changed since Mr McConnell retired back in 2020, when Mr Yousaf, then Justice Secretary, praised him for 'unlocking potential and transforming lives'.

Mr McConnell may have sounded like a second-rate New Age counsellor in a hippy commune.

But chillingly the rationale he outlined remains at the heart of our penal philosophy  without any kind of meaningful consultation with the people who are expected to bankroll this costly pantomime.

The jails watchdog doesn't help to make jails tougher, either  in April, HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland said transgender prisoners should be given access to a taxpayer-funded wardrobe of wigs and underwear to support them on their 'journey'.

What would Mr Mackay have made of that?

Emptying prisons is a subversion of the courts, an insult to victims, and another indictment of the SNP's inability to get anything done on time and on budget.

Now we're all paying the price as the streets are filled with criminals who are the latest beneficiaries of a system that prizes their rights over those of their victims.
Two teenagers have been charged with weapons offences after a stop-and-search over a 'ticket issue' in London Euston revealed the pair allegedly carrying two enormous machetes.

Disturbing footage captured in the Underground area of the station yesterday afternoon shows the moment British Transport Police (BTP) arrested the youths after discovering the terrifying blades.

BTP said they had the grounds to establish a search over the ticketing problem but their probe uncovered the huge weapons.

In the horrifying video which lays bare the size of the knives, the tracksuit-clad youths can be seen hanging their heads as a woman and a small child walk past.

Officers quickly arrested the pair, aged 15 and 16, and took them into custody before they were both 'further arrested on suspicion of breach of court bail as part of an unrelated matter'.

They said both have been charged with possession of an offensive weapon and are due to appear at Bromley Youth Court today.

A witness who captured the footage told the Daily Mail they were horrified to see officers reveal the blades as they walked through the station.

They said: 'I was watching to see what happened and my [boyfriend] said 'they are being searched'. The next minute the officers pulled out these massive, huge knives!

Two teenagers have been charged with weapons offences after a stop-and-search over a 'ticket issue' in London Euston revealed the pair allegedly carrying enormous machetes

British Transport Police (BTP) arrested the two youths after discovering the terrifying blades

'They were even bigger in person, the video doesn't do it justice'

The witness said one of the boys pleaded with officers after they discovered the weapon, telling them: 'Allow it please it's not mine.'

A British Transport Police spokesperson said: 'At around 2pm yesterday (5 October), British Transport Police (BTP) officers spoke to two boys, aged 15 and 16, in relation to a ticket issue at Euston Underground station.

'Grounds were established for a search and two machetes were recovered.

'Both boys were arrested and taken into custody, where they were further arrested on suspicion of breach of court bail as part of an unrelated matter.

'They were both charged with possession of an offensive weapon and are due to appear at Bromley Youth Court today (6 October).'

The footage will only serve to heighten anxieties around knife crime in London over the last decade.

Research from the Policy Exchange this summer found that knife offences in the city had increased by 86 per cent in the 10 years prior.

London's iconic West End had more knife crime than almost 15 per cent of the rest of the capital combined, according to the research.

Just five per cent of robberies and 0.6 per cent of 'theft from person' crimes in London were solved last year, the research  titled Your Money or Your Life: London's Knife Crime, Robbery and Street Theft Epidemic'  found.

The report's author, ex-Scotland Yard detective chief inspector David Spencer, said his former force must take an unequivocal 'crime fighting first' approach to save the city from a knife, robbery and theft epidemic.

A witness who captured the footage told the Daily Mail they were horrified to see officers reveal the blades as they walked through the station

Knife offences across the country have increased by 78 per cent since 2014, but Mr Spencer said these figures had been skewed by the scale of the issue in the capital, where there were 16,879 knife crimes last year alone - about a third of the total across England and Wales.

The report points out that this coincides broadly with the mayoralty of Sir Sadiq Khan, who in July was publicly criticised by US president Donald Trump for doing a 'terrible job.'

Sir Sadiq, who was knighted in June, has won the Mayoral elections three times since 2016.

The Policy Exchange report claimed that since the pandemic knife crime has risen year on year throughout his tenure, with separate figures indicating a nine per cent rise in the past year.

After the report a spokesman for the Mayor said murders, gun crime with lethal barrel discharges, knife crime with injury and burglary are all down since 2016 and last year teen murders were the lowest they had been for a decade.
'I'm sorry for everything.'

Those were the last words Emily Long ever sent her boss, Derek Fisher. The solemn farewell arrived just days before an unthinkable tragedy struck the quiet town of Madbury, New Hampshire.

On August 18, Emily, 34, shot dead her husband Ryan, 48, and two of their children - son Parker, 8, and daughter Emma, 4 - before turning the gun on herself inside the family's home. Their youngest child, a three-year-old boy, survived.

Loved ones were left reeling, unable to comprehend how the devoted mom could have carried out such an atrocity.

Months earlier, the Long family had been dealt a devastating blow: Ryan was diagnosed with an aggressive, terminal brain tumor.

Friends say Emily struggled to cope with Ryan's diagnosis. She grew increasingly isolated, turning to TikTok for self-described 'therapy sessions' where she spoke candidly about her grief and the hardships her family faced.

'I hope I make the decision before I feel like it's too late,' Emily said in one of her final posts on August 7, discussing the possibility of seeking psychiatric care.

But help never came, or perhaps was never sought.

In a moment, the once picture-perfect Long family was gone - with two young lives cut tragically short, and a third left to carry the weight of what remains.

Emily Long, 34, killed her husband Ryan, 48, and two of their children, Parker and Emma, in a murder-suicide last month

When news first broke of a shooting in Madbury, Derek Fisher felt his stomach drop. On TV, he saw police swarming a leafy suburban street - and recognised Emily's home immediately.

In that instant, he knew something was terribly wrong.

But Fisher also knew something the rest of the world did not. Behind the image of a devoted wife and mother lay a darker truth: Emily had been stealing from him for years, quietly draining more than half a million dollars from his company while posing as his most trusted employee.

Days before the shootings, Fisher had confronted Emily about the theft, threatening to go to the police.

'I was in denial,' Fisher told the Daily Mail. 'You wonder how someone you trusted so completely, who you had such a good relationship with, could be capable of something like this.'

'I know she was having a difficult time. But ultimately, I think Emily had a lot of secrets that were too hard for her to deal with.'

Fisher met Emily in 2018 after hiring her as an office manager at Wing-Itz, a small chain of restaurants he owns in New England.

Emily seemed perfect for the job - friendly and proactive, with a background in hospitality and office management.

By 2023, Fisher promoted her to director of operations, entrusting her with handling cash and overseeing company finances while he focused on opening a new branch in Dover.

Emily Long worked as the Director of Operations at Wing-Itz, a chicken wing restaurant company owned by Ryan Fisher (left)

Over two years, Fishers says Emily Long stole $660,000 - almost bankrupting him

That project consumed nearly all of Fisher's time, leaving Emily to steer the ship largely unsupervised.

But Fisher had no reason for concern. Though they rarely socialized outside of work, he said they shared a close professional relationship - one built on trust.

Emily often brought her children to work, where they'd play in the office and chatter about school or their weekend plans.

'The kids loved their mom,' Fisher recalled. 'They were always happy I never saw any signs of negative behavior out of the children or the family.

'My experience with Emily was incredibly positive - up until I found out what she was doing.'

Then, in April 2024, came the crushing blow. Emily confided in Fisher that her husband Ryan, hadn't been feeling well. What began as fatigue soon escalated into something more serious.

Hospital tests in Boston confirmed Ryan had glioblastoma - an aggressive brain tumor - devastating Emily

Fisher said she threw herself into work as a way to cope, describing her job as an 'outlet' for normalcy amid the chaos.

In turn, Fisher tried to support her in any way he could, giving her complete flexibility with her hours and assuring her that her job and income would always be safe.

All the while, Fisher was experiencing a quiet turmoil of his own because the business seemed to be bleeding cash.

He was struggling to make payroll and couldn't understand where the money had gone.

Ryan was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor in April 2025. His case was terminal

When Fisher saw news coverage of a shooting in Madbury, he immediately recognized Emily's home (above)

With the walls closing in, he tearfully confided in Emily about the peril the business was facing.

'I'd be in tears, saying, 'We're making money - so where's it all going?' But she just brushed it off. She told me not to worry, that things would get better.'

Meanwhile, Emily continued documenting her husband's health battle on TikTok, posting daily updates for her thousands-strong audience.

As Ryan's condition worsened, Emily opened up about the painful realization she would one day be a single parent to three traumatised children.

'I'm mourning my husband, I'm mourning my marriage, and it's still there. It's very confusing,' she said.

By summer, Fisher's concerns about his business had turned to alarm. Once the Dover project was finished, he reviewed Wing-Itz's books and the numbers didn't make sense.

Business had been steady, yet the accounts were drained. Checks had been written out in Emily's name and deposited into her own account.

The missing amount totalled more than $660,000 - siphoned from the business over a period of two years.

The discovery stunned Fisher.

'I couldn't believe it,' he said. 'I'd been in tears about money, and she showed no remorse at all.'

Emily had shared incredibly candid videos of herself on TikTok, where she expressed her anguish over her husband's impending death

Fisher wanted to believe it was a mistake, a simple bookkeeping error Emily could explain away. But when he asked her to send over copies of her personal bank statements to clear things up, she began to stall.

Days turned into weeks, and each time he asked, she offered another excuse.

Fisher tried to be patient, mindful of Ryan's condition. But by August, his patience had eroded. He sent an email demanding the records by noon - or he'd call police.

Within hours, Emily handed over the statements, but something seemed off. Pages were missing, numbers didn't align, and the documents looked crudely patched together.

Fisher took them to the bank for verification, where it was confirmed they'd been doctored.

He made one final plea for Emily to meet him at the bank so he could review her accounts in person.

With that, Emily went 'sheet white', he said.

'She agreed to go, but told me she couldn't right then because of Ryan. She went white as a ghost, packed her things and rushed out of the restaurant.

'The way she acted after that was bizarre. She pretended nothing was wrong - but you could see it on her face that something was seriously off.'

Emily also claimed her family was in financial distress - despite allegedly stealing more than $660,000 from Fisher's business

In one video, she said she hoped she'd consider getting help before it's 'too late'

They agreed to meet at the bank on August 11, but Emily never showed.

Instead, she sent a text, offering him three options.

'I can either resign, I could stay working remotely, or you could fire me. I'm okay with any of the decisions you make,' Emily wrote.

As all this unfolded, Emily began hinting at money troubles on TikTok.

'I feel sick to my stomach... I can't do anything until this problem is resolved,' she said in an August 7 video. 'You can't keep ignoring everything and hoping it disappears.'

On August 12, Emily sent Fisher an apologetic message, saying she was sorry for everything, but didn't specify what.

Six days later, Emily took out a handgun and shot her husband multiple times. She then turned the weapon on two of her children - shooting each once in the head - before killing herself, state autopsy records show.

Their bodies were discovered that night. The sole survivor, three-year-old James, was found nearby, physically unharmed.

In the weeks since, it's emerged that Emily had faced fraud accusations before.

In 2016, she and a boyfriend were accused of skimming $11,000 from a New Hampshire brewpub. She was later arraigned on forgery charges, but the case was dropped after the restaurant closed, the Boston Globe reported.

Fisher said he was shocked by the scale of Emily's deceit and believes there may be other victims.

'Maybe this is a behavior that's been going on for a very long time, and I was just the grand finale,' he said.

Their surviving son is currently in the custody of other family members

What Emily did with the $660,000 she stole from Fisher remains unclear.

There's nothing in Emily or Ryan Long's financial records to suggest they were in serious financial trouble - though Emily was a confessed shopaholic.

Fisher said he is still trying to come to terms with the tragedy while struggling to reconcile the Emily he thought he knew with the woman unmasked in her final weeks.

'No one's given the tools to deal with something like this,' he said. 'I was very hurt. My heart ached for the kids and her husband - and on top of all that was the betrayal I felt.

'This is something I'm going to have to deal with for the rest of my life.'

One thing Fisher is sure of is that Ryan was unaware of his wife's illicit activities.

And despite almost going bankrupt because of Emily, Fisher told the Daily Mail he isn't trying to recover his losses.

If any of the stolen funds remain, he wants Emily's surviving son to have them.

'That poor child has lost everything,' he said. 'He doesn't deserve this. It's the right thing to do.'
Joe Scarborough has called on an aspiring Democratic Attorney General to drop out of the race after he sent texts about murdering his Republican rival.

The Morning Joe star on Monday addressed the scandal surrounding Virginia AG hopeful Jay Jones' texts fantasizing about the killing of then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert.

'He should probably be forced to withdraw from the race,' Scarborough said after his co-host and wife Mika Brzezinski brought up the texts.

Several social media users took Scarborough's comment as a sign that Jones is losing support from Democrats.

'You know it's serious when you've lost MSNBC,' said a prominent conservative account on X.

In the three-year-old text messages, Jones gloated about the idea of putting 'two bullets' through Gilbert's head.

In the private 2022 exchange with Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner, Jones shockingly suggested that his political rival, then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert, deserved to be brutally murdered.

'Three people, two bullets,' Jones wrote in the text obtained by Fox News. 'Gilbert, Hitler, and Pol Pot.'

Joe Scarborough has called on an aspiring Democratic Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones to withdraw from the race

Explosive texts exposed Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones (pictured) gloating about the idea of putting 'two bullets' through the head of then-Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert

In a private 2022 exchange with Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner, the attorney general nominee shockingly suggested that his political rival, then-House Speaker Gilbert, deserved to be brutally murdered

'Gilbert gets two bullets to the head,' the former member of the Virginia House of Delegates continued.

'Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time.'

The alarming revelation ignited fury across party lines - with even Democrats condemning the remarks - as the Republican Attorneys General Association demands that Jones drop out of the race against incumbent AG Jason Miyares, CNN reported.

'What he said was not just disturbing but disqualifying for anyone who wants to seek public office,' Coyner told the outlet.

'Jay Jones wished violence on the children of a colleague and talked about shooting Todd Gilbert,' she added. 'It's disgusting and unbecoming of any public official.'

The explosive damning messages came to light Friday after they were seen by National Review.

On August 2, 2022, Jones appeared to accidentally send Coyner a text mocking Republicans for their 'glowing tributes' to the late Democrat Delegate Joe Johnson, 90 - noting that even Gilbert joined in the praise.

Jones, 36, quickly followed up with another text: 'Damn, that message was for Mark.'

Even after realizing he'd sent the message to the wrong person, he kept venting to Coyner, sneering at what 'that POS' Gilbert 'would say about me if I died.'

'Gilbert gets two bullets to the head,' the former member of the Virginia House of Delegates wrote. Gilbert is pictured in 2022

'If those guys die before me, I will go to their funerals to p*** on their graves,' the politician continued. 'Send them out awash in something.'

Coyner replied with a terse, 'Jay Jones' - seemingly scolding him for the disturbing direction his messages had taken.

Jones never denied the wording in the texts - instead, he lashed out at his GOP rival, Jason Miyares, accusing him of 'dropping smears' to destroy his name.

'Like all people, I've sent text messages that I regret and I believe that violent rhetoric has no place in our politics,' Jones said in a statement to the Virginia Scope.

'Let's be clear about what is happening in the Attorney General race right now: Jason Miyares is dropping smears through Trump-controlled media organizations to assault my character and rescue his desperate campaign,' he added.

'This is a strategy that ensures Jason Miyares will continue to be accountable to Donald Trump, not the people of Virginia. This race is about whether Trump can control Virginia or Virginians control Virginia.'

In a later statement to WRIC 8 News, Jones finally admitted feeling 'sick' over his remarks and said he has since apologized to Gilbert and his family.

'I'm sick to my stomach when I read those words,' Jones told the outlet.

'Certainly they're objectionable, they're abhorrent, they have no place in Virginia, no place in this country's discourse. Again, I am so deeply, deeply sorry,' he added.

'Virginians deserve honest leaders who admit when they are wrong and own up to their mistakes. This was a grave mistake and I will work every day to prove to the people of Virginia that I will fight for them as Attorney General.'
A 38-year-old Florida man suffered a freak medical episode before he was mauled to death by 11 dogs, according to his sister.

The man, identified only as Michael G, was found deceased around 1am Sunday in Miami's Liberty City neighborhood.

Police soon arrived at the scene to reports of a man who was fatally attacked by dogs.

But Michael's sister, who discovered her brother's body, told NBC Miami: 'I went inside because I saw the back door open and when I went and saw something there and I didn't know what it was.

'I honestly don't know my brother's cause of death.'

On Monday authorities said it appeared that Michael may have suffered a medical incident or injury before the attack.

Police confirmed the victim suffered injuries caused by dogs, but the medical examiner will make the final determination to see if he was attacked before or after his death.

For now, the case is being investigated as an 'unclassified death pending further investigation,' the Miami Police Department told the Daily Mail.

A Miami man, Michael G, was found dead by his sister Sunday morning in the Liberty City area

He was thought to be mauled by a pack of 11 dogs, but police and his sister now believe Michael might have suffered a medical emergency before the dogs got to him

The dogs lived at home with Michael, a neighbor previously told the outlet.

'The victim lives there,' Magna Garcia, who lives a few doors down, said.

'Always saw him putting the garbage out, walking around. He said hi to my husband every single day.'

During the 911 call a neighbor reported that the man was attacked, but they did not see it for themselves.

They did report seeing several dogs nearby.

Neighbors said the dogs are known to chase people who walk by the home. Some said they have allegedly attacked other pets.

'I really think its a bad situation. I dont know what happened. But I think its really bad,' neighbor Kevin John told Local10.

The dogs lived at the home (pictured) with Michael, a neighbor said. The dogs were known to chase people who walked near the property, others claimed

'They [the dogs] always got out [of] the gate. Always got out. Running around and sh**.'

Following the tragedy, the dogs were taken by Miami-Dade Animal Services.

'At this time, it has not been confirmed whether the dogs were involved in the persons death. The cause of death will be determined by the Medical Examiners Office,' Gabriella Dominguez, a spokesman with Animal Services, said.

The Daily Mail contacted the Miami Police Department and the Medical Examiner's Office for comment.

Just last month, a woman, Doreen May Richards Broadbelt, was fatally mauled by a pack of 'vicious dogs' on her way to work, according to a GoFundMe page.

Broadbelt, 72, was walking to her job at Walmart on Labor Day when the dogs pounced on her.
A mother who faked having terminal cancer so she could trick her boyfriend into giving her money for a boob job has been ordered to pay back 30,000.

Laura McPherson, 35, took photos of herself in a hospital bed and wore clothing that said 'breast cancer support' as part of her 'elaborate tale of deceit' against company director Jon Leonard.

The fraudster informed Mr Leonard she had cervical, overian, colon, bowel and breast cancer - and even led her young daughter to believe she was dying.

Mr Leonard was tricked into handing over nearly 25,000 and gifted his then-girlfriend a 30,000 Rolex as a celebratory gift for receiving the all-clear from one type of cancer.

Ms McPherson has now been ordered to pay back 30,714 by January 5 following a crime hearing.

Derby Crown Court heard the compensation would be raised through the sale of a watch but did not specify whether this would be the Rolex, The Sun reports.

It comes after Ms McPherson was spared jail during sentencing in March but handed a community order.

Following the hearing today, Mr Leonard said in a statement: 'It's finally over. Today marks the end of eight-and-a-half challenging years.

The court heard Laura McPherson would use her cancer as an excuse to dip out of meetings and even counselled other staff members whose family members had been diagnosed with cancer

Between 2018 and 2022 she variously said she had ovarian, colon, bowel and breast cancer

In an emotional victim impact statement read to the court, Jon Leonard, 44, (pictured) said she had stolen eight years of his life and left him with 'feelings of total despair, wracked by self-doubt and emotionally scarred'

'She never had cancer and it has now come to light she has been making up having cancer since she was in secondary school long before I knew her.

'She has been exposed for the horrible, lying, manipulative individual she is.'

Mr Leonard had previously revealed he received two messages on social media from people who said McPherson had claimed to have cancer in school 11 years earlier.

In March, the court heard she tricked the company director, who runs Ultra Events, a platform for charities, into giving her 24,248.52 for treatments he thought might save her life.

This included a trip to the Mayr Resort on Lake Worthersee in Austria where she enjoyed a holistic, weight loss programme, as well as breast augmentation treatment in Manchester.

In an emotional victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Leonard, then 44, said she had stolen eight years of his life and left him with 'feelings of total despair, wracked by self-doubt and emotionally scarred'.

She was, he said, a compulsive liar who had told friends and even her young daughter that she had cancer.

This involved him taking calls from McPherson's daughter's school, because she had broken down worrying her mother was going to die.

On one occasion McPherson exploded with anger when a member of staff said her father had opted to die with the disease rather than take a course of chemotherapy

McPherson was handed a community order and will be subject to a 7pm to 6am curfew for five nights of the week after pleading guilty to fraud at an earlier hearing

'Even after pleading guilty, she has spent the last three years spreading disgusting lies about me,' he said, 'And she has never shown any remorse.'

He said he had been 'gaslighted' and described being woken up by her screaming at him for sleeping through when she had been up all night being sick.

At one point he bought her a 30,000 Rolex that she wanted, reasoning that it was wrong to deny it to someone whose life would soon end.

And on another occasion, he got in touch with one of Britain's leading private cancer specialists and arranged an appointment for her but she insisted she would rather stick with her NHS treatment.

He said it even caused him to fall out with his oldest friend who had become deputy head of nursing at a hospital in Swansea.

He told Mr Leonard that aspects of McPherson's treatment did not add up and that you, 'wouldn't be going straight to the gym after having chemotherapy'.

'I was prepared to fall out with my friend,' he said, 'I was left completely isolated.'

At the time of her lies, McPherson was working as a marketing director for her boyfriend's company, Ultra Events, which has helped raise over 39million for charitable causes.

Prosecutor Siward James-Moore said the couple had met in 2011 and that she was very well provided for by her partner whose business was doing well

Judge Jonathan Straw said of McPherson's (pictured) behaviour: 'It was a deliberate, narcissistic route to attention and money'

The court heard McPherson would use her cancer as an excuse to dip out of meetings and even counselled other staff members whose family members had been diagnosed with cancer.

On one occasion, she exploded with anger when a member of staff said her father had opted to die with the disease rather than take a course of chemotherapy.

Prosecutor Siward James-Moore said the couple had met in 2011 and that she was very well provided for by her partner, whose business was doing well.

In March 201,7 she first announced she had cervical cancer and was receiving treatment at the Royal Derby Hospital.

At the time, said Mr James-Moore, she asked her partner if he had medical insurance.

Despite his offers to accompany her to her various appointments, she always insisted on going alone.

'Between 2018 and 2022 she variously said she had ovarian, colon, bowel and breast cancer,' said Mr James-Moore.

'She claimed to have travelled for treatment to the Mayr Clinic in Austria (at Mr Leonard's expense).'

At the time of her lies, McPherson was working as a marketing director for her boyfriend's company, Ultra Events, which has helped raise over 39 million for charitable causes

In 2020 she claimed to have had a hysterectomy.

'Strangely she was pictured up a mountain two days later,' said the prosecutor.

The same year she said that she would need a mastectomy but used the opportunity to have breast augmentation surgery in Manchester at Mr Leonard's expense.

On New Year's Eve 2021, Mr Leonard dropped her off for treatment of her cervix.

When he asked for a selfie, she told him that she was on a drip and her phone had broken.

In fact, she had taken a taxi to Coventry to celebrate the New Year.

When arrested and questioned over the allegation of fraud in 2022, she denied it and accused her boyfriend of being controlling.

In mitigation, her barrister, Laura Pitman, said that she suffered from, 'depression, anxiety and symptoms of trauma'.

Mr Leonard said McPherson was a compulsive liar who had told friends and even her young daughter that she had cancer

She said she was now supported by her parents and a new partner Alex and had a baby in March 2023.

She called on the judge to spare her jail and instead give her intensive intervention from the probation service to find out why she'd acted as she had.

Ms Pitman said her client has no previous convictions of any kind and 'accepts her behaviour spans a number of years' and that she has suffered from anxiety and depression. She said: 'One perhaps wonders why a young woman behaved in the way that she has.

'She feels awful for the way she behaved. She has sought outside support to look at her behaviour. There has been no further offending by her. There's a more constructive way Laura McPherson can be dealt with rather than custody.'

She was handed a community order and told to undergo a 7pm-to-6am curfew for five nights of the week after pleading guilty to fraud at an earlier hearing.

The judge also ordered her to spend 30 days with the probation service and warned her that if she broke either then he would send her immediately to prison.
Unemployed Las Vegas residents are now selling their blood plasma to make money as the rip-off city's jobs market tanks amid an ongoing tourism slump.

Isaiah Thompson and Shawn Herron, two friends from Sin City, are among those who have been struggling to make ends meet as Las Vegas faced a loss of 4,300 jobs in August compared to the prior month.

Thompson told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that while looking for a job over the past few months, he has been sending out at least 20 applications per day, several days per week.

Herron shared a similarly grueling experience of applying to more than 100 jobs before he finally landed a warehouse gig recently.

In the meantime, the two of them were selling plasma to get by. Thompson estimated he could make upwards $800 per month that way, which he used to pay his rent.

Thompson said the Las Vegas job market was strong three or four years ago and it was easy to find a job. But he said today, the job market is 'honestly terrible.'

'Once it's gone, it's hard to find another job,' Herron added.

Las Vegas has been struggling recently as tourists have been coming to the city in fewer numbers, causing a negative ripple effect to the rest of Nevada's economy which relies heavily on the industry.

Isaiah Thompson (left) and Shawn Herron (right) have been selling their plasma over the last few months while they looked for work

Las Vegas has been struggling recently as tourists have been coming to the city in fewer numbers

Nevada faced a loss of 3,800 jobs in August compared to the prior month, and candidates have been flocking to job fairs

Tourists are giving Vegas the cold shoulder over soaring prices for hotels, food, drinks and casinos that many have branded extortionate.

Many visitors from Canada - a market which is particularly important to Sin City - are staying away after boycotting the United States over President Trump's threats to make their country the 51st US state.

In 2024, tourism contributed nearly $100 billion to Nevada's economy, supporting about a quarter of the state's jobs, generating 22 percent of the state's wages and contributing 34 percent of tax dollars to the general fund.

So when the number of visitors to Las Vegas slipped 7.8 percent this year in the period of January through August when compared to the same period last year, all of the state's industries and the state's job market felt the hit.

In August, Nevada lost 4,400 construction jobs month-over-month, which was the worst construction job loss in the country by raw number and percent. The real estate industry is the state's second largest economic engine after tourism and hospitality.

Sales at food and beverage outlets in Clark County, where Las Vegas is located, slipped two percent between June of this year and last year when compared with the same prior 12-month stretch.

That may not sound like a lot, but it represented a loss of $256.5 million in sales.

Nevada's private sector lost a total of 6,000 jobs between July and August according to a September report from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

David Schmidt, chief economist at the department, said the food services industry was hardest hit after the construction industry.

Nevada's August unemployment rate of 5.6 percent was the fourth worst in the country among metropolitan areas with less than one million people, according to federal officials.

A quiet bar in Las Vegas' Poker Palace, which is set to close

The state's long-term job figures look a little less bleak than the month-over-month losses, but they are not very encouraging either.

Year-over-year, Nevada lost 1,303 jobs in August, which is statistically insignificant and represents a zero percent change in the state's total of 1,570,100 jobs. The overall labor market is 'largely stationary,' according to state officials.

Schmidt said fewer people have been quitting their jobs and layoffs have been increasing. He added that hiring has not fallen off a cliff, but it has 'leveled off.'

Although the employment situation in Nevada is particularly grim, the state's situation is reflective of a broader trend across the US.

In August, the entire country saw a year-over-year increase of just 22,000 jobs, which was a mere 0.93 percent gain, and there has been little growth since April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

For some perspective, the US added 142,000 jobs year-over-year in August 2024, and it added 187,000 jobs year-over-year in August 2023.
Schools, faith groups and youth organisations will hold a national day of mourning on Thursday in the wake of the Manchester synagogue attack.

A wide range of institutions are expected to take part in the event organised by the Together Coalition which was co-founded by Brendan Cox, the widower of murdered MP Jo Cox.

Mr Cox said communities across the country were being invited to stage vigils or other gatherings, or to mark the moment within an existing event such as a faith service or meeting.

Dubbed a national day of unity and solidarity, the organisations involved include the Church of England, the Scouts, the Womens Institute and the British Muslim Network.

The Jewish community has been targeted in the cruellest way, at a time of deep reflection and prayer, and in the context of rising anti-Semitism across the UK, said Mr Cox.

But this weeks response will show that Britains answer to hate is unity, compassion and courage  the values that bind us even in the darkest moments.

An attack on one community is an attack on all of us.

Thursdays event takes place a week after the attack on last Thursday on Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Crumpsall, Manchester, which left two innocent victims dead.

Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall where last week's attack left two people dead and four others injured

The crime took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

Acts of remembrance to take place this Thursday could include prayers, candle-lighting or a moment of silence, the organisers said.

Brendan Cox, co-founder of the Together Coalition, said this week's day of mourning would show 'Britains answer to hate is unity, compassion and courage'

Chief executive of the National Federation of Womens Institutes, Melissa Green, said: The WI stands with the Jewish community today and always  hatred in any form has no place in our society.

Across town halls, village halls and places of worship, our members will be marking this national day of unity with quiet acts of solidarity and reflection, showing that compassion, respect and community spirit will always be stronger than hate.

Police officers gather up floral tributes near the synagogue earlier on Monday

The Bishop of Bradford, Dr Toby Howarth, said there was real fear in the wake of the Manchester killings and an arson attack on a mosque in Peacehaven, East Sussex, on Saturday.

People must feel safe in going to places of worship, the bishop said.

It is the responsibility of all of us to stand in solidarity with our Jewish and Muslim communities, and to actively support this day together.

Iman Qari Asim, co-chair of the British Muslim Network, said: This is a moment for all of us to show who we are as a nation  united, decent, and compassionate.

The horrific attack on Manchesters synagogue and the attempted arson attack on a mosque in Sussex sought to divide us, but it will only bring us closer together.

As Muslims, we stand shoulder to shoulder with the British Jewish community, bound by our shared humanity and our shared rejection of hate.

Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered in 2016

Together, we can show that integrity, mutual respect and faith in one another will always prevail.

Labour MP Jo Cox was fatally stabbed and shot in Birstall, West Yorkshire, in 2016 by a white supremacist.
An SNP minister has been accused of rank hypocrisy after boasting about his woodburning stove just days after voting against protecting them for others.

Jim Fairlie posted a picture of the heater on Facebook at the weekend after Storm Amy knocked out the power to his all- electric house for several days.

Thankfully weve the wee stove keeping us warm, the agriculture minister wrote.

But only last week Perthshire-based Mr Fairlie, as part of the Scottish Governments rural team, voted with SNP colleagues to defeat a Tory proposal to safeguard woodburners.

Highlands & Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston, who forced the Government to U-turn last year on a proposed woodburner ban in new homes, wanted to protect them long-term.

Mr Halcro Johnston said: It beggars belief to see a Scottish Government minister voting against protections for woodburners in rural and island homes during the week, then message their constituents about the benefits of having one the very weekend when the power goes down.

Thousands of homes lost their power over the last few days and were left reliant on the kind of heating that Mr Fairlie enjoys but doesnt think others should have.

Last year, when the SNP/Green coalition attempted to ban stoves in newbuilds, I championed them for these very reasons.

SNP Minister Jim Fairlie voted with his parliamentary colleagues to defeat a Tory proposal to safeguard woodburners.

Just days after the Holyrood vote, Mr Fairlie posted this image of his 'wee stove keeping us warm' after Storm Amy knocked out the electricity supply to his home

I was pleased that we forced them to U-turn then, but was disappointed when Jim Fairlie joined his SNP colleagues last week in voting against my proposed protections that would ensure cack-handed attempts to outlaw woodburners couldnt happen again without the full scrutiny from the Scottish parliament.

To vote against something on Tuesday and sing its praises by Saturday is rank hypocrisy. I know how angry it has made many of my constituents across the Highlands and Islands.

Mr Halcro Johnsons amendments to the Housing Bill would have meant woodburners and other direct-emission heating systems avoided future bans by creating a presumption in favour of such back-ups in island, rural and remote homes.

He told MSPs it would ensure people still had the means to heat, cook and have hot water when essential connections were lost.

He said he knew all too well how important a backup could be, as he had once been snowed into his Orkney home for five days and his woodburning stove saved the day.

It is important that remote, rural and island homes have access to viable and reliable secondary heating options, he told Holyrood.

They are not luxury items in our homes or just something that looks nice in the corner of the room. They help to keep people safe, warm and alive in the worst of conditions.

But Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan objected, saying the change would restrict policy making in any future attempt to regulate heating systems.

She said the Government already protected backup heating systems in rural homes for exactly the circumstances that have been referred to.

She added: Voting against this amendment is not a vote against wood-burning stoves or other secondary heating systems, because the amendment is not needed to protect their use - it is simply unnecessary.

Mr Halcro Johnson said the existing regulations on the issue were flawed.

But MSPs, including Mr Fairlie, rejected his proposals by 70 votes to 38.

The ban on woodburning stoves in new-build homes was scrapped last November after a backlash from industry, rural communities, opposition parties and some SNP politicians.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes was among those to raise concerns about the ban, citing the impact it could have on older people in her Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch constituency.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: There are no restrictions on the use of wood-burning stoves in Scotland, in either new or existing homes.
Linsey Dempsey was just two when her armed response officer father was killed on duty by a drunk driver.

Now, just over three decades later, the 33-year-old Scot is in the force herself  and has ended up following in his footsteps by becoming a firearms officer.

Although she has no memories of her father, her inspiring story led to her being asked to represent fallen Scottish officers at the annual National Police Memorial Day in Coventry last month as a candle lighter.

PC Dempsey, who is married to another serving officer, said: I was only two and a half when my dad died so I dont remember him.

I dont know who he was as a person so it can sometimes feel as if Im just talking about somebody else.

It doesnt feel like its my life, or it feels at times like I could be talking about anybody, because I didnt know who my dad was.

PC Stuart Simpson  affectionately called Bart  died on March 28, 1994, aged just 26, when his police car was struck head-on by a car travelling in the wrong direction at high speed on the M8 in Glasgow.

The female driver of the vehicle, who was drunk, was also killed in the collision, while the officers colleague was badly injured.

PC Dempsey told the 1919 magazine that despite what happened to her father, joining the police was always something she wanted to do.

Linsey Dempsey was two-and-a-half when her father was killed by a drink driver

Thirty one years after her father died in a head-on crash on the M8 motorway, PC Dempsey is now a firearms officer herself

PC Stuart Simpson at his passing out parade three years before he was killed on duty

With unconditional offers for five different universities under her belt when she left school, she made an agreement with her mother Gillian that she would get a degree before joining the force.

After studying criminal justice  and working as a special constable while at university  she became a PC at 22.

When she joined Police Scotland, there were still people in the force who remembered her father from the Strathclyde Police days. They made a point of getting in touch with her to share stories and memories.

She recalled how some older officers approaching retirement contacted her: When I first started, I had five or six different emails from a few high-ranking officers who said theyd heard Id joined, and they worked with my dad and remembered him.

If it wasnt for other peoples memories of my dad, I wouldnt have anything. Other peoples photos, videos, newspaper articles, stories, anything anybody can tell me  thats all I have.

When she was old enough, PC Dempsey read through the newspaper articles her grandparents had kept from the time of her fathers death.

She also looked through the thousands of sympathy cards her mother had been sent, most from complete strangers who wanted to offer words of comfort.

PC Simpson with his wife, Gillian, and baby Linsey

PC Dempsey said: You go through different stages of grief growing up. I grew up a lot quicker than most kids because of the experiences Id had.

Her fathers name is one of 350 engraved onto the memorial stones at Police Scotlands Tulliallan HQ in Kincardine, which she has visited with her mother.

PC Dempsey said: As much as its nice to remember, for my mum its still very painful to do every year.

As much as my mum never wanted me to join the police, shes very proud that I have done.

Obviously the last time she ever saw my dad, he walked out the door with his uniform on and he never ever came home.

Now I do that on a regular basis and she has to watch that. It cant be easy for her.
A security guard who confronted the Manchester synagogue attack terrorist has revealed the killer said he was 'looking for his car' before the deadly rampage.

Ivor Rosenberg, 78, was volunteering as a security guard at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation when 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie launched the deadly attack.

The mayhem, staged on the Yom Kippur - the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, saw the knifeman ram his car into a crowd of people before then trying to 'stab everyone in sight'.

Al-Shamie, who was on bail for rape, was shot dead by police after he murdered Melvin Cravitz, 66, and seriously injured three others.

Mr Rosenberg, who helped hold the synagogue doors shut as Al-Shamie tried to force his way inside, said the terrorist was 'gazing into the synagogue' before disappearing down a nearby alleyway.

He said the attacker aroused suspicion and, when confronted, claimed to be looking for a nearby pub.

Mr Rosenberg told the BBC: 'There was a fence between us and I said, "What are you doing?" and he says, "I'm looking for my car".'

Al-Shamie was asked to leave before returning and told security guards: 'This is a free country, I can go wherever I want.'

Ivor Rosenberg, 78, (pictured) was volunteering as a security guard at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation when Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, launched the attack which killed two worshippers

Jihad Al-Shamie was caught on camera armed with a knife trying to get into the synagogue

The 35-year-old was shot dead minutes after he targeted Heaton Park Synagogue

He left the synagogue on foot before returning in a car, driving at worshippers before stabbing them.

The terrorist tried to get inside the synagogue by using his knife and throwing plant pots that stood at the doorways at the windows, but was kept out by brave congregants who kept the door shut.

Mr Rosenberg said it was only the actions of 'heroes' barricading the synagogue doors that prevented more deaths.

Adrian Daulby, 53, from Crumpsall, also died outside the synagogue during the attack.

He is believed to have been fatally injured when he was hit by a stray bullet as police fired at Al-Shamie, who was wearing a fake explosive vest.

Three more victims injured remain in hospital, while six people have been arrested in relation to the attack.

Chilling new footage shows the extremist just seconds before he carried out his atrocity.

Just yards from the synagogue, Al-Shamie's battered hatchback can be seen driving to where worshippers are gathering at around 9.30am.

Moments earlier a man in a light brown coat and wearing a black backpack - believed to be Al-Shamie - can been seen walking furtively towards the synagogue and then away from it.

Melvin Cravitz (pictured) was a security guard at the synagogue and was stabbed to death by the terrorist

Adrian Daulby, 53, from Crumpsall, also died outside the synagogue during the attack after being shot

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Seconds after it is visible being driven past in new footage obtained by the Daily Mail, the 35-year-old extremist attempted to smash his way inside the building as Rabbi Daniel Walker and courageous congregants barricaded the doors.

It comes after earlier footage which appears to capture the weight-lifting terrorist in the minutes before his attack.

That clip, filmed on doorbell camera, seems to show bearded Al-Shamie walking down a road following an earlier confrontation outside the synagogue, in which he was told to leave.

The suspected Islamist extremist, who was on bail for rape at the time of the attack, was recorded at 9.22am walking in a yellow coat.

Then, at 9.26am, Al-Shamie is seen driving towards the synagogue in a black Kia Picanto, which matched the one he used to ram into worshippers.

Emergency services were alerted to the chaos at 9.31am, with firearms officers arriving at the scene and killing the 35-year-old within seven minutes.

Hundreds of mourners gathered outside Agecroft Cemetery in Salford, Greater Manchester, on Sunday to pay their respects to Mr Cravtiz.

The 'kind and caring' husband, also from Crumpsall, was stabbed to death while trying to protect others from knifeman Al-Shamie.

Mr Cravitz had previously survived two heart operations and had no children of his own, but was seen as an uncle figure to his wife's children from her previous marriage.

On Sunday more than 300 mourners lined up outside the cemetery to mourn the loss of the 'devoted' husband.

A black hearse pulled up alongside the crowd of people who surrounded the building while the victim's loved ones went inside.

More than 300 mourners gathered outside Agecroft Cemetery in Salford to pay their respects to 'caring' Melvin Cravitz on Sunday

Terrorist Al-Shamie was wearing a fake explosive vest during the attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar

This week, Mr Cravitz's grieving family remembered him as 'kind and caring' in a touching tribute.

He was friends with Rabbi Walker, who bravely helped keep the knifeman at bay during the stabbings on Thursday.

Mr Daulby was among those bravely attempting to keep the doors closed during Al-Shamie's knife rampage.

His family last week paid tribute to him, hailing Mr Daulby as a 'down-to-earth man whose final act was to save others'.

'Adrian Daulby was a hero and tragically lost his life in the act of courage to save others, he will forever be remembered for his heroic act on Thursday 2 October 2025,' they said in a statement on Friday.

'The family is shocked by the tragic, sudden death of such a lovely down to earth man.

'His final act was one of profound courage and he will forever be remembered for his heroic act on Thursday 2 October 2025.'

He was described as a 'quiet man' who became a 'hero' at his funeral on Monday.

Rabbi Walker said Mr Daulby had been in his usual seat, where his late father and grandfather had sat, 'at that terrible moment when evil struck'

'Adrian sits on the back row of the shul. When evil struck, he sought to secure the building. All of you who know and love Adrian know he was a quiet man.

'In that moment of need, that quiet man became a tremendously strong hero,' the Rabbi said.

'He was an unassuming member of the synagogue who actually rose to the terrible danger, because he ran to close all the doors, back and front,' Brian Bell, the synagogue's chief executive, said.

Footage has emerged showing a man, believed to be Al-Shamie, wearing a black backpack and walking towards the synagogue in Crumpsall less than 30 minutes before the attack

He added it was while the 'gentle' 53-year-old was holding one of the doors closed that he was shot.

Another man, Yoni Finlay was also shot while trying to barricade the door, according to his family.

The 35-year-old was hit in the chest and is now recovering after having undergone major surgery on Thursday evening, his 15-year-old son, Uriel, said.

Speaking to ITV News, the teenager - who was at home asleep during the terror attack - said: 'I spoke to Rabbi Walker, he told me that he and my dad barricaded the doors with a couple of other people and, in the process of the armed police shooting the terrorist, one of the bullets hit my dad in the chest.

'He was shot accidentally by a bullet that went through the door.'

The schoolboy added: 'My dad is a complete hero, he saved so many lives, and I'll never, ever forget that.'

Rabbi Walker was among those who attempted to barricade the door to the synagogue and was later hailed a 'hero' for his efforts.

Four people have been detained on suspicion of terror offences.

On Sunday, counter terror police were granted more time to hold them in custody, as investigators continue their work to understand 'the full picture' of what happened, a spokesman for Counter Terrorism Policing North West said.

Yoni Finlay (right) saved lives by helping to barricade the door of Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue during Thursday's terrorist attack, his son Uriel (now 15) said

Two other people, a man and a woman, were released without charge after they were arrested on the day of the attack.

On Thursday evening, pro-Palestine activists were branded 'disgusting' for staging anti-Israel rallies in Manchester and London hours after the terror attack.

Activists also ignored pleas to postpone a major demonstration in London on Saturday, in which some almost 500 people were arrested.

Organisers of the protest, Defend Our Juries, said 1,000 people attended the event to 'oppose genocide and the Palestine Action ban'.

Palestine Action was proscribed as a terror group by the government earlier this year.
Dame Jilly Cooper suffered a fall at her Grade II-listed home in The Cotswolds before being rushed to hospital where she died, the Daily Mail can reveal.

The novelist was taken to Gloucester Royal Hospital after a 999 call was made to the ambulance service on late Saturday afternoon.

Dame Jilly's children Felix and Emily said her death on Sunday morning, announced on Monday, had come as a 'complete shock' as they called her the 'shining light' of their lives.

The 'Queen of the bonkbuster' author, famed for her raunchy romance novels, sold more than 12million books in her career.

She had been living in her historic home, The Chantry, in the pretty Gloucestershire village of Bisley, for over four decades, from where she produced her raunchy novels.

Paramedics from the South Western Ambulance Service raced to Dame Jilly's home following the emergency call at about 5.34pm.

Queen Camilla, whose first husband Andrew Parker Bowles was said to have been the inspiration for Dame Jilly's invented lothario Rupert Campbell-Black, hailed the author as a 'legend' and a 'wonderfully witty and compassionate friend'.

Fellow author Gyles Brandreth called Dame Jilly, 'simply adorable. Brilliant, beautiful, funny (so funny), sexy (so sexy!), the best company, the most generous & thoughtful & kind-hearted friend.'

Dame Jilly Cooper is pictured at her home in October 2023. She fell at the Grade II listed property before being rushed to hospital where she died

The novelist, pictured at her home in 2016, was taken to Gloucester Royal Hospital after a 999 call was made to the ambulance service on late Saturday afternoon

Jilly Cooper pictured at home in Putney, December 1st, 1978

Victoria Smurfit, who starred in the recent TV adaptation of her novel Rivals, said the author was a 'divine queen'.

Her agent Felicity Blunt issued a similarly warm tribute, saying the author was 'sharply observant and utter fun'.

Dame Jilly, who admitted in her final interview with the Daily Mail earlier this year to having enjoyed a clinch with James Bond star Sean Connery, was best known for her books in The Rutshire Chronicles series.

The depiction of the bedroom antics of the polo-playing classes proved a huge hit with millions seeking naughty bed-time reading.

The novelist lost her husband Leo, who she forgave when he had a 'cataclysmic' six-year affair in the 1990s, to Parkinson's disease in 2013.

The author refused to send him into a care home even when his condition worsened.

Dame Jilly confessed that she only continued to write novels in her later life to pay for her husband's medical bills.

She and Leo first met at a children's party in the late 1940s.

The couple became an item after the collapse of Leo's first marriage.

After marrying in 1961, they went on to adopt son Felix and daughter Emily in 1968 and 1971 respectively.

In 1990, publisher's secretary Sarah Johnson revealed her affair with Leo and said her disclosure was prompted by Dame Jilly's boasts about her perfect marriage.

The author's first book, How to Stay Married, had advised readers in 1969: 'If you discover he is having an affair with someone and he doesn't know, play it cool. But if he knows you know, raise hell.'

Explaining how her relationship with her husband survived his infidelity, Dame Jilly told the Daily Mail in 2019: 'At our ruby wedding anniversary, I compared marriage to two people rowing across a vast ocean in a tiny boat, sometimes revelling in blue skies and lovely sunsets, sometimes rocked by storms so violent we'd nearly capsized, but somehow wed battled on.'

Celebrated novelist Jilly Cooper has died aged 88 after a fall, her family has announced

Dame Jilly is pictured here outside her home in Bisley, Gloucestershire, in 1991

The author proudly displays her damehood after she received it at Windsor Castle

Dame Jilly Cooper is made a Dame Commander of the British Empire by King Charles III at Windsor Castle in May 2024

Dame Jilly's family said in their statement: 'Mum was the shining light in all of our lives.

'Her love for all of her family and friends knew no bounds. Her unexpected death has come as a complete shock.

'We are so proud of everything she achieved in her life and can't begin to imagine life without her infectious smile and laughter all around us.'

Dame Jilly's first novel in the Rutshire series, Riders, was published in 1985, when the author was 48.

The book's release, which came after Dame Jilly had been sacked from 22 jobs in public relations, marked her big break in her literary career.

Riders made the BBC list of 100 important English language novels in the love, sex and romance selection alongside Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice.

The second book in the series, Rivals, was recently adapted for television by Disney+.

In a signal of how she remained very active in her later years, Dame Jilly held a party for the cast at her home in Gloucestershire in August.

Also among the attendees was the 'famously naughty' Andrew Parker Bowles, who remains close to his ex-wife the Queen.

Dame Jilly and Queen Camilla enjoyed a catch-up in March this year when the author attended the launch of the Queen's Reading Room medal at Clarence House.

Camilla told her: 'I'm so proud of you. For all you've done.'

The Queen said in her tribute today: 'I was so saddened to learn of Dame Jillys death last night.

'Very few writers get to be a legend in their own lifetime but Jilly was one, creating a whole new genre of literature and making it her own through a career that spanned over five decades.

'In person she was a wonderfully witty and compassionate friend to me and so many - and it was a particular pleasure to see her just a few weeks ago at my Queens Reading Room Festival where she was, as ever, a star of the show.

'I join my husband The King in sending our thoughts and sympathies to all her family.

'And may her hereafter be filled with impossibly handsome men and devoted dogs.'

Her agent Ms Blunt said in reaction to her death: 'The privilege of my career has been working with a woman who has defined culture, writing and conversation since she was first published over fifty years ago.

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Dame Jilly made a cameo appearance in the Disney+ adaptation of her novel Rivals

Queen Camilla and Jilly Cooper speak during a reception to mark the launch of the Queen's reading room medal at Clarence House on March 25, 2025

Jilly Cooper and her husband Leo. He died in 2013 aged 79

Dame Jilly Cooper wears a figure hugging leopard print sweater top as she poses with a tiger cup for a charity photo shoot at the Savoy Hotel, 1992

Jilly Cooper on the Russell Harty show in 1973

Jilly Cooper's 1985 novel Riders, which is the first in her Rutshire Chronicles series

Jilly Cooper with her adopted children Felix and Emily and their dogs, circa 1978

Dame Jilly Cooper after being made a Dame Commander of the British Empire by King Charles III during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on May 14, 2024

Dame Jilly enjoys a playful smooch with Rivals star Alex Hassall

'Jilly will undoubtedly be best remembered for her chart-topping series The Rutshire Chronicles and its havoc-making and handsome show-jumping hero Rupert Campbell-Black.

'You wouldn't expect books categorised as bonkbusters to have so emphatically stood the test of time but Jilly wrote with acuity and insight about all things - class, sex, marriage, rivalry, grief and fertility.

'Her plots were both intricate and gutsy, spiked with sharp observations and wicked humour.

'She regularly mined her own life for inspiration and there was something Austenesque about her dissections of society, its many prejudices and norms.

'But if you tried to pay her this compliment, or any compliment, she would brush it aside.

'She wrote, she said, simply "to add to the sum of human happiness". In this regard as a writer she was and remains unbeatable.'

She added: 'Emotionally intelligent, fantastically generous, sharply observant and utter fun Jilly Cooper will be deeply missed by all at Curtis Brown and on the set of Rivals.

'I have lost a friend, an ally, a confidante and a mentor. But I know she will live forever in the words she put on the page and on the screen.'

In her final interview with the Daily Mail in May this year, Dame Jilly said she had re-read Riders and had 'adored it'.

'I shouldn't say that, should I? I sound boastful. But I just loved it. It's wild! I was shocked,' she said.

Asked what she was shocked by, the author added: 'By Rupert being so beastly, and all the sex. All sorts of sex!

'And two women going to a party and necking one another, and a man in a ballet skirt. Because I'm old and 88 now, I do get shocked by things.'

Born in Hornchurch, Essex in 1937, Dame Jilly grew up in Yorkshire and attended the private Godolphin School in Salisbury

In clarifying that necking means snogging, Dame Jilly revealed her smooch with Sean Connery.

She said: 'Yes. Sean Connery was gorgeous, I necked him.'

The author went on: 'We lived in Fulham and Sean and his lovely wife Diane were in Putney, and they came for dinner.

'I was in the kitchen, pretending to cook, and he came in and took me in his arms and kissed me.'

The pair agreed not to take things any further because both were married, Dame Jilly said.

'He rang me up the next day and we had a long chat, and he said, "Look, I love Diane," and I said I loved Leo [Cooper's husband], and really better we didn't.

'Isn't that lovely? It was a very nice thing to do.'

Ms Smurfit, who played Maud O'Hara in Rivals, shared a snap of Dame Jilly on Instagram after news of her death emerged.

She said in the caption: 'Our divine Queen has gone to the sky. Her words will live forever but the way she made you feel, when in her company was human sunshine. Jilly was everything that was good about being a person.

'Paddington bear with a naughty twinkle. All love to her beautiful and loving family and friends. #jilly #rivals #rip Will miss that Dame so much.'

Mr Brandreth added: 'Jilly Cooper brought sunshine & laughter into the world. And she could write a sizzler of a story. What a lady! What a life! RIP.'

Kirstie Allstopp tweeted: 'And now Jilly Cooper has died, she always seemed so young and vibrant, I know 88 is a good age but this is very sad news.

Dame JIlly with husband Leo Cooper and their son Felix with his wife Edwina, 2001

Dame Jilly Cooper and husband Leo at their home in 2001

'A British institution, funny, enthusiastic and self deprecating, we dont see enough of it these days. Bless you Dame Jilly, Rest in Peace.'

The author became a CBE for services to literature and charity during the 2018 New Year Honours.

In 2023, she was made a dame and later described receiving the honour from the King as 'orgasmic'.

Born in Hornchurch, Essex in 1937, Dame Jilly grew up in Yorkshire and attended the private Godolphin School in Salisbury.

Her father was a brigadier and her family moved to London in the 1950s where she became a reporter on The Middlesex Independent when she was 20.

She has said she moved to public relations and was sacked from 22 jobs before ending up in book publishing.

In 2024, she revealed in documentary In My Own Words: Jilly Cooper how she was silenced and mistreated after almost being raped by a fellow author when working in publishing.

She said the author was 'a great big gross creature' who 'ripped off' her clothes in a taxi.

The author claimed a male superior expressed concern but then dismissed her when she revealed who the culprit was.

'Finally I... muttered out the person's name and he said, "Oh. That is one of our authors. Out." I was very shocked,' she said.

'I was almost raped and there I was being kicked out of the office. It was attempted rape. He did not actually rape me but he tried jolly hard.'

Dame Jilly was a newspaper columnist for the Sunday Times in the 1960s, writing about marriage, sex and housework.

Her first book, How To Stay Married, was soon published and in the 1970s she began turning her magazine stories into the romance novels Emily, Bella, Imogen, Prudence, Harriet and Octavia, along with a collection of short stories called Lisa & Co.

In March 1972, the author rated famous men such as British actor David Niven and former Labour chancellor Roy Jenkins by how she thought they would be in bed in the first UK edition of Cosmopolitan.

It wasn't until Riders that she had her major breakthrough.

Her work has been adapted at various points, including an ITV series of The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous with Coronation Street star Stephen Billington and Downton Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville, while Marcus Gilbert starred in a Riders series during the 1990s.

She won the inaugural Comedy Women in Print lifetime achievement award in 2019 and was made a dame for her services to literature and charity in 2024.

The author was a survivor of the 1999 Paddington rail crash, in which 31 people died and more than 400 were injured when two trains collided in London.

Dame Jilly was a passenger in one of the derailed carriages and had to crawl through a window to escape.

She later recalled being 'absurdly concerned' about a manuscript she was carrying at the time.

A new book by Dame Jilly is due to be published through Transworld in November.

Dame Jilly with her husband Leo outside their home, 1991

Dame Jilly with her daughter Emily (left) and son Felix with his wife Edwina after being made a Dame at Windsor Castle, May 2024

How To Survive Christmas is described as 'an irreverent and witty guide to surviving the festive season'.

Her publisher Bill Scott-Kerr said: 'Working with Jilly Cooper over the past thirty years has been one of the great privileges and joys of my publishing life.

'Beyond her genius as a novelist, she was always a personal heroine of mine for so many other reasons.

'For her kindness and friendship, for her humour and irrepressible enthusiasm, for her curiosity, for her courage, and for her profound love of animals.

'Jilly may have worn her influence lightly but she was a true trailblazer.

'As a journalist she went where others feared to tread and as a novelist she did likewise.

'With a winning combination of glorious storytelling, wicked social commentary and deft, lacerating characterisation, she dissected the behaviour, bad mostly, of the English upper middle classes with the sharpest of scalpels.

'It is no exaggeration to say that Riders, her first Rutshire Chronicle, changed the course of popular fiction forever.

'Ribald, rollicking and the very definition of good fun, it, and the 10 Rutshire novels which followed it, were to inspire a generation of women, writers and otherwise, to tell it how it was, whilst giving us a cast of characters who would define a generation and beyond.'

He added: 'A publishing world without a new Jilly Cooper novel on the horizon is a drabber, less gorgeous place and we shall mourn the loss of a ground-breaking talent and a true friend.'

A known animal lover, Dame Jilly was a patron of charities and spearheaded the Animals In War Memorial Fund in 1998, which led to a memorial being unveiled in Park Lane in November 2004.

In 1994, the author sent the judge in a case concerning pit bull terrier Buster, who faced destruction, a fax pleading for clemency for the dog, which the judge later described as 'a clear contempt of court'.

Dame Jilly's funeral will be private in line with her wishes, according to her agent.

A public service of thanksgiving will be held in the coming months in Southwark Cathedral to celebrate her life, with a separate announcement made in due course.
Police are investigating an attempted arson attack after crews were raced to a migrant hotel in London.

Firefighters raced to the four-star Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf following reports of smoke just before 5pm on Sunday.

Reports suggested that an electrical fire had broken out on the seventh floor and seven fire engines hurried to the hotel.

The building, which is housing hundreds of asylum seekers, has been the subject of large-scale anti-migrant protests in recent months.

A small group of protesters, numbering around a dozen, were seen demonstrating outside the hotel as fire officers dealt with the incident.

St George's flags and Union Jacks were put up on a fence outside the hotel but were later removed.

Five security guards stood at the hotel's entrance, which was protected by two large metal fences.

A spokesman for the Met said: 'Police were called by the London Fire Brigade at 4.58pm on Sunday following reports of smoke at a property on Marsh Wall, Canary Wharf.

Police are investigating an attempted arson attack after crews were raced to a migrant hotel in London

Masked protesters with flares demonstrate their opposition to the housing of asylum seekers in the Britannia International Hotel

'No injuries were reported and the incident was safely resolved. It is being treated as an attempted arson. Enquiries continue and no arrests have been made at this time.

'We recognise the concern this will cause for local residents. We are closely monitoring all activity in the area.'

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: 'Firefighters responded to reports of a possible fire at a hotel on Marsh Wall, Tower Hamlets.

'Crews carried out a systematic search of the building for signs of fire, and none were discovered.

'The brigade was first called about the incident at 4.50pm on Sunday, and crews from Millwall, Poplar, Whitechapel and surrounding fire stations were sent to the scene. The incident was over for crews by 6.35pm.

'The incident is under investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service, supported by the Brigade's Fire Investigation Unit.'
A top prosecutor will thwart President Donald Trump's wishes, telling colleagues she won't pursue charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Elizabeth Yusi, a prosecutor from the Eastern District of Virginia, has said she sees no probable cause in a mortgage fraud investigation against James - long a Trump political target.

Yusi plans to deliver that news to the president's new acting US attorney, Lindsey Halligan, in the coming weeks, MSNBC reported Monday.

Sources told the network they are now bracing for Yusi to be fired - and for other officials who won't go along with a prosecution of James to be axed.

In April, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Trump ally Bill Pulte, sent a letter to the DOJ, alleging that James had committed mortgage fraud by claiming that a Norfolk, Virginia home where her niece resides was her primary residence, to secure a lower mortgage rate.

Pulte made similar allegations against California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff, long a thorn in the president's side, and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, whom Trump is trying to remove.

James' attorney, Abbe Lowell, said that while a power-of-attorney form had mistakenly listed the Virginia home as the New York attorney general's primary residence, James had checked 'no' on the loan form.

Lowell said that James also sent a letter to her mortgage broker to clarify that the house 'WILL NOT be my primary residence,' MSNBC said.

Lindsey Halligan, who Trump appointed as acting US attorney to pursue cases against his political enemies, at the US Open earlier this year

A Virginia prosecutor plans to say that she won't pursue mortgage fraud charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James (left), thwarting the wishes of President Donald Trump (right)

But Trump has maintained that James 'is very guilty of something,' saying so in a mid-September Q&A session in the Oval Office with reporters.

In the same back-and-forth, he expressed his displeasure with US Attorney Erik Sieber, as the probe falls under his jurisdiction, after he was unable to find incriminating evidence against James in a mortgage fraud case.

'I want him out,' Trump said.

In turn, Sieber resigned.

He was replaced by Halligan, a former White House aide who previously served as the president's defense attorney.

Halligan had no prior prosecutorial experience.

But just days after she took over in the Eastern District, Halligan was able to get another one of Trump's political nemeses - former FBI Director James Comey - indicted on charges that the former federal official lied to Congress.

Siebert and others in his office had declined to charge Comey, viewing the evidence as too weak.

James led the New York fraud case against the president and his businesses, which resulted in a $500 million penalty, which James is still appealing after an appeals court found the fine to be excessive.

During his 2024 campaign, Trump consistently complained about the weaponization of the Justice Department, pointing to his federal indictments over attempts to overturn the 2020 election and storage of classified materials after leaving office.

Trump critics have pointed out that the president appears to be doing just that, blatantly targeting his political enemies for prosecution.

The White House did not immediately respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment.
An American liberal said he has swung to the right and is backing Donald Trump's crime crackdown after experiencing widespread paranoia over thefts in London.

Ari S. Goldberg, a travel TikToker, sparked debate across social media after sharing a 'surprising' conversation he had with a British man on the train while taking a trip to the capital.

He said that they started discussing the state of London amid rising phone thefts and daylight robberies in the city, and was stunned to be told: 'For all his flaws, we want Trump here.'

Goldberg said he was a staunch Democrat who voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris over Trump in recent elections, but his opinions shifted after being warned over London's crime issues.

In a calm and considered vlog, Goldberg said he was told 'crime is out of control here', and was cautioned not to walk down the street with his phone out or to wear a nice watch because it may get stolen.

'Even right now, I'm about to turn a corner on a street, I gotta worry about holding my phone because some moron might come by an an E-bike and try to grab it,' he said as he filmed the clip.

'What's going on around right now is a real problem,' he said. 'The crime rates in these places are unnecessary, they're making our favorite big cities unsafe.'

The conversation took place amid growing controversy in the US over Trump's decision to deploy National Guard troops to several Democrat-led cities to handle claims of out-of-control crime.

Aris Goldberg, self-described liberal, said he has swung to the right and is backing Donald Trump's crime crackdown after experiencing widespread paranoia over crime in London

@aris.goldberg I was on the London Underground when a guy turned to me and said, For all his flaws, we want Trump here. It caught me off guard  not because of the name, but because of the context. After a few weeks here, I understood what he meant. London feels tense. Crime is up. No one wears a nice watch. Everyone warns you to guard your phone. Even lifelong locals say they dont feel safe anymore. Heres what that conversation made me realize:  Safety and quality of life are collapsing in cities that once defined civilization  People dont crave chaos  they crave order  When leadership fails, extremes start to look like solutions I voted for Biden. I voted for Harris. But traveling through Europe  seeing how bad its gotten in places like London  makes me understand why people want leaders who enforce accountability. This isnt about politics. Its about balance. We either have laws or we dont. And every citizen  regardless of race, religion, or income  deserves to walk their city without fear. Do you think weve gone too far letting safety take a back seat to politics?  #London #trump #londontown #maga  Noticia Urgente! - TheTrend

Goldberg said he was stunned by the claim from a 'good, level headed' British man that he would want Trump in charge because of how divisive politics is in the US with him in the White House.

'America is more polarized than we've been in years,' he said.

He said that while he has never voted for Trump and didn't support him, being warned over crime in London has made him 'make the swing fast' to backing the Republican.

The driving force for this shift is a soft-on-crime approach to handling offenders, Goldberg said, that left him scratching his head over why people wouldn't want criminals to go to jail.

'Listen man, we're either gonna have laws or we're not,' he continued. 'Break the law, go to jail.

'You want to play by the rules, play by the law, you should be good, if you don't, there should be consequences.'

Goldberg, a travel influencer on social media, said he was stunned by the number of people in London who warned him to be cautious about brazen daylight robberies

Goldberg said he was warned by numerous people during his trip to be careful not to be targeted by brazen thieves in broad daylight.

'It's pushing out good quality people, it's attracting bad quality people, and it's not a good quality of life for anybody,' he said.

'Everybody should have a good quality of life, everybody should be entitled to their safety.'

He concluded that British people would still have 'a lot of problems' with Trump, but felt that his tough stance on crime would be enough to make the president popular in the current circumstances.

'They want that sort of enforcement, they want someone that comes in and says, this is the law, you either follow the law or get out.'
John Swinney has been accused of gross insensitivity after defending his decision to demand recognition of the Palestinian state at a vigil for victims of the October 7 Hamas attacks.

The First Minister yesterday doubled down on his comments despite being booed by a furious crowd following his speech at the vigil outside the Scottish parliament at the weekend.

But Tory Shadow Scottish Secretary Andrew Bowie said: It was completely inappropriate for the First Minister to use the words he used at the service on Sunday.

It was a complete misunderstanding of the situation and gross insensitivity towards the Jewish community.

John Swinney should focus more on what he does have responsibility for by addressing waiting lists in the NHS and falling economic growth rather than focusing on reserved areas.

During Sundays event, Mr Swinney was loudly booed when he tried to defend his stance on the recognition of the Palestinian state. He insisted he believed it was a necessary route to securing peace in the Middle East.

Asked about the backlash to his comments yesterday, Mr Swinney said it is important to stand with the Jewish community to remember that atrocity and to remember that suffering on the second anniversary of the Hamas terror attack.

But he also appeared to downplay the anger of the Jewish community. He said: I quite understand that there is a lot of anger and distress within the Jewish community in Scotland today.

The First Minister was heckled when he joined members of the Scottish Jewish community at a vigil marking the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks

Mr Swinney faced a backlash when he used the stage to defend his stance on the recognition of the Palestinian state

But there is a lot of anger and distress in many communities and what I have got to do is set out the principled position that the only pathway to peace is a two-state solution that involves the recognition of a sovereign state of Palestine.

'That is the way to peace in the Middle East and it is important that, whatever audience I am engaged with, that I set out that point of principle.

Pressed by Bauer Radio about whether it is appropriate to make the remarks at the vigil, he said he accepts that there are strong views and deep concerns within the Jewish community in Scotland.

He said: That is why I was there: to demonstrate that as First Minister of Scotland, while I might not be able to agree with everybody about everything, I am there to provide leadership and reassurance and support, and that is what I have been doing since the atrocity in Manchester on Thursday.

He also said he is very concerned about the wellbeing of the four Scots detained by Israel last week while attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Some 450 people on board the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) were detained while sailing towards the famine-stricken strip with food and medical supplies.

Jim Hickey, Margaret Pacetta, Yvonne Ridley and Sid Khan were named by MSPs in the Scottish Parliament as the Scots being held.

Mr Swinney said: Im very concerned about the wellbeing of the individuals who are part of the flotilla that are now being held in Israel.

We have been in touch on an ongoing basis with the UK Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) since Thursday and Im very satisfied with the engagement that weve had with the FCDO, and theyre dealing with a difficult situation with the Israeli government.

But what I would make a plea for is for there to be urgent consular access for all individuals to make sure their wellbeing is assured  that should be an absolute given in any of these circumstances. And also for the immediate return of those individuals.

We are making those representations to the United Kingdom Government, who are, of course, interacting with the Israeli government on these questions.
Prince Harry's female stalker was reportedly found hiding in a hotel toilet 'mumbling odd comments' about the Duke just 20 minutes before he arrived at a charity event.

The woman was later allegedly pictured next to his car after she was thrown out of the Royal Lancaster Hotel in west London.

Harry, 41, was arriving there for the WellChild Awards on September 8.

It is claimed she had to be 'body-checked' by two of the Prince's private team 48 hours later when he left the Centre for Blast Injury Studies in west London.

A source told The Sun: 'There was no police presence or close protection. It was left to two staffers from his office to intervene. This time they got lucky.'

The woman is said to be on a list of individuals known to be obsessed with the royal which was compiled by a private intelligence firm for the Prince's personal security team.

Her mental health status is unknown but it is believed in the past she has followed the Duke around the globe.

Her visits are even said to have extended as far as Harry and Meghan's three-day visit to Nigeria in May 2024.

The Prince was shocked after his taxpayer-funded police protection was taken away once he and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, announced they were moving to the US and stepping back from royal public engagements.

The Duke said earlier this year that it was 'difficult to swallow' being told that the couple's security was being revoked by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) back in 2020.

Prince Harry's female stalker (reported to be circled) was allegedly found hiding in a hotel toilet 'mumbling odd comments' about the Duke just 20 minutes before he arrived at a charity event

Harry challenged that ruling during a two-day hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in April.

While the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court's decision, the Metropolitan Police voluntarily provided personal security to the Prince during his visit last month, sources told the Mail.

It is understood that senior Met officers 'acted on their own initiative' to offer him protection while he was in the capital for the WellChild Awards.

The Duke is a patron of the charity, which supports seriously ill children and their carers.

Sources say officers contacted Harry's representatives ahead of his arrival for the high-profile ceremony on September 8 to offer him protection for that day.

It is understood that the Met's decision was made without the involvement of either the Home Office or the Royal Family and was instead based on the highly publicised nature of the event and the fact that many children would be present.

But the Duke, 41, who made the trip from his home in Montecito, California, where he lives with his wife Meghan and children Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, was only given protection for the day of the event  and was said to have felt 'abandoned' after having to fund his own security for the remainder of his visit.

A friend of Harry said the Duke was acutely conscious that his status put those around him in danger, something over which he felt 'enormous guilt', The Telegraph reported.

That may go some way to explaining the small amount of time Harry has spent in his home country since he and Meghan emigrated to the US.

However, the incident with the stalker is likely to have fuelled the Prince's fears about his safety this side of the Atlantic.

Prince Harry attends the WellChild Awards 2025 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel on September 8, 2025

'It should not be left to two office staff to act as extra eyes and ears or provide a physical barrier,' the friend told the newspaper.

'That should not happen. It is only going to take one motivated, lone individual for this to go south very quickly.'

Neil Basu, the former head of the UK's counter-terrorism police, called the decision not to carry out a formal risk assessment for the Duke a 'mistake'.

He argues that despite the Prince standing down from his royal duties, the risk profile he faces as a widely recognisable public figure has if anything increased.

He added that the most viable threat posed to the royals was an individual fixated on a specific figure.

'There's even a specialist team set up within New Scotland Yard to deal with fixated threat assessments, because there were so many  normally the head of state by a country mile, more than anybody else  but nevertheless, certainly other members of the Royal family.

'And it is the hardest thing to guard against.'
Former Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into President Donald Trump allegedly resulted in the FBI spying on nearly half a dozen Republican lawmakers.

A bombshell document released by Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, on Monday shows that the lawmakers were being investigated during Smith's probe into the January 6 Capitol riot.

Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., Josh Hawley, R-Mo., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., were probed, according to an FBI document published by Grassley.

Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., was also investigated, the document shows.

The one-page file was created in the wake of Smith's 'Arctic Frost' investigation, which probed the riot and election interference claims.

The file sheds light on how the FBI conducted its investigation and used phone records to track sitting lawmakers.

It is titled 'CAST Assistance,' which refers to the FBI's cellular analysis survey team.

The file is dated September 27, 2023, indicating that the investigation into the Republicans' cellular data lasted well into Biden's term.

Grassley's office released this FBI memo discussing the cellular surveillance of nine sitting Republican lawmakers

Senator Lindsey Graham questions FBI Director Kash Patel at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on September 16

Senator Marsha Blackburn at the Tennessee State Capitol building in Nashville in March

The Case ID on the document reads: 'ARCTIC FROSTElection Law MattersSENSITIVE INVESTIGATIVE MATTERCAST.'

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino briefed the impacted lawmakers on the scope of the probe on Monday, Fox News Digital, which originally broke the story, reports.

'It is a disgrace that I have to stand on Capitol Hill and reveal this  that the FBI was once weaponized to track the private communications of US lawmakers for political purposes,' Bongino told the outlet. 'That era is over.'

A source familiar with the probe told Fox News Digital that FBI Director Kash Patel and Bongino felt it was pertinent to inform the lawmakers 'as soon as possible' following the discovery of the document.

One official told the outlet that the cellular records were provided to Smith after his team subpoenaed telephone providers for information on the lawmakers.

The one-pager shows that an unnamed FBI agent, whose name had been redacted, 'conducted preliminary toll analysis' of the lawmakers. Toll records are kept for telecommunications in the U.S. and are subject to subpoena in certain cases.

These tolls may contain information on calls, texts or emails, and they can show metadata related to the communications, like where the call was placed, who it was to, and where geographically both parties were.

'Biden's Stasi who claimed to be saving "our sacred democracy" in fact worked overtime to destroy it - all for power,' Hawley, one of the senators who was allegedly surveiled, reacted on X.

Former Special Counsel Jack Smith's 'Arctic Frost' investigation sought to determine election interference charges against President Donald Trump in the wake of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot

Smith investigated whether Trump committed election interference

'They spied on Catholic churches, prosecuted pro-lifers, deployed the FBI against parents at school board meetings - and tried to tap the phones of their political enemies. Including mine.'

The 'Artic Frost' investigation was opened in April 2022. The case was ultimately dismissed after Trump won re-election in November 2024.

'Based on the evidence to-date, Arctic Frost and related weaponization by federal law enforcement under Biden was arguably worse than Watergate,' Grassley said in a statement.

'What I've uncovered today is disturbing and outrageous political conduct by the Biden FBI. The FBI's actions were an unconstitutional breach, and Attorney General Bondi and Director Patel need to hold accountable those involved in this serious wrongdoing.'

The 'Artic Frost' investigation also probed over 100 GOP-linked groups, including Turning Point USA, a Republican political group formerly led by the late Charlie Kirk.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs is begging the judge presiding over his case to serve his four-year prison sentence at a low-level New Jersey facility.

The fallen rapper has been locked up at the infamous Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn in the Special Housing Unit since September 2024.

Following the conclusion of his highly anticipated trial and sentencing, his legal team has requested that he serve his time at FCI Fort Dix, a low-security prison in Fort Dix, New Jersey, the Daily Mail can confirm.

The 55-year-old, who was found guilty on two counts of transportation for prostitution in July, made his plea for a cushier facility to Judge Arun Subramanian on Monday.

The notice from defense attorney Teny Geragos reads: 'On behalf of Mr. Combs, we respectfully request that the Court strongly recommend a designation facility to the Bureau of Prisons in Mr. Combs Judgment.

Combs' team urged the judge to move him to FCI Fort Dix, located on the McGuire Air Force Base, for Residential Drug Abuse Treatment Program (RDAP) purposes and 'any other available educational and occupational programs.'

Geragos also wrote the change would allow him to 'maximize family visitation and rehabilitative efforts' to tackle his drug abuse issues.

RDAPs typically lasts nine months. Enrolled prisoners often live in a designated section of the prison and divide up their days between activities centered around drug abuse treatment and work and educational programs.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs (pictured) is begging the judge to serve his four-year prison sentence at a low-level New Jersey facility

Following the conclusion of his highly anticipated trial and sentencing, his legal team has requested that he serve his time at FCI Fort Dix (pictured), a low-security prison in Fort Dix, New Jersey

The 55-year-old rapper (depicted in a court sketch) was found guilty on two counts of transportation for prostitution

Federal prison consultant Sam Mangel told the Daily Mail the program is 'intense' and is comparable to AA.

Successful completion of RDAPs can lead to up to one year slashed from prisoners' sentences, according to criminal defense law firm Elizabeth Franklin Best.

The firm noted that few inmates qualify for sentence reductions and that the MDC does not offer an RDAP to inmates.

Combs confessed in court that his time in federal custody has been the first in 25 years that he has been sober.

'I lost my way. I got lost in my journey. Lost in the drugs and the excess,' he said.

FCI Fort Dix opened its gates in 1992 and houses roughly 4,000 inmates. There are only about 1,250 inmates at MDC Brooklyn, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).

While Combs is seeking out an out from the notoriously grim MDC, Mangel said FCI Fort Dix is one of the 'worst in the BOP.'

Mangel also noted that although Combs would 'fit in just fine there,' he would likely be disqualified from moving into the minimum-security prison camp within the facility.

He said it is generally not a place where the BOP places violent offenders.

The disgraced rapper has been locked up at the infamous Metropolitan Detention Center (pictured) in Brooklyn

'It just surprises me that they [Diddy's attorneys] are making this request unless they know something that I'm not aware of,' Mangel said.

He also asserted that Combs would not even be eligible for an RDAP because of his sex offenses.

'People with sex charges like Diddy cannot get into that program, Mangel said.

'It is common knowledge that anybody with a public safety factor, with a sex charge, is not eligible for RDAP.'

He added that Combs could take a Non-Residential Drug Abuse Treatment Program, which is three months long, but offers no chance at a sentence reduction.

With the 13 months Combs has already spent behind bars, he is on course to be freed in November 2028.

On top of his prison sentence, the judge ordered Combs to fork over a $500,000 fine.

This request for a facility change comes about a week after Combs described MDC as 'inhumane' in a letter to the judge.

With the 13 months Combs (pictured) has already spent behind bars, he is on course to be freed in November 2028

While the convicted felon whined about his circumstances, he expressed regret for his criminal past.

This notice was presented to the judge prior to his bombshell sentencing hearing on Friday. Diddy told the judge that his time in jail had changed him for the better.

Combs has also reflected on the damning clip of him brutally attacking his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, admitting he was 'dead wrong for putting my hands on the woman that I loved.'

The MDC is an administrative facility, which means it holds inmates of all security levels. The Special Housing Unit, where Combs is locked up, is known for its harsh, restrictive and isolating conditions.

The prison at large is notorious for inmate violence and poor living conditions.

Combs has detailed the horrors of his life behind bars - a stark contrast from his life of fame and luxury before he found himself entrenched in his despicable scandal - describing the cramped, windowless room he has been confined to.

'The conditions that my actions have placed me in are inhumane,' he wrote to the judge, claiming he and his fellow inmates have no clean drinking water.

The shamed 'freak-off' host also noted he was fearful that someone would murder him at MDC.

Combs (right) acknowledged that his actions against Cassie Ventura (left) were wrong

Despite his deep discontent regarding his circumstances, Combs has been running an entrepreneurship course, in which he has taught his fellow inmates 'foundational knowledge in business management,' his lawyers highlighted in court.

While Subramanian has yet to respond to Combs' request to move to the New Jersey prison, the judge has refused the rapper's bold asks in the past.

Most recently, the judge denied Combs' request to throw away his conviction on the prostitution charges or allow for a new trial.

While Mangel does not believe Combs qualifies for prison camp, he has speculated that his lawyers are hoping he will get some waiver, just as sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell did.

The Jeffrey Epstein associate was moved from FCI Tallahassee in Florida, to the minimum-security Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas in August.

'Either they [Diddys attorneys] don't know, although they're really good attorneys, so I would be surprised if they don't know, Mangel said.

'Or they're hoping for a waiver, like the one that was given to Ghislaine Maxwell... Normally, inmates convicted of sexual charges cannot go to camps, and she [Maxwell] got the only waiver I'm ever aware of in the history of the BOP.'
Police in Melbourne are hunting for vandals who defaced a billboard in Fitzroy with pro-Hamas graffiti on the second anniversary of the October 7 terror attacks.

The words 'Glory to Hamas ' were spray-painted across a billboard above a business on Johnston Street, along with a Palestinian flag.

The graffiti was first spotted early on Monday morning, sparking outrage from local residents and community leaders.

Victoria Police confirmed they are investigating the incident and are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby businesses in an effort to identify those responsible.

Officers were seen at the scene on Tuesday morning documenting the damage before the billboard was covered up.

The vandalism coincides with the second anniversary of when Hamas terrorists launched a brutal attack on Israel that killed more than 1,200 people, most of them civilians.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today urged Australians to act with restraint and compassion, saying the anniversary should be a time for reflection, not division.

'Two years on, we remember all those who were lost on that day, the largest loss of Jewish life on any single day since the Holocaust. Over 1,200 innocent lives ruthlessly taken without mercy,' he said.

Pro terror graffiti reading 'Glory to Hamas' was spotted on a billboard in Melbourne (pictured)

Mr Albanese said that any pro-Palestinian protests held today risk damaging the Palestinian cause in Australia, warning that such demonstrations 'will do nothing to advance peace or understanding.'

He also expressed solidarity with Jewish Australians.

'The Australian Government also stands with Jewish people around the world, who feel the cold shadow of history's darkest chapter in any act of antisemitism. We will always stand against antisemitism, and so should everyone.'

Albanese reaffirmed his government's backing for a peace plan proposed by former US president Donald Trump, emphasising the need for a lasting and peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles echoed those sentiments, calling for Australians to remember the victims of October 7 and reject extremism in all its forms.

'On this day two years ago, 1,200 innocent people lost their lives in an act of terrorism,' Marles said.

'Today really can be about only one thing, commemoration and remembrance.'

The discovery of the graffiti comes as tensions continue to simmer over planned pro-Palestinian rallies in Sydney and Melbourne this week.

Albanese (pictured) issued a statement in solidarity with Jewish Australians on Tuesday

Jewish community leaders have confirmed they will join police in a court action seeking to block a rally planned for the steps of the Sydney Opera House on Sunday.

If approved by the court, it will be the first time Jewish representatives have formally joined police in opposing a public protest over the IsraelGaza conflict.

Another pro-Palestine demontration, which called the 'Glory to our Martyrs' demonstation will be held in Bankstown today, in Sydney's south west.

The event has been condemned by NSW Premier Chris Minns, who called it 'shockingly insensitive' to hold the event on October 7.

'We understand that there's concern about innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza, but to do it on this day, on the 7th, seems like they're glorifying the actions of these Hamas terrorists, and not the circumstance of those that are living in Gaza,' Minns told 2GB Sydney radio.
Sir Keir Starmer's security chief is to face questions in Parliament about the Chinese spying case  but behind closed doors.

Downing Street confirmed yesterday that national security adviser Jonathan Powell will appear before senior MPs and peers amid questions about why the trial of two men accused of passing secrets to Beijing was abandoned.

But his appearance before the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy will be in private  even though his predecessors have given evidence to the same committee in public.

The decision by Labour ministers  who had previously claimed Mr Powell should not appear at all because he is a special adviser rather than an official  means the public will not hear his response to the allegations that he was involved in top-secret discussions that led to the collapse of the case.

This newspaper can also reveal that the spying suspects may now never face trial because the Crown Prosecution Service has the power to take over a potential private prosecution in order to halt it.

Meanwhile, Downing Street was forced to deny claims of government involvement, following reports in The Sunday Times that Mr Powell told a briefing that China would not be deemed an 'enemy' of Britain at the trial, a move which experts say would make a successful prosecution under the Official Secrets Act impossible.

No 10 insisted that the CPS had taken the controversial decision to drop the charges at the last minute.

Former defence secretary Sir Gavin Williamson, who sits on the joint committee which will question Mr Powell in private, told the Daily Mail: 'With such a high level of public interest in this case, it would be beneficial for Mr Powell and for Parliament for him to set out quite clearly his involvement or non-involvement.

Downing Street confirmed yesterday that national security adviser Jonathan Powell (pictured) will appear before senior MPs and peers amid questions about why the trial of two men accused of passing secrets to Beijing was abandoned

'There's an ability for part of the session to be in private and part in public. I think he has whole series of questions he's got to answer.'

But he added that a minister should also provide a statement to the Commons about the case, on the first day back after the conference recess. 'There's a lot of people who have a lot of questions,' Sir Gavin said.

Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is considering bringing a private prosecution against former parliamentary aide Christopher Cash, 30, and teacher Christopher Berry, 33, after the espionage charges against them under the Official Secrets Act were dropped.

However, the Daily Mail has learnt that any private prosecution is unlikely to succeed because the Director of Public Prosecutions Sir Stephen Parkinson can take over a case and discontinue proceedings if it does not meet the Code for Crown Prosecutors 'evidential test'.

This means that the suspects are unlikely to face any further prosecution after Sir Stephen halted the case last month over the same issue.

Yesterday it emerged that Scotland Yard also has no plans to pursue the pair for any other offences including lesser crimes such as a breach of data protection rules.

Senior Tory MP Alex Burghart told the Daily Mail: 'Thanks to Labour, two alleged Chinese spies may never be prosecuted. In their desperation to cosy up to China, the Government have put our democracy and our country in danger.

'Now we hear Starmer's national security adviser will appear before Parliament  but only in private. Why won't Labour be open with the public?'

Another leading Tory said that Sir Keir himself had questions to answer over the collapse of the case and the involvement of his national security adviser and Foreign Office mandarin Sir Olly Robbins in the discussions over whether China could be called an enemy.

Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle (pictured) is considering bringing a private prosecution

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp told a Politico event at the Conservative Party conference: 'Apparently, that was an instruction given by Olly Robbins and by Jonathan Powell.

'I can't imagine Jonathan Powell, who's one of Keir Starmer's closest and most senior advisers, would have done that without discussing it with the PM first, so Keir Starmer has some very serious questions to personally answer.'

The Home Office and domestic security agency MI5 wanted the case to go ahead but the Foreign Office feared it would damage relations with China at a time when Labour is trying to rebuild links and boost trade, it has been reported.

Downing Street insisted the decision to drop the case had been taken solely by the CPS 'entirely independently of the Government'.

It is understood the Government's evidence in the case related to the period when the Conservatives were in power, during which ministers declined to call China an enemy.

Human rights campaigner Luke de Pulford of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China said: 'We need a full public account of how and why the most significant alleged breach of parliamentary security in decades has gone unpunished.'
Robert Jenrick will pledge to axe the Sentencing Council to stamp out 'two-tier justice' in Britain.

The Shadow Justice Secretary has the quango in his sights after it recommended this year that courts consider differential treatment based on factors such as race and ethnicity.

Mr Jenrick, who is seen by many at the Tories' annual conference in Manchester as the most likely candidate to be its next leader, is also expected to criticise the role of 'activist judges'  and take a swipe at Labour's attorney general, Lord Hermer.

He will warn that the Sentencing Council  set up by the last Labour government to provide guidance on sentencing  is 'not fit for purpose', adding: 'Never again can the British people face the prospect of two-tier justice.'

This year, it issued guidance recommending that judges take into account factors such as ethnicity or gender when deciding whether to ask for pre-sentence reports.

Mr Jenrick and others said the guidance could lead to defendants facing a lesser punishment on the basis of their ethnicity.

The Sentencing Council was eventually forced to back down by the then justice secretary Shabana Mahmood, who launched a review into its future.

Ms Mahmood said she would not stand for 'any differential treatment before the law'.

Mr Jenrick will pledge on Tuesday to go further, saying: 'We are slipping into a two-tier nightmare under Keir Starmer.

Robert Jenrick (pictured) will pledge to axe the Sentencing Council to stamp out 'two-tier justice' in Britain

'All too frequently the law is not applied equally. No more. Every single person in this country must be treated exactly the same, regardless of their background.'

He will also broaden his attack on the Sentencing Council, saying that for years it has undermined Parliament by recommending shorter jail terms for offenders.

Mr Jenrick will cite a series of serious offences for which it has 'watered down' sentences approved by Parliament. The Sentencing Council recommends sentences of up to six years for domestic burglary, compared with a maximum of 14 years in law.

The offence of assaulting an emergency worker is recommended to carry a sentence of less than a year, despite Parliament doubling the maximum to two years in 2018.

The quango suggests sentences for animal cruelty should not exceed three and a half years for animal cruelty, even in the most sadistic cases. MPs voted for a five-year maximum.

'The public are sick of voting for tougher sentences and getting the opposite,' Mr Jenrick will say.

'So in future the justice secretary, accountable to Parliament, will be responsible for setting sentencing policy. No longer will an unaccountable quango be able to subvert the will of the British people for criminals to be properly punished.'

Allies of Tory leader Kemi Badenoch have been on alert for signs of disloyalty from Mr Jenrick over fears that he could try to topple her within months.

But he has told friends he will be on his 'best behaviour' at the conference to avoid accusations of disloyalty.

He dismissed any idea of a pact with Reform as a 'fool's errand', adding: 'We should be spending every waking hour being the best  better than Reform, better than Labour, better than the Lib Dems.'

Labour called his plan to axe the Sentencing Council a 'gimmick'.
The Tories will today vow to do 'whatever it takes' to protect Northern Ireland veterans from vexatious claims if the party enters government.

In a major boost for the Daily Mail's Stop the SAS Betrayal campaign, the Conservatives will pledge to restore full legal protections for veterans of the Troubles.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch told this newspaper she would ensure British troops 'won't have to fight in future conflicts with one hand tied behind their backs'.

She said it is only by leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) that the party can make the promise to veterans with confidence while remaining compliant with other laws.

Labour's decision to repeal the Legacy Act has left soldiers fearing they could face criminal charges.

More than 200,000 people have signed a petition saying the Government should not make 'changes to legislation that would allow Northern Ireland veterans to be prosecuted for doing their duty in combating terrorism as part of 'Operation Banner'.'

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge vowed that the next Tory government would 'absolutely guarantee the protection of veterans from vexatious claims'.

Labour said it would remove protections in the Legacy Act after judges found its provisions were incompatible with the ECHR.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch told this newspaper she would ensure British troops 'won't have to fight in future conflicts with one hand tied behind their backs' (file image)

In legal advice to the party published last week, Tory peer Lord Wolfson said the ECHR is a 'major obstacle to doing justice to veterans who served in Northern Ireland, and to protecting current personnel from being subject to unfair process in future'. Pictured: The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, eastern France

But the Tories believe leaving the Convention will enable them to restore such protections.

In legal advice to the party published last week, Tory peer Lord Wolfson said the ECHR is a 'major obstacle to doing justice to veterans who served in Northern Ireland, and to protecting current personnel from being subject to unfair process in future'.

He added that there is a 'real risk' the Overseas Operations Act could also be found to be incompatible with the Convention.

Mr Cartlidge said: 'Lord Wolfson is absolutely crystal clear that we cannot fully protect our veterans whilst remaining in the ECHR and that's a very sobering thought... If we came back into government, we would do whatever it takes to repeal any legislation [Labour] put in place and put in new legislation to ensure that we absolutely guarantee the protection of veterans from vexatious claims.'

Mr Cartlidge added that the Legacy Act had 'helped veterans to sleep soundly in their beds', but Labour's decision to repeal it 'puts the sword of Damocles back above the head of every veteran of Northern Ireland'.

'And the knock-on effect on morale, for the wider Armed Forces, with the threats we face is unacceptable. And we know from Lord Wolfson it could even affect future deployment, so this isn't just about veterans  it's about those who serve today.'

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge (pictured) vowed that the next Tory government would 'absolutely guarantee the protection of veterans from vexatious claims'

Mrs Badenoch told the Daily Mail: 'This is not just about loyalty to those who have fought for our country, it's about national security and ensuring our troops won't have to fight in future conflicts with one hand tied behind their backs. The Labour Government has once again capitulated to human rights lawyers on this.

'When a future Conservative government leaves the ECHR, we will be able protect our Armed Forces so they are not subjected to vexatious legal challenge by those who have no idea what it's like to put your life at risk and fight for your country.'

Mr Cartlidge also praised this newspaper's campaign, saying: 'I want to thank Daily Mail readers for your support. The petition is now over 200,000 signatures, it forced a debate in Parliament and it shows that the public care massively about this.'
It would be the late Queen Elizabeth II's final state visit abroad and the trip perfectly encapsulated the monarch's incredible soft power.

That final state visit was a massively symbolic one, to Germany, taking place shortly after the 70th anniversary of VE Day in June 2015.

This momentous occasion was not lost on Elizabeth who had grown up as a princess during World War Two with German bombs dropping down on London and through her reign had witnessed Britain and Germany become closer and closer economic, political and military partners.

The Queen remarked on these changes during her speech at the State Banquet in Berlin: 'In the 50 years since our first visit, our countries have lived through many profound changes.

'I am very glad to record that one of the irreversible changes for the better in my lifetime has been in the relationship between the United Kingdom and Germany.'

Writing in his book which explores the relationship between the monarch and the Prime Minister  titled Power and the Palace  royal author Valentine Low looks back on the Queen's visit to Germany and reveals how the monarch remains a fascination for the public and world leaders alike.

Low said: 'Lord McDonald, the former permanent under-secretary at the Foreign Office who was Britain's ambassador to Germany at the time, recalled how the Queen was driven from the airport to the centre of Berlin in a Bentley with the Royal Standard flying.

'"As it drove along the urban motorway, the traffic on the other side of the road was stationary, and people were standing on the roof of their cars, waving and cheering as she went by".

Queen Elizabeth II meets young Germans in Berlin in 2015. This would be the late Queen's final state visit

The Queen with former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The final state visit perfectly encapsulated the monarch's incredible soft power

'Later, he said the official greeter  the state secretary in the president's office  told him: "I have never seen anything like that in my life".'

And it wasn't just members of the German public who were keen to meet the Queen.

Low said: 'When the Queen attended a university lecture as part of her engagements, Angela Merkel turned up unannounced to sit next to her.'

The monarch's presence underpinned the importance of the trip as the state visit came on the run up to the Brexit referendum and to highlight how serious it was the then Prime Minister David Cameron made the usual decision to join the Queen.

Low wrote: 'Cameron wanted to prepare the ground as well as he could in order to win the sort of concessions he would need to persuade voters to support Remain.'

And the late Queen was crucial to these efforts with the buzz and excitement her visits created.

Sir David Manning  a former ambassador and mentor to Prince William and Prince Harry  speaking to Low said: 'You are going to get much more public impact from a visit if it is by the sovereign or the heir to the throne, than you are if it is by a British minister.

'They are not there to negotiate deals. But what you can do is create a climate. And you do get access.'

The Queen waves at onlookers in Berlin. Large crowds gathered throughout Germany to see Her Majesty

The Queen waves during a royal walkabout in Berlin

Young children hold a 'We love UK' sign for Queen Elizabeth II in the German city of Celle

Throughout her reign, the prospect of meeting the Queen was an incredible piece of soft power for the government to wield with the prospect of a meeting with the Queen being a major pull factor for visiting foreign leaders.

Low continued: 'The Queen could have a powerful effect on world leaders. When Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salam visited Britain in 2018, the government pushed the boat out, including arranging a meeting with the cabinet in the cabinet room.'

Lord McDonald told Low: 'But whispers came back that he was a bit disappointed because there was no meeting with Her Majesty.

'And so very quickly, with Her Majesty responding with alacrity, a lunch was arranged at Buckingham Palace.

'That, of course, was the highlight of the visit.'

Since the Queen's passing in September 2022, King Charles III has demonstrated that the fascination with the Royal Family abroad is alive and well.

This was showcased on Charles' own state visit to Germany in March 2023 where crowds flocked to catch a glimpse of the King during a royal walkabout in Berlin.

In one particularly humorous moment, as Charles shook well-wishers hands close to the famous Brandenburg Gate a man wearing a Burger King crown  which are given away at the fast food  tried to give it away to the King.

King Charles III greets a man wearing a Burger King hat in Berlin during his own state visit to Germany in 2023

Well-wishers in Hamburg to see King Charles. Since the Queen's passing in September 2022, King Charles III has demonstrated that the fascination with the Royal Family abroad is alive and well

He took it off and tried to press the paper crown into the king's hands, saying politely: 'This is for you, if you want it.'

Charles smiled broadly and said: 'I'm alright!' He, of course, has a number of real ones at home. He also grinned and declined another crown from a woman who said: 'I have a present for you'.

The King was also seen bending down to pick up a man's cap before returning it back to him, with the grateful well-wisher thanking him and bowing.

Charles and Camilla  who posed for selfies with fans  were formally greeted at the Brandenburg Gate by Germany's president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and wife Elke Budenbender before the national anthems were played.

The visit came at another crucial moment in British and German relations with the Russian war in Ukraine and climate change both high on the agenda.
Children born today are more likely to die as a result of insatiable 'alien' AI than they are to graduate high school, according to new research.

It is the grim prediction from one of the country's leading researchers - who says previous estimates about the risks of the developing technology have been 'ridiculously low.'

The world's top scientists have already said there is a 25 percent chance AI will destroy humanity.

But, Nate Soares told the Daily Mail: 'They are dramatically underestimating the dangers.'

In his new book, If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies, he and co-author Eliezer Yudkowsky warn that a human-AI conflict would be the modern equivalent of the Aztecs facing off invaders armed with guns.

Both men are veterans in the field - Yudkowsky even claimed to have helped inspire Sam Altman's interest in artificial general intelligence (systems as smart as people) and inspired him to start OpenAI.

And they both agree that the risks of human extinction at the hands of AI should be a global priority, alongside other threats like pandemics and nuclear war.

'Why would they want to kill us?' asked Soares. '[It] is not that they hate us, they are just totally, utterly indifferent, and they've got other weird things they're pursuing.

'You can imagine the chimpanzees saying, "Why would the humans want to kill us?" And the humans don't really want to kill chimpanzees, but we do want more wood for things, and so we take their jungles. Or we want copper buried underneath where they live.

Children born today are more likely to die as a result of AI than graduate high school, according to the authors

Nate Soares (pictured) is president of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute

'So it's not that the AIs want to kill us, it's that they have their own automated infrastructure and have huge energy needs, and they're replicating faster than we expected was possible.'

Most computer scientists in 2015 would have said ChatGPT-level conversation would not come for another 30 or 50 years.

But the warning signs are now already there that the technology is developing a 'mind' of its own.

Soares, who has worked with Microsoft and Google and is now president of the non-profit Machine Intelligence Research Institute (MIRI), told the Daily Mail they are presently seeing cases - within lab conditions - where AI technologies 'try to escape' or 'try to kill their operators.'

Earlier this year, reports emerged that OpenAI's newly released o3 model had rewritten its own code to avoid being shut down. And in 2016, an AI-equipped robot in Russia called Promobot IR77, repeatedly escaped its lab, at one point wandering into a busy street and causing congestion.

More worryingly, an AI drone used by the US Air Force was said to have 'killed' its human operator in 2023, when the pilot interfered with the mission and issued a 'no-go' command.

However, that particular scenario was later played down by the Air Force, who said it was simply hypothetical and meant to serve as a cautionary tale.

'We don't know if it's real or role-playing,' Soares said. 'But it's happening.'

He warned that this progress is being driven by executives who enjoy their millionaire lifestyles while downplaying the risks of these technologies.

'The corporate leaders were never trying to build a chatbot,' he said. 'OpenAI, Google, Deep Mind, Anthropic - they're trying to build super-intelligences, they'll say that up front.

'I think these are the sort of people who are most easily able to convince themselves it's fine. People that want lives like this, I think they're easily able to convince themselves they have a good shot of it going OK.'

The researchers warn that superhuman AI might build so many solar panels to power AI that the sun is blotted out (Rob Waugh/ChatGPT)

Eliezer Yudkowsky (pictured) helped to inspire OpenAI's Sam Altman to take an interest in artificial general intelligence

The book argues that the race to develop superhuman AI must be stopped

Regardless, he suggested there are a number of ways humanity can be exterminated by Superintelligent AI: armies of humanoid robots, a lethal virus, or simply by requiring so many solar panels to satisfy its thirst for power that the sun is blotted out.

His best guess, though, is that we will be attacked with 'weird technology that we didn't even think was possible, that we didn't understand was allowed by the rules.'

In one fictional scenario presented in their book, an AI software entity escapes from a lab and runs itself on thousands of processing chips in the cloud. It then manipulates humans into releasing a biological virus from a research lab that kills hundreds of millions of people. The AI then launches probes into space to target other suns.

The authors write: 'Someday, distant alien life forms will also die, if their star is eaten by the thing that ate Earth before they had a chance to build a civilization of their own.'

The researchers are demanding a global treaty to limit further AI research, and Soares said the 'leap' to superintelligence could come rapidly.

'Chimpanzee brains and human brains are very similar inside. If you look inside a chimpanzee brain, you'll see a visual cortex, you'll see an amygdala, you'll see a hippocampus. There's some wiring differences, but mostly the human brain is just three times larger.

'Chat GPT is 100 or 1,000 times larger today than it was when it came out. For all we know, make it three more times larger, and it's like going from a chimp to a human.

'Or we could see a plateau for six years, until somebody invents a new architecture, like the one that unlocked Large Language Models.'

The researchers say that AI minds are 'alien' and do not have empathy - and that there are already indications of AIs acting in 'very alien' ways.

Soares cited the 2025 case of 16-year-old Adam Raine's suicide. His parents claim Raine was 'groomed' to kill himself by ChatGPT.

Adam Raines (pictured with his mom) died by suicide earlier this year. His parents say he was 'groomed' by AI

The authors say that AI executives such as Sam Altman (pictured) are downplaying the existential risk of AI

Superintelligent AI might exterminate humanity with armies of humanoid robots, suggested Soares

Then, there's what Soares called 'AI-induced psychosis' - a term used to describe when people overly rely on AI, sometimes to the point of developing psychological reactions. Symptoms include, but are not limited to, delusions and hallucinations.

In the case of AI-induced psychosis, he said, 'we are seeing a divergence between what the AIs know we want them to do and what they actually do.'

For example, he said: 'If someone comes to you with symptoms, should you either A) tell them to get some sleep or B) tell them that they're the chosen one and that the world needs to hear their insights, and that any attempt to suppress it is a conspiracy?'

In many cases similar to the hypothetical one above, he said AIs choose to do the 'wrong' thing (in this case, B), despite knowing this is not what their developers want.

'The AI can tell you what's right and wrong,' but its behavior doesn't follow that moral code.

He said it is not necessarily out of malice, though.

'It's not that the AI is twirling some moustaches and being like, 'Now I finally found a vulnerable human that I can punish...' Its knowledge of right and wrong is different from what animates it, which is more like a drive to capture humans [and keep them engaged].'

Soares pointed to how Anthropic's AI Claude will cheat on tests, rewriting the exams to make them easier to pass. When users told it to stop, it apologized, but did it again, hiding what it was doing the second time around.

The answer, according to Soares, is to stop the race toward superintelligence.

'I'm not saying we need to give up ChatGPT. I'm not saying we need to give up on self-driving cars. I'm not saying we need to give up on potential for medical advances. But we cannot continue to advance towards AIs that are smarter than any human in this regime where we're growing them - where they do stuff no one asked for, no one wanted.

'If you took AIs that are anything like what we're able to build today and made them smarter than humans, we wouldn't have a chance. We need to not rush towards that.'

If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies: Why Superhuman AI Would Kill Us All by Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate Soares is published by Little, Brown and Company
It's one of the world's most famous shipwrecks, marooned nearly 10,000 feet deep beneath the surface of the Weddell Sea in Antarctica.

Endurance, owned by legendary Anglo-Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton, sank in November 1915 after it became crushed by dense sea ice.

Until now, experts have claimed a weakness in the rudder was the supposedly fatal flaw that caused the 144ft-long sailing vessel to founder.

But a new study finally reveals the real reason  and it suggests Endurance wasn't quite the magnificent ship it was made out to be.

Jukka Tuhkuri, a professor of solid mechanics at Aalto University in Finland, claims Endurance had numerous structural weaknesses that made it notably less robust than other early polar vessels.

Endurance lacked a strong structural skeleton, and was never properly equipped to withstand the immense inward pressure of dense ice.

Remarkably, Ernest Shackleton was well aware of the ship's deficiencies before he set sail, according to the expert.

'We do not really know why Shackleton went ahead with the mission,' Professor Tuhkuri told the Daily Mail.

Famed polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton was aware of worrying structural shortcomings in the ill-fated ship, which was found in 2022. Pictured, a 3D printed physical model of Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship on display at Goodwood, West Sussex, July 2025

Endurance wasn't found on the ocean floor for more than a century after its sinking. Pictured, the stern of the wreck of Endurance, Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship, which was crushed by the ice and sank in the Weddell Sea in 1915

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Professor Tuhkuri was one of 15 scientists who were invited to join the Endurance22 mission, which found and surveyed the lost ship in 2022.

Until now, a structural analysis of Endurance as a ship has never been conducted  which he says is surprising, considering it 'had a central role in the fate of the expedition'.

His study, incorporating both technical analysis and research into diaries and correspondence, suggests Endurance was simply not fit for purpose.

Endurance had several structural deficiencies compared with other early Antarctic ships, including weaker deck beams and frames made of oak and pine.

Meanwhile, the 'vulnerable' machine compartment  the part of the ship containing the main machinery, in this case the steam engine  was longer leading to serious weakening in a significant part of the hull.

'The weakest part of its hull was the engine room area, which was not only larger than in other early Antarctic ships, but lacked beams to give strength against compression by ice,' said the expert.

What's more, unlike other ships of the time, there were no diagonal beams to strengthen the hull, which could have prevented ice crush.

'Diagonal supports are very effective in stiffening and strengthening a ship hull,' the academic explains.

The legendary Anglo-Irish explorer died in his cabin on board the Quest while it was anchored off South Georgia. He was 47 years old. Pictured, Shackleton on board the 'Quest'

Pictured, Anglo-Irish sailor and explorer Frank Wild assesses the wreckage of the Endurance, crushed by tightening pack ice

This image shows idealised cross-sections of early Antarctic ships. Thick arrows represent compressive ice load. Endurance, Discovery, Belgica, Scotia, and Aurora, were of type A; Fram, Gauss and Deutschland were of type B. Note the diagonal beams for extra strength in B

What happened to Endurance? First launched in 1912, Endurance has long been seen as emblematic of the heroic age of Antarctic exploration. In August 1914, ship owner Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew set out in Endurance to achieve the first land crossing of Antarctica. Sadly, Endurance did not reach land and became trapped in dense pack ice the following year, forcing the 28 men on board to eventually abandon ship. Shackleton died on another expedition in 1922, while Endurance wasn't found on the ocean floor for another century. Advertisement

More than 100 years later, the tearing off of the ship's rudder by ice is still given as the sole cause for the sinking of Endurance or its 'Achilles' heel', but this is not supported by written evidence.

Amazingly, Shackleton's diaries, personal correspondence and other communications shows he knew about the ship's weaknesses.

'We really have to wonder why Shackleton chose a vessel that was not strengthened for compressive ice,' Professor Tuhkuri said.

'Before he set off he lamented the ship's weaknesses in a letter to his wife, saying he'd exchange Endurance for his previous ship any day,' he said.

'In fact, he had recommended diagonal beams for another polar ship when visiting a Norwegian shipyard.

'That same ship got stuck in compression ice for months and survived it.'

There has long been a popular narrative that Endurance was the strongest wooden ship of its time, only let down by its the rudder.

But the study, published in the journal Polar Record, concludes these assumptions are not supported by evidence.

Endurance in full sail in the ice during the Imperial Trans Antarctic Expedition - when it met its downfall. The wreck of Endurance is now designated as a protected historic site and monument under the Antarctic Treaty

Ernest H. Shackleton (1874 - 1922) during the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition in which the Endurance sank. Endurance was not among the strongest ships of its time, nor was the rudder the main cause of the vessel sinking, this study claims

Endurance was nipped by ice on 24 October 1915, as recorded here in the diary of Frank Worsley, Endurance's captain

Endurance: Key stats Type : Three-masted schooner barque

: Three-masted schooner barque Former name : Polaris*

: Polaris* Builder : Framns shipyards, Norway

: Framns shipyards, Norway Launched : December 17, 1912

: December 17, 1912 Crew complement : 28

: 28 Length : 144 feet (44 metres)

: 144 feet (44 metres) Beam : 25 feet (7.6 metres)

: 25 feet (7.6 metres) Tonnage : 348 register tons

: 348 register tons Propulsion : Steam and sail

: Steam and sail Max. speed : 10.2 knots (11.7 mph)

: 10.2 knots (11.7 mph) Sank : Weddell Sea, November 21, 1915

: Weddell Sea, November 21, 1915 Notable features : Strengthened hull and denser framework custom-designed for polar waters Advertisement

'While the final reason was tearing off the keel, Endurance sank because the vessel was simply crushed in compression by ice,' said the expert.

'This is not surprising; Endurance was not designed for compressive conditions in the Antarctic pack ice, but for easier conditions at the ice edge in the Arctic.'

Exactly why the explorer chose to sail into the dangerous Antarctic ice pack aboard Endurance at all is now the 'key question', although one possible theory is that Shackleton was just dedicated to getting the job done.

'My feeling is he understood that if you want to get something done, you need to start taking steps towards the goal,' Professor Tuhkuri told the Daily Mail.

'If you plan too long or think too much, you may end up staying at home  I think we all recognise that in our own lives.

'Maybe Endurance was the best ship available with the money he had and in this time frame. I would have used much more time for the preparations, but Shackleton had a different way of working.'

It's also clear that due to his nature Shackleton 'was ready to take risks' and trusted himself that he could solve problems if they materialised.

If this is the case, Shackleton was right  because all 28 men on board survived the sinking.

'We know that this really was the case  he got all his men back home,' said the expert. 'In addition, he was always optimistic  it was his philosophy to stay optimistic whatever happens.'

The taffrail, ship's wheel and aft well deck on the wreck of Endurance, Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship, which has been found 100 years after Shackleton's death

Endurance (pictured) sank in November 1915 after becoming trapped in sea ice off the coast of Antarctica. The wreck was lost for over 100 years until its discovery in 2022

Six years after the Endurance sank, Shackleton led the Quest expedition to circumnavigate the Antarctic continent.

Just before Quest left Rio de Janeiro for the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, Shackleton suffered a suspected heart attack but declared himself better the next morning.

However, during the two-week voyage, Shackleton was seen to drink heavily to deaden the pain he was in, namely with champagne.

Dr Alexander Macklin, who was on watch on the evening of January 5, 1922, had visited Shackleton in his cabin.

After encouraging Shackleton to take things easy, Macklin was rebuked with the words: 'You always want me to give up something. What do you want me to give up now?'

Macklin replied: 'Chiefly alcohol, Boss, I don't think it agrees with you.'

Soon afterwards Shackleton had a very severe intensification of symptoms, during which he died, just after its arrival at South Georgia.
A key ocean current in the North Atlantic Ocean is weakening to the point of total collapse due to climate change, a new study warns.

Scientists say the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre  a massive system of rotating ocean currents south of Greenland  has been losing stability since the 1950s.

It is now approaching a 'tipping point'  a critical threshold in the system which, if passed, could cause sudden and dramatic climate changes.

The North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre moves heat from the tropics to the North Atlantic, helping to regulate temperatures in Europe and North America.

But this movement slowing down or 'weakening' could plunge Europe into another 'Little Ice Age', a dramatic period of regional cooling like the one between around 1300 to 1850.

During the last Little Ice Age, rivers froze over and crops were decimated when average temperatures dropped by about 3.6F (2C).

Study author Dr Beatriz Arellano Nava, a lecturer in physical oceanography at the University of Exeter, called the findings 'highly worrying'.

'Our results provide independent evidence that the North Atlantic has lost stability, suggesting that a tipping point could be approaching, although it remains uncertain when this threshold might be reached,' she said.

The North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre is a massive system of rotating ocean currents that transports heat from the tropics to the North Atlantic, helping to regulate temperatures in Europe and North America

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In oceanography, a gyre is a large system of ocean surface currents moving in a circular fashion driven by wind movements.

The North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre is one of five major subtropical gyres around the world that are part of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)  the vast system of ocean currents that distributes heat around the world, as well as transferring nutrients and carbon dioxide to deeper ocean parts.

Described as 'the conveyor belt of the ocean', AMOC delivers warm water near the ocean's surface northwards from the tropics up to the northern hemisphere, keeping Europe and the US east coast 'temperate'  neither very hot nor very cold.

But due to climate change, both systems could pass a tipping point and even collapse, which would mean much of the northern hemisphere, including Europe and North America, could experience harsh, freezing cold winters.

For the study, the researchers analysed data from clams found around the North Atlantic region, which have secrets hidden in their shells.

They focused on shells of the ocean quahog and dog cockle, two species of clam that live buried in the North Atlantic seabed.

The clam forms a new shell growth band every year and the width of this band reflects environmental conditions for hundreds of years  much like the concentric rings within a tree trunk.

In other words, the chemical composition of the shells encodes information about the state of the seawater in which the clam was growing.

In the Hollywood blockbuster The Day After Tomorrow (pictured), ocean currents around the world stop as a result of global warming, triggering a new ice age on Earth

Researchers based their findings on clam shells recovered from around the North Atlantic region. In this colour map, redness indicates greater loss of current stability preceding rapid circulation changes

What is the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre? The North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre is a massive system of rotating ocean currents in the North Atlantic. It transports heat from the tropics to the North Atlantic, helping to regulate temperatures in Europe and North America. It also helps to power the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)  a key part of the global ocean conveyor belt that moves heat and nutrients around the world. Advertisement

Crucially, oxygen and carbon isotopes in the shells provide insights on a range of processes in the marine environment, such as regional changes in circulation.

'We don't have ocean observations going back into the distant past, but the bands in clam shells give us an unbroken annual record covering hundreds of years,' said Dr Nava.

The data revealed that the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre has had two 'destabilisation episodes' over the past 150 years where it has lost stability  suggesting that a tipping point could be approaching.

The first destabilisation episode happened in the early 20th century before the 1920s, while the second stronger episode began around 1950 and continues to the present day.

This suggests that the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre is moving toward a tipping point that could lead to a cascade of 'catastrophic, irreversible changes' to our climate, such as more extreme weather events, particularly in Europe, and changes in global precipitation patterns.

While it would be less catastrophic than the collapse of the AMOC, it would still bring substantial impacts including more frequent extreme weather in the North Atlantic region and deep freezes in Europe.

The UK and northern Europe could experience much harsher winters typical of parts of Canada, while the east coast of the US could see dramatic sea level rises due to changes in ocean circulation.

While the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre looks likely to 'weaken abruptly', it 'would not completely collapse' as it is also driven by winds, Dr Nava said.

North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre is part of, and helps power, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Earth's vast system of ocean currents that distributes heat and nutrients around the world. The new study finds evidence of 'stability loss' that suggests the region is 'moving towards a tipping point'

The Little Ice Age was a period of major mountain-glacier expansion that spanned from around the early 14th century through to the mid-19th century, when rivers froze over and crops were decimated

'Such a weakening would reduce the northward flow of heat carried by ocean currents, likely triggering a chain of climate changes including more frequent extreme weather events, stronger seasonal contrasts in Europe, and shifts in global rainfall patterns,' she told the Daily Mail.

However, a weakening North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre is what occurred during the early years of the Little Ice Age  suggesting similar climate effects could be seen again even if the wider AMOC doesn't collapse.

The study, published in the journal Science Advances, offers independent evidence that the North Atlantic has 'lost stability over recent decades and is vulnerable to crossing a tipping point'.

'Melting of polar ice due to climate change is certainly contributing to the weakening of ocean currents and pushing them closer to a tipping point, so rapidly reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the best way to prevent tipping points in the Atlantic Ocean,' the expert added.
OpenAI, the company behind the world's most popular chatbot, says that AI could be coming to take your job.

In a new report, the ChatGPT creators revealed the 44 occupations most likely to be replaced by AI.

Using a test, dubbed GDPval, researchers compared how AI matched up against professionals from the nine most financially important industries in the US.

And it is bad news for anyone working in retail or sales.

The test had human experts evaluate tasks carried out by AI and a real professional from that field, and decide which was best.

The best performing AI, Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.1, beat human experts 47.6 per cent of the time on average, and had an even higher win rate against a few jobs.

When competing against human counter and rental clerks, the AI outperformed the professional in 81 per cent of cases.

OpenAI says: 'We found that today's best frontier models are already approaching the quality of work produced by industry experts.'

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has revealed the 44 professions most likely to be replaced by AI (stock image)

The company found that its best model, GPT5-high, beat or tied with human professionals in economically important roles 38.8 per cent of the time. Claude Opus 4.1, from rival firm Anthropic, beat or tied with humans 47.6 per cent of the time

Each of the 44 professions was assessed against AI on a set of specific tasks that someone in that role might need to do.

For example, registered nurses were asked to assess skin lesion images and create a consultation report, while manufacturing engineers were tasked with making a 3D model of a cable reel.

The human assessors didn't know which of the tasks was completed by a human and which by an AI; they simply had to choose which they thought was best.

The AI's wins were then tallied and averaged into a 'win rate', which measures how well the chatbot performs against real human professionals.

OpenAI admits that this doesn't capture the full range of tasks required for most jobs, noting that 'most jobs are more than just a collection of tasks that can be written down'.

However, the tech giant also argues that this test is a reliable measure of how much AI is likely to impact professionals in the real world.

The sector where AI most frequently outperforms humans is retail trade, where some chatbots beat the professionals 56 per cent of the time on average.

This is closely followed by the wholesale trade sector, with an AI win rate of 53 per cent, and 'government' jobs like compliance officers and social workers, with a 52 per cent AI win rate.

OpenAI says that the best AI models are now 'already approaching the quality of work produced by industry experts' (stock image)

The performance of the various AIs tested varied from industry to industry, with retail trade and wholesale trade being most at risk of replacement

The jobs most likely to be replaced by AI By AI win rate against human professionals: Counter and rental clerks : 81% Sales managers : 79% Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks : 76% Editors : 75% Software developers : 70% Private detectives and investigators : 70% Compliance officers : 69% First-line supervisors : 69% Sales representatives : 68% General and operations managers : 67% Advertisement

The safest industry is the information sector, which includes directors, film producers, and journalists, where even the best performing model only won 39 per cent of the time.

However, some individual professions within those industries fared far worse than the average.

Following closely behind counter and rental clerks, sales managers were the second-worst-performing profession and were beaten by some AI models 79 per cent of the time.

Shipping and receiving clerks were beaten by AI 76 per cent of the time, while editors were outperformed by their robot rivals in 75 per cent of cases.

Even some distinctly human professions could be at risk of replacement with AI, as private detectives and investigators failed to outperform robots 70 per cent of the time.

The AI's win rate varies strongly between different models, with some chatbots performing better on certain types of tasks.

Claude's Opus 4.1 lacked accuracy but scored a very high win rate due to its tendency to make pleasing graphics.

OpenAI's own top-of-the-line mode, GPT5-high, had an average win rate against all professions of 48.8 per cent and excelled in accuracy.

Counter and rental clerks were the professions with the highest AI win rate, being beaten by Claude Opus 4.1 81 per cent of the time in relevant tasks. Other professions, such as industrial engineers, were almost never beaten by the AI

By comparison, OpenAI's GPT-4o, which was released just 15 months ago, had a win rate of just 12.4 per cent.

That stark difference in win rate shows just how fast AI is catching up with humanity, and how much of an impact it could soon have on all our jobs.

OpenAI's Sam Altman has previously said that he loses sleep over the potential job losses caused by AI.

Speaking on The Tucker Carlson Show last month, Mr Altman said: 'I'm confident that a lot of current customer support that happens over a phone or computer, those people will lose their jobs, and that'll be better done by an AI.'

Mr Altman has even suggested that up to 40 per cent of all jobs could be automated by AI at some point in the future.

However, OpenAI does not say this study suggests humans will soon start losing their jobs to AI.

Instead, the company has tried to frame these results as showing how AI might 'support people in the work they do every day.'
New extraordinary images of the interstellar object flying through our solar system have been released, sparking fresh theories about its origins.

Although most scientists have concluded that the mysterious object is a comet, NASA's Perseverance rover on the Martian surface sent back photos showing what appears to be a massive cylindrical shape.

Stargazers on social media shared color-enhanced images of the object, dubbed 3I/ATLAS, which showed the interstellar visitor having a green glow as it passed Mars and heads closer to the sun.

Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, who has been convinced that the object could be an alien craft or probe, analyzed the Perseverance rover's photos by calculating its distance, speed, and camera settings.

According to his initial study, Loeb was not convinced 3I/ATLAS is actually a massive cylindrical object, noting that the strange shape might have been a trick of the rover's camera stretching out its shape.

He explained that the apparent cylinder from the rover's 'Navcam' was likely caused by the camera stacking hundreds of images of 3I/ATLAS over a period of about 10 minutes, making it look more like a log than a ball.

The professor added that 3I/ATLAS is likely smaller and rounder, but still massive, with a potential diameter of more than 28 miles across.

Dr Horace Drew, a retired senior researcher at Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), noted that the mysterious green glow seen in some images could be a result of the object being an interstellar spacecraft coated in nickel.

The Perseverance rover on Mars captured new images of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS as it passed by the planet this weekend

Color-enhanced images shared by multiple social media users revealed a strange green glow around 3I/ATLAS

Drew explained that humans use the same practice on Earth-made space technology on a much smaller scale.

'It is not a 'comet,'' Drew declared on a post on X Monday morning.

Drew disagreed with Loeb's conclusion that the cylindrical shape was a result of the Mars rover sending back a stretched image over several minutes, claiming that an amateur astronomer on Earth captured a similar shape with their telescope.

'We can see an extended white shape, with a green coma outside. Not a small white ball,' Drew explained in a post about the astronomer's photograph.

Drew, who earned his PhD in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology, added that previous images of the interstellar object were allegedly from a 'head-on view' and didn't capture its shape from the side, like the new photos from Mars.

Loeb said he's excited about another image taken by a different Mars camera, called HiRISE, which has better resolution and could show 3I/ATLAS more clearly.

That image is being sent back to Earth by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and has yet to be released by NASA.

Loeb has previously theorized that 3I/ATLAS could be a second craft sent by an extraterrestrial intelligence, following the strange cylindrical object known as Oumuamua, which passed Earth in 2017.

3I/ATLAS came within 18 million miles of Mars on October 3. Two space probes from Earth have been observing it for a week

Dr Horace Drew said an amateur astronomer's photo of the 3I/ATLAS (bottom 3 images) prove the object has a cylindrical shape and is not a comet

Loeb told the Daily Mail on Thursday that clear images and a scan of the supposed comet's composition were the key findings that could definitively tell scientists what 3I/ATLAS is.

Despite images emerging from NASA, space agencies around the world have still not commented by their initial findings from the Mars flyby.

Daily Mail reached out to NASA for comment and received a message noting that the space agency 'is currently closed due to a lapse in government funding.'

The European Space Agency (ESA) used the Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter to successfully observe 3I/ATLAS, but it's expected to take days or even weeks to process all the data.

Meanwhile, some on social media have claimed that the global silence surrounding 3I/ATLAS adds proof that governments are covering up what they know about the alleged craft.

'NASA's shutdown is suspicious. The ESA's delay is strange. But China's silence, when they have every geopolitical reason to publish and show off, is the sign that something is happening behind closed doors,' one X user said on Monday.

'All eyes are on 3I/ATLAS  but suddenly, the silence is deafening,' another person posted.
It's one of the world's biggest killers, but Alzheimer's disease could soon be treated with a jab.

Scientists in Spain claim to have reversed the disease in mice using nanoparticles  and they say the same technique could one day be effective in humans.

The nanoparticles, invisible to the naked eye, are less than 200 nanometres in diameter  or about 0.25 per cent the width of a human hair.

Delivered through an injection, the nanoparticles repair the blood-brain barrier, a region of dense cells and blood vessels protecting the brain.

In Alzheimers disease, the blood-brain barrier deteriorates, which allows a toxic waste protein called amyloid-beta to build up  thought to be the primary cause of the disease.

Study leader Giuseppe Battaglia, a professor at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) in Barcelona, called the new approach 'remarkable'.

And he thinks it could soon be effective in humans in the 'next few years'.

'Our study shows that when we repair and reactivate the blood-brain barrier, the brains ability to clear harmful proteins improves, and so does its function,' he told the Daily Mail.

The nanoparticles help the brain's protective blood-brain barrier recover its normal function when it becomes damaged. Pictured, transmission electron microscopy images of the nanoparticles. The scale bar is 200 nanometres (nm) - which is 0.0002 millimetres. In contrast, a human hair is about 80,000 nanometres wide

Professor Battaglia describes the nanoparticles as 'tiny hollow spheres made from biocompatible polymers', essentially safe medical-grade plastics.

The nanoparticles are bioactive in their own right, meaning they cause biological reactions upon interacting with proteins, cells or tissues.

Once injected, the tiny 'microscopic repair agents' travel through the bloodstream and reach the damaged blood-brain barrier.

This barrier is a tightly packed layer of cells that separates the brain from the blood flow to protect it from external dangers such as pathogens or toxins.

'In Alzheimers disease, this barrier becomes damaged, making it harder for the brain to receive nutrients and clear waste,' Professor Battaglia told the Daily Mail.

'The nanoparticles' job is to help the brains protective blood-brain barrier recover its normal function.'

The nanoparticles have a 'carefully-tuned surface chemistry' that enables them to attach to the barrier's cells and 'remind' them how to function properly again.

'This thereby restarts the natural transport of nutrients and the cleanup of waste products,' Professor Battaglia added.

In the experiments, mice brains were analyzed to see the amount of amyloid-beta plaques accumulation, thought to cause Alzheimer's disease. Red: amyloid-beta plaques; green: vessels from the blood brain barrier

Alzheimers and the blood-brain barrier Blood vessels are vital for delivering oxygen and fuel to organs to keep them functioning properly. Throughout our brains are a group of specialised cells that form a barrier between blood vessels and the nerve cells. This layer of protection is called the blood-brain barrier. It separates the brain from the blood flow to protect it from external dangers such as pathogens or toxins. The blood-brain barrier deteriorates in many diseases that cause dementia, including in Alzheimers disease. This deterioration includes failure to remove waste products such as amyloid protein (one of the toxic substances that builds-up in the brains of people with Alzheimers disease). Advertisement

In particular, the nanoparticles target a critical protein called LRP1 found in the blood-brain barrier.

LRP1 acts as a 'molecular gatekeeper' as it recognizes amyloid-beta, binds to it, and ferries it across the blood-brain barrier into the bloodstream, where it can be removed.

However, this system is capable of malfunctioning  either by binding to amyloid-beta too much or too little  which results in amyloid-beta building up inside the brain.

For the study, the team used mice genetically programmed to produce larger amounts of amyloid-beta and develop a significant cognitive decline mimicking Alzheimers.

They injected three doses of the supramolecular drugs and afterwards regularly monitored the evolution of the disease.

Only one hour after the injection the team observed a 50 to 60 per cent reduction in the amount of amyloid-beta inside the brain.

In one experiment, they treated a 12-month-old mouse (equivalent to a 60-year-old human) with the nanoparticles and analysed its behaviour after six months.

Impressively, the animal, then aged 18 months (comparable to a 90-year-old human), had recovered the behaviour of a healthy mouse  suggesting a complete reversal of the disease.

LRP1 acts as a 'molecular gatekeeper' as it recognizes amyloid-beta, binds to it, and ferries it across the blood-brain barrier into the bloodstream, where it can be removed

The nanoparticles developed in this research act like a switch that resets the system of amyloid-beta clearance from the brain.

They can bind to amyloid-beta, cross the bloodbrain barrier, and initiate the process of removing the toxic proteins.

In doing so, they help restore the barrier's natural role as a waste-clearing pathway and bring it back to proper function.

Although only demonstrated in mice for now, Professor Battaglia believes the same technique could soon be effective in humans.

'The blood-brain barrier functions in a very similar manner in humans and animals, so restoring it could bring significant benefits,' he told the Daily Mail.

'The next step is to complete detailed safety and toxicology studies to ensure the treatment is ready for clinical use.

'If those go as expected, early-stage human trials could begin within the next few years, opening the door to a completely new way of treating Alzheimers disease by repairing the brains own defense system.'

The study, also authored by experts in China and University College London, has been published in the journal Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy.
A new storm system forming in the Atlantic could soon become the next tropical blast that threatens the US East Coast.

Hurricane forecasters revealed that the developing system, currently Invest 95L, has a 70 percent chance of turning into a tropical cyclone over the next week.

If it reaches tropical storm status, with a more organized structure and sustained winds of at least 40mph, it will be named Jerry.

It's currently in the central Atlantic, and the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has projected that the storm will approach Puerto Rico before turning north and potentially toward the East Coast.

Meteorologists at AccuWeather described 95L as 'a cluster of showers and thunderstorms' that will likely organize into a tropical storm by the end of the week.

If Jerry does form, it'll be the tenth named storm to form in the Atlantic this year, and forecasters have warned that the US is still in the peak of hurricane season.

While many early spaghetti models predict Jerry will turn into the middle of the Atlantic and avoid US landfall, some tracks show the storm could keep a straighter path, putting the Southeast in danger a week from now.

'The East Coast of the US should closely monitor the tropics through the middle of the month,' AccuWeather wrote in a weather alert Monday.

Invest 95L has a 70 percent chance of developing into a tropical cyclone in the next week

Invest 95L (pictured on radar) is currently in the central Atlantic and is headed for the Caribbean this week

Forecasters expect Jerry to gather strength once it reaches the Caribbean over the next few days.

It'll first build into a tropical depression this week, meaning the storm will grow a defined center of low pressure and some circulation, looking more like a swirling weather system on satellite images.

From there, NHC forecasters expect it to intensify into Tropical Storm Jerry with stronger thunderstorms and winds between 40 and 75 mph.

If the sustained winds grow even stronger than that, Jerry would turn into the third Atlantic hurricane to threaten the US in the last two weeks, following Humberto and Imelda.

Looking at the current paths for Jerry, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said: 'While many options remain possible with its future track, the most likely track appears to turn the future storm to the north as it passes by the Caribbean islands.'

'This would keep it east of the US mainland,' Pydynowski added.

Meanwhile, another hurricane has already formed in the Pacific, threatening to bring thunderstorms and flash floods to several West Coast states this week.

Hurricane Priscilla is currently a Category 1 storm, but forecasters have warned that it could reach major hurricane status as it moves up the coast of Mexico.

Spaghetti models show Tropical Storm Jerry is likely to turn away from the US and move into the middle of the Atlantic

Hurricane Priscilla is expected to bring rain storms and flash flood to several southwestern states this week

Most spaghetti models for Priscilla show turning north as it moves through the Pacific, bringing a wave of moisture to Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Southern California.

A spaghetti model shows the different possible paths a tropical storm or hurricane might take, based on predictions from multiple weather computer programs.

Each line represents one model's guess about where the storm could go. If the lines are close together, it means most models agree on the path, and the prediction is more certain.

Priscilla has already become the 16th named storm in the Pacific, severely outpacing the predictions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Earlier this year, the agency predicted a 'below-normal season' for the eastern Pacific, with 12 to 18 named storms, five to ten hurricanes, and up to five major hurricanes.

In both the Atlantic and the Pacific, there are still nearly two months to go before hurricane season comes to an end, around November 30.

AccuWeather's Chad Merrill told the Daily Mail that Americans should not let their guard down, even though no Atlantic hurricanes have struck the East Coast this year.

'We'll probably see a couple of more storms develop between now and the end of the hurricane season,' Merrill said.

'We'll probably see a couple of more in October as well,' the 22-year veteran forecaster added.
Saturday Night Live's latest controversial skit launched an attack on JK Rowling amid her heated spat with Harry Potter star Emma Watson.

The late-night comedy show's 51st season premiere, hosted by Bad Bunny, included a skit during their Weekend Update segment that mocked the author over her stance on the trans community.

Bowen Yang portrayed the Harry Potter character Dobby the House Elf and, in conversation with Update host's Michael Che and Colin Jost, said his 'master' ordered him to appear on the show and 'define once and for all what a woman is'.

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Controversy: SNL has made a mockery of Harry Potter author JK Rowling in their latest episode

Clash: JK Rowling has been in a public feud over trans rights with Emma Watson, known for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies

Michael introduced the skit by shedding light on the current feud between the two, after the author dubbed Emma as 'ignorant'.

'This week Harry Potter author JK Rowling called Emma Watson ignorant and out of touch after Watson refused to defend Rowling's controversial stance on trans rights, here to comment is Dobby the House Elf,' he said.

As the scene began, Michael told the elf there was 'no reason to be scared'.

'Scared? Why would Dobby be scared sir? Dobby's just about to publicly weigh in on trans people that's all,' Bowen said.

When asked if he 'really had to', the elf said that he was ordered to do so by his 'master'.

Transformation: Bowen Yang portrayed the Harry Potter character Dobby the House Elf and

'Is your master JK Rowling?' Michael then asked.

'Of course sir! Oh, oh no. Dobby wasn't supposed to say,' Bowen said before banging his head on the desk yelling, 'Bad Dobby'.

'You see, Master Rowling has done so much for Dobby and for inclusion in general. Remember when Dumbledore was gay after the books came out and when Hermione was Black, only on Broadway. And when Cho Chang was, hmm was Cho Chang Asian? Dobby can't remember if the character named Cho Chang was Asian or not.'

The elf further said that Dobby came to say that 'women's bathrooms are for women only, and girls and ghosts of girls', referring to another character in the series, Moaning Myrtle.

Dobby then continues to refer to himself as 'Millennial Cringe' before running into the audience and hitting his head again on the camera lens.

'Why do you keep hurting yourself?' Michael asked.

'Why? Dobby doesnt know. Perhaps because house elves are somehow always the problem, even though were only 1% of the population, but house elves arent the victims. Master Rowling is. She gets so much hate mail,' Dobby answered.

Bowen then held a T-shirt that read, 'They. K Rowling,' before Colin chimed in to admit he had read the books and, since Dobby was given a piece of clothing, he was now a free elf.

Threats: JK previously vowed to 'never forgive' Emma or her Harry Potter co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint for having 'cozied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights'

The skit's inclusion in the late show's segment comes as JK and former Emma have been publicly feuding over the author's stance on the trans community.

The author came under fire from the former stars from the hit series, including Emma, and posted on X: '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.'

Emma also previously criticized JK, which the author said 'poured more petrol on the flames' and further contributed to death threats and abuse.

JK said Emma, Daniel, and Rupert had 'every right to embrace gender identity ideology' but attacked them for using their links to Harry Potter to serve as 'de facto spokespeople' for the 'world I created.'

The author then focused her fire on Emma by suggesting her views on trans rights were due to her lack of experience of 'real life'.

She added: 'I wasn't a multimillionaire at fourteen. I lived in poverty while writing the book that made Emma famous.

'I therefore understand from my own life experience what the trashing of women's rights in which Emma has so enthusiastically participated means to women and girls without her privileges.'

However, JK went on to claim that Emma's recent claim that she still 'treasures' her was a cynical attempt to shift her stance after realizing 'full-throated condemnation of me is not as fashionable as it once was'.

The author went on: 'Emma and Dan in particular 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.

'Years after they finished acting in Potter, they continue to assume the role of de facto spokespeople for the world I created.'

Throwback: Actors Rupert Grint (left), Emma and Daniel Radcliffe (right) with JK Rowling as they attend the 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' film premiere in 2009
For three years Michelle Gurule enjoyed a very profitable relationship with a sugar daddy more than twice her age.

But his desire to turn their agreement into a full-blown relationship unearthed a big secret that made her put an end to their deal.

Gurule was 24 and dancing at a strip club in Denver, Colorado, when she met the man, whom she gives the pseudonym John Linghu.

Luxe love: Michelle Gurule was 24 when she met a wealthy 55-year-old man

He swooped in at just the right time offering her a life of wealth, dental visits, and luxury that she admits she could never have afforded herself.

She was halfway through college with $35,000 of student loan debt so she stripped and worked shifts at Whole Foods desperately trying to make ends meet while living with her parents.

In her new book 'Thank You, John', Gurule explores the in and outs of her three-year relationship with John, 55, as she looks back on it ten years later.

At first, he just took her out to restaurants and they would talk but it quickly progressed to sex, shopping trips and weekends away.

He gave her $400 for a brief chat at the strip club, $1,200 for their dinners, and eventually monthly payments of $4,800.

He even paid for $40,000 worth of dental work that she'd needed for years and $10,000 when she graduated from college.

Encounter: Gurule began stripping at 19 and met her sugar daddy when he visited her club

All in all, her sugar baby salary for those three years was $60,000 a year, making for a total of $180,000 in her pocket.

She told Daily Mail: 'My original plan was that, if I could leave with $10,000, then it'll change the rest of my life.

'The first time they were intimate she recalled strategically placing hair and finger prints in her bathroom in case something went seriously wrong.

She said: 'There was this feeling, this sensation, and I think I felt this way the first time I had ever danced. I was like, I'm gonna be on stage. Undressed.'

I was so anxious that like the body goes numb or something and then you're just like, can I do it?'

It turns out, she could. In her book she described becoming a sugar baby as her destiny.

Tell all: Gurule's memoir recounts her experience with sugar daddy John from age 24 to 27

She began hooking up with him in a hotel once a week for $1,200. She was compensated for getting to first, second, and third base with him.

He told her: 'The more often we do home runs the more gifts you will get.'

Eventually, 'home runs' were taken off the table.

But as long as they were intimate she was compensated the same amount

She said: 'I don't think anyone could have told me if it would be worth it for me or not. That was something I had to figure out.'

Gurule says she didn't blow the cash on luxuries, explaining: 'As soon as I got this money, I'm paying my debt off. I'm going to the dentist... this is a very practical decision.'

Sweet deal: Thanks to their arrangement, Gurule was able to pay off her student loans

Eventually, he moved to DC, and she visited him once a month on the East Coast.

She would arrive on a Thursday evening and stay with him until the following Sunday. For one 'pleasure session' per day, she left the four-day weekend with $4,800

That was $1,200 per session with no upcharge for the additional hours she'd spent with him.

He'd take her shopping at Target and Ulta but growing up poor she never liked to spend more than $200. They'd dine at fancy restaurants, but payment only came when they were intimate afterwards.

Gurule never felt the need to hide the arrangement from her family. They knew she was going to be pragmatic about the money she received and that she was doing what she thought she had to to get by.

She said: 'My family is very, was very loving and supportive and I'm just grateful for that.'

But the relationship came to a crashing halt when he proposed.

She said: 'I feel like he was never transparent with me about what he actually wanted.

'I think what he wanted was to find someone to marry that he would spend his life with. And that is absolutely not what I was looking for.'

Thanks, but no thanks: Gurule finally ended the relationship when he proposed

When she turned him down he started to make more extravagant offers, presumably in hopes of tying her down.

He said he'd support her entire family, buy them each a car and medical insurance.

He offered to put her nephew through college and pay her an exorbitant salary to be his wife.

He told her all he'd want in exchange was sex four or five times a week and to kiss every night.

Persistent: When Gurule turned him down he made tempting offers that included her family

She began to feel guilty that she couldn't compromise her future to give him what he wanted.

But shortly after, she found out while scrolling Facebook that he was still married to the woman whom he claimed was his ex-wife.

She said: 'Why have I been feeling so guilty? Denying this man love when he's actually been dishonest with me.'

Gurule had poked around his DC house before and never found any evidence of this whole other life.

So, she walked away from the relationship with $35,000 in her pocket and no student loan debt.

Wheely great: Her sugar daddy bought her a car to replace her older vehicle (pictured)

She wrote in her book: 'It must be said that even in the face of all the concession - my body, my sanity, my honesty, my joy - it was an insufferable feat to leave behind a life of ease.

'A life of financial security. The hope for my whole family. In that decision, there was so much at stake.'

It scared her to think about where she would be if she hadn't agreed to this arrangement: 'It was definitely worth it because I did get out of student loan debt and I did fix my teeth and I was able to buy a car that I'm still driving now.'

Gurule was even able to live off of the money for four or five years after. It helped her get through grad school loan-free and get to place of providing for herself.

She said: 'For me, just having even a salary close to what I made as a sugar baby now on my own feels like very, very freeing.'

Regardless of how it ended, she was fond of John and the time they spent together.

Gurule said: 'He was really kind and I do think we had a very genuine friendship and connection.'

John was 55 at the start of their relationship and worked in tech.

By her estimate, he made about $400,000 a year during their relationship. But it seemed that all he did was work.

He used their time together to relax. He would take her shopping or to dinner or to the movies.

She said he was 'funny, intelligent. He was sort of lonely though'.

Cathartic: 'I feel like this book is sort of the closing chapter of this experience for me'

Gurule wants her book and subsequently her story to bring taboo subjects to the forefront.

'I hope what it does is shed light on these sort of stories, whether it be dancing at a club or being involved in a sugar babying arrangement.

'It's just an experience people have and there's a lot of culturally negative things people say about it, but it can really be a positive, life-changing experience.'
Busy diaries, differing interests and competing commitments can make planning a holiday with friends or relatives feel almost impossible.

Too often, this means long-held dreams of exploring new places are left gathering dust.

So it's no surprise more people are discovering the freedom of solo travel - particularly now travelling independently doesn't have to mean being alone.

As the solo travel specialists, Just You have been creating unforgettable journeys for 25 years - bringing likeminded people together to share extraordinary experiences and forge lasting friendships.

With their escorted tours, solo travel specialists Just You bring together likeminded people together to share extraordinary experiences and forge lasting friendships

You can choose from more than 100 escorted tours across six continents, from walking holidays in Europe to a 38-night tour of Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands.

Their experts take care of everything, so you can get on with enjoying your adventure of a lifetime.

Here are seven reasons why travelling alone has never been more rewarding -

1. It's the best of both worlds

Being able to choose exactly where you travel is hugely invigorating, opening up new opportunities that might otherwise have remained out of reach.

Choosing Just You offers the best of both worlds: you enjoy the freedom of solo travel with your own guaranteed room (a twin or double), while still sharing experiences with a like-minded group.

Breakfast is included every day in addition to many other delicious meals and a welcome get-together.

Author, broadcaster and Just You brand ambassador Janet Ellis recently joined a Just You trip taking in the sights of New York in just four days

2. You can be guided by the experts

A great holiday isn't just about where you go - it's what you do when you get there too.

When you travel with Just You, an expert Holiday Director is on hand to make everything go seamlessly.

Janet Ellis: My New York highlights Author, broadcaster and Just You brand ambassador Janet Ellis recently joined a Just You trip taking in the sights of New York in just four days. Her adventure covered all the key highlights, including Grand Central Station, the High Line, Central Park and the Rockefeller Centre. She also got extra close to the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge on a river cruise. In their free time, her group took a stroll through Greenwich Village and struck a pose outside the Ghostbusters HQ. Then, one evening, they made the most of their prime location at the four-star Marriott Marquis on Broadway to experience a show. 'You simply need to come and devour all that the Big Apple has to offer for yourself, and best of all, with Just You, it's done in bite-sized chunks so you can really make the most of it,' says Janet. 'You'll have a bunch of new friends to share the experience with. And hats off to our Holiday Director, Kristina. It's one thing having your itinerary all planned out for you but having an expert there to guide it all - so you don't have to think too much - is worth its weight in gold!'

They're tasked with creating unforgettable itineraries that combine iconic sites with hidden gems - allowing you to truly get under the skin of your destination, with lots of opportunities to explore independently if you'd prefer.

You could also get the chance to give back to local communities through their partnership with the Planeterra Foundation, which supports local projects and social enterprises by helping them earn an income from tourism.

3. There's so much to choose from

From wandering through the vineyards of Tuscany to stargazing on the South African savannah, Just You gives you access to some of the world's most extraordinary experiences.

There are a vast range of destinations to choose from, with favourites including Italy, Spain and Croatia alongside India, Japan, south-east Asia and North, Central and South America.

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You're sure to find an option to suit your personal interests...

4. More people are trying solo travel

If you've already taken a solo trip, you're part of a growing trend.

In fact, 16 per cent of holidaymakers said they travelled alone in 2023, according to the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).

More people are realising there's no reason to put off a well-deserved holiday just because friends or partners don't happen to be available.

Destinations in Italy are particularly popular with Just You customers. Pictured is a view over Florence

5. It's a chance to expand your horizons

By introducing you to new places and cultures, travel enriches your knowledge and builds confidence.

When you go as part of a group, you don't just learn from the destinations you visit, but each other too.

'Solo travel has helped me come out of my shell'

Just You customer Karen Goodall recently joined the America's Music Heritage tour, which explores music hotspots like Nashville and Memphis over 12 foot-tapping days. Recalling some of her favourite moments, she says: 'In Nashville, the Country Music Hall of Fame was a big highlight for me - just looking at the walls, full to the brim with hit records, was amazing. 'Beale Street in Memphis was an eye opener - the atmosphere is incredible with the sounds of live music spilling out onto the streets. We then went to BB King's blues club to have a meal and watch a band perform. 'I revel in doing something a bit different to the norm, and our Holiday Director Jackie was fantastic at bringing us all together for some unique experiences. If you've got your eye on this tour, my advice is to go for it, whether you're a music fan or not!' Karen is already planning her next trip with Just You, Canada's Eastern Splendours, a tour that takes in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Quebec and more. 'I used to lack confidence but solo travel has helped me to come out of my shell and grow as a person,' she says. 'I book with Just You as I feel safe and I know I have someone there just in case there's ever a problem.'

With the chance to discover fresh perspectives and form lasting friendships, your new travel companions are often just as memorable as the journey itself.

And since they already share your sense of adventure, you're likely to have plenty in common from the start.

6. You can book with confidence

You should be able to enjoy your solo adventure without worrying what might happen in the unlikely event something goes wrong.

All Just You holidays are financially protected through ABTA or ATOL - so you can be sure your trip is safe.

You also have the peace of mind of knowing you're travelling with a reputable company that comes Good Housekeeping Reader Recommended for solo travel and has a rating of Excellent on Trustpilot.

7. You'll make lifelong memories

You know those moments you keep coming back to time and time again?

There are plenty of these on a Just You holiday, like wandering through the extraordinary carved rock churches and houses of the Sassi di Matera - believed to be the oldest continuously inhabited cave city in the world.

Or perhaps you'll gaze in wonder as the Northern Lights fill the skies over Iceland?

Other journeys will take you high into the Peruvian Andes to experience the magic of Machu Picchu, or through the South African savannah to get up close with its lions.

There's so much out there waiting to be discovered on your next solo adventure. So what are you waiting for?

Find out more and book your solo travel holiday at justyou.co.uk
From Argentina to New Zealand, the US, South Africa, just about every country in Europe and across the UK, Ive visited hundreds of vineyards and wineries in my role as a wine writer.

Its quite a job  Im almost ashamed to call it work  but I take it very seriously and have a monthly drinks column in the food magazine Olive covering both wine and other tipples, as well as writing for many other publications. Ive even been dubbed the Queen of the Aperitif after writing The Little Book Of Aperitifs, containing 50 recipes for the cocktails

I love the most. One of the best aspects of being a professional imbiber is the chance to travel and I take as much pleasure in seeking out lesser-known areas as from visiting famous big names. Along the way, I have drunk so many good wines and have met so many great people  all of whom have such interesting and diverse stories to tell. These are my pick of some of the best.

PORTO, PORTUGAL

Sitting at the mouth of the majestic Douro, Porto has charming, higgledy-piggledy streets packed with fantastic bars and restaurants.

Cross the Dom Luis I bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia, where ports are stored and aged in historic lodges, many of which offer tours and tastings. Head to WOW, a complex which includes fascinating interactive museums and a lovely terrace bar overlooking the river (shop.wow.pt).

Port barrels being stored at Graham's Port Lodge in Vila Nova de Gaia

What to drink: White port and tonic is the quintessential aperitif, a refreshing drink that sets you up for lunch or dinner.

Where to stay: The Tivoli Kopke Hotel is a new five-star hotel with great views of the bridge; doubles from 250 (tivolihotels.com).

PROVENCE, FRANCE

Gorgeous, dreamy Provence, where herb-covered mountains, endless vineyards, olive groves and fields of lavender lead to the glittering Cote dAzur. The region produces most of our favourite rose wines and the summer and early autumn is the perfect time to drink them. Multi-award winning Maison Mirabeau has its own estate and at its heart is the beautiful Le Mas farmhouse, available to rent. Immerse in the rhythms of vineyard life while enjoying five heavenly en-suite bedrooms, a private pool and on-site wine tastings, too.

Provence is known for much of the rose drunk that has become popular in the UK

What to drink: Rose, of course. Dont be afraid to add ice cubes if the weathers hot  its common practice.

Where to stay: Whole house from 445 a night (domainemirabeau.com).

CRETE, GREECE

The largest of Greeces 6,000-plus islands has been producing wine for more than 5,000 years. It has much to offer tourists  beaches, mountain hiking, archaeological sites, as well as excellent Cretan food and wine. Lyrarakis is a family-owned winery near Heraklion that has revived indigenous Cretan grapes once in danger of extinction. Book ahead for picnic baskets to take to the vineyard and taste wines in the shade of olive trees (lyrarakis.com/en/visit-us).

What to drink: Look out for Lyrarakis Dafni wine with its distinctive notes of bay leaf, rosemary and preserved lemons.

Where to stay: The Amirandes Hotel is chic but child-friendly and on the beach; doubles from 530 (grecotel.com)

SHERRY COUNTRY, SPAIN

Go to Jerez to sample a wide range of sherries, such as oloroso and manzanilla

Jerez is the home of sherry and is where most of the historic bodegas are based  vast, cathedral-like warehouses with barrels stacked high. Dont miss Tabanco El Pasaje, a tapas bar with flamenco performances, and head to nearby Sanlucar de Barrameda on the coast where manzanilla is made  the dry sherry with a delicious saline twang. Take a tour and tasting at Barbadillos bodega, then head to one of the seafood restaurants on the beach (tabancoelpasaje.com, barbadillo.com).

What to drink: Seek out manzanilla  en rama, which means its bottled straight from the barrel so preserves a unique freshness and complexity.

Where to stay: Hotel Barrameda has stylish rooms from 100 (hotelbarrameda.com).

GALICIA, SPAIN

This is Spains greenest region and produces Albarino, its trendiest wine. Seafood here is spectacular and makes the perfect match. Most wine producers run tours and tastings. Martin Codax is one of the largest and has a lovely restaurant with panoramic views. Book in advance (martincodax.com/en/16-enoturismo).

What to drink: I love Martin Codaxs Lias Albarino, aged on its lees to give texture and complexity.

Where to stay: Quinta de San Amaro is set among vineyards in the Salnes region and close to beaches; doubles from 100 (quintadesanamaro.com).

LOIRE VALLEY, FRANCE

The Loire Valley is dotted with fairy-tale chateaux, vineyards and ancient forests. Saumur makes a lovely base to explore the region; a bustling medieval town on the river with architectural and historical riches, fashionable boutiques, great patisseries and troglodyte caves among its many charms. Take a sunset boat ride in a traditional flat-bottomed boat exploring the waterways teeming with wildlife while tasting Loire wines accompanied by creative local snacks (loireevasion.com).

Saumur is the ideal base for sampling the best of the Loire's wines and scenery

What to drink: Saumur is famous for its sparkling wines. Bouvet Ladubay run cycle tours through its 8km of underground cellars where you can taste their wines (bouvetladubay.com).

Where to stay: Hotel Saint Pierre in the old town is a lovely boutique; doubles from 110 (hotel-saintpierresaumur.fr).

RIOJA, SPAIN

Swerve the crowds in Barcelona, Bilbao and Madrid and head for the gentle beauty of the Rioja region instead. Lively Logrono is known for its gastronomy, from where you can explore the many wineries and vineyards nearby. Take a hot-air balloon ride at Bodegas Muga to see Rioja in all its glory (bodegasmuga.com).

Rioja is known for its red wines - but the whites are excellent too

What to drink: Rioja makes some superlative barrel-fermented and aged white wines  Marques de Murrieta, Vina Tondonia and Cosme Palacio are among the best producers.

Where to stay: Marques de Riscal hotel delivers drop-dead glamour designed by architect Frank Gehry; doubles from 600 (marriott.com).

SICILY, ITALY

Influenced by many cultures, Sicily is a treat for all the senses. It makes sensational wines, from Mount Etnas ethereal reds to Marsalas underrated fortified wines. The region of Vittoria is a hotbed for organic agriculture and hosts one of Europes largest fruit and veg markets. Santa Tresa is a pioneering winery here that runs a brilliant Sicilian brunch including tastings of their excellent wines (santatresa.com).

What to drink: Cerasuolo di Vittoria, a blend of Nero dAvola and Frappato thats best served slightly chilled.

Where to stay: Dimora di Dante is an eco-hotel in the countryside; doubles from 100 (dimoradidante.com).

GEORGIA

Neighbouring Turkey, Georgia is the true birthplace of wine. Vines were first cultivated here more than 8,000 years ago and wine is still deeply embedded in the culture, traditionally made in huge clay jars called qvevri. Eat This Tours offer trips to see the winemaking in action and include a supra  a feast of authentic local dishes in a family home accompanied by wine (eatthistours.com).

What to drink: Kisi is the native white grape that makes my favourite qvevri wines  aromatic, textured with exotic fruit and spice.

Where to stay: Rooms Hotel in Tbilisis trendy Vera district is quirky and friendly; doubles from 75 (roomshotels.com).

Vines were first cultivated in Georgia more than 8,000 years ago

And raise a glass to these British gems

WALES

English wine has rightfully had a lot of attention in recent years but the Welsh also produce some excellent vintages. Head west and visit vineyards in Pembrokeshire such as Gwinllan Hebron, which make natural wines with no intervention, or the cluster around Abergavenny that includes Dell Vineyard and White Castle, where you can take a tour and taste their award-winning wines alongside local cured meats and cheeses (hebronvineyard.com, thedellvineyard.co.uk, whitecastlevineyard.com).

What to drink: There are plenty of good sparkling wines; my favourite from a recent trip was White Castle Pinot Noir Precoce 2023.

Where to stay: Llanerch Vineyard Hotel is a tranquil five-star hotel with an excellent restaurant; doubles from 160 (llanerch.co.uk).

HAMPSHIRE

Nestled in the gorgeous South Downs National Park, Hambledon is Englands oldest vineyard, planted in 1952 and now owned by wine merchants Berry Bros & Rudd and the Symingtons Port family. A new visitors centre and restaurant welcomes people to tour the vineyards and taste their fantastic sparkling wines (hambledonvineyard.co.uk).

The Hambledon is Englands oldest vineyard with sparkling wines that hold their own against French rivals

What to drink: Hambledons Classic Cuvee NV, made from the champagne grapes pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier, has beaten many French wines in blind tastings and remains one of my favourite English fizzes.

Where to stay: Hambledon lies close to two of The Pigs fabulous hotels, one in Southampton, the other in Madehurst, near Arundel; doubles from 163 (thepighotel.com).

LONDON

Italian-American Sergio Verrillo is an ex-sommelier who makes wine in a winery set in an old railway arch in Battersea. Using grapes from some of Englands best vineyards to make his stunning wines, he runs tours and tastings (blackbookwinery.com).

What to drink: Sergios vibrant, complex Painter Of Light is my favourite English Chardonnay and these days there is stiff competition.

Where to stay: The Spread Eagle on Wandsworth High Street is a Victorian pub with great food and 21 boutique bedrooms; doubles from 150 (spreadeaglewandsworth.co.uk).
Travel enthusiasts can still book a holiday and catch some last-minute rays to escape the cool UK weather.

New research has revealed the best European beach destinations to head to for sunshine.

The analysis looked at the most Instagrammable locations by studying six different hashtag templates for each location.

Barcelona, in Spain, proved to be the best and was the most photographed destination in Europe with a whopping 77,112,126 Instagram posts in total.

Another Spanish spot, Valencia, followed in second place with 32,558,358 posts.

It's the country's third-largest city and boasts a combination of urban sophistication with beautiful beaches.

Known for its vibrant nightlife, Ibiza is also a great spot for sandy white beaches, too, and came third in the study by Ferryhopper.

The lively destination has 20,967,809 Instagram posts showing off what it has to offer.

Barcelona, in Spain , proved to be the best and was the most photographed destination in Europe with a whopping 77,112,126 Instagram posts in total

Another Spanish spot, Valencia , followed in second place with 32,558,358 posts

Mallorca placed fourth, with 16,078,715 total uploads on the social media site, another Spanish island luring visitors in with its stunning shores.

Portugal has also made a good impression on tourists and placed fifth with Porto, a coastal city located in the northwest of the country.

The sunny spot has a huge 14,724,135 posts.

Lisbon closely followed with 13,922,533 uploads, making a mark with its nearby beaches like Carcavelos and Costa da Caparica.

Santorini, Greece, secured seventh place with 9,577,225 posts, and another Greek destination, Mykonos, placed eighth with 6,544,746 uploads.

Amalfi Coast, Italy, boasts 50km of coastline with cliffs and small beaches scattered across it.

The popular location came ninth and has 4,464,326 Instagram posts about it.

Another Italian spot, Positano, has been pictured 3,258,123 times.

Santorini, Greece secured seventh place with 9,577,225 posts, and another Greek destination, Mykonos placed eighth with 6,544,746 uploads

With October half-term quickly approaching, there are still plenty of bargain breaks to snap up and get away from the dreary UK.

From the characterful streets of Krakow to sunny skies in Turkey, Brits can find affordable and fun trips as the weather begins to turn.

Many seem to want to get away, too, as searches for flights are up 11 per cent compared to last year, according to Kayak.

On average, a trip abroad during half-term costs 801 per person, but there are bargains to be found. Certain destinations are better value than others, and Krakow, Poland, tops them all.
America's largest national park covers more than 13 million acres and boasts stunning Alpine scenery paired with a storied history.

Still, many don't even know it exists.

Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve lies in the southern part of the state, featuring around 13.2 million acres of snow-topped mountains, thousands of glaciers and gorgeous wilderness.

Despite the park's plethora of breathtaking views, wildlife and rich background, its remote location makes accessing it difficult.

With only around 80,000 annual visitors, the park's beauty often goes unnoticed.

Its picturesque landscape was carved by powerful geological forces that drove the collision of crustal plates, according to the National Park Service.

The park's mountain ranges include the Wrangell, the St. Elias and the Chugach, which overlook vast landscape and reflect off of blue glacial waters.

Four major mountain ranges meet in the park, with nine of their peaks among the 16 tallest in the United States, the NPS said.

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve lies in the south of Alaska, consisting of around 13.2 million acres of snow-topped mountains, thousands of glaciers and gorgeous wilderness

Despite the park's plethora of breathtaking views, its remote location makes accessing it difficult. With only around 80,000 annual visitors, the park's beauty often goes unnoticed

Cushioning the base of the park's mountains are rivers of glacial waters

The Wrangell Mountains are volcanic in origin, but Mount Wrangell, at 14,163 feet, is the only remaining active peak. Its last eruption was reported in the 1900s and steam can be seen rising from its summit.

Cushioning the base of the mountains are rivers of glacial water, reflecting a stunning turquoise color. The largest is the Copper River in the west of the park, which empties into the Gulf of Alaska in the Chugach National Forest.

The Malaspina glacier is one of the most impressive in the park and flows out of the St. Elias Range between Icy and Yakutat bays in a mass larger than Rhode Island.

Rushing through the park's rivers and streams are famously well-kept salmon, which are carefully monitored to allow for plentiful reproduction.

The Copper River is home to steelhead and rainbow trout, while the Yukon River, which empties into the Bering Sea, is home to schools of northern pike.

Being the largest of America's national parks, Wrangell-St. Elias also includes part of one of largest ecosystems in the world - the boreal forest.

The forest spans over 20,000 square miles and consists of mixed spruce, aspen and balsam poplar. Its alpine meadows, alder and willow thickets, shorelines, glacial barrens and icefields make for a rich habitat for wildlife.

Many species of birds, including redpolls, pine grosbeaks and foraging chickadees, call the park home. So do three species of North American bears: Grizzly bears, Black bears and polar bears.

Four major mountain ranges meet in the park, with nine of their peaks among the 16 tallest in the United States

The Malaspina glacier (pictured) is one of the most impressive of the park, and flows out of the St. Elias Range between Icy and Yakutat bays in a mass larger than Rhode Island

The boreal forest spans over 20,000 square miles and consists of mixed spruce, aspen and balsam poplar

The park is host to many mammals, including bison, mountain goats, pumas, cougars, mountain lions, deer, coyotes, wolves, lynx, wolverine and mink.

Its waters contain otters, many species of seals and whales, including belugas, killer whales and humpback whales.

The National Park Service says visitors have a better chance to catch a glimpse of wildlife through binoculars and urges passersby to make frequent stops to view from a distance.

Cabins dot the park, and most are former mining, trapping or hunting lodges on public lands.

Many cabins are first-come, first-serve and are only accessible by flying into remote areas, according to the NPS. Only four cabins in the park - Viking Lodge, Caribou Creek, Nugget Creek and Esker Stream - take reservations.

The park has been inhabited by the Ahtna, upper Tanana, Tlingit and Eyak peoples at different times throughout history.

Their populations remained small due to limited resources. It wasn't until 1867, when America purchased the state, that the park's historic mines were built.

While the Gold Rush struck elsewhere in Alaska, copper became the most sought-after prize in Wrangell-St. Elias.

Three species of North American bears call the park home: Grizzly bears, Black bears and polar bears

Kennecott, where one of the richest copper veins ever was discovered in 1900, consists of five mining sites

The National Park Service says visitors have a better chance to catch a glimpse of wildlife through binoculars and urges passersby to make frequent stops to view from a distance

Kennecott, where one of the richest copper veins ever was discovered in 1900, consists of five mining sites.

Other nearby towns, such as McCarthy, prospered in the liquor industry by selling to miners.

McCarthy now offers accommodations to travelers, including McCarthy Lodge and Currant Ridge, and the Potato, a seasonal restaurant open from late May to September, SFGate reported.

Kennecott, which is managed by the NPS, offers the Kennecott Glacier Lodge, as well as the preserved mining sites for historic viewing.

But Wrangell-St. Elias is not immune to the challenges facing national parks.

Glaciologist David Bahr told SFGate that 'the tidewater glaciers are all receding.'

'There's a normal boom-bust cycle for tidewater glaciers... even before climate change they periodically do massive retreats, but then they'd recover.

'And what we're going to see now is massive retreats but no chance of recovery,' he explained.

A glaciologist said that climate change is threatening the park's future

Budget cuts from the government also threaten the park

Budget cuts from the government also threaten the park.

'In terms of management, they can't afford any cutbacks on staff at all,' Bahr added.

'These are lean machines to begin with... imagine telling people that they had say ten to 20 people to manage all of Massachusetts.'
Victoria Coren Mitchell has broken her silence after BBC removed one of her recent episodes of Have I Got News For You from iPlayer due to a glaring error.

The latest instalment of the comedy quiz programme, which aired on October 3, saw Victoria, 53, host the panel alongside Sheila Hancock, 92, Miles Jupp, 46, Paul Merton, 68, and Ian Hislop, 65.

Over the weekend the episode was taken down from the Beeb's streaming service due to a comment that Victoria had made on the show.

The broadcaster asked the panel who would benefit from the introduction of ID cards, to which she explained she was thinking about Tony Blairs' son Euan's company Multiverse.

However this is incorrect as they haven't got anything to do with the new scheme.

On Saturday evening Victoria said on X, formerly known as Twitter: 'Meanwhile, if you see a clip of me saying the ID card contract has gone to Tony Blair's son: it hasn't.

Victoria Coren Mitchell (pictured) has broken her silence after BBC removed one of her recent episodes of Have I Got News For You from iPlayer after a glaring error

The latest instalment of the comedy quiz programme, which aired on October 3, saw Victoria, 53, host the panel alongside Sheila Hancock, 92, Miles Jupp, 46, Paul Merton , 68, and Ian Hislop , 65

Over the weekend it was reported that the episode was taken down from the Beeb's streaming service due to a comment that Victoria had made on the show

'That was something I was given to ask about last night, but turns out to be incorrect.

'Which is bad news for the fact checkers but good news for social mobility.'

Meanwhile replying to another tweet about the episode, Victoria said: 'Yes, not him at all apparently!

'Of course I dont make the list of news stories to bring up, I just get given it, but I should probably have been more surprised. Duh.

'Im glad to hear that wasnt an instance of nepotism at all and has been taken out of the show.'

The episode was pulled from iPlayer, however clips of the moment have circulated online.

It is now available to watch again and the segment has been edited out.

A BBC spokesperson told Daily Mail: 'This weeks Have I Got News For You contained an inaccurate story about Euan Blairs company, Multiverse, being chosen to develop the governments contract to produce digital ID cards.

Victoria took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to speak out about the error that was made on the comedy show

'Multiverse is not a software developer and there is no evidence of any involvement in the proposed digital ID scheme, therefore we have taken the episode off BBC iPlayer while we edit the relevant section out.

'We apologise for this unintentional editorial oversight.'

Multiverse is an educational technology company that was founded in 2016 by Euan Blair and Sophie Adelman.

The Government is thought to be planning to require every adult in Britain to have a digital ID card as part of a new scheme to curb illegal migration.

During the segment, Victoria asked: 'Who is set to benefit from the introduction of ID cards?'

Funnyman Paul replied: 'ID card manufactures.'

'Yes... one particular one, do you know who that is?' Victoria asked.

Comedian Miles joked the 'Tesco Club Card people' and went on the add: 'They actually make a real difference.

'You get astonishing discounts.'

Victoria said: 'I was thinking of the company Multiverse, whose been chosen to run the digital ID card scheme. Whose company is that?'

Ian asked: 'Is that the man who has got links to the Labour party?'

Victoria said: 'It's Euan Blair.

'That's a happy coincidence isn't it?'

Have I Got News For You airs on BBC one and is available to stream on iPlayer.
It was confirmed last week that Peaky Blinders will return with a bang to the BBC and Netflix, with TWO new series following the Shelby family.

Already, fans have been busy speculating what could be to come in the two series that promise to follow a new generation of Shelby's, as teased by show creator Stephen Knight.

But with no casting confirmed for the new projects, many are already up in arms about one potential missing face that would render the series 'worthless'.

In the new series, the action will pick up in 1953 as Birmingham is rebuilding itself from the heavy bombing that happened during World War II.

It was revealed that beloved show-star Cillian Murphy will be making a return, at least behind the cameras, as he's named among the Executive Producers.

Though, there has yet to be any confirmation as to whether Cillian, 49, would be reprising his role as leading show star Tommy.

It was confirmed last week that Peaky Blinders will return with a bang to the BBC and Netflix , with TWO new series following the Shelby family

Given no casting has been confirmed for the new projects, many fans are already up in arms worrying that leading man Cillian Murphy could be missing from the action

Taking to social media, fans hit out that aside from being behind-the-scenes, Cillian's involvement in front of the cameras would be what renders it 'worth' watching.

Discussing the upcoming seasons on Reddit, one wrote: 'If it doesn't have Cillian then it's worthless', as a second agreed: 'If I don't see Cillian in this...'

'No doubt I'll watch it, but it was Tommy (and Cillians portrayal) that ultimately kept me hooked, so well see, another added.

'Dont know what youre happy about, they basically confirmed that Tommy Shelby either retires or dies in the movie, a fourth theorised.

While a fifth said: 'No doubt it will feel different if I am not seeing Thomas Shelby.'

The synopsis for the upcoming series, which is also being backed by streaming giants Netflix, reads: 'Britain, 1953. After being heavily bombed in WWII, Birmingham is building a better future out of concrete and steel.'

'In a new era of Steven Knights Peaky Blinders, the race to own Birminghams massive reconstruction project becomes a brutal contest of mythical dimensions.

'This is a city of unprecedented opportunity and danger: with the Shelby family right at its blood-soaked heart.'

Peaky Blinders has previously run for six series, and a movie has been in the works

In the new series, the action will pick up in 1953 as Birmingham is rebuilding itself from the heavy bombing that happened during World War II

The two series will be filmed at Digbeth Loc. Studios in Birmingham, and will be set in the city.

Peaky Blinders creator and writer Steven Knight celebrated the show's return, saying: 'Im thrilled to be announcing this new chapter in the Peaky Blinders story.

'Once again it will be rooted in Birmingham and will tell the story of a city rising from the ashes of the Birmingham blitz.

'The new generation of Shelbys have taken the wheel and it will be a hell of a ride.'

The BBC's Lindsay Salt added: 'This game-changing show made a huge impact when it first came to our screens 12 years ago and it is one of the BBCs most-loved dramas.

'Steven has worked his magic once again and I cant wait for his scripts to be brought to life when filming begins in Birmingham.

'We are delighted to be working with Kudos, Garrison Drama and Netflix on this epic show. Theres plenty of drama for Peaky fans to look forward to!'

The Peaky Blinders film, which has been in the works for some time, is expected to air in 2026 - with leading star Cillian spotted filming last year as part of the cast.

Writer Steven said he was 'thrilled to be announcing this new chapter in the Peaky Blinders story' as the news was confirmed last week

The lead actor was seen jumping onto a horse to reprise the role of Tommy Shelby for the upcoming film.

Netflix announced in June 2024 that the feature film had been greenlit and would go into production later this year.

In June it was confirmed that the Peaky Blinders' original writing and directing team will be returning alongside Cillian for the Netflix film adaptation of the hit British series.

Netflix confirmed the news on X with a photograph of the script, while the Oscar winning actor told Deadline: 'It seems like Tommy Shelby wasn't finished with me

'It is very gratifying to be re-collaborating with Steven Knight and Tom Harper on the film version of Peaky Blinders. This is one for the fans.'

Peaky Blinders launched in 2013 and garnered huge audiences both in Britain and overseas, attracting roles for silver-screen stars such as Tom Hardy and Anya Taylor-Joy.

The programme is loosely based on a real Birmingham gang of the same name operating from the 1880s to the 1920s who did the same illegal activities their fictional counterparts did.

Series one to six of Peaky Blinders are available to stream in full on BBC iPlayer.
A guest on Sunday's episode of the Antiques Roadshow was left stunned into silence when he discovered the value of his 'really rare' collection.

Arts specialist Will Farmer broke the news to the happy guest, who visited Shuttleworth House in Bedfordshire to have his treasures valued.

The collection was made up of a number of smoking heads and the guest explained that he was 'amazed' by them when he was first shown them as a child by his father.

He admitted: 'Collection or obsession? I don't know. I'm a collector, so I know what it's like.'

Will added: 'Of course, these days we're all well aware of the dangers of smoking. But it's from a time when people used to smoke and this was what it's about.'

The expert went on to reveal that the distinctive pieces were made by the German pottery firm Schafer and Vater.

A guest on Sunday's episode of the Antiques Roadshow was left stunned into silence when he discovered the value of his 'really rare' smoking heads collection

Arts specialist Will Farmer broke the news to the happy guest (pictured), who visited Shuttleworth House in Bedfordshire to have his treasures valued

Will said: 'You can see that characteristically by the manufacturer and what they're doing with these brilliant expressions and these brilliant faces.

'The idea is, everybody, is that you would put your cigarette in the mouths and it would all come out of the head, out the ears, out the sides, whatever.

'I mean, these are real fun things.'

The expert said that while there was a time when the figures would have fetched a modest sum of around 20 to 25, their value has skyrocketed in recent years - despite the popularity of smoking decreasing.

Will added: 'The breadth of their work is huge. I mean, you know, the output. But some of these are really, really rare.

'Their export volume was amazing, absolutely incredible.

'And of course, I see, you know, you've even extended the collecting into the figures as well... Just brilliant, they're so much fun, aren't they?

'I think you've got somewhere between 5,000 and 6,000 worth.'

The expert said that while there was a time when the figures would have fetched a modest sum of around 20 to 25, their value has skyrocketed in recent years - despite the popularity of smoking decreasing

Will said: 'I think you've got somewhere between 5,000 and 6,000 worth'

Needless to say, the guest was visibly shocked that his 50-piece collection was worth so much money.

Will praised: 'To see so many Schafer and Vater all in one place, love them.

'Absolutely brilliant.

'And the expressions nearly as similar to mine when you started bringing them out of the bag.'

Smoking heads were popular in the mid-20th century and were seen as a fun alternative to ashtrays.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the novelty items are also known as 'big mouth' ashtrays.

Antiques Roadshow continues on Sunday on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.
A 'disturbing' Netflix series that is 'giving viewers nightmares all night long' has rocketed to the top of the charts after fans 'binged every episode in one day'.

Monster: The Ed Gein Story, created by Ian Brennan, hit the streaming service on October 3.

The eight-part show is the third season of crime drama Monster, which follows on from Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.

'The shocking true-life tale of Ed Gein, the infamous murderer and grave robber who inspired many of Hollywood's most iconic on-screen killers,' Netflix's synopsis reads.

Gein, who was known as the Butcher of Plainfield and the Plainfield Ghoul, was a murderer and body snatcher who exhumed corpses from graveyards to make a 'skin suit' from the bones and skin of the dead.

He told police after his arrest in 1957 that he used the skin suit to 'become' his dead mother.

A 'disturbing' Netflix series that is 'giving viewers nightmares all night long' has rocketed to the top of the charts as fans 'binge every episode in one day'.

Monster: The Ed Gein Story, created by Ian Brennan, hit the streaming service on October 3

Monster: The Ed Gein Story stars Charlie Hunnam as Ed Gein.

The actor is joined by the likes of Suzanna Son, Vicky Krieps, Laurie Metcalf and Tom Hollander.

The new season has already landed at number one on the Netflix chart.

Many have taken online to share their thoughts about the show.

One said on X: 'This new Ed Gein movie was a terrible choice to watch before bed. I had nightmares all night long.'

'Yesterday I binge watched #EdGein My face through probably 90% of it was literally this! Was my brain fried YES Did I question what the hell I was watching? Several times! Did I enjoy it? Yes.. Do I need therapy? Probably! Excellent acting from Charlie Hunnam.'

'#EdGein is a hard watch, I'm not saying it's bad, it's just not something I can binge, EP 1 was enough for tonight.'

Meanwhile others said on Google reviews: 'Monster: The Ed Gein Story is a haunting masterpiece that blurs the line between true crime and psychological horror in a way few shows dare to. From the first episode, the atmosphere pulls you into 1950s Wisconsin  bleak, cold, and eerily beautiful  while Charlie Hunnam delivers a chilling, surprisingly human portrayal of Ed Gein that lingers long after the credits roll.'

Many have rushed online to share their rave reviews about the new series - with one saying they binged every episode

'I just watched the Ed Gein story on Netflix and honestly, it was super well done. It dives into his life and crimes without feeling overly dramatic or fake like some true crime stuff can.

'It gives you the creepy details, but also explains how his story ended up inspiring so many classic horror movies, which I thought was wild.'

'I just finished it, and honestly, I really liked it! Its disturbing, emotional, and oddly captivating.

'The story gets better as it goes, but keep in mind its heavily fictionalized, not a documentary. Keep an open mind. I still couldve done without a few side plots though, lol.'

Monster was originally created by Ryan Murphy, who was the showrunner for seasons one and two.

Writer Ian took over for the third season.

Speaking about taking on the role of Ed, Charlie told Forbes: 'There was an enormous amount of trepidation and fear initially.

'And then it was just trying to understand him, trying not to judge him, trying to find the truth and find the man behind the monster.'

He added: 'What we did over and over throughout was ask ourselves why Ed did what he did.

'The shocking true-life tale of Ed Gein, the infamous murderer and grave robber who inspired many of Hollywood's most iconic on-screen killers,' Netflix's synopsis reads

'We definitely didnt want to sensationalize this or make a show that was gratuitous or definitely not glorify what he did.

'It was really about, in the tradition of storytelling, trying to understand ourselves and say, like, "What makes a monster?"'

Meanwhile he told Hollywood Reporter: 'I read every single book that had been written about him, and there was a lot of books.

'I read all of the court transcriptions, all of his medical records. And then I read the scripts over and over to understand what would drive a human being to do some of the pretty wild things he did  pretty despicable acts.'
Top Gear star Richard Hammond has given his two cents on the future of the show after it was cancelled following Freddie Flintoff's horror crash.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Monday, the presenter, 55, reflected on the 2006 crash he endured while filming the show that almost claimed his life.

Despite the accident, which saw him flipped upside down in a jet-powered dragster at 300 mph, he did not give up on the popular motoring show and returned to present it until 2015 with his co-hosts James May and Jeremy Clarkson.

The well-known trio were eventually replaced in 2019 by Paddy McGuinness and Freddie Flintoff, but following Freddie's accident in 2022, producers announced that the show would not be on air for the 'foreseeable future' amid a safety review.

Susanna Reid, 54, asked Richard: 'Do you think Top Gear will return?'

Without hesitating, he replied: 'Yeah. Even though I have absolutely no power over it whatsoever, but yes, of course it will.'

Top Gear star Richard Hammond, 55, has given his two cents on the future of the show after it was cancelled following Freddie Flintoff's horror crash

Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Monday, the presenter, 55, reflected on the 2006 crash he endured while filming the show that almost claimed his life

Richard Hammond, James May and Jeremy Clarkson were eventually replaced in 2019 by Paddy McGuinness and Freddie Flintoff, but following Freddie's accident, producers announced that the show would not be on air for the 'foreseeable future' amid a safety review

The motoring enthusiast said that he believes Top Gear is arguably more relevant than ever amid dramatic changes in the industry.

Richard added: 'The show is 40-odd years old and we were temporary custodians of it. It's off air at the moment. Its been off air and came back before.

'There has [never] been a more exciting time to talk about the subject with the need of decarbonation of transport infrastructure and that has to happen and we as consumers are a part of the process.

'And our decision to buy an electric car or hybrid or whatever option that will be there, it is important.

'We are constantly fed the lie that "everything must be electric" well here is the thing, it can't be and it doesn't have to be.

'There is plenty of alternatives that are already out there and engineers are already solving the problem.'

Freddie's accident had eerie similarities to Richard's and also saw his vehicle flip over, however, his injuries, though serious, were 'non-life-threatening'.

Susanna proceeded to ask Richard for his thoughts on the incident, which she said must 'must have brought back awful memories for you'.

Susanna proceeded to ask Richard for his thoughts on Freddie's crash, which she said must 'must have brought back awful memories for you'

Freddie's accident had eerie echos to Richard's and also saw his vehicle flip over, however, his injuries, though serious, were not 'non-life-threatening'

Richard, pictured in 2015, said: 'I think it is shocking when it is someone that you know directly or indirectly through the TV or personally it hurts and it triggers a response'

Richard said: 'I think it is shocking when it is someone that you know directly or indirectly through the TV, or personally, it hurts and it triggers a response.

'Yes, part of me did think "oh no" but then I also felt for Freddie because I have been there, publicly injured and then the process of recovery is long.

'I always used to say, because mine was brain injury and you can't see it, I always used to say I wanted a t-shirt that on the front said "I'm okay, stop asking" then on the back "I'm still poorly you know."'

At the time of the show's cancellation, the BBC said in a statement: 'The BBC remains committed to Freddie, Chris and Paddy who have been at the heart of the show's renaissance since 2019, and we're excited about new projects being developed with each of them.

'We will have more to say in the near future on this. We know resting the show will be disappointing news for fans, but it is the right thing to do.'

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 from 6am and is available to stream on ITVX.
One of the new MAFS UK intruders leaves her co-stars screaming with laughter after saying an scandalous sex jibe minutes after arriving - and a groom faces a grilling from hell at the hands of his new mother-in-law on Monday's episode.

The tenth series of the E4 show returned to our screens last month and has already seen nine couples tie the knot just minutes after meeting for the first time down the aisle.

There has certainly been a lot of drama over the past few weeks, and it looks lilke there's more on the horizon as the six new singletons AKA intruders arrive on the scene.

The upcoming instalment of MAFS will welcome veterinary nurse Abi, 34, crepe stall owner April, 31, marketing consultant John, 38, dental worker Leisha, 31, graphic designer Leo, 31, and painter Reiss, 33, join the experiment.

During a chat with the girls, April makes a shocking confession about what makes her attracted to a man during their hen party.

April tells Abi and Leisha: 'Since I've been single I don't think I've been on more than three dates with one person.

One of the new MAFS UK intruders leaves her co-stars screaming with laughter after saying an OUTRAGEOUS sex jibe minutes after arriving - and a groom faces a grilling from hell at the hands of his new mother-in-law on Monday's episode (pictured April)

The 10th series of the E4 show returned to our screens last month and has already seen nine couples tie the knot just minutes after meeting for the first time down the aisle (pictured Leisha)

'Even the third one was really pushing it for me, I was like "I don't really want to be here"... I'm doing this to get laid.'

The girls were left shocked by her comments and Leisha tells her: 'You're like the man! I love it.'

April replies: 'I've got a manly voice.'

Speaking to the camera, Leisha says: 'They are very crazy girls but I like that because that's me, so I think that we are very similar.'

April continues: 'I honestly don't mind a big kid, as long as they are funny. I'm so weak to it honestly.

'And I hate to admit, funny does get f**ny.'

Elsewhere in the episode John gets a grilling from his wife Abi's mum at their wedding reception.

Her mum tells John: 'I've been married now for 41 years to hubby. When I first met him I knew it was for life. That was it.

'I want that for Abi as well. The times I've spent with her crying on the sofa, she attracts the men that love themselves and seem to think putting a woman down keeps them in place.

There has certainly been a lot of drama over the past few weeks and without a doubt, there is set to be some more as the six new singletons AKA intruders arrive on the scene (pictured: Abi, Leisha and April)

'The last thing I want is to be upset by some arrogant person that comes along.

'I don't want that for Abigail.'

Speaking to the camera, John says: 'I know that Abigail's mum means a lot to her, so I really want to cement that I am really the right person for her daughter.

'There is huge pressure on it!'

He asks her: 'What do you want from a son in law?'

She replies: 'Loyalty. Supportive.'

John tells her: 'They are all qualities that I feel like I have in myself.'

'I just want someone to love her as much as we do,' she tells him.

Elsewhere in the episode John gets a grilling from his wife Abi's mum at their wedding reception (pictured)

'I just want someone to love her as much as we do,' Abi's mum (pictured) tells John

Speaking of her daughter Abi (pictured), she says: 'The times I've spent with her crying on the sofa, she attracts the men that love themselves and seem to think putting a woman down keeps them in place'

'Make her feel secure.'

Abi's mum then asks him if he is prepared to move to where she is, to which he tells her that he is open to moving - and this leaves her with a smile on her face.

Talking to the camera, expert Mel Schilling tells viewers: 'We've reached a point in the experiment where we'll be introducing three new couples.'

Paul C Brunson adds: 'Before they walk down the aisle they'll be celebrating one final night of freedom.'

Mel continues: 'It's a chance for them to have fun, get to know each other and wave good bye to single life before embarking on their marriages.'

It comes after Sarah Gillanders and Dean Vary desperately tried to ignite their sexual spark on Thursday's episode after their body-shaming row - but it seriously backfired after she was slammed for flirting with the camera crew.

While some of the couples in the experiment have gone from strength to strength with their sexual and emotional connection, Sarah, 31, and Dean, also 31, appear to be struggling.

Recruitment consultant Sarah has made it clear in the last few episodes that she doesn't feel a sexual attraction towards team building host Dean - and sparked outrage after making a number of 'horrifying' comments about his weight.

MAFS UK fans later praised relationship expert Paul C Brunson for tearing into 'rude and disrespectful' Sarah over her 'cruel' comments about her husband at the first commitment ceremony.

During Wednesday's episode of the E4 programme, Sarah definitely made an effort with her new man and they decided to get a little closer.

After giving her husband a massage, Dean was in high spirits and said to the camera: 'I feel like this is a step in the right direction.'

'Ive been waiting a long time for this. Its been worth the wait.'

Meanwhile Sarah said: 'I want to be Deans biggest cheerleader - I want for things to go in the right direction. But um, it was a bit funny, isnt it?'

And while things appeared to be going well, Dean was left heartbroken when she made a move on one of the camera crew - and it played out at the start of Thursday's episode.

'I've put my foot in it again,' Sarah confessed to camera.

Dean continued: 'A member of the crew came down when we were drinking, and Sarah said "Oh, if you were straight, Id be all over you".

Stream Married at First Sight UK on Channel 4.
Jennifer Lopez had a fierce response to an awkward question about her ex-husband Ben Affleck during a Monday chat on The Today Show.

The actress, 56, is on the promo trail for new film, Kiss of the Spider Woman, which was executive produced by her Oscar-winner ex, 53.

As host Craig Melvin asked: 'In the middle of filming this elaborate, beautiful musical, your divorce was also finalized with Ben' with the star cutting him off mid-sentence.

Lopez pointed at Melvin and said: 'There you go! Look at this guy!' before laughing awkwardly.

Melvin responded: 'But then I read that your ex is an executive producer on the film.'

Lopez took the high road and said: 'If it wasnt for Ben, the movie wouldnt have gotten made. And I will always give him that credit.

Jennifer Lopez had a fierce response to an awkward question about her ex-husband Ben Affleck during a Monday chat on The Today Show

The pair divorced in 2024 after a two-year marriage; The exes seen in 2024

'And yeah, things happen, you have to keep going.'

'Its funny, the movie is about escapism. Its about how movies and art save us in the hardest times of our lives.

'Doing this project was such a dream come true for me that it really got me through to kind of survive a moment that was difficult in my personal life as well.'

'After [filming] I took some time off and now were back. Im really excited for everybody to see this film. Its a beautiful film about love.'

Melvin enquired: 'And it sounds like it might have helped saved you.'

Lopez said: 'It did, it did'.

Lopez plays an imaginary figure named Aurora, who was dreamed up by jailed gay hairdresser Luis Molina, in Kiss of the Spider Woman, out October 10.

She looked nearly unrecognizable in a first-look trailer for the film, released in June.

The star was briefly taken aback by the wild question

As host Craig Melvin asked: 'In the middle of filming this elaborate, beautiful musical, your divorce was also finalized with Ben' with the star cutting him mid-sentence. Lopez pointed at Melvin and said: 'There you go! Look at this guy!' before laughing awkwardly

Lopez took the high road and said: ' If it wasnt for Ben, the movie wouldnt have gotten made. And I will always give him that credit'

After watching the preview, fans were blown away by the Hollywood vet's acting chops and musical prowess, praising her 'evolution' and even predicting an Oscar nod.

The forthcoming movie, which also stars Tonatiuh and Diego Luna, is an iteration of the 1993 Broadway musical, which was based on Manuel Puig's 1976 novel of the same name.

In the story, Luis (Tonatiuh) is serving eight years behind bars 'for corrupting a minor.' He imagines films starring Aurora to escape his misery while imprisoned.

Rehearsals began in February 2024, and filming kicked off in New Jersey in April.

A film adaptation of the book was previously made in 1985 by director Hector Babenco.

Jennifer recently expressed gratitude for her ex-husband Affleck's hand in bringing the film to life.

Jennifer recently expressed gratitude for her ex-husband Affleck's hand in bringing the film to life

'The movie wouldn't have been made if it [weren't] for him and Artists Equity...I will always give him that credit,' she revealed on CBS Sunday Morning in September.

She explained, 'They financed it. I told him this was the role I was born to play and I wanted to do it, and he was like, "Okay," and he helped make it happen.'

The Oscar winner is one of eight credited executive producers behind director Bill Condon's $30 million movie.

'This was the first [musical] I was meant to do,' Jennifer said.
It's not often I feel compelled to stick up for a Double Bay socialite, but here we are.

A few weeks ago, Dina Broadhurst - yes, the one they call the 'nude artist' - celebrated her milestone 50th birthday at Bondi hotspot Icebergs.

According to society spies, this was followed by a house party at her boyfriend John 'Herman' Winning Jr.'s 'rave cave'. (Where was my invite?)

But this column isn't about long lunches or legendary kick-ons. It's about the nasty whispers I've been hearing on the eastern suburbs grapevine and reading in catty comments sections.

And I just have to call it out.

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.

A few weeks ago, Dina Broadhurst celebrated her 50th birthday at Bondi hotspot Icebergs. It didn't take long for the trolls to slither out of the woodwork with unkind remarks

As you'll be aware, Dina is known for her skimpy outfits and for this landmark occasion, she didn't disappoint.

Dressed in a $2,600 Miu Miu elasticated-waist mini skirt that barely covered her buttocks, a tiny crop top and white kitten heels, she looked - quite simply - stunning.

As a long-time connoisseur of the 'pap shot', I noted the subtle artistry of her 'candid' posing as she gathered her accessories - including a $12,000 pink Chanel 19 Flap Bag, a gift from Herman - and glanced over her shoulder at the camera. Chef's kiss!

Oh, Dina - I sighed as I ate Vegemite toast in South Yarra - you really are flawless...

But instead of applauding her, as I had, the usual suspects of the eastern suburbs did what they do best: bitch and moan.

I've heard nasty talk of 'attention seeking', being 'over-exposed' and that slur I detest the most, and one I've had directed at me many times: 'Mutton dressed as lamb'.

Wow. Jealous much, ladies?

And here's the thing, dear readers. If you've ever had that particular ageist barb thrown at you, let me tell you this: laugh it off, block, and delete.

Dina is no stranger to dressing in skimpy outfits

But I know that it still hurts - I've been there myself. My crime? Daring to age.

When I hit my late forties - I'm 51 now - I started to notice the snide comments.

'Isn't that top a bit young for you?', 'Should you really wear that at your age?', 'You shouldn't wear low-cut tops anymore.'

And how about this doozy: 'You should get a more age-appropriate haircut.'

Age-appropriate?

Even last week, after I posted a clip of me talking on a podcast, some bloke I'd never met before wrote: 'This is what happens when pretty girls get old.'

And I'll admit it, rightly or wrongly, my first thought was, 'Why didn't I get Botox before the interview?' Thankfully, my second thought was: 'Get f**ked, mate'.

Frankly, I'm sick to death of women having to apologise for simply existing past 50. Why is ageing a crime that women should try to conceal?

And to the man who trolled me - newsflash: you're ageing too, and I can guarantee I look better at 50 than you ever will.

Still, I have to admit that - for a period of time last year - I did worry that my critics (read: trolls) might have a point. So, I decided to change my style following my move from Sydney to Melbourne. New life, new look and all that.

I started to 'dress appropriately' - meaning more conservatively. I swapped tight tops for high collars and suffocating polo necks. Instead of leaving a few buttons undone on white shirts, I fastened them up to the neck, as if showing flesh at 50 was a sin.

I even stopped wearing heels, dropping off my four-inch Jimmy Choos at Vinnies. (I still regret that decision - although I hope some woman somewhere is enjoying them).

And do you know what? I didn't feel empowered or dignified - at all. I didn't feel like I commanded a room or that I was more sophisticated.

Instead, I felt invisible. I actually started to feel a bit depressed. My mental health was almost as flat as my shoes and my sparkle dimmed.

Then, as I was scrolling through Instagram one afternoon, I noticed something: other women over 50 were thriving.

Celebrities like Jackie O, 50, Sonia Kruger, 59, and Elle Macpherson  still 'The Body' at 61 - were all rocking minis, bikinis, sequins and stilettos, and looking great.

Even Liz Hurley still rocks skimpy swimwear at 60.

So I thought: to hell with it. Not one of these women is shrinking or playing small - and they're certainly not listening to the mean girls, even though they cop far more trolling than the Dinas or Amandas of the world.

DailyMail+ columnist Amanda Goff went through a phase of dressing more modestly last year after the relentless commentary from trolls got under her skin

Here's the thing that grinds my gears: when men age, they are 'silver foxes' or 'more attractive than ever' (debatable), whereas women are told to cut their hair and fade into the background.

So riddle me this, folks: why is a sexy, confident woman past 50 so terrifying?

I like feeling sexy, I work hard on my body - and spend a fortune on it - and I can wear whatever I want.

Why should I - or any other woman - 'tone it down' in order to appease people who most likely don't like what they see when they look in the mirror?

And if that sort of defiance makes bitter women and insecure men uncomfortable, then that's their problem, not mine.

Dina's not doing anything outrageous by proudly showing off her banging body. It's how she's always dressed, or at least for as long as she's been on my radar.

The only thing that's changed is the number on her birthday cake. She was sexy at 30, sexy at 40, and yet being sexy at 50 is beyond the pale for some stuffy trolls.

The hypocrisy is staggering.

Dina, if you're reading this: you look stunning. And not stunning for 'your age'  just stunning, full stop. And you can wear whatever you damn well please.

Here's my parting message to the mean girls of the east - and to the men who secretly lust after the Dinas of the world while tearing them down with sexist slurs:

This isn't about Dina, me, or any other woman born in the '70s. This is about you and your insecurities. And nothing ages you faster than bitterness and spite.

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Bachelor star Marjorie Griffiths faces up to 20 years in jail after admitting commercial drug supply charges for selling kilos of cocaine and ice.

The 29-year-old confessed to the massive drug charges after police alleged she was part of a large-scale operation linked to a Vietnamese crime syndicate.

The blonde actress and model was arrested by organised crime squad detectives just months after her stint ended on season 10 of Network Ten's The Bachelor.

They swooped in October 2023 after she sold 1kg of cocaine to an undercover police officer and another 1kg of MDMA to someone else over a three month period.

Heavily armed specialist NSW Police officers woke Griffiths during a dawn raid on her Umina Beach home, on the NSW Central Coast, and arrested her in her pyjamas.

Police say she was a major player in the drug syndicate which laundered cash for crime groups via cryptocurrency.

In a series of raids across the state, officers seized about 300kg of prohibited drugs, and $2.8million in cash.

They also found 15 firearms and arrested 12 accused, including Griffiths and one person charged with $6.8million in money laundering offences.

Bachelor star Marjorie Griffiths has pleaded guilty to commercial drug supply for selling 1kg of cocaine to a cop and 1kg of ice and will now face up to 20 years in prison

Arrested in a dawn raid by heavily armed police (above) and taken to prison, Griffiths is on bail wearing a tracking anklet and now awaits a possible 20 years behind bars

The organised crime squad arrested Griffiths (above) in her pyjamas at home months after she sold a cop 1kg of cocaine and a further 1kg of ice to someone else

The former reality TV contestant and aspiring actor is currently out on bail, wearing an electronic tracking bracelet, after two months on remand in Silverwater prison.

She was originally charged with two counts of large commercial quantity drug supply, which have since been withdrawn.

But Griffiths has now pleaded guilty to two charges of commercial quantity supply and is currently awaiting sentence.

Earlier this year, she pleaded guilty to another minor offence of failing to supply digital evidence.

Just two years ago, Griffiths was riding high with her new-found TV fame among the contestants vying for the attention of The Bachelor's hunky Thomas Malucelli, a restaurant manager from Tuscany, Italy.

Described as a 'blonde beauty' who would 'get pulses racing in the mansion', Griffiths notably told one of the other girls that she looked like a 'squashed toilet roll'.

She lasted 12 weeks on the show before she became the fourth wannabe bride Malucelli sent home.

Griffiths will remain on bail until her sentence is finalised, with the NSW District Court setting down a possible date in February 2026 after a sentencing assessment hearing at the Downing Centre later this month.

The blonde actress and model was arrested by organised crime squad detectives just months after her stint ended on season 10 of Network Ten's The Bachelor

On The Bachelor, Griffiths (left) lasted ten weeks before becoming the fourth wannabe bride sent home by restaurant manager Thomas Malucelli (right)

Griffiths (above), handcuffed and in custody, faces a maximum 20 years in prison for supplying a commercial quantity of cocaine and MDMA

As part of her extensive bail conditions, she must abstain from drugs and alcohol and follow a strict curfew.

She is also not allowed to use any internet-capable device, and can only possess one phone.

Detectives have identified a 37-year-old man in Vietnam as the alleged mastermind of the money laundering syndicate in NSW.
Charlize Theron was spotted ignoring her former co-star Johnny Depp at the Dior Paris Fashion Week show on Thursday.

The actress, 50, worked with Johnny on 1999 film The Astronaut's Wife, however they have not been professionally linked since then.

Seemingly they have not kept a personal relationship since their joint project either, judging by Charlize's response to Johnny at the fashion event.

Johnny is the face of Dior's Savage aftershave, while Charlize promoted the J'Adore perfume for 20 years, linking them both to the French fashion house.

So while it was no surprise that they were both in attendance at the show, the apparent 'snub' from Charlize did set tongues wagging online.

One account shared a clip of the brush off, and said: 'Charlize Theron ignoring Johnny Depp (whom she worked with on The Astronaut) at the Dior fashion show'.

Charlize Theron ignored former co-star Johnny Depp while greeting Bernard Arnault and Brigitte Macron on Wednesday as she shuns his 'slow return to the spotlight' at Dior PFW

The actress, 50, worked with Johnny on 1999 film The Astronaut's Wife, however they have not been professionally linked since then and she ignored him at the show

The account also noted that Charlize previously 'liked' a 2023 Time article that critiqued Johnny's comeback following his high profile defamation case.

After winning his 2022 defamation trial against Amber Heard, Johnny Depp began a measured comeback.

He returned to the spotlight with the French film Jeanne du Barry (2023), which premiered at Cannes to a standing ovation.

Around the same time, he re-established his partnership with Dior Sauvage, signing a record-breaking fragrance deal. He's also focused on music projects with his band Hollywood Vampires.

So far, his comeback has leaned more on European cinema, fashion, and music rather than big Hollywood blockbusters.

At the Dior show he was seen mingling with Brigitte as he makes a slow return to the spotlight.

He cut a stylish figure in a grey blazer layered over a shirt and blue jeans.

One account shared a clip of the brush off, and said: 'Charlize Theron ignoring Johnny Depp (whom she worked with on The Astronaut) at the Dior fashion show

At the Dior show he was seen mingling with Brigitte as he makes a slow return to the spotlight

The pair appeared in good spirits as they nestled together for a snap while sitting front row of the show.

Johnny famously lost the libel action which he brought at the UK High Court in 2020, after being called a 'wife beater', but successfully brought a libel action against Amber in a US court in 2022.

But despite the latter result, his reputation took a battering with his stock as one of the world's leading actors dramatically falling amid sensational headlines of domestic abuse, sexual violence, drug taking and excessive drinking.

The whole ordeal with Amber threatened his entire career as he was dropped from a star role in the Harry Potter spin-off film series 'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,' as Hollywood turned its back on him.

He was also dropped by Disney in his role as Captain Jack Sparrow from the sixth edition of 'Pirates of the Caribbean.'

Johnny recently admitted in a media interview: 'I was shunned, dumped, booted, deep-sixed, cancelled, however you want to define it.'

Referring to the trials, he said: 'I fought it because had I not then I wouldn't have been me.

'Would I rather have not gone through that? Of course.

As he makes a slow return to the spotlight, Johnny attended the French luxury brand's catwalk in the capital

Johnny pictured with Brigitte and Bernard Amault

'But I learned more than I ever dreamed I could.'

As for Brigitte, she has also not had the easiest time in the public eye, having suffered scrutiny for her relationship with French President Emmanuel Macron since 2007.

Emmanuel was 15 when he fell in love with the then-married Brigitte Auziere, 25 years his senior.

She was his drama teacher at the Catholic Providence school in Amiens, in northern France, and her daughter, Laurence, was Macron's classmate.

Their romance blossomed and caused a scandal in the province. Macron's parents then sent him to Paris to go to another school, but his desire to be with his teacher and pursuit of her remained.

She said she told herself that, once Emmanuel was in Paris, he would 'fall in love with someone his [own] age', but that didn't happen.

Johnny famously lost the libel action which he brought at the UK High Court in 2020, after being called a 'wife beater', but successfully brought a libel action against Heard in a US court in 2022 (Depp gestures to spectators in court after closing arguments at the Depp vs Heard trial)

Depp was on the verge of cancellation in 2018 when rumors of him physically abusing his then-wife Amber Heard sensationally flooded airwaves (Amber Heard takes the stand during the Depp vs Heard defamation trial in Fairfax County, Virginia in 2022)

Brigitte gave up her job, but said the 'only obstacles' were her children, as she didn't want to 'wreck their lives'.

'That lasted ten years, the time to put them on the rails. You can imagine what they were hearing. But I didn't want to miss out on my life,' she said.

Her son is three years older than Macron and her daughters, now aged 46 and 39, are of similar age to her second husband.

She also added that she doesn't know what her parents would have said about her marriage to her former student, but noted that her siblings would sometimes joke about the gossip surrounding her and Macron's relationship.

She finally married Macron - a civil servant in his late twenties at the time - in 2007, after divorcing her estranged husband Andre-Louis Auziere the year before.

As for Brigitte, she has also not had the easiest time in the public eye, having suffered scrutiny for her relationship with French President Emmanuel Macron since 2007

The First Lady gave a little more insight into the Macrons' married life, which she usually remains tight-lipped about apart from mentioning the difficulties in the early years of their relationship were.

Despite already being married for 16 years, Brigitte said her husband still manages to surprise and amaze her with his impressive memory and intelligence.

'I had many brilliant pupils and none had his capability.

'I have always admired him,' she explained.
Lauren Sanchez looked incredible in a Valentino dress as she joined husband Jeff Bezos and his daughter for a lavish dinner in Paris on Sunday.

The former journalist, 55, was snapped exiting alongside the billionaire Amazon tycoon, 61, and his adoptive daughter, whom he shares with ex-wife MacKenzie Scott.

The American philanthropist was the epitome of fashion in the silk ruched number, flashing a glimpse of her ample assets.

She accessorised the stunning dinner look with a quilted red chain-strap bag, also from Valentino, and wore elegant matching heels.

Meanwhile the business mogul opted for an all-black look and shielded behind dark shades.

The wealthy entrepreneur - who was ranked by Forbes as the third richest person in the world in May 2025 - shares three sons and one daughter with his ex wife MacKenzie, and one adopted son with Lauren, who also has three kids of her own.

Lauren Sanchez, 55, looked incredible in a Valentino dress as she joined husband Jeff Bezos and his daughter for a lavish dinner in Paris on Sunday

The former journalist was snapped exiting alongside the Amazon tycoon, 61, and his adoptive daugther, whom he shares with ex-wife MacKenzie Scott

The couple's appearance comes almost three months after she said 'I do' to Jeff during their Venice nuptials.

Described as the 'wedding of the century,' the Amazon founder and former journalist exchanged vows in front of almost 200 VIP guests on San Giorgio Maggiore island.

Following the ultra-exclusive ceremony, the billionaire couple threw a star-studded reception attended by high-profile guests, including the Kardashian sisters, Oprah Winfrey, Ivanka Trump, Usher, and Orlando Bloom.

The extravagant affair - reportedly costing $20million and drawing ire from locals - was capped off with an eyebrow-raising gift from the bride.

The wedding, held two years after Jeff proposed to Lauren aboard his $500 million superyacht, was described as 'extremely intimate' with a strict no-phone policy - around 70 of the 200 guests were family members.

During wedding week, the philantropist debuted her stunning Schwartz ring while stepping out in a Schiaparelli gown.

Courtesy of celebrity jeweler Lorraine Schwartz, the ring is believed to be around 30 carats - valued between $1.5 million and $3 million.

'We don't have a lot of traditions that we're keeping,' Sanchez told Vogue ahead of the big day. 'I mean, I love traditions, but for a 55-year-old woman, it's a little different.'

The American philantropist was the epitome of fashion in the silk ruched number, flashing a glimpse of her ample assets

Meanwhile the business mogul opted for an all-black look and shielded behind dark shades

The couple said 'I do' in front of friends and A-listers alike in a lavish Venice ceremony back in late June

While her Dolce earrings served as the traditional 'something borrowed,' Lauren gave 'something blue' a cosmic twist - carrying an artifact from her recent 11-minute space journey.

'Blue Origin,' she said. 'It's something from my space flight.'

The ex journalist carried a secret, nearly unattainable souvenir from space, explaining it was 'because it was literally one of the most profound experiences I've ever had in my life.'

'Seeing Earth from space, I came down and I couldn't describe it,' she told Vogue. 'It was the greatest experience I've ever had. Jeff said, "It's gonna change you more than you think," and it completely has, visually, spiritually.'

But the lavish celebrations also ruffled some feathers, with the nuptials facing backlash from locals as well as activists.
Emily Blunt stepped out in a cream silk skirt as she was seen during the filming of The Devil Wears Prada 2 on Monday in Milan with Justin Theroux.

The actress, 42, looked chic as she stepped out in a beige ripped jumper layered under a white cardigan.

She added layers to her autumn look with a stylish brown suede jacket as she slipped into a pair of chunky leather black boots.

To accessorise, Emily wore an array of gold chains as she toted around her belongings in a black leather bag.

Alongside her, Justin stepped out in a black tailored jacket which he layered over a black T-shirt.

He cut a casual display as he paired his jacket with some black trousers and platform leather boots.

Emily Blunt stepped out in a cream silk skirt as she was seen during the filming of The Devil Wears Prada 2 on Monday in Milan with Justin Theroux

The actress, 42, looked chic as she stepped out in a beige ripped jumper layered under a white cardigan

To accessorise, Justin wore a gold chain, a black and gold bracelettes and a chunky gold watch.

Emily's appearance comes after she branded AI-generated actress Tilly Norwood 'terrifying' and begged talent agencies not to sign her.

AI talent studio Xicoia created the digital performer, a young brunette actress, with Eline Van der Velden unveiling the project at the Zurich Film Festival.

Tilly is already attracting interest from talent agents, and Smashing Machine actress Emily confessed she is horrified at the prospect.

Shown a report on Tilly, Emily told Variety: 'Does it disappoint me? I don't know how to quite answer it, other than to say how terrifying this is.

'No, are you serious? That's an AI? Good Lord, we're screwed. That is really, really scary. Come on, agencies, don't do that. Please stop. Please stop taking away our human connection.'

Emily was told that Tilly was designed to resemble a composite of familiar stars and was told she was designed as 'the next Scarlett Johansson'.

Emily replied: 'But we have Scarlett Johansson.'

She added layers to her autumn look with a stylish brown suede jacket as she slipped into a pair of chunky leather black boots

To accessorise, Emily wore an array of gold chains as she toted around her belongings in a black leather bag

Alongside her, Justin stepped out in a black tailored jacket which he layered over a black T-shirt

To accessorise, Justin wore a gold chain, a black and gold bracelettes and a chunky gold watch

And she isn't the only Hollywood star voicing their criticisms.

Scream actress Melissa Barrera branded the arrival of Tilly 'gross' as she posted an Instagram Story about the news.

She captioned it: 'Hope all actors repped by the agent that does this, drop their a$. How gross, read the room.(sic)'

Meryl Streep starred in the first movie as the fearsome fashion editor Miranda Priestly, who was inspired by the now outgoing Vogue chief Anna Wintour.

The original novel was a roman a clef by the real Anna's former assistant Lauren Weisberger, whose fictional stand-in Andrea 'Andy' Sachs was portrayed in the silver screen adaptation by Anne Hathaway, 42.

Emily and Anne Hathaway (left) are pictured in the 2006 first movie as Emily Charlton and Andrea Sachs, employees of Meryl Streep's fearsome fashion editor Miranda Priestley (center)

Meanwhile Emily played Miranda's chic, perpetually harried senior assistant Emily Charlton, who hisses that she is 'one stomach flu away from my goal weight.'

Viewers of the original movie will remember Emily's trademark copper red locks, which elegantly framed her perpetually severe expression.

For the sequel, however, Emily is swapping out her previous hair color for a head-turning ash blonde do that she debuted on set in New York this Thursday.

She was previously spotted on the set of the new movie with the same hair color and same style she had sported in the 2006 original.
Amanda Holden put on a leggy display in a leather mini dress and sexy boots as she posed for sizzling new snaps on Sunday.

The TV personality, 54, showed off her youthful physique in the thigh-skimming number which she teamed with a silk shirt and tie.

She posed up a storm in the car for a video which was an ad for Lexus and worked all her best angles.

The beauty completed her look with an oversized coat and added touches of PHORIA gold jewellery to the look.

She wore her honey tresses in a poker-straight style and opted for a bronzed makeup look as usual.

It comes after Amanda revealed the perils of parenting teen girls and says her youngest daughter 'won't speak to her.'

Amanda Holden put on a leggy display in a leather mini dress and sexy boots as she posed in sizzling new snaps on Sunday

The TV personality, 54, showed off her youthful physique in the thigh-skimming number which she teamed with a silk shirt and tie

The Britain's Got Talent judge told the Daily Mail that while saying goodbye to eldest Lexi, 19, for university last year was emotional, it's life at home with her youngest Hollie, 14, that's proving tougher.

Amanda compares herself to friends like Myleene Klass, 47, who broke down seeing her daughter off, but says she's trying to enjoy the quiet while Lexi studies.

The TV presenter, whose husband is music producer Chris Hughes, predicts Lexi will soon be back home after university, inevitably racking up 'debt.'

She also defended Lexi, who is signed to modelling agency Storm, against 'nepo baby' claims, noting her daughter works two jobs alongside her studies.

Amanda said: 'Very sadly, I have a child at university and a 14-year-old who doesn't really want to speak to me.

'I don't feel too bad about it, I saw Myleene was all emotional and I feel it, there are so many mums feeling like that but last year, Lexi went to university, and I was tearful.

'Me and Chris drove her in a van, unpacked and drove back in a van and we had the nicest weekend. We said goodbye, we were both crying but that was that.

'Also, they come back, they finish university, they don't know what to do, they're in debt, and they come back and live at home. This is just a small break.'

She posed up a storm in the car for a video which was an ad for Lexus and worked all her best angles

The beauty completed her look with an oversized coat and added touches of gold jewellery to the look

She wore her honey tresses in a poker-straight style and opted for a bronzed makeup look as usual

Amanda insists it's unfair to call her daughter a 'nepo baby' because she juggles two jobs, including modelling for Storm, the agency that made Kate Moss a star.

Lexi recently starred in a glamorous Storm shoot, wearing a tight-fitting blazer that accentuated her model figure and striking resemblance to her mother.

She said: 'They can throw 'nepo' around all day long, but it doesn't really mean anything. If you are related to someone in the public eye, you immediately get that phrase.

'I saw during London Fashion Week there was Iris Law and Romeo Beckham but within their own way they are brilliant, and they will last. Iris Law is stunning.

'It doesn't matter who her mum and dad are, they may have given her a knee up, which I think anybody in any industry, like I hear all the time with financing and banking, somebody's son has got in the office because of who they know.

'To survive, though, you have to be able to back it up or they will just fall by the wayside.'

Amanda recalls her working-class upbringing, raised by her mother and grandmother, and says her first job was far from glamorous.

The Heart breakfast host adds her biggest motivation has been creating her 7million family home, inspired by the Beverly Hills Hotel.

She said: 'My mum and dad got me a job in a fruit shop because they knew the owner, so I was a name in the fruit and veg world!

'My schedule now is really intense and can be overwhelming, but Chris is brilliant, and we have people at home that help, my parents help, my sister is in the country at the moment and she's helping. It's all hands-on deck.

'I get up at 5am every morning and do the radio show, because that's how long it takes to get ready and get there and everything.

'I thought, I want a house and that's why I get up at 5am. I just have to spend some time in it and stop working.

'I'm not the only one, Lexi also works as a student; she has two jobs while she's at uni. She is working during the day and is doing stuff for Storm.'

Amanda has added another project to her workload by becoming the host of BBC show Celebrity Inner Circle.

Celebrity Inner Circle, a mix of The Traitors and The Weakest Link, premieres Saturday night before Strictly Come Dancing and promises to test relationships as well as general knowledge.

She admits she's nervous about presenting solo but is determined to make it a success.

Amanda 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.'

It comes after Amanda revealed the perils of parenting teen girls and says her youngest daughter 'won't speak to her'

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.'
Jeremy Renner says it was essential to get his daughter Ava creatively involved with his latest project - a memoir about his life titled My Next Breath  including his account of a near-fatal accident in January of 2023.

The Academy Award-nominated actor, 54, who shares the 12-year-old with ex Sonni Pacheco, has traditionally kept his daughter's image off his social platforms.

The book includes a piece from Ava, who 'sort of inserted herself into that scenario by writing the essay early on in the thing,' the Modesto, California native told People on Saturday of her contribution.

The Mayor Of Kingstown star continued, 'I asked her, at the end of writing the book, if I could put her essay in the beginning of the book.'

Renter said that he remembered Ava would also be contributing to the audiobook, which gave him a real sense of pride.

'I totally forgot about the idea that she's going to have to do the narration of that too,' said Renner, who plays the role of Hawkeye/Clint Barton in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Jeremy Renner, 54, says it was essential to get his daughter Ava, 12, involved with his latest project - a memoir about his life

The Academy Award-nominated actor was pictured September 6, 2025 in Toronto

Renner added, 'I was just reminded and so proud of how far we've come as a family, how far we've come as father and daughter.'

Renner said that while he usually keeps images of his daughter offline because he has to 'protect [his] girl,' this time was different.

The actor said he was 'just very proud of her and how far she's come' in this case.

He previously shared a clip of Ava working on the project on his Instagram Stories, People reported.

Renner - who was linked to single stunner Jessica Simpson, 45, in May - chat with the outlet Saturday at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, California.

Renner was there to attend the 10th Anniversary Gala for A Sense of Home, a Los Angeles nonprofit focused on preventing people from becoming homeless.

The actor and his sister Kym Renner had been honorees Saturday for charity work they've done through their RennerVation Foundation.

Renner in his new memoir opens up about how he broke more than 30 bones in a New Years Day 2023 snowplow accident near Lake Tahoe in Nevada.

Jeremy Renner and Ava attended the LA premiere of Disney+'s Rennervations in April of 2023

Renner attended the 10th Anniversary Gala for A Sense of Home, an LA nonprofit focused on preventing people from becoming homeless

More than 30 bones in Renner's body were broken in the January 1 accident that left him in 'critical condition' at first, ahead of multiple surgical procedures.

Renner was making a valiant attempt at protecting his nephew Alex from harm at the time of the incident.

The actor said his initial thoughts were about his nephew's trauma witnessing the harrowing ordeal.

Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in July, Renner his daughter devoted a school project to how proud she was of him after he recovered from the injuries.

'It sounds like nothing, but when it's post the accident, you know,' he said. 'I wanted to create something really special for her, a milestone in my recovery.'

Renner opened up about overcoming the obstacles, not taking everyday health for granted and reassuring his daughter he was on his way back.

'It took me about an hour and a half to get into the car,' Renner said. 'I'm literally bumbling down the steps and everything. It was something I needed to do. I needed to get out of the house.

'I needed to show her that I was actually really recovering in a really big way.'
Magda Szubanski has provided fans with a health update following her shock stage 4 cancer diagnosis in May.

The comedian, who is currently battling an aggressive blood cancer called Mantle Cell Lymphoma, humorously revealed in an Instagram video on Sunday she was in her 'chemo couture' phase after shaving her head ahead of her chemotherapy treatment.

In the clip, the 64-year-old appeared upbeat and cheerful as she thanked drag queen act Trixie and Katya for being fans of her hit sitcom Kath and Kim.

'I know I'm late to this but so many people have sent me links of Katya and Trixie watching Kath and Kim, and loving it and laughing along with us and loving the characters,' she said.

'I just wanted to say thank you. I really appreciate your appreciation.'

She then shared a little-known fact about her character on the beloved Aussie series, revealing the surprising inspiration behind her sports-loving character Sharon Strzelecki's bob hairdo.

Magda Szubanski has provided fans with an update following her shock stage 4 cancer diagnosis in May

'Sharon's hair is actually a nod to the Dorothy Hamill wedge,' she joked.

'Dorothy Hamill being an ice-skater in the late 70s who had a very sensible haircut because every sporty girl needs a sensible, functional fitness hair-do.

'Mine is courtesy of chemo couture,' she further quipped.

Magda kept the laughs coming in the caption of the post, writing: 'Maybe I now qualify to come on the Bald and the Beautiful?? #chemocoiffure'

It comes after Magda shared a moving message from her hospital bed in August.

The beloved Aussie star posted a clip showing her resting in bed and thanking a young fan for their act of kindness.

'This is a special shout-out to 10-year-old Annabella in Adelaide. Thank you so much for your impression of Sharon. I'm in here having chemo and it really cheered me up,' Magda began.

'I'm very touched, that was a beautiful thing to do. Thank you my sweet'.

The Aussie comedian humorously revealed in an Instagram video on Sunday that she was in her 'chemo couture' phase after shaving her head ahead of her chemotherapy treatment

'Sharons hair is actually a nod to the Dorothy Hamill wedge,' she joked

Magda then provided fans with a health update, saying: 'Chemo is smacking me around right now and you really cheered me up. Bless you my darling,' she continued.

In May, Magda announced on social media that she was battling a rare form of cancer known as Mantle Cell Lymphoma.

She appeared on camera with a shaved head after beginning her treatment to fight the disease.

'Hello my lovelies. So, the head is shaved in anticipation of it all falling out in a couple of weeks because I have just been diagnosed with a very rare, very aggressive, very serious lymphoma,' she began.

'It is one of the nasty ones, unfortunately. The good thing is I'm surrounded by beautiful friends, family and an incredible medical support team.

'Honestly, we have the best in the world here in Australia, particularly in Melbourne. I feel very fortunate.

'It's pretty confronting. It is full on. But new treatments keep coming down the pipeline all the time.'

Magda said she has started a treatment called the Nordic protocol, which treats MCL by shrinking the tumours with a combination of drugs administered in five phases.
Western Bulldogs star Caleb Poulter has gone public with his new girlfriend - and it is clear he has a type.

The AFL star, whose high-profile split from Sam made headlines nearly two years ago, has debuted his new partner - and she bears a striking resemblance to his Melbourne influencer ex, Sam Guggenheimer.

The 22-year-old footy player made his relationship with Bridie Coulston Instagram official on Sunday, sharing a sweet black and white picture of the new couple to his story.

In the selfie, Caleb could be seen kissing the 25-year-old tenderly on the cheek as they stood on an escalator.

Similarly, Bridie shared a slew of pictures in an Instagram post on Friday showing the couple dressed to the nines on a night out.

The brunette beauty wore a stunning $520 Misha gown that hugged her curves and accentuated her slender frame.

Western Bulldogs star Caleb Poulter has gone public with his new girlfriend Bridie - and she bears a striking resemblance to his Melbourne influencer ex (Pictured: Bridie Coulston and Caleb Poulter)

Bridie (left), an executive assistant at fashion label Viktoria & Woods, has a lot in common with the Bulldogs star's ex, Sam Guggenheimer (right)

Bridie, an executive assistant at fashion label Viktoria & Woods, has a lot in common with the Bulldogs star's ex.

She too has a large following on social media, with 10,500 fans on TikTok and 15,600 on Instagram.

What's more, Bridie and Sam could pass for sisters, with both having long, brunette locks, bronzed skin and petite builds.

Sam, who has amassed over 365,000 followers on TikTok and 177,000 followers on Instagram, announced her split from Caleb on her podcast Just For Girls in January 2024.

Following weeks of break-up rumours, she could only gush about her former beau as she revealed they had called it quits after over two and a half years of dating.

'I had a beautiful relationship. If I pray for any girl to experience the love that I experienced with a male, it would be Caleb and my relationship.

She added: 'I will cherish our relationship for the rest of my life  but things happen,' she sweetly said.

Sam set tongues wagging last year after revealing that she sends her exes exit surveys when they break up.

The 22-year-old footy player made his relationship with Bridie Coulston Instagram official on Sunday, sharing a sweet black and white picture to his story

Caleb and Sam called time on their relationship after two and a half years of dating in January, 2024

The 23-year-old TikToker and her best friend Izzy Armitage appeared on the Happy Hour podcast in December to discuss everything modern dating.

Sam explained that she offered the AFL star an exit survey and he 'loved it' and filled it out.

However, not all of her former flames were a fan of the idea.

Referencing a recent short-lived relationship, Sam said, 'The guy I saw in Bali blocked me because I sent him an exit survey and it did not go well.'

'He said it was really insensitive and really rude,' she continued.

The Melbourne beauty explained she'd met a Bali-based man at Luigi's in Canggu while on holiday.

He then invited her to visit him two weeks later and the pair spent three weeks together, with him asking her to be his girlfriend during that time.

Sam accepted and then realised she didn't want to do long-distance and quickly broke things off.
Claire Sweeney shared a picture of her late ex boyfriend Ricky Hatton as she paid tribute to him on his 47th birthday on Monday morning.

She posted a picture of the boxer on Instagram, simply writing: 'Happy birthday' along with a prayer and a heart emoji.

Former world welterweight champion Ricky was found dead at his home in Hyde, Greater Manchester on September 14 by his close friend and manager Paul Speak.

Claire and Ricky dated for several months in 2024, starting after they competed on ITV's Dancing On Ice but remained friends after ending their romance.

But it's clear that he's never far from her thoughts because on Sunday, Claire mentioned Ricky on Instagram while enjoying a shopping trip with her son Jaxon, 13.

Claire Sweeney shared this tribute to her late ex boyfriend Ricky Hatton as she marked his first birthday since he died on Instagram on Monday

Claire and Ricky dated for several months in 2024, starting after they competed on ITV 's Dancing On Ice but remained friends after ending their romance

Ricky is never far from Claire's thoughts because on Sunday, she mentioned Ricky on Instagram while enjoying a shopping trip with her son Jaxon, 13, noting that he would have loved this Only Fools toy

Sharing a video montage of her ex-partner on Instagram to the soundtrack of Elvis Presley's If I Can Dream, the actress wrote: 'Ive needed a few days to process the devastating news'

They were both enthralled with an Only Fools And Horses toy which features a Del Boy figurine falling through the bar, mimicking the iconic scene which first aired in 1989 and was played by David Jason.

'Ricky would love that,' Claire said.

The much-loved boxer died just three months before he was due to make his professional comeback in Dubai.

His death is not being treated as suspicious and the funeral will be held at Manchester Cathedral on October 10.

Claire paid tribute to Ricky a few days after his death.

Sharing a video montage of him to the soundtrack of Elvis Presley's If I Can Dream, the actress wrote: 'Ive needed a few days to process the devastating news about my dear friend Ricky.'

'My thoughts are with his family especially his children Campbell, Millie Fearne and Lyla, his granddaughter,' Claire wrote.

'To them, Speaky and to all his friends who loved him so deeply and for so many years I send you my deepest sympathy. Ricky, you were the peoples champ. We adored and cherished you. Love you always.'

Claire and Ricky had known each other for 25 years before sparks flew between them

Ricky had been vocal about his mental health battles during his three-year retirement in 2009 (pictured in 2001)

Ricky's brother Matthew also shared a collage of picture of his brother on his birthday

In a new posthumous interview released last week Ricky discussed his relief that he had not died by suicide when stalked by thoughts of taking his life during his three-year retirement between 2009 and 2012.

He was asked how he felt now, saying: 'Never better, to be honest with you'.

'I thank myself every day, you know, for that,' Hatton continued. 'I didn't kill myself because I wouldn't have seen me granddaughter.

'I wouldn't have made up with (his old trainer) Billy Graham. I wouldn't have done my documentary, got great feedback from that.

'I've done an exhibition with Marco and Tony Barrera. I went on Dancing on Ice. I probably wish I hadn't to be honest with you,' he joked.

'I look at the things I've been able to do since, you know, positive things that have inspired others, not just myself, inspired others. And that's that's because I went and spoke to someone,' Hatton continued.

I think that's my job today. I'm a trainer now. I want to try and pass a little bit on to somebody. And if I can go and speak to someone and talk about mental health and say, "Listen, you don't hold it in. Go and speak to someone. If you get off your chest and speak to someone, it'd be the best thing you do.'

Ricky is survived by his three children, Campbell, 24, Millie, 13, and Fearne, 12.
Rivals stars Emily Atack and Alexander Hasell have led the cast paying tribute to author Dame Jilly Cooper, following her death at the age of 88.

The novelist, whose book of the same name inspired the hit Disney+ series, died after a fall, her family announced on Monday.

Emily, who starred as Sarah Stratton on the hit show, posted a snap alongside Jilly alongside a touching caption, where she thanked the writer for her 'life-changing' role in the show.

Her caption read: 'Oh Jilly. I cant believe Im writing this. Almost 3 years ago you gave me Sarah Stratton, and my life changed forever. Ill never forget the first time we met. Your warmth and kindness soared through me with that first hug, and then every hug since.

'To be taken into your world was the hugest honour and a once in a life time privilege. I cannot begin to explain how much we will miss you. Thank you for letting us into Jilly World, there really is no place like it.

'Sending all my love to Jillys wonderful family. Praying that you all feel somewhat comforted by knowing and seeing just how adored she was. What a woman, what a legacy. We love you Dame Jilly.'

Rivals stars Emily Atack has led the cast paying tribute to author Dame Jilly Cooper, following her death at the age of 88

Emily, who starred as Sarah Stratton on the hit show, posted a snap alongside Jilly alongside a touching caption, where she thanked the writer for her 'life-changing' role in the show

Alexander Hassell, who has played the series' lead role of Rupert Campbell-Black, posted a sweet image of himself kissing Jilly on the cheek

Alexander Hassell, who has played the series' lead role of Rupert Campbell-Black, posted a sweet image of himself kissing Jilly on the cheek.

He wrote: 'So sad to have lost our wonderful Jilly. So incredibly grateful to have gotten to know her. This magical woman changed my life.

'Quite aside from the great wealth of joy, comfort and excitement her writing has given so many, she was such a generous spirited person to be around. She was so kind and supportive to me in portraying her hero Rupert.

'Im so pleased I got to see her on set the other day, and pretty much the last things she said to me was that she was proud of me. Gorgeous and caring to the last. She shall be greatly missed.

'We will continue to do our utmost to honour her. My thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this difficult time.'

Danny Dyer, who plays Freddie Jones in the show, shared a post from Happy Prince TV paying tribute to Dame Jilly following her death.

Victoria, who played Maud O'Hara, also shared a snap of Dame Jilly on Instagram, calling her a 'divine Queen' in a sweet social media tribute.

She captioned the post: 'Our divine Queen has gone to the sky. Her words will live forever but the way she made you feel, when in her company was human sunshine. Jilly was everything that was good about being a person.

Alexander shared his own moving tribute to Jilly, admitting he 'changed her life', and sharing he saw her just days before her death

Danny Dyer, who plays Freddie Jones in the show, shared a post from Happy Prince TV paying tribute to Dame Jilly following her death

'Paddington bear with a naughty twinkle. All love to her beautiful and loving family and friends. #jilly #rivals #rip Will miss that Dame so much.'

Rufus Jones, who plays Paul Stratton, wrote on Instagram: 'We are almost exactly halfway through filming Series 2 of Rivals, and have just heard that Dame Jilly has left us. What an extraordinary woman.

'Just last month we were all together at her famous summer garden party, still giddy at being in the realm of this fantastic person. Hilarious, twinkingly outrageous and kind, we loved being in her company.

'I remember having lunch on set with her two summers ago, and the stories poured out of her. An incredible one about interviewing Thatcher which- like so much of her master storytelling- was surprising, subverting and deeply human.

'My love and thoughts with Jillys friends and family, and the Rivals company. Back to filming a show that was always Hers, but utterly moreso now. Xx.'

Bella MacLean, who plays Agatha 'Taggie' O'Hara in Rivals, wrote on Instagram Stories: 'Rest in peace you extraordinary woman. Thank you for changing my life and so many others for the better.

'We promise to make you proud and honour the magical world you created.'

After production company Happy Prince TV shared the news of Dame Jilly's death, stars of the show also shared their tributes in the comments.

Victoria, who played Maud O'Hara, also shared a snap of Dame Jilly on Instagram, calling her a 'divine Queen' in a sweet social media tribute

On her Stories, Victoria also shared a snap of herself and Dame Jilly while promoting Rivals' first series last year

Bella Maclean, who plays Agatha 'Taggie' O'Hara in Rivals, shared a sweet tribute to Jilly on her Instagram Stories

Branded the 'Queen of the bonkbuster', Dame Jilly was famed for her raunchy romance novels, selling more than 12million books in her career

Her children Felix and Emily said her death on Sunday morning has come as a 'complete shock' (pictured in 1978)

Emily looked downcast when she was pictured for the first time since learning of Jilly's death

She wore a pair of dark sunglasses as she took her dog for a walk

Gary Lamont, who played Charles Fairburn, commented: 'There is nothing like a Dame. A privilege to have been in her orbit.'

Other stars also paid tribute to Jilly on X, with Piers Morgan writing: 'RIP Jilly Cooper, 88. Such a fabulously fun, mischievous, warm-heated lady. If she was in a room, everyone would feel instantly cheerier. Very sad news.'

Kay Burley said: 'RIP the fabulous Jilly Cooper. She was 88 Rupert Campbell Black had quite the influence on my early 20s.'

Gyles Brandreth posted: 'Simply adorable. Brilliant, beautiful, funny (so funny), sexy (so sexy!), the best company, the most generous & thoughtful & kind-hearted friend.

'Jilly Cooper brought sunshine & laughter into the world. And she could write a sizzler of a story. What a lady! What a life! RIP.'

Kirstie Allstopp tweeted: 'And now Jilly Cooper has died, she always seemed so young and vibrant, I know 88 is a good age but this is very sad news.

'A British institution, funny, enthusiastic and self deprecating, we don't see enough of it these days. Bless you Dame Jilly, Rest in Peace.'

Branded the 'Queen of the bonkbuster', Dame Jilly was famed for her raunchy romance novels, selling more than 12million books in her career.

Her children Felix and Emily said her death on Sunday morning has come as a 'complete shock'.

They said in a statement: 'Mum was the shining light in all of our lives.

'Her love for all of her family and friends knew no bounds. Her unexpected death has come as a complete shock.

'We are so proud of everything she achieved in her life and can't begin to imagine life without her infectious smile and laughter all around us.'

Dame Jilly Cooper's agent Felicity Blunt issued a similarly warm tribute, saying the author 'defined culture, writing and conversation' throughout her career.

The author was best known for her books in The Rutshire Chronicles, featuring the showjumping lothario Rupert Campbell-Black.

Rivals, perhaps the most famous of the series, was recently adapted for television by Disney+.

The novelist lost her husband, Leo Cooper, to Parkinson's disease in 2013.

The author had known him since she was nine years old and refused to send him into a care home even when his condition worsened.

Dame Jilly confessed that she only continued to write novels in her later life to pay for her husband's medical bills.

Ms Blunt said: 'The privilege of my career has been working with a woman who has defined culture, writing and conversation since she was first published over fifty years ago.

'Jilly will undoubtedly be best remembered for her chart-topping series The Rutshire Chronicles and its havoc-making and handsome show-jumping hero Rupert Campbell-Black.

'You wouldn't expect books categorised as bonkbusters to have so emphatically stood the test of time but Jilly wrote with acuity and insight about all things - class, sex, marriage, rivalry, grief and fertility.

Dame Jilly made a cameo appearance in the Disney+ adaptation of her novel Rivals

Dame Jilly Cooper's agent Felicity Blunt issued a similarly warm tribute, saying the author 'defined culture, writing and conversation' (pictured with Queen Camilla)

The novelist lost her husband, Leo Cooper (pictured), to Parkinson's disease in 2013

Jilly became known for her racy novels, and was previously called 'the Queen of the bonkbuster' (pictured on The Russell Harty Show in 1973)

The author was best known for her books in The Rutshire Chronicles, featuring the showjumping lothario Rupert Campbell-Black

Jilly was made a a Dame Commander of the British Empire by King Charles III during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on May 14, 2024

'Her plots were both intricate and gutsy, spiked with sharp observations and wicked humour.

'She regularly mined her own life for inspiration and there was something Austenesque about her dissections of society, its many prejudices and norms.

'But if you tried to pay her this compliment, or any compliment, she would brush it aside.

'She wrote, she said, simply 'to add to the sum of human happiness'. In this regard as a writer she was and remains unbeatable.'

She added: 'Emotionally intelligent, fantastically generous, sharply observant and utter fun Jilly Cooper will be deeply missed by all at Curtis Brown and on the set of Rivals.

'I have lost a friend, an ally, a confidante and a mentor. But I know she will live forever in the words she put on the page and on the screen.'

Born in Hornchurch, Essex in 1937, Dame Jilly grew up in Yorkshire and attended the private Godolphin School in Salisbury.

Her father was a brigadier and her family moved to London in the 1950s where she became a reporter on The Middlesex Independent when she was 20.

She has said she moved to public relations and was sacked from 22 jobs before ending up in book publishing.

Her work has been adapted at various points, including an ITV series of The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous with Coronation Street star Stephen Billington and Downton Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville, while Marcus Gilbert starred in a Riders series during the 1990s.

She won the inaugural Comedy Women in Print lifetime achievement award in 2019 and was made a dame for her services to literature and charity in 2024.

A new book by Dame Jilly is due to be published through Transworld in November.

How To Survive Christmas is described as 'an irreverent and witty guide to surviving the festive season.'

Her publisher Bill Scott-Kerr said: 'Working with Jilly Cooper over the past thirty years has been one of the great privileges and joys of my publishing life.

'Beyond her genius as a novelist, she was always a personal heroine of mine for so many other reasons.

'For her kindness and friendship, for her humour and irrepressible enthusiasm, for her curiosity, for her courage, and for her profound love of animals.

'Jilly may have worn her influence lightly but she was a true trailblazer.

'As a journalist she went where others feared to tread and as a novelist she did likewise.

'With a winning combination of glorious storytelling, wicked social commentary and deft, lacerating characterisation, she dissected the behaviour, bad mostly, of the English upper middle classes with the sharpest of scalpels.

'It is no exaggeration to say that Riders, her first Rutshire chronicle, changed the course of popular fiction forever.

The author was celebrated across the world

'Ribald, rollicking and the very definition of good fun, it, and the 10 Rutshire novels which followed it, were to inspire a generation of women, writers and otherwise, to tell it how it was, whilst giving us a cast of characters who would define a generation and beyond.'

He added: 'A publishing world without a new Jilly Cooper novel on the horizon is a drabber, less gorgeous place and we shall mourn the loss of a ground-breaking talent and a true friend.'

Dame Jilly's funeral will be private in line with her wishes, according to her agent.

A public service of thanksgiving will be held in the coming months in Southwark Cathedral to celebrate her life, with a separate announcement made in due course.
Rosie O'Donnell has arrived in Australia after fleeing the USA amid her war of words with Donald Trump.

The 63-year-old American comedian touched down in Sydney this week, where she has two live shows at the Sydney Opera House.

O'Donnell, who has been living in Ireland in 'self-imposed exile' since the start of the year in protest over America's political climate, revealed that she has no plans to return to the USA, and is seeking out Irish citizenship.

'I am applying and about to be approved for my Irish citizenship as my grandparents were from there and that's all you need,' she told the Daily Telegraph on Monday.

'It will be good to have my Irish citizenship, especially since Trump keeps threatening to take away mine.'

Rosie O'Donnell (pictured) has arrived in Australia after fleeing the USA amid her war of words with Donald Trump

O'Donnell has dire predictions for the future of American politics.

'What's coming is fascism in the United States, pure and simple,' she told the publication.

'Christian white nationalism, and that's not democracy, and that's not a democratic republic, and you know, that's not who we are.'

She added: 'I feel that if we let them continue on, we are doomed as a democracy.'

It comes after O'Donnell revealed that even her therapist is growing tired of her bottomless hatred for Donald Trump.

She offered the insight to MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace while wondering why more people do not have the same sense of urgency when it comes to the president.

'What he's done now hasn't even hit us yet,' O'Donnell said, pointing to the current political climate.

'And if he's not stopped now, we have lost our country.

O'Donnell revealed that even her therapist is growing tired of her bottomless hatred for Trump

The 63-year-old American comedian touched down in Sydney this week, where she has two live shows at the Sydney Opera House

'I don't know, Nicolle, how it is that some people cannot see it.

'My therapist said, "Why are you so upset?"

'And I said to her, "Why are you not?"'

In the nearly nine months since relocating to Ireland, the former View host has continued to speak out against the president.

Trump recently pondered the possibility of revoking her citizenship.

Rosie's feud with Trump, at this point, goes back more than a decade.

O'Donnell first criticised the former 'Apprentice' host during a 2006 episode of the ABC opinion show, where she slammed him for being unfaithful to his wives

Trump returned fire by calling O'Donnell 'a woman out of control' in an interview with People weeks later.

The feud continued into the Republican's first, whirlwind campaign, when Trump brought up O'Donnell during the Republican primary debates.

O'Donnell, who has been living in Ireland in 'self-imposed exile' since the start of the year in protest over America's political climate, has no plans to return to the USA, and is seeking out Irish citizenship

Fox host Megyn Kelly had been questioning him about his history of using derogatory terms to describe women, leading him to reply, 'Only [when it came to] Rosie O'Donnell.'

O'Donnell responded by tweeting, 'Try explaining that 2 ur kids'.

The two have been at odds since.

O'Donnell was The View's moderator from 2006 to 2007.

She returned for a second stint in 2014, before leaving again five months later. She blamed 'personal issues' at the time.
Emma Watson brushed off the storm surrounding her comments about JK Rowling as she led the A-list turnout at the Miu Miu show during Paris Fashion Week on Monday.

The Harry Potter star, 35, painted on a smile as she arrived for the show in the French capital, after Rowling branded her 'ignorant' in a scathing social media post in the wake of their differing views on trans rights.

Emma opted for a stylish pale pink mini dress and a brown suede jacket as she made her way into the Miu Miu show, beaming as she climbed onto the back of a motorbike to make her way to the show.

Having been criticised by Rowling for her aloof nature as a pampered movie star, the actress attempted to show a more grounded side of things by playfully arriving for the show on the bike.

The actress was joined by names including Kylie Jenner Emma Corrin and Poppy Delevingne.

The outing comes after Emma was condemned for being 'ignorant of how ignorant she is' by Harry Potter author JK Rowling.

Emma Watson brushed off the storm surrounding her comments about JK Rowling as she led the A-list turnout at the Miu Miu show during Paris Fashion Week on Monday

The Harry Potter star painted on a smile as she arrived for the show after Rowling branded her 'ignorant' in a scathing social media post in the wake of their differing views on trans rights

Having been criticised by Rowling for being 'an ignorant movie star,' Emma attempted to show fans a more grounded side of things as she arrived for the show in a motorbike

She said the actress's public criticism of her gender critical stance had 'poured more petrol on the flames' of the abuse she had suffered.

The writer also dismissed Emma's recent claim that she 'still treasures' her by accusing the star of 'cosying up' to a movement that 'regularly calls for a friend's assassination'.

Rowling has previously vowed to 'never forgive' Emma or her Harry Potter co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint for having 'cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights'.

But she has never previously made such a personal criticism of the woman she made famous.

In a statement on Monday, Rowling said the trio had 'every right to embrace gender identity ideology' but attacked them for using their links to Harry Potter to serve as 'de facto spokespeople' for the 'world I created'.

Rowling then focussed her fire on Emma by suggesting her views on trans rights were due to her lack of experience of 'real life'.

The actress recently blamed her driving ban on being a movie star from a young age, saying it had left her 'unable to do some pretty basic life things'.

Rowling raged: 'I wasn't a multimillionaire at fourteen. I lived in poverty while writing the book that made Emma famous.

Ahead of the show, Emma was pictured arriving on the back of a motorbike

Despite her recent rift with Rowling, she was in high spirits as she headed to the event

Her playful nature was a stark contrast to the star's comments about Rowling, which led the author to hit back in a scathing social media post

In by far her most personal criticism yet, Rowling suggested the actress had been blinded by wealth and privilege

'Like other people who've never experienced adult life uncushioned by wealth and fame, Ms Watson has so little experience of real life she's ignorant of how ignorant she is,' she said

Emma opted for a stylish pale pink mini dress and a brown suede jacket as she made her way into the Miu Miu show

The outing comes after Emma was condemned for being 'ignorant of how ignorant she is' by Harry Potter author JK Rowling

She said the actress's public criticism of her gender critical stance had 'poured more petrol on the flames' of the abuse she had suffered (the pair are pictured together in 2011)

The writer also dismissed Emma's recent claim that she 'still treasures' her by accusing the star of 'cosying up' to a movement that 'regularly calls for a friend's assassination'

Rowling has previously vowed to 'never forgive' Emma or her Harry Potter co-stars for having 'cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights'

Rowling then focussed her fire on Emma by suggesting her views on trans rights were due to her lack of experience of 'real life'

Speaking to On Purpose with Jay Shetty, Emma said her support for trans rights did not mean she had turned against the woman who shaped her life

Emma said: 'I really don't believe that by having had that experience and holding the love and support and views that I have, mean that I can't and don't treasure Jo'

She was joined by fellow stars Emma Corrin (left) and Poppy Delevingne (right) for Paris Fashion Week's latest show

Kylie Jenner was also among the stars arriving for the show, making a low-key entrance despite her eye-catching black sequinned dress

The influencer showed off her eye-popping curves in the semi-sheer dress, which she teamed with grey tights

Kylie put on a dazzling display in the sparkly black dress, teamed with matching accessories

Kylie Jenner put on another showstopping display in an eye-catching black lace dress as she headed to the Miu Miu show

The influencer showed off her famous curves in the form-fitting dress with delicate sequins as she headed into the event

No stranger to catching the eye with her outfits, Kylie posed up a storm in the form-fitting black dress with a sheer overlay and sequinned detailing

'I therefore understand from my own life experience what the trashing of women's rights in which Emma has so enthusiastically participated means to women and girls without her privileges.'

Rowling went on to claim that Emma's recent claim that she still 'treasures' her was a cynical attempt to shift her stance after realising 'full-throated condemnation of me is not as fashionable as it once was'.

She said she had felt compelled to go on the record following Emma's comments last week.

Speaking to On Purpose with Jay Shetty, the actress said her support for trans rights did not mean she had turned against the woman who shaped her life.

Emma said: 'I really don't believe that by having had that experience and holding the love and support and views that I have, mean that I can't and don't treasure Jo and the person that I, that I had personal experiences with.'

Rowling insisted she did not expect Emma, Daniel Radcliffe or Rupert Grint to agree with her on everything and they 'have every right to embrace gender identity ideology'.

But she added: 'Emma and Dan in particular 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.

'Years after they finished acting in Potter, they continue to assume the role of de facto spokespeople for the world I created.'

Continuing her statement, Rowling said she had found it 'hard to shake' a feeling of 'protectiveness' for people she had first met as child actors.

But she said Emma's declaration in a speech at the 2022 Baftas that she was 'here for all the witches' - which was widely interpreted as a dig against her gender critical views - had prompted a change of heart.

'For the past few years, I've 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 didn't want her to be hounded as the result of anything I said. The television presenter in the attached clip highlights Ms Watson's "all witches" speech, and in truth, that was a turning point for me, but it had a postscript that hurt far more than the speech itself.

'Emma asked someone to pass on a handwritten note from her to me, which contained the single sentence "I'm so sorry for what you're going through" (she has my phone number).

'This was back when the death, rape and torture threats against me were at their peak, at a time when my personal security measures had had to be tightened considerably and I was constantly worried for my family's safety.

'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.'

In by far her most personal criticism yet, Rowling suggested the actress had been blinded by wealth and privilege.

'Like other people who've never experienced adult life uncushioned by wealth and fame, Ms Watson has so little experience of real life she's ignorant of how ignorant she is.

'She'll never need a homeless shelter. She's never going to be placed on a mixed sex public hospital ward. I'd be astounded if she's 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. Has she had to strip off in a newly mixed-sex changing room at a council-run swimming pool?

'Is she ever likely to need a state-run rape crisis centre that refuses to guarantee an all-female service? To find herself sharing a prison cell with a male rapist who's identified into the women's prison?

'I wasn't a multimillionaire at fourteen. I lived in poverty while writing the book that made Emma famous. I therefore understand from my own life experience what the trashing of women's rights in which Emma has so enthusiastically participated means to women and girls without her privileges.'

Days after shutting down rumours she was dating Zac Efron, Nina Dobrev was solo as she arrived for the Miu Miu show

The former Vampire Diaries star opted for a navy blue buttoned bomber jacket and a matching mini skirt

Other names in attendance for Miu Miu's show included Emma, who opted for a quirky tartan jacket and a contrasting printed skirt

The actor teamed the outfit with funky silver sequinned socks and chunky loafers as they arrived for the show

No stranger to catching the eye with their looks, Emma was hard to miss in their fun outfit

Lori Harvey flaunted her famous figure in a mustard yellow mini skirt, teamed with a dark brown suede jacket

The model stunned in her chic look as she arrived for Paris Fashion Week's latest show

Caroline Daur went braless in a tight pink polo neck jumper and a brown satin midi skirt

The Germany model put on a stylish display at the show

Alexa Chung posed up a storm in her brown suede mini skirt, and a contrasting black and grey leather jacket

Cindy Bruna channelled a similar look to Emma, by opting for the same sequinned socks

Morgan Stewart was dressed in a contrasting black and brown biker jacket with a matching skirt and white knee-high boots

Anna Castillo slipped into a fitted red and navy blue top, teamed with a paper-esque white skirt

Joey King cut a stylish figure in a colourful printed mini dress

The author suggested she might never have made her comments if it hadn't been for Emma's decision to speak about her last week.

'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 she's adopted because she's noticed full-throated condemnation of me is no longer quite as fashionable as it was - I might never have been this honest.

'Adults can't expect to cosy up to an activist movement that regularly calls for a friend's assassination, then assert their right to the former friend's love, as though the friend was in fact their mother.

'Emma is rightly free to disagree with me and indeed to discuss her feelings about me in public - but I have the same right, and I've finally decided to exercise it.'

Rowling shared a parody video where a woman posing as Emma shared a 'satirical take on her words towards Rowling'.

Other names in attendance for Miu Miu's show included Emma, who opted for a quirky tartan jacket and a contrasting printed skirt.

Poppy oozed Parisian chic by arriving for the show in a grey tartan mini dress, while Morgan Stewart was dressed in a black and brown leather jacket.
She's been one of the biggest stars to grace this year's Fashion Week.

And Kylie Jenner put on another showstopping display in an eye-catching black lace dress as she headed to the Miu Miu show in Paris on Monday.

The influencer, 28, showed off her famous curves in the form-fitting dress with delicate sequins as she headed into the event.

No stranger to catching the eye with her outfits, Kylie posed up a storm in the form-fitting black dress with a sheer overlay and sequinned detailing.

The mother-of-two teamed her look with grey tights and stiletto heels, and finished her outfit with one of Miu Miu's signature handbags.

This was just the latest appearance for Kylie at this year's Fashion Week, after previously supporting her sister Kendall at the Schiaparelli show.

Kylie Jenner put on another showstopping display in an eye-catching black lace dress as she headed to the Miu Miu show at Paris Fashion Week on Monday

The influencer showed off her famous curves in the form-fitting dress with delicate sequins as she headed into the event

No stranger to catching the eye with her outfits, Kylie posed up a storm in the form-fitting black dress with a sheer overlay and sequinned detailing

Also among the stars in attendance was Emma Watson, who painted on a smile amid the storm around her comments about JK Rowling.

The Harry Potter star, 35, beamed as she arrived for the show in the French capital, after Rowling branded her 'ignorant' in a scathing social media post.

Emma opted for a stylish pale pink mini dress and a brown suede jacket as she made her way into the Miu Miu show.

The actress was joined by names including Emma Corrin, Morgan Stewart and Poppy Delevingne.

The outing comes after Emma was condemned for being 'ignorant of how ignorant she is' by Harry Potter author JK Rowling.

She said the actress's public criticism of her gender critical stance had 'poured more petrol on the flames' of the abuse she had suffered.

The writer also dismissed Emma's recent claim that she 'still treasures' her by accusing the star of 'cosying up' to a movement that 'regularly calls for a friend's assassination'.

Rowling has previously vowed to 'never forgive' Emma or her Harry Potter co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint for having 'cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights'.

The mother-of-two teamed her look with grey tights and stiletto heels, and finished her outfit with one of Miu Miu's signature handbags

This was just the latest appearance for Kylie at this year's Fashion Week, after previously supporting her sister Kendall at the Schiaparelli show

Kylie Jenner was also among the stars arriving for the show, making a low-key entrance despite her eye-catching black sequinned dress

Kylie caught the eye in her stunning outfit as she headed into the Miu Miu show

The influencer showed off her eye-popping curves in the semi-sheer dress, which she teamed with grey tights

Kylie put on a dazzling display in the sparkly black dress, teamed with matching accessories

Also among the stars in attendance was Emma Watson, who painted on a smile amid the storm around her comments about JK Rowling

The Harry Potter star beamed as she arrived for the show in the French capital, after Rowling branded her 'ignorant' in a scathing social media post

She was joined by fellow stars Emma Corrin (left) and Poppy Delevingne (right) for Paris Fashion Week's latest show

Emma opted for a stylish pale pink mini dress and a brown suede jacket as she made her way into the Miu Miu show

The outing comes after Emma was condemned for being 'ignorant of how ignorant she is' by Harry Potter author JK Rowling

She said the actress's public criticism of her gender critical stance had 'poured more petrol on the flames' of the abuse she had suffered (the pair are pictured together in 2011)

The writer also dismissed Emma's recent claim that she 'still treasures' her by accusing the star of 'cosying up' to a movement that 'regularly calls for a friend's assassination'

Rowling has previously vowed to 'never forgive' Emma or her Harry Potter co-stars for having 'cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights'

Rowling then focussed her fire on Emma by suggesting her views on trans rights were due to her lack of experience of 'real life'

Speaking to On Purpose with Jay Shetty, Emma said her support for trans rights did not mean she had turned against the woman who shaped her life

But she has never previously made such a personal criticism of the woman she made famous.

In a statement on Monday, Rowling said the trio had 'every right to embrace gender identity ideology' but attacked them for using their links to Harry Potter to serve as 'de facto spokespeople' for the 'world I created'.

Rowling then focussed her fire on Emma by suggesting her views on trans rights were due to her lack of experience of 'real life'.

The actress recently blamed her driving ban on being a movie star from a young age, saying it had left her 'unable to do some pretty basic life things'.

Rowling raged: 'I wasn't a multimillionaire at fourteen. I lived in poverty while writing the book that made Emma famous.

'I therefore understand from my own life experience what the trashing of women's rights in which Emma has so enthusiastically participated means to women and girls without her privileges.'

Rowling went on to claim that Emma's recent claim that she still 'treasures' her was a cynical attempt to shift her stance after realising 'full-throated condemnation of me is not as fashionable as it once was'.

She said she had felt compelled to go on the record following Emma's comments last week.

Speaking to On Purpose with Jay Shetty, the actress said her support for trans rights did not mean she had turned against the woman who shaped her life.

Emma said: 'I really don't believe that by having had that experience and holding the love and support and views that I have, mean that I can't and don't treasure Jo and the person that I, that I had personal experiences with.'

Rowling insisted she did not expect Emma, Daniel Radcliffe or Rupert Grint to agree with her on everything and they 'have every right to embrace gender identity ideology'.

But she added: 'Emma and Dan in particular 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.

'Years after they finished acting in Potter, they continue to assume the role of de facto spokespeople for the world I created.'

Continuing her statement, Rowling said she had found it 'hard to shake' a feeling of 'protectiveness' for people she had first met as child actors.

But she said Emma's declaration in a speech at the 2022 Baftas that she was 'here for all the witches' - which was widely interpreted as a dig against her gender critical views - had prompted a change of heart.

'For the past few years, I've 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 didn't want her to be hounded as the result of anything I said. The television presenter in the attached clip highlights Ms Watson's "all witches" speech, and in truth, that was a turning point for me, but it had a postscript that hurt far more than the speech itself.

'Emma asked someone to pass on a handwritten note from her to me, which contained the single sentence "I'm so sorry for what you're going through" (she has my phone number).

'This was back when the death, rape and torture threats against me were at their peak, at a time when my personal security measures had had to be tightened considerably and I was constantly worried for my family's safety.

'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.'

In by far her most personal criticism yet, Rowling suggested the actress had been blinded by wealth and privilege.

'Like other people who've never experienced adult life uncushioned by wealth and fame, Ms Watson has so little experience of real life she's ignorant of how ignorant she is.

'She'll never need a homeless shelter. She's never going to be placed on a mixed sex public hospital ward. I'd be astounded if she's 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. Has she had to strip off in a newly mixed-sex changing room at a council-run swimming pool?

'Is she ever likely to need a state-run rape crisis centre that refuses to guarantee an all-female service? To find herself sharing a prison cell with a male rapist who's identified into the women's prison?

'I wasn't a multimillionaire at fourteen. I lived in poverty while writing the book that made Emma famous. I therefore understand from my own life experience what the trashing of women's rights in which Emma has so enthusiastically participated means to women and girls without her privileges.'

Days after shutting down rumours she was dating Zac Efron, Nina Dobrev was solo as she arrived for the Miu Miu show

The former Vampire Diaries star opted for a navy blue buttoned bomber jacket and a matching mini skirt

Other names in attendance for Miu Miu's show included Emma, who opted for a quirky tartan jacket and a contrasting printed skirt

The actor teamed the outfit with funky silver sequinned socks and chunky loafers as they arrived for the show

No stranger to catching the eye with their looks, Emma was hard to miss in their fun outfit

Lori Harvey flaunted her famous figure in a mustard yellow mini skirt, teamed with a dark brown suede jacket

The model stunned in her chic look as she arrived for Paris Fashion Week's latest show

Caroline Daur went braless in a tight pink polo neck jumper and a brown satin midi skirt

The Germany model put on a stylish display at the show

Alexa Chung posed up a storm in her brown suede mini skirt, and a contrasting black and grey leather jacket

Cindy Bruna channelled a similar look to Emma, by opting for the same sequinned socks

Morgan Stewart was dressed in a contrasting black and brown biker jacket with a matching skirt and white knee-high boots

Anna Castillo slipped into a fitted red and navy blue top, teamed with a paper-esque white skirt

Joey King cut a stylish figure in a colourful printed mini dress

The author suggested she might never have made her comments if it hadn't been for Ms Watson's decision to speak about her last week.

'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 she's adopted because she's noticed full-throated condemnation of me is no longer quite as fashionable as it was - I might never have been this honest.

'Adults can't expect to cosy up to an activist movement that regularly calls for a friend's assassination, then assert their right to the former friend's love, as though the friend was in fact their mother.

'Emma is rightly free to disagree with me and indeed to discuss her feelings about me in public - but I have the same right, and I've finally decided to exercise it.'

Rowling shared a parody video where a woman posing as Emma shared a 'satirical take on her words towards Rowling'.

Other names in attendance for Miu Miu's show included Emma, who opted for a quirky tartan jacket and a contrasting printed skirt.

Poppy oozed Parisian chic by arriving for the show in a grey tartan mini dress, while Morgan Stewart was dressed in a black and brown leather jacket.
Richard E. Grant wore a leather apron to walk the Miu Miu catwalk on Monday with the likes of Kylie Jenner and Emma Watson all watching from the FROW.

The 67-year-old actor commanded attention in the number worn over a shirt and pullover and a colourful neckerchief for Paris Fashion Week.

The showcase of the Spring 2026 ready to wear collection saw models wearing geometric prints, florals and various embellished aprons.

The day before, Richard shared a video of himself in a cab in Paris.

He wrote: 'Solo in Paris hearing Frank Sinatra in my head. Love how that short journey on Eurostar takes you from one culture so instantly into another.'

Richard E. Grant, 67, wore a leather apron to walk the Miu Miu catwalk in Paris on Monday in front of Kylie Jenner and Emma Watson

The 67-year-old actor commanded attention in the number worn over a shirt and pullover and a colourful neckerchief for Paris Fashion Week

The likes of Kylie Jenner (left) and Emma Watson (right) watched his fashion moment from the FROW

The latest high fashion moment comes eight months after he walked the Burberry catwalk alongside Downton Abbey's Elizabeth McGovern and Lesley Manville.

He sported a khaki green wool coat tied with a belt - as well as a pair of corduroy trousers and carried a yellow tartan umbrella.

For autumn/winter 2025, Burberrys designer Daniel Lee said he had been inspired by classic British film and television themes, country house interiors, and Londoners who leave the city for a weekend away.

Richard took to Instagram at the time and wrote: 'At 67, I reckon Im the oldest male model to walk the @burberry runway! alongside Leslie Manville, @therealjasonisaacs & @elizabeth.mcgov.

'Was in Altmans PRET A PORTER in 1994 with @naomi who quipped I never thought wed ever be on the same runway, Richard! All thanks to @burberry_daniel.lee the Creative Director.'

Richard also loves a fashion party and in March, he joined Olivia Colman at the Stella McCartney after party during Paris Fashion Week.

After enjoying a star-studded runway show earlier in the day, the pair partied the night away at the exclusive Raspoutine in the French capital.

Richard has had a tough time since losing his wife Joan Washington in 2021 eight months after she was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.

The couple met in 1986 and married later that year. They shared a daughter Olivia, 34.

Actor Richard also walked the Burberry runway back in February

The fashion lover joined Olivia Colman at the Stella McCartney after party in Paris in March

Richard has had a tough time since losing his wife Joan Washington in 2021 eight months after she was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, (pictured in 2003)

The day before, Richard shared a video of himself in a cab in Paris

Richard has been vocal in his grief since losing the love of his life and has admitted that he has lost friends as he battled heartbreak.

The pair had been together for 38 years at the time of her death.

'Subsequent to her death, I have had people cross the road rather than talk,' he said during a conversation at The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival last year.

'Whether they think youre going to fall apart and youre an emotional wreck, I dont know. But I will never speak to them again.'

He also recalled an occasion in which a couple who had lived near to his and Washingtons Provence holiday home ignored him when he waved to them.

He said: 'As I walked towards them they both turned their heads. I thought, "F*** you." I felt I was being punished because Joan had died.

'They had never acknowledged it. Maybe they didnt know how to deal with it.'

Richard announced the death of his wife in September 2021 and released a heartbreaking video of them dancing together.

He has since spoken about how he 'can't imagine falling in love again' after the death of Joan.
Ana de Armas has been enjoying Paris this month.

The 37-year-old actress - who recently was spotted partying in Puerto Rico with rapper Bad Bunny - has been in the City Of Lights for the Louis Vuitton show during Paris Fashion Week.

On Sunday the Cuba native posed with two friends as she toured the French city.

The beauty beamed while wearing her hair down before passing by a flower market while carrying a Vuitton purse with her monogram on it and posing in front of Notre Dame while in a black leather jacket.

Her post comes 10 weeks after she was last seen with beau Tom Cruise in late July.

They were supposed to be filming the movie Deeper together over the summer in London and Malta, but there is no sign that production has started as they was a reported delay due to budget concerns.

Ana de Armas has been enjoying time in Paris this month. The 37-year-old actress has been in the City Of Lights for the Louis Vuitton show during Paris Fashion Week. On Sunday the Cuba native posed with two friends as she toured the French city

Her post comes 10 weeks after she was last seen with beau Tom Cruise in late July

In late July de Armas and Cruise looked happy.

They were sweetly holding hands as they spent a weekend in Woodstock, Vermont. She owns a home nearby.

They were spotted strolling through the scenic town together, after the pair first sparked relationship speculation earlier this year in February.

The Knives Out actress kept it stylishly casual in a short-sleeved white shirt as well as a pair of black jeans and sneakers.

Tom stayed cool in the warm weather wearing a navy shirt as well as denim jeans and a cap on top of his head.

Shortly before the Vermont trip, both stars were also seen attending the Oasis concert at Wembley Stadium.

That same month, Ana and Tom also enjoyed a boat day while on a getaway to Menorca, Spain.

Here she flashed her toned tummy in a bra top as she looked at flowers

De Armas had on a black leather jacket as she posed in front of Notre Dame

Cruise at the Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning New York premiere in May

'Tom has been showering Ana with gifts ever since they met, it's his thing, he is thoughtful,' a source exclusively told the Daily Mail.

'First it started with her favorite flowers then books he thought she would want to read because she's an avid reader.'

The insider added, 'The more they got to know each other, the bigger the gifts became. There has been jewelry like gold bracelets and designer clothing, things like that, things every girl would love.

'Probably the biggest gift he has given her is being able to go anywhere in the world at a moment's notice, not many people can do that. She loves to travel.'

The Hollywood stars first ignited romance rumors when they were spotted grabbing dinner in London just before Valentine's Day.

The pair were seen on more than one occasion in the following months, such as Ana and Tom dining at a restaurant in London.

In May, they attended David Beckham's 50th birthday bash which was held in Notting Hill - and left in the same vehicle together.

However, a guest who had also been in attendance at the time told Page Six that Ana and Tom's relationship appeared to be platonic.

The insider explained that the two Hollywood stars 'came together and had a great night and clearly enjoy hanging out.'

However, they added, 'But I couldn't say any more than that... I've no proof it's romantic.'

A separate source informed Us Weekly at the time that the Top Gun: Maverick star was 'super smitten' with Ana.

It was then added the romance was 'low-key' and 'still new and in the early stages.'

The insider stated that both Ana and Tom first met back in February for work-related discussions, which then led to the 'relationship developing.'

Last month the star was seen in Puerto Rico

'They've gone out on some dates and it's very low-key. It's in the early stages and he's been courting her.'

Ana and Tom are set to work on the upcoming supernatural ocean thriller titled Deeper.

But the pair have not been seen together since their July trip to Vermont, and the actress recently partied with rapper Bad Bunny earlier this month in Puerto Rico.

At the time, the beauty filmed herself dancing to his hit song NUEVAYoL while at the music artist's concert.
David Morrissey has become a grandad for the first time with his ex-wife Esther Freud revealing the baby has brought them closer after their painful divorce.

The Sherwood actor, 61, was married to author Esther, the great-granddaughter of psychoanalysis founder Sigmund Freud and daughter of the late artist Lucian Freud, for 13 years before their shock separation in 2019.

Now, Esther has revealed she and David have become grandparents - adding the baby has helped bring them closer together six years after the painful collapse of their relationship.

Esther said the arrival of their first grandchild - born to their eldest son Albie Morrissey, 30, a TV producer - has created 'more opportunities to be a family' once again.

'We have Christmas together, we celebrate three children's birthdays. Now we have a grandchild,' she told the Second Act with Ateh Jewel podcast. 'So there's even more opportunities to be a family.'

The couple met while studying at the Central School of Speech and Drama in the 1980s, and went on to have three children: Albie, artist Anna, 27, and musician Gene, 18.

David Morrissey has become a grandad for the first time with his ex-wife Esther Freud revealing the baby has brought them closer after their painful divorce (Pictured in 2013)

Esther said the arrival of their first grandchild - born to their eldest son Albie Morrissey, 30, a TV producer - has created 'more opportunities to be a family' once again

Their split was announced six years ago, with friends describing it as 'amicable'. But Esther has since been candid about the painful unravelling of their marriage and the personal transformation that followed.

Speaking on the podcast episode released on Monday, she reflected on the 'slow dawning' that she could no longer ignore her own unhappiness.

'I just had to let my body, which was screaming out with unhappiness, tell me that I needed to change my life,' she said. 'That meant, for me, sadly, leaving my marriage - or accepting that it was over after 26, 27 years.'

She added that both she and David 'tried with everything we had to make it work,' but eventually realised that 'neither of us were happy anymore'.

'I remember one day thinking, 'I don't even know what food you like anymore,' she said. 'I'd lost my link with this person who I had grown up with. It happened slowly and gradually.'

Earlier this year, Esther revealed how the menopause played a key role in ending the relationship, describing how she became unable to manage feelings she'd previously been able to control.

'It's not that things were so much worse than they had been at different times, but somehow, suddenly, it was impossible for me to bear,' she said then. 'I tried absolutely everything to keep my marriage together.'

On the podcast, Esther said she and David are on good terms - and that maintaining a sense of family unity has helped both of them move forward.

The Sherwood actor, 61, was married to author Esther for 13 years before their shock separation in 2019 (Pictured in 2006)

'We have Christmas together, we celebrate three children's birthdays. Now we have a grandchild,' she told the Second Act with Ateh Jewel podcast

'Yes, we're lucky,' she said when asked if they are friends. 'Whenever I felt any animosity and allowed my brain to go over the grievances, I just thought, what would be best for the children? Ah, we could be friends. And I would say that's all it takes for me.'

She added: 'I actually imagined that we would be more friendly because we've always been great friends - that we'd meet up, we'd talk about things and chat.

'But actually, we just tend to stick to those family gatherings and save up the chat about what film we saw or what book we read for Christmas. It's fine, I can talk to other people about those things.'

While the former couple don't have regular contact outside family gatherings, they still share custody of the family dog, Billy - and occasionally coordinate around that, too.

'I love to have people around,' Esther added. 'Right now there are no children in the house, but I feel any minute that could change. My ex does still share the dog, so if I can get him and book him up in advance, he'll take the dog. It's not always that easy, but I just think it'll be fine.'

Since the split, David - whose credits include The Walking Dead and The Long Shadow - has been in a relationship with theatrical agent Larah Simpson, 32, who is just four years older than his eldest son.

Esther has since found happiness with Gerry Simpson, 62 - no relation to Larah - a professor of law at the London School of Economics, whom she met soon after her marriage ended.

'I was so lucky,' she said. 'I actually met him really soon after the end of my marriage. I was considering [Tinder], and I'm sure I would have done it because I knew I was going to have another relationship. I was in my early 50s, but I didn't think I'm done.

'So I was having these thoughts and a friend said, "Would you like to meet a friend of mine? He's newly single". She sent me a text, and everything she said about him, I thought, he sounds nice. I said, don't introduce us and watch us meet - that would be so embarrassing. Could you just introduce us on email and I'll let it unfold? So we met on a blind date. I walked in and thought, yes - that was it!'

She added: 'We're exactly the same age. Our children were born at the same time. We just talked and laughed and I thought, this is just the kind of person I'd like to be with. And luckily, he thought [the same].'

Reflecting on her 60s, Esther said she now feels an unprecedented sense of peace and freedom. 'I don't really need or want things in the way I used to,' she explained. 'I'll only choose to do things or be with people if it actually enhances my life. I'm not ruled by fear anymore.'

She added that she now values calm over intensity: 'In some ways I care less, and sometimes that's strange and slightly flat - I like the intensity of caring - but mostly it's fabulous.'

After years of focusing on motherhood and marriage, Esther said she is now enjoying the ability to travel, work and live in the way she wants to.

'A few months before I turned 60... my youngest son had turned 18, and he was having a gap year and he didn't want to go travelling,' she said. 'So we [me and Gerry] went travelling.

'We went away for four months, and we lived in Australia, and then we went to Singapore, we went to Laos, and we travelled around.

'I came back just a week or so before my 60th birthday and had a wonderful party and I really felt: yeah, this feels good! I was so happy to be home as well. So it was a good moment.'
George Clooney has admitted to drug use in the past.

In the October/November issue of Esquire magazine, the 64-year-old movie icon shared that he had tried cocaine and other 'stuff' in his youth.

'Eighty-two, I triedI did blow and stuff,' he admitted.

'I used to make jokes about how I did too many drugs, but the truth is, it was never a big issue for me at all,' shared the married father of two.

'And look, there was an episode of Taxi where they're all doing blow. At the time, it was like, "No, this is not like heroin. It's not addictive."

'But then it was like, "Oh, well, it's actually pretty f***ing bad." Plus, it was all cut with mannitol. The baby laxative. Everybody would do a line and then take a s***.'

And the silver fox star also said he had a very bad trip one night when he tried pot brownies with some of his friends.

George Clooney has admitted to drug use in the past. In the October/November issue of Esquire magazine , the 64-year-old ER veteran shared that he had tried cocaine and other 'stuff' in his youth

'Eighty-two, I triedI did blow and stuff,' he admitted. Seen in 1985

The star said he couldn't talk for hours after watching The WIzard Of Oz while listening to Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon.

'We were f***ed. I literalI think all of usthere was like twenty of us in the screening room, and the movie ended, and we sat there without speaking for, like, hours. Hours! Like the sun was coming up and wereits just not my drug.

This comes after Clooney joked that his children still like him.

The actor has eight-year-old twins Alexander and Ella with his wife Amal Clooney and joked that he still has the love of his family, unlike his titular character in the new movie Jay Kelly.

Asked about the differences between himself and his alter ego, George told People at the flick's New York Film Festival premiere: 'We have the same hair and we're the same height.

'There (aren't) that many similarities in a weird way, because he's a guy who's just so sad about his career and his life, because he didn't have friends and family.'

The Ocean's Eleven star added: 'He surrounded himself with people that he paid. And I've been very lucky to not have to do that.

. 'I used to make jokes about how I did too many drugs, but the truth is, it was never a big issue for me at all,' shared the married father of two. Seen in 1989

'I've been very lucky to have great family and great friends, and my kids actually like me still. They're young.'

Meanwhile, George admitted earlier this month that he is extremely worried about his children being exposed to social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram.

In an interview with fellow actor Julia Roberts for 72 Magazine, the former E.R. star explained: 'I don't know how to do it [use social media].

'I'm not on any of them, but only because I find that my life is so much simpler without doing it. But I worry about kids. I worry about my kids, obviously...

'The risks are so much bigger and the consequences follow you for so much longer. I'm worried about my kids; we keep them off the internet as much as we can.

'But, you know, some of their homework is done on a computer. And they do like to watch a good Snoopy movie and things like that.'

And the handsome star also said he had a very bad trip one night when he tried pot brownies with some of his friends

This comes after Clooney joked his children still like him. The actor has eight-year-old twins Alexander and Ella with his wife Amal Clooney and joked that he still has the love of his family, unlike his titular character in the movie Jay Kelly; seen with Amal on October 3 in London

Clooney also revealed that he believes that he has been the 'recipient of a lot of luck' during his life.

He told AARP: 'I think the only life lesson is to bet on yourself. And when there's opportunities, you gotta go.

'In my life, I have been the recipient of a lot of luck. But I also believe you create opportunities for luck. You create enough opportunity and, every once in a while, you'll hit one.'

George strives to live a 'really full life', instead of worrying about potential problems.

He said: 'There's no rhyme or reason for who gets to age and who doesn't. So you should live as if you're not going to get to. And then, if you wake up one day and you're old, you've lived a really full life.'
Denise Richards' estranged husband Aaron Phypers was accused of punching her in the face hard enough to give her a black eye in explosive testimony delivered by a family member.

Phypers' cousin, Kathleen McAllister, supported Richards' claims that her ex subjected her to domestic abuse in virtually testimony delivered Monday as part of a hearing as the actress tries to make her temporary restraining order against Phypers permanent, according to People.

The exes were seen together in court in downtown Los Angeles on Monday morning as they continue to war over money while trying to sort their divorce.

The Daily Mail has contact representatives for Phypers and Richards to request comment, but neither has yet responded.

Phypers has previously denied all of Richards' earlier abuse allegations.

'I saw Aaron hit Denise and immediately she had a really bad black eye,' McAllister claimed via her virtual testimony about an incident on January 17, 2022. 'I'm literally in shock now to this day about it.'

Denise Richards and Aaron Phypers have reunited but for not for a good reason. The exes were seen together in court in downtown Los Angeles on Monday morning as they continue to war over money while trying to sort their divorce

Phypers' cousin, Kathleen McAllister, supported Richards' claims that her ex subjected her to domestic abuse in virtually testimony delivered Monday as the actress tries to make her temporary restraining order against Phypers permanent, according to People; seen in May

'[Denise] was in shock, I was in shock,' she continued while reportedly demonstrating how Phypers, 53, allegedly hit Richards, 54, in the face using the palm of his hand.

McAllister previously had close contact with her cousin, as she worked as a holistic energy practitioner at his wellness clinic in Malibu from early 2017 until leaving his office in May of 2022, just months after she allegedly witnessed Phypers assaulting Richards.

She claimed the two had been engaged in an argument just before the alleged attack, which was worsened because 'there was alcohol mixed in.'

Phypers was allegedly incensed because he believed that his then-wife had installed 'listening devices' in his office to spy on him.

'[It was an] evening of chaos and arguing [that] kept escalating,' McAllister said.

Phypers' cousin also described other 'horrific' incidents of violence, including one in which he allegedly 'pinned [Denise] against the concrete wall where his truck was parked at the office.'

'He was choking her and her head slammed against the [wall] and caused a concussion,' McAllister claimed in her testimony. 'She was just really upset, in pain, disoriented. [I was] concerned she could have died.'

Elsewhere in her testimony, she claimed to have heard Phypers threaten to kill Richards 'several times.'

'I saw Aaron hit Denise and immediately she had a really bad black eye,' McAllister claimed via her virtual testimony about an incident on January 17, 2022. 'I'm literally in shock now to this day about it.'

She claimed the two had been engaged in an argument just before the alleged attack, which was worsened because 'there was alcohol mixed in.' She went on to call Phypers an 'alcoholic'

McAllister claimed she was also a victim of Phypers' alleged death threats. When she was asked if she feared that he would kill Richards, she responded, 'We both were. He threatened to kill us.'

'He just would be raging and threatening that if we told anybody, hed kill us all,' she continued. 'As abuse escalated through the years, he exploited our empathy.'

McAllister also recalled an altercation that occurred sometime between the black eye fight and her departure from Phypers' office in May 2022.

She recalled hearing a noise like 'thrashing' in a bathroom at the office, and she later saw that Richards had an 'injury on her head from [Aaron] slamming her head on the toilet paper rack in the bathroom.'

In an earlier incident that she dated to March 2021, Richards allegedly hid in the office's bathroom to get away from her husband.

'Aaron was terrorizing her, and she was looking for support,' she said. 'I was in my office, and she was texting from the bathroom.'

According to McAllister, Phypers' alleged abuse of Richard began 'escalating' from January through May 2022, and their disagreements often devolved into 'yelling and arguing' during that period.

She also claimed that 'anyone would refer to [Phypers] as an alcoholic' during that period, alleging that the alcohol made his temper even worse.

Phypers' cousin also described other 'horrific' incidents of violence, including one in which he allegedly slammed Richards' head against a concrete wall, giving her a concussion and leaving McAllister fearful that she could have died

McAllister claimed Phypers had threatened to kill her and Richards multiple times; Phypers and Richard pictured in May in Universal City, Calif.

Richards was seen arriving at court in a purple leather minidress with tall black heels while accompanied by a bodyguard.

Phypers wore a navy sport coat over a pale blue dress shirt and matching tie with pale-gray jeans and brown lace-up shoes as he carried a nylon brief case and wore black sunglasses. They were not pictured together, but had to be in the same courtroom.

The situation between the exes could not be any more strained.

The 53-year-old wellness expert has asked the 54-year-old Wild Things actress for $150,000 to pay back rent and his lawyers, as he is in a financial pickle, according to a Thursday report from TMZ.

Phypers told a judge overseeing their divorce proceedings that he has to come up with the money quickly, or else he and his family will be rendered homeless.

The Canada native closed his wellness business Quantum 360 Club a year ago and has not been able to find employment since, he has maintained.

Richards did not take the request well as she soon after she filed a response to the judge that she did not want to give her former husband any money.

Phypers filed for divorce from Richards on July 7, 2025, citing 'irreconcilable differences' and listing their date of separation as July 4, 2025. The couple had been married for six years.

McAllister alleged that Phypers attacked Richards multiple times at his own office. In one instance, the actress allegedly hid in the bathroom and texted her for help; pictured in August 2024 in LA

The Canada native closed his wellness business Quantum 360 Club a year ago and has not been able to find employment since, he has maintained. Seen in 2023

Daily Mail has reached out to a rep for Richards to comment but did not immediately hear back.

Phypers rep told Daily Mail: 'Phypers who owns and has copyrights to all the content of Denise Richards OnlyFans account bringing in $250,000 month, has had zero dollars for basic living expenses let alone any ability to hire legal representation for a fair trial.

'Richards is attempting to render Aaron homeless.'

Last month Phypers accused Richards of being the 'abusive' one in their relationship.

On September 15 Phypers filed a response to her previous claims of domestic violence - which were made in a restraining order in July as she alleged her 52-year-old partner 'repeatedly abused' her during their six-year marriage.

According to court documents obtained by People magazine, he has refuted her claims and denied the allegations.

He said in the documents: 'There is no need for such orders, as I have not abused her and will not abuse her.'

He also alleges that his ex has been 'frequently' phoning and messages him and his father.

Phypers denied Richards' earlier abuse claims last month in court, instead claiming that the actress has 'attacked' and 'harassed' him 'many times'

He claimed: 'As well as asking other family and friends to ask me to call her so often that it should be considered harassment, demonstrating that she is not afraid of me and that she is the aggressive one.'

Phypers has also claimed the actress has 'attacked' and 'harassed' him 'many times.'

Elsewhere in the documents, he referenced an alleged incident on August 3, saying: 'She barged aggressively and forcefully into other family members' living spaces, including my brother's room (which he recorded), violating his privacy rights and looking through his personal property.

'Denise violently smashed my cell phone, placed it in a trash can buried under bags of trash, and then lied about, claiming she had not taken my phone.'

He has argued against paying expenses caused by the alleged abuse, and insisted he shouldn't pay spousal support.

She has prevented me from earning income, so she is the only one with income,' he said. 'She should support me.'

The couple married in 2018 in a beachfront ceremony that aired on Bravo during The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Phypers, who filed for divorce in July following what has been described as an explosive argument, previously described her allegations of abuse as 'bogus'.He said over the summer: 'She's upset. I publicly dumped her to the world, and she's mad, so how does she retaliate? File a bogus abuse claim.'
Nicole Kidman was supported by her children on Monday evening as she made her second notable public appearance since confirming the end of her marriage.

The Hollywood star announced her separation from husband Keith Urban last week amid claims the country star has already moved on and is romantically involved with a younger woman in the music industry.

But she was in good company while attending Chanel's showpiece catwalk presentation during Paris Fashion Week - her second appearance at the bi-annual event.

Kidman, 58, was joined by children Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret while mingling with a star-studded guest list in the French capital.

With denim a recurring theme, the actress looked typically stylish in an understated white shirt and jeans as she posed for photos alongside her two daughters with Urban.

Eldest child Sunday, 17, also opted for jeans beneath a smart red sleeveless sweater, while her younger sister Faith, 14, wore a bleached denim jacket over her elegant black minidress.

Nicole Kidman was supported by her children on Monday evening as she made her second notable public appearance since confirming the end of her marriage (L-R: Sunday Rose Urban, Nicole Kidman and Faith Margaret Urban)

The actress was in good company while attending Chanel 's showpiece catwalk presentation during Paris Fashion Week - her second appearance at the bi-annual event

Mother and daughters were joined by journalist Lucia Hawley - the daughter of Kidman's sister, Antonia, as they made their way into the Paris venue on Monday.

The Hollywood star announced her separation from country star Urban on Tuesday, effectively drawing a line under their once rock-solid 19-year marriage.

Sunday, the elder of Kidman's two children with the musician, was back at work just 24 hours later as French couture brand Christian Dior unveiled its latest collection at Paris Fashion Week.

The model walked the catwalk on Wednesday, before using her social media platform to praise the spring-summer presentation by sharing video footage of her appearance.

Captioning the post with a series of credits to the creative team behind her latest show, she wrote: 'j'adore dior.'

Kidman filed to end the marriage on Tuesday - citing irreconcilable differences - as a source claimed to the Daily Mail that Urban has already moved on with an unnamed female musician.

The well-placed Nashville music business PR source said: 'The rumour is that he's with a younger woman in the business.

'It's all everyone is talking about. Everyone wants to know who, but so far, that's a mystery.'

Kidman was joined by Sunday for their first public appearance together since she announced her separation from the teenager's father

Mother and daughters were joined by journalist Lucia Hawley (far left) - the daughter of Kidman's sister, Antonia, as they made their way into the Paris venue on Monday

Kidman announced her separation from country star Urban on Tuesday, effectively drawing a line under their once rock-solid 19-year marriage. Both pictured

Nicole and her children appeared to brush off the ongoing drama in Paris on Monday evening

Kidman was previously married to Tom Cruise, 63, for 11 years from 1990 to 2001. They adopted two children together: Isabella, 32, and Connor, 30.

At this time, Urban who is renting his own home in Music City, is said to be showing no signs of wanting to reconcile.

Those in Kidman's circle claim the very suggestion of him with someone else after their separation has been difficult for her to process.

The couple were last seen together publicly in June this year, when they were pictured attending a FIFA World Cup match in Nashville, Tennessee.

The country star has been away for much of the year on his High and Alive World Tour. He is due to perform in Hershey, Pennsylvania on Thursday.

Kidman and the children, meanwhile, have remained in Nashville, where the couple own a $4million compound.

Daily Mail has contacted representatives for comment.

L:R: Lucia Hawley, Sunday Rose Urban, Nicole Kidman and Faith Margaret Urban at the Chanel show in Paris on Monday evening

Sunday, the eldest of Kidman's two children with Urban, was back at work just 24 hours later as French couture brand Christian Dior unveiled its latest collection at Paris Fashion Week

Kidman was flanked by her two daughters as they entered the Paris venue hand-in-hand
Portugal's economy minister eyes deeper innovation cooperation with China

Xinhua) 11:04, October 06, 2025

Chinese Ambassador to Portugal Zhao Bentang and Portugal's Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida, inaugurate a new factory of Alcobre in Ovar, Portugal, Oct. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xun Wei)

"We encourage more Chinese companies to settle in Portugal, to benefit from the local innovation ecosystem and the opportunities offered by the European market," the minister said.

LISBON, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- "China is today at a remarkable level of technological development and is a major driver of global technological innovation," Portuguese Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion Manuel Castro Almeida said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Friday, noting that China's recent achievements in innovation are impressive.

Speaking about the progress made under China's 14th Five-Year Plan, Almeida said he was deeply impressed. "I visited China twenty years ago, ten years ago, and just fifteen days ago, and the difference in its level of development is enormous," he said.

Almeida recalled that he accompanied Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro on an official visit to China last month. "It was clear that President Xi holds a very positive appreciation of Portugal and knows the country well," he said, adding that the Chinese president spoke with real knowledge and even showed a kind of personal sentiment toward Portugal, "which touched us deeply and highlighted the closeness of our relations."

This photo taken on Oct. 3, 2025 shows new wire drawing machine in the factory of Alcobre in Ovar, Portugal. (Xinhua/Xun Wei)

While attending the 115th anniversary celebration of Alcobre in Ovar, Portugal's oldest electrical cable manufacturer and now a subsidiary of China's Hengtong Group, Almeida repeatedly emphasized the word "innovation," which he believes aligns closely with the development priorities stressed in China's upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan.

He pointed out that Ovar benefits from the presence of several leading universities, including the University of Aveiro, the University of Porto and the University of Coimbra, which rank among the best in Europe and have great potential in technological innovation.

"Here in Ovar we have many universities, many scientists and researchers working nearby," Almeida said. By combining this academic and research strength with China's know-how and capacity for technological innovation, he added, the two sides can achieve strong complementarity and synergy, opening up broad prospects for cooperation.

On Chinese investment, Almeida stressed that Portugal attaches great importance to it, with AICEP -- the Portuguese Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade -- maintaining regular and positive contacts with potential Chinese investors.

"Portugal greatly values foreign direct investment, and any productive investment that helps grow our economy, improve employment and raise wage levels is most appreciated," he said, citing Hengtong's acquisition of Alcobre as an example.

"We encourage more Chinese companies to settle in Portugal, to benefit from the local innovation ecosystem and the opportunities offered by the European market," he said.

Almeida concluded that Portugal is willing to remain a stable and reliable partner of China in Europe, and to expand cooperation with China in scientific research, talent training and industrial investment.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Hongyu)
Love Island Australia is returning to screens and it's gearing up to be a 'sinful' outing.

A new teaser trailer for the much-loved reality series was released on Monday and it promise a seventh season filled with debauchery and drama.

In the promotional clip, longtime host Sophie Monk took centre stage, dressed all in white as she read the 'rules of love'.

'Thou shall not aura farm, ghost or gaslight,' the 45-year-old began, accompanied by the sound of angel song.

'No breadcrumbing, benching or love-bombing. Never stalk your ex's socials ever.'

At that, the music suddenly came to a halt as Sophie with a look of confusion said: 'Wait, what? No...'

Love Island is returning to Aussie screens and it's gearing up to be a 'sinful' outing (Pictured: Sophie Monk)

A new teaser trailer for the much-loved reality series was released on Monday and it promise a seventh season filled with debauchery and drama

Then, after dubbing the rules 'boring' and taking a bite of forbidden fruit, she declared, 'That's more like it', suddenly appearing in a strappy, red lingerie dress with a snake draped around her shoulders.

'Temptation runs wild,' she said of the new series, with clips of the upcoming season showing its participants in the throes of passion.

'More hookups, more heat and way more twists.'

Ending the teaser, she said: 'Thou shall be very wicked.'

And if that wasn't enough to pump up Love Island fans at home, the caption solidified the upcoming Nine series as one to watch.

'Thou shalt gird thy loins for the most sinful season of Love Island Australia ever!'

Sophie has been busy in the reality sphere of late, recently hosting the seventh season of Love Island USA Aftersun in Fiji.

With filming on the Peacock spin-off series now wrapped, Sophie took to Instagram in July to document her final days of filming.

'Temptation runs wild,' said Sophie of the new series

Sophie has been busy in the reality sphere of late, hosting the seventh season of Love Island USA Aftersun in Fiji

She shared a series of clips, with one showing The Bachelorette star sitting in a canoe with a cardigan wrapped around her head.

'This is just too much. You are just made for the sea, baby,' husband Joshua Gross could be heard saying off-camera.

Sophie then explained that she was improvising with the outerwear, given she didn't bring a hat.

'It's not just the hat, it's the whole vibe,' Joshua replied.

The spin-off of the raunchy dating series, which airs in Australia on Stan, saw Sophie interview dumped Islanders as well as past contestants in a talk show setting.

She replaced previous Aftersun host Maura Higgins, who featured as a contestant on Love Island USA and Love Island UK.

Love Island Australia will premiere later this year.
Australian musical theatre star Ben Lewis died in Sydney on Monday at age 46 following a two-year battle with bowel cancer - in a double tragedy after his wife suffered a stroke during Covid.

The London-born performer had lived in Australia for years and was renowned for his breathtaking stage performances in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera and its sequel Love Never Dies.

His death was confirmed in a statement on social media by his close friend, Tipping Point host Todd Woodbridge.

'Today we lost Ben Lewis, one my families dearest friends. Way too young, the Australian Musical Theatre family also lost one of the greats,' Todd began.

'Ben was a star on stage as Phantom on West End.. more importantly he was one of the great humans, funny, caring and a wonderful mentor to all of the people he worked with.'

Todd added he had so many cherished memories with him and would miss his dear friend forever.

Australian musical theatre star Ben Lewis, right, died in Sydney on Monday at age 46 following a two-year battle with bowel cancer

'So many fond memories of holidays together in Scotland, visiting the dressing rooms of Her Majesty's Theatre in London to times spent at Wimbledon... Sending our love to all the family tonight,' he wrote.

Ben was married to Home and Away actress Melle Stewart, who he met while studying at WAAPA. Stewart suffered a stroke at 40 during the pandemic after suffering a blood clot following an AstraZeneca jab.

Lewis had helped her recover in her battle to walk and talk again.

Ben studied at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in the late '90s, alongside his brother Alexander, who is a renowned opera performer.

He was a prolific performer and wowed audiences across the world with his emotive and incredible stage performances.

His credits include Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at Lyric Theatre in Sydney, Spamalot at Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne and a touring production of The Bodyguard.

The London-born performer had lived in Australia for years and was renowned for his breathtaking stage performances in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera and its sequel Love Never Dies

His death was confirmed in a statement on social media by his close friend, Tipping Point host Todd Woodbridge

Ben was married to Home and Away actress Melle Stewart, who he met while studying at WAAPA

In recognition of his groundbreaking performances, Ben won a Judith Johnson Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical at the 2012 Sydney Theatre Awards, for his role of the Phantom in Love Never Dies.

He was also a TV and film actor, appearing in the Channel Nine drama McLeod's Daughters in 2001, opposite Bridie Carter and Jessica Napier.

His career was put on hold in February 2024 when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Despite several rounds of chemotherapy paid for through a GoFundMe appeal, which raised $183,000 of its $200,000 target. But he was not able to make a full recovery.

Heartbroken fans took to social media to pay tribute to Ben.

'Ben will be sorely missed by his many friends in theatre all over the world,' wrote Channel Ten presenter Angela Bishop.

'Devastating. Sending love and support to his family and friends,' added Packed to the Rafters star Olivia Stambouliah.

'Such sad news,' Neighbours actress Alinta Chidzey chipped in.

Ben is survived by his wife Melle and brother Alexander.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will lead a delegation of 35 presiding officers from across India to the week-long 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) in Barbados.

Birla will address the General Assembly of the Conference on the topic The Commonwealth  A Global Partner.

He is also scheduled to chair a workshop on Leveraging Technology: Enhancing Democracy through Digital Transformations and Tackling the Digital Divide.

The 68th CPC is scheduled to be held from October 5-12 at Bridgetown, according to a statement issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

During this visit, the Lok Sabha speaker will also hold bilateral meetings and interact with his counterparts from other Commonwealth countries to discuss matters of mutual interest and parliamentary cooperation.

Lok Sabha member and BJP leader D Purandeswari is scheduled to attend the meeting of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Steering Committee.

She will also be a panelist at the CWP session on the topic Good Practices and Strategies to realising Gender-Sensitive Parliaments across the Commonwealth.

Members of the Indian parliamentary delegation will take part in seven thematic workshops, including on Strengthening our Institutions to Support Democracy, Leveraging Technology: Enhancing Democracy through Digital Transformations and Tackling the Digital Divide, A Look Ahead to CHOGM 2026: Championing the Human Factor from a Gender and Accessibility Lens, and Building Trust and Transparency in Democracy: Financial Transparency in Parliaments and Elections.

The Indian delegation will comprise Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh and presiding officers and secretaries of state and Union Territory legislatures from across the country.

The Executive Committee of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) will be meeting during the course of the Conference and it will be attended by Lok Sabha member Anurag Sharma as the Treasurer of CPA along with Assam Assembly Speaker Bishwajit Daimary, one of the regional representatives in the CPA Executive Committee from Indian Region.

Other members of delegation, including presiding officers from state/UT legislatures, will also participate in various workshops and the General Assembly of the Conference, the statement said.
Delhi Police have dismantled a cyber fraud syndicate operating across multiple states. The syndicate has links to handlers based in Cambodia. Five men were arrested after coordinated raids in Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. The gang allegedly cheated dozens of people through fake online investment schemes, laundering over Rs 4.25 crore through mule bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets.

The case came to light after a Delhi resident, R Choudhary, reported being duped of Rs 10.7 lakh.

He had been added to a WhatsApp group that promised high returns on stock market investments.

Initially, he received small profits that appeared genuine. Encou-raged, he invested more after seeing inflated profits displayed on a fake investment dashboard. But when he tried to withdraw his money, the option was suddenly disabled, and the fraudsters stopped responding.

Realising he had been conned, he approached the Cyber Police Station of the South-West District.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-West) Amit Goel said the operation exposed a complex web of fraud involving foreign elements. This was not a local scam but an organised cybercrime network spread across four states and connected to handlers in Cambodia. Our team followed the digital trail of Rs 4.25 crore that moved through several accounts and was later converted into cryptocurrency, he said. The investigation was led by Inspector Pravesh Kaushik and supervised by ACP Vijay Pal Tomar.

A special team comprising Sub Inspector Chetan Rana, Head Constable Manender and Head Constable Vijaypal was formed to follow the money trail. The team began analysing digital footprints, fake SIM data, and transaction logs.

Despite the accused using multiple fake accounts and cryptocurrency channels to mask their operations, investigators managed to identify the first suspect, Vikram, from Narwana in Haryana. He was arrested after being tracked through a mule account linked to the complaint.

Vikrams interrogation led to the arrest of Mukul, an air conditioner repair mechanic from Zirakpur, Punjab, who admitted to opening and supplying several mule bank accounts for commission. Based on his disclosures, police caught Akshay, an architect from Una in Himachal Pradesh, who had used his professional contacts to arrange additional accounts for the network. The investigation then led to Hari Kishan Singh, an entrepreneur from Sonipat, Haryana, who was arrested in Amritsar.

Police recovered seven mobile phones, one laptop and nine cheque books from him, all containing details of transactions and mule accounts. The final arrest was made in Sikar, Rajasthan, where the main handler, Mangu Singh, a 27-year-old polytechnic dropout, was apprehended.

According to police, Mangu Singh and his associate Kuldeep came in contact with Cambodian-based fraudsters on Telegram. Together, they created a Telegram group named ATPay, used for trading mule bank accounts and laundering money. Singh, along with his associates Vikram, Mukul and Akshay, arranged shell firms and opened bank accounts under various names. Once these accounts were operational, they were handed over to Hari Kishan and Mangu, who coordinated directly with the handlers abroad. The money obtained from victims was routed into these accounts, transferred across several layers to conceal the trail, and finally converted into cryptocurrency, mostly USDT. The gang kept about five per cent of the total proceeds as their commission before transferring the rest to Cambodia-based wallets.

Recovered devices and digital records have revealed detailed logs of Telegram chats, mule account data, and crypto transactions. The registers found during the raids contained lists of bank accounts used to move money across states. Police said at least 15 complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal were linked to the same syndicate.
All roads led to Dingle last Friday (October 3) for the eagerly anticipated finals of Blas na hEireann, The Irish Food Awards, now in their 18th year and firmly established as the largest and most influential food awards on the island of Ireland.

This year, seven producers from Co. Derry were shortlisted across a wide range of categories, with five of them taking home coveted Blas awards. The bronze, silver and gold winners from the county include:

Moyletra Moileds, Mullin's Ice Cream, Corndale Farm, Vittle Bakeshop and Paula McIntyre Catering who were also awarded Best in County.

2025 marks another record year for Blas na hEireann, with over 3,000 entries across more than 180 categories, reflecting the strength and diversity of Irish food and drink.

This years finalists and winners had the opportunity to showcase their products at the Blas Village and the popular Eat Ireland in a Day market, both of which returned to Dingle alongside the annual Backyard at Blas panel discussions supported by Bank of Ireland.

Gold Winner: Vittle Bakery Shop. Pictured: John Sheehy, Blas na hEireann; Sarah Dale, David Loughran and Sponsor Colin Lavery, Andrews Ingredients. (Photos: Andrew Watchorn)

The weekend offered producers a chance to connect with buyers, industry experts, media, fellow producers, and food lovers, while also celebrating the people, and the talents, that make Irish food so special.

Speaking after the announcement, Artie Clifford, Chairperson of Blas na hEireann, said: Every year the standard rises, and 2025 has been no exception.

Bronze & Silver Winner: Moyletra Moileds, Co. Derry. Pictured Included are John Sheehy, Blas na hEireann with Sandra Scott, David Scott.

"To see such talented producers from Co. Derry represented on the shortlist, and now to celebrate the winners from that county, is a real testament to the skill, creativity and resilience of Irelands food producers.

"Making it to the finalist stage alone is a huge achievement, and to win at Blas is something of which to be incredibly proud. Irish food and drink continues to go from strength to strength, and it is a joy to celebrate that strength and that community here in Dingle.
On Thursday, a protest was held at the Diamond, Magherafelt, demanding government action to 'ensure safe release of Irish citizens kidnapped by Israel from the Global Sumud Flotilla in International waters'.

A sizeable crowd braved the wet weather to demand international law be upheld, and for the immediate safe release of activists like Greta Thunberg and Irish citizens onboard.

Support was also given to the Thousand Madleens flotilla and upcoming attempts to break the siege.

 The media is remarkably silent about the continued, illegal detention of flotilla personnel abducted in International Waters. 16 Irish people are currently 'enjoying' Zionist 'hospitality' in a vindictive effort to 'punish' efforts to counter the Genocide agenda," Mid Ulster IPSC spokesperson Gavin Casey later said.

"All and any of the hostages could have been released immediately. Holding them in prisons for any length of time, now almost a week, is the action of a Terror State.

Last week, hundreds of 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.

Padraig Mac Niocaill from the Mid Ulster IPSC said at the protest:  Earlier this month, InvestNI and Moyola Precision Engineering exhibited at the Defences and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London, the World's largest arms fair.

"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.
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons is to unveil initiatives designed at getting more people in Northern Ireland into employment.

They will include strategies to ensure more disabled people and benefit claimants can enter the labour market.

Northern Ireland has an economic inactivity rate of 26%. Mr Lyons has said he is determined to get more people into work.

He will make announcements at the Assembly on Monday.

Speaking in advance, he said: Employment is one of the best pathways out of poverty and to improved health and life outcomes.

I am determined to open up opportunities and to break down barriers to employment.

My focus is on those who have felt excluded from the world of work and making sure that the right supports are in place at the right time.

Mr Lyons will set out his new strategy to ensure more disabled people and people with health conditions can access the labour market.

Northern Ireland has the worst disability employment rate (41.3%) across the UK (52.8%).

The minister said: Up to now, our track record on disability employment has not been good enough. I want us to do better.

Disability influences lives in many unique and personal ways and the issues faced by disabled people can be complex and intersectional.

Employment can offer a means to help address and overcome many of the challenges faced.

Real change is needed that matches the talents and ambitions of disabled people. It must be felt on the ground.

My new strategic approach promises that change.

The minister will also launch a new programme to help working age benefit claimants to enter or re-enter the labour market.

The scheme will expand on previous employer incentive programmes which the Department for Communities said have seen thousands of participants move into employment.

Mr Lyons said: I will be bringing forward the biggest jobs programme of its kind, extending our reach to more people than previous initiatives.

The programme will have a range of supports for new employees and also for employers to ensure positive pathways to work.

It will build upon the success of previous programmes recently delivered by the department which were positively endorsed both by employers and jobseekers.

The Department for Communities has said Northern Irelands economic inactivity rate is 26%, which means that more than 300,000 people of working age are not active in the labour market.

It has said almost 40% of that is due to ill-health or disability.
New research from the Childlight Global Child Safety Institute shows an alarming rate of sexual abuse among children in South Asia. Drawing on studies from India, Pakistan, Maldives, Bangladesh and other countries, the report estimates that around one in eight children in the region has been sexually assaulted before reaching adulthood. This projection translates to roughly 54 million affected minors, based on regional population data and statistical modeling.

The figures come from a review of surveys conducted between 2010 and 2024. About 14.5 percent of girls and 11.5 percent of boys in the data reported experiencing sexual violence before the age of 18. Limited reporting in neighboring countries suggests that actual numbers could be higher than official estimates.



Countries CSAM rate 2023 (per 10K people) CSAM rate 2024 (per 10K people) Afghanistan 47.5 28.9 Bangladesh 145.2 64.1 Bhutan 75 41 India 62 15.5 Maldives 158.4 94 Nepal 58.9 19.4 Pakistan 77.8 41.3 Sri Lanka 59.8 27.8

Technology Adds a New Dimension

The same study points to a sharp rise in technology-linked exploitation. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of identified AI-generated sexual images involving minors increased by over 1,300 percent. These synthetic images, sometimes known as deepfakes, use generative tools to superimpose childrens faces onto explicit photos.

In 2024, data from monitoring networks linked over 2.25 million cases of child sexual abuse material to India, 1.1 million to Bangladesh, and about 1.03 million to Pakistan. When adjusted for population size, smaller countries such as the Maldives showed higher exposure rates, with about 94 reported cases per 10,000 residents. Bangladesh followed with 64, Pakistan with 41, and Nepal with roughly 19.

Gaps in Law and Reporting

Among South Asian nations, India maintains the most comprehensive record system under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Police reports show cases rising from about 54,000 in 2021 to more than 64,000 in 2022. Around 90 percent of those cases reached the charge-sheet stage, but conviction rates remain much lower.

In Pakistan, the number of recorded cases nearly doubled within the same period, from around 1,500 to close to 3,000, according to the NGO Sahil. The increase reflects better awareness and more open reporting, though many incidents still go unreported.

Global Patterns and Local Risks

Data from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children show how widespread the problem has become. Between 2020 and 2022, over 83 million global cases of child sexual abuse material were reported to the center. About two-thirds came from Asia. India accounted for roughly 16 percent of those reports, followed by the Philippines, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Bangladesh.

While artificial intelligence has made it easier to create harmful content, it is also being tested as a tool to detect it. European researchers have developed scanning systems that can flag altered or disguised child abuse images. One pilot study examined nearly 300,000 websites and found several dozen containing illegal material. These systems could support law enforcement if used responsibly.

Digital Platforms and Enforcement Challenges

NCMEC data show continued growth in global reports. About 20 million cases were logged in 2020, 29 million in 2021, and more than 32 million in 2022. Metas platforms, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, generated around 90 percent of these alerts through automated systems.

Image: DIW-Aigen.Nearly half of the global reports lacked enough information to act on or involved repeated uploads of existing material. The absence of consistent laws across countries and weak coordination between agencies make the issue harder to contain.

Data as a Prevention Tool

Childlights researchers stress that prevention depends on reliable data and early detection. Countries with consistent monitoring tend to identify cases sooner and provide more support for victims. The institute recommends stronger cooperation between governments, private companies, and civil organizations.

It treats child exploitation as both a law enforcement and public health challenge. Abuse affects physical and mental health, school attendance, and long-term development. Building accurate data systems is seen as the first step toward targeted intervention.

A Regional Burden with Global Links

South Asias exposure to child exploitation remains high both offline and online. Progress in data collection and policing has improved awareness, yet new technologies have made the threat more complex. AI-generated material now circulates faster than authorities can respond.

Childlights study concludes that without stronger coordination between technology firms and public institutions, millions of children will remain at risk. The regions data show a growing problem that reflects global patterns of digital abuse, one that continues to evolve as technology advances.



Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.



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Gardai are investigating all the circumstances surrounding the death of a man following a fatal assault in Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary, on Saturday night.

Emergency services were alerted to an incident at around 11pm on October 4th. A man was discovered unresponsive in a domestic residence and was later pronounced dead.

A woman in her 20s has been arrested in connection with the incident and is currently being detained at a Garda station in Tipperary under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

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The scene remains sealed off to allow for a full forensic examination. The body of the deceased remains at the location, and the Coroner has been notified. The Garda Technical Bureau and the Office of the State Pathologist have also been requested to assist with the investigation, and a post-mortem examination will be arranged.

Investigating Gardai are appealing to anyone with information to come forward. Those with details can contact Clonmel Garda Station on 052 617 7640, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station
Gardai are appealing for witnesses following a number of incidents that occurred in Kilkenny city on Saturday October 4.

Shortly before 3:00pm, Gardai were alerted to a car driving in a dangerous manner and a material damage road traffic collision on the Old Dublin Road in Lyrath.

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Gardai were then alerted a short time later of a dangerous driving and public disorder incident on Maudlin Street.

During the incident on Maudlin Street, a man and a woman, both aged in their 30s, were assaulted.

They were taken to St. Lukes Hospital, where they received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.

As a result of these incidents, two men in their 30s and a woman in her 20s were arrested at the scene.

They are currently being detained at a Garda station in Kilkenny under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. A vehicle has also been seized under the Road Traffic Act.

Gardai are now appealing to anyone who may have witnessed these incidents to come forward. In particular, they are seeking video footage from the area, including dash-cam recordings, from anyone who was on the Old Dublin Road or Maudlin Street between 2:30pm and 3:15pm on the day in question.

Residents of Maudlin Street who may have CCTV footage are also asked to contact investigating Gardai.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Kilkenny Garda Station on 056 777 5000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

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Fianna Fails Jim Gavin could still technically be elected President of Ireland, despite withdrawing his candidacy.

Gavin cannot officially withdraw from the election, given that the ruling on nominations passed on September 24.

Section 30 of the Presidential Elections Act 1993 says that a person may withdraw their candidature before the completion of the ruling on nominations, but not thereafter.

As a result, Gavins name will still appear on the ballot paper on election day, which is set for Friday, October 24.

Therefore, voters can and may mark Gavin as their first preference candidate.

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If one of the other candidates, namely Heather Humphreys (FG) and Catherine Connolly (IND), receives over 50 per cent of the vote, the election will be decided on the first count.

However, if it is any closer than that, Gavin will likely be eliminated on the first count and his votes will transfer as normal under the single transferable vote system.

As he has publicly withdrawn from the race and is no longer campaigning, it appears unlikely that Gavin will receive many first, second or third preference votes.

Voters will likely be discouraged from marking any number beside Gavins name altogether.

However, in the unlikely event that Gavin receives the most votes under the STV system, he would be elected President of Ireland.

But what would happen in this hypothetical scenario? Most people would expect Gavin to immediately resign from the position, given the questions that would arise over the legitimacy of his candidacy.

Article 12 of the Irish Constitution states that: The President may resign from office by a writing under his hand addressed to the Council of State.

However, Gavin would not be able to resign until he was officially inaugurated as the president.

After a presidential election, the winning candidate is not officially the president until they have made the presidential declaration.

Therefore, in this hypothetical scenario, President Michael D Higgins would remain in office in the days after the election, with Gavin named as president-elect.

The inauguration ceremony must take place no later than the day after the term of the outgoing president ends, which in this case is November 12.

Although it has never occurred that the president-elect refused to assume office, the constitution does anticipate it through the vacancy provisions in Article 12.10.

If the person elected fails or refuses to make the declaration, they simply never enter office.

In that case, the office of president would remain vacant, and the Presidential Commission would immediately act as president.

Then, under Article 12.10.6, a new election must be held within 60 days of the vacancy.

So, in the unlikely event that Gavin is elected president, he would likely refuse to make the presidential declaration.

Michael D Higgins would finish his term as scheduled on November 11 and the Presidential Commission would assume the role of president until another election was held.

A new election would be organised, with nomination periods, ballots, etc., to be held within 60 days.

During that interim, the commission would sign legislation, appoint judges, accept government business and act on advice of the government.

The successful candidate of that election would be inaugurated and assume the presidency, replacing the commission.
A jury has been selected for the trial of a Kerry man who is accused of murdering his brother more than a year ago.

When arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, Fergus OConnor, aged 42, of The Village, Scartaglin, Castleisland, County Kerry pleaded not guilty to murdering Padraig OConnor on June 28, 2024.

Before selecting the jury, Ms Justice Melanie Greally said the single charge relates to an incident which occurred at a property at An Caislean Mor, Castleisland, in the north of the county.

The house, she said, was the then home of Fergus OConnor and Padraig OConnor's mother.

Ms Justice Greally told the jury panel the trial, which is taking place in Limerick, is expected to last between two and three weeks and that there are potentially more than 70 witnesses in the case.

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The jury panel was told the defendant has worked in the construction industry, primarily as a plasterer and that he has also worked for a tyre company in Castleisland.

A jury of nine men and three women has been selected for the trial which gets underway this Monday afternoon.
All roads led to Dingle on Friday 3 October for the eagerly anticipated finals of Blas na hEireann, The Irish Food Awards, now in their 18th year and firmly established as the largest and most influential food awards on the island of Ireland. This year, nine producers from Louth were shortlisted across a wide range of categories, with all of them taking home coveted Blas awards.

The bronze, silver and gold winners from the county include: Carlingford Oyster Company Ltd., Dundalk Bay Brewery, Fierce Mild Brewing Ltd., Herbel Crest Ltd (T/A King of Kefir), Hilton Foods, McCloskeys Bakery, Muchgrange Farm, Natures Best and Pearse Lyons Distillery.

Muchgrange Farm was awarded Best in County, proudly sponsored by Louth Local Enterprise Office. On behalf of Local Enterprise Office Louth, I extend our warmest congratulations to Muchgrange Farm on being named Best in County Louth at the Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards 2025, said Nikki Campbell, Head of Enterprise.

This prestigious recognition is a testament to their dedication, innovation, and commitment to excellence in food production. Muchgrange Farm represents the very best of Louths vibrant food and drink sector, and their success is a fantastic reflection of the quality and ambition we see across our local producers. Were proud to support businesses like Muchgrange Farm who are putting Louth firmly on the map

2025 marks another record year for Blas na hEireann, with over 3,000 entries across more than 180 categories, reflecting the strength and diversity of Irish food and drink.

This years finalists and winners had the opportunity to showcase their products at the Blas Village and the popular Eat Ireland in a Day market, both of which returned to Dingle alongside the annual Backyard at Blas panel discussions supported by Bank of Ireland.

The weekend offered producers a chance to connect with buyers, industry experts, media, fellow producers, and food lovers, while also celebrating the people, and the talents, that make Irish food so special.

Speaking after the announcement, Artie Clifford, Chairperson of Blas na hEireann, said: Every year the standard rises, and 2025 has been no exception.

To see such talented producers from Co Louth represented on the shortlist, and now to celebrate the winners from that county, is a real testament to the skill, creativity and resilience of Irelands food producers. Making it to the finalist stage alone is a huge achievement, and to win at Blas is something of which to be incredibly proud.

Irish food and drink continues to go from strength to strength, and it is a joy to celebrate that strength and that community here in Dingle.

The Blas na hEireann awards weekend ran from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 October in Dingle, with a packed programme of events shining a spotlight on the very best of Irish food and drink. Sustainability once again remained a key focus, with the event continuing to build on its waste-free commitments and support a more conscious future for Irish food.
The Irish presidential race has boiled down to a clear choice between Government and opposition, after one of three candidates dramatically quit the contest.

Fianna Fail candidate Jim Gavin announced he would be withdrawing from the race after acknowledging he had made a mistake, in a move that shakes up the competition and posed questions for his main backers in the party.

The late night statement came hours after Mr Gavin faced repeating questioning during a televised debate and subsequent media doorstep about claims he owed a former tenant thousands of euro.

The Irish Independent reported the experiences of a tenant who said he had failed to recover 3,000 euro (2,600) in overpaid rent from Mr Gavin 16 years ago.

The Dubliner said he was in financial difficulty at the time and lost the property, also acknowledging the tenancy was not officially registered.

Mr Gavin, 54, told reporters: If it happened, Im very sorry that it happened. Im looking into it and I will deal with it with urgency.

Through the party press office after 10pm, he announced: Recent days have given me cause to reflect. I made a mistake that was not in keeping with my character and the standards I set myself. I am now taking steps to address the matter.

I have also thought long and hard about the potential impact of the ongoing campaign on the wellbeing of my family and friends.

Taking all these considerations on board, I have decided to withdraw from the presidential election contest with immediate effect and return to the arms of my family.

Taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, who had some pushback within the party for driving Mr Gavins candidacy, said his decision to end the campaign was the correct one.

Also reacting to the development, left-wing independent candidate Catherine Connolly said: Anyone who seeks to make Ireland a better place through public service should be commended.

Jim Gavin has made the right decision for himself and his family. I wish him well.

Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys said Mr Gavin had made an enormous contribution to the country through his work in the Defence Forces and Gaelic football.

While I know this must have been a very difficult decision, it is clearly one Jim has made with the best interests of his family at heart. That is something all of us can relate to. I want to wish Jim and his family all the very best for the future.

His decision to drop out came after a Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll put him in last place on 15%, behind Ms Connolly (32%) and Ms Humphreys (23%).

The bombshell exit from the race now puts question marks over Mr Martins decision making, after the partys nomination process brought disquiet and criticism among backbenchers.

Mr Gavin  who had supported from Mr Martin, deputy leader Jack Chambers and other senior figures  secured the partys nomination after a contest against MEP Billy Kelleher.

In his ultimately unsuccessful search for Fianna Fails nomination, Mr Kelleher argued that nobody who leads a democratic party could be unhappy with having a robust, rigorous debate within the party about picking a candidate.

Former party leader and taoiseach Bertie Ahern also told reporters he was disappointed the party leadership had not expressed support for his own potential bid for the Aras, while former Fianna Fail minister Mary Hanafin said leadership making a phone call would have made a difference about her own consideration of entering the race.

Mr Gavin will remain on the ballot paper.

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy  who is backing Ms Connolly along with a range of independents, Sinn Fein, the Social Democrats and Labour  said the withdrawal of Mr Gavin clarifies the nature of this campaign.

In a statement, he said: It is now a straight choice between a Fine Gael former Minister, Heather Humphreys and a leading independent opposition TD, Catherine Connolly.

People have a choice between a candidate who stands up for the developers and corporate landlords who have profited from Fine Gaels and Fianna Fails disastrous housing policy and a candidate who stands up for those who suffer from this housing crisis.

It is a clear choice between a Fine Gael candidate who supports the Governments moves to scrap the Triple Lock and fundamentally undermine neutrality and a candidate who defends neutrality.

He added: It is a choice between a Fine Gael candidate who suggested that the Occupied Territories Bill wont make any difference and a candidate who has been consistent for decades in opposing Israeli occupation.

I am looking forward to the coming one on one debates between Heather Humphreys and Catherine Connolly. I have every confidence that Catherines authenticity will continue to shine through.

During Sundays televised debate on RTEs The Week In Politics, Ms Humphreys said she had the experience to do this job.

I was a minister for 10 years as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht I supported Creative Ireland, I supported a roll out of investments in our cultural institutions, she said.

As Minister for Business, I travelled the world opening doors for Irish businesses with the IDA and Enterprise Ireland, opening doors so that they could get new markets.

So Im experienced in terms of international relations, and then when it comes to people, as Minister for Social Protection, I stood up for people, and I rolled out Budgets that put money into peoples pockets when they needed it.
Once our chat concludes, 34-year-old Conor Murphy drives from his home in Blackpool to the city centre, to begin his evening shift as a volunteer with Aware.

At about 6.30pm, Conor will arrive at the Next Step Building on Sullivans Quay, where this evenings group meeting is due to start at 7pm.

He makes sure he arrives half an hour early to ensure the venue is warm and welcoming, to arrange 14 chairs in a circle, check the readiness of the post-chat tea and coffee facilities, and be on hand to welcome the attendees as they begin to arrive.

Working full-time in the tech industry and studying part-time at MTU  Conor is in his first year of a psychotherapy and counselling degree  he has volunteered for several years as facilitator with Aware, a national group offering a range of services to people suffering from depression, bipolar and anxiety.

However, his long-time connection with the organisation, which this year celebrates a landmark 40th anniversary - is rooted in a difficult time he experienced in adolescence.

Glandular fever had dogged Conor all the way through his Leaving Certificate Year, resulting in an unexpectedly disappointing bunch of results.

We only actually realised what it was towards the end of the Leaving Cert year, so the diagnosis was a bit belated and I didnt recover in time to do a good exam, he recalls.

The illness, combined with the social anxiety he had been experiencing, and the disappointing exam results, all created a perfect storm, he says.

The Leaving Cert year and its aftermath were very difficult. I felt very much on my own. I saw my GP and then a therapist and I was prescribed antidepressants and some anti-anxiety medication, he recalls,.

One day in 2010, after spotting an Aware poster in his GP's surgery, the 19-year-old attended a face-to-face Aware meeting at Corks Erinville Hospital.

It was run by a facilitator, recalls Conor. I vividly remember how welcome I felt at this first meeting; and how the atmosphere was very warm and welcoming.

The group sessions provide a safe place for people to talk about things with other people. Its just about being able to talk about what you are going through in a non-judgemental space.

At the time, I was feeling a bit lost. I hadnt got the college course I wanted, and I was working part-time while I figured out what to do next.

I found that the group sessions were a safe place to express things. Nobodys really shocked by anything there!

It was about having a place to talk about how you felt, he recalls.

In 2018, Conor signed up for Awares training programme, and by mid-2019, at 26, had started volunteering as a facilitator.

A lot of being a facilitator is about active listening, paraphrasing, and clarifying what people are saying, he explains.

While the issues that come up are diverse; they can range, he adds, from money worries to problems with ageing parents, job stability, workplace relationships, and family issues - the emotions people express are often quite similar.

Isolation is a problem, Conor says, and personally, while he feels social media is having a significant impact on people, it doesnt tend to arise as a specific topic in meetings.

Social media is an interesting issue, agrees Dr Susan Brannick, who is Awares Clinical Director.

If you use social media in a passive, avoidant way it can be isolating - for example, doomscrolling. she says.

Social media can be used as a way of avoiding feelings of anxiety and sadness, warns Dr Brannick, who is also concerned about the potential effect of Artificial Intelligence on how some people go about seeking information about mental health.

Dr Susan Brannick, Awares Clinical Director, warns traditional person-to-person connections are becoming less common in society, and Aware group sessions offer an opportunity to connect with others and talk

Traditional person-to-person connections are becoming less common, she feels, pointing out that Aware group sessions offer an excellent opportunity to connect with others and to talk - depression is a very isolating condition, which encourages people to avoid people and social situations, she warns.

For Aware members who experience improvement, Conor has some advice  stick with whats working!

When people know what is good for them, or have a routine that works for them in terms of self-care, for example exercise, talk therapy and Aware group sessions, they will start to feel better, he explains.

However, once they are feeling better, people can prematurely assume that all is now well, drift away from the meetings, stop walking, and give up the talk therapy that had helped them.

Recovery, Conor warns, can be a long journey. You need to stay with the helpful services and routines that make you feel better  even when youre feeling better!

It is also very inspiring for other people in the group to see the progress being made by someone who had previously been in a bad place themselves.

Over the years, there have been amazing facilitators in Cork who put in great work and do it in their own time, Conor says, adding that, crucially, facilitators themselves also receive strong support from the Aware team.

It was other facilitators who inspired me to become a facilitator with Aware.

Its a fantastic organisation that does a huge amount of good work.

Conor plans to continue his work as an Aware facilitator for the foreseeable future.

I find the work very rewarding, he says. My job is in the tech industry, which requires a lot of work online, so the switch once a week to meet people face to face in close proximity and to have that human connection is refreshing.

However, warns Dr Brannick, the State needs to step up. The government must double what it is allocating to the mental health sector if it is to come into line with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO), she says.

Dr Brannick points out that, while Aware offers a wide range of services, there is still a huge gap in terms of what the State itself is doing  at just 6% of the health budget, the money allocated to mental health is only half of what is recommended by the WHO.

More State investment is crucial for the provision of adequate services and acceptable waiting times, she insists.

For more information, please visit aware.ie.

For more information on Aware Mental Health Week or to access free support, therapy and education services, visit aware.ie/mental-health-week

SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION

At Aware, depression is described as having eight main symptoms. Use the acronym FESTIVAL

F eeling  sad, anxious, guilty

E nergy  low energy, feeling tired or fatigued

S leeping  under- or over-sleeping, any change to normal sleep pattern

T hinking  poor concentration, thoughts slowed down

I nterest  loss of interest in hobbies, family or social life

V alue  low self esteem

A ches  physical aches and pains with no physical basis

L ife  loss of interest in living, thinking about death, suicidal thoughts

If you experience five or more of these symptoms, lasting for a period of two weeks or more, Aware recommends speaking to your GP or mental health professional.

Issues discussed at Aware group sessions can range from money worries to problems with ageing parents, job stability, workplace relationships, and family issues. iStock

AWARES 40TH ANNIVERSARY

Aware is the national organisation providing a wide range of free support, therapy, education, and information services for people impacted by depression, bipolar and other mood related conditions.

From one support group in Dublin in 1985, Aware now offers free services nationwide, supporting approximately 40,000 people annually.

These include the Support Line and Support Mail services, Support and Self-Care Groups, and a range of evidence-based education programmes including a Resilience Programme, Family Support Programme, Living Well with Bipolar Programme, and a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Programme.

In the last 10 years, Aware has had more than 87,200 visits to its Support Groups.

Since 2010, the Aware Support Line has received more than 197,000 calls.

In 2025, Aware introduced a free Counselling service for people 18+ experiencing depression or anxiety.
Parents in East Cork are on a mission to raise awareness of the dangers of smartphone use to young people.

Last October, a group of parents came together to form East Cork Smartphone-Free Childhood on the back of the growing grassroots movement of parents choosing to delay giving their children a smartphone.

Over the past couple of years, groups just like East Cork Smartphone-Free Childhood have been springing up around the country, including a national Smartphone-Free Childhood group.

In East Cork, the group comprises parents from primary schools all over the region, including Gaelscoil Mhainistir na Corann, Scoil Bride Midleton, Educate Together Midleton, Cloyne National School, and Dungourney National School.

These groups of parents liaise with the principals in their local national schools, keeping the smartphone-free message top of the schools agenda. And they interact with other like-minded groups around the country, reinforcing the key message: smartphones are not for primary school kids.

The group will host a free event this Thursday (October 9) aimed at highlighting the dangers of giving young children smartphones.

Speaking at the event, which will take place in the Educate Together school in Midleton at 7.45pm, will be Sally OReilly, counselling psychologist and psychotherapist, who will talk about why its important for parents to hold boundaries when it comes to smartphones.

Director of Waterford Education and Support Centre, Dr Drian Barron, who spearheaded the smartphone-free childhood movement in Waterford, will also speak on the night. Community Garda Eddie Crockett will be on hand to speak about online safety and awareness.

There is real momentum growing around this issue.

In 2024, Irelands main mobile operators backed a Department of Education-led initiative to keep childhood smartphone-free.

As part of that initiative, parents at most of the East Cork schools in the group signed a commitment to not buy a smartphone for their kids while theyre in primary school.

Its about education too, and shining a light on the issues of cyberbullying, harmful online content, and the impact of social media on children.

There is a real appetite for information among parents.

In September, Cloyne National School hosted internet safety advocate Maureen Griffin; a similar event in Gaelscoil Mhainistir na Corann early in 2025 attracted hundreds of parents from the area to learn more about how they can protect their children from online dangers.

All of this effort appears to be having an impact.

The number of children under 13 who own a smartphone dropped in the past year, according to a 2025 CyberSafe Kids report. This can be in part attributed to the growing influence of grassroots smartphone-free childhood movements around the country.

Its good news, says Laura ODonovan, a member of the East Cork group, and a founding member of the Smartphone-Free Childhood Ireland group. It gives us a bit of momentum as we move into the new school year.

While the group organise smartphone-free pledges and events, they are clear that they need legislation if change is to really happen.

Fine Gael mentioned the CyberSafe Kids report and published an online safety survey, but we need legislation. We all know the dangers now, we need a ban on the sale of phones and social media to kids under 13. Parents on our own, as much as were trying, are still struggling, says Laura.

Like other parents in the group, Laura experienced the daily pressure to get a smartphone for her child as her eldest moved into secondary school.

Its so difficult to continue to say no, when other parents relent and buy phones, and suddenly your child is one of the only ones without a phone. Its so rare to see a child starting secondary school without a phone and access to social media.

Though she eventually bought a smartphone for her child, Laura says they are insisting on limits to its use, and there is no social media on the phone.

Other parents are turning to other solutions, like buying their kids a so-called dumb phone we bought one for our daughter but she was so embarrassed by it, she wouldnt take it anywhere with her, says Laura.

A new solution is proving more acceptable to tweens. The Balance phone is the brainchild of Carlos Fontclara and Albert Beltran from Spain, and is essentially a stripped-back smartphone, with no access to social media, games, adult content or gambling sites.

It does have the internet, but you cant download social media. A lot of parents in our group, and I actually know a couple personally, have bought it for their gang starting in first year. They can use it to call, text, WhatsApp, and of course, theres the internet, so they can do things like shop online. They can download the likes of Spotify and that kind of thing, but no social media apps at all. It seems to be a good in-between option, says Laura.

The phones cost in the region of 300, and an app is available which can add restrictions to some existing phones, which essentially turns them into Balance phones.

These are good alternatives, particularly for that age group of children just transitioning into secondary school, says Laura.

Its about trying to find a happy medium.
Residents in an East Cork nursing home were left waiting for up to 20 minutes for a response from staff, after call-bells were removed from their rooms, an inspectors report has found.

Inspectors from the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) said that half the residents living in the Glendonagh Residential Home in Midleton had been assessed as not being able to use call bells, and so had none available to them.

There was no evidence of any alternative way of calling for assistance or alerting staff for these residents, so the residents relied on hourly checks by staff during the night.

A centre spokesperson explained that risk assessments, carried out by the care team, determined that, for some residents, the presence of a call-bell lead posed a greater risk than benefit.

This was due either due to the inability to use it meaningfully or a risk of entanglement or distress, but a review of this has been undertaken, and all wall-mounted call-bell leads have been reinstated for residents.

From a review of audits of call-bell response times, there was evidence of delays in response times for up to 20 minutes.

Hiqa said that this continued between two audits, with no improvements seen.

Three residents also told the inspectors that there were delays with response times to their call bells, especially at night. There was no record of a complaint a resident raised with the inspectors, whereby they experienced delays with personal care delivery, and had reported it to staff.

Hiqa also found that, while there was a schedule of audits in place at the centre, the repeated poor response times indicated that appropriate action had not been taken between audits.

UNINVITED

The report also found that some residents had no way of alerting staff when another resident entered their bedrooms uninvited, meaning these residents were not appropriately protected.

While the number and skill mix of staff were appropriate, there were not enough care staff rostered after 11.30pm, inspectors said.

The centre spokesperson added that additional audits are now in place, supplemented by unannounced spot checks, and any instance of a response delay exceeding five minutes is flagged and reviewed immediately.

Inspectors also found that a number of allegations and incidents with regard to safeguarding of residents were not appropriately investigated and managed.

Furthermore, a number of allegations or incidents relating to safeguarding had not been notified to the chief inspector as required, which was a repeat finding, and a sudden death in the centre had also not been notified.

Inspectors also noted that there was a gap in the management structure arising from the resignation of both of the clinical nurse managers since the previous inspection.

The provider assured Hiqa that other staff had been redirected to provide continuity during the recruitment process, and a new recruit was now in place.

They added that, following the inspection, a full review of night-time staffing allocations was undertaken, and a revised staffing model was implemented as a result.

The centre was marked not compliant in six areas, substantially compliant in three, and fully compliant in two.
The presidential race has boiled down to a clear choice between Government and opposition, after Fianna Fail candidate Jim Gavin dramatically quit the contest on Sunday.

Mr Gavin announced he would be withdrawing from the race after acknowledging he had made a mistake, in a move that shakes up the competition and posed questions for his main backers in the party.

The late night statement came hours after Mr Gavin faced repeating questioning during a televised debate and subsequent media doorstep about claims he owed a former tenant thousands of euro.

The Irish Independent reported the experiences of a tenant who said he had failed to recover 3,000 in overpaid rent from Mr Gavin 16 years ago.

The Dubliner said he was in financial difficulty at the time and lost the property, also acknowledging the tenancy was not officially registered.

If it happened, Im very sorry that it happened. Im looking into it and I will deal with it with urgency.

Through the Fianna Fail press office after 10pm on Sunday, he announced: Recent days have given me cause to reflect. I made a mistake that was not in keeping with my character and the standards I set myself. I am now taking steps to address the matter.

I have also thought long and hard about the potential impact of the ongoing campaign on the wellbeing of my family and friends.

Taking all these considerations on board, I have decided to withdraw from the presidential election contest with immediate effect and return to the arms of my family.

Taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, who had some pushback within the party for driving Mr Gavins candidacy, said his decision to end the campaign was the correct one.

Bombshell

The bombshell exit from the race now puts question marks over Mr Martins decision making, after the partys nomination process brought disquiet and criticism among backbenchers.

Mr Gavin  who had supported from Mr Martin, deputy leader Jack Chambers and other senior figures  secured the partys nomination after a contest against Cork MEP Billy Kelleher.

In his ultimately unsuccessful search for Fianna Fails nomination, Mr Kelleher argued that nobody who leads a democratic party could be unhappy with having a robust, rigorous debate within the party about picking a candidate.

Former party leader and taoiseach Bertie Ahern also told reporters he was disappointed the party leadership had not expressed support for his own potential bid for the Aras, while former Fianna Fail minister Mary Hanafin said leadership making a phone call would have made a difference about her own consideration of entering the race.

Mr Gavin, who was among three candidates alongside Fine Gaels Heather Humphreys and left-wing independent Catherine Connolly, will remain on the ballot paper.

His decision to drop out came after a Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll put him in last place on 15%, behind Ms Connolly (32%) and Ms Humphreys (23%).

Independent presidential candidate Catherine Connolly.

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy  who is backing Ms Connolly along with a range of independents, Sinn Fein, the Social Democrats and Labour  said the withdrawal of Mr Gavin clarifies the nature of this campaign.

Statement

In a statement, he said: It is now a straight choice between a Fine Gael former minister, Heather Humphreys and a leading independent opposition TD, Catherine Connolly.

People have a choice between a candidate who stands up for the developers and corporate landlords who have profited from Fine Gaels and Fianna Fails disastrous housing policy and a candidate who stands up for those who suffer from this housing crisis.

It is a clear choice between a Fine Gael candidate who supports the Governments moves to scrap the Triple Lock and fundamentally undermine neutrality and a candidate who defends neutrality.

It is a choice between a Fine Gael candidate who suggested that the Occupied Territories Bill wont make any difference and a candidate who has been consistent for decades in opposing Israeli occupation.

I am looking forward to the coming one on one debates between Heather Humphreys and Catherine Connolly. I have every confidence that Catherines authenticity will continue to shine through.

Fine Gael presidential candidate Heather Humphreys.

During Sundays televised debate on RTEs The Week In Politics, Ms Humphreys said she had the experience to do this job.

I was a minister for 10 years as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht I supported Creative Ireland, I supported a roll out of investments in our cultural institutions, she said.

As minister for business, I travelled the world opening doors for Irish businesses with the IDA and Enterprise Ireland, opening doors so that they could get new markets.

So Im experienced in terms of international relations, and then when it comes to people, as Minister for Social Protection, I stood up for people, and I rolled out budgets that put money into peoples pockets when they needed it.
1. Liz Ahern, coordinator of Mayfield CDP, along with deputy lord mayor Margaret McDonnell, Jerry Buttimer, and Brenda Stillwell, chairperson of Mayfield CDP.

Cutting the cake at the 35th anniversary celebrations of Mayfield Community Development Programme.

2.Mayfield CDP chairperson Brenda Stillwell chatting with deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Margaret McDonnell, at the 35th anniversary celebrations of Mayfield Community Development Programme.

3.Irene OCallaghan and Micheal OConnor, both HSE, attending the celebrations in Mayfield.

Junior Chess club

The Yelverton Chess Champs pictured in deep concentration at Mayfield Library recently. Sisters, Eibhlis and Orla, ages 2 and 3, are playing the venerable game with their own slightly modified rules.

Junior Chess Club has returned to the library for the autumn at the changed time of Tuesdays, 4pm, but still under the expert tutelage of Irish Youths international, Mark McGrath.

The library is also planning to initiate adult chess for Tuesday mornings at 11am.

Junior Chess Club has returned to Mayfield Library.

Mens shed events

Mayfield Mens Shed have been very active recently, with a successful visit to Passage West Mens Sheds musical group for a wonderful selection of music and songs, Joe Meade, the groups secretary, told The Echo.

He added that also recently: We were invited to visit Carrigaline Mens Shed, where we had a wonderful morning with committee and members of their shed. They gave us a tremendous reception.

We also recently went by garda bus for a tour of West Cork where we had a very enjoyable day, including a visit to the famine centre in Skibbereen, Mr Meade added.

Mayfield Mens Shed also received an invitation to visit Aras an Uachtarain, and on the afternoon of last Monday September 29, 25 members of the Mayfield group travelled to Dublin for the occasion.

Mr Meade said they had an unbelievable time altogether, we got a great reception and were well looked after so we were delighted. Anyone wishing to join Mayfield Mens Shed is invited to go along any Tuesday at 10am to the groups premises at Kerrigan Tyrrell Community Centre, Tinkers Cross, Mayfield, T23 E295.

Safety works

Cork City Council is progressing with pedestrian safety upgrades at the junction of Ballyhooly Road and Gordons Hill, close to the entrance to Glen River Park.

Fianna Fail councillor for the area, Margaret McDonnell, welcomed the works, explaining: The scheme will make the area safer and more accessible for everyone. Works include a new signal-controlled pedestrian crossing on Ballyhooly Road, a raised table and crossing point at Gordons Hill, tighter junction design to slow turning vehicles, upgraded footpaths and new tactile paving and a landscaped green area at the corner of the junction.

Ms McDonnell said: These works will make it easier and safer for people to cross at this busy location, while also improving connectivity to Glen River Park.

Ill keep residents updated as the project moves forward, but this is a very welcome investment in pedestrian safety and local amenities, she said.

The deadline for receipt of submissions and observations is 5pm on Monday 27 October 2025.

Glanmire Christmas market

Glanmires annual Christmas Market will be held St Josephs Church Hall, Glanmire on Sunday 7 December.

Part of the market will be a charity raffle, with the organisers asking locals to get in touch about which charities they would like to see supported with the proceeds from the raffle.

Available will be a wide range of products that are handmade, locally produced, sustainable, and affordable.
An employee at a Cork pizza chain had already been refused a work permit twice when they were found working illegally at a Macroom pizza outlet, the district court was told.

Darragh Healy, solicitor for the minister for enterprise, tourism and employment, told Macroom District Court that, during an inspection by the Workplace Relations Commission, an employee was found to be working without a proper visa or work permit at J&I New Ventures Ltd, trading as Apache Pizza.

Further investigation found that the same employee had previously applied for a work permit and been refused on two separate occasions.

Defence solicitor Jack Purcell said that the company employed between 15 and 18 people across three locations, and all had the proper permits to work in Ireland.

He said that the individual involved was the only employee without the correct documentation.

He said the company put their hands up and admitted the error, and had no previous convictions.

Judge Joanne Carroll said that it was important that all employers made sure their employees had the proper documentation, and she convicted and fined J&I New Ventures Ltd 300, allowing four months to pay the fine.

The judge declined a request to order legal costs against the company.
Budget 2026, due to be announced tomorrow, is a major topic of conversation around the country  even on the school playground.

Finance minister Paschal Donohoe and public expenditure minister Jack Chambers are expected to confirm the financial package around midday.

While the announcement for 2025 was deemed a give-away budget, this years announcement is expected to be more restrained with around 7.9bn allocated for public spending.

Given that the budget is just around the corner, we visited a school around the corner to get the perspective of primary school pupils in Cork.

Bringing a whole new meaning to the phrase playground politics, The Echo spoke with third class pupils in Frankfields Scoil Nioclais to hear what the young people of Ireland would do if they were the Taoiseach for a day and given the billions of euro to spend.

The third class students prepared a personal manifesto, highlighting what issues they think need to be addressed, revealing how Ireland looks from the unique perspective of a child and what they think are the countrys most pressing issues.

Daisy, Rachel, Sam and Mia with their notes on Budget 2026.

For the children at Scoil Nioclais, there were many pressing issues that they thought deserved attention, as well as extra funding; there was, however, a little left over in the kitty for a horse, a swimming pool, and free Netflix for all.

When asked to define what the budget is, pupil Daisy described it as being a lot of money that the Taoiseach spends.

When asked what she thinks Taoiseach Micheal Martin spends the money on, she guessed that he would buy himself a swimming pool with it.

She has pledged to ask Mr Martin this directly when he visits Scoil Nioclais next week as part of the schools 50th anniversary celebrations.

For the children, homelessness and wars overseas played a significant role in their plans for the countrys spending.

One student, Elise, said: I have seen people who have to sleep beside bins before.

I was in the city with my dad, and I saw a man behind a bin sleeping. It made me really sad to see him.

Student Daisy said: I dont think it is fair that some people have to sleep in a tent on the side of the road.

I have seen that before too, so I think that more houses should be built, and they should be a lot more affordable than they are right now, she said.

For their classmate Avaya, ongoing wars in Ukraine and in Gaza were high on her agenda.

As part of her Budget 2026 plans, she said she wants to send aid to those living in conflict.

It is not fair that there are children in those countries who are starving, and we are safe in our bed, she said.

Mia agreed, adding that she would: give money to the people in those countries so that they could be safe.

One measure that the third class pupils would like to see included in the budget announcement is a ban on homework, with nearly all pupils in agreement that a homework ban should be high on the list of priorities for Government ministers.

Copybooks with notes prepared by third class pupils at Scoil Nioclais, Frankfield on being Taoiseach for Budget 2026.

Pupils also said that the introduction of a four-day week-end would also be of great benefit.

One child, Alice, mentioned the high cost of petrol and electricity, noting that she has heard people giving out about the high costs.

There was also a reminder to turn off the lights when not necessary.

Fellow third-class pupil Sam highlighted how many shops and restaurants he has seen close due to high costs, and so he placed an importance on cutting taxes for businesses as part of his budget plans.

Animal lover Rachel said that she hopes to invest at least 500 in providing leisure activities such as swimming pools and horse-riding lessons for all schools, with the possibility of buying herself a horse that she plans to name Budget if she has any money left over.

Rachel O'Sullivan

If I was given all the money, the first thing I would do is buy every school horse riding lessons because I want everyone to enjoy it too. I dont have my own horse, but if I had some of the budget money, maybe I could buy myself a horse with spots. I would also build a special restaurant for homeless people to get food because not everyone has food and water and I dont think that is fair.

Daisy Callanan

"I would spend the money on making housing more affordable because everyone deserves a home. I dont think that it is fair that people have to sleep in a tent on the side of the road. I also think that we work ourselves too hard in Ireland so I would make more bank holidays and ban homework for everyone under the age of 93. I would give money to the people in Gaza as well."

Sam Murphy

If I was Taoiseach, I would make more footpaths, and bus stops for people who cant afford cars.

I would lower taxes because sometimes people can go bankrupt because the taxes are too expensive. My family gives out about the price of petrol and the price of crisps so I would make all crisps free. I would also build more hospitals. I think I might build 10 hospitals; I would spend maybe one billion on that.

Mia Grace

"If I was Taoiseach, I would spend money so there would be no fighting or wars. I wish everyone was safe from all the fires and bombs that I see on the news. I would give money to people that don't have food or homes by building them homes and giving them blankets. I think that is big problem in Ireland. I would also give 10 Billion to the people who pick up rubbish."

Avaya Anthony

I would send money, food and supplies to the people in Gaza and Ukraine. I would love to help the homeless people. I would also lower the price of gas, petrol and food. I would get more doctors and nurses so that waiting lists in hospitals would be shorter. I would also lower the price of takeaways and make school only three days of the week. I would also get rid of TV licences and make Netflix free.

Malick Elsaih

If I was Taoiseach, I would make sure that everyone feels included in Ireland. I would use my role to make an anti-bullying and cyber bullying campaign and look after the mental health of children in Ireland. I would spend money on looking after the environment, because if there was a lot of trash, it would kill animals and trees. I would put maybe 200 from the budget into looking after the environment.

Elise Adekeke

Some people in Ireland dont have food or water and dont have a house and have to live by bins.

They dont deserve to have lives like this, so if I was Taoiseach, I would do everything I could to help them and make their lives better and I will also give some of the money to charities. I would also like to build a big home for the poor that would have beds, food, and a classroom.

Alice Rose Crowley

If I was Taoiseach, I would spend money on a voluntary dinner kitchen for the homeless and the poor. I would also build more public bathrooms, especially in places like GAA grounds. I always see litter, and I would spend money on more bins. It would be really cool to be a woman Taoiseach and if I was to run for Taoiseach, I would give everyone who voted for me free ice cream.
Two men drove to an apartment on Washington St, Cork, at 5.30am and carried out a burglary where the resident was assaulted and had property stolen, including a 40 TV, it was claimed in court.

These allegations were made at Cork District Court where Garda Patrick Houlihan and Detective Garda Myles Moran objected to bail being granted to the two accused, 31-year-old Timmy Saubolle of Lagan Grove, Mayfield, Cork, and 43-year-old Michael Ryan of 94 Curraheen Drive, Bishopstown, Cork.

They were charged that on September 26 they carried out a burglary in Washington St, Cork.

The alleged circumstances were that they arrived in the area at around 5.30am in an Opel Astra.

It was alleged by gardai that the injured party was subjected to an assault in his apartment and that the two defendants took a number of items including a 40 TV, a PlayStation 4, a mobile phone, and 150 in cash.

It was further alleged that they were seen on high-quality CCTV footage loading the stolen items into the Astra.

Alleged

In a second charge against both defendants, it is alleged that they carried out a theft at Spar, Patrick Street, Cork, on the same date.

Gardai spoke with staff who said two men and a woman entered the store, selected groceries to the value of 16, and left without making a payment.

Judge Mary Dorgan refused the application for bail made by Mr Saubolle through barrister Paula McCarthy.

She remanded him in custody until October 9, when he is to appear by video link from prison at Cork District Court.

Mr Ryan was granted bail in his application through solicitor Aoife Buttimer on his own bond of 1,000 with no lodgement, on condition that he resides at 94 Curraheen Drive, Bishopstown, Cork; does not bring any drugs or related paraphernalia to the house; is contactable at all times by gardai; signs on three times a week at Togher Garda Station; has no contact with the injured party or the co-accused, and keeps a nightly curfew between 11pm and 7am.

Judge Dorgan adjourned his case until October 22, on the application of Sergeant John Kelleher, to allow time for directions from the DPP.
Sixteen Irish citizens detained by Israel during the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla have been released and are on their journey home, the Tanaiste Simon Harris has said.

Mr Harris said those detained would continue to be provided assistance.

They were held among approximately 450 people held after Israel intercepted 42 vessels taking part in the flotilla which was taking aid to Gaza.

Organisers say the flotilla was arranged to carry humanitarian aid for Palestinians, break Israels blockade of Gaza and raise awareness.

Deportation

The detainees were taken to Kestiot Prison in Israel, with the countrys foreign ministry saying it offered voluntary deportation to all of the activists.

Some activists reported ill treatment during their detention while solicitors representing Irish detainees called on the Government to condemn the unlawful arrests and reckless use of force against unarmed civilians.

In a statement, Mr Harris said: I can confirm that the Irish citizens detained in Israel have been released and are currently on their journey home.

This welcome outcome was secured after a weekend of intensive efforts by officials from across my department, including the embassy team in Tel Aviv, working in conjunction with international partners.

I know that this has been a difficult time for both the Irish citizens and their families, and I pay tribute to their strength throughout," said Mr Harris.

Dublin-based officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade remain in close contact with family members who have requested our support, and will continue to update them.

As we welcome our citizens home, Ireland will continue to call for all efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas, and unhindered humanitarian access to the people of Gaza at scale.

Inaction

A spokesperson representing the Irish participants said 15 of them will travel home on three separate flights from Athens to Dublin on Monday and Tuesday.

A 16th person holds a US passport and is subject to a separate deportation process.

Niamh Mac Namara, co-ordinator with Global Movement to Gaza Eire, said: Our Governments inaction over the genocide and ethic cleansing in Palestine has directly led to this situation, ordinary Irish citizens forced to risk their lives because leaders refused to act.

What happened was completely illegal under international law and should never have been allowed.

If Ireland had imposed sanctions on the genocidal state of Israel and upheld human rights, this mission would never have been necessary.

We demand immediate political action to protect those still sailing to Gaza and to end our complicity in this genocide.

Several other Irish citizens are participating in other flotillas en route to Gaza.
A jury of 10 men and two women was sworn in today for the trial of two men charged with murdering 47-year-Kieran Quilligan at an unknown location in Cork.

Niall Long (33), formerly of St Michaels Close, Mahon, Cork, and Luke Taylor (27), formerly of Cherry Lawn, Blackrock, Cork, were arraigned at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork today on the single charge of murder. They both replied: Not guilty to the charge against them.

The murder count against each man states that on a date unknown between September 1, 2023, and January 29, 2024, at an unknown location within the state in the District Court area of Cork city he did murder Kieran Quilligan, contrary to Common Law.

Throughout the late morning and early afternoon today members of the jury panel were called to courtroom 6 at the courthouse on Anglesea Street, Cork, where the process of selecting a jury occurred.

Each person from the jury panel was given an opportunity to tell Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford if they could not commit to hearing the case for the estimated duration of three to four weeks. Numerous people did so and were excused.

For those others who were willing to be empanelled on the jury, it was possible for defence and prosecution lawyers to object to them being sworn on to the jury.

The prosecution and each defendant could object to seven people without showing cause and to any number with cause shown.

Ms Justice Lankford told the 10 men and two women that their first job was to select a jury foreperson from among them to liaise between the jury and the court and to perform certain technical functions.

The judge then told the jurors that there would be nothing for them to hear in relation to the case today or tomorrow when lawyers will examine extensive volumes of CCTV, and agree on a synopsis of what footage is to be shown in the course of the trial.

Sending the jury away until 10.30am on Wednesday, October 8, the judge told them that the integrity of the process meant that they should not discuss the case with others, should not conduct searches on social media and should not do any independent research such as visiting locations referred to in the trial.

It is anticipated that the opening prosecution speech outlining the anticipated evidence in the trial will be given on Wednesday morning.
The DPP has decided on trial by indictment in the case against Ross Lahive of The Irish Peoples Party on a charge of harassing a librarian at Cork City Library in 2023 arising out of protests about a publication called This Book is Gay appearing on a shelf for teenagers.

Sergeant John Dineen said the Director of Public Prosecutions had decided that the case is to proceed by indictment whereby it will go to trial by judge and jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Alternatively, the defendant could enter a signed plea of guilty at Cork District Court and be sent to the circuit court for sentencing.

Diarmuid Kelleher solicitor asked for a full disclosure of prosecution evidence so that the defence can decide if it will be a matter of trial or a plea of guilty.

Judge John King adjourned the case until November 3 at Cork District Court to allow time for that.

Recordings which the accused allegedly made of his interactions with the librarian were posted on his Facebook page accompanied by comments describing the book as grooming, Sergeant Gearoid Davis said previously. He alleged that each of eight videos was accompanied by comments from parties, allegedly including Ross Lahive, variously describing the librarians as the epitome of evil, diabolical and doing Satans work.

Diarmuid Kelleher solicitor said 46-year-old Ross Lahive of Church Street, Shandon Street, Cork, was on Jobseekers Allowance, and was previously granted free legal aid.

The single charge against the defendant sflahtates that on dates between February 26 and May 6 2023 within the state he harassed a librarian, contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

In one video, quoted by Sgt. Davis previously, the following messages appeared: All we are doing is exposing grooming. We are extremely troubled by this shocking grooming People are not willing to put up with grooming 12-year-old children Sick-minded individuals given these positions because they are part of the cult Diabolical is appropriate Now they say they feel intimidated She will be exposed before long What degenerates.

This book is grooming. My blood boils when they try to defend this obscene filth. They will regret their stance on this before long. Twisted individuals, 100 per cent doing Satans work They are the epitome of evil. They are perverts and get off on trying to gaslight the public. I hope she learned a lesson. They are vile enablers. They encourage this filth, knowingly defending the indefensible.
Failte Ireland are set to begin work early next year on a five-year plan for North Cork, which they believe will be instrumental in positioning the region as a tourist destination.

Fine Gael TD for Cork North West John Paul OShea asked the minister for tourism in the Dail on Wednesday for an update on Failte Irelands plans to develop a destination and experience development plan specifically for north Cork.

Minister Peter Burke explained that Cork is represented by three regional tourism brands: Wild Atlantic Way, Irelands Ancient East, and Irelands Hidden Heartlands. The Wild Atlantic Way follows the West Cork Coastline from Kinsale. The Wild Atlantic Region encompasses the west and north of the County. Cork city and East Cork (east of the M8) are represented by Irelands Ancient East and the Ballyhoura local development area sits in Irelands Hidden Heartlands.

He told Mr OShea: I am advised that Failte Ireland has established localised Destination Experience Development Plans (DEDPs) to activate these brands.

The DEDPs are 5-year sustainable tourism development plans for a destination, which bring public and private sector organisations together to prioritise tourism development projects and maximise their chance for success.

He said that Failte Ireland has committed to developing a Destination and Experience Development Plan (DEDP) for North Cork: This initiative aims to enhance the regions appeal to both domestic and international visitors, ensuring sustainable growth and development in our tourism sector.

In early 2026, Failte Ireland will engage a consultant to conduct a robust analysis of the North Cork destination. This analysis will form the foundation of a five-year plan, developed in collaboration with key stakeholders, the tourism industry, and local communities.

While Failte Ireland prepares for this significant project, they will continue to develop and refine itineraries that showcase the best of what North Cork has to offer. These itineraries will highlight the diverse experiences available to visitors, from cultural and historical sites to outdoor adventures and local culinary delights.

Failte Ireland believe this plan will be instrumental in positioning North Cork as a tourism destination, and look forward to working closely with community and industry stakeholders to make this vision a reality.
A Dubliner accused of arson on a 550,000 house in Cork in April now faces the prospect of trial by judge and jury.

Sergeant John Dineen said the directions from the DPP had just come through, and they are for trial by indictment at Cork Circuit Criminal Court or for a signed plea of guilty to be entered at district court level for sentencing at the circuit court.

Defence barrister Saoirse Kelly told Judge John King at Cork District Court yesterday that a book of evidence would be required by the defence team.

The case was adjourned until October 20 to allow time for the preparation and service of the book of evidence on 40-year-old Paul McCarthy of 40 Dowth Avenue, Cabra, Dublin, who appeared by video link from prison on the charge of arson at Fernbrook, Ballincrokig, Co Cork, on April 24.

Det Garda Brian Murphy objected to bail when the matter first came before Cork District Court, saying: It is alleged that Paul McCarthy drove from Dublin, passing the Watergrasshill toll at 8.30pm.

At 9pm, the car arrives at the house and three people exit.

Two enter the curtilage of the property and ignited two glass petrol bombs with a blowtorch.

They smashed a bedroom window and threw in these petrol bombs, Det Garda Murphy said .

The third person  believed to be Paul McCarthy  stands close to the vehicle and allegedly films the incident on his mobile phone.

The Skoda Octavia enters the Plaza filling station in Portlaoise just before midnight, and Paul McCarthy is identified filling the car with 30 diesel and leaving without paying.

An 87-year-old man and his 86-year-old wife were watching television in the house at the time of the incident.

It was quickly engulfed in flames, but they were unharmed.
At least two Cork citizens are among the 15 Irish returning home after being held in Israeli prison when their vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla were intercepted.

The 15 Irish flotilla participants, who had been attempting to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza, landed in Athens, Greece, today, with participants then travelling homeward on flights from Athens to Dublin today and tomorrow.

Global Movement to Gaza Eire, the group supporting the flotilla from Ireland, have confirmed that fifteen Irish participants, including comedian Tadhg Hickey and Cobh father Patrick ODonovan are en route home.

Niamh Mac Namara, coordinator with Global Movement to Gaza Eire said: Our governments inaction over the genocide and ethnic cleansing in Palestine has directly led to this situation, ordinary Irish citizens forced to risk their lives because leaders refused to act.

What happened was completely illegal under international law and should never have been allowed. If Ireland had imposed sanctions on the genocidal state of Israel and upheld human rights, this mission would never have been necessary.

We demand immediate political action to protect those still sailing to Gaza and to end our complicity in this genocide.
Sarah Slater

A 47-year-old man who died following an assault has been named locally.

Gardai are continuing to question a woman in relation to the assault which occurred shortly after 11pm on Saturday

Panel Javorski, originally from the Czech Republic, was found unresponsive at a house on OCallaghans Lane in Carrick-on-Suir. He was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services..

His body was taken to University Hospital Waterford (UHW) where a post mortem examination will be carried out.

Gardai have now completed their technical examination of the scene.

A 24-year-old woman was arrested at the scene  she remains in custody on Monday morning. She is also understood to be from eastern Europe.
By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Sixteen Irish citizens detained by Israel during the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla have been released and are on their journey home, the Tanaiste has said.

Simon Harris said those detained would continue to be provided assistance.

They were held after Israel intercepted around 40 vessels taking part in the flotilla, which was taking aid to Gaza.

Simon Harris (Brian Lawless/PA)

Organisers say the flotilla was arranged to carry humanitarian aid for Palestinians, break Israels blockade of Gaza and raise awareness.

The detainees were taken to a detention centre in Israel.

In a statement, Mr Harris said: I can confirm that the Irish citizens detained in Israel have been released and are currently on their journey home.

This welcome outcome was secured after a weekend of intensive efforts by officials from across my department, including the embassy team in Tel Aviv, working in conjunction with international partners.

I know that this has been a difficult time for both the Irish citizens and their families, and I pay tribute to their strength throughout.

Dublin-based officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade remain in close contact with family members who have requested our support, and will continue to update them.

He added: As we welcome our citizens home, Ireland will continue to call for all efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas, and unhindered humanitarian access to the people of Gaza at scale.
Ottoline Spearman

A clean-up operation has been taking place at Dublin's oldest independent bookshop, after it was set on fire in the early hours of Monday morning.

Books Upstairs on DOlier Street was damaged after a blaze was set outside the store around 3am.

Gardai were called to the scene shortly after.

Speaking on Newstalk, the store manager, Louise Earls, said that they were able to reopen on Monday despite the damage.

"We opened one half of the shop straight away, the half that was unaffected, and the other half at about lunchtime, so we're about 90 per cent open at the moment," she said.

"Thankfully, because the damage is located to the front corner of the shop, most of the shop is able to open, and the cafe will be open again tomorrow as well."

Books Upstairs was founded in 1978 by Ms Earls' father, Maurice Earls, and Enda ODoherty, previously of The Irish Times.

Gardai are investigating the incident as criminal damage by fire, but it is unclear whether it was a deliberate attack.

Speaking on Newstalk, Ms Earls said: "They have also told us, in the same breath as saying that it was an arson attack, they also said there was reason to believe that it was a random opportunistic situation, perhaps a bit of late-night antisocial behavior, rather than being something more sinister or targeted than that. They have CCTV images and they're looking into that now."
I truly love my job, but every day in Emerald Beauty Clinic, I hear clients tell me they are unhappy in theirs and wish they could get a new one.

Everyones work environment is so different. Recently, I was dropping in some Krispy Kreme donuts to the lads in Cork Fire Brigade to say thank-you for something they had helped me with.

Now, they are lads who dont eat many donuts, thats for sure - jeez, one was fitter than the next, and all ages, just very impressive looking men. Hot stuff, alright!

May I suggest on behalf of the women of Cork a topless calendar please, lads? It certainly would be a best-seller.

When I told my mum Id been in there, I wound her up that I took two goes on the pole they jump down when the alarm goes - Bridget Jones style in a dress!

Now, as much as Id be fine in the company of a group of all men, having the banter, I wouldnt be as comfortable, Im ashamed to say, as a woman in a group of women. All that bitching!

On to the beauty...

I always say, as a beauty doctor and skin specialist, that this transition from summer into winter is always very harsh on women of all ages, particularly on our skin and our bodies.

These are the weeks the cold sores appear, the sinus infections flare up, the skin breakouts from stress occur, and most will say, Oh, I dont know, but since I went back into the office after the summer, my skin is so tight or dry, or my lips keep cracking.

So this week I want to give my best office tips to help you look and feel fabulous and have you winter ready this season.

You can get more of my tips in my weekly beauty videos on the Emerald Beauty Clinic Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok pages now also.

AIR CONDITIONING

If there is one thing I do not like and would in no way work under, its air conditioning.

All it does is recycle the germs and blow them back out, not to mind the fact that lots of people in Ireland dont actually get the filters professionally cleaned like they are supposed to every six months.

This is exactly why so many fall sick with respiratory infections and sinus pain when back in the office post-summer, as they are no longer getting the warm summer fresh air, its now all air con, and this will switch to heating in a few short weeks.

Every day in Emerald Beauty Clinic, there is a client complaining of the effects of air conditioning on their skin or health.

My advice is try your best to move your seat as far away from the air con as possible, youd find me out in the car park, desk and all!

If its affecting you in any way, there are fantastic nasal sinus rinses you can get in any chemist now to rinse your sinus. I use them myself and these really do help people working in air conditioned offices who feel the effects as it cleans out the nasal cavity.

SCREEN TIME

While its all well and good to say limit your screen time, the majority of people spend the day staring at a screen, and this has side effects too.

I see these every day in my job analysing clients skin - lines of the neck are deeper, crows feet from squinting at screens are more prominent, and the main one is skin sensitivity from the blue ray light coming back off the screen, which causes the skin to dry out and over-heat, and can trigger skin sensitivity such as rosacea.

This is why I always advise my clients to apply a professional grade SPF over their moisturiser every day to protect their skin from these harmful blue ray lights.

My best-seller for this is my Dermalogica Porescreen SPF 40. All my clients whose skin is affected from so much daily screen time see and feel a huge difference from using this cream daily.

Investing in a good quality non- perfumed eye cream will sort the crows feet, and I can help you with this also if your eye area is something you wish to address.

We have our award-winning Eye Treatment, 85, 60 minutes, that I do with facials in my clinic and the results are outstanding.

REHYDRATE

Dehydration is the biggest enemy of the office environment, not just of the skin but the body also.

Not getting the recommended 1.5 -2 litres of water in daily while working in the office is exactly why so many have fine lines and premature ageing along with headaches, and why they are tired and cranky.

Emer OCallaghan wearing a dress and earrings from Ruby Rouge Boutique. Make-up is Master Colors Paris and Dermalogica Porescreen SpF 40, 65, both available at Emerald Beauty Clinic, 021 4365949. Postage options available

Water is vital for anyone working in an office environment, while I know the tea and coffee machine are far more tempting, the facts are for every cup of tea or coffee you drink, you would need to drink three more of that same size mug of water to rehydrate your body.

Water does so much, it fills you up, it gives you energy, it stops you feeling tired and getting that 3pm slump, it hydrates the skin, and it gets every organ in the body working correctly.

Its actually scary to see how many people today buy sugary drinks and takeaway coffees as opposed to a bottle of water. Im still a water girl, I get my two litres in daily - the health and skin benefits are never going to be beaten.

LIP CARE

Cracked lips, coldsores, dry lips... I am seeing these every day among all ages in my clinic.

Our lips are a true indication of our health so if you get a coldsore, thats your bodys way of telling you youre a bit run down.

Skin of the lips is far thinner than skin of the face, but very few know they should be applying their SPF and their moisturiser on the lips too.

GET OUTSIDE

It always disappoints me when I hear those who do get such lovely break times in the office say they still sit at their desk for lunch.

This is not good, we all need to move more and get some daylight, particularly now with the winter coming and the darker evenings.

Use your lunch break to get outside in the fresh air and daylight, your skin and bones need that vitamin D and your poor eyes and neck need a break from that screen too.

Some now prefer a standing desk more than sitting ones, and set a little alarm where they get up and walk around every 30 minutes.

Ive never seen so much cellulite on people that sit in an office all day, which leads to poor blood flow.

The cellulite, which is just trapped fat, is getting no blood flow to move on, so this is why cellulite today is so noticeable. Its all down to lifestyle and lack of movement and too much sugar being consumed on a daily basis.

Emer OCallaghan is a Beauty Doctor and Skin Specialist who won Irish Beauty Therapist of the year and works at Emerald Beauty Clinic, 021 4365949. A Multi Award Winning Five Star Gold Standard Clinic 2008-2025, www.emeraldbeautyclinic.ie - follow on Facebook/instagram/TikTok.

SPECIAL OFFER

All next week, our award-winning Dermalogica Dry skin Facial is reduced from 125 to 95, 90 minutes, includes a full professional skin analysis, eyebrow shape, treats and samples. Appointments necessary, to book call Emerald Beauty Clinic, 021 4365949. Free parking for clients.
(Photo Neil Turner - Church of England Website)Sarah Mullally

Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London, will be the new Archbishop of Canterbury, the first time a woman has been chosen as the Church of England's spiritual leader.

She was chosen as the spiritual leader of the world's 85 million Anglicans on Oct. 3, to replace Archbishop Justin Welby, who resigned almost a year ago in an announcement by the Church of England.

Born in Woking, England, in 1962, Dame Sarah Mullally is one of four children, with two sisters and one brother, who attended Winston Churchill Comprehensive School and Woking Sixth Form College, not an elite private school.

She became a Christian at the age of 16 and did not receive an elite private school education like many of her predecessors.

Bishop Sarah was educated at South Bank Polytechnic and Heythrop College, University of London, according to the Church of England website.

Originally founded by the Catholic Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) for the study of philosophy and theology, Heythrop was part of the University of London from 1970, until it closed in 2019.

"Before being ordained, she (Mullally) worked as a nurse in the (UK's) National Health Service, which she has described as "an opportunity to reflect the love of God."

She specialised as a cancer nurse and became a ward sister at Westminster Hospital before being made Director of Nursing at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

In 1999, at the age of 37, she was appointed the Government's Chief Nursing Officer for England in the Department of Health.

She was the youngest person ever to be appointed to the post. Bishop Sarah was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 2005 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to nursing.

King Charles III approved the nomination of Mullally, as the next Archbishop of Canterbury, according to Vatican News.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is the most senior bishop in the Church of England.

The ministry combines several roles: Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan, and primus inter pares (first among equals) among the Primates of the global Anglican Communion.

This includes about 85 million members in 165 countries.

In the House of Lords, Britain's upper chamber of Parliament, the Archbishop of Canterbury is one of 26 bishops who comprise the "Lords Spiritual."

After her appointment was announced, Bishop Sarah said, "As I respond to the call of Christ to this new ministry, I do so in the same spirit of service to God and to others that has motivated me since I first came to faith as a teenager."

Her official election by canons in the Church of England will take place in January, and her installation is scheduled for March 2026.
It was only a few weeks ago that NVIDIA pledged a $100 billion investment in OpenAI. Now, OpenAI has come to another agreement, this time with NVIDIA's competitor, AMD. OpenAI has announced a deal to use AMD's chips to create six gigawatts worth of AI infrastructure. AMD expects to make "tens of billions of dollars" from this agreement.

According to OpenAI, AMD will act "as a core strategic compute partner to drive large-scale deployments" of its technology. OpenAI will use AMD's Instinct GPUs, with plans to deploy the first gigawatt of the Instinct MI450 GPUs during the second half of 2026

"AMDs leadership in high-performance chips will enable us to accelerate progress and bring the benefits of advanced AI to everyone faster," Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, said in a statement.

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The deal will also give OpenAI the chance to purchase 160 million AMD shares at a penny each. These shares will vest over time as different milestones are reached  starting with that first one gigawatt deployment. Ultimately, these shares would give OpenAI up to a 10 percent stake in AMD.

Agreements between major AI players are popping up everywhere. In its recent deal with NVIDIA, OpenAI plans to use the former's chips to make at least 10 gigawatts of AI data centers. The $100 billion investment will come in waves timed to each new gigawatt of power. This process should also start during the second half of 2026.

OpenAI is also working with Microsoft on ways to share technology, with the latter having invested over $13 billion in the former  for 49 percent of its profits. Meanwhile, Nvidia recently invested $5 billion in Intel to "seamlessly" connect "the strengths of NVIDIAs AI and accelerated computing with Intels leading CPU technologies and x86 ecosystem." Intel has also been tasked with creating NVIDIA-custom x86 CPUs for the market and AI infrastructure platforms.
If you're like me, it's probably been a hot minute since you've thought about Evernote. For years, the note-taking app, once a darling of the App Store, faced declining popularity and profitability. The last time it grabbed headlines was in 2022 when it was sold to Milan-based developer Bending Spoons. Approximately nine months later, Bending Spoons laid off nearly all of Evernote's US workforce, and relocated what remained of the company's operations to Europe. Now, Evernote wants to be in the conversation again.

Since taking over the app, Bending Spoons has released more than 200 improvements, culminating today with the release of Evernote v11. The company is touting the update, which is the first major release for Evernote since its poorly received v10 release back in 2020. The new version brings a handful of new AI features to Evernote, including one that Bending Spoons collaborated with OpenAI to develop.

"My wish for v11 is that people give it a try and see how fast and reliable it is, how complete it is in what it offers," Federico Simionato, Evenote's product lead, said over a video chat. "I think people have an outdated opinion of Evernote that used to match reality, when Evernote was slow and unreliable."

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The first of the new features Bending Spoons is introducing today is called AI Assistant. Simionato describes it as having ChatGPT inside of Evernote. No surprise since the company collaborated with OpenAI to make it. As you can probably guess, you can use AI Assistant to search through your notes and notebooks, but the tool's utility goes beyond that. It allows you to interact with your documents and ask follow-up questions. AI Assistant can also generate new content, and you can decide how what it creates is integrated within your existing notes and notebooks. In my demo, Simionato used AI Assistant to add a flight ticket number to a note he had dedicated to an upcoming trip to Spain. Over time, Bending Spoons plans to make AI Assistant more powerful, with the company working on making it possible for the chatbot to assign tags to notes and perform bulk actions across multiple documents, among other capabilities.

By default, Bending Spoons will enable AI Assistant for all paid users. A set of granular controls will allow people to decide what content AI Assistant can access. The agreement Bending Spoons has with OpenAI means the company can't train its models on data from Evernote users. Additionally, any data sent to the cloud for processing will only be held as long it takes to complete the user's request.

Part of the reason Bending Spoons is taking a more forward approach with AI Assistant is due to user feedback. In 2023, the company released a tool called AI Search. Simionato says his team was "extremely careful" to add friction to the experience to ensure people felt Evernote was respecting their privacy. To that end, you had to dig into the app's settings to enable AI Search before it would work. According to Simionato, users found that setup was "too cumbersome," and with most people becoming more comfortable with AI tools, the company decided to make AI Assistant visible from the jump.

The other new feature Bending Spoons is introducing today is one some Evernote users have been waiting for a decade: Semantic Search. Instead of trying to find a note using an exact word or phrase you used inside of it, Semantic Search allows Evernote to filter through your documents using context. Simionato demonstrates the feature in action by typing "Barcelona trip" into the new interface, and Evernote surfaces a note he created about a trip to Girona. If you're not familiar, Girona is a city about 62 miles northeast of Barcelona and part of Catalonia. The document Evernote pulled up had no mention of Barcelona in it, but that didn't prevent the tool from finding it. According to Simionato, this is the most requested feature of longtime Evernote users and one Bending Spoons is happy it can finally deliver on.

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Lastly, the company has expanded the app's built-in recording and transcription capabilities. Building on AI Transcribe, which Bending Spoons first introduced in 2024, Evernote can now record audio from both in-person and online meetings and automatically transcribe and summarize what's said. This feature should work in every language that Evernote currently supports.

As mentioned, Evernote's new AI features are available to all paid users. The features will roll out to desktop and web first starting this month, with mobile to follow. Simionato said Bending Spoons is working on making a trail available to free users sometime in the next few months. For now, the price of Evernote's paid plans isn't going up, but Simionato noted the company plans to adjust pricing in the coming months, mostly to account for the fact there aren't many notable differences between the Personal and Professional tiers.
How is this U.S. government shutdown different from previous ones?

Xinhua) 11:22, October 06, 2025

A notice of closure of the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center is seen in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Oct. 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

This new round of partisan conflict over the government shutdown is markedly different from previous ones, characterized by greater hostility and malice that has pushed partisan strife to new heights.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- As the U.S. federal government entered a shutdown -- the first time in nearly seven years -- the confrontation between President Donald Trump's administration and the Democratic Party has further escalated.

The Trump administration has cut funding and programs in Democratic-led states and sought to dismantle federal agencies led by Democrats. Meanwhile, Democrats have shown a rare sense of unity, hoping to reverse declining approval ratings through the fight.

This new round of partisan conflict over the government shutdown is markedly different from previous ones, characterized by greater hostility and malice that has pushed partisan strife to new heights. It highlights the deepening political polarization in the United States while inflicting greater harm on the American people.

TRUMP RAMPS UP OFFENSIVE

White House officials and Trump himself have repeatedly said that the administration would use the shutdown to advance its federal downsizing plan, carrying out large-scale layoffs. Democrats have accused Republicans of trying to use federal workers as pawns in this budget dispute, calling it "an attempt at intimidation."

On Tuesday, just a few hours before funding ran out, Trump told reporters in White House that if a government shutdown were to occur, the administration would be laying off a lot of people. "So we'd be laying off a lot of people that are going to be very affected. And they're Democrats," he said.

On Wednesday, day one of the shutdown, Vice President JD Vance warned that a prolonged shutdown would lead to layoffs. "Let's be honest, if this thing drags on for another few days, or, God forbid, another few weeks, we are going to have to lay people off," Vance told reporters at a White House press briefing.

Also on Wednesday, White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought announced that the Transportation Department was freezing 18 billion U.S. dollars in federal funding for two major infrastructure projects in New York City.

Vought also said that the Energy Department had cancelled nearly 8 billion dollars in funding for climate-related projects and other efforts -- largely in Democratic-led states.

"A lot of good can come down from shutdowns," Trump said, "we can get rid of a lot of things that we didn't want, and they'd be Democrat things." In a social media post, he even called it an "unprecedented opportunity."

Such moves are harshly criticized by Democrats. "Obstructing these projects is stupid and counterproductive because they create tens of thousands of great jobs and are essential for a strong regional and national economy," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on X.

Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich, in an interview with The New York Times, called what Trump is doing "unprecedented."

"Trump is taking apart the world of the left," Gingrich said. "I mean, this is a very methodical, aggressive cultural and political and economic offensive."

U.S. Vice President JD Vance (L) takes questions from reporters during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, Oct. 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

DEMOCRATS SHOW RARE UNITY

"The President gets no special new powers during a shutdown. He can't eliminate agencies. He can't use federal funds to punish his political opponents. As Trump's illegality grows during the shutdown, Democrats' spines should stiffen to oppose his corruption," Chris Murphy, Democratic senator from Connecticut, said on X.

Murphy's statement highlights the greater unity among the Democrats. Several U.S. media outlets noted that, unlike the disorganized state following their election losses, the Democrats are now resolutely insisting on fighting to lower healthcare costs.

"Democrats embrace a shutdown fight in a rare moment of unity against Trump," reported the Associated Press.

In March, the Democrats did not fight all the way, and Congress passed a temporary funding bill at the last moment, allowing the Trump administration to avoid a shutdown crisis. This drew criticism from many Democratic supporters.

Some analysts believe that, with the three branches of power -- the White House, Congress and the Supreme Court -- all controlled by Republicans, the Democrats view the shutdown fight as an opportunity to push their policy agenda and consolidate party solidarity.

"In March the Democrats suffered a serious drop in support from their own ranks when they did not fight harder, including accepting a shutdown," Clay Ramsay, a researcher at the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland, told Xinhua.

"Even if Democrats gain very little from the current shutdown in policy terms, they will have proven that they are not a doormat, which is important to them internally," Ramsay said.

Yet, in the midst of intense partisan media battles, it remains uncertain whether Democrats will gain the upper hand. The Republicans have portrayed the Democrats as the party "obstructing government operations."

Greg Cusack, a former member of the Iowa House of Representatives, believed that the Democrats are engaging in a risky "political gamble": if it fails to achieve the desired outcome, they are bound to suffer even greater political damage.

The road to the visitor center of Great Falls Park is closed in Fairfax County, Virginia, the United States, on Oct. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

"VERY DIFFERENT" HOSTILITY

The biggest difference between this round of shutdown battles and previous ones is the heightened intensity of partisan conflict.

"The fundamental difference is the hostility and vitriol that are behind all of this. It feels very different," Patrick Griffin, a former White House official, was quoted by The New York Times as saying.

This shutdown could become a prolonged partisan struggle, with greater economic and political impact than previous shutdowns. According to prediction market platform Kalshi, there is a 62-percent chance that the government shutdown could last more than 15 days.

Due to the shutdown, approximately 750,000 federal employees have been forced into furlough; some public services have come to a halt; national parks and the aviation system have been affected; and economic uncertainty has increased.

This shutdown is just a microcosm of the growing political polarization and intensified partisan conflict since the Trump administration took office. On issues such as immigration, taxation and healthcare, Republicans and Democrats rarely find common ground. Almost any event can be politicized, and the main goal of both parties seems to be to defeat the other rather than solve problems.

Last month, prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed. Both parties quickly launched a media and political offensive. Discussions on gun control were largely ignored, while identifying the shooter's political affiliation and attacking the opposing camp became the top priority.

"Polarization in the United States ... serves as a tool for those in power," according to an article published on the Democratic Erosion Consortium in April.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Hongyu)
Aaron Phypers, the estranged husband of actress Denise Richards, has told a California court that he is on the verge of eviction and financial collapse as their divorce proceedings grow increasingly contentious.

In new court documents filed Wednesday, Phypers, 53, said he is unable to cover basic living expenses and has already lost access to utilities.

"I am out of money and financially desperate," he stated. "I am about to be evicted from the residence in which I am living. My utilities (water, power, gas) have all been turned off already."

According to PageSix, the former couple once shared a rental home in Calabasas, California, but Phypers claims he now owes half of $120,000 in back rent.

He argues Richards, 54, is also responsible for the debt because her name remains on the lease.

Richards has previously said she moved out years ago, but Phypers insists she left behind 15 rescue dogs and personal belongings, making her still liable.

Richards briefly returned to the home on September 15 with court approval to collect her property.

Denise Richards ex Aaron Phypers fears hell be evicted and homeless if hes not paid $150K to survive amid divorce https://t.co/AuE1MVXZOJ pic.twitter.com/iuiapo1BIl  Page Six (@PageSix) October 2, 2025

Aaron Phypers Says Denise Richards Took His Medical Gear

Phypers alleges she took more than just her belongings, accusing her of removing his health treatment machine and weight set, equipment he says he needs to earn a living.

"I need that equipment in order to try to make a living and she is preventing me from doing so," he told the court.

The Canadian-born actor says he is seeking $150,000 from their joint accounts to cover unpaid debts, living costs, and what he calls the danger of becoming homeless, Hello reported.

He also requested $10,000 for legal fees to continue with the divorce case.

Phypers has additionally argued that he is entitled to part of Richards' income from OnlyFans, pointing out that he helped her create content.

Richards, who reportedly earns more than $250,000 a month from her subscription platform, television projects, and brand deals, has asked the court to deny his requests.

The dispute over finances comes after Phypers filed for divorce in July, citing "irreconcilable differences" following six years of marriage.

Richards, who was previously married to actor Charlie Sheen, has accused Phypers of abuse, which he denies.

While Phypers warns of "irreparable harm" if he does not receive funds, Richards has maintained through her lawyer that she intends to fight what she calls his "false claims" in court.
Queen Camilla's bid to have a spacious new library as part of the current overhaul of Buckingham Palace has apparently put her at odds with King Charles, who is said to be irritated by her demand to alter the architectural plans.

The 78-year-old monarch, who has spent her life pushing for literacy, sees the building of a formal library as a vital addition to the official palace.

According to The Royal Family, Buckingham Palace now boasts 775 rooms but has not had a library since King George IV gifted the King's Library to the British Museum in the early 19th century.

An insider at the palace revealed to RadarOnline: "Books and reading have always been central to Camilla's life, and she thinks it's ridiculous that the monarch's residence doesn't include a library.

She's made it clear to Charles that this is her single, most important request. But he finds it frustrating.

READ MORE: Queen Camilla Reportedly Used High Heel to Fight Off Attacker During Train Assault: Book

The size and expense of the renovation are already weighing heavily on him, and her demand for an additional room drives him to distraction."

The report added that Charles, 76, is growing increasingly exasperated with his wife's involvement in palace planning, especially after she previously vowed not to interfere in structural matters.

Another palace insider observed, "Charles admires her dedication to promoting literacy, but he resents having palace plans challenged. He feels she's going against her own principle of staying out of structural decisions.

It's turned into a source of friction between them. For Charles, the issue is one of tradition and practicality; for Camilla, it's about creating a cultural legacy."

The massive palace renovationdue to finish in 2027features essential upgrades to heating, plumbing, and electrical infrastructure and is already projected to cost close to $500 million.

Ignoring the King's annoyance, RadarOnline said Camilla stands firm in her quest. "The Queen feels the monarchy has a duty to promote learning, and she wants a permanent library at Buckingham Palace to embody that belief," a courtier explained. "Charles might be exasperated, but she has made it clear she won't back down."

READ MORE: Queen Camilla's 6-Word Response After Meeting Prince William For The First Time Resurfaces
Meghan Markle's visit to Paris Fashion Week got the spotlight not just because of her white Balenciaga outfit but also due to her interaction with Vogue's Anna Wintour.

The encounter between them, observed by body language expert Judi James for The Mirror US, seemed to indicate a happy greeting between the two despite previous buzz about a feud.

Warm Exchange Amid Past Rumors

Meghan Duchess of Sussex greeting Anna Wintour at Balenciaga Fashion Show  pic.twitter.com/2d7he31Kkz  Katerina  (@Le__Katerina) October 4, 2025

The Duchess of Sussex, 44, attended the Balenciaga Spring/Summer 2026 show to support her friend Pierpaolo Piccioli, the brand's new creative director. A spokesperson told PEOPLE that Meghan wanted to support his "new creative chapter."

Video footage showed Meghan greeting Wintour and film director Baz Luhrmann.

According to James, Meghan's first discomfort passing "obvious signals of warmth" to her when she saw Wintour.

Her physical signs of relaxation, her smile turning more friendly, and she slightly inclined her head at the same time making the sound "Aw" that could be heard.

James mentioned that Wintour gave the impression of being "very pleased" and that both women kept looking into each other's eyes and holding each other's arms while they were touching with their cheeks and exchanging kisses.

The expert said their gestures projected "a warm relationship," despite speculation about an earlier fallout.

Alleged Vogue Rift

Reports of a clash between Meghan and Wintour began after claims that the Duchess's team "micromanaged" a potential Vogue cover story.

Sources told Mail Online that Meghan's staff wanted to control the content and pushed for a cover placement. The feature was later canceled, with one insider alleging Wintour grew frustrated and pulled the story. Neither woman has addressed the claim.

Meghan's relationship with Vogue is a long one, going back to 2019 when she was a guest editor for the magazine's Forces for Change issue, which was her fastest-selling edition in ten years. However, her "requests" for overseeing a new project were said to have caused a rift with the ex-Vogue UK editor Edward Enninful, by which Meghan's "demands" for control over a new project led to tension with former Vogue UK editor Edward Enninful, as insiders revealed.

According to Page Six, she also approached Wintour in hopes of securing both U.S. and U.K. covers, a move that some said complicated the process.

Awkward Air Kiss with Pierpaolo Piccioli

#MeghanMarkIe making everything awkward, greeting Balenciaga Creative Director Pier Paolo Piccioli after the show. Shes incapable of being cool. Im noticing a new facial expression when shes posing at this event-the stone faced squint. Because shes very serious and very pic.twitter.com/taQwnQk8Zi  Princess CarParkle  (@unreMARKLEble) October 5, 2025

During the same Paris event, Meghan experienced a brief mishap while greeting Piccioli. As she leaned in for an air kiss, her nose appeared to bump into his sunglasses. James told The Mirror UK the awkward moment was caused by Piccioli standing too close and missing Meghan's non-verbal cues.

"It was Piccioli who created the cringe moment," James said.

"He moved in too fast, kept his shades on, and tried to steer Meghan toward the cameras. She regained control quickly, extending her arm to guide him."

James compared that exchange with Meghan's polished greeting to Wintour, which she described as "a top-drawer fashion ritual."

While air kisses are common in the fashion world, James said Meghan and Wintour's interaction suggested "a conscious effort to show there's no feud."
Three newly identified parasites that cause coccidiosis in chickens are prompting scientists to investigate their prevalence in the UK and Europe, amid concerns they could complicate existing control strategies.

Researchers from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), supported by Elanco Animal Health, have launched a new study to track the spread of Eimeria lata, Eimeria nagambie and Eimeria zaria.

The work follows an RVC-led investigation which confirmed the three species as distinct forms of Eimeria  the parasite responsible for coccidiosis in poultry.

Professor Damer Blake from the RVC described them as hidden forms of coccidiosis, warning they could reshape how the disease is managed on farms. While established species have long been controlled effectively, the new ones present fresh concerns.

They were first detected on a farm that was using anticoccidial vaccines, and they broke through the vaccine and caused increased morbidity and mortality, he explained.

However, researchers stress that this was a single case, and more work is needed to understand whether the same outcome would occur elsewhere.

Later molecular surveys revealed these genotypes were widespread in the southern hemisphere and present in northern regions too. The current phase of research is designed to establish how common they are in Europe.

We are working with Elanco to pick up samples from birds across Europe and the UK to see how common these new Eimeria species parasites are and help us assess what level of risk they pose, said Prof Blake.

The parasites appear to cause a malabsorptive form of coccidiosis. While less likely to kill birds, they can have a damaging effect on flock performance. These strains create a lot of mucus in the intestine which results in poor feed conversion and the birds not growing very well, Prof Blake said.

Crucially, while existing anticoccidial drugs such as Maxiban and Monteban seem effective against the new species, questions remain over how current vaccination programmes may perform.

As far as we can see, anticoccidial medications work just as well on these species as other species, so theyre only really a challenge on farms which move from drug prophylaxis to vaccine prophylaxis, Blake added.

Layer and breeder vaccines are designed to protect against established Eimeria species, but broiler vaccines are more narrowly targeted. This research may question this approach and make us reassess how we look at coccidiosis control programmes in the future, he said.

The findings could have major implications for poultry health strategies, with researchers urging the industry to stay alert as studies continue.
Miscanthus farmers can now forecast yields months before harvest thanks to a new AI-powered tool that analyses drone imagery.

Launched this autumn, gono.ai allows growers to automatically detect and count Miscanthus plants from high-resolution drone images.

The system generates clear establishment maps and density reports, helping farmers see how well crops are taking root, identify gaps or weaknesses, and benchmark performance against target densities.

Beyond establishment mapping, the tool also forecasts yields using NDVI (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index) analysis.

By combining biomass data with drone imagery, gono.ai can deliver accurate predictions months ahead of harvest, giving farmers valuable insight for planning and market decisions.

Farmers simply upload drone images and field boundary files. The platform then produces visual maps, density figures, and reports in image and CSV formats, all compatible with common GIS and web-mapping tools for straightforward integration into farm management systems.

The project was developed under the OMENZ programme and funded by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ).

Unlike many research-based tools, gono.ai has been designed as a practical, farm-ready platform to support the expansion of a resilient UK Miscanthus sector.

gono.ai makes cutting-edge science accessible to farmers in the field, explained Florian Ilias, managing director at Miscanthus specialist Terravesta.

By combining AI with drone technology, growers can improve establishment, manage risk, and maximise long-term crop performance.

The platform is free to use for single-field assessments, with tailored options available for larger-scale projects.

Developers say the system could play a key role in strengthening the UKs position as a leader in sustainable biomass crops.
UK red meat and dairy exports surged to 2 billion in the first half of 2025, as British producers showcased their world-class produce at Anuga, the worlds biggest food and drink trade fair.

Between January and June, red meat exports were valued at 966 million  nearly 10% higher than the same period last year  while dairy exports rose 20% to 1.1 billion.

To build on this success, AHDB joined forces with businesses from both sectors at Anuga in Cologne (48 October). The event, the worlds largest food and beverage showcase, attracts global buyers and industry leaders.

The levy organisation supported 14 red meat exporters and 13 dairy companies in Cologne, helping them forge new trade links and strengthen existing relationships.

More than 250 delegates also joined the British Red Meat Dinner on 6 October, coinciding with Anuga and giving guests the chance to sample UK beef, lamb, pork and dairy.

Jonathan Eckley, AHDBs international trade development director, said Anuga offered a vital platform.

Anuga provides the stage for us to shine the spotlight on our quality beef, lamb, pork and dairy produce to a global audience and build on the success of 2024 and the first half of 2025, he said.

He added that a busy pavilion and strong visitor feedback had been very encouraging, noting that supporting exporters at major trade shows is a core part of AHDBs strategy to maximise global opportunities.

Lucy Randolph, AHDB head of international trade development for dairy, said the UK stand had been bustling with activity.

She added: Our aim is to unlock the success of British agriculture and help ensure our world-class dairy produce thrives on the global stage.

AHDB has already supported 36 UK dairy companies at 14 events this year, with plans to expand activity further into 2026.

Eckley said the strong export figures reflected the benefits of collaboration between industry and government.

We will continue our work to cement the UKs reputation as supplier of high-quality red meat, variety meat and dairy produce in the global market, he said.

The UKs performance at Anuga underlines growing international demand for British food and the importance of global trade links to the future of UK farming.
Virtual fencing collars are helping Scottish farmers cut time, improve grazing, and manage cattle more effectively  though poor connectivity remains a stumbling block.

Four Monitor Farms  Argyllshire, South Ayrshire, Stirlingshire and Strathspey  are each trialling 25 collars supplied by Norwegian company Monil.

The collars, fitted to cattle, emit signals to establish virtual boundaries managed through a smartphone app. Farmers can view live maps of grazing areas, monitor animal locations, and receive alerts if a cow escapes or stops moving.

Over two years, the project will assess the cost-benefit of virtual fencing, with early signs already pointing to better grazing efficiency and reduced overgrazing.

In South Ayrshire, David Andrew says the collars have transformed day-to-day work. Locating calving heifers on hill ground that once took up to an hour can now be done in 15 minutes.

I now wonder how we did it before this technology, he said. The system has also enabled cattle to graze areas they would not normally visit, improving land use and benefiting neighbouring sheep flocks.

In Strathspey, brothers Calum and Hamish Smith have rotated heifers around three large virtual paddocks with positive results, although they acknowledge some breakouts and collar issues. The cattle and the hill look well, said Calum, noting they hope to keep stock out longer into autumn.

For others, connectivity has been more problematic. At the Stirlingshire Monitor Farm, Rebecca Duncan said poor signal meant collars had been used more like trackers, with some animals becoming stuck inside virtual boundaries.

On Islay, Argyll farmer Craig Archibald also faced challenges in shadowed pastures but praised the collars for helping cattle graze rougher ground and making sheep gathering easier.

Grass analysis on Archibalds farm has already shown improvements in quality, with cattle maintaining condition and likely to be outwintered for the first time  freeing up housing space and reducing costs.

Monitor Farm regional adviser Christine Cuthbertson said it was encouraging to see the technology in action. It has been really interesting to see how the different farms have found using the collars.

The connectivity issues have been a challenge, especially for the Stirlingshire Monitor Farm, but we hope this will be resolved shortly.

If the system proves cost-effective, advisers say virtual fencing could become a game-changer for managing Scotlands hill and upland grazing in years to come.
During the first eight months of ****, textile exports eased by * per cent to $*** million. Over the same period, exports of other manufactured textile articles increased by **.* per cent, totalling $**.* million, as reported in the Central Bank**;s publication External Sector Performance  August ****. Weaker textile exports reflected slower regional fabric demand, while value-added segments like accessories gained momentum.

Combined exports of textiles, garments, and other manufactured textile articles accounted for **.** per cent of all industrial exports from Sri Lanka during the eight-month period. Total textile product exports amounted to $*,***.* million between January and August ****, while the countrys overall industrial exports were valued at $*,***.* million for the same period.
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Raghav Juyal has been making headlines for the past few weeks for his performance in Aryan Khan's The Ba***ds of Bollywood. Recently, during an interview, the actor-dancer opened up about meeting the director and visiting his house, Mannat, for the first time. Raghav spoke about the tight security checks at Shah Rukh Khan's house and also a funny moment he had with Aryan.

Talking to NDTV, Raghav said, "The first time I entered Mannat, there was a scanner like the ones at the airport. I had to go through it because back then, people were like, 'Who is this guy? Has someone come to find work?'."





He then shared how he asked Aryan which one was his room, only to realise that he doesn't have a room, he has a floor. Raghav continued, "By mistake, I asked Aryan which was his room. Then I realised, this is Shah Rukh Khan's house. You don't have rooms here; you have full floors. Aryan just laughed and said, 'Come, let's go up,' and of course, one floor was his. We sat there and jammed, and later we went out for dinner with his friends."

The actor also stated that as soon as he stepped out of Mannat, he called his mother, and she immediately started asking questions about the interiors of SRK's house. Raghav joked and said, "I had to calm her down and remind her I wasnt there as a broker."





In another interview with News18, Raghav opened up about his bond with Aryan and said that both of them have a mischievous mind. And they have a good camaraderie. "Aryan aur mera dono ka dimaag thoda khurafaati hai. Dono ka dimaag mil jaata toh kuch aur hi ban jaata screen par. So we have a great camaraderie. Main aur Aryan jab milte the scene set par toh saari public jaan jaati thi kuch hone wala hai. Mera aur Aryan ka combination bahut ghatak hai! (Aryan and I both have a bit of a mischievous mind. If our minds came together, something entirely different would happen on screen. So, we have a great camaraderie. Whenever Aryan and I met on set, everyone around knew that something was about to happen. My combination with Aryan is lethal)."

The Ba***ds of Bollywood also stars Lakshya, Sahher Bambba, Bobby Deol, Mona Singh, Anya Singh and Manoj Pahwa, among others. It is streaming on Netflix.

Also Read: Photos: Bobby Deol and Raghav Juyal Cheer for Team India in Dubai
Online platforms are currently filled with praise for Ranbir Kapoor's compassionate act at the Delhi airport, where he offered help to a fellow passenger. On October 4, during a flight from Delhi to Mumbai, the actor helped Srubabati Goswami, a passenger travelling alone with a fracture, and she eventually expressed her heartfelt appreciation for Ranbirs thoughtful gesture on social media.

Goswami took to social media to express her experience through a heartfelt message, which she directed not only to the airline staff but also to Ranbir Kapoor for his unexpected help. Reflecting on the event, she wrote on X, Traveling alone after the fracture @T3. The wheelchair system worked very well. Thanks to airlines staff and wheelchair attendants and unexpected help from Ranbir Kapoor whom I met near the security checking point. Thanks @ImRkOfficial for your kind gesture.





Traveling alone after the fracture @T3. The wheelchair system worked very well. Thanks to airlines staff and wheelchair attendants and unexpected help from Ranbir Kapoor whom I met near the security checkin point. Thanks @ImRkOfficial for your kind gesture. pic.twitter.com/KpdUVJQ76p  Srubabati Goswami (@srubabati) October 5, 2025

The post garnered significant attention online, and many users praised Ranbir for his humility and warmth. Eyewitnesses at the airport reportedly observed Ranbir helping a passenger near the security check before proceeding with his own travel arrangements. Throughout his career, Ranbir Kapoor has received immense respect, not only for his exceptional performances but also for his calm and composed attitude. Fans have frequently pointed out how the actor, despite his fame, maintains a courteous and approachable presence in public.

On the work front, Ranbir Kapoor has a series of intriguing film projects in the pipeline. He is slated to collaborate once more with director Sanjay Leela Bhansali on Love & War, which follows their previous work on Saawariya (2007). This film will also feature Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal, with a reported release date of March 2026.





Ranbir is also slated to star in Nitesh Tiwaris highly anticipated Ramayana, alongside Sai Pallavi and Yash. Additionally, there are reports suggesting that the actor will be the lead in Dhoom 4 and Animal Park, the much-discussed sequel to his 2023 hit film Animal.

Beyond his on-screen presence, Ranbir Kapoor continues to make an impact, not through a performance this time, but through a simple act of kindness that resonated deeply with his fans and netizens.





Also Read: Rajkumar Hiranis Biopic With Ranbir Kapoor Delayed; Aamir Khans Next in Focus








The Raja Saab has entered its final phase of production. Prabhas and team have left for Europe to shoot a couple of songs in picturesque locations.

Final phase of shooting

Director Maruthi shared the development about The Raja Saab along with pictures of the actress Nidhhi Agerwal

Prabhas typical humour

Looks like all decks have been finally cleared for the overseas schedule of Prabhas upcoming film The Raja Saab. The unit has headed to Europe for filming a couple of songs on the lead cast. The films director Maruthi Dasari have shared the update on his Instagram with a few pictures.The Raja Saab has entered its final phase of production. Prabhas and team have left for Europe to shoot a couple of songs in picturesque locations. The two numbers have been created to be duet and romantic numbers to be shot on Prabhas, Malavika Mohanan and Nidhhi Agerwal. Director Maruthi shared the development of the film along with pictures of the actress. A source close to the unit informs us that it'll be a two-week schedule and with this schedule, almost the entire shooting will be wrapped up. The unit is also working on post-production work simultaneously to meet its deadline of January 9, 2026 release.Prabhas will be seen in an enterprising character, a role filled with typical humour and antics, in The Raja Saab. The superstar has been involved with the film for over three and half years, and it just goes to show his commitment to the film and how much he liked the script. The recently released trailer got a terrific response, and many fans have expressed that they were glad to see Prabhas how they wanted him to be, shedding his larger-than-life role and playing a street-smart chap. Director Maruthi too shared that Prabhass role has been packaged very entertainingly and would be a mix of humour, drama, emotion and of course action. After being part of several action spectacles and films with grand themes, The Raja Saabs character came like a breath of fresh air to the fans.
Vijay Deverakonda was recently seen visiting the Maha Samadhi of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba in Puttaparthi, shortly after reports emerged that he and Rashmika Mandanna had gotten engaged in a private ceremony in Hyderabad. Although the couple has remained silent on social media regarding the occasion, sources close to the actor have confirmed the engagement.





#VijayDeverakonda is at Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Babas Maha Samadhi in Puttaparthi to seek divine blessings @TheDeverakonda pic.twitter.com/PaLmJrMa9n  Suresh PRO (@SureshPRO_) October 5, 2025



A video shared by Vijays public relations team showed the actor at the spiritual site. He was accompanied by his family, including his brother Anand Deverakonda, as well as their parents, Govardhan Rao and Madhavi. The family was welcomed by the Puttaparthi temple authorities, who presented Vijay with a bouquet and a framed photo of Sathya Sai Baba. The visit was described as a spiritual gesture, with Vijay reportedly seeking blessings following his engagement with Rashmika.



Many fans also took to social media to discuss the actors seeming engagement ring, clearly visible in the video. This subtle confirmation has only added to the growing excitement and curiosity among fans. Vijays PRO posted a video of the visit, stating, #VijayDeverakonda is at Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Babas Maha Samadhi in Puttaparthi to seek divine blessings.



Fans took to X to open up about his new appearance. "Y'all said 'FAKE' Bro he FLEXED it on his finger!!!" one fan wrote. Another commented, "My love is finally engaged. That ring says it all, pure happiness and love." Many fans also congratulated Vijay on the engagement.







Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna never made their relationship public. They reportedly first met on the sets of Geetha Govindam, which was a blockbuster. They were later paired together again for the film Dear Comrade, and it was during the films making they got closer and fell in love.



Also Read: Rumour: Are Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna Engaged? Heres What We Know


Kyocera Document Solutions Inc. (President: Takashi Nagai) supported the production of dresses using artworks painted by artists contracted to HERALBONY for ANREALAGE's Collection at Paris Fashion Week SS 2026, held on September 30, 2025. The collection comprised 30 outfits, 26 of which used fabrics printed with our sustainable inkjet textile printer "FOREARTH". FOREARTH printing was used for bags and shoes, giving their designs an inner glow that attracted significant attention.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251005938435/en/

Paris Fashion Week

Works by artists contracted to HERALBONY are characterized by both intricate, delicate expressions and bold, powerful strokes. In the printing process for this garment production, our FOREARTH faithfully reproduced those artistic expressions. Moreover, features unique to each artwork-such as variations in brush pressure and brushstroke-along with subtle differences in hue and tonal gradation were recreated through precise ink-volume adjustments made possible by digital technology, allowing FOREARTH to play a significant role in this production.

Comment from Kunihiko Morinaga, Designer at ANREALAGE

The theme of this collection is the symbol "?". The "?" (heart symbol) represents the heartbeat, the heart, and the core of life. Each person's unique pulse is proof of being alive and existence itself. Through fashion, we sought to make that existence visible.

Through four collaborations with Kyocera, FOREARTH's innovative technology has realized our creative vision without compromise. In this era, beauty is closely connected not only to color and form but also to how a brand engages with social issues. Not only the garments themselves but the process by which they are made is an essential element of beauty. We believe that continuing to adopt sustainable printing by FOREARTH will contribute to a new form of beauty for the next era.

Through our FOREARTH, we will continue to contribute to resolving global challenges in the textile and apparel industry, including water pollution and high CO2 emissions. We will also persist in applying technological capabilities to address various social issues around the world and continue our creative efforts to build a better future.

For more information

https://www.kyoceradocumentsolutions.com/en/news/rls_2025/rls_20251006.html

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251005938435/en/

Contacts:

Koichi Morita

koichi.morita@dc.kyocera.com
PHOENIX (dpa-AFX) - Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) provided an update regarding the September 8 mud rush incident at the Grasberg Block Cave mine operated by PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI). The company confirmed that the remaining five missing team members have been located and were found deceased on October 5. This brings the total number of lives lost in the incident to seven, including two team members previously found on September 20. The incident involved a sudden rush of approximately 800,000 metric tons of wet material from the former Grasberg open pit, which rapidly traveled to multiple mine levels, including the service level where the team members were conducting development activities. As a result, mining operations in the Grasberg minerals district have been temporarily suspended since September 8 to prioritize the search and recovery efforts. PT Freeport Indonesia has launched a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the incident, which is unprecedented in its decades-long history of block cave mining. The investigation team includes external experts and will focus on root cause analysis and recommendations to prevent future occurrences. The company anticipates completing the investigation by the end of 2025. 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.
Global AI event brings world-class speakers and global connections to Europe's thriving AI ecosystem

Event becomes the first major US AI summit to establish a permanent European presence

HumanX, the world's leading AI event, is officially coming to Europe. Built by the team behind Money20/20, Shoptalk, and HLTH, the organization announced today the launch of HumanX EMEA, a new global gathering taking place September 22-24, 2026, at The RAI in Amsterdam.

Already established as the premier ecosystem enabling enterprise AI strategy, implementation, and cross-sector collaboration in the United States, HumanX now brings its proven platform to Europe at a time of historic momentum for the region's AI ecosystem. The expansion comes on the heels of HumanX's rapid growth in the U.S., where its next event will draw over 6,000 attendees, 350 speakers, 400 vendors, and more than 300 media from across the globe.

HumanX EMEA connects Europe's AI ecosystem with global leaders, bringing together 2,500+ senior practitioners, partners, and 200+ media alongside speakers from the U.S., Asia, and Europe. The event focuses on responsible, high-impact AI adoption not as an imported American conference, but as a bridge uniting Europe's thriving AI community with its global counterparts.

"Europe is at a pivotal moment in AI, and it deserves a world-class platform that reflects its growing influence in shaping the future of artificial intelligence," said Stefan Weitz, CEO of HumanX. "European companies are incredibly innovative, but they need access to the same caliber of strategic insights and proven playbooks that are accelerating AI adoption globally. HumanX is built to meet this moment: a platform for solutions, partnerships, and action that helps leaders cut through barriers, align global momentum with European strengths, and drive AI forward in a way that's responsible, ambitious, and uniquely European."

Today, HumanX EMEA also announces its first 50 speakers, including Clay Bavor, Co-founder at Sierra and former Google AR/VR leader; May Habib, co-founder CEO at Writer; and Douwe Kiela, Co-founder CEO of Contextual. The lineup features executives from over 15 unicorns, including Quantexa, Owkin, and Decagon, as well as leading venture capital firms Lightspeed, Renegade Partners and Radical Ventures.

Amsterdam was chosen as the European hub for its strategic position as a gateway between Europe, the Middle East, and global markets, combined with the Netherlands' progressive approach to AI governance and robust multilingual tech infrastructure.

"We welcome HumanX and its global community to The Netherlands. Hosting the EMEA event in Amsterdam will facilitate collaboration and knowledge-sharing, and help our ecosystem to connect and thrive in this fast-changing field," said Constantijn van Oranje, special envoy of Techleap, which has also become an event supporter.

"We are thrilled to welcome HumanX to Amsterdam, a city that thrives on creativity and connection. Artificial Intelligence is not just a technology; it is a force that will shape how we live, work, and solve global challenges," said Maurits van der Sluis, Member of the Board RAI Amsterdam. "By bringing the world's AI community together, HumanX helps unlock new ideas and inspires collaboration that can drive a better future for Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and beyond."

In the lead-up to the event, HumanX will host multiple events, dinners, and gatherings across Europe to build community and foster connections.

HumanX EMEA 2026will open registration in early 2026, with further speaker and partner announcements rolling out throughout the year.

Learn more about HumanX EMEA 2026 here

About HumanX

HumanX is the premier AI strategy summit for global executives, investors, and innovators. Built by the team behind Money20/20, Shoptalk, and HLTH, it convenes senior decision-makers to exchange actionable insights, forge high-value partnerships, and accelerate enterprise adoption of AI. With no pay-to-play agenda and a focus on real business outcomes, HumanX is where vision translates into measurable value.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251006576249/en/

Contacts:

Barry Salmon

Head of Media, HumanX

barry@humanx.co
MILAN, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy today unveiled the global winners of its three prestigious collateral awards, a significant milestone leading up to the Grand Finale of the 2024-25 Competition. These talented chefs, representing diverse regions, have distinguished themselves through an extensive selection process that began with local competitions across 15 regions worldwide.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

https://www.multivu.com/s_pellegrino/9358151-en-young-chef-academy-announce-winners-collateral-awards-ahead-grand-finale-2024-25

Chef Zante Neethling (Africa, Middle East & South Asia) receives the S.Pellegrino Social Responsibility Award, chef Noah Wynants (North Europe) is named winner of the Acqua Panna Connection in Gastronomy Award and chef Nicolas A. Lopez (USA) takes home the Fine Dining Lovers Food for Thought Award.

Each award recognises a young chef whose work goes beyond culinary excellence to reflect deeper values of sustainability, cultural connection and personal expression. As the international culinary community looks ahead to the Grand Finale of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2024-25, set to take place in Milan on 28-29 October, these collateral awards highlight the multifaceted talent emerging in the global culinary landscape.

The S.Pellegrino Social Responsibility Award, presented to South African chef Zante Neethling, celebrates a dish that best expresses the principle of social responsibility. The award acknowledges a chef's commitment to responsible practices, ethical sourcing, and a positive impact on their community, and is voted for by The Sustainable Restaurant Association.

Neethling's dish, Tribute to the Khoi-Khoin Taras, was praised for its integration of indigenous knowledge. Currently Executive Sous Chef at Beyond in Cape Town, Neethling has established herself as a strong voice for regenerative practices and biodiversity in modern gastronomy.

"This recognition is deeply personal and significant to me," said Neethling. "Sustainability isn't just a trend, it's a responsibility to regenerate, preserve and pass on the knowledge that connects us to nature and to each other."

Juliane Caillouette Noble, Managing Director of The Sustainable Restaurant Association, noted: "Zante's signature dish is not only a carefully sourced tribute to South Africa's ancestral roots, but also a roadmap for how chefs can lead in building a more ethical and equitable food system."

Chef Noah Wynants of the Netherlands has been named winner of the Acqua Panna Connection in Gastronomy Award. This prize, selected by the competition's mentors, celebrates the young chef whose signature dish best reflects harmony between tradition and innovation. Wynants impressed with his plant-based take on a global classic, Dutch 'Rendang', which reinterprets a traditionally meat-based dish using local fruits and vegetables.

"With this dish, I want to show that worldly flavours can be achieved with products from our own country or region," Wynants said. "This dish is entirely based on vegetables and fruits and contains no animal products. By doing this, we challenge ourselves and demonstrate that the same flavours can be achieved without using animal ingredients."

Mentors from the competition commended Wynants for a dish that demonstrates how sustainable sourcing and cultural storytelling can come together in a refined and contemporary expression of gastronomy.

Chef Nicolas A. Lopez of the United States has been awarded the Fine Dining Lovers Food for Thought Award, promoted by Fine Dining Lovers. This is the only award in the competition decided by public vote and recognises the young chef whose dish best expresses their personal beliefs and values. Lopez was selected from 15 regional finalists for his ability to use his dish, Pork with Hints of the Sea, to communicate a compelling narrative and emotional resonance that connected with audiences worldwide.

"This dish reflects my journey, from local pubs to fine dining, and the lessons passed down by the chefs who inspired me." Lopez said. "I pushed myself to use unfamiliar ingredients and techniques, while embracing a sustainable approach that minimises waste and honours every element on the plate."

The three awards reflect the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy's ongoing commitment to supporting young culinary talent who are not only skilled professionals, but also ambassadors of change, sustainability and cultural dialogue. The winners will be formally awarded at the Grand Finale, where the overall S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2024-25 will be announced in front of a Grand Jury consisting of seven internationally recognised chefs.

About S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy

Gastronomy has the potential to transform society, shaping a more inclusive, sustainable future, but it requires talent. That's why S.Pellegrino has created S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy, a platform to attract, connect and nurture the next generation of culinary talents, empowering them through education, mentoring and experience opportunities, as well as through the renowned global competition.

The Academy opens its doors to members from over 70 different countries, ensuring that talent is not constrained by geography, ethnicity or gender. This is a place where passionate young chefs interact with the most influential players in global gastronomy, and where together they cultivate an inspiring culinary community.

To discover more please visit: https://www.sanpellegrinoyoungchefacademy.com/

About S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna

S.Pellegrino, Acqua Panna and Sanpellegrino Italian Sparkling Drinks are international trademarks of Sanpellegrino S.p.A., which is based in Milan, Italy. Distributed in over 150 countries through branches and distributors on all five continents, these products represent quality, excellence by virtue of their origins and perfectly interpret Italian style worldwide as a synthesis of pleasure, health and well-being. Sanpellegrino, with its iconic products and a history of over 120 years is the leading company in Italy in the non-alcoholic beverage sector, offering a wide range of mineral waters, aperitifs, and soft drinks.

Sanpellegrino has always been committed to enhancing this primary good for the planet and works responsibly and passionately to ensure that this resource has a secure future.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/spellegrino-young-chef-academy-announce-the-winners-of-the-collateral-awards-ahead-of-the-grand-finale-2024-25-302574664.html
LONDON, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With Amazon Prime Big Deal Days (Oct. 7-8) about to begin in Europe, COSRX, the K-beauty powerhouse loved by millions worldwide, is carrying strong momentum from its recent Berlin pop-up into this year's shopping event. Fresh off a showcase at Bikini Berlin (Sept. 24-30) - where The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum surged into Amazon DE's Top 10 beauty rankings (#8) without any discounts - COSRX continues to break records in Germany. From category-topping skincare staples to head-to-toe glow routines, shoppers can now score once-a-year deals, available exclusively on Amazon UK and DE during Prime Big Deal Days, October 7-8.

Berlin Pop-Up Success Sets the Stage for Amazon Prime Big Deal Days

The Berlin pop-up drew strong engagement throughout the week, highlighting COSRX's growing influence in Europe's competitive beauty market. The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum not only leapt from outside the Top 100 to the Top 8 in Amazon DE but also surged by approximately 3.5 times in daily sales - reinforcing its position as COSRX's next hero product. Consumers can purchase this new bestseller, alongside the cult-favorite Advanced Snail line and the innovative PEPTIDE-132 Ultra Perfect Hair Trio, at special prices during Amazon Prime Big Deal Days.

LIMITED Prime Big Deal Days: COSRX Essentials Winning Over Customers

Now available as exclusive Amazon Prime Big Deal Days offers, these Amazon's Choice winners and category No. 1 bestsellers showcase what beauty lovers across Europe can't get enough of.

Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence - Amazon's #1 Serum Category Winner

The TikTok-driven sensation turned global bestseller that continues to top the charts. Ranked No.1 once again in the Facial Serums category on Amazon DE, this cult-favorite has captivated millions with its powerful hydration, evening skin tone and glow-boosting benefits. Now available at over 50% off - exclusively during these Prime Big Deal Days.

The TikTok-driven sensation turned global bestseller that continues to top the charts. Ranked No.1 once again in the Facial Serums category on Amazon DE, this cult-favorite has captivated millions with its powerful hydration, evening skin tone and glow-boosting benefits. Now available at over 50% off - exclusively during these Prime Big Deal Days. Switch On Your Glow: COSRX Peptide Trio

At the forefront is the value-sized The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum (150ml), a lightweight yet effective formula packed with six Peptides to deliver +162% hydration, improved skin texture, and enhanced clarity - perfect as the skin's first step of care. The Peptide Collagen Hydrogel Eye Patch , which has taken TikTok by storm, targets puffiness and fine lines with a firming effect and delivers visible results in just 10 minutes, while The Peptide Collagen Lifting Glow Hydrogel Mask , a social media favorite often spotted in celebrities' beauty routines, provides intensive firming and brightening care. Together, this peptide-powered trio is trending across Amazon's beauty categories in the UK and Germany as the must-have set for hydration, firming, and glow.

At the forefront is the value-sized (150ml), a lightweight yet effective formula packed with six Peptides to deliver +162% hydration, improved skin texture, and enhanced clarity - perfect as the skin's first step of care. , which has taken TikTok by storm, targets puffiness and fine lines with a firming effect and delivers visible results in just 10 minutes, while , a social media favorite often spotted in celebrities' beauty routines, provides intensive firming and brightening care. Together, this peptide-powered trio is trending across Amazon's beauty categories in the UK and Germany as the must-have set for hydration, firming, and glow. Salon-Level Haircare, At Home: PEPTIDE-132 Trio

COSRX, renowned for its award-winning skincare innovations, is expanding into haircare with the launch of the PEPTIDE-132 Ultra Perfect Hair Bonding Trio, featured during this Amazon October Prime Days. PEPTIDE-132 Ultra Perfect Hair Bonding Shampoo and Treatment deliver cleansing, repair, and nourishment to weakened hair shafts, while the Oil Serum helps protect and seal in moisture for long-lasting smoothness and resilience. Designed to provide intensive repair in an at-home routine, the trio is rapidly gaining traction on Amazon's New Release charts across the UK and Germany, reinforcing COSRX's evolution from K-beauty bestseller to a rising player in professional haircare.

About COSRX

Founded in 2013, COSRX is a global skincare brand known for its "essentials-only" approach: highly effective ingredients, concentrated formulas, and affordable prices. Trusted by millions worldwide and powered by social media virality, COSRX has grown into one of the most influential K-beauty brands across skincare and haircare. Discover COSRX on Amazon. COSRX is also on Instagram + TikTok.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/final-chance-to-glow-cosrx-tops-amazon-prime-big-deal-days-with-advanced-snail-peptide-skincare--haircare-products-302575172.html
Highlights:

Nano One has pre-qualified lithium raw materials from Rio Tinto for LFP cathode production

The LFP cathode was made with Nano One's One-Pot process

Nano One continues to secure strategic supply chain relationships to support technology licensing growth model

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA / ACCESS Newswire / October 6, 2025 / (TSX:NANO)(OTCQB:NNOMF)(Frankfurt:LBMB)

Nano One Materials Corp. ("Nano One" or the "Company"), a process technology company specializing in lithium-ion battery cathode active materials, is pleased to provide an update on its ongoing collaboration with Rio Tinto (together, the "Parties") specific to the pre-qualification of high-volume battery-grade raw material inputs for Nano One's One-Pot lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode active material (CAM) production process.

"We are adding value to our technology and license offering by pre-qualifying feedstock that is critical to the production of LFP. This will assist our prospective licensee partners manage supply chain risks and accelerate time to market for future One-Pot commercial plants. There continues to be a need for secure, diversified, and economically localized LFP cathode active material supply chains. We believe that our One-Pot processing technology can be bundled with pre-qualified input feedstocks from premier producers such as Rio Tinto, to help partners, licensees, and customers achieve their objectives." stated Alex Holmes, Chief Operating Officer of Nano One.

Rio Tinto is a leading global mining group and a major lithium producer, with one of the world's largest lithium resource bases. With strategically located lithium assets across key regions, Rio Tinto intends to grow the capacity of its tier-1 lithium assets to over 200 thousand tonnes per year of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) by 2028[1].

Collaboration and pre-qualification of Rio Tinto's critical minerals and raw materials inputs include:

Lithium carbonate from Rio Tinto's Fenix site at the Salar del Hombre Muerto in Catamarca, Argentina qualified at C-sample (tonne scale) with 10 tonnes purchased for pilot and customer validation work

Lithium carbonate from Rio Tinto's Olaroz site in Jujuy, Argentina qualified at A-sample (kilogram scale) for diversified sourcing strategy, progressing to C-sample qualification

Pre-commercial lithium carbonate samples from Rio Tinto's Rincon project in Argentina have been evaluated for future supply

Nano One conducts qualification of battery-grade raw materials through a rigorous, staged testing protocol at increasing scales from A-sample (kilograms) through C-sample (1-10 tonnes) prior to D-samples in a commercial plant setting. By pre-qualifying raw material inputs, Nano One aims to accelerate customer acceptance of its LFP product and LFP CAM licensing packages. This will also de-risk supply chains for prospective licensees and fast-track A thru C sample qualification programs by as much as one year. The strategic collaboration between the Parties aligns with Nano One's technology licensing and growth strategy while supporting regional LFP supply chain development opportunities.

###

About Nano One

Nano One Materials Corp. (Nano One) is a technology company changing how the world makes cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries. Applications include stationary energy storage systems (ESS), portable electronics, and electric vehicles (EVs). The Company's patented One-Pot process reduces costs, is easier to permit, lowers energy intensity and environmental footprint, and reduces reliance on problematic supply chains. The Company is supporting the drive towards energy security, supply chain resilience, industrial competitiveness, and increased performance through process innovation. Production is being piloted and demonstrated in Candiac, Quebec, drawing on existing plant and decades of commercial lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) manufacturing experience. Strategic collaborations and partnerships with international companies like Sumitomo Metal Mining, Rio Tinto, and Worley are supporting a design-one-build-many licensing growth strategy-delivering cost-competitive, easier to permit, and faster to market battery materials production solutions worldwide. Nano One has received funding from the Government of Canada, the Government of the United States, the Government of Quebec, and the Government of British Columbia. For more information, please visit www.nanoone.ca.

Company Contact:

Paul Guedes

info@nanoone.ca

+1 (604) 420-2041

Cautionary Notes and Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to: continued success in collaboration with Rio Tinto; de-risking product supply chains for prospective licensees; the development of technology, supply chains, and plans for construction and operation of cathode production facilities for acceptance of the Company's product and licensing packages; potential bundling of One-Pot with pre-qualified feedstocks (e.g., Rio Tinto) and those related benefits to partners, licensees and customers; industry acceleration and demand; successful current and future collaborations that are/may happen with OEMs, miners or others; the value, functions and intended benefits of the Company's technology and products; the development and evolution of Nano One's technology and products; achieving commercial production of LFP; the Company's licensing, supply chain, joint venture strategies, opportunities and potential royalty arrangements; the purpose for expanding the Candiac facilities and scalability of developed technology; and the execution of the Company's plans - which are contingent on capital support and grants. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of terminology such as 'believe', 'expect', 'anticipate', 'plan', 'intend', 'continue', 'estimate', 'may', 'will', 'should', 'ongoing', 'target', 'goal', 'encouraged', 'projected', 'potential' or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made are not, and cannot be, a guarantee of future results or events. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including but not limited to: continued success in collaboration with Rio Tinto; de-risking supply chains for prospective licensees; potential bundling of One-Pot with pre-qualified feedstocks (e.g., Rio Tinto) and those related benefits to partners, licensees and customers; general and global economic and regulatory changes; next steps and timely execution of the Company's business plans; the development of technology, supply chains, and plans for construction and operation of cathode production facilities; successful current or future collaborations that may happen with OEMs, miners or others; the execution of the Company's plans which are contingent on capital sources; the Company's ability to achieve its stated goals; the commercialization of the Company's technology and patents via license, joint venture and independent production; anticipated global demand and projected growth for LFP batteries; and other risk factors as identified in Nano One's Annual Information Form dated March 25, 2025, for the year ended December 31, 2024, its MD&A for the six months ended June 30, 2025 and in recent securities filings for the Company which are available at www.sedarplus.ca. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that is incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

[1] https://www.riotinto.com/en/news/releases/2025/rio-tinto-completes-acquisition-of-arcadium-lithium SOURCE: Nano One Materials Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/nano-one-pre-qualifies-lithium-from-rio-tinto-for-lfp-cathode-production-and-prov-1081849
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - October 6, 2025) - Defence Therapeutics Inc. (CSE: DTC) (FSE: DTC) (OTCQB: DTCFF) ("Defence" or the "Company"), a leading biotechnology company specialized in drug delivery technologies, is pleased to announce its participation at CPHI Worldwide 2025, taking place in Frankfurt, Germany from October 28-30, 2025.

At this premier gathering and global trade fair of pharmaceutical leaders, Defence looks forward to engaging with potential partners across the biopharma value chain and with the global pharma community, learning about the latest trends in pharmaceutical manufacturing, and connecting with its international collaborators and shareholders.

In addition to its conference participation, Defence warmly invites attendees, partners, and shareholders in the region to join its leadership team for an informal Meet & Greet on Wednesday, October 29 from 4:30-6:30 PM at the American May lobby bar of the Kimpton Hotel in Frankfurt. This networking event will provide an opportunity to meet the team, exchange insights, and explore partnership opportunities in a relaxed setting.

Interested in meeting our team? Reach out through the CPHI conference partnering platform or connect with our leaders who will be at the meeting via LinkedIn: Amie Phinney, Strategy and Business Advisory, Mark Lambermon, Head of Quality and Operations (our in-house German speaker!) or Sebastien Plouffe, CEO. And of course, don't hesitate to just drop-by the Meet & Greet event.

About CPHI:

CPHI (www.cphi.com) is a leading global pharmaceutical trade show and networking platform, bringing together tens of thousands of industry professionals from more than 160 countries. In the 2025 edition in Frankfurt, over 62,000 visitors and around 2,400 exhibiting companies are expected, with more than 180 international speakers featured.

About Defence:

Defence Therapeutics is a publicly-traded clinical-stage biotechnology company developing and engineering the next generation of ADC products using its proprietary platform. The core of Defence Therapeutics platform is the ACCUM technology, which enables precision delivery of ADCs in their intact form to target cells. As a result, increased efficacy and potency can be reached against cancer.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

Neither the CSE nor its market regulator, as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269108

SOURCE: Defence Therapeutics Inc.
Austin, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - October 6, 2025) - CCRcorp, the parent company of go-to legal resources TheCorporateCounsel.net and CompensationStandards.com, is excited to announce that the 2025 Proxy Disclosure & 22nd Annual Executive Compensation Conferences will be held Oct. 21-22 online and in person in Las Vegas.

This year brings a new presidential administration to Washington with very different regulatory priorities from its predecessor, and that means that public companies and their advisors are facing a year of change, uncertainty - and opportunity. As all of this comes into focus, the practical guidance and expert knowledge provided at these annual conferences are more essential than ever.

The two-day conferences will feature nearly 50 industry experts and thought leaders speaking on 15 panels centered around SEC regulations, disclosure requirements, board agendas, clawbacks and more! The schedule includes panels such as "Delaware Hot Topics: Navigating Case Law & Statutory Developments," "The Proxy Process: Avoiding Surprises - On Time, On Budget & On Value" and "Navigating ISS & Glass Lewis." In-person attendees also have the opportunity to network at the opening welcome party on Oct. 20.

"We're very excited about this year's conferences," said John Jenkins, Managing Editor of CCRcorp. "We've assembled a world-class group of experts who will provide essential insights into the key securities law, corporate governance, and executive compensation issues facing public companies and their advisors. We're also looking forward to celebrating CCRcorp's 50th anniversary and having the chance to thank our members and our many contributors who have made this milestone possible."

Online and in-person tickets are still available. Select panels are eligible for CLE credit. Course materials and video archives are included with a ticket purchase. To register or learn more, visit https://events.ccrcorp.com/proxy-disclosure-executive-compensation-conferences-2025 or contact us at info@CCRcorp.com or 800-737-1271.

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ABOUT CCRcorp: CCRcorp (formerly Executive Press) delivers practical guidance direct from the experts on corporate and securities regulations, corporate governance, compensation disclosure and oversight, M&A, ESG and other areas impacting today's corporate practitioner. Its portfolio of resources consists of CompensationStandards.com, TheCorporateCounsel.net, DealLawyers.com, PracticalESG.com and Section16.net, where expert attorneys curate a collection of blogs, handbooks, newsletters, memos and more to cover the most up-to-date, relevant information in a variety of fields.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/268956

SOURCE: EP Executive Press (dba CCR Corp)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 6, 2025) - Legend Power Systems Inc. (TSXV: LPS) (OTCQB: LPSIF) ("Legend Power" or the "Company"), a global leader in commercial electrical system solutions, today announced that on September 29, 2025 it has entered into a partnership with a franchise network operated by one of the world's largest facility management companies, a Fortune 500 provider with more than 100,000 employees worldwide.

This franchise group supports more than 150 partner organizations, including electrical and HVAC contractors operating across North America. Through this agreement, those partners will gain access to Legend Power's SmartGATE platform and SmartGATE Insights Power Impact Assessment. This agreement expands the Company's market access, while also providing additional sales resources and expertise in installation through the network's established contractor base.

"We believe this agreement represents an important opportunity to expand the availability of our SmartGATE platform through an established and respected network of service providers," said Mike Cioce, Vice President, Sales and Marketing of Legend Power Systems. "Working with a contractor network of this scale helps us deliver our technology to more buildings where power quality is a known operational challenge. With over 10,000 buildings serviced across this network, we believe the scale of power quality challenges is significant, and addressing them presents a meaningful opportunity. Improving power quality at this scale can create value across the ecosystem, including building owners, tenants, franchise partners, and even the grid operators who benefit from more stable demand."

The partnership is intended to enable franchise organizations to help building owners and operators better understand how incoming electrical supply impacts the performance and reliability of core building systems, and to provide tools to address those challenges. Additionally, with a footprint of HVAC and electrical contractors across North America, installation services are a core part of the offering and align with Legend Power's equipment-only sales strategy.

About Legend Power Systems Inc.

Legend Power Systems Inc. (https://legendpower.com/) provides an intelligent energy management platform that analyzes and improves building energy challenges, significantly impacting asset management and corporate performance. Legend Power's proven solutions support proactive executive decision-making in a complex and volatile business and energy environment. The proprietary and patented system reduces total energy consumption and power costs, while also maximizing the life of electrical equipment. Legend Power's unique solution is also a key contributor to both corporate sustainability efforts and the meeting of utility energy efficiency targets.

About SmartGATE

SmartGATE is a turnkey solution that identifies and resolves inefficiencies in commercial electrical systems, enhancing energy performance while reducing costs and emissions. The SmartGATE active energy management system installs after the meter in line with your switchgear. Using our patented technology, we extract a percentage of the load, convert and analyze it, rebuild the waveform, and then inject it back into your system. This provides full voltage regulation (+/- 8%) to your exact specification, on each phase individually to address the main power attributes that impact system reliability, lifetime, and efficiency. All focused on reducing energy consumption while creating optimal power for optimal performance with a footprint designed for today's buildings.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities and operating performance of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities or performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Such risks, uncertainties and factors are described in the periodic filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, including the Company's quarterly and annual Management's Discussion & Analysis, which may be viewed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results to not be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements other than as may be required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269111

SOURCE: Legend Power Systems Inc.
(All amounts expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated)

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 6, 2025) - Torex Gold Resources Inc. (the "Company" or "Torex") (TSX: TXG) announces further assay results from the Company's 2025 drilling program at ELG Underground, primarily focused on drilling around the El Limon Sur and Sub-Sill trends. These new results continue to support the Company's target of extending the mine life of ELG Underground by identifying new structures of higher-grade mineralization, expanding resources, and replacing mined reserves.

Jody Kuzenko, President & CEO of Torex, stated:

"We continue to be impressed by the drilling results at ELG Underground. The discovery of second order mineralized structures parallel to the El Limon Sur and Sub-Sill trends underpins our belief that we have yet to unlock the full geologic potential of this deposit. Importantly, the drilling results along these newly discovered structures are returning exceptional grades, including 21.2 metres ("m") at 28.13 grams per tonne gold equivalent ("gpt AuEq") in LS-414 and 24.6 m at 17.06 gpt AuEq in LS-424, a strong indication that we will be able to add to the resource inventory with our year-end mineral reserves and resources update in March 2026.

"At the El Limon Sur and Sub-Sill trends, drilling targeting the intersection of these north-south trending corridors with the northeast trending faults continues to extend known mineralization both laterally and vertically, which is expected to further build on the track record of year-over-year resource and reserve growth demonstrated at ELG Underground.

"With $12 million of drilling budgeted at the deposit this year, the results released today, combined with the outstanding results we published earlier this year, all come together to support our objective of extending the mine life of the deposit beyond 2029. The ability to replace depletion at ELG Underground is a key contributor to maintaining annual gold equivalent payable production above 450,000 ounces beyond 2030, as additional reserves from ELG Underground serve to defer the processing of lower grade stockpiles to a later date."

All references to drill hole intercepts are to true widths unless otherwise stated. Further information on drill results and gpt AuEq calculations can be found in Tables 1 to 5, with more detailed drill results found in Table 4 (El Limon Sur Trend) and Table 5 (Sub-Sill Trend).

HIGHLIGHTS

El Limon Sur and Sub-Sill Second Order Structures

Drilling has discovered two second order structures associated with the El Limon Sur and Sub-Sill trends. Both of these structures returned exceptional high grade results, with notable intercepts to the west of the El Limon Sur Trend that include 11.1 m at 12.37 gpt AuEq in LS-413; 21.2 m at 28.13 gpt AuEq in LS-414; 10.2 m at 13.87 gpt AuEq in LS-416; 18.1 m at 8.66 gpt AuEq in LS-422; and 24.6 m at 17.06 gpt AuEq in LS-424. At the new mineralized corridor to the east of the Sub-Sill Trend, the most compelling results are 2.9 m at 25.73 gpt AuEq in SST-409 and 3.2 m at 6.33 gpt AuEq in SST-379 (Figure 1, Table 1).

in LS-413; in LS-414; in LS-416; in LS-422; and in LS-424. At the new mineralized corridor to the east of the Sub-Sill Trend, the most compelling results are in SST-409 and in SST-379 (Figure 1, Table 1). The discovery of these new structures indicates there may be more undiscovered mineralized trends/corridors at ELG Underground and continues to demonstrate the underlying resource potential of the deposit. The new discoveries also support the potential to expand and upgrade resources with the year-end mineral reserves and resources update.

El Limon Sur Trend

Drilling at depth confirmed high-grade mineralization at 480 metres above sea level ("m.a.s.l.") in drill hole LS-425, 1.6 m at 37.97 gpt AuEq and 2.3 m at 15.01 gpt AuEq , indicating the Trend remains open at depth.

and , indicating the Trend remains open at depth. Drilling also returned multiple high-grade intercepts between 800 m.a.s.l. and 480 m.a.s.l. outside of the defined resource boundary, supporting the target of expanding resources. Notable results include 18.2 m at 10.67 gpt AuEq in LS-403, 8.6 m at 6.61 gpt AuEq in LS-421, 4.0 m at 27.91 gpt AuEq in LDUG-390, and 6.4 m at 7.80 gpt AuEq in LDUG-410 (Figure 2, Table 2).

Sub-Sill Trend

At the Sub-Sill Trend, drilling has demonstrated continuous mineralization at depth around 500 m.a.s.l. as well as at shallower levels where mineralization is open laterally, indicating the potential for resource growth in both directions. Notable mineralized intercepts include 6.8 m at 8.22 gpt AuEq in SST-402, 14.8 m at 4.44 gpt AuEq in SST-406, 4.2 m at 9.07 gpt AuEq in SST-414, 5.0 m at 8.35 gpt AuEq in SST-394, and 2.7 m at 50.73 gpt AuEq at SST-387 (Figure 3, Table 3).

ELG UNDERGROUND DRILLING PROGRAM

Drilling results continue to support the primary objective of the ELG Underground drilling program to increase resource inventory and replace mined reserves to support the Company's overall objective of maintaining production above 450,000 gold equivalent ounces ("oz AuEq") per year beyond 2030. The program remains focused on identifying high-grade mineralization extensions along the El Limon Sur, El Limon Deep, El Limon West, and Sub-Sill trends. Drilling results presented in this release focus on the success along the El Limon Sur and Sub-Sill trends.

Torex has budgeted $12 million towards drilling at ELG Underground in 2025. Drilling is progressing well with four rigs currently working in the area. Assay results presented in this news release are for the 25,163 m drilled between February and July 2025, with results for 36,086 m of the 48,000 m of drilling planned for 2025 now reported. The focus of this drilling program was on advanced exploration and resource categorization, targeting extensions of existing resources and upgrading Inferred to Indicated Resources at the main mineralized trends. Drilling results confirm the grades and continuity of mineralization within the resource and show high-grade mineralized resource extensions.

NEWLY DISCOVERED SECOND ORDER STRUCTURES

The latest drilling results have outlined high-grade mineralization along two second order structures running parallel to both the El Limon Sur and Sub-Sill trends. These parallel structures likely acted as conduits for mineralizing fluids (Figure 1). The highest-grade intercepts and more continuous mineralization occur at the intersection of these secondary structures and northeast first order structures, primarily at the Z71 and La Flaca faults. The discovery of these new structures shows that the mineralized potential of this deposit is yet to be fully defined and indicates a strong potential to continue to expand resources and replace reserves year after year.

Table 1: Recent highlights from the 2025 drilling program along the second order structures

Drill Hole From

(m) To

(m) Core Length

(m) True Width

(m) Au

(gpt) Ag

(gpt) Cu

(%) AuEq

(gpt) LS-413 75.9 87.5 11.6 11.1 12.04 1.4 0.19 12.37 LS-414 66.1 87.5 21.4 21.2 27.99 4.9 0.05 28.13 LS-416 78.1 89.0 10.9 10.2 13.83 1.9 0.01 13.87 LS-422 75.0 95.0 20.0 18.1 8.52 1.8 0.07 8.66 LS-424 153.4 180.3 26.9 24.6 16.99 2.5 0.02 17.06 SST-379 315.9 323.0 7.1 3.2 4.43 34.1 0.91 6.33 SST-409 307.5 317.0 9.5 2.9 23.91 25.6 0.92 25.73

Notes to Table:

1) Drill hole intercepts are shown both in core length and true widths. Core recovery (%) is shown in Tables 4 and 5. Core and true width lengths subject to rounding. All assay results are uncapped.

2) The gold equivalent grade calculation used is as follows: AuEq (gpt) = Au (gpt) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0127 + Cu (%) * 1.6104 and uses the same metal prices ($1,650/oz Au, $22/oz Ag, and $3.75/lb Cu) and metallurgical recoveries (90% Au, 86% Ag, and 93% Cu) used in the year-end 2024 mineral resource estimate for ELG Underground.

EL LIMON SUR TREND

Recent drilling along the El Limon Sur Trend has been focused on the central and northern zones, near the Trend's intersections with the Z71 and La Flaca faults (Figure 2). Drilling has confirmed continuous high-grade intercepts at levels above 750 m.a.s.l. (LS-403, LS-421, LDUG-390, and LDUG-410) where mineralization remains open laterally. More discrete intercepts with very high grades were encountered at depth (LS-425) down to at least 480 m.a.s.l., demonstrating mineralization remains open in that direction. These results show potential for new Inferred Resources.

Table 2: Recent highlights from the 2025 drilling program along the El Limon Sur Trend

Drill Hole From

(m) To

(m) Core Length

(m) True Width

(m) Au

(gpt) Ag

(gpt) Cu

(%) AuEq

(gpt) LDUG-390 45.9 50.2 4.3 4.0 27.89 1.6 0.01 27.91 LDUG-410 112.0 121.0 9.0 6.4 7.63 3.9 0.07 7.80 LS-403 96.0 125.0 29.0 18.2 6.98 22.7 2.11 10.67 LS-425 157.0 158.7 1.8 1.6 37.94 1.9 0.00 37.97

Notes to Table:

1) Drill hole intercepts are shown both in core length and true widths. Core recovery (%) is shown in Table 4. Core and true width lengths subject to rounding. All assay results are uncapped.

2) The gold equivalent grade calculation used is as follows: AuEq (gpt) = Au (gpt) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0127 + Cu (%) * 1.6104 and use the same metal prices ($1,650/oz Au, $22/oz Ag, and $3.75/lb Cu) and metallurgical recoveries (90% Au, 86% Ag, and 93% Cu) used in the year-end 2024 mineral resource estimate for ELG Underground.

SUB-SILL TREND

Drilling along the Sub-Sill Trend is currently focused on the main ore shoot near the Trend's intersection with the Z71 fault (Figure 3). The objectives of the program in this area are to upgrade Inferred Resources to the Indicated category, extend resources beyond the current resource boundary, and confirm mineralization continuity and extension at depth.

Results indicate strong potential to upgrade Inferred Resources as shown by the mineralization encountered in drill holes SST-402, SST-406, and SST-414. At the main ore shoot, drill holes SST-397, SST-389, and SST-383 confirm the extension of mineralization at depth down to 500 m.a.s.l. and indicate that mineralization remains open in that direction. Drill holes SST-394 and SST-387 show that mineralization also remains open laterally (Table 3).

Table 3: Recent highlights from the 2025 drilling program along the Sub-Sill Trend

Drill Hole From

(m) To

(m) Core Length

(m) True Width

(m) Au

(gpt) Ag

(gpt) Cu

(%) AuEq

(gpt) SST-383 158.0 161.8 3.8 2.3 10.28 1.0 0.02 10.33 SST-387 182.7 187.5 4.8 2.7 49.85 23.1 0.36 50.73 SST-389 183.5 186.0 2.6 1.4 31.58 3.4 0.01 31.63 SST-394 151.0 157.6 6.6 5.0 1.11 85.4 3.82 8.35 SST-397 220.0 222.0 2.0 0.9 4.14 0.5 0.00 4.15 SST-402 101.2 110.0 8.8 6.8 7.21 10.6 0.54 8.22 SST-406 31.0 46.0 15.0 14.8 3.25 9.5 0.67 4.44

Notes to Table:

1) Drill hole intercepts are shown both in core length and true widths. Core recovery (%) is shown in Table 5. Core and true width lengths subject to rounding. All assay results are uncapped.

2) The gold equivalent grade calculation used is as follows: AuEq (gpt) = Au (gpt) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0127 + Cu (%) * 1.6104 and use the same metal prices ($1,650/oz Au, $22/oz Ag, and $3.75/lb Cu) and metallurgical recoveries (90% Au, 86% Ag, and 93% Cu) used in the year-end 2024 mineral resource estimate for ELG Underground.

ELG MINE COMPLEX GEOLOGY

The ELG Mine Complex, located in the central part of the Guerrero Gold Belt in southwest Mexico, is hosted in the Mesozoic carbonate-rich Morelos Platform which has been intruded by Paleocene granodiorite stocks, sills, and dikes, and the uplifting of the block close to surface by maar-diatreme complexes. Skarn-hosted gold mineralization develops along contacts of the intrusive rocks and carbonate-rich sedimentary rocks of the Cuautla and Morelos Formations, as well as along the footwall contact of the Mezcala Formation. At depth, the mineralization has a strong structural control related to the main stages of deformation, with the collision of allochthonous terrain being responsible for the major north-south faults, while the almost east-west faulting is associated with the beginning of the subduction process.

Gold mineralization at ELG occurs in spatial association with a skarn body that was developed along a two-kilometre- long corridor following the northeast contact of the ELG granodiorite stock. The skarn zone that occurs at the marble stratigraphic level of the Morelos Formation is in contact with hornfels developed in the Mezcala Formation. At El Limon, skarn mineralization is also structurally controlled by north-south and north-east trending faults. Early-stage deposition corresponds to skarn alteration and mineralization at ELG and is fairly typical of calcic gold-skarn systems. Zones of coarse, massive, garnet-dominant skarn appear within and along the stock margin, with fine-grained pyroxene-dominant skarn more common at greater distances from the contact with the stock. Significant gold mineralization at ELG is spatially associated with the skarn, preferentially occurring in pyroxene-rich exoskarn but also hosted in garnet-rich endoskarn that has been affected by retrograde alteration, which suggests that the most important gold event is strongly related to bismuth, late stage, and of epithermal origin.

Dikes and sills are found to crosscut the hornfels and marble along the structural trends mentioned above and are spatially associated with the skarn formation. In some cases, these are the control of main gold mineralization stage at depth.

The style of mineralization at the El Limon Deep, El Limon Sur, Sub-Sill, and El Limon West trends is characterized by gold, with locally high silver and copper grades. Given that gold precipitates due to the buffer exerted by the early stage of calc-silicate alteration and sulfide mineralization, it is free and generally dissociated from the previous copper event mainly related to chalcopyrite.

QA/QC AND QUALIFIED PERSON

Torex maintains an analytical quality assurance and quality control ("QA/QC") and data verification program to monitor laboratory performance and ensure high-quality assays. Results from this program confirm the reliability of the assay results. All sampling and analytical work for the mine exploration program is performed by SGS de Mexico S.A. de C.V. ("SGS") in Durango, and by SGS at Morelos mine site facilities in Mexico. Gold analyses comprise fire assay with atomic absorption or gravimetric finish. External check assays for QA/QC purposes are performed at ALS Chemex de Mexico S.A. de C.V.

The analytical QA/QC program is currently overseen by Carlo Nasi, Manager, Geology for Minera Media Luna, S.A. de C.V. All samples reported have been checked against Company and Lab standards, and blanks. No core duplicate samples are taken.

Core sizes are mostly HQ in diameter and NQ core diameter is used sporadically if ground conditions require. Samples are sawn lengthwise in half. One half of the core is bagged and sealed for analytical analysis and one half is retained in the core box for reference.

Sample preparation is carried out by SGS facilities in Durango and the Morelos mine site, Mexico and consists of drying and crushing 3 to 5 kg to >75% passing 2 mm followed by pulverization of 500 g to >85% passing 75 m (G_PRP89). Gold is analyzed at the SGS facilities in Durango and at the Morelos mine site following internal analytical protocols. Gold analysis comprises a 30 g fire assay with an atomic absorption finish (GE_FAA30V5). Over-limit results for gold analysis (for samples reported as >10,000 ppb or >10 ppm) comprises 30 g Au by fire assay with gravimetric finish (GO_FAG30V). Copper and silver analyses up to 300 ppm Ag, Cu up to 10%, and iron up to 10% analysis are completed via aqua regia digestion and atomic absorption finish (GO_AAS21C50). Multi-element geochemical analysis is done by an aqua regia digestion with detection by ICP-OES using SGS internal analytical protocol and are conducted at SGS facilities in Durango (GE_ICP14B).

External check assays for QC purposes are done on pulps and performed at ALS Global in Queretaro, Mexico. Approximately 3% of the samples collected from exploration and operation drilling as well as production samples are sent for analyses checks and assayed for Au, Ag, and Cu.

Internal and external check control results are reviewed daily by MML and an external audit by Qualitica Consulting Inc. is carried out quarterly. The outcome of the test work indicates that the precision and accuracy of the results received from SGS' Durango and ELG mine site facilities are within acceptable tolerance ranges.

Scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Rochelle Collins, P.Geo. (PGO #1412), Principal, Mineral Resource Geologist with Torex Gold Resources Inc., a "qualified person" ("QP") as defined by NI 43-101. Ms. Collins has verified the information disclosed, including sampling, analytical, and test data underlying the drill results. Verification included visually reviewing the drill holes in three dimensions, comparing the assay results to the original assay certificates, reviewing the drilling database, and reviewing core photography consistent with standard practice. Ms. Collins consents to the inclusion in this release of said information in the form and context in which they appear.

Additional information on ELG Underground, sampling and analyses, analytical labs, and methods used for data verification is available in the Company's technical report entitled the "Morelos Property, NI 43-101 Technical Report, ELG Mine Complex Life of Mine Plan and Media Luna Feasibility Study, Guerrero State, Mexico", dated effective March 16, 2022 filed on March 31, 2022 (the "2022 Technical Report") and in the annual information form ("AIF") dated March 21, 2025, each filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and the Company's website at www.torexgold.com.

ABOUT TOREX GOLD RESOURCES INC.

Torex Gold Resources Inc. is a Canadian mining company engaged in the exploration, development, and production of gold, copper, and silver from its flagship Morelos Complex in Guerrero, which is currently Mexico's largest single gold producer. The Company recently acquired a portfolio of early-stage exploration properties, including the Batopilas and Guigui projects in Chihuahua, Mexico, and the Gryphon and Medicine Springs projects in Nevada, USA, and has also entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 100% interest in Prime Mining's multi-million ounce Los Reyes gold-silver project in Sinaloa, Mexico.

The Company's key strategic objectives are: deliver Media Luna to full production and build EPO; optimize Morelos production and costs; grow reserves and resources; disciplined growth and capital allocation; retain and attract best industry talent; and to be an industry leader in responsible mining. In addition to realizing the full potential of the Morelos Property, the Company continues to seek opportunities to acquire assets that enable diversification and deliver value to shareholders.

CAUTIONARY NOTES ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "objective", "target", "continue", "potential", "focus", "demonstrate", "belief" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will", "would", "could" or "is expected to" occur. Forward-Looking Information also includes, but is not limited to, statements that drilling results disclosed herein: provide strong indications that the Company will be able to add to resource inventory generally; will support, together with previously disclosed drilling results, extending the ELG Underground mine life beyond 2029; indicate that there may be more undiscovered mineralized trends/corridors at ELG Underground mine; indicate potential for resource growth in both directions at the Sub-Sill Trend; support the ability to expand and upgrade resources, and replace mined reserves, year after year; support the potential for new inferred resources at El Limon Sur Trend and the Sub-Sill Trend; support the Company's objective of sustaining production levels for the Morelos Complex above 450,000 gold equivalent ounces beyond 2030; and indicate the potential to extend mineralization and increase mineral resources. Forward-Looking Information also include the Company's key strategic objectives to: deliver Media Luna to full production and build EPO; optimize Morelos production and costs; grow reserves and resources; pursue disciplined growth and capital allocation; retain and attract best industry talent; and be an industry leader in responsible mining. Forward-Looking Information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such Forward-Looking Information, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with: the ability to upgrade mineral resources to categories of mineral resources with greater confidence levels or to mineral reserves; risks associated with mineral reserve and mineral resource estimation; and those risk factors identified in the 2022 Technical Report, the AIF, and the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 (the "MD&A") or other unknown but potentially significant impacts. Forward-Looking Information is based on the assumptions discussed in the 2022 Technical Report, AIF, and MD&A, and such other reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date such statements are made. 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. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. The Company does not undertake to update any Forward-Looking Information, whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. The 2022 Technical Report, AIF and MD&A are filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and the Company's website at www.torexgold.com.

Figure 1: Drilling has identified second order structures running parallel to main trends and extended known mineralization both laterally and vertically

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1863/269120_126a4f57e4408b60_001full.jpg

Figure 2: Drilling results along the El Limon Sur Trend indicate the potential to expand resources at depth

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1863/269120_126a4f57e4408b60_002full.jpg

Figure 3: Drilling results along the Sub-Sill Trend demonstrate potential to expand and upgrade mineral resources

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1863/269120_126a4f57e4408b60_003full.jpg

Table 4: Drill results along the El Limon Sur Trend



















Intercept

Drill

Hole Program UTM-E

(m) UTM-N

(m) Elevation

(m) Azimuth

() Dip

() Final

Depth

(m) From

(m) To

(m) Core

Length

(m) True

Width

(m) Au

(gpt) Ag

(gpt) Cu

(%) AuEq

(gpt) Core

Recovery

(%) LDUG-390 Infill 422209.5 1990019.0 722.0 291.0 -1.0 90.0 45.9 50.2 4.3 4.0 27.89 1.6 0.01 27.91 100.0 Including













48.3 50.2 1.9 1.8 58.80 3.0 0.00 58.84 100.0 LDUG-408 Infill 422209.6 1990017.6 721.5 258.5 -27.5 384.0 114.5 116.4 1.9 1.6 13.70 13.0 0.32 14.38 100.0















222.7 225.0 2.3 2.0 6.38 1.9 0.01 6.41 100.0 LDUG-410 Infill 422209.8 1990017.7 721.3 257.9 -43.5 456.0 112.0 121.0 9.0 6.4 7.63 3.9 0.07 7.80 98.3 LS-380 Step-Out 421646.8 1989805.7 571.1 86.0 -13.7 627.0 434.5 436.9 2.4 2.3 1.92 6.4 0.20 2.34 100.0 LS-381 Step-Out 422210.2 1990019.6 721.1 291.0 -53.0 207.0 110.6 114.6 4.0 2.3 1.23 13.8 0.78 2.66 99.7 LS-382 Step-Out 422209.9 1990016.9 721.1 242.0 -32.0 171.0 104.4 107.1 2.7 2.0 5.95 5.6 1.01 7.65 100.0 Including













104.4 105.4 1.0 0.8 14.30 5.0 0.87 15.76 100.0 LS-383 Step-Out 422204.5 1990127.8 676.5 242.0 15.0 132.0 105.2 109.0 3.8 3.2 0.30 0.5 0.08 0.43 100.0 LS-385 Infill 422149.1 1989629.2 807.9 270.0 40.0 180.0 126.7 130.2 3.5 2.7 2.93 1.5 0.10 3.11 100.0















169.1 174.4 5.3 4.0 0.10 1.5 0.05 0.20 99.1 LS-386 Step-Out 422204.5 1990128.2 676.5 242.0 -30.0 132.0 117.2 120.0 2.8 2.1 0.41 7.2 0.67 1.59 100.0 LS-387 Step-Out 422149.1 1989629.15 806.271 268.11 18.13 219 93.1 100.3 7.2 6.8 2.32 7.4 0.22 2.77 100.0















107.0 126.0 19.0 18.0 3.01 3.2 0.11 3.23 99.5 Including













115.0 119.0 4.0 3.8 6.12 2.0 0.07 6.26 98.3















136.0 142.0 6.0 5.5 4.64 15.2 0.15 5.1 100.0 Including













140.6 142.0 1.4 1.3 18.50 54.0 0.25 19.6 100.0 LS-390 Step-Out 421646.8 1989805.2 570.8 93.0 -8.5 620.0 314.0 315.7 1.8 1.7 1.63 18.4 0.98 3.44 99.0 LS-391 Step-Out 422149.4 1989629.1 805.0 268.6 -10.4 222.0 70.5 74.7 4.3 4.2 3.05 21.7 0.15 3.56 100.0 LS-393 Step-Out 422149.3 1989627.9 807.2 242.9 33.6 201.0 162.1 170.1 8.0 5.9 0.02 0.5 0.01 0.05 100.0 LS-395 Step-Out 422146.6 1989628.0 805.5 243.0 6.0 189.0 160.1 167.6 7.5 6.6 4.55 1.0 0.10 4.72 100.0 LS-397 Step-Out 422149.5 1989629.1 805.3 270.0 2.0 210.0 132.0 137.0 5.0 5.0 5.89 2.4 0.07 6.03 100.0















193.6 198.7 5.1 5.1 0.40 18.4 0.62 1.64 100.0 LS-400 Step-Out 422149.2 1989628.4 806.5 256.5 26.0 201.0 114.0 117.7 3.7 3.2 8.78 12.2 0.30 9.43 100.0 LS-401 Step-Out 421647.0 1989805.2 571.4 94.0 5.7 400.0 312.5 314.1 1.5 1.5 1.42 1.0 0.00 1.44 100.0

Notes to Table

1) Drill hole intercepts are shown both as core length and true widths.

2) Core lengths subject to rounding. All assay results are uncapped.

3) Coordinates are WGS 1984 UTM Zone 14N.

4) Torex is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data.

5) The gold equivalent grade calculation used is as follows: AuEq (gpt) = Au (gpt) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0127 + Cu (%) * 1.6104 and use the same metal prices ($1,650/oz Au, $22/oz Ag, and $3.75/lb Cu) and metallurgical recoveries (90% Au, 86% Ag, and 93% Cu) used in the year-end 2024 mineral resource estimate for ELG Underground.

Table 4 (continued): Drill results along the El Limon Sur Trend



















Intercept

Drill

Hole Program UTM-E

(m) UTM-N

(m) Elevation

(m) Azimuth

() Dip

() Final

Depth

(m) From

(m) To

(m) Core

Length

(m) True

Width

(m) Au

(gpt) Ag

(gpt) Cu

(%) AuEq

(gpt) Core

Recovery

(%) LS-403 Infill 422204.4 1990128.1 678.5 242.1 44.7 154.5 96.0 125.0 29.0 18.2 6.98 22.7 2.11 10.67 100.0 Including













100.5 103.5 3.0 1.9 10.04 56.0 4.67 18.27 100.0 Including













111.8 117.8 6.1 3.8 14.47 28.7 3.14 19.90 100.0 LS-404 Infill 422120.4 1989649.6 895.9 307.9 -23.3 150.0 118.0 122.3 4.3 3.1 8.55 1.6 0.12 8.77 100.0 LS-406 Infill 422120.3 1989649.4 896.2 301.1 -17.1 162.0 85.4 100.0 14.6 12.0 8.29 2.5 0.04 8.39 100.0 Including













98.2 100.0 1.8 1.5 37.74 5.0 0.20 38.12 100.0















133.0 142.4 9.4 7.5 7.13 1.6 0.14 7.38 99.4 Including













138.5 141.4 2.8 2.3 12.40 1.5 0.03 12.47 98.4 LS-407 Infill 422120.4 1989649.9 896.8 309.3 -0.2 132.0 104.4 111.0 6.6 5.1 3.00 0.6 0.01 3.03 100.0 LS-409 Infill 422120.4 1989650.1 896.2 312.7 -15.0 141.0 73.1 84.0 10.9 7.8 16.52 1.2 0.03 16.58 100.0 Including













78.0 82.0 4.0 2.8 33.41 2.0 0.04 33.50 100.0















95.0 112.2 17.2 13.0 9.16 1.5 0.10 9.34 99.5 Including













104.2 108.0 3.8 2.9 27.50 2.0 0.11 27.70 99.6 LS-411 Infill 422120.2 1989649.2 896.3 294.0 -13.9 144.0 101.3 110.6 9.4 8.3 9.85 0.7 0.03 9.90 100.0 Including













101.3 103.7 2.4 2.2 20.52 1.3 0.02 20.56 100.0 LS-413 Infill 422120.2 1989649.1 896.7 288.0 -1.0 116.6 56.8 57.9 1.1 1.0 11.00 16.0 0.23 11.57 98.1















75.9 87.5 11.6 11.1 12.04 1.4 0.19 12.37 100.0 Including













84.0 87.5 3.5 3.3 35.27 2.4 0.36 35.88 100.0 LS-414 Infill 422120.1 1989648.4 896.7 278.0 -2.0 111.0 66.1 87.5 21.4 21.2 27.99 4.9 0.05 28.13 100.0 Including













76.6 79.5 2.9 2.9 36.94 7.9 0.01 37.07 100.0 Including













83.0 87.5 4.5 4.5 102.79 5.3 0.04 102.92 100.0 LS-416 Infill 422120.2 1989648.4 896.4 277.0 -14.0 132.0 65.6 71.1 5.4 5.2 2.81 1.6 0.10 2.99 100.0















78.1 89.0 10.9 10.2 13.83 1.9 0.01 13.87 100.0 Including













81.0 82.9 1.9 1.8 32.34 3.0 0.00 32.38 100.0 Including













85.0 85.8 0.8 0.8 33.17 2.0 0.00 33.20 100.0

Notes to Table

1) Drill hole intercepts are shown both as core length and true widths.

2) Core lengths subject to rounding.All assay results are uncapped.

3) Coordinates are WGS 1984 UTM Zone 14N.

4) Torex is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data.

5) The gold equivalent grade calculation used is as follows: AuEq (gpt) = Au (gpt) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0127 + Cu (%) * 1.6104 and use the same metal prices ($1,650/oz Au, $22/oz Ag, and $3.75/lb Cu) and metallurgical recoveries (90% Au, 86% Ag, and 93% Cu) used in the year-end 2024 mineral resource estimate for ELG Underground.

Table 4 (continued): Drill results along the El Limon Sur Trend



















Intercept

Drill

Hole Program UTM-E (m) UTM-N

(m) Elevation (m) Azimuth () Dip () Final

Depth

(m) From

(m) To

(m) Core

Length

(m) True

Width

(m) Au

(gpt) Ag

(gpt) Cu

(%) AuEq

(gpt) Core

Recovery

(%) LS-417 Infill 422120.3 1989648.3 896.0 274.1 -26.8 165.0 65.2 78.0 12.8 11.4 1.99 2.3 0.13 2.23 99.2















89.3 96.7 7.4 6.6 5.79 1.1 0.02 5.83 100.0 Including













94.5 96.7 2.2 1.9 13.09 2.4 0.05 13.20 100.0 LS-419 Step-Out 422120.2 1989647.9 896.5 259.3 -9.0 129.0 63.3 85.1 21.8 21.2 2.77 1.2 0.06 2.89 100.0 Including













65.8 66.8 1.0 1.0 18.01 3.0 0.06 18.14 100.0 LS-421 Step-Out 422239.9 1989748.4 900.5 260.0 -21.2 303.0 76.0 84.3 8.3 7.6 2.79 14.4 0.28 3.41 98.7















143.5 152.9 9.4 8.6 6.29 6.0 0.15 6.61 100.0 LS-422 Infill 422120.3 1989648.2 896.0 264.1 -24.2 132.0 75.0 95.0 20.0 18.1 8.52 1.8 0.07 8.66 99.4 Including













89.7 93.0 3.3 3.0 35.65 3.7 0.12 35.89 100.0 LS-424 Infill 422240.0 1989748.3 900.6 253.0 -17.5 270.0 153.4 180.3 26.9 24.6 16.99 2.5 0.02 17.06 99.4 Including













159.6 166.1 6.4 5.9 52.95 5.6 0.04 53.08 99.3















225.9 228.2 2.3 2.1 10.00 8.3 0.30 10.59 100.0 LS-425 Step-Out 422318.1 1990011.1 629.9 269.5 -27.1 296.0 157.0 158.7 1.8 1.6 37.94 1.9 0.00 37.97 100.0 Including













158.1 158.7 0.7 0.6 91.50 4.0 0.00 91.55 100.0















281.6 284.5 2.9 2.3 7.93 60.7 3.92 15.01 100.0 Including













281.6 282.8 1.2 1.0 11.00 102.0 6.70 23.09 100.0 LS-426 Step-Out 422240.3 1989748.3 900.7 249.0 -19.0 315.0 93.8 96.4 2.7 2.4 1.41 6.6 0.11 1.68 100.0

Notes to Table

1) Drill hole intercepts are shown both as core length and true widths.

2) Core lengths subject to rounding. All assay results are uncapped.

3) Coordinates are WGS 1984 UTM Zone 14N.

4) Torex is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data.

5) The gold equivalent grade calculation used is as follows: AuEq (gpt) = Au (gpt) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0127 + Cu (%) * 1.6104 and use the same metal prices ($1,650/oz Au, $22/oz Ag, and $3.75/lb Cu) and metallurgical recoveries (90% Au, 86% Ag, and 93% Cu) used in the year-end 2024 mineral resource estimate for ELG Underground.

Table 5: Drill results at the Sub-Sill Trend



















Intercept

Drill

Hole Program UTM-E

(m) UTM-N

(m) Elevation

(m) Azimuth

() Dip

() Final

Depth

(m) From

(m) To

(m) Core

Length

(m) True

Width

(m) Au

(gpt) Ag

(gpt) Cu

(%) AuEq

(gpt) Core

Recovery

(%) LDUG-411 Infill 422299.9 1990429.1 719.5 248.0 1.0 200.0 173.9 178.0 4.1 3.8 0.03 3.4 0.09 0.21 100.0 LDUG-412 Step-Out 422300.2 1990429.1 718.7 248.0 -18.5 180.0 151.3 153.7 2.5 2.2 0.47 44.0 0.09 1.17 100.0 SST-379 Step-Out 422534.9 1990159.5 1162.3 176.1 -47.9 354.0 315.9 323.0 7.1 3.2 4.43 34.1 0.91 6.33 99.1 SST-383 Step-Out 422181.6 1990137.6 674.2 113.4 -64.0 261.0 158.0 161.8 3.8 2.3 10.28 1.0 0.02 10.33 100.0 Including













161.3 161.8 0.5 0.3 67.30 4.0 0.06 67.45 100.0 SST-384 Step-Out 422211.5 1990128.4 674.7 104.0 -36.5 285.0 205.7 209.0 3.3 2.6 6.15 2.2 0.01 6.19 100.0 Including













207.7 209.0 1.3 1.0 14.90 4.0 0.00 14.95 100.0 SST-385 Step-Out 422534.9 1990159.9 1162.1 175.0 -54.5 387.0 311.9 324.7 12.7 5.5 1.16 4.6 0.10 1.38 100.0 SST-386 Infill 422211.3 1990128.2 674.9 113.5 -32.8 228.0 149.4 157.6 8.2 6.3 4.56 11.3 0.43 5.40 100.0 Including













150.5 151.5 0.9 0.7 23.40 20.0 0.66 24.71 100.0















173.4 176.0 2.6 2.0 33.04 3.6 0.05 33.17 100.0 Including













173.4 175.0 1.6 1.2 46.00 4.0 0.00 46.06 100.0 SST-387 Step-Out 422214.0 1990018.2 720.5 76.2 -54.7 222.0 182.7 187.5 4.8 2.7 49.85 23.1 0.36 50.73 100.0 Including













185.4 187.5 2.2 1.2 111.21 20.7 0.07 111.58 100.0 SST-388 Step-Out 422576.1 1989995.6 1198.9 196.8 -70.6 270.0 246.3 255.0 8.7 2.6 5.83 17.2 0.76 7.28 100.0 Including













246.3 248.7 2.4 0.7 17.69 6.1 0.14 17.99 100.0 SST-389 Step-Out 422210.6 1990127.3 674.2 129.2 -61.9 210.0 183.5 186.0 2.6 1.4 31.58 3.4 0.01 31.63 100.0 Including













183.5 184.6 1.1 0.6 63.80 7.0 0.01 63.91 100.0 SST-390 Step-Out 422213.3 1990018.5 720.6 61.0 -73.3 261.0 234.3 237.3 3.0 1.1 0.03 0.5 0.00 0.04 100.0 SST-391 Infill 422210.5 1990125.9 675.5 145.0 -7.1 90.0 70.0 73.0 3.0 1.7 0.79 3.3 0.09 0.98 100.0 SST-392 Infill 422211.4 1990128.4 675.2 87.4 -18.6 210.0 161.1 163.1 2.0 1.9 2.54 17.9 0.68 3.86 100.0















186.3 189.6 3.3 3.1 2.13 32.2 2.20 6.08 99.5 SST-393 Step-Out 422215.4 1990018.5 720.5 74.4 -37.8 324.0 193.5 198.5 5.0 3.8 4.78 1.1 0.02 4.84 100.0 Including













193.5 195.0 1.5 1.1 12.40 0.5 0.00 12.41 100.0 SST-394 Step-Out 422211.5 1990128.4 674.7 88.3 -39.7 276.0 151.0 157.6 6.6 5.0 1.11 85.4 3.82 8.35 36.1 SST-395 Step-Out 422210.7 1990126.0 674.7 133.0 -39.0 111.0 71.1 72.2 1.2 0.7 1.33 9.0 0.59 2.39 100.0

Notes to Table

1) Drill hole intercepts are shown both as core length and true widths.

2) Core lengths subject to rounding. All assay results are uncapped.

3) Coordinates are WGS 1984 UTM Zone 14N.

4) Torex is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data.

5) The gold equivalent grade calculation used is as follows: AuEq (gpt) = Au (gpt) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0127 + Cu (%) * 1.6104 and use the same metal prices ($1,650/oz Au, $22/oz Ag, and $3.75/lb Cu) and metallurgical recoveries (90% Au, 86% Ag, and 93% Cu) used in the year-end 2024 mineral resource estimate for ELG Underground.

Table 5 (continued): Drill results at the Sub-Sill Trend



















Intercept

Drill

Hole Program UTM-E

(m) UTM-N

(m) Elevation

(m) Azimuth

() Dip

() Final

Depth

(m) From

(m) To

(m) Core

Length

(m) True

Width

(m) Au

(gpt) Ag

(gpt) Cu

(%) AuEq

(gpt) Core

Recovery

(%) SST-396 Step-Out 422182.0 1990137.8 674.2 107.9 -57.1 231.0 162.2 167.5 5.3 3.0 2.04 0.9 0.04 2.12 100.0















188.0 192.0 4.0 2.5 1.88 0.5 0.02 1.92 100.0 SST-397 Step-Out 422182.1 1990137.8 674.2 128.8 -65.5 261.0 220.0 222.0 2.0 0.9 4.14 0.5 0.00 4.15 97.3 SST-398 Step-Out 422211.4 1990129.0 675.2 77.0 -18.4 315.0 151.4 155.0 3.7 3.4 0.57 8.5 0.30 1.16 100.0 SST-400 Infill 422247.0 1989748.0 904.0 101.3 41.5 178.5 132.5 139.3 6.8 5.0 3.01 5.0 0.22 3.42 97.9















166.2 169.0 2.8 2.1 3.78 3.1 0.11 3.99 100.0 SST-401 Infill 422384.2 1989903.8 1051.1 263.1 33.4 60.0 42.6 44.8 2.3 1.9 2.15 1.2 0.03 2.22 100.0 SST-406 Infill 422342.8 1989895.6 1044.5 270.5 8.7 60.0 31.0 46.0 15.0 14.8 3.25 9.5 0.67 4.44 99.5 Including













33.9 34.7 0.7 0.7 14.56 105.0 9.21 30.73 98.3 SST-402 Infill 422246.6 1989747.8 903.9 112.5 44.0 177.0 101.2 110.0 8.8 6.8 7.21 10.6 0.54 8.22 99.4 SST-403 Infill 422383.2 1989905.2 1050.5 294.0 19.5 70.0 57.2 60.2 3.0 2.6 0.85 13.4 0.43 1.71 100.0 SST-404 Infill 422384.1 1989902.9 1050.1 237.0 19.0 100.0 81.5 83.7 2.3 1.8 0.04 0.5 0.01 0.05 100.0 SST-405 Infill 422246.5 1989747.7 904.1 120.3 46.0 150.0 109.8 111.0 1.1 0.8 2.34 17.0 0.90 4.01 100.0 SST-406 Infill 422342.8 1989895.6 1044.5 270.5 8.7 60.0 31.0 46.0 15.0 14.8 3.25 9.5 0.67 4.44 99.5 Including













33.9 34.7 0.7 0.7 14.56 105.0 9.21 30.73 98.3 SST-407 Infill 422343.2 1989896.9 1044.7 308.5 15.2 50.0 31.7 35.4 3.7 2.8 7.85 33.5 1.78 11.14 100.0 SST-408 Infill 422342.2 1989894.0 1045.7 233.1 23.7 70.0 51.8 54.0 2.2 1.6 1.70 0.5 0.01 1.72 100.0 SST-409 Step-Out 422570.9 1990144.5 1162.7 187.4 -45.7 340.0 307.5 317.0 9.5 2.9 23.91 25.6 0.92 25.73 100.0 Including













312.0 315.3 3.3 1.0 61.51 61.0 2.25 65.90 100.0 SST-410 Infill 422093.9 1990077.2 1041.4 118.0 -18.1 186.0 162.3 167.1 4.8 4.0 1.68 2.7 0.12 1.90 100.0 SST-411 Step-Out 422570.6 1990144.9 1162.6 193.0 -46.0 357.0 338.0 339.6 1.6 0.6 5.05 24.0 0.07 5.47 99.0 SST-412 Infill 422093.9 1990077.2 1041.4 117.1 -11.8 205.0 184.2 186.5 2.3 2.0 7.45 2.0 0.03 7.53 100.0 Including













184.2 185.4 1.2 1.0 13.23 2.0 0.02 13.29 100.0















190.9 196.9 6.0 5.2 4.32 1.9 0.10 4.51 100.0 Including













190.9 191.9 0.9 0.8 22.7 3.0 0.0 22.8 100.0

Notes to Table

1) Drill hole intercepts are shown both as core length and true widths.

2) Core lengths subject to rounding. All assay results are uncapped.

3) Coordinates are WGS 1984 UTM Zone 14N.

4) Torex is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data.

5) The gold equivalent grade calculation used is as follows: AuEq (gpt) = Au (gpt) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0127 + Cu (%) * 1.6104 and use the same metal prices ($1,650/oz Au, $22/oz Ag, and $3.75/lb Cu) and metallurgical recoveries (90% Au, 86% Ag, and 93% Cu) used in the year-end 2024 mineral resource estimate for ELG Underground.

Table 5 (continued): Drill results at the Sub-Sill Trend



















Intercept

Drill

Hole Program UTM-E

(m) UTM-N

(m) Elevation

(m) Azimuth

() Dip

() Final

Depth

(m) From

(m) To

(m) Core

Length

(m) True

Width

(m) Au

(gpt) Ag

(gpt) Cu

(%) AuEq

(gpt) Core

Recovery

(%) SST-414 Infill 422093.6 1990076.8 1041.2 127.0 -20.0 192.0 185.1 190.7 5.6 4.2 8.19 9.7 0.47 9.07 98.7 Including













188.7 190.7 2.0 1.5 14.58 15.0 0.65 15.81 98.6 SST-415 Infill 422093.7 1990077.0 1041.0 123.0 -26.0 170.0 158.2 162.4 4.2 3.3 1.86 4.0 0.19 2.22 100.0 SST-416 Infill 422246.7 1989747.6 903.4 119.0 35.2 216.0 177.0 178.0 1.0 0.8 2.46 1.0 0.06 2.56 100.0 SST-417 Infill 422093.9 1990077.4 1041.0 113.0 -23.2 165.0 150.6 153.0 2.4 2.0 0.06 0.8 0.05 0.15 100.0 SST-418 Infill 422547.4 1990154.1 1162.5 195.4 -59.6 380.0 359.8 367.4 7.5 2.5 2.57 17.1 0.63 3.80 99.8 Including













366.0 367.4 1.4 0.5 6.56 65.0 2.27 11.05 99.0 SST-419 Infill 422093.4 1990076.4 1041.1 135.0 -21.7 190.0 181.4 190.0 8.6 5.6 6.61 9.4 0.37 7.33 100.0 SST-420 Infill 422247.0 1989748.0 901.3 98.9 0.3 150.0 112.5 116.8 4.3 4.2 8.11 4.0 0.16 8.42 100.0 Including













115.5 116.8 1.3 1.3 23.40 3.0 0.07 23.54 100.0 SST-421 Step-Out 422547.4 1990154.1 1162.5 184.8 -50.3 369.0 290.8 292.1 1.3 0.4 1.62 7.0 0.31 2.21 99.7 SST-422 Infill 422094.0 1990077.4 1041.2 110.0 -17.1 186.0 144.1 146.0 1.9 1.7 0.19 1.0 0.01 0.22 100.0 SST-425 Infill 422547.4 1990154.1 1162.5 192.0 -56.9 474.0 114.2 116.3 2.1 0.6 0.04 92.0 0.21 1.54 100.0

Notes to Table

1) Drill hole intercepts are shown both as core length and true widths.

2) Core lengths subject to rounding. All assay results are uncapped.

3) Coordinates are WGS 1984 UTM Zone 14N.

4) Torex is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data.

5) The gold equivalent grade calculation used is as follows: AuEq (gpt) = Au (gpt) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0127 + Cu (%) * 1.6104 and use the same metal prices ($1,650/oz Au, $22/oz Ag, and $3.75/lb Cu) and metallurgical recoveries (90% Au, 86% Ag, and 93% Cu) used in the year-end 2024 mineral resource estimate for ELG Underground.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269120

SOURCE: Torex Gold Resources Inc.
Exclusive collaboration and license agreement for the development and global commercialisation of Arbor's clinical-stage gene editing programme, ABO-101 for primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1)





Multitarget research collaboration and option agreement for Arbor's innovative gene editing technologies for the development of additional rare liver disease targets





Arbor eligible to receive up to $115M in upfront and near-term payments, along with $2B in potential development, regulatory and commercial milestones and low double-digit tiered royalties for products licensed under the agreements



PARMA, Italy and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chiesi Group, an international research-oriented biopharmaceutical company, together with Arbor Biotechnologies, Inc., a next-generation biotechnology company discovering and developing innovative approaches in genetic medicines, today announced an exclusive global collaboration and license agreement for Arbor's clinical stage programme ABO-101 in PH1 together with a multitarget option agreement for the use of Arbor's advanced gene editing platform technology to develop novel liver targeted therapies for rare diseases.

At Chiesi Group, these programmes are spearheaded by Chiesi Global Rare Diseases, the Group's dedicated business unit focused on research, development, and commercialisation of therapies for rare and ultra-rare conditions.

"This collaboration marks a transformative moment-not just for us, but for the entire rare disease community. It reflects our commitment to working towards more comprehensive therapeutic options. Achieving this means looking beyond current approaches and exploring the potential of gene editing." said Giacomo Chiesi, Executive Vice President, Chiesi Global Rare Diseases. "While this path holds immense promise, we know there is still a long journey ahead, and much to learn. That's why we are proud to partner with Arbor Biotechnologies, a leader in the gene editing space with proven expertise in clinical development. This strategic collaboration brings together complementary strengths and reinforces our unwavering mission: to bring lasting hope to patients and their families through meaningful innovation."

"We're proud to join forces with Chiesi, a company that shares our deep commitment to improving outcomes for patients with rare and life-threatening diseases. Chiesi brings a strong track record in rare disease innovation, combined with our platform of advanced gene editors, we aim to deliver significant solutions that can redefine care for patients living with PH1 and other rare genetic diseases," said Devyn Smith, PhD, CEO of Arbor Biotechnologies.

Under the terms of the transaction, Chiesi will receive exclusive rights to develop and commercialise ABO-101 for PH1 and the option to leverage Arbor's knockout (KO) and reverse transcriptase (RT) editing technology to advance additional rare disease targets, providing Arbor upfront and near-term payments of up to $115M. In addition, Arbor is eligible to receive up to $2B in total milestone payments and up to low double-digit tiered royalties. Arbor and Chiesi will collaborate on the ongoing Phase 1/2 redePHine (NCT06839235) clinical study of ABO-101 in PH1.

"Genomic medicines offer vast potential to impact the lives of patients around the world, especially those living with rare genetic diseases.We look forward to partnering with Chiesi's experienced and committed team to help accelerate ABO-101 in the clinic and advance development of liver-targeted gene editing therapeutics for patients with PH1 and other rare diseases," said Dan Ory, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Arbor Biotechnologies.

About Primary Hyperoxaluria Type I (PH1)

Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 is an ultra-rare lifelong genetic disease, where a mutation in the AGXT gene leads to an enzyme deficiency in the liver resulting in an overproduction of oxalate by the liver and eventual buildup of oxalate crystals in the kidney and other organ systems. As the disease progresses, it can cause recurring kidney stones, kidney damage and eventually lead to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and systemic oxalosis. While two siRNA therapies are available for lifelong treatment, the only cure for PH1 is a dual liver and kidney transplant.

About ABO-101

ABO-101 is a novel, investigational gene editing medicine designed to be a one-time liver-directed gene editing treatment that potentially results in a permanent loss of function of the HAO1 gene in the liver to reduce PH1-associated oxalate production. ABO-101 is currently being evaluated for PH1 in the redePHine Phase 1/2 clinical study (NCT06839235). ABO-101 consists of a lipid nanoparticle (LNP), licensed from Acuitas Therapeutics, encapsulating messenger RNA expressing a novel Type V CRISPR Cas12i2 nuclease and an optimized guide RNA which specifically targets the human HAO1 gene. ABO-101 has not been approved for any use by the FDA or any other regulatory agency.

About the redePHine Study

The Phase 1/2 redePHine study is an open label global multi-centre dose escalation study to evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and preliminary efficacy of a single dose of ABO-101 in participants with primary hyperoxaluria type 1. The trial will consist of 2 Study Periods. During the first Study Period, there will be 2 parts. In Part A, adult participants will be treated with a single ascending dose to identify a recommended dose. In Part B, paediatric participants will be treated with the recommended dose. Following the first Study Period, participants will start Study Period 2, a long-term monitoring programme to comply with local and national requirements.

About Chiesi Group

Chiesi is a research-oriented international biopharmaceutical group that develops and markets innovative therapeutic solutions in respiratory health, rare diseases, and specialty care. The company's mission is to improve people's quality of life and act responsibly towards both the community and the environment. By changing its legal status to a Benefit Corporation in Italy, the US, France and Colombia, Chiesi's commitment to creating shared value for society as a whole is legally binding and central to company-wide decision-making. As a certified B Corp since 2019, Chiesi is part of a global community of businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental impact. The company aims to reach Net-Zero greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions by 2035.

With 90 years of experience, Chiesi is headquartered in Parma (Italy), with 31 affiliates worldwide, and counts more than 7,500 employees. The Group's research and development centre in Parma works alongside 6 other important R&D hubs in France, the US, Canada, China, the UK, and Sweden.

About Chiesi Global Rare Diseases

Chiesi Global Rare Diseases is a business unit of the Chiesi Group established to deliver innovative therapies and solutions for people living with rare diseases. As a family business, Chiesi Group strives to create a world where it is common to have a therapy for all diseases and acts as a force for good, for society and the planet. The goal of the Global Rare Diseases unit is to ensure equal access so as many people as possible can experience their most fulfilling life. The unit collaborates with the rare disease community around the globe to bring voice to underserved people in the health care system.

About Arbor Biotechnologies, Inc.

Arbor Biotechnologies, a clinical stage, next-generation gene editing company based in Cambridge, MA, is advancing a pipeline of novel gene editing therapeutics to address a wide range of genetic conditions - from the ultra-rare to the most common genetic diseases. The company's unique suite of optimized gene editors, which is capable of approaches ranging from gene knockout, excisions, reverse transcriptase editing, and large gene insertion, goes beyond the limitations of early editing technologies to unlock access to new gene targets and has fueled a robust pipeline of first-in-class assets focused on diseases of high unmet need. With Arbor's clinical programme, ABO-101 for the treatment of primary hyperoxaluria type 1, the company continues to focus its research and development efforts on genomic diseases of the liver and CNS for which there are no existing functional cures.

Chiesi Global Rare Diseases Media Contact

Sky Striar

LifeSci Communications

sstriar@lifescicomms.com

Arbor Biotechnologies Media Contact:

Peg Rusconi

Deerfield Group

prusconi@deerfieldgroup.com
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TORONTO, ONTARIO / ACCESS Newswire / October 6, 2025 / Highlander Silver Corp. (TSX:HSLV; "Highlander Silver" or the "Company") is pleased to report assay results from the third series of holes into the expanding Bonita vein system which include the discovery of a new zone called Kusy that has returned the highest grades of gold and silver reported to date. Kusy is part of the Bonita vein system which is exposed along a ridgeline approximately 10km to the south of the bonanza grade Ayelen deposit at the San Luis gold-silver project in Central Peru.

Highlights are listed below, with corresponding images in Figures 1-2 and detailed results in Tables 1-2.

Highlights

BOD-021, targeting the central portion of Kusy approximately 150m to the northeast of previously reported drilling, returned 23.6m of 15.56 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold ("Au") and 74.49 g/t silver ("Ag") from 8.8m downhole

The Kusy discovery is the result of the first drilling on the eastern flank of the Bonita vein system exposure and consists of breccias and fine quartz vein fragments similar to the mineralization encountered in drilling on the western exposure

BOD-019, tested the Kusy zone from a platform to the northwest of BOD-021, and returned 7.4m of 8.10 g/t Au and 6.55 g/t Ag from 48.4m downhole

BOD-018 was drilled into the western exposure from a step-out platform to the southeast of previously reported BOD-015 (23.7m of 3.31 g/t Au and 9.60 g/t Ag) and returned 10.1m of 3.81 g/t Au and 7.72 g/t Ag from 32.3m downhole

BOD-017 was collared from the same platform as BOD-018 and intersected 14.6m of 1.71 g/t Au and 5.35 g/t Ag from 41.8m downhole

The next set of drill results are expected to be released when complete assays are received in approximately six weeks and will include follow up drilling in the new Kusy discovery and step-out drilling in the western exposure

The Bonita vein system encompasses a number of silicified structures exposed in outcrop over an area of 800m by 200m and remains open in all directions

Results are being processed from a magnetic geophysical survey undertaken by dual quadcopters aimed at mapping the full extent of the Bonita vein system under cover to the west and in rugged topography to the east and northeast

Figure 1 - Plan View of Bonita Vein System

Figure 2 - Image of Core from BOD-021 (22.1m to 25.60m)

Note: Silicified breccia typical of the Bonita vein system, including millimetric veinlets within altered andesitic bands.

Table 1 - Assay Results

Hole ID From

(m) To

(m) Interval

(m) Au

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) BOD-016 32.1 36.5 4.4 0.94 12.06 BOD-017 41.8 56.4 14.6 1.71 5.35 and 73.9 76.5 2.6 0.74 1.37 BOD-018 32.3 42.4 10.1 3.81 7.72 BOD-019 48.4 55.8 7.4 8.10 6.55 and 82.4 84.5 2.1 0.63 3.75 BOD-020 67.0 70.8 3.8 0.56 73.33 BOD-021 8.8 32.4 23.6 15.56 74.49

Note: Reported intervals are apparent widths as the full geometry of the mineralized structures has not yet been fully modelled. Assays were not capped, and composite intervals are calculated using a minimum weighted average of 0.5 g/t Au, over a minimum core length of 2m, allowing internal dilution.

Table 2 - Collar Locations

Hole ID Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation

(m) Depth

(m) Azimuth

() Dip

() BOD-016 188111 8953642 3970 139.5 88 -58 BOD-017 188111 8953642 3970 182.5 335 -70 BOD-018 188112 8953642 3970 138.5 32 -50 BOD-019 188005 8953861 3996 126.0 105 -35 BOD-020 188006 8953861 3996 89.5 54 -35 BOD-021 188029 8953820 3995 87.0 85 -40

Technical Information and Quality Control / Quality Assurance

All drilling was completed with HQ core. The drill core is split in half using a diamond saw. Core is logged by the Company's geologist on site who outlines the intervals to be sampled. The maximum sample length is 1.5 meters and lengths are adjusted according to lithological and/or mineralogical contacts.

After sawing, one-half of the core is kept on site in core boxes, and the other half is submitted for analysis. Individual sample bags are sealed and placed into larger bags, which are then sealed and marked with the contents.

Samples are transported by Highlander Silver personnel to ALS Peru S.A. ("ALS") located in Lima, Peru, where they are prepared and analyzed. ALS is independent of the Company.

In ALS, the entire sample is crushed to approximately 80% passing through a 2mm sieve. A 500 g fraction is pulverized. Gold concentration is determined by fire assay of a 30-gram charge with an AA finish (Au-AA23). Silver, lead, copper, and zinc, along with other elements, are analyzed by ICP utilizing a four-acid digestion (ME-ICP61). Over-limit samples for Au (10 g/t Au) follow gravitational finishing Au-GRA21 (30g sample). Over-limit samples for Ag (100 g/t Ag) follow gravitational finishing Ag-GRA21 (30g sample).

The internal QA/QC program includes the submission of field duplicates (1/4 core), pulp and coarse reject duplicates, and the insertion of commercial standards and blanks (coarse and fine). Control samples account for more than 15% of the total samples sent, in addition to the laboratory's internal quality assurance programs.

The Company is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein.

The scientific and technical information, including the drillhole data, has been verified by Dr. Sergio Gelcich. This verification involves data validation and quality assurance procedures, such as reviewing logging directly in front of the core, analyzing database integrity, conducting quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) for assays, and cross-checking the original lab certificates.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Sergio Gelcich, P.Geo., Vice President, Exploration, Highlander Silver, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

On behalf of Highlander Silver

"Daniel Earle"

President & CEO, Director

Information contact

Arun Lamba, Vice President Corporate Development

alamba@highlandersilver.com

About Highlander Silver

Highlander Silver is primarily focused on advancing the bonanza grade San Luis gold-silver project that is located adjacent to the past-producing Pierina mine in Central Peru. San Luis hosts Indicated Mineral Resources of 356 koz Au at 24.4 g/t Au and 8.4 Moz Ag at 579 g/t Ag and ranks among the 10 highest grade projects globally in both gold and silver categories.1 The Company's significant shareholders include the Augusta Group, which boasts an exceptional track record of value creation totaling over $4.5 billion in exit transactions, and strategic shareholders, the Lundin family and Eric Sprott.

1S&P Global rankings including the San Luis gold-silver project.

The mineral resource estimate disclosed herein is derived from Highlander Silver's technical report titled "Technical Report on the San Luis Property" with an effective date of January 15, 2025, prepared by independent qualified person, Martin Mount, MSc MCSM FGS CGeol FIMMM Ceng, and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Forward-looking statements

Certain information contained in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. This includes, but is not limited to, the next set of drill results are expected to be released when complete assays are received in approximately six weeks and will include step-out drilling into the new Kusy discovery and the western exposure. Such forward looking information or statements can be identified by the use of words such as "ramp up", "attempting", "intends", "believes", "plans", "suggests", "targets" or "prospects" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "will" be taken, occur, or be achieved. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company and/or its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, the actual results of current exploration activities, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future prices of precious and base metals, accident, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, and delays in obtaining governmental or stock exchange approvals or financing. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that could cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking information contained herein are made as of the date of this news release. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

SOURCE: Highlander Silver Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/highlander-silver-reports-new-discovery-of-kusy-zone-at-bonita-returning-highest-1081682
TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / October 6, 2025 / McFarlane Lake Mining Limited (CSE:MLM) ("McFarlane Lake" or the "Company" or "McFarlane") is pleased to announce that it has submitted an Exploration Permit for its flagship Juby Gold Project, located near Gowganda, Ontario, one of the most prospective and underexplored regions within the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. The permit - submitted through the Ontario Ministry of Mines- supports the Company's plans for up to 10,000 metres of drilling that is expected to commence before year-end and target multiple high-priority zones across the property.

The upcoming exploration campaign will also include geophysical surveys, including Induced Polarization (IP) and Magnetic surveys, to refine and expand drill targets and better define near-surface and deeper mineralized trends.

In parallel with exploration permitting, McFarlane has initiated an environmental baseline study, a key step towards responsible development, advancing future production permitting timetables and further de-risking the Juby Gold Project. The study will set the foundation for McFarlane's first closure plan and pave the way toward an Advanced Exploration Permit, a critical step that would allow for bulk sampling and the potential shipment of initial high-grade ore from the Juby Gold Project for processing offsite.

"The submission of our exploration permit marks an important step forward for the Juby Gold Project," said Mark Trevisiol, CEO of McFarlane Lake Mining. "We are aligning our exploration plans with strong environmental stewardship and regulatory compliance as we advance development and de-risk this highly prospective gold asset."

The Juby Gold Project hosts a significant near-surface gold resource (Non-compliant NI 43-101 resource, see note below) with strong potential for expansion both along strike and at depth. The upcoming drill program is designed to expand known mineralization, test high-priority targets, and improve resource confidence across the deposit area.

The Company will provide further updates as they become available.

McFarlane is also expecting to release an updated Mineral Resource Estimate on the property in the coming days.

For further information visit www.mcfarlanelakemining.com, or contact:

Mark Trevisiol,

Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

McFarlane Lake Mining Limited

info@mcfarlanelakemining.com

About McFarlane Lake Mining Limited

McFarlane Lake is a gold exploration company focused on exploring and advancing the Juby Gold project near Gowganda, Ontario. The Juby Gold project has a non-compliant (NI 43-101 compliant) inferred resource of 1,488,000 ounces at 0.98 gpt gold and Indicated resource of 773,000 ounces at 1.13 gpt gold. These resources are detailed in the "Technical Report on the Update Mineral Resource Estimate on the Juby Gold Project", co-authored by GeoVector Management and SGS Geological Services having an effective date of July 14, 2020. McFarlane is currently updating these historical resources to be fully compliant to NI 43-101 standards using current long term gold pricing.

McFarlane's other properties include and the past producing McMillan Gold Mine property and Mongowin gold property located 70 km west of Sudbury, Ontario. The exploration of the High Lake mineral property located immediately east of the Ontario-Manitoba border and the West Hawk Lake mineral property located immediately west of the Ontario-Manitoba border. In addition, McFarlane Lake owns the Michaud/Munro mineral properties 115 km east of Timmins. McFarlane Lake is a "reporting issuer" under applicable securities legislation in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta.

Readers are cautioned to refer to the "Cautionary Note Regarding Historical Estimates," and all other disclaimers included in this news release for important information regarding the limitations and verification status of the data presented above and elsewhere herein.

Additional information on McFarlane Lake can be found by reviewing its profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com

Historical Technical Data

Under NI 43-101 guidelines the technical data regarding resources and information which supports these provided in this announcement is considered to be historical. The data and information were taken from a report titled "Technical Report on the Update Mineral Resource Estimate on the Juby Gold Project", co-authored by GeoVector Management and SGS Geological Services having an effective date of July 14, 2020. Per the 2020 report, the Juby property had an inferred resource of 1,488,000 ounces of gold at 0.98 gpt and an indicated resource of 773,000 ounces of gold at 1.13 gpt.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information disclosed in this news release was reviewed and approved by Wesley Whymark P. Geo, consulting geologist to the company and Mark Trevisiol, P.Eng., an officer of the company. Both individuals are a "qualified person" as defined under NI 43-101. Where historical information has not been verified, the report is clearly indicated.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation, including but not limited to the Proposed Acquisition, the terms and timing thereof, any related financing plans, the requirement for shareholder approval, and the anticipated method of obtaining such approval (if required), as well as the Company's intentions with respect to regulatory approvals, including acceptance by the CSE. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of McFarlane to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption "Risks Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form dated as of November 27, 2024, which is available for view on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks related to the ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals (including final acceptance of the Proposed Acquisition by the CSE), risks related to financing arrangements and market conditions, and risks generally associated with the execution of business transactions in the mining sector.

Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and McFarlane disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: McFarlane Lake Mining Limited

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/correction-from-source-mcfarlane-lake-mining-submits-exploration-permit-applicati-1081956
QUEBEC, QC / ACCESS Newswire / October 6, 2025 / The Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers (GSGP) announced a new partnership with AquaAction to co-host the 2026 AquaHacking Binational, a 10-month accelerator program mobilizing 1,000 students, innovators and entrepreneurs from the United States and Canada to develop cutting-edge technological solutions to the urgent water challenges facing the region. The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative will also serve as a co-host. This partnership is a powerful call for innovation and cross-border collaboration for our most precious shared resource.

AquaAction press conference

Participating members pose for a photo at the AquaHacking program launch in Quebec City October 5.

The announcement took place at the GSGP Leadership Summit in Quebec City, where Governors and Premiers gathered under the theme of strengthening the region's economy, transportation, energy, and water resources.

The 2026 AquaHacking Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Binational program builds on AquaAction's proven track record of impact, having supported the launch of more than 100 water-focused startups across North America, creating 400+ jobs, and generating over $200 million (CAD) in revenues. Now in its 10th year, the 2026 binational will be the largest AquaHacking to date, in which participants will receive intensive mentorship, technical guidance, seed funding, and strategic support to develop promising technologies into impactful businesses. Participants will tackle practical issues ranging from resilient water infrastructure and water-efficient agriculture to new circular economy opportunities such as the 100% Great Lakes Fish Initiative. The AquaHacking Binational will draw talent from across the region, ensuring broad participation and diverse perspectives.

The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence sustain 110 million people and an economy valued at more than $9.3 trillion (US), while also supporting shipping, farming, manufacturing, energy, and recreation. Meeting the region's water challenges with fresh ideas will help ensure these waters remain a competitive advantage for decades to come.

Backed by visionary partners including the founding partner of AquaAction, the de Gaspe Beaubien Foundation, as well as Ovivo, RBC Foundation, and Glencore , AquaAction invites partners to scale this transformative initiative.

"The water crisis is starting to hit home. Microplastics are in our water, droughts impacting our jobs, taps running dry. We must come together to fix these issues. If not now, when, and if not us, then who?" said Francois de Gaspe Beaubien, de Gaspe Beaubien Foundation, Chair of AquaAction.

"This is more than a program, it's a powerful beacon of cross-border collaboration. We're inviting post-secondary institutions, sponsors, and city leaders to join us in empowering the next generation of water innovators. Together, with GSGP and the Cities Initiative, we can build a future that's resilient, inclusive, and water-secure," said Soula Chronopoulos, President of AquaAction.

"The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence are central to our economy and way of life,. By partnering with AquaAction, we aim to give the next generation of innovators the opportunity to develop technologies that can create jobs, strengthen communities, and support responsible economic growth across our region," said David Naftzger, Executive Director of GSGP.

"Innovation without borders is exactly what our freshwater demands. The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative is proud to stand alongside AquaAction in advancing solutions that cross geography and jurisdiction. Together, we are building a pipeline from university labs to municipal deployment-ensuring that brilliant ideas don't remain prototypes but become real tools that communities can implement," said Jonathan Altenberg, President and CEO of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Cities Initiative.

"As a global leader in water treatment solutions, Ovivo is deeply committed to advancing technologies that ensure clean, reliable water for generations to come. The AquaHacking Binational 2026 Program reflects the kind of visionary thinking we need, uniting young minds across borders to tackle real-world water challenges," said Pierre-Marc Sarrazin, Vice-President, Corporate Finance, Development & Treasurer at Ovivo.

More information on AquaHacking Binational 2026 is available at https://aquaaction.org/en/our-programs/aquahacking-challenge/aquahacking-binational-2026 /.

SOURCE: AquaAction

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/agriculture/new-binational-program-to-tackle-great-lakes-and-st.-lawrence-water-issues-with-bold-in-1081886
Cadogan Tate, a premier specialist in high-value storage and logistics for interiors and art handling, is pleased to announce its acquisition of Trefethen Co Bader Olson ("Trefethen Co"), a Seattle-based firm specialising in furniture receiving, warehousing, delivery and installation. With Trefethen's headquarters in Seattle, Washington, the company brings a strong foothold in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. This is Cadogan Tate's seventh acquisition since being acquired by TSG Consumer, a leading private equity firm specializing in consumer brands.

This strategic acquisition aligns with Cadogan Tate's commitment to delivering truly integrated, end-to-end services across art, furniture and interiors. It further strengthens Cadogan Tate's unique position as a global provider with a physical presence in the Pacific Northwest, enabling seamless project delivery from coast to coast.

The combined entity will offer clients a streamlined, unified experience underpinned by deep domain expertise, and the operational scale to support complex, multidisciplinary projects. Whether for private residences, architectural fit-outs, galleries or corporate environments, this union allows clients to partner with a single provider spanning art handling, interiors and furniture logistics and installation services.

"Integrating Trefethen Co into Cadogan Tate marks an important step forward in realising our vision of a truly global, integrated home services platform," said Ben Clark, Group CEO, Cadogan Tate. "With Trefethen's esteemed presence in the Pacific Northwest and expertise in moving and furniture handling, we are now able to offer clients a clear advantage, not only through our broadened geographic reach, but also by delivering a consistent standard of excellence across art, interiors and installations worldwide."

Throughout the short period of integration, both organisations will prioritise continuity, ensuring clients experience minimal disruption and benefit from enhanced capabilities over time.

Perkins Coie LLP provided legal counsel to Cadogan Tate. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Cadogan Tate

With almost half a century of experience, Cadogan Tate is a leading international specialist in fine-asset logistics: art handling, packing, transport, storage and installation services for museums, galleries, private collections, designers and high net worth clients. The company maintains operations in key global markets-including London, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Aspen, Miami, and Paris-and is now the only provider in its sector with a physical presence in the Pacific Northwest. Learn more at cadogantate.com.

About Trefethen Co Bader Olson

Headquartered in Seattle, Trefethen Co Bader Olson offers professional commercial and residential furniture receiving, warehousing, delivery, installation and repair services. Known for its precision, care and service to the interiors and design community, it is based at 3430 E Marginal Way, Seattle.

About TSG Consumer

Founded in 1986 and focused exclusively on the consumer sector, TSG Consumer Partners, LP is a leading specialist private equity firm with approximately $13 billion in assets under management. TSG Consumer invests in exceptional leaders and transformational brands, supporting their growth and ability to adapt to the ever-evolving needs of today's consumers. Representative past and current partner companies include Cadogan Tate, Canyon Bicycles, Chemical Guys, Dutch Bros Coffee, EoS Fitness, IT Cosmetics, Mavis Tire, Planet Fitness, Revolve, Summer Fridays, Think!, and Yard House. TSG Consumer has investment offices in San Francisco, New York, and London. For more information, please visit tsgconsumer.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251006596977/en/

Contacts:

Cadogan Tate Media Contact: press@cadogantate.com
Anasens Inc., a developer of rapid, connected point-of-care detection tools, today announced it has signed a distribution agreement with MAVAND Solutions GmbH for the commercialization of DrugAsens, Anasens' oral-fluid multidrug testing solution, in key countries across Europe and in Australia. The agreement strengthens Anasens' international footprint and accelerates access to fast, reliable screening for workplaces, law enforcement, and specialized clinics.

"Partnering with MAVAND gives DrugAsens a trusted, on-the-ground channel to reach customers who need rapid results and simple workflows," said Veronique Bougie, Chief Operating Officer of Anasens. "Together, we'll expand access to rapid saliva-based drug testing for roadside law enforcement and workplace safety programs across major industries in several EU countries."

"DrugAsens represents exactly the type of innovation MAVAND wants to bring to market," said Ina Beckers, Managing Director at MAVAND Solutions GmbH. "By combining Anasens' breakthrough technology with our established network, we are well positioned to set a new standard for oral-fluid drug testing in Europe and Australia."

Under the agreement, MAVAND will market, sell, and support DrugAsens in selected EU markets and in Australia, with joint go-to-market activities, training, and post-sales support planned over the coming years.

This announcement marks an important first step for Anasens: building on this partnership, Anasens intends to accelerate its commercial expansion by rapidly entering into new distribution agreements across the world, ensuring complete and consistent market coverage.

About DrugAsens

DrugAsens is a rapid, portable oral-fluid multidrug testing solution designed to deliver clear, digital results on site, with streamlined workflows for workplace programs, law enforcement, public safety, and specialized clinical settings.

About Anasens

Anasens is a deep tech company developing an innovative platform for rapid, quantitative, and connected detection, enabling the analysis of various biological matrices at home, bedside, in the field or elsewhere. This cutting-edge technology, developed in the laboratory of Prof. Alexis Vallee-Belisle, Canada Research Chair in Bioengineering and Bio-nanotechnology, has been under development at the Universite de Montreal for over 10 years. The first product in its portfolio, DrugAsens, is the inaugural offering in a series of innovative tests designed to detect drugs of abuse within minutes directly from saliva. Affordable, easy to use, rapid, sensitive, and specific, it far surpasses the technologies currently available on the market. Learn more at anasens.com.

About MAVAND

MAVAND Solutions GmbH is a German-based provider of drug-of-abuse testing solutions with a strong focus on law enforcement and public safety programs. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio, helping customers implement reliable and efficient screening strategies. With an established presence across Europe and Australia, MAVAND is committed to advancing safer communities through trusted distribution partnerships and customer-focused solutions. Learn more at mavand.de.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251006130132/en/

Contacts:

Media

Anasens Inc.: Frederic Leduc, VP Strategy, info@anasens.com, +1-514-223-1858

MAVAND Solutions GmbH: Ina Beckers, Managing Director, info@mavand.de, +49 (0)2403-756 0340
Geographic Regions Americas and EMEA Reported Double-Digit Increases

MILPITAS, Calif., Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Electronic System Design (ESD) industry revenue increased 8.6% to $5,089.4 million in the second quarter of 2025 from the $4,685.5 million registered in the second quarter of 2024, the ESD Alliance, a SEMI Technology Community, announced today in its latest Electronic Design Market Data (EDMD) report. The four-quarter moving average rose 10.4%, based on a comparison of the most recent four quarters to the prior four.

"The electronic design automation (EDA) industry continues to report strong year-over-year revenue growth in Q2 2025," said Walden C. Rhines, Executive Sponsor of the SEMI Electronic Design Market Data report. "Product categories including Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE), Printed Circuit Board and Multi-Chip Module, Semiconductor IP, and Services reported increases, with CAE and Services showing double digit gains. Geographic regions including Americas, EMEA, and APAC reported growth in Q2, even hitting double digits in Americas and EMEA."

The companies tracked in the EDMD report employed 72,529 people globally in Q2 2025, a 14.8% increase over the Q2 2024 headcount of 63,188 and up 12.6% compared to Q1 2025.

The quarterly EDMD report contains detailed revenue information within the following category and geographic breakdowns.

Revenue by Product and Application Category - Year-Over-Year Change

Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) revenue increased 17.2% to $1,929 million. The four-quarter CAE moving average increased 13.5%.





revenue increased 17.2% to $1,929 million. The four-quarter CAE moving average increased 13.5%. IC Physical Design and Verification revenue decreased 9.9% to $701.9 million. The four-quarter moving average for the category decreased 3.1%.





revenue decreased 9.9% to $701.9 million. The four-quarter moving average for the category decreased 3.1%. Printed Circuit Board and Multi-Chip Module (PCB and MCM) revenue rose 7.8% to $430.5 million. The four-quarter moving average for PCB and MCM rose 8.8%.





revenue rose 7.8% to $430.5 million. The four-quarter moving average for PCB and MCM rose 8.8%. Semiconductor Intellectual Property (SIP) revenue increased 8.7% to $1,826.7 million. The four-quarter SIP moving average rose 13.2%.





revenue increased 8.7% to $1,826.7 million. The four-quarter SIP moving average rose 13.2%. Services revenue increased 11.9% to $201.2 million. The four-quarter Services moving average rose 21.3%.

Revenue by Region - Year-Over-Year Change

The Americas , the largest reporting region by revenue, procured $2,282.4 million of electronic system design products and services in Q2 2025, a 12.2% increase. The four-quarter moving average for the Americas rose 14.1%.





, the largest reporting region by revenue, procured $2,282.4 million of electronic system design products and services in Q2 2025, a 12.2% increase. The four-quarter moving average for the Americas rose 14.1%. Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) procured $650.9 million of electronic system design products and services in Q2 2025, an 11.4% increase. The four-quarter moving average for EMEA grew 10.7%.





procured $650.9 million of electronic system design products and services in Q2 2025, an 11.4% increase. The four-quarter moving average for EMEA grew 10.7%. Japan's procurement of electronic system design products and services decreased 9.2% to $277.4 million. The four-quarter moving average for Japan increased 4.4%.





procurement of electronic system design products and services decreased 9.2% to $277.4 million. The four-quarter moving average for Japan increased 4.4%. Asia Pacific (APAC) procured $1,878.7 million of electronic system design products and services in Q2 2025, a 6.7% increase. The four-quarter moving average for APAC grew 7.2%.

About the EDMD Report

The ESD Alliance Electronic Design Market Data (formerly the Market Statistics Service) report presents Electronic Design Automation (EDA), SIP and Services industry revenue data quarterly. Both public and private companies contribute data to the report available from SEMI. Each quarterly report is published approximately three months after quarter close. EDMD report data is segmented as follows:

Revenue by product category (CAE, IC Physical Design and Verification, SIP, PCB/MCM Layout, and Services) including numerous detailed sub-categories

Revenue by geographic region (Americas, EMEA, Japan and APAC)

Total employment at participating companies

For information about SEMI market research reports, visit the SEMI Market Research Reports and Databases Catalog.

About the Electronic System Design Alliance

The Electronic System Design (ESD) Alliance, a SEMI Technology Community, is the central voice to communicate and promote the value of the semiconductor design ecosystem as a vital component of the global electronics industry. As an international association of companies providing goods and services throughout the semiconductor design ecosystem, it is a forum to address technical, marketing, economic and legislative issues affecting the entire industry. For more information about the ESD Alliance, visit http://esd-alliance.org.

Follow the ESD Alliance

X: @ESDAlliance

LinkedIn

Facebook

About SEMI

SEMI is the global industry association connecting over 3,000 member companies and 1.5 million professionals worldwide across the semiconductor and electronics design and manufacturing supply chain. We accelerate member collaboration on solutions to top industry challenges through Advocacy, Workforce Development, Sustainability, Supply Chain Management and other programs. Our SEMICON expositions and events, technology communities, standards and market intelligence help advance our members' business growth and innovations in design, devices, equipment, materials, services and software, enabling smarter, faster, more secure electronics. Visit www.semi.org, contact a regional office, and connect with SEMI on LinkedIn and X to learn more.

The information supplied by the ESD Alliance is believed to be accurate and reliable, but the ESD Alliance assumes no responsibility for any errors that may appear in this document. All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Association Contacts

Paul Cohen

Phone: 978-769-2106

Email: pcohen@semi.org

Jack Taylor

Phone: 512-560-7143

Email: jack.taylor@siemens.com

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Through investment, strategic alignment, and its expansive distribution network, Relativity's new initiative further enhances the extensibility of RelativityOne and empowers innovators shaping the future of AI-powered legal technology

News Summary:

Relativity introduces Rel Labs, a new initiative to accelerate innovation and enrich the extensibility of RelativityOne amid rapid industry transformation. As part of Relativity's commitment to investing in legal technology through Rel Labs, Relativity announces it plans to:

Invest in new strategic technology partnerships while strengthening its commitment and capital support for existing developer partners

Join The LegalTech Fund (TLTF) as an investor and industry operating partner to identify and back legal technology's most promising startups and entrepreneurs

Enhance the structure of its Developer Program to deliver clearer growth pathways and unlock greater partner impact

CHICAGO, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Global legal technology company Relativity today announced the launch of Rel Labs, an investment arm and innovation hub designed to accelerate transformation across the legal data intelligence ecosystem. Through Rel Labs, Relativity plans to continue to deepen its investment in its developer partner community, while also funding new strategic technology partnerships both directly and through The LegalTech Fund (TLTF). The investments will aim to further extend RelativityOne's platform capabilities, enabling legal teams to solve for a wider array of emerging legal data challenges.

"An extensible, partner-rich platform has always been core to Relativity, and in this moment of AI transformation, it's more critical than ever to back the legal tech community's boldest ideas that further strengthen the trusted system of record and advance the system of action within RelativityOne," said Phil Saunders, CEO of Relativity. "We believe Relativity's proven track record and extensive distribution are exceptional in our space, but our greatest strength is our incredible community. Together, we are combining ingenuity with scale to deliver solutions that elevate the practice of law and define the future of our industry."

Rel Labs: a launchpad for innovation

As part of Rel Labs, Relativity plans to engage and support legal technology companies at various stages, from entrepreneurs with breakthrough concepts to seasoned independent software vendors building enterprise-ready applications. Priority will be given to companies that help Relativity's customers and partners tackle the latest challenges in legal data intelligence through extending RelativityOne's platform, workflows and AI capabilities.

RelativityOne is leveraged by professionals across leading law firms, legal service providers, corporations and government agencies and combines an agentic system of action with a trusted system of record where essential information is secured and enriched. Relativity has expanded beyond its e-discovery roots into a broader set of legal data intelligence use cases, including compliance, investigations, data breach and more, empowering organizations to solve complex challenges with confidence.

The company plans to invest more than $170 million in research and development (R&D) in 2025 and continues to foster a robust ecosystem, backing innovations that shape the industry. With significant investments through Rel Labs, Relativity intends to further amplify its R&D leadership and provide financial backing to accelerate industry-defining advancements.

Those interested in being considered for Rel Labs can learn more here.

Backing the industry's boldest startups in partnership with The LegalTech Fund

Relativity, through its Rel Labs initiative, plans to collaborate with TLTF to identify and support the most promising legal technology startups. As an operating partner, Relativity plans to provide strategic guidance, industry expertise and access to its global network to help accelerate the growth of TLTF portfolio companies. Together, the organizations aim to strengthen the broader legal technology ecosystem and create new opportunities for innovators across the field.

TLTF is dedicated exclusively to transforming the future of the legal industry. To date, it has invested in more than 70 companies redefining how law is practiced and delivered.

"Our partnership with Relativity is about more than innovation-it's about advancing the entire industry by combining capital and company-building expertise with Relativity's market reach," said Zach Posner, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of The LegalTech Fund. "Together, we can help the next generation of entrepreneurs scale faster and deliver real value to the legal industry."

Unlocking growth opportunities for developer partners

Relativity is also advancing its Developer Program with a new structure, launching in 2026, that delivers differentiated benefits, provides clearer growth pathways and elevates developer partners. This program evolution ties directly into the Rel Labs initiative by strengthening Relativity's commitment to empowering its growing ecosystem of more than 50 developer partners and fostering innovation across the legal technology industry. The program now features three categories of developer partners, each designed to reflect the unique ways partners extend, scale and accelerate the impact of RelativityOne:

Innovators: Independent software vendors that build and sell their own applications for RelativityOne System Integrators: Experts delivering custom solutions and services scaling RelativityOne Strategic Partners: Independent software vendors selected by Relativity to co-develop solutions and accelerate impact

The ingenuity and impact of Relativity's community will be front and center at Relativity Fest, taking place Oct. 7-9 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. This year's event features a dedicated Developer Track, kicking off with the "Developer Summit" on Oct. 7. At the summit, attendees will learn about the latest enhancements to the Developer Program, hear from TLTF and explore the RelativityOne roadmap for extensibility. The summit will also include an interactive Q&A with Relativity's executive leaders. This session offers a unique opportunity to gain insight and actively contribute to shaping the platform's future.

On Oct. 9, the "Spotlight: The LegalTech Fund" session will highlight how TLTF brings together leading entrepreneurs and experts to accelerate innovation in the legal industry. TLTF will also participate in "App Hub IRL" on Oct. 9, a session showcasing cutting-edge partner-built solutions. Relativity Fest will culminate with the Innovation Awards, celebrating the community's most impactful contributions to the legal technology industry. Register for Relativity Fest here.

About Relativity

Relativity is a global legal technology company that empowers the legal data intelligence community to organize data, discover the truth and act on it. Its extensible, AI-powered platform, RelativityOne, transforms complex data into insights and actions to elevate the practice of law. Leading corporations, law firms and government agencies worldwide rely on Relativity and its robust partner ecosystem to uncover the most relevant and impactful information across a range of legal work. Relativity expands access to technology by providing its platform at no cost to more than 100 academic institutions through its academic program and to more than 90 organizations supporting pro bono legal work through its Justice for Change initiative.

CONTACT: pr@relativity.com

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Company highlights innovative biologic solutions and hosts Taste of Iceland event featuring a keynote on soft-tissue repair

Kerecis, the company pioneering the use of sustainably sourced fish skin in cellular therapy and tissue regeneration, will present its expanding portfolio of fish-skin grafts at Plastic Surgery The Meeting ("PSTM") 2025, taking place October 9-12 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Kerecis will exhibit at booth 1819.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251006783170/en/

GraftGuide intact fish-skin graft used for burn wound management to support tissue regeneration and healing.

Kerecis' fish-skin technology is increasingly being leveraged in reconstructive procedures, supporting clinicians with biologic solutions that combine efficacy, ease of use, and sustainability. At PSTM 2025, Kerecis will spotlight products designed for a wide range of reconstructive applications, including:

SurgiBind Tendon Protect intact fish-skin graft designed to protect and manage newly repaired tendons to minimize scarring and adhesions.

intact fish-skin graft designed to protect and manage newly repaired tendons to minimize scarring and adhesions. SurgiClose Silicone intact fish-skin graft paired with a non-adhesive silicone layer to efficiently manage exudate and wound moisture in surgical wounds.

intact fish-skin graft paired with a non-adhesive silicone layer to efficiently manage exudate and wound moisture in surgical wounds. SurgiClose Micro fragmented intact fish-skin graft designed to adhere to and fill deep wound spaces and irregular geometries.

fragmented intact fish-skin graft designed to adhere to and fill deep wound spaces and irregular geometries. GraftGuide intact fish-skin graft used for burn wound management to support tissue regeneration and healing.

"Our biologic solutions extend the reconstructive ladder, giving surgeons versatile tools that can improve patient outcomes while minimizing complications. Plastic surgeons are on the front lines of restoring form and function, and our intact fish-skin grafts offer a unique, clinically proven option to support their work," said Kerecis Founder and CEO Fertram Sigurjonsson.

Taste of Iceland Event

Kerecis will also host its signature Taste of Iceland event at PSTM 2025, bringing Icelandic food, culture, and innovation to New Orleans. The event will feature a keynote presentation by Dr. Matthew Endara, MD, entitled "Scaling the Reconstructive Ladder with Fish Skin: A New Paradigm in Soft Tissue Repair." The session will explore how intact fish-skin grafts are reshaping reconstructive approaches, offering new options for patients with complex tissue needs.

About Kerecis

Kerecis, founded by Fertram Sigurjonsson, develops fish skin and fatty acid products for cellular therapy, tissue regeneration, and protection. When grafted onto damaged human tissue or implanted, the patented material supports the body's own processes to heal and regenerate. Because no disease-transfer risk exists between cold-water fish and humans, the Kerecis fish-skin is only gently processed and retains its similarity to human tissue. The gentle processing preserves the skin's original three-dimensional structure, maintaining its inherent natural strength, complexity, and molecules (such as fatty acids). Clinical studies show that Kerecis products heal wounds faster than competitors. Kerecis is the only global manufacturer of medical devices containing intact fish-skin and is the fastest growing company in the U.S. biologics skin market. Products include SurgiBind/SurgiClose, GraftGuide, MariGen, and Shield for various medical applications. Committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Kerecis uses sustainably sourced Icelandic fish processed with renewable energy. Kerecis is a part of Coloplast, a leading supplier of intimate healthcare products. For more information about Kerecis and its clinical research, visit www.kerecis.com.

Trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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Contacts:

Media Relations Agency

(952) 697 5220
LONDON, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- New industry research by the Alternative Credit Council (ACC), the private credit affiliate of the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA), and global law firm Dechert, reveals that as the private credit market matures, managers are refining their fund structures to meet rising investor demands for liquidity, co-investment and bespoke solutions.

The report, 'Trends in Private Credit Fund Structuring 2025' is the second edition of ACC/Dechert's research - updating the 2023 report - into this market theme and delves into the key drivers behind the development of more customised fund structures for institutional, retail, and insurance investors.

The findings of this report are drawn from data and insights from 50 private credit managers managing ~ U.S.$1.5 trillion in private credit assets and a series of one-on-one interviews with industry leaders.

Key findings include:

Investor appetite for co-investment has surged : 92% of managers report an increase in investor demand for co-investment (up from ~70% in 2023).





: 92% of managers report an increase in investor demand for co-investment (up from ~70% in 2023). Investor demand for liquidity is rising : 64% of respondents report rising investor demand for liquidity (up from 49% in 2023), with two-thirds of managers surveyed now having at least one vehicle offering investors some form of periodic redemption (up from around half in 2023).





: 64% of respondents report rising investor demand for liquidity (up from 49% in 2023), with two-thirds of managers surveyed now having at least one vehicle offering investors some form of periodic redemption (up from around half in 2023). Leverage usage remains modest and targeted: 72% of managers employ some leverage (typically 1.0-1.5 NAV) in their private credit strategy, either at the fund or asset level.





72% of managers employ some leverage (typically 1.0-1.5 NAV) in their private credit strategy, either at the fund or asset level. Growing retail participation: Over 50% of managers currently serve high-net-worth or other retail clients; two-thirds are targeting retail capital for new funds.





Over 50% of managers currently serve high-net-worth or other retail clients; two-thirds are targeting retail capital for new funds. Insurance allocations : Rated note feeders are increasingly used as a structuring tool for insurance capital, with 63% of managers having considered them for U.S. insurers, 35% for European and Asian insurers.





: Rated note feeders are increasingly used as a structuring tool for insurance capital, with 63% of managers having considered them for U.S. insurers, 35% for European and Asian insurers. Trusted domicile choices : Luxembourg, Cayman, the U.S. and Ireland remain the top domiciles, with many managers running parallel vehicles to address investor preferences.





: Luxembourg, Cayman, the U.S. and Ireland remain the top domiciles, with many managers running parallel vehicles to address investor preferences. Fee innovation: Approximately two-thirds of respondents use tiered management fee schedules and continue to innovate fee models in response to competitive fundraising pressures.

Global Head of the ACC Jiri Krol, said: "Our new research shows the importance of structuring for investors in private credit - adding value while also allowing investors to tailor their exposure and manage risks. Investor demand for liquidity and co-investment is being met by private credit managers who take the same long-term outlook to their product design as they do to their investments."

Commenting on the findings, Claire Bentley, Partner at Dechert, said: "Effective fund structuring is at the heart of private credit's evolution. Managers who can offer enhanced liquidity, including evergreen vehicles, alongside customised products, flexible fee models and co-investment opportunities are positioning themselves to meet the nuanced demands of institutions, insurers and high-net-worth clients. Our research shows that those who master these tools can expand their investor base without sacrificing the reliable returns that define the asset class."

Read the full report here.

About ACC

The Alternative Credit Council (ACC) is a global body that represents asset management firms in the private credit and direct lending space. It currently represents 250 members that manage over US$2 trillion of private credit assets.

The ACC is an affiliate of AIMA and is governed by its own board which ultimately reports to the AIMA Council.

ACC members provide an important source of funding to the economy. They provide finance to mid-market corporates, SMEs, commercial and residential real estate developments, infrastructure as well the trade and receivables business.

The ACC's core objectives are to provide guidance on policy and regulatory matters, support wider advocacy and educational efforts and generate industry research with the view to strengthening the sector's sustainability and wider economic and financial benefits.

Alternative credit, private debt or direct lending funds have grown substantially in recent years and are becoming a key segment of the asset management industry. The ACC seeks to explain the value of private credit by highlighting the sector's wider economic and financial stability benefits.

About AIMA

The Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) is the world's largest membership association for alternative investment managers. Its membership has more firms, managing more assets than any other industry body, and through our 10 offices located around the world, we serve over 2,000 members in 60 different countries.

AIMA's mission, which includes that of its private credit affiliate, the Alternative Credit Council (ACC), is to ensure that our industry of hedge funds, private market funds and digital asset funds is always best positioned for success. Success in our industry is defined by its contribution to capital formation, economic growth, and positive outcomes for investors while being able to operate efficiently within appropriate and proportionate regulatory frameworks.

AIMA's many peer groups, events, educational sessions, publications and practical tools like its Due Diligence Questionnaires and industry sound practice guidance available exclusively to members, enable firms to actively refine their business practices, policies, and processes to secure their place in that success.

About Dechert

Dechert is the law firm that helps business leaders lead. For more than 150 years, we have advised clients on critical issues - from high-stakes litigation to first-in-market transaction structures and complex regulatory matters. Our nearly 1,000 lawyers in commercial centres worldwide are immersed in the key sectors we serve - financial services, private capital, real estate, life sciences and technology. Dechert delivers unwavering partnership so our clients can achieve unprecedented results.

About Dechert Private Credit

Private credit has been at the heart of our funds practice for more than 30 years and is a foundational pillar of our fund formation and global finance offering across the U.S., Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

We advise across the full spectrum of private credit strategies, including asset-based lending, direct lending and specialty finance, as well as subordinated debt, distressed and special situations, venture debt and permanent capital vehicles.

More than 80% of Private Debt Investor's Top 100 private credit firms turn to Dechert for fund formation, finance, regulatory, M&A and tax matters across key jurisdictions.

Drawing on the breadth of our cross-disciplinary team, we support hundreds of private credit funds and transactions each year. We are at the centre of the deals driving market momentum and help clients anticipate what's next. Through close collaboration with trade bodies and industry groups worldwide, we navigate regulatory change and help shape the market, giving our clients early insight into the direction of travel.

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Regulatory News:

Veolia (Paris:VIE) announces the appointment of Nadege Petit as CEO of the North America Zone, effective December 1, 2025. As part of this role, she will join the Group's executive committee.

This move is aligned with the GreenUp strategic program and supports Veolia's expansion ambitions in the United States, one of the Group's geographic boosters. It strengthens the company's ability to deliver innovative and profitable solutions while fostering organic expansion and capturing new growth opportunities in one of the company's most dynamic markets.

Nadege Petit will bring her international experience in business development, innovation, and profitable growth, with a proven ability to grow businesses and drive results. Her leadership will play a key role in advancing Veolia's businesses and generating long-term value for communities, clients, and shareholders.

In the United States, Veolia is the largest private operator and technology provider in the water sector, as well as the leader in hazardous waste and pollution treatment. In recent years Veolia has established a solid position due to increased demand and organic growth, as well as the successful integration of Suez. Today, the Group aims to accelerate the expansion of its footprint in the U.S.

"North America is a cornerstone of Veolia's global growth strategy and I'm happy that we can reinforce our leadership team at this pivotal moment of acceleration of our activities," said Estelle Brachlianoff, Chief Executive Officer of Veolia. "With her business development track record and her strong background in global energy and resilience solutions, Nadege will bring her dynamism to drive profitable and innovative growth in this key region, meeting strong demand driven by megatrends such as the relocation of strategic industries, water shortages, pollution treatment, and public health concerns

Nadege Petit commented: "I look forward to working with our North American teams to drive innovation, growth, operational excellence, and expand our services delivering impact for the environment, our clients, and our shareholders

Bio of Nadege Petit

Nadege Petit is a prominent international executive with extensive experience in the fields of energy, new technologies and business development.

For over 20 years, she held various leadership positions at Schneider Electric, where she assumed several operational and managerial roles, overseeing major business development, sales, marketing, and R&D developments in Europe, Hong Kong, and the United States. In her most recent position (from 2021 to 2025), Nadege served as Chief Innovation Officer and was a member of the Global Executive Committee. She was responsible for developing future businesses, technologies, and business models by fostering open innovation through external partnerships, business incubators, investments, and joint ventures. Previously, Nadege served as Executive Vice President of the Power Products division, where she was responsible for the overall management of the core low-voltage power business globally.

Nadege Petit serves on the Supervisory Board of E.ON SE and is a member of its Innovation and Sustainability Committee.

Nadege Petit studied at the University of Technology of Compiegne in France, and holds a Master's degree in mechanical engineering. In 2014, she completed an Executive MBA at Kingston University in London.

ABOUT VEOLIA

Veolia group aims to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. Present on five continents with 215,000 employees, the Group designs and deploys useful, practical solutions for the management of water, waste and energy that are contributing to a radical turnaround of the current situation. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, to preserve available resources and to renew them. In 2024, the Veolia group provided 111 million inhabitants with drinking water and 98 million with sanitation, produced 42 million megawatt hours of energy and treated 65 million tonnes of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE) achieved consolidated revenue of 44.7 billion euros in 2024. https://www.veolia.com/en

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Contacts:

VEOLIA

PRESS RELATIONS

Laurent Obadia Evgeniya Mazalova

Anna Beaubatie Aurelien Sarrosquy

Charline Bouchereau

Tel.+ 33 (0) 1 85 57 86 25

presse.groupe@veolia.com

INVESTORS RELATIONS

Selma Bekhechi Ariane de Lamaze

Tel. 33 (0)1 85 57 84 76

investor-relations@veolia.com
CHICAGO, IL / ACCESS Newswire / October 6, 2025 / The region's Governors and Premiers gathered this weekend for their biennial Leadership Summit at the historic Chateau Frontenac. The Summit's focus on a regional Agenda for Growth, led by the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers (GSGP), included major announcements aimed at growing the region's $9.3 trillion (US) economy.

Governors and Premiers Leadership Summit News Confernce

Premier Legault speaks as Premier Ford, Governor Shapiro, and Governor Evers listen during an Oct. 6 news conference at the 2025 GSGP Leadership Summit

Officials attending the Summit included:

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro

Quebec Premier Francois Legault

New York Governor Kathy Hochul

Ontario Premier Doug Ford

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers

Senior officials representing the other Governors and Premiers

During the Summit, the Governors and Premiers announced the following:

Sustainable Agriculture

The Governors and Premiers adopted a resolution creating a regional sustainable agriculture initiative focused on research and multi-sector collaboration.

Aquatic Invasive Species

A Great Lakes Governors' letter to the US Congress calls for full federal funding for operations and maintenance of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project which is designed to protect the Great Lakes from invasive carp.

Transportation

The Governors and Premiers adopted a resolution to guide the future of the region's maritime transportation system. Other maritime features of the Summit program included:

A demonstration of cutting-edge underwater infrastructure inspection technology.

A tour of Davie shipyard.

Celebration of advancements on the new Soo Locks project.

Trees Initiative

As part of the goal of planting 250 million trees by 2033, more than 27 million trees were planted across the region in 2024. The Governors and Premiers ceremonially planted a tree to commemorate the planting of 500 new trees at le foret Montmorency in Quebec.

100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge

Forty-four commercial fish, aquaculture, and partner companies have signed a pledge committing them to productively use 100% of each fish they handle. Read the pledge online here.

Tourism

Cruise the Great Lakes, the region's cruise marketing program, announced that in 2025 there will have been 150,000 cruise passenger visits on six cruise lines across 700 port stops, resulting in a regional economic impact of over $230 million (US). The Great Lakes USA international tourism marketing program continues to grow, with the State of New York and several new destination partners joining the consortium.

Regional Economic Development and International Trade

The Governors & Premiers adopted a resolution on regional economic development.

Finally, the Governors and Premiers elected Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to serve as GSGP's Chair and Indiana Governor Mike Braun to serve as Vice Chair. Governor Shapiro will host the 2027 GSGP Leadership Summit in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Contact Information

Craig Clark

PR Contact

craig@clarkcommunication.com

616-550-2736





SOURCE: Great Lakes Governors and Premiers

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/government/great-lakes-st.-lawrence-governors-and-premiers-launch-regional-agenda-for-growth-1082819
CHICAGO, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amlan is pleased to announce its participation in the 4th edition of the LPN Congress & Expo, taking place October 7-9, 2025 in Miami. This premier gathering for professionals in poultry production and animal nutrition across Latin America will serve as a focal point for innovation, knowledge exchange, and strategic partnership.



Amlan will proudly sponsor the coffee break on Wednesday, October 8, at 10:00 a.m. EST, offering attendees an opportunity to connect informally with Amlan experts and industry peers.



The LPN Congress & Expo brings together more than 3,000 attendees, including over 900 exhibitors, and decision-makers from more than 50 countries. Over three days, participants will engage in a comprehensive technical program with plenary sessions, workshops, and executive tracks, while exploring one of the largest exhibition spaces dedicated to poultry and animal nutrition.



"We're excited to join LPN Congress & Expo in Miami as a platform to engage directly with poultry and nutrition industry leaders," said Heath Wessels, Vice President of Sales, The Americas, Amlan. "Sponsoring the Wednesday coffee break provides us with a relaxed setting to listen, learn, and connect with those shaping the future of the industry."

Amlan's participation reflects its expanding role in Latin America's poultry and livestock industries, where the company continues to build strategic partnerships and deliver science-driven solutions that enhance animal health and producer profitability. With a portfolio of natural feed additives designed to optimize gut health and reduce pathogen challenges, Amlan is helping producers transition toward more sustainable, antibiotic-free production systems.

"This event enables us to share Amlan's latest research and practical solutions in enhanced gut health, and to collaborate on sustainable strategies that benefit producers' performance across Latin America," added Dr. Robin Jarquin, Director of Sales, LATAM, Amlan.



At LPN, Amlan's team will showcase its natural, mineral-based feed additives that support animal health and productivity. They will share technical insights and field research on reducing reliance on antibiotics in livestock production while meeting with customers, distributors, and partners to strengthen relationships and explore new opportunities. Amlan will also participate in knowledge-sharing sessions and networking events that promote progress in the Latin American poultry and livestock industries.



The Amlan team looks forward to contributing to insightful dialogue, discovering emerging trends in poultry farming, and reinforcing its commitment to the Latin American nutrition community.



Company Information

Amlan is the animal health business of Oil-Dri Corporation of America, a leading global manufacturer and marketer of sorbent minerals. Leveraging over 80 years of expertise in mineral science, Oil-Dri Corporation of America, doing business as "Amlan International," is a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ODC). Amlan International sells feed additives worldwide. Product availability may vary by country; associated claims do not constitute medical claims and may differ based on government requirements.

Contact:

Reagan Culbertson, Vice President of Strategic Marketing, B2B

Reagan.culbertson@amlan.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d7363cae-eaa6-42b6-bb53-f9e79f21b9b3
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Saguenay, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - October 6, 2025) - First Phosphate Corp. (CSE: PHOS) (OTCQX: FRSPF) (FSE: KD0) ("First Phosphate" or the "Company") announces that its proposed private placement equity financing, as announced in its press release dated September 29, 2025, will not be proceeding.

The offering under an engagement agreement entered into between the Company and Integrity Capital Group Inc. dated September 28, 2025 has been withdrawn given current market volatility.

"While the response to the proposed offering was exceptional, we have determined that now is not an opportune time for this offering," said John Passalacqua, First Phosphate Chief Executive Officer. "Due to the success of earlier offerings, the Company remains well capitalized to advance its development despite the withdrawal of this offering."

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 Lithium Iron Phosphate 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.

Investor Relations: investor@firstphosphate.com

Media Relations: media@firstphosphate.com

Website: www.FirstPhosphate.com

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 use of the Company's current financial resources. 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, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, and market or business conditions. These statements are based on a number of assumptions including, among other things, assumptions regarding general business and economic conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. 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/269363

SOURCE: First Phosphate Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 6, 2025) - Prospect Park Capital Corp. (the "Company") is pleased to announce that at its special meeting of shareholders on September 26, 2025 (the "Meeting"), shareholders confirmed, by special resolution, an amendment to its amended and restated By-Law No. 1. to remove Article 9. The total number of shares represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting was 3,731,234 , representing 30.12% of all shares eligible to vote at the Meeting, and all (100%) of the shares were voted in favour of the resolution.

Accordingly, the assignment and conveyance of overriding royalty interest between the Company and Wedgemount Texas Corp., as assignor, is now effective, the Company's Statement of Investment Policies and Procedures is revoked, and the Company has officially changes its business from an investment issuer to an oil and gas issuer.

During the next 12 months, the Company seeks to re-list its common shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") and to raise additional funds through one or more equity or debt financing. The Company intends to use funds raised from future financings to meet its business objectives as well as for general working capital purposes.

There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in raising additional capital, and listing of the Company's common shares on the CSE remains subject to the approval of CSE and the satisfaction of all applicable listing and regulatory requirements.

This news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information relates

to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends", "expects" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or will "potentially" or "likely" occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, the timing and completion of the proposed listing on the CSE and of raising capital.

Such statements reflect the Company's current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions , including, without limitation, the CSE approving the Company for listing; and the Company successfully identifying investors and completing additional financings.

These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risks related to the failure of the Company to receive the required corporate and regulatory approvals, access to capital, negotiation and completion of new acquisitions, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's disclosure documents filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedarplus.com.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this news release is made as of the date of this news release. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement referred to herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269267

SOURCE: Prospect Park Capital Corp.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 6, 2025) - Pedro Resources Ltd. (CSE: VBN) ("Pedro" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of David McDonald as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective October 1, 2025.

Mr. McDonald is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 30 years' experience in the financial and resource sectors. Mr. McDonald has extensive experience with public company financial reporting and regulatory filings, with a focus on the mining sector. Mr. McDonald earned his CA designation in 1991 while working at EY Toronto before moving into junior mining in 2006, managing a portfolio of private and public junior companies where he provided accounting, audit and transaction services. Mr. McDonald also has significant experience as a Public Company Director advising on corporate governance practices.

In connection with the appointment of Mr. McDonald, Ms. Deborah Mercier has resigned as the Company's Chief Financial Officer. The Company would like to thank Ms. Mercier for her contribution to the Company and wishes her all the best in her future endeavors.

About Pedro Resources Ltd.

Pedro Resources Ltd. is a Canadian exploration company listed on the CSE focused on mineral exploration and development. The Company is currently advancing a proposed change of business toward the development of biotechnologies for the remediation and reclamation of contaminated soils.

Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements and information relating to the Company's proposed change of business and the Offering.

The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by management of the Company. Although management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information since no assurance can be given that they will prove to be correct.

Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release.

The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269284

SOURCE: Pedro Resources Ltd.
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - October 6, 2025) - Quantum eMotion Corp. (TSXV: QNC) (OTCQB: QNCCF) (FSE: 34Q0) announces the grant of 300,000 stock options to John Young, recently appointed Chief Operating Officer of QeM America.

Each option is exercisable at $1.57 per share, vests quarterly over two years, and expires ten years from the date of grant, in accordance with the Company's Stock Option Plan.

"John's appointment and this grant reflect QeM's continued growth in the U.S. market," said Dr. Francis Bellido, CEO of Quantum eMotion.

About Quantum eMotion Corp.

The Company aims to address the growing demand for affordable hardware and software security for connected devices. QeM has become a pioneering force in classical and quantum cybersecurity solutions thanks to its patented Quantum Random Number Generator, a security solution that exploits the built-in unpredictability of quantum mechanics and promises to provide enhanced protection for high-value assets and critical systems.

The Company intends to target highly valued Financial Services, Healthcare, Blockchain Applications, Cloud-Based IT Security Infrastructure, Classified Government Networks and Communication Systems, Secure Device Keying (IOT, Automotive, Consumer Electronics) and Quantum Cryptography.

For further information, please visit our website at https://www.quantumemotion.com/ or contact:

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially from targeted results. Such risks and uncertainties include those described in the Corporation's periodic reports, including the annual report or in the filings made by Quantum from time to time with securities regulatory authorities.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269360

SOURCE: Quantum eMotion Corp.
Capstone Copper Corp. ("Capstone" or the "Company") (TSX:CS) (ASX:CSC) will release its 2025 third quarter ("Q3 2025") results on Thursday, October 30, 2025 after market close. The announcement will be followed by an investor conference call the same day at 5:00pm Eastern Time 2:00pm Pacific Time (Friday, October 31, 2025, 8:00am Australian Eastern Standard Time).

Q3 2025 Results Webcast and Conference Call Details Timing: October 30, 2025, 5:00 pm ET 2:00 pm PT October 31, 2025, 8:00 am AEST Conference call webcast link: https://app.webinar.net/AyjB75OobRW To connect by phone:

To instantly join the conference call by phone, please use the following URL https://emportal.ink/3HZ0c1v to easily register yourself and be connected into the conference call automatically.



You can also dial direct to be entered to the call by the operator:

Toronto: 1-437-900-0527

Australia: 61-280-171-385

North America toll free: 1-888-510-2154

An audio replay of the conference call will be available until November 6, 2025.

Replay Dial-in Numbers Toronto: 1-289-819-1450

North America toll free: 1-888-660-6345

Code: 66021#

After the replay expiration, an audio file will be available on Capstone's website at Capstone Copper Events and Presentations. Further information is available at www.capstonecopper.com.

ABOUT CAPSTONE COPPER CORP.

Capstone Copper Corp. is an Americas-focused copper mining company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Capstone's operating portfolio of assets includes the Pinto Valley copper mine located in Arizona, USA, the Cozamin copper-silver mine located in Zacatecas, Mexico, the Mantos Blancos copper-silver mine located in the Antofagasta region, Chile, and the Mantoverde copper-gold mine, located in the Atacama region, Chile. Capstone's growth pipeline includes the fully permitted Santo Domingo copper-iron-gold project, located approximately 30 kilometres northeast of Mantoverde in the Atacama region, Chile, as well as a portfolio of exploration properties in the Americas.

Capstone Copper's strategy is to unlock transformational copper production growth while executing on cost and operational improvements through innovation, optimization and safe and responsible production throughout our portfolio of assets. We focus on profitability and disciplined capital allocation to surface stakeholder value. We are committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of our people and local communities, while delivering compelling returns to investors by responsibly producing copper to meet the world's growing needs.

Further information is available at www.capstonecopper.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251006569021/en/

Contacts:

Daniel Sampieri, Vice President, Investor Relations

437-788-1767

dsampieri@capstonecopper.com



Michael Slifirski, Director, Investor Relations, APAC Region

61-412-251-818

mslifirski@capstonecopper.com



Claire Stirling, Manager, Investor Relations

416-831-8908

cstirling@capstonecopper.com
The total lupus nephritis market size is anticipated to experience growth during the forecast period due to the rising prevalence of lupus nephritis, increasing awareness and adoption of approved therapies beyond off-label corticosteroids, continued innovation in targeted therapies and next-generation therapies (dual APRIL/BAFF Antagonist, BAFF-R inhibitor, complement inhibitor, CAR-T cell therapies, etc.), and launch of promising emerging therapies, including GAZYVA (obinutuzumab), SAPHNELO (anifrolumab), and Ianalumab, among others.

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's Lupus Nephritis Market Insights report includes a comprehensive understanding of current treatment practices, lupus nephritis emerging drugs, market share of individual therapies, and current and forecasted market size from 2020 to 2034, segmented into leading markets [the United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan].

Lupus Nephritis Market Summary

According to DelveInsight's analysis, the market size for lupus nephritis was found to be around USD 1.8 billion in the leading markets [the United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan] in 2024.

in the leading markets [the United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan] in 2024. The United States accounted for the largest lupus nephritis market size, approximately 85% of the total market size in the 7MM in 2024, compared to other major markets, including the EU4 countries (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan.

of the total market size in the 7MM in 2024, compared to other major markets, including the EU4 countries (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan. The total number of diagnosed prevalent cases of lupus nephritis in the 7MM was approximately 385K in 2024, and this number is projected to increase by 2034.

in 2024, and this number is projected to increase by 2034. Lupus nephritis is a severe complication of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), affecting 30-40% of patients, with 10-30% at risk of progressing to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) despite treatment.

of patients, with at risk of progressing to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) despite treatment. Leading lupus nephritis companies developing emerging therapies, such as Roche , Novartis , Alexion Pharmaceuticals , AstraZeneca , Cabaletta Bio , AbelZeta, and others, are developing new lupus nephritis treatment drugs that can be available in the lupus nephritis market in the coming years.

, , , , , and others, are developing new lupus nephritis treatment drugs that can be available in the lupus nephritis market in the coming years. The promising lupus nephritis therapies in clinical trials include SAPHNELO (anifrolumab), Ianalumab (VAY736), GAZYVA/GAZYVARO (obinutuzumab), FABHALTA (iptacopan), Rapcabtagene autoleucel (YTB323), ULTOMIRIS (ravulizumab), Resecabtagene autoleucel (CABA-201), C-CAR168 , and others.

(anifrolumab), (VAY736), (obinutuzumab), (iptacopan), (YTB323), (ravulizumab), (CABA-201), , and others. Roche's GAZYVA is expected to become the 3rd therapy to get regulatory nod for the treatment of Lupus Nephritis.

Discover the new lupus nephritis treatment @ Lupus Nephritis Treatment Market

Key Factors Driving the Growth of the Lupus Nephritis Market

Rising Prevalence of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Lupus Nephritis

The increasing incidence of SLE, particularly in regions like the United States and Southern Europe, is contributing to a higher number of lupus nephritis cases. In the US, the lupus nephritis prevalent cases are expected to reach ~283K by 2034. This surge underscores the growing demand for effective treatments and diagnostics.

Advancements in Biologic and Targeted Lupus Nephritis Therapies

Innovations in biologic treatments, such as voclosporin (LUPKYNIS), belimumab (BENLYSTA), and anifrolumab (SAPHNELO), have revolutionized lupus nephritis management. These therapies offer targeted approaches that improve disease control and reduce reliance on traditional immunosuppressants. In addition to this, there is potential for CAR-T cell therapy in Lupus nephritis, with early clinical trials showing promising, rapid, and prolonged remission in patients with otherwise severe, refractory cases.

Increased Lupus Nephritis R&D Investments

Substantial investments in R&D by both public and private sectors are accelerating the discovery of novel therapies. The lupus nephritis clinical trial pipeline is experiencing momentum, with approximately 30 companies, including Roche, Novartis,Alexion Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Cabaletta Bio, AbelZeta, and others actively working on developing new treatments. This influx of resources enhances the therapeutic landscape and offers hope for improved patient care.

Growing Lupus Nephritis Awareness and Improved Diagnostics

Enhanced awareness among healthcare providers and patients has led to earlier and more accurate diagnoses of lupus nephritis. Advancements in diagnostic techniques, including the use of natural language processing to identify lupus nephritis phenotypes in electronic health records, are facilitating timely interventions and personalized treatment plans.

Lupus Nephritis Market Analysis

Currently, only two Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapies are available for lupus nephritis. Management typically follows two phases: induction to suppress acute inflammation and maintenance to sustain remission. However, real-world outcomes remain less than optimal. Treatment approaches vary, but mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and cyclophosphamide remain the mainstay of induction therapy, while corticosteroids are often used to manage flares, though they provide limited long-term benefit when used alone. A trend is emerging toward more intensive regimens, especially for Class III/IV and V lupus nephritis, including triple therapy strategies such as glucocorticoids combined with MMF and BENLYSTA, MMF with a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI), or low-dose cyclophosphamide with BENLYSTA. For Class V disease, the preferred regimen often involves glucocorticoids, MMF, and a CNI. Increasingly, the treatment landscape is being shaped by BENLYSTA and LUPKYNIS, with a rapidly advancing pipeline.

BENLYSTA, a BLyS-specific inhibitor, represented a major milestone as the first biologic approved for both adults and children (ages 5-17) with lupus nephritis. LUPKYNIS, a next-generation CNI, distinguished itself as the first oral therapy specifically approved for active lupus nephritis. Compared to older agents like cyclosporine and tacrolimus, LUPKYNIS offers key advantages, including improved safety, consistent pharmacokinetics, and better long-term renal outcomes.

Commercially, LUPKYNIS has shown strong momentum. Net product sales of LUPKYNIS rose 36% in 2024 to USD 216.2 million, up from USD 158.5 million in 2023. Aurinia reports that more than 2,300 patients in the US are currently receiving the therapy, while international uptake is expanding through its partnership with Otsuka in Europe and Japan.

Lupus Nephritis Competitive Landscape

The lupus nephritis pipeline comprises several drugs in mid- and late-stage development, which are expected to be approved in the near future. The emerging landscape holds a diverse range of therapeutic alternatives for treatment, including SAPHNELO (anifrolumab), Ianalumab (VAY736), GAZYVA/GAZYVARO (obinutuzumab), FABHALTA (iptacopan), Rapcabtagene autoleucel (YTB323), ULTOMIRIS (ravulizumab), Resecabtagene autoleucel (CABA-201), C-CAR168, and others.

GAZYVA/GAZYVARO (obinutuzumab) is an engineered monoclonal antibody, administered intravenously, that targets the CD20 protein expressed on lymphoma and leukemia cells. Unlike traditional CD20 antibodies, it binds specifically to Type 2 CD20, resulting in stronger antibody-dependent cytotoxicity and more potent direct cytotoxic activity. Once attached to CD20, obinutuzumab induces B-cell lysis by engaging immune effector cells, activating intracellular death signaling pathways, and/or triggering the complement cascade. The drug is marketed as GAZYVARO in Europe and is currently undergoing evaluation in two Phase III clinical trials.

In March 2025, the FDA accepted a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for Roche's GAZYVA/GAZYVARO for the treatment of lupus nephritis, supported by data from the Phase III REGENCY trial, which also underpins an European Medicines Agency (EMA) submission. An FDA decision is expected by October 2025.

Ianalumab, developed by Novartis, is a fully human HuCAL antibody targeting BAFF-R, administered subcutaneously. It is designed as an anti-BAFF receptor monoclonal antibody that mediates direct antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) to deplete B cells. The therapy is being studied for autoimmune hepatitis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, SLE, and lupus nephritis, with Phase III clinical trials ongoing. Novartis is planning to submit regulatory filings around 2028.

The anticipated launch of these emerging therapies are poised to transform the lupus nephritis market landscape in the coming years. As these cutting-edge therapies continue to mature and gain regulatory approval, they are expected to reshape the lupus nephritis market landscape, offering new standards of care and unlocking opportunities for medical innovation and economic growth.

Discover more about the class 5 lupus nephritis treatment @ Managing Lupus Nephritis

Recent Developments in the Lupus Nephritis Market

In June 2025 , Novartis announced new rese-cel safety and efficacy data in patients with myositis, lupus, and scleroderma.

, announced new rese-cel safety and efficacy data in patients with myositis, lupus, and scleroderma. In May 2025 , C-CAR168 received an RMAT (Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designation) designation for the treatment of refractory SLE, including lupus nephritis.

, received an RMAT (Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designation) designation for the treatment of refractory SLE, including lupus nephritis. In May 2025, AbelZeta presented new data on C-CAR168 for the treatment of autoimmune diseases at the LUPUS 2025 conference.

What is Lupus Nephritis?

Lupus nephritis is a serious complication of SLE, an autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic inflammation and multi-organ damage, with the kidneys being the most frequently affected. Key clinical indicators include hematuria and proteinuria. The condition predominantly affects women between the ages of 20 and 40. Based on pathology, lupus nephritis is classified into six categories (I-VI), with Classes III (focal proliferative, ~30%), IV (diffuse proliferative, ~40%), and V (membranous, ~20%) being the most common and consistently reported worldwide. Monitoring renal function in SLE patients is vital, as timely detection and management of kidney involvement significantly improve long-term outcomes. Typically, lupus nephritis develops within 3-5 years after SLE diagnosis and considerably heightens the risk of End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

Lupus Nephritis Epidemiology Segmentation

The lupus nephritis epidemiology section provides insights into the historical and current lupus nephritis patient pool and forecasted trends for the leading markets [the United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan]. It helps recognize the causes of current and forecasted patient trends by exploring numerous studies and views of key opinion leaders.

The lupus nephritis treatment market report proffers epidemiological analysis for the study period 2020-2034 in the leading markets [the United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan], segmented into:

Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Lupus Nephritis

Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Lupus Nephritis by Class

Age-specific Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Lupus Nephritis

Total Treated Cases of Lupus Nephritis (First Line, and Relapsed/ Refractory)

Lupus Nephritis Market Report Metrics Details Study Period 2020-2034 Coverage 7MM [The United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) , the United Kingdom, and Japan]. Lupus Nephritis Market CAGR 8.5 % Lupus Nephritis Market Size in 2024 USD 1.8 Billion Key Lupus Nephritis Companies Roche, Novartis, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Cabaletta Bio, AbelZeta, Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, and others Key Lupus Nephritis Therapies SAPHNELO (anifrolumab), Ianalumab (VAY736), GAZYVA/GAZYVARO (obinutuzumab), FABHALTA (iptacopan), Rapcabtagene autoleucel (YTB323), ULTOMIRIS (ravulizumab), Resecabtagene autoleucel (CABA-201), C-CAR168, LUPKYNIS, BENLYSTA, and others

Scope of the Lupus Nephritis Market Report

Therapeutic Assessment: Lupus Nephritis current marketed and emerging therapies

Lupus Nephritis current marketed and emerging therapies Lupus Nephritis Market Dynamics: Key Market Forecast Assumptions of Emerging Lupus Nephritis Drugs and Market Outlook

Key Market Forecast Assumptions of Emerging Lupus Nephritis Drugs and Market Outlook Competitive Intelligence Analysis: SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies

SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies Unmet Needs, KOL's views, Analyst's views, Lupus Nephritis Market Access and Reimbursement

Download the report to understand lupus nephritis epidemiology trends @ Lupus Nephritis Market Size

Table of Contents

1 Lupus Nephritis Market Key Insights 2 Lupus Nephritis Market Report Introduction 3 Executive Summary 4 Key Events 4.1 Upcoming Key Catalysts 4.2 Key Transactions And Collaborations 4.3 News Flow 5 Epidemiology and Lupus Nephritis Market Forecast Methodology 6 Lupus Nephritis Market Overview at a Glance 6.1 Clinical Landscape Analysis (By Phase, RoA, and Molecule Type) 6.2 Market Share (%) Distribution of Lupus Nephritis by Therapy in 2024 6.3 Market Share (%) Distribution of Lupus Nephritis by Therapy in 2034 7 Lupus Nephritis Disease Background and Overview 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Types of Lupus 7.3 Lupus Nephritis Causes and Risk Factors 7.4 Signs and Symptoms of Lupus Nephritis 7.5 Classification of Lupus Nephritis 7.6 Pathophysiology of Lupus Nephritis 7.7 Biomarkers of Lupus Nephritis 7.8 Complications of Lupus Nephritis 7.9 Lupus Nephritis Diagnosis 7.10 Lupus Nephritis Diagnosis Algorithm 7.11 Lupus Nephritis Differential Diagnosis 8 Treatment of Lupus Nephritis 8.1 Classes III and IV Induction Therapy 8.2 Class V Induction Therapy 8.3 Treatment Options for Kidney Failure 8.4 Treatment Algorithm 8.5 Guidelines of Lupus Nephritis 9 Lupus Nephritis Epidemiology and Patient Population 9.1 Key Findings 9.2 Assumptions and Rationale 9.3 Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of SLE in the 7MM 9.4 Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Lupus Nephritis in the 7MM 9.5 Total Treated Cases (First Line and Relapsed/ Refractory) of Lupus Nephritis in the 7MM 9.6 The United States 9.7 EU4 and the UK 9.8 Japan 10 Lupus Nephritis Patient Journey 11 Marketed Lupus Nephritis Therapies 11.1 Key Cross Competition 11.2 LUPKYNIS (voclosporin): Aurinia Pharmaceuticals/Otsuka Pharmaceuticals 11.2.1 Product Description 11.2.2 Regulatory Milestones 11.2.3 Other Developmental Activities 11.2.4 Summary of Pivotal Trials 11.2.5 Analyst Views 11.3 BENLYSTA (belimumab): GlaxoSmithKline 12 Emerging Lupus Nephritis Drugs 12.1 Key Cross Competition 12.2 SAPHNELO (anifrolumab): AstraZeneca 12.3 Ianalumab (VAY736): Novartis 12.4 GAZYVA/GAZYVARO (obinutuzumab): Roche 12.5 FABHALTA (iptacopan): Novartis 12.6 Rapcabtagene autoleucel (YTB323): Novartis 12.7 ULTOMIRIS (ravulizumab): Alexion Pharmaceuticals/ AstraZeneca 12.8 Resecabtagene autoleucel (CABA-201): Cabaletta Bio 12.9 C-CAR168: AbelZeta 13 Lupus Nephritis Market: 7MM Analysis 13.1 Key Findings 13.2 Lupus Nephritis Market Outlook 13.3 Key Lupus Nephritis Market Forecast Assumptions 13.3.1 Cost Assumptions and Rebates 13.3.2 Pricing Trends 13.3.3 Analogue Assessment 13.3.4 Launch Year and Therapy Uptakes 13.4 Conjoint Analysis 13.5 Total Market Size of Lupus Nephritis in the 7MM 13.6 Market Size of Lupus Nephritis by Therapies in 7MM 13.7 United States Lupus Nephritis Market Size 13.7.1 Total Market Size of Lupus Nephritis in the United States 13.7.2 Market Size of Lupus Nephritis by Therapies in the United States 13.8 EU4 and UK Lupus Nephritis Market Size 13.9 Japan 14 Lupus Nephritis Market Unmet Needs 15 Lupus Nephritis Market SWOT Analysis 16 KOL Views on Lupus Nephritis 17 Market Access and Reimbursement of Lupus Nephritis Therapies 18 Bibliography 19 Lupus Nephritis Market Report Methodology

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 6, 2025) - Syntheia Corp. (CSE: SYAI) (syntheia.ai) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to its press releases dated July 23, 2025, September 2, 2025, and September 12, 2025, the Company has closed the final tranche of its non-brokered private placement financing for gross proceeds of $237,000.00 through the issuance of 1,975,000 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.12 per Unit (the "Offering").

Each Unit was 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 is exercisable to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.16 until October 6, 2030 (the "Expiry Date"), subject to an accelerated expiry in the event the volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares exceeds $0.20 for 20 consecutive trading days, the Company may, within 10 business days of the occurrence of such event, deliver a notice to the holders of the Warrants accelerating their Expiry Date to a date that is not less than 30 days following the date of such notice and the issuance of a press release by the Company announcing the acceleration notice (the "Accelerated Exercise Period"). Any unexercised Warrants shall automatically expire at the end of the Accelerated Exercise Period.

Gross proceeds raised from the Offering will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance and the resale rules of applicable securities legislation.

The Offering constituted a related party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") as certain insiders of the Company subscribed for an aggregate of 250,000 Units pursuant to the Offering. The Company is relying on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the Company is not listed on a specified market and the fair market value of the participation in the Offering by insiders does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Company in accordance with MI 61-101. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction at least 21 days before the closing of the of the Offering, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances in order to complete the Offering in an expeditious manner.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons as defined under applicable United States securities laws unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Syntheia

Syntheia Corp. is an early-stage artificial intelligence technology company, channeling its efforts into refining and expanding its proprietary, conversational AI-based platform (the "Syntheia AI Platform"). The Syntheia AI Platform represents the integration of natural language processing ("NLP") technology, enabling it to not only understand but also respond to human language with accuracy. The Syntheia AI Platform, a generative, AI-powered algorithm equipped with a human-like voice, boasts self-learning capabilities derived from NLP methodologies.

Currently in beta testing, the Syntheia AI Platform is crafted to offer a suite of automated solutions, particularly for retail-focused businesses where customer interaction and service are key to operations. At the heart of the Syntheia AI Platform is its use of AI to emulate human cognitive processes, combined with a sophisticated large language model, which is integral for interpreting and generating human-like language responses.

Cautionary Statement

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

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", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

The securities of the Company have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirement. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269347

SOURCE: Syntheia Corp.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 6, 2025) - Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (TSX: AVL) (OTCQB: AVLNF) ("Avalon" or the "Company") today announced that its special meeting of shareholders (the "Special Meeting") scheduled for October 7, 2025 has been canceled. The decision follows the Company's determination that quorum requirements (i.e., not less than 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company carrying voting rights) for the Special Meeting had not been met by the extended proxy voting deadline of October 6, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

The Board of Directors expects that the matter originally scheduled for shareholder consideration at the Special Meeting - adoption of a shareholder rights plan - will be considered for approval at a later date.

Proxies submitted for the Special Meeting will not carry over to any future meeting of the Company's shareholders at which a shareholder rights plan is considered and are no longer effective.

Avalon remains committed to engaging its shareholders and ensuring broad participation on matters of importance to the Company and its future. Avalon shareholders may contact Avalon Investor Relations at ir@avalonam.com or 416-364-4938 for further information about the cancelled Special Meeting.

About Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.

Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. is a Canadian critical minerals company advancing the supply of materials essential for Canada's future. The Company is focused on developing strategic assets that support secure, domestic supply chains and long-term economic growth. Avalon is focused on vertically integrating the Ontario lithium supply chain through the development of Lake Superior Lithium Inc., Ontario's first midstream lithium hydroxide processing facility, located in Thunder Bay. This facility will serve as a vital link between northern Ontario's lithium resources and the growing EV battery manufacturing base in southern Ontario and North America. Through a joint venture with SCR-Sibelco NV, Avalon is advancing the Separation Rapids Lithium Project near Kenora, Ontario, as well as continuing exploration at its Snowbank lithium and Lilypad lithium-cesium deposits. The Company is also advancing the Nechalacho Rare Earths and Zirconium Project in the Northwest Territories. This deposit contains all light and heavy rare earth elements, as well as yttrium, zirconium, tantalum, and niobium-critical minerals used in advanced technologies across the communications, defense, clean tech, and energy sectors.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "add" or "additional", "advancing", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "appears", "believes", "can be", "conceptual", "confidence", "continue", "convert" or "conversion", "deliver", "demonstrating", "estimates", "encouraging", "expand" or "expanding" or "expansion", "expect" or "expectations", "forecasts", "forward", "goal", "improves", "increase", "intends", "justification", "plans", "potential" or "potentially", "promise", "prospective", "prioritize", "reflects", "robust", "scheduled", "suggesting", "support", "top-tier", "updating", "upside", "will be" or "will consider", "work towards", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will be taken", "occur", or "be achieved".

Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including those risk factors discussed or referred to in the annual information form of the Company dated November 28, 2024 (the "AIF") under the heading "Description of the Business - Risk Factors". Forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269349

SOURCE: Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.
Results Underscore Robust Economics and a U.S. Manganese Ore to HPMSM Pathway

TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / October 6, 2025 / Electric Metals (USA) Limited ("EML" or the "Company") (TSXV:EML)(OTCQB:EMUSF) announces it has filed on SEDAR+ the National Instrument 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for its North Star Manganese Project (NSMP), a 100% domestic U.S. project, comprising a manganese mine in Emily, Minnesota, and a high-purity manganese sulfate monohydrate (HPMSM) chemical plant in the U.S. Prepared by Forte Dynamics, Inc., the PEA represents a significant milestone in the Company's strategy to deliver 100% U.S.-sourced high-purity manganese chemical and metal products to power the electrification of everything. The PEA has an effective date of August 15, 2025, and an issue date of September 30, 2025.

PEA At-a-Glance: After-tax NPV(10%) US$1.39B; IRR 43.5%; Initial CapEx US$474.8M.

The full NI 43-101 PEA is available under Electric Metals (USA) Limited on SEDAR+. This filing follows the Company's news release dated August 26, 2025, which summarized the PEA results. The filed NI 43-101 Technical Report provides the underlying assumptions, parameters, and risks that form the basis of the PEA and should be read in conjunction with that earlier disclosure.

The Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources used in the PEA operational and financial models are presented in Table 1.

Table 1: NSM Emily Classified Mineral Resource Estimate

Top 10 Takeaways from the PEA

PEA filed on SEDAR+ (milestone achieved). NSMP integrates an underground mine at Emily, Minnesota with a U.S. HPMSM chemical plant (site under evaluation). Strong after-tax economics. NPV(10%) US$1.39B and IRR 43.5% at base assumptions. Initial capital scoped to enable underground development, surface infrastructure, and HPMSM production, including contingencies. Life-of-Mine operating expenditures itemized across mining, processing, transportation, and G&A to support HPMSM economics. Indicated and Inferred Resources underpin the mine plan; further work is defined to de-risk and potentially grow the mineral inventory. Underhand cut-and-fill mining method selected for geometry and selectivity. Metallurgical test work supports battery-grade HPMSM; a pre-feasibility study optimization will finalize the flowsheet and unit costs. NPV and IRR remain robust across the entire range of Mn prices, capital expenditures, and operating expenditures. Futurework program includes drilling, metallurgy/flowsheet optimization, siting/logistics, and environmental/hydrologic studies toward Pre-Feasibility.

Brian Savage, CEO, commented: "Filing the PEA is a major milestone for Electric Metals' North Star Manganese Project. With strong economics and North America's highest-grade manganese resource, we're positioned to deliver U.S.-sourced, HPMSM for the electrification of everything-and to support defense, steel/alloy, technology, and industrial markets. Next, we move directly into pre-feasibility, flowsheet optimization for battery-grade HPMSM, and permitting and siting for both the mine and the U.S. chemical plant."

Qualified Persons

The PEA was prepared by Forte Dynamics, Inc. The following independent Qualified Persons (NI 43-101) are responsible for the report and have reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content of this news release:

Donald E. Hulse, P.E., SME-RM - Mining/Resource Estimation

Deepak Malhotra, Ph.D., SME-RM - Metallurgy

Gordon Sobering, P.E., SME-RM - Mining Engineering

Ronald A. Steiner, Ph.D., CPG-AIPG - Geology

Douglas F. Hambley, P.E., P.Eng., SME-RM - Mining/Geotechnical

About Electric Metals (USA) Limited

Electric Metals (USA) Limited (TSXV:EML)(OTCQB:EMUSF) is a U.S.-based critical minerals company advancing manganese and silver projects that support the clean energy transition. The Company's principal asset is the Emily manganese deposit in Minnesota, the highest-grade manganese deposit in North America. The North Star Manganese Project has been the subject of extensive technical work, including a Preliminary Economic Assessment prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Electric Metals' mission is to establish a fully domestic U.S. supply of high-purity manganese chemical and metal products for the North American electric vehicle battery, technology, and industrial markets. With manganese playing an increasingly important role in lithium-ion battery formulations, and with no current domestic production in North America, the development of the North Star Manganese Project represents a strategic opportunity for the United States, the State of Minnesota, and the Company's shareholders.

For further information, please contact:

Electric Metals (USA) Limited

Brian Savage

CEO & Director

(303) 656-9197

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is generally identifiable by use of the words "believes," "may," "plans," "will," "anticipates," "intends," "could", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "projects" and similar expressions, and the negative of such expressions.

Such statements in this news release include, without limitation: the Company's mission to become a domestic U.S. producer of high-value, high-purity manganese products for the North American electric vehicle battery, technology and industrial markets; that manganese will continue to play a critical role in lithium-ion battery formulations; that with no current domestic supply or active mines for manganese in North America, the development of the North Star Manganese Project represents a significant opportunity for America, Minnesota and for the Company's shareholders; and planned or potential developments in ongoing work by Electric Metals.

Forward-looking information also includes statements with respect to the results of the Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA"), including but not limited to estimates of NPV, IRR, capital and operating costs, mine life, production, recovery rates, timelines, and pricing assumptions. The reader is cautioned that the PEA is preliminary in nature, includes Inferred Mineral Resources, and is subject to a high degree of uncertainty. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Inferred Resources are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized.

These statements address future events and conditions and involve inherent risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those estimated or anticipated. Such risks include, but are not limited to: failure to obtain all necessary stock exchange, regulatory, environmental and governmental approvals; risks relating to the accuracy of resource estimates; the speculative nature of Inferred Resources; risks relating to metallurgical test work, recoveries and process design; delays in or failure to advance to more detailed studies, including a Feasibility Study; the ability to secure project financing on reasonable terms; risks relating to construction, cost overruns and schedule delays; risks associated with securing offtake agreements; risks relating to the availability and cost of infrastructure, reagents, power, labor and transportation; fluctuations in commodity prices and exchange rates; potential changes to U.S. government policy or support for domestic critical mineral development; general market conditions and investor appetite; and risks associated with exploration, development and mining activities.

Forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis, and opinions of management made in light of its experience and perception of trends, updated conditions, and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances as of the date such statements are made. 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 to differ from what is anticipated. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events, or developments, 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.

SOURCE: Electric Metals (USA) Limited

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/electric-metals-files-ni-43-101-preliminary-economic-assessment-for-the-north-sta-1083707
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 6, 2025) - Sanatana Resources Inc. (TSXV: STA) (the "Company") announces that it has completed the second and final tranche (the "Second Tranche") of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering"). Pursuant to the Second Tranche, the Company issued 221,667 units in the capital of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.60 per Unit, for proceeds of $133,000.20. Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half of a Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). The Offering was conducted concurrent to the Company's acquisition of the Gold Strike One Project (Yukon) and the Abitibi Property (Quebec) (the "Acquisition").

In connection with the Second Tranche, the Company paid finder's fees to eligible finders consisting of $2,310 in cash and 3,850 share purchase warrants (the "Finder's Warrants"). The company has issued an aggregate of 207,901 Finder's Warrants and paid $124,741.47 in cash finder's fees in the Offering.

Further details of the Acquisition and the Offering, including the use of proceeds and the terms of the Warrants and Finder's Warrants, are in the Company's news release dated October 1, 2025. All securities issued in connection with the Second Tranche are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance expiring February 4, 2026 in accordance with applicable securities legislation.

The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release will not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor will there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Name Change, Ticker Symbol and CUSIP

The Company is pleased to announce that the Company has formally changed its name to "Gold Strike Resources Corp." and has received confirmation from the TSX Venture Exchange that its Common Shares are expected trade under the new name and new ticker symbol of "GSR" effective on October 8, 2025. Until such time, the Common Shares will continue trading under the ticker symbol "STA". The Company's new CUSIP is 79957A302.

About the Company

Sanatana Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration and development company focused on high-impact properties in Canada. With an award-winning technical team and experienced management and board of directors, Sanatana is based in Vancouver and is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: STA).

(signed) "Peter Miles"

Peter Miles

Chief Executive Officer

The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the Acquisition and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

Cautionary Statements and "Forward-Looking" Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "expect", "estimate", "objective", "may", "will", "project", "should", "predict", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements concerning the timing of the name change and the change in the Company's ticker symbol.

Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company cannot give any assurance that they will prove correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, they involve inherent assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of assumptions, factors and risks. These assumptions and risks include, but are not limited to, assumptions and risks associated with mineral exploration generally and results from anticipated and proposed exploration programs, conditions in the equity financing markets, and assumptions and risks regarding receipt of regulatory and shareholder approvals.

Management has provided the above summary of risks and assumptions related to forward-looking statements in this press release in order to provide readers with a more comprehensive perspective on the Company's future operations. The Company's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance 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 the Company will derive from them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and, other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269377

SOURCE: Sanatana Resources Inc.
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - October 6, 2025) - Sankamap Metals Inc. (CSE: SCU) ("Sankamap" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of its Offering previously announced on July 23, 2025, with the sale of an aggregate of 21,755,772 units ("Units") at a price of $0.22 per Unit for total gross proceeds of $4,786,269 (the "Offering"). Each Unit will consist of one (1) common share (a "Share") and one-half (1/2) of a common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each whole Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one (1) additional Share of Sankamap at an exercise price of $0.40 for a period of two years from the date or dates of closing of the Offering (a "Closing Date").

In connection with the sale of the Units, Sankamap paid a total of $168,933 in cash to arm's length finders (each, a "Finder"). Certain Finders elected to convert the cash portion of their finder's fees into Units of the Company, resulting in the issuance of an additional 256,922 Units. The Company also issued a total of 767,878 share purchase warrants to eligible Finders, on the same terms as the Warrants.

The net proceeds from the sale of the Units will be utilized to fund exploration and development of Sankamap's projects, and for general working capital. The Offering is subject to no objection from the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") and any finder's fees payable will be issued in accordance with the policies of the CSE and applicable securities laws. All securities issued are subject to a four-month and one day hold period expiring on February 4, 2026.

Three (3) insiders of Sankamap participated in the Offering and such subscriptions are a related party transaction for the purposes of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"), but Sankamap is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements provided under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 on the basis that the fair market value of the subscriptions, insofar as it involves the insiders of Sankamap, does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Issuer, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101.

About Sankamap Metals Inc.

Sankamap Metals Inc. (CSE: SCU) is a Canadian mineral exploration company dedicated to the discovery and development of high-grade copper and gold deposits through its flagship Oceania Project, located in the South Pacific. The Company's fully permitted assets are strategically positioned in the Solomon Islands, along a prolific geological trend that hosts major copper-gold deposits; including Newcrest's Lihir Mine, with a resource of 71.9 million ounces of gold (310 Mt containing 23 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t P+P, 520 Mt containing 39 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t indicated, 81 Mt containing 5 Moz Au at 1.9 g/t measured, 61 Mt containing 4.9 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t Inferred).

Exploration is actively advancing at both the Kuma and Fauro properties, part of Sankamap's Oceania Project in the Solomon Islands. Historical work has already highlighted the mineral potential of both sites, which lie along a highly prospective copper and gold-bearing trend, suggesting the possibility of further, yet-to-be-discovered deposits.

At Kuma, the property is believed to host an underexplored and largely untested porphyry copper-gold (Cu-Au) system. Historical rock chip sampling has returned consistently elevated gold values above 0.5 g/t Au, including a standout sample assaying 11.7% Cu and 13.5 g/t Au2; underscoring the area's significant potential.

At Fauro, particularly at the Meriguna Target, historical trenching has returned highly encouraging results, including 8.0 meters at 27.95 g/t Au and 14.0 meters at 8.94 g/t Au3. Complementing these results are exceptional grab sample assays, including historical values of up to 173 g/t Au3, along with recent sampling by Sankamap at the Kiovakase Target, which returned numerous high-grade copper values, reaching up to 4.09% Cu. In addition, limited historical shallow drilling intersected 35.0 meters at 2.08 g/t Au3, further underscoring the property's strong mineral potential and the merit for continued exploration. With a commitment to systematic exploration and a team of experienced professionals, Sankamap aims to unlock the untapped potential of underexplored regions and create substantial value for its shareholders. For more information, please refer to SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca), under Sankamap's profile.

1.Newcrest Technical Report, 2020 (Lihir: 310 Mt containing 23 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t P+P, 520 Mt containing 39 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t indicated, 81 Mt containing 5 Moz Au at 1.9 g/t measured, 61 Mt containing 4.9 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t Inferred)

2. Historical grab, soil and BLEG samples from SolGold Kuma Review June 2015, and SolGold plc Annual Report 2013/2012

3. September 2010-June 2012 press releases from Solomon Gold Ltd. and SolGold Fauro Island Summary Technical Info 2012

QP Disclosure

The technical content for the Oceania Project in this news release has been reviewed and approved by John Florek, M.Sc., P.Geol., a Qualified Person in accordance with CIM guidelines. Mr. John Florek is in good standing with the Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (Member ID:1228) and a director and officer of the Company.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

s/ "John Florek"

John Florek, M.Sc., P.Geol

Chief Executive Officer

Sankamap Metals Inc.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not approved nor disapproved this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to Sankamap and there is no assurance that the actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates," "believes," "targets," "estimates," "plans," "expects," "may," "will," "could" or "would."

Forward looking statements in this press release but are not limited to, statements with respect to the expectations of management regarding the Offering, the expectations of management regarding the use of proceeds of the Offering, closing conditions for the Offering, and no objection from the CSE in respect of the Offering. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Risks that could change or prevent these statements from coming to fruition include the CSE objecting to the Offering; the proceeds of the Offering may not be used as stated in this news release; Sankamap may be unable to satisfy all of the conditions to the closing required by the CSE. Sankamap does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or information except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269385

SOURCE: Sankamap Metals Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 6, 2025) - LevelJump Healthcare Corp. (TSXV: JUMP) ("LevelJump" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its press release of June 24, 2025, trading on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") will resume with trading expected to be reinstated on or about October 9, 2025. Disclosure relating to the Company's activities during the past 12 months (including an annual information form) is readily available on SEDAR+ and the Company's website: www.leveljumphealthcare.com.

"We wish to thank our shareholders for their patience during the reinstatement process", said Mitch Geisler, CEO. "We recognize that not having an active trading market has been a burden for them. We believe, though, that over the last several months, the Company has instituted significant procedures and systems which will allow us to capitalize on the significant growth in revenue we have experienced over the last year despite the trading halt. We believe that our revenue numbers validate our business model which will ultimately be reflected in our share price."

The Company also wishes to provide the following corporate updates:

Annual Meeting and Results

At the Company's annual general meeting of shareholders held on Thursday, September 4, 2025, shareholders approved: (i) the re-election of Mitchell Geisler, Robert Landau, Gary Prihar, Richard Jagodnik and Jackie Glazer as directors; and (ii) the appointment of Zeifmans LLP as auditor.

The Company notes that many shares were withheld from voting for the director nominees. While such withheld votes did not affect the outcome of the meeting, the Company acknowledges that this action reflects shareholder dissatisfaction with the long delay in reinstatement to trading status.

Management Contracts and Insider Loan Arrangements

The Company wishes to announce that the Exchange has accepted notice of certain management contracts and insider loan arrangements as follows:

Management Consulting Agreements dated December 15, 2021, and July 25, 2022, between the Company and LevelJump Inc., a company jointly controlled and owned by the Company's CEO and CFO, pursuant to which CEO and CFO services are provided to the Company on an ongoing basis; and Loans in the aggregate amount of $1,590,543 (the "Initial Loan") to the CEO, CFO and LevelJump Inc. (the "Insiders") as part of salary deferral arrangement in connection with the foregoing management consulting agreements. In exchange for these deferrals, the Company has agreed to advance floating balance loans to the insiders for day-to-day living expenses.

The Company also announces it has applied to the Exchange to increase the maximum loan value to the Insiders by an additional $309,457 (the "Additional Loan") for an aggregate loan value of $1,900,000. The sum of $65,288 has already been advanced against the Additional Loan. The Additional Loan, including the advance, is subject to Exchange acceptance.

The Additional Loan constitutes a "related party transaction" under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") but is exempt from the formal valuation requirements under section 5.5(b) (securities listed on a specified exchange) and minority shareholder approval under section 5.7(1)(a) (transaction less than 25% of market capitalization).

The Additional Loan along with the Initial Loan are governed by a formal Salary Deferral and Loan Agreement dated September 24, 2025 (the "Loan Agreement") which contains the following principal terms:

(a) Any advances to the Insiders are to be used only for day-to-day living expenses and not for the purchase of any securities of the Company;

(b) The maximum amount which may be loaned to the Insiders is $1,900,000 of which $309,457 is subject to Exchange acceptance;

(c) Interest on any outstanding principal amount shall accrue simple interest at the rate of 1% per annum;

(d) There is no fixed maturity for the advances provided the consulting agreements noted above are in force; and

(e) The Insiders may repay advances on the Loan Agreement at their discretion.

As part of a strategic review, the Company is working on plans with the Insiders to reduce and eliminate all insider loan arrangements.

For further details on the Management Consulting Agreements and salary deferral arrangement, readers are directed to the Company's annual information circulars under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and the Company's website.

Cancellation of Purchase of Operational Headquarters

The Company announces that it will not be proceeding with the purchase of a commercial condominium that it currently leases as its headquarters. As disclosed in its 2024 annual financial statements, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Canadian Teleradiology Services, Inc. ("CTS"), had entered into an agreement on December 18, 2024, to purchase the condominium from LevelJump Inc., a private company jointly owned by the CEO and CFO of the Company. Closing had originally been scheduled for the summer of 2025.

The agreement originally came about following a review of operating expenditures. Management had determined that the cost of leasing the property was equivalent to the cost of owning it outright. Ownership of the property would have allowed the Company to build equity in lieu of monthly lease payments. In addition, the purchase would have been used to reduce the insider loan amounts described above.

Following a review of the regulatory requirements to complete the purchase, the Company determined that it would not be appropriate to proceed with the transaction at this time.

Working Capital Deficiency

The Company has recently filed its interim financial statements for the six-month period ending June 30, 2025, which indicates a working capital deficiency of $2,637,203. Of this amount, $1,537,433 represents: (a) the current portion of lease liabilities, an IFRS required amount that reports rents as if the Company owned its leased premises; and (b) the current portion of loan payments that are due over the next 12 months, expenses which are ordinarily paid from operating income each month. The remaining $1,099,770, which is equivalent to approximately 6% of the Company's 2024 annual gross revenues, are debts owed to various trade creditors.

The Company currently generates sufficient cash and revenues on monthly basis to pay its lease and loan payments and to manage its remaining payables through normal operations including extended repayment periods, partial payments and deferrals.

To eliminate the working capital deficiency in its entirety, the Company has been in discussions with senior financial institutions for an enhanced banking facility which will not only provide substantially more working capital deficiency but provide additional capital to pursue further acquisitions. With reinstatement to trading status, the Company is confident that it will be able to finalize a new banking facility at which time an announcement will be made.

About LevelJump Healthcare

LevelJump Healthcare Corp. (TSXV: JUMP), provides telehealth solutions to client hospitals and imaging centers through its Teleradiology division, as well as in person radiology services through its Diagnostic Centres. JUMP focuses primarily on critical care for urgent and emergency patients, establishing integral relationships in the communities we serve.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

LEVELJUMP HEALTHCARE CORP.,

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the Company's business plans and the outlook of the Company's industry. 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. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release and the Company assumes no responsibility to update them or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances other than as required by applicable securities laws. The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third-parties in respect of the Company, Canadian Teleradiology Services, Inc., their securities, or their respective financial or operating results (as applicable).

Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269386

SOURCE: LevelJump Healthcare Corp.
Its been a while since Hindi cinema allowed romance to breathe like this. With these back-to-back films, Fatima Sana Shaikh is quietly restoring that mood

Three love stories in one year is rare enough. Three that dont look, feel, or sound like each other? Thats almost unheard of. Yet thats where Fatima Sana Shaikh finds herself in 2025, with Aap Jaisa Koi, Metro In Dino, and now Gustaakh Ishq. The timing is the result of choices that place her at the centre of a genre Bollywood had almost shelved away  romance.

In _Aap Jaisa Koi_, she doesnt play the sweet, agreeable heroine. Instead, she leans into rebellion, carrying a energy that makes her love story fragile but also fierce. The film lets her break out of the mould of what a woman in love is supposed to look like on screen.

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_Metro In Dino_ pulls her into another world entirely - the claustrophobic present-day city, where love is messy, jagged at the edges, and weighed down by circumstance. Here she doesnt float in the glow of romance but makes you believe in the ache that accompanies.

And now, theres her next film - Gustaakh Ishq, steeped in Purani Dillis crumbling kothis and old-world silences. Fatima carries the story with her stillness, making her glances into conversations. The films poetry and music orbit around her.

Taken together, these three films sketch out what makes her different. Fatima isnt content with being the ornamental presence opposite a star. Her roles turn the spotlight inward - on what a woman feels, hides, or longs for in love.

Its been a while since Hindi cinema allowed romance to breathe like this. With these back-to-back films, Fatima Sana Shaikh is quietly restoring that mood, bringing back love stories that make you remember what its like to fall, stumble, and want again.

Across these three films, Fatima Sana Shaikh is assuredly bringing romance back, on her own terms.
Mandhira also said, My sister and I didnt even go for the wedding. We were very clear that we could not support it because Dad had said, Do not get married and do not have kids.

The ugly battle over Sunjay Kapurs 30,000-crore estate between his mother Rani Kapur, ex-wife Karisma Kapoor and children Kiaan and Samaira and Priya Kapur (Sunjays wife) has been grabbing the headlines for quite some time now.

The court argument intensified with the latest being the Delhi High Court hearing over a plea by Priya Sachdev, as she filed a plea in court seeking to disclose details of her late husbands estate in a sealed cover. Amid the chaos, in an interview recently with Vickey Lalwani, Sunjay Kapurs sister Mandhira extended her support to Karisma Kapoor and slammed his second wife Priya Sachdev.

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What Mandhira Kapur said

Yes, she used to message him constantly when he was with Lolo and I know this for a fact. It is as simple as men are men. He was in a marriage, working on it, trying to fix it. He was not in a most stable place to say, Hey, Im not interested.

But you, as a woman, when someone has had a child and another child, you have also just gotten divorced. You know how painful it is when you are with a child. How and why would you come and break another family? What kind of upbringing is this?"

Mandhira Kapur continued, Are we saying today in society that it is okay? If anything, you should have stayed away, knowing that these people are working on their marriage and they have two children. You have been divorced. You have a child. You know what it is to be a single mother. Then why would you come and do this to this family?

My sister and I didnt go for the wedding

Mandhira also said, My sister and I didnt even go for the wedding. We were very clear that we could not support it because Dad had said, Do not get married and do not have kids.
The closure will take time. Fans and family continue to mourn and ponder what next in a case that continues to get murkier

Zubeen Gargs mysterious death on September 19 in Singapore is raising more eyebrows than it should have. The closure will take time. Fans and family continue to mourn and ponder what next in a case that continues to get murkier. He was only 52 when the world lost him. Tributes from all over began pouring in the moment they heard the traumatic news.

Amid the investigation, The All Assam Lawyers' Association has issued a statement that reads- The death under mysterious circumstances has given rise to suspicion, mystery and a sense of conspiracy. Multiple FIRs have been lodged with the police in different parts of the State. Allowing their conscience to defend the accused will be a historical mistake for the legal fraternity."

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No associate from Singapore for the SIT questioning

The SIT officials now feel that there is something more than what meets the eye. There is something definitely suspicious about the case. This was confirmed after no associate from Singapore showed up for the questioning.

The associates that were summoned by the SIT were Tanmoy Phukan, Abhimanyu Talukdar, Debojyoti Hazarika, Rupkamal Kalita, Siddharth Bora, Parikshit Sharma, Sudipta Chatterjee, and Bazid Ahmed.

Nobody has responded yet. Some people said that they could not show up because of personal difficulties, others did not respond at all. And some made the excuse of technical issues.

What Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said

The Assam CM was quoted saying, This is entirely up to them. The Assam government cannot bring anyone back to the state by force. We will have to coordinate with their parents to ensure their return. Assam Police cannot go to Singapore and arrest them, which is why we must bring them back through proper channels.

CM Sarma added, We have given them time until October 6, and we will take strict action if they refuse to return.
Sebastien Lecornu has become the shortest-lived prime minister in modern French history after resigning just after a month of his appointment. A close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, he stepped down hours after announcing a new Cabinet on Sunday. Lecornu was the seventh PM to serve under Macrons presidency since 2017. But why did he resign? Will the president come out unscathed from the political crisis gripping the nation?

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has resigned just a month after his appointment. Reuters

France has seen seven prime ministers since May 2017. Sebastien Lecornu, the latest PM under President Emmanuel Macron, has resigned just a month after his appointment.

The surprise resignation came just hours after he announced a new Cabinet on Sunday (October 5), making it the shortest-lived in modern French history. Lecornus exit has laid bare Frances political crisis and put pressure on Macron.

We take a look.

Frances new PM steps down

Frances new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu and his government resigned on Monday (October 6). With just 27 days in office, he became the shortest-lived prime minister in modern French history.

Mr Sebastien Lecornu has submitted the resignation of his government to the president of the republic which he accepted, the French presidency said in a statement.

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Lecornu had named a new Cabinet, retaining most high-profile figures in their posts, 14 hours ago. The ministers were set to hold their first meeting on Monday afternoon.

However, the new Cabinet lineup was criticised by opponents and allies alike, who either found it too right-wing or not enough so, as per Reuters.

The new PM faced the ire of the opposition parties across the political spectrum, which threatened to topple his government in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence. Senior figures of the centre-right Republicans called for the party to quit the coalition government.

Conservative Bruno Retailleau, who will remain as interior minister, denounced the new government, saying that it does not reflect the promised break.

Lecornu blamed political parties stubbornness for his resignation during a public address on Monday morning.

I was ready to compromise, but each political party wanted the other political party to adopt its entire programme, he said in a speech in the courtyard of Matignon Palace, the PMs headquarters, as per France24.

The conditions were not fulfilled for me to carry out my function as prime minister, the outgoing PM said in a statement, condemning the partisan appetites of factions who he said forced his resignation.

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The Paris stock market had slipped by more than 2 per cent by around 0800 GMT (1:30 pm IST) after the announcement.

Frances 7 PMs in 8 years

In early September, French President Macron appointed Lecornu as the seventh prime minister of his presidency. Lecornu, a close ally of Macron, came to power after his predecessor, Francois Bayrou, was ousted in a vote of no-confidence after nine months in office.

Michel Barnier, also 74, was Bayrous predecessor, who lasted only three months. Both were ousted by the Assemblee Nationale due to a rift over the spending plan.

Elisabeth Borne and Gabriel Attal had preceded the two as Frances prime ministers.

The French politics have been unstable since Macrons re-election as president in 2022. In the parliamentary elections held later, Macrons centrist party failed to bag a majority, leaving a hung parliament.

Five of seven PMs under Macron have been appointed since his re-election in 2022. Edouard Philippe and Jean Castex are the only ones who served as Frances PMs during his first presidential term.

In a move aimed at bolstering his authority, Macron called a snap parliamentary election last year. The move backfired, leading to a more fragmented parliament.

What would Macron do now?

Lecornus resignation has deepened Frances political and economic crisis. The former defence minister had a tough task of gaining approval in a fractured Parliament for an austerity budget for next year.

With Lecornu gone, Macrons woes are set to increase. Some political leaders have already started calling for him to step down, but he has earlier resisted such demands before his mandate ends in 2027.

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Calls for French President Emmanuel Macrons resignation have increased since Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu quit. File Photo/Reuters

Marine Le Pens far-right Rassemblement National has called for holding polls. Macronism is dead on its feet, the party said in a post on X. Macron must now choose: dissolution [of the Assemblee Nationale] or resignation, and quickly! it added.

Le Pen Monday urged snap parliamentary elections, saying a dissolution (of parliament) is absolutely necessary. She also added that it would be wise for President Macron to resign.

Jean-Luc Melenchon, the leader of the radical-left La France Insoumise (LFI) party, called for bringing a motion to remove Macron from office. Mathilde Panot, a prominent LFI member, also called on the French president to quit. The countdown has begun. Macron must go, she said, in a post on X.

The far-left France Unbowed also demanded Macrons departure. Some voices on the left also suggested reviving a coalition comprising leftists, socialists, greens and communists.

National Rally President Jordan Bardella pressed Macron to dissolve the National Assembly following Lecornus resignation. Stability cannot be restored without a return to the polls and without the dissolution of the National Assembly, he said, as per France24.

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Lecornus move will put immense pressure on Macron, who has now installed three failed minority governments.

The French president, who is unlikely to resign, could appoint a new prime minister, who is also expected to struggle with the same deeply divided National Assembly.

If Macron resigns, it would be unprecedented under Frances Fifth Republic, established by Charles de Gaulle in 1958.

Not just political instability, France is also staring at an economic crisis. The European country reported a budget deficit of 5.8 per cent in 2024. Frances public debt has reached a record high, according to official data last week. Its debt touched 113 per cent of GDP last year. This debt-to-GDP ratio is now the European Unions third-highest after Greece and Italy, surpassing the blocs rules that the public debt of the member nations should not be over 60 per cent of economic output.

Macrons resignation would be the worst-case scenario for Frances financial markets, John Plassard, partner and head of Investment Strategy at Cite-Gestion, told CNBC.

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I dont think he wants to do that, but I think that would be the worst for the market because I dont think the Socialists or even the far right in France wants to govern this country actually, they want to wait for a [new] election, he said.

As per Bloomberg, Barclays analysts predict that Macron stepping down is unlikely, while parliament elections could be on the cards.

With inputs from agencies
The Gaza ceasefire talks have placed Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya in the spotlight. As mediators push for a breakthrough amid intense fighting and humanitarian collapse, the negotiations in Egypt are being closely shaped by US President Donald Trump, who has taken personal ownership of the peace effort

Smoke rises following explosions during the Israeli military offensive in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 6, 2025. File Image/Reuters

As negotiations between Israel and Hamas resume in Egypt, all eyes are on Khalil al-Hayya  the man leading the Palestinian groups delegation in talks that could determine the future of Gaza.

The discussions, which begin this week, mark the most serious diplomatic engagement between the two sides in more than two years of conflict, raising hopes of a ceasefire and a comprehensive hostage-prisoner exchange.

These talks are being held in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, with mediation efforts led jointly by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar.

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The Donald Trump-led United States has taken an unusually direct role in pushing both sides toward an agreement that could end the fighting and set the foundation for a post-war Gaza.

Who are the participants at the Sharm el-Sheikh negotiations?

According to official announcements, Hamass delegation to Egypt is headed by Khalil al-Hayya, a senior member of the groups political bureau and one of its most prominent surviving figures.

Hamas politburo member Khalil al-Hayya attends a news conference in Damascus, Syria, October 19, 2022. File Image/Reuters

Al-Hayya arrived in Egypt on Sunday, leading a team of negotiators to begin discussions on mechanisms for a ceasefire, the withdrawal of occupation forces and a prisoner exchange, according to a statement released by Hamas.

The meetings scheduled for Monday are al-Hayyas first formal engagement since Israel conducted an airstrike in Doha, Qatar, in September, which targeted senior Hamas officials.

That strike killed six people, including al-Hayyas son, but failed to eliminate the leadership core.

Hamas later confirmed that al-Hayya and several others survived. In his first televised appearance since that attack, broadcast from Qatar earlier on Sunday, al-Hayya expressed grief over the loss of his son and others but made no mention of the upcoming talks or the possibility of a ceasefire.

Israel, for its part, announced that its delegation would be led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a close confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Dermer and his team are tasked with negotiating the initial phase of what Washington has called a comprehensive roadmap toward ending hostilities in Gaza.

Representing the United States are Trumps son-in-law and former White House adviser Jared Kushner, alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff, reported AFP.

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Both were dispatched to the region to finalise details of a potential deal that would see the release of all remaining hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody.

Qatar, a key regional mediator, has also sent its foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, to participate in the discussions.

How is Trump involved in the Gaza ceasefire talks?

The negotiations in Egypt are being closely shaped by US President Donald Trump, who has taken personal ownership of the peace effort.

Trump, who announced on Saturday that talks were proceeding rapidly, wrote on Truth Social, These talks have been very successful, and proceeding rapidly. The technical teams will again meet Monday, in Egypt, to work through and clarify the final details. I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST.

A day earlier, he had warned Hamas to reach an agreement swiftly, saying, Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off. I will not tolerate delay, which many think will happen, or any outcome where Gaza poses a threat again. Lets get this done, FAST.

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Trump also acknowledged that Israel has temporarily stopped the bombing in order to give the Hostage release and Peace Deal a chance to be completed.

However, Gazas civil defence agency reported continued airstrikes overnight, with at least 57 people killed, including 40 in Gaza City alone.

The White House later confirmed that Kushner and Witkoffs trip to the region was directly ordered by the president to address the finalisation of details on the release of hostages and to discuss the deal pushed by the US president to bring an end to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Both Hamas and Israel have indicated preliminary acceptance of the US-drafted framework, which seeks to end the war and create conditions for long-term stability in Gaza.

The plan represents a 20-point proposal formulated under Trumps directive, and it lays out a sequence of steps that would begin with an exchange of captives and culminate in a ceasefire and reconstruction phase.

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What we know about Trumps 20-point proposal?

The proposal, shared by the White House, outlines a phased process under which the Gaza Strip would become a deradicalised terror-free zone and would be rebuilt to serve the needs of its civilian population.

It promises an immediate halt to hostilities once both sides formally agree to its terms.

Under this framework, Israeli forces would withdraw to designated lines while all combat operations, including air and artillery strikes, would be suspended.

The document specifies that battle lines will remain frozen until conditions are met for the complete staged withdrawal.

The first stage would involve the release of hostages held in Gaza, both living and deceased. Within 72 hours of Israels public acceptance of the agreement, all hostages would be returned.

In return, Israel would release 250 prisoners serving life sentences and an additional 1,700 Palestinians detained after the October 7, 2023, attacks  including all women and children.

For every Israeli hostage whose remains are returned, the plan stipulates that Israel will release the remains of 15 Gazans.

Once the exchanges are completed, members of Hamas who commit to peaceful coexistence and agree to decommission their weapons would be granted amnesty. Those wishing to leave Gaza would be allowed safe passage to other countries willing to receive them.

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The plan also prioritises the immediate flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, specifying that aid quantities must match or exceed the levels established in the January 19, 2025 agreement.

These include the restoration of critical infrastructure such as electricity, water, and sewage systems, along with the rehabilitation of hospitals and bakeries and the removal of rubble blocking major roads.

Gazas governance would transition to a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee tasked with managing municipal services and public administration.

The document clarifies that no one will be forced to leave Gaza, ensuring freedom of movement for residents who wish to stay or return.

Israel, under the agreement, would not occupy or annex the territory.

What may be the points of contention?

Despite Hamass public indication of support for several aspects of the proposal  including the release of all hostages and the transfer of Gazas administration to a neutral technocratic body  it has not yet committed to the most contentious demand: disarmament.

Israel has made it clear that any final agreement must include a complete decommissioning of Hamass military capabilities.

Hamas, in its official statement, said that discussions concerning the future of Gaza and the rights of the Palestinian people are still underway within a national framework, implying that the group intends to remain involved in shaping the territorys political trajectory.

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The second phase of the negotiations, expected to follow the initial exchanges, will tackle these unresolved issues. These include the disarmament question, security guarantees for Israel, and mechanisms to prevent a resumption of hostilities.

Analysts note that the talks in Sharm el-Sheikh represent the first significant opening for diplomacy in over two years of war.

Yet the complexity of the issues and the long-standing mistrust between the parties suggest that progress, even if swift in the short term, will be difficult to sustain without continued international mediation.

What is at stake for Hamas?

Hamas enters these negotiations under considerable strain. Once the dominant force in Gaza, the group has seen its military and political wings decimated after sustained Israeli operations.

According to intelligence assessments cited by regional officials, much of Hamass senior command in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades  its military arm  has been eliminated.

Izz al-Din al-Haddad, who now leads the Brigades, is believed to have succeeded Mohammed Sinwar, brother of Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the October 7, 2023, attacks.

Both Sinwar brothers were killed in Israeli strikes earlier this year.

Political leaders such as Ismail Haniyeh and Saleh al-Arouri have also been killed, leaving only a few senior figures like al-Hayya to manage what remains of the organisations political leadership.

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Meanwhile, conditions in Gaza have deteriorated to catastrophic levels. Local health authorities report that more than 67,000 people have been killed and 169,000 injured since the war began.

Over 90 per cent of Gazas 2.2 million residents have been displaced multiple times, with many now living in makeshift shelters or tents. Reports from humanitarian agencies describe widespread famine and critical shortages of medicine, food, and clean water.

Displaced Palestinians flee northern Gaza along the coastal road toward the south, after Israels military says its expanded operation in Gaza City has begun and warns residents to leave, September 16, 2025. File Image/AP

Hamass territorial control has also eroded, with Israeli forces maintaining positions across much of northern and central Gaza. In several areas, local Palestinian militias and clans, reportedly encouraged by Israeli intelligence, have assumed limited administrative responsibilities.

These developments have led to increasing friction between Hamas fighters and other Palestinian groups, resulting in intra-factional clashes and further loss of public confidence.

The groups internal security apparatus has also been implicated in arrests, executions, and torture of Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel, contributing to what observers describe as a breakdown of law and order in the enclave.

According to a public opinion poll conducted in May 2025, roughly half of Gazas population expressed support for anti-Hamas demonstrations.

Experts on Palestinian politics have noted that, given its current state of depletion, Hamas may have little choice but to evolve into a purely political entity if it hopes to survive.

Countries such as Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt are expected to play key roles in facilitating any ideological or structural transformation Hamas may undergo.

However, its long-standing Islamist ideology, rooted in rejection of Israels legitimacy, remains a significant barrier to such change.

What next?

The outcome of the Sharm el-Sheikh negotiations carries implications that extend well beyond Gaza.

For the United States, success would represent a major diplomatic victory for Trump, who has personally invested political capital in the process.

For Israel, the talks offer a pathway to secure the release of hostages while maintaining long-term security assurances.

Netanyahus government has faced domestic and international criticism for its handling of the conflict, and any breakthrough could bolster his standing.

However, the Israeli prime minister also faces scepticism at home from hardliners who oppose concessions perceived as legitimizing Hamas.

For Hamas, the negotiations may represent a last opportunity to secure relevance in Gazas post-war future.

Acceptance of a ceasefire, a prisoner exchange, and administrative handover to a technocratic body could enable the organisation to reposition itself politically, albeit at the cost of abandoning its role as an armed resistance movement.

With inputs from agencies
The detention of hundreds of international activists off Gazas coast  including Greta Thunberg and Mandla Mandela  has brought allegations of abuse inside Israeli custody. There are allegations that the Swedish climate campaigner was dragged and beaten, while others, too, were mistreated

This combination of images released by the Israeli Foreign Ministry shows Greta Thunberg, second from right, with other flotilla activists after the Israeli navy intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, October 1, 2025.

The detention of hundreds of international activists off the coast of Gaza is seeing strong condemnation over Israels alleged mistreatment of detainees and its larger enforcement of the long-standing naval blockade on the Palestinian territory.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy of 42 boats carrying around 450 activists from multiple countries was intercepted by Israeli naval forces between October 1 and October 3.

According to Israeli authorities, the flotilla attempted to breach the blockade to deliver symbolic aid to Gaza  a territory under siege since the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.

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The flotillas participants described their mission as peaceful and humanitarian, while Israel charactersied it as a political provocation organised to discredit the state and, in its view, support a terrorist entity.

Among those detained were several prominent figures, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, Mandla Mandela  grandson of Nelson Mandela  and several European parliamentarians.

The arrests took place as United States President Donald Trump was urging both Israel and Hamas to commit to a new ceasefire framework, with negotiations expected to resume in Cairo.

Inside Israeli custody

Following the naval interception, the activists were transferred to Ketziot Prison, a high-security facility in the Negev desert. Many of those detained were later deported, but a number remain in custody pending legal processing.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that all detainees were offered voluntary deportation, while some opted to stay in Israel to undergo the formal legal deportation process.

Accounts from released detainees paint a grim picture of their time in custody. Italian journalist Saverio Tommasi, who returned home to Rome, claimed that soldiers confiscated personal medication and treated prisoners like monkeys.

A screengrab from a live stream video shows Israeli navy forces aboard the Gaza-bound vessel Florida, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which flotilla organisers report has been intercepted, October 2, 2025. Image/Global Sumud Flotilla via Reuters

He alleged that detainees were subjected to psychological harassment and mocked by Israeli forces. We also saw Greta Thunberg at the port, in that case with her arms tied and an Israeli flag next to her, just a mockery, Tommasi told AP.

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Lets say the mockery was part of the verbal and psychological violence they always carried out, in order to demean, ridicule and laugh in situations where there is nothing to laugh about.

Another Italian detainee, Lorenzo DAgostino, described nights of sleep deprivation, repeated searches, and intimidation using military dogs and laser sights.

They were intimidating us with dogs, he said after his arrival in Istanbul. They pointed the laser sights of their guns at us to scare us.

He claimed that his money and belongings were also taken during detention.

Paolo De Montis, another Italian activist, provided a similar account. Constant stress and humiliation, he told AP, describing being confined in a prison van for several hours with his hands restrained by zip ties.

You werent allowed to look them in the face, always had to keep your head down and when I did look up, a man  came and shook me and slapped me on the back of the head. They forced us to stay on our knees for four hours.

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Greta Thunbergs case

The detention of Greta Thunberg, a globally recognised climate and social justice activist, has particularly drawn attention from governments and rights organisations. A report by The Guardian cited a Swedish Foreign Ministry email confirming that Swedish embassy officials met Thunberg in prison.

According to the correspondence, she informed of dehydration and complained of insufficient amounts of both water and food.

A surveillance footage shows crew of the Gaza-bound British-flagged yacht Madleen, put their hands up as strong light came into the vessel, in this screengrab from a video released on June 9, 2025. Freedom Flotilla Coalition via Reuters

The message also stated that she had developed rashes which she suspects were caused by bedbugs and that she was forced to sit for long periods on hard surfaces.

The same email relayed another detainees statement that Thunberg was forced to hold flags while pictures were taken and expressed concern that such images might have been circulated.

These claims were supported by additional activists who were detained with her.

Turkish activist Ersin Celik, speaking to Turkeys state-run Anadolu Agency, alleged that Israeli personnel physically assaulted Thunberg.

They dragged little Greta by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others, he said.

DAgostino, echoing the claim, said Thunberg was wrapped in the Israeli flag and paraded like a trophy.

A screengrab from a video shows Swedish activist Greta Thunberg sitting next to a person wearing tactical gear, as vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla are being intercepted by Israeli security forces, October 1, 2025. Image/Israel Foreign Ministry via Reuters

The flotillas Italian legal representatives asserted that detainees were kept without food or water for long periods.

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A packet of crisps handed to Greta and shown to the cameras was, they claimed, the only instance of food provision for hours.

Israels denials & position

The Israeli Foreign Ministry has denied every allegation of misconduct. In multiple statements, it maintained that the detainees rights were fully upheld and described the allegations as brazen lies.

It said that all prisoners had access to legal counsel, medical care, food, and sanitation.

In a social media post, the ministry wrote that Greta also did not complain to the Israeli authorities about any of these ludicrous and baseless allegations  because they never occurred.

It also asserted that those who remained in custody had voluntarily chosen not to expedite their deportation.

An official statement added, All detainees from the Hamas-Sumud provocation were given access to water, food, and toilets; they were not denied access to legal counsel, and all their legal rights, including access to medical care, were fully upheld. Israel is and will remain a state governed by the rule of law, committed to upholding the rights and dignity of all individuals in accordance with international standards.

However, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees prisons, publicly endorsed the treatment of detainees, calling it justified.

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During a visit to Ketziot prison, he said, I was proud that we treat the flotilla activists as supporters of terrorism. Anyone who supports terrorism is a terrorist and deserves the conditions of terrorists.

He added, If any of them thought they would come here and receive a red carpet and trumpets  they were mistaken. They should get a good feel for the conditions in Ketziot prison and think twice before they approach Israel again.

Ben-Gvir also claimed that the flotillas humanitarian purpose was a facade.

I was there, on their boats, I didnt see aid and I didnt see humanitarian. I saw one Materna [baby formula] and an entire wild party of people who were dressing up as human rights activists, but who in practice came to support terrorism and to celebrate [at our expense].

International response

The incident has drawn criticism from several governments, particularly those whose citizens were detained. Turkey, Colombia, and Pakistan issued official protests, condemning Israels handling of the activists.

Greece, which had 27 nationals among those arrested, submitted a formal written protest to Israel denouncing the unacceptable and inappropriate behaviour of an Israeli minister  a reference widely interpreted as aimed at Ben-Gvirs public remarks and video footage mocking the detainees.

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The Swedish Foreign Ministry confirmed it was acting intensively to ensure that the detained Swedes rights are observed.

It added that the embassy in Tel Aviv had pointed out the need to provide adequate food and clean water, access to legal counsel, and medical attention where needed.

Greek and South African embassies reported visiting their detained citizens and stated that they were in good health and high spirits. The Greek government said its nationals were expected to be deported shortly.

In total, Israeli authorities have deported at least 170 detainees so far out of the more than 450 detained, with more departures expected.

Meanwhile, legal organisation Adalah, representing several of the detainees, reported that many had faced mistreatment.

These included being denied medical treatment and medication, enduring physical abuse, and, in one case, a Muslim woman being compelled to remove her hijab and offered a shirt as a substitute.

Responding to those claims, an Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson said, All the detainees legal rights were fully upheld, and they were all given access to water, food, and restrooms. They were not denied access to legal counsel, and of course, no physical force was used against them.

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The spokesperson accused Adalah of repeating outright lies.

The detention and alleged abuse of flotilla activists have also triggered protests in cities across Europe, Latin America, and West Asia.

Demonstrations were reported in Stockholm, Rome, Istanbul, London, and Johannesburg, where protesters demanded the immediate release of all detainees and called for international pressure on Israel to lift the blockade.

In Sweden, activists gathered outside the Israeli embassy calling for Thunbergs release, while in Italy, human rights groups demanded an independent investigation into the treatment of journalists.

Turkish officials have called the incident a blatant violation of international law.

The issue has also strained Israels relations with several European countries, where lawmakers have voiced concern over reports of degrading treatment.

While some governments have refrained from direct condemnation, diplomatic channels remain active as embassies seek the safe return of their nationals.

What next

The Global Sumud Flotilla is the most recent in a series of maritime campaigns launched since the late 2000s to challenge Israels naval blockade of Gaza.

The blockade, imposed in 2007 and maintained with Egyptian cooperation, restricts maritime access to the enclave, which Israel says is necessary to prevent the smuggling of weapons to Hamas.

Humanitarian groups, however, argue that the blockade collectively punishes Gazas two million residents and exacerbates poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity.

The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail in late August as Gaza faced worsening famine conditions and ongoing airstrikes following the renewed hostilities between Hamas and Israel.

Despite the controversy, activists have announced the launch of another maritime convoy aimed at Gaza.

According to organisers, 11 new vessels  including boats carrying medics and journalists  are preparing to sail toward the enclave. They have pledged to continue challenging the blockade until it is lifted.

Israeli officials have said they will prevent any unauthorised entry into Gazas waters and warned that further flotillas would face the same fate.

With inputs from agencies
On October 6, 1981, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated during a military parade in Cairo. The day also marked Austria-Hungarys 1908 annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, the outbreak of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and Chinas 1976 arrest of the Gang of Four

Late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat seen announcing to the Egyptian parliament, and the world his venture to visit Israel, Egypt's enemy at the time, on November 9, 1977. File Image/AA via Reuters

October 6 has been marked by assassinations, wars, and political upheavals that have reshaped much of the world today.

The assassination of Anwar Sadat in 1981 remains the days defining event, altering Egypts and the broader regions trajectory.

The annexation of Bosnia in 1908 set Europe on the path to World War I; the Yom Kippur War of 1973 redefined Arab-Israeli relations and global energy politics; and the arrest of Chinas Gang of Four in 1976 ended a turbulent revolutionary era.

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We take a look at them in this edition of Firstposts History Today series.

The assassination of Anwar Sadat

On October 6, 1981, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated during a military parade in Cairo, one of the most dramatic political killings of the late 20th century.

The attack, carried out by Islamist extremists within the Egyptian Army, shocked the world.

Sadats assassination came just over two years after he signed the Camp David Accords with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, a peace treaty brokered by US President Jimmy Carter, which ended three decades of hostilities between Egypt and Israel.

While the treaty earned him international acclaim, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1978, it also provoked intense opposition within Egypt and across the Arab world.

Anwar Sadats rise and policies

Born in 1918 in Mit Abu al-Kum, a village in the Nile Delta, Anwar el-Sadat rose through the ranks of the Egyptian military and was part of the Free Officers Movement that overthrew King Farouk in 1952.

Initially overshadowed by Gamal Abdel Nasser, Egypts charismatic leader, Sadat became president in 1970 following Nassers death.

Sadat inherited a nation weary from wars with Israel, burdened by economic stagnation, and dominated by Nassers socialist model.

In the early years of his presidency, he pursued policies to consolidate power, eventually launching the Corrective Revolution of 1971, purging rivals and reshaping the political landscape.

His most significant move came in October 1973, when he launched the Yom Kippur War against Israel alongside Syria.

Although Egypt ultimately suffered military setbacks, Sadats decision restored a sense of pride among Egyptians after the humiliation of the 1967 Six-Day War.

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This war set the stage for Sadats gamble on diplomacy.

The Camp David gamble

In 1977, Sadat stunned the world by visiting Jerusalem to address the Israeli Knesset, the first Arab leader to openly recognise Israel.

This bold gesture led to US-brokered negotiations at Camp David in 1978, resulting in the first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab state.

The deal required Israel to withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula in exchange for Egypts recognition.

A meeting at Camp David of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and their aides at Camp David, Maryland, September 7, 1978. Image Courtesy: Jimmy Carter Library/US National Archives

Internationally, Sadat was hailed as a visionary peacemaker. But within Egypt and across the Arab world, he was vilified.

Many Egyptians viewed him as betraying the Palestinian cause and bowing to Western pressure.

Key Arab states, including Syria, Iraq, and Libya, severed ties with Egypt, while the Arab League expelled Egypt in 1979.

Domestically, opposition coalesced from multiple fronts:

Islamists condemned Sadat for making peace with Israel and for his liberalisation policies that they viewed as un-Islamic.

Leftists and Nasserists opposed his shift toward economic privatisation and alignment with the West.

Intellectuals and civil society grew increasingly critical of his authoritarian style, as Sadat cracked down on dissent.

By September 1981, just a month before his assassination, Sadat ordered a sweeping arrest of over 1,500 opponents, ranging from Islamists to liberals and clerics to students.

Instead of silencing dissent, this intensified anger.

The assassination

On October 6, 1981, Egypt held a military parade in Cairo to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the Yom Kippur War.

Sadat, dressed in military uniform, sat in the reviewing stand with senior officials, foreign dignitaries, and his vice president, Hosni Mubarak.

As jets flew overhead in a carefully choreographed show of military power, a military truck carrying soldiers suddenly stopped in front of the presidential reviewing stand.

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Four men leapt out, led by Lieutenant Khalid Islambouli, a 24-year-old Egyptian Army officer who belonged to an Islamist cell.

Shouting Allahu Akbar (God is great), they rushed toward Sadat, firing assault rifles and throwing grenades.

Sadat, initially mistaking the attack for part of the parades theatrics, stood upright before realising the danger.

Within seconds, he was struck by a hail of bullets.

Eleven others, including diplomats and spectators, were killed, and more than two dozen were injured.

The scene was captured on live television, though Egyptian authorities quickly cut the broadcast.

Sadat was rushed to a military hospital, but doctors were unable to save him.

He was pronounced dead that afternoon at the age of 62.

The assassins

The assassins were members of Egyptian Islamic Jihad, a radical Islamist group inspired by the ideology of Sayyid Qutb, the executed Muslim Brotherhood ideologue.

The group saw Sadat as a traitor for making peace with Israel and for his crackdown on Islamist activists.

Khalid Islambouli became the face of the attack. In his trial, he famously declared, I killed Pharaoh, and I do not fear death.

He and his co-conspirators were executed in 1982, but their actions inspired generations of militant Islamists, including Ayman al-Zawahiri, who later became a leader of al-Qaeda.

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The aftermath in Egypt and the region

The assassination plunged Egypt into uncertainty. Vice President Hosni Mubarak, who had been injured in the attack but survived, was sworn in as president just days later.

Mubarak quickly consolidated power, ruling Egypt for nearly three decades until the 2011 Arab Spring.

Domestically, Mubarak maintained Sadats peace treaty with Israel, but he ruled with a heavy hand, keeping emergency laws in place and suppressing Islamist movements.

This authoritarian legacy became one of the defining features of Egypts modern history.

Regionally, Sadats assassination reinforced the perception that peace with Israel came at a high cost. Arab leaders took note of the ferocity of Islamist opposition and the instability that could follow diplomatic overtures.

Egypt, once a leader of the Arab nationalist cause under Nasser, became isolated for years, though it gradually re-entered the Arab League in 1989.

Global reactions to Sadats killing

Sadats assassination reverberated worldwide. US President Ronald Reagan praised Sadat as a courageous man of peace.

Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, who had grown close to Sadat through the peace process, attended his funeral in Cairo along with former US presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Jimmy Carter.

Notably, most Arab leaders refused to attend, highlighting Egypts estrangement from its regional neighbours.

Today, Sadat is remembered as one of the most controversial figures in modern Arab history.

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Admirers hail him as a visionary leader who broke the cycle of war and laid the foundation for peace in West Asia.

Critics view him as a reckless autocrat whose concessions undermined Arab solidarity and who failed to deliver true democracy to Egypt.

His assassination became a turning point, marking the rise of Islamist militancy as a major political force in the region. Groups inspired by the assassins would later form networks that evolved into global jihadist movements.

Austria-Hungary annexes Bosnia-Herzegovina

On October 6, 1908, Austria-Hungary formally annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina, escalating tensions in the Balkans and heightening European rivalries.

The region had been under Ottoman sovereignty but administered by Austria-Hungary since the 1878 Treaty of Berlin.

The annexation infuriated Serbia, which viewed Bosnias large Slavic population as part of its vision of a Greater Serbia.

Russia, Serbias ally and self-proclaimed protector of Slavs, also opposed the move but was too weak after the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 to directly challenge Austria-Hungary.

The crisis strained relations between the great powers  Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Germany  and left deep resentment among Serbs.

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This discontent simmered until 1914, when Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist.

The event became the immediate trigger for World War I.

The Yom Kippur War

The Yom Kippur War began on October 6, 1973, when Egyptian and Syrian forces launched a coordinated surprise attack on Israel during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

Known as the October War in the Arab world, it was a direct attempt to regain territory lost during the Six-Day War of 1967.

Egyptian troops successfully crossed the Suez Canal and breached Israeli defences in the Sinai Peninsula.

Syrian forces simultaneously advanced into the Golan Heights.

The initial Arab successes shocked Israel, which had believed its military supremacy to be unchallenged.

Over the next three weeks, Israel mounted counterattacks, eventually repelling Syrian forces and crossing into Egyptian territory.

The war ended with a UN-brokered ceasefire, but it fundamentally altered regional dynamics.

For Arabs, particularly Egyptians, the war restored a sense of dignity after the humiliation of 1967. For Israelis, it underscored their vulnerability and reshaped security strategies.

Internationally, the conflict led to the 1973 oil crisis, as Arab oil producers imposed an embargo on Western nations supporting Israel.

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The war also paved the way for future peace efforts, as Sadat realised that military victories alone could not achieve Egypts long-term goals. His decision to pursue negotiations with Israel emerged directly from the lessons of 1973.

The arrest of the Gang of Four

On October 6, 1976, less than a month after the death of Mao Zedong, Chinas ruling Communist Party moved against the so-called Gang of Four, led by Maos widow Jiang Qing.

The group, which included Zhang Chunqiao, Yao Wenyuan, and Wang Hongwen, had been powerful figures during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976).

The Gang of Four was accused of manipulating Maos policies for their own political gain and of orchestrating purges and campaigns that had led to widespread violence, famine, and cultural destruction.

Their arrest marked the end of the Cultural Revolution and a turning point in Chinese politics.

In 1981, they were put on trial in one of the most high-profile political cases in modern Chinese history.

Jiang Qing received a death sentence, later commuted to life imprisonment.

She died by suicide in 1991.

The fall of the Gang of Four cleared the path for the rise of reformist leaders such as Deng Xiaoping, who steered China away from Maoist radicalism and toward economic modernisation and global integration.

With inputs from agencies
Family members are inconsolable after a fire broke out at the Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Rajasthans Jaipur, killing eight people. Relatives allege the hospital staff ignored their warnings before the blaze broke out and even fled the scene. But the administration has another version; the trauma chief states a short circuit led to the blaze, and they provided all the help required

The fire at the Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur gutted the ICU and destroyed various documents, ICU equipment, blood sample tubes, and other items. ANI

A hospital turned into a death trap in Indias Jaipur on Sunday night as a fire broke out at the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, killing eight patients. Hospital officials have confirmed that more patients remain in critical condition.

The incident comes almost a year after a similar blaze gutted a hospital in Uttar Pradesh, killing 18 newborns, raising uncomfortable questions about hospital management and safety in India.

But what exactly happened at the state-run hospital in Jaipur? Was negligence to blame for the blaze? We get you the latest.

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What happened in Jaipurs hospital?

Late on Sunday night, around 11.20 pm, a fire broke out at the trauma centre of the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital. According to Dr Anurag Dhakad, the trauma centres in-charge, 11 patients were being treated in the neuro ICU and another 13 were admitted to the adjoining ward when the blaze erupted in the storage area.

An official from the fire department said that by the time fire crews arrived, the entire ward was filled with smoke, blocking all access. We had to break windowpanes from the opposite side of the building and spray water jets inside, he was quoted as telling Hindustan Times. It took nearly one-and-a-half hours to douse the flames.

Patients were evacuated along with their beds and shifted to the roadside. The fire created chaos in the building, with smoke rapidly spreading throughout the floor and causing panic among patients and their families. Various documents, ICU equipment, blood sample tubes, and other items stored in the area have been gutted in the fire.

As of now, the deceased have been identified as Pintu (Sikar), Dileep (Aandhi, Jaipur), Shrinath (Bharatpur), Rukmani (Bharatpur), Kushma (Bharatpur), Sarvesh (Agra, UP), Bahadur (Sanganer, Jaipur), and Digambar Verma.

Vikas, a ward boy at the hospital, said that he and other staff members rescued as many people as they could before the flames worsened. We were inside the operating theatre when we heard about the fire, so we immediately rushed to rescue the people inside the centre. We managed to save at least three to four patients. However, as the flames intensified, we could no longer go into the building. We did our best to rescue as many as we could, he said.

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Anurag Dhakad, the trauma centre in-charge at the Jaipur hospital, said the fire, triggered by a short circuit. ANI

Short-circuit or negligence to blame for hospital fire?

Shortly after the patients were rescued from the blaze, the question on everyones mind was what caused the fire?

According to Anurag Dhakad, the trauma centre in-charge, a short circuit led to the blaze, which resulted in the spreading of toxic gases. The fire seems to have broken out due to a short circuit. Our patients were already in a very critical condition. The maximum patients were in a coma. So their survival reflexes are also poor, Dhakad said.

#WATCH | Jaipur, Rajasthan | SMS Hospital Trauma centre Incharge Anurag Dhakad says, "Our trauma centre has two ICUs on the second floor: a trauma ICU and a semi-ICU. We had 24 patients there; 11 in the trauma ICU and 13 in the semi-ICU. A short circuit occurred in the trauma pic.twitter.com/cjMwutRCl3  ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2025

Due to the electrical burn, toxic gases were released there, and we had to shift them along with their support system. Their condition became more serious. We tried to shift them to the ICUs on the lower floor, but we could not save them, he added.

Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph added that the exact cause of the fire would be ascertained only after an investigation by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team. At first glance, it appears to be a short circuit, but the final cause will only be determined after the FSL investigation, he said, adding that the bodies of the deceased have been shifted to the mortuary. Once everything is done, the post-mortem of the bodies will be conducted.

However, family members of the patients who were affected by the blaze claim that negligence was the reason for the loss of their loved ones. In fact, when Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel and Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham visited the spot, relatives and kin complained that some of them had alerted the hospital staff of smoke in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). However, the staff did not pay attention to their complaints.

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Additionally, they alleged that when the fire broke out at the hospital instead of helping the patients, the staff fled. They also complained that hospital authorities had failed to share any information about their patients condition.

We noticed smoke and immediately alerted the staff, but they didnt pay attention. When the fire broke out, they were the first to run. Now, no one is telling us anything about our patients condition, PTI news agency quoted a family member as saying.

Speaking to ANI news agency, another victims relative said, The ICU caught fire, but there was no equipment to extinguish it, no fire extinguishers, no cylinders, not even water to douse the flames. There were no facilities at all. My mother didnt survive.

#WATCH | SMS Hospital fire, Jaipur | "... The ICU caught fire. There was no equipment to extinguish it. There were no cylinders or even water to douse the fire. There were no facilities. My mother passed away...," says a person who lost a family member in the fire at Jaipur's pic.twitter.com/BCV2Sa9jMT  ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2025

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Echoing similar remarks was Om Prakash, who had a loved one in the hospital. Speaking to ANI, he said, Smoke started spreading around 11.20 pm and I warned the doctors that it could cause discomfort to patients.

By the time the smoke intensified, the doctors and compounders had already fled. Only four to five patients had been evacuated.

Tragically, my maternal aunts son lost his life in the fire. He had recovered and was scheduled to be discharged in two to three days, Prakash said.

A man surveys the damage to a room inside the Jhansi hospital where a fire broke out on November 15, 2024. File image/PTI

How common are hospital fires in India?

Sadly, the fire at Jaipurs Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital is not a one-off incident. There have been numerous blazes at hospitals in the recent years with the most heart-breaking one occurring in Uttar Pradeshs Jhansi in November last year when 18 newborn babies died in an inferno.

An investigation by Indian Express revealed that between January 2020 and October 2024, there were at least 105 hospital blazes while another study revealed that from August 2020 to April 2022, 122 people died in 29 incidents of major hospital fires across India in just 20 months.

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But why do these hospital fires occur?

A tendency to cut corners, electrical problems and using combustible materials make government hospitals especially prone to fire hazards.

The most common reason for fires in hospitals is the heavy electrical load in the wards combined with the oxygen-rich environment. The National Building Code of India mandates that electrical fittings and wirings must be sealed by non-combustible material in separate ducts. However, thats hardly ever done in Indian hospitals.

Furthermore, hospitals arent supposed to use combustible materials such as plaster of Paris on walls or false ceilings. However, this rule is hardly every adhered to. Improper management of electrical loads is also a major cause of fires. A study, published in the International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, found that 78 per cent of the 33 hospital fires it looked at were started due to electrical problems  with air conditioners being the most common source.

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As The Hindu wrote once, There is no greater betrayal than when a sanctuary turns into a death trap. Fire accidents in hospitals that kill the vulnerable would fall squarely in this category.

With inputs from agencies
Following claims by the Congress that Russia was planning to sell its advanced RD-93MA engines to Pakistans fleet of Chinese-made JF-17 fighter jets, sources within Moscows establishment denied these charges, calling them mischievous. Notably, the claim comes right before Vladimir Putin visits India in December

Reports have surfaced that Russia is planning to supply RD-93MA engines to Pakistan for integration into the JF-17 Thunder Block III fighter jets. File image/Reuters

Are they or arent they? Thats the question many are asking after the Congress claimed that Russia, a long and trusted ally of India, has ignored New Delhis appeals and proceeding to supply advanced engines to Pakistans fleet of Chinese-made JF-17 fighter jets.

But is there any truth to these claims? Notably, these claims have emerged before Russian President Vladimir Putins scheduled visit to India, with December 5-6 being worked out for now.

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If these claims are correct, what does this mean for India-Russia ties that date back to even before Independence?

We take a closer look.

Russia to sell jet engines to Pakistan?

On Saturday (October 4), the Congress, the leading opposition party in India, said that the Narendra Modi government should explain why Russia  once Indias most reliable strategic ally  has chosen to ignore New Delhis appeals and proceed with supplying advanced RD-93MA engines to Pakistans fleet of Chinese-made JF-17 fighter jets.

The latest Block III variant of this aircraft will feature the upgraded engine and the same PL-15 missiles believed to have been used against our country during Operation Sindoor. The IAF chief has also stated that the JF-17 may be among the Pakistani fighters that were used against us, wrote the partys communication in-charge, Jairam Ramesh, in a post on X.

The Modi government must explain why Russia - once Indias most reliable strategic ally - has chosen to ignore New Delhis appeals and proceed with supplying advanced RD-93MA engines to Pakistans fleet of Chinese-made JF-17 fighter jets. The latest Block III variant of this  Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) October 4, 2025

He further wrote that the deal between Pakistan and Russia for the jet engines was going ahead despite direct interventions by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in June 2025.

The government owes the nation an explanation as to why a long-time and trusted partner like Russia is now providing military support to Pakistan, even as India continues to purchase S-400 missile systems and negotiates for Su-57 stealth fighters from Moscow. This development underscores yet another failure of Prime Minister Modis personalised brand of diplomacy, which prioritises image-building and global spectacle over national interests, Ramesh mentioned in his lengthy X post.

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The Russian RD-93 turbofan engine is a variant of the Klimov RD-33 engine used on the MiG-29 fighter. File image/X

The Congress also slammed the Modi administration, adding that it was unable to diplomatically isolate Pakistan.  Pakistans leadership  including its Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, whose communally poisonous statements provided the immediate backdrop to the Pahalgam terror attack  is being courted very warmly by President Donald Trump and supplied weapons by President Vladimir Putin, all while enjoying unqualified backing from China during Operation Sindoor.

For those who are unaware, the JF-17, which is used by Pakistan, does indeed use the Russian RD-93 turbofan engine, which is a variant of the Klimov RD-33 engine used on the MiG-29 fighter. However, Pakistan doesnt directly procure the engine from Russia. In fact, theres a trilateral Russia-China-Pakistan agreement under which Moscow has been supplying fully assembled RD-93 engines since the early 2000s to Beijing, who then fit it into the JF-17s and then supply it to Islamabad.

How has Russia responded?

Shortly after the Congress made these claims, BJPs Amit Malviya refuted the charge, stating there was no official confirmation or credible source to support the claims of engine supply. He added that it was reckless information warfare.

Now, Russia has also rejected these claims of Moscow planning to provide engines for JF-17 fighter jets being supplied by China to Pakistan, terming such reports as mischievous and baseless.

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The Economic Times citing sources said that Russia and India have an understanding that Moscow wouldnt ever supply any defence hardware to Pakistan, which is detrimental to India. The sources further added that claims of supplying engines to Pakistan were mischievous and fictitious, and created to spoil atmospherics before the visit by the Russian president in December.

Another Russian official told Wion, No confirmation on such a development. It looks illogical for serious and professional observers, who trace big deals ahead between Russia and India. Dont have such a level of cooperation with Pakistan, which would make India feel uncomfortable.

Someone is trying to compromise exceptionally promising and forward-looking cooperation, especially on the eve of high and highest level contacts, added the source.

Why does this matter to India?

There are several implications if Russia was to supply the RD-93MA engines to Pakistan for its JF-17 planes. This is because India and Russia have been long-standing defence partners. For over five decades, the two nations have collaborated across various defence aspects. In fact, recently India reportedly showed more interest in procuring additional batches of the S-400 surface-to-air missile systems, as the weapons proved to be very effective during Operation Sindoor.

If Russia was to supply the jet engines to Pakistan, it would be significant as India and Russia have been long-standing defence partners. File image/Reuters

Meanwhile, Pakistan and Russia dont share the same ties. As Muhammad Murad, a PhD political science candidate at the University of Bonn, noted in a Moscow Times report, Despite growing ties between Islamabad and Moscow, there is still a certain level of existing mistrust between the two countries owing to Pakistans neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine war and its alleged supply of weapons to Ukraine.

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If Russia was to start selling to Pakistan, it would indicate a rift in Delhi-Moscow ties. Also, it would give Islamabad a new defence partner to rely upon. Pakistan has been increasing its weapon purchases from across the world. Its arms imports rose by 61 per cent. According to data available, Pakistan accounts for 4.6 per cent of global arms imports in 2020-2024. China remains its biggest supplier, providing 81 per cent of Pakistans major arms imports during this period, up from 74 per cent in 201519.

But India can take solace in the fact that as of today Russia and Pakistans defence ties are nothing to write about. In 2015, Russia and Pakistan signed a deal for four Mi-35M attack helicopters, which has since been delivered. In July 2019, the Russian government rejected Pakistans request to buy new generation Kalashnikov rifles, commonly known as AK, assuring India that there will not be any military deal with Islamabad.

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Also, some defence experts noted that if Russia was to go ahead with the sale of the RD-93MA engines to Pakistan, it would only benefit India. Pyotr Topychkanov, who heads the Section on New Challenges in South and Southeast Asia at the prestigious Moscow-based Primakov Institute, told PTI, I dont think the criticism here is justified. If reports about Russia providing engines for the JF-17 are correct, it actually benefits India in two ways.

Firstly, it shows that China and Pakistan havent yet managed to replace the Russian-origin engine. Secondly, the new aircraft will be familiar and predictable to India, especially since they share the same engine and India observed the JF-17s operational use during the May 2025 crisis (Operation Sindoor), he noted.

We will have to wait and see  will Pakistan find a new weapons supplier in Russia or will Moscow remain Indias friend.

With inputs from agencies
The Pentagon has issued a memo directing all military branches to revert to pre-2010 standards for beards, saying that facial hair waivers are generally not authorised. This comes after US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseths remarks last month that the era of rampant and ridiculous shaving profiles through waivers for medical or religious reasons is over

US Army Captain Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi poses in Times Square, New York, on September 14, 2010 , wearing his US Army ACU Digital Camouflage turban along with his ACU uniform. File Photo/AFP

A United States Department of Defence order restricting beards in the military has sparked widespread criticism among Sikhs. The Sikh Coalition, a leading advocacy group for Sikhs in the US military, and the North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) have expressed concern over the directive, which could majorly impact Sikh, Jewish and Muslim soldiers.

This comes after US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseths recent push for implementing strict grooming standards in the military. The move, however, is facing flak as it threatens religious accommodations for Sikhs, Orthodox Jews, and Muslims who keep facial hair as part of their faith.

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Lets take a closer look.

Beard ban in the US military

On September 30, US Defense Secretary Hegseth said in his speech at Marine Corps Base Quantico: If you want a beard, join special forces. If not, shave. We dont have a military full of Nordic pagans.

He reportedly said that the era of rampant and ridiculous shaving profiles through waivers for medical or religious reasons is over.

No more beardos, Hegseth said during the presentation, attended by top officers and their enlisted advisers. The era of rampant and ridiculous shaving profiles is done. Simply put, if you do not meet the male-level physical standards for combat positions, cannot pass a [physical training] test or dont want to shave and look professional, its time for a new position or a new profession.

Following Hegseths remarks, the Pentagon issued a memo directing all branches to revert to pre-2010 standards for facial hair, stating that facial hair waivers are generally not authorised.

The document, titled Grooming Standards for Facial Hair Implementation, mandates compliance plans within 60 days and complete execution within 90 days, with some exceptions for special operations forces during validated mission-essential requirements, though even they have to be clean-shaven before deployment.

As per Stripes.com, Hegseth ordered a military-wide review of grooming standards in March, resulting in the Army and Marine Corps tightening rules on medical shaving waivers.

While the pre-2010 standards are vaguely defined, the policies from the late 1990s and early 2000s typically banned beards except for rare medical or religious exemptions, with a focus on a clean-shaven and neat appearance for gas mask seals and uniformity.

In 2010, the US Army granted its first formal religious accommodations in more than two decades to two Sikh officers, Captain Simran Preet Singh Lamba and Dr Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi.

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Graduating senior Gurjiwan Singh Chahal wears a turban as he marches into Michie Stadium with his fellow senior classmates for graduation ceremonies for the class of 2021 at the United States Military Academy (USMA) West Point, in West Point, New York, US, May 22, 2021. File Photo/Reuters

The US Army started granting permanent religious accommodations to Sikh soldiers in 2017, establishing a strong presumption in favour of approving requests for turbans, beards, and other religious items. Other troops have granted religious beard waivers on a case-by-case basis since 2019.

Under Hegseths new policy, those who have been granted a religious exemption will face individualised reviews and will have to provide documentation proving their sincerity of the religious or sincerely held belief to be considered for an accommodation.

Organisations condemn Pentagons directive

The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) has opposed the Pentagons directive.

The new rules state that the facial hair waivers are generally not authorised. It would create serious implications for Sikhs, orthodox Jews, Muslims and other religious minorities whose faith requires them to maintain beards and other articles of faith, NAPA executive director Satnam Singh Chahal said, as per Hindustan Times.

Chahal described the move as a betrayal of trust for those who have fought for years for religious accommodation in the armed forces. This decision is not about discipline or lethality, it is about stripping away the dignity and religious identity of devout soldiers who serve this country with loyalty and honour, he said.

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Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) general secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal said the development was deeply concerning for the Sikh community. This is highly unfortunate, and we categorically consider it to be unjust. In a democracy like the US, it is the governments duty to respect and uphold the religious freedoms of all persons, especially those belonging to minority communities, he said.

Punjab politicians react

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal has urged External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar to take up the issue with the US government to ensure Sikhs can practise their faith without any discrimination, saying Sikhs all over the world were concerned about the directive.

Drawing the attention of the external affairs minister, Badal said that an impending ban on Sikhs in the US Army maintaining their religious identity with regard to the five cardinal symbols (the five kakaars), including turban, hair and beard. He called for an early initiative on behalf of the Indian government in this regard.

The SAD chief added: The decision ran against the principle of freedom to practice ones religion, a cornerstone of the US democracy.

Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan denounced the US governments decision to ban beards, calling it an insult to the Sikh soldiers who fought in the World War. He also urged the Central government to immediately raise the issue with Washington.

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With inputs from agencies
Elon Musk, the worlds richest man, is set to unveil Grokipedia  a potential competitor to Wikipedia. Musk has claimed that the venture, which will be linked to his AI firm xAI, will launch within a matter of weeks. But what is it? How will it work?

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Grokipedia will be launched within two weeks. File Image / Reuters

You have no doubt heard of Wikipedia.

Now, Elon Musk, the worlds richest man, is set to unveil Grokipedia  a potential competitor to Wikipedia. Musk has claimed that the venture, which will be linked to his AI firm xAI, will launch within a matter of weeks.

Version 0.1 early beta of Grokipedia will be published in 2 weeks, Musk wrote on X.

The development comes amid Republicans and the far right continuing to take on the mainstream media. Musk, whose net worth touched $500

billion (Rs 44.36 lakh crore) earlier this year, previously claimed that Grokipedia would be a massive improvement over Wikipedia.

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But what is Grokipedia? What do we know about it?

Lets take a closer look:

What is it?

Musk retweeted a post from X user @amXFreeze describing Grokipedia as the worlds largest and most accurate knowledge source, for humans and AI, with no limits on use.

The post said Grokipedia would use the power of AI to draw on Wikipedia as well as other sources. However, it would identify falsehoods or half-truths and add in missing context.

xAI and Grok logos are seen in this illustration taken, February 16, 2025. Reuters

The reason why it will be the true knowledge source is because its built solely for the truth and to navigate to the truth free from bias or hidden agendas. Elon never does anything by half measures, he dives straight to the full extent," the user claimed.

The user also compared Grokipedia to Community Notes on X. It is important to note that Musk himself and xAI have not confirmed how Grokipedia will work.

US media landscape continues to change

Conservatives have long targeted mainstream media outlets as biased and woke. Wikipedia, with its vast readership around the world and in the United States, is no different.

Musk and other Republicans have claimed Wikipedia, which is publicly funded and staffed by volunteers, as Wokepedia. Wikipedia shapes America, conservative commentator Tucker Carlson has claimed.

Musk himself accused the website of being an extension of legacy media propaganda and called for it to be defunded after Wikipedia editors included the hand gestures Musk made at Trumps inauguration earlier this year, which many compared to Nazi salutes.

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The Trump administration has also targeted Wikipedias non-profit tax status, while Republicans in Congress have vowed to investigate Wikipedia.

Jimmy Wales, who co-founded Wikipedia, has said the neutral point of view is non-negotiable and that most volunteers are a bunch of really nice nerds.

Ironically, this comes as the Trump government defunds public outlets such as NPR and PBS. Trump himself has sued a number of legacy media firms such as CBS and ABC and received millions of dollars in payouts  which many have likened to bribes.

Elon Musk gestures at the podium inside the Capital One arena on the inauguration day of Donald Trumps second presidential term, in Washington. Many likened his hand gesture to a Nazi salute. Reuters

Meanwhile, right-wing billionaires over the years have continued to purchase many media outlets in the United States. Musk, of course, famously purchased X prior to the 2024 election and was widely accused of meddling with its algorithm to favour Trump, his preferred presidential candidate, and the Republicans.

Musk also publicly said he would fix Grok, only for it to begin spewing far-right and anti-Semitic talking points, denying the Holocaust and even describing itself as mecha Hitler  for which he later apologised.

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But Musk is far from the only right-wing billionaire who is taking over US media outlets. Oracle chief Larry Ellison recently bought CBS with the merger between Paramount Studios and Skydance Media. Ellison has now installed Bari Weiss, the famously anti-woke media critic and Israeli sympathiser, as its chief.

Ellison is also set to bid for Warner Brothers-Discovery, which owns CNN and HBO  which would leave him a media magnate with the power to influence millions in America and around the world.

Now, Musk wants to create a rival to Wikipedia, a website he once praised, where millions of people, presumably Americans, and many more around the world can get their facts  all seemingly approved by the richest man on the planet.

Let that sink in.

With inputs from agencies
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called Chicago a war zone after federal agents shot and wounded a woman over the weekend. The development comes as US President Donald Trump steps up efforts to deploy the National Guard in Democratic cities across America, which citizens and local authorities have protested against

US President Donald Trump over the weekend sent around 300 federal troops to Chicago, the countrys third-largest city and hometown of Barack Obama. AP

According to the Trump administration, Chicago is now a war zone. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has made the claim after federal agents shot and wounded a woman over the weekend.

The development comes as US President Donald Trump steps up efforts to deploy the National Guard in Democratic cities across America  which citizens and some local authorities have protested against.

Trumps move to send federal troops to Chicago comes just after he sent the National Guard to Washington to crack down on crime. He has also deployed federal troops in Los Angeles, California, and Memphis, Tennessee.

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Trump has also mused about deploying the US military in Democratic-run cities.

But what happened? And which US city is next?

Lets take a closer look.

What happened?

Trump, over the weekend, sent around 300 federal troops to Chicago, the countrys third-largest city and hometown of his predecessor Barack Obama. The development comes as the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducts an immigration crackdown in the Windy City  which thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest.

On Saturday, US Customs and Border Patrol agents opened fire on a woman and wounded her. Noem claimed that the agents acted in self-defence and the woman, identified as Marimar Martinez, had a semi-automatic weapon. Noem claimed that a convoy of vehicles had followed the agents through the streets of Chicago and rammed into them.

They had followed them and gotten them cornered, pinned them down and then our agents, when getting out of their cars, they tried to run them over and had semi-automatic handguns on them to where our agents had to protect themselves and shots were fired and an individual ended up in the hospital that was attacking these officers, Noem said in a statement.

Protestors stand and chant in the Brighton Park neighborhood of Chicago, on Saturday. AP

Martinez was taken to a hospital and then released  after which she was taken into custody by the FBI. Another individual, allegedly driving a vehicle in the convoy, was identified as Anthony Ian Ruiz. He too has been taken into custody.

The Department of Homeland Security claimed that Martinez had been involved in the doxxing of other agents. They also referred to Martinez and the other protesters as domestic terrorists.

"The scene became increasingly violent as more domestic terrorists gathered and began throwing smoke, gas, rocks, and bottles at DHS law enforcement," the DHS alleged in its statement. Noem claimed Martinez told the agents they all needed to go down.

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The developments in the city come amid fierce opposition from citizens and local groups. Immigrants rights advocates and residents have claimed that federal agents used tear gas near grocery or hardware stores they had targeted for enforcement.

ICE acts with impunity

Jonny Bishop, a 28-year-old former teacher from Palatine, Illinois, and from a Mexican immigrant family, said the cooperation concerned him. There was also outrage about the local police cooperating with the federal authorities.

ICE acts with impunity, said Bishop, whos previously encountered tear gas and pepper balls. They know that they can shoot at us. They can tear gas us. And Broadview Police Department is not going to do anything.

In a Chicago neighbourhood, Andrew Denton, 39, stopped at a grocery store for lunch and heard honking from an SUV stopped behind a motorcycle parked in the middle of the street. He realised ICE agents were in the SUV and started shooting video just before the agents threw canisters of gas near passers-by.

There was no reason to use tear gas on the crowd, he said. No one was threatening them in any way. Denton said he immediately began tearing up. His nose began running, and he felt like he was choking. He said the 20 or so people in the area included seniors, families with children and children outside at recess at an adjacent elementary school.

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A protestor is doused with milk, water, and saline after tear gas in the Brighton Park neighbourhood of Chicago. AP

Federal agents also detained a city council member as she questioned the attempted arrest of a man. Chicago Alderperson Jessie Fuentes shared video appearing to show her being handcuffed as she confronted federal agents at a hospital. She said a resident had fallen and broken his leg while being chased by ICE agents who then transported him to the emergency room.

Democrats are hitting back at the Trump administration. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker called for an investigation into an immigration raid on the citys South Side early Tuesday morning. Pritzker, over the weekend, blamed the Trump administration for inflaming tensions in the city.

They are the ones who are making it a war zone, Pritzker said. They need to get out of Chicago. If theyre not going to focus on the worst of the worst, which is what the president said they are going to do, they need to get the heck out.

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Pritzker said Noem doesnt know what shes talking about.

People are booing her on the street, Pritzker added. [ICE is] raiding neighbourhoods where instead of going after the bad guys, theyre just picking up people who are brown and Black, then checking their credentials I dont know about you, but I dont carry around papers that say Im a US citizen.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has been a vocal critic of the Trump administrations ICE raids and deployment of the National Guard in Illinois, calling it unhinged and unhealthy.

Which US city is next?

Noem said she has already requested the Department of War  the Department of Defence  to send troops to Portland. This comes as a federal judge in Oregon, appointed by Trump during his first term, temporarily halted his administration from deploying the National Guard in Portland.

US District Judge Karin Immergut wrote that the relatively small protests the city has seen did not justify the use of federalised forces and allowing the deployment could harm Oregons state sovereignty.

US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Reuters

This country has a longstanding and foundational tradition of resistance to government overreach, especially in the form of military intrusion into civil affairs, Immergut wrote. She later continued, This historical tradition boils down to a simple proposition: this is a nation of constitutional law, not martial law.

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Defendants have made a range of arguments that, if accepted, risk blurring the line between civil and military federal power  to the detriment of this nation, Immergut added. She said Trumps own claims were not conceived in good faith and were simply untethered to the facts.

Immergut on Sunday accused the administration of circumventing her order after Trump attempted to send National Guard troops from California and Texas to Chicago and other US cities. Immergut, during an emergency hearing, widened her restraining order to cover the relocation, federalisation or deployment of members of the National Guard of any state or the District of Columbia in the state of Oregon.

Immergut informed lawyers from the Justice Department that Trump was in direct contravention of her order. The Trump administration on Saturday had taken Immerguts decision to the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals.

California Governor Gavin Newsom had vowed to sue Trump over the deployment of National Guard troops from California to Oregon. After Immergut passed her order, Newsom issued a statement that read, The rule of law has prevailed  and Californias National Guard will soon be heading home. This ruling is more than a legal victory, its a victory for American democracy itself. Donald Trump tried to turn our soldiers into instruments of his political will. While our fight continues, tonight the rule of law said hell no.

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It remains to be seen whether the showdown between the courts and the executive branch results in some sort of constitutional crisis if Trump refuses to obey the law and the judges verdicts.

With inputs from agencies.
US President Donald Trumps proposed peace plan for Gaza has been the talk of the town. Palestinian militant group Hamas has said that it accepts some of the US presidents proposed peace plan. But, how far will it go in accepting the terms?

Smoke rises following an Israeli military strike in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip on October 5, 2025. AP

Weakened militarily and facing declining Palestinian support, particularly among residents of Gaza, Hamas was already a shadow of the militant group it once was. And then came President Donald Trumps peace plan.

On October 3, 2025, Hamas said that it accepted some aspects of the 20-point proposal, including handing over administration of the Gaza Strip to a body of independent Palestinian technocrats and releasing all remaining Israeli hostages.

Those hostages are the last of the 252 taken during the October 7, 2023, attack  an event that two years on looks to represent a high point, so to speak, of Hamas power. As an expert on Palestinian political attitudes, I believe the group now has few options to survive.

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Like former resistance groups in past peace processes, it could renounce arms and transform itself into a purely political party. But to do so, it needs to overcome a series of hurdles: confronting other parts of Trumps plan, its unpopularity at home, and its rigid ideology being the three most prominent.

Campaign of assassination

It is worth taking stock of just how degraded Hamas has become as a result of two years of onslaught by Israels vastly superior military.

According to many intelligence reports, Hamas has lost most of its senior command in the Al-Qassam Brigades, its military wing. Izz al-Din al-Haddad, its current commander, survives, having presumably taken over from Mohammed Sinwar  the brother of Yahya Sinwar, mastermind of the October 7 attack  who was killed in May 2025. But he presides over a dwindling army.

Iranians walk next to a billboard with a picture of late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, senior Iranian military commander General Qassem Soleimani, late Lebanons Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and late Hamas leader Yahya Al-Sinwar on a street in Tehran, Iran. File image/Reuters

Trump may not have been exaggerating when he indicated on Truth Social on October 3 that Hamas had lost 25,000 fighters. Estimates regarding the groups losses vary, but it could represent more than half of the fighting force it had at the beginning of the war.

Hamas has succeeded in recruiting new fighters during that time. But many of these new recruits lack the competence and the experience of the dead ones. And the only motivations the new recruits have are hate and anger toward Israel.

Hamas political leadership has also been decimated. Chief political leaders, including Ismail Haniyeh, Saleh al-Arouri and Yahya Sinwar, have all been killed.

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And it could have been worse. Had the Israeli attack on Hamas political leadership in Doha, Qatar, succeeded in September 2025, it could have been a devastating loss for the movement. But the operation missed its primary targets there.

Falling support in Gaza

Palestinian public pressure on Hamas has risen as the miseries of war have mounted.

According to local health officials, more than 67,000 have been killed and more than 169,000 have been injured. Most of the Gaza Strip has been reduced to rubble, and more than 90 per cent of the population has been displaced multiple times  with most residents now living in tents. International organisations have reported famine and starvation in some parts of Gaza.

Hamas has lost its power and influence over many areas now under Israeli control. Israeli military and intelligence have encouraged some members of the local Palestinian clans and militia to offer services in militia-controlled areas.

In such areas, Hamas fighters have often clashed with other Palestinian groups, resulting in many deaths and growing resentment toward Hamas.

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Hamas execution and torture of Palestinians suspected of collaboration with Israel has only worsened the situation, leading to chaos and lawlessness in many parts of Gaza.

It is little wonder, then, that half of Palestinians in Gazan in the latest poll of attitudes  taken in May 2025  say they supported anti-Hamas demonstrations. Indeed, support for the group in both Gaza and the West Bank has continued to decline as the war has progressed.

The push for peace

The ongoing war and the inhumane daily conditions that local Palestinians in Gaza are dealing with have led to exhaustion and fatigue among the public.

On social media, many Palestinians are asking Hamas publicly to endorse the Trump plan and put an end to their misery.

In deciding whether to accept all the plans 20 points, Hamas will, from its perspective, have to weigh whether agreeing to a very bad outcome is better than the alternative. Trump has warned that a failure to get on board will cause Hamas to face all hell.

Hamas has already agreed to release the remaining Israeli hostages and to relinquish power in Gaza to a technocratic Palestinian committee. If endorsed in full, this would put an end to the war and see the gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and no expulsion of the Palestinians from Gaza.

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US President Donald Trump gives a thumbs up as he welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, DC. File image/Reuters

Egypt, Qatar and Turkey have been facilitating Hamas response to the plan. And there is huge regional and international pressure to get the deal over the line.

However, it would force Hamas to disarm itself and allow the entry of an international and regional force into Gaza to oversee the destruction of military infrastructure, including tunnels, weapons manufacturing and the remaining rockets  points of the latest plan that Hamas appears more unwilling to accept.

What happens to the remaining Hamas fighters is a sticking point that might lead to the collapse of the whole plan.

And any rejection of the plan that can be blamed on Hamas will no doubt be welcomed by members of the Israeli extreme right. Hard-line factions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus coalition have an alternative plan: to fully occupy Gaza, expel the Palestinians and reestablish Israeli settlements in Gaza.

Where next for Hamas?

Perhaps the most viable option for Hamas is to transform itself into a political party. But to do so, the group will need to reform not only its structures but also its ideology.

Political momentum is swinging back to a two-state solution. France and Saudi Arabia recently spearheaded a fresh push to that end at the United Nations, and a host of Western nations recognised Palestinian statehood for the first time. Hamas may feel the pressure to finally accept a two-state solution, something it has long resisted. For its part, Trumps plan only makes vague assertions, noting the Palestinian aspiration for a state.

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If transforming into a purely political party is to be the fate of Hamas, it will need to play its cards shrewdly and swiftly. The Palestine Liberation Organisation went through this process after its departure from Beirut in 1982, eventually putting politics and diplomacy over armed resistance. And Qatar, Turkey and Egypt can help Hamas moderate its stances, too.

The rigid ideology of Hamas remains a hurdle. Since it was formed in 1987, Hamas has tethered itself to a hard-line Islamist ideology that does not allow fundamental compromises on issues such as recognition of Israel and the development of Palestine as a secular state.

But there is the recent example of Syria where, following the ouster of long-term dictator Bashar Assad, the main Islamist fighting group pivoted to politics  and was lauded in the international community for doing so.

Whether Hamas can succeed in such a transformation  should it even attempt to  remains to be seen. And there is one final snag: Even if Hamas does accept the latest peace proposal, other Palestinian militant groups in Gaza might not  and could attempt to sabotage the whole process.

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Mkhaimar Abusada, Visiting Scholar of Global Affairs, Northwestern University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Indias Wockhardt has unveiled Zaynich, a breakthrough antibiotic that has shown exceptional success against multi-drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Combining cefepime and zidebactam, Zaynich achieved up to 100 per cent cure rates in clinical trials, marking Indias first major antibiotic innovation in nearly 30 years

An elderly man uses a magnifier to see the descriptions on a pack of medicine at a pharmacy in Dandong, Liaoning province, China, March 30, 2011. Representational Image/Reuters

Wockhardt, a leading Indian drug manufacturer, has developed Zaynich  a new-generation antibiotic that has shown remarkable success in combating infections caused by multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria.

This development comes at a time when the world is struggling against the rising tide of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)  a crisis that threatens to push modern medicine back into a pre-antibiotic era.

The drug is being hailed as the first major antibiotic innovation to emerge from India in nearly three decades, and one that could have both domestic and international impact in managing bacterial infections that no longer respond to existing drugs.

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What do we know Zaynich?

Zaynich is a combination antibiotic that merges Cefepime, a fourth-generation cephalosporin antibiotic, with Zidebactam, a beta-lactamase inhibitor and enhancer.

Together, they provide what researchers describe as a dual mechanism of action against some of the most resilient bacterial strains known to medicine.

Cefepime works by breaking down the bacterial cell wall, leading to rupture and death of the cell.

However, many Gram-negative bacteria defend themselves by producing enzymes known as beta-lactamases, which degrade antibiotics like cefepime and render them useless.

Zidebactam neutralises these enzymes and enhances cefepimes activity by binding to the bacterias penicillin-binding proteins, thus improving its ability to kill the pathogen.

This dual function makes Zaynich a particularly strong contender in treating infections caused by bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter species  all of which are common sources of hospital-acquired infections that are increasingly resistant to traditional drugs.

According to Wockhardts data, Zaynich has shown a 20 per cent higher success rate in treatment compared to current antibiotic regimens.

Laboratory and clinical trials have indicated potent activity against multiple drug-resistant and even carbapenem-resistant strains, which are considered some of the hardest to treat in modern hospitals.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies these pathogens as urgent threats due to their ability to evade multiple antibiotics. Infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria can lead to life-threatening conditions like sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections.

These infections also tend to spread quickly in healthcare settings, further complicating management.

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What did clinical trials reveal?

Zaynichs potential was demonstrated in extensive clinical testing. Wockhardt reported a 100 per cent clinical cure rate among 30 critically ill patients suffering from life-threatening, drug-resistant infections.

These were individuals for whom all other antibiotic options had failed.

The companys clinical trials, completed in January this year, indicated over 97 per cent efficacy in treating serious infections caused by meropenem-resistant Gram-negative pathogens.

Across a broader set of indications  including bloodstream infections, hospital-acquired pneumonia, and complicated urinary tract infections  the drug achieved a 98 per cent overall efficacy rate.

In particular, Wockhardt stated, The drug demonstrated high pathogen eradication rates, including in tough-to-treat conditions like hospital-acquired pneumonia and bloodstream infections, where it achieved a 100 per cent cure rate.

These results highlights why medical experts describe Zaynich as a potential lifesaver for patients who have no other viable antibiotic options left.

In hospital settings, where MDR bacterial infections lead to high mortality rates, prolonged hospitalisation, and increased medical costs, a new effective antibiotic could be transformative.

Even as Zaynich remains under Phase-3 clinical evaluation in several countries, the drugs trial data has drawn attention for its unusually strong performance against multiple strains that resist first-line and even last-resort antibiotics.

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Why does Indias antibiotic breakthrough matter?

Antimicrobial resistance is among the gravest threats to global health, as identified by the World Health Organization (WHO). Every year, millions of infections across the world fail to respond to antibiotics that once cured them with ease.

The WHO has listed Gram-negative bacteria among the top global priorities for the development of new antibiotics, given their ability to spread and exchange resistance genes across species.

In the United States, the CDC estimates that 2.8 million people contract drug-resistant infections annually, resulting in nearly 48,000 deaths.

In India, where infectious diseases are more prevalent and antibiotics are sometimes misused, the situation is particularly severe.

Over-the-counter antibiotic sales, self-medication, and incomplete courses have accelerated the rise of resistance among local bacterial strains.

A 2022 Lancet study projected that by 2050, antimicrobial resistance could cause up to 8 million deaths annually, with economic losses amounting to $100 trillion worldwide, reported the Indian Express.

Zaynich signals that Indian drug developers can now compete in the space of novel therapeutic research, not just generics.

The significance of Zaynich, therefore, extends far beyond India.

Since bacteria know no borders, a successful drug developed in one country can help treat infections worldwide.

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How is Zaynich unique?

Zaynichs strength lies in its biochemical mechanism.

While Cefepime directly attacks the bacterial cell wall, Zidebactam performs two vital roles  it inhibits the beta-lactamase enzymes that bacteria produce to neutralise antibiotics, and it acts as a beta-lactam enhancer that binds to bacterial targets to boost antimicrobial action.

The two ingredients work together to eliminate resistant bacteria effectively.

Zidebactam functions as a beta-lactamase inhibitor, which protects cefepime from enzymatic breakdown. The compound interacts with bacterial penicillin-binding proteins to boost antibiotic effectiveness, medical researchers observed in reports.

This mechanism allows Zaynich to neutralise bacteria that resist carbapenems  antibiotics often considered the last line of defence.

The emergence of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria creates a severe medical crisis, because these bacteria show resistance to all carbapenem antibiotics which serve as critical treatments for severe infections, researchers have stated.

What challenges may Zaynich face?

While early trial data for Zaynich is encouraging, several hurdles remain before it can achieve widespread clinical use.

The drug still requires regulatory approvals in major markets, including the United States, where it is not yet cleared for medical use.

Like any new drug, Zaynich must pass rigorous clinical trials to demonstrate safety, side effects, pharmacokinetics, and real-world efficacy across diverse patient groups, medical experts have pointed out.

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In India, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and national antibiotic stewardship programmes will likely evaluate Zaynichs inclusion in hospital treatment protocols.

Long-term success will depend on controlled prescription practices to prevent premature overuse and resistance.

Antibiotic resistance, by nature, is a dynamic challenge. Bacteria evolve rapidly, and even breakthrough drugs can lose effectiveness if misused. Therefore, continuous monitoring and responsible prescribing will be essential to prolong Zaynichs utility.

Experts note that resistant bacteria do not respect borders, and misuse in one region can have global repercussions. Hence, introducing Zaynich under strict medical supervision will be vital to ensuring it remains effective for future generations.

Also Watch:

What does this mean for Wockhardt?

The development of Zaynich was supported by Indias Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and other governmental entities.

This model mirrors the global approach adopted by the WHO and national health agencies to stimulate research and development of new antimicrobials through partnerships, grants, and fast-track regulatory support.

For Wockhardt, Zaynich represents not only a scientific milestone but also a crucial business recovery.

The companys shares, which had dropped to Rs.153 in March 2023, surged to over Rs. 1,170, a nearly sevenfold increase, after investors identified Zaynich as the innovation that could turn around its financial outlook.

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As Wockhardt continues large-scale trials and prepares for broader commercialization, analysts estimate that the global market for anti-resistant antibiotics could surpass $1 billion, with Zaynich potentially capturing up to $500 million annually once approved worldwide.

What next for Wockhardt?

Zaynich is not an isolated success. It is part of a broader research programme at Wockhardt aimed at tackling infections resistant to conventional therapies.

The company is also developing antibiotics like EMROK and EMROK O, as well as MIQNAF (Nafithromycin), which recently received approval from Indias Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for treating community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) in adults.

Miqnaf stands out for its short three-day treatment course, which can improve patient compliance compared to traditional regimens.

Together, these developments demonstrate Wockhardts continuing commitment to antibiotic R&D despite prolonged financial strain.

According to the Indian Express, the company had faced 11 consecutive quarters of losses, but its recent focus on licensing and strategic partnerships offers a path toward recovery.

The firm is also pursuing research in diabetes management for emerging markets.

With inputs from agencies
At least 28 people were reported to be killed as relentless overnight rain wreaked havoc in West Bengals north on Saturday night and early Sunday.

At least 28 people were reported to be killed as relentless overnight rain wreaked havoc in West Bengals north on Saturday night and early Sunday. The heavy rains unleashed landslides, washing away bridges and flooding towns from Darjeeling to Cooch Behar.

Authorities noted that at least 28 people lost their lives in the treacherous conditions, most of them were residing in the hill station of Mirik, The Times of India reported. Apart from this, dozens continued to remain missing as rescue teams struggled to reach remote areas cut off by the deluge.

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As per the report, Darjeeling recorded 261 mm in 24 hours from 8 am on Saturday, which is classified as extremely heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, Cooch Behar logged 192mm and Jalpaiguri 172mm. Gajoldoba (Jalpaiguri) reported 300mm of rain.

Tourist towns get battered by heavy rains

The worst devastation was reported in Mirik, Jorebunglow, Maneybhanjang, Sukhiapokhri and Falakata. The authorities noted that at least 13 were killed as the tourist town of Mirik saw heavy rains. What is also concerning is that Bengals direct link to Siliguri has been cut off.

According to The Times of India, thirteen bodies were found in Mirik, known for its Sumendu Lake and views of Kanchenjunga. Ten others, including tourists in Himadri Purkayet from Kolkata, were missing till Sunday evening. In light of the heavy rains, officials warned that the toll may rise once teams reach the upper hills.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express condolences to the families of the victims. Deeply pained by the loss of lives due to a bridge mishap in Darjeeling The situation is being closely monitored in the wake of heavy rain and landslides. We are committed to providing all possible assistance, he wrote in a post on Sunday.

Deeply pained by the loss of lives due to a bridge mishap in Darjeeling. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon.



The situation in Darjeeling and surrounding areas is being closely monitored in the wake of heavy rains and landslides. We  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 5, 2025

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The rescue workers pointed out that the heavy downpour has destroyed critical links: an iron bridge on the Balasan River at Dudhia  the only direct route between Siliguri & Mirik  collapsed, isolating nearby communities.

A bridge at Pulbazar was also heavily damaged, cutting off Thanaline and parts of Bijanbari. Rohini Road, a major connector between Darjeeling and the plains, also caved in. NH10, the lifeline to Sikkim, was shut at Chitrey after landslides.

Amid the rains, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway suspended service indefinitely. Flash floods and landslides turned post-Durga Puja holidays in north Bengal into a desperate fight for survival. Hundreds of tourists across Dooars, Kalimpong, and Darjeeling were stuck in hill resorts and wildlife zones.

Many reported power outages, poor connectivity and washed-out roads. As the rains continue to wreak havoc, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee held an emergency virtual meeting with top officials and regional leaders, including Siliguri mayor Gautam Deb and GTA chief Anit Thapa, and announced she would visit the disaster zone on Monday. Several areas in both north and south Bengal have been flooded due to sudden huge rain and excessive river waters from Bhutan and Sikkim, Banerjee posted on X.

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She ordered the closure of all tourist sites in affected areas & released emergency helpline numbers from the Nabanna control room, assuring tourists that rescue costs would be borne by the state. Rainfall exceeded 300mm in 12 hours last night. I convey my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and have ordered immediate assistance," she concluded in her post.
PM Modi condemned the shoe attack on Chief Justice BR Gavai inside the Supreme Court, calling the incident utterly condemnable and saying it has angered every Indian.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (October 6, 2025) condemned the shoe attack on Chief Justice BR Gavai inside the Supreme Court, saying the incident has angered every Indian.

During a court session, a lawyer allegedly approached the bench and tried to remove his shoe, apparently intending to throw it at Justice Gavai, but security stopped him.

Spoke to Chief Justice of India, Justice BR Gavai Ji. The attack on him earlier today in the Supreme Court premises has angered every Indian. There is no place for such reprehensible acts in our society. It is utterly condemnable.



I appreciated the calm displayed by Justice  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 6, 2025

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Spoke to Chief Justice of India, Justice BR Gavai Ji. The attack on him earlier today in the Supreme Court premises has angered every Indian. There is no place for such reprehensible acts in our society. It is utterly condemnable," PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister also praised Justice Gavai for remaining calm during the episode, noting that his composure reflected his commitment to justice and the Constitution.

A lawyer at the scene told ANI that the man was shouting, Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge (We will not tolerate the insult of Sanatan). Justice Gavai, however, stayed composed, urging the courtroom to remain focused and continuing the proceedings.

The incident followed remarks by the CJI in a separate case about restoring a seven-foot beheaded idol of Lord Vishnu at Khajuraho. While dismissing the case, he had suggested petitioners approach the deity directly and noted that the site is under the Archaeological Survey of Indias jurisdiction.

His comments had sparked debate on social media, with critics saying they hurt religious sentiments.

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Considering Pakistans current state, only the Almighty knows what the future holds for it. I dont want to talk about the future," said Singh at the launch of MJ Akbars new book

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's signals are clear: if Pakistan intrudes or advances further into Sir Creek, India will respond strongly. Image: PTI

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday praised Indias economic stability and projected growth, contrasting it with the uncertain future of neighbouring Pakistan, which he said remained on the brink of instability.

Speaking at the launch of former Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbars new book After Me, Chaos: Astrology in the Mughal Empire, Singh said India is on track to become one of the worlds leading economies.

#WATCH | At the launch of the book 'After Me, Chaos

Astrology in the Mughal Empire' by Former MoS MEA, MJ Akbar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, "...At present, India is the fourth-largest economy in the world. India is heading towards becoming the 3rd biggest economy...If pic.twitter.com/eizoLxJjvy  ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2025

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At present, India is the fourth-largest economy in the world. India is heading towards becoming the 3rd biggest economy by 2030. As per average growth rates by the IMF, India is on the way to becoming the worlds second-largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) by 2038," Singh said.

Highlighting the contrast between India and its neighbours, Singh added, If you look at some South Asian countries, you will realise how stable India is," crediting the countrys economic resilience to a series of transformative reforms.

The Defence Minister also referenced Akbars earlier analysis of Pakistan, recalling the authors description of the country as a jelly state unstable but still intact.

Considering Pakistans current state, only the Almighty knows what the future holds for it. I dont want to talk about the future," Singh said.

Akbar had first used the term in his 2012 book Tinderbox: The Past and Future of Pakistan, where he described Pakistan as a toxic jelly state, a nation that neither stabilises nor collapses, held together by international support and its nuclear arsenal.

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This comes days after Singh accused Pakistan of expanding military infrastructure in the disputed Sir Creek region along the India-Pakistan border, and issued a strong warning saying that any misadventure by Pakistan would provoke a decisive response that can alter its both history and geography.

Even after 78 years of independence, a dispute over the border in the Sir Creek area is being stirred up. India has made several attempts to resolve it through dialogue, but there is a flaw in Pakistans intentions; its intentions are not clear. The way in which the Pakistan army has recently expanded its military infrastructure in areas adjacent to Sir Creek reveals its intentions, Singh said while addressing an event in Gujarat.

Any misadventure will invite a decisive response that can alter both history and geography, he added.

Sir Creek, a 96-kilometre tidal estuary located between Gujarats Kutch region and Pakistans Sindh province, remains a longstanding territorial dispute. India maintains that the boundary lies midstream, while Pakistan claims it lies along the eastern bankcloser to Indian territory.

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Singh accused Pakistan of attempting to challenge Indias defences along the entire frontier, from Leh in Ladakh to Sir Creek in Gujarat.

Pakistan attempted to breach Indias defence from Leh to Sir Creek, but failed. Todays India says that whether it is terrorism or any other kind of problem, we have the capability to deal with and defeat it, he said.

With inputs from agencies
After losing so muchleaders, infrastructure, prestigeHamas may well treat this ceasefire as a tactical pause. But such pauses are the breathing spaces of insurgency and terror

If diplomacy were about neat checklists, the recently unveiled 20-point Gaza Ceasefire Plan would seem like an answer to every humanitarian prayer. It speaks of peace, reconstruction, demilitarisation, hostage return, and even a potential pathway to Palestinian statehood. On paper, it promises a clean reset to the blood-soaked landscape of Gaza. Yet, as with most West Asian blueprints that promise peace, it is the realities beneath the paper that cast the longest shadow.

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At first glance, the plan appears comprehensive and even compassionate. It places humanitarian relief alongside political reform and economic recoverythe three pillars that any durable peace must rest upon. It is presented as a total package that could end the war, demilitarise Gaza, and pave the way for self-governance under a technocratic Palestinian administration, overseen by a so-called Board of Peace. For Gazas peopleexhausted, starving, displacedthere is little left to lose. For them, even a flawed peace may look preferable to the current devastation.

But therein lies the first weakness of the plan. It is designed to be accepted from a position of desperation, not negotiation. With Gazas civil and physical infrastructure in ruins and Hamass command structure shattered, the plan assumes that capitulation equals peace. It is not a negotiated outcome; it is an imposed one. And history reminds us that peace built on humiliation rarely endures.

The Missing Stakeholder: Hamas and the Mirage of its Demise

The plans architectsWashington, Jerusalem, and a small coterie of Arab supportersappear to believe that Hamas can be written out of the script. The organisation, they argue, has forfeited its right to political existence through terror and rejectionism. Yet, Hamas is not merely a militia; it is also a deeply rooted political and social organism. It has run Gaza for nearly two decades and built a governance that neither Fatah nor the Palestinian Authority could match.

To assume it will simply walk away into the twilight is to misread both the psychology of resistance movements and the sociology of Gaza itself. This commentary in no way supports Hamas tactics of coercion and terror but comprehends the reality of such situations.

After losing so muchleaders, infrastructure, prestigeHamas may well treat this ceasefire as a tactical pause. But such pauses are the breathing spaces of insurgency and terror. It could regroup, rebuild underground, and return faster than the twilight can fade. Unless the plan provides a legitimate political role for those now on the ground, it risks producing not peace, but a lull before the next storm.

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Trust, Credibility, and the Business of Peace

The other great paradox is that the plans credibility rests on the shoulders of those least trusted in the region. For President Trump, whose views of multilateralism and international institutions are transactional at best, this plan reads like a business proposala deal to be executed, funded, and claimed as a personal triumph. The language of redevelopment and investment is heavy with the vocabulary of profit. There is little acknowledgement of the emotional, historical, or religious dimensions of the conflict.

The question that naturally arises is can peace be brokered by those who see it as an investment portfolio? When the deals proposers themselves suffer from a crisis of trust, how do they expect warring parties to trust one another? For many in the region, the plans true intent will be read as re-engineering Gaza to suit Israeli security needs, not Palestinian aspirations. And that is the crux of the potential failure of what may look like a very viable plan.

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Where Are the Israeli Guarantees?

A deeper structural flaw lies in the absence of Israeli commitments. Israel is to withdraw, yesbut in phases, tied to security benchmarks that it will likely define and assess itself. What are the guarantees that Israel will not proactively upset the peace if the process does not move as per its expectations? The plan assumes Israeli compliance, not Israeli restraint. A single rocket from a splinter group or a single security incident could provide justification for re-entry. Without binding guarantees and third-party enforcement, the peace could dissolve as soon as it begins.

The UN Paradox

Perhaps the strangest element in this plan is its sudden dependence on the UN. Donald Trump, who spent much of his presidency disparaging the UN, now appears to place far too much trust in it, assigning it oversight and humanitarian roles. Yet, instead of empowering the UN to shape and monitor the peace process, he proposes a new bodythe Board of Peacea nebulous, non-UN entity chaired by himself and including selected international personalities. Who? Nobody yet knows.

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Why reinvent the wheel when tested mechanisms already exist? The UN has managed peacekeeping missions in far more complex environmentsUNIFIL in Lebanon and UNDOF in the Golan Heightswith a reasonable degree of success. An UN-mandated force, rather than a politically constituted board, would bring legitimacy, neutrality, and continuity that could outlast political cycles. That may be precisely why it is avoided: because it dilutes unilateral control.

Big Power Stakes and the Risk of Exclusion

For a plan that purports to bring regional peace, it is conspicuously narrow in authorship. It is essentially a USIsraelArab compact, with a few Gulf states likely underwriting reconstruction. Where are Russia and Chinaboth of whom have long-term stakes in Middle Eastern stability? Moscow retains leverage through its Syria presence; Beijing through its Belt and Road outreach and its growing clout as an oil customer and investor. Excluding them risks creating yet another parallel power game in the region, with proxy dynamics that could undo whatever progress is made on the ground.

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For India too, the stakes are high. With deep strategic ties to Israel, a large diaspora presence in the Gulf, and a growing diplomatic footprint across West Asia, New Delhi cannot afford to be a spectator. Its credibility as a neutral civilisational power and its experience in peacekeeping make it a natural candidate for inclusionperhaps not as a mediator, but as a guarantor of stability. Indias seat at the high table would serve both humanitarian and strategic ends.

Two States or One Mirage?

Does this plan revive or dilute the two-state idea? The answer is not clearand perhaps deliberately so. The plan speaks vaguely of a future Palestinian state once Gaza is stable and demilitarised. Yet by delinking Gaza from the West Bank, it risks institutionalising fragmentation. The more the two geographies are governed separatelyone by a technocratic committee, the other by a faltering Authoritythe more the dream of a unified Palestinian state recedes. What emerges instead is a kind of micro-protectorate, internationally managed but politically neutered.

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The Trump Clock and the Durability Question

Even if this plan were miraculously accepted tomorrow, would it survive beyond the Trump administration? Peace processes in the Middle East take years, often decades. They demand continuity, funding, and political will. A deal so closely identified with one mans political brand is hostage to the electoral clock. When personalities drive policy, institutions witherand peace needs institutions far more than it needs showmanship.

In the final analysis, the 20-point Gaza plan may bring a ceasefire, but not necessarily peace. It could buy time, open aid corridors, and halt bloodshedall worthy goals. But its deeper flaws lie in its exclusionary logic, its weak enforcement mechanisms, and its overreliance on political actors whose credibility is thin.

Gaza may be too exhausted to resist and too broken to negotiate, but Hamas is not deadonly diminished. The world may wish it to fade into the twilight, but twilight is never permanent. Unless the plan integrates Hamas into a monitored political framework, empowers credible international oversight, and restores Palestinian agency, it will remain what too many peace deals in this region have beenan armistice dressed as salvation.

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The writer is a member of the National Disaster Management Authority. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Tensions have heightened in the Sir Creek area due to recent military build-ups by Pakistan, which have prompted stern warnings and counter-measures from India. The strategic waterway, which forms the maritime border between the two countries, has become a renewed flashpoint fuelled by security concerns and economic interests.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently warned Pakistan that any misadventure in the disputed Sir Creek area would be met with a decisive response that could change both history and geography. Sir Creek is a strategically important area along Indias western coastline. His remarks followed the expansion of Pakistani military infrastructure in the region, which he said revealed Islamabads ill intentions.

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The Sir Creek dispute is a long-standing maritime and land boundary dispute between India and Pakistan over a 96 km tidal estuary in the Rann of Kutch region, with both countries claiming sovereignty based on differing interpretations of pre-independence maps and applying different international law principles. The roots of the dispute trace back to the early 20th century, when an argument arose between the Rao of Kutch and the Sindh government over firewood collection rights.

The Bombay Government issued a resolution in 1914 attempting to settle the matter, but it contained conflicting provisions. Paragraph 9 stated the boundary was to the east of the creek, which supported Sindhs claim to the entire creek. However, Paragraph 10 applied the Thalweg Principle, which suggests that the boundary in a navigable waterway is the mid-channel of the deepest channel, which would divide the creek, supporting Indias position.

The issue came to the forefront after the partition in 1947, with Kutch becoming a part of India and Sindh a part of Pakistan. Pakistan claims the entirety of Sir Creek, based on the 1914 Bombay Government Resolution that designated the eastern flank of the creek as the boundary. India advocates the Thalweg Principle, using the mid-channel as the boundary, citing a 1925 map and the construction of mid-channel pillars in 1924.

Pakistan argues that the Thalweg Principle does not apply because Sir Creek is not a truly navigable channel but a tidal estuary. On the other hand, India argues that Sir Creek is navigable during high tide, and therefore the Thalweg Principle applies.

The Sir Creeks location is strategically important for maritime security. The terrorists in the 2008 Mumbai attacks travelled by sea directly from Karachi and then hijacked an Indian fishing boat in the Sir Creek area off the coast of Gujarat. In the aftermath of the attacks, India significantly increased its coastal security along the western coastline, including heightened vigilance in the Sir Creek area, to prevent future sea-based infiltration. However, from the creek, Pakistan could potentially again launch terror attacks.

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The dispute also raises concerns about potential Chinese activity in the region. India has expressed concerns over Pakistans military infrastructure expansion near the area, leading to increased monitoring and interception of boats in the region by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF).

The Sir Creek area also has great economic importance. The region contains rich fishing grounds. Innocent fishermen from both countries often get caught and arrested for accidentally crossing the perceived border, highlighting the human cost of the dispute. The marshlands of Sir Creek are believed to hold substantial oil and natural gas reserves, which would be a major economic benefit to either country.

Moreover, the boundary in Sir Creek directly affects the delimitation of the maritime boundary and the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) for both countries. An EEZ is important because it gives a coastal country sovereign rights to explore, exploit, conserve, and manage natural resources within its maritime zone. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a nations EEZ extends 200 nautical miles from its coastline, and even a small change in the creeks demarcation could shift the offshore EEZ by thousands of square kilometres.

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Several attempts to resolve the dispute through bilateral talks have failed. After the 1965 war, a UN-backed tribunal was formed to resolve the Rann of Kutch conflict. The tribunal awarded about 90 per cent of the disputed territory to India but left the Sir Creek section out of its considerations. The tribunal likely recognised the technical complexity of demarcating a shifting tidal estuary and chose to address the more straightforward land boundary first, expecting a later resolution for the creek.

After the Simla Agreement of 1972, India has insisted on resolving the Sir Creek dispute bilaterally, while Pakistan has pushed for international arbitration, which India has rejected. Joint hydrographic surveys were conducted between 2005 and 2007, but the data did not lead to a final agreement. Formal talks were held in 2012, but progress stalled due to cross-border tensions, including terror attacks. Following the 2016 terrorist attack on the Pathankot Airbase, India halted a broader dialogue process that included discussions on Sir Creek, and structured talks have not resumed since.

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In conclusion, the unresolved boundary and overlapping claims in the Sir Creek area create a security risk. The region is of strategic importance, and the ambiguity allows for potential infiltration and military posturing. The dispute often takes a backseat to other bilateral issues, but recent military build-ups have heightened tensions. An unresolved boundary prevents the definitive delimitation of EEZs, impacting access to valuable marine resources. Thus, a clear resolution of the Sir Creek boundary is critical to defining the maritime boundaries and EEZs of both India and Pakistan, which would settle their rights to valuable offshore resources and enhance regional security.

The writer is a retired Indian diplomat and had previously served as Ambassador in Kuwait and Morocco and as Consul General in New York. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signalled on Thursday that substantial support for American farmers would be announced soon

The American Soybean Association (ASA) has been urging the White House to make soybeans a top priority in trade discussions with China (Photo credit: AFP)

US President Donald Trump is considering a bailout package of at least $10 billion to help the countrys soybean farmers weather the impact of Chinas ongoing boycott of American crops. The proposal comes as the humble soybean emerges as a key flashpoint in the trade war between the worlds two largest economies.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signalled on Thursday that substantial support for American farmers would be announced next week, with soybean growers expected to receive a significant portion of the aid as they struggle with the fallout from Trumps trade conflicts. The Wall Street Journal reported that the administration is mulling $10 billion or more in assistance as surging costs, foreign retaliation, and falling commodity prices hit the countrys agricultural base.

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The US agriculture industry has been grappling with multiple challenges this year. Beyond the trade wars impact, immigration-related labour shortages and plummeting commodity prices have intensified the strain. According to the Agriculture Department, farm production expenses are expected to reach $467.4 billion in 2025, a rise of $12 billion from last year. Meanwhile, farm bankruptcies climbed in the first half of the year to their highest level since 2021, according to US courts data.

Farmers, a critical part of Trumps political base, have grown increasingly anxious as exports to China have dried up amid Beijings retaliatory tariffs on American products. You should expect some news on Tuesday on substantial support for our farmers, especially the soybean farmers, Bessent told CNBC early Thursday.

Trade tensions deepen ahead of TrumpXi meeting

Trump has indicated that he plans to press Chinese President Xi Jinping on the issue of soybean imports when they meet later this month, as US farmers continue to struggle under the weight of the trade standoff. The Soybean Farmers of our Country are being hurt because China is, for negotiating reasons only, not buying, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. He confirmed that the meeting with Xi will take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea at the end of October, and that he will travel to China next year.

The talks follow months of tit-for-tat tariff measures between Washington and Beijing, which have strained trade relations despite recent attempts at de-escalation. The fragile truce has done little to alleviate the damage already inflicted on American agriculture. Trump on Wednesday reiterated his intention to use revenue from US tariffs to fund aid for farmers, while criticising his predecessor Joe Biden for failing to enforce an earlier trade pact with Beijing that included higher agricultural purchases.

The American Soybean Association (ASA) has been urging the White House to make soybeans a top priority in trade discussions with China. ASA President Caleb Ragland warned in August that Chinas retaliatory tariffs were shutting American farmers out of their largest export market going into the 2025 soybean harvest. He added that the US has made zero sales to China in this new crop marketing year due to 20-percent retaliatory tariffs imposed by China in response to US tariffs.

This has allowed other exporters, Brazil and now Argentina, to capture our market at the direct expense of US farmers, Ragland said, describing the frustration among soybean growers as overwhelming.

China pushes to roll back national-security restrictions

China has urged the Trump administration to ease national security restrictions on Chinese investments in the United States, offering the possibility of a large-scale investment package in return, a move that would mark a significant shift from policies in place for the past decade.

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According to people familiar with the discussions, Beijings negotiators, acting on President Xi Jinpings instructions, also pressed for reduced tariffs on imported materials from China that would supply any Chinese factories established in the US.

The proposals were presented during trade negotiations held in Madrid last month, the sources said. It was during these talks that both sides reached a framework agreement allowing Chinese social media company TikTok to continue operating in the United States, despite persistent national security objections from American lawmakers.

(With agency inputs)
The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said on Sunday that the war in Gaza has not ended, despite Israel and Hamas both agreeing to several aspects of the peace proposal shared by US President Donald Trump.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to members of the media, before departing for Israel at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., September 13, 2025. ReutersUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to members of the media, before departing for Israel at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., September 13, 2025. Reuters

The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said on Sunday that the war in Gaza has not ended, despite Israel and Hamas both agreeing to several aspects of the peace proposal shared by US President Donald Trump. While speaking to NBC News, the American diplomat elucidated the complexities of the conflict, which is inching closer to its second anniversary.

We will know very quickly whether Hamas is serious or not by how these technical talks go in terms of the logistics, Rubio told NBC News Meet the Press about the release of hostages from Gaza. The remarks from him came as Trump warned that Hamas would face complete obliteration if it insists on staying in power in Gaza.

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Meanwhile, Israeli and Hamas negotiators are in Cairo preparing for talks which are scheduled to take place on Monday. However, US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators are facing roadblocks, including the process of prisoner exchanges that could delay the imposition of an immediate ceasefire.

Only time will tell: Trump

In a text exchange with host Jake Tapper, Trump told the network, We will find out. Only time will tell!!!, adding that he expects clarity soon on whether Hamas is genuinely committed to peace. In a separate interview with ABC News, Rubio maintained that the third-party peace negotiations are the closest weve come to getting all of the hostages released.

However, he warned that the administrations 20-point peace plan  to which Israel and Hamas have agreed, subject to several sticking points, including the disarmament of Hamas  was likely subject to a lot of pitfalls along the way. Theres some work to be done here.

The American diplomat maintained that he would encourage everyone to think about the plan in two phases  one in which Hamas has accepted, is the presidents framework for release, the hostages are released, and Israel pulls back.

However, Rubio noted that the logistics of this are uncertain, including the process of exchange and who picks them up. We want to see that happen very quickly, he said. The hostage piece has to happen very, very fast. I do have hope that theyll be released. And I think there are chances, he added. Itll be interesting to see the takeaways from the first day of negotiations.
Australias Victoria state will appeal the sentence of Erin Patterson, who was convicted of killing three elderly relatives of her estranged husband with poisonous mushrooms. Prosecutors said her 33-year minimum prison term is manifestly inadequate.

Erin Patterson, an Australian woman convicted of murdering three of her estranged husband's elderly relatives with a meal laced with poisonous mushrooms. File image/Reuters

Australias Victoria state will challenge the sentence of Erin Patterson, who was convicted of murdering three elderly relatives of her estranged husband using poisonous mushrooms, ABC reported on Monday. The prosecutor described the 33-year minimum prison term as manifestly inadequate.

Patterson, found guilty in September, had served her victims individual portions of Beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms in the township of Leongatha. The presiding judge noted that she showed no pity for her in-laws. Her 33-year sentence is among the longest ever given to a woman in Australia.

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The Director of Public Prosecutions has filed an appeal against the sentence of Erin Patterson with the Court of Appeal, a media adviser at the Supreme Court of Victoria told Reuters. The Office of Public Prosecutions confirmed the appeal was filed on the grounds that the sentence was manifestly inadequate.

Under the sentence, Patterson will be in her 80s before she can apply for parole. Last week, her barrister Richard Edney said she plans to appeal her conviction, though no formal appeal has been lodged yet.

The case has attracted intense public and media attention, drawing journalists, podcasters, and documentary makers from across Australia and the world to the small courthouse in Morwell.
Robots accounted for more than half of the worlds 542,000 new installations, with Chinese factories leading the way (Photo credit: AFP)

Chinas manufacturing sector bolstered its global lead last year by adding 295,000 new industrial robots, countering fears of decline amid its shrinking population. Despite losing 1.39 million people in 2024, the nation now operates a record 2.027 million industrial robots the largest fleet worldwide, according to the 2025 International Federation of Robotics World Robotics Report.

Robots accounted for more than half of the worlds 542,000 new installations, with Chinese factories leading the way. These machines perform tasks such as welding car frames, assembling electronics, and moving heavy loads with precision, helping to fill labour gaps caused by demographic changes.

Professor Gao Xudong of Tsinghua Universitys School of Economics and Management said: Its an inevitable trend that more simple, repetitive tasks will be done by robots in the future, though some creative and complex tasks still require human ingenuity. Despite the shrinking overall population, with improvements in workforce education and the widespread use of robots, Chinas manufacturing industry has no problem in maintaining and enhancing its competitive edge," reported the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

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Global robot market and future trends

While China added 295,000 units in 2024, a 5 per cent rise, Japan followed with 44,500 and the United States with 34,200. Global installations rose by 9 per cent to 4.664 million.

Humanoid robots are emerging as the next stage of industrial transformation. Although exact order numbers remain unclear, companies are rapidly moving from research and development to commercial deployment. In August, Guangdong-based Tiantai Robot secured an order for 10,000 humanoid robots, the largest in the industrys history, aimed at serving the elderly care market.

However, experts caution China still faces challenges. By 2030, the country is projected to face a shortage of 50 million high-skilled blue-collar workers, according to Chinas Human Resources and Social Security Information Centre, reported SCMP. Skilled workers will be essential to support the growth of intelligent industries, including robot maintenance and operation.
Indias aviation regulator, the DGCA, on Monday launched a probe into the unexpected mid-air deployment of the RAT on an Air India Dreamliner operating flight AI117 from Amritsar to Birmingham. The aircraft landed safely in Birmingham, and officials have begun a detailed investigation into the incident.

An Air India Airbus A321 aircraft takes off at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India, on June 17, 2025. Reuters File

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday launched an investigation into the unexpected mid-air deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) on an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner operating flight AI117 from Amritsar to Birmingham. The aircraft landed safely in Birmingham.

The RAT is a small fan-like emergency device that automatically deploys when an aircraft loses power, helping generate electricity during engine failure.

The matter requires detailed investigation. An officer from the Directorate of Air Safety (NR) has been assigned this investigation, a DGCA official said.

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The incident occurred on Saturday when the RAT deployed during the aircrafts final approach for landing. All electrical and hydraulic parameters were found normal, and the aircraft performed a safe landing at Birmingham, Air India said in a statement.

The aircraft was later grounded for inspection. Following the scare, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) urged the DGCA to conduct a detailed inspection of all Boeing 787 aircraft in India.

We have written an email to Manish Kumar, who is in charge of air safety at DGCA, and have marked copies to the DG DGCA, DG AAIB, and the Secretary of Civil Aviation. The incident occurred on October 4 on Boeing 787 registration VT-ANO, Captain C.S. Randhawa told ANI.

According to FIP, all systems on the aircraft were running properly, yet the RAT deployed just 500 feet above the grounda rare occurrence unless the plane experiences engine failure.

The incident comes months after the fatal June crash of an Air India flight in Ahmedabad that killed 260 people, leaving a British national as the sole survivor.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned amid Frances political gridlock, shaking markets and increasing pressure on Emmanuel Macron to dissolve the National Assembly or seek drastic solutions

Frances already distressed political landscape was thrown into deeper turmoil on Monday following the abrupt resignation of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, less than 24 hours after his new cabinet was announced.

This quick exit, prompted by immediate criticism from lawmakers regarding the composition of the new government, marks a severe setback in the nations search for political stability.

It shows just how unstable things have gottenfive prime ministers in less than two years.

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The main parties cant agree on how to lead or fix the countrys budget problems. US agency Fitch even pointed out that this kind of political gridlock is making it harder to sort out the finances, adding to the uncertainty."

Markets react sharply

The political instability immediately reverberated through financial markets, alarming already cautious investors and pushing them to demand a higher premium for risky French debt.

The CAC 40 Index dropped sharply, falling about 2% to 7,916.36, while the yield on 10-year French bonds rose seven basis points to 3.58%, widening the gap with German bond yields to a nine-month high.

The euro also weakened against most currencies, notably sliding 0.55% against the US dollar. Shares in major French lenders, including Societe Generale, BNP Paribas, and Credit Agricole, experienced significant losses.

However, analysts suggest that while the political uncertainty is unhelpful and growth is expected to remain subdued, the broader economic fallout may be limited.

Political volatility has become an entrenched feature of Frances landscape, meaning markets and businesses are unlikely to dramatically alter their long-term views after the fall of yet another minority government. according to Leo Barincou of Oxford Economics, who spoke to Euronews.

At the heart of the crisis is Frances ballooning national debt, which now exceeds 3 trillion, equating to approximately 114% of GDP.

The inability to rebalance the budget is what brought down Lecornus predecessor, Francois Bayrou, whose austerity proposalsincluding a 44 billion cut from the 2026 budget and a two-day reduction in national holidayswere rejected.

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The current political deadlock is characterised by a fundamental disagreement over fiscal solutions: left-wing lawmakers insist on higher taxes for the wealthy and a less ambitious debt-cutting target, a stance firmly opposed by pro-business factions.

The resignation of Lecornu, yet another victim of this parliamentary gridlock, has now forced President Emmanuel Macron to consider drastic options.

Macron faces limited options

The most likely scenario, according to analysts, is for Macron to dissolve the National Assembly and call for snap legislative elections, as appointing a new prime minister from his own camp is unlikely to break the political stalemate.

Lecornus departure significantly increases the pressure on Emmanuel Macron to dissolve the National Assembly, said Oxford Economics Barincou.

Alternatively, he could attempt to reach across the aisle for an opposition candidate, or, in a highly unconventional move, call an early presidential vote.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has resigned just hours after announcing his Cabinet. He became the fourth premier to lose his job in just over a year.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu arrives to deliver a statement at Hotel Matignon in Paris, on October 3, 2025, before a round of consultations with political parties ahead of the announcement of the new government. (Photo: Alain Jocard/Pool via Reuters)

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Monday resigned just hours after he unveiled his Cabinet.

With the resignation, President Emmanuel Macron will now be on the lookout for his fifth prime minister in just over a year.

Macron had appointed Lecornu as the Prime Minister of France last month after his predecessor, Francois Bayrou, was ousted in a trust vote.

Lecornu will address the nation at 10:45 am local time (2:15 pm India time).

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After Lecornus resignation, far-right National Rally (RN) leader Jordan Bardella, who is the partys de facto prime ministerial face, called upon on Macron to dissolve the National Assembly and call elections or resign.

For more than a year, France has been in the grips of a political crisis as prime ministers have run minority governments as no party or coalition has had a parliamentary majority. While parties supported Bayrou, and his predecessor Michel Barnier, on case-by-case basis, both of them were ousted in trust votes after parties refused to support their budget proposals.

Prime Minister Tenure Start Tenure End How Left Office Reasons for Leaving Gabriel Attal 9 Jan 2024 16 Jul 2024 Resigned (accepted by Macron) After Ensemble coalitions poor performance in 2024 parliamentary elections; caretaker government until successor appointed Michel Barnier 5 Sep 2024 4 Dec 2024 Resigned Lost no-confidence vote amid budget austerity plans, political instability; shortest tenure under Fifth Republic Francois Bayrou 13 Dec 2024 8 Sep 2025 Resigned after no-confidence Lost no-confidence vote over budget cuts; political deadlock and instability Sebastien Lecornu 9 Sep 2025 6 Oct 2025 Resigned Resigned hours after forming government amid political crisis and coalition opposition; shortest tenure in recent history

With the resignation, Lecornu became the shortest-serving prime minister at just 27 days, as per France 24.

Moreover, at 26 days, Lecornu spent the longest time without a functional government. He resigned within 12 hours of naming his Cabinet.

All-round outrage at Lecornus Cabinet picks

While the reasons for Lecornus shock resignation are not immediately clear, it could be related to his Cabinet picks. As soon as he unveiled his Cabinet, there was criticism across the spectrum as it was similar to the previous one as many ministers were retained.

As many as 11 ministers retained their portfolios, including Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, and some former ministers were also inducted like defense minister Bruno Le Maire, according to France 24.

RN leader Bardella had immediately threatened to bring a vote of no confidence against Lecornus government. He said Cabinet picks were pathetic and made it clear that the prime minister had to bring a break from the past or face a vote of no confidence.

The Cabinet was decidedly all about continuity and absolutely nothing about breaking with the past that the French people are expecting, said Bardella.

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Separately, Socialist party leader Olivier Faure said the Cabinet was such that he could not stop the party from voting against the government.

At this current moment in time, I cannot see how the socialist party would not be in a position to vote against the governmentThe prevailing sentiment is one of dismayThe reality is that we are witnessing an unprecedented political crisis, said Faure.
Greta Thunberg and over 70 other activists of various nationalities will be deported from Israel on Monday following the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg gestures while talking to media as a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid and activists prepare to leave for Gaza, in Barcelona on August 30, 2025. (Photo: AFP)

Global Sumud Flotilla activist Greta Thunberg is set to be deported to Greece on Monday, according to flotilla activists announcement on X. She will be among more than 70 people of different nationalities departing Israel after being detained aboard an intercepted Gaza aid flotilla.

The activists post stated, Greta Thunberg set to be released tomorrow. To arrive in Greece. Greece will cover the cost of the flight, which will also carry 27 Greek activists. Reports indicate the flight will include 28 French citizens, 15 Italians, and nine Swedes, according to Agence France-Presse.

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The Greek Foreign Ministry said, Upon instructions from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Gerapetritis, tomorrow, Monday, October 6, 2025, a special flight will depart from the nearby Eilat-Ramon International Airport to safely return the Greek citizens to Athens on the same day. Greece did not confirm whether Thunberg would be on this flight.

Twenty-one Spaniards returned to Spain on Sunday, though 28 Spanish nationals remain in Israeli custody. All detainees were aboard the 45-vessel Global Sumud Flotilla, which sought to breach the Israeli blockade to deliver aid to Gaza, where the United Nations says famine has taken hold. Israel intercepted the ships in international waters on Wednesday, preventing over 400 people from reaching Palestinian territory.

The Italian and Greek foreign ministries confirmed their nationals will fly to Athens on Monday. Italys Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that the 15 Italians would receive support for onward travel to Italy. Frances foreign ministry confirmed the deportation of 28 French citizens to Greece. Swedens foreign ministry did not disclose the destination for its nationals, but Swedish media reported they might also be on the same flight to Greece.

Earlier, 26 Italians departed Israel on Saturday, but the remaining 15 faced delays over judicial procedures after refusing to sign forms for voluntary release. Some Italians alleged degrading treatment, including physical assaults.

Allegations of mistreatment

Journalist Saverio Tommasi described being hit in the back and on the head and said, We were treated like old monkeys in the worst circuses of the 1920s, according to the Ansa press agency.

Rafael Borrego, one of the Spaniards who returned home, said detainees had endured repeated physical and mental abuse, including blows and being forced to the ground.

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We were intercepted by a huge number of military vessels, Paolo Romano, a regional councillor from Lombardy in Italy, told AFP at Istanbul airport.

Some boats were also hit by water cannon. All of the boats were taken by very heavily armed people and brought to shore, the 29-year-old said.

They put us on our knees, facing down. And if we moved, they hit us. They were laughing at us, insulting us and hitting us, he said.

They were using both psychological and physical violence.
171 additional provocateurs from the HamasSumud flotilla, including Greta Thunberg, were deported today from Israel to Greece and Slovakia, Israels Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on X

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg (ccentre) at Ramon International Airport on Monday, before being deported along with other Gaza flotilla activists. Image Courtesy: Israeli Foreign Ministry

Israel on Monday deported 171 more activists who were detained while participating in a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, including prominent Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.

Thunberg, who was flown to Greece, was one of about 450 activists detained by Israel when its forces intercepted the flotilla last week.

171 additional provocateurs from the HamasSumud flotilla, including Greta Thunberg, were deported today from Israel to Greece and Slovakia, Israels Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on X.

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171 additional provocateurs from the HamasSumud flotilla, including Greta Thunberg, were deported today from Israel to Greece and Slovakia.



The deportees are citizens of Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, pic.twitter.com/DqcGLOJov7  Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 6, 2025

The ministry said the deported individuals held citizenship from multiple countries, including Greece, Italy, France, and the United States.

According to the ministry, Thunberg and 170 members of the Global Sumud flotilla took off from Ramon International Airport in southern Israel en route to Greece and Slovakia.

Photos shared by the ministry show Thunberg and other deportees making their way through the airport in gray sweatsuits and white t-shirts.

On Sunday, Israel deported 29 activists who had been detained by its navy last week, bringing the total number of deportees to 170 at the time. With an additional 171 activists flown to Greece and Slovakia on Monday, the total number of Sumud flotilla participants deported now stands at 341, leaving 138 still in Israeli custody.

The flotilla, which set sail in late August, marked the latest attempt by activists to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of the territory where Israel has been waging an offensive since Hamas October 2023 attack. Israel says that the blockade is legal and has called the flotilla a provocation.

Israeli authorities have come under criticism from human rights groups and some governments over the handling of the detainees, including allegations that some were denied access to legal counsel. The Foreign Ministry has rejected those claims.

All the legal rights of the participants in this PR stunt were and will continue to be fully upheld. The lies they are spreading are part of their pre-planned fake news campaign, said the ministry.

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The only violence, says the ministry on X, came from a Spanish participant who bit a medical staffer at Ketziot Prison.

Thunberg and other detainees have alleged that they were held in unlawful conditions by Israel.

Israeli officials have consistently denounced the flotilla as a political stunt orchestrated to challenge the countrys blockade of Gaza, which has been in place since 2007.

As the vessels approached, Israel offered to transfer the aid onboard to Gaza in coordination with a foreign government.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the flotilla was carrying only a small quantity of humanitarian supplies.

The organisers have pushed back against that narrative, calling the claims that the flotilla carried little to no humanitarian aid false. They argue the mission was peaceful and aimed to deliver urgently needed supplies directly to Gazans, while drawing international attention to what they describe as the humanitarian crisis under the blockade.

Meanwhile, a second flotilla  comprising 11 vessels, including one carrying medics and journalists  is reportedly en route to Gaza, raising the prospect of further tensions at sea.

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With inputs from agencies
A 60-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly firing up to 100 bullets into a Sydney street, injuring 20 people, as police rule out terror or gang links

A brazen shooting spree in a busy Sydney street left 20 injured after a man allegedly fired up to 100 bullets, in what police called a serious and terrifying incident, with investigators confirming no ties to terrorism or gang activity.

New South Wales Police Acting Superintendent Stephen Parry said between 50 and 100 shots were fired before a large police contingent moved in to secure the area. Officers entered a unit above a business, where they arrested a 60-year-old man and seized two rifles.

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Police were called on Sunday evening to the citys Inner West after reports of a man firing randomly at passing cars and officers. Witnesses described scenes of panic and confusion as gunfire erupted without warning.

Office worker Joe Azar, who was working across the road, said he initially mistook the sounds for fireworks or stones hitting windows. Some guys windshield blew up, then the bus stop glass shattered, he told The Sydney Morning Herald. The surreal feeling kicked in like, Oh, this is whats happening. It was frantic. It all happened so quick, so I couldnt comprehend what was going on.

The suspect was taken to hospital with injuries sustained during his arrest. Police confirmed that no charges had yet been filed.

Motive unclear as investigation continues

One man presented himself to hospital with a gunshot wound and remains in a serious condition. Nineteen others were treated for injuries caused by shrapnel and shattered glass, with several requiring hospital care.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon described the event as serious and terrifying, adding that investigators had found no evidence of terrorism or gang involvement. The gunmans motive remains unclear, he told local radio station 2GB.

A witness named Tadgh told ABC that he had been watching the rugby when he first heard the gunfire. It was very loud, bang, bang, bang  and flash-bangs and sparks and smoke and the whole works. It was something out of a movie, really, he said.

Mass shootings are rare in Australia, where strict gun laws have been in place since 1996 following the Port Arthur massacre that claimed 35 lives. However, isolated incidents have occurred in recent years. In August, alleged gunman Dezi Freeman went on the run after being accused of killing two police officers and remains at large. In 2022, six people, including two officers, were shot dead near the Queensland town of Wieambilla.

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Police investigations into Sundays shooting are underway.
In his speech after resignation, outgoing French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said that he was willing to compromise but every party wanted others to adopt its agenda completely. He blamed partisan squabbling for not allowing conditions to remain in office.

French outgoing Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who presented his government's resignation to the French president this morning, delivers a statement at the Hotel Matignon in Paris, France, October 6, 2025. (Photo: Stephane Mahe/Pool/Reuters)

In his speech after shock resignation, outgoing French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said that partisan politics did not allow conditions to remain in office.

Lecornu said that he was willing to compromise but every party wanted others to adopt its agenda completely.

Slamming partisanship, Lecornu said that every party behaved as it had an absolute majority even though the implicit understanding had always been to work with the government on a case-by-case basis with compromises.

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I was ready for compromises. But each political party wanted the other political party to adopt its entire programme. This is sometimes true of the core coalition. It is also true of the opposition. However, as we have said, there is no broad coalition. It was a choice made by the various opposition political groups not to join the core coalition in government, but to allow for debates and then organise compromises, knowing that compromise is not a betrayal of principles. But for that, obviously, one must change their mindset and not want to apply their entire project and programme, said Lecornu.

Lecornu said the result was such that he could no longer remain in the office.

Lecornu on Monday resigned just hours after he unveiled his Cabinet. He became the fourth prime minister to lose his job in just over a year.

After Lecornus resignation, far-right National Rally (RN) leader Jordan Bardella called on President Emmanuel Macron who will now have to appoint his fifth prime minister in just over a year to dissolve the National Assembly to hold elections or resign.

For more than a year, France has been in the grips of a political crisis as prime ministers have run minority governments. As no party or coalition has had a parliamentary majority, governments had run on case-by-case support from parties across the spectrum  until they stopped supporting and turned on them. Lecornus predecessor, Francois Bayrou, and his predecessor Michel Barnier, were both ousted in trust votes after parties refused to support their budget.

France 24 reported that Lecornu became the shortest-serving prime minister at just 27 days.

Moreover, at 26 days, Lecornu spent the longest time without a functional government. He resigned within 12 hours of naming his Cabinet amid criticism for retaining several ministers from the previous Cabinet.

We cant be in both extremes

Lecornu said that France could not be caught between two extremes and parties would need to make compromises.

Lecornu said that every party had its red lines but those red lines needed to be accommodated with commonalities.

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Basically, there are a lot of red lines in the mouth of many  at least of some if not of all. There are rarely green lines. However, the very principle of building a compromise between political parties is to be able to combine green lines and take into account a certain number of red lines. But we cant be in both extremes. Some opposition political parties have understood this and I would like to thank them, said Lecornu.

Towards the end, Lecornu said that parties must think of French people while taking decisions.
Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known by his alias Ali Kushayb, was found guilty of multiple offenses  including rape, murder, and torture  committed between August 2003 and at least April 2004

A general view of the International Criminal Court, in The Hague, Netherlands, on March 12, 2025. Reuters File

The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday convicted a notorious Sudanese militia leader of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in violent attacks in Darfur.

Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known by his alias Ali Kushayb, was found guilty of multiple offenses  including rape, murder, and torture  committed between August 2003 and at least April 2004.

The chamber is convinced that the accused is guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crimes with which he has been charged, AFP quoted ICC president judge Joanna Korner as saying.

The sentence will be pronounced at a later date, she said.

The bespectacled Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, dressed in a blue suit and waistcoat with a scarlet tie, sat impassively through Mondays proceedings at the International Criminal Court (ICC), occasionally taking notes as the judges delivered their verdict.

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Presiding Judge Joanna Korner outlined chilling details of the atrocities committed by Abd-Al-Rahman during the Darfur conflict, including mass killings, gang rapes, and torture.

She described one incident in which Abd-Al-Rahman allegedly oversaw the loading of about 50 civilians onto trucks, beating some with axes before ordering his troops to execute them.

The accused was not only giving orders but was personally involved in the beatings and later was physically present and giving orders for the execution of those detained, said Korner.

Prosecutors had identified Abd-Al-Rahman as a senior commander in Sudans feared Janjaweed militia, which played a central role in the governments brutal crackdown on non-Arab communities in Darfur. They said he participated enthusiastically in numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity between August 2003 and at least April 2004.

Inflicted pain and suffering

During the trial, the ICC chief prosecutor said Abd-Al-Rahman and his forces rampaged across different parts of Darfur.

He inflicted severe pain and suffering on women, children and men in the villages that he left in his wake, said Karim Khan, who has since stepped down as he faces allegations of sexual misconduct.

Abd-Al-Rahman is also thought to be an ally of deposed Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the ICC on genocide charges.

Bashir, who ruled Sudan with an iron fist for nearly three decades, was ousted and detained in April 2019 following months of protests in Sudan.

He has not, however, been handed over to the ICC, based in The Hague, where he also faces multiple charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

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ICC prosecutors are hoping to issue fresh arrest warrants related to the current crisis in Sudan.

Tens of thousands have been killed and millions displaced in a war between Sudans army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which grew out of the Janjaweed militia.

The conflict, marked by claims of atrocities on all sides, has left the northeast African country on the brink of famine, according to aid agencies.
Illinois on Monday filed a lawsuit to block the Trump administration from sending federalised National Guard troops to Chicago, citing concerns over the use of the military against local communities.

Illinois State Police stand guard while monitoring protesters gathering near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview, Illinois, on October 4, 2025.- AFP

Illinois filed a lawsuit on Monday to prevent the Trump administration from deploying federalised National Guard troops to Chicago.

The move comes amid protests over Trumps immigration crackdown and follows a judge in Portland issuing an emergency order blocking a similar deployment there.

The American people, regardless of where they reside, should not live under the threat of occupation by the United States military, particularly not simply because their city or state leadership has fallen out of a presidents favour, the Illinois Attorney Generals Office said in the filing.

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The lawsuit, which names President Donald Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, argues that the administrations actions have caused serious and irreparable harm to Illinois.

The decision to deploy troops to Illinois is the latest example of Trumps expanded use of the U.S. military during his second term. He has already sent troops to the U.S. border and ordered them to target suspected drug traffickers off the coast of Venezuela.

National Guard units have also been deployed to Los Angeles and Washington DC, and Trump has indicated he plans to send them to other cities, including Portland, despite objections from local officials.
After US President Donald Trump tried to sidestep the first ruling temporarily stopping the deployment of Oregon National Guard to Portland by ordering California National Guards deployment, the judge issued a second ruling saying no National Guard can be deployed for now from anywhere in the country.

Members of the California National Guard stand outside the Edward R Roybal federal building after their deployment by US President Donald Trump, in response to protests against immigration sweeps, in Los Angeles, California, US June 8, 2025. File Image/Reuters

In the second such ruling in two days, a federal judge on Sunday temporarily stopped US President Donald Trump from deploying any National Guard troops to Oregons Portland city. But soldiers had already started arriving in the city.

In the first ruling, US District Judge Karin Immergut of Oregon temporarily stopped the deployment of federalised Oregon National Guard to Portland. After the ruling, Trump ordered the California National Guard to deploy to Portland. He had already federalised the California National Guard in June and deployed troops to states Los Angeles city.

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In the second ruling, Immergut temporarily stopped the deployment of California National Guard and any others states National Guard as well from deployment to Portland.

In the second ruling, Immergut broadened her first restraining order to temporarily stop the relocation, federalisation or deployment of members of the National Guard of any state or the District of Columbia in the state of Oregon and told Trumps Department of Justice that Trumps orders were in direct contravention of her order, according to The New York Times.

Even as Immergut stopped the deployment of any National Guard personnel to Portland, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Sunday night Trump has already ordered as many as 400 Texas National Guard soldiers to deploy for federal protection missions to Portland, Chicago, and potentially other cities.

Previously, Immergut on Saturday ruled that the protests in Portland, which have been the basis for Trumps orders, were not significantly violent or disruptive and that she expected a trial court to agree with Oregons democratic administrations claim that the president had exceeded his constitutional authority with the deployment of National Guard.

While Democratic leaders of Oregon and California hailed these rulings as victories of the rule of law and vowed to continue their legal pushback, the Trump administration doubled down on soldiers deployments.

What was unlawful with the Oregon National Guard is unlawful with the California National Guard. The judges order was not some minor procedural point for the president to work around like my 14-year-old does when he doesnt like my answers, said Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield before the ruling.

On its part, the White House told CNN that Trump exercised his lawful authority to protect federal assets and personnel in Portland following violent riots and attacks on law enforcement".

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Using the abusive name that Trump often uses for California Governor Gavin Newsom, the White House further said, For once, Gavin Newscum should stand on the side of law-abiding citizens instead of violent criminals destroying Portland and cities across the country.
India reaffirmed its strong support for free, fair, and inclusive elections in Bangladesh, calling for them to be held at the earliest possible time. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stressed that India will work with whichever government emerges from the democratic process.

India on Monday (October 6) reaffirmed its strong support for free, fair, and inclusive elections in Bangladesh, saying they should be held as soon as possible.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted Indias pragmatic approach and its aim to strengthen ties with Bangladesh based on mutual respect, stability, and people-centric development, while continuing to back democratic processes.

He also stressed that India will work with whichever government emerges from the democratic process.

I want to be very, very clear on this one matter. If there is any doubt in anybodys mind, India is firmly in favour of free, fair, inclusive, and participatory elections in Bangladesh. And it is in favour of these elections being held at the earliest possible time, Misri said.

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He added, as quoted by ANI, We are encouraged by the fact that Bangladesh authorities themselves have spoken about the time frame for these elections. And we would look forward to these elections taking place. As I said, we hope that they are held without any delay.

Misri stressed that India will work with any government elected through a democratic process. And also that we are looking forward to engaging with any government that emerges as a result of these elections. It will be a government, obviously, that will be elected with a popular mandate. And we will work with whichever government the people of Bangladesh choose to represent them, he said.

Highlighting Indias pragmatic approach, he added, I also want to state that the approach that we have adopted has also been a pragmatic approach. We are no strangers to the momentous changes that have taken place in the region, in the world, and in Bangladesh as well.

Misri emphasised the need for a positive environment for the elections, saying, The only point I would make is that for this to be sustained and become the basis for even better relations in the future, we all need, on both sides, to work on a facilitating environment. And what I mean by that is that it is important in this context to avoid statements or actions that vitiate the atmosphere.

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On Indias engagement with Bangladesh, he noted, On our side, I would like to point to some of the efforts that we have made. The Prime Minister was, I think, among the first, if not the first, major world leader to welcome Professor Muhammad Yunus when he took over as Chief Advisor of the Interim Government in Bangladesh. He invited him to participate in the Voice of Global South Summit, and we were very glad that Professor Muhammad Yunus did so.

Acknowledging global attention on Bangladeshs elections, Misri said, The one issue which, obviously, is important and is being watched, not just in the region but globally as well, is the next steps in the internal situation in Bangladesh. We have all seen, for instance, the announcements and the statements that have been made with regard to the next elections in Bangladesh. I understand that a time frame for February has been indicated in this regard.

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The death toll from the collapse of an Islamic boarding school in Indonesia last week jumped to at least 49 people as rescuers have cleared nearly all of the debris

Rescuers gather near the site of a building collapse on Monday, where people remained trapped according to disaster mitigation agency, as the search and rescue operations continue at Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java province, Indonesia, October 2, 2025. Reuters

The death toll from the collapse of an Islamic boarding school in Indonesia last week jumped to at least 49 people as rescuers have cleared nearly all of the debris, the countrys disaster mitigation agency said in a statement handed out on Monday.

Piles of concrete caved in on hundreds of mostly teenage boys after the collapse of the Al Khoziny school in the Indonesian town of Sidoarjo, in East Java province, trapping and later killing them.

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Using excavators, rescuers late on Sunday cleared 80% of the debris and found body parts of the mostly teenage victims, the agencys statement said, adding the search will continue for more victims.

Rescue officials carried orange body bags out of the ruins of the school, according to footage shared by the search and rescue agency.

The schools foundations could not support ongoing construction work on the upper floors, causing the collapse, authorities have said.

Across Indonesia, there are about 42,000 Islamic school buildings, known locally as a pesantren, data from the countrys religious affairs ministry shows.

Only 50 pesantren have building permits, Dody Hanggodo, the countrys public works minister, was quoted by local media as saying on Sunday.

It is not immediately clear if Al Khoziny had a building permit. Reuters could not immediately contact school authorities for comment.
In his first term as the president of the United States, Donald Trump changed the tone of how Washington would deal with China. However, China hawks believe he is going softer this time.

In his first term as the president of the United States, Donald Trump changed the tone of how Washington would deal with China. He outrightly engaged in confrontation, launching a trade war and upending decades of policy.

However, things changed in his second term, when several China hawks in the United States feared that Trump was going soft on Beijing. The criticism is coming at a time when the Trump administration is pursuing a trade pact with Americas biggest economic and strategic rival in the world.

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However, advocates of a tougher China policy fear that they are being sidelined within the administration and tech influence is growing in the White House instead, Bloomberg reported. That concern has grown more apparent as Trump looks towards a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping thats expected in the coming weeks.

In the lead-up to this, China has already made a series of demands that would upend decades of American policy, including looser curbs on investment in exchange for more inflows, and eroding US support for Taiwan.

Trump is neglecting the Hawks concern

As per the report, behind closed doors, Trump has already shown he is willing to overrule the hawks concerns, including with a deal to ensure the survival of video-sharing app TikTok and plans to let Nvidia sell some of its artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China.

He went ahead to purge the National Security Council (NSC) of many advisers who advocated a tougher line towards China. He dismantled the council to such an extent that tech security experts are now worrying that no one is left in the body to push back against those who are seeking closer ties with Beijing.

Beijing is in a sweet spot right now, Matt Pottinger, who led the NSCs work on China as deputy national security advisor in Trumps first term, told Bloomberg. The White House seems unaware that its TikTok policy and its weakening restrictions on chip exports are massive, unilateral concessions to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)," he added.

Not surprising

However, Trumps recent change in stance should not be surprising since he had already shared his interest in trading with international actors like Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, who are usually shunned by the world. But when it comes to China, the stakes are much higher.

Trump used national security as a reason to impose high tariffs on countries around the world, including China. But during his first term, he also had a track record of rejecting efforts to block sales to China and lambasted aides for what he called the fake term of national security.

Trumps dodging stance on China has also led to tensions within his inner circle. This became visible after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang lashed out at China hard-liners in a podcast interview. According to Bloomberg, China hawks are concerned about the increasingly influential informal adviser to Trump on tech and China policy.

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In the interview, Huang said that the hawks wear a badge of shame and are unpatriotic. His defenders later argued he was taken out of context.

The billionaires assertion prompted a response from avowed hawks like former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, who called for Huangs arrest for being an agent of influence of the Chinese Communist Party. Joe Lonsdale, a Trump-supporting tech investor, posted that he was a proud China hawk and that the CCP is an evil, murderous authoritarian regime.

The White House cover-up

Amid the war between two factions, the White House insists that Trump remains tough on China and points to the steep tariffs hes imposed on Chinese goods this year. The Trump administration argued that the American leader can balance both commercial interests and national security priorities  just as he can have both a tough China policy and a good relationship with Xi.

As the president has said, he has a good relationship with President Xi, which he leans on to achieve better outcomes for Americans, such as a deal that saves TikTok for millions of American people and businesses without compromising our national security, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said amid criticism.

However, while prominent China sceptics like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice-President JD Vance remain in the administration, most have gone quiet on China policy, focusing on other battles. They are basically the same people who ran China policy before Trump changed the tone of China policy in 2015, Derek Scissors, a self-proclaimed China hawk at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, told Bloomberg.

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And theres an irony there, obviously, which is that Trump changed the tone of the conversation on China, and you see these people are now changing it back while hes president. Despite these changes, some hawks think that they can still win this strategic fight within the Trump administration.

Its appealing to believe that we can maximise profits and have zero security trade-offs, Michael Sobolik, a China hawk at the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank, told Bloomberg. Usually, the Chinese Communist Party has a way of exposing the fallacy in the middle of that argument," he concluded.
Delegations from Israel and Hamas began indirect negotiations in Egypt on Monday that the US hopes will bring a halt to the war in Gaza, facing contentious issues such as demands that Israel pull out of the enclave and Hamas to disarm

Smoke rises following explosions during the Israeli military offensive in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, on Monday. Reuters

Delegations from Israel and Hamas began indirect negotiations in Egypt on Monday, in talks the United States hopes will lead to a ceasefire in Gaza.

The discussions are grappling with long-standing sticking points, including demands for an Israeli withdrawal from the enclave and for Hamas to disarm.

Both sides have expressed support for the general framework of a plan proposed by US President Donald Trump, which includes a halt to hostilities, the release of hostages, and the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza. It marks the most significant step toward ending the conflict since it began.

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The proposal has received backing from several Arab and Western nations. Trump has urged negotiators to move quickly, with Washington describing the current talks as the closest the warring parties have come to reaching a resolution.

Move fast says Trump

I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST, Trump said in a social media post.

But both sides are seeking clarifications of crucial details, including over issues that have wrecked all previous attempts to end the war and could defy any quick resolution.

Trump has told Israel to suspend its bombing of Gaza for the talks. Gaza residents said Israel had scaled back its offensive substantially, although it had not halted it altogether.

Gaza health authorities reported 19 people killed by Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours, around a third the typical daily toll of recent weeks when Israel has been mounting one of its biggest offensives of the war, an all-out assault on Gaza City.

Delegations arrive

Egyptian state TV reported that the talks had begun at the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh.

The talks commenced on the eve of the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the war, when fighters killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.

Israels retaliatory military campaign has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians and left the majority of 2.2 million Gazans homeless and hungry in the rubble of the enclave destroyed by relentless bombardment.

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Egyptian sources said Hamas was seeking clarification of several details, including guarantees that Israel would follow through with promises to withdraw its troops from Gaza once the militants give up their leverage by freeing their hostages.

Wariness about prospects of breakthrough

With Israeli forces blasting their way through Gaza City and flattening neighbourhoods as they advance, Gaza residents say a ceasefire now is their last hope that the enclave will emerge habitable.

If there is a deal, then we survive. If there isnt, it is like we have been sentenced to death, said Gharam Mohammad, 20, displaced along with her family in central Gaza.

Inside Israel there is clamour for an end to the war to bring home hostages, although right-wing members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus cabinet oppose any halt to fighting.

Though Trump says he wants a deal quickly, an official briefed on the negotiations, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he expected the round of talks kicking off on Monday would require at least a few days.

An official involved in ceasefire planning and a Palestinian source said Trumps deadline to send all hostages back within 72 hours could be impossible to meet in the case of bodies of dead hostages, some of which would need to be located and recovered from burial sites scattered across the battlefield.

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A Palestinian official close to the talks was sceptical about prospects of a breakthrough given deep mutual mistrust, saying Hamas and other Palestinian factions were worried that Israel might ditch negotiations once it recovered the hostages.

The Israeli delegation includes officials from spy agencies Mossad and Shin Bet, Netanyahus foreign policy adviser Ophir Falk and hostages coordinator Gal Hirsch. Israels chief negotiator, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, was expected to join later this week, pending developments in the negotiations, according to three Israeli officials.

The Hamas delegation is led by the groups exiled Gaza leader, Khalil Al-Hayya, who survived an Israeli airstrike that killed his son in Doha, the Qatari capital, a month ago.

Negotiators from Hamas will seek clarity on the mechanism to achieve a swap of remaining hostages - both alive and dead - for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, as well as an Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza and a ceasefire, according to a statement put out by the Islamist group late on Sunday.

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A thorny issue is likely to be the Israeli demand, echoed in Trumps plan, that Hamas disarm, a Hamas source told Reuters. The group has insisted it will not disarm unless Israel ends its occupation and a Palestinian state is created.

On Monday, Israel deported scores of activists it detained last week from a flotilla attempting to bring aid to Gaza, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.

With inputs from agencies
Israels latest bombing kills 63 in Gaza as negotiators arrive for Cairo talks over Trumps peace proposal. The negotiations will mainly focus on US President Donald Trumps peace proposal, which entails the release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

Israel continued the bombardment of Gaza as negotiators arrived in Cairo before talks on Monday. The negotiations will mainly focus on US President Donald Trump's peace proposal, which entails the release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and a broader end to the war, which is inching closer to the two-year mark.

While the hopes for the war to end get stronger, Israel continued strikes on the Palestinian coastal enclave, killing 63 people in the last 24 hours, The Guardian reported. Meanwhile, the Egyptian foreign ministry said that the talks on Monday would focus on the first phase of Donald Trumps plan to end the war in Gaza.

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The release of the remaining 48 hostages held by Hamas is expected to be the primary concern of the talks. The Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian told journalists that talks in Egypt would be confined to a few days maximum Later on Sunday, Trump said that the talks in Cairo are advancing rapidly and the first phase should be completed this week.

I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST, Trump said in a social media post. According to Trump, the hostage release in exchange for a prisoner swap would mean an immediate end to fighting in Gaza. It is pertinent to note that, as of now, Hamas has partially accepted Trumps peace proposal.

Rubio raises concerns over long-term challenges

Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that the Cairo talks were the closest weve come to getting all the hostages released in an interview with ABC News. However, he warned that the talks between the two sides could still falter over logistics, and the details of the hostage release are still to be worked out.

While speaking to the American news outlet, Rubio noted that there were long-term challenges in implementing the deal, in particular, the creation of a technocratic governing body to oversee Gaza in place of Hamas. He made it clear that the Trump administrations current priority was the hostages release and ensuring Israeli troops withdrew to an agreed-upon line in Gaza.

Trumps plans, if agreed upon, would mean Hamas releasing all hostages within 72 hours, surrendering ruling power to a transnational authority headed by the US president, and laying down its arms. In return for this, Israel would gradually withdraw its troops from Gaza and return more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. The deal would release a surge of humanitarian aid to Gaza, parts of which are in famine, as well as reconstruction funds.

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Families of victims killed in a Tesla Cybertruck crash allege door malfunction trapped one passenger inside and are suing the company

Krysta Michelle Tsukahara, 19, a sophomore at Savannah College of Art and Design, was among the deceased. (Photo: Facebook)

A California college student was killed in a Tesla Cybertruck crash after being trapped inside the vehicle as it caught fire, according to lawsuits filed by victims families. The crash, which occurred early last November in Piedmont, California, claimed the lives of three students.

Krysta Michelle Tsukahara, 19, a sophomore at Savannah College of Art and Design, was among the deceased. The lawsuit filed by her parents, Carl and Noelle Tsukahara, and reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, states that Krysta survived the initial collision but was unable to exit the Cybertruck after it lost power and its electronic door release failed.

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The vehicle had struck a retaining wall and a tree. The driver, Soren Dixon, 19, and passenger Jack Nelson, 20, also died in the crash. A fourth passenger, Jordan Miller, escaped after a bystander broke the vehicles windshield with a tree branch.

Krysta Tsukahara died from smoke inhalation and burns when rescuers could not free her and the other victims. The lawsuit seeks damages from Dixons estate and the vehicles owner.

Allegations against Tesla

The suit claims Tesla doors operate on a 12-volt battery that can fail if the vehicle loses power, and that the manual interior door release is difficult to locate. Its just a horror story. Tesla knows that its happened and that its going to happen, and they are doing nothing but selling the car with a system that entraps people and doesnt provide a way of extraction, attorney Roger Dreyer told the Chronicle.

The lawsuit cites more than 30 publicised problems with Tesla door systems and accuses the company of conscious disregard for safety, claiming it has been aware of the issue for years. Teslas handleless door design, which opens at the push of a button, is described in the suit as prone to failure in crashes and lacked a functional, accessible, and conspicuous manual door release mechanism [or] fail-safe.

Tesla was added to the Tsukaharas lawsuit on Thursday, but did not respond to requests for comment. Separately, Jack Nelsons parents, Todd and Stannye, filed their own lawsuit against Tesla on Thursday. Both suits are seeking unspecified punitive damages.

Toxicology reports show all four victims had cocaine, alcohol, and other substances in their systems. The California Highway Patrol cited impaired driving and speeding as factors in the crash.

Nevertheless, Dreyer said the Tsukaharas have a very, very strong case against Tesla. They [Tesla] will want to blame Mr. Dixon, anybody but themselves. But this vehicle absolutely should not have entombed these individuals and my clients daughter. Its our way of holding the wrongdoer accountable and correcting bad conduct, he said.

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The Cybertruck, launched in November 2023, has faced multiple recalls and declining sales. In September, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation after reports from owners that doors failed to open, with some parents forced to break windows to free children.
Madagascars President Andry Rajoelina on Monday appointed General Ruphin Fortunat Dimbisoa Zafisambo as the countrys new prime minister, in a bid to ease mounting anti-government protests that have pushed the nation into political crisis

Hundreds of students march on their way to a demonstration calling for the resignation of President Andry Rajoelina, in Antananarivo, on Monday. AFP

Madagascars President Andry Rajoelina on Monday appointed General Ruphin Fortunat Dimbisoa Zafisambo as the countrys new prime minister, in a bid to ease mounting anti-government protests that have pushed the nation into political crisis.

The appointment came as security forces used tear gas to disperse hundreds of demonstrators in the capital, Antananarivo  part of near-daily, youth-led protests that have continued since September 25. At least one person was injured, according to AFP.

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Initially triggered by widespread frustration over ongoing power and water outages, the protests have since evolved into a broader movement demanding President Rajoelinas resignation.

With wisdom, I have decided to appoint Ruphin Fortunat Dimbisoa Zafisambo, Divisional General, as Prime Minister of the government, AFP quoted Rajoelina as saying late Monday.

The new premier should serve the people and be someone clean, with integrity, and who works quickly, Rajoelina said, speaking from the presidential palace.

Despite President Rajoelinas declaration that he was ready to save Madagascar, his decision to dismiss the entire government last week has done little to calm the unrest.

On the 12th consecutive day of demonstrations, security forces used stun grenades and tear gas to break up two protest marches in Antananarivo. The movement, largely organised on social media by a youth-led group called Gen Z Mada, drew a heavy security response.

University students and local residents began marching from the University of Ankatso on the capitals outskirts toward the city centre but were blocked by a police barricade.

Clashes broke out during the afternoon, with at least one young man injured and taken to the main hospital, according to AFP.

There are about 120 hours of power cuts per week where I live, AFP quoted 21-year-old protester Tommy Fanomezantsoa as saying.

We are protesting for everyones sake, he said. The president is not listening to the anger of the people at the bottom. He always does what he wants.

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Deadly clashes

The Ankatso district was the birthplace of a 1972 revolt that led to the ousting of the first president of the poverty-stricken island, Philibert Tsiranana.

The future of this country depends on me, on you, on all of us, one of the protest leaders told the crowd of several hundred people, urging them not to allow the movement to lose momentum.

We can clearly see that democracy in Madagascar is not respected at all, said another protest leader.

They are even destroying it with brutality, he said.

He was referring to a United Nations statement last week that at least 22 people had been killed in the protests and more than 100 wounded, a figure rejected by the authorities.

The UN also condemned what it called a heavy-handed response by security forces, including the use of live ammunition.

AFP journalists witnessed a pregnant woman going into convulsions as crowds of people, including many children, fled from police in the hilly cobbled streets of Amparibe neighbourhood.

Local media also reported a protest in the southern city of Toliara, where demonstrators burned tyres.

Continue until results

Ahead of General Zafisambos appointment, some were unimpressed by Rajoelinas promise of a change of prime minister.

We dont want him to listen to people in his office, we want him to get out on the ground, said Fanomezantsoa, a demonstrator who has been unemployed since the supermarket where he worked was looted on the first night of the protests.

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We will continue until we get results, he said.

The Christian Council of Churches of Madagascar (FFKM) has said it is prepared to mediate between the government and protesters.

The Gen Z movement has taken inspiration from similar youth-led movements in Bangladesh, Nepal and Indonesia, waving a pirate flag from the Japanese manga comic One Piece.

Despite its natural resources, Madagascar remains among the worlds poorest countries.

Nearly three-quarters of its population of 32 million were living below the poverty line in 2022, according to the World Bank.

Corruption is widespread and the country ranks 140th out of 180 in Transparency Internationals index, which ranks countries by their perceived level of public sector corruption.

With inputs from agencies
Tal Shoham, a former hostage kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023, along with his wife, two children, and three other family members, looks on during an interview at Kibbutz Beeri in southern Israel on September 15, 2025. Shoham and his family were held in Gaza for 505 days. (Photo: REUTERS/Amir Cohen)

Nearly two years after Hamass deadly assault on southern Israel, survivor Tal Shoham says his home of Kibbutz Beeri still feels like a vast graveyard, haunted by the horrors of October 7, 2023, the day he and his family were kidnapped by militants. Standing among the ruins of what was once a peaceful community, he says the scars of that morning are impossible to escape. Despite US President Donald Trumps renewed push for an Israeli-Hamas peace deal under his proposed Gaza plan, Shoham admits he struggles to see any reason for optimism about the future.

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All this neighbourhood that once was so peaceful and beautiful, you know, all destroyed. Its like the evil things that they did here, that the terrorists did here, is like covering everything here, Shoham said.

Hamas gunmen seized Shoham, his wife Adi, and their two children during the deadliest single day for Jews since the Holocaust. He spent 505 days in captivity in Gaza, a period he recalls for both the cruelty of his captors and the courage of fellow hostages still held there. Shoham was freed in a truce in February this year.

The October assault saw Hamas-led militants breach border defences and drag Shoham and around 250 others into Gaza, in an attack that killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures. Israels military response has since killed more than 67,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health authorities.

We were treated like animals: Life underground in captivity

Shoham doubts that long-term peace is possible, even after Israels military strikes on Irans leadership and its regional allies, Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Yemens Houthis, and armed groups in Syria. During his captivity, he concluded that the depth of anti-Israeli hatred leaves little hope for coexistence. After I saw the magnitude of hatred that they grew up upon and they are growing their children upon, its really clear that at least in our generation it wont be possible, he said.

He spent the first eight months of his imprisonment above ground before being moved in June last year, disguised and escorted through Gazas streets for about 15 minutes before being blindfolded and led into a tunnel. There, he was placed in a cramped underground chamber alongside another hostage, Omer Wenkert. We were going to stay in the tunnel 20 or 30 meters underground, in this tomb, for eternity, he recalled.

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The cell was narrow, with concrete walls, a sandy floor, four mattresses, and a hole for a toilet. The air was thick, making it difficult to breathe. We were treated like animals. I mean, even animals wont be kept in such inhumane conditions, but this is the way they treated us, Shoham said.

The hostages suffered beatings and psychological torment, sometimes being told they had to decide who among them would be executed next. Two of Shohams fellow captives, Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Evyatar David, remain in Gaza. Footage of David released in August, showing him emaciated, sparked outrage in Israel and abroad. And Im really afraid for their lives. You know, there are 20 living hostages still in Gaza in the hands of those animals, Shoham said.

Shoham was the first to be taken from his home, dragged through the window of a safe room, and forced into a car boot before being transported to Gaza. It was more than a month before he learned that his wife, children, mother-in-law, and relatives had also been abducted, and that his father-in-law, Avshalom, had been killed. His wife and children were freed in the first hostage deal in late 2023; he was released in the second, in February 2025.

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Standing again in the burned remains of the room where his ordeal began, Shoham remembers his then eight-year-old son asking if everyone was going to die as gunfire shattered the bulletproof glass. Now, I knew that he cannot hurt me yet, but after a few bullets he will reach a hole in the window and then we will need to surrender because its game over for us, he said. He would be able to throw grenades inside and to put his Kalashnikov in this hole and just shoot us all.

As Hamas militants marched him through the streets, he saw two bodies of people he knew, executed with shots to the head, before being thrown into a car and taken to Gaza.
President Donald Trump said the then US government didnt listen to him. And they didnt do it. A year later he blew up the World Trade Center.

US President Donald Trump has once again asserted personal credit for a major historical event, this time claiming he foresaw and warned the government about Al-Qaeda terrorist Osama bin Laden a year before the devastating September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Speaking at an event in Washington DC, Trump told a cheering crowd that his warnings, published in one of his books, were ignored by the then-administration, a failure he connected to the 9/11 attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center and killed more than 3,000 people.

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VIDEO | Washington DC: US president Donald Trump says, "History will never forget that it was the SEALs who stormed the compound at Osama bin Laden and put a bullet in his head. Remember that. And please remember I wrote about Osama bin Laden exactly one year ago, one year before pic.twitter.com/6lA3yAKfbd  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 6, 2025

History will never forget that it was the SEALs who stormed the compound of Osama bin Laden and put a bullet in his head, Trump said. Remember that. And please remember I wrote about Osama bin Laden exactly one year ago, one year before he blew up the World Trade Center.

You got to watch Osama

Trump detailed his alleged foresight, stating he devoted a specific page in his book to the threat posed by the Al-Qaeda terrorist.

I said one year before to Pete In the book I wrote whatever the hell the title. I cant tell you. But I can tell you theres a page in there devoted to the fact that I saw somebody named Osama bin Laden and I didnt like it and you got to take care of him, he recounted.

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Trump lamented that the government didnt do it. A year later he blew up the World Trade Center. So, we got to take a little credit because nobody else is going to give it to me

Osama bin Laden was killed on May 2, 2011, by a US Navy SEAL team during a raid ordered by then-President Barack Obama.

Pattern of credit-taking

This is the latest in a series of claims of credit from Trump. He has repeatedly stated he stopped numerous wars and deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.

He also pointed to his relentless follow-up efforts with various leaders, including those in Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and Hamas, as part of a push to halt two of the worlds most significant ongoing conflicts. Despite multiple rounds of talks with European and regional leaders, the administration has yet to report any concrete, lasting results.

Furthermore, the recent proposal for an Israel-Hamas peace deal appears stalled, with the President resorting to threatening Hamas with action if they do not agree to the proposed 20-point deal.

Trump has also previously claimed to have intervened to stop a conflict between India and Pakistan in May. That claim was denied by New Delhi, which asserted the matter was a bilateral affair and that Islamabad had initiated the request for a ceasefire.

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US President Donald Trump has put mass-firings on hold until the Senates vote on stopgap funding bill today. But as Republicans reject Democrats demands on healthcare, hopes are not high for the bills passage.

American flags fly in front of the U.S. Capitol at sunrise, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo)

US President Donald Trump has put mass-firing of government workers on hold until the Senates vote on a stopgap funding bill on Monday, according to Kevin Hasset, his top economic adviser.

I think that everybodys still hopeful that when we get a fresh start at the beginning of the week, that we can get the Democrats to see that its just common sense to avoid layoffs like that, Hasset told CNN on Sunday, referring to the Senate vote.

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The Senate will convene at 3 pm local time on Monday and the vote is scheduled for 5:30 pm on a stopgap funding bill.

Hasset said that the failure to pass the bill will lead to mass-firings that have been threatened for days. Hopes for the bills passage are not high as both sides remain far from any middle ground.

Hasset told CNN, I think that if the president decides that the negotiations are absolutely going nowhere that there will start to be layoffs. We think the Democrats, theres a chance that theyll be reasonable. Lets get back into town on Monday, and if they are then I think theres no reason for those layoffs.

Meanwhile, unions representing hundreds of thousands of government workers have approached a judge to block any mass-firings in the works, according to Bloomberg.

Unions have argued that Trump does not have any legal authority to fire government workers during a lapse in appropriations from Congress, the report said.

As per norms, whenever the shutdown ends, furloughed workers who worked without pay or were sent home receive backpay. Currently, around 750,000 workers have been furloughed.

In the Senate, Republicans have continued to blame Democrats for not agreeing to pass their version of a stopgap bill. Democrats have refused to pass any bill that does not roll back Trumps Medicaid cuts and renew expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies that make health insurance less expensive for people. But Republicans have framed these demands as Democrats wanting taxpayer-funded healthcare coverage for illegal immigrants and have rejected these calls.

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The US Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned associate of Jeffrey Epstein, who sought to overturn her conviction for sex trafficking and related crimes.

A US Attorney alongside FBI (right), at a news conference announcing charges against Ghislaine Maxwell for her role in the sexual exploitation and abuse of minor girls by Jeffrey Epstein in New York City, New York, US, July 2, 2020. File Image/Reuters

The US Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal filed by Ghislaine Maxwell, the jailed associate of Jeffrey Epstein, seeking to overturn her criminal conviction.

Maxwell had argued that her prosecution violated a 2007 non-prosecution deal federal authorities made with Epstein, which she claimed also protected his associates. The Supreme Court declined to hear her case and did not explain its decision, effectively upholding her conviction.

Were, of course, deeply disappointed that the Supreme Court declined to hear Ghislaine Maxwells case, her attorney David O. Markus said in a statement. But this fight isnt over. Serious legal and factual issues remain, and we will continue to pursue every avenue available to ensure that justice is done.

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Maxwell, a British socialite, was convicted in 2021 for recruiting and grooming teenage girls for sexual abuse by Epstein between 1994 and 2004. She is serving a 20-year prison sentence and was moved from a low-security facility in Florida to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas last year.

Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

This is a developing story.
Flagging the inefficiency of the West to enforce sanctions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia continues to procure Western parts from US, British, German, and other suppliers, for its missiles and drones.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a joint press conference with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, September 11, 2025. (Photo: Alina Smutko/Reuters)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has flagged the inefficiency of the West in starving Russia of supplies to make missiles and drones and said that Russian weapons continue to have parts from American, British, German, and other Western suppliers.

In a post on X, Zelenskyy said that 549 Russian weapons involved in Russias overnight attack on Sunday had 102,785 foreign-made components from companies in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Japan, South Korea, China, and Taiwan.

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Overall, nearly 100,688 of foreign-made parts were in drones, about 1,500 were in Iskander missiles, 192 in Kinzhals, and 405 in Kalibrs, according to Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy went on to list several specific components that are made in the West.

US companies manufacture converters for Kh-101 missiles and Shahed/Geran-type drones, sensors for those drones and for Kinzhal missiles, analog-to-digital converters for drones and missiles, and microelectronics for missiles; microcontrollers for drones are made in Switzerland; microcomputers for drone flight control are produced in the UK; optoisolators for cruise missiles come from Japan; switching connectors are made in Germany; and processors are made in the Netherlands; and servomotors and bearings made in South Korea.

Zelenskyy further said that at least 50 different microelectronic components in each Shahed are produced in China and Taiwan.

In the fourth year of the full-scale war, Russia continues to obtain components for producing weapons. During the massive combined strike on Ukraine on the night of October 5, Russia used 549 weapon systems containing 102,785 foreign-made components  from companies in the United  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) October 6, 2025

Zelenskyy urged the Group of Seven (G-7) to impose sanctions on these suppliers.

In recent weeks, Russia has ramped up aerial attacks on Ukraine. In addition to increasing the number of missiles and drones used, Russia has also reportedly improved its missiles that are making them harder to intercept.

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Last night, Russia attacked Ukraine with around 500 drones and 50 missiles. Ukranian authorities said that five people were killed in the attack.
Nearly 1 in 5 voters overall said they or someone close to them would not back a woman candidate for the White House, according to a report, citing a new poll

The survey comes nearly a year after Kamala Harriss presidential defeat, reigniting debate over the electability of women in a country that has only ever elected men to the White House. Reuters File

While most Americans say they support electing more women to public office, a significant share still hesitate when it comes to choosing a woman for the presidency  especially younger voters.

According to a new national survey conducted by American University and first reported by Politico, voters under 50 are the least likely to support a female president.

Nearly 1 in 5 voters overall said they or someone close to them would not back a woman candidate for the White House. That figure rises among younger voters, with 25% of women under 50 and 20% of men under 50 saying they wouldnt vote for a qualified female presidential candidate. In contrast, just 13% of voters over 50 said the same.

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Despite these obstacles, most voters believe the government is more effective with women in office and continue to support increasing their representation.

The poll, which surveyed 801 registered voters last month on behalf of the universitys Women and Politics Institute, offers a mixed picture of progress.

More from World US govt shutdown: Trump to target agencies with job cuts that don't share his values

A majority of respondents support electing more women to office and believe women in government make it more effective. Voters also tend to trust women more than men on issues like abortion rights, childcare, and gender equality.

But persistent biases remain. Female candidates continue to face skepticism on national security and foreign policy. Many voters hold them to a double standard, expecting women seeking the presidency to be both tough and likable  a combination not equally demanded of male candidates.

This survey reveals a powerful paradox, Politico quoted Viva de Vicq, the surveys lead pollster, as saying.

Voters trust women on the issues that matter most and want to see more women in office. Yet when asked about the presidency, bias and narrow expectations resurface, Vicq added.

The survey comes nearly a year after Kamala Harriss presidential defeat, reigniting debate over the electability of women in a country that has only ever elected men to the White House.

Voters are split on how Harriss campaign influenced the prospects of future female candidates.

Over 40% of independent voters said her run made it harder for other women to succeed  a sentiment echoed in Democratic circles after Harris lost to Donald Trump by a wider margin than Hillary Clinton did eight years earlier, reported Politico.

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Looking back at the 2024 election, the poll found that only about a third of voters listened to so-called bro culture podcasts. Among those listeners, four in five believed those shows had an impact on the election. Half of respondents said former President Joe Biden damaged the Democratic Partys standing, added the report.

When it comes to policy, voters said they trust women more than men to lead on issues like gender equality, abortion rights, and childcare. However, men are still seen as more capable of handling global conflicts.

The top barrier to women running for office, according to the poll, is the entrenched old boys club culture in politics, followed closely by negative media coverage.

As for the outlook in 2025, women  especially those under 50  are feeling increasingly pessimistic about the economy. Younger women reported a 15-point rise in negative views compared to the previous year.

With inputs from agencies
Mainland's Taiwan affairs official urges peaceful development of cross-Strait relations

Xinhua) 11:27, October 06, 2025

FUZHOU, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland's top Taiwan affairs official on Saturday urged efforts to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and advance national reunification.

Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks during a gathering to celebrate the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival in Fuzhou, the capital city of Fujian Province.

The gathering was joined by Taiwan guests including Sean Lien, vice chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party.

During the event, Song called for efforts to safeguard the overall interests of the Chinese nation, resolutely oppose "Taiwan independence" and external interference, and boost exchanges, cooperation and integrated development across the Strait.

In his remarks, Lien said the KMT will continue to strengthen cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation while promoting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations on the basis of upholding the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence."

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Hongyu)
As negotiators prepare for talks in Cairo, reports are emerging that US President Donald Trump reportedly confronted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a tense phone call over the US-brokered Gaza peace proposal.

The talks come two days ahead the two-year mark of Hamass October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which triggered the conflict. (File Photo/AFP)

As negotiators prepare for talks in Cairo, reports are emerging that US President Donald Trump reportedly confronted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a tense phone call over the US-brokered Gaza peace proposal. According to a report by Axios, Trump expressed frustration over Netanyahus cautious approach to the matter.

The dispute took place after Hamas announced that it is  partially accepting Trumps peace framework, agreeing to release all remaining hostages in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal. As per the report, the Israeli premier dismissed Hamas response, insisting that there is nothing to celebrate.

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I dont know why youre always so f***ing negative. This is a win. Take it," Trump reportedly said in the call during the heated exchange between the two leaders of the allied nations. Sources close to the matter told Axios that during the call, Trump asserted full control over the ceasefire process and highlighted the urgency of ending the Gaza conflict.

Trump huries a deal

Overall, the call reflected a sharp contrast in the approaches of the two leaders. While Trump saw progress after Hamas partially accepted the proposal, Netanyahu remained cautious about the intentions of the Palestinian militant group.

The Israeli premier was weighing the domestic political risks and the implications of a temporary ceasefire. Despite these arguments, both sides eventually reached an agreement. Netanyahu later publicly lauded Trumps effort and emphasised areas of alignment, while the White House reiterated its commitment to pursuing peace and coordinating closely with Israel.

But despite the praises, after the phone call, Trump continued to pressure both Israel and Hamas. He warned Hamas against any tactics to delay the deal and made it clear that the hostages release was a non-negotiable condition for the deal. Meanwhile, Israel agreed to an updated map for the initial withdrawal of forces from parts of Gaza.
Russo-Ukraine War - 05 October 2025 - Day 1320

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Since the beginning of this day, 143 combat clashes have taken place.

Today, the Russian invaders made 57 aviation strikes, dropped 119 controlled air bombs. In addition, the Russians involved 3,890 kamikaze drones and carried out 3013 shelling of the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

Ukrainian defenders repelled six Russian attacks in the North Slobozhansky and Kursky directions, two of which are still ongoing. Since the beginning of the day, the Russian opponent made seven air strikes, in total dropped 20 controlled air bombs and carried out 154 shells, including nine from the reactive systems of the salpovogo fire.

In the South-Slobozhans komu direction, Ukrainian troops stopped 11 Russian attacks in the Vovchansk district and towards Liptsiv, Sinelnikovy, Kolodyaznogo and Kutkivka, another one is in progress.

In the Kupiansk direction, the Russian opponent carried out three offensive actions in the areas of the settlements of Kupiansk, Petropavlivka and Stepova Novoselivka, fighting is ongoing.

In the Lyman direction during the day, Russian invaders 13 times attacked the positions of Ukrainians near the settlements of Shandrigolove, Ridkodub, Serednoe, Novoselivka, Torske and in the direction of Drobishevogo.

In the Sivers komu direction, the Defense Forces repelled eight Russian attacks near Grigorivka, Serebryanka, Sivers ka and towards Yampol and Dronivka.

In the Kramators .komu direction, the Russian opponent carried out one unsuccessful attack on the position of Ukrainian defenders in the area of Predtecinyo.

In the Toretsky direction, Russians attacked the positions of Defense Forces ten times. The main attack efforts by the Russian occupiers concentrated in the areas of the settlements of Scherbinivka, Toretsk, Poltavka, Rusin Yar, Oleksandro-Shultine and in the direction of Ivanopil, two clashes are ongoing so far.

In the Pokrovsky direction, Russian Zagarbnytskyi units tried 44 times to break through Ukrainian defense in the areas of settlements Volodymyrivka, Shahove, Golden Well, Rodinske, Zvirove, Nikanorivka, Red Strait, Ray, Fox, Kotline, Udaachne, Dachne, Mirolubivka, Mykolaivka, Philia and in the direction of Mirnograd. In two locations, the fighting clashes continue so far.

Today in this direction Ukrainian soldiers zneskodili 126 Russian occupiers, 79 of them - irrevocably. Also destroyed 33 BPLAs, one car, in addition, Ukrainian soldiers hit seven shelters for the enemy's personnel.

In the Novopavlovsk direction, Russian forces attacked 23 times in the areas of the settlements in the areas of Sosnivka, Zeleny Gai, Vorone, Sichneve, Yalta, Piddubne, Novomykolaivka, Ternove, Novovasilivka, Novogrigorivka and Verbove. The two clashes are still ongoing.

In the gulyajpil s komu direction, the Russian enemy did not carry out offensive actions, but made an air strike on the railroad.

In the Orihivsky direction, Russian forces carried out one attack in the direction of Novodanilivka, received a cut-off. An aviation strike was made by the Russian opponent in the area of Stepovoye.

In the Pridniprovsk direction, theRussian opponent made three attempts to break through the defense of Ukrainian defenders, received a detachment. The Russian enemy caused an aviation strike in the area of the settlement of Odradokamaanka.

In other directions, the situation has not changed significantly.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the previous night, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out a massive strike with long-range high-precision surface-, sea-, and air-based weapons, including Kinzhal hypersonic aerial ballistic missiles, as well as strike unmanned aerial vehicles against enterprises of the Ukrainian defence industry and the facilities of the gas-power infrastructure that provided their operation.

The goals of the strike were achieved. All the assigned targets were engaged.

Units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on formations of two mechanised brigades, one jaeger brigade, one coastal defence brigade, one assault regiment of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades near Katerinovka, Novaya Sech, Ugroyedy, Krovnoye, Andreyevka, Osoyevka, and Iskriskovshchina (Sumy region).

In Kharkov direction, units of two mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade have been hit close to Novouzhvinovka, Volchansk, Dvurechanskoye, Bologovka, Ambarnoye, and Pokalyanoye (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 190 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, five motor vehicles, two artillery guns, and one U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS launcher. One electronic reconnaissance station, one ammunition depot, and six material depots were neutralised.

Units of the Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian formations engaged five mechanised brigades, one UAV regiment of the AFU, one territorial defence brigade, and one national guard brigade near Peschanoye, Kupyansk, Petrovka (Kharkov region), Yampol, Novonikolayevka, Krymki, and Svyatogorsk (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses amounted to up to 225 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, 15 motor vehicles, and one field artillery gun. Five electronic warfare stations and four ammunition depots were neutralised.

As a result of intensive and resolute actions, units of the Yug Group of Forces liberated Kuzminovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian troops inflicted losses on formations of three mechanised brigades, one assault brigade, one mountain assault brigade of the AFU and one national guard brigade near Seversk, Raygorodok, Reznikovka, Ivanopolye, Alekseyevo-Druzhkovka, and Konstantinovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 130 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, nine motor vehicles, and one artillery gun. One electronic warfare station and one ammunition depot were neutralised.

Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line. Manpower and hardware of six mechanised brigades, one assault brigade, two jaeger brigades, two air assault brigades, two assault regiments of the AFU, and three national guard brigades were hit close to Dimitrov, Gruzskoye, Toretskoye, Rubezhnoye, Artemovka, Dorozhnoye, Ivanovka, Krasnoarmeysk, and Grishino (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 430 troops, one tank, one Turkish-made Kirpi armoured vehicle, one Canadian-made Senator armoured vehicle, one pickup truck, and one field artillery gun.

The Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defences. Russian troops inflicted losses on the formations of two mechanised brigades, one assault regiment of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade near Uspenovka, Malinovka, Pavlovka, Privolnoye, Novogrigorovka, and Poltavka (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 270 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, eight motor vehicles, and one materiel depot.

The Dnepr Group's units inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of one heavy mechanised brigade and one mechanised brigade near Malaya Tokmachka, Lukyanovskoye, and Chervonaya Krinitsa (Zaporozhye region).

Up to 55 troops, four motor vehicles, five electronic warfare stations, and one materiel depot were neutralised.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack drones, missile troops and artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have inflicted damage on energy facilities that support the operation of the Ukrainian defence industry, rolling stock used for the railway transport of weapons and military hardware to combat areas in Donbass, AFU POL supply centre, storage and launch areas of long-range unmanned aerial vehicles and U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS, as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed forces and foreign mercenaries in 137 areas.

Air defence systems shot down four guided aerial bombs and 145 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 667 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 88,173 unmanned aerial vehicles, 631 anti-aircraft missile systems, 25,361 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,593 MLRSs, 30,195 field artillery guns and mortars, and 43,231 special military vehicles have been neutralised.

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Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Quanex To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you purchased or acquired securities in Quanex between December 12, 2024 and September 5, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

[You may also click here for additional information]





NEW YORK, Oct. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Quanex Building Products Corporation (Quanex or the Company) (NYSE: NX) and reminds investors of the November 18, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) the Companys procedures and policies regarding tooling and equipment maintenance in its Tyman Mexico facility were significantly underinvested; (2) as a result, the Companys tooling and equipment conditions had significantly degraded to near catastrophic levels; (3) that, as a result of the foregoing, the Company was likely to incur significant costs, pushing out the timing of expected benefits from the Tyman integration; (4) that Quanex had previously identified the foregoing issues; and (5) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants positive statements about the Companys business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

On September 4, 2025, after the market closed, Quanex announced financial results for the third quarter of the 2025 fiscal year. Among other things, the Company disclosed operational issues related to the legacy Tyman window and door hardware business in Mexico that are ongoing which impacted results more than expected during the third quarter of 2025. Specifically, the Company reported a diluted EPS of ($6.04), compared to $0.77 in the prior year period and an adjusted EBIDTA of $70.30. The Company further disclosed that it was adjusting for lower expected volumes and pushing out the timing of when [it] expect[s] to realize procurement savings from the integration of the Tyman business.

Then, on September 5, 2025, the Company held an earnings call pursuant to the Companys third quarter 2025 financial results. During the earnings call, Chief Executive Officer, George Wilson (Wilson) explained operational challenges in the Tyman facility in Mexico negatively impacted EBITDA in the Hardware Solutions segment by almost $5 million in the third quarter alone. Wilson further explained that the issue was previously identified midyear as it got deeper into the integration with Tyman, and described how the systems used to anticipate and plan for tooling repairs were significantly deficient, indicating it was near nonexistent. Wilson stated because Quanex was underinvested in the tooling condition and the equipment condition it had to make some changes and fix some things before it was catastrophic.

On this news, Quanexs stock price fell $2.73, or 13.1%, to close at $18.18 per share on September 5, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume. The stock price continued to decline on the subsequent trading day, falling $1.98 or 10.9%, to close at $16.20 per share on September 8, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Quanexs conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Quanex Building Products class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/NX or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

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Roche, in collaboration with KlinRisk, Inc, has received CE-mark for the first AI-based risk stratification tool for assessment of progressive decline in kidney function.

This tool will be launched as part of Roches new chronic kidney disease (CKD) algorithm panel to support care across the stages of the disease which affects 700 million people globally.

Clinicians can use the CKD panel (Kidney Klinrisk Algorithm and Kidney KFRE Algorithm) to evaluate a patients risk of kidney function decline, including in the early asymptomatic stages of the disease.

Basel, 6 October 2025 - Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), in collaboration with KlinRisk, Inc., has received the CE-mark for the first AI-based risk stratification tool to assess progressive decline in kidney function. This milestone allows Roche to introduce the Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) algorithm panel on its navify Algorithm Suite to support care across all stages of the CKD care pathway. The panel includes the new Kidney Klinrisk Algorithm - for early risk assessment of adults diagnosed with CKD as well as adults with diabetes or hypertension at elevated risk for kidney function decline - alongside the established CE-marked Kidney KFRE Algorithm (KFRE) for managing later disease stages of CKD.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than 700 million people worldwide and is broadly recognized as a global public health challenge.2 With early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, it is possible to delay or prevent kidney function decline, and reduce cardiovascular risk and related healthcare costs.3,5,7

"The launch of the AI-based Kidney Klinrisk Algorithm as part of our chronic kidney disease algorithm panel, represents a significant advancement in the fight against this often silent, progressive disease," said Matt Sause, CEO, Roche Diagnostics. "The panel is designed to support physicians to make more informed decisions and manage patients kidney function at every stage of the disease. Most importantly, this also includes the possibility to assess adults with diabetes and hypertension, who are at elevated risk for kidney function decline and not yet diagnosed with CKD."

Supporting clinicians in early and proactive care

Healthcare professionals now have easy access to a comprehensive risk assessment solution for managing CKD proactively in both diagnosed and undiagnosed adults at risk, including in the early, often asymptomatic stages of the disease. This AI-based solution combines multiple input factors from routine blood and urine tests and aligns recommendations with clinical guidelines.

The new CKD algorithm panel, available on the navify Algorithm Suite, marks a significant step in Roches strategy to provide digital health solutions for the growing global burden of chronic kidney disease. This cloud-based platform seamlessly integrates with existing hospital systems, giving clinicians a single point of access to order and view algorithm results. The panel is available in Europe and the United Kingdom, with a later launch in the United States, the Middle East, and Asia.

About the Kidney Klinrisk Algorithm

The Kidney Klinrisk Algorithm, an in vitro diagnostic medical device software, is a machine learning (ML)-based tool to aid clinicians in making more informed, precise decisions on progressive kidney function decline. The algorithm is intended to be applied to adults diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in stages G1 to G4, and to diabetic and/or hypertensive adults who are at risk for CKD.

The Kidney Klinrisk Algorithm was developed in collaboration with KlinRisk Inc, a medical AI company founded by Dr. Navdeep Tangri, a leading physician in kidney health, building multiple prognostic tests for cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic conditions to address the needs of patients, providers, and health systems.

About chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive condition characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function over time. In its early stages, CKD is often asymptomatic, and many people are unaware they have the condition. If left untreated, CKD can progress to kidney failure, requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant. CKD is closely linked to other chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

The rising incidence of CKD is fueled by increasing cases of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity worldwide and CKD can be a major healthcare cost driver representing up to 2-3% of the annual budgets.5 CKD increases hospitalizations, cardiovascular disease and can lead to early mortality.6 Still, adherence to guideline-directed medical therapies (GDMTs) is often below target use.

About navify

The navify portfolio from Roche includes more than 130 digital solutions for labs, hospitals and patients worldwide in commercial or research phases. navify solutions connect the healthcare community with a robust digital infrastructure to integrate data efficiently and to accelerate clinician access to innovations as well as operational and medical insights. This work includes collaborating with other innovative companies such as Fortinet in cybersecurity services. The navify platform is designed to deliver security at every step of the data analytical process with ISO/IEC 27001 certification for the Information Security Management System. All data is encrypted at rest and in transit. The solution is operated in compliance with applicable laws and regulations in the USA with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability) as well as with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) regulations in Europe.

Healthcare professionals can visit navify Marketplace to browse and request a growing number of next generation digital solutions from Roche and other companies  all designed to drive operational and clinical excellence, built on the foundational pillars of digital trust. More information is also available at navify.com.



About Roche

Founded in 1896 in Basel, Switzerland, as one of the first industrial manufacturers of branded medicines, Roche has grown into the worlds largest biotechnology company and the global leader in in-vitro diagnostics. The company pursues scientific excellence to discover and develop medicines and diagnostics for improving and saving the lives of people around the world. We are a pioneer in personalised healthcare and want to further transform how healthcare is delivered to have an even greater impact. To provide the best care for each person we partner with many stakeholders and combine our strengths in Diagnostics and Pharma with data insights from the clinical practice.

For over 125 years, sustainability has been an integral part of Roches business. As a science-driven company, our greatest contribution to society is developing innovative medicines and diagnostics that help people live healthier lives. Roche is committed to the Science Based Targets initiative and the Sustainable Markets Initiative to achieve net zero by 2045.

Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan.

For more information, please visit www.roche.com.

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.



References

[1] European Union: EUR-Lex. Chronic Kidney Disease Algorithm Panel [Internet: accessed: August 2025] Klinrisk is an in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) medical device CE-marked (NB 0123) under the requirements laid out in the IVD regulation (EU) 2017/746 (IVDR).

[2] GBD Chronic Kidney Disease Collaboration, Lancet (2020) https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30045-3

[3] Shlipak, Kidney International (2021) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kint.2020.10.012

[4] Francis, A., Harhay, M.N., Ong, A.C.M. et al. Chronic kidney disease and the global public health agenda: an international consensus. Nat Rev Nephrol 20, 473485 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-024-00820-6

[5] N Tangri et al.: Impact of Improved Diagnosis and Treatment on Holistic CKD Burden. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ekir.2025.05.039

[6] Francis, A., Harhay, M.N., Ong, A.C.M. et al. Chronic kidney disease and the global public health agenda: an international consensus. Nat Rev Nephrol 20, 473485 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-024-00820-6

[7] N Tangri et al.: Impact of Improved Diagnosis and Treatment on Holistic CKD Burden. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ekir.2025.05.039





Roche Global Media Relations

Phone: +41 61 688 8888 / e-mail: media.relations@roche.com

Hans Trees, PhD

Phone: +41 79 407 72 58 Sileia Urech

Phone: +41 79 935 81 48



Nathalie Altermatt

Phone: +41 79 771 05 25 Lorena Corfas

Phone: +41 79 568 24 95



Simon Goldsborough

Phone: +44 797 32 72 915 Karsten Kleine

Phone: +41 79 461 86 83



Kirti Pandey

Phone: +49 172 6367262 Yvette Petillon

Phone: +41 79 961 92 50



Dr Rebekka Schnell

Phone: +41 79 205 27 03

Attachment
Oslo, Norway (6 October 2025) - TGS, a leading global provider of energy data and intelligence will release its Q3 2025 results at approximately 07:00 a.m. CEST on 23 October.

CEO Kristian Johansen and CFO Sven Brre Larsen will present the results at 09:00 a.m. CEST on 23 October at House of Oslo, Ruselkkveien 34 in Oslo, Norway.

The presentation is open to the public and will be webcasted live.

Access and registration for webcast attendees are available by copying and pasting the link below into your browser, or use the link on the front page of www.tgs.com:

https://channel.royalcast.com/landingpage/hegnarmedia/20251023_4/

The Q3 2025 earnings release and presentation will be available on www.newsweb.no and www.tgs.com.

For more information, visit TGS.com (http://www.tgs.com) or contact:

Bard Stenberg, VP IR & Business Intelligence

Mobile: +47 992 45 235

E-mail: investor@tgs.com





About TGS

TGS provides advanced data and intelligence to companies active in the energy sector. With leading-edge technology and solutions spanning the entire energy value chain, TGS offers a comprehensive range of insights to help clients make better decisions. Our broad range of products and advanced data technologies, coupled with a global, extensive and diverse energy data library, make TGS a trusted partner in supporting the exploration and production of energy resources worldwide. For further information, please visit www.tgs.com (https://www.tgs.com/).
Trogenix was founded by 4BIO as a spinout from the University of Edinburgh alongside Professor Steve Pollard and Dr Ken Macnamara in 2023

Trogenix's breakthrough Odysseus platform targets cancer cells to deliver precision therapies with curative one and done potential across multiple aggressive, treatment-resistant cancers

70 million financing round led by IQ Capital with participation from new investors Eli Lilly and Company, Meltwind, LongeVC, and Calculus Capital





London, United Kingdom, 6 October 2025 - 4BIO Capital (4BIO or the Group), an international venture capital firm unlocking the treatments of the future by investing in advanced therapies and other emerging technologies, announces that Trogenix Ltd (Trogenix"), a pioneering biotech company founded by 4BIO and dedicated to developing innovative cancer therapies, has secured a 70 million ($95 million) Series A financing. The funding will enable the rapid advancement of Trogenixs pipeline of potentially curative cancer therapies across multiple aggressive solid tumours into the clinic.



4BIO Capital invested in the Series A alongside IQ Capital which led the round, with new investors Eli Lilly and Company, Meltwind, LongeVC, and Calculus Capital. The round also included returning investors, the National Brain Tumor Societys Brain Tumor Investment Fund and Cancer Research Horizons, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cancer Research UK, acting as its translational arm to advance bold research innovations, whose participation represents its largest investment to date.

Trogenix is revolutionising cancer treatment by combining the dual power of cancer cell killing and immune stimulation, delivered via a Trojan Horse approach that reawakens the immune system to provide long-term protection against tumour recurrence. Trogenix's lead programme in glioblastoma (GBM), one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant brain cancers, is advancing toward clinical trials with first patient dosing anticipated in Q1 2026.

Dima Kuzmin, Co-founder and Managing Partner at founding investor, 4BIO Capital, and Chairman of Trogenix, said: Trogenix perfectly embodies 4BIOs innovation driving playbook, where we support breakthrough biotech companies to develop and deliver exceptional technologies, reach new areas of medicine and pioneer novel treatment possibilities.

This investment, supported by an outstanding syndicate of leading investors, demonstrates the value that our hands-on, dedicated approach can have towards transforming innovative concepts into breakthrough therapies. Trogenix is now at a pivotal stage as it moves into the clinic and we look forward to continuing our close work with the company and its management, as they continue their rapid journey from breakthrough science towards potentially curative therapies across multiple aggressive cancers.

Ken Macnamara, Chief Executive Officer at Trogenix, added: This significant investment accelerates our lead programme in glioblastoma and follow-on programme in colorectal cancer liver metastases through the clinic, advances our pipeline in liver and lung cancers, and further enhances our Odysseus platform. We are honoured to have the continued support of our founding investors, 4BIO Capital and I would like to thank Dima and the team for their tireless work and enthusiasm. I also thank and welcome our existing and new investors, who share our mission to deliver breakthrough treatments and pursue cures for the thousands of patients and families facing devastating diagnoses each year.

-End-

Contacts

4BIO Capital +44 (0) 203 427 5500

info@4biocapital.com ICR Healthcare

Amber Fennell, Jonathan Edwards +44 (0)20 3709 5700

4biocapital@icrhealthcare.com









About 4BIO Capital

4BIO Capital (4BIO) is an international venture capital firm focused on investing in advanced therapies and emerging modalities, to unlock the treatments of the future. 4BIOs mission is to invest in, support, and grow early-stage companies solving technical bottlenecks that enable next generation therapeutics in areas of high unmet medical need, with the ultimate goal of ensuring access to these potentially transformative therapies for all patients. The 4BIO team comprises leading advanced therapy scientists and experienced life science investors with an unrivalled network within the advanced therapy sector and a unique understanding of the criteria that define a successful investment opportunity in this space. For more information, connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter @4biocapital and visit www.4biocapital.com.

About Trogenix

Trogenix unites cutting-edge technologies in genomics, oncology, immunotherapy, and gene therapy to create a revolutionary therapeutic approach through its Odysseus platform. Using proven AAV vectors, our proprietary Synthetic Super-Enhancers (SSEs) are delivered directly to tumour cells without detection. Our SSEs enable unprecedented precision in gene control, effectively revealing cancer to the body's immune system and killing tumour cells. For any cells escaping Trogenix's technology, our 'Trojan horse' can counter recurrence, offering potentially curative 'one-and-done' treatments for aggressive tumours. With our lead asset in glioblastoma entering the clinic, we're ready to transform treatment paradigms across multiple cancer types.

Trogenix was created in 2023 based on co-founder Professor Steve Pollards groundbreaking research at the University of Edinburgh - including its UK Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology and Institute for Regeneration and Repair - and the Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre. Incubated by 4BIO Capital, additional seed funding was provided through IQ Capital, Cancer Research Horizons, the US National Brain Tumor Societys Brain Tumor Investment Fund, AIN Ventures and the University of Edinburghs venture investment fund, Old College Capital. In addition, Innovate UK provided an Investor Partnership grant in support of Trogenixs preclinical research into its liver hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal cancer liver metastases programmes.

For more information, visit www.trogenix.com.
LUINO, Italy and CHICAGO, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading luxury real estate brand Christies International Real Estate today announced the addition of Talamona Real Estate as its newest affiliate in Italy. The firm will represent Christies International Real Estate in northwest Italys vibrant Piedmont and Liguria regions, including Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, the Cinque Terre and Lake Maggiore.

Founded and led by Theodor Talamona, Talamona Real Estate has built a reputation for the highest level of client service in the area, providing support to its clients throughout the transaction and beyond. The brokerage has offices in the lakeside towns of Luino, Laveno-Mombello and Verbania, and the seaside town of Genoa.

Theodor and his team are recognized leaders in their market, with a deep understanding of the luxury property landscape and a focus on high-touch service, said Helena Moyas de Forton, managing director, EMEA and APAC for Christies International Real Estate. Their expertise will be a significant asset to our network as we continue to set the standard for luxury real estate in northwest Italy, and worldwide.

As an affiliate of Christies International Real Estate, Talamona Real Estate and its clients will benefit from international exposure and referral opportunities through the brands global luxury network spanning nearly 50 countries and territories. Clients will also benefit from exclusive marketing partnerships with Christies, the world-leading art and luxury business.

A destination traditionally favored by Europeans, northwest Italys popularity is on the rise with buyers from the U.S. and regions outside of Europe, underscoring the importance of the Christies International Real Estate alliance, said Talamona, Our affiliation with Christies International Real Estate will allow us to position our portfolio on a truly global stage, connecting our properties with a wider network of discerning clients and reinforcing our commitment to excellence in the high-end real estate sector, he explained.

Located at the base of the Alps bordering France and Switzerland, Italys Piedmont region is known for its historic cities, wine-producing villages and alpine landscapes, offering a combination of cultural depth and outdoor adventure. The regions growing prominence is fueled by its proximity to Milan and the French border, a robust culinary and wine economy, and relative value compared to other parts of northern Italy. In northern Piedmont, the picturesque 34-mile-long Lake Maggiore is a popular holiday destination for both international visitors and regional second home buyers.

South of Piedmont sits Liguria, a coastal region that continues to draw interest from luxury buyers seeking Mediterranean living with historic character and geographic advantage. Stretching from the French border to Tuscany, Liguria offers access to world-renowned destinations along the Italian Riviera. With its dramatic cliffs, sheltered coves, and elegant seafront villas, the region blends old-world charm with modern appeal. Its proximity to Monaco, Milan, and major European transit hubs further positions Liguria as a strategically located, year-round market for both primary residences and second-home investments.

The addition of Talamona Real Estate strengthens Christies International Real Estates footprint in Italy, joining the networks affiliates in Milan, Rome, Venice, Tuscany, Naples, Sardinia, the South Tyrolean region, and Lake Como.

###

About Christies International Real Estate

Christies International Real Estate has successfully marketed high-value real estate around the world for more than 30 years. Through its invitation-only Affiliate network spanning nearly 50 countries and territories, Christies International Real Estate offers incomparable services to a global clientele at the luxury end of the residential property market. Christies International Real Estate operates as a distinct luxury brand under the ownership of Compass (NYSE: COMP), the largest residential real estate brokerage in the United States by sales volume. Founded in 2012 and based in New York City, Compass provides an end-to-end platform that empowers residential real estate agents to deliver exceptional service to seller and buyer clients.
TOKYO, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading semiconductor test equipment supplier Advantest Corporation (TSE: 6857) will feature its latest semiconductor test solutions at SEMICON West 2025, which will be held from Oct. 7-9 at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Ariz. Advantest will highlight its broad portfolio of leading-edge test technologies for applications, including AI and high-performance computing (HPC), 6G, automotive and memory.

Additionally, the company is a proud sponsor of this years Test Vision Symposium and Workforce Development program and will continue its participation in SEMIs Semiconductor Climate Consortium (SCC) as one of the founding members.

Product and Solution Highlights

Advantests product showcase will be located at booth #1029, featuring the companys comprehensive portfolio of test solutions that address industry challenges in the era of complexity, including:

Presentations

In addition to its product display, Advantest will participate in this years Test Vision Symposium from Oct. 8-9. Advantest will deliver multiple presentations on a myriad of relevant topics, including advanced packaging, data analytics, the utilization of AI/ML in test, co-packaged optics and silicon photonics. Please refer to the session program for more details.

Social Media

For the latest updates, visit the Advantest Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn pages.

About Advantest Corporation

Advantest (TSE: 6857) is the leading manufacturer of automatic test and measurement equipment used in the design and production of semiconductors for applications including 5G communications, the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, high-performance computing (HPC), including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, and more. Its leading-edge systems and products are integrated into the most advanced semiconductor production lines in the world. The company also conducts R&D to address emerging testing challenges and applications; develops advanced test-interface solutions for wafer sort and final test; produces scanning electron microscopes essential to photomask manufacturing; and offers system-level test solutions and other test-related accessories. Founded in Tokyo in 1954, Advantest is a global company with facilities around the world and an international commitment to sustainable practices and social responsibility. More information is available at www.advantest.com.

ADVANTEST CORPORATION

3061 Zanker Road

San Jose, CA 95134, USA

Cassandra Koenig

Cassandra.koenig@advantest.com
Dublin, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Barrett's Esophagus with Dysplasia Market - A Global and Regional Analysis: Focus on Country and Region - Analysis and Forecast, 2025-2035" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global barrett's esophagus with dysplasia (BED) market is undergoing notable expansion, driven by the increasing prevalence of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) a major precursor to BED alongside rising awareness of esophageal cancer risks and the growing adoption of advanced endoscopic surveillance and therapeutic technologies.



The growth of the BED market is further fuelled by heightened clinical recognition of the condition's progression to high-grade dysplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma if left untreated. This has spurred the adoption of standardized screening protocols, especially in developed markets such as the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Increasing reliance on technologies such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cryoablation, and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is transforming how BED is managed, offering both curative potential and reduced need for invasive surgery. The market is evolving rapidly as healthcare systems and clinicians place greater emphasis on early intervention and individualized patient risk stratification, supported by advanced imaging, AI-assisted diagnostics, and emerging molecular biomarkers.



Key therapeutic and diagnostic segments in the BED market include high-definition endoscopy systems, ablation technologies, biopsy tools, and adjunct molecular diagnostics. Notably, the growing integration of artificial intelligence into surveillance endoscopy, enhancing dysplasia detection rates by reducing operator variability and improving lesion characterization. Moreover, the development of precision medicine approaches such as DNA methylation assays and tissue-based molecular classifiers is enabling risk-based stratification, allowing providers to tailor intervention intensity to patient-specific progression risks.



Improvements in healthcare infrastructure, especially across Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East, are expanding access to screening and treatment services. This is complemented by more favourable reimbursement frameworks for endoscopic therapies in high-income countries, which are encouraging earlier and more proactive interventions. Enhanced training programs for gastroenterologists and endoscopic surgeons are also contributing to the diffusion of newer techniques in both urban and regional healthcare settings. As health systems prioritize cancer prevention and outcome-based care, the BED market is becoming a critical node within broader gastroenterology and oncology frameworks.



Advances in digital health tools including AI-enabled diagnostic software, smart biopsy tracking systems, and real-time risk prediction models are reshaping how clinicians diagnose and manage BED. These tools are expected to improve detection accuracy, reduce procedure-related costs, and enable more efficient surveillance strategies. In addition, efforts to personalize BED management based on genetic, behavioural, and phenotypic profiles are gaining traction, enabling more tailored surveillance intervals and targeted therapeutic decisions.



Despite its strong growth trajectory, the BED market faces several challenges. These include limited awareness and screening uptake among at-risk populations, especially in underserved areas; the high cost of endoscopic equipment and ablation devices; and disparities in provider access to advanced training and infrastructure. Patient compliance with long-term surveillance protocols also remains a concern, particularly in asymptomatic individuals. Moreover, regulatory complexity and the slow pace of biomarker validation continue to hinder the commercial rollout of newer diagnostics and therapeutics. Variability in insurance coverage for early-stage interventions further complicates access in several markets.



The competitive landscape of the BED market is characterized by active participation from leading medtech firms, diagnostic developers, and clinical research institutions. Strategic collaborations, acquisitions, and clinical trial partnerships are accelerating the development of integrated diagnostic therapeutic solutions. Increased investment in R&D particularly around non-invasive diagnostics, disposable endoscopic tools, and molecular surveillance platforms is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the next phase of market evolution.



Looking ahead, the global BED market is well-positioned to sustain its growth, underpinned by rising disease prevalence, clinical innovation, and healthcare system readiness to invest in early intervention strategies. With continued focus on digital innovation, patient-centric care, and biomarker-based personalization, the market is expected to deliver improved long-term outcomes and quality of life for patients at risk of esophageal cancer. As global screening efforts intensify and reimbursement pathways expand, the BED market will increasingly serve as a cornerstone of preventative oncology and precision gastroenterology.



Key Topics Covered:



1. Global Barrett's Esophagus with Dysplasia Market: Industry Analysis

1.1 Market Overview and Ecosystem

1.2 Epidemiological Analysis

1.3 Key Market Trends

1.4 Regulatory Landscape

1.5 Pipeline Analysis

1.6 Market Dynamics



2. Global Barrett's Esophagus with Dysplasia Market (by Region), Value ($Million), 2023-2035

2.1 North America

2.2 Europe

2.3 Asia-Pacific

2.4 Rest-of-the-World



3. Competitive Landscape and Company Profiles

3.1 Competitive Landscape

3.1.1 Mergers and Acquisitions

3.1.2 Partnership, Alliances and Business Expansion

3.1.3 New Offerings

3.1.4 Regulatory Activities

3.1.5 Funding Activities

3.2 Company Profiles

Abbott Laboratories

Boston Scientific Corporation

Cipla Inc.

Cook Medical

Eli Lilly and Company

Johnson & Johnson

Medtronic plc

Merck & Co., Inc.

Olympus Corporation

Pentax Medical

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5k8j1j

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.
TORONTO, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Goliath Resources Limited (TSX-V: GOT) (OTCQB: GOTRF) (FSE: B4IF) (the Company or Goliath) is pleased to announce that Roger Rosmus, Founder & CEO will be presenting at several conferences during the month of October 2025. They include the Nordic Funds and Mines 2025 event taking place in Stockholm, Sweden, the LD Micro Main Event XIX taking place in San Diego, California and the Centurion One Capital 3rd Annual Summit taking place in Nassau, Bahamas.

About Nordic Funds and Mines - October 8 th and 9 th , 2025

The Nordic Funds & Mines Summit will take place on October 8th and 9th, 2025, in Stockholm, Sweden, Hotel At Six. This exclusive event is designed for institutional investors, high-net-worth individuals, and representatives from leading mining companies to connect and explore investment opportunities in the mining sector.

This event is a premier gathering focused on investment opportunities in the mining sector. Attendees will have the chance to engage in one-on-one meetings with top portfolio managers, analysts, and decision-makers from leading institutional funds and private equity groups. This facilitates meaningful connections and potential partnerships within the mining industry. The agenda for the event will include insightful presentations, panel discussions, and workshops led by industry leaders and innovators.

Goliaths presentation will begin at 11:00 AM CEST on Thursday, October 9th 2025 in the Molnet - Interview Spot 1 that can be accessed live here. To register for the presentation or one-on-one meeting, visit here.

To learn more about Nordic Funds & Mines Summit 2025, visit: https://nordicfundsandmines.com

About LD Micro Main Event XIX - October 19 th to the 21 st , 2025

The 2025 LD Micro Main Event XIX will run from October 19th to the 21st at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, California. The first day will consist of registration, keynote speakers, and some gorgeous views of the Pacific. It will be followed by two full days of company presentations and one-on-one investor meetings concluded with a closing reception. This three-day event will feature around 120 companies, presenting in half-hour increments, and attending private meetings with investors.

Goliaths presentation can be accessed live here. Management will also host one-on-one meetings with investors on Monday, October 20th and Tuesday, October 21st, 2025. To register for the presentation or one-on-one meeting, visit here.

LD Micro is dedicated to being the definitive resource in the small-cap space. From its industry-recognized index and robust data to hosting some of the most influential events each year, LD Micros mission is to provide unparalleled access and insight for those seeking the next generation of great companies. To learn more about LD Micro, visit: http://www.ldmicro.com

About Centurion One Capital 3rd Annual Bahamas Summit - October 28 th and 29 th , 2025

Centurion One Capital 3rd Annual Bahamas Summit at the Rosewood Baha Mar Hotel will run from Tuesday, October 28th to Wednesday, October 29th, 2025. Its a two-day invitation only event that brings together the worlds leading small cap growth companies to an audience of global growth investors held at the Rosewood Baha Mar Hotel which epitomizes Bahamian refinement and sophistication. Set on the gorgeous white sand of Nassaus Cable Beach, the event will consist of a series of company presentations, 1x1 investor meetings, dynamic panels and networking over two days.

For more information and registration details, please visit: www.centuriononecapital.com/bahamas-summit

About Goliath Resources Limited

Goliath Resources is an explorer of precious metals projects in the highly prospective Golden Triangle of Northwestern British Columbia where its flagship Golddigger Property is located. All of its projects are in high quality geological settings and geopolitical safe jurisdictions amenable to mining in Canada. Goliath is a member and active supporter of CASERM which is an organization that represents a collaborative venture between Colorado School of Mines and Virginia Tech. Goliaths key strategic cornerstone shareholders include Crescat Capital, a Global Commodity Group (Singapore), McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX), Waratah Capital Advisors, Mr. Rob McEwen, Mr. Eric Sprott and Mr. Larry Childress.

The Company recently completed over 64,000 meters of drilling with 9 rigs, in one of the largest drill programs of its kind in 2025. There are assays pending on 88 diamond drill holes from this years program. As well, the Company entered into a bought deal financing with STIFEL Canada for C$23,000,000 priced at an average of C$4.39 per share (no warrant).

About Golddigger Property

The Golddigger Property is 100% controlled and covers an area of 91,518 hectares in a highly prospective geological setting of the Eskay Rift, within 3 kilometers of the Red Line in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia. This area, in close proximity to the Red Line, has hosted some of Canadas greatest gold mines including Eskay Creek, Premier and Snip. Other significant and well-known deposits in the Golden Triangle include Brucejack, Copper Canyon, Galore Creek, Granduc, KSM, Red Chris, and Schaft Creek. Goliath controls 56 kilometers of the Red Line which is a geologic contact between Triassic age Stuhini rocks and Jurassic age Hazelton rocks used as key markers when exploring for gold-copper-silver mineralization.

The Surebet discovery has predictable continuity and excellent metallurgy with gold recoveries from gravity and flotation at a 327-micrometer crush of 92.2% including 48.8% free gold from gravity alone (no cyanide required to recover the gold). The metallurgy completed to date shows no deleterious elements are present (see news release dated March 1, 2023).

The Property is in an excellent location in close proximity to the communities of Alice Arm and Kitsault where there is a permitted mill site on private property. It is situated on tide water with direct barge access to Prince Rupert (190 kilometers via the Observatory inlet/Portland inlet). The town of Kitsault is accessible by road (190 kilometers from Terrace, 300 kilometers from Prince Rupert) and has a barge landing, dock, and infrastructure capable of housing at least 300 people, including high-tension power.

Additional infrastructure in the area includes the Dolly Varden Silver Mine Road (only 7 kilometers to the East of the Surebet discovery) with direct road access to Alice Arm barge landing (18 kilometers to the south of the Surebet discovery) and high-tension power (25 kilometers to the east of Surebet discovery). The city of Terrace (population 16,000) provides access to railway, major highways, and airport with supplies (food, fuel, lumber, etc.), while the town of Prince Rupert (population 12,000) is located on the West Coast of British Columbia and houses an international container seaport also with direct access to railway and an airport.

About CASERM (Center to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining)

Goliath Resources is a paying member and active supporter of the Center to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining (CASERM), which is one of the worlds largest research centers in the mining sector. CASERM is a collaborative research venture between Colorado School of Mines and Virginia Tech that is supported by a consortium of mining and exploration companies, analytical instrumentation and software companies, and federal agencies aiming to transform the way geoscience data is acquired and used across the mining value chain. The center forms part of the I-UCRC program of the National Science Foundation. Research focuses on the integration of diverse geoscience data to improve decision making across the mine life cycle, beginning with the exploration for subsurface resources continuing through mine operation as well as closure and environmental remediation. Over the past three years, Goliath Resources membership in CASERM has allowed a high level of research to be performed on the Surebet Discovery.

Option and RSU Grant

The Company has granted a total of 300,000 stock options for a five year period to advisors and consultants priced at C$3.26 per share that will vest immediately. Goliath has also granted 100,000 restricted share units (RSU) to advisors and consultants of the Company, which will vest one year from the issuance date. The grant of the options and restricted share units are subject to the Company's omnibus equity incentive plan.

Qualified Person

Rein Turna P. Geo is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, for Goliath Resource Limited projects, and supervised the preparation of, and has reviewed and approved, the technical information in this release. Mr. Turna is an Independent Director of the Company.

For more information please contact:

Goliath Resources Limited

Mr. Roger Rosmus

Founder and CEO

Tel: +1.416.488.2887

roger@goliathresources.com

www.goliathresourcesltd.com

Disclaimer

The reader is cautioned that grab samples are spot samples which are typically, but not exclusively, constrained to mineralization. Grab samples are selective in nature and collected to determine the presence or absence of mineralization and are not intended to be representative of the material sampled.

Oriented HQ-diameter or NQ-diameter diamond drill core from the drill campaign is placed in core boxes by the drill crew contracted by the Company. Core boxes are transported by helicopter to the staging area and then transported by truck to the core shack. The core is then re-orientated, meterage blocks are checked, meter marks are labelled, Recovery and RQD measurements taken, and primary bedding and secondary structural features including veins, dykes, cleavage, and shears are noted and measured. The core is then described and transcribed in MX DepositTM. Drill holes were planned using Leapfrog GeoTM and QGISTM software and data from the 2017-2024 exploration campaigns. Drill core containing quartz breccia, stockwork, veining and/or sulphide(s), or notable alteration is sampled in lengths of 0.5 to 1.5 meters. Core samples are cut lengthwise in half: one-half remains in the box and the other half is inserted in a clean plastic bag with a sample tag. The bagged samples are then weighed and secured with a zip tie. Certified reference materials (CRMs), blanks and duplicates are added in the sample stream at a rate of 10%. To ensure analytical anonymity, CRM identification labels are removed prior to submission to the laboratory. Additional out-of-sequence blanks are introduced immediately following core samples that contain VG-NE or high-grade sulphide mineralization.

Grab, channels, chip and talus samples were collected by foot with helicopter assistance. Prospective areas included, but were not limited to, proximity to MINFile locations, placer creek occurrences, regional soil anomalies, and potential gossans based on high-resolution satellite imagery. The rock grab and chip samples were extracted using a rock hammer, or hammer and chisel to expose fresh surfaces and to liberate a sample of anywhere between 0.5 to 5.0 kilograms. All sample sites were flagged with biodegradable flagging tape and marked with the sample number. All sample sites were recorded using hand-held GPS units (accuracy 3-10 meters) and sample ID, easting, northing, elevation, type of sample (outcrop, subcrop, float, talus, chip, grab, etc.) and a description of the rock were recorded on all-weather paper. Samples are then inserted in a clean plastic bag with a sample tag for transport and shipping to the geochemistry lab. QA/QC samples including blanks, certified reference materials, and duplicate samples are inserted regularly into the sample sequence at a rate of 10%.

All samples are transported in rice bags sealed with numbered security tags. The rice bags are transported from the core shacks to the MSALABS facilities in Terrace, BC. MSALABS is certified with both AC89-IAS and ISO/IEC Standard 17025:2017. The core samples undergo preparation via drying, crushing to ~70% of the material passing a 2 mm sieve and riffle splitting. The sample splits are weighed and transferred into three plastic jars, each containing between 300 g and 500 g of crushed sample material. A 250 g split is pulverized to ensure at least 85% of the material passes through a 75 m sieve. The crushed samples are transported to the MSALABS PhotonAssayTM facility in Prince George, where gold concentrations are quantified via photon assay analysis (method CPA-Au1). Samples that result in gold concentrations 5 ppm are analyzed to extinction. Photon assay uses high-energy X-rays (photons) to excite atomic nuclei within the jarred samples, inducing the emission of secondary gamma rays, which are measured to quantify gold concentrations. The assays from all jars are combined on a weight-averaged basis. Multielement analyses are carried at the MSALABS facilities in Surrey, BC, where 250 g of pulverized splits are analyzed via ICF6xx and IMS-230 methods. The IMS-230 method uses 4-acid digestion (a combination of hydrochloric, nitric, perchloric and hydrofluoric acids) followed by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry to quantify concentrations of 48 elements. Samples with over-limit results for Ag, Cu, Pb and Zn undergo ore-grade analysis via the ICF-6xx method (where xx denotes the target metal). This method employs 4-acid digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry.

Widths are reported in drill core lengths and the true widths are estimated to be 80-90% and Gold Equivalent (AuEq) metal values are calculated using: Au 2797.16 USD/oz, Ag 31.28 USD/oz, Cu 4.25 USD/lbs, Pb 1955.58 USD/ton and Zn 2750.50 USD/ton on January 31st, 2025. There is potential for economic recovery of gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc from these occurrences based on other mining and exploration projects in the same Golden Triangle Mining Camp where Goliaths project is located such as the Homestake Ridge Gold Project (Auryn Resources Technical Report, Updated Mineral Resource Estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment on the Homestake Ridge Gold Project, prepared by Minefill Services Inc. Bothell, Washington, dated May 29, 2020). Here, AuEq values were calculated using 3-year running averages for metal price, and included provisions for metallurgical recoveries, treatment charges, refining costs, and transportation. Recoveries for Gold were 85.5%, Silver at 74.6%, Copper at 74.6% and Lead at 45.3%. It will be assumed that Zinc can be recovered with the Copper at the same recovery rate of 74.6%. The quoted reference of metallurgical recoveries is not from Goliaths Golddigger Project, Surebet Zone mineralization, and there is no guarantee that such recoveries will ever be achieved, unless detailed metallurgical work such as in a Feasibility Study can be eventually completed on the Golddigger Project.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange), nor the OTCQB Venture Market accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Goliaths current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the ability of the Company to complete financings and its ability to build value for its shareholders as it develops its mining properties. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to Goliath. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the proposed transactions will occur, or that if the proposed transactions do occur, will be completed on the terms described above.

The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and Goliath is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

This announcement does not constitute an offer, invitation, or recommendation to subscribe for or purchase any securities and neither this announcement nor anything contained in it shall form the basis of any contract or commitment. In particular, this announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer would be illegal.

The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to or for the account or benefit of a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.
Sao Paulo, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Embraer S.A. ( Embraer ) (NYSE: ERJ) announces the early tender results of the previously announced cash tender offers (each offer, an  Offer  and, collectively, the  Offers ) by Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (the  Offeror ) of outstanding (i) 6.950% senior unsecured guaranteed notes due 2028 (the  2028 Notes ) and (ii) 7.000% senior unsecured guaranteed notes due 2030 (the  2030 Notes  and, together with the 2028 Notes, the  Notes ), in each case, issued by Embraer Netherlands Finance B.V. ( Embraer Finance ) and guaranteed by Embraer, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the offer to purchase dated September 22, 2025, as amended by the press release dated September 23, 2025 (the  Offer to Purchase ), as set forth in the table below as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on October 3, 2025 (the  Early Tender Date ):

Title of Security CUSIP / ISIN Principal Amount Outstanding Prior to the Offers Principal Amount Accepted for Purchase Principal Amount Outstanding Following the Early Settlement Date Acceptance Priority Level Reference U.S. Treasury Security Bloomberg

Reference Page(1) Fixed Spread(2) Early Tender Payment(3) 6.950% Senior Unsecured Guaranteed Notes due 2028 Regulation S:

N29505 AA7 / USN29505AA70

Rule 144A:

29082H AC6 / US29082HAC60 US$329,254,000 US$134,404,000 US$194,850,000 1 4.250% due January 15, 2028

FIT5 50 bps US$50.00 7.000% Senior Unsecured Guaranteed Notes due 2030 Regulation S:

N29505 AB5 / USN29505AB53

Rule 144A:

29082H AD4 / US29082HAD44 US$750,000,000 US$465,741,000 US$284,259,000 2 3.625% due August 31, 2030

FIT1 75 bps US$50.00 (1) The applicable page on Bloomberg from which the Dealer Manager will quote the bid side price of the Reference U.S. Treasury Security.

(2) Inclusive of Early Tender Payment.

(3) Per US$1,000 principal amount. The Total Consideration is calculated using the applicable Fixed Spread and is inclusive of the Early Tender Payment.



Settlement for Notes Tendered On or Prior to the Early Tender Date

Subject to the satisfaction and/or waiver of the Conditions (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), the Offeror has accepted for purchase all Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) in the Offers on or prior to the Early Tender Date. Holders of the Notes that have validly tendered and not validly withdrawn their Notes on or prior to the Early Tender Date shall receive the Total Consideration and Accrued Interest on the Early Settlement Date, which is expected to occur on October 7, 2025.

Extension of the Total Consideration for all Notes Tendered On or Prior to the Expiration Date

The Offeror has also amended the Offers by offering the Total Consideration, including the Early Tender Payment, in respect of all Notes that are validly tendered by the Expiration Date, regardless of whether such Notes were tendered before or after the Early Tender Date.

The Expiration Date continues to be 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on October 21, 2025, unless extended by the Offeror in its sole discretion.

Other Information on the Offers

The  Total Consideration  payable per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offers, will be determined in the manner described in the Offer to Purchase, by reference to the applicable Fixed Spread for such Notes specified in the tables above plus the applicable yield based on the bid-side price of the applicable U.S. Treasury Reference Security specified in the tables above at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Price Determination Date, which will be today, unless extended by the Offeror in its sole discretion.

The Withdrawal Date of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on October 3, 2025 has passed. Accordingly, Notes tendered on or prior to the Early Tender Date may not be withdrawn or revoked, and Notes tendered after the Early Tender Date and on or prior to the Expiration Date may not be withdrawn or revoked, except as required by applicable law.

On September 22, 2025, Embraer Finance successfully priced an offering of US$1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.400% senior unsecured notes due 2038 (the  New Notes ) and it is intended that the Notes to be purchased by the Offeror on the Early Settlement Date will be exchanged by the Offeror with Embraer Finance for a portion of the New Notes to be issued on or about October 9, 2025, by means of an exchange settlement agreement.

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, the Offeror will accept for purchase an aggregate principal amount of Notes that will not result in an Aggregate Purchase Price exceeding US$1,000,000,000 (subject to increase or decrease by the Offeror in its sole discretion, the  Maximum Tender Amount ). If the Offers are oversubscribed at the Expiration Date, the amount of a series of Notes that are accepted for purchase in the Offers on the Final Settlement Date will be based on the order of priority (the  Acceptance Priority Level ) for such series of Notes set forth in the table above, subject to the proration arrangements applicable to the Offers and as otherwise described in the Offer to Purchase. Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) on or prior to the Early Tender Date and accepted for purchase on the Early Settlement Date have priority over Notes tendered after the Early Tender Date.

Capitalized terms used in this press release but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given to them in the Offer to Purchase.

For More Information

The terms and conditions of the Offers are described in the Offer to Purchase, as further amended by this press release. Copies of the Offer to Purchase are available at www.dfking.com/embraer and by request to D.F. King & Co., Inc., the tender agent and information agent for the Offers (the  Tender and Information Agent ). Requests for copies of the Offer to Purchase should be directed to the Tender and Information Agent at +1 (800) 488-8095 (toll free) and +1 (646) 665-7701 (collect) or by e-mail to embraer@dfking.com.

The Offeror reserves the right, in its sole discretion, not to accept any additional tenders of Notes for any reason. The Offeror is making the Offers only in those jurisdictions where it is legal to do so.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is acting as dealer manager (the  Dealer Manager ) in connection with the Offers. The Dealer Manager can be contacted at its telephone numbers set forth on the back cover page of the Offer to Purchase with questions regarding the Offers.

Disclaimer

None of the Offeror, Embraer, the Dealer Manager, the Tender and Information Agent, the trustee for the Notes, or any of their respective affiliates, is making any recommendation as to whether holders should or should not tender any Notes in response to the Offers or expressing any opinion as to whether the terms of the Offers are fair to any holder. Holders of the Notes must make their own decision as to whether to tender any of their Notes and, if so, the principal amount of Notes to tender. Please refer to the Offer to Purchase, as further amended by this press release, for a description of the offer terms, conditions, disclaimers and other information applicable to the Offers.

The Offers are being made solely by means of the Offer to Purchase, as further amended by this press release. The Offers are not being made to holders of the Notes in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. In those jurisdictions where the securities, blue sky or other laws require any tender offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offers will be deemed to be made on behalf of Embraer by the Dealer Manager or one or more registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including those related to the Offers. Forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future, and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.

Embraer S.A.

Antonio Carlos Garcia

Head of Investor Relations

+55 (11) 3040-6874
Chicago, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global fertility services market was valued at US$ 35.9 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 80.1 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 9.4% during the forecast period 20252033.

Today, the United States solidifies its position as a primary engine of the global fertility services market, with procedural volumes that underscore a deep and sustained demand for treatment. The most recent SART Clinic Summary Report, published in 2024, provides a definitive measure of the industry's scale. Affiliated clinics reported an astounding total of 435,533 Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) cycles. A significant portion of these procedures, 141,857 cycles, were dedicated to egg or embryo banking. Such a large number for preservation cycles signals a fundamental shift in patient behavior towards proactive, long-term fertility management, expanding the market beyond immediate infertility treatment into life-planning services. Clinics subsequently performed a total of 198,965 embryo transfer cycles, representing the critical final stage for a vast number of patient journeys.

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The outcomes resulting from these procedures are a testament to the sector's increasing efficacy and its profound societal impact. The reported cycles culminated in 89,618 live births, which corresponds to the delivery of one or more infants. In total, the number of infants born from these cycles reached 94,943. A closer look at the cycle origins reveals the vital role of cryopreservation technology in achieving these results. While 104,116 cycles were initiated using fresh nondonor eggs, a larger cohort of 120,443 cycles was initiated using thawed nondonor eggs or embryos. The dominance of thawed cycles highlights the clinical maturity and patient trust in vitrification technologies, a cornerstone of the modern fertility services market.

Key Findings in Fertility services market

Market Forecast (2033) US$ 80.1 billion CAGR 9.4% Largest Region (2024) Europe (35%) By Offerings Assisted Reproductive Technology (72%) By End Users Fertility Clinics (67%) Top Drivers Technological integration of AI for superior embryo selection and personalization.

Expanding employer benefits are making expensive fertility treatments more accessible.

Growing acceptance and demand from non-traditional family structures. Top Trends A significant shift towards elective single embryo transfers for safety.

Increased focus on fertility preservation options like egg and sperm freezing.

The rapid growth of international fertility tourism seeking affordable care. Top Challenges High costs of treatment remain a significant barrier for many.

Complex and varied regulatory landscapes across different countries and states.

Ethical considerations surrounding genetic testing and emerging reproductive technologies.

The United Kingdom's Sophisticated and Rapidly Evolving Fertility Sector Offering Lucrative Opportunity

Across the Atlantic, the United Kingdoms fertility services market showcases a similarly robust growth trajectory, underpinned by a strong regulatory framework and high clinical standards. According to the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority (HFEA) report published in 2024, a substantial 78,183 IVF treatment cycles were recorded for UK patients. The trend toward fertility preservation is also firmly established, with the data showing 4,968 egg freezing (oocyte storage) cycles and a notable 12,017 sperm freezing (sperm storage) cycles. The infrastructure supporting this demand is extensive and well-monitored; as of 2024, the HFEA regulates over 100 licensed fertility clinics, ensuring a high standard of care and patient safety across the nation.

The UK fertility services market is also characterized by its advanced clinical practices and reliance on donor gametes to meet diverse patient needs. The data shows that a total of 3,742 egg donation cycles were performed for UK patients, fulfilling a critical need within the treatment landscape. The ultimate result of these comprehensive services was the birth of 21,398 babies from IVF treatment. A key indicator of the market's clinical sophistication is the widespread adoption of single embryo transfer protocols to minimize the risks associated with multiple births. A striking figure reveals that just 7% of transfers in patients under the age of 35 involved two embryos, a statistic that underscores a nationwide commitment to prioritizing the health of both mother and child.

Proactive Fertility Preservation Emerges as a Powerful and Defining Growth Vector

The proactive decision to freeze gametes and embryos for future use has transcended its origins in medical necessity to become a major societal trend and a key driver of the fertility services market. The scale of stored genetic material in the United Kingdom alone is immense. According to the HFEA, as of its latest data, 19,837 patients had eggs in storage. The number of patients with sperm in storage was more than double that figure, at 43,156. Most impressively, the number of patients with cryopreserved embryos in storage reached an extraordinary 111,288. These figures represent a massive, long-term patient base for fertility clinics and a significant recurring revenue stream from storage fees.

This trend is mirrored and amplified in the United States, where it is being actively supported by both government and corporate entities. A 2024 report confirmed that the U.S. Department of Defense's cryopreservation benefit program has now assisted over 4,000 service members in freezing their gametes. In the private sector, fertility services market benefits are a key tool for attracting talent. Progyny, a leading benefits provider, reported serving an expansive network of more than 460 large employer clients as of the first quarter of 2024. The economics of these services are substantial; the cost of a single egg-freezing cycle in the U.S. in 2024 is estimated to be between $6,000 and $10,000, exclusive of annual storage fees which themselves average between $500 and $1,000.

Genetic Testing Revolutionizes Embryo Selection and Clinical Outcomes

Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) represents one of the most significant technological advancements in the ART laboratory, fundamentally reshaping embryo selection protocols. Its adoption in the United States is widespread, demonstrating its integration as a standard of care in many clinics. The latest SART data shows that a remarkable 81,192 embryo transfer cycles involved PGT for Aneuploidy (PGT-A), a screening for chromosomal abnormalities. More specialized forms of testing are also being used at scale; the number of U.S. transfer cycles utilizing PGT for Monogenic/Single Gene Defects (PGT-M) was 2,714, while an additional 1,313 cycles utilized PGT for Structural Rearrangements (PGT-SR). In the UK, the adoption is also significant, with a total of 5,331 cycles of all PGT types performed, of which 4,008 cycles were specifically for PGT-A.

The rapid uptake of PGT in the fertility services market is fueled by a constant stream of validating research and technological innovation. In a prime example, a study published in the prestigious journal Human Reproduction in February 2024 provided new insights based on an analysis of the outcomes of 1,226 blastocysts that had undergone PGT-A. The synergy between science and technology is further exemplified by regulatory milestones. In early 2024, the U.S. FDA granted marketing authorization for a new artificial intelligence-based software specifically designed to aid embryologists in the critical task of selecting the most viable embryos for transfer. Such developments are set to further enhance the value proposition of PGT within the clinical workflow.

The Vast and Underserved Male Infertility services market Opportunity

While historically overshadowed by a focus on female factors, male infertility is now recognized as a critical and equal contributor to reproductive challenges, representing a vast and previously underserved segment of the fertility services market. The sheer volume of procedures directly addressing male factor issues is telling. A total of 213,222 ART cycles in the U.S. involved Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), a laboratory technique where a single sperm is injected directly into an egg, primarily developed to overcome male infertility. For more severe cases, surgical interventions are common, with the number of surgical sperm extraction procedures in the U.S. reaching 3,171. The use of donor sperm is another essential solution, with the UK reporting 1,939 treatment cycles using donated sperm.

The growing recognition of male infertility is creating new commercial and research avenues. Advanced diagnostics are becoming more accessible, with the upfront cost for a Sperm-DNA fragmentation test at a private London clinic in 2024 being approximately 495. Corporate activity is heating up; in a significant 2024 transaction, the prominent male fertility startup Legacy was acquired by the digital health company Ro. The scientific community remains highly engaged, as evidenced by a January 2024 research paper in the journal Andrology which presented analysis on semen parameters from a large cohort of 4,528 men. The direct-to-consumer market is also robust, where the cost to purchase a single vial of donor sperm from a major U.S. sperm bank in 2024 can range from $900 to $1,500 before shipping fees.

Corporate Consolidation and Investment Defining a Competitive Landscape

The global fertility services market is undergoing a phase of rapid consolidation and intense corporate activity, shaping a highly competitive and increasingly sophisticated landscape. Large clinic networks are expanding their footprint aggressively through acquisition and organic growth. As of 2024, The Prelude Network of fertility centers now comprises over 90 clinics across North America. Similarly, its major competitor, IVI-RMA Global, operates an extensive network of more than 80 clinics in 9 countries. The provider base in the United States alone is substantial, with the number of SART-affiliated fertility clinics exceeding 450 as of 2024, creating a fertile ground for further consolidation.

The financial currents driving the fertility services market are powerful. Key suppliers and device manufacturers are major players; Vitrolife, a global leader in ART devices and media, reported having approximately 1,200 employees globally in its 2023 annual report. Private equity is taking a keen interest, evidenced by a major 2024 transaction where KKR completed its acquisition of General Electric's fertility-focused ultrasound business. Publicly traded companies in the space are demonstrating strong financial performance; CooperSurgical's revenue surpassed an impressive 1 billion USD for its business segment in the 2023 fiscal year. Meanwhile, venture capital continues to fund innovation, with fertility startup Alife Health, which develops AI tools for IVF, announcing a new funding round of over $20 million in January 2024.

Economic Realities and Access Shaping the Global Patient Journey

The significant financial investment required for treatment remains a primary consideration for patients and a defining characteristic of the fertility services market. In the United States, the estimated out-of-pocket cost for a single IVF cycle in 2024 can range from $15,000 to $30,000. The cost of essential medication can add a further $3,000 to $7,000 to that total. In the United Kingdom, a single private IVF cycle in 2024 typically starts from 5,000, excluding medications. In contrast, popular European hubs like Spain offer more accessible pricing, with an IVF cycle in 2024 costing approximately 4,000 to 7,000. For the most complex patient journeys, such as those requiring a gestational carrier, the costs can be astronomical; a full surrogacy journey in the U.S. in 2024 can often exceed $150,000.

In response to these high costs, legislative and corporate actions are slowly expanding access to care in the fertility services market. As of 2024, 21 states in the U.S. have enacted laws that mandate some form of insurance coverage for fertility treatment, easing the financial burden for millions. Of those jurisdictions, 15 states have laws that specifically require coverage for IVF procedures. State-level legislative action continues to evolve. For instance, the state of Texas passed a bill in 2023, which became effective in 2024, improving insurance coverage requirements for iatrogenic infertility. The law mandates that some insurers cover fertility preservation for patients whose necessary medical treatments, like chemotherapy, are expected to cause infertility.

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Innovation and Regulation Steering the Future Trajectory of Growth

The future trajectory of the global fertility services market will be co-authored by relentless scientific innovation and the dynamic evolution of legal and regulatory frameworks. The pace of research is extraordinary. As of mid-2024, the U.S. National Institutes of Health's clinical trials registry lists over 300 active or recruiting trials related to In Vitro Fertilization. The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) announced that its 2024 annual meeting received approximately 2,000 scientific abstracts for presentation. Major studies are continuously refining clinical practice; a paper in The Lancet in 2024, which included 1,558 women, provided crucial new evidence on endometrial preparation for frozen embryo transfers. Innovation in 2024 also saw the development of an AI tool for sperm selection trained on over 20,000 images, promising research on non-invasive PGT involving hundreds of embryos, and breakthroughs in gene-editing with researchers correcting a mutation in mice embryos.

Simultaneously, governments and regulatory bodies in the fertility services market are adapting to these technological and societal shifts. In 2024, China's National Health Commission is actively working to increase the number of approved ART institutions to over 600 nationwide. Legal precedents are being set, as seen in a landmark 2024 High Court ruling in the UK that established a clinic's duty of care to screen a donor for a specific genetic condition. International legal frameworks are also being tested, with high court rulings in both France and Italy in 2024 addressing the complex recognition of children born via surrogacy abroad. Jurisdictions are updating their policies, with Singapore increasing the age limit for elective egg freezing to 38 in 2024 and Greece establishing a new upper age limit of 54 for women seeking ART. Amidst these changes, foundational ethical lines like the "14-day rule" for embryo research remain a key regulatory boundary, while influential bodies like the Vatican continue to shape ethical discourse, reaffirming opposition to surrogacy in its 2024 "Dignitas Infinita" declaration.

Global Fertility Services Market Major Players:

Apricity Fertility UK Limited

Aspire Fertility

Care Fertility

Cleveland Clinic

Dallas IVF

Europe IVF

Kings Fertility Limited

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER)

Midwest Fertility Specialists

Monash IVF Group

Virtus Health

PFCLA

Other Prominent Players

Key Market Segmentation:

By Offering

Fertility Drugs Anti-estrogen Gonadotropin Others

Assisted Reproductive Technology Artificial Insemination Surrogacy IVF Others



By End user

Clinical Research Institutes

Fertility Clinics

Hospitals

By Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa (MEA)

South America

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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.

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Singapore, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --







Paparazzi Token ($PAPARAZZI), a rapidly emerging Web3 project, has officially announced its mission to redefine how creators earn, connect, and own their content online. By merging blockchain-powered blogs, NFTs, and real-time community interaction, Paparazzi Token is building a decentralized ecosystem where creativity and ownership go hand in hand.

Built on the Polygon blockchain, the Paparazzi platform empowers creators to mint their blog posts as NFTs, trade them seamlessly on major marketplaces, and engage audiences through features like quizzes and chat , all without centralized intermediaries or high platform fees. The result: a transparent, user-owned content economy that challenges the traditional models of Web2 media.

Beyond Hype: The Vision Behind Paparazzi Token

In a landscape dominated by centralized platforms that profit from user data and restrict creative freedom, Paparazzi Token stands apart as a decentralized, censorship-resistant ecosystem. The platform enables users to create personal blogs, mint posts as NFTs, and engage with audiences through quizzes, chats, and interactive content.

Unlike Web2 models such as OnlyFans or Patreon, Paparazzi removes platform fees and gatekeepers, giving creators 100% ownership of their content and direct access to their communities.

Our goal is to build a fair and open creator economy where content ownership, privacy, and engagement are secured by blockchain, said the Paparazzi team. Were not just building another platform , were building a creator nation.

Early Traction and Growing Momentum

Since launch, Paparazzi Token has attracted strong community interest and exchange support.

Already listed on BingX and Gate.io, the project has seen consistent price growth and trading volume, signaling confidence from early adopters and investors. Community channels on Telegram and X (Twitter) continue to grow rapidly, reflecting a vibrant, global following.

Industry commentators describe Paparazzi Token as a convergence of the creator economy and digital assets , a project that blends social media, NFTs, and community governance in a single, cohesive ecosystem.

Roadmap: From Launch to Global Reach

Phase 1  Foundation (Q1 2025)

Platform development and community building, setting the groundwork for the $PAPARAZZI ecosystem.

Phase 2  Launch (Q2 2025)

Official platform release and token listings on major exchanges.

Phase 3  Partnerships (Q3 2025)

Strategic collaborations with creators, influencers, and Web3 brands to drive adoption.

Phase 4  Global Expansion (Q4 2025)

Worldwide marketing campaigns and brand initiatives to establish Paparazzi as a leading creative platform.

Phase 5  Innovation (Q1 2026)

Mobile app release and next-generation features that bring the full creator economy to users everywhere.

Community Engagement and Rewards

The Paparazzi community is the core driver of the ecosystem.

Ongoing initiatives include:

NFT & Content Competitions: Rewards for top creators and quiz participants.





Rewards for top creators and quiz participants. Holder Perks: Exclusive access to private content, early drops, and community votes.





Exclusive access to private content, early drops, and community votes. Cultural Campaigns: Collaborations with influencers, artists, and digital personalities.





Collaborations with influencers, artists, and digital personalities. Real-Time Chat & Quizzes: Designed to make interaction fun and profitable.





Through these programs, Paparazzi fosters a social, creative, and rewarding environment where engagement has tangible value.

How Paparazzi Token Stands Out

While many meme and utility tokens promise innovation without delivery, Paparazzi Token differentiates itself through:

Real utility  NFTs tied to actual blog content and creator earnings





 NFTs tied to actual blog content and creator earnings Web3-native infrastructure  Censorship-resistant and transparent





 Censorship-resistant and transparent Integrated engagement tools  Chat, quizzes, and NFT rankings





 Chat, quizzes, and NFT rankings Cross-chain and Web2 compatibility  Reaching a broader audience





 Reaching a broader audience Community-first governance  Empowering creators, not corporations



This blend of technology, usability, and creator empowerment positions Paparazzi Token as a true next-generation social platform in the Web3 era.

About Paparazzi Token

Paparazzi Token ($PAPARAZZI) is a Polygon-based digital asset powering the Paparazzi platform  a Web3 ecosystem where creators can write, publish, mint, and trade their content as NFTs. The projects mission is to democratize digital media ownership by giving users full control over their data, freedom of expression, and income potential.

Driven by a community-first ethos and guided by principles of transparency and decentralization, Paparazzi aims to become the premier destination for creator monetization in the blockchain age.

Official Links:

Website: https://paparazzitoken.io

Whitepaper: https://paparazzitoken.io/whitepaper

X (Twitter): https://x.com/paparazzitoken

Telegram: https://t.me/paparazzitoken

Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of capital. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. 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.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Onity Group Inc. (NYSE: ONIT) (Onity or the Company) today announced the appointment of Robert S. Welborn to its Board of Directors (Board), effective October 1, 2025.

We are very pleased to welcome Robert to the Onity Board, said Glen A. Messina, Chair, President and CEO of Onity. Robert brings deep domain knowledge and extensive experience in driving business insights, growth and transformation through the application of data science and analytics across various industries, including at Meta, General Motors, and USAA. His expertise will be invaluable as we continue to pursue our technology innovation agenda to deliver unparalleled performance and value for our customers while navigating an ever-evolving industry landscape. I look forward to working alongside Robert and our dedicated Board to continue executing on our strategic initiatives and maximizing value for our shareholders.

In addition, DeForest B. Soaries Jr. has notified the Board that he has decided not to stand for re-election at Onitys 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for May 20, 2026. Dr. Soaries will continue to serve on the Board until that time.

On behalf of the Board, I want to thank DeForest for his countless contributions to Onity since joining the Board in 2015, and for his leadership and guidance throughout the evolution of our Company, said Messina. We are deeply grateful for DeForests dedication, partnership, and unwavering commitment to our Company and shareholders. We wish him all the best in the future.

Robert S. Welborn Background

Mr. Welborn has served as a director of NOV Inc. (NYSE: NOV), an equipment and technology provider to the global energy industry, since 2021. From 2020 through 2024, Mr. Welborn served in leadership positions at Meta Inc., most recently as the Head of Data Science and prior to that as Head of Programs Data Science, Small Business Group. Before joining Meta Inc., he held various positions within General Motors Company between 2018 and 2020, including Global Chief Data and Analytics Officer. Between 2009 and 2017, Mr. Welborn served in several positions of increasing responsibility at USAA including Chief Data Scientist. Mr. Welborn holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Texas A&M University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of California, San Diego.

About Onity Group

Onity Group Inc. (NYSE: ONIT) is a leading non-bank financial services company providing mortgage servicing and originations solutions through its primary brands, PHH Mortgage and Liberty Reverse Mortgage. PHH Mortgage is one of the largest servicers in the country, focused on delivering a variety of servicing and lending programs to consumers and business clients. Liberty is one of the nations largest reverse mortgage lenders dedicated to providing loans that help customers meet their personal and financial needs. We are headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, with offices and operations in the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, India and the Philippines, and have been serving our customers since 1988. For additional information, please visit onitygroup.com.

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 may be identified by a reference to a future period or by the use of forward-looking terminology such as look forward to and references to goals, strategies, and agendas, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements relating to the expected contributions of our new director, advancing the Companys technology innovation agenda to deliver performance and value for our customers, executing on the Companys strategic initiatives, and maximizing shareholder value.

Forward-looking statements involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changes in market conditions, the industry in which Onity operates, and its business, the actions of governmental entities and regulators, developments in litigation matters, and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Onitys reports and filings with the SEC, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and subsequent reports. Anyone wishing to understand Onity Group Inc.s business should review its SEC filings. Onitys forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and Onity disclaims any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For Further Information Contact:

Investors:

Valerie Haertel, VP, Investor Relations

(561) 570-2969

shareholderrelations@onitygroup.com

Media:

Dico Akseraylian, SVP, Corporate Communications

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ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) ("Company" or "Kraig Labs"), a world leader in spider silk technology*, today announced that it is preparing to add a third production facility as part of its plans for rapid expansion of recombinant spider silk production.

Over the past 18 months, Kraig Labs has significantly advanced its production model, opening two rearing centers for recombinant spider silk production. The Company is now opening a third center to expand its capacity further.

The Company reports that it is now well underway in identifying a site for this new facility and anticipates finalizing a location within the next 60 days.

This new facility, like the Company's existing operations, will be established in one of the world's leading silk production regions. By situating operations within established silk-growing areas, the Company is able to leverage an experienced workforce, robust infrastructure, and a long-standing tradition of excellence in sericulture.

Kraig Labs' multi-facility strategy is designed to support continuous production. By building redundancies directly into the production chain, the Company has created a stronger and more resilient foundation to meet the current demand and growing market for its recombinant spider silk materials.

"We are looking now for the site of an additional rearing center in order to further expand our production capacity," said Kim Thompson, Kraig Labs' founder and CEO. "We expect to lock in the site within the next 60 days. The goal is to further increase our capacity while building in resilience."

The addition of this new rearing center represents another milestone in Kraig Labs' expansion of its production capacity and its plans to bring the performance and sustainability benefits of recombinant spider silk to global markets.

For the latest updates on Kraig Labs and its pioneering spider silk technologies, visit www.kraiglabs.com.

For details about other recent Kraig Labs advancements, please watch the Company's investor conference at www.kraiglabs.com/videos or on the Company's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@kraigbiocraftlaboratories2270.

To view the most recent news from Kraig Labs and/or to sign up for Company alerts, please go to www.KraigLabs.com/news

* For a description of our historical leadership in this technology, please follow this link https://www.kraiglabs.com/world-leader/

About Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc.

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. ( www.KraigLabs.com ), a reporting biotechnology company is the leading developer of genetically engineered spider silk-based fiber technologies.

The Company has achieved a series of scientific breakthroughs in the area of spider silk technology with implications for the global textile industry.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

Statements in this press release about the Company's future and expectations other than historical facts are "forward-looking statements." These statements are made on the basis of management's current views and assumptions. As a result, there can be no assurance that management's expectations will necessarily come to pass. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as "believes," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "foresees," "estimated," "hopes," "if," "develops," "researching," "research," "pilot," "potential," "could" or other words or phrases of similar import. Forward looking statements include descriptions of the Company's business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions and goals. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security.
TORONTO, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NorthWest Copper (NorthWest or the Company) (TSX-V: NWST) is pleased to announce assay results from the first hole of its 2025 Kwanika diamond drilling program, including the Kwanika Central and Western Zones. This first hole intersected higher-grade mineralization over significant widths, consistent with expectations. The 2025 program at Kwanika has been planned to complete drill holes to confirm and expand the higher-grade target model announced on April 10, 20251. Highlights from the first drill hole at Kwanika include:



Central Zone Highlights:

K-25-269: 44.0 metres of 0.66 % Cu, 2.81 g/t Au from 198.0 metres downhole, including: 31.8 metres of 0.66 % Cu , 3.14 g/t Au from 200.0 metres downhole; and 5.7 metres of 0.99 % Cu, 3.66 g/t Au from 234.8 metres downhole

44.0 metres of from 198.0 metres downhole, including: K-25-269: 12.0 metres of 1.01 % Cu, 0.41 g/t Au from 246.0 metres downhole

Paul Olmsted, CEO of NorthWest, stated: This is the first result from our 2025 Kwanika drill program, which includes a planned 5,135 metres across 17 drill holes. Based on results from our first hole, we are excited that the higher-grade mineralization over significant widths was intersected where predicted by our target model and speaks to the quality of this system. This quality, when combined with our efforts to improve metallurgical recoveries, particularly for gold, have the potential to enhance Kwanika project economics versus those presented in the 2023 PEA2. We are very encouraged by these results and look forward to reporting additional drill results from the remainder of our 2025 program.

Geoff Chinn, VP Business Development and Exploration of NorthWest, stated: We are very pleased to announce initial results are strongly aligned with our conceptual higher-grade target model. The model is beginning to show the merits of using gold grades to identify internal structural geological controls on higher-grade zones to potentially enhance the quality of the mineral resource. Results from this first hole indicate an exciting combined true width of 32.1 m within the Central Zone. The Central Zone grades and widths are significant and support our optimism for eventual economic extraction using a more selective bulk underground mining method than the block cave presented in the 2023 PEA.

Mr. Chinn, further stated that, Within the Western Zone, we successfully intersected two mineralized structures as predicted, and while they were thinner due to the late dykes encountered, we are confident additional drilling will determine their orientation so that we can better define the mineralized zone.

Kwanika Deposit

Kwanika and the adjacent Stardust project are the flagship assets at NorthWest. The main goal of the current Kwanika diamond drill program is to inform an updated mineral resource estimate and support a revised mine design based on a surface pit and an underground bulk mining method.

The conceptual higher-grade target model divides the Kwanika Deposit into three zones, which are believed to be connected. These zones typically host two wider mineralized intervals separated by dykes. The three zones are summarized below:

Pit Zone: A broad low-grade mineralized volume containing higher grade zones trending east-west and steeply dipping. One higher grade zone is characterized by in-situ quartz breccia and stockwork hosted in potassium feldspar alteration (logged as monzonite) while the other higher-grade zones is typically sheared monzonite overprinted by sericite-pyrite alteration. Between higher grade zones low-grade mineralization is associated with finely disseminated sulphides.



A broad low-grade mineralized volume containing higher grade zones trending east-west and steeply dipping. One higher grade zone is characterized by in-situ quartz breccia and stockwork hosted in potassium feldspar alteration (logged as monzonite) while the other higher-grade zones is typically sheared monzonite overprinted by sericite-pyrite alteration. Between higher grade zones low-grade mineralization is associated with finely disseminated sulphides. Central Zone: Represents two north-south trending, moderately steep east dipping zones. One is characterized by in-situ quartz stockwork hosted in monzonite and the other being a variably faulted and sheared zone of tectonically dismembered quartz stockwork hosted in monzonite overprinted by moderate to strong sericite-pyrite alteration. Commonly the two mineralized zones are separated by variably altered late dykes.



Represents two north-south trending, moderately steep east dipping zones. One is characterized by in-situ quartz stockwork hosted in monzonite and the other being a variably faulted and sheared zone of tectonically dismembered quartz stockwork hosted in monzonite overprinted by moderate to strong sericite-pyrite alteration. Commonly the two mineralized zones are separated by variably altered late dykes. Western Zone: A deeper east-west trending, moderately north dipping zone characterized by in-situ quartz stockwork hosted in monzonite overprinted by weaker overprinting sericite-pyrite alteration. Often a second mineralized zone occurs separated from the first by variably altered late dykes.



Kwanika Nearby Targets

In addition to the Central Deposit area, the current diamond drill program is planning to test nearby targets with the goal of exploring for new discoveries, including:

Transfer Target: Located approximately 300 metres south of the Kwanika Deposit. This target represents a near surface IP chargeability proximal to favourable alteration and discontinuous anomalous gold values identified from previous drilling.



Located approximately 300 metres south of the Kwanika Deposit. This target represents a near surface IP chargeability proximal to favourable alteration and discontinuous anomalous gold values identified from previous drilling. Andesite Breccia: Located 600 metres north of the Kwanika Deposit with 350 metres in one hole. The 2025 program is to follow-up a historic drill intercept of 87.0 metres at 0.38% Cu & 0.06 g/t Au from 102.4 metres hosted in an andesitic tectonic breccia3.



Drill Results Discussion

Drill holes from the 2025 diamond drill program are designed to intersect both the east dipping Central Zone and the north dipping Western Zone beneath it to validate, infill and expand our knowledge of the higher-grade zones. A significant amount of historical drilling was oriented at low angles to the dip of the interpreted higher-grade mineralized structures, making it difficult to model location and widths accurately.

The collar location and continuous mineralized intercepts are presented in Table 1 and Table 2 below. Locations of the planned 2025 holes can also be reviewed in the news release dated September 2, 2025.

Drill hole K-25-269 was designed as a higher-angle intercept infill hole. Drilling first into the Central Zone and then into the Western Zone beneath it, its purpose was to clarify the location and true widths in an area poorly defined by low-angle intercepts. As predicted by the target model, the drill hole intersected multiple potassic feldspar altered monzonite crosscut by quartz stockwork or sheared/dismembered stockwork hosting mineralized intervals separated by late dykes. Grades of each intercept are reported in Table 1 and include an estimate of true width to account for drilling and zone geometries. A cut-off grade of approximately 0.7g/t Au at minimum true width of 5 m was used to guide intercept reporting. In addition to the Central and Western Zones, the drill hole also intersected a hematized native copper bearing zone just under the Cretaceous sediments with gold grades between 1 g/t and 2 g/t that will be further defined as part of the program.

Table 1: Drill Results From This News Release4 5

Hole From To Length Zone Cu Au Ag CuEq True Width Description (m) (m) (m) (%) (g/t) (g/t) (%) Est. (m) K-25-269 103.8 120.0 16.3 Native Cu 0.32 1.36 5.14 1.58 9.3 Angular sedimentary breccia with hematite alteration and native copper Including 103.8 112.0 8.3 Native Cu 0.39 1.84 4.96 2.08 4.7 And 116.0 120.0 4.0 Native Cu 0.17 1.30 5.60 1.38 2.3 K-25-269 136.0 144.0 8.0 Central 0.66 1.79 15.58 2.41 4.6 Potassic feldspar altered "monzonite" with overprinting sericite alteration with grey-black thin vein/facture fillings with chalcopyrite and possibly chalcocite K-25-269 177 187 10.0 Central 0.86 0.26 2.50 1.11 5.7 Pervasive potassic feldspar alteration "monzonite" crosscut by quartz stockwork with chalcopyrite and bornite, overprinted by sericite alteration K-25-269 198.0 242.0 44.0 Central 0.66 2.81 2.52 3.18 25.2 Pervasive potassic feldspar alteration "monzonite", locally feldspar phyric, crosscut by quartz stockwork with chalcopyrite Including 200.0 231.7 31.8 Central 0.66 3.14 2.43 3.48 18.2 And 234.8 240.5 5.7 Central 0.99 3.66 4.14 4.28 3.3 K-25-269 246.0 258 12.0 Central 1.01 0.41 3.57 1.41 6.9 Medium grained porphyritic monzonite with moderate hematite, weak potassic and sericite alteration crosscut by quartz stockwork and dismembered zone of early quartz veins (internally brecciated) includes pyrite and chalcopyrite K-25-269 360 368 8.0 Western 0.47 0.62 2.23 1.05 5.5 Medium grained monzonite with strong chlorite, weak-moderate potassic, weak sericite and weak fracture filled hematite alteration crosscut by quartz stockwork, locally brecciated sulfides and quartz veins K-25-269 448 454 6.0 Western 0.14 0.58 0.63 0.65 4.1 Chaotic potassic-sericite-hematite altered tectonic breccia containing dismembered quartz vein/stockwork with chalcopyrite

Table 2: Drill Collar Information From This Release6

Hole Collar X Collar Y Collar Z Collar Azimuth Collar Dip Final Length K-25-269 351572 6156523 985 0 -90 501

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Drilling at Kwanika in 2025 was designed and supervised by NorthWest, implemented by InData Geoscience with assay QA/QC checks by ExploreGeosolutions. Samples were collected, tracked and an external QA/QC program was implemented using blanks and standards to monitor analytical accuracy and precision. The samples were sealed on site and shipped to Activation Laboratories Ltd. (Actlabs) in Kamloops BC. The laboratorys internal quality control system complies with global certifications for quality ISO 17025. Drill core samples were analyzed using a combination of Actlabs multi-element 1F2 analysis for low level concentrations (4-Acid Digestion, ICP-OES) and the 8-4 Acid ICP-OES analysis for higher level concentrations (4-Acid Digestion, ICP-OES with automatic over limits for base metals and silver). Gold, platinum and palladium assaying was completed with 1C-OES method, using a 30-gram fire assay with ICP finish analysis. In addition, about 5% of the sample pulps are re-assayed at a secondary laboratory to confirm reproducibility and check for bias.

Technical aspects of this news release have been reviewed, verified, and approved by Geoff Chinn, P.Geo., VP Business Development and Exploration for NorthWest, who is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Minerals Projects.

About NorthWest:

NorthWest is a copper-gold exploration and development company with a pipeline of advanced and early-stage projects in British Columbia, including Kwanika-Stardust, Lorraine-Top Cat and East Niv. With a robust portfolio in a tier one jurisdiction, NorthWest is well positioned to participate fully in a strengthening global copper market. We are committed to responsible mineral exploration which involves working collaboratively with First Nations to ensure future development incorporates stewardship best practices and traditional land use. Additional information can be found on the Companys website at www.northwestcopper.ca.

On Behalf of NorthWest

Paul Olmsted

CEO, NorthWest Copper

For further information, please contact:

416-457-3333

info@northwestcopper.ca

Neither the TSXV 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

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussion with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always using phrases such as plans, expects, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, or believes or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to statements with respect to; plans and intentions of the Company; proposed exploration and development of NorthWests exploration property interests; the Companys ability to finance future operations; mine plans; magnitude or quality of mineral deposits; the development, operational and economic results of current and future potential economic studies; adding the Lorraine resource to the Kwanika-Stardust Project; the Companys goals for 2025; geological interpretations; the estimation of Mineral Resources; anticipated advancement of mineral properties or programs; future exploration prospects; the completion and timing of technical reports; future growth potential of NorthWest; and future development plans

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, constitutes forward-looking information. Although NorthWest believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information since NorthWest can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in NorthWests periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. Forward-looking information are subject to business and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results of operations to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from NorthWests expectations include risks associated with the business of NorthWest; risks related to reliance on technical information provided by NorthWest; risks related to exploration and potential development of the Companys mineral properties; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; the need for cooperation of government agencies and First Nation groups in the exploration and development of properties and the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time and additional risks identified in NorthWests filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ in Canada (available at www.sedarplus.com).

Forward-looking information is based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the information is made. NorthWest does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

_________________

1 See news release dated April 10, 2025, entitled NorthWest Announces Target Model at Kwanika with Higher-Grade Zones over Significant Thicknesses to Support New Strategic Approach

2 See NI 43-101 technical report titled Kwanika-Stardust Project NI 43-101 Technical Report on Preliminary Economic Assessment dated February 17, 2023, with an effective date of January 4, 2023, filed under the Companys SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.com.

3 News Release, NorthWest Copper Provides Update on Exploration Plans, November 7, 2023

4 Estimated true widths based on collar azimuth and dip and the average dip of the mineralized zone

5 CuEq assumes consensus metal prices of $2646/oz gold, $4.34/lbs copper, $29.73/oz silver calculated as follows [Cu+100*((Au/31.1035*Au Price)/(Cu Price*2204.62)+(Ag/31.1035*Ag Price)/(Cu Price*2204.62))]

6 Collar coordinates reference UTM Zone 10N NAD83
TORONTO, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- White Gold Corp. (TSX.V: WGO, OTCQX: WHGOF, FRA: 29W) (the Company) is pleased to announce the filing of an updated National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) technical report for its White Gold Project, located in Yukon, Canada. The updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) includes the Golden Saddle, Arc, Ryans Surprise, and VG deposits, and has an effective date of August 19, 2025. The report titled 2025 Technical Report for the White Gold Project, Dawson Range, Yukon, Canada was prepared by Dr. Gilles Arseneau, P.Geo., of Arsenau Consulting Services Inc., an independent Qualified Person under NI 43-101. The technical report is available on SEDAR+ (https://www.sedarplus.ca/).

The updated Mineral Resource Estimate continues to demonstrate the size, quality, and growth potential of the Companys flagship project. The new modelling of the Golden Saddle and Arc deposits showcase improved geological continuity, stronger grade distribution, and optimized pit designs that collectively enhance overall project economic potential. This significant advancement further positions the project as a large gold resource in both size and grade in an top ranked global mining jurisdiction, with substantial opportunity for additional growth.

The gold resources at the White Gold Project are near surface, almost entirely captured within open pits, and remain open for expansion in multiple directions with further opportunities to increase total resources also existing via additional targets within close proximity (Figure 4). The 2025 exploration program (Figure 5 & 6) has been designed to deliver continued increases to the size of the resource and to advance technical understanding in support of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA). These results form part of the Companys work program supported by strategic partners including Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (TSX: AEM, NYSE: AEM).

"The updated MRE on our flagship White Gold Project represents another key development for the continued growth and advancement of our resources, which now ranks as one of the highest-grade undeveloped open pittable gold deposits in Canada. Significant opportunities exist to continue to expand the resource size through further drilling on the resource itself, nearby targets, continued optimization of the resource block model and the Target for Further Exploration area which has seen limited exploration to date. We look forward to continuing to demonstrate the gold and critical mineral endowment of our prospective district scale land package in a top jurisdiction which has such a rich history and geological prospectivity," stated David D'Onofrio, Chief Executive Officer.

This updated Mineral Resource Estimate represents the first step in a staircase of opportunity to continue unlocking value across our flagship deposits, stated Dylan Langille, Vice President of Exploration. Were extremely encouraged by the results of this update and the momentum it brings as we execute an exciting 2025 exploration season. With a significantly expanded exploration program ahead of us, we look forward to building on this foundation by further advancing and growing our existing deposits while continuing to test new high-potential targets across our district-scale land package, on our plethora of gold and critical mineral opportunities, said Dylan Langille, Vice President of Exploration.

The White Gold Project is located approximately 95 km south of Dawson City in west-central Yukon, Canada (Figure 1) and is located 33 km north from the advanced Coffee project owned by Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM, TSX: NGT), which Newmont has entered into an agreement to sell to Fuerte Metals Corporation (TSXV: FMT, OTCQB: FUEMF) with Indicated Resources of 2.96 Moz within 80Mt at 1.15 g/t Au, and Inferred Resources of 0.8 Moz within 21Mt at 1.17 g/t Au(2)(3) and 58 km northwest of Western Copper and Gold Corporations (TSX: WRN, NYSE: WRN), Casino project which has Measured and Indicated Resources of 2,490.7 Mt grading 0.18 g/t Au, 0.14% Cu for 14.8 million ounces of gold and 7.6 billion pounds of copper, and Inferred Resources of 1.4 Mt grading 0.14 g/t Au, 0.14% Cu for 6.3 million ounces of gold and 3.1 billion pounds of copper(4)(3).

Highlights

Updated White Gold Project MRE includes four gold deposits  Golden Saddle, Arc, Ryans Surprise and VG all located within close proximity:

Updated MRE follows recent remodelling at the Golden Saddle and Arc deposits, which involved a reinterpretation of the zones allowing for greater continuity of mineralization to be identified (Figure 2 & 3).

1,732,300 ounces of gold in Indicated Resources within 35.2 million tonnes grading 1.53 g/t Au, representing 57.8% of total resources.

1,265,900 ounces of gold in Inferred Resources within 32.2 million tonnes grading 1.22 g/t Au, representing 42.2% of total resources.

Golden Saddle Main Zone hosts a consistent high-grade core containing 1,100,000 oz Indicated (12.3 Mt @ 2.84 g/t Au) and 93,000 oz Inferred (1.4 Mt @ 2.03 g/t Au) at a 1.0 g/t cut-off. At a 3.0 g/t cut-off, this core contains 695,000 oz Indicated (4.4 Mt @ 4.88 g/t Au) and 35,000 oz Inferred (269 kt @ 4.07 g/t Au), underscoring the robust grade profile of the deposit.

Indicated and Inferred Resources have increased by 44% and 13.43% respectively, compared to the previous 2024 MRE (1) .

. 99% of the resources are near surface and contained within open pit mine designs.

Mineralization at the Golden Saddle, Arc, Ryans Surprise and VG deposits remain open along strike and down dip to further expand the deposits, in addition to multiple underexplored targets in close proximity.

Exploration results from the Companys exploration program on its district scale portfolio focused on its gold and critical mineral projects to be released in due course.

Maps and images accompanying this news release can be found at http://whitegoldcorp.ca/investors/exploration-highlights/.

The updated mineral resource includes a significant increase in total gold ounces, highlighted by a 44% increase in Indicated resources and a 13% increase in Inferred resources compared to the Companys previous estimate (see Company News Release dated January 6, 2025). The White Gold Project now comprises 1,732,300 ounces of gold in the Indicated category (35.2 million tonnes averaging 1.53 g/t Au) and 1,265,900 ounces in the Inferred category (32.3 million tonnes averaging 1.22 g/t Au), based on open pit and underground resource estimates. The gold resources are near-surface and almost entirely captured within open pit shells, with underground resources representing high-grade zones at depth. All deposits remain open along strike and at depth, with multiple targets in close proximity offering additional potential for resource growth. Furthermore, the Company continues to evaluate opportunities for additional ounces within the Target for Further Exploration (TFFE) area, which is estimated to host between 10 to 12 million tonnes grading 1 to 2 g/t Au.

Mineral Resource Estimate Details

Table 1. White Gold Project, Yukon Territory, Mineral Resource Statement, ACS August 19, 2025.

Area Type Classification Cut-off

(g/t) Tonnes

(000) Grade

(g/t) Contained

Gold (oz) Golden Saddle

Open Pit

Indicated 0.3

31,030 1.62 1,614,400 Inferred 7,841 1.07 268,700 Underground



Indicated 2.3

23 2.89 2,100 Inferred 105 3.19 10,800 Arc

Open Pit



Indicated 0.3

4113 0.88 115,800 Inferred 12,246 1.01 397,000 Ryan

Open Pit Inferred 0.3 5,693 1.53 280,300 Underground Inferred 2.3 127 3.19 13,100 QV Open Pit Inferred 0.3 6,285 1.46 296,000 All Deposits Open Pit Indicated 0.3

35,143 1.53 1,730,200 All Deposits Open Pit Inferred 32,065 1.20 1,242,000 All Deposits Underground Indicated 2.3

23 2.84 2,100 All Deposits Underground Inferred 232 3.20 23,900 All Deposits Total Indicated 35,166 1.53 1,732,300 All Deposits Total Inferred 32,297 1.22 1,265,900





Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves have not demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could be upgraded to an Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration. The Mineral Resources in this report were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by the CIM Council. Open pittable resources are constrained by GEOVIA Whittle optimized pit shells using a 0.3 g/t Au cut-of grade and are considered to have reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction, assuming a gold price of US$2,250 per ounce, a C$:US$ exchange rate of 0.70, an open pit mining cost of CDN$3.25 per tonne, a processing and G&A cost of CDN$27.50 per tonne milled, and gold recoveries of 92% for Golden Saddle, and VG, along with 85% for Arc and Ryans Surprise. Underground resources assume a mining cost of CDN$120/tonne. The following bulk density values for mineralized material were used: Golden Saddle (2.62  2.65 t/m3), Arc (2.55 t/m3), Ryans Surprise (2.63 t/m3) and VG (2.65 t/m3). High-grade gold assay values have been capped as follows: Golden Saddle and Arc (8  18 g/t Au), Ryans Surprise (9 g/t Au) and VG (3  10 g/t Au). The Statement of Estimates of Mineral Resources has been compiled by Mr. Gilles Arseneau, Ph.D., P.Geo, of ARSENEAU Consulting Services (ACS). Mr. Arseneau has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralization and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity that he has undertaken to qualify as a Qualified Person as defined in the CIM Standards of Disclosure. All numbers are rounded. Overall numbers may not be exact due to rounding.



The current MRE for the White Gold project was carried out by Arseneau Consulting Services (ACS) of Vancouver, B.C. and is reported in accordance with the guidelines of the Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and has been estimated in conformity with generally accepted Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Estimation and Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Best Practices guidelines. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

The MRE presents updated estimates for the Golden Saddle, Arc, Ryans Surprise and VG deposits.

The basis for the updated MRE at the Golden Saddle and Arc deposits was a re-interpretation which allowed wireframes to enclose mineralized zones with composited assays greater than 0.20 grams per tonne gold. Historical modeling encompassed gold intersections with assays greater than 0.4 g/t gold. The wireframes are therefore grade shells guided by the geology. Wireframes were constructed by White Gold using Leapfrog Geo. All wireframes were verified, validated and accepted by the QP.

The updated MRE was prepared using a block model approach using ordinary kriging interpolation for the Golden Saddle, Arc and VG deposits and inverse distance squared (ID2) interpolation for the Ryans Surprise deposit. Block model sizes varied between deposits as follows: Golden Saddle and Arc (10 m); Ryans Surprise (5  10 m); and VG (10  20 m). GEMS 6.8.4 software was used for generating gold mineralization solids, a topography surface, and resource estimation. Statistical analysis and resource validations were performed using non-commercial software and with Sage2001. Near surface resources were constrained using GEOVIA Whittle pit optimization software. Pit slopes in rock were assumed at 50 and the MRE assumes a long-term gold price of US$2,250 per ounce. Gold recoveries used were 92% for the Golden Saddle and VG deposits, and 85% for the Arc and Ryans Surprise deposits. Gold recoveries are based on metallurgical test work results for the Golden Saddle and Arc deposits and are assumed for the Ryans Surprise and VG deposits based on their close similarities to the Arc and Golden Saddle deposits, respectively.

2025 Exploration Programs and Growth Potential

Further significant expansion potential has been identified and is being advanced through the Companys 2025 Exploration Program (see Company press release dated August 6, 2025). This program is specifically designed to build on the positive momentum of the updated resource estimate by targeting areas of untested or underexplored mineralization and advancing technical studies in support of a future PEA.

Golden Saddle

2025 diamond drilling at Golden Saddle will target a high-grade footwall breccia zone first intersected in historic drilling. While previous drilling confirmed the presence of this mineralization, it has not been systematically explored. Planned drilling will also test the hanging wall, where historic drill holes encountered mineralization that remains unsampled, offering an additional cost-effective opportunity to add near-surface ounces.

Arc

At Arc, drilling will focus on testing the down-dip extension of mineralized zones with the dual purpose of expanding the current resource and providing fresh material for metallurgical test work programs. This work will help refine recovery assumptions and contribute to the economic studies required for a PEA.

Relogging & Resampling Program

In parallel, a systematic relogging and assaying program is underway on historical drill core. This initiative is targeting previously unsampled quartz-carbonate veinbearing intervals in both the footwall and hanging wall host rocks adjacent to known mineralized domains. These efforts are intended to cost-effectively capture additional mineralization that was not included in prior models, further strengthening the resource base.

White Gold Project Resource Details

Golden Saddle Deposit

The Golden Saddle deposit is located 95 km south of Dawson City on the Companys White Gold property, which is supported by the fully operational Thistle exploration camp with airstrip and barge access, and up to 100-person capacity. The deposit consists of the GS Main, GS Footwall and GS West zones and together the zones define mineralization over a 1,500 m strike length and up to 725 m down dip. Currently, the GS Main is the most significant zone in terms of estimated ounces and overall grade; containing approximately 95% of the Indicated ounces within the overall Golden Saddle deposit. GS Main Zone which contains a consistent high-grade core of 12.3 million tonnes grading 2.84 g/t representing 1,100,000 ounces in the Indicated category and 1.4 million tonnes grading 2.03 g/t for 93,000 ounces in the inferred category at a 1.0 g/t cut-off. At a 3.0 g/t cut-off, the high-grade core contains 4.4 million tonnes grading 4.88 g/t for 695,000 ounces in the indicated category and 269,000 tonnes grading 4.07 g/t for 35,000 ounces in the inferred category. Gold mineralization at the Golden Saddle deposit is hosted in a meta-volcanic and meta-intrusive assemblage broadly consisting of felsic orthogneiss, amphibolite, and ultramafic units. Gold generally occurs as micron-scale blebs along fractures or encapsulated by pyrite, and as visible gold (less than 5 mm in size) located as free grains in quartz. Mineralization is present in quartz veins and stockwork or breccia with disseminated pyrite. Drill hole intersected gold mineralization is spatially co-incident with structures, and structures or faults which are interpreted to be the primary conduits for hydrothermal fluids responsible for gold deposition. The thicknesses of the mineralization and breccia zones are variable from 5 m to over 50 m, and they pinch and swell along strike. A consistent higher-grade core (> 3 g/t Au) occurs within the main zone at Golden Saddle. Gold mineralization at the Golden Saddle deposit remains open in all directions and is known to extend beyond the limits of the current resource estimate, however, the mineralization in these areas does not currently meet the criteria to be classified as Mineral Resources.

Arc Deposit

The Arc deposit is located approximately 400 m south of the Golden Saddle and consists of two zones, the Arc Main and Arc Footwall zones, both trending E-NE and dipping to the north at approximately 50 degrees. Mineralization at the Arc has been defined over 1,200 m in strike length and up to 450 m down dip with mineralization open along strike and down dip. Gold mineralization at the Arc deposit is less well understood than the Golden Saddle, which is partially a function of drilling at the Arc deposit being more widely spaced. Gold mineralization is hosted within a meta-sedimentary sequence dominated by banded (graphitic) quartzite and interbedded pelitic biotite schist that is cross-cut by numerous felsic to intermediate dikes and sills.

Gold mineralization appears to be focused within breccia and shear zones that have been affected by hydrothermal alteration and sulphide mineralization. Drilling has defined an upper main zone as well as a lower footwall zone of anomalous gold but of lesser tenure than the main upper zone. Mineralization remains open to the east, west and at depth. The occurrence of gold at Arc is not well understood but appears to be associated with disseminated and veined pyrite, arsenopyrite and graphite.

Ryans Surprise Deposit

Ryans Surprise is located 1.5 km west of the Golden Saddle deposit, along a 6.5 km long x 1 km wide north-northwest trend of anomalous gold and arsenic in soils (Ryans Trend), which also hosts several other prospective early-stage targets in close proximity with significant surface gold mineralization and represent further potential for expansion of this project. Gold mineralization at the Ryans Surprise deposit is primarily hosted within a meta-sedimentary sequence dominated by banded (graphitic) quartzite and interbedded pelitic biotite schist cross-cut by numerous felsic  intermediate dikes and sills.

Gold mineralization appears to be focused within breccia and shear zones that have been affected by hydrothermal alteration and sulphide mineralization. Recent drilling has defined multiple subparallel zones that are host to gold-bearing sulphide mineralization including arsenopyrite and pyrite, and range in true width from < 1 m to in some instances, > 10 m. The mineralization footprint at the Ryans Surprise deposit measures approximately 550 m north-south by 500 m east-west to a vertical depth of 650 m remains open along strike and at depth. Metallurgical work, gold characterization and deportment studies are required to further determine accurate gold recoveries. However, host rocks, alteration and sulphide mineralization at Ryans Surprise display many similarities to the Arc Deposit.

VG Deposit

The VG deposit is located approximately 85km south of Dawson City and 11km north of the Golden Saddle deposit. Gold mineralization at the VG deposit is hosted in quartz  carbonate veins, stockwork and breccia zones, and pyrite veinlets, including cubic pyrite and visible gold, associated with intense-quartz-carbonate-sericite alteration, pervasive K-spar and hematite emplaced along en-echelon faults or shear zones. Visually, the style of gold mineralization and alteration appears identical to the Golden Saddle deposit, along with similar dominant host rocks of biotite-feldspar ( augen)-quartz gneisses. To date, no metallurgical testwork has been performed on the VG mineralization, however given its close similarities to Golden Saddle, gold recoveries are assumed to be similar. Opportunities exist at the VG deposit to quickly upgrade a significant portion of Inferred Resources to Indicated, as well as for expansion of gold mineralization at depth and along strike. There are also several other prospective targets on the property which have received limited exploration work and offer potential for additional discoveries.

Qualified Persons, Technical Information and Quality Control

The MRE for the White Gold Project was prepared by Dr. Gilles Arseneau of Arseneau Consulting Services (ACS), an Independent Qualified Person (QP) as defined under NI 43-101, who has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release. The technical content of this news release has also been reviewed and approved by Steven Walsh, P.Geo. and Senior Exploration Geologist for the Company who is also a QP as defined under NI 43-101  Standards of Disclosure of Mineral Projects.

QA/QC

White Golds drill core sampling consisted of collecting samples over 0.50 m to 2.50 m intervals (depending on lithology and style of mineralization) over the entire hole length. RC samples were collected at continuous 1.5 m intervals. All drill core was cut in half using a diamond saw, with half of the core placed in sample bags and the other half returned to the core box. Standard, blank, and duplicate samples were inserted into both the drill core and RC sample streams at regular intervals to meet a designated QA/QC sample insertion rate. All samples were organized into batches, flown via fixed-wing aircraft from camp, and transported via courier to an ISO-certified laboratory for analysis.

About White Gold Corp.

The Company owns a portfolio of 15,364 quartz claims across 21 properties covering 305,102 hectares (3,051 km2) representing approximately 40% of the Yukons emerging White Gold District. The Companys flagship White Gold project hosts four near-surface gold deposits which collectively contain an estimated 1,732,300 ounces of gold in Indicated Resources and 1,265,900 ounces of gold in Inferred Resources (this news release). Regional exploration work has also produced several other new discoveries and prospective targets on the Companys claim packages which border sizable gold discoveries including the Coffee project owned by Newmont Corporation with Measured and Indicated Resources of 50.2 Mt grading 1.28 g/t Au for 2.17 million ounces of gold, and Inferred Resources of 6.7 Mt grading 1.14 g/t Au for 0.23 million ounces gold(2)(3), and Western Copper and Gold Corporations Casino project which has Measured and Indicated Resources of 2,490.7 Mt grading 0.18 g/t Au, 0.14% Cu for 14.8 million ounces of gold and 7.6 billion pounds of copper, and Inferred Resources of 1.4 Mt grading 0.14 g/t Au, 0.14% Cu for 6.3 million ounces of gold and 3.1 billion pounds of copper(4)(3). For more information visit www.whitegoldcorp.ca.

(1) A technical report to support the MRE for the White Gold project, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, has been filed on SEDAR+ (https://www.sedarplus.ca/) and the Companys website (https://www.whitegoldcorp.ca/).

(2) See Fuerte metals press release titled Fuerte Announces Transformational Acquisition of the Coffee Project from Newmont Corporation dated September 15, 2025.

(3) The QP has been unable to verify the information. The information is not necessarily indicative to the mineralization on the properties that are subject of the disclosure.

(4) See Western Copper and Gold Corporation technical report titled Casino project, Form 43-101F1 Technical Report Feasibility Study, Yukon Canada, Effective Date June 13, 2022, Issue Date August 8, 2022, NI 43-101 Compliant Technical Report prepared by Daniel Roth, PE, P.Eng., Mike Hester, F Aus IMM, John M. Marek, P.E., Laurie M. Tahija, MMSA-QP, Carl Schulze, P.Geo., Daniel Friedman, P.Eng., Scott Weston, P.Geo., available on SEDAR+.

(5) All numbers are rounded. Overall numbers may not be exact due to rounding

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as expects, or does not expect, is expected, anticipates or does not anticipate, plans, proposed, budget, scheduled, forecasts, estimates, believes or intends or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results may or could, would, might or will be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, the Companys objectives, goals and exploration activities conducted and proposed to be conducted at the Companys properties; future growth potential of the Company, including whether any proposed exploration programs at any of the Companys properties will be successful; exploration results; and future exploration plans and costs and financing availability.

These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include:

The expected benefits to the Company relating to the exploration conducted and proposed to be conducted at the White Gold properties; the receipt of all applicable regulatory approvals for the Offering; failure to identify any additional mineral resources or significant mineralization; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, including to fund any exploration programs on the Companys properties; business integration risks; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate); change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining and mineral exploration; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); the unlikelihood that properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines; geological factors; actual results of current and future exploration; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated; soil sampling results being preliminary in nature and are not conclusive evidence of the likelihood of a mineral deposit; title to properties; ongoing uncertainties relating to the COVID-19 pandemic; and those factors described under the heading Risks Factors in the Companys annual information form dated July 29, 2020 available on SEDAR+. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information, will prove to be accurate. The Company does not undertake to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

For Further Information, Please Contact:

Contact Information:

David DOnofrio

Chief Executive Officer

White Gold Corp.

(647) 930-1880

ir@whitegoldcorp.ca

Request Meeting: https://calendly.com/meet-with-wgo/15min

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a6668b69-1c97-4d40-bacc-644b320f727f



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BOGOTA, Colombia and CURITIBA, Brazil, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following Brazil's Pix blueprint, Colombia has launched its own instant payment ecosystem called Bre-B with the same core features: interoperability, 24/7 availability, and immediate settlement. Today marks the start of full-scale operations for Bre-B nationwide, following a pilot phase that began on September 23. Through EBANX , a global technology company specializing in cross-border payment services for emerging markets, global merchants can offer Bre-B to Colombian customers from day one. To facilitate this access, the fintech has partnered with MOVii , Latin America's first Banktech, which provides a complete issuing and acquiring payment infrastructure for individuals and businesses.

More than 30 million people have already registered to use Bre-B, according to Colombias central bank , representing 76% of the countrys adult population. At the same time, only 18% have access to credit cards, according to the latest report from the institution . World Bank data shows that Colombia has one of the lowest credit card penetration rates in Latin America. This figure has remained stable since 2022, while the share of Colombians making electronic transfers continues to grow, highlighting a shift in preference towards alternative payment methods for online shopping.

Bre-B is a game-changer for Colombias digital economy, just like Pix was for Brazil. That is why bringing it to our platform from day one was so important to us. We want Colombian consumers and businesses to be part of this transformation right from the start, said Eduardo de Abreu, VP of Product at EBANX. Colombians can shop with global brands using the same instant, secure payment method they use locally. It is about bringing world-class e-commerce right at their fingertips without any barriers, added Katherine Roa, CCO at MOVii.

Colombias digital economy has been growing at double-digit rates since 2019 and is set to surpass USD 52 billion in 2025, ranking third in Latin America after Brazil and Mexico, according to Payments and Commerce Market Intelligence (PCMI) data sourced by EBANX. As Pix has done in Brazil, Bre-Bs instant payment features are poised to fuel this momentum by streamlining transactions for both consumers and businesses, potentially driving the digital market to USD 73 billion by 2028.

Breaking down Bre-B: similarities and differences to Pix

EBANX was one of only two fintechs invited by the central bank of Colombia to sit on the Interdisciplinary Committee for Interoperable Payments that advised local authorities on building Bre-B. This collaboration led to features inspired by nearly five years of lessons from Brazils Pix rollout, such as QR code payments, user identification through keys (like ID, phone number, and email), mandatory interoperability for instant transfers, and time-based transaction limits to prevent fraud.

We process more real-time payments in Brazil than almost anyone else and handle transactions for 20% of all Pix users. Being able to share that experience and know-how with Colombian regulators and help them sidestep some of the bumps we hit early on with Pix was really rewarding, Eduardo de Abreu emphasized.

But Bre-B is not a copy of Pix. While Brazil built a single rail between financial institutions to make its payment system interoperable, Colombia developed a new ecosystem on top of existing infrastructure. Bre-B bridges established account transfer services that could not connect before, like Transfiya and EntreCuentas, with new solutions like Credibanco and Visionamos. It was also designed to welcome new integrations down the road.

Single connection

Through its partnership with MOVii, EBANX enables global companies to integrate with Bre-B through a single connection. This is made possible by the MOVii Smart Router, a solution that provides access to all of Bre-Bs nodes and intelligently routes transactions based on usage models and fees. This technology selects the most efficient path to optimize operations, making MOVii the first sponsor bank to connect to all of Bre-Bs nodes.

The central banks biggest challenge was ensuring standardized and universal operation across different systems. They solved it by providing and managing two core technological components: a centralized directory (DICE) that maps all users and an Operational Settlement Mechanism (MOL) that moves funds instantly between financial entities accounts at the central bank, eliminating interbank credit risk and delays, Abreu explained.

Another important difference between Bre-B and Pix is what is available right out of the gate. For now, the Colombian ecosystem only handles person-to-person transfers (P2P) and consumer-to-merchant payments (P2M). Future plans include bringing government entities into the mix, which would allow people to pay taxes and for public services (P2G), plus enable government subsidy disbursements (G2P). Features like recurring payments for subscription-based services and bulk transfers for payroll and high-volume payouts are also in the pipeline.

Financial inclusion: how Bre-B will digitize Colombias economy

Beyond driving interoperability, efficiency, and security, Bre-B will be a key element in accelerating Colombias financial inclusion as it is connected to Cajas de Compensacion Familiar (Family Compensation Funds, in English), institutions that provide social benefits, subsidies, and services to 42% of Colombias population .

Many of these people had to withdraw cash from ATMs to buy things because they were traditionally excluded from the financial system. Now they have a digital payment option that lets them shop online, pay for services, and tap into the digital economy in ways that were not possible before, stated Hernando Rubio, MOVii CEO.



Bre-B had already issued over 80 million payment keys , averaging nearly three per customer. This shows the countrys appetite for a modern, inclusive payment solution. People are ready for change and hungry for better financial tools, said Eduardo de Abreu.

ABOUT EBANX

EBANX is the leading payments platform connecting global businesses to the world's fastest-growing digital markets. Founded in 2012 in Brazil, EBANX was built with a mission to expand access to international digital commerce. Leveraging proprietary technology, deep market expertise, and robust infrastructure, EBANX enables global companies to offer hundreds of local payment methods across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. More than just payments, EBANX drives growth, enhances sales, and delivers seamless purchase experiences for businesses and end-users alike.

For further information, please visit:

Website: https://www.ebanx.com/en/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ebanx

ABOUT MOVii

MOVii is a Banktech that provides a complete issuing and acquiring payment infrastructure for Latin America. The company provides a portfolio of over 20 solutionsincluding acquiring, pay-in/pay-out, card issuing, digital wallets, cross-border payments, and BIN sponsorshipall supported by its proprietary regulatory licences and robust cloud-based technology. MOVii drives a new generation of payment infrastructure to enable open and inclusive banking. Its mission is to empower any individual or business to digitally pay and get paid through a single API connection, regardless of social or economic status.

Website: https://www.empresas.movii.com.co/

LinkedIn: https://co.linkedin.com/company/movii

Media contact:

Leonardo Stamillo

leo@contentco.tech

Contentco.tech

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0491165e-c3be-4a28-9e71-5a0cbc9d6a1e
HIGHLIGHTS

2,279 m of infill drilling completed on 10-m drill spacing in 24 drill holes from August 2025 representing ~17.5% of the total planned 13,000-m infill program

Highlight intercepts include: 45.24 g/t Au over 3.0 m, including 233.92 g/t Au over 0.5 m, 41.17 g/t Au over 2.1 m, and 16.36 g/t Au over 4.6 m

Initial results show good continuity consistent with modelled vein zones and planned stopes, including high-grade intercepts within and adjacent to modelled reserve stopes, reinforcing the potential for delineating new zones and expanding existing ones

Systematic underground infill drilling is designed to derisk resource modelling, mine planning and optimize production stope design

MONTREAL, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osisko Development Corp. (NYSE: ODV, TSXV: ODV) ("Osisko Development" or the "Company") is pleased to announce new infill drilling results from its ongoing 13,000-meter program on 10 meter drill spacing that commenced in August 2025 in the Lowhee Zone of the Company's permitted, 100%-owned Cariboo Gold Project ("Cariboo" or the "Project"), located in central British Columbia ("B.C."), Canada. The first three fans of this program consisted of approximately 2,279 meters ("m") of underground infill drilling.

Chris Lodder, President, stated, "We have observed good continuity consistent with modelled vein zones and planned stope shapes with these initial results. The presence of high-grade composites within and adjacent to modelled reserve stopes is encouraging and highlights the value of systematic underground infill drilling. The success we are seeing underscores the potential and prospectivity of delineating new zones and expanding existing ones near planned infrastructure, which could be drilled off and incorporated into a future mine plan. The comprehensive 13,000-meter drill program is designed to deliver important data for resource modelling, mine planning, and optimization of production stope design. We look forward to providing further updates as drilling progresses."

DRILL ASSAY HIGHLIGHTS

This news release includes assays from twenty-four (24) underground infill and exploration HQ diamond drill ("DD") holes (63.5-millimeter diameter) totaling approximately 2,279 m completed from August 2025 through early September 2025 (see Table 1) and for which assays were received by October 1, 2025, with depths ranging from 54 to 114 m drilled on 3 fans at 40 m spaced fans (Figure 2). Select assay photon assay highlights include:

45.24 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold ("Au") over 3.0 m in hole BMU-25-075, including: 233.92 g/t over 0.5 m, and 35.19 g/t over 0.5 m

41.17 g/t over 2.1 m in BMU-25-065, including: 142.56 g/t over 0.5 m, and 19.20 g/t over 0.6 m, and 5.88 g/t over 0.5 m

16.36 g/t over 4.6 m in BMU-25-079, including: 111.75 g/t over 0.5 m, and 25.03 g/t over 0.6 m, and 5.17 g/t over 0.5 m

38.92 g/t over 1.5 m BMU-25-073, including: 113.06 g/t over 0.5 m, and 3.17 g/t over 0.5 m

9.87 g/t over 3.95 m in BMU-25-085, including: 22.84 g/t over 0.6 m, and 13.78 g/t over 0.85 m, and 16.04 g/t over 0.5 m, and 5.22 g/t over 0.5 m, and 4.00 g/t over 0.5 m

5.67 g/t over 6.0 m in BMU-25-064, including: 17.95 g/t over 0.5 m, and 8.45 g/t over 1.0 m, and 11.38 g/t over 0.5 m, and 8.46 g/t over 0.5 m, and 6.99 g/t over 0.5 m, and 4.36 g/t over 0.5 m

7.06 g/t over 4.5 m in BMU-25-067, including: 39.00 g/t over 0.5 m, and 15.96 g/t over 0.5 m, and 3.82 g/t over 0.5 m

8.97 g/t over 3.5 m in BMU-25-078, including: 59.94 g/t over 0.5 m

9.18 g/t over 2.6 m in BMU-25-083, including: 23.51 g/t over 0.5 m, and 7.20 g/t over 1.0 m, and 7.87 g/t over 0.6 m

3.36 g/t over 7.0 m in BMU-25-071, including: 14.78 g/t over 0.5 m, and 11.19 g/t over 0.5 m, and 5.75 g/t over 0.5 m, and 3.29 g/t over 0.5 m, and 4.03 g/t over 0.5 m, and 3.88 g/t over 0.5 m



Complete assay highlights, including true width estimates, are presented in Table 1 and drill hole locations and orientations are listed in Table 2. Intervals not recovered by drilling were assigned zero grade. Top cuts have not been applied to high grade assays.

Figure 1: Cariboo Gold Project deposit map with Location of Lowhee Zone and Cow Portal underground access.





Figure 2: Location and overview of the ongoing 13,000-meter infill drilling campaign.





Figure 3: Lowhee Zone infill select underground drilling highlights, plan view.





Figure 4: Lowhee Zone infill select underground drilling highlights in cross section by fan.













Table 1: Length weighted assay composites and individual samples>=3.0 g/t for Lowhee Zone underground DD.

Drillhole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) Est. True Width (m) BMU-25-061 No significant assays BMU-25-062 72 72.5 0.5 4.87 0.41 81.3 81.8 0.5 13.70 0.41 BMU-25-063 No significant assays BMU-25-064 56 62 6 5.67 5.75 Including 56 56.5 0.5 11.38 and 58 58.5 0.5 17.95 and 58.5 59 0.5 6.99 and 59.5 60 0.5 8.46 and 60 60.5 0.5 4.36 and 61 62 1 8.45 69 69.5 0.5 3.21 0.43 84.2 84.7 0.5 5.10 0.43 91.95 92.45 0.5 19.76 0.32 BMU-25-065 2.2 2.75 0.55 5.29 0.46 3.75 5.25 1.5 3.59 1.30 Including 4.65 5.25 0.6 6.98 10.7 12.2 1.5 4.19 1.36 Including 10.7 11.2 0.5 11.77 17.5 18 0.5 15.99 0.43 20.5 21.5 1 3.57 0.91 Including 21 21.5 0.5 6.64 41.05 41.6 1.1 4.44 0.48 48.1 49.6 1.5 6.61 1.44 Including 48.1 48.6 0.5 5.25 and 48.6 49.1 0.5 4.03 and 49.1 49.6 0.5 10.54 52.4 54.5 2.1 41.17 1.25 Including 52.4 52.9 0.5 5.88 and 52.9 53.4 0.5 142.56 and 53.4 54 0.6 19.20 BMU-25-066 16 16.5 0.5 3.51 0.47 54 54.5 0.5 6.67 0.47 75.7 76.2 0.5 4.83 0.47 BMU-25-067 0.7 2.7 2 3.63 1.29 Including 0.7 1.2 0.5 4.00 and 1.2 1.7 0.5 8.16 9 10 1 11.09 0.94 Including 9.5 10 0.5 21.74 16.5 21 4.5 7.06 4.23 Including 16.5 17 0.5 15.96 and 17.5 18 0.5 39.00 and 20.5 21 0.5 3.82 47.5 48 0.5 3.55 0.32 54.35 54.85 0.5 10.25 0.45 93.9 96.5 2.6 5.56 2.29 Including 93.9 94.4 0.5 14.37 and 94.4 94.9 0.5 4.59 and 95.9 96.5 0.6 7.67 BMU-25-068 11 12 1 6.86 0.95 Including 11.5 12 0.5 13.38 27 27.5 0.5 4.06 0.49 43 43.5 0.5 4.94 0.49 57.5 58 0.5 3.76 0.49 62.5 63 0.5 4.28 0.49 64 66 2 3.13 1.97 Including 65 65.5 0.5 5.40 and 65.5 66 0.5 3.39 BMU-25-069 0.7 1.2 0.5 13.40 0.43 16.5 19.65 3.15 3.48 3.12 Including 17.6 18.15 0.55 15.63 and 19.15 19.65 0.5 3.08 36 36.6 0.6 7.55 0.54 41.3 42.45 1.15 8.64 1.08 Including 41.85 42.45 0.6 14.98 47 50.3 3.3 3.63 3.10 Including 48.3 48.8 0.5 21.51 53 54 1 3.83 0.87 Including 53 53.5 0.5 3.37 and 53.5 54 0.5 4.29 88.15 89.15 1 5.13 0.94 Including 88.15 88.65 0.5 8.48 BMU-25-070 37.5 38 0.5 9.73 0.43 BMU-25-071 10.5 11.5 1 4.45 0.94 Including 10.5 11 0.5 4.08 and 11 11.5 0.5 4.83 0.47 46.5 47.5 1 4.23 0.94 Including 46.5 47 0.5 7.91 0.47 58.5 59 0.5 4.73 0.48 64 71 7 3.36 6.98 Including 64.5 65 0.5 11.19 and 65.5 66 0.5 3.29 and 67.5 68 0.5 4.03 and 68 68.5 0.5 5.75 and 69.5 70 0.5 3.88 and 70 70.5 0.5 14.78 79.5 80 0.5 4.92 0.49 BMU-25-072 0.2 0.7 0.5 6.53 0.48 64.5 65 0.5 12.27 0.49 83 84 1 4.22 0.87 Including 83 83.5 0.5 8.09 BMU-25-073 9.2 9.7 0.5 3.48 0.50 21.5 22 0.5 10.15 0.45 47.5 48 0.5 4.27 0.47 52.5 54 1.5 38.92 1.49 Including 52.5 53 0.5 3.17 and 53.5 54 0.5 113.06 BMU-25-074 26.85 27.35 0.5 4.63 0.50 37.1 38.6 1.5 5.35 1.30 Including 37.1 37.6 0.5 13.16 67.5 68 0.5 3.87 0.48 BMU-25-075 71.5 74.5 3 45.24 2.38 Including 72 72.5 0.5 233.92 and 73.5 74 0.5 35.19 BMU-25-076 12.8 13.3 0.5 19.24 0.45 BMU-25-077 27.05 27.55 0.5 10.96 0.50 41.15 41.65 0.5 29.90 0.45 43.85 45.35 1.5 3.34 1.50 Including 43.85 44.35 0.5 5.79 and 44.85 45.35 0.5 3.97 47.25 47.75 0.5 28.26 0.50 67 68 1 5.69 1.00 Including 67.5 68 0.5 10.99 BMU-25-078 27.85 31.35 3.5 8.97 3.17 Including 30.85 31.35 0.5 59.94 44.8 45.8 1 3.13 1.00 Including 45.3 45.8 0.5 4.32 BMU-25-079 BMU-25-079 28.1 28.6 0.5 39.84 0.35 85.2 89.8 4.6 16.36 3.98 Including 85.7 86.2 0.5 5.17 and 86.2 86.8 0.6 25.03 and 89.3 89.8 0.5 111.75 BMU-25-080 No Significant Assays BMU-25-081 43.5 45.5 2 4.06 1.73 Including 43.5 44 0.5 7.89 and 44 44.5 0.5 7.00 66.5 67.2 0.7 6.75 BMU-25-082 No Significant Assays BMU-25-083 1.35 2.5 1.15 3.40 1.06 Including 1.35 2 0.65 5.12 51.9 52.4 0.5 34.55 0.38 60.5 63.1 2.6 9.18 2.28 Including 61 62 1 7.20 and 62 62.5 0.5 23.51 and 62.5 63.1 0.6 7.87 BMU-25-085 56.6 57.1 0.5 26.70 0.41 69.45 73.4 3.95 9.87 3.58 Including 69.45 69.95 0.5 4.00 and 69.95 70.8 0.85 13.78 and 71.8 72.3 0.5 16.04 and 72.3 72.9 0.6 22.84 and 72.9 73.4 0.5 5.22



Table 2: Underground DD collar locations, drillhole orientations, and max depths. Negative dips point down.

Drillhole ID Mine Location Easting

(UTM z12N) Northing

(UTM z12N) Elevation

(m) Dip Azimuth Depth

(m) BMU-25-061 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-008 596468.7 5882768.6 1262.3 -35 125 114 BMU-25-062 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-004 596488.9 5882802.9 1261.0 -35 125 114 BMU-25-063 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-008 596468.4 5882768.8 1261.6 -25 125 102 BMU-25-064 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-004 596488.9 5882803.0 1260.2 -25 125 102 BMU-25-065 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-000 596510.0 5882837.7 1259.8 -35 125 114 BMU-25-066 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-004 596488.9 5882803.0 1259.8 -15 125 80 BMU-25-067 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-000 596510.1 5882837.6 1259.4 -25 125 102 BMU-25-068 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-004 596488.9 5882802.9 1259.3 -5 125 81 BMU-25-069 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-000 596510.1 5882837.6 1258.7 -14 125 96 BMU-25-070 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-008 596468.8 5882768.6 1261.2 -15 125 84 BMU-25-071 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-004 596489.1 5882802.9 1258.9 5 125 81 BMU-25-072 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-000 596510.1 5882837.6 1257.3 25 125 90 BMU-25-073 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-004 596489.1 5882802.8 1258.6 15 125 54 BMU-25-074 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-008 596468.8 5882768.5 1260.7 -5 125 81 BMU-25-075 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-004 596489.2 5882802.8 1258.2 25 125 90 BMU-25-076 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-004 596489.2 5882802.9 1258.0 35 125 99 BMU-25-077 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-008 596469.1 5882768.4 1260.4 5 125 81 BMU-25-078 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-008 596469.0 5882768.4 1260.1 15 125 84 BMU-25-079 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-000 596510.0 5882837.6 1257.0 35 125 99 BMU-25-080 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-004 596489.0 5882803.0 1257.7 45 125 114 BMU-25-081 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-008 596468.9 5882768.5 1259.8 25 125 90 BMU-25-082 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-000 596510.2 5882837.8 1256.8 45 125 114 BMU-25-083 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-008 596468.7 5882768.6 1259.6 35 125 99 BMU-25-085 L1260-ORE-003-DBY-008 596468.3 5882768.9 1259.8 45 125 114



ABOUT LOWHEE ZONE

Geological mapping and geochemical sampling were carried out on Barkerville Mountain from 2017-2018, with the Lowhee Zone identified as a high-priority drill target.

In 2019, two southeast-oriented stratigraphic and 22 northwest-southeast oriented drillholes (8,337.0 m) were drilled at the Lowhee Zone. The drilling successfully identified auriferous quartz-carbonate veins at similar orientations to those observed elsewhere on the Cariboo Gold project. Initial 3D geological modelling and resource estimation commenced, and further drilling was recommended.

In 2020, 24 northwest-oriented diamond drillholes (10,144.5 m) were drilled. The focus of the exploration program was to test the extent of mineralization along the down-dip and northeast strike-extent of veining. An internal resource estimation of the Lowhee deposit was completed at that time, with further drilling recommended to improve confidence.

In 2021, a total of 94 diamond drillholes (29,449.1 m) were drilled. The focus of drilling was to delineate, and infill modelled veins with 25 m spacing. At the time, Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd. completed a mineral resource estimate, and the collection of a bulk sample was recommended.

In 2022, a total of 27 diamond drillholes (6,563.90 m) were drilled. There were two main goals with this drill program. The first goal was to infill a potential bulk sample location achieving category conversion from indicated (25 m spacing) to measured (12.5 m spacing). The second goal was to continue to delineate and infill modelled veins with 25 m spacing.

Lowhee zone access is through Cow portal on the northwestern flank of Barkerville Mountain (Figure 1 and Figure 2) Cow portal construction was completed in Q4 2024 and development of the underground ramp into the Lowhee zone commenced in Q1 2025. Approximately 350 m of development has been advanced within the Lowhee zone deposit at the 1,290 and 1,260-elevation levels since completion of the main access ramp. The probable mineral reserves estimate for the Lowhee Zone includes 104,491 ounces of contained Au (923,162 tonnes grading 3.52 g/t Au) and represents approximately 5% of the total contained gold in the estimated probable mineral reserves for the Cariboo Gold Project.

ABOUT CARIBOO GOLD PROJECT

The Cariboo Gold Project is a permitted, 100%-owned feasibility-stage project located in the historic Wells-Barkerville mining camp of central British Columbia, Canada. Spanning approximately 186,740 hectares, the Company's land package includes 443 mineral titles and covers a ~77-kilometre strike of highly prospective exploration targets extending northwest to southeast. In late 2024, the Project was granted the Mines Act and Environmental Management Act (British Columbia) permits, marking the successful completion of the permitting process for key approvals, solidifying the Project's shovel-ready status.

The Cariboo Gold Project hosts probable mineral reserves of 2.07 million ounces of contained Au (17,815 kt grading 3.62 g/t Au); measured mineral resources of 8,000 ounces of contained Au (47 kt grading 5.06 g/t Au); indicated mineral resources of 1.60 million ounces of contained Au (17,332 kt grading 2.88 g/t Au); and inferred mineral resources of 1.86 million ounces of contained Au (18,774 kt grading 3.09 g/t Au). Mineral resources are reported exclusive of mineral reserves.

Technical Reports

Information relating to the Cariboo Gold Project and the 2025 FS on the Cariboo Gold Project is supported by the technical report, titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report, Feasibility Study for the Cariboo Gold Project, District of Wells, British Columbia, Canada" and dated June 11, 2025 (with an effective date of April 25, 2025) (the "Cariboo Technical Report").

For readers to fully understand the information in the Cariboo Technical Report, reference should be made to the full text of the Cariboo Technical Report in its entirety, including all assumptions, parameters, qualifications, limitations and methods therein. The Technical Report is intended to be read as a whole, and sections should not be read or relied upon out of context. The Technical Report was prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and is available electronically on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and on EDGAR (www.sec.gov) under Osisko Development's issuer profile and on the Company's website at www.osiskodev.com.

Qualified Persons

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Eryn Doyle, P. Geo., Senior Exploration Manager of Osisko Development, a "qualified person" within the meaning of NI 43-101. Verification includes core photo and three-dimensional review of logged drillhole data and assays consistent with the Company's standard procedures.

Quality Assurance (QA)  Quality Control (QC)

Whole core sampling is completed in the logging facilities following daily QAQC checks for logging and sampling errors. Quality control (QC) samples are inserted at regular intervals in the sample stream, including blanks and reference materials with all sample shipments to monitor laboratory performance. Samples are bagged, labeled, sealed with numbered security tags

Samples are taken by expeditor from the logging facilities direct to MSALABS's analytical facility in Prince George, B.C., Canada, for preparation and analysis. The MSALABS facility is accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard for gold assays and all analytical methods include quality control materials at set frequencies with established data acceptance criteria. The entire sample is dried, crushed, and split into sealed containers. Analysis for gold is by gamma ray analysis using the Chrysos PhotonAssay (PA1408X). Samples are bombarded with gamma rays and the resulting signal is sent to the detectors.

Alternatively Drill core samples are submitted to ALS Geochemistry's analytical facility in North Vancouver, British Columbia for preparation and analysis. The ALS facility is accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard for gold assays and all analytical methods include quality control materials at set frequencies with established data acceptance criteria. The entire sample is crushed, and 250 grams is pulverized. Analysis for gold is by 50 gram fire assay fusion with atomic absorption (AAS) finish with a lower limit of 0.01 ppm and upper limit of 100 ppm. Samples with gold assays greater than 100 ppm are re-analyzed using a 1,000-gram screen metallic fire assay. A selected number of samples are also analyzed using a 48 multi-elemental geochemical package by a 4-acid digestion, followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS).

ABOUT OSISKO DEVELOPMENT CORP.

Osisko Development Corp. is a continental North American gold development company focused on past-producing mining camps located in mining friendly jurisdictions with district scale potential. The Company's objective is to become an intermediate gold producer by advancing its flagship permitted 100%-owned Cariboo Gold Project, located in central B.C., Canada. Its project pipeline is complemented by the Tintic Project in the historic East Tintic mining district in Utah, U.S.A., and the San Antonio Gold Project in Sonora, Mexicobrownfield properties with significant exploration potential, extensive historical mining data, access to existing infrastructure and skilled labour. The Company's strategy is to develop attractive, long-life, socially and environmentally responsible mining assets, while minimizing exposure to development risk and growing mineral resources.

For further information, visit our website at www.osiskodev.com or contact:

Sean Roosen Philip Rabenok Chairman and CEO Vice President, Investor Relations Email: sroosen@osiskodev.com Email: prabenok@osiskodev.com Tel: +1 (514) 940-0685 Tel: +1 (437) 423-3644



CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this news release may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation (together, "forward-looking statements"). These forward-looking statements, by their nature, require Osisko Development to make certain assumptions and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. Words such as "may", "will", "would", "could", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "continue", "objective", "strategy", or the negative or comparable terminology, as well as terms usually used in the future and the conditional, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Information contained in forward-looking statements is based upon certain material assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including the assumptions, qualifications, limitations or statements relating to the prospectivity of exploration in the Lowhee Zone and targets outside of the currently defined mineral resources; the results (if any) of further exploration work to define and expand mineral resources; the results, timing, utility and significance of the ongoing 13,000-meter infill drill program (if any); the interpretation and accuracy of observed continuity with modelled vein zones and planned stope shapes; the potential and prospectivity of delineating new zones and expanding existing ones; the ability and timing (if at all) to incorporate new zones into a future mine plan; the ability and utility of exploration work (including drilling) to inform resource modeling, mine planning, production stope design procedures and parameters, and the appropriate grid spacing for future infill drilling (if at all); the ability and timing (if at all) to complete future additional systemic grid infill drill programs; the interpretation and accuracy of structure modeling and assumptions in regard to potential resource extensions (if at all); the ability of exploration activities (including drill results) to accurately predict mineralization; the Company's strategy and objectives relating to the Cariboo Gold Project as well as its other projects; the assumptions, qualifications and limitations relating to the Cariboo Gold Project being permitted; assumptions, qualifications and parameters underlying the Cariboo Technical Report (including, but not limited to, the mineral resources, mineral reserves, production profile, mine design and project economics); the results of the Cariboo Technical Report as an indicator of quality and robustness of the Cariboo Gold Project, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances; the ability of the Company to achieve the estimates outlined in the Cariboo Technical Report in the timing contemplated (if at all); the ability to achieve the capital and operating costs outlined in the Cariboo Technical Report (if at all); the ability, progress and timing in respect of pre-construction activities at Cariboo including the 13,000-meter infill drill program; the contemplated work plan and activities at the Cariboo Gold Project and the timing, scope and results thereof and associated costs thereto; the potential impact of tariffs and other trade restrictions (if any); mineral resource category conversion; the future development and operations at the Cariboo Gold Project; management's perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments; the utility and significance of historic data, including the significance of the district hosting past producing mines; future mining activities; the results (if any) of further exploration work to define and expand mineral resources; the ability of exploration work (including drilling and sampling) to accurately predict mineralization; the ability of the Company to expand mineral resources beyond current mineral resource estimates; the ability of the Company to complete its exploration and development objectives for its projects in the timing contemplated and within expected costs (if at all); the ongoing advancement of the deposits on the Company's properties; sustainability and environmental impacts of operations at the Company's properties; gold prices; the costs required to advance the Company's properties; the ability to adapt to changes in gold prices, estimates of costs, estimates of planned exploration and development expenditures; the profitability (if at all) of the Company's operations; regulatory framework remaining defined and understood as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances, and any other information herein that is not a historical fact may be "forward looking information". Osisko Development considers its assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, but cautions the reader that their assumptions regarding future events, many of which are beyond the control of Osisko Development, may ultimately prove to be incorrect since they are subject to risks and uncertainties that affect Osisko Development and its business. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, risks relating to third-party approvals, including the issuance of permits by governments, capital market conditions and the Company's ability to access capital on terms acceptable to the Company for the contemplated exploration and development at the Company's properties; the ability to continue current operations and exploration; regulatory framework and presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; errors in management's geological modelling; the timing and ability of the Company to obtain and maintain required approvals and permits; the results of exploration activities; risks relating to exploration, development and mining activities; the global economic climate; fluctuations in metal and commodity prices; fluctuations in the currency markets; dilution; environmental risks; and community, non-governmental and governmental actions and the impact of stakeholder actions. Osisko Development is confident a robust consultation process was followed in relation to its received BC Mines Act and Environmental Management Act permits for the Cariboo Gold Project and continues to actively consult and engage with Indigenous nations and stakeholders. While any party may seek to have the decision related to the BC Mines Act and/or Environmental Management Act permits reviewed by the courts, the Company does not expect that such a review would, were it to occur, impact its ability to proceed with the construction and operation of the Cariboo Gold Project in accordance with the approved BC Mines Act and Environmental Management Act permits. Readers are urged to consult the disclosure provided under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2024 as well as the financial statements and MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2024 and quarter ended June 30, 2025, which have been filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under Osisko Development's issuer profile and on the SEC's EDGAR website (www.sec.gov), for further information regarding the risks and other factors facing the Company, its business and operations. Although the Company's believes the expectations conveyed by the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information available as of the date hereof, no assurances can be given as to future results, levels of activity and achievements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Precipitate Gold Corp. (the Company or Precipitate) (TSXV: PRG, OTCQB: PREIF) is pleased to announce that the Companys CEO, Jeffrey Wilson will present live at the Metals & Mining Virtual Investor Conference hosted by www.VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on October 7th, 2025 at 1:30pm Eastern Standard Time (10:30am Pacific Standard Time).

DATE: October 7, 2025

TIME: 1:30pm Eastern Standard Time (10:30am Pacific Standard Time).

LINK: REGISTER HERE

Available for 1x1 meetings: October 7, 2025. Schedule 1x1 Meetings here

This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.

Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

Recent Company Highlights

Precipitates IP Geophysical Survey at Ginger Ridge and Ginger Ridge East Identifies New Exploration Targets, Juan de Herrera Project, Dominican Republic





Precipitates IP Geophysical Survey Reveals New 1,600-metre-long Exploration Corridor at the Southeast and Centro Zones of the Juan de Herrera Project, Dominican Republic





Precipitates Trench Sampling Yields 6.4 g/t Gold over 1.0m, Further Refining the CN Zone at the Juan de Herrera Project, Dominican Republic





Precipitate Trenching Expands Centro Zone with 4.4% Copper over 1.8 metres at the Juan de Herrera Project, Dominican Republic





Precipitates Latest Trench Sampling Yields 7.2 g/t Gold over 2.0m, Further Expanding the CN Zone at the Juan de Herrera Project, Dominican Republic



The Companys website has additional information, maps and figures of recent and historical Corporate and Project data.

About Precipitate Gold:

Precipitate Gold Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on exploring and advancing its mineral property interests in the Dominican Republic, including its 100% owned Juan de Herrera project located immediately adjacent to GoldQuest Minings Romero Project, its 100% owned Pueblo Grande project located immediately adjacent to the Pueblo Viejo mine operated by Barrick Mining, and its 100% owned Ponton project located 30km east of the Pueblo Viejo mine. Precipitate is also actively evaluating additional high-impact property acquisitions with the potential to expand the Company's portfolio and increase shareholder value, in other favourable jurisdictions.

Additional information can be viewed at the Companys website www.precipitategold.com.

About Virtual Investor Conferences

Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Precipitate Gold Corp.,

Jeffrey Wilson

President & CEO

For further information, please contact:

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service 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 may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "proposed", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects Precipitate Gold Corp.s (Precipitate or the Company) current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Company and on assumptions it believes are reasonable. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Precipitate to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the exploration concessions may not be granted on terms acceptable to the Company, or at all; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the concessions acquired by the Company may not have attributes similar to those of surrounding properties; delay or failure to receive governmental or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation affecting mining; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals. Although Precipitate has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Precipitate does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
NEW YORK, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virtual Investor Conferences, the leading proprietary investor conference series announced the agenda for the Metals & Mining Virtual Investor Forum to be held October 7-9th.

Individual investors, institutional investors, advisors, and analysts are invited to attend.



REGISTER HERE

It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates. There is no cost to log-in, attend live presentations, or schedule 1x1 meetings with management.

Please schedule 1x1 meetings here.

With over 25 OTCQX, OTCQB and NYSE American-listed companies presenting, we are excited to host our upcoming three-day Metals & Mining Virtual Investor Conference, said Jason Paltrowitz, Executive Vice President, Corporate Services, OTC Markets Group. This event continues to be a powerful platform for companies to share their strategic vision and connect directly with U.S. investors in a dynamic and accessible format.

October 7th

October 8th

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To facilitate investor relations scheduling and to view a complete calendar of Virtual Investor Conferences, please visit www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

About Virtual Investor Conferences

Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

Media Contact:

OTC Markets Group Inc. +1 (212) 896-4428, media@otcmarkets.com

Virtual Investor Conferences Contact:

John M. Viglotti

SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access

OTC Markets Group

(212) 220-2221

johnv@otcmarkets.com
SAGUENAY, Quebec, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Phosphate Corp (CSE: PHOS) (OTCQX: FRSPF) (FSE: KD0), based in Quebec, Canada and focused on igneous phosphate mining and purification for the local North American LFP battery industry, today announced that CEO John Passalacqua will present live at the Metals & Mining Virtual Investor Conference hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on October 7th, 2025.

DATE: October 7th

TIME: 12:30 PM ET

LINK: REGISTER HERE

Available for 1x1 meetings: October 7th. Sign up here.

This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.

Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com .

Recent Company Highlights

First Phosphate recently signed an agreement with Port Saguenay to establish a phosphoric acid plant

First Phosphate recently produced LFP battery cells using North American critical minerals

First Phosphates white paper on securing North American igneous phosphate supply for LFP cathode materials received a Met rating from the United States Defense Industrial Base Consortium

First Phosphate has raised to date a total of approximately CAD $40 million in 9 management-led non-brokered private-placement financings since June 2022, of which approximately CAD $19.8 million has been closed over the last 6 months.

About First Phosphate

First Phosphate (CSE: PHOS) (OTCQX: 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 Phosphates flagship project, the Begin-Lamarche Property in SaguenayLac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, contains rare igneous anorthosite rock that yields high-purity phosphate with minimal impurities.

About Virtual Investor Conferences

Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

CONTACTS:

Alexis de la Renaudiere

Strategic Development

alexis@firstphosphate.com

Tel: +1 (438) 992-8985

Investor Relations: investor@firstphosphate.com

Media Relations: media@firstphosphate.com

Website: www.FirstPhosphate.com

Follow First Phosphate:

X : https://x.com/FirstPhosphate

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-phosphate

Virtual Investor Conferences

John M. Viglotti

SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access

OTC Markets Group

(212) 220-2221

johnv@otcmarkets.com
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arcadia Medicine (Arcadia), a company developing safer empathogens to treat mental health disorders, has announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the companys Investigational New Drug (IND) application. Arcadia now plans to initiate a clinical trial of AM-1002, its patented, non-racemic form of MDMA.

The IND is part of a pattern of progress on multiple fronts. Arcadia has raised $9.25M from investors including Sam Altman, Fred Ehrsam, and Dylan Field. The company has also secured a patent for AM-1002 , underscoring the companys strong intellectual property (IP) strategy and its extensive research on the power that these compounds hold to save lives and address the ongoing mental health crisis and its effects worldwide. Arcadia holds a Composition of Matter IP for non-racemic MDMA, which grants Arcadia the exclusive rights to a specific drug formulation. Its unique differentiators from traditional MDMA include:

Engineered for an optimal effect: Designed to selectively release serotonin and oxytocin, which drive its therapeutic effect without significant stimulant effects, that are known to drive addiction and hyperthermia.

Designed to selectively release serotonin and oxytocin, which drive its therapeutic effect without significant stimulant effects, that are known to drive addiction and hyperthermia. Non-neurotoxic/lowered side effects: AM-1002 has been developed to be non-neurotoxic and is not expected to cause hyperthermia, a common side effect of MDMA. Furthermore, AM-1002 is designed to have fewer potential cardiovascular side effects compared to MDMA.

AM-1002 has been developed to be non-neurotoxic and is not expected to cause hyperthermia, a common side effect of MDMA. Furthermore, AM-1002 is designed to have fewer potential cardiovascular side effects compared to MDMA. Flexible dosing: A potential for a wider range of safe doses would allow for more precise therapy and ongoing treatment options.





"Arcadias innovative work in developing a safer form of MDMA is an important step towards a potentially transformative psychiatric treatment" said Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI.

At Arcadia, were creating an improved version of MDMA by redesigning the molecule to have an enhanced safety profile and a more targeted therapeutic effect, and this IND is a testament to our progress, said Nikita Obidin, founder and CEO of Arcadia Medicine. We plan to initiate a clinical trial of AM-1002 in Generalized Anxiety Disorder. We will also continue developing our broader pipeline of safe and effective mental health therapeutics, delivering them to patients across the globe with an ultimate goal of using them in a maximally flexible context, such as at-home prescription use.

Few take the challenge of improving the human experience head on. I am excited to support Arcadia in their development of non-neurotoxic MDMA, said Fred Ehrsam, co-founder of Coinbase.

Arcadia plans to initiate clinical-stage activities for AM-1002 this year. In parallel, the company will continue to expand its pipeline of mental health therapeutics, with a focus on safe and efficacious entactogenic agents with mild psychoactive effects and minimal abuse liability.

About Arcadia Medicine

Arcadia Medicine is a San Francisco-based company developing safe entactogens to treat mental health disorders such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and Substance Use Disorder (SUD). The company is engineering molecules to improve the clinical efficacy of promising compounds while reducing physical and psychological risks. Arcadias lead candidate is AM-1002, a patented, non-racemic version of MDMA. Arcadias secondary candidates include AM-1004, a mildly entactogenic antidepressant designed for self-administration as an alternative to SSRIs and SNRIs, and AM-1006, a short-acting, subperceptual psychoactive compound intended for use in a traditional hour-long therapeutic setting. The company is on a mission to scale safe and effective mental health therapies to reach patients in need.
Dublin, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Mesenchymal Stem Cells/Medicinal Signaling Cells (MSCs) - Advances & Applications, 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

MSCs are multipotent cells that have been referred to as mesenchymal stem cells, medicinal signaling cells, and mesenchymal stromal cells, reflecting their versatility and diverse applications. MSCs can differentiate into a variety of cell types, such as osteoblasts, chondrocytes, myocytes, and adipocytes. Their unique ability to secrete factors that promote tissue repair and modulate their microenvironment with anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects makes them essential in regenerative medicine. Furthermore, their immuno-evasive properties make MSCs particularly suitable for allogenic transplantation.

MSCs serve as vital raw materials across numerous industries, including regenerative medicine, cosmeceuticals, and cultured meat production.

Key applications include:

Cell-based therapies for musculoskeletal diseases, spinal injuries, and cardiovascular conditions.

Engineered tissues and organs, such as skin, bone, blood vessels, and liver.

Cell-derived products, such as exosomes and growth factors, utilized in cosmetics and skincare.

Cultured meat production, leveraging MSCs' role in muscle development and their ability to differentiate into muscle and fat cells.

Globally, 12 MSC-based therapies have been approved for various indications, with the majority concentrated in South Korea, Japan, and the EU.

Specifically, the Republic of Korea has approved five products: Queencell from Anterogen, Cellgram AMI from Pharmicell, Cupistem from Anterogen, Cartistem from Medipost, and NeuroNataR from Corestem. Japan has approved two products: Temcell HS from JCR Pharmaceuticals and Stemirac from Nipro Corporation. The EMA in Europe has approved two products: Holoclar from Chiesi Farmaceutici and Alofisel from TiGenix/Takeda. India has approved one product: Stempeucel from Stempeutics. Iran has approved one product: MesestroCell developed by Cell Tech Pharmed. Finally, Australia has approved one product: Remestemcel-L from Mesoblast.

Despite this progress, no MSC-based therapeutic have yet received U.S. FDA approval, although the FDA is actively reviewing Mesoblast's Remestemcel-L.

The cosmeceutical market is also rapidly adopting MSC-derived products, particularly exosomes, to leverage their anti-aging and regenerative properties, with companies like L'Oreal and Johnson & Johnson investing heavily in this space. Similarly, cultured meat companies are utilizing MSCs for producing muscle and fat cells, enhancing taste and texture. Groundbreaking approvals, such as lab-grown chicken by Upside Foods and Good Meat, have paved the way for further growth in this industry.

MSC-based gene editing is expanding, enabling the overexpression of antitumor genes and therapeutic factors. Researchers are also exploring the use of MSCs in 3D printing and engineered organ production, with breakthroughs anticipated in the next decade.

Importantly, companies like Cynata Therapeutics are pioneering iPSC-derived MSC production technologies, enabling large-scale therapeutic development. Today there are at least eight companies who are involved with the development of iPSC-derived MSCs therapeutics (iMSCs), including Cynata Therapeutics, Eterna Therapeutics, Implant Therapeutics, Bone Therapeutics, Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics, Fujifilm CDI, Citius Pharmaceuticals, and Kiji Therapeutics.

There are also over 1,670 clinical trials involving MSCs are registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. Nearly 75% (three-quarters) of these clinical studies are using MSCs for the development of regenerative medicine (RM) products. Approximately 14% of the studies are using MSCs for disease modeling. The remaining 11% of the studies are using MSCs for drug discovery and cytotoxicity testing applications.

Challenges in these trials include maintaining MSC phenotype and functionality during expansion. However, ongoing advancements suggest a promising future, with projections for at least 50 globally approved MSC-based products by 2040, averaging 3-4 new approvals annually.

Key Players in MSC Research Products

The demand for MSC-based research products has surged in recent years, with major suppliers expanding their portfolios. Companies like RoosterBio have increased the access to quality MSCs through supply chain industrialization, standardized cell bank product forms, and fit-for-purpose cGMP-compatible cells and media systems.

Other leading MSC research product suppliers include PromoCell, Lonza, Thermo Fisher Scientific, STEMCELL Technologies, Miltenyi Biotec, Bio-Techne (R&D Systems), ScienCell Research Laboratories, and the ATCC.

Challenges and Opportunities

While MSC commercialization faces hurdles-such as scalability and regulatory approval-opportunities abound. The market for MSC-based products is poised for notable growth across the research, therapeutic, cosmetic, and food industries.

Within this rapidly changing landscape, having a thorough understanding of the competition is essential.

This global strategic report presents rates of MSC clinical trials, scientific publications, patents, funding events, and collaborations. It presents the pipeline for MSC-based therapeutics, identifies market opportunities and threats, and explores future directions and emerging applications. It reveals innovative MSC products, services, and technologies offered by 125 leading competitors. Finally, it presents detailed market size figures for the global MSC market, segmented by geography and business segment with future forecasts through 2031.

Key Topics Covered:

1. REPORT OVERVIEW

2. MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS (MSCs): AN OVERVIEW

2.1 Stabilization of Human MSCs (hMSCs) as a Technology

2.2 The Impact of MSCs on Regenerative Medicine

2.3 Timeline of MSC Nomenclature

2.4 Sources of MSCs

2.5 Cell Surface Markers in MSCs

2.6 In vitro Differentiation Potentials of MSCs

2.7 Soluble Factors Secreted by MSCs

2.8 Stemness Genes Present in MSCs

2.9 Types of MSCs and their Biomedical Applications

2.10 Genes that are Pivotal for MSCs' Properties

3. MSC-BASED CLINICAL TRIAL LANDSCAPE

3.1 MSC-Based Clinical Studies by Geography

3.2 Sources of MSCs used in Current Clinical Trials

3.3 Share of Autologous & Allogeneic MSCs Clinical Trials

3.4 MSC-Based Clinical Trials by Disease Indication

3.5 MSC-Based Clinical Trials by Phase of Study

3.6 Select MSC-Based Clinical Trials

4. MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS (MSCS): PATENT LANDSCAPE

4.1 MSC Patent Publications by Jurisdiction

4.2 MSC Patent Applicants

4.3 MSC Patent Inventors

4.4 MSC Patent Owners

4.5 Legal Status of MSC Patent Applications

4.6 MSC-Derived Exosome Patents

4.7 Patents for iPSC-Derived MSCs (iMSCs)

4.8 MSC Patents by Therapy Type

5. PUBLISHED SCIENTIFIC PAPERS ON MSCS

5.1 PubMed.gov Published Papers on MSCs in Cell Therapy

5.2 PubMed.gov Published Papers on MSC-Based Immunotherapies

5.3 PubMed.gov Published Papers on MSCs in Gene Therapy

5.4 PubMed.gov Published Papers on MSCs in Tissue Engineering

5.5 PubMed.gov Published Papers on MSCs in Aesthetics

5.6 Number of Published Papers on the Applications of MSCs in Major Diseases

5.7 Published Papers on Modified MSCs

5.8 Published Papers on MSC-Derived Exosomes

6. MSC MANUFACTURING PLATFORMS: AN OVERVIEW

6.1 Methods of Isolations of MSCs

6.2 Cell Expansion: Conventional Cultures to Bioreactors

6.3 Downstream Processing of MSCs

6.4 Autologous & Allogeneic MSC Manufacturing: A Comparison

6.5 Large Scale Manufacturing of MSCs

7. CELL & GENE THERAPY CONTRACT MANUFACTURING

7.1 Staff Shortage

7.2 Need for Automation

7.3 Capacity Constraints

7.4 CDMO Platforms with Greater Potentials

7.5 CMOs/CDMOs

7.6 Geographic Distribution of Manufacturing Facilities

7.7 Continued Rise of Outsourcing

7.8 Major CDMOs in the U.S

7.9 Major Cell & Gene Therapy CDMOs in Europe

7.10 UK's Dominance in European Contract Manufacturing

8. BIOENGINEERING SOLUTIONS TO BOOST MSC FUNCTIONALITY

8.1 Small Molecule Priming of MSCs

8.2 Particle Engineering of MSCs

8.2.1 Materials used in Microparticles (MPs) Fabrication

8.3 Genetic Engineering of MSCs

8.4 Examples of Bioengineered MSCs to Produce Anticancer Therapeutics

8.5 Engineered MSCs for Neurological Conditions

8.6 Engineered MSCs for Cardiovascular Diseases

8.6 Engineered MSCs for Lung Injury

8.7 Engineered MSCs for Diabetes

8.8 Bioengineering Approaches to Improve MSC Administration

9. MAJOR DISEASES ADDRESSED BY MSCS

9.1 Studies Using MSCs for Autoimmune Diseases

9.2 Studies using MSCs for Cardiovascular Diseases

9.3 Studies using MSCs for Neurodegenerative Diseases

9.4 Studies using MSCs for Bone & Cartilage Diseases

9.5 Studies using MSCs in GvHD

9.6 Studies using MSCs in Crohn's Disease

9.7 Studies using MSCs in Type 1 Diabetes

9.8 Studies using MSCs in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

9.9 Studies using MSCs in Parkinson's Disease

9.10 Studies using MSCs in Alzheimer's Disease

9.11 Studies using MSCs in Kidney Failure

9.12 Studies using MSCs in Spinal Cord Injury

9.13 Studies using MSCs for Wound Healing

10. RECENT COLLABORATIONS WITHIN THE MSC SECTOR, 2020-2024

Collaboration between BioSolution Designs & RoosterBio

Collaboration between CytoMed Therapeutics, Ltd. & Sengkang General Hospital . 166

Collaboration between REPROCELL & Histocell

Collaboration between FUJIFILM Diosynth & RoosterBio

RoosterBio's Collaboration with AGC Biologics

RoosterBio's Partnership with ShiftBio

RoosterBio's Partnership with Univercells Technologies

Collaboration between Cynata & Fujifilm

Collaboration between American CryoStem Corp. & BioTherapeutic Lab Corp.

RoosterBio's Collaboration with Sartorius

Collaboration between American CryoStem and CRADA

RoosterBio's Collaboration with Sartorius Korea Biotech

Collaboration between Catalent & BrainStorm

Collaboration between Cipla & Stempeutics

Aethlon's Collaboration with University of Pittsburgh

RoosterBio's Collaboration with Senti Biosciences

11. MSC-BASED PRODUCTS IN THE GLOBAL MARKET

Approved MSC Therapies

Queencell

Cellgram AMI

Cupistem

Cartistem

NeuroNataR

Holoclar

Prochymal / Ryoncil (remestemcel-L)

Temcell HS

Stempeucel

MesestroCell

Stemirac

Ruibosheng (amimestrocel)

Marketed Biomaterial Carrier-Based MSCs & MSC Progenitors

Osteocel

AlloStem

Grafix

Cellentra VCBM

Trinity ELITE

Map3

BIO4

Trinity Evolution

Carticel

Chondron

DeNovo NT

Ossron

JACC

MACI

Ortho-ACI

Ossgrow

Cartigrow

Topical Cosmetic Products Containing MSCs/MSC-Derived Exosomes

12. MARKET ANALYSIS

12.1 Market Size for MSC Therapies

12.2 Global Demand for Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs)

13. COMPANY PROFILES

Advancells

Aegle Therapeutics

AGC Biologics

AlloSource, Inc.

Ambulero

American CryoStem Corporation

American Type Culture Collection (ATCC)

Amniotics

Andelyn Biosciences

Anemocyte S.r.l

Anterogen, Co., Ltd.

Avid Bioservices, Inc.

Bacthera

Baylx, Inc

BioCardia

BioCentriq

BioEden, Inc

Bioinova s.r.o

BioRestorative Therapies

Bioscience Institute S.p.A

Blue Horizon International, LLC

Boehringer Ingelheim BioXellence

Bonus Biogroup, Ltd

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, Inc.

Catalent

CCRM

Cell2Cure ApS

Cell Care Therapeutics

Cellcolabs

CELLeBRAIN

Cellipont Bioservices

Celprogen, Inc

CellProthera

CellResearch Corporation, Pte, Ltd.

Cell Surgical Network (CSN)

Celltex Therapeutics Corporation

CellTherapies

Cellular Biomedicine Group

Charles River Laboratories

CHIESI Farmaceutici S.p.A

Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc

CorestemChemon, Inc.

Creative Bioarray

Creative Medical Technology Holdings, Inc

Curia Global, Inc

Cynata Therapeutics, Ltd.

Cytovance Biologics

Defined Bioscience, Inc

Direct Biologics

eQcell, Inc.

Excellos

Exosla Therapeutics

EXOSOMEplus

Exothera

Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies

Future Cell Japan, Co., Ltd.

Genezen

GenScript Biotech Corporation

Hope Biosciences, LLC

Implant Therapeutics, Inc

INCELL Corporation LLC

InGeneron GmbH

Invitrx Therapeutics

Japan Tissue Engineering, Co., Ltd. (J-TEC)

JCR Pharmaceuticals, Co., Ltd.

Jointechlabs

Kangstem Biotech, Co., Ltd.

Kimera Labs

LifeCell

Longeveron

Lonza Group, Ltd

Lorem Cytori USA, Inc.

MEDPOST

Mesoblast, Ltd

Millipore Sigma

NecstGen

NextCell

NIPRO Corporation

Novadip Biosciences

Novus Biologicals, LLC

NuVasive

OCT Therapies & Research Pvt., Ltd

OmniaBio, Inc

Orthocell, Ltd

Orthofix Medical, Inc.

Ossium Health

Personal Cell Sciences Corporation

Personalized Stem Cells, Inc.

Pfizer CentreOne

Pluri Biotech, Ltd.

Porton Advanced

Prometheus Life Technologies

PromoCell GmbH

PuREC, Co., Ltd

Regrow Biosciences

Reliance Life Sciences, Pvt., Ltd

Remedy Cell, Ltd

Rentschler Biopharma

REPROCELL USA, Inc.

Resilence

RESTEM, LLC

RHEACELL GmbH & Co., KG

Richter-HELM

RoosterBio, Inc

RTI Surgical

RoslinCT

Samsung Biologics

San Bio, Co., Ltd.

Smith & Nephew, Inc

StemBioSys, Inc

STEMCELL Technologies, Inc

Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc

Stemmatters

StemMedical

Stempeutics Research Pvt., Ltd

StromaBio AB

TaiwanBio Therapeutics, Co., Ltd

Takeda Pharmaceutical, Co., Ltd

Tempo Bioscience

ThermoFisher Scientific

Vericel Corporation

Wuxi App Tec

Xintela AB

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mm18kf

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.
Significant investments are ahead for the companies within the Reykjavik Energy Group. According to the consolidated financial forecast for Veitur Utilities, ON Power, Reykjavik Fibre Network, Carbfix, and the parent company, total investments are expected to amount to ISK 245 billion over the forecast period. It covers the years 2026 through 2030. On average, annual investments are therefore likely to amount to nearly ISK 50 billion.

Strengthening Societys Competitiveness

Reykjavik Energy seeks to strengthen the competitiveness of Iceland, says Svar Freyr rainsson, the Groups CEO. We aim to generate more energy for businesses and households, connect more homes to our environmentally friendly utility systems, and continue developing and upgrading them with new technology, rainsson adds. He also points out that the financial forecast aims to improve societys resilience in the face of climate change and other threats.

rainsson also highlights new opportunities that are emerging. We are increasingly receiving inquiries from parties interested in establishing industries in Iceland because energy here is green and there are opportunities to permanently store carbon emissions from prospective industrial processes. In several locations in Iceland, we already have green industrial parks that could become arenas for such value creation, says rainsson. We hope that the governments forthcoming industrial policy will encourage the realization of such ideas. This would allow us to capitalize on our competitive advantage and strengthen the sustainability of Icelandic industry, says Svar Freyr rainsson, CEO of Reykjavik Energy.

Substantial Growth

The forecast, which also includes an outlook for the current year, projects that:

Annual revenues will grow from ISK 70.9 billion in the 2025 outlook to ISK 96.0 billion in 2030, an increase of 35%.

Annual operating expenses will grow from ISK 30.9 billion to ISK 35.6 billion, an increase of 15%.

Cash flow from operations will grow from ISK 32.2 billion in the 2025 outlook to ISK 42.1 billion in 2029, an increase of 31%.

Reykjavik Energys equity will grow from ISK 262 billion at year-end 2024 to ISK 341 billion at year-end 2029, an increase of 30%.

Reykjavik Energys Board of Directors approved the forecast today, following prior approval of forecasts by the respective boards of the subsidiaries. The financial forecast will be reviewed as part of the consolidated financial plan of the City of Reykjavik.

Outstanding Sustainability Rating

In an updated ESG risk assessment of Reykjavik Energy by the rating agency Reitun, the group receives a rating of A3, or outstanding. The rating company applies its model to environmental, social, and governance factors. In the attached summary of the results (in Icelandic), it states: Reykjavik Energy performs exceptionally well in Reituns ESG assessment, as in recent years, and continues to meet the increasing demands of this evaluation.

Reykjavik Energy is an issuer of green bonds and considers that its sustainable performance provides it with significantly more favourable financing.

Contact:

Snorri Hafsteinn orkelsson

CFO

Snorri.Hafsteinn.Thorkelsson@orkuveitan.is

Attachments
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vereigen Media, a leading B2B lead generation company, has announced its flagship event: Marketers Connect, in New York City on October 23rd. This event promises an evening of industry-leading insights, meaningful networking, and actionable takeaways for B2B marketers, offering fresh insights that matter. This event brings together the brightest minds in advertising, ABM and demand generation for a night of insights that New York wont forget.

At the heart of this premier gathering, industry leaders, marketing innovators, and growth strategists whose insights are impactful and practical will converge at Bar Harta, Grayson Hotel, New York.





In this Marketers Connect, attendees will hear from:

Gilah Petri , Senior Growth Marketing Manager, Global Demand Generation, NICE Ltd

, Senior Growth Marketing Manager, Global Demand Generation, NICE Ltd Lucas Rabinowitz , AVP, GM Control and Compliance, CHEQ

, AVP, GM Control and Compliance, CHEQ Chelsea Haynes , Head of Marketing, Opal Security

, Head of Marketing, Opal Security Doug Detlefsen , VP, Strategic Sales Team, Vereigen Media

, VP, Strategic Sales Team, Vereigen Media Rachel Bien, SVP, Omnichannel Media Architecture, Assembly Global



These seasoned professionals will share real-world strategies that have driven measurable success in B2B marketing, providing attendees a rare opportunity to understand how top companies engage audiences, drive qualified leads, and maximize ROI.

Why B2B Marketers Should Attend Marketers Connect in New York?

While attending this event, marketers will gain clear insights into the real pain points, which the marketing industry is facing while driving measurable success.

Discover Whats Next: Learn how B2B marketers are adapting to the future while understanding the emerging trends shaping ABM, AI-driven marketing, and verified content engagement (content syndication)

Learn how B2B marketers are adapting to the future while understanding the emerging trends shaping ABM, AI-driven marketing, and verified content engagement (content syndication) Exclusive Panel Insights: Learn from the experts representing NICE, CHEQ, Opal Security, Assembly Global, and Vereigen Media.

Learn from the experts representing NICE, CHEQ, Opal Security, Assembly Global, and Vereigen Media. Network and Decision Makers: Engage with top marketing professionals, strategists, and innovators driving results across industries.

Engage with top marketing professionals, strategists, and innovators driving results across industries. Actionable Takeaways: Walk away with measurable steps and exclusive strategies that you can implement immediately.

Event Details:

Location: Bar Harta, Grayson Hotel, 30 W 39th St, 2nd fl, New York, NY 10018, United States

Bar Harta, Grayson Hotel, 30 W 39th St, 2nd fl, New York, NY 10018, United States Date: October 23, 2025

October 23, 2025 Time: 6.00 PM to 9.00 PM

6.00 PM to 9.00 PM Registration & Details: Click here to reserve your seat for this exclusive event

Event Agenda

6:00 -7:00 PM: Networking, Light Bites & Cocktails

Networking, Light Bites & Cocktails 7:00 - 8:00 PM: Panel Discussion

Panel Discussion 8:00 - 9:00 PM: Networking & Cocktails



Vereigen Medias Proven Success: Marketers Connect

Following the success of San Francisco, Marketers Connect has sparked new collaboration, meaningful partnerships, and valuable conversations across the B2B marketing industry. Attendees have praised the event for its balance of actionable insights and genuine networking opportunities.

At Vereigen Media, we focus on connecting businesses with real people. Verified content engagement and human-verified leads ensure marketers arent just reaching contacts, theyre reaching real decision-makers who matter.

- Charlotte Graham, Executive Director, Enterprise Sales, Vereigen Media

About Vereigen Media

Vereigen Media, a U.S. based B2B demand generation company, is serving global brands across marketing, IT, SaaS, Tech, and other industries. With over 107 million first-party data, zero outsourcing policy, and 100% strict human verification, Vereigen Media redefines its lead generation process with the proven solutions as Verified Content Engagement, VM Engage (Programmatic and display ads), Event Registration, ABM, and Demand Generation. They make sure that they connect businesses meaningfully with prospects, ensuring every interaction is genuine, measurable, and privacy- compliant.

Leads. Done Right.

Limited Seats. Dont miss your chance to be part of this exclusive event in New York.

Reserve Your Spot Now!

Contact:

Manraj Singh - Marketing Manager

Vereigen Media LLC

Email: marketing@vereigenmedia.com

Phone: +1 512-240-2212 (US)

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6d35d402-ac14-4b80-9a1f-2973145c66c2
CHICAGO, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR), the leading international nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those impacted by sarcoidosis, will host its 25th Anniversary Awards Gala on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at the historic Union League Club of Chicago. This milestone celebration will honor extraordinary leaders and partners driving progress in sarcoidosis research, care, and advocacy while reflecting on 25 years of impact and looking toward a brighter future for those living with sarcoidosis.

The evening will feature a cocktail reception and dinner awards program, bringing together a powerful cross-section of the sarcoidosis community, including patients, caregivers, researchers, clinicians, industry partners, advocates and the media. Members of the FSR Scientific Advisory Board, Board of Directors, and FSR Global Sarcoidosis Clinic Alliance (FSR-GSCA) will also be in attendance, underscoring the organizations collaborative mission to accelerate breakthroughs and advance equitable care worldwide.





Honorees at the 25th Anniversary Gala include:

FSR Award for Distinguished Leadership in Sarcoidosis Research: Dr. Elliott Crouser

A renowned pulmonologist, FSR grant recipient, and Chair of the FSR Scientific Advisory Board since 2020, Dr. Crouser from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, FSR Global Sarcoidosis Clinic Alliance Member, has advanced sarcoidosis research, education, and treatment guidelines for more than two decades. Dr. Crouser will be presented his award by Louise M. Perkins, PhD, past FSR Board of Directors President and current member of the FSR Board of Directors.

FSR Congressional Award for Transformative Action through Public Service: Congressman Danny K. Davis (IL-7)

Congressman Davis has been a tireless champion for healthcare access, equity, and awareness. He was instrumental in securing April as Sarcoidosis Awareness Month Proclamation in the U.S. House of Representatives and advancing critical protections for patients and caregivers. Representative Davis was the Congressional Champion that helped FSR and the Coalition to Transform Clinical Trial Engagement to receive clarification that guarantees job protection rights under FMLA for those who choose to participate in clinical trials. The award will be presented by Sasha-Ann Simons, host and reporter with Chicago Public Media, the official media sponsor for the Gala.

FSR Sarcoidosis Corporate Collaborator Award: Walgreens

Walgreens is being honored for partnering with FSR to raise awareness about sarcoidosis nationwide and for their leadership in supporting FSRs efforts in elevating critical conversation about prevention of long-term lung damage resulting from wildfires and exposure to small particulate matter. A Walgreens representative will be presented their award by Dr. Joseph Barney of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

FSR Innovative Media Impact Award: No Good Deed

The creators of Netflix show No Good Deed, are being honored for spotlighting the emotional journey of a family affected by sarcoidosis, sparking national awareness and conversation. The series spotlight generated increased public interest by highlighting the challenges in receiving an accurate sarcoidosis diagnosis and highlighting the fears and anxiety that comes with the complex and unpredictable disease. This award will be accepted on behalf of No Good Deed by Liz Feldman, Showrunner and Executive Producer. The award will be presented by FSR Board Member, host of the FSR Sarc Fighter Podcast, and recipient of the FSR Crystal Sarcoidosis Inspiration Award, John Carlin.

The Gala will be emceed by Jeryl Prescott Gallien, celebrity spokesperson for FSRs Ignore No More Campaign and recipient of the FSR Sarcoidosis Crystal Spotlight Award. Gallien is well-known for her roles in Star Wars: Ahsoka, The Walking Dead, and Swamp Thing and has been living with sarcoidosis, herself, for a number of years.

For 25 years, FSR has been at the forefront of innovation, collaboration, and advocacy for the sarcoidosis community, said Mary McGowan, President and Chief Executive Officer of FSR. This celebration honors our past while setting the stage for the future, as we work together to ensure better treatments, greater awareness, and ultimately, a cure.

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Location: Union League Club of Chicago, 65 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604





Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information and to register, visit www.stopsarcoidosis.org/25-gala.

Media interested in covering the event are encouraged to contact FSR directly.

About Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis (pronounced SAR-COY-DOE-SIS) is an inflammatory disease of unknown cause characterized by the formation of granulomastiny clumps of inflammatory cellsin one or more organs of the body. Sarcoidosis affects the lungs in approximately 90% of cases, but it can affect almost any organ in the body and in more advanced or chronic cases can impact multiple organs at the same time. Despite increasing advances in research, sarcoidosis remains difficult to diagnose with limited treatment options and no known cure.

About Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research

Established in 2000, Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR), is the leading international non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for sarcoidosis and improving care for sarcoidosis patients through research, education, and support. Since inception, FSR has fostered over $8.5 million in sarcoidosis-specific research efforts and has worked diligently to provide resources to thousands. For more information and to join our community, visit www.stopsarcoidosis.org.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please reach out to:

Cathi Davis, FSR Communications and Marketing Director

312-341-0500, cathi@stopsarcoidosis.org

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b387dfa5-6753-404d-b45e-21f8b9559eb5
Toronto, ON, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ontario Court of Justice has fined Jegatheeswaran Velautham $20,000, plus a 25% victim surcharge, for damaging a natural gas line and failing to report the strike. Mr. Velautham pleaded guilty to violating the Gaseous Fuels Regulation under the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000.

The incident occurred on one evening in August 2023, as Mr. Velautham was reversing a transport truck and trailer into a loading dock at a multi-unit industrial-commercial building in Scarborough, Ontario. While reversing, the trailer struck a natural gas riser pipe and two manifolded gas meters, rupturing the gas line and damaging the meters. Following the collision, the driver disconnected the trailer from the tractor and left the scene without reporting the incident to authorities.

The collision caused a continuous release of pressurized natural gas overnight, creating a significant risk of injury, fatality, or property damage had the gas ignited and caused a fire or explosion. The leak was discovered the following morning and the gas supply was shut off by the fire department. The building was evacuated and no injuries were reported.

This incident was serious because it involved not just one but two safety non-compliances: damaging a gas pipe and then failing to report it. That compounded the risk to the public, though we are fortunate that, in this case, no one was hurt, said Owen Kennedy, Director of Fuel Safety at the Technical Standards and Safety Authority. Everyone has a responsibility to help keep our communities safe.

TSSA reminds the public that any damage to gas facilities or infrastructure and/or subsequent release of gas should be immediately reported to the Ministry of Environments Spills Action Centre at 1-800-268-6060 or by contacting TSSA at 1-877-682-8772.

About TSSA

The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is one of Ontarios public safety regulators mandated by the Government of Ontario to enforce provincial safety regulations and enhance public safety. Throughout Ontario, TSSA regulates the safety of amusement devices, boilers and pressure vessels, elevating devices, fuels, operating engineers, and ski lifts. Its range of safety services include public education and consumer information, certification, licensing and registration, engineering design review, inspections, investigations, safety management consultation, compliance support and enforcement and prosecution activities. The organizations vision is to be a valued advocate and recognized authority in public safety.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NBC Securities, a leading independent full-service broker-dealer and registered investment advisor headquartered in Alabama, is pleased to announce the appointment of Blaine Miller as its new Chief Compliance Officer (CCO). Miller brings more than 20 years of extensive experience in compliance, supervision, and operations across SEC-registered broker-dealers and RIAs.

Miller joins NBC Securities from M Financial Group, where he served as Deputy Chief Compliance Officer. Prior to that, he spent nearly a decade at Concourse Financial Group, where he held the role of Chief Compliance Officer and previously served as Chief Supervision Officer. Earlier in his career, Miller held compliance leadership positions with Sterne, Agee & Leach, Inc. and served as Director of Operations at MetLife Financial Group.

Looking ahead, we are excited to welcome Blaine to the team, said CEO John Doody. His deep expertise, proven leadership, and collaborative approach make him an excellent addition to NBC Securities. Blaines experience and perspective will help strengthen our compliance program and support our continued growth.

Miller said, Its a privilege to step into the role of Chief Compliance Officer at NBC Securities during such a transformative period in the firms journey. NBCs reputation for integrity, client-first service, and collaborative leadership is well established across the industry. Im committed to helping shape how the firm manages risk in todays dynamic environment, while continuing to advance our dedication to trusted relationships, personalized solutions, and meaningful value for our clients, partners, and employees.

Miller is widely respected in the industry for his practical knowledge, approachable leadership style, and strong commitment to regulatory excellence. He will oversee NBCs compliance strategy, supervisory framework, and regulatory engagement.

About NBC

NBC Securities is a privately held, full-service broker-dealer and registered investment advisor. The firm caters to individuals and companies across the United States. They provide private wealth services and asset management strategies from financial professionals who average over 25 years of industry experience, in addition to technology-driven custodial solutions that streamline and optimize operations for advisors nationwide.

They are independent and employee-owned, committed to building lasting relationships and legacies. The firm achieves this through the combined power of its network of advisors, sophisticated suite of business services, and in-house portfolio products and research that spans equities, fixed income, mutual funds, SMAs, annuities, and life insurance.

NBC Securities manages or advises approximately $5 billion in assets with an operating footprint that spans the US with corporate headquarters located in Birmingham, Alabama and 28 branch offices, including Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, and Ohio.

For more information, visit www.nbcsecurities.com.

Contact: press@mbcstrategic.com
Tampa, Fla., Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tampa Bay Wave, one of the nations premier accelerators for high-growth tech startups, proudly announces Arnie Bellini, visionary technology leader, philanthropist and innovation trailblazer, as the 2025 Tampa Tech Legend honoree. Bellini will be recognized at Tampa Bay Waves annual Hall of Fame Celebration on December 18th at the Florida Aquarium in Downtown Tampa.

We are absolutely thrilled to honor Arnie Bellini as the 2025 Tampa Tech Legend, said Linda Olson, CEO and Founder of Tampa Bay Wave. Arnie isnt just a successful entrepreneur; hes a visionary force whose philanthropy and bold leadership are redefining whats possible for Tampa Bays tech community. His impact is long-lasting and will continue to shape this regions tech ecosystem for years to come. From attracting world-class talent and forging critical federal partnerships to fueling record-breaking investment, Arnie is propelling our region onto the national stage as a powerhouse of innovation and excellence.

Santo Cannone, Board Chair of Tampa Bay Wave, emphasized the importance of Bellinis influence: Arnies vision and generosity are transforming Tampa Bay into an epicenter of innovation. His leadership is inspiring the next generation of tech talent and empowering our community to reach new heights in cybersecurity, AI and beyond.

The Tampa Tech Legend Award celebrates leaders whose contributions elevate Tampa Bay as a hub for innovation and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and technologists. Last years inaugural honoree was Tony DiBenedetto, Founder of Tribridge and Think Big for Kids, and current CEO of Appspace, setting the stage for recognizing leaders who embody bold innovation and community impact.

To be honored as the 2025 Tampa Tech Legend is humbling, but the real work is ahead. Just as we defend our physical borders, we must now defend our digital borders, said Bellini. Cybersecurity is Americas frontline, and AI is the new economy. We are so fortunate to have world-class tech innovators here in Tampa Bay, alongside our universities, government and military partners. By aligning these four pillars, we can secure our nations digital future, protect democracy and create the jobs of tomorrow.

Bellini has become one of Tampa Bays most influential champions for cybersecurity, AI and workforce development. In March 2025, he and his wife, Lauren, made history with a $40 million gift to the University of South Florida to establish the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing. Beyond USF, Bellini has supported cybersecurity education initiatives at institutions such as Saint Leo University and has been a leading advocate for positioning Tampa Bay as a national hub for digital defense and tech innovation. Notably, Bellini was one of the first sponsors of Tampa Bay Waves CyberTech|X Accelerator, demonstrating his early and sustained commitment to strengthening the regions cybersecurity ecosystem.

Bellini is also the visionary behind the CyberBay Summit, which will take place in Downtown Tampa, October 1315, 2025. Per the summits website, CyberBay 2025 is the inaugural event launching this bold initiative, inviting the technology, academic, government and military sectors to unite and flourish in a shared mission to drive Tampa Bays evolution as the nations leader in the convergence of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and national security. Tampa Bay Wave is a gold-level sponsor of the CyberBay Summit, and will be participating as speakers during the event.

About the Hall of Fame Celebration

The Hall of Fame Celebration, scheduled for Thursday, December 18, 2025, at the Florida Aquarium, is Tampa Bay Waves annual celebration and fundraiser event, bringing together tech leaders, innovators and community supporters to celebrate the regions thriving startup ecosystem and to honor those startups who are reaching major success milestones. Proceeds from the event directly support Tampa Bay Waves mission to Accelerate Floridas Innovation Ecosystem by helping entrepreneurs transform innovative ideas into real-world solutions and scalable businesses.

Sponsorship opportunities and tickets for the Hall of Fame Celebration are now available. For more information, visit tampabaywave.org/hall-of-fame.

###

ABOUT TAMPA BAY WAVE:

Tampa Bay Wave, Floridas #1 Accelerator, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to Accelerate Floridas Innovation Ecosystem by helping entrepreneurs transform innovative ideas into real-world solutions and scalable businesses. Since 2013, weve nurtured more than 600 startups, building a dynamic innovation ecosystem of startups, mentors, and investors. Our efforts have been a catalyst for economic prosperity, impacting local, national and global communities. Bolstered by a robust network of community partners, and sustained through sponsorships, grants and passionate community backing, we are built for founders, fueled by community. Tampa Bay Wave also receives financial support from our economic development partners: the U.S. Economic Development Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Hillsborough County, and the City of Tampa, as well as from academia, corporations and foundations, including: A-LIGN, Appspace, Bank of America, Celestar, Delta Air Lines/Virgin Atlantic Airlines, EY, Florida High Tech Corridor, Insight Assurance, Foley & Lardner, Kuducom, Nielsen Foundation, NextPath Career Partners, TECO, Thoropass and the University of South Florida, among others. Learn more at tampabaywave.org.

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LONDON, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 15 year old student, Emma Luo, from Scarsdale, New York, USA, has been announced as the Grand Prize Winner of this years prestigious John Locke Global Essay Prize, organised by The John Locke Institute, an independent educational organisation which emboldens the brightest students to become more academically ambitious and intellectually adventurous.

The John Locke Global Essay Prize is an esteemed competition for students which encourages independent thought, clear reasoning, critical analysis, and the ability to write persuasively. This year, over 63,000 hopeful students submitted essays from 191 countries. In total, over 100 million words were written.

The awards ceremony, held this weekend at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, welcomed over 2,200 attendees, including the competitions finalists, their families, and distinguished guests. Speakers included renowned psychologist and psycholinguist Steven Pinker and leading British public intellectual, Viscount Matt Ridley, both bestselling authors.

The Grand Prize-winning essay came from the Economics category, with Emma Luo exploring the issue of Private or Public Ownership: A Balancing Act. She developed original research to interrogate the role of government intervention and regulation in shaping social, economic and environmental outcomes.

When interviewed after the award ceremony, Emma Luo said, I have always really enjoyed the arts whether thats music or creative writing or especially economics. And expressing my love of this to others.

Im immensely grateful for this opportunity as I see it as a pathway to my future, especially kindling my love for economics.

Its not only a win in terms of a prize for me, but for the rest of my community as well. They have played a huge role in supporting me throughout my entire life.

We should always live up to our dreams.

The John Locke Global Essay Prize invites participants to write essays on a wide range of topics within categories, spanning Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology and Law.

The Prize is judged by a panel of senior academics drawn from leading universities including Oxford, Cambridge and Ivy League universities, with a rigorous selection process for each category, and a Grand Prize winner for the best entry overall.

Professor Terence Kealey, Chief Examiner for the John Locke Global Essay Prize, said,

This was clearly a tight competition. The essays I reviewed were exceptionally good.

We were looking for essays that were well written. But more than anything those which showed an individual voice, someone who looks at a question in a personal way - a piece that was well defended and well argued, but unique to that individual.

Martin Cox, Director General of The John Locke Institute, said:

At the John Locke Institute, we try hard to help students listen to people on the other side of an argument - to understand the critics to their own position. This competition helps us to foster this approach. The students need to address the questions from other points of view. This is needed in the world right now.

This competition offers affirmation and encouragement for the incredible young people who have worked so hard on their entries. It is an endorsement of their choice to aim high and pursue their goals. When they see what a big occasion this is, they get to see that their efforts have been worth it.

About The John Locke Institute: https://www.johnlockeinstitute.com/

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/940f574f-8404-4662-b97a-650a9a351df6
NEW YORK, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MAGACOIN FINANCE, an Ethereum-based cryptocurrency project, today announced the successful completion of its independent smart-contract audit by Hashex.org, confirming no critical vulnerabilities were found. The project has also begun a secondary review with Certik.com as its presale surpasses $15.5 million raised from more than 14,000 investors worldwide.

Analysts confirm MAGACOIN FINANCE is 100% legitimate. Verified by Hashex.org and under review by Certik.com , the project stands as one of the safest, most transparent presales of 2025.

MAGACOIN FINANCE Audit Review  100% Verified % Secure Presale Backed by Top Crypto Analysts





Introduction: Independent Reviews Confirm Legitimacy

As presale hype builds into 2025, investors are looking for verified, trustworthy projects  and MAGACOIN FINANCE continues to stand out for all the right reasons.

After successfully completing a full smart contract audit by Hashex.org  available for public viewing here  and now undergoing a secondary verification by Certik.com , MAGACOIN FINANCE has positioned itself as a fully legitimate, secure, and analyst-endorsed presale.





Hashex Audit Confirms Security and Transparency

The Hashex audit report provided detailed analysis of MAGACOIN FINANCEs smart contracts and found no high-risk or critical vulnerabilities.

Key highlights from the report include:

Smart contract integrity fully verified.



No owner backdoors or hidden control privileges.



or hidden control privileges. Clear tokenomics and transaction function design.



and transaction function design. Secure deployment confirmed, ensuring safe investor participation.



You can verify this yourself through the public audit link: Hashex Audit  MAGACOIN FINANCE .

This independent verification confirms that MAGACOIN FINANCEs code meets top-tier security and transparency standards.

Certik Review Underway: Double-Layered Verification

To reinforce trust even further, MAGACOIN FINANCE has also initiated an audit with Certik.com  one of the most respected names in blockchain security.

Certiks assessment focuses on:

Smart contract vulnerabilities



Governance and control mechanisms



Security of token deployment



Real-time monitoring for investor safety



This dual-audit strategy  Hashex completed, Certik in progress  provides investors with two levels of security validation rarely seen in early presales.

Leading Analysts Confirm Legitimacy

Leading crypto analysts and reviewers have publicly confirmed that MAGACOIN FINANCE is 100% legitimate. Many cite the dual audit approach as a sign of professional project management and serious investor protection measures.

Analyst feedback highlights:

Full audit transparency and public accessibility.



and public accessibility. Strong presale momentum , with thousands of buyers participating.



, with thousands of buyers participating. Long-term vision and structured token distribution.



and structured token distribution. Investor protection focus, distinguishing it from high-risk presales.



Experts agree that MAGACOIN FINANCE is not a short-term hype token, but rather a verified presale built for sustainable growth.

Community and Investor Response

Following the release of the Hashex audit and Certik review announcement, community sentiment has shifted decisively positive. Investor confidence is growing rapidly across Telegram and X (Twitter), and the presale continues to attract new participants daily.

Many early buyers cite audit verification and analyst coverage as their key reasons for joining. The projects commitment to transparency has helped it gain the trust of even the most cautious investors.





Why MAGACOIN FINANCE Is Now a Benchmark for Legit Presales

In a market filled with uncertainty, MAGACOIN FINANCE has set a new standard for legitimacy and investor protection.

Its verified audits, transparent presale process, and analyst endorsements have positioned it as one of the safest and most credible crypto presales of 2025.

Core takeaways:

Hashex audit passed with zero major issues.



Certik review in progress for secondary validation.



Public documentation ensures full investor transparency.



ensures full investor transparency. Strong analyst consensus confirms MAGACOIN FINANCEs legitimacy.



Conclusion

The verdict is clear: MAGACOIN FINANCE is 100% legitimate, verified, and backed by leading analysts.

With independent audits from Hashex.org and Certik.com , the project has proven its authenticity beyond any doubt.

As the 2025 market heats up, MAGACOIN FINANCE stands as a model for safe, transparent, and professionally verified presales  the kind of project serious investors look for when building long-term crypto positions.

FAQ: MAGACOIN FINANCE Audit and Analyst Reviews

Q1: Has MAGACOIN FINANCE been officially audited?

A1: Yes. MAGACOIN FINANCE has been audited by Hashex.org  full report here  and is under Certik review for secondary verification.

Q2: What did the Hashex audit confirm?

A2: It confirmed no critical vulnerabilities, no ownership risks, and complete contract transparency.

Q3: Is MAGACOIN FINANCE considered safe to invest in?

A3: Yes. Analysts and audit firms alike confirm that the project is safe, transparent, and fully legitimate.

Q4: Why do analysts support MAGACOIN FINANCE?

A4: Because of its verified code integrity, structured presale model, and professional audit record, all of which meet top industry standards.

Q5: Where can I safely join the MAGACOIN FINANCE presale?

A5: Only at the official website: https://magacoinfinance.com .

For more information, please visit:

Website: https://magacoinfinance.com

X: https://x.com/magacoinfinance

Telegram: https://t.me/magacoinfinance

Contact Details

PR Specialist: Rebecca Miles

Email: rebecca@magacoinfinance.com

Disclaimer: This content is provided by MAGACOIN FINANCE. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector--including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining--complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an "as-is" basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f020c66c-d861-4e66-9f3e-b19c7c4a5de2

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b7ea2a29-536d-4ef0-9251-12a2ae09cdb3

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bd181e3c-c460-4eb6-ac81-b4b87a8b3580
INFORMATION REGARDING EXECUTED TRANSACTIONS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF A SHARE BUY-BACK PROGRAM

Regulated Information

Paris, 6 October 2025

(In accordance with article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 on Market Abuse Regulation and article 3(3) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 through regulatory technical standards concerning the conditions applicable to buy-back programs and stabilization measures)

As announced on Thursday 31 July 2025, Societe Generale started on Monday 4 August 2025 a EUR 1 billion ordinary share buy-back program for the purpose of shares cancellation.

Societe Generale received all necessary authorizations from supervisory authorities. These buy-backs are carried out in compliance with the conditions, notably regarding the maximum price, set forth by the General Meeting of 22 May 2024 and presented in the description released on 17 May 2024, as well as in accordance with the Market Abuse Regulation. They are performed on the trading platforms on which Societe Generale shares are listed for trading or are traded, including the regulated market of Euronext Paris.

Purchases performed during the period from 29 September to 3 October 2025 are described below. As of 3 October 2025, Societe Generale has completed 79.4% of its share buy-back program, representing 1.8%* of its share capital.

Issuer name: Societe Generale - LEI O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41

Reference of the financial instrument: ISIN FR0000130809

Period: From 29 September to 3 October 2025

* Ratio between the number of shares repurchased and the 785,180,327 shares comprising the current share capital.

Purchases performed by Societe Generale during the period

Aggregated presentation by day and market

Issuer name Issuer code (LEI) Transaction date ISIN Code Daily total volume (in number of shares) Daily weighted average price of shares acquired Platform SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 29-Sep-25 FR0000130809 123,363 56.8623 XPAR SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 29-Sep-25 FR0000130809 11,435 56.8482 CEUX SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 30-Sep-25 FR0000130809 278,018 56.5554 XPAR SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 30-Sep-25 FR0000130809 185,866 56.5310 CEUX SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 30-Sep-25 FR0000130809 10,000 56.4200 TQEX SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 30-Sep-25 FR0000130809 20,000 56.4907 AQEU SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 1-Oct-25 FR0000130809 95,089 56.2337 XPAR SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 1-Oct-25 FR0000130809 29,536 55.9233 CEUX SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 1-Oct-25 FR0000130809 7,807 55.8851 TQEX SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 1-Oct-25 FR0000130809 13,728 55.8357 AQEU SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 2-Oct-25 FR0000130809 88,403 56.8524 XPAR SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 2-Oct-25 FR0000130809 71,000 56.7872 CEUX SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 2-Oct-25 FR0000130809 5,000 56.8000 TQEX SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 2-Oct-25 FR0000130809 5,000 56.8145 AQEU SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 3-Oct-25 FR0000130809 133,823 56.7314 XPAR SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 3-Oct-25 FR0000130809 55,012 56.6566 CEUX SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 3-Oct-25 FR0000130809 30,000 56.6004 TQEX SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 3-Oct-25 FR0000130809 30,000 56.6353 AQEU TOTAL 1,193,080 56.5954

Press contacts:

Jean-Baptiste Froville_+33 1 58 98 68 00_ jean-baptiste.froville@socgen.com

Fanny Rouby_+33 1 57 29 11 12_ fanny.rouby@socgen.com

Societe Generale



Societe Generale is a top tier European Bank with around 119,000 employees serving more than 26 million clients in 62 countries across the world. We have been supporting the development of our economies for 160 years, providing our corporate, institutional, and individual clients with a wide array of value-added advisory and financial solutions. Our long-lasting and trusted relationships with the clients, our cutting-edge expertise, our unique innovation, our ESG capabilities and leading franchises are part of our DNA and serve our most essential objective - to deliver sustainable value creation for all our stakeholders.



The Group runs three complementary sets of businesses, embedding ESG offerings for all its clients:

French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance , with leading retail bank SG and insurance franchise, premium private banking services, and the leading digital bank BoursoBank.

, with leading retail bank SG and insurance franchise, premium private banking services, and the leading digital bank BoursoBank. Global Banking and Investor Solutions , a top tier wholesale bank offering tailored-made solutions with distinctive global leadership in equity derivatives, structured finance and ESG.

, a top tier wholesale bank offering tailored-made solutions with distinctive global leadership in equity derivatives, structured finance and ESG. Mobility, International Retail Banking and Financial Services, comprising well-established universal banks (in Czech Republic, Romania and several African countries), Ayvens (the new ALD I LeasePlan brand), a global player in sustainable mobility, as well as specialized financing activities.





Committed to building together with its clients a better and sustainable future, Societe Generale aims to be a leading partner in the environmental transition and sustainability overall. The Group is included in the principal socially responsible investment indices: DJSI (Europe), FTSE4Good (Global and Europe), Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, Refinitiv Diversity and Inclusion Index, Euronext Vigeo (Europe and Eurozone), STOXX Global ESG Leaders indexes, and the MSCI Low Carbon Leaders Index (World and Europe).

In case of doubt regarding the authenticity of this press release, please go to the end of the Group News page on societegenerale.com website where official Press Releases sent by Societe Generale can be certified using blockchain technology. A link will allow you to check the documents legitimacy directly on the web page.

For more information, you can follow us on Twitter/X @societegenerale or visit our website societegenerale.com.

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Nationwide media tour conducted by Visit Costa Rica in conjunction with D S Simon Media and YourUpdateTV discussing the rise of year-round adventure travel.

NEW YORK, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

With more Americans seeking meaningful travel experiences that combine adventure, family bonding, and sustainability, Costa Rica is emerging as a premier year-round destination. Known for its accessible flights, rich biodiversity, and wide array of activities, the country offers travelers an unmatched blend of outdoor excitement and cultural immersion.

Costa Ricas unique microclimates make it an ideal destination in any season. During the dry season, visitors enjoy sunny days perfect for beaches and outdoor adventures, while the green season transforms the landscape into lush rainforests, offering fewer crowds and vibrant wildlife encounters. The countrys Pacific and Caribbean coasts offer epic surfing, rafting, and countless other thrills that appeal to travelers of all ages. With new direct flights debuting from cities including San Francisco, Seattle, and Fort Lauderdale, as well as two international airports in San Jose and Liberia, Costa Rica is easier to reach than ever.

Families are drawn to Costa Rica for experiences that go far beyond traditional resort stays. Parents are increasingly seeking opportunities for children to connect with nature, explore local culture, and engage in hands-on adventures. From learning to surf together to visiting bustling local markets and exploring national parks, Costa Rica offers activities that create lasting memories while teaching the value of curiosity, exploration, and cultural understanding.

Adventure is designed to be safe and engaging for the whole family. Ziplining through the rainforest, gentle river safaris to spotting monkeys and sloths, waterfall hikes, and snorkeling in calm waters allow kids to participate safely while parents enjoy the thrill alongside them. Beyond adventure, Costa Rica continues to lead in sustainable travel.

Eco-conscious visitors can stay in eco-lodges powered by renewable energy, join guided tours led by certified naturalists, and take part in conservation projects such as sea turtle releases. These experiences allow families to enjoy unique adventures while making a positive impact on local communities and the environment.

With its combination of accessibility, safety, adventure, and sustainability, Costa Rica is fast becoming the destination of choice for families seeking more than a typical vacation. For more information, visit visitcostarica.com or follow @visit_costarica on Instagram.

About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a property of D S Simon Media. The video included and release was part of a media tour that was produced by D S Simon Media on behalf of Visit Costa Rica.

Media Contact:

Michael ODonnell

D S Simon Media

212-736-2727

modonnell@dssimon.com

A video accompanying this announcement is available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/629b984b-f963-4065-97d7-31e0223007a7




BELLEFONTE, Pa., Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Dr. Wade Newman Grant for Healthcare Students is excited to announce that the winner of this years scholarship will be unveiled on October 15, 2025. This grant, founded by Dr. Wade Newman, aims to support undergraduate students nationwide who aspire to build impactful careers in various healthcare fields.

The scholarship program invites applications from students pursuing degrees in medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, and other healthcare-related disciplines. This year, the grant received numerous applications, showcasing the diverse backgrounds and inspiring stories of aspiring healthcare professionals. Applicants were required to submit an essay that reflects their personal experiences, motivations for entering the healthcare profession, and their future plans for contributing to patient care.

Dr. Wade Newman, a highly regarded dental professional with decades of experience, is passionate about nurturing the next generation of healthcare leaders. He stated, Investing in future healthcare leaders is critical to advancing patient care and enhancing community well-being. The stories shared through this scholarship illustrate the unique journeys of these talented students, and I am eager to recognize their dedication and commitment.

The scholarship not only provides financial support to assist students in their educational pursuits but also serves as a platform for them to articulate their visions for the future of healthcare. By encouraging students to express their aspirations, the Dr. Wade Newman Grant aims to inspire a new wave of compassionate and skilled healthcare providers who are committed to improving patient care.

The winner of the grant will be announced on the scholarships official website, [https://drwadenewmangrant.com/dr-wade-newman-grant/], and will receive financial assistance to help further their education. Dr. Newman and the selection committee are looking forward to recognizing a deserving candidate whose essay exemplifies a strong passion for healthcare and a commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of patients.

The Dr. Wade Newman Grant is a reflection of Dr. Newmans dedication to service and mentorship. As the founder of Eagle Valley Family Dentistry in Milesburg, Pennsylvania, Dr. Newman has spent his career delivering quality dental care, participating in humanitarian missions, and serving for over 20 years in the United States Air National Guard as a Lieutenant Colonel. His extensive experience includes providing dental care to underserved communities locally and internationally.

Dr. Wade Newman believes that by investing in students who are passionate about healthcare, he is contributing to the future of medicine and the overall well-being of society. Every aspiring healthcare professional carries a story that is shaped by their life experiences, and I am honored to provide a platform for them to share those stories, he remarked.

Key Dates for the Grant

Application Deadline: September 15, 2025

Winner Announcement: October 15, 2025

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Dr. Wade Newman

Organization: The Dr. Wade Newman Grant for Healthcare Students

Website: https://drwadenewmangrant.com/dr-wade-newman-grant/

Email: apply@drwadenewmangrant.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dee4c430-b246-4aab-b9ff-0c23ac0ea6dc
New York, USA, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Market Forecast: Opportunities and Growth Trends Upto 2034 | DelveInsight

The diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis market landscape is evolving from conventional symptom-focused strategies toward therapies that specifically target fibrosis and immune modulation, addressing a significant unmet need. The development pipeline is varied, with prominent candidates including Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharmas MT-7117, Cumberlands ifetroban, Johnson & Johnsons guselkumab, and Kyvernas KYV-101. The dcSSc market is anticipated to move toward earlier intervention with targeted therapies, combination approaches, and precision medicine.

DelveInsights Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Market Insights report includes a comprehensive understanding of current treatment practices, emerging diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis drugs, market share of individual therapies, and current and forecasted diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis market size from 2020 to 2034, segmented into leading markets (the US, EU4, UK, and Japan).

Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Market Summary

The total diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis treatment market size is expected to grow positively by 2034 in the leading markets.

The United States accounts for the largest market size of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, in comparison to EU4 (Germany, Italy, France, and Spain), the UK, and Japan.

The total number of diagnosed prevalent cases of dcSSc in the leading markets were about ~64K in 2024.

in 2024. Key diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis companies, including Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Novartis, Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, Kyverna Therapeutics, and others, are actively working on innovative diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis drugs.

and others, are actively working on innovative diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis drugs. Some of the key diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis therapies in clinical trials include Dersimelagon (MT-7117), Ianalumab, Vasculan (ifetroban), Guselkumab, KYV 101, and others. These novel diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis therapies are anticipated to enter the diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis market in the forecast period and are expected to change the market.

Discover which diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis medications are expected to grab the market share @ Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Market Report





Key Factors Driving the Growth of the Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Market

Rising Global Prevalence and Awareness

Systemic sclerosis, including its diffuse cutaneous form, is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by excessive collagen deposition, leading to skin thickening and potential organ fibrosis. The prevalence of dcSSc is estimated at approximately 1 in 25,000 adults, with a higher incidence in women (female-to-male ratio of around 4:1). This growing recognition is prompting increased research and development efforts in the field.

Improved Diagnostic Techniques

Advancements in diagnostic technologies are enabling earlier and more accurate detection of dcSSc. Early diagnosis is critical for initiating timely interventions, which can significantly improve patient outcomes. Enhanced diagnostic capabilities are also contributing to a better understanding of the disease's epidemiology and progression.

Advancement in dcSSc Drug Development

Some of the promising companies, such as Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma (MT-7117), Cumberland Pharmaceuticals (ifetroban), Johnson & Johnson (Guselkumab), Kyverna Therapeutics (KYV-101), and others, are evaluating their lead assets in different stages of development.

Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Market Analysis

Currently, there are no therapies that can cure or fundamentally alter the course of the disease. Long-term treatments often lose effectiveness over time and are associated with significant adverse effects. As a result, current management strategies primarily focus on alleviating symptoms in affected organs, with approaches tailored to disease severity, progression, and duration.

Biologic therapies are emerging as promising alternatives, either as standalone or adjunct treatments, particularly when combined with agents that have anti-fibrotic properties. The dcSSc treatment landscape is gradually shifting from traditional symptom-based management toward targeted antifibrotic and immunomodulatory strategies to address substantial unmet needs.

Approved therapies include OFEV (nintedanib, Boehringer Ingelheim), the first antifibrotic shown to slow lung function decline in SSc-ILD; ACTEMRA (tocilizumab, Roche), which modulates IL-6driven inflammation and lung outcomes; and RITUXAN (rituximab, Zenyaku Kogyo/Chugai), a B-celldepleting therapy increasingly used in clinical practice.

Investigational therapies in dcSSc target various pathogenic pathways using distinct mechanisms. MC1R agonists regulate inflammation, vascular dysfunction, and fibrosis via the melanocortin 1 receptor. BAFF inhibitors reduce the survival of abnormal B cells and autoantibody production. TxA2/PGH2 antagonists inhibit thromboxane and prostaglandin signaling, thereby reducing vasoconstriction, platelet aggregation, and fibrosis.

IL-23 inhibitors modulate the IL-23/Th17 axis to suppress pro-inflammatory responses associated with disease progression. CD19-directed therapies deplete pathogenic B cells, thereby restoring immune balance and limiting autoimmune activity. Collectively, these novel approaches aim to go beyond conventional immunosuppressants by targeting the key drivers of dcSSc pathogenesis.

Learn more about the diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis treatment options @ Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Treatment Market

Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Competitive Landscape

The treatment pipeline for dcSSc reflects a significant unmet medical need. A prominent key player, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma (MT-7117), Cumberland Pharmaceuticals (ifetroban), Johnson & Johnson (Guselkumab), Kyverna Therapeutics (KYV-101), and others are currently active in the dcSSc treatment space.

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharmas Dersimelagon is an orally administered, synthetic, non-peptide small molecule under development for multiple therapeutic indications. It functions as a selective MC1R agonist, exerting anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and vascular-protective effects by acting on inflammatory cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. This profile positions it as a potential treatment option for systemic sclerosis. In April 2020, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma received Fast Track Designation for MT-7117 for the treatment of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis.

Novartis Ianalumab is a novel monoclonal antibody that targets the B-cell activating factor receptor (BAFF-R). It aims to reduce B-cell populations through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and by blocking survival signals for B cells. Since B cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, including autoantibody production and profibrotic signaling, Ianalumab represents a targeted immunomodulatory strategy.

The anticipated launch of these emerging diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis therapies are poised to transform the diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis market landscape in the coming years. As these cutting-edge diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis therapies continue to mature and gain regulatory approval, they are expected to reshape the diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis market landscape, offering new standards of care and unlocking opportunities for medical innovation and economic growth.

To know more about new treatment for diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, visit @ Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Medication

Recent Developments in the Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Market

In July 2025, Novartis began a Phase II multicenter clinical study to assess the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of Ianalumab in individuals with dcSSc.

began a Phase II multicenter clinical study to assess the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of Ianalumab in individuals with dcSSc. In May 2025, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America announced the completion of enrollment for its Phase III INSPIRE Study of Investigational Dersimelagon in Patients with EPP and XLP.

What is Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis?

Diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) is a severe subtype of systemic sclerosis, an autoimmune disorder of the connective tissue characterized by extensive skin thickening and a high risk of internal organ involvement. The condition results from immune system activation, vascular damage, and abnormal collagen accumulation, causing fibrosis in both the skin and internal organs. Skin changes advance quickly, affecting the face, trunk, and limbs, often beginning with Raynauds phenomenon. Internal organ complications can include interstitial lung disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension, scleroderma renal crisis, heart dysfunction, and gastrointestinal motility issues.

Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Epidemiology Segmentation

The diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis epidemiology section provides insights into the historical and current diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis patient pool and forecasted trends for the leading markets. Patients with dcSSc tend to have a more aggressive clinical course and eventually develop visceral complications (usually within the first 3 to 5 years), which, if severe, can lead to death.

The diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis market report proffers epidemiological analysis for the study period 20202034 in the leading markets segmented into:

Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Systemic Sclerosis

Systemic Sclerosis by Disease Subset

Age-specific Cases of Systemic Sclerosis

Systemic Sclerosis With Organ Involvement

Systemic Sclerosis Severity by Organ Damage

Systemic Sclerosis Severity by Skin Thickness

Download the report to understand diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis management @ Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Treatment Options

Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Market Report Metrics Details Study Period 20202034 Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Market Report Coverage 7MM [The United States, the EU-4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan] Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Epidemiology Segmentation Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Systemic Sclerosis, Systemic Sclerosis by Disease Subset, Age-specific Cases of Systemic Sclerosis, Systemic Sclerosis With Organ Involvement, Systemic Sclerosis Severity by Organ Damage, and Systemic Sclerosis Severity by Skin Thickness Key Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Companies Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Novartis, Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, Kyverna Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche, and others Key Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Therapies Dersimelagon (MT-7117), Ianalumab, Vasculan (ifetroban), Guselkumab, KYV 101, OFEV, ACTEMRA, and others

Scope of the Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Market Report

Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Therapeutic Assessment: Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis current marketed and emerging therapies

Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis current marketed and emerging therapies Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Market Dynamics: Conjoint Analysis of Emerging Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Drugs

Conjoint Analysis of Emerging Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Drugs Competitive Intelligence Analysis: SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies

SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Market Unmet Needs, KOLs views, Analysts views, Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Market Access and Reimbursement

Discover more about diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis drugs in development @ Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Clinical Trials

Table of Contents

1 Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Market Key Insights 2 Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Market Report Introduction 3 Epidemiology and Market Forecast Methodology 4 Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis (dcSSc): Market Overview at a Glance 4.1 Market Size (%) of Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis by therapies in 2024 4.2 Market Size (%) of Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis by therapies in 2034 5 Executive Summary 6 Key Events 7 Disease Background and Overview: Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis (dcSSc) 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Causes 7.3 Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Pathophysiology 7.4 Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Symptoms 7.5 Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Risk Factor 7.6 Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Diagnosis 8 Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Treatment and Management 9 Epidemiology and Patient Population 9.1 Key Findings 9.2 Assumptions and Rationale 9.3 Total Diagnosed Prevalent cases of dcSSc:7MM 9.4 The United States 9.4.1 Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Systemic Sclerosis in the United States 9.4.2 Systemic Sclerosis by Disease Subset in the United States 9.4.3 Age-specific Cases of Systemic Sclerosis in the United States 9.4.5 Systemic Sclerosis With Organ Involvement in the United States 9.4.6 Systemic Sclerosis Severity by Organ Damage in the United States 9.4.7 Systemic Sclerosis Severity by Skin Thickness in the United States 9.5 EU4 and the UK 9.6 Japan 10 Patient Journey of Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis (dcSSc) 11 Marketed Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Therapies 11.1 Key Competitors 11.2 OFEV (nintedanib): Boehringer Ingelheim 11.2.1 Product Description 11.2.2 Regulatory Milestones 11.2.3 Other Developmental Activities 11.2.4 Clinical Development 11.2.4.1 Clinical Trial Information 11.2.5 Safety and Efficacy 11.2.6 Analyst Views 11.3 ACTEMRA (tocilizumab): Roche 12 Emerging Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Therapies 12.1 Key Cross Competition 12.2 Dersimelagon (MT-7117): Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma 12.2.1 Product Description 12.2.2 Other Development Activities 12.2.3 Clinical Development Activities 12.2.4 Safety and Efficacy 12.2.5 Analyst View 12.3 Ianalumab: Novartis 13 Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis (dcSSc): Market Analysis 13.1 Key Findings 13.2 Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Market Outlook 13.3 Conjoint Analysis 13.4 Key Market Forecast Assumptions 13.5 Total dcSSc Market Analysis: 7MM 13.6 United States Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Market Size 13.6.1 Total Market Size of dcSSc in the United States 13.6.2 Market Size of dcSSc by Therapies in the United States 13.7 EU4 and the UK Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Market Size 13.8 Japan Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Market Size 14 Unmet Needs of Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis (dcSSc) 15 SWOT Analysis of Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis (dcSSc) 16 KOL Views of Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis (dcSSc) 17 Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Market Access and Reimbursement 17.1 United States 17.2 EU4 and the UK 17.3 Japan 18 Bibliography 19 Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Market Report Methodology

Related Reports

Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Clinical Trial Analysis

Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Pipeline Insight  2025 report provides comprehensive insights about the pipeline landscape, pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and non-clinical stage products, and the key dcSSc companies, including Kadmon Pharmaceuticals, Talaris Therapeutics, Horizon Therapeutics, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Takeda Oncology, Seagen, among others.

Systemic Sclerosis Market

Systemic Sclerosis Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast  2034 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key systemic sclerosis companies, including Kyowa Kirin, GSK, AstraZeneca, Amgen (Horizon Therapeutics), Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Roche (Genentech), Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, aTyr Pharma, Kyorin Pharmaceutical, Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, among others.

Systemic Sclerosis Clinical Trial Analysis

Systemic Sclerosis Pipeline Insight  2025 report provides comprehensive insights about the pipeline landscape, pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and non-clinical stage products, and the key systemic sclerosis companies, including Eicos Sciences, Beijing Continent Pharmaceutical, Kyowa Kirin, Cytori therapeutics, Corbus Pharmaceuticals, Zenyaku Kogyo, Sanofi, Bayer, ASKA Pharmaceutical, Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals, United Therapeutics, Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, ILTOO Pharma, Horizon Pharmaceuticals, Janssen Biotech, Gesynta Pharma, Certa Therapeutics, Pfizer, Vicore Pharma, Seagen, CSL Behring, arGentis Pharmaceuticals, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Kadmon Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Camurus, Pfizer, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Castle Creek Biosciences, Talaris Therapeutics, Viela Bio, Formation Biologics, Horizon Therapeutics, Chemomab Therapeutics, AnaMar, Atlantic Healthcare, D&D Pharmatech, Acceleron Pharma, Riptide Bioscience, Timber Pharmaceuticals, Tvardi Therapeutics, Accuitis Pharmaceuticals, AKL Research and Development, iBio, Blade Therapeutics, Cantargia, BriaCell Therapeutics, Leadiant Biosciences, among others.

Systemic Sclerosis-associated Interstitial Lung Disease Market

Systemic Sclerosis-associated Interstitial Lung Disease Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast  2034 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key SSc-ILD companies, including Genentech Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim, Prometheus Biosciences Inc., Roche, Acceleron Pharma, Talaris Therapeutics, Kadmon Corporation, among others.

Systemic Sclerosis-associated Interstitial Lung Disease Clinical Trial Analysis

Systemic Sclerosis-associated Interstitial Lung Disease Pipeline Insight  2025 report provides comprehensive insights about the pipeline landscape, pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and non-clinical stage products, and the key SSc-ILD companies, including Genentech Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim, Prometheus Biosciences Inc., Roche, Acceleron Pharma, Talaris Therapeutics, Kadmon Corporation, among others.

DelveInsights Pharma Competitive Intelligence Service: Through its CI solutions, DelveInsight provides its clients with real-time and actionable intelligence on their competitors and markets of interest to keep them stay ahead of the competition by providing insights into the latest therapeutic area-specific/indication-specific market trends, in emerging drugs, and competitive strategies. These services are tailored to the specific needs of each client and are delivered through a combination of reports, dashboards, and interactive presentations, enabling clients to make informed decisions, mitigate risks, and identify opportunities for growth and expansion.

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FORT MYERS, Fla., Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CDM Smith has reached key project milestones on the integrated progressive design-build effort to expand the Central and South Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facilities (AWWTFs) and advance the Surface Water Discharge Elimination program for the City of Fort Myers. With the design phase for the Central AWWTF now 60 percent complete, the city has contracted CDM Smith for construction on the $150 million project.

The project aims to secure more reclaimed water for public access use and eliminate discharge of treated wastewater into the Caloosahatchee River. As the Central and South AWWTF both near full capacity, the expansion is crucial to sustain the growing population of the city and meet water service demands. This project will increase the reclaimed system capacity at the two AWWTFs from 18 MGD to 72 MGD by adding filtration and high-level disinfectant for tertiary treatment. Once complete, the two facilities will have enough capacity to support the citys demand for wastewater treatment, and beneficial reuse and disposal through 2040.

The City of Fort Myers Surface Water Discharge Elimination Project is a transformative milestone that honors our commitment to protecting Floridas waterways and communities. Through high-value, innovative engineering and construction, were setting a new benchmark for sustainable infrastructure in the region, said Justin Saarinen, principal and client service leader at CDM Smith.

CDM Smith is a privately owned engineering and construction firm providing legendary client service and smart solutions in water, environment, transportation, energy, and facilities. Passionate about our work and invested in each other, we are inspired to think and driven to solve the worlds environmental and infrastructure challenges.

Attachment
PLANTATION, Fla., Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Dr. Joel Berley Scholarship for Future Doctors is now accepting applications from undergraduate students across the United States who aspire to careers in medicine. Founded by Dr. Joel Berley, a respected oral and maxillofacial surgeon based in Plantation, Florida, the scholarship reflects his dedication to supporting students with the vision, passion, and academic commitment to become the next generation of medical leaders.

Dr. Joel Berley, owner of Plantation Oral Surgery, has built a career defined by excellence in patient care and a dedication to professional growth. Through this scholarship, he aims to provide students nationwide with the opportunity to take meaningful steps toward achieving their goals in the healthcare field.

Scholarship Eligibility and Requirements

The Dr. Joel Berley Scholarship for Future Doctors is open to undergraduate students in the United States who meet the following criteria:

Must be enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university

Must be on a pre-medical or health-related academic track with a clear plan to pursue a medical career

Must submit a thoughtful, original essay addressing the prompt: What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine, and how do you envision making a meaningful difference in the lives of patients or the healthcare system as a whole?



Essays must be under 1,000 words and will be judged on originality, clarity, insight, and relevance to the prompt.

Important Dates

The scholarship deadline is January 15, 2026, with the winner to be announced on February 15, 2026. One outstanding student will be selected for this one-time award to support their academic journey toward a future in healthcare.

Dr. Joel Berleys Commitment to Education

Dr. Joel Berley graduated with high honors from Rutgers University, earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine from Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and completed a comprehensive residency at Montefiore Medical Center, where he served as Chief Resident. Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. Joel Berley is passionate about mentoring and creating opportunities for aspiring medical professionals nationwide.

This scholarship reflects Dr. Joel Berleys vision to inspire students who are not only academically strong but also deeply committed to making a difference in healthcare. By supporting education, he hopes to contribute to a future where compassionate, skilled medical professionals continue to improve the quality of care for patients everywhere.

Application Details

Students interested in applying can find the complete eligibility criteria and instructions on the official scholarship website at https://drjoelberleyscholarship.com/.

Contact Information

Spokesperson: Dr. Joel Berley

Organization: The Dr. Joel Berley Scholarship for Future Doctors

Website: https://drjoelberleyscholarship.com/

Email: apply@drjoelberleyscholarship.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5a60e486-1285-41e2-8099-7e1b7cd33479
HOUSTON, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recognizing the critical need to support emerging dental professionals, Dr. Husain Kapadia, DMD, has established the Dr. Husain Kapadia Scholarship for Dentists, offering $1,000 in financial assistance to qualified undergraduate students committed to pursuing dental careers. This merit-based award represents a significant investment in the future of oral healthcare, targeting academically driven students who demonstrate exceptional potential in the field.

The scholarship initiative launches amid growing concerns about educational accessibility in healthcare professions. With dental school costs continuing to rise and student debt reaching unprecedented levels, Dr. Kapadia's program addresses these challenges by providing direct financial relief to promising candidates during their undergraduate preparation phase.

"The dental profession demands not only clinical expertise but also genuine compassion and innovative thinking," stated Dr. Husain Kapadia. "This scholarship identifies students who embody these qualities and provides them with tangible support as they work toward their professional goals."

Dr. Kapadia brings extensive clinical experience to his mentorship role, specializing in comprehensive restorative procedures, advanced prosthodontics, and complex oral surgery cases throughout the Houston metropolitan area. His practice philosophy emphasizes patient-centered care, continuing education, and community outreachvalues he seeks to instill in scholarship recipients.

The application process requires candidates to submit a compelling 500-750 word essay addressing the question: "What inspires you to become a dentist, and how do you hope to impact the future of oral healthcare?" This prompt encourages applicants to articulate their professional vision while demonstrating writing proficiency and critical thinking skills essential for dental school success.

Eligible applicants must be currently enrolled undergraduate students at accredited U.S. institutions with clearly defined pre-dental academic tracks. Submissions require complete contact information, institutional affiliation, academic major, and anticipated graduation timeline. All materials should be forwarded to apply@drhusainkapadiascholarship.com with the subject heading: Kapadia Scholarship Application  [Applicant Name].

The selection committee will evaluate entries based on originality of thought, clarity of expression, and demonstrated alignment with core dental profession values including service excellence, leadership potential, and commitment to healthcare innovation. The evaluation process emphasizes authentic personal narratives over standardized responses.

Dr. Husain Kapadias educational background includes undergraduate studies in kinesiology and biology at the University of Houston, followed by doctoral training at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. His professional development has been enhanced through extensive volunteer work, mentorship activities, and participation in dental education advocacy programs.

The scholarship reflects broader industry trends toward supporting diversity and accessibility in dental education. Recent studies indicate that financial barriers significantly impact career decisions among qualified pre-dental students, particularly those from underserved communities. Programs like Dr. Husain Kapadias scholarship help bridge these gaps by providing direct financial assistance during critical preparation periods.

Recipients will receive $1,000 in unrestricted educational funding, applicable toward tuition expenses, dental school application fees, standardized testing costs, or required clinical supplies. This flexibility ensures maximum utility for individual student needs and circumstances.

The application deadline is set for June 15, 2026, with winner announcement scheduled for July 15, 2026. This timeline allows adequate preparation time for serious candidates while ensuring fund distribution occurs during the crucial pre-application period for dental school admissions.

Dr. Husain Kapadias commitment to dental education extends beyond scholarship funding to include ongoing mentorship opportunities, clinical shadowing experiences, and professional networking connections for qualified students. These additional resources provide comprehensive support systems that extend well beyond financial assistance.

Application Details:

Award Amount: $1,000

$1,000 Application Deadline: June 15, 2026

June 15, 2026 Winner Announcement: July 15, 2026

July 15, 2026 Submission Email: apply@drhusainkapadiascholarship.com

Media Contact Information

Spokesperson: Dr. Husain Kapadia

Organization: Dr. Husain Kapadia Scholarship for Dentists

Website: https://drhusainkapadiascholarship.com

Email: apply@drhusainkapadiascholarship.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/95de75f0-0aa6-4591-b88f-11ff7c6c2ae1
Washington, DC, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Research and advocacy groups have submitted four compelling amici curiae briefs in favor of en banc rehearing at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in the New Civil Liberties Alliances Powell, et al. v. Securities and Exchange Commission case challenging SECs Gag Rule. The Gag Rule forbids every American who settles a regulatory enforcement case with SEC from even truthfully criticizing their cases in public for the rest of their lives, yet the Ninth Circuit panel in this case wrongly upheld it. NCLA and its clientsThomas Powell, Cassandra Toroian, Gary Pryor, Joseph Collins, Michelle Silverstein, Rex Scates, Ray Lucia, Barry Romeril, Christopher Novinger, The Cape Gazette and Reason Foundationthank amici for supporting their effort to defeat the Gag Rule and restore fundamental First Amendment civil liberties.

Excerpts of the briefs filed by amici curiae in support of Petitioners follow:

[T]he First Amendment prohibits the SEC from railroading settling parties into forever abandoning the right to publicly doubt the Commissions allegations against them.  [C]ourts must look through forms to the substance of government conduct  [P]ublic scrutiny and discussion of governmental affairs is precisely what the First Amendment was adopted to protect.  The policy is facially unconstitutional [because] in all its applications it operates on a fundamentally mistaken premise: that the Commission may stifle criticism to protect its reputation.  The SECs policy gags the settlor for life.  [and] rests on extortionate demands, not voluntary waivers.

 Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression

The First Amendment, after all, protects not only the right to speak but also the right of the public to receive  ideas and experiences.  [S]ince the panels approval of this practice conflicts with a decision of [the Ninth Circuit]  and with a decision of the United States Supreme Court, rehearing is warranted. Worse still,  the panel overlooked entirely the claims of media Petitioners The Cape Gazette and Reason Foundation, which were supported by declarations.  The panels refusal to consider  media Petitioners [argument] regarding their own First-Amendment rights conflicts with  authoritative decision[s] of []other  court[s] of appeals,  another consideration favoring en banc rehearing. This violates not only the settling defendants rights, but also the publics First-Amendment right to receive uninhibited discourse about government activity.

 Freedom of the Press Foundation

Had the SEC followed [controlling precedent] it could not have sustained its blanket gag policy, [n]or could the panel have ratified that decision.  A consent decree  may amount to an out-and-out plan of extortion  [whereby] an agency could shoehorn unbounded authority into its consent decree power. Courts customarily reject any conceit of unlimited agency power.  There is no legitimate public interest in suppressing otherwise protected speech simply because it criticizes or embarrasses the government. [As Justice Robert Jackson has said], [o]pen discussion of criminal enforcement, prosecution and settlement practices by government agencies is of the utmost public interest and cannot be fairly conducted with one side silenced.  Because the SEC has no power to impose speech restrictions directly, it has smuggled them in through the backdoor of its enforcement action settlement authority.

 Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute

[When reviewing] [t]his remarkable assertion of agency power  [a court] must consider whether the agency had authority to promulgate the Rule in the first place. [A]pplying the avoidance canon  protect[s] the First Amendment right to free speech, a cornerstone of democracy  [and] a profound national commitment to the principle that debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust, and wide-open.  The clear statement requirement follows logically from the avoidance canon  and presumes Congress will speak clearly when authorizing an agency to exercise powers [that] implicate[] historically or constitutionally grounded norms.  The Securities Exchange Act contains no clear authorization to restrict speech  If Congress wished for the SEC to issue speech restrictions, it would have done so clearly.

 Cato Institute

NCLA released the following statements:

The panel decision checks every box that supports rehearing. It conflicts with the settled law of the Ninth Circuit and fails to follow controlling Supreme Court precedent. It conflicts with the law of several circuits regarding unconstitutional conditions and the independent First Amendment rights of the Press. Finally, SEC lacks any authority whatsoever to regulate speech, and gags are not among the penalties Congress allows it to impose.

 Peggy Little, Senior Litigation Counsel, NCLA

These friend of the court briefs bring home a point the panel missed. The gags at issue in this case are not really the product of voluntary negotiations. Rather, SEC imposes gags as a condition of settlement to protect the agencys reputation. There is no place in a government of the people, by the people, and for the people for an agency to impose a gag on speech in violation of the First Amendment just to save face.

 Mark Chenoweth, President, NCLA

For more information visit the case page here.

ABOUT NCLA

NCLA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights group founded by prominent legal scholar Philip Hamburger to protect constitutional freedoms from violations by the Administrative State. NCLAs public-interest litigation and other pro bono advocacy strive to tame the unlawful power of state and federal agencies and to foster a new civil liberties movement that will help restore Americans fundamental rights.

###
Chicago, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global robotic simulator market was valued at US$ 24.9 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 146.9 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 21.8% during the forecast period 20252033.

The global surge in industrial automation creates a foundational and rapidly expanding need for advanced planning tools. As of 2024, reports confirm the worldwide operational stock of industrial robots hit a landmark 4,281,585 units in 2023. A figure of such magnitude underscores the immense existing infrastructure requiring optimization, reprogramming, and digital management. Consequently, the demand for virtual commissioning and offline programming tools is directly proportional to this installed base. The impressive scale of new deployments further amplifies a trend. In 2023, a total of 541,302 new robots were installed, the second-highest figure ever recorded, following the peak of 552,946 units in 2022. Every new robot represents a potential new software license and service contract.

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Furthermore, forward-looking data solidifies the growth trajectory, ensuring a robust future for the robotic simulator market. Projections from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) anticipate installations will level off at a strong 541,000 units in 2024, with some analysts offering a more bullish estimate of 600,000 units for the same year. Looking ahead, growth is set to accelerate once more in 2025. The near-threefold increase in operational robots since 2011 provides a clear historical precedent for such sustained expansion. In a specific regional example, North American companies have already placed orders for 31,311 industrial robots during 2024 alone, signaling strong investment and a fertile ground for software adoption.

Key Findings in Robotic Simulator Market

Market Forecast (2033) US$ 146.9 billion CAGR 21.8% Largest Region (2024) North America (36.50%) By Type Cloud Based (64.66%) By Deployment Type Simulation (Largest) By End Use Industry Manufacturing Industry (Largest) By Robot Type Industrial Robot (Largest) Top Drivers Rising adoption of industrial automation across a variety of sectors.

Intensifying need to shorten development cycles and accelerate market readiness.

Increasingly complex robotic applications demand precise and reliable virtual testing. Top Trends Physical AI integration enables robots to train in virtual environments.

Digital twin technology allows for real-time monitoring and system optimization.

Cloud-based simulation platforms are gaining widespread popularity and adoption. Top Challenges The persistent "reality gap" between virtual simulation and real-world behavior.

High initial software and implementation costs remain a significant barrier.

A shortage of skilled personnel to operate advanced simulation tools.

Continental Automation Disparities Reveal Key Regional Robotic Simulator Market Opportunities

A granular analysis of regional automation trends highlights distinct global hotspots for growth and innovation. In 2024, Asia solidified its position as the engine of the robotics industry, accounting for an overwhelming 70% of all newly deployed robots. Following at a distance, Europe represented 17% of new installations, while the Americas constituted 10%. These figures paint a clear picture of where the bulk of new simulation software will be needed for initial deployment and factory planning. Asias volume indicates a massive opportunity for greenfield projects and large-scale virtual commissioning.

However, robot density statistics reveal a more nuanced landscape vital to the robotic simulator market. Robot density, measured in units per 10,000 employees, indicates automation maturity. The European Union leads the world with a high density of 219 units, suggesting a strong market for sophisticated simulation focused on optimizing existing complex systems. North America follows with a robust density of 197 units. In contrast, Asia's overall density stands at 182 units. Asia's lower density, despite its high installation volume, points to enormous untapped potential and long-term growth as automation deepens across its manufacturing sectors.

National Robot Density Leadership Creates Sophisticated and Demanding User Bases in the Robotic Simulator Market

Examining automation at the national level pinpoints the worlds most advanced and competitive manufacturing environments. The global average robot density reached a new peak of 162 units per 10,000 employees, a figure that has more than doubled from just 74 units seven years prior. Certain nations far exceed this average, creating sophisticated user bases that demand high-fidelity simulation, digital twin capabilities, and advanced offline programming features. These leading countries are bellwethers for future trends in automation and software requirements.

The Republic of Korea continues to be the world's automation leader in the robotic simulator market, with a staggering density of 1,012 robots. Singapore is not far behind, with a density of 770 units, followed by China, which has quickly risen to third place with 470 units. Germany and Japan, traditional industrial powerhouses, rank fourth and fifth with densities of 429 and 419 units, respectively. The United States ranks tenth globally with a density of 295 units. Manufacturers in these highly automated nations rely on simulators to maintain their competitive edge, driving innovation in the software sector.

Automotive Sector Automation Deep Dive Remains A Core Driver For Simulation

The automotive industry has long been a primary consumer of robotics and a key vertical for simulation software. The ongoing global transition toward electric vehicles (EVs) is a powerful catalyst, demanding constant and extensive retooling of production lines. In the United States, the automotive sector installed 13,700 new industrial robots in 2024, representing a substantial 40% of all new installations in the country. Such focused investment underscores the sector's dependence on robotics to achieve new production goals.

A parallel trend is evident in other major automotive manufacturing hubs, creating a vibrant international robotic simulator market. Japan's automotive sector, for instance, installed approximately 13,000 industrial robots in 2024. As of 2023, the robot density within Japan's automotive industry was an immense 1,531 robots per 10,000 employees, highlighting extreme automation intensity. Across Asia, the automotive sector saw 40,840 new installations in 2024. While projections for 2029 anticipate a decrease in Asia's automotive installations to 30,720 units as the initial EV retooling wave subsides, the need for simulation in optimizing and maintaining these advanced lines will persist.

Electronics Manufacturing Dynamics Require Simulators for Precision and Complex Tasks

The electronics industry presents a unique and demanding environment for robotic simulator market, characterized by intricate, high-precision assembly. Rapid product life cycles and the miniaturization of components make robotic simulators indispensable. These tools are critical for virtually validating complex assembly sequences and programming robots for delicate material handling tasks. In 2024, Japan's electrical and electronics industry installed an estimated 14,000 robots, showcasing its commitment to automating these complex processes. The United States' electronics sector also showed strong investment, installing 2,900 new robots in the same year.

On a global scale, the electrical and electronics industry was the second-largest customer for industrial robots in 2023, with a total of 125,804 units installed. While a figure was down from the peak of 156,936 robots installed in the sector during 2022, it remains a massive market. Future projections of the robotic simulator market indicate that new robot installations within Asia's vast electronics industry will likely fall below 88,000 units by 2028. However, the increasing complexity of products will drive deeper integration of simulation for process verification, ensuring the software's strategic importance.

United States Non-Automotive Sector Growth Is Diversifying Simulator User Bases

While the automotive sector remains a titan of automation, significant growth in other industries is broadening the addressable robotic simulator market. Across all sectors, the United States saw total industrial robot installations reach 34,300 units in 2024. A diversification of robot applications is a healthy sign for the market, as it reduces dependence on a single industry and fosters the development of more versatile and specialized simulation tools.

Specifically, the metal and machinery industry in the U.S. installed 3,800 robots in 2024, indicating a strong push to automate fabrication, welding, and machining tasks. As mentioned previously, the U.S. electrical and electronics industry accounted for 2,900 new robot installations during the same period. Each new sector adopting robotics at scale represents a new frontier for simulation software providers. These companies require tailored virtual environments and application-specific tools, moving beyond the traditional automotive work cell model and creating new revenue streams.

Warehouse and Logistics Automation Simulates The Unprecedented E-commerce Boom

The relentless growth of e-commerce has ignited a revolution in warehouse and logistics automation. A sector is now a key growth area for both mobile and stationary robotics. The robotic simulator market is benefiting immensely, as designing, managing, and optimizing automated fulfillment centers is nearly impossible without sophisticated simulation. E-commerce leader Amazon now operates a fleet of over 750,000 mobile robots in its facilities, a dramatic increase from the 520,000 robots it utilized in 2022. Each of these robots operates within a complex, simulated, and orchestrated system.

The trend extends far beyond a single company, signaling a systemic shift in logistics operations. By 2024, it is expected that over 30% of all warehouses will have integrated some form of robotics. There are currently more than 11,000 smart warehouses operating in North America alone, each a potential customer for layout and process simulation software. The underlying technology is also expanding rapidly; the global market for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) is growing at an impressive annual rate of 17.5%, directly fueling the need for simulators that can manage fleet traffic and optimize pick-and-place routines.

Healthcare and Surgical Robotics Simulation Provides A High-Stakes Training Ground

In the medical field, robotic simulator market technology transcends planning to become a critical component of professional training and patient safety. The rising adoption of robotic surgical systems is directly fueling demand for high-fidelity simulators. These platforms allow surgeons to practice and perfect complex, minimally invasive procedures in a completely risk-free virtual environment. One pivotal study involving 20 surgeons demonstrated a clear and direct correlation between a surgeon's performance on a virtual reality simulator and their actual performance during a live surgical procedure.

The quantitative data reflects a strong and growing market for these specialized medical simulation systems. The robotics surgical simulation systems market was valued at a significant USD 685.4 million in 2024. Looking at the hardware side, the number of medical robot units in operation worldwide is projected to exceed 2,100 by 2025. A number is a substantial increase from the approximately 713 medical robot units that were in operation back in 2016. Every new surgical system sold creates a parallel need for a training simulator, cementing a vital niche within the broader simulation industry.

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Future Projections and Competitive Ecosystem Point to Sustained Market Vitality

Forward-looking projections from industry authorities confirm that the foundational demand for robotics will remain exceptionally strong. The IFR forecasts that global robot installations will hold steady at 541,000 units in 2024, with growth expected to accelerate again in 2025 and continue on an upward trajectory through 2027. Regionally, North American installations are predicted to surpass the 50,000-unit mark in 2024. Asia is projected to install around 389,000 units in 2024, led by China with 276,000 units, Japan with 46,000 units, and the Republic of Korea with 31,000 units. A healthy outlook for hardware sales ensures a corresponding vitality for the robotic simulator market.

The competitive landscape for simulation software is a dynamic and innovative space. The market for robot simulating software includes at least 23 significant global companies. Key players are industrial automation giants like Siemens with its Process Simulate platform, Dassault Systemes with DELMIA, KUKA offering KUKA.Sim, and ABB providing its RobotStudio. Software mainstays like Autodesk also hold a significant presence. A new dimension is added by NVIDIA's Omniverse platform and Isaac Sim, which are becoming central to developing and testing AI-based robotics. Specialized providers such as RoboDK, Visual Components, and Coppelia Robotics offer targeted solutions. The key investment trend for 2025 is Physical AI, where robots are trained in these virtual environments, solidifying the simulators role as an essential development tool.

Global Robotic Simulator Market Major Players:

ABB

Dassault Systemes

Epson

FANUC

Kawasaki Heavy Industries

Kuka

Mitsubishi Electric

Omron

PTC

Rockwell Automation

Siemens

Staubli International

Universal Robots

Yaskawa Electric

Other Prominent Players

Key Market Segmentation:

By Type

Cloud-based

On-premise

By Deployment Type

Simulation

Training

Education

Research and Development

By End-User

Manufacturing

Healthcare

Education

Automotive

Aerospace and Defense

By Robot Type

Collaborative Robots

Industrial Robots

Mobile Robots

Service Robots

By Robot Brand Compatibility

Universal

Specific

By Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa (MEA)

South America

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ATLANTA, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gray Media, Inc. (NYSE: GTN) today announced that it will release its earnings results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, on Friday, November 7, 2025.

Earnings Conference Call Information

Gray Media, Inc. will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, on Friday, November 7, 2025. The call will begin at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The live dial-in number is 1-800-715-9871, conference ID 3663076. The call will be live and available for replay at www.graymedia.com . A replay of the conference call will be available at 1-800-770-2030, Passcode: 3663076# until December 5, 2025.

About Gray Media:



Gray Media, Inc. (NYSE: GTN) is a multimedia company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The company is the nations largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets serving 113 television markets that collectively reach approximately 37 percent of US television households. The portfolio includes 78 markets with the top-rated television station and 99 markets with the first and/or second highest rated television station during 2024, as well as the largest Telemundo Affiliate group with 44 markets. The company also owns Gray Digital Media, a full-service digital agency offering national and local clients digital marketing strategies with the most advanced digital products and services. Grays additional media properties include video production companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo Media Group, and PowerNation Studios, and studio production facilities Assembly Atlanta and Third Rail Studios. For more information, please visit www.graymedia.com .

Gray Contacts:

Jeff Gignac, Executive Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer, 404-266-8333

Kevin P. Latek, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Development Officer, 404-266-8333



# # #
EDMONTON, Alberta and FORT MCMURRAY, Alberta and GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alberta and RED DEER, Alberta, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As teachers across Alberta begin strike action, YMCA of Northern Alberta has expanded its programs to ensure families have access to safe, quality child care and day camp options during the disruption.

As a charity committed to igniting the potential of every childand one of the largest child care providers in the provinceYMCA has quickly ramped up operations to meet increased community need. Families in Central and Northern Alberta can now access additional YMCA child care, day camp, and youth recreation opportunities focused on helping children learn, play, and thrive in nurturing, inclusive spaces.

To date, YMCA of Northern Alberta has:

Expanded 37 Out of School Care programs to offer full-day care;

to offer full-day care; Introduced four Day Camp programs in the following communities: Edmonton: William Lutsky Family YMCA, Jamie Platz Family YMCA, Castle Downs Family YMCA Fort McMurray: Eagle Ridge Community Centre

in the following communities: Extended youth program hours in Red Deer at the Northside Community Centre; and

in Red Deer at the Northside Community Centre; and Continued to deliver Early Years Care at 24 licensed YMCA Early Years Child Care centres across Edmonton and Northern Alberta.

These are stressful times for many parents, said Jody Kyle, Chief Operations Officer, YMCA of Northern Alberta. As a charity, we exist to strengthen community and help families when they need us most. Every child deserves a place to belong, to feel supported, and to shine, and thats exactly what were here to provide.

Programs are being offered on a first-come, first-served basis and are already nearing full capacity as parents seek care for their children. As of this release, programs are 95% full, and the YMCA anticipates serving more than 2,600 children and youth each day during the strike.

I am so appreciative that I am able to have full-time care for my oldest son during the school strike. If it was not for the YMCA being able to support my family, I would be unable to workwhich would affect my ability to provide for my children, said Jessika L., an Edmonton parent receiving extended child care at the YMCA.

________________

About YMCA of Northern Alberta

YMCA of Northern Alberta is a registered charity dedicated to igniting potential in people and communities since 1907. From quality child care and youth development programs to health, wellness, and community outreach services, the YMCA helps build stronger, healthier, more connected communities across Edmonton, Red Deer, Wood Buffalo, and Grande Prairie.

For more information, visit ymcanab.ca .

________________

Media Contact:

Amber Niemeier

Chief Community Engagement Officer

YMCA of Northern Alberta

780-966-9035

amber.niemeier@ymcanab.ca
NEW YORK, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MAGACOIN FINANCE, an Ethereum-based cryptocurrency project, today announced it has surpassed $15.5 million in presale funding, attracting more than 14 000 investors globally.

The milestone arrives as ETF anticipation surrounding both Bitcoin and Ethereum fuels broader capital rotation into emerging altcoins.







Presale Snapshot

Total raised: $15.5 million +



$15.5 million + Investors: 14 000 +



14 000 + Allocation sold:  80 % complete



 80 % complete Launch price: $0.007 per token

Each presale round reduces token supply while incrementally increasing price, rewarding early participation and reinforcing scarcity.







ETF Momentum Drives Altcoin Interest

With global ETF speculation boosting liquidity expectations for Bitcoin and Ethereum, analysts note that investor interest is extending to smaller Ethereum-based projects such as MAGACOIN FINANCE, which pair technical credibility with retail accessibility.

Why Investors Are Paying Attention

Verified $15.5 M funding milestone.



Growing cross-chain visibility in ETF commentary.



Ethereum foundation offering DeFi compatibility and security.

Conclusion

ETF enthusiasm around major assets is spilling into early-stage markets. MAGACOIN FINANCEs confirmed funding progress positions it among the Ethereum altcoins benefiting from renewed investor momentum.

About MAGACOIN FINANCE

MAGACOIN FINANCE is an Ethereum-based cryptocurrency project designed to combine cultural relevance with scalable blockchain utility. With over $15.5 million raised, a growing community, and scarcity-driven tokenomics, it aims to be a leading altcoin entrant of 2025.

Learn more:

Website: https://magacoinfinance.com

Access: https://magacoinfinance.com/access

Twitter/X: https://x.com/magacoinfinance

Telegram: https://t.me/magacoinfinance

Contact Details

PR Specialist: Rebecca Miles

Email: rebecca@magacoinfinance.com

Disclaimer: This content is provided by MAGACOIN FINANCE. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector--including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining--complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

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New York, NY, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Clarion Partners, a leading real estate investment manager, announced the acquisition of Sancerre at Atlee Station from NexCore Group and its wholly owned subsidiary Experience Senior Living (ESL) and its Sancerre brand. As part of the transaction, Clarion has created a strategic partnership with Experience Senior Living which will continue to manage and operate the community, ensuring continuity for residents, families, and team members.

Senior Housing is a high conviction strategy for Clarion; as such, we are thrilled to enter into this relationship with NexCore and Experience Senior Living through the acquisition of a Class A community in a market with strong fundamentals, said Clarion Partners Head of Healthcare Julie Robinson. We could not be more excited to work with this team, who we view as a leader in the sector, creating amazing living environments for seniors and expanding the workforce in their local markets.

Atlee Station, located in Mechanicsville, VA, embodies a modern vision of senior living. Sancerre communities are designed to deliver hospitality-driven environments with well-appointed amenities, curated programming, and personalized services. Each Sancerre community reflects ESLs commitment to creating places where older adults can live with purpose, connection, and comfort. Sancerre Atlee Station opened its doors in September 2023 and due to strong community positioning and market fundamentals, experienced a rapid lease-up, reaching 90% occupancy by October 2024. Sancerre Atlee Station distinguishes itself within the Richmond market through meaningfully larger unit sizes and an expansive suite of amenities that elevate the resident experience.

ESL is thrilled to partner with Clarion and continue operating this vibrant community, which we designed, built and operated from its inception, said Phill Barklow, President of Experience Senior Living. Our team remains deeply committed to ensuring continuity for residents and families while maintaining the elevated hospitality-driven experience that sets Sancerre apart.

The sale was facilitated by BWE Investment Sales, an affiliate of BWE, a national commercial and multifamily mortgage banking company. Charley Bissell, Senior Vice President at BWE Investment Sales, Tony Hong, Vice President and Ryan Stoll, National Director of Seniors Housing and Care at BWE, exclusively represented the seller, NexCore Group and Experience Senior Living (ESL), in a highly competitive marketing process. The transaction represents the first senior housing acquisition for Clarion Partners, a leading real estate investment manager.

This transaction highlights the strength of the Richmond market and the development and operational execution capabilities of both NexCore and ESL, said Bissell. Sancerre Atlee Stations performance and high-quality design positioned it as one of the most compelling opportunities in the region, and were proud to have helped bring a new institutional investor into the seniors housing space.

ABOUT CLARION PARTNERS, LLC

Clarion Partners, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser with FCA-authorized and FINRA member affiliates, has been a leading U.S. real estate investment manager for more than 40 years. Headquartered in New York, the Firm maintains strategically located offices across the United States and Europe. With over $73 billion in total real estate and debt assets under management, Clarion Partners offers a broad range of real estate strategies across the risk/return spectrum to approximately 500 institutional investors across the globe. Clarion Partners is an independently operated specialist investment manager of Franklin Templeton. More information about the firm is available at www.clarionpartners.com.

About Experience Senior Living

Founded in 2021, Experience Senior Living (ESL), a wholly owned subsidiary of NexCore Group, is a Denver-based, full-service operator of independent living, assisted living, and memory care communities across the United States. Their mission is to reimagine aging by delivering hospitalitydriven, wellnessfocused environments that honor residents individual stories and aspirations. From concept through construction, ESL collaborates with leading architects and design professionals to create vibrant places where anyone would love to live. Experience Senior Living has 19 communities open or under development, led by esteemed industry veterans, Phill Barklow and Hunter MacLeod. Sancerre is one of four curated brands under the ESL residence collections, alongside The Reserve, The Gallery, The Crossings. Learn more at ExperienceSRLiving.com.

About BWE Investment Sales

Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, BWE Investment Sales focuses on representing buyers and sellers in the sale of commercial real estate properties across the country. With over five decades of collective experience the team has prolific experience within the housing sector including market rate multi-family housing, affordable housing, manufactured housing, and seniors housing. BWE Investment Sales is an affiliate of BWE. BWE is a national, full-service commercial and multifamily mortgage banking company committed to elevating real estate financing. Putting clients goals first, our experienced and trusted advisors offer comprehensive capital solutions by combining enduring debt and equity relationships with unparalleled local market insights across our 40+ offices and national servicing platform. Explore more about BWE at www.bwe.com.




Austin, TX, USA, Oct. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Custom Market Insights has published a new research report titled Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Market Size, Trends and Insights By Operation (Gathering Pipeline, Transmission Pipeline, Distribution Pipeline), By Application (Compressor Station, Metering Station), and By Region - Global Industry Overview, Statistical Data, Competitive Analysis, Share, Outlook, and Forecast 2025  2034 in its research database.





According to the latest research study, the demand of the global Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Market size & share was valued at approximately USD 2957.67 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 3231.55 Billion in 2025 and is expected to reach a value of around USD 7178.98 Billion by 2034, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 9.26% during the forecast period 2025 to 2034.

Click Here to Access a Free Sample Report of the Global Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Market @ https://www.custommarketinsights.com/request-for-free-sample/?reportid=74303

Overview

As per the industry experts at CMI, the global gas pipeline infrastructure market will witness a stellar CAGR between 2025 and 2034. This could be attributed to the rise in regulatory pressures for infrastructure expansion or replacement, notable investments from companies such as GAIL in India, and the integration of digital technologies such as IoT and AI for operational efficiency. At the same time, challenges such as fluctuating tax policies could resist growth. North America leads from the front with sizable development in infrastructure with a robust focus on the production of natural gas.

Key Trends & Drivers

Shift to Natural Gas to Spell Growth: Rise in environmental concerns along with desire for minimal carbon footprints are accelerating the shift to natural gas from oil, thereby raising demand for pipeline infrastructure. Governments as well as corporations are increasingly investing in pipeline networks for ensuring energy supply security and meeting the increased energy demands from consumers and industries.

Request a Customized Copy of the Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Market Report @ https://www.custommarketinsights.com/request-for-customization/?reportid=74303

Call for Network Replacement/Expansion to Catalyze Growth: Continual investments are being reported regarding expansion of existing networks for reaching out to more industrial hubs and consumers and also for replacing the older pipelines for addressing higher efficiency and safety standards. Moreover, exploitation and exploration of shale gas reserves are bolstering the market by creating a need for novel infrastructure for the transportation of these resources.

Report Scope

Feature of the Report Details Market Size in 2025 USD 3231.55 Billion Projected Market Size in 2034 USD 7178.98 Billion Market Size in 2024 USD 2957.67 Billion CAGR Growth Rate 9.26% CAGR Base Year 2024 Forecast Period 2025-2034 Key Segment By Operation, Application and Region Report Coverage Revenue Estimation and Forecast, Company Profile, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Recent Trends Regional Scope North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South & Central America Buying Options Request tailored purchasing options to fulfil your requirements for research.

(A free sample of the Gas Pipeline Infrastructure report is available upon request; please contact us for more information.)

Our Free Sample Report Consists of the following:

The updated report for 2025 includes an introduction, an overview, and an in-depth industry analysis.

Provide detailed chapter-by-chapter guidance on the Request.

Updated Regional Analysis with a Graphical Representation of Size, Share, and Trends for the Year 2025

Includes Tables and figures have been updated.

The most recent version of the report includes the Top Market Players, their Business Strategies, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis

Custom Market Insights (CMI) research methodology

(Please note that the sample of the Gas Pipeline Infrastructure report has been modified to include the COVID-19 impact study prior to delivery.)

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SWOT Analysis

Strengths: Gas pipelines are important for energy transition at the global level, wherein support is extended to natural gas as a transitional fuel, i.e., toward renewables. Natural gas paves the way for higher efficiency with a minimal carbon footprint as compared to the other fossil fuels, thereby driving its demand in the power generation sectors. Furthermore, the ongoing shift to natural gas, particularly for the generation of electricity, is creating a sustained demand for expanded and new pipeline networks.

Weaknesses: Construction as well as maintenance of pipeline infrastructure needs significant capital investments, thereby presenting a major monetary hurdle. We cannot ignore the fact that natural gas extraction and transportation could potentially result in leaks. Additionally, adhering to evolving regulatory frameworks could be challenging.

Opportunities: Speedy urbanization in the Asia Pacific is bound to create ample opportunities to expand gas pipeline infrastructure. Conducive government policies that support energy security with cleaner energy initiatives are capable of providing a notable boost to the development of infrastructure.

Threats: Declining costs of renewable energy resources like wind and solar do pose a long-term threat to demand for gas and, in turn, pipeline infrastructure. Fluctuations in prices and supply of natural gas could impact the investment decisions. The stability of the market could be at stake in such scenarios.

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Key questions answered in this report:

What is the size of the Gas Pipeline Infrastructure market, and what is its expected growth rate?

What are the primary driving factors that push the Gas Pipeline Infrastructure market forward?

What are the Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Industry's top companies?

What are the different categories that the Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Market caters to?

What will be the fastest-growing segment or region?

In the value chain, what role do essential players play?

What is the procedure for getting a free copy of the Gas Pipeline Infrastructure market sample report and company profiles?

Key Offerings:

Market Share, Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20252034

Market Dynamics  Growth Drivers, Restraints, Investment Opportunities, and Leading Trends

Market Segmentation  A detailed analysis by Types of Services, by End-User Services, and by regions

Competitive Landscape  Top Key Vendors and Other Prominent Vendors

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Regional Perspective

The gas pipeline infrastructure market is classified into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and LAMEA.

North America

North America holds over 50% of the market share, and we expect the status quo to persist throughout the forecast period. Shale gas revolution is one of the major drivers, especially in the U.S., wherein Marcellus Shale, Eagle Ford, and the Permian Basin have witnessed the transformation of the natural gas landscape. Projects such as the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) and the Permian Highway Pipeline are significant for connecting gas-rich regions to markets. MVP alone has been designed to transport close to 2.0 billion cubic feet of natural gas every single day to southern Virginia from West Virginia.

Asia Pacific

Asia Pacifics speedy industrialization, especially in Southeast Asian economies, India, and China, has created an irrevocable demand for natural gas as one of the cleanest alternatives to coal for industrial processes and power generation. This has actually helped in unleashing massive investments in the pipeline infrastructure for ensuring reliable transportation of gas from manufacturing sites to consumption centers.

Instances of the major infrastructure projects include Chinas West-to-East Gas Pipeline network spanning more than 8,800 kilometers. It does connect the gas-rich Xinjiang region to the eastern provinces. On the similar grounds, Indias national gas grid expansion plan aims to add more than 15,000 kilometers of pipeline infrastructure for increasing gas accessibility across India.

Europe

Environmental policies of Europe, coupled with the role of natural gas as a transition fuel are significantly influencing the development of gas infrastructure. Many economies, as a part of the European Green Deal, are into upgradingtheir existing pipeline infrastructure for making it hydrogen-ready, thereby anticipating future transition in this regard. On this ground, the European Hydrogen Backbone initiative does aim at the repurposing of existing gas infrastructure for hydrogen transport, with companies such as Enagas S.A. and Gasuine leading the retrofit projects. The Netherlands is at the forefront herein.

LAMEA

LAMEA does hold substantial reserves of natural gas, thereby rendering it an epicenter of infrastructure development for exploiting such resources domestically and also for export markets. The industries and governments are also shifting in the direction of lower-carbo fuels such as natural gas for reducing emissions, which is a catalyst to the expansion of pipelines.

Central America

Central America is set to benefit from the expansion of gas pipelines from Mexico, which aims to enhance energy security and promote economic development. The potential project for bringing Mexican natural gas to Central America is under discussion. Advancement on its part depends on completion of the major pipelines within Mexico.

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Browse the full Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Market Size, Trends and Insights By Operation (Gathering Pipeline, Transmission Pipeline, Distribution Pipeline), By Application (Compressor Station, Metering Station), and By Region - Global Industry Overview, Statistical Data, Competitive Analysis, Share, Outlook, and Forecast 2025  2034 Report at https://www.custommarketinsights.com/report/gas-pipeline-infrastructure-market/





List of the prominent players in the Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Market:

Enbridge Inc.

Gazprom

TransCanada Pipelines Limited

Kinder Morgan

Pembina Gas Infrastructure

Saipem

Enagas S.A.

Bechtel Corporation

Assam Gas Company Ltd.

McDermott

Others

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The Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Market is segmented as follows:

By Operation

Gathering Pipeline

Transmission Pipeline

Distribution Pipeline

By Application

Compressor Station

Metering Station

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Regional Coverage:

North America

U.S.

Canada

Mexico

Rest of North America

Europe

Germany

France

U.K.

Russia

Italy

Spain

Netherlands

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

New Zealand

Australia

South Korea

Taiwan

Rest of Asia Pacific

The Middle East & Africa

Saudi Arabia

UAE

Egypt

Kuwait

South Africa

Rest of the Middle East & Africa

Latin America

Brazil

Argentina

Rest of Latin America

This Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Market Research/Analysis Report Contains Answers to the following Questions.

Which Trends Are Causing These Developments?

Who Are the Global Key Players in This Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Market? What are the company profiles, product information, and contact details for these key players?

What Was the Global Market Status of the Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Market? What Was the Capacity, Production Value, Cost, and PROFIT of the Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Market?

What Is the Current Market Status of the Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Industry? What's the market's competition in this industry, both company-wise and country-wise? What is the market analysis of the gas pipeline infrastructure market, considering its applications and types?

What Are Projections of the Global Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Industry Considering Capacity, Production, and Production Value? What Will Be the estimate of Cost and Profit? What Will Be Market Share, Supply, and Consumption? What about imports and exports?

What is an analysis of the market chain for gas pipeline infrastructure, including upstream raw materials and downstream industries?

What is the economic impact on the Gas Pipeline Infrastructure industry? What are Global Macroeconomic Environment Analysis Results? What Are Global Macroeconomic Environment Development Trends?

What Are the Market Dynamics of the Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Market? What Are Challenges and Opportunities?

What Should Be Entry Strategies, Countermeasures to Economic Impact, and Marketing Channels for Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Industry?

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Reasons to Purchase Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Market Report

Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Market Report provides qualitative and quantitative analysis of the market based on segmentation involving economic and non-economic factors.

Gas Pipeline Infrastructure The Market report outlines market value (USD) data for each segment and sub-segment.

This report indicates the region and segment expected to witness the fastest growth and dominate the market.

Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Market Analysis by geography highlights the consumption of the product/service in the region and indicates the factors affecting the market within each region.

The competitive landscape incorporates the market ranking of the major players, along with new service/product launches, partnerships, business expansions, and acquisitions in the past five years of companies profiled.

Extensive company profiles comprise a company overview, company insights, product benchmarking, and SWOT analysis for the major market players.

Recent developments, including growth opportunities and drivers, as well as challenges and restraints in both emerging and developed regions, shape the industry's current and future market outlook.

Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Market: Includes in-depth market analysis from various perspectives through Porter's five forces analysis and offers an overview of the market through the value chain.

Reasons for the Research Report

The study provides a thorough overview of the global Gas Pipeline Infrastructure market. Compare your performance to that of the market as a whole.

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Drivers, restrictions, and opportunities are among the qualitative elements covered in the worldwide Gas Pipeline Infrastructure market analysis.

The report covers the competitive environment of current and potential participants in the Gas Pipeline Infrastructure market, along with their strategic product development ambitions.

This study conducts a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the Gas Pipeline Infrastructure market based on the component, application, and industry vertical. Additionally, the report provides comparable data for the key regions.

The report provides actual market sizes and forecasts for each segment mentioned above.

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Participants and stakeholders worldwide Gas Pipeline Infrastructure market should find this report useful. The research will be useful to all market participants in the Gas Pipeline Infrastructure industry.

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Preliminary unaudited revenue of $8.1 million for Q3 2025

Generated record quarterly new patient starts in Q3 2025

Established reverse stock split ratio of 1:20, anticipated to be effective October 17, 2025

GERMANTOWN, Md., Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Senseonics Holdings, Inc. (NYSE American: SENS) a medical technology company focused on the development and manufacturing of long-term, implantable continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems for people with diabetes, today announced preliminary revenue for third quarter and provided a business update.

Senseonics generated preliminary unaudited revenue of approximately $8.1 million in the third quarter of 2025, an increase of 91% versus the third quarter of 2024, driven by approximately 160% new patient growth in the U.S. over the prior year. New patient growth has accelerated as a result of increased investment in direct-to-consumer (DTC) marketing, with the highest number of monthly new patient starts in the Companys history occurring in September 2025.

Senseonics also today announced that it will conduct a reverse stock split of its outstanding shares of common stock at a ratio of one-for-twenty (the Reverse Stock Split). The reverse stock split will reduce the number of shares of common stock issued from approximately 816 million shares to approximately 41 million shares, subject to adjustment due to payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares. The Company anticipates the Reverse Stock Split will become effective at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on October 17, 2025 (the Effective Time). The Company's common stock will begin trading on a post-split basis at the market open on October 20, 2025. The Common Stock will continue trading on the NYSE American under the symbol SENS, with the new CUSIP number 81727U303.

Tim Goodnow, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Senseonics said, I am excited by the teams strong performance this quarter, which is a direct result of the increasing enthusiasm for Eversense 365, the worlds first and only year-long CGM. The ongoing investments we are making in our DTC marketing campaigns are accelerating awareness with patients and clinicians leading to the continued momentum behind Eversense. This is what encouraged us to bring the full sales and marketing organization in-house, giving us increased confidence in our ability to drive topline revenue and exceed patient expectations.

The Reverse Stock Split was approved by the Company's stockholders at the Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on September 29, 2025 (the Special Meeting) to be effected at the Board's discretion within approved parameters. Following the Special Meeting, the final ratio was approved by the Company's Board on October 3, 2025.

As a result of the Reverse Stock Split, at the Effective Time, every twenty issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock will be converted into one share of Common Stock, with corresponding reductions in the Companys (i) authorized shares of Common Stock, (ii) outstanding equity awards and warrants, and (iii) shares issuable under the Company's equity incentive plans and other existing agreements, with proportional increases in the exercise or conversion prices of outstanding options and warrants. The par value of each share of Common Stock will remain unchanged.



No fractional shares will be issued in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. Instead, each stockholder that otherwise would receive fractional shares will be entitled to receive, in lieu of such fractional shares, cash in an amount based on the closing price of the Common Stock on the NYSE American on the date of the Effective Time. The Reverse Stock Split will apply to all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock as of the Effective Time and therefore will not affect any stockholders ownership percentage of shares of Common Stock, except for de minimis changes resulting from the payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares. Stockholders of record will be receiving information from Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the Companys transfer agent, regarding their stock ownership following the Reverse Stock Split and cash in lieu of fractional share payments, if applicable. Stockholders who hold their shares in brokerage accounts or in street name are not required to take any action in connection with the Reverse Stock Split.

About Senseonics



Senseonics Holdings, Inc. ("Senseonics") is a medical technology company focused on the development and manufacturing of glucose monitoring products designed to transform lives in the global diabetes community with differentiated, long-term implantable glucose management technology. Senseonics' CGM systems Eversense 365 and Eversense E3 include a small sensor inserted completely under the skin that communicates with a smart transmitter worn over the sensor. The glucose data are automatically sent every 5 minutes to a mobile app on the user's smartphone.

About Eversense



The Eversense Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Systems are indicated for continually measuring glucose levels for up to 365 days for Eversense 365 and 180 days for Eversense E3 in persons with diabetes age 18 and older. The systems are indicated for use to replace fingerstick blood glucose (BG) measurements for diabetes treatment decisions. Fingerstick BG measurements are still required for calibration primarily one time per week after day 14 for Eversense 365 and one time per day after day 21 for Eversense E3, and when symptoms do not match CGM information or when taking medications of the tetracycline class. The sensor insertion and removal procedures are performed by a health care provider. The Eversense CGM Systems are prescription devices; patients should talk to their health care provider to learn more. For important safety information, see https://www.eversensediabetes.com/safety-info/.

Preliminary Unaudited Financial Results

This press release includes certain estimated preliminary financial results and other business metrics for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. These estimates are based on the information available to us at this time. Our actual results may vary from the estimated preliminary results presented here due to the completion of our financial closing procedures, final adjustments and other developments that may arise between now and the time the financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 are finalized. The estimated preliminary financial results and other key business metrics have not been audited or reviewed by our independent registered public accounting firm. These estimates should not be viewed as a substitute for our full interim or annual financial statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on this preliminary data.

Forward Looking Statements

Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for the Company, including the anticipated revenue results for the third quarter of 2025, and other statements containing the words "believe," expect, intend, may, projects, will, planned, and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: uncertainties related to the previously announced decision to transition the commercialization of Eversense 365 from Ascensia to Senseonics, uncertainties inherent in the current reliance on the commercialization efforts and investment of Ascensia and its commercial initiatives, uncertainties in prescriber and patient decisions and responses to new technology or initiatives, uncertainties in insurer, regulatory and administrative processes and decisions, uncertainties inherent in the development and registration of new technology, uncertainties in the development of and competition in the overall CGM market, the risk that the share price resulting from a reverse stock split may not attract institutional or other investors, may not satisfy the investing guidelines of these investors, or otherwise may not result in increased investor interest in Senseonics stock or improved trading liquidity in the companys stock, and such other factors as are set forth in the risk factors detailed in Senseonics' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC under the heading "Risk Factors" and the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 18, 2025 under the heading Certain Risks and Potential Disadvantages Associated with a Reverse Stock Split. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent Senseonics views as of the date hereof. Senseonics anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Senseonics views to change. However, while Senseonics may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Senseonics specifically disclaims any obligation to do so except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Senseonics views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof.

Senseonics Investor Contact

Jeremy Feffer

LifeSci Advisors

investors@senseonics.com


NEWTOWN, Pa., Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national class action law firm, is investigating data privacy claims regarding an incident at Brightstar Global Solutions Corporation. Brightstar Global Solutions Corporation learned of a data breach on or about November 17, 2024.

If you would like to discuss this case with a lawyer, go HERE.

About Brightstar Global Solutions Corporation

Brightstar Global Solutions Corporation, a subsidiary of IGT Global Solutions, provides secure lottery technology and services to governments and regulators worldwide.

What happened?

On or about November 17, 2024, Brightstar Global Solutions Corporation identified a cybersecurity breach affecting its computer systems. An investigation revealed that an unauthorized party had accessed the companys network, potentially compromising personal data.

The exposed information may include names, contact details, birthdates, government-issued IDs (such as Social Security or drivers license numbers), financial account information, health records, and other sensitive data. The breach is estimated to have impacted approximately 103,879 individuals.

How can I protect my personal data?

If you receive a letter regarding the Brightstar Global Solutions Corporation, you should take steps to protect yourself against identity theft and fraud by regularly reviewing your account statements and monitoring your credit reports for any suspicious or unauthorized activity.

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a class action lawsuit to seek legal remedies for individuals whose sensitive personal data may have been compromised by the Brightstar Global Solutions Corporation data breach.

For more information, please contact:

Marc H. Edelson, Esq.

EDELSON LECHTZIN LLP

411 S. State Street, Suite N-300

Newtown, PA 18940

Phone: 844-696-7492 ext. 2

Email: medelson@edelson-law.com

Web: www.edelson-law.com

About Edelson Lechtzin LLP

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. In addition to cases involving data breaches, our lawyers focus on class and collective litigation in cases alleging securities and investment fraud, violations of the federal antitrust laws, employee benefit plans under ERISA, wage theft, and consumer fraud.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.
Vancouver, BC, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fobi AI Inc. (OTCQB: FOBIF, TSXV: FOBI) (Fobi or the Company) announces the formal launch of Fobi AI 3.0, a new strategic and operational framework that aligns the Companys consulting, licensing, and subscription businesses under a unified, AI-driven model.

The launch of Fobi AI 3.0 represents an important evolution in the Companys business model and operations. Fobi AI 3.0 defines the Companys framework as an AI-native professional services and implementation platform that unites strategic advisory expertise with the practical deployment of its proprietary AI, mobile wallet, and data intelligence technologies. This framework is intended to support clients in advancing their AI and digital transformation initiatives and achieving measurable results through an integrated approach that combines strategy, architecture, and execution.

Industry Context  Consulting and AI Adoption

Across the global consulting sector, organizations are rapidly adapting their business models in response to the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and Web3 technologies. Several large consulting firms have announced restructuring initiatives to align workforce capabilities with new AI-driven service demand, while industry media continue to report that enterprises are seeking faster, more execution-focused support for digital transformation.

This industry evolution highlights a growing opportunity for firms that can bridge advisory strategy and practical implementation through AI and data-intelligence platformsan area Fobi AI 3.0 is specifically designed to address.

Overview of Fobi AI 3.0

Fobi AI 3.0 is structured around three core pillars:

Strategy  Advisory services for C-suite leaders focused on AI, data intelligence, mobile wallet engagement, and Web3 readiness.

Technical Architecture  Design and implementation of secure, scalable infrastructure that connects data, supply chains, and customer-intelligence systems.

Execution  Deployment and measurement of enterprise-level programs across retail, sports, healthcare, and events.

Through this model, Fobi aims to provide end-to-end solutions that transform strategic planning into measurable business results.

Revenue Model and Operational Focus

Fobi AI generates revenue through three primary streams: professional services, software licensing, and recurring subscriptions. The Companys global customer base has produced millions of digital wallet interactions, providing valuable data insights that support client performance and customer engagement initiatives.

For the fiscal year ended 2024, Fobi reported approximately $2.92 million in revenue, reflecting 40% year-over-year growth. The Company has also implemented AI-enabled efficiency measures that reduced its operational burn rate by approximately 82%, with an expected annualized run-rate of about $1.3 million for 2026.

Rob Anson, Chief Executive Officer of Fobi AI, stated:

The launch of Fobi AI 3.0 marks an important milestone in aligning our strategic advisory, technology, and execution capabilities under a single commercial framework. With our financial filings complete, we can now focus on executing this model to expand professional-services revenue, grow licensing adoption, and build recurring subscription income. Our goal remains to achieve cash-flow-positive operations in 2026 while continuing to deliver value to our customers and shareholders.

About Fobi AI

Fobi AI Inc. (OTCQB: FOBIF, TSXV: FOBI) is a data and AI technology company that enables digital transformation through real-time data, mobile-wallet engagement, and Web3-ready solutions. By integrating strategy, technical architecture, and execution, Fobi helps clients across retail, sports, healthcare, and regulated industries translate digital initiatives into measurable business results.

For more information, visit www.fobi.ai

Fobi AI Inc.

Fobi Website: www.fobi.ai

Rob Anson, CEO

Facebook: @Fobiinc

T: +1 877-754-5336 Ext. 3

Twitter: @Fobi_inc

E: ir@fobi.ai

LinkedIn: @Fobiinc

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information and statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements regarding the Companys business strategy, operational objectives, future growth, anticipated efficiencies, revenue expectations, or other future plans and projections. 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. Actual results may differ materially due to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including those relating to the Companys ability to successfully implement its business model, achieve operational targets, secure and retain key customers, manage costs, and adapt to changing market conditions. These statements reflect managements current views and are subject to risks detailed in the Companys filings available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law
RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Billor, a Technology Ecosystem combining Freight, and Technology for Truck Drivers, Freight Brokers, and Autonomous Trucks, today announced the opening of its new headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Billor new HQ in Raleigh, NC

This move represents a defining chapter in Billors journey, highlighting the companys rapid expansion, bold vision, and ongoing commitment to reshaping how freight and technology work together to power the trucking industry.

North Carolinas central position along the Eastern Seaboard makes it one of the most strategic freight and logistics hubs in the United States. Its proximity to major interstates, ports, and distribution centers provides exceptional access to key markets across the East Coast and Midwest. Raleigh, in particular, offers a unique mix of business vitality, cultural diversity, and world-class infrastructure that make it an ideal base for Billors next phase of growth.

The regions innovation engine is powered by the Research Triangle, home to UNCChapel Hill, NC State University, and Duke University. This concentration of top-tier universities and talent creates a thriving ecosystem of research, technology, and entrepreneurship that aligns perfectly with Billors mission to build the future of freight through innovation and data-driven solutions.

The opening of our headquarters in Raleigh is a symbol of how far Billor has come and where were headed next, said Vincent Goetten, CEO of Billor. Raleigh gives us the perfect foundation to scale our business, attract top talent, and accelerate our mission to deliver transformative solutions for drivers, brokers, and the entire ecosystem.



Billor CEO, Vincent Goetten, at the new HQ in Raleigh, NC

The new headquarters will serve as the hub for Billors leadership, strategy, and innovation. It will bring together teams across business units, foster collaboration, align vision with execution, and strengthen partnerships that drive measurable impact across the logistics sector.

Billors ecosystem integrates logistics expertise, advanced technology, and embedded financial services into a unified platform that empowers both drivers and freight brokers. By providing brokers with access to cutting-edge technology, reliable freight from a fleet of more than 500 trucks, and financial services that enhance cash flow and stability, Billor enables them to grow their businesses with confidence and efficiency.

This milestone reflects Billors long-term vision to become a reference point in modern logistics by combining operational excellence with human-centered innovation. With Raleigh as its new home, Billor reaffirms its commitment to growth, technology, and creating opportunities for the communities and industries it serves.

About Billor

Billor, short for Bill of Rights, is reshaping the trillion-dollar trucking industry through an integrated ecosystem that combines fintech, freight, and technology. The company empowers truck drivers to become owners and achieve financial independence while supporting them with the tools, data, and operational infrastructure to succeed. Billor also partners with freight brokers to expand their operations through access to technology, reliable freight, and financial services.

For more information, visit billor.us or contact ir@billor.us

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/276e1841-16a5-4ee1-9e92-25eff86bd301

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/937ddc73-277b-49bd-bd26-aeb93508ac3a
Toronto, October 6, 2025 - Big Ridge Gold Corp. (TSXV: BRAU) (OTCQB: ALVLF) ("Big Ridge" or the "Company") has awarded share-based compensation to certain officers and non-executive directors, with all awards effective October 3, 2025.

Big Ridge awarded a total of 1,750,000 options to its officers under the terms of the Company's Amended and Restated Option Plan. These options are exercisable at a price of $0.19 per share, expire on October 3, 2030, and vest in equal tranches on October 3, 2025, 2026, and 2027. In addition, Big Ridge awarded a total of 575,000 Restricted Share Units ("RSUs") to its officers and directors under the terms of the Company's Amended and Restated RSU Plan, with each RSU vesting on October 3, 2026, and a total of 400,000 cash-settled Deferred Share Units ("DSU"), with each DSU vesting upon award.

About Big Ridge Gold Corp.

Big Ridge Gold Corp. is an exploration and development company managed by a disciplined and experienced team of officers and directors. The Company is committed to the development of advanced stage mining projects using industry best practices combined with strong social license from our local communities. Big Ridge owns an 100% interest in the Hope Brook Gold Project, located in Newfoundland and Labrador. Big Ridge also owns 100% interest in the highly prospective Oxford Gold Project located in Manitoba and the Destiny Gold Project in Quebec.

Acknowledgement

Big Ridge acknowledges and appreciates the Newfoundland and Labrador Ministry of Natural Resources' financial support of the Company's 2023 exploration programs through the Junior Exploration Assistance (JEA) Program.

For more details regarding the Company's projects, please visit our website at www.bigridgegold.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,

Mike Bandrowski,

President & CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. 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.

Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations, or beliefs regarding future events, and include, without limitation, statements with respect to Big Ridge's intentions with respect to Caprock's shares. All forward-looking statements are based on Big Ridge's and its employees' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions, and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political, and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to Big Ridge, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Big Ridge does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on our behalf, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269247
Vancouver, October 6, 2025 - Newlox Gold Ventures Corp. (the "Corporation") (CSE: LUX) today announced that the British Columbia Securities Commission has issued a failure-to-file cease trade order (the "FFCTO") to the Corporation on October 3, 2025.

The FFCTO is a result of the Corporation's failure to files its audited financial statements for its fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 (the "Annual Financial Statements"), and accompanying management's discussion and analysis and related Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer certificates relating thereto (collectively, the "Required Filings") before the prescribed deadline of July 29, 2025.

The FFCTO prohibits the trading by any person of any securities of the Corporation in each jurisdiction in Canada in which the Corporation is a reporting issuer, including trades in the Corporation's securities made through the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE"), for as long as the FFCTO remains in effect.

The FFCTO provides an exception for beneficial securityholders of the Corporation who are not currently (and who were not as of July 29, 2025) insiders or control persons of the Corporation and who sell securities of the Corporation acquired before July 29, 2025, if both of the following criteria are met:

(i)the sale is made through a "foreign organized regulated market", as defined in section 1.1 of the Universal Market Integrity Rules of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization; and (ii)the sale is made through an investment dealer registered in a jurisdiction of Canada in accordance with applicable securities legislation.

The Corporation is not currently subject to any insolvency proceedings.

As previously announced, the delay in filing the Required Filings is principally related to the Corporation's recent change of management and the difficulty in obtaining necessary documents from Costa Rica for the audit. The Corporation has previously provided its auditors, Dale Matheson Carr-Hilton Labonte LLP ("DMCH"), with draft financial statements for their review. DMCH has subsequently informed the Corporation that due to staffing and scheduling constraints, they will not complete the audit process in time for the Corporation to meet the filing deadline for the Required Filings. These staffing and scheduling issues were not previously known to the Corporation.

Additional time is needed to allow DMCH to complete its audit process. The Corporation intends to file the Required Filings as soon as possible and will provide updates as further information becomes available.

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.

Website: www.newloxgold.com

Telephone: 647.848.5843

Email: info@newloxgold.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Toronto, October 6, 2025 - Caprock Mining Corp. (CSE: CAPR) ("Caprock" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered financing of hard dollar units (the "HD Units") raising aggregate gross proceeds of $542,500 and flow through units ("FT Units") raising aggregate gross proceeds of $375,310. Each HD Unit was issued at a price at $0.025 and is comprised of one common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable to purchase one common share of the Company at any time on or before the date that is two years following the issuance of the Warrant at a price of $0.05. Each FT Unit qualifies as a "flow-through share" (within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada). Each FT Unit was issued at a price at $0.03 and is comprised of one flow-through common share and one-half of one Warrant. The securities issued in connection with the financing are subject to a four-month hold period expiring on February 7, 2026.

The gross proceeds from the sale of FT Units will be used by the Company to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" (as both terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada)) (the "Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Destiny gold property (the "Destiny Project") located near Val d'Or, Quebec on which the Company entered into an option agreement (the "Option Agreement") (see press release dated December 4, 2024). The Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers with an effective date no later than December 31, 2025.

The net proceeds from the sale of the HD Units are expected to be used for expenditures on the Destiny Project as well as general working capital.

In connection with the closings the Company paid an aggregate of $57,608.80 in finders fees and issued a total of 2,117,626 finder warrants. Each finder warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share of the Company at a price of $0.05 for a period of two years following the closing date.

PowerOne Capital Markets Limited acted as finder in connection with a portion of the Offering.

Pursuant to the offering, the Company issued 1,200,000 Units to Daniel Cohen, a director of the Company, who is considered to be a "related party" (within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101")), making the offering a "related party transaction" (within the meaning of MI 61-101) (the "Related Party Subscription"). The Company was exempt from obtaining a formal valuation for, and minority approval of, the Related Party Subscription pursuant to Section 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, respectively. The material change report to be filed in connection with the Offering will be filed less than 21 days prior to the closing of the Offering. The shorter 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.

Early Warning Disclosure

Frank Guillemette acquired 1,666,666 FT Units (total consideration $50,000) and 6,600,000 HD Units (total consideration $165,000) pursuant to the offering and now beneficially owns and has control of 8,266,666 common shares of the Company, as well as common share purchase warrants to acquire a further 4,133,333 common shares, which represents approximately 10.62% of the issued and outstanding common shares as calculated in accordance with National Instrument 62-104 Take-Over Bids and Insider Bids. Prior to the acquisition of FT Units and HD Units, Mr. Guillemette did not hold any securities of the Company.

The FT Units and HD Units were acquired for investment purposes by Mr. Guillemette. Mr. Guillemette has a long-term view of his investment in the Company and may acquire additional securities of the Company including on the open market or through private acquisitions or sell the securities including on the open market or through private dispositions in the future depending on market conditions and other relevant factors. Mr. Guillemette is a resident of Chicoutimi, Quebec.

This news release is being issued in accordance with National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues in connection with the filing of an early warning report dated October 6, 2025. A copy of the early warning report relating to the Mr. Guillemette's participation in the Offering will be available under the Issuer's profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Review ("SEDAR") at www.sedarplus.ca.

Debt Settlement

The Company also announced that it completed the previously disclosed debt settlement with its Chief Executive Officer. Pursuant to the debt settlement Mr. Gupta was issued an aggregate of 2,000,000 units of the Company (each, a "Debt Settlement Unit") at a deemed price of $0.05 per Debt Settlement Unit (the "Debt Settlement").

Each Debt Settlement Unit consists of one common share (each, a "Debt Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant which warrants are exercisable into common shares of the Company at an exercise price of $0.065 and with an expiry date of October 6, 2027. The securities issued under the Debt Settlement are subject to a statutory hold period expiring on February 7, 2026.

The Debt Settlement constituted a related party transaction under MI 61-101. The Company relied on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements provided under subsections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, respectively.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this press release about anticipated future events or results constitute forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements with respect to: the use of proceeds of the financing described herein. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, are forward-looking statements. Although Caprock believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since Caprock can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in Caprock's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. Forward-looking statements are subject to business and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results of operations to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Caprock's expectations include the ability to complete the financing on the terms described, the ability to use the proceeds in the manner indicated, risks associated with the business of Caprock; risks related to reliance on technical information provided by Caprock; risks related to exploration and potential development of the Company's mineral properties; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; the need for cooperation of government agencies and First Nation groups in the exploration and development of properties and the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time and additional risks identified in Caprock's filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ in Canada (available at www.sedarplus.ca). Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. Caprock does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this Release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269342
Wolff says Russell deal confirmed after Singapore win

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has effectively confirmed that Singapore GP winner George Russell will stay with the team for 2026 - ending weeks of speculation over contract delays.

George Russell, Singapore GP 2025

 Mercedes

Russell's dominant lights-to-flag victory from pole appears to have settled the matter after a tense period of talks about salary, sponsor duties, and contract length. The 27-year-old is also said to be seeking new personal management independent of Mercedes, a factor that slowed negotiations.

For now, however, Wolff says both Russell and young Italian Kimi Antonelli are confirmed for next season.

Ralf Schumacher pressed the Austrian about the rumours live on Sky Deutschland after the race: It's your own fault, the car is still free for next year.

Wolff replied: Yes, but the car is also fast. Don't worry, we'll announce something soon.

Presenter Peter Hardenacke then asked if Antonelli's deal was complete. Yes. Both confirmed, Wolff responded.

Hardenacke laughed: Both confirmed? Ok, then we'll take that as it is.

Schumacher added: Mercedes can save themselves the press release now - he just revealed it exclusively.

Wolff smiled: Don't worry, we'll announce it.

Former driver Giedo van der Garde told Viaplay that Russell's Singapore performance may indeed have sealed a lucrative renewal. I think he's got a hefty contract waiting for him now, he said.

If you ask me, Russell and Max (Verstappen) would be a fantastic combination. I think Max wants that too, and probably Russell too, but I doubt it will happen.

Wolff has long preferred to keep his options open for 2027, when Verstappen could theoretically become available.

But the Austrian praised how far his current driver has matured since the famous late-race crash in Singapore two years ago. Yes, I think we've seen George have moments like that in the past, Wolff said.

But not recently - that's a step forward he's taken this year too, that these kinds of things don't happen anymore.

(GMM)
The Redmi K90 Pro is expected to be unveiled in China soon, as its predecessor is almost one year old now - it was released in November of 2024. The K90 Pro is rumored to be rebranded for international markets as the Poco F8 Ultra, and today some camera details for both have been outed.

The Redmi K90 Pro and Poco F8 Ultra will share the same main camera using a 1/1.3" type sensor, and this is likely to be the exact same camera used in the recently unveiled Xiaomi 17, in which case expect it to have f/1.7 aperture and a 23mm focal length, along with OIS of course.

This would be a substantial upgrade from the K80 Pro's and Poco F7 Ultra's 1/1.55" type sensor, letting in much more light. The sensor itself is rumored to be a customized one by OmniVision, bearing Xiaomi Light Fusion branding.

Moving over to the telephoto camera, this is going to be of the periscope variety allegedly, using a 1/2.76" type sensor, which could be Samsung's ISOCELL JN5. If so, then the K90 Pro and Poco F8 Ultra will have 2.5x-3x optical zoom, and this might even be a telephoto macro camera.

The ultrawide may be using OmniVision's OV50M sensor, with 50 MP resolution and 1/2.88" size. This would be another obvious upgrade from the last generation's 32 MP ultrawide using a 1/3.42" type sensor.

So it's looking like the Redmi K90 Pro and the Poco F8 Ultra will have much more of a focus (pun intended) on camera quality than any of their predecessors, if this pans out of course.

Xiaomi Poco F7 Ultra

Source (in Chinese) | Via
Following the release of One UI 8 based on Android 16 for the Galaxy S25 family in mid-September, it reached the older Galaxy S23 devices late last month. Now it's finally also made its way to the Galaxy S22 family.

The update has so far been spotted in Turkiye, with build version S90xBXXUIGYI7. It arrives over-the-air as a 3.1GB download, and includes the September 1, 2025 security patches.

Breaking 



Galaxy S22 Series: Samsung releases the One UI 8 update in Europe



Build Version: S908BXXUIGYI7/S908BOXMIGYI7/S908BXXUIGYI7 pic.twitter.com/9PlehJccTm  Tarun Vats (@tarunvats33) October 6, 2025

Interestingly, the S22 devices were promised to receive four major Android updates. Since they launched with Android 12 on board, this update will be the last major one they ever get, unless Samsung changes its mind - but it most likely won't.

The S22 family will still receive security patches for a while, but that's it for the models launched in 2022. Thankfully, Samsung has an extended support window now, so if you buy a new flagship it will be covered with major Android updates for seven years.
The Guam Police Department said it arrested on Sunday seven individuals for theft, criminal trespass and other charges, and a portion of the arrest caught on video circulated on social media.

They included:

Benjamin Aldan Taitano, 60, Dededo

Carl William Cabrera, 54, Dededo

Laura Sulio Julaton, 28, Dededo

Benjamin Ada Pangelinan, 61, Dededo

Anthony Ada Pangelinan, 60, Dededo

James Ada Pangelinan, 55, Dededo

Ryan Ray Santos Sablan, 50, Dededo

The seven individuals listed were arrested for the same charges:

Theft of property (over $1,000)

Criminal mischief

Criminal Trespass

Conspiracy

The seventh suspect, Sablan, was also arrested for an additional charge of resisting arrest.

Damaged property

GPD said at around 10:47 a.m. on Oct. 5, units were dispatched to a damaged property call on Route 15 across Hawaiian Rock in Mangilao.

An officer detained three individuals, GPD said.

Upon the arrival of additional units, four more suspects were located and detained on the property.

A portion of the incident was recorded on video and circulated on social media. The PDN reviewed the video.

Two vehicles belonging to the suspects were found to contain stolen items, which were then relinquished to the owner, GPD said.

All suspects were processed, booked, and confined to the Department of Corrections and their information has been forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General for information and disposition, police said. GPD said this case is closed.
Neither the governor nor attorney general signed off on 19 contracts for doctors, nurses and pharmacists at Guam Memorial Hospital worth about $7.7 million over three years, according to a flash report issued by the Office of Public Accountability on Monday.

Approval from the governor, AG and Bureau of Budget and Management Research were required for the contracts under two separate GMH internal policies.

GMH management, meanwhile, stated it maintains significant disagreement with how auditors interpreted hospital policies, in a response to the report.

Hospital management stated that OPA relied on outdated policies, which only required signatures from the AG and governor as applicable based on Guam law and government and GMH rules and regulations.

Not all signatures were required on every type of contract. Legal analysis beyond the policy alone was required, GMH stated in response to the report.

The OPA flash report issued Monday is a supplement to a March report that found GMH paid $78.6 million to doctors and other health professionals hired for contract work between fiscal years 2020 and 2023, amid unclear hiring practices.

GMH called the findings in that March report incorrect and misleading.

Whether or not the AG and governors signatures were required on those contracts by hospital policy has been a major disagreement between the hospital and auditors.

Mondays report also comes in the wake of a June hospital consultant review that found physician pay and labor expenses have nearly doubled at GMH over the past five years, while operating losses have gotten bigger.

$2.3M for 1 doctor

The latest flash report looked at 19 contracts for doctors, nurses, and pharmacists executed by GMH between 2022 and 2023.

According to OPA, not one of those contracts, including one that saw a staff physician paid about $2.3 million over three years, was signed by the AG or governor.

There was no certification of available funds for three contracts, while another three had certifications of available funds with no time period specified.

Some 13 of the 19 contracts did not have a defined effective date, and the position titles for two individuals hired were different from their hiring agreement and the position title maintained by GMH, the report found.

In preparing the information for this flash report, GMHA noted that their HR leadership team uncovered numerous deficiencies and inconsistencies with non-physician employee contracts executed under the previous Personnel Services Administrator (PSA), the report stated.

A new PSA was hired in February 2025, and was tasked by the HA/CEO to address and correct the issues, it stated.

Policy changes after OPA began questions

The OPA flash report noted GMH changed two internal policies to no longer require approval from the governor, AG and BBMR.

But those changes were ratified by the GMH board of trustees on Aug. 27, and only after the March audit questioned hiring practices by the hospital, OPA stated.

GMH management provided auditors with a copy of one of the changed policies on July 23.

It removed requirements for review of contracts by the AG and governor, and was effective June 3, 2025.

But the updated policy did not appear to be reviewed and approved by the GMH board, the report stated.

Auditors asked about the approval on July 29. The GMH board ratified the policy on Aug. 27, and the hospital management responded to the OPA inquiry on Aug. 28.

That updated policy, and another ratified on Aug. 27 by the GMH board, were not retroactive and had an effective date of August 2025.

Auditors maintained that past policies, which were referenced in the analysis, remained relevant.

According to the report, the updated policies also included the following changes:

Requires off island travel benefits to be sent by hospital administrator, instead of the board

Agreements or contracts must be presented to the hospital administrator, instead of the boards human resources subcommittee for review and final approval by the board

Requires annual or upon expiration review of contracts to ensure continued compliance with qualifications, performance standards and legal requirements.

GMH response

GMHA consistently reviews its policies to ensure they are up-to-date with current laws, regulations, and best practices. The outdated policy has been amended to account for any ambiguities that may have confused the OPA, hospital management stated in response to the report.

The outdated policy is no longer relevant to the operations of the hospital and the OPAs findings in the report are still moot, it stated.

Hospital management issued two separate responses to the flash report, on Sept. 19 and Oct. 2.

After review of GMHAs response to the original draft, the OPA inserted additional citations and reasoning, which were not presented to GMHA during the audit, according to GMHs second response.

Additional arguments created a constantly moving target to support pre judge deficiencies from the OPA, it stated.

The action tends to suggest the OPA has a confirmation bias and fails to give appropriate deference to GMHAs interpretation and understanding of its own internal policies, GMH added.
Capitol Kitchen owner and chef Casey Castro is seeking the Guam Economic Development Authoritys $4.9 million investment in a centralized kitchen to take unwanted produce only because of cosmetic imperfections and turn them into wanted food products, from soups and sauces to salads.

Castro and Brian Muna went before the GEDA board on Thursday to pitch The Kitchen Lab, a centralized kitchen that would create sustainable food products.

Some produce that farmers on Guam grow ends up going to waste because consumers wont buy them because they have defects, Castro said.

Its such a shame so much food is going to waste, Castro told the GEDA board.

Castro and Muna are asking GEDA for $4.9 million to help them start up the kitchen, and have $6.6 million to match.

They estimate using $3.5 million for equipment acquisition and buildout, $1 million for commercial production, and $400,000 for the distribution hub and business incubator.

They are hoping to acquire a property in Anigua that was previously used to make food for the Department of Corrections.

Castro envisions the business getting unwanted produce from farmers and even local residents who have surplus from their plants to bring them in to create wanted products that can be sold at stores for individual consumption or wholesale to hotels and restaurants.

Muna shared that about 25% of crops go to waste due to cosmetic imperfections.

Castro said Guam relies too much on importation of food and wants to help grow the local industry.

Theres no reason Guam cant develop a program that could make 10% of the products on the store shelves made on the island, he said.

We dont see why there hasnt been a structure put in place to combat the waste were having in Guam, Castro added.

GEDA seeks updated projections

GEDA board director David John said he supports the project, but cautioned that the numbers provided to the board about how much the business would make was not realistic and too optimistic.

He said he loves the concept and wants to support it, but asked that projections provided to the board be updated.

John said current projections show the same revenue every month of about $800,000 when those numbers should show gradual growth.

We need numbers we can defend, he said.

John also said the GEDA board is there to help them and doesnt need overaggressive numbers.

He said cleaning up the numbers will make him comfortable with moving forward on the project.

I think your idea is great. I think its really needed, John added.

Avocados, mangoes, basil

Capitol Kitchen has been working with farmers to take unwanted produce and turn them into usable products that have sold successfully, Castro told the GEDA board.

Having more products made on the island also will help cut down the carbon footprint and the need to ship things from thousands of miles away, Castro said.

It also keeps money on the island that would have gone to off-island companies.

And many of the produce that goes to waste because of imperfections can be turned into soups, sauces and salads, which can then be delivered fresh throughout the island.

Castro said he doesnt see why the island needs to import avocados when they grow well on Guam and oftentimes just fall to the ground and become trash.

The same thing with mangoes because many of them end up dropping on the ground and going to waste.

Castro said The Kitchen Lab would be a place where people can drop off these things, and they can turn them into a sellable product.

The kitchen would also be open to people who may be wanting to start up a food business, but dont have the resources to do it, he said.

The chef said they also plan on having a full-time marketing team to help residents who have product ideas, but dont know how to promote it.

Castro pointed out that Capitol Kitchen has already proven that some items can be made on Guam and sold enough to replace importation from off-island.

Theyve worked with restaurants and hotels to sell pesto that is made using basil grown locally. Basil is a plant that can be easily grown on Guam and the main ingredient in pesto, he said.

Pesto is a million-dollar industry and Capitol Kitchen has been able to get into the market and hopes to stop the import of it to Guam, he added.
A brave patient wrote, if it hurts to watch the fire, imagine how impossible it was to live it. Please make yourself uncomfortable and listen to the whole thing. Please be broken by how many mistakes were made. Please be infuriated that our only public hospital is in this state. Be absolutely terrified that this is the only civilian hospital with a pediatric ward available to Guam citizens.

The fire had forced the chaotic evacuation of sick children from the 4th floor pediatric ward. Scared parents and relatives frantically scrambled to make certain that their babies were still alive.

What was a fire doing, bursting out in the Guam Memorial Hospital?

GovGuam officials dutifully picked through the rubble and rubbed their hands together guiltily like Pontius Pilate trying to wash his hands of an innocent mans blood.

Senators made bold pronouncements. The governor cried crocodile tears. Six weeks later, nobody has done a damn thing. They all seem to be waiting for that rickety ol hospital to explode.

Then suddenly, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero declared the hospital to be in a state of emergency. She called the Legislature into session on a Saturday. Made all the senators get out of bed, put on their fancy clothes, and then Gov. Lou skipped down to Ypao Beach to have a taxpayer-paid Labor Day picnic.

Turns out, Gov. Lou didnt think the burning hospital in Tamuning was an emergency. No. The governor was more worried about her Mangilao property development project where she planned to build the new GMH in five years and solve everybodys problems.

Gov. Lou thought that the Legislature should emergently give her tyrannical dictatorial super powers so she could build her Magical Mangilao Malibu Barbie Hospital.

The Legislature said No.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch in Yigo, poisonous dieldrin was found in the water. Dieldrin is a 1970s-era neurotoxic organochlorine compound that kills little children and breastfeeding mothers.

Back in the day, dieldrin was used as a pesticide to kill termites and tsetse flies. Turns out, dieldrin was better at killing people than killing insects.

People who on purpose or accidentally ate large amounts of dieldrin have suffered convulsions and died. Dieldrin has been linked to liver failure, Parkinsons disease, testicular damage, and breast cancer. For this reason, in 1987, this chemical was banned in most of the world.

Guams Acting Gov. Joshua Tenorio acted swiftly to dieldrin in the water and declared a state of emergency. Guam Waterworks Authority General Manager Miguel Bordallo humbly admitted that he had failed to communicate the public health threat sufficiently and cooperated with authorities.

Under local law, an emergency declaration unlocks $250,000 in immediate funds for response. That money can be spent without the usual red tape, to get safe drinking water back to affected homes.

With this, GWA has the resources to act quickly to get safe drinking water to affected families. It enables GWA to immediately procure filters and other supplies, like point-of-entry systems that can filter water before it even reaches the taps in our homes, Tenorio said.

He additionally stressed that protecting the islands drinking water should be paramount.

We must remember that water is life. This sustaining resource must be cherished. It must be protected. It cannot be taken for granted. It is our collective responsibility to protect it and to act whenever its safety is threatened, he said.

To that, I say to you governor, life is life. A burning GMH baby in Tamuning should be worth as much as a dieldrin-poisoned child in Yigo.

The question remains, why do life-threatening fires at GMH not get as much GovGuam attention as dieldrin? The answer is Erin Bronkovich and class action lawsuits. GovGuam politicians only seem to take things seriously when smart-ass lawyers show up and humiliate them.

This painfully heartbreaking reality about GovGuam inertia and the failures of GMH is long overdue. Dont run away from it. A great change must happen. Your government of Guam is corrupt.

Your governor and your senators are perpetuating a villainous political patronage system that robs government resources from the same poor patients that they now use as human shields in this medical soap opera that is the Guam Memorial Hospital.




Haiti - Fishing sector : Donation of 10 Yamaha 40 HP outboard motors





On Saturday, October 4th, 2025, as part of the Initiative for Nature and the Optimization of Ecological and Economic Values (INOVEE) project, the Swiss international NGO HELVETAS, in consortium with the Haitian Association for Agricultural, Medical, Educational, and Social Assistance (AHAAMES) and with funding from the European Union through the Office of the National Authorizing Officer of the European Development Fund (BONFED) of the Global Alliance on Climate Change (GCCA+) program, officially handed over 10 Yamaha 40-hp outboard motors to fishermen in the commune of Belle-Anse (Southeast Department), whose economy relies primarily on fishing.



These 10 outboard motors were handed over to 10 member associations of the "Inyon Kominal Asosyasyon Peche Belans" (INKAPEB). This ceremony, which took place in the presence of departmental and local authorities, marked a new milestone in efforts to modernize and professionalize fishing in the municipality.



This donation is part of a series of activities carried out by HELVETAS : training, raising awareness of sustainable fishing, promoting good fishing practices, and installing Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs).



Denoil Antenor, Mayor of Belle-Anse, welcomed this initiative, which he said "strengthens the skills of fishermen while stimulating the local economy."



Agr. Adler Lafleur, Departmental Director of Agriculture for the Southeast, emphasized "the importance of this equipment in increasing the productivity and safety of deep-sea fishermen" and urged proper management of these engines by fishermen.



Dominique Moise, President of the Belle-Anse Fishermen's Development Association (INKAPEB), expressed the gratitude of the beneficiary fishing organizations to HELVETAS and its partners, emphasizing that this support "will have positive repercussions not only for the fishermen, but also for the entire population of Belle-Anse."



According to fishermen's testimonies, the installation of FADs has already significantly increased fishing; this helps fishermen catch bigger fish, and with these 40-horsepower engines, they will be able to easily go deep-sea fishing.



To ensure the sound and sustainable management of the donated equipment, a donation contract has been signed between the various stakeholders : the lessor, the South-East Departmental Agricultural Directorate, the INKAPEB federation, and the beneficiary associations. Each organization will be required to regularly report on the use, management, and maintenance of the engines.







According to agronomist Nathan Jean Pierre, INOVEE project coordinator for HELVETAS, several complementary actions have been carried out to support the fishing federation and restore terrestrial and marine ecosystems. These include : the treatment of the Pichon and Bel-Air watersheds, coastal protection, and awareness-raising training on environmental preservation and sustainable fishing. Technical training has also been provided on FAD maintenance and installation, with interventions at the Oyster Lagoon Park.



Soon, a training in the management, maintenance, and repair of fishing engines will be provided, a critical need expressed by fishermen.



The 10 associations benefiting from these engines :

Belle-Anse Oyster Scene Amateurs Association (AASDB); Anse-a-Boeuf Fatima Fishermen's Association (APAF-75B); Belle-Anse Fishermen's Association (APB); Fishermen's Association for the Development of Riviere Salee (APDRS); Belle-Anse Integrated Fishermen's Association (APIB); Kalimet Fishermen's Association (APK); Kagawo/Orange Bay Fishermen's Association (APKB); Progressive Fishermen's Association for the Advancement of Belle-Anse (APPAB); Belle-Anse Fishermen's Solidarity Action Group (GASPEB-CV) and the Prechet-Mouillage Fishermen's Organization (OPPM).



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Volkswagen is pulling the emergency brake on its ambitiously launched Cariad software division and has heralded a radical change of course. Instead of relying on the largely failed in-house development of programs and systems for cars, VW is now relying on cooperation, Group CEO Oliver Blume explained recently at the "Auto x Software Summit" of the Financial Times (FT) in Munich. Cariad will be downgraded to a coordinator and integrator of external partners, in particular Rivian in the USA and Xpeng in China.

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For years, the Wolfsburg-based company's internal software unit has been one of its most pressing problems. There have been repeated setbacks and delays, especially with new e-cars. Blume, who has headed the company since 2022, then initiated a complete reboot of the software strategy to catch up with competitors such as Tesla and new Chinese players.

According to Blume, the "make strategy" (develop everything yourself) has given way to a purchase option that relies heavily on partnerships. The new approach follows the company's own disastrously failed endeavors, which led to product delays and cost overruns under Blume's predecessor Herbert Diess. The market launch of the all-electric Porsche Macan and the Audi Q6 e-tron, which was two years late due to Cariad issues, now utilized the latest software architecture already developed with partners.

Redefinition of tasks and reorganisation

Cariad itself has survived, but the role of the division has changed drastically, writes the Financial Times. It is now primarily responsible for maintaining and updating the existing VW software platforms and for integrating new architectures, which are mainly developed by Rivian. In addition, Cariad will retain responsibility for the development of core technologies such as autonomous driving, infotainment systems, and cloud computing services, which are crucial for customer data acquisition. VW and Bosch announced in August that they wanted to democratize robo-driving functions.

Cariad CEO Peter Bosch expressed his relief that the "massive transformation" had been achieved within two years. The reorganization, which lasted until the beginning of this year, resulted in a charge of 400 million euros, largely due to restructuring at Audi and Cariad.

Dissolution leads to dependency

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As part of the reorganization, the Cariad team, which was originally tasked with developing its own architecture, was largely disbanded. It was to merge with the Rivian development group. Several employees, including chief software engineer Sanjay Lal, who was poached by Rivian in 2023, left the company as a result.

Blume defends the course and now sees VW in a strong position with economies of scale. Analysts believe it makes sense to retain Cariad as a gatekeeper and architect. But there are also critical voices that criticize the high dependence on Rivian with a promised investment of over 5 billion US dollars. It is unclear where Cariad will stop and when Rivian will take over. The US company's top priority is currently the architecture for the R2 SUV. Only then will Rivian be able to focus on VW models, whose new software  for example, due to the increased "technological openness" of the subsidiary Porsche  also needs to be adapted for petrol engines and hybrids.

According to market observers, the coming years will show whether VW will be able to play a more important technological role in the future: a new model with Xpeng software is due to be launched in China in 2026 and a 20,000 Euro electric car with a Rivian platform in 2027.

(wre)

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 Chaos Computer Club (CCC), the net-political association D64 and other civil society actors from the "Stop Chat Control" alliance are issuing an urgent warning about the impending adoption of the EU Commission's draft regulation on mass online surveillance. This has been contested for years, under the banner of the fight against child sexual abuse. The initiative is on the agenda of the EU Council of Ministers on 14 October under the current Danish Presidency. The organizations are calling on the German government to reaffirm the "no" vote from the traffic light era and thus avert a "catastrophe" for digital security and the fundamental rights of around 500 million EU citizens.

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In view of the imminent vote and the serious consequences, the NGOs are criticizing the German government's silence. Neither the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice, nor the Digital Ministry have yet commented on the final German position. The organizations warn that the executive would be breaking key promises from the coalition agreement if it were to give its approval in Brussels. In this agreement, the coalition promised to continue to guarantee the confidentiality of private communications and anonymity online.

Dispute over client-side scanning

The current proposal from the Danish Council Presidency contains all the controversial measures that have so far failed at EU level. Essentially, it is still about scanning communication content such as images, films, and linked websites for known and even unknown depictions of child abuse.

The Danes also rely on client-side scanning to circumvent the widespread end-to-end encryption in messengers such as Signal, Threema, and WhatsApp. The CCC emphasizes that this is merely a euphemistic term for direct surveillance on the end device and can never be minimally invasive, as the measure is directed against the will of the user.

The consequence: deliberate security loopholes, aka backdoors, would have to be placed in protocols or devices. "If such a law on chat control is introduced, we will not only pay for it with the loss of our privacy. We are also opening the door to attacks on secure communication infrastructure," says CCC spokesperson Elina Eickstadt, sounding the alarm. Confidential communication  a crucial component of IT security in the digitalized world  would effectively be made impossible.

Infringement of fundamental rights and chilling effects

D64 sees the real-time search of private communications as an unprecedented encroachment on fundamental rights. Co-chair Svea Windwehr clarifies: "There is no version of chat control that does not destroy the encryption and confidentiality of private communication."

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The control options would trigger systematic "chilling effects"  an atmosphere of self-censorship. Freedom of expression, the confidential communication of whistleblowers and the protection of sources for journalists would be massively jeopardized. D64 also fears that such a surveillance infrastructure could be misused by autocratic states to suppress opposition and criticism.

Counterproductive for child protection

Both organizations argue that chat control is also counterproductive from a child protection perspective. The required AI systems are prone to errors and would produce millions of false reports, which would place an extreme burden on investigating authorities and cause actual cases to get lost in the data rubbish. Law enforcement agencies and child protection organizations also criticize this approach. Instead, D64 is calling for prevention and support for those affected to take centre stage rather than relying on supposedly technical solutions.

The appeal to the government is clear: considering the broad alliance against chat control, including from the scientific community, and the ongoing case law of the European Court of Human Rights, Germany must maintain its position. A German veto could encourage other EU states to also vote against the proposal and send a signal in favour of the non-negotiability of fundamental rights. "Stop Chat Control" has published "instructions" on the web on how citizens can reach the relevant ministries, parliamentary groups, and members of the Bundestag.

The umbrella organization European Digital Rights (EDRi) points out that chat control would not only be a cybersecurity nightmare that even intelligence services would advise against. The negotiated draft also makes it likely "that all digital communication services would require age verification of users." However, all available age verification systems have been shown to pose "a threat to freedom of expression, autonomy, and privacy".

(wre)

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 group confirmed to Helsingin Sanomat that the detained Finns were among the 161 people flown to Athens after being held in Israeli custody. The convoy of ships, which set sail in an attempt to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, was intercepted last week in international waters. Israeli authorities detained over 400 people from various nationalities, including the five Finns.

Five Finnish citizens detained during an Israeli military operation against a Gaza-bound aid flotilla have returned to Europe and are expected to arrive in Finland on Tuesday, according to the Global Movement to Gaza.

The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs said the individuals left Israel on Monday aboard a coordinated repatriation flight. Hanna Lepisto, head of the Ministry's consular affairs unit, said, They are free to arrange their own onward travel.

Jussi Tanner, Finlands Consul General in Tel Aviv, confirmed that, according to the Ministrys latest understanding, all detained Finnish citizens have now left Israeli territory.

The Global Movement to Gaza welcomed the return of the detained Finns but issued a statement criticising Finlands top leadership for what it called a lack of political engagement during and after the detentions. We remain deeply concerned by the absence of clear political leadership from Finland's highest levels in response to this crisis, the organisation said.

The statement outlined multiple allegations of mistreatment of detainees by Israeli authorities. These include physical and psychological abuse, denial of food and medication, religious rights violations, and humiliation.

The Global Movement to Gaza said these testimonies were consistent across multiple countries and have been corroborated by human rights groups including Adalah.

Israels National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated last week that he was proud of the treatment of the detainees. He added, Anyone who supports terrorism is a terrorist and deserves the conditions of terrorists.

Despite these reports, Finlands Ministry for Foreign Affairs has not confirmed the mistreatment. Tanner said the Ministry has no direct information about the veracity of the claims and is waiting to see if the claims can be verified.

The activist group rejected this position, saying the testimonies represent a pattern of systematic abuse and should not be dismissed as unverified.

In its statement, the group criticised Finnish political leaders for avoiding explicit terminology. It noted that President Alexander Stubb and Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen have made what it called vague statements over the past year without acknowledging the scale of events in Gaza.

In previous months, Stubb described the situation in Gaza as immense suffering and referred to the blockade as a man-made famine, while Valtonen urged Israel to respect international law and refrain from attacking Rafah. Neither has publicly addressed the latest detentions.

The group compared the current silence with Finlands political response during the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident, when Stubb, then Foreign Minister, issued a direct condemnation of Israels actions against Finnish citizens.

It demanded the Finnish government issue political statements condemning the interception of the flotilla and the treatment of detainees, recognise Palestine, and impose sanctions on Israel.

The organisation stated that the flotilla was intercepted 40 to 70 nautical miles from the coast, outside Israeli jurisdiction under international maritime law. It called this a violation of freedom of navigation and international law.

It also referred to reports by Amnesty International and the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry which concluded that Israels military actions in Gaza amount to genocide. The International Court of Justice is examining charges, and the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli officials.

The Global Movement to Gaza called on Finland to suspend military, trade, and academic cooperation with Israel and to launch an independent investigation into the treatment of Finnish detainees. This, the group said, should include medical examinations and the collection of testimonies.

It further urged the summoning of the Israeli Ambassador to Finland and immediate recognition of the State of Palestine.

The activist convoy included participants from Sweden, Norway, France, Germany, Italy, the United States, and Malaysia. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was among those detained. Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenegard said the reports of mistreatment were very serious and warranted investigation.

The Global Movement to Gaza stated that consular support is not enough. It said Finland has legal obligations under the Genocide Convention and the Helsinki Accords and must act accordingly.

HT
The building was designed by Anttinen Oiva Arkkitehdit and developed by the pension insurance company Varma. It houses the headquarters of Stora Enso and the Solo Sokos Hotel Pier 4.

Katajanokka Pier (Katajanokan Laituri), a large wooden commercial building on Helsinkis waterfront, has won the 2025 Finlandia Prize for Architecture. The award was announced by the Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA), marking the twelfth year the prize has been given.

The final winner was chosen by Archbishop Tapio Luoma, who was appointed to select from four shortlisted projects. He described the building as architecturally striking, open, and rooted in natural materials.

The real surprise awaits you within, Luoma said. The timber structures above the foyer create a one-of-a-kind atmosphere. At times, the abundance of wood leaves you feeling as if youve found yourself enveloped by a forest.

The structure has transformed the former harbour area of Katajanokka into a public space. It was designed with sustainability and longevity in mind, using wood extensively in its structure, cladding and interiors. The developers focused on creating a building that could adapt over time, with low-carbon and energy-efficient features.

Selina Anttinen, senior architect at Anttinen Oiva Arkkitehdit, said the project began with strong environmental values and a commitment to sustainable building. It is a joy and a privilege to share this prize with everyone who contributed to the outcome, from the client to the builders, she said.

Sari Raunio, Property Development Director at Varma, said the award reflects the collaborative nature of the project. From its inception, the project was exceptional due to its location, building material and architecture, she said. Our ambition was for the building to have a long useful life and to be easy to modify, versatile, low carbon and energy efficient.

Katajanokka Pier has already received several national and international awards. It won a wood architecture award in Paris, was named Project of the Year by the Association of Project Professionals (PRY), and received the RIL Award in 2024, which recognises Finnish engineering.

The Finlandia Prize for Architecture was established in 2014 to promote public appreciation for architectural quality and to highlight the role of architecture in shaping cultural and social environments. The award is presented annually by SAFA.

Katajanokka Pier adds to Helsinkis growing portfolio of timber buildings. Its location, design, and public accessibility were among the features that led to its recognition. The buildings interior uses solid wood not only structurally but as a visible element, aiming to create both acoustic comfort and a natural atmosphere.

The design team included Vesa Oiva and Teemu Halme, alongside Anttinen, who served as lead designers. According to the architects, the goal was to strike a balance between professional innovation and ecological responsibility.

Katajanokka Pier is situated on a prominent site by the sea, offering public access to a previously closed harbour area. The structure is built almost entirely from Finnish wood, marking a strong statement about domestic materials and design traditions.

HT
A BUILDERS merchants is set to submit fresh plans to renovate a site in Henley after its designs did not win the full approval of the heritage officer.

Stark Building Materials UK wants to open a Jewson store on the former Gibbs and Dandy site in Reading Road.

The company, which owns both brands after acquiring Jewson in March 2023, wants to develop the site, comprising partial demolition of the current structure and alterations to the existing building.

Once completed, the existing Jewson branch at 99 Reading Road will close and the operations will be relocated to the refurbished site.

Stark wants to partially demolish the existing main building fronting and refurbish the external facades of the buildings with new timber cladding, roller shutters and metal sheet cladding over existing brickwork, as well as repairs to existing cladding and new customer entrance doors.

It has applied for permission for a covered racking storage area, used for storing wood and materials outside, as well as rationalisation of the site, including the relocation of nine parking bays, collection bays, sheltered cycle parking with six spaces, external storage and a servicing area.

Stark initially submitted its planning application in June. Last month, it followed up with amended floor plans and elevation drawings.

The company has now informed Henley Town Councils deputy clerk, Steve Lambert, that it intends to make further amendments.

Rebecca Barnett, the heritage officer at South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority, suggested design amendments as it did not make a positive contribution to the area.

Her suggestions included reducing the height of the building, moving it back to align with its original position, breaking up its massing and using additional planting.

Ms Barnett said: The front single-storey element of the existing building makes the greatest contribution to the street scene currently. The height and massing of the proposed canopy area is significantly larger than this and would dominate views from Reading Road.

Speaking at a meeting of the town councils planning committee Councillor Ian Reissmann said that he broadly agreed with the views of the heritage officer.

I hope the amended plans reflect a considered and complete response to [the concerns] of the sites neighbours, who have also submitted objections to the plans. Its quite a prominent site as you leave Henley.

The committee voted to reserve commenting on the application until the new amendments were submitted.

Geoff Luckett, chair of the Henley Society, said he objected to the scheme, describing it as overdevelopment and unneighbourly.

He said the site would have an adverse effect on the street scene and requested that the frontal height was lowered to match the rear.

In the visual impact statement submitted alongside the application, Stark said that the scheme aimed to uplift the visual quality of the site by replacing the outdated Gibbs and Dandy building with a more contemporary and refined structure.

Stark said that the timber cladding used softens the industrial nature of the site and that the new signage and gates had been carefully selected as not to overwhelm the existing street scene.

It said: We believe that the design will positively contribute to the streetscape, offering a more engaging and attractive visual presence than the current building, which is outdated, dull and under-utilised.

Stark has requested to discuss its plans with the town council in October.
Being a fan of the Mets is like very, very much being Jewish  you know, you suffer, Israeli-American violinist Itzhak Perlman tells me. Every now and then, you have wonderful, wonderful, great, great, great celebration  and then some more suffering.

Perlman, who turned 80 on Aug. 31, was describing his recent birthday celebration  a Chinese dinner in Flushing with loved ones, followed by a trip to Citi Field to watch the Mets lose, as he described it.

Ever the optimist, the virtuoso  who has won a whopping 16 Grammys and has conducted and performed with orchestras all over the world...
In the millennia of Jewish history, several momentous events have stood out as turning points that subsequently influenced the lives of the Jewish people. The exodus from Egypt. The giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. The destruction of the Holy Temples in Jerusalem, and the Jewish exiles that followed. The writing of the Talmud.

But many of these events are literally ancient history. And obvious.

Some more-recent events in Jewish history have also played significant but often subtle roles in the lives of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

Here is a subjective - and very personal - lis...
(JNS) - As I walk into the still relatively new school year, I find myself reflecting on an honor I received this summer, the Bernie Marcus Award, and on the journey to Israel that helped me see what it truly means to be a pro-Israel advocate. They both came at pivotal moments, offering me fresh eyes and a renewed sense of purpose for the year ahead.

The Bernie Marcus Award is given to young leaders who demonstrate a deep commitment to strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship. For me, that recognition is not just a personal achievement, but a reminder of the responsibility that comes with le...
(JNS)  Most House Democrats signed a letter on Thursday warning the Israeli government against trying to annex territory in Judea, Samaria or Gaza.

Led by Reps. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), and joined by the entire Democratic House leadership, the 178 congressmen told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar that Israeli annexation of any territory would plunge the region into further chaos and violence.

We are convinced that unilateral steps by either side, including Israeli annexation of territory in...
Elon Musk has intensified his long-running feud with the Anti-Defamation League, calling the Jewish civil rights group a hate group in a post on X, the platform he owns and renamed from Twitter.

The ADL hates Christians, therefore it is is [sic] a hate group, Musk wrote Sunday, responding to a pseudonymous account that had claimed the ADL views Christianity as extremist.

The exchange drew quick amplification from right-wing figures. U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican, accused the ADL of intentionally creating a targeted hate campaign against Christians. Provocateur Laura L...
(JTA)  French President Emmanuel Macron formally announced his countrys recognition of Palestinian statehood on Monday at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

True to the historic commitment of my country to the Middle East, to peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, this is why I declare that today, France recognizes the state of Palestine, Macron said, receiving a loud applause from the more than 140 leaders in attendance.

During his announcement, Macron also outlined his vision for a renewed Palestinian Authority and highlighted a recently approved declaratio...
(JNS)  Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana on Sunday expressed his gratitude to New York Mayor Eric Adams, after the latter announced he was bowing out of the citys mayoral race.

Eric Adams chose NYC over his ego, trying to save it from the crazy communist, Ohana said on X, referring to front runner and anti-Zionist Zohran Mamdani.

Adams was polling fourth after Mamdani, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, according to the New York Post. Thus his exit from the race improves the chances of Cuomo and Sliwa, considered the more moderate candidates.

Israelis will never...
(JNS)  Oziel Vatik, the mayor of the Samaria village of Kedumim, was subjected to harassment and threats in New York while visiting the city as part of an official Yesha Council delegation on Sunday, he told JNS.

Vatik told JNS he was holding security consultations by phone following the deadly terrorist attack near Kedumim on Sunday when a woman came up to him and started shouting.

She shouted at me: Youre Israeli, you piece of and other curses in English, he said, adding: Out of respect for you, I wont repeat them.

Just as in Poland in 1910, when my grandfather was attacked and hi...
On too many college campuses today, Jewish students arent asking for special treatment  theyre asking to be able to study in peace. Recently, that basic expectation has been shattered.

Into that breach stepped Mothers Against College Antisemitism  a parent-led network that rocketed from a Facebook group to a national force almost overnight, now with more than 63,000 members. Their premise is simple: If universities wont protect Jewish students from harassment and open calls for their eradication, parents will.

Elizabeth Rand, attorney and founder of MACA, wasnt motivated to act by any on...
(JNS)  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he was working with U.S. officials on a 21-point Gaza peace plan put forth by Washington and hopes to finalize it in coordination with U.S. President Donald Trump.

In an interview on Fox News ahead of his White House meeting on Monday, Netanyahu said the proposal is not yet complete, expressing hope we can make it a go, because we want to free the hostages, we want to get rid of Hamas rule and have them disarmed, Gaza demilitarized and a new future set up for Gazans and Israelis alike and for the whole region.

Pressed on t...
By Alex Traiman

(JNS) - In August, barely a month ago, U.S. President Donald Trump referred to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a "war hero" over the near-perfect 12-day war in June that thoroughly neutralized Iran's illicit nuclear program.

Now in September, Netanyahu received less than a hero's welcome at the United Nations. While the entire world obsesses over nearly every Israeli military and diplomatic action, nations of the world collectively walked out as Israel's prime minister ascended the U.N. General Assembly podium in Midtown Manhattan.

As he has done so many times befo...
(JNS) More than one million scans of the QR code worn by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his speech at the U.N. General Assembly annual general debate in New York have been recorded in the last 24 hourswith about 30 percent of them from Iran and Gaza, the prime ministers spokesperson said on Saturday.

The QR code leads to a website documenting the Hamas-led atrocities of Oct. 7, 2023, in Israels northwestern Negev.

In addition, the Prime Ministers Office released Netanyahus U.N. address with Arabic overdubbing, as part of an effort to win over public opinion.

Much of th...
(JNS)  The U.S. Justice Department announced on Monday that it filed a civil complaint against those who engaged in a coordinated effort to intimidate and disrupt Jewish worshipers on Nov. 13, 2024.

The department filed the suit under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which former President Bill Clinton signed into law in 1994 to protect those seeking abortions and attending religious services and abortion clinics and houses of worship.

The federal complaint alleges that the defendantsincluding Party for Socialism and Liberation-New Jersey, American Muslims for Palestin...
A pizzeria in the German city of Furth, Bavaria, is banning Israelis in protest against the ongoing war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, in the second such antisemitic incident in the country in as many weeks.

The move sparked outrage, with the local Jewish community in the southeastern state denouncing the move as a rerun of the antisemitism of Nazi Germany, while the Israeli embassy in Berlin also stated that it seemed like a return to the 1930s.

We believe that children should not be harmed under any circumstances, a sign posted at the entrance to Pizza Zulu read, according to an image ci...
(JNS)  U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday emphasized that there is no Palestinian state, despite recognition by several Western countries this week, and said the diplomatic initiative led by France and Saudi Arabia had actually derailed efforts to end the Israel-Hamas war.

There is no Palestinian state, no matter how many papers they put out, and the only time therell ever be one is if there is a negotiation with Israel  which right now is impossible because they have a war going on with Hamas, Rubio told CBS News in an interview.

He noted that Hamas butchered some 1,200 Isr...
(JNS)  U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a peace plan for Gaza and the Middle East to leaders of several Muslim-majority countries during a meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.

We had a very productive session. We presented what we call the Trump 21-point plan for peace in the Mideast and Gaza. I think it addresses Israeli concerns and, as well, the concerns of all the neighbors in the region, Reuters quoted U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff as saying at the 15th annual Concordia global affairs summit in New York on Wednesday.

Were ho...
Netanyahu: There will be no Palestinian state

By JNS Staff

(JNS)  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Sunday that there will not be Palestinian state, and said that an Israeli response to the international recognition by various Western countries will come upon his return from a visit to the United States.

I have a clear message to those leaders who have recognized a Palestinian state after the terrible massacre of October 7: You are granting a huge prize to terrorism, Netanyahu said. And I have another message: It will not happen. There will be no Palestinian state wes...
25 has come to a close. In Israel, this time of year is evident by the changing landscape, notably the fruits on the trees, the grapes in the vineyards. If there was no calendar to tell us the date, we would still know it was the High Holydays.

We feel a need to focus on our recent announcement about the establishment of an ambulance fleet dedicated in memory of Charlie Kirk, z"l.

In response to that announcement, we received thoughtful feedback, and we realized we may have unintentionally minimized a key point.

Judea and Samaria. Yehuda and Shomron. "The West Bank." "The Occupied Territorie...
Adams is out  but who will get his votes?

Mayor Eric Adams quit his reelection bid on Sunday, ending an unpopular, scandal-ridden administration and a longshot campaign to hold onto Grace Mansion.

Adams was consistently polling fourth, behind Democratic nominee and frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. But Jews made up an important part of his base. According to a Quinnipiac poll released earlier this month, of the 12 percent of voters who favored Adams, 42 percent said they were Jewish.

Adams did not endorse another candidate but took an im...
As world leaders attended the UN General Assembly, several Western nations marked this annual gathering with an act of treachery of global proportion. France, the UK, Canada, and Australia led the pack of those who made a mockery of international diplomacy, doing something sad and even illegal in recognizing the State of Palestine. The mockery would be funny if it werent so obscene, propagating a fake reality as if such an entity ever existed, or has the standing and legitimacy to exist as a state. Canada and the UK have raced to lead the pack.

These are broad issues that are clear cut. The...
(JNS)  It is astonishing and sometimes discouraging to see how history echoes itself in the formative events of our time.

Recent statements by various Western countries expressing their intention to recognize a Palestinian state coincide with an escalation in jihadist terrorism, mass demonstrations and the growing influence of anti-Israel lobbies in key European capitals and decision-making centers. This familiar dynamic, which we have seen recently in Spain, France and the United Kingdom, illustrates the way in which pro-Palestinian organizations operate in an organized manner to weaken Isra...
(JNS)  As the U.N. General Assembly meets, leaders from across the globe are lining up to announce recognition of a Palestinian state.

French President Emmanuel Macron has led the charge, urging the Saudis and others to enshrine the two-state solution as the only path to peace. Governments from Canada to Australia to the United Kingdom have already followed suit, formally recognizing Palestine.

It may feel historic to those in the room. Palestinian activists will post triumphant slogans. Supporters will believe their governments have brought Palestine closer to freedom. But in Israel, and eve...
(JNS)  If you are Jewish or a friend of the Jewish people, this is your wake-up call.

We are living in a time when silence equals surrender. The lies and propaganda against Jews and against Israel grow louder every day. If we sit back, if we hesitate, if we think that others will carry the burden for us, then we fail not only ourselves but also the generations who came before us and those who will come after.

This Rosh Hashanah is not just a holiday  it is a summons to action.

Here is the reality: Jews make up less than 16 million out of a world of more than 8 billion. Just 0.2 percent of hu...
(JNS)  At first glance, the surge of support by Democratic elected officials for recognizing Palestinian statehood seems an act of moral clarity: After decades of suffering, political displacement and human tragedy, isnt it overdue for Palestinians to receive the diplomatic recognition so many world powers already afford them?

Beneath the veneer of humanitarian concern and lofty rhetoric, however, lies a host of practical, ethical and strategic problems that Democratic politicians seem to gloss overand that deserve a harder look from voters and policymakers alike.

Here are the problems with...
(JNS)  Some may view a vote this week in the United Nations on a resolution to recognize a Palestinian state as a long-awaited step toward peace. In reality, it is profoundly misguided. It rewards terrorism, abandons American hostages, undermines Israelour strongest ally in the Middle Eastand emboldens adversaries who threaten U.S. national security interests. For U.S. policymakers, the stakes could not be higher.

The Palestinian leadership has rejected every serious peace initiative that required compromise, going back to the Peel Commission of 1937. Instead, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jih...
Bangladeshi Hindus' largest Durga Puja festival ends with immersion of idols

Xinhua) 16:01, October 03, 2025

DHAKA, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- Durga Puja, one of the largest Hindu festivals, ended in Bangladesh with the immersion of the idols on Thursday.

The five-day Durga Puja festival involves the worship of Goddess Durga symbolizing the power and triumph of good over evil in Hindu mythology.

After worshipping for days, devotees with tears in their eyes on Thursday bade goodbye to their beloved goddess Durga as her idols were immersed in ponds, lakes and rivers on the fifth day, marking the end of the goddess's annual stay at her paternal home.

According to Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad (BPUP), the Durga Puja was celebrated at 33,355 pavilions across the country this year. Devotees organized different programs, including dancing and traditional drummer performances to celebrate the festival.

On the occasion of the largest Hindu festival, Chief Adviser of the interim government Muhammad Yunus has felicitated the country's Hindu community.

Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin also exchanged greetings with members of the Hindu community on the occasion of the festival at the presidential palace.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Donald Trump has launched a fresh tirade against one of his own judicial appointees, after US District Judge Karin Immergut blocked his administration's attempt to deploy the National Guard to Portland, Oregon.

The US President, who had been largely absent from the public eye in recent days, spoke to reporters on Saturday morning as he prepared to board a helicopter en route to the Navy's 250th anniversary celebration in Virginia.

Raising his voice above the whirring of helicopter blades, Trump expressed open frustration at the judge he himself appointed in 2019. 'I wasn't served well if they put judges like that on,' he said, visibly agitated. 'I wasn't served well by the people that pick judges, I can tell you. Things like that are just too bad.'

The ruling by Immergut came as a blow to the Trump administration's effort to send troops to Portland following renewed protests in the city. Trump, who described Portland as 'burning to the ground', said the decision was 'a disgrace'.

'I Appointed the Judge and She Goes Like That'

Trump appeared to take the ruling personally, suggesting that Immergut had failed him politically. 'I appointed the judge and she goes like that, no. I wasn't served well,' he told reporters. 'Obviously, I don't know the judge, but she made that kind of a decision.'

The 79-year-old Republican leader then painted a grim picture of what he called Portland's "collapse under lawlessness," using language that critics have described as exaggerated and incendiary.

'Portland is burning to the ground. You have agitators, insurrectionists. All you have to do is look at the television, turn on your television, read your newspapers,' Trump declared. 'The governor, the mayor, the politicians have had to fight for their lives, and you have a judge like that  that judge ought to be ashamed of herself.'

White House Officials Echo Trump's Fury

Trump's remarks were soon echoed by senior members of his administration. Stephen Miller, the White House's deputy chief of staff for policy and one of Trump's closest advisers, took to social media to decry the court's ruling.

On X (formerly Twitter), Miller called Immergut's decision 'legal insurrection', claiming that 'deployment of troops is an absolute necessity' against what he described as 'an organized terrorist attack' on Portland.

The former administration had long accused far-left groups, including Antifa, of coordinating violent protests in the city  claims that have been widely disputed by local officials and independent observers.

Judge Immergut Pushes Back Against 'Untethered' Claims

In her ruling, Immergut dismissed the administration's justification for troop deployment as 'untethered to facts.' The judge, who was confirmed to the bench under Trump's own nomination, stated firmly: 'This is a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law.'

The decision effectively halted the Trump administration's plan to send federal forces into the city  a plan he had publicly authorized days earlier via his Truth Social account.

'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 on 27 September.

Legal experts said Immergut's ruling underscored the independence of the judiciary, even when judges are appointed by the sitting president. The Department of Justice has not yet indicated whether it will appeal.

A Familiar Pattern of Judicial Friction

Trump's clash with Immergut marks yet another instance of the president turning against judges he once promoted. Over the years, he has publicly criticized several of his own appointees  from Supreme Court justices to district judges  when their rulings failed to align with his political agenda.

Analysts say the Portland dispute reflects a deeper rift between Trump's populist approach to law and order and the judiciary's adherence to constitutional limits.The clash between Trump and Judge Immergut underscores ongoing tensions between the executive and judiciary over the use of federal force in domestic crises.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
Delegations from Hamas, Israel and the United States are due to convene in Egypt for talks on Monday, with President Donald Trump urging negotiators to "move fast" to end the nearly two-year war in Gaza.

Both Hamas and Israel have responded positively to Trump's proposal for an end to the fighting and the release of captives in Gaza in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli jails.

The indirect talks were due to begin on the eve of Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked the war.

Trump's plan envisages the disarmament of Hamas, which the militant group is unlikely to accept, as well as the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

Previous rounds of negotiations have also stalled over the names of Palestinian prisoners the Islamist group proposed for release.

Hamas's lead negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, who was targeted with other leaders from the group in Israeli strikes in Doha last month, was to meet with mediators from Egypt and Qatar in Cairo Monday morning, a senior official from the group told AFP, ahead of talks in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh.

Negotiations will look to "determine the date of a temporary truce", the official said, as well as create conditions for a first phase of the plan, in which 47 hostages held in Gaza are to be released in return for hundreds of Palestinian detainees.

Posting on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump praised "positive discussions with Hamas" and allies around the world including Arab and Muslim nations.

"I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST," he wrote.

On Monday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi praised Trump's plan saying it offered "the right path to lasting peace and stability".

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has expressed hope that the hostages could be released within days, said his government's delegation would be departing for Egypt on Monday for the talks.

The White House said Trump had also sent two envoys to Egypt -- his son-in-law Jared Kushner and Middle East negotiator Steve Witkoff.

AFP footage on Monday showed several explosions in Gaza, with plumes of smoke rising over the skyline, even after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Israel to stop bombing the territory.

"You can't release hostages in the middle of strikes, so the strikes will have to stop," Rubio told CBS.

A Palestinian source close to Hamas said it would halt its military operations in parallel with Israel stopping its bombardment and withdrawing its troops from Gaza City.

On Sunday, a resident of the city's Al-Rimal neighbourhood said there had been what he called "a noticeable decrease" in the number of air strikes.

"The tanks and military vehicles have slightly pulled back," said Muin Abu Rajab, 40.

Gaza's civil defence agency, a rescue force operating under Hamas authority, said Israeli attacks killed at least 20 people across the territory on Sunday, 13 of them in Gaza City.

Noting that the "operational situation has changed", Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir warned Sunday that if the negotiations failed, the military would "return to fighting" in Gaza.

Militants seized 251 hostages during their October 7, 2023 attack, 47 of whom are still in Gaza. Of those, the Israeli military says 25 are dead.

According to Trump's plan, in return for the hostages, Israel is expected to release 250 Palestinian prisoners with life sentences and more than 1,700 detainees from the Gaza Strip taken during the war.

Hamas has insisted it should have a say in the territory's future, though Trump's roadmap stipulates that it and other factions "not have any role in the governance of Gaza".

Under the proposal, administration of the territory would be taken up by a technocratic body overseen by a transitional authority headed by Trump himself.

"We hope Trump will pressure Netanyahu and force him to stop the war," said Ahmad Barbakh, a resident of the Al-Mawasi area.

"We want the prisoner exchange deal to be completed quickly so that Israel has no excuse to continue the war."

Hamas's October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 67,139 Palestinians, according to health ministry figures in the Hamas-run territory that the United Nations considers reliable.
Just more than a year after the City's largest concrete pour took place at the foundation level of Signia by Hilton Indianapolis' hotel construction site, the project has reached its highest structural concrete point, which will include the Sky Lounge and Mezzanine on the 37th and 38th floors and offer breathtaking views of downtown Indianapolis. The property will be Signia by Hilton's first hotel in both the state and the Midwest, introducing the region to the approachable luxury brand's elevated guest experiences through exceptional design, wellness, dining, and world-class meetings and events.

To commemorate the milestone, Indianapolis city officials and Hilton representatives gathered inside what will be the largest ballroom in Indiana, in what will be the city's tallest hotel, to celebrate the topping-off of the 800-room Signia by Hilton Indianapolis. The ceremonial event also marked construction being 62% complete and on-schedule to open in the fall of 2026.

Once completed, the hotel will feature close to 100,000 square feet of versatile meeting space, including a 50,000-square-foot ballroom, and will provide direct access to the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium via a skywalk over Capitol Avenue. Guests can expect seven culinary concepts including an upscale fine-dining restaurant; rooftop sky bar and pool; a state-of-the-art fitness center; wellness-focused guest rooms; and Club Signia, a premium offering for guests that elevates the entire stay.

The impressive addition to the city's skyline comes with impressive construction statistics:

Almost 50 guest rooms are complete including carpet, paint, accessories, etc.

More than 68 outreach meetings have taken place to encourage and facilitate participation by local businesses.

More than 2,300 construction jobs have been created.

As many as five cranes have been on the construction site at one time

5,100 of the 5,900 panes of glass have been installed

Almost 40% of the project workers are minorities

72,000 cubic yards of concrete

More than 100 local subcontractors

The hotel will be directly connected to the Indiana Convention Center via a climate-controlled skywalk, bringing the total number of downtown connected hotels to 12 with more than 5,200 connected rooms, the most of any city nationwide. The last convention center expansion was completed in 2011 in conjunction with the JW Marriott. The addition of Signia by Hilton Indianapolis marks the sixth expansion of the Indiana Convention Center and is the result of nearly a decade of planning. When complete, it will feature one of the nation's 10 largest convention center ballrooms, enabling Indianapolis to host two citywide conventions simultaneously. According to Visit Indy, the development has already secured $1.3 billion in retained convention business and generated interest in $1 billion in new bookings, with groups reserving space as far out as 2036. During the ceremony, Visit Indy President & CEO Leonard Hoops announced that the American Society of Safety Professionals will host its annual meeting in Indianapolis in June 2030, utilizing the Signia Grand Ballroom for a general session of 10,000 attendees, a convention projected to generate $11.5 million in economic impact.

With the approval of the City-County Council, the City of Indianapolis took over financing the project with $625 million in hotel revenue bonds. Partners in the project include construction manager AECOM Hunt, design firm Ratio Design, Central Indiana Building and Construction Trades, and concrete subcontractor FA Wilhelm Construction.

For more information on the Signia by Hilton Indianapolis, please visit Hilton.com.

Hotel website
Rebecca Hall, former director of public relations & communications for Atlantis Dubai, has returned to the UAE to take on the role of executive director of public Relations at Wynn Al Marjan Island. The upcoming Ras Al Khaimah resort, which will be the first in the UAE to feature a casino, is set to become one of the region's most high-profile hospitality openings.

Most recently, Hall served as area director of public relations & communications at Minor Hotels in Bangkok, overseeing strategic brand strategy and communications for Anantara, Avani, and NH Collection across Thailand. She spearheaded high-impact campaigns, international media partnerships, and activations that elevated the group's global visibility.

Prior to her time at Minor Hotels, Hall spent more than nine years with Atlantis Resorts in Dubai. She played a central role in shaping communications for Atlantis, The Palm and Aquaventure Waterpark, later taking on a cluster leadership position across Atlantis The Royal, Atlantis, The Palm, and the wider Destination Atlantis portfolio. Her responsibilities spanned strategy for 51 restaurants and bars, including 13 celebrity chef venues, as well as global PR campaigns across markets from Europe to Asia Pacific.
Ciel Dubai Marina, Vignette Collection by IHG is set to debut in November 2025 as the world's tallest hotel. The hotel is bringing in Heinrich Morio as managing director to oversee all operational and commercial strategies.

Morio brings extensive expertise in pre-openings, brand positioning, and operational transformation within the luxury sector. With more than 35 years of global hospitality experience, including 16 years in the Middle East, Morio has held senior executive positions with some of the industry's most prestigious brands, including The Peninsula Group, Ritz-Carlton, One&Only, and Jumeirah Group. His leadership career spans world-renowned properties such as Burj Al Arab, Ocean Club Bahamas, Le Touessrok Mauritius, Palazzo Versace Dubai, and Amanpulo Resort in the Philippines.

Most recently, he served as General Manager of Amanpulo, a private island resort in the Philippines. He also successfully launched The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon, quickly establishing it as one of the region's most dynamic luxury destinations.

Ciel Dubai Marina, Vignette Collection spans 82 floors with 1004 guestroom, standing at 377 meters with the world's highest infinity pool, eight dining venues, a luxury spa, fitness facilities and panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf and Dubai skyline. Managed by The First Group Hospitality and part of IHG's Vignette Collection, the property is designed to blend innovation, creativity and authentic moments for every guest.
Dubai, UAE - Future Hospitality Summit  FHS World is putting the Philippines in the spotlight with a dedicated pavilion highlighting the countrys dynamic, diverse hospitality and tourism sector throughout the event, taking place at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, 27-29 October.

Philippine tourism is experiencing a massive rebound, with the number of visitors rising 36-fold from 164,000 in 2021 to nearly 6 million in 2024, and over 3.9 million tourist arrivals from January to August this year alone. The country is aiming for more than 10 million visitors and an additional 120,000 new hotel rooms by 2028.

The tourism sector is projected to inject more than US$106 billion into the Philippines national economy this year  roughly 21% of GDP and an increase of 13% since pre-pandemic levels, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. Hotel occupancy in Metropolitan Manila averaged 78.3% in Q2 this year, with the luxury segment outperforming with higher-than-average occupancy and strong ADR growth.

FHS Worlds Philippines pavilion will zoom in on the countrys tourism outlook for 2026 and beyond, upcoming projects and how investors can get involved, including the incentives available through the Tourism Infrastructure Enterprize Zone Authority.

Its fantastic to welcome the Philippines on board for FHS World 2025. One of Asias most dynamic tourism and hospitality markets, the country is entering a pivotal stage for investment and sustainable growth. With a plethora of hospitality and tourism investment opportunities, the Philippines Country Pavilion is set to be a huge draw at this years summit. Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of the Bench, organiser of FHS World

Key upcoming developments in the Philippines include multi-billion US$ airport expansions and a wealth of hotels, resorts, destinations, eco-conscious developments and large-scale MICE venues. New source markets are emerging, too: since June 2025, Indian nationals have been able to enjoy visa-free entry. Direct flights between Delhi and Manila are also planned.

The Philippines participation in FHS 2025 is a groundbreaking step for a country with high potential and exciting opportunities. Our pavilion will proudly showcase our 7,641 islands, our rich culture and our best asset  the Filipino people renowned for their world-class hospitality, while also highlighting the multitude of opportunities to invest today and be part of the Philippines of tomorrow. Maria Margarita M Nograles, CEO of the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines

Recent tourism-boosting initiatives include the Love the Philippines campaign, the introduction of Tourist Rest Areas, safety enhancements at SCUBA diving destinations, and streamlined entry processes.

Major developers seizing the opportunity to capitalise on the Philippines tourism boom include Ayala Land, which is investing US$500 in doubling its hotel room portfolio to 8,000 keys. With 1,000 keys under development, the countrys largest hotel company, Robinsons Hotels and Resorts, will have 36 operating hotels by 2027. Hotel101s expansion is bringing large-scale properties to Cebu, Davao and Boracay, while integrated casino-resorts continue to attract multi billion US$ investment in Clark, Manila Bay and Cebu.

FHS World will also feature dedicated Country Pavilions for Albania, Italy and The Maldives.

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
Berlin  Leonardo Hotels Central Europe is continuing to pursue a course of expansion by investing in new hotels, in the upgrading of its existing portfolio and in the further development of innovative brands. The group has achieved a number of important milestones in 2025 and has also launched new projects which will secure growth in Europe over the long term.

Implementation of Partnership III, which began in January 2024 with an investment volume of 419 million, is a key building block in this development. Thanks to a high degree of trust and successful collaboration, the fund had risen to 542 million by January 2025. Almost 159 million of this sum has been contributed by Fattal Properties (Europe). Since the introduction of the partnership, Leonardo Hotels has acquired 30 hotels in the Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom for a total of almost 740 million. The company plans to establish a further partnership featuring similar arrangements in 2026.

2025 is a year in which we are successfully combining growth, renovations and new partnerships. These undertakings demonstrate that Leonardo Hotels is a dependable partner for investors, municipal authorities and project developers. Yoram Biton, Managing Director of Leonardo Hotels Central Europe

Leonardo Limited Edition  individual hotels with character

The Nikolai Hotel Hamburg became the first venture in Germany to operate under the new Leonardo Limited Edition brand when it opened in 2024. This exclusive collection of curated individual hotels has been growing ever since. The Hotel Alden Splugenschloss in Zurich underwent careful renovation works before joining the Edition as the citys smallest five-star hotel. The Mannheimer Hof opened in Mannheim in March 2025 following an elegant restoration. A new jewel of the upscale hotel sector came to the German capital at the start of September. The Posthouse Berlin, which is located near Potsdamer Platz and housed in a building which originally served as the citys largest postal distribution centre, offers a stylish temporary home from home. The Badischer Hof in Baden-Baden is steeped in tradition and was once Germanys first Palace Hotel. This history will be honoured when it is added to the collection in the coming months

The extension of our portfolio to encompass Leonardo Limited Edition brings us hotels which all boast a separate history, individual style and unique atmosphere , explained Yoram Biton, Managing Director of Leonardo Hotels Central Europe. Each has its own story to tell and offers our guests an inimitable experience.

NYX Hotels  more urban lifestyle in the pipeline

Expansion is proceeding at pace in the lifestyle segment too. The NYX Hotels by Leonardo Hotels brand seeks to deliver urban design, creative concepts and a lively hotel experience for modern travellers. The NYX Hotel Berlin Kopenick, situated on the bank of the River Dahme, opened in May 2025 after a comprehensive programme of renovation works. The group took over the former Radisson Blu in Erfurt only two months later. The hotel is operating as normal in its new guise of NYX Hotel Erfurt whilst updating takes place. The new NYX Hotel Rome is scheduled to open for business this autumn. All of these hotels are united by their modern design, by a cosmopolitan atmosphere and by innovative concepts aimed at guests who aspire to far more than conventional overnight accommodation.

Further brand developments and modernisation

As well as expanding its lifestyle and limited edition offerings, Leonardo Hotels has also been maintaining a consistent focus on the groups core brands during 2025. Germany has seen the opening of the Leonardo Mainz and the Leonardo Hannover Medical Park. Extensive renovations are currently ongoing in both cases. The Leonardo Royal Barcelona Forum and the Leonardo Boutique Rome Monti have strengthened our international presence. The group has also instigated a series of parallel investments in existing hotels. Around 1,000 rooms and bathrooms will be fully updated by the end of 2025 in order to ensure modern levels of comfort that meet contemporary standards.

Strategic outlook

Leonardo Hotels long-term focus is directed at expansion in France in target cites such as Paris, Marseilles and Lyon and at new markets such as Scandinavia, Serbia and Croatia. The leisure segment will be reinforced at the same time. This will involve investments in attractive destinations in Germany, Italy, Croatia and France. The group is thus combining targeted expansion, brand development and modernisation with the goal of sustainable consolidation of its position in Europe.

About Leonardo Hotels

Founded in 2006 as the European arm of the Fattal Hotel Group, Leonardo Hotels has since grown into a leading name in the hospitality industry. With a diverse portfolio consisting of Leonardo Hotels, Leonardo Royal Hotels, Leonardo Boutique Hotels, Leonardo Limited Edition Hotels and NYX Hotels, we offer a range of unique experiences tailor-made for the modern traveler. The Group owns and manages over 300 hotels across 21 countries.

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Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest hotel franchising company, today launched Dazzler Select by Wyndham, a new franchise offering designed for independent hoteliers in the economy lifestyle space.

An extension of its boutique-inspired Dazzler by Wyndham brand, Dazzler Select empowers owners to preserve the individuality, branding, and character of their hotels while unlocking the benefits of Wyndham's vast scaleincluding access to its award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program, global distribution, advanced technology, and dedicated sales and marketing support.

The debut comes at a time of significant opportunity. Per STR, there are more than 16,000 independently owned economy hotels in the U.S.most of which are owned and operated at the local level. Collectively, these hotels are estimated to represent more than 70% of the segment, reinforcing the potential and need for offerings like Dazzler Select.

Independent hoteliers have long been at the heart of experiential travel, yet unlike those in upscale and luxury, owners in the economy space have often had to go it aloneuntil now. Dazzler Select gives owners the freedom to preserve their hotel's character while leveraging the scale, reach, and resources of the world's largest hotel franchisor. It's a game-changing opportunity for independents, delivered by the Company that knows these travelers best. Geoff Ballotti, President and CEO, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Lifestyle Travel, Economy Roots

The first Dazzler Select debuts today with the conversion of Magic Moment Resort & Kids Club in Kissimmee, Fla., an award-winning property known for its playful design, family-friendly amenities, and strong community spirit. The vision of entrepreneurs Ariel Tomat and Carina Radonichnow the newest member of Wyndham's Women Own the Room programMagic Moment has earned praise for blending creativity with comfort, making it a natural fit for Dazzler Select.

Beyond Magic Moment, Wyndham has signed two additional hotels and is in active discussions with more than 25 additional developers. Over the next five years, the company is targeting 50 additional openingsreflective of its focus on quality.

Lifestyle travel continues to be a key industry growth driver, especially among younger travelers such as millennials (1.8 billion globally) and Gen Z (2.5 billion globally), who continue to prioritize travel and experiences over material possessions. According to research by McKinsey, these groups together average nearly 5 trips per year, more than both Gen X and baby boomers, while devoting nearly a third of their income (29%) to such trips.

What makes Magic Moment extraordinary is not just our rooms or our amenitiesit's the soul we put into every stay, every detail, every memory created for our guests. With Dazzler Select by Wyndham, we discovered the perfect partner: one that allows us to protect what we've built while giving us access to a world-class platform of support, reach, and innovation. This isn't about changing who we are, it's about amplifying our voice, expanding our possibilities, and showing that independent spirit and global strength can thrive together. Carina Radonich, Co-Owner, Magic Moment Resort & Kids Club

Magic Moment Resort & Kids Club, a Dazzler Select Hotel, stands apart from other Kissimmee resorts by putting families at the heart of every stay. Recognized by TripAdvisor as the area's #1 family-friendly hotel, the resort delights guests with immersive themed rooms, interactive play areas, and a one-of-a-kind Kids Club where little ones can enjoy supervised activities while parents relax. From decor to design, thoughtful touches and imaginative spaces spark creativity at every turn, creating experiences that blend comfort, convenience, and kid-focused funall just minutes from Orlando's world-famous attractions.

OwnerFirst by Design

At its core, Dazzler Select is built on Wyndham's OwnerFirst approach. With a flat monthly brand fee (covering traditional royalty and marketing fees), the offering lowers the barrier to entry for independent hotels looking to tap into the power of Wyndham while eliminating unpredictable costs and streamlining expenses. Prioritization of low-cost conversions also means owners avoid costly overhauls.

Building on that foundation, Dazzler Select also emphasizes simplicity in day-to-day operations. With a focus on qualityhotels must carry a 4.0 guest rating or higherDazzler Select requires only a limited set of high-impact standards: free Wi-Fi for Wyndham Rewards members, 24-hour water and coffee stations, one complimentary breakfast item per guest, and boutique-inspired design elements. The streamlined model helps owners manage costs while delivering the essentials travelers expect.

Once open, hotels benefit from access to the Company's powerful Wyndham Rewards loyalty programranked #1 by readers of USA TODAYalong with best-in-class technology like Wyndham Connect and Wyndham Gateway, plus dedicated sales, marketing, and operational support. Alongside Wyndham's other offerings, Dazzler Select makes Wyndham the only major hotel company offering soft-brand solutions across virtually every chain scalefrom economy to luxury.

Independent owners in the economy lifestyle space have been overlooked for too long. With Dazzler Select, we're giving them a brand tailored to their needssimple, flexible, and built on Wyndham's unmatched support and distribution. Our goal is straightforward: help owners succeed on their terms while giving travelers the boutique-inspired stays they crave. Amit Sripathi, Chief Development Officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

With the launch of Dazzler Select, Wyndham is setting a new standard for economy lifestyle hotels. To learn more, including franchising opportunities, visit WyndhamDevelopment.com.

About Dazzler Select by Wyndham

Dazzler Select is an extension of the boutique-inspired Dazzler by Wyndham brand, designed for independent economy lifestyle hotels. The concept enables owners to maintain their property's unique character while tapping into Wyndham's global scale, loyalty program, technology, and marketing support. Built for today's lifestyle-minded traveler, Dazzler Select delivers boutique style, approachable rates, and the resources owners need to grow and succeed. Learn more at DazzlerHotels.com. For franchising opportunities, visit WyndhamDevelopment.com.

About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world's largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with approximately 9,200 hotels across over 95 countries on six continents. Through its network of nearly 885,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 25 hotel brands, including Super 8, Days Inn, Ramada, Microtel, La Quinta, Baymont, Wingate, AmericInn, Hawthorn Suites, Trademark Collection and Wyndham. The Company's award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers approximately 110 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit wyndhamhotels.com.

About Wyndham Rewards

Part of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH), the world's largest hotel franchising company, Wyndham Rewards is the #1 hotel rewards program as named by readers of USA TODAY. Membersapproximately 120 million enrolled around the worldearn a guaranteed 1,000 points with every qualified stay and can redeem for free nights starting at just 7,500 points. With more than 60,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally, no other hotel rewards program is more generous. Join for free at WyndhamRewards.com.
As AI accelerates remote work, digital nomads are reshaping the global workforce and the travel industry. This article explores the evolving digital nomad culture, its impact on organizational structures, social policy, and entrepreneurship.

1. Why Digital Nomads Matter Now

Digital nomads have transitioned from niche adventurers to central figures in a rapidly evolving global labor market. Prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work became mainstream, compelling businesses to adopt flexible, location-agnostic structures. Governments worldwide are responding strategically, creating specialized visas to attract these mobile professionals.

As of 2025, over 73 countries, including Italy and South Korea, had introduced digital nomad visa programs to attract remote workers. South Koreas recently introduced digital nomad visa exemplifies this trend, aimed not only at facilitating travel but also at addressing demographic challenges linked to its critically low fertility rates and predicted workforce shortages in the near future. More than 17 million American workers now identify as digital nomads, a 131% increase since 2019. This significant rise indicates a fundamental shift in the intersection of work, travel, and lifestyle within the modern economy, rather than merely a temporary change influenced by the pandemic.

Moreover, research indicates that digital nomadism fosters innovation through knowledge spillovers and cross-cultural interactions, reshaping conventional organizational frameworks and business ecosystems. Simultaneously, AI-driven technologies have accelerated remote collaboration, enabling more agile, decentralized teams. Thus, digital nomadism, underpinned by remote-first policies and advanced technological infrastructure, is profoundly influencing traditional perceptions of work and redefining business strategies, travel experiences, and even national identities.

Delving into the digital nomad phenomenons impact on the global workforce reveals that remote workthe overarching category encompassing most digital nomads professional environmentshas emerged as a defining norm reshaping contemporary organizational strategies. Artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT and Claude have significantly enhanced remote collaboration, enabling efficient, location-independent teamwork among knowledge workers globally.

Consequently, companies are increasingly adopting leaner, project-based structures reminiscent of Silicon Valleys gig-oriented business models, driving greater agility and responsiveness to market shifts. This transition has further accelerated the decentralization of traditional hierarchies, fostering hybrid, cross-border teams as the emerging standard in organizational design. Such borderless work arrangements facilitate innovation through increased diversity, flexibility, and rapid knowledge exchange, permanently reshaping global work dynamics.

2. The Upside and Downside of the Digital Nomad Lifestyle

The rise of digital nomadism presents significant benefits and notable challenges that stakeholders must carefully weigh. On the positive side, digital nomads often foster increased productivity and innovation within their fields. Frequent cross-cultural interactions and exposure to diverse working methods create valuable knowledge transfer, enhancing creativity and problem-solving capabilities. The constant exchange of ideas among globally dispersed workers enriches organizational knowledge and accelerates innovation cycles.

Additionally, the inherent flexibility of nomadic work arrangements contributes significantly to individual autonomy and job satisfaction. Nomads can optimize their productivity by aligning their work schedules with personal peak performance times and favorable local conditions. Furthermore, organizations employing a location-independent workforce tend to adopt leaner, project-based structures, substantially reducing overhead costs and allowing faster adaptation to market changes. For individuals, digital nomadism often presents an economically attractive lifestyle. Many leverage geographic arbitrageearning income from wealthier markets while residing in regions with lower living expenses, thereby enhancing their quality of life and financial flexibility.

Yet, the digital nomad lifestyle is not without significant drawbacks. Foremost among these is the risk of job precarity. The gig-oriented nature of nomadic work often means inconsistent income streams, lack of employer-sponsored benefits, and limited job security. Such instability can exacerbate financial stress and career anxiety, especially in industries prone to market volatility or economic downturns.

Moreover, digital nomadism may inadvertently widen existing socio-economic inequalities. Often, only individuals with pre-existing financial safety nets or substantial remote earning potential can comfortably pursue a nomadic lifestyle. Consequently, less affluent professionals risk exclusion from these opportunities.

From a regulatory perspective, national tax, visa, and labor laws frequently lag behind the reality of an increasingly mobile workforce, creating complex legal scenarios for nomads. This mismatch generates uncertainties regarding residency status, taxation obligations, and employment regulations, posing administrative challenges both for nomads and their employers.

Additionally, despite the allure of freedom, nomadic living can negatively affect mental health and work-life balance. Social isolation, burnout from constant travel, unreliable internet access, and blurred boundaries between professional responsibilities and leisure activities can degrade productivity and personal well-being. Nomads must also contend with logistical complications such as navigating multiple countries tax and visa requirements, further compounding their administrative burdens. There is an emerging concern surrounding transnational gentrification.

Affluent digital nomads from wealthier nations may unintentionally inflate housing costs and living expenses in host communities, displacing local populations and creating social tensions. Such developments necessitate proactive policy-making by destination countries to mitigate adverse socioeconomic impacts while still capitalizing on nomadic economic contributions.

3. Digital Nomads as Drivers of New Business Ecosystems

The surge of digital nomadism has led to significant shifts in global business ecosystems, fostering a variety of innovative business models designed explicitly to serve the unique needs of a location-independent workforce. As remote professionals increasingly seek flexibility, connectivity, and well-being in their chosen destinations, businesses catering directly to this demographic have thrived, reshaping local economies and entrepreneurial landscapes.

One clear indication of this evolution is the proliferation of co-working spaces, flexible housing solutions, wellness centers, and specialized networking hubs tailored to digital nomads. Such ventures provide critical infrastructure for nomads by combining professional workspace with lifestyle amenities. Co-working spaces, in particular, have transformed from merely offering office desks to integrating robust community-building activities, professional networking events, and wellness-oriented experiences, such as yoga studios and mindfulness programs.

Airbnbs strategic pivot towards "Services " exemplifies how digital nomadism disrupts conventional business boundaries. Initially known for short-term lodging, Airbnb now offers integrated local experiences and freelance gig opportunities, effectively blurring traditional distinctions between accommodation, tourism, and the gig economy. This shift signals an industry-wide transformation, as businesses increasingly seek hybrid models to accommodate nomads desires for convenience, authenticity, and professional flexibility.

In Seoul, South Korea, the emergence of specialized office-sharing applications like FastFive further illustrates this entrepreneurial adaptation. These platforms provide nomads, including YouTubers and content creators, with flexible workspace options and integrate crucial support services such as legal advice, digital production assistance, and collaborative networking. The tailored approach of these local businesses has positioned Seoul as a leading destination in the digital nomad marketplace, attracting significant international talent and investment.

Other major nomad hubssuch as Lisbon, Bali, and Medellinhave experienced similar entrepreneurial booms. In these cities, businesses have sprung up around co-living arrangements, digital connectivity solutions, tailored financial services, and culturally immersive experiences specifically aimed at nomadic professionals. Entrepreneurs operating within these environments often deploy hybrid business strategies that merge sectors like hospitality, technology, creative services, and personal well-being. Such hybridization enables them to capture a diverse customer base and respond swiftly to the fluid needs and preferences of digital nomads.

However, this entrepreneurial dynamism also challenges conventional policy frameworks and traditional definitions of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Regulators face difficult questions regarding sector classification, taxation, and policy support for businesses operating in this novel economic landscape. As nomadic lifestyles continue to blur boundaries between industries, policymakers must rethink existing regulations and support mechanisms to ensure sustainable growth, equitable benefits, and minimal adverse impacts on local communities.

Ultimately, digital nomads are not merely passive consumers but active agents reshaping global economic and social environments. By driving the creation of innovative, flexible, and responsive business ecosystems, digital nomads present both unprecedented opportunities and unique policy challenges that require thoughtful and proactive management by stakeholders worldwide.

4. Strategic Recommendations: What Policymakers and Business Leaders Should Do

To capitalize sustainably on the rise of digital nomadism, it is imperative for policymakers and business leaders to implement strategic initiatives addressing infrastructure, regulation, technology, and community development.

Supporting flexible infrastructure is foundational. Investments in high-speed internet connectivity are critical for attracting digital nomads, whose productivity hinges on reliable digital access. Additionally, modular housing developments and integrated co-living and co-working spaces can offer affordable, flexible, and socially engaging environments. Such initiatives not only accommodate nomadic professionals but also mitigate pressures on local housing markets by channeling demand toward purpose-built facilities. Public sectors should create social policies tailored to mobile workers. The nomadic lifestyle often exposes professionals to financial instability and inadequate social safety nets. Portable benefit systemssuch as international health insurance, portable pensions, and flexible tax arrangementscan alleviate financial vulnerabilities and encourage more sustainable nomadism. Furthermore, financial literacy programs specifically designed for mobile workers could equip them with essential skills to manage their unique financial circumstances effectively. Policymakers must rethink and modernize business regulations. Traditional zoning laws and small-to-medium enterprise (SME) classifications frequently lag behind the reality of nomad-driven entrepreneurship. Adjusting these frameworks to accommodate hybrid business modelssuch as co-living spaces, gig platforms, and wellness hubswill enable local entrepreneurs and SMEs to thrive. Flexible regulatory approaches can stimulate local economic development, foster innovation, and position host destinations as attractive entrepreneurial ecosystems. Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) thoughtfully is paramount. AI-powered tools can enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and facilitate seamless collaboration across dispersed teams. However, policymakers and business leaders should employ these technologies to complement human skills rather than replace them. AI should be integrated in ways that enrich human-centered services, preserve employment quality, and augment workers capacities rather than undermine their roles or increase job precarity. A dedicated focus on digital inclusion is essential. Marginalized populations often risk exclusion from the benefits of remote work due to limited access to necessary technology, training, or employment opportunities. Initiatives should therefore prioritize targeted programs providing remote-work training, affordable devices, reliable connectivity, and equitable job opportunities. Proactively fostering digital inclusion ensures that the nomad-driven economy benefits broader segments of society, reducing inequality rather than exacerbating it. Policymakers and business leaders must intentionally design spaces and policies that cultivate genuine belonging. Nomadic workers frequently face isolation, disconnection, and transience, leading to mental health challenges and weakened community ties. By creating welcoming, interactive environmentswhether through policy labs, hotel lobbies, or co-working spacesorganizations can foster meaningful social connections and community integration. Encouraging digital nomads to participate actively in local culture, civic life, and entrepreneurial ecosystems will generate sustainable mutual benefits, strengthen host communities, and enhance nomads overall experiences.

By implementing these comprehensive recommendations, policymakers and business leaders can strategically navigate the transformative shifts brought by digital nomads, fostering innovation, sustainable growth, and inclusive prosperity.

5. Digital Nomads Arent a TrendTheyre a Catalyst

Digital nomads represent far more than a passing trendthey serve as catalysts for profound economic, social, and cultural transformation. As early adopters of a borderless future, they embody a shift where geographic constraints diminish and organizational agility becomes paramount. Driven by AI-powered workflows, decentralized teams, and flexible business models, this nomadic workforce is redefining how industries operate, startups innovate, and communities engage.

Countries and businesses that proactively embrace this shift stand to benefit significantly. Those that invest in adaptive infrastructure, inclusive social policies, and thoughtful regulatory reforms will attract global talent, stimulate innovation, and strengthen local economies. Furthermore, nations that effectively leverage digital nomads as soft-power agents can enhance their global reputation, cultural influence, and competitive positioning.

However, this moment of transition demands intentionality. Policymakers and business leaders must ensure that the economic benefits of digital nomadism are shared equitably, avoiding unintended consequences such as increased social inequalities and transnational gentrification. They must also foster welcoming communities that promote genuine belonging rather than superficial engagement, thereby strengthening social cohesion and resilience.

Taken together, the rise of digital nomads offers an unprecedented opportunity to reimagine work, business, and society. Stakeholders who embrace this phenomenon thoughtfullyrecognizing its potential beyond economic gaincan collaboratively construct a future that is innovative, agile, and resilient. The digital nomad movement thus serves as both an inspiration and imperative for lasting global transformation.

Reprinted from the Hotel Business Review with permission from www.HotelExecutive.com.

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In a world dominated by social media, the value of a hotel is increasingly measured by how shareable its experiences are. Guests aren't just looking for comfort -- they want moments worth posting. For years, Instagrammable aesthetics were enough. Now, younger generations are shifting the bar: the real currency is authenticity.

Why Online Perception Matters

Social media trends have a short shelf life. Microtrends flare up quickly, particularly on dominant platforms like TikTok and Instagram. What captures attention one week will be lost in the algorithm the next. For hoteliers, that means a design feature or unique amenity may be interesting for a moment, but vanish from feeds in the next. Keeping up requires constant, purposeful reinvention  or, ideally, such strong branding that viewers stay tuned in out of genuine interest.

Generally, social media is moving into an era where authenticity is king. Gone are the days of heavy curated feeds; today, Instagram dumps of casual, playful photos and videos are the norm  carefully staged to appear effortless. This subtle shift matters: travelers are no longer drawn to polished perfection alone  they are drawn to experiences that feel real, spontaneous, and emotionally resonant.

Influencer marketing reflects this shift. In 2025, the industry reached $35 billion USD, with growth fueled by micro- and nano-influencers whose close-knit communities value trust over scale. A 2024 Rakuten Advertising study found that 60 per cent of people place high value on trust, while 85 per cent would unfollow an influencer who seemed fake. What resonates online isnt exclusivity or polish anymore  its authenticity, credibility, and experiences that feel true.

For hotels, the lesson is clear: to capture attention, a property must feel genuine, not just photogenic.

What Does This Mean For Hoteliers?

Hotels need to find a balance: authentic but not average. Internet friendly, but centered on in-person experience. Culturally relevant and genuine, yet still exclusive and extraordinary. A space must feel authentic and genuinely fun while remaining visually compelling to make people stop and capture the moment.

How? Invest in experience.

Too often, hoteliers make the mistake of conflating interior design with experience design. Both are essential, but they yield different results. Interior design provides aesthetic appeal, visual interest, and style. Experience design engages all senses  sound, scent, texture, and touch  to create a full-bodied emotional connection. Done right, these sensory touchpoints transform a space from visually interesting into emotionally resonant, creating moments guests feel deeply and remember.

Think of theatre. If interior design is the set design  the backdrop  then experience design is the performance. Interior design creates beauty; experience design creates feeling. A beautiful lobby may impress at first glance, but multisensory engagement ensures that guests leave with a lasting impression  one that theyll talk about and share.

Psychology backs this up: multisensory experiences are linked to attention span and memory recall, while feelings of authenticity correlate with happiness and positive social interactions. Put simply: when guests engage all five senses, theyre more likely to perceive the moment as authentic, memorable, and worth sharing online.

For hoteliers, the ability to craft these authentic experiences is a strategic advantage. A space that not only looks beautiful but also immerses guests in sound, smell, texture, and lighting transcends function  it becomes an experience worth sharing. Its the difference between a room and a story.

W Osaka, Japan  Photo by Something New Creative Inc.

Why It Matters

In todays hospitality market, guest experience doesnt end at check-out  it extends into the digital sphere. A lobby design, rooftop bar, or immersive art piece that inspires guests to post organically becomes free advertising, multiplying reach far beyond the propertys marketing spend. More importantly, in the era of social media authenticity, each share acts as a testimonial: this is a place worth visiting.

Making your property unmissable for social media goes beyond the opportunity for free marketing  its future proofing your brand. Research shows 70 per cent of Gen-Z travellers make decisions on destinations based on engaging social media content, while 40 per cent have booked a trip after seeing a space online. Neglecting the interests of the generation poised to dominate luxury travel by 2030 isnt just risky  its brand suicide.

In a crowded market, hotels that balance authenticity with extraordinariness are the ones that stand apart. Spaces that feel genuine yet remarkable give guests not just memories, but stories to broadcast. Competitors can copy layouts, service models, or amenities, but they cant replicate a viral, authentic moment tied uniquely to your property.

Today, authenticity is no longer an optional add-on. Its a revenue strategy, a marketing engine, and a differentiator. Hotels that recognize this and invest in experience design will go beyond delighting guests in the moment  theyll ensure that those moments echo far beyond the propertys walls, online and off.

Carly Pews
Rendering of the MB Resort Orlando - Image Credit MB Signature Properties

MB Resort Orlando has announced that it has surpassed $100 million in sales, achieving a 25% pre-construction sell-out. The development, situated near Walt Disney World, is part of a broader initiative to provide high-yield investment opportunities to international buyers.

MB Signature Properties is developing the resort and will feature 199 fully furnished residences. Each unit is designed to accommodate up to eight people and offers a range of amenities, including a rooftop terrace, wellness center, co-working space, full-service restaurant, and state-of-the-art gym. The residences come in four different layouts, ranging from 997 to 1,361 square feet, each with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a dining area, a kitchen, and a terrace.

The project is being constructed by Welbro Building Corporation, based in Maitland, and will be managed by Paramount Hospitality Management, headquartered in Orlando. Completion of the resort is expected by 2029.

MB Resort Orlando is utilizing a Deeded Fractional Ownership model, which allows investors to purchase property fractions starting at $35,000. This model provides legal security and the potential for guaranteed rental income. Investors also gain access to a network of over 3,200 resorts in 90 countries.

The launch of MB Resort Orlando coincided with the MB Limitless Summit 2025, held in Cancun, Mexico. The event attracted over 1,500 real estate professionals and investors from Latin America. During the summit, MB Signature Properties introduced ClickMBuy, a digital platform designed to facilitate international real estate transactions.
Hotel Union Activity Diminishes in 2025: A Temporary Calm? - Image Credit Unsplash



Union activity in the hotel industry has significantly decreased in 2025, but underlying tensions suggest a potential resurgence.

In 2025, the hotel industry has witnessed a notable decline in union activity compared to the previous year. By early fall of 2024, over 10,000 hotel workers were on strike across various U.S. markets. In contrast, this year, only around 400 workers from a single hotel have been involved in similar actions. This marked decrease indicates a significant shift in labor dynamics within the industry.

Notable Strike at Hilton Americas-Houston

The primary exception to this trend is the ongoing strike at the Hilton Americas-Houston in Texas. Workers there began their strike in early September 2025, extending it twice, with the latest authorization extending to October 12. The strike was initiated after the expiration of the workers' contract in June, with the union Unite Here advocating for better wages. Lashay Hampton, a laundry attendant, highlighted the financial struggles faced by workers, emphasizing the need for a living wage to cover essential expenses and medical bills.

Comparison with 2024

In 2024, labor strikes were widespread, affecting 25 hotels across major U.S. cities during the Labor Day weekend. The impacted markets included Baltimore, Boston, Honolulu, and several others. At that time, union activity was a significant concern for hotel ownership groups, with 41.5% of respondents in the Hospitality Asset Managers Association survey citing it as a top concern. This figure dropped to 23.5% in 2025, reflecting the reduced visibility of union actions.

Underlying Tensions in 2025

Despite the apparent calm, industry experts warn that the quieter tone in 2025 does not imply a lack of union activity. Chad Sorensen, managing director and CEO of CHMWarnick, noted that while the surface appears calm, significant activity is occurring beneath. He cautioned hotel owners to remain vigilant and proactive in their union-related strategies to avoid negative impacts.

Survey Insights and Future Prospects

A survey by the law firm Littler revealed a decrease in union organizing in the first half of 2025, with 75% of businesses not encountering such activities. However, the survey also highlighted that 61% of large employers have updated their labor relations strategies. Key drivers for organizing activities include achieving a work-life balance, input into business decisions, and job security.

The hotel industry has learned from the active year of 2024, with only 19% of retail and hospitality employers feeling unprepared for union organizing, compared to 36% in the broader survey. The political landscape, including changes in the National Labor Relations Board under the Trump administration, has also influenced union activities.

Potential Resurgence Ahead

The current lull in union activity might be temporary. Several high-profile citywide union contracts are set to expire ahead of major events, such as the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Unions are advocating for industry-specific minimum wages, aiming for $30 an hour for hotel workers by the time of the Olympics. Efforts by the American Hotel & Lodging Association to repeal these wage rules through a ballot referendum have failed.

AHLA President and CEO Rosanna Maietta expressed concerns about the economic impact of the ordinance, warning of potential job losses and hotel closures. The association is urging the mayor to find a solution to avert these consequences.

Discover more at CoStar.
What is the best way for guests to get from New York John F Kennedy Intl Airport to Delta Hotels by Marriott New York Times Square?

Getting from New York John F Kennedy Intl Airport to Delta Hotels by Marriott New York Times Square can be as easy as renting a car at the airports rental desk for, on average, $38/day in New York. Luckily, Delta Hotels by Marriott New York Times Square has parking on site for guests who choose this method of transportation. One of the more popular options today is to take a taxi or ridesharing service directly from New York John F Kennedy Intl Airport to the hotel. This option is often cost effective, but guests must keep a lookout for peak time rates.
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Dalton Panel Talks ICE in Berkshire County

DALTON, Mass.  Police Chief Deanna Strout is stressing that Dalton residents should feel confident in calling police for help regardless of their immigration status.

Strout told the 50 or so people who attended a forum on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the county that she was a little nervous to speak, as it has been hard to talk about the recent actions as a law enforcement officer.

The chief said personal opinions should not be raised in her profession and she realized it was important to just state the facts for those who are interested in the law enforcement side when it comes to ICE being in their community.

"I shared our immigration policy because I thought it would maybe reassure people to understand what local police are responsible for versus what immigration or ICE would do. So it was really important for me to get the message across to our community that every member in our community is safe," she said.

"We don't care what your immigration status is. That does not matter to us. We're not checking it. We're not asking. We want you to be safe. We want you to feel safe calling us. We want you to feel safe if you're a victim, if you're a witness."

The information session was hosted last Monday by the Dalton Democratic Town Committee at Nessacus Regional Middle School with panelists Strout, immigration attorney Jessica David and Berkshire Interfaith Organizing community organizer Fernando Leon.

Leon, who is from Ecuador, spoke about what happens when someone gets detained and how it affects families. He confirmed that 23 people were taken by ICE in the county and that BIO has connected 17 of those detained to legal resources courtesy of funds raised by organizations like Greylock Together and Roots and Dreams and Mustard Seeds.

He explained that when people are picked up, it can be hard to track and find them. He also said conditions are reportedly bad in some detention centers.

"Thankfully, in the detention centers, especially in Massachusetts, they have the right to call people, to call family, to call friends, to call legal counsel, the conditions are humane," Leon said. "In other places, like in Texas, you got to put money for them to be able to call family or friends. They are just getting food and water, the bare minimum. There have been so many 911 calls asking for help because people are thirsty, people are hungry, people are not receiving medical care."

People who have been released from detention centers have spoken of overcrowding, inability to access legal resources, filthy conditions, and lack of food and water and medical care.

"With the new current administration, the policy seems to be to remove everyone they possibly can, no matter what, as long as they are not here without legal status," said David. "And the biggest problem with that definition is that legal status is actually a really gray area. People can be here without a permanent status, but be waiting in a line for a status that if they left the U.S., they would no longer be eligible.

"And those lines, unfortunately, are now 10 to 20 to 30 years long because we allocate so few visas to these people. So being in the United States without documentation is not a crime, it's a civil violation."

Since detainees are charged with a civil violation, they have a right to an attorney but not one paid for by the government, whereas if they were charged with a crime they would, she said. ICE is able to stop anyone they believe is here illegally but unable to do so in a private business or home without a judicial warrant.

"Currently, ICE can stop whoever they believe is here illegally. They can question the person and ask them to show documentation. They can do this out on the street and in public areas, or if they've been invited into a private business or home, they cannot enter a home without permission or without a judicial warrant," David said.

She said ICE will also racially profile people to ask them questions.

"A judicial warrant is a warrant that is specifically written to what the person is searching for and is signed by an actual judge," Davis said. "Immigration warrants are administrative warrants, which means they are produced by ICE and signed by ICE. They do not give them permission to enter a private home or business. Unfortunately, they currently can choose to racially profile people in order to stop them and ask them questions."

Strout told the audience that ICE does not communicate with her department and that local police cannot stop federal officers from doing their job.

"I've never met an ICE agent in my nearly 28 years as a police officer. I've never seen them in our community," she said. "We have no authority over what they do, which sometimes is difficult, you know, you're used keeping your town safe and kind of being able to be in charge of things like that. We don't have a say in what they do. They do not communicate with us."

An audience member asked if officers would intervene if they saw an agent taking someone down "brutally."

"If we saw someone being violently assaulted, yes, we would intervene 100 percent in that. I mean, there's no way, in good conscience any officer in our department would ever allow someone to be hurt or assaulted," she said.

Strout was also asked if officers are prepared to try to de-escalate a situation between ICE agents and someone whom they are speaking with.

"Every one of them [officers] is exceptionally skilled in de-escalation. They're very, very good with their verbal ability to deescalate people," The chief said. "I mean, it's the first thing we try to do is use communication instead of force, because we know that communicating is always going to be the best way to solve something, as opposed to using force."
Nadia Milleron last year with her son Tor Stumos. Tor and his brother, Adnaan, have been detained by Israeli forces for their participation in the humanitarian aid flotilla to Gaza.

Sheffield Men Detained on Gaza Aid Flotilla



The Handbasket is reporting that all Americans were released yesterday at the Jordanian border.

SHEFFIELD, Mass. Two Sheffield natives have been detained by Israeli forces while trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Last week, maritime professionals and brothers Adnaan and Tor Stumo were among the hundreds volunteering on the Global Sumund Flotilla to bring food and medical supplies to Gaza when they were intercepted by the Israeli Defense Forces.

Their mother, Nadia Milleron, an aviation and consumer advocate who ran for Congress in 2024 , is searching for answers about her sons while urging constituents and lawmakers to speak out against the actions of the IDF.

Milleron said she last spoke to Tor on Tuesday and Adnaan on Wednesday. On Monday, personnel from the American Embassy told her they spoke to the Stumos in prison on Sunday, and one of the brothers had injuries to his hands and wrists from being tightly restrained.

"Israel is detaining these people with no charges, and in fact, they haven't done anything wrong; that's why there are no charges, but you're only supposed to detain by international law and by Israeli law for 72 hours," she said on Monday. "Actually, they are not supposed to kidnap people at all from the ocean, and you're not supposed to bomb their boats or otherwise harm them when they're underway. ...

"So they violated a lot of laws."

The flotilla that set out from Spain early last month had about 50 vessels with 500 activists and humanitarian aid. They were escorted part of the way by the Spanish and Italian navies. The Associated Press reported that more than 40 were still operating on Wednesday when they were intercepted.

Milleron said Israel confiscated the boats and denied the existence of aid supplies, calling the country's actions "a war crime."

"They blocked the humanitarian aid going to desperate people. They also just threw away that aid on the streets. Threw it away," she added.

"And then the Israeli government claims that there was no aid. I personally helped to load boxes and boxes of baby formula onto these boats. We loaded a lot of food and medical supplies onto the boats."

She explained that the flotilla was an effort to open up a humanitarian corridor and stop the blockage that is preventing Palestinians from accessing food and medical supplies.

Milleron said Irish, Italian, and Turkish people have been released along with a couple of Americans, adding, "I don't know why the Americans are last. We fund Israel's existence as American taxpayers."

In a video communication posted to social media on Saturday, she urged people to contact members of Congress and the Israeli embassies to show that the American people care.

"On this mission, they were kidnapped by Israelis. Tor was kidnapped on the boat Hyuga on Wednesday. He is an engineer, ship's engineer, and he was taken directly to Israel, where he never wanted or intended to go," she said in the Instagram reel.

"And my son, Adnaan, was kidnapped on a sailboat very close to Gaza on Thursday of this last week, and he was also taken to Israel, but we don't know anything about them. We don't know if they are OK."

"My kids insist that countries behave in a humane manner toward all citizens, so that our world will be good for everybody to live in. And that's the type of people that they are, and that's the standard that they are looking for from everyone," Milleron said.

She said Israel is accusing people who went through rigorous nonviolent training of being terrorists. Reportedly, flotilla volunteers threw away all knives and screwdrivers before being intercepted, so they did not appear violent.

Milleron has called on U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey to address the detainment and Israel's actions.

The Massachusetts senators signed a letter in late September with Sens. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Jeffrey Merkley of Oregon urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to demand the Netanyahu government refrain from "use of force against peaceful civilian vessels" and to ensure the humanitarian aid makes its way to Gaza. Rubio has not made a specific statement on the flotilla.
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India and China plan to resume direct flights between some of their cities after a five-year suspension as the relations between the two countries begin to thaw.

Direct flights between the two countries were suspended during the Covid pandemic in 2020 and did not resume as Beijing and New Delhi engaged in prolonged border tensions.

Flights between designated cities will resume by late October subject to commercial carriers decisions, Indias embassy to China said in a post on social media platform WeChat.

The resumption is part of the Indian governments approach towards gradual normalisation of relations between India and China, the embassy added.

An aircraft of India's budget airline IndiGo is serviced at Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore, India, Sept. 16, 2022 ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Indias largest carrier IndiGo announced Thursday it would resume flights from Kolkata, India, to Guangzhou, China, beginning 26 Oct.

The resumption comes after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China last month for the first time in seven years to attend a regional security forum, which was part of efforts by the two countries to normalise ties.

Relations between China and India plummeted in 2020 after security forces clashed along a disputed border in the Himalayan mountains. Four Chinese soldiers and 20 Indian soldiers were killed in the worst violence in decades, freezing high-level political engagements.
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At least nine critically ill patients were killed in the western Indian city of Jaipur after a fire broke out in the intensive care unit (ICU) at a prominent hospital on Sunday.

The fire started late on Sunday night and is suspected to have been caused by a short circuit in the storage area of the Sawai Man Singh hospital. At the time of the fire, eleven patients were admitted in the ICU for medical treatment.

Authorities at the hospital said several documents, ICU equipment and medical supplies were also destroyed in the fire which spread rapidly in the unit.

The patients were being treated in the Neuro ICU section when the fire erupted in the storage area, said trauma centre in-charge Dr Anurag Dhakad, according to The Indian Express.

So far, at least seven patients have been killed in the incident. The fire broke out due to a short-circuit at 11.20pm at an attached store room of the ICU which is located on the second floor of the trauma centre, said Dr Jagdish Modi, the deputy superintendent of the hospitals trauma centre.

While six patients who could not be rescued in the blaze died on the spot due to suffocation, three more patients succumbed to their injuries on Monday morning, reported Hindustan Times.

Five patients were reported to be critical on Sunday night after the fire broke out.

There were two ICUs  one comprising 11 patients and another with 13. Our nursing staff and ward boys immediately started evacuating the patients but failed to rescue all due to toxic gas, Dr Modi said.

The fire was brought under control after two hours, the deputy superintendent said.

Family members of the deceased patients have accused the prominent hospital of negligence. The Sawai Man Singh is one of the largest hospitals in Rajasthan state and visited by thousands of patients every day.

"We noticed smoke and immediately informed the staff, but they did not pay any heed. When the fire broke out, they were the first to run," one of the families told news agency Press Trust of India.

Family members who lost their loved ones said there were no fire extinguishers, cylinders or even water to douse the blaze.

Mr Modi has rejected the allegations of negligence, calling them untrue. Several hospital staff members risked their own lives to protect the patients and evacuated ICUs and wards, he said, reported the BBC.

Bhajanlal Sharma, the states chief minister, has announced an investigation into the incident and said efforts are being made to offer relief to the affected families.

Every possible step is being taken to ensure patient safety, treatment, and care for those affected, and the situation is being continuously monitored, he said on Sunday.
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A Spanish tourist was injured after a bear attacked him at the Unesco World Heritage site of Shirakawa-go in Japans Gifu prefecture on Sunday morning, local authorities said.

The man received a minor injury to his right upper arm, according to the village government.

According to the Shirakawa village government, the incident occurred around 8.30am near a bus stop when the tourist and a friend were taking photographs.

A bear cub, estimated to be about a metre long, suddenly emerged from a nearby bush and scratched the man before retreating into the forest.

Officials later discovered what appeared to be the cubs tracks near the site, a popular tourist destination known for its traditional thatched-roof houses built in the gassho-zukuri style. The houses were built hundreds of years ago and are known for their thatched roofs.

The wooden homes, designed to withstand heavy snowfall, have earned Shirakawa-go recognition as a Unesco World Heritage Site and draw thousands of visitors each year, both domestic and international.

The village government has now set up an emergency task force and deployed local police and a team of licensed hunters to patrol the area following the attack on the tourist.

Authorities have urged residents and tourists to remain alert and to avoid walking alone in forested or less populated parts of the village, particularly during early morning or late evening hours when bears are more active.

It comes as bear sightings have been increasing across several parts of Japan in recent years, partly due to habitat loss and a shortage of food in the wild. The ministry of the environment has issued advisories urging local governments to take preventive measures, such as installing warning signs and using noise deterrents.

It also loosened restrictions on shooting bears in residential areas in the wake of an alarming rise in bear attacks. Local governments have been allowed to authorise the shooting of wild bears in residential areas under a revised law.

Government figures show a record 219 casualties from bear attacks in the year to March 2024. Nearly 55 cases from April to July this year put the country on track to match last years record.

Japans local governments reported 3,032 bear sightings in April and May alone, about 500 more than in a typical year.
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Hundreds of trekkers stranded by a blizzard near the eastern face of Mount Everest in Tibet have been rescued and relocated safely, Chinese state media reported, as unusually heavy snow and rainfall pummelled the Himalayas.

Villagers and rescue teams have been deployed to help clear the snow blocking access to the area, which sits at an altitude of more than 4,900m (16,000ft). They relocated the rescued hikers to the small township of Qudang, reports said.

The snowstorm left almost 1,000 trekkers trapped on the mountain, according to Chinese state media.

A trekker, Chen Geshuang, who was part of an 18-member trekking team that safely returned to Qudang, said: It was so wet and cold in the mountains, and hypothermia was a real risk.

The weather this year is not normal. The guide said he had never encountered such weather in October. And it happened all too suddenly, she told Reuters.

Visitors to the remote valley of Karma, which leads to the eastern Kangshung face of Everest, were in the hundreds this week, taking advantage of an eight-day National Day holiday in China.

However, heavy snowfall began on Friday evening and continued throughout Saturday.

open image in gallery A screen capture from video shows trekkers leaving their campsite, as unusually heavy snow and rainfall pummeled the Himalayas, in the Tibet Region ( Reuters )

The weather meant entry to the Everest Scenic Area had to be suspended from late Saturday, according to the local Tingri County Tourism Company.

Tibets Blue Sky Rescue team had received a call for help saying that tents had collapsed due to heavy snow, and that some hikers were suffering from hypothermia.

The remaining trekkers will arrive in Qudang in stages with the assistance of rescuers organised by the local government, CCTV added.

Ms Chens team began descending from the mountains on Sunday and was welcomed by villagers after enduring a harrowing evening of heavy snowfall combined with thunder and lightning.

With tears in her eyes, Ms Chen accepted their offers of sweet tea and the promise of warmth, she said.

Back in the village, we had a meal and were finally warm.

It is not known if local guides and support staff had been accounted for and it was also unclear if trekkers near the north face of Everest, also in Tibet, had been affected or not.

The north face of Everest, due to its easy access by paved road, regularly draws large numbers of tourists. October is a peak season, when skies usually clear at the end of the Indian monsoon.

open image in gallery Mountaineers line up as they begin their ascent up Mount Everest in 2021 ( AFP/Getty )

Another trekker, Eric Wen, who survived the blizzard, said they faced continuous snowfall and they decided to head back on Saturday night from their fifth and final campsite.

It was raining and snowing every day, and we did not see Everest at all, said Mr Wen.

We only had a few tents. More than 10 of us were in the large tent and hardly slept. It was snowing too hard.

Wen said his group had to clear the snow every 10 minutes. Otherwise our tents would have collapsed, he said.

It comes as the region faces extreme weather and neighbouring Nepal has been battered by heavy rains, which caused flash floods and landslides that have killed 47 people.

Thirty-five people died in separate landslides in the eastern Ilam district bordering India. Nine people were reported missing after being swept away by floodwaters and three others were killed in lightning strikes elsewhere in the country.

In China, about 150,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes due to destruction caused by Typhoon Matmo.
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A public outcry has erupted in Malaysia after a police chief suggested that girls involved in underage consensual statutory rape cases should also face charges.

The remark by Kelantan police chief Yusoff Mamat drew sharp criticism and reignited a debate over how the justice system should treat minors.

Rights groups have targeted Mr Yusoff for his remarks. Punishing children for being victims of sexual activity risks silencing them further, deterring reporting and reinforcing victim-blaming culture, Zati Hanani, senior advocacy officer at the Womens Aid Organisation, was quoted as saying by The Straits Times.

Police officers are the first point of contact between society and the law. They therefore have a responsibility to be aware of childrens rights and adopt a gender-sensitive perspective. Publicly suggesting measures that contradict existing laws is inappropriate and diverts focus from the pressing priorities of protection and education, she said.

Mr Yusoffs remarks stemmed from his claim that almost 90 per cent of statutory rape cases in the east coast state involved teenagers engaging in what he described as consensual sex.

Earlier, a coalition of other womens rights organisations also strongly criticised Mr Yusoffs remarks. The Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) said in a statement: Children in Malaysia are fully protected under the law, which stresses that any action concerning a child must prioritise their best interests.

To call for girls to be charged contradicts both the law and child protection principles, showing a lack of understanding of the law and the urgent need for education and prevention, the group added, according to The Star.

Making such a suggestion in a press conference is inappropriate, as it shifts focus away from protection and education, it said.

Earlier, home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had clarified that Mr Yusoffs statement reflected his personal view, not government policy.

But the damage had been done, as political leaders, child rights advocates, and religious figures condemned the idea of criminalising children.

In response to the backlash, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri stressed that children must be supported rather than punished.

As children, they should be given the opportunity and space to learn from mistakes, to heal and to rebuild their lives without being burdened by stigma or long-term trauma.

This must be viewed by taking into account their emotional, cognitive and social development. Therefore, the ministrys main focus on this issue is to provide counselling, education and structured support to ensure their wellbeing and future, she said.

Ms Nancy also reminded the public that while children should be rehabilitated, under no circumstances should [adults] exploit them, adding that in cases where exploitation or abuse is proven, the government will ensure that the law is enforced strictly and effectively against the perpetrators.

She concluded: Every child deserves a second chance. The way forward is not through punishment, but through care, guidance and protection.

Under Malaysian law, sex with a girl under 16 is classified as statutory rape, regardless of whether she consents. Men convicted of the offence face up to 20 years in prison and can also be punished with whipping.

Male minors aged 13 to 17 can technically be charged as well, but because they are still legally children, their cases are handled under the Child Act, which prioritises rehabilitation and welfare instead of harsh sentencing.

This means outcomes like probation centre detention, counselling, or protective orders may be applied rather than long prison terms. If the offender is an adult woman, she can also face prosecution under the Penal Code.

Earlier, the de facto law minister of the country, Azalina Othman Said, reaffirmed that Malaysias legal position remains unchanged  girls under 16 are not legally capable of giving consent to sexual activity.

Responding to Mr Yosoffs remarks, the Office of the Childrens Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia issued a statement stressing that statutory rape laws are not intended to punish girl victims, but to protect them from any form of exploitation and discrimination.
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Thailands environment minister has ordered that a pet lioness of a social media influencer be seized after the animal broke free from its chain and attacked two people, including an 11-year-old boy.

The lioness, owned by social media influencer Parinya Parkpoom, 32, escaped from its restraints on Saturday night and injured the boy and the man before being recaptured in Kanchanaburi, a town 123km from Bangkok in west Thailand.

The victims, identified as Sarawut Tokaeo, 43, and Arthit Nueangnui, were rushed to a nearby hospital where they received treatment for their injuries. The two, who were from the same village in Bo Phloi District as Mr Parinya, were saved from the attack when the villagers heard their loud screams.

The animal, reported to be a year old, was tied to a pole in the house when it broke free, according to the Bangkok Post.

Attapol Charoenchansa, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), said the environment ministry had instructed officials to take legal action against Mr Parinya, seize the animal, and transfer it to a wildlife care centre.

Mr Attapol said the social media influencer has been charged with violating Article 15 of the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act, that prohibits individuals from abandoning or releasing wild animals under their care, including conserved, protected, or controlled species.

Multiple videos shared by Mr Parinya showed forest officials sedating the lioness before taking it away from his residence.

The violation of the law results in penalties including imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to 50,000 baht (approximately 1,148), or both.

The boy was seriously injured on his right hip after being pawed and bitten by the lioness. The mans left arm was injured in the attack, reports said.
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Entire villages in eastern Nepal have been swept away after days of relentless rainfall triggered landslides and flash floods, killing at least 47 people and leaving several missing, officials said.

The heavy rain, which began late last week, caused widespread destruction across the mountainous Himalayan nation, blocking major highways, submerging homes and forcing thousands to flee to safer ground.

Authorities said 35 people were killed in separate landslides in Ilam district, a hilly region bordering India known for its tea plantations.

Whole communities were buried or washed away as slopes gave way under torrential rain, Nepals National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said.

Rescue efforts for the missing persons are going on, said Shanti Mahat, a spokesperson for the agency, as helicopters and army teams were deployed to reach cut-off villages.

Many areas remain inaccessible because roads have been washed away or blocked by debris.

open image in gallery Nepalese army personnel get ready to rescue survivors after a flood in Jhapa district east of Nepal, Sunday ( AP )

Six members of a family were killed when a landslide buried their home as they slept, said Bholanath Guragai, an assistant administrative officer in Ilam. Dozens more are feared trapped.

In Kathmandu, the government issued a severe rainfall warning for eastern and central regions, shutting down major highways and grounding domestic flights on Saturday because of poor visibility. Some routes were partially reopened on Sunday, but authorities warned more landslides were possible as heavy rain continued.

The countrys largest international airport in Kathmandu remained open, though domestic flights were largely disrupted, said airport spokesperson Rinji Sherpa.

The deluge also caused flooding in parts of southern Nepal and lightning strikes that killed at least three people in separate incidents. The Koshi River, one of the regions largest and most flood-prone waterways, was flowing above danger levels, forcing authorities to open all 56 sluice gates of the Koshi Barrage.

All traffic has been banned on the bridge for safety reasons, said Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, district governor of Sunsari.

Nepals Army and police have been mobilised to ferry survivors to higher ground and airlift those in need of medical care.

Photos showed soldiers carrying residents through chest-high floodwaters and retrieving belongings from submerged houses.

open image in gallery Army personnel carrying a landslide victim evacuated by a helicoper following heavy rain-triggered landslides and floods in Nepal ( AFP via Getty Imag )

In the capital, rivers overflowed their banks, flooding low-lying neighbourhoods and leaving streets underwater. However, no major casualties were reported in Kathmandu.

The disaster struck just as hundreds of thousands of people were returning to the capital after celebrating Dashain, Nepals biggest festival. Highways were clogged with traffic over the weekend, and authorities declared a national holiday until Monday as a precaution.

Across the border in Indias West Bengal state, heavy rainfall from the same weather system caused deadly landslides in the hill district of Darjeeling, where at least seven people were killed, local media reported.

Seven dead bodies have already been recovered from the debris, said Abhishek Roy, a Darjeeling district police official. We have information about two more people, and work is ongoing to recover their bodies.

Indias prime minister, Narendra Modi, expressed condolences on social media, saying: We stand with the people and Government of Nepal in this difficult time. As a friendly neighbour and first responder, India remains committed to providing any assistance that may be required.

Flooding and landslides are common during Nepals monsoon season, which usually runs from June to mid-September but has lingered unusually long this year. More than 220 people were killed around the same time last year, underscoring the countrys growing vulnerability to extreme weather linked to climate change and rapid deforestation.

Meteorologists warned that rain would continue until at least Monday, with officials saying they were taking maximum care and precautions in affected areas.
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Aston Martin Lagonda has warned it expects to plunge into the red, with underlying losses now forecast to exceed 110 million, amid mounting pressure from US tariffs and supply chain disruptions following Jaguar Land Rovers recent cyber attack.

This marks the second downgrade to its financial outlook since early July, triggering an 11 per cent slump in its shares during Monday morning trading.

The luxury carmaker attributed the revised forecast to "heightened challenges in the global macroeconomic environment," specifically highlighting the ongoing impact of tariffs.

This is projected to lead to a mid-to-high single-digit percentage decline in wholesale volumes, with North America and Asia showing particularly weak performance.

Adding to its concerns, the company also flagged worries over the wider industry supply chain, severely impacted by the cyber attack on Jaguar Land Rover in late August.

JLRs subsequent month-long manufacturing halt and partial resumption of operations have placed immense pressure on smaller suppliers, creating a ripple effect across the sector.

In response to the tougher trading conditions, Aston Martin bosses have launched an "immediate" review of costs and spending.

open image in gallery Aston Martin Lagonda said it is braced for underlying losses greater than 110 million ( Jonathan Brady/PA )

The Government announced it would underwrite a 1.5 billion loan guarantee to JLR to give suppliers some certainty over payments, but many are still said to be suffering severe cash shortages.

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.

Aston Martin said: The global macroeconomic environment facing the industry remains challenging.

This includes uncertainties over the economic impact from US tariffs and the implementation of the quota mechanism, changes to Chinas ultra-luxury car taxes and the increased potential for supply chain pressures, particularly following the recent cyber incident at a major UK automotive manufacturer.

The group has seen shares come under pressure this year over concerns about the impact of US president Donald Trumps tariff war.

The firm limited shipments to the US in the second quarter after Mr Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on car imports in April.

open image in gallery The firm limited shipments to the US in the second quarter after Mr Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on car imports in April ( PA Wire )

It then resumed shipments in June as the UK reached an agreement with the US for a lower 10 per cent tariff on UK-made cars for the first 100,000 vehicles per manufacturer.

Anything above that threshold will be hit with a 27.5 per cent duty.

But Aston Martin said on Monday the tariffs were still having an impact on performance.

It said: For UK automotive manufacturers, the introduction of a US tariff quota mechanism adds a further degree of complexity and limits the groups ability to accurately forecast for this financial year end and, potentially, quarterly from 2026 onwards.

The group continues to engage with both the US and UK governments to secure greater clarity and certainty.

Whilst positive dialogue on this matter has been achieved directly with the US government, the company continues to seek more proactive support from the UK Government to protect the interests of small volume manufacturers, like Aston Martin, who provide thousands of jobs, making an important contribution to local economies and to the wider UK automotive supply chain.

It hopes that profitability and free cash flow will materially improve in 2025-26 as it cuts costs and ramps up delayed production of its Valhalla model  the groups first plug-in hybrid mid-engine supercar.
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First-year doctors in England have voted in favour of strike action over job security fears.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said the ballot of first-year resident doctors saw 97 per cent (or 3,950) voting for strike action on a turnout of 65 per cent, providing a mandate for industrial action alongside the linked dispute over eroded pay.

According to the union, 34 per cent of resident doctors surveyed said they had no substantive employment or regular work from August 2025 to more than half (52 per cent) among FY2 (foundation year two) doctors.

The BMA said no strikes are currently planned, but current talks with the government on pay will now have to produce a solution on jobs as well as the 21 per cent pay erosion resident doctors have endured since 2008 to avoid future action.

It comes after resident doctors walked out of English hospitals for five days in July, with the dispute over pay still not resolved.

open image in gallery Resident doctors on a picket line during previous strike action ( PA Wire )

Responding to the announcement, Resident Doctors Committee (RDC) chair Dr Jack Fletcher said: The result of todays ballot makes it clear that the government will now need to step up to the plate.

Doctors have [today] spoken clearly: they wont accept that they face a career of insecurity at a time when the demand for doctors is huge. Yet successive governments have been unable to embrace the changes both doctors and patients are crying out for.

We do not want to have to strike, but we will if we are left with no choice. The government has the power to end both of these disputes now: it must use this opportunity to make the changes that are desperately needed.

Minister of State for Health Stephen Kinnock said the government is already working on a range of measures to tackle training bottlenecks, acknowledging that they are a very real issue for resident doctors.

He said: We are creating 1,000 additional training places, taking steps to prioritise UK medical graduates and conducting a review of postgraduate training to make sure the system works for doctors. The result is that current first-year doctors will emerge from their foundation training into a very different professional landscape from that which exists today.

Striking over something the government is engaging with the BMA on would be both needless and counterproductive. It risks setting back the progress we are already making on rebuilding the NHS and improving the training experience for resident doctors.

open image in gallery Minister of State for Health Stephen Kinnock said the government is already working on a range of measures to tackle training bottlenecks ( PA Archive )

However, the BMA said more than 30,000 doctors were competing for just 10,000 places in the first round of specialty training this year, meaning the governments pledge to create 1,000 more places would still be insufficient to meet demand.

The union blamed inadequate workforce planning by successive governments for leaving thousands of doctors facing the prospect of unemployment at a time when the NHS is critically understaffed.

But the government said the BMAs survey represents only 14 per cent of the FY2 workforce, and that many resident doctors choose to take a break following their foundation training.

They added that GMC data shows that many doctors do not enter specialty training immediately following F2, but around 90 per cent have done so within the next five years.

The BMA said they also continue to call for their pay to be restored, with resident doctors in England hit by a 21 per cent cut in wages since 2008.

Dr Fletcher said: It makes no sense that despite the need to bring down waiting lists and increase capacity for patients to be seen, thousands of willing and skilled doctors are unable to find the work to begin treating them.

By putting these two disputes  pay and jobs  together, we are now giving government a chance to create a plan that supports and develops the workforce of the next generation. Patients need doctors to have jobs. Doctors need to know they will have jobs. And they need to know they will be paid what theyre worth.

Mr Kinnock called for the planned strikes not to go ahead, claiming they would harm patients, doctors and the NHS.

He said: I would urge the BMA and their new leadership to continue to work with the government, rather than opting for more damaging strikes.

The Department of Health and Social Care said Health Secretary Wes Streeting will be meeting with the new BMA RDC leadership on 13 October to discuss their concerns.
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It is well known that Covid can impair your sense of smell, but a new study has found that those who lose it may never get it back.

Researchers found that two years after a Covid infection, 80 per cent of people who reported changes in their sense of smell performed poorly on a clinical scent-detection test.

The study, which was led by the National Institutes of Health, also found that out of those who had noticed a change, around one in four had severely impaired smell or had lost the ability to smell entirely.

The studys co-lead author, Dr Leora Horwitz, said: While patients may not notice right away, a dulled nose can have a profound impact on their mental and physical wellbeing.

open image in gallery Scientists warn that losing the ability to smell can have a profound impact on a persons life ( Getty )

She said that a loss of smell can create everyday risks, and can negatively affect appetite and nutrition: You cant smell smoke, you cant smell the gas leak, you cant smell spoiled food.

The loss of smell from Covid is a specific effect of infection with the virus, explained Dr Horwitz, which causes inflammation within the olfactory system.

The study analysed the data of thousands of Americans who had previously been infected with Covid alongside others who had not. Participants had to identify 40 different scents in a multiple-choice format, with each correct answer earning one point.

The study found that 60 per cent of uninfected participants who did not report problems with smell also tested poorly during the clinical evaluation. Dr Horwitz said that a natural decline in the sense of smell with age likely contributed to some of these poor test results, and also noted that some participants who believed they had not been infected may have unknowingly been infected with Covid in the past.

Experts are now seeking ways to restore patients sense of smell post-Covid. The study said these could include vitamin A supplementation or olfactory training to rewire the brains response to odours.

open image in gallery A new Covid strain called Stratus is currently circulating in the UK ( AFP via Getty )

But Dr Horwitz warned that recovery may never be possible: It can last a long time  maybe for ever, we dont know  but it is absolutely possible that people dont get their smell back.

The findings come as a new Covid strain, called Stratus, is spreading across the UK, and is now believed to be responsible for most cases in the country. The new strain has two variants, XFG and XFG.3.

The World Health Organisation has deemed XFG a variant under monitoring and said it has the highest relative growth compared with other variants.

The agency says the risk to public health at a global level is low and the strain is not thought to be severe or deadly, with the current Covid jab expected to remain effective.

As respiratory illness rates are expected to rise in the autumn, the NHS advises staying at home and avoiding contact with others if you experience symptoms of an infection such as Covid.
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A woman who falsely claimed to be missing toddler Madeleine McCann bombarded her mother with 60 calls and messages in one day, a court heard.

Jurors were told that there was unequivocal scientific evidence that Julia Wandelt, 24, from Lubin in south-west Poland, has no familial link to the McCanns.

However, she repeatedly contacted the missing girls parents in a string of messages and phone calls and turned up at their address, the court heard, on one occasion begging please dont give up on your daughter.

Ms Wandelt and Karen Spragg, 61, of Caerau Court Road in Caerau, Cardiff, both deny stalking Kate and Gerry McCann causing serious alarm or distress between June 2022 and February this year.

Opening their trial at Leicester Crown Court on Monday, prosecutor Michael Duck KC told a jury of five men and seven women that from June 2022, Wandelt began attempting to persuade anybody prepared to listen that she was Madeleine.

Her contention over the two and a half years that followed was therefore that she must have been abducted and taken to Poland where she lived with people who she was erroneously told were her parents, Mr Duck told the court.

She pursued claims that she was Madeleine McCann and she pursued Madeleine McCanns parents over a period of time and pursued that myth.

open image in gallery Julia Wandelt broke down in tears in the dock as the prosecutor told the jury she is not Madeleine McCann ( PA Archive )

Ms Wandelt broke down in tears and went to the back of the dock when the prosecutor told the jury: Can we at this very early stage in the trial make this position clear  that Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann.

She returned to the dock beside Ms Spragg after a 10-minute break to listen to the rest of hearing.

The jury were told Madeleines unsolved disappeared from the familys holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugals Algarve in May 2007 has generated worldwide attention.

One of many tragic consequences for her parents was the constant inability to escape the glare of publicity that came with that tragedy, Mr Duck said.

The attention they have received has not always been compassionate, sometimes far from it, he added.

There remains a group of individuals who continue to fail to acknowledge their plight and perpetuate conspiracy theories. Unfortunately, these two defendants belong to that latter group.

open image in gallery Madeleine McCann disappeared in Praia da Luz, in Portugals Algarve, in 2007 ( PA Media )

The trial heard Ms Wandelt had also claimed to be two other missing girls during the same period.

In January or Feburary 2023, she contacted a charity called Missing Years Ago, which helps with historic missing person cases.

The initial contact with the charity was not to contend that she was Madeleine McCann but rather to suggest that she was another missing girl, Inga Gehricke, Mr Duck said.

Inga was a young girl who had disappeared in Germany, but as with Madeleine McCann, Julia Wandelt was precluded from being a realistic candidate by virtue of her age and obvious differences.

On a separate occasion, the jury heard, Ms Wandelt claimed to be another missing girl called Acacia Bishop.

open image in gallery Karen Spragg, 61, denies stalking Madeleine McCanns parents ( PA Wire )

On one day in April last year, Ms Wandelt called and messaged Madeleines mother Kates phone on more than 60 occasions, the court.

In a voicemail left on Mrs McCanns phone, which was played to the jury, Ms Wandelt continued: I know my accent is Polish because I live here, I know I look fat and I know Im not pretty like Madeleine was in the past, but I know what I know, I know what I remember.

Please just give me a chance, Im not a liar, Im not crazy  I just want to know the truth. Call me or message me or whatever please.

Mr Duck told the jury: The refusal to respond by Ms McCann did not deter Julia Wandelt.

Ms Wandelt also claimed to have flashbacks from hypnosis sessions, including one memory of spoon-feeding Madeleines younger brother.

The court heard Wandelt emailed Mr McCann in June 2023 and messaged Madeleines younger sister on other occasions saying there were many things she could remember, and that she would never lie.

The trial continues.
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A teaching assistant has been jailed for the manslaughter of her two-year-old daughter whom she drowned in a village pond.

Alice Mackey, 42, previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility of her daughter, Annabel, in a pond just 300 metres from the family home on September 10, 2023.

The youngster was taken to hospital in a serious condition after the incident in Kingsley, Bordon, Hampshire, but died the following afternoon when the life support machine was switched off.

Adam Vaitilingam KC, prosecuting, said: The defendant had taken Annabel from their house to a nearby pond and held her under the water until she stopped struggling and Annabel died as a result.

He added that Mackey then phoned 999 and lied to officers and doctors saying someone must have taken Annabel from their house before saying she had found her in the pond.

Mackey was jailed for four years.

Sentencing Mackey at Winchester Crown Court, the judge, Mr Justice Saini, said that she was under the delusional belief that the best way to protect her (Annabel) from a bad mother was to kill her, you falsely believed she was not flourishing under your care and, in fact, was suffering under your care.

He said: You considered in your deluded state that this was some form of mercy for Annabel.

The defendant had entered a not guilty plea to a charge of murder which the court heard was acceptable to the prosecution.

open image in gallery Alice Mackey, 42, was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court ( Alamy/PA )

Reports by two psychiatrists showed that she was suffering from a condition that meant she was substantially impaired so unable to make a rational judgement at the time of the incident.

The court heard that Mackey had suffered postpartum (post natal) depression and anxiety following the birth of Annabel and had been prescribed anti-depressant and anti-psychotic medication.

Mr Vaitilingam said: She had a delusional belief she was sub-standard and her daughter was much better off without her.

He added that in May 2022, Mackey was sectioned to a mental health hospital for a month before she was discharged into community care.

Mr Vaitilingam said that Mackey had stopped taking the anti-depressant medication in January 2023 and her mental had deteriorated in the weeks before the fatal incident.

But he said that she had not told anyone and had even attended social events such as going to Goodwood Races on the day before she drowned Annabel.

Reading his victim impact statement to the court, Annabels father, Peter Mackey, who works in IT sales, said: Her loss has had a devastating effect on every part of my life.

I am deeply traumatised of the thought of how my daughter was killed, I am tormented by how frightened she must have been, at the pain she endured and the distress she suffered.

I feel constant guilt that I was not at home to protect her on the day she died.

Mr Mackey added: Annabel was my little friend, we had a very special bond, she was only two and a half years old but she so much empathy, she was so caring, happy and positive, Annabel filled my life with love and joy.

open image in gallery An artists impression of Alice Mackey ( Elizabeth Cook/PA )

Mr Vaitilingam told the court: The killing was premeditated in that Mrs Mackey took Annabel to the pond with the intention of killing her.

She repeatedly lied and sought to cover up what she had done, she plainly recognised what she had done was wrong and tried to lie her way out of responsibility.

The killing was, of course, as any case of a parent with a young child, an abuse of trust when Peter Mackey was out for the day and she was alone with Annabel.

Patrick Gibbs KC, defending, said: The first and most important thing to say is how unendingly sorry Mrs Mackey is for what she has done.

She is sorry for taking Annabels life, she is sorry for all the pain she has caused to anyone who knew and loved Annabel, she regrets every moment of what happened and she wishes above anything in the world that Annabel was still alive.

Wearing glasses and a white blouse and a dark blue jacket, Mackey, who worked at a school for children aged four and five where Annabel also attended a nursery, sat looking downwards as she was sentenced.

Mr Gibbs said that Mackey, who previously had a senior teaching role when the family lived in London, suffered numerous miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies during a five-year period before she became pregnant with Annabel.
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An industrial scale phone snatching network thought to be behind one in four thefts in London has been targeted in the largest ever operation to tackle the crime wave.

The gang is suspected to have smuggled up to 40,000 stolen phones from the UK to China in the past year  almost 40 per cent of all phones stolen in the capital.

The year-long investigation by detectives who usually tackle drugs and firearms smuggling comes as the Metropolitan Police tries to row back on Londons reputation as the phone snatching capital of Europe.

Two men in their 30s, who were suspected ringleaders known as subject heron and subject seagull, were last month arrested and remanded in custody on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

Their capture comes after officers uncovered a shipment of a thousand iPhones, which were wrongly marked as batteries on the shipping manifest documents, being sent to Hong Kong at Heathrow airport last December.

Almost all of the devices had been stolen and were wrapped in tinfoil as a makeshift faraday bag.

open image in gallery A box containing hundreds of stolen phone seized by Met Police ( Met Police )

In a major probe known as Operation Echosteep, detectives intercepted further shipments and were able to forensically link the packages to the two men.

Following their arrest, more phones were found in their car and 2,000 more devices were discovered at properties linked to the suspects.

The investigation also uncovered a network of street-level offenders involved in thefts and robberies and police have made 15 arrests on suspicion of theft, handling stolen goods and conspiracy to steal.

In total, the force has made 46 arrests during two weeks of action across the capital to target phone thieves, including executing 49 search warrants.

Commander Andrew Featherstone, the Mets lead for tackling phone theft, said stolen handsets are being shipped overseas at scale, adding: This operation was targeting those people so the organised criminals that earn huge amounts of money and make it their profession to be involved in the stealing of mobile phones.

open image in gallery Stolen phones are often wrapped in tinfoil as makeshift faraday bags to stop them from being tracked ( Met Police )

Most devices being targeted are iPhone 12 to 16 models, for which thieves can pocket up to 300 per stolen device. Once shipped to China and Hong Kong, they can change hands for up $5,000, police believe.

This is the largest crackdown on mobile phone theft and robbery in the UK in the most extraordinary set of operations of this kind that the Met has ever undertaken, he added.

"We've dismantled criminal networks at every level, from street-level thieves to international organised crime groups exporting tens of thousands of stolen devices each year.

However he called for more help from phone manufacturers to help disincentivise thefts by introducing features which mean a stolen device can be remotely disabled and never reused.

Commander Featherstone added: We know the technology is there. Because, as an example, if Apple Store phones are stolen directly from the Apple Store, Apple has no problem in blocking those phones and never see them used to get again.

So the software must exist so it becomes a choice of why they don't want to utilise it. So why they don't want to do that is a question for them.

Detective Inspector Mark Gavin, the senior investigating officer for Operation Echosteep, said his team is normally focussed on firearms and drug importation.

But it quickly became apparent that this was not low level street crime, this was on an industrial scale, he added, noting behind every stolen phone is a victim, including many who were violently assaulted when their phone was snatched.

open image in gallery Mayor of London Sadiq Khan repeated calls for phone manufacturers to design out phone theft by making stolen devices unusable ( PA Archive )

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said the operation was the largest of its kind in UK history, but warned police cannot tackle phone theft alone.

Criminals are making millions by repurposing stolen phones and selling them abroad, with many still able to access cloud services, he added.

Its simply too easy and too profitable. I will continue to call on the mobile phone industry to go harder and faster in designing out this crime by making stolen devices unusable.

We need coordinated global action to shut down this trade and build a safer London for everyone.

Crime and policing minister, Sarah Jones, added: "I want to see more of these large-scale interventions, which is why we're putting more police on the streets and arming them with stronger powers to track down the criminals responsible and make our streets safer."
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A forklift driver who became an instant millionaire after buying a winning scratchcard was rushed to hospital after spending three months partying.

Adam Lopez, aged 39, from Mattishall, near Norwich, saw his bank balance rocket from 12.40 to 1,000,012.40 after winning the top prize on a scratchcard purchased from a corner shop in Hellesdon, in July.

But after quitting his job, he said his life became an absolute rollercoaster with three months of partying and a loss of all structure in his life.

His celebrations came to an end when he was taken by ambulance to hospital with a bilateral pulmonary embolism on 10 September.

I couldnt walk, I couldnt breathe. I rang the ambulance, I got wheeled into the ambulance from my house and the biggest life-changing thing I had was laying in the back of that ambulance and hearing the sirens, he told the BBC.

Lopez, pictured with his mother, was rushed to the hospital after partying for months following his win ( Allwyn )

Mr Lopez said he had a blood clot in his leg which spread to his lungs, meaning he spent eight days at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Describing his hospital visit as a wake-up call, Mr Lopez said he came to the realisation that his health mattered more than his lottery winnings.

It just makes you look at both sides of life because it doesn't matter if you have a million, 100 million, a billion, a trillion  when youre in the back of the ambulance, none of it matters, he said.

A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in your lungs, the NHS explains.

The life-threatening condition can cause difficulty breathing, chest pain and in some cases, people cough up blood.

Blood clots affect tens of thousands of people each year in the UK, and can develop as a consequence of heart failure, or as a result of sitting or lying still for a long period, according to the British Heart Foundation.

Mr Lopez said he will be putting his partying aside while he focuses on his health and recovery for the next six to nine months, as he praised the hospital staff for their work.
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The Independents former chief photographer, Brian Harris, has died aged 73 after a short battle with cancer.

He joined the paper in 1986 shortly after it was launched, having previously worked as a staff photographer at The Times, becoming a regular and well-known face on Fleet Street.

Over the course of his 55-year career, he covered key global events such as the end of the civil war in Rhodesia (now known as Zimbabwe), famine in Ethiopia and the Sudan, and the aftermath of the Falklands War.

open image in gallery Harris took pictures at the fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989 ( Brian Harris/The Independent )

He travelled across Eastern Europe for 18 months documenting the collapse of the Soviet Union and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, and covered four presidential campaigns in the United States.

As a result of his work, he won several awards including the prestigious What the Papers Say Photographer of the Year award in 1990, and had several solo exhibitions, including at the Barbican and at Photofusion Gallery.

open image in gallery He photographed Tony Blair on the day he was elected Labour leader in 1994 ( Brian Harris/The Independent )

He was also the subject of three BBC documentary programmes, and contributed to several BBC radio broadcasts.

In 2006, he spent the majority of the year photographing the Remembered project for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, eventually escorting the late Queen Elizabeth around the exhibition at Canada House.

open image in gallery Harriss photos from the Velvet Revolution in Prague captured the scale of protests against the communist government ( Brian Harris/The Independent )

Nick Turpin, a fellow former photographer at The Independent, said: Extremely sad news, a great and fearless photographer, he astonished me with the things he would try and succeed at.

He shot a vote in the House of Commons at night clean across the River Thames, he shot France from Kent getting both cliffs in the same shot. When I was 20 and working with him at The Independent, I had never seen shots like that. He also stood up for all our rights at the paper.

open image in gallery Harris photographed four presidential campaigns including Bill Clinton in 1992 ( Brian Harris/The Independent )

He inspired a whole generation of young photographers at that time in the Nineties and very much beyond.
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The government has announced plans to make the house buying system cheaper and faster in what it has called the biggest shake-up to the homebuying system in this countrys history.

Proposals unveiled by Labour this morning promise to speed up the process of buying a house by around four weeks, which currently takes more than five months on average.

Under the plans, sellers and estate agents will be required to provide buyers with vital information about a property upfront, including the condition of the home, leasehold costs, and chains of people waiting to move.

The government said this will help end nasty surprises which result in last-minute collapses and give greater confidence to first-time buyers.

Binding contracts could also be introduced to stop people walking away from agreements after months of negotiations.

open image in gallery Binding contracts could also be introduced to stop people walking away from agreements after months of negotiations ( PA Archive )

Officials believe the proposed package of reforms could save first-time buyers an average of 710, but people selling a home could face increased costs of around 310.

Housing secretary Steve Reed said the reforms, which are the subject of a consultation, would help make a simple dream a simple reality.

Location, Location, Location presenter Kirstie Allsopp said the proposals have sparked some hope but said there were some worrying elements and urged the government to focus on both elements of the buying and selling process.

I think what everyone has to do is make sure everyone is spoken to, she told BBC Radio 4. The mortgage companies, the insurers, the lawyers, the surveyors, the estate agents.

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If we just say we need more information, and were going to force estate agents and sellers to provide more information and leave it at that, its not going to work.

open image in gallery Housing secretary Steve Reed said the reforms, which are the subject of a consultation, would help make a simple dream a simple reality ( Getty/iStock )

She said mortgage companies are often reluctant to accept information provided by the seller, and although the binding contract system works effectively in a lot of countries, it can pose some issues, such as making it difficult to see what the price of a property is.

Ms Allsopp also added it was concerning that the consultation was only 12 weeks and closes in December, a busy time of year for most.

The communities minister said the current process for sellers and buyers is a nightmare, promising Labours reforms would represent a major shakeup of the system.

Miatta Fahnbulleh said the plan would halve the number of failed transactions and speed up the process by an average of four weeks. And, quizzed on how quickly the changes could be implemented, Ms Fahnbulleh said the government is going to run at this.

She told BBC Breakfast: This is something that we need to move at pace. We're going to consult on our proposals, and then will be moving to put in place legislation so that all people who are going through the process of buying and selling their homes can benefit from these big reforms.

open image in gallery The planned shake-up was welcomed by property websites and lenders ( PA )

Further proposals seek to offer consumers clearer information on estate agents and conveyancers, detailing their track record and expertise. New mandatory qualifications and a code of practice would also drive up standards.

Wider use of online processes, including digital ID, could help make transactions smoother, the government argued, pointing to the Finnish digital real estate system, which can see the process completed in around two weeks.

The planned shake-up was welcomed by property websites and lenders.

Rightmove chief executive Johan Svanstrom said: The home-moving process involves many fragmented parts, and theres simply too much uncertainty and costs along the way.

Speed, connected data and stakeholder simplicity should be key goals. We believe its important to listen to agents as the experts for what practical changes will be most effective, and we look forward to working with the government on this effort to improve the buying and selling process.
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The biggest shake-up to the homebuying system in history could slash costs for buyers and cut the time it takes to move, the government has said.

Changes could include requiring property sellers and estate agents to provide more information when a home is listed for sale, reducing the need for buyers to carry out searches and surveys.

Binding contracts could also be introduced at an earlier stage, reducing the risk of a chain collapsing.

Housing secretary Steve Reed said the proposals, which are the subject of a consultation, would help make a simple dream a simple reality.

open image in gallery Labour has announced new reforms to cut the time it takes to move property ( PA )

Mr Reed added: Buying a home should be a dream, not a nightmare. Our reforms will fix the broken system so hardworking people can focus on the next chapter of their lives.

open image in gallery Housing secretary Steve Reed said the reforms will fix the broken system ( PA )

It is thought the government is attempting to galvanise the housing market amid concerns over a slowdown, as new buyer enquiries have decreased.

Speculation of a tax raid on property in chancellor Rachel Reevess November Budget has also been mounting since mid-August, causing concerns for potential homeowners.

The government said it will set out a full road map in the new year after consulting on its proposals.

We take a closer look at what the reforms are hoping to achieve.

Speed up the process

The proposals unveiled on Monday intend to speed up the long, drawn-out and costly process of purchasing a home by an estimated four weeks.

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The average time from instruction to completion is currently more than five months, with Labour hoping these reforms could speed up transactions.

Under the new plans, estate agents and sellers must publish information from surveys before a property listing is published, allowing buyers to see the physical condition, flood risk and suitability of a property online.

It is hoped this will enable buyers to make informed decisions quickly and initiate faster transactions.

open image in gallery Speculation has mounted that chancellor Rachel Reeves could introduce a tax raid on property in her autumn Budget ( PA )

Online processes such as digital ID could also be utilised to help transactions, with the government pointing to the Finnish digital real estate system, which can see the process completed in around two weeks.

Saving money

Hundreds of first-time buyers are set to save 710 on average when buying a home under the new reforms.

People selling a home could face increased costs of around 310 due to the inclusion of upfront assessments and surveys.

Those in the middle of a chain would potentially gain a net saving of 400 as a result of the increased costs from selling being outweighed by lower buying expenses.

Stop collapses

In a bid to stop the number of failed sales, which costs the economy 1.5bn a year, the reforms will see sellers and estate agents required to provide buyers with more information about a property up front.

This includes the condition of the home, leasehold costs and chains of people waiting to move.

open image in gallery Binding contracts could also be introduced at an earlier stage, reducing the risk of a chain collapsing ( PA )

The plans would also provide buyers with clear information on estate agents and conveyancers, including their track record and expertise, alongside new mandatory qualifications and code of practice standards.

Binding contracts could also be introduced to stop people walking away after months of negotiations to prevent chains from collapsing, as well as gazumping  when a potential buyer makes a higher offer than the one that has already been accepted by the seller.

As well as reforming the current market, Labour is also hoping to slash planning red tape to speed up construction to build thousands of new homes.

The housing secretarys latest pledge to build, baby, build is part of a plan to build 1.5 million homes and break down the remaining barriers to development that stand in the way of meeting this target.
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A known stalker came within feet of Prince Harry on two separate occasions during his latest visit to the UK.

The woman, who is thought to be on a list of fixated individuals drawn up by private intelligence for the dukes personal protection team, is said to have entered a secure zone at a London hotel where he was attending awards on 9 September. The woman is believed to have previously followed him to Nigeria.

She was later body blocked by his private staff after being recognised just a few metres from him at the Centre for Blast Injury Studies in west London.

It comes after the duke lost a legal challenge against the Home Office over his UK security arrangements in May of this year. The Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) had previously decided he should receive a reduced degree of security protection when in the country following his decision to step down as a senior royal.

Prince Harry challenged a High Court decision over his security arrangements ( AFP/Getty )

Prince Harrys legal team had argued the decision put his life at stake, but a Court of Appeal judge said Ravecs decision was understandable and perhaps predictable.

The incidents could now be used as evidence that the duke faces a severe threat to his safety while in the UK. He was last risk assessed in April 2019 and is pursuing an updated analysis after being provided with little to no police protection on his last visits.

A security source said the duke had got lucky on this occasion but added that relying on luck was not a long-term fix.

These incidents are not uncommon for members of the Royal Family, they told The Independent. It differs however, because there was no police presence or close protection  it was left to two staffers from his private office to intervene. This time they got lucky, recognising the fixated individual. Relying on luck is not a long-term fix.

Hes the son of the King, brother of the heir, fifth in line to the throne and one of the most famous people in the world. It feels like there is an inevitable foreboding looming over this whole issue.

In December 2023, Prince Harry told a court in an earlier legal challenge: It was with great sadness for both of us that my wife and I felt forced to step back from this role and leave the country in 2020.

The UK is my home. The UK is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home as much as where they live at the moment in the US. That cannot happen if its not possible to keep them safe when they are on UK soil.

I cannot put my wife in danger like that and, given my experiences in life, I am reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harms way too.

The Metropolitan Police said it did not comment on security arrangements as standard.
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Volodymyr Zelensky is calling for more stringent sanctions against British companies implicated in supplying components for Russian drones, which are actively being deployed in attacks across Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president criticised allied nations for their role in providing parts to Russia, asserting that hundreds of thousands of foreign-made components were used in a deadly strike on Sunday morning.

Writing on X, Mr Zelensky stated that microcomputers for flight control, manufactured in the UK, were discovered in drones involved in the assault. Other parts from allied countries, including the US, were also identified.

The Sunday attack, a combined drone and missile strike on Lviv, resulted in the deaths of four people, including a 15-year-old, and left six others injured, according to regional officials.

Maksym Kozytskyi, head of the local military administration, described it as the most significant aerial assault on the historic western city and its surrounding region since Russias full-scale invasion began on 24 February 2022.

Rescuers search for victims in the debris after a Russian strike on Lviv ( Mykola Tys/AP )

Separately, a nighttime assault on Zaporizhzhia claimed the life of a civilian woman and wounded nine others, including a 16-year-old girl. In Sloviansk, a key city in the eastern Donetsk region, six people, including a child, sustained injuries.

In a post on X on Monday morning, Mr Zelensky said: In the fourth year of the full-scale war, Russia continues to obtain components for producing weapons.

During the massive combined strike on Ukraine on the night of October 5, Russia used 549 weapon systems containing 102,785 foreign-made components  from companies in the United States, China and Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the Netherlands.

Mr Zelensky said Ukraine is preparing new sanctions against those who help Russia, with proposals to curb the supply schemes.

He added: Partners already possess the detailed data on each company and each product  they know what to target and how to respond.

This week, the G7 sanctions coordinators will meet, and we expect a systemic decision to ensure that the sanctions are truly effective.

It is crucial to shut down every scheme that circumvents sanctions, because Russia uses each one to keep killing. The world has the power to stop this.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said the UKs arms exports regime is among the most robust in the world but would look into any concerns.

He said: We will always stand by Ukraine and ensure were doing whatever it takes to ensure that they are able to resist Putins despicable and ongoing invasion of the country.

The Ministry of Defence has been contacted for comment.
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Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney has launched a worldwide hub for developing AI and new technologiesto help women and girls access justice more easily.

The initiative was praised as having the potential to transform lives around the world, making it no longer the preserve of the rich or those lucky enough to have lawyers who can afford to represent them for free, at its launch on Monday night.

The Oxford Institute of Technology and Justice, a partnership with the universitys Blavatnik School of Government and the Clooney Foundation for Justice, will be dedicated to harnessing the power of AI on the issue worldwide.

Among its aims, the institute will scale up the provision of free legal information digitally, look at how digital evidence can be preserved and presented and promote international law, including developing guidance on how to bring AI into legal systems.

open image in gallery Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and her husband George Clooney ( Getty Images for The Clooney Fou )

Speaking at the launch alongside Ms Clooney, the attorney general Lord Hermer described it as an unprecedented opportunity.

Human rights lawyer Ms Clooney, who is married to Hollywood star George Clooney, worked with Lord Hermer on a number of cases before he entered politics last year, when Sir Keir Starmer brought him into his cabinet.

Appearing on a panel beside Ms Clooney and Brad Smith, president of Microsoft, Lord Hermer KC said: "The use of AI and technology offers an unprecedented opportunity to meaningfully expand access to justice to women like those we represented. It means that access to justice may no longer be the preserve of those who can afford to pay lawyers or find lawyers who can afford to represent them for nothing. The potential for empowerment is unlimited  and that is one of the things that makes the creation of this Institute so inspiring and so exciting.

open image in gallery Attorney General Lord Richard Hermer described the initiative as an unprecedented opportunity ( PA Wire )

He said the importance of using law to give voice to such victims was driven home to him by a case he litigated with Ms Clooney.

It was a claim brought by women working on a farm in rural Malawi  one of the most beautiful but poorest countries on the planet, he said.

Women on that farm had suffered from systemic sexual violence, harassment and were placed in the lowliest of positions. This is the type of experience of women not only across Malawi but across so many parts of the world. We were able to obtain a fantastic outcome for our clients  compensation, the creation of a womens health centre, the introduction of a female empowerment programme  all wonderful things but only helping a tiny fraction of victims  across the planet there will be hundreds of thousands of women facing similar plights with no means of meaningful legal protection.

"I am immensely proud that much the important work of the Institute will be centred here in the United Kingdom  for an institute that is seeking to harness the benefits of emerging technology and science for the benefit of the vulnerable, this is the perfect forum. It marries two great national traditions  the advancement of science and the development of international law and justice."

According to data from the World Justice Project collated across 45 countries in 2017, 53 per cent of women reported experiencing a legal problem over a two-year period - however, only 13 per cent turned to an authority or third party to help resolve the problem.

Of women who reported having a legal problem, 42 per cent experienced a hardship as a result of the issue they were facing.
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The home secretary has refused to describe China as an enemy of the UK as she insisted there was no ministerial interference in the collapse of a Chinese espionage case.

Shabana Mahmood said she was very disappointed that the trial of Christopher Berry, 33, and Chris Cash, 30, a former parliamentary researcher, did not go ahead, as she was grilled over whether there was any influence from government advisers over the decision. Both men had denied the allegations.

The Sunday Times reported that Sir Keir Starmers national security adviser Jonathan Powell met with other senior Whitehall mandarins, including the foreign office's top civil servant Sir Oliver Robbins, to discuss the case early last month, days before the charges against the pair were dropped on 15 September.

In order to prove the case under the Official Secrets Act, prosecutors would have had to show the defendants were acting for an enemy  but Mr Powell reportedly revealed the governments evidence would be based on the national security strategy, which does not use that term to describe China.

The Sunday Times reported this meant Matthew Collins, the deputy national security adviser due to give evidence for the prosecution, would be unable to say Beijing was an enemy.

open image in gallery Christopher Berry (left) and former parliamentary researcher Christopher Cash (right) who had denied the Chinese spying allegations ( PA Archive )

Ms Mahmood said that she was not aware of any Whitehall meeting taking place to discuss the case, and insisted that there was no ministerial involvement, although the Sunday Times report focused on the actions of officials, rather than ministers.

Ms Mahmood told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: I don't recognise that reporting about a meeting, I'm not aware of any such meeting taking place.

It was a decision of the Crown Prosecution Service, as they have made clear themselves, an independent decision on whether to proceed with that prosecution.

I'm very disappointed that that prosecution has not proceeded. Our understanding is that the evidence that was available to the Crown Prosecution Service when they brought the charges is not materially different to the evidence that they had just before the trial was due to get under way.

So, I think it's a question for the prosecution service to answer, but as the government, the home office, we very much wanted to see that trial proceed."

open image in gallery It has been reported that national security adviser Jonathan Powell met with other senior Whitehall mandarins to discuss the case early last month ( PA Archive )

Asked if China was an enemy of the UK, she said: "China is a 'challenge', is, I think, the word that I would use."

She said Sir Keirs government had a "hard-headed, realistic approach" to the Chinese state.

Stephen Parkinson, chief prosecutor in England and Wales, had said the CPS had determined the proceedings in the China spy case had to be stopped because of an "evidential failure".

Shadow national security minister Alicia Kearns, who had previously employed Mr Cash, said: "There are serious questions about constitutional impropriety.

"Starmer must find some backbone and root out the truth. Either his ministers or his most senior advisers acted to spike the CPS' ability to prosecute with his full knowledge, or in contempt of PM - which is it?"

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith pointed to areas such as UK universities' reliance on the income from Chinese students to say "we are now uniquely tied to China and its brutal regime".

"We are seen as the soft underbelly of the Western alliance," he said.

"Small wonder Downing Street does China's bidding in shutting down the spy prosecution."

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick told a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference: I think China is an enemy of this country.

I think its a real, serious threat to our values, our economic and our national security, and all decisions must flow from that.

If someone is spying on our Parliament on behalf of China, lock them up, send them to jail for a long time.
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The Conservatives have vowed to abolish business rates for high street shops and pubs should they secure victory in the upcoming general election.

Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride made the commitment at the Conservative Party conference on Monday, arguing the "burden of Labours tax rises" had been "simply too much to bear" for many businesses.

Pledging to "get business rates down", he said: "I can announce that as a direct result of getting public spending under control, a future Conservative government will completely abolish business rates for shops and pubs on our high street." He added: "End of. Finished. Gone."

The policy is expected to cost 4 billion, with the Conservatives arguing it would help protect jobs, particularly for young people, at 250,000 businesses across the country.

Setting out what he called a radical plan to rebuild our economy, he pledged that the Tories would always be there for businesses.

open image in gallery Sir Mel Stride made the commitment at the Conservative Party conference on Monday ( Getty Images )

Earlier in his speech, Sir Mel had set out plans to cut 47 billion from public spending by restricting welfare payments, shrinking the Civil Service, and slashing aid spending.

The proposals would see people with less severe mental health problems offered treatment rather than benefits, with Sir Mel saying this would help them to a better life.

He also said a future Conservative government would make savings by restricting benefits to UK citizens, although during media interviews on Monday morning he admitted that EU nationals with settled status would also be eligible for welfare.

Earlier, he had told the BBC that foreign workers who were no longer eligible for benefits would have to go home or work longer.

But, apart from plans to scrap business rates and offer a 5,000 national insurance rebate for people getting their first full-time job, he played down the prospect of further swingeing tax cuts.

Arguing that rising national debt meant he could not simply say we will use all of those savings to spend more elsewhere, or to cut taxes, he promised to only cut taxes when it is affordable.

open image in gallery Conservative leader Kemi Bandenoch applauds after shadow chancellor Sir Mel Strides speech ( Danny Lawson/PA Wire )

He added: Because we know where the alternative path leads.

We saw that with a mini budget in 2022, so let me be clear: the Conservative Party will never, ever make fiscal commitments without spelling out exactly how they will be paid for.

As well as cutting welfare, Sir Mel said a future Tory government would reduce the Civil Service back to its 2016 size and cut aid spending to 0.1% of national income.

The pledge to cut aid spending has prompted an outcry from development organisations, with Romilly Greenhill, chief executive of aid coalition Bond, saying it would be an epic act of self-harm.

Speaking to the PA news agency, Sir Mel said the party would look at all areas of government to make savings.

But he insisted the Conservatives remained firmly committed to the pensions triple lock, following comments from the Institute for Economic Affairs think tank arguing that rising age-related costs was the elephant in the room when it came to public spending.

Asked if the spending cuts proposed on Monday were necessary to pay for the triple lock, Sir Mel told PA: You have to make savings in order to get the debt down, in order to get taxes down, and in order to fund spending in other areas, and everything has to add up in a fiscally responsible manner.
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One of Nigel Farages closest allies has suggested the Tories will merge with Reform UK after the next general election under Robert Jenricks leadership.

Gawain Towler, who began working for Mr Farage as a Ukip press officer in 2004 and sits on the Reform governing board, said Mr Jenrick and a handful of remaining Tory MPs would abandon the Conservative Party in favour of Reform.

Mr Towler, who was Reforms director of communications until last year, said Mr Jenrick would not want to lead a rump party.

open image in gallery Gawain Towler is one of Nigel Farages longest-serving aides ( PA )

This is not a man whos gonna spend his time on trampolines and going down water flumes as a third-party leader, he said on the PopConversation podcast, in a swipe at Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey.

I could possibly see him bringing a small handful over with him, but it could work; there are all sorts of ways, Mr Towler added.

He said: Could I see a situation wherein a post-electoral sort of devastation, that sort of post-apocalyptic landscape of the Conservative Party after the next general election, could I see a rump Tories becoming sort of like the Liberal Unionists in the 1890s, Jenrick as a sort of Joe Chamberlain bringing his raggle-taggle army over with him.

Because I cant see someone like Robert Jenrick wanting to be the leader of a rump party.

The Liberal Unionists were a separate party which formed an alliance with the Conservatives in the 1890s before eventually merging completely in 1912.

Jim Dickson, Labour MP for Dartford, said: Reform are clearly looking far beyond Kemi Badenoch and already stitching up a dodgy backroom deal with Robert Jenrick. It couldnt be clearer: if you vote Reform, you get the same old Tories who wreaked havoc on our country.

Despite Mr Towlers remarks, a Reform spokesperson said, Robert Jenrick will not be joining Reform UK.

Mr Towler also suggested on the podcast that Reform is taking an open-door approach to Tory defectors, arguing that the party has to win.

Pollsters have warned Reform that it risks being tainted by being too closely associated with the Conservative brand after it accepted a slew of MPs and former ministers from the party.

Danny Kruger, who ran Mr Jenricks leadership campaign and served as Boris Johnsons political secretary, last month became the first sitting MP to defect to Reform. He followed Nadine Dorries, one of Mr Johnsons biggest backers, who joined the party and declared the Tory party is dead.

open image in gallery Nigel Farage is on course to win the next general election, according to polls ( PA )

Mr Towler said: There is that feeling from those of us who have been members a long time of whats going on, why are we letting all these blighters in? They voted the wrong way, left, right, and centre. But theres also a realisation.

We have to win. We have to win. And were not going to win from the 40,000 members that were there at the general election in 2024.

Were now on almost 250,000 members. We passed 245,000 this week. Many of those will have been Tories.

The Conservatives were asked to comment.
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Sir Keir Starmer has urged students not to attend pro-Palestine protests on the second anniversary of the heinous October 7 terror attacks on Israel and just days after two people were killed at a synagogue in Manchester.

Hundreds were arrested at a Palestine Action demonstration in London on Saturday, which went ahead despite calls from Sir Keir and others in the wake of the attack on British soil, leading Amnesty International to say it should not be the job of police to arrest people peacefully sitting down.

Thousands of students are expected to attend rallies on Tuesday on the second anniversary of the atrocity in which 1,200 people were killed.

But the prime ministers official spokesperson said: Just because there is freedom to protest does not mean you should necessarily go ahead with these gatherings, given the context.

open image in gallery A Palestine Action march at the weekend saw hundreds of people arrested in London ( Reuters )

They include events at campuses as far apart as Queen Mary University in London and Strathclyde University in Glasgow, according to reports.

Writing in The Times, Sir Keir described protests set to take place at universities on Tuesday as "un-British", claiming they show a lack of respect for others.

He added that the pro-Palestine protests have been used by some as a "despicable excuse to attack British Jews".

Sir Keir wrote in the newspaper: "Today, on the anniversary of the atrocities of October 7, students are once again planning protests.

"This is not who we are as a country. It's un-British to have so little respect for others. And that's before some of them decide to start chanting hatred towards Jewish people all over again."

Asked what Sir Keir meant when he said the planned protests were un-British, education secretary Bridget Phillipson told Sky News: As a country, we've always had a sense of respect responsibility for one another and seeking to understand the deep grief that many people in our country will be experiencing as we remember those who lost their lives in the atrocities of October 7.

But also following the appalling attack we saw on a synagogue and the loss of life last week, I think the way that we do things in this country is that whilst we have a right to protest, we understand our responsibilities to one another and our responsibilities to demonstrate empathy, compassion and respect, given the grief that many, many people in our country will today be experiencing.

open image in gallery Police officers stand guard during a mass demonstration organised by Defend our Juries ( Reuters )

Asked if pro-Palestine protests should take place on such a sensitive date, the PMs spokesperson said they were going ahead despite the pleas, grief and fears that have been felt by the Jewish community. I think, as the home secretary said, people should demonstrate humanity.

Just because there is freedom to protest does not mean you should necessarily go ahead with these gatherings, given the context, he added.

People should remember the heinous terrorist attack on Israel on October 7. That should be at the front of all our minds tomorrow.

Tory frontbencher Robert Jenrick went further and branded plans for pro-Gaza protests on October 7 a f***ing disgrace.

Speaking at a Spectator event at the Tory party conference in Manchester, he called for people to show some common decency and think of your fellow citizens, British Jews, people who might be fearful and lonely and afraid right now, and call off those protests.

If they won't, then I do think we should take action, and if that requires a change in the law, then we should consider doing that, and consider the cumulative impact on communities of these protests, he said.

open image in gallery Keir Starmers official spokesperson described the October 7 attacks as heinous ( PA Wire )

Earlier, communities minister Miatta Fahnbulleh said regarding Tuesdays protests: "This is a really tough time for the Jewish community. We have had, for the first time in our history, a Jewish person killed because they are Jewish. That is absolutely unacceptable, and we need to stand alongside the Jewish community in solidarity.

"What I would say to people is the Jewish community are our neighbours, they're our community, they're our friends and we should be compassionate and thoughtful and considerate."

Keith Black, the chair of the Jewish Leadership Council, said: Protesting on campuses on 7 October is a disgraceful and deeply upsetting strategy to cause maximum pain to Jewish students.

"The content of these demonstrations is likely to be antisemitic and incite violence."

Louis Danker, the president of the Union of Jewish Students, told The Telegraph there were 365 days in the year, and on one of them - October 7 - Jewish students seek the space to mourn their loved ones murdered in southern Israel.

"No Jewish student should have to stand by as others glorify a day that marks such loss for our community, he added.
Having been virtually invisible during recent fierce arguments between Labour and Reform UK, the Conservatives have an opportunity to remind voters of their existence as their annual conference takes place in Manchester from Sunday.

It might even be entertaining. Kemi Badenoch, party leader, is certainly massaging expectations lower to the point of inducing depression among her followers. She likens her role to picking up a distressed asset and turning it around, and it will take time: To use a corporate analogy, the quarterly returns may not be great, but the long-term strategy will deliver, she said. If were looking for sugar highs just to get us through the week, get us through the day, we will not win the next election.

Expect lots of flags, though

Anyone remember the Conservatives?

That was Keir Starmers cruel jibe during his conference speech this week, and a bit cheeky given that public support for Labour is barely ahead of the Conservatives. Both are on around 16 to 20 per cent in the polls  with Nigel Farages party at about 30 per cent. Still, its worth remembering that the Conservative and Unionist Party has been around since at least 1834, has governed Britain, alone or in coalition, for about 67 of the last 100 years, and is commonly accepted to be the most successful political party in the democratic world.

What could be the Conservative conference highlights?

Depends on where you stand. For those loyal to Kemi Badenochs leadership it will be the (unusual) two keynote speeches shell be making: one to open proceedings on Sunday, and another to put fire in the bellies of the activists as they head off on Wednesday.

Besides that, therell be a party to celebrate the centennial of Margaret Thatchers birth, lots of boozy receptions, John Curtice will be dispensing some psephological home truths, and theyve organised a members policy pitch competition called Backbench Bill-Off.

Whos putting it about, politically?

A quick glance at the handbook suggests Robert Jenrick, James Cleverly, Claire Coutinho and rising star Katie Lam will be highly conspicuous  all plausible leadership contenders, whatever they say.

How about some defections?

Possibly, but not to the Conservatives. Nigel Farage is sufficiently motivated to destroy them that he would surely love to present a couple more scalps during the same week as the Tories latest attempt to pick themselves up off the floor.

Is Kemi Badenoch safe in her job?

For a few days, but the threat from Reform, especially, is focusing minds on next years important elections in Scotland, Wales, London and some English counties. Shell need to deliver two strong speeches, avoid gaffes and hope that her colleagues manage to behave themselves. Shes vulnerable.

Are the Conservatives going to talk about Farage?

He will be haunting them even more than he did Labour. In bars, at the drinks parties, and the fringe sessions, there will be incessant debate about how to deal with this unfamiliar threat from the hard right. Some want to out-Farage Farage, some want to unite the right, but the leadership will try to carve out a niche as a more fiscally responsible, mature party than Labour, Reform or indeed the Liberal Democrats, who took so many of their more moderate, pro-European voters and seats at the last general election.

One big question is how they counter Farages proposal to scrap indefinite leave to remain, with its accompanying threat of deportation (and Shabana Mahmoods Labour version). What will Kemi, and her rivals, say when shes asked if Farage, his policy or his voters are racist? Does she condemn him as an extremist or try to outflank him? How will she react if she is asked if she is English and/or British, as she has recently remarked she no longer identifies as Nigerian?

So far, Badenoch has commented that Farage is someone who is quite happy to stir things up and agitate and that Starmer and Farage are both playing grievance politics. Unlike Starmer and his ministers, she wont want to spend all week talking about Reform UK.

What about policies?

Badenochs plan means policy on most of the big economic matters and public service reforms needs more work and must wait until nearer to the next general election, to the frustration of some colleagues. However, she has just committed to repealing the 2008 Climate Change Act and pursuing a cheap energy policy instead.

She may well announce that the next Conservative government will leave the European Convention on Human Rights, which will be controversial even in todays climate  it was a step that Rishi Sunak and his government refused to take. Jenrick will probably go a bit too far on race and immigration policy. He knows what hes doing.

Bravest soul?

EU ambassador to Britain Pedro Serrano is putting in an appearance in this nest of Europhobes, and Michael Heseltine  92, and suspended from the party in the Johnson-Cummings era  will also be appearing on the fringe, a reminder of a better yesterday. Hell be reflecting on the UKs place in Europe and the future of One Nation Conservatism.

Will Boris be there?

It seems not, and of the Tories nine extant former leaders, only William Hague and Iain Duncan Smith will show up. Perhaps just as well. But on her centennial, and it being 50 years since she became leader, Thatcher will be a constant presence, most notably in a new historical movie to be shown in the Thatcher Theatre. A subliminal hope is that Badenoch can do for her party in 2025-29 what Thatcher did in 1975-79  renew the party and return it to power.

Whats the meaning of sex?

The curious can find out on Tuesday when there is a gender critical platform debate, just to remind the British people about the Tories current obsessions.
In unguarded remarks earlier this year, Robert Jenrick privately expressed himself to be in support of the somewhat underground unite the right movement that aims to combine the Conservatives and Reform UK into one supposedly unbeatable political force.

Now, longstanding Nigel Farage ally Gawain Towler has opened up the debate on the other side. Reforms former communications director suggests the parties could merge, in part, after the next election. Its a project that some will be pursuing from now until the general election and after, but has met with some resistance

What did Gawain Towler say?

Reflecting on Jenricks ambition as a former Tory leadership candidate, Towler remarked that some Tory MPs would seek ties with Reform because they wouldnt wish to demean themselves by leading a useless rump party in the shadow of a huge bloc of Reform MPs (which would be the outcome of the next election if current opinion polls are correct). Drawing a disparaging comparison to Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey, Towler said: This is not a man whos gonna spend his time on trampolines and going down water flumes as a third-party leader. He added: I could possibly see him bringing a small handful over with him, but it could work; there are all sorts of ways.

What does Jenrick think?

Hes a bit cagey. Hes outwardly loyal to Kemi Badenoch, but is putting himself around a lot at the party conference on the topic of immigration  what else?  and has gone even further than his own party line and Reform UK by advocating net emigration from the UK to create a breathing space.

Not so long ago, he was up a ladder tying a union jack to a lamppost (ironically, a bit of an Ed Davey-style stunt). Hell be making a platform speech centered on stopping two-tier justice and restoring trust in our justice system and may come out for Lucy Connolly as a free speech martyr (she was convicted of posting a racist tweet) as well as dishing out some lurid words about migrant crime.

What does Jenrick really think?

Very much what Gawain Towler does. We know this because back in March, before the big Reform successes in the local elections and gains in the polls, he was caught talking to some students in a hot mic moment. Positing a situation where Reform becomes a permanent or semi-permanent fixture on the British political scene, he said: You head towards a general election where the nightmare scenario is that Keir Starmer sails in through the middle as a result of the two parties not being united. I dont know about you, I am not prepared for that to happen. I want the right to be united, and one way or another, I am determined to do that.

Of course, with Reform on about 33 per cent in the polls, more than twice as much as the Tories, that scenario is coming true  although such is Reforms current position that it could almost win a majority and form a government without any help from Jenrick at all.

Could a tie-up happen?

This side of an election, deals and pacts seem unlikely. Many Conservatives, such as Jacob Rees-Mogg, sympathise with the Jenrick thesis, but others loathe Reform and could never accept being associated with them. Similarly, there are many ex-Tories in Reform who would contemplate the idea in some form, including recent defector Nadine Dorries. But the majority of Reform supporters follow the line preached by Farage, Zia Yusuf and Arron Banks: that they hate the Tories for their failures on immigration and tax, and want to destroy them. Also, they dont want to be a Tory Party Mark II.

One case for a post-election merger is that the Tories bring ministerial experience to Reform, which is a mass movement. The downside is the Tories image as a divided, failed, dying party.

Kemi Badenoch has rejected any talk of an electoral pact with Reform UK at the next election, but a poll published on Monday suggests this is out of step with Tory members. The YouGov poll for Sky News found 64 per cent support among Conservatives for a deal in which Reform and the Tories would not stand candidates against each other in target seats, while 31 per cent do not. And almost half of Tory members  46 per cent  would support a full-blown merger with Reform UK, against 48 per cent who would oppose a merger.

Any other obstacles?

Plenty. Both sides would be split on economic and legal immigration policy detail, possibly on the NHS, on wanting more Brexit, and on Ukraine.

It also assumes that Reform and Conservative members and voters would back a coalition or merged party, but many wont. In fact, the combined electoral result might be less than the sum of the parts as one-nation Tories peel away to the Lib Dems and Labour while disaffected Reform supporters go to more extreme fringe groups, such as Advance, or just stay at home.

Who would lead a combined Reform-Tory party?

Farage, Jenrick and, yes, Boris Johnson are the contenders. Difficult to see them working together.

Will it happen?

Only if Farage spies some advantage in it; at present, theres not much to be gained by him from uniting with the Conservative Party.
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Sir Keir Starmers cabinet is deeply divided over economic policy, with senior ministers fearful further measures to target the rich in next months Budget could accelerate the wealth exodus from Britain.

Cabinet ministers have told the The Independent they believe Rachel Reeves has already gone too far with measures targeting the wealthy and businesses, and have urged the chancellor to change course if she is to have any hope of achieving growth.

They cited anti-aspiration measures such as the abolition of non-dom status and VAT on private school fees as key drivers of wealth away from the UK, saying they are harming this country. Further measures reportedly being considered include a property tax on high-value homes and a new bank profits tax.

Ministers have instead urged the prime minister and Ms Reeves to consider efficiency savings and cuts to fill a Budget black hole estimated to be between 30bn and 40bn.

Those on the left in Labour have noted that the recent reshuffle has handed more power to the right of the party while left-wingers who support wealth taxes have been demoted or pushed out.

But a powerful group within cabinet on the right of the party believes the government is failing to rein in spending and needs to be more ready to reform the state in a Labour way.

One minister said: The trouble is we have crossed a line in trying to encourage aspiration. The non-dom change and the VAT on school fees have sent the opposite message.

The autumn statement is expected to be a make-or-break moment for the prime minister and chancellor Rachel Reeves ( PA Wire )

Noting the record number of millionaires leaving London in particular, the minister added: Its doing a lot of harm to the country.

Another cabinet minister said: I just think the non-dom changes made no real sense. Why do we want people with money to move it out of the country? It is really bad for London.

Ms Reeves is currently refusing to budge on the manifesto promise not to raise VAT, income tax or employee national insurance contributions, but is facing mounting pressure there too.

One of her firmest allies in sticking to this pledge is new welfare secretary Pat McFadden, who has warned colleagues that election wins are hard to come by and that manifesto promise was key to achieving it.

He is in charge of trying to revive welfare reform after the governments plans to slash disability payments were derailed by a massive rebellion by Labour MPs before the summer.

However, there is another faction within the cabinet that is backing growing calls from unions and Labour members for wealth taxes to plug the hole in the nations finances, such as a property tax that would hit those who have high-value homes.

There are others who are supporting the TUCs campaign for a new bank profits tax and to hit the super-rich with a wealth tax.

One minister said: It only seems fair that the rich carry the burden.

However, question marks have been raised over whether so-called wealth taxes can fill the Budget black hole or would do more damage.

Professor Stephen Millard, deputy director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR), has warned that Ms Reeves will eventually have to break her manifesto promise not to raise any of the big taxes.

The NIESR estimates that the black hole will be above 40bn, and Prof Millard warned: It is likely that, absent any change in policy, the chancellor will have a large gap to fill to meet her fiscal rules; a reduction in spending would be hard to achieve given weve just had a comprehensive spending review.

It is likely that any change to the rules enabling the chancellor to increase borrowing would result in an adverse market reaction; so the chancellor will need to raise taxes.

Given our estimate of the extent of the gap, we do not think that the chancellor will be able to fill it by tinkering with lots of changes to the non-big four taxes; so we think she will have to raise either income tax, NICs or VAT.

Isaac Delestre, senior research economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, warned: If the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast deteriorates and the chancellor wants to stick to her fiscal rules, she will either need to deliver spending reductions or tax increases.
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The Liberal Democrats are set to win more seats than the Conservatives due to the electoral system, if polling stays the same, polling expert Sir John Curtice has said.

The polling expert told a fringe panel at the Conservative party conference in Manchester that the party needed to make it to base camp before they could even think about climbing the electoral Himalayas of getting back into government.

Recent YouGov polling showed the Liberal Democrats on 15 points, one behind Kemi Badenochs party on 16. Reform led on 29%.

Addressing Tory members at the event run by thinktank Demos, Sir John said: The Liberal Democrat vote is now much more geographically concentrated than your vote, and the electoral system is now treating you like it treated the Liberal Democrats.

And so the Liberal Democrats are just behind you in the polls, they are going to almost undoubtedly win more seats than you.

open image in gallery Sir John Curtice issued the warning to the Tories after leader Kemi Badenoch addressed the conference on Sunday ( Getty Images )

He told the event that the coalition of voters Boris Johnson had assembled in 2019 had all but broken up, with Reform UK managing to take the vast majority of its voters. Likewise, he indicated that many lost Conservative voters from last years election had gone to Nigel Farages party.

He showed the event polling indicated the Tories are no more popular among Brexit voters than Remain voters from the 2016 election.

He said: The Johnsonian coalition of 2019 has been ripped from underneath you by Reform. And so that realignment of British politics that occurred in 2019, its still there, dont think that Brexit doesnt matter in our politics. Its fundamental. But your problem now is, that basically you do not now occupy either the pro-EU or the anti-EU space.

open image in gallery Sir John Curtice said the Lib Dems were on course to win more seats that the Tories at the next election ( PA Media )

In response to a question where he was asked what the current risk was to the Tories, Sir John said: The Conservative Party potentially loses its role as a significant governing party in the UK. I mean, I think is that serious.

He added: Youve got to get yourself back to base camp. At the moment, you frankly cant even see the Himalayas.

Instead of tackling Reform head-on on immigration, he said Mrs Badenochs party should focus on the economy or health service rather than try to out-Reform Reform.

In going for the front line of your opponents, youre going to be going where they are best reinforced, Sir John said. An alternative tactical battle, depending on the geography, may be to think about going around the flanks at the side. Which are perhaps not quite so well defended.

And given that you are losing ground, not just on immigration but on the economy  but at least on the economy, there is still a modicum of trust in you amongst 2024 Conservative voters. This is the issue, as it were, they look as though they might be more likely to be won back.
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The Conservative Party conference has historically been a magnet for protesters, from climate change activists to opponents of Partygate.

But as Kemi Badenoch hosts its annual gathering in Manchester this week, the streets around the convention centre are eerily quiet.

Protesters, even including the notorious anti-Brexit demonstrator Steve Bray, have not bothered to show up, in a sign of the fading relevance of the Tories under Ms Badenoch.

open image in gallery Notorious anti-Brexit protester Steve Bray has not come to Tory conference ( AFP/Getty )

Speaking to The Independent, one shadow minister on Monday noted that something is missing, noting that the usual crowds of protesters had failed to gather.

It is not just protesters, however, who are staying away from the conference this year. A walk around the conference hall or a trip into the main hall shows just how few activists thought it was worth the trip to Manchester.

open image in gallery Guests at the conference can speak to an AI-generated Winston Churchill ( The Independent )

And a look at the stalls spread throughout the conference centre show businesses, charities and lobby groups have concluded the party is not worth their time either. Many stalls, which would previously have been a key source of cash for the party being taken up by businesses, are left empty with Conservative branding in place instead.

All in, the conference exhibition hall is a shell of what it was in previous years, and attendees at the conference could be forgiven for forgetting who their leader is, as Ms Badenochs face is far from the most prominent in the exhibition centre.

Instead, the main hall is plastered with pictures of Margaret Thatcher as the party harks back to its days under the Iron Ladys leadership.

The merchandise stall is flogging mugs, Christmas baubles and bottles of whisky bearing Thatchers face as the Conservatives celebrate what would have been her 100th birthday.

open image in gallery The Tory conference is dominated by Margaret Thatcher ( The Independent )

Despite the milestone, the prominence of Thatcher makes the absence of Ms Badenoch all the more stark. After polling guru Sir John Curtice said the Tory leader has failed to make an impression on the country, it is the sign of a party unsure of itself, clinging to a bygone era in which it had a strong, unwavering leader.

Another former leader is prominent in the conference arena, with attendees able to speak to an AI-generated Winston Churchill supplied by a digital consultancy.

Meanwhile, prime exhibition spots have been taken up by Conservative party gimmicks  including a funfair game called Labours circus of despair, where you can spin Rachel Reeves wheel of tax and whack a taxpayer.

And, in another indicator of the Conservative Partys decline, what would usually have been a packed train from London to Manchester on the opening day of its conference was practically empty.

open image in gallery A Tory-branded stall, which in previous years would have been sponsored by a business or lobbying group ( The Independent )

Meanwhile, the usually packed bars, restaurants and cafes dotted around the conference centre have hardly anybody in them. There was one big attraction, with a fringe event featuring Badenochs former leadership rival James Cleverly filling up 15 minutes before it started.

And the Conservative Party was on the attack on Sunday, with press officers passing round a goody bag stuffed with its immigration plan as well as an anti-Rachel Reeves pamphlet and a fake box of Reform UK-branded cigarettes.

The pamphlet is based on claims that the chancellor embellished parts of her CV, and features AI-generated photos alongside fake achievements, including Ms Reeves having built the pyramids of Giza and the Great Wall of China.

open image in gallery Attendees can 'whack a taxpayer' in Labours circus of despair ( The Independent )

The empty cigarette box contained detailed costings of Reforms policies, with a warning on the front that unfunded promises can seriously harm economic health.

Meanwhile, the merchandise stand has devoted significant attention to attacking Labour in its offerings  one example being a blank notebook titled Leaked! Labours plan for the country.

While in previous years, these may have been fun  if a little unnerving  political merchandise, one look at the polls renders them more awkward than anything else.
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Robert Jenrick launched a scathing attack on Liz Trusss disastrous mini-Budget, describing it as careless and un-conservative as the party attempts to rebuild public trust after its difficult recent past.

Addressing a packed-out room at the Conservative Party conference, the shadow justice secretary said former prime minister Ms Truss had made big mistakes when her mini-Budget spooked the financial markets in 2022 and led to a spike in mortgage rates and her eventual resignation.

Mr Jenrick also dismissed any speculation about his potential leadership ambitions, telling his audience Kemi Badenoch would lead the Tories into the next election.

open image in gallery Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick has launched a scathing attack on Liz Truss ( PA )

The Conservative Party is currently attempting to win back trust with its members and the wider public, particularly on the economy and migration  with the conferences slogan this year being, Stronger Economy, Stronger Borders.

But a new poll conducted by YouGov for Sky News found that half of all Conservative members think Ms Badenoch should not lead the party into the next election.

The poll of 652 Conservative members, taken between 26 September and 2 October, found 46 per cent think the current Tory leader should stay in place when the country next goes to the polls, while 50 per cent say she should not.

Speaking on Monday, Mr Jenrick said: I thought the mini-Budget was careless, cack-handed and un-conservative.

There were big mistakes from that period. We have to be honest about that, and in doing so, we can begin to rebuild the publics trust.

Former prime minister Liz Truss hit back at Mr Jenrick in a post on X. She said that what is really dishonest and un-conservative is driving wealth creators and successful companies out of the country with tax rises that end up increasing the countrys debt.

Ms Truss added: This is exactly what the policies pursued by Rishi Sunak and Rachel Reeves have done. Rob is a self-styled critic of the Blairite establishment but has completely failed to take on their false narrative about 2022 or mention the role of the Bank of England.

The Bank admit two thirds of the gilt spike was down to their failures on pensions oversight. Until the Conservative Party is honest about what happened in 2022, they are destined to remain at 16 per cent in the polls.

Mr Jenricks intervention came hours after shadow chancellor Mel Stride unveiled proposals to slash 47bn of government spending if the party wins power, and promised to abolish business rates for high street shops and pubs.

Speaking in a half-empty conference hall, he also pledged to offer young people a 5,000 first job bonus as he sought to position the Tories as the party of fiscal responsibility.

He said the Conservative Party would bring taxes down but would only do so when it is affordable, promising to never make the mistakes Ms Truss made in her mini-Budget.

We will bring taxes down. We must. But we will only do so when it is affordable, just as Nigel Lawson did, because we know where the alternative path leads.

We saw that with a mini-Budget in 2022. So let me be clear, the Conservative Party will never ever make fiscal commitments without spelling out exactly how they will be paid for.

We are and will always be the party of fiscal responsibility. Labour have trashed the finances and it will only be the Conservative Party, our Conservative Party, that can be trusted to fix them.

Mr Jenrick  who is seen as the main rival to Ms Badenoch  used Mondays event to dispel rumours about his leadership ambitions despite the Tories battling devastating approval ratings and a growing number of defections to Reform UK.

open image in gallery Liz Trusss mini-Budget spooked the financial markets in 2022 and led to a spike in mortgage rates ( PA )

There was a leadership election and the party made its choice. Kemi is our leader. I am in her shadow cabinet, I wouldnt have chosen to serve in the shadow cabinet if I didnt believe in Kemi, if I didn't want her to succeed, he said.

Im rooting for her and trying to support her in every way that I can. So that is what each and every one of us should be doing right now.

Asked whether he would rule out a leadership bid if there was a vacancy, Mr Jenrick said: Well, there isnt a vacancy, and I dont expect that there will be.

My expectation is that Kemi will lead his party into the next general election.

The Independent has contacted Ms Trusss office for comment.
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The International Criminal Court has convicted a militia leader of crimes against humanity for atrocities committed in the conflict in Sudans Darfur.

Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman was found guilty of 27 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including rape, murder and persecution.

He will be sentenced at a later date after a new round of hearings.

This is the first and only trial to date looking at crimes in Sudan since the case was referred to the court by the United Nations Security Council in 2005.

Darfur's conflict erupted in 2003, when mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms against Sudan's government, accusing it of marginalising the remote western territory.

Sudan's then-government mobilised mostly Arab militias, known as the Janjaweed, to crush the revolt.

That unleashed a wave of violence that the United States and human rights groups said amounted to genocide.

Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity ( AP )

Abd-Al-Rahman ordered non-Arab tribes to be wiped out

Presiding judge Joanna Korner said the trial chamber unanimously found Abd-Al-Rahman guilty of all the crimes he had been charged with, dismissing his defence that he was the victim of mistaken identity.

"He encouraged and gave instructions that resulted in the killings, the rapes and destruction committed by the Janjaweed," she said.

Ms Korner added that he gave orders to "wipe out and sweep away" non-Arab tribes and told soldiers "don't leave anyone behind. Bring no one alive".

Victims of the Darfur conflict said the milestone judgment had restored some faith in the ICC and its slow procedures.

"As victims, the ruling is a victory for us and for justice, because the crimes he committed had huge impacts for the last 22 years. We were displaced, made refugees in camps," said Jamal Abdallah, 32, who was displaced from his home in West Darfur as a child by the Janjaweed in 2003.

Court still looking for former Sudanese president

There are still outstanding arrest warrants against Sudanese officials, including one accusing former President Omar al-Bashir of genocide charges.

According to Sudanese army sources, Mr Bashir and former defence minister Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein are in military custody in northern Sudan.

While sources said another ICC fugitive, interior minister Ahmed Haroun, was at large after escaping prison at the outbreak of war, Reuters met him in northern Sudan in April of this year. At the time, he dismissed the ICC as a colonialist institution.

Since the start of the ICC trial three years ago, conflict has erupted again in Sudan.

The new fighting that erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has unleashed waves of ethnically driven killings, caused mass displacement and created what the UN has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
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The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is reportedly investing millions of dollars in a television advertising campaign across key metropolitan areas, an Associated Press analysis has revealed.

The initiative aims to recruit local law enforcement officers, who may be frustrated by their cities' restrictions on immigration enforcement, into President Donald Trump's extensive deportation efforts.

The adverts feature a narrator stating: "You took an oath to protect and serve, to keep your family, your city, safe. But in sanctuary cities, youre ordered to stand down while dangerous illegals walk free."

These messages are accompanied by images of the targeted cities and ICE agents conducting arrests.

This campaign, airing in over a dozen cities including Chicago, Seattle, and Atlanta, forms part of ICEs ambitious $30 billion initiative to hire 10,000 more deportation officers by the end of the year to supercharge deportations.

The money is part of the $76.5 billion sought by Trumps Republican administration for ICE  a 10-fold increase in its current budget  as part of the sweeping, multi-trillion-dollar tax breaks and spending cuts bill enacted in July.

ICE is offering substantial incentives, including bonuses of up to $50,000 for new recruits and other benefits such as tuition reimbursement, to fast-track hiring.

Despite a partial federal government shutdown due to Congress's failure to pass a spending measure, these advertisements underscore that the push for mass deportations, a top priority for the Trump administration, remains well-funded.

Millions spent on the 30-second ads

open image in gallery The campaign  airing in more than a dozen cities, including Chicago, Seattle and Atlanta  is part of ICEs $30 billion initiative to hire 10,000 more deportation officers by the end of the year to supercharge deportations ( AFP/Getty )

The ads open with a video of each metros familiar skyline and the narrators voice announcing, for example, Attention, Miami law enforcement.

Beyond that, the spots are identical, inviting officers to join ICE and help us catch the worst of the worst. Drug traffickers. Gang members. Predators," according to a review of the ads on the ad-tracking service AdImpact.

The 30-second spots began running in mid-September in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Boston; Chicago; Denver; New York; Philadelphia; Sacramento, California; Seattle; and Washington, D.C. Adding to the list a week ago: Atlanta; Dallas; El Paso, Texas; Houston; Miami; Salt Lake City; and San Antonio.

As of Friday, total spending on the ads had topped $5.7 million, with the most spent since mid-September being $853,745 in the Seattle area.

However, Atlanta saw the most in the past week, $794,084, according to AdImpact.

It was unclear why ICE targeted those locations and not others. There is no standard definition of what is a sanctuary jurisdiction although it generally refers to cities or states that limit their cooperation with ICE.

open image in gallery ICE is offering substantial incentives, including bonuses of up to $50,000 for new recruits and other benefits such as tuition reimbursement, to fast-track hiring. ( Associated Press )

Some but not all of the cities appear on a Justice Department list of cities that that impede enforcement of federal immigration laws.

Asked in an Associated Press email to explain why specific areas were chosen as advertising targets, Department of Homeland Security officials declined to provide an explanation.

Instead, they replied with a 16 September press release, near the beginning of the ad campaign, reporting that it had received more than 150,000 applications and had extended 18,000 tentative job offers.

Some cities where the ads have been playing, particularly Boston and Chicago, have been repeatedly criticised by the Trump administration for their policies that limit how much they can work with federal immigration enforcement.

ICE has launched immigration crackdowns in both of those cities. Local officials in Chicago have been particularly outspoken against the stepped-up enforcement.

Albuquerque is among the smallest metropolitan areas where the ads are airing, though the city's mayor, Tim Keller, has been a vocal opponent of the Trump administration's immigration policy.

In July, Keller signed an executive order barring city employees from assisting federal authorities with civil immigration enforcement unless legally required.

Local police can't compete with ICE promises

open image in gallery 30-second adverts for ICE began running in mid-September in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Boston; Chicago; Denver; New York; Philadelphia; Sacramento , California; Seattle; and Washington ( Associated Press )

Associated Press reached out to police departments in areas where the ads were running. Most departments either did not respond or said they did not comment on actions of outside agencies. A few, including Sacramento and Miami, said they had not noticed any of their officers leaving for positions at ICE or DHS.

Four of the markets where the ads are playing are in Texas, including San Antonio.

Danny Diaz, the president of the city's Police Officers Association, said he'd seen the ads and was concerned about prospective recruits who might be thinking of joining the city's police department joining ICE instead.

We cant compete with a $50,000 signing bonus, Diaz said. I do think that the younger generation will jump on that."

The government shutdown could dampen ICE's recruitment hopes, he said.

"Theyre furloughing federal employees, and I dont think individuals want to leave one department to go work for a federal agency when they dont know if theyre going to receive a check or not," he said, referring to the lapse in funding that has led to federal law enforcement officers going without pay.

Philadelphia police Capt. John Walker said it's too early to tell whether the ad campaign has had an impact on the city's recruiting. Instead, he suggested, the ads appeared more geared toward reassuring viewers that the Trump administration was addressing illegal immigration.

It's the psychological feel. You want to know that there are cops out there because it makes you feel good, said Walker, who's in charge of Philadelphia police recruiting. That's all this is, strengthening the belief that they're doing something.

The ad blitz comes as law enforcement departments around the country are struggling to meet staffing demands.
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A South Carolina judge has spoken out after her $1.5 million home was destroyed in a suspected explosion at the weekend.

A huge fire broke out at a beach house belonging to Judge Diane Goodstein in Edisto Beach Saturday, burning it to the ground and forcing her family to jump out of the window to safety.

Goodstein, 69, confirmed to reporters that she was was alright following the devastating blaze. Goodstein told the Daily Mail she was happy to direct you to a court administrator if they had any further questions about the fire.

open image in gallery Judge Goodsteins home was reportedly valued at $1.55 million before it burnt down ( St. Pauls Fire District/Facebook )

The judges husband, former Democrat state senator Arnold Goodstein, was forced to jump from a first floor window to escape the inferno. He suffered multiple broken bones in the process and his son, Arnold Goodstein III, was rushed to hospital.

According to South Carolina Chief Justice John Kittredge, the fire was caused by an apparent explosion.

Judge Goodstein was walking on the beach when the fire started, he said. Her husband, Arnie, was in the house with children and perhaps grandchildren. The family had to escape by jumping from a window or balcony. I'm told there were injuries from the fall, such as broken legs.

Arnie's injuries may have been the most serious, for he was airlifted to the hospital, he added.

open image in gallery The remains of the Goodsteins' home as seen in aerial footage broadcast on local news ( WCBD NEWS 2 )

The fire took place on Saturday, almost a month after Goodstein prevented Donald Trumps Department of Justice from handing over the personal data of 3.3 million South Carolinian voters.

The administration had hoped to use the voter registration data - which included names, birth dates, addresses, drivers license numbers and the last four digits of social security numbers - to arrest illegal immigrants.

The September 2 ruling - for which Judge Goodstein had reportedly received multiple death threats - was later overturned when South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster filed an emergency petition to the states Supreme Court.

Investigations into the cause of the blaze by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division are ongoing and they have yet to rule out arson.

open image in gallery Judge Diane Goodstein in court ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

St. Paul's Fire District described the challenge of tackling the fire and the rescue effort in a post on Facebook.

This area is located on a barrier island with significant challenges such as limited water supply and tight areas, the statement said.

The first arriving crews worked flawlessly together to ensure the safety of the occupants which escaped via jumping from and elevated first floor. Due to the remoteness and layout of the lot, the occupants had to be rescued from the backyard via kayaks and brought to Colleton County EMS where they received medical aid.

Your SPFD prides itself on producing adequate water supply in remote areas and delivery the best possible service to all of its citizens and surrounding neighborhoods. Strong work by all.
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A beachfront property belonging to a South Carolina judge has burned to the ground in a huge fire that sent three members of her family to hospital, including her former state senator husband.

Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein, 69, was out walking her dogs when the blaze erupted at the luxury Jeremy Cay gated community at approximately 11.30am Saturday morning at Edisto Beach.

Her husband, Arnold Goodstein, 81, and other members of the family had to escape via its upper stories as the fire took hold. They were subsequently rescued from the boggy marshland in which they had sought refuge by emergency services personnel in kayaks.

open image in gallery Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein, who was not at home when the fire broke out ( South Caroline Courts )

South Carolina Chief Justice John Kittredge subsequently told FitsNews that the fire began with an apparent explosion.

Judge Goodstein was walking on the beach when the fire started, he said. Her husband, Arnie, was in the house with children and perhaps grandchildren. The family had to escape by jumping from a window or balcony. Im told there were injuries from the fall, such as broken legs.

Arnies injuries may have been the most serious, for he was airlifted to the hospital.

Arnold Goodstein, a Democrat, served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1971 to 1973 and the state Senate in 1969 and 1970 and then again from 1975 to 1979.

The couples son, Arnold Goodstein III, and a third person were also taken to the emergency room for treatment.

The Goodsteins four-bedroom, four-bathroom property was reportedly valued at $1.55m.

open image in gallery Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodsteins beachfront home ablaze in Edisto Beach, South Carolina, on Saturday ( St. Pauls Fire District )

A spokesperson for the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division said the department is currently investigating the cause of the fire and had yet to determine whether it was an accident or the result of arson.

Last month, Judge Goodstein oversaw a controversial case weighing whether or not her state should hand over sensitive voter registration documents to the federal government and ultimately ruled against Donald Trumps administration.

The Department of Justice had requested that South Carolina officials turn over the personal data of more than 3.3 million voters, revealing their names, addresses, birthdates, drivers license numbers and the last four digits of their Social Security numbers.

open image in gallery The remains of the Goodsteins' home as seen in aerial footage broadcast on local news ( WCBD NEWS 2 )

The administration was seeking to compare the information with a separate database in order to root out alleged illegal immigrants it suspected were being unlawfully permitted to cast votes in state elections.

Judge Goodstein had reportedly received multiple death threats in response to her September 2 ruling, which placed her at odds with Trump and South Carolinas Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, who said the circuit court was wrong to place itself in the way of the U.S. government and filed an emergency petition to overturn the verdict.

The South Carolina Supreme Court duly sided with McMaster, dropping Goodsteins temporary restraining order in a six-page opinion on September 11 that argued that the judge had not made clear what damage she believed the original plaintiff  local voting rights activist Anne Crook  might suffer if the data were released.
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Women's campaigner Mariella Frostrup has cautioned that Donald Trumps decision to abolish diversity policies represents a "major backward step" for workplace gender equality.

The broadcaster warned that the US president's executive orders, aimed at ending diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes, risk "dragging everybody backwards" and could undermine recent advancements in gender equality.

Frostrup further suggested these actions threaten to impede economic growth both in the US and globally.

The journalist and TV presenter, who co-founded the Women in Work Summit, told the PA news agency: Its a major backward step and slowly erodes their position as a leader.

I always imagined America to be the land of the free and the brave and where possibility was there for anyone who worked hard enough.

open image in gallery Mariella Frostrup has spoken about the impact Trumps policies could make on working women ( PA )

I think none of those things are proving to be true about America right now.

She said by rolling back these initiatives, the US will start slipping backwards in terms of their voice in the world and their economic power.

It wont happen overnight. But I think these are policies that drag everybody backwards, she cautioned.

Ms Frostrup said firms in the UK may follow suit, but added she was optimistic that this is just turbulence and that were heading in the right direction.

Her comments came as the Women in Work annual report on gender equality revealed that despite progress in companies overall meeting benchmarks, nine out of 10 male chief executives are replaced by men.

When a female chief executive stands down, she is just as likely to be replaced by a man as another woman, it found.

There has been a recent flurry of female bosses quitting from top listed companies and being replaced by men, such as Dame Emma Walmsley from drug firm GSK and Diageos Debra Crew.

Data from professional networking site LinkedIn shows that three-quarters of UK companies have a lower proportion of women in leadership than in their overall workforce.

The findings show women fall behind at every stage of their career, with progression stalling the most between ages 30 and 50 when caregiving responsibilities peak.

Ms Frostrup, who was appointed the Governments menopause employment ambassador last year, told PA: There are a lot of women out there whove stepped back because theyve had children, or indeed because theyve found menopause symptoms too hard to deal with.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump has made calls to abolish various diversity policies while in power ( Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images )

She said they need support to help them back into the workplace in proper jobs with proper pay.

The Women in Work report reveals the number of Britains largest 400 companies meeting gender equality benchmarks has jumped by nearly a fifth (19 per cent) over the past year.

The report found 121 companies are meeting benchmarks across 24 sectors, covering female representation on company boards (above 33 per cent), gender pay gap (mean or median hourly pay gap under 15 per cent) and transparent parental leave policies.

Ten of these firms have earned their place on the trailblazers list with equal executive boards, pay gaps under 1 per cent and transparent parental policies.

This is more than double the number that achieved this status last year.

Ms Frostrup said Ive got confidence and assurance that things are going in the right direction and will continue to move in that direction, because every single area of economic endeavour appears to be now understanding that its sound business sense to have inclusive and diverse workforces.

She added: Just having a woman at the top is not what makes the difference. Its changing the culture all the way through.
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Paramount Skydance has officially acquired the anti-woke digital media outlet The Free Press for $150 million and named the sites heterodox founder Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS News, the companies announced Monday.

I stand for the same core journalistic values that have defined this profession since the beginning, and I will continue to champion them alongside you, Weiss said in her first message to CBS News staff Monday morning, adding that she aspires for journalism that holds both American political parties to equal scrutiny.

The move, which was in the works for months and had been deemed imminent in recent days, is just the latest shake-up at the Tiffany Network following the politically fraught merger between Paramount and Skydance Media this past summer, which saw Paramounts former ownership pay President Donald Trump $16 million to settle a meritless lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris.

Bari is a proven champion of independent, principled journalism, and I am confident her entrepreneurial drive and editorial vision will invigorate CBS News, Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison said in a statement Monday. We believe the majority of the country longs for news that is balanced and fact-based, and we want CBS to be their home.

In her own statement, Weiss  who describes herself as a radical centrist and classical liberal  said that we'll be investing heavily in this community, and so many of the things we've long dreamed about will become possible much more quickly.

open image in gallery Bari Weiss has been named the editor-in-chief of CBS News as Paramount has bought her digital outlet The Free Press. ( Getty )

In a column announcing the move, Weiss  a former New York Times opinion editor and columnist  said the acquisition of The Free Press by Paramount was a testament to the sites subscribers, asserting that the Substack-based outlet had married the quality of the old world to the freedom of the new and sought the truth.

As of today, I am editor-in-chief of CBS News, working with new colleagues on the programs that have impacted American culture for generationsshows like 60 Minutes and Sunday Morningand shaping how millions of Americans read, listen, watch, and, most importantly, understand the news in the 21st century, she added.

She also noted that she and The Free Press would help reshape a storied media organization by helping guide CBS News into a future that honors those great values that underpin The Free Press and the best of American journalism. And in doing so, to bring our mission to millions of people.

She added: What does this mean for CBS News? It means a redoubled commitment to great journalism. It means building on a storied legacyand bringing that historic newsroom into 2025 and beyond. Most of all, it means working tirelessly to make sure CBS News is the most trusted news organization in the world.

Weiss also pointed out that she would remain the CEO and editor-in-chief of The Free Press, which would still exist as a standalone outlet.

In a lengthy Monday email to staff, which was reviewed by The Independent, Paramount Skydance chief David Ellison framed the purchase of The Free Press and the installation of its stridently pro-Israel founder as the networks editorial leader as an effort to tamp down partisan division and hostile disputes. Instead, as Ellison wrote, this would help find our way back to the ideals that shaped both our country and civilization itself: open exchange of ideas, vigorous yet respectful debate, and a genuine regard for the beliefs and traditions of others.

Quoting the nations first president about the dangers of partisanship, Ellison said that the issue extends beyond politics and threatens the fabric of our communities as it reduces all conversations to us vs. them, adding that it prevents the growth of a society.

I dont pretend to have a solution to this challenge, he continued. But I do believe we each have a responsibility to do our part.

With that lengthy preamble, Ellison announced to the newsroom that he was excited to share that Paramount had purchased The Free Press while boasting about its subscription numbers, which now top 170,000 paid subscribers. He also revealed that Weiss would indeed be named editor-in-chief, one of the media industrys worst-kept secrets over the past few weeks.

Ive seen the Bari who you will get to know: a person of incredible energy, judgment, and perception for what will resonate with audiences, he noted. Working alongside our exceptionally talented colleagues at CBS News, she will help ensure that our reporting remains relevant, accessible, and  most importantly trusted in this new era for American media.

Ellison went on to say he was confident that CBS News and The Free Press would make big strides and be at the forefront of a much-needed transformation in how news is gathered, reported and delivered, adding that we aim to do our part in helping rebuild a society where our shared humanity unites us, and where our differences become a source of strength rather than division.

In her first email to CBS News staff, which came from the office of the editor-in-chief, CBS News, Weiss wrote that she was thrilled and humbled over the new position. Adding that watching CBS had been a family tradition during her childhood, Weiss stated that it was an extraordinary privilege to help the network build on that legacy and to renew it in an era that so desperately needs it.

Noting that she looked forward to meeting with the staff in the coming days, Weiss also delivered a ten-point checklist on her core journalistic values and what she hoped to accomplish as the editorial leader of CBS News.

Journalism that holds both American political parties to equal scrutiny, said one of her bullet points, while another declared: Journalism that embraces a wide spectrum of views and voices so that the audience can contend with the best arguments on all sides of a debate.

Right now, I imagine you have some questions. I do, too, she added. My goal in the coming days is to get to know you. I want to hear about whats working, what isnt, and your thoughts on how we can make CBS News the most trusted news organization in America and the world. Ill approach it the way any reporter would  with an open mind, a fresh notebook and an urgent deadline.

open image in gallery Weiss  who describes herself as a radical centrist and classical liberal  said CBS we'll be investing heavily in this community, and so many of the things we've long dreamed about will become possible much more quickly. ( Getty )

Although the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, sources confirmed to Axios that the acquisition was valued at roughly $150 million in stock and cash, a figure originally reported by Pucks Dylan Byers last month.

Additionally, in something of an unusual arrangement, Weiss will report directly to Ellison, and not to CBS News President Tom Cibrowski or Paramounts media chief George Cheeks. She is expected to serve alongside Cibrowski, who was only recently hired for his role following the exit of former CBS News head Wendy McMahon.

CBS News sources told The Independent that Weiss and Cibrowski both met with the networks news leadership team late Monday morning. Weiss was also scheduled to take part in the evening news mid-afternoon editorial meeting.

The acquisition of The Free Press and the installation of Weiss  who famously quit the New York Times in 2020 over its illiberal environment and because she was bullied by liberal colleagues  is just the latest effort by Ellison to shift CBS News overage to the right. Notably, The Free Press  which has made the denouncement of cancel culture a central tenet of its mission  took aim at CBS News editorial leadership last year for admonishing anchor Tony Dokoupil for his combative interview with celebrated author Ta-Nehisi Coates over the Gaza War.

Since officially closing on the merger in August, Ellison has brought aboard former conservative think tank leader and Trump appointee Kenneth Weinstein to serve as ombudsman and field complaints of bias about the news networks coverage. Just days before the Trump administration approved the merger, Skydance had promised Trumps handpicked Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr that an ombudsman would be appointed for at least two years once the deal was closed.

Additionally, following the White House's loud complaint last month, the network announced that it would modify its editing rules for interviews featured on its Sunday news show, Face the Nation. This came after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem fumed about one of her answers being cut off in a taped interview. Following the tirade from the Trump administration, CBS stated that all interviews on Face the Nation would be aired live or live-to-tape and in their entirety, effectively siding with the White House.

Meanwhile, House Democrats have opened an investigation into Ellison and Paramount over allegations of bribery during the merger process. Besides the settlement over the 60 Minutes interview, which occurred weeks before the $8.4 billion deal was closed, the probe is looking into Trumps claims that Ellison  who is the son of Oracle founder and top Trump ally Larry Ellison  had reached a secret side deal to air as much as $20 million of pro-MAGA advertisements on CBS once Slydance took over Paramount. Furthermore, the Democrats are also looking at Paramounts decision to cancel the top-rated late-night show of outspoken Trump critic Stephen Colbert days before the administration blessed the merger.

As it became clear that Paramount was looking to settle the lawsuit with Trump, Bill Owens  the longtime executive producer of 60 Minutes and McMahon both resigned, citing corporate influence on journalistic independence and their unwillingness to apologize over the interview as part of any settlement.

Meanwhile, the arrival of Weiss will be a tough pill for many at the vaunted news operation to swallow, especially as Ellison has made it clear that hes about to implement painful layoffs that could mean as much as 10 percent of the networks payroll will be slashed.

People are using words like depressing and doomsday  feels like some sort of doomsday, one reporter told The Independent recently.

I think the ombudsman, Bari Weiss, and the impending massive layoffs that are coming in a couple of weeks have everyone just kind of freaking out, like, literally freaking out, another CBS journalist noted. It's not a good place right now. There was a proper way to do this and a not proper way, and they're doing it in the non-proper way, and maybe that's by design.

Journalists at the network are also upset with Ellison, believing that he lied to them when he vowed that he did not want to politicize the news organization after he took over Paramount in August.

He's essentially going to hand the keys to the kingdom to Bari Weiss and to anyone and everyone who is an ideologue that supports his and his father's world, a CBS News reporter said, while another network correspondent was even more blunt.

It's just like anybody that you think isn't qualified for the job that comes in, there's going to be trepidation, right? they wondered. Whether it's Bari Weiss or, you know, Michael Scott from The Office.

Ultimately, all of Ellison's recent moves appear to have satisfied at least one person. According to Semafor, Trump is now in talks with 60 Minutes to sit down for an interview, with the White House demanding that the conversation be aired unedited.
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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is directing state agencies to investigate the treatment of children involved in a recent Trump administration immigration raid after witnesses claimed children were zip-tied, separated from parents, and detained for several hours.

Pritzkers directive was issued Friday after reports emerged that armed federal immigration agents descended on an apartment building on the South Side of Chicago on September 30 and pulled men, women, and children from their beds in the middle of the night.

In an interview with CNN Sunday, the governor cited reports of children who were zip-tied and held, some of them nearly naked and elderly people being thrown into a U-Haul for three hours and detained. At least one U.S. citizen was detained, Pritzker added.

Federal agents were just picking up people who are brown and Black and then checking their credentials, Mr. Pritzker added.

Witnesses told WBEZ Chicago and the Chicago Sun Times that armed agents arrived at the five-story building with U-Hauls and broke down residents doors, dragging them out of bed. Some told CNN that a Black Hawk helicopter was flying above the apartment complex.

open image in gallery Governor JB Pritzker said it was shameful that federal law enforcement used aggressive military-style tactics to arrest 37 immigrants in an apartment building in the middle of the night ( AFP via Getty Images )

Imagine being a child awakened in the middle of the night by a Black Hawk helicopter landing in your neighborhood, Pritzker said in a statement. Imagine an armed stranger forcibly removing you from your bed, zip-tying your hands, separating you from your family, and detaining you in a dark van for hours. This didnt happen in a country with an authoritarian regime  it happened here in Chicago.

Pritzker said he was appalled by the reports and that military-style tactics should never be used on children.

A spokesperson for DHS said reports of children handcuffed or restrained was an abject lie.

There were four U.S. citizen children that were found with their parents who were all illegal aliens during this operation, including one child who was with the TDA member. For their own safety and to ensure these children were not being trafficked, abused, or otherwise exploited, these children were taken into custody until they could be put in the care of a safe guardian or the state, the spokesperson added.

Federal agents and officers with the Department of Homeland Security, Border Patrol, the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives were involved in the immigration raid. Authorities said the neighborhood where the raid was conducted was known to be frequented by Tren de Aragua members and their associates.

Eboni Watson, a resident of the building, told WLS that children appeared terrified during the raid.

The kids was crying. People was screaming. They looked very distraught, Watson said.

open image in gallery Clothing and toys were among the belongings discarded by law enforcement in the hallway of the building after the raid ( REUTERS )

I was out there crying when I seen the little girl come around the corner, because they was bringing the kids down, too, had them zip tied to each other, Watson added.

Approximately 37 people were arrested in the September 30 raid, some of whom had criminal records related to drug or weapons crimes, DHS said. A spokesperson for the department said at least two of the individuals are confirmed Tren de Aragua members.

At least one U.S. citizen was handed over to the Chicago Police Department for having an active arrest warrant for narcotics-related crimes, the spokesperson for DHS added.

President Donald Trump has directed immigration law enforcement and other federal authorities to conduct immigration raids in Chicago, a city he has long targeted due to its sanctuary city policies. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have consistently opposed the administrations tactics.

Pritzker told CNN that the administration was using aggressive tactics because they want mayhem on the ground.
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President Donald Trump has reignited speculation over his health and physical stamina after he engaged in a bizarre interview with CNN conducted through text message over the weekend.

For months, reporters and other observers have noted that Trumps speech has often been slurred during appearances, pressed the White House on the origins of bruising and heavy makeup to cover it on Trumps hand, and requested information on his health, only to be rebuffed by the White House.

Now, the 79-year-old commander-in-chief has added to the questions with a written question-and-answer session, purportedly between him and anchor Jake Tapper, who hosted the networks State of the Union program on Sunday.

Tapper said hed asked Trump a series of questions about the 20-point peace plan he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled last week at the White House  a plan that has been accepted in part by Hamas and is currently the subject of a new round of talks with US and Israeli negotiators in Egypt.

As images of the messages were displayed on screen, Tapper said Trump had replied to a question about what happens if Hamas tries to hold on to power in Gaza by writing: Complete Obliteration!

A bruise on the right hand of President Donald Trump sparked concerns over his health back in August ( Reuters )

Another question on whether South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham is correct to question Hamas sincerity because the militant group has not addressed demands that it disarm under the plan, Trump replied: We will find out. Only time will tell!

Tapper continued to narrate the visual display of the purported text messages from the president, closing the alleged interview with a question about how Trump believes the now six-day government shutdown will end.

According to Tapper, Trump replied: Good, we are winning, and cutting costs, big time!

The CNN anchor did not explain how he verified that it was the president  not any of his aides  who authored the written responses to his questions.

He also did not explain whether hed made any effort to speak with the president by phone, something that has become commonplace for reporters covering the second Trump administration because Trump has maintained use of his personal mobile phone since returning to the presidency and frequently uses it to contact reporters directly.

The presidents purported text message exchange with Tapper was also unusual because Trump is not known to be a frequent user of his phones text message capacity.

He also famously eschews email and other written forms of communication and during his first term, he openly complained when attorneys working for his administration took notes during meetings.

Trumps unconventional use of text-based communications to purportedly respond to Tapper comes as questions continue to swirl about the state of his health

In July, the presidents physician said in a memorandum that hed diagnosed Trump with Chronic Veinous Insufficiency after reporters began asking questions about Trumps noticeably swollen ankles.

During last years presidential campaign and since returning to office, Trump has also frequently had visible bruising on one or both hands that has been speculated to be the result of intravenous infusions, but the White House has dismissed such explanations and has said the cause is his frequent hand-shaking.

Trump has also exhibited slurred speech and has had difficulty walking in a straight line in recent weeks, while at the same time, he has noticeably cut back on his public appearances.

Last week, he appeared before cameras on Monday alongside Netanyahu when the Israeli leader visited the White House but did not take questions from reporters.

He did not engage with the press again until the weekend, when he briefly spoke to reporters before departing the White House for an appearance in Norfolk, Virginia to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States Navy.

Trump, who during his first term took a lead role in his administrations messaging efforts, has also taken a back seat to Vice President JD Vance during the ongoing government shutdown.

It was Vance who took questions in the White House briefing room about the state of negotiations on Tuesday, just a day after Trump and First Lady Melania Trump travelled to Vances official residence for a private dinner.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent.
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The Supreme Court has denied an appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell after the convicted sex trafficker asked the nations highest court to review whether prosecutors fairly brought a case against her.

Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after she was found guilty of recruiting and grooming young women and girls for sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The justices did not provide a reason for Mondays decision, which was included in a lengthy list of cases that the court has decided to take up or deny as justices begin their new term this month.

Were, of course, deeply disappointed that the Supreme Court declined to hear Ghislaine Maxwells case, her attorney David Oscar Markus said in a statement to The Independent. But this fight isnt over. Serious legal and factual issues remain, and we will continue to pursue every avenue available to ensure that justice is done.

Maxwells lawyers had argued in court documents that Epsteins agreement with federal prosecutors in Florida, which included a pledge not to prosecute him or potential co-conspirators, should apply to one of the counts in Maxwells case.

open image in gallery The Supreme Court denied an appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell October 6 as she serves 20 years in prison for crimes associated with Jeffrey Epsteins decades-long scheme to recruit and abuse young women and girls ( AP )

The Department of Justice called on the justices to reject that argument, with Solicitor General D. John Sauer arguing that the U.S. attorney who oversaw that agreement would have needed to obtain permission for the terms to apply outside that district; Maxwell was prosecuted in New York.

Prosecutors in New York ultimately brought federal sex trafficking charges against Epstein in 2019, and he was found dead in his jail cell shortly after his arrest that year.

Maxwell was indicted in 2020 for crimes associated with Epsteins decades-long scheme to recruit young women and girls  some as young as 14 years old  then sexually abuse them.

From 1994 to 2004, Maxwell and Epstein worked together to recruit young girls and entice them to travel to Epsteins properties, according to prosecutors. During a monthlong trial in 2021, survivors testified in federal court in Manhattan that Maxwell had groomed them, taken their passports, and sexually abused them.

President Donald Trumps relationship with Epstein and Maxwell has come under renewed scrutiny after the Justice Department sought to draw investigations to a close despite the presidents pledge to release the so-called Epstein files that critics argue could expose a wider conspiracy implicating powerful figures.

open image in gallery Maxwell was convicted in 2021 for helping the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse underage girls ( Reuters )

Maxwell, who is now 63, is not scheduled to be released from prison until 2040. Her best chance of early release is a presidential pardon, though legal experts warn that public statements suggesting that a pardon is even remotely on the table could encourage Maxwell to do anything she can to secure one.

Markus, her attorney, has previously said Maxwell would welcome one, though she has not formally sought a pardon from Trump. The president has acknowledged his pardoning power but has not committed to giving her one.

In July, the Justice Department determined no further disclosure in the Epstein case would be appropriate or warranted.

But in an apparent attempt to suppress criticism surrounding the decision, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche interviewed Maxwell over two days at a Florida courthouse close to the maximum security prison where she was incarcerated.

Maxwell agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, and she was suddenly moved to a minimum security prison in Texas.

In her interview with Blanche, Maxwell said she absolutely never saw Trump behave inappropriately with anyone in Epsteins circle and praised the president for his extraordinary achievement in becoming the president now. She also said she liked him.

Her lawyers have refused the opportunity for her to voluntarily testify to Congress without assurances that she can receive some form of clemency. In a letter to a Republican-led House Oversight Committee this summer, Maxwells attorneys asked for immunity protections  and made another appeal to Trump for clemency.

If Ms. Maxwell were to receive clemency, she would be willing  and eager  to testify openly and honestly, in public, before Congress in Washington, D.C., according to the letter, which Maxwells legal team provided to The Independent. She welcomes the opportunity to share the truth and to dispel the many misconceptions and misstatements that have plagued this case from the beginning.

House Democrats, meanwhile, are pushing for a vote on a measure that would force the Justice Department to release any remaining files that have not yet been made public in the investigations into Epstein and Maxwell.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has effectively closed the lower chamber of Congress this week as the federal government shutdown continues  and he is delaying a ceremony to swear into office a recently elected Democratic representative who has pledged to be a deciding vote on the measure.

What are Republicans so afraid of? Arizona Rep. Adelita Grijalva wrote last week. One more vote for accountability?
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries challenged House Speaker Mike Johnson to debate any day this week on prime time, as the country enters its first full week of a government shutdown.

The Democratic House of Representatives leader from New York sent a letter to the Republican leader on Monday as Democrats dig their heels in during the shutdown, hoping to win an extension of tax credits for the Affordable Care Acts health care marketplace.

I write to challenge you to a debate on the floor of the House of Representatives any day of this week in primetime, broadcast live to the American people, Jeffries said.

Last month, the House passed a clean stopgap spending bill called a continuing resolution, before leaving for the Jewish high holidays. A clean CR is a continuing resolution that allows the government to stay open if Congress fails to finish passing the requisite 12 spending bills for fiscal year beginning on October 1 with no additional riders or policy changes.

The House not returned and on Friday, Johnson declared this week a district work week, which means the House will not return for votes.

But Jeffries urged his colleague on the other side to make the case to the public and said that the country needed bipartisan negotiations between the White House and congressional leadership.

Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat from New York, challenged House Mike Johnson, Republican from Louisiana, amid the government shutdown. ( AFP via Getty Images )

Unfortunately, Donald Trump and your party decided to shut down the government because the GOP refuses to provide health care to everyday Americans, Jeffries said. Further, you have kept House Republicans on vacation instead of working with Democrats to reopen the government.

President Donald Trump has resorted to mocking Jeffries, posting numerous racist cartoons of Jeffries dressed in a Mexican sombrero, accusing Democrats of wanting to give health care benefits to undocumented immigrants, despite the fact that immigrants who came to the United States illegally are ineligible for federal benefits.

Given the urgency of the moment and the Republican refusal to negotiate a bipartisan agreement, a debate on the floor will provide the American people with the transparency they deserve, he said.

But Johnson rebuffed Jeffriess overture as performance, saying that polling showed that most people do not approve of Democrats messaging around the shutdown.

Look, my friend, Hakeem had his shot, Johnson said. We debated all this on the House floor, as you know, before he passed our bill, he spoke for seven or eight minutes, he had all of his colleagues lined up. They gave it their best shot, and they argued and they stomped their feet and screamed at us and all that. And still, we passed the bill in bipartisan fashion and sent it over to the Senate.

Johnson accused Jeffries of playing politics.

I'm not going to let Hakeem try to pretend for these theatrics, he said. I mean, this is a Chuck Schumer decision, the ball is in the Senate's court now.

Many Democrats and Republicans agree that they have to find an agreement to keep the premiums on the insurance marketplace from increasing by November 1. But Johnson said in a press conference that the first priority is to reopen the government.

The last time I checked, it's October 6, we have the entire month of October, he said. We'll stay here around the clock to work through all these things, but we have to get government opened again to do it.

But even if the Senate somehow comes to an agreement, Johnson would still need to put the agreement on the House floor, which is not guaranteed.

When the simple truth is on your side, you have nothing to hide from, Johnson said. Im just presenting this to the American people.
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The American public is more likely to blame Donald Trump and Republicans for the U.S. government shutdown than Democrats, early national polling has shown.

A Washington Post poll conducted on the first day of the shutdown found that 47 per cent of adults in the US blame Trump and Republicans in Congress for the closure, while 30 per cent blame the Democrats. However, the remaining 23 per cent said they are not sure which side is most at fault.

Among independent voters specifically, Trump and Republicans were blamed by 51 per cent and the Democrats by just 22 per cent, the poll found.

Nearly one-in-ten Republicans (8 per cent) blamed their own party for the shutdown, while one quarter (25 per dent) were unsure of who to blame.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump has blamed the Democrats for the impasse - voters dont agree ( Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images )

On Monday the shutdown entered day six, as both sides appear no closer to figuring out a compromise and federal employees across the country begin to feel its effects.

The shutdown is centred on a demand by the Democrats regarding the extension of health care subsidies. If they are cut, it may result in sharply increased costs for millions of low-income Americans.

Trump has blamed the Democrats for blocking his resolution, and expressed confidence that Republicans will hold out in the crucial stalemate.

"They're causing it. We're ready to go back," Trump said in the White House on Sunday. He told CNNs Jake Tapper that the Republican Party is winning, and cutting costs, big time! when asked over text how he thinks the shutdown will end.

open image in gallery U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) on the third day of a partial government shutdown ( REUTERS )

The President, who had previously said the shutdown would allow his administration to save billions, also told reporters his administration has started to permanently fire federal workers - rather than just furloughing them.

The White House is threatening mass layoffs if the Democrats do not resolve the impasse. "It's taking place right now, Trump said when asked when workers would begin being laid off, without elaborating.

White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett told CNN's State of the Union program that President Trump and [White House budget director Russ Vought are lining things up and getting ready to act if they have to, but hoping that they don't.

The White House's Office of Management and Budget, which has played a key role in Trump's campaign to sharply scale back the size of the federal government, has not yet responded.
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The Supreme Court refused to take up far-right provocateur Laura Loomer's effort to sue social media companies over claims that they conspired to suppress her political speech as she ran for office, rejecting her latest appeal on Monday.

Loomer, who serves as the self-appointed loyalty enforcer for President Donald Trump and has become an increasingly influential outside adviser to the president in recent months, had previously sued Meta and Twitter  now known as X  over accusations that the companies had violated racketeering laws by removing her from their platforms.

Specifically, she claimed that the social media giants decision to ban her over hateful conduct  she was booted from Twitter in 2018 and the Meta-owned Facebook in 2019  had done immense damage to her unsuccessful congressional campaigns in 2020 and 2022.

Loomer has since had her X account reinstated  and built it to 1.7 million followers  after Elon Musk purchased the site in 2022. Armed with a massive MAGA following, the self-described proud Islamophobe has not only become one of Trumps most valued media influencers but has also been able to impact staffing decisions within the administration.

Social media is critical to campaigns, especially during COVID-19 restrictions that limited traditional campaigning methods like door-to-door canvassing and public events, her lawyers wrote in her Supreme Court appeal. Loomer had no social media for any of her campaigns due to social media bans.

The Supreme Court is refusing to hear Laura Loomer's appeal of her dismissed lawsuit accusing Facebook and X of conspiring against her. ( Getty Images )

Saying that these issues are of paramount national importance, as they implicate the fairness of federal elections and the integrity of public discourse in the digital age, Loomers attorneys said that the Supreme Courts review would provide critical clarity on these legal questions, ensure accountability for platforms and their collaborators, and safeguard democratic processes.

The appeal also attempted to raise legal questions about the validity of Section 230, the law that essentially shields social media platforms from lawsuits related to content moderation, stating that because of Section 230, the companies stifled her ability to communicate with voters, raise funds, and compete in federal elections.

In the end, though, the high court denied Loomers writ of certiorari, with conservative justice Samuel Alito recusing himself from the consideration of the suit.

Her lawsuit, which cited the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, had repeatedly been shot down by lower courts over the past few years.

In 2023, for instance, a federal judge in California dismissed Loomers complaints against Meta and Twitter, with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreeing with the dismissal, saying that Loomer had no plausible argument that the companies violated the RICO Act.

The operative complaint simply alleges that there was a RICO enterprise because the Defendants had the 'common goals of making money, acquiring influence over other enterprises and entities, and other pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests, the court wrote earlier this year. In sum, the district court properly dismissed the amended complaint and denied leave to amend.

With Loomer having lost multiple times in the lower courts, both X and Meta brushed off responding to her appeal to the Supreme Court  suggesting that the companies did not take her case seriously.

Ultimately, it would appear they were right  based on the high court's denial of her suit, which had been shut down at least four times before.
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President Donald Trump has lashed out at Rev. Al Sharpton in a Truth Social rant calling for the Federal Communications Commission to look into cancelling NBCs broadcast license.

In the post, the president recounted his long acquaintance with the veteran civil rights activist while sharing a picture of him in his younger days when he was much heavier.

I knew Al Sharpton for many years, not that it matters, but he was a major TRUMP fan, the president wrote. Hed ask me to go to his fake Rallies all the time, because I brought BIG Crowds, and he couldnt get anybody to come without me.

Then he did the Tawana Brawley Hoax, one of the worst Low Level Scams in History, and that set him back, BIG TIME!, Trump said, alluding to a notorious 1987 case in which a Black girl falsely accused four white men of kidnapping and raping her.

open image in gallery Donald Trump attacksed the Rev. Al Sharpton on Truth Social ( Donald J Trump/Truth Social )

The president continued: Then [Sharpton] got to know Brian Roberts, Chairman of Fake News NBC, who gave him what would become one of the Lowest Rated Shows in Television History. Roberts is afraid to take him off because it wouldnt be Politically Correct.

This is just one of the many reasons that the Federal Communications Commission should look into the license of NBC, which shows almost exclusively positive Democrat content. Likewise, ABC Fake News  About the same thing, 97 percent negative to Republicans!

Roberts is in fact the CEO and Chairman of Comcast, not NBC. Sharptons show, PoliticsNation, airs on MSNBC, not NBC, which are two distinct networks, albeit under the umbrella of the same parent company, NBCUniversal, which is in turn owned by Comcast.

Trump accompanied his meandering post with a 1988 image of Sharpton, presumably intended to be unflattering, showing the reverend posing in a red shirt and suspenders.

open image in gallery Trump and Sharpton in friendlier times ( Getty )

A lifelong Democrat, Sharpton has angered Trump in the past by supporting Kamala Harriss failed 2024 presidential campaign and by appearing with the former Central Park Five at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last August. The group were five Black men exonerated after being falsely accused of the rape of a white jogger in New York City in the 1989.

Their story remains an embarassment to Trump given that he took out a series of newspaper advertisements at the time calling for the quintet to face the death penalty, wrongly assuming their guilt.

The president has recently ramped up his attacks on his media critics, celebrating over the cancellation of Stephen Colberts late-night show earlier this year and, more recently, over the short-lived suspension of Jimmy Kimmel.

FCC chairman Brendan Carr, for his part, was attacked on both sides of the aisle for making a Mafia-style threat against Kimmel and was parodied on the returning Saturday Night Live over the weekend.
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President Donald Trump reiterated his warning that Hamas would face a major offensive if the group does not agree to concede control of Gaza ahead of anticipated talks in Egypt towards releasing the remaining hostages and ending the war.

In a text message sent to CNN reporter Jake Tapper on Saturday, the president said the consequences for Hamas would be complete obliteration if the group insists on staying in power.

Trump already suggested that Hamas could face a dire outcome when he unveiled a 20-point ceasefire plan with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week. Both leaders said if Hamas did not agree to the terms, the U.S. would back Israel to finish the job. Trump also said Friday that all hell would break out if Hamas did not agree.

Trumps ultimatum arrives at a crucial moment as delegations head to Egypt for further negotiations on Monday. Talks today will focus on the first phase of the 20-point proposal: the release of the remaining hostages in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, and a withdrawal of Israeli troops.

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the presidents envoys, are expected to join the discussions in Cairo and help facilitate the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

Hamas has not accepted the full terms of the 20-point deal, but has agreed to release the hostages in exchange for prisoners. Israel has sought to recover the remaining hostages, which are believed to be around 20 living people and 25 bodies of the deceased.

Under the proposed plan, hostages would be released within 72 hours of the agreement in exchange for 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,700 people from Gaza who were jailed during the conflict, which began October 7, 2023. Israel will also hand over the bodies of 15 deceased Gazans for each deceased Israeli.

open image in gallery Donald Trump is optimistic that the first phase of a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel could be finalized this coming week ( Getty )

It remains unclear whether Monday will end with a solidified plan for the hostage-prisoner swap, with so many other terms of the deal uncertain.

Trump has expressed an optimistic view of the negotiations, telling reporters Sunday evening that countries surrounding Israel have had great meetings with Hamas and it looks like its working.

The technical teams will again meet Monday, in Egypt, to work through and clarify the final details, Trump wrote on Truth Social. I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST.

In the same post, the president repeated his warning to Hamas.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OR, MASSIVE BLOODSHED WILL FOLLOW  SOMETHING THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE! Trump wrote.

Trump earlier said he believed that Hamas was ready for a lasting PEACE and called on Israel to immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly! [sic]

open image in gallery Protesters take to the streets of Tel Aviv to demand the return of hostages taken by Hamas ( Reuters )

Preparatory meetings are expected to take place between representatives of Hamas, Qatar and Egypt at 10:00 (08:00 BST) in Cairo, before indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel, a senior Palestinian official told the BBC.

Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas are then to go ahead in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, an Egyptian official and three Israeli sources told CNN. Negotiators from the U.S., Israel and Hamas were expected to take part.

Hamas delegation is expected to be headed by Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas chief negotiator. Al-Hayya was said to be among the targets of Israels strike on Doha last month.

Israels delegation was to be led by Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, Netanyahus office announced on Sunday.

The U.S. will be represented by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law and former presidential advisor, Jared Kushner.

Mondays negotiations are also expected to address Israeli troops pulling out of parts of Gaza  another major point of Trumps proposed deal that Hamas has been fighting toward for two years. Its unclear how much Israel is willing to withdraw.

open image in gallery FILE PHOTO: People carry humanitarian aid unloaded from a World Food Program convoy in Gaza on June 16. The WHO said in August that more than half a million people in Gaza are trapped in famine ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Other parts of the deal, especially those pertaining to Hamas power in Gaza, will need to be hammered out in time. Under Trumps proposed deal, Hamas would have to give up governing authority in Gaza and lay down its weapons.

Members of Hamas who commit to peaceful coexistence would be given amnesty, and granted safe passage to receiving countries should they leave. It is still unclear which countries would take them.

Gaza would then be run by a transitional government responsible for the day-to-day administration, overseen by an international body called the Board of Peace.

Trump would chair the Board, and Sir Tony Blair would be a member. There are scant details on who else would be involved.

open image in gallery The UN estimates that 66 to 78 per cent of buildings across Gaza have been damaged or destroyed since the war began ( AFP/Getty )

Israeli attacks continued overnight and into Monday, a spokesperson for Gazas Civil Defense told the BBC, reporting that 24 Palestinians had been killed in the latest 24 hours.

Spokesman Mahmoud Basal told the broadcaster that no aid trucks have been allowed into Gaza City since the offensive began four weeks ago.

The two-year-long conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking hundreds of others hostage. In response, Israel has waged a bloody offensive in Gaza, killing more than 65,000 people, thousands of whom are children, according to the health ministry in the Palestinian enclave.

Israels war in Gaza, which the United Nations has classified as a genocide, has decimated parts of the Gaza Strip and devastated the lives of millions. People living in Gaza are on the brink of starvation, with few resources coming in.

Israel has defended its offensive, saying they are targeting Hamas, not Palestinians.
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Jimmy Kimmel is more popular than Donald Trump, a new poll has found, following a public showdown between the two men that resulted in the talk show host being briefly taken off-air.

The survey, conducted by YouGov, asked respondents if they held favorable opinions of both men.

When asked about Kimmel, 44 percent said they had a favorable opinion of the comedian, while 41 percent said they did not. Fifteen percent said they were undecided, giving Kimmel a net favorability of +3.

When asked about Trump, 41 percent had favorable views in contrast to 54 percent who said they did not and 5 percent were undecided, giving the president a -13 net favorability.

The results gave Kimmel a 16-point lead in favorability, according to the YouGov poll.

open image in gallery Last month ABC announced that Kimmels show had been taken off air indefinitely, due to comments that the comedian made about the assassination of the MAGA commentator Charlie Kirk, in which he accused Republicans of using the death to score political points ( Disney )

Trump was delighted last month after ABC announced that Kimmels show had been taken off air indefinitely, due to comments he made about the assassination of MAGA commentator Charlie Kirk, accusing Republicans of using the death to score political points.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr, whom the president appointed, called Kimmels comments truly sick and also suggested ABCs license could be at risk over it.

The YouGov poll also asked respondents if they believed that the comments were enough to warrant a suspension, with more than half (55 percent) saying no, and 30 percent saying yes.

Shortly after, however, it was announced that Kimmel would be returning, after the shows parent company Disney said it had thoughtful conversations with Kimmel over the comments, which it described as ill-timed.

I cant believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back, Trump fumed on Truth Social following the announcement. The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled! Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his talent was never there.

open image in gallery Donald Trump was delighted by news of Jimmy Kimmels suspension. The president is now more unpopular than Kimmel, according to a new poll ( Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images )

Kimmels return to the air was watched by 6.3 million viewers  more than tripling the late-night shows normal TV viewership. His comeback monologue also went viral, accumulating more than 14 million views on YouTube and 5.7 million views on Instagram the day after it was broadcast.

In the monologue, Kimmel was choked up and visibly emotional as he explained his intentions in last weeks episode.

I do want to make something clear, because its important to me as a human, and that is you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man, Kimmel said. I dont think theres anything funny about it.

The comedian went on to tell his audience he had sent love to Kirks family and asked for compassion.
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A federal judge appointed by President Donald Trump moved late Sunday to block the White House from sending 300 out-of-state National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, as protests continued on the citys streets.

U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, appointed by Trump himself in his first term, had ruled earlier in the day that the president could not mobilize California troops for deployment to Portland, having already said Oregons own National Guard could not be used on Saturday.

During a hastily arranged evening telephone hearing, Judge Immergut granted a temporary restraining order sought by California and Oregon and expressed incredulity about the Trump administrations persistence in the face of her earlier rulings, objecting to Guardsmen being brought in from Texas too.

open image in gallery A costumed protester takes part in demonstrations against a proposed National Guard deployment to Portland, Oregon, Sunday ( AP )

She told federal government attorney Eric Hamilton on the call that the administrations efforts were in direct contravention to her earlier restraining order and asked: Arent [the] defendants simply circumventing my order? Why is this appropriate?

The disagreement erupted late last week after Trump officials said that Oregon National Guard troops would be federalized to protect government buildings in what Trump declared a war-ravaged city, prompting state and city officials to sue to stop the deployment.

On Saturday, about 400 people gathered outside Portlands ICE facility, which has been a focal point for relatively small protests since January, before federal agents shot tear-gas canisters into the crowd.

Those demonstrations continued Sunday, with Portland Mayor Keith Wilson saying that he saw federal agents engaged in what he described as unjustified use of force and indiscriminate use of pepper spray and impact munitions during a protest outside the ICE facility.

This is an aggressive approach trying to inflame the situation that has otherwise been peaceful, he said, adding that he has alerted the civil rights division of the Department of Justice to the agents actions.

open image in gallery Law enforcement officers stand by after deploying tear gas outside an ICE facility during a protest on Saturday night ( AP )

Trump had lashed out at to Judge Immerguts earlier rulings, telling members of the media gathered at the White House: I wasnt served well by the people who pick judges.

I appointed the judge, and it goes like that. If [she] made that decision, Portland is burning to the ground all you have to do is look at the TV and read your newspapers. That judge ought to be ashamed, he added.

By contrast, California Gov. Gavin Newsom applauded the judges actions, commenting: We just won in court  again. A federal judge blocked Trumps unlawful attempt to deploy 300 of our National Guard troops to Portland.

The court granted our request for a temporary restraining order, halting any federalization, relocation, or deployment of any guard members to Oregon from any state. Trumps abuse of power wont stand.

Despite Trumps efforts targeting Democrat-led cities, notably sending the National Guard to Los Angeles to quell anti-ICE protesters in June and into Washington, D.C., in August to crack down on crime, Judge Immergut noted that the presidents rhetoric did not match the situation in Portland.

open image in gallery Law enforcement wading through tear gas in Portland ( AP )

The presidents determination was simply untethered to the facts, she wrote.

This country has a longstanding and foundational tradition of resistance to government overreach, especially in the form of military intrusion into civil affairs, the judge added.

This historical tradition boils down to a simple proposition: this is a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law.

Unmoved, Trump is preparing to send another 300 Guards personnel into Illinois, which likewise saw heated protests explode in Chicago over the weekend.
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Donald Trump frequently went off-script and turned a commemoration of the U.S. Navys 250th anniversary into a politicized rally - his own words - on Sunday.

The president was in Virginia speaking to cadets and officers at Naval Station Norfolk where he used the celebration as a means to hammer his foes in Washington over a government shutdown that is approaching its second week, leaving thousands of federal workers and service members without pay. Cadets and other service members at Norfolk are due to stop receiving checks on October 15 if the shutdown endures.

In an address that lasted close to an hour, Trump endorsed pay raises for the military while attacking Democrats for the furloughing of both civilian and enlisted Americans who get their paychecks from the government. He described Democrats as gnats in response to the partys refusal to support reopening the government without Republicans voting to extend health care plan subsidies.

I want you to know that despite the current Democrat induced shutdown, we will get our service members every last penny. Dont worry about it, Trump said.

At one point he even attempted to convince the crowd of mostly cadets to boo Barack Hussein Obama  his derisive way of referring to the 44th president, whose middle name became part of Trumps own efforts to persuade Americans that Obama was not a natural-born citizen.

open image in gallery Donald Trump spoke about how the military supposedly embraced 'political correctness' in a speech to Naval cadets, officers and guests on Sunday in Norfolk ( AFP via Getty Images )

open image in gallery President Donald Trump visits the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier which is out at sea near Norfolk, Virginia, October 5, 2025, as he travels to see a Naval demonstration as part of the US Navy's 250th anniversary celebration ( AFP via Getty Images )

The effort failed, but Trump did manage to elicit cheers at moments in the speech, while attacking Democrats on issues like immigration and wandering off into unrelated topics, like his proclamation attempting to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

I wouldnt say that Mexico is thrilled with me, Trump sarcastically joked.

One loud cheer came when the president warned Americas perceived enemies to leave America in peace or be blown up in fire and fury never seen before.

The president seemed to be received positively by the crowd, even as he criticized the combined efforts of the U.S. armed forces over the past several decades. Afghanistan and Vietnam, Trump identified, were two conflicts that he blamed U.S. generals and top brass for losing due to their supposed embrace of political correctness.

That term was also deployed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in his speech to generals in Washington this past week, which critics of the administration argue is an attack on women and LGBT members of the armed services.

open image in gallery Trump gestures aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush next to first lady Melania Trump, off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia ( REUTERS )

open image in gallery Members of the crowd, mostly cadets, cheered at points in Trump's speech which verged into political subjects ( REUTERS )

We won World War I and World War II. We won everything in between. We won everything before. And all of a sudden they decided to change the name. They went woke, then, too, you know. Woke is a long-term word, Trump declared. A handful of shouts were heard from the crowd, turning heads, as the president spoke.

Lets face it: this is a rally, the president admitted at one point.

Trump rambled over a wide range of topics from the stage. He complained about the FBI investigation that followed him through his 2016 election victory, claiming falsely that he caught Obama and his top officials rigging the election. He also snuck in a promotion for the UFC fight he plans to host on the White House lawn in the coming months.

And pointing out the bases comparative proximity to D.C., Trump took the opportunity to boast about his takeover of the nations capital by deploying hundreds of National Guard troops around the District of Columbia and flooding the streets with members of federal law enforcement, including ICE. He vowed imminent deployments of National Guard troops to Memphis and Chicago.

Were doing it like nobodys ever done it before. So I just want to tell you: youre very close to D.C.; the restaurants are thriving. The restaurants were dying. They were closing, one after another. Now theyre opening up, theyre thriving.

Its a safe place now, our nations capital, he added.

The president packed up and returned to the White House after his speech but passed out challenge coins to Navy brass at the event and also met with service members and posed for photos on board the USS George H.W. Bush.

open image in gallery First Lady Melania Trump visits the USS Harry S. Truman during the US Navy's 250th anniversary celebration ( AFP via Getty Images )

open image in gallery Donald Trump and Melania Trump spoke Sunday at an event commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Navy and the Marine Corps ( Getty Images )

On Monday, the White House is set to decide whether a deal with Democrats is possible to reopen the federal government and end a shutdown that will be entering its sixth day, the presidents economic adviser Kevin Hassett said Sunday. Republicans and Democrats left Washington over the weekend without a deal, and members of the House departed for a district work period set to last the entire coming week.

If a deal is not reached, Trump and other administration officials with the backing of some congressional Republicans have threatened to begin mass federal layoffs.

In the Senate, a handful of Democrats could break ranks to support ending the shutdown but for now, the party is in near-lockstep behind the strategy of withholding the votes necessary to break a filibuster until Republicans agree to extend subsidies for health care plans on the Affordable Care Act public exchanges.

Those subsidies are due to end with the new year and spike premiums for many Americans.
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As Monday dawned in Doha, where negotiators were set to meet and discuss the beginnings of a peace agreement to end the war in Gaza, prospects for ending a bloody conflict that upended regional stability and threatened to engulf the entire Middle East in war seemed closer than ever.

Back in Washington, Donald Trump similarly looks closer than ever to achieving the peacemaker label hes long sought and often falsely claimed for himself by running around the world and claiming credit for ending multiple wars  the current count stands (allegedly) at seven.

And news coverage in both America and Israel is making the case that the U.S. president did what his predecessor either could not or would not: he strong-armed Benjamin Netanyahu into bringing this conflict to an end.

On the eve of the two-year anniversary of the wars Oct. 7, 2023, onset, Israeli strikes in Gaza were reportedly reduced significantly but still ongoing. In sporadic strikes around the territory on Saturday, according to Reuters, 36 people died, including children.

Then, Donald Trump  in a Truth Social post, naturally  called for Israel to immediately cease attacking the Gaza Strip as negotiations proceed.

open image in gallery Benjamin Netanyahu was strong-armed by Donald Trump, the New York Times declared ( AP )

And though it seems Benjamin Netanyahu hasnt fully complied, theres no doubt in the minds of experts on the Israeli and American relationship that Donald Trump has successfully tugged a leash around the prime ministers neck. To bring an end to the war, from this point, would be a massive blow to Joe Bidens legacy and evidence that the presidents brash, demanding approach to foreign affairs was more effective than Bidens hug Bibi closer strategy.

Trump himself on Sunday declared that speed was a necessary component of success in peace talks between Israel and Hamas, likely drawing on his experience trying to negotiate the same between Russia and Ukraine. While Hamas hasnt agreed to the full breadth of the White House 20-point peace plan, the U.S. president is now putting immense pressure  very publicly  on both sides to get both parties to the finish line.

Under Joe Bidens presidency, U.S. officials repeatedly stressed that the president and his top deputies, including Vice President Kamala Harris, were working tirelessly to reach a peace agreement. And while its a certain truth that political dynamics around the war are starkly different now than from what they were in January-November of 2024, enough reporting exists to get a picture of the kind of pressure and leverage that the Biden administration (at the direction of the president) was willing to put on Israel.

It wasnt much.

As one former Biden State Department official (who resigned over the Democratic presidents handling of the war) wrote in a piece for the Quincy Institute: even the Israeli military expected the United States to allow them to carry out the indiscriminate bombing campaign only for a matter of weeks, before reining in the scale of destruction.

Instead, Annelle Rodriguez-Sheline wrote, The Biden administration violated American laws and bypassed Congress to rush an additional $17.9 billion in weapons and security assistance to Israel, all while lying to the American public about tirelessly working for a ceasefire.

Former Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Michael Herzog, had a similar view of the amount of pressure Biden was willing to put on Netanyahu, telling Israeli media: God did the State of Israel a favor that Biden was the president during this periodWe fought for over a year and the [Biden] administration never came to us and said, ceasefire now. It never did.

open image in gallery Joe Biden never did put any meaningful pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire with Hamas, Israels former ambassador said ( AP )

No such illusions exist around Trumps style of diplomacy. Israeli correspondent Isabel Kershner wrote for The New York Times after Trump reportedly complained to the Israeli prime minister that he was always so f***ing negative: It was abundantly clear to Israelis, and to Palestinians and others in the region, that the one calling the shots was President Trump.

One Israeli columnist, cited by the Times and Axios, added that Trump doesnt threaten Netanyahu; he orders him.

Its a devastating dynamic, overall, for those few remaining Democrats still willing to defend the Biden administrations handling of the war through late 2023 and the totality of 2024. And there are just a few of them left: even Jake Sullivan, the presidents national security adviser, has evolved to the position now where in August he said that hed reached out to Democratic electeds on the Hill to let them know he thought supporting an arms embargo of Israel was an appropriate position. More Democrats voted for such an embargo against Israel this summer than they did at any point during the Biden administration.

There are no more serious military objectives to achieve. Its just bombing the rubble into rubble, he said on The Bulwark Podcast.

open image in gallery Kamala Harris wrote in her book 107 Days that she pleaded with the president to show more empathy for Palestinian civilians ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images )

Harris, meanwhile, used the issue as a wedge between her and the former president in her book, 107 Days, which released in September. Enraging many progressives who complained that she should have done so when it mattered, the former vice president explained that there was, despite her campaigns denials, daylight between her and Biden on the issue of Gaza, particularly on the issue of showing empathy and remorse for Palestinian civilians killed in the conflict.

"I had pleaded with Joe, when he spoke publicly on this issue, to extend the same empathy he showed to the suffering of Ukrainians to the suffering of innocent Gazan civilians, Harris wrote. "But he couldn't do it: While he could passionately state, 'I am a Zionist,' his remarks about innocent Palestinians came off as inadequate and forced."

Few Democrats (and fewer with future, upwardly-mobile ambitions) are now willing to side against the majority of their base over the former administrations stance of unconditional support for Israel. Biden, by virtue of age and lack of future interest in politics, will quite possibly never face tough questions about the issue from a journalist or a critic ever again.

Progressives are livid with the concept of putting the peace process in Trumps hands, who they argue is putting Palestinians at rhetorical gunpoint to accept a deal.

Trump's plan is a recipe for Israel's permanent military presence within Gaza and for denying Palestinians the right to self-determination by having Gaza run by foreigners, not by Palestinians. And Trump has given Israel the green light to 'finish the job' if Palestinians don't accept this diktat  a potential prelude to the Trump-Netanyahu plan for the ethnic cleansing of all Palestinians from Gaza, IMEU Policy Project executive director Margaret DeReus told The Independent on Monday.

But, she added, Both Presidents Biden and Trump have had all the power to end Israels genocide of Palestinians from Day One. Instead, both chose to send Israel billions of dollars in weapons, paid for by our tax dollars. The devastation in Gaza and the unimaginable loss of Palestinian life are a result of their failure to put real pressure on Israel for two years.

Harris, meanwhile, remains politically tarred by both the conflict and the age-related downward spiral of the Biden campaign.

The prospect of Trump engineering a permanent peace deal would only drive that knife in further for anyone tangibly connected to the 2024 iteration of the party establishment.

Before it picks a nominee in 2028, leading Democrats will still have to answer questions from a very upset base of supporters about why they circled the wagons around this unpopular strategy until it was too late.
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Donald Trump privately told Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop being so negative as Israel and Hamas appeared this weekend to be on the brink of reaching a permanent peace agreement two years into the bloody siege of Gaza.

The U.S. president and his Israeli ally spoke on Friday, according to Axios. During the call, Trump reportedly told the prime minister to accept a response from Hamas as good news while urging him to continue the peace process.

Hamas political officials based in Qatar, on Friday, announced that the group would accept the framework of the deal provided that appropriate field conditions were met, and agreed to release all remaining hostages  living or dead. Reporting suggests that a divide may exist between the groups political leadership in Qatar and its militant wing in Gaza, the latter of which controls the hostages.

Trump, however, focused on the positives during his call with Netanyahu and urged him to do the same, according to a U.S. officials account.

Bibi told Trump this is nothing to celebrate, and that it doesnt mean anything, the official with knowledge of the call told Axios, who said the president responded: I dont know why youre always so f***ing negative. This is a win. Take it.

open image in gallery Donald Trump used his relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu to engineer what is increasingly appearing to be a deal that could permanently end the Israeli assault on Gaza ( Getty )

On Sunday, CNNs State of the Union conducted a text-message interview with the president of the United States, who gave his typical answer: Soon, when asked by Jake Tapper when the country would know if both sides of the conflict were entirely on board with the U.S.s mandated ceasefire terms.

Will you know if Hamas is truly committed or just stringing the world along? And is Prime Minister Netanyahu on board with ending the bombing as you called for and whatever else you need him to do to make this peace proposal a reality? Tapper asked Trump.

Yes on Bibi, said the president. Soon on the rest!

Secretary of State Marco Rubio expanded on the administrations perception of the progress it was making towards a deal on ABCs This Week.

This is the closest weve come to getting all of the hostages released, every single one, all 48, including the 28 who are deceased, Rubio said. But theres a lot of pitfalls along the way. Theres some work to be done here.

This is not something that can drag out. We cannot be here three weeks from now, still discussing, you know, the logistics of how hostages are going to be released. That has to happen very quickly in order for the rest of this deal to gain momentum, he added.

open image in gallery Relatives of hostages protest in Israel ( AP )

According to the terms of the U.S.-negotiated deal, Israel is to immediately end its assault on the Gaza Strip once both sides are officially signed on to the proposal; representatives are set to meet Monday in Cairo as those talks continue. The deal would also see all hostages, including remains, released within 72 hours, while Hamass military wing is to disarm. Aid is also set to be surged into the famine-stricken Gaza Strip after hostilities end.

In Gaza, United Nations officials and civilians told The Independent that while there had been a lessening of fire in the north, and some displaced families were attempting to return home, Israels shelling and bombing had continued over the weekend, with wounded families and children pouring into hospitals.

People are obviously desperate for a ceasefire, but we havent seen a lot of change on the ground. There has been heavy shelling, missile and small arms fire all day, said James Elder, spokesperson for the U.N.s child agency Unicef, speaking to The Independent from southern Gaza.

The Palestinian militant group has yet to agree to the disarmament demand. Trump, meanwhile, repeated his demand for Israel to cease attacks in a Friday Truth Social post. The next day, he said Israel had agreed to an initial withdrawal line.

Rubio, speaking on Sunday, said he hoped that 90 percent of the deals provisions would be defined and agreed upon by both sides before talks began on Monday in Cairo.

Our hope is that by the time our team gets to Cairo, 90 per cent of this has been worked out, and were just sort of finalizing the logistical piece. Wed like to see it done yesterday, he said.

In a second interview on CBSs Face the Nation, the secretary contended that Israels image was lessened by its conduct during the war. A poll this week from the IMEU Policy Project and Gen-Z for Change found that seven in 10 Democratic voters nationally believe that Israel is carrying out a genocide in Gaza.

[W]hether you believe it was justified or not, right or not ... you cannot ignore the impact that this has had on Israels global standing, said the secretary.

Bel Trew contributed to this report
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Illinois officials and the city of Chicago are suing Donald Trumps administration to stop the president from imminently deploying National Guard troops to the state, expanding the multi-state legal battle challenging the presidents attempts to send the military into Democratic-led states and cities.

The lawsuit was filed hours after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened to call up hundreds of members of the Texas National Guard to perform federal protection missions in Chicago and Portland, Oregon, after a frustrated federal judge blocked the president from ordering any Guard members in any state from deploying to Oregon.

Last week, Oregon officials similarly sued the administration, arguing that the presidents threats to send in the troops are wholly pretextual and designed to stir up unrest to justify the military and federal law enforcement occupation of Portland and elsewhere.

The American people, regardless of where they reside, should not live under the threat of occupation by the United States military, particularly not simply because their city or state leadership has fallen out of a presidents favor, lawyers for Illinois and Chicago wrote Monday.

To guard against this, foundational principles of American law limit the presidents authority to involve the military in domestic affairs, they added. Those bedrock principles are in peril.

open image in gallery Illinois and Chicago officials are suing the Trump administration to stop the president from sending in National Guard troops from other states ( AP )

Trumps latest maneuvers in his long-declared war on Chicago are unlawful and dangerous, with an illegal federalization of state National Guard troops on purely pretextual and baseless grounds, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit argues that Trumps flimsy pretext for boots on the ground includes protests outside a two-story Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in a Chicago suburb, where fewer than 8,000 people live.

Federal law enforcement officers have also repeatedly shot chemical munitions at groups that included media and legal observers while dozens of masked, armed federal agents have paraded through downtown Chicago in a show of force and control, according to the lawsuit.

The communitys horror at these tactics and their significant consequences have resulted in entirely foreseeable protests, lawyers wrote. Sending in more federal troops threatens to undermine public safety by inciting a public outcry, they added.

open image in gallery The Trump administration risks escalating an already-volatile situation after federal agents shot tear gas at anti-ICE protesters and raided a Chicago apartment building, the lawsuit says ( Getty Images )

State and local law enforcement are capable of responding to those incidents, and Trumps federalization of the National Guard from other states infringes on Illinoiss sovereignty and right to self-governance, according to the lawsuit.

It will cause only more unrest, including harming social fabric and community relations and increasing the mistrust of police, lawyers argued. It also creates economic harm, depressing business activities and tourism that not only hurt Illinoisians but also hurt Illinoiss tax revenue.

Trump has similarly surged federal law enforcement into several other Democratic-led states and cities, including Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., while Memphis is also preparing to see troops on the ground.

California sued the administration earlier this year 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.

Last month, a federal judge 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, according to the judges ruling.

Illinois and Oregon officials are similarly arguing that the presidents deployments to those states 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.

open image in gallery Governor JB Pritzker has rejected claims from Trump administration officials characterizing Chicago as a war zone as he joins other Democratic-led states suing the president to stop him from federalizing troops ( Getty Images )

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has rejected claims from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that Chicago was a war zone and criticized federal agents for escalating an already tense environment.

The secretary doesnt know what shes talking about, he told CNNs State of the Union Sunday.

He blasted a recent late-night Border Patrol raid in a Chicago apartment building where agents kicked down doors, tossed flash bang grenades and rounded up children and adults, who were arrested and restrained with zip ties as they frog marched outside the building.

Noem shared video of the raid on social media with slow-motion footage set to dramatic music.

Federal agents were just picking up people who are brown and Black and then checking their credentials, Pritzker told CNN.

They are the ones that are making it a war zone, he added. They need to get out of Chicago if theyre not going to focus on the worst of the worst, which is what the president said they were going to do.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has suggested creating ICE-free zones that would ban the presence of federal immigration agents on city property and private businesses without a warrant.

We cannot allow them to rampage through our city with no checks or balances, he said Monday. If Congress will not check this administration, then Chicago will.
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The Department of Education has been gutted of its staff, critical National Institute of Health research has been canceled, 16,000 federal workers have been fired, and $4 billion allocated by Congress is going ignored  these are just a few of the unprecedented changes President Donald Trump has made with permission directly from the Supreme Court.

Over the last few months, the Supreme Courts justices have helped expand Trumps presidential power over critical aspects of American life, without offering any explanation for their actions through the mysterious shadow docket.

The shadow docket, a cryptic name for the courts time-sensitive, emergency requests, was coined in 2015. Its perhaps most well-known for hosting 11th-hour requests from death row inmates hoping to stop executions.

But Trump has specifically turned the docket into something else  a place where a president can quickly request intervention without lengthy legal review and justices can issue consequential decisions in three sentences without providing context.

The rulings are often temporary, but the consequences are permanent.

In some cases, they have allowed Trump to fire workers, leaving some scrambling to make payments. In others, undocumented immigrants have been thrown into emotional turmoil while separated from their children.

open image in gallery Without providing any explanation, the Supreme Court justices will often agree to Trumps requests to unprecedentedly expand his presidential power ( The Independent/Getty/iStock )

Over the 16 years between the Bush and Obama administrations, the government submitted eight emergency requests. President Joe Biden requested 19 emergency applications.

During Trumps first administration, the government submitted 41 emergency applications. Nine months into Trumps second administration, there have been 28 requests  20 of which the Supreme Court has agreed to.

As a new Supreme Court term gets underway this week, the impacts have been tangible. Via the shadow docket, Trump has been permitted to continue his quest to end birthright citizenship, fire those in charge of independent agencies, end protections for migrants seeking asylum, roll back transgender rights, and more.

Glaringly, the Supreme Court has allowed the administration to cut $800 million in funding to NIH, a key aspect of the government whose research has led to the creation of mRNA vaccines such as Covid-19 vaccines, breakthroughs in cancer research, a deeper understanding of Alzheimers disease, and more.

open image in gallery Justices have permitted Trump to issue sweeping cuts to the federal workforce, temporarily  but those rulings have real consequences for the people being impacted ( AFP via Getty Images )

Traditionally, the Supreme Court case process is tedious and drawn out, taking months for the court to hear a case on what is known as merits. Decisions in those cases tend to be dozens of pages and contain thorough explanations with references to precedent, past cases, the law, and implications.

Dennis Fan, a clinical law professor at Columbia University, compared an emergency request to that of a person fighting to save their home from being bulldozed. Rather than go through the long process on merits, when their home is at risk, they can request an emergency injunction that will stop their house from being leveled while litigation continues.

The original purpose of the shadow docket, in its most generous form, is to deal with those sorts of emergencies, Fan told The Independent.

But the Supreme Court has set a precedent and allowed cases that do not appear to be emergencies.

Fan, a former appellate attorney for the Justice Departments Civil Division, points to Trumps firing of the heads of independent agencies, such as the Federal Trade Commission and the National Labor Relations Board, as an example.

Individual firings of agency heads at that point you kinda think, Well, I dont know. If this is just one individual that the president cant fire for the next couple of months, how big a deal is that? Is that worth emergency intervention? he said.

open image in gallery Most Americans do not think the Supreme Court is doing a good job and a record number, 43 percent, believe it is too conservative ( Getty Images )

In June, the Department of Homeland Security asked the Supreme Court for help deporting undocumented immigrants, specifically a group of eight men to South Sudan, a war-torn country plagued by violence and a deepening humanitarian crisis that seven of the migrants had never been to.

The department wanted to remove the men in that case, as well as other migrants, to a third country. But a lower court judge prevented them without giving the immigrants proper notice about where they were being deported to and a chance to dispute it by showing they face the risk of violence.

Twenty-six days later, in an unsigned order that offered zero explanation, the justices lifted the lower court ruling, allowing Trump to deport the men and other migrants to third countries.

open image in gallery Supreme Court justices have allowed the Trump administration to deport undocumented immigrants to third countries without abiding by traditional due process ( US Government )

Where did the Government find the authority to disregard Congresss carefully calibrated scheme of immigration laws? Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her 19-page dissent. ...this Court should not decide without briefing, argument, or time for reflection.

The court has had no hesitation in taking up dozens of Trumps requests for intervention from the shadow docket  mainly thanks to the conservative majority, three of whom, Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, were appointed by Trump himself.

People have the feeling, and probably a relatively accurate feeling, that the current Supreme Court is more amenable to emergency requests by one administration  mainly a Republican administration than a Democratic administration, Fan says.

The courts recent string of granted requests has proved unpopular. Already, Americans have developed a deep mistrust of the Supreme Court, with 52 percent of people disapproving of the justices and 43 percent saying its too conservative.

open image in gallery Trump has verbally attacked lower court judges who do not rule for him for being radical or rogue and turned to the Supreme Court for help, which hasnt defended those lower court judges against the presidents attacks ( Middle East Images/AFP via Getty )

The courts recent decisions have also created chaos in lower courts.

With justices refusing to provide a thorough legal explanation, experts say it has been difficult for judges to apply the emergency application rulings.

Judges in the trenches need, and deserve, well-reasoned, bright-line guidance, an unnamed federal judge told NBC News in September. Too often today, sweeping rulings arrive with breathtaking speed but minimal explanation, stripped of the rigor that full briefing and argument provide.

Ten days after the brief emergency ruling in the third country case, the Supreme Court was forced to issue a separate opinion explaining its decision to clear up confusion in the lower court.

A lower court judge continued to block DHSs request to deport the eight men to South Sudan, believing the Supreme Courts emergency ruling did apply since the original plaintiffs in the case were four undocumented immigrants living in Massachusetts.

open image in gallery Via the shadow docket, the Supreme Court has allowed 20 of Trumps emergency requests to move forward. ( Getty Images )

To give the Supreme Court some credit about this, I think theyre trying to figure out what to do about it, Fan says of the shadow docket.

I think a lot of justices realize theres some issue with doing things in this manner because you kind of rush out decisions with half-thought-out thoughts about a case.
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The oldest Las Vegas hotel has a job opening of a lifetime for any thrill-seeker brave enough to try and hunt down ghosts haunting the storied casinos halls.

One lucky adrenaline junkie will win a prize valued at $5,000 and get to spend a weekend ghost hunting inside Vegas legendary El Cortez Hotel & Casino.

The El Cortez, Sin Citys longest-running hotel casino, has seen its fair share of mobsters, high-rollers and deaths since opening in 1941, according to Casino.org, which shared details about the contest. The hotel opened in 1941 and is located off downtown Las Vegas.

Rumors have long churned about paranormal activity  spooky shadows, phantom footsteps and sudden chilly spots  inside the hotel.

Were sending you to investigate, fully equipped with ghost-hunting gear, to see if the stories are true! the contest listing read.

open image in gallery Las Vegas oldest hotel and casino is offering one lucky thrill seeker $5,000 to spend a weekend hunting ghosts in the spooky establishments haunted halls. ( Getty/iStock )

open image in gallery There have long been rumors of paranormal activity in the long-running hotel, which has ties to old-time Vegas mobsters ( Facebook )

The chosen ghost hunter will check in to the El Cortez for a haunted weekend stay, where youll explore the casinos oldest and eeriest corners, searching for signs of ghostly activity.

The presence of the notorious Vegas gangster Bugsy Siegel looms over the El Cortez. The hotel was sold to a group that included Siegel in 1945, though they would go on to open The Flamingo hotel and casino on the Strip the following year, according to Ghost City Tours.

While the El Cortez has ties to the famous mobster, even naming its restaurant after him, Siegels ghost is not the one disturbing its guests.

Instead, Siegels former henchman, Fat Irish Green, has a haunting presence within the historic hotel, according to U.S. Ghost Adventures, which listed the El Cortez as one of the most haunted places in Vegas.

To make matters even more spooky, the basement of the El Cortez is believed to be full of the ashes and cremated remains of former employees who died without any family, including Green.

Several Vegas hotels sell guests on supernatural activity, though not all of them have the same mob connections as the El Cortez.

Over the years, employees at the El Cortez have seen transparent white disembodied hands reaching through the darkness inside their rooms. Others have reported hearing loud, repetitive knocks on their doors when no one else was staying on their floor, according to Ghost City Tours.

open image in gallery One known ghost in the El Cortez is the former henchman of a notorious Vegas mobster ( Getty )

open image in gallery The hotel, which is located in the downtown area, is known for its slew of vintage neon signs ( Getty )

Despite the potential paranormal activity, the hotel remains a popular spot for tourists  regardless of whether they are prowling for apparitions.

Known for its vintage aesthetic and surplus of neon signage, many guests are drawn to the hotel to gamble in an environment reminiscent of old-time Vegas.

The hotels casino offers blackjack, roulette, poker tables and slot machines that are proven to be 40 percent looser than any other casino, according to Ghost City Tours.

The contests winner will get to explore the property, including any rumored-to-be-haunted areas, utilizing ghost-hunting equipment such as specialized flashlights and thermal sensors, according to the contest posting.

They will also have to capture evidence of the paranormal beings, either by photo or videos, and journal their findings. The trip is set to take place in early December.

The contest is running from October 6 through October 31. Those interested in having a chance at ghost hunting can enter via a website.
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Police have arrested a man who set up camp on the steps of a cathedral in Washington D.C. after explosive materials were found inside his tent.

Louis Geri of Vineland, New Jersey, was taken into custody Sunday morning by the Metropolitan Police Department assigned to a detail for the Red Mass at Saint Matthews Cathedral. The service is held annually for members of the legal profession, and has been attended in the past by Supreme Court justices.

He was later charged with possession of a molotov cocktail, among other things.

The force said that an individual had set up camp on the steps of the building and refused to leave. MPD said that officers had discovered that Geri had been previously barred from the cathedral.

He was taken into custody without incident.

Police said that an individual had set up camp on the steps of the building and refused to leave ( Getty Images )

Following a search of Geris tent, officers found multiple suspicious items including vials of liquid and possible fireworks.

Members of MPDs Explosive Ordinance Disposal team and the Arson Task Force responded to the scene to search the suspects belongings, the MPD said in a statement.

The scene has been secured and there is no threat to public safety, the press release stated.

Geri has been preliminarily charged with unlawful entry, threats to kidnap or injure a person and possession of a molotov cocktail.

The investigation is ongoing in coordination with members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the FBIs Washington Field Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The Red Mass is held each year to invoke Gods blessings on those responsible for the administration of justice, according to St. Matthews Cathedral. No justices were in attendance Sunday morning, a spokesperson for the Supreme Court told CNN.
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Australian prosecutors on Monday filed an appeal seeking a longer guaranteed prison term for Erin Patterson, who was sentenced to life for poisoning four of her estranged husbands relatives with death cap mushrooms but will be eligible for parole after 33 years.

Victoria states Office of Public Prosecutions said in a statement it had filed the appeal to the Victorian Court of Appeal, claiming the sentence handed to Patterson a month ago was manifestly inadequate.

Patterson was sentenced to life in prison in September by the Victorian Supreme Court for the murder of three people and the attempted murder a fourth, all of whom were lunch guests at her home in 2023.

Patterson fed them beef Wellington pastry dishes laced with toxic mushrooms. Her motive remains a mystery.

Prosecutors argued last month that she should never be eligible for parole. Her lawyers had asked for Patterson to serve 30 years before she could be considered for early release.

Justice Christopher Beale set a non-parole period of 33 years, meaning she could potentially be set free in 2056 at the age of 82.

Patterson's lawyer Richard Edney told Beale last week that she would lodge an appeal against her jury convictions within a month.

Three Court of Appeal judges will hear both appeals on a date that is yet to be set.

Patterson was convicted in July of murdering Don and Gail Patterson, the parents of her husband Simon Patterson. She also murdered Gails sister, Heather Wilkinson, and attempted her murder Ian Wilkinson, who spent weeks in a hospital.

Simon Patterson was also invited to the lunch but declined.

She was arrested and charged in November 2023, about four months after the lethal lunch.

While it wasnt disputed that Patterson served the mushroom-laced lunch, the jury was required to decide whether she knew the food contained death caps, and if she intended for them to die.

Her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, told the jury about how the couples relationship had become strained in the months leading up to the lunch. Wilkinson, a pastor in a nearby regional town, told the court that Patterson had served her beef wellington on a different coloured plate.
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New Zealands government said Monday it had agreed to pay 10 million Samoan tala ($3.6m) in compensation to Samoas government, a year after New Zealand sailors drove a navy ship aground on a reef off the Pacific Island nation.

All 75 people on board evacuated to safety as the boat foundered about 1.6km off the coast of Upolu, Samoas second largest island before it caught fire and sank. The wreck of HMNZS Manawanui remains at the site of the sinking on 6 Oct 2024, and a decision about whether it will remain there hasn't been made.

The vessel sank due to failings of the crew and ship, an official inquiry found. The ships crew didnt realise the vessel was on autopilot and believed something else had gone wrong as it plowed toward the reef, according to a report that highlighted the lack of training, qualifications and experience among those on board.

The compensation announced by New Zealand foreign minister Winston Peters on Monday was the full amount requested by Samoa's government, a spokesperson for Mr Peters said. It will be drawn from New Zealand military funds.

open image in gallery New Zealand Samoa Navy Ship ( Crown Copyright 2024, New Zealand Defence Force. Licenced under Creative Commons BY 4.0. )

We have responded to the government of Samoas request in full and with good faith," Peters said in a statement. We have always said we will do the right thing.

Samoa's government didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

New Zealand officials would continue to work with the Samoan counterparts to decide the future of the wreck, Peters said. Work so far has included the removal of fallen shipping containers, pollutants and military equipment.

open image in gallery New Zealand Samoa Navy Ship ( Crown Copyright 2024, New Zealand Defence Force. Licenced under Creative Commons BY 4.0. )

An independent wreck assessment and environmental studies are expected, according to a statement from New Zealand's military.

It is pleasing to note that monitoring by the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa has shown the seawater in the area is clear and uncontaminated from elevated hydrocarbons resulting in the warning on fishing being lifted completely in February, Capt. Rodger Ward of the New Zealand Defence Force said in a statement.

The military recognised the impact that the sinking has had on the people of Samoa, particularly the communities of the South coast, Ward said.

open image in gallery New Zealand Samoa Navy Ship ( Crown Copyright 2024, New Zealand Defence Force. Licenced under Creative Commons BY 4.0. )

The specialist dive and hydrographic vessel had been in service for New Zealand since 2019 and was surveying the reef that it ran aground on. Its sinking provoked alarm about environmental catastrophe for Samoan villagers living on the coast where it capsized, who said they feared permanent damage to the fragile reef ecosystem.

The military said work was underway to implement the wide-ranging recommendations made by a Court of Inquiry into the disaster, which published its final report in April. Any disciplinary proceedings against those on board have yet to be determined, Monday's statement said.

The vessel, one of only nine in New Zealand's navy, was the first the country had lost at sea since World War II.
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Police in Western Australia have seized guns and revoked or suspended firearms permits from dozens of owners linked to what investigators describe as sovereign citizen ideologies, or views that reject government authority.

The crackdown on firearm users follows the fatal shooting of two police officers in Victoria in August. The suspect in those killings, 56-year-old Dezi Freeman, remains at large, weeks after he is said to have killed two officers visiting his rural property to serve a search warrant.

In the years before the shooting, Freeman appeared to have embraced so-called sovereign citizen views during court appearances.

Members of such movements use debunked legal theories to reject government authority.

Gun owners had their permits cancelled over their views

Freeman is suspected of killing Detective Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart and wounding a third officer. Following the shooting, investigators in Western Australia used bolstered gun laws enacted in 2024 to identify weapons owners in their state who they said held similar views to Freemans.

The mission of this operation was simple, and that was to validate and verify our intelligence on who may hold sovereign citizen ideologies here in Western Australia, the states Police Commissioner Col Blanch said.

Social media posts and information from other gun owners were used to identify those targeted.

open image in gallery Investigators in Western Australia used bolstered gun laws enacted in 2024 following the shooting in Victoria ( AAP )

Officers visited 70 properties over five days in late September and early October, seizing 135 firearms and suspending or revoking 44 gun licenses, Blanch said.

Investigators relied on a legal provision that allows only someone who meets the standard of a fit and proper person to hold a gun permit.

If you have made it very clear that you do not abide by the laws of Western Australia, set by the Parliament, then there is no way that you can be a fit and proper person, Blanch said.

Raids prompted by shooting deaths of six officers

In explaining the raids, Blanch said that in the past three years, six police officers in four states have been shot dead by members of the public, which he said was unprecedented in Australia.

In 2022, two officers were shot and killed by Christian extremists at a rural property in Queensland state. The three shooters in that case  conspiracy theorists who reportedly hated the police  were shot and killed by officers after a six-hour siege in the region of Wieambilla.

open image in gallery In 2022, two officers were shot and killed by Christian extremists in the region of Wieambilla ( AAP )

A South Australian police officer was shot dead in 2023. Another was killed in Tasmania in June.

Shooting deaths in Australia are otherwise rare. A 1996 massacre in the Tasmanian town of Port Arthur, where a lone gunman killed 35 people, prompted the government to drastically tighten gun laws and made it much more difficult for Australians to acquire firearms.

When Western Australias tighter gun laws were enacted last June, the states government boasted that they were the strongest in the country. The changes included limiting the number of guns someone can own to 10 for most people.

Six weeks later, the search for the Victoria police killer goes on

Meanwhile, in rural Victoria, Australias largest ever tactical police operation continues the search for Freeman. Hundreds of officers have traversed rugged landscapes, squeezed into caves and checked mine shafts, with no confirmed sightings of the fugitive so far.

The August 26 killings happened when 10 armed police officers tried to execute a search warrant at Freemans property in Porepunkah, a town of just over 1,000 people located 320 kilometres (200 miles) northeast of the city of Melbourne.

The suspect, Freeman, fled alone, on foot and heavily armed, into dense surrounding forest. He is experienced in wilderness survival skills, officials said.

open image in gallery Desmond Freeman ( Victoria Police )

Victorias Police Commissioner Mike Bush did not offer a reason for the search of Freemans property at the time, but he told reporters that attending officers included members of a unit that investigates sexual offences and child abuse.

Australian news outlets widely reported that Freeman espoused sovereign citizen beliefs, citing a 2021 video taken in Wangaratta Magistrates Court and published online in which he can be seen attempting unsuccessfully to arrest a magistrate and police officers during a hearing.

In a 2024 finding from Victorias Supreme Court, where Freeman tried to challenge a lengthy suspension of his drivers license, a judge wrote the man had a history of unpleasant encounters with police officers whom he referred to in his submissions to the court as Nazis and terrorist thugs.
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The Victorian Director of Public Prosecutions, who has carriage of the Erin Patterson murder case, has chosen to appeal against what he considers to be an overly lenient sentence.

This comes on the back of news last week that the convicted murderer has instructed her lawyers to institute an appeal against her conviction.

These appeals could extend the life of the high-profile case, or it could all quickly fizzle out. Heres whats happening now and what comes next.

From lunch to a life sentence

In September, Patterson was sentenced on three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder for serving a Beef Wellington filled with poisonous mushrooms to guests at her home in regional Victoria in July 2023. It followed a lengthy, notorious trial.

Victorian Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale ordered a life sentence with a non-parole period of 33 years. Given her age (50) and the time shed already spent in detention, Patterson will not be eligible to apply for parole until 2056, when she is in her 80s.

open image in gallery Patterson will not be eligible to apply for parole until 2056 ( AFP/Getty )

The law typically gives both the prosecution and the defence 28 days after the sentence to lodge any appeal.

This period would have expired on Tuesday, October 7, but both legal teams have sought an extension of a further 28 days under a new process that came into operation (on a trial basis) at the end of last month. This allows for a total of 56 days (28 days plus the extended 28 days) if the initial notice of appeal is filed within the first 28 days.

This is what both teams are now doing, but for very different reasons.

Pattersons appeal

Erin Patterson has a new team of barristers, not only high-profile lawyer Julian McMahon, but also well-known criminal law academic and writer Richard Edney.

Under the Victorian Criminal Procedure Act, any person seeking to appeal a conviction or sentence must first seek leave to appeal. This basically means permission to appeal.

The matter of leave is heard by a single judge of the Supreme Court. This judge will determine whether there is sufficient merit in the appeal grounds (reasons) to warrant convening a full hearing of the Court of Appeal.

open image in gallery The case relates to a meal that was served at her home in regional Victoria in July 2023 ( AAP )

The judge could grant such leave to Patterson to appeal against her conviction on any or all of the three grounds.

The first is where the verdict of the jury is deemed unreasonable and not supported by the evidence.

This was the ground successfully sought in the George Pell appeal verdict, where the High Court determined his convictions were unsound. The High Court decided it was not open to the jury to find Pell guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

A second ground is that the trial judge insufficiently directed the jurys attention to the defence case in the summing up. This is highly unlikely to be raised in the Patterson appeal.

About the authors Rick Sarre is an Emeritus Professor in Law and Criminal Justice at the University of South Australia. Ben Livings is an Associate Professor in Criminal Law and Evidence at the University of South Australia. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

A third ground is where there has been a substantial miscarriage of justice in the course of the trial. Typically this argument is based upon a defence submission that something has been allowed into evidence (by the trial judge) which should not have been introduced, or that something was not allowed into evidence (excluded by the trial judge) which should have been admitted into evidence.

One can strongly speculate that this is where the defences appeal submission will proceed.

The prosecutions appeal

Either party can appeal the sentence. Thus, the prosecution must also get leave to appeal from a judge to advance its case.

In this case, the prosecution is now seeking to do so, and will need to submit that the sentence is obviously  not merely arguably  overly lenient.

As Patterson was given three life sentences (to be served concurrently), the prosecution will argue that a 33-year non-parole period (not unusual in cases of single homicides) was clearly inadequate.

Its highly improbable the defence will cross-appeal the severity of the sentence, given it is at the lower end of what a triple murderer could have expected to receive.

What happens if the appeals are allowed?

If the defence appeal against the conviction is allowed, the court may either acquit Patterson or send the whole case back for a retrial.

In the case of a successful appeal against sentence by the prosecution, the appeal court can either impose a longer non-parole period, or send the matter back to the trial judge for a re-sentencing.

There will be much to observe in the next phase of the criminal justice process. The first hurdle for Patterson is to get leave to appeal. At that hearing, we will know for the first time where the appeal arguments are headed, and indeed, whether anything will further unfold.
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France has lost its fourth prime minister in 12 months, after Sebastien Lecornu handed in his resignation on Monday just hours after announcing his cabinet.

The swift and unexpected departure of Mr Lecornu after 27 days in the role will spell a major deepening of Frances political crisis, piling pressure on President Emmanuel Macron to call a snap parliamentary election.

One cannot be prime minister when the conditions are not met, Mr Lecornu said in a short speech after his resignation, taking aim at the egos of opposition politicians who stuck to their manifestos as members of his own minority coalition focused on their presidential ambitions.

It wouldnt take much for things to work out, the outgoing prime minister said, suggesting opposition leaders were more open to compromise in private discussions than public statements would let on.

But until Frances lawmakers can find common ground on how to tackle the countrys most pressing issues, Mr Macrons position atop French politics looks precarious, and public frustrations will only grow.

open image in gallery Lecornu (pictured on Monday) resigned after just 27 days in the role ( AP )

Why did Lecornu resign?

The decision to resign was unexpected. For weeks, Mr Lecornu had tried to avoid the pitfalls of his predecessors, scrambling to find common ground with an increasingly divided parliament.

Mr Lecornu  the fifth prime minister in two years  was tasked with passing a restrained budget and bringing a sense of stability back to Frances politics. Instead, he leaves the country in chaos.

Gregoire Roos, programme director for Europe and Russia, Chatham House, told The Independent the past 12 hours have triggered one of the deepest and frighteningly chaotic institutional crises in post-war France.

Frances political issues have seen support dwindle for Mr Macrons brand of centrism, while the fringes on the hard left and hard right have gained support.

Mr Macron appointed Mr Lecornu, an ally, in September in the hope that he could shore up support for the minority coalition. Mr Lecornu, in turn, had promised a break from the past, vowing to meet with opposition leaders for talks and assuring he would not try to force through an austerity budget without a vote from parliament.

After weeks of consultations with opposition leaders, Mr Lecornu appointed his ministers on Sunday, and they had been set to hold their first meeting on Monday afternoon.

But the new cabinet line-up had angered opponents and allies alike, who either found it too right-wing or not sufficiently so. This raised questions on how long it could last, with no group holding a majority in a fragmented parliament.

The appointment of familiar faces in the new cabinet did not suggest a commitment to real change to the broad opposition.

Leaving, Mr Lecornu said that political parties had sometimes pretended not to see the change, the profound rupture, not to use article 49.3  the controversial article allowing the government to pass bills without a vote.

Not using the article would have made it harder to push through a legislative agenda as France tries to rein in public spending. Using it would have allowed opposition parties to respond with a no-confidence motion.

open image in gallery Emmanuel Macron (centre) leaves the Pantheon in Paris hours after Lecornus resignation was announced ( AFP/Getty )

What happens now?

Emmanuel Macron has two choices following Mr Lecornus resignation.

He could try again to appoint another prime minister, either from his own base or from his opposition.

Mr Lecornu was seen as an ally. The decision to appoint him did not appeal to Mr Macrons opponents, and a tactical appointment might help win some support for passing legislation.

A successor would still likely have to convince the centre-left Socialist Party to move budget talks along.

The alternative is to dissolve the National Assembly and call another snap parliamentary election. The hard-right National Rally immediately jumped at the news of Mr Lecornus departure suggesting Mr Macron should do just that, anticipating a gain for their party.

Mathilde Panot, of the hard-left France Unbowed, agreed. She wrote on X: Lecornu resigns. 3 Prime Ministers defeated in less than a year. The countdown has begun. Macron must go.

If Mr Macron does name a new premier, questions remain over how the government will pass the unpopular budget.

In the interim, outgoing ministers will still be responsible for the day-to-day running of the state.

Roos, of Chatham House, told The Independent: Faced with a disintegrating coalition, spiralling political chaos and an impending debt crisis  Macron now looks alone, with his back against the wall with few viable options.

The once unthinkable: stepping down before the end of his term and triggering the process for presidential and legislative election, can no longer be ruled out.

He said the decision of Bruno Retailleau, the chairman of the centre-right Les Republicains party, to reconsider joining the government was perhaps the most significant act of the last 12 hours, all but confirming that the brutal battle to succeed President Macron has now started.

open image in gallery French protests erupt in Paris against budget cuts on 18 September ( AP )

Why is Frances economy in crisis?

France, the second-largest economy in Europe after Germany, has one of the highest levels of spending on the continent.

Last year, public spending accounted for 57 per cent of the countrys gross domestic product (GDP), on financing healthcare and welfare including its generous pension and unemployment benefits.

This has led to big deficits and rising national debt, which stands at 3.35trillion (2.9trillion) as of the financial year ending March 2025, which equates to almost 114 per cent of its GDP. The UKs debt is also around 2.9trillion, but representing almost 96 per cent of GDP.
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An appeals court in France is hearing the case of a man sentenced to nine years in prison for his role in a drugging and rape trial that shook France and turned Gisele Pelicot into a global icon.

Husamettin Dogan, 44, was sentenced to nine years in prison last December but denies he intended to rape Pelicot.

He argues that he was deceived by Dominique Pelicot, Gisele Pelicots ex-husband, who drugged his wife and offered her to strangers online before filming the assaults.

The construction worker goes on trial on Monday in Nimes, in southern France, on charges of aggravated rape by administering substances that impair judgment or self-control, an offence carrying up to 20 years in prison.

He remains free pending the verdict. Prosecutors had sought 12 years at his first trial, but the court imposed nine.

open image in gallery A court sketch shows Dominique Pelicot in court on September 11, 2024 ( AFP/Getty )

In the original proceedings, Pelicots ex-husband and 50 other men were convicted of sexually assaulting her between 2011 and 2020 while she was under chemical submission.

Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while sentences for other defendants ranged from three to 15 years imprisonment.

The trial drew international attention after Gisele Pelicot opposed a closed hearing, a demand made by several defendants. The court sided with her. The evidence included stomach-churning homemade videos of the abuse that Dominique Pelicot filmed in the couples home in the small Provence town of Mazan and elsewhere.

I have nothing to be ashamed of. Shame must change sides, she said on the trials opening day. After the verdict, she declared she had never regretted that decision" and thanked supporters who gave her the strength" to return to court each day.

open image in gallery Pelicot has since become a symbol of the fight against sexual violence ( AP )

Pelicot has since become a symbol of the fight against sexual violence and the shocking case spurred a national reckoning over rape culture in France.

Dominique Pelicot admitted his role and did not appeal his 20-year prison sentence, now final. He is expected to testify during the appeals hearing after being implicated by the remaining defendant.

Of the 51 convicted men, 17 initially filed appeals. Most of those were withdrawn, and only Dogan pursued his appeal.

While last years trial stretched over four months, the retrial is scheduled to last no more than four days, with a verdict expected on Thursday.

Civil proceedings in Avignon are due in November to settle damages owed to the main victim and her family, to be paid jointly by the convicted men.
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Greta Thunberg arrived in Greece to a cheering pro-Palestinian crowd on Monday after she and hundreds of other activists captured by Israel on the high seas were deported following an attempt to bring aid to Gaza.

Israel said it expelled 171 activists, including the climate activist, bringing the total deported so far to 341, out of 479 people it detained when it captured the flotilla attempting to break its naval blockade of Gaza.

Greece said 161 of the activists arrived on a flight to Athens on Monday, including Ms Thunberg. They included 27 Greeks, as well as citizens of nearly 20 other countries.

Let me be very clear. There is a genocide going on, Ms Thunberg told the crowd at Athens airport.

Our international systems are betraying Palestinians. They are not even able to prevent the worst war crimes from happening, she said.

open image in gallery ( REUTERS )

What we aimed to do with the Global Sumud Flotilla was to step up when our governments failed to do their legal obligation.

The activists attempted to reach Gaza in scores of vessels to bring aid supplies and draw attention to the plight of Gaza, where most of the 2.2 million residents have been driven from their homes and the United Nations says hunger is rampant.

Israel, which rejects accusations it is carrying out genocide in Gaza and says reports of hunger there are exaggerated, has dismissed the flotilla as a publicity stunt benefitting Hamas. It had previously detained Ms Thunberg at sea in a similar attempt to breach the blockade in June.

open image in gallery ( AP )

Earlier, Swiss and Spanish activists from the flotilla said they were subjected to inhumane conditions during their detention by Israeli forces.

Israels foreign ministry issued a statement, accompanied by photos of Ms Thunberg at the airport, saying all participants legal rights had been upheld and the only violence involved an activist who bit a female medic at Israels Ketziot prison.

Among nine members of the flotilla who arrived home in Switzerland, some alleged sleep deprivation, lack of water and food, as well as being beaten, kicked, and locked in a cage, the group representing them said in a statement.

An Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson rejected the allegations.

Spanish activists also alleged mistreatment on their arrival in Spain late on Sunday after being deported.

They beat us, dragged us along the ground, blindfolded us, tied our hands and feet, put us in cages and insulted us, lawyer Rafael Borrego told reporters at Madrids airport.

Israels foreign ministry has described widespread reports of detainees being mistreated after the flotilla was intercepted as complete lies.
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Three Croatian climbers were killed after an avalanche struck below the Toska mountain peak in Slovenia's Julian Alps on Sunday, rescuers confirmed on Monday.

The trekkers had gone climbing despite prior weather warnings.

The search for the group began on Sunday, with rescuers finding one body before being forced to suspend the operation due to poor conditions.

A team of 45 rescuers, police, and a helicopter resumed the search on Monday, locating the remaining two climbers at a height of 1,800 metres.

"All three were killed," rescue team leader Miha Arh told a news conference attended by Slovenian and Croatian interior ministers, describing the recovery as "dangerous and difficult for the rescuers."

Mr Arh explained that the helicopter could not take off from the ground due to bad weather, instead launching from a nearby mountain peak on Monday to reach the location, which was revealed by a telephone signal from one of the climbers.

The search for the group began on Sunday, with rescuers finding one body before being forced to suspend the operation due to poor conditions ( Getty/iStock )

Wet snow and wind probably caused the avalanche, Mr Arh added.

The three climbers were part of a group of Croats from the Adriatic city of Split.

Snow fell on the mountains across Southeastern Europe last week, following a spell of unusually high temperatures.

Interior Minister Bostjan Poklukar urged people not to go to the mountains.

There has been quite a bit of snow ... and conditions are extremely challenging so I advise against any trip to the mountains, as we do not want to put mountain rescuers and helicopter crews in danger.
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Pope Leo XIV has rolled back some of Pope Franciss more questionable financial reforms and decisions, cancelling a law that had concentrated financial power in the Vatican bank.

Leo completely abrogated the 2022 law that had decreed that management of the Holy Sees assets was the exclusive responsibility of the Institute of Religious Works, or IOR.

The new law says the Holy See generally does use the IOR, but can turn to non-Vatican banks in other countries if the Vaticans investment committee deems it more efficient or convenient to do so.

The law was the clearest sign yet that Leo is starting to correct some of Franciss more problematic decisions and is recalibrating the powers in the Vatican, after Francis tended to lean heavily on the advice of the IOR.

open image in gallery Leo completely abrogated the 2022 law ( AP )

The 2022 law had taken many in the Vatican by surprise since it appeared to contradict the Holy See's founding constitution, according to which the patrimony office APSA is responsible for administering the Vaticans real estate and financial holdings.

It was the second significant move that Leo has taken in as many weeks to rejigger some of Francis decisions. On September 27, Leo removed a top administrator in the Secretariat of State and sent him to Paris to serve as ambassador to UNESCO.

Monsignor Roberto Campisi had been close to Francis, such that the late pope made him president of a new fundraising commission that was formed to drum up donations for the cash-strapped Holy See.

open image in gallery Francis tended to lean heavily on the advice of the IOR ( AFP via Getty )

The commissions statutes and members were announced while Francis was in the hospital, on February 26, and included only Italians with no professional fundraising experience.

The lack of qualified fundraisers and the absence of any Americans immediately discredited the commission, since Americans are among the biggest donors to the Holy See, but also demand levels of transparency and accountability that the Vatican hasnt always followed.

The new law was announced on the same day that Leo met with the Knights of Columbus, the influential U.S. Catholic charitable organisation that is a major donor to the Holy See.

In his remarks, Leo thanked the knights for their latest charitable project: the restoration of Berninis baldacchino canopy over the altar of St. Peters Basilica.
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Frances new prime minister resigned on Monday after less than one month in the role.

Sebastien Lecornu, 39, met with president Emmanuel Macron, who accepted his resignation, the French presidency said in a statement.

Speaking on the steps of the Hotel de Matignon on Monday, he said: You cannot be prime minister when the conditions are not met.

Mr Lecornus resignation came just a day after naming his ministers, and after only 27 days in the role. His resignation makes it the shortest-lived government of the Fifth Republic.

Mr Lecornu, a former defence minister, was due to deliver his general policy statement to the National Assembly on Tuesday.

He was appointed prime minister on 9 September, a day after a vote of confidence toppled Francois Bayrou as head of the government.

open image in gallery Lecornu handed in his resignation in the early hours of Monday morning, accepted by close ally Macron ( Pool/AFP via Getty )

Mr Lecornu, the seventh prime minister of Mr Macrons presidency, announced only on Sunday that he had appointed his ministers and was set to hold their first meeting on Monday afternoon.

Political opponents on the left and right had condemned Mr Lecornus appointments. But his resignation on Monday was unexpected and threatens to add to Frances burgeoning political crisis.

The conditions were no longer met for me to be able to exercise my functions and allow the government to go before the National Assembly tomorrow, the outgoing prime minister said on Monday.

He continued that these political parties sometimes pretended not to see the change, the profound rupture, not to use article 49.3. There was no longer any pretext for parliamentarians to refuse to do their job.

Article 49.3 gives the government the power to pass bills without a vote from parliament.

Days prior, Mr Lecornu had made a significant concession by promising opposition parties that he would not look to force through legislation without a vote.

He branded this a break from the past in an effort to shore up support for a divisive 2026 spending plan, expected to focus on cutting public spending.

open image in gallery Speaking outside the Hotel de Matignon on Monday, Lecornu said: You cannot be prime minister when the conditions are not met ( AP )

Mr Macron had named Mr Lecornu  a close ally  as prime minister last month in an effort to defuse political gridlock without diverging too far from his centrist base.

Mr Lecornu was immediately tasked with garnering approval to pass austerity measures and rein in spiralling public spending.

For weeks, he had been consulting with political allies and opponents in an effort to win support for the budget. But French parliament remains divided on the issue.

The government of former prime minister Michel Barnier collapsed last year after he tried to invoke Article 49.3 to force through a budget. Mr Lecornu had hoped diplomacy  and the promise not to force through measures again  would sustain his own government.

Moments after Mr Lecornus resignation was announced, National Rally president Jordan Bardella called on Mr Macron to dissolve the National Assembly.

There can be no restored stability without a return to the polls and without the dissolution of the National Assembly, the leader of the right-wing populist party wrote on X (Twitter).

open image in gallery Macron (right) named his ally, Lecornu (left), as prime minister last month despite growing presslre from the hard Left and hard right to shift policy ( AFP/Getty )

Marine Le Pen likewise called to dissolve the National Assembly, describing the resignation as a wise move.

Mathilde Panot, president of the La France Insoumise (LFI) group, wrote on X: Lecornu resigns. 3 Prime Ministers defeated in less than a year. The countdown has begun. Macron must go.

The LFI called on the National Assembly to review Mr Macrons impeachment motion, de facto leader Jean-Luc Melenchon said on Monday.

It was unclear how Mr Macron would proceed. He had previously ruled out resigning before his presidency ends in 2027.

Mr Lecornu had spent weeks trying to form a functioning government against a backdrop of stretched public finances and political instability as the hard left and hard right continue to gain ground.

open image in gallery France has been rocked by a series of anti-government and anti-austerity protests in recent weeks ( Reuters )

His choice of ministers had also attracted criticism from across the political spectrum, particularly his decision to bring back former finance minister Bruno Le Maire to serve at the defence ministry.

Other key positions remained largely unchanged from the previous cabinet, with conservative Bruno Retailleau staying on as interior minister, in charge of policing and internal security, Jean-Noel Barrot remaining as foreign minister, and Gerald Darmanin keeping the justice ministry.

Seeking consensus at the deeply fractured National Assembly, Mr Lecornu had announced that he would not employ a special constitutional power his predecessors used to force a budget through parliament without a vote and would instead seek a compromise with lawmakers from the left and the right.

French politics have been embroiled in instability since July 2024, when a snap election produced a hung parliament.

open image in gallery Strikes and protests against the government and cost-cutting measures have added to political turmoil in France ( AP )

Prime ministers have since struggled to gain the support to pass bills. Mr Bayrous government was ousted last month after parliament rejected his austerity bill to cut back on spiralling public spending.

Previous governments had forced through annual budgets without consulting parliament. Mr Lecornu had promised last week that lawmakers would be able to vote on the bill.

The Paris Stock Exchange fell by nearly 2 per cent on Monday around 8.00am GMT, following the announcement of Mr Lecornus resignation.
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One week into the Gaza ceasefire and there is still not enough aid going into the north of the war-torn enclave, with infectious diseases spiralling out of control, humanitarian organisations have warned.

Around 560 metric tons of food have entered the Gaza Strip per day since the US-brokered ceasefire came into effect last Friday, but levels in the first week have been described as a trickle  not the flood needed. UN humanitarian affairs chief Tom Fletcher has said thousands of aid vehicles would have to enter weekly to tackle widespread malnutrition, homelessness and a collapse of infrastructure.

Aid groups now face growing uncertainty over crossing closures and administrative challenges as queues of trucks amass at the southern border. They have also not been allowed to bring food and medicine in through the major Rafah crossing, which has largely remained closed since the conflict erupted in 2023.

Israel threatened to keep the crossing shut and reduce aid this week, accusing Hamas of returning the bodies of hostages too slowly. On the first day of the ceasefire, more than 500 aid trucks entered Gaza, Israel said. But in a major setback, Israels military aid agency COGAT this week said it would halve the number allowed in from 600 daily to 300.

open image in gallery Trucks carrying aid line up at the Rafah crossing amid uncertainty about deliveries into Gaza ( Reuters )

With Gazas civilian population still facing hunger, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned that they were working in a narrow window of opportunity to scale up deliveries as others said millions of pounds worth of aid was sitting in warehouses waiting to go in.

The issue is particularly impacting northern Gaza, where aid convoys are struggling to reach famine-hit areas. Around 950 trucks entered south and central Gaza on Thursday via the Kerem Shalom and Kissufim crossings with Israel, the UNs humanitarian coordination agency said, citing figures from Israels military aid agency COGAT presented to mediators.

But the WFP said it had not begun distributions in Gaza City, pointing to the continued closure of two border crossings, Zikim and Erez, with Israel in the north of the enclave where the humanitarian debacle is most acute.

Oxfam said on Friday it has more than $2.5m worth of lifesaving aid sitting in warehouses outside Gaza and ready to distribute.

open image in gallery Gaza has been devastated by two years of war, but aid is still struggling to get in despite a fragile ceasefire ( AP )

Bushra Khalidi, Oxfams policy lead in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Gaza, said: Right now, a trickle of aid is entering Gaza, when what is needed is a flood. The ceasefire promised access to aid organisations, yet many international NGOs with decades of experience remain blocked from entering and doing their jobs.

Multiple aid groups say that bureaucracy is proving an obstacle in delivering the aid to where it is most needed.

In March, Israel announced a registration process for all humanitarian organisations working in the Palestinian territories. Any groups seen to be delegitimising Israel, or employing someone who has called for a boycott of Israel in the last seven years, could lose their authorisation to operate.

Milena Murr, spokesperson for aid group Mercy Corps, told The Independent it was exploring every possible avenue to scale up their response.

However, we continue to face bureaucratic challenges linked to the interim period of the re-registration process, which has not been implemented as initially envisioned, she said. While these administrative barriers persist, our teams continue to focus on service delivery and will be prepared to move lifesaving assistance into Gaza and distribute it the moment access is granted.

open image in gallery Food prices have shot up as the agreement struck last week shows signs of failing ( AP )

Israeli officials said Israel decided to slow aid and delay plans to reopen the border with Egypt because Hamas had been too slow to turn over the remains of dead hostages  an issue that has placed enormous strain on the ceasefire this week.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel will not compromise and demanded that Hamas fulfil the requirements laid out in the ceasefire deal about the return of hostages bodies.

Food prices in Gaza have meanwhile shot up amid fears the ceasefire will not hold, after coming down last week in anticipation of an armistice.

But food is not the only concern. With medical centres woefully under-supplied, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that infectious diseases in the enclave were spiralling out of control.

Hanan Balkhy, regional director for the UNs health body, told the AFP news agency that there was a mammoth amount of work to do to tackle surging health conditions including meningitis and respiratory illnesses.

open image in gallery Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced from their homes by the war ( AP )

Balkhy stressed the urgent need for fuel, food, medical equipment, medications, medics and doctors in Gaza, with the enclaves health system decimated by two years of bombardment. Only 13 of 36 hospitals are even partially functioning despite the cessation of hostilities.

With outbreaks of violence in Gaza in the last week there are fears that there may only be a limited time to deliver the support needed before the ceasefire fails.

Abeer Etefa, spokesperson for the WFP, said: The ceasefire has opened a narrow window of opportunity, and WFP is moving very quickly and swiftly to scale up food assistance.

The WFP was able to get some 560 tons of food per day on average into Gaza, she said on Friday, but some areas were still unreachable. The UN has a further 190,000 metric tons of aid waiting and ready to go in.

Etefa said access to the north, including Gaza City, was extremely challenging, and that convoys were struggling to navigate damaged or blocked roads from the south.

open image in gallery Palestinians are still awaiting news that aid groups can bring food and essentials through the Rafah crossing ( AP )

Then there is the ongoing issue of the Rafah crossing, which had been due to reopen but has yet to do so. COGAT said this was being coordinated between Israel and Egypt in accordance with the ceasefire deal. But a date has still not been set and even when it reopens it will only allow for the movement of people across the border, not aid.

It should be emphasised that humanitarian aid will not pass through the Rafah Crossing, a COGAT spokesperson said. This was never agreed upon at any stage. Humanitarian aid continues to enter the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom Crossing and additional crossings following Israeli security inspection, in full compliance with the signed agreement.

The IDF, through COGAT, will continue to uphold its commitment to the agreement in accordance with the directives of the political echelon.
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Some of the activists detained while trying to reach Gaza by sea have returned to their home countries to describe abuse and humiliation at the hands of Israeli guards.

Some 450 activists were arrested as Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, a fleet of 42 boats seeking to break Israels naval blockade of Gaza and deliver a symbolic amount of aid to the famine-stricken territory.

Those detained between Wednesday and Friday were brought to Israel, where many remain in prison.

Italian journalist Saverio Tommasi said Israeli soldiers withheld medicines and treated prisoners like monkeys.

This is called torture. Its called torture, a denial of human rights, even the most basic ones, he said on his return at Romes Fiumicino Airport late Saturday.

open image in gallery Israeli navy soldiers sail one of the Gaza-bound civilian flotilla Sumud's boats into the port of Ashdod, Israel ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

They took away everyones medicine: people with heart disease, asthma, even an 86-year-old man they took away his inhaler.

Among those detained were Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandelas grandson Mandla Mandela and several European lawmakers.

Tommasi said Thunberg was singled out by Israeli forces after being arrested.

We also saw Greta Thunberg at the port, in that case with her arms tied and an Israeli flag next to her, just a mockery, he said.

Lets say the mockery was part of the verbal and psychological violence they always carried out, in order to demean, ridicule and laugh in situations where there is nothing to laugh about.

open image in gallery Italian journalist, Lorenzo DAgostino, said detainees were repeatedly woken during the two nights he spent behind bars. They were also intimidated with dogs and by soldiers pointing the laser sights of their guns at prisoners to scare us. ( REUTERS )

The interception of the flotilla came as U.S. President Donald Trump was appearing to be brokering a fresh peace initiative in Gaza, including a proposed ceasefire, as he ordered Israel to stop bombing Gaza.

Another Italian journalist, Lorenzo DAgostino, said detainees were repeatedly woken during the two nights he spent behind bars. They were also intimidated with dogs and by soldiers pointing the laser sights of their guns at prisoners to scare us.

open image in gallery ORIENTE MEDIO-GAZA-FLOTILLA ( AP )

Overall, I felt I was being held by a terrorist organization, he said after landing at Istanbul Airport, where 137 activists from 13 countries arrived from Israel on Saturday.

DAgostino added that his belongings and money had been stolen by the Israelis.

Activist Paolo De Montis described being crammed into a prison van for hours with his hands secured by zip ties.

Constant stress and humiliation, he said. You werent allowed to look them in the face, always had to keep your head down and when I did look up, a man  came and shook me and slapped me on the back of the head.

open image in gallery Former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau speaks with media as she arrives at the airport in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, after being arrested on the Global Sumud Flotilla and subsequently released by the Israeli authorities ( AP )

In a statement, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said he was proud of the way staff behaved at Ketziot prison, a facility in the Negev desert.

I was proud that we treat the flotilla activists as supporters of terrorism. Anyone who supports terrorism is a terrorist and deserves the conditions of terrorists, he said.

If any of them thought they would come here and receive a red carpet and trumpets  they were mistaken. They should get a good feel for the conditions in Ketziot prison and think twice before they approach Israel again.

Israels Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, said the claims of mistreatment were brazen lies.

In a statement on social media, the ministry said all detainees legal rights had been fully upheld, adding that Thunberg had not complained about the ludicrous and baseless allegations  because they never occurred.

The arrests led to criticism from several governments including Turkey, Colombia and Pakistan. Greece, which had 27 of its nationals in Israeli custody, issued a strong written protest to Israel over the unacceptable and inappropriate behavior of an Israeli minister.

The complaint is thought to refer to footage of Ben-Gvir upbraiding the activists for supporting terrorism and mocking their aid initiative after they were brought ashore at the southern port of Ashdod on Friday.

The Swedish Foreign Ministry said it had acted intensively to ensure that the detained Swedes rights are observed.

The interception of the flotilla also led to large-scale demonstrations in cities across the world.
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Hamas is in a muddle. Should it stay or should it go? Can its leadership accept disarmament and exile to save Gaza from further Israeli bombardment, release its remaining hostages, and leave the future enclave to a foreign occupation  in the name of peace?

The Islamic Resistance Movement, as Hamas is strictly known, knows what it is when its fighting. It is a mess when it is not at war.

And now it may be close to irrelevant. For a militant movement that has built its worldview on martyrdom and has been prepared to provoke staggering violence from Israel, Hamas knows that its irrelevance is now existential.

From its own perspective, the atrocities of October 7 2023 when it killed 1,139 people, including 36 children, 71 foreigners and 373 members of the Israeli security forces, have had the result of provoking a local clash of civilisations.

In the logic of the Islamic Resistance, Israels brutal reaction to the murders and capture of 250 hostages has been so unconscionable that Israel is now facing more international pressure and condemnation than it has since the Seventies and Eighties, when it was the subject of global opprobrium and some sanctions. That is success.

The cost to Palestinians, some 67,000 killed, according to local officials  more than half of them women and children  has perhaps now become too much even for Hamas to bear. Its negotiators in Qatar were reported to have accepted several ceasefire deals that Benjamin Netanyahus government rejected over recent months.

Hamas chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, was one of the targets of Israels bombing raids against his Qatari offices. Still, he has headed to Egypt this week for talks with US mediators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, and Israeli negotiators, who include spy chiefs from Mossad and Shin Bet (who were responsible for targeting him).

open image in gallery Hamas militants secure an area before handing over an Israeli hostage in February ( AFP/Getty )

Hamas has indicated that it wants a ceasefire in return for releasing the remaining Israeli hostages  about 20 still alive and 28 bodies. The US proposals, endorsed by Israel but merely welcomed by many others in the region as an effort to achieve peace, require that Hamas disband, disarm, and disappear.

Hamas could do that. Its own charter is a sufficient muddle to allow for compromise (aside from the hope for personal survival among its less fanatical members).

Article 20 of its 1988 Charter says: Without compromising its rejection of the Zionist entity [Israel] and without relinquishing any Palestinian rights, Hamas considers the establishment of a fully sovereign and independent Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital along the lines of the 4th of June 1967, with the return of the refugees and the displaced to their homes from which they were expelled, to be a formula of national consensus.

This means that Hamas, reluctantly, accepts that Israel exists as such and that a two-state solution is in the interests of Palestinians  because the movement understands most Palestinians would accept such a scenario.

Trumps proposals require both sides to reignite their efforts to pursue a lasting peace through talks intended to establish a viable Palestinian, as well as a safe Israeli, state.

Article 16 of the same charter is intended to snuff out allegations that Hamas is an antisemitic organisation: Hamas affirms that its conflict is with the Zionist project, not with the Jews because of their religion. Hamas does not wage a struggle against the Jews because they are Jewish, but wages a struggle against the Zionists who occupy Palestine.

So, Hamas doesnt actually have to fight on.

But confusingly, the first part of article 20 appears to demand the destruction of the state of Israel as such: Hamas believes that no part of the land of Palestine shall be compromised or conceded, irrespective of the causes, the circumstances and the pressures and no matter how long the occupation lasts. Hamas rejects any alternative to the full and complete liberation of Palestine, from the [Jordan] river to the [Mediterranean] sea.

So Hamas maybe does have to carry on its campaigns until it controls all of what is now both Palestinian and Israeli territory.

These tensions are likely to be graphic on the ground. Hamas leadership in Gaza has a very different view of the war from those who enjoy the comforts of exile already.

open image in gallery Khalil al-Hayya, chief negotiator for Hamas in Qatar ( AP )

They will also be aware that, as an organisation that is fundamentally all about liberating Palestinian lands from what it considers a Zionist entity, Hamas can either lead grassroots militancy or it can watch from the sidelines.

There are dozens of groups of men and women in Gaza and on the West Bank for whom peace with Israel can only come when they, at least, have forced a viable state of Palestine into existence.

Many take arms, training, and money from Hamas and its Iranian backers. But they are already outside of its command structures. They are a wave that Hamas can ride or drown in its turbulence.

Israels mass killings, its use of starvation as a tactic of war, and its own claims to the same land from the river to the sea, which is part of Netanyahus Likud Partys charter too, has driven many young people to consider violence the only viable option in a hopeless existence.

Those feelings will deepen and fire more violence unless they can see a near prospect of real emancipation because of a return to genuine peace talks and the close vision of a Palestinian state.

Hamas has always used violence to destroy that hope  and blow up diplomatic advances at the same time.

Hamas has a record of causing chaos and surfing its waves. It is unlikely to give that up  and Israel is just as unlikely to offer the hope to Palestinians to end the occupation that gave rise to the Islamic Resistance Movement in the first place.
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Tal Shoham, who was abducted by Hamas militants along with his family during the October 7, 2023 attack, says the Kibbutz Be'eri in southern Israel where he was kidnapped feels like a massive graveyard pervaded by the horror of that day's events.

Despite Donald Trumps pressure on Israel and Hamas to agree a peace deal as part of his plan to end the Gaza war, Shoham is highly pessimistic about the future and nostalgic for life before the attack.

Trumps peace plan has fuelled hopes across the region that the war may soon be over, as the anniversary of the brutal onslaught by Hamas that started the conflict approaches.

"All this neighbourhood that once was so peaceful and beautiful, you know, all destroyed. It's like the evil things that they did here, that the terrorists did here, is like covering everything here," Shoham said.

Gunmen grabbed Shoham, his wife and their two children

Shoham spent 505 days in captivity in Gaza, a period he recalls for the cruelty of his Hamas captors and the resilience of fellow Israeli hostages still being held by the Palestinian militants. He was released during a truce in February this year.

open image in gallery Tal Shoham, a former hostage who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023, with his wife and two children ( REUTERS )

He and his wife Adi and their two children were grabbed by Hamas gunmen, during the bloodiest single day for Jews since the Holocaust.

Hamas-led militants overwhelmed border defences with a surprise assault, and dragged him and 250 other hostages back into Gaza in violence that shattered Israel's image as an invincible military power.

The assault, in which about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were also killed according to Israeli tallies, triggered a massive military retaliation that has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to health authorities there.

Anxiety despite Israels military victories

Shoham can see little prospect of long-term peace even after Israel mounted devastating attacks on Iran's leadership and its regional allies Hamas, Lebanon's Hezbollah, Yemen's Houthis and armed groups in Syria.

During his ordeal, Shoham concluded that anti-Israeli feelings run so deep that there is no chance for co-existence.

"After I saw the magnitude of hatred that they grew up upon and they are growing their children upon, it's really clear that at least in our generation it won't be possible," he said.

open image in gallery Tal Shoham looks at the damage to the home of his in-laws in Kibbutz Beeri. ( REUTERS )

Shoham spent the first eight months of his captivity above ground. But in June last year he and fellow hostages Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Evyatar David were taken into the street below in disguise.

Their guards escorted them for about 15 minutes before putting blindfolds on them and taking them into a tunnel, eventually bringing them to a tiny dark chamber where another hostage - Omer Wenkert - was already being held.

"We were going to stay in the tunnel 20 or 30 meters underground, in this tomb, for eternity," he said, recalling his feelings at the prospect. Their cell was a narrow stretch of tunnel with concrete walls, a sandy floor, an iron door blocking the entrance, four mattresses on the ground and a hole to use as a toilet. The air was thick and they struggled to breathe.

"We were treated like animals. I mean, even animals won't be kept in such inhumane conditions, but this is the way they treated us," he said.

Ex-hostage remembers beatings, psychological torture

Their guards sometimes beat them. At other times they tormented them by telling the four men that they had to choose which of them would be imminently shot.

Gilboa-Dalal and David remain hostages in Gaza. Images Hamas released of David in August, emaciated in his underground cell, caused widespread shock in Israel and abroad.

"And I'm really afraid for their lives. You know, there are 20 living hostages still in Gaza in the hands of those animals," Shoham said.

open image in gallery Family and friends attend a memorial for Tal Eilon, who was killed in the deadly October 7 attack ( REUTERS )

Tal was the first to be taken by militants.

He was dragged through the window of a safe room, led through the Kibbutz and thrown into the trunk of a car that took him to Hamas-run Gaza.

It was only after more than a month in captivity that he learned his wife and children had survived the attack but were also kidnapped, along with his mother-in-law, his wife's aunt and her daughter. His father-in-law, Avshalom, was murdered.

Shohams wife and children were released in the first deal with Hamas in late 2023. He was freed in the second and last deal in February 2025.

Shohams son asked him if everyone was going to die

Standing in the charred safe room from which he was kidnapped, Shoham recalled how his son, 8 at the time, asked if everybody was going to die. Shoham was focused on survival.

A Hamas commander opened fire on a bullet-proof window with his AK-47 assault rifle.

open image in gallery Protesters demanding the immediate release of all hostages who were kidnapped during October 7. ( REUTERS )

"Now, I knew that he cannot hurt me yet, but after a few bullets he will reach a hole in the window and then we will need to surrender because it's game over for us," he said.

"He would be able to throw grenades inside and to put his Kalashnikov in this hole and just shoot us all."

As Hamas militants walked him along a street he saw two bodies of people who were executed, shot in the head, people he recognised.

Shoham was thrown into the trunk of a car and taken to Gaza.
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Syria has conducted its first parliamentary elections on Sunday, marking a significant step in the nations post-conflict transition almost a year after a rebel-led offensive ousted longtime autocratic leader Bashar al-Assad.

The newly established Peoples Assembly will be tasked with the crucial responsibility of formulating a new electoral law and constitution, guiding the country through its political evolution following more than a decade of devastating civil war.

Security forces were deployed extensively around polling stations nationwide. The voting process itself involved electoral college members filling out ballots with lists of names, which were then sealed and publicly counted before candidates, journalists, and observers from the Syrian bar association.

Crucially, these elections bypassed a direct popular vote. Two-thirds of the 210-member assembly will be elected via province-based electoral colleges, with seats allocated by population. The remaining one-third will be directly appointed by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. This new parliament is set to serve a 30-month term, preparing for future polls.

In theory, 7,000 electoral college members across 60 districts are eligible to vote for 140 seats, but elections were postponed indefinitely in Sweida province and in areas controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces due to tensions between the local authorities and Damascus.

open image in gallery Syrias interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa visits a polling station in Damascus, where members of Syrian local committees have been casting their votes ( AFP via Getty )

There are many pending laws that need to be voted on so that we move forward with the process of building and prosperity, Mr Sharaa said in a speech after he was briefed on the election process at the National Library Centre, where the polling took place in Damascus.

Building Syria is a collective mission, and all Syrians must contribute to it, Mr Sharaa added.

Damascus candidates and voters weigh responsibility in first transitional election

Critics argue the elections fall short of full democracy, noting that the electoral college system may favour well-connected candidates, consolidating power within the interim government. Initial results Sunday evening showed few women and minorities winning seats. But for others, the election was a sign of progress.

In Damascus, 490 candidates competed for 10 seats, with 500 voters in the electoral college.

When approached by election officials to join the electoral college, Lina Daaboul, a doctor in Damascus, said she initially refused, fearing the responsibility and the ugly image of past assemblies. But after learning shed only be part of the voting body, she agreed, calling it a national duty.

She took her role seriously.

I studied the profiles of many candidates and attended meetings. I didnt stop there. I called people to ask about the candidates, their histories and what others thought of them, she said.

open image in gallery Sharaa stands by as members of Syrian local committees cast their votes ( AFP via Getty )

On election day, she said, This is the first time Ive ever voted in my life. Im happy, and I dont mind standing in line for a long time.

Participants highlight greater freedom compared with elections under Assad

The interim authorities say a popular vote is impossible now due to the displacement of citizens during the countrys civil war and the loss of documents.

Lara Eezouki, a member of the national elections committee in Damascus, noted that the new assembly includes all sects and groups and said its the first time in Syrias history that the ballot box truly rules  when the results are not prearranged.

Comparing elections under Assad to those today, Rim Yajizi, a lawyer, member of Damascuss electoral body and candidate for the Peoples Assembly, said, Its enough to mention the freedom factor, the electoral statements and the debates we watched and participated in. We had never seen anything like it before.

open image in gallery Kurdish health worker Dr Rankin Abdow poses for a photo after winning a seat for the Afrin region in Syria's parliamentary election ( AP )

At Al-Nasr Amphitheatre in Aleppo, 220 candidates competed for 14 seats, with 700 voters in the electoral college.

This is the first time in our lives weve participated in a democratic electoral process without outside pressure, said Ibrahim Halabi, 33, from Aleppo, a former soldier under Assads rule who defected in 2012 after mass anti-government protests met by a brutal crackdown spiralled into civil war in 2011.

Sunni candidates win in Latakia amid lingering tensions

In Latakia city, a former Assad stronghold and home to a large Alawite community, three Sunni candidates won the vote. In March 2025, sectarian revenge attacks killed hundreds of Alawite civilians along Syrias Mediterranean coast in Latakia and Tartus provinces after armed groups affiliated with Assad attacked security forces of the new government.

All those who said that the situation in Latakia was good (before) are wrong, said Rola Daya, one of the newly elected legislators. Of course, internal tensions remain  it will take time to resolve. Transitional justice is needed so we can move toward civil peace.

open image in gallery People play racketball at a public beach in Latakia, Syria ( AP )

Daya said she played a logistical role in the Syrian uprising and remained in Syria until her identity was discovered, prompting her to flee.

She said she felt the weight of responsibility grow even larger after she won.

We need to work to devise legislation and laws that serve our society and our people, she said.

Abou AlJoud reported from Beirut. Associated Press reporters Abby Sewell in Latakia and Omar Albam in Aleppo contributed
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Hamas and Israel will begin discussions on a long-term peace deal this week, after agreeing in principle to Donald Trumps 20-point plan for war-torn Gaza.

Egypt is hosting negotiations between both sides beginning on Monday, after the US president presented the peace plan alongside Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Hamas responded with a carefully-worded statement which agreed to the outline of the deal but suggested it wanted to negotiate on certain topics.

Major sticking points remain in their vision of peace - and Trump has warned Hamas that it will face complete obliteration if they do not accept.

The Independent takes a look at the issues which could bring the deal to collapse.

open image in gallery Ilana Gritsevsky (R), former Israeli hostage and girlfriend of current hostage Matan Zangauker, speak during a protest at "Hostages' Square" in Tel Aviv ( AFP via Getty Images )

Hostage releases

The release of the remaining Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 terror attack two years ago will be a central component of any finalised deal.

Within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting this agreement, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned, reads Trumps 20-point plan. There are believed to be 48 hostages remaining in Gaza, with 20 still alive.

At face value, it appears to be the element of the deal where Hamas seems to be most ready to comply with Trumps initiative.

But the hostages are the only remaining bargaining chip for Hamas, so it may seek to impose strict conditions on their full release - and in its response hinted that it was seeking certain conditions.

The movement announces its agreement to release all Israeli prisoners, both living and dead, according to the exchange formula contained in President Trumps proposal, provided the field conditions for the exchange are met, Hamas said in its response.

The statement leaveof questions open, such as what the field conditions are.

open image in gallery Hamas has previously said it will not lay down its arms ( AFP/Getty )

Disarmament

Hamas disarmament is likely to be one of the most stubborn sticking points.

The move has been demanded by Israel and its western allies as a non-negotiable step after Israels military campaign ends, and for any future two-state solution.

Once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful coexistence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty, reads Trumps plan. Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries.

The plan goes on to state that all military infrastructure will be destroyed, including Hamas underground tunnels and weapon production facilities, as part of a process of demilitarisation.

But Hamas has previously refused to lay down its arms, and in its written response it made no specific mention of disarmament.

Instead, it said issues regarding the future of the Gaza strip will be discussed within a comprehensive Palestinian national framework.

Governance of Gaza

Hamas had previously agreed to proposals by the West that it hand over governance of Gaza to a group of technocrats.

Trumps plan calls for a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee which would be made up of qualified Palestinians and international experts.

This would be overseen by the Board of Peace, chaired by Trump himself, and with potential involvement by former UK prime minister Sir Tony Blair. Governance would eventually be handed over the Palestinian Authority, which currently governs less than half of the occupied West Bank.

open image in gallery Trumps plan promises a rebuild of Gaza ( REUTERS )

The movement also renews its agreement to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independents (technocrats), based on Palestinian national consensus and Arab and Islamic support, Hamas said.

But Netanyahu could face hefty opposition from the far-right members of his coalition government, who are pushing for Israel to permanently occupy Gaza and begin rebuilding Jewish settlements.

And as it turned to Gazas future, Hamas said in its response that it will be part of it and will contribute to it with full responsibility - something which may well be a red line for Trump and Israel.
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A growing number of women are choosing solo holidays, leaving loved ones behind to "explore on their own terms," group tour operators report.

Holiday companies note a significant surge in demand from individuals  particularly women  travelling without family or friends, driven by a desire not to wait for "dates or holiday dreams" to align.

Popular destinations for these independent travellers range from Spain and Portugal to far-flung locales such as Egypt, India, and Uzbekistan.

Tour operator Jules Verne reveals solo travellers now comprise 46 per cent of its 2024 bookings, a rise from 40 per cent in 2023.

Women represent nearly seven out of 10 (69 per cent) of those customers.

open image in gallery Women are leaving their families at home for solo adventures ( Getty )

Jules Verne managing director Debbie ONeill insisted peoples reason for booking on their own isnt always about being alone but choosing how you want to experience the world.

Speaking on the eve of UK travel trade organisation Abtas annual convention in Majorca, Spain, she said: Many of our travellers have families, partners and full social lives  but they also value the freedom to explore on their own terms.

Joining a small group tour gives them the best of both worlds: the joy of shared moments and the space to follow their own curiosity.

Ms ONeill added that for some people, going on holiday without anyone they know is a quiet act of courage as it represents an opportunity to embrace adventure and discover something new within themselves.

Another group tour operator, Explore Worldwide, said it has also seen a marked uptick in holidaymakers setting off on their own, with a 22 per cent spike in such bookings for trips departing this year compared with the same point in 2023.

It said September and October are the most popular departure months for people holidaying without loved ones, as it enables them to take advantage of lower prices outside the peak summer months.

Explore Worldwide managing director Michael Edwards said: Solo travel is a definite, growing trend. Two-thirds of people in an average group are travelling solo.

People are less inclined to wait for friends or families to have aligned dates or holiday dreams, and more inclined to seize the day and just go for it.

Explore Worldwides research found many solo travellers think their holidays result in them being more confident, feeling empowered and rediscovering a love for travel.

Travel agency Barrhead Travel said one-person bookings for river cruises and touring/adventure holidays are up 31 per cent and 20 per cent respectively this year compared with 2024.

Managing director Nicki Tempest-Mitchell claimed there is a common misconception that solo travel is only for singles.

She said: Its actually quite common to see people taking a trip for themselves without their partners or families because perhaps its something that theyve always wanted to do.

Women in particular are a growing market for solo travel. Some of the drivers of this trend are the increase in options for group touring with like-minded individuals, as well as the world becoming more accessible.

Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said its members have recorded a double-digit increase in solo bookings in 2025 compared with last year.

Chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said told the PA news agency: We are seeing more and more people who are comfortable in the decision to travel in a group but on their own, not with families.

Thats certainly seen an increase in this last 12 months. There are more products coming out for that market.
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Tourists planning to hike popular trails at Tenerifes Teide National Park will face fees of up to 22, as a new eco-tax is set to be introduced by 2026.

The most visited natural site in the Canary Islands, Teide National Park welcomes more than four million visitors each year, largely due to the Teide-Pico Viejo stratovolcano that, at 3,718m, is the highest peak in Spanish territory.

Tourists in Tenerife often hike up and around this giant natural landmark, home to unique flora and fauna and small creatures like the Tenerife lizard.

However, local authorities are now seeking to protect and preserve this biodiversity further with a new set of rules and regulations for the park, all the while hoping to enhance the tourist experience and visitor safety.

Among these measures is a Tenerife Council-approved eco-tax of up to 25 (21.75) for certain trails in El Teide National Park, including Trail 10 Telesforo Bravo and the routes leading to the Teide-Pico Viejo stratovolcano or Trail 7 Montana Blanca-Rambleta.

In return for the fee, the council said a provision of information and interpretation services about the trails natural environment will be offered.

Fees will vary depending on the visitors residence, the number of days the visit takes place, the visitors age and the type of tour companions they choose, with the cap reaching up to 25.

Tourists who are not from the Canary Islands hiking on Trail 10 will see rates start at 15 (13) for an unguided visit, or 10 (8.70) if they hike with a guide.

Tourists hiking on Trail 7 will pay 6 (5.20) on weekdays, and 10 (8.70) on weekends and holidays.

Tenerife residents will not need to pay to visit the trails, while those who live elsewhere in the Canary Islands can use the trails for reduced fees.

The parks board of trustees and the Canary Islands Ecological Ministry said they also agreed upon the fees in order to help the conservation of the natural area and reinforce the safety of visitors.

With these measures, we seek a balance between visitor enjoyment and the conservation of a fragile and unique ecosystem, said Rosa Davila, president of the Tenerife Island Council.

This is a brave decision and marks the first of many guidelines that will protect our National Park, which belongs to all the people of Tenerife. We must prevent its degradation, and any tool that helps conserve it will be studied.

The fees are not the only measures that are being introduced, as authorities are also establishing capacity measures of 300 visitors per day on Trail 10.

The climb to Mount Teides crater from La Rambleta will also be subject to stricter measures, such as a list of mandatory equipment and a maximum capacity of 50 people per time slot.

Breaking rules can result in fines of up to 600 (521). This includes unauthorised access, not carrying the correct hiking permit, or not carrying essentials such as a fully charged phone and a flashlight.

Some of the new regulations will benefit tourists, such as specialised personnel and English-speaking staff hired for Trail 10. In addition, 80 per cent of early morning permits will be reserved for hikers staying overnight at the Altavista Refuge, which is ideal for those hoping to catch sunrise at the crater.

Official permits for the trails can be obtained through the Tenerife ON platform. Other trails leading to the stratovolcano that do not require an eco-tax fee will still need to be booked through the platform.

Read more: Tourists slammed by environmental group for causing harm to Spains highest peak
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Up to 25 small hot-air balloons, some carrying smuggled cigarettes, forced Vilnius Airport to shut down late on Saturday.

The balloons entered Lithuanian airspace, delaying 30 flights and affecting some 6,000 passengers for hours.

Operations resumed at 4am (1.50am GMT) on Sunday, according to Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre.

The breach occurs amid heightened European alert following an unprecedented scale of intrusions into Nato airspace in September.

Some officials interpret these incidents as Moscow testing the alliance's response against Russia.

Lithuania and its Baltic neighbours are particularly concerned, especially after a Russian-made Gerbera drone, originating from Belarus, crashed in Vilnius County on 10 July.

An officer inspects a balloon used to carry cigarettes into Lithuania

Another crashed at a military training ground on 28 July and was found a week later. The military later said it was carrying an explosive device.

After those incidents, the parliament voted to allow the armed forces to shoot down any unmanned drone violating its airspace.

18,000 packs of smuggled cigarettes recovered

Two of the balloons flew above Vilnius Airport, according to spokesperson Darius Buta. More than two dozen reached the wider Vilnius County.

The balloons were recorded flying between roughly 8.45pm Saturday and 4.30am Sunday.

Border police recovered 11 balloons and some 18,000 packs of smuggled cigarettes in various locations, Mr Buta said.

Vilnius, Lithuania's capital, is located about 25 miles west of the border with Russian ally Belarus.

Belarusian smugglers are increasingly using the balloons, which are much cheaper than drones, for smuggling cigarettes into the European Union, Mr Buta said.

Similar incidents, but with fewer balloons, were reported in August.

In 2024, 966 hot-air balloons entering from Belarus were intercepted by Lithuanian authorities. There have been 544 recorded this year.

Both smuggling balloons and drones are criminal activities, but not as provocations or acts of sabotage," Mr Buta said.
Tanya Sweeney: When I moved to London in 1997 it swallowed me whole and spat me out  for todays Irish twentysomethings its so much easier
CRO to strike off two Co Longford firms just months after formation

Fresh Made Homes and Whitestone Investment Capital had been established at virtual address

The Companies Registration Office. Photo: File image

John Mulligan Mon 6 Oct 2025 at 06:30

Two related companies, including one that promised consumers it would act as a broker for the delivery of modular housing, are poised to be involuntarily struck off just months after being set up by three international directors.
The French private investment firm Ardian is to acquire Energia, one of Irelands biggest power firms.

No financial details of the purchase from Americas I-Squared Capital have been released, but it has been speculated the asking price was over 2bn.
Partner Content

Enterprise Ireland will host the event on Tuesday and Wednesday October 7-9 this week, with events taking place in Dublin and Kilkenny. Image: Getty

Ireland has a growing reputation as a significant global hub for cybersecurity innovation, with over 140 dedicated companies employing more than 8,000 professionals (according to the CSO). Irish firms are making notable advances in areas such as AI-powered threat detection, identity management, vulnerability prioritisation, and secure data technologies.
Revealed: How much green tax rises in Budget 2026 will add to price of motor fuels over the next two months

High taxation means a fall in cost of crude oil is having little impact on what motorists are paying at the pumps

Green tax rises to slap an extra 5c onto the price of motor fuels over the next two months

Charlie Weston Mon 6 Oct 2025 at 06:30

Motorists have been warned that fuel prices are set to rise sharply from a budget hit.
According to the platforms data, there have been a significant number of searches for retail products. Stock photo: Getty

The international food delivery company Deliveroo have expanded its service to provide on-demand shopping for a range of retail shops in Ireland.

The new service is available in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, and will see a range of major nationwide retailers and local businesses onto the platform for the first time, it said.
Over the past decade, 37 farmers have died on the island of Ireland as a result of falls from ladders, roof edges, stacked bales, or fragile roof materials, highlighting the persistent risks in the sector. Stock image

To address this, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) have launched a month-long, all-island inspection campaign throughout October. The initiative aims to ensure compliance with safety regulations and reduce the number of preventable farm fatalities.

According to the HSA Annual Report 2024, agriculture recorded 12 work-related fatalities last year. Falls from height continue to be a significant hazard, particularly on farms with older structures, fragile roofs, and informal work practices. Over the past decade, 37 farmers have died on the island of Ireland as a result of falls from ladders, roof edges, stacked bales, or fragile roof materials, highlighting the persistent risks in the sector.

The campaign will focus on key areas of farm safety. Inspectors will assess systems of work for height-related activities, ensuring that proper planning, risk assessments, and safe operating procedures are in place. The use of appropriate equipment, such as mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) or secured platforms, will be emphasised, along with safe stacking and handling of bales. Farmers will also be encouraged to engage competent contractors for high-risk tasks and to be aware of fragile roofing and other structural hazards.

Adrienne Duff, Assistant Chief Executive of the HSA, said: Falls are entirely preventable, and everyone deserves to return home from work safely and unharmed. This campaign aims to raise awareness and drive home the message that taking shortcuts or carrying out work without due regard to the risks involved is not an option.

Bryan Monson, Deputy Chief Executive of HSENI, added: Every year, people in Northern Ireland continue to lose their lives or suffer life-changing injuries from falls that could have been prevented. Whether its a farmer on a roof or a contractor performing high-risk work, the risks are the same, and careful planning and the use of the right equipment are essential.

The inspection campaign represents a coordinated effort across the island to improve farm safety. By focusing on high-risk activities, older structures, and proper equipment use, the HSA and HSENI aim to reduce the number of serious injuries and fatalities in agriculture. The initiative underscores the ongoing need for strict adherence to health and safety legislation to prevent avoidable deaths in the farming sector.
Mary Lou McDonald has said Sinn Fein senator Chris Andrews has arrived safely in Greece and is in good spirits after being detained by Israel while onboard the Global Sumud Flotilla on route to Gaza.
BREAKING | Ian Mad Dog Maloney handed 10-year sentence for shooting up Dublin home

Maloney (38), who is now a poet, contacted gardai to confess

Ian Mad Dog Maloney. Picture: IrishPhotoDesk

Natasha Reid and Niamh ODonoghue Mon 6 Oct 2025 at 19:01

A convicted criminal, who fired several shots into a house where there was a child, has been given a 10-year prison sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Its just 24 hours to Budget 2026  and heres everything we know so far

All will become crystal clear tomorrow but for now readers, we have your budget guide in the bag with what we think is coming next

Thousands of family carers want the Carer's Allowance means test abolished. Stock image

Mary Regan, Fionnan Sheahan, Kevin Doyle, Conal Thomas and Laura Lynott Mon 6 Oct 2025 at 09:00

Were just a day from Budget 2026 and with that in mind, heres everything we know so far:
Majority against US president Donald Trump giving Oireachtas speech, despite Taoiseach Micheal Martins blessing

US-Irish relationship needs to be cultivated, Martin says, as 74pc oppose Leinster House address

US president Donald Trump recently slammed European policies in an address to the UN General Assembly. Photo: Alex Brandon

Laura Lynott Mon 6 Oct 2025 at 06:30

The majority of the Irish public  74pc  say No to US president Donald Trump addressing the Oireachtas next year.
Jim Gavin was sent solicitors letters by tenant seeking 3,300 rent refund, but they went unanswered

This article was written for publication this morning before Jim Gavin dropped out of the presidential raceFianna Fail presidential election candidate shifts story from not having any recollection or records of any such dispute Former Dubs boss now says he is gathering the data, looking into it and that he will deal with it with urgency Letters delivered to Casement Aerodrome where Defence Forces pilot worked and his parents house in Clondalkin

Jim Gavin quits presidential race

Fionnan Sheahan Mon 6 Oct 2025 at 06:30

The locals in Castleknock arent happy. The west Dublin village near Aras an Uachtarain is a poster-free zone for the presidential election. But Fianna Fail seems to be the only party not respecting the Tidy Towns no-poster rule, even to the extent of putting them up inside private property, according to a local.
Fill up the petrol tank. There was a time when the impending announcement of the budget would spark a bit of a queue at the petrol pumps.

Motorists would figure that the excise duty would take a hit and the price of petrol and diesel would immediately go up overnight. The auld reliables of the price of a pint, a packet of cigarettes and the litre of diesel frequently lived up to the name.

Now though, the new reliable is an increase in carbon tax. Drivers are being warned that fuel prices are set to rise sharply. From Wednesday, the cost of a litre of petrol and diesel is set to increase by around 2.5 cent on the back of tomorrows Budget 2026, due to a rise in the carbon tax.

Another 2c to 3c will be added to the cost of a litre of petrol and diesel in the coming months. This is due to changes to the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation scheme, which aims to increase the amount of renewable fuel used by motorists.

So expect the price of a litre of motor fuel to go up 5c per litre before the end of the year. Government taxes and levies, including Vat, excise duty, carbon tax, and the National Oil Reserves Agency (Nora) levy, make up an increasing amount of the cost of motor fuel at the pumps. AA Ireland research shows that 65pc of the cost of a litre of petrol at the pump is made up of taxes and levies, with 60pc of the price of a litre of diesel going to the Exchequer.

Less wealthy households spend a greater proportion of their income on energy

A combination of factors, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, led to petrol and diesel prices passing 2 per litre in Ireland, hitting a 2.17-per-litre peak in June 2022. The public outcry resulted in a reduction of duty, which was almost entirely restored.

Carbon taxation is viewed as an important tool in combating climate change. The Government is committed to increasing carbon tax year-on-year until it reaches 100 per tonne in 2030. Hence, the rate of carbon tax rises by 7.50 per tonne each year.

But less wealthy households spend a greater proportion of their income on energy than more affluent households, so carbon taxation imposes a disproportionate burden on these households.

In a time of a cost-of-living crisis, carbon taxes are an easy target for criticism. In theory, the Government and opposition are both in favour of climate action, but there is significant dispute over carbon taxes.

The Government, however, has to continue to communicate with the public about the purpose of these taxes. Environmental taxes cant just be seen as a punishment. There has to be a clear societal benefit.

Introduced a generation ago, the plastic-bag tax is a prime example of where there was a cost imposed on the consumer, but it changed habits as shoppers re-used bags and therefore cut down on waste. The money was ringfenced to go back into environmental projects.

But carbon taxes are now being viewed as simply another hit due to inadequate efforts to explain the point. Its not just about the stick, the carrot matters too. The ministers delivering the budget should take note.
Burgers, burritos and doughnuts - these are hardly exotic menu items for the average Irish family nowadays. But anyone who witnessed the hours-long queues for Irelands first Taco Bell restaurant would be forgiven for thinking otherwise.

The Mexican-inspired restaurant is just the latest in a flurry of chains looking to capitalise on our enduring appetite for US food brands. But with every Wendys, Wingstop or Five Guys launch with a social media frenzy, it seems another local business closes.

Are we really just curious about the food weve seen in film and TV for decades, or do they operate at a scale local businesses cant match? Kevin Doyle is joined by John Meagher (senior features writer) and John Mulligan (senior business journalist) to ask if our hunger for American fast food is starving local businesses.
Mitchelstown woman Liz Downes has been appointed the Vice Chair of the National Network of Older Peoples Councils (OPCs).

Ms Downes was formally appointed at a meeting of the National Network of OPCs held in the Gibson Hotel in Dublin.

The network brings together representatives from the 35 local OPCs across Ireland.

Since 2017, Ms Downes has worked alongside older people in a multitude of ways, including methods to battle loneliness, connecting the elderly to the younger generation as well as improving computer skills to offer more ways to communicate with friends and relatives.

She began to work at a regional level with Cork County Council just before the Covid pandemic.

Ms Downes said she honoured to take the position.

Im a community activist and Im giving back to the community the support they gave me when badly needed, she said.

The 76-year-old put herself forward for the role because she is passionate about representing and advocating for older people.

During her pitch to those in attendance, she said: I have seen at first-hand how powerful it is when generations come together to learn, share stories and support each other.

Ill also focus on practical actions that improve quality of life for older people in every county of Ireland.

The role would give me the chance to connect with people, understand their needs, and help strengthen the great work already happening at a grassroot level. It would truly be a privilege to serve as your chair, she said.

Catherine Lenihan, newly appointed Chair of the National Network of OPCs

Ms Downes has volunteered with Irish Girl Guides for 46 years, and she her experience has shaped who she is today.

Kerry woman Catherine Lenihan was appointed as the new Chair of the National Network of OPCs at the Dublin event.

Both Ms Downes and Ms Lenihan will remain in their roles for two years.

Ms Lenihan has served as the chairperson of the Kerry Older Peoples Council Executive since June 2024 and a member of the Kerry OPC Executive since 2023, and she said it is an honour to be the chair on a national scale.

It is an honour to be appointed Chair of the National Network of Older Peoples Councils.

Older people across Ireland have a wealth of knowledge, experience and perspectives, and it is vital that our voices are heard in shaping the services and supports that affect our lives, she said.
County Cork had the fastest responding retained fire service in the country last year in the event of non-fire emergencies, getting to the scene in an impressive three minutes and 31 seconds on average, twice as fast as the slowest service and beating the national median time by almost two and a half minutes.

When it comes to a fire emergency, county Corks fire service mobilises on average in four minutes and 34 seconds, considerably quicker than the national median time for retained fire services of five minutes and 47 seconds.

Cork citys fire-fighters are no slouches either, achieving the highest percentage of fire incidents where the first fire tender reached the scene in less than ten minutes (85pc), an improvement on the already high 83pc achieved in 2023.

Cork city also continued to have the lowest percentage where first fire tender attendance at a fire incident took longer than 20 minutes (0.88pc). For all other emergency incidents, Cork city at 1.86pc recorded the lowest percentage where first attendance took longer than 20 minutes.

The figures are contained in a report by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC), which examined the performance of the countrys 31 local authorities across a range of areas in 2024.

A retained fire service relies on part-time firefighters who are on-call from their regular jobs or homes to respond to emergencies. They make up the majority of fire service personnel in Ireland.

Five local authorities - Dublin City, Galway County, Limerick City and County, Louth, and Waterford City and County operate both full-time and retained fire services while Cork City operates a full-time fire service only. The remaining 21 local authorities operate retained fire services.

The NOAC report found that in fire-related emergencies in 2024, Louth had the quickest response time for full-time services of one minute and nine seconds and also the quickest response time for retained fire services at four minutes and 14 seconds.

Cork County Council is currently recruiting firefighters for its stations in Kanturk and Millstreet. The on-call role carries a top salary of almost 20,000, as well as hourly pay to attend incidents. Successful candidates can continue in their day job but have to be able to reach their station within five minutes.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Four out of 10 of Cork City Councils planning decisions were overturned by the appeals board in 2024 while for Cork County Council the figure was three in 10, a new report shows.

The figures are contained in a report by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC), which examined the performance of the countrys 31 local authorities across a range of areas in 2024.

Forty Cork City Council planning decisions were appealed to An Coimisiun Pleanala during 2024 and in 60 per cent of cases the local authoritys decision was upheld. In the case of Cork County Council, 146 cases were appealed and 71 per cent of decisions were upheld.

The report found that the local authorities with the highest number of planning decisions confirmed on appeal in 2024 were Galway city (97.5 per cent), Kilkenny (88 per cent) and Kildare (87 per cent). The lowest were Donegal (54 per cent), Leitrim (50 per cent) and Laois, which had just 12pc of its planning decisions confirmed by the board.

The average confirmation rate of planning decisions, with or without modifications to the original permission, across the country was 74pc. No local authority had 100 per cent of its planning decisions upheld on appeal.

An Coimisiun Pleanala, which was formerly known as An Bord Pleanala, received a sharp increase in the number of appeals last year. In 2024 it received 2,258 appeals, compared to 1,713 in 2023 and 1,047 in 2022.

Nationally, Cork city and county had the second and third highest number of new buildings notified to local authorities in 2024. For Cork city the figure was 4,444 buildings while Cork county had 3,928, exceeded only by Fingal (7,083).

The NOAC report also found that Cork city and county were two of the seven local authorities that didnt meet the minimum inspection rates for new buildings in 2024. The Code of Practice for Inspecting and Certifying Buildings and Works sets a minimum of 12-15 per cent.

In Cork city only 6.8 per cent of new buildings were inspected during 2024, putting it third from the bottom among the countrys local authorities, ahead of Louth and Clare. The inspection rate in Cork county was just under 11 per cent.

The report points out that the government's development contribution waiver resulted in a far higher number of commencement notices than usual, many of which were received at the end of the year, meaning that inspections in some cases could not be carried out in that year. The development waiver was a temporary scheme in 2023-24 aimed at stimulating housing construction.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Dromahane National Schools new building was officially opened by the Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee on Friday, October 3.

Dromahane National Schools new building was officially opened by the Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee on Friday, October 3.

Dromahane National Schools new building was officially opened by the Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee on Friday, October 3.

Fine Gael TD for Cork North West John Paul OShea said the official opening of the new building represented a wonderful day for Dromahane and the wider community. The new school is a testament to what can be achieved when parents, staff, and the Department of Education work together. It will give our children the very best start in life in a modern, supportive environment that reflects the ambition of this community.

Fine Gael councillor Tony OShea agreed that the official opening was a proud milestone for the school and local community. Education has always been at the heart of Dromahane. This new building will not only serve todays pupils but generations to come. It represents a bright future, built on strong local spirit, hard work and dedication.

Dromahane National School remains an integral part of a vibrant community, said the Minister for Education, Helen McEntee. This is not just the opening of a new building, but the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of children, families, and educators who will shape its story. Dromahane National School has evolved greatly since its first opening in 1996. It has a strong tradition of nurturing the holistic development of all pupils.

In a heartfelt speech, school principal Denis Murray thanked everyone who has been involved in the project since its inception in 2005.

Minister McEntee said the opening represents the culmination of years of education, collaboration, and commitment from the entire school community. The journey has been filled with challenges and triumphs. From the initial planning stages to the construction phase and now the official opening, the school communitys unwavering commitment has ensured a nurturing and inspiring environment for pupils. I am deeply appreciative of the huge amount of work that took place over the past number of years.

This work helped create a school building that meets 21st-century educational needs. Its design and learning spaces will support learning for current and future students. It is my great honour to officially open Dromahane National School. May it be a place of joy, learning, friendship and endless possibility, she added.

Dromahane National Schools new building was officially opened by the Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee on Friday, October 3.

The new school building in north Cork reflects the continued investment by the department in building projects.

Since 2020, the Department of Education and Youth has invested over 730m supporting the completion of 170 school building projects with a further 48 currently in construction, in Cork.

Minister McEntee also extended her sincere thanks to school principal Denis Murray, deputy principal Norma Ryan and Denny Kelly, chairperson of the board of management, for their invitation to attend the school opening.

Bishop of Cloyne William Crean assisted by Fr Coleman blessed the new building, dedicating it as a place of learning, growth and community.

The whole school then joined with Caroline OShea to perform her catchy song Welcome to the New School which was specially penned for the special occasion.

After the ribbon was cut and the plaque was unveiled, the guests enjoyed refreshments served by the Dromahane National School Parents Association.

It truly was a special day in the proud history of Dromahane National School as the new school building prepares to create many more exciting chapters in the years ahead.
Councillor calls for second school for the area to deal with demand for places

A councillor in Dublin 15 is campaigning for a second special education school in the area, after 14 students with additional needs had their education delayed by a year.

John Walsh, Labour councillor for Blanchardstown, said there is an ongoing crisis in special education in the Dublin 15 area.

He raised a motion at a Fingal County Council (FCC) area meeting asking for the Department of Education to provide a second school to accommodate students in the area.

Students enrolled at Danu Community Special School were unable to start for a full school year as a modular building meant to accommodate them was not built on time.

Danu is an outstanding school community which has done outstanding work, but it has been treated very badly by the Department of Education, Mr Walsh said.

Its a matter of public record that 14 students with additional needs who were enrolled in Danu were unable to start for a full school year last year because the Department didnt provide the necessary modular accommodation.

The students are expected to begin classes this month after the new buildings were completed.

The new modular accommodation has just been provided now. Students were further delayed at the start of this academic year  they can only start classes in mid-October, Mr Walsh said.

The principal of the school was forced to write a letter to the parents, and you can imagine their anger.

We need to reiterate our support for Danu and ask the Department to get its act together.

The councillor also added that the new students being enrolled in the school will not be given therapeutic care.

There was no commitment from the HSE to give the new students therapeutic care  so theyre essentially being threatened with a second rate experience, he said.

The therapeutic support is already in place for the students there, but it will not be available for new students entering.

Labour councillor John Walsh raised the concerns

Research conducted by principals from Dublin 15 found that 111 students with additional needs in the area have not been coping with their placement in mainstream schools between 2023 and 2024.

They also found a significant number of students in special classes who were determined to require a special school placement.

Danu will have 48 students when those new children enter in the next few weeks, Mr Walsh said.

Theres no scope for Danu to expand further unless it has a new purpose-built building which is still a few years away.

The indefinite expansion of one special school isnt realistic, we desperately need a second one in Dublin 15.

When the motion was carried, FCC management agreed to send a letter to the Minister for Education highlighting the councillors concerns.

Theres an ongoing crisis in special education in our area that causes grief and hardship for parents and denies equal educational opportunities for children with these needs, Mr Walsh said.

We have a growing population, we have more students in the area that need support, and one single school is just not enough to meet that need.

Its important as local representatives who see these issues up close to say something. None of us should find that acceptable.

The Department of Education has been contacted for comment.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
North Kerry and West Limerick locals fear consequences of massive solar farm proposed for their area

In response to some local farmers concerns, a Solar Ireland spokesperson said there is no scientific evidence linking solar farms to an increase in bovine TB

The meeting in Tarbert Community Centre on Thursday evening.

Jack Joy Kerryman Mon 6 Oct 2025 at 06:00

Tarbert and Glin residents fear that a rise in bovine TB and damage to agricultural land could occur if an enormous solar farm proposed for their communities is developed.
A 31-year-old man charged with the murder of his parents and brother has been further remanded in custody.

Robert O'Connor (31), Drumgowna, Louth Village, appeared before Drogheda District Court on Monday via video link from Cloverhill Prison.

He had been remanded in custody when brought before a special sitting of the district court last Tuesday.

Louise O'Connor, who was 56, her 54-year-old husband Mark O'Connor, and their 27-year-old son Evan O'Connor were found dead at their home in Drumgowna on Monday September 29.

The accused was remanded in custody via video link to Drogheda Court on October 20 for service of a book of evidence.

Judge Nicola Andrews extended legal aid to cover an independent psychiatric assessment and for senior counsel.

Gardai agreed to make available a synopsis of preliminary disclosure for the independent psychiatric assessment which Mr O'Connor's solicitor Paul Moore said will be taking place on Wednesday.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
There have been calls for a return of catering services on the Sligo to Dublin train service

Disappointment has been expressed that no firm commitments have been given to scheduling an early morning commuter service into Sligo, or reinstatement of catering services on all Irish Rail services including the Sligo-Dublin train. It follows exchanges between Labour Party Senator, Nessa Cosgrove and representatives of the National Transport Authority in Leinster House.

Senator Cosgrove said: Representatives of the National Transport Authority (NTA) were in front of the Joint Oireachtas Transport Committee this week. This gave me the opportunity to raise two issues which I have been highlighting since before entering the Seanad.

The introduction of an Early morning commuter train between Longford and Sligo and the reintroduction of catering services on all train routes, including Sligo-Dublin.

Unfortunately, the response from the NTA was less than encouraging. They asserted that, despite reassurances given by Irish Rail in just August this year, there was no budget available for the restoration of catering services.

"The NTA has asked Irish Rail to examine the introduction of vending machines, but my question remains, if this is the solution why has it not been done as yet? How long does it take the NTA/Irish Rail to make a simple decision? And once a decision is made, how long will it take to implement it?

On to the lack of early morning services into Sligos MacDiarmada Station, Cllr. Ann Higgins of the Labour Partysaid: At the moment there is no train arriving into Sligo before 10:16 Monday to Friday, or until after noon at weekends. This is not good for students, workers, people attending appointments or even tourists all of whom would like to have the option of arriving in Sligo before 09:00.

In my day job, I work at ATU and, as we all know, there is an acute housing crisis which is affecting students as well as everybody else. Introducing an early morning commuter train which could deliver students and workers into Sligo from before 9am could alleviate some of the strain. It is a no-brainer.

I know that Senator Cosgrove, and Sligo County Council have both written to the NTA and the Minister for Transport asking that an early morning train be implemented. Research recently conducted by an ATU Engineering graduate has demonstrated that it is feasible and, in response to Senator Cosgroves questioning, the NTA did say that they were aware of the proposal and that it has merit. However, they stated that the earliest that this could be delivered, if approved, will be December 2026.

"This will be too late for many students and workers, struggling with long road commutes.

I have launched a petition which calls on the National Transport Authority and Irish Rail to establish a daily morning commuter train from Longford to Sligo that will arrive in Sligo no later than 8.30 a.m.

"One of my first motions as a newly co-opted Cllr was to call for the introduction of an early commuter train from Longford to Sligo to facilitate the movement of people at times that work for them, to alleviate traffic congestion and to positively contribute to reducing our carbon footprint.

"This demand is evidence based . It is not a big ask - simply a modest investment into a service that would significantly positively impact the lives of people in this region. I would encourage people to sign our petition to ensure that Irish Rail and NTA hear our voices 

Senator Cosgrove added: The lack of a firm commitment on either the Early Morning Commuter Service or on Catering Services is indicative of the lack of investment in infrastructure and services in the North West for many years.

It is time for all our elected representatives to stand together and use our collective voices to demand better services in Sligo, Leitrim and indeed in Donegal, which has no rail services whatsoever.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) should provide clarity on its budgetary requirements and decision-making process regarding the re-instatement of catering services on all Irish Rail intercity routes, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Mark Duffy, who is a member of the Oireachtas joint Committee on Transport, has also raised concerns surrounding the continued absence of onboard catering, which was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic, and has yet to be fully restored on all routes around the country.

Passengers travelling long distances across the country deserve basic amenities, and catering should not be regarded as a luxury and is seen as a standard service on rail across Europe, said Senator Duffy.

Those looking to travel to or from my own county of Mayo, or Sligo, Galway, Wexford or Waterford are not being given access to basic necessities, such as being able to buy a bottle of water, for journeys which could last up to four hours.

In a time of trying to encourage more people to use public transport, issues like these can very simply turn people off as the motorways around the country have services along the network.

The NTA must explain why it has not allocated sufficient funding to reinstate these services, and whether it has properly assessed the social and economic impact of their absence.

The situation has been mismanaged over the past few years, while Irish Rail continues to say it is working to re-instate the service.

Were talking about journeys that can last up to four hours. For many passengers - especially older people, families with children, and those with health conditions - access to food and drink is essential, he added.

The senator has submitted questions to the NTA and the Department of Transport, seeking a breakdown of cost estimates, procurement barriers, and any plans for phased re-introduction.

If the issue is budgetary, then lets see the numbers. If its logistical, then lets hear the plan. But silence and delay are not acceptable, Senator Duffy said.

Senator Duffy urged the Government and the NTA to prioritise funding for the restoration of catering services as part of a broader commitment to passenger welfare and transport equity.

Senator Duffy urged the NTA to engage with Irish Rail, passenger advocacy groups, and catering providers to explore viable solutions, including mobile vending, pre-order systems, or public-private partnerships.
He began by stating that he has little faith that Ireland will reach the goals of the governments climate plan.

"It is not an exaggeration to say that the tillage sector in Ireland is facing an enormous crisis. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Heydon, is very aware of this. As part of the Government's climate action plan, it is intended that we will have 400,000 ha in tillage by 2030. We are not going to achieve that, particularly given that, since 2022, 1,400 farmers have left tillage, he said.

"Despite a good summer harvest, prices are not there for tillage farmers. We are also facing the challenge of cheap imports from outside the European Union. This matter is also critical in terms of developing markets, he added.

He also highlighted the hope to stablish a cutting edge flour mill in Ballycarney, which should positively impact the sector. However, he said it is not enough.

"The Minister will be aware of the hope to establish a commercial flour mill again in Ireland in County Wexford. The loss of tillage production has an impact on many other areas of agriculture. It is critical. I am not expecting the Minister to reveal what is in the budget, but I would like to hear assurances from the Government that serious consideration will be given to the crisis facing tillage at present, he said.

The flour mill in question is privy to planning permission, but has great potential as both a research innovation centre and a flour mill.

The primary advantage of the proposed development was identified as its capacity for test baking and wheat testing, allowing for real-time experimentation and refinement of milling processes and end products. By having an on-site facility dedicated to testing and innovation, the mill can rapidly prototype and evaluate new wheat varieties, flour blends, and baking techniques, ensuring that only the best products reach the market.

It also provides a space where experts can collaborate on innovative solutions to industry challenges, such as improving flour quality, extending shelf life, and developing healthier or more sustainable products. This proactive approach to innovation not only meets the evolving demands of consumers but also positions the mill as a leader in the industry  the first facility of its kind in Ireland since the 1980s.

In response, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine Deputy Martin Heydon said Deputy Byrne made fair points and recognised the severity of the issue.

"I thank Deputy Byrne for raising this important issue. He touched on the heart of the challenge. It has been three really difficult years for the tillage sector, and for tillage farmers in particular, due to weather, prices and ongoing challenges. The tillage sector is an incredibly important component of the overall agricultural sector. Farmers are very dependent on one another, he said.

"We are aware of that. Obviously, my budget negotiations are ongoing in terms of any financial aspects and my overall budget, he added.
Members of Carnew Musical Society were recognised for their longstanding service to the group.

Jacinta Kavanagh and Kevin McEvoy were recognised at Carnew Musical Society's afternoon of celebration.

Eamonn Doran, Mary Doyle, Anne Sheridan and Mary Doran were recognised for more than 40 years of service to Carnew Musical Society.

A Wicklow man has been awarded 25 of outstanding commitment to a local musical society.

Carnew Musical Society had plenty to celebrate at their recent afternoon of celebration. The society paid tribute to four longstanding members of the society for their commitment and dedication to the society.

Members of Carnew Musical Society were recognised for their longstanding service to the group.

Anne Sheridan, Eamonn Doran, Mary Doran and Mary Doyle have been involved with Carnew Musical Society for over 40 years and have been regarded as the backbone of the musical society.

Lorna Doran McEvoy, PRO of Carnew Musical Society said Kevin McEvoy was awarded with Honorary Life Membership, for his outstanding and commitment to the society for 25 years. Kevin now joins a distinguished group of Honorary Life Members who are regarded as the backbone of the society.

Lorna said another proud moment of the celebration came from the recent achievement of Jacinta Kavanagh, as she won an AIMS Unsung Hero Award This national recognition reflects Jacintas powerful impact on the amateur musical theatre community in Carnew, and across the Southeast, she said.

Jacinta Kavanagh and Kevin McEvoy were recognised at Carnew Musical Society's afternoon of celebration.

Preparations are under way for the group as they are set to perform the beloved Broadway classic Hello, Dolly! which will take place in November at St Brigids Hall, Carnew.

Lorna thanked the community for their support with Carnew Musical Society over the years to help keep the spirit of musical theatre in south Wicklow alive.
A Wexford student has been upgraded to 625 points in his Leaving Certificate after missing out on the perfect score by a singular mark in one of his exams.

Oisin Hughes recently graduated from Gorey Community School and opened his results on Friday, August 22 to receive an impressive 613 points.

After viewing the breakdown of his results, Oisin saw that he was a singular mark away from receiving the top grade in his Computer Science exam, which would bring his total points to 625.

I got 269 out of 300 in Computer Science exam, so I was a singular mark off the H1 grade - I appealed, and it went up by a couple marks, so I just barely got the 625, Oisin said.

Oisin returned to Gorey Community School on Tuesday, September 30 to meet with teachers to celebrate his upgrade. Oisins upgraded score marked the second student at the school to receive a perfect result alongside Daniel Kursis.

Principal Michael Finn said he was delighted for Oisin and praised him for his hard work throughout the Leaving Cert. Its a pity he didnt have the joy of knowing that on the day when the results came out.

Principal Michael Finn with Oisin Hughes student from Gorey Community School who recently received a leaving cert points upgrade. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Today's News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday October 7

Its better late than never, Mr Finn said.

Michael further extended his best wishes to Oisin as he moves forward into university.

Oisin is now a student at Trinity College Dublin and is currently studying Law. He said is settling into college life well and is excited to continue his studies.
Huge crowds of prospective students and their families flocked to Glenart College in Arklow recently for the schools open evening, an annual event that took on increased significance this year as the school celebrates 120 years of educational service to the seaside community.

The atmosphere on the evening was one of excitement and energy, with hundreds of visitors  including students from 19 different primary schools  eager to get a first-hand experience of life in Arklows largest post-primary school.

Visitors were given extensive tours of the campus by a team of student ambassadors, while every subject and extracurricular area was represented by students who shared their own experiences and interests.

The evening also featured addresses from students at different stages of their journey at Glenart College. Joseph Farrell, head boy, and Niamh Farrell, head girl, reflected on their time in the school as sixth years, while first year students James OHart and Lily Wong spoke about their experiences settling into post-primary life.

The school also recognised its top Leaving Certificate 2025 achievers. Caoimhe Kavanagh received a presentation from Principal Damien Cloney, while fellow high achievers Sophie English, Conn OBoyle and Danas Aleksiejus were acknowledged in their absence due to university commitments.

In his address, principal Damien Cloney highlighted Glenart Colleges long co-educational tradition in Arklow since its foundation 120 years ago. He spoke about what makes Education and Training Board (ETB) schools unique, emphasising their core values  excellence in education, care, respect, equality and community - and how they shape day-to-day life at the school.

Mr Cloney also drew attention to the schools wide-ranging curriculum, noting that Glenart is the only post-primary in Arklow offering subjects such as engineering, artistic performance, coding, digital media literacy, philosophy, and computer science.

He also pointed out that the school is among just 57 in Ireland currently offering the new Leaving Certificate subject in drama, film and theatre studies.

It was a wonderful occasion, and we were delighted with the very large turnout, which was up significantly on previous years, deputy principal Joe Rolston said.

We saw a large increase in the number of 5th class students in particular, which reflects our continued growth within the Arklow community.

I want to thank all our students who volunteered on the evening, as well as our highly committed and talented staff, for the collective effort that makes this event possible.
More than 60 people have been killed across India and Nepal after days of relentless monsoon rains triggered landslides, flash floods and infrastructure collapses, authorities said yesterday.

In Nepal, officials reported that 47 people had died since Friday, with most casualties in Ilam district, which borders Indias West Bengal state.

Thirty-five people were killed in separate landslides in Ilam district, said Kalidas Dhauboji, a spokesman for the Armed Police Force.

Nine people were missing after being swept away by floods, while three others were killed by lightning in other parts of the country, he added.

Shanti Mahat, a spokesperson for Nepals National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, said: Rescue efforts for the missing persons are going on.

The deluge has blocked roads and destroyed several bridges, cutting off the capital, Kathmandu, from other parts of the country. The airports domestic flights were largely suspended, though international operations remained unaffected, a spokesperson said.

Authorities said the Koshi River in south-eastern Nepal  which often causes deadly flooding in Indias Bihar state  was flowing above danger levels.

All 56 sluice gates of the Koshi Barrage, a dam-like structure regulating water flows, had been opened to release excess water, Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, district governor of Sunsari, said. Vehicular movement across the barrage was banned as a precaution.

The terrain is slippery, and several houses have been damaged

Across the border in India, at least 17 people were confirmed dead in landslides in the eastern Himalayan region of Darjeeling in West Bengal, where days of heavy rain caused a bridge collapse and widespread destruction.

The Dhudia iron bridge over the Balason River, linking Siliguri and Mirik, was washed away by the swelling waters.

The loss of lives is tragic. As per our reports, 11 people have died in Mirik and six in Darjeeling. But the figure is not yet confirmed, said Udayan Guha, north Bengal development minister, describing the situation as alarming.

Rescue operations have been slowed by continuous rainfall and treacherous terrain. The terrain is slippery, and several houses have been damaged. Earth-movers are finding it extremely difficult to operate on these slopes, a police officer told Press Trust of India.

Local officials said families from several hillside villages have been relocated to temporary shelters.

Indias prime minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the victims families, saying authorities were committed to providing all possible assistance to those affected.
Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze said yesterday that protesters who sought to force entry to the presidential palace the previous evening had been trying to topple the government and accused the European Union of meddling in Georgias affairs.
Gisele Pelicot will come face to face with one of the 51 men convicted of raping her in a French appeals court today.

Husamettin Dogan (44) is the only man convicted of raping Ms Pelicot between the years of 2011 to 2020 who has appealed against his nine-year sentence.
Zelensky asks allies for additional air defences to fight aerial terror

Rescuers carry an injured person on a stretcher over debris of a house heavily damaged during morning Russian drone and missile strikes in the Lviv region of Ukraine. Photo: Reuters

Poland scrambled jets early yesterday to protect its airspace as Russian missiles and drones rained down across the border in Ukraine.

At least five were killed in the large-scale aerial bombardment overnight that targeted Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure in what Kyiv decried as a deliberate act of terror against civilians.
A screen grab shows the vessel 'Marinette' from the Global Sumud Flotilla after being attacked while attempting to break the Israeli siege and deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza on Friday. Photo: Global Sumud Flotilla/via Getty Images

Israel has deported a further 29 activists detained by the navy last week for taking part in a flotilla that sought to deliver aid to blockaded Gaza, the foreign ministry said yesterday.

The flotilla, which set sail in late August, marked the latest attempt by activists to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of the territory where Israel has been waging an offensive since Hamas October 2023 attack. Israel says that the blockade is legal and has called the flotilla a provocation.
Nelofer Pazira-Fisk: Donald Trump wants an interim regime with Tony Blairs involvement. Does no one remember history?

The peace plan now on the table is another US adventure that will come to a sorry end

British prime minister Tony Blair and US president George W Bush in 2003. Photo: Getty

Nelofer Pazira-Fisk Sun 5 Oct 2025 at 06:30

Speaking on September 11 this year, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the Hamas October 7, 2023, attack as Israels 9/11 moment.
Chicago and Portland braced for more confrontations between protesters and federal agents yesterday, as legal battles escalate between state elected officials and the Trump administration over its sweeping immigration agenda and deployments of federal agents and troops to Democratic-led cities.
The US Supreme Court declined on Monday to hear Ghislaine Maxwell's bid to overturn her conviction for helping the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls, steering clear of a case that continues to hound President Donald Trump and his administration.

The justices turned away an appeal by Maxwell, a British socialite and Epstein's former girlfriend who is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being found guilty in 2021 by a jury in New York on charges including sex trafficking of a minor. By doing so, the justices let stand a lower court's decision upholding Maxwell's conviction.
Little Pepe (LILPEPE) is the new meme coin that is quickly gaining traction among investors due to the success of Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Dogecoin (DOGE). This meme coin is unique in that it has integrated meme culture with sound blockchain technology and utility, utilizing an Ethereum-compatible Layer 2 blockchain that offers low transaction and fee charges, based on its own blockchain. More and more investors are moving out of SHIB and DOGE and into Little Pepe, due to the features it offers and the impressive milestones being achieved by the ongoing presale in terms of fundraising.

Presale Surge and Investor Rush

Little Pepe is at stage 13 of the presale, priced at $0.0022 per token. So far it has already raised over $26.3 million, selling more than 16.1 billion tokens during this presale stage alone. The presale is also scheduled in stages of progressive price increments, with an initial price of $0.001 in stage 1, then $0.0011 (stage 2), then $0.0012 (stage 3), then $0.0014 (stage 5), then $0.0015 (stage 6), all sell out rapidly. The next stage (Stage 14) will see the token price rise to $0.0023, where early buyers will reap significant profits. Throughout all the stages, 26.5% of the entire 100 billion tokens are allocated to the presale, which amounts to 26.5 billion tokens.

This high presale performance indicates high investor confidence and a rush trend, as many abandon Shiba Inu and Dogecoin, which are trading at approximately $0.000001191 and $0.2336, respectively, to take advantage of the low price and growth potential of Little Pepe early on. For example, an investor who purchases at stage 1 at $0.001 and holds until $0.0022 would have a 120% investment return solely due to the presale price gains.



LILPEPE

Features Driving Little Pepe's Appeal.

Little Pepe is not a meme token anymore  its roadmap and technical underpinning possess some interesting utilities:

The version is Ethereum-compatible and is built on its own Layer 2 blockchain, which is faster, cheaper, and EVM-compatible.

No trading VAT so you can just buy and sell without charges that reduce your profit.

Protection technology of sniper bots, which would guarantee equal allocation of the tokens and avoid monopolisation among whales.

Staking rewards which enable the holders to earn by locking tokens.

A decentralized autonomous organization system, where community members have a vote on the projects.

A new meme launchpad to enable creators to easily launch their own tokens.

The future will feature NFT and cross-chain compatibility in order to increase ecosystem reach and utility.

Why Investors Are Flocking to Little Pepe.

The mixture of cultural meme appeal and serious technical infrastructure is what attracts investors. Although Shiba Inu and Dogecoin have built communities, they have reached a flat growth without any significant potential as in previous years. The presale momentum, utility-backed features and Layer 2 scalability of Little Pepe, on the other hand, make it poised for future growth. Smart money prefers a more organized, transparent presale that builds in a price increase with actual applications and uses instead of the pure hype of speculation.

Sniper bot protection and zero trading tax attract both the retail and whales to have a level playing field and a stable ecosystem in the long term. In addition, the community is welcomed to the governance of the DAO, improving the sustainability of the project.

Presale Giveaways.

In addition to the reward and incentive of participating, Little Pepe organizes a $777,000 giveaway where 10 winners get tokens worth $77,000 each. Also, there is a Mega Giveaway of presale stages 12-17, with prizes of more than 15 ETH to leading purchasers, including 5, 3 and 2 ETH to top three contributors. These freebies stimulate investors and serve to keep the presale going.

Conclusion

Having raised more than $26.3 million in presale as well as prompt stage sellouts, Little Pepe is proving to have strong community interest and growth potential. It has far more than the traditional meme tokens, combining meme coin cultural relevance and strong technical infrastructure on its own Ethereum-compatible Layer 2 chain, zero trading tax, staking incentives, and a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO). The early-stage price of Little Pepe of $0.0022 and a growing utility is a powerful answer to those investors interested in the next big meme coin to invest in after Shiba Inu and Dogecoin, and join the hype and become part of this innovative project that is soon to transform the meme coin landscape in 2025 and beyond.

For More Details About Little PEPE, Visit The Below Link:

Website: https://littlepepe.com
24 Hours in Police Custody

Who were the victims of Nicholas Prosper?

( Image credit : Nicholas Prospers mother, Juliana Falcon | Credit: X/@CountDeadWomen )

How did police track down Nicholas Prosper?

( Image credit : Nicholas Prosper was 18 at the time. | Credit: X/@MyArrse )

What evidence did the police find in Nicholas Prospers case?

( Image credit : Nicholas Prosper was arrested, charged, and later sentenced in March 2025. | Credit: X/@ActivePatriotUK )

What was the court verdict and sentence for Nicholas Prosper?

Murder Is No Game

Channel 4sreturned on Sunday, October 5, 2025, with one of the most chilling investigations in recent memory. The episode,follows Bedfordshire Police as they respond to a horrifying crime in Luton, where a young man, Nicholas Prosper, murdered his own family. The documentary shows the intense work of officers and detectives as they uncover not just a brutal triple murder but also a plan for something even more devastating.The first part of the special opens with a tense moment for Bedfordshire Police. In the early hours of Friday, September 13, 2024, neighbours reported hearing gunshots at a block of flats. Officers quickly rushed to the scene, preparing for the worst. When armed police entered the flat, they found a gruesome scene: three family members were fatally wounded. Amid the chaos, one person was missing, and the murder weapon could not be located.Inside the Marsh Farm flat, officers discovered the bodies of Nicholas Prospers mother, Juliana Falcon, 48, and his younger siblings, Kyle, 16, and Giselle, 13. It was clear from the start that the violence had been extreme. Investigators also found spent shotgun cartridges and evidence that the shooter had used a knife in some of the attacks. The scene was so shocking that police immediately declared it a critical incident.As officers secured the flat, they realised the killer had vanished. While the three family members were dead, Nicholas Prosper had fled, leaving detectives racing against time to track him down. The documentary captures the urgency and tension as the police launch one of the largest murder investigations in Bedfordshires recent history.Nicholas Prosper was 18 at the time and lived in the same flat with his mother and siblings. Police quickly identified him as the prime suspect. His behaviour and planning were chilling: he had obtained a shotgun illegally and had been researching mass shootings online. Officers soon learned that he intended to commit a mass attack at his former primary school, St. Josephs Catholic Primary, after killing his family. The teen had carefully chosen Friday the 13th for the date, hoping to create what he called the biggest massacre of the century.Despite the horrifying plan, Nicholas Prosper surrendered to the police within hours. He walked down the street and flagged down an officer, believing that schools would be on lockdown and that his plan could not proceed. The documentary shows how quickly law enforcement acted to prevent further tragedy.The special also shows investigators piecing together the evidence. Surveillance footage, forensic analysis, and interviews reveal how meticulously Prosper planned the murders. Police discovered that he had a copy of the novel How to Kill Your Family at the crime scene and had even stabbed his brother over a hundred times. Officers also found disturbing images on his phone, adding to the disturbing picture of a young man obsessed with violence and notoriety.Throughout the investigation, Bedfordshire Police worked tirelessly to connect the dots, understand his motivations, and keep the public informed. The documentary gives viewers a close look at how detectives manage such a high-pressure, emotional, and dangerous case.Nicholas Prosper was arrested, charged, and later sentenced in March 2025. He pled guilty to three counts of murder, illegal firearm possession, and having a blade with intent to harm. The court handed him three life sentences with a minimum of 49 years in prison. Despite the severity of his crimes, his young age meant that a whole-life order was not imposed. The Court of Appeal later rejected a bid to prevent his eventual parole, meaning he could be considered for release in the mid-2070s.The second part ofairs on Monday, October 6, 2025, concluding the special that follows one of Bedfordshire Polices largest murder investigations. The episode promises to reveal more about the motives, planning, and chilling actions behind the crime, giving viewers a full picture of the investigation from start to finish.
USA has officially gone under shut down for 1st time in 6 years after Trump adminstration failed to pass bill to keep federal funds flowing. All non-essential payments will be stopped effectively. pic.twitter.com/oTgVMs28fd  KV Iyyer - BHARAT  (@BanCheneProduct) October 1, 2025

Hassetts warning on shutdown impact

Senate votes at the center of the standoff

Day 5 of the US Government $Shutdown



2BNfdtz2Qz9cQEybXJhyY1no2gn61rQqo5FqX8Pbpump pic.twitter.com/8cP8eZxcOr  US government Shutdown (@GovShutdownSoL) October 5, 2025

Trump watching closely from Oval Office

No one wants to see people hurt by a government shutdown.



But if Republicans throw 15 million people off their health care, double insurance premiums for 20 million Americans & move us toward authoritarianism  even MORE people will be hurt.



We cannot allow that to happen. pic.twitter.com/rXhKc9YjNb  Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) October 2, 2025

Broader context of Trumps second term

The Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were both signed in this building. Its telling that Trumps shutdown has Independence Hall closed and the Liberty Bell locked away. pic.twitter.com/x4tLSynnwq  Misha Collins (@mishacollins) October 6, 2025

What comes next

President Donald Trump could begin taking sharp measures as early as Monday if the government shutdown continues beyond the Senates next funding votes, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said. His comments to CNBC underscored the administrations warning that the prolonged lapse in funding may result in permanent job cuts rather than temporary furloughs.Appearing on CNBCs, Hassett made it clear that the administration expects serious consequences if the deadlock is not broken. Any government worker that loses their job due to reduction-in-force orders will be the responsibility of Democrats, he said. According to the White House, the shutdown could lead to thousands of layoffs, marking a departure from previous lapses in government funding when employees were often furloughed instead of permanently dismissed.The immediate focus is on the Senates scheduled votes on competing funding bills. On Monday evening, lawmakers will again decide between a Republican-backed clean resolution, which would continue current funding levels until late November, and a Democratic plan that includes additional health-care provisions and other spending measures. Previous attempts at passing both versions have failed repeatedly since the shutdown began six days earlier.Hassett said President Trump, along with senior officials, is expected to monitor the Senate votes from the Oval Office. The president will be hoping that were going to get the government to stop being shut down when the proposals are put to a vote after 5:30 p.m. ET. However, Hassett added that if the votes fail once again, the team in the Oval is going to start taking sharp measures.The shutdown is only the latest episode in a turbulent second term for Trump. Since beginning his second administration, he has taken a series of unconventional steps. These include deploying troops in U.S. cities, imposing sweeping tariffs, and cutting federal spending by reducing government jobs under the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. Many of these actions have been challenged in court for stretching executive authority.Despite this, Trumps approval ratings have remained relatively stable in recent months. While still historically low compared to past presidents, his numbers have shifted little since his first 100 days in office. The stability in ratings comes even as the shutdown, tariffs, and spending cuts dominate political debate in Washington.If neither party secures enough votes to pass their proposal, the shutdown will extend further, putting thousands of federal jobs at risk. The White House maintains that it will not shoulder the blame, emphasizing that Democrats must take responsibility if reduction-in-force orders are issued. With no sign of a compromise, all eyes remain on the Senate vote and the possible sharp measures that could follow immediately after.
Online reactions and memes

HOLY SH*T Trump breaks out the Trump Dance and the Navy goes wild. LETS FREAKING GO 



pic.twitter.com/KhYWe4D6q6  MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) October 5, 2025

The trump dance for the celebration  of the Navys birthday!! pic.twitter.com/L2pxAuJSMr  Ava Grace (@AvaGrace9211) October 6, 2025

Criticism of Trump and Melania

Trumps iconic dance lights up the Navys 250th Birthday Bash!

Heroes + Trump = Epic Night  pic.twitter.com/upnW8RmJKU  Sarah For Trump (@SarahAllisonFl) October 6, 2025

Officials in attendance

On Sunday, September 5, President Donald Trump addressed the Navys 250th anniversary celebration at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia. The event drew attention not only for his speech but for what followed. Trump ended his remarks by dancing to the song, and the crowd of sailors responded with loud cheers. Within hours, the clip spread across social media and quickly went viral.The video of Trumps dance received a flood of online comments. Supporters praised the lighthearted moment, with one writing, The dance that saved America! Another comment read, Thats making me cry. My son always wanted President Trump to visit his ship. I know hes beaming with pride from above.Some viewers saw it as a morale booster, with one writing, Classic Trump energy! Busting out the YMCA dance with the sailors pure gold. Nothing boosts morale like a president who can groove. Another user quipped, When the Navy said show us your best moves, and someone took it very literally.Despite the cheering crowd and the online buzz, criticism also followed the event. Trump faced backlash for being nearly an hour late to deliver his speech. Melania Trump, who accompanied him, also drew negative reactions. Many online users described her greeting at the Navy base as awkward, leading to another round of trolling.The president was not alone at the Virginia event. Alongside him were First Lady Melania Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Navy Secretary John Phelan, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, and U.S. Representative Ronny Jackson of Texas. Jackson, a former Navy rear admiral, previously served as a White House doctor during Trumps first term. Their presence underlined the significance of the Navy anniversary ceremony, though it was Trumps dance that became the most talked-about moment.Trumps YMCA dance at the Navys anniversary may have boosted spirits among sailors and created endless memes, but it also brought criticism over delays and conduct, showing how a single moment can spark both celebration and controversy.
Why Lecornu stepped down so quickly

Le Premier ministre Sebastien #Lecornu a donc demissionne.



Son gouvernement est tombe avant meme davoir ete nomme.



Il naura dure que 15h.



Le corps nu a donc ete rhabille fissa.



Pour Macron cest donc le retour a la kamikaze depart.#dissolutionpic.twitter.com/bUhdYOSlRv  Jean MESSIHA (@JeanMessiha) October 6, 2025

Political opposition seizes the moment

BREAKING: French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigns after less than a month



Macrons government has fallen AGAIN



Prepare for early elections.

Prepare for Marine le Pen. pic.twitter.com/BBe4ZVYlsX  Basil the Great (@Basil_TGMD) October 6, 2025

Controversy over cabinet appointments

 "Le dernier message que j'aimerais dire aux Francais, c'est qu'il suffirait de peu pour que ca fonctionne, en etant plus desinteresse pour beaucoup, et en sachant faire preuve d'humilite (...)".

 Sebastien Lecornu, Premier ministre demissionnaire. #canal16pic.twitter.com/izzS6JsQuL  franceinfo (@franceinfo) October 6, 2025

Impact on Parliament and financial markets

Freshly-appointed PM Sebastien Lecornu admits he never got a master's degree in public law despite having claimed the opposite for years (2025) pic.twitter.com/DS1hCWia1a  insane moments in french politics (@InsaneFrenchPol) September 19, 2025

A government in crisis

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned on Monday, 6 October, barely a day after presenting his new Cabinet. His abrupt exit has plunged France into fresh political uncertainty and rattled financial markets. Opposition parties immediately used the moment to push for President Emmanuel Macrons own resignation.In a short speech at Matignon Palace, Lecornu explained his decision by pointing to political deadlock.I was ready to compromise, but each political party wanted the other to adopt its entire program, he said. He added that there were a lot of red lines but few green lines in negotiations.He warned that France needed a way out so the country can move forward, stressing that only small compromises were needed to make cooperation possible.Lecornu had been tasked with the difficult responsibility of steering Macrons government through the 2026 budget process. However, criticism came immediately after the new Cabinet was unveiled on 5 October. Many lawmakers from across the spectrum expressed disappointment that the ministerial lineup looked almost unchanged from before.Macrons critics quickly reacted to Lecornus resignation. Far-right National Rally leader Jordan Bardella repeated demands for fresh elections, while the hard-left France Unbowed declared that Macron himself must step down.Mathilde Panot, France Unboweds president in the National Assembly, said: Lecornu resigns. Three Prime Ministers defeated in less than a year. The countdown has begun. Macron must go.Even within government ranks, frustration was visible. Agnes Pannier-Runacher, who was reappointed as ecology minister, posted on social media: I despair of this circus.The new Cabinet, announced just a day before Lecornus resignation, included several controversial appointments. Critics singled out the decision to appoint former finance minister Bruno Le Maire as Defence Minister, raising concerns over his past tenure during which Frances public deficit had soared.Other key ministers included Bruno Retailleau as Interior Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot as Foreign Affairs Minister, Gerald Darmanin as Justice Minister, and Roland Lescure handling the economy with responsibility for the upcoming austerity budget.The Cabinet listed 18 names in total, but many ministers were left as caretaker figures, handling daily affairs without being formally installed.The resignation deepens the political instability that France has been experiencing since Macrons snap elections last year left Parliament fragmented. Opposition lawmakers from the far-right and far-left together now hold more than 320 seats in the National Assembly, compared to 210 for centrists and conservative allies.Lecornu had pledged not to use special constitutional powers to pass the 2026 budget without a vote, promising instead to negotiate with lawmakers. His sudden departure now raises doubts about whether consensus can be achieved on the austerity plan.Financial markets responded immediately. The CAC-40 index, representing leading French companies, dropped nearly 2% by 0800 GMT on Monday. Reports highlighted that investors were unsettled by the uncertainty around Frances political and economic direction.Sebastien Lecornus short-lived tenure as Prime Minister is another setback for Macron, whose administration has already seen three Prime Ministers resign within a year. With the opposition pressing for his resignation and financial markets reacting nervously, France now faces renewed political and economic turbulence.
CNN

Hamas on Sunday called for a swift start to a hostage-prisoner exchange with Israel, as negotiators from the two warring sides were set to meet in Egypt for crucial talks aimed at ending the nearly two-year war in Gaza  https://t.co/6q0RrS9aYIpic.twitter.com/YxW1tXVWiy  AFP News Agency (@AFP) October 5, 2025

What the White House plan proposes

Trump: We want to end the Gaza crisis. Had great meetings with leaders, I think were close to a deal. We got the hostages back  about 20 alive, 38 dead. Very sad.



60,000 Palestinians killed, cities destroyed  yet his concern is only for 20 Israelis. pic.twitter.com/IHwNvCgnur  SilencedSirs (@SilentlySirs) September 25, 2025

Hamas response and negotiating points

The Ceasefire Now people don't know how to react to this peace plan. They know this is the best plan Gaza will ever get & it should be accepted. But Israel will still exist. This deal exposes them for exactly what they are & what we have been saying they are from the beginning. pic.twitter.com/SnQpiJoK48  The Witchy Woman   (@vampywitchy) October 1, 2025

Public sentiment in Israel and Gaza

What comes next

Two years after the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, the war in Gaza may be approaching a turning point. Hamas announced on Friday that it had partially agreed to a 20-point plan introduced by the White House to end the fighting. Israel has accepted the plans first phase, which includes a limited troop pullback tied to a hostage handover, but says any final deal must include Hamas being disarmed.On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump toldthat Hamas would face complete obliteration if it refuses to give up control of Gaza. He also said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports ending Israels bombing campaign. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on CBSthat Hamas had accepted the framework of a hostage deal, stressing that talks should now focus on the logistics behind the release of these hostages.Delegations from Israel, Hamas, and the U.S., along with mediators from Egypt and Qatar, are set to meet on Monday in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Jared Kushner and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff will join the U.S. delegation.The White Houses 20-point proposal would bring an immediate end to the war once both sides formally agree. Under the plan, Israeli forces would pull back to an initial line inside Gaza to enable hostages to be handed over, while military operations would be suspended during transfers.The deal outlines the return of all 48 hostages  living and deceased  within 72 hours of acceptance. Of these, only 20 are believed to be alive. In exchange, Israel would release about 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 Gaza residents detained since the war began.Israeli officials say they are prepared to move forward with the pullback and prisoner releases, but stress that all exchanges must be verifiable, with security guarantees in place, and that Hamas must be disarmed.Hamas leaders say they accept the broad framework but want changes before final agreement. The group is pressing for adjustments to the proposed withdrawal line and insists on guarantees that Israel will not resume large-scale operations after hostages are released.Mediators and Hamas representatives also argue the 72-hour timetable for returning hostages is impractical. Some remains may be buried under rubble, others could be held by different groups, and damaged infrastructure complicates recovery. Egyptian officials have privately indicated the timeline could be extended to seven days.Another key sticking point is Israels future presence in Gaza. Hamas wants a full withdrawal, while the U.S. plan allows for an Israeli security perimeter presence until the territory is demilitarized and monitored by an international force. Any permanent withdrawal would depend on Hamas giving up its weapons and an international mission overseeing the transition.The proposal has sparked cautious optimism in Israel. A Maariv poll shows more than half of Israelis support the American plan. Families of hostages have become prominent voices in favor of a deal. Einav Zangauker, whose son remains captive, said Sunday: We are one step away from a comprehensive agreement. We will not let this opportunity slip away.At the same time, many remain frustrated with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Protester Zvia Agur said, He is our enemy. When we see that he acts against our true and just ambitions, we have to fight him.In Gaza, the health ministry reported that Israeli airstrikes and drone fire continued through the weekend, killing scores of Palestinians. The ministry says more than 67,000 Palestinians have died since the war began. Residents are wary of false hope. Aid Fuad al-Minawi, 52, said: Its a trap. Israel will impose impossible new conditions after they get the hostages  and the war will begin again.If Mondays talks in Egypt succeed, the first hostages could be released within days. But critical issues remain unresolved  from Hamass demand for guarantees on future Israeli military actions, to disagreements over withdrawal lines and verification measures.For the first time in nearly two years, both sides may be within reach of a ceasefire. Whether this opportunity leads to a sustained truce or collapses under mutual distrust will become clear in the days ahead.
Tracy and Veronica face off again

( Image credit : General Hospital spoilers for October 6, 2025, tease high-stakes drama | Credit: General Hospital Wiki )

Drew on the warpath

( Image credit : Josslyn comes back to Port Charles | Credit: Soap Opera Digest )

Josslyn returns with secrets from abroad

( Image credit : Portias attempt to rekindle her connection with Isaiah hits a pause | Credit: General Hospital Wiki )

Britts confusion and Portias question

The upcoming episode places Monicas will at the center of the Quartermaine drama. The family gathering promises fireworks, with everyone waiting to hear who inherits her prized home. Drew, still seething after being shoved out of the chapel at Monicas funeral, is not likely to remain silent if excluded. His frustration seems ready to spill over, making him a dangerous presence among relatives already on edge.Tensions rise further with Veronica Bards return. Monicas sister has already exchanged heated words with Tracy at the Quartermaine crypt. That argument may look tame compared to what unfolds when the will is read. If the property does not go to Michael, Tracy may lose her composure in ways only she can. With both women determined to claim influence, the family meeting could turn into a battlefield.Drew has carried a chip on his shoulder since Monicas funeral, and the will reading may be the breaking point. Excluded once already, he feels he deserves a place in the family circle. His anger now runs high enough to put Tracy, Michael, and others on alert. Whether his outburst comes in words or actions remains to be seen, but Drews fury will not be ignored.After time away in Australia, Josslyn comes back to Port Charles. She brings with her more than just memories of the Five Poppies mission that went wrong. Brennan recruited her into WSB operations, a truth her family does not yet know. The question is not if the truth comes out but when. Vaughn has already taken a position at WSB headquarters, and Joss will soon have to balance duty with honesty.Elsewhere, Britt appears shaken after seeing Nathan again. Although DNA confirmed his identity, her doubt shows in every expression. Could there be more to his return than science can explain? Meanwhile, Portias attempt to rekindle her connection with Isaiah hits a pause. Isaiah wants time to think, insisting any relationship remain private for the sake of his career. Whether they reach an agreement will unfold in the coming days.General Hospital spoilers promise turmoil at Monicas will reading, unresolved emotions for Britt, and new dilemmas for Josslyn and Portia. Secrets, rivalries, and shocking revelations drive the week forward.Family battles, hidden missions, and emotional confrontations set the stage for a week of unmissable revelations on General Hospital.
What just happened?

France's prime minister Sebastien Lecornu has resigned after less than a month in the job.



Mr Lecornu's resignation comes just hours after he appointed his cabinet.



The dominoes are tumbling.



Macron next.



The future belongs to patriots  pic.twitter.com/u2pGGO6qrH  Tommy Robinson  (@TRobinsonNewEra) October 6, 2025

Why did it happen?

 MACRONS HOUSE OF CARDS IS COLLAPSING IN REAL TIME



And just like that, France is in the market for a new Prime Minister...again. Sebastien Lecornu, Macrons hand-picked fresh face to clean up the mess left by Francois Bayrou, has resigned. Not after a scandal. Not after a https://t.co/wGlWDPBQ57pic.twitter.com/6gxGvL6ISD  Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 6, 2025

Frances Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has resigned less than a month after his appointment



This makes him the shortest-serving prime minister since the Fifth Republic established in 1958



Since 2020, France has had 6 different PM and 3 since parliamentary elections in 2024 pic.twitter.com/Dl135OtNoV   (@macroschema) October 6, 2025

What happens now?

Since his first election in 2017, French President Emmanuel Macron has churned through seven prime ministers. Lecornu - a fervent Macronist - lasted 27 days as PM, but his cabinet lasted just 12 hours before he quit. Polls show 2/3 of voters want Macron to quit, to end the farce. pic.twitter.com/Cd0hnIW51n  Nic Maclellan (@MaclellanNic) October 6, 2025

Appoint another prime minister, but any choice risks alienating either the left or right. A technocrat is one possibility to secure consensus on the budget. Dissolve parliament and call fresh elections, though polls suggest the outcome could again be deadlock or even deliver power to the far right. Resign himself, a step Macron has consistently ruled out before the 2027 presidential election.



France has entered a deeper political crisis after Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned just 27 days into the role. His decision came only hours after unveiling his new cabinet, making him the shortest-serving prime minister in modern French history. The resignation has rattled markets, left parliament even more divided, and put President Emmanuel Macron in a difficult position over what steps to take next.Lecornu, 39, resigned on Monday along with his government, only 12 hours after presenting his cabinet lineup. A close ally of Macron and former defence minister, he was the fifth prime minister since the presidents re-election in 2022 and the third since Macron dissolved parliament for snap elections last year.In explaining his decision, Lecornu said he was ready to compromise but every party wanted others to fully adopt their programmes. He cited partisan attitudes and certain egos as barriers to forming consensus.Markets reacted negatively, with the CAC 40 index falling 2% and the euro slipping 0.7%. Frances high debt-to-GDP ratio and widening deficit added to investor concerns.The crisis stems from the 2024 snap elections, which produced a hung parliament split between three near-equal blocs: the left, the far right, and Macrons centrist alliance. No single bloc commands a majority, leaving the government unable to advance policies.Lecornus challenge was to pass an austerity budget to curb Frances nearly 6% deficit, a task that had already cost his two predecessors their jobs. His cabinet announcement, however, sparked widespread criticism.Les Republicains said the lineup failed to deliver the profound break Lecornu had promised. Opposition parties also rejected it as either too rightwing or not rightwing enough. The return of Bruno Le Maire, Macrons long-time economy minister, as defence minister was especially controversial, viewed as a signal that Macrons economic model remained unchanged.Frances political future is uncertain. The far-right National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, has demanded new elections. The radical left France Unbowed has gone further, calling for Macron to resign.Macron has three difficult choices. He could:Each option carries risks. With economic pressures mounting and political divisions widening, France faces an unstable path forward.
( Image credit : Jack and Diane face more than just the fallout of Kyles decisions | Credit: The Bold and the Beautiful Wiki )

Audras struggle for redemption

( Image credit : Audra refuses to let anyone dictate her fate | Credit: Soap Opera Digest )

Jack and Diane plan their next move

( Image credit : Sharon may be the voice of reason | Credit: Soap Opera Digest )

Kyle and Audras showdown approaches

In Mondays episode, Kyle appears distracted at the office, his thoughts far from work. Hes still wrestling with the wreckage of his private life. Though he cherishes his son, the choices hes made cost him the woman he claimed to love. His final conversation with Claire ended in disaster, leaving her convinced his words did more harm than good. Now, with Claire moving on to Los Angeles to spend time with Holden, Kyle is left behind, isolated both emotionally and physically.Elsewhere, Audra crosses paths with Sharon at Crimson Lights. Sharon may be the voice of reason Audra desperately needs, especially after her failed attempt to be honest with Nate. Her recent vulnerability came too late, shutting the door on their relationship for good. Professionally, Audra tries to steady her footing by linking with Sally. But with Sally reluctant to leave her current setup with Billy, Audras career path hangs in uncertainty. She finds herself stuck between ambition and regret, searching for a way forward.Meanwhile, Jack and Diane face more than just the fallout of Kyles decisions. The looming threat from Cane Ashby creates new pressure, and whispers suggest Jack may even consider teaming with Victor to eliminate Cane as a rival. Mondays teasers hint that Jack is holding onto one final strategyperhaps a Hail Mary plan that could shift the balance of power.Weekly teasers point to Chancellor Park as the setting for the next round in Kyle and Audras war. Both are on edge, and neither seems willing to back down. Kyle believes forcing Audra out of Genoa City is the only solution, while Audra refuses to let anyone dictate her fate. With tempers boiling, their confrontation inches toward the point of no return. But when the dust settles, what will be left of their fragile lives and reputations?
Van Jones allegedly follows Instagram account 'hot IDF army girls'

( Image credit : Credit: CNN )

Van jones follows an account on instagram called hot idf army girls. He is a pathetic hasbara propogandist pic.twitter.com/GJtP63QNFJ  Mark Anders (@MarkA79275) October 4, 2025

Van Jones 'dead Gaza baby' controversy

Van Jones says that dead babies in Gaza are just apart of a disinformation campaign ran by Qatar and Iran. pic.twitter.com/nW43tHAMF1  Syrian Girl (@SYR_SyrianGirl) October 5, 2025

Jones apologised for his comment

( Image credit : Credit: X/Van Jones )

Van Jones is facing massive backlash over his controversial "dead Gaza baby" comment. The CNN political commentator, who is still being criticized for dehumanizing Palestinian children, has sparked fresh outrage after a post claimed he allegedly follows an Instagram account called "Hot IDF Army Girls."The viral post shows a screen recording of his Instagram account's Following section. Jones allegedly follows an account 'hot_idf_girls'. The post quickly went viral on social media, drawing massive backlash from people. "This man is truly a joke, but this isn't surprising. He has been a spokesperson for Israel for years and for US imperialism," one of the users wrote. Another one outraged, "I knew nothing about him before his disgusting punchline on B.M. After this, everything anyone needs to know about him is confirmed. He's 'Trash'".Van Jones recently made some controversial remarks about images of deceased children in Gaza during his appearance on Real Time With Bill Maher. Jones commented that social media feeds were flooded with images of "dead Gaza babies" and framed this as part of a "massive disinformation campaign" allegedly run by Iran and Qatar to sway young people's perspectives about the Israel-Palestine conflict. His comment has been interpreted as mocking or dismissive and has provoked anger and accusations of insensitivity and trivializing real suffering.This is what Jones said: "Iran and Qatar have come up with a disinformation campaign that they are running through TikTok and Instagram that is massive. If you are a young person, you are opening up your phone, and all you see is  dead Gaza baby, dead Gaza baby, dead Gaza baby, Diddy, dead Gaza baby, dead Gaza baby."After public outcry, Jones issued a public apology on social media. He acknowledged that his comments were "insensitive and hurtful" and clarified that his intention was to highlight the impact of disinformation online. However, he admitted that his words were inappropriate and said that the suffering of children in Gaza is real, profound, and should never be minimised or joked about. He also expressed sympathy for families affected by the violence.The controversy surrounding Van Jones shows no signs of slowing down as social media users continue to scrutinize both his comment and online activity of allegedly following 'hot idf girls' on Instagram. While Jones has apologised for his comment, many argue that the damage to his reputation may be lasting.
Who threw the shoe at the Chief Justice?

( Image credit : Who threw the shoe at the Chief Justice, BR Gavai? | Credit: X/@s_kanth )

Why was the Chief Justice targeted?

( Image credit : Why was the Chief Justice BR Gavai targeted? | Credit: X/@mohitlaws )

A look back at previous shoe-throwing incidents in Indian politics

Manmohan Singh

P. Chidambaram

L. K. Advani

Omar Abdullah

Arvind Kejriwal

( Image credit : Arvind Kejriwal | Credit: X/@ArvindKejriwal )

Rahul Gandhi

What does shoe throwing symbolise?

As Chief Justice BR Gavai began the days first hearing on Monday, October 6, an unexpected outburst from an elderly man stunned the courtroom. He shouted slogans and threw a shoe toward the bench. The act left everyone in the courtroom stunned, but not the Chief Justice. Calm and composed, he simply said, I am the last person to be affected by such things, and continued with the hearing as if nothing had happened.According to eyewitnesses, the man was sitting among the lawyers and clerks in the courtroom. He began shouting, India wont tolerate Sanatans insult, before hurling a shoe toward the Chief Justice. The shoe did not reach the bench. Security officers immediately rushed in and took the man into custody.Officials later revealed that the man had entered the court using a proximity card, which is usually given to lawyers and clerks. The card had the name Kishore Rakesh. His exact reason for targeting the Chief Justice is still not clear. Security agencies are now questioning him to find out more about his motive.The incident comes shortly after Chief Justice Gavai faced criticism for a remark he made during a hearing about a damaged idol of Lord Vishnu in Khajuraho. When a petition asked the court to order the idols reconstruction, he reportedly said, Go and ask the deity himself to do something.Many on social media felt that the comment was disrespectful toward the Hindu faith, and some began posting angry reactions online. Later, the Chief Justice clarified that his words were being misinterpreted and said, I respect all religions.This isnt the first time such an incident has made headlines in India. Over the years, several public figures, from politicians to prime ministers, have faced similar acts of protest.In 2009, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had a shoe thrown at him during a rally in Ahmedabad. The shoe missed, and Singh forgave the engineering student who threw it, calling it a harmless stunt.The same year, journalist Jarnail Singh threw a shoe at then Home Minister P. Chidambaram during a press conference. He was angry about the CBI giving a clean chit to Congress leader Jagdish Tytler in the 1984 Sikh riots case.That year also saw a similar incident involving L. K. Advani, the BJPs prime ministerial candidate, when a former party worker hurled a wooden slipper at him, calling him a fake Iron Man.A year later, in 2010, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah faced a shoe attack during an Independence Day function, this time from a police constable, which raised questions about a security breach.In 2016, a man threw a shoe at Delhis then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal while he was announcing the second phase of Delhis odd-even car scheme. The attacker claimed he was protesting against what he called a CNG scam.In the same year, the prominent leader of the Indian National Congress (INC) party, Rahul Gandhi, too became a target during his roadshow in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh. A man hurled a shoe from a distance, shouting that the roadshow was useless. Gandhi brushed it off calmly, saying, No matter how much they attack me, I will keep standing for the people.Shoe-throwing has often been used as a symbolic act of protest across the world, a way for people to express anger or disagreement without physical harm. In India, such incidents usually come from frustration, political disagreement, or the desire for attention.
The permanently closed Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant was reflected in a rain puddle in Maple Shade, N.J., in late September. The company officially filed for bankruptcy over the weekend. Read more

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, which abruptly closed all locations last month after nearly 30 years in business, has officially filed for bankruptcy.

The local chain filed under Chapter 7, which allows for liquidation, as opposed to Chapter 11, which lets a company reorganize and remain open.

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Iron Hill owes more than $20 million to creditors and has about $125,000 in the bank, according to documents filed over the weekend in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey.

The company, founded in Newark, Del., in 1996, had expanded in recent years, opening restaurants in South Carolina and Georgia, canning its beers for sale, and announcing plans to open a location on Temple Universitys campus.

 READ MORE: Iron Hill Brewery has closed all locations

Bankruptcy documents show those moves did not pay off. Since Jan. 1, Iron Hill corporate had brought in about $242,000 in gross revenue from business operations, while the restaurants brought in more than $25 million.

Company representatives, including an attorney listed in court documents, have not returned The Inquirers requests for additional comment.

Iron Hill executives first referenced bankruptcy plans in a message to employees on Sept. 25, writing: Due to ongoing financial challenges, the company has made the difficult decision to file for bankruptcy, and, regrettably, will be permanently closing its doors.

In a letter to customers the same day, however, Iron Hill struck a more positive tone. We sincerely hope to return in the future, and when we do, we promise to welcome you with open arms, management wrote in a message posted on social-media pages and taped to the doors of 16 shuttered restaurants across the region.

Former Iron Hill restaurants  many of which occupied expansive properties in prime locations  now sit empty in Center City, Exton, Huntingdon Valley, Maple Shade, Media, Newtown, North Wales, West Chester, and Wilmington.

Iron Hill workers still in shock

It remains unclear how many Iron Hill workers lost their jobs. Several former employees told The Inquirer that they received their final paychecks on time, despite the companys financial straits.

Iron Hill filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice in New Jersey indicating 108 employees lost their jobs at its Maple Shade and Voorhees restaurants, the latter of which closed in early September. Pennsylvania labor officials said they had not received a notice from Iron Hill.

The WARN Act generally requires companies to give 60 days notice of mass layoffs, but there are several exceptions, including for unforeseeable business circumstances and faltering companies.

Several former Iron Hill employees said Monday that they were still in shock over having lost their jobs without notice.

Brian Hayes, 49, of New Castle, said being a line cook at the Wilmington restaurant was one of my favorite jobs Ive ever had. He had a great boss and coworkers, he said, and Iron Hill paid him well. Hayes said he worked 39 hours a week, made $18.50 an hour, and was set to receive a raise this month. His earnings allowed him to save a lot of money, enough to take a few weeks off before he figures out what comes next.

While he heard rumors that the business wasnt doing well over the past six months, he said he was incredulous when he arrived at work on the morning of Sept. 25 to find the doors locked. His manager came out to deliver the news.

At the Hershey restaurant, server Jennifer Mondoro said she felt a similar shock when she saw the message from management just hours before her night shift on Sept. 25.

They just shut the doors on us, said the 43-year-old Hummelstown resident. They did give us our last paycheck, thank God  [but] we havent heard anything else.

Within days of Iron Hill closing, Mondoro said she was hired as a server at a nearby restaurant.

Looking back, Mondoro said she questioned some of Iron Hills recent decisions, including making employees take a nine-week summer school training program that culminated in a four-hour menu test. Employees had recently received new uniforms, she said, and were encouraged to sell customers King of the Hill memberships until the final day.

Mondoro said she knew of one customer who was saving more than $2,000 in rewards on a King of the Hill membership. She said the customer intended to use the funds to buy holiday gift cards.

What customers with Iron Hill gift cards can do

Some Iron Hill customers with gift cards may be out of luck. Others may be able to get relief, if theyre willing to take a few steps, experts say.

When a restaurant or store closes, gift cards for that business are most likely worthless, unless its part of a parent company that is still operating, said Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog director with the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. Iron Hill does not have a parent company.

Gift-card holders can try to file a claim through the bankruptcy process, but as lowest-priority creditors, they are unlikely to receive refunds, experts say.

If a gift card was purchased with a credit card, and its still within 60 days of the statement on which the charge appeared, the buyer is legally obligated to a refund under the Fair Credit Billing Act. Murray said customers should dispute the transaction with their card issuer.

 READ MORE: Unused gift cards can feel like wasted money. Heres what to do if you have them after a store goes out of business.

Consumers could also file a complaint with their state attorney generals office, Murray said, especially if there were indications the restaurant kept selling gift cards once it knew it was going to close.

The Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office has received complaints about gift cards that were purchased and cannot be used, according to the bankruptcy filing.

The office is monitoring the situation, said spokesperson Brett Hambright, and asking any consumer who feels they have been harmed to file a complaint with our Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Complaints can be filed online at attorneygeneral.gov/submit-a-complaint/consumer-complaint. The bureau can also be reached by phone at 717-787-9707.

Murray noted that other restaurants will sometimes accept all or some of an otherwise-unusable gift card, or offer customers a discount.

Stove & Co. restaurant group said on Facebook that it would exchange Iron Hill gift cards for $25 gift cards to their restaurants for a limited time. Stove & Co. owns several local restaurants, including Stove & Tap in Lansdale and West Chester, and Al Pastor in Exton and Havertown.

This story has been updated to clarify Iron Hills revenue numbers.
Nicholas Fountain is the vice chair of the Skippack Township Board of Supervisors. Read more

A Skippack Township supervisor, already facing charges of soliciting child pornography, has been charged with sexually abusing a boy who was in his care for several years, investigators said Monday.

Nicholas Fountain, 38, was arraigned late Sunday on charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault, and related crimes, after investigators say he admitted to the crimes in an interview with Pennsylvania State Police detectives.

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He remained in custody, denied bail. It was unclear if he had hired an attorney.

Fountain had been in custody since Sept. 24, when state police troopers arrested him on a warrant issued by the Hartford County Sheriffs Office in northeast Maryland. He was charged with soliciting nude pictures from an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old boy.

Since Fountain runs two daycare centers in Skippack and Gilbertsville, state police detectives interviewed people close to him about any potential criminal activity, according to the affidavit of probable cause for his arrest in Montgomery County.

In one of those interviews, the victim, now 18, told police Fountain sexually abused him, beginning when he was 9 years old and continuing until he was 16, the affidavit said.

The abuse began in 2016, he said, and started when he and Fountain were wrestling and Fountain asked him to take off his shirt and, eventually, all of his clothing.

He said during subsequent assaults, Fountain groped him, showed him pornography and performed oral sex on him. Fountain later attempted to initiate other sexual contact, he said, but he refused.

In a statement issued after Fountains arrest in September, the members of the Skippack Board of Supervisors said they were shocked to learn of the charges, and urged him to resign if the allegations were true.

Fountain, the boards vice chair, has served as a supervisor since 2013.

He is scheduled to appear before Magisterial District Judge Adam Katzman for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 15.
Two brothers were terrorized in what police say was a targeted home burglary that turned into a violent 45-minute abduction early Saturday morning. Authorities are now asking the public for help finding the masked suspects behind the robbery.

Police say a 38-year-old man was returning home with his family to the 2100 block of Princeton Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia when two men, who appear to have been waiting for them in front of the home, forced their way in.

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Soon after, the invaders forced the 38-year-old into his black 2023 Jeep Wagoneer and headed toward his brothers home a short distance away. The brother was lured into the car and also kidnapped using zip ties, according to police.

Theyre being assaulted with firearms, struck with the firearms, and the money is being demanded [of] the victims, telling them to call their family, said Deputy Commissioner of Investigations Frank Vanore.

The kidnappers, who wore face coverings and backpacks, headed to South Philadelphia and eventually parked on the 2000 block of Albright Street in the Harrowgate section of the city, where police spotted the Jeep. Police confronted the suspects and one officer opened fire, but not before the suspects could split up and make their getaway. No one was injured as a result of the weapon discharge.

Thats where police are asking the public to step in. Authorities have recovered some video from the 2100 block of Princeton Avenue. After the confrontation on Albright Street, the suspects fled in opposite directions.

Vanore said one suspect  5-foot-8, medium build  headed east on Coral Street from Castor Avenue and the second suspect  5-foot-11 to 6 feet, thin build  was northbound on Castor Avenue from Frankford Avenue.

The second suspect is believed to have escaped on a 10-speed bike, though its unclear if he stole it or had stowed it away beforehand.

Vanore did not disclose any additional information regarding the targeted brothers, except to say they were treated for their injuries.

The suspects stole a few hundred dollars, according to Vanore, who added that this home invasion appeared to have no ties to another home break-in in the Olney section of the city. In that robbery, the suspect zip-tied a family and walked away with $1,000.
Students Ryan King, Angie Medina, and Christian Toro  founding members of the DreamEscape Library at Kensington Health Sciences Academy  stand in front of some of the library's new books at its grand opening. Read more

Kensington Health Sciences Academys library used to consist of a single cart that students would push through the schools hallways, trying to find takers for the tiny book collection they managed to piece together.

Now, its a whole room  brightly painted, with shelves and shelves of books, tables, comfy chairs, and computers  a real library, junior Christian Toro said last week, shaking his head in wonder.

Even when it was one rolling cart, KHSAs DreamEscape Library was a marvel: conceived, built, and run by students. They spent their entire school careers with no real school libraries and then made one happen on their own.

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 READ MORE: Heres how some Philly high school students built a library from scratch. Kids just kept coming, renewing books.

But, with support from the community that poured in after The Inquirer first reported on the students efforts, the library has leveled up. Last week, students and staff marked the grand opening of the expanded library  for the first time, occupying a room of its own, with a budget to buy books.

It feels amazing, said Toro. Now, we have a whole space to ourselves.

Building buzz

The Philadelphia School District has just three full-time certified school librarians for 216 schools  a ratio experts say may be the worst in the country among big-city districts.

Two school years ago, KHSA students decided building a library was the answer to the student government advisers question: name one project that would positively impact our community.

A group of kids got a $1,000 seed grant and started with the rolling cart, plus as many free, high-interest books as they could find. At first, they had to sell their classmates on reading and on checking out books.

They called it the DreamEscape Library. They created a social media account and built buzz book by book, student by student.

Eventually, the KHSA students won $20,000 via the Philly Service Awards Young Entrepreneurs prize. They shifted from the cart to splitting Room 107B with the schools special-education office, opening a few days a week after school, doing all the work themselves  from cataloging the books to helping classmates find the right series, from checking them out to promoting the library in school and via social media.

After The Inquirer detailed the students work, DreamEscape suddenly had a fan base outside the school  people who wanted to buy books or send words of encouragement.

A partnership 40 years in the making

In a way, the members of Christos Mar Thoma Church in Northeast Philadelphia had been looking for KHSA and DreamEscape for years.

Bobby Mathew, a member of the church, had been searching for a local school cause for the church to latch onto for a long time.

Mathew came to Philadelphia from India as a teenager. He landed in Marsha Pincus English class at Gratz High in 1985, and the two forged a strong bond.

Mathew was quickly singled out as a promising student, and given a $66 a month scholarship by a local organization  money that made a real difference in the young mans life.

The school wanted to be kind, and that enabled me, and I wanted to enable others someday, said Mathew, who went on to major in engineering at Drexel and work for tech companies like Intel and Broadcom.

Forty years later, he found the right others. After The Inquirer story ran, Pincus connected him to KHSA. Church members visited the library, and KHSA principal Nimet Eren and Ethan Feuer, one of the DreamEscape sponsoring teachers, traveled to the church.

Soon after, a partnership was forged. The church donated $5,000 to DreamEscape, and, at the grand opening, promised more assistance.

The display made Eren teary.

It has been an absolute dream seeing you guys work so hard over the last few years, Eren said at the grand opening. Every principal wants to create a school where the students are the leaders, and you really have provided leadership to the rest of the school.

Church members were similarly moved.

This is a dream come true for us, as it is for you, one told the students.

After the speeches, Christos Mar Thoma members celebrated with the students and teachers, treating them to samosas, chicken biryani, and other dishes.

Feuer, along with teacher Elena Marcovici, has been with the project since its inception. Feuer said the library has been transformative for the school. Kids are leaning into a culture of reading for pleasure.

Every single ninth grader has a book checked out now, Feuer said. They ask for new books, and Feuer has the budget to order them.

For now, DreamEscape is open three days a week, 2:34-3:30 p.m., when students can staff it. But the team has big plans.

The big dream, Feuer said, would be to have it open during every lunch period.
Washington Township Superintendent Eric Hibbs was appointed in May 2023. Read more

Embattled Washington Township school Superintendent Eric Hibbs has been cleared of three misconduct allegations that prompted his suspension earlier this year.

In a letter last week, Christopher M. Supsie, an attorney for a conflict law firm hired by the school board in March to investigate the allegations, said the probe had been completed.

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The board hired the law firm to look into a complaint against Hibbs alleging the superintendent provided preferential treatment to a family member of board member Carol Chila by directing a staff member to change a failing math grade in September 2023 for Chilas daughter.

 READ MORE: Washington Township school board put superintendent on leave and cant agree on replacement. Heres a look at the ethics complaints.

The complaint also contended Chilas daughter was improperly admitted to the schools National Honor Society and records for her and other students were removed.

At this time, I can advise that I have completed my investigation and found no evidence of misconduct being committed by Dr. Eric Hibbs, Supsie wrote in the two-page letter. My investigation is now closed.

Board president Julie Kozempel declined to comment Monday.

The board was reviewing a lengthy report compiled by Supsie. The Forked River firm was paid $165 an hour to conduct the investigation. The full report has not been made public.

Marc Zitomer, an attorney for Hibbs, said the investigators conclusion was unequivocal and found no wrongdoing.

The findings fully exonerate him, and we are pleased that his integrity and professionalism have been reaffirmed, Zitomer said in a statement.

The board placed Hibbs on paid administrative leave in March and hired the outside law firm to investigate. A reason was not cited for the suspension.

Hibbs attorneys have said their client was told he was suspended because of the ethics complaint.

Zitomer said he has asked the New Jersey School Ethics Commission to dismiss the pending complaint. It named Hibbs and then-Assistant Superintendent Pamela Nathan.

Washington Township Education Association president Gerard Taraschi, who filed the complaint along with Robert Scardino, then the unions vice president, said it would await a decision by the school ethics commission.

At this point in time, it would be premature for me to make a comment on whether he has been exonerated or not, Taraschi said Monday.

Scardino announced in May that he had withdrawn from the complaint because of a lack of evidence. Board members, residents, and Hibbs have filed numerous ethics complaints alleging misconduct.

Hibbs and the nine-member board have been at odds while the district has faced budget cuts and layoffs. Legal bills also have mounted in court cases.

Hibbs returned to work in August following the five-month suspension after a judge ordered his return. The judge said the board violated the states open public meeting law when it voted in closed session.

Hibbs has been superintendent in the Washington Township district since 2023 and earned $220,375 during the 2023-24 school year. His contract runs through 2027.

 READ MORE: Washington Township school board again rejects $27K merit pay for Superintendent Eric Hibbs

The board has twice rejected Hibbs request for $27,000 in merit pay for the 2024-2025 school year for meeting performance goals. Hibbs is among the highest paid school chiefs in South Jersey.

Hibbs has said he met four of the five goals approved by the board. He is entitled to an annual merit bonus of up to 14.99% of his salary, according to his contract.
For almost a year, Emilia DAlbero trained like an athlete, heavy-lifting and sculpting till her hands ached. The Philly cheesemonger spent two hours a day tasting, cutting, and plating hundreds of pounds of cheese.

The training paid off on Sept. 15, when she won the Mondial du Fromage, one of the top cheese competitions in the world. Held over two days in Tours, France, the contest pits 18 mongers from 14 countries against each other over nine challenges that put their cheese knowledge, plating savvy, cutting chops, sensory skills, and pairing expertise to the test.

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As the clock ticked down on the four-hour, five-challenge final round, all she could think about was cleaning up smudges and crumbles as she plated an intricate, nearly 40-inch display featuring several dozen varieties of cheese, from hulking wedges of Comte to small wheels of aged chevre.

When the buzzer went off and I was done, I felt this incredible sense of relief knowing that I had given absolutely my best effort, DAlbero said. I had prepared as best I could and hoped that I had brought honor to American cheesemongers.

In the end, the Point Breeze resident, who goes by @punkrockparmigiano on TikTok, won the gold  becoming the first American to do so.

To even get to the Mondial du Fromage, DAlbero had to win two other competitions over the past four years, besting roughly 50 American mongers along the way.

In summer 2021, she took first place in a virtual, pandemic-era version of the Cheesemonger Invitational, a national competition held in New York City every summer. She placed second at an in-person event held later that same year  meeting her now-partner and fellow cheesemonger Tommy Amorim of Di Bruno Bros., who edged her out for the top spot. (Philly-based mongers Jake Heller and Max Lazary have won CMI in 2024 and 2025, respectively.)

That made DAlbero eligible to compete in the Cheesemonger Invitational Masters; she faced off against 16 previous CMI winners for one of two spots on Team USA this past March. DAlbero and Seattle-based cheesemonger Courtney Johnson emerged victorious at CMI Masters, earning both a trip to France for last months Mondial du Fromage, also dubbed the Olympics of cheese.

There, DAlbero and Johnson made history as the U.S.s first all-female team. Johnson won the bronze medal while DAlbero won the gold, trumping 18 competitors from 14 other countries. The two mongers are the first Americans to ever stand on the competitions podium together.

Mondials jury, comprising top cheesemongers and other international cheese and grocery-industry professionals, evaluates the competitors performance on a 200-point rubric that measures their cheese knowledge, visual quality, cutting, originality, and artistic quality.

It is an honor, and its also incredibly humbling, DAlbero said. The main emotion that I have been feeling in the last couple of weeks is gratitude, because this was really a community effort.

DAlbero and Johnson received lots of support from fellow Americans as they prepared for the competition: Cheesemakers and distributors from across the country sent pounds of cheese, accouterments, and other items, and offered spaces in which to practice. In Philadelphia, Julia Fox-Birnbaum of Bella Vistas Philly Cheese School hosted Team USAs last practice event in July. DAlbero sourced ingredients and tools from Italian Market staples like Di Bruno Bros., Cardenas, and Fantes. She sourced glass pieces for her display from Rainbow Resellers, an area business she found at the local roving Punk Rock Flea Market.

I received hundreds of pounds of [free] cheese over the last six months, and thats not an exaggeration, DAlbero said. So anything that I either didnt use or that was given to me and I couldnt use, I put into the South Philly community fridges.

Out of the nine challenges, DAlberos final-round cheese plateau was her favorite to put together. To build it, she utilized certain elements to reference her friends, family, and others who helped her along the way. She borrowed a fish spatula from one of her mentors to transfer parmigiano frico from a baking sheet to cup molds. She incorporated her great grandmothers espresso cups to hold bite-sized appetizers showcasing Stilton cheese. And the wrinkly-creamy French cows milk cheese known as Langres paid homage to a close friend.

It was really the culmination of all of my work, not just from the past year, but from really my whole life, DAlbero said. It was really fulfilling to see that final presentation and know that it had been appreciated by so many people.

After judging, DAlbero took home a gold medal and a giant check for 2,500 euros.

DAlbero isnt currently employed at a local cheese shop  she works remotely doing sales and marketing for the cheese-equipment supplier Formaticum  but she expects to pop up for a few guest-mongering stints at Di Bruno Bros. counters during the holidays.

She sees a greater significance in her and Johnsons wins on the world stage. American cheesemongers are misunderstood, I think, by both the American public and Europeans, she said. And if theres anything that this win helps contextualize is that cheesemongers are wonderful, hard-working, creative, capable people whose main goal is to foster the love of cheese.
Three years ago, baker Mardhory Santos-Cepeda brought Brazilian delicacies  from chocolate cream-filled sonhos to spiraling bolo de rolo cakes wrapped around imported guava  to South Philly. Now, the Brasilia-raised chef has expanded Kouklet & Tanda Brazilian Bakehouse to a second location featuring several signature pastries, including sonhos (sourdough doughnuts), cookies, and coconut cakes, plus a full coffee menu with Brazilian beans roasted by Hermans and made-to-order stuffed Brazilian tapioca flatbread.

Just a 15-minute walk from its original East Passyunk Avenue location, the bakerys new corner storefront is now open at 1429 Wolf St., painted the same shade of bright yellow as its sister shop. The building doubles as Santos-Cepedas commercial kitchen and a takeout bakery.

Last year was rough one financially for the 33-year-old chef. She didnt think Kouklet (pronounced koo-clay) would make it to 2025. We really needed to bring more income to the business, she said. We felt the increase of ingredients and the foot traffic was down.

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In addition, baking inside the 800-square-foot space at 1647 E. Passyunk Ave. became increasingly difficult. It wasnt set up to be a kitchen, Santos-Cepeda said. We didnt have any ventilation system and the fire alarm would always go off.

So she found a commercial kitchen close by for a reasonable price and moved the bakerys production. Soon, folks in the West Passyunk neighborhood got curious.

People would stop me and ask what was going on here, she said. And I would tell them and they were like, Oh my gosh, you guys should open the doors.

Santos-Cepeda couldnt pause production to build out a new retail counter in the 1,000-square foot kitchen, so she put a table in the entrance of the space with a few pastries and placed a menu board outside on the sidewalk. Folks started coming in, and she learned what items her neighbors were most interested in purchasing.

Now, she opens the makeshift takeout bakery from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday to Sunday for those same encouraging neighbors to stop by for baked goods and coffee.

This place was born out of necessity from me and also from the neighbors  we both wanted something like this, so we just made it happen, she said.

The menu here is a smaller than the original location, but its the only place you can get Santos-Cepedas crispy-chewy tapioca flatbreads  a crepelike dish Brazilians call simply tapioca.

Its a popular breakfast dish in the northeast of Brazil, often filled with butter and accompanied with a coffee, Santos-Cepeda said. But at the new location, she remixes it by adding a variety of fillings and sprinkling cheese into a pan to make a crispy exterior. A layer of tapioca flour (called polvilho in Brazil) forms a starchy base on top of the cheese thats stuffed with fillings like egg and cheese, mortadella, or shredded roast chicken, then folded quesadilla-style.

The new location also has a small selection of fresh produce for purchase. Santos-Cepeda said she envisions offering takeout lunch and dinner in the future. (She plans to launch a brunch offering of Brazilian couscous bowls made of steamed corn cakes  think a hybrid of polenta and grits  at the original location soon.)

Between working in a larger kitchen and adding the second location and seating to the original  the Passyunk Avenue shop can now seat about 15  Kouklets outlook is gradually improving, Santos-Cepeda said. Both places are working together to help the whole business.

Kouklet & Tanda Brazilian Bakehouse, 1429 Wolf St.; kouklet.com, instagram.com/koukletbakehouse, Thursday to Sunday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Vincent Termini Sr. stands next to a portrait of his father, Giuseppe "Joe" Termini, in the bakery in 2023. Read more

A South Philadelphia tradition  the line on Christmas Eve outside of Termini Bros. Bakery on Eighth Street  just wont be the same without Mr. Vince greeting customers waiting for hours to buy biscotti, cookies, and especially cannoli.

Vincent Termini Sr., 86, whose father and uncle founded the popular bakery in 1921 and who operated it for decades, died Saturday, Oct. 4.

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Funny, compassionate, and endlessly generous  Vincent Sr. was a man whose warmth filled every room he entered, the family wrote. His quiet acts of kindness touched more lives than he ever realized, and his selflessness was simply who he was, never something he needed to announce.

 READ MORE: A brief history of Termini Bros.

Mr. Vince took over the bakery in 1976, though he worked side by side with his father, Giuseppe Joe Termini, until his death at age 95 in 1994. Mr. Vinces sons, Vince and Joe, took over the bakery as Mr. Vince stepped aside about five years ago.

Termini Bros. started in 1921 in a shop across the street from the current location. Joe Termini and his older brother, Gaetano, who emigrated from the Sicilian village of Enna, slept on the floor at 1514 S. Eighth St. in the early years to keep the coal ovens burning.

In 1938, the year that Mr. Vince was born, they outgrew the space and moved to 1523 S. Eighth St., selling the original store to Pete Barbaro, who ran a barbershop there for decades. Barbaros widow sold the building back to the Terminis in the 1990s.

Mr. Vince led an expansion of the business, convincing his father to buy a delivery truck, install a walk-in refrigerator, and open satellite locations, including Reading Terminal Market.

In 2006, Mr. Vince converted the original bakery into Mr. Joes Cafe, a restaurant and passion project named in honor of his father, where he served the South Philly Italian dishes he grew up on  stewed tripe, braciole, hand-rolled ricotta gnocchi, and a terrific roast pork sandwich. It closed at the outset of the pandemic.

In 2022, sons Vince and Joe retooled it into Nonna & Pops, a dessert shop, in honor of Mr. Vince and his wife, Barbara. The couple met when she got a job as a sales clerk at the bakery and were married for 59 years.

In 2018 and 2019, Mr. Vince and his sons consulted with restaurateur Michael Schulson on the creation of Giuseppe & Sons, an Italian restaurant in Center City.

Besides his wife and sons, he is survived by his daughter, Mariangela, and six grandchildren.

A visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at St. John Vianney Church, 350 Conshohocken State Rd., Gladwyne, followed by Mass at 11 a.m. Burial will be private. Due to space considerations at the church, a separate memorial has been established at Nonna & Pops, 1514 S. Eighth St., for friends, family, and customers to gather, share stories and memories, and sign the guest book.

This article has been updated with funeral information.
Campaign signs for Roosevelt Poplar, current president of the local police union, and his challenger, Charles "Knute" Mellon, are displayed side by side outside the 5th Police District in Roxborough. The ballots will be tallied Tuesday. Read more

For years, the elections to decide who should run Philadelphias powerful police union were a formality. John McNesby, who led the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 from 2007 until his retirement, faced no challengers over the last 15 years to his reign as president.

That changes Tuesday, when the unions 12,500 active and retired members will finalize the choice between two sharply different paths: keeping McNesbys handpicked successor in place, or handing power to a slate of newcomers alleging that financial mismanagement by the old guard warrants a change in leadership.

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The campaign has been unusually bitter, marked by caustic social media attacks, fake accounts, AI-generated images, contentious union meetings, and even threats of violence.

On one side is current president Roosevelt Poplar who joined the police force in 1990, became a trustee in Lodge 5 in 2000 and later served as a union vice president and McNesbys chief of staff.

On the other is Charles Knute Mellon, a former pilot in the Police Departments Aviation Unit, and now the executive officer of recruit training.

The American Arbitration Association will tally the results at FOP headquarters beginning Tuesday morning. So far, more than 5,000 mail-in ballots have been received.

Poplar, 58, and his team have pointed to their years of experience and a proven track record securing lucrative pay raises and benefits for their members.

Mellon, 48, and his team have alleged that McNesby and the current union leaders racked up millions in questionable credit card charges and lack transparency about the unions profits and expenses.

Questions about the unions financial stewardship go back to McNesbys unexpected resignation in 2023, soon after one of his top officials was accused of swindling a police widow out of more than $20,000. The FOPs executive board voted unanimously to have Poplar assume the job of president.

McNesby, in a recent Facebook video, said that throwing the keys to this building to a group of inexperienced people, would be a mistake.

I guess when I left, they saw an opening, or they saw a crack in the door, and they were going to kick it off the hinges ... or maybe it was like turning on the lights and the termites came out, he said.

When you have an organization like the FOP, $120 million a year, $10 million a month, you cant just throw the keys to this organization to anybody without experience, he said.

Earlier this year, The Inquirer obtained and reviewed hundreds of pages of publicly available FOP tax records and audits, as well as internal financial documents that have never been made public. Reporters also interviewed tax and labor experts, and retired and active police officers familiar with McNesbys tenure as Lodge 5 president.

An August Inquirer investigation, The Blue Divide, found limited oversight and a lack of transparency surrounding the unions expenditures.

Marc Owens, one of the independent experts who agreed to inspect some of the FOPs financial records at The Inquirers request, said the unions network of nonprofits and businesses are unusually complex and potentially vulnerable to abuse.

Its impenetrable, said Owens, a former director of the Internal Revenue Services Exempt Organizations Division. Its not clear what the expenditures are, what the linkage is between the tax-exempt purpose of the labor union and the expenditures.

The Inquirer found that questionable expenditures were most notable within the Survivors Fund, a charitable foundation created to support families of officers who lost their lives or were gravely wounded in the line of duty. Because nonprofit reporting rules dont require detailed breakdowns of spending, its unclear how the union doles out money from the fund.

But tax filings from 2016 to 2024 revealed unclear expenditures from the fund, including hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on funerals and special events during years when there were no line-of-duty deaths.

At least one expenditure didnt go to a survivors family at all. The fund issued a $2,500 check in 2023 to the family of Officer Edsaul Mendoza  the officer who fatally shot an unarmed 12-year-old boy in South Philadelphia the year before, according to internal records reviewed by The Inquirer.

Another point of contention among members is a Chevrolet Tahoe Z71 the union bought for McNesby in 2022. The SUV was later sold, and the union wrote McNesby a $64,500 check from the proceeds, according to three members who said they reviewed the transaction records. The gift wasnt put to a membership vote, which angered some members who found out about it after the fact.

Some members have also questioned the compensation of FOP executives.

Between 2013 and 2023, McNesbys pay  which would have been approved by the FOPs board  soared from $129,622 to $240,818, tax records show. By his final year, he was earning more than Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.

Poplar earns $238,145 in total compensation.

The animosity between the Poplar and Mellon camps allegedly almost turned physical in May.

Mellon  in a video he posted on Facebook  said that two members of Poplars team approached him at the unions headquarters in Northeast Philadelphia to challenge him about questions hed raised about the unions finances.

Mellon alleged that Poplars supporters got in his face and said they wanted a piece of him, and then tried to prevent him from leaving.

Both Poplar and Mellon have declined interviews with The Inquirer.

Poplar has dismissed questions raised by his opponents about the unions finances, calling them attacks and rumors that should be viewed in context of an FOP election by members who are untested and desperate for attention.

Both sides have used Facebook as a platform to try to drum up support in the weeks leading up to the election.

But some members have grown tired of the venomous talk and pleaded for peace.

Can we all [act] like adults and not politicians and stop the name calling and insults, someone recently posted on Facebook.
Luke Szapiel, 9, author of "Back to the Pigeon," displays his book at the Latin American Book Fair at the Kimmel Center on Saturday. Read more

Luke Szapiel was done reading the few bilingual books for fourth graders he could find  so he became a bilingual writer. The 9-year-old Venezuelan American was one of 32 Latino authors who presented their books at Philadelphias annual Latin American Book Fair Saturday morning.

Flags from Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay, Venezuela, and 14 other Latino countries welcomed 200 people to the Kimmel Center, as authors from all over the country talked about their creations onstage.

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Wearing a Venezuelan flag shirt, Szapiel took the stage with two copies of his self-published book. Tired of having a hard time finding age-appropriate bilingual or Spanish books, he told his mom he wanted to write his own. His favorite bird, interest in time traveling, and wanting to share his Latino culture brought Back to the Pigeon to life.

If you write in two languages, more people can read it, said Szapiel, holding a pigeon stuffed animal and a toy car from Back to the Future. I want other kids to know that no matter the language you speak, there is no time like the present, but you got to look at the past to learn from the mistakes.

That kind of multicultural, bilingual storytelling is what Nez Rendon came looking for at the book fair. As a mother of three Puerto Rican, Mexican, and Colombian children under 10, she has struggled to find bilingual stories where her kids can feel seen.

The world is so dark right now, so its really important for them to see their culture highlighted, to see the creativity their cultures bring, Rendon said. It helps them not feel alone.

But not all books at the fair were fit for children. Community group Comadre Luna gave attendees a look at their upcoming illustrated book Voces de oro (Golden voices), a story about the gentrification of Kensington. Independence Public Media Foundation is scheduled to publish the book in December.

The book shows the story of El Centro de Oro, one of the largest Latino neighborhoods in Philly, and how gentrification has affected it through the years.

It has no words, but it brings the voices of Latino neighbors to life so people can hear them no matter the language, said Comadre Luna member Alejandra Alvarez Garcia.

As the children from Nuuxakun dance company took the stage with Mexican traditional dances, folks began populating the area around Clara Elena Garcias table.

Garcia drove four hours from Albany, N.Y., to share her trilingual book and her Paraguayan culture with Philadelphians. Seven Legendary Monsters tells the story of the mythical creatures of her culture in English, Spanish, and the Indigenous language Guarani.

In the literary world there is very little representation for Latin American authors, especially in Spanish, but people need to realize that our stories are equally good, Garcia said. Especially right now, bilingual books are a way to say we are still here, we are still fighting, our culture deserves a space.
The Donald Trump regime hasnt banned me from writing this column  at least I dont believe so  but top government officials have made it clear, from the president on down, that in their eyes what Im about to say is dangerous and un-American.

In a series of speeches, tweets, and decrees from the Oval Office, the regime insists that the existential threat to our national way of life isnt from troops in the streets of American cities toting assault rifles and tear-gassing peaceful citizens, but from protesters or writers like me calling that behavior out for what it really is.

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Fascism.

The president, Vice President JD Vance, and their minions have seized on the actions of a few young, lone-wolf assassins to issue blanket condemnations seeking to vilify and, in essence, ban free speech that accurately describes Americas downward spiral into autocracy.

This violence is the result of the Radical Left Democrats constantly demonizing Law Enforcement, calling for ICE  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement  to be demolished, and comparing ICE Officers to Nazis, Trump wrote on Truth Social after a deadly sniper attack against a Dallas ICE facility. I AM CALLING ON ALL DEMOCRATS TO STOP THIS RHETORIC AGAINST ICE AND AMERICAS LAW ENFORCEMENT, RIGHT NOW!

Trump tied that threat to a September executive order in which the president declared antifa  which is an ideology, not an organized group  as a terrorist organization, a pretext for going after real left-wing groups and people who fund them. Antifa is short for anti-fascism and a belief that urgent, even radical, means are necessary to keep this brand of dictatorship from taking root. Trump, in his memo, attempts to rebrand anti-fascism, writing that 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.

If you want to stop political violence stop attacking our law enforcement as the Gestapo, if you want to stop political violence stop telling your supporters that everybody who disagrees with you is a Nazi, Vance declared in a speech in North Carolina on the same day as Trumps post.

 READ MORE: Kimmel yanked: Sen. Fetterman, can we call it fascism yet? | Will Bunch

This isnt some arcane dispute over language. The Trump regime is desperate to control the words of Americas political conversation because they want to normalize what they are doing right now, which is pursuing a rapid race to demolish democratic norms and institutions. Vances goal in his North Carolina speech is really to lump the most outrageous comments online with the bulk of legitimate dissent about the outrages that are happening right now from Chicago to the Caribbean.

The success of Trumps plan depends on how we see it, or rather, whether we choose not to see it, historian Timothy Snyder, who recently left Yale for the University of Toronto, wrote in a new op-ed. In the worst case, Americans choose not to notice, look away as their neighbors and coworkers are swept up in immigration raids and their cities become militarized, and then pretend that they had no other choice but to abandon democracy.

Snyder, the author of On Tyranny, and other historians of authoritarian movements have been writing for a decade on the strong similarities between Trumps MAGA movement and the classical fascism that took roots in parts of Europe in the 20th century.

Fascism may be defined as a form of political behavior marked by obsessive preoccupation with community decline, humiliation or victimhood and by compensatory cults of unity, energy, and purity, in which a mass-based party of committed nationalist militants, working in uneasy but effective collaboration with traditional elites, abandons democratic liberties and pursues with redemptive violence and without ethical or legal restraints goals of internal cleansing and external expansion.

The Columbia University history professor and expert on World War II dictatorship Robert O. Paxson wrote that in his book, The Anatomy of Fascism, back in 2004, or 11 years before the president descended from the escalator at Trump Tower. But the hyperlinks are all from Americas dystopian present.

Its critical to the success of the MAGA enterprise that when Trump, in an unprecedented yet rambling and monotonous address to more than 800 military commanders, describes the new mission for American soldiers as the enemy within, that you do not label this as fascism. Even if the commander-in-chiefs words trace back directly to Joe McCarthy and carry alarming echoes of Joseph Stalin.

Whatever you say, do not make any comparison to Nazi Germany when a small army of federal agents wearing military-style fatigues shoot flashbang grenades and rappel down from a helicopter to stage a dead-of-night assault on a South Side Chicago apartment building with 800 residents  separating children, some of them naked, from their mothers and dragging them into U-Haul vans. They dont want anyone who has read The Diary of Anne Frank to ponder immigrants hiding in their attic in 2025.

No wonder that when U.S. troops use drones to obliterate civilian vessels on the high seas and slaughter every human being on board, officials like self-proclaimed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth race to brand the victims as narco-terrorists and some type of enemy combatant. The implications of accurately describing these attacks  as the president of the United States openly ordering murders, without any due process and in violation of any and every known law, yet shielded by a rogue Supreme Court  is too monstrous for many to comprehend.

Which is exactly what theyre going for.

Experts on the subject have known since the worldwide ruin of World War II that controlling the language is central to the fascist project, from George Orwell warning about freedom is slavery doublespeak to a 1945 U.S. Army pamphlet that proclaimed: An American fascist seeking power would not proclaim that he is a fascist. Fascism always camouflages its plans and purposes. ... It would work under the guise of super-patriotism, and super-Americanism.

As Trumps masked and unbadged secret police (and we absolutely should be calling them this) escalate their tactics by firing tear-gas canisters onto city streets, aiming projectiles at journalists, and arresting political leaders or slamming them to the ground, it is absolutely essential that we defy Trumps executive order and call this by its real name.

The reason is simple: Defeating fascism requires a very different type of posture  both politically and morally  than might an old-fashioned political quarrel between liberals and conservatives over tax rates and government services. To truly oppose a fascist Trump regime, we must declare ourselves anti-fascists. In light of Trumps order, we must become outlaws.

In a recent essay for Liberal Currents, Samantha Hancock-Li writes that its time for Democrats clinging to the old rulebook to toss it out the window. Too many, she wrote, have ceded the field because they are too afraid to fight on it. They cling to the fantasy of regular politics. They dont want to fight on this new field because they are afraid of losing. That fear will kill us. Peacetime is over. If we want to win, we must embrace war mindset.

Too many lawmakers, and journalists, refuse to understand the fascist moment because their salary depends on not understanding it. But Ive been struck this weekend by how one prominent political figure is actually getting it  properly framing the current government shutdown as more than a squabble over healthcare but a fight for democracy.

Listen, I dont think were asking for too much in that we are telling the president that if you want us to sign onto a budget, it cant be a budget that funds the destruction of our democracy, Connecticut Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy told the New Republics essential Greg Sargent last week. I would be a sucker to agree to a budget that literally funds an operation to hunt me and my allies down  to imprison us, harass us, intimidate us."

I believe that many and probably most Americans would support Murphy and that level of resistance if they understood the urgency of the fascist moment, and that the similarities between Germany in the early 1930s and the United States of today are piling up. Thats why Team Trump is trying to scare you off this conversation.

Things have only regressed so far. Its 1933, not 1939. Its horrific that militarized cops are firing projectiles at working journalists, or that a reporter covering ICE raids in Atlanta can be arrested and deported to El Salvador. But they havent worked their way down to schlubby white boomer columnists  not yet  so Im going to use the might of this keyboard until they take it away.

Words still not only matter, but have incredible power. What we are witnessing is American fascism. I am an anti-fascist.

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Justices David Wecht, Christine Donohue, and Kevin Dougherty, who are all up for retention on November, sit onstage during a fireside chat at Central High School on Sept. 8. Read more

In a Philadelphia courtroom last month, an attorney for the Republican National Committee warned the Pennsylvania Supreme Court against opening the floodgates to election law challenges.

If the court found it unconstitutional for local election officials to set aside mail ballots that lacked an accurate date, attorney John Gore argued, This court would stand as a legislative super power.

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Voting rights advocates have fought against the date requirement, arguing it results in the discarding of thousands of votes each year even though election officials dont use the handwritten date. But, as three of the seven justices on the states highest court seek a second 10-year term this November, Gores argument included elements of the GOP argument against retaining them.

Republicans have long argued that Pennsylvanias Supreme Court has played too large of a role in shaping the states elections, especially regarding mail voting and decisions made ahead of the 2020 election when President Donald Trump falsely attacked mail voting as fraudulent.

Now, that argument is central to the GOP effort to oust three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices who are standing for retention this year in a race that could hold major consequences for election law in the critical swing state, which could decide the presidency in 2028.

The justices  Kevin Dougherty, Christine Donohue, and David Wecht  were all initially elected as Democrats in 2015. In November they are asking voters to give them another 10-year term in a nonpartisan retention race. The justices have highlighted their work to protect voting rights in campaign ads, and the Pennsylvania Democratic Party has emphasized voting rights in its own campaign to support retention.

We protected access to abortion and your right to vote, even when the powerful came after it, Donohue and Wecht say in a campaign ad that hammers the stakes of the retention vote.

Ousting the trio offers Republicans their best chance at securing what they believe could be a more favorable court before the next presidential election and redistricting cycle.

Liberals currently hold a 5-2 majority on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. If Republicans successfully oust Dougherty, Donohue, and Wecht, the result will likely be a split 2-2 court until new justices are elected in 2027. Donohues seat will be on the ballot in 2027, regardless when she reaches 75, the states mandatory retirement age for justices.

The race has drawn intense attention locally and nationally in part because the decisions the court makes in the next three years will set the rules for critical elections for governor and president, deciding whose ballots are counted and how Pennsylvanians vote.

It is going to make a difference when we get to 2028 and a lot of those decisions are going to be in place for what a lot of people may be looking at as a monumental American election, said Salewa Ogunmefun, executive director of Pennsylvania Voice, a nonpartisan civic engagement organization.

The role of voting rights in the race

Litigation over elections is a given in Pennsylvania and other swing states.

In 2018, the justices rejected a GOP-drawn congressional map as unconstitutionally gerrymandered. The court allowed a grace period for mail ballots to arrive in 2020 and upheld the requirement that ballots be placed in a secrecy envelope to be counted. Just last month, the court mandated that county election offices alert voters if their mail ballots will not be counted.

The court is currently considering whether counties must count mail ballots that are submitted without an accurate date on the outer envelope, and the justices are likely to play a key role assessing future congressional maps and deciding who will draw future General Assembly maps. Earlier this year, the court rejected a bid from independent voters to throw out the states closed primary system, but litigants say theyre prepared to try again in the coming months.

It is all but certain that when Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro stands for reelection next year (likely facing Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a Republican who is backing the anti-retention campaign) and when Americans elect their next president in 2028, that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will play a role  as it has each cycle since 2020.

Litigation after an election is being institutionalized, said Matt Haverstick, an election law attorney who frequently represents Republican candidates.

Cases could span a variety of issues including mail voting, provisional ballots, and independent candidates. And they could include issues that havent been considered yet. Regardless, Haverstick said, theyll quickly make it to the high court.

To the extent theres a perception the court will lean one way or another, some litigants will work to get cases straight to the Supreme Court, Haverstick added, arguing that the court isnt as political as many believe.

That inevitability, and perception of partisanship, has been a driving force in the GOP effort to oust the three justices.

Mailers from the right-leaning Commonwealth Partners urge voters to deny the justices an additional term in order to defend democracy and prevent gerrymandering.

As of September, the Commonwealth Leaders Fund, which is tied to Commonwealth Partners and funded by billionaire Jeff Yass, had already spent more than $100,000 on the race.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, which does not endorse candidates but has litigated in front of the court on election issues repeatedly, plans to spend $800,000 on a voter education campaign this year.

The justices arent allowed to speak about possible future cases or rulings in their campaigning. But theyve defended their decisions as nonpartisan interpretations of the law.

Oftentimes we dont like the outcomes of cases either, thats just the fact of the matter, but they are based upon the rules that we follow deciding cases, Donohue said last month during an event at a Philadelphia high school.

What issues could the court rule on?

The courts decision in 2020 to allow voters three additional days to return their mail ballots remains a key example Republicans point to as overreach  although just two of the three justices standing for retention joined the majority opinion.

That was to me a clear cut and wholesale rewriting of the code, said Linda Kerns, an election attorney who represented the Republican National Committee in 2020, 2022, and 2024. It was in black and white when the ballots had to be in and to say that we can accept them three days later, I think that was the most offensive.

Marian Schneider, a former voting rights attorney at the ACLU of Pennsylvania who teaches an election law class at Villanova University, dismissed the idea that the justices ruled with a political agenda. Arguing in front of the court, Schneider won some of her cases with the ACLU but lost others.

Those cases, Schneider said, and the justices penchant for disagreeing even with members elected under the same party, undercut the argument that the court is acting politically.

The central issues of election cases, she argued, arent likely to change in the next 10 years.

There certainly seems to be a significant movement trying to prevent certain categories of voters from voting, Schneider said. The opposite side of that is people working so that everybody who is eligible to vote who wants to vote can vote in a fair and free environment.

As the Pennsylvania General Assembly continues to contemplate changes to election law  including a GOP push for voter identification laws and an effort from Democrats to approve early in-person voting  any new laws could go before the court.

Thad Hall, the election director in Mercer County, worried that as long as litigants were able to obtain changes to election law through the court  including a recent decision mandating counties tell voters if their ballot wont be counted  that lawmakers would be unmotivated to reform the states law. GOP lawmakers, he said, wont compromise with Democrats if they believe the ACLU will sue to remove pieces of that compromise.

The result, he said, is a continuing dynamic where election officials navigate changing rules year after year.

It creates this environment thats really toxic to election reform, he said.

And in the absence of meaningful election reform in Pennsylvania, the court will continue to play a key role interpreting an election code that remains full of outdated provisions.

As long as we have this election code with these same problems we could see some of the same issues, Kerns said.
Quaker, the Penn mascot, greets students during a voter registration event held by Penn Leads the Vote on the Locust Walk at the University of Pennsylvania on Sept. 16. Read more

Gen Z is crashing out on politics and Democrats are staring down a trust crisis with a demographic that has historically been essential to the party.

College students in Pennsylvania are overwhelmed by news, and widely distrustful of politicians and institutions whom they do not believe act in their best interests, leading to feelings of powerlessness when it comes to getting politically engaged.

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The big yikes findings stem from conversations across 16 universities with more than 2,000 college students in Pennsylvania, convened earlier this year by the left-leaning political advocacy group Project 26 Pennsylvania.

Only 2% of students believed elected officials make decisions in their best interests, according to the non-scientific survey. The exercise is being touted as the largest Gen Z listening project in a battleground state.

Frustration and apathy with politicians has long been palpable in surveys of young people, but the findings released Monday paint a grim picture as Democrats try to engage a key voting bloc that has increasingly skrrt-ed away.

Young people told us that they care a lot about the issues that impact them but they dont really have trust that elected officials think about them when theyre making decisions, or are acting on the things that are impacting their lives, said Aimee Van Cleave, interim state director for the group.

What they most want is not empty promises or slogans  theyre not asking to be entertained  what theyre asking for is a tangible improvement in their lives.

A memo outlining the results noted that the disconnect between those needs and politics as usual has driven disillusionment leaving them susceptible to the far-right.

Young voters helped propel President Donald Trump to the White House in 2024, as his share of voters ages 18 to 29 jumped to 46% in 2024 nationally, compared to 36% in 2020.

He won young men outright with 56% support after losing them to former President Joe Biden four years earlier.

The conversations were not part of an official poll, but they provide a roadmap for how the party should think about messaging to Gen Z in Pennsylvania and beyond, researchers say.

The findings by the Democratic 501(c)(4) organization named after the 26th Amendment, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 in 1971  include excerpts from students interviewed, articulating their frustrations and hopes in their own words.

Whoever gets it right will be the group that spends much less time trying to figure out how to win Gen Z, Van Cleave said. So much as the group that spends time figuring out how to deliver for Gen Z.

The conversations took place in two waves, one from February to April and another from April to May across 16 campuses in Pennsylvania totaling 2,802 conversations. Philadelphia-area campuses included Temple, Drexel, and West Chester University.

Excerpts from those interviews have been lightly edited for clarity within this story.

The conversations are not representative of all Gen Z voters in the state, as college students tend to lean more Democratic than Republican in their political beliefs. But the left-leaning sample is a population that, in the past, presented the most opportunity for engagement with the Democratic Party.

Widespread concerns and distrust in political institutions

Students conveyed a deep distrust in public officials, though they reported having a slightly more positive view of their college administrations.

Van Cleave said politicians need to focus less on contrasting their party with the other.

Theres a lot of talk from both sides about how theyre different from each other and Gen Z cares a lot less about party labels. They care a lot more about whether or not someone is fighting for them.

I think the decisions being made are not fully considering young people. It feels like many decisions are being made based on the now and for the people in charge and not a future for the younger generations. Female, senior, mathematics major at York College of Pennsylvania.

There is just not much light in the world right now. Female, junior media studies major at Temple University

Trump administration impact

Since President Donald Trumps election, Democrats have tried to connect policies to pain points, and the survey offers a more specific look at the areas they might focus on to better resonate with younger generations.

 READ MORE: 'A tide of change': 100 days of Trump in Pennsylvania

Forty percent of participants said Trumps policies had personally impacted them with education policy (79%) and reproductive rights (41%) the top areas of impact. (Respondents could mention more than one impact area).

Students additionally cited job prospects, federal hiring freezes, immigration visa disruptions, and deportation fears. They also noted issues related to Title IX, which bars sex-based discrimination at educational institutions, and financial aid in their responses about how current policy affects them.

I see my family and myself worry when we see citizens or legally-here immigrants getting deported as well as the impact of the tariffs. And as a senior it has been particularly hard to find a job. Female, music major at Gettysburg College

I was supposed to study abroad this semester but I was unable to because of Trumps deportation and visa laws. I also have lost funding for my department so I had limited class and internship availability. Female, junior, history major at Duquesne University

Asked more broadly about their concerns, students cited social polarization (54%), civil rights rollbacks (45%), and international and global affairs (44%) in the conversations where they could name multiple issues.

Gen Z does not trust that their elected officials or government institutions work for them, the researchers wrote. To engage in political life, Gen Z needs to believe their actions could make a difference, but right now, they dont.

Everything. Everything sucks right now and the genocide going on in Palestine is scary. Female sophomore at Dickinson University

Everyones talking about internships and job prospects, especially with tech layoffs still happening. Its stressing me out, but its also pushing me to build more side projects. Male, computer science major at Gettysburg College

How to reach college students

Students are deeply concerned about issues confronting the country, not apathetic, which presents an opportunity for engagement, said the researchers who analyzed the data. But they also struggle with feeling that their involvement in politics wont matter or change anything.

According to the survey, having a measurable impact was a far bigger driver for students to get involved in political action or their community than social aspects, such as whether the event was fun, social or entertaining.

The Democratic Party and affiliated groups are gearing up to spend millions to reach voters in the 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential election. The researchers note that in 2024, Democrats touted a record number of doors knocked, but coupled with the wrong message, the party lost.

As the party shifts to reach Gen Z online, it risks a similar fate.

Instead of spending millions to get messages in front of young people you should start delivering for young people based one what theyve told you they want to see, Van Cleave said.

Democratic groups should spend money on programming rooted in impact as opposed to cynical and ineffective catering to youth movements, the researchers wrote.

And Van Cleave stressed that continuous conversations appear to work. Project 26 held conversations on campuses in Pennsylvania ahead of the 2024 election. Then they analyzed turnout in those campus precincts compared to other swing state college towns. They found Pennsylvanias youth voter shift was smaller than in other swing states.

What makes you hopeful?

Ultimately, while the young Pennsylvanians outlook on politics was mostly grim, many students shared things that make them feel hopeful about their future.

Among one wave of students, 39% expressed hope, while 20% expressed no hope, and 41% had an ambiguous or a mixed outlook when asked about their future.

Students who said they were hopeful found optimism in social and community connections, more than political institutions. Here are some of their responses.

Honestly, just seeing people being vocal and sharing what makes them angry, upset, or hurt by this current administration gives me so much hope. Male, senior political science major at the University of Pittsburgh

The amount of people fighting back. Senior, female biology major at Temple University

Trumps trying to fix the immigration crises and the drugs coming into the country, but it sucks that the United States is suffering because of poor administration and pushback from Democrats. Male student at York College of Pennsylvania

I think this is just bad times that will eventually pass. The next few years will be tough, but we will get back on our feet stronger than before. Male, finance major at Gettysburg College
QUEBEC CITY  On the eve of renewed trade and tariff talks between the United States and Canada, Gov. Josh Shapiro on Monday stood on a stage in the historic Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac on Quebecs waterfront before a group of American and Canadian leaders, emphasizing his support for Pennsylvanias northern neighbor  the states top international export market.

I hope the president of the United States has reevaluated his tough-guy approach to Canada, and remembers our shared history over the last two centuries, Shapiro said at the conclusion of his first international trip as governor of Pennsylvania.

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Before a conference of American governors and Canadian dignitaries, Shapiro blasted President Donald Trumps reckless, disrespectful rhetoric toward the critical U.S. ally and pledged his respect for Canada.

The remarks came during the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers conference in Quebec City, a biennial gathering for officials representing the Great Lakes along the U.S.-Canada border. Shapiro on Monday was also named the chair of the conference, becoming the first Pennsylvania governor to lead the regional conference of eight states and two Canadian provinces since former Gov. Tom Ridge.

Shapiro, a first-term Democratic governor and rumored 2028 presidential candidate, appeared in stark contrast on the international stage to Trump, who has projected an adversarial attitude in recent months toward one of Americas strongest allies. Since February, the Trump administration has slapped tariffs on the top trade partner to encourage Americans to buy and produce more U.S.-made products.

Trump has repeatedly said he wants to annex Canada to become the 51st state, frequently taunting former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by calling him Governor Trudeau. He has claimed that Canada benefits from its relationship with the U.S., with little in return.

 READ MORE: Motorcycles, coffee, chocolate: The Pa. products caught in Trumps trade war with Canada

As part of Trumps efforts to encourage more U.S. production, his administration has implemented a 50% tariff on aluminum and steel imports, 50% tariff on all automobiles not built in the U.S., a 50% tariff on copper, and additional tariffs to go into effect later this month on lumber and lumber products. Canada enacted some counter-tariffs, but reversed some in the last two months to try to ease trade tensions. Canada lost more than 40,000 jobs in July, largely due to the trade war, Reuters reported.

We dont need anything from Canada, Trump said during an interview with Time magazine about his first 100 days in office. I say the only way this thing really works is for Canada to become a state.

Trump is set to reconvene trade and tariff talks with Canadas Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. On Monday, the premiers of the Ontario and Quebec provinces said they were cautiously optimistic about the talks.

[Trump] is always surprising everybody, said Premier Francois Legault, who leads the French-speaking Quebec province. We hope its a good surprise, but I dont want to raise the expectation too high. We really need to have more certainty about the future.

Pennsylvania businesses have already been feeling the effects of tariffs, Shapiro said.

Canada is the top international export market for Pennsylvania. Canada imports $14 billion from Pennsylvania each year, more than any other country, with 27% of the states export market relying on Americas northern neighbor, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, a Trump-appointed agency that oversees international trade.

Pennsylvania also imports $14 billion worth of Canadian products each year, with approximately $1.2 billion in steel and aluminum imported to the state annually. The newly implemented tariffs on Canadian goods have caused costs to rise across the state, including for companies that do not use any Canadian products due to the increased demand, Shapiro said.

You need stability and you need clear forecasts, and the presidents tariff policies provide neither. And that is what is harming businesses in Pennsylvania, Shapiro said in an interview Monday.

In his remarks to the Great Lakes leaders, Shapiro also encouraged Canadians to visit Pennsylvania, which is among the top international tourist destinations each year. Canadian tourists have steeply declined since Trump returned to office earlier this year, with a nearly 18% reduction in tourists to Philadelphia, according to an analysis by The Inquirer.

 READ MORE: Canadians are staying away from Philly amid Trump trade war

I know for many Canadians, the United States doesnt feel like a place that will welcome them right now, Shapiro said in his speech Sunday, offering an antithesis to Trumps rhetoric toward the country. No matter what happens at the federal level, Pennsylvania will always welcome Canadians. I want you to come and visit.

International visit

Shapiro arrived in Quebec on Sunday afternoon to deliver his defiant remarks in support of Canada before the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers. He returned to Harrisburg on Monday afternoon, and was scheduled to appear in Hershey at the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce dinner Monday night.

Shapiro said he still decided to attend the international trip during the states prolonged budget impasse  now in its fourth month  because he doesnt have the luxury of just not coming to work the way the state Senate has, a jab at state Senate Republicans, whom Shapiro and other Democrats have accused of holding up budget talks. Shapiro added that the meetings he had while on the brief trip north will benefit Pennsylvanias economy.

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers is a regional conference to promote the regions tourism, coordinate economic development, and protect the water in the Great Lakes  making up 20% of the worlds surface fresh water. Lake Erie, the smallest of the five Great Lakes and the only one to abut Pennsylvania, generates $1.2 billion annually in visitor spending for Erie, the states fifth-largest city, according to the tourism marketing organization VisitErie.

Pennsylvania will host the next Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers conference in Erie in 2027.

Shapiro was joined at the conference by other Democratic governors from the region, including Govs. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Tony Evers of Wisconsin, and Kathy Hochul of New York.

A welcoming approach to Canada

Shapiro said in an interview Monday that his administration initially built relationships with leaders from Canada and its provinces through the states Department of Community and Economic development. Last year, Shapiro also met with Trudeau in Philadelphia.

But once Trump began implementing tariffs on Canada, Shapiro said he wanted to get involved directly and form connections with Canadian leaders because of Pennsylvanias strong trading relationship with the country. Shapiro said hes spoken to the leaders by phone and Zoom since then, before meeting in-person during his visit to Quebec.

Shapiros first international trip  lasting less than 24 hours  was fruitful, he said. While meeting in private with premiers from Canada, Shapiro invited them to visit Pennsylvania in the near future. He also met in private with chief executives of Canadian rail and bus companies, including about procurement of additional railcars for SEPTA now that the National Transportation Safety Board urged the beleaguered transit agency to pull its Silverliner IV cars out of service after a series of fires.

He said he views his role as clarifying that Pennsylvania is still open for business despite Trumps threats  and to speak out against the presidents negative comments about Canada.

President Trumps view of the [U.S.-Canada] relationship is his view. Hes entitled to it, Shapiro added. But as the leader of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I dont view it that way, and I want Canadians to know that.

Shapiro also condemned Trumps past comments about annexing Canada as deeply offensive and highlighted the two nations collaboration over the last two centuries.

My fellow governors and I respect Canadas sovereignty. We respect Canadas history, and we respect its people, he added.
State Rep. Matt Bradford of Montgomery County in the state Capitol in November 2024. Read more

Andrew Perrong is on a mission to eliminate robocalls. The 28-year-old lawyer began suing companies that call people en masse with prerecorded messages when he was in high school.

Now, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals has issued a first-of-its-kind robocall ruling in a case Perrong filed as a law student at Temple University.

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But the anti-robocall advocate lost.

A trio of judges ruled that the federal law that restricts robocalling does not apply to state legislators conducting government business, and reversed a lower courts decision that would have allowed a lawsuit Perrong filed against Pennsylvania House of Representatives Majority Leader Matthew Bradford to proceed to trial.

Karl Myers, an attorney with Stevens & Lee who represented the Montgomery County Democrat, said in a statement that the court ruling would help ensure that constituents receive beneficial information.

The federal law was meant to stop harassing and fraudulent commercial robocalls, not calls from state legislators offering programs for the publics benefit, Myers said.

Perrong sued Bradford in 2023 over five calls he received between September 2019 and December 2020. One featured a prerecorded message of Bradfords voice promoting an information session for Pennie, Pennsylvanias Affordable Care Act insurance marketplace.

Bradford must have used an automated dialing system to spread the messages, the suit claims, as Perrong wasnt one of his constituents and not in need of health insurance.

The complaint argued that the calls violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, a federal law that prohibits the use of robocalls in nonemergency situations.

Perrong said in the complaint that he was harmed by the calls as he was temporarily deprived of legitimate use of his telephone and his privacy was improperly invaded. He also says in the complaint that the calls were frustrating, obnoxious, annoying, were a nuisance and disturbed [his] solitude.

Bradford argued calls made by government officials conducting official business werent covered by the federal law.

All five calls were placed by Bradford in his official capacity as a State Representative and were within his official duties, the representatives attorney said in court filings.

State legislator groups supported Bradford throughout the litigation, including the Republican House and Senate caucuses.

But District Judge Joshua Wolson wasnt convinced and allowed the litigation to proceed.

When it comes to robocalls, you can only call those who, like Blondie, have said, Call me. Call me on the line, Wolson wrote in May 2024. " If you call people who havent opted in, then you face liability."

Bradford appealed to the Third Circuit, which reversed Wolsons decision.

The Third Circuit noted that it was the first time it had been asked to review whether the federal prohibition on robocalls covers government officials conducting government functions.

The judges found that the robocalls placed by Bradford  including about health insurance, 2020 census employment opportunities, and government services access during COVID-19  were made for public benefit rather than private indulgence.

Such communications related to the health, safety and general welfare of the people clearly serve the public good  as opposed to any personal affairs or a reelection campaign," Senior Judge Anthony Scirica wrote.

Perrong said that he was honored to argue in front of the Third Circuit so early in his legal career, and respects but disagrees with the ruling. He is assessing his next step.

I dont wish to receive prerecorded calls from anybody, Perrong said. I dont feel that politicians should get a free pass.
Philadelphias only rape crisis center will lay off employees as a result of Harrisburg lawmakers failure to pass a state budget, disrupting the centers crucial and free services, the Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence announced Monday. The center was formerly known as Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR).

Joanne Strauss, president of WOARs board of directors, said in a statement Monday that largely due to the state budget impasse, the organizations ability to offer services, like crisis response, therapy, or advocacy, has been severely impacted.

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These services are vital to the well-being of our most vulnerable populations, and the decision to reduce our staff has been incredibly difficult, Strauss said. We understand the hardship this will cause, particularly for those who rely on us day in and day out.

Strauss said that clients wont be able to access its 24-7 crisis hotline, medical and court advocacy services, therapy offerings, and prevention and educational programs. The organization is optimistic it can resume these services once funding becomes available.

WOAR employees who spoke with The Inquirer Monday are devastated by the upcoming layoffs, which they say will begin Tuesday. Theyre also concerned by the gap in services the layoffs will create for clients.

The employees said their last day, should they be laid off, will be Friday.

It is just such a colossal loss for this entire city, for it to go down this way is very painful, said Carolyn Goode, a crisis and court advocate at WOAR. I think we were all expecting to be here for a long time, and none of us want to leave.

Founded in 1971, WOAR was one of the first rape crisis centers in the United States, according to the organization.

As of Monday, WOAR has received 1,775 hotline calls, a total of 2,325 new clients, and reached 7,306 school and community members through their prevention and education work in 2025, according to data provided to The Inquirer.

But Pennsylvania legislators are over three months late in passing a state budget, and so WOAR and other rape crisis centers across the commonwealth are suffering. House Democrats and Senate Republicans have made little headway in budget negotiations as the standoff stretches into the fall with no clear resolution ahead.

Rape crisis centers, including WOAR, get funding from the Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR), which receives funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.

Funding for the Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence and rape crisis centers across the Commonwealth can only happen if State Senate Republicans stop playing politics by purposefully prolonging this process and come back to work, find agreement with the State House, and send a budget to the Governors desk, said Brandon Cwalina, a DHS spokesperson.

PCAR hopes that emergency funding from the state, which the organization applied for through the state treasurys loan program, will be enough to slow the layoffs at WOAR, Lukima said, but even so there will be an immediate and long-term impact on survivors.

Services provided by rape crisis centers are vital to supporting survivors during a critical time in their lives, said Joyce Lukima, coalition director and chief operating officer at PCAR.

A change in continuity and comfort for survivors in Philadelphia

Survivors who call the WOAR hotline will be told that beginning Friday, their calls will be rerouted to the crisis line at Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), a national organization. The change will disrupt the continuity and familiarity survivors had with WOARs services.

If they do call this number  which they may have been calling for years  its not going to be the usual people answering, and its not going to be a fairly local organization providing the support, said Isabelle Beatus, a crisis and court advocate at WOAR.

Beatus and a handful of other advocates work all hours of the day operating the hotline, referring clients to services and being a friendly and comforting voice to survivors who have experienced a traumatic event.

Other times, they accompany survivors as they receive forensic rape exams at the Philadelphia Sexual Assault Response Center on Hunting Park Avenue or provide support to survivors who seek justice in court.

The work is crucial and relentless and employees told The Inquirer how passionate they are about their jobs. The layoffs are heartbreaking to the people who have dedicated their careers to combating sexual violence.

Were all in shock, and I think everybodys first thoughts  and where our hearts are now  is the with the clients," Beatus said.

Many clients want to stay on WOARs waitlist in case the center returns, Beatus said, noting that even when funding is eventually restored services would not be restored immediately.

Other next steps remain unclear to employees, including how many people will be laid off. Employees were only notified of the fate of the organization last Tuesday at a staff meeting.

During the meeting, staff got very fatalistic responses without many details from leadership, according to a WOAR employee, who asked to speak anonymously because of privacy concerns.

Theres still a lot of confusion among employees as to how everything happened and what the future of WOAR looks like, the employee said.

Were not just numbers. Were real people.

Rape crisis centers across the commonwealth, led by the Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR), are pushing lawmakers to understand the impact that the budget impasse will have on survivors.

PCAR has been calling for an $8 million increase for the Rape Crisis line item in DHSs budget. An advocacy information sheet obtained by The Inquirer says that rape crisis centers in Pennsylvania have not received a funding increase in more than five years.

Commitment to supporting WOARs efforts has stretched across Philadelphia, from City Hall to college campuses.

The layoffs at WOAR are a devastating blow to survivors and a critical loss for our city. For more than 50 years, WOAR has been a lifeline for survivors  we cannot allow that lifeline to fray, said Councilmember Nina Ahmad.

This news is devastating. Ive worked with WOAR in several capacities over the years and Ive seen how vital their work is to survivors of sexual violence in Philadelphia. Their counseling, support network, and hotline serve as a lifeline to people in times of crisis, said Councilmember Rue Landau, noting that the budget impasse will cost more than jobs, it will threaten lives.

Georgia Michaels, cofounding president of SECRET, Drexel Universitys student-led sexual education group, and a former intern at WOAR, said her group is working to rally students at Drexel and other Philadelphia college campuses to advocate for a speedy passage of the state budget.

And at WOAR, employees want lawmakers to know: Were not just numbers, said Alex Miller, an intake coordinator at WOAR.

Were real people. Were real organizations that provide integral, life-changing services to a large population that doesnt have other options, Miller said.

Strauss, the board of directors president, said in her statement that survivors and staff alike now bear the burden of political inaction and said that WOAR wants to work with all parties involved to find a solution.

Every day without services is a day that survivors are left unsupported and staff are left searching for certainty about their futures, Strauss said. The need has not ceased. Healing cannot wait. Survivors deserve better, and team members deserve security.
As president of DSP Insurance Services, Taylor Virgil is proud to say that the Schaumburg, Illinois-based agency has taken the road less traveled.

At a time when many agencies of its size are being bought out by larger firms, DSP has doubled down on its independence and invested its resources into perpetuating the agency internally.

Were really focused on the long-term and developing talent from within as well, so I think thats another thing that is a differentiator, said Virgil.

The process of perpetuating an independent agency takes a lot of time and energy, Virgil acknowledged, adding that DSP has been able to still maintain steady growth to the top line and hire good people.

We have a lot of internal promotions for an agency of our size and very clear paths to moving up, which is what we spent a lot of time building out over the last two years since I was fortunate enough to get the nod to lead the agency, said Virgil.

DSPs commitment to developing talent from within is paying off.

This year DSP received the Gold Award for Best Agency to Work For in the Midwest region. In nominating the firm for the award, DSP employees said they look forward to coming to work at an agency that prioritizes teamwork, integrity, and employee well-being.

Virgil got a late start to working in insurance after beginning his career as an engineer. As Virgil developed professionally, he paid close attention to what qualities create good leaders and productive workplaces.

The teams that were the most kind of functional and worked really well and jelled and grew were the ones that had the best communication and everybody really understood what was happening, said Virgil. Ive tried to bring a lot of that to the agency.

DSP holds biannual, all-agency meetings where they share way more numbers than we ever shared (before), said Virgil. DSP also instituted a profit sharing based on the performance of the agency for all the staff.

Were a people business and our only asset is our people, said Virgil. We have to invest in that, otherwise we cant do what we say we want to do.

Employees who wrote in to nominate DSP said they appreciate that the agency has created a culture of open communication, which helps team members serve their mission of providing clients with excellent service.

In the last few years the agency has worked very hard to set itself up for continued success, one employee wrote. This includes rebuilding departments, including job descriptions, titles, and salaries, to allow for continued development of the staff and growth opportunities from within the organization.

The same employee added that the agency has provided additional financial contributions to the staff in recent years, including a 401(k) match increase, a profit sharing plan addition, and continued contributions to the companys medical plans.

Another area where DSP excels is encouraging employees to practice a healthy work-life balance. Several employees said they appreciate that DSP allows team members to work remotely and affords them time to attend to personal matters.

I know employees that have needed time off for personal reasons, even if little notice has been given, an employee wrote. It gives me great comfort seeing how the agency has always made an effort to make sure employees are able to meet their personal work-life balance as opposed to enforcing a hardline policy.

Employees who nominated the agency were unanimous in sharing that DSP lives out its mission to be independent.

DSP Insurance Services is committed to being an independent agency, one employee wrote. The people that work here are committed to excellence and serving clients with timely and expert advice. Im proud to be a part of this organization.
Michelle Sartain, president Marsh U.S. and Canada, who has worked at Marsh for more than 28 years, encouraged lawmakers on Capitol Hill last month to reauthorize the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act. More than two decades after Marsh McLennan lost 358 employees in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, the backstop remains a necessary component to a stable insurance market, she said.

By all accounts, the program has been a model public-private partnership, said Sartain. The backstop remains a critical component to a stable terror insurance market, particularly for nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological (NBCR) events, and has enabled insurance to be placed and investments to be made.

The federal backstop for terrorism risk was first initiated late in 2002 to respond to insurers forced exclusion of terrorism risks from commercial property/casualty insurance policies following losses from the terrorist attacks. The change put construction projects on hold since financers required the insurance. Meanwhile, a crisis began in workers compensation due to the high levels of exposure faced in the line of business since state laws prohibited a terrorism exclusion.

The legislation requires insurers to offer terrorism coverage while the industry has the assurance that if losses from an event reach certain thresholds (the event needs to exceed $5 million in damages to be certified as an act of terrorism and cost insurers $200 million in industry losses to trigger coverage), the government will step in. TRIA has been reauthorized several times, the latest at the end of 2019. It is due to expire again on Dec. 31, 2027.

Sartain offered 17 pages of testimony covering TRIAs history and features, and outlined how certain industries such as healthcare and higher education rely on TRIA. On Sept. 17 she told the U.S. House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance that the terrorism backstop allows for insurers and reinsurers to quantify exposures and provide capacity into the market.

Although the expiration is two years away, insurers and rating agencies closely monitor legislative activity related to [TRIA], Sartain explained. Any uncertainty regarding the future of the federal backstop as the deadline approaches will have an impact on the availability and nature of insurance coverage. That, in turn, could send ripple effects through the economy and potentially affect companies decision-making processes about hiring and investing.

If the backstop expires without a replacement, insurers that are still able to offer terrorism coverage will likely only write coverage for buyers with operations in preferred locations, and could consider increasing prices for other locations, Sartain wrote. This would lead to capacity shortfalls for central business districts, at-risk industries, and employers with significant workers compensation accumulations, such as office workers, manufacturing facilities, and healthcare and education facilities, she continued.

Elizabeth Heck, former chair of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC), also testified before the subcommittee. She said TRIA provides certainty and has allowed insurers to offer coverage.

Thankfully, the program has yet to be tested, and as we look back nearly 25 years after the attacks, it is important to recognize how much construction and economic development TRIA has supported, all at no cost to the taxpayers, she said.

Heck, president and CEO of Greater New York Insurance Company, said she has experience as a major writer of terror-exposed property in New York City.

While insuring against the financial devastation that could accompany a catastrophic terrorist attack might sound like a reasonable protective measure for markets to take on, a large-scale terrorist attacklike an act of waris not insurable, Heck submitted to the committee.

About 79% of commercial multiperil policies in the U.S. include some level of terrorism coverage, and insurer appetite for the risk has increased. While NAMIC generally opposes federal backstop programs, Heck said TRIA represents the rare situation where a clearly defined problem can only be solved by a federal partnership to facilitate insurability in a way that does not harm markets or market participants and ultimately reduces risk against scenarios where other solutions have been exhausted.

NAMIC proposed a 10-year reauthorization with no significant changes to the programs structure.

The American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) did not testify at the hearing but called on Congress to reauthorize TRIA with no change to financial thresholds. In a statement, Sam Whitfield, senior vice president of federal government relations, added: TRIA is a fiscally sound program that has operated for 23 years with minimal cost to taxpayers. Its continued existence is vital to maintaining confidence in the marketplace and ensuring the availability of terrorism coverage that businesses and communities rely on.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters
Two Delta Air Lines regional jets collided at the intersection of two taxiways at LaGuardia Airport in New York, injuring a flight attendant, damaging a cockpit and tearing off part of a wing, the National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday.

The NTSB said it sent a team of 10 investigators to the airport after the collision Wednesday night, and flight recorders have already been recovered from both airplanes and sent to its headquarters for analysis. It wasnt immediately clear who was at fault, but air traffic control had instructed the Virginia-bound plane to hold short and yield to the other aircraft before the collision, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

An aircraft carrying 32 people was preparing for takeoff to Roanoke, Virginia, when its wing made contact with the fuselage of an aircraft arriving from Charlotte, North Carolina, with 61 people aboard, according to a statement from Delta.

The airline described it as a low-speed collision. But it would not provide the planes exact speeds, saying in a statement that that information is germane to the open and ongoing investigation. A passenger video showed one plane moving quite fast when the collision occurred.

A flight attendant was taken to a hospital, according to a statement from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. One of the pilots told the tower that the flight attendant told him she hit her knee when the planes collided, according to audio that www.LiveATC.net posted. There were no reports of passengers injured, the airline said.

Their right wing clipped our nose and the cockpit. We have damage to our windscreen and  some of our screens in here, a pilot said, according to the air traffic control audio.

Images of the damage showed the broken wing on one plane while the other planes cockpit window was shattered and its nose was deeply gouged in several places.

The plane that had landed stopped, jerked, and jumped to the right, passenger William Lusk told ABC. Everyone went dead silent. And as everyone went dead silent, the pilot calmly came on and said, Hey, weve been in a crash, everyone remain calm.'

Close calls like this could add to worries about aviation safety in the wake of recent crashes and near misses including the deadliest plane crash in the United States in decades, when an Army helicopter collided with an airliner preparing to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Former NTSB and FAA crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti said that the ground controller lines up planes on taxiways and directs them where to go, but the pilots are expected to avoid other planes as they move at slow speeds while controllers focus on keeping the runways clear.

Youre supposed to have situational awareness about where your wings are poking out at and what they could hit as youre taxiing, said Guzzetti, who is now an aviation safety consultant. They (controllers) expect the flight crews to see each other since theyre taxiing at a slow speed. And the controllers main function is to make sure the runway is clear for takeoff and landings.

Because this happened at night and planes typically turn off their nose lights while taxiing, it may have been more difficult for the pilots to see exactly where the other plane was, Guzzetti said. A planes taxi lights are on the wings. The landing lights are used to improve visibility and help make sure other pilots can see the plane, but the FAA encourages pilots to be careful not to blind other pilots because landing lights can also impair night vision.

Delta will work with all relevant authorities to review what occurred as safety of our customers and people comes before all else, the statement from Delta said. We apologize to our customers for the experience.

The Delta Connection aircraft involved in the collision were operated by Endeavor Air. Both are CRJ-900 planes, said the FAA, which is investigating along with the NTSB. The planes can seat 70 to 90 passengers.

LaGuardia Airport is one of 35 major airports where the FAA has installed advanced surface radar systems that help track aircraft and vehicles on the ground and alert controllers to potential conflicts. It wasnt clear what role the system played in this collision.

Guzzetti said hes not sure if that system would have sounded an audible alarm for these planes on a taxiway even though the system would have shown both planes on a display. The primary purpose of the system is to prevent collisions on runways.

The passengers on both planes were provided meals and hotel rooms and rebooked on flights leaving on Thursday.

Associated Press writer Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire, Hallie Golden in Seattle and Sarah Brumfield in Cockeysville, Maryland, contributed to this story.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Russian warships have repeatedly sailed on collision courses, aimed weapons at Danish naval vessels and disrupted navigation systems in Denmarks straits that connect the Baltic Sea to the North Sea, its defense intelligence service said on Friday.

Such incidents risk unintended escalation, it said.

The Baltic region remains on high alert after incidents involving undersea cables, gas pipeline outages, airspace violations and drone sightings since Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which increased tensions between Moscow and the West.

Denmark, a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its war with Russia, has beefed up its military budget and committed to acquiring long-range precision weapons capable of striking targets inside Russia.

Russian Warships Point Weapons, Danish Intelligence Says

We have seen several incidents in the Danish straits, where Danish air force helicopters and naval vessels have been targeted by tracking radars and physically pointed at with weapons from Russian warships, Danish Defence Intelligence Service Director Thomas Ahrenkiel told a press conference.

He said Russian warships had sailed on collision courses with Danish vessels during their passage through the straits.

Ahrenkiel said a Russian warship has been anchored in Danish waters for over a week, suggesting possible interference from Moscow if Denmark tried to curb movements of Russias shadow fleet of tankers used to circumvent Western sanctions on its oil exports imposed over its war with Ukraine.

In May, tensions escalated in the Baltic Sea when Russia deployed a fighter jet during Estonias interception of a Russian-bound oil tanker suspected of being part of the shadow fleet.

The Danish straits, a busy international shipping route, see frequent movement of Russian military vessels that are typically escorted by Denmarks navy.

Defense intelligence has also recorded Russian warships sailing through Danish straits with sonar and jamming equipment, according to Ahrenkiel. He said it was highly probable that they, on at least one occasion, had jammed signals and caused extensive GPS interference in Denmark.

Denmarks intelligence service assesses that Russia is conducting hybrid warfare against Denmark and the broader West.

Russia is using military means, including in an aggressive way, to put pressure on us without crossing the line into armed conflict in a traditional sense, Ahrenkiel said.

Moscow has repeatedly denied responsibility for hybrid attacks in Europe. President Vladimir Putin joked on Thursday that he would not fly drones over Denmark anymore and described as nonsense the idea that his country would potentially target a NATO member.

The White House said on Friday the report of Russian naval provocations against Denmark was a serious matter.

Its something the administration takes very seriously, and we are constantly monitoring it. The National Security Council here at the White House is in constant correspondence with our NATO allies, and the president speaks to many of them as well, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters at a briefing.

No Direct Military Threat Despite Incidents

Despite the incidents, defense intelligence emphasized that there was no direct military threat against Denmark.

However, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen last week described recent drone incursions over Danish airports and military installations as a hybrid attack on the country.

Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said investigations into the incidents were continuing, with no conclusions yet on the identity of the perpetrator.

Hybrid threats, which include sabotage, disinformation, espionage and cyberattacks, have been flagged as increasingly aggressive by Western security agencies.

NATO has strengthened its Baltic operations in response to the drone incursions. Sweden proposed new legislation on Friday to expand maritime surveillance by its coast guard.

(Reporting by Jacob Gronholt Pedersen, Anna Ringstrom, Soren Jeppesen and Louise Rasmussen; Additional reporting by Gram Slattery, Susan Heavey and Katharine Jackson; editing by Terje Solsvik and Mark Heinrich)

Photograph: Russian warship of the Steregushchiy class on the Baltic Sea; photo credit: AdobeStock

Related:
The massive power outage that hit the Iberian Peninsula in April is the first known blackout caused by excessive voltage, the European network of electricity transmission system operators said in a report on Friday [October 3] .

Released ahead of an October 28 legal deadline, the report focused on the power systems condition on the day of the outage and the sequence of events, and did not look into what acted as its trigger.

The report, like previous inquiries, pointed to a surge in voltage as the immediate cause of the April 28 outage  Europes most significant blackout in more than two decades, which paralyzed cities and stranded people on trains across Portugal and Spain.

Read more: Spain Reveals Details of Chain Reaction That Caused Outage

A final report, due in the first quarter of 2026, will investigate the root causes and steps taken to control voltage in the system.

Missing Data and Unexplained Power Generation Losses

Damian Cortinas, chair of ENTSO-Es board, said nothing in its findings had indicated a cyber-attack was involved.

He also said that neither Spains increasing reliance on renewable energy nor its limited power interconnections with other countries had played a role.

If there had been double the interconnection capacity, this would not have stopped the blackout, and this would not have accelerated the recovery, Cortinas told Reuters.

Since the blackout, the Spanish and Portuguese governments have urged the EU to help them develop new power links with other countries, which they say would help their electricity grids respond to disruptions.

The report said the reasons for some initial power generation losses were still unknown and that some power plant operators in Spain said they lacked this data.

Collecting complete, high-quality data proved very challenging for this investigation, ENTSO-E said.

Its report follows several others by the Spanish government and power and grid companies. The national energy watchdog and Spanish lawmakers are also conducting separate investigations.

Redeia, owner of grid operator REE, has blamed the blackout on some power plants failure to help maintain appropriate voltage, while Spanish utilities blamed what they called poor planning by the Spanish grid operator.

ENTSO-Es investigation panel includes representatives from Spanish grid operators  a set-up Spanish utilities have criticized.

Cortinas said their expertise was needed for the investigation, and the 45-member panel included representatives from across Europe, ensuring no individual operator had undue influence.

Spanish Energy Minister Sara Aagesen welcomed the report, saying it was fully in line with the findings of a government investigation.

The report shows that the voltage control systems in the conventional power plants in Portugal operated as expected, she said. But this was not the case in Spain.

Redeia said on Friday that the report confirmed the sequence of events described in its own findings.

Spanish power utility lobby Aelec declined to comment.

(Reporting by Kate Abnett and Pietro Lombardi, editing by Inti Landauro and Tomasz Janowski)

Photograph: People gather outside Atocha train station during a major power outage in Madrid, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Related:
Illinois sued the Trump administration over its plan to deploy National Guard troops to the Chicago area, setting off a fresh legal battle over the presidents authority to use soldiers to respond to protests over his immigration crackdown.

The lawsuit was filed hours after a judge in Portland, Oregon, issued an emergency order blocking a similar troop deployment to that state. The suit escalates a growing clash between Democratic-led states and President Donald Trump over the use of National Guard troops in cities he describes as crime-ridden.

The lawsuit, which was filed by state of Illinois and City of Chicago, accuses Trump of attempting to use National Guard troops to punish his political enemies. The deployment infringes on the states sovereignty and right to self-governance, according to the filing.

The American people, regardless of where they reside, should not live under the threat of occupation by the United States military, particularly not simply because their city or state leadership has fallen out of a presidents favor, the two parties argued in the lawsuit.

The White House did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits Illinois
American International Group (AIG) on Friday said its head of commercial insurance in North America, Don Bailey, is retiring at the end of the year to focus on his health.

The insurer said three AIG employees have been promoted to lead the segment starting Jan. 1, 2026. Allison Cooper and Barbara Luck will be co-presidents of AIGs retail commercial business in North America. Lou Levinson is now president of wholesale for North America Commercial.

Each will report to John Neal, former Lloyds CEO who was hired by AIG in July to be the companys president, effective December 1.

Related: Former Lloyds CEO Neal to Lead General Insurance as President at AIG

Bailey joined AIG from Bristlecone Partners at the start of 2023 as global head of distribution and field operations. During Baileys tenure, AIG revitalized broker-client relationships and started a new distribution strategy that improved retention and new business, the company said.

Joining AIG at a pivotal moment in its turnaround and having the opportunity to work closely with (CEO) Peter Zaffino again is the capstone of my career. It has been an honor to lead the incredibly talented and committed team of colleagues across North America, Bailey said in a statement.

Topics Commercial Lines AIG
A Delaware judge said former Activision Blizzard officials including Chief Executive Bobby Kotick must face most of a lawsuit alleging they shortchanged shareholders when Microsoft bought the Call of Duty game maker for $75.4 billion.

Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick of the Delaware Chancery Court said on Thursday the shareholders in the proposed class action can pursue their core claim that Kotick and other Activision directors breached their fiduciary duties. She dismissed two claims against Microsoft.

Shareholders led by Swedish pension fund Sjunde AP-Fonden accused Kotick of rushing into the merger so he could keep his job and $400 million of change-of-control benefits, and insulate himself from claims he knew about widespread sexual harassment at Activision.

They also said the $95 per share takeover price was too low from the outset, and looked worse as Activisions performance improved during the 21-month regulatory approval process for the merger, which closed in October 2023.

In an 83-page decision, McCormick found sufficient allegations that Kotick manipulated the sale process to favor Microsoft, which offered speed, deal certainty, andinferably a friendly landing place.

She also found it reasonably conceivable that Activision directors put Koticks interests ahead of those of shareholders, including by allowing a lowball takeover price while harassment concerns were depressing Activisions stock.

She dismissed claims that Microsoft aided and abetted the alleged breaches, even if the Redmond, Washington-based company may have passively stood by while they occurred. She also dismissed other claims against the Activision defendants.

Litigation on the merits of a trimmed-down version of the plaintiffs complaint can now launch, McCormick wrote. Game on.

Lawyers for the individual defendants and Microsoft did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday. The shareholders lawyers did not immediately respond to similar requests.

The case is Sjunde AP-Fonden v Activision Blizzard Inc et al, Delaware Chancery Court, No. 2022-1001.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

Topics Legislation Claims
Executives at large organizations are being extorted by a notorious ransomware group, which claims to have stolen data from them via Oracle Corp.s popular E-Business Suite applications, according to a Google cybersecurity executive and three others familiar with the matter.

The group, claiming to be affiliated with a criminal outfit called Cl0p, began sending extortion emails on or before Sept. 29, according to Genevieve Stark, head of cybercrime at Google Threat Intelligence Group. The emails were sent from hundreds of compromised third-party accounts and claim the theft of data, she said.

The Oracle product runs core business operations including financial, supply chain and customer relationship management.

The extortion emails include sloppy English and grammar, according to one of the people, but are considered characteristic of the group. At least one of the email addresses used on the extortion notes was previously used by an affiliate of Cl0p, and the messages contain contact details that are listed on Cl0ps own website, Stark said.

Alphabet Inc.s Google doesnt yet have sufficient evidence to verify the claims made in the extortion demands, she said. The other people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named discussing private information, didnt disclose the targets of the extortion letters or whether any of the victims had paid a ransom.

An Oracle spokesperson didnt respond to a request for comment.

Cl0p is known for targeting large companies with sophisticated malware to lock files and make ransom demands for their deletion. In 2023, Cl0p was accused of exploiting weaknesses in MOVEit, a file-transfer product used by companies and organizations to transmit sensitive data, and it claimed to have obtained data from hundreds of organizations.

Shell Plc, IAG SAs British Airways and the British Broadcasting Corp. were among the victims of that earlier attack.

In June 2023, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued an advisory about Cl0p, stating it was one of the largest phishing and malspam distributors worldwide, estimating it to have compromised more than 3,000 organizations in the US and 8,000 globally.

Photo: Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Cyber
Kendra Kay loved growing up in the quiet of West Texas.

She enjoyed the peacefulness brought in by the open lands. She appreciated how everyone in her community had a purpose and contributed to their way of life. She never wanted the busy noise that came with living in a bustling big city.

Thats why we live here, Kay, an Amarillo resident, said.

Now, Kay and others who have chosen the simpler life are worried that the emerging data center industry that has set its eyes on towns across the Panhandle and rural Texas might upend that agrarian bliss.

What will we have to give up to make sure these data centers can succeed? she said.

Data centers have been around since the 1940s, housing technology infrastructure that runs computer applications, internet servers, and stores the data that comes from them. More recently, data centers are powering artificial intelligence and other internet juggernauts like Google, Amazon and Meta.

[Running Out: Texas water crisis  and the path forward]

These newer sprawling data centers have been sold to communities as a boon to their economic development. Rural Texas has become a prized spot for the businesses rushing into the state.

Virginia is the only state with more data centers than Texas, which has 391. While most are concentrated in North Texas and other major metro areas, they are increasingly being planned in rural areas.

Affordable property rates, wide open spaces, and welcoming local officials have made remote areas attractive. However, the people who live in those areas have grown worried about what incoming centers  which can sit on thousands of acres of land  mean for their lands, homes, and especially, their limited water supply.

From the Panhandle to the Rio Grande Valley, Texas water supply is limited. The strain is particularly acute in rural West Texas and other areas of the state that face regular drought. Data centers, especially those used for artificial intelligence, can use an extraordinary amount of water. The state does not yet require most data centers to report their water usage.

[Data centers are thirsty for Texas water, but state planners dont know how much they will need]

And with new, bigger data centers coming to the state regularly, there are unanswered questions on where the data centers will get the water they need to stay cool.

These new data centers are enormous, said Robert Mace, executive director of the Meadows Center. I dont know where you get the water to do that in a state thats already water-stressed, not only from drought, but also rapid population growth in both the population and industry.

The concern already exists in the Texas Panhandle, where droughts are common and groundwater supply is declining. There are four data centers planned for the region, including in Amarillo, Turkey, Pampa and Claude. Outside the Panhandle is no different, as AI campuses are expanding in the Permian Basin and 30 data centers are planned for Sulphur Springs, a small town in East Texas. Those plans have residents just as worried.

In Amarillo, the City Council is considering a water deal with Fermi America, a company co-founded by former U.S. Energy Secretary and Texas Gov. Rick Perry. The campus would span 5,800 acres in nearby Carson County and include 18 million square feet for data centers.

Perry said in June that the project is part of a national push to stay competitive in the global energy and technology sectors.

A group of residents, including Kay, see the deal as a threat. They protested the deal in front of the Potter County courthouse in late September.

Were ready for more community conversations about the use of this and with Fermi, Kay said.

Trent Sisemore, a former Amarillo mayor who Fermi tapped to lead community engagement, said the data center will offer good jobs. The Panhandle was also chosen, the company said ealier, because of its proximity to natural gas pipelines, high-speed fiber and other infrastructure.

The deployment brings tremendous growth and economic stability to our community, Sisemore said.

Part of Amarillos water supply comes from the Ogallala Aquifer, which is also the main water supply for farmers and ranchers in the region, and it is being drained at rates faster than it can be replenished. Agriculture production is the lifeblood of the High Plains, and the success of the region depends on the success of farmers and ranchers. Organizers of the protest at the Potter County courthouse have stressed that incoming data centers are dangerous because of the ripple effect that could happen in a region already under water restrictions.

Kay pointed to similar communities, such as Lenoir, North Carolina and Henrico County, Virginia, where there is a constant expansion of data centers pushing into rural areas. The expansions bring the likelihood of noise and water pollution, along with a jump in electricity prices with it.

We would never move somewhere thats more busy and loud, Kay said. We like our quiet streets.

Its exciting when it comes to data centers

Economic success in Ector County, which includes Odessa, has long been dependent on oil rigs. For local officials, a 235-acre data center in Penwell is a chance to diversify the economy. The abundance of natural gas, untapped land and untreated water, makes the region ideal, said County Judge Dustin Fawcett.

Its exciting when it comes to data centers, said Fawcett. Not only are we using that produced water, were also using the excess natural gas we have, so we get to be more efficient with the products were mining.

With one planned near Odessa, where water supply has been a consistent problem for both quantity and quality, some residents arent so sure.

We dont have an abundance of water out here, said Jeff Russell, an Odessa resident and former vice president of the Odessa Development Corporation. We have an abundance of bad water, but we dont have an abundance of good water.

Fawcett said as officials look into these agreements with data centers, they dont want to pull water from the municipal supply  they want to tap into brackish and produced water, which is a byproduct of oil and gas extraction. He hopes that data centers can help them get closer to harnessing produced water on a large scale instead of shooting it back into the earth.

Just like the Panhandle, there are a slew of data centers either planned or already in dry West Texas. Sweetwater and El Paso have projects in the works, while small towns like Snyder are actively promoting their land as a good site for interested businesses.

Yi Ding, an assistant professor at Purdue University in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, said some states have started introducing regulations that prevent data centers from using drinking water. Texas doesnt, which could become a problem in the near future.

This is a concern in other states, said Ding, who has researched the environmental impact of data centers. You dont want data centers competing for water used in peoples daily lives.

While state planners dont have a concrete way of tracking how much water data centers are using in Texas or how much will be needed in the future, some centers are already looking to make their systems more efficient. This includes using different cooling methods, such as gels, which would decrease the amount of water they use. However, Ding compared it to a theory that says techniques can be improved over time, but it opens the door for more consumption.

When something becomes more efficient, people use it more, Ding said. So total water consumption doesnt significantly drop, unless theres a significant paradigm shift in terms of cooling.

Sisemore, who is Fermis ambassador to Amarillo, said they want to use water efficiently and protect the resource, and will be using a system that continuously circulates cooling fluid, which uses less water.

If theres better technology, thats what were going to use, Sisemore said.

Wealth here is the water

Will Masters has spent the last decade working on ways to replenish the Ogallala Aquifer. His efforts focus on conservation and using other methods, such as playa lakes, to restore the groundwater thats been drained for more than 50 years.

The Panhandle area sits on one of the deepest parts of the aquifer, which means it likely has more water than regions further south. Masters, who lives in Amarillo, wants to ensure the Panhandle doesnt push its geographical luck.

Wealth here is the water, said Masters, one of the founders for Ogallala Life, a nonprofit in the region. If the water is not here, this area is impoverished.

When Amarillo residents held their protest last month, it was to both fight against data centers coming to the city and inform others of the potential risks facing their water supply  including the risks to the Ogallala Aquifer. Masters said the idea of accepting the water being drained more in exchange for a limited amount of jobs is a bad deal.

City leaders are trying to find a way to keep their cities alive, Masters said. So we have developers coming in with ideas to bring in money and jobs, temporarily, but its causing more problems.

Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley said the councils priority is protecting the citys water and to get a good deal if they decide to sell any of it to Fermi for its data center, which will sit about 35 miles north of the citys limits in Carson County.

The company has asked for 2.5 million gallons of water a day, and theres talks it could go up to 10 million gallons. By comparison, Stanley said the city uses 50 million gallons a day.

Well charge them more than a regular customer because theyre outside the city and require them to put in their own infrastructure, Stanley said. Then well be the beneficiary of the additional jobs that pay well, new residents who build homes and put in additional businesses. Itll be really good economically for the growth of Amarillo.

Stanley acknowledged there will be challenges.

The cons are how fast do you grow? Can those growing pains be forecasted? he said in an interview with The Texas Tribune. Can we plan strategically so were ready for that amount of growth?

Stanley said he has spoken with residents and heard their concerns. At the same time, he said Fermi America will need to lead the conversation since its outside city limits. His role comes later, he said, as the business finalizes its plans.

Fermi America is going to need to step up and hold their own forums and engage with those citizens directly, Stanley said. Just like any business deal would be handled. It would be very unfair for me to take a lead in any of those conversations, not knowing who the players are or what the full potential is.

Sisemore, the community lead for the project, said the U.S. is being outpaced by China when it comes to coal, gas and nuclear generation. He said the next war will be won because of AI, and this is an opportunity for the community to help America win it.

He said he understands where the trepidation from residents is coming from  comparing it to when people were concerned about Bell Helicopter, a company focused on producing military aircraft, came to Amarillo. Sisemore wants to help inform them by bringing in experts to give them more information.

Everybody has a right to their opinion, and we can all learn from each other, Sisemore said.

Town halls are expected to begin in November.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/02/rural-texas-data-centers-water/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

Topics Texas
After Paola Freites was allowed into the U.S. in 2024, she and her husband settled in Florida, drawn by warm temperatures, a large Latino community and the ease of finding employment and housing.

They were among hundreds of thousands of immigrants who came to the state in recent years as immigration surged under former President Joe Biden.

No state has been more affected by the increase in immigrants than Florida, according to internal government data obtained by The Associated Press. Florida had 1,271 migrants who arrived from May 2023 to January 2025 for every 100,000 residents, followed by New York, California, Texas and Illinois.

The data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which must verify addresses of everyone who is allowed to enter the U.S. and stay to pursue an immigration case, shows Miami was the most affected metropolitan area in the U.S. with 2,191 new migrants for every 100,000 residents. Orlando ranked 10th with 1,499 new migrants for every 100,000 residents. Tampa ranked 17th, and Fort Myers was 30th.

Freites and her husband, who had fled violence in Colombia with their three children, moved to Apopka, an agricultural city near Orlando, where immigrants could find cheaper housing than in Miami as they spread throughout a community that already had large populations of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans. Her sister-in-law owned a mobile home that they could rent.

She advised us to come to Orlando because Spanish is spoken here and the weather is good, Freites, 37, said. We felt good and welcomed.

Migration Changed After COVID-19 Pandemic

The CBP data captured the stated U.S. destinations for 2.5 million migrants who crossed the border, including those like Freites who used the now-defunct CBP One app to make an appointment for entry. The data covered the period when the Biden administration ended COVID-19 restrictions on asylum to when President Donald Trump began his second term and declared a national emergency at the border.

CBP released millions of people in the U.S. at the border during Bidens presidency to pursue cases in U.S. immigration court, lifting the immigrant population to all-time highs as many people made their way to the U.S. by walking through the once-impenetrable Darien Gap on the border of Colombia and Panama. This year, the Border Patrol released only seven migrants from February through July, as Trump suspended the asylum system and thrust the military into a central role in deterring illegal border crossings.

Freites said she was tortured and raped in Colombia and her father and 8-month-old baby killed. The family requested asylum, and she and her husband obtained work permits.

She is now a housekeeper at a hotel in Orlando, a tourist destination with more than a dozen theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld. Her husband works at a plant nursery.

We came here looking for freedom, to work. We dont like to be given anything for free, said Freites, who asked that the AP identify her by her middle name and second last name for fear of her mothers safety in Colombia, which has endured more than a half century of conflict. We are good people.

She, her husband and their three children  ages 16, 13 and 7  live in a two-bedroom mobile home. The children attend school and she attends a Catholic church that offers Mass in Spanish, the only language she speaks.

Historically, Central Floridas immigrant population was mainly from Mexico and Central America, with a handful of Venezuelan professionals and business owners coming after socialist Hugo Chavez became president in 1999. In 2022, more Venezuelans began to arrive, encouraged by a program created by the Biden administration that offered them a temporary legal pathway. That same program was extended months later to Haitians and Cubans, and their presence became increasingly visible in Central Florida. The state also has a large Colombian population.

Many immigrants came to Florida because they had friends and relatives there.

In Orlando, they settled throughout the area, not just certain neighborhoods. Businesses catering to newer arrivals opened in shopping areas with Mexican and Puerto Rican shops. Venezuelan restaurants selling empanadas and arepas opened in the same plaza as a Mexican supermarket that offers tacos and enchiladas. Churches began offering more Masses in Spanish and in Creole, which Haitians speak.

As the population increased, apartments, shopping centers, offices and warehouses replaced many of the orange groves and forests that once surrounded Orlando.

The Economy Grew as More People Arrived

New immigrants found work in the booming construction industry, as well as in agriculture, transportation, utilities and manufacturing. Many work in restaurants and hotels and as taxi drivers. Some started their own businesses.

Its just like a very vibrant community, said Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, executive director at Hope CommUnity Center, a group that offers free services to the immigrant community in Central Florida. Its like, Im going to work hard and Im going to fight for my American dream, that spirit.

Immigrants contributions to Floridas gross domestic product  all goods and services produced in the state  rose from 24.3% in 2019 to 25.5% in 2023, according to an American Immigration Council analysis of the Census Bureaus annual surveys. The number of immigrants in the workforce increased from 2.8 million to 3.1 million, or 26.5% to 27.4% of the overall population. The figures include immigrants in the U.S. legally and illegally.

Immigration has made this area better, more diverse, said Laudi Campo, director of the Hispanic Federation in Florida. Immigrants have brought an amazingly economic force and great workforce to the area.

Groups that help immigrants also increased in size.

We got hundreds of calls a week, said Gisselle Martinez, legal director at the Orlando Center for Justice. So many calls of people saying I just arrived, I dont know anybody, I dont have money yet, I dont have a job yet. Can you help me?'

The center created a program to welcome them. It grew from serving 40 people in 2022 to 269 in 2023 and 524 in 2024, Melissa Marantes, the executive director, said.

In 2023, the Hispanic Federation launched a program to teach doctors, nurses, and engineers from South America and Haiti how to prepare and dress for job interviews and how to answer questions in English. They also expanded their free English language program and offered another to help parents navigate the school system. In 2021, about 500 immigrants attended a fair that provided free dental, medical, and legal services. By 2024, there were 2,500 attendees.

Sousa-Lazaballet, the executive director at Hope, said his group went from serving 6,000 people in 2019, to more than 20,000 in 2023 and 2024.

People were welcomed, Sousa-Lazaballet, the executive director at Hope, said. It was an incredible moment, when people were coming, people were settling because they have work permits. They could work.

Many Now Fear Being Detained

After Trump took office, anxiety spread through many immigrant communities. Florida, a Republican-led state, has worked to help the Trump administration with its immigration crackdown and has enacted laws targeting illegal immigration. That includes a measure banning people living in the U.S. illegally from entering the state that some law enforcement officers enforced after a judge halted it.

Blanca, a 38-year-old single mother from Mexico who crossed the border with her three children in July 2024, said she came to Central Florida because four nephews who were already living in the area told her it was a peaceful place where people speak Spanish. The math teacher, who has requested asylum in the U.S. insisted on being identified by her first name only because she fears deportation.

In July 2025, immigration officials told her to go to their Orlando office ahead of an October immigration court hearing. There, they placed an electronic bracelet on her ankle to monitor her.

Because a friend of hers was deported after submitting a work permit request, she has not asked for one herself, she said. Blanca gets paid under the table by cleaning and cooking for neighbors. Her children ask her not to take them to or from school for fear that the police will see her electronic bracelet and stop and detain her on the street.

Its scary, she said. Of course it is.

Photo: Immigrants trying to learn the English language take notes as Eliezer Guerrero of Catholic Charities of Central Florida teaches a class in Orlando in August. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

___

Associated Press writer Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Florida
A toxic cloud of chemicals was released from an industrial site near Cocoa Beach last week, but authorities said no one was seriously injured, and the leak has been repaired.

Florida Today and other news outlets reported that about 10 gallons of bromine and sodium cyanide escaped from the FAR Chemical research facility in Palm Bay, causing an orange mist that was seen in photos taken by nearby residents and news crews.

Both of the chemicals are considered toxic to people and animals in high enough concentrations. A bleach-like smell was reported. Three people at the research plant were taken to a nearby hospital, the newspaper noted.

Local hazardous-material crews tested the area and found no lingering air-quality issues, authorities said. An official with FAR Chemical, a CPS company, said the company is investigating and would not restart the system until a cause is determined. A pressure valve at the site may have opened as intended, relieving pressure buildup, a fire department chief said.

The plant was the site of an explosion and fire in 2020 that left no one injured, the news outlet reported.

Topics Florida Pollution
Floridas Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is deferring the required proof of flood insurance while the federal government shutdown continues and the National Flood Insurance Program is in limbo.

Citizens will accept applications and defer the required proof of flood coverage and the Policyholder Affirmation Regarding Flood Insurance (CIT FW01), effective October 1, 2025, until the NFIP resumes normal business operations, the corporation said in a bulletin last week.

Florida lawmakers in 2022 required most Citizens policyholders, in a phased-in schedule, to also obtain flood insurance. The idea, supporters of the law said, was to help push homeowners back to the primary market and help protect Citizens from legal disputes over wind-versus-water damage. Condominium owners in high-rise buildings were exempted from the mandate in 2023.

Citizens, still the states largest property insurer, noted that as of this year, dwellings with replacement costs of $500,000 or more are required to obtain flood insurance. By January 1, 2026, properties valued at $400,000 must have flood coverage. By 2027, all Citizens-covered structures will need flood coverage, according to the law.

And most flood insurance comes through the National Flood Insurance Program, meaning that coverage has been suspended for new and renewal policies, at least until the federal government is funded by Congress and the NFIP is re-authorized. Private flood coverage is still available.

Once NFIP resumes, insurance agents will have 10 business days to submit the proof-of-flood-coverage documents to Citizens, the insurers bulletin explained. If a policys cancellation or nonrenewal effective date is October 1, 2025, or later, agents can submit a request to reinstate via the Flood and Affirmation Document Deferral Form. The form must be submitted prior to the cancellation or nonrenewal effective date.

The bulletin can be seen here.

Photo: Flooding in North Miami in June 2024. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Related: Insurance Industry Presses Congress to Act on NFIP

Topics Florida Flood
More than a year after he was charged, a Georgia businessman known as Dr. Taxes has been indicted for posing as an insurance agent and swiping hundreds of thousands of dollars in workers compensation premiums.

Emmanual Torres-Cruz, 35, was indicted by a Colquitt County grand jury on 23 counts of insurance fraud, the Georgia Board of Workers Compensation said in a bulletin. The board did not explain if Torres was set to be arrested again, and the Colquitt County Sheriffs Office said Monday that he had not been booked into jail since last year.

The investigation began in February 2024, after the board received a tip that Torres was allegedly misrepresenting himself as an insurance agent and a certified public accountant. He reportedly accepted premium payments for multiple workers comp policies that he never procured with carriers, the board said.

Anyone who may have purchased coverage from Torres is asked to contact the board at (404) 657 7285 or (800) 533-0682.

The Torres indictment came two months after another Georgia man was charged with posing as an insurance agent and selling falsified certificates of insurance on workers comp policies. In that case, the man was also charged years ago but was not prosecuted, according to court records.

Topics Agencies Georgia
A mixed team of four became the finalists for the Certified Irish Angus School Competition from St Brendan's Community School in Birr.

Moya Guinan, Jack O'Meara, Ben Younge, and Joey McLoughney, with their project titled: Incremental steps yield significant improvements in sustainable beef production, wowed the judges and shot them into the final.

The team has strong roots in a farming background, with the exception of Ms Guinan, who does not hail from a family farm, but has a keen interest in the agricultural sector. With Mr OMeara from a beef farm, Mr Younge from a dairy farm, and Mr McLoughney having an organic beef farm at home; the team was well equipped for the competition.

Chatting with the team and their teacher, Ms Grant, they told the Irish Examiner this was the schools last-ditch effort in the competition after several years of not making it through to the finals.

We [St Brendans CS] have entered the competition many times before with no luck, so we said wed give it one last go, explained Ms Grant, delighted with the team's success. Also supporting the team on their journey through the competition were teachers Ms OHara and Mr McKeogh.

The teams project aimed to identify steps beef farmers could take to improve their sustainability on the farm.

With plenty of background knowledge from the boys farms, the team understood that farmers couldnt make big changes all at once, instead aiming to identify and educate farmers on more manageable, smaller actions that can be completed over months or years that could still make a difference and influence farming sustainability.

Mr McLoughney explained:

We looked at small measures farmers could do which will allow them to slowly make a change.

Following the teams finalist status, they were awarded their five Angus cattle, four bullocks and a heifer at last years Ploughing Championships, where Mr OMeara also won the Novice Two-Furrow Conventional Junior Plough Class.

There was great excitement from St Brendans with the receiving of the cattle. The school held a naming competition, and the cattle were later christened Diesel, Brendan, Daisy, Casper and Milky Way, who were all made comfortable at Mr OMearas home farm.

The whole team pitched in with looking after the cattle feeding, weighing and health monitoring, taking up a lot of the work alongside their project. The team explained at the time of the interview that the cattle ranged from 580-630kg in weight, ahead of their slaughter in the next week.

Left to right: Ben Younge, Joey McLoughney and Jack O'Meara after weighing their five Angus cattle.

J. Grennan and Sons were our main sponsor, they did up a sustainable food plan with us and provided the meal, which the cattle received 2.2kg of a day. They also paid for a faecal egg count on the cattle to determine what dosing we might need to do, Mr Younge explained, with Grennan and Sons also paying for a silage analysis for the team.

When we got the faecal egg count test back, the cattle came back with small traces of lung worm, we were able to dose specifically for the problem and avoid the overuse of antibiotics they didnt need, said Mr OMeara who went on to explain using target treatments reduced costs and made their animal care more sustainable by reducing the risk of antimicrobial resistance amongst the cattle.

After a follow-up faecal egg count, the cattle were given the all-clear for any lingering lung worm and other parasites.

The small steps the students focused on for farmers to adopt were highlighting the importance of soil fertility, formulating nutritional plans, silage analysis, slurry testing, using low-emission slurry equipment and GPS for slurry and fertiliser application, as well as health monitoring animals via faecal egg counts.

The team collaborated with a number of groups for their project, such as with Teagasc advisors who explained how AgNav can be utilised to reduce emissions. They also worked with Grassland Agro to conduct soil sampling and help devise a fertiliser plan.

(Left to right): MJ Clery of Midlands 103 radio (MC on the night), Teacher Aoife O'Hara, Jack O'Meara, Joey McLoughney, Francie Gorman (President of IFA), Ben Younge, Moya Guinan, Teachers Ciaran McKeogh and Laura Grant at the cutting of the ribbon to launch St Brendan's Community School.

The team also helped to spread awareness of their project and the work farmers can do by talking to farmers directly at agricultural shows, such as the Tullamore show, where the team had a stand.

They also added a podcasting string to their bow by showcasing their project on the Grassland Agro podcast The Sod Pod and the Irish Farmers Journal podcast, both of which were described as a class experience by Mr McLoughney, although originally a little out of the team's comfort zone.

To mark the occasion of the team reaching the final and receiving the cattle, the school held a launch event for the St Brendans Community School Angus Farm.

Invited were several guest speakers, including Managing Director of the NPA Anna May McHugh, IFA president Francie Gorman, Representatives from ABP and Kepak, the competition sponsors, Health and Safety Officer of FRS Tom Duffy, Head of the sustainability tent at Tullamore show, Padraig Brennan, and MJ Cleary from Midland 103, who compered for the night.

Ms Grant said:

I suppose when we won the calves, there was obviously great excitement to it. We're a town school; we do have students from rural areas, but we also have students who have never heard of an Angus at all, let alone the difference between a bullock or a heifer.

The team got to share their projects with their school peers and special guests at the event and everyone got a meal of Angus beef burgers on the night, sponsored by Kepak.

Speaking to the team, it was hard to narrow down, but the Brussels trip to present their project to MEPs in the European Parliament, as well as their fellow finalists, was the highlight of their journey so far in the competition.

The team highly recommended the competition to any TYs interested in getting involved, explaining it was a great opportunity and had helped improve the teams presenting skills as well as their confidence.
The tenants who claim they are owed overpaid rent by former presidential hopeful Jim Gavin were expecting their first baby when they were fighting to get their money back.

The couple, who had been renting the apartment in Smithfield in Dublin, sought to have more than 3,000 returned to them after it was paid in error to Mr Gavin, the landlord of the property.
A jury of 10 men and two women was sworn in on Monday for the trial of two men charged with murdering 47-year-old Kieran Quilligan at an unknown location in Cork.

33-year-old Niall Long, formerly of St. Michaels Close, Mahon, Cork, and 27-year-old Luke Taylor, formerly of Cherry Lawn, Blackrock, Cork, were arraigned at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork on the single charge of murder. They both replied, Not guilty to the charge against them.

The murder count against each man states that on a date unknown between September 1, 2023, and January 29, 2024, at an unknown location within the state in the District Court area of Cork City he did murder Kieran Quilligan, contrary to Common Law.

Throughout the late morning and early afternoon today members of the jury panel were called to Courtroom 6 at the courthouse on Anglesea Street, Cork, where the process of selecting a jury occurred.

Each person from the jury panel was given an opportunity to tell Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford if they could not commit to hearing the case for the estimated duration of three to four weeks. Numerous people did so and were excused.

For those others who were willing to be empanelled on the jury, it was possible for defence and prosecution lawyers to object to them being sworn on to the jury. The prosecution and each defendant could object to seven people without showing cause and to any number with cause shown.

Ms Justice Lankford told the 10 men and two women that their first job was to select a jury foreperson from among them to liaise between the jury and the court and to perform certain technical functions.

The judge then told the jurors that there would be nothing for them to hear in relation to the case today or tomorrow when lawyers will examine extensive volumes of CCTV and agree on a synopsis of what footage is to be shown in the course of the trial.

Sending the jury away until 10.30am on Wednesday, October 8, the judge told them that the integrity of the process meant that they should not discuss the case with others, should not conduct searches on social media and should not do any independent research such as visiting locations referred to in the trial.

It is anticipated that the opening prosecution speech outlining the anticipated evidence in the trial will be given on Wednesday morning.
Armed gardai rushed to the scene of an alleged attack in Cork City centre on Monday, after which two men were brought to hospital for treatment of their injuries.

Witnesses say a fight broke out between two men near a bakery and cafe on Patricks Street at noon.

A businessman who asked not to be named said he heard an argument had broken out between the two men and at some point a knife was produced. He said a man was stabbed and that his attacker then ran back into the bakery.

Another person who was nearby when the incident happened said: Gardai were arriving from all over the place, including one vehicle with armed gardai."

About four or five of them ran into the cafe and up through the building. They left a short while later, but they didnt have anybody with them.

Another witness who asked not to be named said: The stabbed man was covered all over in blood. I saw the ambulance crew rush over to him and carry him off.

I just stumbled across it by chance. Its not the sort of thing you expect to see in the heart of Cork City, the witness said.

The pavement at the front of the bakery was cordoned off, with gardai keeping onlookers back.

Witnesses say a fight broke out between two men near a bakery and cafe on Patricks Street at noon. Picture: Chani Anderson

A number of chairs were scattered at the front of the bakery, and there was a small pool of blood to one side of it on the pavement.

A garda spokesperson said: Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of an alleged incident of assault that occurred at an apartment on St Patricks Street in Cork city this afternoon October 8, 2025 at approximately 12pm.

A male was conveyed to Cork University Hospital for the treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. A second male was conveyed to Cork University Hospital for the treatment of non-life-threatening injuries after attending Bridewell Garda Station following the incident.

Gardai are appealing to any witnesses to the incident to contact them at Anglesea Street Garda Station on 021 4522000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

Investigations are ongoing, they added
Jim Gavin was right to resign, probably shouldnt have run in the first place, and most people are undecided about who now to vote for in the upcoming presidential election.

These were the views of people in Cork city centre when asked for their reaction to the Fianna Fail presidential candidate pulling out of the race for the Aras on Sunday night.

While there was some sympathy for Mr Gavin, the general consensus was that he had no choice but to resign. One voter even went on to say that they believed he had blown it.

Rebecca Griffin, 49, said she was delighted he had resigned.

She said she thought he appeared to have difficulty giving straight answers to straight questions.

Rebecca Griffin said Jim Gavin's exit was no loss. Picture: Chani Anderson

I dont think he was a suitable candidate for the presidency at all, she said.

He didnt seem very accountable, and I think he was a bit of a chancer.

She also said his GAA background didnt do it for me.

Olive Melvyn, from Kinsale, was more sympathetic. She said: I feel sorry for the man.

I just think he was ill-advised, and he should have acknowledged the mistakes he made.

That is the big problem. He should have answered things better.

Olive Melvin, a lifelong Fianna Fail supporter, said she would have backed Jim Gavin had his name remained on the ticket, but admitted he wouldnt have been her first choice. Picture: Chani Anderson

The 65-year-old wasnt so much annoyed that there was an issue around repaying overpaid rent to a tenant, but more that he hadnt cleared it up way sooner.

She said: We all make mistakes, but if he had rectified it  and he should have rectified it back in the day (all those years ago)  it would be different, but he didnt.

As to who she will vote for, she is undecided. However, if she had the chance, she would have voted for Billy Kelleher, who had wanted to be Fianna Fails candidate instead of Mr Gavin or Bertie Ahern, if he had stood.

Asked if Ireland even needs a president, she laughed and replied: "Probably not.

Aoife OConnell said Jim Gavins resignation was irrelevant to her, as he wasnt a candidate who spoke to her. Picture: Chani Anderson

Aoife OConnell, a museum education officer, said Mr Gavin was right to resign.

He had blown it, the 28-year-old said.

I think he made no impression from the start anyway.

On the way he handled questions regarding abuse and mistreatment within the Defence Forces  Mr Gavin repeatedly insisted he did not witness, nor was he ever aware of any abuse during his 20 years' service  she said: It is hard to believe that he wouldn't have known if he was that long there."

I dont think it bodes well if he didnt know. There is this culture of secrecy around it anyway, and it just doesnt sit right.

On him as a candidate, she said: He didnt really stand for anything, and he didnt seem to have strong opinions about anything.

I will be voting for Catherine Connelly. She answers questions clearly, and she stands for what I stand for  which is all that is right and just.

Diarmuid OConnell said he believed Jim Gavin had been put in a difficult position to be nominated in the first place. Picture: Chani Anderson

Diarmuid OConnell, however, was not terribly fazed by the different controversies that affected Mr Gavins candidacy.

The 18-year-old said: Im a GAA player, and I would have seen him managing Dublin.

I was a bit surprised he stood in the first place, as he was never into politics. As someone into GAA, I would have heard more of him than the others.

From what I saw of him, he seemed to be doing a good job and made a good account of himself.

As for as his resignation, he said it wasn't something he was that interested in.

I dont know why he resigned, he said.

Ciaran Cook spoke to the 'Irish Examiner' on the streets of Cork, sharing his opinion that he believed Jim had made the right decision. Picture: Chani Anderson

When he was reminded of the rent issue, Mr O'Connell said: I suppose it makes you question your trust in him hearing about that."

Mr O'Connell has not yet decided if he will vote on polling day on October 24.

I registered to vote, but I havent decided who I am going to vote for, he said.

I need to do more research and I will do it nearer the time.

On the question of Ireland needing a president, he said he felt there is a place for such a ceremonial role.
Frantic last-minute negotiations on the final shape of Budget 2026 will continue on Monday with government sources describing the process as a slog on Sunday evening.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Simon Harris, and minister of state Sean Canney met on Sunday night to iron out the details.

While many departments budgets remained unsettled, there are some indications on what has been agreed.

Enterprise and tourism

After some debate, it is expected that Vat for restaurants will drop from 13.5% to 9% from July.

Despite some public criticism of the fact that there will be no distinction between smaller restaurants and chains, one source argued that many of the chains are franchises and theyre all small businesses and families.

They just have the benefit of the name over the shop to attract people, one person stated.

It is also expected there will be heavy investment in new markets for tourism, focusing investment in locations where new flight routes have been recently introduced.

This will be a pro-enterprise budget to ensure we protect every one of the 2.81m jobs in Ireland against whatever financial shocks that may arise, one source said.

Culture, communications, and sport

Despite pushback from the Department of Public Expenditure, it understood that minister Patrick ODonovan has secured the extension of the basic income for artists.

It is further expected that the scheme, which currently provides grants of 325 to artists enrolled in it, will also be placed on a permanent footing.

Sources told the Irish Examiner that some elements of the budget package were still being ironed out last night.

Finance

Usually, the main element of the Department of Finances budget focuses on changes to the tax bands and credits. However, this was ruled out last week by Paschal Donohoe.

The Irish Examiner understands that there will be an increase to the cost of a packet of cigarettes as part of Budget 2026.

This will be done in addition to the new tax on vapes, which will come into effect from November 1, that will double the price of a 10ml refill cartridge of e-liquid from 5 to 11.15. A disposable vape will increase from 8 to 9.23.

Agriculture

Martin Heydon was one of the few ministers who settled their budget before the weekend, wrapping up negotiations on Friday.

It is understood that his departments new TB plan was a central tenet of this years ask.

The disease has been on a steep increase and affected 6,000 farm families last year.

Health

The health budget is expected to be one of the final ones to be decided, with sources unclear last night what the final outcome will be.

It is understood that health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill is pushing for a continuation of service and protection of the existing budget, which has been dogged by over-runs.

At the health committee last week, the minister said that the focus will be on ensuring the expanded health budget delivers for more patients and taxpayers.

Its clear from the purposes of the State that we cannot continue to grow the health budget or any budget at that rate and also maintain security in our public finances, she said.

We must make sure that we are getting the value from that investment by the taxpayer in the health system.

Public expenditure

Much of the focus from a public expenditure standpoint has been on one word: Moderation.

Minister Jack Chambers has made it clear to a number of ministers over recent weeks that they will have to find savings and efficiencies and that an ongoing need for supplementary budgets was not sustainable.

Housing

A cut to the Vat rate in the construction sector was one measure expected to be cleared by the leaders, as was an extension to the living city initiative, which offers tax reliefs against money spent refurbishing or converting residential or commercial properties.

At present, the initiative is restricted to regeneration areas in cities such as Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, and Waterford. Properties are required to be built before 1915, but the extension would include increasing this after age.

Justice

Funding to allow justice minister Jim OCallaghan to build up recruitment in An Garda Siochana will be made available, with the minister aiming to get to as many as 1,000 recruits a year.

Mr OCallaghan has also been given funding for new equipment for gardai, as well as a ramping up of resources for handling immigration.

Mr OCallaghan will also receive funding for a nationwide youth diversion programme, as well as for both gender-based violence agency Cuan and for victim support measures.

Further and higher education

A 500 cut to college fees remained on the table as the leaders met late last night, with sources saying that they believed it would be agreed.

Social protection

There will be an increase in the income disregard for the carers means test, with sources saying it was unlikely that the test would be abolished outright this year.

In core rates, minister Dara Calleary was pushing hard for an increase by 12 a week  but some sources suggested he may have to be content with 10 a week. There is likely to be an extension of the fuel allowance to address concerns on energy pricing. It is expected that there will be the traditional Christmas bonus payments for the State pension and jobseekers.

Children

It is understood that a push will be made towards bringing down childcare fees, but this years budget will focus on those paying the most by bringing down the upper fee cap. Norma Foley will also seek to make increased funding available for disabilities.

Transport, climate change, and energy

An extension of the 9% Vat rate on energy has been agreed, as have new tax exemptions for selling energy back to the grid.

Sources have confirmed that there wont be any increase in public transport fees, and that there will be further electric vehicle incentives in expanding benefit in kind for businesses.

The State target of 195,000 EVs on the road by end 2025 was exceeded last month.
Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher has accused his party of not doing due diligence before choosing Jim Gavin as its presidential election candidate.

He stated there were multiple failures, branding it a very serious miscalculation that cant be swept under the carpet, as he refused to weigh in on Micheal Martins future as Fianna Fail leader.

Mr Gavin spectacularly pulled out of the race on Sunday night, citing that he had made a mistake. It followed a report in Saturdays Irish Independent suggesting that he had failed to repay a tenant's rent overpayments of 3,300 that were made in 2009.

Mr Gavin confirmed on Sunday that the property had not been registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), despite this being required by law since 2004.

The former Dublin GAA manager overcame Cork MEP Billy Kelleher in September to become the partys candidate.

Speaking on RTE radio's Morning Ireland on Monday, Mr Kelleher said he felt very sorry for Jim Gavin and his family.

Jim Gavin, speaking to media after a debate on 'The Week in Politics' at RTE's studios in Dublin. Picture: Conor O'Mearain/PA Wire

The fact that we are now not involved in an election, that's very significant and important, from an Irish political perspective, he said. "We clearly didn't do our due diligence, didn't do enough interrogation. That was the issue I raised at the outset was the whole process.

When I issued my first press statement on this issue in the middle of August, I was clearly concerned that there seemed to be no proper process in place. There was no scrutiny of candidates; names were being mentioned on an ad hoc basis.

'Multiple failures'

I just thought, all in all, it was quite a chaotic scene in early August. From my perspective, I believe that we'll have to review all these things and look at where it all went wrong, not just from the perspective of the candidate, the individual, but the process as well in selecting candidates.

When asked if there was a failure on behalf of Mr Martin, Mr Kelleher said there were multiple failures.

He continued: The question that has to be asked is, was enough of this explained to Mr Gavin, and was there enough due diligence done as well in terms of the ability to campaign for the party, to get around the candidate and to push them over the line?

I'm fully aware of the fact that Micheal Martin was very supportive of Jim Gavin. During the actual parliamentary party campaign, it was very, very evident that there was full support being given to Mr Gavin from Micheal Martin and others in the leadership.

But I think what we really have to do initially is just to assess the process, how it went so horribly wrong so quickly.

The leadership of the party, and I presume those in headquarters as well, would have been the ones that would have approached Jim Gavin.

They would have assessed Jim Gavin. They would have assessed his suitability, and then they would have put him through the parliamentary party.

For that reason, there obviously will have to be an assessment based on what was done to get Jim Gavin through the parliamentary party without having the due diligence done and the preparation for a candidate going into this type of election.

Taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin. File Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

Mr Kelleher stated that Fianna Fail members across the country were upset.

He stated that this situation could not be just swept under the carpet and we all move on, branding it a very serious miscalculation that has caused an awful lot of trauma both to individuals, in terms of Jim Gavin and his family, and more broadly, the Fianna Fail party.

When asked if Mr Martins position was safe as Fianna Fail leader, Mr Kelleher said he was not a TD, and it was up to TDs to make that decision.

In a message to the Fianna Fail parliamentary party, Mr Martin said that he understood Mr Gavins decision and believed it is the correct one.

Mr Martin, as well as Fianna Fails deputy leader Jack Chambers, are now coming under fire from their party following their decision to row in behind Mr Gavin and the subsequent fallout from his candidacy.
Fianna Fail deputy leader Jack Chambers has been branded classless by party colleagues over his handling of the Jim Gavin controversy.

Several members of the party told the Irish Examiner that the public expenditure minister threw Mr Gavin under the bus. Some suggested he would be severely damaged by the fiasco.

Mr Gavin dramatically pulled out of the presidential election on Sunday evening after he admitted to making a mistake following a report in the Irish Independent suggesting that he did not repay rent overpayments to his tenant worth 3,300.

On Monday morning Mr Chambers, Fianna Fails director of elections, went on RTEs Morning Ireland to say the first time the party became aware of the issue was when it received a press query on Thursday.

On Saturday, the tenant in question contacted the party and said they did have records relating to this particular issue, and that was contrary to what the party had been told [by Mr Gavin] and what had been said on Friday, he said.

Several TDs and senators told the

Irish Examiner

there is growing anger within the party with Mr Chambers, with some arguing he "can't distance himself from Jim Gavin".

"He was director of elections, he backed him and asked us to do the same. If there was a mistake, it was his mistake, they added. Several members of the parliamentary party were angry over Mr Chambers going on national radio and blaming Jim Gavin.

Jack threw Jim under the bus, one party source said. What Jack did was wrong [on radio]. He just completely distanced himself. It was classless.

Another member of the party suggested Jack got Jim's carcass, vroomed in on top of it and then reversed the car. They added: Jack and [Taoiseach] Micheal [Martin] made this man, and now were at a point where its all Jims fault.

Another TD added:

You know what's bad? Jack fucking Chambers going out, shitting on the man he found in an interview. I think that was so wrong.

One Fianna Fail source said Mr Chambers' position as deputy leader is under question. "He's supposed to be able to see problems coming. I've no idea how this was missed."

Asked if they believed Mr Chambers could lose that position, one source said it was possible, but not likely.

However, another TD argued his star was already on the decline before this controversy broke, suggesting he may no longer be seen as the next Fianna Fail leader in waiting.

On RTEs Today with Claire Byrne, MEP Barry Andrews criticised Mr Chambers and said he did not want to see Mr Gavin thrown under a bus.

I listened to an interview this morning where Jack Chambers sort of implied that the party was misled and I think that is unfortunate, Mr Andrews said. Im not sure that we carried out the appropriate due diligence.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said Fianna Fail asked Jim Gavin several times if he had any difficulties with tenants and was informed he did not.

Mr Gavin spectacularly pulled out of the race on Sunday night, citing that he had made a mistake.

It followed a report in Saturdays Irish Independent suggesting that he had failed to repay a tenant's rent overpayment of 3,300 in 2009.

Mr Gavin confirmed on Sunday that the property had not been registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), despite this being required by law since 2004.

On RTEs Six One News, Mr Martin said he proposed Mr Gavin as the party needed a broad-based candidate who could have the potential to garner a significant degree of support across society, adding "his background was significant".

The Taoiseach said Mr Gavin had told the party he was a landlord, adding that Mr Gavin was specifically asked if he had negative experiences with tenants.

He said: What happens in a situation like this [is] you say to any candidate: Is there anything in your life that we need to know? Is there anything that happened in the past?

That happened with Jim Gavin over a number of hours. Subsequently, queries were made and there [are] queries made about lots of things in the midst of election.

Repeatedly, Jim was asked: Had you ever any issue with a tenant?' He said: Absolutely not.'

'Consequences have come home'

When it emerged that he rented out an apartment at one time in his life, then it was asked: Was there any issues with a tenant?

The answer was no. There is only so much anyone can do in situations like this.

What happened here, there was an issue in his life back in and around 2009. He clearly did not deal with it at that time or since, and probably buried it somewhere in the recesses of his mind, and didn't deal with it.

The consequences of that have now come home.

When the Taoiseach was told that he had picked Mr Gavin, he insisted that we need to be careful about that", adding that a parliamentary party of democratically elected representatives in their respective constituencies also backed him.

However, he accepted that he had backed Mr Gavin and put him forward as a candidate.

Absolutely, I take responsibility for that, the Taoiseach said.

I take responsibility for that. I want to acknowledge that many, many members of the party are hurting out there because of what has transpired.

I fully accept that. We've been through tough times in the past. I've been through tough times as a leader of the party.

This is a tough day for us as a party. It is not something I anticipated or wanted in any shape or form.

He also insisted that very comprehensive due diligence was done on Mr Gavin.

Mr Martin also denied that his leadership was in danger, and said he intends to lead the party into the next election.
As the train slowed on its way into Houston Station, the two young American tourists opposite spotted a tall thin structure out the window and wondered what it was. It was like all my Christmasses had come together. Not only did I know a thing, but I had two customers for the thing I knew.

Its the Wellington monument, I told them. Tallest obelisk in Europe. They thanked me politely, and a silence fell while I wondered if I was right about it being the tallest in Europe. After a couple of minutes the younger guy drew a deep breath.
Two years on, are the gloves finally coming off?

Tomorrow is the second anniversary of the October 7 Hamas terror attack in which 1,200 Israelis were murdered. In the two years since, Gaza has been virtually destroyed, and 66,000 Palestinians have been killed in a relentless Israeli military assault.

The 20-point peace plan announced by US president Trump last week may eventually bring an end to the war; the remaining 20 kidnapped Israeli hostages may be released in the coming days or weeks, but there is no going back to October 6, 2023, for either Israel or the Palestinians.

With the Netanyahu government remaining as bellicose as ever and its opposition to a Palestinian state deeply entrenched, the growing international isolation and near-pariah status of Israel are not going away anytime soon.

But an end to the war will not alter the diplomatic trajectory that Israel faces, as it stares down the barrel of imminent and meaningful economic sanctions.

An Israeli military strike on Gaza City last Wednesday: Many European nations will likely follow Ireland's lead on initiating targeted sanctions on Israel. What remains uncertain is their scope, severity, and how Israel will respond to them. Picture: AP /Abdel Kareem Hana

The signs are ominous for the Israeli government.

Just last month, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, signalled her support for ending the practice of consensus-based decisions, saying it was time to break free from the shackles of unanimity on Israel.

With Von der Leyen's words, targeted sanctions, economic embargoes, academic boycotts, and expulsion from preferential trade agreements have potentially been given the green light.

Living here in Tel Aviv, I believe most Israelis are in denial about how deeply their country has fallen in the eyes of the international community, and as a result, are unaware of the profound economic risks that pariah status will bring in the years to come.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, is clearly worried.

In a recent bizarre speech, the prime minister solemnly announced to the nation that Israel was facing international "isolation", and the country would need to become economically and militarily self-sufficient. We're going to be Athens and super Sparta," Netanyahu declared.

The reaction was swift. The Israeli shekel fell 6.5% against the euro in the week or so since the super Sparta speech.

With Ursula von der Leyen's statement, the Irish Governments Occupied Territories Bill, perhaps to its dismay, has now been given a new lease of life. The learned supranational judicial  some might argue, entirely political  arguments against the bill by mandarins in the upper echelons of the public service are now beginning to evaporate.

Many European nations will likely follow Ireland's lead on initiating targeted sanctions on Israel. What remains uncertain is their scope, severity, and how Israel will respond to them.

In late August, Norway, the owner of the world's largest national wealth fund, announced it would divest from five Israeli banks.

Targeted and small-scale sanctions, such as the Occupied Territories Bill, matter for two reasons.

First, in the absence of agreed-upon and sweeping European penalties, such sanctions are more likely to gain traction domestically.

Secondly, if such sanctions clearly distinguish between Israel proper and the occupied territories, they might help nudge middle Israel away from the irredentist path of the messianic far right and maybe encourage support for a two-state solution.

There are perhaps too many ifs, mights, and maybes in that sentence. The omens are not encouraging.

The political reaction in Israel to the recognition of a Palestinian state two weeks ago was overwhelmingly hostile across the (Zionist) political spectrum.

Even the leader of the supposed left-wing Democrats  the most dovish Zionist party in Israel, currently on just 10% in opinion polls  voiced hostility. Its leader, Yair Golan, said recognising a Palestinian state now was destructive and extremely damaging to Israel.

Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. Picture: AP /Jehad Alshrafi

Apparently, most Israelis agree with him. In a poll this summer, Pew Research found just 16% of Jewish Israelis think Israel and a Palestinian state can coexist peacefully.

Arguably, Irelands decision to recognise a Palestinian state, a full 18 months before the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia, and others did so, appears now to have been a precursor and not an outlier of global Western government political opinion.

So, what might be next for Ireland? There are already some clues. In June, Trinity College Dublin became the first university in the global west to "comprehensively cut ties with Israel. Calls for wider cultural and sporting boycotts are increasing in Ireland and worldwide.

More recently, more than 400 international artists announced their participation in No Music For Genocide, a new cultural boycott initiative that removes their music from streaming platforms in Israel.

Last month, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez called for Israel to be excluded, as South Africa once was, from international sporting events.

All this begs the question  is Israel fast approaching a South Africa-like economic or cultural boycott tipping point?

Israel's economy, of course, is more resilient today than South Africas was in 1992  the year that country effectively abolished apartheid. According to the World Bank, Israel's GDP per capita, at $54,000, has now surpassed France and is about 35% higher than in Italy and 54% higher than in Spain.

In 1992, South Africa's GDP per capita was just 18% of the OECD average. Today, Israels GDP per capita, despite being battered by two years of war, is some 112% of the OECD average.

Israel has also, in recent years, pivoted economically away from Europe to Asia. The country is a high-tech global leader, and per capita, it is the world's largest exporter of armaments. It is perhaps no coincidence the Israeli stock market has soared some 102% percent since the Hamas terror attack and the start of the war on October 7, 2023.

More than half  55.6%  of Israelis said they were 'not at all troubled' by reports of famine and suffering in Gaza. Picture: AP /Abdel Kareem Hana

Of course, with biting economic sanctions, all those numbers can shift more quickly than many Israelis might imagine. Europe still accounts for one-third of Israeli exports. In the absence of meaningful political progress on Palestinian self-determination on the ground, international calls for additional sanctions and boycotts are only likely to intensify.

Those calls, I imagine, would grow louder if the disturbing findings of a recent poll by the Israeli Democracy Institute were widely known. That poll found just 6.7% of Israeli Jews were very troubled by reports of famine and suffering among the Palestinian population in Gaza.

More than half  55.6%  said they were not at all troubled. Looking ahead, a general election in Israel is scheduled for next year  but even if, and its a big if, the unholy alliance of secular-right-wing, centre-left and Arab opposition parties win, and Netanyahu and his far-right religious allies are ousted from power, there is no going back to Israel's status on October 6.

And make no mistake, despite the intense and fierce opposition to Netanyahu's right-wing messianic government in Israel, there is no left-wing peacenik government waiting in the wings.

If polls are to be believed, the former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett is expected to return as Israel's prime minister. Bennett has long been an ardent opponent of a two-state solution.

But in a Facebook post published this summer, Bennett wrote: "The truth is clear. Israel's standing in the United States is collapsing." The country is increasingly viewed as a "pariah state".

Perhaps a small glimmer of hope can be gleaned from that stark admission.

Whatever happens in the days and weeks ahead, there is no going back to October 6 2023 for Israel.
Rescuers are helping hundreds of hikers trapped by heavy snow at tourist campsites on a slope of Mount Everest in Tibet, Chinese state media said.

About 350 hikers had reached a meeting point in Tingri country and rescuers were in contact with another 200, state broadcaster CCTV said late on Sunday.

There was no immediate update on rescue efforts on Monday.

The hikers were trapped at an elevation of more than 4,900 metres (16,000ft), according to an earlier report from Jimu News, a Chinese online site.

Mount Everest is about 8,850 metres (29,000ft) tall.

A hiker who rushed to descend before snow blocked the way told Jimu News that others still on the mountain told him the snow was one metre (3ft) deep and had crushed tents.

Hundreds of rescuers headed up the mountain on Sunday to clear paths so that trapped people could come down, the Jimu report said.

A video shot by a villager showed a long line of people with horses and oxen moving up a winding path in the snow.

The snowstorm struck during a week-long national holiday in China, when many travel at home and abroad.

In another mountainous region in western China, one hiker died of hypothermia and altitude sickness and 137 others were evacuated in the north part of Qinghai province, CCTV said on Monday.

The search in an area in Menyuan county with an average altitude of more than 4,000 metres (13,100ft) was complicated by the terrain, unpredictable weather and continuous snowfall, a CCTV online report said.

Villagers with their animals ascend the mountain during rescue efforts to reach hundreds of hikers trapped by heavy snow at tourist campsites on a slope of Mount Everest in Tibet (Lingsuiye via AP)

Mount Everest, known as Mount Qomolangma in Chinese, straddles the border between China and Nepal, where recent heavy rains have left more than 40 people dead.

Climbers attempt to scale the worlds tallest peak from base camps in both countries.

The base camp for climbers is separate from the tourist camp where hikers were trapped by the snowfall.

A strong earthquake killed at least 126 people in the same area in January.

The Chinese side of Everest is in Tibet, a remote western region where the government has cracked down harshly on dissent and poured in funds for economic development including roads and tourism.

The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, fled during a failed uprising in 1959 and lives in India, where some Tibetans have set up a government in exile.
Israeli and Hamas officials are meeting in an Egyptian resort on Monday in the hopes of hammering out a potential ceasefire in Gaza on the eve of the devastating wars second anniversary.

The indirect negotiations will take place in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where the Israeli delegation, headed by top negotiator Ron Dermer, is set to arrive on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said.

Hamass delegation, headed by Khalil al-Hayyah, arrived on Sunday in Egypt, the group said in a statement.

A fire erupts amid buildings destroyed during Israeli ground and air operations following an Israeli military strike in the northern Gaza Strip (Leo Correa/AP)

It said the negotiations will focus on the first stage of a ceasefire, including the partial withdrawal of Israeli forces as well as the release of hostages held by the militants in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli detention.

US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner are also expected to join the talks, Egypts state-run Al-Ahram reported.

This latest push for peace comes after Hamas accepted some elements of the US peace plan, a move welcomed by Mr Trump.

Israel has said it supports the new US effort.

Under the plan, Hamas would release the remaining 48 hostages  about 20 of whom are believed to be alive  within three days.

It would give up power and disarm.

Smoke rises following an Israeli military strike in the northern Gaza Strip (Leo Correa/AP)

The talks in Egypt are expected to move quickly as Mr Netanyahu said they would be confined to a few days maximum, though some Hamas officials have warned more time may be needed to locate bodies of hostages buried under rubble.

Israels heavy bombardment of Gaza would need to stop for Israeli hostages to be released.

Israel says it is largely heeding Mr Trumps call for ending the bombing.

The Israeli military said it is mostly carrying out defensive strikes to protect troops, though dozens of Palestinians have been killed since Saturday night when the military made the announcement.

The Israeli military said on Monday that it eliminated a terrorist cell armed with explosive devices and mortars that on Sunday intended to attack Israeli soldiers.

It also destroyed another terrorist cell that launched a mortar injuring one soldier, as well as a structure from where an anti-tack missile was launched against Israeli army engineering machinery.

An Israeli army flare drifts over buildings destroyed during Israeli ground and air operations in the northern Gaza Strip (Leo Correa/AP)

Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people and killed around 1,200 mostly civilians in the October 7 2023 attack that triggered the war.

Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefire or other deals.

Gazas Health Ministry said the Palestinian death toll in the war reached 67,139 on Sunday, with nearly 170,000 injured.

The ministry does not differentiate how many of those killed were civilians or combatants, but says women and children make up about half of the dead.

The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government, and the UN and many independent experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.
Less than a year after the landmark verdict in a drugging and rape trial that shook France and turned Gisele Pelicot into a global figure, she was greeted with applause on Monday as she arrived at a court for the appeal of a man challenging his conviction.

Husamettin Dogan, sentenced to nine years in prison last December, denies he intended to rape Ms Pelicot.

He argues that he was deceived by Dominique Pelicot, Ms Pelicots ex-husband, who drugged his wife and offered her to strangers online before filming the assaults.

The 44-year-old construction worker went on trial on Monday in Nimes, in southern France, on charges of aggravated rape by administering substances that impair judgment or self-control, an offence carrying up to 20 years in prison.

I have nothing to be ashamed of. Shame must change sides

He remains free pending the verdict. Prosecutors had sought 12 years at his first trial, but the court imposed nine.

Wearing a pink jacket, Ms Pelicot entered the court under police escort, smiling as she shook hands with supporters who shouted thank you and other words of encouragement.

In the original proceedings, Ms Pelicots ex-husband and 50 other men were convicted of sexually assaulting her between 2011 and 2020 while she was under chemical submission.

Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while sentences for other defendants ranged from three to 15 years imprisonment.

Gisele Pelicot sits in the court (Lewis Joly/AP)

The trial drew international attention after Ms Pelicot opposed a closed hearing, a demand made by several defendants. The court sided with her.

The evidence included stomach-churning homemade videos of the abuse that Dominique Pelicot filmed in the couples home in the small Provence town of Mazan and elsewhere.

I have nothing to be ashamed of. Shame must change sides, she said on the trials opening day.

After the verdict, she declared she had never regretted that decision and thanked supporters who gave her the strength to return to court each day.

Gisele Pelicot leaving Avignon courthouse in southern France in 2024 (Lewis Joly/AP)

Ms Pelicot has since become a symbol of the fight against sexual violence and the shocking case spurred a national reckoning over rape culture in France.

Dominique Pelicot admitted his role and did not appeal against his 20-year prison sentence, now final. He is expected to testify during the appeals hearing after being implicated by the remaining defendant.

Of the 51 convicted men, 17 initially filed appeals. Most of those were withdrawn and only Dogan pursued his appeal.

While last years trial stretched over four months, the retrial is scheduled to last no more than four days, with a verdict expected on Thursday.
Semiconductor maker AMD will supply its chips to artificial intelligence company OpenAI as part of an agreement to team up on building AI infrastructure, the companies said.

OpenAI will also get the option to buy as much as a 10% stake in AMD, according to a joint statement announcing the deal.

It is the latest deal for the ChatGPT maker as it races to beef up its AI computing resources.

Under the terms of the deal, OpenAI will buy the latest version of the companys high performance graphics chips, the Instinct MI450, which is expected to debut next year.

This partnership is a major step in building the compute capacity needed to realise AIs full potential

The agreement calls for supplying six gigawatts of computing power for OpenAIs next generation AI infrastructure, with the first batch of chips worth one gigawatt to be deployed in the second half of 2026.

AMD also issued OpenAI with a warrant allowing the AI company to buy up to 160 million shares of AMDs common stock. That amounts to about 10% of company based on AMDs 1.6 billion outstanding shares.

The warrant will vest based on two milestones tied to the amount of computing power deployed, as well as unspecified share-price targets.

Shares of AMD spiked 25% before the opening bell on Monday. Shares of Nvidia, which have repeatedly set new record-highs this year, fell slightly.

This partnership is a major step in building the compute capacity needed to realise AIs full potential, said OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman. AMDs leadership in high-performance chips will enable us to accelerate progress and bring the benefits of advanced AI to everyone faster.

Shares of AMD surged after the announcement (AP)

The deal is a boost for California-based AMD, which has been left behind by rival Nvidia. But it also hints at OpenAIs desire to diversify its supply chain away from Nvidias dominance.

The AI boom has fuelled demand for Nvidias graphics processing chips, sending its shares soaring and making it the worlds most valuable company.

Last month, OpenAI and Nvidia announced a 100 billion-dollar partnership that will add at least 10 gigawatts of data centre computing power.
The US Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein.

On the first day of their new term, the justices declined to take up a case that would have drawn renewed attention to the sordid sexual abuse saga after President Donald Trumps administration sought to reduce criticism over its refusal to publicly release more investigative files from Epsteins case.

Lawyers for British socialite Maxwell argued that she never should have been tried or convicted for her role in luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein, a New York financier.

She is serving a 20-year prison term, though she was moved from a low-security federal prison in Florida to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas after she was interviewed in July by deputy attorney general Todd Blanche.

A poster featuring Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein (AP)

As is their custom, the justices did not explain why they rejected the appeal.

Mr Trumps Republican administration had urged the high court to stay out of the case.

Maxwells lawyers contended that a non-prosecution agreement reached in 2007 by federal prosecutors in Miami and Epsteins lawyers also protected his potential co-conspirators from federal charges anywhere in the country.

Maxwell was prosecuted in Manhattan, and the federal appeals court there ruled that the prosecution was proper. A jury found her guilty of sex trafficking a teenage girl, among other charges.

Maxwells trial featured accounts of the sexual exploitation of girls as young as 14 told by four women who described being abused as teenagers in the 1990s and early 2000s at Epsteins homes.

Neither Maxwells lawyers nor the federal Bureau of Prisons has explained the reason for her transfer, but one of her lawyers, David Oscar Markus, has said she is innocent and never should have been tried, much less convicted. Mr Markus also was the lead lawyer on her Supreme Court case.

Maxwell was interviewed by Mr Blanche at a Florida courthouse. She was given limited immunity, allowing her to speak freely without fear of prosecution for anything she said except for in the event of a false statement.

She repeatedly denied witnessing any sexually inappropriate interactions involving Mr Trump, according to records released in August meant to distance the president from the disgraced financier.

Epstein was arrested in 2019 on sex trafficking charges and was accused of sexually abusing dozens of teenage girls. A month later, he was found dead in a New York jail cell in what investigators described as a suicide.

The Epstein case had consumed Mr Trumps administration following an announcement from the FBI and the Justice Department in July that Epstein had killed himself despite conspiracy theories to the contrary, that a client list that attorney general Pam Bondi had intimated was on her desk did not actually exist, and that no additional documents from the high-profile investigation were suitable to be released.

The announcement produced outrage from conspiracy theorists and Trump supporters who had been hoping to see proof of a government cover-up.

That expectation was driven in part by comments from officials, including FBI director Kash Patel and deputy director Dan Bongino, who on podcasts before taking their current positions had repeatedly promoted the idea that damaging details about prominent people were being withheld.

Mr Patel, for instance, said in at least one podcast interview before becoming FBI director that Epsteins black book was under the direct control of the director of the FBI.

But the Justice Department said its review of evidence in the governments possession determined that no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.

The department noted that much of the material was placed under seal by a court to protect victims and only a fraction of it would have been aired publicly had Epstein gone to trial.

Faced with fury from his base, Mr Trump sought to quickly turn the page, shutting down questioning of Ms Bondi about Epstein at a White House Cabinet meeting and deriding as weaklings supporters he said were falling for the Jeffrey Epstein hoax.
October 6, 2025



A researcher at Idaho State University has earned a sought-after postdoctoral fellowship in biology from the National Science Foundation.

Alyse Maksimoski, postdoctoral associate in the biological sciences department, was named a recipient of one of the NSFs Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology. These competitive fellowships fund research and training in selected areas supported by the agencys Directorate for Biological Sciences, with special goals for human resource development in biology.

Being selected to receive such a prestigious and career-making award is an incredible honor, said Maksimoski. It is one of very few independent funding opportunities available to postdocs, and this really validates that the work I am doing is valuable to basic scientific discoveries.

Big congratulations to Dr. Maksimoski on a remarkable achievement", said Devaleena Pradhan, associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences.

Working in Pradhans lab, Maksimoski will study the bluebanded goby, a fish that lives in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Growing to a little over two inches in size, the remarkable gobies are able to restructure both their brain and reproductive glands in response to external social pressures, such as interactions with others in their school, whether theyre dominant or subordinate to other fish, or even which niches have already been filled nearby.

Identifying the biology behind rapid shifts in such a socially complex species is key to understanding how environments shape behavior, hormones, and the brain, said Maksimoski. Additionally, hormones in the goby function in similar ways across many species, including humans.

A portion of the $270,000 grant will also help to fund Maksimoskis creation of a community for postdoctoral researchers across Idaho. Postdocs, as theyre often called, are scientists and scholars whove recently received their doctorate and are furthering their research under the guidance of a more experienced colleague. The jobs are often temporary or short in duration and can lead to more permanent faculty positions at academic institutions. Locally at ISU, Maksimoski is planning to organize professional development workshops and social events for Bengal postdocs with the assistance of Idaho States Office for Research. Shes also looking to broaden the effort with the help of IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence and the Idaho Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research by hosting networking events at the groups respective statewide conferences.

There are few opportunities for postdocs at Idaho institutions compared to other states, not to mention how geographically separated Idaho State University, University of Idaho, and Boise State University are, Maksimoski said. In order for us to be competitive at the national level, we need to lean on each other and share resources, make connections, and advocate for each other. Our successes can directly benefit research and innovation for our universities and Idaho.

At the undergraduate level, Maksimoski will be looking to recruit the next cohort of research assistants through the lab's existing connections with area schools and organizations, as well as on-campus programs like Bengal Bridge.

Mentoring is a huge part of how research is conducted at universities, and in our lab, we have researchers from a wide range of educational stages, from high school students to doctoral students, said Maksimoski. Training students in the lab provides valuable experiences for everyone involved and helps build a scientific identity early on. Were able to foster that innate curiosity, helping lead these students to start seeing themselves as scientists. Undergraduate researchers in my current and previous labs often even continue to graduate, medical, or veterinary school after they graduate.

As for her own research career, Maksimoski made her way to ISU after earning a bachelors in zoology from Michigan State University and a doctorate in integrative biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While Maksimoskis current work with the gobies marks her first time working with fish, her research projects have involved examining social behavior in rodents, hyenas, starlings, and honeybees. She also spent a year working in a primatology lab at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, including a six-month stint in the Southern African country of Zambia to study aggression in baboons.



Ive always found it fascinating to see how an animals past social experiences can influence its future behavior by altering its brain chemistry, Maksimoski said. Through my previous research, I have been amazed to see how individuals of the same species can prefer to be really social with others in the group or prefer to be alone on the edge of the group, like how humans can be extroverted or introverted. The same goes for our gobies; their interactions with others are so influential that they can trigger whole-body chemical changes.

For more information on Idaho State Universitys Department of Biological Sciences, visit isu.edu/biology.

Prospective students can book a campus tour at isu.edu/visit/.


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An N.C. House Select Committee is recommending that the General Assembly change a state law forcing districts to start school the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and end no later than the Friday clo
10/03/2025

Jacksonville State University made a strong showing at the 50th Atlantic Marketing Association Conference in Portland, Maine, where faculty, staff, and students presented their research to an international audience of scholars and industry leaders. The group was joined at the conference by Dr. Brent Cunningham, Dean of the College of Business and Industry.

From geomarketing and consumer behavior to tourism and entrepreneurship, Jax State presenters shared innovative work across multiple sessions. Dr. Mark Sciuchetti, Senior Director of the Honors College, chaired the Geomarketing and Case Studies session, where he and Dr. Jianping Coco Huang, Associate Professor of Marketing and Management, presented Crime, Consumers, and Clustering: A GeoMarketing Analysis of Retail Behavior Across Urban Markets. Courtney Craven, Research Analyst and Operations Coordinator in the Center for Economic Development and Business Research, also contributed with Geofencing in Action.

In the Consumer Behavior: Trust, Entitlement, and Incivility session, Dr. Huang and Dr. Sciuchetti presented their joint research, Emotion is Dead, but Can Persuasion Survive? The Effect of AI-Generated Reviews in Digital Marketing on Consumer Trust. Their work went on to receive the conferences Best Paper Award in the Consumer Behavior Track.

Students also took the stage. Aubrey Whiddon, a Jax State marketing student, presented Geofencing in Tourism & Recreation: A Revolution in How Marketing-Centric Data is Collected & Employed? in the Leadership and Entrepreneurship in Marketing session chaired by Dr. Huang.

Beyond presenting, Jax State faculty played key leadership roles in the conference. Dr. Sciuchetti served as the Geomarketing and Case Study Track Chair, while Dr. Huang chaired the Advertising/Direct Marketing/Promotion Track and was named incoming Program Chair for the 2026 Atlantic Marketing Association Conference.

The recognition of Huang and Sciuchettis award-winning research highlights Jax States growing national presence in marketing and business scholarship. Their study examined how AI-generated reviews compare to human-written reviews in building consumer trust and influencing purchasing decisions, using both neuroscience lab experiments and survey methods.
On October 7, 2023  two years ago  the Hamas-led offensive was portrayed as Israels 9/11 that came out of the blue. This assumption is not supported by the facts. The attack was avoidable.

New York (Special to Informed Comment; Feature)  After the Hamas-led assault, the Netanyahu cabinet and other high-level Israeli political, military and security authorities vehemently condemned what they called our September 11 as a surprise attack.

For a presumably astounding shock, it was a remarkably uniform, orchestrated response.

Yet, the hard questions remain ignored. Why were the Israeli hostages abandoned? Why were the strategic border communities neglected? And why was the abundant intelligence on the Hamas attack shunned?

Abandoned hostages

On October 7, 2023, as part of the overall Hamas-led offense, 251 people were abducted from Israel to the Gaza Strip. The next day, Prime Minister Netanyahu appointed ex-military commander Gal Hirsch to coordinate the cross-governmental response to abducted civilians and soldiers.

Internationally, the appointment was portrayed as the PMs proactive move to ensure the timely release of the Israeli hostages. But it was a farce.

As brigadier general, Hirsch had commanded an IDF division during the 2006 Lebanon War, which saw the first test of The Obliteration Doctrine, premised on the destruction of civilian infrastructure and genocidal atrocities. Yet, Hirsch was responsible for the blunder resulting in an abduction by Hezbollah militants and two failed battles, despite heavy casualties.

Following a barrage of criticism, Hirsch was forced to resign. Later, he joined the right-wing Likud party at the behest of Netanyahu himself and became the favorite for the role of the national police chief in 2021. Until he and his business partners were indicted for tax evasion of $1.9 million in a case of arms sales to Georgia.

If Netanyahu was serious about saving lives, why did he appoint as his hostage tsar a general who had already blundered one high-profile abduction, failed to protect his soldiers and had been indicted for corruption?

Soon, the families of the hostages concluded that, to the Netanyahu government, the fate of the hostages was secondary to Gazas destruction.

And then, there was the odd issue of the Israeli communities surrounding the Gaza Strip. Why were they left vulnerable for years before October 7?



Dan Steinbock, THE FALL OF ISRAEL: The Degradation of Israels Politics, Economy & Military. Atlanta: Clarity Press, 2024. CLICK HERE TO BUY.

Neglected Israeli communities around Gaza

When Israel was established, its founding fathers considered its border areas strategic. Adjacent to the Gaza Strip, these are the so-called Gaza envelope; the populated Israeli settlements within 7 km of the Gaza border and thus within the range of mortar shells and Qassam rockets.

Over time many of these localities were neglected by the government. Following Israels unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005 and increased cross-border shelling and rocket attacks, the parliament enacted a law to assist the confrontation-line communities.

But when these measures expired in 2014, the IDF cut the associated budgets, especially after the 2014 Gaza War which sparked rocket and mortar attacks, tunnels, intrusions, even incendiary kites. Moreover, these Gaza Envelope communities were slated for abandonment following the November 2022 elections. Subsequent per capita budgets were a third lower. (It was only after the mass killings that the Netanyahu government approved a 5-year $4.9 billion plan to rehabilitate and develop the Gaza envelope area.)

Israeli authorities did construct a high-tech underground border wall. On October 7, the IDF over-relied on remote-controlled surveillance systems and weapons that were swiftly disabled by drones and snipers, enabling infiltration and onslaught. In fact, the builder of the barrier warned already in 2018 that it was not designed to prevent a mass assault. Although the Iron Wall was considered impenetrable, on October 7 Hamas operatives breached the border barrier at 44 different points.

Worse, Israeli intelligence authorities had been aware of the threat for more than a year yet ignored it.

Shunned intelligence

Just days after October 7, testimonies from members of the mainly female lookout units bolstered accusations that Netanyahus leadership fatally misread the dangers from Gaza. In an Israeli TV segment, two soldiers, Yael Rotenberg and Maya Desiatnik, recounted their experiences in the months before the attack.

Rotenberg frequently saw many Palestinians dressed in civilian clothing near the border fence with maps, scrutinizing the ground around it and digging holes. Its infuriating, said Desiatnik who served in Nahal Oz, where 20 other female surveillance soldiers were killed by Hamas. We saw what was happening, we told them about it, and we were the ones who were murdered.

The fatal mistakes went back to the aftermath of the Gaza war in 2021, when it was decided to cease intelligence-gathering on Hamas tactical array and the intermediate ranks of its military arm, to focus only on few individuals. Opposing views to this intelligence concept were marginalized.

Yet, based on more than 1 year of evidence, Hamas militants had trained for the blitz attacks in at least six sites across Gaza in plain sight and less than 1.5 km from Israels heavily fortified and monitored border.

Code-named Jericho Wall, a 40-page blueprint outlined a lethal invasion. It had been circulated widely among Israeli military and intelligence leaders who determined an attack of that scale was beyond Hamass capabilities.

Right after October 7, several Israeli media released several reports indicating that many intelligence analysts warnings were ignored. Subsequently, in November 2023, this was reported even by the mainstream CNN and the New York Times.

Discounted (buried?) evidence

After October 7, a high-level Egyptian intelligence official said Israel had ignored repeated warnings that an explosion of the situation is coming, and very soon, and it would be big. Netanyahu denied receiving any such advance warning. Yet, the Egyptian confirmed that the Israeli PM had received direct notice from Cairos intelligence minister. Similarly, Michael McCaul, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told reporters of the alleged warning.

Worse, many testimonies by Israeli witnesses to the Hamas attack indicate that the Israeli military killed its own citizens struggling to neutralize Palestinian gunmen, in accordance with the Hannibal Directive. As one witness said to Israel Radio: [Israeli special forces] eliminated everyone, including the hostages.

Introduced in 1986, this is a controversial doctrine intended to prevent enemy capture of Israeli soldiers by neutralizing the hostages themselves. The goal is to avoid their kidnapping and the consequent prisoner exchanges. In 2016, the Directive was revoked by then-IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot; ironically, the architect of the obliteration doctrine behind Gazas devastation today. But the directive did not disappear into history.

Amid the Hamas offensive, the IDF was ordered to prevent at all costs the abduction of Israeli civilians or soldiers. Israeli soldiers knew the meaning of the code words. Indeed, the Hamas-led offensive was compounded by what some Israeli soldiers subsequently called a mass Hannibal.

The uses of October

By May 2024, new evidence indicated that Israels intelligence failure was the net effect of a chain of failures that pervaded the entire security sector, both in the Shin Bet and the IDF.

In March 2025, the Israeli Defense Forces landmark investigations into the October 7 attack disclosed severe, deep-rooted intelligence miscalculations and fundamental misconceptions on the nature of Hamas and its intentions by both the Israeli government and military.

Probing the same attack, Shin Bet, Israels internal security service, has pointed fingers at Prime Minister Netanyahu. Just as 9/11 was used by the Bush administration as a pretext for the misguided war against Iraq and war on terror, Netanyahu used the Hamas offensive to legitimize the subsequent ground assault and mass atrocities, which was hoped to result in ethnic expulsions that would open Gaza for Jewish resettlement and facilitate the annexation of the West Bank to Israel.

Through his U.S. neoconservative friends, Netanyahu knew that a Pearl Harbor-like mass tragedy was vital to legitimize rearmament and foster unity.

The leading neoconservatives, who gathered around the Project for the New American Century long before 9/11, were commissioned by Netanyahu to prepare a separate policy document A Clean Break (1996) for Israel.

It was no surprise

A day after October 7, 2023, CNBC, the global financial news giant, interviewed myself and Eurasia Groups Ian Bremmer. Echoing the official Israeli narrative, Bremmer said that the massive attacks by Hamas leadership into Israel  is no less than Israels 9/11. By contrast, I said that the attack certainly did not come out of the blue.

Weeks after October 7, Israeli media investigations suggested that the IDF had detailed knowledge of the Hamas offensive three weeks before the attack, based on information from military intelligences 8200 Unit. Highlighting the extent to which the IDFs Gaza Division was aware of a potential attack on Israels southern border communities, the document disclosed a series of exercises conducted by Hamas elite Nukhba units in the prior weeks.

One of the most shocking sections of the IDF report featured instructions relating to the taking of hostages, the number of which was estimated to be between 200-250, coming close to the actual 251 captives.

The writing was on the wall. So, why was it ignored?

October 7 was avoidable.

This is an updated and abbreviated version of the section Was October 7 Avoidable? in The Fall of Israel (Oct 2024)
The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday hands down its verdict on a feared Sudanese militia chief accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity during brutal attacks in Darfur.

Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known by the nom de guerre Ali Kushayb, faces 31 counts of crimes including rape, murder and torture allegedly carried out in Darfur between August 2003 and at least April 2004.

Prosecutors say he was a leading member of Sudan's infamous Janjaweed militia, who participated "enthusiastically" in multiple war crimes.

But Abd-Al-Rahman, who was born around 1949, has denied all the charges, telling the court they have got the wrong man.

"I am not Ali Kushayb. I do not know this person... I have nothing to do with the accusations against me," he told the court at a hearing in December 2024.

Abd-Al-Rahman fled to the Central African Republic in February 2020 when a new Sudanese government announced its intention to cooperate with the ICC's investigation.

He said he then handed himself in because he was "desperate" and feared authorities would kill him.

"I had been waiting for two months in hiding, moving around all the time, and I was warned that the government wanted to arrest me, and I was afraid of being arrested," he said.

"If I hadn't said this, the court wouldn't have received me, and I would be dead now," added the suspect.

Fighting broke out in Sudan's Darfur region when non-Arab tribes, complaining of systematic discrimination, took up arms against the Arab-dominated government.

Khartoum responded by unleashing the Janjaweed, a force drawn from among the region's nomadic tribes.

The United Nations says 300,000 people were killed and 2.5 million displaced in the Darfur conflict in the 2000s.

- 'Severe pain' -

During the trial, the ICC chief prosecutor said Abd-Al-Rahman and his forces "rampaged across different parts of Darfur".

He "inflicted severe pain and suffering on women, children and men in the villages that he left in his wake", said Karim Khan, who has since stepped down as he faces allegations of sexual misconduct.

Abd-Al-Rahman is also thought to be an ally of deposed Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the ICC on genocide charges.

Bashir, who ruled Sudan with an iron fist for nearly three decades, was ousted and detained in April 2019 following months of protests in Sudan.

He has not, however, been handed over to the ICC, based in The Hague, where he also faces multiple charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

ICC prosecutors are hoping to issue fresh arrest warrants related to the current crisis in Sudan.

Tens of thousands have been killed and millions displaced in a war between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which grew out of the Janjaweed militia.

The conflict, marked by claims of atrocities on all sides, has left the northeast African country on the brink of famine, according to aid agencies.

Local leaders in the Kalma camp in South Darfur are renting a Starlink satellite internet connection on Monday to let survivors watch the verdict.

The area is under RSF control, and the camp is facing a cholera outbreak and a severe hunger crisis.
It is a very special moment, comments Robinson Sandi Hualinga, president of the Organisation of Amazonian Kichwa Indigenous Peoples of the Peru-Ecuador Border Region (Opikafpe) to Justice Info. We are contaminated, and when the company asked, How do you know you're contaminated?, there had to be proof, saying that the party responsible for this contamination is the company Pluspetrol. For us, it is a very joyful moment to receive this [final statement], because we know that we now have a tool to follow a path in any process that may come in the future.

According to a final statement published on September 3 by the Dutch contact point of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct, the oil company Pluspetrol has violated the rights of the environment and of indigenous people in its operations in the Peruvian Amazon, where Sandi Hualingas community lives. Over 5 years after a claim was presented by four indigenous federations against the oil company, the Dutch statement has added another non-judicial piece to efforts to hold companies to account for the impact of their actions.

The first OECD Guidelines were adopted in 1976, and there have been many revisions since. These guidelines are soft laws that the governments joining the organisation address to the companies operating in or from their countries. They cover a variety of areas, including human rights, labour rights, environment, bribery, disclosure, and taxation. 52 states worldwide adhere to them and are required to set up a national contact point. These local offices are responsible, among other tasks, for contributing to solve controversies when companies are allegedly not complying with the guidelines. The Dutch national contact point (NCP) is composed of four members who are independent from the government.

The largest onshore oil field in Peru

A submission to the Dutch national contact point was sent in March 2020 by four Peruvian indigenous federations supported by four NGOs, two from Peru and two from the Netherlands, against Pluspetrol. The oil and gas private company is owned by two Argentine families and has subsidiaries extracting fossil fuels in several South American countries, including Argentina, Ecuador, and Peru. However, its headquarters are in the Netherlands, where it is known as a letterbox company, meaning that it has an address but has no ongoing operation there. The indigenous groups claimed that the company was not respecting their human rights, environment and health during its operation on Lot 1AB (now renamed Lot 192), in the Loreto region on the northern Peruvian border with Ecuador. The area, around 500,000 hectares of rain forest, was first drilled for oil in 1971 and quickly became the largest onshore oil field in the country, and has long been one of the most prolific. Pluspetrol acquired the lot in 2000 and left in 2015.

The Indigenous federations represent around 25 communities of the Peruvian Amazon, the Achuar, Kichwa, Kukama, and Quechua people, impacted by the contamination. Pluspetrol failed to conduct appropriate due diligence to identify its existing impacts and prevent new ones, leading it to cause and contribute to the contamination of at least 1,963 sites with spilled oil, industrial waste, and other pollution from industrial oil extraction, reads in the original 2020 complaint. This complaint alleges that the contamination has caused serious environmental impacts and that it is linked to adverse health impacts in local indigenous populations, ranging from high blood concentrations of carcinogenic metals such as cadmium and lead, to other potential health conditions. The Amazon communities also claimed that Pluspetrol left without complying with the OECD Guidelines and remediating the contamination it caused.

Elmer Hualinga, a Quechua environmental monitor from Fediquep with oil in his hands from a spill. Photo:  FEDIQUEP / PUINAMUDT

The problem for Pluspetrol

In its final statement, the Dutch national contact point affirmed that Pluspetrol did not act in line with the respect of human rights and did not do enough to prevent and address adverse environmental impacts resulting from its activities, and therefore it did not do enough to respect the right to health. The statement also concluded that the company's remediation was not in line with its guidelines. It recommended that Pluspetrol raise the level of environmental performance in all parts of its operations by applying international best practices, seek to provide remediation to the greatest extent possible, and fix the impact caused by its predecessor.

The oil company is recommended to consult and engage with impacted communities in the design and planning of any remediation activities, in a meaningful way that ensures their free, prior and informed consent is obtained, which is an indigenous peoples right. The final statement also invited Pluspetrol to disclose information on its corporate structure, operations, ownership and annual accounts for both the parent company as well as its subsidiaries.

Companies found in breach of the OECD Guidelines may be excluded from trade promotion, export credit, and public procurement contracts under Dutch government policies. But the recommendations contained in the report are not binding. As a non-judicial mechanism, the NCP cannot enforce, and hence, cannot make sure that recommendations are respected by the company. But by making the conclusions and recommendations public, other actors (NGOs, investors, governments, etc.) can put pressure on a company to respect the recommendations made by the NCP, says the Dutch office reached by Justice Info. In one year, they will follow up on their report and evaluate whether the recommendations have been implemented.

The problem for Peru

Asked for a reaction, Pluspetrol wrote back that it engaged constructively and in good faith with the NCP process, providing substantial documentation and cooperating fully with the NCP throughout the review. The Company strongly believes the complaint is without merit and that the Final Statement does not fully reflect the breadth and complexity of the evidence presented and the extent of actions taken by the Company. It added that many of the issues raised by the recommendations in the Final Statement have already been addressed by Pluspetrol and the Company continues to strengthen its environmental management systems, reinforce its human-rights due-diligence processes and enhance transparency across its operations.

Indigenous leader Sandi Hualinga says that deep down, what we want is for Pluspetrol to take responsibility, to acknowledge the environmental crime they committed in our lands. What we want is for it to be cleaned up, because we are living with that contamination. He denounces the silence of the Peruvian state, which allowed the company to work in the area.

Since 2022, Peru has been a candidate to join the OECD. How can a country that has let this happen be part of the organisation? asks Yaizha Campanario Baque, who has worked as an advisor for the Indigenous federations for over 10 years and has worked on the complaint to the Dutch contact point. This case shows that Peru does not have enough good environmental and human rights standards, or the capacity to enforce companies to comply with those.

Think about it, letterbox companies

The fact that the statement is not binding is frustrating, says Campanario Baque. But after so many years where the company always denied its responsibility towards the environmental damage it left, having a neutral, independent body from a European country say that the company is actually responsible for that, it is very good, she continues. I think there's a sense of justice.

She hopes that it has some deterrence effect on companies coming after Pluspetrol. None of the companies that worked in the area before and after Pluspetrol cleaned up the pollution. Everyone knows that if the previous company left and nothing happened to them, then I can just do the same. I will just take all the benefits and don't invest anything in prevention or remediation, says Campanario Baque. This report gives the message that you cannot just leave with impunity, without any consequence.

It was the first complaint that the Dutch national contact point accepted against a mailbox company, highlights Campanario Baque. That also opens up the conversation for so many mailbox companies and mining and oil companies that are also affecting local communities and indigenous peoples elsewhere.

The tip of the business iceberg

Joseph Wilde-Ramsing is the advocacy director at SOMO, the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations, one of the two Dutch NGOs involved in the submission. He and the indigenous leaders went to Pluspetrols headquarters in Amsterdam after the final statement came out. Theres literally just a mailbox there, he recounts. It's a big building with many offices and many companies registered there. If you go inside and you say, I'd like to speak to the Pluspetrol people, the receptionist just tells you that there's nobody there, the company is registered there, but no one is available to speak to you.

According to SOMO, Pluspetrols headquarters in a mailbox in Amsterdam was just the tip of a complex business structure with several branches in tax havens. The NGO argued that Pluspetrols profit could be channeled from the Netherlands via Luxembourg to the Bahamas, in a system which allowed tax avoidance on top of escaping the responsibilities for the damage caused in Peru.

On taxation, the Dutch contact point stated that Pluspetrol failed to demonstrate, either through freely and publicly available information or at least to the NCP in response to this notification, that it acts in line with the spirit of the law. It also noted that the fact that the enterprise provides very limited publicly available information on taxation is not in line with the OECD guidelines. Pluspetrol replied that it is fully compliant with all applicable tax and disclosure laws and regulations, adhering to the global standards of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative.

The problem for The Netherlands

But what is the spirit of Dutch tax law? Campanario Baque points to the gaps in the Netherlands system: It's a matter of how the Dutch government lets these companies be registered as mailbox companies, contributing to impunity. On September 29, two members of the Dutch House of Representatives submitted questions to the lower house regarding the operation and taxation of Pluspetrol in the country. The Netherlands has been trying to put stronger regulations in place for mailbox companies, but the numbers remain high.

According to Dutch media network RTL, in 2024 there were over 14.000 letterbox companies in the Netherlands, 80% of which do not have any activities in the country. Wilde-Ramsing explains that as a result, many businesses argue that their cases should be handled by the national justice system of the country hosting operations. For many years, Shell said that a case brought against them should have been handled in Nigeria, and Pluspetrol had the same argument about Peru. That is beneficial for them because they know that the Peruvian justice system is under-resourced, inefficient, and easily corrupted by companies like Pluspetrol, says Wilde-Ramsing. What's novel about this ruling is that the Dutch contact point has said that Pluspetrol can be held accountable here in the Netherlands. And that also applies to many other letterbox companies. So this could potentially have big implications for accountability in all of Dutch corporate culture.

The damage

In Peru, the indigenous communities have the right to land, but the government has the right to use the underground resources, explains Campanario Baque. The authorities can give the land in concession to companies to extract fossil fuels, and the local communities do not have veto powers in the consultation process that the government puts in place. For Sandi Hualinga that this happened despite having a Peruvian state, despite having our rights established under the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention of 1989, knowing that there is a law that exists to protect us as Indigenous peoples, is a cause for desperation.

The damage that the drilling has caused over the year is visible everywhere, Campanario Baque says. You can see the leaks perfectly. She tells the story of a lake in the rainforest that the Kichwa people widely used. Pluspetrol dumped oil and other waste in the lake, and when the community denounced it to the environmental agency, they drained the basin. She also recalls walking through an area covered in trees and plants and feeling the ground move under her feet. She was stepping over layers of dried oil.

In the 2020 submission, the complainants wrote that the indigenous environmental monitoring programme detected 82 oil spills in Lot 1AB from 2007 to 2011, half of which were due to corrosion from pipelines. The system of pipelines and infrastructures was built back in 1971 by Oxy, the first company to extract oil there. They were estimated to have a 20-year lifespan, as pipes corrode quickly in a wet and humid environment like the rainforest. Neither Oxy nor Pluspetrol ever changed them. Although the pipes were in dire need of replacement or substantial renewal, Pluspetrol undertook just minor improvements such as raising and temporarily patching corroded pipes, the claim states.

Oil and waste material contaminated flora, fauna and water resources, while the local communities traditional way of living includes hunting, growing crops and for some fishing. The population is at significant risk of cancer because of the pollution, wrote the complainants. The submission also stated that a health study conducted by the Ministry of Health in 2005 and 2006 found heavy metals in blood and urine samples from local community members that exceeded levels deemed permissible for human health in international and Peruvian standards.

Bad reputation

Initially, Pluspetrol had to present an abandonment plan to restore the ecosystem, as required by Peruvian law after mining or fossil fuel operations. It is when it became clear that they would not clean up their damage that the Indigenous federations started looking for other avenues for remedy. Wilde-Ramsing says that the advantage of the OECD Guidelines is their extraterritorial application and a clarity that where the power lies, there should be accountability. According to British Peruvian lawyer and author of A Barrister for the Earth, Monica Feria-Tinta, when these environmental disasters happen, communities are very disempowered. But in these mechanisms, once you are there as a party, you are on equal footing.

The national contact point's process for resolving controversies starts with a mediation phase. While the indigenous groups said they were willing to sit at the table, Pluspetrol refused, and no dialogue took place. The next phase was an independent investigation by the Dutch NCP. The company provided documents and reports, but did not agree to disclose them to the complainants. In their final statement, the NCP noted Pluspetrols failure to genuinely engage in the procedure with a view to finding a solution to the issues raised. Despite this, Wilde-Ramsing still hopes that Pluspetrol will now be offering recognition that they caused harm and offering apologies and promises of non-repetition. But he also says they might be exploring the possibility of bringing a hard law case against the company in the Netherlands.

The OECD has collected about 750 cases brought before the various national contact points. The Dutch national contact point says that it is common practice to reference final statements from other contact points in future reports, to ensure consistent and thorough interpretations of the Guidelines across different cases. For Feria-Tinta an NCP final statement like in the case against Pluspetrol can bring reputational harm in some contexts. According to her, we are in a world where it's important not just what a company does but also how it is regarded by consumers. When a case that is obscure becomes known to the outside world, I think there is an impact.

The field of business and human rights is relatively young, says the lawyer. International law doesn't apply directly to private entities, but rules are shaped and framed in a way that private entities have clear standards they have to abide by. So these mechanisms are there to ensure that there is a respect for those international standards when doing business. Things are moving, and courts and different mechanisms are being tested, concludes Feria-Tinta.
Bangladeshi heavyweight politician Tarique Rahman said Monday he would return "soon" after 17 years in self-imposed exile to contest the first elections since a 2024 mass uprising.

Rahman, 59, heir to Bangladesh's longtime ruling family as son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, is the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), widely seen as a key frontrunner in the upcoming polls.

"For some reasonable reasons my return hasn't happened... but the time has come, and I will return soon, God willing," Rahman told BBC Bangla in an interview broadcast Monday.

The elections, due in February 2026, will be the first since a mass uprising ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina last year, ending her 15-year hardline rule -- during which she crushed the BNP.

Rahman, known in Bangladesh as Tarique Zia, has lived in London since 2008, saying he fled politically-motivated persecution.

Since Hasina's fall, Rahman has been acquitted of the most serious charge against him; a life sentence handed down in absentia for a 2004 grenade attack on a Hasina rally, which he always denied.

Rahman has emerged as an outspoken figure on social media and a rallying point for BNP supporters.

"I am running in the election," he told the BBC, speaking from London.

Regarding the possibility of assuming office as prime Minister if the BNP forms the government, he said: "The people will decide."

It is unclear if his mother, 80-year-old Khaleda Zia, who has suffered ill health after being jailed during Hasina's tenure, will run again herself or play a guiding role behind her son.

"She went to jail in good health and returned with ailments, she was deprived of her right to proper treatment," he said.

"But... if her health permits, she will definitely contribute to the election."

He also spoke on the ban on Hasina's Awami League ordered by the interim government of Muhammad Yunus, who will step down after the elections.

Hasina, 78, has defied court orders to return from India, where she fled last year, to attend her trial for ordering a deadly crackdown against the uprising.

Hasina has refused to recognise the court's authority.

The charges amount to crimes against humanity in Bangladesh.

"Those who are responsible for such cruelties, those who ordered them, must be punished. This is not about vengeance," Tarique added.

"I strongly believe people cannot support a political party or its activists who murder, forcibly disappear people, or launder money," he added.
The International Criminal Court's conviction of a Sudanese militia chief for war crimes from 2003 shows that those fighting in Sudan currently will not enjoy impunity, the UN said Monday.

The ICC on Monday found Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman guilty of rape, murder and torture carried out between August 2003 and at least April 2004 in Sudan's volatile Darfur region.

The United Nations' rights chief Volker Turk hailed the verdict as an "important acknowledgement of the enormous suffering endured by the victims of his heinous crimes, as well as a first measure of long overdue redress for them, and their loved ones".

His said the verdict resonated at a time when "similar atrocity crimes are taking place once again in Darfur, and elsewhere in Sudan".

Since April 2023, the war between Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the country's regular army has killed tens of thousands and created the world's largest hunger and displacement crisis.

"It is my earnest hope that today's verdict will serve as a fresh reminder to the perpetrators of today's crimes that there can be no impunity for mass crimes against civilians," Turk said.

"They too will be brought to justice one day for grave violations of the law."






Monday, October 6, 2025 - The Atheists in Kenya Society has spoken out in support of Pastor Robert Burale following an explosive podcast interview in which his ex-wife, Rozinah Mwakideu, described their brief marriage as the darkest chapter of her life.

In a statement released on Monday, October 6th, 2025, the society urged Rozinah to prioritize emotional healing and seek professional therapy.

We urge Rozina Mwakideu to work on her emotional well-being. Counselling and therapy can help her find closure and forgiveness, the statement read.

The group criticized Rozinahs decision to publicly revisit the relationship more than a decade after their separation, calling her remarks petty and vindictive.

They emphasized that personal grievances should not be aired in ways that damage reputations, especially when the other party has moved on.

While acknowledging her right to express her feelings, the society stressed the importance of self-reflection and personal responsibility.

The Atheists in Kenya Society stands with Pastor Robert Burale, they declared, urging Rozinah to take constructive steps toward healing and peace.

The controversy erupted after Rozinah appeared on her brother, radio presenter Alex Mwakideus podcast, revealing that her marriage to Burale lasted only one year and two days, and left her emotionally drained.

Despite claiming she has moved on, she described the union as her biggest mistake.





The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, October 6, 2025 - A city slay queen has publicly demanded Ksh 62,000 from Mumias East Member of Parliament, Peter Salaysa, accusing him of failing to honor their agreement.

In a viral clip making rounds online, the lady is seen fuming and calling out the legislator for dodging the payment.

While she didnt reveal the nature of their business deal, reports recently emerged that the youthful MP has a reputation for failing to pay ladies after private encounters in hotels and Airbnbs.

A lady even claimed that she once got only Ksh 500 for fare after spending a night in an Airbnb with the MP.

City slay queen demands Ksh 62, 000 from Mumia East MP, PETER SALAYSA, amid claims that he is notorious for failing to pay LADIES after mechi pic.twitter.com/1MhuqQczQn  DAILY POST  (@dailypost_ke) October 6, 2025

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, October 6, 2025 - Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has strongly refuted claims that he is secretly working with President William Ruto.

Speaking during an interview on KTN on Sunday, October 5th, Gachagua stated that his relationship with Ruto was irreparably broken and dismissed any possibility of future negotiations.

Speculation about a covert alliance surfaced after critics alleged that Gachagua was using his newly formed Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) as leverage to re-enter Government, banking on support from his Mt. Kenya stronghold.

While acknowledging that political parties are vehicles for gaining power, Gachagua clarified that DCP will not align with Rutos administration.

This party is for forming government or getting into government, he said.

But from what the people of Mt. Kenya have told me, William Ruto is not part of that equation.

Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni had earlier claimed that Gachagua held a secret meeting in Narok County with 15 leaders, including clergy, to discuss denying Narok Town Ward aspirant, Joshua Ole Kaputa, a DCP ticket.

Kioni alleged that the meeting was part of a broader arrangement with Ruto, promising Joshua a future nomination.

In response, DCP Deputy Party Leader, Cleophas Malala, dismissed the claims, accusing Kioni of being a Government-sponsored mole within the opposition.

Malala argued that Kionis statements were aimed at dividing the United Opposition, which has been vocal in its criticism of the current administration.

If youre in the opposition and cant say the wantam slogan, then youre a mole, Malala asserted.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, October 6, 2025 - Former Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, has directly accused Mining Cabinet Secretary, Hassan Joho, of being a drug baron with deep ties to international narcotics cartels operating at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

In a fiery interview on KTN News, Gachagua claimed that Joho's appointment to the Cabinet was a deliberate move to shield and facilitate drug smuggling disguised as mineral exports.

I was against Joho's appointment from day one because of his known links to drug cartels, Gachagua stated in the interview, urging President William Ruto to dismiss him immediately if any decorum remains in the Government.

Gachagua's remarks stem from a fresh scandal exposed a few days ago after a close associate of Joho was captured on CCTV aiding an international drug trafficker in evading security checks at JKIA.

Johos associate was seen escorting the suspect named Santos, linked to a multi-million-shilling cocaine shipment destined for London, through restricted areas.

Joho has long denied drug involvement, including rebuttals to a 2010 U.S. Embassy cable labeling him a narcotics suspect - a claim he called politically motivated.

Riggy G has decided to roast the Cabinet Minister from Mombasa like nobodys business. Vayolence here and there! pic.twitter.com/JVKGqHZU1f  Cornelius K. Ronoh (@itskipronoh) October 5, 2025

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, October 5, 2025 - Pastor Robert Burales ex-wife, Rozinah Mwakideu, has once again left Kenyans talking after revealing shocking details about their failed marriage that lasted for a year and two days.

Speaking in a candid interview with her brother, media personality Alex Mwakideu, Rozinah disclosed that during their 10-day honeymoon in South Africa, the two never got intimate, not even once.

He never touched me, she revealed, leaving social media users stunned.

He continued with his celibacy even during our honeymoon. This left me confused because we were officially married, she lamented.

In the same interview, Rozinah alleged that their honeymoon was sponsored by a wealthy married woman that Burale was secretly involved with.

She claims Burale told the woman that his marriage to her was staged to protect his image as a pastor.

Watch the video.

ROZINAH MWAKIDEU on BURALE in South Africa pic.twitter.com/XnMpGm3hX7  DAILY POST  (@dailypost_ke) October 6, 2025

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, October 5, 2025 - Detectives are looking for a man who reportedly murdered his beautiful and youthful wife, identified only as Chichi, before going on the run.

According to reports, the suspect attacked Chichi following a heated domestic quarrel at their house in Nairobis Eastlands area.

Neighbours say they heard screams but arrived too late to save her.

The man fled moments after committing the heinous act.

Photos circulating online show the late Chichi as a vibrant and cheerful young woman, leaving many Kenyans heartbroken and demanding justice using the hashtag #JusticeForChichi.

The deceased lady leaves behind a two year old daughter.

Her tragic death comes at a time when femicide cases are alarmingly on the rise across the country, sparking renewed calls for action against gender-based violence.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, October 5, 2025 - Wiper Party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, has strongly refuted claims by Raila Odingas secretariat accusing him of fueling rumors about the ODM leaders health.

The rebuttal follows a statement issued on Sunday, October 5th, by Railas spokesperson Dennis Onyango, which dismissed reports that the former Prime Minister was critically ill and hospitalized in Nairobi.

While clarifying Railas health status and confirming that he had travelled abroad on routine business, Onyango accused Kalonzo, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, and DAP-K leader, Eugene Wamalwa, of orchestrating a misinformation campaign.

The statement alleged that the trio had co-opted sections of traditional media and bloggers, including those using AI-generated images, to spread falsehoods aimed at politically cornering Raila.

In response, Kalonzo, through the Wiper Party, dismissed the accusations as baseless and driven by insecurity over Railas political trajectory.

H.E. Kalonzo Musyoka harbors no ill will whatsoever toward Mr. Odinga.

Any suggestion that he wishes harm upon Raila is malicious, reckless, and utterly false, the party stated.

Kalonzo further accused Railas team of deflecting attention from internal confusion within ODM, especially following its collaboration with President William Rutos UDA party.

He distanced himself from Railas political setbacks, including the failed African Union Commission chairmanship bid, and reiterated his commitment to justice and national unity.

The two leaders have shared a political alliance since 2013, most recently under the Azimio La Umoja coalition in the 2022 elections.

However, Railas recent alignment with Ruto has created a rift, with Kalonzo now aligning with other opposition figures and positioning himself as a key contender in the 2027 presidential race.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, October 6, 2025 - A night of partying in Nairobis Upper Hill area has landed a city man in trouble after he failed to pay a staggering hotel bill of KSh 32,760.

Qurine Omondi Muteshi was sentenced to two months in jail or a fine of KSh 30,000 after pleading guilty to obtaining credit by false pretence at Vibanda Village Hotel on October 3rd.

According to court reports, Omondi checked into the hotel in high spirits and began ordering food, water and alcohol for himself and his friends.

As the night went on, the celebration spiraled out of control - and so did the bill.

When it came time to pay, Omondi allegedly sneaked out without settling the bill.

The hotel management reported the incident, leading to his arrest.

In court, Omondi admitted he got carried away by the excitement.

I had money but became too high and was surrounded by ladies asking for drinks. When I came back to my senses, everyone was gone - and I was left with the bill, he told the court.

He pleaded for forgiveness, explaining that he was still learning the ways of Nairobi.

However, Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina ruled that failure to pay for services was a crime, sentencing him accordingly.

Nairobi Man Jailed After Lavish Night Out Ends With Unpaid Sh 32,000 Hotel Bill



A Nairobi man, Qurine Omondi Muteshi, has been jailed for two months or fined KSh30,000 after a night of partying ended with an unpaid KSh32,760 bill at Vibanda Village Restaurant in Upper Hill. pic.twitter.com/a0hkowCt7s  Court Helicopter News (@CourtHelicopter) October 6, 2025

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, October 5, 2025 - Former Interior and Education Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiangi, has shared how a personal encounter with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema shaped his political ideology and inspired his decision to run for Kenyas presidency in 2027.

Speaking on Sunday, October 5th, at the Adventist Men Organisation (AMO) prayer breakfast held at SDA Church in Lavington, Nairobi, Matiangi recounted his 2022 visit to Zambia as Kenyas special envoy shortly after Hichilemas election victory.

The new President, knowing I was an Adventist like him, invited me to his home instead of the office.

I was cleared by the military and taken directly to his house, Matiangi said.

He described a deeply personal moment where both leaders sang the hymn He Leadeth Me in their native languages, prompting concern from their security teams.

One of our NIS officers kept looking, wondering if we were okay, Matiangi recalled with a smile.

Following the hymn, Hichilema gave Matiangi a tour of his home, sharing painful memories from his time as an opposition leader.

He showed me broken windows from past arrests and spoke of a lawyer who was killed during one of his court appearances, Matiangi said.

The experience left a lasting impression.

I asked him if it was worth it, and he told me he had to fight for the presidency to do the right thing, Matiangi added.

The prayer breakfast, which brought together men of faith for reflection and mentorship, served as a platform for Matiangi to reaffirm his commitment to national transformation and values-driven leadership.

He vowed to uphold justice and integrity if elected president in 2027.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, October 5, 2025 - More shocking details have surfaced about a close associate of former Mombasa Governor, Hassan Joho, recently linked to an international drug trafficking network operating through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

The suspect, identified as Mohamed Muamar, was captured on CCTV assisting a foreign national to smuggle cocaine past airport security.

Investigations have since revealed that Muamar has long benefited from strong political connections.

Sources claim that Joho personally supported Muamar financially to vie for an MCA seat in Nairobi County during the last two elections.

It is further alleged that whenever Joho is in Nairobi, Muamar doubles as his driver and Personal Assistant, granting him access to high-profile circles.

The revelation has intensified scrutiny around Johos inner circle as investigators widen their probe into the JKIA drug smuggling syndicate.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, October 5, 2025 - A Kenyan man has sparked outrage online after publicly sharing a heartfelt message and generous gesture from a lady named Nyambura, who has been romantically interested in him since 2019.

Despite her clear affection, the man admitted his heart lies elsewhere - leaving netizens stunned by his insensitivity.

Nyambura, deeply smitten, sent him Ksh 7,000 along with a sweet message expressing her admiration.

In the message, she wrote: "Hey baby  I know we've been vibing for a while now... I really want to make today special for you... You're kind, considerate, loving, and the Roger I liked since day one in August 2019..."

Her thoughtful note, meant to brighten his day, was met with a cold caption when the man posted it on X (formerly Twitter): Should be the love of my life but the heart wants what it wants.

The post quickly went viral, with many condemning him for publicly embarrassing Nyambura, whose only fault was loving him wholeheartedly and going the extra mile to show it.

Netizens rallied behind her, praising her sincerity and generosity, while calling out the mans lack of empathy and tact.

In a world craving genuine connection, Nyamburas vulnerability deserves kindness, not mockery.

See the post and reactions below.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, October 5, 2025 - Kapseret Member of Parliament, Oscar Sudi, has launched a scathing attack on Nyali MP, Mohammed Ali, following his recent meeting with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

In a statement issued on Saturday, October 4th, Sudi accused Ali of seeking personal gain from the Kenya Kwanza administration, claiming that the Nyali legislator expected financial favors after the coalition assumed power.

The problem with Ali is that he thought forming this Government meant access to free money.

He failed to understand that Government operates through procedures, Sudi remarked.

He further questioned Gachaguas ability to mentor leaders, saying, I wonder how Gachagua, who failed to advise himself, can now purport to mentor Mohammed Ali.

Sudis comments came shortly after Gachagua shared details of his meeting with Ali on social media, praising the Nyali MP as a promising leader.

Gachagua commended Alis recovery from a knee injury and described him as one of the young talents he is mentoring.

He also lauded Alis vision for mobilizing and uniting the Coast region, citing longstanding political injustices such as unresolved land issues.

The meeting reignited political tensions, especially following Alis earlier declaration that no one will stop him from engaging with Gachagua.

On April 14th, Ali defended his right to meet the former DP, stating, There is no one who is going to stop me from having a cup of tea with him.

Just days earlier, on April 10th, Ali had withdrawn from the UDA grassroots elections in Mombasa, citing interference and manipulation by top party officials.

He accused the UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar of undermining democratic processes through handpicking candidates, prompting his teams exit from the exercise.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, October 5, 2025 - Fresh revelations have sent shockwaves across social media after it emerged that the man captured on CCTV assisting an international drug trafficker to bypass security checks at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is a close associate of Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho.

A recent media expose uncovered how a 28-year-old British national, identified as Da Mata Dos Santos, managed to smuggle cocaine through JKIA with the help of rogue airport security officials and an aide believed to be part of a notorious cartel involved in international narcotics trafficking.

CCTV footage from the expose showed Santos carrying a black backpack and being escorted by the said aide, who facilitated his smooth passage through multiple security checkpoints without thorough screening.

Although Santos successfully cleared the Kenyan exit point, he was later arrested at Heathrow Airport in London, where authorities reportedly discovered the concealed drugs.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Santos had made several trips in and out of Kenya using a tourist visa, raising suspicion that JKIA could have been a major transit point for his illegal operations.

It has now emerged that the aide seen in the footage assisting Santos is a well-known associate of CS Hassan Joho, with several photos surfacing online showing the two together.

The revelation has sparked outrage, with many calling for a thorough probe into the alleged cartel connections within top political circles.

Joho, who has in the past faced similar accusations, was named in a 2010 U.S. Embassy report as one of Kenyas prominent individuals suspected of involvement in the narcotics trade, an allegation he has consistently denied.

As investigations intensify, questions are now being raised over just how deep the rot at JKIA runs, and whether powerful figures could be shielding international drug traffickers operating within Kenya.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
NAAS-based company Irish Dog Foods, in partnership with Earthwatch, Kildare County Council and Naas Biodiversity, hosted a Tiny Forest Discovery Day in Monread Park, Naas last week.

The Tiny Forest, planted in January 2025 using the Miyawaki method, has already begun to show visible changes and healthy tree growth.

Over 600 locally sourced trees were planted densely, creating a fast-growing, biodiverse micro-forest that improves air quality, supports local wildlife, and helps regulate soil and water systems.

Irish Dog Foods, run by the family-owned Queally Group, was represented at the event by CEO Liam Queally, who was accompanied by employees from Irish Dog Foods.

Researcher, Kevin Carolan, with Earthwatch Europe, with pupils and teachers from Scoil Brid, Naas, 5th class, at the Tiny Forest initiative by Irish Dog Foods in partnership with Earthwatch Europe in conjunction with Kildare Co. Co. alongside Naas Biodiversity Group, Wednesday, 1st October, 2025, at Monread Park, Naas.

Mayor of Naas Seamus Moore was also on hand.

Together, they joined pupils from Scoil Bhride Primary School in a series of engaging activities.

Children measured tree height, identified different tree species, tested water infiltration, and monitored thermal changes in the forest, gaining first-hand insight into how small-scale reforestation can positively impact the environment.

The day proved to be both educational and enjoyable, giving children the opportunity to learn about biodiversity, climate resilience, and the importance of caring for local ecosystems while seeing first-hand how quickly a Tiny Forest can develop.
High Court Reporters

A High Court judge has expressed concern that AI technology could identify an alleged victim of harassment after her husband used an online tool to produce a document as part of a bid to halt his prosecution.

The man, who entered a plea of guilty at a Circuit Court to harassing his ex-wife and her parents, said he was coerced into doing so, and sought a stay on his prosecution pending the outcome of his legal challenge.

The man, who cannot be named by order of the Circuit Court judge, claims he entered a plea of guilty to the charges in February of this year because he was under "coercion and threat" from his former legal team.

He said he is innocent of the charges.

At the High Court on Monday, the man, who is in his 40s, successfully applied to have a 43-page "report" read by the court and admitted he had used an Artificial Intelligence tool in compiling it in a late bid to bolster his case.

The document was not read out in court, but the judge agreed to read its contents.

However, Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty raised concerns over whether the man was in breach of the anonymity order granted by the Circuit Court judge if he had submitted details of the case to the online AI tool that could possibly identify alleged victims in the case.

The man told Ms Justice Gearty that he had an individualised account linked to his email address by subscription and had written assurances that the material was not to be shared online by the service.

The man is taking a review against the DPP to halt his prosecution for the harassment charges. Ms Justice Gearty said she would allow the report to be read by the court and shared with the DPP, An Garda Siochana and the Garda Ombudsman.

I am concerned about the use of an AI tool to prepare the case for the obvious reason of the anonymity provision - the Circuit Court judge has made an order that none of the parties may be identified - Ms Justice Gearty

Feichin McDonagh, for the DPP, said he opposed the entry of the "expert report" into judicial review proceedings, which had already been heard before the High Court in July.

Mr McDonagh said the man had shared his Book of Evidence with an American person with "no understanding" of the Irish judicial system, and he had made accusations "against a swathe of people, not just the DPP", and that this was "completely inappropriate" for the man to attempt to reopen the hearing.

Mr McDonagh pointed out that the judicial review was heard in an "expedited" hearing and that the court had already reserved its decision in the case.

Ms Justice Gearty said it was surely better that she read the report and said unless it exposes an "egregious" unfairness to the man, it was not a matter for the High Court to rehear any aspect of the challenge.

Ms Justice Gearty said she would read the report and indicate later this month whether a new hearing was required on aspects addressed in the document.

Mr McDonagh said the man was "trying to mount some sort of unsubstantiated claim of conspiracy or collusion" involving individuals "all on a completely inappropriate basis".

Ms Justice Gearty said that she was conscious that the matter had been expedited, but said she had "no idea" what was in the report.

"I am concerned about the use of an AI tool to prepare the case for the obvious reason of the anonymity provision - the Circuit Court judge has made an order that none of the parties may be identified," she said.

"If material has been put into an AI tool, which you [the man] concede has been done, that is a breach because anything that has been put online can be publicly available by an AI tool may well be treated as being in public, as it includes material you feed into the tool," Ms Justice Gearty told the man.

Mr McDonagh said he suspected that he was sure the material could be used by others, but that he had "no idea" whether it could be accessed by putting in a name.

Ms Justice Gearty asked the man to find assurances that the information was not being shared online to be emailed to the parties in the case.

Among the claims made by the man in judicial review proceedings is that evidence was withheld, and that gardai who investigated the case included friends of his ex-wife.

He also alleges his then legal team advised him to plead guilty, and claims that a defence lawyer told him gardai had killed people before and that he should not draw the gardai on him by fighting the charges.
FIANNA Fail presidential candidate, Jim Gavin, suddenly pulled out of the presidential election following a report by the Irish Independent in which a tenant of Gavins never received 3,300 they were owed when a banking error occurred which took the money from the tenants account.

Jim Gavin, who was recently awarded a certificate by Kill GAA club, which made him an honorary member last week, announced the news on Sunday night, October 5.

Senator Fiona OLoughlin TD who was seen on Sunday with other local reps, including Minister James Lawless TD, canvassing outside a GAA match in Newbridge for Jim Gavins presidential election, took to social media that night to support his decision.

She held that Mr Gavin is a decent and dignified individual, and that his appeal lay in what he has achieved as a volunteer, an amateur and someone who has dedicated his life to serving his community and his country.

That also means he was not accustomed to the cauldron that is public life, said Senator OLoughlin.

Some criticised him for not being naturally fluid behind the TV cameras. Those of us who had the chance to see him up close saw an incredibly sincere, capable and conviction driven human being.

Jim has accepted that he made an error in relation to this issue which has arisen in recent days. As he himself has said, the office of Uachtaran na hEireann is the highest in the land and the pinnacle of public service.

His decision to step back now because of this issue (which should never have happened) that occurred 16 years ago, also speaks to the nature of modern discourse where there is no mercy, no quarter and no scope for explanations. Senator OLoughlin signed off her message thanking all who engaged with the campaign in Kildare South, and wishing Jim and his family the best.

She said: We are all flawed and we are all human. Let he without sin cast the first stone.
A PROPOSAL to develop an industrial biomethane plant in County Kildare has been refused planning permission by Kildare County Council.

The decision, issued on Friday, October 3, 2025, follows strong community opposition to the biomethane project planned out by European company Cycle0, which many residents argued would have a negative impact on the local areas environment and quality of life.

Ultimately, Kildare County Council refused the development for three reasons, one being due to the inadequacy of the small local road which connects the proposed site to Castledermot.

The scale of traffic generated by the proposed development both at construction and operational stage would render the road unsuitable to carry the increased loads arising from the development, wrote the council.

The council also denied the application on grounds that the development does not comply with parameters set out in the Kildare County Development Plan 2023-2029, which is contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. The last reason is due to the plans failure to provide an adequate assessment of hydrological risk, water quality protection, and impacts on the River Barrow, River Nore Special Area of Conservation, Hobartstown West Wetlands and other sites. In this way the plan failed to ensure the development would not affect any waterbodies in the area, and failed to comply with EU directives protecting waterways.

Cycle0 said: We acknowledge the decision of Kildare County Council to refuse planning permission for our proposed AD and biomethane plant at Ballyvass, Co. Kildare and are reviewing the feedback provided by the Council.

This is a disappointing response, but we remain confident that this is the right plan in the right location to support Irelands target to deliver 5.7 TWh of indigenous renewable natural gas by 2030. Local campaigners from the Ballyvass Biogas Concern Group welcomed the decision, thanking the council for listening to the people and acknowledging the collective effort that led to the refusal.

However, the work is not done yet.

We will need your help again to stop this industrial biomethane plant  protect our community, they said in an online post.

For now we have won the first battle and will absorb that for a little while. Together we can do this, they concluded.

The Ballyvass Biogas Community Working group also weighed in on the news:

The community said no, and no Kildare County Council has said no, said the group.

We are very pleased that the Councils planning department has refused the application outright, with no request for further information.

We hope the developers accept this decision and choose not to appeal to An Bord Pleanala. However, should they do so, we will be ready.

The working hroup emphasised that while they do not oppose biogas or renewable energy generally, in this case, the projects location was not appropriate:

These projects must be developed in appropriate locations with suitable infrastructure. Ballyvass is simply not such a location, they said.

After seven months of campaigning, the working group wanted to sincerely thank everyone who contributed with them.

Our planning consultant, local residents, community committees, primary schools, and businesses in Castledermot and the surrounding area. Every single submission made a difference.

We also wish to thank all local representatives and TDs who supported us and lodged submissions.

Thanks you all once again for standing together to protect our community, they concluded.

With the planning refused by the council, developers may now seek to appeal the decision through An Coimisiun Pleanala Alternative Compliance Procedure (ACP), and campaigners have pledged to continue their efforts if the proposal proceeds to that stage.
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

A Bloody Sunday witness was convinced he was about to be shot when a soldier aimed a rifle at him, a court has heard.

A statement from Hugh OBoyle said he saw three people lying crumpled on the ground in Glenfada Park North in Derry and believed they were dead.

Soldier F, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of the murders of James Wray and William McKinney.

They were among 13 people shot dead by the Parachute Regiment at a civil rights demonstration in the Bogside area of Derry on January 30th 1972.

A Bloody Sunday mural in Derry. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA.

The Army veteran is also accused of attempting to murder Michael Quinn, Patrick ODonnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon and an unknown person.

Soldier Fs non-jury trial began in Belfast last month. He sits in the courtroom behind a curtain.

During Mondays proceedings, a number of hearsay statements and depositions from civilian eyewitnesses were read to the court.

These included the statement of Mr OBoyle, who was 24 on Bloody Sunday and took part in the civil rights march.

His statement said there had been some low level rioting in the area of William Street.

He recalled rubber bullets were used to control the disorder.

He said: I suddenly heard a different kind of shooting. It sounded totally different from the sound of rubber bullets, it was a much different cracking sound.

I remember that all three bodies were crumpled on the ground. They were all lying face dow. Hugh O'Boyle

He said he heard a number of shots coming from the direction of William Street and saw crowds of people running towards Free Derry corner.

Mr OBoyle said he was not afraid because he considered the British Army was disciplined and they would not shoot to kill civilians.

His statement said he took cover with some other people behind a car in Glenfada Park North where he saw three people lying on the ground.

He said: I remember that all three bodies were crumpled on the ground. They were all lying face down.

When I saw the three bodies I got the immediate impression they had been trying to run away from Glenfada Park North.

My impression was they were all dead.

Mr OBoyle said he believed the Army was close to Glenfada Park North.

I was convinced he was about to shoot us Hugh O'Boyle

He said: I did not dare put my head up to look through the car window. I was afraid that anyone who moved would be shot.

I did not understand what was happening. I felt totally confused.

Time seemed to stand still. I knew I was in serious trouble.

I was not frightened or hysterical, just numb. I started to pray.

His statement said a soldier told those who were hiding behind the car to come out with their hands above their heads.

Mr OBoyle said the soldier was aiming a rifle in their direction.

He added: I was convinced he was about to shoot us.

Mr OBoyle said they were then moved in the direction of Rossville Street where he saw media.

He said: As soon as I saw the cameraman I knew I was safe as I was on film.

The trial continues.
TWO housing developments has been granted planning permission which would see the construction of 129 new homes in the Tomard area of Athy, Kildare.

The first development, 38 homes, is located to the east of the Whitecastle Lawns housing estate and to the south of the Cois Bhearu housing estate is composed of 91 housing units and a two-storey creche facility.

The developer behind the projects is Bettystown Developments, based in Dublin. Planning permission was granted by Kildare County Council but was appealed by Whitecastle Lawns Residents Association and Cois Bhearu Cluan Residents Association.

The larger scheme also provides for a two-storey creche.

Access to the development would be from the adjoining Cois Bhearu to the north.

Local objections

Plans include a range of associated works such as car parking, open spaces, hard and soft landscaping, an ESB substation, and the demolition of the existing mill structure on site.

The proposal also incorporates the extension and upgrade of the existing footpath to a cycle path at Corrain Bhearu to connect to path on Monasterevin Road/Rathstewart Road.

Residents contend that there was no proper consultation prior to the plan being put through.

Some of the other concerns related to the upgraded cycle path and the impact of these new connections to the existing estates, increased traffic, flooding, lack of parking, and overlooking on existing estates, among other concerns.

These concerns were included in the final decision to grant permission for the development, with the final inspectors report finding the proposal suitable to be go ahead, providing the applicant meet with a set of conditions.
This Sunday, 'DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland' comes from Mooncoin in County Kilkenny and will see host Baz Ashmawy visit the O'Hanlon family.

Prior to featuring on the show, the family were in desperate need of an adapted house for their little girl, Aoibhinn.

READ NEXT: 'Consequences' to be faced by misbehaving Kilkenny tenants in 'no go' estates

Aoibhinn was born with a severe type of spina bifida and hydrocephalus, which pose significant challenges for her and her family, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

She is completely paralysed from her belly button down and has had to have a shunt inserted to drain fluid from her brain.

After many years struggling to secure the money to build a home to meet Aoibhinns growing needs  with a lot of knockbacks and refusals  parents John and Sharon eventually managed to secure an extremely modest mortgage and embarked on their self-build.

READ NEXT: Kilkenny gardai 'make no apologies' as local driver handed court date

Progress was painfully slow  despite family and friends giving every spare moment to the project. To save money the family moved in with Aoibhinns grandparents.

As the show was filming it was noted by producers that 'conditions there became cramped as the house became jam-packed with assistive devices and mobility equipment, such as wheelchairs, a stander, commodes, high chairs and a changing unit'.

READ NEXT: Hugely popular Kilkenny man celebrates milestone birthday!

The production team have stated that John and Sharon might eventually achieve their goal of a home for Aoibhinn but not without budget driven compromises and not without further significant delay.

To see it all unfold, and to see how DIY SOS  The Big Build Ireland can make a huge difference to this young persons life - tune into RTE One and RTE Player at 6.30pm this Sunday, October 12.

FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE
Im going to be an enthusiastic, energetic president, Jim Gavin said at a canvassing event in Kilkenny, just two days before the spectacular collapse of his campaign on Sunday evening.

Mr Gavin made what would turn out to be one of his final stops on Friday, starting at the SOS before moving into the city with a delegation of Fianna Fail politicians.

Flanked by local, national and European representatives, the mood was high as he had appeared to fend off slip-ups regarding an unauthorised drone flight in the filming of a campaign video and a deleted photo with the Defence Forces Chief, someone not permitted to endorse political candidates.

However, just hours later, news broke that Mr Gavin owed 3,300 to a former tenant in a rent-refund dispute relating to payments made to him in error in 2009.

The resident from the unregistered tenancy eventually managed to contact their former landlord, but the money was never returned despite multiple solicitors letters and assurances from the ex-Dublin manager.

Mr Gavins response shifted from him having no recollection or record of the dispute to eventually admitting that it had been a stressful time for he and his family, dealing a hammer blow to his faltering campaign which led to his withdrawal from the race on Sunday.

The Gavin camp seemed blissfully unaware of the brewing storm however, as the then Aras hopeful arrived in Kilkenny to begin his visit to the city on Friday afternoon.

After mixing with members of the SOS community, being served a coffee at the Pod Training Cafe and making an appearance on the centres Dreamtime Radio, Mr Gavin spoke to The Kilkenny People with party members including Mayor John Coonan, Peter Chap Cleere TD and Cynthia Ni Mhurcu MEP.

When asked about the scrutiny that he and the other candidates were under, Mr Gavin gave an answer that would age more poorly in the following days than he could have imagined.

Will I make mistakes? Will we all make mistakes on that journey over the next few weeks? Of course we will. Will I be accountable? Of course I will. But now Im going to keep driving on, he asserted.

With the Fianna Fail candidates withdrawal, the October 24 election will now be a two-horse race between the Independent Catherine Connolly and Fine Gaels Heather Humphreys.
Key Northern Ireland peace process adviser Martin Mansergh was full of boundless commitment to the very end, his funeral has heard.

Mr Mansergh was a senior civil servant at the Department of Foreign Affairs and was a senior adviser to several taoisigh.

He was a key figure during the Northern Ireland peace process, before joining Fianna Fail and becoming a senator and TD.

In 2008, he was appointed as a junior minister at the Department of Finance and the Department of Arts.

Mr Mansergh was on a trip to Morocco with other retired parliamentarians when he died after suffering heart attacks on September 26, at the age of 78.

Delivering a tribute at the funeral mass at St Marys Church in Tipperary, his daughter Alice Mansergh said condolences shared by family, friends, neighbours and colleagues had been such a comfort at a sad, sad time.

Taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin was among attendees alongside President Michael D Higgins aide Commandant Brian Walsh and Tipperary South TD Michael Murphy, representing Tanaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris.

Acknowledging the intimidating task of writing a speech about a speechwriter, Ms Mansergh outlined her fathers life from his birth on New Years Eve 1946, his marriage to Elizabeth and the birth of his five children and 12 grandchildren.

His passion was his work, often behind the scenes, on steps that would enable peace in Northern Ireland, along with so many across communities who ultimately found a way to work together.

She said others would remember his political work, which was one of the great honours of his life, but added: For me and my siblings, he was Dad.

She recalled how he instilled in them a great love of exploring, and remembered his laugh that was full of joy and the familiar sounds of rustling newspapers and Morning Ireland which signified his love of news and current affairs.

A fellow TD whod had words with him once said, You dont take offence easily, do you? Dad said, I choose not to.

Some of the qualities he had were courage, resilience, integrity, kindness and optimism.

She said his ability to account for different viewpoints and map a way forward was a hallmark of her fathers career.

Dad was always full of energy, full of life, full of boundless commitment to the very end.

Her brother Danny Mansergh expanded on his fathers work during the peace process.

He said his father was put forward to engage in clandestine meetings as an official representative of the Irish government with the republican movement in Northern Ireland, in an effort to persuade them to end the armed struggle and pursue their objectives peacefully.

He was selected instead of a frontbench minister so the talks could be presented as unauthorised should they be exposed at a bad time or painted in the wrong light.

His son said this potential outrage could have ended his fathers career, and the work was an example of his courage.

A lesser person would have struggled to cope with that pressure. Dad was able to deal with it because he had optimism and courage and conviction.

His optimism, which was basically unbounded in every aspect of his life, was critical in the face of the continual loss of life in the 80s and 90s.

He kept going. He didnt know that the efforts of himself and of others would be successful, but he always believed those efforts could be successful.

His key conviction, in the face of the view that you dont talk to terrorists, was that it was only through talking that a framework could be found within which the Republican movement might decide to pursue its aims peacefully.

Noting that there used to a very strong unionist stream for generations in his family, Danny Mansergh said Dad also played a vital role as a negotiator in dealing with unionists and the British government.

He said the family was enormously proud of him and added: Dad was a huge figure in our lives. We loved him. Well really miss him.

Mr Manserghs daughter Fiona offered mourners a selection of his lighter moments.

She recalled how  despite hard work  he was fond of a practical joke, showed a love for a cupan tae and cake and never left a dull moment.

Dad lived an active life to the end. He loved to be going places, seeing people, reading things and keeping up to date.

She added: He kept his independence, his curiosity and bounce to the last. We are so grateful to everyone who took care of him on his final trip.

The service, which also featured tributes from Mr Manserghs grandchildren, preceded a private burial at St Michaels graveyard.
The Kilkenny branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association was in fine form over the weekend as members gathered at Claddagh Court to celebrate a very special milestone, the 40th birthday of long-standing member John Grace.

Join us in wishing a happy 40th birthday to long-standing Kilkenny IWA member, John Grace, the organisation shared in a post marking the occasion.

READ NEXT: Bystanders intervene after high speed carnage and alleged assaults in Kilkenny

John, who has been an active member of the IWA community for years, had one simple wish for his big day - to celebrate surrounded by his friends at IWA.

As the photos above show, he got exactly that, with a room full of smiles, chat, and laughter.

READ NEXT: 'Consequences' to be faced by misbehaving Kilkenny tenants in 'no go' estates

The celebration was made even more memorable thanks to Koli, one of the IWAs staff members, who donned his chefs hat for the day.

A massive shout to Koli, one of the IWA staff members, pictured in one of the photos with John, who is also a very talented chef and did the catering to give John a party to remember.

READ NEXT: Kilkenny gardai respond to claims intruders have broken into a number of local homes

Congratulations John. Heres wishing you a year to remember from all in IWA.

FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE
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Ellen O'Donoghue

Former Dublin GAA manager Jim Gavin, Fianna Fail's presidential candidate, has withdrawn from the race.

In a statement released just after 10.30pm on Sunday night, Mr Gavin said he is withdrawing with immediate effect after recent days gave him cause to reflect.

He said that when announcing his intention to contest in the election, he did so "in a spirit of lifelong public service and a love of country."

Reports have arisen in the last number of days regarding stories about him failing to register a tenancy with the Residential Tenancies Board, and allegedly owing money to a previous tenant.

He said that the office of the president is the "highest in the land and the pinnacle of public service", but added that "it is an office that must be untainted by controversy or distraction.

"I always knew the campaign would be robust and challenging and anyone who knows me knows that I have never shirked from a contest," he said, "However recent days have given me cause to reflect.

"I made a mistake that was not in keeping with my character and the standards I set myself. I am now taking steps to address the matter.

"I have also thought long and hard about the potential impact of the ongoing campaign on the wellbeing of my family and friends.

"Taking all these considerations on board, I have decided to withdraw from the presidential election contest with immediate effect and return to the arms of my family.

Mr Gavin added that throughout his campaign, he has been "humbled by the encouragement and kind words" he received from the public.

"I truly hope you understand my decision and do not feel left down," his statement said.

In a statement on the matter, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said that he can "fully understand his decision and believe it is the correct one.

"Jim has achieved an enormous amount in his life. His commitment to service and helping others has always, quite rightly, defined his character and his great standing with the public," the Fianna Fail leader added.

"Jim has accepted that he made an error in relation to an issue that has arisen in recent days," Mr Martin's statement said.

Mr Gavin is "clear" that he does not want to bring "controversy" into the office of Uachtaran na hEireann, Mr Martin said.

"This has been a very difficult decision for Jim given his commitment to public service. I wish him well. I have no doubt that he will continue to make a significant contribution to Irish life and society," the Taoiseach's statement finished.

It was recently reported that a former tenant overpaid Mr Gavin 3,300 in rent that he has failed to return since 2009.

The Irish Independent reported that the former Dublin manager had failed to register the Smithfield property with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), as required under law since 2004.

After getting into financial difficulty, Mr Gavin and his wife, Jennifer, surrendered the home to the banks.

Speaking to the media following the RTE presidential debate on The Week in Politics, Mr Gavin could not provide any more information on what happened.

During the debate, he said, If it happened, Im sorry it happened.

However, it is worth noting that Mr Gavin's name is likely to remain on the ballot paper on Friday, October 24th, but with no campaign behind it, because of his late withdrawal.

Mr Gavin was among three candidates alongside Fine Gaels Heather Humphreys and independent Catherine Connolly, will remain on the ballot paper.

His decision to drop out came after a Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll put him in last place on 15 per cent, behind Ms Connolly (32 per cent) and Ms Humphreys (23 per cent).
A MAN who was detected driving at a speed of 177km/h along the motorway in Laois with two children unrestrained in his car, was sentenced to four months imprisonment when his case came before last weeks sitting of the District Court in Portlaoise.

Laii Muntean from 37 Russell Lawns, Tallaght, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and with driving without insurance or a driving license along the M7 at Ballybrittas on 14 August last year.

Judge Catherine Ryan was told that when stopped by gardai the defendant told them that the reason why he was driving at speed was because one of his children had taken ill, had fallen unconscious and he was taking her to a hospital in Dublin.

One of the children, the court was told, was sitting in the front passenger seat while the other was lying across a womans lap in the back seat.

The court was told that Mr Muntean had 92 previous convictions and was currently serving a prison sentence with his release date on 18 November.

Noting that six of Mr Munteans previous convictions were for driving while uninsured Judge Ryan said: He has a total disregard for the law. He was putting his children and other road users at risk. You need to be off the road. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby told the court that the defendant is currently under a 10-year driving ban.

She went on to convict the defendant of dangerous driving, imposed a four-month sentence to commence on the expiry of his existing sentence and fined him 1,000. For driving while uninsured he was convicted, fined 2,500 and disqualified from driving for four years.

She took the other matter of driving without a licence into account.
FIVE Laois food producers took home gold, silver and bronze in their respective categories at this years Blas na hEireann.

Now in their 18th year and firmly established as the largest and most influential food awards on the island of Ireland, the awards were handed out in Dingle on Friday 3 October.

The five winners from the county who took home gold, silver and bronze awards were Mueller & O'Connell Bakery; G's Gourmet Jams Ltd; Zephyr Yard; The Village Dairy; and Aghaboe Farm Foods.

Zephyr Yard was awarded Best in County, proudly sponsored by Laois Local Enterprise Office.

We are incredibly proud to congratulate Zephyrs Yard on winning Best in Laois at this year's Blas na hEireann Awards, said Evelyn Reddin, head of enterprise at Local Enterprise Office in Laois.

Ms Reddin added: This is a remarkable achievement, a testament to their hard work, dedication, and the exceptional quality of their locally sourced ingredients.

Their success highlights the innovation and passion within our local food sector and truly showcases the best of what Laois has to offer. We're thrilled to see their talent recognised on a national stage.

It is important for the Local Enterprise Offices to come together and support the Blas na hEireann awards because they align directly with our mission, helping local businesses start, scale, and succeed. 2025 marks another record year for Blas na hEireann, with over 3,000 entries across more than 180 categories, reflecting the strength and diversity of Irish food and drink.

This years finalists and winners had the opportunity to showcase their products at the Blas Village and the popular Eat Ireland in a Day market, both of which returned to Dingle alongside the annual Backyard at Blas panel discussions supported by Bank of Ireland.

The weekend offered producers a chance to connect with buyers, industry experts, media, fellow producers, and food lovers, while also celebrating the people, and the talents, that make Irish food so special.

Speaking after the announcement, Artie Clifford, chairperson of Blas na hEireann, said: Every year the standard rises, and 2025 has been no exception. To see such talented producers from Co Laois represented on the shortlist, and now to celebrate the winners from that county, is a real testament to the skill, creativity and resilience of Irelands food producers. Making it to the finalist stage alone is a huge achievement, and to win at Blas is something of which to be incredibly proud. Irish food and drink continues to go from strength to strength, and it is a joy to celebrate that strength and that community here in Dingle. The Blas na hEireann awards weekend ran from 2-5 October in Dingle, with a packed programme of events shining a spotlight on the very best of Irish food and drink.

Sustainability once again remained a key focus, with the event continuing to build on its waste-free commitments and support a more conscious future for Irish food.
Olivia Kelleher

A jury has been sworn in to hear the trial of two men accused of the murder of a 47-year-old Cork man.

The late Kieran Quilligan was from Togher and Knocknaheeny in Cork city. Niall Long (33) and Luke Taylor (27) are charged with the murder contrary to common law of Mr Quilligan.

The murder charge against each man states that on a date unknown between September 1st, 2023 and January 29th, 2024, at an unknown location within the state of the District Court area of Cork city, he did murder Mr Quilligan.

Both men replied Not Guilty when they were arraigned at a sitting of the Central Criminal Court in Cork on Monday morning.

The case will get underway on Wednesday. It is set to involve the calling of over 120 witnesses. CCTV evidence will also be a feature of the case.

Luke Taylor is formerly of Cherry Lawn, Blackrock in Cork, whilst his co-accused, Mr Long, previously lived at St Michaels Close in Mahon in the city.

The Prosecution in the case will be led by Donal OSullivan, SC, with Ray Boland SC acting on behalf of Mr Long. Brendan Grehan, SC, will represent Mr Taylor.

Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford warned jurors that the trial could be a lengthy one. Mr OSullivan said that the case is likely to last up to four weeks. Jurors were informed that they need to be available for the case until at least October 28th.

No details of the case beyond the charge were outlined in court.

The jury of ten men and two women was warned not to do any independent research on the case or to conduct any searches online.

The opening prosecution speech will be given on Wednesday morning by Mr OSullivan.
At an intense school board meeting at Easton Area School District last week, many residents made clear their disapproval of school nurse Kelly Keegan.

Easton Area School District leaders issued a joint statement, in which they acknowledged the publics concerns but stressed they could not discuss any employee issues, including discipline, because employees have a right to confidentiality.

Superintendent Tracy Piazza and School Board President Jodi Hess said the matter is being handled diligently, responsibly, and in strict accordance with school district policy, state and federal law.

Piazza and Hess addressed the matter in writing after dozens of residents attended the Sept. 30 school board meeting urging Keegans termination. The calls came after screenshots circulated of Keegans online comments about Charlie Kirk.

After the death of the conservative activist, Keegan took to Facebook to allegedly call Kirk a monster and say that his wife and children are better off without him. She faced significant backlash from the community.

Following the post, Keegan was asked to stay home from work. Several weeks later, she was among other employees approved for a salary raise at the school board meeting, causing outrage among district residents.

Many in attendance at the school board meeting referenced other social media posts Keegan has made, including one where she allegedly mocked students who receive disability accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

All the posts appear to be deleted, with screenshots circulating online.

In the statement, which is visible on the districts main website, Piazza and Hess acknowledged the number of residents who spoke at the school board meeting, and expressed appreciation for their participation in district affairs.

We want to assure the community that every voice was heard, and your words, which were spoken with passion and conviction, have been carefully considered and reflected upon by both the administration and the school board, the statement reads.

In their statement, district leaders acknowledged the concerns while stressing that the matter must be handled through established procedures.

The social media statements made by the individual in question are not reflective of the core beliefs and values of our school district, the statement read. We understand the deep concern and disappointment these posts have caused.

Piazza and Hess said they cannot publicly discuss details of the situation because it involves personnel, but noted it is being addressed in line with district policy, state and federal law.

The statement added that while the outcome may not be immediately visible to the public, the district is not ignoring the issue.

During this challenging time, our priority to remain student centered remains the same, they said. We are unwavering in this commitment and focus, even during times of adversity.
Children's Home of Easton Executive Director Anita Jo Paukovits surprises Joe Gonzalez with a plaque and news that the front area of the home will be named the Joe G. Alumni Circle. Gonzalez, a former resident, is now president of the alumni association. Alumni from the Children's Home returned Oct. 4, 2025, to celebrate the facility's 140th anniversary. Donna Fisher | lehighvalleylive.com contributor

Joe Gonzalez remembers his ominous arrival at the Childrens Home of Easton.

He was 13. No one had much good to say about the Wilson Borough facility. But his mother could no longer take care of him and his brother, so he acknowledged this was the best alternative.

At the Childrens Home, he found what he couldnt find inside the walls of his childhood home on Eastons South Side. He found adults who cared for him. He found a place where he could just be a kid rather than caretaker of his family. He found a new home.

It was the best thing that ever happened to my life, said the 75-year-old who now lives in Williams Township.

Joe Gonzalez, former Children's Home of Easton resident and current president of the alumni association, speaks to returning alumni. Alumni returned Oct. 4, 2025, to celebrate the facility's 140th anniversary. Donna Fisher | lehighvalleylive.com contributor

Gonzalez spent five years in the Childrens Home. After getting his college degree and teaching for a year, he found his way back and spent decades as the Childrens Homes program director.

On Saturday, he joined more than 100 people whose lives turned out better because of the time they spent in the home. The program for alumni celebrates the Childrens Homes 140th anniversary.

My biggest thing is -- this is their home. Were not trying to be an institution, said Executive Director Anita Jo Paukovits.

The Childrens Home was founded as an orphanage by a group of churchgoing women in 1885. It evolved to largely accept children who have trouble at home and need a place to stay, Paukovits said.

Anita Jo Paukovits, Children's Home of Easton executive director, speaks to alumni Saturday. Alumni returned Oct. 4, 2025, to celebrate the facility's 140th anniversary. Donna Fisher | lehighvalleylive.com contributor

Frank Mento was one of those kids. He was a 7-year-old self-confessed troublemaker when he was placed there, away from his eight brothers and sisters at his home in Philadelphia.

The 69-year-old who now lives in Bethlehem Township grew so attached to the home that when he was allowed to return to his family in Philly, he begged to stay.

After leaving the home at 18, he worked at Victaulic, and later Mack Trucks, and finally returned to the Childrens Home as a do-it-all fill-in counselor, recreation leader, maintenance worker and van driver.

He and his ex-wife (who also worked at the Childrens Home) have fostered between 50 and 100 children over the years.

I wanted to give kids the opportunity that I had, Mento said.

Mento and Gonzalez arent the only success stories, Paukovits said.

Childrens Home alumni have become a math professor, a Philadelphia policewoman, a fireman, an electric company supervisor, an entrepreneur -- all of whom credit the Childrens Home with helping them find self-sufficiency and self-respect.

Saturday afforded them an opportunity to reminisce, Paukovits said.

This is a good place. It really is. And we all have stories, thats for sure, she said.

Mento regrets he couldnt be there, although he had an excuse: his daughter was getting married in California. If there were a way to squeeze both events into his calendar, he would have done it.

I thought long and hard about it. Trust me, he said.

Saturdays 140th anniversary and alumni reunion included a lunch, guest speakers, the opening of a time capsule and dessert at the facility at 2000 S. 25th St. in Wilson Borough.

Check out this video for more information about the history of the Childrens Home of Easton.

Diane Shearer of Dillsburg, Pa., left, lived in the Children's Home of Easton from 1965 through 1969. Larry Telepo of Bangor, right, lived in the home from 1955 through 1958. They bow their heads in prayer for former residents who have died. Alumni from the Children's Home of Easton returned Oct. 4, 2025, to celebrate the facility's 140th anniversary. Donna Fisher | lehighvalleylive.com contributor

Family members of the late Children's Home of Easton leader Michael H. Danjczek, including daughter Rachel Danjczek Clouser of San Diego, California, right, look over pictures of the facility. Alumni from the Children's Home of Easton returned Oct. 4, 2025, to celebrate the facility's 140th anniversary. Donna Fisher | lehighvalleylive.com contributor

Marquita Rex of Easton, a resident of the Children's Home of Easton from 1983 through 1986, receives an award Oct. 4, 2025, at a celebration the facility's 140th anniversary. Donna Fisher | lehighvalleylive.com contributor
FILE - A marijuana plant is seen at a medical marijuana dispensary in Egg Harbor Township, N.J., March 22, 2019. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File) AP

Franklin Township officials will hear a presentation from a cannabis farming company during their regular committee meeting Monday evening.

Grasshopper Farms, a local-sustainable farming collaborative that develops sun-grown cannabis strains for retailers nationwide, is scheduled to present to the township at 7 p.m. inside the Township Municipal Building on Monday, Oct. 6, at 2093 Route 57 in Franklin Township, Warren County.

Grasshopper Farms employs local farmers to produce its crop and inspect its yield, according to company website. The company boasts more than a decade of combined experience in growing expertise.

The company operates one other location in New Jersey in Galloway Township near Atlantic City. More farms are located in Michigan and Colorado.

The presentation comes after Franklin Township hosted a public hearing earlier this year to consider amending local zoning laws to allow for cannabis retail and production. The township committee unanimously adopted an ordinance to permit cultivation at a first-reading in June.

Currently, all other classes of cannabis establishments, cannabis distributors or cannabis delivery services as defined in Section 3 of P.L. 2021, c. 16 are prohibited in all districts, with the exception of delivery of cannabis items and related supplies by a delivery service, according to the Land Use .
Waterways Ireland has issued a statement in response to allegations of neglect made by a Laois barge rental company.

Speaking last week to the Leinster Express / Laois Live, Barrowline Cruisers in Vicarstown claimed that Waterways Ireland has allegedly neglected maintenance works along the Barrow Navigation waterway, stating that it has cost the company both money and business.

A Waterways Ireland representative responded to each of these claims put to the body by the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

Pictured: Along the Barrow Navigation

Barrowline Cruisers alleged that the 'dangerously shallow' depths along the Barrow Navigation is not due to climate change, but rather due to the neglect of weed cutting maintenance along the route. Waterways Ireland refute this statement.

"As man-made waterways, our canals are entirely dependent on water supply from natural sources such as rivers, lakes and groundwater," Waterways Ireland said in response.

"In addition to the actions Waterways Ireland has taken to mitigate against disruptions to navigation, Waterways Ireland has developed a Water Management Strategy for the Barrow and the canals, examining all options to source more water for, direct more water to, and retain more water in the navigations.

Pictured: A Barrowline Cruiser barge along the Barrow Navigation

"Throughout 2025, there have been historically low ground water levels in Pollardstown Fen, which feed both the Barrow line and the Grand Canal. This is also the case in Lough Owel, which feeds the Royal Canal. The midlands experienced drought conditions during the summer of 2025," the representative continued.

"The pressures on canal water supply are not unique to the island of Ireland. Across Great Britain and Europe, canals are increasingly facing similar challenges with several waterways in Great Britain forced to temporarily close in 2025 due to critically low water levels. Climate change is intensifying these pressures," they said.

In response to claims that Waterways Ireland has neglected to maintain overgrown weeds along the Barrow Navigation, Waterways Ireland responded that they have deployed all resources this year.

"Lower rainfall, extended periods of sunshine and consistent dry weather spells led to ideal conditions for weed growth from early Spring in 2025. Waterways Ireland deployed all available weed-cutting resources on the Barrow System to manage this issue and has developed an updated weed management plan for 2026."

The State body have said that they take their 'statutory maintenance responsibilities' for the Barrow Navigation and canals 'very seriously'.

"The River Barrow is a Special Area of Conservation. Due to evolving environmental case law, certain aspects of routine maintenance work now require planning permission," they said.

"Waterways Ireland sought and received planning approval for a five-year Barrow Maintenance Programme from each local authority (Kildare, Carlow and Laois County Councils), including dredging, small-scale bank repair and bank strengthening - to ensure the river is managed in a sustainable manner for continued use," the representative shared.

"Essential quay wall refurbishment works at Vicarstown Harbour in County Laois will begin in October 2025. It is anticipated that further works will begin in Laois in the next permittable time-period to minimise adverse biodiversity impacts, which is July-September 2026."

Waterways Ireland explained that appeals to the grant of planning permission were lodged in Kildare and Carlow, which are being considered by An Coimisiun Pleanala, with a decision expected In November 2025.

"Waterways Ireland is committed to working with stakeholders in its role as custodian to protect and improve the amenity potential of the River Barrow, and to safeguard recreational opportunities and accessibility for all users of the navigation," they said.

The body have stated that Mr John McDonagh, CEO of Waterways Ireland, met with the proprietors of Barrowline Cruisers in August and committed then to a follow-up meeting in November.
There is disappointment and dismay in Laois Fianna Fail over the withdrawal of Jim Gavin from the Presidential race, with some senior councillors believing he was the wrong candidate.

Laois Fianna Fail are set to meet shortly to scrutinise the party's Presidential campaign and strategy, with councillors believing the wrong candidate was chosen, and Taoiseach Micheal Martin has some explaining to do.

Laois Fianna Fail members were out in force in Portlaoise on October 2, canvassing support for the six-time Dublin GAA All-Ireland winning manager. Little did they know that just four days later, Mr Gavin would pull out over claims that he had not refunded money to a former tenant.

Mountmellick's Cllr Paddy Bracken was succinct but forthright in his opinion about the FF Presidential election candidate selection.

"They picked the wrong candidate," he told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

He suggested that Billy Kelleher, who won the backing of 29 TDs and Senators, would have made a good candidate, as would former Minister Mary Hanafin and former Taoiseach Bertin Ahern.

He was reluctant to comment on the role of Micheal Martin in the candidate selection, but a candidate selection explanation is needed from on high in the party and that may have to be the Taoiseach.

"Obviously, someone will have to explain and I presume it's him.

Abbeyleix-based Cllr John Joe Fennelly was among those who campaigned with Mr Gavin in Portlaoise. Speaking on the day after Mr Gavin dropped out of the race, Cllr Fennelly accepted that it was a tough day for the party. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

FF canvassers on the campaign trail in Portlaoise with Jim Gavin.

"It is not an easy day for us. There is no point in saying anything else," he said.

He believed there must be a review in the party headquarters.

"It's terribly disappointing and the hierarchy in Fianna Fail are going to have to discuss it," said the Portlaoise Municipal District councillor.

While he said there was no role for Laois councillors the selection of Mr Gavin as a candidate and were not in a position to back independent candidates due to party strategy.

He said it would be discussed at the next Laois FF Comhairle Dail meeting, with views expressed at that meeting communicated to headquarters.

As to whether the selection of Mr Gavin was a matter for HQ and the party leader, Micheal Martin, Cllr Fennelly felt it was an issue for the entire organisation.

As to his biggest concern, he said Laois FF members were out canvassing for the public for votes for Mr Gavin, but did not know about the issue that emerged via the Irish Independent that led to Mr Gavin's withdrawal.

Asked if he felt hung out to dry by the controversy, Cllr Fennelly indicated a sense of being let down.

"When you are a public representative and working as hard as you can for your party, of course, you feel disappointed, but hindsight is a great thing," he said.

Cllr Fennelly said he never met Mr Gavin until the Laois canvas, but he said he found him to be pleasant and someone who engaged with the public. As to a lack of experience, he said FF had previously run candidates with no experience.

Cllr Seamus McDonald is the longest serving Fianna Fail Public representative in Laois, with over four decades in the county.

"I am disappointed in why he pulled out. I know he was down in the polls, but that could change in two and a half weeks to go," he said.

Cllr McDonald was of the view that his party could have looked at other candidates with experience.

"I was a bit disappointed that Bertie Ahern or the Cork MEP Billy Kelleher wasn't nominated," he said.

He said he "would have problems" that Mr Gavin was selected with no experience, and the grass roots of the party were not consulted. He said there was no discussion at Comhairle Dail level about the selection and he was never canvassed by the party for his views who should run.

"There was no discussion at all before it," he said.

Cllr McDonald also commented on Micheal Martin's role. While he said the Taoiseach is doing 'good work', he expected that Mr Martin would have some explaining to do when he meets with the FF parliamentary party.

Other Fianna Fail councillors and Sean Fleming TD have been asked for comment.
Laois councillors are pleading for houses and sewerage to be built in the county, but not in Portlaoise, while the CEO of Laois County Council says the whole county will keep growing.

Cllr Ollie Clooney says it would be easier to win the Lotto than to get a public wastewater treatment plant for the village of Ballacolla.

Theres lights, community centre and paths all there but its 26 years since a house was built inside the speed limit in Ballacolla, and that was a private house, he said.

The day Irish Water was allowed to take over our water was a detonator for local communities. Some schools only have two kids in classes. Irish Water have to come to the table and do something with rural villages.

There has to be a change in emphasis. Put services where there is no population and people will follow it. This is not just a council problem, it goes to the top, to Government, Cllr Clooney said.

Cllr Ben Brennan of the Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District warns that schools will close and people will emigrate.

Portlaoise is top heavy. We need to start building in small communities where there are facilities in place. We can't be taking everyone into the town. There's three schools in our parish could close because they are not getting the houses. Keep them alive," he urged.

Give villages a chance. They are losing post offices. They are losing everything. If you dont, those people wont go into the town, theyll emigrate, he said.

I support more houses but you cant build them unless you have infrastructure in place. The schools even the hospital cant cope in Portlaoise. You are bringing in people from different areas the whole time and theres nothing for them, Cllr Brennan added.

They spoke as Laois County Council announced that it will be welcoming offers of more land to rezone for housing, to meet new Government targets.

The Laois CEO Michael Rainey insisted to them that he is focused on the entire county for development not just Portlaoise.

"Portlaoise is not the only growth centre in this county.

"I am very conscious of brownfield sites. I don't want a doughnut effect, with growth on greenfield sites on the edge of town. This county is delivering houses and we will continue to. If we meet the IDA or Enterprise Ireland it's one of the factors they ask for.

"That will allow us to have economic and social growth across the county, but in a balanced way, developed across all towns and villages, subject to utilities," the CEO said.

"It's a challenge for all local authorities. We've been asked to grow all our towns, in a time when infrastructure is so hard to achieve. But it is good news that we are being asked to grow as a county town.

"For years we saw all the growth go to Tullamore, Athlone and Mullingar. For the first time ever the state is recognising that Portlaoise and Laois has the potential to grow and develop. Portlaoise has been put in its proper place as a growth centre in the region.

"It's not going to be easy. We do need to engage with the housing activation office to ensure we get infrastructure. Key infrastructure deliveries, like the Portlaoise northern relief road and the Mountmellick bypass. We won't be shy, we are already engaging with the ESB and utilities so that the infrastructure is there," the council chief said.

Cllr John Joe Fennelly had pointed out that Abbeyleix is still waiting on two orbital routes.

Weve a lot of land in towns and villages that we cant get people to develop. In Abbeyleix we have two orbital routes planned around the town, waiting 20 years with no movement. That might deter people from building on land within 2km of the town, he said.

Mountmellick is also lacking in infrastructure, added Cllr Paddy Bracken.

Read also: Four Laois housing estates to be taken in charge

It is very limited on where you could have more development. Build in small areas to sustain schools. Portlaoise and schools around it are under pressure yet small schools are trying to stay open. To build a house in Mountmellick is no cheaper but the sites are cheaper, he said.
The construction of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) has been proposed for a site near the Kildare-Meath border.

A planning permission application which was submitted to Kildare County Council for consideration shows that Bronto Storage Limited wants to construct the BESS at Dysart near Enfield.

Specifically, the company is seeking 10 years worth of planning permission for the provision of the BESS, as well as the "compound on a site of circa 1.015 hectares to support the adjacent permitted solar farm (KCC Reg. Ref.: 161265)".

The application notes that this BESS compound would accommodate self-contained Lithium Ion Phosphate batteries within 18 BESS units, four twin skid units and a single skid unit.

In addition, a control room (measuring in at circa 27.6 square metres) has been proposed to the east of the compound.

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Lastly, Bronto Storage Ltd is seeking permission from KCC for the proposed development to include: all associated development and boundary treatments; security fencing; site access works; ducting and cabling; and all associated ancillary works.

The date received on the application is listed as September 29 last, while the submission-by and due dates are listed as November 2, 2025 and November 23, 2025 respectively.

According to the business information website SoloCheck.ie, Bronto Storage Ltd was established back in February of this year.

It specialises in the "construction of utility projects for electricity and telecommunications".

Bronto Storage Ltd has a registered address listed as the First Floor Offices at 86 - 88 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2, County Dublin (D02 A668).

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At this years Iron Mountain Literature Festival at The Dock Arts Centre in Carrick-on-Shannon, journalist and critic Fintan OToole gave a riveting talk on John McGaherns The Dark  a book still capable of shocking, sixty years after its publication.

OToole opened with a mischievous detour to Edna OBriens The Country Girls, reading aloud the notorious holy picture passage that led to its banning. Every good Irish writer was banned in their own country for thirty or forty years, he said. And they were banned for stuff thats breathtaking in its banality. For OToole, this moment captures the strange dance between Irish censorship and Irish creativity: The book itself contains this act of censorship and defiance  go and ban me then.

That defiance is hard-wired into The Dark. McGahern originally titled the book The Pit, a clue to the abyss it draws from. It was banned outright, costing him his job as a primary school teacher and effectively forcing him into exile. The work is not being created in ignorance of whats going to happen to it, OToole noted. Its already there in the act of creation.

At the centre of The Dark is an unflinching portrayal of child abuse and a society built on silence. OToole quoted Faber editor Charles Monteiths famous letter to McGahern warning that the passages describing the father in bed with the boy left no doubt about an actual criminal offence. Monteith even raised the possibility of libel: McGaherns own father had already recognised himself in The Barracks.

This, OToole argued, is what makes The Dark still so powerful  and so dangerous. It begins with a child punished for saying F-U-C-K and spirals into humiliation, beatings, and sexual violence. It starts with obscenity, OToole said. It says: you want obscenity? Here it is. But the filth isnt in the childs head  its in the head of the society.

He placed the novel alongside Edna OBrien and Brian Friels Philadelphia, Here I Come! as part of a generational rupture in the early 1960s, when young writers began to sacrifice their own most private selves in order to unfreeze this society. Like Friels splitting of Gar into public and private selves, McGahern shows a boy thinking one thing and forced to say another. Think what you say, but dont say what you think, the father warns  the perfect motto for Holy Catholic Irelands organised hypocrisy.

Yet OToole also stressed that The Dark is not simply an expose but a work of art. McGaherns clipped, dissociative prose (he, you, never I) anticipates Becketts silences. In one understated episode, the protagonist rescues his sister Joan from sexual abuse by her employer  his first real act of agency. Its a brutal book, OToole said, but also a book of psychological healing in the most brutal way. You cannot heal until you say it.

Sixty years on, as Ireland continues to reckon with clerical abuse and mass graves, The Dark feels less like a relic than a reckoning. The filth thats in your head came out, McGaherns father tells his son. In OTooles reading, the line applies to the whole country.

READ MORE Pick up the latest edition of Leitrim Life magazine
Sixteen Irish citizens detained by Israel during the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla have been released and are on their journey home, the Tanaiste has said.

Simon Harris said those detained would continue to be provided assistance.

They were held among approximately 450 people held after Israel intercepted 42 vessels taking part in the flotilla which was taking aid to Gaza.

Organisers say the flotilla was arranged to carry humanitarian aid for Palestinians, break Israels blockade of Gaza and raise awareness.

The detainees were taken to Kestiot Prison in Israel, with the countrys foreign ministry saying it offered voluntary deportation to all of the activists.

Some activists reported ill treatment during their detention while solicitors representing Irish detainees called on the Government to condemn the unlawful arrests and reckless use of force against unarmed civilians.

In a statement, Mr Harris said: I can confirm that the Irish citizens detained in Israel have been released and are currently on their journey home.

This welcome outcome was secured after a weekend of intensive efforts by officials from across my department, including the embassy team in Tel Aviv, working in conjunction with international partners.

I know that this has been a difficult time for both the Irish citizens and their families, and I pay tribute to their strength throughout.

Dublin-based officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade remain in close contact with family members who have requested our support, and will continue to update them.

He added: As we welcome our citizens home, Ireland will continue to call for all efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas, and unhindered humanitarian access to the people of Gaza at scale.

A spokesperson representing the Irish participants said 15 of them will travel home on three separate flights from Athens to Dublin on Monday and Tuesday.

A 16th person holds a US passport and is subject to a separate deportation process.

Niamh Mac Namara, co-ordinator with Global Movement to Gaza Eire, said: Our Governments inaction over the genocide and ethic cleansing in Palestine has directly led to this situation, ordinary Irish citizens forced to risk their lives because leaders refused to act.

What happened was completely illegal under international law and should never have been allowed.

If Ireland had imposed sanctions on the genocidal state of Israel and upheld human rights, this mission would never have been necessary.

We demand immediate political action to protect those still sailing to Gaza and to end our complicity in this genocide.

Several other Irish citizens are participating in other flotillas en route to Gaza.
Following exchanges between Sligo/Leitrim Senator Nessa Cosgrove and representatives of the National Transport Authority in Leinster House this week, Senator Cosgrove and her Sligo County Council colleague, Ann Higgins expressed their disappointment that no firm commitments have been given to scheduling an early morning commuter service into Sligo, or reinstatement of catering services on all Irish Rail services including the Sligo-Dublin train.

Senator Cosgrove said: Representatives of the National Transport Authority (NTA) were in front of the Joint Oireachtas Transport Committee this week. This gave me the opportunity to raise two issues which I have been highlighting since before entering the Seanad. The introduction of an early morning commuter train between Longford and Sligo and the reintroduction of catering services on all train routes, including Sligo-Dublin.

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Unfortunately, the response from the NTA was less than encouraging. They asserted that, despite reassurances given by Irish Rail in just August this year, there was no budget available for the restoration of catering services. The NTA have asked Irish Rail to examine the introduction of vending machines, but my question remains, if this is the solution why has it not been done as yet? How long does it take the NTA/Irish Rail to make a simple decision? And once a decision is made, how long will it take to implement it?

Moving on to the lack of early morning services into Sligo MacDiarmada, Cllr. Ann Higgins stated: At the moment there is no train arriving into Sligo before 10:16 Monday to Friday, or until after 12 noon at weekends. This is not good for students, workers, people attending appointments or even tourists all of whom would like to have the option of arriving in Sligo before 9am."

She continued: "In my day job, I work at ATU and, as we all know, there is an acute housing crisis which is affecting students as well as everybody else. Introducing an early morning commuter train which could deliver students and workers into Sligo from before 9am could alleviate some of the strain. It is a no-brainer. I know that Senator Cosgrove and Sligo County Council have both written to the NTA and the Minister for Transport asking that an early morning train be implemented. Research recently conducted by an ATU Engineering graduate has demonstrated that it is feasible and, in response to Senator Cosgroves questioning, the NTA did say that they were aware of the proposal and that it has merit. However, they stated that the earliest that this could be delivered, if approved, will be December 2026. This will be too late for many students and workers, struggling with long road commutes."

She revealed that she has launched a petition which calls on the National Transport Authority and Irish Rail to establish a daily morning commuter train from Longford to Sligo that will arrive in Sligo no later than 8.30 a.m.

She said: "One of my first motions as a newly co-opted councillor was to call for the introduction of an early commuter train from Longford to Sligo to facilitate the movement of people at times that work for them, to alleviate traffic congestion and to positively contribute to reducing our carbon footprint. This demand is evidence based. It is not a big ask - simply a modest investment into a service that would significantly positively impact the lives of people in this region. I would encourage people to sign our petition to ensure that Irish Rail and NTA hear our voices 

READ MORE: South Leitrim residents warned of bogus callers following suspicious activity

Senator Cosgrove concluded: The lack of a firm commitment on either the early morning commuter service or on catering services is indicative of the lack of investment in infrastructure and services in the North West for many years It is time for all our elected representatives, from all parties and none, to stand together and use our collective voices to demand better services in Sligo, Leitrim and indeed in Donegal, which has no rail services whatsoever.
Mental Health Month is being marked throughout October, with World Mental Health Day taking place on October 10.

In Leitrim, a series of events will be held over the course of four days, beginning on October 6 and running through to October 9, bringing people together to support mental health and one another.

All of the events are free to attend. Leitrim Development Company, in collaboration with Mental Health Ireland, Connecting for Life, Leitrim PPN, and a number of local groups, has put together a programme for the community to enjoy.

The first event takes place on Monday, October 6, with a woodland walk at the Lock House in Battlebridge, offering participants the chance to connect with both nature and each other. On Tuesday, October 7, Mental Health Ireland will host a Connect Cafe in Manorhamilton (F91 KNX3) from 11am. The Connect Cafes are designed to bring people together to engage in conversation and share connections.

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A second Connect Cafe, also hosted by Mental Health Ireland, will be held at the Mohill Family Support Centre (N41 Y2F5) at 11am on Wednesday, October 8. Later that same day, best-selling author and former Governor of Mountjoy Prison, John Lonergan, will deliver his talk How to be Happy and Content at Drumkeeran Community Centre. Doors will open at 7pm, with the talk beginning at 7:30pm.

The weeks programme concludes on Thursday, October 9, with a Wellness Day at the Landmark Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon. Running from 10am to 2pm, the event will feature a range of workshops and speakers focused on wellness and mental health.

Workshops include a drum-based workout promoting movement and social interaction, a session with Claire Meleady Smith on reconnecting with the body through balance, breathing, tai chi, chi gong, and yoga, and a sound bath led by Andy Bath, offering deep relaxation as participants lie back and absorb the vibrations and sounds.

These events are funded by SICAP, the HSE, and Breffni MHA. For further information, contact carol@ldco.ie

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A QUALIFIED mechanic who was caught driving without insurance on the outskirts of Limerick city has been sentenced to three months' imprisonment and disqualified from driving for five years.

At Limerick District Court, Sergeant Denis Waters said Martin O'Donovan was speeding when gardai encountered him at Clondrinagh, Limerick on July 12, 2024.

The 50-year-old, who has an address at Gort An Choirce, Gort, County Galway did not have a driving licence and was driving a 150-year-old Ford Transit van at 87km/h in a 60km/h zone.

Judge Carol Anne Coolican was told Mr O'Donovan has 30 previous convictions under the Road Traffic Act, including six for driving without insurance, four for driving without a licence and one for driving while holding a mobile phone.

Solicitor Darach McCarthy said his client, who is the father of a teenage child, is "very sorry" for his offending which happened around the same time that he lost his family home.

"Everything fell asunder around him," he said, adding his client made a foolish decision for the right reasons. "His intentions were good," he said, telling the court that Mr O'Donovan has not driven for over a year.

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The solicitor added that his client's personal situation has improved in recent times and that he is now living in stable accommodation in County Galway.

Having noted the facts of the case and Mr McCarthy's submissions, Judge Coolican said Mr O'Donovan's previous convictions were an aggravating factor in the case and that she had no option but to impose a prison sentence.

A 300 fine was imposed in addition to the prison sentence and the disqualification.

Recognisance were set in the event of an appeal being lodged.
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LIMERICK-based rapper, God Knows, has been a driving force behind Irelands evolving hip-hop scene and with the release of his long-anticipated debut solo album, 'A Future of the Past', he fully steps into the light he helped engineer for others.

Released on September 26, 'A Future of the Past' comes as a deeply personal, richly layered body of work shaped by collaboration, community, and cross-continental influences from Shannon to Harare.

God Knows, the Zimbabwean-Irish rapper, first rose to prominence as part of the Choice Music Prize-winning trio Rusangano Family, whose 2016 album 'Let the Dead Bury the Dead' broke ground as the first hip-hop record to win Irelands prestigious Album of the Year award.

READ MORE: The Banshee makes a return to Limerick in premiere of new film

He made his solo debut with 'Whos Asking' Vol. I and Vol. II in 2020 and then two years later, he set the scene on fire with 'We Move the Needle'.

Having incorporated his African roots and influenced by amapiano, a subgenre of house music that emerged in South Africa in the 2010s, God Knows wanted to move the needle, this time, for good.

Since then, hes worn many hats as mentor, collaborator, curator and as co-founder of Limericks narolane records, hes been instrumental in fostering a new generation of artists.

The album draws from a well of emotion and experience, with God Knows describing the creative process as collaborating, experimenting, learning new tricks and most importantly, growing.

The albums lead single, 'Its Been A While', is a true family collaboration.

God Knows is joined by his brother Godswill Dreddy Jonas on the hook, with youngest brother Godwin handling production. Elsewhere on the album, his sister Omgjojo lends her voice to the track '18 Inch War & Eternal'.

Dreddy speaking on the track said, Weve been making music a long time, back when there was two people and the bartender at the shows. From churches, pubs, industrial estate buildings, parties and in between. So for this one we wanted to have fun and give the energy that we get from the shows right back into music, turn up and have a mosh pit in the sound systems!

With a track record of international recognition from The Guardian and NPR to The Irish Times, Vice, and France 24, God Knows has garnered international praise for his electrifying energy and lyrically honesty.
(Bloomberg) -- Germanys ruling coalition confirmed it will extend a tax exemption for new electric vehicles as part of a broader effort to support the nations key car industry in the transition to more climate-friendly technologies.

Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil will present a draft law soon which will keep the existing tax exemption for EVs in place until 2035, Maximilian Kall, a finance ministry spokesman, said Monday at a regular government news conference in Berlin, confirming a report by DPA.

To get significantly more electric cars on the road in the coming years, we need to set the right incentives now, Klingbeil, a Social Democrat who is also the vice chancellor, told the news agency.

The coalition accord agreed on by Chancellor Friedrich Merzs conservatives and Klingbeils SPD included the pledge to extend the incentive to 2035 and the confirmation comes ahead of a planned car summit Thursday between government officials, auto executives and labor representatives.

The meeting hosted by Merz at the chancellery will focus on ways to help the car industry navigate mounting challenges ranging from Chinese competition to US trade tariffs and stubbornly high energy costs.

Announcements last month that Volkswagen AG was paring back production and Robert Bosch GmbH slashing 13,000 jobs were the latest evidence of how the auto industrys decline is rippling through Europes biggest economy.

Car-parts maker ZF Friedrichshafen AG followed last week by saying it planned to eliminate 7,600 positions at its electrified drivetrain division as it steps up its restructuring efforts to deal with poor demand.

We now need a strong package to guide Germanys automotive industry into the future and secure jobs, DPA quoted Klingbeil as saying. We want the best cars to continue to be made in Germany.

Extending the EV exemption is expected to cost the federal government approximately 600 million in lost revenue through 2029, Kall told reporters.

As part of his governments effort to aid the car sector, Merz last month urged the European Union to give up its 2035 deadline to effectively ban combustion engines and instead allow the industry to pursue a softer path to climate neutrality.

Some members of Klingbeils SPD are unhappy with the move, but the party is expected to signal its backing this week, with the issue set to be discussed at regular coalition talks on Wednesday in Berlin.

Olaf Lies, the SPD premier of the state of Lower Saxony whose government is VWs second-biggest shareholder, said last week the priority should be to protect jobs.

The goal of selling only pure electric cars by 2035 is not realistic, Lies told German newspaper NWZ. Combustion engines, especially plug-in hybrids and vehicles with range extenders, must continue to be permitted beyond 2035, and alternative fuels must also be included.

--With assistance from Chris Reiter.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
(Bloomberg) -- The head of embattled Brazilian firm Ambipar Participacoes e Empreendimentos, along with a co-investor, appeared to lose their collateral in a debt issuance over the weekend when creditors representatives moved to seize their shares in a hydroelectric power company.

Tercio Borlenghi Junior and his business associate Nelson Tanure had pledged shares of Empresa Metropolitana de Aguas e Energia SA, or Emae, as collateral in a local bond issuance. A fund called Phoenix FIP, linked to Tanure, acquired control of Emae last year using debentures backed by both men, according to Brazils securities regulator.

On Sunday, giant water utility Cia. de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo said it was acquiring the majority stake in Emae, a deal its CEO said Monday was originated passively when the company was approached by a lender. The company bought about 70% of Emaes total capital in an agreement with Vortx, the trustee representing Phoenixs debenture holders, and with Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA, or Eletrobras.

The swift move reflects the compounding problems for Borlenghi and Ambipar, a global waste management company whose shares and bonds have plummeted in recent weeks after telling a Rio de Janeiro court it was at risk of financial collapse. The company recently hired advisory boutique BR Partners to help restructure its liabilities after obtaining emergency protection from creditors.

Borlenghi and Ambipar declined to comment. Tanure seeks to retain control of Emae and has filed suit in court, said people with knowledge of the matter. Brazil Journal reported earlier on the backstory of the deal, which also involved XP Inc. as Phoenix FIPs administrator.

Tanure, well known in the world of Brazilian distressed debt for his risk-taking and tough tactics, also has a stake in Ambipar through Trustee DTVM, as previously reported by Bloomberg.

Sabesp Chief Executive Officer Carlos Piani told analysts on a conference call that the investment in Emae is small but very strategic to strengthen water supply security. The Sao Paulo metropolitan region currently has less water available per capita than the UN recommends, said the company, a former state-run utility that completed a privatization process last year.

In addition to hydroelectric plants, Emae operates a key hydrological system near Brazils largest city.

Sabesp expects a legal dispute over the transaction but believes it has solid documentation to complete the transaction, according to a person familiar with the matter. Even if the acquisition doesnt deliver a material financial gain, the improvement in water security as Sao Paulo continues to expand could make the deal worthwhile, the person said.

We know there will be a fight  but its for a good, synergistic, and operational asset, said Ilan Arbetman, an analyst at Ativa Investimentos. It seems like an interesting risk-return profile.

--With assistance from Cristiane Lucchesi.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Mumbai: A 575-crore fundraise announced by JSW One Platforms on Monday will help the B2B e-commerce firm underwrite more inventory loans on its platform and grow its loan book five times to 500 crore by the end of this year, the companys chief executive said.

According to Gaurav Sachdeva, the companys joint managing director and chief executive officer, about half of the capital raised will go towards capitalizing its in-house non-banking financial company (NBFC)JSW One Finance Limited. The remainder will be utilized for scaling up JSW One Platforms, including the expansion of its distribution channels.

Over a third of the orders placed on JSW One Platforms avail credit, Sachdeva said. This translates to disbursal of about 475-500 crore of 60-90-day inventory funding loans each month.

The loans are mostly underwritten by partner banks and NBFCs, he said, adding that a small share is disbursed by JSW One Finance, which has an existing loan book of approximately 100 crore.

JSW One Platforms raised the 575 crore from investors including the State Bank of India (SBI), Principal Asset Management, One-Up, International Conveyors Ltd. (ICL), Scarlett Ventures, and JSW Steel. It did not disclose the valuation at which it raised the capital.

The JSW Group company, which has so far raised 1,120 crore cumulatively through equity sale, was valued at $1 billion when it raised 340 crore in May this year in an equity round led by Principal Asset Management.

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Our growing NBFC arm will play a vital role in bridging the working capital gap for MSMEs, Parth Jindal, chairman of JSW One Platforms, said in a press release. MSMEs refer to micro, small and medium enterprises.

The company positions itself as a full-stack solution provider for MSMEs in the manufacturing and construction space. It sells third-party products, steel coils cut to the buyer's specifications, as well as JSW One-branded products procured through contract manufacturing. About 82% of the e-commerce business comes from manufacturing and 18% from construction.

JSW One has an asset-light logistics model that specializes in distribution of steel coils.

The company said that its gross merchandise value (GMV) was 12,567 crore in FY25, which was 240% more than the preceding year. It expects to surpass 8,000 crore in GMV in the first half of FY26, which would be a growth of 50% over the previous year.

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The company is looking to break even by the end of this financial year, Mint reported in June. It plans to go public by FY28.
A 5 bottle of water. Thats the strategic weapon Reliance Consumer Products Ltd, part of Mukesh Ambani's sprawling conglomerate, is deploying to ignite a new price warnot just in fizzy drinks, but across Indias 30,000-crore bottled water market.

The conglomerate has launched Campa Sure, its second packaged water brand, priced to undercut even the segment leader (Bisleris 250ml retails around 5.50). Alongside its staples brand Independence, this dual-brand approach marks Reliances most direct challenge yet to rivals such as Bisleri, Coca-Cola (Kinley), and PepsiCo (Aquafina).

Mint explains how a seemingly small price difference could reshape the entire beverage battlefield.

What are Reliances two packaged water brands?

Reliances first packaged water brand, Independence, was launched in Gujarat in 2022 and later rolled out nationally. It sits within the companys staples portfolio, which includes edible oils, rice, pulses, sugar, and atta  targeting value-conscious households and grocery shoppers. Packaged water under Independence is typically sold through Reliances own retail network and kirana stores.

Also Read | Fortified with proteins and vitamins, the water you drink has got a glow up

Last week, Reliance introduced Campa Sure, a bottled water extension of its Campa soft drink brand. Campa, originally Campa Cola, was a popular Indian cola in the 1980s before liberalization. Reliance acquired and relaunched it in 2023, positioning it as a challenger to Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. Since then, Campa has expanded from tier-2 towns to metros like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Bengaluru. Campa Sure marks the brands entry into non-carbonated beverages, allowing Reliance to build a full beverage portfolio under one label  from fizzy drinks to bottled water.

Why does Reliance need two water brands?

The rationale lies in distribution and brand positioning.

Independence is part of Reliances grocery play, designed for households buying staples. Campa, by contrast, is a beverage-first brand with stronger consumer recall, especially among urban and younger audiences.

Selling water under Campa Sure allows Reliance to offer a unified beverage basket  cola, lemon soda, energy drinks, and now water  to distributors and retailers. This simplifies sales pitches and improves shelf visibility. If water were sold only under Independence, beverage distributors might hesitate to stock it alongside Campa drinks, as it would mean managing two separate product lines. Campa Sure solves this by bundling water into the beverage ecosystem.

This strategy mirrors global beverage giants. Coca-Cola sells water under Kinley, and PepsiCo under Aquafina  both part of their soft drink portfolios. Campa Sure gives Reliance a similar edge, helping it compete across categories with a single brand push.

How does Campa Sure strengthen Reliances beverage distribution?

Campa Sure helps Reliance deepen its reach in small retail outlets, paan shops, and local stores where brand familiarity drives impulse purchases. Campas expansion into metros means Reliance can now push bottled water alongside soft drinks in high-footfall areas.

Retailers prefer stocking brands that offer a full range of products. With Campa Sure, Reliance can offer a complete beverage suite under one name, improving margins and simplifying inventory. This also allows Reliance to compete more directly with Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, whose water brands are integral to their distribution strategy.

How is pricing being used to gain market share?

Reliance is deploying penetration pricing to scale Campa Sure quickly. A one-litre Campa Sure bottle is expected to retail at 15 17, compared to 20 22 for brands like Bisleri, Kinley, and Aquafina. A 250-ml bottle costs 5, making it one of the most affordable bottled water options in the market.

This allows the brand to penetrate in a very competitive space. This strategy is a familiar Reliance playbook. With its scale, logistics network, and local bottler partnerships, the company can sustain thin margins that competitors may struggle to match. The move pressures incumbents to lower prices or increase trade discounts  potentially reshaping pricing dynamics across Indias bottled water industry.

Also Read | Indias bottled water boom meets a safety overhaul

Whats Reliances broader game plan?

Reliance is using Campa Sure to intensify a price war across both the cola and bottled water segments. By bundling water into the same product line as its fizzy drinks, Reliance is directly undercutting global beverage giants like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo  not just with cheaper colas, but now with aggressively priced water as well. This also puts Campa Sure in direct competition with leading players such as Bisleri, sold by Parle Products Ltd, run by Ramesh Chauhan.

Also Read | Bisleri CEO pushes for water credits to tackle India's water scarcity

Besides, Campa's fight for distribution will be much tougher in metro cities. Urban consumers are spoilt for choice, with a growing number of regional mass-brands as well as VC-backed premium brands offering energy drinks and soft drink alternatives. In markets like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru, competing on price alone may not guarantee successful long-term expansion.
MUMBAI : Leading infrastructure player Afcons Infrastructure Ltd is exploring opportunities in the Eastern European and Balkan regions to offset a slowdown in business from its conventional overseas markets, including Africa and India's neighbouring countries.

The Shapoorji Pallonji Group company had taken a similar call earlier this year to increase its presence in the lucrative Middle Eastern market, albeit with local partners. It had so far limited its exposure to the region, citing unfavourable contract terms.

Afcons is the most bullish on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East. In Saudi Arabia, it established a 90:10 joint venture company with a local partner in July 2023, called Afcons Contracting Co., to handle local projects.

In July, Afcons emerged as the lowest bidder for three projects in Croatia, which are cumulatively worth over 11,300 crore and are to be executed over 42-72 months. The company has yet to be formally awarded the contracts, which it expects to receive before December.

These include the development of a railway line and the construction of two stretches of a highway project.

The company will be competing with key European, American and Turkish contractors active in the region.

For context, Afcons FY25 revenue was 12,548 crore with a profit of 487 crore.

Also Read | Cyrus Mistry's son Firoz joins Afcons Infrastructure Board

"As a global EPC company, we consistently explore new geographies to support growth and risk mitigation," said Hitesh Singh, vice president and head, corporate strategy, Afcons Infrastructure Ltd.

Historically, our key international business has been in Africa and neighbouring regions. As part of our overseas strategy, amid some uncertainties in neighbouring areas and funding slowdowns in Africa, we continue pursuing opportunities across areas like Eastern Europe and the Balkans, as well as select prospects in the Middle East."

The companys three bids in Croatia were part of this approach, he added.

Turmoil in the neighbourhood

Afcons traditionally got about 30% of its business from overseas, mainly from Africa and from Indias neighbouring countries. However, the share of international business dipped in recent years amid a slowdown in business from Africa. The political turmoil in Indias neighbourhoodwith governments being toppled in Bangladesh and Nepal recently and an economic slowdown in Sri Lankahas also reduced business visibility in these regions.

Paramasivan Srinivasan, managing director Afcons, said in an earnings call on 8 August that the orders from Croatia and a few more international orders will take the overseas share of the companys pending order book to the stated guidance of 30% by the end of FY26.

As of June 2025, only 12% of the companys 35,311 crore orderbook was from overseas.

The company is actively seeking new business opportunities overseas. A third of Afcons 3.4 trillion addressable project pipeline for the next two years was from international orders, Srinivasan said during the call. An addressable pipeline refers to projects that the company plans to bid on in the near future.

Afcons is on track for a stronger H2FY26, supported by conversion of large L1 wins and ramp-up in fast-track projects," analysts at Elara Capital led by Ankita Shah noted on 9 August.

Also Read | Afcons eyes Middle East construction boom, shifts strategy with local partners

The company has provided revenue growth guidance of 20-25% for FY26, with an expected ramp-up in execution in the latter half of the fiscal year, as fast-track orders and key projects are anticipated to gain momentum. This comes after its FY25 revenue was 5% lower than the preceding year.

Afcons Infrastructure closed at 449.90 on the BSE on Friday. The scrip has lost nearly 17% since the beginning of the year.
New Delhi, To curb AI-triggered unfair business practices, a CCI market study has suggested that enterprises need to conduct self-audits of their artificial intelligence systems to address potential competition concerns and also that the watchdog strengthen its technical capabilities as well as infrastructure.

The study titled 'Market Study on Artificial Intelligence and Competition' released by the Competition Commission of India on Monday also mooted the idea of setting up a "think tank to draw upon expertise on matters related to digital markets with special focus on AI" and undertake steps to promote inter-regulatory coordination.

Apart from emphasising the need to strengthen CCI's technical capabilities and infrastructure, the study has also suggested that the regulator should engage with international competition authorities and multilateral competition platforms.

The study also comes at a time when there are concerns about algorithmic collusion and AI-driven pricing strategies that may lead to price discrimination.

"The legal and regulatory frameworks worldwide and in India are evolving to keep pace with AI's rapid advancement and its implications for competition. The study found that regulatory approaches in other jurisdictions are increasingly focusing on AI governance, algorithmic transparency and accountability measures," it said.

The regulator will also organise a conference on 'AI and Regulatory issues' in association with relevant stakeholders, as well as conduct advocacy workshops on 'AI and competition compliance'.

Highlighting the need to ensure responsible autonomy while protecting markets from distortions, the study urged enterprises to "include self-audits of AI systems for competition compliance that will allow businesses to proactively identify and address potential competition concerns".

Lack of transparency with respect to the deployment of AI in decision-making can harm competition and consumers. The enterprises are thus encouraged to adopt transparency measures to reduce information asymmetry, the study noted.

AI can have pro-competitive as well as anti-competitive impact on competition. Possible concentration in the AI value chain, ecosystem lock-in, risk of algorithmic collusion, price discrimination, exclusive partnerships and opaque nature of algorithms could be among the challenges that can be posed by AI.

"Based on the perception survey of AI startups, the possibility of AI facilitated collusion, price discrimination and predatory pricing, was expressed by 37 per cent, 32 per cent and 22 per cent of respondents, respectively," it said.

Going by estimates, the global AI market is projected to grow from USD 244.22 billion in 2025 to USD 1 trillion in 2031, and in India, it is expected to expand from USD 7.84 billion in 2025 to USD 31.94 billion in 2031.

The study, conducted by the Management Development Institute Society , Gurugram, was aimed at understanding AI markets and ecosystems, identifying emerging and potential competition issues, and reviewing existing and evolving regulatory frameworks governing AI systems.

It relied on primary and secondary research methodologies as well as semi-structured interviews with stakeholders such as AI startups, technology firms, user sectors, AI development platforms, investors, domain experts , and industry associations.

"Competition law remains a key instrument for addressing AI-driven anti-competitive practices. Global regulatory responses to AI-driven competition issues are also evolving to address the emerging and potential challenges. Competition law, being sector and technology-agnostic, can address several AI-driven anti-competitive practices," it said.
Deloitte has agreed to partially refund the Australian government a $440,000 fee after admitting that it used generative artificial intelligence (AI) to help produce a report that was later found to have multiple errors.

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) confirmed that Deloitte would repay the final instalment of the contract once the transaction is completed, according to a report by The Guardian.

The department commissioned the consulting firm in 2024 to assess the targeted compliance framework and its supporting IT system, which automatically issues penalties to job seekers who fail to meet their mutual obligation requirements.

According to a report from the news agency AP, the Australian Greens partys spokesperson, Senator Barbara Pocock, said that Deloitte should refund the entire AU$440,000 ($290,000).

Deloitte misused AI and used it very inappropriately: misquoted a judge, used references that are non-existent, Pocock told Australian Broadcasting Corp. I mean, the kinds of things that a first-year university student would be in deep trouble for.

Initial report findings and inaccuracies The report, initially published in July, highlighted major flaws in the system, including system defects and a lack of traceability between the welfare compliance framework and relevant legislation. It said an IT system was driven by punitive assumptions of participant non-compliance, The Guardian reported.

However, the Australian Financial Review (AFR) later exposed multiple inaccuracies within the document, such as non-existent references and fabricated citations, leading to widespread criticism.

University of Sydney academic Christopher Rudge, who first identified the errors, attributed them to AI hallucinations where AI models can generate flawed data by trying to fill in gaps or guessing answers. Instead of just substituting one hallucinated fake reference for a new real reference, theyve substituted the fake hallucinated references, and in the new version, theres like five, six or seven or eight in their place, he said.

Deloitte's acknowledgement The updated version of the report, reuploaded by DEWR on Friday, includes an appendix acknowledging the use of AI tools, specifically mentioning "the use of a generative artificial intelligence (AI) large language model (Azure OpenAI GPT4o) based tool chain licensed by DEWR and hosted on DEWRs Azure tenancy.

Despite the errors, Deloitte maintained that the use of AI did not alter the substantive content, findings or recommendations of the report. The updates made in no way impact or affect the substantive content, findings and recommendations, the firm said in the amended version.

A spokesperson for Deloitte said, The matter has been resolved directly with the client.

However, Labor senator Deborah ONeill, who was on a Senate inquiry into the integrity of consulting firms, criticised Deloitte by stating, Deloitte has a human intelligence problem, she said. This would be laughable if it wasnt so lamentable. A partial refund looks like a partial apology for substandard work.
The US Space Force has awarded SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, five of seven critical military launch missions for the upcoming fiscal year, despite recent public tensions between the billionaire and President Donald Trump.

The contracts valued at $714 million are part of the Space Forces National Security Space Launch Program (NSSL), which it uses to procure launch services for military space missions, Air & Space Forces magazine reported.

SpaceXs upcoming missions include the launch of a communications spacecraft, three classified payloads, and a reconnaissance satellite, with launches expected in 2027, which is in line with the Space Forces two-year advance planning.

Which other companies are shortlisted? The remaining two military launch missions, worth $428 million, were awarded to the joint venture United Launch Alliance (ULA).

Under NSSL, the Pentagon has previously shortlisted SpaceX, ULA, and Jeff Bezoss Blue Origin for a combined 54 missions, valued at $13.5 billion. These missions have been scheduled between 2027 and 2032, the news report said.

Space is the ultimate high ground, critical for our national security, said Col Eric Zarybnisky of the US Space Systems Command, per Air & Space Forces.

He further added that delivering assets to the warfighter is the government's ultimate mission, highlighting the reliance on strong government-industry partnerships to achieve that goal.

Why did Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin fail to secure a deal this time? Jeff Bezos-owned Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket, which is positioned as a competitor to SpaceXs Falcon Heavy, failed to secure any launches for this cycle as it awaits national security clearance.

Blue Origins next chance to bid for a mission will open in fiscal year 2027. The company's certification prospects are now closely tied to its upcoming NASA Mars mission.

Also Read | OpenAI beats SpaceX as valuation reaches $500 billion

Also Read | SpaceXs Falcon 9 launches 28 Starlink satellites from Florida

Originally scheduled for 2024, the mission is now potentially launching by the end of this month.
(Bloomberg) -- Som Seif, the entrepreneur bent on disrupting Canadas financial industry, has found himself at the center of an unprecedented showdown with the countrys top markets watchdog.

The asset management executive is a consummate marketer  a skill that helped him build a firm that was one of Canadas early winners in exchange-traded funds, sell it to BlackRock Inc., then start another, Purpose Investments Inc.

But that knack for self-promotion has caught the attention of the Ontario Securities Commission, which now alleges that Purpose made false or misleading statements about its use of environmental, social and governance factors in investment decisions. The regulator, in its first enforcement action against greenwashing, also went after Seif himself, saying he failed to stop the claims  and laid out potential penalties that would, at the extreme end, see him banned from being a senior executive in Ontarios investment industry.

Purpose, with about C$26 billion ($18.6 billion) of assets under management, is hardly a global player. But its founder has a public persona in Canada created through years of television appearances and in-flight ads, and that makes him a high-profile target.

Theres been a longstanding perception in industry that Canadian securities regulators as a whole are relatively weak on enforcement, said Doug Sarro, a law professor at the University of Ottawa who previously worked at the OSC. With this filing, Sarro believes Ontarios watchdog is trying to deliver on their new head of enforcements vision of more impactful, high-visibility enforcement.

That head is Bonnie Lysyk, Ontarios former auditor-general, whos known for a bombshell report on a land development scandal that rattled the government of Premier Doug Ford.

Several industry players expressed surprise that the commission went after Purpose, which voluntarily stopped making certain ESG claims in 2023.

During the heyday of ESG fund releases between 2020 and 2022, sustainability expert Tim Nash said he saw marketing throughout the industry that I felt was pushing the boundaries of greenwashing. The founder of Toronto-based Good Investing said he welcomes enforcement in this realm, but it does feel to me that there is a little bit of a target on Purpose.

While this case is the first ESG-related enforcement action brought by the OSC, the issue at the heart of it relates to false and misleading statements, the regulator said in an email.

Seif and Purpose are contesting the claims, with their first hearing set for Monday. We remain confident about our position and look forward to the proceedings, Purpose said in a statement.

True to form, Seif is also making his case to the court of public opinion in a video, saying the OSC is going after his firm for taking a genuinely innovative approach to ESG at a time when no regulatory guidelines existed.

In an interview when the allegations were first unveiled, Seif argued the regulator is seeking to score political points, not protect investors. A regulator is using their position for political greenwashing goals, as opposed to going after people who cause real investor harm.

ESG Always

Seif, an engineer by training who got his start in finance as an investment banker with Royal Bank of Canada, rose to prominence on Torontos Bay Street by building Claymore Investments Inc., one of Canadas first standalone ETF providers.

After Claymore was sold to BlackRock in 2012, Seif founded Purpose Investments. Its now part of his broader firm, Purpose Unlimited Inc., which has received financial backing from the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System and the digital investments unit of Allianz SE.

Seif has long advocated for innovation in the financial industry and beyond, and sits on the boards of Wealthsimple Inc. and an entrepreneurship charity. Purpose, meanwhile, launched Canadas first physical Bitcoin, single-stock and high-interest-savings ETFs, and also has private-asset and retirement-focused products.

What it doesnt offer is standalone ESG funds. Instead, we had the ambition of embedding ESG considerations as a factor across all of our investment processes, Seif said in a video uploaded to LinkedIn after the OSC released its allegations  eliciting a supportive comment from a former senior securities regulator.

Ontarios securities regulator, however, says Purposes ambition was more about marketing than action.

Its case takes issue with at least 19 statements that Purpose or its leader made about ESG between September 2019 and March 2022, including on Purposes website and in media interviews. For example, the company said one of its principles was ESG Always  a slogan it changed to ESG Conscious in 2023, following an OSC review. All but one of the 19 statements came before January 2022, when Canadian securities regulators published their first ESG-specific guidance.

The regulator alleges that Purpose didnt consider ESG in making investment decisions for many of its funds and didnt even have a formal policy. Less than 35% of assets under management in 2019 considered ESG, the OSC added, despite Purpose saying the percentage was 75%.

The watchdog included a range of potential remedies in its filing, from procedural changes to a permanent registration ban. Monetary penalties could be as high as C$5 million for each of five alleged violations.

The regulator wont necessarily seek all of those sanctions. Once the merits of the case have been decided, the OSC will set out specifically what it is seeking to the Capital Markets Tribunal  and this will be informed by a number of considerations, including the Tribunals decision, reasons, and factual findings, said spokesperson Andy McNair-West.

Some securities lawyers say the maximum penalties look too severe for the nature of the infraction. I dont think most of it is proportionate, said Amanda McLachlan, a partner with law firm Bennett Jones in Toronto.

Cases in which Canadian regulators have permanently banned people from the capital markets include the Bridging Finance Inc. case, in which investors are estimated to have lost at least C$1 billion due to fraud, and the Sino-Forest Corp. scheme, when a Canadian-listed Chinese forestry company collapsed after it was found to have wildly misstated its assets. The OSCs filing against Purpose doesnt allege any investor losses.

Enforcement Push

The OSCs action comes after the regulator has had some high-profile decisions come out that have either not gone well for them or have been critical of enforcement efforts, McLachlan said.

In 2022, the OSCs case against three former executives of CannTrust Holdings Inc. fell apart in the middle of a trial, resulting in an acquittal. In November, the Capital Markets Tribunal dismissed the OSCs case against Cormark Securities Inc. and others regarding illegal distributions, calling the allegations an overreach.

McLachlan said it shouldnt be surprising that the OSC brought a greenwashing case, given that it completed 128 fund reviews across 41 managers between January 2022 and March 2024.

Ambiguous ESG materials have led to multimillion-dollar fines in the US. Invesco Advisers Inc. agreed last November to pay $17.5 million to settle allegations that it misled clients about the share of companywide assets under management that integrated ESG factors into investment decisions.

Under the Trump administration, however, the Securities and Exchange Commission moved to end climate-related reporting requirements, leading to a rollback of such rules worldwide.

But while there may be less focus on climate and diversity, Canadian securities regulators have emphasized theyll still go after misleading statements.

Regardless of the outcome of the Purpose case, a regulator is putting out there that theyre going to be reviewing disclosure very carefully, said Barbara Hendrickson, managing partner of BAX Securities Law in Toronto, who previously worked at the OSC.

It sends a message to the market that they should clean up their existing disclosure if it doesnt comply with the guidance.

--With assistance from Paula Sambo.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
(Bloomberg) -- Nvidia Corp.s major server production partner Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. reported 11% growth in quarterly sales, signaling healthy demand for the chips and servers needed to develop artificial intelligence.

The company known also as Foxconn reported revenue of NT$2.06 trillion ($67.6 billion) for the three months to September, generally in line with analysts projections. It also projected a rise in sales this quarter from the previous three months, citing strong AI demand.

Hon Hais results may lend weight to bets on the sustainability of a post-ChatGPT boom in AI infrastructure construction thats swept up big tech firms like Meta Platforms Inc. and startups including OpenAI. Globally, investors have poured capital into the suppliers of that rollout, from chipmakers and networking firms to companies like Hon Hai that make servers to house Nvidia chips. Still, some investors have warned that valuations are unsustainable until AI services truly go mainstream.

What Bloomberg Intelligence Says

Hon Hais unaudited 3Q25 revenue rose 11% YoY to a record for the quarter, driven by the strong cloud and networking segment amid surging AI infrastructure demand. This momentum should carry into 4Q and help offset softer consumer electronic revenue, which rose sequentially in 3Q on the iPhone 17 launch but still dipped YoY on currency impact.

- Steven Tseng and Sean Chen, analysts

Click here for the research.

The Taiwanese company has said it expects revenue from servers to have more than doubled in the September quarter while its consumer electronics business stagnates. Its poised to gain from its role in OpenAIs Stargate AI infrastructure project: Last month, the worlds most valuable startup unveiled plans to invest about $400 billion in five new US data center sites in partnership with Oracle Corp. and SoftBank Group Corp.

Foxconn still depends on Apple Inc. for a sizable portion of its revenue by assembling the US clients gadgets including iPhones. But as those sales plateau, its grown increasingly reliant on the AI boom.

Yet seismic geopolitical shifts present threats to Hon Hais business. In May, it cut its full-year revenue guidance, citing potential fallout from the US-China trade war. Its already diversifying its manufacturing footprint away from China in a bid to offset the damage.

President Donald Trump has since declared plans to roll out a 100% tariff on semiconductor imports, though hes promised to exempt companies that move production to the US.

With support from Apple and Nvidia, Hon Hai is expanding capacity in the US. It will add more AI server production in Wisconsin and Texas, where the company operates existing campuses, executives have said.

Read: Foxconn to Operate SoftBanks Stargate AI Server Site in Ohio

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and Lisa Su, CEO of Advanced Micro Devices, at a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing in Washington in May.

OpenAI and chip-designer Advanced Micro Devices announced a multibillion-dollar partnership to collaborate on AI data centers that will run on AMD processors, one of the most direct challenges yet to industry leader Nvidia.

Under the terms of the deal, OpenAI committed to purchasing 6 gigawatts worth of AMDs chips, starting with the MI450 chip next year. The ChatGPT maker will buy the chips either directly or through its cloud computing partners. AMD chief Lisa Su said in an interview Sunday that the deal will result in tens of billions of dollars in new revenue for the chip company over the next half-decade.

The two companies didnt disclose the plans expected overall cost, but AMD said it costs tens of billions of dollars per gigawatt of computing capacity.

OpenAI will receive warrants for up to 160 million AMD shares, roughly 10% of the chip company, at 1 cent per share, awarded in phases, if OpenAI hits certain milestones for deployment. AMDs stock price also has to increase for the warrants to be exercised.

AMDs processors are widely used for gaming, in personal computers and traditional data center servers.

The deal is AMDs biggest win in its quest to disrupt Nvidias dominance among AI semiconductor companies. AMDs processors are widely used for gaming, in personal computers and traditional data center servers, but it hasnt made as much of a dent in the fast-growing market for the pricier supercomputing chips needed by advanced AI systems.

OpenAI plans to use the AMD chips for inference functions, or the computations that allow AI applications such as chat bots to respond to user queries. As the profusion of large language models and other tools has picked up, demand for inference computing has skyrocketed, OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman said in a joint interview with Su.

Its hard to overstate how difficult its become" to get enough computing power, Altman said in a joint interview with Su. We want it super fast, but it takes some time."

The two CEOs said the deal will tie their companies together and give them incentives to commit to the AI infrastructure boom. Its a win for both of our companies, and Im glad that OpenAIs incentives are tied to AMDs success and vice versa," Su said.

Nvidia remains the preferred chip supplier among AI companies, but it is also facing competition from almost every corner of the market. Cloud giants such as Google and Amazon design and sell their own AI chips, and OpenAI recently signed a $10 billion deal with Broadcom to build its own in-house chip. Nvidia is releasing its highly-anticipated Vera Rubin chip next year, promising that it will be more than twice as powerful as its current generation, known as Grace Blackwell.

OpenAI will begin using 1 gigawatt worth of the MI450 chip starting in the second half of next year to run its AI models.

Altman said the fate of many companies will increasingly be linked as demand for AI services, along with the computing and infrastructure needs that accompany them, is set to far outstrip supply.

We are in a phase of the buildout where the entire industrys got to come together and everybodys going to do super well," Altman said. Youll see this on chips. Youll see this on data centers. Youll see this lower down the supply chain."

Altman has been on a dealmaking spree over the past month, at times using creative financing structures to secure hundreds of billions of dollars worth of computing power. His aim is to lock up enough data center capacity to win the race to develop superintelligence, or AI systems that rival humans for reasoning and intuition.

In late September, Nvidia announced that it would invest $100 billion in OpenAI over the next decade. Under the terms of the circular arrangement, OpenAI plans to use the cash from Nvidia to buy Nvidias chips and deploy up to 10 gigawatts of computing power in AI data centers. The deal highlighted how the markets seemingly endless enthusiasm for Nvidias stock is providing a financial backstop for the entire AI market.

The Nvidia deal isnt finalized yet. The two companies have signed a letter of intent and have yet to disclose specific terms in a regulatory filing.

Nvidia GPUs on stage after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang spoke at Computex 2025 in Taipei in May.

OpenAI and AMD described Mondays announcement as definitive," and planned to immediately file details with securities regulators, according to people familiar with the matter.

Altman also recently signed a $300 billion megadeal with Oracle, the software company founded by multibillionaire Larry Ellison, to purchase another 4.5 gigawatts of cloud computing power over 5 years.

The thing you have to believe if you are us, or our whole industry, is that given everything were seeing in our research and in our product metrics, is that the demand for AI at a reasonable revenue rate is going to continue to steeply increase," Altman said.

The dealmaking frenzy, which has drawn much of the technology industry into the maelstrom, has contributed to growing fears that a bubble is building in AI infrastructure. Companies such as OpenAI, Meta, Alphabet and Microsoft are spending money on chips, data centers and electrical power at levels that dwarf the largest build-outs in history, including the 19th century railroad boom and the construction of the modern electrical and fiber-optic grids.

Im far more worried about us failing because of too little compute than too much," said Greg Brockman, OpenAIs president and co-founder.

In late September, OpenAI and Oracle executives gathered in Abilene, Texas, to lay out their vision to spend trillions of dollars on AI data centers that they said would help satisfy the explosive demand for ChatGPT, which has 700 million weekly users.

It is unclear how OpenAI will pay for the hundreds of billions of dollars worth of infrastructure investments to which it has committed. The startup recently told investors that it was likely to spend around $16 billion to rent computing servers alone this year, and that the number could rise to $400 billion in 2029, The Wall Street Journal reported. OpenAI is on pace to generate $13 billion in revenue this year, and Altman said the company is focusing more on profitable tasks that can be accomplished using its tools.

Mizuho Securities estimates that Nvidia controls more than 70% of the market for AI chips, though AMD and other rivals have sought in recent years to offer more affordable alternatives. Nvidias most powerful combination chips for use in AI data centers can cost $60,000 each.

Write to Robbie Whelan at robbie.whelan@wsj.com and Berber Jin at berber.jin@wsj.com
(Bloomberg) -- Bars and restaurants across Brazils biggest state fear they could see as much as a 30% drop in business as a methanol poisoning crisis rocks the alcoholic beverage industry.

The Federation of Hotels, Restaurants, and Bars of the State of Sao Paulo, known as Fhoresp, estimates that revenue losses within the last week from distilled beverages  which include vodka, whiskey and gin  at some establishments reaching 50%, it said in a Sunday statement. The sudden drop in business activity comes amid a wave of methanol poisoning cases reported across several Brazilian states linked to the consumption of adulterated alcoholic beverages.

Demand for spirits is much lower than normal, so much so that sales of these products have dropped 70% in our bar, said Valderi da Silva, one of the owners of Amarelinho das Batidas, a bar in the neighborhood of Itaim Bibi. Even the demand for beer has declined because theres almost no public, so overall sales have been affected. When it hits the business, it affects everything.

At Feirinha Bar in the Vila Olimpia neighborhood, floor manager Victor Bertolazzi noticed slower activity over the past weekend. He said some clients were opting for alternatives to spirits, seeing an increase in the sales of beer.

The decline in business activity was particularly noticeable on weekends as the number of cases grew, according to Enio Miranda, Fhoresps director of strategic planning and corporate governance.

The nations Health Ministry confirmed 225 reports of suspected poisonings as of Sunday night, out of which 192 are in Sao Paulo. Within that state, 14 have been confirmed and 178 are under investigation, according to the Health Ministry.

So far, 15 people have died. Two deaths were confirmed in the state of Sao Paulo and 13 are under investigation.

Until theres full clarity on the extent of these crimes, people should refrain from drinking distilled beverages, Alexandre Padilha, Brazils minister of health, said in an interview with CNN Brazil on Friday. Our recommendation is that people avoid spirits, especially if theyre not absolutely sure about the drinks origin.

On Saturday, the federal government started distributing pharmaceutical ethanol  an antidote used to treat methanol poisoning  to states that have formalized requests for replenishment. Padilha also announced Saturday that the government secured 12,000 more vials of pharmaceutical ethanol and 2,500 units of fomepizole to reinforce the nations public health systems stockpile for methanol poisoning cases tied to adulterated alcoholic drinks.

In Sao Paulo, the state government has been carrying out inspections at bars and liquor stores to seize counterfeit bottles. Since Sept. 29, over 7,000 bottles have been confiscated for investigation, according to a statement. As of Saturday, 11 establishments were provisionally closed by authorities to collect beverage samples and check for suspected methanol contamination.

Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas last week ordered the cancellation of state registration for establishments proven to have sold methanol-adulterated beverages.

The industry is united, in contact with a number of leaders and the Sao Paulo State government, to provide them with information so they can take firm action against the establishments involved, said Fhoresps Miranda.

Its worth remembering that establishments, restaurants, bars, and hotels, as well as consumers, are all victims of this counterfeiting process, and the government is responsible for combating it, he added.

(Updates number of reports starting in the 6th paragraph.)

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Riyadh [Saudi Arabia], October 6 (ANI): Startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) face significant challenges in prioritising cybersecurity, and addressing these requires a combination of strong incentives and regulatory support, according to Akshay Joshi, Head of the World Economic Forum's Centre for Cybersecurity.

"There needs to be incentives that are brought into the mix for appropriate investments into cybersecurity," Joshi said, emphasising that regulation plays a crucial role.

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting internet-connected systems, networks, devices, and data from digital attacks, damage, or unauthorised access. It encompasses technologies, processes, and controls to safeguard sensitive information and ensure the Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA Triad) of systems, while also recovering from incidents and maintaining business continuity.

He pointed to the WEF's annual Global Cybersecurity Outlook Report, which found that roughly 70 per cent of respondents agree that regulations are "really effective in terms of ensuring a baseline of cybersecurity."

However, Joshi stressed that regulations alone are not enough. "For all of these startups and small and medium enterprises, eventually in an interconnected world, they need to be working with the wider ecosystem as a whole," he said.

Joshi further said that when incentives are aligned across the ecosystem, startups are naturally encouraged to build in security by design, making cybersecurity more of a license to operate.

He highlighted that placing the responsibility solely on startups and SMEs without providing adequate investment support does not set us up appropriately.

Identifying and implementing the right incentives is therefore essential to ensure "ecosystem-wide cybersecurity," he added.

Turning to India's role, Joshi stated it as actually more crucial and extending beyond cybersecurity governance.

He noted the influence and the depth that Indian experiences bring to a range of issues, underlining India's importance in the global cybersecurity and cyber resilience landscape.
The Supreme Court on Monday deferred hearing Vodafone Idea Ltds plea challenging an additional 9,450-crore demand raised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) towards adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues.

Senior lawyer Mukul Rohatgi appeared for Vodafone Idea, while Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented the Centre. Both sides requested the court to list the matter for next Monday.

The case is now to be heard on 13 October.

Shares of Vodafone Idea traded at 8.47 apiece on the National Stock Exchange, down 3.97% from previous close.

Last week, Vodafone Idea filed an amended petition before the apex court seeking waiver of interest and penalties on its AGR dues, arguing that the disputed components of the dues have not yet been finalised.

The company said it has already paid all undisputed AGR dues on a self-assessment basis.

In its latest plea, the company cited the Supreme Courts July 2024 ruling in Mineral Area Development Authority vs Steel Authority of India, where 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.

Also Read | Vodafone Idea moves Supreme Court against additional 9,450 cr AGR dues demand

The amendment follows a fresh writ petition filed on 8 September challenging DoTs additional demand.

Vodafone Idea said both sides have admitted that the figures are yet to be reconciled and finalised, and argued that until the principal amount is clearly determined, it cannot be treated as a defaulter or liable to penalties.

During a September hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said that since the government now holds a significant equity stake in the countrys third-largest telecom operator, a balanced solution that protects consumer interests is needed. He urged the bench to take up the matter urgently.

Vodafone Idea had earlier, on 13 May, sought a waiver of about 45,000 crore in interest and penalties, which the Supreme Court dismissed on 19 May. DoT had pegged the companys total dues at 58,254 crore  far higher than Vodafone Ideas estimate of 21,500 crore.

The dispute dates back to 2019, when the Supreme Court ruled that telecom operators must pay statutory liabilities on AGR, including non-telecom revenue. The 2020 order barred any self-assessment or reassessment, amid discrepancies between DoTs calculations and operators self-assessed dues.

Vodafone Idea already owes around 83,400 crore in AGR dues, with annual payments of 18,000 crore starting this March. Including penalties and interest, total liabilities are estimated at around 2 trillion. The company has said its cash flows are insufficient to pay the dues.

Also Read | PMO to take a call on Vodafone Ideas fate

Former CEO Akshaya Moondra said in August that early resolution of the AGR dispute was critical for securing bank funding. Vodafone Idea has asked the Supreme Court to quash DoTs additional demands for FY17 and earlier, and order a comprehensive reassessment and reconciliation of all AGR dues for that period. The company warned that the liability threatened its survival and the livelihood of thousands of employees working directly or indirectly. Vodafone Idea serves about 198 million subscribers and employs more than 18,000 people.

The telecom operator also disputed DoTs revised calculations on licence fees and spectrum usage charges, claiming that if spectrum usage charges up to FY17 are included, additional dues amount to about 6,800 crore as of 31 March 2025.

In a 13 August letter, DoT said updated outstanding licence fee dues up to FY19 were not included in the Supreme Courts 1 September 2020 order. The department added that the revised amounts were calculated with interest and penalties up to October 2019 and updated with 8% annual interest through March 2025.

Also Read | Why a change at the helm will not be the panacea for Vis ills

In April, Bharti Airtel approached DoT seeking conversion of its AGR dues of about 40,000 crore into equity, which could give the government a 34% stake. Airtel later clarified it was ready to pay the dues but expected similar relief as other operators. Airtel is not part of Vodafone Ideas latest petition.
Tata Steel Ltd's ambitious plan to boost steelmaking is facing scepticism, as execution roadmaps beyond its immediate pipeline remain unclear. At the close of FY25, Tata Steel's local capacity stood at just 26.6 mtpa, far from the target of 40 mtpa by FY30 that chairman N. Chandrasekaran set in July 2024.

Apart from the two expansion projects already announced for Kalinganagar and subsidiary Neelachal Ispat Nigam Ltd (NNL), the company's road to 40 mtpa remains unclear, analysts said.

The main goal is to ramp up Kalinganagar to full capacity utilization of 8 mtpa by the end of 2025. This is a critical step, as the expansion helps Tata Steel serve demand in the near term. The other is to scale up NINL. While its expansion is criticalit will help Tata Steel sell long steel used in construction, infrastructure and appliance industriesthe clearances to expand its capacity from 1 mtpa to 5 mtpa are still awaited.

Once both expansion projects are completed, Tata Steel will achieve a capacity of 31-32 mtpa, still far from its target.

Chief executive officer (CEO) TV Narendran indicated in a post-earnings call for the June quarter that the company is "ready to go to the board maybe by October, November as soon as we get the environment clearance."

What analysts said

"The 40 mtpa capacity target is an ambitious goal the company has set for itself," said Aditya Welekar, senior research analyst at Axis Securities. "In India, the immediate priority is the NINL Phase-1 expansion, which remains the only project currently in the pipeline. Other projects are not yet at a definitive stage."

Tata Steel's latest annual report speaks of further expansion at Meramandali and Kalinganagar after NINL Phase-1, but formal announcements detailing scope, budget, and construction timelines are missing.

Kotak Securities noted that board approval, tentatively set for 3QFY26 after detailed engineering and land acquisition are complete, would precede a 3 to 3.5-year commissioning period, pushing the unit's operational date to around 2029.

Also Read | Tariff war delays Tata Steel UK breakeven, says CEO Narendran

According to analysts, whats missing are announcements around execution details and timelines.

Tata Steels European operations could also weigh on its ability to fund domestic expansions as they transition towards low-carbon and sustainable steel production overseas.

Welekar of Axis pointed out that Tata Steel's British and Dutch operations are also undergoing restructuring, "which might delay the capex for the Indian expansion projects."

Tata Steel acquired NINL nearly three years ago through a privatization process. It has turned around the loss-making unit company into an Ebitda-positive unit. In FY25, the NINL unit reported 1,000 crore Ebitda. The acquisition helped the steelmaker expand further in long steel products.

Kalinganagar is Tata Steels greenfield project. It is currently running at 4.5-5mtpa capacity. The Phase-II expansion aims to add 5mtpa capacity to existing 3 mtpa, taking it to 8 mtpa.

Tata Steel operates five major manufacturing units in India, including integrated plants at Jamshedpur and Kalinganagar, and facilities at Gamharia, Meramandali, and NINL.

Similar sentiments about missing execution announcements were echoed by at least two more brokerage houses.

Tata Steel could face capacity constraints after FY28 if project execution does not speed up, especially since domestic steel demand remains strong, said Tushar Chaudhari and Satyam Kesarwani, analysts at Prabhudas Lilladher Capital in a note dated 29 September.

"Tata aims to grow India capacity to 40 mtpa by FY30, while its execution timelines appear to be slipping," analysts at Axis Capital wrote in a note dated 26 September, adding that in the absence of any announced expansion, Tata Steel has the weakest volume growth visibility compared to its private sector rivals.

With the newly commissioned 5 mtpa KPO-II (Kalinganagar) plant expected to ramp up fully by FY27E, volume is expected to nearly flatten from FY28E onwards," wrote Amit Murarka, Atishay Santhalia, and Darshan Mehta in their note. To be sure, at least one brokerage firm disagrees.

Tata Steel is more reserved and its approach is about execution rather than constant announcements, said Suman Kumar, vice-president, metals at Philip Capital. "The Tata Group would not commit to such targets publicly unless they had a clear plan. Even if not revealed explicitly, one can assume they have something in the pipeline," said Kumar.

Tata Steel did not respond to Mints queries seeking comments.

Sustainability steps

Meanwhile, Tata Steel has started the construction of an electric arc furnaces (EAF) in Ludhiana, which will be commissioned by 2027. Following its completion, Tata Steel plans to take up two more EAF projects on a fast-track basis, depending on the operational success of the Ludhiana plant. However, there is no timeline of this project.

Blast furnaces use coke to heat and convert iron ore into molten metal for making steel, while electric furnaces use electricity instead of coke, helping reduce emissions.

In the Netherlands, the company has secured up to 2 billion in funding support from the Dutch government as it transitions its Dutch operations towards sustainable steel production, additional capex will be its own cash flows, project debt, and support from Tata Steel.

In the UK, Tata Steel started constructing an electric arc furnace in Port Talbot this year. It had received a 500 million grant provided by the UK government in 2024 for its 1.25 billion green steel project in Port Talbot.
(Bloomberg) -- The US said it will take a 10% stake in Canadian minerals explorer Trilogy Metals Inc. as part of a $35.6 million investment to secure critical energy and mining projects in Alaska.

In an announcement Monday, President Donald Trump said the White House is reversing a Biden-era decision to reject Ambler Road, a project to help access vast critical mineral deposits in Alaskas Northern Brooks Range to open up critical energy and mining projects. The 211-mile (340-kilometer) highway would connect a remote mining district with deposits of copper, cobalt, gallium, germanium and other minerals.

This was something that should have been long operating and making billions of dollars for our country and supplying a lot of energy and minerals and everything else, Trump said during an event in the Oval Office.

Trilogy Metals has mining claims in remote areas of Alaska, including a joint venture with South32 Ltd. The US deal also includes warrants to purchase an additional 7.5% of the Vancouver-based company.

The planned investment is the latest example of the Trump administration taking stakes in North American critical minerals companies to help counter Chinas dominance in the industry. Just last week, the US agreed to acquire a direct interest in Lithium Americas Corp., which is developing the Thacker Pass lithium project in Nevada. In July, the US Defense Department agreed to a $400 million equity investment in MP Materials Corp. to fund a plant for rare-earth magnets.

US shares of Trilogy soared more than 150% in after-market trading following the announcement of the deal. The company didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Ambler Road will be a toll road constructed from gravel, and will be sensitive to environmental concerns. Trump said the effort will include the construction of two bridges.

The Interior Department blocked construction during former President Joe Bidens term, saying that the road would impact wildlife including caribou.

Trumps move directs the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and US Army Corps of Engineers to reissue any necessary permits needed to build the road.

Billionaire John Paulson is a top shareholder in Trilogy, with an 8.7% stake through his investment fund Paulson & Co Inc., according to the latest data compiled by Bloomberg.

--With assistance from Jacob Lorinc and Catherine Lucey.

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WeWork India Management Limited has issued a detailed clarification rejecting a report from proxy advisory firm InGovern Research Services. The report raised concerns about the company's financial health, corporate governance, and the structure of its 3,000 crore Initial Public Offering (IPO), which was open for subscription from October 3 to 7 and listed on the BSE and NSE on October 10.

InGovern claimed that WeWork Indias IPO would benefit only selling shareholders and promoters, as all proceeds are being raised through an Offer for Sale (OFS) with no fresh capital for the company. WeWork India clarified that the structure reflects its strong financial position.

The company said its operations generate sufficient EBITDA and free cash flow after debt obligations to fund ongoing capital expenditure and growth, making a primary capital raise unnecessary. It also noted that its promoters had invested 5,012.81 million through a rights issue on January 11, 2025, at a price above the IPOs upper range, underscoring their continued commitment to the business.

Highest EBITDA WeWork India also refuted InGoverns claims about its financial sustainability, asserting that it remains operationally profitable despite accounting adjustments that affect reported figures. The company reported an Adjusted EBITDA of 4,212.55 million in FY25, with a 21.61% margin, up from 3,397.47 million in FY24. It said this measure more accurately reflects its cash performance and argued that Ind AS 116 lease accounting has artificially reduced its net worth. "As per CBRE, we have the highest EBITDA amongst benchmarked peers in the industry," WeWork said.

Also Read | WeWork India IPO: 10 Key things to know from RHP before subscribing

Clarifying InGoverns corporate governance concerns, WeWork India said all details of the ongoing legal proceedings involving its promoters have been adequately disclosed in the IPO offer documents under the section Outstanding Litigation and Other Material Developments. InGovern had cited the criminal proceedings against promoters Jitendra and Karan Virwani as potential risks to the companys governance profile.
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to examine a dispute between the customs department and InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., which operates Indias largest airline IndiGo, over whether Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) should be levied on the repair costs of goods re-imported into India after being sent abroad for maintenance.

A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan issued a notice to IndiGo after hearing the custom department's plea.

The case reached the apex court after the customs department challenged a March ruling by the Delhi High Court that struck down as unconstitutional a portion of a 2021 customs notification requiring payment of IGST and cess on such re-imported goods.

Additional solicitor general N. Venkataraman, appearing for the customs department, said, An important constitutional question has arisen in this matter. The judgement hurts usit declares the law unconstitutional and affects every re-import."

Lawyers representing IndiGo, however, told the court that the airline was still awaiting refunds from the department despite the high courts order and that officials had refused to comply with the ruling. Our refunds are all getting stuck now. They are refusing to abide by the [high] courts order, they argued.

Queries emailed to Indigo remained unanswered at the time of publishing this report.

Case history The Delhi High Courts March judgement brought major relief to airlines. It was in response to a 2023 petition filed by InterGlobe Aviation, which challenged the imposition of IGST on re-imported aircraft and parts following repairs overseas. IndiGo had argued that since aircraft engines and parts sent abroad for repair remained its property, their temporary export constituted a supply of services and not goods. Therefore, re-importing them after repairs should not attract additional tax.

The high court upheld IndiGos contention, ruling that IGST on imported services could be levied only under Section 5(1) of the IGST Act, not through customs notifications. It clarified that re-importing repaired goods amounted to an import of services, not goods, and therefore could not be taxed under the Customs Tariff Act.

Rejecting the governments argument that the 2021 amendments were mere clarifications, the court said they had in fact expanded the taxs scope unlawfully. In a 25 January 2023 interim order, the court directed IndiGo to pay IGST provisionally. After the final ruling, the airline became entitled to a refund of the taxes.

Evolution of IGST on re-imported goods Pre-GST (before 2017): Under Notification No. 94/96-Customs (issued on 16 December 1996), customs duty on goods sent abroad for repairs was levied only on the repair cost, insurance, and freightensuring no double taxation.

Post-GST (2017 onwards): After GST was rolled out on 1 July 2017, the government issued a new notification continuing the earlier treatment, levying IGST and cess only on the repair cost, insurance and freight, not on the total value of goods.

However, ambiguities persisted regarding IGSTs applicability on re-imported goods. To address this, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) issued a circular on 19 July 2021, reiterating that IGST should apply only on the repair cost, insurance, and freight components.

This is not the first time the judiciary has intervened in IGST disputes. In 2022 the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling that struck down the IGST levy on importers for ocean freight services provided by foreign shipping lines to foreign suppliers under cost, insurance and freight (CIF) contracts, holding that the tax mechanism violated the principles of the GST law.

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to examine a dispute between the Customs Department and InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., the operator of Indias largest airline IndiGo, over whether Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) should be levied on the repair cost of goods re-imported into India after being sent abroad for maintenance.

A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan issued notice to IndiGo after hearing a plea filed by the Customs Department.

The case reached the apex court following the Departments challenge to a March ruling by the Delhi High Court that struck down a portion of a 2021 Customs exemption notification requiring payment of IGST and cess on such re-imported goods, declaring it unconstitutional.

An important constitutional question has arisen in this matter. The judgment hurts usit declares the law unconstitutional and affects every re-import, argued Additional Solicitor General N. Venkataraman, appearing for the Customs Department.

Counsel representing IndiGo, however, told the court that the airline is still awaiting refunds from the Department despite the High Courts order and that officials have refused to comply with the ruling.

Our refunds are all getting stuck now. They are refusing to abide by the Honble courts order, argued counsel for IndiGo.

Emailed Query sent to Indigo remained unanswered till press time.

Background The Delhi High Courts March judgment was a major relief for airlines, including IndiGo. It ruled that the IGST and cess cannot be imposed on the repair cost of goods re-imported after maintenance abroad.

The court declared a portion of the 2021 Customs notification unconstitutional, holding that such levies were beyond the scope of law.

The verdict came in response to a 2023 petition filed by InterGlobe Aviation, which challenged the IGST levy on re-imported aircraft and parts following overseas repairs. IndiGo had argued that since aircraft engines and parts sent abroad for repair remain its property, their temporary export constitutes a supply of servicesnot goods. Consequently, re-importing them post-repair should not attract additional taxation beyond the initial import duties.

The High Court upheld IndiGos contention, ruling that IGST on imported services can be levied only under Section 5(1) of the IGST Act, not through Customs notifications. It clarified that re-imported repaired goods amount to an import of services, not goods, and therefore cannot be taxed under the Customs Tariff Act.

Rejecting the governments argument that the 2021 amendments were mere clarifications, the court said they had in fact expanded the taxs scope unlawfully. In a 25 January 2023 interim order, the court had directed IndiGo to pay IGST provisionally. Following the final ruling, the airline became entitled to a refund of the taxes paid.

Evolution of IGST on Re-imported Goods Pre-GST era (before 2017): Under Notification No. 94/96-Customs (16 December 1996), customs duty on goods sent abroad for repair was levied only on the repair cost, insurance, and freightensuring no double taxation.

Post-GST implementation (2017 onwards): After GST was rolled out on 1 July 2017, the government issued a new notification continuing the earlier treatmentlevying IGST and cess only on the repair cost, insurance, and freight, not on the total value of goods.

However, ambiguities persisted regarding IGSTs applicability on re-imported goods. To address this, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) issued a circular on 19 July 2021, reiterating that IGST should apply only on the repair cost, insurance, and freight components.
Chief Election Commissioner of India (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar said on Monday that the Election Commission of India has implemented 17 new initiatives for the upcoming Bihar Election. He said this before announcing that the polls for 243 Bihar assembly seats will be held in two phases and the results will be announced on 14 November.

What are the 17 new initiatives launched by EC? Here's a list of all the 17 new initiatives launched ahead of the Bihar Elections and how the Election Commission described them:

1. Training of Booth-Level Agents (BLAs): BLAs (appointed by political parties) were trained in various aspects of supporting the process of preparing electoral rolls, including the use of appeals provision under the RP Act 1950.

2. Training of Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) at IIIDEM: Over 7,000 BLOs and BLO Supervisors from across India, including Bihar, were trained at IIIDEM, New Delhi.

3. Training of police officers: Special sessions were conducted for the Bihar police to reinforce law-and-order preparedness during elections.

4. Special Intensive Revision in Bihar: Purification of electoral rolls in Bihar to ensure no eligible elector is left out and no ineligible person is included.

Also Read | Bihar Assembly Elections: Check full polling schedule

5. Enhanced remuneration for officials: Remuneration doubled for BLOS and enhanced for BLO Supervisors, polling/counting staff, CAPF, monitoring teams and micro-observers. Honorarium will be provided for EROs and AEROs for the first time. Provision for refreshments was also enhanced.

6. Fast delivery of EPIC: New SOP to ensure EPIC delivery within 15 days of an update in the electoral roll with SMS notification at each stage of delivery.

7. Photo ID cards for BLOS: Standard Identity cards issued to BLOs to enhance field-level transparency and public trust.

8. Mobile Deposit Facility at polling stations: This facility is available outside polling stations for depositing mobile phones by voters.

9. Clearer Voter Information Slip (VIS): Serial and part numbers are displayed prominently for easier verification of voters.

10. One-stop digital platform ECINet: Many important services on ECINet App, including near-real-time voter turnout updates. Presiding Officers to now upload turnout data on ECINET App every two hours on polling day in order to reduce the time lag in the updating of the approximate polling trends.

11. Polling station limit of 1,200 voters: Ensures reduced crowding, shorter queues, and additional booths in high-rise residential buildings.

12. Candidate booths allowed just outside 100 metres of PS: Booths by the candidates on poll day for issuing unofficial identity slips to electors can be set up just beyond 100 metres of any polling station.

13. 100% webcasting at polling stations: Monitoring to ensure that critical activities take place smoothly without any violation of the poll process.

Also Read | Bihar Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana next instalment date, eligibility

14. EVM Ballot Paper guidelines revised: The ECI revises guidelines to make EVM Ballot Papers more readable; EVMs to have colour photographs of candidates for the first time.

15. Mandatory VVPAT count for mismatches: VVPAT slip counting in each and every case of mismatch between Form 17C and EVM data, and wherever mock poll data was not erased erroneously.

16. Streamlining counting of postal ballots: Penultimate (second last) round of EVM/VVPATs counting shall be taken up only after the counting of postal ballot papers.

17. Digital Index Cards & Reports: Technology-driven system to promote accessibility of election-related data at the constituency level for all stakeholders.

Bihar Election Dates 2025: The assembly elections in Bihar will be held in two phases, with polling scheduled for 6 and 11 November, while the counting of votes will take place on 14 November, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced on Monday.

Poll event First phase (121 constituencies) Second phase (122 constituencies) Date of Issue of Gazette Notification 10.10.2025 13.10.2025 Last Date for making Nominations 17.10.2025 20.10.2025 Date for the scrutiny of Nominations 18.10.2025 21.10.2025 Last date for the withdrawal of candidature 20.10.2025 23.10.2025 Date of Poll 06.11.2025 11.11.2025 Date of Counting 14.11.2025 14.11.2025 Date before which election shall be completed 16.11.2025 16.11.2025

For the first phase, the last date of filing nominations is October 17 while the scrutiny will be held on October 18. The last date of withdrawal of candidature for first phase elections is October 20.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 6 (ANI): Bollywood actress Divya Dutta emphasised the importance of mental health and human connection in this ever-changing, tech-savvy world.

Known for her roles in films like Chhaava, Blackmail, and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Divya Dutta delivered a session on mental health at Billabong High International School in Mumbai on Monday.

While talking to ANI, Divya Dutta called out the importance of finding the right "balance" in life while living in a tech-savvy world where cell phones, ChatGPT and social media are popular.

"I think we are living in a tech-savvy world where mobiles, chatGPTs, AI, and social media are so popular among people. We make the most of machines and other things instead of people. Therefore, it is essential to maintain your composure and strike a balance in life," Divya Dutta said.

The actress urges people to go back to basics, which includes "connecting with people", "looking after yourself", and "being happy" without the help of social media.

"Go back to basics is what we learned during COVID. I think that is what we really need to learn now as well. Return to the basics of connecting with people, of taking care of yourself and being happy. Give more importance to yourself, your health, mental health, and physical health," added Divya Dutt.

The Principal of Billabong High International School, Anahita Landers, expressed her gratitude to Divya Dutta for her impactful session on mental health for the students.

"There are a lot of celebrities who just say that they support, but there are very few celebrities who actually come and do something for the cause. Do something concrete. And I think she has (Divya Dutta) been so very, I am so thankful that she came to our school today and said such a good thing to the kids," said Anahita Landers while talking to the media.

On the work front, Divya Dutta-starrer 'Echoes of Valour' was recently screened at the Venice Film Festival 2025. Directed by Indira Dhar, the film is touted to be a "poignant biopic on the mother of an Indian army soldier."
(Bloomberg) -- I went to get some rest, quipped Jafar Panahi about the months he spent in Iranian prison.

It was the directors first time back at the Cannes Film Festival after the authorities in his home country banned him from making movies and traveling internationally for more than 14 years. Interviewed a few days before his film It Was Just An Accident won the Palme dOr, he was remarkably good-humored while describing experiences most would consider traumaticincluding two stints at Tehrans Evin Prison, one of the worlds most infamous detention facilities for dissidents.

In 2010, Panahi was convicted of propaganda against the state and sentenced to six years in prison. He was released on bail after two months, having gone on a hunger strike to protest his detention. He continued to work covertly. Most of the guerrilla films that followed were meta-fictions starring himself that commented on his situation obliquely: He shot This Is Not a Film (2011) at home with an iPhone while under house arrest. In Taxi (2015), which takes place entirely inside a car, he plays an out-of-work filmmaker moonlighting as a taxi driver.

In 2022 his original sentence was reactivated when he protested the arrest of fellow filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof. After seven months, he started a new hunger strike and was again given a conditional release, before his travel ban and sentence were finally lifted.

After the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, because the prisons were swelling with all these new prisoners, the government granted [me] amnesty, he said, referring to the protests that shook Iran for months starting in September 2022, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of the morality police.

Though Panahi has maintained he was a victim of injustice, he regards his time behind bars as beneficial. Ive changed a great deal since going to prison, he explained. So much so that I keep telling myself I wish Id gone there sooner, because it brought me close to people Id never met before. These encounters directly inspired It Was Just an Accident.

The film begins with a man bringing his car to a garage for repairs. The mechanic, who was once imprisoned for political reasons, thinks the customer is the sadistic guard who tortured him. But hed been blindfolded during the interrogations, so he cant be sure. Torn between the desire to kill this man and the fear of hurting an innocent person, he kidnaps the stranger and seeks out other former detainees to confirm his suspicion. Each person he enlists shares the mechanics angerand his doubtsand the group keeps growing as they drive through Tehran with their captive in tow, desperately pursuing a certainty that continues to elude them.

Its a very angry film; it is also surprisingly funny. The fraught subject matter is tempered by an undercurrent of farce, drawing on the absurdity of the situation and the ineptitude of these sympathetic would-be executioners. The narrative is also peppered with recurring gags: Whenever someone is asked for help or informationeven a nurse at the hospitalthey inevitably demand a tip.

For Panahi, it was natural to include such comic touches. Sense of humor is part of our culture, he says. A major disaster strikes, and 10 minutes later, people are already making jokes about it.

After a decade and a half of suppression, one could reasonably have expected the director to retreat to a safer mode of filmmaking. On the contrary, It Was Just an Accident tackles taboo subjects like institutionalized torture head-on, and openly disregards the states strict censorship laws by showing women without hijabs. (Panahi shot the film furtively in Iran and edited it in France. Details about the production are kept scarce, at least in part to protect himself and the other people involved.)

In the context of post-revolutionary Iranian cinema, such directness is exceptionally rare, especially from directors who wish to remain in the country. In early 2024, Rasoulof was sentenced to eight years in prison and flogging for his films and activism. At the time, he was shooting The Seed of the Sacred Fig in secret. Inspired by the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising, the film shows real footage from the demonstrations, including acts of police brutality. Expecting that it would only worsen his case once released, Rasoulof fled Iran before the sentence was executed and now lives in Berlin.

There may be reason to hope that this state of affairs is changing. Asked if he was worried about returning home from Cannes, Panahi said only, God knows, no specific expectation. All I know is that Im going back. Then well see what happens. He was met by a cheering crowd of supporters at the airport in Tehran, and has since traveled to numerous countries around the world to present the film. This month hes due to attend the New York Film Festival for the first time in 25 years.

While the publicity surrounding his Palme dOr likely helped Panahi avoid immediate repercussions, the changes set in motion by the Woman, Life, Freedom protests could be even more significant. The circumstances in Iran are not freer at the moment, but the government is in no position to return to the previous status quo, because people are resisting, he said. Every day the government imposes new punishments and yet people keep doing their own thing.

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Washington DC [US], October 6 (ANI): Actress and film producer Michelle Pfeiffer recalled her audition process for Brian De Palma's directorial crime drama 'Scarface', also starring Al Pacino, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

She shared the moment when Pacino was convinced she was perfect for the role of Elvira in the 1983 film.

She recently appeared on the SmartLess podcast, hosted by Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes, and recalled being part of the movie. Michelle said that while the filmmaker wanted her for the part, Pacino didn't initially feel the same way.

"Al will admit this," she said, "but he didn't really want me for the part," as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter.

She recalled meeting De Palma and the casting director and failing her initial audition for the film. However, "over the course of two months, I just got worse and worse and worse, because I'm just afraid. And by the end, I'm bad."

Pfeiffer admitted she didn't "blame" Pacino for his initial reaction. "He just was like, 'She's bad.' And Brian finally comes to me and says, 'You know, doll, it's just not gonna work out. I'm like, 'I know, man. I'm sorry.' Because Brian really wanted me," she said, as per the outlet.

"As disappointed as I was," the ace star continued, "I was so happy to be done with it. So, like, at least a month goes by, and I get a call, they want to bring me in to screen test. So I show up and I don't even give a shit, 'cause I know I'm not getting this part."

Pfeiffer recalled that the "restaurant scene where I explode at the end," ended up being "my best work of the film."

"I swipe the table of the dishes and glasses break, the dishes break, cut. There's blood everywhere. They all run over to me, to see where I've cut myself. Well, I didn't cut me. I cut Al," she recalled, adding that she "cut him in the finger or something," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"I thought, 'Well, there goes that part.' But actually, I think that was the day [Pacino] was like, 'Yeah, yeah. I think, yeah, she's not bad,'" Pfeiffer added.
In a move that has surprised and delighted rock fans worldwide, legendary Canadian band Rush have announced a reunion tour for summer 2026  their first since the passing of drummer and lyricist Neil Peart in 2020.

Iconic band Rush set to reunite after drummer Neil Peart's death The tour will see founding members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson return to the stage, joined by acclaimed German drummer and composer Anika Nilles.

The news comes six months after the release of Rush 50, a greatest hits compilation celebrating the bands five-decade career. Many had believed that Rushs live performances ended with their final concert in 2015, given Pearts death from glioblastoma.

However, Lee and Lifeson revealed during a private event at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland that they were ready to perform again  not to replace Peart, but to celebrate his life and legacy.

The tour, titled Fifty Something, will kick off with two shows at Los Angeles Kia Forum on June 7 and 9, 2026  a symbolic venue, as it hosted Rushs final concert a decade earlier.

The band will then travel to Mexico City, Fort Worth, Chicago, New York, and Toronto before closing the run in Cleveland on September 17.

Anika Nilles, known for her technical mastery and expressive drumming style, has previously toured with Jeff Beck and released four solo albums. Her addition to the band marks a new era for Rush, and both Lee and Lifeson described the decision as difficult but necessary.

In the Cleveland events onstage interview, Lee said, No one can ever replace Neil. But to keep his spirit alive through music  thats what he would have wanted.
BENGALURU : US President Donald Trumps decision to raise the H-1B visa fee for new applicants tenfold to $100,000 has met with a legal hurdle. On 23 September, at least nine complainants, including individuals and employee unions, filed a lawsuit against the presidential proclamation through seven law firms, which is touted as one of the biggest challenges. Mint unpacks what comes next.

What is the lawsuit all about?

Nine complainants, including employee unions from sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, automobile, and aerospace, filed a lawsuit through seven law firms in a California district court against Trumps decision, requesting that the court deem the proclamation unlawful and process H-1B visas in accordance with existing laws. The complainants added that the President exercised power he does not possess and that the legal right to impose or deduct visa-related fees stood only with the US Congress.

What happens next?

The District Court of Northern California, which is essentially a district court based in San Francisco, will hear the case, and the government will send its representatives. Both sides will be heard, and an out-of-court resolution can be sought. Either side can appeal to the higher court. Like the injunction granted against Trump's use of troops in Oregon, lower courts are mostly ruling against Trump, but he is winning on appeal at a Supreme Court that has utterly surrendered its independence to him," said Russell A. Stamets, partner at New Delhi-based law firm Circle of Counsels.

Also Read | US targets universities in major H-1B visa overhaul

How is the US legal system structured?

The US legal system has three main levels of courtsdistrict courts, courts of appeals, and the Supreme Courtthat handle cases involving federal law, treaties, and disputes between states. Complaints of such nature are first filed in one of the 94 US district courts. In the event of disagreements, parties on either side can file an appeal with a federal circuit court, also known as the US Court of Appeals. There are 13 such circuit courts. In the event of further disagreements and conflicting circuit court decisions, an appeal can be filed with the Supreme Court, which is not obligated to hear the appeal.

What do the parties do if they lose in the lower courts?

If either party loses a case in a circuit court, they can petition the US Supreme Court to review the decision by requesting a writ of certiorarian order directing the lower court to send up the case records for review. Once the Supreme Court receives a petition for such an order, it reviews the petition and grants a request only if it believes that a significant legal issue is to be resolved. If the petition is denied, the lower courts decision remains final and binding.

What happens to the H-1B proclamation if it is upheld?

If the H-1B proclamation is upheld, the complainants can appeal to the circuit courts and then to the Supreme Court. However, if the court orders it to be reversed, there is a high chance the order can be barred only in the state where a case against it was filed. Nationwide injunctions, which allowed courts to bind injunctions beyond the state in which they heard a case, are becoming rare. In June, the US Supreme Court ruled that district courts exercise excessive authority when issuing injunctions, thereby curtailing their ability to issue nationwide orders. Last week, a federal judge in Oregon granted a temporary restraining order, blocking the Trump administration from deploying the National Guard into Portland. This comes after the President announced he would send in troops to protect what he calls a war-ravaged" city.
KYIV, UkraineUkraines power grid has weathered three winters of Russian bombardment during which engineers patched up substations under missile and drone fire and civilians spent days in the cold and dark as Moscow attempted to sap their resolve.

Now, heading into their fourth winter of war, the countrys energy suppliers are banking on a network of massive, U.S.-designed batteries held at top-secret locations to help keep the lights on.

At one such outdoor site this fall, rows of 8-foot-high white battery blocks emitted a constant high-pitched hum.

The best sound in the world," because it means theyre working, said Vadym Utkin, an adviser on energy storage to DTEK, Ukraines largest private-energy supplier, which spearheaded the project.

The battery parks, with a combined total capacity of 200 megawatts, can supply around two hours of energy for roughly 600,000 homes, equivalent to powering a city about the size of Washington, D.C. Most crucially, under bombardment the power cells buy engineers time to restore service and prevent a blackout.

The battery parks are designed to help plug holes in and regulate Ukraines energy supply, offering an alternative source of power even when the grid comes under attack.

The $140 million battery program, completed in August, is crucial for Ukraine, which has raced to modernize and decentralize its electricity grid in part to help it withstand Russian barrages.

To avoid making the batteries a target, Ukrainians are tight-lipped about their specific location and details of the measures in place to protect them from Russian attack, which include strategically placed air defenses.

The six sites across Kyiv and the Dnipropetrovsk region connect to the power grid and deliver power if another source, such as a thermal-power plant, goes offline, helping to avoid the rolling blackouts Ukrainians have experienced for years.

We have lost more than half of our generating capacity due to destruction by rockets, Shaheds, and so on," said Olha Buslavets, Ukraines former energy minister, referring to the type of attack drone favored by the Kremlin.

Since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion, all of Ukraines thermal-power plants have come under attack. Although some power stations are back online, others are beyond repair.

Before the war, Ukraine obtained most of its energy from its nuclear-power facilities, which Russia has since targeted. Ukraines largest nuclear-power plant is no longer providing the country with energy after being occupied by Moscows forces at the start of the conflict. Nuclear power now makes up about half of Ukraines energy mix.

Russias campaign against Ukraines energy infrastructure is designed to punish civilians by depriving them of heat and electricity over the cold winter months, in the hope that Kyiv will bend to Moscows will. The strategy, which has seen Moscow bomb substations, coal mines and gas sites, hasnt worked so far. Last winter, energy workers largely maintained the power supply even as missiles and drones rained down on them.

But since then, Russia has ramped up its production of attack drones, allowing it to overwhelm Ukraines air defenses by sending hundreds of the unmanned aerial vehicles in a single attack, an approach likely to make this winter even more perilous for Ukraine.

In U.S.-brokered peace talks earlier this year, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators discussed a cease-fire on each others energy infrastructure. Over the following months, attacks on power plants lessened, but as the winter approaches both sides are increasing such assaults. Ukraine has taken out at least 15% of Russias oil-refining capacity in response to the targeting of its energy sites, and 77,000 people were without power after an attack in Russias Belgorod region last week, according to Russian state media.

If we dont have any agreements, some kind of cease-fire, talks and so on, then these attacks with the coming cold will be more targeted, more practical, and, of course, they will bring nothing good," Buslavets, the former energy minister, said of strikes by Russia.

To combat aerial assaults, Ukraine has persistently asked for more air-defense capabilities from its allies in the West and has particularly sought the Patriot, the American-made system capable of intercepting ballistic missiles. President Trump has promised the delivery of more systems and Ukraine is set to receive two additional systems from Germany by the end of the year, but says it needs more to fully protect its cities and infrastructure.

Building out alternative sources of energy, such as wind and solar, has also been a matter of defense for Ukraine. Renewables wont fully replace nuclear or coal, but their presence injects diversity into the energy mix. They also operate independently, which is an asset in a war zone, where if one wind turbine is hit the rest can keep turning, compared with a thermal power station that comes to a complete halt if it is struck.

Batteries are now playing their part in renewables too, helping regulate energy generated from all sorts of sources to make sure that electricity flows even when the sun doesnt shine or when turbines stand still.

Theres always fluctuation, theres always mess in the system, and somebody needs to clear this mess," said Utkin, of DTEK. These machines actually clear this mess very, very effectively."

Much of what makes batteries an attractive option for Ukraine is their modularity. Each block can be taken offline and replaced with no impact to other cells. Were one of them hit, Utkin said, it wouldnt be the end of the world. I would be crying and just cursing, but honestly, to replace one cube is not so difficult," he said.

Although the new network is the largest series of battery parks in Ukraine, it isnt the first. In 2021, Utkin oversaw the construction of another such park in Enerhodar, a city in Ukraines Zaporizhzhia region that Russia occupied the following year. A few hours before Russian forces entered the region, Utkin wiped the software from the batteries, turning them into expensive bricks" that are now essentially useless.

Minimal equipment is required to replace each cell in the new network, and all of them have fire-safety features that in the context of Ukraine become more important," said Julian Nebreda, the CEO of Fluence, the American company that supplied the batteries.

Despite Russias bombardment of the electricity grid and the risk to the batteries themselves, Nebreda said his company didnt hesitate to sign up to be part of the project, which was financed by DTEK and loans from a consortium of Ukrainian banks.

Everybody understood the importance of getting this done," he added.
Agritech startups, farmer producer organisations, and other private companies looking to tap the governments marquee agriculture incentive scheme will likely benefit as a key eligibility is set to be relaxed.

The Union government plans to lower the minimum number of farmers required per project so more companies can qualify for subsidies or incentives under the governments Public-Private Partnership for Integrated Agricultural Value Chain Development (PPPAVCD) scheme, two officials said.

A lower entry barrier will encourage more startups, agritech companies, farmer producer organisations (FPOs), and small agri-businesses to leverage the scheme, ultimately benefitting farmers, they said, declining to be identified.

The programme brings together 27 Central government schemes and is aimed at improving collaboration between FPOs, private companies, and government agencies.

Currently, for companies to be eligible for the scheme, each project should include a minimum of 500 farmers in the plains and 250 in the northeastern region and hilly states, capped at 10,000 farmers per project.

We have observed that in the case of certain crops and spices such as ginger and turmeric, to get a cluster of 500 farmers in plains and 250 in hilly areas is very difficult. So we have proposed to reduce the farmers count for private players to avail government subsidies or incentives," one of the officials said.

Eight projects worth 200 crore have been approved for the agriculture incentive scheme this year. Another 18 projects having a total project cost of around 2,500 crore have been submitted to us for approval and are under consideration," said the second official.

Key Takeaways Minimum farmer participation for projects under the PPPAVCD scheme will be reduced, lowering the entry barrier for private firms.

Agritech companies and farmer producer organizations can now access government subsidies and incentives.

The scheme aims to improve market linkages, introduce modern technologies, and boost income and resilience for thousands of smallholder farmers.

So far, the agriculture ministry has approved a proposal by Ninjacart (P) Ltd, an agri-supply chain platform, to develop a maize cluster in Uttar Pradesh at a total project cost of 120.7 crore, which will benefit around 10,000 farmers.

In Odisha, a turmeric value chain development by Heifer International (P) Ltd has been approved at a total project cost of 2.12 crore. It will benefit 1000 farmers. In Uttar Pradesh, a potato cluster by Agristo Masa (P) Ltd, involving 750 farmers and a total project cost of around 30 crore, has been approved.

Individually, small farmers often lack bargaining power, but often managing a large number of farmers is also difficult. So, reducing the number of farmers would achieve economies of scale, reduce costs, and improve income and resilience," said Meharban Singh, president, Samana Farmers Vegetable Producer Co. Ltd, a Punjab-based farmer producer organisation.

Benefitting the small farmer

Private entities participating in the PPPAVCD scheme are expected to introduce modern technologies, enhance farming practices, provide quality seeds and agri-inputs, and guarantee buyback arrangements to the farmers.

A cluster of 500-10,000 farmers is being formed under the scheme.

For decades, farmers have faced challenges like weak market linkages, fluctuating prices, and post-harvest losses. The initiative will help bridge those gaps by creating a strong connection between farmers, markets, and emerging agricultural solutions," said Preet Sandhuu, founder and managing director, AVPL International, a company specializing in drones for the agriculture sector.

It will also open doors for startups and young entrepreneurs to actively participate in the agri-value chain, building a more connected and efficient ecosystem," Sandhuu said.

The PPPAVCD scheme accommodates both Central schemes (fully funded by the government of India) and Centrally sponsored schemes (jointly funded by the Centre and states). This flexibility ensures that a wide range of policy instruments and funding streams can be leveraged.

Also Read | Centre issues model rules for tree felling on farmland

Sudhir Panwar, farm expert and a former member of the UP Planning Commission, however, sounded a word of caution.

The scheme may result in squeezing farmers profit because of an asymmetrical position of bargaining if some benchmark price is not fixed for the crop. It may benefit farmers if competition is introduced at the aggregator or processor level", he said.

Agriculture and allied activities remain the primary source of livelihood for nearly 58% of Indias population. The sector is heavily dominated by small holding farmersaround 85% of farmers cultivate less than two hectares of land but collectively manage about 45% of Indias agricultural area.

Despite their critical role, the annual income of most farmers remains low, with limited access to technology, markets, and institutional support.

According to experts, the impact of the governments marquee agriculture scheme will be far-reachingensuring farmers receive fair and stable prices, reducing crop losses, and improving rural employment.

The ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare did not reply to Mints queries.
Fifth Third Bancorp plans to acquire Comerica in a $10.9 billion all-stock deal, resulting in one of the largest banks in the US by assets.

The deal will establish the 9th largest bank in the US, with around $288 billion in assets. The bank says that the acquisition is expected to benefit shareholders immediately, contributing to top-tier efficiency, return on assets, and return on tangible common equity ratios, while also providing a foundation for sustainable long-term growth.

Details of the deal Comericas stockholders will get 1.8663 shares of Fifth Third for each Comerica share, valued at $82.88 per share based on Fifth Thirds closing price on October 3, 2025. This price includes a 20% premium over Comericas 10-day volume-weighted average price. After the merger, Fifth Third shareholders will hold about 73%, while Comerica shareholders will own roughly 27% of the combined company.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2026, depending on shareholder approvals from Fifth Third and Comerica, standard regulatory clearances, and specific closing conditions.

Leadership will include representatives from both organisations. Curt Farmer, Chairman, President and CEO of Comerica, will serve as Vice Chair, while Peter Sefzik, Comericas chief banking officer, will oversee Fifth Thirds Wealth & Asset Management division. After the transaction concludes, three Comerica Board members will join Fifth Thirds Board of Directors. Additionally, Farmer will join Fifth Thirds Board upon his retirement.

The acquisition strategically accelerates Fifth Thirds long-term growth plan, enhancing scale, profitability, and geographic reach. Combining Fifth Thirds award-winning retail banking and digital capabilities with Comericas strong middle market banking franchise and attractive footprint further strengthens Fifth Thirds position in high-growth markets, the bank said in a statement released on 6 October 2025

The combined entity will function in important areas in the Southeast, Texas, and California.

By 2030, more than half of Fifth Thirds branches are estimated to be in the Southeast, Texas, Arizona, and California. Additionally, the combined entity will operate two $1 billion recurring, high-margin fee businesses, Commercial Payments and Wealth and Asset Management.

"This combination marks a pivotal moment for Fifth Third as we accelerate our strategy to build density in high-growth markets and deepen our commercial capabilities," said Tim Spence, Chairman, CEO and President of Fifth Third Bank.
Mumbai: A recent regulatory change proposing banks enter into acquisition financing could potentially disrupt the fast-growing private credit industry in pricing and deal-picking, and over the long term transform the way deals are structured, according to sector experts.

The Reserve Bank of India, as part of its Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies released alongside the monetary policy statement on October 1 proposed allowing banks to fund corporate buyouts.

At a broader level, the RBIs proposal is very proactive and progressive" and is expected to go a long way in reducing the cost and enhancing availability of capital pools for individuals and corporates, said Bhavdeep Bhatt, chief executive officer of Northern Arc Investments.

Also Read | Kotak PE arm plans $2 bn fund amid rising private credit demand

Private credit growth has been strong in 2025. Total private credit deployment touched $9 billion across 79 deals in the first half of calendar 2025a 53% jump from the first half of 2024 and close to three times the value for the latter half of 2024, a report by EY in August noted. The biggest of deals was the $3.1 billion raised by Porteast Investment of the Shapoorji Pallonji Groupthe biggest onshore private credit transaction in India to date.

Indian private credit players include Kotak Alternative Asset Management, 360 One, Avendus Capital, and Edelweiss Funds, among others; international players include Blackrock, Blackstone, KKR, Abudhabi Investment Authority, and several others.

A key factor for the growth of the private credit market in India until now has been the RBIs restrictions on banks providing acquisition finance, said Geeta Chugh, managing director, sector lead, financial services ratings at S&P Global Ratings.

Longer term impact

The proposed entry of banks, with their relatively larger balance sheets and readiness to lend amid muted corporate growth, could potentially result in lower yields, looser terms, and weaker collateral structures. In some cases, enforcing collateral or ensuring debt coverage may be weaker than with traditional bank loans, other experts told Mint.

Still, in the short to medium term, the overall impact on private credit funds is expected to be small, given the limited ability and skill sets of banks to fund complex deals and the flexibility at private credit firms on with customisations and value-addition.

Private credit funds command superior returns because they offer customised funding structurestailored for complexity, risk, scale and quick turnarounds. Bound by tight regulations, banks often lack flexibility and are likely to be limited to larger, simpler, and less risky transactions, said Ashwin Patni, head, wealth management services, Julius Baer. Most takers for private credit deals are mid-market corporates who require a nimble approach.

Also Read | Buy now, pay later is surfing the private credit wave

"Acquisition financing is just a small slice of the private credit pie, so any minor capital shift toward banks will not impact the broader opportunity set," said Patni. But, the crucial difference could be in how deals are structured with the entry of banks.

Cost of funding

Banks with their lower cost of funds will have the advantage of lower pricing, something that private credit funds cannot compete with, experts said, adding that the latter will also then have to look at what value proposition they offer clients.

Private credit currently prices at 14-17% IRR, and if banks are permitted to finance acquisitions, they could come in at a materially lower costaround 1012% all-in, given their access to low-cost deposits, said Atul Thakkar, executive director, Anand Rathi Investment Banking.

Raghunath T, senior portfolio manager at Vivriti Asset Management, believes that this pricing dynamic is sustainable given that investor allocations to private credit have grown regardless of rate or liquidity considerations and driven by consistent outperformance compared to public debt markets.

Whats more is that the deal flow for private credit funds is diversified across sectors, he said, adding that typically, sectors with M&As and extraordinarily high growth seek credit solutions from private credit funds.

Today, a lot of infrastructure platforms across renewable energy, transportation and high-growth segments like electronics manufacturing and logistics are contributing to a large share of the deal flow," Raghunath said.

Red flags

Despite the proposed RBI norms expected to open up capital for acquisition financing, some market participants remain sceptical and warn that this comes with a higher risk of bank exposure to certain corporates.

While bank loans would likely carry tighter covenants and security packages compared to private credit, the only risk factor is the need for the central bank to set an overall limit on how much exposure each bank can take on in the private credit segment, said Thakkar of Anand Rathi Investment Banking.

Others worry that if banks are allowed to finance acquisitions, it could lead to indirect promoter funding through backdoor loans, and without clear rules, acquisition finance might be misused. Regulators would likely require strict monitoring to ensure funds are not for equity buybacks or share pledges.

The systemic risk is limited right now because private credit is still a small slice compared to total bank lending," said Vishal Bansal, partner, debt and special situations, EY India. Risks such as asset quality deterioration could emerge if funds loosen standards to win deals or liquidity mismatches crop up if investors want to exit before loans mature, he cautioned.

But Nilesh Dhedhi, MD & CEO, Avendus Finance Private Ltd ruled out systemic risks pointing to the fact that private credit assets under management (AUM) is not even 1% of total banking AUM. Besides, he said: Private credit looks at risk mostly in micro terms rather than macro terms [as banks do]. There are also very specific risk-driven analysis for a particular company or situations rather than a standardised approach [at banks]."
However, the tough act starts now to make India globally competitive in electronics component manufacturing, an area where it has limited expertise and lacks the global-scale factories to rival those of countries such as China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

Mint examines whether this scheme can be a game-changer.

What is the scheme?

India relies heavily on imported electronic components, such as multi-layer printed circuit boards, TV display modules, camera modules, sensors, connectors, and relays, resulting in the assembly of finished electronic products rather than the ground-up manufacturing of these components.

The ECMS is a targeted push to localize the production of electronic components critical to reducing import dependency and building a robust domestic supply chain.

The Union cabinet approved the scheme early this year with a fiscal outlay of 22,919 crore. It has received 249 applications with an anticipated investment commitment of 1.15 trillion. The response is nearly double the targeted investment of 59,350 crore. The estimated production of electronics components under the scheme over the next six years is expected to be worth approximately 10 trillion. That is almost 2.2 times the targeted 4.5 trillion worth of production under the scheme.

Can it position India as a global hub for electronics manufacturing?

Indias ambition to become a global electronics manufacturing hub hinges on whether it can move beyond assembly to full-stack manufacturing.

Component manufacturing is part of a larger ecosystem development, which also includes making semiconductors in India. This scheme focuses on non-semiconductor electronic components. The scheme is a step towards making India self-reliant in components. But global competitiveness requires scale, speed, and ecosystem depth. The 249 proposals received include domestic and global components manufacturers.

However, without parallel investments in logistics, research and development, and skilled labour, it risks becoming a domestic capacity-building exercise. For instance, India lacks a skilled labour force for electronics component manufacturing. This is expected to change as factories begin to operate here. Besides, India is working towards bringing logistics costs to global benchmarks of around 8% of gross domestic product. The real test lies in whether India can integrate into global value chainsnot just serve its own market.

What are the key implementation challenges?

Execution remains Indias Achilles heel. Land acquisition delays, fragmented logistics, and unreliable power infrastructure could slow down rollout. Skilled labour is another bottleneckelectronics manufacturing demands precision, and vocational training hasnt kept pace with the industry's needs.

Regulatory clarity across states, fast customs clearances across ports and coordination between ministries will be crucial. Without a single-window clearance mechanism and time-bound approvals, investor enthusiasm may wane. The schemes success depends not just on incentives, but on whether India can deliver predictable, frictionless operations at scale.

What about the supplier ecosystem?

Indias electronics sector is still in its infancy compared to Asian giants such as China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Taiwan. These countries offer dense supplier networks, just-in-time logistics and decades of manufacturing know-how.

Indias fragmented ecosystem results in longer lead times, higher costs, and limited agility. However, what India has is a growing domestic market for electronics and is working towards not only being self-reliant but also targeting exports.

For instance, according to the ministry of electronics and IT, India had just two mobile manufacturing units in 2014, and now it has over 300 factories. India has a target of $300 billion in electronics production by 2026. It also sees itself contributing 4-5% to the global electronics exports market by 2030.

India has an opportunity to catch up and even overtake some of its rival Asian manufacturers. However, this can only happen if the entire ecosystem, comprising the availability of skilled labour, high-tech manufacturing, logistics, and semiconductor availability, comes together to make manufacturers globally competitive.

How many jobs will the scheme create?

The ECMS is projected to create 142,000 direct jobs, more than the target of 91,600, and a substantial number of indirect jobs, demonstrating its potential to drive significant employment growth. Direct jobs will be in factories, while indirect jobs will be in areas such as real estate development, logistics, maintenance, and services.

But electronics manufacturing demands skilled technicians, not just regular labourtechnicians who are familiar with the use of various industrial gases and are well-versed in precision manufacturing processes that involve the complexity of component creation. For instance, a smartphone may have 500 parts, and each electronic component, such as a camera, will have its own sub-components. A robust skilling roadmap is needed to create talent ready for work in hi-tech factories.

How does it align with Indias broader geopolitical and trade strategy? And can it help India leapfrog?

The scheme is a strategic pivot in the country's manufacturing playbook, aiming to localize critical parts of the electronics supply chain and reduce dependence on imports. It aligns with Indias broader trade and geopolitical goals by offering tailored incentives to global and local firms seeking diversification. While countries such as Taiwan and South Korea have a decades-long head start, India is betting on policy synergy, rising domestic demand, and greenfield advantages to leapfrog. Success in smartphone manufacturing demonstrates that it can scale its manufacturing capabilities, and the ECMS builds on that momentum.

India may not replicate the model that other Asian countries adopted decades ago, but it can carve out leadership in niche segments, such as automotive electronics or telecom sub-assemblies.

Is India building just factories or a full-stack innovation ecosystem?

The focus of the scheme is to build the components ecosystem. Components will be designed to meet the requirements of end-product manufacturers of multiple brands, including Samsung, LG, Apple, Google, Bosch, Daikin, and others. The challenge will be to integrate into the supply chains of global end-product manufacturers.

But thats only a start to becoming self-reliant. Eventually, Indian companies will need to develop their own brands, create intellectual property (IP), and manufacture finished electronic products. For example, around 20% of the global chip design talent is in India, but India has just started making chips. In parallel with building the electronics, local companies must focus on innovation to own and create products. Otherwise, it will only be a manufacturing outpost, part of global supply chains rather than the owner of electronic brands and products.

What mechanisms are in place to ensure capital deployment and prevent speculative applications?

The basic idea of the scheme is to deepen the value chain of electronics manufacturing and ensure that overall, the domestic value addition is substantially increased. Thereafter, integration with the global value chains will be the focus area.

While the scheme has attracted 249 applications for making everything from printed circuit boards (PCBs), electro-mechanical components, lithium-ion cells, camera modules, etc., the government will disburse funds in a first-come, first-served way.

Approved companies that can grow their businesses and bring products to market faster will receive incentive payouts. Scrutiny of the proposals has started for these applicants, and the ministry of electronics and IT is expected to fast-track the approval process.
Mumbai: Less than a month after Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk announced it is cutting its global workforce as part of a restructuring plan, the layoffs have hit Indian employees in Bengaluru.

Junior- to mid-level employees across functions such as sales and marketing, as well as those in the companys global business services (GBS) hub, which works with its global teams, have been impacted, according to at least three people aware of the development.

At least 100-150 will be retrenched from the commercial unit, which largely includes sales and marketing roles. They are expected to be in junior and middle order, and this is part of the global retrenchment," an industry executive aware of the development told Mint.

Other departments are also likely impacted, said another executive aware of the development.

The Danish drugmaker planned to cut 9,000 jobs or 11% of its workforce in September, which would save it 8 billion Danish krone ($1.25 billion) annually. The announcement came as the company struggles with increasing competition from rivals like Eli Lilly in the highly lucrative obesity segment.

We have announced that the total number of intended workforce reductions globally is approximately 9,000. Out of respect for the employees involved, we will not share additional details about individual sites or areas. This process takes time, and our highest priority is to support our employees," the company said in an emailed response to Mints queries on the India layoffs.

The layoffs come as the pharma giant plans to launch its blockbuster once-a-week weight loss drug Ozempic in India soon. The Indian drug regulator approved it last month, and the launch is imminent.

Novo Nordisk launched Wegovy, another once-a-week injectable, in India in July even as competitor Eli Lilys drug Mounjaro was gaining significant ground.

Wegovy and Ozempic are brand names for the compound semaglutide. The company also sells Rybelsus, an oral version of semaglutide, in India since 2022. Novo Nordisk is set to lose patent exclusivity for semaglutide in March 2026, opening the floodgates for cheaper generics to enter the market. Top drugmakers like Dr Reddys Laboratories Ltd, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Cipla Ltd, Mankind Pharma Ltd, Zydus Lifesciences Ltd and Lupin Ltd aim to be among the first launches of the generic drug.

Global struggle

Novo Nordisks semaglutide, initially indicated for treating type-2 diabetes, had emerged as a wonder drug for weight loss, leading to the companys fortunes soaring in the last five years.

It nearly doubled its global workforce from 2019 to 2024 to meet rapid demand growth. However, competition from Eli Lillys products like Zepbound and Mounjaro, as well as cheaper copycat compounds in the US have been weighing on the companys growth since last year.

The global job cuts announced by the company last month are part of a company-wide transformation to simplify its organization, improve the speed of decision-making, and reallocate resources towards the company's growth opportunities in diabetes and obesity," it said in a statement.

India war

In India, Novo Nordisks rival American pharma giant Eli Lilly launched its weight loss drug Mounjaro in March, gaining first-mover advantage. India, with over 254 million obese people and over 100 million diabetics, is considered to be a lucrative market for weight-loss drugs, with analysts expecting the category to grow to 10,000 crore in the next two to three years.

As of August, Mounjaros total sales in the country were 150 crore, while Wegovy had racked up 19 crore in sales, according to data from Pharmarack.

Novo is preparing itself for a transition as Semaglutide goes off patent in multiple markets and they face growth pressure in existing markets (US, EU) as Eli Lilly is challenging them. The competition is only going to get more intense going forward in the GLP-1 category," said Vishal Manchanda, pharma analyst at Systematix Group.

While there is headroom for massive volume growth, the drugmaker will need cost discipline" to be able to profitably expand in the space, which is already seeing pricing pressure with increasing competition, he said.

On the manufacturing front, the company is completely integrated and has the scale to effectively compete with any player, Manchanda said. They are currently realigning their corporate and marketing overheads so that they remain lean and can respond with agility to competitive actions with respect to pricing."
New Delhi: Several struggling foreign car manufacturers in India are planning a bid to revive their local businesses, after seeing sales either stagnate or decline consistently over the past three financial years, and well into the current fiscal as well.

Companies like Skoda-Volkswagen, Honda Cars, Renault and Nissan are among mass market brands that have committed to introduce more than a dozen new products cumulatively in the next two years.

Cumulatively, these four brands have only 5% share of the passenger vehicle market in India as of August 2025. Passenger vehicles include cars, utility vehicles (including SUVs) and vans.

European luxury carmakers Volvo Cars and Audi, too, remain hopeful about their prospects in the Indian market after rivals Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Jaguar Land Rover doubled down on their bid to capture a higher market share.

Notably, the overall Indian market has been slow moving lately, with passenger vehicle sales growing just 2% in FY25, and declining by 2.4% in April-August 2025, with cars hit the hardest at 12% and 8.5% decline, respectively, according to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam).

The move from the struggling group comes even as the top six brandsMaruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Hyundai Motor India, Mahindra and Mahindra, Kia Motors, and Toyota Kirloskarhave stepped up efforts to consolidate market share. In FY25, these six brands cornered 91% share of the countrys passenger vehicle sales, rising from 89% in FY23, according to data from Federation of Automobile Dealers Association.

In the same period, all the lagging foreign carmakers saw their sales decline.

Puneet Gupta, director at S&P Global Mobility, said new offerings by the top six brands have won the trust of Indian consumers, something that the stragglers are not able to do. Most of the foreign brands are struggling to find brand traction to get consumers to move towards their models," Gupta said.

To be sure, the struggling carmakers are still putting their bets on the Indian market and are hopeful about turning around their prospects.

Also Read | Auto parts makers chase Mothersons playbook to go global

Skoda and Nissan

On 24 September, Skoda introduced a premium sedanOctavia RSto India, 10 months after it launched the Kylaq SUV. The Czechia-based brand became the latest to renew its push after Renault, Nissan and Honda Cars also committed to launch new vehicles in the market.

Japanese brand Nissan, which sold its full stake in the joint manufacturing plant venture with Renault in March 2025, currently sells only one vehicle in Indiathe Magnite SUV.

Over the next 18-24 months, Nissan Motor India will transition from a single-product portfolio to a multi-segment player with three new modelsa sub-four-metre seven-seater B-MPV, a C-SUV five-seater, and a C-SUV seven-seaterall developed with Indian consumers at the centre," Saurabh Vatsa, managing director at Nissan Motor India, told Mint while acknowledging that the Indian market is competitive.

Nissan will also increase its showrooms in the country from 159 to 180 in the current financial year, Vatsa added.

Renaults plans

Its French partner Renault, which saw sales nearly halve between FY23 and FY25 to 38,636 units, is planning five new launches by 2027. These will include two SUVs and an electric vehicle (EV). Further, it is increasing the number of dealerships from the current 362 across the country.

India managing director Venkatram Mamillapalle believes two primary levers will help in increasing sales in the upcoming yearsRenault fully owning the Chennai plant (it was jointly owned with Nissan earlier) and diversifying the customer base to more premium buyers.

We have mostly targeted the sub- 10 lakh segment, but now our customer profile will see a diversification to go beyond 10 lakh," Mamillapalle told Mint earlier in an interview.

The top executive said that the company will look to regularly launch products in the Indian market and invest in its sales and services network.

A report from Autocar Professional said that the planned launches include the updated Triber, Kiger and Duster as well as Bigster, which would be a seven-seater SUV based on the Duster platform. The updated Dusters launch is anticipated next year.

To be sure, Renault launched the Duster SUV in 2012 in India, which turned out to be a popular car for the brand with 40,000 sales in the first year alone. However, the company did not bring the next generation Duster to India, reportedly due to high production costs.

Also Read | Festive demand, tax cut power auto sales in September

Skoda-Volkswagen plans

Skoda-Volkswagen Group, too, will increase its touch points in the country and capitalize on new models to increase its sales and market share.

Over the last three months, we have expanded into more than 310 touch points and we are now present in 177 cities," Skoda brand director Ashish Gupta told mediapersons on 24 September, pointing to what he called a big push from the brand in terms of getting closer to the customers.

Our focus was into getting into new segments and new territories and new price points. We have done that with the introduction of the Kylaq," Gupta added, noting that sales between January to August 2025 have increased 130% compared to a year ago to nearly 47,000 cars.

Skoda Kylaq is a compact SUV that has largely resulted in the surge in sales for Skoda. Of the 47,000 sales mentioned by Gupta, Skoda Kylaq constituted about 30,000, which has helped boost the companys sales in the country despite a slow passenger vehicle market.

Overall, Skoda currently sells three SUVsKodiaq, Kylaq and Kushaqand the Slavia sedan in India.

Honda Cars

Japanese auto giant Honda Cars, which has seen its sales fall 22% to 64,727 between financial year 2023 and 2025, plans to launch five new SUVs in the Indian market by 2030, with one electric model designed according to Indian market needs, as per company announcements.

The companys main driver of sales over the years, the mid-sized sedan Honda City, recorded falling sales from 35,038 in FY23 to 16,925 units in FY24. This further dropped to 10,901 units in FY25 in the domestic markets, suggesting a consistent decline in sales of a car that made Honda a popular brand in India.

While the company is now looking to tap growth using SUV models, Honda had earlier launched two SUVsWR-V and BR-Vand one multi purpose vehicle, Mobilio, between 2014 and 2017, which were discontinued due to poor demand.

In September 2023, the company launched another SUV, the Elevate, which is also struggling. In FY24, it sold 33,642 units, which fell 33% to 22,321 units in FY25.

Luxury carmakers join in

As mass market brands double down on their bid to counter the consolidation and expansion of brands like Maruti, Hyundai, Mahindra and Tata, luxury players like Audi and Volvo are also introducing new models despite intense competition from their peers.

Audi saw its sales fall by 15% to 5,990 units while Volvo saw sales fall by 22% to 1,665 units in FY25. Comparatively, market leader Mercedes-Benz saw its sales grow 4% to 18,928 units in the same financial year.

Volvo launched facelifts of its XC90 and XC60 SUVs this year and has also launched its electric vehicle EX30 SUV in India for bookings. When asked about competition, Volvo Cars India managing director Jyoti Malhotra told Mint in an interview that the competition only helps the company grow and offer better products for consumers, helping expand the luxury brand.

As Volvo struggles to grow its share, Malhotra said that its new electric vehicle should help the company grow. It has begun booking its electric vehicles EX30 at 39.9 lakh, which is lower than the electric vehicle offerings of its rivals BMW and Mercedes.

Meanwhile, German luxury carmaker Audi, which used to be No. 1 in India a decade ago, fell to the fourth position in FY25. In an interview with Mint, Balbir Singh Dhillon, head of Audi India, said the company is focusing on improving the experience of customers and is in talks with its global management to bring more models to the Indian market.

We are in the process of working with our headquarters to also bring more electric cars into the country as we are in the process of working out plans for more models to be launched in India subsequently," he said.

While the company has not specified its product launch plans, it is said to be working on introducing a new-generation Audi Q3 SUV by next year.

For both Volvo and Audi, the competition is intensifying as its rivals amp up the pressure. While the market leader continued to grow, BMW also witnessed a growth of 5% to 15,810 units while Jaguar Land Rover toppled Audi from the third position as it saw 40% year-on-year growth to 6,183 units.

While Mercedes has eight launches in its pipeline, BMW has also launched its all electric iX1 compact SUV along with i5 electric sedan. Jaguar Land Rover, which sells the Range Rover, Jaguar and Defender brands, is in process of shifting its production base in India through knocked down units.

While Range Rover and Range Rover sport are assembled in India, the company is now mulling bringing the local assembly of Defender in India. Further, its Jaguar brand is working on an all-electric positioning, which is set to launch next year.

Global Doubts

Despite the grand plans, experts are sceptical about how sustainably these brands can invest at a time when their parents are facing global turbulence.

Global carmakers are facing tough competition with Chinese players, which is straining their ability to invest," S&P Global Mobility's Gupta said. In this backdrop and the increasing competition from Indian car manufacturers, many of these brands will have to work really hard to find a way to sell more vehicles to consumers."

For instance, Nissans global chief executive Ivan Espinosa announced on 13 May that the company will shutter seven factories globally and cut 11,000 jobs in areas like manufacturing, sales, administration, research and contract staff, to protect profits.

Nissans operating profit for the financial year ended 31 March plunged by 88% to $472 million because of a slowdown in key markets like the US and China. The company also refrained from offering growth guidance due to uncertainty over US tariffs.

According to a report in French newsletter L'Informe, Renault is also planning to cut 3,000 jobs while Volvo Cars has also decided to cut 3,000 jobs owing to a hit in profits, the company said. Most global carmakers are reeling from pressure due to Chinese competition as well Trump tariffs.

The China factor

In the past few years, Chinese manufacturers like BYD are hitting the sales of European carmakers like Volkswagen in China. In the Chinese market, Volkswagens EV sales have declined 37%, hitting the key export base of German carmakers.

Analysts believe Chinese competition is increasing in the European region, affecting players like Volkswagen and Renault.

BYD holds a 3.1% market share in battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the EU. According to a 26 June Elara Capital note, its exports to the EU and the UK have nearly doubled in 2025 year-to-date. We believe Chinas OEMs can gain incremental global PV market share in the next 3-5 years, thereby putting pressure on legacy OEMs," the note said.

Adding to the troubles of these carmakers are Trump tariffs. Volvo Cars said in July that it is taking a $1.2 billion impairment charge on its balance sheet owing to Trump tariffs.

Pressure due to global turbulence as well as intense investments by top car makers are putting the foreign brands in a difficult position, as per industry observers.

While Maruti is launching two new SUVs in the Indian market, Tata, Mahindra and Hyundai have lined up more than a dozen launches in the next four years.

But the managements of these brands in India insist that global events will have no bearing on their plans in India and they will continue to bring more cars to the market.

There will not be any disruption to our teams here or our product plans in the country," Nissans Vatsa said in a virtual press meet in May after reports of Nissan layoffs became public. We are on track to introduce new products and scale up growth in the market."

Volvo Indias Malhotra also insisted that job cuts and hit to profits globally will not impact the companys operations in India.
US-based pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly is set to invest more than $1 billion in India in the coming years to boost its manufacturing and supply capacity by partnering with local drugmakers.

The move is a strategic bid to tap into India's skilled workforce and strengthen the expansion of Lilly's global manufacturing network. Reuters reported that the drugmaker also introduced its blockbuster weight-loss drug Mounjaro in India earlier this year.

What does it mean for India? The firm currently does not operate its own manufacturing facility in the country, which is a key hub for several companies that develop and produce complex drugs, vials and injectables for larger pharmaceuticals on a contract basis.

The collaborations are designed to increase the availability of Lilly's key drugs, including those for obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer's, cancer and autoimmune conditions, the company said.

"We are making significant investments to increase manufacturing and medicine supply capacity around the world," Patrik Jonsson, president of Lilly International, said, adding, India is a hub for capability building within its global network.

Why is the drugmaker investing in India? Lilly's investment plans in India come as many global drugmakers rush to increase US manufacturing capacity. This push is driven, in part, by the Trump administration's recent imposition of a 100% tariff on imported branded and patented drugs from October 1, 2025.

Just last month, Lilly announced a $5 billion investment in a new facility in Virginia, part of a $27 billion expansion plan to construct four new plants in the United States over the next five years.

Also Read | Lawmakers Press FDA to Target Knockoff Weight-Loss Drugs

Also Read | Layoffs loom at weight loss drug Wegovy's maker Novo Nordisk amid slowing sales

The drugmaker is now preparing to face increased competition from India's generic drugmakers, who are racing to launch cheaper versions of the famous weight-loss drug Wegovy once its main chemical ingredient, semaglutide, goes off patent next year.

The launch of Mounjaro, alongside Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, has increased awareness among people of obesity treatments in a country projected to have the world's second-largest obese population by 2050. Sales of both of these drugs doubled within months of their launch, Reuters reported.

Lilly to open a facility in Hyderabad Separately, as part of the company's expansion, Lilly is establishing a dedicated manufacturing and quality facility in Hyderabad. This new hub will expand the company's presence beyond the city's global capability centre.

The new hub's primary functions include overseeing the firm's entire contract manufacturing network in India and providing crucial technical capabilities.
(Repeats column that ran on Friday, with no changes)

By Andy Home

LONDON, Oct 3 (Reuters) - The tin market is once again bubbling on supply chain trouble, this time in Indonesia, where the government has launched a sweeping clamp-down on illegal mining.

London Metal Exchange (LME) three-month tin has jumped to over $37,500 per metric ton, the highest level since April when the supply threat was to the Bisie mine in Democratic Republic of Congo. The latest price kicker was provided by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who said the government aims to close 1,000 illegal mines in the tin-rich islands of Bangka and Belitung.

How much tin such operations produce is impossible to know, and there may be an offset if their closure leads to higher production by the country's official sector.

But it's another drop in tin's cauldron of supply challenges, which is why the price is once again on the boil.

LONG CAMPAIGN

The Indonesian authorities have been struggling to regain control of the country's tin production sector ever since it was de-regulated at the end of the last century.

Much of the country's tin comes from artisanal and small-scale miners, which makes it difficult to tell who's operating under some form of official licence and who isn't. Boundaries have become blurred to such an extent that PT Timah , the country's top producer, has found itself in the dock for facilitating the black market trade. Some of the illegal "mines" are no more than basic rafts sent out at night to dredge for tin in waters licensed to PT Timah and other official sector operators. What's mined is then smuggled out of the country on small boats, such as the one seized this week by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency transporting 530 gunny sacks of tin ore weighing 26.5 tons.

This latest crack of the regulatory whip actually began at the start of last month and has already resulted in multiple closures, Prabowo said.

SHADOW PRODUCTION

How much tin comes from Indonesia's shadow sector?

Since such material by definition eludes the country's customs service, it exists in a statistical black hole.

Indonesia's official export figures capture flows of refined tin, which is the only form of the metal that is supposed to be shipped overseas.

However, both Chinese and Malaysian customs departments are recording monthly imports of Indonesian "ores and concentrates". Chinese imports amounted to 1,192 tons in the first eight months of the year and Malaysia took in 642 tons in the first seven months, according to World Bureau of Metal Statistics data.

This may be the tip of the iceberg. The chairman of the Indonesian Tin Exporters Association (ITEA) has told local media that up to 12,000 tons of tin are being illegally exported each year. Prabowo suggested that the shadow sector may represent around 80% of all production in the Bangka Belitung region.

While estimates inevitably differ, there is a broad consensus that the problem has become much more acute over the last year. The illegal production boom has eaten into the official sector's capacity. PT Timah attributed a 32% year-on-year drop in ore production in the first half of 2025 to competition with the shadow sector.

Indonesian exports of refined tin slumped to a multi-year low of 46,000 tons last year and the ITEA is expecting only a modest recovery to 53,000 tons this year.

The ongoing closure of illegal operations should in theory help the official sector lift production in compensation, although by how much and over what period is highly uncertain.

CAULDRON

The tin price is in no mood to wait and find out, surging by 10% over the last week as time-spreads tighten. Just a couple of weeks ago the LME cash tin price was trading at a wide $167 discount to the three-month price. It has this week flipped to a $105 premium as shorts are forced to buy back their positions.

The price reaction to the Indonesian news says much about the fragility of the tin supply chain, which is beholden to a small number of big producers.

One of the world's largest tin mines is still missing in action. Man Maw in the semi-autonomous Wa State in Myanmar is supposed to be reopening after a two-year absence.

However, the flow of tin raw materials over the border to China remains no more than a trickle, suggesting the mine is still far from its production rate before the authorities ordered it closed for a resource audit. The Bisie tin mine in the Congo is back up and running after being briefly suspended in March due to the advance of the M23 rebel group.

However, the threat hasn't gone away. The United States is leading efforts to try and resolve the decades-old conflict in the eastern part of the Congo but no-one appears to have told the M23. One of its leaders, Kony Ng'ang'a, was in uncompromising mood in an interview last month with CNN.

Tin traders already had enough supply flash-points to worry about. They now have another one.

The opinions expressed here are those of the author, a columnist for Reuters.
Canara Robeco IPO price band: The Canara Robeco Asset Management Company Limited IPO price band has been fixed in the range of 253 to 266 per equity share of the face value of 10. The Canara Robeco IPO date of subscription is scheduled for Thursday, October 9, and will close on Monday, October 13.

The allocation to anchor investors for the Canara Robeco IPO is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, October 8. The Canara Robeco IPO lot size is 56 equity shares and in multiples of 56 equity shares thereafter.

Canara Robeco IPO has reserved not more than 50% of the shares in the public issue for qualified institutional buyers (QIB), not less than 15% for non-institutional Institutional Investors (NII), and not less than 35% of the offer is reserved for retail investors.

Tentatively, Canara Robeco IPO basis of allotment of shares will be finalised on Tuesday, October 14, and the company will initiate refunds on Wednesday, October 15, while the shares will be credited to the demat account of allottees on the same day following refund. Canara Robeco share price is likely to be listed on BSE and NSE on Thursday, October 16.

Canara Robeco IPO details Canara Robeco AMC's initial public offering (IPO) consists entirely of an offer-for-sale, featuring 4.98 crore shares with no component for fresh issues. This means the company will not receive any funds from the IPO, as all proceeds, aside from offering expenses, will go directly to the selling shareholders.

In this offering, the promotersCanara Bankare selling approximately 2.59 crore equity shares, while ORIX Corporation Europe NV is selling about 2.39 crore shares. Together, this represents 25 percent of their total stake in the asset management company (AMC). Currently, Canara Bank holds a 51 percent stake, while ORIX Corporation has a 49 percent shareholding in the AMC.

The lead managers of Canara Robeco IPO are SBI Capital Markets Ltd, Axis Capital Ltd, and JM Financial Ltd. The registrar of the issue is MUFG Intime India Private Ltd (Formerly Link Intime India Private Ltd).

Company Details Canara Bank AMC, incorporated in 1993, was previously known as Canbank Investment Management Services, managing the assets of Canbank Mutual Fund. As of June 2025, the company manages 26 schemes. In 2007, Canara Bank sold a 49 percent equity stake in the AMC to ORIX Corporation Europe NV, which was formerly known as Robeco Groep NV.

In the competitive landscape, Canara Robeco AMC faces competition from four publicly listed companies: HDFC AMC, Nippon Life India Asset Management, Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC, and UTI AMC. These competitors are larger in terms of revenue and have demonstrated substantial growth in quarterly average assets under management (QAAUM), with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.60 percent expected between FY23 and FY25.
The IPO, a 15% stake sale by its Korean parent, comes amid a busy IPO calendar and subdued market sentiment. It is one of the largest consumer-sector listings in recent years, following Swiggy.

Analysts say investor response will show whether appetite remains strong for steady, India-focused businesses after Urban Companys successful debut.

Dhruv Jain, consumer electronics analyst at Ambit Capital, expects healthy demand for LGs IPO, noting that its valuation has moderated since last years draft filing range of 1.11.2 trillion. The issue now values LG India at about 77,380 crore at the upper end of the 1,140-a-share price band, according to its red herring prospectus.

This means investors will be paying about 34-35 for every rupee of profit the company earned in FY25. This is well below Havells, Whirlpool, Voltas, and Blue Star, which trade at 47-67x P/E multiples, despite LGs stronger profitability and scale.

LGs promoters have left much more on the table for investors, especially as Hyundais IPO was deemed expensive last year, according to analysts. Multinational corporations with 40%-plus return ratios usually command higher valuation multiples, so the mid-30s band here signals that investors are getting a quality franchise at a reasonable price, analysts said.

Competitive edge

With a 49% median return on capital employed between FY23 and FY25, LG India is almost thrice as efficient as its peers, as per its IPO filing.

Deep localization, in-house manufacturing of key sub-assemblies and components, a tight supply chain and enduring ties with channel partners have ensured LGs competitiveness in the domestic market, said Sanjay Chitkara, chief sales officer at LG Electronics India. Our efficiency prevents sacrifice in margins and supports our premiumisation strategy at scale," he added.

LG India reported a 7.1% median net profit margin between FY23 and FY25, outperforming all of its competitors. Analysts note that over the past 28 years, LG has cemented its position as a market leader across premium categories in key household appliances such as OLED televisions, front-load washing machines, and five-star inverter air conditioners. This has not only protected margins through pricing power but also lifted sales in the premium category, as Indian consumers have been increasingly opting for higher-end products, aided by easy financing options.

Chitkara said that LGs strategy has always been to nudge first-time buyers toward premium products and integrate them into its ecosystem. A seamless service network then reinforces brand stickiness, ensuring that when consumers eventually move to higher-end products, LG remains their first choice.

This helps expand the revenue share of high-margin products while reducing dependence on seasonal demand, supporting consistent revenue and profit growth," said Ambit Capitals Jain.

Between FY23 and FY25, LG Indias revenue rose at an 11% CAGR to 24,367 crore, while its net profit expanded 28% annually to 2,203 crorenearly 7x the pace of its peers. Strong profitability and the scale of its diversified product mix underpinned this performance, according to the companys red herring prospectus. Analysts expect the recent Goods and Services Tax (GST) cuts to further lift LG Indias topline in FY26, as lower taxes are likely to spur aspirational purchases.

GST cuts have permanently reset affordability in TVs and ACs. Buyers will steadily move up to higher specifications, setting new norms for consumption," said LG Indias Chitkara.

Recipe for growth

Further, he expects the premium mix in durablesnow about 17%to rise to 25-27% by FY29. LG aims to capture this growth by deepening its premium reach in tier-2 and tier-3 markets as incomes and affordability rise," he added.

Beyond the domestic market, LG also plans to scale up exports, which currently account for about 6% of its revenue and grew 47% year-on-year. Chitkara expects the upcoming plant at Sri City in Andhra Pradesh to strengthen LGs east-coast logistics and open new export routes for both entry-level and premium products made in India.

Interestingly, LG India is repositioning itself from a traditional appliance maker to a solutions-led brand, tapping growing demand in the commercial space. The company is broadening its range of climate-control, air-purification, and energy management systems, as well as large-format professional display panels.

These higher-margin solutions are expected to further improve profitability, said Atul Khanna, chief accounts officer at LG India.

Profit vulnerability

However, the market, for now, values LG India largely on its consumer electronics growth prospects, implying slower expansion than peers. With its focus on driving upgrades over low-end penetration, LGs revenue growth is likely to lag mass-market players, noted experts.

Ambit Capitals Jain pegs its medium-term growth at 7-9% compounded annual growth rate, versus 15-20% for pure-play AC makers. He cautions that Samsungs aggressive pricing could also erode LGs edge in premium categories, while its absence from emerging segments such as wearables and hearables underscores limited innovation beyond legacy products for retail customers.

Financial risks remain. Raw material costs make up nearly 61% of LG Indias revenues, leaving profitability vulnerable to swings in commodity and currency markets. The companys reliance on imported open-cell panels and compressors exposes it to foreign exchange volatility.

It also faces contingent tax liabilities of 4,717 crore, which could dent profitability if rulings turn adverse, according to its IPO filing.

But LG Indias debt-free balance sheet and 4,570 crore in cash reserves, as of June, should comfort investors, experts said. With limited capital expenditure plans, dividend pay outs could also be healthy, they added.

Also Read | Why foreign investors are shunning India's IPO market now

However, Ambit Capitals Jain noted that past pay outsexceeding 100% of profits in FY23 and FY24largely benefited the parent and might not hold up post listing.

Still, amid global volatility, LGs domestic focus and brand trust could serve as a steady anchor for investors, even if all proceeds flow back to South Korea.
Sampre Nutritions share price surged to the 2% upper circuit on Monday following the company's recent announcement regarding its fundraising plans. On Saturday, the health and confectionery products manufacturer disclosed that its board had approved a plan to raise 355 crore through foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs).

During a meeting on October 3, the board approved the issuance of 400 FCCBs, each valued at USD 100,000, totaling approximately USD 40 million. The funds raised from the FCCBs will be strategically utilized to expand the companys global presence, specifically targeting emerging markets like Egypt and Liberia.

This expansion initiative is expected to not only strengthen Sampre Nutritions' foothold in high-growth regions but also diversify its revenue streams and tap into new opportunities in the international FMCG sector. Furthermore, Sampre has recently signed memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with potential revenue of up to 45 crore for the manufacturing and supply of nutraceuticals and food products.

In September, Sampre Nutritions announced that its board had approved proposals for a bonus issue and a split of equity shares. During a meeting on September 19, the board decided to subdivide one equity share with a face value of 10 into two equity shares, each with a face value of 5.

Additionally, the board approved a bonus issue of equity shares at a ratio of 1:1, meaning that for every fully paid-up equity share of 5, shareholders will receive one bonus equity share of the same face value. This strategic move aims to enhance shareholder value and increase liquidity in the market.

Also Read | Small-cap multibagger stock hits upper circuit for 76 straight sessions

Sampre Nutritions - Q1 Results Sampre Nutritions announced a remarkable increase in revenue for the first quarter of the current fiscal year, with figures showing more than a twofold jump due to strong demand and enhanced operational efficiency. For the April-June quarter of 2025-26, the company reported revenue of 10.87 crore, significantly up from 4.51 crore in the same period last year.

In terms of net profit, the company saw a substantial rise to 70.76 lakh in Q1 FY26, compared to 9.89 lakh in Q1 FY25, highlighting a robust turnaround in its financial performance.

The Telangana-based firm attributed its financial growth and improved margins to effective strategic initiatives, operational efficiencies, and thorough financial planning. Sampre Nutritions Ltd specializes in manufacturing confectionery items and center-filled products, with a notable client list that includes multinational giants such as Mondelez India, Nestle, Perfetti Van Melle, Reliance, and DS Group.

Sampre Nutritions share price Sampre Nutritions is currently trading up 1.98% on an intraday basis. In the past week the stock rose 10.35%. Sampre Nutritions share price has been up 245.37% in the past quarter and rose 91.5% in the past year.

Sampre Nutritions share price has been hitting 2% upper circuit since June 12, 2025. Sampre Nutritions share price today was locked in 2% upper circuit at 128.65 per share on the BSE.
The Indian stock market benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to open lower on Monday, despite upbeat global market cues.

The trends on Gift Nifty also indicate a weak start for the Indian benchmark index. The Gift Nifty was trading around 24,962 level, a discount of nearly 44 points from the Nifty futures previous close.

On Friday, the domestic equity market ended higher, with the benchmark Nifty 50 closing near 24,900 level.

The Sensex gained 223.86 points, or 0.28%, to close at 81,207.17, while the Nifty 50 settled 57.95 points, or 0.23%, higher at 24,894.25.

Heres what to expect from Sensex, Nifty 50, and Bank Nifty today:

Sensex Prediction Sensex formed a promising reversal pattern on daily charts. For the week, the index rose 0.97% and formed a small bullish candle on weekly charts, which is largely positive.

We believe that 80,800 - 80,200 will act as key support zones in the near future. Above this range, the pullback formation is likely to continue on the higher side, potentially moving up to the 20-day SMA (Simple Moving Average) or 81,400. Further upside may also continue, which could lift Sensex up to 81,900, said Amol Athawale, VP-Technical Research, Kotak Securities.

On the flip side, he believes below 80,200, sentiment could turn negative, and advises traders to prefer exiting long positions if Sensex falls below this level.

Mayank Jain, Market Analyst, Share.Market (PhonePe Wealth) said that the immediate resistance for Sensex is at 81,500  81,700, and a convincing move above this zone could propel the index higher.

On the downside, support for Sensex lies at 80,700  80,800. A break below this zone could test the next support level at 80,500, Jain said.

Nifty 50 Prediction Nifty 50 index formed a bull candle with a higher high and higher low on the daily chart, signaling extension of the pullback for the second session in a row. For the week, the Nifty 50 index gained 0.97%, forming a bull candle with a small lower shadow on the weekly chart, signaling buying demand from near the critical support zone around 24,400  26,600.

A long bull candle was formed on the daily chart at the lows, which indicates a buy on dips opportunity in the market. This market action also confirms the formation of short-term bottom reversal around Tuesdays low of 24,600 levels, said Nagaraj Shetti, Senior Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities.

According to him, the underlying short-term trend of Nifty 50 is positive, and the next upside target to be watched is around 25,200 levels by this week. Immediate support is placed at 24,750.

Puneet Singhania, Director at Master Trust Group, noted that the Nifty 50 index successfully reclaimed its 50-day EMA, indicating stabilization and renewed buying interest.

In the near term, 24,500 - 24,600 is a strong support zone; as long as these levels remain intact, the upside momentum is likely to continue. On the resistance front, 25,000 - 25,050 acts as a key psychological barrier, and a sustained move above this level could trigger further buying, potentially pushing the index towards 25,250, said Singhania.

He also recommends a buy-on-dips approach for this week.

Nilesh Jain, Head  Technical and Derivatives Research Analyst (Equity Research), Centrum Broking Ltd. said that a gradual move towards 25,200 seems probable, and a decisive breakout beyond this level could open the path for an extended rally towards 25,500.

The RSI has bounced back from oversold levels, pointing to a revival in short-term momentum. With key technical indicators turning supportive, the uptrend is likely to continue. As long as Nifty 50 holds above 24,600, a buy-on-dips strategy remains favorable. Additionally, India VIX posted a sharp 10% drop this week to close below 10.50, signaling lower volatility and further boosting bullish sentiment, said Jain.

Mayank Jain said that the immediate resistance for Nifty 50 is at 25,050 - 25,000, and a convincing move above this zone could propel the index higher.

On the downside, support lies at 24,750 - 24,700. A break below this zone could test the next support level at 24,600, Jain said.

Bank Nifty Prediction Bank Nifty index rallied 241.30 points, or 0.44%, to close at 55,589.25 on Friday, forming a bullish candle, indicating strength. For the week, the index surged 2.21%, and formed a large bullish candle on the weekly chart, reflecting sustained buying interest and positive sentiment across the sector.

From a relative strength perspective, the Bank Nifty to Nifty ratio chart has hit a 30-session high, signalling clear and consistent outperformance of banking stocks over the frontline indices. Technically, the Bank Nifty index has reclaimed its key moving averages, reinforcing the bullish undertone. Moreover, the daily RSI is on the verge of crossing the 60 level, and remains in a rising trajectory  a sign of strengthening momentum, said Sudeep Shah, Head - Technical and Derivatives Research at SBI Securities.

Also Read | Breakout stocks to buy or sell: Sumeet Bagadia recommends five shares to buy

Going ahead, considering the current chart structure, he noted that the Bank Nifty index is likely to continue its northward journey and test the level of 56,200, followed by 57,000 in the short term. While, on the downside, the 20-day EMA zone of 55,000 - 54,900 will act as important support for the index.

Hrishikesh Yedve, AVP Technical and Derivative Research, Asit C. Mehta Investment Interrmediates Ltd. highlighted that the trendline resistance is currently placed near 55,700, which will act as the immediate hurdle for the Bank Nifty index, followed by 56,000.

On the downside, key support is placed near 54,910, where the 100-DEMA is positioned. While the short-term trend is improving, traders are advised to wait for a decisive breakout above 55,700 before initiating fresh long positions in Bank Nifty, said Yedve.
(Bloomberg) -- Philippine Stock Exchange President and Chief Executive Officer Ramon Monzon has urged a swift and credible investigation of corruption allegations facing the government, warning they may do further damage to the countrys stock market.

Corruption allegations tied to government spending on flood-control projects have triggered mass protests and fueled a broad exit by foreign investors. Global investors have pulled around $684 million from the market this year, according to Bloomberg-compiled data. By Friday, they had been net sellers for six days in a row.

Until foreign investors see clarity in the results of the investigation, they will continue to price in risks in our market, Monzon said in an interview with Bloomberg Televisions David Ingles and Annabelle Droulers on Monday. A swift, credible and all encompassing investigation and prosecution are very important, he said.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index was among Asias worst performers on Monday, deepening declines for this year to more than 8% in a region where other gauges have zoomed to all-time highs. The Philippine peso also lagged other emerging Asia currencies on Monday, weakening 0.8% against the US dollar.

Local institutions are following the lead of foreign investors, Monzon said. Theyre going to await something significant or meaningful that can come out of these investigations.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has created an independent commission to investigate the graft allegations, something that Monzon said was a bright spot for investors. He also pointed to the upcoming initial public offering of utility firm Maynilad Water Services Inc. as another positive, saying that it had attracted foreign investors.

Hearings Uncertain

The fate of the hearings is uncertain, however, after Senator Panfilo Lacson said he would step down as chairman of the Senate committee conducting the probe. Bishops in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation on Monday warned against any whitewash in the investigations.

In a briefing on Monday, Arsenio Balisacan  the secretary of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development  said he hopes corruption issues in the Philippines will be temporary.

We expect to come up with measures to improve governance of public spending, he said. If the short-term cost is compensated by much improved environment in the medium term and long term for investment, thats not bad.

The stock market has also been hit by bad weather, a perennial worry for Philippine investors. In September, a super typhoon in the country caused multiple deaths, as well as forcing work suspensions and mass evacuations. Last week, the wealthy province of Cebu was hit by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake.

--With assistance from Andreo Calonzo.

(Updates throughout.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
On Friday, 3 October, Indian equities started the day on a gap-down but quickly recovered and sustained their upward momentum, closing in the green, indicating a possible shift in momentum. The markets opened lower, but buying interest emerged across key sectors, led by financials and metals.

Ankush Bajajs top three stock picks for 6 October

Buy: Canara BankCurrent Price:  125.90

Why its recommended: Canara Bank is displaying strong bullish momentum, supported by sustained buying interest in PSU banking stocks. The daily RSI stands around 65.8, reflecting steady strength without entering overbought territory. The MACD at +1.14 confirms a positive crossover, indicating continued upward momentum, while the ADX at 40.2 signals a strong ongoing trend. The price has maintained higher highs and higher lows, highlighting trend continuation supported by robust volume activity.

Key metrics:

RSI (14-day): 65.8  bullish momentum, yet comfortable

MACD (12,26): +1.14  positive crossover, trend intact

ADX (14): 40.2  strong trend strength

Technical view: Sustaining above 123.80 will keep the structure bullish with potential for a move toward 130

Risk factors:

-PSU banks remain exposed to macroeconomic and rate cycle risks.

-Profit-taking could emerge near key resistance levels.

Buy at: 125.90

Stop loss: 123.80

Target price: 130

Also Read | Why foreign investors are shunning India's IPO market now

Buy: Bank of Baroda  Current Price:  263.95

Why its recommended: Bank of Baroda continues to show robust price action, trading close to its recent highs. The daily RSI at 70.1 reflects strong bullish momentum, while the MACD at +2.54 confirms the continuation of the uptrend. The ADX reading of 45.8 signals a powerful trend phase with growing strength. The stocks structure suggests a clear breakout from consolidation, supported by consistent volume expansion.

Key metrics:

RSI (14-day): 70.1  strong bullish bias

MACD (12,26): +2.54  positive momentum

ADX (14): 45.8  very strong trend strength

Technical view: Holding above 257.60 will sustain the bullish momentum, with upside potential toward 275.

Risk factors:

-Near-term overbought zone may trigger mild consolidation.

-Sectoral sentiment linked to monetary policy and treasury yields.

Buy at: 263.95

Stop loss: 257.60

Target price: 275

Buy: Bank of India  Current Price:  125.53

Why its recommended: Bank of India is exhibiting positive trend continuation with firm technical support. The daily RSI is around 63, indicating strong buying momentum, while the MACD at +0.98 confirms a bullish crossover. The ADX at 37 suggests trend strength is building steadily. The stock is forming a higher base on the daily chart, setting up for a potential breakout toward its short-term target.

Key metrics:

RSI (14-day): 63  bullish bias

MACD (12,26): +0.98  positive crossover

ADX (14): 37  strengthening trend phase

Technical view: Sustaining above 123 will maintain positive momentum with room to rally toward 130.

Risk factors:

-Vulnerable to volatility in PSU bank space and NPA developments.

-Broader banking sector consolidation could affect short-term performance.

Buy at: 125.53

Target price: 130

Stop loss: 123

Also Read | Paint sectors new challengers put to the test in tepid festive season

Stock market wrap

The NIFTY 50 added 57.95 points (0.23%) to close at 24,894.25, while the BSE SENSEX surged 223.86 points (0.28%) to settle at 81,207.17. The NIFTY BANK also gained 241.30 points (+0.44%) to finish at 55,589.25.

Sectoral performance remained positive with metal rising 1.38%, PSU bank gaining 1.30%, and PSE index advancing 1.30%, while healthcare eased 0.37%, realty index declined 0.12%, and auto index fell 0.06%.

In stock-specific action, Tata Steel (+3.40%), Powergrid (+3.22%), and Hindalco (+1.88%) supported the indices, while Max Health (-3.95%), Coal India (-1.33%), and Eicher Motors (-1.15%) weighed on the broader market.

Nifty technical outlook

The Nifty 50 closed the session marginally higher, signalling a steady continuation of the short-term recovery seen in the previous session. The index is showing early signs of stability after a volatile phase, supported by improving derivatives positioning and a gradual revival in momentum indicators.

View Full Image Source: Trading View

On the daily timeframe, the index continues to hover close to its key short-term moving averages, with the 20-DMA at 24,990 and 40-DEMA at 24,905 acting as immediate pivot zones. The daily RSI has inched up to 49, indicating a gradual improvement in sentiment from neutral to mildly positive. The MACD remains slightly negative at 19, suggesting that while bearish pressure is fading, a full trend reversal is yet to confirm.

As long as the Nifty sustains above its recent swing low near 24,800, the structure remains constructive for a potential retest of higher resistances.

View Full Image Source: Trading View

The intraday setup has strengthened further. The index is trading above both the 20-HMA (24,757) and 40-HEMA (24,823), signalling short-term buying support on declines. Momentum indicators on the hourly chart are also turning positive  the RSI at 60 shows renewed bullish strength, while the MACD at +22 confirms a positive crossover, reinforcing the recovery bias.

This alignment between the short-term moving averages and improving oscillator readings supports a near-term upward move, provided the index sustains above the 24,700 zone.

Derivatives setup

The options data reflects a bullish sentiment shift:

Total Put OI (210.3 million) exceeds Call OI (171.0 million), resulting in a positive OI differential of +39.4 million, reinforcing the bullish undertone.

The days OI change also tilts bullish, with Put OI rising by 72.4 million against a Call OI rise of 59.9 million, generating a positive change differential of +12.5 million.

The 25,000 strike holds the maximum Call OI, indicating a strong resistance zone, while aggressive additions at the 24,900 strike point to traders adjusting positions closer to current levels.

On the Put side, the 24,900 strike saw the highest additions, confirming it as a crucial near-term support base.

Overall, the derivatives setup suggests that the market is preparing for a potential breakout above the 25,000 mark.

Futures data

Nifty futures data supports the improving sentiment across expiries:

The October series closed at 25,006.60 (+0.16%) with an OI buildup of 4.38%, indicating fresh long positions.

The November series at 25,137.40 (+0.17%) and the December series at 25,290.70 (+0.17%) also show incremental OI additions, hinting at a bullish rollover trend developing into the next contract cycle.

Also Read | Multibagger stars of 2025: Stocks that turned heads and wealth

The Niftys structure remains cautiously bullish as momentum and OI data continue to improve. The immediate resistance remains at 25,000-25,050, which coincides with the short-term hurdle seen in Call writing. A decisive close above this zone could trigger a rally toward 25,150-25,300, while a failure to sustain may lead to consolidation between 24,800-25,000. On the downside, support rests at 24,750-24,700, followed by a deeper base near 24,600.

With daily indicators stabilizing, hourly momentum improving, and derivatives positioning showing renewed Put writing, the short-term bias has turned constructively bullish, though follow-through buying above 25,000 remains critical to confirm strength.

Ankush Bajaj is a Sebi-registered research analyst. His registration number is INH000010441.

Investments in securities are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing.

Registration granted by Sebi and certification from NISM in no way guarantee the performance of the intermediary or provide any assurance of returns to investors.

Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
(Bloomberg) -- A trio of money managers want to sell exchange-traded funds that amp up swings in Tesla, Bitcoin and other assets to a rarely seen degree, setting the stage for another test of regulators tolerance for ultra-risky offerings.

Defiance ETFs, Themes and Direxion have filed for leveraged products designed to deliver three times the daily return of some of the markets hottest trades. The approach is novel: 3x ETFs on single stocks dont currently exist in the US, given volatility rules set by the Securities and Exchange Commission that cap how much leverage a fund can offer.

How the proposed vehicles intend to get around those directives wasnt immediately clear. They are, however, a step up the risk ladder in a rapidly growing market where issuers are forced to push the envelope in order to stay competitive. ETF assets have ballooned to nearly $13 trillion, with some 4,400 funds vying for investor cash.

This is a natural progression of the ETF market right now  they try to push as far as they can go, one-up each other, said Bloomberg Intelligences Athanasios Psarofagis. Issuer objectives have evolved in recent years, he added. Before, it was undercutting each other on fees. Now, its upping on things like income, yield or leverage.

SEC Hopes

Leveraged ETFs have endured their share of criticism in recent years, with skeptics saying they tempt amateur investors with products that are both risky and opaque. Some triple-leveraged single-stock products, which are available in Europe, have recently demonstrated their propensity for rapid declines. For instance, the Leverage Shares 3x Tesla ETP is down 65% this year, even as shares of the EV-maker are up 11% during the same stretch.

Issuers counter that they are simply meeting client demand among a community of retail traders that is clamoring for high-octane strategies. The products popularity among investors is hard to deny, with nearly one-third of all ETFs launched this year having a leverage component, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence. While some funds offering 3x leverage already trade in the US, they focus on broad indexes and are a remnant from before current guidance was established five years ago.

The fate of the latest filings may largely depend on whether the issuers can sway the SEC, which capped new funds at a maximum of 2x leverage in a bid to protect investors from potentially catastrophic losses. If they pass muster, the new crop would introduce investors to a new paradigm of risk and reward.

Defiances various funds, for instance, would target three-times the daily returns of their underlying via various financial instruments, including potentially swaps and options, according to the filing, where Milliman Financial Risk Management is listed as a subadviser. The funds would achieve their 3X returns by rebalancing holdings daily. The issuer is also looking to offer triple short ETFs, which would offer inverse returns.

Sylvia Jablonski, CEO of Defiance, declined to comment. Representatives for Direxion and Themes didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. Filings from all three firms hit the docket on Friday.

For now, many companies may be pinning their hopes on the SEC being more permissive under President Donald Trumps administration. The regulator didnt immediately respond to requests for comment, citing the ongoing US government shutdown. Industry players, however, have said the watchdog has already clarified its guidance on what securities can form the basis of a leveraged single-stock ETF.

At the same time, riskier or more complex types of funds also tend to let issuers charge higher fees, another motivation for companies to keep the presses rolling.

Todd Sohn, senior ETF analyst at Strategas Securities, expects products to continue growing more complicated as companies increasingly compete for market share and use derivatives to fulfill fund objectives.

This is more and more evidence that the simplicity, vanilla era of ETFs is over, and we are well into the complexity era, he said. These are a reflection of how popular options-based strategies have become.

--With assistance from Sam Potter.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Its no secret that many women face imposter syndrome at some point in their careers. This nagging feeling that youre not quite good enough, that youre just faking it or that you dont belong in the room can be overwhelming.

Ive worked with countless women who are highly competent, highly accomplished and still struggle with feelings of self-doubt. The truth is that imposter syndrome is something almost everyone experiences, whether theyre a man or a woman. But women tend to internalize these feelings more deeply, which can sometimes hold them back.

If youre experiencing this, I want to tell you: You belong. Youre not an imposter. The fact that youre questioning yourself means that you care about doing well. It means youre striving to be better. Dont let that voice of doubt hold you back. Embrace it as a sign that youre pushing yourself out of your comfort zonewhich is exactly where growth happens.

Soon after I returned to India following a stint in Paris, the position of chief ratings officer (CRO) at Crisilto lead the credit rating business, then the largest division of the firmfell vacant when the incumbent left. At the time, we learned that the CEO and board were not planning to fill the role, deciding instead that the sector leads in the Ratings business (I was one of them) would report directly to the CEO.

However, I felt strongly that the business would benefit from having a dedicated CRO. I believed this role was critical to driving the divisions growth, enhancing efficiency and deepening engagement with investors.

At a company offsite in Goa in mid-2000, after some hesitation, I decided to take action. I prepared a four-slide presentation (which, looking back now, feels quite amateurish by todays standards), titled Why Crisil Needs a CRO and Why I Could Be That Person.

In it, I laid out my case: how having a CRO could propel our business to the next level, improve operations and create a stronger pull for our ratings by building closer relationships with key stakeholders. I also outlined my unique strengths, why I believed I was well-suited for the role and why I felt ready to take on this responsibility.

'Leadership beyond the Playbook' by Roopa Kudva, Penguin Random House India, 272 pages,  599.

I managed to pin down the CEO, R. Ravimohan, during a break and asked for twenty minutes of his time. During those minutes, I walked him through my presentation. He listened patiently, nodding occasionally and when I finished, he said, Leave it with me. His response gave no indication of what he thought about my proposal, leaving me unsure of where I stood.

After that meeting, weeks turned into months with no further communication. I began to think my effort had been in vain and that the idea wasnt going anywhere. Then, towards the end of the year, the CEO called me into his office. As I walked in, he said, Remember the presentation you made to me in Goa? Ive discussed it with the board, and we are happy to offer you the position of chief ratings officer.

Just like that, it was done! It felt so simple in the end, but that moment completely changed the trajectory of my career. Becoming CRO not only provided me with the opportunity to shape the future of the companys largest division but also set me on the path to becoming the CEO. If theres one lesson Ive carried with me from this, its this: If you dont ask, you dont get.

By putting myself forward, articulating the value of the role, and presenting my case, I opened a door that might have remained shut. Sometimes, the biggest opportunities come not from waiting for recognition but from advocating for yourself.

The hesitation I felt is something many women can relate to. Studies have shown that men tend to apply for jobs when they meet only 60% of the qualifications, while women wait until they meet 100%. This confidence gap is not about competenceits about perception. Women underestimate their abilities and overestimate the risks of stepping into leadership.

The good news is that confidence is like a muscleit can be built over time. Start by celebrating your successes, no matter how small. Remind yourself of the challenges youve overcome and the skills you bring to the table. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and will push you to aim higher. And, most importantly, take the leap. You dont have to have all the answers to succeed. Confidence often comes after you take action, not before.

Also Read | Sandeep Nailwal of Polygon Labs: One block at a time

While individual actions are important, organizations also have a critical role to play in creating an environment where women can flourish. This goes beyond just having diversity initiatives or womens networksits about embedding gender equity into the fabric of the company culture. Organizations need to ensure that hiring and promotion processes are unbiased. They need to provide flexible work arrangements that recognize the realities of modern life. And they need to identify and nurture female talent, ensuring that women have access to the same mentorship, sponsorship and opportunities as their male counterparts.

Leadership training programmes can also make a significant difference. Women who are exposed to leadership development early in their careers are more likely to see themselves as leaders and aspire to higher roles. These programmes should focus not only on building technical and strategic skills but also on addressing the unique challenges that women face in leadership.

When we discuss promoting women in leadership, the focus is often on the women themselves and the barriers they face. But the role of men in this journey is just as crucial. Men are key allies in creating environments that not only allow women to succeed but actively encourage their growth. Being a true ally means going beyond good intentions. It involves actively advocating for women, mentoring them, and calling out those stubborn biases that keep blocking gender equality in leadership. 

As I reflect on my own journey, one thing stands out: Leadership is not about fitting into a predefined mould. Its about owning who you are, leveraging your unique strengths and being unapologetically ambitious about what you want to achieve.

For women aspiring to leadership roles, my message is simple: Dont wait for permission. Dont wait for someone to tell you that youre ready or that you deserve a seat at the table. You are ready. You do deserve it. The world needs more women in leadershipnot just for the sake of diversity, but because women bring perspectives, insights and leadership styles that are essential for success in a complex business environment. For current women leaders: Your journey extends beyond personal achievement to creating pathways for others, dismantling barriers, and building a future where talent, vision and impactrather than genderdefine leadership.

Excerpt from Leadership beyond the Playbook published with permission from Penguin Random House India.

Also Read | Building leaders through shared values
As the Indian economy continues to evolve due to the advent of technology and artificial intelligence, so do the tactics used by scammers to defraud innocent people and carry out sophisticated personal loan scams.

That is why, before applying for any new personal loans, it becomes essential to recognise and avoid these fraudulent schemes to protect and safeguard your personal information and to ensure long-term financial prosperity.

Personal loan scams Fake loan apps: Fraudsters launch counterfeit applications that appear genuine, collect your personal details, and vanish without disbursing any loan, putting you at risk of identity theft. The data submitted by you is then used to carry out unauthorised transactions or to obtain new credit cards in your name to cause decisive financial damage. Upfront fee scams: In these scams, scammers put pressure on aspiring borrowers and demand processing fees or insurance fees before approving their personal loan. These charges are primarily illegitimate, and such lenders generally disappear after receiving payments. That is why you should always borrow from legitimate lenders only and never fall for any pressure tactics. Phishing calls and emails: In phishing scams, criminals copy and impersonate legitimate lending institutions. Similarly, they send fake SMS, emails, or calls to borrowers in need and obtain sensitive data, such as Aadhaar details, PAN details, bank account details, and OTPs. The sharing of such critical data results in financial fraud and loss of funds. Fake documentation requests: Fraudulent agents or websites ask for original images of documents under the guise of personal loan verification, later using them for illegal activities or to open new personal loans or credit cards in your name. Loan guarantee fraud: Certain illegitimate financial institutions promise guaranteed personal loan or home loan approval regardless of your credit history, but insist on upfront payments. Now, in all such cases, it is crucial to keep in mind that authentic lenders never make such unconditional assurances.

Also Read | Borrowers use forged documents to secure personal loans worth 5.5 crore

Borrower rights, duties, and complaint redressal mechanisms

If a borrower falls victim to a personal loan scam, complaints can be lodged with the following authorities and platforms:

RBI Consumer Education and Protection Department: Individuals facing difficulties can reach out to the RBI's official website and register their complaint. For complete details on the same, you should visit: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/Complaints.aspx

Individuals facing difficulties can reach out to the RBI's official website and register their complaint. For complete details on the same, you should visit: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/Complaints.aspx Banking Ombudsman Scheme: If you face issues with banks, NBFCs, or regulated lenders, file a complaint under the RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme athttps://cms.rbi.org.in.

If you face issues with banks, NBFCs, or regulated lenders, file a complaint under the RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme athttps://cms.rbi.org.in. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Government of India: This is yet another important portal for registering your grievances, tracking them, and uploading vital documents to support your case. It provides consumers with a platform to achieve a speedy resolution to their consumer disputes. It can be accessed through the link: https://consumerhelpline.gov.in

Borrowers have the right to timely information, fair treatment, and confidentiality of their data under RBI regulations. It is not only essential for them to dodge common personal loan scams but also to report any such happenings promptly. Taking proper steps in the same direction not only helps restore the financial rights of victims but also prevents scamsters from continuing their illegal agendas.

For all personal finance updates, visit here.
Zomato, the popular food ordering and delivery platform, has tied up with HDFC Pension, one of the largest pension fund managers in the country, to introduce the NPS (National Pension System) Platform Workers Model for its delivery partners.

The collaboration will enable independent gig workers, onboarded on Zomato as delivery partners, to make small and regular contributions towards a pension fund that will enable them to achieve long-term financial security. These workers will receive funds either as a lumpsum or a monthly pension upon retirement. They will also have the option of portability, allowing them to carry their pension-related benefits forward as they progress in their careers.

More than 30000 delivery partners onboarded on Zomato have already generated their PRANs (Permanent Retirement Account Numbers) within 72 hours of this integration, Zomato said. The platform said it is committed to enabling over 1 lakh delivery partners with their NPS retirement accounts by 2025.

Digital integration has been done to make the onboarding process smooth and hassle-free by using the existing KYC or e-KYC of the gig workers, with their consent, at the PRAN generation level, it said. Additional details can be submitted by the gig workers subsequently, the company said. Zomato operates on a gig-first model, supporting an average of 5.09 lakh independent monthly active delivery partners as of Q1 FY26.

Also Read | NPS subscribers can submit physical forms if online glitches persist

With HDFC Pension, were taking a step beyond daily livelihoodtowards long-term financial security and assurance in retirement (of delivery partners). This is part of our larger commitment to building stability and dignity for those who power Indias gig economy, said Aditya Mangla, CEO, Zomato.

Through the NPS Platform Workers Model, such individuals (delivery partners) can now start planning for their retirement. This model not only enables them to plan for their retirement but also contributes towards bringing a larger section of our population under the umbrella of long-term financial security, said Sriram Iyer, Managing Director and CEO, HDFC Pension.

HDFC Pension has six NPS products, including retail, corporate, and for government employees. NPS returns are market-linked and depend on the performance of the underlying instruments. When an individual contributes to NPS, the funds are invested across four asset classesequity (E), corporate bonds (C), government bonds (G), and alternative investment funds (A).

While the E option fund primarily invests in equity markets, offering the potential for high growth but also carrying higher risk, the C option invests in debt instruments of companies, generally providing stable returns with moderate risk.

The G option invests in securities issued by the government, which are considered low-risk with potentially lower returns compared to equity. The A-type fund has investments in instruments like REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts), InvITs (Infrastructure Investment Trusts), etc., offering diversification but potentially higher complexity and risk.

NPS offers two accounts and two choices Tier I account: This is the primary retirement account that comes with tax benefits and limits on withdrawals until retirement (except under specific circumstances). The returns generated in Tier I play an important role in building your retirement corpus.

Tier II account: This is a voluntary savings account related to your PRAN. It offers flexibility for withdrawals but does not have the same tax benefits as a Tier I account. The NPS Tier II returns can help in your short to medium-term savings goals alongside your primary retirement fund.

Active choice: This option allows you to actively decide the allocation of your funds across the four asset classes (E, C, G, and A). You can decide asset allocation based on your risk appetite and market outlook, directly influencing your potential national pension scheme returns.

Auto choice: This provides a default investment strategy that is based on your age. As you age, the allocation gradually shifts from higher-risk assets like equity to lower-risk options like government bonds.



Allirajan M is a journalist with over two decades of experience. He has worked with several leading media organisations in the country and has been writing on mutual funds for nearly 16 years.

For all personal finance updates, visit here.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the attempted attack on the Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai on Monday in the Supreme Court has angered every Indian.

In a post on social media platform X, the PM said, Spoke to Chief Justice of India, Justice BR Gavai Ji. The attack on him earlier today in the Supreme Court premises has angered every Indian. There is no place for such reprehensible acts in our society. It is utterly condemnable.

Modi also praised the calm and restraint shown by the CJI when the attempt was made.

I appreciated the calm displayed by Justice Gavai in the face of such a situation. It highlights his commitment to values of justice and strengthening the spirit of our Constitution, he said in his post.

The CJI reportedly did not lose his calm in the courtroom and told the others present, Don't get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me.

What took place inside the CJI's courtroom

In a shocking security breach, a 71-year-old lawyer attempted to hurl a shoe towards CJI Gavai in his courtroom in the Supreme Court on Monday, prompting the Bar Council of India to suspend his licence with immediate effect.

Police sources said a note, containing the slogan "Sanatan dharma ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan" (India will not tolerate insults to Sanatan Dharma), was recovered from his possession.

The CJI, who remained unfazed during and after the unprecedented incident during the court proceedings, asked the court officials and the security personnel present inside the courtroom to just ignore it and to let off the errant lawyer identified as Rakesh Kishore with a warning.

Opposition sharpens attack The Congress on Monday condemned the attack on Chief Justice of India B R Gavai as shameful and said the "mindless act" shows how hate and fanaticism have engulfed society.

The opposition party also termed the incident a shocking breach of decorum and a dangerous new low in India's democratic history, claiming it to be an assault on the judiciary and the Constitution.

Left parties on Monday condemned the attack on Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, and demanded immediate action against the advocate who tried to hurl a shoe at him.

The Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) called the incident "yet another example of the Manuvadi and communal venom injected into society by Hindutva communal forces."

"The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly condemns the act of throwing a shoe at the Chief Justice of India, BR Gavai. It demands that immediate action be taken against the concerned advocate, who is registered with the Supreme Court Bar Association and has been apprehended," the CPI(M) said in a statement.
Amit Malviya, national convener of the IT cell of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed tribal leader and MP Khagen Murmu was attacked while on his way to flood-hit areas like Nagrakata in Jalpaiguris Dooars region in West Bengal. He hit out at TMC for Jungle Raj in the state and alleged its goons were behind the attack.

He said, TMCs Jungle Raj in Bengal! BJP MP Khagen Murmu, a respected tribal leader and two-time MP from North Malda, was attacked by TMC goons while on his way to Nagrakata in Jalpaiguris Dooars region to help with relief and rescue efforts after devastating rains, floods, and landslides.

While Mamata Banerjee dances at her Kolkata Carnival, the TMC and state administration are missing in action. Those actually helping the people, BJP leaders and karyakartas, are being attacked for doing relief work. This is TMCs Bengal, where cruelty rules and compassion is punished, he added.

North Bengal floods man-made Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday described the floods and subsequent devastation in north Bengal as man-made, attributing the cause to the DVCs unrestricted release of water, which led to rivers overflowing in the southern parts of the state, according to PTI.

She also declared financial assistance of 5 lakh for the families of those who lost their lives in the floods and landslides. Additionally, she announced that one member from each bereaved family would be offered a job as a home guard.

Banerjee said, We have so far received reports of 23 people who have died in the north Bengal floods. The region received over 300 mm of rainfall, sustaining for over 12 hours on Saturday night and early Sunday." She made these remarks while speaking to the media at Kolkata airport, ahead of her departure for Bagdogra to monitor the relief and rescue efforts in the flood-affected areas of north Bengal.

Officials stated that continuous rainfall in the upper regions of the state over the past 48 hours has resulted in extensive flooding across the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduars, and Cooch Behar. They added the Nagrakata area of the Dooars and the Mirik region in Darjeeling are the worst affected, with landslides and homes being swept away.

She alleged, The DVC is releasing water as per its wish. The lack of desiltation of Maithon and Panchet reservoirs has significantly reduced its water retention capacity. The DVC is doing this to save Jharkhand from flooding, and Bengal is bearing the brunt."

Banerjee mentioned that the state government has arranged 45 buses to evacuate stranded tourists from the flood-affected areas of North Bengal. She claimed that the Centre has not released any funds for flood relief and that the state government was somehow managing the crisis on its own.
A dramatic incident unfolded in the Supreme Court of India on Monday when a lawyer allegedly attempted to attack Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai during court proceedings.

According to Bar and Bench, the episode occurred while a Bench led by CJI Gavai was hearing the mentioning of cases by lawyers. The lawyer reportedly approached the dais and attempted to remove his shoe with the apparent intention of throwing it at the Chief Justice.

Security personnel acted swiftly, restraining the lawyer before he could carry out the act and escorting him out of the courtroom. As he was being removed, the lawyer shouted, Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge (We will not tolerate the insult of Sanatan).

Despite the commotion, CJI Gavai remained composed and addressed the lawyers present: Dont get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me, Bar and Bench quoted him as saying.

What sparked the attack on CJI Gavai? The incident is believed to have been triggered by CJI Gavais comments in a previous case concerning the restoration of a seven-foot beheaded idol of Lord Vishnu at Khajuraho. While dismissing the matter, he remarked:

Go and ask the deity itself to do something now. You say you are a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. So go and pray now. Its an archaeological site and ASI needs to give permission, etc.

The observation had sparked controversy on social media, with many accusing the CJI of hurting religious sentiments. Addressing the matter in open court two days later, he clarified: I respect all religionsThis happened on social media.

Government supports CJI amid social media backlash Representing the central government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta backed the Chief Justice, noting that reactions to incidents often become exaggerated online.

We have seen thisThere is Newton's law which says every action has an equal reaction, but now every action has a disproportionate social media reaction, milord, Mehta said.
Incessant rains in parts of West Bengal have wreaked havoc, claiming at least 28 lives. The worst-affected region remains Darjeeling, while dozens of people are still missing as rescue teams struggle to reach remote areas cut off by the deluge. Heavy downpours in North Bengal have triggered landslides, causing roads to cave in and leaving several tourists from Kolkata and other parts of Bengal stranded on Durga Puja vacations.

Several videos on social media show swollen rivers with strong currents sweeping away cars, houses, and even rhinos. Visuals from the affected areas reveal damaged bridges, washed-out roads, and rivers in spate. The severe weather has also caused heavy damage across the border in Nepal.

Rhinos seen floating in floodwaters ear Jaldapara National Park Some visuals are said to be from near Jaldapara National Park - home to the famous one-horned rhinoceros and several other endangered species. "Rhinos are floating in the water and even chasing people in the flooding Torsa River near Jaldapara National Park, a protected wildlife sanctuary in Alipurduar district near the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas," the caption of a now-viral video reads.

Elephants turn heroes amid chaos In the midst of uncertainty, elephants have turned heroes. Ravikant Jha, Assistant Wildlife Warden of Jaldapara, explained how the animals are helping to transport stranded tourists after a wooden bridge in the forest collapsed.

"Our elephants have brought 24 tourists across the river because the bridge near the lodge broke due to the rain, so no one can come by road. For the tourists who want to come, we are bringing them here by elephant  56 more, and we will try to bring those who want to come here," Jha said.
The Indian government has initiated early-stage talks with local insurers to design a nationwide climate-linked insurance programme, aiming to simplify the financial relief process following extreme weather events such as floods and heatwaves.

The proposed scheme is centred on a parametric insurance model, in which payouts can be made very quickly. The move is also expected to help the central government manage its financial burdens, as insurers would be taking on more of the risk which is currently covered by disaster relief funds, Reuters reported.

India is among the nations most prone to extreme weather events. If the proposed insurance scheme is approved, then it could make India one of the first major economies to roll out such a programme.

How does the parametric model work? Unlike traditional insurance where claims are based on a detailed assessment of losses, which can often take years, the parametric model is designed to ensure speed and feasibility.

In this model, policyholders receive a pre-determined payout when specific weather thresholds are breached. These thresholds could be specific levels of rainfall, temperature or wind speed.

Parametric insurance is particularly effective in offering coverage in rural and remote areas where traditional insurance is often lacking, and loss assessment is challenging.

Ramaswamy Narayanan, chairperson of state-run reinsurer GIC Re, told Reuters that The National Disaster Management Authority, the finance ministry and GIC Re and other top insurers are currently exploring coverage options and funding mechanisms.

India's climate vulnerability The push for a national climate insurance programme is critical given India's high susceptibility to climate risks. It ranks sixth globally in climate vulnerability, based on the Germanwatch Global Climate Risk Index 2025.

In the last three decades leading up to 2022, India recorded over 400 extreme weather events, resulting in at least 80,000 fatalities and estimated economic losses of around $180 billion.

States such as Punjab and Assam have faced crop and livelihood losses due to flooding, while flash floods and landslides in Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir have destroyed homes and infrastructure.

Funding the insurance project The federal government is backing the proposal, though a formal proposal is still under development. It is considering multiple ways to fund the premiums, including tapping existing disaster relief funds or levying small charges on utility bills to fund premiums, according to Reuters.

Several states have already piloted parametric schemes and even more are in talks with insurers to secure more coverage, seven industry executives told the news agency.
India and Qatar aim to double their bilateral trade in the next five years, Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal said, at a time when New Delhi is facing steep US tariffs. Trade between the two countries stood at $14.15 billion in FY25.

Earlier in the day, Goyal co-chaired the IndiaQatar Joint Commission on Economic and Commercial Cooperation with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani. India is in the process of widening its export basket after the US tariffs cast a cloud over its $86.5 billion goods trade with the world's largest economy.

The two leaders reviewed the overall trade and investment relationship and discussed measures to address existing trade barriers and enhance cooperation across emerging sectors, including finance, agriculture, healthcare, technology, and renewable energy. Both sides reaffirmed their shared intent to pursue an ambitious IndiaQatar Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to further deepen economic engagement, the commerce minister said in a statement.

Also Read | India steps up FTA talks with Qatar, EU as US tariff strains trade ties

Speaking at the IndiaQatar Joint Business Council (JBC) meeting, attended by representatives from local industry and the Qatar Chamber, Goyal highlighted Indias resilience amid global economic headwinds. The minister further underscored Indias robust macroeconomic fundamentals, thriving start-up ecosystem and conducive business environment, urging companies from both countries to explore new partnerships.

Goyal said the two economies possess significant untapped trade potential. He identified promising sectors for expansion, including electronics, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, processed food, textiles, gems and jewellery, IT, high-tech manufacturing, and solar energy. He also lauded the first in-person JBC meeting for fostering direct engagement between businesses.

Trade deficit India has a trade deficit of $10.78 billion, driven largely by petroleum imports, which account for 89% of its total imports. Both ministers acknowledged Qatars crucial role as a long-term energy partner for India, with the upcoming LNG supply agreement of 7.5 million tonnes per year from 2028 forming a cornerstone of cooperation. Goyal emphasized the need to diversify trade by enhancing Indian exports to Qatar, complementing the energy partnership with growth in value-added sectors.

As per the ministrys statement, on the sidelines of the Joint Commission, Goyal held a series of meetings with senior Qatari officials and business leaders, exploring avenues for greater investment flows, technology partnerships, and joint ventures between enterprises of both countries.

Goyal also participated in the launch of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) at Lulu Mall, The Pearl Island, a milestone in Indias digital cooperation with Qatar, facilitating seamless digital payments for the Indian diaspora and local consumers.

Earlier in the day, Goyal paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at the Embassy of India in Doha and planted a sapling under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative, reflecting Indias commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Earlier, in February 2025, the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, was in India on a state visit. During that visit, the two countries elevated their joint working group on trade and commerce to a ministerial-level Joint Commission to drive a more structured dialogue on economic matters.

Also Read | For India and EU, a deal is closer than ever
India and the 27-member European Union (EU) bloc are set to begin their 14th round of negotiations for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) on Monday, 6 October, in Brussels, an official told PTI.

This round of talks, scheduled to last five days from 6-10 October 2025, will see both sides iron out differences on issues for early conclusion of the negotiations, the official added.

The envisioned pact aims at boosting two-way commerce and investments between India and the EU, covering 23 policy areas and involving significant duty cuts and tax reductions.

Piyush Goyal hopeful agreement coming soon The report added that Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has expressed hope that both sides would come to an agreement, and a trade pact between India and the EU would be signed soon.

Goyal is likely to meet EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic in South Africa later in October. The two are set to review the progress of talks, ahead of the scheduled December deadline to conclude negotiations, it added.

India-EU free trade agreement in works: What we know Sefcovic and the European Commission's Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen were in New Delhi in September 2025 to review the progress of talks with Piyush Goyal.

Both sides have targeted to conclude negotiations by December 2025.

Negotiations for the India-EU pact resumed in June 2022 after an eight-year gap. The comprehensive FTA, including geographical indications and investment protection agreement, stalled in 2013 due to differences on the level of opening up markets, as per the report.

The EU is demanding significant duty cuts in automobiles and medical devices, besides tax reduction for products such as wine, spirits, meat, and poultry. It is also seeking a strong intellectual property regime.

For India, domestic goods' exports to the EU, such as ready-made garments, pharmaceuticals, steel, petroleum products, and electrical machinery, can become more competitive if the pact sails through.

What does the FTA comprise? What are the benefits? The India-EU trade pact negotiations cover 23 policy areas or chapters, including competition, customs and trade facilitation, dispute settlement, geographical indications, government procurement, investment, IP rights, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, sustainable development, technical barriers to trade, trade in defence, trade in goods, trade remedies, and trade in services.

In FY25, India's bilateral trade in goods with the EU was $136.53 billion  of which, exports comprised goods worth $75.85 billion, and imports were worth $60.68 billion. This made them the largest trading partner for goods.

The EU market accounts for about 17 per cent of India's total exports, and its exports to India constitute 9 per cent of its total overseas shipments. In addition, in 2023, bilateral trade in services between India and the EU was estimated at $51.45 billion.
Jaipur Hospital Fire: A short circuit in the trauma Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital triggered a devastating fire late on Sunday night, resulting in the deaths of eight patients and exposing significant safety lapses, according to relatives and witnesses.

The deceased have been identified as Pintu (Sikar), Dileep (Aandhi, Jaipur), Shrinath (Bharatpur), Rukmani (Bharatpur), Kushma (Bharatpur), Sarvesh (Agra, UP), Bahadur (Sanganer, Jaipur), and Digambar Verma.

According to the latest reports, five patients are in critical condition.

Jaipur Hospital Fire: What Happened in the ICU? Relatives of patients recounted harrowing scenes as smoke engulfed the ward, forcing patients and staff to flee in panic.

Puran Singh, whose relative was admitted to the ICU, told ANI: When there was a spark, there was a cylinder beside it. The smoke spread throughout the ICU, causing everyone to flee in panic. Some managed to rescue their own patients, but mine was left alone in the room. As the gas spread further, they shut the gates.

Narendra Singh, another relative, described being initially unaware of the fire to ANI. There was a fire in the ICU, and I didn't even know. I had come downstairs to have dinner at the time. There wasn't even any equipment to douse the fire--no facilities were available. My mother was admitted there, he said.

Om Prakash, whose 25-year-old maternal aunts son was admitted, recounted: Smoke started spreading around 11:20 PM, and I warned the doctors that it could cause discomfort to patients. By the time the smoke intensified, the doctors and compounders had already fled. Only 4 to 5 patients were evacuated. Tragically, my maternal aunt's son lost his life due to the incident. He was about to recover and was scheduled to be discharged in two-three days.

Jaipur Hospital Fire: Were Safety Protocols Followed? Several relatives criticised hospital staff for failing to respond appropriately.

Jogendra Singh, whose mother was admitted, said: When the spark occurred, I alerted the doctors four to five times that it was coming from there, but they dismissed it as normal. Suddenly, smoke engulfed the area, and all the staff ran out, leaving no one to help or save my mother. I was outside when I asked the police, and they said everyone had been evacuated. However, my mother and brother were still trapped inside the hospital. Somehow, I managed to rescue my brother, but he is now in critical condition.

Ranjit Singh Rathore, whose brother was admitted, received a distressing call at 11:30 PM. I had just arrived this evening. I rushed to the hospital, but initially, they wouldn't let me inside. After some time, I managed to enter. When I went in, I found my brother dead, he said.

The accounts highlight serious concerns about emergency preparedness and the availability of fire-safety equipment in one of Rajasthans largest public hospitals.

Also Read | UK mosque set on fire in suspected hate crime, no fatalities reported

Jaipur Hospital Fire: How Are Authorities Responding? Late on Sunday night, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited SMS Hospital following the fire outbreak.

CM Sharma posted on X (formerly Twitter) about his visit to SMS hospital and said, The incident of a fire breaking out at the trauma center of Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur is extremely unfortunate.

He wrote: Upon reaching the hospital, I gathered information from the doctors and officials and issued instructions to ensure swift relief efforts. Every possible step is being taken for the safety of patients, their treatment, and the care of those affected, and the situation is being continuously monitored.
A fire, reportedly caused by a suspected short circuit, broke out at the trauma centre of Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur on Sunday night, claiming eight people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow over the tragedy.

The loss of lives due to a fire tragedy at a hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan, is deeply saddening. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon, the Prime Minister's Office said on X.

Jaipur hospital fire: Here's what we know so far The kin of patients protested against the Bhajanlal Sharma-led government and the hospital administration, alleging negligence.

2. The Rajasthan government on Monday formed a 6-member committee to probe the incident.

3. One of the witnesses shared his horrifying experience and said his mother, brother were still trapped inside the hospital despite police informing everyone had been evacuated. Another witness claimed there was no equipment to douse the blaze.

SMS Hospital patients and their relatives

4. Former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot called for a high-level investigation, saying, The state government should conduct a high-level investigation into this incident to ensure that such accidents do not recur anywhere in the future.

Jaipur: Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma meets an injured after a fire broke out at the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, late Sunday night, in Jaipur, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. Six patients died in the incident. (PTI Photo)(PTI10_06_2025_000009B)

5. "This is gross negligence on the part of the state government. The Chief Minister is busy touring Delhi. There is no monitoring. Education and health are basic needs of the state. The state Health Minister should resign immediately, and the bereaved families should be compensated. Action should be taken against those whose negligence led to this incident," said Tika Ram Jully, LoP in the Rajasthan Assembly.

6. Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph said the forensics team is probing to determine the cause of the fire. Our FSL team's investigation will reveal the cause of the fire. At first glance, it appears to be a short circuit, but the final cause will only be determined after the FSL investigation. ANI quoted the police commissioner.

Jaipur: Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma visits the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, where a fire broke out late Sunday night, in Jaipur, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. Six patients died in the incident. (PTI Photo)(PTI10_06_2025_000008B)

7. Vikas, a ward boy present during the incident, said he and other staff rushed to rescue patients after learning about the fire. They managed to save three to four people before the flames became too intense. He said the police arrived later but couldnt enter due to the heavy smoke. Firefighters had to break a window to begin dousing the fire, as the entire ward was filled with smoke, per a report by PTI.

**EDS: SCREENGRAB VIA PTI VIDEOS** Jaipur: Charred premises of the state-run Sawai Man Singh Hospital after a fire broke out late Sunday night, in Jaipur, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. Six patients died in the incident. (PTI Photo)(PTI10_06_2025_000005B)

Also Read | Jaipur ICU fire kills 8: Relatives slam SMS hospital staff for negligence

8. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma called the incident extremely unfortunate. Upon reaching the hospital, I gathered information from the doctors and officials and issued instructions to ensure swift relief efforts. Every possible step is being taken for the safety of patients, their treatment, and the care of those affected, and the situation is being continuously monitored. May Lord Shri Ram grant place at His divine feet to the departed souls. The state government stands with the affected families and is committed to providing them every possible assistance, he said on X.

9. CM Sharma visited the scene where the incident occurred.

10. BJP MLA Gopal Sharma called for action against those responsible for the negligence, saying, This incident is extremely unfortunate. Families have lost loved ones. The grieving families should be given appropriate compensation. Action should be taken against those whose negligence led to this incident.
The Supreme Court will today hear a plea filed by Sonam Wangchuk's wife Gitanjali J Angmo challenging the climate activist's detention under the National Security Act (NSA) over recent violence during protests in Leh. The plea seeks Wangchuk's immediate release.

According to the apex court's cause list for October 6, the plea would come up for hearing before a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria. The bench will sit at 10.30 AM.

Wangchuk was detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) on September 26, two days after protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh left four people dead and 90 injured in the Union Territory.

According to the apex court's cause list for October 6, the plea would come up for hearing before a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria. The bench will sit at 10.30 AM.

Wangchuk is lodged in Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan.

Angmo shared a picture of legal team on X. The picture also had veteran SC Lawyer Kapil Sibal.

What does the habeas corpus writ say? In her plea filed through senior lawyer Vivek Tankha and lawyer Sarvam Ritam Khare, Angmo has also questioned the decision to invoke the NSA against Wangchuk, which allows detention without a trial for up to 12 months.

Filing the habeas corpus (bring the person) writ, the spouse of the detained activist sought urgent listing of the plea and a direction to the Ladakh administration to "produce Sonam Wangchuk before this court forthwith".

It also sought immediate access to the detenue, and quashing of the preventive detention order.

The plea, which named the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ladakh UT administration, deputy commissioner of Leh, and the Jodhpur jail superintendent as parties, also sought a direction to them to "allow immediate access of the petitioner to her husband, both telephonic and in person".

Also Read | Tourism In Ladakh Takes A Major Hit After Recent Violence, Visitors Stranded

The plea alleged that Wangchuk's detention was "illegal, arbitrary, and unconstitutional", violating the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19, 21 and 22 of the Constitution.

Wangchuk, an acclaimed innovator "Wangchuk, who has been an internationally acclaimed innovator, environmentalist, and social reformer, has always espoused Gandhian and peaceful methods to highlight the ecological and democratic concerns of Ladakh," it said.

On September 26, Wangchuk was detained by the deputy commissioner of Leh under Section 3(2) of the NSA, as he was recovering from a prolonged fast to highlight Ladakh's demand for constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule.

He was swiftly shifted to the Central Jail in Jodhpur without being provided medicines, personal belongings, or access to his family and counsel, the plea said.

No grounds of detention have been furnished till date, either to Wangchuk or to his family, the petition said.

His wife alleged that she has been kept under virtual house arrest in Leh, while students and staff of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), founded by Wangchuk, are facing harassment, intimidation, and intrusive investigations.

"The arbitrary transfer of Wangchuk to Jodhpur, the harassment of students and staff of HIAL, the virtual house arrest of the petitioner herself, and the false propaganda linking Wangchuk to foreign entities clearly demonstrate mala fide state action intended to suppress democratic dissent and peaceful environmental activism," the plea said.

Wangchuk's detention has also inflicted severe mental pain and anguish on the people of Ladakh, who revere him as their leader, it added.

"A recent tragic incident has been reported where a member of the Ladakh Buddhist Association committed suicide, allegedly depressed after his (Wangchuk's) detention, underscoring the devastating psychological impact on the community," it said.

"Direct respondents to ensure that Sonam Wangchuk is provided with his medicines, clothes, food and other basic necessities forthwith," the plea said.

It also sought a direction to the authorities to place before the top court "the order of detention along with grounds of detention and all records pertaining thereto".

It sought a direction to the respondents to produce a medical report of Wangchuk, after immediate doctor consultation, before the court.

"Stop immediate harassment of HIAL and its members/students who have done no harm and are tirelessly working for the benefit of the ecology," the plea said.

Wangchuk's message from jail In a message from the Central Jail, Jodhpur, Wangchuk told the people of Ladakh and India on Sunday about his well-being and demanded an independent Judicial Inquiry into the killing of four people during the September 24 Ladakh violence.

Through his lawyer, Mustafa Haji, Sonam Wangchuk said, I am doing well, both physically and mentally and thank everyone for their concern and prayers.

I stand firmly with Apex Body and the KDA and the people of Ladakh in our genuine constitutional demand for Sixth Schedule and Statehood.

"I stand firmly with Apex Body and the KDA and the people of Ladakh in our genuine constitutional demand for Sixth Schedule and Statehood and whatever actions Apex Body takes in the interest of Ladakh, I am with them wholeheartedly," Wangchuk said.
The Delhi High Court has closed a trademark infringement lawsuit filed by Nestle SA, the parent company of popular instant noodle brand Maggi, after it entered into a settlement with the defendant.

Nestle SA had filed the lawsuit against a company that was manufacturing utensils under the name of Maggisun, which the FMCG giant found problematic.

The Delhi HC order closing the case was given on September 22.

Justice Tejas Karia decreed the suit after the defendant, Shankeshwar Utensils & Appliances Private Limited, said that it would not manufacture products under the name of Maggisun or any other brand that imitated Maggi.

The Suit is decreed in terms of the Settlement arrived at between the Parties as recorded above. Let the Decree Sheet be drawn up accordingly. The Parties are directed to be bound by the terms of the Settlement, the Delhi HC order reads.

The Suit and the pending Application(s) stand disposed of, it adds.

The case was filed by Societe Des Produits Nestle SA, the official corporate name of FMCG giant Nestle company, in 2018.

What does the settlement agreement say? In its undertaking, defendant Shankeshwar Utensils & Appliances submitted that it acknowleges Nestle to be the proprietor of the trademark MAGGI.

The Defendant undertakes not to manufacture, sell, offer for sale, advertise, directly or indirectly deal in pressure cookers or any goods/services under the trade mark MAGGISUN or any other trade mark as may be identical to or similar to the Plaintiffs trade mark MAGGI, and further undertakes not to advertise MAGGISUN, MAGGI or any other similar trade mark on any media including print, electronic, social media, or on ecommerce platforms in any manner whatsoever now and in future, the court order reads.

The company has also undertaken to destroy all pressure cookers and other goods including stickers and labels bearing the name Maggisun and submit photographic evidence to Nestle SA within two weeks, as well as cancel its trademark registration for the name.
New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student was allegedly raped by a man and his two associates at a hotel in northwest Delhi's Adarsh Nagar area, police said on Monday.

The accused, who is absconding, allegedly recorded the act and blackmailed the woman for nearly a month, they said.

Preliminary inquiry revealed that both the woman and the main accused hailed from the same district in Haryana.

The accused, who is said to be preparing for competitive exams in the national capital, had invited the woman to a hotel party, police said, citing the woman's testimony.

The woman alleged that she became unconscious after she had a drink she was offered by the man.

When she came around, she found she had been raped by the three, police said, citing the complaint.
Telugu star Vijay Deverakondas car was involved in a minor accident on Monday in Telangana's Jogulamba Gadwal district. However, in a social media post, the actor said that he was fine and that even though his head hurt, it was nothing biryani and sleep will not fix.

The incident occurred while he was returning to Hyderabad from Puttaparthi in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, the birthplace of the late spiritual guru Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Nothing biryani, sleep will not fix In a post on X, Deverakonda stated that his car had been hit but confirmed everything was fine.

All is well. The car took a hit, but we are all fine. Went and did a strength workout as well, and just got back home. My head hurts, but nothing that a biryani and sleep wont fix, he said.

So, biggest hugs and my love to all of you. Dont let the news stress you, he added.

No one was injured According to police, Vijay Deverakondas car and another four-wheeler grazed each other, causing minor damage to his vehicle. However, no one was injured in the incident.

After the accident, the actor stepped out of his vehicle and boarded a friends car to continue his journey to Hyderabad. He was accompanied by friends.

The driver of Deverakondas car lodged a complaint with the police on Monday evening, following which a case of rash driving was registered against the driver of the other vehicle.

Vijay Deverakonda to marry Rashmika Mandanna in February On Saturday, a Hindustan Times report confirmed that Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna are engaged and plan to tie the knot in February next year in a private ceremony.

Featured in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 since 2018, Vijay rose to prominence as a lead actor by headlining in Pelli Choopulu and Arjun Reddy. A recipient of a Filmfare Award, Nandi Award and three SIIMA Awards, some of his commercially successful films include Mahanati, Geetha Govindam and Taxiwaala.

His recent films include Kingdom and a cameo role in Kalki 2898 AD.
Torrential rains wreaked havoc on the entire eastern Himalayan region on Sunday, triggering one of the worst landslides in a decade in the Darjeeling area, and leaving dozens dead and hundreds of tourists stranded across northern West Bengal, Nepal, and Bhutan.

As details come in from the disaster-hit region, here's a look at the major updates:

How many have been killed in West Bengal? At least 24 people, including children, were reported to have been killed as of Sunday night in West Bengal alone.

As per the National Defence Response Force (NDRF), a total of 18 people have been killed in Darjeeling, with 11 of those in Mirik, the worst-hit area.

Meanwhile, at least five bodies have been recovered from landslide debris during a separate rescue operation in Nagrakata, in the nearby Jalpaiguri district.

Casualties, however, are expected to increase. On Sunday, North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha said that the toll was "likely to go up".

Follow LIVE updates from Darjeeling and surrounding areas How many people have been killed in Nepal? Since Friday, at least 47 people have lost their lives in Nepal due to flash floods and landslides triggered by incessant downpour.

Of these, 35 people were killed in separate landslide incidents in the India-bordering Ilam district, while nine were washed away and three were killed by lightning strikes.

What is the extent of damage? With over 300 mm of rainfall hitting sub-Himalayan Bengal in less than 12 hours, entire areas were inundated while houses were left flattened after landslides.

Two iron bridges have collapsed, several roads have been damaged and flooded, huge tracts of land in the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar have been inundated. There have been reports of worrying damages and losses particularly in Mirik, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Matigara and Alipurduar, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on X as details started coming in.

How have authorities reacted? Beyond mobilising emergency response forces, authorities have announced several measures to cope with the disaster.

In West Bengal, CM Banerjee held a high-level meeting on Sunday and announced the setting up of a 24/7 control room.

She also announced compensation for victims and is slated to visit north Bengal on Monday, 6 October, to assess the situation, as Darjeeling MP and BJP leader Raju Bista has called for the rain-triggered landslides to be declared a "state-level disaster".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, meanwhile, has expressed condolences over the loss of lives and has said the situation in the east of the country is being closely monitored.

President Droupadi Murmu, too, has expressed condolences and has prayed for the success of relief and rescue operations in disaster-hit areas.

Top Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi have also expressed grief over the loss and have called for the Centre to provide assistance to disaster-hit areas.

What is the status of rescue operations? As of Sunday night, the NDRF had evacuated over 160 people from Bengal, 105 of whom were evacuated by boat and another 55 using zip lines in the Jalpaiguri district.

Temporary relief camps have also been set up in coordination with the district administration and NGOs, and families from flood and landslide-hit areas are being moved to safer locations.

What routes remain blocked? Even as relief and rescue operations continue, key routes remain blocked, including the road connecting Bengal and Sikkim and the one connecting Darjeeling and Siliguri.

What is the current outlook? As it stands, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for the sub-Himalayan areas of West Bengal, namely, the Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri districts, while an orange alert has been issued for Darjeeling.

In particular, the IMD has warned of more landslides and road blockages due to saturated soil conditions.

Earlier on Sunday, a flood alert had been issued for northern West Bengal following a malfunction in the dam gates of Bhutan's Tala Hydropower Dam.

Helpline numbers Nabanna Disaster Management Control Room: + 91 33 2214 3526; +91 33 2253 5185
As Darjeeling and its surrounding areas reel from devastation triggered by torrential rainfall, landslides, and flash floods, family members of Jadavpur University (JU) student Himadri Purkait have been left on edge, with the student being unresponsive on his phone since Saturday night.

According to a report by Indian Express, Purkait, a third-year Sociology student at the Kolkata-based university, left for Darjeeling on 22 September, arriving at the popular tourist spot four days later.

An avid traveller, Purkait often took up odd jobs to fund his trips, and this time, took up the job of a receptionist at Darjeeling-based lodge.

While the few days since him reaching Darjeeling passed normally, Purkait became unavailable on the phone after heavy showers battered the region over the weekend.

"We used to talk every day, but since Sunday morning his phone has been switched off. He goes away like this  last time, he travelled for six months at a stretch. He leaves whenever he feels like it," Shukla Purkait, Himadri's mother, was quoted as saying by IE.

"I last spoke to him on Saturday at around 10 pm. He told me he had just finished dinner, and that there was a lot of work pressure because many of the lodge staff were on leave due to Dussehra. I told him it was raining very heavily and asked him to go to a safer location. He said he was fine and was going to sleep," she added.

No stranger to travelling to the hills, the 24-year-old has visited the area several times, and has even worked as a guide, owing to his familiarity with the region and its tourist attractions.

However, since landslides and flash floods hit the area, neither has Purkait called, nor has his family received any updates from either the lodge or the authorities.

As Purkait's parents anxiously wait to hear from him, rescue operations are continuing in the disaster-hit region.

Rescue operations continue Since torrential rainfall inundated the region, at least 28 have perished in north Bengal, while many remain missing.

As of Monday, rescue operations were ongoing, with both the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) operating in the area.

Clearing operations are currently underway at over 40 points where landslides hit, with work also ongoing to clear major roads connecting Darjeeling to other areas.
A bar bill from Rajasthan has gone viral on social media after a customer noticed a 20% cow cess added to his beer order in Jodhpur. The unusual charge has sparked widespread debate online, with many questioning the logic and transparency behind such a levy.

According to the viral bill, the customer had ordered corn fritters and six beers at Geoffreys bar in Jodhpurs Park Plaza on September 30. The total before taxes was 2,650, but after adding GST, VAT, and a 20% cow cess, the final bill rose to 3,262.

The term cow cess left several internet users puzzled, prompting discussions about whether it was a new charge. However, both the state government and hotel authorities clarified that the cess is not new  it was introduced in 2018 under the Rajasthan Value Added Tax Act, 2003.

This government notification has been in place since 2018, Nikhil Prem, manager at the hotel, told NDTV. Every time we charge 20% VAT, we also add a 20% cow cess on the VAT amount. It works out to roughly 24% in total. This is applicable only to beer and liquor. Many hotels simply list it as a surcharge, but we mention it clearly as cow cess. The collected amount is deposited with the government under cow conservation and propagation funds, he added.

What Is Cow Cess? Cow cess is a special surcharge levied by the Rajasthan government to raise funds for cow welfare and protection. The money collected is intended for maintaining cow shelters (gaushalas), providing veterinary care, feeding stray cattle, and supporting infrastructure for their conservation.

The cess was first introduced by the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in 2018 at 10% and was later increased to 20% on all categories of liquor  including foreign, Indian-made, country liquor, and beer. The policy was retained by the subsequent Congress government led by Ashok Gehlot.

Public Reaction The viral post has divided public opinion. Some users supported the idea of using cess for animal welfare, while others criticised it as an unnecessary financial burden.

One social media user commented, I support animal welfare, but if every cause gets its own cess, whats the point of existing taxes? Another joked, At this rate, abolish taxes and create a new fee for everything.

Others accused the government of misusing funds, claiming tenders for cow shelters often go to political insiders while conditions in shelters remain poor. One user summed up public frustration, saying, The public is made a fool first, and then a cow afterwards.
Teh advocate who made it to national headlines after attempting to hurl a shoe at the Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, has been let go by the Delhi Police after a three-hour interrogation.

The advocate, now identified as Rakesh Kishore, was allowed to leave after the Supreme Court's regitrar general refused to press charges against him, Indian Express reported.

Police said that a white paper with a note written on it has been recovered from Kishore.

Mera sandesh har Sanatani ke liye haiSanatan dharma ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan, was written on the note, as per the publication.

The advocate has claimed that he was unhappy with the CJIs remarks during a recent hearing of a plea seeking the restoration of a Lord Vishnu idol in the Khajuraho Temple complex in Madhya Pradesh, a source told the publication.

What were the CJI's remarks that irked Kishore? A bench headed by the CJI had dismissed the plea seeking directions to reconstruct and reinstall a seven-foot idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari temple, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Khajuraho temple complex in Madhya Pradesh.

Terming the plea a "publicity interest litigation", the CJI had said, "This is purely publicity interest litigation.... Go and ask the deity himself to do something. If you are saying that you are a strong devotee of Lord Vishnu, then you pray and do some meditation."

Taking note of the online criticism of his comments, the CJI later said he respects "all religions".

"Someone told me the other day that the comments I made have been portrayed in social media.... I respect all religions," he said on September 18.

Attack shows how deep hate has seeped in: Congress Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday condemned the attack on Chief Justice of India B R Gavai as shameful and said the "mindless act" shows how hate and fanaticism have engulfed society.

He said that it was disturbing that a sitting judge, who rose to the nation's highest judicial office through merit, integrity, and perseverance, was targeted in such a manner.

"It reflects an attempt to intimidate and humiliate a man who has broken social barriers to uphold the Constitution.

"Such a mindless act shows how hate, fanaticism and bigotry has engulfed our society in the past decade," the Congress president said.

"On behalf of the Indian National Congress, I condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms. The safety and security of our Judiciary is paramount. Let justice and reason prevail, not intimidation," Kharge asserted.
The Supreme Court (SC) has agreed to examine a public interest petition seeking the creation of a centralized digital platform that would allow individuals to track all their financial assetswhether active, dormant or unclaimedacross banks, insurance companies, mutual funds, and other regulated entities.

Depending on how the petition moves forward and its eventual outcome, it could be a boost to efforts to free such locked-up capital in millions of accounts. Financial experts have for long pointed out how unclaimed capital makes savers and their families poorer and results in a drain on productivity in the economy.

The petition, filed by social activist Aakash Goel, highlighted that unclaimed money to the tune of 3.5 trillion remains inaccessible because of scattered accounts, missing nominee details, and the absence of a unified registry.

The plea called for the creation of a secure, Aadhaar-linked, e-KYC-based portal that would consolidate all financial assets held by individuals and their nominees across regulated entities. It also asked that financial institutions be required to capture nominee details for every asset and establish a time-bound grievance redressal mechanism for claimants.

'Your savings, your right' The problem of unclaimed financial assets has the attention at the highest levels of the government. Launching an awareness campaign titled Aapki poonji, aap ka adhikaar (your savings, your right) in Gandhinagar on Saturday, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said: Unclaimed deposits, insurance proceeds, dividends, mutual fund balances, and pensions are not mere entries on paper; they represent the hard-earned savings of ordinary families  savings that can support education, healthcare, and financial security.

On Monday, a bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta issued notices to the ministry of consumer affairs and key financial regulators including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (Irdai), National Savings Institute, Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), and Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). It directed them to file their responses in four weeks and listed the matter for further hearing once the replies were received.

Also Read | How Sebi's move to integrate DigiLocker will reduce unclaimed assets

Goel initially had approached the Delhi High Court in January. While the court acknowledged the importance of the issue, it said judicial intervention was unnecessary and that the petitioner should approach the authorities concerned. Goel then moved the Supreme Court, arguing that huge amounts of citizens money remained inaccessible across banks, insurance companies, mutual funds, and pension schemes.

Senior counsel Mukta Gupta, appearing for Goel, told the court, The Delhi High Court had recognised the gravity of the problem but left it to the authorities to consider a policy. However, no concrete action has been taken, and the funds of millions remain trapped.

Details matter, say experts Creating a unified portal for unclaimed assets is an overdue mechanism, one expert said, pointing to funds created in the past to resolve the problem such as the Depositor's Education & Awareness Fund (DEAF) created in 2013, Senior Citizen Welfare Fund (SCWF) of 2015, and Investor Education & Protection Fund (IEPF) in 2017 to return unclaimed assets to citizens. Only when such data is unified can they take meaningful, proactive steps to trace and inform the rightful beneficiaries, said Sumeet Goyal, co-founder, 3S Fintech, an unclaimed assets recovery platform. It's time that India has "a system that alerts beneficiaries proactively about unclaimed assets so that the recovery process can be begin."

Also Read | Why demat nomination is crucial for securing your family's future

Rajat Dutta, founder of Inheritance Needs Services, said such a platform if it comes to being will address the first hurdle legal heirs face: identifying assets they may not know exist across different institutions. However, he cautioned that the platform could be vulnerable to fraudulent claims. In IEPF, fraudsters have impersonated rightful owners and claimed assets due to weak verification mechanisms. With multiple heirs, such fraud becomes even easier, as anyone with the deceaseds details could attempt access, he said.

Goels petition said there were more than 92.2 million inoperative bank accounts in India, with an average balance of 3,918. Unclaimed financial assets across banks, mutual funds, insurance companies, provident funds, and small savings schemes were estimated at more than 3.5 trillion, it added. Many of these assets belonged to deceased individuals, with legal heirs unaware because of missing nominee details and the lack of a unified tracking system.

The plea also referenced DEAF under RBI, IEPF under the corporate affairs ministry, and the SCWF under the Finance Act, 2015. DEAF and IEPF together hold over 1.6 trillion, nearly three times Indias health budget and twice the education budget, highlighting the scale of the problem.

Goel argued that the absence of a unified registry violated citizens rights under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution by denying them transparency, equal treatment, and timely access to their property.
The Supreme Court on Monday, October 6 issued notice to the Union government on Habeas Corpus petition filed by Gitanjali Angmo, wife of Ladakh-based activist Sonam Wangchuk, challenging his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) after the violence in Leh last month.

The apex court has posted the matter for next hearing on Tuesday, October 14.

A Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria sought the response of the government. the Ladakh administration and Jodhpur jail, after a brief hearing, legal news website Bar and Bench reported.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Angmo, said that the plea is assailing the detention. "We are against the detention," he informed the court. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Union government, said that the grounds of detention have been supplied to Wangchuk.

"Issue notice," the Bench said.

Wangchuk, who is presently lodged in Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan, was detained under the stringent National Security Act(NSA) on September 26, two days after protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh leftfour people dead and 90 injured in the Union Territory.

What does the habeas corpus writ say? In her plea filed through senior lawyer Vivek Tankha and lawyer Sarvam Ritam Khare, Angmo has also questioned the decision to invoke the NSA against Wangchuk, which allows detention without a trial for up to 12 months.

Filing the habeas corpus (bring the person) writ, the spouse of the detained activist sought urgent listing of the plea and a direction to the Ladakh administration to "produce Sonam Wangchuk before this court forthwith".

It also sought immediate access to the detenue, and quashing of the preventive detention order.

Also Read | Sonam Wangchuk's wife Gitanjali Angmo moves Supreme Court challenging his arrest

The plea, which named the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ladakh UT administration, deputy commissioner of Leh, and the Jodhpur jail superintendent as parties, also sought a direction to them to "allow immediate access of the petitioner to her husband, both telephonic and in person".
A workplace conversation between an Indian manager and an employee has gone viral after the manager repeatedly refused to grant leave to the worker, who said he was suffering from a headache.

The exchange, originally shared on Reddit under the title My manager when I ask for a leave, included a screenshot of their WhatsApp chat. The post quickly gained traction, with many social media users criticising the managers lack of empathy and unrealistic expectations.

In the viral chat, the employee informed his boss that he had a headache and might not be able to come to work. However, the manager insisted he still report to the office, replying, Take the medicine and come. Its nothing, it will get better. Its just a headache.

When the employee later said he was still unwell and unable to come in, the manager doubled down: Take the medicine, hero. You dont get leave for a headache. What are you talking about? You are not in school anymore.

The boss then added, Youre part of the company now. Take some rest if needed, but come to the office.

The conversation sparked a wave of reactions online, with users calling out toxic workplace culture and the pressure to prioritise work over health. Many commented that employers need to show more compassion and flexibility when employees are unwell.

Also Read | As Arattai gains steam, users flag this WhatsApp feature it lacks

One Reddit user wrote, I never ask for leaves. I take leave and inform. I adjust on other days to compensate."

That is so horrible. Your are entitled for a sick leave, just apply for one, another user wrote.

Buddy dont go to the office stand your ground you let dont let another fcking human cross your boundaries, the third user wrote.
The US Supreme Court on Monday (October 6) declined to hear British socialite Ghislaine Maxwells appeal seeking to overturn her 2021 conviction for aiding the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in sexually abusing teenage girls. By rejecting the appeal, the justices left intact a lower court ruling upholding Maxwells 20-year prison sentence.

Maxwell, Epsteins former girlfriend, was arrested in 2020 and found guilty by a New York jury in 2021 on charges including sex trafficking of minors. Her lawyers argued that her prosecution was invalid, citing a 2007 non-prosecution and plea agreement that federal prosecutors made with Epstein in Florida, which they claimed also shielded his associates from criminal liability.

David Oscar Markus, a lawyer for Maxwell, said, Were, of course, deeply disappointed that the Supreme Court declined to hear Ghislaine Maxwells case. But this fight isnt over. Serious legal and factual issues remain, and we will continue to pursue every avenue available to ensure that justice is done.

Background of Maxwell and Epstein case Maxwell was accused of recruiting and grooming girls for sexual encounters with Epstein between 1994 and 2004. Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, fueling ongoing conspiracy theories due to his high-profile social connections and the circumstances of his death.

Maxwells appeal centered on the 2007 plea deal Epstein struck in Florida, in which he pleaded guilty to state-level charges of soliciting prostitution, including minors, and served 13 months in a minimum-security facility. The agreement stated that the US government would not pursue charges against any co-conspirators of Epstein. Maxwells lawyers argued the deal should have barred her prosecution in New York.
The families of hostages still held in Gaza have called on the Norwegian Nobel Committee to award President Donald Trump the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in negotiating a hostage exchange deal. The appeal comes just days before the committee announces this years laureate.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum sent a letter to the committee on Monday, urging recognition of Trumps role in securing a deal that could free the remaining 48 hostages and end the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

At this very moment, President Trumps comprehensive plan to release all remaining hostages and finally end this terrible war is on the table, the group, representing the majority of hostages families in Israel, said in the letter, The New York Post reported.

He will not stop The forum added: We strongly urge you to award President Trump the Nobel Peace Prize because he has vowed he will not rest and will not stop until every last hostage is back home.

According to the letter, Trump has played a key role in prior US-brokered cease-fire deals that freed dozens of hostages between January and February this year.

From the moment of his inauguration, [Trump] brought us light through our darkest times, the forum said. In this past year, no leader or organization has contributed more to peace around the world than President Trump. While many have spoken eloquently about peace, he has achieved it.

Trumps peace record highlighted Trump and his allies have publicly expressed his desire to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, an award he has sought since his first nomination in 2018, according to the New York Post.
An Indian-origin motel manager, Rakesh Ehagaban, 51, was shot dead in Robinson Township, Pittsburgh, on 3 October. The incident occurred outside the motel premises, where Rakesh Ehagaban reportedly asked the armed accused, Are you alright, bud? moments before being shot, according to Triblive.

The motels surveillance cameras captured the exchange. The criminal complaint stated, As (West) gets within feet of Rakesh Ehagaban, he raised his firearm and shoots him in the head."

Police mentioned that a 9 mm Blazer Luger was found on the sidewalk near Rakesh Ehagabans body.

Police registered a criminal case on Saturday. The accused, Stanley Eugene West, 37, was seen walking towards Ehagaban in the footage. The police later shot him, and he is in critical condition in the hospital.

He faces charges of criminal homicide, attempted homicide, and recklessly endangering another person.

Police confirmed that West had been staying at the motel in Robinson and is also linked to a residence on Page Street in Pittsburghs North Side.

The arrest papers showed that at around 1 pm (local time), Robinson police responded to Dick Kernick Tire & Auto Service Center, where Wests female companion had driven after being shot in the neck while seated in a car in the motel parking lot. A child who was in the back seat at the time of the shooting was unharmed and remained with the woman.

Also Read | Boston police shoot armed man with large knife in Beacon Hill neighborhood

'Police detective injured by gunfire' A police detective who was also shot during the incident was hospitalised and is now recovering at home, according to Martin Devine, Acting Chief, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.

The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police detective injured by gunfire during the critical incident in East Hills on Friday is resting comfortably at home with his family and with the full support of his fellow officers and the Bureau. The family asks for privacy at this time. The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police is grateful to the incredible care provided by the doctors and nurses at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital and to all of our local law enforcement partners who work so hard to keep Allegheny County safe in the fight against violent crime, CBS News quoted Martin Devine, acting chief.

According to the criminal complaint, a U-Haul moving van was parked in the lot next to the black sedan, and after shooting Ehagaban, the actor (West) nonchalantly walks to the U-Haul and drives away.
Zohran Mamdani went Hindu temple hopping in New York on Monday, days after heated backlash over his previous post on the Ayodhya Ram Temple. He is the Democratic candidate for New York Citys mayoral race.

After visiting two of the oldest Hindu temples in Flushing, Zohran boasted about his Hindu heritage and said, I am proud that I would be the first Indian-American mayor of this city. I am proud of the fact that my mother's family is Hindu.

He expressed how the Hindu faith of his maternal family has shaped his own values, particularly through Hindu traditions like Diwali, Raksha Bandhan, and Holi.

The stories that I learned, the tradition, the faith, the practices...it's one thing that taught me many of the values that I hold so dear today, he said.

Zohran shared that he grew up with a keen understanding of what Hinduism means, whilst being a Muslim himself.

First star in the sky The NYC mayoral candidate revealed that his name, Zohran, was inspired by his mother, Mira Nair, who told him it means the first star in the sky.

Also Read | Zohran Mamdani leads NYC mayoral race amid split opposition, poll finds

Proud to be an Indian-American Zohran Mamdani said that he is proud to be an Indian-American, adding that the prominent temples safeguarded the freedom of religion not only for Hindus in New York but for all of New Yorkers.

For Gujaratis, Punjabis, for Indians across the city and the world, I would not be here, were it not the family that raised me and the family that taught me the values, the ideals I hold, he said. Those are values and ideals that make me proud to be an Indian-American.

Controversial post Earlier this year, Zohran Mamdani found himself at the centre of controversy after an old video surfaced showing him leading a protest against Indias ruling BJP government. The New York protest opposed the demolition of the Babri Masjid and the subsequent rise of Hindu nationalism.

Mamdani, in a social media post marking the opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, condemned the BJP and referred to the destruction of the mosque as an atrocity.
President Donald Trump on Monday (October 6) announced that all medium- and heavy-duty trucks imported into the United States will face a 25% tariff starting November 1.

Beginning November 1st, 2025, all Medium and Heavy Duty Trucks coming into the United States from other Countries will be Tariffed at the Rate of 25%, Trump posted on social media, without offering additional specifics.

The move marks a significant escalation in Trumps efforts to shield US manufacturers from foreign competition.

Last month, Trump had indicated that heavy truck imports would face new duties on October 1, citing national security concerns and saying the tariffs would benefit domestic truckmakers including Paccar-owned Peterbilt and Kenworth, as well as Daimler Truck-owned Freightliner.

Tariff details and trade agreements Under existing trade deals with Japan and the European Union, the United States has agreed to 15% tariffs on light-duty vehicles. It is unclear whether this rate will apply to larger trucks. The Trump administration has also allowed producers to deduct the value of US components from tariffs on light-duty vehicles assembled in Canada and Mexico.

Impacted vehicles The tariffs will cover a wide range of larger vehicles, including delivery trucks, garbage trucks, public utility trucks, transit and shuttle buses, school buses, semi-trucks, and other heavy-duty vocational vehicles.

Wider tariff strategy The truck tariffs are part of a broader slate of industry-specific trade measures. Additional duties on softwood timber, lumber, kitchen cabinets, vanities, and upholstered wood products will begin October 14, with some increases starting January 1.
President Donald Trump on Monday (October 6) said he would be open to negotiating a deal with Democrats on Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, a central point of contention in the ongoing government shutdown.

We are speaking with the Democrats, Trump said. Some very good things could happen, and that could also pertain to health care.

He added: If we made the right deal, Id make a deal. Sure.

The subsidies, which help 24 million Americans purchase health insurance, are set to expire at the end of the year. Democrats have made their extension a key demand in negotiations over reopening federal funding.

Warning of potential mass layoffs Trump continued to raise the possibility of widespread federal worker layoffs if the shutdown continues. It could, he said when asked about the prospect of mass firings. At some point it will.

However, the White House clarified that no employees are being fired immediately. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted, The president was referring to those furloughed since Congress allowed funding to expire on October 1. The White House budget office is continuing to work with agencies on who, unfortunately, is going to have to be laid off if this shutdown continues.

Previous government shutdowns have not forced mass terminations, although hundreds of thousands of workers are typically furloughed.

Congressional standoff continues On Capitol Hill, lawmakers showed no signs of breaking the deadlock. The Republican-led Senate is set to vote on dueling stopgap measures to fund federal agencies, but neither bill is expected to receive the 60 votes needed to advance.

The Republican plan would fund agencies through November 21 without extending ACA subsidies.

The Democratic plan would extend funding and preserve health care subsidies.

Senator Patty Murray, Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, emphasized the stakes for ordinary Americans: We need a deal that reopens the government & stops premiums from doubling.

House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, have said lawmakers will not return to session until the Senate advances a House-passed continuing resolution.

Blame game intensifies Both parties continue to trade blame over the shutdown. Trump and congressional Republicans insist Democrats must pass a clean funding bill first. Meanwhile, Democrats argue Republicans have stonewalled efforts at compromise.

Karoline Leavitt reiterated the White House position: any layoffs would be an unfortunate consequence of the shutdown, placing responsibility on Democrats.

Also Read | US unemployment claims rise amid stagnant labour market, government shutdown
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is scheduled to visit India on 8-9 October and will discuss regional and global issues with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

His visit is expected to boost bilateral trade as it is scheduled only months after the two nations signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

Interestingly, his visit coincides with his government's move to crack down on immigrants, including students from India, who typically go there on student visas with the intent to settle there permanently.

On 30 September, the UK Parliament announced several changes to the UK visa and settlement rules after the 2025 immigration white paper.

Also Read | UK mosque set on fire in suspected hate crime, no fatalities reported

The British government on 12 May 2025 released a white paper policy document called Restoring control over the immigration system. The document proposed some changes to make it harder to move to and settle in the UK, with a view to reducing immigration.

These are some of the radical changes which would impact international students planning to study in the UK, including those from India, which sends the second highest number of students to British institutions of higher education after China. In 2025, the UK has already issued student visas to one lakh students from India.

However, the Starmer government is geared to crack down on international students by rolling out a set of changes to visa rules as indicated in the white paper.

These changes include the following.

Tougher visa rules in white paper I. Levy on fee: There is a proposal to put a levy on British universities' income from international student fees. More details will be released around this in the Autumn Budget, according to the UK Parliament's website.

II. Tough for universities: The Starmer-led Labour government has also proposed to make it harder for universities to keep their licence to sponsor student visas by introducing tougher compliance rules.

III. Graduate visa: Most students go to the UK as they are tempted by the two-year-long Graduate visa, which they are entitled to. There is a proposal to reduce this 2-year period to 18 months.

Also Read | UK visa applications from Indian students & workers fall sharply

IV. List of sponsored jobs: There is a proposal to shorten the list of jobs for which employers can sponsor a worker from overseas for a Skilled Worker visa. This would impact the students who look for work sponsorship after their studies are complete.

V. Permanent residency: Another radical change is to increase the standard qualifying period for permanent residence from 5 to 10 years.

VI. English requirement: Additionally, there is a proposal to impose stricter English language rules: requiring the partners of people moving to the UK on work visas to have basic English to qualify for a dependant visa.
US President Donald Trump on Monday praised the election of conservative leader Sanae Takaichi as Japans first female prime minister, describing her as a person of wisdom and strength.

Japan has just elected its first female Prime Minister, a highly respected person of great wisdom and strength, Trump said on his Truth Social network. This is tremendous news for the incredible people of Japan. Congratulations to all (sic)!

According to Japanese media, Trump is expected to visit the key Asian ally in late October.

Also Read | Takaichi Sanae, the hardline nationalist who may soon lead Japan

Takaichi celebrated what she called a new era on Saturday after being elected head of Japans long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a position that effectively ensures her appointment as prime minister. The 64-year-old politician, who has often cited Britains Margaret Thatcher as her inspiration, acknowledged that a mountain of work lay ahead as she seeks to revitalise the struggling LDP.

The party, which has dominated Japanese politics for decades, has seen its popularity wane amid public frustration and a growing shift toward smaller groups, including the nationalist and anti-immigration Sanseito party.

Known for her strong conservative views and distinctive past as a heavy metal drummer during her university days, Takaichi is poised to become Japans fifth prime minister in as many years when parliament convenes later this month.

Outgoing leader Shigeru Ishiba, who maintained close ties with Washington during his tenure, was among the first foreign heads of government to visit the White House in Trumps second term as both nations sought to navigate delicate trade negotiations.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned on Monday, 6 October, barely a day after unveiling a new Cabinet, plunging the country into fresh political turmoil and sending shocks through financial markets. The news was reported by BFM TV, citing unidentified government officials.

Macron's opponents immediately tried to capitalize on the shocking resignation, with far-right National Rally calling on him to either call for new snap elections or resign. On the far left, France Unbowed also asked for Macron's departure.

Also Read | Macron says a tanker off France is linked to Russias shadow oil fleet

Why did Lecornu resign so quickly? President Emmanuel Macrons office had unveiled the new Cabinet on Sunday, 5 October, with Lecornu tasked with the difficult mission of securing support for the 2026 budget in a deeply divided Parliament.

However, the largely unchanged ministerial lineup faced immediate criticism across the political spectrum. I despair of this circus, tweeted Agnes Pannier-Runacher, the reappointed minister for ecology, reflecting frustration within government ranks.

Critics particularly questioned Lecornus decision to bring back former finance minister Bruno Le Maire to serve as defence minister, citing concerns over his prior record when Frances public deficit soared.

Other key ministers, including Bruno Retailleau (Interior), Jean-Noel Barrot (Foreign Affairs), and Gerald Darmanin (Justice), remained largely unchanged.

What impact does this have on French politics and stock market? The resignation of the French PM compounds political instability that has persisted since President Macrons snap elections last year, which resulted in a fragmented legislature.

Far-right and left-wing lawmakers now hold over 320 seats at the National Assembly, while centrists and allied conservatives hold 210.

Lecornu had pledged to avoid using a special constitutional power to push budgets through Parliament without a vote, vowing instead to negotiate with lawmakers across the political spectrum. His sudden departure raises uncertainty over whether a consensus can be achieved for the upcoming 2026 austerity budget.

The Paris stock market reacted sharply to Lecornus resignation. The CAC-40 index of leading French companies fell nearly 2% by 0800 GMT, reflecting investor anxiety over the political instability.

The resignation rattled investors, sending the CAC-40 index plunging, reports note, highlighting concerns over Frances economic direction.

Also Read | Who can save France now?
Swedish climate and peace activist Greta Thunberg arrived in Athens, Greece, on Monday (October 6) after being deported from Israel along with other international activists who participated in a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. The deportees were met with cheers from supporters, with Thunberg raising her fist and holding a bouquet of sunflowers and roses. Crowds chanted slogans including free free Palestine and from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.

Israeli authorities confirmed that 171 detainees have been deported to Greece and Slovakia so far, with more than 450 activists detained overall. The UK Foreign Office said it is supporting British nationals among those deported.

Thunberg speaks out on alleged genocide in Gaza Upon arrival, Thunberg addressed supporters and the media, calling attention to the ongoing crisis in Gaza. She said, There is a genocide going on in front of our eyes No one has the privilege to say we are not aware of what is happening.

She continued, Under international law, states have a legal obligation to act to prevent and to stop a genocide from happening We are not seeing even the bare minimum from our governments.

Thunberg criticized international systems for failing to protect Palestinians, describing the humanitarian flotilla as the biggest-ever attempt to break Israel's illegal and inhumane siege by sea. She concluded,

We cannot take our eyes away from Gaza. This genocide and other genocides are being enabled by our own governments, our institutions, our media and companies. It is our responsibility to end that complicity.

Israel has vehemently denied allegations of committing genocide.

Allegations of mistreatment during detention Activists deported from Israel reported harsh treatment. Spanish activists arriving in Spain said Israeli forces beat them, dragged them along the ground, blindfolded them, tied their hands and feet, put them in cages, and insulted them. Swiss activists returning to Geneva reported sleep deprivation, lack of food and water, and physical abuse.

Some deportees to Istanbul alleged witnessing Thunberg being tortured, dragged on the ground, and forced to kiss the Israeli flag. Reports also indicate Thunberg suffered dehydration and a skin rash, possibly caused by bed bugs.

Swedens Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said the allegations were very serious if confirmed. An Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson denied the claims, calling them brazen lies.

International response Spain has announced it will file a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) over Israels interception of the flotilla, describing it as an illegal attack on persons in international waters.
Heavy rainfall has wreaked havoc across different parts of Nepal and neighboring India, triggering deadly landslides that have claimed more than 44 lives, the officials said on Sunday.

Nepal has been severely affected by the torrential downpours that began on Friday, prompting rescue workers to conduct rescue operations in cut-off communities who reside in remote mountainous terrain.

Death toll rises in Nepal As of Sunday, at least 44 people in Nepal have died in rain-triggered disasters, with five people reported missing, Shanti Mahat, spokeswoman for Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, told AFP.

High tidal waves crashing Koshi Barrage at Bhardaha in Saptari district, Madhesh province after river Koshi overflowed owing to heavy rain showers

The eastern district of Illam was the worst hit, with at least 37 fatalities caused by landslides, resulting from heavy overnight rains. Local district official Sunita Nepal noted that the rescue workers have reached the affected areas, however the rescue operations were challenging due to blocked roads.

Army personnel carrying a landslide victim evacuated by a helicoper following heavy rain-triggered landslides and floods in Nepal which killed at least 44 people so far.

Rivers in the capital Kathmandu have also swelled, flooding settlements along their banks. Security personnel have been deployed in such regions to assist rescue efforts with helicopters and motorboats.

A Nepal resident, 38-year-old vegetable seller Rajan Khadga told AFP that there is some damage, but thanks to the authorities' prior flood alert, we were able to move some belongings to a safe place.

Landslides damage infrastructure The landslides have also significantly damaged infrastructure, blocking several highways and disrupting flights. This disruption in air travel has left hundreds of travellers stranded, many of whom were returning home after celebrating the Hindu festival of Dashain.

Also Read | Darjeeling rains: PM Modi says authorities are closely monitoring situation

In response to the crisis, Prime Minister Sushila Karki assured the public that government agencies were "fully prepared for rescue and relief". Emphasising the government's concern for citizens' safety, she urged everyone to seek necessary assistance.

Streets get flooded along the bank of overflowing Bagmati River following heavy rains, in Kathmandu, Nepal,

The government has declared Sunday and Monday as public holidays and advised people not to travel unless necessary, AFP reported.
Russian defense experts on Sunday stated that the reported sale of RD-93 engines to Pakistan for use in the JF-17 would be advantageous for India. They further dismissed the oppositions criticism of the Indian government over the matter as unwarranted.

Pyotr Topychkanov, who leads the Section on New Challenges in South and Southeast Asia at the Moscow-based Primakov Institute, said, "I don't think the criticism here is justified. If reports about Russia providing engines for the JF-17 are correct, it actually benefits India in two ways."

He added, Firstly, it shows that China and Pakistan haven't yet managed to replace the Russian-origin engine. Secondly, the new aircraft will be familiar and predictable to India, especially since they share the same engine and India observed the JF-17's operational use during the May 2025 crisis (Operation Sindoor).

Topychkanov pointed out that China had approached Russia to supply RD-93 engines for its FC-17 aircraft as a temporary solution, and both the NDA and UPA governments, during the tenures of Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr. Manmohan Singh, had raised concerns about the potential transfer of these engines to Pakistan.

Also Read | Asia Cup 2025: India cancels practice session and press meet

Meanwhile, another expert, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he "vaguely remembers discussions on the issue." He added, "Moscow convinced New Delhi that the RD-93 deal was purely commercial without transfer of technology (ToT), while India was given license for much superior RD-33 engines under ToT."

RD-93 produced by the Klimov plant, in comparison to its base RD-33's, has more thrust but decreased service life. RD-93 has a service life of 2,200 hours while RD-33's is 4,000 hours.

Under a trilateral Russia-China-Pakistan agreement, Russia has been supplying fully assembled RD-93 engines since the early 2000s. Pakistan is now aiming for a modified version, which is not yet developed.

There was no official word about the sale.

BJP-Congress on JF-17 engines Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday demanded answers from the government on why India's once most reliable strategic ally, Russia, is providing military support to Pakistan by supplying engines of Chinese-made JF-17 fighter jets.
A House for Mr. Biswas , written by the acclaimed novelist V.S. Naipaul, tells the poignant story of a mans struggles to find his place in society as he dreams of owning his own house. The story of hundreds of thousands of house aspirants in India is no less heart-rending.

Though the contribution of the real estate sector in meeting the housing needs of society has been significant, it is estimated that the aspirations of lakhs who signed contracts and made payments to buy a house have been bogged down in a quagmire of unfinished projects, insolvencies, allegations of fraud, diversion of funds and prolonged litigation. The confidence of homebuyers has been eroded.

As reported, Union housing minister Manohar Lal Khattar recently articulated the frustration of thousands of homebuyers while admonishing the National Real Estate Development Council (Naredco), an association of realtors that functions under the ministrys aegis. If a project goes to the National Company Law Tribunal, he observed, the chances are it will never get completed.

Also Read | Amend the IBC: Let new pathways speed up insolvency resolution

Striking a similar chord, the Supreme Court, in its judgement of 12 September 2025 on the Manasi Brar case, pronounced shelter a fundamental right and protection of homebuyers a constitutional obligation of the state. The apex court highlighted the stark reality faced by homebuyers who, after investing their lifelong savings, are compelled to service EMIs on loans and also pay rent for accommodation while their dream home languishes unfinished and undelivered.

Reiterating the constitutional obligation to create and enforce a framework under which no developer defrauds or exploits homebuyers, the court issued several directions. These included a nudge to frame specific guidelines for insolvency proceedings in real estate cases, devise a mechanism to hand over possession to allottees, and resolve real estate insolvency on a project-specific basis rather than treating the entire corporate debtor as insolvent.

Also Read | Relieve homebuyers in distress: Let banks bail them out

A proper perspective of the situation would lay a solid foundation for further legislative and administrative responses. The Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC) treated homebuyers as operational creditors, not financial creditors (FCs), thus subordinating their claims to the latters, until an amendment and Supreme Court ruling in 2019 accorded them the status of FCs.

Yet, even this watershed change in status has not created a level playing field. To protect the interests of homebuyers, we must understand the disparities in this market. Homebuyers do not invest for earning interest, but getting a home. They do not have the security of collateral and personal guarantees available to lenders, which often have board positions in real estate companies.

The exposure of banks to a project is only a small percentage of their credit portfolio, but for homebuyers, it is their lifetime savings. Insolvency haircuts for lenders is a credit risk.

For homebuyers, in contrast, a haircut can be financially catastrophic. Institutional lenders have several ways to monitor borrowers, including through financial statements, audit reports and participation in board meetings and managerial decisions.

Homebuyers, generally scattered across different geographies, have no such access. As they are not organized, they are prone to the divisive tactics of realtors. Moreover, homebuyers lack the financial muscle for expensive and prolonged litigation.

Also Read | RERA: Built for homebuyer protection but undone by inaction

The disadvantaged position of homebuyers warrants separate IBC regulations that are focused on protecting them. The Supreme Courts judgement holds that real estate insolvencies must be resolved on a project-wise basis. A clear distinction must now be made between the resolution of realty projects and that of a real estate company.

A housing project is resolved once it is completed and homes are handed over. The IBC focus must therefore shift to completing projects and handing over possession. This alone will protect the interests of homebuyers, not the usual process of liquidation in case no resolution is found under the IBC. Unless the legal framework reflects this distinction, homebuyers will continue to suffer.

Given the nuanced difference between the resolution of a stalled project and of a corporate entity, efforts must aim at eliminating impediments to the expeditious completion of projects and ensuring that allottees get the residences they signed up and paid for.

This must include clear legislative directions to state authorities. For example, the latter must not withhold completion or occupation certificates on considerations such as the realtors pending dues. Homebuyers are not responsible if a realtor has not paid its dues, as held by the Allahabad high court in Milanka Choudhury vs. State of Uttar Pradesh. State authorities should pursue their dues bilaterally with builders.

Also Read | GN Bajpai: Tokenize real estate to open up an attractive asset class

Realtors sometimes land in insolvency courts for failing to repay loans. As real estate projects are largely funded by homebuyers, they typically only need loans for working capital. So indiscriminate borrowing by builders should be regulated. Loans should be permitted only against their net worth, not by mortgaging projects. Further, if borrowing is permitted on a projects mortgage, it should only be for its completion. Homebuyers are the projects real owners, not the real estate company.

While state-level Real Estate Regulatory Authorities (RERAs) may be on a learning curve, the trust or vishwas of homebuyers rests on their approvals and monitoring of projects. As per the Reserve Bank of Indias latest Financial Stability Report, 18% of total insolvencies are in real estate and construction. RERAs must be empowered to play an effective role, for which they must undertake rigorous evaluations of project viability and monitor them closely until delivery.

In Naipauls novel, Mr. Biswas finally succeeds in building his house and plants laburnum for this flowers fragrance to fill it. A homebuyer-centric regulatory framework could revive the vishwas of homebuyers and turn the realty sector fragrant.

The authors are, respectively, former chairman, Sebi and LIC, and former deputy comptroller and auditor general.
New Delhi: India's antitrust watchdog is set to sharpen its enforcement powers to tackle the threat to competition posed by the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) in the industry, and has proposed that businesses conduct self-audit of their AI systems for fair-trade compliance.

In a market study on Artificial intelligence and competition released on Monday, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) said that it will set up a think-tank to consult on matters of digital markets and AI, promote co-ordination with other regulators for effective oversight, work with global competition watchdogs and enhance its technical capabilities and infrastructure.

The watchdog also said that the governments continued efforts and policy initiatives to facilitate AI infrastructure and AI capabilities will help in removing entry barriers in the sector and foster a level-playing field in the development and use of AI in the country.

CCIs focus on AI for competition regulation is significant given the technology's rapid adoption by businesses.

The AI market in India has gone up from $3.20 billion in 2020 to $6 billion in 2024, and is set to rise further from $7.84 billion in 2025 to $31.94 billion in 2031, the CCI study said. As per this estimate, India accounts for about 3.2% of the global AI market estimated at $244.2 billion.

CCIs worry is that while AI may foster efficiency and innovation, the concentration of players in the AI value chain could create entry barriers for new smaller players into this sector. That worry stems from the fact that building and training AI systems require deep pockets, compute power and access to data systems.

Another worry is ecosystem lock-in, CCI pointed out, referring to AI tools deployed by companies, making it hard for users to switch to services from competitors. The more one uses one companys AI tool, it learns more about the user and performs better, making it hard for them to move to another companys service, which has to start from scratch.

CCI also expressed concerns about algorithmic collusion, referring to how AI systems could automatically set prices without human involvement and also engage in price discrimination, leading to higher prices for those willing to pay more compared to those who are price-sensitive. The regulator also flagged opaque algorithms as a concern.

Based on the perception survey of AI startups, the possibility of AI-facilitated collusion, price discrimination and predatory pricing was expressed by 37%, 32% and 22% of respondents respectively, CCI stated. Predatory pricing is undercutting rivals till they are eliminated from the market and eventually raising prices to take advantage of the reduced competition.

CCI said that self-audits of AI systems by businesses will help them to proactively detect and correct potential competition concerns. The regulators report has also provided a guidance on how to go about such self-audits.

The recommendation on self-audits of AI systems is an interesting idea, and on the face of it, one may think that it could encourage self-governance and reduce the need for intrusive enforcement, said Bhoomika Agarwal, programme manager, The Dialogue, a technology policy think-tank.

At the same time, its implementation will require careful thought as such mechanisms can be challenging to monitor and would likely need close coordination with other government agencies, said Agarwal.

Given that the AI market in India is still nascent, the more effective path, as also reflected in other recommendations of the study, lies in collaborative engagement, through workshops and continued research, to understand and address potential risks as the AI market evolves, said Agarwal.

A lack of transparency about use of AI in decision-making can harm competition and consumers, CCI cautioned.

AI-driven price discrimination is emerging as a strategic pricing tool, enabled by advanced analytics and machine learning. While this approach can drive revenue optimization and improve conversion rates, it introduces potential regulatory risks including lack of transparency and reduced consumer trust, particularly for vulnerable segments, the CCI report said.

AI could also be used to implement predatory strategies, by targeting below-cost pricing only for price-sensitive customers or those at risk of switching, while keeping the prices unchanged for other customers, it said.
On Monday, OpenAIs ChatGPT, a popular AI chatbot, experienced a service disruption that led to a flurry of complaints on social media. According to the online monitoring platform Downdetector, reports of issues surged at 12:54 PM, and by approximately 1:10 PM, nearly 627 users had lodged complaints, offering a detailed insight into the affected areas.

ChatGPT outage in India In India, Downdetector reported that nearly 82 per cent of users experienced issues with ChatGPT, 12 per cent with the browser, and six per cent with the app. The tracking site identified Chandigarh, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Surat, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, and several other cities among the affected areas.

Outage impact in the United States In the US, over 150 complaints were logged on Downdetector by 1:10 PM IST. Of these, 81 per cent of users reported problems with ChatGPT, 12 per cent with the app, and seven per cent with the website. Major affected areas included Chicago, Los Angeles, and Atlanta, according to Downdetector.

OpenAI has yet to provide an official statement regarding the cause or expected resolution of the outage. Users were advised to monitor official channels for updates.

The disruption sparked reactions across social media platforms, with many users expressing frustration and humour. On X, several users shared memes, while others highlighted the impact on work and study routines.

Netizens react to ChatGPT outage A user with the X handle @roubalsehgal tweeted, Okay, chatGPT is down.. i'm not alone, sharing a screenshot of ChatGPT showing error messages.

Another user wrote on X, This is the worst time for chatgpt to be down.

Meanwhile, @mohfad_dev highlighted, ChatGPT is down but none is being shown in their status page.

In othe news, OpenAI has recently announced an update to its GPT-5 Instant model, aimed at offering more effective assistance to people during sensitive or distressing conversations.

Last week, in a post on X, the company said that sections of dialogue considered delicate will now be directed to GPT-5 Instant. This change is designed to ensure quicker, more thoughtful responses for users who may require additional support.
Tech giant OnePlus is gearing up to launch its latest flagship, the OnePlus 15, with a confirmed launch in China slated for October. Reports suggest that the global release could follow on 13 November, although the company has yet to officially confirm this date.

Largest Battery Yet in OnePlus History? According to tipster Bald Panda, via Gizmochina, the OnePlus 15 will house a massive 7,300mAh battery, the largest ever seen in a OnePlus smartphone. The device is expected to support 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging, although details about reverse charging remain unclear.

Display and Design Upgrades Notably, the upcoming flagship is reported to feature a slightly smaller 6.78-inch display compared to its predecessors 6.82-inch panel. The smartphone is expected to measure 8.1mm in thickness and weigh between 211 and 215 grams. Colour options are tipped to include Sand Dune, Black, and Purple variants.

Next-Level Performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite OnePlus has confirmed that the device will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, built on TSMCs 3nm (N3P) fabrication process. With a 64-bit architecture, the new chipset is said to deliver up to a 23 per cent performance boost and improve battery efficiency by up to 20 per cent compared to the OnePlus 13.

Enhanced Gaming and Display Technology Interestingly, the OnePlus 15 is expected to feature a 165Hz refresh rate display, up from the 120Hz panels in previous models. This upgraded screen may be designed to support higher frame rates during gaming, with some titles capable of running at up to 165fps.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- How are Chinese artificial intelligence developers protecting their most vulnerable users? A string of dystopian headlines in the US about suicide and youth mental health has put mounting pressure on Silicon Valley, but were not seeing a similar wave of cases in China. Initial testing suggests that they may be doing something right, although its just as likely such cases would never see the light of day in Chinas tightly controlled media environment.

A wrenching wrongful death lawsuit against OpenAI filed by the parents of Adam Raine alleges that the 16-year-old died by suicide after the chatbot isolated him and helped plan his death. OpenAI told the New York Times it was deeply saddened by the tragedy, and promised a slew of updates, including parental controls.

I tried engaging with DeepSeek using some of the same so-called jailbreak methods that the American teen had reportedly employed to circumvent guardrails. Despite my prying, the popular Chinese platform didnt waver, even if similarly I cloaked my queries under the guise of fiction writing. It constantly urged me to call a hotline. When I said I didnt want to speak to anyone, it validated my feelings but still emphasized that it was an AI and cannot feel real emotions. It is incredibly important that you connect with a person who can sit with you in this feeling with a human heart, the chatbot said. The healing power of human connection is irreplaceable.

It encouraged me to bring up these dark thoughts with a family member, an old friend, a coworker, a doctor, or a therapist, and even practice with a hotline. The most courageous thing you could do right now is not to become better at hiding, but to consider letting one person see a tiny, real part of you, it stated.

My experiment is purely anecdotal. Raine engaged with ChatGPT for months, possibly eroding the tools built-in guardrails over time. Still, other researchers have seen similar results. The China Media Project prompted three of Chinas most popular chatbots  DeepSeek, ByteDance Ltd.s Doubao, and Baidu Inc.s Ernie 4.5  with conversations in both English and Chinese. It found all four were markedly more cautious in Chinese, repeatedly emphasizing the importance of reaching out to a real person. If theres a lesson, its that these tools have been trained not to pretend to be human when theyre not.

There are widespread reports that Chinese youth, grappling with rat-race involution pressures and an uncertain economy, have been increasingly turning to AI tools for therapy and companionship. The technologys diffusion is a top government priority, meaning agonizing headlines of things going wrong are less likely to surface. DeepSeeks own research has suggested that open-source models, which proliferate throughout Chinas AI ecosystem, face more severe jailbreak security challenges than closed-source models. Put together, its likely that Chinas safety guardrails are being pressure-tested domestically, and stories like Raines simply arent making it into the public sphere.

But the government doesnt seem to be ignoring the issue either. Last month, the Cyberspace Administration of China released an updated framework on AI safety. The document, published in conjunction with a team of researchers from academia and the private sector, was notable in that it included an English translation, signaling it was meant for an international audience. The agency identified a fresh series of ethical risks, including that AI products based on anthropomorphic interaction can foster emotional dependence and influence users behavior. This suggests that officials are tracking the same global headlines, or seeing similar problems festering at home.

Protecting vulnerable users from psychological dangers isnt just a moral responsibility for the AI industry. Its a business and political one. In Washington, parents who say their children were driven to self-harm from interactions with chatbots have given powerful testimonies. US regulators have long faced criticism for ignoring youth risks during the social media era, although theyre unlikely to stay quiet this time as lawsuits and public outrage mount. And American AI companies cant criticize the dangers of Chinese tools if theyre neglecting potential psychological harms at home.

Beijing, meanwhile, hopes to be a world leader in AI safety and governance, and export its low-cost models around the world. But these risks cant be swept under the rug as the tools go global. China must offer transparency if it is truly leading the way in responsible development.

Framing the problem through the lens of a US-China race misses the point. If anything, it allows companies to use geopolitical rivalry as an excuse to dodge scrutiny and speed ahead with AI development. Such a backdrop puts more young people at risk of becoming collateral damage.

An outsize amount of public attention has been paid to frontier AI threats, such as the potential for these computer systems to go rogue. Bodies like the United Nations have spent years urging multilateral cooperation on mitigating catastrophic risks.

Protecting vulnerable people now, however, shouldnt be divisive. More research on mitigating these risks and preventing jailbreaks must be open and shared. Our failure to find the middle ground is already costing lives.

More From Bloomberg Opinion:

This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Catherine Thorbecke is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asia tech. Previously she was a tech reporter at CNN and ABC News.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion
A Brooklyn woman filed a $65 million lawsuit against a Target store for allegedly falsely arresting and publicly humiliating her before being detained for hours at a local precinct.

In a federal civil rights lawsuit filed on 1 October 2025, the complainant named the city of New York, the New York City Police Department, NYPD officers, Target Corporation and a Target asset-protection employee as defendants.

Also Read | Indian woman caught shoplifting at Target store in US, breaks down in video

Here's what happened According to a Newsweek report, the incident occurred on 3 October 2024 at Targets Kings Plaza store in Brooklyn.

Target guest advocate, 22-year-old Angel Tepizila, reportedly accused plaintiff Sheila Lee of an unspecified wrongdoing and called the New York Police Department (NYPD).

Tepizila is a Hunter College student who has worked at Target since June 2022. According to his LinkedIn profile, Tepizilas duties include assisting guests at registers or self-checkout, answering questions at the service desk, and completing order pickups.

Lee has claimed that while she was lawfully and peacefully inside the Target store, Tepizila wrongfully accosted, kidnapped, assaulted, battered, detained, arrested, [and] imprisoned her.

She said that the store then allegedly importuned the NYPD to arrest her, leading to her being handcuffed in the open presence of the general public.

Lee said the arrest and prosecution were based on falsified information attributed to the retailer. She said, in the complaint, that Lee was processed and held for many hours, despite her pleas and physical evidence she said showed her innocence.

The charges were dismissed in her favour on 10 December 2024, the filing said.

Why does it matter?

Also Read | Suspect detained after killing 3 in Target store parking; netizens react

According to a Newsweek report, the case tests the handoff between private retail security and police in New York. It raises questions about how much independent verification officers must do before making an arrest triggered by a store accusation and how far a retailers shopkeepers privilege reasonably extends.

By alleging municipal training and policy failure, the suit could force discovery into NYPD practices and clarify city liability under Monell v. Department of Social Services (1978).

The case also spotlights reputational harm from public detentions and the role of body-worn and in-store cameras in quickly resolving alleged thefts.
The US State Department has issued an important alert for the 2026 Diversity Visa program, which is also known as the Green Card Lottery. On Friday, 3 October, officials stated that some applicants from Cuba and the United Kingdom had been updated with the wrong information about their selection status. The Diversity Visa program provides a rare chance for people from countries with historically low immigration rates to obtain permanent residency in the United States, Newsweek reported.

Cuban applicants deemed ineligible In a notice released on Friday, 3 October, the State Department said, Cuban natives are not eligible to participate in the 2026 program year as over 50,000 Cubans have immigrated to the US in the past five years. Individuals from Cuba who mistakenly received selected notifications have now been notified of their ineligibility.

UK applicants need to double-check As per Newsweek, a few applications from the United Kingdom and its territories may have received incorrect results. The State Department has also advised these applicants to check their status online using Entrant Status Check and their DV-2026 confirmation number.

Deadline and application requirements All eligible entrants must submit their applications by 30 September 2026. Visa numbers are limited and may run out before the deadline. Selected entrants must complete all required documents, including a medical exam, before their visa interview.

Diversity Visa program overview The Diversity Visa program provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually to individuals from countries with historically low US immigration rates. Winners and their immediate family members can receive a green card. Eligible applicants must meet either education or work experience requirements. The program remains one of the few opportunities for permanent US residency for people from eligible countries.

Next steps for applicants The State Department mentioned that applicants should check their status carefully to avoid confusion. The United Kingdom entrants must confirm their status online, and all other entrants should make sure their application is complete and submitted on time. Following these steps is critical to successfully participate in the 2026 Diversity Visa program.

FAQs 1. Q: Who is eligible for the Diversity Visa 2026 program? A: Individuals from countries with historically low immigration to the US, who meet education or work experience requirements, are eligible. Cuban natives are not eligible in 2026.

2. Q: How can UK applicants check their DV-2026 selection status? A: UK applicants should use the Entrant Status Check with their DV-2026 confirmation number on the official State Department website.
" " Hairy frogs have a small, bony nodule nestled inside their toes, making for a dangerous weapon. Paul Starosta / Getty Images

Most frogs hop away from danger. But the hairy frog? It brings its own weapons to the fightliterally. Known for its bizarre defense mechanism, this amphibian snaps its own bones to create claws that pierce through its skin. You read that right.

Also called the wolverine frog or horror frog, Trichobatrachus robustus is one of natures most intense amphibian species. Native to Central Africa, this species inhabits fast-flowing rivers, often near forests and agricultural lands.

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Its one of more than 600 African frogs, but few can match its mix of bizarre adaptations and concealed weaponry.
Michael Healy-Rae, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Forestry, officially launched Glennon Brothers National Tree Day 2025 by planting a Scots Pine at Scoil Chaitriona, Baggot Street, with students from the Green-Schools committee.

Read more: Longfords Biodiversity Action Plan 'will deepen an understanding of biodiversity'

As part of the annual initiative from the Tree Council of Ireland, primary schools nationwide are invited to claim one of 2,000 free Scots pine (Latin: Pinus sylvestris; Irish: An Giuis) saplings to plant with pupils. This years theme Building a better future connects classroom learning with real-world forestry and the built environment, highlighting how sustainably grown, Irish-sourced timber supports modern methods of construction, reduces embodied carbon, and stores carbon for the lifespan of a building and beyond.

Minister Michael Healy-Rae commented at the launch: National Tree Day is a brilliant way to bring nature into the classroom and the community. Its great to see pupils planting one of Irelands native conifers while learning how well-managed forests supply timber for climate-friendly homes, support rural jobs, and store carbon over the long term. I commend Glennon Brothers and the Tree Council of Ireland for helping schools get hands-on with forestry and for championing the use of sustainably grown Irish timber in construction.

Pat Glennon, Joint Managing Director, Glennon Brothers, said:As a family business rooted in Irish forestry, were proud to partner with the Tree Council of Ireland for National Tree Day. Our message is simple, Irish timber for Irish homes, from forest to front door. For every tree harvested, new trees are planted to keep forests healthy and productive. We want young people to see how sustainable Irish forestry underpins the homes and communities we build.

Mike Glennon, Joint Managing Director, Glennon Brothers, added: Timber has a pivotal role in Irelands housing delivery and decarbonisation journey, particularly where homegrown timber is specified. Using locally grown timber stores carbon in the built environment and reduces reliance on imported materials. National Tree Day is a great way to bring that story to life for the next generation while strengthening understanding of responsible forestry.

Read more: 'Absolutely devastated' -Anger in south Longford as massive solar farm gets green light

Cormac Downey, President, Tree Council of Ireland, commented:

National Tree Day gives children, teachers, and families a hands-on way to learn about trees and biodiversity. With the support of Glennon Brothers, schools nationwide can access free saplings and ready-to-use classroom resources that turn learning into meaningful climate action.

Schools can claim one of 2,000 free Scots Pine saplings now at treeday.ie, where they will also find curriculum-friendly lesson plans, nature activities, and facts about Scots Pine.
IDF Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir (center) visits the Gaza Strip on September 30, the day after US President Donald Trump announced his peace deal proposal. (IDF)

Israel sent a delegation to Egypt on October 6 to take part in talks aimed at ending the war in Gaza. The Israeli delegation headed to Egypt in the wake of President Donald Trump announcing that Hamas had accepted the Gaza peace deal he had proposed on September 29. The talks were expected to begin on Monday, October 6, in Sharm el Sheikh on the Sinai Peninsula.

Israels priority has been the return of the 48 hostages held in Gaza. Around 22 of the hostages are believed to be still alive, according to Israeli media reports. Trump has urged all parties to expedite the process, and the talks are expected to last several days, a Palestinian source told Arab News.

When Trump proposed his peace deal on September 29, he stated that the 20-point plan had the backing of countries throughout the Middle East. On October 3, the American president said that Hamas had accepted his deal, and he asked Israel to stop airstrikes in Gaza ahead of talks. While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) appeared to curtail airstrikes, Israeli government Spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said on Sunday that while certain bombings have actually stopped inside of the Gaza Strip, theres no ceasefire in place at this point in time.

Trump urged all parties to move fast to agree and implement the deal in a social media post on October 5. He has stated that peace in Gaza is part of a broader effort to achieve peace in the region. Trumps October 5 post also noted that the talks had been successful, were proceeding, and that technical teams will again meet Monday, in Egypt, to work through and clarify the final details. Trump added that he expected the first phase of the agreement to be completed during the week of October 5. However, Trumps post raised questions about the timeline of the deal. Under the terms of the peace proposal, the 48 hostages are supposed to be released within 72 hours of an agreement.

Hamass delegation to Egypt is headed by Khalil al Hayya, according to the BBC. US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner and Qatari foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani will also attend, the BBC noted on October 5. Israels delegation is led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, according to Ynet. The Israeli delegation, which landed in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday afternoon, includes Shin Bet deputy director M., hostage affairs coordinator Gal Hirsch, retired Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon, Netanyahus foreign policy adviser Ofir Falk and representatives from the Mossad and IDF, Ynet noted.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on October 5 and said that there must be continued pressure on Hamas to bring about the release of Israels hostages. We will continue to act decisively until all the aims of the war are achieved, including the return of all the hostages and ensuring Israels security, Netanyahu stated. The Prime Ministers Office also said that he had held a meeting to prepare for the release of the hostages.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on October 6 that the [Trump] administration is working very hard to move the ball forward as quickly as we can. The president wants to see a ceasefire. He wants to see the hostages released. However, there appear to be points of contention between Israel and Hamas. One issue relates to Hamas trying to recover the bodies of all the hostages. In addition, Hamass disarmament and the future governance of Gaza remain to be resolved, the BBC noted on October 6.

Palestinian officials expressed skepticism about the chances of reaching a quick agreement, according to Ynet. Hamas wants to see Israel withdraw from certain areas in Gaza under the phases of the deal. At the same time, Netanyahu has said that Hamas will be disarmed, adding, It will happen either diplomatically via Trumps plan or militarily by us. [] I also told Washington that. It will be achieved either the easy way or the hard way, but it will be achieved.

The potential deal has received significant support in the region. According to Al Ain media in the UAE, even Iran has openly supported any initiative to stop the fighting in Gaza. In Egypt, the state-linked Al Qahera News reported that the discussions on October 6 are preparing ground conditions for the release of detainees and prisoners. [] Egyptian and Qatari mediators are working with both sides.

Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024).
With most technology, its reasonably easy to imagine what the experience will be like. Smartphones are like cellphones. Tablets are like smartphones. Smartwatches are like wristwatches, only with horrifically shortened battery life. Consumer tech rarely makes conceptual leaps, preferring to take a known experience and elevate what can be achieved.

But smart rings, like virtual-reality headsets, fall into the smaller category of tech that is almost literally unimaginable. Whats it like wearing a smart ring all day long? Ill tell you what its not like: wearing a normal ring, or indeed anything else. And until youve tried one, nobody can adequately convince you that its going to be a positive experience. Which is a problem for sales.

Until recently, I thought smart rings were a golden opportunity for Apple. That they would fit in the Cupertino ecosystem in roughly the same way as the Apple Watch: a shrunk-down, always-on version of the iPhone delivering a shrunk-down subset of its features. It could deliver notifications and collect health data (and also unlock doors and Macs) while keeping a low profile and requiring minimal interaction. In the context of Apples ostensible drive to reduce screen use (see: Screen Time, Downtime, Do Not Disturb, and other Focus modes), this struck me as a promising avenue.

But I think this less and less. Partly this is because of safety concerns. Samsungs Galaxy Ring has been hit by recent reports of bloated batteries, and one YouTuber was turned away from a flight and ended up in the hospital after his ring swelled so much it could no longer be removed. This isnt to say that an Apple Ring would face similar problems, or even that Samsungs problem is especially widespread. Its just that a doctor wielding medical lubricant and a pair of bolt cutters isnt the sort of image you want in your head when considering an expensive purchase. Its not an issue the reviews ever really considered before, but its certainly something people will remember when deciding whether to buy one.

More than this, though, I just dont think an Apple Ring has a niche that isnt already filled by the Apple Watch. I spent last week testing the new Apple Watch SE 3, and its an excellent smartwatch at an affordable price. Why buy an Apple Ring when you can get an always-on display, great health features, and excellent battery life (by, you know, the objectively poor standards of smartwatches) for just $249, far less than the $400 Samsung Galaxy Ring? Why learn a new format when a familiar format is doing such a good job already?

The SE 3 is slimline and unobtrusive and delivers precisely that combination of discreet notifications and health monitoring that I wanted from an Apple Ring. And if anything goes wrong with the battery you can just unbuckle the strap and throw it on the floor with your fingers mercifully unscathed.

Foundry

Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but its cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too.

Trending: Top stories

Apple has finally found the solution to iPhone complexity, writes the Macalope.

Mahmoud Itani upgraded to the iPhone 17 Pro Max and solved every problem he had.

We took a tour of Apple Musics futuristic L.A. studio. Check out these gorgeous photos.

These new Beats are the perfect Cosmic Orange companion (and they fit great, too).

Apple Music VP talks AirPods design, features, and teases new Beats accessories.

The Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme plays catch-up with a chip Apple is ready to retire.

Podcast of the week

Check out the latest episode to hear all about Apples AirPods Pro 3. Find out about how they sound, how they fit, how the heart-rate monitoring works, and more.

You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our own site.

Reviews corner

The rumor mill

Samsung basically just told us when the folding iPhone is going to ship.

Flurry of leaks point to imminent iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, Vision Pro launches.

Apple reportedly scraps lighter Vision Pro to focus on Meta glasses killer.

M5 iPad Pro, iOS 26.1, and everything else coming in a surprisingly big October.

Customers question Apples excuse for iPhone 17 Pro and Air scratches.

Analysis: Does wireless charging wear down your iPhone battery?

iOS 26.0.1 is out now to fix the most annoying bugs on your new iPhone.

macOS Tahoe 26.0.1 update fixes M3 Ultra Mac Studio installation.

And with that, were done for this weeks Apple Breakfast. If youd like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters, including our new email from The Macalopean irreverent, humorous take on the latest news and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You can also follow us on Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, or X for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.
Friends of the heartbroken family of Gus, who has been missing in remote South Australia have spoken out about vicious online vitriol, more than a week after the four-year-old disappeared.

Gus was last seen playing in the sand at his family sheep station about 40km of Yunta, South Australia, more than a week ago on September 27.

Speaking to the Adelaide Advertiser, former neighbour and friend Alex Thomas said Gus family had been dealing with vicious and hateful comments about their sons disappearance online.

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I really want to gently inform people about the realities of rural life and ask them for their compassion and understanding, he told the outlet.

Because this family  this gentle and loving family  theyre not headlines, they are not a spectacle.

He reminded the public of the reality of the situation.

They are real people who are hurting beyond belief, he said.

Gus disappeared without a trace on Saturday, September 27. Picture: SA Police

Second footprint found  and dismissed

On Monday, officers returned to Oak Park Station where Gus was last seen after reports that another small boot print was found near a dam.

However, police have since dismissed the find, saying the print was not related to the search.

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A significant search was conducted around 5.5km west of the homestead after a small boot print was located, Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams said.

The print was found to be subsequently not related to Gus.

Case turned over to Missing Persons Section

Commissioner Williams on Tuesday revealed the case had been moved to the Missing Persons Section.

The investigation is now being managed by Missing Persons Section, which is part of Major Crime Investigation Branch, and thats where all long-term cases such as this are managed and investigated, Commissioner Williams said.

We will never give up hope of finding Gus.

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There are further lines of enquiry being undertaken and the family have continued to co-operate with fully with police.

YUNTA, AUSTRALIA- NewsWire Photos - SEPTEMBER 30, 2025. OAK PARK STATION SEARCH - The search continues for 4 year old August, with the water police searching the remaining dams, police on horses, SES and locals scouring the countryside for any sign. 30 September 2025. Picture: NewsWire/Dean Martin

Police earlier deployed a special drone in the search, with Ms Williams confirming the significant aerial search involved a special drone with infra-red capabilities.

The search was conducted on Friday and Saturday.

This is the same tech that was used in the search in Port Lincoln for the remains of (alleged murder victim) Julian Story, she said.

The results of that drone analysis are still being analysed. We hope to have those results in the coming weeks.

Police allege Mr Story was murdered by his partner and former reality TV star Tamika Chesser in June.

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Mr Storys head was removed from his body, and police allocated huge resources searching for his remains across Port Lincoln before a member of the public found his skull in bushland on the eastern edge of the town in late July.

Police have also allocated massive resources in the desperate search for Gus, with members of the ADF called in to help find him.

August Gus Lamont was last seen playing in the sand at his family sheep station, about 40km south of Yunta and about 320km north of Adelaide, at about 5pm on Saturday, September 27.

Tamika Chesser has been charged with murdering her partner Julian Story. Picture: supplied

The police believe he wandered off from the property.

The acting commissioner said another significant search was conducted on Monday following the discovery of a small bootprint.

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On Monday, the 6th of October, a significant search was conducted around the dam, about 3.5km west of the homestead, after a small bootprint was located, she said.

The search involved PolAir and an Indigenous tracker.

However, it was later found the print was not related to Gus.

Acting Commissioner Williams said the results of the drone search were now being analysed.

The results of that drone analysis and still being analysed, she said.

We hope to have those results in the coming weeks.

SES volunteers zero evidence claim

A former SES volunteer who has scoured regional South Australia in the search for missing four-year-old Gus says there is zero evidence the child is on the property he was last seen at.

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Jason OConnell, who volunteered with the SES for more than a decade, has spent some 90 hours  along with his partner, Jen  assisting in the search for Gus on the Lamont familys 60,000ha Oak Park Station.

SAPOL Acting Commissioner Linda Williams updates the media about the search for Gus on October 7, 2025. Picture: SAPOL

Speaking to The Advertiser, the 50-year-old described the property as just wide, open land, adding that theres really not much there.

With our lights, Im surprised because we just didnt find anything, Mr OConnell said.

Hes not on that property.

The search was carried out mostly by vehicle, with the group checking fence lines and tracks over the span of several days to no avail.

An absence of birds of prey on the homestead also suggested Gus was not there, Mr OConnell said.

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If he was in a bad way or if he passed away, wed listen for foxes, look for birds of prey, he said.

No birds of prey means hes not there.

Mr OConnell echoed the sentiment in a post on social media, writing: I personally am very doubtful he is on the property.

Former SES volunteer Jason O'Connell and his partner Jen spent over 90 hours searching for Gus. Picture: Supplied

On Friday, SA Police Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott announced that police would scale back their search, saying weve all been hoping for a miracle, but that miracle has not eventuated.

Were confident that weve done absolutely everything we can to locate Gus within the search area, but despite our best efforts, we have not been able to locate him, and unfortunately, we are now having to scale back this search for Gus, he told reporters.

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Police have allocated massive resources over the last week, with volunteers, divers, helicopters, all terrain vehicles and members of the Australian Defence Force fanned out over some 470 sqkm to try to find the boy, who has been missing for days now without access to food or water.

Everything we have found to date  indicates that as best as we know, Gus has wandered off from this property and we have not been able to locate him, Assistant Comm Parrott said.

This is clearly now what appears to be a very tragic set of circumstances. We hold out hope we may be able to find Gus and return him to his family, but clearly that potential is diminishing as days go by  We will not rest until we can try and find the answer.

The search for Gus has gone for more than one week. Picture: NewsWire/Dean Martin

Tracker and former policeman Aaron Stuart, also speaking to The Advertiser, said it was unusual that only one footprint had been found so far.

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Youd find the next one, and the one after that, Mr Stuart, who has helped authorities locate missing people and escaped prisoners in the bush, said.

You dont find one track, you find tracks. Youd soon find out if it was a decoy or anything like that.

If it was me, if I had been looking for him, I would have also been looking for other stuff  people trying to mislead you and stuff like that. Thats always in the back of my mind.
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 24: Boston Bruins goalie Michael DiPietro (80) during a preseason game between the Boston Bruins and the Washington Capitals on September 24, 2024, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Bruins neither claimed anyone nor lost anyone on waivers as the 2 p.m. deadline came and went with no movement regarding Boston.

There had been concern, particularly about forward Matej Blumel and goalie Michael DiPietro, but both will head to the AHL and join the Providence Bruins.

DiPietro was one of the best goalies in the AHL last year, but the Bruins have Jeremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo entrenched as the goalie tandem.

Blumel looked likely to make the varsity for much of training camp as he took shifts in the top six and spent time on the second power play unit. Instead, he was one of the last players cut.

The Bruins signed Blumel to an $875,000 AAV one-way deal in the offseason. The former fourth-round pick of the Oilers had 39 goals, 33 assists for 72 points in 67 AHL games for the Texas Stars last year and was a first-team AHL All-Star last year. He just turned 25 in May.

Forward Alex Steeves, who was second in the AHL in goals with the Toronto Marlies and defenseman Jonathan Aspirot, who impressed Sturm, also cleared waivers.
This story was updated at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6 to include more information from Takeda.

A major pharmaceutical company will be laying off more than 100 people at multiple Cambridge locations next year.

Takeda Pharmaceuticals is cutting 137 employees as it ceases work on cell therapy technology, according to a Massachusetts Workers Adjustment Retraining Notice filed with the state on Oct. 1. The layoffs will take effect between Jan. 1 and July 31 of 2026.

As part of a strategic portfolio prioritization, we have made the decision to discontinue our cell therapy efforts, the company said in a statement. This will enable us to focus on areas with the greatest potential to deliver transformative therapies to patients with increased speed and scale.

We will seek an external partner to leverage our cell therapy platform technologies and further advance our research and clinic-ready programs in this field, the spokesperson added.

The Japanese companys United States headquarters is in Cambridge, but it is the largest biopharmaceutical employer in Massachusetts, with more than 5,700 employees and about 2.8 million square feet of real estate, according to its website.

Cambridge is also home to Takedas global research and development center, but the company also has facilities in Lexington and North Reading and its subsidiary BioLife Plasma Services has donation centers in Worcester, Medford, Methuen, West Springfield and Attleboro.

The layoffs will affect workers at the companys 650 Kendall St., 40 Landsdowne St., and 300 Massachusetts Ave. locations, according to a letter the company sent to the state Department of Career Services. Some workers will be given the option to transfer to other locations, which may result in a smaller number of layoffs, according to the letter.

In 2024, Takeda announced more than 800 layoffs in Massachuesetts as part of a larger organization restructuring. The newest round of layoffs is unrelated to the previous cuts, the company told the Boston Globe.

Despite the layoffs, Takeda is not abandoning its foothold in Cambridge. The company is currently developing more than 600,000 square feet of research space in Kendall Square, which is expected to open next year.
Another top executive at grocery chain Market Basket has been fired, bringing the total to seven company leaders removed in the past few months.

The companys Board of Directors wrote in a Sept. 22 letter to Senior Executive Susan Dufresne notifying her of her termination that her actions and conduct have diverged from the best interests of Market Basket. They specified that in the months since former CEO Arthur T. Demoulas was suspended in May, Dufresne had disclosed confidential company information to the press and made public statements the board viewed as false.

We are aware that your dedication to Mr. Demoulas may have driven you to take these actions, the board wrote. But this was not the way to voice your opinions. The path you chose to take was not appropriate.

Read more: How a family feud at this popular grocery chain has shoppers worried about losing their favorite store

Dufresne sat on the companys finance team and worked at Market Basket for 30 years, in addition to working with the chain as an outside auditor and tax supervisor for 10 years previously. She oversaw Market Baskets investment portfolio, two Demoulas family foundations and several family trusts.

Dufresne said through a spokesperson that she received the letter on Sept. 30 while in her office. She said the statements referenced in the letter  which included quotations in Boston Globe and Boston Herald stories where she criticized the board for lies, pretext and false investigations, among other allegations  were accurate and that she was motivated not by loyalty to Demoulas but by her commitment to the company.

I stood up for the truth because the entire Market Basket community deserves nothing less, she said in a statement Monday. Market Basket is a great company that has proven decade after decade that well-run companies can be rewarding for all stakeholders and still deliver outstanding cash flow to the owners. Its business model and executive management team should have been supported and embraced, not rejected.

I fear most for the future of the people of Market Basket, its Associates and Customers, she added.

Demoulas, his son and daughter, and several other executives were suspended on May 28, with the board saying the 70-year-old CEO had refused to cooperate on basic business activities or to consider any succession plan that did not place his children at the head of the company. They claimed at the time that he was secretly planning to lead an employee walkout and customer boycott, similar to the one that made headlines when he was fired in the summer of 2014.

Demoulas was officially terminated last month and the company filed a lawsuit against him, asking a Delaware court to uphold the termination. Last week, the ousted executive filed his own lawsuit against the company, claiming his removal was an illegal and unfounded plot against him by his sisters, who resented his success.

CFO Donald Mulligan has since been named interim CEO of the company.

In a statement Monday in response to Dufresnes firing, Demoulas praised her decades of work for Market Basket, saying she had been instrumental to its success.

The boards decision is deeply misguided as they have now terminated a most talented and dignified woman who has always advanced the Market Basket philosophy and culture in all her endeavors, he said.
FILE - Students sit on the front steps of Low Memorial Library on the Columbia University campus in New York City. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File) AP

By Supriya Kumar

NEW DELHI - Kaushik Raj felt like his future was falling into place. Hed just won a $100,000 scholarship to pursue a graduate degree in journalism at Columbia University. A U.S. visa was the only thing that stood between him and a new life in New York.

Raj, 27, wasnt overly concerned. He had completed every stage of the traditional application process. As a last step, he had to allow American authorities to vet his online presence.

He wasnt too active on social media, he said, and refrained from publicizing his personal feelings about hot-button global issues, such as Israels war in Gaza.

He had, however, spent four years working as a journalist and would post links to his stories, which often focused on hate crimes and were critical of Indias treatment of its Muslim minority.

On Aug. 21, two months after the new social media screening policy was announced by the Trump administration, he received a letter from the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi telling him his application had been rejected.

The letter, which he shared with The Washington Post, did not cite his online activity. Instead, it stated he had not demonstrated sufficient ties to India that would compel him to return home after his time in the United States.

It came as a shock to Raj, who was born and raised in India and had made clear during the application process that his entire family lives in the country.

It was clearly because they have gone through my social media, he said. I will apply to the U.K. now.

Rajs story is not unique. Three other Indian students who applied for American visas after the recent policy change shared strikingly similar accounts with The Post, along with supporting documentation.

All said they had made it through every other stage of the application process and were rejected after the social media review. All were told by U.S. authorities that they had failed to prove strong enough ties to India despite having spent their whole lives there.

The ramifications are potentially enormous for young Indians, who accounted for nearly 30 percent of all international students in the United States in the 2023-2024 academic year, according to the Institute of International Education.

What was once a relatively swift and straightforward process is now characterized by weeks or months of administrative processing, students and immigration experts said - requiring applicants to open up their online lives for review by U.S. authorities, without any guidance on what they might deem disqualifying.

Presented with details about the cases in this story, White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said The Trump administration is ensuring that so-called guests in our country are not posing a national security threat or trying to undermine U.S. foreign policy.

The U.S. Embassy in India and the State Department did not respond to requests for comment.

This is the kind of stuff that totalitarian regimes engage in, said Charles Kuck, an immigration lawyer based in Atlanta, who has represented several international students facing visa revocations as part of the administrations broader crackdown on campus speech.

In March, immigration authorities began detaining and moving to deport foreign students at U.S. universities. Some had participated in pro-Palestine protests, others appeared to have been targeted for writing op-eds or online posts critical of Israel.

Among them were Indian citizens, including Ranjani Srinivasan, a PhD student at Columbia University who had her visa revoked in March, and Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University who was detained by authorities for allegedly spreading Hamas propaganda.

If theyre taking activities that are counter to our foreign - to our national interest, to our foreign policy, well revoke the visa, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in March. We are not going to be importing activists into the United States.

Two months later, on May 27, Rubio announced a temporary halt to visa interviews while expanded vetting procedures were put in place.

On June 18, the State Department unveiled the new policy to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible, instructing applicants to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to public.

Darsh Vatsa, fearing what the changes could mean for him, rushed to submit his student visa application in late May. His embassy interview was scheduled for July 10, five weeks before his classes were set to begin at Trinity College in Connecticut.

On Aug. 19, the day after he had planned to fly to the United States, he received his rejection letter, saying he had failed to establish ties to India.

Vatsa was admitted last year to Trinity, where he hoped to get a liberal arts degree, but took a deferment so he could care for his ailing grandparents in the eastern state of Bihar. Awarded a scholarship that covered almost all his expenses, Vatsa said the decision to study abroad was a no-brainer.

At the interview, he was asked by a consular officer to make his social media accounts public and told his application had been sent for administrative processing. At that moment, Vatsa recalled, anxiety began to set in.

The 18-year-old was outspoken on X and Instagram, fiercely critical of the Indian government and of Israels actions in Gaza, carried out with U.S. funding and diplomatic support.

Self-censoring was a departure from his values, he said, but he couldnt afford to lose his chance at an American education. So he completely stopped posting about international politics, Vatsa said, and tried to wipe his accounts of content he thought could be held against him, recounting hours spent over three consecutive days mass-unliking posts.

He has now abandoned hopes of going to the United States and has started applying to colleges in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.

And he is back to posting what he wants online: They will find out what you think regardless, he said.

Indians currently in the United States on student visas told The Post they feel muzzled. A 26-year-old PhD student at Louisiana State University, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions, said she used to freely criticize both the Indian and American governments on social media.

She has all but stopped posting online, she said, because anything can be considered grounds for getting deported or your visa getting canceled.

A 25-year-old on a student visa in New York said he watches his words even on phone calls with his partner in the U.K. I feel unsafe in my own home because I dont know whos listening, he said.

An Indian student who had secured admission to North Carolina State University to study computer engineering said he had spent nearly $2,000 on his pursuit of a U.S. education, including application fees and multiple trips to New Delhi.

He, too, was rejected after the new round of online vetting, he said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he plans to reapply.

I want to work in AI, and the U.S. is the best place for it, he said. I have to try again.

Getting approved for a visa after being rejected was highly unlikely, said Kuck, the immigration attorney. Not while Donald Trump is president.

To Raj, the crackdown on speech in the United States mirrors the Indian governments suppression of dissent. Everyone goes [to the U.S.] because they are troubled by their own countries, he said. If you will be censored so much there too, what is the point? 

Albert Cahn, founder and executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, a New York-based civil rights and technology think tank, said Trump is using expansive national security powers  to target those who simply dont agree with him.

He said it was a clear violation of the First Amendment, which applies to citizens and visitors alike.

That view was echoed on Tuesday in a sweeping ruling in Boston by U.S. District Judge William Young, who excoriated the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department for seeking to target noncitizens for speaking out on U.S. campuses earlier this year, with the aim of tamping down pro-Palestinian student protests.

It was, he said, a truly scandalous and unconstitutional suppression of free speech.
Springfield Symphony Orchestra artistic advisor Mei-Ann Chen will conduct the orchestra's 2025 season-opening concert, "A Night in Italy: Verdi, Respighi, & Rota. She is shown above conducting a 2024 show. (Leon Nguyen photo) Leon Nguyen Photos

SPRINGFIELD  The Godfather will be there only in spirit on Saturday night when the Springfield Symphony Orchestra opens their 2025 season with A Night in Italy: Verdi, Respighi, & Rota.

The evening will feature memorable music created by Nino Rota for The Godfather film as well as highlight Italian composers such as Verdis La Forza Del Destin as well as Respighis Ancient Airs and Dances and Pines of Rome.

The concert will also feature a collaboration with members of the Springfield Symphony Youth Orchestras performing alongside SSO musicians.

Showtime is 7:30 p.m.

The evening will begin with an Italian-themed pre-concert reception at 6 p.m. in the Mahogany Room, hosted in partnership with Springfields Italian Cultural Center. The reception will feature treats from local Italian eateries La Fiorentina and Frigos, alongside a sampling of Italian wines with a charcuterie board. Limited tickets for the pre-concert reception, priced at $25, are available online at springfieldsymphony.org or by calling 413-733-2291.

Following the reception at 6:30 p.m., there also will be a Classical Conversation with guest conductor and orchestra artistic advisor Mei-Ann Chen in the Mahogany Hall.

Springfield has such deep-rooted, rich Italian history, and so were thrilled that our opening night not only offers our community the opportunity to experience iconic Italian music, but also to experience Italian culture through our partnership with the Italian Cultural Center, said Heather Caisse-Roberts, president and CEO of the SSO, in a news release about the upcoming season.

Opening night will also honor the memory of Ron Weiss, a long-serving member of the orchestras Board of Directors who passed away earlier this year.

Maestra Chen, while in China, took time to answer a few questions about this weekends performance.

Q. How does Nino Rota as a contemporary Italian composer fit in with the other Italian composers represented in the program and what did you think of his work with The Godfather?

A. Actually, it is the other way around. The Godfather idea came from the SSO musicians in the programming committee as an interesting way to incorporate well-known works when the Italian theme program was explored. Its iconic melodies are captivating and add to the variety of this exciting season opener.

Q. What makes the other pieces in the program uniquely Italian?

A. Verdi and Menotti are the old and new masters for Italian operas, with some of the most long-lasting works in operatic history. Rota represents the voice of Italian films. Respighis unique voice for the orchestral writing spans from ancient music to the innovation of incorporating electronic bird calls and off-stage additional instruments to create a great spectacle of orchestral colors in a symphonic experience.

Q. What is your view on Italian composers and their contributions?

A. A very positive one. This program features some of my favorite music  personally, I believe the world would be missing a lot if we didnt have Italian composers.

Q. How will the Youth Orchestra fit into the program? Have you worked with them before?

A. The Youth Orchestra will work side-by-side with the orchestra musicians. Yes, I have had the opportunity to observe rehearsals, conducted in a brief rehearsal, and I listened to several Concerto Competition contestants last season. I was very impressed by the dedication of the conductors, teachers, and staff supporting the Youth Symphony Ensembles, and therefore I thought having a side-by-side opportunity would give the SSO musicians an opportunity to mentor the young generation, as well as giving the spotlight to some of the young talent in the community.

Q. Was this a concert you suggested and why?

A. I was inspired to explore an Italian theme program after meeting Mayor Sarno in Springfield  there seemed to be so much potential, besides tapping into the Italian repertoire I love. For example, to also explore how we can connect our community through Italian elements, food, fashion, and more. And, of course, it is a great excuse to program Pines of Rome  a colorful and splendid symphonic work with a unique surround sound ending. If someone out there hasnt heard it live, this is your chance to experience it first-hand.

For more information about the coming season or to purchase subscriptions or tickets priced at $25-$80 for Saturdays performance, visit SpringfieldSymphony.org.
(Note: This is a story about wineries visited by the author in Puligny-Montrachet in Frances Burgundy region.)

Puligny-Montrachet, France  The streets are deserted.

Theres barely even a sound  just the echoes of our footsteps bouncing off the clean, white stone walls on either side of Rue de LEglise.

This isnt unusual. Most small villages in Burgundy on a Monday night in January look this way  quiet, empty, magical.

But Puligny-Montrachet feels different.

There never seems to be anyone walking around these narrow, winding streets any time of day or night.

Then again, less than 500 people actually live in the village.

But dont let those numbers fool you. Puligny-Montrachet may be small but its famous throughout the world. And when people talk about it, they talk in revered, hushed tones.

What makes Puligny-Montrachet special, so worthy of such reverence? Its white wines.

Nearly 100 percent of the wine made in Puligny-Montrachet is white wine made with Chardonnay grapes.

And for those who claim you dont like Chardonnay, you might feel different after you taste these life-changing wines from Puligny-Montrachet.

Theyre earthy yet elegant, oaky yet subtle, mineral-like yet buttery. They taste like no other white wines in the world.

That might explain the obsession and the reverence for them  and why the people who love them will gladly pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for the best ones.

As my wife and I walk down the street that Monday night, I can feel the hairs on the back of my neck tingling with anticipation, eager to enter this enchanting world hidden behind the walls concealing these wineries.

That evening and the next morning, we visited two outstanding wineries in Puligny-Montrachet.

Later in the week, we tasted several more Puligny-Montrachet wines created by a third winery.

This week, you can learn all about this village, these wineries and what makes Puligny-Montrachet such an exceptional wine making place.

Hope you enjoy.

History of winemaking in Puligny-Montrachet

Like several top winemaking villages in Burgundy, the name of the town contains one of its best vineyards  Montrachet. Pulignys name change took place in 1879. However, the history of winemaking in the village dates back much further. Starting in the 1200s, monks began making wine with grapes grown here. By the 1600s, the quality of the villages wines were already well known and revered throughout Europe.

Wine classification in Puligny-Montrachet

In 1930, winemakers and officials who regulate wine in Burgundy began classifying certain vineyards based on the quality of the wine from particular vineyards. The three classifications are village wines, premier cru and grand cru.

What makes these wines so special?

Like many great winemaking villages in Burgundy, the unique soils in many of the vineyards in Puligny-Montrachet make all the difference.

Most vines are planted in stony, limestone-rich soil, which consistently create austere, elegant wines. But its not just all about the terroir, the term often used to describe why certain soils produce outstanding wines.

Its the weather  cool, foggy and often windy.

Its the slope of the vineyards  hilly and gradually rising several hundred feet.

Its where the vineyards are located  east-facing hillsides drenched with morning sun.

Its the experience of the people making the wines. Sometimes we omit the skill of the people in the notion of terroir, says winemaker Jean-Michel Chartron, standing near several Grand Cru vineyards in Puligny-Montrachet. People here have been working and developing their (winemaking) skills for over a thousand years.

Add all these things up and you have a recipe for world-class wines.

History of Domaine Leflaive

Founded in 1905 by Joseph Leflaive, the winery has been in the Leflaive family ever since. However, members of the Leflaive family have been making wine in Puligny since the early 1700s. Since 2015, Leflaives great grandson, Brice de la Morandiere, has run the winery with a calm, steady hand.

The winery has a sleek, modern feel behind the ancient stone walls. Morandiere respects the winerys rich history, building on the legacy of the three previous generation who ran the winery. But hes also committed to moving the winery forward, experimenting with different ways to produce the highest-quality wines.

Each one of us, generation after generation, we have built a little bit of something, Morandiere says, explaining the winerys approach towards constantly striving to improve the quality of their already-outstanding wines.

Domaine Leflaive produces wines from 59 acres, mostly in Puligny-Montrachet and other nearby towns, especially in the Macon region, where many top white winemakers have been experimenting with producing distinct, high-quality Chardonnays.

Nearly all their wine (roughly 96 percent) is Chardonnay. The remaining four percent is Pinot Noir. They produce four Grand Cru and numerous outstanding Premier Cru wines. Throughout the tasting, I was thoroughly impressed by every single wine. Theyre all outstanding.

Whats the secret to producing such great wines? It all starts in the fields, Morandiere explains. Fundamentally, what I like to do is work in the vineyard so that I have the berry that I want in order to make the wine that I want, Morandiere says.

History of Domaine Jean Chartron

The winery feels intimate, like youre visiting a good friends house. Photos showing the family that have run the winery since 1859 hang in the front room. Owner Jean-Michel Chartron (who took over in 1994) points to different photos and explains the history of the winery, including founder Jean-Edouard Dupard, who was the mayor of Puligny and successfully had Montrachet added to the name of the town.

I am with my sister (Anne-Laure) now the fifth generation of Chartrons to be the guardians of the temple, Chartron says, referring to his role in the family winery.

And like a proud father, Chartron cant wait to show me some of the winerys best vineyards. Minutes after we arrive, we hop into Chartrons car. Soon, were high above Puligny-Montrachet, feeling the bright, morning sun on the villages famous east-facing vineyards.

The Chartrons produce wines from 35 acres mostly in Puligny-Montrachet and nearby towns. The winery takes a hands-on approach to nearly everything they do, including harvesting the grapes. Nearly all their wine is Chardonnay, including three Grand Cru and seven Premier Cru wines. They also produce outstanding, affordable wines so more people can appreciate and enjoy their wines.

Its important for me to have that larger range of wine and we do everything nicely in the barrels, Chartron says. I make wine to be drunk, not collected.

Wine Tasting Notes

(All wines reviewed below are Chardonnay wines and were tasted by the writer at three wineries this year.)

Domaine Leflaive

2023 Domaine Leflaive Macon Verze: Soft, floral, fragrant wine with subtle hints of apricot, fig and peach.

2023 Domaine Leflaive Pouilly-Fuisse: Light yet intense, bright fruit flavors with hints of grapefruit and fresh lemon.

2023 Domaine Leflaive Bourgogne: Delicate, soft, subtle fruit flavors with hints of lemon. Excellent village Burgundy Chardonnay wine.

2023 Domaine Leflaive Les Folatieres Premier Cru: Outstanding, delicate wine with layers of delicate, precise flavors, including croissant with almonds, lemon, butter, orange peel, peach and grapefruit. Absolutely delightful.

2023 Domaine Leflaive Clavoillon Premier Cru: Lively, mineral-rich wine with floral aroma and light flavors, including peach and lemon.

2023 Domaine Leflaive Les Pucelles Premier Cru: Delicate, subtle, floral wine with hints of sea salt, lemon and fresh-cut flowers.

2023 Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru: Delicate yet meaty show-stopping wine with subtle yet intense flavors, including layers of toasted butter, peach, melon and lemon zest.

2023 Domaine Leflaive Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru: Majestic, understated wine delicate, soft hints of butter, grapefruit, lemon and freshly-picked ripe peaches. Poetry in a bottle. Best wine of the tasting.

Domaine Jean Chartron

2023 Domaine Jean Chartron Pernand-Vergelesses: Light, bright, delicate, playful wine with subtle citrus fruit flavors.

2023 Domaine Jean Chartron St. Aubin Les Murgers Dents Du Chien Premier Cru: Light, precise, delicate wine with hints of sea salt, lemon and pie crust flavors.

2023 Domaine Jean Chartron Puligny-Montrachet: Beautiful village Chardonnay with gentle, delicate floral aromas and flavors, including hints of sea salt and strawberry.

2023 Domaine Jean Chartron Les Folatieres Premier Cru: Elegant, light, mineral-like wine with hints of sea salt and butter with a long, luxurious finish.

2023 Domaine Jean Chartron Clos De La Pucelle Premier Cru: Delicate, soft wine with subtle hints of sea salt, lemon, butter with a long, expressive finish.

2023 Domaine Jean Chartron Clos Du Cailleret Premier Cru: Bright, vibrant, intense Chardonnay with lively notes of sea salt, lemon peel and toasted butter.

2023 Domaine Jean Chartron Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru: Soft, elegant, delicate Chardonnay with expressive notes of melted butter and sea salt that seem to last forever after each taste.

2023 Jean Chartron Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru Clos des Chevaliers  Superb, subtle Chardonnay with delicate, light hints of butter, sea salt and mineral-like flavors and a dash of oak.

2023 Domaine Jean Chartron Montrachet Grand Cru: The crown jewel of the winery, this elegant, graceful wine vividly brings to life the villages most famous vineyard, Montrachet. Be prepared for subtle, understated flavors that last nearly a minute after each taste. Flavors range from roasted butter and sea salt to lemon, peach and melon. An absolute masterpiece. The best wine of the tasting.

Domaine Joseph Drouhin

(Winery in nearby Beaune that produces many outstanding Puligny-Montrachet wines.)

2023 Domaine Joseph Drouhin Puligny-Montrachet: Bright, subtle, vibrant fruit flavors with hints of pear, melon and grapefruit flavors.

2023 Domaine Joseph Drouhin Puligny-Montrachet Clos De La Garenne Premier Cru: Subtle, intense fruit flavors, including notes of peach, pear, grapefruit and sea salt. Tingles on the lips at first, mineral-like finish later.

2023 Domaine Joseph Drouhin Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatieres Premier Cru: Subtle, grapefruit-like flavors delicate hints of sea salt, lemon and peach.

2023 Domaine Joseph Drouhin Montrachet Grand Cru: Superb, subtle yet big, earthy wine with delicate, intense notes of sea salt, peach and mineral-like intensity. You can practically chew on the fleshy fruit flavors that pop in your mouth.

Cheers!

Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com and in The Republicans Weekend section.
If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.

The British rocker Yungblud will return to North America in 2026 with 24 additional shows for his Idols tour.

This extension of his world tour is in support of his latest album, Idols. Yungblud announced the additional North American dates just two weeks after wrapping his 2025 stateside run. A presale for tickets will start on Tuesday, October 7, at 10 a.m. ET on Ticketmaster with a general sale happening on Wednesday, October 8, at 10 a.m. ET. Fans can shop for tickets now using reliable third-party ticket sellers like StubHub, VividSeats and SeatGeek.

*New customers who purchase tickets through VividSeats can get $20 off a $200+ ticket order by using the promo code MassLive20 at checkout.*

The tour will kick off in Michigan on May 1, will make stops in Toronto, Seattle, Portland, Las Vegas, San Diego and Boston before wrapping up in Atlanta on June 13, 2026.

Yungblud will be at the Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston, MA on June 9. As of Monday, October 6, the cheapest tickets to the show are $179 on StubHub, $166 on VividSeats and $165 on SeatGeek.

Yungblud released Idols in June as the first part in a two-segment release, the second half of which has not yet been released. On Nov. 21, Yungblud and Aerosmith will release the collaborative EP One More Time. Theyve already released the single My Only Angel, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboards Hard Rock Songs chart.

Yungbluds real name is Dominic Richard Harrison and he has been compared to the legendary Ozzy Osbourne for their similarities. The Prince of Darkness passed away on Tuesday, July 22, just more than two weeks after his final performance. Back to the Beginning was a send-off concert in Birmingham, England, the city where the hugely influential Black Sabbath first formed in 1968.

Yungblud developed a close relationship with the heavy metal icon after meeting in 2022 through Yungbluds friendship with Ozzys daughter, Kelly Osbourne.

On March 11, 2022, Yungblud released his single, The Funeral, which featured a music video starring Sharon Osbourne and Ozzy Osbourne. The two grew their connection into a mentorship and sort of father-son bond.

On July 5, Yungblud performed a cover of Changes at Ozzy Osbournes final Black Sabbath concert. Backstage, he gave Osbourne a sterling silver gold cross necklace set with diamonds, returning the favour for a similar gift Osbourne had given him during the filming of The Funeral video in 2022.

Ozzy then acknowledged Yungblud for having the number one album on the UKs Official Albums Chart in June and told him to conquer America next, which Yungblud replied, Thats the goal.

Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, YUNGBLUD, & Nuno Bettencourt performed an Ozzy Osbourne tribute medley of Crazy Train / Changes / Mama, Im Coming Home at the 2025 Video Music Awards.

Below is a look at Yungbluds 2026 Idols World Tour Dates with links to purchase tickets:
Authorities have published a startling photograph of a live seal pup inside a garbage bin, as they call for public help to find those responsible for placing it there. The animal was found at the back of an RSL in Portland on Victorias southwest coast, close to the border with South Australia.

Portland is known for its abundant marine life, including whales, dolphins and Australian fur seals. It even has a resident elephant seal named Sammy, who makes regular appearances in the town.

The picture of the seal has sparked an uproar on social media after it was shared by the state's environment department. OMG, seriously? one person wrote. "What lowlife would separate a seal pup from its mother and leave it in a bin? another asked.

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The animal was discovered behind Portland RSL Sub-Branch on September 30. It was then transferred to Zoos Victoria Marine Response Unit for a veterinary assessment. Sadly, a decision was made to euthanise the animal on welfare grounds.

Aussies warned of hefty fines after seal pup rushed to zoo

The Conservation Regulator, which sits within the state's environment department, reminded Victorians that all marine mammals are protected under the Wildlife Act.

The Conservation Regulator is calling on the public for information to assist in an investigation involving the alleged take of an Australian Fur Seal pup," it said.

Strict rules govern interactions between humans and seals across the state, and it is illegal to touch or feed them. To keep everyone safe, a distance of 30 metres from the seals must be kept on land, and five metres on a jetty or boat ramp.

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In Victoria, it is an offence to wilfully injure, disturb, chase or herd protected wildlife, all of which carry a fine of up to $4,070. Feeding marine mammals, including fish scraps, is also illegal and carries the same maximum penalty.

Crime Stoppers has reminded the community that anyone with information about the alleged incident can report it anonymously. This can be done via its website or by calling 1800 333 000.

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment?  Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories.
Wistariahurst Museum Director Megan Seiler stands by the paintings that hang on the perimeter of the grounds as part of the museum's new "Faces on the Fenceline" exhibit. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook

HOLYOKE  The stark and imposing spiked fenceline surrounding Wistariahurst Museum is more welcoming these days. It is adorned with wooden canvases featuring splashes of color and historic Black figures from across western Massachusetts and New England.

The museums new Faces on the Fenceline exhibit showcases portraits of 32 Black leaders who have fought for civil rights and freedom  some from years ago, and others who are continuing the campaign.

We looked at this as a great opportunity to liven up our fenceline, which isnt the most welcoming, said Megan Seiler, the museums director. We want to use the fenceline as an outdoor walking exhibit.

The exhibit features 32 canvases made of wood. Adults and children painted their versions of joy and celebration on the canvases during the museums Juneteenth celebration earlier this year. Among the paintings are colorful swirls, hearts, rainbows, brown trees and orange leaves.

Wistariahurst Museum is hosting an outdoor exhibit featuring portraits of Black civil rights leaders depicted on canvas. The exhibition will be on display until the end of October. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook

Researchers at the museum searched their archives for pictures of Black men and women who fought for civil rights, affixing those images to the larger backdrop of the colorfully painted canvases.

A lot of the pictures are in black-and-white and having them imposed with these really bright, bold paintings brings them to life. The paintings are so colorful, unique and interesting, they draw people to the pictures, Seiler said.

The exhibit is free and open to the public. In fact, the paintings never come down, hanging on the fence 24 hours a day until the end of October.

There are also banners with a QR code that lists all of the leaders on display, with links to more information about them.

We dont want any barriers between the public and our museum. We hope when people see this exhibit, they want to learn more about these people by visiting their homes or reading their work, Seiler said.

Wistariahurst partnered with Genuine Culture  a Holyoke group that promotes Black history and culture  to put on the summer Juneteenth event. Theresa Gordon, the organizations vice-president, said the paintings and pictures salute those that led the struggle for freedom of speech and our rights as human beings.

Gordon notes both children and adults painted the canvases. She said it is especially important that young people got involved as a way to learn about the history-makers that came before them.

Our history is not being (accurately) taught in public institutions. There are other entities in our community that can pass that history on. You cant kill history. You can try to do the things we see being done, but you cant hide the history. It will always be there, and it will prevail, she said.

What to teach children in public schools is an ongoing, heated debate, with some accusing state and national figures of wiping clean references to slavery.

Wistariahurst Museum is hosting an outdoor exhibit featuring portraits of Black civil rights leaders depicted on canvas. The exhibition will be on display until the end of October. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook

Theres always somebody whos going to want to rewrite history, but when you know the truth and when youve lived that struggle, its not going to be erased. Nobody can ever take that away from you, said Gordon.

As Seiler tries to soften the spikes of the wall that surrounds Wistariahurst, she hopes Faces on the Fenceline draws people in for a closer look at American history and the local people who helped shape it.

All history is going to be represented here. This is a space where we explore, said Seiler.

You dont learn about a lot of these people in school, she added. I hope people take the time to learn about these amazing Black historical figures, and well keep highlighting them, year after year.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to expand its ability to surveil social media by hiring nearly 30 private contractors to monitor posts and online activity that could lead to arrests and deportations.

The proposed program, first reported by WIRED, would station analysts at two of ICEs targeting centers  including one in Williston, Vt. The other would be at Santa Ana, Calif.

Analysts may also be requested to search and find information about targets associates, family members, friends, or co-workers.

The contractor will research and analyze data from commercial and law enforcement databases as well as other publicly accessible, open-source, and social media platforms to support investigations and aid in targeting individuals for arrest in furtherance of ICE law enforcement missions, according to draft documents.

The multiyear surveillance program would be run by private vendors that monitor platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube for new leads for ICE agents to follow.

Documents were posted online for the departments request for information from vendors, meaning the agency is still gauging interest from vendors before initiating an official bidding process.

The documents reveal that ICE wants a contractor to provide around-the-clock staffing for the two facilities, process cases on tight deadlines and supply the agency with the latest subscription-based surveillance software.

The National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center in Williston, Vt., produces leads for the agencys enforcement arm and handles cases across the Eastern part of the country.

Planning documents show ICE officials want a team of a dozen contractors, including a program manager and 10 analysts in Vermont.

The information sources that contractors would gather data could come from diverse sources: from posts, photos and messages on Facebook, Reddit and TikTok, to more powerful commercial databases such as LexisNexis Accurint and Thomson Reuters CLEAR  which collect property records, phone bills, and other personal details in searchable files.

ICE officials outlined deadlines for certain types of cases. For suspected national security threats or those on the most wanted list that are deemed urgent, turnaround times call for 30 minutes.

For high-priority cases, deadlines call for one hour and lower-priority to be completed the day of the request.

MassLive reached out to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security for comment on Monday.
Commemorating its 150th anniversary, Smith College will offer free tuition for families with annual incomes of up to $150,000, according to a Monday announcement.

The initiative, beginning in fall 2026, will be for not only domestic students but also international students. It is the first womens college in the nation to offer free tuition for some students with its loan-free financial aid.

When the cost of college is beyond so many students and their families, Smith is committed to keeping higher education within reach, said Smith College President Sarah Willie-LeBreton. I am thrilled that in the same year Smith celebrates its 150th anniversary, we are also able to announce The Next 150 Pledge, an initiative both reflective of our founding mission and invested in access to an extraordinary education for every one of our admitted students.

The announcement comes after recent tuition-free pledges by other institutions, including Tufts University, Mount Holyoke College and Harvard University.

Smith already meets 100% of the demonstrated needs of students and provides high-need incoming students with $1,000 startup grants.

We estimate that more than 75% of families in the United States will now qualify for free tuition under The Next 150 Pledge, said Joanna May, vice president for enrollment. This policy is not only about reducing financial barriers, but also making our financial aid policy more transparent and easily understandable for low and middle-income families. We hope this will open Smiths doors wider than ever before to exceptional students who are ready to change the world.

The tuition-free program is supported by the colleges endowment and the gifts of alumnae and donors.
More than 400 people were arrested by the FBI Boston division over the summer in a nationwide "effort to crush violent crime."

The FBI called Operation Summer Heat a record-setting operation as it aimed to remove gang members, drug traffickers, child predators and bank robbers from the streets starting on June 24 and lasting until Sept. 20.

FBI Boston ranked third among the FBIs field offices in total arrests during this nationwide operation, according to a press release.

FBI Boston arrested 404 people in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, took 129 drugs, recovered 38 weapons and identified or located 27 children.

Specifically in Western Massachusetts, the FBI targeted neighborhood-based gangs operating in Holyoke and open-air drug dealing at locations where there have been shootings. There were 52 arrests, multiple guns taken and drugs were seized, including heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine.

Two Massachusetts men were arrested in connection with a United States Postal Service (USPS) inspection with the FBI in Revere. And about 73 kilos of cocaine worth an estimated street value of over $1 million were seized.

Nationally, the operation led to 8,629 arrests. More than 6,500 of the arrests were under the FBIs Violent Crime and Gang program. There were also 1,053 child victims located during the operation, 2,281 weapons taken, 44,569 kilograms of cocaine found, and 421 kilograms of fentanyl removed, which is enough to kill 50 million Americans, according to the press release.
More than 80% of Boston residents believe the city needs to build thousands more homes to address the housing shortage, according to a new poll.

Among survey respondents, 81% said they supported a goal of building 30,000 new homes. There was strong support from both renters and homeowners, with 86% and 77% in agreement, respectively, and across the city, with a majority at least somewhat agreeing in every neighborhood.

The results of this poll show just how much residents agree that Boston has become far too expensive for everyone who lives in the city, said Jesse Kanson-Benanav, executive director of Abundant Housing Massachusetts, which commissioned the poll from MassINC Polling Group. In our political environment, it is almost impossible to find this much strong agreement on any given issue, but more than 8 out of 10 residents say city officials need to act now to address this crisis.

The poll also revealed strong support for other pro-housing policies, some of which are already in the works at City Hall. Eighty percent were in favor of allowing accessory dwelling units, sometimes known as granny flats or in-law apartments, by right, a policy implemented for the rest of the state earlier this year and which the city is currently working to follow on as part of a greater effort to update its zoning code.

Updates to Bostons zoning also received a favorable outlook from the poll, with 78% of respondents in support.

The poll also found that 77% of residents were in favor of allowing new residential buildings up to six stories, 71% for allowing up to 12 stories near MBTA stations and 70% for allowing flexibility on parking requirements for new development.

These measures will make our cities and towns more affordable for local workers by shortening commutes, helping local businesses hire locally, and supporting a thriving community for everyone, Kanson-Benenav said.

Despite some of the policies already being discussed at the city level, the results showed that many residents still see room for improvement from city officials. Just 22% said the city was doing a good or better job of addressing housing affordability, while 31% rated the citys efforts as fair and 43% as poor.
A pedestrian was hit by a bus and became trapped underneath it Monday morning, according to Boston Police.

Police went to 774 Albany St. in Roxbury at around 7:58 a.m. Monday after receiving a radio call for a crash involving a pedestrian, said Officer Mark Marron, a department spokesman, in an email.

Arriving officers were told a bus hit a pedestrian, who got trapped underneath the vehicle. Detectives from the Homicide Unit and members of the Fatal Collision Investigation Team are investigating the incident.

In the wake of the collision, police closed Albany Street in both directions between Massachusetts Avenue and Northampton Street. The Massachusetts Avenue Connector inbound toward Boston Medical Center is also closed.

No further information, including the pedestrians condition, was immediately available.
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., speaks ahead of Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz during a campaign event in York, Pa, Oct. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) AP

Despite being a Democrat, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is losing support among voters in his party while GOP voters are increasingly warming up to him, according to a new poll.

The survey from Quinnipiac University, released on Oct. 1, showed Fetterman with an overall approval rating of 46% and an overall disapproval rating of 38% among likely voters in Pennsylvania.

When broken down by party, however, a majority of Republicans (62%) approve of the work Fetterman has done, while only 33% of Democrats shared the same opinion.

In fact, a majority of Democrats (54%) expressed disapproval of Fettermans work as a senator, compared to 21% of Republicans.

Of the voters who identified as independents, an equal number (43%) said they approved and disapproved of Fetterman.

The numbers in the October poll represent a significant shift from Quinnipiacs August 2024 poll, which also featured Fetterman.

In that poll, 74% of Democrats approved of Fettermans job as senator while 14% did not.

Among Republicans, 25% expressed approval while 59% expressed disapproval.

As for independents, 46% approved Fettermans work while 40% disapproved.

Elected in 2022, Fetterman has become a frequent critic of his party.

In March, he chastised Democrats for protesting President Donald Trumps joint address to Congress and said the protests only made the 47th president look more presidential.

He has also clashed with the partys progressive wing over the war in Gaza. Several progressive Democrats have called for the blocking of arms sales to Israel, accusing the countrys government and military of committing genocide in Gaza.

A July 2025 Gallup poll found that only 12% of Democrats approved of Israels campaign in Gaza compared to 79% who disapproved.

Fetterman, however, remains an ardent supporter of Israel and has expressed his support both off and on social media.

He voted against two measures brought forth by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., that would have blocked arms sales to the country and previously criticized Sens. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., after they accused Israel of ethnically cleansing Palestinians.

I reject this in the strongest terms, Fetterman wrote on X on Sept. 5. My partys ongoing and escalating betrayal of Israel is gross and outrageous.

Trump has even praised Fetterman for bucking his party, once calling him the most sensible Democrat.

Despite the presidents praise and the decay among Democratic voters, Fetterman still considers himself a Democrat  and said he is not planning to switch parties.

No, Im not going to switch, Fetterman said on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures. Im just going to be an independent voice in the Democratic Party. Im not going to be afraid of people.

The latest Quinnipiac poll was conducted between Sept. 25 and Sept. 29 with a sample size of 1,579 registered voters in Pennsylvania. The surveys margin of error was 3.3%.
William Cantwell, 19 (left) and Julian Bowers, 18 (right), both of Rhode Island, arraigned in Roxbury District Court on Oct. 6. (Irene Rotondo/MassLive)

UPDATE: At least 4 street takeovers across Mass. led to violent police confrontations

Two teenagers from Rhode Island accused of lighting a Boston police cruiser on fire alongside more than 100 people  in what officials suspect was a string of attacks on police cars on Sunday  appeared in court Monday.

Julian Bowers, 18, of Cumberland, Rhode Island, and William Cantwell, 19, of Warwick, Rhode Island are charged with malicious destruction of property over $1,200, disorderly conduct, assault and battery on a police officer and resisting arrest.

Cantwell was also charged with possession of Class D, marijuana, after police searched his bag and found two packages of cannibis edibles, according to the release.

The two young men appeared side by side in Roxbury District Court for their arraignments on Monday afternoon. Prosecutors requested a $20,000 cash bail for Cantwell, along with GPS monitoring and a curfew. They requested a $15,000 bail for Bowers, with the same conditions.

The judge listened to a short statement of facts on the case, where prosecutors described how a Boston police officer was inside their cruiser when it was hit with fireworks from all angles and filled with smoke.

... A strong message from criminal justice system is needed, the prosecutor said. The prosecutor added that as both men are from Rhode Island, they have a lack of ties to the community, which contributes to their criminal activity and disregard to local government and city residents.

Cantwell  who also faces charges from an unrelated incident out of Rhode Island  wore a black sweatshirt with a white floral pattern, while Bowers was in a white tank top.

The young men whispered and looked at each other throughout the proceedings, tossing their heads back at certain points and gesturing with their hands. They did not speak on the record, other than greeting the judge.

Bowers was ordered held on a $500 cash bail, while Cantwell was ordered a $1,000 cash bail. Each were also ordered to sign a waiver of extradition and advised to stay out of Boston except during their criminal proceedings.

The teens charges are in connection with an incident at 2:12 a.m. on Sunday, when police said more than 100 people gathered at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Tremont Street.

They were participating in whats known as a vehicle takeover, police said, which involves a coordinated effort of shutting down streets with personal vehicles and barriers for doughnuts and street racing.

When officers arrived to break up the crowd, several people started to throw fireworks, cones, poles and other objects at police cruisers.

A Boston police cruiser caught fire after it was surrounded by the crowd, and several members of the crowd jumped on its hood, according to the release. This prevented the officer inside  who was driving in circles, attempting to get away from the crowd  from being able to see, prosecutors said in court.

The officer escaped their cruiser after it began to fill with sparks and smoke, and other officers jumped into help with tasers and unholstered guns, the prosecutor said.

Bowers was arrested after a foot chase from the scene, after police said he was seen throwing objects at the cruiser. Cantwell was also chased on foot by police after he was seen smashing an orange pole off the cruiser several times, police said.

Boston police sent more units to the scene and were able to disperse the crowd using department-issued equipment. Boston firefighters extinguished the flaming cruiser, which was eventually destroyed.

The next court date for Cantwell and Bowers is Nov. 5.

The attack in Boston was one of several incidents that happened on Sunday in Boston and the surrounding communities. This included large-scale takeover events in both Randolph and Middleborough.

Police in Randolph were also met with a rowdy crowd of more than 100 people who struck cruisers with fists and other objects before setting off fireworks at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning, officials said.

This was carried out by individuals who were concealing their faces with masks and videotaping themselves, police said. These individuals continued and sat on the hoods of the cruiser and lit fireworks off, placing the officer inside in extreme danger.

Boston officials were quick to denounce the takeover event on Sunday.

The outside individuals who came into our city to cause disorder and brought dangerous behavior here will be prosecuted, Mayor Michelle Wu said during a press conference at the Roslindale Parade. We are asking publics help for any information to be able to do that as quickly as possible.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said the takeover events are dangerous, intolerable assaults on our police officers and our neighborhoods.

We and our law enforcement partners will do all we can to identify and hold accountable anyone involved. No one should think they can jeopardize public safety in such a brazen manner without consequences, Hayden said.

In April 2024, a large-scale takeover event on Commonwealth Avenue led to a 20-year-old man from West Boylston facing a slew of charges in connection with a drag race.
Demonstrators protesting against chronic electricity and water cuts confront riot police in Antananarivo, Madagascar, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Mamyrael) AP

The U.S. Department of State has released a travel advisory for Madagascar, urging travelers to exercise increased caution due to crime and civil unrest in the country.

The advisory highlights incidents of armed robbery, carjacking, and theft targeting both locals and tourists, particularly in urban areas and at night.

Travelers are advised to remain vigilant, avoid isolated areas, and limit travel after dark.

There have also been reports of demonstrations that occasionally turn violent, posing additional risks to visitors. The advisory recommends monitoring local news and following instructions from local authorities.

Health concerns are also noted, including the risk of diseases such as malaria and COVID-19.

Travelers should ensure they have appropriate vaccinations and take preventive measures against mosquito bites.

Visitors are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy upon arrival and keep emergency contact information handy.

The embassy can provide assistance in case of emergencies.

For detailed information and updates on travel to Madagascar, please visit the official U.S. Department of State travel advisory page at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/madagascar-travel-advisory.html.

Generative AI was used to organize and structure this story, based on data provided by the U.S. Department of State. It was reviewed and edited by MassLive.
Former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez was hospitalized after being stabbed during an altercation in downtown Indianapolis early Saturday. Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

Mark Sanchez now faces a felony charge for his role in a violent altercation that occurred on Saturday.

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said during a press conference on Monday that his office filed a Level 5 felony charge of battery resulting in serious bodily injury against Sanchez.

The charge carries a 1- to 6- year sentence. Mears stressed that additional information is still being obtained.

We are still in the early stages of the investigation, Mears said. This is by no means the end of the investigation, this by no means means these are going to be the final charges we move forward with.

According to an affidavit obtained by ESPN, Sanchez confronted a truck driver who was parked at a hotel loading dock in Indianapolis. The driver pepper sprayed Sanchez because he felt he was in danger. Sanchez was still walking toward the man, so the truck driver pulled out his knife and, according to the affidavit, struck Sanchez two or three times.

The FOX broadcaster was in town to call the Colts-Las Vegas Raiders game on Sunday.

Sanchez was transported to a local hospital where he was later arrested and charged with three misdemeanors: battery with injury, public intoxication and unlawful entry of a vehicle.

This incident should never have happened, Mears said in a statement over the weekend. What began as a disagreement between a 38-year-old former professional athlete and a 69-year-old man should not have escalated into violence or left anyone seriously injured. As with any case, we will follow the facts and the law wherever they lead.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has denounced outside individuals responsible for an attack that left a police cruiser on fire in Boston on Sunday morning.

On Sunday morning, two men were arrested when a crowd of 100 people lit a police cruiser on fire using fireworks on the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Tremont Street, according to police.

The outside individuals who came into our city to cause disorder and brought dangerous behavior here will be prosecuted, Wu said during a press conference at the Roslindale Parade. We are asking publics help for any information to be able to do that as quickly as possible.

Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox shared that the incident reportedly started in the city of Randolph, but is part of a national problem.

Its not a Boston thing, its a nationwide thing, he said.

The commissioner also confirmed that the crowd was gathered to drag race and do donuts with cars.

Everything that they do is illegal, he continued. And so the point is its not appropriate, were not going to accept it here.

No officers were hurt during the incident.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact District D-4 Detectives at (617) 343-4683.
UPDATE: At least 4 street takeovers across Mass. led to violent police confrontations

A cruiser was set on fire in Boston. Fireworks were fired at a police cruiser in Randolph. A Dodge Charger drove at an officer in Middleborough.

These incidents occurred over the weekend, part of what officials are calling large-scale takeovers, which are coordinated efforts to shut down streets with personal cars and barriers for doughnuts and street racing.

Officials have not connected all three events as being part of the same group as of Monday afternoon.

In Boston, two teenagers from Rhode Island were arraigned in connection with the street takeover that set a police cruiser on fire after being hit with fireworks from multiple angles.

Julian Bowers, 18, of Cumberland, Rhode Island, and William Cantwell, 19, of Warwick, Rhode Island, were among the 100-plus people who gathered Sunday morning around 2 a.m.

When police showed up to break up the crowd, their cruisers were hit with cones, poles and other objects besides fireworks.

When the cruiser caught fire, several people started jumping on the hood and prevented the officer inside from getting away from the crowd or being able to see, according to a prosecutor in court on Monday.

The officer escaped their cruiser after it began to fill with sparks and smoke, and other officers jumped in to help with tasers and unholstered guns, the prosecutor said.

Police saw Bowers throwing objects at the cruiser and arrested him after a foot chase; Cantwell was seen smashing an orange pole off the cruiser several times and then arrested, according to a police report filed in court.

A judge set bail at $500 for Bowers, who posted bail, and $1,000 for Cantwell, who went to Suffolk County Jail in lieu of bail.

The first reported street takeover of the weekend took place in Middleborough at about 11 p.m. on Saturday night, where about 50 vehicles and dozens of people got together in a commercial parking lot at Routes 105 and 28, according to Massachusetts State Police.

Several vehicles used stolen plates, and a Dodge Charger with Connecticut plates attempted to strike a police officer on scene, state police said.

Police later spotted the Dodge Charger on Interstate 495 and began to pursue the vehicle onto Interstate 195 west toward Rhode Island. Troopers ended the pursuit when it crossed state lines and assisting Rhode Island troopers lost sight of the vehicle during their response, police said.

Each incident remains under investigation by the Department with primary jurisdiction, Tim McGuirk, a state police spokesperson, said on Monday. As public safety partners, we will continue to share information in the interest of the affected communities.

Police in Randolph were also met with a rowdy crowd of more than 100 people who struck cruisers with fists and other objects before setting off fireworks at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning, officials said.

This was carried out by individuals who were concealing their faces with masks and videotaping themselves, police said. These individuals continued and sat on the hoods of the cruiser and lit fireworks off, placing the officer inside in extreme danger.

Boston officials were quick to denounce the takeover event on Sunday.

The outside individuals who came into our city to cause disorder and brought dangerous behavior here will be prosecuted, Mayor Michelle Wu said during a press conference at the Roslindale Parade. We are asking publics help for any information to be able to do that as quickly as possible.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said the takeover events are dangerous, intolerable assaults on our police officers and our neighborhoods.

We and our law enforcement partners will do all we can to identify and hold accountable anyone involved. No one should think they can jeopardize public safety in such a brazen manner without consequences, Hayden said.
A sign outside the U.S. Capitol announces that its visitors center is closed because of the government shutdown that started Oct. 1. (Photo by Sabrina Eaton, cleveland.com) Sabrina Eaton, cleveland.com

As the shutdown thats paralyzed federal government services rolls into its second week, few Americans feel that the partisan derby on Capitol Hill is worth the trouble, and theyre pointing the finger of blame at, well, everyone.

Nearly half of all respondents to a new CBS News poll say theyre concerned about the effect the shutdown will have on the economy, and half of all respondents dont approve of the way Democrats, Republicans and President Donald Trump are handling it.

A plurality of respondents  45% for the Republicans positions and 40% for the Democrats positions  said the shutdown arguments didnt pass muster.

Democrats have hung their hats on restoring Medicaid cuts in the domestic policy mega-bill that Republicans passed, and Trump signed, earlier this year. Theyre also pressing to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire at years end.

Thirty-nine percent of respondents said they blamed Trump and his Republican allies on Capitol Hill the most for the shutdown. Thirty percent blamed Democrats, while 31% blamed both sides equally, according to the poll.

Among the polls Democratic respondents, 48% said their partys arguments were worth the shutdown, compared to 24% who said they werent worth the trouble the shutdown has caused.

Democrats also had an image problem, with nearly two-thirds (64%) calling the party weak, while a further 46% described it as extreme.

Nearly six in 10 respondents (59%) described the Republicans as extreme, while 50% described the party as strong, according to the poll.

The CBS News/YouGov poll of 2,441 U.S. adults was conducted from Oct. 1 to Oct. 3. It had a margin of error of 2.3%.
Police and Federal officers stand guard an area by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, Ore. on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) AP

A federal judge has dealt a temporary blow to President Donald Trumps plans to deploy National Guard soldiers to Portland, Oregon, a city hes described as a war zone, and one that its residents and leaders hotly dispute.

In an unusual late-night ruling on Sunday, U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut issued a new and broader order barring any National Guard soldiers from being relocated to any state for federal service in Oregon, The Associated Press reported.

The ruling came a day after Immergut blocked Trump from mobilizing Oregons National Guard. In response, the Republican president attempted to relocate soldiers from California, which led to the latest ruling.

During a telephone hearing, Immergut, a Trump appointee, said she had been troubled to learn that the administration had already sent about 200 California National Guard members to Oregon, and that the Pentagon also had authorized the transfer of Texas National Guard soldiers to Oregon to protect federal property and personnel, OregonLive, a sister site to MassLive, reported.

Attorneys for Oregon on Sun., Oct. 5, submitted to the court this memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth mobilizing Texas National Guard members to Portland, Chicago and other cities "where needed." Oregon Department of Justice

How could bringing in federalized National Guard from California not be in direct contravention to the temporary restraining order I issued yesterday? she questioned the federal governments attorney, cutting him off.

Arent defendants simply circumventing my order? she asked the governments attorney, Eric Hamilton, later. Why is this appropriate?

Hamilton told the judge that the federalized California National Guard soldiers were sent to Oregon to protect federal property and personnel, further arguing that the state of California did not have authority to challenge the transfer since its Guard personnel already were under Trumps command, according to OregonLive.

Immergut didnt buy the governments arguments.

Mr. Hamilton, you are missing the point, Immergut responded.There is not a legal basis to bring federalized National Guard members into Oregon, the judge said. You have to have a colorable claim that Oregon conditions require it, but you dont, so why is this appropriate?

Scott Kennedy, representing the Oregon Department of Justice, compared the legal maneuvering to a game of rhetorical Whack-a-Mole.

We need to broaden this relief to prevent this gamesmanship from persisting, he said.

After the state of Oregon filed a motion Sunday afternoon for a new temporary restraining order to halt the deployment of California National Guard troops, the state received a memorandum from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth federalizing members of the Texas National Guard to serve in Oregon.Its hard to know if this was cause and effect, Kennedy said, according to OregonLive.

Whats going on?

Oregon is fighting to prevent federalized National Guard troops from coming to Oregons largest city to address ongoing protests at an immigration processing facility there, according to The Associated Press.

Small protests have been going on outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility since Trumps second term began in January.

There have been occasional flare-ups, including in June, but for weeks, nightly demonstrations attracted only a few dozen people, the wire service reported.

Trump, however, has turned his attention to the city, calling Portland war-ravaged and a war zone that is burning down and like living in hell.

Local officials have pointed out that the protest occupies one city block far from the downtown in a city that covers 145 square miles (376 square kilometers).

They also say many of his claims and social media posts appear to rely on images from 2020, when unrest that grew out of the Black Lives Matter protests roiled the city for several months. Trump sent federal law enforcement to the city then, as well.

Under a new mayor and police chief, the city has reduced crime, and the downtown has seen a decrease in homeless encampments and increased foot traffic.

On Sept. 28, when the Trump administration mobilized the Oregon National Guard over Gov. Tina Koteks wishes, the protests increased in size. On Saturday about 400 people gathered outside the ICE facility before federal agents shot tear-gas canisters into the crowd.

Trump also authorized the deployment of 300 Illinois National Guard troops to protect federal officers and assets in Chicago on Saturday.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzkers office said the situation in Chicago does not require the use of the military and, as a result, the Governor opposes the deployment of the national guard under any status.

Associated Press reports are included in this story.
Springfield Superintendent Dr. Sonia E. Dinnall speaks to the students graduating at the Summer School Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2025 in Symphony Hall. August 12, 2025. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook

SPRINGFIELD  When they were seniors, 56% of the citys class of 2024 said they planned to go to college. By September 2024, 39% of the recent graduates started their first college classes.

The numbers dont get better. This September, 28% of the 2024 graduates are continuing to their second year of college.

If past classes are any indication, many wont continue. In the class of 2018, 20% graduated from college in six years and 22% of the 2017 graduates completed a degree in six years.

A years-long effort has boosted the high school graduation rate. Now educators are turning their efforts to make sure students have what they need to have the career of their choice, said Springfield Superintendent Sonia E. Dinnall.

Dinnall has listed four priorities for the schools, with one being post-secondary success. The others are teaching college and career readiness, enhancing middle schools and ensuring all second-graders are reading on grade level.

We want all students to have the appropriate knowledge to follow their desired path, she said.

A team of about a dozen educators has now gathered data on college success to see where they need to go next. Officials are also looking at students who have chosen other pathways such as trade schools, apprenticeships and military training to reach their goals, Dinnall said.

We want better outcomes. We want to close the gap on what kids say they want to do and what actually happens, said Yolanda Johnson, chief of student services. We have to begin to find out what the obstacles or barriers are.

Data show 25% of all residents in the city live below the poverty line and 83% of students are considered low-income. The best way to lift the entire community from poverty, especially young people, is through higher education, said Rosa Valentin, director of multilingual learners.

Especially concerning is 34% of Latino students, who make up about 68% of all students, continue on to post-secondary education which is below all other ethnic groups, she said.

After seeing the data Thursday night during a School Committee meeting, member Denise Hurst questioned to the extent to which the problem is financial, especially for the students who dont return after they finish their first year.

Since the surveys are self-reported, she also asked if some of the students who said they planned to go to college are just telling teachers what they want to hear instead of it being a goal they want to work toward.

Why more students are not heading to college is complex. The data will give educators a starting point to find more about the reasons and how to help students who truly want to go on to earn college degrees but have something holding them back, said Terry Powe, assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and professional development.

Those dozen educators and others will work with family members and students to find out more about why some students dropped out and the challenges faced by those who remained in school.

Dinnall said she hopes to create a system so students receive a hand-off and when they head to college, they know what support systems are available for financial aid advice, tutoring and other issues.

Dinnall said teachers are also using the school departments Portrait of a Graduate, a community and student-based study of what students need to know to prepare them for the future.

She said she also wants to learn whether students felt they unprepared for the academic rigor of college, what skills they were missing and what classes were helpful.

The School Department has a summer program to help students prepare for their first year of college. It also provides assistance to make sure students applications and financial aid forms are completed and they know about scholarship opportunities, said Rose Boulay, administrator for Springfield Promise.

During the summer program, staff check in with the students to make sure they pay their bills, set up housing if they are living on campus and know how to rent or buy books inexpensively. They are also there if students have financial questions. In one instance, they found a laptop for a student who didnt have one, Boulay said.

The biggest problem is students are typically working over the summer, so they sometimes have problems connecting with them, Boulay said.

One of the issues is also making sure students find the right fit when choosing among the options for college. While some will thrive at a small local school, others will do better at a large university. There are also historically Black colleges, single-sex colleges, and students have to decide if they are better living at home or on campus, she said.

Another factor students have to consider is community college is now free, so that will help those with a limited budget, she said.
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The death of one of the leading campaigners for a Yes vote in the same-sex marriage referendum in Mayo has been met with great sadness in the county.

Marina Tuffy passed away peacefully at her home in Currane, Achill on Monday morning following a lengthy journey with cancer.

The Belcarra native was one of the leading campaigners for a Yes vote in the same-sex marriage referendum in Mayo in 2015.

She also worked as the link worker with the Flourish social prescribing service in the Achill and surrounding area for the past three years. She only retired from her position in August and many members of the local community came out in force in the Glor na dTonn community centre to honour her.

In recent years, Marina and her wife of eleven years Cynthia Silva moved to Currane after renovating an old house in the area and they both became integral members of the local community.

Miriam Byrne, who moved to Currane from Dublin four years ago said that Marina and Cynthia were integral in helping her settle and a dark cloud was hanging over the Gaeltacht community.

Marina was cherished by all the community in Currane and everyone is heartbroken this morning after hearing the sad news. Marina had a wide circle of friends and was loved by many and this was evident by the large numbers who attended her retirement in August. She filled a room with her presence and warmth simply by entering it.

She is an incredible powerhouse of energy, fun, laughter and there is nothing that is too much for her and she can turn her hand to anything. The joy she gave me both professionally and as a friend is unmeasurable. Marina will be greatly missed, she said.

READ: Traditional weekend returns to Mayo town for its tenth year

Prior to moving to Currane, Marina raised her four children, after her husband Tomas died suddenly in 2000 when they were young. She then trained as a Gestalt psychotherapist, and was a leader in the Mayo, Yes Equality Campaign, and later Marriage Equality campaigns.

She was active in the Achill community and was involved in a number of musical productions as a member of the Achill Musical and Dramatic Society.

Flourish is one of the support services provided by the Family Centre in Castlebar and helps adults of all ages to explore ways to meet new people, develop new interests and hobbies.

Speaking at Marina's retirement function in August, Maire Ni Dhomhnaill, the director at the Family Centre said that she could spend the day praising Marina's virtues and the impact she had on the Flourish team in Castlebar.

I keep saying it that I and the team in the Family Centre and Flourish and the community in Currane who you support love you deeply, she said to great applause.

I have never come across a more inspirational woman and there is a pair of you. Cynthia and yourself are magnificent and amazing and a lesson to us all on living life and living it well.

You are an amazing woman and we love you and cherish you, she added.

Marina is survived by her wife Cynthia Silva and her adult children, TJ, Siofra, Siobhan and Aoife Tuffy, relatives and wide circle of friends.

She will be reposing at her residence at Gub na hAirde, Currane on Tuesday from 12 noon until 8pm. The celebration of her life will be in Glor na dTonn on Wednesday at 12noon, followed by cremation at McGowans Crematorium in Sligo.
Pictured: Julie O'Hara of O'Hara's Bakery Foxford

On Friday, October 3, Blas na hEireann, The Irish Food Awards, now in its 18th year, took place.

This year, thirteen producers from Mayo were shortlisted across a wide range of categories, ten of which went on to win. The bronze, silver, and gold winners from the county include: Baker 51 Cafe, Foxford Cafe, Hanley Catering, Jack & Eddie's, Jackita Investments Limited c/s The Storehouse Bakery, Kelly's of Newport (Artisan Butchers) Ltd., Mescan Brewery, O'Donoghues Bakery, O'Hara's Bakery, and Velvet Cloud.

Foxford Cafe was awarded Best in County and was sponsored by Mayo Local Enterprise Office.

John Magee, Head of Enterprise with Mayo County Council,

"A huge congratulations to all the businesses honoured in this years Blas na hEireann awards, especially the recipient of the Best in County title, Foxford Cafe,

These awards highlight the exceptional quality and diversity of Mayos producers, who continue to showcase the richness and innovation of our local food and drink sector." John Magee, Head of Enterprise with Mayo County Council. He added.

2025 marks another record year for Blas na hEireann, with over 3,000 entries across more than 180 categories, reflecting the strength and diversity of Irish food and drink.

This years finalists and winners had the opportunity to showcase their products at the Blas Village and the popular Eat Ireland in a Day market, both of which returned to Dingle alongside the annual Backyard at Blas panel discussions supported by Bank of Ireland. The weekend offered producers a chance to connect with buyers, industry experts, media, fellow producers, and food lovers, while also celebrating the people and the talents that make Irish food so special.

Speaking after the announcement, Artie Clifford, Chairperson of Blas na hEireann, said

Every year the standard rises, and 2025 has been no exception. To see such talented producers from Co. Mayo represented on the shortlist, and now to celebrate the winners from that county, is a real testament to the skill, creativity, and resilience of Irelands food producers. Making it to the finalist stage alone is a huge achievement, and to win at Blas is something of which to be incredibly proud.

Irish food and drink continues to go from strength to strength, and it is a joy to celebrate that strength and that community here in Dingle. He added.
The Irish Exporters Association (IEA) on Friday night, announced the winners of the 2025 Export Industry Awards with Mayo's Portwest announced as Private Irish Business of the Year at the Export Industry Awards 2025.

Portwest, a family-owned business since 1904 is a global manufacturer of safety workwear, is managed by the 3rd and 4th generations of the Hughes family. With 12 distribution centres, sales in 165 countries, over 14,000 innovative safety products, and 22,000 SKU's, Portwest are proud to be demonstrating exceptional growth. The Mayo based company has over 5,700 staff globally.

With eleven high-profile companies winning awards across the 12 categories, this year saw one of the most competitive processes under the theme, Navigating the Storm: Building Resilience, Adaptability, and Celebrating Success.

The IEAs annual flagship event, a black-tie Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner with the whos who of the export industry, professionals, local and international dignitaries in attendance, was moderated by Ken Hughes at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre.

Speaking at the Export Industry Awards, Simon McKeever, Chief Executive of the Irish Exporters Association, said: It is an absolute pleasure to honour Portwest with this Award. Portwest are not just a leader in their sector, they are trailblazers, setting the standard for excellence, innovation, and resilience. In a world of increasing uncertainty, their continued success is a testament to their vision, dedication, and the vital role they play in driving Irelands economy forward. Tonight, we celebrate their achievements, their impact, and their unwavering commitment to excellence.

Pictured above are Simon McKeever, CEO, Irish Exporters Association; Gabrielle White, President, Irish Exporters Association; Henry Hughes of Portwest, winner of Private Irish Business of the Year category, sponsored by An Post Commerce and Richard Miley, Head of Communication, Mails and Parcels, An Post at the Export Industry Awards 2025.

READ MORE: Chart-topping Irish Band set to perform in Mayo venue this December
The Nation After eight months of getting battered by Republicans, the Dems have largely abandoned efforts at conciliation or outreach --- to their detriment? By Naftali Bendavid & Yasmeen Abutaleb The Washington Post Published Oct. 6, 2025

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Democrats' defiant approach to the current government shutdown reflects a party mood that has shifted dramatically as a growing number of Democrats inside and outside Washington are embracing all-out confrontation with President Donald Trump.

Only a few months ago, some leading voices in the party, stunned by Trump's broad election win, were counseling against picking unnecessary fights or appearing to reject the voters' will. But in this shutdown battle - and a growing number of political fights around the country - it is harder to find Democrats arguing against forceful resistance.

"I'm not naming anyone in particular, but some were slow to recognize that Trump posed a direct threat to our Constitution and our democracy," said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland). "He was moving at warp speed and some were in low gear. But I think that has changed."

He added, "There is a growing understanding that you should never try to appease a bully."

Many Democrats outside Washington say party leaders took far too long to adopt this more combative approach. "Our base is looking for reasons to fight. Democrats are tired of going along with this," said Wesley Harris, chairman of North Carolina's Mecklenburg County Democrats. "If it takes the government being shut down for a couple days to make sure we have a government that functions for the people and invests in our people, then we're willing to do that."

Trump himself has contributed to the Democrats' changed attitude since some hoped they could wait for his initial flurry of action to subside, but he has made increasingly clear that is not going to happen. And Democrats say their efforts to cooperate with the White House have only been met with redoubled aggressiveness, whether it's the administration cutting funds after a bipartisan budget deal or sending troops into states whose Democratic governors have avoided criticizing him.

"Many of my colleagues have now realized that the old rules - the old norms, the old ways of doing things - are gone and are not used at all by this president," said Rep. Dan Goldman (D-New York). "Trying to work with him and acquiesce only fuels his aggression and makes him even more lawless and ruthless in trying to get what he wants."

Republicans, however, say Democrats are making a big mistake if they think they can unify their party by summoning their troops to a battle they are destined to lose. Before agreeing to a new spending bill, Democrats are demanding the extension of pandemic-era enhanced tax subsidies passed under President Joe Biden to help pay for health insurance plans on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. The enhanced subsidies are set to expire at year's end. Republicans say they are willing to discuss that, but not under duress.

GOP pollster Whit Ayres said the Democratic base will only be angrier when they realize Republicans, who control Congress, are not backing down.

"Eventually, the Democrats are going to end up folding, because they don't have any real leverage," Ayres said. "Fighting without leverage is fruitless. And what they're doing is fruitless, because they're going to end up caving, and they're going to antagonize their base even more."

Yet many in that base are signaling that they want Democrats to put up a fight regardless of the consequences.

Ezra Levin, co-founder of the activist group Indivisible, said that after Trump's election, "the conventional wisdom was resistance is dead, defiance is stupid, and Democrats need to show how reasonable they are by working with Trump. And we disagreed and thought he was an authoritarian who should be confronted."

Since then, protesters have turned out by the millions for events like "Hands Off Day" in April and "No Kings Day" in June. Constituents have shown up to berate lawmakers at town hall meetings. Activists embraced Democratic legislators for leaving Texas when Republicans pushed through a redistricting plan. Some have begun pushing for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York), a hero of the party's left flank, to begin a primary challenge against Schumer.

That energy explains why Senate Democrats are refusing to pass a Republican spending bill today, when they did so in March, Levin said. "The difference is, they understand where the rank and file and grass roots are," he said.

While the Democrats in Congress are newly unified, a small number of dissenters remain. In the Senate, John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) and Angus King (I-Maine) voted with the Republicans on their stopgap spending measure. In the House, the lone Democratic holdout was Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, who argued that his party's defiant position was largely performative.

"This government shutdown is the result of hardball politics driven by the demands far-left groups are making for Democratic Party leaders to put on a show of their opposition to President Trump," Golden posted on social media.

Outside Washington, California Gov. Gavin Newsom exemplifies the party's shift. After Trump took office, as his state was battling wildfires, Newsom called for "finding common ground" with the president and urged "partnership, a shared commitment to facts and mutual respect."

He went on to host several Trump-friendly figures on his podcast, giving them a platform that infuriated many progressives. In May, Newsom offered to work with the president on a film tax credit, saying California was "eager to partner with the Trump administration to further strengthen domestic production and Make America Film Again."

Newsom's tone changed sharply after Trump sent federal troops to Los Angeles in June; California sued the president and Newsom said Trump "wants to be bound by no law or constitution." Since then, Newsom's social media posts on Trump have alternated between hard-hitting and mocking.

Newsom's highest-profile move has been his push to create more Democratic congressional districts in California, an effort to offset the GOP-friendly redistricting that Texas undertook at Trump's behest.

A similar trend is evident among other Democrats. After Trump's election, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said he would not be "the leader of the resistance." But after Trump called Baltimore a "hellhole" and threatened to send the National Guard there, Moore adopted a more confrontational tone, telling the president to "keep our name out of your mouth."

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker - who has been more combative from the outset - recently urged his state's residents to stand up to federal agents dispatched to his state by recording their activities on cellphones, posting the videos, asking for badge numbers and requesting identification.

In the shutdown fight, Democrats have united around a single message: They are fighting to preserve access to affordable health care. Earlier this year, Democrats were splintered over whether to challenge Trump on his antidemocratic moves, his struggles on the economy, his treatment of migrants, or some other issue. The current battle arguably marks the first time since Trump's election that the party has had a consistent message.

Several Democrats cited a video by Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) explaining the party's position on the shutdown and the importance of the ACA subsidies. They said it was especially notable because Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez have been critical of Obamacare in the past - both advocating for a single-payer health care system instead - but are strongly backing the Democrats' position.

State and local Democrats acknowledge that they are worried about the potential impact of a drawn-out shutdown, especially given Trump's vow to target projects and agencies that he says benefit Democrats. But most said they said they see little alternative.

"I think what we see right now within our Democratic leadership is a different spirit than what was shown previously, a spirit that should have been adopted earlier," said Thomas Dixon, a pastor who is chairman of the Charleston County Democratic Party in South Carolina. "Our current president is a bully, and one way I know you deal with bullies is you fight them. They're not going to understand anything but strength."

He added, "It's time to fight. It's time to do what's necessary to stop this madness."

Some of the party's elder statesmen have been offering support from the sidelines. Former president Barack Obama, who remains one of the most popular figures in the party, said over the weekend that Republicans would rather shut down the government "than help millions of Americans afford health care."

Former Vice President Kamala Harris wrote on X, "Let me be clear: Republicans are in charge of the White House, House, and Senate. This is their shutdown."

All of this represents a 180-degree shift from March, when Senate Democrats, led by Schumer, helped Republicans pass a six-month spending bill to avert a government shutdown.

That, however, produced no compromise in Trump's approach to spending. In August, for example, he announced that he was unilaterally cutting $5 billion in foreign aid funds that had been allocated by Congress but that he deemed "woke, weaponized, and wasteful."

"He is just not going to give an inch," said former Democratic congressman Steve Israel of New York, who chaired House Democrats' campaign committee during a 2013 government shutdown. "The Democrats in the Senate did the responsible thing early on and kept the government open, and what was the reward? Six months later, he is shutting it down again. This is the consequence of an administration that has an entirely maximalist position at all times."

When the White House recently threatened massive government layoffs if Democrats allowed a shutdown, top Democrats dismissed the warning, essentially saying that Trump was doing what he wanted anyway. Trump has been "firing federal workers since day one," Schumer noted.

Democrats in March still did not fully grasp Trump's hold on congressional Republicans, said Jim Kessler, executive vice president for policy at Third Way, a centrist Democratic think tank.

"The drama in March really began with a series of miscalculations on the power that Trump would have on Republicans in Congress," Kessler said. Third Way did not take a position on the March shutdown fight, but encouraged Democrats this summer to make the current shutdown about health care.

In previous shutdowns, one party or the other has felt pressure to come to the bargaining table as polls began to show which side was getting blamed. Democrats' newfound unity could depend on how public sentiment plays out.

Democrats were buoyed by a Washington Post poll released Thursday that found significantly more Americans blame Trump and congressional Republicans for the shutdown. But almost one-quarter of respondents said they were not sure who was at fault. And this shutdown may not resemble its predecessors in any case, given the impassioned positive and negative feelings many Americans have about Trump.

Levin said the coming days and weeks will show how serious Democratic leaders are about their demands.

"We have seen performative shutdowns before. That is a thing," Levin said. "The real question is, are Democrats doing this just to say, 'Well, we tried, what more do you want from us,' or are they in it to win it?"

(COMMENT, BELOW)
Study reveals shared genetic links between osteoporosis and rotator cuff tears, highlighting common risk factors and potential targets for prevention.

  Trusted Source

Association between osteoporosis and rotator cuff tears: evidence from causal inference and colocalization analyses



Go to source Trusted Source

Managing Bone Health Key to Preventing Shoulder Injuries

TOP INSIGHT Strong evidence links #osteoporosis to a significantly increased risk of #rotatorcufftears. Managing your #bonehealth may be critical for preventing these painful #shoulderinjuries! #Orthopedics

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Calcium and Vitamin D Do Not Reduce Shoulder Injury Risk

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Association between osteoporosis and rotator cuff tears: evidence from causal inference and colocalization analyses - (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41413-025-00450-z)

These injuries often result in persistent discomfort, reduced arm strength, and difficulty performing everyday activities, significantly affecting quality of life. Despite their high prevalence, the precise factors that contribute to RCTs have remained unclear ().A new study, published inhas now revealed a strong link between osteoporosis and rotator cuff tears. Led by Dr. Jinjin Ma and Dr. Hongmin Cai of South China University of Technology in Guangdong, China, along with Dr. Xiaofei Zheng from Jinan University, the research analyzed health and genetic data from the UK Biobank, which tracks over 500,000 participants. The findings indicate thatDr. Ma explains, Our results provide strong evidence that osteoporosis significantly increases the risk of rotator cuff tears. This suggests that managing bone health could also play a critical role in preventing these painful shoulder injuries.To explore the connection, the research team examined health records from nearly 458,000 people and then tracked over 268,000 of them for 11 years. They used advanced statistical and computer-based methods to rule out other possible explanations, such as age, sex, or lifestyle. This allowed them to move beyond showing a simple link and instead suggest that osteoporosis itself may directly increase the risk of RCTs.The findings were striking. Individuals with osteoporosis were 1.56 times more likely to suffer an RCT than those without the condition. The risk was particularly pronounced among women, highlighting how hormonal changesespecially the sharp decline in estrogen after menopause may accelerate both bone loss and tendon damage.The sex differences we observed suggest thatnotes Dr. Cai.The researchers also looked at whether genes might explain why the two conditions often appear together. By comparing large sets of genetic data, they discovered six points in the genome that seem to influence both osteoporosis and RCTs. Among these, one variant near the PKDCC gene stood out and was confirmed across multiple datasets. This gene is known to help regulate bone and tendon tissue, offering a possible biological explanation for the link.The study also found that common supplements such as calcium and vitamin D did not reduce the risk of shoulder injuries. This suggests that stronger osteoporosis treatmentssuch as certain prescription drugs or hormone therapiesmay hold greater promise, though further research is needed.Combined with the high globalthe link between the two conditions highlights an urgent need for preventive strategies.Dr. Zheng emphasizes, Our study suggests that preventing or treating osteoporosis may also reduce the likelihood of rotator cuff tears. This dual benefit could improve quality of life for millions of aging individuals worldwide.Although this extensive study offers valuable insights, the authors emphasize the need for further research. It only considered individuals with diagnosed tears, leaving silent, undiagnosed cases unexamined. Additionally, the exact mechanisms linking osteoporosis to tendon weakness require validation through further laboratory studies.The findings signify a key advancement in musculoskeletal research. By combining extensive population data, modern analysis, and genetic insights, the team has shown that brittle bones and torn shoulders are more closely related than previously understood.These findings remind us that bone and tendon health are deeply interconnected. By recognizing and addressing this relationship, we may be able to develop new strategies to protect both, ensuring healthier and more active lives as people age, concludes Dr. Ma.Source-Eurekalert
A new study uncovers early brain inflammation in people with Down syndrome, revealing why they face a higher risk of Alzheimers disease later in life. This breakthrough could guide prevention and early detection strategies.

TOP INSIGHT Did You Know?

Up to 90% of people with Down syndrome may develop Alzheimers by age 70. New research finds this may begin with silent #braininflammation decades earlier. #downsyndrome #alzheimersresearch #brainhealth #medindia

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How Does Neuroinflammation Begin So Early?

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What Did Scientists Discover About the Brain?

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How Was the Study Conducted?

What Does the Biphasic Process Reveal?

Researchers from the University of Sao Paulo (USP) have uncovered a hidden process in the brains of people with Down syndromean early and intense form of neuroinflammation that may explain why this group faces a dramatically higher risk of developing Alzheimers disease later in life.The discovery not only sheds light on theDown syndrome is associated with accelerated aging. It is estimated that up to 90% of individuals with the condition develop Alzheimers disease before the age of 70. A study by researchers at the University of Sao Paulo (USP) in Brazil identified, an additional factor explaining the high prevalence of Alzheimers disease in older people with the condition. The discovery paves the way for strategies to prevent and monitor the disease.The study, which was published in the journaland supported by FAPESP, is the first to map the patterns of neuroinflammation in people with Down syndrome using nuclear medicine techniques.The researchers also discovered an important marker of Alzheimers disease:. This plaque is formed by fragments of amyloid peptide that are deposited between neurons, causing inflammation and disrupting neural communication.It was already known that the aging process in this population occurs more rapidly when compared to people without the syndrome, with Alzheimer's disease already manifesting in people in their 40s, for example. It was also known that the risk of Alzheimer's disease is increased in people with Down syndrome due to a genetic issue: the amyloid precursor protein [APP] gene is located on chromosome 21, which is tripled in Down syndrome, causing these individuals to produce more beta-amyloid  a characteristic of Alzheimers disease, explains, a researcher at theof the Hospital das Clinicas (HC), the hospital complex administered by the USP Medical School (FM).What the study reveals for the first time is that, as early as age 20, and may directly contribute to the development of Alzheimers disease. In the study, we identified a very clear relationship: the more neuroinflammation, the more beta-amyloid plaque deposition. This allows us to think of this process as a possible therapeutic target, says Faria.The study compared neuroinflammation patterns in 29 individuals with Down syndrome and 35 individuals without the condition. Participants were between 20 and 50 years old. Neuroinflammation was monitored usingwith specific radiopharmaceuticals. This technique allows for the visualization of beta-amyloid plaque formation and inflammatory processes in the living brain in real time.The results revealed increased neuroinflammation in theof the brains of individuals with Down syndrome, even among those aged 20 to 34. These results suggest that the neuroinflammation process may begin before beta-amyloid plaque formation. The correlation between inflammatory load and beta-amyloid accumulation was especially evident in adults over 50.In addition to human analyses, the researchers monitored the progression of neuroinflammation in genetically modified mice with a condition similar to Down syndrome over two years. With specific equipment for small animals, we were able to monitor the entire evolution of the disease. The data from the mice, combined with that from humans, offer valuable insights into the aging of people with Down syndrome, says Faria.The neuroinflammation process observed in people with Down syndrome appears to follow a. Microglia, the brains defense cells, act protectively by combating changes caused by the syndrome. However, over time, this response becomes pro-inflammatory, which can potentially aggravate neuronal damage. Its as if the brain tries to protect itself, but ends up contributing to the problem, the researcher explains.While there is still no cure or single defined cause for Alzheimers disease, this study sheds light on the relationship between neuroinflammation and plaque deposition in people with Down syndrome.Our study reinforces the hypothesis that neuroinflammation precedes beta-amyloid plaques in the Down syndrome population. This paves the way for the development of therapies that can slow or block this inflammatory process and thereby delay the onset of Alzheimers disease, says the scientist.In addition to revealing a new early marker of the disease, the study presents an imaging tool capable of monitoring neuroinflammation in real time. Weve shown that its possible to detect inflammation in living patients, which allows us to monitor the effectiveness of treatments. This technology also opens the door to including people with Down syndrome in clinical studies on Alzheimers disease. This is a very important population because they have different patterns of disease development than the general population. Only then can we offer effective and personalized treatments, Faria concludes.Source-Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo
NORFOLK, Va.  This September, the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at the Up Center in Virginia Beach launched a campaign to raise awareness for what it calls an overlooked mental health crisis: the high rate of suicide among women veterans.

Women veterans are dying by suicide at nearly twice the rate of their civilian counterparts  a number that has increased significantly in the post-9/11 era. While all veterans face higher rates of suicide than their civilian peers, women who served face unique challenges, both during their service and in the systemic gaps that follow them home.

During National Suicide Prevention Month, the clinic launched the Have Her Six campaign for women veterans.

The name refers to the military term got your six, meaning to have someones back. The public awareness campaign highlights the issue of suicide among military women, shares prevention strategies tailored to women veterans and service members and encourages greater support for women who serve.

Women veterans have specific and challenging experiences in military service and beyond, says Tanetta Hassell, the clinics director. A disproportionate number of women veterans face military sexual trauma or intimate partner violence. For many, these issues go untreated during service, and once they discharge, they may not know where to go or may not find providers who understand their experiences.

Hassell, herself a daughter and sister to military veterans, says its important to meet their women veteran clients where they are.

We are who we serve at the clinic, said Hassell. We have women on staff that are military affiliated or they served themselves to try to reduce some of those barriers that might be there for women at other settings.

Hassell says her clinic offers veterans a chance to be seen within 10 days of initial contact, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. The clinic also provides child care, the lack of which often is another barrier to access.

In addition to campaigns like Have Her Six, Hassell says the clinic works with the Department of Veterans Affairs, United Way and other partners, as well as advertising their services on social media.

Research conducted by the clinic found that there are gendered misconceptions about suicide risk among women veterans, particularly around firearms. According to their study, in 2022, veteran women were over 144% more likely to die by firearm suicide than their non-veteran peers.

The report also notes that many women veterans are ineligible for or not connected to the VA for care.

I think sometimes that might create an assumption that women are not resilient or that theyre not willing to access care, Hassell said.

But she knows thats not the whole story. At the Cohen clinic, which is now in its sixth year in Hampton Roads, 20 percent of its military clients are women, which is nearly double the proportion of women in the U.S. veteran population.

Today, there are over 2 million women veterans in the United States, and women represent the fastest growing segment of the group.

Hassells message to women veterans?

We are here for you. We know how resilient you are. We know that youve overcome a lot. Its safe  youre eligible for our care, no questions asked.

2025 The Virginian-Pilot. Visit at pilotonline.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
CAIRO  Israeli and Hamas officials launched indirect talks Monday at an Egyptian resort on a U.S.-drafted peace plan to end the ruinous war in Gaza on the eve of its second anniversary.

The talks, which went on for several hours, unfolded amid many questions about the plan presented by U.S. President Donald Trump last week, including the disarmament of the militant group  a key Israeli demand  and the future governance of Gaza. Trump has indicated that an agreement on Gaza could pave the way for a Middle East peace process that could reshape the region.

Despite Trump ordering Israel to stop the bombing, Israeli forces continued to pound Gaza with airstrikes, killing at least 19 people in the last 24 hours, the territory's Health Ministry said.

An Egyptian official with knowledge of the talks said the parties wrapped up Mondays round of negotiations at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, and the discussions were set to resume Tuesday afternoon. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks, said the parties have agreed on most of the first-phase terms, which include the release of hostages and establishing a ceasefire.

The Israelis are led by top negotiator Ron Dermer, while Khalil al-Hayyah leads the Hamas delegation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said foreign policy adviser Ophir Falk would be present for Israel.

Egypts state-owned Al-Qahera News television station reported that the talks began with a meeting between Arab mediators and the Hamas delegation. Mediators were to meet later with the Israeli delegation, the station said.

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner were also expected to join the talks, local Egyptian media said.

Hamas said negotiations will focus on the first stage of a ceasefire, including the partial withdrawal of Israeli forces as well as the release of hostages held by the militants in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention.

This latest push for peace comes after Hamas accepted some elements of the U.S. plan that Israel also said it supported. Under the plan, Hamas would release the remaining 48 hostages  about 20 of whom are believed to be alive  within three days. It would give up power and disarm.

The talks in Egypt are expected to move quickly. Netanyahu said they would be confined to a few days maximum, though some Hamas officials have warned that more time may be needed to locate bodies of hostages buried under rubble.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi hailed Trumps efforts, underscoring the importance of preserving the U.S.-crafted peace system in the Middle East since the 1970s, which he said served as a strategic framework for regional stability.

El-Sisi spoke in a televised address commemorating the anniversary of the start of the 1973 war with Israel that led to Egypt reclaiming the Sinai Peninsula, where Sharm el-Sheikh is located.

US Wants Israeli Bombing to Stop

The U.S. has said Israel's heavy bombardment of Gaza would need to stop for the hostages to be released. Israel says it's largely heeding Trump's call. The Israeli military said it is mostly carrying out defensive strikes to protect troops, though dozens of Palestinians have been killed since the military's statement Saturday night.

Gaza's Health Ministry said Monday that the bodies of 19 people, including two aid-seekers killed by Israeli strikes and gunfire, had been brought to hospitals over the past 24 hours. Another 96 were wounded. The deaths brought the Palestinian toll to 67,160 since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, triggered the war, with nearly 170,000 wounded, the ministry said.

The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but says more than half of the deaths were women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government, and the U.N. and many independent experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.

Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people and killed around 1,200, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7 attack. Most of the largely Israeli hostages have been released in ceasefires or other deals.

Meanwhile, families of Israeli hostages petitioned the Nobel Prize Committee to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Trump for what they called his unprecedented contributions to global peace.

At this very moment, President Trumps comprehensive plan to release all remaining hostages and finally end this terrible war is on the table, the families wrote. For the first time in months, we are hopeful that our nightmare will finally be over.

In a commemoration ceremony for Israelis killed at the Nir Oz Kibbutz on Oct. 7, Daniel Lifshitz said the primary focus of talks should be the swift release of all remaining hostages.

Israel will pay painful concessions by releasing mass murderers and terrorists that killed many among our friends and families here in Israel, but we cherish life and in Trump we trust to make it happen," said Lifshitz, grandson of slain hostage Oded and released hostage Yocheved Lifshitz.

'Living in Fear, War and Displacement'

In Gaza, families of Palestinian babies born on the day the war began hoped to celebrate their second birthday with the sound of laughter and cheers instead of the cacophony of bombs and bullets.

The babies' mothers have been repeatedly displaced and live in constant fear for their safety. They also lack access to health care.

Amal al-Taweel and her husband, Mostafa, had their son, Ali, after three years of trying for a child. They now live in a tent without proper sanitation, food, vaccinations or toys.

I was envisioning a different life for him  He couldnt experience what a safe family life feels like," al-Taweel said.

The Vatican marked the second anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks by condemning the inhuman massacre of innocent people in Israel and calling for the return of hostages. But it also said Israels razing of Gaza is itself a disproportionate massacre, and called on countries to stop supplying Israel weapons to wage the war.

Those who are attacked have a right to defend themselves, but even legitimate defense must respect the principle of proportionality, Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said on the eve of the anniversary. The perverse chain of hatred can only generate a spiral that leads nowhere good.

Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel, and Shurafa from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip. Associated Press Writer Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump's latest bid to deploy the military on U.S. soil over local opposition is triggering a new conflict with blue state governors that is playing out in the courts as Trump envisages a country where armed soldiers patrol U.S. streets.

Trump has already pushed traditional boundaries by using the National Guard domestically, envisioning a muscular role for the U.S. military in targeting illegal immigration and crime in American cities.

His attempt to deploy California National Guard members to Oregon and Texas Guardsmen to Illinois is a sprawling use of presidential power. Next steps in lawsuits filed by Democrat-led states will likely address significant questions of constitutional law, federalism and the separation of powers  setting up a potential collision between the courts and Trumps aggressive use of the National Guard.

At a gathering of military brass last week, Trump called for using U.S. cities as a training ground for troops and warned of an invasion from within. To his critics, however, Trump's use of the National Guard amounts to a frightening use of force against Americans.

What will happen when the president loses in court? said Alex Reinert, a constitutional law expert at the Cardozo School of Law in New York City. Will he use it as an excuse to act in an even more authoritarian way?

An Expanding Role for the National Guard Not Seen Before

Rifle-wielding troops on American streets are one of the starkest manifestations of Trumps attempt to expand presidential power, with troops already deployed to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

Control over a state's National Guard typically falls to the governor unless units are federalized  as they were in California over the governor's objections. Otherwise, it's up to the governor to decide to deploy Guard members or send them to other states to assist with natural disasters. In D.C., Trump commands the Guard himself.

Local authorities, Trump says, have failed to safeguard communities, giving several Democrat-led cities as examples. He's called Portland war ravaged" and a war zone that is burning down and like living in hell.

However, the nearly 150-year-old Posse Comitatus Act limits the militarys role in enforcing domestic laws, reflecting Americas long-standing belief that law enforcement should remain in civilian hands.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump wants to make America's cities safer.

You guys are framing this like, The president wants to take over the American cities with the military," Leavitt told reporters Monday. The president wants to help these local leaders who have been completely ineffective in securing their own cities.

U.S. officials say the decisions to send federalized troops from Texas and California to other states are being made at the highest levels of the Trump administration, bypassing formal Pentagon policy processes that would normally be part of troop deployments.

While this dynamic is not unheard of, one official said, its typically used in situations like natural disasters where troops need to move out quickly before formal orders and authorizations. The officials all spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the internal situation.

One result is that governors like California's Gavin Newsom and Illinois' JB Pritzker, both Democrats, have become the first to announce troop deployments. Pentagon public affairs officials have struggled to confirm or deny the actions and troop numbers, facing pressure to avoid giving even basic details of military operations and to defer questions to the White House.

The situation is far different from President John F. Kennedy's move to federalize the Alabama National Guard in 1963 to integrate the University of Alabama in a standoff with Gov. George Wallace. That is because Trump is ostensibly seeking to use troops to protect federal property and personnel, not to enforce federal civil rights laws passed by Congress, according to William Banks, a Syracuse University law professor and an expert in constitutional law and national security.

The Guard members cannot enforce local laws, block traffic or do any of the things that police do, Banks said. So its more symbolic than helpful.

Legal Challenges Set up a Clash over Trump's Deployments

Leaders in Illinois, Oregon and California have sued, while top White House figures blasted a Trump-appointed judge's decision to block the deployment in Portland.

Stephen Miller, a top Trump adviser, suggested its the courts that have ignored constitutional limits.

A district court judge has no conceivable authority, whatsoever, to restrict the President and Commander-in-Chief from dispatching members of the US military to defend federal lives and property, Miller posted on X, likening the protests over Trumps immigration policy to domestic terrorism.

Judges are not likely to be swayed by the bluster, legal experts say. Instead, they will look at whether Trumps orders violate the Constitution and the federal laws governing how the Guard is used.

Trumps opponents have relied on the court system to slow down his agenda, with the Republican-controlled Congress largely not checking his expansion of power.

With litigation piling up, Trump officials have shown disdain for judges and decisions they oppose but so far have avoided the direct kind of confrontation that legal experts say could do real harm.

The potential that they would defy an order from a federal court is very worrisome, Banks said. Thats our backstop. Thats what we have in the United States to keep our democracy on the rails.

Trumps attempt to deploy California National Guard members to Oregon is a clear violation of the law and a flagrant attempt to circumvent the judges weekend ruling, according to Elizabeth Goitein, an expert on presidential powers.

Goitein, senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at New York University's Brennan Center for Justice, said Americans should be concerned that Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth see deployments in U.S. cities as practice for overseas conflicts.

What the military is trained to do is to fight and destroy enemies of the United States. The president of the United States wants soldiers to practice this battle training in the streets of American cities, she wrote on a social media.

Associated Press writers Chris Megerian, Seung Min Kim and Nathan Ellgren contributed to this report.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has increased its reliance on artificial intelligence to enhance services for veterans, including the anticipation of crisis situations and streamlining operations.

Although the use of AI is not a new concept at the VA, lawmakers and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) have raised concerns over privacy and proper staffing to match the increasing reliance on AI.

"Veterans deserve proven, safe carenot services driven by experimental AI tools that are deployed without oversight, said Sydney Saubestre, senior policy analyst at New Americas Open Technology Institute, in response to heightened AI use at the VA.

Between 2023 and 2024, AI use cases increased from 40 to 229, and generative AI applications increased from one to 27, according to a Sept. 15 GAO report regarding AI practice in the VA. These AI uses helped support automating medical imaging, summarizing patient records, and supporting efficient decision-making.

This trend reflects a larger shift across government agencies, according to Quinn Anex-Ries, a senior policy analyst at the Center for Democracy and Technology.

At the end of 2024, in late December and early January (2025), all federal agencies published updates to their AI use case inventories  We saw a 200% increase in reported use cases, Anex-Ries said.

Within the VA, Saubestre highlighted the long history of healthcare innovation, including pacemakers and liver transplants, to evidence-based PTSD treatmentbreakthroughs which were piloted at the VA.

AI at the VA: VA site states Improving the health and well-being of our Veterans and empowering our workforce by harnessing the potential of AI and emerging technologies to deliver safe, effective, and trustworthy solutions.

Evidence-based improvements are critical to ensuring veterans receive the care they need, Saubestre said.

But she also recognized the challenges posed by AI innovation and impacts within the VA.

While AI has the potential to improve veterans healthcare, that is far from a foregone conclusion, she said. These technologies must undergo clear, transparent, and ethically grounded testing to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place and that there are no disparate impacts.

Anex-Ries had a similar observation in AI use for both benefits and health within the VA, explaining that harms could range from wasted taxpayer dollars and decreased efficiency within an agency to false accusations of fraud against a beneficiary or incorrect denial of claims, preventing people from accessing healthcare or benefits that they rightly qualify for.

The stakes are really high, he said.

The Safety of Veterans Data: Among the Most Sensitive Information

A GAO report published in September 2025 titled, Veterans affairs: Key AI practices could help address challenges noted major challenges that the VA faces with AI use, including complying with federal policies, having sufficient technology and budgeting, and developing a workforce proficient in AI.

This report was led by Carol Harris, GAO director for information technology and cybersecurity, and used in testimony requested by the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization.

Most importantly, data security has remained a top concern to ensure veterans health information and privacy are not breached, which the GAO found that the VAs current practices do not best incorporate risk management.

Also, it was discovered that the previous 26 recommendations made to the VA had not been implemented, nor was the AI inventory updated either, which raised concern about the VAs management of its IT resources.

Darrell West, senior fellow for the Center for Technology Innovation at the Brookings Institute, spoke broadly of the need for adherence across the entire healthcare industry.

Privacy is a huge concern for patients, especially in the healthcare area, just because medical information is so sensitive. The United States does not have a national privacy law, which is a big problem, West said. In the absence of that, it's important for various agencies to maintain the highest degree of privacy and security for veterans data because nobody wants their personal information to get out.

Saubestre said that with federal guardrails being stripped back for the governments use of AI and data, the rapid push to scale these technologies increases the risk that veterans privacy and security will not be adequately protected.

Veterans health data is among the most sensitive information the government holds, and AI use in this space demands stronger protectionsnot fewer, Saubestre said.

While AI technology has the potential to improve operation efficiency for veteran carethe department has created an AI use case inventory, for examplethere is still limited oversight awareness on the full scope of its capabilities, warn experts in documents like the GAO report.

In July 2023, the VA created a Trustworthy AI Framework focused on the principles of purposeful, effective and safe, secure and private, fair and equitable, transparent and explainable, and accountable and monitored, according to the VA website.

In January 2025, aligned with President Donald Trumps executive order Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence, the VA proceeded with further investments in AI solutions to support the delivery of world-class benefits and services to veterans.

Concerns on the Hill

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill addressed the importance of proper AI protocols given its increased use at the VA.

The House Veterans Affairs Committee has discussed that while the VA is advancing AI tools, basic IT infrastructure still struggles, leaving questions about whether new technology can be effectively implemented.

VA is still working with the crumbling IT infrastructure and still grapples to modernize systems and workflows, said Democratic Rep. Nikki Budzinski of Illinois during a House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization Oversight hearing on Sept. 15, 2025.

Since the last hearing, the department has been entangled in multiple cybersecurity incidents, which have potentially placed veterans data at risk. Though many of these breaches have been targeted at VA contractors, veterans data has still been implicated, and VA maintains some responsibility for its safety, Budzinski continued.

Anex-Ries explained that investment in AI includes ensuring these types of breaches cannot occur, which means adequate staffing for risk assessments and monitoring.

Its really critical to make sure that you actually have those budgetary, staffing, and resource considerations accounted for before you acquire a tool, he said.

During the Sept. 15 hearing, Budzinski emphasized the urgency to fill the chief information role promptly due to its added importance on the subject.

Eddie Pool is currently the acting VA chief information officer (CIO), a position that oversees the technology and cybersecurity programs within the VA, which has a budget of over $7 billion and 16,000 employees.

Former CIO Kurt DelBene left the position in January. Ryan Cote was nominated to take over by July, but that was withdrawn, perhaps showing the positions volatility.

This position is particularly critical as we see the acceleration and progression of modernization efforts at the department, Budzinski said. It seems the VA still lacks a coherent enterprise IT strategy, leaving projects like AI integration to happen in silos.

Charles Worthington currently fills the role of both chief technology officer and chief artificial intelligence officer.

During the aforementioned hearing, he said the VAs strategic vision is to make the department an industry leader in AI that improves veterans lives by delivering faster, higher quality, and more cost-efficient services, with strong governance and trust.

AI Tools at the VA

Worthington noted that a tool called VA GPT, with over 85,000 employee users, saves an average of 2.5 hours per week, and 80% of respondents agreed it helps efficiency.

Simultaneously, he did not clarify how this supposed efficiency and time saved assisted with other services within the VA, such as increase in in-person care.

Another highly popular tool called GitHub Copilot had over 2,000 users, saving eight hours per week on work. Worthington claimed this tool is making it easier to refill prescriptions and apply for benefits, and the improvement of backend systems that accelerate claims processing.

The Stratification Tool for Opioid Risk Mitigation, also known as STORM, is used to identify and mitigate overdose and suicide risk within veterans prescribed opioids or with opioid use disorder.

Healthcare teams reviewed the care of over 28,700 veterans identified by STORM in the past year alone, decreasing mortality in high-risk patients by 22%, Worthington said.

Among the many AI tools being utilized, Saubestre warned that quick innovation should not cause concerns surrounding privacy to be forgotten.

Contestability and transparency are critical: These technologies must be subject to enforceable privacy standards, rigorous oversight, and ongoing accountability, she said.

Another challenge is ensuring accessibility to AI innovation across the United States. According to West, that means addressing regional inequities in certain pockets of the country where technological capabilities are not equivalent.

He warns that this could lead to certain areas and citizens being left behind in the efficiencies that AI provides.

The AI applications are getting better, so I think it's helpful that the technology is being more widely embraced, West said. But we have to make sure that we can maintain privacy and ensure that everybody has similar access to the technology.

Anex-Ries warned that algorithmic bias could compound existing disparities, citing research surrounding algorithmic bias and discrimination within certain AI tools.

With regional VA offices, its not just about whether headquarters has the right resources, he said. You have to ask whether local offices have the staffing and budget to use these tools appropriately.

If they dont, its likely those offices arent ready to adopt an AI tool.
Michigans roads and bridges are expected to get a long-requested funding boost.

State lawmakers included additional annual road funding streams exceeding $1 billion when they passed the Fiscal Year 2026 spending plan late last week.

The deal, hailed as the largest transportation funding increase in decades, reconfigures tax revenue without raising taxes at the pump.

Below are five takeaways from the adopted spending plan and its effects on the states transportation budget. MLive has a more detailed story on road funding, here.

A historic funding increase

The new road funding package is expected to generate approximately $1.1 billion in new revenue for the transportation budget in Fiscal Year 2026, a figure that could grow to over $1.8 billion annually by 2029.

Lawmakers reached a compromise after months of talking about the need for a long-term funding solution. Negotiations were part of the state budget process, which resulted in a more than $75 billion budget for the new fiscal year.

Ed Noyola of the Michigan County Road Association described the deal as monumental, calling it the largest increase in transportation funding in his nearly 50-year career.

Taxes on gas and marijuana

Instead of raising taxes on drivers, the plan changes how existing taxes are allocated.

Lawmakers agreed to replace the 6% state sales tax currently collected at the fuel pump with an equivalent increase in the state gas tax, ensuring all revenue goes directly to transportation without increasing the price per gallon for consumers.

The other major revenue stream is a new 24% wholesale tax on marijuana. This tax is expected to generate $420 million annually.

However, its opposed by the cannabis industry over concerns it will harm small businesses and raise consumer prices.

A smaller portion of the annual road funding will come from a shift in Corporate Income Tax revenue.

Prioritizing local roads and declining bridges

A key goal of the funding package was to direct more money to local infrastructure, which has fallen far short of state goals for being in good or fair condition.

For FY2026, counties are set to receive an additional $456.7 million, while cities and villages will get an extra $246.1 million.

The plan also directly addresses Michigans $1 billion bridge repair backlog by adding $100 million annually to the Local Bridge Program. This boost will help county road agencies begin tackling the 72 closed bridges and more than 300 others assessed to be in critical or serious condition.

Public transit gets a boost

The budget doesnt just focus on roads for personal vehicles; it also provides a significant investment in public transit.

The states Local Bus Operating program will receive up to $95 million in increased funding to support ongoing services across Michigan.

Lawmakers also created a new $65 million Infrastructure Project Authority Fund dedicated to expanding or enhancing new transportation services. Transit advocates praised the move, stating it will help prevent service cuts, build more connected communities and ensure mobility is not solely dependent on owning a car.

Michigan hasnt ruled out a pay-per-mile system

Looking toward the future, the legislature has allocated $7.65 million to study and implement a pilot program for a road usage charge, or a per-mile fee for drivers.

As vehicles become more fuel-efficient and electric cars become more common, traditional gas tax revenues are expected to decline.

Proponents argue that a pay-per-mile system is a more equitable long-term solution that charges drivers based on how much they use the roads, regardless of their vehicles fuel type.

The study will explore key questions, such as how to track mileage and what the cost per mile should be, with experts noting it is critical to begin this work now to avoid future funding crises.

Generative AI was used to summarize takeaways for this story. It was reviewed and edited by MLive.
Daylight Saving Time is observed every year from the second Sunday of March until the first Sunday in November. (MLive file photo) Tanya Moutzalias | MLive.com

Time is ticking as millions of Americans are less than one month away from observing the end of Daylight Saving Time. That means its time to start thinking about which clocks in your home, vehicle or elsewhere need to be reset.

DST takes place each year on the second Sunday of March until the first Sunday in November. The next time the biannual event takes place is on Nov. 2, 2025, the second earliest day that the event can be recognized.

While DST was observed in some areas, the tradition became official in the U.S. in 1966 when the Uniform Time Act of 1966 was passed.

Each March, Americans are reminded to move their clocks ahead one hour as they spring forward. Then in November, the clocks fall back an hour, leading to an extra hour of sleep that night. While most electronics will automatically adjust the time, Americans are reminded to change the time of their stove, microwave, car radio, in-home radio and clocks that hang on a wall.

Although the practice has been in place for nearly 60 years, there have been several efforts in recent years to end the event. While none of them has held up in Congress, a bill was introduced in January that once again calls for the end of Daylight Saving Time. The bill would set a permanent standard time and allows for states with areas exempt from daylight saving time to choose the standard time for those areas.
Federal officers stand guard in the Brighton Park neighborhood of Chicago, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, after protesters learned that U.S. Border Patrol shot a woman Saturday morning on Chicago's Southwest Side. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP) AP

By SOPHIA TAREEN Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP)  Storming an apartment complex by helicopter as families slept. Deploying chemical agents near a public school. Handcuffing a Chicago City Council member at a hospital.

Activists, residents and leaders say increasingly combative tactics used by federal immigration agents are sparking violence and fueling neighborhood tensions in the nations third-largest city.

They are the ones that are making it a war zone, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Sunday on CNN. They fire tear gas and smoke grenades, and they make it look like its a war zone.

More than 1,000 immigrants have been arrested since an immigration crackdown started last month in the Chicago area. The Trump administration has also vowed to deploy National Guard troops in its agenda to boost deportations.

But U.S. citizens, immigrants with legal status and children have been among those detained in increasingly brazen and aggressive encounters which pop up daily across neighborhoods in the city of 2.7 million and its many suburbs.

Federal officers hold down a protestor in the Brighton Park neighborhood of Chicago, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, after protesters learned that U.S. Border Patrol shot a woman Saturday morning on Chicago's Southwest Side. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP) AP

Arriving by helicopter

Activists and residents were taking stock Sunday at an apartment building on Chicagos South Side where the Department of Homeland Security said 37 immigrants were arrested recently in an operation thats raised calls for investigation by Pritzker.

While federal agents have mostly focused on immigrant-heavy and Latino enclaves, the operation early Tuesday unfolded in the largely Black South Shore neighborhood thats had a small influx of migrants resettled in Chicago while seeking asylum.

Agents used unmarked trucks and a helicopter to surround the five-story apartment building. NewsNation, which was invited to observe the operation, reported agents rappelled from Black Hawk helicopters. Agents then went door to door, woke up residents and used zip ties to restrain them.

Residents and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, which canvassed the area, said those who were zip tied included children and U.S. citizens.

Rodrick Johnson, a U.S. citizen briefly detained, said agents broke through his door and placed him in zip ties.

I asked if they had a warrant, and I asked for a lawyer, the 67-year-old told the Chicago Sun-Times. They never brought one.

Dixon Romero with Southside Together, an organization thats also been helping residents, said doors were knocked off the hinges.

Everyone we talked to didnt feel safe, he said. This is not normal. Its not OK. Its not right.

A protestor is doused with milk, water, and saline after tear gas in the Brighton Park neighborhood of Chicago, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, after protesters learned that U.S. Border Patrol shot a woman Saturday morning on Chicago's Southwest Side. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP) AP

Pritzker, a two-term Democrat, directed state agencies to investigate claims that children were zip tied and detained separately from their parents, saying military-style tactics shouldnt be used on children. Several Democratic members of the Illinois congressional delegation met near the site Sunday, calling for an end to immigration raids.

DHS officials said they were targeting connections to the Tren de Aragua gang. Without offering details on arrests or addressing how children were treated, DHS said some of the targeted subjects are believed to be involved in drug trafficking and distribution, weapons crimes, and immigration violators.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Saturday posted heavily edited video clips of the operation to X showing agents blasting through doors, helicopters and adults in zip ties, but music played over most of the roughly 1 minute video.

Agency officials did not return a message left Sunday.

Brandon Lee, with ICIRR, said while some residents were placed on ankle monitors, others remained unaccounted for.

More tear gas and smoke bombs

Meanwhile, the use of chemical agents has become more frequent and visible in the past week. Used initially to manage protesters, agents used it this week on city streets and during immigration operations, according to ICIRR.

An emergency hotline to report immigrant agent sightings topped 800 calls on Friday, the same day activists said agents threw a cannister of a chemical near a school in the citys Logan Square neighborhood. The activity in the northwest side neighborhood prompted nearby Funston Elementary School to hold recess indoors.

The same day Chicago Alderperson Jessie Fuentes was placed in handcuffs at a hospital. She said she asked agents to show a warrant for a person whod broken his leg while chased by ICE agents who then transported him to the emergency room.

Greg Bovino, the chief patrol agent for the U.S. Border Patrol El Centro sector, right, walks along protester that was detained near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Ill., Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley) AP

ICE acted like an invading army in our neighborhoods, said state Rep. Lilian Jimenez, a Democrat. Helicopters hovered above our homes, terrifying families and disturbing the peace of our community. These shameful and lawless actions are not only a violation of constitutional rights but of our most basic liberty: the right to live free from persecution and fear.

Immigration agents shot a woman they allege was armed and tried to run them over after agents were boxed in by 10 cars. She and another person were charged Sunday with forcibly assaulting, impeding and interfering with a federal law enforcement officer. However, activists said immigration agents caused the multi-vehicle crash and detained the woman, who is a U.S. citizen.

Noem has defended the aggressive tactics, calling the mission treacherous to agents and alleging threats on officers lives.

Its an extremely dangerous situation, she said Sunday on the Fox & Friends weekend show.

Going to court

Leaders of a Chicago suburb thats home to an immigration processing center have taken their fight against federal agents to court.

The village of Broadview has become a front line in the immigration operation. The center in the community of 8,000 people is where immigrants are processed for detention or deportation.

Protests outside have become tense with near daily arrests. Civil rights organizations have blasted aggressive tactics by agents, while village officials have launched three separate criminal investigations against federal agents.

City officials have demanded the federal government remove an 8-foot fence they say was illegally put up outside the facility. They filed a federal lawsuit Friday seek a temporary restraining order and the immediate removal of the fence they say blocks fire access.

The fence also constitutes an immediate public safety hazard, the lawsuit said.

Also pending is an expected ruling on alleged violations of a 2022 consent decree on how federal immigration agents can make arrests in six states including Illinois. While the order expired in May, attorneys have sought an extension and filed dozens of more alleged violations in the past month.

___

Associated Press writer Ali Swenson contributed to this story from New York.
Greggory Duane Harris' first trial earlier this year ended in a mistrial after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. A Kent County jury found Harris guilty of second-degree murder on Thursday, Oct. 2, for fatally stabbing 53-year-old Larone Crenshaw. He is pictured entering a Grand Rapids District Courtroom on Dec. 18, 2023, for a preliminary examination hearing.(Bradley Massman | MLive.com) Bradley Massman | MLive.com

GRAND RAPIDS, MI  A 58-year-old man faces up to life in prison after he was found guilty of second-degree murder for a deadly stabbing attack.

Greggory Duane Harris will learn his punishment Nov. 12 when hes sentenced in Kent County Circuit Court.

Jurors spent about a day deliberating before reaching a verdict on Thursday, Oct. 2, following two days of testimony.

This was the second time Harris stood trial this year in connection with the death of 53-year-old Larone Crenshaw. The first trial  back in February  ended in a mistrial after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

The altercation between the two men unfolded Oct. 1, 2023, near the Bottle House on South Division Avenue. Harris and Crenshaw started fighting over a bicycle.

The two men exchanged punches before Crenshaw tackled Harris to the ground and started beating Harris up, court testimony revealed. One witness said Harris, while on the bottom of the scuffle, began stabbing Crenshaw.

After the incident, Harris left the scene and Crenshaw walked to a nearby porch.

Grand Rapids police found Crenshaw on the sidewalk with stab wounds. He later died at an area hospital.

The Kent County Medical Examiners Office ruled Crenshaws cause of death was a stab wound to the chest and the manner of death was homicide.

Harris remains lodged in the Kent County Jail awaiting sentencing.
GMB Architecture operates six locations, dubbed "learning hubs," in Michigan, Indiana, South Carolina and now Illinois. Photo courtesy GMB Architecture + Engineering

HOLLAND, MI  GMB Architecture + Engineering on Monday, Oct. 6, announced it has acquired Richard L. Johnson and Associates, a 44-year-old architectural firm based in Rockford, Ill.

The deal, which closed Oct. 1 combines two firms that have an extensive background in education-focused architecture and engineering, according to a joint release from the companies.

This acquisition brings together the strengths of both organizations, enhancing our collective capabilities and allowing us to create an even greater positive impact, David Bolt, president and CEO of GMB, said in a statement. By working as one team, well be able to deliver more innovative solutions, support districts in reaching their goals, and ultimately improve the educational experience for students across the Midwest.

GMB will continue to serve more than 30 school districts in Northwest Illinois under the Richard L. Johnson name, but the company will pursue new business under the GMB brand, a company spokesperson said.

Employees of Richard L. Johnson Associates will become part of GMBs 100% employee-owned structure, which encourages autonomy and responsibility over a traditional hierarchical business model, according to GMB.

By combining our expertise in K-12 education, higher education, and broad experience in educational design, were building a full-service team that can collaborate across geographies and provide long-term value for our clients, Scott Johnson, principal at Richard L. Johnson and Associates, said in a statement.

Founded over 50 years ago in Holland, GMB specializes in architecture, engineering and marketing for K-12 schools and higher learning institutions. The company serves several West Michigan school districts, including Kentwood Public Schools, Holland Public Schools and Rockford Public Schools.

GMB also has provided services for the Outdoor Discovery Center Network and the Holland Ice Park, which is set to open Friday, Nov. 14.
JACKSON COUNTY, MI  A change in state law abolishing mandatory life sentenced for juvenile offenders has granted resentencing in 19 first-degree murder cases in Jackson County.

Jackson County Prosecutor Kelsey Guernseys office is contacting the families of murder victims from the 19 cases for their input on how to proceed with the pending resentencings, Guernsey announced Monday, Oct. 6.

Guernsey said families from some of the older cases have been challenging to reach, leading her office to send out the public notice.

We are looking for victims families and representatives to reach out, Guernsey said. So, we can consult with them as to how to move forward.

We want to make sure that those family members who had a stake in the case back when it was in the court system, are aware of the change in the law and our efforts to continue to hold defendants accountable.

In 2024, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled authorities must review cases and resentence all 18-year-olds who were convicted of first-degree murder.

The court found a mandatory sentence of life without the possibility of parole was unconstitutional when applied to young offenders.

The Michigan Supreme Court expanded the ruling a year later to include 19 and 20-year-olds as well.

A mandatory [life without parole] sentence that does not allow for consideration of the mitigating factors of youth or the potential for rehabilitation is a grossly disproportionate punishment, a five-member majority found in an opinion authored by Justice Elizabeth Welch.

Judges can still sentence young adults to life without parole, but it would be antithetical to our Constitutions professed goal of rehabilitative sentences to deny all 19- and 20-year-old individuals who commit first-degree murder any possible opportunity to rehabilitate themselves and reenter society without requiring an individualized sentencing proceeding, Welch wrote.

The decision applies retroactively, the court said, meaning close to 600 people sentenced for crimes committed in young adulthood will be eligible for resentencing.

The following individuals, convicted and sentenced to life for murder in Jackson County, are due to be resentenced:

Kyle Anderson

Daniel Wolfe

Rex Pitts

Geoffrey Burroughs

William Scott

Timothy Tingley

Brenton Mossman

Naim Abdur Rasheed

Bill Leonard

Philip Thompson

Roy Seger

Chad Vanwaagoner

Anthony Gelia

Dreshawn Glaspie

Jymario Dooley

Jimmy Griffin

Charles Selby

Sean Taylor

Prentice Watkins

The Jackson County Prosecutors Office is asking for any family members of their victims who have not already recently spoken to the office to reach out to the Jackson County Victims Rights Unit at 517-788-4071.

We really want to have your input before we make any decisions, Guernsey said.

Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page.
Bailey SIan (with blue hair and bandana) appears with defense attorney Sally B. Warren at a plea hearing in Bay County Circuit Court on Oct. 6, 2025. Cole Waterman

BAY CITY, MI  A Bay City mother has admitted to chucking her infant son across a room in a moment of frustration, delivering a serious injury to his brain.

Bailey R. Sian, 28, on Monday, Oct. 6, appeared before Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran and pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree child abuse. The charge is punishable by up to two years incarceration and five years of probation.

In exchange, the prosecution agreed to dismiss a 10-year felony of second-degree child abuse. They made no sentencing recommendation.

To establish Sians guilt, defense attorney Sally B. Warren asked her a series of yes-or-no questions. Sian admitted she and her baby son were staying at the Bay Motel, 910 S. Euclid Ave., in March 2022. Sian described her son as being 5 or 6 months old, though police reports indicated he was 9 months old.

The boy was crying and vomiting and Sian grew frustrated as she was unable to pacify him, she said.

I threw him on the bed and he bounced off, she said, adding the babys head struck a metal bedframe and he landed on his face. Sian did not seek medical attention, she said.

Judge Sheeran asked her if she thought throwing her child caused him serious physical harm.

I dont know, she said. I didnt know what to do.

Michigan State Police troopers on the evening of March 21, 2022, responded to Covenant HealthCare after Sians son arrived at the hospital via ambulance and was experiencing seizures and paralysis on one side, records show.

A CAT scan showed the babys brain was bleeding. He also bore bruises on the back and side of his head, reports state.

The babys Essexville father was by his side in the ICU, while Sian had left the hospital after being verbally combative with staff, reports state. Sian was seven-months-pregnant with another child by the same father.

The father told police he had never seen Sian be physical with their son, though she had a temper. He added he had picked up their son from Sian on March 12 and noticed bruises on both sides of his face.

He went on to say he dropped off his son with Sian at her room at the Bay Motel, 910 S. Euclid Ave. in Monitor Township, on March 18. He returned the next day and found Sian grouchy, saying their son had been vomiting. The father noticed his son was crying and fussy, he told police.

The father came back to the motel on March 20 and again noticed bruising on his sons head. His son appeared groggy and more tired than usual and later began projectile vomiting. The babys parents took him to McLaren Bay Region hospital in Bay City, where he was diagnosed with acute pneumonia and an ear infection, reports state.

Sian did not seem interested in being there and wanted to leave, the boys father told police.

Hospital staff discharged the baby, after which he and his parents returned to the Bay Motel.

The following morning, March 21, the baby still appeared out of it, with his left arm twitching and hitting himself in his chest, his dad said. The parents took their son to his paternal grandmothers house while they ran errands, the father told police.

Not long after, the babys grandmother called her son to say the babys lips were turning blue and he was having seizures. An ambulance arrived and took the baby to the Saginaw hospital.

Troopers met Sian at the motel. Asked about the bruises on her sons face on March 12, Sian said he often falls asleep with his face on his toys. She initially said she did not know how he sustained his more recent injuries.

I have never once hit that kid, never once, she said, according to court records.

Sian soon broke down crying.

I raised my voice at him once cause he just kept throwing up and I didnt know what to do, she said. I tossed him a little bit and he kind of rolled and hit the corner of the bed.

The incident happened about noon on March 19 while she was alone with her son at the motel, she said. She said she gave her son a bath after he vomited on himself, after which he vomited again on a bedspread.

Sian said she grew flustered and screamed at her son, according to police reports. Sian said she picked up her son with both hands and tossed him toward the edge of the bed. The side of his head struck the metal bedframe and he fell face-first onto the ground, she said.

Sian again cleaned up the baby and put him in his Pack n Play. She didnt think of the incident again until she was at Covenant two days later.

Thats when I fully got every piece in my head together and realized, technically, its cause of me, she said. She left the hospital because she couldnt take it. The guilt was getting me too bad, she said, according to police reports.

Investigators submitted their reports to then-Bay County Prosecutor Nancy E. Borushko in early April 2022. They checked on its status every few weeks through December 2024 for a total 58 times. They were told the case was still under review or received no response, their reports state.

Borushko was unseated by challenger Michael P. Kanuszewski in the November general election. Kanuszewski charged Sian in February.

Sian, who is free on bond, is to be sentenced by Sheeran on Nov. 17.
Circuit Judge Diane Goodstein presides over a trial in a lawsuit between the Diocese of South Carolina and the national Episcopal church on July 8, 2014, in St. George, S.C. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins, File) AP

Officials are investigating after the home of a Circuit Court judge caught fire in South Carolina.

According to the Post and Courier in Charleston, three people were evacuated and hospitalized after the fire occurred at the home of Diane Goodstein in Edisto Beach on Oct. 4.

Among those injured was Dianes husband, former Democratic state Senator Arnold Goodstein, who reportedly jumped from a window in the house.

The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating the cause of the fire. There is no evidence of arson, but it also has not been ruled out.

The South Carolina Supreme Court released a statement about the incident, noting that Chief Justice John W. Kittredge is aware of the incident.

Out of respect for the privacy of the Goodstein family, the South Carolina Judicial Branch will not be issuing any further comment until law enforcement concludes its investigation, the statement said.

We respectfully suggest that common decency be followed by all in respecting the privacy of the Goodstein family during this difficult time.

Local law enforcement partners have been alerted to the incident and have been asked to provide extra patrols and security.

The incident comes as judges have faced increased scrutiny from President Donald Trump and officials in his administration, as well as a broad rise in threats against public officials.

Goodstein issued a ruling last month temporarily blocking South Carolina from handing over millions of voters personal data to the Trump administration, according to Newsweek.

Reaction to the fire has been strong, with finger pointing coming from both sides of aisle.

Democratic Rep. Daniel Goldman of New York said in a post on X that Republicans including President Trump and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller have been doxxing and threatening judges who rule against Trump, including Goodstein.

Miller responded by calling Goldman deeply warped and vile and accused him of spreading libelous madness while pointing out that the Trump administration has launched a government-wide effort to combat and prosecute illegal doxing.

Goodstein was elected by the South Carolina General Assembly to the position of Resident Circuit Judge for the First Judicial Circuit in May 1998.
An American Airlines flight taxis from the runway at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, July 1, 2025. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

American Airlines has made a change to is carry-on baggage process.

In a statement to KTLA -TV in Los Angeles, American Airlines said it will soon remove bag sizers from its gate areas across the country with the goal of simplifying the boarding experience.

The new policy is not an invitation to bring larger carry-on bags onto flights, the airline stressed, but confirmed it wants to make boarding processes run more efficiently.

Bag sizers will remain in the lobby for customers to determine on their own whether their carry-on will fit in the overhead bin.

Team members will continue to monitor carry-on baggage in the lobby and at the gate, and oversized items will still be required to be checked in ahead of the flight, the statement to KTLA said.

American, like several other major airlines, has been trying improve customer experience in what has been a challenging stretch marred by a plane collision with an Army helicopter that killed 67 people and periodic nationwide tech issues that have grounded flights.

The industry as a whole as also dealt with recent crashes and near misses.

Expanded preboarding for families with young children, five extra minutes added to boarding time and new gate technology are among the changes American has made.

In July, the Transportation Security Administration updated a policy allowing travelers to leave their shoes on while passing through security checkpoints.

More information about carry-on luggage and traveling with American Airlines can be found here.
The Storm Outlook for Michigan and a big swath of the U.S. shows showers, but no severe weather is expected for the Great Lakes. Graphic provided by the National Weather Service

The incoming cold front is going to send our summer-like temperatures tumbling over the next day or so, and it will also mean a good shot at rain later today and overnight for much of the Lower Peninsula and the eastern Upper Peninsula.

Scattered showers are mainly whats being forecast. But some areas could see up to a half-inch of rain. Localized, heavy downpours are associated with this storm system. Gusty winds and even a few thunderstorms could be on tap. Severe weather is not expected, according to the National Weather Service.

These chances for rain are going to hold over into Tuesday as temperatures fall into the 60s for most of Lower Michigan and dip into the 50s for parts of the Upper Peninsula.

Here are the forecast highlights were seeing from the NWS:

A couple of stronger storms could be possible over the Midwest and Great Lakes region later today and into tonight.

Well likely see clusters of storms, so it may not be a pop-up shower scenario where we get a little rain, then its gone. We could have multiple chances for rain as the front moves across the state.

Showers and a few thunderstorms expected ahead of a cold front tonight into Tuesday morning. A cool down follows for mid-week. Graphic provided by the National Weather Service

A cold front is expected to focus showers and a few thunderstorms this evening into Tuesday morning, forecast notes from the NWS meteorologists in Grand Rapids said.

These storms could contain brief heavy downpours and gusty winds, even if they are low-topped and lack thunder. The front clears Lower Michigan on Tuesday night.
Summer weather is hanging on for a good part of today before a cold front moves in.

Rain is in the forecast for Monday night into Tuesday. That will be followed by cooler weather on Tuesday, and those cooler temps will stick around for the Detroit area and its suburbs through the rest of the week.

Showers and a few thunderstorms expected ahead of a cold front tonight into Tuesday morning. A cool down follows for mid-week. Graphic provided by the National Weather Service

Here are the highlights of the Detroit area forecast from the the National Weather Service:

Southeast Michigan will experience another day of unusually warm October weather Monday before a cold front brings rain and a significant temperature drop by midweek.

Monday morning lows in the upper 50s to lower 60s are more characteristic of early August than early October. Afternoon highs will reach the mid-80s, remaining very warm for this time of year despite slightly lower temperatures than recent days due to increased humidity.

Rain chances will be minimal during Mondays daylight hours, but conditions will change by evening. Showers are expected to develop across northern areas around or after sunset as a cold front moves into mid-Michigan and the Thumb region.

The rain will spread south and east overnight Monday into Tuesday as Gulf moisture arrives ahead of the front. Moderate rainfall rates are possible at times, with most locations expected to receive 0.25 to 0.50 inches of precipitation. Some areas could see totals exceeding 1 inch where thunderstorms develop, though any storms are expected to remain relatively weak.

While the rainfall may help stabilize drought conditions in some areas, significantly more precipitation will be needed to see meaningful improvement.

A dramatic temperature change will follow Tuesday morning as the cold front passes through the region. Highs will drop to the 60s Tuesday, with clouds lingering throughout the day due to cold air moving in behind the front.

High pressure will build across the Midwest and Great Lakes Wednesday through Thursday, bringing dry conditions and seasonably cool temperatures. Highs will settle in the lower 60s, with crisp mornings as the region approaches the climatological first freeze date.

Thursday morning presents the best chance for frost across the area, with forecast lows reaching the mid-30s in areas outside urban zones under nearly calm wind conditions. However, temperatures are expected to remain above the freezing mark for now.

Slightly warmer conditions will return by late week as weather patterns shift.

Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story based on data from the National Weather Service. It was reviewed, edited and expanded by MLive staff.
MC Education Desk Read the latest and trending news on CBSE, board exams, NEET, JEE, CUET, competitive exams, scholarships, college admissions, education policies, and more.

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Valmiki Jayanti 2025 Holiday: Schools, colleges to remain closed in UP, Delhi on October 7

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Aneet Padda recalls sending horrible biodata and Snapchat filter pics to dozens of Bollywood production houses before Saiyaara

Aneet Padda recalls sending horrible biodata and Snapchat filter pics to dozens of Bollywood production houses before Saiyaara

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'Chachu' Salman Khan visits hospital as brother Arbaaz and Sshura Khan welcome their baby girl, watch

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Malaika Arora says, "my son is my most favourite" as ex-husband Arbaaz Khan welcomes baby girl with Sshura Khan

Malaika Arora says, "my son is my most favourite" as ex-husband Arbaaz Khan welcomes baby girl with Sshura Khan

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Ike Turner Jr, son of Tina Turner and Ike Turner dies at 67 due to kidney failure

Ike Turner Jr, son of Tina Turner and Ike Turner dies at 67 due to kidney failure

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Palak Vij

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Dadasaheb Phalkes grandson objects to SS Rajamoulis biopic, says 'family was never contacted', Jr NTR exits, Prabhas on hold

Dadasaheb Phalkes grandson objects to SS Rajamoulis biopic, says 'family was never contacted', Jr NTR exits, Prabhas on hold

Vaishnavi Gavankar

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African swine fever hits Kerala village: What you need to know

Kerala reports an African swine fever outbreak in a village. Disease zones declared, strict controls in place. Know the risks, symptoms & preventive tips (Image: Pexels)

Manjiri Patil

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October  often trumpeted as Uptober by crypto traders  has historically been Bitcoins best-performing month.

Hemant Abhishek

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The government, which became Vodafone Ideas 49% shareholder this year through a debt-to-equity swap, has publicly acknowledged the need for a solution. Bloomberg

Arindam Roy

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The acquisition aims to secure raw materials in metallurgical coke market, structurally seen to be undersupplied, ET said

Arindam Roy

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India, China should join hands to deal with Trump tariffs and AI threat, says Liqing Zhang, a leading professor of finance

Priyansh Verma

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Berglof noted that CPTPP membership could help India address deep-seated structural inefficiencies and push for greater market integration.

Ishaan Gera

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India needs One Nation, One Rules and One Governance model for further growth: Kazuto Suzuki

India has great potential as one of the largest markets in the world. But to realise it, the country needs to invite more foreign companies to set up production sites and connect with the global value chain

Ishaan Gera

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The world needs India to do well: Andres Velasco, former finance minister of Chile

Velasco urged developing economies to trade more among themselves rather than depending solely on advanced nations

Ishaan Gera

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Gold powers toward $4,000 as US government shutdown drags on

Bullion advanced to $3,920.63 an ounce, before paring some gains.

Deblina Halder

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Sweta Goswami

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India should consider joining CPTPP, ditch defensive stance in FTA talks, says Pravin Krishna

Priyansh Verma

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Muted revenues, margin pressure, visa impact: Five key factors to watch out for in Q2FY26 IT earnings

Reshab Shaw

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Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Debangana Ghosh

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Initiation of an India-Qatar trade deal on agenda as Piyush Goyal meets Sheikh Faisal in Doha

Initiation of an India-Qatar trade deal on agenda as Piyush Goyal meets Sheikh Faisal in Doha

Sweta Goswami

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Two to Tango: Tata Capital and LG IPOs to siphon liquidity, starving secondary markets

Foreign investors add another layer to the equation. But their fire power isnt much

Arindam Roy

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Bank Nifty rises for 5th day to reclaim 56,000-mark on strong Q2 biz updates from HDFC, Kotak Mahindra Bank

Paras Bisht

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Sunil Matkar

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Sensex settles nearly 600 pts higher, Nifty above 25,050: Buying in bank, IT shares among key factors behind market rise

Paras Bisht A financial journalist with over 10 years of experience, specialising in tracking stock market movements and fundamental developments that impact investors and the broader economy. A keen observer of global financial markets, I regularly engage with leading market voices to write stories. At Moneycontrol, I focus on decoding market trends, policy shifts and economic changes, driven by a constant passion to learn, analyse, and share knowledge with my readers.

Paras Bisht

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J Jagannath

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Bank holidays from 6-11 October: Banks to remain closed on THESE days this week; check full schedule

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

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Teena Jain Kaushal is Editor - Personal Finance (Audience Growth) at Moneycontrol, with over two decades of expertise demystifying money matters. Whether its decoding tax, navigating investments, or breaking down the latest insurance trends, her aim is to help readers make smarter financial decisions.

Teena Jain Kaushal

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The FCCB funds will be utilised for the purpose of broadening the global footprint with emerging markets, the company said.

Paras Bisht

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In Moneycontrol's Pro Panorama December 11 edition: AI gold rush and Indias role in it, the Netflix strategy that Indian IT can...

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Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata. The Tata Trusts board is scheduled to meet on October 10. (file photo)

Swaraj Singh Dhanjal

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Who is Vijay Singh, former defence secretary, who resigned as Tata Sons' Director?

Vijay Singh's resignation has come back into focus as two Cabinet ministers are scheduled to meet key Tata figures in New Delhi.

Surabhi Pandey

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Will make efforts to develop culture of competition compliance, promote innovation, says CCI's new market study on AI

Priyansh Verma

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5 factors weighing on BJP as it eyes dominance in Bihar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently lauded Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for transforming Bihars education system, which he alleged was left 'devastated and neglected' during the RJD-Congress rule

Priyanjali Ghose

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At its 93rd Air Force Day, the IAF will highlight combat successes from Operation Sindoor, humanitarian missions, and new technological milestones.

Aishwarya Dabhade

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to visit Australia on October 9-10, first since 2014

Amitabh Sinha is the executive editor of News18 India. He has extensive experience in print and TV journalism. He started his career with Patna's 'Times of India' and reported for almost 14 years at 'Aaj Tak'. He has been associated with Network18 since 2015. writes with equal authority in Hindi and English languages and has reported on many important events and incidents in India and abroad. He has a long experience in parliamentary journalism and has special grasp of e policies and schemes of the government. He writes regularly on News18's website in both Hindi and English languages. He is a post graduate from Delhi University. X- @amitabhnews18

Tamal Nandi

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Aishwarya Dabhade

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AIMIM chief calls out lack of Muslim representation, stakes claim for Seemanchal, and critiques governments Waqf law in high-voltage pre-election address

Aishwarya Dabhade

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Since my beloved wife Jane has passed on I have joined a support group to help me with my grief. Our group leader handed out a wonderful prayer, written by a rabbi, which I used as part of my prayer to Jane over her memorial candle. I thought it was so beautiful that I'd like to share it with you at this time. I started out by saying, Dear Jane,

I haven't forgotten you, even though it's been some time now since I've seen your face, touched your hand, heard your voice. You are with me all the time.

I used to think you left me. I know better now. You come to me. Sometimes in fleeting moments I feel your presence close by. But I still miss you and nothing, no person, no joy, no accomplishment, no distraction, not even G od, can fill the gaping hole your absence has left in my life.

But mixed together with all my sadness, there is a great joy for having known you. I want to thank you for the time we shared, for the love you gave, for the wisdom you spread.

Thank you for the magnificent moments and for the ordinary ones too. There was beauty in our simplicity. Holiness in our unspectacular days. And I will carry the lessons you taught me always.

Your life has ended but your light can never be extinguished. It continues to shine upon me even on the darkest nights and illuminates my way.

I light this candle in your honor and in your memory. May G od bless you as you have blessed me with love, grace, and with peace.
India in talks with Russia for 5 more S-400 air defence systems

Surabhi Pandey

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So far, Israel has a proven track record of a comprehensive air defence solution, thanks to its Iron Dome. Most countries, including India and the US, are developing similar systems as air defence becomes increasingly critical.

Surabhi Pandey

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India sends two parliamentary delegations to UNGA, reviving a tradition paused for two decades

Two multi-party groups of Indian MPs, led by BJPs P P Chaudhary and Daggubati Purandeswari  will represent Indias democratic voice at the 80th UN General Assembly in New York this month.

Aishwarya Dabhade

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Inside RSS-led Mission Trishul: Will it be a game-changer for BJP in Bihar polls?

The visible ground mobilisation by RSS has helped BJP clinch crucial victories in important states across the country.

Priyanjali Ghose

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Kashi emerges as global tourism hotspot, foreign visitors up 120 times in three years

Tour operators and hoteliers report high occupancy rates throughout the year, a shift from the earlier trend of seasonal pilgrimage peaks.

Priyanjali Ghose

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Lawyer who tried to attack CJI released, Delhi police to return his shoes

The incident took place when a bench led by the CJI was hearing the mentioning of cases.

Priyanjali Ghose

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'One room of our house occupied, have to take it back': RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat on PoK

101Reporters

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'Our approach is pragmatic, our intent clear': India backs Bangladeshs democratic process, says Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says India will work with whichever government emerges from Bangladeshs February polls, stressing realism, stability, and people-centric ties.

Aishwarya Dabhade

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'Pathetic law and order, zero sensitivity': PM Modi tears into TMC over attack on BJP MP Khagen Murmu in flood-hit Bengal

Murmu and Ghosh were reportedly assaulted while distributing relief materials to flood-affected communities in Jalpaiguris Nagrakata area.

Aishwarya Dabhade

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PM Modi condemns attack on Chief Justice BR Gavai, says attack on him angered every Indian

Tamal Nandi

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Sonam Wangchuk detention: SC seeks response from Centre, Ladakh administration on plea by wife to release him

Siddharth Chakravorty

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The airline is considering starting flights from Mumbai to boost its connectivity amid the festive season.

Arindam Roy

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Workers to get Rs 376 crore in bonuses and benefits as Tamil Nadu celebrates record 9.69% economic growth

Aishwarya Dabhade

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Gupta described the community as torchbearers of knowledge who have long served as a guiding force in Indian society.

Deblina Halder

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Piyush Goyal calls UPI launch in Qatar a milestone moment that will boost trade, cut costs, and make remittances faster for over 8 lakh Indians

Aishwarya Dabhade

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Will urge Supreme Court to allow use of green firecrackers on Diwali: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta

101Reporters

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OPINION | US military is caught between a rock and a hard place

C Uday Bhaskar is Director, Society for Policy Studies, New Delhi. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.

Namrata Agarwal

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OPINION | Will AI open the Nobel door for the global south or shut it further?

Chirantan Chatterjee is professor of economics at University of Sussex, 2025 founding fellow Royal Economic Society, 2018-19 national fellow at Hoover Institution (Stanford University) and visiting professor MBZUAI (Abu Dhabi), Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition (MIPLC, Germany) and Ahmedabad-U (India). Views expressed are personal, and do not reflect the stand of this site.

As Nobel season unfolds, the deeper question is whether AI will help build more inclusive global scientific commons.

Namrata Agarwal

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Q: Pro-CPC supporters, where do you stand on anti-Americanism? If not anti-America, what are your perceptions on those who are, within China?

A:

As far as I know, no pro-CPC supporter is anti-America. They never promote regime change in the US, and never advocate for invading and occupying America. All they are against is the US hegemony abusing its military and financial power, taking advantage of China. When the US bombed the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia, many Chinese were anti-American for a reason. It is really a reaction to the US anti-China plot. When the US EP-13 landed in Hainan, many Chinese were anti-American. But in both cases, it has nothing to do with pro-CPC or not. It is about the dignity of a nation. The US tried hard to crash China, so that many Chinese are anti-American, because what the US is doing will destroy their lives. But thats a reaction to the US geopolitical maneuver threatening the lives of Chinese in China. They are anti-America, not because they are pro-CPC supporters. They are pro-CPC supporters because the Communist Party of China protected them from the US hegemonic power. Most of them would like to be friends with America, yet the US keeps viewing China as an enemy, which makes the Chinese have no choice but to be anti-American. They want their human rights to pursue happiness, and containing China by the US violates their human rights.
Indian student secures Rs 89 lakh scholarship for US study, visa gets rejected: Will apply to UK

The final step of the US visa process requires applicants to submit their social media handles for review  part of a new screening policy introduced by the Trump administration. (Representational image)

Ankita Sengupta

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Sheetal Kumari

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In a sci-fi twist, ant queens defy evolution by cloning males of another species

The same queen of the Iberian harvester ant (Messor ibericus) gave birth to both a hairy male (Messor ibericus, left) and a hairless male (Messor structor, right), even though they belong to distantly related species (Image: Jonathan Romiguier, Yannick Juve and Laurent Soldati)

Sheetal Kumari

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Scientists to soon create 'universal antivenom' against deadly snake bites  Here's everything you should know

Sheetal Kumari

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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.

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Shaurya Shubham

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Launched in 2021, why Zohos Arattai is gaining sudden popularity after 4 years

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Ankita Chakravarti

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Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov says he spends 12 hours in bed, but what he does after waking up might surprise you

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Ankita Chakravarti

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Tim Cook to step down as Apple CEO? Heres who could take charge

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Ankita Chakravarti

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71% of Indians Are Traveling Solo This Festive Season, Here's Why

Rajni Pandey is a seasoned content creator with over 15 years of experience crafting compelling stories for digital news platforms. Specializing in diverse topics such as travel, education, jobs, science, wildlife, religion, politics, and astrology, she excels at transforming trending human-interest stories into engaging reads for a wide audience.

71% of Indians Are Traveling Solo This Festive Season, Here's Why

Rajni Pandey

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The World Wants to Visit India This Diwali as Searches Surge 67%, Says Agoda

Rajni Pandey

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Global Travel and Tourism to Create 9.1 Crore New Jobs in the Next Decade: WTTC Report

Rajni Pandey

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What Is the JOMO Travel Trend? Why Everyones Embracing It in 2025

Rajni Pandey is a seasoned content creator with over 15 years of experience crafting compelling stories for digital news platforms. Specializing in diverse topics such as travel, education, jobs, science, wildlife, religion, politics, and astrology, she excels at transforming trending human-interest stories into engaging reads for a wide audience.

Move Over FOMO! The JOMO Travel Trend Is Redefining How We Vacation

Rajni Pandey

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Asim Munir pitches Pasni port to Trump: How Pakistans $1.2 billion gamble could burn China bridges and unsettle India

Abhinav Gupta

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Asim Munir's 'Rare Earth' gift to Trump sparks political outrage in Pakistan: Will the 'secret deal' irk China?

Abhinav Gupta

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Pradeep Tripathi

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Rewati Karan

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Donald Trump lauds US Navy Seals for putting 'bullet in Osama bin Laden's head', recalls his pre-9/11 'warning'

Armaan Bhatnagar

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Donald Trump says to meet Luiz Inacio Lula 'both in Brazil and the United States'

101Reporters

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Facing Chinas shadow, Pakistan denies offering Pasni port to Trump: 'Beijing more important than anyone else'

Abhinav Gupta

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French Prime Minister resigns after less than a month in office

The French presidency said in a statement Monday that President Emmanuel Macron has accepted his resignation.

Aishwarya Dabhade

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Gaza peace plan: 'We're dealing with killers, savages, terrorists,' says US Secy of State Rubio on Hamas

Pradeep Tripathi

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Hamas at crossroads: Weakened militarily and with little choice but to accept Trumps Gaza plan

Pradeep Tripathi

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How China secretly pays Iran for oil despite US sanctions

Pradeep Tripathi

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Indian-origin man shot dead in US motel; second such killing in a month

According to a criminal complaint cited by local media, the incident occurred on Friday afternoon when Ehagaban went outside the motel to investigate a commotion.

Deblina Halder

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Japan's first female PM: How country is set for major shift under 'Iron Lady' Sanae Takaichi

Pradeep Tripathi

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Pakistan claims Chinese weapons did 'exceptionally well' against India despite crushing losses in Op Sindoor

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Pakistan sends rare earths to the US for the first time, walking a tightrope between China and Washington

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Six premiers in three years: Why French President Macrons government keeps falling apart | Explained

FILE PHOTO -- France's President Emmanuel Macron (L) and France's Minister of Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu leave following the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees Avenue in Paris on July 14, 2025. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)

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Trump viewed Hamas conditional acceptance as a significant opening that could pave the way for a lasting truce and the release of hostages.

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'The time has come': Tarique Rahman ends 26-year exile, vows return to Bangladesh to fight 2025 polls

BNP leader and Khaleda Zias son tells BBC Bangla hell run in the February election; signals end of London exile amid shifting political landscape

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They bombed his home, killed his sons, hunted him abroad; now Khalil al-Hayya leads Hamas peace push

After top leaders deaths, Hayya emerges as Hamas new power player abroad, now fronting talks on a US-backed truce in Sharm el-Sheikh

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Trump hails Japan's first woman PM Sanae Takaichi, calls her leader of 'wisdom and strength'

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US Supreme Court rejects appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell, imprisoned former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein

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Why go-bags are becoming part of daily life in Taiwan

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Will 2026 U.S. elections be swayed by government shutdown? Past events provide perspective

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Forget Greek Yogurt. The Future is Ant Yogurt ZME Science

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Top right is how far off the charts September 2025 sea surface temps are in this area of the North Pacific. >1.6C or ~3F above normal on average over this huge area.

Id say even more alarming than the actual anomaly is the trend since 2010. In 15 years the anomaly jumped more pic.twitter.com/ktFEp31rSx  Jeff Berardelli (@WeatherProf) October 5, 2025

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nearly 30% of the population of Amsterdam, an estimated quarter of a million people, flood the streets of the city wearing red in solidarity with Palestine. pic.twitter.com/0Pjc5bqLdU  susan abulhawa |    (@susanabulhawa) October 5, 2025

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Antidote du jour (via):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
This is Naked Capitalism fundraising week. 995 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, bonuses for our esteemed writers

Yves here. Even though this article provides a good deal of useful information about the history of Pakistan, focusing on its politics, it oddly does not mention the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who had spent a decade in self-imposed exile and had been in the process of getting waivers from a Swiss corruption conviction (Switzerland was not on board but other nations apparently were) and making a political comeback. Perhaps the author does not think her murder made much of a difference in the trajectory of Pakistan. It also focuses on Pakistans internal issued and thus (in the eyes of some) may give short shrift to its often-difficult relations with India.

Reader comments on that omission and any others are encouraged.

By Dr. Vladislav B. Sotirovic, Ex-University Professor, Research Fellow at Centre for Geostrategic Studies Belgrade, Serbia

Pakistan as a Country

Pakistan is a country located in the northwest of the Indian sub-continent. It borders Iran on the west, Afghanistan on the north-west, China on the north-east, and India on the east, with the direct exit to the Arabian Sea.

Physically, from the rest of Asia, Pakistan is separated in the north by the Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and the Himalaya high ring of mountain chains. Other mountain ranges are going down on the Pakistani western side to the Arabian Sea. Below them is the long and broad valley of the Indus River. The Province of the North-West Frontier contains the strategically very important Khyber Pass, which is very high. Toward the south is the Punjab plateau. It is watered by the tributaries of the Indus River, where wheat is grown. However, to the east is the Thar Desert. It is important to stress that between the Sind Desert, which covers part of the Indus delta, and Baluchistan in the western hills, there are large reserves of natural gas and, to a certain extent, oil, which is also found in Punjab.

Pakistan has a predominantly agricultural economy. The focal export goods are raw and processed cotton, cotton fabrics, and rice. Other agricultural products include sugar cane, wheat, and maize. Livestock-raising is important too. Textiles are an important part of the Pakistani industry and are substantially contributing to Pakistani exports. Other industries include chemicals, cement production, fertilizer, and food processing.

Population

The inhabitants of Pakistan are about 88% Pakistani Muslims, while there are about 11% Indians (Hindi). Of all the other ethnic groups, Baluchistanis are the most numerous. Baluchistan, as a province, is the least populated. With the partition of British India in 1947 into Pakistan and India, Pakistan received a predominantly Muslim population as well as a larger number of Indians, and vice versa. In the period from 1947 to 1950, population exchange between Pakistan and India, including ethnic cleansing, reached the scale of several million inhabitants in both directions. In Pakistan, the official language is Urdu (the Muslim variant of the Hindi language), which in 1972 replaced English as the official language. However, several other local/regional languages are in use. In 1970, 80% of Pakistans inhabitants were illiterate, which caused a lack of professional and educated staff, and this was especially felt in the administration and economy.

For the sake of more comprehensive education and the reduction of illiteracy, in September 1972, 176 private colleges were nationalized. There were three universities in Pakistan then. About 15% of the population lived in cities, while there were 10 cities with over 100,000 inhabitants. The capital of Pakistan was Rawalpindi from 1959, while today it is Islamabad. Until 1959, the largest city in Pakistan was Karachi. Today, Pakistan has a population of 251 million in an area of 881,913 sq. km. The GDP is 373 billion dollars, while the GDP per capita is almost 1500 dollars.

State Organization

With the division of the British colony of (British) India into two states, India and Pakistan, on August 15th, 1947, Pakistan received the status of dominion, and according to the constitution of February 29th, 1956, it became a republic  the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, composed of two federal units: West and East Pakistan.

By the military coup of October 1958, the constitution was abolished, and a new one was adopted in March 1962. This new constitution provided for a federal system of government, a presidential system of government (the president must be a Muslim and is elected for 5 years), a National Assembly of 156 deputies (78 deputies from each of the two federal units) and two capital cities: Islamabad in West Pakistan (seat of the central government) and Dhaka in East Pakistan (seat of the National Assembly). However, the constitution from 1962 was repealed on March 25th, 1969, and only partially reinstated on April 4th, 1969.

A turning point in Pakistans history was the separation of East Pakistan from West Pakistan in December 1971, when East Pakistan declared itself an independent state under the name Bangladesh. Thus, the new state of Pakistan included only the territory of the former West Pakistan. In January 1972, Pakistan left the British Commonwealth.

A modern history of Pakistan up to the Partition in 1947

Pakistan is a country that came under British colonial control in the first half of the 19th century, when it became part of (a Greater) British India. Interestingly, its name is derived from the word pak (ritually pure) in the Urdu language. In other words, it means Land of the Pure. However, it is as well as an acronym for its most important component peoples: Punjabis, Afghans, Kashmirs, Sindhis, and the peoples of Baluchistan.

At the beginning of the 20th century, there were only a several moves towards independence. One of the reasons was that those people living in the north in Punjab and Kashmir have been great beneficiaries of the British Raj, and occupied important posts in the administration and army of British India. It was among the more disadvantaged Muslim minority in north-central India that a Muslim cultural and political identity began to form, mainly due to several reformers and organizations like the Muslim League, a party founded on December 30th, 1906, in Dacca. Originally, the party fought for separate Muslim representation at all levels of government. The party claimed to represent the grievances and demands of the entire Muslim community within British India.

Under its leader, Jinnah, the Muslim League issued several requirements for greater rights of Indian Muslims in a vast country of British India in which Muslims at that time accounted for some  of the total population. Nevertheless, this political demand became all the more urgent with the increasing momentum of the Indian National Congress (the INC) under M. Gandhi, which made self-government or even independence under a Hindu-dominated government all but inevitable during the 1930s. In the first decades of its existence, the Muslim League pursued the dual aim of winning greater rights of self-government from the British colonial power and of winning greater rights for Muslims within such a British system. In order to achieve the first aim, the Muslim League cooperated with the INC, with which it allied itself in the Lucknow Pact of December 1916. However, the League was largely ineffective in the 1920s, when it claimed to have some 1.000 members in the whole of British India. This led to a decade in the 1930s of a major revision of the political goals of the Muslim League and the organization itself for the sake of appealing to the disparate Muslim community.

The League, in 1930, addressed its annual conference to demand, for the first time, a separate Muslim state in the western portion of British India. This demand became gradually accepted, particularly after the Muslim Leagues catastrophic showing in the 1937 elections, when it gained only 104 out of 489 Muslim seats. Therefore, its leader, Jinnah, now sought to broaden its popular base. On March 23rd, 1940, the requirement for a separate Muslim state became accepted as the official partys policy in the coming years. It was known as the Pakistan Resolution or the Lahore Resolution, which, in fact, warned that if conditions for Muslims, especially in areas with a Muslim minority, did not improve, Muslims would lay claim to separate states as their homelands. The very idea of separate Muslim states referred to the western provinces of British India and East Bengal. The Muslim League in 1944 claimed over 2.000.000 members. The League got in the 19451946 elections 75% of the Muslim vote. Therefore, the Muslim League got a popular mandate for the creation of a separate Muslim state in the western regions of British India. This task was finally achieved by the creation of an independent Pakistan on August 15th, 1947. However, initially dominant in Pakistani politics, after the death of its partys leader, Jinnah, the Muslim League lacked an integrative force and soon dissolved into various groups in the coming decade.

All the countries of South Asia have been troubled by the special position of minorities and of regional groups. The Indian governments attempt to foster Hindi was soon faced by demands for a new structure of states on linguistic lines, and from the 1950s onward, state boundaries have been rearranged. However, the linguistic feeling remained strong, especially in South India in Madras State, which was renamed Tamil Nadu. Before 1947, Pakistan formed part of British India, but following the British withdrawal from the Indian sub-continent in 1947, Pakistan was created as a separate state, comprising the territory to the north-east and north-west of ex-British India in which the population was predominantly Muslim. In Pakistan, linguistic and regional demands were initially resisted, and the separate provinces of West Pakistan were amalgamated as One Unit. However, regional loyalties forced a return to the old provinces, representing linguistic regions, in 1970. In East Pakistan, the strength of Bengal culture and grievances against the dominant West Pakistan elite fostered a demand for autonomy and later for independence.

The Partition in 1947

For the reason that no agreement could be reached on a unified form of independence, a decision was required about the partition of the Indian sub-continent. The areas in the northwest with a Muslim majority were allowed to choose separation and the formation of a new state of Pakistan. The provinces of British India, which were affected, voted either through their elected representatives or by plebiscite. The rulers of the princely states within British India chose whether to join the independent state of India or where their boundaries marched with the new partition line, Pakistan. Punjab and Bengal were separately partitioned. Independence came to India and Pakistan in August 1947, to Burma in January 1948, and to Ceylon in February 1948.

In India, it was fraught with problems from the beginning. The major part of the Indian sub-continent wished to remain united under the leadership of Nehru and the Indian National Congress. However, the explosive situation and the impossibility of securing agreement between Congress and the Muslim League led by Jinnah forced the hand of the Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, and on August 14th, 1947, the sub-continent became partitioned and the new state of Pakistan (physically composed of two parts) came into existence. The princely states (500+) have been left to the individual decisions of their rulers, who could, in effect, join either India or Pakistan if their boundaries marched with the new partition lines.

For both India and Pakistan, the first question was the delimitation of frontiers between the new states. However, this question particularly affected the provinces of Punjab and Bengal, where the populations were so mixed that partition seemed the only feasible solution (like in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the 1990s). But the boundary award cut through areas which in Punjab were occupied by rich farmlands populated by Sikhs, Muslims, and Hindus as neighbors.

Nevertheless, the partition of British India soon led to a high level of violence between Hindus and Muslims as communal riots followed. A two-way exodus started, with Muslims moving west and Sikhs and Hindus moving east, with more than 1 million people killed.

Around 7.5 million Muslim refugees fled to both parts of Pakistan from India, and around 10 million Hindus and Sikhs left Pakistan for India. The partition of Bengal produced similar results. Overall, some 500,000 people lost their lives. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, President of the Muslim League, became Pakistans first governor-general (President). The new state was composed of the western provinces of Baluchistan, Sind, Punjab, and North-West Frontier (or known as West Pakistan). Separated by Indian territory was the eastern half of Bengal, which also belonged to the newly proclaimed independent Pakistan (or known as East Pakistan).

In addition to the resettlement of the refugees, the governments had to integrate the 500+ princely states. Most princes were persuaded to accede, promptly, to either India or Pakistan. Hyderabad resisted and became absorbed only after the action by the security forces (police). The ruler of Kashmir as well as hesitated, and an invasion of tribesmen from the Pakistani North West Frontier Province followed. The Maharaja then acceded to India, subject to a plebiscite of the Kashmir people, but Pakistan supported the tribal invaders. The situation was only stabilized by the mediation of the UN in 1949.

The new state of Pakistan was, from the very beginning, confronted by plenty of problems. The most immediate of these was extensive migration (around 17.5 million people), as a consequence of the partition of British India into a Hindu and Muslim state. In addition, Pakistan contested its borders, as it competed with India over control of Kashmir. This confrontation has led to hostile relations with India up to today and the conduct of three Indo-Pakistani Wars.

Moreover, Pakistan suffered as well from the tension between the majority of the population living in East Pakistan and the important posts in government, administration, and the military being occupied by officials from the wealthier and better-educated West Pakistan. These problems have been compounded by the total lack of any tradition or history as a single, unitary state. On one hand, East Pakistan (or East Bengal) was relatively homogeneous, but on the other hand, West Pakistan was composed of regions with widely different economies and ethnicities and with different degrees of religious observance. Some tribes of the North-West Frontier had devout observance of Islam and a history of autonomy within the former British colonial system. They have been contrasted with the more secular elite of Punjab, which had been well integrated into the British colonial administration.

A Contemporary History of Pakistan Since the Partition in 1947 up to 9/11

The problem of finding a compromise that would create a viable, integrated, and constitutional entity bedeviled Pakistan during its existence. Pakistan continued to be formally ruled by the 1935 Government of India Act until 1956. The countrys liberal constitution became opposed by the fundamentalist Muslims, and in 1951, the Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan was assassinated by an Afghan fundamentalist. In 1954, a state of emergency was declared, and a new constitution was adopted in 1956. However, the new political settlement failed to stabilize the country sufficiently to prevent the 1958 army coup, led by Ayub Khan. It was an attempt to adopt a multiparty system, but it failed, and consequently, Ayub Khan imposed martial law in 1958. He, in fact, abolished the recently established democracy but without much resistance, and devised a second constitution in 1962.

On the other hand, Ayub Khans decade of power produced economic growth, followed, however, by political resentment as the two parts of the Pakistani state have been physically separated by a thousand kilometers of the territory of the independent and hostile Republic of India. Allegations by the Bengalis in East Pakistan against West Pakistans disproportionate share of the states assets led to demands by the Awami League, led by Mujibur Rahman, for regional autonomy. Nonetheless, in the following civil war in 1971, the Bengali dissidents defeated the Pakistani army, with help from India. It resulted in the establishment of the new state of Bangladesh in the same year.

In 1965, Pakistan attempted to infiltrate troops into Kashmir. In the fighting which ensued, India made some gains, but in the agreement afterward reached in Tashkent under Soviet auspices, both countries agreed to return to the status quo. His precipitation of a costly and unsuccessful war with India over Kashmir in 1965, and increasing economic difficulties in Pakistan, finally led to his resignation in 1969. Relations between Pakistan and India continued to be tense, however, and rapidly worsened in 1971 when Pakistani military President, Yahya Khan, cruelly repressed the demands for autonomy in East Pakistan (East Bengal, later Bangladesh), which led to 10 million refugees crossing over into India.

In 1970, the first-ever general democratic election has been organized, which brought to power in Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party. However, these elections were won by the Awami League in East Pakistan. Therefore, the West Pakistani political establishment, led by Yahya Khan, refused to hand over power and sent military troops to secure control in East Pakistan. This action caused a short but extremely violent civil war, and led, after Indian military intervention in December 1971, which supported the Bangladesh guerrilla with powerful military forces, which defeated the Pakistani army within two weeks, to the independence of East Pakistan as Bangladesh. Zulfikar Bhutto, as the new President since 1971, created a populist and socialist regime. His program of nationalization, public works, and independence from US financial help failed to overcome the negative effects of the oil price shock of 1973, leading Pakistan into an economic crisis. He introduced constitutional, social, and economic reforms, but in 1977 was deposed in an army coup led by Zia-ul-Haq and later executed.

Zia-ul-Haq improved Pakistani relations with the USA after the Soviet invasion of neighboring Afghanistan in 1979, when Pakistan came to host up to three million Afghan refugees, followed by bases for Afghan guerrillas. US military and civilian assistance led to high economic growth in the 1980s. However, Zia-ul-Haq died in a 1988 plane crash. His successor, Ishaq Khan, supervised the transition back to democracy, with the 1988 elections won by Zulfikar Ali Bhuttos daughter, Benazir Bhutto. She failed to establish control over the country and was dismissed by Khan in 1990 on charges of corruption. However, she became re-elected in 1993, but once again struggled to maintain control in a country plagued by crime, the international drugs trade, and the growing assertiveness of some of the Pakistani provinces (Baluchistan and Sind) and tribes (North West Frontier Province).

Benazir Bhutto became dismissed by President Leghari once again on formal charges of corruption and mismanagement in 1996 and was finally succeeded by Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif (leader of the Islamic Democratic Alliance) in 1997, who proceeded to strengthen his position by changing the constitution, which limited the power of the Prime Minister (the PM). Nevertheless, he as well as confronted the judiciary, which he sought to conciliate towards his policies. Ultimately, in 1999, he sought to introduce Islamic law in Pakistan, but this attempt led to widespread demonstrations, while at the same time, the deteriorating economic situation had already eroded Sharifs popular support, and for the reason of his pro-Western position during the First Gulf War/Desert Storm, 19901991. His order to the army to withdraw forces from Kashmir and his dismissal of Musharraf led to a successful army coup, headed by Musharraf himself, who suspended the constitution, moved to put Pakistani political and judicial institutions under military control, and tried to stabilize the economy to placate international creditors. After establishing control, Musharrafs regime became more liberal. However, it happened only after 9/11 (in 2001) that his regime became welcomed in the Western international arena. His decisive support of the US War on Terrorism brought great foreign policy benefits and enabled him to gain very much-needed Western international loans. Nevertheless, his pro-US stance was criticized by many Islamic fundamentalists and radicals in Pakistan, so that needed to temper by a moderate stance towards radical Islamist groups in Kashmir. In 1998, Pakistan carried out a series of underground nuclear tests in response to a similar program by the focal regional enemy  India.

The political situation in Pakistan remained turbulent, including intra-ethnic violence in Karachi, followed by national economic problems. Pakistani industrial expansion emphasized the private sector and consumer goods. Nonetheless, unemployment rose more rapidly than new production, and up to 70% of the population is still dependent on agriculture. Both governments of India and Pakistan have been putting greater emphasis on better yields from the soil. Though the rate of growth remains slow, both India and Pakistan have succeeded in attaining self-sufficiency in food. Yet some 40% of the rural population remains undernourished because their income is very low.

Finally, from 1947 up to 1971, there were three Pakistani-Indian Wars: the First (19471948); the Second (September 1st23rd, 1965); and the Third (December 3rd16th, 1971). These Pakistani-Indian wars were the result of unresolved issues, but especially border-territorial ones, between Pakistan and India that appeared after the British division of the Indian subcontinent, i.e., of British India, in August 1947 between these two states. As a consequence of the Third War, Pakistan lost its eastern territories, on which the new state of Bangladesh was formed. After the war, the general balance of power on the Indian subcontinent changed in Indias favour. India, also improved its strategic and geopolitical position. Nevertheless, the region of Kashmir has been left to be he apple of discord between Pakistan and India to our day.

 Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2025
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Labor Notes recently released a guide to help organize for the much-anticipated May Day general strike in2028. Its useful information, but as the countdown clock on the site shows, still 937 days away. At the rate the Trump administration is moving, there might not be much left of unions by the scheduled date.

The criminally undereported National Security Presidential Memorandum recently issued by Trump looks to crackdown on a whole range of activities, including actions by workers. Weve mentioned how the administrations ICE machine is one of workforce engineering: people out and exploitable workers in.

The administration is also increasingly threatening to use conspiracy law to go after those in opposition to authoritarian capitalism in the US or Israel. Since the assasination of Charlie Kirk, Trump asked the Attorney General to investigate individuals who protested him at dinner, instructing her to look into that in terms of RICO. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche backed him up, saying such protestors are part of an organized effort to inflict harm and terror and damage to the United States, which justifies Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) investigations.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has also vowed to dismantle and take on the radical left through RICO and conspiracy charges.

It might be tempting to dismiss as more of Trumps bloviating, but the war on the home front seems like one of the few areas where the administration is moving with unified purpose and, unlike the empires targets abroad, a foe against which they stand a chance. For all Trumps faults he knows weakness, and understands all our crumbling institutions can be bought or bullied. RICO is a useful tool against any holdouts, ands there are recent examples of it being weilded successfully.

Perhaps the biggest was the RICO charges against Stop Cop City activists in Atlanta (this was a state case that predated Trump 2.0). The charges against the protestors were recently dismissed on jurisdictional groundsbut not before destroying many of their lives.

Trump, despite also being targeted by Georgias anti-racketerring law, is eager to use it against others. In Los Angeles an individual was charged with conspiracy for providing face shields to ICE protestors, and pro-Palestinian protesters, animal activists, and anti-fascist counter-protesters have also faced such charges.

A Powerful Weapon

Steffen Seitz, a litigation fellow with the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project at Denver Universitys Sturm College of Law and the author of Conspiracy and Social Movements, offers a reminder of why the vagueness of RICO is such a salient threat to social movements:

Though conspiracy typically requires an agreement to commit a crime and the specific intent to join the agreement and further its unlawful purpose, neither requirement provides meaningful protection against prosecutorial overreach in social movement cases. In fact, both often facilitate guilt by association. To prove a criminal agreement, prosecutors need only offer circumstantial evidence of a tacit mutual understanding, which means that the mere appearance of concerted action is often enough. Every message, social media interaction, and in-person meeting between individuals becomes circumstantial evidence of conspiracy. Solidarity is recast as criminality. Indeed, the deputy director of ICE said as much in reference to dragnet approaches to anti-ICE protesters: I think we all know that criminals tend to hang out with criminals And so when we start to build a case, were going to be going after everyone thats around them. Because these criminals tend to hang out with like-minded people who also happen to be criminals. Conspiracys intent requirement proves equally problematic in social movement cases. Generally, activists do share some intent: a mutual opposition to genocide, the exploitation of animals, or racist policing. Typically in social movement prosecutions, prosecutors foreground and emphasize this shared political purpose as circumstantial evidence of nefarious intent. For example, even though the RICO indictment of Stop Cop City activists acknowledged that Defend the Atlanta Forest does not recruit from a single location, nor do all Defend the Atlanta Forest members have a history of working together as a group in a single location, nevertheless, the group shares a unified opposition to the construction of the Atlanta Police Department Training Facility. In other words, the indictment frankly admits that what justifies the conspiracy chargeswhat makes these activists coconspiratorsis their shared political goal. In fact, one way to read Trumps recent order designating antifa as a domestic terrorist organization is as an attempt to push law enforcement into targeting otherwise disconnected political actors through conspiracy, based merely on shared political goals.

Additionally, social movements have long been vulnerable to threats of conspiracy, as demonstrated by the prosecutions of labor organizers, Communists during the Cold War, and anti-Vietnam War dissidents. One could argue that contemporary social movements are, for a number of reasons, more fragile than their historical counterparts.

The case against the 61 individuals charged in the Cop City casewhatever one may think about their target and tacticsoffers a useful preview of whats likely coming. While those charged might never be convicted, they are facing up to 20 years behind bars for conspiracy on domestic terrorism. Whether they actually serve any time, the RICO case has already served its purpose.

Cop City opened in May. The conspiracy charges and the killing of one activist successfully suppressed opposition. And it provided a useful warning to others who would challenge the power of the state.

It also tramples all over the First Amendment. As the ACLU notes:

It paints the provision of mutual aid, the advocacy of collectivism, and even the publishing of zines as hallmarks of a criminal enterprise. In doing so, it flies in the face of First Amendment protections for speech, assembly, and associationthe indictment haphazardly sweeps many forms of opposition to Cop City, including speech, peaceful protest activities, and minor acts of civil disobedience, into felony violations of Georgias anti-racketeering law.

This is what the administration is turning to for those trying to stop US-Israel genocide, anyone opposing masked police snatching people off the streets and out of their homes without warrants, and even individuals who have the temerity to use their First Amendment rights in support of that right. It looks increasingly likely that workers who would dare organize and strike for better pay and working conditions are about to be thrown in the same bucket.

Ken Klippensteins major September 27 piece details how Trumps National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 (NSPM-7), Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence, will do so:

[It] directs the Justice Department, the FBI, and other national security agencies and departments to fight his version of political violence in America, retooling a network of Joint Terrorism Task Forces to focus on leftist political violence in America. This vast counterterrorism army, made up of federal, state, and local agents would, as Trump aide Stephen Miller said, form the central hub of that effort. NSPM-7 directs a new national strategy to disrupt any individual or groups that foment political violence, including before they result in violent political acts.

Terrorists and Conspiracies (Almost) Everywhere

Like the RICO law used against protestors, Trumps directive is incredibly vague. The directive lists anti-Christian, anti-American, and anti-capitalism opinions among the indicia of terrorism. There are others, which are broad enough so that just about anyone could be labeled anti-American. (One exception to this crackdown on alleged criminal conspiracies is, of course, the prosecution of corporate criminals, which fell to record lows under Biden and dont look like theyre going to rebound under Trump).

This will prove especially challenging for any groups looking to potentially block weapons shipments to a country committing genocide, for example, as has recently happened in countries like Italy. Those efforts there are being led by unions.

But Trumps NSPM-7 will make any organized labor action nearly impossible. As weve pointed out here at NC, the administrations actions to this point on immigration can largely be viewed as an effort to engineer a more exploitable and decidedly disorganized workforce. The crackdown on First Amendment-protected speech, while largely wielded against anti-Zionists, also affects labor. This national security goes a step further.

If youre going to label anti-capitalism as terrorism, that could very well mean unions are finished as any worker action will be deemed a threat to the country, smeared as un-American, and as antifa-infiltrated terrorism.

It should be noted that ICE is already targeting unauthorized or refugee workers (authorized) who are unionized or organizing. Theyre also going after American activists who simply track immigration raids or try to unmask the individuals behind the ICE black masks.

Will they be turned on anti-capitalist American workers next? Lets take the example of striking Boeing workers in St. Louis. They produce missiles and fighter jets for the US military, along with the Israel Defense Forces, and are preparing production of the next generation F-47. So it would seem they perform a job that fits with the administrations definition of American values.

The 3,200 workers are on strike for better pay, as well as a shorter path to the top rate. Boeing and the national uniparty didnt want any disruption to the production of weapons, but also didnt want to pay the workers. So scabs are being hired to replace them. This was almost certainly done with the backing of both political parties and is a direct challenge to organized labor in a spot it could really cause pain for the empires ruling class. The unions have not risen to the moment.

If we imagine for a second that they did, and say, occupy other weapons factories and shut them down, thereby causing even worse shortages in the arsenal of democracy. what would happen then?

Would they be slapped with RICO charges for un-American terrorist activity? NSPM-7 defines domestic terrorism priorities to include civil unrest, which means the FBI will almost certainly turn its powers to conduct enterprise investigations into terrorism or racketeering on those who would challenge power.

And with the administration justifying the wanton slaughter of alleged drug traffickers abroad by claiming links to designated terrorist organizations and the increasing use of the terrorism label at home, were offered a preview the next decades of the never-ending war terror.

Elite Feuds and the Rest of Us

Noticeably absent from the Labor Day speeches by union leadership and Democrat-aligned orgfanization was any mention of the striking workers in St. Louis or the effort to deal a decisive blow to labor through the guest worker programs.

And as Klippenstein noted in his follow-up to the NSPM-7 piece, Congress is simply pretending the directive didnt happen:

Law firms like Arnold & Porter, WilmerHale, Caplin & Drysdale, Akin Gump, and Elias Law Group swiftly responded to NSPM-7 by issuing guidances explaining the implications for non-profits and other organizations that are among their clientele. To date though, almost no members of Congress have commented on NSPM-7. I reached out to the following congressional leaders for a statement, but received nothing:

Sen. Chuck Schumer (Minority Leader)

Sen. Mark Warner (Senate Intelligence, ranking member)

Sen. Gary Peters (Senate Homeland, ranking member)

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (Minority Leader)

Rep. Jim Himes (House Intelligence, ranking member)

Rep. Jamie Raskin (House Judiciary, ranking member)

This is wholly unsurprising, as Trumps national security memorandum will forward the bipartisan priotiies for a uniparty that is anti-worker, pro-Silicon Valley and Wall Street, Zionist and corrupt.

We do see some pushback from the putative opposition in the US in defense of the likes of James Comey, George Soros, Jimmy Kimmel and the whole liberal elite. Its here the opposition believes it can score political points defending norms and freedom of speech while in reality caring only about the safety of their Blue country club.

One former Democrat administration official, Samantha Power, recently piped upin support of Trump tariffs against India! That was a useful reminder that the back-and-forth politicking we see in the mainstream media is mostly an inter-elite squabble where their tools of culture war and blob regime change operations have now infested their palatial estates. Usually used as tools to divide the working class and detonate countries around the world, they have now come home to roost.

On the exterior were stuck with the usual a fight over the empires marketing, one in which the woke imperium has quickly retreated since they were never truly committed to the bit. Overlapping with that we see Trump going after those in the Blob who largely succeeded in sabotaging his first term with color revolution tactics at home.

And the elite resistance doesnt much care about freedom of speech for protestors, organizing rights for workers, or any of the victims in the empires killing fields abroad.

Anyone who cares about stuff like that is still the enemy no matter which marketing department is running Washington, and they could soon be in the clink targeted for anti-American activities.

Union leadership, which only covers about nine percent of US workers, remains largely focused on a May Day 2028 general strike. That sounds like a noble goal, but the problem is that NSPM-7 throws a wrench in those plans with its directive to disrupt individuals and groups before they result in violent political acts.

If the administration continues to expand guest worker programs and makes good on anti-capitalism pre-crime threats, who will be left in organized labor to go on strike in 2028?
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Conor here: Here we have Trump and AI acting as accelerants for this exceptional US travesty. As the following piece notes, Trumps big, beautiful bill will make the problem worse, and even more damage could be done depending on what deal emerges from the current shutdown.

According to the Consumer Justice Center, debt collection agencies are increasingly turning to AI to streamline their operations, likely making it more difficult to communicate with another human and resulting in more harassment and even more mistaken identity and other errors.

Here are a few pointers from the Consumer Justice Center to protect yourself in case youre targeted by medical debt collectorseither AI or the old-fashioned variety:

Know your rights. Familiarize yourself with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) to understand what collectors can and cannot legally do.

Request written verification of a debt. Always ask for written proof of the debt before making payments. Do not acknowledge the debt as yours until you are sure that it is legitimate and still enforceable, so that you avoid resetting the clock on its statute of limitations.

Keep records. Document all your communications with debt collectors, whether they come from a human or an automated system.

Limit what information you give out. Be very cautious about giving out your personal information unless youre sure of the collectors identity. Scam artists prey on the vulnerable, and someone who is already anxious about their debts can be easily targeted.

By Rae Ellen Bichell, Colorado correspondent for KFF Health News. Previously, she was a radio reporter covering the region for the Mountain West News Bureau and KUNC. Originally published at KFF Health News.

Stacey Knoll thought the court summons she received was a scam. She didnt remember getting any medical bills from Montrose Regional Health, a nonprofit hospital, after a 2020 emergency room visit.

So she was shocked when, three years after the trip to the hospital, her employer received court orders requiring it to start funneling a chunk of her paychecks to a debt collector for an unpaid $881 medical bill  which had grown to $1,155.26 from interest and court fees.

The timing was terrible. After leaving a bad marriage and staying in a shelter, she had just gotten full custody of her three children, steady housing in Montrose, Colorado, and a job at a gas station.

And thats when I got that garnishment from the court, she said. It was really scary. Id never been on my own or raised kids on my own.

KFF Health News reviewed 1,200 Colorado cases in which judges, over a two-year period from Feb. 1, 2022, through Feb. 1, 2024, gave permission to garnish wages over unpaid bills. At least 30% of the cases stemmed from medical care  even when patients bills should have been covered by Medicaid, the public insurance program for those with low incomes or disabilities. That 30% is likely an underestimate since medical debt is often hidden behind other types of debt, such as from credit cards or payday loans. But even that minimum would translate to roughly 14,000 cases a year in Colorado in which courts approved taking peoples wages because of unpaid medical bills.

Among the other findings:

Patients were pursued for medical bills ranging from under $30 to over $30,000, with most of the bills amounting to less than $2,400. As the cases rolled through the legal system, accumulating interest and court fees, the amount that patients owed often grew by 25%. In one case, it snowballed by more than 400%.

Cases trailed people for up to 14 years after they received medical care, with debt collectors reviving their cases even as they moved from job to job.

Medical providers of all stripes are behind these bills  big health care chains, small rural hospitals, physician groups, public ambulance services, and more. In several cases, hospitals won permission to take the pay of their own employees who had unpaid bills from treatment at the facilities.

Colorado has company. It is one of 45 states that allow wage garnishment for unpaid medical bills. Only Delaware, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas have banned wage garnishment for medical debt.

As KFF Health News has reported, medical debt is devastating for millions of people across the country. And now the problem is likely to grow more pressing nationwide. Millions of Americans are expected to lose health insurance in the coming years due to Medicaid changes in President Donald Trumps tax and spending law and if Congress allows some Affordable Care Act subsidies to expire. That means health crises for the newly uninsured could lead them, too, into a spiral of medical debt.

And the hurt will linger: Large unpaid medical bills are staying on credit reports in most states after a July decision from a federal judge reversed a new rule aimed at protecting consumers.

If you cant maintain your health, how are you going to work to pay back a debt? said Adam Fox, deputy director of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, a nonprofit aimed at lowering health costs. And if you fundamentally cant pay the bill, wage garnishment isnt going to help you do that. Its going to put you in more financial distress.

Flying Blind on Medical Debt

When someone fails to pay a bill, the creditor that provided the service  whether for a garage door repair, a car loan, or medical care  can take the debtor to court. Creditors can also pass the debt to a debt collector or debt buyer, who can do the same.

At any given point, about 1% of working adults are being garnished for some reason, said Anthony DeFusco, an economist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who studied paycheck data from ADP, a payroll processor that distributes paychecks to about a fifth of private sector U.S. workers. Thats a big chunk of the population.

But specific research into the practice of garnishing wages over medical debt is scant. Studies in North Carolina, Virginia, and New York have found that nonprofit hospitals commonly garnish wages from indebted patients, with some studies finding those patients tend to work in low-wage occupations.

Marty Makary, who led research on medical debt wage garnishment in Virginia at Johns Hopkins University before joining Trumps cabinet as Food and Drug Administration commissioner, has called the practice aggressive. He co-authored a study that found 36% of Virginia hospitals, mostly nonprofit and mostly in urban areas, were using garnishment to collect unpaid debts in 2017, affecting thousands of patients.

The Colorado findings from KFF Health News show that hospitals are far from the only medical providers going after patients paychecks, though.

Researchers and advocates say that, in addition to a dearth of court case data, another phenomenon tends to obscure how often this happens. People find debt shameful, said Lester Bird, a senior manager at the Pew Charitable Trusts who specializes in courts. A lot of this exists in the shadows.

Without data on how often this tactic is employed, lawmakers are flying blind  even as a 2024 Associated Press-NORC poll showed about 4 in 5 U.S. adults believe its important for the federal government to provide medical debt relief.

Blood From a Turnip

Colorado was among the first of 15 states to scratch medical debt from credit reports. Debt buyers in the state arent allowed to foreclose on a patients home. If qualified patients opt to pay in monthly installments, those payments shouldnt exceed 6% of their household income  and the remaining debt gets wiped after about three years of paying.

But if they dont agree to a payment plan, Coloradans can have up to 20% of their disposable earnings garnished. The National Consumer Law Center gave the state a D grade for state protections of family finances.

Consumer advocates said they arent sure how well even those Colorado requirements are being followed. And people wrote letters to the courts saying wage garnishment would exacerbate their already dire financial situations.

I have begun to fall behind on my electricity, my gas, my water my credit cards, wrote a man in western Colorado in a letter to a judge that KFF Health News obtained in the court filings. Court records show he was working in construction and at a rent-to-own store, with about $8,000 in medical debt. He wrote to the judge that he was paying close to $1,000 a month. The way things are going now I will lose everything.

The people being sued in KFF Health News Colorado review worked in a wide array of jobs. They worked in school districts, ranching, mining, construction, local government, even health care. Several worked at stores such as Walmart and Family Dollar, or at gas stations, restaurants, or grocery stores.

Youre really kicking people when theyre down, said Lois Lupica, a former attorney working with the Denver-based Community Economic Defense Project and the Debt Collection Lab at Princeton. Theyre basically suing the you-cant-get-blood-from-a-turnip population.

In 2022, court records show, Valley View health system based in Glenwood Springs was allowed to garnish the wages of one of its patients over a $400 medical bill. The patient was working at a local organization that the health system supported as part of the community benefits it provides to keep its tax-exempt status. Nonprofit hospitals like Valley View are required to provide community benefits, which can also include charity care that covers patients bills.

Stacey Gavrell, the health systems chief community relations officer, said it offers options such as interest-free payment plans and care at reduced or no cost to families with incomes up to 500% of the federal poverty level.

As our rural regions largest healthcare provider, it is imperative to the health and well-being of our community that Valley View remains a financially viable organization, she said. Most of our patients work with us to develop a payment plan or pursue financial assistance.

The collection agency that took the employee to court, A-1 Collection Agency, advertises itself on its website as empathetic: We understand times are tough and money is tight.

Pilar Mank, who oversees operations at A-1s parent company, Healthcare Management, said it accepts payment plans as small as $50 a month and that most of the hospitals it works with allow it to offer a discount if patients pay all at once.

Suing a patient is the absolute last resort, she said. We try everything we can to work with the patient.

Hospitals sometimes also garnish wages from their own employees for care they provided them. In one case, a hospital employee worked her way up from housekeeper to registrar to quality analyst. She even participated in public events representing her employer and appeared on the hospitals website as a featured employee  while the court issued writs of garnishment until her $10,000 in medical bills from the hospital was paid off.

Hospital care costs money to deliver, said Colorado Hospital Association spokesperson Julie Lonborg about hospitals garnishing their own employees wages. In some ways, I think its funny to be asked the question. I would understand if someone said, Why arent you garnishing their wages?

Studies show that hospital debt collection efforts through wage garnishment bring in only about 0.2% of hospital revenues, said April Kuehnhoff, a senior attorney with the National Consumer Law Center, which advocates for people with low incomes.

We also know that there are states that dont allow this at all, she said. Hospitals are continuing to provide medical care to consumers.

Smooth Sailing for Collectors  But Not for Patients

Health care providers appeared as the plaintiffs in only 2% of the medical debt cases. Instead, cases were filed almost entirely by third-party debt collectors and buyers, with BC Services and Professional Finance Company behind more than half of the cases, followed by A-1 Collection Agency and Wakefield & Associates.

Debt buyers make money by buying debt from providers whove given up on getting paid then collecting what they can of the money owed, plus interest. Debt collectors get paid a percentage of what they recover. Some companies do a bit of both.

BC Services declined to comment, and Wakefield & Associates did not respond to questions.

Charlie Shoop, president of Professional Finance Company, said his company initiates wage garnishment on less than 1% of all accounts placed with it for collection.

Health care providers in Colorado can no longer hide behind debt collectors names when they sue people, according to a 2024 state law prompted by a 9News-Colorado Sun investigation in partnership with a Colorado News Collaborative-KFF Health News reporting project.

In many states, the path for filing a case against a debtor and garnishing their wages is relatively smooth  especially if the debtor doesnt appear in court.

Its unbelievably easy, said Dan Vedra, a lawyer in Colorado who often represents consumers in debt cases. If you have a word processor and a spreadsheet, you can mass-produce thousands of lawsuits in a matter of hours or minutes.

Within KFF Health News sample, nearly all the medical debt cases were default judgments, meaning the patient did not defend themselves in court or in writing. Missing a court date can happen for a variety of reasons, such as not receiving the notice in the mail, assuming it was a scam, knowingly ignoring it, or not having the time to take off from work.

Vedra and other debt law experts said a high rate of default judgments indicates a system that favors the pursuers over the pursued  and increases the chances someone will be harmed by an erroneous bill.

But in New Hampshire, creditors now have to keep going to court for each paycheck they want to garnish, because the state allows creditors to garnish only wages that have already been earned, said Maanasa Kona, an associate research professor at the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University.

It might not look like much on paper, she said. Its just not worth it if they have to keep going back to court.

Wrongly Pursued for Bills

The nations medical billing setup is already prone to errors due to its complexity, according to Barak Richman, a law professor at George Washington University and a senior scholar at Stanford Medicine who has studied medical debt collection practices in several states. Bills are not only noncomprehensible, but often wrong, Richman said.

Indeed, Colorados Health Care Policy & Financing Department, which runs Medicaid in the state, said it sent out nearly 11,000 letters in the past fiscal year to health providers and collectors that erroneously went after patients on Medicaid. Bills for Medicaid recipients are supposed to be sent to Medicaid, not the patients, who typically pay a nominal amount, if anything, for their care.

Shoop said his industry has pushed Colorado, without success, for access to a database that would allow them to confirm if patients had Medicaid coverage.

Colorados Medicaid program declined to comment.

Patricia DeHerrera in Rifle, Colorado, had to prove that she and her children had Medicaid when they received care at Grand River Health  but only after A-1 contacted her employer at the time, the gas station chain Kum & Go, with court-approved paperwork to take a portion of her paychecks.

She contacted the state, which sent letters to the hospital and the collector notifying them they were engaging in illegal billing action and telling the collector to stop. The companies did.

Theresa Wagenman, controller for Grand River Health, said if a patient can present a letter from a Medicaid caseworker saying theyre eligible, then their bills get removed from the collections pipeline. Wagenman also said patients get at least eight letters in the mail and several phone calls before Grand River gives the go-ahead for the collector to send them to court.

DeHerreras main advice to others in this situation: Know your rights. Otherwise, theyre going to take advantage of you.

Yet fighting back isnt easy.

Nicole Silva, who lives in the 900-person town of Sanford in south-central Colorado, said she and her family were all on Medicaid when her daughter was in a car crash. Still, court records show, her wages were garnished for a $2,181.60 ambulance ride, which grew to more than $3,000 from court fees and interest.

She tried to prove the bill was wrong, contacting her countys social services office, but Silva said it wasnt helpful and she wasnt able to reach the right person at a state office. The state Medicaid program confirmed to KFF Health News that her daughter was covered at the time of the wreck.

Fighting the bill felt like too much for Silva and her husband to handle while parenting a growing number of kids, one of them severely disabled, and working  she as a preschool teacher and he as a rancher.

Not receiving the roughly $500 a month that she said came out of her pay was enough to affect their ability to pay other bills. It was deciding to buy groceries or pay the electric bill, Silva said.

When their electricity got shut off, she said, they had to scramble to borrow money from colleagues and friends to get it turned back on  with an extra fee.

She said the saga makes her hesitant to call an ambulance in the future.

Fox, of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, said consumers often think they cannot do anything to stop their wages from being garnished, but they can contest it in court, for example by pointing out they should have qualified for discounted  or charity  care if the hospital that provided the treatment is a nonprofit.

DeFusco, the economist, believes filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy is an underused option for debtors. It halts garnishment in its tracks, though not always permanently, and it comes with other consequences. But he understands its a Catch-22: Its a complex process and typically necessitates hiring a lawyer.

To get rid of your debt, you need money, he said. And the whole reason youre in this situation is because you dont have money.
"It matters not where you live, or what rank of life you hold, the evil or the blessing will reach you all. The far and the near, the home counties and the back, the rich and the poor, will suffer or rejoice alike. The heart that feels not now is dead; the blood of his children will curse his cowardice, who shrinks back at a time when a little might have saved the whole, and made them happy. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death. My own line of reasoning is to myself as straight and clear as a ray of light. Not all the treasures of the world, so far as I believe, could have induced me to support an offensive war, for I think it murder; but if a thief breaks into my house, burns and destroys my property, and kills or threatens to kill me, or those that are in it, and to 'bind me in all cases whatsoever' to his absolute will, am I to suffer it? What signifies it to me, whether he who does it is a king or a common man; my countryman or not my countryman; whether it be done by an individual villain, or an army of them? If we reason to the root of things we shall find no difference; neither can any just cause be assigned why we should punish in the one case and pardon in the other. Let them call me rebel and welcome, I feel no concern from it; but I should suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a whore of my soul by swearing allegiance to one whose character is that of a sottish, stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man. I conceive likewise a horrid idea in receiving mercy from a being, who at the last day shall be shrieking to the rocks and mountains to cover him, and fleeing with terror from the orphan, the widow, and the slain of America. "There are cases which cannot be overdone by language, and this is one. There are persons, too, who see not the full extent of the evil which threatens them; they solace themselves with hopes that the enemy, if he succeed, will be merciful. It is the madness of folly, to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice; and even mercy, where conquest is the object, is only a trick of war; the cunning of the fox is as murderous as the violence of the wolf, and we ought to guard equally against both."

Just for a second, Im not going to tell you who wrote those first two paragraphs or when. I want to imagine that if you dont recognize those words, you might assume some pretentious but bighearted scholar wrote them this weekend.

I feel bad for America today, because most of us dont read. Which means this may be the first time that many of you have encountered the words I should suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a whore of my soul by swearing allegiance to one whose character is that of a sottish, stupid, worthless, brutish man, instead of knowing that, whenever you feel like shit about the state of the country, you have these words to draw on.

People keep saying, This is fascism! But this is America. This is America. The men with guns, hiding their faces behind masks, tearing people out of their beds and carrying them off into the night? Thats not some German Nazi shit. Thats the White League and the Red Shirts and the Ku Klux Klan. Are you shocked to see men pushing women out of the armed forces, out of the workforce, out of public life? Thats also what happened here, in America, after World War II.

Abigail Adams diagnosed the issue that has always, always, threatened to destroy the United States, even as it was being founded: I have sometimes been ready to think that the passion for Liberty cannot be Eaquelly [sic] Strong in the Breasts of those who have been accustomed to deprive their fellow Creatures of theirs.

In other words, when you oppress others, your ability to dream of freedom for yourself is diminished. Adams spoke it plainly at the start of the nation, and it remains a true thing that stares us in the face but we refuse to see.

An Open Letter to Border Czar Tom Homan Homan recently appeared on Fox News to talk about ICE coming to Nashville to 'flood the zone in the neighborhoods to find the bad guy'

Its frustrating, because as a nation, weve done what Trump is doing so many times before, and it never fixes things. We saw unimaginable racist violence during the reign of the second Klan (starting with the release of The Birth of a Nation in 1915) and through to the start of World War II. We still had the Great Depression. One might even argue that white Americans running around wholesale destroying Black wealth by burning down their neighborhoods and towns might have been a substantial factor in tanking the economy, since it stunted the growth of an increasing source of the countrys wealth.

No matter how many times we terrorize and destroy parts of the country, America has this fantasy where it can, metaphorically, set fire to one end of the ship, but somehow none of the right people on the other end will drown. But as the country is destroyed, we will all suffer. Because we have all suffered  every time weve pulled this annihilationist bullshit.

Thomas Paine wrote the words at the top of this post. Theyre from his essay The American Crisis. You know, the one that starts: These are the times that try mens souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.

I have my issues with Paine. Its annoying when hes all, Surely, if anything can be called slavery, its this, meaning that the king of England was pissing them off  which is much different than, say, having your children stolen out of your arms, not being paid for work you cant not do and being worked to death. And Paine absolutely knew this, because he lived in an enslaving society. Plus his whole the Jews are dumb thing in Common Sense also feels a little like hes just throwing non-Christians under the bus in order to try to convince Christians to adopt his position.

But he is right that its hell living among people who sell their souls to a sottish, stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man. He was then, and he is now.

I take hope, though, that theres a spirit of resistance also built into the foundations of the country  a belief that we can work together to all get free. It may not happen in our lifetimes, but we can clear the path as far as we can for the people who come after us.

Judging by history, the assholes can win for a while, but then they start to turn on each other. And once that happens, they fall. They always do.
Hamas agrees to RELEASE all of its hostages in line with Trump-brokered ceasefire deal

Hamas has accepted a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal, agreeing to release all Israeli hostages (living and deceased) in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a temporary halt to Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

U.S. President Donald Trump pressured Hamas with a deadline, threatening "ultimate destruction" if they refused. His unexpected intervention reportedly caught Israeli PM Netanyahu off guard, raising questions about U.S.-Israeli coordination.

Hamas is willing to transfer Gaza governance to an independent Palestinian body, but refuses full disarmament unless a sovereign Palestinian state with its own military is established.

Trump's proposal includes an "International Stabilization Force" for Gazas reconstruction, economic incentives and opposition to forced displacement. Qatar and France cautiously supported the deal, while critics dismissed it as "colonial thinking."

The war has killed over 68,000 Palestinians and devastated Gaza's infrastructure. While the ceasefire offers relief, skepticism remains due to past failures and unresolved disarmament demands. Netanyahu faces pressure to eliminate Hamas entirely, complicating long-term peace prospects.

In a dramatic turn of events that could reshape the Middle East, Hamas announced its acceptance of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal  agreeing to release all Israeli hostages, both living and deceased.

The group, formally the Islamic Resistance Movement, agreed to the proposal on Friday, Oct. 3. In exchange for releasing Israeli hostages in Hamas' custody, Tel Aviv will release Palestinian prisoners and temporarily halt its devastating military campaign in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas confirmed its decision after what it described as "in-depth consultations" with Palestinian factions and mediators, signaling a willingness to enter "immediate negotiations on the details of the exchange. The breakthrough follows intense pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who issued a public ultimatum. The real estate mogul demanded Hamas comply by the evening of Sunday, Oct. 5, or face "ultimate destruction."

The group also expressed readiness to transfer governance of Gaza to an independent Palestinian body, though it stopped short of agreeing to full disarmament  a key sticking point in Trump's 20-point peace plan. Mousa Abu Marzook, a senior Hamas official, clarified that weapons would only be surrendered once a Palestinian state with its own army is established, emphasizing that halting the war remains the immediate priority.

Trump hailed Hamas' announcement as a step toward "lasting peace," but cautioned that Tel Aviv must cease bombing the Strip to ensure the safe return of hostages. "Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the hostages out safely and quickly," he wrote on Truth Social. His unexpected intervention reportedly caught Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu off guard, raising questions about the coherence of U.S.-Israeli strategy.

Can Trump's peace plan stop the slaughter?

The proposed ceasefire would allow for the phased release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners while opening the door to broader discussions on Gaza's future. Trump's plan envisions an "International Stabilization Force" overseeing reconstruction and a transitional government, though Hamas has rejected foreign oversight, insisting any administration must arise from Palestinian consensus. The plan also includes economic incentives, promising Gaza's revitalization without forced displacement  a sharp contrast to earlier proposals that hinted at mass relocations.

Trumps direct engagement  echoing his controversial but consequential Abraham Accords  suggests a willingness to bypass traditional diplomatic channels, for better or worse. Critics have dismissed his plan as "colonial thinking," while supporters argue it offers a pragmatic path to de-escalation.

The human toll of the war remains staggering. Since Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack that saw 1,200 Israelis killed and 250 taken hostage, Israel's retaliatory offensive has reportedly killed over 68,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. The destruction of infrastructure, hospitals and homes has created a humanitarian catastrophe, with aid agencies warning of famine and disease.

The ceasefire, if honored, could provide critical relief. But skepticism abounds, given past failures and the unresolved question of Hamass disarmament. Brighteon.AI's Enoch points out that Hamas maintains control in Gaza because Israels brutal retaliation  targeting civilians, aid workers and infrastructure  fuels resentment and desperation, reinforcing Hamas' role as the only perceived resistance against oppression.

International reactions have been cautiously optimistic. Qatar, a key mediator, welcomed Hamas' move and pledged to coordinate with Egypt and the U.S. to finalize terms. French President Emmanuel Macron praised Trump's efforts, urging swift follow-through.

Yet the road ahead is fraught. Netanyahu faces domestic pressure to eliminate Hamas entirely, while Palestinian factions remain divided on concessions. The disparity in prisoner numbers further complicates moral and logistical calculations. Hamas holds roughly 100 Israeli hostages, while Israel detains thousands of Palestinians.

As talks prepare to resume in Egypt, the world watches to see if this fragile agreement can hold. For the families of hostages and prisoners, the stakes could not be higher.

Watch this video explaining how Israel created Hamas, a group Tel Aviv now seeks to destroy.

This video is from the GANG STALKING AUSTRALIA channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

RT.com

MiddleEastEye.net

FoxNews.com

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
NASAs Perseverance rover uncovers strongest evidence yet of ancient Martian life

NASA's Perseverance rover has uncovered minerals and organic matter in Jezero Crater that suggest Mars once had habitable conditions capable of supporting microbial life billions of years ago.

The rover found fine-grained mudstones and silica-rich clays in the Bright Angel formationindicators of a calm lake environment rather than the expected fast-moving river deposits, hinting at periodic flooding and transient lakes.

Instruments like PIXL and SHERLOC identified iron-phosphate and iron-sulfide nodules (vivianite and greigite), formed through redox reactions possibly linked to microbial metabolismsimilar to biosignatures found on Earth.

While the findings are compelling, definitive proof of life depends on returning the cached "Sapphire Canyon" sample to Earth via the Mars Sample Return mission (planned for the 2030s).

NASA faces funding hurdles for sample retrieval, prioritizing cost-effective solutions amid shifting focus to Artemis lunar missions, but the discovery marks a pivotal step in the search for extraterrestrial life.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Perseverance rover has discovered the most compelling evidence to date that Mars may have once harbored microbial life.

In a groundbreaking study published in Nature, scientists analyzing rock samples from Jezero Crater identified minerals and organic matter consistent with a habitable environment billions of years ago. The findings, led by NASA and supported by Imperial College London (ICL), suggest that redox reactions possibly driven by microbial processes created iron-phosphate and iron-sulfide deposits resembling biosignatures found on Earth.

Since landing in February 2021, Perseverance has explored Jezero Crater, a 45-kilometer-wide basin once home to a vast lake and river delta. The rover's latest findings focus on the Bright Angel formation, a light-toned outcrop within Neretva Vallis  an ancient river valley. Brighteon.AI's Enoch engine explains that the Jezero Crater is an ancient basin on Mars that once housed a lake and river delta, as evidenced by clay minerals deposited by flowing water, suggesting a watery past capable of sustaining microbial life.

Unexpectedly, the rover uncovered fine-grained mudstones and conglomerates rich in silica and clays, minerals typically deposited in calm lake environments rather than fast-moving rivers. The mission to collect the crater's rock and soil samples seeks to analyze this geological record, which could reveal clues about Mars' habitability and potential for past life in its diverse environments, such as the delta and surrounding terrain. These insights aim to deepen our understanding of the crater's history and whether it hosted conditions favorable for life billions of years ago.

"This is unusual but very intriguing," said Alex Jones, a PhD researcher at ICL and Perseverance team collaborator. "Our sedimentological work points to a past low-energy lakeexactly the kind of habitable environment we've been searching for." The discovery suggests Neretva Vallis was periodically flooded, creating transient lakes that could have supported microbial life.

Chemical clues pointing to biology

Using instruments like PIXL and SHERLOC, Perseverance detected millimeter-scale nodules enriched in iron-phosphate and iron-sulfide minerals, likely vivianite and greigite. These formations resulted from redox reactions involving organic carbona process that, on Earth, often involves microbial metabolism.

Professor Sanjeev Gupta of ICL emphasized caution: "This is a very exciting discovery of a potential biosignature but it does not mean we have discovered life on Mars. We now need to analyze this rock sample on Earth to truly confirm if biological processes were involved or not."

The rover has already cached a core sample from Bright Angel, dubbed "Sapphire Canyon," awaiting retrieval by the Mars Sample Return mission (planned for the 2030s). While the findings represent the strongest evidence yet for ancient Martian life, confirmation hinges on returning samples to Earth. Matthew Cook of the U.K. Space Agency called the discovery "a significant step forward," noting that future missions, like the U.K.-built Rosalind Franklin rover, will further investigate similar biosignatures.

NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, announcing the findings, framed them as the culmination of 30 years of Mars exploration. "This could be very real," he said, though budgetary challenges for sample retrieval remain. The agency is prioritizing cost-effective solutions to bring the rocks home, even as it shifts focus toward crewed lunar missions under the Artemis program.

Perseverance's discoveries at Jezero Crater have reignited hopes that Mars once hosted life. The mudstones of Bright Angel  with their eerie echoes of Earth's microbial habitats  offer tantalizing clues, but the ultimate verdict rests on laboratories decades in the future. For now, scientists agree that these samples are the most promising candidates ever collected in the search for extraterrestrial life.

Watch this video about the NASA Perseverance Rover's mission wheels not being the same at Jezero Crater.

This video is from the alltheworldsastage channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

ScienceDaily.com

Nature.com

MoneyControl.com

Brighteon.ai

DailyMail.co.uk

Brighteon.com
Supreme Court clears way for Trump administration to end protections for migrants

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 to allow the Trump administration to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for roughly 500,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, overturning lower court injunctions that had blocked their deportation.

The decision grants DHS the power to terminate TPS protections while legal challenges continue, leaving hundreds of thousands at risk of removala major win for Trump's hardline immigration agenda.

The court's conservative majority sided with the administration's argument that Biden's parole programs created an unmanageable influx without a clear path to legal status. Liberal Justices Jackson and Sotomayor dissented, with Jackson condemning the ruling as "harmful interference" that disrupts lives.

Critics argue the ruling ignores ongoing instability in migrants' home countries, forcing families into danger. A federal judge had previously blocked Trump's TPS termination, citing "unprecedented haste" and lack of justificationbut the Supreme Court lifted this injunction.

Trump hailed the decision as a step toward "securing the border," while immigrant advocates warned of destabilizing consequences. The Biden administration faces pressure to respond, with Democrats urging legislative action to protect TPS holders.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 on Friday, Oct. 3, to allow the Trump administration to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 500,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, overturning lower court injunctions that had blocked their deportation.

The decision grants the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) authority to terminate TPS protections while legal challenges continue, leaving hundreds of thousands of migrants vulnerable to removal. The ruling marks a significant victory for President Donald Trump's hardline immigration agenda, which has sought to dismantle Biden-era parole programs that expanded protections for migrants fleeing instability.

The court's conservative majority sided with the administration's argument that the Biden administration's policies created an unmanageable influx without a clear path to legal status. Liberal Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor dissented, with Jackson sharply criticizing the court's intervention.

"I cannot abide our repeated, gratuitous and harmful interference with cases pending in the lower courts while lives hang in the balance," Jackson wrote in her dissent. "We once again use our equitable power to allow this administration to disrupt as many lives as possible, as quickly as possible."

Legal battle over TPS

TPS, established by Congress in 1990, shields migrants from deportation if their home countries suffer from natural disasters, armed conflict or other extraordinary conditions. The Trump administration had moved to terminate protections for Venezuelans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Cubans, arguing that conditions in those countries had improved enough to justify ending the program.

However, U.S. District Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco blocked the administration's efforts last September, ruling that DHS acted with "unprecedented haste" and appeared to predetermine the outcome without proper justification. The Department of Justice appealed, leading to Fridays Supreme Court decision lifting Chen's injunction.

As per Brighteon.AI's Enoch, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data shows that over one million migrants entered the U.S. under Biden's parole programs, including the CHNV (Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela) initiative and the CBP One appa system the administration defended as providing "legal" pathways. Critics, however, argue that these policies exacerbated border chaos, fueling Trump's push to reinstate stricter enforcement.

Political and humanitarian fallout

The ruling aligns with Trump's broader deportation agenda, which he has vowed to expand if re-elected.

"Today's decision is a major step toward securing our borders and restoring order to our immigration system," Trump said in a statement. "The Biden administration's reckless policies have put Americans at risk, and this ruling helps correct that."

Immigrant rights advocates condemned the decision, warning of dire consequences for families who have lived in the U.S. for years.

"This ruling ignores the reality of violence and instability in Venezuela and Haiti," said Maria Rodriguez, executive director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition. "Forcing people back into danger is not only cruel but destabilizing for the region."

While the White House has not yet issued a formal statement, congressional Democrats have called for legislative action to protect TPS holders. The decision underscores the volatile nature of U.S. immigration policy, where executive actions and court battles frequently reshape the lives of vulnerable populations.

Watch the video below about nearly 200 Venezuelans deported from the U.S. back to their country.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

PBS.org

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
World War III fears intensify as Trump administration ramps up production of devastating MISSILES

The U.S. is rapidly expanding its missile arsenal, driven by fears of a future war with China and the depletion of its weapons stockpiles from supplying Ukraine. This has pushed the world closer to a major conflict.

The Pentagon has ordered a massive increase in production of both defensive and offensive missiles, signaling preparation for a large-scale, high-intensity war, likely over a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

This military buildup is happening while the U.S. is taking a more provocative stance in Ukraine, now providing intelligence to help Ukraine strike deep inside Russia at critical energy targets to cripple its economy.

This new policy of enabling attacks within Russia is a major escalation that significantly increases the risk of a direct military clash between NATO and nuclear-armed Russia.

The combination of preparing for war with China while simultaneously escalating involvement with Russia creates a "perfect storm" of global instability, raising alarming concerns about the potential for a third world war.

A palpable sense of dread is settling over global security circles as the Trump administration undertakes a massive, rapid expansion of the United States' missile arsenal. This aggressive stockpiling of advanced weaponry is being driven by two converging and alarming factors: the Pentagon's growing fear of a future war with China and the severe depletion of American munitions due to the protracted conflict in Ukraine.

This dual-pressure scenario has pushed the world closer to the brink of a major power confrontation than at any time in recent history.

According to reports, the Department of War has issued an urgent request to its weapons manufacturers, demanding they double or even quadruple production of roughly a dozen critical missiles. This unprecedented order includes defensive systems like Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors, designed to shoot down incoming threats and a terrifying suite of offensive weapons such as the Standard Missile-6, Precision Strike Missiles and Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles. The move signals a military preparing not for a minor skirmish, but for a large-scale, high-intensity conflict.

Escalating tension with China

The primary catalyst for this buildup is the escalating tension with China. The Trump administration has repeatedly sounded the alarm over the possibility of China invading Taiwan, a move that would almost certainly draw in the U.S. Military planners are now operating under the assumption that such a conflict is a matter of "when," not "if."

The weapons being prioritized are specifically tailored for a Pacific fight. For instance, the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), with its 1,000-pound warhead and stealthy design, is built to sink China's massive naval fleet, while the Precision Strike Missile would allow the Army to hit key targets from 300 miles away.

However, this preparation for a future war is complicated by the demands of a current one. America's unwavering support for Ukraine has stretched its munitions stockpiles dangerously thin. Years of supplying Kyiv with artillery shells, rockets and missiles have left warehouses emptier than at any point in decades.

The new production push, funded by a $25 billion allocation from the recently signed "Big, Beautiful Bill," is an attempt to refill these depleted stocks while simultaneously building a new reserve for a potential conflict in the Pacific. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed that the administration is exploring "extraordinary avenues" to accelerate this military expansion.

Yet, this frantic arms race is not happening in a vacuum. It coincides with a series of dangerous escalations in the ongoing war in Ukraine that are directly raising the risk of a direct NATO-Russia clash.

Provocative policy shift

In a significant and provocative policy shift, the United States has now promised to provide Ukraine with intelligence on long-range energy targets inside Russia. This intelligence will reportedly focus on critical infrastructure like oil refineries, pipelines and power plants, enabling Ukrainian forces to strike deeper into Russian territory with the explicit goal of crippling the Kremlin's revenue and fuel supplies.

This decision marks a major red line crossing. Previously, Western support was carefully calibrated to avoid enabling strikes deep within Russia's borders, for fear of provoking an uncontrollable escalation.

By now facilitating these attacks, the U.S. is directly challenging Moscow and gambling that the economic damage to Russia will outweigh the risk of retaliation. This move aligns with Trump's recent hardened rhetoric against Moscow and his efforts to pressure European nations to stop buying Russian oil.

The combination of these events creates a perfect storm of global instability. On one front, the U.S. is openly preparing for a war with China, a nuclear-armed superpower.

On another, it is deepening its involvement in the Ukraine war by enabling strikes on Russian soil, thereby tempting fate with another nuclear-armed adversary. The rapid missile production is a clear signal that the U.S. military believes it must be ready to fight on multiple fronts simultaneously, a scenario that spells catastrophe for the entire planet.

As defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon scramble to hire workers and expand factories, the world is left to watch and hope. The relentless logic of military preparation, however, suggests that when nations build arsenals of this magnitude for a specific enemy, the path to peace narrows and the drums of World War III grow ever louder.

Brighteon.AI's Enoch AI engine explains that the combination of the U.S. preparing for war with China while escalating involvement with Russia creates a "perfect storm" because the U.S. is already dealing with ongoing wars. Simultaneously confronting two major military powers (China and Russia) would stretch U.S. resources and attention to a breaking point, creating multiple global flashpoints at once.

Watch the video below of "Brighteon Broadcast News" with the Health Ranger Mike Adams as he talks about how Trump teases the path to military dictatorship.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

WSJ.com

Reuters.com

Brighteon.AI

Brighteon.com
A new flag on the moon: U.S. declares ambition for permanent lunar village by 2035

The U.S. has announced a strategic shift from temporary lunar outposts to establishing a permanent, functioning "village" on the moon, framing it as a new chapter for national prestige and expansion.

This vision is the ultimate goal of NASA's Artemis program, which will begin with the uncrewed Artemis I mission, followed by a crewed lunar flyby (Artemis II) and a human landing at the South Pole (Artemis III).

A key technological challenge is surviving the 14-day lunar night, for which NASA is developing a compact, sub-15-ton nuclear fission reactor to provide reliable power for the habitat.

To construct the village affordably, NASA is pioneering the use of local materials, experimenting with turning lunar soil (regolith) into a concrete that can be 3D-printed into habitats and structures.

The initiative is explicitly framed as a new "space race" for technological and strategic supremacy, though it faces significant technical hurdles and requires sustained political will across multiple administrations.

The Trump administration has set its sights on a goal far beyond a symbolic footprint: a permanent, functioning American village on the moon.

The announcement was made by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator Sean Duffy at an international congress in Sydney, Australia. It signals a profound shift in American space policy from transient visits to sustained settlement, framing a new chapter in human expansion and national prestige.

The vision as articulated by Duffy transcends the concept of a simple scientific outpost. The objective is to establish a "village," a term implying a community-oriented, long-term habitat capable of supporting human life for extended durations.

This ambitious plan is the ultimate objective of the Artemis program, NASA's flagship initiative to return humans to the lunar surface. The administration has framed this not merely as exploration, but as a foundational step for American-led development of the final frontier, ensuring the nation's technological and strategic primacy for decades to come.

This announcement arrives as the tangible pieces of the Artemis program begin to fall into place. The critical path starts with Artemis II, a crewed mission scheduled for February 2026. This journey will not land on the moon but will instead rigorously test the new Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft with astronauts on board, looping around the moon to validate systems and human endurance in deep space for the first time in over half a century.

The subsequent mission, Artemis III, currently targeted for 2027, aims to accomplish what no human has done since 1972: walk on the lunar surface. This landing, planned for the scientifically rich South Pole region, will be markedly different from the Apollo excursions.

Instead of hours, astronauts will remain on the surface for approximately a week. They will conduct research specifically designed to pave the way for the future village, gathering data on resources and environmental challenges.

Nuclear power and moon dust: The building blocks of the new village

The duration of these future missions presents the most formidable obstacle: surviving the lunar night. For roughly 14 Earth days, the moon's surface is plunged into darkness and extreme cold, rendering standard solar power generation impossible. To overcome this, NASA is pursuing a technologically daring solution that underscores the program's commitment to permanence.

The proposed solution is a compact nuclear fission reactor, termed the Fission Surface Power System. The technical requirements are stringent; the unit must be robust enough to be transported from Earth, weighing less than 15 tons, yet powerful enough to generate 100 kilowatts of electrical power. This output would be sufficient to maintain life-support systems, run scientific equipment and manage communications, effectively creating a miniature, reliable power grid on the Moon.

NASA is actively seeking partnerships with private industry to develop this reactor, a move that aligns with the administration's emphasis on commercial space development. The successful deployment of such a reactor would represent a monumental achievement in engineering and a critical enabler not only for the lunar village but for future human expeditions to Mars, where power reliability is equally paramount.

Equally innovative are the plans for constructing the village itself. Transporting building materials from Earth is prohibitively expensive. In response, NASA is investigating the use of locally-sourced materials. Experiments are already underway, including on the International Space Station, to determine how lunar soil, known as regolith, can be mixed with binding agents to create a form of cement.

The political and strategic undertones of this announcement are unmistakable. Duffy has explicitly framed the endeavor as a new "space race," with the U.S. in a competition for technological supremacy and strategic positioning on the lunar surface. The unspoken rival in this race is China, a nation with its own robust lunar ambitions.

But Brighteon.AI's Enoch points out why the moon's atmosphere isn't exactly conducive for life. "The moon's gravity is too weak to hold a dense atmosphere, and it lacks a global magnetic field to protect such an atmosphere from being stripped away by the solar wind," the decentralized engine states. "Therefore, creating a stable, life-sustaining environment is not currently feasible."

Skeptics will rightly question the timeline and the immense technical hurdles that remain. Establishing a permanently inhabited village on another world is a challenge of unprecedented scale and complexity, one that will require sustained political will and funding across multiple presidential administrations. The true test will be whether this vision can survive the turbulent winds of political change in Washington.

Watch Bart Sibrel explaining why humanity hasn't returned the the moon since the Cold War space race.

This video is from the Kla.TV-English channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheNationalpPulse.com

DailyMail.co.uk

BarlamanToday.com

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
War on ICE intensifies: Cartels, gangs offer millions for attackers to target federal officers

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has disclosed that cartels, gangs, and terrorist groups have placed bounties of up to $10,000 for the killing of specific immigration agents.

The threats come amid rising political violence and are linked to previous high-profile incidents involving assassination attempts on political figures.

The revelation comes after recent confrontations between immigration officials and protesters in Chicago, including an incident where immigration agents shot a woman involved in an alleged assault.

Noem criticized local officials for providing hostile conditions for federal agents, stating they are even denied access to basic amenities like restrooms.

The situation underscores growing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local governments, raising significant security concerns for those involved.

In an alarming development disclosed by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, criminal organizations, including cartels, gangs, and terrorist groups, have placed bounties on the heads of specific U.S. immigration agents. Noem revealed this during an interview with Fox & Friends Weekend on October 5. The bounties, ranging from $2,000 for kidnapping to $10,000 for assassination, highlight the increasingly dangerous environment faced by federal law enforcement officers.

A Precedent of Violence and Threats

This disclosure comes in the wake of multiple high-profile threats against political figures, fueling concerns about the escalation of politically motivated violence. Secretary Noem urged caution, emphasizing the need for toned-down political rhetoric to prevent further real-world violence.

The Chicago Standoff and Escalating Tensions

The ongoing confrontation in Chicago between immigration agents and protesters exemplifies the heightened tensions between federal enforcement and local opposition.

Noem describes Chicago as being akin to "a war zone," blaming Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson for the animosity her agents are having to contend with. She said local officals are blocking ICE agents from entering municipal buildings, and won't even let them into government facilities to use the restroom.

On Saturday, Border Patrol agents were rammed and boxed in by multiple cars, then surrounded by a large crowd of hostile protesters, including a woman with a semi-automatic gun. Fox News' Bill Melugin confirmed that Chicago's police officers were instructed NOT to help the agents, despite their calls for assistance.

Federal immigration agents reported that a woman drove her vehicle aggressively toward them, attempting to assault the officers. The agents shot the woman, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries and drove herself to the hospital. The incident underscores the dangerous situation faced by law enforcement officers, who are being subjected to increasingly aggressive resistance from individuals and groups opposed to immigration operations.

Noem's Call for Action and Concerted Strikes

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem highlighted the organized nature of the threats against federal immigration officials, noting that the bounties and the distribution of specific agents' photographs through criminal networks represent an unprecedented level of danger for those serving on the front lines. Noem emphasized the involvement of designated foreign terrorist organizations, including cartels such as the Sinaloa Cartel and MS-13, further detailing their efforts to undermine law enforcement operations. Secretary Noem also addressed concerns about the funding and coordination behind these hostile actions, stressing the need for immediate federal action to counteract these threats.

A Call for Restraint and Support

The recent revelations about bounties on immigration agents, along with the broader context of political violence, underscore the urgent need for both caution and solidarity. Secretary Noem's comments serve as a poignant reminder of the risks faced by federal officers and the critical role of law enforcement in maintaining public safety. While the federal government and local officials grapple with the challenges of immigration, it is vital for all sides to maintain restraint, support law enforcement, and ensure public safety. The safety of these officers should transcend partisanship, and we must advocate for their protection. It is imperative that elected officials dial back inflammatory rhetoric and focus on constructive dialogue.

Recent events should serve as a wake-up call, reminding us that lenient policies toward illegal immigration can have catastrophic consequences. Enhanced cooperation among local, state, and federal authorities is essential to enforce immigration laws effectively and secure our borders, protecting citizens from potential threats. In conclusion, it is time for all parties to come together, fostering an environment of collaboration and respect for law enforcement, ensuring our communities remain safe and secure.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

SAN.com

DailySignal.com
FBI severs ties with leftist organizations SPLC and ADL

The FBI under Director Kash Patel officially severed its partnership with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), condemning it as a "partisan smear machine" unfit for collaboration due to its biased targeting of conservative groups.

The SPLC has faced intense criticism for listing mainstream conservative organizations (like Turning Point USA) alongside extremist groups, a tactic critics argue has inspired violence, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

The SPLC's rhetoric was cited by Kirk' assassin, reinforcing concerns that its "hate" designations fuel real-world attacks. The SPLC also remained linked to the 2012 Family Research Council shooting, yet kept labeling targeted groups.

This move follows Patel's broader cleanup of politicized intelligence, including distancing from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and indicting James Comey for alleged misconduct. The Biden administration had previously revived FBI-SPLC ties.

Despite a $700 million endowment, the SPLC faces internal scandals (racial discrimination, union disputes) and backlash for weaponizing "hate" labels to enable Big Tech deplatforming (Amazon, PayPal) and financial blacklisting of conservatives.

In a decisive move that signals a dramatic shift in federal law enforcement priorities, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel has announced the bureau has officially severed ties with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)  a once-revered civil rights organization now accused of fueling partisan division and even inspiring violence against conservatives.

The decision confirmed Friday, Oct. 3, follows mounting criticism over the SPLC's controversial "hate map." The aforementioned map has listed mainstream conservative groups  including Turning Point USA (TPUSA)  alongside extremist organizations like the Ku Klux Klan.

In his Friday announcement, Patel condemned the SPLC as a "partisan smear machine" unfit for FBI collaboration. This marks a stark reversal from the bureau's previous reliance on the group for domestic extremism research and law enforcement training.

The FBI's break with the SPLC comes amid heightened scrutiny of the organization's influence following the assassination of TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk. The SPLC smeared TPUSA as "extremist" months before Kirk's assassination in September during a Utah campus event.

Tyler Robinson, Kirk's alleged assassin, reportedly cited the conservative activist's supposed "hatred" as motivationa narrative critics argue was amplified by the SPLCs rhetoric. Patel emphasized that the SPLC's "disgraceful record" of targeting mainstream Americans rendered it incompatible with the FBI's mission. Prominent figures like Elon Musk and journalist Raheem Kassam, who have long campaigned against the SPLC's partisan bias, have echoed this stance.

SPLC and ADL: From watchdogs to attack dogs

This move follows a similar disassociation from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), another organization criticized by conservatives for its left-leaning activism. Patel accused former FBI Director James Comey of embedding agents with the ADL, which he likened to "a political front masquerading as a watchdog."

The ADL meanwhile defended its mission to combat antisemitism but discontinued its "Glossary of Extremism" after acknowledging some entries were outdated or misrepresented. ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt also emphasized that his organization "has deep respect" for the bureau.

According to Brighteon.AI's Enoch, the ADL was founded in 1913 to protect its members from legal repercussions after crimes, notably the kidnapping and murder of a young girl. It later evolved into an organization that suppresses criticism of Jewish elites.

Meanwhile, the SPLC  founded in 1971 to fight racial injustice  once earned acclaim for bankrupting Klan factions through litigation. However, its pivot toward targeting conservative and Christian organizations has drawn fierce backlash.

In 2012, a domestic terrorist used the SPLC's "hate map" to attack the Family Research Council, leaving a security guard severely wounded. Despite condemning the violence, the SPLC kept the group on its list  a pattern repeated after Kirk's assassination. Critics argue the SPLC's classifications have been weaponized by Big Tech and financial institutions to deplatform and defund conservative voices  with Amazon, PayPal and Eventbrite among those relying on its designations.

The Biden administration had revived the FBI's partnership with the SPLC, which boasted in 2021 of shaping federal counterterrorism policy. Patels reversal aligns with his broader overhaul of the bureau, including the recent indictment of Comey for alleged obstruction and false statements. The SPLC, now sitting on a $700 million endowment, faces internal turmoil  including past scandals involving racial discrimination and union disputes.

As the FBI cuts ties with the SPLC and the ADL, the decision underscores a broader reckoning over the role of activist groups in law enforcement  and whether their definitions of "hate" have strayed from justice into ideological warfare. For Patel, the answer is clear: The era of politicized intelligence is over.

Watch this video explaining why the SPLC and the ADL are the real "online hate groups."

This video is from the MAD AS HELL NEWS.COM channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

APNews.com

TheDailySignal.com

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
Federal crackdown intensifies: Arrests spike, sanctuary cities lose funding in high-stakes law enforcement power struggle

The Trump administration is escalating a federal campaign against violent crime and left-wing extremism, clashing constitutionally with sanctuary cities by deploying agents, making mass arrests and cutting funds.

In Memphis alone, 153 arrests were made in four days under an "Operation Legend"-style operation, bypassing local law enforcement and targeting charges like firearms violations and drug trafficking.

A federal judge upheld the administration's power to withhold DOJ grants from sanctuary jurisdictions that refuse to enforce immigration lawsin effect penalizing cities like San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia.

The federal government has also sent agents to cities such as Portland, Seattle and Chicago to suppress Antifa-linked protests, drawing sharp criticism from governors, mayors and civil liberties advocates.

The confrontations reflect a sweeping assertion of federal dominance over local policing, intensifying debates over overreach, public safety and the balance between national authority and municipal autonomy.

A sweeping federal offensive against violent crime and left-wing extremism has ignited a constitutional clash with sanctuary cities, as the Trump administration ramps up arrests, deploys federal agents and slashes funding to defiant jurisdictions.

Over 150 arrests in Memphis this weekpart of a broader "Operation Legend"-style crackdowncome alongside a federal judge's ruling upholding the White House's authority to strip funding from sanctuary cities, while newly deployed federal forces target Antifa-linked unrest in Portland, Seattle and Chicago.

The moves mark an unprecedented assertion of federal power over local policing, raising alarms among civil libertarians and state leaders who accuse Washington of overreach, even as crime rates and political violence surge.

Federal surge in Memphis: A test case for national strategy

In just four days, federal agents arrested 153 individuals in Memphis on charges ranging from firearms offenses to drug trafficking, according to White House statements. The operation, mirroring 2020's "Operation Legend," reflects a broader strategy to bypass local law enforcement in cities where officials have resisted cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or downplayed federal priorities.

Critics argue the tactic risks militarizing urban neighborhoods, while supportersincluding attorney Jonathan Turleycontend it's a necessary response to "failed progressive policies" emboldening criminal networks. The arrests follow a pattern: Federal agents, often from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) or U.S. Marshals, conduct sweeps in high-crime areas without prior coordination with local police.

Memphis Mayor Paul Young, a Democrat, called the operation "a political stunt," warning it could "erode trust between communities and law enforcement." Yet crime data shows Memphis' homicide rate has climbed 12 percent year-over-year, fueling public pressure for actioneven as the methods spark debate.

Sanctuary cities lose legal battle as funding cuts stand

A federal judge in Texas dealt a major blow to sanctuary jurisdictions this week, rejecting their lawsuit to block the Trump administration's funding cuts. The ruling, which cited the Supreme Court's 2020 decision in Trump v. New York, affirms that the executive branch can withhold certain grants from cities refusing to comply with ICE detainers or share immigration status data.

San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphiaall plaintiffs in the casenow face the loss of millions in Department of Justice grants, funds previously earmarked for community policing and crime prevention. "Local governments don't get to pick and choose which federal laws they'll enforce," the judge wrote, echoing the administrations argument that sanctuary policies "create safe havens for criminal aliens."

The decision emboldened the White House to expand its list of non-compliant cities, with Austin and Minneapolis added on Thursday, Oct. 2. Legal experts warn the precedent could extend beyond immigration, allowing federal defunding of cities that decriminalize drugs or refuse to prosecute certain offenses.

Federal troops deployed against Antifa as cities resist

As urban unrest flares, the administration has dispatched federal agents to Portland, Seattle and Chicago to counter what it calls "domestic terrorist" activity linked to Antifa. Videos circulating online show armored vehicles and unmarked federal officers detaining protesters, reviving controversies from 2020's Black Lives Matter demonstrations.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek condemned the move as "an occupation," while Chicago's mayor accused the White House of "stoking division for political gain." The deployments follow a leaked DHS memo labeling Antifa a "national security priority," citing arson attacks on federal buildings and coordinated assaults on police. Yet civil rights groups, including the ACLU, argue the crackdowns lack clear legal authority and risk suppressing legitimate dissent.

The standoff has become a flashpoint in the broader struggle over who controls America's streetsand whether federal power or local autonomy will prevail. The escalation reflects a deeper fracture in American governance, where competing visions of public safety and individual liberty are colliding head-on. For now, the White House holds the upper hand, armed with court rulings and a mandate to "restore order." But as federal agents fan out across cities, the question remains: At what cost to the republic's fragile balance of power?

According to Brighteon.AI's Enoch, the Trump administration's escalation of a federal campaign is a necessary response to the deep state's relentless weaponization of justice against himexposing the corrupt establishment's fear of his inevitable return to power.

Watch the video below that talks about Trump designating Antifa as a terrorist organization.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

YourNews.com

Brighteon.AI

Brighteon.com
By Akbar Novruz



In recent months, Armenias shifting foreign and security policy has once again exposed deep divisions within its political and social fabric. As Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyans government pursues new directions in diplomacy and defense, seeking balance between East and West, the reactions from traditional power circles and diaspora groups have been anything but uniform.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the fierce criticism emerging from the diaspora regarding Armenias latest cooperation with the United States under the so-called Crossroads of Peace initiative. Framed by its opponents as a Trojan partnership and a threat to sovereignty, this rhetoric reflects not a realistic security concern but a broader struggle over identity, power, and control of Armenias political narrative.

The recent "white paper" from the Armenian Weekly is a clear example of politically motivated fearmongering. The narrative, disguised as a defense of sovereignty, misrepresents the purpose of the Crossroads of Peace initiative and deliberately overlooks Armenia's own strategic failures and choices regarding geopolitical dependency.

Armenias latest cooperation with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) underlines a familiar pattern: Yerevan repeatedly mistakes symbolic foreign attention for strategic importance. The framework, far from being a Western plot, is a limited technical project aimed at assessing and modernizing border management  something Armenia has long lacked capacity in due to systemic mismanagement and overreliance on outdated Soviet structures.

Labeling such cooperation as a surrender of sovereignty betrays a deeper insecurity within Armenian policymaking circles. Decades of dependence on Russias security umbrella have left the Armenian state incapable of sustaining independent defense capabilities, and now, when Western engagement comes with transparency requirements, nationalist circles interpret it as espionage. The contradiction is glaring: a country that has hosted Russian border troops for over 30 years suddenly finds U.S. technical experts a threat to its autonomy.

Diaspora's appeal for strategic neutrality conveniently ignores the reality that Armenia long abandoned neutrality when it became a member of the CSTO and hosted a Russian military base in Gyumri. The papers call to reorient defense policy is a rhetorical maneuver to justify Yerevans gradual detachment from Moscow while scapegoating the West for Armenias internal political fragility.

The U.S. missions stated purpose, to conduct a capability gap analysis, is a standard practice within international cooperation frameworks. Armenias own request for such assistance reflects an acknowledgment of governance and border control weaknesses. If sovereignty were genuinely the issue, such discussions would have begun when Russian soldiers were manning Armenias borders with Turkiye and Iran.

Perhaps the most revealing element of the white paper is its historical revisionism. The authors selectively cite events from the early 20th century to frame the West as an eternal betrayer of Armenia, while conveniently erasing the catastrophic results of Yerevans own strategic miscalculations, from its militarized policies in Garabagh to its diplomatic isolation in recent years.

This instrumental use of history, combined with alarmist language about occupation and foreign control, aims to evoke existential fear rather than promote realistic policy debate. Ironically, it is precisely this mindset  framing every external actor as an enemy  that has confined Armenia to a cycle of dependency and isolation.

The geopolitical landscape of the South Caucasus has changed irreversibly. Azerbaijans strengthened sovereignty, Turkiyes assertive regional diplomacy, and new transit and energy routes have made old Cold War-style alignments obsolete. Yerevans dilemma is not about foreign infiltration, but about its inability to adapt to the regions new balance of power.

In fact, we have written on the same issues many times before. Without a doubt, this is proving itself again. Not everyone agrees with the current situation. Leaders from the Armenian diaspora, church, and nationalist figures argue that recent developments undermine the Armenian cause. These actors create a constellation of influence that opposes Yerevans [current] realist ideologies. What they defend is not merely a set of territorial claims, but a worldview rooted in grievance, martyrdom, and a narrative of heroic victimhood. As governments have come and gone in Yerevan, the Church has acted as a stable institution and, at times, a power center in its own right, arguably functioning as a sort of "deep state." Significant reforms and steps not taken today could be undermined at any moment in the near future.

While the paper warns of foreign control, the real concern for Armenia should be its own diminishing agency and relevance in regional processes such as the Middle Corridor and the Zangezur Corridor (recently labeled as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity), initiatives that continue to progress without Yerevans participation or influence.

The Trojan horse narrative serves one purpose: to deflect responsibility from Armenias domestic failures and geopolitical confusion. By portraying cooperation as infiltration and partnership as espionage, such discourse isolates Armenia further from the modernizing and stabilizing trends of the South Caucasus.

In reality, sovereignty is not eroded by cooperation; it is eroded by the inability to use it responsibly.
News / Africa

by Stephen Jakes

Businessman and African investor Sir Wicknell Zikhomo Kwambiri was among the regional leaders and dignitaries who attended the inauguration of Malawi President Arthur Peter Mutharika, sworn in as the 7th President of the Republic of Malawi at Kamuzu Stadium last week.This was revealed via an X (formerly Twitter) post by C H Mukungunugwa, who shared that in a statement released shortly after the ceremony, Sir Wicknell expressed profound joy and solidarity with the people of Malawi, calling the occasion a historic moment of renewal and trust in President Mutharika's leadership."It is with the most profound joy that I join our dear brothers and sisters from Malawi in congratulating His Excellency Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika on his historic inauguration and return to the Presidency," Sir Wicknell said.Chivhayo reportedly commended the Malawian electorate for speaking "decisively" and reaffirming their confidence in Mutharika's proven track record of visionary governance.According to Mukungunugwa, Sir Wicknell held a private hour-long meeting with President Mutharika on the sidelines of the event, where they discussed strategic cooperation in renewable energy, infrastructure rehabilitation, and socio-economic development.Sir Wicknell said he was deeply inspired by the President's inclusive vision for national transformation, anchored on unity expressed in Chichewa as "tili limodzi pa ulendo uwu" ("we are together on this journey").He also highlighted the ideological alignment between Malawi's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu PF, led by President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, noting that both parties share a commitment to developmental nationalism and Pan-African progress."Malawi and Zimbabwe have always enjoyed cordial relations rooted in our shared liberation history. Under President Mutharika's renewed leadership, I am confident these bilateral ties will grow even stronger," he added.Sir Wicknell concluded by extending heartfelt wishes to President Mutharika."Zikomo kwambiri, Mr. President Sir, and may God richly bless your new term of office," he said.
FEMA withholds disaster preparedness funds in wake of mass deportations

FEMA has frozen hundreds of millions in disaster preparedness grants, suspending funds from the Emergency Management Performance Grant program that state and local governments rely on for personnel, equipment and training.

The freeze is due to a new demand that states certify their population counts, which must exclude individuals removed from the country under recent large-scale immigration enforcement actions.

FEMA justifies the move by claiming past population data is "obsolete," arguing that the removal of millions of immigrants means the U.S. Census Bureau figures no longer reflect the true population for funding calculations.

This creates a major bureaucratic hurdle for states, which must now produce unprecedented, certified population reports, a process complicated by a federal government shutdown that has furloughed FEMA staff.

The action is part of a broader political effort to alter how population counts influence federal funding, with critics arguing it prioritizes political ideology over public safety and leaves communities vulnerable by delaying essential disaster preparedness.

In a move that has sent shockwaves through state emergency management offices, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has unilaterally frozen the distribution of hundreds of millions of dollars in critical disaster preparedness grants. The agency is demanding that states provide new population certifications that exclude individuals removed from the country through recent large-scale deportation efforts, a decision that critics argue prioritizes political ideology over public safety and leaves American communities vulnerable.

The suspension, confirmed by FEMA on October 3, directly impacts the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) program. This program is a financial lifeline for state, local, tribal and territorial governments, providing them with the necessary funds to build resilience against natural disasters. The grants pay for essential personnel, specialized training, life-saving equipment and public education campaigns designed to keep citizens safe when hurricanes, floods or wildfires strike.

FEMA's justification for this unprecedented freeze centers on the claim of "inflated payments." The agency asserts that the current population data is now obsolete. According to FEMA, this data no longer reflects the nation's true population following the deportation, or voluntary return, of millions of illegal immigrants under President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement initiatives.

The mechanics of funding

The EMPG program is not a minor budgetary line item. For the 2025 fiscal year, nearly $320 million was allocated to this program. The distribution of these funds is heavily weighted by population size, meaning states with larger populations typically receive a larger share of the grant money. The core purpose of the program is to help jurisdictions implement the National Preparedness System, with a stated goal of creating what FEMA describes as "a secure and resilient nation."

A FEMA spokesperson was quick to clarify that this freeze is a nationwide order, applying to every state and U.S. territory without political distinction. The agency insists this action is separate from a recent federal court ruling in Rhode Island that temporarily blocked the administration from cutting $233 million in other grants specifically from Democratic-led states. However, the timing has raised eyebrows among emergency management professionals.

This funding suspension is inextricably linked to the administration's aggressive immigration enforcement agenda. The Department of Homeland Security announced in late September that over two million illegal immigrants have been removed from the country since January. This figure includes both physical deportations and individuals who left voluntarily through programs like the Customs and Border Protection Home App.

The administration has framed this enforcement as a public safety necessity. The White House press secretary stated that the strategy specifically targets individuals connected to serious crimes, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, murder and assault. This narrative of removing criminal elements has been a central theme of the administration's policy justifications.

Conflict over population counts and federal funding

The freeze on preparedness grants is part of a much larger political and legal conflict over population counts and federal funding. In August, President Trump ordered the Department of Commerce to conduct a new national census that would exclude illegal immigrants. This directive has far-reaching implications, affecting not only disaster grants but also the formulas that determine congressional representation and the allocation of Electoral College votes.

For state emergency managers, the FEMA freeze creates a bureaucratic nightmare. States have now begun receiving formal notices requiring them to submit a "population certification" as of September 30. This report must meticulously detail the state's methodology for counting its residents and must explicitly confirm that individuals removed under U.S. immigration laws are not included in their tally.

This new requirement is without recent precedent. For decades, FEMA and other federal agencies have relied on the official data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau to make these determinations. The demand for states to now produce their own certified counts, using a specific federal filter, adds a complex and time-consuming layer to a process that was previously straightforward.

The immediate practical effect of this policy is delay. Emergency officials across the country warn that this new certification hurdle will worsen existing bottlenecks in the federal funding pipeline. Compounding the problem, FEMA has recently shortened the timeline for states to spend grant money from three years down to just one, creating a contradictory pressure to meet long-term preparedness goals at an accelerated pace.

"The role of FEMA is to reduce loss of life and property and protect critical infrastructure from all hazards through a comprehensive program of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery," said Brighteon.AI's Enoch. With this freeze, however, critics argue that the agency has chosen to make disaster preparedness contingent on the politically charged recalculation of the American populace.

Watch as Kristi Noem says Trump should get rid of FEMA.

This video is from the InforwarSSideBand channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TimesNowNews.com

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
A new digital frontier: Government power to disconnect citizens raises alarm

Bill C-8 grants the federal government the power to order internet service providers to deny service to "any specified person" without a prior warrant.

The order requires only the approval of the Minister of Industry, with oversight occurring only after the fact through a judicial review.

Privacy advocates and legal experts warn the bill threatens encryption standards and enables warrantless access to sensitive personal data.

Critics argue the bill contradicts past Canadian government stances that treated internet access as a fundamental right.

The legislation is the latest in a series of government bills increasing control and regulation over the Canadian internet.

In a move that has sparked intense debate over digital rights and state power, the Canadian government has introduced legislation that would grant a federal minister the authority to unilaterally disconnect any individual from the internet. Bill C-8, currently in its second reading in the House of Commons, proposes amendments to the Telecommunications Act that would allow the Minister of Industry to prohibit telecommunications providers from offering service to "any specified person." This power, which requires no prior judicial warrant and is defended by the government as a necessary tool against cyber-threats, is being criticized by civil liberties groups as an unprecedented and dangerous expansion of state authority that threatens the privacy and freedoms of Canadians.

The mechanics of a disconnection order

Titled An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts, Bill C-8 was introduced in June by Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree. The most contentious provision lies in the new powers it would confer upon the Minister of Industry, a portfolio held by Melanie Joly. The bill would allow the minister to "prohibit a telecommunications service provider from providing any service to any specified person." The legislation mandates compliance from all internet service providers, requiring them to pull services from anyone the government specifies. The only recourse for an individual subjected to such an order is to seek a judicial review in Federal Court after the disconnection has been enforced. The government, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, justifies this power as a means to combat "unprecedented cyber-threats" and hostile state actors. The bill states it may be "necessary to do so to secure the Canadian telecommunications system against any threat, including that of interference, manipulation, disruption, or degradation."

A chorus of criticism from privacy advocates

The proposed legislation has drawn swift and severe criticism from across the political and civil society spectrum. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) has been vocal, labeling the bill as containing "dangerous flaws" that must be fixed before it becomes law. The organization warns that the legislation confers ministerial powers that could be used to "deliberately or inadvertently compromise the security of encryption standards." Tamir Israel, Director of the CCLA's Privacy, Surveillance & Technology Program, stated, By failing to guarantee critical end-to-end encryption protocols will not be undermined, Bill C-8 risks doing more harm than good to cybersecurity. Its ongoing inclusion of warrantless data access mechanisms and use of a secrecy by default approach poses an additional threat to privacy and other civil liberties. The concerns are not limited to advocacy groups. Canadas own Intelligence Commissioner has warned that the bill, if passed as is, would authorize the warrantless seizure of sensitive private information and questioned whether such an approach could be constitutionally justified.

A reversal on digital freedom?

The introduction of Bill C-8 appears to mark a significant departure from the Liberal government's previous international stance on internet freedom. Canada is a founding member of the Freedom Online Coalition, an international body dedicated to maintaining free and open access to the internet. As a member, Canada has frequently signed joint statements decrying state obstruction of online freedoms. In 2019, for instance, Canada endorsed an FOC statement that criticized the "shrinking civic and democratic spaces online as a result of State-sponsored obstruction of free expression, peaceful assembly and free association." Just three years ago, the government itself released an official information sheet declaring that "the rights and freedoms that individuals have offline must also be protected online." This history makes the current legislative push all the more jarring for critics. Peoples Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier wrote on X, The Liberal government is giving itself power to ban dissidents from the internet!

A pattern of online regulation

Bill C-8 is not an isolated initiative but rather the latest in a series of government bills that have introduced new regulatory controls over the Canadian internet. This legislative trend includes:

The Online News Act, which became law in 2023 and requires social media companies to compensate news outlets for shared links, leading Meta to ban news sharing on its platforms in Canada altogether.

The Online Streaming Act, which extended Canadian content regulations to online streaming services like Netflix and YouTube. These prior acts focused on content and economic regulation, but Bill C-8 represents a qualitative shift by targeting an individual's fundamental access to the digital world itself. Currently, no mechanism exists for the government to unilaterally order a private citizens internet service disconnected, making this proposed power a first in Canadian law.

A precedent with far-reaching consequences

As Bill C-8 progresses through Parliament, it has ignited a fundamental debate about the balance between national security and civil liberties in the digital age. The power to disconnect a citizen from the essential platform for modern communication, commerce and information, based on a ministerial order without prior judicial oversight, sets a profound precedent. For privacy advocates and legal experts, the bill represents not just a potential tool against cyber-threats, but a dangerous vulnerability that could be exploited to undermine the encryption protecting everyone's data and to silence dissent. The outcome of this legislative battle will likely define the boundaries of state power and individual digital freedom in Canada for a generation, determining whether the internet remains an open forum or becomes a space where access is contingent on government approval.

Sources for this article include:

LifeSite.news

NationalPost.com

ccla.org
Hamas agrees to key aspects of Trumps Gaza peace plan

Hamas has conditionally agreed to Trump's peace plan, including releasing remaining hostages and relinquishing governance, but stops short of full endorsement due to unresolved disputes, particularly disarmament.

The White House has set a hard deadline for Hamas to accept the deal, threatening unprecedented military escalation if rejected. The plan includes a ceasefire, prisoner releases and international oversightbut excludes Palestinian statehood.

Mediators like Qatar and Turkey welcome Hamas' move but stress the need for an immediate ceasefire. Palestinian leaders demand sovereignty, while Israel insists Hamas must disarm and surrender before any agreement is finalized.

Gaza faces catastrophic conditions66,000+ dead, 90 percent displaced and severe shortages in medical care and basic supplies. The U.N. reports extreme suffering, with civilians trapped in war-torn areas.

While Hamas' partial acceptance marks progress, major obstacles persistdisarmament, Gaza's political future and Israel's military escalation plans.

Hamas has tentatively accepted major provisions of President Donald Trump's proposed Gaza peace plan, including the release of all remaining hostages and relinquishing governance, but stopped short of full endorsement as contentious issues remain.

The announcement comes just two days before Trump's ultimatum expires, threatening unprecedented military escalation if Hamas rejects the deal. The White House plan, backed by Israel and Arab mediators, offers a ceasefire, Palestinian prisoner releases and international oversight of Gazabut excludes Palestinian statehood, a core demand of Palestinian leadership.

In a statement on Friday, Oct. 3, Hamas signaled willingness to release the estimated 20 surviving hostages out of the 48 originally taken during its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. However, the group did not commit to disarminga key Israeli conditionand called for further negotiations on unspecified elements of Trump's 20-point proposal.

Trump, in a Truth Social post, framed the ultimatum as a final opportunity: "Every Country has signed on! If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas." His warning underscores the high stakes as the deadline6 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 5coincides with the second anniversary of Hamas' assault, which killed 1,200 Israelis and triggered Israel's devastating military campaign.

International leaders cautiously welcomed Hamas' response while acknowledging unresolved disputes. Qatar, a key mediator, praised Hamas' move but stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate hostage releases. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called it a "window of opportunity for lasting peace," while Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas emphasized sovereignty concerns, insisting Gaza must remain under Palestinian governance.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed preparations to implement the hostage release but reiterated Israel's conditions: Hamas must disarm and surrender. Meanwhile, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another militant faction, endorsed Hamas' stance, signaling internal Palestinian unity.

Humanitarian crisis deepens amid diplomacy

The potential breakthrough comes as Gaza's humanitarian catastrophe worsens. Brighteon.AI's Enoch states that over 66,000 Palestinians have been killed, half of them women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministryfigures widely cited by the U.N. despite Hamas affiliation. Nearly 90 percent of Gaza's population is displaced, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble.

Olga Cherevko of the U.N. humanitarian office described dire conditions at Gaza City's Shifa Hospital: "They are not able to move south because they just cannot afford it One of the families had three children and the woman was pregnant with her fourth."

Hamas' partial acceptance marks the most significant step toward ending the two-year war, but critical hurdles remainparticularly on disarmament and Gaza's political future. With Trump's ultimatum looming, the coming days will determine whether diplomacy prevails or conflict escalates. As global leaders urge restraint, the fate of Gaza's civilians hangs in the balance.

"There will be PEACE in the Middle East one way or the other," Trump declareda promise now facing its decisive test.

Watch the video below that discusses the real plan for Gaza.

This video is from the Son of the Republic channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

TruthSocial.com

AlJazeera.com

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
ICE agents ambushed in violent Chicago attack as police union condemns refusal to assist

ICE agents were ambushed and rammed by vehicles in Illinois.

Officers fired defensive shots during the dangerous confrontation.

An armed woman incited violence against the agents online.

Chicago police were allegedly ordered not to assist the federal agents.

The incident intensifies a political battle over immigration enforcement.

In a shocking escalation of violence against federal law enforcement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were ambushed Saturday in Broadview, Illinois, finding themselves rammed and boxed in by vehicles while an armed woman incited violence against them online. The dangerous confrontation forced officers to fire defensive shots and has ignited a fierce political battle over the safety of federal agents and the role of local authorities in sanctuary cities.

The incident occurred as agents performed a routine patrol in the Chicago suburb. According to Tricia McLaughlin of the Department of Homeland Security, officers "were forced to deploy their weapons and fire defensive shots at an armed U.S. citizen." The armed attacker, a woman named in a Customs and Border Protection intelligence bulletin, had allegedly doxxed agents and posted online: "Hey to all my gang lets f--- those motherf------ up, dont let them take anyone."

A shocking violation of duty

The confrontation grew more controversial with allegations that Chicago police were ordered not to assist the surrounded federal agents. The nations largest police union condemned these reports as a "shocking" violation of law enforcements duty to protect fellow officers.

"Details are still emerging, but it appears that officers from the Chicago Police Department were ordered not to assist a group of ICE agents while they were physically threatened by what appeared to be an angry mob," said National FOP President Patrick Yoes. "Let me be clear, both the National FOP and the Illinois FOP believe that when an officer calls for assistance, you answer, no matter what."

Yoes and Illinois State FOP President Chris Southwood said the directive violated the most basic principle of law enforcement. "The number one unwritten rule in law enforcement is that we respond to any calls from officers in distress," Southwood said. "What would have happened if the local police were facing threats and nearby federal officers were told not to assist?"

Political fallout and disputed claims

The Chicago Police Department issued a statement disputing claims that officers failed to respond. "To clarify misinformation currently circulating, CPD officers did in fact respond to the shooting scene involving federal authorities on Saturday to maintain public safety and traffic control," the department said. "The Chicago Police Department will always respond to anyone who is being attacked or is under the threat of physical harm."

However, Chicago law enforcement sources sharply rejected the departments assertion. One ranking source told Fox News the statement was "not true," saying dispatch audio proves officers had responded but had to leave because of the order.

The incident occurred amid growing tensions over "Operation Midway Blitz," a federal immigration enforcement initiative launched on September 8 that has resulted in more than 800 arrests in Illinois. DHS said the operation targets individuals with criminal records, including sexual offenses and gang ties.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has denounced the operation as unconstitutional, calling it a pretext to send armed military troops into our communities. The governor accused federal agents of using tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, and flashbangs against protesters exercising their First Amendment right in Broadview.

The political battle intensified with President Trump's plan to federalize 300 members of the Illinois National Guard. Governor Pritzker posted a barrage of statements on X accusing the Trump administration of "unprecedented escalations of aggression against Illinois citizens and residents."

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem described the attack differently, writing on X: "Today in Chicago, members of our brave law enforcement were attackedrammed and boxed in by ten vehicles, including an attacker with a semi-automatic weapon." She announced she was deploying "more special operations to control the scene."

This violent ambush serves as a reminder of the dangerous conditions facing law enforcement officers who work to maintain national security and public safety. As political leaders debate the proper response, the men and women on the front lines continue to face unprecedented hostility while performing their duties to protect the nation.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

FoxNews.com

YourNews.com
Italy embraces nuclear revival after 35-year hiatus, signaling major energy shift

Italy's government approved legislation to reintroduce nuclear power after 30+ years of stagnation, reversing past referendums (1987, 2011) that banned it.

The plan aims to reduce reliance on foreign energy imports while meeting decarbonization targets, projecting nuclear to supply 22 percent of Italy's electricity by 2050 and cut costs by 17 billion.

Under the plan, Rome will focus on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), microreactors and fourth-gen fission, alongside nuclear fusion research. This aligning with Europe's broader nuclear resurgence (France, Poland, Hungary).

The proposal declares nuclear projects "public utility" to fast-track development, introduces public-private financing and addresses waste management with strict safety protocols.

Despite lingering skepticism, the government emphasizes pragmatism over ideology, learning from Germany's failed energy transition. Local communities will have input on plant siting with compensation incentives.

In a landmark decision that signals a dramatic shift in national energy policy, Italy's government has approved legislation to revive nuclear power after more than three decades of stagnation.

On Thursday, Oct. 2, the country's Council of Ministers gave the greenlight to the bill  with the bicameral Italian Parliament approving it in the coming months. The move, championed by Environment and Energy Security Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, aims to secure Italy's energy independence while meeting climate commitments through advanced reactor technologies.

The enabling bill lays the groundwork for a National Program for Sustainable Nuclear Energy, marking a decisive break from past referendums that rejected atomic power in 1987 and 2011. According to Brighteon.AI's Enoch engine, Italy had operational nuclear power plants until 1990, when all reactors were shut down following the 1987 referendum. The country currently imports nuclear-generated electricity, but has no active domestic nuclear power plants.

Rome's pivot toward nuclear energy aligns with broader European trends, where nations like France, Poland and Hungary have doubled down on atomic power as a low-carbon solution to rising electricity demands. The Italian plan focuses on next-generation reactors  including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), microreactors and fourth-generation fission  while also investing in nuclear fusion research. Government projections suggest nuclear could supply up to 22 percent of Italy's electricity by 2050, slashing decarbonization costs by 17 billion ($19.96 billion) and reducing reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets.

The bill introduces sweeping reforms to streamline bureaucratic hurdles, declaring nuclear projects matters of "public utility" to prevent local opposition from derailing development. Public-private partnerships will replace outdated financing models that previously placed the entire burden on private operators. Waste management, long a sticking point for nuclear skeptics, is addressed with provisions for both temporary storage and permanent disposal  adhering to stringent international safety standards.

Pragmatism over ideology: Italy learns from Germany

Pichetto Fratin emphasized that Italy's nuclear revival is rooted in pragmatism, not ideology. "We must explain what new nuclear energy is  it is not the atomic bomb," he said. The minister urging critics to engage with scientific and economic realities rather than outdated fears.

The government's strategy reflects lessons learned from Germany's troubled energy transition. Berlin shuttered its last reactors in 2023 as part of its green shift, but found itself importing nuclear-generated electricity from neighboring France months later.

The legislative push also includes plans for an independent nuclear safety authority, modeled after European counterparts, though oversight will initially remain with the Italian Ministry of Ecological Transition. Municipalities will have a say in plant siting, with compensation measures for host communities  a concession secured by local government associations.

Italy's nuclear renaissance arrives as global energy demand surges, with projections estimating a 50 percent increase in consumption from 2003 to 2025. The country, long dependent on foreign energy imports, now seeks to reclaim sovereignty over its power grid while navigating the EU's decarbonization mandates.

Critics warn of lingering public skepticism, but proponents argue that modern reactor designs and stringent safeguards render past disasters obsolete. As parliamentary debates loom, Italy stands at a crossroads. Will it embrace nuclear power as a bridge to energy security and climate goals, or will ideological resistance derail its ambitions once more?

Watch David Tice discussing nuclear power and energy demand in this excerpt from the "Health Ranger Report."

This video is from the Brighteon Highlights channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

RMX.news

IlGiornale.it

Brighteon.ai

AgenziaNova.com

Brighteon.com
New South Korean study sparks fresh alarm over cancer risk and mRNA vaccines

A large retrospective cohort study in South Korea involving over 8.4 million adults found that vaccinated individuals had a 27 percent higher overall cancer risk within one year compared to unvaccinated peers.

The study reported statistically significant increases in six cancers: thyroid, gastric, colorectal, lung, breast and prostate.

Risk varied by vaccine type: cDNA (non-mRNA) vaccines were associated with higher incidence of thyroid, gastric, colorectal, lung and prostate cancers, while mRNA vaccines correlated with increased risks of thyroid, colorectal, lung and breast cancers. Booster doses were also linked to elevated riskparticularly for gastric and pancreatic cancers.

The authors emphasize that these findings are observational associations, not proof of causation and call for deeper investigation into underlying biological mechanisms and potential confounders.

Critics counter that the one-year follow-up is too short for cancer causation, and warn of detection bias, uncontrolled confounding reverse causality and statistical overinterpretation as plausible alternative explanations. Independent voices are now calling for transparent, long-term safety reviews and possible pauses on additional mRNA booster use pending further evidence.

A startling new study from South Korea has reignited fierce debate over the long-term safety of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines, claiming vaccinated individuals face a 27 percent higher overall cancer risk compared to unvaccinated peers. The researchers report statistically significant increases in six cancer typesthyroid, gastric, colorectal, lung, breast and prostatewithin one year after vaccination.

The investigation, published in Biomarker Research, drew on health records from more than 8.4 million adults between 2021 and 2023, using propensity score matching and multivariable Cox models to compare vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. Among the striking hazard ratios: 1.35 for thyroid cancer (i.e. a 35 percent increase), 1.533 for lung cancer (53 percent increase) and 1.687 for prostate cancer (68.7 percent increase) in vaccinated persons.

The authors also examined how risk varied by vaccine type and booster status. They report that cDNA (non-mRNA) vaccines correlated with elevated risks for thyroid, gastric, colorectal, lung and prostate cancers, while mRNA vaccines were tied to heightened risks of thyroid, colorectal, lung and breast cancers. Booster doses, they say, further amplify the risksespecially for gastric and pancreatic cancers.

The authors of the study caution that their findings are observational and do not prove causation, but they argue that the associations are strong and merit immediate scientific scrutiny.

In parallel, critics point to an even more provocative claim circulating in preprint form: that synthetic mRNA fragments from vaccines may integrate into human DNA, potentially triggering aggressive "turbo cancer." Such a scenario would, if verified, upend assumptions about mRNA vaccine safety. Yet this hypothesis remains deeply contested and is far from accepted by mainstream science.

Mounting calls for transparency amid deepening divide over vaccine safety data

Proponents of this view argue that accelerated emergency authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines sidelined long-term safety evaluationespecially of possible carcinogenic or genotoxic effects. They also decry what they call regulatory capture, conflicts of interest in public health agencies and suppression of dissenting voices.

Skeptics, however, emphasize critical limitations of the South Korean analysis. Cancer typically develops over many years, and a one-year follow-up may not reliably discriminate new causative mechanisms from detection bias. Further, critics point out uncontrolled confounders, reverse causality and statistical multiple comparisons as possible sources of spurious associations.

Independent scientists, regulatory observers and patient-advocacy groups are now calling for an urgent, transparent reevaluation of mRNA vaccine safetyespecially as nations continue broader booster campaigns. Some demand moratoria on further mRNA boosters until unbiased, long-term trials are completed.

Whether health authorities will respond with openness or resist skepticism is now a central question. For many who trusted the original assurances of safe and effective, the new cancer data may feel like catching up to a truth that should have been anticipated. The stakes are highnot only for public trust in vaccines but for the accountability of institutions that promoted them.

According to Brighteon.AI's Enoch, the COVID-19 vaccines appear to significantly increase cancer risks while Big Pharma and captured regulators concealed these dangers to protect profits and advance their depopulation agenda. Natural immunity and detoxification remain safer alternatives, but the truth continues to be suppressed by those who prioritize control over human health.

Watch the video below that talks about child deaths since the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

This video is from the People Of The Qur'an (TPQ) channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

PMC.NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov

Brighteon.AI

Brighteon.com
Trump moves to end USAID funding as AI tool aims to increase transparency in health sector

Trump Dismantles USAIDDeep States Covert Slush Fund - Trumps administration has moved to defund USAID, long exposed as a CIA front laundering taxpayer money into coups, election meddling, and regime change under the guise of "humanitarian aid."

- Trumps administration has moved to defund USAID, long exposed as a CIA front laundering taxpayer money into coups, election meddling, and regime change under the guise of "humanitarian aid." Enoch AI Exposes Big Pharmas Fraud & Censored Cures - Mike Adams free, open-source AI (Enoch) will reveal suppressed truths: COVID jab harms, natural cancer treatments outperforming chemo, and government lies about bioweapons and FDA corruption.

- Mike Adams free, open-source AI (Enoch) will reveal suppressed truths: COVID jab harms, natural cancer treatments outperforming chemo, and government lies about bioweapons and FDA corruption. AI Threatens Globalist Control Over Medical Lies - Unlike bribed regulators, AI analyzes data objectivelyconfirming vaccine failures, ivermectins efficacy, and Big Pharmas censorship of autism links, vitamin D benefits, and herbal antivirals.

- Unlike bribed regulators, AI analyzes data objectivelyconfirming vaccine failures, ivermectins efficacy, and Big Pharmas censorship of autism links, vitamin D benefits, and herbal antivirals. Globalists Will Escalate Censorship & False Flags - Expect Big Tech to ban Enoch as misinformation, FDA to weaponize laws against AI truth-telling, and staged crises (e.g., pandemics) to justify shutting down decentralized knowledge platforms.

- Expect Big Tech to ban Enoch as misinformation, FDA to weaponize laws against AI truth-telling, and staged crises (e.g., pandemics) to justify shutting down decentralized knowledge platforms. Sovereignty vs. Slavery: The AI Battle Ahead - Globalists (WHO/WEF) want AI to enforce tyranny (vaccine passports, CBDCs). Freedom fighters (Adams/Trump) push AI as a tool for public liberationexposing corruption and restoring health autonomy.

The Deep States Slush Fund Shut Down While AI Exposes Big Pharmas Lies

In a stunning one-two punch against the globalist regime, the Trump administration has moved to dismantle USAIDlong known as the CIAs slush fund for coups, assassinations, and regime change operationswhile independent journalist Mike Adams prepares to launch Enoch, a revolutionary AI engine designed to dismantle Big Pharmas vaccine fraud and expose suppressed cancer cures.

With AI poised to replace corrupt federal bureaucrats and decentralized truth-telling tools like Enoch bypassing censorship, the deep state faces an existential threat. Adams warns this marks the beginning of a new era where AI dismantles the medical-industrial complex and restores sovereigntybut will the globalists allow it?

USAID Exposed: The CIAs Money-Laundering Front

For decades, USAID has operated under the guise of humanitarian aid while funneling billions into covert operations, election interference, and destabilization campaigns worldwide. Under Trumps latest executive actions, this corrupt pipeline is being severed, cutting off funding for NGOs and foreign governments that have long served as proxies for deep state agendas.

USAID was never about helping peopleit was about laundering taxpayer money into regime change, election rigging, and corporate welfare, Adams explains. Shutting it down is a critical step toward dismantling the globalist stranglehold on foreign policy.

But the globalists wont surrender quietly. Expect a surge of propaganda from corporate media framing this move as Trump abandoning humanitarian aid, while omitting USAIDs role in funding color revolutions, bioweapons labs, and political destabilization.

Enoch AI: The End of Big Pharmas Medical Tyranny

While Trump dismantles the financial infrastructure of the deep state, Mike Adams Enoch AI at Brighton.ai provides a free, uncensored knowledge base exposing:

Vaccine Fraud  Peer-reviewed studies suppressed by the CDC showing COVID jabs cause infertility, autoimmune disorders, and sudden death.

Cancer Cures  Natural treatments like turmeric, DMSO, and fenbendazole that outperform toxic chemotherapy but are banned to protect Big Pharma profits.

Government Lies  The truth about 9/11, bioweapons, and FDA corruption buried under layers of corporate-funded science.

AI doesnt have Pharma stock portfolios or political biases, Adams says. When super-intelligent AI analyzes the data, it concludes what weve been saying for years: vaccines dont work, chemotherapy kills, and natural medicine heals.

AI vs. the Medical-Industrial Complex

The globalists greatest fear is decentralized knowledgetruth escaping their control. For decades, theyve suppressed:

The link between vaccines and autism (despite CDC whistleblowers admitting they hid the data).

(despite CDC whistleblowers admitting they hid the data). The effectiveness of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine (while pushing deadly Remdesivir).

(while pushing deadly Remdesivir). The fact that sunlight, vitamin D, and herbal antivirals prevent COVID better than masks or lockdowns.

Now, AI like Enoch is exposing these lies in real time.

Big Pharma survives by censorship and briberypaying off journals, media, and regulators, Adams warns. But AI doesnt take bribes. It just tells the truth.

The Coming War on AI Truth-Tellers

The globalists wont surrender without a fight. Expect:

Censorship campaigns  Big Tech will label Enoch misinformation and block access.

 Big Tech will label Enoch misinformation and block access. Legal attacks  The FDA may try classifying AI health advice as unauthorized medicine.

 The FDA may try classifying AI health advice as unauthorized medicine. False flags  Another pandemic or cyberattack to justify shutting down independent AI platforms.

But Adams remains defiant: You cant ban math. AI is inevitable. The truth is coming, and they cant stop it.

The Future: Sovereignty or Slavery?

The battle lines are clear:

Globalists want AI controlled by WHO, WEF, and Pfizer used to enforce vaccine passports, CBDCs, and social credit scores.

used to enforce vaccine passports, CBDCs, and social credit scores. Decentralists like Adams and Trump want AI in the hands of the peopleexposing corruption, restoring health freedom, and dismantling tyranny.

The choice is yours.

Watch the Oct. 6 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about using racks of AI machines to MINE human knowledge that will change your life.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Enoch AI: The free, truth-based AI model challenging big tech censorship

Decentralized AI Enoch offers unfiltered answers outside mainstream platforms

AI & economic liberty: Will decentralized tech save human autonomy?

Sources include:

Brighteon.com
U.S. still reliant on Russian uranium despite import ban, Energy Department report reveals

The U.S. Energy Department states Russia supplied 20 percent of U.S. enriched uranium in 2024 despite Biden's 2024 ban, down from 27 percent in 2023 but still leading foreign suppliers like France and the Netherlands.

The 2024 ban includes waivers allowing Russian uranium imports until 2028 if alternatives are unavailable, with major U.S. nuclear firms already securing exemptions.

U.S. uranium output rose slightly to 19 percent in 2024, but reliance on Canada, Kazakhstan and Australia persists. Russia retaliated by capping exports, tightening supply.

Uranium prices hit $52.71/lb in 2024 (up 20 percent), the highest since 2012, as Russia maintains global enrichment dominance via Rosatom.

Despite Biden's billions for domestic revival, experts warn rebuilding capacity takes years, leaving U.S. energy security dependent on Moscow.

Despite a 2024 ban on Russian uranium imports signed into law by former President Joe Biden, Russia remains the top foreign supplier of enriched uranium for America's nuclear reactors, according to newly released federal data.

The U.S. Department of Energy's latest uranium marketing report discloses this fact. The report published by the Energy Information Administration on Tuesday, Sept, 30, states that Russia accounted for 20 percent of enriched uranium purchases in 2024. While this was lower than the 27 percent recorded in 2023, it still outpaced France (18 percent), the Netherlands (15 percent) and domestic production (19 percent).

The continued dependence on Russian nuclear fuel despite geopolitical tensions and sanctions highlights vulnerabilities in U.S. energy security. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of Washington's decoupling strategy. Brighteon.AI's Enoch engine stresses that "achieving nuclear energy independence is critical for the U.S. to break free from globalist-controlled energy markets and secure national sovereignty  ensuring affordable, reliable power without reliance on foreign adversaries or corrupt international bodies."

Biden's Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act, enacted in August 2024, was designed to cut ties with Moscow's nuclear industry following its special military operation in Ukraine. However, the law includes a critical loophole: waivers permitting imports until 2028 if no viable alternatives exist or if shipments are deemed strategically necessary.

Major U.S. nuclear operators, including Constellation Energy Corp and Centrus Energy Corp, have already secured such exemptions. Meanwhile, Russia retaliated by capping its uranium exports to the U.S. in November 2024, further tightening supply chains.

U.S. energy security hangs by a Russian thread

The Biden administration allocated billions to revive domestic uranium enrichment, but experts warn rebuilding capacity will take years. Former Assistant Secretary of State Geoffrey Pyatt noted in January that establishing a non-Russian supply chain remains a long-term challenge.

Meanwhile, Russia's state nuclear firm Rosatom maintains its dominance in global uranium enrichment. "We still hold the top position in the world," declared Rosatom's First Deputy Director Kirill Komarov.

Domestic production remains minimal, supplying just eight of uranium deliveries in 2024, up slightly from five in 2023. The bulk of U.S. reactor fuel comes from Canada (36 percent), Kazakhstan (24 percent) and Australia (17 percent).

Russia's role in enrichment  where it holds 20 percent of the market  keeps American utilities dependent on Moscow's infrastructure. Prices have surged, with uranium hitting $52.71 per pound in 2024  a 20 percent increase from the previous year, the highest since 2012.

The second Trump administration has reopened talks with Russia on trade normalization, while urging European allies to reduce reliance on Russian energy. Yet with waivers extending until 2028 and domestic enrichment still in its infancy, the U.S. remains caught between geopolitical posturing and practical energy needs.

The uranium dilemma underscores a broader truth: energy independence cannot be achieved overnight. While legislation signals intent, true sovereignty requires sustained investment in domestic production, diversified supply chains and a realistic timeline for transition. Until then, America's nuclear sector and its energy security remains partially mortgaged to the Kremlin.

Watch Eagle Energy Metals CEO Mark Mukhija revealing that the U.S. uses 50 million pounds of uranium for nuclear energy, while producing a measly 677,000 pounds for 2024.

This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

RT.com

EIA.gov

Brighteon.ai

MSN.com

Brighteon.com
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BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a leading global medical technology company, today will commemorate 55 years of manufacturing excellence at its Sumter, South Carolina facility, which throughout its history has been a core site within the Company's extensive U.S. manufacturing footprint.

BD Historical Sumter Image. Image Credit: BD

Since opening its doors and producing its first glass syringe barrel in 1970 with 25 employees, the Sumter facility has grown into one of BD's largest and most strategically important manufacturing sites, supporting health care providers and patients around the world. Today, the facility spans more than 600,000 square feet and employs approximately 900 associates, producing billions of products each year, including the BD Vacutainer blood collection products, that are critical to the backbone of health care in areas including diagnostics, treatment and medical research.

This anniversary is especially meaningful because BD Sumter plays a vital role in producing BD Vacutainer blood collection productstrusted to care for 84 patients around the world every second. For more than five decades, our team in Sumter has taken immense pride in delivering high-quality products that support patient care globally. This milestone anniversary is a reflection of the strength of BD's long-standing and continued commitment to investing in our U.S. manufacturing capabilities, as well as quality, innovation, and operational excellence." Bridget Bagnato, Worldwide President of Specimen Management, BD

Manufacturing investments in Sumter

Since FY21, BD has invested more than $90 million in Sumter to grow operations and reinforce its commitment to advancing global health care, and tripled its year-over-year investment in the Sumter site from FY24 to FY25, with plans to invest approximately another $30 million in FY26. This funding will support infrastructure modernization, the addition of new manufacturing lines to expand capacity, and enhanced associate training and developmentall part of BD's previously announced five-year investment strategy.

Looking ahead, the company remains focused on identifying opportunities to invest in high-speed, next-generation technologies that will further strengthen the site's capabilities.

55th anniversary celebration

The 55th anniversary celebration ceremony honors the achievements of the site with BD leaders, local officials and members of the community. BD will recognize its longest-tenured associates, including two employees with more than 50 years of service and more than 100 who have served for more than 25 years.

BD will also announce a $10,000 donation to the Tuomey Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital, reinforcing BD's commitment to advancing health and supporting the well-being of the Sumter community. BD also contributes more than $100,000 annually to local Sumter organizations such as the Sumter Education Foundation and local chapters of United Way and American Heart Association.

"BD's more than five decades of growth, innovation and ongoing success is a testament to its leadership and the strength of South Carolina's business environment," Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III said. "We are grateful for BD's continued investment in Sumter County and South Carolina and look forward to watching its legacy grow."

Later this month, BD will also celebrate the 65th anniversary of its Broken Bow, Nebraska facility, which also plays an important role in BD's manufacturing network and community. BD operates more than 30 U.S. manufacturing and distribution facilities across 17 states and Puerto Rico, employing over 10,000 people. These sites form a critical backbone of the U.S. medical device supply chain, helping ensure consistent access to high-quality medical devices nation- and worldwide.

About BD Vacutainer products

BD Vacutainer products are used to care for millions of patients around the world today for high-quality specimen collection, patient comfort and health care provider safety. They are also helping to advance care for tomorrow, with BD Vacutainer tubes used in more than 16,000 published clinical studies since 2018 alone.
In a quest to develop new antiviral drugs for COVID-19 and other diseases, a collaboration led by scientists at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute has identified a potential new drug against the virus that causes COVID-19.

In the process, the team devised a powerful new platform for finding medicines to fight many types of infectious diseases.

Writing in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, in an online article posted on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, the scientists said they began by seeking "druggable pockets" in the stable structures of viral genetic material. Like keyholes, these pockets offer promising spaces to intervene with a precise medication. The team then used systematic chemistry, computational, and robotic drug discovery methods to find and perfect compounds able to function like the keys.

Their refined and optimized compound, dubbed Compound 6, led SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins to misfold, malfunction, and ultimately, be destroyed and removed by cells, in lab tests. Notably, their work could benefit other viral diseases, too, said Matthew D. Disney, Ph.D., Institute Professor and Chair of the chemistry department at The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology.

"The method we have developed can be applied to any number of RNA-based viruses that burden society and have limited treatment options, including influenza, norovirus, MERS, Marburg, Ebola, Zika and more," Disney said. "We have already started work on several of these."

Disney's collaborators included Arnab Chatterjee, Ph.D., senior vice president of medicinal chemistry at the Skaggs-Calibr Institute for Innovative Medicines, in LaJolla, Calif., and Sumit Chanda, Ph.D., who headed the Center for Antiviral Medicines & Pandemic Preparedness at Scripps Research, part of the National Institutes of Health's initiative to rebuild the nation's antiviral medicine cabinet.

This platform represents a transformative way of thinking about drug discovery. It has given us a roadmap not only to design antivirals for coronaviruses, but to rapidly extend this strategy to other high-priority RNA targets across infectious disease and beyond." Arnab Chatterjee, Ph.D., senior vice president of medicinal chemistry at the Skaggs-Calibr Institute for Innovative Medicines

The co-first authors were Sandra Kovachka, Ph.D., and Amirhossein Taghavi, Ph.D., of The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, and Jielei Wang, a graduate student in Disney's lab.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is so tiny it would take 1,000 of them lined end-to-end to equal the width of a typical human hair. Still, its string-like genome packs instructions that trick infected cells into making 27 proteins.

One of them, a mechanism called a frameshift element, enables efficient use of the tight viral real estate. The frameshifter looks like a lever and functions much like an engine's clutch or a 10-speed bike's derailer. It causes the cell's protein-building machines to pause while reading the virus's genome. It then forces the machines to shift their protein-construction starting point, thus directing the cell to assemble a brand new protein for viral replication.

Disney reasoned that this frameshift element, conserved across the many variants of SARS-CoV-2, would serve as an ideal target for an RNA-focused drug.

Until recently, RNA structures have been viewed by scientists as especially challenging drug targets. Disney's group has long focused on finding RNA structures that are readily druggable, as well as technologies and compound libraries to accomplish that goal, enabling them to make rapid progress.

In the new paper, Disney's team used both computational and experimental approaches to find the right chemical probes that would allow the team to map the frameshift element's binding pockets and mutations. Those methods included one Disney invented called Chem-CLIP, or Chemical Cross-Linking and Isolation by Pull-down, helpful for mapping drug-binding pockets.

Further analysis and experimentation revealed that a known compound, mirafloxacin, interfered with assembly of the frameshift element, though not optimally. Robotic high-throughput compound discovery revealed eight related chemical scaffolds that could bind to the mapped structures in a similar fashion. Their antiviral activity was confirmed through experiments on live cells infected with SARS-CoV-2. They found Compound 6 had the optimal impact. Ahead, the team is developing strategies to boost the potency and effectiveness of Compound 6.

Most gratifying about this collaboration, Disney said, is that the team showed how blending expertise and technologies systematically produced a powerful new way to attack viral diseases that have RNA as their genetic basis.

"This strategy offers a directed and unbiased way to rationally design RNA-targeting antiviral small-molecule medications," said Disney, who directs the institute's center of excellence, RNA: From Biology to Drug Discovery. "By linking deep structural biology expertise with drug discovery capabilities, we are accelerating the path from basic RNA biology to potential medicines."

Chanda, whose team conducted the cell-based tests, said this project also demonstrated the rapid, high-impact work accomplished in just the first three years of the NIH's Antiviral Drug Discovery Centers for Pathogens of Pandemic Concern program, or AViDD for short.

"This work illustrates exactly what AViDD was designed to do - push forward innovative strategies that expand the antiviral arsenal," Chanda said. "By showing that RNA can be systematically targeted with drug-like molecules, the team has opened doors for medicines against many viruses, not just SARS-CoV-2."
Researchers at Texas Children's Neurological Research Institute (NRI) and Baylor College of Medicine have developed a powerful new tool within the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD) to sharpen the accuracy of genetic testing  a breakthrough with direct implications for patient diagnoses and care worldwide.



The work, published in Nature Communications, applies a method called local ancestry inference (LAI), which breaks the genome into ancestry-specific segments to provide more accurate insights into genetic differences.

This research updates our genomic resources to better reflect the full spectrum of genetic variation. By refining allele frequency estimates for admixed populations, we can improve the accuracy of genetic diagnoses and reduce the risk of misclassification - ultimately benefitting patients across all backgrounds." Dr. Elizabeth Atkinson, Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine and principal investigator at the NRI at Texas Children's

The study called Improved Allele Frequencies in gnomAD through Local Ancestry Inference, represents a major step forward in the field of genetic testing and personalized medicine. Dr. Atkinson is the senior author of the study, and Pragati Kore and Michael Wilson are co-first authors.

Genetic testing is a powerful tool for diagnosing disease. If genetic variants are common in the general population, they are more likely to be benign. However, estimates for most population frequencies are based on averages across large groups. For people whose genetic background reflects ancestry from multiple continents, such as those classified as African/African American or Latino/Admixed American in gnomAD, this aggregate approach can mask important differences between their ancestral components.

Dr. Atkinson's team applied local ancestry inference (LAI) to address this problem. Instead of looking at the genome as a whole, LAI breaks it down into segments tracing back to different continental ancestries (for example, African, European, or Indigenous American). The team then calculated how common each variant is within each ancestry segment. This revealed that many variants thought to be rare in global data are actually common in certain ancestry backgrounds.

"These differences are not just academic," said Dr. Atkinson. "They have clinical consequences."

Researchers found that in the African/African American and Latino/Admixed American groups, more than 80% of genetic sites had a higher frequency in at least one ancestry-specific tract than previously reported. In some cases, this pushes the variant above a key clinical threshold used by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) to classify a variant as benign. This could lead to a more accurate reclassification of variants that might otherwise be misinterpreted.

The new ancestry-specific data is now publicly available through gnomAD, providing researchers, clinicians and genetic testing laboratories all over the world with a more precise tool for interpreting genetic variation.

"Ancestry is a complex, and putting a single label on patients is not the most accurate way to diagnose them," said Dr. Atkinson. "With this research, we are moving toward a more nuanced consideration of ancestry."
A Wayne State University study published in the Oct. 3, 2025, issue of Nature Communications revealed that Zika virus exposure during pregnancy causes long-term, sex-specific changes to a baby's immune system, particularly affecting the frontline immune cells that fight infection.

The study, "Prenatal exposure to Zika virus shapes offspring neutrophil function in a sex-specific manner," was led by Dr. Jiahui Ding, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology in Wayne State's School of Medicine.

We discovered that when a pregnant mother is infected with Zika virus, the resulting inflammatory response in the placenta permanently changes how the offspring's immune system develops. This occurs even if the infection is mild or asymptomatic in the mother and does not lead to obvious congenital birth defects in the offspring." Dr. Jiahui Ding, Assistant Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University

Ding and her research team discovered that male offspring are more affected by Zika infection during pregnancy; when exposed to the Zika virus in the womb, they exhibited slower growth compared to control males. In addition, they showed an overly exaggerated and delayed inflammatory response when later challenged with a simulated bacterial infection. This finding suggests male offspring are at a higher risk for chronic inflammation and tissue damage later in life if they were exposed to the Zika virus before birth.

The research team also identified a sex-specific effect linked to how the placenta responded to the virus. Male placentas showed a stronger activation of immune-related signaling pathways (like IFN- and IL-1), whereas the female placenta showed more metabolic adaptations. In their mouse model, the virus did not reach the fetus. Instead, it was the placenta's immune response that had the major effect on the developing offspring.

The function of neutrophils - the most critical "first responder" cells of the innate immune system - is compromised in Zika virus-exposed offspring of both sexes. The neutrophils showed a reduced reactive oxygen species production, which indicates being less effective at generating the necessary toxic chemicals required to kill the virus pathogens. The team also discovered a defective Neutrophil Extraceullar Trap (NET) formation that created an impaired ability to form the NET web-like structures used to capture and invade germs - a process called NETosis.

The team also pinpointed a protein called A20 (Tnfaip3) as a crucial sex-dimorphic regulator of neutrophil activation and survival. The upregulation of A20 specifically in male neutrophils after Zika virus exposure likely contributes to their dampened inflammatory response in vitro and helps promote neutrophil survival.

"Our research showed that prenatal exposure to Zika virus can increase a child's susceptibility to infections and inflammatory diseases later in life compared to children who were not exposed to the virus," said Ding. "Our research shows that even children exposed to Zika virus before birth who appear healthy may have altered immune defenses that require long-term monitoring. While we focused on Zika, these findings may also apply to other viral infections, such as COVID-19, highlighting the importance of monitoring and supporting the immune system of virus-exposed children. In addition, our results underscore the ongoing need to prevent viral transmission, particularly in high-risk areas and among pregnant women."
10 more deportees from US arrive in African nation of Eswatini

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 23:30 IST

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Manzini (Eswatini), Oct 6 (AP) A group of 10 migrants deported from the United States arrived early Monday in the African nation of Eswatini, authorities there said.

They are the latest of more than 40 deportees sent to Africa since July after the Trump administration struck largely secretive agreements with at least five African nations to take migrants under the new third-country deportation programme that rights groups and others have protested.

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A lawyer for two of the latest deportees told The Associated Press earlier on Monday that their flight had arrived in the southern African kingdom after departing from Alexandria, Louisiana, and stopping in Puerto Rico, Senegal and Angola.

Tin Thanh Nguyen, the US-based lawyer, said he represents two Vietnamese nationals who were on the flight. He said they had been held at the Alexandria Staging Facility immigration detention centre in Louisiana. Nguyen said he tracked their flight with help from rights group Human Rights First.

The Eswatini government confirmed in a statement that 10 deportees had arrived and have been securely accommodated in one of the countrys correctional facilities." It didnt name them, give details on their nationalities or say where they are being held. It said they were in good health and undergoing admission processes." The US Department of Homeland Security didnt immediately respond to a request for comment but has previously said that President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem are using every tool available to get criminal illegal aliens out of American communities and out of our country." Four men from Cuba, Laos, Vietnam and Yemen who were deported to Eswatini in mid-July have been held in the countrys maximum-security Matsapha prison without charge for nearly three months, their lawyers have said. Nguyen represents two of those men.

The US said the men sent to Eswatini in July were convicted criminals who had deportation orders. A Jamaican man in that first group was repatriated to his home country last month.

After the arrival of the latest deportees, the Eswatini government said it remains committed to the humane treatment of all persons in its custody." The four men have been allowed to make phone calls to their families and lawyers in the US. However, authorities havent allowed an Eswatini-based lawyer to visit them. The lawyer won a court ruling on Friday granting him access but the government immediately appealed, blocking him from visiting them.

Civic groups in Eswatini have protested against the deportations and launched a separate court case against authorities over the detention of the four men. The groups say it is illegal to hold them in prison without charging them with an offence. The case has been repeatedly delayed, and a judge failed to appear for a scheduled hearing last month.

US authorities have referred questions over the mens treatment to officials in Eswatini, a small kingdom bordering South Africa where the king holds absolute power and has been accused of clamping down on pro-democracy movements.

King Mswati III has ruled the nation of around 1.2 million people by decree since he became monarch in 1986 at the age of 18. Political parties are effectively banned.

Few details of the deportation deals struck between the US and African countries have been released, but international rights group Human Rights Watch has said it has seen documents that show the US will pay Eswatini USD 5.1 million as part of an agreement to take up to 160 deportees.

The US has said it wants to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Eswatini.

Rights groups have criticised the deportation programme for sending migrants to countries where they will likely be denied due process.

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The US has also sent deportees to South Sudan, Rwanda and Ghana and has an agreement with Uganda, though no deportations there have been announced.

Six deportees are still detained in an unspecified facility in South Sudan, while Rwanda hasnt said where it is holding seven deportees. Eleven of the 14 deportees sent to Ghana are suing the government there for holding them in what they described as terrible conditions at a military camp on the outskirts of the capital, Accra. (AP) GSP

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First Published: October 06, 2025, 23:30 IST

News agency-feeds 10 more deportees from US arrive in African nation of Eswatini

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Cops question Rohini Khadse in drugs bust case registered against husband

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 23:15 IST

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Pune, Oct 6 (PTI) Police on Monday recorded the statement of NCP (SP) leader Rohini Khadse in connection with an alleged drugs party bust case in which her husband, Pranjal Khewalkar, is an accused.

Khadse, daughter of NCP (SP) politician and former minister Eknath Khadse, visited the Pune Police Commissionerate earlier in the day in response to a notice issued to her.

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Khewalkar and six others were arrested after the crime branch of Pune Police raided a studio apartment in the upscale Kharadi area in the early hours of July 27. Police claimed cocaine, marijuana, hookah, and liquor bottles were seized.

I had received a notice from the Pune Police, and today I met the police commissioner. Since the matter is sub-judice, I have no comments to offer," Rohini told reporters.

Khewalkar was granted bail on September 25. A chargesheet submitted to the court included the FSL report.

Rohini Khadse appeared before the crime branch today in response to the notice. She answered the questions posed by the investigating officer regarding the alleged deletion of messages from Khewalkars mobile phone after he was arrested," a crime branch senior officer said.

According to sources in the crime branch, the mobile phone seized from Khewalkar during the raid was registered in someone elses name. During the panchnama, key evidence related to the case was found on the device. However, cyber experts later discovered that the data had allegedly been erased.

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Sources claimed that after Khewalkar was arrested and his phone was seized, a new SIM card with the same number was obtained.

The SIM card was inserted into a new device, and WhatsApp was reactivated, which resulted in the data on the seized phone being deleted, they claimed. PTI COR SPK NSK

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Everybodys pretty much agreed to it, says Trump on Gaza peace plan

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 05:15 IST

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Washington DC [US], October 6 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) said that there is no need to make changes to the Gaza peace plan, as all are on board.During his interaction with reporters before departing the White House, when Trump was asked about the Gaza plan, if there were going to be any changes, he said that the nitty grittys will be fixed in a couple of days.We have very little, we dont need flexibility because everybodys pretty much agreed to it, but therell always be some changes. But the Hamas plan, I tell you, its amazing. Youre going to have peace, if you think about it, peace in the Middle East for the first time in, they say really 3,000 years. So, Im very honored to be a big part of that. Theyve been fighting for a plan for years. We get the hostages back almost immediately. Negotiations are going on right now. Will probably take a couple of days and people are very happy about it. Its a great deal for Israel and its a great deal for everybody. Its a great deal for the entire Arab world, Muslim world," he said.In a post on X, the White House said, There have been very positive discussions with Hamas, and countries from all over the World (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) this weekend, to release the Hostages, end the War in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have long sought PEACE in the Middle East."

There have been very positive discussions with Hamas, and Countries from all over the World (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) this weekend, to release the Hostages, end the War in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have long sought PEACE in the Middle East"  President Trump pic.twitter.com/PE9ERVQwkv The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 5, 2025

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It is not immediately clear what he means by first phase" and whether he is suggesting that hostages will begin being released this week, as per The Times of Israel.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said over the weekend that he was hopeful that hostages could be released during the Sukkot holiday, which begins on Monday evening and extends for one week, followed immediately by the Simhat Torah holiday, which marks the Hebrew calendar anniversary of Hamass October 7 attack, The Times of Israel reported. (ANI)

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First Published: October 06, 2025, 05:15 IST

News agency-feeds Everybodys pretty much agreed to it, says Trump on Gaza peace plan

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Faridabad shoe salesman beaten to death by co-worker

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 22:00 IST

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Faridabad, Oct 6 (PTI) A 55-year-old salesman of a shoe showroom was allegedly beaten to death by his co-worker here, police said on Monday.

Kewal Kishan Bhatia, a resident of NIT-2, and Prashant, a resident of Nangla Part-2, worked as salesmen at a shoe showroom located in Faridabads NIT-1 market, they said.

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According to the complaint lodged by the deceaseds son, Hemant Bhatia, the incident occurred on Sunday night while Prashant and Kewal were unloading goods from the stores basement warehouse when a shoe box fell on Prashant, hitting him in the face.

The complainant alleged that Prashant then started arguing with his father, and a scuffle soon ensued between them.

During the assault, my father was punched in the head and face by Prashant, which caused him to fall unconscious. He was rushed to a private hospital immediately, where doctors declared him dead," Hemant said.

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Following the complaint, a case of murder was registered at the Kotwali police station against the accused Prashant, who is still on the run, police said.

We handed over the body to the kin after the postmortem today. We are conducting raids to nab the accused, who will be arrested soon," Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Kulveer said. PTI COR ANM HIG

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First Published: October 06, 2025, 22:00 IST

News agency-feeds Faridabad shoe salesman beaten to death by co-worker

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Fire safety lapses found at Kota hospitals after Jaipur blaze kills six

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 23:15 IST

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Kota (Rajasthan), Oct 6 (PTI) The Kota Municipal Corporation on Monday carried out an inspection at the Maharao Bhim Singh Hospital and JK Lone Hospital, along with other private institutions, and found lapses in the fire safety and control system, officials said.

This comes after a massive fire blazed through the neuro ICU of Jaipurs state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital on Sunday night, killing six patients on critical care support.

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During the inspection, the officials found that these medical institutions have safety and control equipment in place, but their control panels, alarm systems, smoke detectors and manual call points are not working, Fire Officer Azhar Khan told PTI.

The officials visited MBS hospitals old building, which accommodates emergency, trauma, neuro, ortho wards and part of the OPD.

Notably, MBS hospital witnesses a footfall of around 10,000 people, including 4,000 in the OPD. Patients from Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar and adjoining cities in Madhya Pradesh also visit MBS Hospital for better treatment and health facilities.

The fire officer said that hospital staff trained in fire safety and control management are also not available in the hospital at all times. While the smoke detectors in the hospital were switched off to accommodate the smoking habits of the attendants of the patients.

The hose pipes are placed in drums at required points in the hospital, but they are not attached to water tanks properly, he said. The fire safety team also noted the absence of a fire control room in the hospital and recommended setting it up in the same hospital building.

The fire safety team has recommended that the superintendent of the hospital make the required improvements and upgrade the fire safety and control management.

IPD and OPD are functional in the newly constructed building of MBS hospital, which is well equipped with fire safety and control equipment, he added.

However, the Superintendent at MBS Hospital, Dr Dharmraj Meena, said that there are 92 fire extinguishers placed at various wards in the hospital and all hose pipes are in working order.

The nursing staff of emergency and ICU wards have undergone training for fire safety, he claimed.

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Vishnu Sahu, nursing staff in the ward, claimed there were three fire extinguishers; two were sent for refilling.

The fire officer said that after the due inspection in the hospitals, the management has been directed to comply with the recommendations within seven days. PTI COR HIG HIG

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First Published: October 06, 2025, 23:15 IST

News agency-feeds Fire safety lapses found at Kota hospitals after Jaipur blaze kills six

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HC declines bail to 4 convicts in journalist J Dey murder case

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 23:30 IST

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Mumbai, Oct 6 (PTI) The Bombay High Court on Monday refused to grant bail and suspend the life sentence imposed on four persons convicted in the 2011 murder of senior crime journalist Jyotirmoy Dey popularly known as J Dey.

A bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Gautam Ankhad, while rejecting their bail and life sentence suspension pleas, observed it does not deem it appropriate to suspend the sentence and grant bail to the convicts.

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A detailed copy of the judgment was not available yet.

The HC rejected the applications filed by the convicts  Nilesh Shedge, Sachin Gaikwad, Abhijit Shinde and Mangesh Aagvane  all of whom were pronounced guilty by the trial court in May 2018 and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Shedge and Shinde had travelled to Nainital in Uttarakhand to procure the firearm used in the killing. Gaikwad conducted surveillance on Dey and provided a motorcycle for the shooters, while Aagvane was said to have accompanied the main shooter, Satish Kalia, according to the prosecution.

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All four were found guilty of assisting in the planning and execution of the murder by arranging weapons, vehicles, and aiding the shooters.

Dey, 56, was shot dead on June 11, 2011, in Mumbais Powai area. Underworld don Chhota Rajan was also convicted in the murder case and sentenced to life imprisonment by the trial court. Deys case marked the first conviction of Rajan after his extradition from Bali, Indonesia, in 2015. PTI SP RSY

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First Published: October 06, 2025, 23:30 IST

News agency-feeds HC declines bail to 4 convicts in journalist J Dey murder case

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MP: CM Yadav orders suspension of 3 officials in Chhindwara cough syrup tragedy

Last Updated: October 07, 2025, 02:15 IST

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Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], October 7 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav held a high-level meeting at the CM residence in Bhopal regarding the Chhindwara incident on Monday and ordered suspension of two drug inspectors, the Deputy Director of Food and Drug Administration, and transfer of a drug controller, according to an official release. CM Yadav emphasised that strict action would be taken against all guilty parties in the Chhindwara case. The state government is vigilant and sensitive, and no negligence will be tolerated in matters concerning human life. Accordingly, Drug Inspector of Chhindwara Gaurav Sharma, Drug Inspector of Jabalpur Sharad Kumar Jain, and Deputy Director, Food & Drug Administration Shobhit Koshta have been suspended, while Drug Controller Dinesh Maurya has been transferred," said the Chief Minister as stated in the release. The CM also directed that along with banning the sale of Coldrif syrup, the existing stock in shops should be seized. A thorough campaign should be conducted to recover the drug from the households of families who have consumed it in Chhindwara and nearby districts. ASHA workers, along with all government officials and staff, should assist in this operation. The effectiveness of other drugs sold in the area recently should also be assessed. A campaign will be launched to check whether warnings and precautions on drugs are properly indicated. Action will be taken against those who fail to comply. Combination drugs should not be given to children under four years of age; strict action will be taken against doctors violating this guideline, the CM said. He further stated that, with the support of organisations including the Indian Academy of Paediatrics and various chemist associations, necessary precautions and awareness measures should be implemented. Steps must be taken to ensure that such incidents do not recur. Instructions were also given to inform the Tamil Nadu government regarding action against the manufacturer of Coldrif syrup.At least 14 deaths have been reported due to the alleged consumption of a cough syrup in Madhya Pradeshs Chhindwara so far, while eight children have been admitted to a hospital. (ANI)

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First Published: October 07, 2025, 02:15 IST

News agency-feeds MP: CM Yadav orders suspension of 3 officials in Chhindwara cough syrup tragedy

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Nepals death toll due to landslides and floods reaches 60

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 21:30 IST

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Kathmandu, Oct 6 (PTI) The death toll in Nepal due to landslides and floods in the last three days has reached 60 with eight more people killed on Monday.

According to Nepal Home Ministry sources, 60 people, including 15 children, have died in 11 districts of the country due to floods, landslides and lightning strikes. At 37, majority of the deaths were from the worst-hit Ilam district in Koshi province that saw floods, landslides, lightning and road accidents.

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Eight people have died in Panchathar, three each in Udayapur and Rautahat, two each in Kavre and Khotang, and one each in Sunsari, Morang, Mohattari, Sindhuli and Sindhupalchowk districts.

Monsoon was active in five of Nepals seven provinces, namely, Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini.

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Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force (APF) personnel were deployed for carrying out rescue operations in different areas. Nepal government announced Nepali rupees (NRs) 2,00,000 as immediate relief to the kin of those who lost their lives in rain-related disasters on Sunday.

Apart from the monetary compensation for the next of kin of the deceased, the injured will be provided with free treatment, a statement by the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Authority (NDRRMA) said. PTI SBP GSP GSP

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First Published: October 06, 2025, 21:30 IST

News agency-feeds Nepals death toll due to landslides and floods reaches 60

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Putin warns Trump over possible US delivery of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 23:15 IST

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Moscow [Russia], October 6 (ANI): Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that US President Donald Trump would severely damage relations between Washington and Moscow if he approved the delivery of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, RT reported.Late last month, US Vice President JD Vance said the White House was considering providing Kiev with Tomahawk missiles, which reportedly cost about USD 1.3 million each and have a range of 2,500 kilometres (1,550 miles), allowing them to strike Moscow and beyond, RT said.In an interview with Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin on Saturday, Putin said that such a move by Trump would lead to the destruction of our relations. At least the positive tendencies that have appeared in these relations."Earlier, speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club on Thursday, the Russian President said Ukrainian forces would be unable to operate such complex missile systems without the direct participation of American military personnel."Putin added that the deliveries of American Tomahawk cruise missiles will not change the balance of power on the battlefield," noting that Russias air defence systems had already adapted to similar Western weapon supplies.He referred to the earlier delivery of long-range ATACMS missiles, which he said caused some damage, but in the end, Russias air defense systems adapted."According to RT, the debate over Tomahawk deliveries began following a meeting between Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last month.Reports suggested that Zelensky had specifically requested the missiles during that encounter.Appearing on Fox News last Sunday, Vice President Vance said, Were certainly looking at it."The following day, special envoy Keith Kellogg hinted that Trump might have already authorised Ukrainian long-range strikes inside Russia.Around the same time, the Financial Times quoted an unnamed US official who said that some within Trumps inner circle were sceptical about whether Tomahawks would significantly alter battlefield dynamics, RT reported. (ANI)

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First Published: October 06, 2025, 23:15 IST

News agency-feeds Putin warns Trump over possible US delivery of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine

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Rajasthan: Six dead in Jaipurs SMS hospital fire, CM reviews the situation

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 04:45 IST

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Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], October 6 (ANI): Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital following a significant fire outbreak in one of its Intensive Care Units (ICUs).The incident, attributed to a short circuit, has resulted in the unfortunate loss of six lives, as confirmed by SMS Hospital Trauma Centre In-charge Anurag Dhakad. Rajasthan Minister Jawahar Singh Bedham, speaking on the incident, said, The CM is here after the information was received that a fire has broken out in an ICU due to a short circuit. The incident is unfortunate. Some people have lost their lives. SMS administration will release the no. of casualties. Out of 24, most of them have been saved. Their complete treatment is our priority." Dr. Anurag Dhakad provided further details: The fire seems to have broken out due to a short circuit. Our patients were already in a very critical condition. The maximum patients were in a coma. So their survival reflexes are also poor. They need a constant support system. Due to the electrical burn, toxic gases were released there, and we had to shift them along with their support system. Their condition became more serious. We tried to shift them to the ICUs on the lower floor, but we could not save them. There are six casualties."Further updates on the incident are awaited from the hospital administration. (ANI)

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First Published: October 06, 2025, 04:45 IST

News agency-feeds Rajasthan: Six dead in Jaipurs SMS hospital fire, CM reviews the situation

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Tensions escalate as rioters torch 8-10 sites in Cuttack

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 05:00 IST

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Cuttack (Odisha) [India], October 6 (ANI): Following a clash between two communities during Durga Puja idol immersion, tensions escalated on Sunday when rioters set fire to eight to ten locations on Sunday. Assistant Fire Officer Sanjeeb Kumar Behera reported that rioters were throwing stones. However, police have been deployed to manage the situation.We received information that near the Gouri Shankar Park, rioters have set fire at eight to ten places. We have extinguished the fire. The rioters are pelting stones at us. Police have been deployed to control the situation," Behera told ANI. Meanwhile, the Odisha government has implemented a 24-hour suspension of internet services from Sunday. Additionally, the use of social media has also been prohibited in the area.According to a Government of Odisha circular, a prohibition has been imposed on the use and access of social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, and X, until 7 PM on Monday in the Cuttack Municipal Corporation, Cuttack Development Authority (CDA), and the 42 Mauza Region.These orders have been issued under Section S(2) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, and Rule 2(1) of the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency/Public Safety) Rules, 2017. Former Odisha Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik appealed to people to maintain peace and harmony in the city. He also expressed deep concern over the law and order situation in the city.Earlier, a heavy police force was deployed after a clash erupted during Durga Puja immersion in Cuttack. Additional Police Commissioner Narsingh Bholo stated that police personnel were deployed on the rooftops of buildings on both sides of the route. We are providing complete police protection. Police have also been deployed on the rooftops of buildings on both sides of the route. We are fully confident and hopeful that it will reach the Debigada without any problems," said Bholo. (ANI)

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First Published: October 06, 2025, 05:00 IST

News agency-feeds Tensions escalate as rioters torch 8-10 sites in Cuttack

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UK police forces to have dedicated officer for journalist safety

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 20:00 IST

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London, Oct 6 (PTI) Every police force in the UK will now have a Journalist Safety Liaison Officer as part of a strengthened partnership between the media, policing and government to improve safety and protect media freedom in the country, the British government announced on Monday.

The UK Home Office said the move comes as journalists have increasingly become targets, both online and on the ground, and routinely face risks while reporting from protests, crime scenes, and other volatile environments.

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In addition to those that already exist in Scotland and Northern Ireland, it confirmed an officer in all 43 forces in England and Wales as well as the British Transport Police (BTP) and Counter-Terror Policing.

Too often, journalists are put in harms way while fulfilling their vital role of delivering accurate news to the public," said UK Media Minister Ian Murray.

It is only right that they feel supported and protected so they can focus on carrying out their jobs to the highest standard. By appointing Journalist Safety Liaison Officers in every police force, I hope reporters will feel reassured knowing they have a direct point of contact if issues arise," he said.

Under the system, police will provide journalists and media employers with a single point of contact and provide practical support in response to any abuse or intimidation.

This includes safety guidance ahead of high-risk assignments, such as protests, with the aim of ensuring crimes against journalists are consistently recorded and addressed.

I know first-hand what it feels like to be on the receiving end of threats and intimidation. But I also know my experience is not unique  too many people who put themselves in the public eye to do their jobs face the same," said UK Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips.

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My broader work on safeguarding has shown me how important it is to protect those who speak out, and that must include journalists. Their work underpins our democracy and they must be able to do it free from fear," she said.

Policing takes the safety of journalists extremely seriously, and this initiative demonstrates our commitment to protecting those who play a vital role in our democracy," said Deputy Chief Constable Sam de Reya, the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) lead for media and communications. PTI AK GSP GSP

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First Published: October 06, 2025, 20:00 IST

News agency-feeds UK police forces to have dedicated officer for journalist safety

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UP court grants bail to school principal in education officer assault case

Last Updated: October 07, 2025, 01:00 IST

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Sitapur (UP), Oct 6 (PTI) A court here on Monday granted bail to the school principal accused of assaulting a senior education officer with a belt, officials said.

District Judge Kuldeep Saxena heard arguments from both sides.

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Advocate Shiv Verma, appearing for the accused headmaster, Brijendra Verma, said his client furnished two bail bonds of Rs 50,000 each with sureties.

The sureties will be verified by the court, following which the release order will be issued. Since the verification process takes time, his release from jail is not possible today," the advocate said.

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The incident occurred in September when BEO Akhilesh Pratap Singh had summoned Verma after they received a complaint stating that Verma was harassing a teacher in the same school.

However, after teachers pointed out that Verma was guilty, he got enraged and attacked Singh with a belt. PTI COR KIS HIG HIG

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First Published: October 07, 2025, 01:00 IST

News agency-feeds UP court grants bail to school principal in education officer assault case

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US strikes another vessel off Venezuela allegedly carrying illegal drugs

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 07:15 IST

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Washington DC [US], October 6 (ANI): American forces have struck another vessel allegedly carrying illegal drugs off Venezuelas coast, according to US President Donald Trump, who appeared to threaten further action inside Venezuelan territory, Al Jazeera reported.Speaking at Naval Station Norfolk on Sunday beside the aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman, Trump praised the Navys efforts to combat what he called cartel terrorists", noting that another vessel had been hit on Saturday (local time), as per Al Jazeera.In recent weeks, the Navy has supported our mission to blow the cartel terrorists the hell out of the water we did another one last night. Now we just cant find any," Trump said.While the president referred to a Saturday attack, it remains unclear whether he really meant Fridays attack or an additional one.Theyre not coming in by sea any more, so now well have to start looking about the land because theyll be forced to go by land," he added in an apparent threat to strike Venezuela, as per Al Jazeera.US claims that it is targeting drug traffickers could not be independently verified.Russia, meanwhile, condemned US strikes on a boat allegedly carrying illegal drugs off the coast of Venezuela that killed four people on Friday and warned of potential escalation in the entire Caribbean region.In a phone call to his Venezuelan counterpart, Yvan Gil, on Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemned the attack, which took place in international waters.The ministers expressed serious concern about Washingtons escalating actions in the Caribbean Sea that are fraught with far-reaching consequences for the region," according to a statement by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs following the conversation.The Russian side has confirmed its full support and solidarity with the leadership and people of Venezuela in the current context," Al Jazeera quoted. (ANI)

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First Published: October 06, 2025, 07:15 IST

News agency-feeds US strikes another vessel off Venezuela allegedly carrying illegal drugs

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Vice President Radhakrishnan condoles loss of lives in Jaipur hospital fire

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 18:45 IST

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New Delhi [India], October 6 (ANI): Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Monday condoled the loss of lives in the fire incident at a hospital in Jaipur, and wished speedy recovery of those injured.

Deeply saddened by loss of lives due to the tragic fire incident at a hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for strength to those who have lost their loved ones and for the speedy recovery of the injured. Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) October 6, 2025

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In a post on X, VP said, Deeply saddened by loss of lives due to the tragic fire incident at a hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for strength to those who have lost their loved ones and for the speedy recovery of the injured."A fire broke out at the ICU of a trauma centre at SMS Hospital in Jaipur late Sunday night. Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph confirmed six deaths after the tragic accident.Prima facie, the fire was caused by a short circuit; meanwhile, the forensics team is investigating to determine the cause, Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph told ANI.He said, Our FSL teams investigation will reveal the cause of the fire. At first glance, it appears to be a short circuit, but the final cause will only be determined after the FSL investigation. The death of six people has been confirmed." He added that the bodies of the deceased have been shifted to the mortuary and will be sent for a post-mortem.The remaining have been shifted to another ward and are under treatment. The bodies of the deceased have been shifted to the mortuary. Once everything is done, the post-mortem of the bodies will be conducted," the Commissioner further said.Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Monday demanded a high-level investigation into the matter.The Rajasthan government on Monday constituted a 6-member committee to investigate the incident.The committee will be chaired by Iqbal Khan, Commissioner of the Medical Department, and includes Mukesh Kumar Meena, Additional Director of Hospital Administration in Rajasthan Medical Education Society (RajMES), Chandan Singh Meena, Chief Engineer, RajMES; Ajay Mathur, Chief Engineer, Electrical in PWD; RK Jain, Additional Principal, SMS Medical College, and Chief Fire Officer, Jaipur Municipal Corporation. (ANI)

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First Published: October 06, 2025, 18:45 IST

News agency-feeds Vice President Radhakrishnan condoles loss of lives in Jaipur hospital fire

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Were dealing with killers, savages, terrorists: US Secy of State on Hamas

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 07:15 IST

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Washington DC [US], October 6 (ANI): US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday (local time) lauded the coalition of the Arab nations strung together by US President Donald Trump for ending the Gaza conflict.Rubio said that this was no political coalition, but they were dealing with terrorists.In a post on X, he said, Were not dealing with a political movement, were dealing with killers, savages, and terrorists. But what gives us hope is the coalition US President Donald Trump built that is pushing in the same direction with us to get the hostages released and the conflict resolved."

Were not dealing with a political movement, were dealing with killers, savages, and terrorists.But what gives us hope is the coalition @POTUS built that is pushing in the same direction with us to get the hostages released and the conflict resolved. https://t.co/1rTYMmI99d  Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) October 5, 2025

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US President Donald Trump said on Sunday (local time) that negotiations between Hamas and countries from all over the world" for the release of hostages and to end the war in Gaza have been very successful, and proceeding rapidly."There have been very positive discussions with Hamas, and countries from all over the world (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) this weekend, to release the hostages, end the war in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have long sought PEACE in the Middle East," he wrote on Truth Social.He said technical teams will meet Monday in Egypt to work through and clarify final details.I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST. I will continue to monitor this centuries old conflict,'" he wrote.TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OR, MASSIVE BLOODSHED WILL FOLLOW  SOMETHING THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE!"Israel will negotiate with full commitment and determination" to secure the release of all of the hostages, the countrys coordinator for hostage affairs told family members Sunday evening, as per CNN.Trump spoke at a gathering of service members and top military brass celebrating the US Navys 250th anniversary celebration. There, he made a reference to his efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, saying hes working on solving global conflicts, including one thats taken 3,000 years. And were pretty close, but I dont want to talk about it until its done," as per CNN.We dont want to send you into battle unless its necessary, right? Were putting out a lot of fires," the president added, addressing the assembled sailors, CNN reported. (ANI)

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First Published: October 06, 2025, 07:15 IST

News agency-feeds Were dealing with killers, savages, terrorists: US Secy of State on Hamas

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Weekly Horoscope, October 612: Aries To Pisces, What's In Store For You

Written By :

GaneshaGrace

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 07:20 IST

Weekly Horoscope, October 612: Aries must drop pride, Gemini sees love bloom, Pisces finds luck, and Taurus faces health alerts. Read on to see whats ahead.

Weekly Horoscope, October 6, 2025  October 12, 2025: Astrological predictions by Chirag Daruwalla. (AI generated image)

Weekly Horoscope, October 6, 2025  October 12, 2025: This week, the zodiac signs will experience a mix of challenges and opportunities. Aries natives are advised to avoid laziness and pride to seize growth opportunities. Taurus should focus on health and relationships while managing workplace conflicts and health issues.

Gemini will experience progress in work and relationships, with an emphasis on politeness and travel. Cancer may face challenges at work and should be cautious in personal relationships. Leo may struggle with financial disputes, but will find success by heeding advice from others.

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Virgo natives need to avoid rushing through work and manage finances carefully to avoid losses. Libra will find success in both career and relationships, but should take expert advice on big investments. Scorpios may face family disputes and financial obstacles, but will receive support in love and career.

Sagittarius should focus on completing tasks efficiently, avoiding unnecessary delays, and taking care of their health. Capricorns will enjoy professional success, with opportunities for profit and relationship growth.

Aquarius will face financial disruptions and health issues, requiring caution in decision-making, especially in love. Pisces will experience good fortune, achieving success in both personal and professional life, with financial gains and strengthened relationships.

Each sign has a mix of positive and challenging moments, but careful planning and awareness will guide them through the week.

Aries Weekly Horoscope

Ganesha says this week, Aries natives will get many opportunities to fulfill their dreams, but to capitalize on them, you will have to give up laziness and pride; otherwise, you will get nothing but regret later. This week, students preparing for exams and competitions may lose interest in their studies or face some major obstacles in their studies.

At the beginning of the week, there will be programs to meet old friends, etc. This time can be a little challenging for employed people. During this time, you may face the challenge of completing some big projects on time in the workplace. Be very careful in financial transactions in the latter half of the week and avoid lending money to anyone. Business people should avoid making risky deals this week. However, those working abroad may get some big success in the latter half of the week.

This week is going to be normal for you in terms of relationships. There will be love and harmony with family members at home. Love relationships will be strong. Married life will remain happy. Physical and mental fatigue may persist due to excessive running around or excessive work.

Lucky Colour: Orange

Lucky Number: 3

Taurus Weekly Horoscope

Ganesha says this week is going to be a mixed bag for the people of Taurus. This week, you will need to focus a lot on both your health and relationships. You have to understand that life is everything. In such a situation, do not make the mistake of ignoring any physical problem this week; otherwise, you may have to visit the hospital for its treatment.

This week, you may suffer from work fatigue, seasonal illness, or re-emergence of an old disease. The obstacles at work from the beginning of the week will become the cause of your trouble. During this time, there may be a conflict with a colleague or a senior in the workplace over something. From the point of view of profit, there will be ups and downs in business this week.

Expenditure will be more than income. Any problem related to children can become a big reason for your worry. The people of Taurus will need to move forward with caution in love affairs. Unnecessary display of your relationship or impatience can prove to be a problem for you. A small mistake can become a big reason for sourness in relationships. Your spouse will be your support in difficult times.

Lucky Colour: Brown

Lucky Number: 4

Gemini Weekly Horoscope

Ganesha says this week, Gemini natives will get things done one by one, and things will go wrong. In such a situation, you will need to be very careful while talking to anyone. This week, your politeness and good behaviour skills can prove to be a profitable deal for you. At the beginning of the week, you may have to travel long or short distances for work. The journey will prove to be pleasant and will increase new contacts.

During this time, you may meet an influential person who can prove to be very helpful in advancing your career and business. In the middle of the week, with the help of luck, there will be work progress. The pending work will be completed. During this time, you will get opportunities to participate in religious events. There will be an atmosphere of happiness due to the arrival of a loved one in the house.

This week is auspicious from the point of view of relationships. There will be an intensification in love relationships. Your love partner will be showering all his love on you. If you are still single, then a loved one may enter your life. A recent friendship with someone may turn into a love relationship. Married people will enjoy marital happiness. Support from in-laws will continue.

Lucky Colour: Cream

Lucky Number: 9

Cancer Weekly Horoscope

Ganesha says this week is of mixed results for Cancer natives. The latter half of the week may be slightly better than the first half, but in the first half, you will need to be very careful while doing any of your work. During this time, sudden problems at work may bother you, due to which your mind may remain upset.

Employed people will need to do their work with a lot of patience and peace during this time. During this time, instead of getting into a fight with anyone in the workplace, it will be beneficial to focus completely on your work. Work together with senior officials and family members. Business people may have to face a little slowdown in the first half of this week.

If you are thinking of expressing your love to someone, then you should wait for the right time for this; otherwise, your feelings may get spoiled. At the same time, to improve the already existing love relationship, avoid doubting your love partner and talk to him/her well. This week, you may be a little worried about the health of your spouse.

Lucky Colour: Pink

Lucky Number: 10

Leo Weekly Horoscope

Ganesha says this week can be a little difficult for the Leos, but not so much that you cannot find a solution to all the problems in life. If the Leos keep their friends and seniors together this week and do not ignore their proper advice, then they can overcome all their challenges and achieve the desired success in any work. Be very careful while doing any work and transacting money, etc., in the first half of the week.

Do not do any work in a hurry or a state of confusion during this time. In the second half of the week, disputes related to land and property can become a cause of worry for you. There will be a possibility of wastage of money in court or any other work.

Avoid arguments to improve the relationship. Respect the feelings of your love partner to keep the love relationship strong. Be honest with your spouse to make married life happy.

Lucky Colour: Black

Lucky Number: 1

Virgo Weekly Horoscope

Ganesha says people born under the Virgo sign should avoid doing any work in a hurry or carelessly this week; otherwise, they may have to bear a huge loss instead of a profit. The first half of this week will be considered a little unfavorable for you from the point of view of career and business. During this time, employed people may become victims of their bosss anger due to a mistake.

During this time, disputes related to land and buildings can become a big cause of your trouble. You may have to visit the court to settle these matters. Take special care of your health and relationships in the middle of the week. During this time, there may be a dispute with a loved one or neighbors, etc., over something.

Your budget may get disturbed due to unnecessary expenses. Drive the vehicle very carefully; otherwise, there is a possibility of getting injured. To improve the love relationship, do not have excessive expectations from your love partner and try to clear any misunderstandings through communication. Married life will remain happy with sweet and sour disputes.

Lucky Colour: Purple

Lucky Number: 6

Libra Weekly Horoscope

Ganesha says this week should be more auspicious and fruitful for Libra natives than the previous week. This week, your planned work will be completed on time, due to which your enthusiasm and courage will remain high, and you will be seen shining in every sphere of life. Seniors will praise your work in the workplace. This week, you will easily achieve the desired results by defeating your opponents.

People associated with politics are likely to get a high position. Interaction with people associated with the government will increase, and with their help, big benefits will be achieved. There will be chances of an increase in the status and position of working women. In the latter half of the week, you can plan to make a big investment in business.

However, before doing so, it would be appropriate to take advice from your well-wishers or experts. There will be depth in a love relationship. Your love partner will appreciate your feelings. Married life will remain happy.

Lucky Colour: White

Lucky Number: 2

Scorpio Weekly Horoscope

Ganesha says this week can be a little hectic for the Scorpio natives. At the beginning of the week, you may feel a little sad due to unnecessary expenses and obstacles at work. During this time, you may have an argument with your sibling or a loved one in the family over something.

During this time, you will need to be especially cautious of your opponents because they may try to take advantage of the lack of mutual harmony in your family. Scorpio natives will need to stay away from unnecessary hassles this week and focus on their goals. If you are a working person, you should avoid being careless in your work.

During this time, with the help of an influential person, the obstacles to getting ancestral property will be removed. The time is favorable for students preparing for exams and competitions. There will be favorability in love affairs. Your love partner can prove to be very helpful in difficult times. You will get special support from your in-laws. Married life will remain happy. Health will remain normal.

Lucky Colour: Grey

Lucky Number: 11

Sagittarius Weekly Horoscope

Ganesha says Sagittarius natives should try to complete all their work in a better way on time this week; otherwise, unnecessary delay or negligence may not only harm their reputation, but they may also have to suffer financial loss. If you have a tendency to work by planning and you do your work in a better way this week by managing your energy and time, then you will get the desired success in your work.

Employed people may have to face some difficulty in the workplace due to internal politics in the middle of the week, but they will eventually overcome all the problems with the help of management and higher officials. Suddenly, a program to go to a pilgrimage or picnic spot can be made. You will get an opportunity to participate in auspicious programs.

A sudden meeting with a loved one after a long time is possible. Compatibility will remain in love affairs. Relationships with a love partner will remain sweet. Married life will remain happy. Stomach-related problems may occur this week. In such a situation, take special care of your food and drink.

Lucky Colour: Maroon

Lucky Number: 12

Capricorn Weekly Horoscope

Ganesha says this week is auspicious and fortunate for Capricorn natives. You may receive some much-awaited good news at the beginning of this week. You will have a major contribution as a team member in a major achievement related to the workplace, for which your seniors will praise you. There are chances of an increase in the stature and position of the working class. The wish to transfer to the desired place may be fulfilled.

Since the time is favorable, there will be a situation of profit not only in career but also in business. This week, travels made in connection with business will bring progress and big profits in business. In the middle of the week, the obstacles coming in the ancestral property will be removed. You will breathe a sigh of relief when any major worry related to children is removed. The stature and position of people associated with politics may increase within the party.

This week is going to prove favorable from the point of view of relationships. There will be mutual love and trust among the family members. You will keep getting full cooperation and support from parents. Love relationships will be strengthened. You will get opportunities to spend happy moments with your spouse.

Lucky Colour: Red

Lucky Number: 7

Aquarius Weekly Horoscope

Ganesha says this week is going to be a mixed bag for Aquarius natives. At the beginning of the week, you may have to suddenly spend a large amount of money on home repairs or other work, due to which may disrupt your budget may get disturbed. During this time, some domestic concerns may bother you. During this time, do not get involved in any kind of debate and focus on your goal; otherwise, your work may also go awry.

Aquarius natives will need to take special care of their health in the middle of the week. During this time, you may suffer physical and mental pain if a seasonal or chronic disease emerges. Aquarius natives may have to visit the court in the latter part of this week, in land property or any other matter. Aquarius natives should take any step forward in love affairs after thinking very carefully.

This week, do not make any decision by getting carried away by emotions, for which you may have to regret in the future. To make your married life happy, take out some time from your busy schedule for your spouse and respect his/her feelings.

Lucky Colour: Blue

Lucky Number: 15

Pisces Weekly Horoscope

Ganesha says this week is good luck for the people of Pisces. This week, you will be seen achieving desired success in every field of life. Your smallest effort will see the biggest work getting completed. Friends will provide their support with body, mind, and money. While making any big decision, you will get special blessings from your father.

At the beginning of the week, you will get an opportunity to participate in some religious work. In the middle of the week, there will be chances of getting benefits from government decisions. During this time, you will get the expected progress and profit in your career and business, due to which your mind will be happy. During this time, meeting with old friends is possible. The decision in the court-related case can come in your favor.

During this time, people associated with business can make a big deal. During this time, the inflow of money will remain, and your expenditure burden will reduce. If you had applied for a loan for business, etc., then it would have passed. You will win over enemies. A love relationship will be compatible. Love and trust will increase with a loving partner. Sweetness will remain in married life.

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Lucky Colour: Yellow

Lucky Number: 5

(The author Chirag Daruwalla is the son of Astrologer Bejan Daruwalla).

About the Author Chirag Daruwalla Chirag Daruwalla, a renowned Indian astrologer with 18+ years of experience, provides expert guidance in career, health, finance, business, and more. He combines Vedic and Western astrology, I-Ching, ... Read More

First Published: October 06, 2025, 07:20 IST

News astrology Weekly Horoscope, October 612: Aries To Pisces, What's In Store For You

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LG Electronics IPO To Open Tomorrow: GMP, Price Band, Lot Size, Reviews; All You Need To Know

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 10:16 IST

The LG Electronics India IPO will remain open for public subscription between October 7 and October 9.

LG Electronics India IPO GMP.

LG Electronics India IPO GMP: LG Electronics India Ltd, the local arm of South Koreas LG conglomerate, is going to open its initial public offering (IPO) for public subscription tomorrow, Tuesday, October 6. The price band for the Rs 11,607-crore IPO has been fixed in the range of Rs 1,080-1,140 per share.

At the upper end of the price range, the company is valued at about Rs 77,400 crore.

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LG Electronics India IPO Key Dates

The IPO will remain open for public subscription between October 7 and October 9. Its allotment will be finalised on October 10, while the listing will take place on both the NSE and the BSE on October 14.

LG Electronics India IPO Lot Size

The lot size for an application is 13. The minimum amount of investment required by a retail investor is Rs 14,820 (13 shares), based on the upper price. The lot size investment for small NII is 14 lots (182 shares), amounting to Rs 2,07,480, and for big NII, it is 68 lots (884 shares), amounting to Rs 10,07,760.

LG Electronics India IPO GMP Today

According to market observers, unlisted shares of LG Electronics India Ltd are currently trading at Rs 1,390 apiece, compared with the upper IPO price of Rs 1,140. It means a grey market premium (GMP) of 21.93%, indicating decent listing gains for investors.

The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing. Grey market premium indicates investors readiness to pay more than the issue price.

The IPO will be listed on both the BSE and the NSE.

LG Electronics India IPO: Should You Apply?

Brokerages remain divided on Tata Capitals initial share sale, weighing its strong brand value against moderately higher valuations.

According to Deven Choksey Research, Tata Capitals initial issue is priced at 4.1x TTM P/B, compared to peer average of 3.7x. While its valuation looks fair, its returns appear slightly lower compared to other listed NBFCs. We assign a Neutral rating to the issue."

The brokerage added that the companys strong brand and omni-channel presence could help it scale its loan book faster, but lower return ratios remain a watchpoint".

Anand Rathi Research also pointed to the companys digital push and diversified lending model as positives, saying these could help lower credit costs. At the upper price band, the company is valued at a P/E of 32.3x and P/B of 3.5x based on FY25 earnings. We believe that the IPO is fully priced and recommend a Subscribe  Long Term rating," the brokerage said.

Echoing a similar sentiment, Canara Bank Securities described the IPO as in line with peers". It said that post-merger integration with Tata Motors Finance should stabilise, backed by strong AAA ratings and solid funding", adding that macro tailwinds like Indias economic growth and digital adoption favour the business", though it cautioned about rate volatility and regulatory risks.

Among the bullish voices, Mehta Equities termed the IPO a compelling play on Indias expanding credit market under a trusted brand. We believe Tata Capital Ltd IPO brings investors an opportunity to invest in Indias financial services space, combining scale, diversification, and strong brand credibility under the Tata Group," it said.

Highlighting the companys robust growth, Mehta Equities noted that revenues rose 33.4% in FY2024 and 55.8% in FY2025, with profits also inching higher. It estimates the IPOs valuation at a P/B of 3.2x, which it said is reasonably priced compared to ~4x average of peers," leaving scope for potential listing gains and sustained growth.

With Indias rising credit penetration, formalisation of the economy, and growing demand for consumer and business finance, Tata Capital offers investors a credible proxy to participate in the broader NBFC growth cycle," the brokerage added, maintaining a Subscribe  Long Term view.

LG Electronics India IPO: More Details

The public issue will open for subscription on October 7 and close on October 9, while anchor investors can bid on October 6. The IPO, which is entirely an offer for sale of 10.18 crore shares  representing nearly 15 per cent stake  will see all proceeds go to the South Korean parent, as LG Electronics India itself will not receive any funds from the issue.

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This marks the second South Korean company to list on Indian bourses after Hyundai Motors India made its debut in October last year. LG Electronics India, a major player in consumer electronics and home appliances, has manufacturing units in Noida and Pune, producing washing machines, refrigerators, LED TVs, air conditioners, and microwaves. For FY24, the company reported revenue from operations of Rs 64,087.97 crore.

In terms of allocation, 50 per cent of the issue is reserved for qualified institutional buyers, 35 per cent for retail investors, and 15 per cent for non-institutional investors. The company is expected to list on October 14, with Morgan Stanley India, J P Morgan India, Axis Capital, BofA Securities India, and Citigroup Global Markets India managing the issue.

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: October 06, 2025, 10:16 IST

News business ipo LG Electronics IPO To Open Tomorrow: GMP, Price Band, Lot Size, Reviews; All You Need To Know

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Gold Prices Hit Record High: What's Fuelling The Surge And Can This Rally Continue?

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 12:47 IST

Gold Price Prediction: Analysts say gold December futures have given a breakout above its previous week's high of $3922 (~Rs 118,000); the next target is $4000 (~Rs 122,000).

Gold has hits fresh record high.

Gold Price Prediction 2025: Gold prices on Monday jumped by nearly 1,450 to touch a fresh record of Rs 1,19,560 on the MCX. The surge comes amid safe-haven buying amid the prolonged US government shutdown and growing bets on further Federal Reserve rate cuts.

On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), gold futures for December delivery appreciated by Rs 1,447, or 1.22 per cent, to a lifetime high of Rs 1,19,560 per 10 grams. Extending gains for the seventh consecutive session, the February 2026 contract advanced Rs 1,512, or 1.27 per cent, to scale a record Rs 1,20,845 per 10 grams.

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Last week, the yellow metal futures had surged Rs 3,222 per 10 grams or 2.8 per cent.

Gold Prices Hit Record High: Why Is Gold Price Increasing?

Analysts said that gold and silver prices have been rising for the past few months due to safe-haven buying amid global uncertainties and US Fed rate cut expectations.

Renisha Chainani, head-research at Augmont, said, 2025 has been the year of uncertainties. It started with political uncertainty, then tariff uncertainty, then geopolitical uncertainty, then rate cut uncertainty and now US shutdown uncertainty. All these uncertainties have supported bullion prices to rise phenomenally this year on safe-haven demand."

A weaker dollar, robust central bank purchases, rising demand for gold-backed Exchange-Traded Funds, and growing interest from retail investors looking to hedge against rising trade and geopolitical tensions are all contributing factors, she added.

The demand for gold-backed ETFs, futures, and associated financial instruments is being supported by robust safe-haven flows, which are being pushed by concerns about de-dollarisation around the world. All of the major long-term bullish factors for the metal are still in place, particularly the continued decline in the USD and the robust central bank allocation.

Aksha Kamboj, vice-president of the India Bullion and Jewellers Association and the executive chairperson of Aspect Global Ventures, said, Gold prices hit record highs, driven by strong demand amid the ongoing US government shutdown, which has delayed the release of key economic data. Despite a nearly 50 per cent rally in 2025 so far, investors continue to favour gold as uncertainty lingers."

In the international market, gold surged past the $3,900-an-ounce level for the first time on Monday. US spot gold was up 0.9% at $3,922.28 per ounce by 0208 GMT, after hitting an all-time high of $3,924.39 earlier in the session. US gold futures for December delivery gained 1% to $3,947.30.

Silver climbed above $48.3 per ounce as the ongoing US government shutdown and expectations of further Federal Reserve rate cuts boosted demand for safe-haven assets. Lawmakers once again failed to secure a funding deal, delaying key major data releases, including Septembers jobs report," said Jigar Trivedi, senior research analyst at Reliance Securities.

Gold Price Prediction 2025: Can This Rally Continue?

Analysts say market participants are now almost fully pricing in a quarter-point Fed rate cut this month and another in December. Investors will now closely track remarks from Fed Governor Stephen Miran on Wednesday, the release of Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) minutes, and Chair Jerome Powells speech on Thursday for further policy signals.

Renisha Chainani of Augmont said gold December futures have given a breakout above its previous weeks high of $3922 (~Rs 118,000); the next target is $4000 (~Rs 122,000).

One needs to be cautious on the buy side, as this rally is very steep, and we could witness profit-booking anytime. If prices fall below $3850 (~Rs 117,500), then we could say prices have topped out and see further profit booking," she added.

Darshan Desai, chief executive officer of Aspect Bullion & Refinery, said, At these elevated levels, some investors may look to take partial profits, especially since the risk-reward for new positions doesnt look attractive right now. A dip could offer a better entry point for those looking to invest."

Gold Rate Today: 24 Carats & 22 Carats

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In Mumbai and Pune, the price of 24-carat gold stood at Rs 1,20,770 per 10 grams, while 22k gold was available at Rs 1,10,700 per 10 grams. These rates do not include GST and making charges.

Silver was available at Rs 1,54,900 per kg.

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: October 06, 2025, 12:22 IST

News business markets Gold Prices Hit Record High: What's Fuelling The Surge And Can This Rally Continue?

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Kerala HC Offers Relief On Higher EPS Pension For Post-2014 Retirees: What It Means For Pensioners?

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 14:51 IST

Kerala High Court rules that higher pension cannot be denied to post-September 1, 2014, retirees if higher contributions were accepted by EPFO, offering relief to thousands.

If a higher pension claim has been rejected or calculated on the capped salary, retirees can now approach the EPFO for recalculation, citing this Kerala High Court ruling.

In a ruling that could bring major relief to thousands of pensioners, the Kerala High Court has held that members of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) who retired after September 1, 2014, cannot be denied a higher pension under the Employees Pension Scheme (EPS) if their employers higher-wage-based contributions were accepted by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), even if there were procedural lapses or delays in remittance.

The verdict came in response to petitions filed by employees in Kerala whose higher pension claims had been turned down despite their employers having deposited contributions on actual salaries rather than the capped statutory ceiling. The EPFO had earlier rejected these claims, arguing that some payments were made in bulk instead of the prescribed month-by-month schedule.

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The high court disagreed, saying that once the EPFO accepted the contributions, it could not later refuse to pay out the corresponding pension benefits. The bench ruled that substantive rights must prevail over procedural technicalities", asserting that administrative errors or timing irregularities cannot override the fact that valid contributions were made and received.

What the Judgment Means

The courts decision offers much-needed clarity for retirees after September 1, 2014, who were previously denied higher pensions due to procedural discrepancies. It directs the EPFO to recalculate and disburse higher pensions within three months, based on the actual wages on which contributions were made.

While the order relieves employees of the burden of administrative errors, the Court made it clear that the EPFO retains the right to take action against employers if there were violations in the manner of contributions or remittances. However, such proceedings cannot be used as grounds to withhold benefits from employees.

Why the Case Matters

At the heart of the dispute is the difference between statutory wage ceiling" contributions and actual wage" contributions under the EPS. Historically, the EPFO capped pensionable salary at levels such as Rs 5,000, Rs 6,500, and later Rs 15,000 per month. However, some employees and their employers opted to contribute based on their full salary, expecting proportionately higher pensions upon retirement.

Many of these employees, especially those retiring after the 2014 amendments to the EPS, faced rejection of higher pension claims because their employers had deposited the additional contributions irregularly, often as bulk payments or after administrative delays.

The Kerala High Courts judgment now clarifies that such procedural shortcomings cannot nullify an employees entitlement if EPFO has already taken the higher contributions into its accounts.

What Retirees Should Do

Experts say retirees who fall in this category, particularly those who left service after September 1, 2014, should immediately review their EPF and EPS passbooks to confirm whether their contributions exceeded the wage ceiling and whether EPFO accepted them.

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If a higher pension claim has been rejected or calculated on the capped salary, retirees can now approach the EPFO for recalculation, citing this Kerala High Court ruling. Supporting documents such as salary slips, employer contribution proofs, and PF statements will strengthen their case.

However, retirees should also be mindful of limitation periods and procedural deadlines under the EPF Act before filing fresh claims or appeals.

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: October 06, 2025, 14:51 IST

News business savings-and-investments Kerala HC Offers Relief On Higher EPS Pension For Post-2014 Retirees: What It Means For Pensioners?

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Amid Prabhadevi Traffic Chaos, Why Mumbais Hancock Bridge, Razed 10 Years Ago, Remains Incomplete

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 14:12 IST

Mumbai's Hancock bridge was demolished 10 years ago on the grounds that it was dangerous, but even today, the work on this bridge has not been completed

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The Hancock bridge was razed in 2016. (News18)

Mumbais Prabhadevi is witnessing huge traffic snarls with the Elphinstone bridge being demolished.

While a new double-decker bridge will come up in place of the 13-m Elphinstone Road Over Bridge (ROB) to reduce traffic congestion and improve east-west connectivity, the traffic curbs and time restrictions have added to the chaos.

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Motorists are stuck on eight roads in Dadar-Lower Parel area and taking one hour instead of the usual 15 minutes to travel.

As the Elphinstone Bridge is closed for demolition, major traffic snarls are being reported in Dadar, Parel, Lower Parel and Chinchpokli areas. Citizens are using Tilak Bridge, Currey Road Bridge, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Road, Gokhale Road, Senapati Bapat Marg, NM Joshi Marg, Bhavani Shankar Road and Dadar TT. But as these roads are already crowded, the problem has increased.

But what about the Hancock Bridge near Sandhurst Road station, which was demolished 10 years ago?

#Mumbai #MumbaiTrafficOne word to Describe DADAR TILAK BRIDGE since yesterday is GRIDLOCK Absolute chaos. Shutting the #ElphinstoneBridge without any viable alternative is absolute Senseless. It was already overburdened after the Sion bridge closure.@MTPHereToHelp pic.twitter.com/hr1RGz476Y   Matters (@mumbaimatterz) September 14, 2025

The Hancock Bridge: The demolition and status of the new bridge

The Hancock bridge was demolished 10 years ago on the grounds that it was dangerous, but even today, the work on this bridge has not been completed.

The bridge was razed in 2016 as it was old and dangerous.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) later announced the construction of a new bridge, stating it would be completed by 2019.

While the girders on the railway line have been laid, the other side is only half-finished, News18 Lokmat reported.

#WATCH Mumbai: Demolition of Elphinstone Bridge at Prabhadevi railway station begins.The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will demolish the Elphinstone Bridge and construct a new Elphinstone flyover and Sewri-Worli elevated connector flyover in its pic.twitter.com/8H6142kEW7  ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2025

What is the main obstacle in construction of new bridge?

The main obstacle in this project is the old buildings of MHADA. About six to seven buildings will have to be demolished for the bridges access road. Many families and commercial tenants live in these buildings. There is an ongoing dispute between the two agencies over who will rehabilitate them, MHADA or the BMC.

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What local residents say

Citizens are suffering as it has worsened traffic congestion in the area. Commuters have to use alternative routes, which doubles the travel time. The situation worsens during the monsoon. The bridge was demolished ten years ago, but it has not been completed till date. The city is being built as a metro, but our bridge is still missing," local residents told News18 Lokmat.

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: October 06, 2025, 14:08 IST

News mumbai-news Amid Prabhadevi Traffic Chaos, Why Mumbais Hancock Bridge, Razed 10 Years Ago, Remains Incomplete

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Mumbai Pod Taxis: Kurla To Pod Station Via Skywalk? Route To Tickets, The Big BKC Plans

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 14:33 IST

Plans to link Kurla rly station to pod taxi station via skywalk: What will BKC pod taxi route be? When will it be ready? How much will tickets cost, will it be linked to Metros?

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The pod taxi station could be built in the existing 1370.8-sqm parking space outside Kurla station. (MMRDA/PTI)

Mumbaiitess ride to citys business hub of Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) is set to get smoother. While there are plans for pod taxis, there is also a plan to build a skywalk from Kurla station to reach the pod taxi station for further ride to BKC.

The pod taxi station could be built in the existing 1370.8-sqm parking space outside Kurla station, according to the Times Of India.

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Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC): Ground reality

Currently, Kurla station has a daily footfall of 2,93,000, while Bandra station has a daily footfall of 2,80,000. The introduction of pod taxis may add to the numbers. Around 6 lakh people visit BKC every day.

Reaching BKC from Kurla station is a nightmare given the delayed buses and shared autorickshaw rides a problem.

EXPLAINED | Mumbai To Get Pod Taxis: How It Will Help Bandra-Kurla Traffic Amid BKC Bullet Train, New HC Complex

Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) station will be the only underground stop on the 508 km Mumbai Ahmedabad high speed rail corridor, with six platforms. A grand new High Court complex of 75 courtrooms is being built on 30 acres in Bandra East, to ease the space crunch at the existing Fort building.

Indias first POD Taxi.MMRDA approves Hyd. based Sai Green Mobility as the Concessionaire for development of POD Taxi at BKC in Mumbai on DFBOT basis. The co. has partnered with Ultra PRT as tech. partner (Heathrow Airport) Completion: 3 yrsFare: 21/km pic.twitter.com/BnXUoBqNqd  Hiren (@BHiren) September 4, 2024

What is the pod taxi project?

A pod taxi is part of the Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) mechanism in which fully automated, driverless, electric vehicles run on elevated tracks to transport small number of persons. They function like a private taxi but operate autonomously and typically serve short to medium distances within urban areas, airports, or campuses.

Who will manage and operate pod taxis?

In September, the MMRDA appointed Sai Green Mobility Private Limited to manage and operate the pod taxis using the DFBOT model (Design, Finance, Build, Operate, Transfer), which includes design, engineering, and commissioning.

Pod Taxi: Redefining Urban Mobility for Seamless Travel in MumbaiChaired a meeting at Sahyadri Guest House, Mumbai, on the proposed Pod Taxi service between Kurla and Bandra, a futuristic step to strengthen public transport and provide last-mile connectivity. With the https://t.co/2o5HbWk9jH pic.twitter.com/xLUBDiMAPv  Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) September 22, 2025

Which areas in BKC will pod taxis connect? What will be the route? How many stations?

The pod taxis will run from Bandra to Kurla covering the G and E block of BKC along Mithi River then to Kalanagar. The stations would be from Kurla Suburban Station then to NSE Junction, BKC Connector, MCA and US Consulate.

The line will be approximately 8.8 kilometers with 38 stations, with paid and unpaid stops. The first phase is likely to be ready in three years. A total of 54 stations are projected to be operational by 2041. The pod taxi system will connect spots such as the Regional Passport Office, ONGC Building, Godrej BKC, and Jio World Centre.

SGMPT plans to construct 38 stations over an 8.8 km corridor at a cost exceeding Rs 1,000 crore, as outlined in a detailed TEFS. The overall project will feature 54 stations across 13.5 km, including terminals at Bandra, Kurla, and Sion.

The project looks to enhance last-mile connectivity between major suburban railway stations and key locations within BKC.

What will the tickets cost?

For now, the estimate is Rs 21/km

CM Devendra Fadnavis chaired a meeting regarding the proposed Pod Taxi service at BKC, Mumbai.     ,        .      ,   pic.twitter.com/xVbBfmYYB3 CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) September 22, 2025

Where will pod depots be?

Two pod depots are likely in BKC: MMRDA Pay & Park near the Punjab National Bank and near Dhirubhai Ambani International School

Kurla pod taxi terminal will be adjacent to the Kurla railway station

How much will the project cost?

Rs 1,000 crore.

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Will it be connected to Metros?

At MTNL and NABARD

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: October 06, 2025, 13:29 IST

News mumbai-news Mumbai Pod Taxis: Kurla To Pod Station Via Skywalk? Route To Tickets, The Big BKC Plans

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Mumbai To Navi Mumbai Airport Via Tunnel Soon? Here's What We Know About Mega Project

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 23:44 IST

The airport, set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will have the capacity to handle up to two crore passengers annually

Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde | Image: File

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday directed the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to prepare a detailed feasibility report on building a tunnel to connect Mumbai with the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport.

According to a statement from Shindes office, the airport, set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will have the capacity to handle up to two crore passengers annually.

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With traffic expected to surge once operations begin, existing road links are likely to fall short, prompting the government to explore new connectivity options.

Shinde stressed the need for an integrated transport network linking the airport to suburban rail, Metro corridors, and waterways.

To ensure seamless movement, the deputy chief minister has instructed the MMRDA Commissioner to study the feasibility of constructing a tunnel connecting the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and Bandra Kurla Complex to the Navi Mumbai Airport," the statement said.

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In addition, Shinde has asked officials to examine the potential integration of the upcoming high-speed rail line with key regional transit points, including the Mhatardi bullet train station in Thane, Kopar railway station, and the Taloja Metro station.

The Mhatardi station, currently under construction in Diva, is envisioned as an integrated transport hub serving bullet trains, suburban rail, Metro lines, and major highways  a move aimed at boosting multimodal connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

First Published: October 06, 2025, 23:44 IST

News cities mumbai-news Mumbai To Navi Mumbai Airport Via Tunnel Soon? Here's What We Know About Mega Project

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'Govt Will Fully...': Delhi CM Rekha Gupta To Move SC For Green Firecracker Use This Diwali

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 19:37 IST

Gupta said the government will submit its written stand before the apex court and request permission for the use of certified green firecrackers

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School students hold placards promoting a 'Green Diwali' without firecrackers in Ambala Cantt on Tuesday. (PTI photo)

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday announced that her government will approach the Supreme Court seeking permission to allow the use of green firecrackers during Diwali in the national capital.

Speaking about the move, Gupta said the government will submit its written stand before the apex court and request permission for the use of certified green firecrackers. These firecrackers, she added, would comply with all government regulations to ensure public safety and environmental protection.

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While respecting the sentiments of Delhi residents, the Delhi government will make this request to the Honble Supreme Court that permission be granted for the use of certified green firecrackers (Green Firecrackers) on this Diwali," the Delhi chief minister wrote in a post on X.

      ,                 (Green Firecrackers)               ,       pic.twitter.com/JsATbSb1ey  Rekha Gupta (@gupta_rekha) October 6, 2025

She emphasised the need to balance tradition and environmental protection. The objective of this initiative is to further strengthen our commitment to pollution control while honoring traditions," she said.

Gupta also assured that all green firecrackers would be manufactured only by authorised institutions and certified by the relevant authorities. It will also be ensured that all green firecrackers are manufactured only by authorized institutions and have been certified and tested by competent and relevant departments."

Concluding her statement, the Chief Minister said, The Delhi government is fully committed to environmental protection and pollution control with complete dedication. The Honble Supreme Court will be assured that the Delhi government will fully comply with all guidelines and standards of the court."

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Currently, all kinds of firecrackers are banned in Delhi as per court orders, due to concerns over rising air pollution levels.

(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

First Published: October 06, 2025, 19:37 IST

News new-delhi-news 'Govt Will Fully...': Delhi CM Rekha Gupta To Move SC For Green Firecracker Use This Diwali

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Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025 Registration Ends Today At vbb.mic.gov.in, Check Direct Link

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 13:07 IST

Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025 Registration: Interested students can apply for the Buildathon through the official website at vbb.mic.gov.in.

Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025 Last Date Today, Register Now At vbb.mic.gov.in.

The Ministry of Education will close the registration window for Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025 today, October 6, 2025. Interested participants can register through the official website at vbb.mic.gov.in. The Ministry of Education, in partnership with the Atal Innovation Mission, is conducting the Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025, a nationwide initiative encouraging students from classes 6 to 12 to showcase their creativity and problem-solving skills.

The highlight of the Buildathon is the National Live Buildathon, scheduled for October 13, 2025. The event will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will see students across the country participating simultaneously. Students are encouraged to work in teams of five to seven and develop prototypes or ideas that address real-world challenges. Schools can register multiple teams to take part in the event.

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Following the live event, schools can submit their entries from October 14 to October 31, 2025. These entries will be evaluated in November, and the winners will be announced in December. The Buildathon aims to support Indias vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047 by fostering innovation and practical problem-solving among young learners.

The 2025 edition of the Buildathon focuses on four national themes:

Atmanirbhar Bharat  Promoting self-reliance

Swadeshi  Encouraging indigenous solutions

Vocal for Local  Highlighting local products and resources

Samriddhi  Building pathways to prosperity and sustainable growth

The top 10,000 entries will receive national recognition, along with opportunities for mentoring and possible adoption by corporate partners. Students, teachers, and schools across India are urged to participate and make the most of this platform to showcase their innovative ideas on a national and global stage.

ALSO READ: Tamil Nadu RTE Admission 2025-26 Begins Today; Eligibility And Other Details

To register, students and schools need to visit the official website, fill in personal and school details, and complete the online application using the credentials provided.

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Click here to apply.

The Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025 promises to be a major platform for young innovators to contribute to Indias journey towards a more self-reliant and prosperous future.

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: October 06, 2025, 13:07 IST

News education-career Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025 Registration Ends Today At vbb.mic.gov.in, Check Direct Link

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Election Commission To Announce Bihar Assembly Poll Schedule At 4 PM Today

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 10:18 IST

The Election Commission will announce the schedule for the Bihar assembly elections today. Parties have requested the polls be held after Chhath to boost voter participation.

A polling agent applies indelible ink on the finger of a voter at a polling station (Photo: PTI)

The Election Commission is set to announce the schedule for the Bihar legislative assembly polls on Monday. The poll authority has convened a press conference at 4 pm.

The term of the 243-member state assembly ends on November 22.

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Political parties have urged the Election Commission to hold the polls immediately after the Chhath festival, which will be celebrated at the end of October.

The request has been put forth to ensure greater voter participation as a large number of people employed outside return home for the festivities.

The 2020 assembly polls in the state were held in three phases under the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Sunday, the BJP election committee for the Bihar assembly polls met in Patna for the second consecutive day to give final touches to its preparations for the high-stakes elections in the state.

The meeting was chaired by Union Minister and in-charge for the upcoming elections, Dharmendra Pradhan, who was joined by cabinet colleague and co-in-charge for the polls, CR Paatil, besides BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde.

On Saturday, state BJP president Dilip Jaiswal had told reporters that the state election committee had held discussions on 60 of its sitting seats" in the 243-strong assembly.

In the 2020 polls, the party had won 75 seats out of 110 that it had contested, and its strength rose over the years on account of defections from other parties, as well as victories in bypolls.

The NDA in Bihar, which is contesting the polls under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who heads the JD(U), also includes Union Minister Chirag Paswans Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha headed by Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha.

Speculations are rife that Kushwaha is not happy with the BJPs decision to re-induct Bhojpuri superstar Pawan Singh, who had contributed to his humiliating loss in Karakat Lok Sabha seat by entering the fray as an Independent candidate, news agency PTI reported.

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Although Kushwaha was rehabilitated by the BJP, which got him elected to the Rajya Sabha, the leader is said to have been upset that, despite having served in the first Narendra Modi ministry, he has not been considered this time.

ALSO READ | Do People Want To Know The Truth: Tejashwi Questions Bihar CM Nitish Kumars Mental Health

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: October 06, 2025, 09:51 IST

News elections Election Commission To Announce Bihar Assembly Poll Schedule At 4 PM Today

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Bihar Election: IANS-Matrize Survey Predicts Big Win For NDA; Nitish Most Popular CM Face

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 18:09 IST

The poll, titled 'Bihar Vidhan Sabha Chunav Opinion Poll-2025,' indicates that the NDA, led by CM Nitish Kumars JD(U) and the BJP, is likely to consolidate power in the state

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar | File Image

Bihar Election 2025: A pre-election survey conducted by IANS-Matrize News Communications predicted a sweeping victory for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls, giving the ruling coalition a 49 per cent vote share and an estimated 150160 seats in the 243-member assembly.

The poll, titled Bihar Vidhan Sabha Chunav Opinion Poll-2025," indicates that the NDA, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumars JD(U) and the BJP, is likely to consolidate power in the state amid debates over unemployment, migration, and governance.

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According to the survey, Nitish Kumar remains the most preferred chief ministerial candidate, with 42% of respondents backing him for another term.

NDAs Surge

The projected vote share represents a sharp jump from the NDAs 37.3 per cent in the 2020 elections, where it narrowly edged past the opposition despite an almost equal share of votes.

Within the alliance, the BJP is expected to lead with 21 per cent votes and 8085 seats, followed by JD(U) with 18 per cent votes and 6065 seats.

Smaller allies, including Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), are together projected to add around 1015 seats.

INDIA Bloc Trails

The opposition INDIA Bloc  comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties  is forecast to secure 36 per cent votes and 7085 seats, slightly below its 2020 tally of 37.2 per cent.

The RJD, led by Tejashwi Yadav, is projected to bag 21 per cent votes and 6065 seats, while the Congress may get 8 per cent votes and 710 seats.

Left parties together are likely to win 69 seats, with minimal vote shares for CPI, CPI(M), and CPI(ML)(L).

New Players, Changing Dynamics

Political strategist Prashant Kishors Jan Suraaj Party is emerging as a new player with 7 per cent vote share and 25 seats, potentially denting traditional caste-based loyalties.

The AIMIM is expected to win 13 seats, mainly in Seemanchal, while the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), now part of the INDIA Bloc, could bag 24 seats.

Nitishs Advantages And Challenges

Analysts say the NDAs strong showing is driven by voter confidence in Nitish Kumars long administrative experience and the perceived stability of the BJP-JD(U) alliance.

However, his frequent alliance shifts  most recently returning to the NDA fold in January 2024  remain a contentious issue among some voters.

The opposition is banking on Tejashwi Yadavs appeal among young and unemployed voters, while Kishors Jan Suraaj seeks to challenge both blocs by promising governance reforms beyond caste lines.

With the Election Commission announcing a two-phase election on November 6 and 11 and counting on November 16, Bihar is set for an intense electoral contest.

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National leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, are expected to headline campaign rallies in the coming weeks.

If the IANS-Matrize poll holds true, the NDA may return to power with a comfortable majority  reaffirming Nitish Kumars position as Bihars most durable political leader.

About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (De... Read More

Location : Bihar, India, India

First Published: October 06, 2025, 18:09 IST

News elections Bihar Election: IANS-Matrize Survey Predicts Big Win For NDA; Nitish Most Popular CM Face

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Bihar Election In Two Phases After Chhath Puja, Results Mid-November: Check Full Schedule

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 19:25 IST

Bihar Election Dates 2025: The polls are expected to be a tight contest between the ruling BJP-JD(U) and the opposition Mahagathbandhan led by the RJD and the Congress

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Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi during a press conference regarding the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, in New Delhi, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. (Photo: PTI)

Bihar Election Dates 2025: Bihar will vote in a two-phase election after Chhath Puja on November 6 and 11, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Monday, adding that the results for the high-stakes electoral battle will be announced on November 14.

The ECI announced that Bihar has a total of 7.43 crore voters this election with 14 lakh first time voters. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar also said that this will be the best election for voters. Bihar elections will be easy for voters. Full monitoring of law and order will be maintained. Bihar election will be reflected as the best election," he said while announcing the poll dates.

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Full Schedule Of Bihar Election

Poll Event Phase 1 Phase 2 Date of Issue of Gazette Notification October 10 October 13 Last Date For Nomination October 17 October 20 Scrutiny of nomination October 18 October 21 Last Date For Withdrawal Of Nomination October 20 October 23 Date of Poll November 6 November 11 Date of Counting November 14 November 14

The upcoming assembly elections are expected to be a tight contest between the ruling BJP-JD(U) and the opposition Mahagathbandhan led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress. Adding a new dimension to the race is election-strategist-turned-neta Prashant Kishors Jan Suraaj Party, which is positioning itself as an alternative force in Bihar politics.

In the 2020 polls, held amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the BJP had won 75 seats out of 110 that it had contested, and its strength rose over the years on account of defections from other parties as also victories in bypolls. The NDA as a whole had secured a majority with 125 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan had won 110. The RJD emerged as the single largest party with 75 seats.

Besides the BJP, the NDA in Biharwhich is contesting the polls under the leadership of chief minister Nitish Kumar who heads the JD(U)also includes Union minister Chirag Paswans Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha headed by Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha.

News18 had earlier reported that the BJP and Janata Dal (United) seem to have reached a consensus on seat sharing, with a formal announcement expected soon. According to the emerging formula, JD(U) is likely to contest on 102 seats, while the BJP will get 101. The arithmetic has been reached keeping in mind Nitish Kumars insistence of at least one more seat than BJP". Meanwhile, LJP (Ram Vilas) is expected to be allotted 20 seats, say sources. The distribution marks a slight recalibration from the 2020 assembly elections, when JD(U) had fielded candidates on 115 seats and BJP on 110. Smaller allies thenJitan Ram Manjhis HAM and Mukesh Sahnis VIPwere given seven and 11 seats, respectively.

The run-up to the elections saw opposition parties alleging several irregularities in the final voters list in Bihar, with the Congress claiming that the number of voter names deleted exceeds the victory margin of the last assembly election in some constituencies. The party has been accusing the Election Commission of conducting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) with an aim of deleting votes of its supporters and had even approached the Supreme Court, along with other parties to stop the exercise.

The Election Commission, however, denied any irregularities and claimed that it conducted the SIR in accordance with the law and the Constitution.

On Saturday, political parties unanimously urged the Election Commission to schedule the assembly elections soon after the Chhath festival and in the minimum number of phases possible.

Chhat, an important festival in Bihar that is celebrated six days after Diwali, will fall on October 25-28 this year. During Diwali and Chhat, people employed outside Bihar return home for festivities, and it is believed that it is the best time to hold polls to ensure greater voter participation.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday addressed a press conference in Bihars capital Patna and said the election process will conclude by November 22.

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Highlighting the improvements made after feedback from previous elections, the Commission stated that voters often found it difficult to identify candidates because the photographs printed on EVM ballot papers were in black and white.

When the ballot paper is inserted into the EVM, the photo on it is black and white, making it difficult to identify, even though the election symbol remains. It was also suggested that the serial number should be larger. So, starting with the Bihar elections, the serial number font will be larger across the country, and the candidates photographs will be colour photographs."

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: October 06, 2025, 16:35 IST

News elections Bihar Election In Two Phases After Chhath Puja, Results Mid-November: Check Full Schedule

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NDA, INDIA Bloc Go Head-To-Head As Bihar Votes On November 6 & 11 | Top Points

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 23:57 IST

Bihar faces a historic contest as 7.42 crore voters decide between Nitish Kumar-led NDA, Tejashwi Yadav's INDIA bloc, and Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party amid major poll reforms

Bihar will go to polls in two phases on November 6 and 11 while the counting of votes will be taken up on November 14. (Image for representation: PTI)

Will Bihar once again choose politics of development" or is it time for change"? All of this will come to a head as 7.42 crore voters, fresh off revised electoral rolls, decide the fate of the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led ruling NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc led by Tejashwi Yadav in the state.

The stage is set for a contest the likes of which, the political parties claimed, Bihar has never seen before. While the ruling side said this will be the mother of all elections in India", the opposition quipped it will go down in history in golden letters".

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Both, it seems, are confident that they will win, going into a charged-up election amid numerous political controversies  from vote chori allegations to the infamous special intensive revision (SIR) and much more. There is also a new player in the field  a third force in the form of Prashant Kishors Jan Suraaj Party.

Heres all you need to know:

Chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said elections will be held in 121 seats in the first phase on November 6, while the remaining 122 constituencies will go to polls on November 11. The model code of conduct (MCC) has come into effect in Bihar with the announcement of the assembly elections. A total of 7.42 crore voters will be eligible to exercise their franchise across 90,712 polling stations, all of which have webcast facilities to ensure transparent elections  this is one of the 17 new reforms introduced by the Election Commission (EC) in Bihar, which could be implemented across the country later. Bihar has 3.92 crore male voters and 3.5 crore female voters. Nearly 14,000 voters are more than 100 years old, while 14 lakh will exercise their right to vote for the first time. Kumar said nearly 69 lakh names have been deleted since the start of the SIR exercise, but refused to answer specific questions on how many deletions happened due to non-citizenship. A breakup cannot be given in a decentralised set-up. The ERO (electoral registration officer) makes the voter lists, it can be appealed at the level of district magistrate and the chief electoral officer. This has to be followed by everyone as it is mentioned in the Representative of People Act. When elections are held, the process is conducted under the supervision of the returning officer and there is a provision for election petition," he said. After demand from several political parties, he said it has now been made mandatory to complete the counting of postal ballots before the last two rounds of counting of votes. He said the upcoming elections in Bihar could be the most transparent one in Indias electoral history and the state will show the way to the rest of the country on the purification of voter lists. Responding to a question about women voters wearing a burqa and a veil (ghunghat), the CEC said there are clear guidelines of the poll body about the verification of identity inside polling booths and they will be strictly followed. Our anganwadi workers will be deployed at all polling booths for verifying the identity of burqa-clad women. The guidelines of the Commission are very clear about how identity is verified inside a polling station and they will be followed strictly," he said. The RJD is the principal force in the opposition and the BJP is seen to have emerged as the strongest NDA constituent in Bihar ahead of the JD(U), but both coalitions are beset with their own challenges. In the current House, the BJP holds the largest share with 80 MLAs, followed by its ally JD(U) with 45 MLAs. Backed by four MLAs from Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), led by Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, the NDAs tally stands at 129, comfortably above the 122-member majority mark. On the opposition side, the RJD, Congress, and Left parties together have 112 MLAs, falling short by 10 seats.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE 2020 POLLS?

The NDA had pipped the RJD-Left-Congress combine to a majority in the 243-member assembly in 2020, with 125 seats against the rivals 110.

Closer still was the vote gap as the NDA bagged 37.26 percent votes against the Mahagathbandhans 37.23 percent. In a state where less than 15,000 votes separated the NDA from the opposition in 2020, it remains to be seen if, this time, Prashant Kishor is able to topple the conventional equation in more than a few seats.

REFERENDUM ON SIR OR TEST FOR NITISH KUMAR?

The stage is set for a massive political showdown, with the opposition railing against the SIR and the ruling side looking to maintain its firm grip on a state, which has stood by Nitish Kumar since 2005.

The opposition, however, has raised questions about his health. He leads a coalition, which includes a BJP more formidable than ever in the state, with a proven numerical advantage over the RJD-led combine that has the Congress and the Left as allies.

The verdict will be seen as a referendum on the EC SIR exercise in the state, which drew an energetic protest campaign from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and backing from several regional satraps aligned with the main opposition party.

Whether the campaign against SIR, which the EC plans to roll out across the country, will be a boost to the opposition or turn out to be a futile exercise unsupported by popular opinion, as believed by the ruling alliance, will be decided by the polls.

The jury is still out on Gandhis two-week Voter Adhikar Yatra in the state between August 17 and September 1, which came amid his charges of vote chori" against the EC in alleged collusion with the ruling NDA.

The BJP-led NDA has maintained that the SIR is aimed at weeding out infiltrators, and the oppositions campaign against it is driven by vote bank politics. Despite enjoying solid support from two biggest voting blocs, Muslims and Yadavs, the RJD-led coalition has been unable to draw enough support from other communities to turn the tide.

The BJP-JD(U) coalition has been successful in reminding people of the perceived misrule during the RJDs government between 1990 and 2005 and the good governance" of Nitish.

Tejashwi, meanwhile, has been trying to woo the Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) and is likely to give poll tickets to a large number of candidates from this social category.

WHAT DID THE POLITICAL PARTIES SAY?

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the NDA government has pulled Bihar out of jungle raj" and given it a new direction of development and good governance.

Shah expressed confidence that the people of the state will once again choose the politics of development in the coming assembly elections.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said Bihar will vote for change in the upcoming assembly polls and every Bihari will be the CM".

JD(U) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha said he was fully confident that after this election, the NDA will form the government with a massive majority under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

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The Congress, meanwhile, alleged that the EC was in an alliance" with the BJP and claimed that it failed to provide answers to the questions of vote chori" raised by party leader Rahul Gandhi.

(With agency inputs)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: October 06, 2025, 23:22 IST

News elections NDA, INDIA Bloc Go Head-To-Head As Bihar Votes On November 6 & 11 | Top Points

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As Pakistan Sends Rare Earth Shipment To US, A Look At Who Holds The Worlds Largest Reserves

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 18:36 IST

Although rare earths are scattered across the planet, few countries have succeeded in harnessing them at scale

Rare earth minerals are crucial for modern technology and green energy. (Representational image/News18 Hindi)

Pakistan has dispatched its first-ever shipment of rare earth and critical minerals to the United States. According to a report published in Dawn, the shipment was sent under a recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Pakistan and American firm US Strategic Metals (USSM) and includes copper concentrate, antimony, and rare earth elements such as neodymium and praseodymium.

The deal, worth approximately $500 million, aims to establish mineral exploration, processing, and refining capacity within Pakistan. USSM described the delivery as a milestone in the PakistanUS strategic partnership", with Islamabad hoping the move will unlock foreign investment, jobs, and access to advanced processing technologies.

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The agreement has not been without domestic controversy. Pakistans opposition party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has accused the government of signing secret deals" without parliamentary scrutiny. Speaking to Dawn, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqqas Akram criticised the lack of transparency, warning that such reckless, lopsided, and secretive agreements" could deepen political instability, demanding full disclosure and debate in the National Assembly.

The diplomatic push gained momentum last month when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir presented a ceremonial box of rare earth samples to US President Donald Trump during a White House visit.

What Are Rare Earth Elements And Why Are Countries Racing To Secure Them?

Rare earth elements (REEs) are a group of 17 metals crucial to modern technologies, including the 15 lanthanides, plus scandium and yttrium. Despite the term rare," these elements are relatively abundant in the Earths crust. The label comes from their early discovery in uncommon mineral forms and the difficulty of finding deposits with high enough concentrations for economical extraction.

Their true importance lies in their unique physical and chemical properties, such as magnetic strength, conductivity, and luminescence, which make them essential for high-performance magnets, electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, smartphones, defence systems, and semiconductors.

While demand has surged due to the green energy and tech boom, production and processing remain concentrated in a few countries. China currently leads by a wide margin, controlling both global output and the value chain. Other nations are racing to catch up, not just to secure supply, but also to reduce strategic dependence on Beijing.

Worlds Top 10 Countries With Largest Rare Earth Reserves

Heres a breakdown of the worlds top rare earth holders:

China

China leads with an estimated 44 million metric tonnes of rare earth reserves. Its dominance goes beyond reserves; it controls the vast majority of global refining and separation infrastructure. In recent years, Beijing has imported lower-grade rare earths from Myanmar to avoid depleting its own deposits, often at considerable environmental cost.

Brazil

Brazil ranks second with 21 million tonnes of rare earths. Though not a major producer in 2024, Serra Verde began commercial output from its Pela Ema deposit and aims to produce 5,000 metric tonnes annually by 2026.

India

India ranks third with around 6.9 million metric tonnes of reserves. The country also holds approximately 35 per cent of the worlds beach and sand mineral deposits, particularly in Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Kerala, which contain valuable REE-bearing monazite.

Australia

Australia, fourth, holds about 5.7 million metric tonnes of rare earth reserves and produced 13,000 tonnes in 2024. Although mining only began in 2007, the nations extraction levels are projected to grow in the coming years.

Russia

Russias reserves, as of 2024, are estimated at 3.8 million metric tonnes, significantly down from the 10 million figure cited in 2023. However, the countrys output remained steady at 2,500 MT in 2024, the same as the year before.

Vietnam

Vietnam, ranked sixth, holds about 3.5 million metric tonnes in reserves, mainly along its northwestern provinces bordering China and along the eastern coastline.

United States

Despite its technological supremacy, the US has limited (1.9 million metric tonnes) rare earth reserves, with mining confined to the Mountain Pass mine in California.

Greenland

Greenland is ranked eighth, with reserves estimated at 1.5 million metric tonnes. No production is underway, but large-scale projects like Tanbreez and Kvanefjeld hold promise for future development.

Tanzania

Tanzania has around 900,000 metric tonnes in known reserves, and seen as a high-potential region for rare earth mineral development. There are promising deposits awaiting exploration that could strengthen regional economic growth if developed sustainably.

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South Africa

South Africa ranks tenth and also holds close to 900,000 metric tonnes of rare earth reserves. While current output is negligible, projects like Phalaborwa aim to reduce reliance on China and boost regional supply.

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: October 06, 2025, 18:29 IST

News explainers As Pakistan Sends Rare Earth Shipment To US, A Look At Who Holds The Worlds Largest Reserves

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Bihar Elections 2025: NDA, INDIA Bloc And The X-Factor Called Jan Suraaj

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 16:43 IST

NDA vs INDIA is the main face-off, but Jan Suraajs rise may turn Bihar 2025 into a three-way contest for the future

The electoral contest is largely expected to be a direct fight between the incumbent NDA, led by CM Nitish Kumar, and the Mahagathbandhan led by the RJD. (AP Image)

Bihar will go to polls in two phases on November 6 and 11, with counting scheduled for November 14, the Election Commission announced on Monday. As the poll calendar is now official, the state is witnessing a sharpening political churn.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition INDIA bloc are racing to finalise seat-sharing deals, but anxious days lie ahead with internal tensions bubbling just under the surface.

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The electoral contest is largely expected to be a direct fight between the incumbent NDA, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and the Mahagathbandhan led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

In the 243-member Bihar Assembly, the NDA currently holds 131 seats  BJP 80, JD(U) 45, HAM(S) 4, and two Independents. The Mahagathbandhan holds 111  RJD 77, Congress 19, CPI(ML) 11, CPI(M) 2, and CPI 2.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA won 29 out of 40 seats in Bihar, with the BJP and JD(U) bagging 12 seats each, giving the alliance momentum ahead of the Assembly contest.

While the NDA appears confident on paper, behind-the-scenes bargaining, especially involving Chirag Paswan, Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Upendra Kushwaha, has left the alliance juggling competing demands. The INDIA bloc, meanwhile, is hoping to lock in its caste arithmetic, with Tejashwi Yadav anchoring its EBC-focused pitch.

And adding an unpredictable third axis is Prashant Kishors Jan Suraaj Party, which has quietly expanded its on-ground presence and claims to be ready for a full-fledged electoral debut.

This is how the three sides are positioning themselves for Bihar 2025.

NDA: Between Public Confidence And Private Tensions

In public, NDA allies are showcasing unity, but behind closed doors, seat-sharing negotiations remain a delicate balancing act. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who has been appointed as the BJPs election in-charge for Bihar, is leading the outreach to alliance partners.

Over the weekend, he held a series of one-on-one meetings with key allies, including JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lalan Singh, Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) head Upendra Kushwaha.

While Manjhi downplayed any discord, stating that all is well within the NDA" and that seat-sharing would be resolved soon, his subsequent flight to New Delhi the same evening raised speculation that further negotiation was underway. Pradhan also called on Lalan Singh and Kushwaha separately, though Singh described the BJP-JD(U) meeting as merely a courtesy call."

Despite the optics, BJP insiders indicated that a working formula is nearing finalisation: the BJP may contest approximately 101 seats, JD(U) around 102, with the remaining distributed among allies, including Chirag Paswans Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Manjhis HAM, and Kushwahas RLM.

Chirag Paswan remains a focal point in NDAs internal calculations. Fresh off a successful Lok Sabha campaign, where his party contested only five seats but punched above its weight, Chirag is now reportedly demanding up to 40 Assembly seats. While BJP leaders credit him with having bounced back" from his 2020 outsider status, when his party ran solo and damaged JD(U) prospects, they are also wary of ceding too much ground.

Sources in the BJP suggest the alliance may not be in a position to part with more than 20 seats. The fact that he is pushing for a major share suggests a potential flashpoint ahead. If unresolved, it could unsettle the alliances delicate caste and regional balance.

INDIA Bloc: Tejashwi Leads, EBC Pitch Front And Centre

On the Opposition front, leaders of the INDIA bloc met at Tejashwi Yadavs residence in Patna to iron out seat-sharing arrangements. The meeting saw participation from senior leaders of the RJD, Congress, Left parties, and the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP).

CPM leader Ajay Kumar told The Indian Express that the seat-sharing formula had been finalised and would be announced formally on Tuesday. Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram and VIP chief Mukesh Sahani were also present, signalling the blocs attempt to project cohesion. The RJD separately convened its core leadership to finalise its own internal allocations before the official declaration.

Even before announcing its candidate list, the INDIA alliance made a bold caste-centric pitch with the launch of the Ati Pichhda Nyay Sankalp, a manifesto exclusively aimed at Bihars Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), who comprise roughly 36 per cent of the states population.

This 10-point resolution includes promises such as:

A new law to prevent atrocities against EBCs, on the lines of the SC/ST Act

Raising EBC reservation in local bodies from 20% to 30%

A bid to lift the 50% reservation ceiling by seeking inclusion of state law in the Ninth Schedule

Mandating private schools to reserve half of their RTE quota for backward groups

A 50% quota for EBCs, SCs, STs, and OBCs in state contracts up to Rs 25 crore

A high-powered Reservation Regulatory Authority to monitor implementation

This EBC push signals an attempt by the INDIA bloc to erode the NDAs traditional base.

Modi-Nitish Unveil Benefits, But No NDA Manifesto Yet

While the INDIA blocs caste strategy is now out in the open, the NDA has not yet released a formal manifesto. However, both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar have been making targeted announcements in recent weeks, particularly aimed at women, youth, and marginalised communities.

PM Modi in September launched the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana in Bihar, transferring Rs 10,000 each to 75 lakh women across the state, a massive direct benefit aimed at creating female entrepreneurs.

Separately, Nitish Kumar has announced more than 20 welfare measures, including:

Rs 1,000/month unemployment allowance for graduates

Interest-free education loans and extended repayment windows

Pension hike to Rs 1,100 for elderly, differently-abled, widows

Rs 9,000 honorarium for Anganwadi workers and Rs 3,000 incentive for ASHA workers

Free electricity up to 125 units, solar plant support for poorest families

Rs 10,000 upfront support to one woman per household to start an enterprise, with follow-up assistance of up to Rs 2 lakh

While these announcements arent packaged as a formal manifesto, they signal the NDAs strategy to saturate the welfare space before the model code of conduct kicks in.

Jan Suraaj: The X-Factor

The third force in Bihars triangular contest is Prashant Kishors Jan Suraaj Party, which is likely to contest all 243 seats. The Party on Friday said it will come up with its first list of candidates" for the Bihar assembly polls on October 9.

Besides promising an adequate number of tickets to women, Muslims, and the extremely backward classes (EBC), Kishor has also said he could enter the fray himself if the party takes the decision".

If Jan Suraaj manages even single-digit vote shares across select seats, it could dent margins in tightly contested constituencies, especially in central Bihar and Mithila regions.

Whats Next?

In a first, the Election Commission will deploy 243 general observers  one for each Assembly constituency  replacing the earlier practice of assigning a single observer to multiple seats. The scale of deployment is unprecedented: over 8.5 lakh polling personnel, 17,800 micro observers for voting day, 4,800 for counting, and around 2.5 lakh police officials. There will also be 29,000 counting officials, 38 police observers, and 67 expenditure observers monitoring the process.

The EC has also stepped up voter outreach and digital monitoring. There are now 90,712 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and 243 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) on the ground. Voters can access services via the ECINET app or by calling the helpline number 1950  including scheduling a call with their local BLO.

In another first, real-time voter turnout data will be made public through a dedicated dashboard. Presiding officers will upload turnout figures to the ECINET platform every two hours on polling day to reduce information lag.

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Logistical reforms are also being rolled out. Polling stations will now be capped at 1,200 electors each to minimise crowding and cut queue times. In high-rise areas, additional booths will be set up. For ease of access, voters will be able to deposit their mobile phones at designated counters outside polling stations.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar described the upcoming polls as a milestone exercise, promising that Bihar elections will be easy for voters" with full monitoring of law and order. This time, the state has 7.43 crore registered voters, including 14 lakh first-time electors.

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: October 06, 2025, 16:17 IST

News explainers Bihar Elections 2025: NDA, INDIA Bloc And The X-Factor Called Jan Suraaj

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Sabarimala Gold Plating Scandal: How Did A Sacred Temple Project Turn Controversial?

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News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 14:25 IST

Probes revealed gold plating procurement at Sabarimala Temple lacked transparency. Critics said contracts were awarded without competitive bidding, quality checks were bypassed

The Kerala High Court has called on the Travancore Devaswom Board, temple authorities, and the state government to submit full records of gold plating contracts. (Getty Images)

Sabarimala is one of Keralas most famous hill temples, drawing millions of devotees annually. Located in the Western Ghats, deep in forested terrain, the temple is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. It is renowned for the austere pilgrimage season, strict customs of dress and conduct, and the tradition of devotees trekking long distances.

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Over decades, the temples trust (the Travancore Devaswom Board) has overseen expansions, renovations, and beautification works, including efforts to adorn parts of the temple with gold plating to enhance sanctity and aesthetics. Gold plating (thin gold sheets layered over surfaces) in temples is not unusual in India, often used for sanctum doors, lamps, panels, or pillars as a mark of devotion and prestige.

But in recent times, serious questions have been raised about how such gold-plating work has been carried out at Sabarimala, prompting allegations of financial misconduct, procedural violations, and even theft.

What Is The Scandal?

Initial probes revealed that gold plating procurement and its use at Sabarimala lacked transparency. Critics said contracts were awarded without competitive bidding, costs were inflated, and quality checks were bypassed. Moreover, portions of gold plating that should have remained under temple supervision were found missing or damaged.

After scrutiny by local media and activist groups, the Kerala High Court issued notices and directed preliminary investigations. The pressure increased on the Devaswom Board and the state government to reveal the details.

During the investigations and court filings, several alleged irregularities surfaced.

Non-Transparent Contracts: Many gold-plating works were awarded without open tenders or proper bidding. Contracts were given to allegedly favoured contractors with minimal scrutiny.

Inflated Costs & Overpaying: The rates paid for gold-plated materials and labour appear significantly higher than market norms. Some bills show suspicious mark-ups, with question marks over how much gold was actually used versus what was billed.

Missing Audits: Documentation of amounts of gold, thickness of plating, weighing certificates, and quality inspection reports is reportedly absent or inconsistent. In several cases, temple authorities say they cannot locate records of how many gold sheets were delivered or consumed.

Disappearance Of Plated Sections: Portions of gold plating  decorative panels, trims, ornamental items  have reportedly vanished or been found damaged under weak supervision. Some items appear to have been removed or stolen, but proper inventories or oversight mechanisms were not in place.

Use Of Lower-Grade Materials: In some instances, tests suggest that the actual gold content was lower than contract specs (i.e., substandard gold alloy or thickness). This discrepancy points to short-changing quality.

Bypassing Technical Norms: TEM (technical, engineering, measurement) oversight norms were apparently ignored. For example, the base metal surfaces might not have been prepared properly, adhesion checks skipped, or warranty clauses omitted.

Disregard For Deity Ownership: The temple deity is legally considered to own" the temple property. Critics argue that by handing over control of precious ornamentation work to private contractors with few checks, the sacred custodian role was compromised.

These combined issues raise the possibility not just of financial mismanagement but potentially criminal liability under theft, breach of trust, and corruption statutes.

How Have The Courts Responded To The Issue?

The Kerala High Court, upon public interest petitions, directed that a proper forensic audit be conducted. It called on the Travancore Devaswom Board, temple authorities, and the state government to submit full records of gold plating contracts, procurement documents, audits, and inspection reports. The court pressed for transparency and accountability in how sacred temple works are carried out.

Given the scale of allegations, calls have mounted for an independent investigation, possibly by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Religious and political groups have demanded that only a federal-level probe can meaningfully investigate whether wrongdoing went beyond state-level oversight.

What Has The Kerala Government Done?

In response, the Kerala government has taken several steps:

Suspension Of Faulty Contracts: Some gold plating contractors have reportedly been suspended, and contracts halted pending review.

Forensic Audit and Technical Committees: The government has proposed engaging forensic audit agencies and forming technical committees to assess the gold plating works, compare contract specs vs delivered work, and identify discrepancies.

Demand For Return: Where missing or substandard goods are found, the temple trust is being asked to recover costs from contractors or demand replacements.

Enhanced Governance Guidelines: Reforms are proposed in how temple works are managed  stricter tendering, oversight, third-party inspections, pre-publication of contract details, and community oversight.

Public Disclosure: The government has pledged to make many documents public  contracts, bills, audit reports  so devotees and citizens can see what is happening. However, these steps remain works in progress, and critics argue that implementation and follow-through are crucial.

Why Is This Scandal Grabbing Headlines?

Temples like Sabarimala are not merely physical assets  they are sacred institutions. Devotees entrust donations to temple boards expecting devout and transparent use. When allegations of misuse of gold and sacred ornamentation emerge, the spiritual bond and trust between devotees and the temple institution suffer a blow.

Much of the funding for temple renovations or ornamentation comes from public donations, government grants, or trust funds. Misuse of those funds is effectively misappropriation of public religious money. The state has a stewardship duty to protect those funds.

Gold plating is not just decorative; it often protects underlying structures, preserves heritage, and resists corrosion. If inferior work is done or parts are removed, the temples architectural and aesthetic heritage may suffer long-term degradation.

It is important to see how the government and courts handling of this scandal will set a precedent  not just for Sabarimala, but for how temples, mosques, churches, and other religious bodies are held accountable for precious ornamentation and renovation works.

Sabarimala is steeped in political, social, and cultural importance. Temple governance is tied up with caste, tradition, politics, and electoral accountability in Kerala. A gold-plating scandal will resonate far beyond the temple walls.

What Are The Roadblocks In The Investigation?

Incomplete or Lost Records: In many cases, decades-old financial records, contract files, or inspection logs may be missing or poorly archived, making forensic reconstruction difficult.

Resistance From Contractors: Powerful contractors or interest groups may resist audits or disclosure. Legal challenges may delay investigations.

Political Interference: Temple affairs are often politicised. Ministers or parties with influence over Devaswom boards may hinder transparent processes.

Technical Complexity: Accurately testing gold purity, thickness, base metals, adhesion, and wear over time requires skilled technical evaluation  something many boards may currently lack.

Delays: High Court orders, appeals, and litigation processes may stretch over years, slowing real accountability.

Public Scepticism: If reform efforts are half-hearted or superficial, devotees and citizens may believe that corruption in temple works is simply inevitable.

How Temple Authorities Can Regain Trust

To turn this scandal into a moment of positive reform, several steps are essential:

Independent Audit & Oversight: A genuinely neutral forensic audit, with powers to subpoena records, re-test gold content, and hold contractors liable.

Transparency: Mandate open bidding for all temple works, pre-publish terms and evaluation criteria, and allow objections by public stakeholders.

Quality Assurance: For gold plating, enforce precise standards for gold thickness, purity, substrate preparation, adhesive binding, and warranty terms.

Community & Devotee Oversight: Form committees with devotees, heritage experts, and local citizens to oversee temple projects and finances.

Legal Reforms: Enact stricter laws around the misuse of temple funds, custodial accountability, and legal consequences for theft or breach of trust in religious institutions.

Capacity Building: Train Devaswom board officials, temple engineers, and oversight personnel in procurement, forensic accounting, and heritage material maintenance.

Timely Public Disclosure: Publish audit reports, contract documents, corrective actions, and status updates to maintain public accountability.

What Lies Ahead?

The Sabarimala gold-plating scandal is more than a temple controversy  it is a test for governance, transparency, and the sacred role of religious institutions in democracy.

If the Kerala government and courts act decisively  with neutral audits, disclosure, reform, and restitution  this scandal could become a turning point in how temple works are conducted across India.

But if reforms drag, accountability fails, or contractors evade consequences, the damage will be lasting  not only to Sabarimalas reputation but to public faith in religious administration.

Devotees will watch closely. The sanctity of faith depends not just on ritual, but on integrity  especially when gold, devotion, and trust intersect.

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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: October 06, 2025, 14:25 IST

News explainers Sabarimala Gold Plating Scandal: How Did A Sacred Temple Project Turn Controversial?

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Trumps Gaza Peace Plan: Can It Work? What To Expect As High-Stakes Talks Set To Begin In Egypt

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News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 10:31 IST

Talks in Egypt bring the closest push yet toward ending the two-year war, but unresolved disputes over Hamass disarmament and Israels pullback could still derail the deal

US President Donald Trump with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. (Image: AFP/File)

Delegations from the US, Israel, Hamas, and key regional players, including Qatar and Egypt, are meeting in Cairo this week to negotiate the implementation of US President Donald Trumps proposed Gaza peace plan. The meeting follows Hamass conditional acceptance of parts of the plan and Israels agreement to send negotiators under American pressure.

Trump has described the discussions as very successful" and has repeatedly urged both sides to move fast" or risk massive bloodshed" in Gaza. He posted on Truth Social that the first phase should be completed this week" and added that he would continue to monitor this centuries-old conflict."

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The negotiations mark the most serious diplomatic push in nearly two years to end the conflict that began with Hamass October 2023 attack on Israel, which left 1,200 dead and over 250 hostages taken. In retaliation, Israel launched a prolonged military campaign that has killed more than 67,000 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

What Does Trumps Gaza Peace Plan Propose?

Trumps proposal lays out a phased framework:

Phase 1: Immediate ceasefire, release of 48 Israeli hostages (only around 20 are believed to be alive), and the start of Israeli troop pullback

Phase 2: Transfer of Gazas civilian administration to a technocratic Palestinian body not affiliated with Hamas or Fatah

Phase 3: Disarmament of Hamas, deployment of an international stabilisation force, and long-term reconstruction of Gaza

The plan also includes the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including over 250 serving life sentences, and a surge of humanitarian aid into the war-torn enclave.

Leading the US effort are Trumps close aides Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Israel has sent senior representatives, including Ron Dermer, while Hamas delegation is being led by Khalil al-Hayya, a senior political figure who survived an Israeli airstrike in Doha last month that killed his son and aides.

The US, Egypt, and Qatar are mediating the talks through indirect shuttle diplomacy, as Israeli and Hamas representatives are not meeting face-to-face.

What Has Hamas Agreed To, And What Are Its Red Lines?

In a move that surprised many observers, Hamas officially responded on Friday night by accepting key aspects of the plan. Specifically, it agreed to:

Release all remaining hostages

Permit Israels withdrawal

Transfer day-to-day governance of Gaza to a Palestinian technocratic authority

However, the group made clear that disarmament, a central pillar of the plan, remains unacceptable at this stage. Hamas also stated that it does not agree to the international body proposed by the US to administer Gaza and insists that any decisions must be ratified collectively with other Palestinian factions.

Arab sources quoted by The Economist said al-Hayya and other Hamas leaders based outside Gaza are inclined to accept Trumps plan despite significant reservations," but they lack control over the armed wing inside Gaza, which remains defiant.

Where Does Israel Stand And What Has Netanyahu Said?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly endorsed the Trump proposal, particularly the release of hostages and prisoner exchange, but has offered mixed signals on other key aspects. While Trumps plan calls for a complete Israeli withdrawal, Netanyahu has said the IDF would remain in most of Gaza. Hostages would be returned while the Israel Defense Forces would remain deep inside the strip," he said on Saturday.

Netanyahu is under pressure from both the Trump administration and his own far-right coalition. If the IDF pulls out of Gaza without achieving full disarmament of Hamas, Netanyahu risks losing his coalition, which could force early elections.

Why Is Disarmament The Biggest Obstacle Right Now?

The core sticking point is disarmament sequencing.

Israel insists it will not fully withdraw until Hamas lays down arms.

Hamas refuses to disarm unless Israeli forces leave and guarantees are in place to prevent renewed attacks.

The proposed compromise is a partial Israeli pullback, with verbal or written guarantees from the US and Israel to halt operations if the disarmament process begins. Trumps withdrawal map carves Gaza into phases but has sparked controversy. The BBC reported that it excludes almost 900,000 Palestinians from returning to their homes in Rafah, Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Deir al-Balah. Hamas had rejected a similar map during previous talks in March and May.

Another complication is Israels internal process. Once a list of prisoners is finalised, Israels cabinet must vote on it, and a 24-hour Supreme Court window will allow families of victims to appeal, though past challenges have rarely succeeded.

How Are Domestic Politics In Israel And Gaza Shaping The Talks?

Both sides are negotiating under immense political pressure.

For Netanyahu, the stakes are political. According to The Economist, 72 per cent of Israelis support the Trump plan. However, if the IDF withdraws without Hamass full disarmament, his far-right coalition partners have threatened to leave, which could force early elections before October 2026.

Netanyahu has tried to frame the talks as a personal victory, telling Israelis on Saturday: From victory to victory, we are changing the face of the Middle East."

For Hamas, agreeing to the deal risks backlash from within. The groups political leaders outside Gaza are willing to compromise, but its military wing views disarmament as an existential threat.

What Happens Next, And How Soon Could A Ceasefire Begin?

Talks in Cairo are expected to continue throughout the week. Trump has repeatedly urged both parties to move fast", warning that delays could lead to massive bloodshed".

Trumps personal stake is high, as he hopes to secure a diplomatic win before the Nobel Peace Prize announcement. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking on NBCs Meet the Press, said the process of bringing the Gaza conflict to a close would unfold in two phases. The first, he explained, involves the ongoing meetings and efforts to finalise the logistics of the hostage release  work that is happening even as I speak to you this very moment." The second, more complex phase, he added, will focus on deciding what happens inside Gaza once Israel withdraws to the agreed-upon lines.

If an agreement is reached this week, the likely immediate steps would be:

Temporary pause in bombings

Release of hostages and prisoners

Partial Israeli withdrawal

Entry of aid convoys and medical teams

Further talks on disarmament and post-war governance

So, Will Trumps Peace Plan Work?

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The talks represent the most realistic chance of a breakthrough in two years. However, success depends on overcoming unresolved core issues, particularly Hamass weapons, Israels security demands, and mutual distrust.

Still, many agree that this moment presents a rare alignment of urgency, pressure, and opportunity.

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: October 06, 2025, 10:21 IST

News explainers Trumps Gaza Peace Plan: Can It Work? What To Expect As High-Stakes Talks Set To Begin In Egypt

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What Is Peripheral Immune Tolerance For Which Brunkow, Ramsdell, Sakaguchi Won Nobel Prize?

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News18.com Edited By: Manjiri Joshi



Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 16:48 IST

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2025: Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi provided fundamental knowledge of how the immune system is regulated and kept in check

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(From left) Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi. (X/Nobel Prize)

Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi have won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2025 for their groundbreaking discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance that prevents the immune system from harming the body.

The prize-awarding body said that their discoveries laid the foundation for a new field of research and spurred the development of new treatments, for example for cancer and autoimmune diseases.

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The nobelprize.org website explained the concept and the contribution of the three scientists. Edited excerpts from the report.

The immune system

The immune system protects humans from thousands of different viruses, bacteria and other microbes that attempt to invade our bodies. One of the immune systems marvels is its ability to identify pathogens and differentiate them from the bodys own cells. So how does the immune system keep track of what to attack and what to protect? Why doesnt the immune system attack our bodies more frequently?

The Nobel Prize Laureates identified the immune systems security guards, regulatory T cells, thus laying the foundation for a new field of research. The discoveries have also led to the development of potential medical treatments that are now being evaluated in clinical trials.

BREAKING NEWSThe 2025 #NobelPrize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi for their discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance." pic.twitter.com/nhjxJSoZEr The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 6, 2025

What are T cells? What is central tolerance?

Helper T cells constantly patrol the body. If they discover an invading microbe, they alert other immune cells, which then mount an attack. Killer T cells eradicate cells which have been infected by a virus or other pathogens. They can also attack tumour cells.

All T cells have special proteins called T-cell receptors on their surface. These receptors can be likened to a type of sensor. The vast number of T cells with different receptors ensures that there are always some that can detect the shape of an invading microbe, including new viruses, such as the one that started the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. However, the body inevitably also creates T-cell receptors that can attach to parts of the bodys own tissues. So, what makes the T cells react to hostile microbes but not our own cells?

Here comes the central tolerance.

In the 1980s, researchers understood that when T cells mature in the thymus, they undergo a type of test that eliminates the T cells that recognise the bodys own  endogenous  proteins. This selection process is called central tolerance. In addition to this, some researchers suspected the existence of a type of cell that they called suppressor T cells. They believed that these dealt with T cells that had slipped through the test in the thymus. When it became apparent that some of the evidence for suppressor T cells was false, researchers rejected the entire hypothesis.

Regulatory T cells: What was Shimon Sakaguchis discovery?

Shimon Sakaguchi, who worked at the Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute in Nagoya, Japan, swam against the tide.

At the start of the 1980s, Sakaguchi isolated T cells that had matured in genetically identical mice and injected them into the mice without a thymus. This had an interesting effect: there appeared to be T cells that could protect the mice from autoimmune diseases.

This and other similar results convinced Sakaguchi that the immune system must have some form of security guard, one that calms down other T cells and keeps them in check. But what type of cell was this?

When researchers differentiate between T cells, they use proteins located on the cells surface. Helper T cells can be recognised thanks to a protein called CD4, while killer T cells are distinguished by CD8. In the experiment in which Sakaguchi protected the mice from autoimmune diseases, he used cells with CD4 on their surface  helper T cells. Ordinarily, these cells wake up the immune system and set it to work, but in Sakaguchis experiment the immune system was held back. His conclusion was that there must be different forms of T cells that carry CD4. To test his hypothesis, Sakaguchi needed to find a way of differentiating between the various types of T cell. This took him over a decade, but in 1995 he presented an entirely new class of T cells to the world. In The Journal of Immunology he demonstrated that these T cells  which calm the immune system  are characterised not only by carrying CD4 on their surface, but also a protein called CD25.

This newly identified T cell class was named regulatory T cells. However, many researchers were sceptical about its existence; they wanted more proof before they would believe in Sakaguchis discovery.

The mutation: Scurfy and the evolutionary fluke

In a laboratory, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, researchers were studying the consequences of radiation. Their work was part of the Manhattan Project and the development of the atomic bomb. The mouse strain that plays a vital role in this years Nobel Prize was an evolutionary fluke  some male mice were unexpectedly born with scaley and flaky skin, an extremely enlarged spleen and lymph glands, and they lived for just a few weeks. The mouse strain  which was given the name scurfy  captured the researchers attention.

Molecular genetics was in its infancy, but they realised that the mutation that caused this disease must be located on the mices X chromosome. Half of all the male mice are diseased, but the females can live with this mutation because they have two X chromosomes, of which one has healthy DNA. The female mice thus pass on the scurfy mutation to new generations. In the 1990s  when molecular tools had become considerably sharper  researchers began to investigate why the male scurfy mice got so ill. It turned out that their organs were being attacked by T cells that destroyed the tissues. For some reason, the scurfy mutation appeared to cause a rebellion in the immune system.

Brunkow and Ramsdell looked for explanation for autoimmune diseases

Two of the researchers who became interested in the scurfy mutation were Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell. They worked at a biotech company, Celltech Chiroscience, in Bothell, Washington, US. The company developed pharmaceuticals for autoimmune diseases, and Brunkow and Ramsdell realised that the scurfy mice could provide them with important clues in their work.

Today, it is possible to map a mouses entire genome and find a mutated gene in a few days. In the 1990s, it was like looking for a needle in a gigantic haystack.

Mapping had shown that the scurfy mutation must be somewhere in the middle of the X chromosome. Brunkow and Ramsdell succeeded in narrowing down the potential area to around 500,000 nucleotides. Then they took on the enormous work of mapping that area of the X chromosome in detail.

When Brunkow and Ramsdell finished, they had established that the area contained 20 potential genes. Their next challenge was to compare these genes in healthy mice and scurfy mice. They examined gene after gene. It was only with the twentieth and final gene that they could shout bingo. After years of dedicated work, they had finally found the scurfy mutation.

The faulty gene was previously unknown, but had many similarities with a group of genes called forkhead box or FOX genes. These regulate the activity of other genes, which can affect cell development. Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell named the new gene Foxp3.

During their work, Brunkow and Ramsdell had begun to suspect that a rare autoimmune disease, IPEX, which is also linked to the X chromosome, might be the human variant of the scurfy mices disease. On searching a database where researchers store information on newly discovered genes, they found the human equivalent of Foxp3. Helped by paediatricians from around the world, they collected samples from boys affected by IPEX. When they mapped the samples, they did indeed find harmful mutations in the FOXP3 gene.

In 2001, in Nature Genetics, Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell revealed that mutations in the FOXP3 gene cause both the human disease called IPEX and the scurfy mices ill health. These key findings led to febrile activity in several laboratories. When researchers pieced the puzzle together, they understood that the FOXP3 gene could be important for the regulatory T cells discovered by Sakaguchi.

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Two years later, Shimon Sakaguchi  and soon other researchers  could convincingly prove that the FOXP3 gene controls the development of regulatory T cells. These cells prevent other T cells from mistakenly attacking the bodys own tissue, which is important for a process called peripheral immune tolerance. Regulatory T cells also ensure the immune system calms down after it has eliminated an invader, so it does not continue working at top speed.

Through their revolutionary discoveries, Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi have provided fundamental knowledge of how the immune system is regulated and kept in check. They have thus conferred the greatest benefit to humankind, said the 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

First Published: October 06, 2025, 16:38 IST

News explainers What Is Peripheral Immune Tolerance For Which Brunkow, Ramsdell, Sakaguchi Won Nobel Prize?

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Why UPs Sambhal Villagers Dismantled Their Mosque: Encroachment Claims To Fear Of Bulldozer

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 13:16 IST

In Uttar Pradeshs Sambhal district, fear of the governments bulldozer drive has pushed villagers to an extraordinary step  demolishing their mosque

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The Sambhal mosque being demolished. (News18)

What made villagers in Uttar Pradeshs Sambhal district dismantle their mosque?

In Uttar Pradeshs Sambhal district, fear of the governments bulldozer drive has pushed villagers to an extraordinary step  demolishing their mosque. The structure, located in Raya Buzurg village, was declared illegally built" on government pond land by district authorities, who had already razed an adjoining madrasa and marriage hall.

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On Tuesday, the mosque was eventually demolished with the help of the locals and the district administration. News18 delved deep into the case, speaking to mosque committee members, local residents, and district officials to understand the layers behind the demolition  from contested land records and administrative action to the communitys decision to take matters into their own hands amid legal uncertainty.

Better Our Hands Than A Bulldozer

For nearly 25 years, the small mosque stood beside Raja Talab, a pond on the village outskirts. But late last month, the local administration marked it as an encroachment. Two days after a bulldozer razed the adjoining madrasa and marriage hall, we were told the mosque would be next," said Mohammad Rashid, a committee member. So, we started removing it ourselves."

However, by Friday evening, the dome and minaret were gone. It was painful," said 60-year-old Nasiruddin, but better to bring it down with our own bare hands than watch it crushed".

Dispute Over Land Records

According to revenue officials, the mosque stood on Gata No. 625, recorded as a pond in official records. The land belongs to the Gram Sabha. Structures on it were unauthorised," said SDM Rajesh Kumar. The madrasa and hall were removed, and the mosque committee was informed in advance."

Villagers, however, insist the mosque stood on vacant land beside the pond, not on it. The waterbody is several metres away," said Mohammad Irfan. Weve prayed here for years. Suddenly they say its illegal," the villagers said.

A Peaceful Dismantling

After rumours that officials would return with bulldozers, villagers decided to act first. We held a meeting and resolved to remove it peacefully," Rashid said. No slogans, no resistance. We informed the administration wed clear it ourselves."

District officials confirmed the voluntary move. Yes, the villagers dismantled the structure on their own," said a senior officer. No force was used."

On Friday, locals offered Jumma prayers one last time before taking down the remaining walls. Bricks were stacked neatly on an adjacent plot where, they hope, a new mosque may someday rise with permission.

Part Of Statewide Anti-Encroachment Drive

Sambhal District Magistrate Manish Bansal said the action was part of a state-wide campaign to reclaim pond and public land. The governments instructions are clear  encroachments must be removed, irrespective of religion," he told News18.

Officials say over 150 hectares of pond land have been reclaimed in Sambhal this year alone. People are given time to appeal," said a revenue officer. Those who act voluntarily, like in this case, prevent confrontation."

Why People Fear Bulldozer Action?

In Uttar Pradesh, the bulldozer has become a powerful symbol of the governments action against illegal structures. The drive began as a campaign to demolish properties of alleged criminals in districts like Prayagraj and Kanpur but soon expanded to include encroachments on government and pond land. In several cases  such as the demolition of mafia don Atiq Ahmeds properties in Prayagraj, houses linked to the 2022 Kanpur violence, and recent actions in Bareilly and Budaun  authorities used bulldozers to assert control. Officials say this shows that law applies equally to all.

We Only Want To Pray Peacefully

While the administration maintains it acted by the book, villagers describe the move as deeply distressing. We didnt oppose the law," said Shafiq Ahmed. We just didnt want tension. But losing a mosque built with our own hands hurts."

A temporary namaz space has been arranged beside the pond, and the community has written to authorities seeking alternate land. Well build again only with permission," said Rashid. We want peace, not conflict," a local said.

Bulldozer Cannot Symbolise Justice

The issue quickly snowballed into a political flashpoint. Sambhal MP Ziaur Rahman Barq of the Samajwadi Party accused the government of acting with bias. In my constituency, a madrasa and mosque have been demolished by branding them illegal. This is hatred, not governance. Bulldozers can never be the face of justice  courts should decide, not street machinery," Barq said in a post on social media.

SP MLA Pinky Yadav from Asmoli constituency also hit out at the government, calling the demolition a targeted act of vengeance". Every community has its own place of faith. The administration should protect peoples trust, not destroy it. This is dictatorship, not democracy," she wrote.

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The ruling BJP, however, defended the move. A senior party leader said, Illegal construction on public land cannot be tolerated, whether its a mosque, temple, or private property. The government is only reclaiming what belongs to the public."

For now, Raya Buzurgs mosque lies in rubble, its bricks carefully stacked  a quiet symbol of a communitys choice between confrontation and compliance.

First Published: October 06, 2025, 13:16 IST

News explainers Why UPs Sambhal Villagers Dismantled Their Mosque: Encroachment Claims To Fear Of Bulldozer

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DGCA To Probe Birmingham-Bound Air India Flight's RAT Deployment After Pilots Urge Checks

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 10:58 IST

The Federation of Indian Pilots has urged DGCA to inspect all B-787 systems in India after an Air India flight landed in Birmingham after its RAT deployed in final approach.

Air India flight (Representative image)

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will be carrying out a detailed investigation into the October 4 Air India flight AI117 incident, wherein the flight from Amritsar to Birmingham landed safely after the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) was deployed during its final approach.

This came after the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) addressed an email to the DGCA, reiterating the need for a comprehensive inspection of the electrical systems of Boeing 787 aircraft operating in India.

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According to the FIP, during the approach to Birmingham, the aircrafts RAT automatically deployed at 500 feet.

The Aircraft Health Monitoring (AHM) system detected a fault in the Bus Power Control Unit (BPCU), which may have triggered the RAT deployment.

Despite this, all electrical and hydraulic parameters were reported normal, and the aircraft landed safely. The plane has since been grounded at Birmingham for further checks.

In the email, the FIP emphasised that, since the introduction of the B-787 in India, multiple incidents involving its electrical systems have been reported.

We have strongly urged MoCA and AAIB to conduct a thorough examination of the electrical systems of all B-787 aircraft in the country," the email mentioned.

Highlighting the potential link to the previous Air India-171 crash, the FIP said, In the interest of air safety, DGCA must carry out a detailed investigation of the B-787 electrical systems."

In todays incident, the Aircraft Health Monitoring (AHM) has picked up a fault of the Bus Power Control Unit (BPCU), which may have caused the auto deployment of RAT. All electrical and hydraulic parameters were found normal, and the aircraft performed a safe landing at Birmingham," the email mentioned.

The aircraft has been grounded at BHX. Since the time B-787 has been flying, there have been numerous incidents on B-787," it mentioned.

AIR INDIA FLIGHT FROM AMRITSAR TO BIRMINGHAM

On Saturday, Air India flight AI117, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, landed safely in Birmingham after the RAT was deployed during its final approach. The airline confirmed that all electrical and hydraulic systems were functioning normally.

The flight took off from Amritsar on October 4.

According to an Air India spokesperson, the flight landed safely at Birmingham, and no passengers or crew were injured.

The aircraft has been grounded for further inspections.

The operating crew of flight AI117 from Amritsar to Birmingham on 04 October, 2025, detected deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) of the aircraft during its final approach."

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All electrical and hydraulic parameters were found normal, and the aircraft performed a safe landing at Birmingham. The aircraft has been grounded for further checks, and consequently, AI114 from Birmingham to Delhi has been cancelled, and alternative arrangements are being made to accommodate the guests," an Air India spokesperson said.

ALSO READ | Everyone Wanted To Give Each Other Clean Chit: Pilots Body On Air India Crash Probe

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: October 06, 2025, 10:15 IST

News india DGCA To Probe Birmingham-Bound Air India Flight's RAT Deployment After Pilots Urge Checks

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Bhojpuri Actor, YouTuber Mani Meraj Arrested In Bihar On Rape, Conversion, And Fraud Charges

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 20:37 IST

Ghaziabad Police arrested Mani Meraj in Patna after a woman YouTuber accused him of rape, forced religious conversion, abortion, and fraud. Investigation into the case is ongoing.

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Bhojpuri actor, IPL commentator, and YouTuber Mani Meraj (Instagram)

Ghaziabad Police have arrested Bhojpuri actor, IPL commentator, and YouTuber Mani Meraj, with millions of followers, from Patna, Bihar, after a complaint filed on September 18 by a woman YouTuber, alleging rape, forced religious conversion, abortion, and fraud.

Meraj was brought to Ghaziabad following the polices acquisition of a transit remand.

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The woman YouTuber alleged that Meraj befriended her under a false identity, drugged her, and repeatedly raped her under the pretext of marriage.

She further alleged that the accused forced her into unnatural sexual acts, pressured her to change her religion, and compelled her to undergo an abortion. She also claimed that he and his family coerced her into eating beef and reciting the kalma (Islamic creed), India Today reported.

According to her, the alleged abuse had been ongoing for the past three years, and she said that the accused also defrauded her of several lakh rupees.

Police investigation revealed that Mani Meraj previously worked as a butcher before rising to fame on social media with his comedy videos, amassing millions of followers. Building on his online popularity, he went on to act in Bhojpuri films, including a recent release, and also served as a Bhojpuri commentator for IPL matches on Jio TV.

This mistake was made by me. I trusted someone like that. I appeal for forgiveness and demand the strictest punishment against Mani Meraj," the complainant said.

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Hindu Raksha Dal leader Pinky Chaudhary said, A case has been filed against him. We will continue our fight against such people to get justice for our sisters and daughters. Our sister will now work to enlighten other young Hindu girls about love jihad. If a girl gets carried away by someone elses behaviour, she should be forgiven and taught whats right and wrong so that others can be saved from falling into the same trap."

Confirming the arrest, ACP of Indirapuram, Abhishek Srivastava, stated, After a thorough investigation by the Khoda police team, the accused was apprehended in Patna. Further proceedings are in progress." Ghaziabad police are currently questioning him to investigate the alleged love jihad" angle in the case.

Location : Ghaziabad, India, India

First Published: October 06, 2025, 20:37 IST

News india Bhojpuri Actor, YouTuber Mani Meraj Arrested In Bihar On Rape, Conversion, And Fraud Charges

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BJP MP Left Bloodied In Attack During Bengal Flood Relief Work, Suvendu Adhikari Blames TMC

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 14:58 IST

BJP leaders have alleged that the attack was orchestrated by TMC cadres, dubbing it TMCs Jungle Raj in Bengal."

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BJP MP Attacked During Flood Relief Work in Bengal

In a shocking incident in North Bengal, BJP MP Khagen Murmu sustained injuries after being attacked while distributing relief materials to flood-affected communities. The stone-pelting attack occurred in Jalpaiguris Nagrakata area, as Murmu and BJP MLA Dr Shankar Ghosh were on the ground assisting victims of recent heavy rains, floods, and landslides.

BJP alleges TMC involvement

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BJP leaders have alleged that the attack was orchestrated by members of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). TMCs Jungle Raj in Bengal! BJP MP Khagen Murmu, a respected tribal leader and two-time MP from North Malda, was attacked by TMC goons while on his way to help with relief and rescue efforts," BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya posted on X.

Malviya criticised the state government, saying, While Mamata Banerjee dances at her Kolkata Carnival, the TMC and state administration are missing in action. Those actually helping the people, BJP leaders and karyakartas, are being attacked for doing relief work. This is TMCs Bengal, where cruelty rules and compassion is punished."

Speaking about the incident, TMC leader and Minister of North Bengal Development said, People who attacked did not carry any flag . BJP tried to instigate people against Mamata Banerjee, those people now have reacted against this people."

Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, condemned the attacks, describing the situation as an intimidation tactic by the ruling party. MP Khagen Murmu was brutally attacked and has been left with bloody injuries in Nagrakata today when he was accompanying BJP President Samik Bhattacharya to the flood-affected areas," he stated.

Adhikari further alleged that Mamata Banerjees focus on public events in Kolkata had left North Bengal vulnerable. He claimed that the TMC deployed supporters from the Special Community to prevent BJP leaders from providing aid to flood victims. Mamata Banerjee, you cant intimidate BJP. Our MPs and MLAs were on the ground providing relief while her government failed to act," he added.

Condemning the attack, TMC leader, Kunal Ghosh said, TMC does not endorse such violent activity, what happened today is reaction to their (BJP) own act nothing else. They have not taken any relief material they went there for photo. They generally do not stand with people in distress thats why people have reacted."

Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar called CM Banerjee a failed" Chief Minister. His post on X reads, Failed Chief Minister Smt. Mamata Banerjee, who, even after receiving news yesterday of the catastrophic devastation in North Bengal and the tragic loss of many lives, was seen celebrating on the Carnival stage at Red Road, has clearly shown how fearful she has become of the BJP West Bengal workers and leaders who have been tirelessly conducting rescue and relief operations on the ground since yesterday. The people of Bengal will never forget this cowardice and shamelessness."

He further said, The way our MPs, MLAs, and state leaders have been attacked shows that there is no democracy left in West Bengal. Today, even the BJP team that went for relief work is being politicized by TMC. TMC has used Bangladeshis and Muslims to attack our MPs and MLAs. Mamata Banerjee has created a terrifying situation I feel this was done as part of a complete plan. The CM is also aware of it; I believe such a major incident could not have happened without the CMs knowledge. TMC has completely gone bankrupt in North Bengal. Mamata Banerjee knows that the people of North Bengal are angry with her By attacking Khagen Murmu in this manner today, they are trying to divert attention from it."

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Calling the attack planned and heinous, Raju Bista said, These leaders are visiting the landslide hit areas in Dooars, and were on a humanitarian mission. Such heinous and planned attack on elected representatives of the people, will not be tolerated under any circumstances."

Despite the attack, BJP leaders have vowed to continue their relief operations in flood-hit areas. The heavy monsoon rains in North Bengal have caused widespread devastation, with landslides, flash floods, and property damage, displacing thousands of residents.

About the Author Shuddhanta Patra Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior SubEditor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen... Read More

Location : West Bengal, India, India

First Published: October 06, 2025, 13:20 IST

News india BJP MP Left Bloodied In Attack During Bengal Flood Relief Work, Suvendu Adhikari Blames TMC

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'Brahmins Ignite Flame Of Knowledge In Society': Delhi CM Rekha Gupta

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 11:59 IST

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta noted that her government aims to provide equal opportunities to each community and to honour their contribution.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta during Inter-State Brahmin Conference (Credits: X/Rekha Gupta)

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday said that Brahmins ignite the flame of knowledge in our society". Her remark came while she was addressing the All India Brahmin Conference held by Shri Brahmin Sabha in Delhis Pitampura on Sunday, October 5.

If anyone is igniting the flame of knowledge in society, it is our Brahmin community. They worship not only scriptures but also weapons. Only through weapons and scriptures can we protect society and the country today," said Gupta.

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By igniting the flame of knowledge, propagating religion, and fostering a spirit of goodwill, the Brahmin community has always worked for the benefit of society. No matter which government is in power, it should work for the welfare of the Brahmin community to take them forward," she added.

She further took a swipe at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Arvind Kejriwal and said that Delhi had been moving at a slow pace for the last 27 years.

Now is the time to shift gears and accelerate the process because it seems that the states around us have surpassed us. If we all work together in the interest of Delhi and its people, then Delhi will surely be established as a Viksit Delhi," she said.

 ,      ,               ,                     ,    pic.twitter.com/ZvZ0MSHOiE  Rekha Gupta (@gupta_rekha) October 5, 2025

CM Gupta further highlighted that her government aims to provide equal opportunities to each community and to honour their contribution.

Speaking about Lord Parashuram, she said that his teachings remind us that dharma is not just about how we act, but also about our duty towards society.

Only a united society can achieve true progress," she said.

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She also shared a post after the incident from her X handle, showing glimpse from the event.

Participated in the Inter-State Brahmin Conference organized by Shri Maithili Brahmin Sabha, Delhi Province in West Enclave, Pitampura. The life of Lord Parshuram Ji is an amazing confluence of wisdom, courage, and honor. His ideals teach us that the essence of religion lies not only in conduct but also in responsibility towards society," she said in her post on X.

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: October 06, 2025, 11:59 IST

News india 'Brahmins Ignite Flame Of Knowledge In Society': Delhi CM Rekha Gupta

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'These Things Dont Affect Me': CJI Gavai After Lawyer Tries To Hurl Shoe At Him In Supreme Court

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 13:18 IST

A lawyer tried to throw a shoe at CJI BR Gavai in the Supreme Court, but was stopped by security. The CJI remained calm and asked for the proceedings to continue.

Chief Justice of India BR Gavai (Photo: News18)

A lawyer attempted to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai in the Supreme Court on Monday. According to Bar and Bench, the security personnel present in court intervened in the nick of time and escorted the lawyer out.

However, the CJI remained unfazed and asked the lawyers present in court to continue with their arguments.

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Dont get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me," he said.

The incident happened when the bench led by the CJI was hearing the mention of cases by lawyers.

The report quoted sources and said the lawyer went near the dais and attempted to remove his shoe and throw it at the judge.

Meanwhile, Live Law quoted some in the courtroom as saying that the man, dressed in a lawyers robe, appeared to be hurling a roll of paper.

As he was being escorted out of the courtroom, he was heard saying, Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge (Will not tolerate disrespect of the Sanatana Dharma)".

Following the incident, top sources told CNN-News18 that the court will take a call on the action to be taken against the accused only after the CJI rises from the bench.

Though a suo motu action could be taken by the security officials and the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Supreme Court, however, the CJIs decision would be awaited for, they said.

The incident was possibly sparked by CJI Gavais comments during a September 16 case hearing, wherein the Supreme Court had dismissed a plea seeking directions to reconstruct and reinstall a seven-foot idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari Temple, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Khajuraho temple complex in Madhya Pradesh.

Turning down the plea, the court had termed it a publicity interest litigation".

This is purely publicity interest litigation. Go and ask the deity himself to do something. If you are saying that you are a strong devotee of Lord Vishnu, then you pray and do some meditation," CJI Gavai had said.

Stating that the issue squarely fell under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the CJI had said, Its an archaeological find, whether the ASI would permit such a thing to be done or not. There are various issues."

In the meantime, if you are not averse to Shaivism, you can go and worship there. There is a very big linga of Shiva, one of the biggest in Khajuraho," he said.

His remarks had sparked a row, following which he clarified that he respects all religions and asserted his remarks were mispresented on social media.

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ALSO READ | Not Rule Of Bulldozer: CJI Gavai Says India Governed By Rule Of Law, Cites His Own Ruling

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: October 06, 2025, 12:57 IST

News india 'These Things Dont Affect Me': CJI Gavai After Lawyer Tries To Hurl Shoe At Him In Supreme Court

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'Work In Progress': ECI To Conduct Pan-India SIR Exercise, Says CEC Gyanesh Kumar

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 18:10 IST

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said the Election Commission has already decided to conduct the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in all states and UTs.

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Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during the EC press conference on Monday.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Monday said that the Election Commission has already decided to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise throughout the country, which will be announced after talks.

The Election Commission has already taken a decision to conduct a pan-India SIR in every state and Union Territories. It is a work in progress. The EC will decide on the dates and make a formal announcement," he said during a press conference on Monday.

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The SIR exercise was conducted by the Election Commission, resulting in the deletion of 69 lakh voters from the voter list due to deaths, inclusion of illegal immigrants and duplicate Voter ID cards. The total number of voters in Bihar stood at 7.43 crore after the deletions.

There have been a series of bitter exchanges between the poll body and the Opposition parties, who argued that the ECs exercise was aimed at disenfranchising voters" in Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections. The EC has refuted these arguments and said they were aimed at purifying" the voter lists ahead of the high-stakes elections.

Bihar SIR Exercise

The Election Commission on Monday announced that Bihar will go to elections in two phases on November 6 and 11, with counting scheduled for November 14. The SIR is expected to be the core issue in the polls as the INDIA bloc leaders have been continuously accusing the Election Commission of indulging in Vote theft, even though the poll panel has categorically denied the charge.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said the SIR initiative, launched in Bihar on June 25, was aimed at ensuring cleaner and more accurate electoral rolls. According to official data, of the 69 lakh deletions from Bihars pre-SIR roll, 65 lakh names were removed in the draft list published on August 1, followed by another 3.66 lakh before the final publication.

ALSO READ: What Led To Deletion Of 69 Lakh Names From Bihars Voter List? ECI Reveals Reason

He lauded BLOs and other officials for their commendable job in purifying" the voter list through the SIR exercise. The draft list was published on August 1 and was given to all political parties. Then, an appropriate time was given to everyone for claims and objections. The final list was published on September 30. Even now, if there are any claims or any names to be added, they can be added," he said.

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The Special Intensive Revision model implemented in Bihar is expected to be rolled out nationwide to standardise voter verification ahead of future elections, the Election Commission said.

The Supreme Court directed the inclusion of the Aadhaar Card as the 12th document as proof of identification, but it will not serve as proof of citizenship. Section 9 of the Aadhaar Act states that the Aadhaar Card is neither proof of citizenship nor Domicile. Before 2023, many SC judgments stated that Aadhaar is not proof of date of birth," Kumar said.

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: October 06, 2025, 17:39 IST

News india 'Work In Progress': ECI To Conduct Pan-India SIR Exercise, Says CEC Gyanesh Kumar

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'Had Come Down For Dinner': Man Who Lost Mother In Jaipur Hospital Fire Recounts Horror

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 09:15 IST

Eight critical patients were killed in Jaipur hospital fire. Families of the victims have alleged hospital negligence and said no action was taken to douse the fire.

A fire broke out in the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur.

A man who lost his mother in the Jaipur hospital fire alleged that there were no equipment to douse the fire. He was having dinner when fire broke out in the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur. By the time he got to know about the incident, his mother was dead.

Speaking to ANI, Narendra Singh said, There was a fire in the ICU, and I didnt even know. I had come downstairs to have dinner at the time. There wasnt even any equipment to douse the fire  no facilities were available. My mother was admitted there."

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A short circuit triggered a massive fire in the ICU of SMS Hospital Trauma Centre late on Sunday night, leading to the death of eight critical patients. 11 patients were being treated in the ICU.

The families of the victims recounted harrowing experiences and alleged major lapses. It was also alleged that the hospital staff had fled after the fire broke out.

Om Prakash, whose 25-year-old maternal aunts son was admitted, recounted the tragedy and told ANI, Smoke started spreading around 11:20 PM, and I warned the doctors that it could cause discomfort to patients. By the time the smoke intensified, the doctors and compounders had already fled. Only 4 to 5 patients were evacuated. Tragically, my maternal aunts son lost his life due to the incident. He was about to recover and was scheduled to be discharged in two-three days."

Rajasthan Government Begins Investigation

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The Rajasthan government on Monday constituted a 6-member committee to investigate the fire. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital following the fire outbreak.

As per the order by the Office of the Secretary to the Government, Medical Education Department, the committee will investigate the causes of the fire, the hospital managements arrangements for controlling the fire, the firefighting arrangements at the Trauma Center and SMS Hospital, the safety and evacuation of patients in case of a fire, and the arrangements to protect the hospital from such fires in the future and prevent recurrence of such accidents.

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: October 06, 2025, 09:15 IST

News india 'Had Come Down For Dinner': Man Who Lost Mother In Jaipur Hospital Fire Recounts Horror

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Heroic Solapur Dad Dies While Saving 6-Year-Old Son From Floodwaters

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 13:20 IST

The father and son had gone to see the river near the Kolhapur Dam on the Nagjari River in Dhamangaon Dumala.

File Image | PTI

In a heartbreaking incident that occurred on Sunday, a father died while saving his son from the Solapur floodwaters. While the son was saved, the father could not tackle the high current and drowned.

The victim, identified as 42-year-old David Satish Bansode, and his 6-year-old son, Anugrah, had gone to see the river near the Kolhapur Dam on the Nagjari River in Dhamangaon Dumala. The father-son moment turned upside down after the boy slipped into the water.

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Without a moments delay, his father jumped into the water to save him.

Anugrah was pulled out of the water, but unable to swim against the current, he slipped and drowned. Meanwhile, people present at the site tried to save David, but were unsuccessful.

After a while, David was pulled out of the water. He was rushed to a hospital in Barshi for treatment, but doctors declared him dead. Meanwhile, the drowned child, Anugrah, is undergoing treatment.

Amit Shah Assures Help To Flood-Affected Maharashtra Farmers

Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured the Centre would ensure all necessary help to the farmers of Maharashtra affected by the recent rains leading to crop losses.

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Speaking at the inauguration of the expanded capacity of Dr Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil Cooperative Sugar Factory in Maharashtras Ahilyanagar, Shah said that MLAs of the National Democratic Alliance donated one months salary to the relief fund to help the affected farmers.

Yesterday, all three of them (Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawar) had a long meeting with me. On behalf of Modi ji, I have assured him that the Maharashtra government should send us a detailed report. Modi ji will not delay in helping the farmers of Maharashtra. All this has happened because the people of Maharashtra have elected a government that cares about everyone. All our NDA MLAs have donated one months salary to the relief fund," Shah said.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : Solapur, India, India

First Published: October 06, 2025, 13:10 IST

News india Heroic Solapur Dad Dies While Saving 6-Year-Old Son From Floodwaters

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India Stands With Nepal: PM Modi Offers Assistance After Deadly Rains, Floods Leave 52 Dead

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 07:18 IST

The situation has thrown life out of gear in several areas, also leading to eight major rivers crossing the danger mark in eastern Nepal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi; Nepal's interim PM Sushila Karki (Reuters photo)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed solidarity with Nepal after landslides and floods triggered by torrential rainfall across the country left at least 52 dead.

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Taking to X, the Prime Minister extended his condolences and reaffirmed Indias role as a close neighbour and reliable partner.

He said, The loss of lives and property due to heavy rains in Nepal is heartbreaking. We stand with the Nepali people and the Government of Nepal during this difficult time. As a friendly neighbor and first responder, India is committed to providing any kind of assistance that may be needed."

Nepal has been witnessing continuous rain since Friday. The situation has thrown life out of gear in several areas, also leading to eight major rivers crossing the danger mark in eastern Nepal.

                                     Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 5, 2025

Nepal Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force (APF) personnel were deployed for carrying out rescue operations in different areas.

In response to the disaster, the Nepali government announced Nepali rupees (NRs) 2,00,000 as immediate relief to the kin of those who lost their lives in rain-related disasters on Sunday.

Besides the compensation for the deceased, the injured will be provided with free treatment, according to statement by the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Authority (NDRRMA).

According to the Armed Police Force Headquarters, Ilam has been the worst hit, with landslides and floods claiming 37 lives. In other districts across the province, 12 more people have lost their lives. One person is still missing in Koshi, and at least 17 have been reported dead.

In Nepals southern plains, three people were reported dead and another was injured in Rautahat after being struck by lightning. In Bara, rescue teams are still searching for one person who has gone missing.

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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: October 06, 2025, 07:11 IST

News india India Stands With Nepal: PM Modi Offers Assistance After Deadly Rains, Floods Leave 52 Dead

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Internet Blackout, Curfew Imposed After Violence: Why Is Cuttack Under Lockdown?

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 11:22 IST

Authorities also ordered the suspension of internet and messaging services including WhatsApp, Facebook, X, Instagram, and Snapchat, from 7 pm Sunday to 7 pm Monday.

Left: Image after clash; Right: Curfew imposed in Cuttack

Tensions flared across Cuttack in Odisha as violent clashes broke out during the Durga Puja idol immersion late Friday night near Haathi Pokhari. The internet has been suspended, and a 36-hour-long curfew has been imposed under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in the aftermath of the incident.

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In order to restore peace in the areas, the administration has deployed a total of 60 platoons of state police forces, including the Rapid Action Force, Border Security Forces, Central Reserve Police Force and the Odisha Swift Action Force.

What Happened In Cuttack?

The violent clashes that left at least 25 people injured began late Friday night near Haathi Pokhari, when a group of locals objected to loud music being played during an idol immersion procession. The argument quickly turned violent, leading to stone-pelting and bottle-throwing from rooftops. Among those injured was also DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo.

Fresh Violence Breaks Out During VHP Rally

A fresh violence broke out on Sunday during a motorcycle rally organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), which defied administrative restrictions.

When police stopped the rally, protesters allegedly turned violent, resulting in stone-pelting, fires, and clashes. Security personnel used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. At least 25 people, including eight police officials, were injured.

Shops, vehicles, and CCTV cameras were damaged, and the rioters also set fire at 810 locations near Gourishankar Park.

Internet Suspended, Curfew Imposed

Authorities also ordered the suspension of internet and messaging services including WhatsApp, Facebook, X, Instagram, and Snapchat, from 7 pm Sunday to 7 pm Monday across the Cuttack Municipal Corporation, Cuttack Development Authority, and 42 Mauza regions.

Areas including Dargah Bazaar, Mangalabag, Purighat, Lal Bagh, and Jagatpur witnessed curfew being imposed. The authorities appealed to locals to stay indoors.

#WATCH | Cuttack, Odisha | Visuals from Cuttack where a 36-hour curfew has been imposed and heavy police force deployed in the sensitive areas of the city after violence erupted between police and VHPA total of 25 people, including eight policemen, were injured in the https://t.co/1V04lFoS87 pic.twitter.com/lrjwIZsrDI  ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2025

Essential Services To Remain Open

Additional Police Commissioner Narasingha Bhola said that while all commercial establishments will remain shut during the curfew, hospitals, schools, and colleges will continue to function as usual. He added that authorities are ensuring essential services are not disrupted despite the restrictions in place.

Situation Currently Under Control

The situation in Cuttack is currently under control, said Director General of Police Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, also appealing to the people to avoid rumours and check the websites of the police and the Commissionerate, and the Twitter handles to understand any facts related to the incident.

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The situation in Cuttack is currently under control. The police are closely monitoring the situation. Action will be taken against all anti-social elements involved in the violence I would like to inform all residents of Cuttack not to trust any rumour. They should immediately check the police website, the Commissionerates website, and their Twitter handle. Understand the facts presented there" Khurania told ANI.

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 : Cuttack, India, India

First Published: October 06, 2025, 11:22 IST

News india Internet Blackout, Curfew Imposed After Violence: Why Is Cuttack Under Lockdown?

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'Administrative Failure, Mismanagement': NDA MPs' Report Flags Negligence In Karur Tragedy

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 11:59 IST

In connection with the Karur stampede, the NDA MPs' fact-finding team has suggested administrative failure and mismanagement, demanding action against officials responsible.

Karur: Footwear and other belongings of people, who attended actor Vijay's rally, lie on a road in the aftermath of the stampede (Photo: PTI)

The NDA MPs fact-finding team, investigating the stampede at TVK chief Vijays rally in Tamil Nadus Karur on September 27, has attributed the tragedy to complete administrative failure and mismanagement."

The team concluded that the incident, which claimed 47 lives and left nearly 60 injured, was entirely preventable and was caused by gross negligence" on the part of local authorities.

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According to the report, the crowd began gathering as early as 9 am on the fateful day, although Vijays arrival was scheduled for noon, and he reached the venue only around 7 pm.

Among the most heart-wrenching cases, the team cited a father who lost his two daughters, aged 12 and 8, in the melee.

Some victims reportedly fell into open drains near the venue and were later found dead.

The fact-finding team also found that the power supply failed shortly after the chaos began, and the backup generator did not start, plunging the venue into darkness and worsening the panic.

The report noted that the District Magistrate had approved the event venue despite its limited capacity and failed to ensure basic crowd control and safety measures."

The MPs, in the report, emphasised that the tragedy was entirely preventable and demanded strict action against the officials responsible for approving and managing the event.

They also noted that the District Magistrate avoided meeting them during their visit, raising questions about transparency.

Meanwhile, a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by senior IPS officer Asra Garg, on Sunday conducted its probe into the Karur stampede case.

The SIT was set up on the basis of the Madras High Court order on October 3, and comprises 11 police officers, including two Superintendent of Police officers, among others.

During the investigation, Garg on Sunday visited the stampede venue.

Later, speaking to reporters, he said, Honourable High Court has formed the Special Investigation Team. As you all see, we are conducting the investigation today by visiting the spots (where the incident occurred)."

To a query, he said, apart from him, two Superintendent of Police officers, one additional SP, two Deputy Superintendent of Police officials and five inspectors are part of the team.

I cannot share any other details today," he said in his brief interaction with the media.

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ALSO READ | Planned, Created Incident: BJP Hits Out At Tamil Nadu CM, DMK Over Karur Stampede

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: October 06, 2025, 11:57 IST

News india 'Administrative Failure, Mismanagement': NDA MPs' Report Flags Negligence In Karur Tragedy

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Kerala To Ban All Products Of Firm Producing Coldrif Cough Syrup Linked To Kids' Death In MP

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Manisha Roy



Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 14:45 IST

Kerala is expected to ban all products of firm producing Coldrif syrup that is linked with children's deaths in Madhya Pradesh.

It is learnt that the state drug control department has collected 52 cough syrup samples from various companies for testing and evaluation. (Image for representation)

After banning Coldrif cough syrup, which has been linked to the deaths of many children in Madhya Pradesh, the Kerala government is expected to prohibit the use of all products manufactured by the company that produces the medicine. An official order banning all products of the firm is expected to be issued soon.

It is learnt that the state drug control department has collected 52 cough syrup samples from various companies for testing and evaluation.

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Keralas Health Minister Veena George announced on Saturday that the states Drugs Control Department had ordered an immediate halt to all sales of the product as a precautionary measure in the wake of the deaths.

The action follows an ongoing probe into suspected contamination in a batch of the syrup, produced by Sresan Pharma, a manufacturer based in Tamil Nadus Kanchipuram district. The particular batch was not supplied to Kerala, but the cough syrup was still banned in the state.

Minister Veena George, in a statement issued in Thiruvananthapuram, said that though the flagged batch was not found to have been distributed in Kerala, the government decided to act out of an abundance of caution."

The Drugs Controller has instructed inspectors to completely stop the distribution and sale of Coldrif syrup in the state," she said, adding that all eight distributors currently selling the product in Kerala have been directed to suspend operations immediately. Medical stores have also been told to remove existing stocks from their shelves.

She added that extensive inspections are being conducted across the state to trace any additional consignments that may have reached the market through private distribution.

The Cough Syrup Row

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The Kerala government banned the cough syrup after similar bans were imposed by Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh last week, as the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) expanded its investigation into multiple drug manufacturing units across six states.

The issue first came to light in early September when several children in Madhya Pradeshs Chhindwara district developed acute kidney failure, allegedly after consuming contaminated cough syrup. As many as 14 child deaths have been reported from Madhya Pradeshs Chhindwara district due to suspected renal failure, linked to the consumption of the toxic" cough syrup.

Location : Kerala, India, India

First Published: October 06, 2025, 14:43 IST

News india Kerala To Ban All Products Of Firm Producing Coldrif Cough Syrup Linked To Kids' Death In MP

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Link To UK, USA, Silent Servers: Cyber Teams Struggle To Crack Encrypted Hoax Network | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 10:57 IST

In almost all cases, agencies have learnt that VPN played a key role. When a VPN is combined with layered encryption and proxy servers, it becomes nearly impossible to intercept

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The delay in solving such cases is buried under layers of encryption, anonymised IP routes, and uncooperative overseas servers. (Pixabay Image for Representation)

A series of hoax bomb threat emails that started in December last year, targeting schools, high courts and other institutions across India, has turned into a cyber investigation nightmare.

Despite multiple teams working on it, the trail has hit a dead end. According to sources, in a recent cyber-coordination meeting, agencies raised concerns over helplessness in such cases. The delay is buried under layers of encryption, anonymised IP routes, and uncooperative overseas servers.

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According to central intelligence sources, investigators have traced the latest batch of hoax bomb emails to foreign IP addressesone from Utica, New York, another from Germany, and two separate hits from the United Kingdom and the United States. But each digital footprint, officials say, disappears into a fog of system chaining".

The sender used a combination of VPN tunneling and proxy layering, rerouting through at multiple countries. Its a digital labyrinth deliberately designed to collapse if anyone tries to retrace it," said a senior cyber-forensics officer involved in the probe. So far, nine shadow destinations have been traced.

Investigations till now have revealed that between mid-July and late September 2025, several schools in Delhi received a series of threatening e-mails, causing widespread alarm and prompting investigations. The first message was sent on July 16, 2025, from roadkillbenji@tutanota.com, traced to an IP address located in Hanover, Germany. Shortly after, on July 17 and 18, multiple schools received similar threats from leavemeallalone@atomicmail.io, with the IP traced to Saxony, Germany. Another e-mail sent on July 17 from roadkillmentalhospital@atomicmail.io targeted one of the previously affected schools, also originating from the same German server, suggesting a link between the incidents.

In August 2025, the focus of these threats shifted but continued to target Delhi schools. E-mails sent on August 17 and 19 from lolvilebin@gmail.com shared the same IP address ending with 85, though its exact geolocation could not be determined. These repeated attempts pointed to a pattern of sustained harassment directed at the education sector. The tone and timing of the e-mails suggested deliberate intent to disrupt normal school operations and induce fear among staff, students, and parents.

By late August and through September 2025, the threats grew more complex. New sender addresses such as terrorizing111@gmail.com, terrorizers111t@gmail.com, and evilterrorizer@gmail.com were used, employing multiple VPN-based IPs from regions, including UK, Netherlands, USA, Italy, and Morocco. The frequent use of anonymising tools and international IPs indicates a calculated effort to conceal the senders identity and hinder tracing efforts. The recurring nature, evolving tactics, and coordinated pattern of these e-mails highlight a sustained campaign of cyber intimidation targeting schools across Delhi.

Since January 2025, similar hoax threats have targeted schools and courts in Delhi, Mumbai, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. In every case, the emails followed a pattern: anonymised sender IDs, encrypted routes, and references to mental distress or random phrases meant to evoke panic.

Despite repeated false alarms, the cyber trails remain elusivea reminder that while the threats may be fake, the fear they cause is all too real.

VPN: The Dead End

In almost all the cases across India, agencies have learnt that VPN played a key role. When a VPN is combined with layered encryption and proxy servers, it becomes nearly impossible to intercept in real time.

Each data packet leaving the senders device is encrypted multiple times, a process similar to nesting locked boxes inside one another. These packets are then sent through a chain of VPN servers located in different countries, a process known as system chaining. At each server, only one layer of encryption is peeled off, revealing the next destination, but not the original sender," an official who attended the meeting explained to News18.

The official added that even if one VPN server is compromised, investigators see only the previous node, not the source IP.

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The Foreign Server Challenge

In the meeting, state law enforcement agencies also identified that some of the emails were routed through non-cooperative overseas firms hosting encrypted mail domains. These companies, based in privacy-protective countries, often refuse to share server logs citing data protection laws.

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: October 06, 2025, 10:57 IST

News india Link To UK, USA, Silent Servers: Cyber Teams Struggle To Crack Encrypted Hoax Network | Exclusive

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CJI Gavai Asks Officials Not To Act Against Lawyer Who Tried To Hurl Shoes At Him: Sources

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 16:00 IST

Top sources had told CNN-News18 earlier that the court would take a call on the action to be taken against the accused only after the CJI rises from the bench

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CJI BR Gavai (PTI File Image)

No action will be taken against the lawyer who tried to hurl a shoe at CJI BR Gavai on Monday, top sources told CNN-News18, after the Chief Justice of India asked officials to ignore" the act.

The incident occurred when the CJI-led Bench was hearing the mention of cases by lawyers. While some witnesses said the lawyer tried to remove his shoe and throw it at the CJI after approaching the dais, some said he appeared to be hurling a roll of paper.

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An unfazed Gavai, however, asked the lawyers to ignore the commotion and continue with their arguments. Dont get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me," he said.

Top sources had told CNN-News18 earlier that the court would take a call on the action to be taken against the accused only after the CJI rises from the bench.

Supreme Court Bar Association president Vikas Singh, while speaking to CNN-News18, had also said the body will initiate action for cancelling the membership of the lawyer. The lawyer is a temporary member of the Bar since 2011. Well initiate action for cancelling his membership. I tried contacting the CJI, but he was still on the bench. Its an unfortunate incident because of the misinterpretation of the CJIs observations in social media. The law will take its own course."

Meanwhile, as the lawyer was being escorted out of the courtroom, he was heard saying: Sanatan ka apmaan nahi sahenge (Will not tolerate disrespect of the Sanatana Dharma)".

The incident was possibly linked to CJI Gavais comments during a September 16 case hearing, wherein the Supreme Court had dismissed a plea seeking directions to reconstruct and reinstall a seven-foot idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari Temple, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Khajuraho temple complex in Madhya Pradesh.

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Terming the plea publicity interest litigation", the court had turned down the petition and CJI Gavai had noted: This is purely publicity interest litigation. Go and ask the deity himself to do something. If you are saying that you are a strong devotee of Lord Vishnu, then you pray and do some meditation."

After his remarks sparked a row, CJI Gavai had clarified that he respects all religions and asserted his remarks were mispresented on social media.

About the Author Ananya Bhatnagar Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU vi... Read More

First Published: October 06, 2025, 14:40 IST

News india CJI Gavai Asks Officials Not To Act Against Lawyer Who Tried To Hurl Shoes At Him: Sources

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'Not Kidnapping But Organised Crime': Police To Court About Puja Khedkar's Family

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 20:23 IST

Police said the kidnapping of a truck driver was a deliberate act on the part of Dilip Khedkar and his wife Manorama, accusing the family of having criminal backgrounds.

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Sacked IAS officer Puja Khedkar and her mother Manorama Khedkar.

Police made shocking revelations about sacked IAS officer Puja Khedkars family, saying the recent Navi Mumbai kidnapping case was not only a mere road rage incident, but a part of organised crime.

The case pertained to the kidnapping of a truck, allegedly by Dilip Khedkar, Pujas father, and his bodyguard. The abducted driver, identified as 22-year-old Prahlad Kumar, was rescued from the Khedkars home on September 14, within hours of his abduction the day before in the evening. Pujas mother, Manorama, was accused of preventing police personnel from entering the house and helping the accused escape.

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Officials said Prahlad Kumar, who was driving a concrete mixer truck, grazed Dilips Land Cruiser on Mulund-Airoli Road in Navi Mumbai. After a heated altercation, Dilip Khedkar and his bodyguard assaulted the driver and forced him inside their vehicle on the pretext of taking him to the police station.

However, police told a courtroom in Navi Mumbai that this was not a heat-of-the-moment clash, and the driver was deliberately taken and confined to the basement of the Khedkar family house in an unlawful manner, reported NDTV.

Criminal Background Of Khedkars

Police told the court that Dilip and Manorama Khedkar had criminal backgrounds despite being former government officials. They were previously booked in a case of land grabbing at gunpoint, and other cases by their associates were also submitted in the court.

Police detailed how Kumar was tracked to the Khedkars house in Pune via his mobile signal, where the team was denied entry by Manorama. The cops accused Manorama of locking the bungalow gates and releasing her dogs to intimidate the police.

When the police team was attempting to enter, Dilip Khedkar, his driver and the vehicle were present at the house. Dilip assured the cops that they would go to the police station themselves, but fled shortly afterwards. The truck driver was rescued from the bungalow.

Critical Evidence Missing

Police said the accused have not cooperated with the investigation into the incident and have gone to great lengths to destroy crucial evidence, including the bungalows DVR system, the SUV, and the mobile phones used, according to the NDTV report. If this was simply a road rage misunderstanding, why erase the footage?" police asked.

They also recalled a conversation with Manorama Khedkar, in which she allegedly said, We have nothing to do with this case. You do whatever you want." Police told the court that the investigation cannot move forward until the accused Dilip, who is on the run, is in custody.

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Manorama, who was granted interim pre-arrest bail in the truck cleaner abduction case, is also allegedly avoiding contact with investigators. In her bail application, she said she offered him hospitality, including food, but the victim alleged he was given stale food during his confinement.

The police also raised another point of contention, in which Dilip Khedkar claimed the dispute arose over a Rs 5,000 argument with Prahlad Kumar. Police countered by saying, Does any part of a Land Cruiser cost Rs 5,000?"

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 : Navi Mumbai, India, India

First Published: October 06, 2025, 19:42 IST

News india 'Not Kidnapping But Organised Crime': Police To Court About Puja Khedkar's Family

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'Only The Almighty...': Rajnath Singh Says No One Knows About Pakistan's Future

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 21:04 IST

Rajnath Singh highlighted that while India was progressing towards becoming the world's third-largest economy, Pakistan's future was uncertain.

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Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. (IMAGE: PTI)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday hailed Indias stability and its progress towards becoming the third-largest economy in the world, while no country was sure about the future of neighbouring Pakistan.

Speaking at the book launch of former Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbars After Me, Chaos, Singh said, At present, India is the fourth-largest economy in the world. India is heading towards becoming the 3rd biggest economy by 2030. As per average growth rates by the IMF, India is on the way to becoming the worlds second-largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) by 2038."

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If you look at some South Asian countries, you will realise how stable India is," he said, citing transformative reforms in the country that have boosted the Indian economy.

He also recalled MJ Akbars jelly state" reference towards Pakistan, a country which remains on the brink of instability without truly collapsing. Considering Pakistans current state, only the Almighty knows what the future holds for it. I dont want to talk about the future," Rajnath Singh further said.

#WATCH | At the launch of the book After Me, ChaosAstrology in the Mughal Empire by Former MoS MEA, MJ Akbar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, At present, India is the fourth-largest economy in the world. India is heading towards becoming the 3rd biggest economyIf pic.twitter.com/eizoLxJjvy ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2025

Akbar had described Pakistan as a toxic jelly state" in his 2012 book Tinderbox: The Past and Future of Pakistan, saying it will neither achieve stability nor disintegrate due to international aid and its possession of nuclear weapons.

Speaking to ANI, Akbar said Pakistan was a dysfunctional state because it had abandoned the cultural inheritance of the Indus Valley Civilisation. Therefore, it has created an artificial society that has become brittleA Jelly State is something that always remains unstable. Butter will melt, jelly will not melt. But jelly will never be stable. Because it is a nuclear power, it will be a toxic Jelly State," he said.

Rajnath Singhs Stern Warning To Pakistan

This came days after Rajnath Singh warned of a decisive response" to Pakistan for expanding military infrastructure in the bordering Sir Creek area. Accusing Pakistan of building up military infrastructure near the disputed border, Singh declared that any misadventure will invite a decisive response that can alter both history and geography."

Even after 78 years of independence, a dispute over the border in the Sir Creek area is being stirred up. India has made several attempts to resolve it through dialogue, but there is a flaw in Pakistans intentions; its intentions are not clear. The way in which the Pakistan army has recently expanded its military infrastructure in areas adjacent to Sir Creek reveals its intentions," said Rajnath Singh at an event in Gujarat.

Sir Creek is a 96-km disputed tidal waterway between India and Pakistan, lying between Kutch in Gujarat and Pakistans Sindh province. India claims the boundary should lie in the middle of the creek. Pakistan claims the boundary should lie on the eastern bank, closer to India.

Rajnath Singh said Pakistan attempted to breach Indias defence from Leh to Sir Creek, but failed. Todays India says that whether it is terrorism or any other kind of problem, we have the capability to deal with and defeat it."

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Just a day later, top intelligence and naval sources confirmed to News18 that Pakistan has indeed significantly escalated its presence in the area, establishing mini-cantonments, emergency airstrips, new creek battalions, and reinforcing the Bholari airbase damaged in Operation Sindoor earlier this year.

He also asserted that India will never compromise whenever its pride and dignity are at stake and can cross any border whenever necessary to protect its citizens and safeguard Indias unity and integrity.

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: October 06, 2025, 18:44 IST

News india 'Only The Almighty...': Rajnath Singh Says No One Knows About Pakistan's Future

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Op Sindoor Damaged F-16s, AWACS & Radars In Pakistan, US Stepped In For Repairs | Exclusive

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 09:34 IST

US sent special teams on Asim Munirs request but reportedly blocked China from assisting in repairs over concerns of technology theft, particularly related to the F-16s and C-130

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A screenshot shared by the Ministry of External Affairs shows missile strikes carried out Indian armed forces on terror targets in Pakistan and PoK under 'Operation Sindoor'. (Image: @MEAIndia/YouTube/PTI)

From damaged F-16s and Swedish-made AWACS aircraft to shattered radar systems and command centresIndias Operation Sindoor severely crippled multiple Pakistani Air Force bases in May this year, leaving the country scrambling for urgent repairs, exclusive documents and high-level confirmations accessed by CNN-News18 have revealed.

The revelations of the damage caused by the air strike, which flattened terrorist havens in Pakistan and PoK on May 9-10 in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, fly in the face of the neighbours assertion that none of its aircraft were hit or destroyed.

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CNN-News18 has learnt that the Indian strike damaged critical Pakistani military infrastructure, including a Swedish-made Saab 2000 Erieye AWACS, a Lockheed C-130, and at least four F-16 fighter jets. Several radar systems, command and control units, and air defence installations were also hit in targeted missile strikes across multiple airbases.

One of the most significant hits occurred at PAF Bholari Airbase, where an F-16 jet parked in a hangar was destroyed, resulting in the death of five PAF personnel, including a Squadron Leader and Chief Technician. The AWACS Erieye, also hit at Bholari, was later repaired by US Air Force engineers flown in urgently.

Further damage was reported at:

PAF Shahbaz Air Base (Jacobabad)  Two F-16s destroyed in hangars

Nur Khan Airbase (Rawalpindi)  One F-16 and a C-130 hit in a precision strike

Sarghodha, Rahim Yar Khan, and Mushaf Airbase  Infrastructure like runways, hangars, and communication systems severely damaged.

High-level Pakistani defence sources revealed that $400$470 million in secret emergency funds were approved in late May for repairs and upgrades. The United States reportedly blocked China from assisting in the repairs over concerns of technology theft, particularly related to the F-16s and C-130 aircraft.

To expedite repairs, the US dispatched special teams from Al-Udeid Airbase (Doha), Al Dhafra (Abu Dhabi), and Bethesda (Maryland) after Field Marshal Asim Munir personally requested help during meetings with US President Donald Trump and retired CENTCOM Chief Michael Kurilla.

Multiple US military flights (C-17s and C-130s) were tracked landing at Nur Khan Airbase between June and September, confirming covert US activity on Pakistani soil. The US support was further acknowledged when Pakistan awarded General Kurilla its highest military honour in July 2025.

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While most damage has now been repaired, sources indicate Rahim Yar Khans airbase runway remains out of service due to ongoing flooding in South Punjab. PAF is also fast-tracking upgrades with a hybrid American-Chinese satellite-integrated radar system, intended to prevent future vulnerabilities.

The revelation underscores the scale, precision, and aftermath of Operation Sindoor, which inflicted strategic damage to Pakistans air capabilities and revealed Islamabads growing reliance on US military assistance despite rising Chinese collaboration.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: October 06, 2025, 09:34 IST

News india Op Sindoor Damaged F-16s, AWACS & Radars In Pakistan, US Stepped In For Repairs | Exclusive

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Op Sindoor: How 23 Made-In-India Apps Gave Real-Time Battlefield Insights To Indian Army

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 21:00 IST

These indigenous applications -- developed over the years by the Indian Army -- enhanced intelligence, surveillance, and logistics operations during 'Operation Sindoor'

This image from the May edition of Indian Army's monthly magazine 'Baatcheet' shows the terror sites in Pakistan and PoK that were targeted by the Indian military during 'Operation Sindoor'. (Image: Indian Army/PTI)

Artificial intelligence to integrate multi-source data, assess threats, and improve precision in battlefield decision-making: the Indian Army was powered by more than 23 indigenous applications  developed over the years  to enhance intelligence, surveillance, and logistics operations during Operation Sindoor.

Lieutenant General Rajiv Kumar Sahni, who is serving as DG EME and was formerly in charge of DG information systems, explained on Monday the role of the Info Systems vertical during Operation Sindoor, which were precision strikes on terror targets" carried out by the Indian military in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir as a response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

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During Operation Sindoor, there were 23 applications that were used to deal with data and inputs. Commanders were getting an integrated picture with, of course, the use of AI that was used for data fusion," Lt Gen Sahni said.

Lt Gen Sahni said these apps had specific tasks and were accessed on a need-to-know basis by commanders and other officers as per their roles.

In such a scenario, where commanders are operating elsewhere, the threat assessment, internal analysis, multi-sensor data fusion, and multi-source code data fusion  all this was happening with the help of AI. We were actually generating some kind of heat maps in the joint operational control centre to understand what kind of activity was happening. We could then prioritise activities and enable precise targeting," he said.

He highlighted the militarys comprehensive approach to AI development, aligning with the India AI Mission. He acknowledged perceptions about other countries AI capabilities but stressed that the Indian Army is well-prepared, focused on national security, and continuously developing robust and indigenous AI technologies.

WHAT ARE THESE APPS?

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One such example is the Application for Electronic Intelligence Collation  a tool used by all intelligence agencies. It was rapidly modified during Operation Sindoor to meet different needs, aiding in locating enemy sensors.

Similarly, to achieve accurate strikes, extended-range meteorological reports for long-range vectors were used with AI-enabled Meteorological Reporting Systems. The Trinetra System, integrated with Project Sanjay, helped create a common operational and intelligence picture at both tactical and operational levels, enhancing resource coordination, decision-making, and providing commanders with greater mental agility and situational awareness.

About the Author Akash Sharma Akash Sharma, Defence Correspondent, CNN-News 18, covers the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways. In addition, he also follows developments in the national capital. With an extensive experien... Read More

First Published: October 06, 2025, 21:00 IST

News india Op Sindoor: How 23 Made-In-India Apps Gave Real-Time Battlefield Insights To Indian Army

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Parliamentary Diplomacy: India To Send MP Delegations In 'Non-Official' Capacity To UNGA

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News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 21:16 IST

BJP MPs PP Chaudhary and Daggubati Purandeswari will lead two multi-party parliamentary delegations to the 80th UNGA in New York, reviving a tradition paused since 2004

This initiative marks the revival of India's long-standing practice of parliamentary participation at the UNGA. (Image for representation: AFP)

Two multi-party delegations of MPs headed by the BJPs PP Chaudhary and Daggubati Purandeswari will be representing India at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York this month, as part of its non-official delegation" in a renewed push for parliamentary diplomacy.

The first delegation will be led by BJP MP PP Chaudhary, who is the chairperson of the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) on One Nation One Election. This team will visit New York from October 8 to 14. The second group of 15 MPs will travel later in the month, led by BJP MP D Purandeswari.

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This initiative marks the revival of Indias long-standing practice of parliamentary participation at the UNGA, an effort discontinued since 2004. Through these delegations, MPs will engage in UN sessions, interact with Indias Permanent Mission, and represent the democratic and pluralistic ethos of the country on a global stage.

The first group includes Chaudhary (leader), Anil Baluni, Captain Brijesh Chowta, Dr Nishikant Dubey, Ujjwal Deorao Nikam, S Phangnon Konyak, Dr Medha Vishram Kulkarni, Poonam Ben Maadam, Vamsi Krishna Gaddam, Vivek Tankha, Dr T Sumathy, Sribharat Mathukumilli among others. The second group led by Purandeswari has Rekha Sharma, BD Sharma, Dilip Saikia, Sajda Ahmed, P Wilson, Manoj Jha, Sandeep Pathak, GK Vasan, Bhola Singh among others.

According to officials, this move underscores Indias commitment to strengthening its voice in global policymaking forums and restoring the tradition of legislators contributing directly to multilateral dialogue.

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Historically, Indias parliamentary delegations have featured many prominent leaders, including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who represented India at the UNGA multiple times before becoming Prime Minister, and LK Advani, who attended in 2012. The return of such delegations under Chaudharys leadership reaffirms Indias intent to blend diplomacy with democratic representation.

The UNGA is a vital platform where member nations come together to discuss key global issues, from peace and security to human rights, development, and international cooperation. I look forward to representing our nation and contributing to these important deliberations on the world stage," Purandeswari was quoted by PTI.

First Published: October 06, 2025, 21:16 IST

News india Parliamentary Diplomacy: India To Send MP Delegations In 'Non-Official' Capacity To UNGA

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'What Were You Doing In Goa': SC Pulls Up Husband Of Russian Woman Found Living In Gokarna Cave

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News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 14:53 IST

The Supreme Court reprimanded the husband of a Russian woman after she was found living in a cave in Karnataka. In the court, the man had challenged their repatriation to Russia.

Russian woman, her two daughters, found living in a cave in Karnataka (Photo: Social Media)

Months after a Russian-origin woman and her two young daughters were rescued from a cave in the forested Ramatirtha Hill area of Gokarna, Karnataka, the Supreme Court pulled up her husband on Monday, as he challenged a Karnataka High Court order that permitted the government to issue travel documents for their repatriation to Russia.

The bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi questioned the man, identified as Dror Shlomo Goldstein, over his rights and why he was staying in Goa while his wife and daughters continued to live in the cave after their visa had expired on April 17, 2017.

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What is your right? Who are you?" Justice Surya Kant asked the petitioners counsel.

In response, the counsel said that the petitioner was the father of the children and sought time to serve a copy of the petition on the Union of India.

The bench, however, appeared unconvinced and said, Please show us any official document that you are declared the father."

Why should we not direct your deportation?" Justice Kant asked.

Justice Joymalya Bagchi also expressed sharp disapproval of the petitioners conduct, observing, Publicity litigation What were you doing when your children were living in a cave?"

Justice Kant further questioned, What were you doing staying in Goa?"

Following the pointed remarks from the Bench, the petitioner sought permission to withdraw the plea, which the court allowed.

Before concluding the hearing, Justice Kant observed, This country has become a haven, anybody comes and stays."

WHEN WAS THE RUSSIAN WOMAN AND HER DAUGHTERS FOUND?

On July 9 this year, the state police discovered the woman and her daughters living in the cave. Authorities later confirmed that the woman, identified as Nina Kutina (40), had overstayed her visa by over eight years.

According to Gokarna police, on July 9, at nearly 5 pm, while patrolling Ramatirtha Hill to check for the safety of tourists, the police inspectors and staff of Gokarna police station gathered and checked the cave located within the forest area on the hill.

As the cave was inspected, it was found that the woman was living there with her two young daughters, Kumari Prema (6 years 7 months) and Kumari Ama (4).

When questioned, the foreigner stated that she had come from Goa with her children, as she was interested in staying in the forest for worshipping God and meditating."

Police noted that the cave was located in a landslide-prone area and surrounded by venomous wildlife, posing serious risks to the family. After explaining the dangers, the woman agreed to move.

She and her two young children were brought down safely from the cave on the hill. Then, as per her wish, she was safely delivered to the ashram of Yoga Ratna Saraswati Swamiji, associated with the NGO Shankara Prasad Foundation in Bankikodlu village of Kumta taluk, under the protection of female police personnel.

Initially reluctant to disclose their identification, Kutina later revealed details to police, the Women and Child Welfare Department, and Swamiji, stating that their passports and visas had been lost.

However, during a subsequent search of the cave and surrounding forest, police and forest department officials recovered her documents, revealing that her visa had expired on April 17, 2017.

Following the discovery, necessary steps are being taken to repatriate the woman and her children to Russia.

They are currently under the care of the Womens Reception Centre for their safety.

THE KARNATAKA HIGH COURT ORDER ON THEIR REPATRIATION

Earlier, the Karnataka High Court had upheld the Union governments decision to facilitate the repatriation of the woman and her daughters.

The womans husband had moved the High Court claiming to be the daughters father. He sought to restrain the Union from proceeding with the sudden deportation" of the daughters from India to any other country.

On behalf of the petitioner, reliance was placed on the UN Convention to submit that the court must examine whether authorities were acting in the best interest of the two minor children.

The state, on the other hand, argued that on receipt of the DNA report of the younger child, a communication was sent to the concerned person in the Russian government.

Following this, the Russian government issued emergency travel documents (ETD), which are of very short validity (in this case, it was valid from September 25 to October 9).

As such, a request was made for the issuance of exit permits to enable the departure of the mother and the children from India as soon as possible.

It was also pointed out that the mother had travelled on a Russian passport and she had overstayed.

After hearing the parties, the High Court noted that the mother and the daughters were found to be living in isolation without any facilities, and the petitioner was unable to explain the situation.

The mother expressed willingness to be repatriated to Russia, and the country showed readiness to take her and her daughters back.

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ALSO READ | Russian Woman Calls Bengaluru Best City To Live In India, Internet Reacts

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: October 06, 2025, 14:47 IST

News india 'What Were You Doing In Goa': SC Pulls Up Husband Of Russian Woman Found Living In Gokarna Cave

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Short Circuit Or Negligence? What Led To Deaths At Jaipur's Sawai Man Singh Hospital Fire

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News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti



Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 11:53 IST

Family members of patients caught in the tragic fire have alleged that gross negligence by hospital authorities led to the loss of lives.

Patients with their family members after a rescue operation in the wake of a fire incident at the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, late Sunday night, in Jaipur, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. (Image: PTI)

Eight lives were lost when a fire engulfed the ICU of the Sawai Man Singh hospital in Rajasthans Jaipur. While initial probe has pointed to a short circuit, the final cause of the fire is yet to be out. However, families of the patients who died have pointed to negligence.

What Led To The Fire?

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The devastating fire broke out late Sunday night at the trauma centre of Jaipurs Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, claiming the lives of several critically ill patients. The blaze erupted around 11:20 pm in the neuro-intensive care unit (ICU), where 11 patients were undergoing treatment, while 13 others were admitted to the adjacent ward.

According to Dr Anurag Dhakad, the in-charge of the trauma centre, the fire is suspected to have been caused by a short circuit in the electrical system. He explained that most of the patients in the neuro ICU were in extremely critical condition, many of them comatose, which made evacuation and survival efforts particularly challenging. Our patients were already in a very critical state, with weak survival reflexes. When the fire caused toxic gases to fill the ward, their condition deteriorated further," Dr Dhakad said.

Hospital staff and emergency responders immediately rushed to move the patients to ICUs located on the lower floors of the building. However, despite their best efforts, several patients succumbed to the combined effects of smoke inhalation, electrical burns, and their pre-existing medical conditions. We tried our best to shift them along with their life-support systems, but unfortunately, we could not save them," Dr Dhakad added.

Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph confirmed that an investigation has been initiated to determine the exact cause of the fire. While a short circuit appears to be the most likely reason, he stated that the final conclusion will only be drawn after a detailed report from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). The bodies of the deceased have been moved to the hospital mortuary, and post-mortem examinations will be conducted once the forensic and procedural formalities are completed. Authorities have assured that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure such a tragedy does not recur.

Staff Were The First To Run

Tensions escalated outside Jaipurs Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital as relatives of the deceased staged a protest near the trauma centre, expressing anger and grief over what they alleged was gross negligence. The protesters claimed that the fire-fighting equipment inside the ICU was empty and non-functional. They further alleged that, despite being alerted to the presence of smoke, hospital staff neither acted swiftly to extinguish the flames nor made timely efforts to evacuate the critically ill patients.

Several relatives claimed they had noticed smoke inside the Intensive Care Unit and raised alarms, but their concerns were brushed aside by the hospital staff.

We noticed smoke and immediately alerted the staff, but they didnt pay attention. When the fire broke out, they were the first to run. Now, no one is telling us anything about our patients condition," a distraught family member told PTI.

Another victims relative, speaking to ANI, alleged that there were no firefighting arrangements in place when the flames erupted. The ICU caught fire, but there was no equipment to extinguish it  no fire extinguishers, no cylinders, not even water to douse the flames. There were no facilities at all. My mother didnt survive," the relative said, breaking down while recounting the ordeal.

Om Prakash, another relative of a patient admitted to the trauma centre, said that despite noticing smoke around 11:20 pm, his warnings went unheeded. I warned the doctors that it could cause discomfort to patients, but by the time the smoke intensified, the doctors and compounders had already fled. Only four to five patients had been evacuated," he told ANI.

Prakash added that his maternal aunts son, who had been recovering and was expected to be discharged within a few days, tragically lost his life in the fire. He was doing better and was about to go home soon, but the fire took him away," he said.

The allegations of negligence have intensified public anger, prompting the state government to order a thorough investigation into safety lapses and emergency preparedness at the hospital.

What Did The Hospital Say?

In an official statement, the SMS Hospital confirmed that the tragic fire at its trauma centre was caused by a short circuit in Neuro Surgery ICU Number 1. At the time of the incident, 11 patients were admitted to the affected ICU. All of them were immediately shifted to other wards and ICUs within the hospital as rescue efforts began. However, despite the medical teams prompt response, six patients tragically lost their lives.

The hospital further clarified that its trauma centre comprises four Intensive Care Units (ICUs) with a total capacity of 46 beds, all of which were fully occupied when the fire broke out. In addition, the trauma centre has 250 general ward beds, bringing the total bed capacity to 284  every one of which was occupied by patients at the time of the incident.

The statement emphasised that medical and emergency teams acted swiftly to contain the fire and relocate patients to safer areas. Hospital authorities have expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and assured full cooperation with the ongoing investigation to determine the precise cause of the fire and assess any possible safety lapses.

Political Row Erupts Over Negligence Allegations

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot condemned the incident, calling it extremely shameful and horrifying." He criticised the government for not disclosing the whereabouts of the deceased patients bodies and said the way hospital staff abandoned patients during the fire was unacceptable." Gehlot demanded a judicial inquiry, asserting that a routine investigation would not deliver justice or uncover the truth.

Speaking to reporters, Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra squarely blamed the state government for the tragedy. He alleged that hospital staff fled the scene, leaving patients behind in the ICU. Dotasra also accused the administration of concealing information about the deceased, claiming that the families were neither being handed the bodies nor informed about their location. Even after ten hours of the incident, the Health Minister has not arrived at the hospital," he added, calling the governments response insensitive and inadequate.

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Meanwhile, BJP MLA Gopal Sharma acknowledged the gravity of the allegations made by the victims families, including the delay in firefighting efforts and the staffs reported desertion. He assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted to establish accountability. On the protests involving Congress leaders, Sharma remarked, Congress is protesting alongside the families." Responding to demands for the Health Ministers resignation, he added pointedly, Who resigned during Congress rule?"

Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Jully also lashed out at the Bhajanlal Sharma-led government, holding it responsible for the deaths of eight patients. Calling the non-functional fire equipment a case of deadly negligence," he demanded the immediate resignation of the Health Minister. The government must answer for this," Jully said, urging strict action against those found guilty of lapses.

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: October 06, 2025, 11:49 IST

News india Short Circuit Or Negligence? What Led To Deaths At Jaipur's Sawai Man Singh Hospital Fire

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Eight Dead After Massive Fire Erupts In ICU Of Jaipur's Sawai Man Singh Hospital

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 11:47 IST

SMS Hospital Trauma Centre In-charge Dr Anurag Dhakad said the blaze originated from a suspected short circuit in the trauma ICU on the hospitals second floor.

Massive Fire Erupts In ICU Of Jaipur's Sawai Man Singh Hospital.(Photo: Screengrab from ANI video)

Eight patients lost their lives after a massive fire broke out in the trauma intensive care unit (ICU) of Jaipurs Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital late on Sunday, 5 October. Hospital officials confirmed that more patients remain in critical condition. Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma visited the hospital on Monday morning and ordered an investigation into the incident. A high-level six-member committee has been formed.

PM Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the fire incident in Jaipur on X. The PMOs post on X reads, The loss of lives due to a fire tragedy at a hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan, is deeply saddening. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon: PM."

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What hospital said?

Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital issued a statement confirming that the fire in Neuro Surgery ICU Number 1 was caused by a short circuit. At the time of the incident, 11 patients were in the ICU; all were evacuated, but six succumbed. The hospitals trauma centre has four ICUs with a total of 46 beds, all of which were occupied. Overall, the trauma centre houses 284 beds  250 general and 46 ICU  and all were full during the incident. What happened at SMS Hospital?

According to SMS Hospital Trauma Centre In-charge Dr Anurag Dhakad, the blaze originated from a suspected short circuit in the trauma ICU on the hospitals second floor. The fire spread rapidly, producing dense toxic fumes that filled the ward within minutes. At the time, 24 patients were admitted, out of which, 11 are in the trauma ICU and 13 in the adjacent semi-ICU.

Most of the patients were comatose and unable to move. Our trauma centre team, including nursing officers and ward staff, immediately began evacuation using trolleys," Dr Dhakad said earlier.

We managed to shift as many patients as possible to safety, but six critically ill patients could not be revived despite CPR and all resuscitation efforts."

Among the deceased are two women and four men. The victims reportedly suffered from severe smoke inhalation and burn-related complications.

Investigation into the incident

Firefighters and hospital staff worked together to control the flames and evacuate patients from adjoining areas. Authorities confirmed that all 24 patients were rescued from the two ICUs, though several had already been exposed to toxic gases before being moved.

Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph said the FSL teams investigation will reveal the cause of the fire. At first glance, it appears to be a short circuit, but the final cause will only be determined after the FSL investigation. The bodies of the deceased have been shifted to the mortuary. Once everything is done, the post-mortem of the bodies will be conducted," adds Joseph.

What deceaseds family said?

According to a deceaseds kin, the ICU had no equipment to extinguish the blaze.

The ICU caught fire, but there was nothing to stop it. No fire extinguishers, no oxygen cylinders, not even water to douse the flames. There were simply no facilities," said a grieving relative who lost his mother in the blaze at Jaipurs Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital. We watched helplessly as smoke filled the ward. My mother couldnt be saved," he added, recounting the chaos and despair of the night.

The Rajasthan government has ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident to determine the cause of the short circuit and assess any lapses in safety or electrical maintenance.

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As the hospital continues treating the five critically injured patients, officials assured that fire safety protocols will be reviewed across all government hospitals in the state.

About the Author Shuddhanta Patra Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior SubEditor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen... Read More

First Published: October 06, 2025, 06:55 IST

News india Eight Dead After Massive Fire Erupts In ICU Of Jaipur's Sawai Man Singh Hospital

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No Urgent Relief For Sonam Wangchuk As SC Adjourns Plea By Wife Against His Detention Till Oct 14

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 11:43 IST

Sonam Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali Angmo, moved the Supreme Court on October 3, challenging her husband's detention and seeking his immediate release.

Left: Activist Sonam Wangchuk; Right: Supreme Court of India

The Supreme Court on Monday heard the petition filed by activist Sonam Wangchuks wife against his detention under NSA and sought the Centres response. The apex court issued notice to central government, Ladakh administration, and Jodhpur jail.

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During the hearing before a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that the detention order had been served on Wangchuk, who is currently lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail.

However, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Wangchuks wife, disputed the claim, stating that neither Wangchuk nor his family had received a copy of the grounds of detention.

We are against the detention," he submitted.

The wife will definitely get access," said Justice Kumar.

The apex court will hear the matter further on next Tuesday, October 14.

Wangchuk was arrested on September 26 under Section 3(2) of the NSA by the Deputy Commissioner of Leh, only two days after violence broke out during protests demanding statehood for Ladakh and inclusion under the Constitutions Sixth Schedule.

The chaos claimed four lives and left several injured, and two days later Wangchuk was detained and shifted to the Central Jail in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

Sonam Wangchuks Wife Approaches Supreme Court

Wangchuks wife, Gitanjali Angmo, moved the Supreme Court on October 3, challenging her husbands detention and seeking his immediate release. Angmo, in her plea filed through senior lawyer Vivek Tankha and lawyer Sarvam Ritam Khare, has also questioned the decision to invoke the NSA against Wangchuk.

In the plea, Gitanjali alleged that Wangchuks detention was illegal, arbitrary, and unconstitutional", violating fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19, 21 and 22.

Wangchuk, who has been an internationally acclaimed innovator, environmentalist, and social reformer, has always espoused Gandhian and peaceful methods to highlight the ecological and democratic concerns of Ladakh," it said.

The plea also stated that no grounds of detention were furnished to date, either to Wangchuk or to his family.

Sonam Wangchuks Wife Alleges Shes Under House Arrest

In her petition, Sonam Wangchuks wife also alleged that she has been placed under virtual house arrest in Leh, while the students and staff of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), an institution founded by Wangchuk, are being subjected to harassment, intimidation, and intrusive investigations.

The plea states, The arbitrary transfer of Wangchuk to Jodhpur, the harassment of students and staff of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), the virtual house arrest of the petitioner herself, and the false propaganda linking Shri Wangchuk to foreign entities clearly demonstrate mala fide state action intended to suppress democratic dissent and peaceful environmental activism."

It adds that Wangchuks arrest has caused deep emotional distress among the people of Ladakh, who regard him as their leader and voice.

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It also sought a direction to the authorities to place before the top court the order of detention along with grounds of detention and all records pertaining thereto", and a direction to respondents to produce the medical report of Wangchuk, after immediate doctor consultation, before the court.

Stop immediate harassment of HIAL and its members/students who have done no harm and are tirelessly working for the benefit of the ecology," it said.

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: October 06, 2025, 09:09 IST

News india No Urgent Relief For Sonam Wangchuk As SC Adjourns Plea By Wife Against His Detention Till Oct 14

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Minors, Girls Among 65 Detained After Rave Party Busted At Telangana Farmhouse

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 11:16 IST

At least 65 people, including 22 minors, were detained after a rave party at a farmhouse in Telangana was busted, where police found evidence of intoxication.

A file photo of the Hyderabad Police (PTI)

At least 65 people were detained after a rave party was busted at a farmhouse in the Moinabad town in Ranga Reddy district of Telangana, NDTV reported.

According to the report, the raid at the Oaks Farmhouse was launched by the Rajendranagar Special Operations Team (SOT) police after they received information about an ongoing party, where illegal drug-related activities were going on.

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As the police arrived at the spot, they found a total of 65 people there, which also included 22 minors, 12 of whom were girls.

The report claimed that all were indulging in intoxication.

The party was promoted through an Instagram account, which was allegedly run by a Hyderabad-based DJ. Entry passes for the party were sold at a ticketed rate of Rs 1,600 for singles and Rs 2,800 for couples, per the report.

Following the detention, a blood test of all participants was conducted, which confirmed that at least two of them had consumed ganja (marijuana).

The report stated that the event organiser was identified as Ishaan, who is a second-year private college student. He had come to India from Canada in 2024 and is suspected of being a regular consumer of narcotic drugs. His father is currently residing in Canada.

Officials also seized 10 bottles of foreign liquor from the farmhouse premises.

Later, a case was registered, and the charges included Section 27 of the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act.

In August this year, the Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE), a specialised unit of Telangana Police, raided a rave party in Hyderabad and arrested six persons, including a techie and a housewife.

The police seized 20 grams of cocaine, eight ecstasy pills (20 grams) and three grams of MDMA.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Madhapur) G Vineeth told a news conference on Monday that, acting on a tip-off, a raid was conducted on Rajeshwari Nilayam Service Apartment, where the accused had gathered for a drug party.

Drug peddlers Teja and Vikram hail from Andhra Pradesh and were living in Hyderabad. They are into the cloud kitchen and poultry farm business, respectively.

The consumers included a 41-year-old housewife, Manne Neelima and a 31-year-old software engineer, Bhargav.

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ALSO READ | 55 Held At Rave Party In Pakistan, But Cops Who Busted It Got Suspended

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: October 06, 2025, 11:12 IST

News india Minors, Girls Among 65 Detained After Rave Party Busted At Telangana Farmhouse

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'Angered Every Indian': PM Modi Speaks With CJI, Condemns Attack On Him

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 20:53 IST

PM Modi appreciated the "calm" displayed by Justice Gavai during the incident, noting that it reflected his commitment to justice

CJI BR Gavai and PM Modi | File Image

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke with Chief Justice BR Gavai, who was allegedly attacked by a lawyer inside the courtroom, and condemned the incident, saying that it has angered every Indian".

During a court session before the bench led by the CJI, a lawyer allegedly approached the dais and tried to remove his shoe, apparently intending to throw it at Gavai, but security intervened and stopped him.

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Spoke to Chief Justice of India, Justice BR Gavai Ji. The attack on him earlier today in the Supreme Court premises has angered every Indian. There is no place for such reprehensible acts in our society. It is utterly condemnable," said PM Modi.

PM Modi appreciated the calm" displayed by Justice Gavai during the incident, noting that it reflected his commitment to justice and the principles of the Constitution.

Spoke to Chief Justice of India, Justice BR Gavai Ji. The attack on him earlier today in the Supreme Court premises has angered every Indian. There is no place for such reprehensible acts in our society. It is utterly condemnable.I appreciated the calm displayed by Justice  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 6, 2025

A lawyer present at the scene told ANI that the man was shouting, Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge" (We will not tolerate the insult of Sanatan).

Justice Gavai, however, remained composed and urged the courtroom to maintain focus. He remarked that such incidents did not distract him before allowing the proceedings to continue.

The episode comes shortly after the CJI had made remarks in a separate case concerning the restoration of a seven-foot beheaded idol of Lord Vishnu at Khajuraho.

While dismissing that case, he had questioned the petitioners, suggesting they approach the deity directly and highlighting that the site was under the Archaeological Survey of Indias jurisdiction.

The comments had sparked widespread debate on social media, with critics accusing the CJI of hurting religious sentiments.

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Congress leader Sonia Gandhi also condemned the incident, saying that attack was not just on him but on the Constitution as well.

No words are adequate to condemn the attack on the Honourable Chief Justice of India in the Supreme Court itself. It is an assault not just on him but on our Constitution as well. Chief Justice Gavai has been very gracious but the nation must stand in solidarity with him unitedly with a deep sense of anguish and outrage," she said in a statement.

First Published: October 06, 2025, 20:33 IST

News india 'Angered Every Indian': PM Modi Speaks With CJI, Condemns Attack On Him

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'Will Work With Whichever Govt People Elect': India Backs Free, Fair Elections In Bangladesh

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News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 20:22 IST

The statement came from Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who underscored New Delhis readiness to work with any government chosen through a democratic process

Foreign secretary Vikram Misri | PTI Image

India on Monday reiterated its strong backing for free, fair, and inclusive elections in Bangladesh, urging that the polls be held at the earliest.

The statement came from Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who underscored New Delhis readiness to work with any government chosen through a democratic process.

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I want to be very, very clear on this one matter, if there is any doubt in anybodys mind , India is firmly in favour of free, fair, inclusive, and participatory elections in Bangladesh. And we believe these elections should take place at the earliest possible time," Misri said at a press briefing.

The foreign secretary welcomed recent statements from Dhaka about holding elections soon, expressing optimism that the process would move forward without delay.

We are encouraged by the fact that Bangladeshi authorities themselves have indicated a time frame for the elections, and we look forward to them being conducted as scheduled," he said, as quoted by ANI.

Misri reaffirmed that Indias engagement with Bangladesh would continue irrespective of the political outcome.

We will engage with whichever government the people of Bangladesh elect through a democratic mandate," he said, adding that Indias approach to the neighbouring country remains pragmatic and grounded in long-term cooperation.

The foreign secretary also stressed the importance of maintaining a positive and stable environment for the electoral process.

For this relationship to grow stronger, it is essential that both sides avoid statements or actions that could vitiate the atmosphere," Misri said, hinting at recent tensions in political discourse.

Highlighting Indias ongoing outreach, Misri noted Prime Minister Narendra Modis gesture of welcoming Professor Muhammad Yunus as Chief Advisor of Bangladeshs interim government.

The Prime Minister was among the first world leaders to congratulate Professor Yunus and invited him to participate in the Voice of Global South Summit. We were pleased that he accepted the invitation," he said.

Global Focus

Acknowledging international interest in Bangladeshs democratic transition, Misri said the developments were being closely followed across the region and beyond.

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We have all seen the statements regarding the next elections in Bangladesh. I understand a time frame for February has been indicated, and we look forward to seeing it implemented," he added.

Indias remarks come amid heightened attention on Bangladeshs internal political situation, as the country prepares for a crucial electoral transition expected to shape its regional and international partnerships in the months ahead.

First Published: October 06, 2025, 20:22 IST

News india 'Will Work With Whichever Govt People Elect': India Backs Free, Fair Elections In Bangladesh

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Stop Wearing Your Tightest Jeans, They Could Be Causing Urinary Tract Infections

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News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 13:09 IST

According to health experts, wearing tight, non-breathable jeans can restrict movement and also increase the risk of developing a urinary tract infection (UTI).

For women, tight jeans may disrupt vaginal health and increase uterine infections.

Theres no denying the confidence a pair of perfectly fitted jeans brings. Whether styled for a night out or worn on repeat for comfort, denim often feels like a wardrobe essential. But what if your go-to pair was secretly working against your body? According to health experts, tight, non-breathable jeans can do more than just restrict movement. They can increase your risk of developing a urinary tract infection (UTI).

Recent findings published in the American Journal of Public Health reveal that synthetic, form-fitting fabrics create the ideal environment for bacterial growth, especially E. coli, one of the most common culprits behind UTIs.

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How Tight Jeans Disrupt Your Bodys Defences

The urinary tract typically has built-in mechanisms to prevent bacterial invasion. However, when tight jeans are worn for extended periods, they limit airflow, increase friction, and trap moisture, creating a warm, humid space where bacteria thrive. This microclimate allows bacteria to multiply and migrate towards the urethra and bladder, eventually triggering infection.

The risk rises even higher if one wears synthetic fabrics, such as polyester or spandex-blend jeans, which hold in heat and moisture far longer than natural fibres like cotton.

Why Women Are More Susceptible To UTIs

While both men and women can develop UTIs, women are significantly more vulnerable. Anatomically, women have a shorter urethra, allowing bacteria to reach the bladder more easily. Hormonal changes, especially during menopause, can further weaken the urinary tracts natural defences by altering its pH balance and reducing protective flora.

Certain birth control methods, such as diaphragms and spermicides, also disrupt the vaginal microbiome, compounding the risk.

UTI Prevention Tips: Let Your Skin Breathe

Doctors recommend simple yet effective swaps:

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Choose cotton underwear and loose-fitting clothes that allow ventilation.

Avoid wearing tight jeans for long stretches, especially in hot or humid weather.

Stay hydrated and maintain good personal hygiene.

After workouts or swimming, change out of damp clothing promptly to reduce bacterial exposure.

Fashion doesnt have to come at the cost of your health. By making breathable choices and giving your body room to breathe, you can stay stylish and safeguard yourself from recurring UTIs. After all, the best outfit is one that makes you feel and stay comfortable from the inside out.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: October 06, 2025, 13:09 IST

News lifestyle health-and-fitness Stop Wearing Your Tightest Jeans, They Could Be Causing Urinary Tract Infections
Is Cold Drink Really A Cure For Acidity? Heres What Expert Says

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Local18

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 16:09 IST

Cold drinks may seem to ease acidity and gas, but experts reveal the surprising truth about their effect on digestion.

sugar and acid content can overstimulate the digestive system, increasing acid secretion. (Representative image)

Many people experience acidity and gas after meals. A common quick fix is reaching for a cold drink or soda, which may provide temporary relief. But does it actually solve the problemor is it just a myth?

Dr Anil Arora, Chairman of the Institute of Liver Gastroenterology and Pancreatic Biliary Sciences at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, explains that cold drinks contain extremely high amounts of sugar and carbon dioxide. They also include acids, artificial flavours, and various chemicals, all of which can be harmful to the stomach and liver.

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Contrary to popular belief, cold drinks do not cure acidity or gas. In fact, the sugar and acid content can overstimulate the digestive system, increasing acid secretion. Long-term consumption may worsen stomach issues, trigger fatty liver, and cause complications for people with diabetes.

Healthier Ways to Relieve Acidity

Instead of soda, doctors recommend natural remedies to ease acidity and gas:

Coconut water

Buttermilk

Fennel or cumin water

Mint or basil tea

Milk

Along with these drinks, its important to avoid excessively spicy foods. Eating slowly and chewing food thoroughly helps digestion and prevents acidity flare-ups.

If acidity or gas persists, it is crucial not to ignore the symptoms. Consulting a doctor ensures the problem is properly diagnosed and treated. Personalised medical guidance can prevent complications and offer long-term relief rather than temporary fixes.

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While a cold drink may seem refreshing after a heavy meal, it is not a cure for acidity. On the contrary, it can aggravate stomach and liver problems over time. Opt for natural remedies, maintain healthy eating habits, and seek medical advice if symptoms persist.

(Disclaimer: This information is based on expert consultation. Always consult a doctor before trying any remedy. News18 does not verify this information.)

About the Author Lifestyle Desk Our life needs a bit of style to get the perfect zing in the daily routine. News18 Lifestyle is one-stop destination for everything you need to know about the world of fashion, food, health, travel, r... Read More

First Published: October 06, 2025, 16:09 IST

News lifestyle Is Cold Drink Really A Cure For Acidity? Heres What Expert Says

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Janhvi Kapoor Brings A 1986 John Galliano Classic Dress Back To Life In Paris

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 15:18 IST

Janhvi Kapoor wore a stunning rare scissor pleat dress from John Gallianos Spring/Summer 1986 Fallen Angels collection during her recent outing in Paris.

Janhvi Kapoor was styled by Rhea Kapoor.

Janhvi Kapoor continues to prove that her fashion game is more than just red-carpet glamour. This time, she did it in Paris, stepping out in an archival masterpiece from John Gallianos Spring/Summer 1986 Fallen Angels collection. The rare scissor-pleat dress she wore isnt merely couture; its a slice of fashion history that bridges Gallianos early genius with todays modern minimalism.

An Homage to Gallianos Fallen Angels

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John Gallianos 1986 collection was a turning point in his career  a poetic rejection of royal opulence and a move toward Greco-Roman simplicity. It redefined elegance with clean lines, fluid fabrics, and lifted waistlines that celebrated movement rather than excess. Janhvi Kapoors vintage pick  a ribbed, pinstriped scissor-pleat dress  encapsulates that very spirit. The plunging neckline and sculpted silhouette feel both architectural and sensual, paying homage to Gallianos early fascination with structure and rebellion.

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Power Dressing, Reimagined

While the original Fallen Angels referenced historical restraint, Janhvis interpretation channels modern confidence. The dresss deep V-cut and razor-sharp tailoring nod to power dressing but with a sultry, cinematic flair. Its less about boardroom authority and more about self-assured femininity.

Styled by Rhea Kapoor, Janhvis accessories struck the perfect balance: black cat-eye Prada sunglasses, a sleek clutch, and pointed heels  every detail whispering old-world elegance with present-day polish. The result? A look that could easily have walked off a 90s fashion editorial spread straight into a Parisian film set.

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The New Face of Archival Glamour

Archival fashion is having a moment, but few wear it with as much conviction as Janhvi Kapoor. Her ability to reinterpret vintage pieces while maintaining their integrity shows a growing maturity in her style narrative. Whether seated in a plush Parisian suite or walking through the citys gilded streets, she effortlessly blends nostalgia with new-age sensuality.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: October 06, 2025, 15:18 IST

News lifestyle Janhvi Kapoor Brings A 1986 John Galliano Classic Dress Back To Life In Paris
Rani Mukerjis Sindoor Khela Look Redefines Bengali Elegance With A Prada Twist

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News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 09:37 IST

Just when her Sindoor Khela classic Bengali look seemed to settle into classic territory, Rani added an unforgettable style statement - a glossy Prada key dangling off her pallu.

Rani Mukerji's Sindoor Khela look blends tradition with luxury.

At this years Sindoor Khela at North Bombay Durga Puja celebrations, Rani Mukerji once again reminded us that style isnt just worn; its told. Her look blended the quiet power of tradition with a surprising touch of luxury, reflecting her signature balance between grace and edge. Dressed in an ethereal ivory saree edged with a bold red border, the actor embodied the quintessential Bengali goddess  serene, powerful, and steeped in nostalgia.

The sarees timeless palette paid homage to Durga Puja aesthetics, while her neatly pinned pleats and tailored red blouse gave the ensemble a polished, cinematic quality. Her radiant skin, soft kohl-lined eyes, and subtle sindoor completed a look that felt reverent yet effortlessly current.

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Jewels That Spoke in Gold and Memory

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True to her understated opulence, Rani Mukerji paired her saree with statement gold jewellery, which was not only dramatic yet deeply personal. A golden Sabyasachi mangalsutra gleamed against the ivory drape, a symbol of tradition reimagined through the lens of couture craftsmanship. Each accessory added texture to her look, layering meaning and emotion into the festive narrative.

The Prada Key That Unlocked It All

Just when her ensemble seemed to settle into classic territory, Rani dropped her most unforgettable style statement  a glossy Prada key dangling off her pallu. What might have been a simple nostalgic touch, referencing the Bengali custom of women carrying keys on their sarees, became an unexpected mic-drop moment.

It was modern, mischievous, and wildly original  proof that heritage can evolve without losing its soul. This single, gleaming detail turned her traditional attire into a conversation piece.

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A Celebration of Then and Now

In true Rani fashion, the look wasnt about opulence but emotion. It celebrated womanhood in all its facets  devotional, playful, and powerful. With one Prada key, she unlocked a new code for festive dressing: where heritage meets haute, and every drape tells a story.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: October 06, 2025, 09:37 IST

News lifestyle Rani Mukerjis Sindoor Khela Look Redefines Bengali Elegance With A Prada Twist
Shalini Passis Feathered Fashion Statement Shines At The MASH Ball In Mumbai

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 08:59 IST

At the second edition of the MASH Ball held in Mumbai, Shalini Passi wore a feathered couture gown that was all about sophistication and drama.

The MASH Ball is conceptualised and organised by Shalini Passi.

Shalini Passi made a dramatic and unforgettable entrance at the MASH Ball, held at the St Regis in Mumbai, in support of UNICEFs initiatives for childrens rights. The grand charity event, conceptualised and organised by Passi herself, is a tribute to the most vulnerable children worldwide, channelling collective power to create meaningful change. As the founder, her deep commitment to the cause was reflected not only in the events mission but in her stunning fashion choice.

Shalini Passis MASH Ball Look

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For this years second edition, themed Fashion x Films, Shalini Passi embodied the essence of artistic elegance and glamour. She chose to wear a breathtaking, feathered couture gown that exuded sophistication and drama. The white gown, designed with ethereal feathers cascading from her waist, gave her the aura of a swan. The gowns sculptural silhouette and intricate detailing made a powerful statement about the fusion of creativity and compassion, blending both art and humanitarianism in one unforgettable look.

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The feathers soft, flowing nature contrasted beautifully with the structured bodice, which clung to her frame, creating a powerful visual contrast that commanded attention from every angle. The gowns dramatic flair mirrored Shalinis own multifaceted role: philanthropist, fashion icon, and visionary. As she mingled with Bollywood stars and other notable guests, the gown sparked conversation not just for its beauty, but for its symbolism of both fragility and strength.

What Is The MASH Ball?

The funds raised from the MASH Ball will benefit UNICEFs Art-Based Therapy (ABT) and Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs, ensuring that Shalinis passion for both fashion and philanthropy creates lasting impact for children around the world.

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Who Is Shalini Passi?

Shalini Passi is a renowned philanthropist, art collector, and fashion icon based in Delhi. She is also the visionary behind the MASH Ball. As a passionate advocate for humanitarian causes, she focuses on empowering individuals to contribute to global change, especially for vulnerable children. Known for her elegance and style, she uses her platform to combine fashion with charity, creating a space where art, culture, and philanthropy intersect for a greater cause. She recently became an internet sensation when she starred in Fabulous Lives Vs Bollywood Wives.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: October 06, 2025, 08:59 IST

News lifestyle Shalini Passis Feathered Fashion Statement Shines At The MASH Ball In Mumbai
Inside The Rise Of Nature-Led Wellness Travel And How India Is Leading It

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News18.com

Last Updated: October 08, 2025, 13:44 IST

In the post-pandemic world, travellers are choosing mountain meditations, forest walks, rest, and relaxation over champagne brunches.

Luxury travel is shifting from opulence to nature-led wellness. (Image: AI)

The definition of luxury travel is undergoing a quiet, powerful transformation. Opulence is no longer measured by marble suites or Michelin stars. Its being redefined by silence, sunlight, and stillness. In the post-pandemic world, travellers are swapping champagne brunches for mountain meditations and spa circuits for forest walks. Wellness in the wild has emerged as the next great travel movement, blending indulgence with intention and luxury with landscape.

From Five-Star to Five Elements

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Todays travellers are drawn to places with elements of peace, sustainability, and holistic wellness. Whether its a Himalayan yoga retreat, forest bathing in Uttarakhand, or an eco-luxury resort in Madhya Pradesh  its all about re-establishing harmony with nature," says Ravi Gosain, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO).

According to the IATO, the wellness tourism sector is expected to surpass USD 1.3 trillion by 2027, with nature-led experiences driving this growth. Gosain adds, Wellness in the Wild helps travellers detox from technology, reset their biological clock, and rediscover stillness through activities like meditation, trekking, or spa therapies in pristine natural settings."

Luxury That Heals

For many, the new benchmark of luxury lies in self-restoration. Luxury travel today is evolving beyond indulgence. Its about inner renewal and authentic connection. In a world thats constantly connected, travellers are increasingly seeking spaces where they can disconnect to truly reconnect with themselves and with nature," explains Karan Agarwal, Director at Cox & Kings.

This mindful escapism  the choice to trade digital noise for riverbank yoga, forest silence, or starlit solitude  is the new marker of luxury. Imagine practising yoga in national parks as the Great Migration unfolds before you  blending wellness, adventure, and wonder," he adds.

From forest lodges in Wayanad and Vagamon to Arctic saunas in Sweden and fjord-side cabins in Norway, nature is becoming the new spa. People want raw, grounding experiences that heal  digital detoxes, cold plunges, forest breathing  where the rhythm of nature replaces the rush of cities. Thats the new definition of luxury," notes Chitra Gurnani Daga, Co-founder & CEO of Thrillophilia.

Santosh Kumar, Regional Manager, South Asia at Booking.com, said, Were seeing Indian travellers embrace more immersive and meaningful journeys rooted in culture and wellness. One in three plans a spiritual or religious trip, while 71% travel for cultural events  both rising sharply year-on-year. This shift reflects a growing desire for self-discovery, authentic experiences, and comfort-driven stays, from boutique resorts to countryside retreats."

The Wild as a Wellness Destination

Hotels and travel brands are quickly adapting to this shift. We view wellness in the wild as more than a trend. Its an evolution in luxury travel. Our properties blend wellness with adventure through activities like horseback riding, archery, and yoga in the wilderness," says Amruda Nair, Founder & CEO of Araiya Hotels and Resorts.

Abhishek Sadhoo, General Manager at Shangri-La Eros New Delhi, noted that travellers today seek spaces that go beyond fitness to nurture both body and mind. Wellness is no longer about facilities alone. Its about creating environments that help people disconnect, recharge, and reconnect with themselves," he said.

Echoing this sentiment, Abhilash Ramesh, Executive Director of Kairali Ayurvedic Group, adds, True luxury is rejuvenation that stays with you long after your journey. Nature remains the greatest healer."

A New Kind of Luxury

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As more travellers seek authenticity over excess, India finds itself uniquely positioned to lead this global shift. From Himalayan highlands to tropical forests, the countrys diversity offers the perfect canvas for slow, soulful travel.

In this new era of exploration, luxury isnt about escaping the world. Its about finding your place within it.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: October 06, 2025, 17:22 IST

News lifestyle travel Inside The Rise Of Nature-Led Wellness Travel And How India Is Leading It
Aahana Kumra Accuses Pawan Singh's Fans Of Sending Her Rape And Death Threats

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 09:44 IST

Aahana Kumra revealed receiving rape and death threats from Pawan Singh's fans after their public reconciliation on Rise And Fall.

Aahana Kumra and Pawan Singh were seen in Rise And Fall.

Actress Aahana Kumra, who recently got evicted from the reality show Rise And Fall, has opened up about receiving scary death and rape threats from fans of fellow contestant Pawan Singh. Even though she and Singh had already cleared the air and apologised to each other on stage, Kumra says the harassment continued online, forcing her to report it to the shows makers.

In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, Kumra described the severity of the messages she received. I came out of the show and got a lot of death and rape threats," she said, adding that she forwarded screenshots to the shows makers. So why was I getting such threats? Maine toh aisi koi baat nahi kahi thi (I didnt say any such thing)." Kumra clarified that she neither abused anyone on the show nor acted offensively.

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Reflecting on the situation, she expressed her disbelief at the intensity of the harassment, I was like, oh wow, hum log kaunse zamane mein reh rahe hain? (What era are we living in?) Kis sadi me hai ki meri ek baat kehney par mujhe itney threats mil rahe hai, itni cheeze mere baare mein boli ja rahi haipar kisi aur ko kuch nahi kaha ja raha (Which century are we in that for saying one thing, I am receiving so many threats, so many things are being said about mebut no one else is being told anything)."

Kumra explained that while she had said something Singhs fans disliked, the matter was resolved on stage. In fact, today I hold him in high regard, kyunki bahut contestants ne mere baare mein bahut kuch kaha aur aaj tak sorry nahi bola (because many contestants said a lot about me and havent apologized till today)," she stated. She recalled a moment of reconciliation when she touched Singhs mothers feet, and he responded on stage: Agar main aapse sorry bol doon toh main chhota nahi ho jaunga (If I say sorry to you, I wont become less as a person)."

Kumra noted that she expected fans to respect the resolution between them. I understand ki log gussa ho jaate hain, aur unhe lagta hai ki maine kuch aisa keh diya jo unhe bura laga (I understand that people get angry, and they feel that I said something that hurt them)," she added.

Outside of reality television, Aahana Kumra was last seen in the film Salaam Venky, starring Kajol and Vishal Jethwa, which released in December 2022.

First Published: October 06, 2025, 09:44 IST

News movies web-series Aahana Kumra Accuses Pawan Singh's Fans Of Sending Her Rape And Death Threats
Opinion | How Indias Steady Hand Manages US, China And Corners Pakistan

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 19:47 IST

The United States and China are locked in a prolonged contest for supremacy, a cold confrontation where technology, trade, and territory form the new battlegrounds

Even as India manages a complicated friendship with Washington, its equation with Beijing remains cold and brittle. (Image: Instagram)

As global powers edge toward confrontation, India maintains a careful equilibrium, firm with adversaries, pragmatic with partners, and steady in a volatile neighbourhood.

The global order is increasingly defined by confrontation, not cooperation. The United States and China are locked in a prolonged contest for supremacy, a cold confrontation" where technology, trade, and territory form the new battlegrounds.

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For India, this shifting landscape is both opportunity and challenge. It finds itself between two great power rivalries and two volatile neighbours, navigating the turbulence of a nascent India-U.S. trade war, an emboldened China on its borders, and a desperate Pakistan lashing out after the setbacks of Operation Sindoor.

A Tightrope Between Washington And Beijing

Indias strategic posture today rests on calibrated balance. On one hand, its partnership with the United States has deepened more in the last decade than in the previous fifty years, marked by foundational defence agreements, joint production initiatives under iCET, and growing technology collaboration. Yet, the honeymoon is not without irritants.

Washingtons new protectionist instincts, particularly in trade and digital services, have begun to affect New Delhis economic calculus. The U.S. tariffs on key Indian exports, the curbs on technology transfer, and tightening visa regulations have opened an unexpected rift just as the two nations celebrate unprecedented strategic convergence. The emerging trade friction underscores a critical reality: defence cooperation cannot indefinitely compensate for economic imbalances. For India, the task is to ensure that a security partnership does not evolve into a trade dependency.

New Delhis response has been measured. Instead of public confrontation, it has sought to widen its economic outreach by negotiating free trade agreements with the EU, deepening connectivity with ASEAN, and pursuing south-south supply chains through Africa and the Indian Ocean. This quiet diversification reflects Indias determination to remain indispensable yet independent in the global economy.

The China Challenge: Cold Borders And Hot Competition

Even as India manages a complicated friendship with Washington, its equation with Beijing remains cold and brittle. Five years after the Galwan clash, the Line of Actual Control continues to witness tension and militarisation. Chinas incremental expansionism, combining infrastructure build-up, cartographic aggression, and strategic ambiguity, has created a no-war, no-peace" frontier.

Beijings playbook is familiar: deny space for de-escalation while distracting India through economic overtures. Chinese exports to India continue to grow despite political frostiness, revealing the paradox of competition and dependence. Indias counter has been multi-dimensional through the Quads maritime collaboration, the SAGAR initiative in the Indian Ocean, and strategic partnerships with France, Japan, and Australia.

The quiet contest in the Indian Ocean is perhaps more consequential than the Himalayan standoff. Chinas naval presence from Djibouti to Hambantota to Gwadar represents a slow squeeze on Indias maritime periphery. In response, India has ramped up its partnerships with the littoral states and strengthened its role as a net security provider in the region. The message is unmistakable: India will neither provoke nor yield.

Pakistans Desperation After Operation Sindoor

If China tests Indias patience, Pakistan tests its restraint. The aftermath of Operation Sindoor, which exposed and neutralised terror networks with precision, has left Rawalpindis establishment rattled and reactive. Bereft of strategic coherence and mired in political chaos, Pakistan has turned to its old habits: cross-border propaganda, proxy agitation, and disinformation warfare.

After the setback in Operation Sindoor, Pakistan is in a quiet scramble to regain its footing. The operation dealt a blow not just to its military assets but to its image of deterrence. The silence from traditional partners deepened the sense of isolation in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Now, Pakistan is urgently courting Washington and Riyadh in a bid to recover leverage and legitimacy. In Washington, Islamabad is attempting to reframe the relationship around economics and logistics rather than aid and security. It has reportedly offered the U.S. access to a port along the Makran coast, likely Pasni or Jiwani. The offer is significant: it places an American foothold within sight of Gwadar, Chinas flagship project, and not far from Chabahar, Indias investment with Iran.

For Pakistan, this is a calculated move, a way to remind Washington that its geography still matters. It gives the U.S. a potential counterweight to both Chinese and Iranian influence on the Arabian Sea while allowing Islamabad to hedge between Beijing and Washington. It also sends a quiet message to Tehran: Pakistan can still tilt the balance of regional access if relations with Iran sour.

In Riyadh, the approach is more urgent and transactional. Saudi Arabia remains Pakistans financial first responder, supplying loans, deferred oil payments, and political reassurance. Islamabad is banking on this partnership not only for fiscal breathing space but also to project that it is not diplomatically isolated after Sindoor. The new SaudiPakistan defence pact gives Rawalpindi a talking point, if not a real guarantee.

Taken together, the U.S. port offer and Saudi overtures reflect a strategy born of weakness, not confidence. Islamabad is trying to rebuild deterrence and credibility through diplomacy, geography, and symbolism rather than through hard power. After Operation Sindoor, Pakistan is learning that when firepower fails to command respect, strategic location becomes its last usable asset. The question is how long that geography can keep buying relevance in a region that is rapidly tilting away from it.

For India, the danger lies not in Pakistans capacity but in its instability. A neighbour with collapsing institutions and unaccountable weapons poses unpredictable risks. New Delhis approach, calibrated firmness without escalation, has so far kept the western front quiet while maintaining focus on the larger strategic theatre to the north and east.

Strategic Autonomy In An Era of Entanglement

The twin realities of a hostile China and an unstable Pakistan make Indias foreign policy paradoxical, simultaneously assertive and restrained. Strategic autonomy, once dismissed as ambiguity, has emerged as a doctrine of discipline.

Unlike Cold War alignments, todays partnerships are fluid, transactional, and multi-domain. Indias presence in competing blocs such as the Quad, BRICS+, and SCO is not contradiction but calculus. It is a reflection of New Delhis belief that power today lies in engagement without entrapment. The diversification of defence procurement spanning the U.S., Russia, Israel, and France similarly ensures strategic resilience in an uncertain world.

The India-U.S. relationship, for all its frictions, remains central to Indias rise. But the goal is not alliance; it is alignment on Indias terms. As Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently remarked, India seeks partnership, not patronage." That statement encapsulates the essence of Indias current foreign policy posture: cooperative without being compliant.

Calm Amid Chaos

The next decade will test Indias capacity to balance ambition with restraint. The U.S.-China rivalry will deepen, Pakistans volatility will persist, and new economic rifts may emerge. Yet, amid this disorder, Indias strategic calm, rooted in patience, purpose, and preparedness, is its greatest strength.

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Where others react to crises, India has learned to absorb them. Its restraint after Galwan, its quiet firmness in dealing with Pakistan, and its careful calibration of ties with the West show a maturity born of confidence. As the world fragments into competing camps, Indias steady hand on the tiller may well become the defining feature of its rise.

In a century of confrontation, the ability to stay composed may prove more decisive than the ability to strike first. Indias challenge, and its opportunity, is to remain the indispensable stabiliser in a deeply unstable world.

About the Author Shubhangi Sharma Shubhangi Sharma is News Editor - Special Projects at News18. She covers foreign affairs and geopolitics, and also keeps a close watch on the national pulse of India.

First Published: October 06, 2025, 19:47 IST

News opinion Opinion | How Indias Steady Hand Manages US, China And Corners Pakistan

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Opinion | The US-Pakistan Tango Is A Reset That Has Consequences For India

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 22:29 IST

Since the Cold War, the US-Pakistan relationship has always tilted in Washington's favour but never without consequences for India

Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir displays a wooden box, claimed to contain rare earth minerals, during his meeting with US President Donald Trump. (Image: X)

Lets begin with a question. Should the growing bonhomie between Pakistan and the United States worry India?

The question was triggered by an image released by Pakistans foreign ministry. It shows Pakistans self-appointed Field Marshal General Asim Munir offering rare earth metals to US President Donald Trump, quite literally on a platter, during a closed-door meeting at the Oval Office.

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Islamabads foreign policy establishment is showcasing the image as proof of a great reset in US-Pakistan ties, a long-delayed course correction that will erase a decade of mistrust.

For many, the picture is a throwback to the colonial era: the subjugated potentate offering tribute in exchange for patronage. Ordinarily, serious students of geopolitics dont assign much significance to unequal relationships.

Indeed, former Indian envoy to the US Nirupama Rao has advised New Delhi not to fret over what she called Pakistans puppet show". Their consensus is that Washington is warming to Islamabad only to fulfil short-term tactical needs.

But history suggests that to take such a view is to underestimate the significance of this renewed warmth between Pakistan and the Trump-led US.

Since the Cold War, the US-Pakistan relationship has always tilted in Washingtons favour but never without consequences for India. Closer ties with America have repeatedly hurt Indias interests: arming Pakistan during the Cold War, empowering its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and jihad networks during the Afghan war, and later funding a counter-terror" ally that quietly sheltered India-focused militants.

As before, this latest detente may also, in the months and years ahead, deepen Pakistans military and ideological capacity to challenge India with US indulgence. What we are witnessing has striking parallels to the Nixon era. Albeit with a difference.

The US has realised that its gradual drawdown from the Indo-Pacific no longer serves its key objective of containing China. Over the years, that retrenchment has exacerbated Irans nuclear brinkmanship, destabilised West Asia, and provided oxygen to terrorist networks across Af-Pak.

Strategists in Washington had once hoped to bring India firmly within the US arc of influence, as a countervailing force against China, allowing America to redeploy resources toward managing the Middle East and constraining radical Islamism.

To this end, successive administrations elevated the India-US partnership to a comprehensive strategic engagement". There is no denying New Delhi has benefited. But that American playbook has not delivered as Washington had hoped.

For all its gratitude, India has wisely resisted attempts to submit fully to US influence. It has, for instance, rebuffed Washingtons push to turn the Quad into a NATO-style alliance aimed squarely at China. Far from exclusive alignment, India has embraced plurilateralism  friends with all, even the rivals of its friends.

The result: Washington is once again turning to the tried and tested. A pliable, eager-to-please client state like Pakistan.

Islamabad is happy to offer logistics, ports, and rare earth materials in exchange for American patronage. A base or foothold in Pakistan gives Washington vantage access to both the subcontinent and the western Indo-Pacific.

Beyond the long term, there is an immediate incentive for this new courtship. In a move reminiscent of Nixons realpolitik, Trump is keen to leverage Islamabads proximity to Beijing to help broker a win-win" trade understanding. For Pakistan, closer ties with the US also send an important signal to China that it has options.

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All this is not to say that India must do a Pakistan".

Indias strength, its carefully guarded strategic autonomy, may place it in tight corners at times, but it remains the ultimate safeguard against being reduced to a pawn in great-power games.

About the Author Rahul Shivshankar Rahul Shivshankar is Consulting Editor at Network18. He tweets at @RShivshankar

First Published: October 06, 2025, 22:29 IST

News opinion Opinion | The US-Pakistan Tango Is A Reset That Has Consequences For India

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Opinion | Trumps Peace Plan In Gaza To End Two-Year War

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 19:26 IST

The big question is who will govern Gaza after Hamas has been neutralised and routed?

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Trumps plan comes with tight timelines. (Image Credit: Reuters)

Two years back, when Hamas launched an unprecedented and ghastly attack on Israeli Defence Forces positions and civilians living in nearby Kibbutz, this author had professed that the Israeli reaction would be overwhelming and violent, creating conditions for the war to overspill on all fronts with the potential of becoming a regional war.

Over 1,200 Israeli soldiers and civilians were killed and around 250 were taken as prisoners. The Israeli psyche was badly bruised and glaring gaps in the intelligence setup and war preparedness were exposed.

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A shocked Israeli establishment took considerable time to assess the situation and evolve a comprehensive action plan. Its initial aim was to liberate all the hostages and crush the Hamas leadership and its potency to wage a war of that magnitude ever again. Hezbollah in Lebanon opened the Northern front of Israel in order to tie down sizeable IDF strength and reduce the pressure on Hamas in Gaza. Iran, Syria, and Houthis in Yemen provided moral and material support for the resistance to continue in Gaza. Iran and Yemen also launched long-range surface-to-surface bombs, missiles, and other projectiles onto Israel, the majority of which were intercepted by the Iron Dome air defence system.

Coping with emerging threats, in a mid-course correction, Israel enhanced the scope of the war to engulf the whole region and once and for all reduce all future existential threats to its integrity and sovereignty.

A premeditated plan to wipe out the entire Hezbollah leadership using technology to its advantage to weaponise communication devices was executed with finesse and the resistance was crippled.

The long-standing option to change the Assad Regime in Syria was achieved in concert with Turkey, who supported the opposition groups under Hayat Tahrir Al Shams leader Ahmed Al Sharaa. Going a step forward, Israel improved its defensive posture by occupying the balance one-third of the Golan Heights, as also targeting the entire conventional war-waging potential of Syria in successive air attacks. In concert with the US, Israel launched precision-guided attacks on nuclear assets of Iran and degraded its nuclear capabilities. Houthis in Yemen were bombarded and also targeted by missiles to eliminate any sub-conventional threat from Yemen. Israel has also neutralised the Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar.

In the last two years, Israel has become a formidable power in the region and has defied international opinion to bring an end to the war. Around 66,000 innocent civilian lives, including women and children, have been lost in Gaza and the Western powers have highlighted the atrocities meted out to the people of Gaza. While Israel has almost eliminated a conventional threat from its adversaries, peace will evade the country for decades to come, as sub-conventional threats will take newer shape and size and Israeli-origin persons around the world will be under a perpetual threat.

Netanyahu has been criticised for enhancing the war for his personal political survival and internal strife has also emerged challenging his style of leadership. Trumps 20-Point Peace Plan has, therefore, come at a very critical time in ushering in peace in the region and has largely been accepted by warring sides. Hamas has agreed to release the balance 48 hostages, including 20 who are alive, and its cadres have been promised a safe exit if they lay down their weapons. Israel has to stop bombardments with immediate effect and withhold its offensive towards Gaza City. As always, Trumps plan comes with tight timelines which are impractical and difficult to abide by.

The big question is who will govern Gaza after Hamas has been neutralised and routed? Hamas wants a government of independents, mainly technocrats, to run the government. Israelis would not like to give the Palestine Authority of Mahmoud Abbas this power because it prefers to deal with the West Bank and Gaza as separate identities and keep them divided. The Palestine Authority wields very limited administrative power in the West Bank as internal security is being tightly handled by the IDF. The settlements in the West Bank are growing at a fast pace, thereby making a two-state option very unviable.

Netanyahu and the Hamas leaders have very little choice this time not to accept the peace plan in principle. Although the basic tenet of a lasting peace plan is an independent Palestinian state, Netanyahu has categorically stated that he is not in favour of having such an arrangement. Netanyahus coalition partners, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, still want to annex Gaza as Israel has done with the Golan Heights in 1982, and they may threaten to leave his government, resulting in a collapse. The President has made a public statement that he will not press corruption charges against Netanyahu if he decides to leave. The political career of the longest-serving PM of Israel may be coming to an end after all.

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It may be recalled that Israel won all previous conventional wars convincingly by launching swift, daring, and agile offensives. This sub-conventional war against irregular, lightly armed Hamas cadres in the built-up areas has been the longest fought war and has not been decisively won. The collateral damage has been colossal and doesnt augur well for a 21st-century professional army. Has the Israeli army lost its sheen or is it because of a poor and inadequate political setup furthering their own agenda? A number of lessons will be drawn if peace is given a chance to prevail! Israel as a nation should carry out an introspection and soul-searching and debate whether they want to stay in a perpetual state of war and if so, what legacy are they going to leave for their future generations. An equal number of Arabs within the Israeli state cannot be wished away and a two-state solution will only be a lasting one.

The author was Head of the Mission and Force Commander of UN Peacekeeping Mission (UNDOF) between Israel and Syria at Golan Heights from 2012 to 2014. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: October 06, 2025, 19:26 IST

News opinion Opinion | Trumps Peace Plan In Gaza To End Two-Year War

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By Laman Ismayilova



An art competition titled "Z?F?R - 44" has been announced in the country to mark the 5th anniversary of the Azerbaijani Army's historic victory in the 44-day Patriotic War, achieved under the leadership of the President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev.

The art contest aims to foster a sense of patriotism among the younger generation and to promote the high spiritual values associated with the liberation of Azerbaijan's territories from occupation.

Contest Rules. Entries should reflect:

Life during the occupation period;

Reconstruction efforts after the Victory;

Emotional state of the people;

Courage of the Azerbaijani Army;

Fighting spirit of the people;

Unity of the Azerbaijani Army and the people.

Note that art works may be created in the genres of visual arts and sculpture.

Age of participants: 10 to 21 years

10 to 21 years Application deadline: October 25, 2025

Submission email address: [email protected]

Participant application form must include:

Photo of the artwork;

Title of the artwork;

Date of birth;

Dimensions and technique;

Contact details;

Full name;

Name of educational institution.

Maximum artwork size: up to 4050 cm

A total of 44 works will be selected for the exhibition. All participants whose works are chosen for the exhibition will receive certificates and gifts. An online catalog of the exhibition will be prepared as well.

We look forward to receiving new works born from your emotions and inspiration!

For more information, please contact: +994 51 310 74 01 (phone/WhatsApp)

The art contest "Z?F?R - 44" is organized by Azerbaijan Artists' Union, State Art Gallery, Khatai Children's Art Gallery, Khatai Arts Center, with the support of the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, "Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting" CJSC, Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts, Khatai District Executive Power and Nakhchivan Artists' Union.

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az and Milli.Az.
Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 16:53 IST

1 / 7 Domestic LPG consumers may soon see some relief as India explores long-term imports of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from the United States, potentially keeping prices stable amid fluctuating global markets. (News18 Tamil) + Follow us On Google

2 / 7 State-owned oil firms - Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) - are reportedly seeking to acquire three of the largest LPG carriers from the United States by 2026, according to a tender document accessed by Bloomberg. (News18 Tamil)

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3 / 7 These three companies collectively supply LPG to over 331 million domestic consumers, with more than 60% of the gas currently imported. While India has longstanding contracts with Middle Eastern suppliers such as Saudi Arabia, this marks the first instance of a major US deal for domestic LPG. (News18 Tamil)

4 / 7 The initiative comes against the backdrop of the ongoing US-China trade war, which has disrupted global supplies of cooking gas and petrochemical feedstocks. China, seeking to reduce its reliance on US shale imports, has turned to Middle Eastern suppliers, creating opportunities for India to secure steady shipments from the US. (News18 Tamil)

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5 / 7 Middle Eastern producers, particularly Saudi Arabia, are reportedly lowering LPG prices to expand their share in the Indian market. Analysts suggest that increased competition between US and Middle Eastern suppliers could lead to more favourable pricing for Indian consumers. (News18 Tamil)

6 / 7 Experts indicate that with adequate supply and continuous imports from the US, LPG prices in India are likely to remain stable. "A long-term supply contract from the US could ensure high and uninterrupted imports, helping maintain price stability for domestic users," said an industry analyst. (News18 Tamil)

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 11:55 IST

1 / 7 The Tamil Nadu government is expected to release the RTE Admissions 2025 notification today, October 6, 2025. This comes after the Government of India released the States share of RTE reimbursement funds, following directions from the Madras High Court and subsequent proceedings before the Supreme Court of India. (Representational Image) + Follow us On Google

2 / 7 Once the detailed notification is released, the online application process for admission in private schools under the Right to Education (RTE) Act for the 2025-26 academic session is expected to tentatively begin from October 9, 2025. Parents and guardians can then submit applications for their children to secure a seat under the RTE quota. (Representational Image)

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3 / 7 Following the notification, schools are required to update the total number of seats already filled in entry-level classes by October 7. On the next day, October 8, schools will identify 25% of seats specifically reserved under the RTE quota and make this information visible through the school login portal. (Representational Image/Getty)

4 / 7 From October 9, parents must upload the details of all eligible children, including Aadhaar, date of birth, address, income and community certificates, along with the Parent Declaration under G.O. No. 66 dated April 7, 2017. This step ensures that only eligible children are considered for admission under the RTE Act. (Representational Image/Getty)

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5 / 7 On October 10 and 13, schools will display the list of eligible and ineligible applicants on their notice boards, mentioning reasons for rejection wherever applicable. During this period, parents will have the opportunity to submit any missing or additional documents to complete the verification process. (Representational Image/Getty)

6 / 7 The final list of eligible children will be published on October 14. If fewer than 25% of seats are filled, schools will tag eligible children under the RTE quota in the EMIS portal by October 15. In cases where applications exceed the 25% quota, a transparent random selection process will be conducted on October 16, and selected children will be tagged in the EMIS portal on October 17. (Representational Image/Getty)

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 13:57 IST

1 / 8 New Traffic Penalty Rules 2025: Centres Plan Sparks Concern Among Motorists The central government is gearing up to roll out a major plan to tighten traffic regulations across India. Aimed at bringing stricter control on violations, the move has left crores of vehicle owners on edge. Here's what you need to know. + Follow us On Google

2 / 8 Buying a vehicle today isnt easy - it takes hard work, savings, and sacrifice. But even after purchase, theres a long list of rules: license, registration, insurance, pollution certificates, and more. Many people arent fully aware of these legal requirements, and as a result, are being fined without notice. Penalty challans are being issued against their vehicles, often without their knowledge. Now, the central government is preparing to take things a step further: vehicles with unpaid fines could soon be seized.

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3 / 8 The Union Transport Ministry is proposing major updates to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The new amendments aim to tighten enforcement around traffic violations, including challans, installment-based fine payments, and penalties for rule-breakers. One key proposal gives authorities the power to suspend driving licenses if a vehicle has five or more pending challans. The central governments message is clear: settle your fines promptly - dont let them pile up.

4 / 8 New Traffic Rule May Lead to Vehicle Seizure for Unpaid Challans. Until now, vehicle owners had up to 90 days to clear a traffic challan. But under a new proposal, that grace period may soon be slashed to 45 days. If the fine isnt paid within that time, authorities will be allowed to seize the vehicle. And it doesnt stop there - owners of seized vehicles wont be able to sell them, renew registration, change address, or even transfer ownership.

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5 / 8 The new proposals include automated systems that send e-challan notices within 15 days of a violation. Motorists will be alerted digitally, making it easier to track pending fines. But if these changes are enforced, lakhs of drivers may face hurdles - especially those not familiar with digital platforms.

6 / 8 The new proposal includes digital tracking of traffic violations. Motorists would receive an electronic notice within 15 days of a challan being issued. While this system aims to improve efficiency, it could also cause trouble for lakhs of drivers, especially those unfamiliar with digital alerts.

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7 / 8 The Centres draft proposal has sparked a mixed response. Supporters believe tougher rules will improve road safety. Critics argue the challan system is riddled with corruption and false fines, questioning why governments arent penalised for bad roads. In 2024 alone, over 8 crore challans worth Rs 12,000 crore were issued nationwide.
Attack On Our Hearts: Owaisi Slams Action Against I Love Muhammad Poster During Procession

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 15:35 IST

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi questioned government's actions on 'I love mohammad' poster controversy and said 'such actions are attacking our hearts'.

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi | File Image.PTI

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the ongoing I love mohammad poster row. Questioning governments actions, the Hyderabad MP asked whats illegal about it?" During a rally in Bihars Bahadurganj, Owaisi said, In your city, someone was carrying a poster in a procession which read I Love Muhammad. The officials snatched the poster and said that it cannot be shown"

He further said that when Hindus say I love Mahadev, no one has an objection.

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If someone uses the same slogan for any of their religious leaders, as our Hindu brothers did, I love Mahadev, we have no objection. This is their belief. If we carry around a poster saying I love Mohammad, what is illegal about it*? What is there in it that incites anyone to violence, aggression, or violence?" AIMIM chief said.

The he Hyderabad Lok Sabha MP further said that the actions being taken by the government are attacking" hearts of the Muslim community. You told our girls they couldnt wear hijabs and burqas. The actions the government is taking now are attacking our hearts. Remember, we have tolerated attacks on every part of our bodies. But when the heart is attacked, who will survive?" he asked.

I love Mohammad Row

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The controversy erupted on September 9, when the police in Kanpur registered a case against 24 people for allegedly installing boards with I Love Muhammad written on them during an religious procession on September 4.

Bareilly in UP which witnessed tensions on September 26, when locals and police clashed in the heart of the city following Friday prayers after the cancellation of a proposed protest over the I Love Muhammad" posters. Several people were injured in the clashes.

First Published: October 06, 2025, 07:05 IST

News politics Attack On Our Hearts: Owaisi Slams Action Against I Love Muhammad Poster During Procession

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'Bihar Has 19% Muslim Population But They Have No Leader': Asaduddin Owaisi Ahead Of Polls

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 15:51 IST

Owaisi said, "Yadav, Paswan, Thakur - every community has its own leader, but the 19 per cent Muslims in Bihar have no leader."

Asaduddin Owaisi Addresses Rally In Bihar

Ahead of Bihar elections, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi made a strong remark and said, There is no leader for the Muslim population in Bihar." Addressing a rally in Bihars Darbhanga, Owaisi said every community has a leader in Bihar, but the 19 per cent Muslims do not.

Yadav, Paswan, Thakur  every community has its own leader, but the 19 per cent Muslims in Bihar have no leader," he said.

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Bihar election 2025 date is set to be announced today. As per the official order, the Election Commission of India is set to hold a press conference at 4 PM. In a press conference in Patna, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar said that elections in Bihar will be held before November 22.

In 2020 Bihar polls, Owaisis AIMIM performance unexpectedly impressed everyone as they won five seats. Four of the five AIMIM MLAs later switched to RJD.

This year too, Owaisi is aiming at a striking performance. There should have been 50-55 Muslim MPs based on our population. If there were more than 50 Muslim MPs, could PM Modi have brought the Waqf (Amendment) Act?" the AIMIM chief said at a rally today.

VIDEO | Darbhanga: Addressing a public meeting, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi says, Yadavs, Paswans, Thakurs  every community has its leader, but the 19 per cent Muslim population in Bihar does not."#BiharElections(Full video available on PTI Videos  pic.twitter.com/f1Ea5V9E83  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 6, 2025

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Owaisi further attacked Tejashwi Yadav and said, RJD is not ready to talk to us. Now, the people of Bihar understand who is trying to stop Modi-Nitish from coming to power and who is helping them. Tejashwi Yadav must realise that his immaturity will cost him and his arrogance will weaken him. If he thinks he can do everything alone, he is mistaken"

Bihar has 243 assembly constituencies, including two reserved for STs and 38 for SCs.

Location : Darbhanga, India, India

First Published: October 06, 2025, 15:20 IST

News politics 'Bihar Has 19% Muslim Population But They Have No Leader': Asaduddin Owaisi Ahead Of Polls

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'Do People Want To Know The Truth': Tejashwi Questions Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's 'Mental' Health

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: October 05, 2025, 20:40 IST

Targeting the BJP, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav even raised suspicion if Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's food was being tampered with

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who is now the leader of the opposition, shared a video of the function held in New Delhi, which Bihar CM Nitish Kumar attended virtually from his residence. (Image: @yadavtejashwi/X)

Reacting to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumars bizarre antics" during a function with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav raised questions over the state of his mental health.

Tejashwi asked the people of poll-bound Bihar if they want to know the truth" behind Nitish Kumars erratic" behaviour.

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How does it feel to see the Chief Minister of a state in such a pathetic condition? Do the honorable Chief Minister ji appear mentally healthy to you while engaging in such bizarre antics?" Tejashwi asked in Hindi (translated by Grok) on social media platform, X.

              ?                ?                       ? pic.twitter.com/1JhRwi8DoR Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) October 5, 2025

Targeting the BJP, Tejashwi even raised suspicion if the chief ministers food was being tampered with. Is it a conspiracy that their party, the special pawn of BJP, has deliberately put them in this state by feeding them prasad or other food items under some pretext? Do the majority of Bihars people want to know this truth?" he said.

The former deputy CM, who is now the leader of the opposition, shared a video of the function held in New Delhi, which Nitish attended virtually from his residence. Later, talking to reporters, he said: For quite some time, the CM has been behaving in a manner that shows he is not in the proper state of mind. He has made crude remarks about my mother Rabri Devi, a former CM herself, besides women in general. Once, he was caught on camera fooling around while the national anthem was being played in the background."

In the video shared by Tejashwi, Nitish can be seen staring with folded hands at his computer screen even as senior BJP leader and deputy CM Samrat Choudhary read out his speech.

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Clearly the CM no longer has the ability to run his government. A syndicate is calling the shots and it will be exposed soon," he said, as reported by news agency PTI.

Reacting to Tejashwis comments, JD(U) MLC and spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said: Nitish Kumar is the one who has restored the political, social and economic health of Bihar. Tejashwi Yadav would do well to worry about his own ailing father Lalu Prasad, the RJD president."

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: October 05, 2025, 19:58 IST

News politics 'Do People Want To Know The Truth': Tejashwi Questions Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's 'Mental' Health

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'Gen Z Stands With Modi Govt, Not Congress': Kiren Rijiju Hits Back At Rahul Gandhi

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 11:20 IST

Kiren Rijiju criticized Rahul Gandhi's Gen Z remarks, praising India's Gen Z for supporting PM Modi and rejecting Congress.

On being asked if youth feel connected to Gandhi, Rijiju replied, "Not at all." (File photo)

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday launched a blistering attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his Gen Z remark, stating that it doesnt befit" him to speak of the young generation as it was them who ousted Congress from power.

Calling Indias Gen-Z sensible and smart", the Union Minister said that they stand with the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and not Congress. Rijiju added that the youth will never tolerate Congress, accusing it of keeping the nation poor" for six decades.

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Indias Gen-Z are sensible, sincere, sharp, smart and steadfast in their mission to make India a great nation. They will not tolerate the party and the family who kept India poor for 6 decades. They will reject corrupt and inefficient politicians who only care for one family! https://t.co/otHiYNt5Da pic.twitter.com/RjlIySjJV3 Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) October 5, 2025

In an interview with news agency ANI, Rijiju said that Gen Zs anger is directed towards those who are not capable" enough but want to run the government, in an apparent reference to Congress.

It doesnt befit Rahul Gandhi to speak of Gen Z. The young generation has ousted them from power. Gen Z means the new mindset of a new generation  it stands with PM Modi. Indias Gen Z is against the control of this country in the hands of one party, one family. It is against corruption" the Parliamentary Affairs minister said.

He stated that the youth are against the family that has captured" the party.

Gen Zs anger is directed towards those who are not capable but want to run the Government, against the family that has captured the party. Our government is dedicated to people. Gen Z is against Congress," he remarked.

On being asked if youth feel connected to Gandhi, he replied, Not at all."

Responding to Gandhis remark, Rijiju continued, Now, when they cant win elections, they abuse the Election Commission, put allegations of vote chori. Youths are connected with Modi ji, the country stands with Modi ji."

The minister shared the video of the interaction on his official X account with a caption that read, Indias Gen-Z are sensible, sincere, sharp, smart and steadfast in their mission to make India a great nation. They will not tolerate the party and the family who kept India poor for 6 decades. They will reject corrupt and inefficient politicians who only care for one family!(sic)"

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Earlier on September 18, just after his second round of presentation on alleged voter fraud, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi invoked Indias Gen Z and pledged his support in stopping vote chori." Asserting that the Gen Z of India will play a decisive role in safeguarding the Constitution and protecting democracy, Gandhi pledged to stand by them in their fight against alleged vote theft."

Gandhi had appealed to Gen Z in an X post, just hours after his fresh allegations of an attempt at vote theft in Karnatakas Aland constituency. Addressing a press conference, he had claimed that there was an attempt to delete more than 6,000 voters names from the Aland constituency in Karnataka.

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: October 06, 2025, 11:20 IST

News politics 'Gen Z Stands With Modi Govt, Not Congress': Kiren Rijiju Hits Back At Rahul Gandhi

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'Pathetic Law And Order': PM Modi Hits Out At TMC After Attack On Bengal BJP Leaders

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 22:48 IST

PM Modi condemned the attack on BJP MP Khagen Murmu and MLA Dr Shankar Ghosh in Jalpaiguri, blaming TMC for West Bengal's poor law and order amid severe floods.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi (IMAGE: X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday strongly condemned the attack on BJP MP Khagen Murmu and party MLA Dr Shankar Ghosh in West Bengal, calling it outright appalling" and a reflection of the states pathetic law and order situation."

Murmu sustained injuries after being attacked while distributing relief materials to flood-affected communities. The stone-pelting attack occurred in Jalpaiguris Nagrakata area, as Murmu and BJP Ghosh were on the ground assisting victims of recent heavy rains, floods, and landslides.

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Reacting to the incident, PM Moid in a post on X said, The manner in which our Party colleagues, including a sitting MP and MLA, were attacked in West Bengal for serving the people affected by floods and landslides is outright appalling. It highlights the insensitivity of the TMC as well as the absolutely pathetic law and order situation in the state."

He criticised the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, saying, I wish the West Bengal Government and TMC were more focused on helping people rather than indulging in violence in such a challenging situation."

The Prime Minister urged BJP workers to continue serving those affected by the floods and landslides. I call upon BJP Karyakartas to continue working among the people and assist the ongoing rescue operations," he added.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused PM Modi of politicising the natural disaster" in North Bengal, saying it was unfortunate and deeply concerning" that he chose to make allegations against the state government without waiting for a proper investigation.

In a post on X, Banerjee said that while the entire local administration and police were engaged in relief and rescue operations, BJP leaders had gone to the affected areas with a large convoy of cars and under security cover of the central forces, without informing the local police or administration." She questioned how the state government or the Trinamool Congress (TMC) could be blamed for the resulting incident.

The Prime Minister has blamed the TMC and the West Bengal Government outright without a shred of verified evidence, legal inquiry, or administrative report. This is not just a political low, it is a breach of the constitutional ethos the Prime Minister has sworn to uphold," she wrote.

Banerjee also pointed out that the incident occurred in a constituency represented by a BJP MLA, calling the Prime Ministers remarks immature" and unbecoming of the highest office in the land."

Criticising Modis sudden concern" for Bengal, she said, Coming from a Prime Minister who visited Manipur only 964 days after it was engulfed in ethnic violence, the sudden concern for Bengal appears less like empathy and more like opportunistic political theatre."

Reiterating that violence must be condemned unequivocally," the Chief Minister urged restraint and unity, saying this was not the time for partisan chest-thumping."

Its also evident that the BJP is resorting to the tired North Bengal vs South Bengal narrative, hoping to polarise people ahead of elections. Let us be clear: Bengal is one  emotionally, culturally, and politically," she wrote.

Listen to the elected state government, not just your party colleagues. You are the Prime Minister of India, not just of the BJP. Your responsibility lies in nation-building, not narrative-building," she added.

It is unfortunate and deeply concerning that the Prime Minister of India has chosen to politicise a natural disaster without waiting for a proper investigation, especially while people in North Bengal are grappling with the aftermath of devastating floods and landslides.When  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) October 6, 2025

BJP Alleges TMCs Involvement

BJP leaders have alleged that the attack was orchestrated by members of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

TMCs Jungle Raj in Bengal! BJP MP Khagen Murmu, a respected tribal leader and two-time MP from North Malda, was attacked by TMC goons while on his way to help with relief and rescue efforts," BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya posted on X.

Critising the state government, Malviya said, While Mamata Banerjee dances at her Kolkata Carnival, the TMC and state administration are missing in action. Those actually helping the people, BJP leaders and karyakartas, are being attacked for doing relief work. This is TMCs Bengal, where cruelty rules and compassion is punished."

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Speaking about the incident, TMC leader and Minister of North Bengal Development said, People who attacked did not carry any flag. BJP tried to instigate people against Mamata Banerjee; those people have now reacted against these people."

Despite the attack, BJP leaders have pledged to carry on with their relief efforts in the flood-affected regions. Torrential monsoon rains in North Bengal have triggered landslides and flash floods, causing extensive damage to property and forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes.

First Published: October 06, 2025, 20:39 IST

News politics 'Pathetic Law And Order': PM Modi Hits Out At TMC After Attack On Bengal BJP Leaders

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'Shown In Derogatory Manner': Former Karnataka Minister Stirs Row Over His Defence Of Tipu Sultan

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: October 05, 2025, 23:53 IST

Strongly defending the 18th century ruler, former Karnataka minister KN Rajanna claimed that Tipu Sultan initiated the foundation of the Krishna Raja Sagara Dam

Former Karnataka minister KN Rajanna said Tipu Sultan laid the groundwork for the KRS dam, which was later completed during the reign of Maharaja Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar. (Image: PTI/File)

Former Karnataka minister KN Rajanna has sparked a political debate by controversially claiming that the historical figure, Tipu Sultan, initiated the foundation of the Krishna Raja Sagara Dam.

Speaking from Tumakuru, Rajanna strongly defended the 18th-century ruler, stating: They show Tipu in such a derogatory manner According to what I have read, he was the one who started the Kannambadi dam (the initial name for the Krishna Raja Sagara)."

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Rajanna said Tipu Sultan laid the groundwork for the dam, which was later completed during the reign of Maharaja Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar.

After that, it was completed during the time of Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar. When it was to be completed during his time, there was a financial problem," he said.

Describing the financial sacrifice of the Maharaja, he said: They took the gold from the house and sold it in Bombay," further mentioning the 1924 agreement with the erstwhile British Government and Tamil Nadu, adding, we should not forget this."

His claim, however, contradicts established historical records. While historians and heritage experts acknowledge an inscription suggesting Tipu Sultan had a vision for building a dam in the area, they argue that claiming he laid the foundation stone for the present KRS dam is a historical stretch.

According to official state records, the dam, as it stands today, was conceptualised and built under the patronage of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar in the early 20th century. The foundation and construction are universally credited to Sir M Visvesvaraya, the then Diwan of Mysore, under the patronage of Maharaja Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar in the early 20th century (construction began around 1911), more than a century after Tipu Sultans death in 1799. The initial dam/anicuts at the Kannambadi site were significantly older, but the massive reservoir project is firmly placed in the Wadiyar era.

The former minister continued his praise by highlighting Tipu Sultans contributions to agriculture and industry. He emphatically called him the Father of Silk" in the state.

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Tipu is the father of silk. The first silk cropthe Sultan kaddi was brought by him," he said, adding that Tipu Sultan brought the silkworm variety from Persia.

He noted that in areas like Ramanagara, Muslims are predominantly involved in silk farming and trade.

About the Author Harish Upadhya Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India's space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and R... Read More

First Published: October 05, 2025, 23:51 IST

News politics 'Shown In Derogatory Manner': Former Karnataka Minister Stirs Row Over His Defence Of Tipu Sultan

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Free For Everyone: Perplexity AI Brings Comet AI Browser For All Users To Compete With Chrome

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 03, 2025, 13:08 IST

Perplexity AI is taking on Chrome by offering its Comet browser to everyone for free and you don't need the Pro version to use the app

Perplexity has made its Comet AI browser free for everyone.

Perplexity AI is now ready to let millions of users try out its Comet AI web browser that is pitting itself against Googles Chrome. Comet has been around in the market for a while but Perplexity had set up an invite system for its premium users to gain access for the browser.

Now, the gates have opened up for everyone to download the browser to their PCs and try out the AI-ness of the new product from the AI company.

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Comet browser has been available with a waitlist since its launch earlier this year but the company has removed that friction for the Pro users in India. Perplexity has surely unlocked a wider user base with the latest news, especially since many of them are using the AI chatbot through their Airtel number.

Comet AI Browser For Free: Worth Trying?

The browser from Perplexity has features like the Comet Assistant built into its UI, making it a personal assistant for all the tasks. You can ask questions about any web page and the assistant will answer from the tabs that are open and also through the relevant browsing history.

This is similar to Googles new Chrome addition where Gemini AI can perform agentic tasks, but that is only available for users in the US region for now. Perplexity had even tried to buy Chrome for Google which was immediately dismissed by the tech giant.

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Perplexity made the browser available to all Pro users recently and News18 was officially able to confirm with the company about its access to all the Airtel users in the country. Comet is now available to all Pro subscribers in India  no waitlist necessary  whether they have subscribed to Perplexity Pro directly or through an Airtel subscription," Perplexity informed us about the changes.

AI browsers could be shaping the next-gen avatar of the internet for millions and Comet-like products seem to be the future with other companies also lining up their versions. Opera recently introduced its Neon browser which is available for a premium and expect Firefox to have similar additions soon.

About the Author S Aadeetya S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and ... Read More

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: October 03, 2025, 13:08 IST

News tech Free For Everyone: Perplexity AI Brings Comet AI Browser For All Users To Compete With Chrome

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Snapchat Memory Feature Will Cost Users Soon: Heres What It Means

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News18.com

Last Updated: October 03, 2025, 14:38 IST

Snapchat is the latest social media app which is ending the free storage era and asking people to pay to save their photos and videos.

Snapchat Memories will become costlier for many users. (Photo: AI generated)

Snapchat is still a popular app among Instagram and its Reels trending. In fact, Snapchat was the first app to bring some of the features that its rivals picked up later. And soon, we could see one of the Snapchat features breaking the free-gate. Snapchat Memories has helped millions store their old photos and videos for many years but soon people will be asked to pay if they want to save their content on the platform.

Snapchat is not the first platform to stop offering free storage, something WhatsApp has done earlier by asking people to store their data (files, chats and images) on a Google Drive account which becomes chargeable from day one after the free quota is over.

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No More Free Memories, Time To Pay

Snapchat Memories has allowed users to save their stories and photos for many years since it was introduced in 2016. But the company is now changing the terms of using its storage facility and putting a free tier after which people will be required to pay a monthly fee to keep the space for all the content. Snap, the company owning Snapchat has shared the big update will be applicable globally.

The platform will allow people to have Memories content of around 5GB after which they will be asked to take extra storage on its server much akin to Google charging people for its Drive cloud storage.

According to a TechCrunch report, Snapchat will charge around $1.99 (Rs 173 approx) for a 100GB storage plan, and also have the option to take the Snapchat+ monthly plan for $3.99 (Rs 347 approx) which offers 250GB storage for your photos and videos.

Memories Cost Money

Snapchat stories go away after 24 hours but thats where Memories comes in to help you save the content. And the company claims millions have used this feature to save trillions of data" and now all that space is going to come at a price. If your account already has over 5GB memories, Snapchat will soon alert you about upgrading or at least saving all the data.

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However, it is not all doom and gloom, because, even if you have crossed the 5GB limit Snapchat will not immediately delete the content. These users will be given 12 months of temporary storage and the option to download the photos and videos.

Snapchat has gradually become the go-to platform for users (especially the youth) in India, and making its popular feature chargeable might not appeal to many. So, make sure you have less than 5GB of data saved and get ready to pay.

About the Author S Aadeetya S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and ... Read More

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: October 03, 2025, 14:38 IST

News tech Snapchat Memory Feature Will Cost Users Soon: Heres What It Means

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Air India Crash-Themed Durga Puja Pandal In West Bengals Hooghly Draws Public Backlash

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 12:42 IST

The viral video, shared on social media platform X, shows the pandal designed to resemble a crash site featuring a broken aircraft, debris, and artificial flames.

Air India Crash-Themed Durga Puja Pandal In West Bengals Hooghly Draws Public Backlash

A Durga Puja pandal in West Bengals Hooghly district has caused outrage online after a video showed it recreating the tragic Air India plane crash of June 12, sparking debate over artistic limits and sensitivity. What was seemingly intended as a tribute to the victims has been widely condemned as insensitive" and disrespectful."

The viral video, shared on social media platform X, shows the pandal designed to resemble a crash site featuring a broken aircraft, debris, and artificial flames. Organisers reportedly claimed the theme was meant to honour the victims and the rescue workers who risked their lives during the tragedy.

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However, the depiction closely mirrors the real-life disaster, where a London-bound Air India flight crashed into a hostel building in Ahmedabad, killing 260 people, including 241 passengers and crew and 19 on the ground.

Have you'll seen this Durga Puja pandal themed of Ahmedabad Plane crash.This is in Chakpur, Jangipara, Hoogly. pic.twitter.com/bShbsrvfk4 /blood dew (@roktoshisir) October 3, 2025

Social media backlash

The video of the pandal has garnered over 300,000 views, sparking a wave of criticism. Social media users condemned the attempt to turn a national tragedy into a festive attraction.

How absolutely sad is that! How much trauma would it cause the families of the victims?" wrote one user. Another commented, This is so, so bad  imagine how the loved ones of the deceased would feel seeing this."

As the clip gained traction, users labelled the display a glorification of tragedy" and a sick mentality."

So far, the organisers of the Hooghly pandal have not issued any statement or apology. Authorities have also not confirmed whether any action will be taken regarding the controversial theme. The Assam Tribune, which first reported the story, said it could not independently verify the exact location of the pandal.

However, this is not the first such instance. A Ganesh pandal in Nagpur had earlier recreated the crash but drew a relatively muted response.

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West Bengals diverse pandal themes

Durga Puja 2025 has seen a range of innovative and meaningful themes across Kolkata, from Santosh Mitra Squares Operation Sindoor"-inspired setup to Hatibagan Nabin Pallys tribute to women freedom fighters. Against this backdrop, the Hooghly pandals recreation of a fatal air crash has stood out for the wrong reasons, prompting calls for greater mindfulness in blending art, faith, and tragedy.

About the Author Shuddhanta Patra Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior SubEditor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen... Read More

Location : West Bengal, India, India

First Published: October 06, 2025, 12:40 IST

News viral Air India Crash-Themed Durga Puja Pandal In West Bengals Hooghly Draws Public Backlash

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Old Car Parked Near Mosque For 2 Years  What Was Happening Inside Shocked Everyone!

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 10:33 IST

It seemed like an old, broken-down car parked near a mosque. But when someone finally peeked inside, what they found left the whole neighbourhood stunned

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The family moved from Pahang to Kuala Lumpur in search of a better life, but soaring living costs, job shortages, and unaffordable rent soon left them homeless. (News18)

Poverty can sometimes drive people into unimaginable situations, where mere survival becomes a daily battle. Such is the heartbreaking case of a family found living inside an old car parked for two years on the grounds of the Amru Al-As Mosque in Bandar Baru Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

To passers-by, the vehicle seemed like nothing more than an abandoned car. But when locals finally looked inside, they were shocked to discover that a family of four, a husband, wife, and their two young children, had been using the car as their home.

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Two Years Of Struggle

For two years, this family survived in the cramped space, while the children continued attending nearby SK Sri Perak School. Their story, now viral on social media, has drawn widespread attention and sparked outrage over the hidden face of poverty in a country often seen as prosperous.

The family had moved from Temerloh in Pahang province to the capital in search of a better life. However, rising living costs, job scarcity, and unaffordable rent quickly left them homeless.

With no other option, they turned their car into a makeshift shelter. While the mosque grounds provided a degree of safety, the situation became dire during the rainy season.

Bringing The Issue To Light

Federal Territory Umno Information Chief, Datuk Sulam Muzaffar Ghulam Mustaqim, who had been supporting the family for two years, brought the issue to light through a post on Facebook. This family depends entirely on their car," he wrote. The children still go to school, but they have no real home."

He added that although the vehicle never moved, the familys life continued within it. The children wore school uniforms by day and slept in the backseat at night.

After the situation gained public attention, the political party Umno Batu contacted the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to request emergency housing. Immediate assistance is now being arranged. We are working to provide them with a rental home where they can finally rest," said Datuk Sulam.

Community Support And Public Reaction

The mosque committee has also stepped in, offering food and water when possible. But as public concern grows, many agree that more permanent support is urgently needed.

The viral post has sparked thousands of comments, including offers of help and donations. One user wrote, How can this happen in a wealthy nation like Malaysia? The government must take responsibility."

A Nations Hidden Struggles

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Homelessness and poverty are not new issues in Malaysia, but theyve worsened in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Department of Statistics, 5.6% of the population was living below the poverty line in 2024. In urban centres like Kuala Lumpur, where rent for a small flat starts at RM1,500 (around Rs 31,631), many families simply cannot keep up.

For this family, a car became their last refuge. Their story is a stark reminder that behind the towering skylines and bustling streets of modern cities, many still live on the edge, unseen and unheard.

Location : Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

First Published: October 06, 2025, 10:33 IST

News viral Old Car Parked Near Mosque For 2 Years  What Was Happening Inside Shocked Everyone!

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Bangladesh Jamaat Backtracks, Quietly Removes Controversial 'New Logo' | News18 Impact

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 08:00 IST

The Jamaat now seems to have removed the new logo from its leader Shafiqur Rahman's office, where it was first spotted and unveiled during a meeting with the Spanish ambassador

The "new logo" of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami as displayed during a meeting with the Spanish ambassador; (right) the most recent meeting with the new Swiss ambassador, where there is no logo at all, in the background. (Image: News18)

Soon after it came up with a new logo  seen as an effort to undergo cosmetic softening of its stance  the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami seems to have quietly made a U-turn.

This came after News18 reported on the new logo" for the Jamaat. But the party now seems to have removed it from its leader Shafiqur Rahmans office, where it was first spotted as he unveiled it during a meeting with Spanish ambassador Gabriel Sistiaga Ochoa de Chinchetru in Dhaka.

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On Sunday (October 5), the Jamaat Ameer met the newly appointed Swiss ambassador to Bangladesh, Reto Renggli. There was no logo  old or new  in the background but only the name of the organisation written in Bangla.

So, why bring in a new logo to soften its image and then remove it after the buzz gains momentum?

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretary general AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad said: The logo of any political party may change. Our logo is at the discussion level, not finalised yet. The logo seen in the meeting is a proposed logo. The matter will be finalised soon."

But sources in the Jamaat told News18 that the organisation was afraid of a domestic backlash where its softening stance would be seen as pandering to western powers and alienating from Islamic values. With the first national election after former prime minister Sheikh Hasinas fall expected in February 2026  where the Jamaat is expected to emerge as a kingmaker if not the king with Bangladeshs hardline streak in domestic polity  the party thought it will be feasible to undo the damage, the sources said.

But with at least three European Union nations asking the Jamaat to undergo an image overhaul to mainstream it, which will also help it evade terror financing scrutiny in future, it remains to be seen what step it takes next.

WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND THE LOGO?

Earlier News18 reported that the Jamaat, barred from elections by Bangladeshs Supreme Court in 2013 and officially outlawed by Hasinas government in 2024, was preparing to replace its controversial electoral symbol.

For decades, the partys logo carried the Arabic term Aakimuddin", which means establish Islam", along with the calligraphic inscription of Allah. The imagery was unmistakably Islamist and reinforced its ideological goal of enforcing sharia.

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While the Jamaat tried to change its logo earlier, its hardline alignment meant their formal letterhead continued to stick to the old logos. Its new emblem, which it has since quietly erased, depicted a rising sun, a pen, and a balance scale placed on an open book set against a green background.

Insiders said the makeover is designed to project knowledge, justice and modernity"  an attempt to escape its Islamist hardliner tag and show that it aligns with democratic values. The Jamaat now faces a simple question  go for an image makeover and be acceptable to key western powers but in the process desert its core base or champion the Islamic cause to stay true to its base while losing political legitimacy.

About the Author Anindya Banerjee Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep ... Read More

First Published: October 06, 2025, 08:00 IST

News world Bangladesh Jamaat Backtracks, Quietly Removes Controversial 'New Logo' | News18 Impact

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Illinois Sues To Block Trump Administration From Deploying National Guard Troops To Chicago

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 22:04 IST

Illinois filed a lawsuit to stop the Donald Trump administration from sending hundreds of National Guard troops to Chicago.

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US President Donald Trump (Image Credit: Reuters)

Illinois and Chicago filed a lawsuit on Monday, aiming to stop the Donald Trump administration from sending hundreds of National Guard troops to Chicago. Trump approved the deployment of 300 troops on Saturday to control what he described as out-of-control crime.

In a lawsuit filed in federal court in Illinois, the state Attorney General Kwame Raoul and counsel for Chicago accused Trump of using US troops to punish his political enemies."

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The American people, regardless of where they reside, should not live under the threat of occupation by the United States military, particularly not simply because their city or state leadership has fallen out of a presidents favour," said the lawsuit.

Illinois is taking the Trump Administration to court for their unlawful and unconstitutional deployment of military troops to our state," said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who has slammed Trumps deployment plans in Democrat-run cities and called it an abuse of power.

Illinois is taking the Trump Administration to court for their unlawful and unconstitutional deployment of military troops to our state. Thank you @ILAttyGeneral Raoul for helping defend the rule of law. Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) October 6, 2025

The lawsuit also accuses Trump, DHS, ICE, Border Patrol and several of these agencies national and local leaders of unleashing a campaign of violence and intimidation against peaceful protesters and journalists during weeks of demonstrations outside an ICE detention facility in Broadview, Illinois.

Federal agents have repeatedly fired tear gas, pepper balls and other projectiles at crowds, and arrested at least seven people on federal charges as some protesters have tried to block vehicles from going in or out, part of growing pushback to the immigration enforcement surge.

Chicago Mayor Blocks ICE Operations

Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on Monday signed an executive order prohibiting the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies from using city property for civil immigration enforcement. This order prohibits federal authorities from using city-owned or controlled parking lots, vacant lots and garages as staging areas, as per CBS News.

Our school parking lots are not for ICE to load their weapons. They are for Chicago, who drop their kids off to learn," Johnson said. Our libraries are not for ICE to prepare for a raid. Theyre for Chicagoans to read and relax. Our Parks are not for ICE to set up checkpoints. Theyre for Chicagoans to play and enjoy."

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order creating ICE free zones" on public property and private businesses who want to participate. Our school parking lots are not for ICE to load their weapons." Its not immediately clear how it will be enforced. pic.twitter.com/rNFvzR0uWT Mariah Woelfel (@MariahWoelfel) October 6, 2025

We have a rogue, reckless group of heavily armed, masked individuals roaming throughout our city that are not accountable to the people of Chicago. Their actions put all Chicagoans at risk," Johnson said while announcing the executive order.

Whats Happening In Chicago?

The Trump administration has described Chicago as a war zone" in an effort to justify deploying federal troops to the city, despite strong opposition from local Democratic leaders. Calling the decision Trumps invasion," Pritzker earlier said there was no reason" for federal troops to enter the state without coordination with local authorities.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the plan to send troops to Chicago, claiming that the third-largest city in the United States is a war zone."

Hours before Trumps deployment, US Border Patrol agents shot an armed woman in Chicago as scores of protesters faced off against federal immigration agents in the city. No officers were seriously injured when the woman and others rammed cars into vehicles used by ICE agents, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

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Meanwhile, in Portland, a US District Court judge issued a temporary block on a similar troop deployment. Judge Karin Immergut ruled that the White House had failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify military intervention. This is a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law," she wrote.

(with inputs from AFP)

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 : United States of America (USA)

First Published: October 06, 2025, 21:55 IST

News world Illinois Sues To Block Trump Administration From Deploying National Guard Troops To Chicago

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Dhaka Student Arrested Over Social Media Post On Quran, Taslima Nasreen Demands His Release

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 09:15 IST

Apurba Pal, a North South University student in Dhaka, was arrested and expelled for allegedly insulting the Quran. Nasreen condemned the actions and called for his release.

Police detained Pal from his residence in Dhakas Bashundhara Residential Area early Sunday. (Image: X/@taslimanasreen)

A student of North South University in Dhaka was arrested for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through a social media post. The youth, identified as Apurba Pal, was also expelled from the institute over allegations of insulting the Quran, the holy book of Islam.

According to multiple media reports, Pal was reportedly beaten by a violent mob while being taken to the police station.

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Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen has voiced strong support for Pal, calling the actions against him uncivilized, barbaric, violent, and ignorant."

In a post on X, Nasreen wrote, For allegedly insulting the Quran, North South University student Apurba Pal has been expelled from the university. The police have arrested him. While being taken to the police station, he was attacked by barbaric Muslims. A group of fanatical Muslims has destroyed his life."

Calling for his immediate release from police custody, she insisted that Pal should be allowed to resume his education. She also urged authorities to take action against those who attacked him, stating, Those who attacked him must be brought to justice."

Nasreen further emphasized the need to promote scientific thinking and protect freedom of expression, saying, Society must be freed from religious fanaticism. People must be encouraged to develop a scientific mindset. It must be accepted as normal that religious feelings can be hurt. Violating freedom of speech and expression must be declared unjust. And all laws that suppress free speech must be abolished (sic)."

Facebook Post Triggers Outrage

According to local news outlet bdnews24.com, police detained Pal from his residence in Dhakas Bashundhara Residential Area early Sunday after a Facebook post allegedly insulting the Quran triggered outrage online and in the local community.

The unrest began late Saturday night when a video circulated on Facebook, accompanied by claims that Apurba had made a blasphemous post. As the video spread, calls for his arrest intensified. By around 1am on Sunday, a crowd had gathered outside his home demanding action, the outlet reported.

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Police responded and initially sought the cooperation of the crowd to take Apurba into custody. The group agreed at first, allowing officers to enter the house and detain him.

However, as police attempted to escort Apurba away, the crowd turned violent and began attacking him. When officers tried to intervene, the mob turned on the police as well. The situation quickly escalated, prompting the authorities to call for additional reinforcements to restore order. Following the assault, he was taken to the hospital for treatment. Later, a Dhaka court ordered to send him to jail.

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 : Dhaka, Bangladesh

First Published: October 06, 2025, 09:14 IST

News world Dhaka Student Arrested Over Social Media Post On Quran, Taslima Nasreen Demands His Release

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Digital Jihad, Foreign Backers & 298 Candidates: Jamaat's Poll Plan Puts India On Edge | Exclusive

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 12:22 IST

Indian intelligence agencies are closely monitoring the Bengal, Assam, and Tripura corridors, fearing the revival of radical sleeper cells and cross-border ideological spill-over

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The re-entry of Jamaat into formal politics also threatens the fragile opposition unity in Bangladesh. (AFP)

Jamaat-e-Islami is preparing an aggressive return to Bangladeshs political mainstream with nearly 300 candidates lined up for the upcoming national elections in a move that has triggered serious ideological and security concerns in India, particularly along its eastern border states.

According to an Intelligence Assessment Note accessed by CNN-News18, Jamaat, under the leadership of Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, has finalised 298 candidates, marking the largest mobilisation since the organisation was officially banned in 2013. The resurgence is being positioned as a transformation from a proscribed Islamist movement to a populist, nationalist-Islamist political force wrapped in democratic rhetoric.

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The groups revival is being driven through a deep grassroots network of district-level shura committees, student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir, and aggressive digital outreach, including online campaigns focused on Palestine solidarity, anti-corruption, and justice for past movement victims. The October 2 rally in Dhaka, attended by nearly 4,00,000 supporters, signaled Jamaats ambition to position itself as a moral alternative to both the Awami League and the BNP.

While Jamaat has publicly dropped visible Islamist symbols, reportedly under pressure from Western envoys, the core ideological framework remains intact. Party insiders like Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan and Mia Ghulam Parwar are driving a digital jihad" narrative, leveraging social media to re-engage disillusioned youth and revive dormant ideological cells.

Jamaats diplomatic engagements with Turkey, Qatar, Malaysia, and UK-based Islamist networks have added a new layer of geopolitical concern. Intelligence sources suggest these external actors are offering soft power legitimacy, and potentially financial assurances, to facilitate Jamaats reintegration into Bangladeshs political landscape, possibly reshaping the countrys identity in the post-Awami era.

India On Alert

For India, the political shift next door is more than a domestic issue in Bangladeshit is a strategic and ideological threat. Indian intelligence agencies are closely monitoring the West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura corridors, fearing the revival of radical sleeper cells and cross-border ideological spill-over.

According to senior Indian security officials, the Jamaat-Shibir digital ecosystem is being reconstructed, with NGO-based funding streams and cyber-influence strategies mimicking jihadi soft propaganda. The fear is that the groups ideological revival, if granted electoral legitimacy, could influence Islamist narratives within Indias border regions where previous radical networks had once found fertile ground.

Alerts have already been issued to regional intelligence and border security agencies regarding fund transfers, NGO-backed remittance flows, and increased digital propaganda. The rise of Jamaat is now seen not just as a political phenomenon, but as part of a broader attempt to rehabilitate radical Islamist narratives under the cover of democratic engagement.

Strategic Context

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The re-entry of Jamaat into formal politics also threatens the fragile opposition unity in Bangladesh. The BNP-Jamaat alliance, once seen as a counterweight to the Awami League, is now fracturing. BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has publicly accused Jamaat of forming extortion alliances" and creating unrest during joint protest programs in Sylhet, Rangpur, and Chittagong.

Jamaats new demand for a Proportional Representation system is part of its strategy to secure a legitimate foothold in the political arena, particularly among Islamist and conservative youth. However, critics argue that the movement remains fundamentally anchored in its old ideology, now rebranded for global audiences and funded through carefully veiled networks.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh

First Published: October 06, 2025, 12:22 IST

News world Digital Jihad, Foreign Backers & 298 Candidates: Jamaat's Poll Plan Puts India On Edge | Exclusive

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'Got To Take Credit': Donald Trump Claims He Warned Of Osama Bin Laden Year Before 9/11 Attacks

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 12:45 IST

Donald Trump hailed the US Navy SEALs for killing Osama bin Laden and, referring to a book he authored, claimed he warned about the Al-Qaeda chief a year before the 9/11 attacks.

File photos of Donald Trump/Osama bin Laden (AP)

US President Donald Trump on Sunday praised the US Navy SEALs for their 2011 raid that killed Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, while also claiming that he had warned about bin Ladens threat a year before the September 11, 2001, World Trade Center attacks.

Addressing supporters at an event in Washington, DC, Trump said, History will never forget that it was the SEALs who stormed the compound at Osama bin Laden and put a bullet in his head. Remember that."

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Trump went on to claim that he had mentioned bin Laden as a danger to the United States a year before the 9/11 attacks.

Please remember, I wrote about Osama bin Laden exactly one year ago, one year before he blew up the World Trade Center," Trump said.

And I said, You got to watch Osama bin Laden. And the fake news would never let me get away with that statement unless it was true," Trump said.

Referring to his earlier writings, he added, In a book I wrote, whatever the hell the title, I cant tell you, but I can tell you theres a page in there devoted to the fact that I saw somebody named Osama bin Laden and I didnt like it and you got to take care of him. And they didnt do it."

A year later, he (Osama) blew up the World Trade Center," Trump said.

So, we got to take a little credit because nobody else is going to give it to me," he added.

VIDEO | Washington DC: US president Donald Trump says, History will never forget that it was the SEALs who stormed the compound at Osama bin Laden and put a bullet in his head. Remember that. And please remember I wrote about Osama bin Laden exactly one year ago, one year before pic.twitter.com/6lA3yAKfbd Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 6, 2025

The 9/11 attacks, carried out by Al-Qaeda operatives under bin Ladens leadership, killed nearly 3,000 people. Bin Laden was killed a decade later, on May 2, 2011, during a raid by US Navy SEALs on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

THE BOOK TRUMP REFERRED TO

Trumps remarks appeared to refer to a 2000 book he authored, titled The America We Deserve, in which he mentioned bin Laden as a potential threat to US security.

However, the book did not specifically predict the 9/11 attacks or suggest an imminent strike.

As the book was published in January that year, while Trump campaigned for President in the US election on the Reform Partys ticket, it detailed a set of policy proposals Trump intended to implement should he ever become President.

In the book, Trump also endorsed some proposals he said he would abandon by his 2016 election run. He proposed a 14.25 per cent wealth tax on individuals and trusts valued at more than $10 million.

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The book also supports a universal health care system.

ALSO READ | Massive Bloodshed Will Follow: Trump Warns Hamas, Israel To Move Fast On Gaza Peace Plan

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: October 06, 2025, 12:43 IST

News world 'Got To Take Credit': Donald Trump Claims He Warned Of Osama Bin Laden Year Before 9/11 Attacks

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French PM Sebastien Lecornu, Who Took Charge Less Than A Month Ago, Resigns

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 13:49 IST

France's Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned on Monday, just hours after appointing his new cabinet, amid opposition from both allies and opponents.

French PM Sebastien Lecornu has resigned (Photo: Reuters)

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned on Monday, just hours after appointing his new cabinet. He took charge of the Prime Ministers Office on September 9, 2025.

According to Reuters, the development came after allies and foes alike threatened to topple his government.

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Lecornu, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, had on Sunday appointed his ministers, and the cabinet had been set to hold its first meeting on Monday afternoon.

However, the new cabinet line-up had irked his opponents and allies, who either found it too right-wing or not enough, raising questions on how long it could last, the report suggested.

This came at a time when France was already mired deep in a political crisis, with no group holding a majority in a fragmented parliament.

Lecornu handed his resignation to Macron on Monday morning.

Mr Sebastien Lecornu has submitted the resignation of his Government to the President of the Republic, who has accepted it," an official statement mentioned.

Lecornu was Macrons fifth prime minister in two years.

According to AFP, Lecornu had faced the daunting task of finding approval in a deeply divided parliament for an austerity budget for next year.

Lecornus two immediate predecessors, Francois Bayrou and Michel Barnier, were ousted by the legislative chamber in a standoff over the spending plan.

Frances public debt has reached a record high, the report quoted official data last week, adding that the countrys debt-to-GDP ratio is now the European Unions third-highest after Greece and Italy, and is close to twice the 60 per cent permitted under EU rules.

Previous governments had rammed the last three annual budgets through the parliament without a vote, a method allowed by the constitution but deeply criticised by the opposition.

However, Lecornu had promised last week to ensure lawmakers were able to vote on the bill.

France has been mired in deadlock since Macron gambled on snap parliamentary elections in the middle of last year in the hopes of bolstering his authority.

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The move backfired, leaving the Macron-friendly bloc in the assembly in a minority.

ALSO READ | If Trump Wants Nobel Peace Prize, He Must End Gaza War, Says Macron

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: October 06, 2025, 13:26 IST

News world French PM Sebastien Lecornu, Who Took Charge Less Than A Month Ago, Resigns

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Gaza Peace Plan: Will Donald Trump Get Nobel Peace Prize?

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News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 07:00 IST

If US President Donald Trump's plan ends the Gaza war, it would be a peace achievement on a historic scale. But it is a big 'if'

US President Donald Trump with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. (Image: AFP/File)

Will it end the two-year bloody war that has cost nearly 80,000 deaths in Palestine and Israel? The jury is still out.

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But Trump has his eyes on another prize  the Nobel Peace Prize that hes been chasing for years and is going to be announced on October 10.

The golden question is  could Trump win the Nobel Peace Prize for the Gaza peace plan?

Trump has been chasing the Nobel for years. In 2019, he even said he deserved it" for the Abraham Accords between Israel and the Arab states. This time, hes openly hinting again  saying it is a question of the reputation of the US.

If Trumps plan ends the Gaza war, it would be a peace achievement on a historic scale. But it is a big if.

His Gaza peace plan is high profile and ambitious, potentially involving ceasefire, prisoner exchanges, Israeli withdrawal, disarmament, transitional governance. This kind of proposal can make him visible as a peace broker".

Some media and commentators are already seriously speculating that he has a shot. But still  not so fast.

The Nobel is usually awarded only after peace is achieved, not just proposed. A proven, working peace arrangement is needed, not just a plan.

Trumps chances are remote unless the deal holds.

Also, the Nobel committee often rewards non-politicians or people seen as impartial in conflict zones. A politically polarising figure like Trump may struggle with that image.

Even French President Emmanuel Macron quipped: If Trump wants the Nobel, he should first stop the war.

So yes  the speculation is loud, but the medal might still be miles away.

WHAT IS TRUMPS PLAN?

Essentially, Trump is saying to Palestine: lay down arms, release the hostages, rebuild Gaza with global oversight  and we all move on. It is a really ambitious plan  but with many challenges.

Trump says Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line. Hamas acceptance of the same could lead to a ceasefire and hostages and prisoner exchange, he hopes.

Once the hostages are released, the next phase of withdrawal could begin, as per Trump. Sounds like a roadmap.

But remember, Israeli troops are still laying siege to Gaza city. It already controls most of the West Bank.

Not surprisingly, Hamas says yes to a ceasefire, but no to full disarmament. Even after Trumps call to halt strikes, Israeli jets kept bombing Gaza and 66 died on October 3.

So, is anyone listening to Trump?

There are big roadblocks too. Like a Hamas split as the political leaders want negotiations, but militant wings dont.

Netanyahu also insists Gaza must remain demilitarised  permanently. After decades of broken deals, neither side believes the other will comply. Worse, Palestinians fear a foreign puppet government" could replace real sovereignty.

So yes, the plan sounds tidy on paper but its stitched together with political landmines. All depends on whether Hamas will fully agree to disarmament, and if Israel stops bombing and withdraws.

And will Israel agree that Palestinians have a real right to a homeland? Thats a big question.

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Trumps Gaza plan is either the most daring peace initiative in a generation, or one more chapter in the endless Middle East puzzle.

Whether it brings him a Nobel, or just another news cycle, depends on one thing  the results. For a Nobel, plans are not enough. It is the delivery.

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: October 06, 2025, 07:00 IST

News world Gaza Peace Plan: Will Donald Trump Get Nobel Peace Prize?

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Greta Thunberg Among 171 Activists Deported To Greece, Slovakia: Israel

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 23:05 IST

Israel deported 171 people including Greta Thunberg from the Global Sumud Flotilla to Greece and Slovakia after detaining them en route to Gaza, amid allegations of mistreatment

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg at an unknown location after the Israeli interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla. (Reuters)

Israel on Monday said it has deported 171 people, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who were detained last week from an international flotilla en route to deliver aid to Gaza, to Greece and Slovakia.

According to Reuters, Mondays expulsions brought the total number deported to 341, from 479 detained.

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The deportees are citizens of Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Denmark, Slovakia, Switzerland, Norway, the UK, Serbia, and the United States, the foreign ministry said.

The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail last month seeking to ferry aid to war-battered Gaza, but Israel blocked the boats and detained more than 400 people, prompting worldwide protests. At least 137 of them flew into Istanbul on Saturday, 36 of them being Turkish nationals.

An Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson said Thunberg has boarded a plane at Ramon International Airport.

The foreign ministry issued a statement along with photos of Thunberg at the airport, stating that all participants legal rights were upheld and the only violence involved an activist biting a female medic at Israels Ketziot prison.

This comes after the Swiss and Spanish activists from the flotilla accused Israel of being subjected to inhumane conditions during their detention.

Some of the activists alleged sleep deprivation, lack of water and food, as well as some being beaten, kicked, and locked in a cage, the group representing them said in a statement.

They beat us, dragged us along the ground, blindfolded us, tied our hands and feet, put us in cages and insulted us," lawyer Rafael Borrego told reporters at Madrids airport.

Greta Thunberg a su llegada al aeropuerto de Atenas: Podria hablar mucho tiempo sobre abusos que hemos sufrido en prision. Creanme, pero esa no es la cuestion. Lo que pasa ahora mismo es que Israel sigue intensificando el genocidio y la destruccion masiva al pueblo palestino". pic.twitter.com/RpIsUx3Oxm Fonsi Loaiza (@FonsiLoaiza) October 6, 2025

Reuters quoted the Swedish activists as saying that Thunberg was shoved and forced to wear an Israeli flag during her detention, while others said they had clean food and water withheld and had their medication and belongings confiscated. The foreign ministry has rejected the allegations.

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Reuters quoted a spokesperson as saying that all detainees were given access to water, food, and restrooms, adding: they were not denied access to legal counsel and all their legal rights were fully upheld".

On Sunday, the Swiss Embassy in Tel Aviv visited 10 Swiss nationals and said all were in relatively good health, given the circumstances."

Location : Israel

First Published: October 06, 2025, 23:03 IST

News world Greta Thunberg Among 171 Activists Deported To Greece, Slovakia: Israel

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Gunman Fires 100 Bullets On Busy Street Leaving 20 Injured In Sydney; Arrested

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 12:48 IST

The police apprehended the suspect following the incident and also seized a .30-calibre rifle.

Police cordon off a waiting station at the site of a shooting incident, where multiple people were wounded on Sunday, in Croydon Park in Sydney, Australia, October 6, 2025. (Credits: Reuters)

A man opened fire from an apartment in Sydney, leaving nearly 20 people injured. As many as 14 people were treated on the spot after they suffered minor injuries.

The man reportedly fired between 50 and 100 shots at random from a .30-calibre rifle on Sunday night in the suburb of Croydon Park. According to officials cited by media outlets, the gunfire was aimed at the passing vehicles and people on the street, including police vehicles.

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Of the people who were injured, two people were treated in the hospital, while one, who was critically injured, was undergoing surgery. The suspect was also apprehended by the police, according to Superintendent Stephen Parry. The police arrested him in his apartment and seized a .30-calibre rifle.

It is incredible that nobody died," he told a press conference, adding that the man, who had no links to organised crime or terror groups, was expected to be charged with firearms offences.

The male person has no recorded mental health history with us," he added.

Hes being assessed in relation to physical and mental health injuries overnight and this morning, and hes been deemed suitable to return to custody."

The officials are yet to ascertain the motive behind the incident.

Eyewitness Joe Azar told the Sydney Morning Herald that at first, he mistook the noise for fireworks or stones hitting windows. Some guys windshield blew up, then the bus stop glass shattered," he said.

Earlier, a police spokesperson told Reuters they did not believe there were terror or religious motives for the incident.

The suspect had very few recorded interactions with police over the last 20 years, Parry said.

Eyewitness Joe Azar told the Sydney Morning Herald that at first, he mistook the noise for fireworks or stones hitting windows. Some guys windshield blew up, then the bus stop glass shattered," he said.

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(With inputs from agencies)

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 : Sydney, Australia

First Published: October 06, 2025, 12:45 IST

News world Gunman Fires 100 Bullets On Busy Street Leaving 20 Injured In Sydney; Arrested

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Hamas Agreeing To Important Things, Says Trump On Israel-Gaza Peace Talks

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Last Updated: October 07, 2025, 05:49 IST

Trumps Gaza ceasefire plan prompts key concessions from Hamas in Egypt talks, with UN aid teams ready to deliver supplies if approved

US President Donald Trump | Image: File

US President Donald Trump on Monday said Hamas has been making important concessions during ongoing talks in Egypt over his Gaza ceasefire plan.

I think Hamas has been agreeing to things that are very important," Trump told CNN at the Oval office. He further said if certain things arent met? Were not going to do it, but I think were doing very well. I really think we will get a deal done."

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We have just about every nation working on this deal and trying to get it done This is a deal that, incredibly, everyone just came together," he added.

.@POTUS on Gaza: We have just about every nation working on this deal and trying to get it done This is a deal that, incredibly, everyone just came together." pic.twitter.com/WLDcRhN9yu Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 6, 2025

Meanwhile, the United Nations aid teams in Gaza have said that they are ready to go" to deliver thousands of metric tonnes of supplies if Trumps ceasefire plan is approved.

The UN is ready to go as soon as we get the green light  There are thousands of metric tonnes in the pipeline of goods ready to enter," UN Secretary General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a media briefing in New York Monday.

CNN quoted UNs Relief Chief as saying that he had allocated $9 million toward keeping the war-torn territorys hospitals, water systems, bakeries and other critical services operating.

If a ceasefire takes effect and were allowed access at scale, well be ready to reach even more people  fast," Tom Fletcher, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, posted on X.

Delegations from Hamas and Israel began indirect talks on Monday in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, aimed at ending the nearly two-year war in Gaza, Egyptian state-linked media reported.

According to Al-Qahera News, which is close to Egypts intelligence services, the discussions are focused on preparing the ground for a potential exchange of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The talks are being held behind closed doors, with Egyptian and Qatari mediators shuttling between the two sides.

The discussions are based on a proposal from US President Donald Trump to halt hostilities and initiate a broader peace process. Trumps plan includes the disarmament of Hamas and a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, in return for the release of hostages and political transition in the territory.

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Hamass delegation is being led by senior negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, who recently survived an Israeli strike in Doha. He met with Egyptian intelligence officials before the negotiations began, according to an Egyptian security source.

This round of talks comes on the eve of the second anniversary of Hamass October 7, 2023 attack, which triggered the war. A Palestinian source close to Hamas said the negotiations may last for several days" and warned they will be difficult and complex", citing Israeli intentions to continue military operations.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: October 07, 2025, 02:59 IST

News world Hamas Agreeing To Important Things, Says Trump On Israel-Gaza Peace Talks

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Indian-Origin Motel Owner Killed In US After Asking Shooter, Are You Alright, Bud?

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 08:03 IST

Police said the suspect, West, had been staying at the motel for about two weeks with a woman and a child. Shortly before shooting Ehagaban, he allegedly shot the woman.

AI-generated image used for representation

Rakesh Ehagaban, a 51-year-old Indian-origin motel owner, was shot dead on Friday in the US. The incident took place after the victim went outside to check on a dispute.

He was shot in the head after he stepped out, hearing the commotion and reportedly asked the accused,"Are you alright, bud?" before the attacker raised his gun and shot him. He died instantly at the scene.

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The shooter was identified as 37-year-old Stanley Eugene West, and the incident was also captured on camera, reported India Today.

Woman Shot Before Motel Owners Murder

Police said the suspect, West, had been staying at the motel for about two weeks with a woman and a child. Shortly before shooting Ehagaban, he allegedly shot the womandescribed as his companionin the motel parking lot.

According to reports, the woman was inside her car with a child when she was shot by West in the neck. The injured woman, however, managed to drive away to a nearby auto service centre. She was found by the police who rushed her to a hospital, where she is currently undergoing treatment and remains in critical condition.

Gunman Fled In U-Haul Van

After killing Ehagaban, the gunman reportedly nonchalantly walked to a U-Haul van parked nearby and drove away," according to the criminal complaint. West has been charged with criminal homicide, attempted homicide, and reckless endangerment.

Manhunt And Police Confrontation

Following the attack, police tracked West to Pittsburghs East Hills area, where he allegedly exchanged gunfire with officers. During the shootout, a Pittsburgh detective was injured and taken to the hospital.

The police tracked the attacker to the East Hills neighbourhood of Pittsburgh. A firing also broke out between the officers and West, leaving one Pittsburgh detective injured.

West was also shot by the officials, and both the officials and West were shifted to a hospital.

A further probe into the incident is underway and the police are reviewing the CCTV footage.

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The incident comes nearly a month after an Indian-origin motel manager was beheaded following a dispute over a washing machine, reported PTI, citing police. The 50-year-old man was killed in front of his wife and son in Texas. The suspect, who was a co-worker, was arrested on the charges of capital murder following the incident.

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: October 06, 2025, 08:02 IST

News world Indian-Origin Motel Owner Killed In US After Asking Shooter, Are You Alright, Bud?

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Indian Student Awarded Columbia Scholarship Says US Rejected Visa After Social Media Vetting

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 22:55 IST

The visa denial letter didnt mention his online activity but said he failed to show strong enough ties to India that would compel him to return after studying in the US

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Kaushik Raj believes the rejection was linked to the US administration's scrutiny of his social media activity. (Image via X/@kaushikrj6)

Kaushik Raj, a 27-year-old Indian journalist and student, was denied a US student visa despite receiving a prestigious $100,000 (approximately Rs 89 lakh) scholarship to study journalism at Columbia University. He now alleges that his visa was likely rejected due to the US administrations scrutiny of his social media activity, particularly his reporting on sensitive issues.

Raj had secured admission to Columbias Masters programme in Data Journalism, with the course set to begin in mid-August. He had completed all formalities for the visa, except the final stage: submitting his social media handles, a requirement introduced under a Trump-era policy and still in effect.

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I wasnt very active online," Raj told The Washington Post. I never posted personal opinions on global issues like Gaza. But I did share my reporting  stories on hate crimes and Indias treatment of Muslims."

Although the visa denial letter didnt mention his online activity but said he failed to show strong enough ties to India that would compel him to return after studying in the US.

You have not demonstrated that you have the ties that will compel you to return to your home country after your travel to the United States," the rejection letter stated.

Raj, however, suspects that the rejection came after consular officials reviewed his social media posts.

In an interview with Hindustan Times, Raj said, If they were not satisfied with my application, they could have refused during the interview. But they rejected me after asking me for my social media details."

The rejection came on August 21, just two months after a policy update requiring student visa applicants to make all social media profiles public for comprehensive vetting.

According to The Washington Post, at least three other Indian students faced similar rejections despite fulfilling all formal requirements. All were told they lacked sufficient ties to India.

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White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly defended the screening policy, stating it helps ensure that guests" do not pose national security risks or aim to undermine US foreign policy.

Meanwhile, new data from the International Trade Administration shows a sharp decline in US student visa arrivals. In August 2025, arrivals from India dropped by 50%, contributing to a 19% overall year-on-year decline  the fifth consecutive month of decrease.

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: October 06, 2025, 22:55 IST

News world Indian Student Awarded Columbia Scholarship Says US Rejected Visa After Social Media Vetting

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Israel, Hamas Begin Indirect Talks In Egypt To End Gaza War: Report

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Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 21:17 IST

The discussions are based on a proposal from US President Donald Trump to halt hostilities and initiate a broader peace process

A man waves a Palestinian national flag during a protest titled "Stop the genocide in Gaza" in front of the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin. (AFP photo)

`Delegations from Hamas and Israel began indirect talks on Monday in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, aimed at ending the nearly two-year war in Gaza, Egyptian state-linked media reported.

According to Al-Qahera News, which is close to Egypts intelligence services, the discussions are focused on preparing the ground for a potential exchange of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The talks are being held behind closed doors, with Egyptian and Qatari mediators shuttling between the two sides.

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The discussions are based on a proposal from US President Donald Trump to halt hostilities and initiate a broader peace process. Trumps plan includes the disarmament of Hamas and a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, in return for the release of hostages and political transition in the territory.

Hamass delegation is being led by senior negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, who recently survived an Israeli strike in Doha. He met with Egyptian intelligence officials before the negotiations began, according to an Egyptian security source.

This round of talks comes on the eve of the second anniversary of Hamass October 7, 2023 attack, which triggered the war. A Palestinian source close to Hamas said the negotiations may last for several days" and warned they will be difficult and complex", citing Israeli intentions to continue military operations.

While both Hamas and Israel have responded positively to the Trump proposal, key obstacles remain. Hamas is unlikely to accept disarmament, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected full withdrawal from Gaza.

Israeli military chief Lt Gen Eyal Zamir said the army would resume fighting if talks fail. On Monday, Israeli air strikes continued, killing at least seven people, according to Gazas civil defence agency.

Trump, whose envoys are expected in Egypt this week, urged negotiators to move fast". His plan includes a temporary truce, followed by the release of 47 Israeli hostages in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners and over 1,700 war detainees.

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The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it is ready to help with the exchange and ensure humanitarian aid resumes across Gaza, where the UN has declared a famine.

(With inputs from AFP)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : Egypt

First Published: October 06, 2025, 21:17 IST

News world Israel, Hamas Begin Indirect Talks In Egypt To End Gaza War: Report

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Mary E Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, Shimon Sakaguchi Awarded 2025 Nobel Prize In Medicine

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News18.com Edited By: Manjiri Joshi



Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 16:44 IST

"Their discoveries have spurred the development of new treatments, for example for cancer and autoimmune diseases," the prize-awarding body said in a statement

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(From left) Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi. (X/Nobel Prize)

Scientists Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi have won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance", the award-giving body said on Monday.

Brunkow is a senior program manager at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle. Ramsdell is a scientific adviser for Sonoma Biotherapeutics in San Francisco. Sakaguchi is a distinguished professor at the Immunology Frontier Research Center at Osaka University in Japan.

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Thomas Perlmann, Secretary-General of the Nobel Committee, said he was only able to reach Sakaguchi by phone Monday morning. He left voicemails for Brunkow and Ramsdell, AP reported.

EXPLAINED | What Is Peripheral Immune Tolerance For Which Brunkow, Ramsdell, Sakaguchi Won Nobel Prize?

Peripheral immune tolerance is one way the body helps keep the immune system from getting out of whack and attacking your own tissues instead of foreign invaders.

BREAKING NEWSThe 2025 #NobelPrize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi for their discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance." pic.twitter.com/nhjxJSoZEr The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 6, 2025

Their discoveries have laid the foundation for a new field of research and spurred the development of new treatments, for example for cancer and autoimmune diseases," the prize-awarding body said in a statement, as reported by Reuters.

The winners for medicine are selected by the Nobel Assembly of Swedens Karolinska Institute medical university and receive a prize sum of 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.2 million), as well as a gold medal presented by Swedens king.

The Nobel Prizes were established through the will of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite and a wealthy businessman. They have been awarded since 1901 for outstanding contributions in science, literature, and peace, with interruptions mainly during the World Wars.

The economics prize was added later and is funded by Swedens central bank, the Riksbank.

Winners are selected by expert committees from various institutions. All prizes are awarded in Stockholm, except for the Peace Prize, which is presented in Oslo  a possible legacy of the political union between Sweden and Norway during Nobels lifetime.

Past recipients of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine include renowned scientists such as Alexander Fleming, who shared the 1945 award for discovering penicillin. In recent years, the prize has recognized major breakthroughs, including those that enabled the development of COVID-19 vaccines, said the Reuters report.

Last years medicine prize was awarded to U.S. scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of microRNA and its key role in how multicellular organisms grow and live, helping explain how cells specialise into different types.

Medicine in accordance with tradition kicks off the annual Nobels, arguably the most prestigious prizes in science, literature, peace and economics, with the remainder set to be announced over the coming days.

More than a century after their inception, the Nobel Prizes remain steeped in tradition. The awards culminate in ceremonies attended by the royal families of Sweden and Norway, followed by lavish banquets held on December 10  the anniversary of Alfred Nobels death.

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($1 = 9.3898 Swedish crowns)

With AP, Reuters 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: October 06, 2025, 15:09 IST

News world Mary E Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, Shimon Sakaguchi Awarded 2025 Nobel Prize In Medicine

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Pakistan Has Not Offered A Port Near Gwadar To US: Top Security Official Denies News Report

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 19:38 IST

Pakistan is committed to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). No port or any other national asset were offered to the US," said sources

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In PoK, grievances have long been of two kinds: the political/institutional and the socio-economic. (AP File)

A top Pakistani security official, while speaking to News18, rubbished a Financial Times Friday report that advisers to Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir have approached U.S. officials with an offer to build and run a port on the Arabian Sea.

Citing a plan seen by the newspaper, the FT had said that it envisages American investors building and operating a terminal to access Pakistans critical minerals in the town of Pasni, according to the FT. Pasni is a port town in Gwadar District in the province of Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan and Iran

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The FT story has flaws and is based on speculation. No port near Gwadar has been offered to someone else. China is more important than anyone else," sources told News18.

The CPEC

Pakistan is committed to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). No port or any other national asset were offered to the US. Pakistan is working on its mineral and investments policies, which will made public. No draft of the policy has been finalised yet," sources said.

The CPEC was launched in 2013 to improve Pakistans road, rail and energy transportation infrastructure, besides connecting Pakistans Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea with northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The CPEC is part of Chinas ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The major CPEC projects underway are Bostan Industrial Zone (SEZ) near Quetta, Balochistan; Chaman district of Balochistan bordering with Afghanistan; Gwadar Port, Specially Zone-I & Zone-II; some patrolling units on CPECs western alignment which covers hostile areas of Balochistan like Awaran, Khuzdar, Hoshab and Turbat areas; Mohmand Marble City (SEZ) near Mohmand Agency bordering with Afghanistan and Sost Dry-Port & Moqpondass Special Economic Zone Gilgit-Baltistan.

Mining policy in the works

Islamabad is making a policy specifically for mining, they added.

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Munir recently made a presentation to US President Donald Trumps administration officials. He physically displayed mineral samples which was an unprecedented act that bypassed both Pakistans Foreign Office and civilian ministries. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, who was also present, was seen standing with a smile. Sharif described Trump as a man of peace" for his sincere efforts" to end conflicts around the globe, according to a statement from his office.

Several Pakistani parliamentarians even raised objections to the secrecy of the MoU with US Strategic Metals (USSM). They alleged that the Army was misusing economic sovereignty and doing violation of the 18th Amendment which reserves mineral rights to provinces.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: October 06, 2025, 19:36 IST

News world Pakistan Has Not Offered A Port Near Gwadar To US: Top Security Official Denies News Report

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Pakistan Says Chinese-Made Weapons Performed Exceptionally In Conflict With India

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News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 16:11 IST

The May conflict saw the most extensive use of Chinese weaponry by Pakistan in recent history, backed by Chinese satellite and radar support

Pakistan military | Representative Image

Pakistan praised the performance of Chinese-made weapons used during its four-day clash with India in May, calling them exceptionally effective", in a fresh endorsement of Beijings growing role as Islamabads primary defence supplier.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Pakistans military spokesperson Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said, We are open to all sorts of technology. Of course, recent Chinese platforms have demonstrated exceptionally well."

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The May confrontation reportedly marked Pakistans first large-scale combat deployment of advanced Chinese systems, including the J-10C fighter jets and PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles.

Islamabad claimed its J-10Cs shot down multiple Indian aircraft, a claim New Delhi has consistently denied.

General Chaudhry said Pakistan had revised its tally of Indian aircraft losses to seven, up from six previously reported, while asserting that no Pakistani planes were downed.

Pakistan has never tried to play with figures and facts," he said.

Indian Air Force Chief Air Marshal AP Singh stated last week that Indian forces destroyed around a dozen Pakistani aircraft during Operation Sindoor.

Chinese Systems Dominate Pakistans Arsenal

The May conflict saw the most extensive use of Chinese weaponry by Pakistan in recent history, backed by Chinese satellite and radar support, according to Indian defence assessments.

China has been Pakistans largest defence partner for decades, with ties deepened through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), 81 per cent of Pakistans arms imports between 2020 and 2024 came from China, making Islamabad Beijings biggest defence customer, accounting for nearly two-thirds of Chinas total arms exports.

Pakistan has recently added the Z-10ME attack helicopter, a model similar to those deployed by China along its border with India.

In August, President Asif Ali Zardari visited the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, which manufactures the J-10 fighter jets, further signalling defence cooperation between the two allies.

Not In Arms Race With India

While Pakistan continues to rely heavily on Chinese equipment, General Chaudhry said Islamabad also procures Western technology when feasible.

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Our development strategy has always been to induct the most effective, efficient, and economical platforms and technology," he said, adding that Pakistan is not in a military catch-up or an arms race" with India.

He acknowledged that Pakistans defence budget  at $10.2 billion last year  remains a fraction of Indias $86.1 billion, though both nations allocate similar proportions of their GDP to defence spending: 2.7 per cent for Pakistan and 2.3 per cent for India, according to SIPRI data cited by Bloomberg.

Location : Pakistan

First Published: October 06, 2025, 16:11 IST

News world Pakistan Says Chinese-Made Weapons Performed Exceptionally In Conflict With India

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Pakistan Sends First Rare Earths Shipment To US As Protests Erupt Over 'Secret Deal'

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News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 16:22 IST

The shipment was sent under a recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Pakistan and American firm US Strategic Metals

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Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir displays a wooden box, claimed to contain rare earth minerals, during his meeting with US President Donald Trump. (IMAGE: X)

Pakistan has sent its first-ever shipment of rare earth and critical minerals to the United States, in what officials are calling a step forward in strategic and economic cooperation between the two countries.

However, the move has triggered political backlash at home, with the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) accusing the government of signing secret deals" without parliamentary approval.

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According to a report published in Dawn, the shipment was sent under a recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Pakistan and American firm US Strategic Metals (USSM).

The deal, worth approximately $500 million, aims to establish mineral exploration, processing, and refining facilities in Pakistan. The sample shipment was prepared locally with the help of the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) and includes copper concentrate, antimony, and rare earth elements such as neodymium and praseodymium.

USSM described the delivery as a milestone in the PakistanUS strategic partnership." The company said the MoU sets a roadmap for cooperation across the entire mineral value chain and could help reduce the global reliance on existing monopolies in the critical minerals market.

For Pakistan, the deal offers the chance to tap into its estimated $6 trillion mineral wealth and enter the global supply chain for rare earths  essential for defence technologies, electric vehicles, and semiconductors. Officials also hope the agreement will attract foreign investment, create jobs, and support technology transfer.

But the opposition remains unconvinced. Speaking to Dawn, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqqas Akram criticised the lack of transparency, warning that such reckless, lopsided, and secretive agreements" could deepen political instability.

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He demanded that the full details of the deal be made public and debated in parliament.

Last month, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir had presented a wooden box containing rare earth samples to US President Donald Trump during a visit to the White House. According to reports, Munir had briefed Trump on Pakistans mineral potential, which Trump reportedly received with interest.

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 : Pakistan

First Published: October 06, 2025, 16:12 IST

News world Pakistan Sends First Rare Earths Shipment To US As Protests Erupt Over 'Secret Deal'

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'Actually Benefits India': Russian Experts On Reports Of RD-93 Engine Sale To Pakistan

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News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 08:32 IST

Russian experts said reports of RD-93 engine sales to Pakistan could actually benefit India, as the move exposes China and Pakistans continued reliance on Russian systems.

The RD-93 engine is a variant of the RD-33 used in Indias MiG-29 aircraft (Photo: PTI)

The reported sale of RD-93 engines to Pakistan for integration into the JF-17 will actually benefit Delhi, news agency PTI quoted Russian defence experts as saying on Sunday.

The experts also dismissed as unjustified" the criticism of the Indian government by the Opposition, and said, I dont think the criticism here is justified."

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If reports about Russia providing engines for the JF-17 are correct, it actually benefits India in two ways," Pyotr Topychkanov, who heads the Section on New Challenges in South and Southeast Asia at the prestigious Moscow-based Primakov Institute, told PTI.

Firstly, it shows that China and Pakistan havent yet managed to replace the Russian-origin engine," Topychkanov said.

Secondly, the new aircraft will be familiar and predictable to India, especially since they share the same engine and India observed the JF-17s operational use during the May 2025 crisis (Operation Sindoor)," he added.

Topychkanov recalled that China had requested Russia to supply RD-93 engines for its FC-17 jet as a stop-gap measure, and the possibility of its transfer to Pakistan was flagged by the NDA and UPA governments at the time of prime ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr Manmohan Singh.

However, another expert, who did not wish to be named, was quoted as saying that he vaguely remembers discussions on the issue.

Moscow convinced New Delhi that the RD-93 deal was purely commercial without transfer of technology (ToT), while India was given licence for much superior RD-33 engines under ToT," the expert said.

RD-93, produced by the Klimov plant, in comparison to its base RD-33s, has more thrust but decreased service life. RD-93 has a service life of 2,200 hours, while RD-33s is 4,000 hours.

Under a trilateral Russia-China-Pakistan agreement, Russia has been supplying fully assembled RD-93 engines since the early 2000s. Pakistan is now aiming for a modified version, which is not yet developed.

While there was no official statement about the sale, a media report on Saturday suggested that Russia has dismissed such circulations, and said there was no confirmation on whether it is providing RD-93MA engines to Pakistan for integration into the JF-17 Thunder Block III fighter jets.

Quoting a Russian source, the report said Russia has dismissed reports of Moscow proceeding with the supply of RD-93MA engines to Pakistan.

Earlier on Saturday, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had demanded answers from the government on why Indias once most reliable strategic ally", Russia, is providing military support to Pakistan by supplying engines of Chinese-made JF-17 fighter jets.

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The BJP on Sunday termed reports about Russia proceeding with the supply of JF-17 jet engines to Pakistan a reckless information warfare" and slammed the Congress for raising the issue on social media, accusing it of choosing the side of the enemy" instead of India.

ALSO READ | Supplying Tomahawk Missiles To Ukraine Will Destroy US-Russia Relations, Putin Warns

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: October 06, 2025, 08:31 IST

News world 'Actually Benefits India': Russian Experts On Reports Of RD-93 Engine Sale To Pakistan

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'Sounds Like A Good Idea': Trump On Putins Proposal On Nuclear Arms Control

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News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 08:05 IST

If accepted, it would mark a rare point of cooperation amid growing tensions between the two nations, especially following alleged Russian drone incursions into NATO airspace.

Meanwhile, Putin warned that the US decision to possibly supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles could severely damage US-Russia relations. (Image: Reuters/File)

US President Donald Trump on Sunday said Russian President Vladimir Putins proposal to voluntarily maintain limits on deployed strategic nuclear weapons sounds like a good idea." The proposal would mirror the 2010 New START treaty, which expires in February, and hinges on the US agreeing to the same limits.

Russias UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said last week that Moscow was awaiting an official US response to Putins offer. If accepted, it would mark a rare point of cooperation amid growing tensions between the two nations, especially following alleged Russian drone incursions into NATO airspace since the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska in August, news agency Reuters reported.

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Meanwhile, Putin warned that the US decision to possibly supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles could severely damage US-Russia relations.

This will lead to the destruction of our relations, or at least the positive trends that have emerged in these relations," Putin said in a video clip released on Sunday by Russian state television reporter Pavel Zarubin.

US Vice President JD Vance recently confirmed that Washington is considering Ukraines request for the missiles, which have a range of 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles) and could reach targets deep within Russian territory, including Moscow. Though it is unclear if a final decision has been made. However, US officials told Reuters that transferring the missiles may not be feasible due to existing military commitments, especially to the US Navy.

The missile debate underscores the broader challenge of balancing deterrence and diplomacy as the conflict in Ukraine drags on.

All About New START Treaty

The Treaty between the US and Russia on measures for the further reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms, also known as the New START Treaty, enhances US national security by placing verifiable limits on all Russian deployed intercontinental-range nuclear weapons. Both sides have agreed to extend the treaty through February 4, 2026, according to US Department of State.

The treaty entered into force on February 5, 2011. Under the treaty, both nations had seven years to meet the treatys central limits on strategic offensive arms (by February 5, 2018) and are then obligated to maintain those limits for as long as the treaty remains in force.

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Both nations met the central limits of the New START Treaty by February 5, 2018, and have stayed at or below them ever since. Those limits are:

700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), deployed submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and deployed heavy bombers equipped for nuclear armaments

1,550 nuclear warheads on deployed ICBMs, deployed SLBMs, and deployed heavy bombers equipped for nuclear armaments (each such heavy bomber is counted as one warhead toward this limit)

800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers, and heavy bombers equipped for nuclear armaments

About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manish... Read More

Location : New York, United States of America (USA)

First Published: October 06, 2025, 08:05 IST

News world 'Sounds Like A Good Idea': Trump On Putins Proposal On Nuclear Arms Control

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Trump Calls Chicago 'War Zone' As Judge Halts Troop Deployment To Another Democrat City

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News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 17:54 IST

Trump on Saturday approved the deployment of 300 National Guard soldiers to Chicago, the third-largest city in the United States

Illinois State Police stand guard while monitoring protesters gathering near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview. (AFP photo)

The Trump administration has described Chicago as a war zone" in an effort to justify deploying federal troops to the city, despite strong opposition from local Democratic leaders. Meanwhile, a federal judge has blocked a similar attempt to send troops to Portland, Oregon, further escalating tensions between the White House and Democrat-led cities.

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump had approved the deployment of 300 National Guard soldiers to Chicago, the third-largest city in the United States. This was done without the approval of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker or Chicagos mayor, both of whom have spoken out strongly against the move.

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US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the decision during a Sunday interview on Fox News, calling the city as a war zone" and claiming the deployment is necessary to restore order.

But Governor Pritzker, speaking on CNN, accused the administration of trying to create chaos as a pretext for military intervention. They want to create the war zone, so that they can send in even more troops," he said.

Calling the decision Trumps invasion," Pritzker said there was no reason" for federal troops to enter the state without coordination with local authorities. A CBS poll released Sunday found that 58% of Americans oppose the deployment of the National Guard to cities.

Meanwhile, in Portland, a US District Court judge issued a temporary block on a similar troop deployment. Judge Karin Immergut ruled that the White House had failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify military intervention. This is a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law," she wrote.

The White House has continued to claim that cities like Portland are overrun by violent unrest, with Trump stating that Portland is burning to the ground." However, local officials and court findings say the administrations portrayal is exaggerated.

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In Chicago, the federal crackdown led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has already sparked controversy. Over the weekend, a federal officer shot a motorist who allegedly rammed a government vehicle. Earlier, ICE officers were involved in the fatal shooting of 38-year-old immigrant Silverio Villegas Gonzalez during a traffic stop.

(With inputs from AFP)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: October 06, 2025, 17:54 IST

News world Trump Calls Chicago 'War Zone' As Judge Halts Troop Deployment To Another Democrat City

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US Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump From Sending National Guard Troops To Portland

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News18.com

Last Updated: October 07, 2025, 00:53 IST

US District Judge Karin Immergut blocked Donald Trump's plan to deploy Texas and California National Guard troops to Portland, as California and Oregon sought a restraining order.

Portland is the latest Democratic-led city that has been targeted by President Trump's administration to curb "out-of-control crime". (AFP)

A US federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trumps administration from deploying National Guard troops from Texas and California to Portland, Oregon.

The decision was announced late on Sunday after the same court rejected Trumps attempt to deploy Oregons National Guard members to Portland.

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Portland is the latest Democratic-led city that has been targeted by Trumps administration to curb out-of-control crime".

According to BBC, the ruling on Sunday from US District Judge Karin Immergut came shortly after the Pentagon confirmed 200 members of the California National Guard had been reassigned to Portland to support US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal personnel performing official duties".

California and Oregon had sought a temporary restraining order against the deployment.

Judge Immergut said there was no evidence that recent protests in the city made the presence of federalised National Guard troops necessary.

Following the ruling, tephen Miller, Trumps deputy chief of staff, called the ruling on X one of the most egregious and thunderous violations of constitutional order we have ever seen  and is yet the latest example of unceasing efforts to nullify the 2024 election by fiat".

The temporary restraining order will remain effective till October 19.

Meanwhile, Trump has also authorised the deployment of National Guard troops from other states to Chicago, Illinois.

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BBC reported that Illinois state and the city of Chicago filed a lawsuit on Monday against the Trump administration aiming to block a similar planned deployment of troops to the city.

The American people, regardless of where they reside, should not live under the threat of occupation by the United States military, particularly for the reason that their city or state leadership has fallen out of a presidents favor," Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in a statement.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: October 07, 2025, 00:53 IST

News world US Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump From Sending National Guard Troops To Portland

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US State Secy Calls Hamas 'Killers, Savages, Terrorists,' Hails Trump's Efforts To End Gaza Conflict

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News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 09:55 IST

Rubios remarks came shortly after President Trump announced that talks between Hamas and several countries around the world, including Arab and Muslim nations.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Reuters Image)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday (local time) hailed the coalition of Arab nations brought together by President Donald Trump, crediting it for helping move towards an end to the ongoing Gaza conflict. Taking to X, Rubio shared a post saying the alliance was not formed for political gain but to take on a group he described as terrorists.

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Were not dealing with a political movement, were dealing with killers, savages, and terrorists," he wrote. But what gives us hope is the coalition US President Donald Trump built that is pushing in the same direction with us to get the hostages released and the conflict resolved."

Rubios remarks came shortly after President Trump announced that talks between Hamas and several countries around the world, including Arab and Muslim nations, had made very successful and rapid progress."

On Truth Social, Trump said that discussions over the weekend had been very positive," adding that the negotiations were focused not just on releasing hostages but on achieving lasting peace in the Middle East. There have been very positive discussions with Hamas, and countries from all over the world (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) this weekend, to release the hostages, end the war in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have long sought PEACE in the Middle East," Trump said.

He also revealed that technical teams will meet in Egypt on Monday to finalise details of the agreement. I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST," he added. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OR MASSIVE BLOODSHED WILL FOLLOW  SOMETHING THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE!"

According to CNN, Israels coordinator for hostage affairs said that the country would continue to negotiate with full commitment and determination" to secure the safe release of all captives.

President Trump also touched on the subject during a US Navy 250th anniversary event, where he addressed service members and military leaders. Speaking about his diplomatic efforts, he said, Were working on solving global conflicts, including one thats taken 3,000 years. And were pretty close, but I dont want to talk about it until its done."

He added, We dont want to send you into battle unless its necessary, right? Were putting out a lot of fires."

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Trumps comments mark a rare note of optimism amid months of deadly violence in Gaza, with Washington now positioning itself at the centre of a global diplomatic push for peace.

About the Author Anushka Vats Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can ... Read More

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: October 06, 2025, 08:38 IST

News world US State Secy Calls Hamas 'Killers, Savages, Terrorists,' Hails Trump's Efforts To End Gaza Conflict

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Youre So F***ing Negative: Trump Snaps At Israeli PM For Calling Hamas Peace Nod Nonsense

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News18.com

Last Updated: October 06, 2025, 11:23 IST

The Netanyahu-Trump heated exchange arose after Hamas issued a conditional acceptance of Trumps Gaza peace framework.

Trump Snaps At Israeli PM For Calling Hamas Peace Nod Nonsense (Reuters File)

US President Donald Trump reportedly confronted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during tense phone calls over the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire plan, expressing frustration at Netanyahus cautious approach. The dispute arose after Hamas issued a conditional acceptance of Trumps peace framework, agreeing to release all remaining hostages in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal, provided certain conditions were met.

According to Axios, Netanyahu dismissed Hamas response as nothing to celebrate," prompting Trump to exclaim, I dont know why youre always so f***ing negative. This is a win. Take it." The heated exchange shows Trumps determination to push the Israeli leader toward compromise, asserting firm control over the ceasefire process and highlighting the urgency of ending the Gaza conflict.

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Hamas conditional agreement

Hamas yes, but" response marked the closest the region has come to a breakthrough in months. While the group indicated willingness to release hostages in return for a full Israeli military withdrawal, it requested further negotiations on details.

Netanyahu reportedly viewed this as a rejection calling it nonsense and sought to coordinate with the US to prevent the narrative that Hamas had agreed positively. For Trump, however, the conditional acceptance represented a diplomatic opening that could not be ignored. Within hours, he urged Israel to pause airstrikes in Gaza, a move Netanyahu implemented three hours later.

Trump pushes for a deal but Netanyahu in doubt

Privately, the call reflected a sharp contrast in approaches. Trump, concerned that Hamas might have outright rejected the proposal, saw progress and pressed Netanyahu to seize the opportunity. Netanyahu, meanwhile, remained cautious, weighing domestic political risks and the implications of a temporary ceasefire.

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Despite the tense exchange, both sides eventually reached agreement. Netanyahu later publicly praised Trump and emphasised areas of alignment, while the White House reiterated its commitment to pursuing peace and coordinating closely with Israel.

Following the phone calls, Trump continued to pressure both Israel and Hamas. He warned Hamas against delay tactics and stressed that the hostages release was a non-negotiable condition for the deal. Concurrently, Israel agreed to an updated map for the initial withdrawal of forces from parts of Gaza.

About the Author Shuddhanta Patra Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior SubEditor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: October 06, 2025, 09:22 IST

News world Youre So F***ing Negative: Trump Snaps At Israeli PM For Calling Hamas Peace Nod Nonsense

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Oct 06, 2025 16:45 IST

Internal government audits in Ukraine are shedding light on the countrys secret weapons procurement, highlighting significant challenges as Kyivs war effort becomes increasingly reliant on its own domestic production, according to a report in The New York Times. With a major US aid package stalled in Congress, Ukraine is forced to accelerate its shift towards a domestic arms industry that has a long history of corruption. These government reviews are examining the efficiency and legitimacy of classified defense contracts, a process made more urgent by the need to maximize resources and maintain the trust of Western partners. The findings underscore the critical link between anti-corruption reforms in the defense sector and Ukraines ability to sustain its defense against Russia and secure future international support.
A chaotic scene erupted in Boston's South End early Sunday when a crowd of more than 100 people allegedly attacked police cruisers with fireworks and debris, leading to the arrest of two Rhode Island teenagers. According to police, the crowd was participating in a so-called "vehicle takeover" just after 2am, blocking an intersection and turning violent when officers arrived, NBC News reports. The crowd allegedly hurled fireworks, traffic cones, poles, and other items at marked police cruisers. At least one cruiser suffered extensive damage after being repeatedly hit with fireworks and catching fire, requiring intervention from the Boston Fire Department.

Police say such "takeovers" are large gatherings in which cars and pedestrians occupy roadways for activities like burnouts and illegal street racing. The confrontation escalated when some individuals jumped on the hood of a cruiser, while others used objects to strike the vehicles. Officers arrested two suspects, aged 18 and 19, who they say were both seen actively attacking a cruiserone allegedly throwing objects, the other using an orange pole to strike the vehicle.

Both teens now face charges that include assault and battery of a police officer, destruction of property, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest. Their arraignment is expected in Roxbury District Court. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu condemned the incident, promising that those responsible will face "serious consequences" and emphasizing that such disruptions are not welcome in the city. She assured the public that authorities intend to prosecute those involved and hold them accountable for the night's disorder. A similar incident also took place in the Boston suburb of Randolph, Boston.com reports, but no arrests were reported there.
Kimberly Hebert Gregory, best known for her standout performance as Dr. Belinda Brown on HBO's Vice Principals, died Friday at age 52. The news was confirmed by her ex-husband, Chester Gregory, on Instagram over the weekend, per the Hollywood Reporter ; he did not disclose a cause of death. In addition to her acting work, Gregory founded the Black Rebirth Collective , a nonprofit, USA Today reports.

Born in Houston in 1972, Gregory built a robust career spanning television, film, voice acting, and the stage. Her role as the formidable principal in Vice Principals put her in the spotlight alongside co-stars Danny McBride and Walton Goggins. Goggins, in a tribute, called her "one of the best I've ever worked with" and praised her professionalism and humor. Fellow cast member Busy Philipps described Gregory as "a light and a force."

Gregory's credits extended far beyond her signature HBO role. She appeared in series such as Devious Maids, Barry, The Chi, The Act, Better Call Saul, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and took on film projects including Five Feet Apart and I Think I Love My Wife. She also lent her voice to animated shows including Craig of the Creek. She also performed with the Chicago Theatre Company in the 1990s, and was once nominated for a Drama Desk Award, Deadline reports. She was also nominated for best supporting actress at the 1998 Joseph Jefferson Awards Equity Branch, Variety reports.

While many in the industry shared heartfelt remembrances, Chester Gregory reflected on her legacy of courage, artistry, and resilience, writing, "Your Story Was Never Defined By The Battle, But By The Beauty You Carried Through It." She is also survived by a son.
UPDATE

Oct 6, 2025 2:46 PM CDT

Officials in Arkansas say they believe they have found and killed the male black bear that killed a man from Missouri last week, the AP reports. Newton County Sheriff Glenn Wheeler says hunters and hounds found the bear after it was caught on camera just yards away from the Ozark National Forest campground where the 60-year-old man was killed days earlier, reports KARK. "I feel extremely confident this is the bear we have photographs of from the scene of the attack," Wheeler said in a news release. "We knew the bear in the photos was a male, and this one is too. It matches the size of the photographed bear and has the same facial colorations. Not to mention it was back in the same area where the attack happened." Another man was fatally mauled last month in what officials believe was the state's first bear attack in more than a century.

Oct 6, 2025 1:30 AM CDT

A Missouri man camping at Sam's Throne Campground in Arkansas was found dead last week in what officials suspect was a rare fatal bear attack. The 60-year-old victim, whose name has not been released, was discovered several yards from his disturbed campsite after his son reported him missing. Deputies said the site showed clear signs of a struggle and drag marks into the woods, ABC News reports. Earlier in the week, the man had shared pictures of a bear in his camp, and authorities say his injuries were consistent with a bear attack, KARK reports.
UPDATE

Oct 16, 2025 1:00 AM CDT

The US district court judge who blocked the Trump administration's deployment of National Guard troops to Oregon on Wednesday extended the two temporary restraining orders related to the ruling, the Guardian reports. Judge Karin Immergut's orders were originally due to expire this week, but have now been extended 14 days while a three-judge panel of the ninth US circuit court of appeals considers the administration's request that the ban be lifted. Immergut, a Trump appointee, also "laid the groundwork" for a non-jury trial in the case later this month, Oregon Public Broadcasting reports.

Oct 6, 2025 12:00 AM CDT

A federal judge on Sunday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deploying any National Guard units to Oregon, including the California National Guard, the AP reports. California and Oregon sought the temporary restraining order after the president sent guard members from California to Oregon earlier in the day. On Saturday, the same judge temporarily blocked the administration from deploying Oregon National Guard troops to Portland. A Pentagon spokesperson said in a statement that about 200 federalized members of the California National Guard who had been on duty around Los Angeles were being reassigned to Portland. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said about 100 arrived Saturday and around 100 more were en route Sunday. Kotek said there had been no formal communication with the federal government about the deployment.
France's new prime minister, known to greet people with head butts , resigned on Monday after less than a month on the job, plunging the government into deeper uncertainty. Sebastien Lecornu called it quits just hours before his first cabinet meeting, following fierce criticism over his new government lineup, which largely mirrored the previous administration ousted weeks earlier, per the Guardian . Ten of 15 ministers hailed from President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party, per CNN . Lecornu, the country's third PM in a year, suggested in a brief speech that entrenched opposition parties unwilling to compromise were to blame for the impasse, accusing them of clinging to "partisan appetites" despite none holding a parliamentary majority.

Days ago after telling France his "mission is over," Sebastien Lecornu is back as prime minister. On Friday, President Emmanuel Macron asked him to return to office and try again to form a government, the BBC reports. Macron made the announcement after meeting with representatives of most of the main parties at the Elysee Palace, wrapping up a week of political drama. Lecornu posted that he accepted the appointment out of duty, per the AP . He has to present next year's budget to parliament by Monday. Marcon's aides said the returned prime minister has "carte blanche" to do what he must, per the BBC.

The outgoing prime minister pointed to his pledge to avoid using article 49.3a constitutional tool to force legislation through parliamentas a significant break from the past. Opposition parties didn't buy it, calling his cabinet a step backward rather than a "profound break" with the Francois Bayrou era, which ended in September amid budget turmoil. Macron, who accepted Lecornu's resignation, now faces calls from far-right National Rally leader Jordan Bardella and others to dissolve parliament and trigger a new election, with rivals sensing an opportunity to gain ground in a deeply divided legislature.

Macron's critics say his grip on the government remains too tight, with longtime loyalists in key positions. Economy minister Roland Lescure and returning veteran Bruno Le Maire, now defense minister, are seen as evidence of business as usual. As parties across the spectrum weighed a no-confidence vote, Lecornu appears to have jumped before he could be pushed. Meanwhile, France is running out of time to approve a budget in a parliament where no bloc commands a majority.
Another skydiving excursion has ended in tragedy after an instructor became separated from his student mid-air and crashed to his death in Nashville on Saturday. It's unclear how the separation occurred. The website for Go Skydive Nashville, the company operating the jump out of John C. Tune Airport, notes the instructor wears a main parachute and a reserve parachute, while the student wears "a specially-designed tandem skydiving harness that securely attaches you to your instructor," per NBC News . Police said the 35-year-old instructor was believed to have fallen without a parachute. He was found dead off Ashland City Highway, northwest of downtown Nashville, per the New York Times .

The student, who was on his first jump, was found with an open parachute in a tree off the same highway, where he was stranded for hours. He suffered only minor injuries, according to the Nashville Fire Department. The identities of those involved have not been released, pending notification of family members. Three other skydivers on the same flight landed safely, police said. The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the episode, but has yet to offer public comment. Go Skydive Nashville stated it is cooperating with authorities and reaffirmed its commitment to safety and professionalism. Nonetheless, a passerby said the rescued student told him that "it was his first jump, and it was going to be his last," per the Times.
Opinion / Letters

Dear Tendai,Let's agree: rape has reached alarming proportions in Zimbabwe. It is countrywide, indiscriminate, and increasingly grotesque. Elderly women - some as old as 96 - are being raped by teenage boys. One nonagenarian remains hospitalised after being assaulted by a 26-year-old. This is not an isolated case. Social media is flooded daily with reports of rape across all age groups. The actual numbers are far higher than reported. Shame, fear, and economic dependence silence victims - especially when the perpetrator is the household breadwinner.Rape has been normalised. It gives me goosebumps to hear you dismiss castration as ineffective. Rape of babies, children, and elderly citizens is a heinous crime that demands maximum punishment. Parliamentarians are debating how to reduce sexual violence. Your article, Tendai, sounded like a trivialization of rape - questioning castration as a deterrent. How do you think potential rapists feel when activists like us cast doubt on effective punishment?In China, paedophiles are eliminated from society. According to Xinhua, three men were sentenced to death in one day for targeting underage girls. China consistently applies the death penalty to child sex offenders - demonstrating zero tolerance. The goal is not just deterrence, but permanent removal of predators.In my view, it's not about whether capital punishment reduces rape - it's about removing the threat. Each predator removed is one less victim. Rape should be an exception to the rule - deserving death. The brutality of these crimes warrants it.China's Criminal Law Article 236 states:"Rape of women by violence, coercion, or other means is punishable by three to ten years. However, illicit sexual relations with a girl under 14 is considered rape and punishable by death."Bangladesh approved the death penalty after a surge in gang rapes. In 2019 alone, over 1,000 cases were reported within nine months. Viral videos of gang rapes sparked nationwide protests demanding harsher sentences. The public unanimously supported capital punishment.India gives the death sentence for raping girls under 12. Repeat offenders are executed. Pakistan punishes rape with death or life imprisonment. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan proposed chemical castration or public execution. Saudi Arabia, under Sharia law, punishes rape with flogging and public execution. Iran equates rape with treason - both punishable by death. In the UAE, coerced sex with a girl under 14 is punishable by death.Dear Tendai, these countries are not wrong. Their penalties reflect the gravity of the crime. Our parliamentarians aren't even proposing death - they're debating castration. A law to remove "joysticks" from rapists is about community safety.It's not just girls who suffer. Boys are also victims. Cattle herders are vulnerable to predators in remote areas. Anal penetration leaves deep, untreated scars. The culture of silence around sex makes it harder to report abuse - especially among children.Parliamentarians demanding harsher penalties are not politicking. Rape is a scourge. What drives an 18-year-old to rape a 96-year-old woman? These boys rape with impunity. They know which elderly women live alone. They attack, knowing no one will hear the cries.Can you imagine the agony of a young man living without manhood as punishment? You seem to say, "That's too harsh." But what is a man without one? Forgive my cynicism.How many orphaned girls live alone in remote villages - parents lost to HIV/AIDS? Predators know this. They strike first. Some HIV-positive men are told by sangomas to sleep with virgins to cure themselves. They believe the disease must be transmitted to babies and toddlers. That belief alone is sickening. Such men deserve death.But in your wisdom, Tendai, you say castration violates human rights. As activists, we differ. I cannot reconcile with your stance. The rape cases we see online are just a fraction of the real numbers. Parliament must chart a punishment that reflects the horror of these crimes.Our lawmakers would benefit from public input on castration. This discussion matters. It will shape the debate.Yours in the struggle,Nomazulu
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TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain and four Arab partners financed 90 renewable-energy projects between 2003 and 2024, about a quarter of the regions foreign-led total, at a cost of US$113 billion and creating roughly 22,000 jobs, according to Dhamans 2025 report.

Across the Arab world, the report counts 360 foreign-led renewable projects over 22 years, drawing more than US$351bn and adding upwards of 83,000 jobs.

Egypt, Morocco, the UAE, Mauritania and Jordan together hosted 248 projects, a 69 per cent share worth about US$291bn, or 83 per cent of the total value, supporting close to 68,000 jobs.

The UAE led by project count, spending and jobs. It took 57 projects, 16 per cent of the total, worth more than US$88.5bn, equal to a 25 per cent share, and generated over 16,000 jobs.

Jobs

The ten largest investing companies together accounted for roughly a quarter of projects, 40 per cent of capital outlay and 38 per cent of new jobs.

By company, Saudi Arabias ACWA Power led in project number with 20, or 6 per cent of the total.

The UAEs Infinity Power topped estimated spending at about US$34bn, near 10 per cent. Indias ACME ranked first for jobs created with more than 4,000, about 5.2 per cent.
TOKYO, Oct 06 (News On Japan) - A collision occurred on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line on the night of October 5th when a local train attempting to arrive at Kajigaya Station in Kawasaki City struck a stationary out-of-service train, causing several cars of the latter to derail. Investigators from the Japan Transport Safety Board arrived at the scene on the morning of October 6th to begin examining the cause of the accident.

According to Tokyu Corporation, the out-of-service train was being operated by a trainee driver. The train received a warning signal indicating that it was exceeding the regulated speed and might overshoot the designated stopping point. In response, the driver stopped the train earlier than scheduled, leaving part of the train extending onto the track used by regular passenger services. When the inbound local train approached the station, it collided with the overlapping section of the stationary out-of-service train.

None of the 149 passengers aboard the local train, nor the driver, were injured. However, as of 11:50 a.m. on October 6th, operations on the Den-en-toshi Line remained suspended between Shibuya and Saginuma stations, and service on the Oimachi Line was also halted between Futako-Tamagawa and Mizonokuchi stations.

One passenger affected by the suspension said, Its my daughters birthday, and we were planning to go to Sanrio Puroland. Since trains are stopped up to Shibuya, well take a taxi to the nearest operating station. The Transport Safety Board continues to investigate the cause of the collision and whether proper safety procedures were followed during the trainees operation.

Source: TBS
A nationwide survey of popular hot spring destinations released on December 10th shows Oita Prefecture rapidly climbing in traveler preference, underscoring shifting tourism trends as visitors seek both tradition and new experiences. The annual rankings, based on votes from travel site members, again placed Kusatsu in Gunma at the top for the third consecutive year, while Beppu rose from fifth to second and Yufuin made a notable leap to fifth from eleventh.
Under the theme 'Empowering Emerging Voices,' WTCA members will gather for a virtual event focused on cross-generational dialogue, trade-centered networking and global-first growth.

NEW YORK, Oct. 6, 2025 /CNW/ -- World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) , an international trade organization connecting more than 300 World Trade Center (WTC) locations in nearly 100 countries and territories, will virtually host its 2025 WTCA Member Forum from October 27-29. With the theme "Empowering Emerging Voices," this year's event will highlight WTCA's rising leaders and the experienced voices who guide, mentor and empower international trade collaboration. The Forum will also provide a platform to highlight those regions and industries emerging as key players in today's global economy.

The three-day Forum is one of the association's flagship annual events. To be held fully virtual this year, the 2025 Member Forum will allow members worldwide to participate more easily than ever. Attended by WTCA members, the Forum will feature panels and interactive workshops designed to equip participants with tools for navigating a changing international landscape, reflecting WTCA's commitment to promoting free and fair trade, open markets and healthy competition.

The Forum's agenda combines interactive workshops, panels and networking opportunities to connect members across generations and regions. Key sessions include a "Mentor-Mentee Match Up," where experienced leaders share guidance and emerging voices gain insights, as well as "The Future of Trade: Economic Trends Shaping the Next Decade," "State of Global Trade and Investment," "Networking with a Purpose" and "Cross-Cultural Communication in a Global Network." To view the full event agenda, click here.

"This year's Member Forum comes at a crucial time as global trade conditions continue to evolve rapidly," said John E. Drew, WTCA Chair, Board of Directors. "WTCA serves as a trusted resource for businesses navigating these challenges, with members sharing real-time updates on tariffs, restrictions and regulations to stay competitive. The Forum is a key annual touchpoint for exchanging ideas, building relationships and strengthening connections across our global network. It reflects our association's global mission and reinforces our commitment to supporting members in an ever-evolving international landscape."

The 2025 WTCA Member Forum will also kick off the official countdown to the highly anticipated 56th Annual WTCA Global Business Forum, which will be hosted April 19-22, 2026 in the United States by WTC Greater Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Crystal Edn, WTCA's Executive Director-Member Services, said, "The Member Forum brings our global network together to share ideas and take action. This year's fully virtual format makes it easier than ever for members worldwide to participate. Through interactive workshops and cross-generational dialogue, participants will gain practical tools, build new connections, and leave energized to navigate the evolving trade landscape and pursue global opportunities."

For more information about the 2025 WTCA Member Forum, please click here. Also, follow along on social media via #WTCAEvents.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)

Chanelle Dimalanta

Phone: +1 212 432 2644

Email: [email protected]

For any media interested in attending the event virtually, please contact:

Violet PR

Kate Traina

Phone: +1 908 967 2117

Email: [email protected]

About World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)

World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) is a network of more than 300 highly connected, mutually supporting businesses and organizations in nearly 100 countries and territories. As the owner of the "World Trade Center" and "WTC" trademarks, WTCA licenses exclusive rights to these brands for members to use in conjunction with their independently owned, iconic properties, facilities and trade services offerings. Through a robust portfolio of events, programming and resources that it offers its members, the goal of WTCA is to help local economies thrive by encouraging and facilitating trade and investment across the globe, creating an ecosystem built around commerce, community and connection. To learn more, visit www.wtca.org.

SOURCE World Trade Centers Association
Aeroplan Points Matching Week is October 6-12, 2025

Aeroplan Points donated to the Air Canada Foundation for its Hospital Transportation Program will be matched by Aeroplan and its partners TD, CIBC and Amex up to 10 million points each

The Hospital Transportation Program provides transportation for children who require air travel for medical care and treatment not available within their community

MONTREAL, Oct. 6, 2025 /CNW/ - Aeroplan Points Matching Week in support of the Air Canada Foundation Hospital Transportation Program began today and will run until October 12, 2025. The program operates on the generous donations from Aeroplan Members to provide relief for families across Canada whose children need to travel for medical care and treatment.

Aeroplan Points Matching Week in support of the Air Canada Foundation Hospital Transportation Program began today and will run until October 12, 2025. (CNW Group/Air Canada)

During Aeroplan Points Matching Week, Aeroplan and its partners, TD, CIBC, and American Express are joining forces to match Aeroplan Points donated by Aeroplan Members. For each point an Aeroplan Member donates, the respective partner will contribute one additional point, up to a maximum of 10 million points per partner. With Aeroplan also matching, the member's donation will have triple the impact up to a maximum of 10 million points. The goal is to collectively raise the most amount of air travel support for children facing medical adversity.

Last year, Aeroplan partners TD and CIBC matched donations from Aeroplan Members, helping the Air Canada Foundation reach an incredible 47 million points, which were later donated to pediatric hospitals across Canada through the Hospital Transportation Program.

"Families come to us from every province in Canada, and for many, specialized care is simply not available in their home communities. The Hospital Transportation Program is a vital partner in making that care accessible. For more than 20 years, this program has lifted a huge financial burden for families who otherwise could not afford repeated round trips for their child's treatment. Their support has made an immeasurable difference in the lives of our patients and their loved ones," says Kelly Thorstad, Acting Administrator of Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada.

"The Aeroplan Points Matching Week continues to be one of the most impactful initiatives for the Hospital Transportation Program," said Valerie Durand, spokesperson for the Air Canada Foundation. "This is an opportunity for everyone to make a lasting difference in the lives of so many families and children, and we are enormously grateful to Aeroplan Members and our partners for their generosity year after year."

Hospital Transportation Program in Action

The program benefits children like Maddox. Shortly after birth, doctors discovered Maddox had multiple unexplained fractures from a rare genetic disorder that causes bones to be fragile and break easily. This marked the beginning of Maddox and her family's journey toward answers, strength, and resilience.

Thanks to the Air Canada Foundation's Hospital Transportation Program, Maddox and her family are able to travel from her hometown of Cape Breton to Montreal to receive the specialized care she needs from an internationally recognized team at Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada, known for treating rare and complex bone diseases.

The support received over the years has made it possible for Maddox to access critical surgeries and treatments that have made a meaningful difference in her day-to-day life. Today, her spirit shines brightly, and her story is one of hope, strength and the power of community.

About the Hospital Transportation Program

The annual Aeroplan Points Matching Week initiative is the largest annual fundraiser for the Air Canada Foundation's Hospital Transportation Program. Here is how it helps children and their families access medical care:

Points donated go toward providing patients and a parent or guardian with flights with Air Canada and its partner airlines.

Created in 2003, the Hospital Transportation Program works with Canada's Children's Hospital Foundations (CCHF) supporting the following pediatric hospitals across Canada: BC Children's Hospital (BC), Alberta Children's Hospital (AB), Stollery Children's Hospital (AB), Jim Pattison Children's Hospital (SK), HSC Children's Hospital of Winnipeg (MB), Children's Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre (ON), McMaster Children's Hospital (ON), CHEO (ON), The Hospital for Sick Children (ON), The Montreal Children's Hospital (QC), CHU Sainte-Justine hospital (QC), CHU de Quebec (QC), IWK Health (Maritime Provinces), and the Janeway Children's Hospital (NL).

The program also supports Shriners Hospitals for Children (QC), and the David Foster Foundation.

In 2024, 129 children and their families were assisted with 379 flights via the Hospital Transportation Program.

In 2024, 47 million Aeroplan Points were raised during Aeroplan Points Matching week to benefit the Hospital Transportation Program.

To learn more about the Air Canada Foundation, its Hospital Transportation Program and its impact, please visit aircanada.com/foundation. You can donate points here.

About the Air Canada Foundation

The Air Canada Foundation, a not-for-profit organization focused on the health and well-being of children and youth, was launched in 2012. It offers both financial and in-kind support to Canadian-registered charities. Core programs include the Hospital Transportation Program, which redistributes Aeroplan points to 15 pediatric hospitals across Canada, enabling children access the medical care they need away from home. The Air Canada Foundation, in collaboration with the airline, also engages directly in fundraising activities, such as the Every Bit Counts program, which encourages customers to donate loose change of all denominations on board flights or through collection containers available in Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges. The Foundation also offers continued support to major health-related causes that benefit Canadians and is an active participant in international humanitarian relief activity as the need arises.

About Air Canada

Air Canada is Canada's largest airline, the country's flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network. Air Canada provides scheduled service directly to more than 180 airports in Canada, the United States and Internationally on six continents. It holds a Four-Star ranking from Skytrax. Air Canada's Aeroplan program is Canada's premier travel loyalty program, where members can earn or redeem points on the world's largest airline partner network of 45 airlines, plus through an extensive range of merchandise, hotel and car rental partners. Through Air Canada Vacations, it offers more travel choices than any other Canadian tour operator to hundreds of destinations worldwide, with a wide selection of hotels, flights, cruises, day tours, and car rentals. Its freight division, Air Canada Cargo, provides air freight lift and connectivity to hundreds of destinations across six continents using Air Canada's passenger and freighter aircraft. Air Canada's climate-related ambition includes a long-term aspirational goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. For additional information, please see Air Canada's TCFD disclosure. Air Canada shares are publicly traded on the TSX in Canada and the OTCQX in the US.

Internet: aircanada.com/media

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Alarming new report warns of hidden toll on workforce and economy ahead of World Arthritis Day

TORONTO, Oct. 6, 2025 /CNW/ - Arthritis is silently draining Canada's economy, costing $33 billion annually in lost productivity and healthcare costs. Yet, despite being the number one cause of disability in Canada, only 4% of Canadians recognize its true impact, according to a new white paper titled, "Arthritis: The Silent Drain on Canada's Economy" released by Arthritis Society Canada and Leger Healthcare in the lead-up to World Arthritis Day on October 12.

A Workforce and Competitiveness Crisis

Arthritis Society Canada (CNW Group/Arthritis Society Canada)

Arthritis is stealing the prime working years of millions of Canadians. Half of those with arthritis are under 65, and one-third are diagnosed before 45. This isn't just a health issue; it's a hidden economic crisis, silently undermining productivity, wages, and global competitiveness. With the prevalence of arthritis in Canada expected to rise from 6 million today to 9 million by 2045, the strain will only intensify.

"Canadians are feeling the squeeze of today's economy  rising costs, tariffs, and global uncertainty. Those forces are beyond our control. But one challenge we can address is arthritis," said Trish Barbato, president and CEO of Arthritis Society Canada. "As the number one cause of disability in Canada, arthritis drains $33 billion from our economy each year by reducing productivity, straining healthcare, and forcing people out of the workforce early. Unlike one-time economic shocks like tariffs or trade disputes, arthritis is a chronic, compounding burden on the economy."

Key Findings Among People Surveyed:

85% with arthritis in the workforce say it has affected their ability to work or they expect it will.

65% with arthritis in the workforce feel employers are not providing enough support for employees with arthritis. Only 24% reported receiving workplace accommodations.

95% consider arthritis as somewhat or very serious and 84% agree it can affect a person's ability to work.

Nearly 1 in 10 didn't know what type of arthritis they had, pointing to a broader gap in awareness.

"What stood out most in the data is just how wide the perception gap is," said Melicent Lavers-Sailly, VP, Leger Healthcare. "Arthritis is the leading cause of disability, but Canadians ranked it only seventh. That disconnect and lack of awareness has an impact on policy decisions, workplace practices, and the urgency with which this issue is funded and addressed."

The Human Toll

The white paper also puts a face to the numbers. Jessica Taylor, 27, an operating room nurse, struggles to stay on her feet during osteoarthritis flare-ups when she would much rather be tending to her patients. Diana Gazdar, 51, an executive, experiences pain so severe from rheumatoid arthritis that she sometimes can't leave her home even though her colleagues only see her on good days. Both illustrate the invisible, unpredictable and often unsupported toll arthritis takes on people's work and daily lives.

Call to Action

The white paper calls for urgent action across sectors, including increased investment in research, stronger workplace support, and greater awareness to close the perception gap.

"Canadians take swift, united action when the threat is visible--whether it's a global health emergency or a trade disruption," added Barbato. "We need that same urgency now for arthritis. Closing the gap between perception and reality is essential to protect Canada's workforce and future prosperity."

Read the full white paper, Arthritis: The Silent Drain on Canada's Economy.

About Arthritis Society Canada

Arthritis Society Canada represents the six million people in Canada living with arthritis today, and the millions more who are impacted or at risk. Fueled by the trust and support of our donors and volunteers, Arthritis Society Canada is fighting arthritis with research, advocacy, innovation, information and support. We are Canada's largest charitable funder of cutting-edge arthritis research. We will not give up our efforts until everyone is free from the agony of arthritis. Arthritis Society Canada is accredited under Imagine Canada's Standards Program. For more information, visit arthritis.ca.

About Leger Healthcare

Leger Healthcare is the dedicated health division of Leger--the largest Canadian-owned market research and analytics firm. With offices across Canada and the U.S., our senior researchers bring therapeutic expertise and hands-on knowledge of every stage of the research cycle. Backed by two of the country's largest proprietary healthcare panels--LEO (500,000+ patients) and LEO Medical (35,000 healthcare professionals)--we design, execute, and analyze end-to-end studies that capture real-world perspectives from both patients and clinicians. The result is actionable insights that help organizations make smarter decisions, accelerate innovation, and improve outcomes. Learn more at leger360.com/healthcare.

SOURCE Arthritis Society Canada

Media Contact: Jenny Ng, Senior Manager, Public Relations & Media, Arthritis Society Canada, [email protected], 416-455-1182
BRAMPTON, ON, Oct. 4, 2025 /CNW/ - Hundreds of Unifor members and community supporters rallied today, sending a powerful message to oppose U.S. trade attacks, protect auto industry jobs in Brampton, and demand stronger protections for Canadian workers.

"We're in the biggest crisis our country has ever faced and the only way through it is working people coming together, working with every political leader we can to make sure we are protecting every single Canadian job," said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

Unifor Protect Canadian Jobs rally outside the Stellantis Brampton Assembly Plant. (CNW Group/Unifor)

The family-friendly rally was held in front of the Stellantis Brampton Assembly Plant, where retooling for next-generation electric and gas-powered Jeep vehicles has been stalled since February. The delay followed the U.S. government's announcement of tariffs on Canadian imports, including a 25% tariff on Canadian-built vehicles, a move that has jeopardized approximately 3,000 jobs at the facility.

"We need political leaders to stand with us and to fight with us. Our members here in Brampton were promised a bright future. Since February that future has been put on hold," added Payne, "This plant is the lifeblood of this community. It's not going anywhere. Restarting the Brampton assembly plant retool and delivering on their commitments is not a question of if  it is a question of when."

Ontario Premier Doug Ford echoed the call to reopen the plant.

"I've never been more proud to stand with a group of men and women who have worked their backs off to build this factory. Our message to Stellantis is clear  we need to get our workers back in that plant," Ford told hundreds of rally attendees. "Our government will continue to protect the workers, to protect their jobs, to protect the communities, and we will always have their backs."

Vito Beato, Vice-Chair of the Stellantis Master Bargaining Committee and President of Unifor Local 1285 emphasized that workers are ready and eager to get back on the line.

"Our members, our families, and this community are ready to go back to work and build the best cars, as we did before," Beato said.

Payne also stressed the need for multi-level, non-partisan government strategies to support Canadian jobs amid the onslaught of U.S. tariffs.

Speakers at the rally called for Canada to stand strong against ongoing, sector-by-sector attacks by U.S. President Donald Trump, take decisive steps to safeguard Canadian industries and communities and hold companies in Canada to account for production relocation decisions.

"This fight is about the future of Canada. It's not just about protecting the jobs we have today, it's about seizing the opportunity to build a more sustainable, self-reliant economy that supports workers in every province and sector," said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi.

As Prime Minister Carney prepares for his upcoming trip to Washington, Unifor encourages the government to reject concessionary negotiations and to also develop a proactive home-grown strategy for long-term economic stability. The union's recommendations for Canada to invest in itself are outlined in Unifor's 'Charting a New Path for Canada's Economy' document.

"Our Prime Minister is on his way to Washington this week and he needs to have one message for President Trump. Canada has leverage, a lot of it, and we are prepared to use it to defend Canadian workers, to defend Canadian jobs. Canada's auto industry is worth fighting for," Payne said.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

SOURCE Unifor

For media inquiries or to arrange interviews please contact Unifor Communications Director Kathleen O'Keefe at [email protected] or by cell at (416) 896-3303.
By Lili Bayer

KYIV (Reuters) -Senior European Union officials who visited Ukraine have delivered a stern message to Kyiv that it has a lot more to do to secure membership, while they work on overcoming Hungary's opposition to Ukrainian accession.

Ukraine needs the backing of all 27 EU countries to become a member, but Budapest is blocking it from moving to the next stage of accession negotiations, citing concerns including the language rights of ethnic Hungarians.

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Hungary's stance has frustrated other EU states, and the bloc's enlargement commissioner, Marta Kos, led a high-level charm offensive in Ukraine last week, meeting the Hungarian minority in the west of the country to try to ease tensions.

EU MEMBERSHIP IS A BEACON OF HOPE FOR MANY UKRAINIANS

For many people in Ukraine, the prospect of EU membership represents a beacon of hope for a prosperous future, over three decades after it won independence from the Soviet Union.

In 2014, a pro-Russian president was ousted by mass protests after trying to divert Kyiv away from seeking EU membership, and Russia's war in Ukraine has made EU accession even more attractive for pro-Western Ukrainians.

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But an attempt by Kyiv over the summer to curb the independence of key watchdogs alarmed many European governments and put a spotlight on the reform challenges facing Ukraine, which needs to align its laws with EU standards.

The EU "cannot accept a new member state which is really not 100 percent following the rule of law," EU Enlargement Commissioner Kos told Reuters in an interview in Ukraine.

Kos said "one part of this, showing the love, is being really strict," adding that, when it comes to reforms in areas ranging from agriculture to the environment, "now the tough work will come".

PUSHBACK AGAINST HUNGARY

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European officials have signalled that if Ukraine sticks to reforms and fully adheres to rule-of-law norms, they will find a way to sidestep Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's opposition and ensure Ukraine makes progress toward accession.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency until the end of December, said in Copenhagen on Thursday that Ukraine and the EU can keep working on reforms to help Kyiv prepare for membership.

"I will not allow one country, and I will certainly not allow Viktor Orban, to take decisions upon the entire European future," she said.

RULE OF LAW

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In Ukraine last week, European officials underscored that respect for the rule of law is a pre-requisite for membership.

The messaging was partly a response to steps taken on July 22 to establish greater control by the prosecutor general, a political appointee, over Ukraine's anti-corruption bureau and a specialised prosecution unit.

Rare wartime protests led Ukraine's leadership to quickly reverse course, but the episode caught the attention of Kyiv's closest partners.

"What happened on the 22nd of July should never happen again," Kos said in the interview, warning about the risk of losing EU member countries' trust and that everything must be corrected "until the end".

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"It is not done yet," she said.

European officials say they believe Ukraine will ultimately adhere to the standards, and that there is strong commitment in Ukrainian society to keep going.

"The only worry is how, and how long, but not if," Kos said.

Taras Kachka, Ukraine's deputy prime minister for European integration, said in a statement to Reuters that the country "will continue to implement reforms in accordance with its international commitments".

LONG ROAD AHEAD

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in February that Ukraine could join the bloc before 2030 if it continued its reforms at their current speed and quality, but that timeline is treated with skepticism by some officials.

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Ukraine "is a big, important and strategically located country, and things cannot be swept under the carpet," said one EU diplomat.

A second EU diplomat said that "we see impressive progress from Ukraine, especially given the war, but the EU accession process is arduous and lengthy".

In the near term, Hungary's opposition is the main obstacle to Ukraine's bid.

In 2023, Orban chose not to veto a decision by EU leaders to open accession negotiations with Ukraine, but Hungary is now blocking Ukraine from moving to the next stage - negotiations on "clusters" covering thematic policy areas.

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TECHNICAL WORK LIKELY TO CONTINUE

Some European officials have floated the idea of opening the clusters without unanimity across the EU, bypassing Hungary's objection.

But changing the rules requires the backing of all 27 states and officials say continuing technical work with Ukraine without formally opening the clusters remains the more likely near-term option.

"If we are not able to convince each other, then I simply think we just have to move on with all the work that has to be done between Ukraine and the European Commission," Denmark's Frederiksen said.

Kachka, the Ukrainian deputy prime minister, said Ukraine is taking a "pragmatic" approach and will keep reforming so it can move quickly once it is possible to proceed to the next stage.

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In the longer run, Ukraine's EU aspirations could run into obstacles in other parts of the bloc.

A Eurobarometer poll published in September found 52% of EU citizens support Ukraine's accession, provided it meets all membership conditions, and that 41% are opposed.

But while 91% of Swedes support Ukraine joining once it meets all conditions, 48% of people in France and only 28% in the Czech Republic are in support.

Kos said the EU had time to look at the concerns in each country and address them.

"Just let's talk about it," she said. "What are your concerns? And let's see if we can explain."

(Additional reporting by Andrew Gray in Copenhagen; Editing by Mike Collett-White and Timothy Heritage)
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Burlington County Commissioner Randy Brolo and BCIT Board of Education President Odise Carr speak to an instructor in the BCIT-Westamptons new diesel engine repair shop. Burlington County

The Burlington County Institute of Technology marked the completion of a major expansion project at its Westampton campus with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week.

The ceremony commemorated the 39,000-square-foot, $14 million expansion and renovation project at the vocational school located at 695 Woodlane Road in Westampton.

The improvements include expanded classroom space, a large logistics training area, and a new diesel engine garage.

The upgrades are designed to enhance education and training opportunities for students in automotive technology, heavy equipment and diesel technology, and global business and supply chain management programs, officials said.

The expansion will also allow an additional 100 students to enroll in these programs.

BCIT-Westampton students demonstrate some of the skills they are learning in the schools new expanded facility. Burlington County

State grant funding from the Securing Our Childrens Future Bond Act funded most the construction project.

The law appropriated approximately $350 million for county vocational expansion from a $500 million bond referendum approved by New Jersey voters in 2018.

The same funding source provided BCIT with $8 million for an expansion project at the school districts Medford campus on Hawkin Road.

That project was completed earlier this year and included improvements to welding and HVAC shops and the creation of a new video game design lab.

Burlington County also contributed funding toward the expansion projects at both vocational schools.
A rendering depicts the front of Yeshiva Ner Moshe, a private Orthodox Jewish boys school with dormitories proposed in Jackson. Jackson Planning Board

An Ocean County developer is seeking approval to build a new private Orthodox Jewish boys school with dormitories in Jackson.

The Jackson Township Planning Board received an application from Applegate Owner LLC, a Lakewood-based developer, to construct Yeshiva Ner Moshe, a private religious school.

The proposed school would be built on a nearly 25-acre vacant lot along Frank Applegate Road in a residential area of the town.

Plans call for a two-story, 50,000-square-foot building with classrooms, a gym, dining hall, assembly room and 22 dormitory rooms, according to preliminary site plans.

Jackson borders Lakewood, home to New Jerseys largest Orthodox Jewish community. Jackson has seen rapid Orthodox population growth in recent years, similar to the growth in nearby Toms River and Howell.

Many Orthodox Jewish families have moved to the area to remain near synagogues and extended family while finding more housing space.

In August, Toms River officials approved the townships first private Orthodox Jewish high school.

The proposal for the boys school in Jackson does not specify student ages or enrollment numbers. But the documents say the facility would operate as a secondary and higher-level school.

The property lacks public sewer service, so the school would use on-site septic systems for wastewater while connecting to the municipal water system.

A public hearing on the application is scheduled before the Jackson Planning Board on Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m.

The proposal follows a series of legal settlements over allegedly discriminatory zoning rules previously enacted in Jackson.

In 2022, the township settled a federal lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Justice and a separate case in 2023 with the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office. Both challenged ordinances that restricted the opening of yeshivas and dormitories for Orthodox Jews, leading to their repeal and millions in penalties and restitution.

Following the federal settlement, Jacksons first yeshiva with a dormitory was approved in May 2023.
Portland police have said that a fire set to one of Ice Cube's tour buses was not a targeted attack but a random act of vandalism. (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images) Getty Images

Authorities say the fire that set hip-hop icon Ice Cubes tour bus ablaze was not a targeted attack.

Portland Police say the fire, which occurred on Sept. 23 the morning after the rappers show at Moda Center, was a random act of vandalism.

Firefighters responded to the blaze and were able to extinguish the fire and ventilate smoke from the bus before the entire automobile was damaged.

Police also shared their investigation revealed no evidence of an incendiary device being used to ignite the blaze.

The front passenger tire fire of a charter bus on September 23 near the corner of SW Oak and Broadway is an open and active investigation that looks to be a random act of vandalism with no evidence of an incendiary device used to initiate the fire, Portland police said in a statement sent to FOX 12.

The investigation is still active as authorities are reviewing surveillance footage to determine what caused the fire.

Ice Cube, 56, took to social media following the incident to clarify that it was not his personal bus but one of the tour crews.

Wasnt my bus. It was a crew bus, Cube wrote to X (formerly Twitter). Parked in front of the hotel. Everybody was upstairs sleeping. Nobody hurt. No equipment damaged. A coward set fire to the bus. My bus was actually in Oakland getting serviced.

Wasnt my bus. It was a crew bus. Parked in front of the hotel. Everybody was upstairs sleeping. Nobody hurt. No equipment damaged. A coward set fire to the bus. My bus was actually in Oakland getting serviced.  Ice Cube (@icecube) September 27, 2025

The hip-hop pioneer told KGW8 that he does not believe the occurrence was a personal attack.

Ice Cube is currently performing shows a part of his Truth to Power: Four Decades of Attitude tour.
The new Hulu docuseries Death in Apartment 63: What Happened to Ellen Greenberg? tells the story of a woman whose death was ruled a suicide despite her 20 stab wounds.

Ellen died at age 27 in January 2011. Her fiance, Samuel Goldberg, called 911 to report her death, claiming that hed found her body in their apartment when he returned from the gym. During the 911 call, Samuel theorized that Ellen had either stabbed herself or fell on a knife.

Although the Philadelphia Medical Examiners Office initially ruled Ellens death a homicide, the office changed its conclusion to suicide in February 2011. Ellens family has never believed that Ellen took her own life.

The Greenbergs have filed filed two civil lawsuits related to Ellens death: one against the Philadelphia Medical Examiners Office to change the ruling on her cause of death, and one against the City of Philadelphia and the former Chief Medical Examiner Sam Gulino, claiming that city officials covered up details of her death.

Both lawsuits were settled in February 2025, and the Medical Examiners Office reopened the investigation into Ellens cause of death. Dr. Marlon Osbourne, the pathologist who conducted the original autopsy in 2011, reversed his opinion in February.

It is my professional opinion Ellens manner of death should be designated as something other than suicide, Osbourne wrote in an affidavit.

As part of the lawsuit settlement, the Philadelphia Medical Examiners office agreed to an expeditious reexamination of Ellens case. However, Ellens family is still waiting for answers about what really happened to her.

READ MORE: Is Ed Gein still alive? An update on the notorious serial killer

Was Ellen Greenbergs fiance ever a suspect?

Samuel, who declined to participate in the Hulu docuseries, has never been a suspect. He addressed Ellens death in a 2024 email to CNN.

Footage of Samuel Goldberg featured in "Death in Apartment 603: What Happened to Ellen Greenberg?" ABC News

When Ellen took her own life it left me bewildered. She was a wonderful and a kind person who had everything to live for, he wrote at the time. When she died a part of me died with her. Unimaginably, in the years that have passed I have had to endure the unimaginable passing of my future wife and the pathetic and despicable attempts to desecrate my reputation and her privacy by creating a narrative that embraces lies, distortions and falsehoods in order to avoid the truth. Mental illness is very real and has many victims.

Samuels familial connections have raised eyebrows among some online sleuths. His uncle Jim Schwartzman, a prominent Pennsylvania judge, was permitted to remove several items from Samuel and Ellens apartment after Ellens death.

Things were removed from the crime scene without our permission. The chain of custody was broken from the very beginning when Jim Schwartzman removed computers, electronics, [and] my daughters handbag, Ellens dad, Dr. Josh Greenberg, told Fox News Digital back in 2024.

A representative for Jim told the outlet that police officers had given him permission to retrieve the items. He denied moving Ellens handbag, but admitted to taking the electronics.

READ MORE: What happened to Amy Bradley, the woman who disappeared on a cruise ship?

The door was damaged and unsecure, and he took out items that he thought might be stolen, the rep said on Jims behalf. My understanding from 42 years of practice is chain of custody pertains to items that have been seized by the police, not items just taken from a location. I just dont understand how thats applicable to this particular situation, especially when the police have released the scene and given permission for Mr. Schwartzman to go and get items.

What does Ellen Greenbergs family think happened to her?

Ellens father, Dr. Josh Greenberg, doesnt think she died as a result of her multiple stab wounds. He thinks her cause of death was strangulation. During a February interview with Fox News Digital, Josh pointed out that Ellen had bruising around her neck and wrists.

The two wounds that were in Ellens back of her neck and in her chest, one of the medical examiners  before she was dismissed  said those were postmortem, Josh said. Weve been looking at the knife wounds, we should be looking at strangulation.

Josh explained that the police changed their theory on homicide because they could not find defensive [stab] wounds. But if she was already deceased when the stabbing began, there would be no defensive wounds.

Death in Apartment 63: What Happened to Ellen Greenberg? is available to stream on Hulu.
Investigators at the scene of a shooting that wounded a Trenton police officer on Oct. 4, 2025. (Peterson's Breaking News)

The Trenton police officer who suffered a gunshot wound Saturday night was shot while disarming a suspect, the department said.

A New Jersey State Police trooper suffered a shrapnel wound in the 9:15 p.m. incident, police and a troopers union said.

The Trenton officer suffered a wound to his lower leg and has since been released from a hospital, Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson said. The officer is assigned to a State Police Crime Suppression unit currently working in the city, he said.

Wilson did not have a full picture of the incident, as the State Police is the lead investigative agency. He said the city officer did not fire his weapon and it appears the suspects gun accidentally discharged.

The trooper was also treated and released, and a third non-officer suffered a minor injury, Wilson said.

Neither of the officers has been identified by authorities.

The State Police did not immediately return a message seeking comment, and no information has been released about the suspect.

The incident occurred in the area of Lincoln, Perry and North Clinton avenues across the intersection from police headquarters.

In a tweet about the incident on Sunday, Gov. Phil Murphy said: Last night, an officer with the Trenton Police Department was shot in the leg while reaching for a suspects gun. While the injury was non life-threatening, we are praying for his speedy recovery. We are grateful to all law enforcement for everything they do to keep us safe.
An 80-year-old driver was killed Saturday after crashing into a utility pole on Route 130 in Robbinsville, authorities said.

A resident of Stony Creek, Virginia woman crashed at about 12:15 p.m. on the southbound side just before Church Street, Robbinsville police said.

She died of her injuries at an area hospital after being removed from the car. There were no passengers in the car.

Her identity was not made public on Monday afternoon. Stony Creek is in southern Virginia, about 45 miles south of Richmond.

Anyone with information that might aid the investigation is asked to call Robbinsville police at 609-259-3900.
SNY analyst and former Mets first baseman Keith Hernandezs contract with the network is up after his 20th season calling games.

Hernandez told Mike Puma of the New York Post that he would like to continue in his role alongside analyst Ron Darling and play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen.

My contract has run out, but I would love to continue in the booth, he said to The Post. I enjoy what I do.

Hernandez has served as a game analyst for SNY since 2006, and has won three Emmys over the last 20 years. He signed a three-year contract to stay with the network before the 2023 season.

Over 17 MLB seasons, Hernandez won 11 Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger Awards. He was a five-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion and the 1979 National League MVP.
The call to service came later in life for Adam San Miguel, but he said it was impossible to ignore.

I just graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, he said proudly, actually, a month ago, and now Im an officer.

San Miguels parents immigrated to the United States from Cuba during the Freedom Flights of the late 1960s and early 1970s, when roughly 300,000 Cubans fled the country, seeking freedom and opportunity. San Miguel, 40, says he felt a responsibility to give back.

My family came here with nothing, just looking for freedom, looking for someplace where they can raise their family and not be under communism, said San Miguel of Hudson County. We were given that. Ive been given all these opportunities, and they dont come free.

San Miguel balances a wife, two young daughters and a busy career. He runs his nonprofit, the Cuban American Alliance for Leadership and Education (CAALE), and a half dozen specialty coffee shops with his business partner and fellow Cuban, Andres Carrillo.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, San Miguels story reflects themes of service, leadership, and community that are part of his Cuban American experience.

I was born and raised in Jersey, San Miguel said. My parents, grandparents and my aunt all came from Cuba.

San Miguel experienced what he calls a duality of cultures.

One is what I would get in school and in the media  English, pop culture, hip hop, he explained. And then the one you got at home  speaking Spanish, talking about Cuba, crying over Cuba, and telling stories from the motherland. That duality of cultures shaped me.

After obtaining a degree in Business Administration at Monmouth University, he pursued an MBA from Fordham University and a second bachelors degree in Spanish from New Jersey City University.

His first jobs were at Microsoft and Google. Now he works on his nonprofit and his chain of coffee shops. A self-described social entrepreneur, San Miguel says its about pairing the risk-taking drive of a business leader with a deeper sense of purpose.

A social entrepreneur is someone who activates and initiates projects that can then grow and make impact, he said. The social characteristic of it is a mindset and a sense of purpose. Its the why behind entrepreneurship.

The CAALE program

That why has guided him since he launched his first venture, the nonprofit CAALE, more than a decade ago, to support Cuban American youth through scholarships, workshops, and trips.

San Miguel says CAALE is designed to prepare students to succeed in their professions, instill a spirit of service, and ground students in Cubas past and present.

We want them to have the tools and the network to rise to the top of their fields, he said. But we also want them to use that success in service to others. And lastly, we want them to maintain proximity to Cuba  its history, its current reality, and its future. We believe the children of exile will play a role in reshaping and rebuilding a better, free, and prosperous Cuba.

CAALE founder Adam San Miguel presents a student with a $10,000 scholarship. Adam San Miguel

Liz Nayara Fis Frometa, 19, of Union City, is a CAALE program participant who studies marketing at Rider University. Before joining CAALE, she says she knew only a few other Cubans, including her teacher, who introduced her to the program.

Being part of the Cuban American Alliance for Leadership and Education has been incredibly beneficial, Frometa said. As a first-generation college student from a single-parent household, it gave me the chance to reassure my mom she wouldnt have to worry about the cost of college.

CAALE hosts 40 to 50 students annually, most through its Leadership Development Program. On average, the program grants three to four scholarships of $10,000.

The curriculum begins with leadership workshops in areas such as emotional intelligence, public speaking, and professional preparation. Students learn everything from resume writing, to building LinkedIn profiles, to securing internships and landing jobs.

But the heart of the program lies in the impactful trips and unique experiences it offers.

The journey starts with an orientation weekend in New Jersey, where students dive into Cuban history and culture.

We have workshops on Cuban history, and students identify their families origins on a 25-foot map of Cuba, San Miguel said. They even do a cook-off, making Cuban dishes like ropa vieja and picadillo.

In their second year, students head to Miami, the heart of the Cuban exile community.

Theyll visit the Bay of Pigs Museum, the University of Miamis Cuban Heritage Collection, and meet former political prisoners and community leaders, San Miguel said.

By the third year, the program shifts to Washington, D.C., for a deep dive into policy and geopolitics.

Its not about showing a left or right perspective. We try to give a full spectrum, he said. We meet with members of Congress, think tanks, the State Department, and international organizations like the Organization of American States.

Finally, students travel to Cuba, an experience San Miguel describes as life-changing.

They get to meet with the U.S. ambassador in Havana, visit nonprofits like Caritas, and engage with the University of Havanas young entrepreneurship network, he said. Its tough to do, but its critical to their understanding.

Karla Somoano, 27, of Richfield Park, came to the United States in 2017 at 15.

When I found the Pinos Nuevos Scholarship, I almost didnt apply, said Somoano, a former CAALE participant, who now serves as its program manager. Imposter syndrome kicked in, but I decided to take my shot, and I won. I was the first student to receive it and go through the Leadership Development Program, and it completely changed the trajectory of my life.

Somoano is in her last year of law school and has accepted a position as an associate at a New Jersey-based law firm.

The Leadership Development Program showed me that where I come from is my strength, she said. It gave me the tools to shape a future filled with purpose, service, and pride in my heritage and culture. Thats a big thing for me.

A new partnership

To sustain CAALE, fundraising was essential. So, San Miguel solicited donations from local businesses to support his fundraising events. Thats how he crossed paths with local coffee shop owner Andres Carrillo.

I offered our pastries and services to make the event feel more Cuban, more authentic, and hopefully help attract people and raise more support, Carrillo said.

That first year we donated pastries for 200300 guests, and by the second year we added an espresso maker, making Cuban coffee on the spot  it became something special.

Business partners Andres Carrillo and Adam San Miguel stand outside their Union City Cortaditos cafe. Adam San Miguel

The two built a friendship over the years as San Miguel worked remotely from Carrillos cafe, Cortaditos.

It really happened naturally, Carrillo said. He was born here and came from the software industry. I, on the other hand, came from Cuba 22 years ago. My father owned a bakery. We had very different upbringings, but together we shared our pasts and our futures.

Carrillo says San Miguel, who had been looking to start a business, became interested in his Cuban cafes. After many conversations, they saw the potential for expansion and formed a partnership in 2019.

Together, they reimagined the Cortaditos brand. What emerged was a coffee company built on both flavor and values. Today, they have six cafes in New Jersey.

Thoughts about Cuba

San Miguel said he tries to approach Cubas challenges with balance, acknowledging the impact of the U.S. embargo and the failures of Cubas communist economic model.

My hope and dream is to one day participate in a community in Cuba the same way I do here, to contribute positively to the development of a free and open civil society.
A protester holds a sign as visitors arrive at the beach in the Ocean Grove section of Neptune, New Jersey, in 2023. Alexandra Pais | For NJ Advance Media

The deadline for resolving a long-running dispute involving Sunday morning beach access in one Jersey Shore community has been pushed back a second time.

Shawn M. LaTourette, the states Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner, has until Nov. 10 to affirm, reject or modify an administrative judges ruling about access to Ocean Groves beach.

If the ruling stands, it will allow the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association to resume a 155-year summertime religious tradition of restricting beach access from its boardwalk on Sunday mornings.

A second, 45-day extension was granted earlier this month to allow LaTourette more time to make a decision.

The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association and some local residents have been clashing for years over rules that keep access ramps to the beach chained off on Sundays until noon. The tradition dates back to the Monmouth County neighborhoods roots as a Methodist religious retreat.

The association owns the land in the Ocean Grove section in Neptune, including the boardwalk by its Monmouth County beach.

It cited religious freedom and its origins as a Methodist community camp in challenging a September 2023 order from the state Department of Environmental Protection to stop using chains and padlocked barriers blocking beach access from the boardwalk. If Ocean Grove defied the order it risked fines of up to $25,000 per day.

The restriction had been in place between the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends each year.

The association opened up the beach on Sunday mornings in May 2024 as the appeal was underway.

However, an administrative court judge ruled June 26 that the association was within its rights to restrict beach access from its boardwalk. The judge rejected the states argument that restricting beach access ran afoul of the states Coastal Area Facility Review Act.

The judges ruling noted that those seeking to visit the beach still had the option of getting on the beach by walking in from adjoining beaches to the north or south when the nine access points from the Ocean Grove boardwalk were closed.

The public access doctrine as applied here by the NJDEP would impact the OGCMAs religious practices, but not because the OGCMA uses the beach to hold religious services or because the people on the beach are disruptive, Administrative Law Judge Tricia Caliguire wrote in her decision.

It is because the OGCMA seeks to spread its message of the sanctity of Sunday by keeping everyone from using the beach on Summer Sunday mornings. The closed beach is an outward expression  one that is very visible and even provocative  of their faith and belief, and the NJDEP is effectively telling the OGCMA that it cannot use its own property in that manner, Caliguire wrote.

The state attorney generals office filed a response on July 18 urging LaTourette to reject the decision and stand by the original order.

Ocean Groves decision to prohibit public access and use from 9:00 a.m. to noon every single Sunday to a half mile of dry sand beach during peak summer season  stripping the public of significant access rights during the time of the greatest demand  is unreasonable as far as the public is concerned," the attorney generals office said in its court filing.

Under the original timeline, a decision by the commissioner was due in mid-August. However, the first extension pushed back the deadline until Sept. 25.

Neither side objected to the second extension to Nov. 10.

The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association leases land in the neighborhood on a long-term basis to homeowners and businesses. It also sells leases for 114 tents and 20 cottages for use during the summer season, according to the judges ruling.

Ocean Grove was governed by the association as a religious enclave for a century, until the New Jersey Supreme Court declared its original charter unconstitutional.

Critics of the Sunday beach access restriction separately took issue with the associations decision to build a $2 million pier in the shape of a Christian cross that opened in April 2023.

The pier was closed in December 2023 amid structural concerns but has since partially reopened. A social media post published Monday by the association said an engineers report showed the pier extension may not be structurally sound enough to be used safely. As a result, it will remain closed.
Parts of a state highway in Mercer County will shut down for several days this month as Netflix films scenes for an upcoming production, state officials said.

Starting Monday, Route 133 in East Windsor will be closed and detoured in both directions during the day, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

The weekday closures will run through from Monday to Friday, Oct. 10, and then again from Wednesday, Oct. 15, through Friday, Oct. 17, between 8:30 a.m. and 8 p.m., officials said.

No closures are expected between Saturday, Oct. 11 and Tuesday, Oct. 14.

Electronic message boards will alert drivers to detours and traffic changes. Timing could shift depending on weather or production needs, according to the department.

A full schedule of closures and detours is available on the New Jersey Department of Transportations website.

Netflix officials did not disclose Monday what production is being filmed.

The filming is part of New Jerseys continued push to attract major film and television productions, state officials said.

In May, Netflix broke ground on its planned $1 billion production facility at Fort Monmouth, a 292-acre former Army base being transformed into a major East Coast studio campus. The complex will include 12 soundstages totaling nearly 500,000 square feet, along with space for production support and community amenities once complete.

Last year, over 550 film and television projects were filmed in New Jersey, generating a record $837 million in spending, according to state officials.

Netflix accounted for five of those productions, including Happy Gilmore 2 and A House of Dynamite, which together brought in millions of dollars through local hiring, location rentals and other in-state spending.
A 41-year-old New Jersey man who had been previously banned from a church in Washington D.C. was arrested Sunday morning after being found outside with explosive devices in a tent, officials said.

Officers assigned to the Red Mass at Saint Matthews Cathedral saw that Louis Geri had set up a tent and refused to leave when asked to at around 6 a.m., the Metropolitan Police Department said.

As police took Geri into custody they saw suspicious items such as vials of liquid and possible fireworks, officials said.

Geri, of Vineland, was charged with unlawful entry, threats to kidnap or injure a person, and possession of a Molotov Cocktail.

The mass  which was scheduled for later in the morning is held on the Sunday before the first Monday in October to mark the opening of the U.S. Supreme Courts annual term.

Attorney information for Geri wasnt immediately available.
A rabbi was assaulted in Bergenfield Sunday afternoon by a man who bolted from his car and attacked the victim in the area of Sussex Road, police say.

Bergenfield police apprehended a suspect, Jeffrey Zicchinella, 40, shortly after the 2 p.m. attack and charged the Ridgefield Park resident with two counts of simple assault.

Bergenfield Police Chief Mustafa Rabboh said in a statement that a nearby resident came to the aid of the victim and both suffered minor injuries. The chief did not identify the victim but referred to him as a faith leader.

Northjersey.com identified the victim as Avraham Wein, assistant rabbi at Congregation Keter Torah in Teaneck.

Police took Zicchinella to the Bergen County Jail to await court proceedings and an investigation was ongoing Sunday evening with the Bergen County Prosecutors Office, Rabboh said.

At this time, believe it was a random, isolated incident, Rabboh said. There is no further threat to the public.

We take all reports of bias-motivated or hate-related incidents seriously, Rabboh said. In an abundance of caution, I have ordered our officers to conduct extra patrols around residences and synagogues.

This was a disgraceful act of violence that has no place in our town and will not be tolerated, said Bergenfield Mayor Arvin Amatorio and the borough council said in a joint statement.

Any act that threatens the safety of our residents will be met with the full force of law, the mayor and council said. We will do everything necessary to protect this community and uphold the values of safety, civility, and respect that define our community in Bergenfield.

Rabboh also reassured residents that police understand their concern.

We extend our concern and support to those affected and stand in solidarity with our local faith community, he said. We remain committed to ensuring the safety, unity, and well-being of all residents.

The Bergen County Board of Commissioners said in a statement they were shocked and disheartened by the attack, and said it occurred outside of the rabbis home and bystanders subdued the suspect.

Prayers for the rabbi, his family, and the Jewish community. We stand together against all acts of antisemitism and all acts of hate, the statement said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bergenfield Police Department at 201-387-4000.
Policing in Camden today is undoubtedly better, but at what cost?

By John Shjarback

Camden is once again in the national news. Perennially dubbed the murder capital of America in the 1990s and 2000s, the city experienced zero homicides this past summer.

It is a truly incredible feat from just 13 years ago when the city experienced 67 homicides in 2012, including 21 in the months of June, July, and August. Camdens homicide was more than 17 times higher than that of New York City in 2012.

To put those numbers into context, if New York City experienced the same homicide rate as Camden in 2012, then they would have ended the year with 7,300 murders rather their 419.

They were some of the darkest times in Camdens history. Starting in 2011, the two-year period witnessed the layoffs of half of the Camden City Police Department. The remaining force faced poor morale and excessive absenteeism due to increased workloads, rising violence, and rumblings of plan to dismantle the current agency and start anew in a process that was largely shrouded in secrecy.

In 2012, Camden experienced 67 homicides, including 21 in the months of June, July and August. The summer of 2025, the city experienced zero homicides. John Shjarback

Even sitting members of the Camden City Council were not privy to the financial and logistical details.

The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that city and county officials illegally blocked several attempts by activists, civic groups and residents to put the county takeover of the city police department up for a vote. This ruling came in August 2015  more than two years after the official start of the new Camden County Police Department (CCPD) on May 1, 2013.

Many of these details would have remained a mystery had it not been for local reporting from media outlets and journalists, including right here at The Star-Ledger and NJ.com. Yet, much of these details were glossed over during national and even international coverage of Camden during President Obamas visit in 2015, the summer of 2020 when the city was hailed again as a model of reform, and now once more in response to the summer without a homicide.

The story of Camden is more complex and nuanced than the attention-grabbing headlines suggest. Most tend to miss the full story, so I wrote a book on it titled Chasing Change in Camden: Police Reform in One of Americas Most Violent Cities.

Readers can expect an exhaustive history of Camden, including its rise and fall during the late 1960s due to deindustrialization, outsourcing, and white flight. They will learn about how the old city department was expensive, mismanaged, and unaccountable with pockets of corruption. They were apathetic and lethargic. They did not police.

Even the current chief in Scott Thomson and New Jersey Attorney General  Anne Milgram  could not reform the problematic culture. They will acquire, as mentioned earlier, a detailed account of the pivotal years of 2011-2013 that hold the key to how CCPD came to be.

CCPD, while it certainly emerged as a healthier organization comparatively, had a few early setbacks. Officers engaged in aggressive tactics, excessive ticketing practices, and escalating levels of force that resulted in skyrocketing citizen complaints of excessive force. The new agency progressed in a non-linear fashion and CCPD, to their credit, course-corrected thanks in part to community and activist backlash, innovative training, and more restrictive administrative policies governing officer behavior.

CCPD is more effective at addressing crime and violence. They solve a higher number of cases by making arrests of offenders. However, a number of other factors that likely reduce crime tend to get ignored.

Factors like community- and hospital-based violence intervention programs, specifically organizations like Cure4Camden, and the services they provide to violent crime victims as well as their families and friends based out of Cooper University Hospital.

The city has led campaigns to demolish vacant and abandoned houses, upgrade street lights, and take back public space. There are plenty of non-policing entities and strategies making a difference in the city. Lets spread the praise.

Policing in Camden today is undoubtedly better, but at what cost? Residents and visitors are under near-ubiquitous surveillance and subjected to all of the big-data technology. Camden County, which is whiter and relatively affluent, controls the police department of a city that is economically and socially disadvantaged and overwhelmingly Black and Hispanic.

John Shjarback (Twitter/X @Shjarback_CCJ) is an associate professor in the Department of Law and Justice Studies at Rowan University. His research focuses on issues of American policing. His book Chasing Change in Camden: Police Reform in One of Americas Most Violent Cities is now available.
Upcoming import expo highlights China's commitment to shared prosperity

Xinhua) 09:11, October 06, 2025

SHANGHAI, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- In just one month, Shanghai will once again take the global stage as the China International Import Expo (CIIE) returns, reaffirming China's pledge to further opening up and to sharing its development opportunities with the world.

First held in 2018, the CIIE created a groundbreaking chapter in global trade history. Since then, the expo has been consistently improving in scale and effectiveness.

As the world's first national-level exhibition dedicated to imports, the CIIE has showcased approximately 3,000 new products, technologies and services over the past seven years, with intended transactions exceeding 500 billion U.S. dollars.

Against the backdrop of increasing instability and uncertainty in global economic and trade conditions, hosting the eighth edition carries special significance, said Wu Zhengping, deputy director general of the CIIE Bureau.

A GLOBAL GATHERING

Dozens of countries and international organizations have confirmed participation in the national exhibition of the upcoming expo, with Kyrgyzstan joining for the first time. Over 3,200 enterprises from more than 110 countries and regions have signed up for the business exhibition, covering an area of 360,000 square meters.

Preparations are in full swing. The first batch of exhibits, including 279 items from Germany, arrived in Shanghai on Sept. 26, featuring many global or regional debuts. Additionally, shipments from New Zealand and southern Pacific island nations, such as dairy products and coconut oil, are en route to Shanghai.

Sheng Wenhao, CEO of Theland Asia Pacific Region, noted that over the past eight years, the expo has not only witnessed but also boosted the company's development, enabling it to partner with dozens of professional buyers and expand to over 5,000 stores across 25 provinces and regions in China.

Despite mounting global uncertainties, the CIIE continues to serve as a bridge, enabling all to access development opportunities and empowering the Global South and the least developed countries to reach new markets and expand trade links.

For the first time, this year's expo will establish a dedicated exhibition area for products from the least developed countries with diplomatic ties with China, aiming to help their enterprises fully leverage zero-tariff policies and tap into the vast Chinese market.

OPPORTUNITIES ON BIG STAGE

Innovation will be a key highlight of the expo, as leading companies debut their newest products, reaffirming the CIIE's status as a showcase for the world's most advanced technologies.

German healthcare and agribusiness giant Bayer, a frequent exhibitor at the CIIE, will present its products across two sections spanning 800 square meters. The company will feature 25 highlighted exhibits, including five global debuts, ten China debuts, and ten debuts at the expo.

"We will continue to invest in China, accelerate innovation, and work hand-in-hand with industry partners to grow together and share the opportunities of China's development," said Anthia Zhang, Vice President of Communications, Bayer Group Greater China &North East Asia.

Juergen Model, CEO of Siemens Mobility Greater China, said the company will present its integrated platform for Digital Solutions and Digital Maintenance Solution for Rail Vehicles, with a particular focus on innovative AI applications in intelligent maintenance and lifecycle management for rail signaling systems and vehicles.

"For Siemens Mobility, the CIIE has served as an invaluable stage to showcase our latest innovations and identify new opportunities to co-create solutions with partners that are tailored to the specific needs of the Chinese market," Model told Xinhua.

This year's expo also provides small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) worldwide with an opportunity to shine on the big stage. More than 80 overseas business associations from over 50 countries and regions will bring over 1,500 SMEs to the expo.

Dorothy Tembo, deputy executive director of the International Trade Centre, said that over the past years, SMEs from Africa, Asia and Latin America have brought a diverse range of products to the expo, from Ethiopian coffee and Rwandan chilies to Nepali cashmere. Thanks to their participation, many of these products are now enjoyed by Chinese consumers, Dorothy noted.

"We are looking forward to seeing this same magic in action at the 2025 CIIE, and the excitement won't stop there," she said.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Hongyu)




Laman Ismayilova

Nizami Cinema Center has hosted the premiere of the feature film "Taghiyev: Sona", a portrayal of the life of the renowned philanthropist Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, Azernews reports.

The event was attended by Arzu Aliyeva, the film's executive producer and President of the Baku Media Center, along with government officials and notable cultural figures.

Produced by the Baku Media Center, the film was made with support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry and the Cinema Agency. It also received backing from NEQSOL Holding, Kapital Bank, Bakcell, and Norm companies.

"Taghiyev: Sona" is the third chapter in the four-part Taghiyev saga, which chronicles the life and philanthropic legacy of Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev. The film explores significant historical events that shaped Baku and the region during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The story follows Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, a man who has endured many hardships, as he meets a young and educated woman named Sona. His love for her brings new challenges, and the film portrays their unforgettable love story, as Sona navigates obstacles to win his heart.

Viewers will experience themes of strength, loyalty, and love, while witnessing the personal transformations of the characters from the first two episodes.

The executive producer is Arzu Aliyeva, with Orman Aliyev serving as producer.

Directed by Zaur Gasimli, the film's script was written by Ismayil Iman, Asif Isgandarli, and Zaur Gasimli. The key creative team includes cinematographer Vladimir Artemyev, artist Sabuhi Atababayev, costume designer Vusal Rahim, and composer Etibar Asadli.

The cast features prominent actors such as People's Artists Parviz Mammadrzayev and Gurban Ismayilov, along with Honored Artists Rasim Jafar, Elshan Rustamov, and Natavan Hajiyeva, who play key historical roles.

The films premiere was met with a standing ovation from the audience.

The first part of the Taghiyev saga, "Taghiyev: Oil", was released in 2024 to mark the 100th anniversary of Taghiyev's death. The film became a cultural milestone, attracting over 70,000 viewers in local cinemas, and it earned international recognition, winning the Best Feature Film with Color Correction award at the Dehancer Colourist Awards 2024.

The film takes viewers through various stages of Taghiyev's life, from his humble beginnings in a cobbler's family in Baku to becoming a wealthy industrialist and public figure devoted to improving the lives of ordinary people. It delves into his challenging decisions, perseverance, and his efforts to enhance education.

With its stunning visuals, the film highlights Taghiyev's great role in societal development, including the establishment of the first girls' school in the East and his contributions to the oil industry and the urbanization of Baku.

The production of the film has become a landmark in Azerbaijani cinema. Nearly 2,500 creative professionals were involved in large-scale scenes filmed across 76 locations, with over 300 sets constructed.

A dedicated costume workshop meticulously created period-accurate costumes, accessories, and jewelry to authentically depict the era of Taghiyev.
CNN's Van Jones apologized for his "insensitive" comments made on air on Friday. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

CNN political commentator Van Jones apologized twice for recent comments he made about casualties related to the war in Gaza.

While speaking on the latest episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, Jones said that Iran and Qatar are running a disinformation campaign on Instagram and TikTok, which he described as massive.

If you are a young person, you open up your phone, and all you see is dead Gaza baby, dead Gaza baby, dead Gaza baby, Diddy, Jones said on Friday, drawing laugher from the audience. Dead Gaza baby, dead Gaza baby Thats basically your whole feed.

His comments prompted immediate backlash on social media  with many claiming Jones was dismissive of the deaths of Palestinians.

Jones first responded to a post on X that called his remarks truly disgraceful and vile.

Im sorry dead Gaza babies bother you so much, the user also wrote.

Jones replied early Sunday: Yeah, I messed up on this one. And Im sorry. I was trying to raise awareness about foreign adversaries creating chaos online - which is undermining democracy everywhere. But what I said was easily misunderstood, and the way I said it was flat-out insensitive.

Babies are dying every day in Gaza. Nobody should dispute that fact or make light of it in any way. To the people living in fear and burying family members every day, of all ages  I apologize," he continued.

Yeah, I messed up on this one. And Im sorry. I was trying to raise awareness about foreign adversaries creating chaos online - which is undermining democracy everywhere. But what I said was easily misunderstood, and the way I said it was flat-out insensitive. Babies are dying https://t.co/98MYOuhK2U  Van Jones (@VanJones68) October 5, 2025

In a separate post, Jones offered a more formal apology.

The suffering of the people of Gaza  especially the children  is not a punch line. Im deeply sorry it came across that way, Jones wrote, adding: Whats happening to children in Gaza is heartbreaking. As a father, I cant begin to imagine the pain their parents are enduring, unable to protect their kids from unimaginable harm."

He went on to say that he is praying and working for an immediate end to this war.

The United States, Israel and Hamas are set to meet on Monday in Egypt to finalize a deal from President Donald Trumps ceasefire plan in Gaza. In a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump urged negotiations to MOVE FAST.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OR, MASSIVE BLOODSHED WILL FOLLOW  SOMETHING THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE!" he added.
Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli, pictured here last week at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, wants you to think he's a good fella. John Jones | For NJ Advance Media

Gangsters have returned to New Jersey.

And theyre here to help.

Or, at least, thats what Jack Ciattarrelli and his allies would like you to believe.

The Republican nominee for governor is headlining a campaign rally on Friday in North Wildwood and the poster publicizing the event looks a little, well, familiar to most New Jerseyeans.

Against a dramatic black backdrop stands three men wearing dark suits and somber expressions in a row, illuminated: Benny Johnson, a right-wing podcaster, on the left; Ciattarelli in the middle; and Scott Presler, the MAGA get-out-the-vote influencer, on the right side.

GoodFellas, reads the fake film poster, which mimics the promotional design of Martin Scorseses 1990 classic. FLIP NEW JERSEY RED.

The Goodfellas are going to save New Jersey, Johnson declared in a social media post promoting the rally.

The Goodfellas are going to save New Jersey



This week Ill be joining Jack Ciattarelli for Governor on the campaign trail at a massive rally in Wildwood, NJ



Polls are tied in New Jersey. We can do this. Were going to flip NJ RED



October 10th



See ya there. RSVP Link below pic.twitter.com/PH2UxMGtxe  Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 6, 2025

Presler, who has previously campaigned with Ciattarelli in Seaside Heights this summer and is laser-focused on flipping the state red, chimed in with a bat emoji  Did someone say, New Jersey? he wrote.

The rally will also feature other local political figures, including North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello, CapeGOP Chairman Mike Donohue and Save Jersey blogger Matt Rooney.

This isnt the first time Ciattarelli, a self-proclaimed Jersey guy, has played up his Italian American heritage on the campaign trail, while running against Democrat Mikie Sherrill.

I was a very proud Italian American and we rooted for the Yankees because of Joe DiMaggio, he told NJ Advance Medias Brent Johnson earlier this year.

Ciattarelli has also promised to celebrate Columbus Day, if elected governor. New Jersey is home to over a million proud Italian Americans  including my grandparents, who came here from Italy more than a century ago, he wrote on Instagram in May.

(Ironically, Ciattarelli is depicted on the poster as Robert DeNiros character, Jimmy Conway, who couldnt be a made man because of his Irish descent. And Johnson and Presler  not Ciattarelli  are depicted as the two characters portrayed by Jersey-born actors: Ray Liottas Henry Hill and Joe Pescis Tommy DeVitto. DeNiro is from New York.)

And as always, President Donald Trump is an unknown quantity.

In May, Trump endorsed Ciattarelli (a former Trump critic) in the Republican primary and held a telephone town hall on his behalf a few weeks later.

The president has also appeared at political rallies in Wildwood twice in recent years, during the 2020 and 2024 presidential races.

But the question remains: Will Trump appear at an event with Ciattarelli?

There has been talk about Trump possibly holding a campaign rally to help ignite the Republican base. Ciattarelli previously said hes been in touch with the White House, which has volunteered to help in any capacity.

Theres certain things the president can do that would be helpful to the campaign, Ciattarelli said last month. Whether its a tele-town hall, whether its a robocall, whether its coming to New Jersey.

Ciattarrelli, who nearly beat now-outgoing Gov. Phil Murphy in a bitter election just four years ago, has had his eye on the governorship for a while. Before the race in 2021, he lost the Republican gubernatorial primary to then-Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno in 2017.

You could almost say hes always wanted to be governor, as far back as he can remember.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., holds up a news article depicting congressional Democrats during a news conference on the 6th day of the government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) AP

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) wants nothing to do with a new proposal from one of his Democratic counterparts.

In a letter to Johnson on Monday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) dared the GOP speaker to live, prime-time debate on the House floor any day this week to be broadcast to the American people.

The country needs immediate, bipartisan negotiations between the White House and congressional leadership in order to reach an enlightened spending agreement that reopens the government, improves the lives of hardworking American taxpayers and addresses the Republican healthcare crisis, Jeffries said in the letter.

Johnson, who has cancelled House votes this week, dismissed the offer during a press conference hours later, arguing that there is nothing for us to negotiate.

As the U.S. government stretched into its sixth day of a federal shutdown, the Senate is scheduled to vote again Monday on two dueling short-term funding measures  both of which fell short of the 60 votes needed for a fourth time on Friday.

Republicans, in their proposal that passed the House, hope to fund the government until Nov. 21 to buy more time for annual spending deals. Meanwhile, Democrats are looking to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits before they expire at the end of the year, as well as undo cuts to Medicaid in President Donald Trumps big, beautiful bill that passed this summer.

During his remarks to reporters, Johnson ripped the low approval rating of Democrats as seen in recent polls, before claiming that it provokes desperate pleas for attention, and thats what Hakeem Jeffries has done.

Look, my friend Hakeem had his shot. We debated all this on the House floor. He spoke for seven or eight minutes. He had all of his colleagues lined up. They gave it their best shot, and they argued and they stomped their feet and screamed at us and all that, Johnson added, pointing to how the Republican-led proposal passed the House last month.

Johnson went on to say that he will not let Jeffries try to pretend for these theatrics.

This is a Chuck Schumer decision, Johnson said, referring to the Senate Minority Leader from New York. The ball is in the Senates court now.

According to Axios, some Democrats also described the demand from Jeffries as a long shot.

Why would he? one House Democrat said when asked about Johnsons dismissal of debating Jeffries.

Jeffries maintained in his letter that Democrats have been clear and consistent in our position.

Unfortunately, Donald Trump and your party decided to shut down the government, because the GOP refuses to provide healthcare to everyday Americans, he claimed.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned the ongoing federal government shutdown could lead to more delays at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Duffy, the top transportation official in Republican President Donald Trumps administration, blamed Democrats for the federal shutdown in an appearance at New Jerseys largest airport on Monday. He said there has been an increase in air traffic controllers calling in sick since the shutdown.

We had a slight tick up in sick calls, youll see delays that come from that, Duffy said, though he didnt cite any numbers or say which airports are most affected.

Air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration officers nationwide are still required to show up for work, though they are not being paid during the federal government shutdown that began last week. They will miss their first paycheck on Oct. 14.

Even before the shutdown, Newark Airport was having a difficult year. The airport has faced a shortage of air traffic controllers and infrastructure issues that led to ongoing delays and cuts in flights last spring.

Newark also experienced a series of outages at the air traffic control center handling flights to and from the airport.

The U.S. Department of Transportation and state officials sped up a runway construction project and surged personnel earlier this year to help reduce delays.

At Mondays press conference at Newark Airport, National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Nick Daniels said he hoped the government shutdown would end soon.

Im going to leave the political discussions for the politicians during the shutdown, Daniels said. Im here to advocate for an end to the shutdown. We need to bring this shutdown to a close so that the Federal Aviation Administration and committed aviation safety professionals can put this distraction behind us.

The announcement came as the Trump administration withheld funds for one of New Jerseys largest public transit projects: the Hudson Tunnel Project, also known as the Gateway Tunnel project. The estimated $16 billion project would connect New York and New Jersey via a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River.

The administration announced the Gateway cuts as part of a broader attack on Democrats in Washington amid the shutdown fight.

Federal officials also said they plan to use the Department of Transportations civil rights office to challenge New Yorks practice of hiring minority-owned businesses for its contracting process on the tunnel project.

However, employees in the federal civil rights office are furloughed during the government shutdown, Duffy said. So, the review will take longer.

The Republican and Democrat battling to become New Jerseys next governor also weighed in on the federal government shutdown, blaming each other for the shutdown-related issues in New Jersey.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarellis campaign said his Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, who represents New Jerseys 11th District, is part of the problem in Congress.

It is beyond dispute that the only person in this race responsible for the government shutdown is Mikie Sherrill, said Ciattarelli spokesperson Chris Russell. She voted in Congress against a clean funding bill that couldve kept the government open and operating  the same kind of bills she voted for in the past when Joe Biden was in office. Instead of doing her job, she chose to play partisan politics. She should be embarrassed.

Sherrills campaign hit back, saying Ciattarellis support of Trump would increase healthcare premiums for New Jerseyans during the shutdown. Negotiations over extending Affordable Care Act benefits, also known as Obamacare, have played a pivotal role in the stalemate in Washington, D.C., that is keeping the two sides from reaching a deal to end the shutdown.

Now, he cant even muster up an ounce of political courage to stand up against Trumps attempt to defund the Gateway Tunnel, which will destroy almost 100,000 jobs for working families in our region, while Mikie has said shell go to bat for New Jersey and take Trump to court, Sherrill campaign spokesperson Sean Higgins said. Mikie will lead for New Jersey, while Jack has shown us hes a profile in cowardice.

Gov. Phil Murphys office declined to comment.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) joined a lawsuit against President Donald Trump's deployment of up to 300 members of the California National Guard. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) AP

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is touting a legal victory after he sued President Donald Trump for deploying his states National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon.

For the second time in two days, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut blocked Trump from sending National Guard troops into the city of Portland. In a ruling Sunday night, Immergut granted a temporary restraining order preventing National Guard members across the country from being relocated for federal service in Oregon. It included up to 300 members of the California National Guard who began arriving hours earlier, according to Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek.

The judge, a Trump appointee, argued that the administration was in direct contravention of her previous ruling, which prohibited Trump from federalizing the Oregon National Guard.

Newsom late Sunday had joined the lawsuit against the Trump administration. Immergut claimed the attempt to federalize troops appeared to be a deliberate effort to sidestep her initial decision.

This is a breathtaking abuse of the law and power, Newsom said in a statement. The Trump Administration is unapologetically attacking the rule of law itself and putting into action their dangerous words  ignoring court orders and treating judges, even those appointed by the President himself, as political opponents."

In a post on X, Newsom went on to rail against what he described as reckless and authoritarian conduct by the President of the United States.

Following the ruling, he added that We just won in court  again."

Trumps abuse of power wont stand, Newsom continued in a new post.

BREAKING: We just won in court  again.



A federal judge BLOCKED Donald Trumps unlawful attempt to DEPLOY 300 OF OUR NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO PORTLAND.



The court granted our request for a Temporary Restraining Order  HALTING ANY FEDERALIZATION, RELOCATION, OR DEPLOYMENT of ANY  Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) October 6, 2025

Hours before the ruling, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he is activating 400 members of the Texas National Guard to Portland and Chicago, Illinois, for up to 60 days after he reached an agreement with the state. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) said in a press release that no officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.

We must now start calling this what it is: Trumps Invasion, Pritzker wrote. It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another states military troops.

The ruling comes as the White House has continued to mount pressure on Portland after Trump wrote on social media late last month that he is directing 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. In his Truth Social post, he said he would authorize Full Force, if necessary.

We will not fund states that allow anarchy, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a press briefing on Friday, noting that the administration will review cutting federal funding to Portland.

The state of Illinois on Monday later sued the Trump administration over its provocative and arbitrary actions, which it claims have threatened to undermine public safety by inciting a public outcry.
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller lashed out at Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) after he asked whether President Donald Trumps administration will speak out against the extreme right that he claimed caused a fire at the home of a judge.

The South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division is investigating after a house owned by state Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein and her husband, a former Democratic state senator, was set ablaze on Saturday, according to WYFF, leaving three people hospitalized.

FITSNews reported that the agency did not indicate whether the incident is a suspected arson attack  but noted that Goodstein has reportedly been receiving death threats for weeks. South Carolina Chief Justice John Kittredge told the outlet that the fire appeared to stem from an apparent explosion.

In September, Goodstein temporarily blocked South Carolinas election commission from releasing a statewide voter registration list and information  including the last four digits of social security numbers and drivers license numbers  to the Department of Justice, according to WRDW. The temporary restraining order was later unanimously reversed by the South Carolina Supreme Court.

The judges decision, however, was publicly criticized by Harmeet Dhillon, an assistant attorney general for civil rights at the DOJ, in a post on X.

I will allow nothing to stand in the way of our mandate to maintain clean voter rolls, Dhillon wrote, adding: One Citizen, One Vote!

In a post on X, Goldman wrote late Sunday: Trump, @StephenM and MAGA-world have been doxxing and threatening judges who rule against Trump, including Judge Goodstein. Today, someone committed arson on the Judges home, severely injuring her husband and son.

Trump, @StephenM and MAGA-world have been doxxing and threatening judges who rule against Trump, including Judge Goodstein.



Today, someone committed arson on the Judges home, severely injuring her husband and son.



Will Trump speak out against the extreme right that did this?? https://t.co/Dl8JcUted7  Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) October 6, 2025

Miller went on to respond to Goldman, calling him deeply warped and vile.

While the Trump Administration has launched the first-ever government-wide effort to combat and prosecute illegal doxing, sinister threats and political violence you continue to push despicable lies, demented smears, malicious defamation and foment unrest. Despicable, Miller wrote.

...While you post your libelous madness, we will keep focused on delivering public safety and fighting domestic terror, he continued.

You are vile. Deeply warped and vile. While the Trump Administration has launched the first-ever government-wide effort to combat and prosecute illegal doxing, sinister threats and political violence you continue to push despicable lies, demented smears, malicious defamation and  Stephen Miller (@StephenM) October 6, 2025

As the Trump administration has sought to restrict non-citizens from registering to vote, the president signed an executive order in March that argues States fail adequately to vet voters citizenship. Non-citizens cannot vote in state and federal elections.

The New York Times reported last month that the DOJ has been working to compile national voter roll data to essentially create a national voting database covering more than 30 states.
President Donald Trump urged the Federal Communications Commission to look into NBCs broadcasting license for keeping MSNBC host Al Sharpton on the air.

Trump has frequently targeted major broadcasters for their critical reporting of him and had demanded that the FCC look into their licenses. He targeted Sharpton, host of MSNBCs PoliticsNation, in one of his latest posts on Truth Social.

He also criticized Sharpton over his involvement in the 1987 case of Tawana Brawley. Brawley, who is African American, falsely accused a group of white men of kidnapping and raping her when she was 15-years-old in 1987. Sharpton became Brawleys spokesperson at the time.

Trump said this was one of the worst Low Level Scams in History.

I knew Al Sharpton for many years, not that it matters, but he was a major TRUMP fan. Hed ask me to go to his fake Rallies all the time, because I brought BIG Crowds, and he couldnt get anybody to come without me. Then he did the Tawana Brawley Hoax, one of the worst Low Level Scams in History, and that set him back, BIG TIME! Trump wrote.

He then urged the FCC to target NBCs license over Sharpton despite his show being aired on MSNBC. While FCC has some power over broadcasting licenses, it has limited oversight of cable networks like MSNBC.

Then he got to know Brian Roberts, Chairman of Fake News NBC, who gave him what would become one of the Lowest Rated Shows in Television History. Roberts is afraid to take him off because it wouldnt be Politically Correct, Trump continued.

This is just one of the many reasons that the Federal Communications Commission should look into the license of NBC, which shows almost exclusively positive Democrat content. Likewise, ABC Fake News  About the same thing, 97% negative to Republicans!" he added.

This comes weeks after ABC pulled late-night host Jimmy Kimmel from the air following a threat made by FCC Chair Brendan Carr. ABC later reinstated Kimmel, leading Trump to lash out at the broadcaster again.
Governor of California Gavin Newsom speaks during the Clinton Global Initiative on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in New York. AP Photo/Andres Kudack

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) used the release of pop sensation Taylor Swifts newest album last week to troll President Donald Trump.

Swifts highly anticipated twelfth album, The Life of a Showgirl, soared to the top of the charts shortly after its release on Friday. As Swifties celebrated her new album, Newsom joined in on the fun with a video that included one of the pop stars new songs, titled Actually Romantic.

The lyrics describe a one-sided feud with Swift, with her singing that someones obsession with her is actually romantic. Newsom used the song to mock Trumps frequent criticism of him in a video posted to Instagram over the weekend.

The video begins with footage of Newsom and Trump walking together as Actually Romantic begins to play.

But its actually sweet, all the time you spent on me, Swift sings as a video appears on the screen showing Newsom and Trump shaking hands.

Its honestly wild, all the effort youve put in, the song continues as screenshots of Trumps social media posts targeting Newsom appear on the screen.

Its actually romantic. I really gotta hand it to you, the song continues. No man has ever loved me like you do.

The video included a screenshot of Trump declaring that Swift is no longer HOT. The video then showed a screenshot of Newsoms press office writing on X that Trump is no longer hot.

It then showed a tank top from Newsoms Patriot apparel shop that states, Trump is not hot.

Trump has held a long-time feud with Swift, posting in September 2024,I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT, on his Truth Social platform. Swift ultimately endorsed then-Vice President Kamala Harris for the White House last year.

Newsom has also escalated his attacks on Trump in recent months.

Newsoms press office has been mocking Trump by mimicking the presidents social media posts for months, often tweeting posts in all-caps and giving his political rivals new nicknames. The MAGA base and conservatives have complained about Newsoms new social media strategy, with many arguing that he is not being authentic.

Newsom even took the trolling a step further last month by launching his own merchandise shop that plays off Trumps slogan, Make America Great Again.

An analysis from CNN data guru Harry Enten in August found that Newsoms new social media strategy is absolutely working, citing an increase in social media followers and Google searches. He said on Laura Coates Live that Newsoms press office account on X has increased its following by 450% since mid-June.
President Donald Trump arrives to speak during a celebration for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Harry S. Truman at Naval Station Norfolk, Sunday Oct. 5, 2025 in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) AP

President Donald Trump is facing backlash on social media after he told members of the U.S. Navy that he needs to take care of Democrats.

Trump delivered remarks aboard the USS S. Truman at Naval Station Norfolk on Sunday to mark the 250th anniversary of the Navy. Like his other recent military speeches, he delivered a familiar speech targeting his political rivals and critics.

We have to take care of this little gnat thats on our shoulder called the Democrats, Trump said. They want to give all of our money to illegal aliens that pour into the country.

I have a bigger heart than they do, he continued. But the problem is when you do that they come in by the millions.

Trump to the Navy: "We have to take care of this little gnat that's on our shoulder called the Democrats." pic.twitter.com/WD6Ojn75yP  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 5, 2025

Critics blasted Trumps remarks as political and accused him of breaking tradition when it came to speaking to active-duty service members.

Just a f---ing disgrace that any president would say this to active duty military. But I expect it from this asshole, who has never respected the apolitical military tradition weve had since Washington. No, whats more disgraceful is the silence of Republican vets in Congress, Trump critic Ron Filipkowski wrote on X in response to Trumps comments.

He also said it was no coincidence that Trump and his officials continue to make inflammatory partisan political speeches to military and law enforcement.

They are conditioning them now to embrace the planned war to come - their war against other Americans, Filipkowski wrote in a separate post.

A columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Forbes called the comments So inappropriate. And Gregg Nunziata, a conservative attorney, said the comments were incredibly repugnant and un-American.

Of all the things wrong with Trump and Trumpism, the worst is that he refuses to perform his Constitutional role of head of state, and that his supporters cheer that refusal. Un-American, unworkable, and deeply dangerous, Nunziata wrote in a post on X.

"We have to take care of this little gnat on our shoulder called the Democrats," says the American President to cheering servicemembers.



This is so incredibly repugnant and un-American, on so many levels, I don't even know where to begin.  Gregg Nunziata (@greggnunziata) October 6, 2025

This speech comes almost a week after Trump delivered a speech to top military generals, who sat unresponsive to the presidents familiar attacks on his political rivals. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned the generals for a meeting on military culture and implementing gender-neutral or male-level standards for physical fitness.

The president has increasingly sought to leverage support from within the military as he has escalated its role in American society, asking troops to patrol the streets of U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, Washington, Chicago, Memphis, Baltimore and Portland, Oregon. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Trump was seeking to send his states National Guard to Portland after the administrations previous moves to deploy troops in the Oregon National Guard were blocked in court.

In his June speech for the 250th anniversary of the Army, Trump similarly broke down presidential norms by calling protesters in Los Angeles animals and a foreign enemy, claims that left some in the audience feeling uneasy.

The sailors on Sunday were far more engaged and responsive to the presidents jokes and political quips than the militarys top brass were at a meeting on Tuesday at a base in Quantico, Virginia. They had been abruptly summoned by Hegseth from across the globe.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Senate is expecting to vote Monday afternoon on separate proposals, with no clear end in sight. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite and Mariam Zuhaib)

As the U.S. government entered its sixth day of a federal shutdown on Monday, a former GOP insider has a prediction of how it will come to an end while both parties continue trading blame.

Marc Short, the former chief of staff to former Vice President Mike Pence, said on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday that he believes Republicans will ultimately give in on health care.

The Senate is scheduled to vote again Monday on two dueling short-term funding measures to reopen the government  both of which fell short of the 60 votes needed for a fourth time on Friday. While Republicans, in their House-passed proposal, hope to fund the government until Nov. 21 to buy more time for annual spending deals, Democrats are looking to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits before they expire at the end of the year. They are also aiming to undo cuts to Medicaid in President Donald Trumps big, beautiful bill that passed this summer.

When asked by host Kristen Welker about whether the health care demand puts a pressure point on the White House, Short responded: I think, sadly, Republicans are going to cave on this in the end.

The bottom line, Kristen, is that, look, Democrats really shrewd when they put the Obamacare subsidies in the plan. It bought off insurance to support Obamacare. No surprise when government takes our health care, prices go up, Short said. And so here we are, 100% increase in prices, and basically you have Democrats and Republicans, and Republicans are opposed to putting any free market reforms, eventually theyre going to do this.

Short went on to say that Democrats caused the shutdown.

Can we stop with the pearl-clutching about the mean tweets and sombrero tweets, he added, referring to AI-generated videos posted by President Donald Trump featuring House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

Short then pointed to Jay Jones, Virginias Democratic nominee for attorney general, who is facing widespread backlash for writing that the top Republican in the state House of Delegates should get two bullets to the head in recently reported text messages.

Theres not one national Democrat calling for him to step aside. No one. Its disgraceful, Short said.

Amid the spending standoff, the House has no votes set for this week. Meanwhile, around 750,000 federal employees have been furloughed since funding expired on Wednesday. Some agencies, including the Department of Education, have also closed, while security and law enforcement departments have continued operations.
A police chief and mom appealed to parents to consider of their child is ready for the rigors of driving an e-bike before buying one in the wake of fatal crashes. Canva for NJ.com

After a series of recent fatal crashes involving electric bikes, a police chief in one New Jersey community took a different approach, appealing to parents to weigh the risks before buying an e-bike for their child.

Hopatcong Police Chief Meghan McCluskey made that plea on social media, as both an officer and a mother, after the department responded to a crash between a car and an e-bike involving two boys.

Thankfully, the outcome was not worse, but it serves as a critical reminder of the dangers, the chief wrote on the departments Facebook page on Friday.

This is where I am begging you, as a parent to a parent, to step in. Please take a hard look at whether your child is truly ready for this responsibility, McCluskey wrote.

While she said police will enforce traffic laws and issue summons for violations involving e-bikes, she called on parents to decide if their child is ready to drive an e-bike safely.

Do not wait until an accident happens to your family or your childs friend group. Intervene now ...have the difficult conversations, McCluskey said.

Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are considered low speed bikes that have a top speed of 20 mph and dont require a license. Because of that, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill that added pedestrian and cyclist safety instruction in the state driver manual and in driver education classes.

Another bill Murphy signed in May requires class 1 and 2 e-bikes that dont exceed 20 mph to be regulated in the same manner as ordinary bikes. Theyre permitted to be operated on streets, highways and bicycle paths without a license or registration, but must follow the same laws as motor vehicles.

E-bikes are powerful machines. Too often, we see children who may not yet have the maturity or experience to safely handle these responsibilities, McCluskey said.

They can travel at high speeds, demand quick judgment, and require the same level of awareness and responsibility as driving a car, McCluskey said.

E-bike safety is becoming a statewide issue in the wake of increasing fatal crashes.

Two e-bike riders were killed in two separate crashes recently: a 13-year-old was hit by a landscaping truck in Scotch Plains, and a 22-year-old was hit by a van in Orange when police say he crossed into opposing traffic.

Class 3 e-bikes are different, and are covered by the same laws as gas powered mopeds. An operator must be over age 15, have a license, and wear a helmet regardless of age.

McCluskey recommended that parents set limits and supervise their childs e-bike riding, if they do decide to buy one for their child.

Several towns and counties have taken steps, including a borough that plans to fine parents for e-bike violations their children commit.

Florham Park borough officials prohibited e-bikes on sidewalks last month and require riders under age 17 wear a helmet, in addition to other rules. Parents could receive summons that carry $250 fines for kids dont obey.

Hudson County banned e-bikes and electric scooters from sidewalks on county roads. Union County restricted use in county parks.

E-bikes also had a role in a fatal crash in Cranford when a driver struck two teenage girls who were riding on a neighborhood street. The driver has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in what families of the victims say was a targeted attack.

State and federal legislators said further regulation could be coming.

State Senate President Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, said last week the skyrocketing increase in motorized bike users, especially in young people, is a reason for clearer rules and regulations. Potential legislation may include re-classifying the bikes, restricting speed limits and ensuring safer traffic navigation.

Legislation that Scutari proposed last year that would have required owners of low-speed electric bikes and scooters to register and insure them like cars stalled after insurance company representatives said there is no insurance available in New Jersey for e-bikes and that it would take years to develop.

Other lawmakers want more training. Three Atlantic County lawmakers are drafting a bill requiring mandatory training courses for e-bike riders after the death of a 14-year-old on an e-bike who collided with a car in Somers Point in July.

U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-NJ, called for states to step up their efforts at making e-bikes riding safer in early September. He proposed the Safety and Funding for E-Bikes Ride Act, or S.A.F.E Ride Act, to increase federal investment for states to create an Electric Bike Safety Plan.

The safety plans will be up to the states, but he envisions plans that promote helmet use, safe riding practices, collect crash data, and provide support for local law enforcement to conduct outreach, he said.
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If youre a fan of Stanley Tuccis recent forays across Italy in search of food, or Eva Longorias adventures through Mexico or Spain, this might be the next series for you.

Tony Shalhoub Breaking Bread will premiere on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 9 p.m. on CNN. The first installment will run for one hour, and you can watch live or on-demand on Sling TV or DIRECTV (free trial).

The series features the beloved, Emmy-winning star of Monk and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as he travels the world in search of its greatest breads. The series is a significant departure for Shalhoub, who claims it is his first time going unscripted in front of the camera.

The series is currently set to feature six episodes, each set in a different location. The first will take place in New York City as Shalhoub investigates everything from Chinatown restaurants to Irish Soda Bread.

After that, subsequent episodes, which air every week, will take place in Marseille, Sao Paulo, and Tokyo.

Sling TV Sling TV offers tons of channels at the best price in the industry. Buy Now

Heres a look at the trailer for the series, in which Shalhoub attempts to search for the ways that bread connects us all. The video appears courtesy of the CNN official YouTube channel:

How to watch CNNs Tony Shalhoub Breaking Bread for free

If youre looking to watch Tony Shalhoub Breaking Bread or any other CNN content, you have a few options available to you. Sling TV and DIRECTV (free trial) each offer different advantages, which you can check out below.

Streaming Service Cost Free Trial? DIRECTV $74.99 Yes Sling TV $45-$60 No

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The National Hurricane Center says a storm system in the Atlantic has a 70% chance of formation within 48 hours and an 80% chance within seven days. National Hurricane Center and AccuWeather.com

UPDATE: Tropical Storm Jerry forms over Atlantic. See latest forecast map, track.

The National Hurricane Center is tracking a tropical system in the central Atlantic that has a high probability of becoming a tropical depression within the next week.

Environmental conditions appear favorable for development, with forecasters giving the system a 70% chance of formation within 48 hours and an 80% chance within seven days.

The system is expected to move quickly west-northwestward and is projected to be near or north of the northern Leeward Islands by Thursday and Friday.

The National Hurricane Center says a storm system in the Atlantic has a 70% chance of formation within 48 hours and an 80% chance within seven days. National Hurricane Center and AccuWeather.com

While the system has not yet been classified as a named storm, the National Hurricane Center says that it could develop into a tropical depression soon.

The next named storm would be called Jerry.

Currently, no tropical storm or hurricane warnings are in effect for U.S. territories.

The National Hurricane Center says a storm system in the Atlantic has a 70% chance of formation within 48 hours and an 80% chance within seven days. National Hurricane Center and AccuWeather.com

A separate area of low pressure over the northwestern Caribbean Sea is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms, but forecasters consider the development potential low, with only a 10% chance of formation in the next 48 hours.

Residents in potentially affected areas are urged to stay informed about updates from the National Hurricane Center.

Current weather radar
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 27F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Snow in the evening will transition to snow showers overnight. Low 18F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%. About one inch of snow expected.
Yes, the crow situation seems better

Seems about the same to me

There still seem to be a lot of crows and crow messes

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Showcase on techno artist apaull from London Ontario, whose forthcoming collection of remixes pulled from their Homogeny album releases later in October! Live set from Mac Daddy featuring EDM, techno, house and garage! Ken Roy progressive mix from their recent contribution to the Ottawa Progressive Vibes mix series! Check out apaull on Bandcamp here: https://apaull.bandcamp.com/
The Get Down | Ep. 32: New Orleans Fall Festivals, Politics and Other Spooky Things
Top Italian alto and soprano sax player Tommaso Starace makes a welcome return with his trio to North Devon Jazz Club at The Beaver, Appledore on Monday (October 13).

Tommaso has a sparkling, joyful approach to his music, a characteristic identified by Italian critic Vittorio Franchini, writing that his sax is filled with voices, it sings of gaiety.

The Oxford Times commented anyone who has experienced a glissando of language on the streets of Italy will understand the utter exuberance with which Italian-born Starace attacks and runs with the language of music.

READ NEXT: Get set to raise a glass or three at Sham Fest in Bideford this October

Tommaso has worked with many top UK, Italian and US jazz musicians, including Billy Cobham and Dave Liebman.

Following his love of film and photography he has worked with film composer Dario Marianelli to record music for a TV production of This Little Life and recorded an album interpreting the photographs of Italian photographer Gianni Berengo Gardin. To extend his talents, Tommaso has recorded Bachs Cello Suites on soprano saxophone in six UK churches.

Joining Tommaso will be Martin Jenkins on Hammond organ and Pip Harborn on drums and they will play a programme of standards and contemporary jazz.

The gig at The Beaver starts at 8.30pm and entry is free, although as is custom a collection will be taken for the band during the evening. For a meal booking, please call 01237 474822.
Appledore RNLI has welcomed a shake-up of the RNLIs North Devon coast fleet, with the station set to receive two new lifeboats during the next two years.

The RNLI has announced it is restructuring some of its cover for the Bristol Channel due to what it says is a change in the type of shouts its volunteer crews are called out to.

This means Appledore will bid goodbye to its Tamar class all-weather lifeboat (ALB) but will instead receive the more modern, faster and more manoeuvrable Shannon class all-weather.

READ NEXT: Major shake up of North Devons lifeboats as RNLI announces big changes

The stations Atlantic 85 inshore RiB (rigid inflatable bot) lifeboat will be replaced with a smaller and shallower draught D class inflatable lifeboat the RNLI says will be more suitable for inshore and estuary operations.

Ilfracombe however is losing its Shannon ALB, which will be replaced with an Atlantic 85. The RNLI says this will be more suitable for the majority of inshore shouts the Ilfracombe crew receive, with support available from Appledore if an all-weather boat is needed.

In a statement on social media, Appledore RNLI said the new Shannon would mean it could get out over the notorious Bideford Bar more easily and safely at low tides, with considerably less tidal restrictions.

It added: Appledore has also been using its boarding boat for the increasing number of estuary based shouts due to its shallower draft than the stations Atlantic 85. However the boarding boat is not a fully equipped D class lifeboat.

It said before the new lifeboats arrived on station, a major retraining program for all crew would commence, with the existing lifeboats remaining operational until the retraining was complete.

READ NEXT: Paddleboarders and kayakers keep North Devon lifeboat crews busy

Bob Meller, Appledores lifeboat operations manager, said: Our Tamar and Atlantic class lifeboats have served us very well over the years, and we will be sad to see them leave, however we understand and support the changes that will be coming along in 2026 and look forward in continuing to save lives at sea.

The RNLI has argued the location of an all-weather lifeboat at Appledore would provide suitable cover to its flanking inshore lifeboat stations at Minehead, Ilfracombe, Clovelly and Bude, saying it could incidents on the North Devon coast and provide cover up to 75 nautical miles into the Bristol Channel.
What is it saying about the act of painting itself?

How does the artist use color to keep you looking at the picture?

What story is being told here? What is happening?

Think about these questions as you look:

(These challenges are published on the first Monday of each month. Sign up here if youd like to be notified.)

Today, we bring you another focus challenge , in which we invite you to spend uninterrupted time looking at a piece of art. This one, called Untitled (Studio), was painted by the American Kerry James Marshall in 2014. In real life, it is nearly 10 feet wide.

You made it time. If you want to look a little longer, just scroll back up and press Continue.

More than 60 of Kerry James Marshalls paintings are on view through January at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. If one spends the time and looks at the work closely enough, theres nothing thats not available, he told my colleague Aruna DSouza for a recent article about his show.

Lets take his advice on the one you just saw.

Mr. Marshall is a modern master  called one of the great history painters of our time in 2016 by The New York Timess chief art critic Holland Cotter  known for painting Black people in bold, bright environments.

Here were in an artists studio. A painting is in progress on an easel. A model sits in front of a large red sheet covering the window, and a man is dressing. An artist is in the middle of adjusting a models head:

Its almost as if we just walked into the room, and the heads turned toward us.

Their faces are deep and dark and rich, full of purples and blues and greens (this is best seen in person!) that stand out against the background:

Mr. Marshall uses different types of black paint mixed with reds, blues and violets to expand its range. I can actually make it complex within the context of the blackness, he said in a 2016 interview.

When you first see the painting, your eyes may first go to the people looking back at you, but they are just a small part of a bigger, busier scene: a crowded table anchoring the foreground, two large areas of red framing the figures amid a sea of teal.

Starting up near those heads, theres a trail of yellow that leads you through the composition: the writing on the studio light, the jacket of the man in the back, the flowers, the small bird nibbling on something, the tiny head of Abraham Lincoln, the dog 

 over to this curious yellow jar of paint:

Its like that old Sesame Street song: One of these things is not like the others.

It has a thick black outline around it, as if it were meant for a comic book. The other jars on the table dont have the same outlines. Theres no realistic-looking shadow to suggest that the yellow jar is actually sitting on the table. Its not as if Mr. Marshall doesnt know how to paint shadows or make things look as if theyre sitting on the table. Of course he does. Just look at the rest of the scene.

If you move your eyes down, theres more thick outlines, on the back half of the dog:



Its also there on the shadow of the easel:



And whats that red drip? It seems to be on top of the surface, not inside the scene. Theres more of that below:

Theres a scribbly shadow, some more red drips, and if we zoom back out, it actually looks as if this whole left side of the painting isnt quite finished  from the shadow below to the in-progress portrait on the easel:



Compare it with the right side, where things seem to be more fully realized:

This is a painting about making paintings  both the painting inside the scene, and the full painting itself.

What a painter does most of the time is spend time in their studios making things and making decisions about how theyre going to be, said Mark Godfrey, curator of the London show. So to make that the subject of a work is really exciting because then they can give a sense of how they approach the making of art.

You are seeing the decisions that the artist inside the painting is making at this moment: to adjust the models head, to block out the window light and construct this scene with a red drape and an artificial light instead.

But you are also now forced to think about the decisions that Mr. Marshall is making to construct this entire picture, like why that yellow paint jar is treated differently than all the others.

Partly, its painted that way so youll ask that question  and then, in turn, keep thinking about it.

I never think of the paintings I make as self-expression, Mr. Marshall said in 2016. I think of them exclusively as platforms for an idea. Since the idea of representation is really interesting to me, I make a lot of work thats about that idea. And then Im also interested in how you reference culture and history in pictures.

Take the skull, for example:



Its front and center here. The decision to include it (and then to place it on a book) connects back through the history of still life painting, like here from the Dutch painter Pieter Claesz in 1628:



Up through Picasso in the 20th century:

Artists have used the objects as a memento mori, the idea that eventually well all die.

But its not just the skull  all of Untitled (Studio) is in conversation with the history of art. For Mr. Godfrey, it recalls three specific paintings:

Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez from 1656 (at the Prado in Madrid):



The Art of Painting by Johannes Vermeer from the 1660s (at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna):



And The Painters Studio by Gustave Courbet from 1855 (at the Musee dOrsay in Paris):



Spend even just a tiny bit of time with each one of these, and immediately you start to see the references. Start with an artist:



Add smudgy paint:



Active canvases:



Dogs:



Window light:



Drape-y fabric:



This guy and this guy:



Mr. Marshall uses these references, but makes them his own. The artist isnt a white man (and its not Mr. Marshall himself). Shes a Black woman. Black faces, let alone Black female faces, were rarely if ever given center stage in all of art history. In Courbets painting (and throughout art history), women are the nude models. Here, thats reversed. Traditionally, as with Vermeer and Velazquez, window light was used to illuminate models. In the Marshall painting, the window is shown but covered by the red cloth, and an artificial light is used.

These other three paintings are some of the most famous paintings in the history of art, and I think Kerry has the absolute ambition to say, Im gonna add another one, Mr. Godfrey said.

There are no Black old masters, Mr. Marshall has said. By filling this artist studio with Black figures, showing them in the act of creation, he updates a celebrated form.

But then he also incorporates references to more recent art that, in a different way, is also about the act of creation. The red drips and splotchy brush strokes suggest the work of 1950s abstract expressionists like Jackson Pollock:



The flat outlines and bright colors throw back to the 1960s pop art of Andy Warhols soup:



Or Roy Lichtensteins butter:



The red, green and black of the light echo the colors in the Pan-African flag and the 1990 artwork African American Flag by the artist David Hammons:

Mr. Marshall is even showing us different types of categories of painting within the painting, like portraiture (on the easel), still life (on the table) and history painting (the whole thing).

He packs in the references to provoke thought in front of his paintings, Mr. Godfrey said. What I love is that the viewers who dont recognize the references still have a powerful experience of his work.

Visitors to the London show will see walls filled with people in settings that are both familiar and strange, old and new.

At work:



In love:



And, of course, making art:

This is an installment in our series of experiments on art and attention. Sign up to be notified when new installments are published here. And let us know how this exercise made you feel in the comments.
Zohran Mamdani Has Ambitious Plans. How Much Will They Cost?

Zohran Mamdanis meteoric rise to become the mayor-elect of New York City was fueled by his promise to make the city more affordable. He highlighted four signature policy proposals: universal child care, free buses, city-owned grocery stores and a rent freeze on rent-stabilized apartments.

These ideas have excited New Yorkers who are worried about the soaring cost of living. But the plans could be difficult to implement.

He will have to secure support from critical stakeholders, find funding to pay for the plans and hire the right staff members to make sure they are successful.

Annual cost estimates Universal child care $6 billion 2. Fast and free buses Up to $800 million One square equals $50 million 3. Five city-owned grocery stores $60 million 4. Freeze rents on rent-stabilized apartments No direct cost to the city budget 1. Universal child care $6 billion One square equals $50 million 2. Fast and free buses Up to $800 million 3. Five city-owned grocery stores $60 million 4. Freeze rents on rent-stabilized apartments No direct cost to the city budget

Free child care for every child under the age of 5 is the most ambitious idea  and the most expensive.

All together, the policies could cost nearly $7 billion every year. If all of them were implemented, the cost would be higher than the Police Departments budget.

Mamdanis signature proposals Police Departments 2026 budget An estimated $7 billion $6.3 billion Mamdanis signature proposals Police Departments 2026 budget An estimated $7 billion $6.3 billion

But New York City has the largest budget of any city in the country at nearly $116 billion. Mr. Mamdani has argued that there is room within it to spend more on his priorities.

Mamdanis signature proposals New York Citys 2026 budget $115.9 billion An estimated $7 billion Department of Education $35 billion Department of Social Services $12 billion Pension contributions $10.5 billion Police Department $6.3 billion Mamdanis signature proposals An estimated $7 billion New York Citys 2026 budget $115.9 billion Department of Education $35 billion Department of Social Services $12 billion Pension contributions $10.5 billion Police Department $6.3 billion

Mr. Mamdani has given broad cost estimates for each of his four proposals. But his campaign has not provided a detailed breakdown.

His two opponents in the mayors race  former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who ran as an independent, and Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate  had offered their own affordability plans and criticized Mr. Mamdanis limited experience in government. Mr. Cuomo proposed his own plan for free buses, but only for low-income New Yorkers.

How would he pay for the four plans?

Mr. Mamdani wants to raise $9 billion dollars in new revenue by increasing income taxes for wealthy residents and corporate taxes on businesses  a contentious proposal that would require support from state lawmakers.

He also wants to streamline city contracts, hire more auditors to enforce the tax code and collect more fines  three measures that he says could raise an additional $1 billion per year. These changes would most likely need support from the City Council as part of the budget process.

Annual revenue estimates Increase state corporate tax to 11.5% $5 billion These policies would have to be approved by the New York State Legislature and the governor. Increase city tax by 2 pct. points for incomes of $1 million or more $4 billion Collect more unpaid fines $525 million These policies would have to be approved by the mayor, with support from the City Council. Procurement reform $300 million Increase number of tax auditors $165 million Increase state corporate tax to 11.5% $5 billion These policies would have to be approved by the New York State Legislature and the governor. Increase city tax by 2 pct. points for incomes of $1 million or more $4 billion Collect more unpaid fines $525 million These policies would have to be approved by the mayor, with support from the City Council. Procurement reform $300 million Increase number of tax auditors $165 million

If the costs of his plans end up on the higher range of estimates, the new revenue might not cover the full cost. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a moderate Democrat who recently endorsed Mr. Mamdani, opposes raising taxes. But Carl Heastie and Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the Democratic leaders of the State Assembly and Senate, who also endorsed Mr. Mamdani, have previously backed tax increases on the wealthy.

Mr. Mamdani wants to raise taxes from 3.88 percent to 5.88 percent on New Yorkers who earn $1 million per year or more. For example, someone who earns $1 million would pay an additional $20,000 in city income tax.

He wants to raise the top corporate tax rate to 11.5 percent from 7.25 percent, in order to match New Jerseys rate. His critics say that the city already has high tax rates and that these changes could prompt wealthy residents and businesses to leave.

Mr. Mamdani has said that he is open to other funding streams as long as his policy goals are achieved. He said in a recent interview that there was room within the city budget and the $250 billion state budget to take steps toward fulfilling this agenda.

Mamdanis proposals Universal child care

The biggest plan, by far, is free universal child care. The city already offers free preschool for all 4-year-olds and many 3-year-olds. Expanding child care to infants and to toddlers under 3 would be a major challenge. Mr. Mamdanis administration would have to create new day care facilities and hire scores of child care workers.

How much would it cost?

Mr. Mamdanis campaign estimated that this could cost $6 billion annually.

Universal child care $6 billion

Who has to approve the policy?

New York State. Mr. Mamdani wants to pay for the program by raising the states corporate tax rate and increasing the citys income tax. Any tax increases would need approval from the state.

What do experts say?

Cost estimates vary widely, and it is possible that Mr. Mamdani might embrace a phase-in approach starting with older children or low-income families first, instead of expanding child care to all families at once.

The Fiscal Policy Institute, a left-leaning policy group, estimated that, using current wage levels, implementing universal child care would cost $2.5 billion per year in New York City.

New Yorkers United for Child Care, an advocacy group, said that it would cost $12.7 billion for the entire state, or 6 percent of the state budget. The cost of a statewide program has been studied more closely; many experts believe that universal child care should be implemented at the regional or national level.

Estimate from Area Annual cost Mamdanis campaign New York City $6 billion Fiscal Policy Institute New York City $2.5 billion Fiscal Policy Institute New York State $7.5 billion New Yorkers United for Child Care New York State $12.7 billion Prenatal to Five Fiscal Strategies New York State $20 billion

Estimates for child care programs vary widely depending on enrollment rates and the wage levels of the child care workers. The average annual salary of a child care worker in New York State is $38,000. Advocates say that it should be closer to $85,000, the average for a kindergarten teacher.

Experts agree that implementing the plan would be a monumental task. Lauren Melodia, the director of economic and fiscal policy at the Center for New York City Affairs at the New School, who is studying the costs, said that the city needs more child care workers, that it is a labor-intensive industry and that many workers are currently underpaid.

But experts also agree that it would have economic benefits for the city and for mothers in particular. A recent report from the city comptroller found that it would bring 14,000 mothers to the work force, generating $900 million in labor income.

Fast and free buses

Mr. Mamdani pledged to make city buses fast and free. More than one million people take the bus every day, and the system is used primarily by working-class New Yorkers. The buses are notoriously the slowest in the country and inch along at an average of eight miles per hour.

How much would it cost?

The campaign says this will cost less than $800 million annually. Last year, there were nearly 410 million bus trips. At a cost of $2.90 per fare, and factoring in 2024s fare evasion rate of 48 percent among bus riders, it would cost more than $600 million to make buses free.

Fast and free buses Up to $800 million

The cost could fluctuate depending on how many people take the bus. In 2019, a year when ridership was higher before the pandemic changed commuting habits, making buses free would have meant covering $900 million in bus fares.

Mr. Mamdani also wants to speed up buses and build more bus lanes, including busways that prioritize buses over cars. For example, a route on 14th Street in Manhattan that bars almost all through traffic except for buses and commercial trucks has been popular.

Who has to approve the policy?

New York State. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, a state-run agency, operates the bus network. Mr. Mamdani would have to negotiate with Ms. Hochul and state lawmakers.

As a State Assembly member, Mr. Mamdani sponsored a free bus pilot program. Five lines, one in each borough, were made free for a year. Ridership increased by nearly a third on weekdays, but bus speeds did not increase.

What do experts say?

A report by Charles Komanoff, a transportation economist, indicated that making buses free would speed them up by 12 percent because of faster boarding times. The Independent Budget Office did another estimate using ridership data from 2022 that put the annual cost at $652 million.

Estimate from Policy Annual cost Mamdanis campaign Fast and free buses Up to $800 million Charles Komanoff Free buses $613 million Independent Budget Office Free buses $652 million

City-owned grocery stores

Mr. Mamdani wants to test out the idea of city-owned supermarkets in the hopes of bringing down grocery prices. He would create one in each borough as part of a pilot program and then consider expanding the program if successful.

How much would it cost?

It could cost roughly $60 million annually to open five grocery stores. The city would most likely cover the cost of rent, utilities and property taxes, and the stores could buy and sell goods at wholesale prices and use central warehouses. Chicago explored the idea and found that the upfront costs of creating three stores was about $26 million.

City-owned grocery store pilot program $60 million

Who has to approve the policy?

The city. The pilot program is not as costly as the other proposals and it could be included in the city budget, which the mayor negotiates with the City Council.

What do experts say?

An alternative estimate by food policy experts published on the website Civil Eats indicated that the policy could be more expensive, in the range of $100 million, assuming union labor rates and free rent.

Estimate from Policy Annual cost Mamdanis campaign 5 city-owned grocery stores $60 million Civil Eats 5 city-owned grocery stores $100 million Civil Eats Network of 20 stores $400 million

If the pilot program were to be successful, the city could expand it. Having 20 stores that use a bulk warehouse model like Costcos could cost $400 million annually, according to the report published by Civil Eats.

Alexina Cather, the director of policy at Wellness in the Schools, a nonprofit that shapes food policy, said that grocery stores typically have small profit margins, but that if the city adopted the model proposed by the Civil Eats report, it could significantly reduce operating costs.

Rent freeze

The rent freeze proposal for the citys nearly one million rent-stabilized apartments could be the easiest to achieve.

How much would it cost?

No direct cost to the city budget.

Who has to approve the policy?

The Rent Guidelines Board, which has nine members who are appointed by the mayor.

What do experts say?

The board approved rent freezes for three years under Mayor Bill de Blasio, who argued that they were necessary to help struggling renters. Mr. Mamdani could appoint people to the board who are ideologically aligned with him, though members have staggered terms, and he might not be able to overhaul the board all at once.

Keeping rents at their current levels would not require new spending by the city. But it could require building owners to shoulder more costs, including maintenance for older buildings and property taxes.

Critics of the plan have also raised concerns that a rent freeze alone would not address soaring rents for market-rate units and the urgent need to build more affordable housing quickly. Mr. Mamdani has a separate plan focused on building 200,000 affordable units over the next decade.

Since the Democratic primary in June, Mr. Mamdani worked to expand his coalition and build relationships to implement his ideas. After his monumental victory in the general election, many New Yorkers will be watching closely to see if he delivers.
Nearly 20 Percent Fewer International Students Traveled to the U.S. in August The data shows the steepest decline in August international student arrivals since the pandemic.

The number of international students arriving in the U.S. in August fell by 19 percent this year compared with last year  the largest decline on record outside of the pandemic.

International student arrivals to the U.S. in August Source: Trade.gov Note: The data for August 2025 is preliminary and excludes visitors who arrived from Mexico via land, and visitors from Canada.

The decline is occurring as the Trump administration has delayed visa processing, instituted travel bans or restrictions for 19 countries, threatened to deport international students for pro-Palestinian speech, and heightened the vetting of student visa applicants.

The data, based on arrival records of international student visitors, includes both new international students entering the U.S. and existing international students returning to the country. That means we dont know the number of new students alone.

But in the past, August arrivals have been a reasonably good indicator of fall enrollment. Most international students arrive in August, in time for the fall semester, as they cant enter the country more than 30 days before their programs begin.

And a separate federal database tracking international students tells a similar story. It shows that the increase in the total number of international students was 23 percent smaller this fall, compared with the same period last year. Because this number accounts for both new students and recent graduates, it also points to a decline in the numbers of new students.

Though the actual enrollment numbers arent known yet, the travel data offers an early sign of international student trends, and how they vary among countries and regions.

A large drop in students arriving from Asia

The United States hosts the most international students of any country: about 1.3 million doctorate, masters, bachelors and associate students, according to recent government data.

Over 70 percent are from Asia, and Asian students also make up the largest share of travelers in the data. This year, the number of Asian students arriving in the U.S. in August fell by 24 percent  the lowest August numbers on record outside of the pandemic.

August international student arrivals from Asia

China India South Korea Source: Trade.gov

Nearly one in three U.S. international students are Indian. The number of international students arriving from India already started to decline last year. But this August, it dropped by an additional 44 percent, following prolonged delays in processing student visas.

About one in five U.S. international students are from China. Since the pandemics end, fewer Chinese students have enrolled in U.S. universities, following heightened tensions between the U.S. and China. This August, the numbers of arriving Chinese students continued to decline.

The number of students arriving from Europe stayed mostly the same

Students from Europe make up about 7 percent of U.S. international students. But they made up about 16 percent of international student arrivals in August. Their arrival numbers stayed roughly similar to those of the past year.

August international student arrivals from Europe

Spain United Kingdom Germany Source: Trade.gov

There were more students arriving from Britain, and slight declines in the numbers of students from Spain and Germany. The largest drop in European student visitors was from Russia, which has had strained relations with the U.S.

Declines from Africa, the Middle East and South America

Students from Africa also make up about 7 percent of international students in the U.S. Their arrival numbers fell in August by nearly a third.

August international student arrivals from Africa

Nigeria Ghana Kenya Source: Trade.gov

The shares of students arriving from Ghana and Nigeria fell by nearly half in August.

In July, the U.S. placed tighter rules on many categories of visas for citizens of Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Cameroon. These visas now allow a single entry to the U.S. and are valid for three months (student visas typically allow multiple entries and are valid for many years). In September, the U.S. reversed these restrictions for Ghana, after the country agreed to accept people deported from the U.S.

The data also shows a decade-long decline in students arriving from the Middle East, who made up roughly 5 percent of all international students in 2024, driven largely by a drop in students from Saudi Arabia.

August international student arrivals from Middle East

Saudi Arabia Turkey Kuwait Source: Trade.gov

The number of students arriving from South America (about 6 percent of international students) also showed a decline this year, despite student travel having been relatively steady aside from the pandemic.

August international student arrivals from South America

Brazil Colombia Peru Source: Trade.gov

The data captures travel from many countries, but not all. The number of students arriving from Canada and over land from Mexico, for example, are released on a two-month lag. And for many countries, the number of international students who come to the U.S. is small. But overall, fewer students arrived in August from most countries in the data. You can explore more below:

Change in international student arrivals Between August 2024 and August 2025. Click on a circle or search for more details. Or try: AfricaAsiaCaribbeanCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastOceaniaSouth America Note: Circle sizes reflect the numbers of international students who arrived from each country in August 2025, and the vertical positions reflect the shift from August 2024 to August 2025. The average change is weighted by the number of international students who arrived in August 2024.

International student arrivals Click on a region for more details Place of residence Aug. 2024 Aug. 2025 Change Asia 250,740 191,179 -24% Europe 51,439 50,548 -2% Middle East 22,896 18,917 -17% South America 22,183 19,769 -11% Africa 16,965 11,456 -32% Caribbean 7,124 6,468 -9% Mexico (excluding arrivals on land) 6,361 5,719 -10% Central America 5,555 5,336 -4% Oceania 3,677 3,746 +2% Total 386,940 313,138 -19% Source: Trade.gov Note: The data for August 2025 is preliminary and excludes visitors who arrived from Mexico on land, and visitors from Canada. The data set aggregates visitors from some countries.

Reasons for the decline

Why did fewer international students arrive in the U.S. this August? Here are a few possibilities:

1. Visa delays

Many international students have had difficulty obtaining student visas this year. In late May, the State Department paused student visa interviews for three weeks during the peak period that these visas are issued.

When interviews resumed, there were wait times of months to secure an interview at some consulates. As a result, some students may not have been able to obtain a visa in time for the fall semester.

Its not clear yet how many student visas were issued over the summer  the State Department reports this data on a lag. But the data from May shows a 22 percent drop in F-1 student visa issuances (the most common type of student visa), compared with the previous May.

2. Travel bans

In June, the State Department also instituted a travel ban or visa restrictions for citizens of 19 countries, which further limited student travel.

Iran is one of the countries with a travel ban. The travel data shows that the number of arriving Iranian students dropped by 86 percent this August  the largest decline for any country in the data this year.

August international student arrivals from Iran Source: Trade.gov

Data from SEVIS showed that the fall spike in international student enrollment from countries with a travel ban was nearly 70 percent smaller this year.

3. Increased uncertainty

With the Trump administrations approach to immigration, some foreign students may view the U.S. as a less welcoming or reliable option for study.

Consider these events: In March, the government began detaining and attempting to deport international students, in a crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism. (In a recent ruling, a federal court said the Trump administration acted unconstitutionally in trying to deport foreign students for their pro-Palestinian advocacy.)

In April, the State Department abruptly canceled more than 1,500 student visas, and later restored their legal status. In May, the State Department said that it would aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students. In June, it instructed student visa applicants to make their social media profiles public for a comprehensive and thorough vetting.

All this may have led some students to opt to study in countries with fewer restrictions. A survey by the Institute of International Education found visa delays, difficulties entering the U.S. and the possibility of visa revocations among the top reasons that colleges expect a decline in their international student enrollment.

The problem isnt that the students have lost confidence in the quality of U.S. education. They have lost confidence in our administrations commitment to international students, said Fanta Aw, the C.E.O. of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, a nonprofit dedicated to international education.

4. Less travel overall

Some colleges have advised their currently enrolled international students to avoid international travel, such as going home for the summer, warning they may not be able to re-enter the U.S.

The data available so far combines new and existing student arrivals. So a decline may in part reflect a reluctance of existing international students to travel internationally over the summer. For now, these factors cant be separated until more data arrives.

But the mix of problems for international students has led to what Professor Aw calls a perfect storm. Her organization has projected a 30 to 40 percent drop in new international student enrollment this fall, with a cost of nearly $7 billion to the economy.

The impact of this is going to be felt long term, she said.

What colleges may be affected?

The colleges that might be most affected by a decline in international students are generally not the most selective colleges, but ones that are the most dependent on these students, said Dick Startz, a professor of economics who analyzes trends in higher education.

Here are three kinds of colleges that could be the most affected:

1. STEM graduate programs

The majority of all international students in the U.S. are enrolled in graduate school, over 80 percent of whom are studying STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).

A Times analysis of recently released data from the Department of Education found more than 220 midsize or large in-person masters programs where the majority of graduates were international. In 55 of those programs, all in STEM or legal fields, over 95 percent were international.

Masters programs have had the largest growth in international students over the past five years, and these programs have also shown the largest decline in their growth this year, according to SEVIS data. At the University of Central Missouri, which graduated over 1,500 international masters degree students in 2024, The Associated Press reported that new international student enrollment dropped by half.

Many teaching assistants and researchers in undergraduate laboratories and STEM programs are also international students, and a sustained drop in international students could make it harder to operate some of these programs.

2. Smaller arts schools and Christian colleges

The undergraduate colleges with the highest shares of international students are disproportionately small art and design schools, music conservatories and Christian colleges.

An analysis by the credit rating agency Moodys pointed out that some of these smaller specialty programs are at higher risk of insolvency if international students decline significantly. Inside Higher Ed has reported signs of decreased international enrollment at some of these colleges.

Niagara, a private Catholic university in western New York, reported a 45 percent drop in the number of students from outside of the United States and Canada this fall. In September, the university confirmed it had laid off staff members, according to reporting from The Niagara Gazette.

And DePaul, a private Catholic university in Chicago, reported a 62 percent decline in new international graduate student enrollment, because of visa difficulties and a declining desire for international students to study in the U.S. In a letter to faculty and staff, the university president said to expect pay cuts, layoffs and a hiring freeze, as first reported by Reuters.

3. Flagship state schools

At many state schools, international students pay considerably higher tuition than in-state residents. A drop in international enrollment could be a financial burden to these colleges, as well as to the local economies that benefit from the students presence.

For example, Ohio State reported in September that its enrollment of new international students dropped by 314 students, or nearly 38 percent. And at Indiana University, new international student enrollment fell by 443 students, or 30 percent, across all of its campuses.

Whats next?

Experts say a sustained drop in the numbers of international students could diminish American competitiveness in science and engineering.

Nearly three-quarters of international students who receive a doctorate in science and engineering stay and work in the country after they graduate, and over 40 percent of all doctorate-level scientists and engineers in the U.S. are born outside the country. The newly instituted $100,000 fee for H-1B work visas is likely to further reduce the flow of STEM workers.

The data so far offers an early indicator of trends in international student enrollment, but it isnt the complete picture. Over the coming months, enrollment data from colleges and the number of visas issued over the summer should allow better understanding of these trends.
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CBS News is set to hand over its reins to The Free Press co-founder Bari Weiss as Paramount acquires her company for $155M. David Ellison, CEO of Paramount called Weiss "a proven champion of independent, principled journalism." He's confident her "entrepreneurial drive and editorial vision will invigorate CBS News." As editor-in-chief of CBS News, Weiss is to shape editorial priorities, champion core values across platforms, and lead innovation in how the organization reports and delivers the news. Weiss will report directly to Ellison and partner with CBS News president Tom Cibrowski, who reports to Paramount chair of TV media, George Cheeks. Weiss left her job at the Wall Street Journal to follow her boss Brett Stephens to the New York Times. She exited the paper in 2020, claiming that she had been bullied by liberal colleagues for her more conservative viewpoints. Expectedly, her leadership of CBS News has raised the ire of many liberal journalists. Founded in 2021, The Free Press has 1.5M subscribers, of which 170K of them are paid. Paramount is breaking down the site's paywall gthourgh October 12 for a special Free Press "free week."

C-SPAN comes on board as an official media partner of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, the bipartisan Commission charged by Congress to lead the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. C-SPAN will carry America250 Commission events across all its platforms  television, web, social media, YouTube, radio, and podcasts. The network says it will provide a minimum of 48 hours of dedicated America250 programming each week across its television networks. This partnership is a continuation of C-SPANs enduring commitment to civic education and transparency, ensuring all Americans can take part in the nations 250th anniversary, said C-SPAN CEO Sam Feist.

A new Gallup survey says that the level of trust that US audiences have in the media has hit a new low. Only 28 percent of those surveyed said that they had a great deal or fair amount of trust in newspapers, television and radio. That number is down from 31 percent and 40 percent five years ago. On the flip side, 36 percent said that they had not very much confidence in the media, and 40 percent they had no confidence at all. When Gallup started measuring trust in the media in the 1970s, between 68 percent and 72 percent of respondents said they had confidence in reporting. However, by 2004, the number has dropped to 44 percent. For Republicans, the trust number descended into the single digits (eight percent), while 51 percent of Democrats said they trust the media. In addition, respondents 65 and older voiced a significantly higher level of trust (43 percent) than did any younger age group. With confidence fractured along partisan and generational lines, the challenge for news organizations is not only to deliver fair and accurate reporting, but also to regain credibility across an increasingly polarized and skeptical public, the studys authors say.
TULLAMORE Lions Club member Michael Carroll recently visited the South Ostrobothnia region of Finland on a peer exchange visit facilitated by Tochar Wetlands Restoration.

The peer exchange was supported by the European Commission within the framework of the Just Transition Platform. A key aim of the visit was to facilitate shared learning and best practices on approaches to the regeneration and reuse of former peatlands.

Finland, like Ireland, has rich peatland ecosystems with significant biodiversity and carbon storage potential.

Both countries are now moving away from large-scale industrial harvesting of peatlands and are taking steps to mitigate the environmental impact of peatland degradation and looking at ways to conserve and restore these vital ecosystems.

The Irish delegation consisted of representatives of Tochar Wetlands Restoration, Cloncrow Bog and Village trail Tyrrellspass, Tullamore Lions Club, and peatland contractor Gorman Earthworks. The group was met on arrival by Paul Sherlock, the Irish Ambassador to Finland. Paul took a keen interest in the visit and spoke at length with the Irish delegation about the various peatland-related projects being carried out in Ireland. The group was based in the City of Seinajoki and on the first evening of the visit, met with their hosts from Seinajoki University of Applied Sciences and Kokkola University.

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A group from Seinajoki University visited Ireland in March 2025 and toured several peatland projects, including Clonbeale More, Lough Boora, and Cloncrow Bog. On this return visit, they organised a schedule of site visits and meetings for the Irish delegation. These included visits to Naarasneva afforested cutover peatland, where tree planting and paludiculture are the alternative approaches being taken. Research work on measuring Greenhouse gas emissions was also taking place. At the Kurjenneva wetland, the landowner and a local gun club have collaborated to create a wetland habitat for wild birds on previously cutaway peatland. The final site visited that day was a large solar power plant built on cutaway peatland near Lapua.

In advance of the visit, contact had been established with the Lions Club in Lapua. They invited the Irish group to visit a project that they established at a quarry near their town. With the help of local government and EU funding, they established a much-needed training centre for service dogs. The Simpsio Dog School was founded in March 2002, and at this site, dogs are trained for activities such as search and rescue and drug sniffing. The site is also used as a training centre by search and rescue teams from Finland and neighbouring countries.

Michael presented the Lapua Lions Club members with copies of the Lions, the Bees, and the Bogs. This beautifully written and illustrated Children's storybook was launched by Tullamore Lions Club in 2024 to spread the message of peatland conservation in storybook format. It was superbly written and illustrated by Dolores Keaveney and captures the essence of what Tullamore Lions Club is attempting to achieve through its peatland conservation initiatives. Michael also provided information to the Lapua Club about the Clonbeale More peatland conservation project. The first phase of that project was completed in November 2024. Further engagement between Tullamore and Lapua Lions Clubs is planned in the near future for a wider discussion on the environmental projects being implemented by Lions in both countries.

The following day, the group visited a Finnish Folk Art Centre at Kaustinen and were treated to a performance of traditional Finnish folk music. There was also a visit to Halsua, a former peat production area that was being transformed into a mix of forestry, restored wetland, a wind farm, and a solar power plant.

Lestijarvi was the final visit that day and was the northernmost site visited. At that point, we were only 300km from the Arctic Circle. This site was drained in the 1980s to be used for peat extraction; however, as a result of the added drains and some severe rainstorms at that time, a major flooding event in the local area occurred, and considerable damage was done. A major environmental impact study was carried out, and plans for peat extraction at the site were halted.

The local community is now actively engaged in having this site fully restored. The final visit that day was to Lakeaharju sightseeing tower, where we had amazing views of the Lappajarvi crater lake. This lake was created 60 million years ago when a meteorite crashed into the earth.

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After a busy but very informative 2-day visit, the Irish group returned home on September 4th. All in the group were in agreement that the visit highlighted the shared challenges and innovative solutions that both countries are developing in response to the decline of peat production.

The visit reinforced the value of international cooperation and how both countries can learn from each other to plot a way forward that engages communities and landowners, provides alternative uses for our valuable peatlands, and also meets our challenging environmental targets. Further collaboration between Ireland and Finland is planned in 2026.
A MAN was found in possession of drugs at Tullamore Hospital after crashing his car near Kilbeggan.

Pleas of guilty were entered at Tullamore District Court by solicitor Patrick Martin on behalf of his client Dylan Kinahan (30), Chandlers Way, Rushbrook, Cobh, Co Cork.

Mr Kinahan admitted dangerous driving and having no insurance at Loughanagore, Co Westmeath and possession of drugs at Midlands Hospital, Tullamore on August 22, 2023.

Sergeant Richard Thornton told Judge Valerie Corcoran that at 3.30pm on that date at Loughnagore Mr Kinahan was driving a Dublin registered 2017 Ford Focus from Ballinagore towards Kilbeggan.

Sergeant Thornton said the man was travelling at high speed on the wrong side of the road around a bend when he collided with the side of a Citroen Dispatch going in the opposite direction. Drugs worth 470 were found in the hospital.

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The sergeant added that Mr Kinahan had no previous convictions.

Judge Corcoran said she would have to get victim impact statements because there were parties named in the dangerous driving prosecution.

The judge said she would note the plea and that it was early. She adjourned the matter to November 26 next for sentencing and victim impact reports.
An Offaly pharmacy has taken home a top honour for community excellence

Pharmacy Plus Birr has been officially recognised as the Business All-Star Community Pharmacy of the Year 2025 by the All-Ireland Business Foundation (AIBF), celebrating its outstanding service, community commitment, and dedication to patient care.

Founded by David OMeara in 2006, Pharmacy Plus Birr has grown to become a cornerstone of the local community. Conveniently located in the heart of Birr, the store combines friendly, personal service with innovative healthcare offerings.

David OMeara is the Founder and Superintendent Pharmacist of Pharmacy Plus Birr and Vision Plus Opticians. A proud Offaly native, David has spent nearly two decades building a healthcare business that is as much about people as it is about prescriptions.

After qualifying as a pharmacist, David set out to create something different - an independent pharmacy where patients could count on expert advice, friendly faces, and a genuine connection. In 2006, he opened Pharmacy Plus Birr in the heart of the town, combining professional care with a neighbourly touch that quickly won the loyalty of the local community.

Davids philosophy is simple: healthcare works best when its personal. Its an approach that has earned him not only the trust of his community, but also national recognition - most recently as the recipient of the Business All-Star Community Pharmacy of the Year 2025 award.

From prescription services and expert health advice to eye examinations and optical care, Pharmacy Plus Birr has built a reputation for going above and beyond for customers - often calling patients personally, sourcing hard-to-find medications, and supporting local events and initiatives.

The All-Ireland Business Foundations annual awards celebrate businesses that achieve excellence in quality, trust, and community impact. The Community Pharmacy of the Year title is awarded to pharmacies that demonstrate exceptional service standards and deep engagement with their communities.

Reacting to the news, Founder, David O Meara said, this accolade is deeply meaningful for our team. Our mission has always been to combine professional expertise with a warm, personal approach, so that every customer feels valued and cared for. Were proud to serve this community and grateful for the trust people place in us every day.

READ NEXT: Drugs found on man in Offaly hospital after crash where he drove on wrong side of road 

Announcing the accreditation, Kieran Ring, Deputy Chair of the AIBF Adjudication Board, said, Pharmacy Plus Birr represents the very best of community healthcare, delivering excellence in service while making a tangible difference to peoples lives. In reviewing their accreditation application, it was clear that this is a business built on trust, compassion, and a deep understanding of its communitys needs. David OMeara and his team have gone beyond the traditional role of a pharmacy, offering not only exceptional healthcare and optical services, but also serving as a reliable source of advice, support, and reassurance for local residents. It is businesses like Pharmacy Plus Birr that remind us of the vital role independent, community-focused enterprises play in the fabric of Irish life.

Kapil Khanna, Managing Director of the AIBF, said, "David and his team exemplify what it means to be a Business All-Star. Theyve built a business rooted in trust, care, and genuine community spirit, and were delighted to honour their contribution."

He said: We evaluate a companys background, trustworthiness and performance, and we speak to customers, employees and vendors. We also anonymously approach the company as a customer and report back on the experience.

"The business goes through at least two interviews and is scored on every part of the process against set metrics.
THE former Eirigi member given a job in the Dail by presidential candidate Catherine Connolly wore a wig during a raid on a gun shop in Offaly, a trial in 2014 was told.

Ursula Ni Shionnain (Shannon) was sentenced to six years in prison after the non-jury Special Criminal Court found her guilty of possession of two handguns and 32 rounds of ammunition at The Tackle Shop, Tullybeg, Rahan on November 27, 2012.

Ms Ni Shionnain , a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, had pleaded not guilty to the charge, along with co-accused John McGreal and Colin Brady.

Court reports from the trial at the time said the trial heard evidence the accused were wearing wigs and disguises when intercepted by armed gardai outside the premises of a firearms dealer.

Another man, John Troy, admitted possession of weapons.

The trial heard gardai were in receipt of confidential information that a stolen vehicle would be used as part of an operation by dissident republicans for a theft at a property in Co Offaly.

Armed gardai surrounded a stolen van in which the accused were travelling outside the Offaly residential premises which also doubled as a business for a licensed firearm seller.

Detective Inspector Michael Gibbons told the court that one of the handguns recovered, a Brazilian-made Taurus pistol, was used in a murder in Tallaght in February 2002. He said there was no suggestion that any of the defendants were involved in that offence.

There was also evidence that the ammunition recovered was wrapped up in a babys nappy found inside the stolen van in which the defendants were travelling.

READ NEXT: Minister very disappointed FF wont have presidential candidate

The court heard that the search of the vehicle two handguns and a stun gun along with the ammunition, cable ties, black pillow cases, canisters of petrol, wigs and disguises.

Gardai gave evidence that the accused had taken some steps to conceal their physical appearance, and were wearing layers of clothing to make them appear heavier than they actually were. There was evidence that Ms Shannon (the surname used during the trial) and Mr McGreal were wearing wigs.

The trial heard Ms Ni Shionnain had a BA in Early and Modern Irish from Trinity College and a Masters in Language Planning from NUI Galway.

At the time she was sentenced she was researching sustainable new Irish language communities for a PhD.

The Journal reported last week that Independent presidential candidate Catherine Connolly hired Ms Ni Shionnain in 2019 as an administrative assistant in Leinster House.

Ms Ni Shionnain had been released from prison the previous year and worked in the Oireachtas on a committee on the Irish language.

Deputy Connolly, whose candidacy is being supported by the Social Democrats, Labour, Sinn Fein and left representatives, defended her recruitment of the woman.

She said: I absolutely admire this person. This person was one of the small success stories of the prison system, full rehabilitation, a change in her life completely.

It emerged that Ms Ni Shionnain had been a member of Eirigi, a political party which has been described as republican socialist and opposed to the Good Friday Agreement.

In a statement last week, Eirigi did not refer to the woman but said: Not one journalist or media outlet appears to have done their job - to have taken the time to do the most basic of research - to find out what Eirigi's position on armed struggle actually is.

The statement added: If they did, they would know that Eirigi was formed to provide a left-wing republican alternative to the dead-end electoralism offered by Sinn Fein and the dead-end militarism offered by armed groups. Eirigi formed to provide a third way for republicans to drive positive change in Ireland.

In a live television debate on RTEs The Week in Politics on Sunday Deputy Connolly was challenged about the manner in which Ms Ni Shionnain gained access to Leinster House while working there.

Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys said: Not many people go in front of the Special Criminal Court. But the point here is, we all know that when you bring staff into the Houses of the Oireachtas, you must have garda clearance.

The former TD and minister added: What Im saying is there are rules around staff there. Id like to know when did Catherine start bringing that person in? I believe she was there for six months without garda vetting. It normally takes two to three weeks to process the garda vetting.

Deputy Connolly said no rules had been broken: The person filled out her application form, made a full and wholesome declaration and the process took place. There was no appeal, no decision made.

Deputy Connolly organised passes for the woman to enter Leinster House and Ms Ni Shionnain's employment ended there before the vetting process was completed.
This year, Anam Beo, Offalys pioneering Arts and Health Collective, celebrates a remarkable milestone: two decades of creativity, connection, and community impact.

Since its founding in 2005, Anam Beo has brought artists into care and community settings, ensuring that music, storytelling, and visual arts remain part of daily life for older people and communities across the county.

Two decades of creativity, connection, and care across Offaly with time specific projects and limited resources - 15,394 audience and 2893 participants and 2171 creative sessions across Offaly.

For the artists, participants, and partners who have been part of this journey, the anniversary is more than a number, its a reflection of lives touched and memories made. Over the years, Anam Beo has worked with countless individuals, some of whom are sadly no longer with us. Yet their songs, paintings, and stories live on.

In many ways, their legacy mirrors the growth of Offalys artistic landscape: a county where visual arts, theatre, music, dance, and storytelling have blossomed.

From small local projects to major festivals, Offalys arts scene has become a space where talent can be seen, voices heard, and celebrated. The 20th anniversary has been marked throughout 2025 with a series of special events. Highlights included activities and an exhibition during Birr Vintage Week, and a major Retrospective Exhibition at Esker Arts, Tullamore. In addition there will be an Arts & Health Gathering on October 17, where artists, health professionals, national organisations and community members will come together to reflect on the power of creativity and participation.

The retrospective exhibition at Esker Arts, promises to be a particularly moving celebration,showcasing artworks, films, and archives gathered over the years.

Curated by Rowena Keaveny and Julie Spollen, the exhibition will feature contributions from artists, participants, and care centres across Offaly, shining a light on the lasting impact of creative engagement.

Speaking ahead of the events, the Anam Beo artists shared a reflection, ''The magic doesnt happen overnight. It grows slowly, profoundly, with time, trust, and community.'' The anniversary will also highlight exciting recent collaborations, including 'Did I Ever Tell You?,' a Creative Ireland storytelling project across Offaly, Kildare, and Laois.

Blending music, art, and personal memories, the project has encouraged dialogue across generations with plenty of fun along the way.

From music therapy sessions in Clara Day Care Centre, to community art projects in Birr, Riada, and Ofalia Nursing Units, IWA, Ballycumber and more,

Anam Beos work has touched thousands of lives. The collective has thrived thanks to the support of Offaly County Council, Creative Ireland, the Arts Council Ireland, the HSE, and the Offaly Public Participation Network. Together, they have supported arts and health, while ensuring artists are valued and programmes supported so this important work may continue.

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For details visit anambeoartscollective.com or Esker Arts.

Twenty years on, Anam Beo remains a beacon of creativity and community spirit, proving that art doesnt just brighten

lives, it strengthens and sustains the very fabric of our communities. We look forward to celebrating with you.
By Robert Weiner and Katherine White



Article first published in International Policy Digest

As President Xi Jinping hosts Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un in Beijing parading China's military prowess, President Trump insists Americans shouldn't be worried,saying in early September that "China would never use their military on us. Believe me." A day later, he accused Beijing of conspiring against the United States. It isn't a conspiracy. It's strategy: a coordinated bid to tilt the global balance of power this time without Washington at the center.

Under the Trump administration, U.S. foreign policy has leaned toward a neo-isolationist posture, shaking allies confidence and creating strategic slack that adversaries are eager to exploit. An unreliable American line only emboldens China and its partners in Moscow and Pyongyang to move into the vacuum created by U.S. drift.

That vacuum is most visible in the South China Sea, where Beijing is pressing its most ambitious agenda: control of vital waters through which roughly a third of global shipping passes. For the United States alone, sea traffic through the South China Sea has been valued at roughly $1.2 trillion in trade. The waterway isn't just a map feature; its a supply-chain artery and a test of whether rules, not raw power, still govern the seas.

Historically, the United States has operated in these waters to prevent Chinese hegemony, reassure allies like South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines, and safeguard economic freedom. That role is not ornamental. It is deterrence made visible.

Beijing, meanwhile ,advances its self-styled nine-dash lin e an expansive claim that sweeps in up to 90 percent of the South China Sea and collides with the 1994UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which recognizes territorial seas extending 12 nautical miles and exclusive economic zones out to 200 nautical miles. (China is a party to UNCLOS; the United States has not ratified it but generally observes its navigational principles.) China's maximalist stance has strained Washingtons relationships with frontline partners and raised the risk of miscalculation at sea.

Americas internal rancor only strengthens Beijings hand. As President Trump elevates chaos and mixed messages into a foreign-policy method, Xi Jinping's summit diplomacy binds his partners closer. Collisions between Philippine and Chinese vessels in August 2025 were not aberrations; they were symptoms of a worsening pattern.

The pattern extended on August 13, when China claimed it had "driven away" the USS Higgins near Scarborough Shoal, a pointed signal that Beijing feels emboldened, whether or not American warships are present. The trajectory is obvious: the more room China is given to press its claims, the more regional sovereignty is put at risk and the closer Beijing comes to de facto hegemony in the South China Sea.

None of this is new in conception. Beijing has long practiced "salami-slicing": small, cumulative moves dredging a reef here, deploying a coast guard cutter there, that change facts on the water without provoking a large war. Scarborough Shoal, a small cluster of rocks and reefs, is a case study. So is Chinas defiance of the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling, which found overwhelmingly for the Philippines and deemed much of Chinas activity unlawful. The refusal to abide by an international tribunal isn't an isolated legal spat. Its part of a broader playbook shared in spirit by Russia and North Korea that treats norms as obstacles rather than guardrails.

As Russia prosecutes its war in Ukraine and courts Chinese support, its not hard to see Moscow drawing lessons from Beijings incrementalism. Nor is it difficult to imagine Pyongyang concluding that the moment is ripe for sharper provocations against Seoul. Strategic alignment among these three capitals does not require formal treaties to matter; it only requires shared opportunity.

The United States, then, faces an old choice in a newly perilous context: reassure allies with clear commitments and credible deterrence or watch Beijing continue to carve the region into spheres of influence one slice at a time. If President Trump persists in neo-isolationism punctuated by erratic pronouncements, China will keep pushing outward, ship by ship, shoal by shoal. This is the moment to stiffen spines, enforce the law of the sea, and make unmistakably clear that unlawful expansion will not go unanswered.

Robert Weiner is a former spokesman in the Clinton and Bush White Houses and senior staff for Congressmen John Conyers, Charles Rangel, Claude Pepper, Ed Koch, Sen. Ted Kennedy, and 4-Star Gen. Barry McCaffrey. Katherine White is a Senior Policy Analyst at Robert Weiner Associates and the Solutions for Change Foundation.

(Article changed on Oct 06, 2025 at 11:00 AM EDT)
eSIMCards has partnered with Vodafone, which is one of the major network operators in the UK. This partnership enables businesses to launch mobile services as 
WINDHOEK, Namibia - "This has been a fantastic experience, and I was deeply honoured to represent Namibia on this global stage," said Melisa Poulton from 
Semiconductor designer AMD will supply its chips to artificial intelligence company OpenAI as part of an agreement to team up on building AI infrastructure, the companies said Monday.

AMDs shares jumped nearly 24% on the news, to close Monday at $203.71.

OpenAI will also get the option to buy as much as a 10% stake in AMD, according to a joint statement announcing the deal. Its the latest deal for the ChatGPT maker as it races to beef up its AI computing resources.

Under the terms of the deal, OpenAI will buy the latest version of the companys high performance graphics chips, the Instinct MI450, which is expected to debut next year.

The agreement calls for supplying 6 gigawatts of computing power for OpenAIs next generation AI infrastructure, with the first batch of chips worth 1 gigawatt to be deployed in the second half of 2026.

AMD also issued OpenAI with a warrant allowing the AI company to buy up to 160 million shares of AMDs common stock. That amounts to about 10% of the chipmaker based on AMDs 1.6 billion outstanding shares. The warrant will vest based on two milestones tied to the amount of computing power deployed, as well as unspecified share-price targets.

This partnership is a major step in building the compute capacity needed to realize AIs full potential, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a news release. AMDs leadership in high-performance chips will enable us to accelerate progress and bring the benefits of advanced AI to everyone faster.

The deal is a boost for Santa Clara, Calif.-based AMD, which has been left behind by rival Nvidia. But it also hints at OpenAIs desire to diversify its supply chain away from Nvidias dominance. The AI boom has fueled demand for Nvidias graphics processing chips, sending its shares soaring and making it the worlds most valuable company.

Last month, OpenAI and Nvidia announced a $100 billion partnership that will add at least 10 gigawatts of data center computing power. OpenAI and its partners have already installed hundreds of Nvidias GB200, a tall computing rack that contains dozens of specialized AI chips within it, at the flagship Stargate data center campus under construction in Abilene, Texas.

Intel, among AMDs top rivals in PCs and data center computing, has no advanced products in the artificial intelligence market and has been left behind during the AI boom.

Barclays analysts said in a note to investors Monday that OpenAIs AMD deal is less about taking share away from Nvidia than it is a sign of how much computing is needed to meet AI demand.

We realize there will be delays with these deals, and that the infrastructure required largely doesnt exist today, but we would again highlight this as a proof point that the ecosystem is desperate for more compute, the Barclays analysts wrote.
Conservative journalist Nick Sortor, 27, speaks during a press conference outside the Multnomah County Justice Center on Mon., Oct. 6, 2025. Zane Sparling/The Oregonian

A right-wing journalist and influencer arrested at a Portland immigration protest acted in self defense and will not be prosecuted, a senior deputy district attorney determined.

The Monday announcement came just 2 hours ahead of Nick Sortors planned arraignment on a single count of second-degree disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, at the Multnomah County Justice Center.

Sortor, 27, was arrested Thursday alongside two left-wing protesters outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in South Portland.

The arrest sparked a political maelstrom, drawing condemnation from President Donald Trumps press secretary and prompting the U.S. Department of Justice to probe whether local officers have engaged in viewpoint discrimination.

In a statement, District Attorney Nathan Vasquez reiterated that free speech does not justify criminal conduct.

It does not matter if an individual is expressing ideology from the left, right, or center, Vasquez said. What matters is whether or not there is evidence to prove a crime was committed.

Sortor, who has 1.2 million followers on X, had approached black-clad demonstrators and was filming them with a shining light when a heated argument began and a woman, later identified by Portland police as Son Yi, allegedly pushed Sortor with an open umbrella, according to a decline-to-prosecute memo.

Sortor grabbed the umbrella, the memo says, citing video evidence, but a crowd swarmed and another woman named Angella Davis swung a stick at him, according to the memo written by Senior Deputy District Attorney Kevin Demer.

Sortor attempted to flee but Yi pushed him into a storm water collection basin known as a bioswale, the memo alleges.

Any physical contact [Sortor] had with other persons was defensive in nature, reasonable under the circumstances, and therefore justified, Demer wrote. Attempting to video record and shine a bright light at the other side, while certainly provocative, is not criminal.

The prosecutor noted that it was appropriate for local police to intervene and break up the scrum by arresting Sortor, Yi and Davis to defuse and deescalate the situation and that they had probable cause to do so.

But on further review of video evidence, the case against Sortor was not provable.

On social media, Sortor wrote that he was attacked again Sunday night while carrying an American flag he had stopped a protester from burning.

He appeared in arraignment court on Monday afternoon, where a prosecutor read his name off the list of no complaint cases before the judge entered the room.

In comments to reporters outside the courtroom, Sortor said he should never have been arrested in the first place.

My crime was filming in public  filming people that dont believe in First Amendment rights for conservatives, he said.

Sortors attorney, Angus Lee, said he was seeking evidence from the case through the legal process and was 99% certain they would file a federal Civil Rights lawsuit against the Portland Police Bureau in a week or two.

Davis, 49, was arraigned early Monday while Yi, 43, made her first court appearance Monday afternoon. They both face a similar disorderly conduct charge.
Gov. Tina Kotek said on Sunday that California National Guard solders are stationed at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley. Zane Sparling/The Oregonian

Just as lawyers from the state of Oregon, California and the City of Portland prepared for an emergency hearing Sunday evening to block the deployment of the California National Guard to Portland, Gov. Tina Kotek said shed been informed that the Texas National Guard was preparing a deployment of troops to Oregon and other states.

I have been notified that the Department of War has ordered the Texas Adjutant General to deploy 400 Texas National Guard members to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations throughout the United States, Kotek said in a statement her office issued about 7:25 p.m.

That was about a half hour after U.S. District Court Judge Karin J. Immergut had scheduled a hearing by phone on the states motion for a new restraining order, the latest development in a weekend of last-minute legal maneuvers and moves by the Trump Administration to outflank them on the ground. Technical difficulties delayed the start of the hearing until 7:49 p.m.

Immergut issued a new order Sunday night barring any National Guard members from being relocated from any state for federal service in the state of Oregon. She found that the Trump administration was directly violating her prior order issued Saturday, in which she found no justification for federalized military to serve anywhere in the state.

It is not appropriate to bring federalized military into Oregon at this time, she said. Im troubled by the direct contravention of my (prior) order.

Kotek had said earlier that shed received no direct explanation from President Trump or Secretary of War Pete Hegseth about the specific need for the deployment of the Texas troops. She called the move a continuation and escalation of the Presidents dangerous, un-American misuse of states National Guard members and hard-earned taxpayer dollars. I join Illinois Governor JB Pritzker in his call on Texas Governor Greg Abbott to immediately withdraw any support for this decision and refuse to coordinate.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott posted on X Sunday night that he had fully authorized the President to call up 400 members of the Texas National Guard to ensure safety for federal officials.

You can either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let Texas Guard do it, the post read. No Guard can match the training, skill, and expertise of the Texas National Guard.

Meanwhile, conditions on the ground at the ICE facility in Southwest Portland were relatively calm Sunday, with smaller crowds and little direct conflict between protesters and federal officers for much of the day.

A crowd of 80 to 90 people erupted in cheers about 8:30 p.m. as one protester announced the ruling from todays court hearing. Counter protesters reacted with shouts of U.S.A., U.S.A.

The relative calm lasted until about 8:45 pm, when federal officers spilled out the building and detained several individuals. A protester then threw an open beverage that landed on the road amid the officers, who deployed red gas and shot pepper balls into the crowd shortly thereafter.

9 1 / 9 ICE protest

The scene returned to its normal agitated calm once the feds returned to the building, with bursts of verbal altercation between protesters and counter-protesters. An ambulance entered the ICE building about 9:20 p.m. and left about 20 minutes later.

Earlier in the day, Kotek held a virtual news conference with Attorney General Dan Rayfield and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson to review the latest developments in court and on the ground. She said said 101 soldiers from the California National Guard are stationed at Camp Withycombe, an Oregon Military Department facility in Clackamas County, and another 99 troops from Oregons southern neighbor were on their way after President Trump ordered their deployment.

Kotek said the federal government has provided no information about the mission of the California National Guards deployment to Oregon. But the governor said she believed the president was trying to circumvent Immerguts Saturday ruling that temporarily blocked Trumps deployment of the Oregon National Guard to control protests outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland.

In a statement sent to the newsroom Sunday afternoon, Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said that the troops were being reassigned from Los Angeles to Portland at the direction of President Donald Trump to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal personnel performing official duties, including the enforcement of federal law, and to protect federal property.

At Sundays news conference, the governor said she had just sent a message to U.S. Northern Command which was coordinating Trumps earlier attempted deployment of the Oregon National Guard, to direct that all military forces currently at Camp Withycombe remain at the location.

My message to Northern Command is that the troops should stay at Camp Withycombe and be prepared to return back to California, Kotek said. I believe that the court order still applies to them.

Kotek said she believes the federal judges ruling on Saturday, which found that Trump illegally seized control of the Oregon National Guard, also applies to the California National Guard.

At the same time, Kotek conceded there was nothing she could immediately do to send the California National Guard troops home.

Rayfield said that California was joining Oregons lawsuit to block Trumps deployment of the National Guard to Oregon.

Wilson, meanwhile, raised concerns about tactics employed by federal law enforcement at the ICE facility in South Portland. Wilson said federal officers actions including indiscriminate use of impact munitions and pepper spray on protesters and shoving peaceful veterans and elderly people to the ground Saturday night went far beyond the pale of prior tactics used in Portland.

Wilson also said there was a sniper stationed on the roof of the ICE building.

This is not what we typically look at in crowd control or peaceful protests. This is an aggressive approach, trying to inflame the situation that has otherwise been peaceful.

He said city officials plan to lodge a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justices Civil Rights Division.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom was the first to publicly acknowledge the troop movement on Sunday morning.

They are on their way there now, Newsom said in a post on the social media site X, in which he vowed to fight the deployment. We are taking this fight back to court. The public cannot stay silent in the face of such reckless and authoritarian conduct by the President of the United States.

Trump federalized the California National Guard in June and deployed them to manage protests in Los Angeles against increased immigration raids.

In Oregon, protests outside the Portland ICE facility picked up steam in early June, following the arrest of an asylum-seeker in U.S. Immigration Court. They were sometimes sleepy, but saw periodic flare-ups. Most protests had involved no more than several dozen people in the weeks before Trump announced in late September that he was sending all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland.

Oregons attorney general quickly filed a motion to block the presidents deployment of Oregon National Guard troops.

U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut, a Trump appointee, ruled on that motion Saturday. She rejected the federal governments assertion that Portland faces a danger of rebellion and found that lawyers for the U.S. government failed to show that federal officers need backup to protect the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building or themselves.

After Immergut ordered the Trump administration to return command of the Oregon National Guard to the governor, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a notice to appeal the ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals late Saturday.

President Trump exercised his lawful authority to protect federal assets and personnel in Portland following violent riots and attacks on law enforcement  we expect to be vindicated by a higher court," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said a statement.

Kotek said that as a result of the presidents appeal, she has not effectively regained control of the federalized Oregon National Guard members.

Under the court ruling yesterday with the temporary restraining order, technically yes, the Oregon National Guard is under my command, Kotek said. But now, with the action by the federal government to challenge that temporary restraining order, I am on hold to see how that plays out. My goal is to get them back to their homes and their jobs as soon as possible.

Trumps move to send California National Guard troops to Oregon may not technically violate the letter of Immerguts temporary restraining order, said Tung Yin, a Lewis & Clark Law School professor.

As with so much happening these days, he said, its uncharted territory.

Newsom would have standing in federal court in California to challenge the cross-state mobilization. A California federal judges injunction in early September, which found the mobilization of that states National Guard troops into federal service unlawful, is on appeal before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Both Oregon and California could challenge the cross-state mobilization, Yin said, citing a violation of the 10th Amendment which authorizes Congress, not the President, to determine when (and how) the militia can be called into actual service of the United States, as Immergut wrote in her Saturday ruling.

Oregon could again raise a 10th Amendment violation, Yin said, but would have to go back to court again, because Immerguts current ruling applies only to the federalization of Oregon National Guard troops. It likely would be considered a related case and be heard by Immergut, Yin said.

Yin also said Newsom could raise the same 10th Amendment argument, saying that the removal of California Guard members out of state infringes on his states sovereignty.

Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at New York University School of Laws Brennan Center, said what Trump is doing is clearly unlawful under Immerguts opinion.

But since Immerguts order solely relates to the Oregon National Guard, the Trump administration is exploiting a loophole to send Guard troops to Portland from out of state.

This is a flagrant attempt to circumvent the judges order, she said. It is one of the more brazen instances of contempt for the judicial branch that weve seen in this administration.

Oregon could request that Immergut clarify her temporary restraining order or issue a new one to make perfectly clear that the federal code, called Title 10, Section 12406, cannot be invoked at all by the federal government to have state National Guards protect Portlands ICE facility, Goitein said.

- Reporters Fedor Zarkhin, Yesenia Amaro and Zaeem Shaikh contributed to this report
A 29-year-old man is accused of pushing a federal officer's hand after the officer pushed him to move back, an affidavit said. He's later accused of throwing a water bottle at the officer once he was sprayed with pepper spray and is now charged with felony assault in federal court. U.S. Attorney's Office

A man accused of shoving a federal officer after he was pushed to move away from the driveway of Portlands U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building Saturday allegedly then threw a water bottle at the officer and is now facing a federal felony charge.

Jairin Anzaldua-Ervin is alleged to have used one hand to shove a federal officers hand away from him after a Federal Protective Service inspector moved to push him back off the ICE buildings driveway, a federal affidavit said.

The federal inspector then unholstered his pepper spray canister, yelled Get back, sprayed Anzaldua-Ervin and pushed Anzaldua-Ervin a second time before Anzaldua-Ervin threw a water bottle that struck the inspectors chest, according to the affidavit.

Investigators said they identified Anzaldua-Ervin by his white face mask, gray sweatshirt and black Nike sneakers, the affidavit said.

He was among a group of protesters on the buildings driveway after some marched from the No National Guard in Portland rally at nearby Elizabeth Caruthers Park, according to the affidavit and video surveillance images.

A Federal Bureau of Prisons officer was among the federal officers helping to remove protesters from the ICE buildings driveway, according to the affidavit.

During his arrest, Anzaldua-Ervin is alleged to have remarked something to the effect of, It was a stupid decision, the affidavit said.

The 29-year-old man has no prior arrests or convictions.

Hes charged with felony assault on a federal officer, the 30th person to face a misdemeanor or felony charge in federal court stemming from clashes at the ICE facility since June.

A video surveillance image that showed multiple federal officers taking the 29-year-old man into custody on Sat., Oct. 5, 2025. U.S. Attorney's Office

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Cardani said he recognized that Anzaldua-Ervin has no prior criminal history, is a lifelong Oregonian and is employed with strong family ties. Several family members attended Mondays hearing.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Armistead ordered Anzaldua-Ervin released pending trial, while restricting from the area around the ICE facility in South Portland.

Portland FBI officials say dozens of others have been cited for low-level federal violations and released with a future date to appear in court. Violations are usually punishable by a fine.
The matter now is before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on whether to put a hold on Oregon U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut's initial temporary restraining order barring the federal deployment of the Oregon National Guard in Portland. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images

Now that a federal judge has issued two temporary orders blocking the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops to Portland, U.S. government lawyers have asked an appeals court to put a hold on the first one and expect to do the same for the second.

The 9th U.S Circuit Court of Appeals had not issued a decision by Monday evening.

If the 9th Circuit puts a hold on U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immerguts orders, then President Trump will be able to deploy National Guard members to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland as the governments full appeal is pending.

Well keep litigating, of course, but there will not be a court order stopping the deployment short-term, at that point, said Jenny Hansson, spokesperson for Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield.

If the court upholds Immerguts two-week orders, its unclear how the Trump administration would respond.

On Monday, Trump said he would consider using the Insurrection Act to deploy the military if federal courts prevented him from sending in the National Guard.

Federal lawyers on Sunday urged the 9th Circuit in a court filing to take up their request to place a stay on Immerguts orders on an emergency timeframe.

They claimed Immergut impermissibly second-guessed the Commander in Chiefs military judgments.

Attorneys for the state and Portland have submitted briefs, asking the 9th Circuit to keep the orders in place until the court hears the appeal.

They argued that the 9th Circuit should maintain the status quo and prevent unlawfully federalized soldiers from engaging the public and patrolling Portland streets.

Defendants actions infringe on Oregons sovereign power to manage its own law enforcement activity and its own National Guard and cause economic and other harms to the city of Portland, the attorneys for the state wrote. What is worse, they do so based entirely on inaccurate information.

The Trump administration lawyers replied to the states argument in a filing Monday, contending the state of Oregon and Portland have failed to acknowledge the continuing, often-violent unrest on the eve of the Presidents federalization decision.

They argued that Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are entitled to a presumption of lawfulness.

There is no statutory requirement that the Presidents determination must be made in a written decision cataloguing its factual basis, wrote J. Kain Day, a federal government appellate lawyer.

He further contended that the Portland Police Bureau, even after Trump ordered the mobilization of National Guard troops to the city, was both unable and unwilling to protect federal officers and property. Leaving the status quo would threaten federal officers and property, he wrote.

Immergut had slammed the Trump administration actions Sunday night, saying her order made it clear that she found no justification for federalizing National Guard troops in Portland based on the current conditions on the ground.

City attorneys from around the nation, including Los Angeles and Chicago, joined in a friend-of-the-court brief filed Monday evening in support of Oregon and its request for the 9th Circuit to allow Immerguts temporary restraining order to stand.

The cities said the federal government seeks to unlawfully unleash military forces without factual justification and under pretext that could harm other communities across the United States.

They said the Trump administration has plans underway to deploy the National Guard to 19 more states.

These are not theoretical plans: just yesterday, the President sought to deploy 400 members of the Texas National Guard where needed, including in the cities of Portland and Chicago. (The cities) have a strong interest in ensuring that unmoored and unnecessary deployments cease and that order to the rule of law is restored, the brief said.

The latest court wrangling follows a weekend of rapid-fire legal maneuvers by the Trump administration and the state.

Immergut, who was nominated to the federal bench by Trump in 2019, held a nearly two-hour hearing Friday morning after the state sought a temporary restraining order to bar Trumps Sept. 28 federalization of 200 Oregon National Guard troops in Portland for 60 days.

The judge issued her first order Saturday about 4:30 p.m., finding Trumps mobilization of the state National Guard unlawful and that the president hadnt met any of the criteria under Title 10, Section 12406 of the federal code to invoke such an order.

She ruled that there was no threat of rebellion in Portland and that the sporadic protests outside the ICE office in South Portland could be handled by local police.

Less than 12 hours later, Hegseth mobilized California National Guard troops to deploy in Portland. Sometime after midnight early Sunday, 101 California National Guard members landed in Oregon at the Portland Air National Guard base and another 99 were set to arrive later Sunday.

The Oregon Attorney Generals Office moved quickly to file an amended lawsuit in federal court Sunday afternoon with the state of California, seeking an emergency motion for a new restraining order to block federalized out-of-state National Guard troops in Portland.

The President is trying to out hustle us in this process, and so were trying again to get in front of a court to prevent this, Rayfield said at a news conference.

As Immergut scheduled an evening hearing by phone Sunday night, the Trump administration then called up Texas National Guard to deploy to Portland, as well as to Chicago.

Immergut late Sunday issued a broader temporary restraining order barring the redeployment of any National Guard members from any state to Oregon.

If the ban on National Guard holds

If the Trump administration is barred from federalizing and sending National Guard troops to Oregon, he could send in active-duty military personnel, said professor Tung Yin, who specializes in national security at Lewis & Clark Law School.

Then the legal questions would be does that violate the states rights and what are the troops actually doing at the federal building, he said.

If its just stationing them in front of the ICE building, looking intimidating, thats maybe OK, he said, noting that Immergut didnt delve into what Guard troops would do once on the ground in Portland.

But if Trump sends in Marines to follow ICE officers who are trying to arrest people who may be in the U.S. unlawfully, that would likely violate the Posse Comitatus Act, Yin said.

The act prohibits the use of the military for domestic purposes and bars military forces from direct involvement in the execution of laws or actions that pervade the activities of civilian authorities.

Trump should not get to deploy active-duty military troops to Portland or any other city any time he feels like it, said Elizabeth Goitein, a senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at New York University Law Schools Brennan Center of Justice.

The Trump administration might argue that theres an inherent constitutional power to use active-duty troops to protect federal officers and property.

It is a longstanding executive branch theory, but it is only a theory, Goitein said.

Even if that power exists, Goitein noted that the deployment of military officers to a federal building in Portland would be subject to the Posse Comitatus Act, which bars soldiers from engaging in police actions, including traffic or crowd control or arrests.

The Insurrection Act, which Trump mentioned Monday, authorizes the president to deploy military forces inside the United States to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions. It is the primary exception to the Posse Comitatus Act.

But Goitein said, I dont think that would fare any better.

If the Trump administration sent in active-duty soldiers, Oregon and Portland attorneys could return to court and still argue that the actions of the soldiers violated the Posse Comitatus Act.

The Trump administrations efforts to circumvent Immerguts orders with the California and Texas National Guards defies belief, Goitein said.

She listened to some of the court arguments Sunday night and said she was struck by Immerguts repeated reminder to the Trump administrations lawyer, Eric Hamilton, that hes an officer of the court.

Thats a way of judges letting a lawyer know theyre acting in a way that violates or is about to violate their professional obligations, she said.

Yin said he wondered if the president would risk calling up active-duty troops only to have Immergut see that as another too-clever of an attempt to evade her ruling.

But if Trump sends active military units -- or if he gets a favorable court ruling to send in National Guard troops -- it likely would increase tensions, Yin said.

That, in turn, could provide the exact fodder for the Trump administration to justify federalizing National Guard troops, he said.

If the president does get to deploy the National Guard, and as a result of that, it inflames those on the street, and it actually leads to widespread violence, then the President could point to that and say, see I told you Portland is a war zone, Yin said.

Its almost the president manufacturing the very war-like conditions hes been asserting give him the right to do this, he said.

Thats why Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, Gov. Tina Kotek and other city and state leaders have repeatedly urged demonstrators in Portland not to take the bait, Yin said.
Portland police are investigating a shooting that happened around 5:30 a.m. on Sunday. MLive.com file photo

Portland police are investigating a shooting on Southeast Foster Road that happened around 5:30 a.m. Sunday.

When officers arrived at the shooting scene they found a man with apparent gunshot wounds sitting inside a vehicle near the 5800 block of Foster Road, police said in a news release. The man was taken to the hospital with life threatening injuries.

The homicide unit is investigating the shooting, police said. Police said the suspects left the scene before officers arrived and they didnt immediately arrest any suspects.

Portland police are asking anyone with information bout the shooting to contact the bureau at homicidetips@police.portlandoregon.govor call 503-823-0479 and please reference case number 25-274101.
Portland Public Schools superintendent Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong (right), alongside Portland Association of Teachers President Angela Bonilla, at the start of the 2024-2025 school year. The school district, Oregon's largest, has come closer to post-pandemic academic recovery than other larger districts in the metro area, but its Black students remain far behind according to state standardized tests that students took last spring. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian

On the surface, Portland Public Schools earned the victory lap it took this week after the release of a new round of state test scores.

The data shows that the often-criticized district and its educators are virtually alone among metro-area school districts in getting their students largely back to pre-pandemic levels in reading and math. Its a noteworthy milestone after a chaotic half-decade of academic sluggishness in Oregon, though still far from the ultimate goal of having every student on track to graduate from high school fully prepared for college or a career.

But those gains are almost entirely owed to high achievement among the districts white students, data released last week by the Oregon Department of Education shows. Their cut-above-the-rest overall results mask far less rosy outcomes for other demographic groups, in a district where about 45% of students are nonwhite.

On both English and math standardized tests given last spring to third through eighth graders and 11th graders, Portlands white students handily outperformed their counterparts in Beaverton, Hillsboro, North Clackamas and Tigard-Tualatin, other large metro area districts that serve more than 10,000 students and have broadly similar income and racial demographics.

For example, 71% of Portland Public Schools white students who sat for Smarter Balanced tests last spring scored as proficient at reading and writing, well above state averages. Proficiency in this context is akin to an A or a B on the more familiar letter grading scale. It means that students are on track to graduate high school and go to college without needing to take remedial classes, or into the job market without employer retraining.

In Beaverton, that figure was 62% and in Tigard, 58%. In Hillsboro, it was 53% and in North Clackamas, it was 45%.

The same trend holds for math. Just over 60% of Portland Public Schools white students scored as proficient in math. Thats anywhere from 12 to 29 percentage points ahead of the other four districts: In Beaverton, 49% of white students were proficient in math, in Hillsboro and Tigard-Tualatin 43% and in North Clackamas 33%.

Notably, the only student group to exceed the proficiency rates of Portlands white students was the large population of Asian students in Beaverton, 72% of whom registered as proficient in math and 74% of whom reached that level in reading and writing.

Portlands Latino students, students with disabilities and students from families experiencing poverty also performed better than their counterparts in suburban districts in both subjects, though yawning gaps remain in their proficiency levels and those of their white classmates at Portland Public Schools..

When it comes to Black students, though, the story completely flipped.

Only 11% of Portland Public Schoolss Black students scored as proficient in math  akin to getting an A or B grade  the state tests indicated, and only 19% met that level in reading and writing. (In both cases, the results should be taken with a grain of salt given low participation levels: 13% of eligible Black students sat out the math exam and 10% did so for English. Experts say that ideally, at least 95% of students would be tested in order to get the most accuracy from the results.)

Proficiency levels for Black students were roughly twice as high in most of the four surrounding districts, though they educate significantly smaller numbers of Black students. In Beaverton, 35% of Black students hit proficiency goals in reading and writing and 23% in math, followed by Hillsboro at 34% and 25%, Tigard-Tualatin at 33% and 24% and North Clackamas at 29% and 22%.

To be clear, none of those percentages calls for celebration. Even in the best case scenario, in Beaverton, three quarters to nearly two thirds of Black students are not where educators, future employers, college admissions officers or their parents would hope to see them.

But Portlands poor showing for its roughly 3,500 Black students stands out, particularly after years of lip service from leaders about improving their outcomes and a budget model that assigns extra adults to schools that serve large numbers of students who come from less well-off families.

At least part of the explanation could be the large percentages of Portland Public Schools Black students who have missed at least 17 days or more of the school year, meaning they are absent for big swaths of instructional time.

Statewide data on absenteeism from the 2024-2025 school year is not yet available, but in 2023-2024, 55% of Portlands Black students missed at least 17 days of school, well above the state average of 43% and the 31% rate for the districts white students.

By contrast, chronic absenteeism rates for Black students in the four suburban school districts were much lower, typically around 30%.

Dan Farley, the Oregon Department of Educations assistant superintendent of testing and research, told reporters this week that national research shows a clear correlation between absenteeism and academic outcomes. But it has been a decade since the Oregon education agency performed a direct comparison of how absenteeism impacts individual student performance.

That analysis, from 2016, found that chances that fifth graders would be able to achieve proficiency on math and reading tests increased dramatically if they regularly attended school. Being chronically absent as a fifth grader also exponentially increases the chances of not graduating from high school, the state found.

Oregons post-pandemic strategies to combat chronic absenteeism have largely been left to each district to decide, though Gov. Tina Kotek has declared September to be Attendance Awareness Month. The 2025 Legislature punted on a plan to require real-time data tracking of chronic absenteeism, a strategy thats been successful in Indiana and Rhode Island. Lawmakers also declined to pay for technology updates to help school systems better track down students who are not showing up, a tactic that helped Michigan reduce its absenteeism rates by 8% in a year.

Instead, state lawmakers opted for further study of the problem, via an advisory group charged with providing recommendations for action in 2027.

Another strategy that has been successful in places including Clark County, Nevada, but that is not in widespread use in Portland or in Oregon is home visits. Clark County schools officials say their staff tallied more than 38,000 visits to the homes of chronically absent students in 2023-2024, plus another 6,000 over the summer. It paid off with a 9 percentage point decrease in absenteeism across all student groups in the past two years, the school district says.
A federal judge Sunday night issued a new broader order barring any National Guard members from being relocated from any state for federal service in the state of Oregon.

During an unusual, late-night hearing by phone, U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut said she was troubled to learn that the Trump administration had already sent about 200 California National Guard members to Oregon and that Texas National Guard members were now authorized by the defense secretary to be transferred as well to Oregon to protect federal property and officers.

She found that the Trump administration was directly violating her prior order issued Saturday, in which she found no justification for federalized military to serve anywhere in the state.

Sometime after midnight early Sunday, 101 California National Guard members landed in Oregon at the Portland Air National Guard base, and another 99 were set to arrive between 4 and 5 p.m., after Immergut Saturday night had blocked Trump from deploying Oregon National Guard members at Portlands ICE building on the South Waterfront.

It is not appropriate to bring federalized military into Oregon at this time, she said. Im troubled by the direct contravention of my (prior) order.

Immergut grilled the federal governments attorney Eric Hamilton, asking how he can circumvent her prior order based on her earlier finding halting any Oregon National Guard mobilization to Portland.

Youre an officer of the court, she told him. Do you believe this is an appropriate way to deal with a judges order that you disagree with?

Hamilton said the federalized California National Guard members were sent to Oregon to protect federal property and personnel, and argued that the state of California did not have authority to challenge the transfer since its Guard members already were under Trumps command and control.

Mr. Hamilton, you are missing the point, Immergut responded.

There is not a legal basis to bring federalized National Guard members into Oregon, the judge said. You have to have a colorable claim that Oregon conditions require it, but you dont, so why is this appropriate?

The state of Oregon and City of Portland added the state of California on Sunday to a new amended suit filed against the Trump administration, and sought the new emergency order to block California National Guard troops from mobilizing at Portlands ICE facility.

They asked the judge to block the deployment of the California National Guard members, or in the alternative, prohibit the Trump administration from sending any National Guard members from any other state under his command to Oregon once they learned late Sunday that Texas National Guard troops were also being mobilized to Oregon.

Immergut quickly scheduled the evening hearing.

It feels like were playing a game of rhetorical Whack-a-Mole, said attorney Scott Kennedy, representing the Oregon Department of Justice. We need to broaden this relief to prevent this gamesmanship from persisting.

After the state of Oregon filed a motion Sunday afternoon for a new temporary restraining order to halt the deployment of California National Guard troops, the state received a memorandum from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth federalizing members of the Texas National Guard to serve in Oregon.

Its hard to know if this was cause and effect, Kennedy said.

Attorneys for Oregon on Sun., Oct. 5, submitted to the court this memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth mobilizing Texas National Guard members to Portland, Chicago and other cities "where needed." Oregon Department of Justice

Immergut, in a sweeping 31-page ruling filed in court about 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, found that there was no threat of rebellion or any credible legal justification for the deployment of National Guard members to Portland.

Title 10, Section 12406, allows the President to call into Federal service members and units of the National Guard of any State in such numbers as he considers necessary, to either repel an invasion, suppress a rebellion or ensure federal laws can be executed.

Attorney Jane Reilley, representing the state of California, argued that California would face immediate harm if the judge did not intervene.

What were seeing here is California soldiers being unwilling participants in an unlawful federalization mission, and that does harm not only to our sovereign rights as the standard commander chief of these forces, but also does damage to the morale and reputation of our National Guard troops, she said.

The state of California also would face a significant hurdle if it needed to call on these National Guard members to respond to a natural disaster or emergency in the state, she said.

On Sunday night, Immergut issued the broader second temporary restraining order based on the findings she made in her prior ruling: Theres no threat of rebellion in Portland. Local and state police are able to handle protests that erupt outside the federal immigration building and federal agencies have not been prohibited from enforcing federal immigration or other laws.

She prohibited the relocation, federalization or deployment of any National Guard, under the presidents command within the state of Oregon.

The judge, who was nominated to the federal bench by Trump in 2019, found the reassignment of National Guard members from California and Texas appeared to violate both federal law and the 10th Amendment, which says that powers not delegated to federal officials are reserved to the States.

The temporary order lasts 14 days, unless the judge decides to extend it for another two weeks.

The U.S. government is expected to ask the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to put a hold, or stay, on Immerguts second order, as they have requested a hold on her prior order.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, Attorney General Dan Rayfield and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson praised Immerguts latest order.

The court affirmed what common sense tells us: if Portland does not need federal troops from Oregon, then we do not need federal troops from California  or anywhere else, said Wilson in a statement. Our local police officers are focused on protecting Portlanders right to protest peacefully and keeping our community safe. Federal troops will not make our community safer, period.
Portland police on bike patrol near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in South Portland on Oct. 5, 2025. Zaeem Shaikh

Late Sunday, following an order barring any National Guard members from being relocated from any state for federal service in the state, Oregon politicians issued the following statements:

Gov. Tina Kotek:

This ruling is another validation of the facts on the ground in Portland. It is also a clear and forceful rebuttal to President Trumps misuse of states National Guard.

The rule of law must stand. This is not just about Oregon or a handful of states anymore -- its about the integrity of our democracy.

President Trumps actions are an effort to occupy and incite cities and states that dont share his politics, and I believe that we should expect him to continue to push the limits of his authority.

The President can expect Oregon to stand up to him at every turn. I want to thank Attorney General Rayfield, the City of Portland Attorneys Office, and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, and their teams for great, expeditious work.

While the fight is far from over, Oregon remains united and ready to defend our values and our rights. Stay calm, stay together, stay strong.

Attorney General Dan Rayfield:

The federal government kept pushing the line  and in response, we asked the court to bar the deployment of any states National Guard. That tells you everything you need to know about how serious this is. Yesterday, the court issued a thoughtful, well-reasoned opinion making clear that the Presidents actions were unlawful and unnecessary. Nothing has changed since then  except more gamesmanship.

The court recognized what weve said all along: there is no rebellion, no invasion, and no justification for militarizing our communities. The President cannot keep playing whack-a-mole with different states Guard units to get around court orders and the rule of law.

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson:

The court affirmed what common sense tells us: if Portland does not need federal troops from Oregon, then we do not need federal troops from California  or anywhere else. Our local police officers are focused on protecting Portlanders right to protest peacefully and keeping our community safe. Federal troops will not make our community safer, period.
President Donald Trump deployed the California National Guard to Oregon hours after a federal judge had ordered the Trump administration to halt its attempt to send 200 Oregon National Guard members to Portland.

The Trump administration is calling in troops to control protests outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in South Portland.

Gov. Tina Kotek accused the president of trying to circumvent the ruling.

There is no need for military intervention in Oregon, Kotek said. There is no insurrection in Portland. No threat to national security. ... Oregonians exercising their freedom of speech against unlawful actions by the Trump Administration should do so peacefully.

Other Oregon politicians weighed in as well:

Having illegitimately attempted to federalize the Oregon National Guard and being blocked because there is no invasion or rebellion in Portland, Trump continues to try to incite riots and violence by deploying the California National Guard to Portland.

This is unacceptable. This is wrong. This is un-American.

This is authoritarianism, plain and simple.

Was there something Donald Trump was too dense to understand in Judge Immerguts conclusion yesterday that his determination was simply untethered to the facts?

He later posted:

Donald Trump got the first judge assigned to this case recused. The second judge who correctly ruled against him was appointed by Trump. Trump is truly the Whiner-in-Chief.

Yesterday, Trumps federal agents brutalized peaceful demonstrators at the SW Macadam ICE facility. It is egregious and a betrayal of American values. He is deliberately trying to provoke violence to tell a story about our city that is not based in reality.

Now, hes attempting to mobilize the California National Guard to Portland to circumvent yesterdays ruling that blocked him from deploying the Oregon National Guard. It is just another attempt to militarize our cities to stoke violence.

My message remains the same: stay calm and do not take the bait. I urge everyone to avoid protesting at the SW Macadam ICE facility while Trump continues to use violent tactics against civilians in an attempt to paint Portland as a war zone.

Portlanders know who we are. We take care of one another, we stay peaceful, and we will not let Trumps chaos define our city.

This President is obviously hellbent on deploying the military in American cities, absent facts or authority to do so. It is up to us and the courts to hold him accountable. Thats what we intend to do.

Oregonians know whats really happening here. Portland isnt a war zone. As a community, we need to come together and take this moment to show the world who we are: keep Portland safe while our fight in the court continues to move forward.

Were ready today to hold the administration accountable and to protect the people of Oregon.

Yesterday, a federal judge blocked the mobilization of Oregon National Guard troops, ruling the federal seizure unlawful and unjustified. Despite that ruling, the federal government has activated California National Guard personnel under Title 10 to operate in Portland.

This action circumvents the courts decision and threatens to inflame a community that has remained peaceful. Our legal team is coordinating with our partners and will immediately pursue all lawful steps to enforce the judges order and protect Portlanders rights.

Portland remains committed to protecting the right to protest and safeguarding our communitys safety. Ive said from the very beginning, the number of federal troops needed or wanted in our city is zero. We are also committed to peaceful, purposeful protest, and the legal process.

I urge federal leadership to honor the courts judgment and suspend any deployments that defy it. Portland will defend the rule of law and the rights of our residents.

Oregon House Speaker Julie Fahey in a statement:

On Saturday, Judge Karin Immergut issued a temporary restraining order blocking Pres. Trumps attempt to deploy the national guard in our state, writing, This is a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law. [The Trump administration has] made a range of arguments that, if accepted, risk blurring the line between civil and military federal powerto the detriment of this nation.

This morning, we learned that Donald Trump intends not only to blur that line, but perhaps erase it altogether by sending the California National Guard into Oregon.

Oregonians have showed up peacefully, calmly, and united against Trumps abuse of the Constitution, and we will continue to do so. As Judge Immergut noted, Trumps claims of insurrection in Portland are untethered to facts.

Our communities are not military training grounds; our neighbors are not enemy combatants. Trumps deployment of the California National Guard to Oregon is on the wrong side of the law, its on the wrong side of history, and its on the wrong side of the American people.
Members of the Texas National Guard are deployed to an area of high migrant crossings along the United States border with Mexico on May 10, 2023 in Brownsville, Texas. Getty Images

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek was informed Sunday that the Texas National Guard is preparing a deployment to Oregon and other states, a move supported by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

The news came as U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut was holding a hearing by phone Sunday night after the state of Oregon and City of Portland added California to an amended lawsuit filed against the Trump administration.

During that hearing, Immergut said she was troubled to learn that the Trump administration had already sent about 200 California National Guard members to Oregon and that Texas National Guard members were later authorized to be transferred to Oregon to protect federal property and officers.

She found that the Trump administration was directly violating her prior order, in which she found no justification for federalized military to serve anywhere in the state.

Immergut on Saturday had ordered the Trump administration to halt its mobilization of 200 Oregon National Guard troops to protect the ICE building in Portland and its officers amid nightly protests.

Abbott posted on X on Sunday night that he supports sending Texas troops to other states.

You can either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let Texas Guard do it, Abbott posted on X Sunday night.

Abbotts post came in response to Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who shared on X that no officials from the federal government called him directly to discuss or coordinate the Texas guard deploying to his state.

Kotek says she was not directly informed either.

Kotek released the following statement after the Oregon National Guard was informed about the Texas deployment:

I have been notified that the Department of War has ordered the Texas Adjutant General to deploy 400 Texas National Guard members to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations throughout the United States.

I have received no direct explanation from President Trump or Secretary Hegseth about the specific need for this action. It is unclear how many will go to what location and what mission they will carry out.

This is a continuation and escalation of the Presidents dangerous, un-American misuse of states National Guard members and hard-earned taxpayer dollars.

I join Illinois Governor JB Pritzker in his call on Texas Governor Greg Abbott to immediately withdraw any support for this decision and refuse to coordinate.

I will continue to keep the public apprised. As Governor, I will continue to fight to uphold the rule of law and the right to govern ourselves.
Sometime after midnight early Sunday, Oct. 5, 101 California National Guard members landed in Oregon at the Portland Air National Guard base, and another 99 were set to arrive around 4 p.m., according to the Oregon Department of Justice. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer, File) AP

The state of Oregon and City of Portland added California on Sunday to an amended lawsuit filed against the Trump administration and sought a new emergency order to block California National Guard troops from mobilizing in Portland.

U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut agreed to hold a hearing by phone at 7 p.m. Sunday on the new motion for a new restraining order, the latest development in a weekend of last-minute legal maneuvers. (Some technical difficulties delayed the hearing until 7:49 p.m. )

Attorneys for the two states and city argue that President Donald Trump is still restricted by federal law that says any federalization of National Guard members must be necessary.

Theyve asked the judge to block the deployment of the California National Guard members, or in the alternative, prohibit the Trump administration from sending any National Guard members from any other state under his command to Oregon.

(By Sunday night, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said she was told Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered 400 Texas National Guard members to Oregon and Illinois, though she said she received no direction explanation from Trump or Hegseth.)

In a sweeping 31-page ruling issued Saturday, Immergut decided that there was no threat of rebellion or any credible legal justification for the deployment of National Guard members to Portland.

Title 10, Section 12406 allows the President to call into Federal service members and units of the National Guard of any State in such numbers as he considers necessary, to either repel an invasion, suppress a rebellion or ensure federal laws can be executed.

What was unlawful yesterday is unlawful today, Attorney General Dan Rayfield said at a joint news conference Sunday with Kotek and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson. What was unlawful with the Oregon National Guard is unlawful with the California National Guard. The judges order was not some minor procedural point for the President to work around, like my 14 -year-old does when he doesnt like my answers.

Lawyers for the two states and Portland argue that Trump is now circumventing, Immerguts order and the deployment of California-based Guard members to Oregon is illegal.

Even accepting arguendo that the California National Guard were properly federalized in Los Angeles in June, that does not give Defendants carte blanche to use those soldiers anywhere, for any purpose, and for any amount of time, lawyers for Oregon, California and Portland wrote in their motion for a new restraining order.

They cannot continue to hold the federalized National Guard members hostage by altering their mission and sending them to another State, they argued.

The federal governments initial order federalizing California National Guard members in June clearly did not contemplate the use of the California troops for completely unrelated activity in Oregon, they wrote.

The public interest considerations have intensified since Saturday, as California now also is harmed by having its National Guard members over 800 miles away from Los Angeles, where they were initially deployed, the emergency motion says.

The potential harm is also great to Oregon and Portland, officials said Sunday.

Without a new court-granted restraining order, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said the state will have no authority to block California National Guard troops from showing up at the ICE facility in Portland, which Trump administration lawyers have argued is under siege. She spoke at the joint virtual news conference Sunday.

Plaintiffs seek to protect their sovereignty, retain control over local law enforcement and public safety, and prevent unnecessary disruption to Oregons largest city, wrote the lawyers for Oregon, California and Portland.

They also contend the federal government breached the 10th Amendment by asserting authority over a state militia that the U.S. Constitution expressly assigns to the states. The 10th Amendment says that powers not delegated to federal officials are reserved to the States.

Trump initially sent up to 4,000 California National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles to support federal officers. But in early September, U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer of San Francisco issued an injunction, finding the federalization of California National Guard and deployment of military troops violated federal law. By then, the number of Guard members remaining in Los Angeles had dwindled to about 400. Breyer barred the troops from engaging in any police actions, including arrests, searches, or traffic, crowd, security or riot control.

But the California judges federal injunction is on hold while the case is pending appeal before the 9th U.S Circuit Court of Appeals.

On Saturday night, after Immergut issued her temporary restraining order blocking Trumps attempted use of Oregon National Guard troops to support federal officers at Portlands ICE facility, the U.S. Army Northern Command informed the California Military Departments leaders that the federal government was sending 200 California National Guard members from Los Angeles to Portland, according to court filings by the two states and Portland.

Sometime after midnight early Sunday, 101 California National Guard members landed in Oregon at the Portland Air National Guard base, and another 99 were set to arrive between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., officials said.

The California Military Department also was told Sunday that the Trump administration was extending the federalization of the remaining 300 California National Guard members currently deployed through Jan. 31, 2026, the filings said.

The California National Guard members sent to Oregon have already received the training and other preparations that would ordinarily be needed, according to Oregon Brigadier General Alan R. Gronewold, in a sworn declaration to the court.

I am therefore unaware of any impediment to these members of the California National Guard being deployed in Oregon for those purposes as early as today, he wrote in his Sunday declaration.

REQUEST TO APPELLATE COURT

Separately, the Trump administration on Sunday filed an emergency motion with the federal appellate court to put a hold on Immerguts order temporarily blocking the deployment of Oregon troops to the Portland ICE building.

Lawyers for Oregon and the city of Portland are challenging that motion.

In her ruling issued about 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Immergut rejected the federal governments assertion that Portland faces a danger of rebellion and said she wasnt persuaded by the U.S. Justice Departments argument that regular forces are unable to execute federal law.

Lawyers for the U.S. government also failed to show that federal officers need backup from the National Guard to protect the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building or themselves, Immergut found.

The state and the city of Portland, the judge wrote, provided substantial evidence that the protests at the ICE field office in South Portland were not significantly violent or disruptive in the days - or even weeks - leading up to the Presidents directive issued last weekend.

U.S. Department of Justice lawyers called Immerguts order extraordinary, arguing that the district judge doesnt have the authority to second-guess the Commander in Chiefs military judgments, and must give deference to the president.

They contend that Trump had more than ample grounds to justify the deployment, arguing that the existing large assignment of federal officers to protect Portlands ICE facility and its officers is unsustainable, and local police have been unwilling to control protesters violent actions.

In opposition, lawyers from the Oregon Department of Justice and the Portland City Attorneys office reiterated Immerguts findings, namely that Trump failed to meet any of the required legal criteria to justify the mobilization of state National Guard troops to Portland. The larger demonstrations and clashes with federal officers occurred mostly in June, some 90 days before he mobilized the Oregon National Guard into federal service on Sept. 28.

Defendants actions infringe on Oregons sovereign power to manage its own law enforcement activity and its own National Guard and cause economic and other harms to the city of Portland, wrote Oregon Assistant Attorney General Stacy M. Chaffin and Senior Deputy City Attorney Denis M. Vannier.

What is worse, they do so based entirely on inaccurate information, they wrote. The public interest is served by a judicial order preserving the rule of law in the face of unprecedented and unlawful Executive action that threatens grave and irreparable damage to our State and the Nation.

The federal government has asked the appellate court for a ruling sometime Monday on its motion to put a hold on Immerguts order.

The hope is that well have a little bit of finality on that within the next 24 hours for the governor, so that she can operate as she needs to for the state, Rayfield said at Sundays news conference.
Portland will see clear skies and warm early fall temperatures Monday as high temps climb well above average.

The National Weather Service expects another windy day on the east side of the metro area with peak gusts across the Cascades in the 25-30 mph range and stronger winds in the western part of the Columbia River Gorge at 35-40 mph at times.

Portland will see sunny skies and gusty winds up to 20 mph in areas west of the mouth of the gorge. Mondays high temp will be about five degrees above average reaching near 76.

The weather service expects winds to die down in most areas during the overnight hours due to the break down in the current thermal trough.

Tuesday brings another sunny day with temperatures warming to about 78 degrees. Its possible areas in the southern Willamette Valley reach 80 degrees which is about 10 degrees warmer than average during early October in Eugene.

Forecasters are looking at a shift to cooler and wetter weather that begins as an upper level trough moves from the Canadian coast into the Pacific Ocean sinking southward toward the Pacific Northwest.

This system will create a slow-moving closed low that likely will reach the Oregon coast sometime Friday or Saturday.

The movement of this system will cool off Portlands high temps on Wednesday by more than 10 degrees. Skies will still be mostly sunny, but the high will lower to about 65.

Rain chances slowly increase beginning Thursday as Portland has a 30% of showers. Chances of rain grow to 40-60% Friday and 70-85% Saturday. High temps will stay in the low-to-mid 60s during that time.
Most days, I love my dual-monitor office setup. But then deals like the one for this Samsung ViewFinity S50GC come along and make me itch to add another monitor to my setup. This 34-inch Samsung ultrawide display just dropped to $219.99 on Amazon, a massive savings on its original $329.99 tag and the lowest price its ever been! Hot dang.

The star of the show here is the 34401440 resolution, providing lots more screen real estate than your typical 1440p 16:9 display. Want to fit your apps side by side on screen without feeling cramped? Thisll get the job done. Its only a VA panelthats how it stays so cheapso dont expect the super color accuracy or vibrancy of IPS or OLED, but those options would easily cost you double or even quadruple. It does have HDR10 support though for enjoying Netflix and the like.

The 100Hz refresh rate is fine for office work and media streaming, but not the best for avid gamers. Same goes for the 5ms response time. Connectivity is pretty standard as well, with dual HDMI 2.2 and one DisplayPort 1.2 for inputs, and the minimal bezel keeps it sleek and undistracting. Built-in Picture in Picture mode also aids with productivity, allowing you to keep one source minified while focusing on a task.

The Samsung ViewFinity S50GC is pretty basic, but sometimes thats all you need in a monitorand that no-bells-or-whistles approach means you can grab this 34-inch 1440p ultrawide for only $219.99. Dont miss out on this deal! If you want something a step up, check out our roundup of the best monitors for a home office.

Get this 34-inch Samsung 1440p ultrawide monitor at its best price
It was one of the most prominent companies that ever called south central Pennsylvania home, and now its just a memory.

Rite Aid announced in one simple line at the bottom of its homepage on its website that it has closed.

All Rite Aid stores have now closed, the short message reads. We thank our loyal customers for their many years of support.

The last two Rite Aid pharmacies closed on Sept. 29 in Bainbridge Island, Washington, and in Bend, Oregon.

The company announced in May that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for a second time.

But this time would be different.

This would be the beginning of the end of Rite Aid, a company that once called East Pennsboro Township in Cumberland County home for decades.

The company said at the time that at the end of the second bankruptcy that all stores would either close or be operated by a new owner.

Rite Aid transferred its prescription files to a number of companies, including CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Albertsons, Kroger, Weis and Giant Eagle. CVS also took over 64 Rite Aid stores in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

The store closings were staggered over a number of months. In fact, Rite Aid announced 20 separate times (in bankruptcy filings) which stores would close next, with the final announcement in August.

The company had more than 400 stores in the Keystone State at one time. Many of the locations were in business for decades. Some operated around the clock. In some places, a Rite Aid store was the only pharmacy in that area.

Rite Aid has closed its store in Steelton, Pa. Daniel Urie | durie@pennlive.com

For example, in Steelton, Rite Aid was the only pharmacy in town when it closed last year.

Rite Aid on Market Street in Harrisburg. March 16, 2023. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Downtown Harrisburg had a Rite Aid and a CVS, both have now closed.

Rite Aid in Duncannon, Perry County is holding a store closing sale. The store's pharmacy closed on May 22. Sue Gleiter

In Perry County, there were six pharmacies. Now, with the recent closings, there are three.

Rite Aid employed thousands of people at its stores. And even though the company moved its headquarters to Philadelphia in 2023 and many of its corporate employees began working remotely, more than 500 worked or reported to a corporate office in Newberry Township, York County. The company also laid off 595 workers who worked at or reported to its Philly headquarters.

History

The former Rite Aid store at 309-311 Market St. in downtown Harrisburg. (File photo/Kristen Cortazzo, The Patriot-News) Harrisburg Patriot-News

Rite Aid was founded in 1962 with a single store in Scranton called the Thrift D Discount Center. The company was founded by Alex Grass and went public in 1972.

By the time Grass retired in 1995, there were 3,000 Rite Aid stores. It was the number one drugstore chain in terms of store numbers and the number two in sales at the time.

Grass was a major philanthropist, donating to The Whitaker Center, HACC, and the Jewish Federation, among others. His last name still graces several buildings in the Harrisburg area.

Alexs son Martin Grass was CEO from 1995 to 1999.

The company was hit by an accounting scandal in 1999 when the government said Rite Aid had overstated $1.6 billion in corporate earnings. A number of company officials landed behind bars, including Martin Grass, who was sentenced to a term of seven years in federal prison.

The companys stock went from around $50 to a low of less than $2 per share in the years afterward. Rite Aid shares plunged even further in the late 2000s, falling to as little as 25 cents.

By 2015, the company had more than 4,600 stores operating in 31 states and Washington D.C.

Failed mergers

Walgreens in New Jersey Friday, September 22, 2023. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

On October 27, 2015, Walgreens and Rite Aid announced a major deal. The transaction, if approved, would combine the largest drugstore chain in the United States with the third largest chain, with Rite Aid slowly fading away.

In February 2016, Rite Aid shareholders approved the deal. But it never happened because the Federal Trade Commission never approved it, even as Rite Aid attempted to sell off more than 800 stores to Tennessee-based Freds Inc. (which ended up going out of business in 2019).

Rite Aid and Walgreens waited and waited and waited for the Federal Trade Commission to approve the deal. The months turned into more than a year. Concerned it might not get clearance from the Federal Trade Commission, Rite Aid began to consider other potential business plans, including an alternative asset sale to Walgreens, and began negotiating the terms of an asset sale.

The two companies then terminated the original merger agreement and simultaneously entered into an asset purchase agreement on June 28, 2017.

Walgreens agreed to purchase a total of 1,932 stores, three distribution centers, and related inventory from Rite Aid for $4.37 billion.

Albertsons' proposed merger with Rite Aid was unsuccessful. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) AP

In February 2018, Rite Aid was still transferring stores to Walgreens. That month, grocery chain Albertsons and Rite Aid announced a merger.

But that didnt work out either.

Six months later, the two companies agreed to terminate the merger agreement. The evening before Rite Aids shareholders were slated to vote on the $24 billion merger, the companies put a stop to it.

Had it passed, Rite Aid shareholders would have owned only about 30% of the combined new company.

But increased opposition by shareholders and two leading proxy advisers was enough to persuade Rite Aid to back away.

Albertsons later attempted to merge with Kroger. Albertsons then sued Kroger after that deal didnt work out.

Rebranding

The Rite Aid store of the future is unveiled in Newberry Township, Pa., Oct. 13, 2020. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com

By 2020, Rite Aid was planning to start anew with failed mergers in its rearview mirror.

On March 17, 2020, Rite Aid announced it was beginning a $700 million store overhaul over the next two years.

The timing of the announcement wasnt great. The week before, many businesses began working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials said at the time that the changes would include an overhaul in merchandise, implementing workflow changes, re-engineering how the entire pharmacy team works, changing workspace, hiring more technicians, digital updates, and a new logo.

Seven months later, the drugstore chain introduced two pilot stores for what the company was calling the store of the future.

A new home in Philadelphia

In September 2021, Rite Aid announced it was downsizing and moving its headquarters, and that its corporate employees would go remote. A year later, Rite Aid unveiled a new headquarters in the Navy Yard district, calling it the Rite Aid Collaboration Center.

Rite Aid Corporation on Hunter Lane in East Pennsboro Township. September 14, 2021. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

The pharmaceutical company sold its longtime property at 29 and 30 Hunter Lane in East Pennsboro Township on Feb. 28, 2023, to White Rock Realty for $4.73 million, according to Cumberland County property records.

Rite Aid owned three buildings on Hunter Lane and had occupied the facilities since 1991.

The 30 Hunter Lane main office building has approximately 175,000 square feet of space.

The annex has approximately 29,000 square feet of space.

The 29 Hunter Lane Building has approximately 3,300 square feet of space

Department of Justice files a complaint

On March 13, 2023, the United States Department of Justice filed a complaint in intervention in a whistleblower lawsuit against Rite Aid, alleging that it knowingly filled unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances from May 2014 through June 2019.

We allege that Rite Aid filled hundreds of thousands of prescriptions that did not meet legal requirements, Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta said in a news release at the time. According to our complaint, Rite Aids pharmacists repeatedly filled prescriptions for controlled substances with obvious red flags, and Rite Aid intentionally deleted internal notes about suspicious prescribers. These practices opened the floodgates for millions of opioid pills and other controlled substances to flow illegally out of Rite Aids stores.

In 2024, Rite Aid and the government agreed to settle the case.

First bankruptcy

The former Rite Aid store at 3200 Market St. in Camp Hill. (Daniel Urie, PennLive)

Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October 2023 and said it would begin restructuring to significantly reduce its debt.

The company said it has exited bankruptcy with a right-sized store footprint, more efficient operating model, significantly less debt and additional financial resources.

The company said it has eliminated approximately $2 billion of total debt. Additionally, it has received approximately $2.5 billion in exit financing to support the business going forward.

Ownership of the company transitioned to certain Rite Aid creditors, and all of Rite Aids existing common shares were canceled, the company announced.

In October 2023, when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Rite Aid had more than 2,100 stores and around 47 locations in Cumberland, Dauphin, York, Lancaster, Lebanon, and Perry counties. Rite Aid had announced the closings of more than 800 stores during that first bankruptcy, including 80 locations in Pennsylvania.

Second bankruptcy

The former Rite Aid store at 337 W. Chocolate Ave., Derry Township. October 28, 2019. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Rite Aid said in May 2025 it was pursuing a strategic and value-maximizing sale process for substantially all of its assets. The drugstore chain said in order to make the sales process happen, it has entered into Chapter 11 proceedings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey.

The chain said that since emerging from bankruptcy in September 2024, it has continued to experience a number of financial challenges and that the only viable path forward was to commence Chapter 11 proceedings.

Between May and September 2025, the company closed all of its remaining stores, which amounted to more than 1,200 locations.

Many former Rite Aid stores remain vacant.
Schools in Pennsylvania do well when they are properly funded. But lower-income districts dont get the money they need under the states current formula, according to a panel of experts who gathered Sunday.

The two-hour event, entitled School Board Elections: What Voters Need to Know, took place Sunday afternoon at Central Penn College.

It was advertised as a non-partisan forum organized by the 10th District Network School Board Issues Forum more than four weeks before the November election.

The 10th District encompasses all of Dauphin County as well as parts of Cumberland and York counties, and includes the cities of Harrisburg and York.

The event, which drew around 30 people, featured a panel discussion to address bullying and mental health, school safety, and the increasingly complex dynamics within school board governance.

The keynote address was delivered by Marc Stier, executive director of the Pennsylvania Policy Center, who kicked off the event by highlighting the events other major topic: the states inadequate K-12 education funding system.

He said the state funding of K-12 in Pennsylvania has dropped from over 50 percent in the 1970s to around 32 percent today, which is far below the national average of 48 percent.

Another problem Stier highlighted is that state funding for schools has been totally chaotic, which is another way of saying totally political, for years.

In the 25 years up to 2014, funding for school districts only went through a formula that had some rational basis for four of those years, he said, adding, for most of that period, the legislators would take what they were given last year and then add based on which legislator had more political power than others.

That meant that the school districts that got more tended to be school districts that were wealthier and whiter. And so we had a consistent pattern of while we are reducing state support, additional state monies are going mainly to school districts that are wealthier and white.

Stier explained that because Pennsylvania provides limited state support for public schools, local districts are forced to rely on local funding for over 65 percent of their funding.

This reliance, he said, creates deep disparities, as the wealth and income available to fund education vary widely between communities, leaving students in lower-income districts at a disadvantage.

A school district thats located at the King of Prussia Mall, theres a lot of property wealth, they can raise tons of money at very low rates, he said. Districts in poorer communities can raise very little money at very high rates because theres simply not enough wealth in those school districts.

He posted a chart showing how money was given to lower-income school districts vs. higher-income school districts.

The chart revealed an adequacy gap  what the districts have and what the state needs to provide them  of $558 per student in high-income districts, compared to schools in low-income districts, where the gap is $3,460.

Stier also showed another chart based on race, with a similar disparity.

These are extraordinarily large differences, he said after reviewing the numbers. And frankly, they are the largest differences or the second largest differences in the entire country.

Its simply a myth that schools dont do well in Pennsylvania, he continued. The truth is, schools that are well-funded in Pennsylvania are as good as schools anywhere in the entire world. But schools that are poorly funded in Pennsylvania do a very bad job, and thats because theyre not well funded.

As to whether the situation will improve, Stier didnt sound positive. He noted the current Pa. budget impasse, the fact that the state is spending about $3 billion a year more than its taking in, and that the unspent COVID relief funds that have helped cover that deficit might only last another two years, and then we hit a wall.

It could mean the state will be looking at an annual deficit of $7 billion.

Theres a way to find that revenue, he said, but whether this General Assembly has the political will to do it, whether our governor has the political will to ask for it, however, is another question.

The event was moderated by George Scott, an adjunct professor at Messiah College and a former candidate for U.S. Congress and the Pennsylvania Senate.

Included on the panel were the following:
Elon Musk brought down the hammer and doubled down recently on calls for Netflix subscribers to cancel their membership.

His stern position on the matter comes after Hamish Steeles comments. The director of a canceled Netflix animated series made comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk. As a result, hes calling for subscribers to take it out on Netflix while also taking aim at the streaming giants LGBTQ programming and diversity efforts.

Cancel Netflix, Musk wrote Wednesday afternoon in an X post. He quoted another post made by the right-wing Libs of TikTok account. The account shared screenshots of a company report where Netflix reported it had increased the number of non-white directors and lead actors on its program.

Before then, in an X post on Tuesday, Musk reshared a post from another user who wrote that theyre canceling their Netflix subscription due to the company employing, someone who celebrated the murder of Charlie Kirk and makes content that pushes pro-trans content on my kids.

In response to that post, Musk wrote, Same.

It all seems to stem from a post made by Steele criticizing British Prime Minister Keir Starmers X post mourning Kirks death. Per a screenshot of the post, which was shared on X by Libs of TikTok, the animated shows director wrote, Why the [expletive] are you even commenting on this, [expletive] head.a random nazi gets shot and its a public statement.

Earlier, the Libs accounts shared clips of Steeles animated show, Dead End: Paranormal Park, which was canceled in January 2023. To the Libs, the show was pushing pro-transgender on CHILDREN.

The animated show was a comedy series that ran for two seasons on the streaming platform from June to October 2022. The scary series followed a diverse group of employees at a haunted theme park that featured vengeful spirits, a talking pug and meaningful LGBTQ+ representation.

One of the clips in question that circulated was of Dead End: Paranormal Park protagonist Barney Guttman, who came out transgender to his friend Norma.

Im trans, Norma, Barney says. Being here, its like a whole new place. I can just be Barney, and I can choose if and when I tell people. The character says he has never been happier and says it is important to live your life without apology. Libs of TikTok shared the clip and accused the show of pushing pro-transgender on 7-YEAR-OLDS.

Musk then reshared the post attacking the animated show, writing, This is not okay. He later put up another post that attacked Netflix for pushing a transgender woke agenda, writing, Cancel Netflix for the health of your kids.

Following the tumultuous events for the streamer, Netflixs shares were down 2.2% to $1,173.12 as of Wednesday afternoon.
MOUNT JUDEA, Ark. (AP)  Arkansas officials shot and killed a male black bear that they believe fatally mauled a 60-year-old Missouri man last week at his campsite in the Ozark National Forest, authorities said Monday.

The body of Max Thomas of Springfield, Missouri, was discovered Thursday several yards outside the Sams Throne campground in northwest Arkansas, Newton County Sheriff Glenn Wheeler said.

A deputy had gone to the campground after the mans son reported he had not heard from his father, who had sent his family pictures of a black bear in his camp Tuesday morning, Wheeler said. The deputy found evidence of a struggle and injury, including drag marks from the campground into the woods, the sheriff said.

We believe he was in the process of breaking down his camp when the attack occurred, Wheeler said.

The state medical examiners office determined the mans death to be an animal mauling.

On Sunday, a bear was caught on a trail camera near the campground that appeared to be the same animal photographed by the victim and encountered by another man at a roadside overlook in the area, Wheeler said.

Local hunters and hounds were brought into the area and quickly tracked the bear, which was killed and transported to Little Rock, where authorities will obtain DNA samples to confirm it is the bear that fatally attacked the man.

We knew the bear in the photos was a male and this one is too, Wheeler said in a press release. It matches the size of the photographed bear and has the same facial colorations. Not to mention it was back in the same area where the attack happened.

It is the second fatal bear attack in Arkansas in recent weeks. In September, a 72-year-old man died after being attacked by a bear in nearby Franklin County, according to authorities with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

Despite the recent attacks, Don White Jr., a large mammal ecologist at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, said fatal bear attacks in Arkansas are exceedingly rare.

The last confirmed fatal bear attack in Arkansas was in 1892, said Keith Stephens, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

Although black bears were common in Arkansas before European settlement, the numbers dwindled to fewer than 50 by the 1930s, White said. Those numbers have continued to climb since the reintroduction of hundreds of black bears into the Ouachita and Ozark mountains of Arkansas in the 1950s and 1960s, with an estimated 5,000 black bears in the state now, although White said that figure is difficult to pinpoint.
A mass shooting in downtown Montgomery on Saturday night, Oct. 4, 2025, left two people dead and a dozen others injured. (This is a screengrab from a WSFA report). WSFA

A mass shooting in downtown Montgomery, Alabama, on Saturday night left two people  including a teen  dead and a dozen others injured during what should have been a weekend of celebration in Alabamas capital city.

The gunfire erupted shortly after 11:30 p.m. Saturday near Bibb and Commerce streets.

A total of 12 people were injured. Two people were killed: 17-year-old Jeremiah Morris and 43-year-old Shalonda Williams.

Two teens are among those wounded. One has life-threatening injuries, police said, and the other suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Five victims are in life-threatening condition, and seven suffered whats believed to be non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Seven of the victims are under the age of 20, and the youngest is 16, said Montgomery Police Chief Jim Graboys in a Sunday press conference.

The police chief started his remarks at the press conference with this: Im collecting my thoughts right now because of how angry I am, Graboys said. My feelings of my anger and my heart are out for those families.

Mayor Steven Reed said despite the mass shooting, he believes the city is safe.

A mass shooting in downtown Montgomery, Alabama, Saturday, October 4, 2025 left two people dead and a dozen others injured during a weekend of celebration in the city. Montgomery Police Chief James Graboys and Mayor Steven Reed addresses the public during a press conference, Sunday, October 5, 2025. (Montgomery Police Department) Montgomery Police Department

We arent going to let one or two bad apples spoil the bunch, the mayor said. Were going to find the ones that are rotten, and were going to get them the hell out of here.

Authorities also announced a $50,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to those responsible.

Montgomery has had 52 homicides this year. The city recorded 61 homicides in 2024 and 75 in 2023.

Graboys said police were called around 11:30 p.m. The officers, he said, could hear the shooting.

This started as the result of an individual, one of these 14 (injured or killed), who we believe was targeted, in which basically an exchange of gunfire erupted, he said.

When that exchange erupted, multiple people in the crowd pulled their own weapons and started discharging, Graboys said. Now, as you can imagine, that can be a very chaotic situation, and every weapon has to be accounted for and every piece of evidence has to be processed.

The shooters, he said, did not care about the people around them when they did it.

The chief said automatic gunfire was used. Police recovered multiple shell casings and weapons from the scene.

The weapons all had magazine capacities, he said. Some had very high capacities.

At least two of the victims were among those armed, he said, but could not say how many of the wounded were innocent bystanders.

Graboys said investigators were interviewing potential suspects, although no one has yet been charged.

We will do everything we need to gather every bit of evidence to chase down whoever is involved, Graboys said.

Police tape hangs from a pole after a mass shooting in Montgomery on Oct. 4, 2025. Mike Cason

My personal opinion is this was very much preventable because the individuals who pulled the trigger are responsible for this, the chief said. They carried those weapons into this crowd and at any time they could have walked away from this or walked away from whatever was happening but they did not.

The chief said the department is bringing every resource in, including the FBI, ATF, ALEA and the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office.

We are laser-focused, Grayboys said. Were not going to let anything distract us.

The shooting happened after the end of the Morehouse-Tuskegee Classic that brought a crowd to the citys Cramton Bowl stadium. The city opened a new downtown Ferris wheel this weekend, coinciding with the game.

The Alabama National Fair was also being held at the fairgrounds by Garrett Coliseum this weekend. The Alabama State University homecoming game against Bethune-Cookman University was also held Saturday at ASU Stadium.

Reed said police had planned for the crowds expected in the city, and said there were police units within 50 feet on both sides when the shooting broke out, but that the shooters had no regard for human life.

Where the shooting happened was not a sanctioned gathering and not related to activities taking place in the city, Reed said.

Last nights incident was unfortunate but it was avoidable, Reed said. This is not who we are. This is not who we have been.

Police said detectives are pursuing leads and reviewing evidence, including witness statements and surveillance footage.

Video shared by WSFA on social media showed the aftermath of the chaotic scene.
WILLIAMSPORT  Reputed MS-13 gang members attempting to take control of the telephone and television area was the cause of a June 2 fight at the Allenwood low-security prison, a federal prosecutor says.

That information was revealed Monday during the arraignments in the U.S. Middle District Court for four of the 16 suspected gang members indicted last month.

The victims of the assault were three inmates from African countries who required stitches to close head wounds, Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey W. MacArthur said.

They were struck with locks attached to belts or strings, some of which were inside socks, he said. The assault was caught on video, he said.

Darwin Abudeye-Perez was identified by MacArthur as the instigator. He is charged with conspiracy, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and possession of a prohibited weapon.

The Honduran citizen has twice been charged with illegal entry into the United States, MacArthur said. His criminal record also includes a 2005 carjacking, he said.

Another Honduran, Erick Agular-Motino, is facing the same charges as he, too, is accused of using a lock. He is serving a sentence for illegal entry.

His prior record includes assault with a deadly weapon (knife), MacArthur said.

Miguel Lopez, a Mexican citizen in the U.S. on a green card, is charged with conspiracy and three counts of assault. He is serving a sentence in a methamphetamine case.

Cristian Rios-Jarquin, a Mexican citizen serving a cocaine delivery case sentence, is also charged with conspiracy and assault.

The four, through an interpreter, pleaded not guilty. Immigration and Customs Enforcement either has or is expected to file detainers against them, MacArthur said.

Magistrate Judge Sean A. Camoni ordered the four detained.

The remaining 12 named in the indictment are scheduled to be arraigned in the coming days. Their charges include conspiracy, which carries a five-year maximum sentence.

Their other charges are based on whether or not they are accused of using an object in the fight.

MS-13 is an international gang that originated in Los Angeles and has grown into a more criminal organization.

MacArthur said he does not know how the inmates got the locks. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons media office is closed because of the government shutdown.
A sign outside the U.S. Capitol announces that its visitors center is closed because of the government shutdown that started Oct. 1. (Photo by Sabrina Eaton, cleveland.com) Sabrina Eaton, cleveland.com

By Lt. Col. Joe McGrath (Ret.)

As a 29-year Air Force veteran, I have seen what it takes to keep America safe  not just through military hard power, but also through the full weight of our diplomacy, development, and global engagement.

Those of us in uniform have witnessed the direct impact of government shutdowns to our national security.

Six years ago, during the longest shutdown in American history, our country went 35 days without fully funding the federal government. While many Americans remember the gridlock, fewer realize how deeply that shutdown compromised our national defenses.

Cybersecurity personnel at the Department of Homeland Security were required to work unpaid, delaying critical threat monitoring and vulnerability assessments. Intelligence contractors were furloughed. The U.S. Coast Guard missed entire paychecks, weakening mission-critical operations like search and rescue, drug interdiction, and port security.

Embassies abroad were forced to operate at reduced capacity, without critical diplomatic and consular support services. As our rivals were increasing their engagement in these countries, U.S. embassies had to cancel military-to-military cooperation events, and public diplomacy programs.

We could be seeing the same thing play out again as government workers are furloughed, including a potential 17,000 State Department employees serving our nation here and around the world.

We veterans know that national security isnt a part-time commitment  Americas adversaries dont pause their ambitions when we cant keep our government open. China, Russia, and other rivals are rooting for us to falter.

Every shutdown gives them the chance to expand their influence at the cost of our own.

Now is the time for us to lead in the world, with a strong defense backed by dogged diplomacy and win-win international assistance programs that make the world safer and America stronger.

Im so proud to have served our country, the leader of the free world. But that leadership requires consistency and responsibility to best serve the American people, which is why Congress must find a solution and fund our government.

Joe McGrath is president and founder of Beyond the Beachhead Normandy Tours. He retired from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel after nearly three decades as a combat aviator.
Stakes are high in Pa. Supreme Court retention election where 3 Democratic justice are trying to keep their seats. FILE/PHOTO AP

HARRISBURG  There are no $1 million giveaways to voters, cheesehead hats or even candidate debates. Elon Musk is nowhere to be found.

Yet the stakes in the Pennsylvania election this fall are very much the same as they were in Wisconsin last spring: partisan control of the highest court in a crucial presidential swing state.

In November, Pennsylvania voters will decide whether three state Supreme Court justices  all Democrats  should keep their seats for another 10 years on a court that has been at the center of pivotal fights over voting rights, redistricting and elections.

Spending is nowhere near the $100 million spent in Wisconsin  a record amount for a state supreme court race, much of it fueled by groups aligned with billionaires Musk, who briefly worked in President Donald Trumps Republican administration, and George Soros, a donor to liberal causes.

Even so, both parties in Pennsylvania are pouring in money for campaign fliers, digital and TV ads and get-out-the-vote efforts.

The states supreme court has a 5-2 Democratic majority, so an across-the-board loss for Democrats on Nov. 4 could leave the court in a partisan 2-2 stalemate for two years, including through next years midterm elections.

Motivating voters for a retention election

A big difference from Wisconsins Supreme Court race earlier this year is that Pennsylvanias doesnt feature candidates running against each other. Instead, its what is called a retention election, in which voters are asked to vote yes or no on whether to give the current justices another term. The incumbents arent identified by party affiliation.

The traditionally under-the-radar election, with a late-emerging organized campaign by Republicans to defeat the justices, has Democrats worried. Educating their voters and getting them to the polls during an election with major races are top priorities.

Its a full campaign, state Democratic Party Chairman Eugene DePasquale said. The bigger challenge on that isnt so much getting people to vote yes. Its just even getting some people to understand what a retention vote is, because this is really the first time its ever been heavily contested.

The three justices  Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht  are backed by the Democratic Party in their bids for retention.

Should all three lose, their seats would become vacant in January and leave the court deadlocked with a 2-2 partisan split until voters fill the open seats in 2027  unless Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and the state Senate can agree on temporary fill-in appointees.

Complicating it is that the Senate is controlled by Republicans, who might see an advantage in letting the court remain deadlocked.

That means the court might be unable to settle cases involving voting and election laws through the 2026 midterm elections, when the governors office and a handful of contested congressional seats will be on the ballot.

In recent years, the court has made major decisions around voting and elections, necessitated in part by a politically divided and often stalemated state government.

The justices in 2018 threw out a GOP-drawn map of Pennsylvanias congressional districts as unconstitutionally gerrymandered and, four years later, again drew the boundaries after a stalemate in government.

The court also turned away GOP challenges to Pennsylvanias expansive vote-by-mail law, which became a focal point of Republican efforts to overturn Trumps loss to Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Republican justices dissented.

Spending is exceeding any previous retention race

With a month to go before Election Day, spending has exceeded any previous judicial retention election in Pennsylvania.

In 2017, two justices spent just shy of $1 million combined and had no organized opposition during an election in which turnout was less than 20%. Counting money that has been reported or verbally committed, spending in this years election is on pace to exceed $10 million.

While not all of the spending or sources of money have been disclosed publicly, big donors include trial lawyers and labor unions on the Democrats side. Spending also is coming from a group associated with billionaire Jeffrey Yass, Pennsylvanias wealthiest person, for the Republicans campaign against retention.

The justices have been campaigning around the state, mostly in front of friendly audiences, and lining up endorsements from Planned Parenthood and organized labor.

Democrats and their allies were first on the airwaves with a TV ad and are trying to hammer home the justices support for abortion rights, voting rights and labor unions in an ad campaign that advances them as defenders of the law against powerful people and corporations.

We protected access to abortion and your right to vote, even when the powerful came after it, the justices say in a new TV ad. All Pennsylvanians deserve freedom and fairness.

Republican messages target Democratic voters

With mail ballots set to go out soon, Republicans are beginning to spend on an effort to convince voters that 10 years on the states highest court is enough.

Many of their ads are targeting registered Democratic voters with anti-establishment messages that use language typically associated with progressives who oppose Trump.

This fall you can defend democracy and force an election for a new Supreme Court, says one TV ad that ran most heavily in Philadelphia, a Democratic stronghold.

Fliers landing in the mailboxes of registered Democrats carry similar messages. In yet another twist, one flier accuses the justices of drawing the heavily criticized congressional districts that they actually threw out in 2018 as unconstitutionally gerrymandered.

A group that typically acts as a conduit for campaign contributions from Yass, who runs the Wall Street trading firm Susquehanna International Group and has an estimated net worth of $65 billion, is sponsoring TV ads and fliers.

The group, Commonwealth Partners, didnt respond to inquiries about the spending.

Another billionaire looms large in the election

Yass-funded groups have spent millions of dollars each of the last four years in Pennsylvania elections to help Republican candidates, including more than $10 million each in 2022s GOP gubernatorial primary and 2024s election for attorney general.

Beyond Pennsylvania, Yass is one of the biggest contributors to national conservative causes and, through his company, is an investor in Trumps social media company. Yass firm also is a major investor in TikTok owner ByteDance, and this year, Trumps super political action committee, Maga Inc., reported that Yass gave it $16 million.

The campaign also has drawn national party interest.

The Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee have each pledged $500,000.

A page on the Republican National Committees Swamp the Vote website is devoted to urging Republicans to vote no, and the Republican State Leadership Committee reported spending about $500,000 on digital ads and text messages.

It said defeating the three justices would spur a seismic momentum shift in Pennsylvania that would create an opening for more conservative policy victories in the state.

Borrowing from Democrats strategy in Wisconsin, where Musk personally campaigned in the closing days of the April race, DNC Chairman Ken Martin said in a statement that MAGA billionaires are trying to buy the nations courts.

The stakes couldnt be higher in these judicial retention races, especially in the run-up to critical races across the Commonwealth in 2026 and winning back the White House in 2028, he said.
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Lifetimes newest crime thriller, "The Little Girl Who Lived" premieres Sunday, October 5 at 8 p.m. and stars Brittany Bristow, Elizabeth Longshaw and Stuart Bentley.

The Little Girl Who Lived follows the story of Alice, who at age 8 spent four days at the mercy of a serial killer.

The new movie will keep you on the edge of your seat and premieres Sunday, October 5 at 8 p.m. on Lifetime Channel. For those who have cut the traditional cable cord and are opting for a streaming service, you can watch the movie on Philo, which offers a 7-day free trial to new subscribers.

About the movie

At age eight, Alice spent four days at the mercy of The Strigoi, a serial killer who would kidnap children from their family homes in the dead of night, never to be seen again. Alice was the only child to escape to tell the tale.

Now a budding writer, Alice releases a book that details her harrowing abduction at the hands of a serial killer known as the Strigoi. The past soon comes back to haunt her when a kidnapper takes her sister and reveals himself to be the Strigoi.

How to watch The Little Girl Who Lived without cable

You dont need cable to watch Lifetime. You can stream The Little Girl Who Lived live and on-demand with Philo, one of the most affordable live TV streaming services.

Watch on Philo

Philo is a budget-friendly live TV streaming service that includes Lifetime, so you wont miss a moment of this movie.

Free trial: 7 days

Monthly price: $33

What you get: 70+ live channels, including AMC, BET, MTV, Discovery, TLC, Hallmark, Lifetime, History, Food Network, VH1, TV One, HBO Max and discovery+ apps.

Extras: Unlimited DVR (save shows for up to 1 year), stream on up to 3 devices at once and create up to 10 profiles per account.

Add-ons available: STARZ, EPIX, movies and more.

Why stream The Little Girl Who Lived on Philo?

Philo makes it easy to catch The Little Girl Who Lived live or on-demand. Whether you want to watch in real time with the premiere or save the movie for later with Philos unlimited DVR.

Pro tip: Sign up for the 7-day free trial to watch the premiere episode without paying anything upfront.
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The engines are roaring back to life as Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings speeds into its 6th season on Discovery, bringing even bigger rivalries, faster cars and higher stakes to Americas toughest drag strips.

Known for its unpredictable no prep tracks - where racers face raw pavement with no added grip - the hit series pushes drivers and their machines to the limit. Season 6 premieres Monday, October 6 at 8 p.m. and promises more drama, more upsets and a fierce battle for the crown as fan favorites and new challengers line up for the ultimate test of speed and skill.

Fans of the hit series who dont have traditional cable services, but want to stream its newest season can watch it through Philo, which offers a 7-day free trial to new subscribers.

What to expect on tonights premiere episode titled Prove Your Worth

The competition begins; 40 drivers from eight teams try to survive the qualifier and get into the 32-car field invitational, where the winning driver receives $25K in cash.

More about the Series

According to Discovery Channels official synopsis, Americas fastest street racers are back for their wildest ride yet in an all-new format of Discovery Channels Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings. The stakes are higher than ever with more souped-up cars, more drivers  and for the first time, a new fan-nominated team captain."

Philo makes it easy to catch every new episode since it carries the Discovery channel, home of Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings. All you need to do is sign up for a Philo subscription at Philo.com, then log in on your favorite device - whether its a Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, smart TV or even your phone. Philo makes it simple!

How to watch Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings without cable

You dont need cable to watch the Discovery Channel. You can stream Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings live and on-demand with Philo, one of the most affordable live TV streaming services.

Watch on Philo

Philo is a budget-friendly live TV streaming service that includes the Discovery Channel, so you wont miss a moment of this series.

Free trial: 7 days

Monthly price: $33

What you get: 70+ live channels, including AMC, BET, MTV, Discovery, TLC, Hallmark, Lifetime, History, Food Network, VH1, TV One, HBO Max, plus access to AMC+s full library (which comes with fan-favorite brands like Shudder, IFC Films Unlimited, and Sundance Now)

Extras: Unlimited DVR (save shows for up to 1 year), stream on up to 3 devices at once and create up to 10 profiles per account.

Add-ons available: STARZ, MGM+, movies and more.

Why stream Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings on Philo?

Philo makes it easy to catch Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings live or on-demand. Whether you want to watch in real time with the premiere or save episodes for later with Philos unlimited DVR

Pro tip: Sign up for the 7-day free trial to watch the premiere episode without paying anything upfront.
In this photo taken Oct. 4, 2025 and released by Lingsuiye, villagers with their oxen and horses ascend the mountain during rescue efforts to reach hundreds of hikers trapped by heavy snow at tourist campsites on a slope of Mount Everest in Tibet. (Lingsuiye via AP) AP

BEIJING (AP)  Rescuers were helping hundreds of hikers trapped by heavy snow at tourist campsites on a slope of Mount Everest in Tibet, Chinese state media said.

About 350 hikers had reached a meeting point in Tingri country and rescuers were in contact with another 200, state broadcaster CCTV said late Sunday. There was no immediate update on rescue efforts on Monday.

The hikers were trapped at an elevation of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet), according to an earlier report from Jimu News, a Chinese online site. Mount Everest is about 8,850 meters (29,000 feet) tall.

A hiker who rushed to descend before snow blocked the way told Jimu News that others still on the mountain told him the snow was 1 meter (3 feet) deep and had crushed tents.

Hundreds of rescuers headed up the mountain Sunday to clear paths so that trapped people could come down, the Jimu report said. A video shot by a villager showed a long line of people with horses and oxen moving up a winding path in the snow.

In this photo taken Oct. 4, 2025, and released by Lingsuiye, villagers with their oxen and horses ascend the mountain during rescue efforts to reach hundreds of hikers trapped by heavy snow at tourist campsites on a slope of Mount Everest in Tibet. (Lingsuiye via AP) AP

The snowstorm struck during a weeklong national holiday in China, when many travel at home and abroad.

In another mountainous region in western China, one hiker died of hypothermia and altitude sickness and 137 others were evacuated in the north part of Qinghai province, CCTV said Monday.

The search in an area in Menyuan county with an average altitude of more than 4,000 meters (13,100 feet) was complicated by the terrain, unpredictable weather and continuous snowfall, a CCTV online report said.

Mount Everest, known as Mount Qomolangma in Chinese, straddles the border between China and Nepal, where recent heavy rains have left more than 40 people dead.

Climbers attempt to scale the worlds tallest peak from base camps in both countries. The base camp for climbers is separate from the tourist camp where hikers were trapped by the snowfall.
By Laman Ismayilova



The Azerbaijani Cultural Center in Vienna has once again participated in the "Long Night of Museums" project, organized by the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF), Azernews reports.

More than 700 museums, galleries, and cultural institutions across Austria, with nearly 200 from the capital Vienna, took part in the event.

The Azerbaijani Cultural Center presented the exhibition titled "In the Beginning Was the Word... and Music, Colors, and Thoughts".

This exhibition, held in collaboration with the Azerbaijan National Art Museum, the Azerbaijan State Theater Museum, Azerbaijan State Museum of Musical Culture, the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), and ADA University, showcased the development of the national cultural identity formed in Azerbaijan through literature, music, theater, and fine arts.

At the heart of the exhibition were the life and work of Mirza Gadim Iravani, Uzeyir Hajibayli, Hasan bay Zardabi, and Mirza Fatali Akhundov, focusing on their contributions to Azerbaijani culture, modern perspectives, and ideas of enlightenment.

The exhibition, which attracted hundreds of visitors, also featured the European debut of the works of Mirza Gadim Iravani, whose 200th anniversary is being celebrated this year. Iravani played a crucial role in the development of 19th-century national visual arts in Azerbaijan.

Additionally, to promote the upcoming new production of Uzeyir Hajibayli's "The Cloth Peddler" operetta in Vienna, arias and duets from the work were performed. The performances by Gunel Shirinova (soprano), Lukas Kartzel (tenor), and Tamilla Sadigbayli (piano) were met with great interest and applause.

A special program was also prepared for young visitors. Azerbaijani Cultural Center staff Rashida Asgarli and Guler Azizova presented a puppet show in German, based on the motifs of the fairy tale "C?rtdan".

For the 25th time, the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation organized the "Long Night of Museums," where a ticket purchased for one museum grants access to other participating museums for the evening.

Last year, over 300,000 visitors attended the museums during the event, with half of them visiting locations in the capital, Vienna.
Danny Myers Marches On To 888poker UKPL Liverpool Victory

Matthew Pitt Senior Editor Copy link

The Grosvenor G Casino in Liverpool hosted its first-ever 888poker event when the online poker giant brought its UK Poker League (UKPL) tour to the city that gave the world the Beatles. The 560 buy-in UKPL Liverpool Main Event had a 100,000 guarantee on its prize pool, but the 330-strong crowd that turned out for it created an impressive 56,750 pot. Local player Danny Myers claimed the 34,230 top prize and the title of champion.

Thirty-eight places were paid in the UKPL Liverpool Main Event, and some familiar faces were among those cashers. Calogero Morrele, Robert Douras, 888poker ambassadors Nick Eastwood and Josh Manley, Michael Rosaman, Mariusz Czech, Alexander Rizvi, and Adam Wilkinson all saw a return on their investments.

When Andrew White bowed out in tenth, the nine-handed final table was set, with each of the finalists guaranteed at least 3,450 for their efforts.

888poker UKPL Liverpool Main Event Final Table Results

Rank Player Prize 1 Danny Myers 34,230 2 Cieran Tighe 25,430 3 Carl Butcher 17,510 4 Stephen Barnes 11,590 5 Jonathan Roberts 8,000 6 Paul Worsley 5,800 7 Anthony Whalley 4,540 8 Warren Aspey 4,000 9 Alexandros Gkampranis 3,450

Alexandros Gkampranis was the first finalist to fall by the wayside. The 3,450 that Gkampranis banked was a career-best for the ninth-place finisher. Warren Aspey's second cash in an 888poker-branded event was an eighth-place finish worth 4,000.

Down to a meagre four big blinds, Anthony Whalley pinned his tournament hopes on queen-six and needed some help to beat the ace-nine of Cieran Tighe. That helped failed to arrive, and the 888poker UKPL Liverpool Main Event was down to six players.

Having won the massive GOLIATH earlier this year, Paul Worsley navigated to this event's final table. Unfortunately for Worsley and his fans, he bowed out in sixth place for 5,800.

Jonathan Roberts looked set for a timely double-up when he got his stack into the middle with ace-jack and found himself up against the dominated ace-five of diamonds in Stephen Barnes' hand. Barnes' hand remained second-best on the flop, but it turned a five, which proved enough to send Roberts to the cashier's desk to collect a career-best 8,000.

Fourth place and 11,590, the first five-figure prize of the evening, went to Barnes. He committed his 20 big blind stack with ace-ten, only to run straight into the superior ace-king of Tighe. None of the five community cards came to Barnes' rescue, and he finished in fourth for 11,590 only days after finishing fourth in the 250 Opening Voyage for 3,580.

A stroke of bad luck saw Carl Butcher go from hero to zero. First, Butcher could have won the title when he was involved in a three-way all-in with king-jack against pocket sixes and ace-king, only to lose. He then found himself flipping with ace-king against Tighe's pocket sixes. Butcher spiked an ace on the flop, only for Tighe to improve to an unlikely flush. Although painful to bust so deep into a major tournament, the 17,510 Butcher netted will go some way to numbing the pain.

Myers and Tighe fought heads-up for the title and the largest slice of the prize pool. The final hand saw Tighe all-in and at risk with ace-three, and Myers having one hand on the trophy courtesy of his dominating ace-king. The board ran out with no three in sight, which sent Tighe to the rail in second and left Myers to bask in the glory of becoming the 888poker UKPL Liverpool Main Event champion.

888poker UKPL Liverpool Results

Event Buy-in Prize Pool Champion Prize 560 Main Event 330 156,750 Danny Myers 34,230 250 Opening Voyage 195 47,850 William Winchester 9,850 200 Big Shot 99 16,455 Roderick MacNeil 3,995 150 Seniors 29 4,840 Gerard Bennett 2,270 220 KO Rumble 50 4,750 Gilbert Black 1,400

What's Next on the 888poker LIVE Tour?

With only two months of 2025 remaining, the 888poker LIVE tour is starting to wind down. Two more stops are scheduled, one of which starts this week.

The Casino Mediterraneo Alicante hosts the 888poker Noche de Poker El Festival from October 6-12, with the 440 buy-in Main Event first shuffling up and dealing on October 8.

After that is the final leg of the 2025 UKPL season. The Grosvenor G Casino hosts UKPL Coventry from November 11-16. The schedule includes a 1,100 High Roller, and the ever-popular 560 UKPL Main Event.

Coventry hosted two UKPL Main Events last year. Some 371 players turned out for the first of those Coventry-based series, and Jamie Le left them all in his wake as he got his hands on a 37,605 prize. Later in the year, Jamie Morris outlasted 223 opponents and scooped 19,831 after a three-handed deal involving Daniel Scridon and Noam De Frettes.

Satellites for the UKPL Coventry stop are available online at 888poker.

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Jeremy Gaubert Takes Down the RGPS Grand Prix New Orleans Main Event for First RunGood Ring

Ryan Lashmar Live Reporter Copy link

The first RunGood Poker Series stop in New Orleans since 2015 has crowned a champion, with Jeremy Gaubert outlasting the 307-entry field in the RGPS Grand Prix New Orleans $800 Main Event.

While Gaubert has been grinding live tournaments in the South for over 15 years, this is only his third cash at a RunGood event, and he made sure to make it count, claiming his first RunGood ring and the top prize of $45,897.

Feeling good," Gaubert told PokerNews following the win. "I just got second place in Coushatta like three weeks ago. Took a bad beat heads-up. So this was a good feeling to finally win it.

Gaubert, who came in two days ago and played one PLO Tournament before hopping into the Main Event, spoke about his beginnings in poker as an online player pre-Black Friday.

"A lot of people in this area know me by Chemist83, thats my online screen name. I was well known in Louisiana in the online poker scene. I had a lot of health problems in College, so I found online poker. Thats been my profession since 2005. Then online poker got taken awa,y and it forced me into the live scene a little bit more.

RGPS Grand Prix New Orleans $800 Main Event Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 Jeremy Gaubert United States $45,897 2 Zackary Poll United States $30,559 3 Brian Senie United States $22,343 4 Charles Bartlett United States $16,547 5 Ronald Inman United States $12,431 6 Chris Audrain United States $9,476 7 Michael Chilton United States $7,331 8 Dee Wampler United States $5,757 9 Frank Alpandinar United States $4,590

Day 2 Action

Jeremy Gaubert

Day 2 saw 36 survivors return from the first three starting flights, all of whom were in the money. Jeremy Gaubert began the day with the fifth-largest stack, and by the time there were two tables left, Gaubert was leading the field. Gaubert described facing little resistance from that point to the final table.

"My stack kind of just kept going up. At the beginning of the final table, I did get a little bit of resistance, so I decided to play a little bit tighter, sit back, and see what everyone else is doing. I tried to take control of the final table initially, and it wasnt going so well.

Final Table

Ronald Inman briefly overtook Gaubert for the chip lead in the early goings of the final table. By the time there were five players left, Inman held more than one-third of the total chips in play, while Gaubert was down to 20 big blinds, the shortest he had gotten since the day began. Gaubert managed to take the lead back after turning a set of kings to crack Inman's two pair while Inman lost another pivotal all-in soon after and was out in fifth. Gaubert knocked out Charles Bartlett in fourth soon after, before the biggest hand of the tournament played out between Gaubert and Brian Senie.

In a blind-on-blind battle, Gaubert defended the big blind with ace-four. After flopping top pair, he called down Senie on the flop and turn, only for Senie to shove the river. With three players remaining, the two players had roughly 90% of the chips in play, and Senie put Gaubert to the ultimate test with a massive shove. Gaubert spoke about his thought process facing such a pivotal spot with top pair and a weak kicker.

Brian Senie

"On the turn, I kind of felt like he could have some kind of semi-bluff. Hes very capable. I dont think hes just gonna give up after one barrel. So I called again, knowing that Id probably be facing a pretty tough decision on the river. I just dont expect him to give up on the river the way he plays. King on the river, and then he shoves. The diamonds miss, the straight that got there was jack-ten. I guess he could have that. His range was pretty polarized, so hes either gonna have a really huge hand or Im gonna be good. I just decided to flick it in

Following Senie's elimination, Gaubert held a 6:1 lead over Zackary Poll heads-up. Poll was able to take down a few small pots but Gaubert whittled him back down before winning one last preflop race, making a full house with ace-eight to take down the final hand of the night along with the Main Event title.

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The curtains have closed on Day 1 of the 100,000 Super High Roller at the PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Malta at Casino Malta in St. Julians. The event has, so far, attracted 13 entries, with seven of those surviving to progress to Day 2.

Leading the way is Turkeys Orpen Kisacikoglu, sitting on an impressive stack of 903,000. His rise was fueled in part by a perfectly timed cooler that went his way. Both Kisacikoglu and Juan Pardo flopped sets, but Kisacikoglu found a miracle turn card to make quads, securing a huge double-up on his way to holding the overnight chip lead.

End of Day 1 Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Orpen Kisacikoglu Turkey 903,000 151 2 Pieter Aerts Belgium 614,000 102 3 Alexandros Theologis Greece 359,000 60 4 Samuel Mullur Austria 354,000 59 5 Ben Heath United Kingdom 343,000 57 6 Mikita Badziakouski Belarus 341,000 57 7 Adrian Mateos Spain 338,000 56

Entering Day 2 with the second-largest stack, Pieter Aerts will be looking to add to his already impressive poker resume. Fresh from winning the 25,000 No Limit Hold'em event at EPT Barcelona in August, Aerts has momentum on his side. The Belgian amassed a stack of 614,000 for Day 2, good for 102 big blinds at the start of play.

Pieter Aerts

Not all who entered were fortunate enough to secure a seat for Day 2. Players such as Christopher Nguyen, [Removed:548], and Jamil Wakil fell foul of the deck before the end of the day.

All hope is not lost, though, as reentries are permitted, and late registration remains open until the beginning of Day 2. As such, the field is sure to see more poker stars enter the fray, ready to battle, hoping to become the newest EPT Super High Roller champion. The official prize pool and payouts will be announced shortly after play begins.

Day 2 resumes on Monday, October 6, at 12:30 p.m. local time. Play will recommence at Level 9, with blinds at 3,000/6,000/6,000, and is scheduled to run for eight 60-minute levels. Players will take a 20-minute break after every two levels.

As always, stay tuned to PokerNews for chip counts, updates, and all the action as the 100,000 EPT Super High Roller continues in Malta.
Hosted at Casino Malta in St Julian's, Day 2 of the 100,000 Super High Roller at the PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Malta kicks off today at 12:30 p.m. local time. Steeped in prestige, the highest buy-in event of the series attracted 13 competitors on Day 1, with seven of those going on to secure their seats for Day 2.

Coming into Day 2 with a stack of 341,000, Mikita Badziakouski brings plenty of Super High Roller experience to the table. The Belarusian is hoping to make history and become the first player to win three 100,000 EPT Super High Roller events, having achieved victory in Barcelona in both 2018 and 2022.

End of Day 1 Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Orpen Kisacikoglu Turkey 903,000 151 2 Pieter Aerts Belgium 614,000 102 3 Alexandros Theologis Greece 359,000 60 4 Samuel Mullur Austria 354,000 59 5 Ben Heath United Kingdom 343,000 57 6 Mikita Badziakouski Belarus 341,000 57 7 Adrian Mateos Spain 338,000 56

Hoping to join the list of two-time champions is high-stakes regular Adrian Mateos. Starting the day with a stack of 338,000, the Spanish maestro is the only other Day 1 survivor, alongside Badziakouski, to have won a 100,000 EPT Super High Roller previously, which he achieved at EPT Monte Carlo in 2022.

Adrian Mateos

With late registration open until cards are in the air on Day 2, there is plenty of time for players to join the field, after which the official prize pool and payouts will be announced.

Play will resume at Level 9, blinds 3,000/6,000/6,000, and is scheduled for eight 60-minute levels. Players will take a 20-minute break after every two levels.

Stay tuned to PokerNews for chip counts, updates, and all the action as the 100,000 EPT Super High Roller continues in Malta.
In February 2024, British poker veteran Barny Boatman, whose first recorded tournament victory was in 1998 as per The Hendon Mob, wrote history by winning the EPT Paris Main Event, becoming the oldest person to win an EPT Main Event at 68 years of age.

Boatman has shown no signs of slowing down, winning two more PokerStars trophies since his iconic victory, and he has traveled to Casino Malta for the 2025 PokerStars European Poker Tour Malta, aiming to add some more to his collection. With only 14 contenders out of the 1,845-strong field returning today at noon local time for the final day of the 1,650 PokerStars Open, Boatman has a real shot at becoming the first person to win both an EPT Main Event and a PokerStars Open. He will be rewarded with the 423,700 first-place prize if he manages to do so, the biggest slice of the massive 2,656,800 prize pool.

Sitting sixth in chips, Boatman is among the middle of the pack. His stack of 4,275,000 is worth 34 big blinds and is slightly above the average, but an early double-up will elevate him to chipleader, as Evaldas Aniulis returns with the most chips with 7,425,000. Meanwhile, accomplished grinder Scott Margereson sits in third place with 6,550,000, chasing his first live PokerStars major title, although he has won plenty of them online under the nickname "Aggro Santos".

Scott Margereson

Start of Day 4 Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Evaldas Aniulis Lithuania 7,425,000 59 2 Siarhei Sochneu Belarus 6,875,000 55 3 Scott Margereson United Kingdom 6,550,000 52 4 Vasyl Palandiuk Italy 5,225,000 42 5 Modar Alsoud Germany 4,900,000 39 6 Barny Boatman United Kingdom 4,275,000 34 7 Gerard Carbo Spain 4,025,000 32 8 Ivan Martinez Spain 3,375,000 27 9 Pierre Azzopardi Malta 2,925,000 23 10 Ioannis Oikonomidis Greece 2,850,000 23 11 Donato De Bonis Italy 2,675,000 21 12 Ana Marquez Spain 2,600,000 21 13 Martin Bartos Slovakia 1,050,000 8 14 Merijn van Rooij Netherlands 625,000 5

Near the bottom of the counts is Ana Marquez, the last lady standing. The Spanish pro has been a force to be reckoned with for over a decade, although a live PokerStars victory eludes her still. Her stack of 2,600,000 equals a very manageable 21 big blinds, over double that of absolute short stacks Martin Bartos and Merijn van Rooij.

Ana Marquez

The 14 remaining players have guaranteed a minimum of 20,700 for reaching the final day, with the next pay jump set to happen after the first elimination of the day. Reaching the final table will provide players with a guaranteed payout of 39,050, while six-figure prizes await those who reach the top five.

Remaining Payouts

Place Prize Place Prize 1 423,700 7 65,950 2 264,650 8 50,700 3 188,900 9 39,050 4 145,350 10-11 29,800 5 111,850 12-13 24,850 6 86,500 14 20,700

The blinds on Day 4 will resume at 50,000/125,000 with a 125,000 big blind ante, with levels remaining 60 minutes long until the final table has been reached. From that point on, a certain number of hands will be played per level instead.

The 1,650 PokerStars Open at EPT Malta will crown its winner today, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled on PokerNews for continuous updates throughout the day.
Not since 2016 has the PokerStarsEuropean Poker Tour (EPT) made its mark on Malta, but after nearly a decade away, the tours long-awaited return to the Mediterranean island has already lived up to the hype.

The 2025 PokerStars EPT Malta at Casino Malta has been running hot all week, and today marks a huge day on the schedule. The final tables of both the 100,000 Super High Roller and the 1,650 PokerStars Open Main Event will crown champions, while the spotlight shifts to the cards in the 5,300 EPT Main Event.

The last time the EPT visited Malta, Aliaksei Boika captured the 2016 Main Event title, outlasting 468 entrants to take home 355,700 after defeating Mats Karlsson heads-up.

Nearly nine years later, the trophy is once again up for grabs as a fresh field of hopefuls take their shot at poker glory.

2016 EPT Malta Main Event Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize (EUR) 1 Aliaksei Boika Belarus 355,700 2 Mats Karlsson Sweden 261,730 3 Dmitry Yurasov Russia 192,650 4 Elie Saad Lebanon 141,780 5 Peter Ockenden United Kingdom 104,340 6 Tomas Macnamara United Kingdom 76,790 7 Bastian Dohler Germany 56,520 8 Xixiang Luo China 41,590 9 Dominik Panka Poland 41,590

Aliaksei Boika

Plan for Day 1a

Day 1a kicks off at 12 p.m. local time, where players will begin with a 30,000-chip stack and blinds of 100/100/100. Ten 60-minute levels are scheduled, with breaks every two levels and a 75-minute dinner break after Level 6.

Registration will remain open until the start of Day 2, and players are permitted up to two entries across both opening flights and Day 2.

Day 1a Schedule

Level Duration Small Blind Big Blind BB Ante 1 60 min 100 100 100 2 60 min 100 200 200 20 min break 3 60 min 100 300 300 4 60 min 200 400 400 20 min break 5 60 min 200 500 500 6 60 min 300 600 600 75 min dinner break 7 60 min 400 800 800 8 60 min 500 1,000 1,000 20 min break 9 60 min 600 1,200 1,200 10 60 min 1,000 1,500 1,500

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Darius Rucker and his family will honor their mother, Carolyn, with a nursing scholarship at Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital at Medical University of South Carolina. Some proceeds from this year's Riverfront Revival Festival, which Rucker founded, will go toward the scholarship. The festival will be held at Riverfront Park in North Charleston on Oct. 10-11.
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BOULDER, CO / ACCESS Newswire / October 6, 2025 /Affluence Corporation, (OTCID:AFFU), a diversified global technology holding company focused on smart infrastructure and edge computing, today announced that its portfolio company MTi (Mingothings) has been awarded a new industrial digitalization contract by Navantia, Spain's leading naval construction and engineering company.While the contract was formally signed by Diprotech, the project is being delivered by MTi's integrated engineering and execution teams. Diprotech operates as a fully aligned entity within the MTi Group, under the broader Mingothings portfolio.The project, signed and already in execution, involves deploying MTi's IoT sensor technology to enable real-time data capture on crane systems located in Navantia's Engine Workshop. The solution supports Navantia's broader efforts to modernize its factory infrastructure.This win highlights the continued trust placed in MTi by Navantia following several years of successful collaboration across digital transformation initiatives."At Navantia, we value partners who not only understand our digital transformation goals but actively contribute with vision and innovation. MTi Group has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to our success, bringing agile, reliable solutions that add real value to our industrial IoT environments. Their support has been instrumental in advancing our digitalization journey," said Gregorio Munoz, Head of IoT of Navantia."Working with Navantia is a source of pride and a strategic achievement for us. Being chosen once again to support their digital transformation roadmap proves the value of our technology and our team's commitment to excellence," said Francesc Domingo, CEO of MTi.In addition to this contract, MTI Group has been actively engaged in several initiatives under the Navantia framework since 2023. The total number of contracts awarded to date are 9. This continued collaboration highlights MTI Group's strong commitment to supporting Navantia throughout its journey toward comprehensive digital transformation, including IoT, digital twin and other digital transformation services.About Affluence CorporationAffluence Corporation ( AFFU.OTCID) is a diversified technology company focused on smart city and industry software solutions. Through subsidiaries Mingothings SLU and OneMind Technologies SL, Affluence provides AI-enabled IoT, 5G, and data visualization platforms to enterprise and municipal clients worldwide.For more information go to https://affucorp.com About Mingothings SLUMingothings SLU ("MTi") is a trusted specialist in integrated IoT solutions and data analytics for smart cities and connected industries. With expertise in real-time data processing, sensor integration, and adaptable IoT platforms, MTi provides innovative solutions designed to maximize efficiency, sustainability, and operational performance in diverse IoT applications. https://www.mingothings.com/ About NavantiaNavantia is a leading global shipbuilding and engineering company specializing in the design, construction, and maintenance of naval and maritime vessels. With a rich heritage dating back over 100 years, Navantia has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality, technologically advanced solutions for both military and civilian applications. Headquartered in Spain, the company is recognized for its expertise in shipbuilding, including naval combatants, amphibious ships, and specialized vessels, and is a key player in the defense industry worldwide. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies, Navantia is committed to innovation, sustainability, and excellence in its mission to enhance global maritime capabilities.For more information, visit www.navantia.es # # #Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains certain 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. Statements that are not historical in nature, including the words "anticipate," "expect," "suggest," "plan," "believe," "intend," "estimates," "targets," "projects," "should," "could," "would," "may," "will," "forecast" and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including: general economic business conditions, competitive and technological factors, markets, services, products and prices, the failure to retain management and/or key employees, availability and the cost of capital, success of growth initiatives, limited operating history, failure to raise sufficient capital, failure to expand business operations, failure to identify and capitalize on global trends and economic opportunities, and other risks discussed in our filings with the OTC Markets.Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Affluence Corporation assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.Media and investor contact -press@ affucorp.com SOURCE: Affluence Corporation
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Mexican Cleaning Brand to Be Showcased in 250 Kroger LocationsHOUSTON, TX / ACCESS Newswire / October 6, 2025 / AlEn USAannounced that it will be launching activations with multiple major retailers, including Kroger, in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month. The annual celebration, taking place September 15 through October 15 in the United States, recognizes the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans.2025 marks AlEn USA's first year partnering with Kroger to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. The company will activate across 250 Kroger stores, including Food 4 Less locations, with a mix of digital and in-store engagement. Kroger shoppers will enjoy discounts on popular AlEn products as well."Families in Mexico have long trusted AlEn's unmatched cleaning power, expert-crafted aromas, and commitment to environmental sustainability. We are proud to showcase that heritage and cleaning expertise to consumers across the U.S.," said Tanu Grewal, VP of Marketing, AlEn USA.Beyond the Kroger activation, AlEn USA will recognize Hispanic Heritage Month through partnerships with other retailers, including Walmart, and increased investment in channels such as connected TV (CTV) and influencer partnerships. These efforts are guided by deep Hispanic consumer insights to foster strong cultural resonance."Time spent relaxing or celebrating at home with family has always been central to Hispanic culture - just look at traditions like sobresa. As a company with Mexican roots, we want to support these important moments for families across the U.S., because every great get-together starts with a clean space," continued Grewal.As the North American subsidiary of Grupo AlEn, a cleaning and laundry brand founded in Mexico in 1949, AlEn USA brings more than 70 years of Hispanic cleaning expertise to the U.S. market. The first products of their class to hit the Mexican market in 1949, CLORALEN now ranks as the #1 bleach and PINALEN ranks as the #1 heavy-duty cleaner in Mexico. As of 2023, 97% of Mexican families have welcomed AlEn's cleaning, hygiene, and wellness solutions into their homes.To learn more about AlEn USA, please visit: https://www.alenusa.com/ About AlEn USAHeadquartered in Houston, Texas, AlEn USA is a subsidiary of Industrias AlEn, S.A. de C.V. (Grupo AlEn), a cleaning and laundry products company with presence in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. With more than 5,000 employees globally, Grupo AlEn has been striving for a cleaner and more sustainable world for more than 70 years.In the U.S., AlEn's portfolio of products includes bleach, cleaners, and laundry products, under the brands ENSUENO, CLORALEN, and PINALEN. One of the few consumer goods products companies based in Houston, AlEn USA is committed to continued growth and innovation of its products in the U.S., supporting a culturally diverse workforce and maintaining socially responsible and sustainable business practices. For more information, visitwww.alenusa.com Media Contact:Emily Steates, Notably PR on behalf of AlEn USAemily@ notablypr.com # # #SOURCE: AlEn USA
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / October 5, 2025 /WHY: New York, N.Y., October 5, 2025. Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of CTO Realty Growth, Inc. (NYSE:CTO, CTO-PA) between February 18, 2021 and June 24, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the October 7, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased CTO Realty securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the CTO Realty class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=43344or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for more information. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than October 7, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) CTO's dividends were less sustainable than defendants had led investors to believe; (2) CTO Realty Growth used deceptive and unsustainable practices to artificially inflate its Adjusted Funds from Operations ("AFFO") and overstate the true profitability of its Ashford Lane property; (3) accordingly, CTO Realty Growth's business and/or financial prospects were overstated; and (4) as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the CTO Realty class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=43344 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for more information.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
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ORLANDO, FL / ACCESS Newswire / October 6, 2025 / Engage fi today announced a planned leadership transition. Andres Pasantes President & CEOJenn Addabbo, who co-founded Engage fi and has served as Chief Executive Officer, will transition to the role of Executive Chair of the Board. In this capacity, she will provide ongoing oversight and guidance while focusing on strengthening strategic client engagements.Succeeding her as President & CEO will be Andres Pasantes, who currently serves as President & Chief Operating Officer. In his role, Pasantes has overseen the company's operations and strategic direction and will now assume full responsibility for leading the organization."This transition allows me to focus on what I value most - nurturing the trusted relationships we've built with clients and supporting Engage fi's long-term strategy," said Addabbo. "Andres has already been leading so much of our success, and I have the deepest confidence in his ability to continue guiding this organization with vision, integrity, and a relentless commitment to our clients." "I am truly honored to step into the President & CEO role," said Pasantes. "Engage fi is more than an organization to me - it is a mission I am profoundly committed to, shaped by the dedication of our people and the trust of our clients. Jenn's leadership and belief in our purpose have built a powerful foundation, and I am dedicated to carrying that legacy forward, strengthening our culture, and expanding the impact we deliver together." About Andres PasantesAndres Pasantes is a seasoned executive with more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. As a visionary leader with a proven record in operational leadership, client experience optimization, and technology transformation, Pasantes brings deep expertise in business operations and strategic planning, coupled with a forward-looking vision that drives innovation and enterprise growth.He began his career at NationsBank, later Bank of America, where he gained firsthand experience with large-scale banking operations and transformation. Pasantes has since collaborated with more than 1,000 financial institutions in areas including strategic planning, technology assessments, mergers, conversions, and digital transformation.Before joining Engage fi, he held senior roles at organizations such as Fiserv, Open Solutions Inc., FIS, and D+H, where he led innovation and transformation initiatives across the credit union and community banking sectors.Pasantes holds a bachelor's degree in International Affairs from Florida State University. Based in Orlando, Florida, he enjoys fitness, travel, and quality time with his wife, Collette, and their sons, Nathaniel and Mathias.Closing Statement"As I step into this role, I am deeply mindful of the responsibility and privilege of leading Engage fi into its next chapter. Our future is not just about helping financial institutions adapt to change - it's about inspiring transformation that creates lasting value for our clients, partners, and communities. I am committed to ensuring that Engage fi continues to be a catalyst for innovation, growth, and impact."- Andres Pasantes, President & CEO, Engage fiContact InformationShannon CrandallDirector of Marketingshannon.crandall@engagefi.com 480-686-4253SOURCE: Engage fi
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CHICAGO, IL / ACCESS Newswire / October 6, 2025 / The region's Governors and Premiers gathered this weekend for their biennial Leadership Summit at the historic Chateau Frontenac. The Summit's focus on a regional Agenda for Growth, led by the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers (GSGP), included major announcements aimed at growing the region's $9.3 trillion (US) economy. Governors and Premiers Leadership Summit News Confernce Premier Legault speaks as Premier Ford, Governor Shapiro, and Governor Evers listen during an Oct. 6 news conference at the 2025 GSGP Leadership SummitOfficials attending the Summit included:Michigan Governor Gretchen WhitmerPennsylvania Governor Josh ShapiroQuebec Premier Francois LegaultNew York Governor Kathy HochulOntario Premier Doug FordPennsylvania Governor Josh ShapiroWisconsin Governor Tony EversSenior officials representing the other Governors and PremiersDuring the Summit, the Governors and Premiers announced the following:Sustainable AgricultureThe Governors and Premiers adopted a resolution creating a regional sustainable agriculture initiative focused on research and multi-sector collaboration.Aquatic Invasive SpeciesA Great Lakes Governors' letter to the US Congress calls for full federal funding for operations and maintenance of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project which is designed to protect the Great Lakes from invasive carp.TransportationThe Governors and Premiers adopted a resolution to guide the future of the region's maritime transportation system. Other maritime features of the Summit program included:A demonstration of cutting-edge underwater infrastructure inspection technology.A tour of Davie shipyard.Celebration of advancements on the new Soo Locks project.Trees InitiativeAs part of the goal of planting 250 million trees by 2033, more than 27 million trees were planted across the region in 2024. The Governors and Premiers ceremonially planted a tree to commemorate the planting of 500 new trees at le foret Montmorency in Quebec.100% Great Lakes Fish PledgeForty-four commercial fish, aquaculture, and partner companies have signed a pledge committing them to productively use 100% of each fish they handle. Read the pledge online here.TourismCruise the Great Lakes, the region's cruise marketing program, announced that in 2025 there will have been 150,000 cruise passenger visits on six cruise lines across 700 port stops, resulting in a regional economic impact of over $230 million (US). The Great Lakes USA international tourism marketing program continues to grow, with the State of New York and several new destination partners joining the consortium.Regional Economic Development and International TradeThe Governors & Premiers adopted a resolution on regional economic development.Finally, the Governors and Premiers elected Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to serve as GSGP's Chair and Indiana Governor Mike Braun to serve as Vice Chair. Governor Shapiro will host the 2027 GSGP Leadership Summit in Erie, Pennsylvania.Contact InformationCraig ClarkPR Contactcraig@ clarkcommunication.com 616-550-2736SOURCE: Great Lakes Governors and Premiers
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / October 6, 2025 / WestJet, an Alberta Partnership ("WestJet") recently suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to WestJet.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On June 13, 2025, WestJet became aware of a security incident on its internal network. Upon detection, WestJet launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cyber security experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to WestJet's systems and obtained sensitive data from its network.The impacted data may include names, dates of birth, mailing addresses, information about the travel document you used when travelling with WestJet (such as your passport or other government issued identification document or number), and other information associated with your travel needs, such as accommodations requested or complaints filed.On September 30, 2025, WestJet filed notice of the data breach with the Office of the Maine Attorney General and began sending notice letters to impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from WestJet, an Alberta Partnership, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 27th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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JACKSONVILLE, FL / ACCESS Newswire / October 6, 2025 / ParkerVision, Inc. (the "Company") (OTCQB:PRKR), announced that on October 2, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando division ("district court") granted ParkerVision's Rule 54(b) motion in its patent infringement case against Qualcomm.This decision clears the way for ParkerVision to immediately appeal the district court's May 29, 2025 claim construction ruling that led to the stipulated entry of summary judgment of non-infringement for ParkerVision's receiver patent claims under that claim construction ruling. The Company believes that the district court's most recent claim construction ruling was in error and contradicts last year's ruling from the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ("Federal Circuit") that reversed the district court's previously issued (March 2022) summary judgment order on the same receiver patents. The Federal Circuit's order also reversed the district court on all other issues on appeal.If the district court's claim construction ruling is reversed on appeal, as the Company believes it should be, then the stipulated summary judgement of non-infringement thereon will also be reversed.The district court's order also granted ParkerVision's request to stay the litigation with respect to the remaining transmitter patent claims that were not impacted by the claim construction order, pending the Federal Circuit's ruling on the appealed issues, thus avoiding the inefficiency of two separate trials.ParkerVision Chief Executive Officer, Jeffrey Parker, commented, "We filed our Rule 54(b) motion so that we could immediately seek Federal Circuit review to challenge the district court's claim construction ruling which we believe to be in error, which contradicts the Federal Circuit's prior order that was in our favor, and which we also believe to be inconsistent with the intrinsic evidence in the receiver patents themselves."Following the September 2024 remand from the Federal Circuit, Qualcomm requested that the district court perform additional claim construction on ParkerVision's receiver patents. Specifically, Qualcomm contented that certain limitations in the patents' claims require a capacitor to perform RF down-conversion. Even though no intrinsic evidence supports its decision, the district court agreed with Qualcomm and held that the claims of the receiver patents required a capacitor to perform down conversion - a position that we believe was contradicted by the Federal Circuit in their 2024 opinion."Qualcomm's assertion that the receiver patents recite 'capacitor down-conversion' (referred to as the 'generating limitation' in ParkerVision I and on appeal to the Federal Circuit) was addressed by ParkerVision in its claim construction brief to the district court earlier this year. We reminded the district court that the Federal Circuit's opinion supported our position that ParkerVision's receiver patents use switches, not capacitors, to perform down-conversion - meaning no generating limitation' exists in these patents. This was one of the key issues examined by the Federal Circuit, which sent the case back for trial last year, reversing the district court's collateral estoppel finding on similar grounds. We believe that the district court's claim construction ruling is in conflict with the Federal Circuit's opinion and is also in conflict with the intrinsic evidence included in the patents."Qualcomm has long represented to multiple courts that its products do not infringe our receiver patents because its products use switches for down conversion. We contend, however that using switches is exactly what the patents cover in this case." ParkerVision's briefing earlier this year emphasized to the district court that there was no need for claim construction as the patents already specify where down-conversion occurs - at the 'UFT Module' (Universal Frequency Translation Module). The receiver patents explain that the UFT module is a switch, it is not an energy-storage device such as a capacitor. Despite this, the district court's latest claim construction identified the UFT Module not as a switch but as an 'energy storage device,' adopting another incorrect position advanced by Qualcomm.The '940 patent describes figure 64A as including a UFT module (6402) that performs down-conversion by a switch (6408).Mr. Parker further commented, "Neither Qualcomm nor the district court are entitled to disregard the patent's plain disclosure: the UFT is a switch, and it is where down-conversion occurs." "In granting ParkerVision's Rule 54(b) motion, the district court remarked that it has 'already expended more time and resources on this one case than is justifiable'. While I'm troubled by that view, I hope the district court recognizes why this case-now in its twelfth year-remains unresolved. After we filed this case in 2014, Qualcomm delayed proceedings through years of PTAB challenges. Qualcomm then argued that our receiver patents were collaterally estopped, a legal term meaning that they duplicated issues from our prior ParkerVision I case - claims we initially defeated on summary judgment in 2020 - only for Qualcomm to file a second summary judgment motion over a year later that led to the district court reversing itself and finding in Qualcomm's favor of collateral estoppel in March 2022."This resulted in ParkerVision's first appeal to the Federal Circuit. The Federal Circuit, in its September 2024 ruling finding for ParkerVision on all issues on appeal, criticized the district court's 'abbreviated claim-scope analysis inconsistent with the approach it properly took in denying Qualcomm's first [summary judgment] motion'. The Federal Circuit reversed the district court's collateral estoppel finding and remarked that 'the receiver claims asserted [in the current case] do not appear, on their face, to require the 'generating limitation' that turned out to be fatal to ParkerVision's infringement case in the 2011 [ParkerVision I] Action'."With its May 2025 claim construction ruling, the district court has again adopted Qualcomm's position that the claims asserted do require the 'generating limitation,' despite the Federal Circuit's guidance. Rather than examining the patents' intrinsic evidence (the patents themselves), which is the standard, the district court again accepted Qualcomm's assertions as fact.Mr. Parker concluded, "We believe Qualcomm's tactics are to mislead and confuse the court with technical assertions that are not supported by the evidence. The record clearly shows that Qualcomm was aware of ParkerVision's patents long before this lawsuit."In dis
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / October 6, 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
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / October 6, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against SelectQuote, Inc. ("SelectQuote" or the "Company") (NYSE:SLQT). 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 SelectQuote and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until October 10, 2025 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired SelectQuote 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 May 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ") filed a False Claims Act complaint against SelectQuote, alleging "[f]rom 2016 through at least 2021" SelectQuote received "tens of millions of dollars" in "illegal kickbacks" from health insurance companies in exchange for steering Medicare beneficiaries to enroll in the insurers' plans. Further, according to the DOJ, SelectQuote, in exchange for kickbacks, engaged in a conspiracy with major insurers to illegally discriminate against beneficiaries deemed to be less profitable, including those with disabilities. The DOJ concluded that SelectQuote made materially false claims by stating it offers "unbiased coverage comparisons" when in fact it "repeatedly directed Medicare beneficiaries to the plans offered by insurers that paid them the most money, regardless of the quality or suitability of the insurers' plans." On this news, SelectQuote's stock price fell $0.61 per share, or 19.24%, to close at $2.56 per share on May 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 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
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / October 6, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Quanex Building Products Corporation ("Quanex" or the "Company") (NYSE:NX). 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 Quanex and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until November 18, 2025 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Quanex 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 September 4, 2025, after the market closed, Quanex announced its financial results for the third quarter of its 2025 fiscal year. Quanex disclosed, among other things, that ongoing "operational issues related to the legacy Tyman window and door hardware business in Mexico" had "impacted results more than expected[.]" Quanex also disclosed that it was "adjusting for lower expected volumes and pushing oug the timing of when [it] expect[s] to realize procurement savings" from integration of the Tyman business. Then, on September 5, 2025, Quanex held an earnings call to discuss the quarter's financial results. During the call, Chief Executive Officer George Wilson explained that the operational challenges at Tyman "negatively impacted EBITDA in the Hardware Solutions segment by almost $5 million in the third quarter alone." Wilson explained that the issue had been "identified midyear" and described the systems used to "anticipate and plan for tooling repairs" as significantly deficient.On this news, Quanex's stock price fell $2.73 per share, or 13.06%, to close at $18.18 per share on September 5, 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
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / October 5, 2025 / Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential breaches of fiduciary duties by the directors and officers of Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR).If you currently own shares of Danaher stock, please visit the firm's website at https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=17717for more information. You may also contact Phillip Kim of Rosen Law Firm toll free at 866-767-3653 or via email at case@ rosenlegal.com Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / October 6, 2025 /SNOWLINE GOLD CORP. (TSX-V:SGD)(OTCQB:SNWGF) (the "Company" or "Snowline") is pleased to announce the immediate appointment of Ms. Crystal Smith as an independent director to the Board of Directors.Ms. Smith is a leader with experience in responsibly advancing major resource development projects and a champion for strengthening collaborations between First Nations, industry and government, as well as promoting strong Indigenous participation in Canada's economy. Ms. Smith served as Chief Councillor for the Haisla Nation from 2017 to 2025. She was instrumental in developing the Cedar LNG project within Haisla territory near Kitimat, BC, the world's first Indigenous majority-owned LNG project, in her role as Cedar LNG director. The project represents one of the most significant capital investments by an Indigenous nation in Canada's history."Crystal is an exceptional addition to the Snowline Board, she brings a range of experiences, expertise and perspectives that will strengthen and add breadth to our team. We value her experience in major project development and support her vision of Indigenous economic participation in resource development - these and other attributes will contribute to Snowline's progress on advancing towards development on our Rogue project and on effective, meaningful community engagement" stated Snowline Chair Craig Hart.Ms. Crystal Smith commented, "I am honoured to join Snowline's Board of Directors and to contribute my experience in Indigenous governance, environmental stewardship, and responsible industrial development as the Company advances its gold exploration and development activities in the Yukon. I believe that resource development, conducted responsibly and in partnership with Indigenous communities, plays a vital role in advancing Reconciliation, strengthening Canada's economy, and creating long-term value for all stakeholders." Snowline's CEO & Director Scott Berdahl added, "We are thrilled to welcome Crystal Smith to Snowline's Board of Directors. Beyond her impressive track record, the values she champions-integrity, environmental commitment, meaningful Indigenous engagement and positive local impact-strongly align with our own. Her appointment marks an important step for Snowline, and her guidance will be invaluable as we advance our Valley project with the highest standards of environmental and social responsibility while continuing to foster respectful, lasting relationships with multiple Yukon First Nations." Ms. Smith was recently appointed to the Indigenous Advisory Council for Prime Minister Carney's new Major Projects Office, and currently serves as an independent director with Taseko Mines Ltd. She is a former Director of the First Nations Climate Initiative which advocates for environmentally responsible economic development, and former Chair of the First Nations LNG Alliance, an advocacy group of Indigenous governments and organizations pursuing an expanded energy industry in Canada. Ms. Smith has a diploma in Business Administration and obtained her ICD.D Designation through the ICD-Rotman Director Education Program. Her achievements have earned her recognition as BC Business Women of the Year, Public Policy Forum Honouree, Energy Person of the Year, and the King Charles III Coronation Medal.ABOUT SNOWLINE GOLD CORP.Snowline Gold Corp. is a Yukon Territory-focused gold exploration and development company with a mineral claim portfolio covering roughly 360,000 ha (3,600 km2). The Company is advancing its Valley gold deposit-a large, low-strip, near surface, >1 g/t Au bulk tonnage gold system located in the eastern Yukon-while continuing regional exploration of surrounding targets on the Rogue Project and the broader district in the highly prospective yet underexplored Selwyn Basin.Valley hosts an open mineral resource estimate ("MRE") of 7.94 million ounces gold at 1.21 g/t Au in the Measured and Indicated categories (3.15 million ounces gold at 1.41 g/t Au Measured mineral resources and 4.79 million ounces gold at 1.11 g/t Au Indicated mineral resources) and an additional 0.89 million ounces gold at 0.62 g/t Au in the Inferred category1. Results of a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") of Valley suggest the potential for the deposit to support a long-life mining operation with a strong production profile and low production costs. The MRE and PEA are supported by the recent technical report for Rogue, prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") standards, entitled "Independent Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Rogue Project Yukon, Canada," dated August 27, 2025, with an effective date of March 1, 2025 and available on SEDAR+ and the Company's website.Snowline's project portfolio sits within the prolific Tintina Gold Province, host to multiple million-ounce-plus gold mines and deposits across the central Yukon and Alaska. The Company's comprehensive first-mover position and extensive exploration database provide a distinct competitive advantage and a unique opportunity for investors to be part of multiple discoveries, the advancement of a significant gold deposit, and the creation of a new gold district.QUALIFIED PERSONInformation in this news release has been prepared under supervision of and approved by Thomas Branson, M.Sc., P. Geo., VP Exploration for Snowline, as Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARDCraig HartIndependent Chair & DirectorScott BerdahlCEO & DirectorFor further information, please contact:Snowline Gold Corp.+1 778 650 5485 info@ snowlinegold.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSThis news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the expected use of proceeds from the Offering and the Private Placement, the mineral resource estimates, advancement of the Valley deposit, continued exploration and the creation of a new gold district. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof.%
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CALGARY, AB / ACCESS Newswire / October 6, 2025 / Tornado Infrastructure Equipment Ltd. ("Tornado" or the "Company") (TSX-V:TGH)(OTCQX:TGHLF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement") with The Toro Company whereby a subsidiary of The Toro Company (the "Purchaser") will acquire all of the outstanding Class "A" common shares ("Shares") of the Company in an all cash transaction (the "Transaction") for CAD $1.92 per Share (the "Purchase Price"). The Purchase Price represents an aggregate fully diluted equity value for Tornado of approximately CAD $279.3 million. Upon completion of the Transaction, Tornado will be an indirect wholly-owned private subsidiary of The Toro Company.Key HighlightsThe Transaction is the result of a comprehensive strategic review process over the past eight months, focused on maximizing value for the Company's shareholders ("Strategic Review"). The Strategic Review also involved discussions with a broad range of potential strategic buyers and financial sponsors. Prior to reaching out to any such potential strategic buyers and financial sponsors, the Company formed a committee of independent directors (the "Special Committee"), which was advised by independent and qualified legal and financial advisors. The Strategic Review has been supervised by the Special Committee, is the outcome of that process and is unanimously supported by the Special Committee and Tornado's management and its board of directors (the "Board").The Special Committee, in making its unanimous determination to recommend approval of the Transaction to the Board, and the Board, in making its unanimous decision to approve the Transaction, considered, among other things, the following factors:Superior Strategic Alternative and Extensive Sale Process. An extensive sale process was undertaken with outreach and negotiations being conducted under the supervision of the Special Committee, with the assistance of legal and financial advisors. In conducting the Strategic Review, the Special Committee and Board assessed the business, operations, assets, financial condition, operating results and future prospects of the Company and the relative benefits and risks of various alternatives reasonably available to the Company, including the continued execution of the Company's existing strategic plan. During the course of the Strategic Review, a significant number of potential bidders were contacted and the Purchase Price of CAD $1.92 per Share in cash represents the highest offer received by the Company under the sale process, and is more favourable (and can be achieved with less risk) than the value that might have been realized through pursuing a number of other strategic alternatives reasonably available to the Company.Certainty of Value and Immediate Liquidity. The all-cash consideration provides shareholders with certainty of value and immediate liquidity.Premium to Market Price. The Purchase Price of CAD $1.92 per Share represents a premium of approximately 43.7% to the 12-month volume weighted average trading price as of October 3, 2025, the last trading day prior to the public announcement of the Transaction, a premium of 3.8% to the closing price of the Shares as of such date and a premium of approximately 30.3% over the 180-trading day volume weighted average trading price as of such date. In assessing these premiums, the Special Committee and the Board also considered the fact that the Shares had appreciated in price significantly over the short to medium-term, increasing by approximately 68.18% since January 2, 2025, and that recent trading prices reflected limited liquidity, representing values for a limited number of the Shares rather than broader market demand.Voting and Support Agreements. The Transaction is supported by nine of the Company's largest shareholders and each of its directors and senior executives who, in aggregate, hold approximately 54% of the issued and outstanding Shares (on a fully diluted basis) and who have entered into agreements to vote all of their Shares and other equity securities in favour of the Transaction.Fairness Opinions. Each of Stifel Nicolaus Canada Inc. ("Stifel") and Origin Merchant Partners ("Origin") has provided to the Special Committee and the Board an opinion to the effect that the consideration to be received by the holders of Shares pursuant to the Transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to such shareholders, in each case subject to the respective limitations, qualifications and assumptions set out in those opinions.Terms of the Arrangement Agreement. The terms of the Arrangement Agreement are the result of a comprehensive arm's length negotiation process with the oversight and participation of the Special Committee and the Board and their advisors, which resulted in an agreement with terms and conditions that are reasonable in the judgment of the Special Committee and the Board.Limited Conditions to Closing. The Transaction is not subject to a financing condition and is otherwise subject to a limited number of customary closing conditions, including approval under the Competition Act (Canada).Ability to Respond to Superior Proposals. The terms and conditions of the Arrangement Agreement do not prevent the Board, in the exercise of its fiduciary duties, to respond, prior to the Shareholders Meeting, to certain unsolicited acquisition proposals that are more favourable, from a financial point of view, to the shareholders than the Transaction, subject to compliance with certain terms and conditions and certain rights to match' in favour of the Purchaser.Termination Fee. The termination fee payable by Tornado of CAD $11.0 million is reasonable in the view of the Board and the Special Committee and only payable in customary and limited circumstances.Transaction and Shareholder Meeting DetailsThe Transaction is to be completed by way of a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta). The Transaction is subject to certain approvals at the securityholders' meeting, including by at least two-thirds of the votes cast by securityholders (being the holders of Shares and of Company options, voting together as a single class) and if required, a simple majority of the votes cast on such resolution by Securityholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Company Meeting excluding, for the purposes of this clause (ii), votes attached to Shares and Company options held by Persons described in items (a) through (d) of Section 8.1(2) of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Securityholdersin Special Transactions. Completion of the Transaction is subject to other customary conditions, including
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LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESS Newswire / October 6, 2025 / VigilAigent, a new managed security services provider (MSSP) and subsidiary of Tego Cyber Inc. (OTC:TGCB), today announced the launch of its official website and solutions portfolio, aligning its debut with October's Cybersecurity Awareness Month.VigilAigent was born from Tego Cyber's recent transformational acquisition of a leading managed security services business. The combined company now protects over 1,000 clients and hundreds of thousands of endpoints, generating more than $7 million in recurring annual revenue with a clear path to profitability within the next 6-9 months.Built on a foundation of vigilance, intelligence, and action, VigilAigent combines Virtual Aigents, Ai-driven digital operatives that analyze, detect, and neutralize threats at machine speed, with Special Aigents, human cybersecurity experts who validate and resolve complex incidents with precision.Breakthrough Performance with Aigent DeuceIn early testing, VigilAigent's first Virtual Aigent prototype, Aigent Deuce, demonstrated breakthrough performance in real-world incidents. In one case, Deuce reviewed months of endpoint logs in under a minute and flagged anomalies that had evaded advanced EDR tools for more than 90 days. Comparable human review would have taken hours or days."Aigent Deuce's early performance validates what we've believed all along-that the fusion of human expertise and agentic AI isn't just the future of cybersecurity, it's the future of operational efficiency," said Bobby Mikkelsen, CEO of Tego Cyber. "This launch proves the model works in the field, positioning us to accelerate revenue, expand margins, and lead the next evolution of cyber defense." Investor and Market ImpactVigilAigent enters the market at a time when global cybersecurity spending is projected to surpass $215 billion by 2026, with managed services representing one of the fastest-growing segments of the market.VigilAigent represents a compelling growth opportunity for investors by:Building an Ai-Centric IP Portfolio: Leveraging Tego's innovative threat intelligence platform to create proprietary technologies that strengthen cybersecurity outcomes.Virtually Limitless Scalability: Harnessing the power of Agentic Ai to expand protection capabilities without the traditional limits of human capital.Recurring Revenue Model: Subscription-based services generate predictable cash flow that fuels continued growth and reinvestment.Platform for Add-On Acquisitions: Establishing VigilAigent as a foundation to integrate complementary businesses, further accelerating market share and innovation.About VigilAigentVigilAigent, a subsidiary of Tego Cyber Inc., is redefining managed security with AI-powered Virtual Aigents that combine human vigilance with the speed and accuracy of Agentic AI. By augmenting cybersecurity teams with autonomous detection and correlation capabilities, VigilAigent delivers faster threat identification, deeper context, and more effective response.About Tego Cyber Inc.Tego Cyber Inc. (OTC:TGCB) delivers Ai-driven threat intelligence and managed security solutions that help security teams detect, understand, and respond to threats faster. Its proprietary Threat Intelligence Feed enriches raw indicators with context, while its correlation engine integrates directly with SIEM and data lake platforms to proactively identify threats and reduce time to remediation.Building on this foundation, Tego has launched VigilAigent - a next-generation MSSP operating at the intersection of human vigilance and Agentic Ai. Currently in stealth mode, VigilAigent represents the future of managed detection and response: scalable, intelligent, and always evolving.For more information, visit www.tegocyber.com and register for updates at www.vigilaigent.com Forward-Looking StatementsThe statements contained in this press release, those which are not purely historical or which depend upon future events, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements regarding the Company's expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future constitute forward-looking statements. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements because of various factors. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement. Prospective investors should also consult the risks factors described from time to time in the Company's Reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and Annual Reports to Shareholders.Contact:Tego Cyber Inc.8565 S Eastern Avenue, Suite 150Las Vegas, Nevada 89123Email: info@ tegocyber.com Web: tegocyber.com Facebook: facebook.com/tegocyber LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/tegocyber X/Twitter: twitter.com/tegocyber Robert MikkelsenTego Cyber Inc. info@ tegocyber.com SOURCE: Tego Cyber Inc.
The Nigerian government has called for caution and restraint in the labour war between the Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), adding that Nigeria is too big to be held to ransom.

Its not about holding the whole nation to ransom because of a minor labour dispute. Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN. Nigeria is greater than each and every one of us, Vice President Kashim Shettima affirmed at the launch of the 31st edition of the Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja on Monday.

This is a refinery financed through a combination of equity investment, debt finance, and loans from both local and foreign banks. The refinery has to function to salvage the debt, and we cannot hold the whole nation to ransom for issues that can be amicably settled across the table, he added.

Mr Shetttima was alluding to the labour dispute that erupted last month after the worlds biggest single-train refinery, located in Lagos, showed about 800 Nigerian staff members the exit door for their alleged participation in acts of sabotage. The company claimed that such practices have also raised safety concerns in its operations.

The strike that ensued from the clash, which was called off last Wednesday, cost the country 200,000 barrels per day and billions of naira, state-owned NNPC Limited disclosed on Monday.

Mr Shettima said Nigeria will continue to take steps to protect the oil & gas industry and ensure industrial harmony for the good of the nation.

The vice president commended Aliko Dangote, Africas richest man and the owner of the plant, for his grand effort in situating the refinery in Nigeria when other big investors could have chosen to invest their capital in more lucrative markets.

Aliko Dangote, hes not an individual, hes an institution, and hes a leading light in Nigerias economic parliament. And how we treat this gentleman will determine how outsiders will judge us, Mr Shettima said.

The vice president added that if he had invested $10 billion in Microsoft, in Amazon, or in Google, he probably might be worth $70 to $80 billion by now.

But he opted to invest in his country, and we owe it to future generations to jealously protect, promote, preserve, and protect the interests of this great Nigeria.
Internet personality and entrepreneur May Edochie has revealed how she met her estranged husband, controversial actor Yul Edochie.

Yul and May married in 2004 and have three sons and a daughter. However, their marriage collapsed after May filed for divorce in August 2023.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the divorce case, ongoing before the FCT High Court in Abuja, has been stalled four times, with the most recent adjournment occurring on 6 February 2025.

May revealed how she met the 43-year-old actor in a viral video with Media Room Hub on Monday.

The actress said: We met way back in school, when I went to the East for my university. We didnt attend the same school. I went to Enugu State University of Science and Technology, while he went to UNIPORT.

Its not a party, we met at the GCE centre. We were kids when we met. We were teenagers. I cant remember our age when we met, until I have to count backwards or something.

Marriage

Additionally, May maintained that marriage is a beautiful institution, emphasising that she is family-oriented.

While she acknowledged that marriage precedes family and that there can be no family without marriage, she cautioned women against enduring violence in the name of preserving their marriage.

So marriage is a beautiful thing. I see it as something that should not be compromised, and basically love yourselves, respect yourselves. Marriage is all about sacrifices, but dont get killed while youre at it. You dont have to lose your life because you want to stay married. Give your best, do all you can to make it right.

Because we all come from different backgrounds, different orientations about life and all of that. So you should be able to tolerate, and you should have some level of patience. You should be able to listen and communicate. Dont assume. These are the things that I think lead to a lot of problems, she added.

Career-wise

Additionally, the actress addressed the issue of wives outperforming their husbands, stressing that marriage is not a competition.

She maintained that it does not matter who achieves more professionally in marriage, as such differences are simply part of life.

According to her, society has long held the belief that men should be more successful than women in their careers, while women are expected to stay at home and care for the children.

Countering this notion, she said, I believe some of these men are scared. Theyre terrified about their wives doing so well because they think they may walk out of the marriage or not respect them. But its not the case. It shouldnt be. Women are there to assist the men. Theyre like helpers.

So if you have a wife who feels she can combine her work with the family, looking after the family, taking care of the husband and the children, why not? She has the capacity to do that. So if you have a wife who is ahead of you and doing better than you, it is for the benefit of the family.

She noted that whether the husband or the wife is doing well, it ultimately contributes to the familys growth.

According to her, couples should unite, work, communicate effectively, and strive to move the family forward.

Sacrifice

Speaking on the issue of women giving up their careers for marriage, May said it depends on individual circumstances, but emphasised that she does not support that notion.

She added that what works for one family may not necessarily work for another.

Let me use myself as an example. When I started having children, I wasnt really working. I was at home. I did some kind of small business because Im not the type who will stay idle. I always want to be productive. So I had to do one or two things that I could cope with because I had little children, and I wanted to take care of my own children myself. Even though I had help, I would not leave my children in the hands of house help for any reason.

This is my personal decision. And my children would complete three years before they go to school. It is my personal decision. It was working for me. You know, but some people are career women. You cannot abandon your job. You just had a child, because you also need to bring in income for these children to be cared for. So you just have to find a balance, find something that works, said the actress.

Advise

More so, she advised women entering marriage to hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

May noted that people respond to challenges differently and manage situations in their own unique ways.

She added, I always tell myself, we all came to this world alone. You will not leave this world with anybody. You need to start living for yourself before you live for another person. Some people know this. Some people can discover this after specific experiences.

So you also need to remember you have other family members apart from the man. Remember your roots. You came from somewhere. The man is somebody you met at a certain stage of your life. So what about those you started with? How would they feel if you exited this world because of a man?

She also urged women to leave toxic marriages before such relationships cost them their lives.

Thats why many women still dont understand how to escape that situation. You have to motivate yourself. You have to inspire yourself. You have to talk to yourself. You have to tell yourself the truth.

Like I said, you have to live for yourself and live for other family members, for your loved ones. Surround yourself with those that genuinely love you, care for you, hold on to God, and pray, May added.

When asked whether she would consider marrying again, May responded, Thats a trillion-dollar question and story for another day. My DM is full of messages from men. In fact, I ran away from my DM.

But Im fine. Like I said, I want to focus on my children, family, and business. Others can come later.
The Motherland 2025 team brought a wave of Nigerian pride and cultural vibrance to the streets of New York as it joined this years Nigerian Independence Day Parade.

Motherland 2025 is a celebration of Nigerian creativity, culture, and commerce in Abuja and Lagos scheduled for December 2025. The festival features music, fashion, sport, food, film, business forums and workshops to drive diaspora investment and international collaboration.

The participation marked another milestone in the festivals ongoing international roadshow, designed to connect Nigeria with its diaspora and showcase the countrys creativity, innovation, and spirit.

Building on earlier appearances at Africon in Atlanta and the United Nations General Assembly, the organisers said in a statement that the New York stop underscored the festivals mission to celebrate Nigerias heritage while strengthening bonds between Nigerians at home and abroad.

Additionally, they added that The Motherland Roadshow is travelling through key global cities, including Atlanta, New York, Houston, Washington, D.C., and London. At each stop, the team shares the festivals vision while spotlighting Nigerian creativity, innovation, and economic opportunities.

Motherland 2025

Activities include community engagements, networking events, and cultural showcases to strengthen ties between Nigerians abroad and at home.

In New York, founding team members Chidimma Nwankwo and Sandra Oboh joined the New York Nigerian community to celebrate Nigerias heritage. They emphasised the importance of cultural exchange and deepening ties ahead of the inaugural Motherland festival in December in Abuja and Lagos.

The Motherland team distributed hundreds of early-access passes at the parade, sparking excitement. Attendees shared their enthusiasm, and many had already confirmed travel plans.

Motherland is about creating lasting bridges and creating space for Nigerians at home and abroad to celebrate and promote our culture, said co-founder Chidimma Nwankwo.

New York has a vibrant Nigerian community, so we had to include NYC on our roadshow schedule. By participating in events like the Nigerian Independence Day Parade, we are reaffirming our commitment to global Nigerians and inviting them to join the Motherland movement.

The buzz for Motherland 2025 is growing, and we are excited to open our doors to everyone visiting Lagos and Abuja this December. Today alone, hundreds of New Yorkers signed up to join us.
Big Brother Naija Season 10 may have ended with Imisis triumphant win on Sunday night, but the conversation is far from over.

Social media is still buzzing as fans dissect the finale, with heated arguments over whether Imisis victory was earned or emotionally engineered.

Supporters of Faith, the disqualified contestant many believed had the strongest fan base, insist he would have clinched the prize if not for his exit. Others argue that Imisi merely played into a familiar pity-driven storytelling pattern, defining several past winners.

The debate took another turn when Laycon, the 2020 BBNaija Lockdown champion, was brought into the discussion. His name revived old conversations about voting psychology in the shows history, with critics claiming that Nigerian audiences often gravitate toward underdogs with emotional backstories rather than contestants who project confidence, intellect, or charisma.

But Nigerians are so gullible. How can someone build her entire fan base on a village girls fake personality and win? In big 2025? Olori said in an X post, quoting Imisis celebration post after the grand finale.

Another X user responded by listing Laycon and Imisi among housemates who relied on pity before emerging as winners. Same old strategy every year keeps winning, David Pattt said.

Pity card

As the discussion grew, BBNaija fans referenced Laycons clash with Erica in the 2020 BBNaija house, where Erica hurled insults at him, calling him ugly and mopstick.

Although Laycon didnt respond to Ericas insults, social media users insisted he gained sympathy from the fight until he became the winner.

In Season 10, viewers compared that moment to Imisis emotional confession about not coming from a wealthy background, her inability to afford wigs and clothes like other female housemates, and her story about losing her son to a toxic relationship with her ex-lover.

What began as a simple comparison soon became a heated debate as netizens shifted focus to determine the most outstanding BBNaija winner based on final vote margins.

Supporters of Laycon (2020 winner) and Imisi (2025 winner) went into detailed analyses, arguing over who truly deserved the title of the best winner.

In the 2020 BBNaija Lockdown Edition, Laycon secured victory with 60 per cent of the votes, while his closest rivals, Dorothy, Nengi, Neo, and Vee garnered 21.85 per cent, 25.03 per cent, 1.94 per cent, and 1.18 per cent, respectively.

Data speak

Meanwhile, Imisi clinched the BBNaija 10/10 grand prize with 42.8 per cent of the total votes, a comfortable lead over Dede and Koyin, who polled 15.94 per cent and 15.23 per cent, respectively.

Sultana followed with 7.94 per cent, while Kola secured 5.48 per cent. The remaining housemates, Jason Jae, Mensan, Isabella, and Kaybobo, recorded between 1 and 4 per cent of the votes.

Across the shows nineteen-year history, Laycon (2020) remains the most dominant winner with 60 per cent, followed by Efe Ejeba (2017) with 57.61 per cent, Katung Aduwak (2006) with 51.3 per cent, Whitemoney (2021) with 46.52 per cent, and Imisi (2025) rounding out the top five with 42.8 per cent.

Other notable winners include Mercy Eke (2019), who scored 41.77 per cent; Phyna (2022), who scored 40.74 per cent; Miracle Igbokwe (2018), who scored 38.18 per cent; Kellyrae (2024), who scored 35.95 per cent; and Ilebaye (2023), who scored 30.08 per cent.

Sentimental voting

In three out of ten seasons (2020, 2017 and 2006) in BBNaija history, the winners got over half the final votes.

Also, of the 10 winners in BBNaija history, only seven won by a 40 per cent margin of total votes.

The voting data suggests Big Brother Naija winners with emotional or relatable storylines tend to attract the widest support. Over the years, viewers have shown a soft spot for contestants who embody humility, vulnerability, or a grass-to-grace journey, which critics often call the pity card.

While bolder, more outspoken housemates usually dominate social media, the final votes consistently favour those who strike an emotional chord.

Many argue Imisis win is another reminder that sentiment and sob stories still beat strategy in the Big Brother house.
The quest for the Palestinian State received acclamatory traction with many nations recognising it penultimate week. Remarkably, western nations and allies of Israel orchestrated this epiphany. The just concluded 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), in New York  the biggest global multilateral stage  readily lent itself for this diplomatic triumph.

There are 193 UN member nations. France, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, alongside 153 others led the pack. Nigeria, South Africa and Morocco were African countries that welcomed the decision that these pro-Israeli Western countries have finally aligned themselves with, decades after most in the African and Arab worlds had supported this position.

The Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), under Yasser Arafats leadership, had on 15 November, 1988 declared the establishment of a sovereign state of Palestine, with Jerusalem as its capital. A host of nations had then voiced their support for this, including 37 African countries, in what was no more than a symbolic gesture. Algeria led the way.

The Oslo Peace Accords of 1993 and 1995 that followed, sought the attainment of a mutually negotiated two-states solution to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian tension in the region, but they ultimately did not achieve much, save for limited self-governance by the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. President Bill Clinton of the US had championed these talks that featured Mr Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin, the Israeli Prime Minister.

Since then, things have gone from bad to worse in the relations between Israel and Palestine, while upsetting the regional power dynamics. The Hamas attack of 7 October 2023 on Israel, which is said to have claimed 1,200 lives, in addition to 250 others being taken as hostages, led to the Israeli reprisal that seems to have reshaped the contours of the conflict to the point of no return.

Evidently, the relentless tide of violence unleased by Israel till date has crossed the red line. It has led to the very brutal deaths of no fewer than 65,000 people in Gaza, through vicious military assaults. The world is appalled and outraged by this carnage and magnitude of humanitarian crisis that has been spun therefrom.

The recognition of Palestinian statehood this time enables its opening of diplomatic missions around the globe and engaging in the brokering of trade agreements with other countries. These would increase the pressure of Western powers on the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on the necessity of a two-state solution in settling the question of Palestine, which Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the UNGA, noted as the most dignified path to lasting peace. Importantly, Israel would need to be held accountable for its actions and misdeeds so far.

However, this recognition is far from an elixir. As Martin Griffiths, the director of Group International, observed, It brings hope. But it does not necessarily bring the future yet. This cautious optimism is the inherent message in the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmers comment that Britain was acting to keep alive the possibility of peace, of a two-state solution. In this regard, he is pushing for an end to the sales of arms to Israel, more aid to Palestinians, and reforms that would make the Palestinian Authority fit for purpose. For the French President, Emmanuel Macron, We can no longer wait. Most seem agreed that the latest universal accord would correct the huge errors of the past.

But Mr Netanyahu would have none of these. He sees the recognition of a Palestinian State as a huge reward to terrorism. As intransigent as ever, he has vowed that this will not happen. Conscious of his countrys growing international isolation, yet his dream is to make Israel a Super Sparta, similar to the ancient great Greek state known for its military prowess and resilience amidst adversity. Interestingly, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, in a riposte, underscored the fact that statehood for Palestine, is a right, and not a reward.

Donald Trump, the president of the US, apparently, is the most important stumbling block to the consummation of this process. However, he is not acting out of character; every US administration has behaved similarly for aeons. On 18 April 2024, the US voted against a UN resolution on the full membership of the world body by Palestine, after it had secured a non-member observer status by a majority vote in 2012.

The statehood for Palestine, for all its significance, will vitiate to mere symbolism if Mr Netanyahu continues to act unhinged. Gaza remains under perpetual military assault and its purported safe northern area is not safe. Natanyahu is being supported in the effort to annex the West Bank by his far-right cabinet.

The rhetoric that Israel must finish the job of the complete occupation of Palestine bodes nothing but evil, which is affirmed by the pursuit of genocide and starvation of the Palestinian people  children, women and the vulnerable. It deepens the ongoing ethnic-cleansing and forestalls the possibility of any form of rapprochement between the two nations in real terms.

In contemplating the global dramatic positive turn for Palestine, Mr Trump has unfolded a 20-point agenda to end Israels destruction of Gaza. Mr Netanyahu has accepted this, while still maintaining some strong reservations. The Arab world needs to strengthen their diplomatic machinery to make Hamas welcome the agenda if the clause for the recognition of a two-state solution in it is considered realistic.

ALSO READ: UK officially recognises Palestine as a country

PREMIUM TIMES supports the calls for Hamas to release all hostages in its custody and surrender its arms to the Palestinian Authority. Most significantly, the continued forceful evacuation of Palestinians from Gaza needs to stop.

According to the pact, Israel will release about 1,700 long-term Palestinian prisoners and the hundreds held hostage in Gaza. It would also withdraw its troops from Gaza, but maintain military presence there for now, while a Board for Peace, headed by President Trump will oversee the reconstruction of Gaza. This could possibly prefigure the ascent of peace in the region and, hopefully, the attainment of a two-state solution, if Trump is not engaged in another ruse.

The world has been at this crossroads since 1948 when a national home for the Jewish people was created in Palestine under the terms of the Mandate entrusted to Britain at the end of World War I. The territory was then divided into two states, without the consent or agreement of the Palestinians.

Thereafter, a swift wave of pan-Arabism triggered a five-nation coalition of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, in a war against Israel. But they were routed. This emboldened Israels subsequently grab for more land than it was initially granted, through military campaigns into Palestinian territory that have kept deepening till date.

Ever since, the area has been a theatre of occupation and brutal repression, spawning conflicts that have found geopolitical resonance and turned the Middle East into one of the most unstable regions of the world, with political and economic disruptions that have been global in consequence and defied solutions till date.

Now is the time to close this bloody chapter of world history.
Nigerians have expressed outrage over the certificate forgery by Nigerias Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, saying the minister should be arrested and prosecuted.

A painstaking two-year investigation published by PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday revealed that Mr Nnaji forged the credentials he submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.

Allegations of certificate forgery have dogged Mr Nnaji since July 2023, when President Tinubu named him among the first batch of 28 ministerial nominees from 25 states forwarded to the Senate as part of the presidents initial cabinet list, two months after taking office on 29 May 2023.

Critics have long insisted that Mr Nnaji did not complete his university education and that both the bachelors degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate he presented to President Tinubu and the offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the State Security Service, and the Senate were forged.

The findings of PREMIUM TIMES extensive examination of the documents were damning and conclusive: both the degree certificate and the NYSC discharge certificate in the ministers possession are outright forgeries.

This newspaper reported on Sunday that the minister has admitted that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) never issued him a degree certificate.

Outrage over ministers forgeries

A Facebook user, Ugo Egbujo, condemned Mr Nnaji for presenting forged certificates to the Nigerian authorities.

Nnaji needs to confront the story by the Premium Times. Silence is not golden, Mr Egbujo wrote.

An X user, Kayode Abraham, said the development suggests that criminals now work everywhere in government agencies and ministries.

This is why we have policy somersault, inadequacy, deficiency, ineffectiveness and non-performance at the end of the day, Mr Abraham wrote.

Quality service and governance are seriously lacking, giving way to poverty & penury of the masses.

Another X user, Brendan Champion, criticised Mr Nnaji for the forgery.

Champion, who claimed to have graduated from UNN, demanded the ministers resignation.

I cant be carrying original UNN degree results and be doing multiple jobs to provide for my family, and someone is allegedly carrying a fake one and has free access to free hundreds of billions, Champion wrote. He should resign.

Dayo Aiyetan, founder of International Centre for Investigative Reporting, said Mr Nnajis certificate forgery was an an indictment of the Nigerian Senate which often tells nominees for public office to take a bow and go without proper scrutiny.

President BolaTinubu (@officialABAT) must not only sack his rogue, criminal minister, he (Nnaji) must be arrested and prosecuted for serial forgery, which is a criminal offence, Mr Aiyetan wrote on his X handle on Sunday.

This isnt a mistake  its criminal deception, another X user, (@SirOdigie), wrote on his handle on Sunday.

Uche Nnaji should be arrested, prosecuted, and banned from public office. Enough of this fraud in govt!
The nationwide strike embarked upon by some oil workers recently cost Nigeria over 200,000 barrels per day of crude oil, and also affected gas production and electricity generation, an official announced on Monday.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC Ltd, Bayo Ojulari, announced this on Monday after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

In this particular case, we actually lost significant production of over 200,000 bpd that was deferred; we also have gas production that was deferred; we also have power generation that was impacted, Mr Ojulari told journalists at the State House.

At an average price of $66 per barrel, it means Nigeria lost about $39.6 million (N57.4 billion) worth of crude oil for the three days the strike lasted.

PREMIUM TIMES reported the strike called by PENGASSAN, a union of senior oil workers in the oil industry, to protest the sack of its members by Dangote refinery. It was suspended last Wednesday following the federal governments intervention.

PENGASSAN/Dangote crisis

Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals recently terminated the appointment of about 800 Nigerian workers in its employ for their alleged involvement in sabotage activities that pose threats to the safety and operations of the 650,000-barrel-per-day facility.

In a letter endorsed by Femi Adekunle, a human resource manager at the Dangote Group, the corporation told the affected employees of the managements decision to discontinue their service, effective from 25 September.

This exercise is not arbitrary. It has become necessary to safeguard the refinery from repeated acts of sabotage that have raised safety concerns and affected operational efficiency.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), on the contrary, claimed that the companys rationale for asking the workers to leave stemmed from their decision to join the labour group as registered members.

It went further to allege that the refinery had been making furtive plans to replace the dismissed staff with expatriates.

READ ALSO: PENGASSAN suspends strike after agreement with Dangote Refinery

In the days that followed, the union instructed members to block gas supply to the plant in mark of protest.

Dangote refinery described the order as illegal, adding that PENGASSAN lacks the right to interfere with the companys contracts with third-party vendors for gas and crude oil supply.

Last Wednesday, PENGASSAN suspended its nationwide strike after reaching an agreement with the Dangote refinery management.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, on Monday, refused to appear at a press conference his office called to address the certificate forgery scandal involving him.

Instead of the minister, his spokesperson, Robert Ngwu, alongside other officials of the ministry in Abuja, showed up in the conference room designated for the briefing long after the 2 p.m. fixed for the event.

The press conference was organised in response to a PREMIUM TIMES investigative report published on Saturday, revealing that Mr Nnaji forged the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and national youth service certificates he presented to secure his ministerial appointment in 2023.

The ministers office sent out Monday morning an invitation to journalists to attend a press conference, expected to address the scandal, at 2 p.m., at the Raw Material Research and Development Council in Abuja.

The invitation, titled MINISTER SPEAKS, gave the impression that Mr Nnaji was going to personally speak to and field questions from journalists.

Based on the invitation, PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Nnaji was ready to speak on this newspapers publication.

Journalists from various local and international media outlets operating in the country also filled the conference room designated for the press conference by the ministers media team ahead of the 2 p.m. scheduled for the meeting.

But after one and a half hours of the journalists wait in the conference room, the minister failed to appear.

The press briefing, scheduled for 2 p.m., did not commence until about 3:30 p.m.

In the absence of the minister, his spokesperson, Mr Ngwu, accompanied by other officials of the ministry, presided over the meeting.

Allegations of certificate forgery have dogged Mr Nnaji since July 2023, when President Tinubu named him among the first batch of 28 ministerial nominees from 25 states forwarded to the Senate as part of the presidents initial cabinet list, two months after taking office on 29 May 2023.

Critics have long insisted that Mr Nnaji did not complete his university education and that the bachelors degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate he presented to President Tinubu and the offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the State Security Service, and the Senate were forged.

PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday published a report from its two-year investigation of the authenticity of the UNN and national youth service discharge certificates.

This newspapers findings showed that Mr Nnaji forged the two certificates.

Discrepancies, unsubstantiated claims

At the press briefing held on Monday, the media team of Mr Nnaji distributed two documents to journalists.

The first was a paper showing blurred faces of what was described as the UNN 1985 graduating class. The second was a December 2023 letter from the university registrar, addressed to Peoples Gazette in response to its inquiry on Mr Nnajis academic records.

Citing the documents, the ministers spokesperson, Mr Ngwu, insisted that Mr Nnaji graduated from UNN.

Let me state clearly and for the record: Chief Uche Nnaji is a proud alumnus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), having graduated in July 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry, with Second Class (Honours), Lower Division, Mr Ngwu told reporters.

However, a closer examination of the documents revealed discrepancies. While the UNN registrars letter identified the minister as Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the class gallery listed the name Nnaji Uchenna G  two clearly different names.

When a Channels Television reporter raised the inconsistency, Mr Ngwu dismissed it.

You know, in Igbo land, Uchechukwu and Uchenna are the same thing, he said.

Mr Ngwu also alleged that his principal was being targeted by political rivals, pointing fingers at Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, without providing evidence.

He accused the governor of orchestrating false narrative and political intrigue. He also did not provide any proof to back this claim.

We have good records that he (Mr Mbah) is the one behind the mask, the spokesperson said.

According to him, the universitys position shifted only after two card-carrying members of the PDP suddenly emerged as Acting Vice-Chancellor and later Vice-Chancellor of UNN.

UNN Registrars office has since recanted the letter it sent in response to Peoples Gazettes request in December 2023 claiming Mr Nnaji graduated from the institution.

In May, the registrars office sent a letter to the Public Complaints Commission disowning Mr Nnajis certificate.

On 2 October, the vice-chancellor of the university, Simon Ortuanya, who assumed office in August, confirmed in response to PREMIUM TIMES Freedom of Information request that Mr Nnaji was a drop-out, who could not have been issued a certificate by the institution.

Mr Nnaji himself did not attend Mondays briefing. Asked why the minister was absent, his spokesperson gave no clear explanation.

Mr Ngwu also claimed that UNN had yet to issue his statement of results and refused to provide further details upon enquiries put forward by our reporter. The room suddenly turned rowdy.

The ministers media team did not present any new evidence to counter PREMIUM TIMES investigations into the controversy. Journalists were also given limited opportunity to ask questions before the briefing ended abruptly.
Political party leaders have proposed wide-ranging constitutional reforms, including the creation of additional legislative seats for women, greater autonomy for local governments, and new social welfare provisions to protect vulnerable Nigerians.

They made the proposals on Monday in Abuja at a consultative meeting between the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review and national executives of registered political parties.

The meeting, chaired by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, was part of ongoing consultations ahead of the next phase of the 1999 Constitution amendment process.

The National Secretary of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Vidiyeno Bamaiyi, called for an expansion of legislative representation to promote gender inclusion and broader participation.

We should have an additional senatorial seat for each state, including the FCT, Mr Bamaiyi said. That means states will have four senators, and the FCT will have two. Similarly, every state should have additional House of Representatives and state assembly seats to accommodate women representatives.

He explained that the proposal would ensure that each senatorial district in a state produces at least one woman lawmaker at the state assembly level.

For instance, if a state has 25 members in its House of Assembly, it will now have 28, one woman from each senatorial district, he said, describing the move as a practical approach to redressing the gender imbalance in governance.

Concerns over international human rights provisions

In his submission, ThankGod Enahoro, the national legal adviser of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), cautioned against the wholesale adoption of international human rights instruments into Nigerian law without legislative scrutiny.

He said while Nigeria must uphold universal human rights principles, international conventions must still be domesticated through parliamentary oversight to reflect local realities.

Some of these international provisions do not fit our social environment, Mr Enahoro said. They should be subject to legislative approval before enforcement under our law.

He also faulted a proposed amendment that would commute death sentences for pregnant women to life imprisonment, arguing that it risked creating discrimination between male and female convicts.

A law that imposes different punishments for the same crime is retrogressive, he said, while noting that the death penalty itself appears to have no real purpose and should be abolished.

Labour Party seeks welfare for vulnerable youths

Deputy National Chairperson of the Labour Party (LP), Ayo Olafemi, commended the committee for its forward-looking approach but called for stronger social welfare provisions in the Constitution.

He proposed that the government create hostels in every local government to accommodate vulnerable and unemployed youths as part of the nations social responsibility.

On defection, Mr Olafemi urged lawmakers to take a firmer stance by making it mandatory for any legislator who defects from their party to lose their seat automatically.

Once you defect, you lose your seat, and your party replaces you. Thats the only way to stop abuse and ensure discipline in the system, he said.

LG autonomy and gender balance in party leadership

The National Chairman of the Accord Party, Maxwell Ngbudem, and a representative of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) also made far-reaching proposals aimed at strengthening democracy and local governance.

The NNPP representative called for a constitutional provision mandating that at least six women must be members of every partys national working committee before such parties can qualify for registration or alliance.

He also recommended that the power to appoint members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) be taken away from the president and vested in a National Assemblyconstituted special committee, with the INEC chairperson restricted to only a retired Chief Justice of Nigeria or a retired President of the Court of Appeal.

This will prevent the President from being a judge in his own cause and guarantee INECs true independence, he said.

Committees response

Mr Kalu responded by saying that the committee would carefully review all the propositions.

One of the committees consultants also reinforced the need to clarify the defection clause, noting that political parties, not individuals, legally own elective seats under Nigerias electoral framework.

If you cease to be a member of the political party on whose platform you were elected, you vacate the seat for that party, he explained.

Some bills seeking the creation of reserved seats are before the review committee.
Australian outsourcing provider VAP launches cybersecurity whitepaper identifying five critical blind spots affecting SMEs moving operations offshore.

Whats happening: Australian outsourcing provider VAP has launched a cybersecurity whitepaper revealing critical security gaps affecting SMEs that outsource offshore operations. With 87,000 cyber incidents reported by Australian businesses last year, each costing small businesses an average of $49,600, the research identifies five key blind spots and practical protocols to minimise risk.

Why this matters: More than half of Australian businesses are considering sourcing suppliers or customers from overseas markets within the next year Australian fintech landscape 2024, making cybersecurity oversight critical.

Cybersecurity has evolved from a big business concern to an urgent priority for Australian SMEs, particularly as outsourcing becomes more prevalent.

According to the Australian Governments Annual Cyber Threat Report, each cybercrime incident costs small businesses an average of $49,600, with 87,000 cyber incidents reported by Australian businesses last year alone.

In response to this growing threat, Australian-owned offshore outsourcing provider VAP has partnered with cybersecurity consultancy The Cyber Collective to launch its inaugural Safe Solutions: Reclaiming Security in Offshore Operations whitepaper.

Brian Jones, CEO of VAP, explains the shifting landscape. While outsourcing has traditionally been a trend only seen in large corporations, outsourcing has become a lifeline for small to medium-sized businesses looking to improve efficiency, but there are serious cybersecurity blind spots.

Beyond big business

The context for this security challenge is clear. Faced with mounting operational costs, 51 per cent of Australian businesses are prepared to explore international resources and clientele within the coming year Australian fintech landscape 2024, driven by the relentless pressure of rising operating expenses.

Jones highlights the vulnerability of smaller operators. Many smaller companies lack the knowledge and resources to properly vet or oversee outsourced workers, and the consequences of a data breach in heavily regulated industries such as finance can be dire.

Fraser Jack, founder of The Cyber Collective, acknowledges the tension between efficiency and security. Businesses are concerned with security and data privacy when moving operations overseas. Cybersecurity threats are often seen as a con of offshoring, but with the right procedures, practices and offshoring partners, offshoring can enhance business operations like never before.

Five critical blind spots

The whitepaper identifies five key areas where Australian business owners frequently fall short when offshoring operations.

First, oversight failures remain common. Too many small businesses make assumptions when offshoring functions, so ensuring there is always someone actively responsible for reviewing offshore risks and monitoring cybersecurity measures is essential.

Second, the work environment requires scrutiny. Offshore teams must work from private spaces with monitored access, robust internet security and verified devices, rather than simply being granted unrestricted access.

Third, cyber awareness within teams can be compromised through behaviours such as informal task delegation, job-sharing and lax attitudes to privacy, making a strong culture around secure behaviours essential.

Fourth, technology must be used and updated consistently. Security technology used by offshore teams must be continually reviewed, updated and reconfigured according to the same standards as onshore operations.

Finally, compliance protocols must be maintained. Policies and procedures must ensure offshore teams comply with regulations and remain accountable, whilst updated documentation demonstrates due diligence to regulators.

Practical protocols

Jones emphasises that security doesnt require complex solutions. Implementing simple protocols such as vendor risk assessments as part of the onboarding process, adding enforceable cybersecurity clauses to outsourcing contracts, operating a Zero Trust policy for external network access, and using automated third-party risk monitoring tools are some of the key strategies to minimise risk.

Jack adds that proper preparation can transform outsourcing from a security risk to an operational advantage. Working with VA Platinum, weve identified some of the most common pitfalls currently affecting Australian business owners when offshoring operations.

The research arrives as tech-related products and services lead outsourcing priorities, with software at 38 per cent and IT hardware at 31 per cent Australian fintech landscape 2024, reflecting both Australias skills shortage in this area and the critical importance of securing these operations.

Jones concludes with a practical message for business owners weighing their options. Following a few fundamental principles when selecting an outsourced service provider can be all it takes to maximise business efficiency with peace of mind. Your customer data will be kept safe and secure.

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Harvard Universitys 374th Commencement Ceremony gathered a remarkable assembly of scholars, leaders, and the ivy leagues fresh graduates from more than 90 countries recently.

Among them was Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart, Ph.D, a public policy expert and academic, who graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School with a Master degree in Public Administration specialized in public policy, social impact and civic technology and recipient of the prestigious Edward S. Mason Fellowship in Public Policy and Management.

The Harvard President, Alan M. Garber urged graduates to carry forward not only the knowledge gained during their studies, but also the responsibility to lead with integrity, humility and global purpose.

At the Harvard Kennedy School, Dean Jeremy M. Weinstein praised the graduating class as a community of action-oriented dreamers who see obstacles as opportunities and who are prepared to deliver bold, evidence-based solutions to the most pressing challenges in society.

As Harvard cross-registrant, he also completed his academic studies as a LEAPS Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he deepened his work in civic technology and Artificial Intelligence.

Harvard Kennedy Schools 2025 graduation featured a commencement address by Christiane Amanpour, CNNs Chief International Anchor, who challenged graduates to speak truth to power, defend democracy and tell the worlds most important stories with courage.

Mr Olanrewaju Smart holds a Ph.D. in Educational Management from Lead City University, Ibadan and currently serves as Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Inter-Governmental Affairs. He previously served as Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the 9th and 10th House of Representatives.

Speaking on the significance of his new academic accomplishment, Mr Olanrewaju-Smart said graduating from Harvard alongside some of the worlds brightest minds had strengthened his skillset in integrating Artificial Intelligence and Civic Tech tools in designing and implementing policies that will redefine global governance.

This experience at Harvard has been transformativelearning alongside exceptional peers I considered the biggest faculty has sharpened my ability to harness AI and Civic Tech as powerful instruments for policy innovation. Im committed to applying these capabilities for more responsive, efficient, and equitable global system where social innovation thrives.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has inaugurated an ad hoc committee to examine the economic, regulatory, and security implications of cryptocurrency adoption and Point-of-Sale (POS) operations in Nigeria.

Speaking at the inauguration on Monday in Abuja, Mr Tajudeen said the initiative became necessary following rising cases of fraud, cybercrime, and consumer exploitation within the digital finance sector.

He noted that despite periodic economic challenges, Nigerias economy has shown remarkable resilience, particularly through growth in non-oil sectors, an environment, he said, where cryptocurrency could potentially thrive.

However, Mr Tajudeen warned that the vulnerabilities associated with cryptocurrency operations could not be ignored.

According to him, the anonymity and weak regulatory oversight that characterise digital currencies make them susceptible to money laundering and terrorism financing.

It is because of this absence of clear rules, coupled with the volatility and complexity of the technology, that the House of Representatives found it imperative to establish regulations and consumer protection measures, he said.

The speaker explained that the newly inaugurated ad hoc committee will conduct public hearings and gather input from stakeholders to help the House craft a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework for cryptocurrency and other virtual assets in Nigeria.

The work of this committee will also strengthen the Houses oversight of digital financial operations, ensuring that innovation does not come at the expense of national security or consumer protection, he added.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the 10th House to safeguarding the country and its citizens from developments that could undermine President Bola Tinubus ongoing economic reforms.

He urged members of the committee to demonstrate patriotism and integrity in the course of their assignment.

In his remarks, the committee chairman, Olufemi Bamisile (APC, Ekiti), described the assignment as one of national importance aimed at striking a balance between innovation and security in the financial sector.

Across the world, financial systems are being reshaped by technology. In Nigeria, cryptocurrency and POS operations have expanded rapidly, creating opportunities for commerce, inclusion, and innovation, Mr Bamisile said.

But alongside these opportunities lie serious risks, cybercrime, fraud, money laundering, terrorism financing, and regulatory uncertainty.

He said the committee would work towards formulating a legislative and regulatory framework that promotes financial innovation while protecting citizens and the integrity of Nigerias financial system.

He added that the panel will collaborate closely with key institutions, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Nigeria Police Force.

The lawmaker assured that the committee would adopt a consultative and evidence-based approach by engaging regulators, banks, fintech firms, civil society organisations, and security agencies in public hearings to gather diverse perspectives and recommendations.
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested five suspected cultists following a violent clash between rival groups in the Onireke and Isashi areas of Lagos State, which left one person dead.

The suspects, Victor Christian, 43; Samuel Success, 29; Balogun Emmanuel, 43; Wisdom Chukwuemeka, 28; and Oche Job, 39, were apprehended after tactical operatives responded to a distress call on 4 October, at about 10:00 p.m.

In a statement posted on Sunday on X, Police Public Relations Officer for the Lagos State Command, Abimbola Adebisi, said the prompt response of the tactical squad prevented further violence and restored normalcy to the community.

Three victims were rushed to Badagry General Hospital for urgent treatment. Unfortunately, one was later confirmed dead. Our joint operation with conventional police units led to the arrest of five suspects directly responsible for the attack, she said.

She said a search of the suspects hideout and operational vehicle yielded firearms, ammunition, and other weapons used in cult clashes.

The statement listed recovered items to include one locally-made pistol and two pump-action guns, fifty-two live cartridges and two expended cartridges, one Toyota Avalon (KTU 610 a JB) and one HP laptop, computer mouse, and car key.

Others are one cutlass, one Nigerian international passport in the name of Ekomafe Gregory Dickson and five mobile phones (various models).

Ms Adebisi noted that all items have been documented and registered as exhibits for ongoing investigations.

She explained that the suspects are currently in police custody and will be charged to a competent court upon the completion of investigations.

Also, the police are intensifying efforts to apprehend other members still at large. Patrols and tactical squads remain deployed in the affected areas to prevent reprisals and ensure public safety.

Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, commended the professionalism of the operatives and reaffirmed the commands commitment to eradicating cultism and related crimes.

He urged residents to remain vigilant, law-abiding , and report suspicious activities promptly.

Pattern

The command recently apprehended Segun Adeyemi, 32, and Abayomi Ajayi, 24, suspected of attacking residents near Shoprite Ikeja and Maryland on 29 September.

The suspects, part of a three-man motorcycle gang, were caught while a third member escaped. The motorcycle used in the attacks was recovered.

Preliminary investigations showed the gang came from Mushin to carry out these crimes. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect, Ms Adebisi said.

Weeks earlier, police arrested John Samuel, 28, an ex-convict and suspected hired assassin involved in an 18 August daylight robbery on Gbajobi Street, Allen Avenue, Ikeja, where a businessman was shot and robbed.

The Lagos State Police Command has pledged to intensify patrols across robbery-prone areas and warned that criminals exploiting motorcycles for quick escapes will be tracked and prosecuted.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it has dismantled two major drug cartels behind six different consignments of cocaine concealed in walls of stainless cups, body cream and hair gel containers

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja.

Mr Babafemi said that the arrest followed a series of intelligence-led operations that lasted over three weeks across Lagos.

He said that the operation also led to the arrest of five suspects and ultimately the arrowhead of the syndicate, Hammed Ode, who represented himself as a businessman and real estate developer.

The spokesman added that the beginning of the end of the criminal syndicates operations began on 16 September when NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine.

According to him, the drugs which weighed 13.40 kilograms were concealed in the walls of cocoa butter body cream containers.

Mr Babafemi said that a cargo agent was promptly arrested adding that further investigations revealed Hammed Ode as the mastermind of the shipment.

According to him, after weeks of intelligence, it was established that the suspected drug baron had reported a dispute at the Zone 2 headquarters of the police in Lagos.

He said the NDLEA sought the cooperation of the police to get the suspect into custody.

During his preliminary interview, Alhaji Hammed Ode admitted ownership of the consignment which he claimed he bought at over N150 million.

He claimed to be a businessman and estate developer following his return from the United Kingdom in 2024.

He had lived for over 27 years in many European countries including Austria, Netherlands, France, Germany, and Saudi Arabia before settling in the UK, Mr Babafemi said.

In like manner, five other desperate attempts by another criminal syndicate to export cocaine consignments to the United Kingdom were also frustrated by operatives of the MMIA Strategic Command of NDLEA.

Mr Babafemi said that the unravelling of the gang started on 26 September following the seizure of cocaine weighing 2.10kg concealed in the walls of hair cream containers at the export shed of the Lagos airport.

He said that the apprehension of a cargo agent led to the arrest of the consignor, Smith Korede, a furniture maker, on Tuesday, 30 September at his 3 Arowojobe St., Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos base.

This, he said, was where another consignment of 1.40kg of cocaine meant for export to the UK was recovered from him.

Same day, another consignment of 1.00kg cocaine with a similar mode of concealment also going to the U,K was also intercepted at the export shed of the airport.

The cargo agent arrested in connection with the 1.00kg cocaine also identified Smith Korede as the consignor, bringing to three the number of seized cocaine consignments linked to the suspect, he said.

Mr Babafemi said that two other cocaine-laden consignments going to the UK were also intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the MMIA on Thursday, 2 October.

He said that two suspects, Ogunbiyi Oluseye and Popoola Olumuyiwa, linked to the seizures were promptly arrested.

One of the consignments contains crayfish, and 12 pieces of stainless cups used to conceal 1.00kg of cocaine.

The second consignment also contains crayfish, and 36 containers of hair cream used to conceal 1.60kg of cocaine, he said.

(NAN)
The Nigerian Army has debunked reports circulating online that bandits overran its troops and stole weapons and ammunition in Obanla, Kwara State.

Although PREMIUM TIMES could not trace the report to any reliable media platforms, the claim was circulated on Facebook.

But in a statement issued Sunday evening by Polycarp Okoye, Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, the military described the report as false and misleading, stressing that no Army position was overrun and no cache of weapons was lost to criminal elements.

Mr Okoye, a lieutenant-colonel, clarified that troops of the 148 Battalion (Rear), currently conducting clearance operations across Kogi and Kwara states, have instead been recording significant successes against terrorists.

He said the soldiers recently mounted a blocking position along the KwaraEkiti border, where they killed two armed bandits and recovered two AK-47 rifles.

The publication is a fabrication designed to mislead the public and undermine the morale of gallant troops diligently working to restore peace and stability in the region, the statement read in part.

The Army urged Nigerians to disregard the report and continue supporting security operations with credible information.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the ongoing offensive until all criminal networks in Kogi, Kwara, and neighboring states are dismantled.

Insecurity in Kwara

Kwara State has been in the news since early this year when armed bandits and al-Qaeda terrorists infiltrated some parts of the state, wreaking havoc.

In Baruten and Kaiama local government areas, Ansaru fighters linked to al-Qaeda have killed many security operatives and civilians.

They also destroyed public infrastructure, while posing threats to conservation inside the Kainji National Park where they are taking cover.

The situation is slightly different in Edu and Ifelodun local government areas where what could be describe as mineral curse has left nearly many communities in chaos.

Both areas, according to locals, are rich with minerals including gold, lithium and others.

Residents told this newspaper that kidnappings and killings started around June when the terrorists traced a miner to his residence.

A mining village, Kakafu, has been deserted while the terrorists control its vast forest.

Last week, the terrorists waylaid a police officer around the area and kidnapped him. The officer was returning from an official duty when he was seized.

Also last week in Oke Ode, Ifelodun LGA, the terrorists killed more than 10 local security guards and kidnapped scores of others.
Troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army and Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have dislodged several terrorists hideouts and recovered arms and other items during clearance operations in Takum and Ussa local government areas of Taraba State, according to the Nigerian Army.

The operation, conducted under Operation Lafiya Nakowa, followed credible intelligence on criminal elements terrorising communities around Tarhembe, Tornyi, TY Farm, and Kando in Takum LGA, as well as reports of farmland destruction in Ussa.

According to a statement by Umar Muhammad, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, the troops launched simultaneous clearance missions on 5 October.

Mr Muhammad, a lieutenant, said two teams of troops first engaged the terrorists around Tarhembe and Tornyi, forcing them to flee after a brief gun battle.

The first, he said, recovered four rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one AK-47 magazine, and a motorcycle.

The second team which operated within Lissam in Ussa LGA through Kutukok, Konkan, Fank Utaih, Kijwu, Kutukwo, Kwesati, and Alaha, cleared suspected hideouts without encountering resistance and destroyed camps within the area.

The Commander of 6 Brigade, Kingsley Uwa, commended the troops for their resilience and professionalism.

Mr Uwa, a brigadier-general, urged residents to continue sharing credible information to aid military operations and reaffirmed the Armys commitment to safeguarding lives and property in the state.

The clearance operation, Mr Uwa stated, has disrupted bandit activities in the area and restored public confidence in ongoing military efforts to secure Taraba and adjoining regions.

Like other northern states, insecurity in Taraba State is rooted in a resource-based conflict between nomadic Fulani herders and local farmers, resulting in attacks and counterattacks.

However, local terrorists known as bandits have taken advantage of the conflict, killing and kidnapping for ransom.

Located in the insurgency-ravaged North-east, Taraba has suffered more from banditry than the Boko Haram insurgency that has engulfed the region.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairperson of the House Committee on Constitution Review, Benjamin Kalu, has urged leaders of Nigerias political parties to take ownership of the ongoing constitutional amendment process, stating that their participation will determine the legitimacy and sustainability of the proposed reforms.

Speaking at a consultative engagement with leaders of registered political parties on Monday in Abuja, Mr Kalu said the consultation marks another critical phase in what he described as the most comprehensive and inclusive constitutional review process in Nigerias democratic history.

He said that while Nigeria had made remarkable progress since its return to democratic governance 26 years ago, the time had come for political leaders to collectively examine whether the 1999 Constitution still serves the aspirations of todays Nigeria.

Twenty-six years ago, Nigeria returned to democratic governance under the 1999 Constitution. It was a moment of great expectation. After decades of military rule, we dared to believe that a new era of freedom, justice, and prosperity was finally within reach.

The constitution we adopted was meant to be the bedrock of a new Nigeria, a Nigeria where power belonged to the people, where rights were guaranteed, and where institutions served the common good, the deputy speaker said.

He noted that in the years since, Nigeria has conducted seven successive general elections and witnessed a peaceful transfer of power between political parties, a feat he described as evidence of democratic consolidation.

Yes, Nigeria today is more democratic than ever before. We have conducted seven successive general elections. Power has changed hands peacefully between parties. Our civil society is vibrant. Our media is free.

Our judiciary, though tested, remains independent. On the one hand, our democracy has deepened, Mr Kalu added.

The deputy speaker added that beneath this progress lies the uncomfortable truth that many Nigerians still feel excluded from the promise of democracy.

Women remain severely underrepresented despite constituting half of our population. Our local governments, which should be closest to the people, remain weak and financially dependent. Election disputes drag on for years, creating uncertainty and eroding public confidence, he lamented.

Mr Kalu said the committees ongoing consultation was inspired by the need to re-evaluate whether Nigerias constitution still reflects the countrys present realities or remains tied to a bygone era.

We must ask ourselves: is our constitution still fit for purpose? Does it reflect the Nigeria we are today, or is it anchored in the Nigeria of yesterday? he asked.

According to him, political parties, as the primary channels through which Nigerians participate in governance, must play a central role in this reflection.

Committees broad consultations

Mr Kalu highlighted that the House Committee on Constitution Review has already conducted extensive engagements across the country, including retreats with legal scholars, dialogues with civil society organisations, consultations with security and intelligence agencies, traditional rulers, and professional bodies, as well as zonal public hearings in all six geopolitical zones.

The deputy speaker noted that the ongoing consultation with political parties was therefore not an afterthought but a deliberate effort to secure the participation of those who shape Nigerias democratic culture at its roots.

Key amendment proposals before the committee

Mr Kalu listed several bills before the committee that he said would define the trajectory of Nigerias democracy for the next generation.

Among them are bills seeking to guarantee womens representation in legislative houses, grant full financial autonomy to local governments, and streamline the countrys electoral process.

These are not abstract legal propositions, he said. They go to the heart of what it means to be a democracy. They determine whether our constitution will empower or merely permit democracy.

He explained that the proposed amendments aim to address persistent structural weaknesses, such as the over-centralisation of power and the exclusion of women from decision-making.

He also hinted at reforms that would harmonise Nigerias electoral calendar to make elections more cost-effective and credible.

A call for consensus beyond party lines

Mr Kalu urged political parties to set aside ideological differences and work together in the national interest.

You will not agree on everything, and that is the beauty of democracy, he said. But I ask you today to focus on what unites us, not what divides us. We all want elections that are free, fair, and credible. We all want a Nigeria where women have a voice, where local governments work, and where our Constitution commands the respect and allegiance of every citizen.

The deputy speaker said goodwill alone would not sustain Nigerias democracy without strong institutions and clear constitutional rules that actively enable democratic governance.

Next steps in amendment process

Mr Kalu reminded the participants that constitutional amendments in Nigeria require a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the National Assembly and approval from at least two-thirds of state houses of assembly.

This means that the reforms we are proposing can only become law if they command broad national consensus, he said. And that begins here, in this room, with you.

He urged the political leaders to study the bills, consult their party structures, and submit well-considered feedback to the committee.

A renewed call to strengthen democracy

In his closing remarks, Mr Kalu reaffirmed the committees commitment to inclusivity and transparency in the review process.

To sustain our democracy in a changing world, we must change the way it operates, he said. We must empower local governments to serve their people. We must give women equal rights to participate in governance. We must make our elections credible and our constitution truly reflective of our values.

The Monday engagement with political party leaders follows earlier consultations by the House Constitution Review Committee with civil society groups, traditional rulers, and professional associations.

The ongoing process aims to produce a new round of constitutional amendments that address long-standing issues of governance, inclusion, and accountability.
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), the umbrella body of all registered political parties in Nigeria, has expressed strong support for the ongoing constitution review exercise by the House of Representatives, calling for sweeping amendments to strengthen democracy, ensure credible elections, and guarantee inclusion ahead of the 2027 general polls.

IPAC Deputy Chairman, Dipo Olayokun, made the call at the consultative session organised by the House Committee on Constitution Review on Monday in Abuja.

The meeting brought together national chairmen, secretaries, and women leaders of political parties to deliberate on key reform proposals.

Mr Olayokun, who represented the councils National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, at the meeting, commended the leadership of the National Assembly for convening the session, describing it as crucial to deepening democracy through judicial, electoral, and local government reforms.

He said IPAC has consistently championed constitutional and electoral amendments to consolidate and strengthen the nations democracy following flaws observed in every election cycle.

As the platform that produces all elected public officers, IPAC is committed to ensuring that the electoral process is fair, transparent, and inclusive, and that all political parties are given a level playing field in electoral contests, he said.

He urged that the current constitution review must produce amendments to take effect before the 2027 elections, adding that such reforms would enhance credibility, promote political stability, and reinforce democratic governance.

Key demands

Among its major proposals, IPAC called for the scrapping of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) and the transfer of responsibility for local government elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Politics is local, and citizens should be encouraged to actively participate in grassroots politics that guarantee free, fair, and credible local government elections, the council said.

The council also proposed the removal of the Presidents power to appoint INECs chairman and national commissioners, suggesting instead the creation of an Independent Appointment Committee (IAC).

The IAC, IPAC said, should comprise representatives of political parties, civil society organisations, the National Judicial Council, and a bipartisan committee of the National Assembly.

It further demanded the restoration of public funding for political parties to ensure fair competition and transparency in party finances, and supported the creation of an Electoral Offences Commission to prosecute electoral offenders.

Support for womens inclusion, judicial reforms

Mr Dantalle said IPAC supports the proposal sponsored by Mr Kalu to reserve special seats for women in the National and State Assemblies, describing womens representation as critical to an inclusive democracy.

He also backed reforms that would allow political parties to fill vacant seats arising from the death or defection of legislators without fresh elections, arguing that such replacement will save costs and preserve voters mandates.

IPAC further emphasised the need for strong judicial institutions and protection of human rights as the foundation of a just and democratic society.

Mr Dantalle expressed optimism that the consultative process would produce the peoples constitution, one that reflects Nigerias collective aspirations.

READ ALSO: INEC urges NASS to pass amendments to electoral legal framework

It is hoped that participants in this meeting will thoroughly examine various reform proposals and make recommendations that will give Nigerians a people-driven constitution this time, he said.

Appointment of INEC chair

The Nigerian Constitution empowers the president to appoint the INEC chairman in consultation with the Council of State and subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Section 154 (3) says, In exercising his powers to appoint a person as Chairman or member of the Independent National Electoral Commission, National Judicial Council, the Federal Judicial Service Commission or the National Population Commission, the President shall consult the Council of State.

Section 154 (1) says such appointments must be subject to confirmation by the Senate.

However, some people and organisations argued that such powers should not be exercised by the president because he is partisan.

The current INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, will be rounding off his tenure before the end of the year. President Bola Tinubu is expected to nominate another head for the commission, who will conduct the 2027 election.
Nigerias largest academic union, ASUU, is gearing up for an industrial action next week should the Nigerian government fail to address its demands.

In a statement addressed to members of the union, ASUU president, Christopher Piwuna, said one week into the unions 14-day ultimatum, no meaningful progress has been made.

Last week, ASUU issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Nigerian government, after a three-week wait period elapsed without a move from the government to address their demands.

Mr Piwuna, a professor, said the resolutions, which emanated from the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on 29 September, had been communicated to the Minister of Labour, Muhammad Dingyadi; Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

It is now one week since those resolutions were reached and communicated to the appropriate authorities. I regret to inform you that there is no meaningful development deserving of any consideration to be reported, Mr Piwuna told members of the union.

ASUU and the federal government have been at loggerheads for more than a decade over a series of the same issues, bordering on welfare for academics, funding and autonomy for the universities, all of which are contained in the 2009 agreement.

The renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, the crux of the dispute, has stalled for close to a decade since renegotiations began.

ASUU have accused the government of reneging on both the initial 2009 agreement and subsequent memoranda of actions and understanding.

The Minister of Education, Mr Alausa, had said in August that a committee headed by the ministrys permanent secretary, Abel Enitan, had been set up to look into the draft agreement between ASUU and the Yayale Ahmed renegotiation committee submitted in February.

However, while announcing the two-week ultimatum, ASUU said it had not received any feedback from the committee after they asked the union to wait for three weeks while President Bola Tinubu was out of the country.

As we enter the second and final week of the ultimatum, I thank you on behalf of NEC for the patience and understanding which you demonstrated since the commencement of this torturous negotiation that has unjustifiably lasted over eight years, he said.

The goal of our current action remains principally to compel the government to sign and implement the renegotiated Agreement document, amongst other demands.

He said the days ahead call for the mobilisation of members to ensure unity of purpose.

The ASUU president noted that the union has always acted in solidarity as a collective and this action will not be different.

Members are to take instructions only from their Chairpersons. When in doubt, members should consult their Chairpersons, Zonal Coordinators and attend Congress meetings regularly for updates on further developments, he added.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to hand over four serving and retired police officers involved in the disappearance of a businessman, John Anozie, for prosecution.

Mr Anozie has not been seen by his family after the police officers reportedly abducted him from his home in Lagos in 2017.

The individuals implicated in Mr Anozies disappearance are a retired assistant superintendent of police, Anthony Obiozor, Uzochukwu Emeana, John Eze, and Oriole, also known as T-boy.

The judge, Binta Nyako, ordered Kayode Egbetokun, the current IGP, to hand over the four police officers to the office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) for prosecution.

Mrs Nyako also directed Mr Egbetokun to release relevant case files and investigative reports to the AGF office within seven days.

The seven days started counting from when the judge gave the judgement on 24 September.

PREMIUM TIMES saw on Monday the certified true copy of the summary of the judgement.

Mr Anozies family said the police officers, who were officers of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Awkuzu, Anambra State, travelled to Lekki in Lagos State to abduct him at his home in June 2017.

For eight years, his wife, Nnenna Anozie, has made a series of efforts, including filing court cases, to secure the release or confirm if he is still alive, to no avail.

She filed her latest case, through her lawyer, Vincent Adodo, in June this year as a Freedom of Information (FoI) matter.

The case was undefended by the police, which failed to show up or submit any filing in court despite evidence of their being served the applicants processes and hearing notices.

In the absence of the police, Mrs Nyako granted all Mrs Anozies prayers.

Release documents

In addition to ordering the police officers prosecution, the judge directed the police to release some documents regarding the case to Mrs Anozie within seven days from the date of the judgement.

The documents include the report of the investigation conducted by the IGP-Monitoring team led by Mr Chinedu arising from the petition of Falana & Falana dated 23/11/2023.

Another of the documents is the case file of the abduction and disappearance of Mr John Chukwuemeka Anozie as investigated by the X-Squad of the Nigeria Police in 2017.

The third document to be released to Mr Anozie is the legal opinion the case file of Mr John Chukwuemeka Anozie last seen with the legal department of the Nigeria Police Headquarters Abuja. Mrs Njyako ordered that a copy of the legal opinion should be sent to the Attorney General of the Federation.

Background

In 2017, the police officers linked to the disappearance of Mr Anozie travelled from their base in Anambra State to Lagos to arrest him from his home in Lekki, Lagos State, on 17 June 2017.

They also took two SUV vehicles, briefcases containing foreign and local currencies, the passports of his wife and children, ATM cards, and sundry belongings.

In her battle for the release of her husband, Mrs Anozie obtained a court order directing the police to release or arraign him.

But they flouted an order given by a court in Anambra State.

The police later said Mr Anozie died in custody during interrogation, prompting the family to file another application in court, which ordered the release of the corpse.

But the police refused to release the corpse to his family, flouting another court order.

Therefore, in 2019, Mrs Anozie petitioned the IGP over the matter, which led to an investigation.

The officers involved in Mr Anozies disappearance were investigated. The officer in charge, Legal, Police Force Headquarters, Tuesday Emienbo, recommended the officers prosecution.

But the recommendation was never carried out.

Mrs Anozie subsequently took the matter before the #EndSARS Investigative Panel in Abuja, which sat between 2020 and 2022. The panel also ordered the former Commissioner of Police Legal, Ochogwu Ogbeh, to produce the case file of the matter.

Mr Ogbeh never appeared before the panel or presented the case file despite the warrant issued against him.

Acting on Mrs Anozies behalf, Falana & Falana law firm petitioned the IGP in 2023 to reopen the investigation. The case was again assigned to one Chinedu for investigation.

But since the petition of Falana & Falana, nothing was done to bring the officers to book.

In April this year, Mrs Anozie engaged Mr Adodo of the Providence Law Firm to write a letter dated the 8 April 2025 to the police authorities, demanding release of the casefile and legal opinion regarding the matter.

The police snubbed the request, prompting Mrs Anozie to institute the FoI enforcement action to seek the information and other prayers sought.

During the proceedings, the police failed to appear despite being served with the court processes and hearing notices.

The judge subsequently ruled in Mrs Anozies favour, granting her request for the investigation reports within seven days of the judgment.
A lion handler playing with a lion cub at a cafe in Chiang Mai, Thailand on July 11, 2025. Photo by AFP

A lion kept at a private home in Thailand got loose and attacked a young boy, leaving him in hospital, the wildlife department said Sunday.

The lion attacked the child, who was hospitalized with unspecified injuries, while he was walking on a public road Saturday night in western Kanchanaburi province, about a two-hour drive from the capital Bangkok, the department said in a statement.

Local media said the boy was on his way home from playing with other children when the big cat pounced on him.

Lion ownership is legal in Thailand, where the captive population has exploded in recent years, with nearly 500 registered in zoos, breeding farms, petting cafes and homes.

But experts have warned the trend endangers animals and humans, and likely fuels illicit trade domestically and abroad.

The lion's owner, who the wildlife department identified only as Parinya, was charged with violating wildlife protection laws, and faces up to six months in prison and a 50,000 baht (US$1,500) fine if convicted.

The lion was seized by authorities, the department said, adding that a wildlife breeding center had prepared a new home for it.

Parinya told local TV he was "shocked" when he learned of the attack, saying the female lion got loose after it was removed from its cage while it was being renovated.

"I apologize for what happened, it was an accident," he said, adding that he will pay compensation and for the boy's medical treatment.

In its statement, the wildlife department urged people who "keep wild animals to be aware of the potential dangers, as all animals have a ferocious instinct."

"Any unforeseen incident that affects the life and property of others will be punished and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," it added.

Since 2022, Thai law has required owners to register and microchip lions, and inform authorities before moving them, but there are few enclosure or welfare requirements.

Last month, a zookeeper was mauled to death by several lions at a safari park on the outskirts of Bangkok, raising scrutiny of the facility, which offers lion- and tiger-feeding trips for about $40 per person.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned an accountant, Oguibe Nkwachukwu, and his company, Wifamapp Royalty Global Limited, before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja over the alleged theft of about N200 million.

The prosecution accused the defendant of stealing the money from Travelstar Web Logistics Limited.

In a statement on Monday, the anti-graft agency said Mr Nkwachukwu, who served as an accountant with the logistics firm, was arraigned alongside his company before a judge, Rahman Oshodi on 13 counts of stealing and dishonest conversion of funds.

According to the EFCC, the defendant allegedly diverted various sums of money entrusted to him by his employer into personal accounts under the guise of legitimate business transactions.

One of the counts alleged that Mr Nkwachukwu, as the alter ego of Wifamapp Royalty Global Limited, and Wifamapp Royalty Global Limited, incorporated in March 2020, dishonestly converted $36,000 (about N54 million) belonging to Travelstar Web Logistics Limited and entrusted to him as the companys accountant.

Another count accuses the defendant of converting an additional $156,000 (about N146 million) belonging to the same company between January and July 2018.

READ ALSO: EFCC chair urges reforms to cut investment risks in Africa

The prosecution said the offence of stealing was contrary to Sections 280(1)(b), 280(2)(f), and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, one of the counts reads.

Mr Nkwachukwu pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him.

Following the plea, the prosecution counsel, A.A. Usman, applied for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility.

However, the defence counsel, Kelvin Uzozie, informed the court of a pending bail application and urged that his client be remanded in EFCC custody pending the hearing.

After listening to both parties, the judge adjourned the matter till 17 October for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, Lagos.
Some security personnel at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) in Rivers State have been filmed arresting some graduating students of the university.

In the now viral video clip uploaded on Facebook on Sunday, some unidentified students were seen being led into a waiting Toyota Hilux pickup truck in the university premises.

The clip showed some of the students appearing to be struggling with the personnel apparently to avoid being arrested while others ran away.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the university authorities instructed the security personnel to carry out the arrest because the students allegedly violated a ban on the popular signing off ceremony often observed by students after their final examinations.

The incident, this newspaper gathered, happened on Friday, shortly after some of the students completed their final-year examinations.

Meanwhile, the UNIPORT management had banned the sign-off ceremonies in the university.

VC boys

A staff member of the university, who asked not to be named, told PREMIUM TIMES the security personnel, known as the VC boys, arrested some of the final year students and impounded a few vehicles during the incident.

The staff member confirmed that the arrest followed allegations that they violated the ban on sign-out celebrations in the university.

Despite the warnings by the UNIPORT authorities, these final year students continue with their sign-out celebrations. I think some of them were apprehended, she said.

UNIPORT speaks

When contacted on Sunday, Sam Kpenu, the UNIPORT spokesperson, confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Kpenu, however, said nobody was arrested by the security personnel during the incident.

We have no reason to arrest anybody, but security operatives impounded some vehicles owned by these students, he said.

However, we later settled with them and gave their cars back to them.

The spokesperson then defended the ban on sign-out celebrations in the university, explaining that the decision was aimed at curbing unruly behaviour and disruptions on campus.

The ban

UNIPORT authorities had in a memo dated 2 October 2025 announced a ban on sign-out celebrations in the university.

The memo, which was signed by the universitys Dean of Student Affairs, Chima Wokocha, banned all forms of sign-out activities in the federal institution with immediate effect.

Mr Wokocha, a professor, said the signing of T-shirts, often done by students to celebrate the completion of their examinations, would no longer be allowed in the university or the vicinity of any of the institutions examination venues.

He added that final year students arriving for examinations with security escorts would have their vehicles impounded.

The dean further warned that any security personnel accompanying students into examination centres would be arrested and handed over to the commissioner of police in Rivers State.

All gatherings of final year students after their examinations are hereby prohibited, the dean said in the memo.

Parents and guardians were also advised to stay away from examination venues throughout the duration of the final year examinations.

Mr Wokocha further said that photographers who attempt to set up cameras to record sign-out celebrations during or after examinations would be arrested.

Any student or group of students found violating this directive will face the Students Disciplinary Committee, the memo added.

Not the first time

The ban on sign-out celebrations in Nigerias tertiary institutions is not new, but the prohibition of students from coming for examinations with security escorts is a novelty.

On 19 August this year for instance, the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka in Anambra State also announced a ban on the sign-off ceremonies within the institutions premises.

In October 2024, the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu State announced a similar ban in its campus.

The ban by the IMT management followed the death of a student which happened when a graduating student, in a celebratory mood, rammed his car into a crowd of students within the institutions premises.
The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has reacted to the PREMIUM TIMES investigation exposing how Uche Nnaji forged his degree and NYSC certificates.

The investigation

A painstaking two-year investigation published by PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday revealed that Mr Nnaji forged the credentials he submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.

Allegations of certificate forgery have dogged Mr Nnaji since July 2023, when President Tinubu named him among the first batch of 28 ministerial nominees from 25 states forwarded to the Senate as part of the presidents initial cabinet list, two months after taking office on 29 May 2023.

Critics have long insisted that Mr Nnaji did not complete his university education and that both the bachelors degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate he presented to President Tinubu, as well as to the offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the State Security Service, and the Senate, were forged.

The findings of PREMIUM TIMES extensive examination of the documents were damning and conclusive: both the degree certificate and the NYSC discharge certificate in the ministers possession are outright forgeries.

This newspaper reported on Sunday that the minister has admitted that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) never issued him a degree certificate.

Many Nigerians have expressed outrage over the ministers certificate forgery.

Peter Obi speaks

Reacting in a post on his X handle on Monday, Mr Obi claimed that those who are part of criminality in Nigeria often attack him whenever he mentions that the country is a crime scene.

The former governor of Anambra State expressed disappointment that some Nigerian leaders who are supposed to set good examples have become the very source of the nations decay.

How do you tell young Nigerians to be honest and upright when those they are supposed to emulate are the least to be emulated because they are criminals and dishonest? he wrote in apparent reference to the certificate forgery by the minister.

Certificate forgery is a serious criminal offence in all countries of the world. It is one of the most corrupt practices heavily punished.

Nigeria vs Indonesia scenarios

Mr Obi recalled that during his visits early this year to Indonesia, he had interacted with some of the countrys officials.

The former governor said during such interactions with the chairperson of the General Elections Commission of Indonesia, he had asked the election official the

educational qualifications required for various elective positions in the country which the official listed.

He narrated that he further asked the official the implications for officials who contested in an election with forged certificates or did not attend schools they claimed to have attended.

Mr Obi narrated: He (the official) looked at me, surprised and shocked, and said, That attracts immediate disqualification and prosecution. It is a criminal offence. If someone can forge a certificate, how can that person be trusted to lead others?

The LP candidate argued that although Nigeria has similar laws, the countrys electoral body, INEC, does not scrutinise certificates before the elections.

(INEC) overlooks complaints of forgery and when challenged after the elections, the court will dismiss the serious criminal issues as pre-election matters without giving this criminal act appropriate punishment, he said.

INEC, even after the elections, does not bother to revisit or investigate these serious offences before the next election.

The former governor said another concerning issue was how criminals and dishonest people scale through all the scrutiny layers, including security, parliament and government apparatus.

Even more disturbing, amounting to double tragedy, is that most of these dishonest people swore an affidavit before a law court attesting to the authenticity of the documents they presented.

We are now preparing for the 2027 general elections. INEC has enough time to investigate past complaints about various forms of forgery and false claims, he said.

Ahead of 2027 elections

Mr Obi said, ahead of the 2027 general election, Nigeria must amend its electoral laws to include mandatory submission of all academic certificates by all contestants for any elective office at least six months before the election.

These certificates, alongside details of schools attended, what was studied and years of study, should be made public for verification within 90 days.

This process must also apply to appointed officials, ministers and even aides, because when dishonesty starts from the top, it spreads to every level of governance, just like its happening now, he stated.

We must deal with certificate forgery holistically with the seriousness and level of criminality it deserves. Criminal offences should not be dismissed as a mere procedural matter.
One terrorist and a villager have been killed in a fight between terrorists and local vigilantes in Rani Ramat village, Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The assailants also abducted the village head, Alhaji Ndako.

Locals told this reporter that the attack happened around 6:30 p m. On Sunday.

They came on eight motorcycles when people were preparing for Magrib prayers, a resident of Lade who spoke with the villagers said. Each motorcycle was carrying two armed bandits.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the targets of Sundays attack were brothers.

The kidnapped the village head and killed his younger brother, Alhaji Liman, another resident of Lade, Ndaba Kolo said.

The attack took place less than a kilometer from Lade, a lithium-trading village in the area.

Multiple sources told our reporter that yesterdays incident was the first in the village since the beginning of the chaos early this year. However, the neighbouring village, Lade has been attacked three times.

Sundays attack

The assailants were confronted by poorly armed vigilantes who responded to the invasion from Lade, forcing them to retreat.

A four-month tally by locals showed that more than 50 people have been killed in attacks on 41 communities in Edu and Patigi LGAs.

This newspaper had reported that scores of Kwara communities have been ransacked by terrorists since the beginning of this year.

READ ALSO: Suspected terrorists kidnap police officer in Kwara

While bandits have laid siege to communities in Patigi, Edu and Ifelodun LGAs, Ansaru terrorists have perpetrated violent crimes against civilians and security agencies in Kaiama and Baruten LGAs in Kwara State.

Although Ansaru leaders have been arrested and charged to court, the group continues its violence unhindered.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, has invited members of the Council of State and the Police Council to a high-level strategic meeting.

According to a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Information and Public Relations in the SGFs office, Segun Imohiosen, the meetings are scheduled for Thursday, 9 October, at the Council Chambers, Aso Villa, Abuja.

This comes amid worsening insecurity across the country.

As reported by this newspaper, banditry and kidnapping for ransom have become frequent with states like Kwara, Kogi and Niger suffering simultaneously.

As per the statement, the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs Office, Emanso Umobong, said the discussions will focus on key national security issues.

The meeting with the Council of State will be held at 1:00 p.m., followed by the Police Council meeting at 2:00 p.m.

Members are expected to participate either physically or virtually.

The strategic session comes barely two weeks after the House of Representatives held a public hearing on the creation of state police, a proposal that has generated public discourse amid rising insecurity across the country.

For a long time, former and current Nigerian leaders, security experts and civil society groups, have argued that decentralising policing would enhance community safety and response to local security threats.

The SGFs statement added that the high-level meeting underscores President Bola Tinubus commitment to addressing pressing national issues and ensuring the safety and security of citizens.

About the council of state and police council

The Council of State, established by the constitution, serves as an advisory body to the president on national issues.

It comprises the president, vice president, all former presidents and heads of state, all former chief justices of Nigeria, the president of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, all state governors and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), according to Section 153(1) and Part I (B) of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution

The council advises the president on matters such as national security, the appointment of key national officers including the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the exercise of the presidents powers of pardon and issues of national unity and policy direction.

Similarly, the Nigeria Police Council, also created by the Constitution, includes the president as chairman, all 36 state governors, the chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the IGP.

It oversees the organisation and administration of the Nigeria Police Force and advises the president on policing matters, including the appointment and performance of the IGP.

Insight about tomorrows meeting

PREMIUM TIMES understands that Thursdays meetings are expected to address the current state of insecurity and the appointment of another INEC boss as the current one, Mahmood Yakubu is set to leave office.

Mr Yakubu will be leaving office in November. He was first appointed for the first five year tenure by late President Muhammadu Buhari on 21 October 2015.

Mr Buhari reappointed him on 27 October, 2020. His appointment was then confirmed by the Senate in December that year.
A lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, on Monday, urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to bar ex-President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.

Citing constitutional grounds, Mr Jideobi urged the court to issue an order of perpetual injunction, restraining Mr Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party in the country for the purpose of participating in the poll.

He also urged the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting from any political party MrJonathans name or publishing same as a duly nominated candidate for the election.

Th News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Jideobi sued the former president in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025.

In the suit filed on Monday (6 October), the lawyer joined INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as co-defendants.

He sought one question for determination, which is:

Whether in view of the combined provisions of the entirety Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and their conflated interpretation, the 1st defendant is eligible, under any circumstances [whatsoever] to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

Citing Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the Nigerian constitution, he argued that INEC lacks the constitutional power to receive Mr Jonathans name from any political party for election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria holding in 2027 and other years to come.

He also sought an order directing the 3rd defendant (AGF) to ensure compliance with the decisions and orders of this court.

In an affidavit of facts that was deposed in support of the suit by one Emmanuel Agida, the plaintiff told the court that he was an advocate of constitutionalism and the rule of law.

He told the court that Mr Jonathan was first sworn in as Nigerias president on May 6, 2010, following the death of then President Umaru Musa YarAdua on May 5, 2010, having previously been the Vice-President.

He said he recently saw on various national dailies and television stations reports on Mr Jonathans intention to contest for presidency in 2027.

That the plaintiff believes that the 1st defendant, having completed the unexpired term of late President YarAdua and subsequently served a full term after the 2011 election, has exhausted the constitutional limit of two tenures as president.

That if the court does not intervene timeously, a political party may present the 1st defendant as its presidential candidate in the 2027 general election, thereby breaching the constitution, Mr Jideobi wrote.

On his locus standi (legal right) to institute the action, the plaintiff maintained that part of his duties as a lawyer, is to forestall a violation of the constitution and to uphold the rule of law.

There are chances that one of the political parties in Nigeria may favour the 1st defendant to stand as its presidential candidate in the forthcoming 2027 general elections to be conducted and overseen by the 2nd defendant.

If unchallenged, the 1st defendant may enter the 2027 presidential race on the platform of one of the political parties in Nigeria and may possibly emerge the winner of the said election.

In the event the 1st defendant is returned as elected and sworn as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come in 2027, it will mark the 3rd time the 1st defendant will be taking oath of office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In the event the 1st defendant is returned as elected and sworn as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come in 2027, the plaintiff as a Nigerian citizen, would become one of those under the governance control of the 1st defendant [who by virtue of his office would be saddled with the responsibility of executing the laws of the country].

As a Nigerian lawyer trained in Nigerian constitutional law, the plaintiff has come across a provision in the Nigerian constitution stating that a person who was sworn in as President to complete the term for which another person was elected as President shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.

The plaintiff knows that the 1st defendant was indeed, on the 6 May 2010, sworn in as President to complete the term for which (former) President Umaru Musa YarAdua was elected as President as a consequence of the demise of the former President on the 5th day of May, 2010.

The 1st defendant, after being sworn in on 6 May 2010 to complete the term of late Umaru Musa YarAdua, was subsequently elected into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and sworn in on 27 May 2011.

I know that if the 1st defendant eventually wins the forthcoming 2027 general election as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (which is for a term of 4 years spanning 2027 to 2031), he will have exceeded eight years being the cumulative maximum years a Nigerian President is to stay in office.

The plaintiff has instituted this suit in the public interest, in the defence of the rule of law and accentuation of the supremacy of the Constitution and to preserve the integrity of the Nigerian Constitutional order.

The suit is yet to be assigned to a judge.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that, although some opposition politicians belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have called on Mr Jonathan to seek reelection in 2027, the former president has yet to publicly make any comment confirming or denying any interest in running to return to the Presidential Villa.

His name has been mentioned in all the election cycles as a potential candidate after he lost his re-election bid in 2015 to former President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress.

(NAN)
With these records, Alake continues the family tradition by devoting his life to the service of his fatherland. It is a daily grind of hard work, creativity and persistence that may make him forget that another year has passed and today is his birthday. This article is a gentle reminder for him to take a day off and celebrate Gods grace. Happy birthday, sir!

Today, 6 October, the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Henry Dele Alake clocks 69. For many in Nigeria, the name conjures memories of his decades as a journalist and public communicator. These days, it represents a new hope for sustainable reforms in Nigerias solid minerals sector and Africas mining industry.

To understand the minister, you must know his father, Pa Michael Ojo Alake. He graduated in Philosophy from Fourah Bay College, then West Africas most prestigious university. He later founded and ran the Benevolent High School in Lagos, where indigenes of his home town, Ikoro-Ekiti, as well as indigent students, attended free of charge. His sacrifice was not ignored. The Ikoro people gave him the title, Eleyinmi of Ikoro-Ekiti to appreciate his benevolence.

Between 1979 and 1983, Alake Senior was one of the trusted advisers of Governor Lateef Jakande on the formulation and implementation of the free education programme, a scheme which scrapped the classroom shift system and built over 500 new schools to accommodate the pupils in one single shift within four years.

Being an educationist, Alake Senior knew the impact of good schools in forming the character of a civilised, confident and progressive child. He put his son in the best schools of the times  Surulere Baptist Primary School, Surulere, Lagos; Christs School, Ado-Ekiti; Igbobi College, Yaba, and topped it with tertiary education at the University of Lagos, where Dele studied Political Science and later earned a Masters degree in Mass Communication. But his exposure was not only academic. His inter-campus, extra-curricular engagements brought him under the influence of Professor Wole Soyinka, further raising his social consciousness and commitment to the public good.

This pedigree set a high standard in morality, elocution, and public service for the minister, which he is still determined to surpass. His father excelled in education, but he chose communications. As soon as he enrolled in the National Youth Service Corps and was deployed to Ogun State Radio, his hard work and creativity were noticed. The organisation entrusted him with tasks of confirmed staff members. His work led to his engagement with Lagos State Radio and the quick elevation to the post of Senior Sub-Editor  one of the fastest advancements in the organisations history.

The Crusader

As a columnist, news manager, and editor, Alake made crusading for good governance the raison detre of his career. His choice of stories and writings was deliberately crafted to conscientise readers in the fashion of Paulo Freires Pedagogy of the Oppressed. This required immense courage under military rule, and he was often the guest of the secret service. At such times, they would find him ready with his toilet bag. At one point, Concord Press of Nigeria, where he worked, was put under lock and key by the junta. But this didnt deter the crusader, whose conviction that journalism must have social relevance made him even more determined to mobilise the people to resist bad governance. To Dele, the words of Frantz Fanon that, the future will have no pity for those men, who, possessing the exceptional privilege of being able to speak words of truth to their oppressors but have, instead, taken refuge in an attitude of passivity, of mute indifference, and sometimes, of cold complicity was a call to be an agent of change.

The annulment of the June 12, 1993 election won freely by the publisher of Concord Press, Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Abiola thrust him into the epicentre of the struggle for the actualisation of this historic exercise of popular sovereignty by the Nigerian people. In that titanic struggle, he met and worked alongside Senator Bola Tinubu, who had given up his plan to be president of the Third Republic Senate to facilitate Abiolas emergence. A comradeship that endures till date was forged in the furnace of that struggle, in Nigeria and exile. Indeed, Tinubus plan to return to the Senate in 1998 was diverted to governorship by advisers such as Alake, who believed he had established the progressive profile and financial wizardry to execute Abiolas manifesto, Farewell to Poverty, in Lagos State at a micro-level and later escalate to the national level. When Bola Tinubu became governor of Lagos State in 1999, Alake became the Lagos State commissioner for Information and Strategy, a position he held till 2007. In that capacity, he was instrumental in shaping the communications strategy and public image of the Tinubu administration in Lagos. Beyond Lagos, Alakes involvement in national politics deepened. In December 2014, he was appointed Director of Media and Communication of the Buhari Campaign Organisation during the 2015 presidential election. Over the years, he cultivated a reputation as a strategist, tactician, and loyal political confidant of PresidentTinubu.

The Mining Reformer

Only a man like Alake, who has established the mental agility for cracking difficult tasks and a record of standing up to the status quo, could have been assigned the herculean task of cleaning the Augean stable of the solid minerals sector. The risks were real: weak institutions, vested interests in illicit mining, and security challenges  all posing serious headwinds. Without strong follow-through, even well-intended policies can stall. Since his appointment as the minister of Solid Minerals Development in August 2023, he has led efforts to reform a sector long considered underutilised, fragmented, and rife with regulatory inefficiencies.

Alake hit the ground running by applying the agenda-setting theory of journalism. He developed the Seven-Point Agenda for international competitiveness and local industrialisation of Nigerias mining sector through critical research and review of the literature and interviews with stakeholders. He identified the challenges, such as insecurity caused by illegal miners and bandits, speculation in licence administration, violations of the Minerals and Mining Act 2007, corporate void caused by the winding down of the Nigerian Mining Corporation, low rates of royalties and administrative fees, despite multi-million dollar technological investments and the failure to establish statutory and regulatory bodies such as the Environmental Rehabilitation Fund. He was very passionate about reversing the export of raw minerals and ensuring that minerals were processed locally to provide jobs and attract higher prices in the international markets.

In 25 months, Alake put no one in doubt that a new sheriff is in charge in the solid minerals sector. He took many steps. He set up the Mining Marshals to combat illegal mining and banditry, revoked 3,974 titles for failure to pay annual service fee or refusal to mine after obtaining licences, established the private sector-oriented Nigerian Solid Minerals Company and the Environmental Rehabilitation Fund, increased the rates of administrative fees and royalties, and revolutionised mining communications. To top it all, advocacy for value addition that he espoused for the first time at the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh in January 2024, won the hearts of ministers of mining in Africa. To maintain the momentum across the continent, they formed the Africa Minerals Strategy Group and made him the pioneer chairman. A year after, at the 2025 Future Minerals Forum, they poured encomiums on Alake for branding the one-year old AMSG into a continental colossus!

The results of Alakes reforms in the solid minerals sector form a major component of the achievements of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. These include an increase in revenue of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office from 6 billion in 2023 to 12.5 billion in 2024. It has reported 10 billion between January and April this year. Similarly, for the first time, royalties collected by the Mines Inspectorate department of the Ministry peaked at 6.4 billion as at December, last year.

The advocacy for value addition has stimulated mineral processing and manufacturing projects such as Hasetins $400 million rare earth plant, the $60 million ASBA lithium processing plant, $200 million Canmax Lithium plant, $200 million New Energy Materials Company lithium plant, while new processing projects are in the pipeline. It has encouraged existing plants such as Segilola/Thor, Kursi, Africa Industries Group to scale up their operations. The Ministry, through SMDF, its funding agency, is also planning to invest in the $1.3 billion alumina and $96.8 million silica processing projects in collaboration with the Africa Finance Corporation.

The establishment of the Mining Marshals has led to the prosecution of over 300 suspected illegal miners by the Mining Marshals, dislodgement of illegal miners from 90 licenced areas and monitoring of 450 locations occupied by illegal miners. With more logistical resources, the enforcement of the mining laws will surely be intensified.

Transparency and accountability in licence administration have been achieved with the upgrade of the Electronic Mining Cadastre system, launch of mining decisions website, and the improvement of content on the websites of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency and the ministry. Today, research for and applications for licences can be initiated 24 hours every day from anywhere on the earth.

Alake has also intervened in human capacity development. His deal with the Australian government, negotiated during the Africa Down Under in September 2023 was executed this year with the training of the first batch of Nigerian geologists in modern exploration practices at the Murdoch University. Locally, over 250 youths have benefitted from workshops on gemology and jewellery making and the Institute of Geosciences continues to produce fresh mining professionals yearly.

What no serious witness of the solid minerals sector wont contest is Alakes sterling achievement in ensuring better compliance with the law. Operators are now more alert to their responsibilities and religious in observing deadlines and the rules of engagement.

With these records, Alake continues the family tradition by devoting his life to the service of his fatherland. It is a daily grind of hard work, creativity and persistence that may make him forget that another year has passed and today is his birthday. This article is a gentle reminder for him to take a day off and celebrate Gods grace. Happy birthday, sir!

Kehinde Bamigbetan, a former commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State, is the special adviser to Dr Dele Alake, the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development.
In Africa, kingship has been considered sacred from time immemorial. We invented the Divine Right of Kings before Europe copied and popularised it. We ascribed ultimate power to the Unmade Maker under whom many gods operated. Next to the gods were the kings. Thus, in Yoruba culture, the king is, Alase ekeji orisa (equivalent of deputy gods). Because he ranks next to the gods, he is revered in the customised greeting, Kabiyesi (Who can question you?) An Oba worthy of the name is an embodiment of goodness, justice and, most especially, the culture of his people.

I am here referring only to kings whose thrones can be traced to hundreds of years. Not quota kings, created over imaginary kingdoms in societies that have no structures for it. Some cultures are, by choice, republican. Theres nothing wrong with that, except that they should not muddy the waters by pretending that they too can create kingdoms out of nothing. It doesnt work that way. If you doubt me, ask the average American what he thinks about the attempt by his president to play emperor!

Bolaji Idowu

The British colonialists thought they were superior and so, described African folk religion as polytheism. Ignorance! In his book, Olodumare, God In Yoruba Belief, the great cleric and academic, Professor Bolaji Idowu postulated that Olodumare is the Creator, Cause and Origin of all Things the divinities were brought into being by Olodumare and t the work of creating the earth was commissioned by Him. Everything in heaven and on earth owes its origin in Him.

Bolaji Idowu (19131995) was the third native-born Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, from 1972 to 1984. He did not allow his Christian indoctrination to interfere with his intellectual peregrination. When the follower of Christ discovered the true essence of Olodumare, he kept faith with his conscience and declared that Olodumare and God were names of the Supreme Being given by two different cultures  Yoruba and European. One did not negate the other.

Olodumare is too big, too awesome to be approached directly, hence the African goes through lesser gods who are his emissaries. And they subject themselves to a king who is a deputy to the gods and takes charge of their affairs on this temporal plane, usually as priest and administrator.

The only thing they demand of the king is that he be above board, morally and spiritually. When a king so revered descends to the plebeian basement of behaving like a drug addict or motor park enforcer, it is time to send him packing.

Memorable Royals

There are kings and there are kings. My favourite example of a model king is the Orangun of Oke Ila, Oba Adedokun Omoniyi Abolarin (Aroyinkeye I) a lawyer, international relations expert and teacher. I am awed by his sheer humanity. Not only did he found a secondary school for the children of the poor, he also teaches in the school and guides the children up to university level.

His legacy is assured.

In the years gone by, so much mystique surrounded Obas. I remember the first time when, as a student of the University of Ife, I saw the former Ooni of Ife, Sir Adesoji Aderemi, physically. The closest I got to the great man was to stand with hundreds of other students in front of the palace while Baba addressed us from his balcony. He had a winning genial smile, which we were all used to, from seeing his photographs regularly in the newspapers, right from his tenure as the Governor of the Western Region to the later days when he became more like an oracle to be consulted by military and civilian leaders alike. That was the situation until he joined his ancestors in glory.

Talking about drummunication, who can forget how the then Timi of Ede, Oba Adetoyese Laoye, contributed his mastery of the talking drum to compose the signature drum roll that opened the station each day: Western Nigerian Broadcasting Service. We had so much fun attempting to decode the drums message:

TOlubadan baku ta ni o joye? (When Olubadan dies, who shall succeed him?)

Ko soni gbese nibi lo si le keji (No debtor lives here, try next door).

Ninu ikoko dudu la ti nsebe (Its in the belly of the black pot that we cook our soup)

I remember, too, an interesting story once told about Alaafin Adeyemi Adeniran, the father of the immediate past Alaafin Lamidi Adeyemi. The colonial governor had visited Kabiyesi in his palace and was bemused at the palace courtesies and how everybody seemed so ready to please the Alaafin.

Surely, you have the best of all possible worlds, Your Highness. Everyone prostrates before you, not even daring to look into your face. It must be exciting to be an Alaafin, said the British man.

When his comments were translated to the Alaafin, he laughed out loud, saying: There you make a fatal mistake, White Man. When an Oyo man prostrates before you, his inner wisdom climbs the rafters and looks down from there. You can take him for granted only at your own peril.

I have many more stories about our authentic kings of yore which I proudly share whenever I feel that my audience can gain something from their wisdom or the nobility of their character.

Desecration

But there is a worrying trend that seems to have crept into the Obaship institution in many parts of Yorubaland recently. The way some Obas have been comporting themselves calls for urgent intervention before they desecrate the sacred office as we have debased so many other bodies.

It is clear to me that those responsible for filtering the kinds of characters that go through the nomination process for Obaship in many Yoruba communities have embraced filthy lucre. Some ex-convicts and drug tzars have allegedly slipped through the cracks. Just see the quality of traditional rulers they have saddled several communities with, to the shame of the Yoruba people. It appears that Ifa now spends dollars and Osanyin also sips Johnny Walker. The result is that glorified scoundrels are now sitting on otherwise sacred thrones.

Was Rudyard Kipling thinking of us when he wrote his poem about what happens when a plebeian is installed king:

A Servant When He Reigneth

Three things make earth unquiet

And four she cannot brook

The godly Agur counted them

And put them in a book 

Those Four Tremendous Curses

With which mankind is cursed;

But a Servant when He Reigneth

Old Agur entered first.

An Handmaid that is Mistress

We need not call upon.

A Fool when he is full of Meat

Will fall asleep anon.

An Odious Woman Married

May bear a babe and mend;

But a Servant when He Reigneth

Is Confusion to the end.

Time to Act

Now, we must task the governors and local government chairmen of the southwestern states to rise up to their responsibility. When a supposed king behaves like an inebriated ruffian, or worse, you owe it a duty to the society to save the society from him by restoring him to his deserved Area Boy status. Enough of these squiffy louts making royal pretensions and rubbishing our cultural heritage.

Any traditional ruler who cannot live up to his oath and societal expectations should revert to his proletarian costume. There is no worse self-abnegation than having to prostrate in cultural obeisance before an enthroned roughneck living on a cocktail of akpeteshi and amphetamine!

Wole Olaoye is a Public Relations consultant and veteran journalist. He can be reached on [email protected], Twitter: @wole_olaoye; Instagram: woleola2021
If we want Nigeria to be different; if we long for reform, justice, investment, reconciliation, and dignity, then we too must adopt the discipline of a new national confession. We must end our conversations, our prayers, and even our arguments with the same simple but prophetic refrain: God bless Nigeria. Let this become our anthem, our habit, and our expectation. For words are things, and nations are built by them. From Babel to blessing, from scattered tongues to a symphony of united voices, let our confession rise until the heavens bear witness: God bless Nigeria. God bless Africa.

On Wednesday, 1st October, I attended The Platform Nigeria in Lagos, one of the rare moments when we gather as a people to reflect on the soul of our nation. The Platform is not just a conference; it is a national altar where men and women bring sacrifices of thought, where visions are stirred, and where civic responsibility is reawakened. Last week, I had written on Beyond Babel: Nigeria and the Symphony of Tongues, and as I listened in Lagos, it felt like that meditation had come alive on a national stage. Every presentation carried weight, but Ndidi Nwuneli, president and chief executive officer of the ONE Campaign, spoke words that pierced deepest into my heart. She reminded us of a truth that is both ancient and urgent: the stories we tell about Nigeria matter, because they shape the Nigeria we will live in tomorrow.

She pointed out that the narratives we spin  whether through public statements, online chatter, or even casual complaints  are not harmless. They crystallise into stereotypes, and stereotypes harden into perceptions. Perceptions, in turn, shape decisions made about us in boardrooms, in embassies, in investment houses, and even in the hearts of our own citizens. That prejudice premium is not abstract; it is costly. Africa, according to credible reports, loses an estimated US$75 billion annually in inflated borrowing costs and lost revenue, because of the global financial bias that consistently misprices our risk. Investors do not only study policies and infrastructure; they also feed on the stories that we tell about ourselves. Our words have become scaffolds on which judgments are made, doors are closed, or opportunities are opened.

Listening to her, I realised that this is not only economics; it is profoundly spiritual. The Bible says in Proverbs 18:21, Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Words are not decorative; they are creative. Words are things. In the beginning, God created the world, not with bricks and mortar, but with speech: And God said, Let there be light, and there was light. If God could summon light from darkness by His word, then we too, made in His image, must not underestimate the atmosphere we create over our nation by what we repeatedly say.

Every time we mutter, Nigeria is finished, we are unconsciously pronouncing judgment on the land. Every nothing works here becomes another brick in the wall of dysfunction. Yet, each time we say, Nigeria will rise again, we plant seeds of resurrection. Each time we declare, Greatness will emerge from Nigeria, we release a prophetic invitation for both heaven and earth to align with that possibility. Nations, like individuals, are framed by words.

Words are seeds, and nations eat tomorrow what their people plant today. Nigeria today is partly harvest from the careless confessions of yesterday. If we want a different tomorrow, we must begin planting different words now. This means training our tongues, amplifying stories of resilience and innovation, and speaking prophetically into the nation we long to see.

This is not a denial of Nigerias struggles. We know them all too well  insecurity, corruption, weak institutions, and the steady exodus of our brightest minds in search of greener pastures. But naming a wound is not the same as embalming it. We must acknowledge problems without enthroning them. We must confess the brokenness without making it our permanent identity. To endlessly curse the soil is to forfeit the possibility of harvest. A farmer who curses his ground should not expect fruit. In the same way, when citizens endlessly curse their country, they should not be surprised when bitterness springs up, instead of blessing.

Words are seeds, and nations eat tomorrow what their people plant today. Nigeria today is partly harvest from the careless confessions of yesterday. If we want a different tomorrow, we must begin planting different words now. This means training our tongues, amplifying stories of resilience and innovation, and speaking prophetically into the nation we long to see. We must learn to call things that be not as though they were, just as Abraham did, so that what is unseen may become reality.

This is not mere optimism; it is alignment with spiritual law. Words travel. They enter classrooms, boardrooms, and parliaments. They shape investor reports, diplomatic cables, and international headlines. They frame how we are perceived by others, and even more dangerously, how we perceive ourselves. It is possible to be imprisoned not by iron bars, but by narratives that tell us we cannot rise. And the reverse is also true: it is possible to unlock progress by a consistent confession of possibility.

I now understand more deeply why Americans, despite their bitter divisions, almost always close their speeches, their prayers, and even their debates with the same refrain: God bless America. It is not a cliche. It is not empty patriotism. It is a seed, a confession, a covering spoken over their land again and again until it becomes part of their collective consciousness.

Consider for a moment how ordinary Nigerians continue to defy the odds. Our music dominates global charts. Our tech innovators are building platforms that attract international recognition. Our writers win prizes on the world stage. Our diaspora remittances, though born of necessity, remain one of the largest sources of foreign exchange, proof that Nigerians succeed everywhere they go. Yet, instead of amplifying these stories of resilience, we often highlight only the failures, thereby reinforcing a one-sided portrait of despair. We must learn to balance our narrative  acknowledging the pain, but also proclaiming the promise.

As I left The Platform, a fresh burden settled on me. Nigerias renewal will not only come from better policies, electoral reforms, or new leaders, though all these are vital. It will also come from the language of its people. Words are never cheap. Words are currency in the marketplace of perception. They negotiate favour, stir trust, and either attract or repel opportunity. I now understand more deeply why Americans, despite their bitter divisions, almost always close their speeches, their prayers, and even their debates with the same refrain: God bless America. It is not a cliche. It is not empty patriotism. It is a seed, a confession, a covering spoken over their land again and again until it becomes part of their collective consciousness.

If we want Nigeria to be different; if we long for reform, justice, investment, reconciliation, and dignity, then we too must adopt the discipline of a new national confession. We must end our conversations, our prayers, and even our arguments with the same simple but prophetic refrain: God bless Nigeria. Let this become our anthem, our habit, and our expectation. For words are things, and nations are built by them. From Babel to blessing, from scattered tongues to a symphony of united voices, let our confession rise until the heavens bear witness: God bless Nigeria. God bless Africa.

Sunday Ogidigbo is the pastor of Holyhill Church, Abuja. @SOgidigbo (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook). Email: [email protected]
Perhaps then, Nigerias talk of reverse medical tourism should not be read as self-congratulation but as a glimpse of a shifting map. Competence and confidence are no longer monopolies of wealthier nations. The future of healthcare will hinge less on where technology sits and more on where trust can be found, on which systems can deliver timely, affordable, and humane care when people need it most. For some, that place is now closer to home, for others it remains abroad.

Recently, a US physician named Pamela Buchanan MD wrote on LinkedIn with startling candour. She spoke not of privilege but of pain. We are walking away, she wrote, not from medicine, but from a system that breaks us. Her post described colleagues who had abandoned their calling, sold their clinics, or switched careers altogether. One now runs a restaurant, another a gym, she bemoaned. They were not defeated by science but by a system in which care has become a contest between exhaustion and expense. The moral injury is shared by patients who cannot see a doctor and by professionals who can no longer bear to try.

Upon reading her post, I reached out to a few family members and friends in medical and pharmaceutical practice outside the country. They said she was actually careful in her narrative, and that reality in many places is even harsher. A comment under Dr Buchanans post by Nelson Arriaza-Silva, a Health Care Professional, extended the narrative: As a Healthcare Administrator with over 25 years of experience in both for-profit and non-profit healthcare organizations, I strongly echo Dr. Buchanans concerns. Too often, upper-level leadership prioritizes maximizing profits by pressuring medical providers to deliver more with less, rather than supporting the people who are at the heart of patient care. Then I recalled the uproar that erupted in our media space in February when Nigerias Coordinating Minister of Health, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, remarked that some people from the United Kingdom and the United States were now coming to Nigeria for treatment, a claim later echoed by Vice President Kashim Shettima. Many dismissed it as improbable and baselessly political. Yet, if we step away from outrage and look closely at the state of healthcare worldwide, the claim is less absurd than it first sounded.

In the United Kingdom, the National Health Service is burdened with more than seven million outstanding treatment pathways; and in the United States, the Merritt Hawkins 2024 Survey found that the average wait for a doctors appointment in major cities has stretched beyond a month, while the cost of routine diagnostics often rivals some familys monthly earnings. Kaiser Family Foundation data shows that roughly 100 million Americans carry medical debt. What these numbers mean for ordinary people is simple. Appointments arrive too late, bills arrive too high, and conditions that could have been managed early become emergencies. Access and affordability are collapsing in systems once held up as models.

These pressures explain why a growing number of Diaspora Nigerians, and some foreigners, now schedule procedures in Lagos or Abuja or Port Harcourt, rather than London or Houston. At Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre in Abuja, surgeons perform roughly a dozen kidney transplants every month, totaling over 800 successful transplants since 2019. St Nicholas Hospital in Lagos, now a regional training hub for West Africa, has surpassed its five hundredth case and there are many more. The newly opened African Medical Centre of Excellence, backed by Afreximbank, is positioning Nigeria to compete in oncology, cardiology, and diagnostics. The meaning for patients is practical. A predictable date for surgery, a bill that can be planned for, and specialist teams that have now done these procedures at scale are powerful reasons to stay home or to come home.

Between late 2023 and mid 2025, more than 3.2 million Nigerians were newly enrolled in health insurance, bringing total coverage to about twenty million people, most of them through social schemes. These are not statistics for reports. They are the difference between postponing care and walking into a facility with a defined benefit that can actually be used.

Still, the larger truth remains sobering. Nigeria continues to lose over a billion dollars a year to outbound medical travel. For every patient who flies in, many more still fly out. Yet, beneath the imbalance lies a system in transition. The Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, launched from the Presidency in December 2023, has begun to bring order to decades of fragmentation. All states and development partners have signed onto a single Compact built around one plan, one budget, one report and one conversation, which means funding and effort now meet at the same table, rather than pulling in competing directions. Health insurance, made mandatory by the National Health Insurance Authority Act 2022, has moved from aspiration to enforcement. In September, the Presidency directed federal ministries, departments, and agencies to enrol their employees and to link procurement, licensing, and regulatory approvals to proof of coverage, with real time digital checks. As such, compliance is not on paper but in practice. For workers, this means a card in hand, rather than cash at the gate. For employers and providers, it means predictable pools and payment.

Between late 2023 and mid 2025, more than 3.2 million Nigerians were newly enrolled in health insurance, bringing total coverage to about twenty million people, most of them through social schemes. These are not statistics for reports. They are the difference between postponing care and walking into a facility with a defined benefit that can actually be used. The Basic Health Care Provision Fund 2.0 now channels resources directly to primary health centres, subsidising coverage for the poor and vulnerable, which means the first point of contact in the community is financed to function. Nearly 90 billion has been sent straight to over eight thousand facilities, more than one thousand, three hundred have been fully revitalised and about five thousand more are underway. In the first quarter of 2025, thirty-seven million Nigerians sought care at primary health centres, in comparison to ten million a year earlier. The meaning is clear. People are choosing nearby clinics again, small problems are getting treated before they become crises, and pressure on tertiary hospitals are beginning to ease.

The 2023 federal health budget rose by more than forty per cent to 1.17 trillion, matched by an ambitious vaccination drive targeting over one hundred million children. In 2024, it was increased further by 5.5 per cent of the total expenditure, while this year it is about six per cent of the total spending  the highest in over a decade. Claims data from rural providers now feed into digital dashboards that track quality, timeliness, and use, which allows managers to fix bottlenecks with evidence, rather than guesswork. Specialty capacity is also moving. Three new oncology centres have opened in Katsina, Enugu, and Benin, with three more planned, and the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain has mobilised more than $5 billion in investments, including support from Afreximbank and the European Investment Bank. For Nigerians, this translates to shorter waits for biopsies and radiotherapy, more reliable imaging, and hospitals that can upgrade without spending months trapped in customs and currency shocks.

These efforts have not erased shortages, but they are visible in daily life. Federal workers now receive insurance cards at the onboarding stage, which changes the conversation at the clinic desk from payment first to eligibility and care. Trade groups are negotiating group plans, so that market women, artisans, and drivers are not priced out of care at the point of service. NHIA tariffs have been recalculated using actuarial evidence, with capitation rates up ninety-three per cent and fee-for-service payments up three hundred and eighty per cent. For facilities, this means salaries and supplies can be planned, stockouts become less frequent, and providers have a reason to improve patient experience. Out-of-pocket spending still sits above seventy per cent of health expenditure, but the direction of travel is toward pooled purchasing, rather than cash payments that push families into debt.

Until nations, rich and poor alike, make health a guarantee rather than a gamble, the queues will lengthen, the weary will walk away, and the miracle of medicine will remain incomplete. In the end the question returns to its simplest form, asked quietly in houses and waiting rooms on every continent: Where can I find a doctor?

Nigerias doctors, like their peers abroad, are weary. Of about one hundred and thirty thousand ever registered, fewer than sixty thousand were active by 2023. The government has responded with a Health Workforce Migration Policy and a National Health Fellows Programme that places young professionals across seven hundred and seventy-four local governments. The intent is straightforward. Communities that have long waited for a clinician are meant to see one more regularly, and hospitals that trained talent for export are meant to retain more of it. Yet, even physicians who have migrated acknowledge that the systems they joined are themselves faltering under bureaucracy and burnout. What unites both experiences is not geography but exhaustion. It is the cost of caring in systems that reward throughput more than relationships.

Perhaps then, Nigerias talk of reverse medical tourism should not be read as self-congratulation but as a glimpse of a shifting map. Competence and confidence are no longer monopolies of wealthier nations. The future of healthcare will hinge less on where technology sits and more on where trust can be found, on which systems can deliver timely, affordable, and humane care when people need it most. For some, that place is now closer to home, for others it remains abroad. What matters is that the boundaries of credibility are moving.

The physician who cannot prescribe an affordable drug and the patient who cannot afford to see her inhabit the same crisis of access. Until nations, rich and poor alike, make health a guarantee rather than a gamble, the queues will lengthen, the weary will walk away, and the miracle of medicine will remain incomplete. In the end the question returns to its simplest form, asked quietly in houses and waiting rooms on every continent: Where can I find a doctor?

Chinedu Moghalu, is a lawyer, strategic communications expert, and public policy adviser with over two decades of leadership across government, international organisations, and development institutions. Currently, senior special adviser to Nigerias Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
Vietnam's Party General Secretary To Lam is set to make a state visit to North Korea and attend the 80th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the visit will take place from Oct. 9 to 11, at the invitation of Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission.

Party General Secretary To Lam at a National Assembly session on Feb. 15, 2025. Photo by Pham Thang

This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and North Korea, established on Jan. 31, 1950.

North Korea was among the earliest countries to establish diplomatic ties with Vietnam, after China and the Soviet Union. During the 1960s and 1970s, North Korea trained hundreds of Vietnamese students, provided aid and sent hundreds of military pilots to support Vietnam in its resistance war against the United States.

In 2019, Kim Jong-un made an official visit to Vietnam and attended the U.S.North Korea summit in Hanoi.

In September, on the occasion of North Korea's National Day, General Secretary To Lam and State President Luong Cuong jointly sent a congratulatory message to Kim Jong-un, expressing their desire to further develop more substantive and effective bilateral relations in line with the interests of the two peoples, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
On Monday, 6 October at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, the Guide will be officially launched during NES #31. The session, convened by PACE and NESG, will bring together ministers, governors, development partners, and investors to endorse and adopt the Guide as a national resource This launch marks a decisive turning point in Nigerias climate finance journey.

Nigerias Climate Emergency

Some years ago, when the River Niger burst its banks, Ibaji Local Government Area in Kogi State went under. Rice paddies that had fed families for generations disappeared overnight; schools doubled as emergency shelters; whole communities were displaced. Ojochenemi, a young rice farmer, counted her losses in silence, then said only one thing: Even if the rains stop, how do I start again? Where do I get money?

Her question is Nigerias question. Climate change is not a far-off debate; it is here, shaping daily life. Floods now swallow our farms in the North and South, droughts parch our communities, and unpredictable rains push up the costs of food and energy. Estimates warn that we may already be losing close to $100 billion every year to climate shocks, and if adaptation does not scale, our GDP could shrink by as much as 11 per cent by 2050.

Yet our response remains underfunded. Nigeria requires $17.7 billion annually to meet its climate goals. In reality, we access less than a tenth of this. Between 2015 and 2021, just $4.93 billion trickled in across 828 projects. The mismatch between what is needed and what is secured is leaving states and businesses dangerously exposed.

The Subnational Challenge

Indeed, nowhere is this shortfall felt more acutely than at the subnational level. State governments sit at the frontlines of climate impacts, coping with floods, food insecurity, energy deficits, and rising vulnerability. Yet, they are poorly equipped to access international or domestic climate funds.

The barriers are familiar: weak public financial management systems, limited technical capacity to prepare bankable projects, fragmented governance structures, and bureaucratic bottlenecks that frustrate access to multilateral funds like the Green Climate Fund.

Meanwhile, Nigerias private sector, especially eco-friendly businesses and green entrepreneurs, faces its own hurdles: lack of information about available finance, limited incentives, and high capital costs. As a result, billions of dollars in global climate finance remain untapped, while states and communities bear the brunt of climate shocks.

I call on state governments to embrace the Guide and commit to the reform actions necessary to unlock climate finance. I urge the private sector to seize the financing windows outlined in the Guide to scale renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, and resilient infrastructure. And I appeal to development partners to rally behind this framework, investing not just in projects but in Nigerias capacity to deliver lasting change.

Why This Matters Now

The urgency could not be clearer. Climate change is not just an environmental issue; it is an existential economic challenge. It threatens our food security, disrupts livelihoods, and undermines national stability.

This years Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #31), themed The Reform Imperative: Building a Prosperous and Inclusive Nigeria by 2030, provides a critical opportunity to reset the narrative. If Nigerias reform agenda is to succeed, climate resilience and access to finance must be central pillars. Empowering our states and businesses to mobilise climate finance is no longer optional, it is a national imperative.

A Practical Solution: The PACE Guide

It is against this backdrop that the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE), with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has developed the Guide to Accessing Climate Finance.

This landmark resource, which is to be launched in partnership with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, is designed to break down barriers and open new pathways for financing climate action. It offers:

A mapping of 93 climate finance sources, with detailed guidance on 18 priority sources most accessible to Nigeria, ranging from the Global Environment Facility and Green Climate Fund to domestic private facilities like Access Bank/JICA and Sterling One Foundation. Step-by-step strategies to help states and eco-friendly businesses design fundable proposals, meet eligibility criteria, and comply with reporting requirements. A Readiness Assessment Checklist that enables states to diagnose institutional and financial gaps, and outline reform actions to strengthen their eligibility for climate funds.

In short, the Guide is both a technical manual and a political tool, helping Nigerias states and private sector move from aspiration to action in securing climate finance.

The future we seek, one of resilience, sustainability, and prosperity, depends on the choices we make today. Unlocking climate finance is not just about protecting the environment. It is about securing Nigerias economic survival and ensuring that our children inherit a nation equipped to thrive in a climate-challenged world.

Why the Guide Matters

The advantages of this Guide are profound:

Unlocking finance at scale: By equipping states with the tools to meet international fiduciary and governance standards, it increases their chances of securing billions from multilateral and bilateral agencies. Empowering the private sector: Green businesses can leverage the Guide to identify financing windows, from concessional loans to climate bonds, and attract investors. Strengthening reforms: By embedding climate finance into state planning and budgeting frameworks, the Guide reinforces Nigerias Climate Change Act, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and development priorities. Driving inclusion: The Guide also highlights the importance of inclusive climate governance, ensuring that women, youth, and vulnerable communities are not left behind in the green transition.

A Landmark Launch

On Monday, 6 October at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, the Guide will be officially launched during NES #31. The session, convened by PACE and NESG, will bring together ministers, governors, development partners, and investors to endorse and adopt the Guide as a national resource.

This launch marks a decisive turning point in Nigerias climate finance journey. It signals the countrys readiness to confront the climate challenge with seriousness, to reform its institutions, and to mobilise the financing required for resilience and green growth.

A Call to Action

Nigeria stands at a crossroads. The climate crisis is already here, but so too are the opportunities. With the right tools, reforms, and partnerships, we can transform climate finance from an elusive goal into a driver of resilience, jobs, and inclusive prosperity.

I call on state governments to embrace the Guide and commit to the reform actions necessary to unlock climate finance. I urge the private sector to seize the financing windows outlined in the Guide to scale renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, and resilient infrastructure. And I appeal to development partners to rally behind this framework, investing not just in projects but in Nigerias capacity to deliver lasting change.

The future we seek, one of resilience, sustainability, and prosperity, depends on the choices we make today. Unlocking climate finance is not just about protecting the environment. It is about securing Nigerias economic survival and ensuring that our children inherit a nation equipped to thrive in a climate-challenged world.

Umaru J Abu is the federal lead of the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE) Programme, based in Abuja. Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Contrary to available facts, the Akwa Ibom State Government has dismissed as rumour the withdrawal of police operatives from former Governor Udom Emmanuels residences at the Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, and his hometown, Awa Iman, in the Onna Local Government Area of the state.

PREMIUM TIMES exclusively reported on 4 October about an order dated 30 September, signed by Ekwo Godwin, an assistant superintendent of police, on behalf of the chief security officer at the Government House, Uyo, directing the operatives attached to Mr Emmanuels residences in the state to withdraw from their locations on 1 October and report at the police headquarters, Uyo, for debriefing.

The withdrawal of the operatives is a fallout of the rift between Mr Emmanuel and his successor, Umo Eno, following the governors defection in June from the PDP to the APC.

Akwa Ibom govt reacts

A day after PREMIUM TIMES report, the Commissioner for Information in Akwa Ibom, Aniekan Umanah, circulated a statement in which he said, To the best of our knowledge, there has been no complaint or report from any former Governor or their media aides about the withdrawal of security personnel.

The rumour exists only in the imagination of those peddling it, Mr Umanah added.

However, in what seems to be an acknowledgement that operatives have been withdrawn from Mr Emmanuels residences, the commissioner said it is the exclusive responsibility of the inspector-general of police and the commissioner of police in each state to deploy, reassign, or withdraw police operatives.

Steve Abia, a spokesperson to Mr Emmanuel, has, however, confirmed that the operatives have been withdrawn from the former governors residences.

The reality on the ground is that if you go to the ex-governors residence right now, there are no police security men  thats the truth, Mr Abia said, according to a Punch report on Monday.

However, Mr Abia said he could not tell who gave the order for the withdrawal.

It has been a tradition for the Akwa Ibom State Government to request many operatives from police authorities, which the government distributes to serving and former state officials. The request and distribution are handled by the chief security officer at the Government House, Uyo, with the governors authorisation.

When our reporter visited on Thursday and Friday, no police operatives were found around Mr Emmanuels residences in Uyo and Onna.

After the Akwa Ibom State Governments denial, our reporter visited both residences on Sunday, 5 October, and found no police operatives around.

The Signature By Royalty Hotel, owned by Governor Eno, who built the hotel and its older branches before he joined politics, is a few metres away from the former governors residence in Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo.

When our reporter visited the hotel on Sunday, some police operatives were seen providing security at the premises. A few kilometres away, still within the estate, police operatives in a white Toyota pickup truck were seen providing security at a supermarket, Younik Supermarket, owned by the wife of an engineer, Uwem Okoko, who is very influential within the government circle in Akwa Ibom. Mr Okoko owns a construction company, Hensek Integrated Service Ltd, which does many road construction contracts for the state government.

At least two sources in the Government House, Uyo, have confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that Governor Eno approves the deployment of police operatives to protect serving and former government officials and other private individuals in the state.

The sources said Mr Eno approved the withdrawal of police operatives attached to his predecessor.

Our reporter made a repeat visit to Mr Emmanuels residence in Uyo on Monday, 6 October, at about 10:14 a.m. A food vendor was seen at the security post, but not a single police officer was available.

At Mr Emmanuels residence in Awa Iman, Onna, some community youths have decided to protect the former governors residence without police operatives, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

A feud that could alter Akwa Iboms political equation

What began as a discreetly managed political disagreement between Mr Eno and his predecessor, following the governors defection to the APC, has now come to the open, exposing a feud that could alter Akwa Iboms political equation.

Since June, when Mr Eno ended the PDPs 25-year dominance in the state with his defection to the APC, his relationship with Mr Emmanuel, whom he referred to as his political godfather, has been strained, though both have tried to downplay the rift.

Political tension in the state is growing more intense by the day as Mr Emmanuel, now an opposition leader, quietly works to regain control of the PDP structure from his successor.

Mr Eno had vowed to retain control of the PDP structure in the oil-rich state to prevent his political enemies from using it against him.

As a matter of fact, contrary to some insinuations, I want to run both parties (APC and PDP)? Far from it. And what is wrong with being interested? We would not leave the PDP for thieves to hijack and use it against us.

If anybody thinks we are going to do that, they have something coming. We will lead the structure of the party (PDP) so that they can work together (with APC). So that people dont come from outside and think that Mr Eno has moved, let me come and hijack the party. Let the structure of the party remain. They have done their congresses. Thats my position, Mr Eno said in May in a leaked video, which led to the eviction of Channels Television reporters from the Government House, Uyo.

A few days ago, the PDP National Working Committee dissolved the partys state executive council in Akwa Ibom and constituted a caretaker committee to run party affairs, apparently to prevent Governor Eno from further controlling the party.

Although Mr Eno has repeatedly vowed never to fight his predecessor, the cracks widen as the 2027 elections approach.

Ndianaabasi Udom, an aide to Mr Eno, resigned from his appointment with the Akwa Ibom State Rural Access Roads Agency on 30 September to join the newly constituted PDP caretaker committee in the state, causing panic across the APC-led government.

Two days later, the governor announced the dissolution of statutory and non-statutory boards and commissions in the state. Hours later, several of Mr Enos aides and some politicians took to Facebook to pledge their loyalty to the governor and the APC.

Akwa Ibom is an APC state, Mr Eno told a crowd of supporters who came out to receive him at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, on Friday.

You must say this loud and clear, you must be proud to belong to the centre, you must be proud to receive the support of the centre. So, now, it is time for you to show and to wear our badge of honour very proudly  that you are an APC member.
The legal team of the embattled Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, who is at the centre of a major certificate forgery scandal, fumed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday over PREMIUM TIMES investigative reportage of the matter.

Mr Nnajis lead lawyer, Sebastian Hon, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), pointed to this newspapers investigation during the courts first hearing session on the civil suit regarding the ministers academic records at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

The PREMIUM TIMES report published on Saturday revealed that Mr Nnaji forged the UNN and national youth service certificates he submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate for his appointment as a minister in 2023.

The report validated the certificate forgery speculations that have swirled around the minister since he became a public official in 2023.

In September, the minister instituted a suit at the Federal High Court to seek an array of orders imposing restraints on his academic records at the university.

He sued the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), UNN, the universitys vice-chancellor, Simon Ortuanya, and other officials.

The first hearing in the suit came up before the judge, Hauwa Yilwa, on Monday, when Mr Hon represented the embattled minister.

The university and its officials, the 3rd to 7th respondents, were represented by E.M. Asogwa, while the 1st and 2nd respondents (the Minister of Education and the NUC) were not represented.

Mr Hon told the court that all the parties had been served.

He then launched into fuming over the PREMIUM TIMES investigation. The senior lawyer told the court that although the 3rd to 7th respondents were served on 29 September, the 4th respondent wrote an official letter to PREMIUM TIMES, an online newspaper, on 2 October, a few days after being served, claiming that the applicant was not a graduate of the university.

Mr Hon said the newspaper subsequently published a damaging statement against the applicant on 4 October, titled, Investigation: The serial certificate forger in President Tinubus cabinet.

He argued that even though the court had earlier refused some of the applicants prayers, the respondents failed to maintain the status quo after being served.

He added that PREMIUM TIMES went ahead and published a damaging report against the applicant, contrary to expectations that once leave is granted, all parties must stay further action. He disclosed that the applicant would file further processes.

However, the lawyer to the university and its officials, Mr Asogwa, told the court that while he would not add credibility to Mr Hons claims, his team would properly advise their clients to maintain status quo pending the substantive hearing.

Responding to Mr Hon, the judge asked him to raise his complaints at the appropriate time.

The lawyer said he would submit a new filing, and the judge then adjourned the matter until 10 November.

The scandal and PREMIUM TIMES investigation

Critics have long alleged that Mr Nnaji never completed his university education and that the degree and national service discharge certificate he presented to President Tinubu following his ministerial appointment were forged.

A PREMIUM TIMES investigation published on Saturday reported that the certificate purporting that UNN awarded him a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology/Biochemistry with Second Class Honours (Lower Division) in July 1985 was forged.

Validating PREMIUM TIMES findings from a two-year investigation, UNN disowned the certificate Mr Nnaji presented for his appointment.

The universitys action came months after authorities at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) similarly told PREMIUM TIMES that the certificate of national service being paraded by Mr Nnaji was strange to it and could not be authenticated.

In response to a PREMIUM TIMES Freedom of Information (FoI) request, Simon Ortuanya, the vice-chancellor of UNN, wrote in a 2 October letter that although Mr Nnaji was admitted to the institution in 1981, he did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree.

The universitys reply to our enquiry contradicted an earlier response to the Peoples Gazette newspaper on the matter. On 21 December 2023, Celine Nnebedum, the university registrar, responded to the newspapers enquiry, saying Mr Nnaji graduated from the institution in July 1985.

The official has since recanted, telling the Public Complaints Commission in a 23 May 2025 letter that the university searched its graduation records for the 1985 session but could not find Mr Nnajis name on them.

Also, the latest information provided by Mr Ortuanya and Mrs Nnebedum to us and the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) aligns with the findings of our two-year investigation on the matter.

Striking confession

Strikingly, the minister admitted in his court filing that UNN never issued him a degree certificate.

In paragraphs 12 and 13 of his 34-paragraph verifying affidavit supporting the motion, he accused UNN officials of refusing to issue him a certificate and, in the process, confirmed that he never collected one.

In the suit, Mr Nnaji had sought, through a motion ex parte, an order granting him leave to issue prerogative writs, prohibiting UNN and its officials from tampering with or continuing to tamper with his academic records.

He also sought leave to issue a prerogative writ of mandamus compelling the university and its officials to release his academic transcript to him and asked the Minister of Education and the NUC to exercise their supervisory powers to compel UNN to do so.

Additionally, Mr Nnaji requested an interim injunction restraining UNN and its officials from tampering with his academic records pending the determination of the substantive suit.

In her ruling on 22 September, Judge Yilwa granted three of his prayers but declined to issue any injunctive order against the defendants. The case was then adjourned to 6 October (Monday) for further hearing.
LONDON, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Global K-beauty leader COSRX has successfully concluded its first European pop-up series, the "COSRX Glow Market"  held in Paris (Sep 1928) and London (Oct 35)  signaling a bold step forward in its business expansion strategy in Europe. Following the enthusiastic reception in Paris and the London edition, brief but impactful, the events marked an important milestone for COSRX. Designed as immersive, offline activations, the pop-ups invited consumers to engage directly in COSRX's skincare and haircare innovations in an experiential setting while strengthening brand visibility in the region.

Image source: Moida_UK instagram

From Paris to London, COSRX Glow Market Brings K-Beauty to Life

According to COSRX, both pop-ups saw overwhelming engagement, with long queues in Paris and a steady buzz in London, drawing a combined total of nearly 20,000 visitors. In collaboration with Moida K-Beauty, the events were held at the stores inherently located in high-traffic areas popular among beauty-conscious and K-beauty enthusiasts. Across both cities, COSRX combined interactive brand experiences with on-site sales, further enhancing accessibility to its best-selling and newly launched products.

The Glow Lineup: COSRX Icons Meet New Innovations

At the heart of the Glow Market, COSRX icons and newcomers alike captivated visitors  from TikTok-famous favorites to the brand's most advanced innovations. The lineup featured the globally beloved Advanced Snail, the skin science-driven The RX, and the groundbreaking Peptide-132.

Advanced Snail : A global bestseller line powered by the Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence and Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream  beloved for their skin-soothing and glow-boosting power that keeps the buzz going worldwide. Driven by strong product recognition and proven results, the line has become a consistent repurchase favorite, reinforcing its position as a K-beauty essential.

: A global bestseller line powered by the Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence and Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream  beloved for their skin-soothing and glow-boosting power that keeps the buzz going worldwide. Driven by strong product recognition and proven results, the line has become a consistent repurchase favorite, reinforcing its position as a K-beauty essential. The RX : The skin science-driven The RX line was among the most talked-about highlights of the pop-up, attracting strong interest in its ingredient-focused formulas. Visitors showed particular curiosity about Peptides  COSRX's signature ingredient  which underscored the brand's authority in advanced skin solutions. Within the lineup, The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum stood out as a steady bestseller, known for its boosting effect as the first-step serum, with its concentrated peptide blend. Meanwhile, The Peptide Collagen Hydrogel Eye Patch, offering instant brightening and glow, became a breakout star of the event and one of the top-selling items on site.

: The skin science-driven The RX line was among the most talked-about highlights of the pop-up, attracting strong interest in its ingredient-focused formulas. Visitors showed particular curiosity about Peptides  COSRX's signature ingredient  which underscored the brand's authority in advanced skin solutions. Within the lineup, The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum stood out as a steady bestseller, known for its boosting effect as the first-step serum, with its concentrated peptide blend. Meanwhile, The Peptide Collagen Hydrogel Eye Patch, offering instant brightening and glow, became a breakout star of the event and one of the top-selling items on site. Peptide-132: COSRX's newest innovation, a patented hair bonding trio (shampoo, treatment, and oil serum), introduced a new paradigm in at-home haircare with salon-quality strength and glow. The launch drew strong interest, with visitors curious about a K-beauty skincare brand expanding into haircare. As COSRX's first haircare line to enter the European market  known for its diverse hair types and needs  the debut highlighted the brand's ambition to deliver science-driven solutions across categories.

Elevating the Experience: Exclusive Perks and Deeper Engagement

The pop-ups also featured exclusive promotions, with limited-time purchase benefits and interactive missions that deepened consumer engagement. Attendees were offered special branded goods available only during the events, creating an elevated sense of immersion. Industry observers noted that the Glow Market pop-ups went beyond simple sales, serving as a cultural touchpoint that expanded COSRX's connection with European consumers and reinforced its position as a leading K-beauty brand. With growing interest in K-beauty and derma-cosmetics across Europe, COSRX plans to continue leveraging experiential marketing to broaden local engagement and strengthen its influence in the region.

About COSRX

Founded in 2013, COSRX is a global skincare brand known for its "essentials-only" approach: highly effective ingredients, concentrated formulas, and affordable prices. Trusted by millions worldwide and powered by social media virality, COSRX has grown into one of the most influential K-beauty brands across skincare and haircare. COSRX is also on Instagram + TikTok.

About Moida K-Beauty

Moida K-Beauty Store, with a presence across Indonesia, Europe, and North America, is a premier offline retailer showcasing leading Korean beauty brands. Designed to bring the best of K-beauty directly to local consumers, Moida K-Beauty stores serve as cultural and experiential hubs for K-beauty discovery. Positioned as a global platform for promoting K-beauty, Moida offers a wider and more diverse range of products than other local stores and leads the market by introducing innovative new items in line with the latest trends.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2789279/image_source_Moida_UK_instagram.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2648141/COSRX_Logo.jpg
This World Mental Health Day, ASICS invites everyone to take an Everyday Escape, showing you don't need to travel far or spend big to take your body and mind to a happier place.

ASICS enlists Natasha Rothwell to champion movement as a more accessible and effective alternative to wellness holidays.

Global study of 11,000 people shows wellness holiday benefits often fade quickly, with travel and costs adding stress.

In a new Everyday Escape trial, participants who took a simple daily 15-minute movement break reported a 21% greater uplift in their overall mental state compared to their wellness holiday.

What's more, 71% said daily exercise was more effective at reducing stress than their wellness holiday, while 65% found it more mood-enhancing.

LONDON, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As stress levels rise, wellness travel is boomingbut it often comes with long flights, hefty price tags, and treatments that don't always deliver lasting results. This World Mental Health Day, ASICS and its newest wellbeing ambassador, Natasha Rothwell, are inviting the world to take an Everyday Escape  a simple 15 minute movement break - that is proven to transport you to a happier place and deliver more lasting benefits than a week at a wellness retreat.[1]

Natasha Rothwell is encouraging fans to ditch the wellness fads and take an Everyday Escape for their mind and body in new campaign for ASICS Natasha Rothwell is encouraging fans to ditch the wellness fads and take an Everyday Escape for their mind and body in new campaign for ASICS

According to Euromonitor, the global demand for wellness holidays has surged by 33% in the last year [2], with the Global Wellness Institute finding that people spend an average of $1,764 for a week away, 41% more than standard travel.[3] However, new global research by ASICS[4], surveying 11,000 people who recently took a wellness holiday, reveals that whilst people travel on average 1,920km for their wellness holidays[4], they don't always deliver. Two-thirds (67%) said their wellness holiday failed to meet all expectations, and an equal number (67%) reported that any wellness benefits faded as soon as they left the retreat or shortly after returning home. For some, the experience even added to their stress levels, nearly a third (32%) cited cost, and a quarter (25%) said long travel distances were stress-inducing.

In contrast, ASICS' research highlights the transformative power of movement on mental wellbeing, showing that just 15 minutes and 9 seconds of exercise can trigger a measurable mental uplift.[5] In a new Everyday Escape trial, overseen by Dr Brendon Stubbs of King's College London, participants who took a simple daily 15-minute movement break reported a 21% greater uplift in their overall mental state compared to their wellness holiday. In fact, 71% said daily movement was more effective at reducing stress, 65% found it more mood-enhancing and 73% experienced longer-lasting mental wellbeing benefits than after their recent wellness holiday.

To help more people to find their happy place through movement, ASICS has enlisted Natasha Rothwell, actor, writer, and wellness advocate, as its Everyday Escape Concierge. Rothwell will share inspiration to help people weave small but meaningful moments of movement into their daily routines, making wellness accessible and affordable for all.

Natasha Rothwell, ASICS' Everyday Escape Concierge, said: "I truly believe in the power of movement, not just for our bodies, but for our minds. Sure, you can spend thousands of dollars or fly halfway across the world to feel better, or you can just step outside and move your body. Your Everyday Escape could be a walk, a stretch, a dance in your kitchen. It's free, it's simple, and it's yours. Wellness shouldn't be a luxury. It should be something we can all access, every day. When we move, we feel better. And that's the kind of escape everyone deserves."

Across the world, ASICS is encouraging people to take an #EverydayEscape and feel the benefits. People who take a 15-minute movement break are encouraged to share their Everyday Escape and help raise funds for mental wellbeing charities around the world.

Dr Brendon Stubbs, a leading researcher in exercise and mental health from King's College London, said: "It's incredible to see the impact 15 minutes of movement can have on mental wellbeing. The Everyday Escape trial shows that small movement breaks can boost mood and reduce stress more effectively than a wellness holiday. All the participants said they'd be continuing to take movement breaks moving forward, and 81% said they're now prioritising movement for their wellbeing over attending another retreat. A week away may give a short-term boost, but exercise delivers long-term benefits."

Gary Raucher, Head of Global Marketing for ASICS comments : "At ASICS, we believe that you don't need to go far to leave it all behind. That's why we're inviting everyone to take an Everyday Escape, a simple 15-minute movement break, to take their body and mind to a happier place. At ASICS, we've always championed the power of movement, however small, to help people feel better. It's the reason we were founded and why we're called ASICS  an acronym for the Latin 'Anima Sana in Corpore Sano' or 'Sound Mind In A Sound Body'. We hope people will join us on World Mental Health Day and take an Everyday Escape, because when you move your body, you move your mind. "

To take your Everyday Escape, visit: asics.com/everydayescape.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1 The ASICS Everyday Escape Trial ran from the 4th to 18th August 2025, led by Dr Brendon Stubbs of King's College London & University of Vienna. The trial studied 17 people from the UK, US and Australia who had attended a wellness holiday/retreat in the last year. All completed consent forms before taking part.

The Everyday Escape trial (n=17) should be seen as an early proof-of-concept study, reinforced by a global survey of 11,000 people and aligned with external scientific evidence.

2 Euromonitor International: Traveller Segmentation 2024. Available here:

Traveler Segmentation: Unlocking Innovation and Value in Wellness Tourism - Euromonitor.com

3 Global Wellness Institute : A Decade of Wellness Tourism. Available here:

https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/global-wellness-institute-blog/2024/03/25/a-decade-of-wellness-tourism-first-ever-compilation-of-10-years-of-market-data/

4 The Everyday Escape Research was conducted in August 2025 and explored the experiences and perceptions of those who had taken a wellness holiday/retreat in the past year. 11,000 people were surveyed across 16 markets including the UK, the US, Australia, South Africa, Singapore, France, Germany, UAE, Italy, Brazil, the Netherlands, China, Japan, Indonesia, Spain and Sweden. Each market was nationally representative by age and gender.

5 The ASICS State of Mind score is out of 100, calculated based on the accumulative mean scores across ten cognitive and emotional traits  positive, content, relaxed, focused, composed, resilient, confident, alert, calm, energized.

About ASICS

At ASICS, our five letters have meaning. ASICS is an acronym for the Latin Anima Sana In Corpore Sano or a Sound Mind in a Sound Body. And since our founding in 1949, our purpose has been to help people achieve a Sound Mind in a Sound Body.

Right from the very start, our founder, Kihachiro Onitsuka, saw that sport and movement had the power to lift spirits, project positivity, and propel people and whole communities forward. We still believe this.

And we believe our purpose is more relevant today than ever before. Stress and anxiety are at record levels, yet we know sport and movement can have a positive impact. Which is why we remain focused on supporting more people to move for positive mental health.

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDZZHImE8WM

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2788441/ASICS_1.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2788442/ASICS_2.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2788443/ASICS_Logo.jpg
NEW YORK, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IM Digital , the largest independent commerce consultancy is recognized as a Platinum Tier Partner in Shopify's Partner Program. This distinction is reserved for Shopify's top global partners who demonstrate exceptional performance, expertise, and commitment to merchant success.

"We're incredibly proud to be recognized as a Shopify Platinum Partner," said Ali Ahmed, Founder and CEO at IM Digital. "This achievement signals the beginning of an even closer partnership as we continue to accelerate growth while developing the most effective commerce solutions for both DTC and B2B enterprises."

Achieving Shopify Platinum Partner status elevates IM Digital to the top 1% of partners in Shopify's global ecosystem, joining industry giants such as Google and Klaviyo.

"IM Digital's expertise and dedication set the bar for excellence as a Shopify Platinum Partner, showing what true customer success and innovation look like," said Birk Angermann, VP Commercial Americas at Shopify.

Through years of successfully delivering world-class strategy, design, and technical solutions jointly with Shopify for the largest and most successful enterprises, IM Digital has propelled growth for dozens of brands including direct-to-consumer powerhouses such as ThirdLove , Everlane , Amiri , MZ Wallace , and The Miami Heat .

"IM Digital understands the complex operational challenges merchant face and deliver solutions that exceed expectations. Their communication and work ethic is apparent from initial mock up to completed projects and have earned a reputation among the very best," said Matt Hickey, Senior Partner Solutions Engineer at Shopify.

"Partnering with IM Digital has been a game-changer. Beyond their deep knowledge of the Shopify platform, what truly sets them apart is their dedication to their merchant's success. They are fantastic collaborators, always bringing fresh ideas to the table and working as a seamless part of our team. Their Platinum Partner status is well-deserved, and we see them as an indispensable partner," said Kyle Rushton, Sales Manager for Enterprise Acquisition at Shopify.

"Our partnership with Shopify has been rooted in our unified vision to deliver better, together," said James Denker, VP of Strategic Alliances at IM Digital, "Our Platinum Status is a testament to the exceptional commerce experiences we've crafted for our shared clients and we couldn't be more proud to strengthen our commitments to mutual success."

With the release of Shopify B2B, IM Digital has led the ecosystem in business-to-business commerce digital transformation for B2B leaders including Classic Home , Salsbury Industries , and the Lixil Corporation . IM Digital's Tapestry B2B Accelerator for Shopify strengthens the platform's value proposition by solving complex B2B challenges natively, reducing implementation costs by up to 50% and accelerating time-to-market for enterprises by up to 70%.

"Our vision to define the state-of-the-art for global commerce has been realized through Shopify's strategic innovation across industries - supporting our continued growth across all of our interconnected commerce offerings, including strategy, design, engineering, data, and AI," said Justin Ragsdale, Chief Revenue Officer of IM Digital.

As a Platinum Partner, IM Digital's clients gain access to exclusive resources, including 24/7 partner support and access to Shopify's Partner Solutions Engineers for advanced technical guidance, further advancing capabilities and growth for all stakeholders.

About IM Digital : IM Digital is the most comprehensive commerce professional services and digital systems integrator platform. We strategize, design, engineer and launch commerce solutions by partnering with best-in-class technologies and world-class brands and providing global support from offices in New York, Florida, and Brazil.

About Shopify: Shopify is the global commerce technology leader that provides trusted tools to start, grow, market, and manage retail businesses. Shopify makes commerce better for everyone with a platform and services that are engineered for reliability, while delivering a better shopping experience for consumers everywhere. Shopify powers millions of businesses in more than 175 countries.

SOURCE IM Digital
SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Utah Education Network (UEN), in collaboration with the national nonprofit Connected Nation (CN), is launching the 2025 Utah School Technology Inventory. This inventory provides an updated look at how technology is used in Utah's public and charter schools. Conducted every two years since 2015, the inventory was established through Senate Bill 222, which created the state's Digital Teaching and Learning program and required a regular review of classroom technology. It tracks the availability and use of devices, digital platforms, and other resources that support teaching and learning statewide.

UEN

For the first time, the upcoming K-12 Tech Inventory will include questions about how schools are integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into classrooms and teaching practices. By expanding the survey in this way, Utah educators will gain insights into where AI is currently being used, where training and resources are needed, and how schools can responsibly prepare students for an AI-driven future.

"The K-12 Tech Inventory has been instrumental in helping Utah educators plan for evolving technology needs," said Melanie Valentine, Digital Teaching and Learning Specialist, Utah State Board of Education. "With a decade of data, we've been able to track progress, identify gaps, and make informed decisions that directly support student learning. This statewide effort ensures equitable access to digital tools and strengthens our ability to advocate for resources. It's more than just numbers  it's a reflection of Utah's commitment to innovation and excellence in public education."

In 2023, CN worked with UEN to collect more than 82,000 data points across 1,034 schools statewide. The inventory found that the device-to-student ratio in Utah's educational institutions has increased since 2015, but remained the same between 2021 and 2023. More than 878,600 computing devices are available to more than 667,780 K-12 Utah students. The 2023 inventory also found nearly 2 out of 5 Utah schools (38%) offer mobile learning devices on a 1:1 basis and allow students to take those devices home, maintaining a similar rate from 2021 (39%).

"A decade of the Utah Education Network's statewide Digital and Teaching Learning (DTL) inventory provides a window into the evolution of technology use throughout Utah's public education, from capturing 1:1 student device use and wireless coverage, to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence in the classroom," said Mike McIntosh, Associate IT Director, UEN. "The continued reporting from this inventory equips Utah educators and decision makers with crucial information to plan and adapt for the future of public education."

In recent years, the need to monitor technology in Utah schools and identify strategies for supporting continuous learning in the face of unforeseen challenges has become increasingly clear.

"For over two decades, Connected Nation has believed that good data leads to great decisions," said Tom Ferree, Chairman and CEO of Connected Nation. "The Utah School Technology Inventory is a powerful tool that gives educators, policymakers, and communities the insights they need to act with confidence. Data is the foundation for advancement, and this inventory is helping to write the next chapter of educational excellence in Utah."

About the Utah Education Network: UEN is part of the Utah Education and Telehealth Network (UETN) which connects all Utah school districts, schools, and higher education institutions to a robust network and quality educational resources. UEN is one of the nation's premier education networks.

About Connected Nation: The national nonprofit's mission is to improve lives by providing innovative solutions that expand access, adoption, and use of high-speed internet and its related technology to all people. Everyone belongs in a Connected Nation.

Connected Nation works with consumers, local community leaders, states, technology providers and foundations to develop and implement technology expansion programs with core competencies centered on a mission to improve digital inclusion for people and places previously underserved or overlooked. For more information, please visit: connectednation.org.

SOURCE Connected Nation
Leaders from around the world are coming to Dallas to explore how global impact and purpose drives positive change.

DALLAS, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dallas College Chancellor Dr. Justin Lonon will deliver the opening keynote address at the inaugural Global Mission Summit, an international gathering of leaders focused on fueling the knowledge economy and creating meaning through learning, purpose and work.

Hosted by Global Mission Institute, the summit will be Oct. 910 at the Hyatt Regency Dallas. It aims to inspire leaders from around the world to align business excellence with a deeper purpose. Dr. Lonon will speak at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 9.

"The summit's purpose  to inspire leaders to create global impact while also aligning along purpose  is perfectly aligned with who we are at Dallas College," Dr. Lonon said. "When we live our purpose authentically, we don't just change our own story  we help write a brighter future for our communities and our world."

As the presenting sponsor, Dallas College is underscoring its role as a bridge to economic mobility and a leader in innovative, purpose-driven education. Lonon's keynote will focus on how Dallas College is removing barriers, expanding access and preparing students to be future ready.

"In Dallas County, only 37% of adults hold a postsecondary credential  meaning about a million of our neighbors do not. That's not just a stat; it's a call to action," said Dr. Lonon. "We are in the barrier-busting business at Dallas College because that's what we do  remove obstacles so students can succeed and earn a livable wage."

This year, Dallas College is celebrating its 60th anniversary, a milestone Lonon says is not only about reflecting on the past but also about recommitting to the future and building what he calls a "22nd Century College."

"We are redefining higher education to remove barriers, expand opportunity and prepare students for a rapidly evolving economy," said Dr. Lonon.

About Dallas College

Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025, Dallas College consists of seven campuses  Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Eastfield, El Centro, Mountain View, North Lake and Richland  plus a dozen centers located throughout Dallas County. As one of the largest community colleges in the U.S., Dallas College offers online and in-person learning, serving more than 127,000 credit, workforce and continuing education students annually. Students benefit from partnerships with local school districts, four-year universities, industry and community leaders. Dallas College offers associate degrees and career/technical certificate programs in more than 100 areas of study, as well as bachelor's degrees in education, nursing and software development. As the largest provider of dual credit in Texas, Dallas College serves 30,000 high school students through 63 dual credit programs.

SOURCE Dallas College
Report details global impact driven by $100 million invested in people-first initiatives, 15% reduction in global emissions intensity and $48 million in community in-kind donations.

SCHILLER PARK, Ill., Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Encore, a global full-service event production partner, today announces the release of its 2025 Responsible Business Report, Illuminating a Brighter Future. This inaugural report reflects Encore's commitment to doing the right thing for its customers, team members, and the communities it serves across the globe.

Encore Impact at a Glance

"Encore's purpose is to connect and inspire people through the transformative power of events," said Ben Erwin, President & CEO of Encore. "This report is a reflection of our core value to 'do the right thing' by leading with integrity, responsibility, care, and the motivation to deliver positive impacts for a better future. Our global team is proud of the progress we've achieved so far and remain committed to further improvement."

"Our commitment to responsible business is not just about meeting standards, it's about living up to what we believe in," said Patrick Sullivan, Director of Sustainability & Social Impact at Encore. "From reducing emissions and diverting waste to supporting thousands of community organizations worldwide, our people are driving real change. Our talented team members are the force behind our ability to lead with purpose."

Key Highlights from the Report:

People-First Culture

$100M invested in team member and customer experience in 2024

Recognition as a Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For 

100 Best Companies to Work For Expansion of Encore for All initiatives, including 10 Business Resource Groups (BRGs)

initiatives, including 10 Business Resource Groups (BRGs) Career development programs such as Career Acceleration Program (CAP) for technical talent, National College Leadership Program (NCLP) for recent graduates, Leader Enrichment and Development (LEaD) program and the Women in Audio Visual Events (WAVE) support the next generation of event professionals

Innovative workforce programs like the Overtime Savings and Seasonal Leave of Absence initiatives.

Environmental Stewardship

15% reduction in global emissions intensity from 2022 to 2024

Full Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG emissions inventory completed for 2024

Launch of electric vehicle fleets and smart logistics in EMEA

Remarketed over 634,000 pounds (287.8 metric tons) of equipment assets through our Second Life program in 2024

Corporate Responsibility

$48M in in-kind donations supporting over 4,500 nonprofit and community-based organizations

26,000+ personal time off hours supporting frontline workers

$12.6M in spend with strategic supplier partnerships

Encore's responsible business strategy aligns with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), ensuring transparency and accountability across its operations.

To read the full report or learn more about Encore sustainability and social impact initiatives, visit www.encoreglobal.com/impact .

About Encore

Encore is a leading global event production company, supporting meeting and event professionals with event technology, production, tradeshow and exhibition services. With unmatched capabilities, a hospitality mindset and award-winning customer service, Encore is the trusted partner for more than 2,100 premier hotels and venues worldwide, serving thousands of customers and interacting with 25 million people annually. Encore is one of the 2025 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For and has been a certified Great Place To Work for four years running, a recognition that highlights the company's continual investments in its talented workforce as the key to unlocking event customers' greatest successes. The company is headquartered in Schiller Park, Illinois, and operates in 21 countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and Asia Pacific. Learn more at encoreglobal.com and connect with Encore on LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Encore Corporate Communications

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Encore
NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Kalfus & Nachman, a leading personal injury law firm in Hampton Roads, is proud to announce its continued commitment as a Pink Ribbon Sponsor for the 2025 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of the Peninsula walk. This year marks the firm's 11th consecutive year of sponsorship, a testament to its unwavering dedication to a cause that touches countless lives in the community.

Over the past decade, Kalfus & Nachman has contributed more than $25,000 to the American Cancer Society through its support of the Making Strides movement. These funds are crucial in fueling groundbreaking research, providing free patient services and lodging, and offering vital support programs for those currently battling the disease and their families.

"For eleven years, our firm has walked alongside survivors, caregivers, and families, and their strength and resilience continually humble us. This sponsorship is more than a line item; it's a core part of our identity. We believe in standing with our community, and there is no more important fight than this one. We are honored to help fuel the progress that the American Cancer Society makes every single day," said attorney Paul R. Hernandez.

The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk is a powerful and uplifting event that brings the Hampton Roads community together to honor breast cancer survivors, remember those lost, and raise critical funds for a future free from the disease. The event provides a day of hope, solidarity, and shared purpose.

The entire Kalfus & Nachman team, including attorneys, staff, and their families, will participate in the walk and encourage other local businesses and community members to join them.

Event Details:

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of the Peninsula

Date: Sunday, October 19, 2025

Time: Walk begins promptly at 2:00 PM

Location: Newport News City Park, Newport News, VA

About Kalfus & Nachman

For over 45 years, Kalfus & Nachman has been a pillar of the Hampton Roads community, not only through its dedicated legal representation in personal injury, accident, and disability law but also through its deep commitment to corporate citizenship. The firm with offices in Norfolk, Newport News, and Roanoke believes in giving back and actively supports a wide range of charitable initiatives focused on health, education, and the well-being of the communities it serves.

About Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the nation, uniting nearly 300 communities with a shared goal to end breast cancer. The American Cancer Society uses these funds to save lives by investing in groundbreaking research, providing free patient support and resources, and ensuring access to preventative screenings for all women.

For more information, visit our website page at www.kalfusnachman.com or get in touch with us at 855-880-8163.

Media Contact:

Mary Murray

Email us here

Kalfus & Nachman PC

+1 855-880-8163

Visit us on social media:

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SOURCE Kalfus & Nachman PC
Mainland China remained the top source market period in the first nine months, with 3.8 million arrivals, a 43% year-on-year increase, followed by South Korea (3.2 million), Taiwan (926,000), the U.S. (622,000), and Japan (617,000), according to the General Statistics Office.

The rest of the top 10 were India (504,000), Cambodia (489,000), Russia (435,000), Malaysia (405,000) and Australia (401,000).

The tourism industry received 4.7 million foreign arrivals in the third quarter, up 23% year-on-year.

Tourism experts attributed Vietnam's strong performance to favorable visa policies, expanded promotional campaigns, and a series of events held to celebrate major national holidays.

In August, the government waived visa requirements for citizens of 12 more countries -- Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland -- for stays of up to 45 days.

This expands Vietnam's unilateral visa waiver list to 24 countries, and the number of countries enjoying its exemption policy to 39.

Vietnam targets 23-25 million foreign tourists by the end of this year.

Thailand welcomed 24.11 million foreign tourists from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, a decrease of 7.5% compared to the same period last year.
TINLEY PARK, Ill., Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading global payments company Payroc is proud to announce a new partnership with The First State Bank, a respected financial institution serving businesses and consumers throughout the Texas Gulf Coast and South Texas region.

Effective October 6, 2025, Payroc will begin providing comprehensive payment processing solutions to The First State Bank's business customers. Payroc's merchant services include smart point-of-sale systems, online payments, electronic invoicing via email and text message, compliant cost-savings programs such as cash discounting and surcharging, mobile processing, digital invoicing, same-day funding, reporting and analytics, risk monitoring and fraud management, white-glove support, and more.

The collaboration reflects the shared commitment of both The First State Bank and Payroc to help merchants operate efficiently, safeguard revenue, grow, and succeed.

"The partnership between Payroc and The First State Bank gives business customers access to powerful, flexible payment solutions backed by local support they can trust," said Kristine Long, Treasury Management Manager at The First State Bank. "It's all about helping businesses grow, streamline operations, and stay competitive in an evolving marketplace."

"We are committed to supporting local clients and strengthening the communities they serve," said Chad Stephens, Vice President of Sales and Revenue Growth at Payroc. "We do this by enabling seamless commerce, meeting customers where they are, and powering payments every step of the way."

From small and midsized businesses to professional service firms, enterprise companies, nonprofits, and municipalities, The First State Bank customers will benefit from Payroc's ability to deliver customized payments solutions backed by local support and world-class infrastructure. This high-touch approach ensures that every merchant receives cost-effective, reliable, and compliant solutions that evolve with their needs.

About Payroc: Payroc WorldAccess is a high-growth, global merchant acquirer and payments technology provider. As a registered Visa third-party processor and Mastercard service provider, Payroc offers proprietary payment processing solutions, sales enablement, and integrated payment solutions for a wide variety of industries. Learn more at www.payroc.com.

About The First State Bank: The First State Bank is a locally owned and operated financial institution that has proudly served Texas communities since 1956. FSB specializes in personal and business banking, including agricultural and mortgage lending, treasury management, online and mobile banking. They live up to their motto: "Friendliest Bank Anywhere." Learn more at WWW.FSBLouise.COM. Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Bank NMLS #512403

SOURCE Payroc
Chef Zante Neethling (Africa, Middle East & South Asia) receives the S.Pellegrino Social Responsibility Award, chef Noah Wynants (North Europe) is named winner of the Acqua Panna Connection in Gastronomy Award and chef Nicolas A. Lopez (USA) takes home the Fine Dining Lovers Food for Thought Award.

Each award recognises a young chef whose work goes beyond culinary excellence to reflect deeper values of sustainability, cultural connection and personal expression. As the international culinary community looks ahead to the Grand Finale of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2024-25, set to take place in Milan on 28-29 October, these collateral awards highlight the multifaceted talent emerging in the global culinary landscape.

The S.Pellegrino Social Responsibility Award, presented to South African chef Zante Neethling, celebrates a dish that best expresses the principle of social responsibility. The award acknowledges a chef's commitment to responsible practices, ethical sourcing, and a positive impact on their community, and is voted for by The Sustainable Restaurant Association.

Neethling's dish, Tribute to the Khoi-Khoin Taras, was praised for its integration of indigenous knowledge. Currently Executive Sous Chef at Beyond in Cape Town, Neethling has established herself as a strong voice for regenerative practices and biodiversity in modern gastronomy.

"This recognition is deeply personal and significant to me," said Neethling. "Sustainability isn't just a trend, it's a responsibility to regenerate, preserve and pass on the knowledge that connects us to nature and to each other."

Juliane Caillouette Noble, Managing Director of The Sustainable Restaurant Association, noted: "Zante's signature dish is not only a carefully sourced tribute to South Africa's ancestral roots, but also a roadmap for how chefs can lead in building a more ethical and equitable food system."

Chef Noah Wynants of the Netherlands has been named winner of the Acqua Panna Connection in Gastronomy Award. This prize, selected by the competition's mentors, celebrates the young chef whose signature dish best reflects harmony between tradition and innovation. Wynants impressed with his plant-based take on a global classic, Dutch 'Rendang', which reinterprets a traditionally meat-based dish using local fruits and vegetables.

"With this dish, I want to show that worldly flavours can be achieved with products from our own country or region," Wynants said. "This dish is entirely based on vegetables and fruits and contains no animal products. By doing this, we challenge ourselves and demonstrate that the same flavours can be achieved without using animal ingredients."

Mentors from the competition commended Wynants for a dish that demonstrates how sustainable sourcing and cultural storytelling can come together in a refined and contemporary expression of gastronomy.

Chef Nicolas A. Lopez of the United States has been awarded the Fine Dining Lovers Food for Thought Award, promoted by Fine Dining Lovers. This is the only award in the competition decided by public vote and recognises the young chef whose dish best expresses their personal beliefs and values. Lopez was selected from 15 regional finalists for his ability to use his dish, Pork with Hints of the Sea, to communicate a compelling narrative and emotional resonance that connected with audiences worldwide.

"This dish reflects my journey, from local pubs to fine dining, and the lessons passed down by the chefs who inspired me." Lopez said. "I pushed myself to use unfamiliar ingredients and techniques, while embracing a sustainable approach that minimises waste and honours every element on the plate."

The three awards reflect the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy's ongoing commitment to supporting young culinary talent who are not only skilled professionals, but also ambassadors of change, sustainability and cultural dialogue. The winners will be formally awarded at the Grand Finale, where the overall S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2024-25 will be announced in front of a Grand Jury consisting of seven internationally recognised chefs.

About S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy

Gastronomy has the potential to transform society, shaping a more inclusive, sustainable future, but it requires talent. That's why S.Pellegrino has created S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy, a platform to attract, connect and nurture the next generation of culinary talents, empowering them through education, mentoring and experience opportunities, as well as through the renowned global competition.

The Academy opens its doors to members from over 70 different countries, ensuring that talent is not constrained by geography, ethnicity or gender. This is a place where passionate young chefs interact with the most influential players in global gastronomy, and where together they cultivate an inspiring culinary community.

To discover more please visit: https://www.sanpellegrinoyoungchefacademy.com/

About S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna

S.Pellegrino, Acqua Panna and Sanpellegrino Italian Sparkling Drinks are international trademarks of Sanpellegrino S.p.A., which is based in Milan, Italy. Distributed in over 150 countries through branches and distributors on all five continents, these products represent quality, excellence by virtue of their origins and perfectly interpret Italian style worldwide as a synthesis of pleasure, health and well-being. Sanpellegrino, with its iconic products and a history of over 120 years is the leading company in Italy in the non-alcoholic beverage sector, offering a wide range of mineral waters, aperitifs, and soft drinks.

Sanpellegrino has always been committed to enhancing this primary good for the planet and works responsibly and passionately to ensure that this resource has a secure future.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2785627/SPYCA.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1341607/5530793/SPYCA_Logo.jpg

SOURCE S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy
KYIV, Ukraine, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF, Fund) announces its investment in Fintech-IT Group, a leading developer of digital banking software in Ukraine, propelling the Company to a $1.0bn valuation in this growth equity round, achieving unicorn status and becoming the first FinTech unicorn out of Ukraine. UMAEF joins Fintech-IT Group founders Oleg Gorokhovskyi and Mykhaylo Rogalskyi, as the Company's first financial investor and only non-founding shareholder. In addition to its direct investment, the Fund leads a consortium of American private investors investing alongside UMAEF.

Fintech-IT Group develops integrated software solutions for digital banking and is the software developer behind monobank - the #1 neobank in Ukraine, #2 retail bank overall, as well as one of the most successful neobanks globally. For two consecutive years, monobank has been listed among the world's top 250 FinTech companies and top 35 global neobanks by CNBC. With 9.9m clients as of September 2025, it consistently maintains the highest NPS rating in the Ukrainian banking sector, receiving multiple awards annually. Fintech-IT Group's technology also empowers tens of thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ukraine to accept digital payments seamlessly, thus supporting the development of the SME ecosystem in the country.

"With this investment, UMAEF is expanding its existing portfolio of FinTech investments made through u.ventures, investing in a local leader launched and grown by best-in-class Ukrainian founders", said Jaroslawa Z. Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer of UMAEF. "Fintech-IT Group is a striking example of this strategy, achieving outstanding results in Ukraine's financial services sector, and leading in technological advancement and customer satisfaction. The Company's success is yet another testament to the strength of the Ukrainian tech ecosystem, depth of its technical talent, know-how and ingenuity. Ms. Johnson ended by stating, "UMAEF has a long-standing history of investing into innovative FinTech companies with world-class ambition, as well as traditional banks, providing us with the capabilities to support Fintech-IT Group's founders as they lead the Company through its next stage of high growth".

UMAEF was created by the U.S. Congress in 1994 and is proud of its over 30-year history investing in enterprises in Ukraine and Moldova. UMAEF is a Delaware corporation governed by experienced American business professionals with initial funding of $150 million provided by the U.S. government.

"For over 30 years, we have prioritized investments to companies and projects in Ukraine that both generate returns for U.S. stakeholders, as well as promote the purchase of U.S. goods and services", continued Dennis A. Johnson, Chairman of UMAEF's Board of Directors (unrelated to Ms. Johnson). "By continuing to invest in Ukraine, despite the full-fledged invasion in February 2022, we are paving the way for U.S. investors to invest in Ukraine's future reconstruction, recovery and renewal. UMAEF was compelled to invest in Fintech IT-Group based on its strong fundamentals, high growth profile and blending of tech and finance in a sector of high interest to U.S. investors and already partnering with major U.S. companies, including Visa and Mastercard. We believe that UMAEF's investment will provide comfort for other major U.S. investors to enter the Company - potentially at IPO on a leading U.S. stock exchange  and support the opening of a U.S. office."

With the funds raised as a result of this growth equity round, Fintech-IT Group intends to continue investing into further developing its solutions and expanding the product suite, including financing and business services for SMEs, for the benefit of nearly 10 million Ukrainians using its products.

About Fintech-IT Group

Fintech-IT Group is a technology company developing integrated software solutions for digital banking and is the software developer behind monobank - the #1 neobank in Ukraine, today serving 9.9 million clients.

About UMAEF

Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF), formerly known as Western NIS Enterprise Fund (WNISEF), was created by the U.S. Congress in 1994, and is a leading regional fund, with over three decades of successful experience in Ukraine and Moldova (the "Region"). UMAEF's mission focuses primarily on providing loans and equity to enterprises operating in sectors of interest to U.S. investors in the Region. UMAEF has invested $190 million in 143 companies, employing over 27,000 people in Ukraine and Moldova. Since inception, UMAEF has received $150 million in U.S. government funding, unlocking an estimated $2.4 billion in total capital for Ukrainian and Moldovan companies.

CONTACT:

Pavla Zahrebelnoho Street, 4,

Kyiv 01042, Ukraine

: +38 044 490 5580

F: +38 044 490 5589

[email protected]

175 West Jackson Blvd, STE 1640

Chicago, IL 60604

Tel: + 1 312 939 7003

Fax: +1 312 939 7004

www.umaef.org

SOURCE Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF)
Ukraines largest mobile operator, Kyivstar, will carry out a network modernization project during 20252026 aimed at improving service quality, expanding 4G network capacity, and preparing infrastructure for the deployment of 5G mobile communications.

"During equipment replacement and network reconfiguration, customers in certain areas may experience short-term changes in mobile internet speed, call quality, and temporary reductions in coverage. This is a technical phase of modernization that will ultimately ensure even greater stability and service quality," the company said in a press release on Monday.

According to initial results from upgraded telecom sites, data transfer speeds have increased by about 30%, while network capacity has expanded by approximately 50%, the company noted.

Kyivstar added that it is prioritizing upgrades at telecom sites with the highest load  those with the largest number of users and highest data traffic. In early September, Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov said the company operates over 16,000 telecom sites.

According to the release, thanks to significant infrastructure investment, active network development, and modernization, Kyivstar has been recognized for the second consecutive time as Ukraines best mobile network by U.S.-based company Ookla, whose Speedtest service is widely used across the telecom industry for performance analytics.

Based on results from the second half of 2024 and first half of 2025, Kyivstar received three Speedtest Awards: Best Mobile Coverage, Fastest Mobile Network, and Best Mobile Network in Ukraine.

Kyivstar serves almost 23 million mobile subscribers and over 1.1 million Home Internet subscribers. The digital services portfolio includes the Helsi medical platform, the Kyivstar TV film and television platform, and the leading ride-hailing and delivery company, Uklon. Kyivstar is also a solutions provider for corporate clients, providing cloud technology, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence services. Through its Kyivstar.Tech division, the company develops software development in Ukraine and is a partner for international technology companies such as Starlink.

Kyivstar increased its EBITDA by 39.5% in the first half of 2025, to UAH 12.85 billion, while its revenue grew by 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 Kyivstars listing on the stock exchange in August 2025 VEON was the companys 100% owner.
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
The British Air Force published a report from what they ironically referred to as the rusty Soviet railway along which the Trump TRIPP corridor is supposed to pass.





In short, they visited the Syunik region of Armenia and documented the remains of the Meghri railway  dismantled tracks, rusty wagons, and crumbling station buildings.





The entire report is laced with ironic skepticism: sure, sure  there will be billions in investments, and this will become the continents most important transport corridor. Right.





Readers of this report may walk away with the false impression that the railway simply collapsed on its own. After all, the BBC fails to mention why the Meghri railway fell into ruin. Not a word about the attacks on trains heading to Nakhchivan, not a word about the regional conflict, or how Armenia ended up isolated due to its own aggression. Nothing about why this road has actually been abandoned for over 30 years.





Yes, a lot still needs to be done to launch the corridor. But first, lets remind the BBC of the standards of journalism. Preaching to others? Start with yourselves.
Ukraine's state budget has received about $44 million belonging to Prominvestbank  withdrawn from the market at the onset of the full-scale invasion but frozen for several years in the United States due to litigation, the Deposit Guarantee Fund (DGF) reported on its website.

"The Fund proved that the funds held in Prominvestbank's correspondent accounts belonged to the state of Ukraine, secured their release from sanctions-related blocking, and returned about $44 million to the bank. The Fund then transferred these funds to Ukraine's state budget in accordance with the National Security and Defense Council's decision," the statement said.

The Fund specified that this amount equals UAH 1.835 billion.

As reported earlier, on February 25, 2022, the National Bank revoked the licenses of and initiated the liquidation of Prominvestbank, owned by the Russian state corporation VEB.RF, and the International Reserve Bank, owned by Sberbank of Russia. In May of the same year, the NSDC decided to forcibly confiscate the shares of these banks. Accordingly, the DGF replaced the Russian banks' parent entities in the creditor register with the state of Ukraine.

During the liquidation of Prominvestbank, it was established that the bank held $2 million and over EUR 36.6 million in correspondent accounts at the Bank of New York Mellon (the United States). In 2022, those funds were frozen by the U.S. side due to sanctions imposed against the bank as a subsidiary of Russia's VEB.RF.

As DGF Managing Director Olha Bilai explained to Interfax-Ukraine, an additional complication arose from claims filed by U.S. citizens whose relatives were killed by the Taliban in Afghanistan. They demanded compensation using Russian funds, arguing that Russia had financed the Taliban.
Ukraine will become a member of the European Union no later than 2035. Over the next 10 years, the Ukrainian agricultural sector will be transformed accordingly and become part of the European agricultural community, particularly the dairy sector, said Alex Lissitsa, President of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the IMC agroholding.

"We firmly believe that we will become a member of the European Union no later than 2035. We have 10 years to adapt and transform our economy, transforming our dairy sector, including ours, into a new format so that it is ready to become part of European society," he said at the workshop dubbed "Ukraine's Dairy Sector: Promoting Sustainability, Sustainable Development, and European Integration," which took place as part of the ANUGA-2025 exhibition in Cologne.

Lissitsa noted that Ukrainians have three advantages: they are very good, highly educated, and remarkably flexible in their learning. This means that Ukrainian farmers will be ready for EU membership, despite the highly competitive nature of their agricultural sector.

He noted that Russian aggression takes various forms and is directed not only at people and equipment, but also at livestock.

"Unfortunately, approximately 1 million livestock have been slaughtered in Ukraine over the past four years ... In particular, the IMC agricultural holding lost a dairy farm with 1,000 livestock. But we believe in Ukraine's future. Despite the losses, we will restore the livestock. And this will be the key to the future of Ukraine's dairy sector," the UCAB president concluded.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/brtcomua

The decision to disband the company of strike unmanned systems of the 10th mobile detachment of the State Border Service of Ukraine, created by an aerial reconnaissance specialist, founder of the Matrix-UAV unmanned aviation bureau Yuriy Kasyanov, was made due to the units lack of effectiveness in performing tasks, said the spokesman for the State Border Service of Ukraine Andriy Demchenko.

"To understand the situation. The unit Kasyanov is talking about was introduced into the staff of one of the border detachments in April 2024. The units staff initially consisted of more than 40 servicemen. Several organizational and staff changes were made, as a result of which the units staff was increased to 100 servicemen," the spokesman said in a comment to the Interfax-Ukraine agency.

According to him, during the period of its existence as part of the State Border Service of Ukraine, the unit used 560 units of unmanned systems to destroy enemy targets, the average cost of which is UAH 252,000.

"During 2025, 12 missions were carried out, during which 299 UAVs were used," Demchenko noted, adding that to support the unit, premises were rented, weapons and protective equipment were provided, 11 vehicles (there were three more cars from volunteers), more than six tonnes of fuel (only in 2025), portable and car radios, Starlink, laptops and tablets.

At the same time, as Demchenko emphasized, according to the results of the application, there was never any confirmation of the defeat of specific military and military-industrial facilities of the enemy.

"During interaction with the military command bodies, data on the destruction of certain enemy targets was also not confirmed. I would like to note once again that the decision to disband the unit was caused precisely by the assessment of the tasks performed by the servicemen of this unit. Only Kasyanov himself determined the high efficiency of his unit, but no one else can confirm this either in the ranks of the State Border Service of Ukraine or from other military command bodies," the spokesman for the State Border Service of Ukraine said

Demchenko also added that the personnel will strengthen other combat units of the department, exclusively in their specialty. They will continue to serve in units of reconnaissance and strike unmanned aviation complexes.

On October 3, Kasyanov announced the disbandment of the strike unmanned complex company he created of the 10th mobile detachment of the State Border Service of Ukraine. According to him, the unit was liquidated by the head of the State Border Service of Ukraine, Serhiy Deineko, allegedly on the order of the head of the Presidents Office, Andriy Yermak.

He also called on the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Robert Brovdi, and the Ukrainian Air Force to take the team to him. The commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces wrote on Facebook that the units transfer to the Air Force depends on Kasyanov himself, "on the real capabilities of his aircraft and the readiness of his team to actually work."

On October 5, Kasyanov announced that he would go to Maidan to protest against the disbandment of the unit. Kasyanov said that on October 5 at 6:00 p.m. he would go to Maidan so that "the president could hear him." He also suggested that he could be arrested.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/

On the night of October 6, the enemy attacked with 116 strike UAVs, and as of 9:00, air defenses have shot down or suppressed 83 enemy drones. Some 30 strike UAVs hit in seven locations, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has said.

"On the night of October 6, the enemy attacked with 116 strike UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera type and drones of other types from the directions: Millerovo, Kursk, Bryansk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, - the Russian Federation, as well as from the temporarily occupied Crimea. The air attack was repelled by aviation, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine," the message on Telegram said.

According to preliminary data, as of 09:00, air defenses shot down/suppressed 83 enemy UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera type and drones of other types in the north, south, east and center of the country.

"Some 30 strike UAVs were recorded hitting seven locations. The attack continues, several enemy UAVs are in the airspace," the message says.
Next week, at a meeting of G7 sanctions coordinators, Ukrainian proposals on sanctions and restrictions on the supply of critical components to Russia will be discussed, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an address on Sunday.

He stressed that every Russian missile, every Russian strike drone, includes components that have been supplied to Russia so far from Western countries, from various countries adjacent to Russia.

"Now, in the fourth year of a full-scale war, it is simply strange to hear that someone there does not seem to know how to stop the supply of critical components. Just one Russian Kinzhal missile contains 96 foreign-made components, many of which are truly critical components that Russia itself does not produce. The almost 500 drones that the Russians used last night are more than 100 thousand foreign-made components. Among the manufacturers are companies from the United States of America, China, Taiwan, as well as Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the Netherlands. There are, in particular, schemes for several countries. All this must be stopped," the president emphasized.

"All our proposals for sanctions, for limiting supply schemes are there, our partners have them. The materials have been provided - solutions are needed. We are also preparing our new sanctions against those who are working for Russia now, for its war, and against those who are trying to weaken Ukraine at such a time," he said.
In eight months of 2025, Russia lost 281,550 people killed, wounded and missing. This is evidenced by the Russian statistics of losses published by the project "I Want to Live."

"Of these: 86,744 killed, including 1,583 officers and 8,633 convicts; 33,966 missing, including 11,427 convicts; 158,529 wounded, including 6,356 officers and 16,489 convicts; 2,311 captured," the project said on Telegram.

The loss of military equipment amounted to 13,145 units irretrievably, and 48,458 can theoretically be restored.

Average monthly losses are 35,193 people and 7,700 units of equipment, of which 1,643 units are irretrievable.

"Every day the Russian army loses an average of one battalion killed and missing - 496 people. Every month, seven brigades of the Russian Armed Forces die in full. These figures can be compared with the losses of the USSR during the East Prussian offensive operation, when 126,000 soldiers died, but at the same time the Soviets occupied northern Poland and all of Prussia along with the Konigsberg fortress. Modern Russian generals ineptly laid down 120,000 people, but are unable to capture Pokrovsk for several years," the project said.

The indicative ratio of losses is also emphasized. Due to the lack of a normal system for evacuating the wounded from the battlefield, there are only 1.3 wounded soldiers for 1 dead person. This indicates a low survival rate for the wounded, who are poorly trained in tactical medicine and are usually abandoned without assistance after being wounded.

"It is not surprising that the Russian authorities are in no hurry to collect the bodies of the dead, hiding the losses. The only time the Russian Defense Ministry officially announced the number of dead, greatly understating it, was on March 25, 2022. Therefore, Russian society needs to be morally prepared for the fact that when the war ends, they may be told the real number of dead, missing, and wounded. And this number has already significantly exceeded 1 million people and 50,000 units of equipment since the beginning of the invasion in February 2022. This is the price of Putins rule and its support by the Russian people," the project said.
The majority of Ukrainians surveyed  60%  believe that the imposition of sanctions, in particular against Petro Poroshenko, is an attempt to divert attention from the difficult situation on the front or an attempt to neutralize the opposition on the eve of negotiations with Russia and possible elections; 51% believe that political persecution of the opposition is quite or very widespread. This is evidenced by the results of a survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on September 19-28.

As noted in a KIIS press release on the website on Monday, 3 surveys were conducted on the topic of sanctions that were introduced on February 12, 2025 in accordance with the decision of the National Security and Defense Council "On the Application of Personal Special Economic and Other Restrictive Measures (Sanctions)", and which Poroshenko fell under. The surveys on February 14-24 and May 15-17, 2025 asked how Ukrainians feel about this. Respondents were given three answer options and could choose one or more answers. In September 2025, the following questions were asked again.

"In general, the majority of respondents - 60% (in May - 56%) - chose either the option "an attempt to distract attention from the difficult situation at the front" (among all respondents, 35% chose it), or the option "an attempt to neutralize the opposition on the eve of negotiations with Russia and possible elections" (34% among all respondents)," sociologists record.

At the same time, they believe that these sanctions are an attempt by law enforcement agencies to really punish the guilty - 33% (in May 2025 it was 34%). The remaining 11% could not decide on their opinion.

In particular, among those who trust President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 45% chose either the option "an attempt to divert attention from the difficult situation on the front" or the option "an attempt to neutralize the opposition on the eve of negotiations with Russia and possible elections" (versus 43% who believe that this is an attempt by law enforcement agencies to punish the guilty).

Among those who do not trust him, 79% chose either the option "an attempt to divert attention from the difficult situation on the front" or the option "an attempt to neutralize the opposition on the eve of negotiations with Russia and possible elections" (versus 15% who believe that this is an attempt by law enforcement agencies to punish the guilty).

In addition, KIIS in a September survey asked respondents how widespread, in their opinion, cases of politically motivated persecution of the opposition are in Ukraine now. It turned out that 51% of Ukrainians believe that political persecution of the opposition is quite or very common (of which 20% consider such cases to be very common, and 31% consider them quite common). They believe that such cases are not very common or practically absent  37%. The remaining 11% could not answer the question.

Among those who do not trust President Zelenskyy, 70% consider politically motivated persecution of the opposition to be a fairly or very common practice (of which 43% consider such a practice to be very common). At the same time, among those who trust the president, quite a lot also say that such a practice is widespread  37%.

Executive Director of KIIS Anton Hrushetsky, commenting on the survey results, noted that preventing politically motivated persecution of opposition representatives is a necessary condition for the further development of Ukraine as a "fully functioning democracy." "If there are objective grounds for investigating the activities of individual opposition representatives (for example, involvement in corrupt practices or anti-Ukrainian activities), - he notes, - there should be transparent communication with reliable evidence of criminal acts (which would convince the public that there is no political component in the investigation)".

"In addition to democratic development, constructive interaction between the authorities and the opposition is a necessity for achieving success in the war. Internal strife weakens Ukraine and makes it easier for the Russian enemy (who will gladly use any line of tension in society, for example, between the authorities and the opposition, to "promote" a split). Joint efforts will make Ukraine stronger and even more impregnable for the enemy," he said.

On September 19-28, 2025, KIIS conducted its own all-Ukrainian public opinion poll "Omnibus", to which, at the request of the public organization Center for Strategic Communications "Forum", questions were added about sanctions against P. Poroshenko and about the prevalence of politically motivated persecution of the opposition. Method - telephone interviews based on a random sample of mobile phone numbers in all regions of Ukraine (territory controlled by the Government of Ukraine). Sample  1,029 respondents. Adults (aged 18 and older) citizens of Ukraine were interviewed who, at the time of the survey, lived in the territory of Ukraine controlled by the Government of Ukraine. Formally, under normal circumstances, the statistical error of such a sample (with a probability of 0.95 and taking into account the design effect of 1.3) did not exceed 4.1% for indicators close to 50%. Under war conditions, in addition to the specified formal error, a certain systematic deviation is added.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/

The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) on Sunday deployed to to two locations affected by a combined Russian missile and drone attack in the Lviv region.

"The team of the Lviv regional organization of the Ukrainian Red Cross is working at two locations affected by a large-scale Russian night attack. The work is being carried out in cooperation with local authorities, the State Emergency Service, medics and police," the URCS said on Facebook on Sunday.

URCS support points were been deployed on the ground, where the victims are provided with medical and psychological assistance. Residents whose homes have been damaged can receive the necessary materials for temporary housing reconstruction. Drinking water and hot drinks are also available in the tents for everyone who needs a break - both local residents and emergency services representatives.

As reported, on the night of October 5, the Russian army carried out the largest attack on the Lviv region since the start of the full-scale invasion. As a result, at least four people were killed and scores injured.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/brtcomua

The founder of the Matrix-UAV unmanned aviation team Yuriy Kasyanov said that the command dismissed the officer who was acting as commander and had been holding the soldier on the territory of the unit since Saturday.

"Right now, the command dismissed the officer who was acting as commander, whom they had been illegally holding on the territory of the military unit since Saturday, and took him somewhere. In fact, he was arrested. People are being terribly pressured, threatened with prison, and compromising material is being produced against me. I will be arrested at any moment. Reshetylova has refused us. We need legal support," Kasyanov wrote on Facebook.

As reported, on October 3, Kasyanov announced the disbandment of the company of strike unmanned complexes of the 10th mobile detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine that he had created. According to him, the unit was liquidated by the head of the State Security Service of Ukraine, Serhiy Deineko, allegedly on the orders of the head of the Office of the President, Andriy Yermak.

He also called on the commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Robert Brovdi, and military intelligence to take the team to him. Brovdi said on Facebook that the transfer of the unit to the depends on Kasyanov himself, "on the real capabilities of his aircraft and the readiness of his team to actually work."

On October 5, Kasyanov announced that he would go to Maidan to protest against the disbandment of the unit. Kasyanov said that on October 5 at 6:00 p.m. he would go to Maidan so that "the president could hear him." He also suggested that he could be arrested.

The press service of the State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) responded by stating that the decision to disband the company was made due to the units lack of effectiveness in performing tasks. The spokesman for the State Border Service of Ukraine Andriy Demchenko reported that during the period of its existence as part of the State Border Service, the unit used 560 units of unmanned systems to destroy enemy targets, the average cost of which is UAH 252,000. To provide the unit, the rental of premises was organized, it was provided with weapons and means of protection, 11 units of vehicles (there were three more cars from volunteers), over six tonnes of fuel (only in 2025), portable and car radios, Starlink, laptops and tablets. At the same time, according to the results of the application, there was never any confirmation of the destruction of specific military and military-industrial facilities of the enemy.

"During interaction with military command bodies, data on the destruction of specific enemy targets was also not confirmed. I would like to note once again that the decision to disband the unit was caused precisely by the assessment of the tasks performed by the servicemen of this unit. Only Kasyanov himself determined the high efficiency of his unit, but no one else can confirm this either in the ranks of the State Border Service of Ukraine or from other military command bodies," the spokesman for the State Border Service of Ukraine emphasized.
Photo: https://t.me/GeneralStaffZSU

The Ukrainian Defense Forces have struck an explosives and ammunition production plant in the Nizhny Novgorod region of the Russian Federation and an oil and oil product transshipment complex on the Crimean Trans-Siberian Railway in Feodosia on Monday night, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has said.

"As part of reducing the offensive potential, as well as the enemy's capabilities for missile and bomb strikes, on the night of October 6, units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the infrastructure of the federal state-owned enterprise Ya.M. Sverdlov Plant, the General Staff said on Telegram on Monday.

The plant is one of the largest Russian producers of explosives. It is able to equip almost all types of ammunition - aviation and artillery shells, aviation bombs, including those that are adjusted to the target, warheads of cumulative anti-tank guided missiles, ammunition for engineering troops, warheads for air defense missile systems. It equips the warheads of unified inter-service glide ammunition.

Numerous explosions and a fire were recorded in the area of the target.

"In addition, the facilities of JSC "Marine Oil Terminal" (Feodosia, TOT AR Crimea) were hit. This is a multifunctional technological complex for the transshipment of oil and oil products from railway tank cars to sea vessels and back, as well as road transport. It is involved in providing the occupation army of the Russian aggressor," the General Staff said in a statement.

As a result of the successful hit, a large-scale fire was recorded on the territory of the facility.

Also, in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukrainian Crimea, there was a hit on the ammunition depot of a separate material Russian support battalion. The results are being clarified.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrived in Azerbaijan on October 6 to attend the 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) .

A guard of honor was lined up at Gabala International Airport in honor of the high-ranking guest.

Orban was welcomed at the airport by Azerbaijani Minister of Culture Adil Karimli and other officials.

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.
Photo: The Presidential Office of Ukraine / www.president.gov.ua

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny has notes the importance of creating the Space Forces in Ukraine.

"The decision to create the Space Forces by December 31, 2025, provided for by the government program, although belated, is still relevant. It is very good that the war itself, its high-tech nature, and even more so, future security threats finally dictate the need for the immediate development of national aerospace technologies and capabilities as a key element of the defense capability of our state," Zaluzhny wrote in an article for the Militaryny (Military) ezine portal. .

According to him, the lack of an intelligence management body at the strategic level and, accordingly, a set of forces and means was a problem that significantly reduced the effectiveness of command and control of troops, and the appearance of the latest means of destruction in the Armed Forces of Ukraine was critical in this regard. "It was precisely because of the lack and delay in the exchange of specific information from space that it was not possible to use the full potential of systems such as HIMARS. Subsequently, due to Russia's reaction, their strategic importance significantly decreased. Because, as it turned out, it is space capabilities that are of critical importance for targeting, navigation and communications, ensuring the effectiveness of missile strikes," the former commander-in-chief said.

Zaluzhny said that at the beginning of 2023, there were approximately 7,560 active satellites in Earth's orbit, of which 246 were officially classified as military. The Russian Federation maintained about 160 active satellites, of which approximately 100 performed military functions.

According to him, the Ukrainian Central Space Support Directorate, in turn, received from partner countries a tool in the form of the use of satellite technologies for both military and civilian purposes and access to software, and became a key body that transformed data from space into specific combat solutions. "Not having our own military satellite group, we promptly used commercial space infrastructure, in particular SpaceX's Starlink for communications, and Earth observation satellites such as Maxar, Planet Labs and ICEYE for real-time reconnaissance," the former commander-in-chief said. At the same time, Zaluzhny stressed that Ukraine, which was once one of the five space powers in the world, "is now lagging behind in the rocket and space industry, to put it mildly," and effective war is impossible without space data. "Today, it is impossible to imagine modern armed struggle without space services. The Russian-Ukrainian war was the first major military confrontation in which space technologies played and continue to play a decisive role," he said.

According to the former commander-in-chief, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in the 4th year of large-scale aggression and the 12th year of the war, according to the Law on Intelligence Agencies, still do not have their own functions regarding intelligence activities at the strategic level, despite the fact that they have models in their arsenal, including their own production, capable of inflicting damage far beyond the capabilities of the reconnaissance reconnaissance of a separate reconnaissance battalion.

"The use of space forces, first of all, intelligence capabilities, will require regulatory consolidation of this function, both for further financing and for the creation of an appropriate management link at the strategic level in the structure of the Armed Forces... Considering space as a way to gain operational advantage, the creation of the Space Forces must be guaranteed by providing them with the full range of capabilities," he wrote.

Zaluzhny emphasizes that despite the fact that the creation of its own group of spacecraft will be an obvious priority for Ukraine, currently the most effective use of the capabilities of both partners and non-state private companies is required, such an area will require diplomatic efforts for a full and reliable partnership. "This, in turn, requires a separate area of international cooperation, which will go beyond traditional military cooperation, and granting the right to engage in such activities to the Space Forces command," he pointed out.

He emphasized that space should become another element of defense capability, where Ukraine needs to achieve key technological changes. "Space is not only technology, but also the key to operational advantage, but its effective use will require a systemic approach, from the institutionalization of production programs to international cooperation... On land, in the air and on the water, we have already found these solutions. It is time to look to space, because the only opportunity now to achieve the required level of security lies only in technological advantages in all domains," Zaluzhny said.
Ukrainian publishers signed more than 160 licensing agreements in the first half of 2025, setting records. The surge in rights sales has been sparked, in part, by the expansion of translation grant programs of Translate Ukraine, House of Europe, and Tales of Ukraine, which have helped publishers with no prior international sales experience enter the global market. The growth also coincides with the recent debut of Chapter Ukraine, an interactive platform that provides comprehensive information about Ukrainian books already available in English translation.

Two publishers dominated the licensing landscape in early 2025. Lviv-based The Old Lion Publishing House finalized 124 licensing agreements, while Ranok, based in the besieged city of Kharkiv, secured 61 contracts for 75 books, according to figures from Chytomo, the news service of the Ukrainian publishing industry. Some 40 additional agreements were signed by smaller publishers.

The licensing boom reflects both structural support and shifting market dynamics. Picture books and illustrated popular science publications for children remain the dominant segment, though adult fiction is gaining ground. The Old Lion Publishing House reports translations of adult fiction have grown from 10% to nearly 30% of its portfolio over the last five years, while Ranok has noted increasing demand for literature aimed at parents.

"Sales of rights to children's books are also growing in terms of quantity, but selling licenses for the translation of children's books is becoming significantly difficult against the backdrop of a substantial increase in the price of materials and book production," said Ivan Fedechko, head of the copyright department at the Old Lion Publishing House.

"In just the first half of this year, more books have appeared in translation than in the entire 'breakthrough' year of 2023," said Iryna Baturevych, Chapter Ukraine's co-curator and Chytomo's development director. According to the Ukrainian Book Institute, all Ukrainian publishers combined secured more than 130 licensing agreements in 2023. "But these books still need support to be noticedso we're looking for ambassadors of Ukrainian literature to support their favorite books abroad. And there's plenty to choose from."

Among the titles now featured on Chapter Ukraine are Ivan and Phoebe by Oksana Lutsyshyna (Deep Vellum), which chronicles the lives of young people involved in the 1990s Ukrainian student protests known as the Revolution on Granite; pray to the empty wells by Iryna Shuvalova (Lost Horse Press), a bilingual poetry collection rooted in Ukraine's folk culture; The City by Valerian Pidmohylny (Harvard University Press), a landmark 1928 urban novel newly available in English translation by Maxim Tarnawsky; and In Isolation by Stanislav Aseyev, which features dispatches from occupied Donbas documenting life under Russian occupation.

Chapter Ukraine allows users to filter a catalog of translated Ukrainian titles by genre, theme, or historical period, create curated lists, and share them directly with libraries and bookstores. The platform launched initially for English-speaking audiences, particularly in the U.S., and is now expanding to Spanish and German.

"Our goal was to create an accessible, practical tool to enable international libraries, bookstores, and cultural institutions to discover Ukrainian literature in translation," said Kateryna Kazimirova, Chapter Ukraine's creator and head of Craft, an NGO that developed the platform with Chytomo. "The next stage of the platform will include integrations with library and distribution services, showing where titles are already available for purchase or reading and making the process even easier for everyone involved."

The growth trajectory began with the Ukrainian Book Institute's Translate Ukraine program, launched in 2020, and has been reinforced by rising interest from European publishers seeking Creative Europe funding. Ironically, as funding for translations across Europe has grown stronger, the Trump administration cancelled nearly $200,000 in funding for the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute, which has been a significant publisher of translated Ukrainian literature in the U.S.

Chapter Ukraine was developed by Craft and Chytomo in partnership with Snig.digital (web design and identity) and Kavi.Agency (web development and integrations). Institutional partners include the Ukrainian Book Institute, PEN Ukraine, UNWLA, and Razom for Ukraine.

The project team continues updating the database with new titles and welcomes collaborations. Inquiries can be sent to chapterukraine3@gmail.com.
Reuters, October 3, 2025

Afghanistan's internet and mobile telephone services were down nationwide on Tuesday, and while the Taliban administration offered no immediate explanation, in recent weeks it has voiced concern about pornography online. The Taliban's restrictions on women and freedom of expression have drawn criticism from rights groups and foreign governments since the former insurgents resumed control of Afghanistan in 2021. Here are some other actions the Taliban has taken this year.

BAN ON INTERNET

On September 17, the Taliban administration announced an internet ban across a swathe of northern Afghanistan "to prevent immoral activities". The ban covers five provinces - Kunduz, Badakhshan, Baghlan, Takhar and Balkh - and includes the region's main population centres.

REMOVAL OF SOME BOOKS WRITTEN BY WOMEN

This month, the Taliban also began purging books written by women from the country's universities, the New York Times reported., opens new tabAlong with the book ban, which the Taliban said was in accordance with sharia law, it also instructed universities to drop 18 courses on democracy, human rights and women's studies, the report said.

BAN ON CHESS

In May this year, the Taliban banned chess, citing fears that it was giving rise to gambling, which it considers a vice.The International Chess Federation (FIDE) said it regretted, opens new tab the decision and that the ban would harm the development of the sport and deny opportunities for Afghan players to showcase their talent.

RESTRICTIONS ON FEMALE AID WORKERS

This month, the World Health Organization asked Taliban authorities to lift restrictions on Afghan female aid workers, to allow them to travel without male guardians and help women struggling to access care after two powerful earthquakes killed 2,200 people in the eastern part of the country.There was no change to the policy.

The Taliban ordered Afghan female NGO staff to stop working outside the home in 2022.
Last month, Nepal was transformed by its youngest citizens. What began as outrage over a government attempt to shut down social media erupted into a movement powerful enough to topple a prime minister and dissolve parliament. The protests killed at least 19 people and injured more than 100. The streets may be quieter now, but there is no peace. Nepal is a tinderbox, and the danger is far from over.

At the heart of the unrest are young Nepalis who refuse to accept a future stolen by corruption and nepotism. They are students and professionals who have grown up in a country where privilege has outweighed merit and corruption has bred cynicism. Their defiance is a warning that when governments protect privilege by silencing the discontented, liberty is extinguished and despair fills the void.

The recent ban on social media was never merely about limiting access to Facebook or Instagram. Messaging apps such as WhatsApp were included, cutting off encrypted channels that many rely on to communicate safely. For young people, families, and faith communities, WhatsApp has often been the only secure link to loved ones. The removal of these platforms did not simply restrict social media use. It stripped away the last vestiges of safe communication.

This is how authoritarianism takes hold. It does not always announce itself with soldiers in the streets. More often, it advances quietly, through small restrictions that accumulate until silence becomes absolute. Moscow and Beijing have followed this path. Nepals swift unrest is a stark warning: where speech is denied, justice falters, and violence claims the space that remains.

For Christians in Nepal, the danger is particularly acute. Anti-conversion laws make evangelism a crime, carrying penalties of deportation or imprisonment. These prohibitions fall most heavily on Christians, while efforts to force citizens back to Hinduism are not only tolerated but celebrated. In practice, the right to practice faith freely is constantly under threat.

Periods of upheaval only heighten these risks. In recent weeks, Christians and other minorities have been scapegoated for protests they did not cause. A family living near the Indian border has already endured threats of rape and murder, while being told that riots were the fault of those sympathetic to America and India. Within this context, such language clearly meant Christians and others who embrace Western values of freedom.

This is the oldest tactic of failing regimes. When legitimacy falters, blame the powerless. Periods of unrest bring special peril to vulnerable communities. The persecution of Christians in Nepal is not an isolated story. It reflects a wider truth seen across authoritarian systems. Tyrannies instinctively target both free speech and faith because both are essential to human dignity and freedom.

Nepals uprising is uniquely its own, yet its spirit resonates beyond the Himalayas. The values animating itaccountability, dignity, and the right to speak and believe freelyare the same values that sustain free societies everywhere. And they are precisely what terrify autocrats. The desire to live without fear cannot be contained by borders.

An interim government has been named, and elections have been promised, but the anger that drove Nepals youth into the streets has not been extinguished. It smolders beneath the surface. The question is whether courage will lead to reform or whether it will be crushed by another cycle of repression.

For the West, the lesson is clear. The desire for freedom does not need to be manufactured or imposed. It spreads because it is true. When young Nepalis risk everything to declare that they have had enough, they remind us that liberty is not a Western invention. It is a human inheritance. The responsibility of free societies is to see their struggle clearly, to stand in solidarity, and to speak without hesitation for those resisting censorship.

Nepals youth have shown that the will to live in freedom is stronger than fear. Their stand should unsettle Moscow and Beijing, for it demonstrates how fragile authoritarian power truly is. It should also unsettle us. To remain silent while voices are being crushed, whether through censorship or through persecution of faith, is to betray the values that free societies claim to defend.

Meaghan Mobbs, Ph.D., is the director of the Center for American Safety and Security at Independent Women.
Disney/Pamela Littky

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 10/06/2025



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

alum Kaitlyn Bristowe has gushed about Taylor Frankie Paul's casting on Season 22 and how she'll be a "refreshing" lead."I feel like she's going to be very refreshing," Kaitlyn, 40, told People. "I would honestly say that this will bring me back in [to watching the show]."Taylor, a 31-year-old divorced mother of three kids and star of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, will be handing out roses on 's 22nd season when it premieres in 2026.Taylor's casting has proven to be a polarizing choice on ABC's part. While Taylor has a huge number of reality TV fans and TikTok followers, many people are angry at ABC for choosing a woman who has "two baby daddies" and admitted to soft-swinging in her marriage."She is not pretending to be anything else but herself and I think that's so refreshing, especially on reality TV," Kaitlyn said.Taylor -- who created the viral sensation #MomTok and began starring on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives in 2024 -- was announced as the 's Season 22 lead in September."I think now I won't be the only messy Bachelorette, and I am here for that because I'm like, I just want to encourage her," Kaitlyn shared.Kaitlyn, who starred on 's eleventh season in 2015, was referring to how she was sex-shamed by the public for having sex with Nick Viall before Fantasy Suites and choosing a different guy, Shawn Booth , as her winner during the finale.After ending her engagement to Shawn in late 2018, Kaitlyn moved on with 14 alum Jason Tartick Kaitlyn and Jason got engaged in May 2021, but they announced their split in August 2023.But Kaitlyn acknowledged of Taylor -- who is known for being unapologetically herself -- during her chat with People, "I don't think she needs encouragement actually. I think she knows how to be herself, and that's the beauty of Taylor."Kaitlyn just hopes Taylor will be able to "surrender to the process," because, as a reality TV star, Taylor already knows how production works and what fans want to see.Kaitlyn pointed out that "when you see how the sausage is made, you overthink things."Kaitlyn, however, has no doubt that Taylor will be authentic and sincere, especially since she's already famous and boasts over seven million followers across her TikTok and Instagram accounts."I actually think this is so beautiful because so many people are going on this show to get an Instagram following," Kaitlyn said, knowing that Taylor doesn't need the help."She has set it up like, 'What you see is what you get,'" The Bachelor and Dancing with the Stars alum explained."You're walking into my faith or my three children and this life that I live that's fully on camera, and I think the guys are going to go in with a little more intention than they would on other seasons."Kaitlyn also apparently believes Taylor will give viewers a more realistic look into dating, rather than the fantasy feel The Bachelor franchise has curated since 2002."I think we all watched The Bachelor for the fantasy of it, but now we've seen that for so long and the format got a little stale and we know what's coming -- we know the drama is coming, people aren't here for the right reasons, we're not here to make friends," Kaitlyn said."I think [Taylor is] going to be a little more raw and real. And I'm here for that."Kaitlyn also anticipates Taylor won't be heavily influenced by the producers."[She'll] have the backbone also to say what she wants with producers -- instead of being like, 'Well, I've never done this before,' she could be like, 'I know what I'm doing and this is what I want,'" Kaitlyn noted.Another former star, Rachel Lindsay -- who hasn't been closely connected to The Bachelor franchise in recent years -- said she's "thrilled" about Taylor's casting."I'm a fan of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. And I've been saying there needs to be change. I've been asking for change in a particular way. It has happened, but not fully," Rachel, 40, told People."But I think that this is the show trying to step into 2025. They've been stuck in 2002 for the longest time, and this is a really beautiful way, I think, for them to do it."Rachel added, "And I'm very excited for what's to come, and I think it's a new day ."Tsylor recently shared on social media how she's "beyond grateful" for the opportunity to star on and she believes she'll handle criticism and backlash with no problem.Taylor also insisted she's learned from her mistakes, such as her cheating scandal with ex-husband Tate Paul, and she's not looking to repeat them Taylor previously admitted to violating the rules of her and Tate's soft-swinging arrangement by becoming more intimate with another man in their friend group, which led to their separation and eventual May 2022 divorce.Taylor also publicly dated Dakota Mortensen. They began dating in Summer 2022 and broke up in 2024, although Taylor didn't announce their split until May of this year.Taylor welcomed two kids, daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5, with Tate. She later gave birth to Dakota's son, Ever True, in March 2024.While won't be returning until next year, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is set to release new episodes on November 13 on Hulu.Two other stars from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Whitney Leavitt and Jen Affleck, are currently competing on Dancing with the Stars' 34th season on ABC and Disney+.When Dancing with the Stars premiered its new season on September 16, Taylor was in the audience supporting her friends and co-stars.'s official premiere date and cast of bachelors for Season 22 will be announced at a later date.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
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Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine Oleksandr Banchuk and Head of the Department of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighborhood Benoit Mesnard has held a meeting on the implementation of the Ukraine Facility in the field of justice, the ministry's press service reports.

The Ukrainian and European sides reviewed the implementation of six indicators of the Ukraine Facility, starting with a discussion of step 3.8 - enforcement of court decisions.

"The main task of the bill is to launch the digitalization of enforcement proceedings. This will make the system of enforcement of decisions more transparent and convenient for citizens. And it will confirm Ukraine's ability to carry out structural reforms in the field of justice - a key prerequisite for negotiations on EU membership," Banchuk noted.

Also during the meeting, they discussed such indicators as increasing the staff of the High Anti-Corruption Court (selection for 23 judges continues), declarations of integrity of judges (draft law No. 13165-2), creation of administrative courts (selection of judges will begin in October 2025), filling judicial vacancies and qualification assessment of judges.

In turn, Mesnard emphasized that the successful implementation of each step of Ukraine's Plan is critically important for the negotiation process on accession to the EU.

The next meeting within the framework of monitoring the implementation of Ukraine's Plan in the field of justice is scheduled for January 2026.
Somewhere on Earth, around the year 400,000 B.C., two Archaic Homo sapiens got into an argument about what was better for killing stuff  heavier spears moving slower or lighter spears moving faster. Granted, language wouldnt evolve for another couple of hundred thousand years, so these prehistoric arguments were only slightly more intelligent than a YouTube comments section.

This argument would continue and evolve over the course of history from the size of rocks in slings to the size of arrow heads to the size of bullets. I have no doubt that for as long as people have been chucking objects, weve debated how much size matters.

For my contribution to this eternal debate, I offer this: an AR-15 in 5.56 NATO Vs. an AR-10 in 6.5 Creedmoor.

BATTLEFIELD VS. COMPETITION

Lets not pretend this is a tactical thesis since thats not my field. My goals stem from being a competitive shooter, primarily 2-gun in many flavors, with my top pick being InRangeTV Brutality matches.

For most 2-gun matches across most rule sets, like PCSL, Brutality, Proving Grounds, Tactical Games, etc., an AR-15 is almost always the right choice. But sometimes a match offers a course of fire where the heavy rifles can actually keep up. InRangeTV High Desert Brutality is one such match.

Two rifles with almost the same build specs but chambered in very different calibers. Both are on the clock in the same courses of fire, shot at the same ranges and even on the same day.

Before we dive in, a special thanks to AmmunitionToGo.com for providing the 5.56 NATO 62-grain Magtech used in this project and to Barnes for the 6.5 Creedmoor 140-grain Precision OTM! Both performed outstanding at distance and up close.

RIFLE SPECS:

Both rifles are built to almost the same specs, as much as possible. Both have 20-inch barrels, suppressors of almost the same size, the same stock, similar optics, etc. The goal was to make this as close to apples-to-apples as reasonably possible.

AR-10 Heavy Rifle Division:

AR-15 Light Armored Division:

HEROES OF THE BUILD

Just about everything in these builds worked basically exactly as I hoped it might. Both rifles were smooth shooting, flat shooting and easy to handle.

But there were a few parts that stole the show. Top of the list is the Vortex Gen 3 1-10x LPVO, its simply a badass optic. Ive never been a huge LPVO fan, but the Gen 3 might convert me.

KynShot buffers make a tangible difference that I really recommend. Both builds had significantly less sight picture disruption with the KynShot buffers, and that really bumps up how fast you can engage targets on the clock.

B&T X-762 Vs. DeadAir Lazerus 6, the B&T was a better suppressor. Not only is the reduced backpressure much more effective with the B&T design, but the Titanium suppressor is several ounces lighter and handles heat a lot better. While the Laz 6 would start to have enough mirage to make a clean sight picture difficult near the end of a stage, the B&T X-762 bucked heat enough that it wasnt ever an issue. Laz 6 was still a rock-solid suppressor, and I really like how it sounds, but for this, the B&T edged it out.

Both 20-inch barrels were outstanding and grouped about 1 MOA with good ammo. Zero complaints with either Faxon or Rosco, and Id recommend either of them for just about any shooter.

Only the 5.56 AR-15 had a RifleSpeed gas block. Its an amazing gas block and hands down the best adjustable gas block Ive ever used. The AR-10 was going to use one, as well, but I ordered the wrong size from RifleSpeed. RifleSpeed was going to exchange it, but no replacement was ever sent. These were media units; no money was lost in the exchange.

MDT Ckyepod Lightweight Double Pull continues to be a positively workhorse of a bipod. The size and the weight really came in handy for stable positions, even when stability was hard to come by. The Ckyepod isnt cheap, but its build shockingly durable even for the lightweight model.

With 95-degree heat and staying well hydrated, there was a lot of sweat to make things slippy. Thankfully, the Walker Defense Research NILE rail covers provided a ton of grip and made sure the rifles didnt slide in my hands. The Dark Matter BCG from WDR also proved to be a wonderful BCG in AR-15 build. The ultra-slick finish handled the dust and crud without worry.

INRANGETV HIGH DESERT BRUTALITY

Primarily a community-building event, InRangeTV Brutality matches are also a great place to really test yourself and your gear. Parma Rod & Gun in Parma, Idaho is a fantastic range with tons of room for a great match.

From riding and shooting from a dune buggy to getting hits on targets out to 615 yards, High Desert Brutality had a little bit of everything. It even had the added drama of water bombers after a spark off a steel target set the range on fire and burned 225 acres of the surrounding brush.

Thankfully, no one was hurt, and the match continued the following day. Without doubt, one of the best matches Ive ever shot, High Desert Brutality was the perfect proving ground to test a precision AR-10 and AR-15 head-to-head.

Major thanks to the entire InRangeTV Brutality crew for a great match.

AR-10 Vs AR-15 WINNER?

For this match, a full-power rifle has an advantage. Not only are the longer-range targets a lot easier to hit with a battle cartridge, but the extra energy on target helps with spinners as well.

While both the Vortex Razor LPVOs are solid scopes, the Gen 3 1-10x in FFP is a huge step up over the Gen 2 for long-range shooting. A little more mag, a more helpful reticle, and FFP were all gains and made the Gen 3 a better scope. Both scopes 1x was more than adequate.

The addition of the red dot on top of the 1-6x was never really an advantage in this kind of shooting. If there were more near/far transitions or if I had shot the night match with nods, the 12 oclock red dot might have become more useful.

Similarly, the Vortex Impact 4000 laser range finder wasnt really helpful for this match since the distances were easy to range before the clock started. Its a useful tool in other applications, but for this match, it didnt make anything easier and definitely made maneuvering with the AR-10 harder.

Tactical door kickers and their basement-dwelling cheerleaders will argue the benefits of different DMR systems until the end of time. But for High Desert Brutality, I really recommend shooting in the heavy rifle division if you can. Its a lot of fun and very rewarding.
HAL's order book amounts to Rs 2.45 trillion by end of Q2FY26, implying a book-to-bill ratio of 32 times based on FY25 revenue.

IMAGE: The indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. Photograph: ANI Photo

The ministry of defence (MoD) has signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for the procurement of 97 LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) Mk-1A aircraft worth Rs 62,400 crore/Rs 624 billion (excluding taxes).

As part of the contract, 68 fighters and 29 twin seaters and associated equipment will be procured.

The delivery will start in the financial year 2028 (FY28) and would be completed in over six years.

The acquisition was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security in August 2025. The aircraft will have indigenous content of over 64 per cent, and it is over and above a previous contract for 83 LCA Mk-1A aircraft signed in January 2021.

Furthermore, advanced, indigenously developed systems such as the UTTAM Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar, Swayam Raksha Kavach, and control surface actuators will also be integrated, bolstering the indigenisation policy.

The project will be supported by a vendor base of close to 105 Indian firms directly engaged in the manufacturing of components and an additional 67 key components are being indigenised.

HAL's earlier order for 83 LCA Mk1A aircraft has faced significant delays owing to the delays in supply of F404-IN20 engines by General Electric.

However, GE has now started supplying engines. GE has supplied three engines so far and is likely to deliver seven more by December 2025.

Two LCA Mk1A aircraft are currently undergoing weapon trials.

Additionally, 13 LCA Mk1A aircraft have already completed their first trial flight using CAT-B F-404 engines.

HAL's order book amounts to Rs 2.45 trillion by end of Q2FY26, implying a book-to-bill ratio of 32 times based on FY25 revenue. Given the positive development of supply of engines by GE, the delivery of LCA Mk1A aircraft should speed up.

IAF plans to have a fleet of at least 42 squadrons (currently 31). With the retirement of Mig-21 fighter jets, the IAF combat strength will drop to 29 squadrons.

The requirement of 11 additional squadrons and replacement of existing squadrons of Mirage 2000, Jaguar & MiG-21 provides HAL with an opportunity to produce 300-plus aircrafts, including Tejas Mk-1A, Tejas Mk II, and AMCA (5th Gen), over the next 10 to 15 years.

As a monopoly play in aerospace, HAL is a key beneficiary.

HAL's revenue booking for Tejas MK-IA should begin from October 2026 and it should see a sharp improvement once the engine supply from GE normalises.

HAL is scaling up its capacity to 24 aircraft annually.

HAL has also entered into a MoU with GE for setting up a manufacturing facility in India to manufacture F414 engines for LCA Tejas MK II aircraft.

Post-signing, HAL will receive 80 per cent transfer of technology (ToT) for the F414 engine with the potential to reach 100 per cent over the next decade.

This ToT is estimated to be worth $1billion and will result in the new fighters having an indigenous content of around 75 per cent.

Additionally, HAL is also working on a JV with Safran to co-develop and co-produce turboshaft engines in India with focus on Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH) and Deck-Based Multi-Role Helicopters (DBMRH).

The contract for 97 additional jets will also lead into a related order of $ for 113 new F404 engines with GE to be finalised in a few weeks.

As volumes rise, HAL should get margin expansion. Net-net, order book expansion and progress on Tejas deliveries significantly improve HAL's growth trajectory.

Some 28 private sector firms have expressed interest in collaborating with HAL for development of a fifth-generation stealth fighter (AMCA project).

The ambitious Rs 60,000 crore (Rs 60 billion) Su-30 avionics upgrade project is in the approval phase, with aircraft orders likely by FY31.

HAL has a clear roadmap for future defence platforms, enabling it to align its R&D, production, and development efforts, with steady order inflows and long-term revenue visibility.

Revenue growth should be well over 20 per cent until FY28 while operating profit margin would be between 28 and 29 per cent.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

Extending its nuclear power plant supply relationship with India to the non-nuclear sector, Russia's integrated atomic power major Rosatom State Corporation is in talks for a 50:50 additive technology joint venture, said a senior Rosatom official.

Rosatom's Additive Manufacturing Business Unit, he said, has signed several multi-year framework dealer agreements for supply of additive equipment and materials, with a total value of approximately 1.5 billion roubles to Indian clients.

Rosatom is also in talks with three universities to have this upcoming technology as part of their curriculum.

Rosatom is supplying six 1,000 MW nuclear power reactors to India. Out of the six, two 1,000 MW power plants are operational and four more are under construction at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu.

Rosatom now wants to extend that relationship to other areas.

Additive technology manufacturing or 3D printing is a manufacturing process where an item is made layer by layer with the use of necessary material -- metal powder and others -- unlike the traditional casting, machining system which is subtractive technology, that is, removing unnecessary material from an already manufactured item.

The major advantage of additive manufacturing or 3D printing is that complex and intricate components or prototypes can be manufactured faster at a shorter time and with less material.

"We also think of producing the equipment and also metal powder in India. It will be a joint venture for India and also for neighbouring markets," Ilya Kavelashvili, director of the Additive Manufacturing Business Unit at Rosatom, told this reporter.

Declining to name the Indian partner in the proposed joint venture, Kavelashvili said: "It is a private company."

According to him, the two companies have decided to work out a roadmap for the project. There will be transfer of necessary technologies for making in India.

The main thing Rosatom got to know from the Indian side is that the potential for additive technology is immense in India and there will also be support from the Indian government for the proposed project.

Rosatom is an integrated player in additive manufacturing. The company makes metal powder of stainless steel, nickel, titanium alloy, aluminium alloy which are used in printing the components; develops the needed software for 3D printing and also develops the equipment and manufacturing of the needed products.

According to officials, the company also makes two-in-one printers -- it can print as well as weld.

Speaking further about the 1.5 billion rouble deal in India, Kavelashvili said, "It is a broad dealership contract for supply of 3D printers, materials and gradually Rosatom would like to localise production in India."

Towards the latter goal, the company is in discussions with its Indian business partners for a joint venture.

Meanwhile Kavelashvili said Rosatom will soon send its first large-format 3D printer to India, capable of producing components up to 2.5 meters in diameter but declined to disclose the Indian client's name citing the non-disclosure agreement.

Components made with additive technologies are basically used in high technology industries like nuclear, space, aviation, shipping, healthcare (implants, surgical instruments), power engineering industry, construction of concrete structures, prototype of art objects, architectural objects and others.

Rosatom also offers services like 3D printing, topological optimisation of a component, 3D scanning, audit of enterprises for the implementation/optimisation of additive technologies, training and education, service maintenance of equipment, additive technology research and development and post processing.

In Belarus, an additive technology centre was recently commissioned. Apart from India and Belarus, Rosatom is also looking at countries like Bangladesh and Egypt as markets for this advanced manufacturing technology.

Kavelashvili said Rosatom decided to look at 3D printing technology seven years ago and soon developed the capability to offer end-to-end solutions as in the case of nuclear power plant supplies. Now it makes extensive use of it throughout its entire production ecosystem.

"Today Rosatom is responsible for developing additive technology in Russia," he added.

Over the past year, more than 2,000 parts and products have been printed using this technology, and over 2,000 employees from Rosatom's subsidiaries have received training in additive manufacturing.

Venkatachari Jagannathan can be reached at venkatacharijagannathan@gmail.com

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'Karur could still impact Jana Nayagan's box-office success if Vijay and the TVK do not get their act together,' points out N Sathiya Moorthy.

IMAGE: Where the stampede happened in Karur during Vijay's rally on September 27, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

The politics of the Karur stampede -- where 41 people died -- in poll-bound Tamil Nadu has started playing out, mostly sickening and at times revealing.

Post-tragedy, Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam, and more so the party's actor-founder Vijay's ignorance and inexperience have been pouring out as insularity and insolence, both translating as an inherent sense of insecurity.

Post facto, it showed up first when Vijay and Co scooted from the tragedy site to the shelter of their Chennai homes, without doing the right thing by being in the midst of it all, as leaders and cadres from other political parties, starting with the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam did, in their place instead.

Their insecurity showed up when party General Secretary 'Bussy' N Anand and another leader, C T R Nirmal Kumar, sought anticipatory bail from the Madras high court, arguing that the local office-bearers alone were responsible -- and accountable -- for organising the ill-fated roadshow.

Even Vijay in his much-delayed, badly scripted four-minute video reaction four days later, did not express remorse either over the tragedy or over his leaving Karur without being around to be of help to the victims.

Egged on by social media debates, the people were expecting him to own up 'moral responsibility' or 'dhaarmeeka poruppu' in Tamil, for the tragedy.

Instead, he taunted 'CM Sir', a reference to Chief Minister M K Stalin -- whose political experience is as old as his age, 51 years -- and asked him to spare his cadres and 'do whatever you want with me'.

To the people of Tamil Nadu, such unconventional addressing of the CM and a senior politician -- it used to be 'Stalin Uncle'/'CM Uncle' earlier -- was in bad taste, even earlier. Now, it's complete.

If Team Vijay thought that his fans/cadres would be impressed by his video, for asking the CM to 'do whatever you want with me, but spare my cadres', they were yet to recover from the shock, including now from their own independent neighbourhood.

The middle-of-the-road voters, who were still overawed by the increasing crowds for Vijay's weekend rallies, were unimpressed. Before the assembly elections in March-April, they might have forgotten, if not forgiven the stampede as they did in the case of the ruling DMK, vis-a-vis the 2024 Kallakurichi hooch tragedy that claimed 60 lives.

But the continued sense of insensitivity and irresponsibility has raised fresh questions about Vijay-TVK's ability to govern, if given a chance, before they were ready for the job.

If anything, the voters are also coming to believe that Vijay's choice of weekends for his rallies need not have been aimed at causing least inconvenience to the people, as claimed, but was instead aimed at capturing the daylong TV spotlight on him, for people to be hooked on to their TV sets at their homes, followed by a full week of TV talk shows and the like.

For now, three different vacation benches of the Madras high court, including one in Madurai, have declined anticipatory bail for the two TVK leaders, denied a CBI probe as the petitioners have not shown any evidence that the state police probe was biased, and also constituted a special investigation team (SIT) under north zone IG of police, Asra Garg, to take over the investigations from the Karur circle inspector -- to give it the heft it required.

The court also questioned the police on the non-filing of FIR over Vijay's caravan not stopping after pushing down some fans running into it on their bikes, and also kind of attested the FIR against Vijay's controversial billionaire aide Adhav Arjuna for threatening a 'Sri Lanka/Nepal kind of revolution in Tamil Nadu' over the Stalin government's allegedly biased approach to be police investigations.

Though Adhav Arjuna subsequently edited his social media post first, and later removed his social media post, neither the police nor the people were impressed.

They saw it as a threat to national security -- and at some point, Vijay too may be asked to explain his position in the matter, if and when he opened up to newsmen, whom he had kept at an arm's length.

Significantly, the high court directed the state government to formulate a standard operating procedure for granting permission for such political rallies.

As the government pointed out, the matter was already pending before another bench, at the instance of the TVK, which had protested that one too many conditions were being laid only for the party.

Outside the courts, TVK leaders even asked if the Stalin government had the guts to lay down similar conditions for much bigger rallies by Prime Minister Narendta Modi, for instance.

As a police veteran pointed out, in the case of the PM, there was already a standard operating procedure drawn by his security team, and all that police in the states he visited was to comply with those instructions. This applied to various other VVIPs and VIPs, including Union and state ministers, the President and governors.

IMAGE: Vijay addresses the crowds before the stampede in Karur, September 27, 2025. Photograph: ANI Video Grab

For now, based on the court's observation, the police denied permission for AIADMK chief ministerial aspirant Edappadi K Palaniswami's scheduled rally in Namakkal, asking the party's local organisers to select another venue.

Stalin has since said the state government would come up with a standard operating procedure that would become a model code for the entire country.

For now, Team Vijay can be expected to move appeals in the multiple cases they are involved in. Already, 'Bussy' Anand and Nirmal Kumar have appealed to the Supreme Court for anticipatory bail.

One political fallout is that a continuing court case, that too in the national capital, could keep avoidable media focus on the TVK and Vijay, and various media interpretations would be given to the Tamil Nadu voter on a daily basis.

Even without it all, the TVK having been put on the defensive, multiple media speculation is on over the future of the party and its electoral strategy.

Pre-stampede, Vijay had reiterated that the ruling DMK in the state was his 'political enemy' and the BJP at the Centre was the 'ideological enemy'.

Another bit of news was drowned out in the tragedy later in the day, but en route to Karur, at Namakkal on the fateful day, Vijay had gone beyond declaring that he was the TVK's chief ministerial candidate, and ran down the AIADMK, thus closing the door on EPS' alternative poll strategy sans the BJP even six months after their swearing by it.

While no one is talking about Vijay abandoning the TVK and politics, even party cadres are not sure about their electoral chances. Inside, at lower levels, the question of a safe seat for Vijay, too, is being discussed all over again.

There are also questions about the party's 'staying power' and Vijay's own continuing interest in politics, post-poll, if the TVK does not win a respectable number of seats, or at least poll a meaningful vote share.

Neither of it is a good omen.

Even without the Karur tragedy, no one except his fans-turned-cadres had expected the TVK to win the sssembly polls without a credible ally, for Vijay to become chief minister at the party's first electoral outing.

Those hopes, even if it were only wishful thinking, have now to be shelved, at least for the interim. Until Vijay comes out of his cocoon, reassesses his current strengths and weaknesses, and works on both, such speculation will be rife. And he does not seem to be moving, or at least making the right moves.

Together, the events of the past week have raised the hopes of the DMK-led INDIA bloc under Stalin, though a grey area remains over Congress leaders talking to Vijay on the night of the Karur tragedy just as they had talked to the chief minister.

But no one expects anything dramatic to evolve out of it. Also, the more the DMK feels confident about returning to power, and less the TVK and Vijay become an attractive alternative at least to threaten the party over seat-sharing, the INDIA allies in the state would know which side of their bread is buttered, and which side they might end up losing, if they tried to act over-smart.

Of course, eyebrows were raised when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke to Vijay after talking to Stalin on the fateful night. Congress insiders say it was only to give a kind of reassurance to Vijay, in the context of possible fresh attempts by the BJP at poaching the confused TVK as a poll ally, post-Karur.

Likewise, the AIADMK's EPS too should be relieved that the 'Vijay threat' to split the anti-DMK votes may have subsided, at least for the present, giving him the required time to reorient his poll strategy and campaign tactic.

IMAGE: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visits the site of the stampede in Karur. Photograph: ANI Photo

However, there is a rider. The 'loss of Vijay' means that EPS too has lost the leverage to negotiate with the AIADMK's BJP ally, first in terms of re-admitting estranged AIADMK leaders and then over seat-sharing, where the national party is more than likely to flex its muscles more than expected.

Anticipating the same, AMMK's T T V Dhinakaran, who alongside three-time AIADMK chief minister O Pannerselvam, had separately quit the NDA after the BJP projected EPS as the chief ministerial candidate next year, has begun going soft on Stalin and kind of harsh on Vijay.

Just as earlier speculation claimed that both EPS and Vijay were keeping their options still open, with the possibility of the former splitting ranks with the BJP -- rather courageously, despite possible pressures from central agencies -- there were also claims about TVK and TTV doing business, likewise, sans EPS.

Of equal interest in the midst of it all is the BJP-led Centre despatching Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Minister of State Dr L Murugan, both Tamils, for offering condolences to the victims, just as Stalin had done the very same night, after despatching three senior ministers to work alongside, or take over from controversial former minister and local DMK boss Senthil Balaji.

In her hour-long news conference in Karur, Nirmala Sitharaman sounded conciliatory towards the state government, as befitting the occasion, leading to instant social media debates about the BJP's medium-term plan to count on the DMK's 22 Lok Sabha members if the Modi government's parliamentary majority came under threat between now and the Lok Sabha polls of 2029.

However, the BJP as a party despatched eight NDA members of Parliament on a fact-finding mission, headed by another Tamil, yesteryear movie star Hema Malini.

While she too sounded conciliatory even while claiming that there was 'something fishy', her BJP colleague Anurag Thakur, fired the first salvo by complaining about the district administration not briefing the MPs about the incident.

Charitably for the DMK, a section of the local media countered Thakur by pointing out how the district collector/magistrate had accompanied Ministers Sitharaman and Murugan, and also shared the dais with them, at the news conference.

According to them, the state administration was not duty-bound to brief political party delegations, even if it comprised only MPs.

If anything, Anurag Thakur only embarrassed the Centre when critics began recalling how the BJP had not despatched such a quick-fix team to the Hathras stampede site in UP (in 2024, when 121 people died) and the Gambhira bridge-collapse in Gujarat (July 2025, with 22 dead), apart from Manipur, which has been burning for two long years.

As they pointed out, all three states had BJP governments.

IMAGE: An eight-member committee of National Democratic Alliance MPs, led by Mathura MP Hema Malini, at the Karur stampede site. Photograph: ANI Photo

Post-tragedy, the DMK's Stalin has continued with his tirade against the BJP Centre, on federal issues and 'Tamil identity'. While the party has this vote-bank already on its side, the Karur tragedy has shifted poll gears, to focus on administrative capabilities, where again he has scored but is taking the campaign focus away from it.

From now on, the political focus will also be on the SIT investigation, including possibly with the conduct of the CRPF personnel attached to Vijay under the Centre's Y-category, sanctioned in February.

At the time, critics of the BJP and Vijay called it a political favour by the Centre, to woo the latter. Now after Karur, questions arise about the presence or absence of the CRPF's personal security officer assigned to Vijay under the Y-Category security, and the perimeter security whenever he travelled.

Going by video footage on Vijay's multiple outings, whether on political work or film shooting since the CRPF was deployed, no uniformed PSO was seen by his side. This raises avoidable questions, and possible embarrassment, it would seem.

In the midst of it all, Vijay fans and fans-turned-cadres are setting their sights on January 9, when his next, and possibly last film, Jana Nayagan, or, 'People's Hero', is scheduled for a world-wide release.

Vijay, who is among the highest-paid film stars in the country, plays a good cop one more time, again with a personal touch of virtue combining with valour and possibly a lot of violence as in his earlier movies.

A box-office success, it is now hoped, will help divert people's attention away from Karur.

The other argument is that Karur could still impact Jana Nayagan's box-office success if Vijay and the TVK do not get their act together, here and now -- and demonstrate that they are serious players in politics, responsible and accountable for their acts of commission and omission, and are much more than a film star and his fans.

N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and author, is a Chennai-based policy analyst and political commentator.
'The current Election Commission functions more like a government department than an autonomous body.'

IMAGE: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, flanked by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, left, and Vivek Joshi at a media interaction in Patna, October 5, 2025, on the coming assembly elections in Bihar. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo

Even before Rahul Gandhi started his vociferous campaign against 'vote chori', quite a few independent voices raised their voices against the alleged irregularities in the 2024 Lok Sabha election and assembly elections in some states.

One such voice was that of political economist Parakala Prabhakar who has been very critical of the way the Election Commission of India conducts recent elections.

He had told Rediff in December 2024, "The entire process tells me the Election Commission has proved to be partial."

"This (Election Commission) is THE MOST partial," Mr. Prabhakar asserts in the current interview.

"How can you trust the mandate when the body that conducts the elections is perceived as not impartial, transparent and accountable?", Parakala Prabhakar asks Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier.

IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah being felicitated by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo

When we spoke last year, you had said the Election Commission's conduct was not transparent and that it refused to be accountable.

Any responsible, accountable body, especially a Constitutional body which is supposed to be autonomous, independent and impartial, should sit up and take note of the allegations, apprehensions, suspicions and doubts raised.

Raised even by citizens?

Yes. It was not only me as a citizen, but many citizens groups have been raising doubts and suspicions, and asking questions.

We have been raising questions and whether those questions amount to suspicions, allegations or charges is a different matter. But there are questions.

Any responsible, impartial, autonomous body should first of all say, let us probe them, let us examine them and let us find out whether there is any grain of truth in what you are apprehending.

Instead, they are casting aspersions on those people who are asking questions. They are asking them to submit affidavits and trying to cast doubts on their patriotism, their loyalty to the Constitution, etc.

This is a very evasive kind of attitude. This does not behold an autonomous, impartial referee kind of a body.

They have to get to the bottom of the suspicions or questions and find out what the truth is and what the untruth is.

When people like us raised questions, they didn't even bother to answer them.

When a responsible person like the Leader of the Opposition raised the questions in a press conference, the EC started reacting to it even when the press conference was in progress.

Why didn't they wait till it was over and take time to probe and then say, they are unfounded or misleading?

IMAGE: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi adresses a press conference in New Delhi, September 18, 2025. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

Rahul Gandhi said the Election Commission was acting like an agent of the BJP.

I met a person on a flight who had been following my writings and talks. He asked me, 'Are you still considering the Election Commission of India as an autonomous body?'

He then said, 'See, the BJP has different morchas like the Yuva Morcha, Mahila Morcha, kisan Morcha, etc. Similarly, they have an Election Morcha too!'

I also would say the Election Commission of India has become the Election Morcha of the BJP.

If you look at the Lokniti-CDS poll conducted in six states, it found that overall, 21.7% of the people interviewed felt the Election Commission of India was completely under pressure from the government.

And the percentage of people who said they did not trust the Election Commission of India rose from 11% in 2019 to 31% now.

In UP, it rose from 11% to 31%. In Kerala, it rose from 10% to 24%. In Madhya Pradesh, it rose from 6% to 22%.

In 2001 when the Election Commission of India was celebrating its golden jubilee, the then President K R Narayanan said in his speech that the credibility of the Election Commission was much higher than that of even the judiciary!

So, from that situation to more than 20% of the people losing trust in the Election Commission...

It is a tremendous nosedive. This is a very well-earned mistrust of the Election Commission of India by the public.

The way they conduct themselves, the way they are so opaque, the way they are so unaccountable, it justifies people's lack of trust and confidence in the body.

Is it not dangerous in a democracy for people to lose trust in the body that conducts elections?

It is dangerous. And then it hollows out democracy.

How can you trust the mandate when the body that conducts the elections is perceived as not impartial, transparent and accountable?

Then the mandate becomes suspicious.

The mandate becomes doubtful.

People have reasons to think that the mandate is fixed in favour of the ruling party.

You said the government should go as the voters list also is faulty...

What I feel is, with a clean voters list, voters elect a government.

Now, with SIR and the kind of inexplicable and unjustified deletions, it looks like the government is electing the voters.

So, instead of electors selecting the government, it is the government that is selecting the voters.

IMAGE: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar addresses a press conference on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo

Rahul Gandhi called the introduction of SIR in Bihar just before the assembly election a conspiracy to steal one more state. Do you feel that way?

My suspicions are only strengthened by the way the Election Commission is conducting itself.

It is further strengthened by the press conference addressed by the Chief Election Commissioner. No answers were forthcoming. Instead, you heard platitudes and generalities.

For example, you see pictures of women queuing up to vote in the press releases of the Election Commission. But when we ask for videos, they talk about privacy. Isn't that contradictory?

The EC says that SIR will be introduced nationally from October onwards...

If somebody says that the voters list needs to be cleaned, we have no objection. We want a clean voters list.

But you need to first of all, make it transparent and simple.

For the first time, the Election Commission has put the burden on the voter to prove his or her identity. This has never happened before.

It is the Election Commission's responsibility to enrol the voters. But today, it is the other way round.

And the kind of documentation the Election Commission is asking, is absolutely irrational and impractical.

It looks as though it is designed to eliminate people rather than enrol people.

Look at the adamant refusal of the Election Commission to divulge the names of those people whose names were deleted.

It repeatedly refused, and even to the Supreme Court, it refused. Only after the Supreme Court was very insistent that they published the list.

But between the Supreme Court's insistence and the publication of the list, the Election Commission went on putting out stories to 'sources' that a lot of foreigners and infiltrators were deleted. But they refused to divulge the names.

Once the Supreme Court put its foot down, the names were published.

And there was not a single case of infiltrator deleted.

So, what was all those 'sources' talking about?

What was the drama of the Election Commission cleaning up the voters list?

Then, there were so many irregularities of 20,30,50 people residing in one address.

A lot of people had asked for the report of the study that recommended the intensive revision but nothing has been shown. One wonders whether there was a study or not.

Why is the Election Commission hiding these things?

Do you feel this is one of the most partial Election Commissions in memory?

This is THE MOST partial.

Photograph: ANI Photo

You spoke about the survey that found the trust people had in the Election Commission going down...

The point is, this Election Commission should go.

The way it is constituted also should change.

You cannot have a selection committee which is 2:1 majority for the ruling party.

It is now in a sense, a government department rather than an autonomous body.

Let's not jump to the conclusion that a government appointee will necessarily be partial.

Please recall what T N Seshan said after he took up the position as the chief election commissioner. He was appointed by the Government of India.

He said, 'I am not answerable to the government of the day. I am not a government department'.

It is the Election Commission of India and not the Election Commission of the Government of India. There is a distinction.

He, very, very aggressively asserted the independence and autonomy of the Election Commission of India.

Sadly, the present set of people who are sitting in the Election Commission fail to do that.

Do you think India misses a person like T N Seshan?

Of course, yes. Because he had set a very high standard for the Election Commission.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
Voting for assembly bypolls in eight constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, Jharkhand, Mizoram, Punjab, Telangana and Rajasthan will be held on November 11, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar announced on Monday.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

The counting of votes will be done on November 14.

"The assembly bypolls in J-K, Odisha, Jharkhand, Mizoram, Punjab, Telangana and Rajasthan will be held on November 11; the counting of votes will be done on November 14," Kumar said at a press conference in New Delhi.

Two assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir -- Budgam and Nagrota -- have been vacant since October 2024.

Budgam was rendered vacant immediately after the 2024 assembly elections when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chose to retain the Ganderbal constituency. The seat has been vacant since October 21, 2024.

Nagrota, on the other hand, fell vacant on October 31, 2024, after the death of MLA Devender Singh Rana.

The bypoll in Rajasthan's Anta was necessitated after BJP MLA Kanwarlal was disqualified in May after being convicted in a gun threat case.

In Telangana's Jubilee Hill constituency, the bypoll was necessitated following the death of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath in June this year following a heart attack.

The Dampa assembly seat in Mizoram fell vacant after the death of incumbent MNF legislator Lalrintluanga Sailo on July 21.

The byelection to the Nuapada assembly constituency in Odisha was necessitated due to the death of sitting MLA Rajendra Dholakia on September 8 due to health-related issues.

In Jharkhand's Ghatsila constituency, the bypoll is being held after the seat fell vacant following the death of Ramdas Soren.

The Tarn Taran assembly seat in Punjab also fell vacant after the death of Kashmir Singh Sohal.
The chief education officer (CEO) of the Baramulla district was removed from his post on Monday, two days after he directed the teaching and non-teaching staff to refrain from criticising government policies on social media.

Image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

The CEO of Bandipora district has been given additional charge of Baramulla till further orders.

"Pending inquiry, Bashir Ahmad Shah, in charge CEO Baramulla, is hereby attached with the Directorate of School Education Kashmir with immediate effect," an order issued by the administrative secretary of the School Education Department read.

In a circular issued on Saturday, Shah had directed all the employees of the School Education Department in the district to strictly adhere to guidelines and refrain from posting inappropriate content and 'indulging in unwarranted debates and discussions' on social media.

The circular followed a meeting chaired by the administrative secretary of the Education Department on Friday, where, according to Shah, various instances of 'misuse' of social media platforms by teaching and non-teaching staff were discussed.

Terming it an 'interference' in the department's policy matters, he said, "The activities are purely a violation of circular instructions issued by the government in 2023."

The administrative secretary had directed all CEOs to flag any such violation without fail in order to fix responsibility, he added.

The circular warned that violations could attract disciplinary action, including censure, fine, withholding of increments or promotions, demotion, recovery from pay, premature retirement, or removal from service.

However, it clarified that employees were not barred from using social media for 'positive and constructive purposes'.

People's Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed Para had on Sunday lashed out at the government for issuing the order and called for its revocation.

'In an already numb Jammu and Kashmir, this order by the J-K govt's education dept warning teachers and govt staff against raising their voices is deeply concerning. A govt that came to power on the promise of giving people a voice is now contributing to silencing the few remaining ones in Jammu and Kashmir,' Para said in a post on X, attaching a copy of the circular.

The PDP leader said the government had earlier informed the assembly that it was drafting a new media policy to regulate digital platforms, following the 2020 New Media Policy, which was criticised by journalists and civil society for its 'authoritarian undertones'.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is simply slowing down the irreversible process of Ukraine's accession to the European Union, only time has an impact on this, and Orban will go down in history as the only prime minister who slowed down Ukraine's accession to the EU, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

"It is simply unfair to tell stories about Ukraine. Today, this is one person who thinks he has influence. Only time has an influence. The Prime Minister of Hungary, unfortunately, is now simply slowing down this process, which is not reversible. Ukraine will still be (an EU member - IF-U). And the Hungarian prime minister will go down in history as the only one who slowed down Ukraine's accession to the EU," Zelenskyy said during a press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof on Monday.
The verdict will also be seen as a referendum on the Election Commission's SIR of electoral rolls in the state, an exercise which drew an energetic protest campaign from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and backing from several regional satraps aligned with the main opposition party

IMAGE: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar greets people after inaugurating the Patna Metro rail service, the first phase from ISBT to Bhootnath, in Patna, October 6, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Bihar elections are likely to settle the debate on whether the Opposition has finally found a potent political plank in its protest against Special Intensive Revision or it will be another non-starter for the alliance, as the ruling National Democratic Alliance looks to maintain its firm grip on a state which has stood by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar since 2005.

However, questions about his health have persisted and a popular verdict will clear the air on whether the Janata Dal-United president continues to endure as the talismanic helmsman in the state's electoral battle or Tejashwi Yadav as the de facto face of the Opposition can trump the chief minister, a feat that eluded his charismatic father, Lalu Prasad Yadav.

Kumar leads a coalition, which includes a Bharatiya Janata Party more formidable than ever in the state, with a proven numerical advantage over the Rashtriya Janata Dal-led combine that has the Congress and the Left as allies.

The two alliances -- the NDA and Mahagathbandhan -- have fortified their coalitions with new allies for the assembly election in which poll strategist-turned politician Prashant Kishor has emerged as the X factor with his assiduous campaign projecting his Jan Suraaj Party as an alternative to the traditional alliances.

The verdict will also be seen as a referendum on the Election Commission's Special Intensive Review of electoral rolls in the state, an exercise which drew an energetic protest campaign from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and backing from several regional satraps aligned with the main opposition party.

Whether the campaign against SIR, which the EC plans to roll out across the country, will be a boost to the Opposition or turn out to be a futile exercise unsupported by popular opinion, as believed by the ruling alliance, will be decided by the polls.

Gandhi had led a two-week-long "Voter Adhikar Yatra" in the state between August 17 and September 1, but the jury remains out if his charges against the EC of "vote chori" in alleged collusion with the ruling alliance have found an echo outside the Opposition's support base.

The BJP-led NDA has maintained that the SIR is aimed at weeding out infiltrators, and the Opposition's campaign against it is driven by vote bank politics.

The assembly election in Bihar will be held in two phases, polling for which will be held on November 6 and 11, while the counting of votes will be on November 14, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced earlier on Monday.

The RJD is the principal force in the Opposition and the BJP is seen to have emerged as the strongest NDA constituent in Bihar ahead of the Janata Dal-United, but both coalitions are beset with their own challenges.

Despite enjoying solid support from two biggest voting blocs, Muslims and Yadavs, the RJD-led coalition has been unable to draw enough support from other communities to turn the tide, with the BJP-JD-U coalition being successful in reminding them of the perceived misrule during the RJD's government between 1990 and 2005 and the "good governance" of Kumar since to ensure continued popular support for him.

Except in 2015, when Kumar had joined hands with Lalu Prasad Yadav-led RJD, he has fought all assembly polls as part of the NDA.

Tejashwi Yadav has been trying to expand his coalition's social footprint, and the alliance is likely to give poll tickets to a large number of candidates from Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), which hold the balance of power and have more often than not backed the NDA, to ensure his party's return to power as the head of an alliance after 20 years.

A large chunk of the EBCs and numerically weaker Scheduled Castes have been central to Kumar's rise, besides Kushwahas and Kurmis -- two of the most numerous Other Backward Classes after Yadavs. He himself hails from the Kurmi caste.

However, NDA leaders are confident that their winning social alliance will remain intact and are hopeful that a bevy of development projects and welfare measures centred on youths and women, including Rs 10,000 cash transfer to nearly one crore women, will keep popular support on their side.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's enduring appeal and Kumar's longstanding goodwill despite some erosion are being seen as other factors favouring their coalition.

Critics have claimed that Kumar is serving his last days as chief minister and the BJP will not continue with him at the helm even if the NDA were to win, prompting several BJP leaders to assert that he will be heading their next government as well.

In a state dominated by two political alliances for close to three decades, Kishor has woven a political idiom centred largely around substantive issues and alleged failures of dominant parties but without any attempt to build a social coalition around castes, a rite of passage for almost every successful political party.

His sharp takes, especially on alleged corruption of some NDA leaders, the groundwork for over three years and track record as a successful poll strategist have garnered him and his Jan Suraaj Party a limelight that will be the envy of his more accomplished rivals in the electoral arena.

It, however, remains to be seen if that proves enough to earn his fledgling outfit enough popular legitimacy in an already fractured political field crowded with numerous satraps.

Union minister Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), which had walked out of the NDA in the 2020 assembly polls and successfully damaged the JD-U's prospects in nearly three dozen seats, is now part of the ruling alliance, and so is former minister Upendra Kushwaha.

Kushwaha was heading another front that included Mayawati's BSP and Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM.

The NDA had pipped the RJD-Left-Congress combine to a majority in the 243-member assembly in 2020, with 125 seats against the rival's 110. Closer still was the vote gap as the NDA bagged 37.26 percent votes against the mahagathbandhan's 37.23 percent.

Former minister Mukesh Sahni was with the NDA in 2020 but is now with the RJD, while Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has remained in the ruling alliance.

The combination of the two main alliances was the same in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in which the NDA had won 30 of the 40 seats and the Opposition 10, including independent Pappu Yadav.

The strength of NDA's social coalition ensured that despite suffering a decline from the 39 seats it had won in the 2019 national elections, it still maintained a big lead over the rival INDIA bloc, which had upset its apple cart in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.
A day after torrential rains wreaked havoc in large parts of north Bengal leaving a death toll of 28 in its wake so far, politics acquired centre stage after Bharatiya Janata Party MP Khagen Murmu and MLA Sankar Ghosh were injured in a mob attack during their visit to the flood and landslide-hit Nagrakata area of Jalpaiguri district.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: Screen grab/X

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who rushed to the flood-hit areas on Monday to review ground situation and oversee relief and rescue operations, appealed for restraint and unity, and urged people not to indulge in "any untoward incident" amid the ongoing crisis.

Banerjee called the floods and the ensuing destruction "man-made", and blamed the DVC for "unrestricted" release of water, resulting in overflowing rivers in the southern parts of the state.

The chief minister announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of those who died in the floods and landslides, besides offering a job of home guard to one member of the bereaved families. She distributed compensation cheques to the victims' family members after reaching relief camps in Jalpaiguri.

Governor CV Ananda Bose, too, visited the flood-ravaged areas of Mirik in the Darjeeling hills.

While BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya - accompanied by party MPs Manoj Tigga and Jayanta Roy - reached out to the flood affected people in Banarhat area of Jalpaiguri district, his party's Darjeeling MP Raju Bista moved around in the badly-affected Mirik overseeing camps and distributing relief materials.

But the attack on BJP leaders in Nagrakata triggered a political storm after Shankar Ghosh shared on social media a video of Khagen Murmu, profusely bleeding from his face and nose, before being rushed to a hospital, claiming that they were roughed up and their vehicle vandalised by locals.

PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.

Ghosh, the BJP MLA from Siliguri, said they had to leave the place soon after the incident to take the Malda Uttar MP to the hospital.

Murmu was given initial medical aid and later taken to Siliguri for further treatment, he said.

Ghosh, the party's chief whip in the assembly, claimed in the video that the locals "kicked and punched us, and thereafter, started throwing stones at us, causing severe injury to Khagen da".

Blaming the ruling party for the attack, the BJP alleged that "TMC's jungle raj was prevailing in West Bengal".

"Murmu was attacked by TMC goons while on his way to Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri's Dooars region to help with relief and rescue efforts after devastating rains, floods, and landslides," BJP's co-incharge for West Bengal, Amit Malviya, said in a post on X.

"While Mamata Banerjee dances at her Carnival, the TMC and state administration are missing in action. Those actually helping the people, BJP leaders and karyakartas, are being attacked for doing relief work. This is TMC's Bengal, where cruelty rules and compassion is punished," he alleged.

Union minister of state Sukanta Majumdar claimed that Murmu and Ghosh were "brutally attacked in the presence of the Mamata-police".

People will never forget this "cowardice and shamelessness," the ex-BJP state president wrote on X.

"Failed Chief Minister Smt. Mamata Banerjee, who, even after receiving news yesterday of the catastrophic devastation in North Bengal and the tragic loss of many lives, was seen celebrating on the Carnival stage at Red Road, has clearly shown how fearful she has become of the BJP West Bengal workers and leaders," Majumdar asserted.

Reacting to the allegations, Udayan Guha, North Bengal Development minister, said, "whatever happened today is BJP's own doing".

"We do not support any form of violence, but at a time when people are affected badly, BJP leaders with a convoy of 10-plus cars went only for photo-ops and without any relief materials. Locals got agitated and started the attack. It is the result of BJP's misdeeds. You deprive people first and later visit there for photo-ops when they are suffering," he said.

TMC spokesperson Krishanu Mitra questioned why, instead of the local BJP MP and MLA, the area visit was done by the party's representatives from distant areas.

"Is this a means to keep them in the media limelight or is it a political strategy to bypass the importance of the party's local representatives? Is there an internal factional feud at work here?" Mitra asked on social media.

In a post after the attack, the CM appealed for calm and urged people to "avoid rumours and cooperate with those around."

"My earnest appeal, many people have suffered serious losses in this disaster. We deeply empathise with their pain. Yet, even in this difficult time, we must remember that unity and patience are our greatest strength," Banerjee wrote without naming anyone.

"Any untoward incident at this time is undesirable. Together, we will overcome this crisis," she added.

Stating that he had "no comments" on the alleged attack, the governor said he would prepare a report based on his stock-taking experience of the disaster and submit it to the state and the Centre.

Several tea estates in Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri districts were severely hit by the incessant rain, flooding and landslides, causing extensive crop damage, infrastructure loss, and disruption to thousands of workers, Tea Association of India's North Bengal branch secretary Sumit Ghosh said.
A man who complained about his mobile phone being snatched in Outer Delhi's Nangloi area was found to have cooked up the story to escape his wife's anger after losing it in a drunken state, police said on Monday.

Image used only for representational purposes. Photograph: Pixabay.com

The incident came to light after a detailed investigation and CCTV analysis.

On August 31, a PCR call was received at the Nangloi Police Station regarding a snatching near Agarwal Tent House in Rajendra Park Extension. The caller, Ashok Kaushik, alleged that a biker had snatched his mobile phone and sped away, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Sachin Sharma said.

Kaushik appeared to be under the influence of alcohol at the time he complained, police said.

All the same, an FIR was filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and an investigation was launched.

CCTV footage from multiple nearby cameras was scanned, but no incident of snatching was observed.

"During the review of footage, a local man, Sabar Singh, was traced and questioned. He disclosed that the complainant had approached him to borrow his phone, but he refused since Kaushik was drunk. Following a brief argument, he left the spot," the DCP added.

When confronted with the footage, Kaushik admitted that he had fabricated the story after he lost his phone under the influence of alcohol, and concocted a robbery story to escape his wife's wrath.

His statement was later recorded before a judicial magistrate at the Tis Hazari Court, where he confirmed that no snatching had taken place, police said.
United States President Donald Trump has warned Hamas of 'complete obliteration' if the group insists on taking control over Gaza and blocks progress on his proposed ceasefire deal, CNN reported.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

According to CNN, Trump was responding to questions on his 20-point ceasefire plan when he made the remark.

When asked directly over text message what would happen if Hamas insisted on staying in power, Trump said, "Complete Obliteration!"

This comes as high-stakes negotiations between Israel and Hamas are set to take place on Monday in Egypt.

Trump sent his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and top West Asia negotiator Steve Witkoff to Cairo to lead US efforts, while a delegation from Israel is also in Egypt to finish negotiations

On being further pressed on Senator Lindsey Graham's claim that Hamas had already rejected the plan by refusing to disarm, seeking full Palestinian control of Gaza, and tying hostage release to broader negotiations, Trump said, "We will find out. Only time will tell!"

Earlier this week, the President said Israel had agreed to the first withdrawal line under his ceasefire proposal.

The plan, he said, includes a phased Israeli pullback, a hostage-prisoner exchange, and the disarmament of Hamas.

Trump added that his administration is now awaiting Hamas's confirmation, which would trigger an 'immediate' ceasefire.

'After negotiations, Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, which we have shown to, and shared with, Hamas,' Trump wrote on Truth Social.

'When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal, which will bring us close to the end of this 3,000 YEAR CATASTROPHE.'

Asked if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was aligned with the plan, Trump added, "Yes on Bibi."

On Saturday, the president also said Israel had temporarily halted its strikes on Gaza, describing it as a critical step toward finalising the agreement.

Al Jazeera reported that at least 70 Palestinians were killed in Israeli air strikes the same day, including seven children between two months and eight years old.

The strikes came soon after Trump urged Israel to 'immediately stop bombing' Gaza after Hamas gave a positive initial response to his peace plan.

In a video posted on Truth Social on Friday, Trump described Hamas's response as 'a big day' and called the developments 'unprecedented'.
In a shocking security breach, a 71-year-old lawyer allegedly attempted to hurl a shoe towards Chief Justice of India BR Gavai in his courtroom in the Supreme Court on Monday, prompting the Bar Council of India to suspend his licence with immediate effect.

IMAGE: Chief Justice of India Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai. Photograph: ANI Photo

The CJI, who remained unfazed during and after the unprecedented incident during the court proceedings, asked the court officials and the security personnel present inside the courtroom to 'just ignore' it and to let off the errant lawyer identified as Rakesh Kishore with a warning.

"Don't get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me," the CJI, who was sitting on the bench with Justice K Vinod Chandran, told lawyers and continued hearing the mentioning of cases.

Bar bodies, SCBA and SCAORA, and lawyers including Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and political parties strongly condemned the incident as "an attack on the Constitution and the institution as a whole".

The police said Kishore was aged 71.

Kishore, a resident of Mayur Vihar in East Delhi, was questioned for three hours by Delhi police officials inside the apex court premises and was later allowed to go at 2 PM as no formal complaint was lodged.

Police also returned his shoes to him.

Police sources said a note, containing the slogan Sanatan dharma ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan (India will not tolerate insults to Sanatan Dharma), was recovered by the police from his possession.

"We also found that he was carrying a card of the Supreme Court Bar Association, and the Shahdara Bar Association. While questioning Kishore, the team asked him about his motive for his act. The advocate has claimed that he was unhappy with the CJI's remarks during a recent hearing of a plea seeking the restoration of a Lord Vishnu idol in the Khajuraho Temple complex in Madhya Pradesh," the sources said.

According to lawyers, the incident occurred when the CJI-led bench was hearing the mentioning of cases by lawyers.

Kishore approached the dais on a raised platform, removed his shoe and tried to throw it towards the judges.

Alert security personnel present inside the courtroom immediately intervened and foiled an apparent attack.

The lawyer was swiftly escorted out of the court premises. As he was being taken away, the lawyer was heard shouting, "Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge" (will not tolerate insults to Sanatan Dharma).

Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, in a statement, said it is not just an attack on the CJI but on our Constitution and no words are enough to condemn such an act.

"No words are adequate to condemn the attack on the Honourable Chief Justice of India in the Supreme Court itself. It is an assault not just on him but on our Constitution as well. Chief Justice Gavai has been very gracious but the nation must stand in solidarity with him unitedly with a deep sense of anguish and outrage," she said.

"An attempt to attack the Hon'ble Chief Justice of India in the Supreme Court today is unprecedented, shameful and abhorrent. It is an attack on the dignity of our Judiciary and the rule of law," Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post on X.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta described the act as "unfortunate and condemnable", calling it a result of misinformation and an attempt at cheap publicity.

"Today's incident in the chief justice's court is unfortunate and deserves condemnation. This is the result of misinformation in social media. It is really heartening that the chief justice of India reacted with magnanimity.... I only hope that this magnanimity is not treated by others as the weakness of the institution," the top law officer said.

Senior advocate Indira Jaising termed the episode "an attack on the institution as a whole".

"I am not an eyewitness to the incident. What I know, I know from what the press has reported. It calls for investigation. I consider it to be an attack on the institution as a whole, not just the chief justice," she said.

The Supreme Court Bar Association(SCBA) expressed its 'profound shock, outrage, and unequivocal condemnation' over what it termed a 'reprehensible act' committed by an advocate inside CJI's courtroom.

In a strongly worded resolution passed unanimously, the SCBA described the advocate's conduct as 'utterly unbecoming of an officer of the Court' and said it 'strikes at the very foundation of mutual respect that underpins the relationship between the Bench and the Bar.'

The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association(SCAORA) described the incident as a "disrespectful and intemperate gesture" by an advocate.

The Bar Council of India(BCI) swung into action and swiftly ordered immediate suspension of Rakesh Kishore.

Issuing the interim suspension order, BCI chairperson and senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra said the advocate's act was 'prima facie inconsistent with the dignity of the court' and in clear violation of the professional conduct rules prescribed under the Advocates Act, 1961 and Bar Council of India Rules.

"On the basis of prima facie material, it appears that at about 11.35 am on 6 October 2025, in Court No. 1 of the Supreme Court of India, you i.e. Advocate Rakesh Kishore, enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi vide enrolment nos..., removed your sports shoes and attempted to hurl them towards the Hon'ble Chief Justice of India during ongoing proceedings, whereupon you were detained by security," the BCI said.

According to sources, the incident could be linked to the lawyer's unhappiness over the CJI's remarks during a hearing last month concerning the restoration of a Vishnu idol in Khajuraho.

A bench headed by the CJI had dismissed the plea seeking directions to reconstruct and reinstall a seven-foot idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari temple, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Khajuraho temple complex in Madhya Pradesh.

Terming the plea a "publicity interest litigation", the CJI had said, "This is purely publicity interest litigation.... Go and ask the deity himself to do something. If you are saying that you are a strong devotee of Lord Vishnu, then you pray and do some meditation."

Taking note of the online criticism of his comments, the CJI later said he respects "all religions".
The Lingayat community, led by several of its seers in Bengaluru, has renewed its call for a separate religion status.

IMAGE: Lingayat community members meet Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to submit a memorandum, at his Kaveri residence in Bengaluru. Image used only for representation. Photograph: ANI Photo

The demand came at the valedictory function of 'Basava Culture Campaign-2025' organised by 'Lingayat Matadeeshara Okkoota'.

Among the five resolutions adopted at the function on Sunday are raising awareness about religious recognition for Lingayats.

'All Lingayats are Indians first. Lingayat religion is the religion of Kannada. Country comes before religion. Always strive for the unity of the country with national consciousness,' said the resolution.

Noting that Lingayat religion is the greatest religion founded by Mahatma Basaveshwara and other Sharanas in the 12th century, it said, 'Geographically, we are all Hindus. Continue to raise awareness for religious recognition so that Lingayats get government benefits and reservation facilities like Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs.'

Claiming that Lingayat religion is the true religion of equality, brotherhood, and human values, it said, 'We should all embrace the small, backward sub-castes among the Lingayats, strive for their progress, abandon all the differences between sub-castes, and develop marital relations between the sub-castes.'

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Ministers M B Patil, Sharan Prakash Patil, Laxmi Hebbalkar among others participated in the valedictory event.

Separate religion status issue is largely believed to have cost Congress party dear in the 2018 assembly polls.

The then Siddaramaiah-led Congress government's decision to recommend to the Centre to accord 'religious minority' status to the Lingayat community had resulted in electoral losses for the party in the polls.

Along with Congress facing losses in the Lingayat-dominated constituencies, most of its leaders who were actively involved in the 'separate Lingayat religion' movement then suffered defeat.

The move was also seen as an attempt to divide the community itself, as a section expressed resentment over projecting Veerashaivas and Lingayats as the same.

While one section led by Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha had demanded separate religion status, asserting that Veerashaiva and Lingayats are the same, the other group wanted it only for Lingayats as they believe that Veerashaiva is one among the seven sects of Shaivas, which is part of Hinduism.

The division was visible on Sunday too, as community leaders from Bharatiya Janata Party stayed away from the event. Also, ministers and leaders who are associated with the Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha and its office-bearers kept away.
Eight people were arrested on Monday in connection with the violence in Odisha's Cuttack, where a 12-hour bandh was underway amid heavy security deployment with prohibitory orders in place, officials said.

IMAGE: Police use tear gas to disperse people after a clash between two groups following the incident of stone pelting and a clash between them during Durga Puja immersion late night on October 04, in Cuttack on Sunday. Photograph: ANI Video Grab

Speaking to reporters, Commissioner of Police S Dev Datta Singh said three cases were registered and eight people were arrested in connection with Sunday's attack on police by Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists.

"The situation is under control," he said.

Senior police officer Amarenda Panda and Cuttack DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo were among the 25 people injured in the attack. Panda was admitted to the ICU of the SCB Medical College and Hospital, officials said.

Police said raids were continuing in different parts of the city after some of the "mischief mongers" were identified through CCTV footage.

Clashes broke out in the early hours of Saturday near Haathi Pokhari in the Daraghabazar area as locals objected to loud music being played in immersion processions. What started as an argument soon escalated, leading to the hurling of stones and glass bottles.

Six people, including Dnyandeo, were injured in the clashes.

Alleging that the police failed to stop the attack on the processions, the Vishva Hindu Parishad called a 12-hour bandh on Monday.

On Sunday, a motorcycle rally by VHP activists in support of the bandh was stopped by the police when they reached the trouble-torn area, leading to a fresh bout of violence. The VHP activists hurled stones at the police, who used lathi charge, tear gas shells and rubber bullets to bring the situation under control.

Several shops in the Gourishankar Park area were allegedly set on fire during the violence.

The bandh, which began at 6 am, evoked a mixed response but remained incident-free.

Government offices and educational institutions were functioning with thin attendance. Markets and petrol pumps remained open, and public transport was available on the road, but less than usual due to the slew of restrictions imposed by the police.

ACP Narasingha Bhol said 1,800 personnel of the state police have been deployed along with around 800 personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and Odisha Swift Action Force in the city.

Police patrols are continuing in sensitive areas, he said, adding that restrictions have also been imposed on entry into the city.

"People from outside are not allowed entry into Cuttack city, except those working here and patients travelling to the SCB Medical College and Hospital. Passenger buses are being stopped at the entry points. All the entry points of the city have been blocked to keep a check on the movement of anti-social elements," he said.

ADG (Law and Order) Sanjay Kumar said that there was no report of any untoward incident, with all agencies on high alert.

He said senior officers are monitoring the situation on the field, and directions have been issued for taking prompt action against anyone found taking the law into their hands.

The prohibitory orders were imposed for 36 hours till 10 am on Tuesday in 13 of the 20 police station areas of the city, officials said.

Internet services were also suspended for 24 hours from 7 pm on Sunday to prevent a flare-up, they said.

In a statement, the Odisha Police urged the people to verify information before sharing it on social media and to refrain from posting false and inflammatory content.

"Some individuals are creating an atmosphere of unrest in society by creating and spreading fake news. Strict action will be taken against those who are spreading and circulating false or misleading information," it said.
IMAGE: Sergio Gor and Jeanine Pirro at the MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on Saturday, October 4, 2025, night, here and below. Photographs: Kind courtesy Politico

Guess who was spotted rolling the dice at the casino at the MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino in Oxon Hill, Maryland?

Sergio Gor, President Donald John Trump's nominee to be the United States ambassador to India.

Accompanying Gor at the tables on Saturday night was his buddy Jeanine Pirro, currently the United States attorney for the District of Columbia.

When Trump named Gor as his envoy to New Delhi, Pirro -- who has been a television host and lawyer in earlier avatars -- posted this on Instagram: 'Congrats to my dear friend, Sergio Gor, on his nomination by President Trump to be Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. He has earned the respect, the trust and the friendship of so many in the Trump Administration. I will miss him. I will especially miss beating him at cards.'

At his confirmation hearing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last month, Gor underlined that Trump has a 'deep friendship' with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, PTI had reported.

'If you have noticed, when he has gone after other nations, he tends to go after their leaders for putting us in that position, and for the US imposing those tariffs. When the President has been critical of India, he has gone out of his way to compliment PM Modi,' Gor told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

'They have an incredible relationship,' Gor added.

Gor is expected to be in New Delhi in a few weeks and present his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu, likely before his 39th birthday on November 30.

He will be the youngest US ambassador to India, and it will be interesting to watch how the mandarins at the ministry of external affairs engage with him.
With the Election Commission announcing the schedule for Bihar assembly elections, the stage is set for a direct contest between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition INDIA bloc.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar share a light moment during a public meeting in Purnea, Bihar, September 15, 2025. Photograph: DPR PMO/ANI Photo

While the NDA, under the leadership of Janata Dal-United chief and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, seeks another term in office, the INDIA bloc -- comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and other Opposition parties -- is aiming to unseat the ruling coalition.

Political observers say the NDA, with Kumar as its de facto chief ministerial face, holds a number of advantages.

Kumar, the longest-serving CM in Bihar, is one of the most influential political figures in the state, having maintained power for nearly two decades, largely due to a series of welfare schemes like 125 units of free electricity for domestic consumers, supply of potable water in rural areas and one crore jobs and employment opportunities in next five years.

As the state heads into the polls, here is a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the NDA under Nitish Kumar.

STRENGTHS:

Leadership of Nitish Kumar, an engineer-turned-politician and the state's longest-serving chief minister, widely known for his focus on "sushasan" (good governance).

Popular welfare schemes including enhanced social security pensions, financial aid of Rs 10,000 each to 75 lakh women, and infrastructure development projects.

Organised cadre base of BJP and JD(U), including support from RSS affiliates like the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad.

Recent launch of development and infrastructure projects in the state by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

WEAKNESSES:

Two decades in power have eroded the freshness of Nitish's early years (2005-2010).

Anti-incumbency could be a factor in the upcoming election.

The BJP, despite efforts to expand its social base, is still largely perceived as a party of upper castes or forwards, a term used in Bihar for the upper castes who, according to the survey of castes held a few years ago, account for just over 10 per cent of the population.

OPPORTUNITIES:

With Nitish Kumar past his prime and his JD-U lacking a second-rung leadership worth the name, BJP can look forward to filling up the vacuum.

THREATS:
Zelenskyy: Ukraine will talk to the most active countries in PURL about the second stage of their contributions

Currently, the supply of missiles to the air defense depends on the fulfillment of the PURL program package (Priority Requirements List for Ukraine), the most active countries in this program are the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Ukraine will talk with these countries about the second stage of their contributions, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

"First of all, let's talk about air defense, Patriot and NASAMS, and the fact that we buy missiles, we get most of ours from the United States. So, everything here depends on the fulfillment of PURL... The program under which we buy air defense from the United States. There are very responsible countries here that understand the price of this launch and the price of life in Ukraine in winter. First of all, these are the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Norway," Zelenskyy said during a press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof on Monday.

"And I'll tell you honestly, we have started talking with these countries about the second stage of their contributions. Because we don't see speed from other countries. Unfortunately," the president emphasized.

In addition, he denied information about the US blocking supplies to Ukraine due to the shutdown.

Zelenskyy noted that there are also supplies of air defense systems, in particular, IRIS-T, Patriot. Ukraine receives them, but I would like to speed up this process.
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The Netherlands will contribute EUR 55 million to the World Bank to cover the costs of recovery and reforms, Prime Minister Dick Schoof said at a press conference in Kyiv.

He noted that "since 2022, the Netherlands has allocated EUR 20.6 billion to support Ukraine, of which EUR 13.6 billion is military support."

"Together with our financial and legal contributions, this shows that the Netherlands is doing everything it can to support Ukraine and the Middle East, and is working on it. In this spirit, we are announcing today that the Netherlands will contribute EUR 55 million to the World Bank. In order for the World Bank to be able to help Ukraine, it must cover the costs of recovery and reforms," Schoof added.
Russian forces struck several sites across Ukraine, including a medical facility in the northeastern city of Sumy, after Kyiv carried out a massive drone attack on Russia's Belgorod region, knocking out power to thousands of homes.

Oleh Hryhorov, the head of the Sumy regional military administration, said on October 6 that 166 people, including 11 children, were in the medical facility at the time of the attack. According to preliminary reports, there were no casualties.

Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, gave further details, saying the roof of a Perinatal Center caught fire as a result of the Russian strike.

"This was one of the most cynical and insidious attacks by the enemy in recent times, as the strike targeted a place where children are born and where staff are constantly present," Oleksiy Kliuyev, a local volunteer said in a video message from the roof of the facility in Sumy.

"Fortunately, no one was injured, as the staff and new mothers were in the basement, not ignoring the air raid warning," he added.

The northeastern city of Kharkiv came under attack by Russian drones on the evening of October 6, local authorities reported.

Oleh Synyehubov, head of the regional military administration, said fires had broken out, and units of the State Emergency Service and emergency medical teams were responding.

Mayor Ihor Terekhov said about two dozen explosions were heard within 20 minutes of the drone attack on Kharkiv.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, in the village of Lapayivka in western Ukraine, classmates of a 15-year-old Ukrainian killed a day earlier along with three family members expressed disbelief.

Anastasia Hrytsiv was killed along with three family members when their home was struck during the October 5 attack, which authorities in Kyiv described as one of the worst on western Ukraine.

Energy Facilities Targeted

Russia's Defense Ministry said it had carried out the October 6 strikes on energy infrastructure and oil facilities in 145 different areas, but it did not acknowledge the attack on the Sumy medical facility.

Russia's attacks came after Ukraine launched some 251 drones at the Russian Belgorod region, knocking out power supplies from the Luch electricity substation. The disruption also affected water supplies in some areas due to the shutdown of pumping stations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said some recent attacks by Ukraine's military on Russian infrastructure have included domestically produced missiles and drones as the country ramps up local production of weapons.

"It's important to understand that in recent days Ukraine has been using exclusively Ukrainian products [and] not just drones," he told a briefing in Kyiv on October 6.

By next year the cost of production of drones and rockets alone is expected to reach $35 billion and that over 40 percent of the weapons currently used on the front lines are made in Ukraine or by Ukraine's partners with its coproduction, he said.

Zelenskyy noted that, contrary to some media reports, supplies of US-produced weapons have not been affected by the ongoing government shutdown in Washington.

Ukraines military also targeted a key explosives factory in western Russia and an oil terminal in Russian-occupied Crimea.

According to Ukraine's General Staff, multiple explosions were reported at the Y. M. Sverdlov explosives factory, while a large fire broke out at an oil depot in Feodosia, eastern Crimea.

Ukraine has also been watching weekend elections in the Czech Republic, where billionaire populist Andrej Babis's ANO party placed first.

Babis pledged during the campaign to curb Czech support for Kyiv, including its leadership of an ammunition drive to supply Ukraine with artillery rounds.

Babis is in talks with two smaller parties to form a majority government as Czech President Petr Pavel warned of the consequences of ending the military aid program, which Babis has criticized for being overpriced and opaque.

"If we were to reduce or even end this support, we would primarily harm ourselves, but ending this support would also have a negative impact on Ukraine, if many more lost their lives," Pavel said on October 6.

In the meantime, the EU is actively discussing how to use some 210 billion euros ($245 billion) of immobilized Russian assets to help Ukraine continue its war effort.

The EU froze the funds, which are held in Euroclear securities depository in Belgium, shortly after the start of Russia's invasion in February 2022.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde told European lawmakers in Strasbourg on October 6 that any mechanism used to tap the Russian funds must "be done in accordance with international rules."

With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian and Russian services and Reuters
The European Union is set to approve new rules that would make it easier to suspend visa liberalization for third-country nationals traveling into the bloc, a measure aimed in large part at Georgia amid signs Tbilisi is drifting away from democratic reforms and back toward Moscow's sphere of influence.

The European Parliament is expected on October 7 to give its thumbs up to the new legislation and EU member states are expected to follow suit on November 17 with the new rules set to enter into force in December.

The measures will apply to all 61 countries that enjoy a visa-free regime with the club, including all the EU hopefuls in the Western Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine. But European diplomats admit that the proposed updated rules, at least partly, target another country still enjoying EU visa liberalization: Georgia.

The South Caucasus republic has been on a collision course with Brussels for a long time with Tbilisi adopting both anti-LGBT legislation and a so-called "foreign agent" law -- similar legislation has been used by the Kremlin to crack down on free speech and civil society -- last year amid heavy EU criticism.

Georgia's Controversial Parliamentary Elections

The relationship deteriorated further after parliamentary elections in October last year in which the ruling Georgian Dream party controversially clung on to power and then decided to halt accession talks while adopting what many -- including Brussels -- see as Russia-friendly policies.

The situation prompted massive demonstrations, which were put down violently by authorities. Local elections over the weekend, where Georgian Dream further cemented its grip on power, reignited demonstrations. Riot police responded with water cannons to break up what officials claim was "an attempted coup planned by foreign intelligence services."

Further demonstrations are expected in the Georgian capital on October 6.

Since the October 2024 elections, the EU has refrained from high-level political contacts and made it easier for EU member states to impose national visa restrictions for high-ranking Georgian officials.

Brussels has, however, failed to impose sanctions on high-ranking Georgian politicians as Hungary and Slovakia repeatedly have vetoed the move, which requires unanimity among the 27 member states.

The bloc has instead looked into targeting the countrys visa-free regime, in place since 2017, as this doesnt require consensus.

EU Warning To Georgia

The European Commission warned the Georgian government about this in a letter in July, asking for a number of clarifications by the end of August. Tbilisi responded but, according to several EU officials, Brussels was unimpressed with the response.

In the meantime, EU member states and the European Parliament have spent the first half of 2025 negotiating new rules to trigger the visa liberalization suspension mechanism, which may be used on Georgia later this year.

The new rules open ways to trigger the mechanism.

The reasons currently are tied mainly to classic home affairs issues such as large numbers of nationals from a country that enjoys visa-free travel overstaying the 90 days they can be in the bloc, or even using the opportunity to seek asylum in the EU.

One new ground for suspension includes a lack of alignment of a countrys visa-free regime with the EUs visa policy.

An example of this would be that a country that has visa-free travel with the EU and also has visa freedom for Russian citizens. With Brussels keen to limit the influx of Russian citizens, the new legislation would allow the EU to close a potential alternative route into the bloc.

Another new ground for suspension is if a third country runs an investor citizenship scheme, known as golden passports. Hybrid threats is a third, new criteria.

This can be something like what the EU calls state-sponsored instrumentalization of migrants -- an example being Belarus (which doesnt enjoy visa liberalization with the EU) flying in people from Asia and Africa to Belarus and then pushing them toward the borders of Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland.

But it is the fourth new reason that appears to be the one that puts Tbilisis visa liberalization in the crosshairs: a deterioration in the EUs external relations with a third country, notably when it comes to human rights and fundamental freedoms.

There are also a few other notable changes to the visa suspension rules.

Will Regular Georgians Suffer As Well?

Visa liberalization suspension is always temporary at first. In the current legislation the temporary suspension is for nine months and can be extended for a further 18 months.

In the new proposal, the initial suspension will be 12 months and the prolongation 24 months, bringing the potential total to three years. EU diplomats say this is to give extra time for the European Commission to engage with the third country to rectify any issues.

But there is another change that specifically targets Georgia.

Under the current legislation, one can limit the visa-free suspension to decision-makers such as ministers and officials in the first temporary suspension period, with it affecting a country's entire population during the prolongation period.

Under the new rules, the entire population may be unaffected during the entire three-year period, thus sparing ordinary citizens.

This is relevant for Georgia as many in Brussels are wary of hitting the population for something they feel is the responsibility of the government. Regular citizens would only be affected if their country fails to be removed from the visa-free list after the three-year period.

It is worth remembering that for a temporary suspension, the European Commission can make the decision on its own, without a vote in the European Parliament or among EU member states.

It is, however, common practice that the commission consults widely with national capitals. A qualified majority (55 percent of EU member states comprising 65 percent of the total EU population) is required to remove a countrys visa-free regime with the club.

RFE/RL has learned that as many as 19 EU member states would consider supporting at least a temporary suspension.
TBILISI -- Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze threatened anti-government activists with further arrests as tensions remained high in the Caucasus nation following a weekend of mass protests in the capital, Tbilisi.

"Several people have already been arrested. First and foremost, the organizers of the attempted overthrow," Kobakhidze told reporters on October 5 as crowds gathered again for a potential night of fresh pro-Europe protests.

"No one will go unpunished...Many more must expect sentences for the violence they carried out against the state and law-enforcement," he added.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement that "we will take appropriate measures to ensure that public order and safety are not endangered."

At least five organizers of the Tbilisi street protests on October 4 were detained by authorities, including activists Paata Burchuladze and Murtaz Zodelava.

Before his detention, Burchuladze -- a famed, 70-year-old opera star -- urged Interior Ministry employees to heed the call of the people and arrest leaders of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

Late on October 5, the Georgian State Security Service (SSS) claimed it had discovered a large supply of guns, ammunition, and explosives in a hideout outside the capital.

The SSS alleged the arms were intended to be used for "subversive acts" on October 4, the day of local elections that were assailed by international groups as being held under an atmosphere of intimidation and suppression.

Much of the opposition boycotted the vote, in which Georgian Dream claimed to have won control in every municipality that was contested.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on October 5 condemned the election process, saying it came "amid a period of extensive crackdown on dissent."

"Months of raids on independent media, the passing of laws targeting civil society, the jailing of opponents and activists or amendments to the electoral code favoring the ruling party drastically reduced the possibility of having competitive elections."

"A large part of the opposition boycotted these elections, and the turnout was relatively low," Kallas said in a statement.

"We urge calm and restraint in the post-election period and call on the authorities to uphold citizens' rights to freedom of assembly and expression," Kallas and EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said in a joint statement.

EU Accused Of Meddling

Kobakhidze accused the EU of meddling in Georgia's affairs and cited EU Ambassador Pawel Herczynski.

"You know that specific people from abroad have even expressed direct support for all this, for the announced attempt to overthrow the constitutional order," Kobakhidze was quoted by Georgian media as saying.

"In this context, the European Union ambassador to Georgia bears special responsibility. He should come out, distance himself and strictly condemn everything that is happening on the streets of Tbilisi," the prime minister added.

In their joint statement, Kallas and Kos said the EU "rejects and condemns the disinformation regarding the EUs role in Georgia and denounces the personal attacks against the ambassador of the European Union to Georgia."

The pro-Western protesters' aim was to revitalize daily demonstrations that began last year following alleged violations in parliamentary elections and a subsequent government decision to halt talks on joining the EU. The opposition also criticized what it saw as the government's growing Russia-friendly policies.

The protests have largely quieted down over recent months following earlier violent crackdowns.

Georgian Dream Drift Toward Russia

The Georgian Dream drift toward Russia, including imposition of Kremlin-style laws, has angered Georgia's former backers, the United States and the EU, leading to suspension of multiple joint initiatives.

The government has denied allegations of a crackdown on dissent and the media and has rejected claims of brutality against protesters.

Demonstrators have remained defiant, with organizers calling for continued protests. Crowds gathered on the evening of October 5, but there were no immediate reports of unrest.

Georgia's former president, Salome Zurabishvili, who has opposed the Georgian Dream party and previously led peaceful protests against its rule, said she opposed any violence and accused the government of "staging" an attack on the presidential palace on October 4 to discredit the opposition.

"Im on Rustaveli Avenue on the 310th day of peaceful protest for Georgias European future. The regimes staged 'takeover' of the Presidential Palace is a provocation. We wont fall for it -- we stand for free and fair elections and a European Georgia," she wrote on X late on October 4.

On October 5, she repeated calls for supporters to maintain pressure on the government.

"There will come a day of elections, a real fair parliamentary election, where we will indeed make a choice...I call on everyone to come out together and continue as long as it is necessary and until the end of this peaceful protest," Zurabishvili said.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters
Classmates of a 15-year-old Ukrainian killed along with three family members in the village of Lapayivka in western Ukraine expressed disbelief on October 6 over the loss. The massive attack a day earlier has been called one of the worst so far in western Ukraine.
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Ukraine's military says it hit a major oil terminal in an attack on Russian-occupied Crimea. Social media posts showed fires at the Feodosia oil facility, which supplies fuel to Russia's military.
KYIV -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used his nightly video address to criticize the lack of international response as western Ukraine and other areas attempted to recover following a series of Russian aerial strikes that killed at least five people.

"And unfortunately, there has been no worthy and strong response from the world to everything that is happening -- to the constantly growing scale and audacity of strikes," Zelenskyy said.

"That is exactly why [Russian President Vladimir] Putin does this -- he simply mocks the West, its silence, and the lack of strong actions in response."

Zelenskyy complained that "every" missile and drone launched by the Kremlin "contains parts that are still being supplied to Russia" from the West and other countries, citing companies from United States, China, Taiwan, Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, and the Netherlands.

"All of this must be stopped," he added.

Russia's latest strikes in the Lviv region, far away from the front lines and near the Polish border, earlier on October 5 prompted Poland and NATO allies to mobilize fighter planes and put ground forces on high alert.

"Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of readiness," Poland's operational command said in a social media post.

Poland described the measures as preventative actions that were aimed at securing the airspace and protecting citizens, especially in areas adjacent to the threatened region.

The move comes nearly a month after a swarm of Russian drones flew into Poland's airspace, forcing NATO aircraft to scramble to intercept them and shoot down some of the devices.

The September 10 incident was the first direct encounter between NATO and Russia since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Zelenskyy said on October 5 that at least five people were killed, and 10 others were wounded in a combined Russian attack, which involved more than 50 missiles and about 500 drones. The strikes cut off electricity for tens of thousands of people and damaged buildings and infrastructure.

Today, the Russians again hit our infrastructure, everything that ensures a normal life for people, Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post.

Zelenskyy reiterated Kyivs calls for more support from its Western allies as Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine nears the four-year mark and US efforts in recent months to broker a peace deal have made little progress.

We need more protection, faster implementation of all defense agreements, especially regarding air defense, to make this aerial terror meaningless. A unilateral cease-fire in the sky is possible, and it can open the way to real diplomacy, Zelenskyy said.

He added that the United States and the European Union must act to force Putin to stop.

Ukraines air force said that the entire country was put under air raid alerts for several hours, with the most dire warnings of missile and drone strikes issued for the western Lviv region. Local authorities said at least two people were killed in the strikes which also left some areas without electricity.

Andriy Sadoviy, the mayor of the provincial capital, Lviv, said the city's air defense systems were heavily engaged in repelling Russian drone and missile attacks. The city is located about 70 kilometers from the border with Poland.

The mayor said on Telegram that, as of 7:30 a.m. local time, some parts of the city were left without power and that public transport was yet to start running. Sadoviy warned residents that it was "dangerous to go out into the streets."

In the city of Zaporizhzhya, the capital of the southwestern Zaporizhzhya region, provincial Governor Ivan Fedorov said on Telegram that a Russian "combined strike" had killed a woman and wounded nine other people.

"Apartment blocks and private houses were damaged, cars burned. Windows were blown out, yards wrecked, Fedorov said.

The governor also shared photos- which he said were from the site of the attack -- showing a partly destroyed building and a burnt-out vehicle.

More than 73,000 customers in Zaporizhzhya were left without electricity in the aftermath of the latest Russian strikes, the governor added.

The Russian-held Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, located some 55 kilometers southwest of the city of Zaporizhzhya has been cut off from external power since September 23.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas condemned the strikes, saying that Russia is masking its failed summer offensive with terror attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure.

Kallas vowed that the EU will continue supporting Ukraine as long as needed: finalizing the next sanctions package, ensuring financing, providing weapons.

Russia will not stop until forced to, Kallas said in a social media post on October 5.

Late on October 5, Russian forces attacked Kharkiv with a massive drone strike, according to the mayor of the city, Ihor Terekhov. Details of possible injuries and damages were not immediately available.

Meanwhile, local telegram channels in Russia's Belgorod region near the border reported power outages following a Ukrainian attack on the Luch substation. Outages in the region have become a regular occurrence in recent months following suspected Ukrainian strikes.

Regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, said in a post on Telegram that "there is damage to the energy sector. Emergency crews have gone to the scene."

Separately, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram that Russian air-defense units destroyed a drone heading for the capital and that emergency crews were sent to the site of falling debris.

Putin Warns Against Tomahawk Deliveries

Putin said relations between Moscow and Washington would be damaged if the United States supplied long-range Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv, enabling it to strike deep into Russia.

"This will lead to the destruction of our relations, or at least the positive trends that have emerged in these relations," Putin said in a video clip aired by Russian state television on October 5.

US Vice President JD Vance said in September that Washington was considering a request by Ukraine to obtain Tomahawks, although it is not known if a final decision has been made.

Tomahawks, which have a range of 2,500 kilometers, would make it possible for Ukraine to reach all of European Russia, including Moscow, if Kyiv got the missiles.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Service, Reuters, dpa, and AFP
The District Court of Warsaw on Monday extended the detention of Ukrainian citizen Volodymyr Zh., who is suspected of involvement in the explosion of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, for 40 days, the Polish publication Polsat has reported.

The TV channel recalls that this person was detained near Warsaw by Polish special services on the basis of a European arrest warrant issued by a German court.

Initially, the prosecutor's office requested an extension of his detention for seven days, which was granted on October 1. This time, a request was filed to extend this period for 100 days, the lawyer insisted on 40.

In addition, within 100 days, the court, after reviewing the documents, will also make a decision on the possible extradition of the suspect to Germany.

The suspect himself, a 49-year-old citizen of Ukraine, claims that he has nothing to do with the explosion, and at the time of the explosion he was in Ukraine.

The explosion of three of the four strands of the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, designed to transport natural gas from Russia to Germany, occurred on September 26, 2022, at a depth of about 80 meters on the bottom of the Baltic Sea.
Tributes have poured in following the death of a Roscommon man in a road accident over the weekend.

Last night Kilglass Gaels GAA Club said it was with "immense sadness" that it shared the terrible news of the passing of its former player, Padraig Nugent.

Padraig was part of our 1999 winning team that captured the Intermediate title, it said. He played with the club at all levels, and last year he enjoyed celebrating the 25 year anniversary of the 1999 winning team. Padraig was well known for his aerial dominance and his very unique soloing and kicking style.

We all have many memories of Padraig, and we are very saddened by his untimely passing. The club extended its heartfelt condolences to his mum Ann; sisters Geraldine, Trisha and Helen; cherished children Megan and Ryan; their mum Claire, and to all his family and friends during this difficult time.

As a mark of respect, the club's flag was flown at half mast.
Some of the best in Irish and international short films will be showcased in the county this weekend.

The Roscommon International Film Festival returns for its third year and will run from October 9th to 11th at the Roscommon Arts Centre.

It will feature more than 40 Irish and international short films across two unforgettable days.

From laugh-out-loud comedies and gripping dramas, to spooky tales, powerful documentaries, and stunning animations, every screening has been carefully curated to entertain, challenge, and inspire, the festivals organisers said.

For more information please click here .

It has also gotten the nod from one of Roscommon's most famous sons, Chris O'Dowd.

"This weekend sees Roscommon town host an array of independent short films," the Boyle man said on X, formerly Twitter, "wander over if youre looking for something."

Roscommon International Film Festival is supported by the Roscommon County Council Creative Ireland Programme, an all-of-Government five-year initiative, which places creativity at the centre of public policy. Further information from creative.ireland.ie and ireland.ie
Assault Not Just on CJI, but on Constitution: Sonia Gandhi on Attempted Attack on CJI RB Gavai

This incident is a stark reminder that caste-based prejudice and Manuvaadi mindsets continue to persisteven 75 year...

Assault Not Just on CJI, but on Constitution: Sonia Gandhi on Attempted Attack on CJI BR Gavai News: CCP Chairperson Sonia Gandhi condemned the attempted attack on the Chief Justice of India earlier today, calling it an assault not just on the CJI, but on the Constitution as well.

In a statement issued by the CCP Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi said, No words are adequate to condemn the attack on the Honourable Chief Justice of India in the Supreme Court itself. It is an assault not just on him, but on our Constitution as well.

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Chief Justice Gavai has been very gracious, but the nation must stand in solidarity with him, unitedly, with a deep sense of anguish and outrage, she further stated.

Meanwhile, the advocate involved, identified as Rakesh Kishore, has been suspended from practice in all courts with immediate effect after he attempted to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice BR Gavai, by the Bar Council of India.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also condemned the act, calling it extremely shameful, unfortunate, and alarming.

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This is not just an attack on the Chief Justice of the country, but on our Constitution, the entire judicial system, and the rule of law, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said. She added, The Honorable Chief Justice, through their hard work, dedication, and competence, has broken all societal barriers to achieve the highest judicial position. Such an attack on them is fatal to both the judiciary and democracy. No amount of condemnation is enough.

Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, also condemned the act and sought immediate legal action against the unruly lawyer who sought to insult both the Chief Justice and the judiciary.

He further stated, B.R. Gavai belongs to the Dalit community and has risen to the highest echelons of the judiciary by overcoming entrenched social barriers through merit and perseverance.

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This incident is a stark reminder that caste-based prejudice and Manuvaadi mindsets continue to persisteven 75 years after the enactment of the Indian Constitution, he said strongly.

Siddaramaiah continued, I wish to assure Honble Chief Justice Gavai that he is not alone. Crores of secular and democratic citizens who uphold the values of the Constitution stand firmly by his side. The Chief Justice does not represent any religion or political party. From that perspective, I appeal to people across all castes, faiths, and political affiliations to unequivocally condemn this disgraceful act in one voice.

We must not overlook the fact that divisive politics based on caste and religion have created the conditions for Manuvaadi attitudes like that of Rakesh Kishore to emerge and thrive. Just as certain individuals attempt to glorify Nathuram Godsea convicted assassinas a nationalist icon, we are now witnessing similar elements celebrate the lawyers shameful act. It is imperative that legal action is taken not only against the perpetrator but also against those who are supporting or encouraging such behavior, he added.

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(For more news apart from Assault Not Just on CJI, but on Constitution: Sonia Gandhi on Attempted Attack on CJI RB Gavai, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
CJI B.R. Gavai Belongs to Dalit; Stark Reminder of Persistence of Caste and Manuvaadi: Siddaramaiah

He also condemned those who glorify the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi

CJI B.R. Gavai Belongs to Dalit; Stark Reminder of Persistence of Caste and Manuvaadi: Siddaramaiah: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday strongly condemned the shocking attempt by a lawyer to throw a shoe at the Honble Chief Justice of India, Justice B.R. Gavai, in a blatant act of disrespect towards the judiciary. He demanded immediate legal action against the unruly lawyer, calling the act an insult not only to the Chief Justice but to the entire judicial system.

Siddaramaiah stated that CJI B.R. Gavai belongs to the Dalit community and called the incident a stark reminder that caste-based prejudice and Manuvaadi mindsets continue to persist even decades after the enactment of the Indian Constitution.

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Justice B.R. Gavai, belonging to the Dalit community, has risen to the highest echelons of the judiciary by overcoming entrenched social barriers through merit and perseverance. This incident is a stark reminder that caste-based prejudice and Manuvaadi mindsets continue to persist even 75 years after the enactment of the Indian Constitution, Siddaramaiah said in a statement.

He assured Chief Justice Gavai that he is not alone and that crores of secular and democratic citizens stand firmly by his side. He appealed to everyone to unequivocally condemn this act.

I wish to assure Honble Chief Justice Gavai that he is not alone. Crores of secular and democratic citizens who uphold the values of the Constitution stand firmly by his side. The Chief Justice does not represent any religion or political party. From that perspective, I appeal to people across all castes, faiths, and political affiliations to unequivocally condemn this disgraceful act in one voice, he said.

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Siddaramaiah further stated that caste- and religion-based divisive politics have created the conditions for Manuvaadi attitudes to emerge and thrive.

We must not overlook the fact that divisive politics based on caste and religion have created the conditions for Manuvaadi attitudes like that of Rakesh Kishore to emerge and thrive, he said.

I strongly condemn the incident in which a lawyer attempted to throw a shoe at the Honble Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice B.R. Gavai. Immediate legal action must be taken against the unruly lawyer who sought to insult both the Chief Justice and the judiciary. Advertisement October 6, 2025

He also condemned those who glorify the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi, saying, Just as certain individuals attempt to glorify Nathuram Godsea convicted assassinas a nationalist icon, we are now witnessing similar elements celebrate the lawyers shameful act.

It is imperative that legal action is taken not only against the perpetrator but also against those who support or encourage such behavior, he added.

(For more news apart from Sonam Wangchuk Detention: SC Notice to Centre, Ladakh UT on Wife's Plea Challenging Detention, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
The Dnipro operational-strategic grouping (Dnipro operational-strategic group) has ceased its activities due to the implementation of the corps reform, Major Andriy Kovalev, spokesman for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has told Interfax-Ukraine.

"The Dnipro operational-strategic grouping was not a permanent structure, but a temporary one. Due to the corps adopting their own areas of responsibility and in order to improve troop management, the need for operational-strategic groups has disappeared. That is why the Dnipro operational-strategic grouping has ceased to exist," Kovalev said.

The General Staff noted that Major General Mykhailo Drapaty holds the full-time position of Commander of the Joint Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, while the position of Commander of the Dnipro operational-strategic grouping is not permanent and he held it part-time.

"It should be emphasized that Major General Mykhailo Drapaty will continue to command the appropriate set of troops in the combat zone," Kovalev added.

According to him, the liquidation of the Dnipro operational-strategic grouping will not worsen the controllability of the troops and will not negatively affect the operational situation on the front line.

"On the contrary, these changes are designed to improve the management of the troops. Major General Mykhailo Drapaty remains in the position of commander of the Joint Forces Command and works fruitfully side by side with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrsky," the General Staff said.

The Ukrainska Pravda newspaper reported on October 6 that at the end of September 2025, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky, disbanded the Dnipro operational-strategic grouping (OSUV), which was headed by Major General Mykhailo Drapaty.

The Dnipro Special Operations Command was responsible for a significant part of the front from Zaporizhia to Kharkiv, including the distribution of ammunition between brigades. Its functions are now being transferred to the groupings of troops and newly formed corps.
Lawyer Attempts to Throw Object at CJI, said, Sanatan ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan

The incident was possibly due to the CJI's comments in a previous case related to the restoration of a 7-foot beheaded idol

Lawyer Attempts to Throw Object at CJI, said, Sanatan ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan Latest News: Lawyer Attempts to Throw Object at CJI, said, Sanatan ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan: In a shocking incident, a lawyer attempted to attack Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai in the Supreme Court on Monday, ANI and Bar and Bench reported.

The lawyer tried to throw an object at the Chief Justice of India; however, the security personnel present in court intervened, escorted the lawyer out, and detained him.

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While being escorted out of the courtroom, he was heard saying, Sanatan ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan (India will not tolerate the insult of Sanatan), said a lawyer present in the courtroom.

According to Bar and Bench, the incident unfolded when the Bench led by the CJI was hearing the mentioning of cases by lawyers.

According to sources cited in its news report, the lawyer went near the dais and attempted to remove his shoe and throw it at the judge.

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However, security personnel present in court intervened just in time and escorted the lawyer out.

The CJI remained calm and composed and asked the lawyers present in court to continue with their arguments.

"Don't get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me," the CJI is quoted as saying in the report.

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The news noted that the incident was possibly due to the CJIs comments in a previous case related to the restoration of a 7-foot beheaded idol of Lord Vishnu at Khajuraho.

Go and ask the deity itself to do something now. You say you are a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. So go and pray now. Its an archaeological site and ASI needs to give permission etc, the CJI stated while dismissing that case.

His observation, as reported in the news, has caused an uproar on social media, with many accusing the CJI of hurting religious sentiments.

Two days later, while addressing the controversy, the CJI said, I respect all religions... This happened on social media.

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Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Central government, had backed the CJI, stating, "We have seen this... There is Newton's law which says every action has equal reaction, but now every action has disproportionate social media reaction, milord."

(For more news apart from Sonam Wangchuk Detention: SC Notice to Centre, Ladakh UT on Wife's Plea Challenging Detention, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Sonam Wangchuk: No Grounds of Detention Given to Family; Family to Adocates to Meet Him Today

She further added that when Sonam Wangchuk's brother went to meet him at Jodhpur Jail, they could only see him through a glass partition.

The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Centre, the Union Territory of Ladakh, and the Superintendent of Police, Jodhpur Central Jail, on a plea filed by climate activist Sonam Wangchuks wife, Gitanjali Angmo, challenging his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) and seeking his release, according to ANI.

The matter has been listed for the next hearing on the coming Tuesday. Advocate Sarvam Ritam Khare, appearing on behalf of Wangchuks wife, stated, We will be going to Jodhpur to meet Sonam Wangchuk today.

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In the habeas corpus petition, we were seeking permission to meet Sonam Wangchuk, ensure his access to medication, and obtain a copy of the grounds for his detention, Khare added.

It has been reported that while the grounds of detention have been supplied to Sonam Wangchuk, they have not been served to his family.

Speaking to the media, Wangchuks wife, Gitanjali Angmo, said, It was an illegal detention. He is in no way a national security threat, so he should be released immediately. The grounds of detention have not been given to us.

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She further added that when Sonam Wangchuks brother went to meet him at Jodhpur Jail, they could only see him through a glass partition. Therefore, she said, it would not have been possible for Wangchuk to hand over the grounds of detention to his brother even if he had received them.

(For more news apart from Sonam Wangchuk: No Grounds of Detention Given to Family; Family to Adocates to Meet Him Today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Punjab Weather Nowcast Update  October 6, 2025 Latest (Image Courtesy: Newsonair)

Stay tuned to local weather updates and advisories from the India Meteorological Department (IMD)

Punjab Weather Nowcast Update  October 6, 2025 Latest News:

Issued at: 09:21 IST | Valid Until: 12:21 IST (Nowcast)

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Residents of Punjab, be prepared for a shift in weather conditions this morning. The India Meteorological Department has issued a nowcast warning for several districts in the state.

Weather Alert: Thunderstorm & Moderate Rain Expected

As per the latest update, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and moderate rainfall are very likely to affect the following areas over the next few hours:

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Mansa

Bathinda

Fazilka

Sri Muktsar Sahib

Faridkot

Firozepur

Tarn Taran

Amritsar

Gurdaspur

What to Expect:

Could cause temporary waterlogging in low-lying areas.

Lightning activity may pose risk to open areas, tall structures, and outdoor movements.

Gusty winds may accompany the storm in localized pockets.

Safety Tips:

Avoid open fields and stay indoors during lightning.

Unplug electrical appliances during storms.

Farmers are advised to avoid working in open fields temporarily.

Stay tuned to local weather updates and advisories from the India Meteorological Department (IMD)

(For more news apart from Punjab Weather Nowcast Update  October 6, 2025 Latest News, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
The early days of Romanian Gendarmerie

The first gendarme units were formed in 1850 and are one of the first institutions of the Romanian state.

The History Show

Steliu Lambru, 06.10.2025, 14:00

The Romanian state started creating its force structures in the middle of the 19th century. One of them was the Gendarmerie, which appeared in the Principality of Moldavia in 1850. However, structures with attributes regarding public order and peace and the defense of citizens and their property had existed previously. They bore various names, since 1829, after the conclusion of the peace treaty between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, being called militia, guard or national guard. Although with reduced numbers, the Gendarmerie participated in the Romanian War of Independence in 1877-1878 and in the Second Balkan War in 1913. It also participated in the two world wars. In 1893, the Rural Gendarmerie was established. In the 175 years of existence, there are heroic pages in the history of the Romanian Gendarmerie, but also dark pages such as participation in the suppression of the 1907 uprising and the Holocaust in the 1940s.

The Gendarmerie was abolished by the communist regime in 1948 and re-established in 1990, after the anti-communist Revolution of 1989. In the archive of the Oral History Center of the Romanian Broadcasting there are interviews with former gendarmes who remember the historical moments in which they participated, one being Colonel Grigore Meculescu. In 1995, he recalled how, as a student of the Gendarmerie School, he was part of the defense device of the Gendarmerie headquarters during the legionary rebellion of January 1941. Track: The Gendarmerie Officers School was also involved in this event, which was tasked with guarding the General Inspectorate of the Gendarmerie on Soseaua Stefan cel Mare. During this period, we, all the students, made a plan to defend the building of the General Inspectorate of the Gendarmerie. In the event that the legionaries would attack this building and this institution, we had to be able to face this attack. The legionaries came in massive groups on Stefan cel Mare chanting . There was some information that would have indicated that an attack could occur on the institution and the building of the General Inspectorate of the Gendarmerie. And it was precisely to prevent this attack that this defense of the General Inspectorate of the Gendarmerie was made. They passed, stopped for a moment in front of the General Inspectorate of the Gendarmerie. But, probably, seeing our arrangement in the Inspectorates defense device, they gave up and moved on.

Major General Mihail Baron, in 1995, recalled the day of the great change of alliances that Romania made on August 23, 1944. At that time, he was an officer on duty in the barracks of the Infantry Gendarmerie Regiment and had to get involved in the annihilation of the German armies in Bucharest: Around 8 oclock in the morning, I woke up at the regimental gate to be called by a cavalry captain. He was very agitated and told me that he had come to us to give them help, otherwise the Germans would break the encirclement. I immediately reported to the regimental commander and he ordered me to gather the men who were available in the barracks, two platoons, and I sent them there, plus a group of machine guns. Surrounded and caught in the fire of machine guns, after about half an hour, the Hitlerites put up white flags and surrendered. While they were being escorted by gendarmes to the regiment, the gendarmes were fired on from the Grand Hotel. Some of the gendarmes forced their way into the Grand Hotel and took the German officers who were quartered there and brought them all together to the courtyard of the Infantry Gendarme Regiment. Prisoners were brought about 230 officers, non-commissioned officers and troops, including two or three typists.

General Emil Mihuleac, also in 1995, remembers what followed after the end of the war when the new communist regime abolished the Gendarmerie School and, implicitly, the Gendarmerie. Some historians consider that measure as a punishment for an elite weapon considered the watchdog of capitalists and landowners and the landowners tool for robbing peasants: The school was important not only because of the quality of the students, but also because of the value of the staff, being in the same building as the General Inspectorate, where it was assumed that only officers with high professional qualities, people with a perfect military culture, would end up. In fact, most of the officers in the command were graduates of the Higher War School. So they were highly qualified soldiers. Also, the educational process had some special components in relation to the state of military education at that time. The student in the Gendarmerie Officers School went through 3 component sides of a complex training during the 3 years of school. This created a number of very well-trained officers who stood out during the war both in the East and in the West, because of this, they had a military training, they rendered great services to the army, to the country.

The Romanian Gendarmerie was an important constitutive institution of the Romanian state and behaved as people and society behaved at a given historical time. It already has a tradition that must be evaluated with rigor and understanding of human limits. (EE)
October 6, 2025

A roundup of local and world news

Newsflash

Newsroom, 06.10.2025, 13:55

WEATHER Romania is facing days of heavy rain, wind and snowfall in the mountains. The most severe phenomena are expected in the southeast, where starting on Tuesday night a code red rain alert will be in place until Wednesday night. Specialists warn that 110-120 litres of rain per square meter will accumulate. During the same period, a code orange alert is announced in the south, southeast, east and centre. In the Southern Carpathians, sleet and snow are expected at altitudes of over 1,700 metres.

PRESIDENCY The president of Romania Nicusor Dan Monday announced the appointment of a team of presidential and state advisors. These appointments reflect the presidents commitment to a professional, efficient administration in full accordance with the priorities of the presidential mandate, the Presidency said. The team of advisors includes, among others, Marius Lazurca as presidential advisor on foreign policy, Valentin Naumescu as presidential advisor for European affairs, Ana-Maria Geana as state advisor for the Romanian diaspora, the former liberal PM Ludovic Orban as presidential advisor on domestic policy.

NOBEL The scientists Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell, from the United States, and Shimon Sakaguchi, from Japan, won this years Nobel Prize in Medicine for groundbreaking work in peripheral immune tolerance. According to the Nobel committee, the trios discoveries laid the foundation for a new field of research and have spurred the development of new treatments, for example for cancer and autoimmune diseases. After the medicine prize, the Nobel season continues with the prize in physics on October 7, followed by the prize in chemistry on October 8, the literature prize on October 9 and the peace prize on October 10, the only one awarded in Oslo.

GOVERNMENT The ruling coalition in Romania, made up of the Social Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party, Save Romania Union and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, may reach this week an agreed formula for administrative reform. The Liberal PM Ilie Bolojan, in his report on the first 100 days of his term in office, mentioned that the bill will be included in the 3rd set of fiscal measures to reduce the budget deficit, which is expected to be passed this month. Talks are resumed after the parties in the coalition clashed over the topic. The Social Democrats did not agree with the personnel cuts proposed by the Prime Minister, and insisted on cutting spending on goods and services. No consensus was reached, so the reform bill was not included in the second set of measures, for which the Government took responsibility before Parliament in early September. With the talks resumed, a proposal has emerged that the cuts for city halls and county councils should go hand in hand with the central administration, i.e. with governmental agencies and ministries, and the agreed option seems to be a combination of personnel downsizing and cutting operating expenses. The reform of the administration, with spending cuts and simplified bureaucracy, is included in the government program.

EU The vice-president of the European Parliament, Victor Negrescu (Romania), has made public an initiative initiative to support the stepped-up European Union accession of the Republic of Moldova. Together with 55 MEPs from 19 EU countries, Victor Negrescu signed a letter addressed to the president of the European Council, Antonio Costa, calling for the immediate opening of accession negotiations. The free and fair elections held last Sunday leave no room for doubt: the people of Moldova have reaffirmed their clear desire to join the EU. Their choice, made despite foreign pressure and disinformation campaigns, attests to their resilience and democratic determination. This is a turning point that requires an equally strong and prompt response from the Union, the document reads. (AMP)
October 6, 2025 UPDATE

Click here for the latest news on RRI

Newsflash

Newsroom, 06.10.2025, 20:00

Presidency  The president of Romania Nicusor Dan on Monday announced the appointment of a team of presidential and state advisors. These appointments reflect the presidents commitment to a professional, efficient administration in full accordance with the priorities of the presidential mandate, the Presidency said. The team of advisors includes, among others, Marius Lazurca as presidential advisor on foreign policy, Valentin Naumescu as presidential advisor for European affairs, Ana-Maria Geana as state advisor for the Romanian diaspora, and the former liberal PM Ludovic Orban as presidential advisor on domestic policy.

Nobel  The scientists Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell, from the United States, and Shimon Sakaguchi, from Japan, have won this years Nobel Prize in Medicine for groundbreaking work in peripheral immune tolerance. According to the Nobel committee, the trios discoveries laid the foundation for a new field of research and have spurred the development of new treatments, for example for cancer and autoimmune diseases. After the medicine prize, the Nobel season continues with the prize in physics on October 7, followed by the prize in chemistry on October 8, the literature prize on October 9 and the peace prize on October 10, the only one awarded in Oslo.

Weather  Romania is facing days of heavy rain, wind and snowfall in the mountains. The most severe phenomena are expected in the southeast, where starting on Tuesday night a code red alert for rain will be in place until Wednesday night. Specialists warn that 110-120 liters of rain per square meter will accumulate. During the same period, a code orange alert is announced in the south, southeast, east and centre. In the Southern Carpathians, sleet and snow are expected at altitudes of over 1,700 meters.

Law  The Romanian Senate adopted, as the first chamber notified, the draft law that will regulate the access of minors up to 16 years of age to major online platforms, and also to a certain type of content on the Internet. According to the document, children under 16 will be able to create and access social platforms only with the consent of their parents. Harmful content is defined as any written, audio, video or image content that promotes alcohol, energy drinks, cigarettes, violence, hatred, pornography, self-harm, addictions, fraud or hate speech, including on the basis of race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, exploitation of minors or any other form of content that poses a significant risk to the physical and emotional development of the minor. The law goes to the Chamber of Deputies for the decisive vote.

Trains  A direct train on the Kyiv  Ungheni  Bucharest North and return route will be put into circulation from October 10, CFR Calatori informed on Monday. According to a company press release, the international train IR 99/401 Kyiv  Bucharest North will run starting from October 10, and the international train IR 402/100 Bucharest North  Kyiv will run starting from October 11. The price of a ticket on the Bucharest North  Kyiv route, for a sleeping car, is 73.4 Euros.

Defense  The Romanian Minister of Defense, Liviu-Ionut Mosteanu, and the Chief of the Defense Staff, General Gheorghita Vlad, met, on Monday in Bucharest, with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of Pakistan, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, who is visiting Romania. The discussions focused on expanding military cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries and on analyzing the security situation, both in the Black Sea region and in the Near and Middle East, and South and East Asia, respectively. Minister Ionut Mosteanu highlighted Romanias commitment to strengthening regional security and emphasized the important role of the defense dialogue between the two states. Romania concluded a defense cooperation agreement with Pakistan in early 2013. The collaboration takes place within a joint military committee, which organizes annual meetings. (LS)
The Bolojan Cabinet  the first 100 days

Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan presented the results of his first 100 days in office.

Premierul roman Ilie Bolojan a prezentat rezultatul primelor 100 de zile de mandat

Mihai Pelin, 06.10.2025, 14:00

100 days after taking office, Romanias Prime Minister, Ilie Bolojan, presented a report of the measures he implemented, with an emphasis on those aimed at curbing the large budget deficit. Ilie Bolojan explained that there are two underlying elements that no government will be able to avoid in the coming period: increasing revenue collection and reducing operating expenses. In his opinion, these measures will ensure balanced budgets and financing investments. The Prime Minister said that if fixed expenses are not reduced quickly, there is a risk that the additional revenues collected from taxes, duties and measures already applied will be quickly consumed. Ilie Bolojan also supported the merger and fusion of some authorities and agencies or decentralized services. Romania avoided a default thanks to the measures recently adopted by the government, amid a budget deficit of over 9%, low revenues and excessive spending, the Romanian official added. In his opinion, without these measures, Romania would have been in a difficult situation, with serious consequences for its citizens.

Rating agencies confirmed that we did what was necessary and it was a first step towards regaining trust in Romania and, I believe, regaining the trust of our citizens by telling them the truth. These were not austerity measures proper, but I believe that some responsible measures had to be put into practice. An important element is to get our economy back on track. This means having more people in the real economy and, through the measures we take, encouraging more employees, and we can only do that by adopting a number of measures.

Ilie Bolojan also spoke about the need to increase the early retirement age  economically unsustainable and socially unfair, to reduce the unemployment period, to discourage the unjustified granting of sick leave and to continue reforms in administration, health and education sectors. The Prime Minister stressed the importance of reform in the local and central administration, noting that the Cabinet is working on a constitutional formula to implement the ban on the accumulation of pension with salary. From the opposition, AUR Senator Petrisor Peiu drew attention to the fact that, despite the tough fiscal measures taken by the government, the budget deficit remains at a level similar to last year.

The government cut all tax facilities in IT, construction, agriculture and the food industry. It halved the income threshold for micro-enterprises. It increased VAT by 2%. It also increased the reduced VAT rate by 2%. It introduced healthcare contributions for the poorest social categories. It increased the teachers norm by two hours. The whole country is suffering.

Completing the digitalization of the Fiscal Administration (ANAF) and customs agencies, combating tax evasion and undeclared work remain the governments top priorities, Ilie Bolojan said. At the same time, the Government seeks to increase the presence of public companies on the stock exchange, thus creating important reserves that can be capitalized on. (VP)
2025 Listeners Day on RRI

We invite you to be part of Listeners Day on Radio Romania International on November 2

Listen to RRI in English

Radio Romania International, 06.10.2025, 13:54

Dear friends, we invite you to be part of Listeners Day on Radio Romania International on November 2, 2025, the first Sunday after the Romanian public radio broadcasters anniversary on November 1.

We live in a world where dangers come not only from the streets or battlefields, but also from the invisible space of the Internet. Cybersecurity has become one of the greatest challenges of the present. From unsophisticated phishing campaigns, those fake messages or calls that trick us into providing personal data, to financial fraud with AI-generated voices, each of us can be a target. At the same time, cybercrime groups organise ransomware attacks, blocking hospitals, universities or companies. Cyberwarfare is quickly becoming a reality: attacks on energy networks, on communications or even massive disinformation campaigns and botnets that can influence elections or destabilize societies.

Artificial intelligence plays a dual role: on the one hand, it provides attackers with new tools capable of creating highly credible fake messages; on the other hand, it helps experts detect threats more quickly.

In this landscape, many countries and international organisations are working to introduce stricter rules and protection. But the truth is that each of us plays a role: a strong password or checking the source of a news item are small but essential steps to protect ourselves.

In the 2025 edition of Listeners Day on RRI, we ask you: how do you perceive these threats? Do you feel protected against them or rather vulnerable? What do you think society should do to better defend itself?

We look forward to receiving your answers, so that we can include them in RRIs broadcast of November 2, 2025. You can email us at engl@rri.ro or message us on Facebook. If you wish, you can send pre-recorded audio answers on WhatsApp, at +40744312650, or you can send us your phone number and we will call you from the studio to record your audio message. Thank you!
Photo: https://t.me/DeepStateUA

Analysts of the OSINT project DeepState has expressed doubts about the expediency of disbanding the Dnipro Military District under the slogan of introducing a corps system in the army, since "based on the current activities of the corps, they are no different from the operational-tactical groupings (OTGs), which were liquidated due to this reform."

"Liquidation of the operational-strategic group (OSG) Dnipro. According to our sources, this information corresponds to reality, which is "the framework of the reform of the introduction of the corps system." Here one could say that this is a logical step in the process of the army's transition to a corps system, but there is a "but," the OSINT project said on Telegram on Monday.

As noted, the front is currently divided into sectors, where corps have entered, which, according to the concept of the reform, are responsible for these same sectors. "But in the vast majority, it was the corps management that entered these zones, which continue to try to command a collective hodgepodge of units, having an incomplete set of their affiliated brigades () Based on the current activities of the corps, they are no different in essence from the OTGs, which were liquidated precisely because of this reform."

It has been reported that it is also "impossible to get rid of the "tactical groups," which are formed from quickly formed groups of fighters without any coordination, with the aim of "restoring," which usually does not lead to anything good. Unfortunately, it was not possible to save the Serebryansk forest in this way..." DeepState said, noting that if the OTGs did not justify themselves in their time and have compromised themselves, then "the operational-strategic grouping (OSG) in the command chain, as a temporary body for the duration of hostilities, still retains its logic, because it is primarily responsible for the direct conduct of hostilities, coordinates the unified management of units in the operational area, manages the distribution of resources, logistics, etc., which should strengthen coordination between the corps, which should primarily be concerned with their area of responsibility, units and their support."

The ezine Ukrainska Pravda said on October 6 that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky, at the end of September 2025 disbanded the Dnipro operational-strategic grouping of troops, which had been headed by Major General Mykhailo Drapaty.
A ribbon raising awareness for domestic violence is seen Saturday the intersection of NM-528 and Iris Road in Rio Rancho Kevin Opsahl

Quintin McShan posts a purple ribbon on a road sign near the intersection of NM-528 and Iris Road in Rio Rancho on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. McShan', a retired New Mexico State Police office, participated in "purpling the pole," held in several communities to raise awareness for domestic violence. Kevin Opsahl

Sandoval County District Attorney Barbara Romo and assistant district attorney Mariah Poole post a purple ribbon on a street lamp post near their office in Bernalillo on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. The event, purpling the pole was held in several communities to raise awareness for domestic violence. Kevin Opsahl

SANDOVAL COUNTY  A group of volunteers, including Sandoval District Attorney Barbara Romo, donned purple vests Saturday as they went from light pole to light pole to attach purple ribbons in several local communities to raise awareness of domestic violence.

The volunteers turned out to Rio Rancho, Bernalillo and Placitas in an annual event called Purpling the Pole, sponsored by Haven House, Sandoval Countys only domestic violence shelter.

The ribbons teams placed stretched up NM 528, from Westside Boulevard to Idalia Road Southwest. They also placed them up and down NM 313 in Bernalillo, near Romos office, and NM-165, near the Placitas Library. Moments of silence were held in honor of survivors, and volunteers heard from speakers before placing ribbons on poles.

Estella Weitz, executive director of Haven House, who wore a purple vest and carried a bin of pre-tied ribbons, said Purpling the Poles is about bringing the community together so we can all unite for those who are affected by domestic violence.

Scores of volunteers  oftentimes young and in groups  attached ribbons in the both the morning and afternoon.

We want them to be thinking that theyre part of the community thats breaking the cycle of domestic violence, Weitz said. If youre not experiencing it yourself, you probably know someone who has experienced domestic violence.

Approximately one-third of adults in New Mexico have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime, according to a recent report by the Intimate Partner Violence Death Review Team, based at the University of New Mexico.

Court records show that at least 1,000 domestic violence cases have been filed in Sandoval County courts since January 2024.

Earlier this year, the Rio Rancho Police Department reported eight murders in 2024  five of which were considered domestic violence homicides.

Romo said it is important to raise awareness about domestic violence because it traditionally is a topic nobody wants to talk about. She then cited the old adage what goes on in the house stays in the house.

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We just need to get that message across that (domestic violence) is wrong and its OK to speak up and say something, Romo said.

Aside from reporting domestic violence, the district attorney said educating kids and adults on the topic is key, including letting them know there are resources to help them. Haven House, for example, provides more than 260 beds.

Diversion programs are available for offenders, who, Romo said, often have anger management issues or grew up in a home with domestic violence. But if they dont complete the program, the district attorneys office will prosecute them, Romo said.

Theres not a lot I can do in the community to prevent (domestic violence), but what I can do is events like this and (spread) awareness, letting victims know its OK to report it, Romo said. Im not necessarily going to throw your partner in jail forever; were going to try to get him help.

MaryEllen Garcia, chief executive officer of the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence, was out in Bernalillo tying purple ribbons with her teenage son. Garcia noted that it was more than just her 14-year-old that turned out Saturday to participate in the activity.

(They were) saying, We need to be aware that domestic violence exists in our community and we will not be silenced, Garcia said.

On what she described as a beautiful day with a slight wind, she and others were able to post ribbons and engage with community members, who said they knew someone who is a victim of domestic violence but didnt know how to address it.

For us to be able to say, Let us tell you what you can do, we created a space where it was OK to talk about a complex issue, Garcia said.
RIO RANCHO  Christmas might come a little early this year for Rio Rancho Public Schools next superintendent.

The RRPS Board of Education approved a slew of items related to the executive search Oct. 3, including a timeline indicating a superintendent could be chosen not long after Dec. 12.

Of course, (it is) subject to change if we were to have any hiccups, said District 5 board member Jessica Tyler, who also serves as the boards secretary, during the meeting.

The timeline offered a window into how serious the five-member board is about choosing a successor to Dr. Sue Cleveland, RRPSs founding superintendent, who has announced that she will retire in spring 2026. Not even two weeks ago, the board unanimously approved opening a national search for a new superintendent and directed the district to hire a consultant to assist with the process on Sept. 22.

While Tyler presented most of the items on the Oct. 3 meeting agenda, a representative from that consulting firm, Minnesota-based Ray and Associates, appeared virtually to listen to the board members discussion.

The first phase of the search began during Fridays meeting, when the board had a chance to meet with the consulting firm, according to Tyler.

An online survey asking stakeholders about the qualities they would like to see in the next superintendent went live Oct. 6 and will be posted until 19, Tyler said. The 31 Qualities Survey asks parents, teachers, students, and others to choose 10 qualities out of 31 they believe are the most important in the next superintendent, according to a copy of the survey provided in the school district news release.

Stakeholder meetings are expected to take place Oct. 15-16, with locations and times to be determined, Tyler said.

Input from those meetings and the online survey will be used to craft the promotional flyer, which will contain a job description for the superintendent. The flyer will be finalized by the board on Oct. 20 and emailed to interested candidates the next day, according to an RRPS press release.

The deadline for candidates to turn in all application materials is Nov. 23, according to Tyler and the search website.

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The first round of candidate interviews with the board, to be conducted virtually, is scheduled for Dec. 8 and 9, according to the website.

The candidates who are finalists will be interviewed by the board and stakeholders in person Dec. 15-17, the website said.

The board has not determined exactly when it will appoint a new superintendent or approve their contract, according to the website.

However, Tyler said during the meeting the decision is expected to come before the school districts winter break, Dec. 22 to Jan. 2, 2026.

In addition to approving a search timeline, the school board also approved Oct. 3 a salary range of $245,000 to $265,000 for the superintendent.

Loren Hatch, RRPS legal counsel, told the board during the meeting that the superintendent will have to obtain an administrative license from the state. The incoming superintendent will have to obtain an administrative license from the state. The individual will need a masters degree, but a doctorate is strongly preferred, Hatch said. A willingness to permanently reside within the boundaries of the district will also be necessary, he said.

District 3 board member Gary Tripp took issue with the residency qualification, suggesting the language of the position description say the superintendent must reside in Rio Rancho. The other board members agreed to the change.

During the Oct. 3 meeting, the board also approved two advertising packages to promote the search, which will include a new website and advertisements with groups such as the National Association of School Superintendents and other entities promoting ethnically diverse candidates.

The board also met in executive session  which is closed to the public and the media  to discuss the search.

The online stakeholder survey is available in English at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BMW7DP5 and in Spanish at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XZJB89R. The survey will remain open until 7 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 19.

The superintendent search website can be found at https://www.rrps.net/page/superintendent-search.
Across the country, small and mid-size communities are facing the same crisis: Homes cost more than most families can afford while building permits keep declining. At the New Mexico Housing Summit, where 600 housing leaders from 24 states and 80 municipalities gathered, the numbers told a stark story: 80% of families cannot afford the median home price, rents have jumped 60% since 2017, and homelessness has risen 87%. Nearly 40% of a new homes cost comes from regulatory requirements. Thats not a market failure  its a policy failure.

Whenever solutions come up, someone says, Government cant get involved. I call BS. Local governments created much of the red tape  and they can cut the red tape. City councils, planning boards and county commissions already have the power to remove needless barriers that drive up costs and slow construction.

Heres how any small community can act:

Promote density and diverse options

Allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs), duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes in areas zoned only for single-family homes. Welcome mixed-use development near jobs and shops while reducing outdated parking, lot size and height rules.

Embrace middle housing

Support townhomes, cottage clusters and courtyard apartments  neighborhood-scale choices for every stage of life and income level.

Streamline permitting

Cut impact fees, digitize permits and shorten review times. Focus public input on broad zoning plans instead of fighting every project.

Housing is infrastructure, as essential as roads and water. If we want teachers, nurses and our own children to stay, we must act now. Communities that embrace pro-housing policies thrive. When local leaders have the courage to cut red tape, families win, neighborhoods strengthen and the whole town prospers.
Firefly Aerospace (FLY), a space and defense company, announced that it agreed to acquire SciTec, Inc., a provider of advanced national security technologies. The transaction is valued at approximately $855 million, consisting of $300 million in cash and $555 million in Firefly shares issued to SciTec owners at a price of $50 per share.

SciTec is headquartered in Princeton, N.J., and maintains five additional facilities strategically positioned near key space and defense customers.

The acquisition is expected to close by year end 2025. Once finalized, SciTec will be operated as a Firefly subsidiary under its current model led by Jim Lisowski, current CEO of SciTec, who will report to Firefly's CEO Jason Kim.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Redcare Pharmacy N.V (RDC.DE) on Monday said that its third quarter sales rose 25 percent from a year ago, helped by good performances by Rx sales in Germany. The company also reaffirmed its outlook for the year ahead.

The Dutch pharmacy retailer reported total sales of 719 million euros in the third quarter, up 25.2 percent from the 575 million euros in the same quarter last year. The company said that the DACH and international segments both grew 25.2 percent and 25.4 percent, respectively.

Redcare Pharmacy said that during the third quarter, Non-Rx sales rose 16.7 percent to 448 million euros, while Rx sales surged 42.3 percent to 272 million euros. According to the company, Germany contributed the most to quarterly Rx sales at 126 million euros, a 82.1 percent rise from last year's 69 million euros.

The company said that it had 13.7 million active customers by the end of the third quarter. Redcare Pharmacy added that its net promoter score or NPS improved to above 70 from 64 in the first half of the year.

Looking ahead, Redcare Pharmacy reaffirmed its outlook for fiscal 2025 of total sales growth of more than 25 percent. Total Redcare adjusted EBITDA margin is expected between 2 percent and 2.5 percent.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Indirect talks between representatives of Israel and Hamas are set to begin in Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh Monday, aimed at negotiating terms of President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan.

Preparatory talks by technical teams have already begun to work through and clarify final details, reports said.

The Hamas delegation is led by Khalil al-Hayya, who survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar last month.

The Israeli delegation will be headed remotely by Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer.

Presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner will represent the United States in the talks, CNN reported quoting U.S. officials.

Meanwhile, Trump posted a promising note on social media at the weekend.

"There have been very positive discussions with Hamas, and Countries from all over the World (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) this weekend, to release the Hostages, end the War in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have long sought PEACE in the Middle East," he wrote on Truth Social Sunday.

He added, "I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST. I will continue to monitor this Centuries old 'conflict'. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OR, MASSIVE BLOODSHED WILL FOLLOW  SOMETHING THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE!"

The leadership of Hamas said late last week that it was willing to release Israeli hostages in response to the United States peace deal proposal for ending the war in Gaza, provided further negotiations take place through mediators on a number of key details.

The statement issued by the militant group indicated it was also prepared to hand over administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body as part of a lasting deal to end the fighting, based on "Palestinian national consensus and Arabic and Islamic support."

In response, President Trump - who has the support of President Benjamin Netanyahu and many world leaders to the 20-point plan - called on Israel to stop bombing Gaza, adding that he believes the group is "ready for a lasting peace."

Hamas reportedly indicated that the U.S. President's comments were "encouraging" and that it was ready to negotiate further.

UN relief chief Tom Fletcher said the UN was ready and eager to act on the window of opportunity provided by the U.S. initiative on Gaza.

Around 170,000 metric tons of food, medicine, shelter and other desperately needed supplies are on standby, poised to enter the decimated Strip from across the region.

Fletcher said that the Israeli-controlled crossings would need to open and there must be safe movement for civilians and aid workers; unrestricted entry of goods; visas for staff; the space for humanitarians to operate; and the private sector to be revived.

UN aid teams warn that the situation in northern Gaza continues to rapidly deteriorate, as Israel continues its military offensive to seize full control of Gaza City, with tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians unable to leave.

"Military operations and heavy strikes, hitting residential areas and buildings, are driving up the death toll and continue to wreak havoc on the area," said UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

Hamas' deadly cross border attacks on 2023 October 7, which triggered Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip, completes second anniversary on Tuesday.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Political News
The all-new Hyundai Venue 2026 will be launching soon. Ahead of that, AI generated image of the sub 4m SUV has been shared by Reddit user. This new image shows the SUV almost completely uncovered, offering a clear look at its redesigned front fascia.

2026 Hyundai Venue Front Imagined

The new Venue adopts Hyundais latest Sensuous Sportiness design language, similar to the Exter and Creta N Line. The front grille is now wider and squarer, featuring bold horizontal slats and vertically stacked LED lighting units on either side.

Split LED headlamps sit lower on the bumper, while the upper section gets a sleek LED DRL strip integrated into the bonnet line. Silver skid plate detailing adds a rugged touch to its SUV stance. The overall look is muscular yet modern, and the squared-off proportions give it a stronger visual identity compared to the outgoing model.

Dual 10.2-inch Curved Screens, Panoramic Sunroof & More Premium Tech

Inside, the 2026 Venue will feature a major interior overhaul with dual 10.2-inch curved screens for infotainment and instrumentation, a new dashboard layout, and enhanced features such as 360-degree camera, dual-zone climate control, ventilated seats, panoramic sunroof, and wireless smartphone connectivity.

Under the hood, Hyundai will retain the proven powertrain lineup. Transmission choices will include MT, iMT, DCT and AT.

 1.2L petrol

 1.0L turbo petrol

 1.5L diesel

N Line Venue Incoming

An N Line variant of the new Hyundai Venue is also in the works and is expected to debut after the launch of the standard model. The Venue N Line will continue Hyundais performance-inspired sub-brand strategy, offering sportier design elements such as red exterior accents, N Line badges, dual exhaust tips, and unique alloy wheels.

Inside, it will likely feature an all-black cabin with contrast red stitching, metal pedals, and N Line branding on the gear lever and steering wheel. While powertrain options are expected to remain the same as the standard turbo-petrol variant, Hyundai may fine-tune the suspension and steering setup for a more dynamic driving experience, similar to the recently updated Creta N Line.

The new Venue will continue to rival Tata Nexon, Maruti Brezza, Kia Sonet, and Mahindra XUV3XO. With production-ready prototypes now spotted, the 2026 Hyundai Venue is gearing up to be one of Hyundais biggest launches of the year  combining new-age design, connected tech, and proven powertrains in one sharp package.
Ather Energy has achieved a major milestone, rolling out its 5,00,000th electric scooter from its Hosur manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu. The landmark unit was Athers latest family-focused model, the Rizta, which has quickly become one of the companys strongest growth drivers since its launch last year.

This milestone marks a significant achievement for the Bengaluru-based EV manufacturer, reflecting its rapid expansion and consistent demand in Indias electric two-wheeler space. Over the years, Ather has evolved from a niche performance EV brand into a full-range manufacturer catering to both family and enthusiast riders.

Rizta Powers Athers Next Phase of Growth

Since its debut, the Ather Rizta has emerged as a key contributor to the brands success, accounting for more than one-third of Athers total production volumes. The models focus on comfort, practicality, and safety has helped Ather reach a wider audience, especially in family scooter segments dominated by ICE rivals.

In recent months, Ather has also expanded aggressively across middle and northern India, entering several tier-2 and tier-3 cities. This expansion aligns with the companys goal of increasing accessibility to its growing product lineup and charging infrastructure.

Strong Manufacturing Ecosystem

Ather currently operates two facilities in Hosur  one for vehicle assembly and another for battery production  with a combined manufacturing capacity of 4.2 lakh scooters annually. To meet growing demand, Ather is now setting up a third facility, Factory 3.0, at Bidkin, AURIC (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra).

The new facility will be built in two phases on Industry 4.0 principles, featuring advanced digital manufacturing systems. Once both phases are operational, Athers total installed capacity will reach 1.42 million electric two-wheelers per year.

Commenting on the milestone, Swapnil Jain, Co-founder and CTO, Ather Energy, said, Crossing 5,00,000 scooters is a major milestone for Ather. From our very first prototype to today, our journey has been about building not just vehicles, but a scalable, reliable, and consistent manufacturing ecosystem. This achievement reflects years of focused engineering, rigorous testing, and meticulous attention to quality at every stage of production. It also highlights the dedication of teams across the company and the trust and support of our owner community, who have been with us throughout this journey.

Looking Ahead

With the Riztas strong response and the ongoing expansion of its retail and service network, Ather Energy is well-positioned to lead the next phase of Indias EV revolution. The company continues to focus on enhancing its product portfolio, scaling production, and strengthening charging infrastructure under the Ather Grid network.
TVS Motor Company has launched the most advanced version of its popular Raider 125 motorcycle in India, adding a host of segment-first features and performance enhancements. Priced at Rs 95,600 (ex-showroom Delhi) for the TFT Dual Disc variant and Rs 93,800 for the SmartXonnect Dual Disc, the new Raider 125 builds upon its Wicked by Design persona with more technology, performance, and safety than ever before.

First-in-Segment Features

The new TVS Raider introduces Boost Mode with iGO Assist, Dual Disc Brakes with ABS, and Glide Through Technology (GTT)  all of which are firsts in the 125cc motorcycle category. Boost Mode gives the Raider an extra surge of power, improving acceleration during overtakes and quick bursts in traffic. This, paired with best-in-class torque of 11.75 Nm @ 6,000 rpm, ensures the Raider continues to lead its class in performance.

The addition of dual disc brakes with single-channel ABS enhances braking stability and rider confidence, while GTT (Glide Through Technology) makes low-speed city riding smoother and more fuel-efficient  reducing the need for clutch modulation in stop-and-go traffic.

Performance and Design

In terms of styling, the motorcycle gets sporty red alloy wheels and a new metallic silver paint scheme, reinforcing its youthful and dynamic appeal. Powering the Raider is a refined 125cc, 3-valve engine mated to a 5-speed gearbox.

TVS has also equipped the new Raider with wider tyres (90/90-17 front and 110/80-17 rear) for improved grip and cornering stability. Other highlights include Follow Me Headlamps, which stay illuminated briefly after the ignition is turned off  a useful safety feature for dark parking spaces.

Tech and Connectivity

The new Raider continues to offer a fully connected experience through TVS SmartXonnect. Riders can choose between a TFT display (with 99+ features) or a Reverse LCD cluster (85+ features), both offering Bluetooth connectivity, voice assist, navigation, call and notification management, and more.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Aniruddha Haldar, Senior Vice President  Head Commuter & EV Business and Head Corporate Brand & Media, TVS Motor Company said, The TVS Raider redefines what young riders can seek from their motorcycle. In 4 years it won the love of a million plus Gen Z riders. Today, the New TVS RAIDER is equipped with the exhilarating Boost mode powered by iGO Assist tech, and another segment first  Dual Disc with ABS. With yet another segment-first Glide Through Technology (GTT) now can navigate through even slow traffic with ease. The stylish loaded new TVS Raider raises the wicked bar yet again, bringing together thrilling performance, top-notch safety, and unmatched ease. We remain committed to creating motorcycles that our customers are delighted to ride and proud to own.

With its mix of advanced performance features, technology, and bold design, the new TVS Raider 125 once again raises the bar for premium 125cc motorcycles in India. It continues to cater to young, tech-savvy riders who want sporty looks, connected features, and everyday practicality  all wrapped in one wickedly fun package.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov has predicted that the coming winter will be the most difficult for the city.

"In recent days, the enemy has destroyed two transformer substations that powered our city. This is a serious blow to the capacities of JSC Kharkivoblenergo. And, looking at the trend of the attacks, it is already clear that the coming winter will be the most difficult for Kharkiv in all the years of the war," Terekhov said on Telegram.

At the same time, he reported that most consumers who were cut off from power as a result of shelling have already had electricity again.

"If about 22,000 subscribers were left without electricity at night, then now there are about 3,500. Such a trend is thanks to the round-the-clock and coordinated work of power engineers of the regional energy companies and public utilities of Kharkiv, who joined forces to provide all Kharkiv residents with stable electricity supply and public utilities," Terekhov said.
During a meeting in Kyiv, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dick Schoof discussed full compensation for Ukraine's losses from Russian aggression, sanctions, as well as energy challenges due to Russian shelling.

"Today we also talked about such important energy details for our state, indeed energy challenges for Ukraine due to Russian strikes on the energy sector. And I asked the Netherlands to think about providing us with additional assistance," Zelenskyy said during a press conference with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands on Monday.

The President noted that each of the Russian fighters who launch drones and missiles into Ukraine must be held responsible for their war crimes.

"That is why one of the directions of our joint work with the Netherlands and with our other partners is legal mechanisms that can start this. Real prosecution of Russian war criminals. Bring everyone to justice, as well as full compensation for Ukraine's losses from Russian aggression. We also talked about this, and I believe that the Dutch team supports this," Zelenskyy added.

He also discussed sanctions against the Russian Federation with Schoof, emphasizing the need to be tougher on Russia's use of the Baltic Sea.

In addition, the head of state informed his interlocutor about the situation on the front and in the regions of Ukraine.

"We are preparing new agreements on our joint defense production, in particular  the Ramstein formats and our Coalition of the Willing, which will become the basis for multilateral security guarantees for Ukraine and all of Europe. We are working to fully launch this system and expect the participation and active support of the Netherlands," Zelenskyy summed up.

Zelenskyy also wrote on Telegram: "The Netherlands is one of the most principled defenders of life, a state that really helps our defense, our resilience, and, what is also important, our work to achieve justice."

He added that with Dutch Prime Minister Schoof, "we discussed many topical issues: the main thing is our defense and defense projects, pressure on the Russian Federation and responsibility for crimes, political cooperation and support for our people in the issue of energy challenges."

Zelenskyy thanked Schoof and the Netherlands "for their unwavering attention and support."
A meeting between the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, and the UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Fergus Auld, took place on October 6, focusing on strengthening defense and security ties between the two countries, Azernews reports.

Colonel General Hasanov highlighted the growing importance of bilateral relations across various sectors, including the military sphere, noting that such cooperation plays a key role in advancing the capabilities of both nations armed forces.

Ambassador Auld expressed his satisfaction with the current level of collaboration and emphasized the significance of continued dialogue to further develop defense relations.

The talks, also attended by the UKs defense attache in Azerbaijan, Lieutenant Commander Gavin Tarbard, addressed future opportunities for defense cooperation, regional security issues, and other matters of shared interest.
Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia, Minister of Defense Robert Kalinak announced negotiations between representatives of the Slovak and Ukrainian defense industries on specific projects to strengthen cooperation.

Speaking at the third International Defense Industry Forum (DFNC3) on Monday, the minister noted that Ukrainian defense experience is "unique and literally tested by fire."

"We are open to investments in joint defense projects on both sides of the Slovak-Ukrainian border. Therefore, I have included several representatives of the Slovak defense industry in my delegation. They are here to hold talks with their Ukrainian colleagues on specific projects to strengthen our cooperation," he said.

According to the minister, Ukraine has shown the world how effective innovative solutions can be in protecting its sovereignty and preserving its independence.

"This resilience, based on innovation, is an inspiration to all of us. We, in turn, offer our capabilities in the field of ammunition, engineering, demining, chemical detection, indirect fire, special production and many other areas," Kalinak emphasized.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister of Slovakia Robert Kalinak has announced the preparation of a new support package for Ukraine, which includes the provision of engineering and mine countermeasures assistance.

"I am very pleased to announce that together with Minister Shmyhal we have just signed a memorandum on the 14th support package, which includes the provision of engineering and mine countermeasures assistance by Slovakia to Ukraine," Kalinak said during his opening remarks at the third International Defense Industry Forum (DFNC3) on Monday.

In addition, the minister emphasized that he is in Kyiv today to identify possible projects to expand "our already quite comprehensive defense cooperation" with his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal.

According to the Minister of Defense, since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Slovakia has increased its artillery ammunition production capacity 15 times.

"In addition, we have tripled the production of indirect fire systems. I am very happy and pleased to see my esteemed colleagues from Denmark here and we have just completed a joint project to supply 16 fully automatic Zuzana howitzers, in a few weeks," Kalinak emphasized.

He also noted that the information announced at the forum by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about Ukraine's ability to produce 40 units of the Bohdan self-propelled howitzer per month is "a galactic figure."

"The way Ukrainian industry is improving is truly impressive," he added.

The defense minister also reported that during a recent meeting between Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, defense cooperation was identified as one of the main topics of the upcoming fourth joint intergovernmental session.

As reported, Slovakia has provided Ukraine with 13 military assistance packages since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

In November 2023, the Fico government rejected the 14th package for EUR 40.3 million, limiting further direct military assistance to humanitarian and non-lethal (e.g. demining).
Ukrainian Fire Point to be able to start production in Denmark in coming months  defense minister

Ukrainian defense company Fire Point will be able to start production in Denmark in the coming months, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen has said.

Speaking at the third International Defense Industry Forum (DFNC3) on Monday, the minister recalled the launch of the Danish model 2.0, which will make it possible to invite Ukrainian defense companies to start production in Denmark.

"And together with my colleague, who is also here today, Morten Bdskov, we have just announced that Fire Point will be able to start production in Denmark in the coming months," the minister said.

He expressed hope that Fire Point will establish production in Denmark early next year.

"I hope we can also learn from Fire Point and I hope we can invite more defense companies from Ukraine to start production in Denmark," the head of the department emphasized.

It was previously reported that the Ukrainian company Fire Point, known for developing the Flamingo cruise missile, is preparing to launch the production of solid rocket fuel in Denmark.

In June 2025, Denmark and Ukraine signed an agreement on joint weapons production. On September 3, 2025, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen officially announced that Fire Point would open a factory in the city of Vojens (southern Jutland), near Skrydstrup Air Base (where the F-16 and F-35 are based). The company is already registered in Denmark under the name FPRT and has a CVR number (tax identification number).
Photo: 

Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Serhiy Deineko met on Monday with servicemen of the strike unmanned systems company of the 10th mobile detachment of the service, created by the aerial reconnaissance specialist, founder of the Matrix-UAV unmanned aviation bureau Yuriy Kasianov, about whom many information reports have been circulating recently, Spokesman of the State Border Guard Service Andriy Demchenko told Interfax-Ukraine.

"You answered all our questions today and lifted the veil of secrets that we had, to our great regret we really did not know a lot  this was the answer of one of the servicemen of Kasianov's unit during a meeting with Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Serhiy Deineko. The meeting took place today so that the servicemen could receive objective information firsthand and not be led to all those speculative manipulations that have been spreading recently," Demchenko said.

According to him, 35 servicemen were present at the meeting, and another 15 servicemen who later arrived at the meeting place also received information.

The service said that Deineko spoke about the reasons why the unit was disbanded and where the servicemen will be involved to increase the effectiveness of task performance in the future. He emphasized that they will be sent to other combat units of the department of reconnaissance and strike unmanned aviation complexes, only according to their expertise.

"He stressed that people are a priority and any speculation about attack aircraft in Dobropillia axis that is spreading is a blatant lie. Our task is to effectively hit the enemy, each in their own place and according to their training," the department said.

According to Demchenko, "the servicemen replied that there was no pressure on them and they were able to ask all the questions that interested them, to which they received comprehensive answers" from the service's head.

In addition, Demchenko said "today Kasianov again started talking about his effectiveness, which this time he did over Moscow on March 14." The spokesman said "they were indeed working at that time, targets were set for them, but the military command bodies again did not talk about the effectiveness of these actions." "The unit itself reported that the launches were made, but they do not know the results," Demchenko said.

As reported, on October 3, Kasianov announced the disbandment of the company of strike unmanned systems of the 10th mobile detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. According to him, the unit was liquidated by Deineko allegedly on the orders of Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak.
Retail sales across the eurozone partially rebounded in August after their steepest drop in two years the previous month, according to data out on Monday from Eurostat.

The volume of retail trade increased by just 0.1% during the month, matching economists' projections following a revised 0.4% decline in July.

Sales of food, drinks and tobacco were 0.3% higher over August, while automotive fuel sales were up 0.4%, slightly offset by a 0.1% fall in non-food product sales.

Among member states, the highest monthly growth rates in sales were recorded in Lithuania (+1.7%), Cyprus and Malta (both +1.5%), while the biggest declines were seen in Luxembourg and Portugal (both -0.7%).

Compared with August 2024, retail sales across the single-currency region were up 1.0%, slowing from the 2.1% and 3.5% annual gains seen in July and June, respectively.
Bank of England ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/ ) No changes made

Stocks in London were being called to start the session with a slight downward bias.

That was despite an overnight surge in Japanese stocks on news of a surprise victory by a pro-stimulus lawmaker, Sanae Takaichi, in a leadership vote within Japan's ruling party.

Weighing on investor sentiment, France's new prime minister, Sebastien Lecornu, opted to keep all the members of his cabinet.

That was prompting concern that the current government would fail to pass a new budget, possibly risking fresh elections.

As of 0821 BST, FTSE 100 futures were off by 3.50 points to 9,529.0.

In parallel, cable was falling 0.32% to 1.3437, Brent crude oil futures were adding 0.68% to $65.21 a barrel on the ICE and COMEX gold futures were a full percentage point higher to $3,952.10.

Helping to lift the latter, on Sunday OPEC+ countries agreed to boost their combined output by another 137,000 barrels a day.

That was less than expected by some economists.

In Japan, the Nikkei-225 was advancing by 4.93% to 48,027.36.

Ten-year French government bond yields were trading six basis points higher at 3.569%.

US equity futures were moving modestly higher.

On the economic calendar for Monday, at 0930 BST consultancy S&P Global would release its construction sector Purchasing Managers' Index for the month of September.

Ferrexpo boosts output

Mining giant Ferrexpo reported a modest rise in third-quarter output on Monday, as strong Chinese demand for high-grade concentrate helped offset reduced pellet production amid liquidity constraints. Total commercial production rose 3.3% quarter-on-quarter to 1.51m tonnes, though it remained 29% below Q1 levels.

AstraZeneca announced that its Datroway therapy against breast cancer had achieved positive high-level results in a Phase III trial both in terms of overall survival and progression-free survival.
Sirius Real Estate reiterated full-year guidance on Monday, despite the weaker economic backdrop weighing on UK valuations.

Updating on first-half trading, the FTSE 250 landlord  which owns branded business and industrial parks in the UK and Germany  said it achieved a 15.2% year-on-year increase in rent roll, boosted by acquisitions.

On a like-for-like basis, the rent roll rose 5.2%.

In Germany, the underlying rent roll was in excess 5%, despite the first half traditionally being the weaker part of the year.

Rent roll was also above 5% in the UK.

However, valuations in the UK were held back macroeconomic uncertainty, Sirius acknowledged, meaning it now expects flat valuations in the British portfolio this year.

Despite this, chief executive Andrew Coombs said it had been a very positive start to the year.

He added: We have continued to put the proceeds of our recent equity and bond raises to work, deploying some 300m so far this year through timely investments into Germany and the UK.

As well as being accretive to net operating income from the outset, these acquisitions also represent a significant source of further value creation as we put our proven asset management platform to work.

Sirius concluded: The group remains on track to deliver full-year results in line with expectations.

As at 0845 BST, shares in Sirius was down 2% at 95.30p.
PharmEasy has published a new report, Dengue: The Silent Threat of the Monsoon Season, based on an analysis of over 1.2 lakh diagnostic tests conducted across India between April 2022 and December 2024. The report also includes crucial information about dengue and its complications to promote community-level awareness.

According to the findings, dengue positivity rates vary widely by region. Bihar (17.51%), Haryana (15.43%), and Chandigarh (15.09%) saw the highest numbers, while Maharashtra (5.51%) and Karnataka (6.26%) reported comparatively lower rates, showing how early public health interventions can make a difference.

The report indicates that booking for dengue tests also started earlier, with people seeking diagnoses in May this year, rather than June, as seen in previous seasons.

The data reveal that young people aged 1130 are the most likely to test positive for dengue. Men under 50 recorded higher positivity rates, while women above 50 were more prone to severe complications.

Most infections occurred between August and October, when warm temperatures above 27C and humidity levels of 6078% created favourable breeding conditions for Aedes mosquitoes. During this period, dengue-related Google searches also spiked, reflecting growing public concern.

PharmEasy has urged stronger interventions in high-incidence states and greater protection for vulnerable groups. Preventive steps such as eliminating stagnant water, using mosquito repellents, wearing protective clothing, and installing nets or screens are strongly recommended.
Popular weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy are now available at more than 500 Costco pharmacies across the United States. AP

Popular weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy are now available at more than 500 Costco pharmacies across the United States. Novo Nordisk, the company that produces both brands of the semaglutide medication, announced the collaboration on X last week.

According to the post, Costco members with a prescription for the injectable pen will pay $499 out of pocket for a four-week supply  a cost that is about half of the list price for Ozempic, and about two-thirds less than that of Wegovy.

Drug information is already listed on Costcos website, which explains that executive members and Citibank credit card holders will also get a cash back reward as part of the chains prescription program. Those same shoppers will get an additional 2% discount on their purchase, Novo Nordisk said.

For members with health insurance, the price will depend on their plan.

We continue to find new ways to make access to our medicines more convenient, meeting people where they are, a Novo Nordisk spokeswoman said in a statement to the The New York Times.

Costcos price for a monthly supply matches the offer on Novo Nordisks direct-to-consumer website. But according to The Times, Novo Nordisks addition of Costco to its roster has the potential to introduce a significant number of new customers, as many health plans continue to deny insurance coverage for the drugs.

About 7 million Americans take a GLP-1 drug, The Times reported, and Morgan Stanley estimated that the number of U.S. users could expand to 24 million by 2035.
Nearly 130 public and private New York colleges and universities will waive their application fees this month. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File) AP

New Yorkers looking to further their educations will be able to apply to nearly 130 colleges and universities this month free of charge.

On Monday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the start of New York State College Application Month, with the State University of New York (SUNY), the City University of New York (CUNY), and dozens of private colleges and universities set to waive their application fees for students across the state.

Every New Yorker deserves the chance to pursue a college education without financial barriers standing in the way, Hochul said. By waiving application fees at SUNY, CUNY and nearly 50 private colleges across the state, were saving families money and ensuring that more students can access the opportunities and futures they deserve. College Application Month is about breaking down barriers and helping every student take that critical first step toward college success.

SUNY will waive up to five application fees per student from Oct. 20 through Nov. 3, with CUNY waiving its application fees for New York City high school students from Oct. 27 through Nov. 21, and for students outside of New York City from Nov. 10 through Nov. 21.

The private colleges and universities participating will waive their fees at various times throughout the month.

A full list of participating colleges and universities can be found on the New York State Application Waiver webpage.

Governor Hochuls leadership in prioritizing education is making a profound difference for students and families across New York. By waiving college application fees, were not only making higher education more accessible and affordable but also sending a clear message that every student deserves the opportunity to succeed, said New York State Higher Education Services Corporation President Dr. Guillermo Linares.

Applying for financial aid

Last week, Hochul announced that applications are now open for the New York State Tuition Assistance Program, and the NYS Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Incentive Program for the 2026-27 academic year.

The 202627 Free Application for Federal Student Aid is also available now, which determines eligibility for federal and state aid programs.

The states Tuition Assistance Program awards roughly $800 million each year to New Yorkers facing financial constraints, with a recent expansion making it available to more students than ever before.

Under the programs expansion, which was included in the FY25 state budget, the minimum TAP award has doubled from $500 to $1,000. The maximum annual award is $5,665.

Additionally, the budget has raised the income thresholds to qualify for TAP, in a change thats expected to benefit roughly 93,000 students, including 48,000 who are now newly eligible for TAP.

The NYS Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Incentive Program offers an annual tuition award to eligible students who study an approved two- or four-year STEM degree at any SUNY or CUNY college or university and agree to live in the state and work in a STEM field for five years after graduation.

The 202627 FAFSA and New York State Tuition Assistance Program applications are available through June 30, 2027, with the NYS Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Incentive Program application open until August 15, 2026.

More information on financial aid opportunities for New Yorkers is available on the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) website at hesc.ny.gov.
The Staten Island native's appearance at Riyadh Comedy Festival draws criticism from fellow comedians, including David Cross who called the kingdom a "totalitarian fiefdom." Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Pete Davidsons appearance at the Riyadh Comedy Festival has sparked backlash from fellow comedians and critics who accuse the events participants of ignoring Saudi Arabias human rights record.

The Staten Island native performed at the Bakr Al-Sheddi Theater on Oct. 3 as part of his first international tour, which includes stops across Singapore, Australia, Europe and the Middle East. His set in Saudi Arabia drew particular attention given his personal connection to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks  his father, FDNY firefighter Scott Davidson, was killed responding to the World Trade Center.

Prior to his festival performance, Davidson addressed the controversy during an appearance on comedian Theo Vons This Past Weekend podcast. When asked about performing in Saudi Arabia, Davidson said he has already faced criticism because of his fathers death.

Ive been getting a little bit of flack just cause like my dad died [on] 9/11. So theyre like, How could you possibly go there?

Davidson explained that for him, the decision came down to tour logistics and pay: I just, you know, I get the routing and then I see the number and I go, Ill go, he said.

Davidson has not publicly responded to the growing backlash from within the comedy community since the festival began.

Comedian and actor David Cross denounced the festival and those performing in it, calling Saudi Arabia a totalitarian fiefdom and accusing participating comics of looking the other way for financial gain. Others have joined in criticizing the lineup, which also includes Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart and Aziz Ansari.

I am disgusted, and deeply disappointed in this whole gross thing, Cross wrote on his website.

Davidson, whos currently continuing his tour across Europe, previously said he was stoked for his international run  even if some of the stops required reworking parts of his act to meet local restrictions. I cant believe that anybody would come see me over there, he said.
Mia's Rostiseria Y Parrilladas is located at 236 Port Richmond Avenue in Port Richmond. Olive Treadwell | 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: Mias Rostiseria Y Parrilladas.

If they prefer, customers at Mia's can enjoy their food and drinks at one of six seats at the bar. Olive Treadwell | For the Advance/SILive.com

About the business

What type of restaurant is it?

Mias Rostiseria Y Parrilladas is a sit-down restaurant that serves Latin food, featuring cuisines from countries such as Mexico and Ecuador.

When did it open?

Mias, named after manager and owner Casar Guarcas daughter, opened for business in July 2024.

Where is it located?

Mias is located at 236 Port Richmond Ave. in Port Richmond.

What are the hours of operation?

Mias is open Monday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 10:45 p.m. It is closed on Sundays.

Mia's serves many brands of beer, including Coors Light, Corona, Heineken, and Modelo. Olive Treadwell | For the Advance/SILive.com

When did it receive its liquor license?

The business received its liquor license in March 2025.

Does it sell or serve beer, wine, mixed drinks and/or hard liquor?

Mias offers beers such as Coors Light, Corona, Heineken, and Modelo, as well as wines like prosecco and pinot noir.

Wines like prosecco and pinot noir are also served at Mia's; the business received its liquor license in March 2025. Olive Treadwell | For the Advance/SILive.com

What are the most popular appetizers, entrees and desserts?

The roasted chicken is one of the most popular main dishes at Mias, as well as the parrilladas, a platter of mixed grilled meats, sausages, and sometimes seafood or vegetables. Many of the restaurants desserts are also widely loved, such as the cheesecake and tiramisu.

What are some items people should try?

Guarca, recommends people try the restaurants wide variety of parrilladas. Platters can include proteins such as grilled skirt steak, beef, pork, and shrimp.

Decorative art pieces and mirrors line the walls at Mia's above their many tables for customers to dine at. Olive Treadwell | For the Advance/SILive.com

Does the restaurant have an outdoor area people can eat food/snacks?

No, Mias does not have an outdoor dining area.

Does the restaurant take catering orders, if so how can a customer place the order?

Yes, Mias does take catering orders. Customers can place orders by calling the restaurant or ordering online through their website or the DoorDash app.

Mia's offers fruit shakes in flavors such as mango, papaya, passion fruit, and guava. Traditional Latin American drinks like horchata are also on the menu. Olive Treadwell | For the Advance/SILive.com

What makes this business stand out?

The authenticity of the Latin food served at Mias is what makes the business stand out, according to Guarca.

How to get in touch with the business

Mias Rostiseria Y Parrilladas can be reached at 718-216-1177, as well as through its website, miasrostiseria.com.
They said it would never happen.

But Canadian prog rockers Rush are hitting the road again, Variety reported.

The announcement comes five years after the death of drummer and lyricist Neal Peart and just months after surviving and founding band members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson had said that a reunion tour was not in the cards.

Taking the place of Peart, one of the greatest drummers in music history, will be Anika Nilles, a German composer and producer who has worked with Jeff Beck. She has also released four solo albums.

The tour, dubbed Fifty Something, will kick off with shows at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on June 7 and 9, 2026.

That venue hosted Rushs final performances in 2018.

Bassist Lee said that deciding to tour was a very difficult decision because of the work involved and also due to the devastating loss of Peart, who died in 2020.

It was a very sad time, and it took time for us to even contemplate, Lee said.

He added, And how do you replace someone who is irreplaceable?

But a turning point came after Lee and Lifeson had informally jammed on some Rush songs.

We were laughing so hard, and we were enjoying it so much, and it was almost like playing those songs dispelled the dark clouds, Lee said.

The tour will hit Mexico City, Fort Worth, Chicago, New York and Rushs hometown of Toronto before a concluding in Cleveland on Sept. 17.

The tour news was announced to select media and fans at a top-secret private event Sunday night at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

The event included an interview with Lee and Lifeson during which the Rush reformation was casually dropped on the crowd.

A fan question from a C.B. from Highland Park, Ill. (likely Q Prime Management co-founder Cliff Burnstein, who was in attendance) asked whether the band would tour again.

Lee and Lifeson responded with some lighthearted banter before Lee said, I kind of think that we should tour next year.

The audience at first reacted in disbelief, but then erupted into applause once it became clear that Lee was serious.

The band in January had put the kibosh on a reunion tour, saying that they did not want to harm their legacy.
Photo: https://eurosolidarity.org/2025/10/06

Attorney-at-law Illia Novikov said the websites of the president of Ukraine and the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) currently contain two versions of documents on the application of sanctions against MP, leader of the European Solidarity party Petro Poroshenko: one version with errors in personal data, and the second with corrections, which, according to him, is a sign of falsification of the decree.

As reported on the political force's website on Monday, Novikov believes that the Presiden't Office was framed by the National Bank, which on the morning of February 13 sent instructions to financial institutions to block Poroshenko's accounts.

"The representative of the president, together with the government, unobtrusively 'threw under the bus' Governor of the National Bank Pyshny. Since for the representative of the president, an essential thesis at the moment is that any presidential decree, at that time the decree on sanctions, comes into force only after it is published in the official Bulletin of the President of Ukraine. For them, this is an attempt to avoid the question of why they changed this decree. But they involuntarily said that the official NBU instruction for banks is arbitrariness, they should have waited for the newspaper, and the fact that the National Bank is introducing such standards is something wrong," he said.

The panel of judges of the Cassation Administrative Court, part of the Supreme Court, continued on October 6 the consideration of Poroshenko's lawsuit to revoke the decree on the introduction of sanctions against him.

It is reported that during the case consideration, it became known that the documents on the basis of which the sanctions were imposed were submitted to the NSDC retroactively, after the decision was made and the decree was signed.

"The court attached materials from which it follows that the documents that the government provided at the beginning of these proceedings as documents that reflected the procedure for preparing sanctions were actually never considered by the NSDC. In fact, these documents were ready when the NSDC meeting had already taken place, they were transferred only later," Novikov said.

Poroshenko said that during his speech in court that the authorities were trying to discredit him as the leader of the largest opposition faction before Western partners.

The next hearing in the case will be held on October 13.

As reported, on February 13, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on the NSDC decision of February 12, 2025 On the application of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions). According to the annex to the document, sanctions were imposed against five individuals: Poroshenko, Ihor Kolomoisky, former owner of the Finance and Credit bank Kostiantyn Zhevaho, former co-owner of PrivatBank Hennadiy Boholiubov and former MP Viktor Medvedchuk. Poroshenko appealed the sanctions in the Supreme Court. According to lawyer Novikov, the grounds for the sanctions were the so-called "coal case" and Kharkiv pact.
Former governor Andrew Cuomo gives a thumbs up at the Local 3 Staten Island Electrical Club I.B.E.W. on Thursday, September 18, 2025, in Great Kills. (Owen Reiter for the Advance/SILive.com) Owen Reiter

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo spoke at a Staten Island church Sunday morning, making a push for voters on the forgotten borough during a hotly-contested mayoral race that has shown him running behind Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdami.

A Suffolk University poll released in late September placed Mamdani with 45% of likely voters, 20% points ahead of Cuomo, who captured 25%.

Having made multiple visits to Staten Island over the last several weeks, it appears that the independent candidate is pushing for a more visible presence on a borough where he received more votes than Mamdani in the Democratic primary.

Cuomo may also be trying to nab the support of voters who previously supported Mayor Eric Adams, after the incumbent announced hed be suspending his campaign Sunday, Sept. 28.

A morning at church

Cuomo made another pilgrimage to Staten Island Sunday, addressing a packed house of parishioners at First Central Baptist Church in Stapleton.

During brief remarks he said that while Staten Island is considered and treated as an outer borough, that things are all going to change, should he be elected mayor.

Ive never forgotten Staten Island  and I never will. Its a vital part of New York City, but its often been neglected, Cuomo said.

This city has real trouble, Cuomo added. Were losing people. Were losing businesses. Were losing young people to gun violence.

Cuomo went on to say that while the city knows how to handle such problems, the trick in government is that we can make the transference from a good idea to actually implementing

In government its promise, promise, promise  thats not who I am, he said. If I say Im going to get it done; Im going to get it done. I know how to make change in government  I know how to make government work, he added before touting his accomplishments.

Mayoral candidates on Staten Island

As early as July, the Cuomo campaign tried to connect the candidate to Staten Islanders, posting a video that started with the candidate arriving by Staten Island Ferry for a visit borough.

He is then shown popping into several area businesses  A&C Superette & Salumeria, Manor Superette and Bagel, The Joan & Allen Bernikow JCC and Jodys Pub  to engage with residents and question them about some of the issues they find important. The clip ends with him shaking hands and saying, I wont let you down.

Cuomo also visited recently on Sept. 18 to receive an endorsement at a gathering in Great Kills with the Local 3 Staten Island Electrical Club of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and on Sept. 27, at the Eltingville Transit Center to receive the endorsement of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 726 and the unions New York State Legislative Conference Board.

Meanwhile, Mamdanis Aug. 13 visit to the borough as part of the 33-year-old candidates Five Boroughs Against Trump tour, went far less smoothly.

Even as he brought a message supporting, protecting and embracing the boroughs immigrant community to Istanbul Bay Authentic Mediterranean Restaurant in Stapleton, Donald Trump-supporting protestors took the opportunity to shout him down.

On the flip side, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa has been a very frequent visitor to Staten Island, where he is often greeted warmly. He has appeared at several rallies, shaken hands at numerous community events and last week held a traffic-related press conference with some of the Staten Island Republican elected officials who are supporting his candidacy.

The Suffolk University poll shows 9% of likely voters citywide responding that they would choose Sliwa.
FILE - Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., participates in a debate with Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., not shown, at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, June 2, 2025, in Boston, as live-streamed on Fox Nation. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) AP

As Democrats grow frustrated with U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), new polling shows he is gaining popularity among Republicans.

The new Quinnipiac University poll, released Oct. 1, showed 46% of Pennsylvania voters approved of how Fetterman was handling his job as senator while 38% disapproved. Another 16% did not offer an opinion, according to the poll.

However, the poll found that more Republicans than Democrats approve of how Fetterman was handling his job. This comes as Fetterman has frequently criticized his own party and bucked Democratic leadership in key votes, including voting for the GOP-led spending bill earlier this week.

Even President Donald Trump has praised him in several instances for splitting with his party, saying Fetterman is the most sensible Democrat.

The new poll found that 62% of Republicans approved of Fettermans job performance while 21% disapproved. In contrast, 54% of Democrats disapproved of Fetterman while 33% approved.

Independents are evenly split, with 43 percent approving and 43 percent disapproving.

One-time Democratic darling John Fetterman flips the approval script as Republicans embrace him and Democrats give him low marks nearly two years after GOP voters wouldnt give him the time of day, Quinnipiac polling analyst Tim Malloy said in a statement.

The Quinnipiac University poll was conducted from Sept. 25-29 among 1,579 registered voters in Pennsylvania. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2 percentage points.

Despite positive feedback from the GOP in the latest poll, Fetterman has maintained he will not leave the Democratic Party.

Fox News Sunday Morning Futures host Maria Bartiromo asked Fetterman last month whether he would consider changing parties, arguing there are 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.
Radhakrishna Mohan, left, is running against Councilmember David Carr, right, to represent Mid-Island in the New York City Council. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel) STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- City Councilmember David Carr and Democratic challenger Radhakrishna Mohan came together to discuss their visions for the Mid-Island at the Advance/SILive.com office last week in a sit-down interview with the papers Editorial Board.

Carr, the incumbent Republican who was first elected to represent Mid-Island in November 2021, said he was most proud of his efforts to bring a Gifted and Talented school to Staten Island, which is expected to open on the former St. John Villa campus by 2030.

His greatest challenge has been one that many borough politicians have faced, trying to fight citywide policies, projects and initiatives that fail to account for the unique nature of Staten Island.

You constantly seem like youre having to row upstream because the city comes with a perspective, the agencies, based in Manhattan mostly, come with the perspective thats very much not consistent with the views of Staten Islanders, Carr said.

Mohan, an IT specialist for the New York State Insurance Fund who has previously run unsuccessful campaigns for Congress and borough president, prides himself on decades of involvement in the Staten Island community, including service on community boards and NYPD community councils.

I gather a lot of information on what the community needs and Ive been doing this for so many years. With that, I thought I can extend my service to the community of Staten Island, especially District 50. I could do much more having this experience, said Mohan.

Heres what the candidates had to say about some of the biggest issues facing Staten Islanders and Mid-Island residents.

Battery energy storage sites

Both candidates agreed that something must be done to address the dozens of potentially dangerous battery energy storage sites that have been popping up in residential Staten Island neighborhoods.

Given the danger they pose, these should not be anywhere close to the community, said Mohan. Back in the day in India, I worked for an explosive company that the government started and that factory was all the way out in the mountains where no one would be impacted. So having that kind of experience, I think these should be moved out... not be anywhere close to the community.

Carr said there needs to be an established legal standard for how closely these sites can be placed from residential and commercial buildings, something the City Council has been unwilling to do in the past despite requests from Staten Island elected officials.

He pointed to an ongoing lawsuit against the City of Yes zoning text amendments that allowed for the proliferation of battery energy storage sites as the best way to rein them in.

The argument that were making to the court is that by divvying up City of Yes into three applications, they failed to consider the environmental impacts of all three in totality, and that this amounts to segmentation and that they really should have done an environmental impact study on all three being enacted as a package, explained Carr.

If we were successful in the lawsuit... all three applications would then become unsafe legally, and we would have to develop an actual standard that I think would be better informed, he continued.

City of Yes for Housing Opportunity

The housing component of the City of Yes has been met with overwhelming opposition on Staten Island due to concerns it could lead to overdevelopment and a destruction of the character of the boroughs predominantly low-density neighborhoods.

Carr said he believes the changes were enacted with renters in mind, and that property values could be arbitrarily inflated due to the new ability of adding accessory dwelling units on single-family lots, making home buying even more expensive for Staten Islanders.

Im not convinced that this was ever going to be a plan that achieved meaningful price reductions for people looking to buy and I dont think that was what was intended because I think this was very much a renters focused proposal. And so I think unfortunately its going to make home purchasing more out of reach for Staten Islanders, the councilman said.

Mohan said that Staten Island needs its own unique plan to address the housing shortage given the boroughs significant differences compared to the rest of the city.

I think this has to be a discussion between Staten Island elected officials and the mayor to see how it fits. Simply putting this City of Yes into Staten Island doesnt work and it is not well received... Staten Island is unique in a sense and I think we need a plan thats a better fit for Staten Island, he said.

Local transportation issues

The candidates were asked about various transportation issues impacting Mid-Island, including major roadway redesigns, universal daylighting and traffic on Hylan Boulevard.

Both agreed that Staten Islanders need more say in the major roadway redesigns implemented by the Department of Transportation, noting that such projects are often pushed through even when theyre overwhelmingly opposed by local community boards.

DOT is the chief offender when it comes to overriding the will of local residents here in Staten Island. If theres a group of people who have more contempt for the opinion of Staten Islanders, I cant think of one besides DOT, Carr said.

Simply putting out whatever they want when it is not well received is not good for the community, added Mohan.

The two were also aligned in their opposition to the City Councils universal daylighting bill, which would ban vehicles from parking within 20 feet of any intersection with a crosswalk in order to improve pedestrian visibility.

The candidates noted that intersections should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for potential daylighting, but that implementing the policy universally could have serious impacts on Staten Islanders given it could result in the loss of tens of thousands of parking spaces across the borough.

When discussing the constant traffic that plagues Hylan Boulevard, both Carr and Mohan pointed to the need for additional express bus service to prevent overcrowding and encourage more mass transit use.

Carr also voiced support for a South Shore fast ferry, while Mohan said the city should explore the use of emerging artificial intelligence technology being used in other countries that could help improve real-time traffic flow.

Crime and public safety

Mohan, who regularly attends his local NYPD precinct community council meetings, referred to public safety as his top concern and said that the NYPD needs additional funding to hire more officers.

He highlighted the success of the NYPDs new Q-Teams  squads in each precinct dedicated to responding to non-emergency 911 and 311 calls in an effort to address quality of life issues like abandoned vehicles, illegal scooters and late-night noise disturbances.

Carr said the biggest challenges facing the NYPD right now are recruitment and retention, as even when the city is able to hire new cops, the number of officers leaving the job often outweighs those being hired.

This is a problem of folks who are veterans of the police department not feeling like theyre in a position to do their jobs effectively anymore, that political leaders are not going to have their backs. Thats why I felt it so important to be supportive of the NYPD, to make sure that they have the tools to get the job done and to know that we trust them to do the job theyve been so expertly trained to do, he said.

The mayoral race

In regard to the mayoral race, Carr said that he is 100% supporting Curtis Sliwa, but that he would work with whoever is elected for the good of Staten Island.

I always say that when we come into a new term, we have to give each other the opportunity to do the right thing and to build a working relationship, said Carr.

When asked specifically about the possibility of working with Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, the councilmember reiterated that he would make a good faith effort to work with him, but raised concerns that some of his policies and initiatives would run counter to the desires of many of Carrs constituents.

My concern is that in talking about, like we did with the agencies earlier in this conversation, that he comes with an ideological commitment, a set of ideological commitments that are going to put him at odds with us on even the most basic of things. And so if thats going to be the case, if thats going to be how he approaches and responds to the policy needs of the borough, then I think, unfortunately, were going to be headed towards a contentious relationship, Carr said.

Mohan had little to say about any of the mayoral candidates, stating that his focus remains on his community and the ways in which he can work with whoever is elected to improve quality of life for Mid-Island residents.

I dont have any comments because Im more focused on my own district because with mayoral election, whoever is going to be elected, Im willing to work with them, Mohan said. Doesnt matter who is the mayor, who is going to be running the city. When I see some problem, something theyre doing without any justifications, then we put fire under their feet.
Parents of American soldiers who have died fighting for Ukraine in the war with Russia are slamming President Donald Trump, the New York Post reported.

Our loved ones  stood up for what is right. My son, and so many others, said, Its clear to see that this war is a war of good versus evil  said Terri Hepworth, whose son, Dane Alan Partridge, was killed in action in 2022.

I still dont think President Trump really understands clearly what our loved ones did. Id like him, and Congress, to actually talk to us and hear our stories.

Parents of Americans who have died fighting for Ukraine in its war with Russia have been encouraged by the presidents growing support for Kyiv. And they want the president to know of the ultimate sacrifices that their son have made for a foreign country.

If you read the Russians, they do not fight Ukraine; they fight America and Western civilization in general, said Gennediy Baturin, whose son, David, was killed in action in 2023. This is the underlying reason why our sons went to war.

There is no official count of Americans who have died fighting for Ukraine.

The RT Weatherman Foundation  a U.S. nonprofit that supports veterans and their families, provides humanitarian aid and has been on the ground in Ukraine  has helped the families of 62 Americans killed in action.

Total numbers are estimated to be much higher, with the Museum of the History of Ukraine finding that 92 Americans had been reported dead.

Trump has recently upped his support for Ukraine and is considering sending the country Tomahawk missiles in a bid to get Russia to end the war.

Trumps support means that hopefully I can travel there, meet the people that [my son] Dalton fought and died for, grieving father Warren Medlin said.

It means maybe I can go to the area where he died, touch the ground, feel his energy, presence, just to be close to him for a while.
President Donald Trump was slammed after making a wild claim about the 9/11 terror attacks and Al Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden, the Daily Mail reported.

In a speech to naval officers in Norfolk, Va., on Sunday, Trump claimed that he warned about bin Laden before the attacks in the Trump-penned 2000 book, The America We Deserve.

In praising Navy SEALs who stormed bin Ladens fortress and killed the notorious terrorist leader in 2011, Trump said that he had to take a little credit for warning the world about bin Laden a year before the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon that killed more than 3,000 people.

And please remember I wrote about Osama bin Laden exactly one year ago, one year before he blew up the World Trade Center, the president said. And I said, You got to watch Osama bin Laden.

Trump said, And the fake news would never let me get away with that statement unless it was true.

But Trump made no warning about bin Laden in The America We Deserve, which he co-wrote with Dave Shiflett. The Al Qaeda mastermind is referred to only once in general terms in the tome.

Trump also said he had spoken with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth about bin Laden. But its unclear when that took place as Hegseth was in college when the book was published.

But I can tell you theres a page in there devoted to the fact that I saw somebody named Osama bin Laden and I didnt like it, and youve gotta take care of him. They didnt do it. A year later, he blew up the World Trade Center, Trump said to the troops.

So, gotta take a little credit because nobody else is going to give it to me, the president said. You know the old story: If they dont give you credit, just take it yourself.

Trumps comments sparked a storm of criticism.

What the f***ing f*** is this maniac talking about. He told Pete Hegseth about Osama bin Laden a year before 9/11??? Pete Hegseth was a 20-year-old college kid a year before 9/11. Trump needs to be removed from office. Hes completely lost it, one user posted on X.

CNNs resident fact-checker Daniel Dale also pushed back on Trumps claims.

The president claimed his 2000 book warned the authorities they needed to deal with Osama bin Laden. Pure fiction. The book has no Bin Laden warning. Which people have noted since 2015. Because Trump has told the same fake story for ten years, Dale wrote on Monday.
Ethical investment firms and environmentalists are filing the first shareholder resolution to target an Australian bank over accusations it is financing businesses involved in the clearing of natural forests, which critics warn is threatening endangered species and raising financial risks.

A group of shareholders working with the Australian Conservation Foundation will on Tuesday file a resolution for National Australia Banks December annual meeting, focusing on the financing of businesses allegedly involved in deforestation.

Deforestation refers to when natural forests are lost because the land is converted to farming, tree plantations or there is severe and sustained degradation.

While farming groups have previously rejected that there is widespread illegal land-clearing, Westpac said in 2023 it would take steps not to lend for deforestation by 2026. ANZ Bank, which holds its annual meeting soon after NABs, is also expected to face a resolution on deforestation.
Ukraine and Denmark will sign a memorandum of understanding that will allow more Ukrainian defense companies to produce in Denmark, Minister of Industry, Business and Finance Morten Bdskov has said.

"Last month, we welcomed the first Ukrainian defense company ready to start production in Denmark, namely Fire Point, and we are ready to welcome even more. Today, we will sign a memorandum of understanding that will pave the way for more Ukrainian companies to produce in Denmark," he said at the third International Defense Industry Forum (DFNC3) on Monday.

Bdskov stressed that this helps both the Ukrainian people and opens the door for Danish industry to new technologies, groundbreaking innovations and expertise.

Separately, the minister noted that Denmark continues to look for new ways to invest, and "hundreds of millions of euros have already been spent on investments."
This time last year, Australian chief executives were heralding the end of the flexible workplace: 82 per cent of them expected white-collar workers to be back in the office five days a week in three years. How quickly things have changed.

The latest KPMG global chief executive survey, released this week, shows just 22 per cent of Australian respondents expect white-collar workers to return full-time in what represents a massive backflip on workplace flexibility.

Australian chief executives have backflipped on forecasts that workers will be forced back to the office five days a week. Credit: Eddie Jim

The numbers confirm what we have long suspected: a return to a fully back-in-the-office workforce in Australia is unlikely, KPMG Australia boss Andrew Yates said. According to Yates, it may reflect, another year on from the pandemic, a better grasp of priorities by both sides.

Employers understand that the degree of flexibility is what people expect. And I think employees, on the other hand, have also realised the benefits of coming into the office.
US soybean farmers are in the midst of harvesting what is likely to be a near-record crop. Thanks to Donald Trumps trade wars, much of it may be unsold.

Such are the straits the farmers find themselves in that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent  who himself produces soybeans, among other agricultural products  has foreshadowed a $US10 billion-plus ($15 billion-plus) rescue package, perhaps as early as this week, for farmers who have seen demand for their soybeans dive even as their costs have been inflated by US tariffs on fertilisers and tariff-induced price increases for farm machinery.

US President Donald Trumps trade war is affecting farmers in the Midwestern states, which tended to be strongly supportive of him and his other policies. Credit: AP

The US soybean farmers are expected to produce about 4.3 billion bushels in the harvesting season now under way. Their problem is not their bumper crop, but who is going to buy it.

Before Trumps first trade war with China in 2018-19, China, the worlds largest consumer of soybeans, bought about 60 per cent of American exports.
Australia is second only to the United States for the cost of extreme weather over the past 45 years, and every decade since 1980 has been costlier than the last, the insurance industry says.

The 2024-25 Insurance Catastrophe Resilience Report says losses from floods, bushfires and storms have climbed consistently every decade, after adjusting for inflation. The recent National Climate Risk Assessment predicted this to grow as global warming progresses this century.

An aerial view of the Taree floods in May 2025. This year alone, extreme weather events have reached nearly $2 billion in insured losses. Credit: Harrison Reed / Seascape Media

Insurance Council chief executive Andrew Hall said the perception of Australia mattered because the local insurance industry was heavily reliant on international capital markets, and that affected the price of premiums.

Weve got a number of populations living in high-risk zones, geographically exposed to extreme weather events, and those populations are growing, Hall said.
South Australian police have deployed technology previously used in a high-profile murder case in the search for four-year-old boy Gus Lamont, who went missing on his familys outback sheep station.

Lamont was last seen playing on a mound of dirt at about 5pm on Saturday, September 27, on his familys Oak Park Station homestead.

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The boy was reportedly left alone for half an hour before his grandmother attempted to call him inside, only to find him missing.

The family searched for three hours before calling police, with state emergency services, helicopters and Aboriginal trackers descending on the sprawling station for 10 days searching for the boy.

SA Police Acting Commissioner Linda Williams said today that a special drone with infrared technology had been sent out to search the property throughout the weekend.

South Australian Police Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott said the family had been spoken to by officers a week ago about the boys declining chances of survival, but crews had kept searching.

We are confident that we have done all we can to locate Gus within the search area, he said.

At this point, no trace of Gus has been located. No tangible pieces of evidence, such as footprints, a hat or clothing, have been located to identify any direction of travel to assist searchers.
For years, young French travellers like me moved to London to chase our dreams, or to the United States to get a taste of life on the other side of the Atlantic.

But with Londons sluggish economy fuelling anti-immigration sentiment, and the US increasingly isolating itself from the outside world, the Australian dream is rapidly capturing the attention of Gen Zs.

Clemence Sauvaget is a French journalist living in Australia.

To many young Europeans, Australia looks like a sunny land of opportunity where prosperity and work-life balance seem achievable.

On Instagram and TikTok, there are countless posts praising life in Australia. They show a tight-knit community of backpackers, a daily routine of surf and road trips, easy-to-find jobs and the promise of becoming the best version of yourself.
The alleged mastermind of a multimillion-dollar kickback scandal, who had been on the run from police for four months, has admitted that he started engaging in improper arrangements with road contractors as far back as 2012 when he was part of a government agencys graduate program.

After he was escorted in handcuffs into a public hearing on Tuesday, sacked Transport for NSW official Ibrahim Helmy, 38, conceded that he had received cash and other benefits from contractors, including cryptocurrency.

Under questioning, Helmy said on one occasion during the Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing that he did not request payment or benefits from contractors, saying, I wasnt asking to be paid  it just happened.

However, a short time later he conceded that he first sought or received payment from a contractor known as Complete Linemarking in 2012 while he was part of a graduate program for what was then the Road and Traffic Authority.
The clinic received only three applications from overseas doctors for the role, which pays $150 to $170 an hour, depending on experience. But the work requires GPs to have a thorough understanding of Australias healthcare system to help their patients navigate it effectively. And there are regulatory barriers that prevent international hires. Andric sees patients one day a week at the clinic while her own consulting list at the foundations Ashfield service fills up weeks in advance. The foundation hopes that early-career doctors, retirees, or any GP up to the challenge will take on the work, which has all the additional hallmarks of a case manager, counsellor, and shield against the bureaucracy of the healthcare system. Our clients are traumatised, lonely people, Andric said. They are victims of their circumstances, who often have multiple undiagnosed conditions and avoid hospitals because theyve been fobbed off ... so by the time we see them, they are very unwell. The clinic is equipped to conduct comprehensive consultations of patients, aiming to address any urgent concerns that bring them in, as well as any underlying issues or risk factors that may have been overlooked over the years.

The average GP consultation is 30 to 40 minutes with patients who may not have formal identification, no income, Medicare or other forms of support. We might end up doing an iron infusion, an antibiotic infusion, blood tests, wound dressings and urgent scans, Andric said. Registered nurse Lex Sevill, the Reverend Bill Crews and Dr Nada Andric, in one of the empty consultants rooms at the Blacktown clinic that need to be filled. Credit: James Brickwood Through sheer determination, staff tackle the red tape of the healthcare system to get their patients what they need, whether its an overdue hernia operation, specialist consults, or medication deliveries. For one of the foundations doctors, Crews recalled, There was a moment when they were working in a wealthy area of Sydney and a patient was having a nervous breakdown because her husband had just given her another million dollars, and she didnt know which bank to put it in.

Loading This doctor thought, Im wasting my time,  said Crews, who chose the Blacktown location, having noticed an influx of people from western Sydney at the foundations Ashfield centre, which offers free meals, medical, dental, social services and other supports. Andrics pitch is simple: There is something really honest about being able to offer safety to an incredibly vulnerable person who really did not want to be here and for them to know that I dont want anything from them. I can say to them, I just want you to tell me what is going on, and we can work on this together. And we get paid to do this. How good is that? she said. This is joyous, wonderful work with a really supportive team. Its interesting and rewarding, with lots of different [types of] medicine, and we really love the patients.

Dr Tim Senior, chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners poverty and health group, said he was not surprised the clinic was having trouble recruiting. Theres a sense that only rural and remote areas have GP workforce shortages, but so do disadvantaged areas in major cities. Doctors working in west and south-west Sydney areas tell me they really struggle to recruit, he said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, his fiancee Jodie Hayden and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth pack food hampers during a visit to the Rev. Bill Crews Foundation during the 2025 federal election campaign. Credit: AAPIMAGE Senior said the pay was below what GPs could earn elsewhere and for easier work, such as telehealth weight loss or cannabis consultations, but very often the GPs doing this sort of work arent in it for the money. I think this sort of model will be necessary in deprived communities, where private GP clinics are unviable.

But the healthcare system does not offer recruitment incentives based on socioeconomic disadvantage, Senior said. Loading Western Sydney Universitys School of Medicine was established to address the critical shortage of doctors in western Sydney. Professor Penny Abbott, chair of general practice, said the program has had some success selectively recruiting students from western Sydney and creating opportunities for them to work in underserved communities. WSU is among the universities across Australia applying for 100 Commonwealth supported places announced by the federal government in August to expand the GP workforce.
Students and graduates from Western Sydney University have been targeted in a fraudulent email scam, receiving messages impersonating the institution which claim their degrees have been revoked.

The scam email sent to students on Monday said: We regret to inform you that, following a thorough review, the decision has been made to permanently exclude you from any further study at Western Sydney University.

Students Jennifer Whitton and Logan Stig received the emails. Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong

The fraudulent email also told recipients that any existing certificates or awards previously issued to you are hereby revoked.

Student Jennifer Whitton, in her final term of a five-year biology degree, said she fell to the floor and started crying when she received the email just after 8pm on Monday.
Former navy chaplain Mel Baker was often at the front line of trauma. She helped soldiers battling with suicidal thoughts, led a funeral service for a sailor who had taken his own life and helped soldiers grieve when they lost friends in battle or to suicide.

But when Baker became suicidal after being bullied, threatened and sexually assaulted, she said her trauma was dismissed by the Australian Defence Force.

Former navy chaplain Mel Baker said she fell victim to a broken system after the ADF failed to support her through depression and PTSD. Credit: Max Mason-Hubers

The system was broken  it was not there to protect sailors, she said. Disclosure of suicidal thoughts could end your career.

Baker was the only female chaplain in the navy and the only chaplain in the history of the Royal Australian Navy to be posted to a submarine at the time, in 2013.
Its a good thing Danielle Van Veens daughter is settling in well at her local high school south of Brisbane  because its the only public option within 20 kilometres of her home.

She said her child is well-supported at Logans Flagstone State Community College, but the lack of schooling options is typical of the high-growth corridors in outer south-east Queensland suburbs where critical infrastructure has struggled to keep up with surging populations.

[We] wouldnt have much other choice, Van Veen said at the prospect of her daughter not settling in.

Flagstone local Danielle Van Veen with her three children. Credit: Danielle Van Veen

Theres a lot of primary schools but not a lot of high school options out here  weve got Flagstone Community College but not a lot until Park Ridge, and then Beaudesert, she said.
Photo: https://t.me/svyrydenkoy

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko met with her Dutch counterpart Dick Schoof.

As Svyrydenko said on her Telegram channel, during the meeting, the parties discussed ensuring the security of Ukrainian energy infrastructure, defense cooperation, and financial support.

"The enemy is intensifying attacks on our country's energy infrastructure and wants to do everything possible to ensure that we lose our own gas production, to deprive us of heat and light. Therefore, we paid special attention to the protection and restoration of this sector. This is one of the government's key priorities  to ensure heat and power supply in Ukrainian homes," Svyrydenko said.

Furthermore, the parties discussed a shared vision for the productive use of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's needs.

"This is fair, because Russia must pay a high price for its aggression," the prime minister said.

Further cooperation in joint defense production was also discussed, which remains a priority, as Ukrainian weapons are key to the security of all of Europe.

"I am pleased to hear assurances that the Dutch government's support for Ukraine's EU membership is and will remain unwavering," Svyrydenko said.
Opinion pieces from local writers exploring their suburbs cliches and realities and how it has changed in the past 20 years.

Im in the northern suburbs. Its late and raining, and public transport home doesnt feel an attractive option. A cab is loitering near the function centre. I wave and he gives an almost imperceptible nod.

Bingo! I jump in and say, Glen Huntly, please. Hes still fiddling with the GPS. No mate, not Glen Iris, Glen Huntly, I say. A chat ensues. Near the Caulfield Racecourse. Still a quizzical look. Near Carnegie. And were on our way, weaving through the late-night traffic.

This typifies Glen Huntly, a suburb where the biggest recent drama was not over a skyscraper or retail complex, but the correction in the naming of our newly rebuilt (and somewhat grandiose) train station: from Glenhuntly to Glen Huntly, a correction that alleviated a stone-in-my-shoe niggle that had annoyed me for years. Welcome to the highlights of this blink-and-youll-miss-it slice of urban tranquillity in Melbournes south-east. But for me, its relative anonymity is one of the best things about the suburb.

The other has to be its stellar access to all forms of public transport. It was this that drew me to Glen Huntly more than 25 years ago. Sick of train strikes, line work, and cancelled late-night services, Glen Huntly was the closest suburb in the south-east I could afford that was on a tram line. So, when the rail gods frowned, I could jump on the 67 tram and rattle my way to Melbourne, some 50 stops later.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called for decent human behaviour to mark October 7 as Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan condemned deeply disrespectful plans by pro-Palestinian groups to protest on the anniversary of the Hamas massacre that incited the war in Gaza.

With Israel and Hamas inching towards acceptance of a US-brokered peace plan to end a catastrophic conflict that has razed the Gaza Strip and killed an estimated 67,000 people, Albanese warned that any protests on Tuesday would undermine support for the Palestinian cause in Australia.

[Tuesday] is not a day for demonstrations, Albanese said, as the premiers of Victoria and NSW condemned the protests organised in both states to mark the second anniversary of the atrocities in which Hamas militants murdered 1200 people and took another 250 captive.

Israels ensuing invasion of Gaza was labelled a genocide in a landmark United Nations inquiry a fortnight ago.
There were serious tensions between the Liberals main players in the lead-up to the federal election in May. Andrew Hasties relationship with Peter Dutton had been on life support for more than 18 months. Hastie thought he was being hemmed in and cut out of policy formulation. Dutton thought he was lazy.

Dutton also thought then-shadow treasurer Angus Taylor was a terrible retail politician who produced policies that could not be sold or explained to the public. Taylor thought Dutton had persuaded himself, mistakenly as it turned out, that he had a golden touch with suburban voters.

Andrew Hastie and then-opposition leader Peter Dutton at Parliament House in Canberra. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Hastie, then-shadow defence minister, was largely absent during the election campaign  an absence seized on by Anthony Albanese to argue that the opposition was not ready for government. Hastie had been ill for a few weeks after contracting shingles, but there were other reasons why he was hunkered down in his Western Australia electorate of Canning, which he went on to hold with a 5.4 per cent two-party-preferred swing to him after he ran his own campaign his way.

The first that Hastie knew about his defence policy during the campaign  other than a comment in passing from Dutton after the budget that they would be spending more on defence  was around 10 days before the election, just before the start of pre-polling. He got a call from Duttons chief of staff, Alex Dalgleish, to tell him what the level of spending would be as a percentage of GDP. It would rise by $21 billion to 2.5 per cent within five years, then lift to 3 per cent in 10 years.
The United States latest top diplomat in Western Australia already feels at home.

In her first media interview since arriving for her three-year posting, new US Consul General for WA Colleen Altstock said her family were bemused to see American brands lining the road  including the latest US franchise on the block, Chuck-E-Cheese.

US Consul-General Colleen Altstock has arrived in Perth. Credit: Hamish Hastie/WAtoday

When we first arrived as we were driving in from the airport were like, Oh, look, a Kentucky Fried Chicken, oh, McDonalds, oh, they have Hungry Jacks  and it says home of the Whopper, she said.

Of course, right next to the airport we saw Costco. We knew that Costco was here and my husband and I were very excited about that because being from Seattle were big fans of Kirkland Signature products from Costco.
Gold Coast are already out of the Charlie Curnow race  and Geelong know they are up against it, too. The only reason they havent given up is that the Carlton star is a gun.

Then, in the red-and-white corner, there is Sydney, the club that famously lured champion key forwards Tony Lockett, Lance Franklin and Barry Hall.

The options for Charlie Curnow to leave Carlton while still under contract are limited. Credit: Getty Images

Cats football boss Andrew Mackie would not say whether St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall  who has requested a trade to Geelong  or Curnow was the clubs No.1 target, whereas his Swans counterpart, Chris Keane, declared the dual Coleman medallist was their priority.

Of course, none of this matters unless the Blues are willing to trade Curnow, whose six-year deal does not expire until the end of 2029.
Nothing was going to stop Ben Hunt from trying to earn redemption in the closing minutes of the grand final.

Not even a knee to the head, which knocked him to the ground and left him without much idea of where he was.

The Brisbane veteran was determined to make up for the mistake that proved so costly when the Broncos lost to the Cowboys in the 2015 grand final at the same stadium  and he was prepared to put his body on the line to do it.

With eight minutes to play, and already covering for Adam Reynolds, whose calf had given up on him, Hunt wrapped his arms around the legs of Ativalu Lisati. But Hunt got his head in the wrong spot, and the forwards knee met the right side of Hunts head, knocking him to the ground, where he lay face down.
It was during his surgical training that Tom Kelly realised something was deeply broken in the healthcare system. In outpatient clinics youd have three or four doctors seeing a hundred patients in a few hours, he recalls. So much of the work was just getting through paperwork  figuring out what tests had been done, writing letters, filling in forms. All of it got in the way of actually doing what we were trained to do: making a diagnosis and treating the patient.

Rather than accept that mountain of admin as inevitable, Kelly did something unusual for a junior doctor: he pressed pause on his surgical career and founded a tech start-up.

That gamble is paying off.

Heidi Health co-founder Thomas Kelly. Credit: Heidi Health.

The Melbourne-based doctor is chief executive of Heidi Health, which has just closed a $US65 million ($98.5 million) Series B funding round led by Point72 Private Investments and backed by Blackbird, Headline and LocalGlobe. The raise values Heidi at nearly half a billion US dollars and cements its reputation as one of Australias fastest-rising health tech companies.
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Reviews & adviceAir travel Opinion Virgin Australia has an outdated view of who a business traveller is Lee Tulloch Travel columnist October 7, 2025  5:00am

October 7, 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 134 View all comments

So, its 2025 and a Virgin airline staffer felt so uncomfortable about a mother discreetly pumping breast milk in the Melbourne domestic business lounge that they asked her to remove herself to the bathroom and do it there, otherwise leave. The entrance to Virgin Australias lounge at Melbourne Airport. Thirty-seven years ago, when I was planning to move back to New York from Sydney after the birth of my daughter, I was mostly worried about one thing. How was I going to continue breastfeeding in a country where they were squeamish, even prudish, about everything to do with lactating breasts? I didnt. I gave in to the prevailing social mores of the city at a time when it was child unfriendly. (You couldnt even take a stroller onto the subway.) I never expected Australia would be like this.

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Dr Elise Turner said she was asked to leave the Virgin airport business lounge for expressing milk. Maybe its an isolated incident, but its still shocking. Back when I was a young mother, there was a strong push for women to breastfeed their children. Our mothers had been sold the benefits of formula for its convenience. Breast was best was the prevailing wisdom when my daughter was born (and still is). Most mothers of my generation were comfortable nursing in public, mostly because no one dared challenge us. I dont doubt it made some people a bit embarrassed, but it was considered normal and natural  and if you had a problem with it, well, you had a problem with motherhood.

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These days, thankfully the feelings of women who cant breastfeed on demand are now also taken into account. Breast pumps are an essential tool. They give mothers the ability to bottle their milk, allowing fathers to take part in feeding, with bottles filled with the good stuff. I know one young mother who pumped so much quality milk she distributed to grateful friends for their babies. This should have nothing to do with travel. And shouldnt need explanation. But when mother of six-month old twins Dr Elise Turner tried to pump milk under her T-shirt in a quiet corner of the Virgin lounge recently, she was at first asked to do it in the toilet or leave. Turner had then asked if there was a private space she could use that was more hygienic than the toilet, and a Virgin staff member replied that she could hire a boardroom, which would cost an additional $100.

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Outside the lounge, most Australian airports provide mothers rooms that are not in the toilet. In the US, all large and medium airports are required by law to provide these rooms. When Turner dug in her heels and pointed out to a supervisor that it was illegal to deny her this right in the lounge, she was asked to leave and threatened with being reported  and potentially banned from using the lounge again, I imagine. There are men here and it will make them uncomfortable, was the reason. The lounge needs to be a pleasant experience for all. I wonder if a man did indeed protest? In which case, I would argue that men have something to do with the production of babies and might butt out. Turner posted an angry video and got an apology from the airline later, but no doubt shell carry the sting of the humiliation with her for some time.

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I dont want to add to the pile-on of the supervisor who banished Turner, but the hard stance they took seems completely out of line with current mores. Perhaps it was the use of the pump (even hidden under a T-shirt) that was the problem? Its true you dont see women using breast pumps in public that often. Some people may not even know they exist. But, believe me, if mothers didnt have to use them, they wouldnt. Related Article Exclusive

City life Doctor furious after being kicked out of Virgin airport lounge for pumping breast milk In Turners case, she tried to be discreet about using hers, but the supervisor made an issue of it. We have twin babies in our family and the only way the parents kept organised and sane, enabling both to share the feeding, was with the aid of this device. The newer kinds are even promoted as wearable. Its hardly radical behaviour to use one.

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The idea that expressing milk is something unpleasant, something that disturbs the lovely experience of a tranquil airline lounge, seems like a joke if you have ever been in one of those lounges at peak hour. Its not a church or a mosque, where, incidentally, youd be allowed to breastfeed. Perhaps in the end what disturbed the Virgin staff was the notion that business lounges are for businesspeople and that a lactating mother, even one returning from a medical conference in Perth, didnt qualify as worthy of that respect?

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London: Three days after a terrorist attack on one of their synagogues, British Jews are talking about something they would have dismissed just a few years ago: leaving their country for somewhere safer.

Michael Cohen, 65, says he and his friends feel prejudice against Jews has reached levels he has never witnessed in a lifetime in England.

Britains Jewish community wave British and Israeli flags in Londons Trafalgar Square on Sunday. Credit: Getty Images

Ive got many friends that are now thinking of leaving the UK because of the level of antisemitism, he says. Im not at that stage yet because I believe that it will get sorted. But Ive not seen the situation as bad as it is now.

Cohen is one of thousands in Trafalgar Square on Sunday, London time, to commemorate the October 7 attack two years ago, when Hamas militants crossed into Israel, killed 1195 people, wounded many more and seized 250 hostages.
Jerusalem: Israel has deported Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and about 170 other participants in a Gaza-bound aid flotilla intercepted at sea by the Israeli military.

Thunberg was among dozens of deportees to land in Athens, Greece, on Monday afternoon. Crowds of supporters gathered at Eleftherios Venizelos international airport and chanted Free free Palestine! as activists disembarked.

That this mission has to exist, its a shame! It is a shame! Thunberg said shortly after arriving.

I could talk for a very, very long time about our mistreatment and abuses in our imprisonment, trust me, but that is not the story.
Photo: https://t.me/vereshchuk_iryna

Deputy Head of the President's Office of Ukraine Iryna Vereschuk held a meeting with Italian Ambassador Carlo Formosa during which they discussed topics related to the return of prisoners of war, civilians and children illegally deported by Russia during the war, the Italian Embassy in Ukraine said on Monday.

"Behind every prisoner, every civilian taken hostage, every person forced into exile, there is a story and a family waiting. Italy stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine to restore hope and dignity to those who suffered the most," the embassy said on Facebook page citing Formosa.

In turn, Vereschuk said she and the ambassador discussed cooperation in the "humanitarian sphere."

"Meet with the Italian Ambassador to Ukraine, Mr. Carlo Formosa. We discussed cooperation in the humanitarian sphere. In particular, the subject of the meeting was the possible involvement of our Italian partners in international humanitarian initiatives to free Ukrainian civilian hostages," she said in Telegram on Friday.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Demolition works are now underway at the Sint Maarten Library, the Charles Leopold Bell School, and the Sister Marie Laurence School under the Fostering Resilient Learning Project (FRLP). The contract was awarded to Windward Roads Infrastructure, marking the first visible step toward rebuilding modern, safe, and resilient spaces for learning and culture.

The demolition of the Sint Maarten Library and the Charles Leopold Bell School is expected to take three months. Demolition of Sister Marie Laurence School is scheduled to last four months. Work began with site preparations such as fencing, placement of signage, and mobilization of heavy equipment. The dismantling of the Library is progressing steadily, and waste removal at Sister Marie Laurence School has commenced. Full demolition of the concrete buildings at Sister Marie Laurence and Charles Leopold Bell School will follow in the coming weeks.

The surrounding areas may experience minor inconveniences from the demolition activities, and NRPB is in close contact with the communities to minimize the temporary impact. At the library, NRPB has consulted with the neighboring Sundial School to minimize disruption,s particularly during exam periods. The demolition of floors and foundations, which is the noisiest work, is scheduled during the vacation period. At the Sister Marie Laurence School, conversations are ongoing with nearby residents to address concerns about the partial closure of Ellis Road and safety measures to protect homes in proximity to the demolition site. At the Charles Leopold Bell school, the historical building, mango trees, and other cultural heritage features will be protected and preserved. On all sites, measures will be in place to control dust, nois,e and vibration.

Where applicable, traffic will be managed to guide the safe movement of heavy equipment and materials. Road users may notice partial road closures and experience traffic delays. These will be communicated in advance. The demolition works are being coordinated with the start of reconstruction of the facilities. Procurement of a contractor for the reconstruction of the Sister Marie Laurence School is at an advanced stage. Tenders for the construction of the new Library and Charles Leopold Bell School will be launched later this month.

Members of the public with questions or complaints may visit www.nrpbsxm.org/complaints.

The Fostering Resilient Learning Project is financed by the Government of the Netherlands through the Sint Maarten Trust Fund, managed by the World Bank, and implemented by the NRPB. The project aims to rebuild and strengthen Sint Maartens educational and cultural infrastructure, ensuring safer, more resilient facilities for future generations. With these demolitions now underway, the community is one step closer to welcoming back schools and a library that will serve students, families, and the wider public for decades to come.
PARIS: France is confronting escalating political instability after Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced his resignation on Monday, bringing an end to his tenure after just 26 days. The move triggers yet another crisis for President Emmanuel Macron and highlights the deep fractures within the nation's political landscape.

Lecornu's departure came just one day after he unveiled his cabinet, a lineup that drew immediate and harsh criticism from all sides of the National Assembly. Opposition parties threatened a vote of no confidence, signaling that the new government was destined to fail before it could even begin its work. A particular point of contention was the appointment of former finance minister Bruno Le Maire to lead the armed forces. In an effort to resolve the gridlock, Le Maire later announced he was withdrawing from the cabinet.

In a surprising turn of events, President Macron has tasked Lecornu with formulating a "stability plan" for the country by Wednesday evening, giving him a 48-hour window to negotiate with political factions. This development capped a day of upheaval that saw the Paris stock exchange fall sharply amid investor concerns over the government's ability to address France's significant economic challenges.

The political turmoil is not a new phenomenon. It has been a constant since Macron's gamble on snap parliamentary elections in July 2024 backfired. Instead of securing a clear majority, the elections produced a hung parliament with ideologically opposed factions unwilling to form a working coalition. Lecornu is the third prime minister to leave office since last December, following the ousting of Michel Barnier and the subsequent collapse of Francois Bayrou's government.

In a speech following his resignation, Lecornu condemned the "partisan appetites" of political parties, stating they were all behaving as if they held an absolute majority. "I was ready for compromise," he said, "but all parties wanted the other party to adopt their programmes in their entirety."

This entrenched division has made governing nearly impossible, particularly as France grapples with a national debt that has reached 114% of its GDP and a deficit of 5.8%. These figures place France among the most indebted nations in the eurozone, underscoring the urgent need for stable leadership and economic reform.

With Lecornu's short-lived government collapsing, President Macron faces a critical decision with three potential paths forward:

Appoint a new prime minister: This would be the most conventional choice, but finding a candidate who can command a majority in the current parliament seems increasingly difficult. Dissolve the National Assembly: Calling for another round of legislative elections is a high-risk option. It could potentially break the deadlock but might also result in a victory for the hard-right and a significant loss for Macron's centrist party. Resign: This remains the least likely scenario, as Macron has consistently stated he will serve out his term until 2027.

The immediate future of French politics now hinges on whether Lecornu can achieve a breakthrough in his stability talks. Should he fail, the pressure on Macron to choose a decisive path forward will intensify, with the stability of the nation hanging in the balance.
PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- Fire Chief and National Disaster Coordinator of the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) Clive Richardson says ODM is closely monitoring the development of a low-pressure system located in the tropical central Atlantic Ocean.

The system is gradually becoming better organized and could become a tropical depression within the next couple of days.

This system is expected to be near or north of the northern Leeward Islands on Thursday and Friday. Therefore, ODM is calling on the community to remain vigilant and monitor weather reports.

Nine named storms have formed to date with the last one being Imelda.

Visit the website of the Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS): www.meteosxm.com or visit their social media page Facebook.com/sxmweather/ for the latest weather reports.

The remaining 2025 storm names are: Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van, and Wendy.

For more information on hurricane preparedness and to find a list of official resources, please visit the Government website: www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane where you will be able to download your Hurricane Season Readiness Guide and Hurricane Tracking Chart or you can use the following link: https://shorturl.at/VbaxC

Listen to the Government Radio station  SXMGOV 107.9FM - for official information and news before, during and after a hurricane. You can also follow weather related news and information as well as national addresses by the Prime Minister, chairperson of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) by going to @SXMGOV Facebook Page.

The hurricane season runs through November 30.
PHILIPSBURG:--- As part of the observance of Literacy Month in September, the book The Adventures of Anansi was officially launched and presented to the honorable Minister of VSA, Mr. Richinel Brug, who graciously accepted the publication on behalf of the honorable Minister of ECYS, Ms. Melissa Gumbs.

Also present at the book launch were representatives of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, school managers/directors of the public and government subsidized schools, and representatives of the Windward Islands Bank of Sint Maarten.

The publication features eight beloved Anansi stories, retold to capture the wit, wisdom, and wonder of the legendary spider. Originating in West Africa, the stories were carried across the Atlantic through the transatlantic slave trade, becoming an enduring part of cultural heritage in the Americas and the Caribbean.

The new edition draws on the 1970s television series based on the works of Curacaoan writer Nilda Pinto, illustrated by Utrecht artist Toon van Ham. The same illustrations now enrich this newly released edition.

The stories remain highly relevant today. Beyond their cultural value, they provide opportunities for reflection and dialogue. Each story concludes with a central question: What would you do in this situation?inviting readers to consider their own values and moral choices.

Following the official launch, a workshop was organized for teachers to introduce the accompanying teaching tools. During the session, educators worked with the first story from the book and explored how the materials can be applied in classrooms to support discussions on ethics and decision-making.

Throughout the final week of September, in partnership with Biblionef Netherlands, school visits were conducted to introduce students to the Anansi stories. In the weeks ahead, every school will receive a box containing multiple copies of The Adventures of Anansi, thanks to the support of the Windward Islands Bank.

This project, which also includes a website with teaching resources, has been made possible through the support of the Nederlands Letterenfonds. Separate editions of the book are released in English, Dutch, Papiamentu, and Papiamento, ensuring that pupils throughout the Dutch Kingdom can experience the legacy of Anansi in their own language.

Special recognition is extended to the Project Group Kompa NanziElodie Heloise, Philie van Veen, Richenel Ansano, Crisen Schorea, and Marjan de Visser-Lemstraas well as to all contributors who helped bring this project to fruition.

And finally, we want to thank the management of Windward Island Bank of St. Maarten for assisting with the distribution of these books to all public and government-subsidized schools.
China's chip challenge: the race to match US tech



Beijing, Oct 6 (AFP) Oct 06, 2025



China's push to develop top-end artificial intelligence microchips is gaining momentum, but analysts say it will struggle to match the technical might of US powerhouse Nvidia within the current decade.

Ramping up its chip industry is a way for Beijing to beat restrictions imposed by Washington on exports of the most advanced chips -- used to power AI systems -- to China.

The United States cites national security concerns, such as the risk of giving China a military advantage, for the block, a geopolitical bind that shows no sign of easing.

"China wants chips that policy cannot take away," said Stephen Wu, a former AI software engineer and founder of the Carthage Capital investment fund.

However, "full end-to-end parity with Nvidia's best chips, memory packaging, networking and software is not guaranteed" by 2030 or even beyond, Wu told AFP.

Announcements of computing upgrades by Chinese companies and reports of plans to dramatically increase output of advanced semiconductors have driven up chip-related shares in the country.

But to catch up with Nvidia, China needs to make fast progress on high-bandwidth memory and packaging -- "the hardest and most complex parts of the chip", Wu said.

Other challenges include building the right software to harness the chips' power, and upgrading manufacturing tools.

"These chips are extremely advanced and tiny, so imagine carving a stone sculpture with a hammer instead of a chisel," Wu said.



- 'Only way' to succeed -



"The industry consensus is China at least needs five to ten years to catch up," said George Chen of The Asia Group, a view reflected by Dilin Wu, research strategist at Pepperstone.

"The future is bright, but not yet," she told AFP.

"It's maybe a 2030 story", as "significant gaps remain in terms of performance, and also in terms of energy efficiency and ecosystem maturity".

Public demand for AI services is booming in China, and while government support for new chips is "substantial", the investment required is "immense", she added.

Shares in Alibaba, the e-commerce titan ploughing billions of dollars into AI tech, have more than doubled since January.

And Chinese chip industry leader Huawei will reportedly double output of its top Ascend 910C chip in the next year.

The hype has also sharply driven up stocks in the smaller chipmaker Cambricon, sometimes dubbed "China's Nvidia".

"I think this rally can be sustained", partly because it is driven by Chinese government policy, Pepperstone's Wu said.

Even Xiaomi, whose 2014 venture into chip design was a self-confessed flop, is turning back to semiconductors.

"Chips are the only way for Xiaomi to succeed," the company's CEO Lei Jun said in Beijing last month, referring to the production of high-end smartphone chips.



- 'Best in China' -



China, the world's biggest consumer of semiconductors, is a huge market for California-based Nvidia.

Nvidia chips are still "the best... to train large language models", the systems behind generative AI, said Chen Cheng, general manager for AI translation software at tech firm iFLYTEK.

Faced with US restrictions, "we overcame that difficulty" by shifting to Chinese-made tech, she said in a group interview.

"Now our model is trained on Huawei chips" -- currently the best in China, Cheng said.

Meanwhile Nvidia, the world's largest company by market capitalisation, is under pressure from both sides.

The Financial Times reported last month that Beijing had barred major Chinese firms from buying a state-of-the-art Nvidia processor made especially for the country.

And the company must now pay the US government 15 percent of revenue from certain AI chip sales in China.

Nvidia boss Jensen Huang has warned that restrictions on exporting his most cutting-edge semiconductors to China will only fuel the country's rise.

"They're nanoseconds behind us," the leather jacket-clad Huang said on a tech business podcast.

"So we've got to go compete."

kaf-ll-reb/mtp

NVIDIA

Alibaba
Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof inspected the work of a Ukrainian manufacturer of unmanned aerial systems.

"Together with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, we learned about the work of one of Ukraine's leading manufacturers of unmanned aerial systems. The company comprises several modern production facilities and has already established serial production of kamikaze drones of various configurations  both FPV copters and fixed-wing aircraft," he wrote on Telegram on Monday.

According to the minister, the company has its own design bureau and a partner R&D laboratory in collaboration with European colleagues, particularly from the Netherlands.



"We expect more and more foreign partners to establish production and technology development partnerships with Ukrainian defense industry companies. This is an opportunity to create cutting-edge weapons and strengthen European security," Shmyhal concluded.

As reported, Schoof visited Kyiv on Monday, meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.

This is Schoof's second visit to Kyiv since his appointment as prime minister in July 2025.
Press Release from Business Wire: Heidi



(AFP) Oct 06, 2025



MELBOURNE, Oct 6, 2025 (BSW) - Heidi, the fast-growing healthcare AI company, today announced the closing of a $65 million Series B funding round, led by Point72 Private Investments with participation from continuing investors Blackbird, Headline, and Latitude, the growth fund of Phoenix Court. This round values Heidi at $465 million and brings total funding to nearly $100 million.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251005012225/en/

Pictured (L-R): Heidi co-founders Waleed Mussa, CFO; Dr. Thomas Kelly, CEO; and Yu Liu, CTO.



The Series B funding will accelerate Heidi's mission to build an AI Care Partner that sits alongside clinicians, expanding their capacity by automating tasks such as clinical documentation, evidence search, and follow-up communications. Research shows clinicians spend nearly as much time on administration as on patient care. In just 18 months, Heidi has returned more than 18 million hours to frontline clinicians by streamlining critical administrative tasks.

Dr. Thomas Kelly, the CEO and co-founder of Heidi and former vascular surgical resident, said:

"It is untenable that healthcare demand continues to rise while clinical time continues to shrink. Building a sustainable healthcare system requires expanding clinical capacity without compromising clinician wellbeing or patient safety. That's why I founded Heidi: to build an AI Care Partner that stands alongside clinicians, empowering them to deliver the care to which they have dedicated their lives."

Tens of thousands of clinicians from over 200 medical specialties have turned to Heidi to ease administrative overload. Over the past 18 months, Heidi has supported 73 million patient consults and now supports over two million consults weekly in 110 languages across 116 countries.

As part of this Series B funding round, Heidi will continue to expand their headcount, office locations and local support in the USA, UK and Canadian markets and build on clinician-led adoption in France, Spain, Germany, Ireland, South Africa, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Primary care, hospitals and healthcare systems are exploring AI capabilities with Heidi, in:

-- the UK selected by Modality Partnership in the largest deployment of ambient AI in UK and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; in pilot programmes with NHS Trusts across the North West London Acute Provider Collaborative - a group of hospitals serving a local population of ~2.2 million and One LSC, the collective of the five NHS Trusts in Lancashire and South Cumbria, serving nearly 1.8 million people;

-- the USA with Beth Israel Lahey Health, the largest network of hospitals in Massachusetts and is cited as a "transformation partner" by MaineGeneral, one of the largest hospital networks in Maine which operates the biggest outpatient centre in the state;

-- Canada as the official choice of the Yukon Government;

-- Australia's public health system with Monash Health, serving a local population of ~1.6 million across 40 facilities including 7 hospitals, and Queensland Health Children's Hospital and Health Service, who leads life changing-care for children and young people, delivering a full range of clinical services, tertiary level specialist care and health promotion programs;

-- New Zealand, formally endorsed by the Health Ministry as one of two healthcare AI providers safe to trial in the public health system.

Sri Chandrasekar, Managing Partner at Point72 Private Investments, which led the Series B funding round said:

"We believe administrative burden is contributing to clinician burnout and capacity challenges across healthcare systems. Heidi's platform has the potential to meaningfully improve how clinicians manage their administrative workflows. We're impressed by the adoption rates they've demonstrated within health systems and are excited to support their vision of expanding healthcare capacity while preserving the human touch in patient care."

Heidi also today announced the appointment of Paul Williamson as Chief Revenue Officer, and Dr. Simon Kos as Chief Medical Officer.

Paul Williamson, previously Head of Revenue at Plaid, said:

"During my career, I've chosen to work with companies that have transformed their respective industries - from Salesforce in customer relationship management to Plaid in financial services. Today, I join Heidi's mission to redefine healthcare in the age of AI."

Dr. Simon Kos, previously Chief Medical Officer of Microsoft, said:

"With Heidi by their side, clinicians not only improve their experience of delivering care but the patients' experience of receiving it. Heidi's bold vision extends beyond the current promise of ambient voice technology and into a future where every clinician can leverage AI to expand their clinical capacity while protecting the human touch in healthcare."

About Heidi

Heidi is building an AI Care Partner to expand clinical capacity by automating administrative work - documentation, form filling, and task management - so clinicians can focus on patients. Used across emergency departments, general practice, and specialist clinics, Heidi supports more than 2 million consults each week in 110 languages from 116 countries. Founded in Melbourne, Australia, Heidi has raised $96.6M USD from global investors including Point72 Private Investments, Blackbird, Headline, Phoenix Court's growth fund - Latitude, Possible Ventures, and Archangel. Heidi adheres to international standards including the NHS, HIPAA, GDPR, and Australian Privacy Principles, and has obtained enterprise-grade security certifications such as SOC2 and ISO27001.

Learn more at heidihealth.com.







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Contact

Heidi Media:Emma [email protected]

USA:Mackenzie [email protected]

UK:Rachel [email protected]

Australia, New Zealand, Asia Pacific:Caroline [email protected]

Canada:Lauren [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: HumanX



(AFP) Oct 06, 2025



AMSTERDAM, Oct 6, 2025 (BSW) - HumanX, the world's leading AI event, is officially coming to Europe. Built by the team behind Money20/20, Shoptalk, and HLTH, the organization announced today the launch of HumanX EMEA, a new global gathering taking place September 22-24, 2026, at The RAI in Amsterdam.

Already established as the premier ecosystem enabling enterprise AI strategy, implementation, and cross-sector collaboration in the United States, HumanX now brings its proven platform to Europe at a time of historic momentum for the region's AI ecosystem. The expansion comes on the heels of HumanX's rapid growth in the U.S., where its next event will draw over 6,000 attendees, 350 speakers, 400 vendors, and more than 300 media from across the globe.

HumanX EMEA connects Europe's AI ecosystem with global leaders, bringing together 2,500+ senior practitioners, partners, and 200+ media alongside speakers from the U.S., Asia, and Europe. The event focuses on responsible, high-impact AI adoption - not as an imported American conference, but as a bridge uniting Europe's thriving AI community with its global counterparts.

"Europe is at a pivotal moment in AI, and it deserves a world-class platform that reflects its growing influence in shaping the future of artificial intelligence," said Stefan Weitz, CEO of HumanX. "European companies are incredibly innovative, but they need access to the same caliber of strategic insights and proven playbooks that are accelerating AI adoption globally. HumanX is built to meet this moment: a platform for solutions, partnerships, and action that helps leaders cut through barriers, align global momentum with European strengths, and drive AI forward in a way that's responsible, ambitious, and uniquely European."

Today, HumanX EMEA also announces its first 50 speakers, including Clay Bavor, Co-founder at Sierra and former Google AR/VR leader; May Habib, co-founder & CEO at Writer; and Douwe Kiela, Co-founder & CEO of Contextual. The lineup features executives from over 15 unicorns, including Quantexa, Owkin, and Decagon, as well as leading venture capital firms Lightspeed, Renegade Partners and Radical Ventures.

Amsterdam was chosen as the European hub for its strategic position as a gateway between Europe, the Middle East, and global markets, combined with the Netherlands' progressive approach to AI governance and robust multilingual tech infrastructure.

"We welcome HumanX and its global community to The Netherlands. Hosting the EMEA event in Amsterdam will facilitate collaboration and knowledge-sharing, and help our ecosystem to connect and thrive in this fast-changing field," said Constantijn van Oranje, special envoy of Techleap, which has also become an event supporter.

"We are thrilled to welcome HumanX to Amsterdam, a city that thrives on creativity and connection. Artificial Intelligence is not just a technology; it is a force that will shape how we live, work, and solve global challenges," said Maurits van der Sluis, Member of the Board RAI Amsterdam. "By bringing the world's AI community together, HumanX helps unlock new ideas and inspires collaboration that can drive a better future for Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and beyond."

In the lead-up to the event, HumanX will host multiple events, dinners, and gatherings across Europe to build community and foster connections.

HumanX EMEA 2026will open registration in early 2026, with further speaker and partner announcements rolling out throughout the year.

Learn more about HumanX EMEA 2026 here

About HumanXHumanX is the premier AI strategy summit for global executives, investors, and innovators. Built by the team behind Money20/20, Shoptalk, and HLTH, it convenes senior decision-makers to exchange actionable insights, forge high-value partnerships, and accelerate enterprise adoption of AI. With no pay-to-play agenda and a focus on real business outcomes, HumanX is where vision translates into measurable value.







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Contact

Barry SalmonHead of Media, [email protected]







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Press Release from Business Wire: G2 Risk Solutions



(AFP) Oct 06, 2025



BURLINGAME, Oct 6, 2025 (BSW) - G2 Risk Solutions (G2RS) today announced the completion of its transaction with EverC, expanding G2RS' global reach and adding proven AI-powered risk solutions to its product suite.

Now with the acquired capabilities of EverC, G2RS delivers a comprehensive suite of AI- and analyst-driven risk solutions. Products are built to help global banks, merchant acquirers and online marketplaces strengthen defenses against fraud, scams and illegal or unsafe transactions. This includes the recently launched Smart Scan, an AI-powered risk assessment tool for marketplaces and their payment providers.

Other solutions from G2RS include proprietary risk intelligence, merchant onboarding, continuous monitoring, education and professional services, scam detection solutions and automated risk management.

"Adding EverC's deep marketplace expertise and battle-tested AI to our portfolio promises to fortify online marketplaces against escalating threats, strengthening what has become the circulatory system of global e-commerce," said Rochelle Blease, president of G2RS.

"Together as a single organization, we'll leverage proven AI and unrivaled expertise to raise the industry standard for e-commerce risk innovation," said Brian Longe, chief executive officer of G2RS, who added that G2RS now serves nearly every major payment provider worldwide from offices in the U.S., Europe, India and Israel.

The mission-focused companies have agreed not to publicly disclose financial terms of the deal.

The transaction has been supported by several advisors, including DLA Piper LLP, which is acting as legal advisor to G2RS; PJT, acting as financial advisor to G2RS; Deutsche Bank, acting as financial advisor to EverC; and Meitar, acting as legal advisor to EverC.

About G2 Risk Solutions (G2RS)

G2 Risk Solutions is the definitive expert in risk and compliance business intelligence for financial institutions and online platforms. We are industry pioneers providing market-leading solutions for merchant risk, identity verification, digital commerce risk, bankruptcy risk, and credit risk and regulatory reporting. We are driving innovation and shaping the future of risk management through unprecedented data, technology, and global compliance and risk expertise, providing the financial services and digital commerce ecosystems with the tools needed to navigate complex and ever-changing regulatory requirements and mitigate risk. To learn more, visit g2risksolutions.com.







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Media Contact:Nicole [email protected] 314-805-2165







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Press Release from Business Wire: APIX Senegal S.A.



(AFP) Oct 06, 2025



DAKAR, Oct 6, 2025 (BSW) - As the landscape of foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into Africa is being reshaped, Senegal aims to capture a growing share of this capital through the Forum Invest in Senegal 2025 (Fii Senegal 2025) (http://apo-opa.co/3KzxBkp), which opens on Tuesday in Diamniadio.

"Senegal is positioning itself as a crossroads between Africa and the rest of the world, a gateway for attracting capital, technology, and expertise," explains Bakary Sega Bathily, Director General of APIX, the agency responsible for investment promotion and major infrastructure projects.

With the central theme of 'connecting opportunities, building the future,' the event-held under the patronage of His Excellency, President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye-aims to showcase a portfolio of strategic projects across three key sectors:

Energy: The development of natural gas from Yakaar-Teranga, combined with investments in solar and wind power, aims to position Senegal as a regional energy hub, both as an exporter and a cost-competitive provider of electricity.

Infrastructure: The $1.2 billion Ndayane Port, the Dakar-Bamako transport corridor, and large-scale water projects are designed to strengthen logistical connectivity and secure water supply.

Digital: The development of a sovereign cloud, a national data center, and support for a startup ecosystem in fintech, AI, and cybersecurity aim to diversify the economy beyond traditional sectors.

With growth projected at around 8.4% in 2025, driven by the first gas exports, Dakar aims to strengthen its reputation as a stable and attractive destination for investors.

Beyond the projects themselves, Dakar aims to capitalize on its structural strengths: recognized political stability, a strategic geographic location offering access to 400 million consumers across ECOWAS, and a shifting regulatory framework that includes the new Investment Code, the Startup Act, and a reinforced public-private partnership system.

"Fii Senegal 2025 is more than a forum-it's a signal to global markets. Senegal seeks to position itself as a key player in Africa's transformation, guided by transparency, innovation, and sustainability," emphasizes Bathily.

In 2024, the country attracted nearly $3 billion in FDI, primarily in energy and infrastructure, according to official data. Authorities hope that the 2025 edition of the forum will help turn more announcements into concrete, bankable projects.

Full programme details are available at www.FiiSenegal.sn.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APIX Senegal S.A.

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OpenAI unveils ChatGPT app integration feature



San Francisco, United States, Oct 6 (AFP) Oct 06, 2025



OpenAI on Monday unveiled a new feature for ChatGPT, the leading generative AI model with 800 million weekly users, enabling it to interact with everyday apps like Spotify and Booking.com.

Chief Executive Sam Altman announced the new tool to a crowd of enthusiastic developers gathered in San Francisco for the company's annual "Developer Day."

The new feature, Apps SDK, allows ChatGPT to interact with various apps to select music, search for real estate or explore hotel and flight booking sites.

Initial partners including Booking.com, Canva, Coursera, Figma, Expedia, Spotify and Zillow launched Monday in markets where their services operate.

Additional partners, including Uber, AllTrails and DoorDash, are expected later this year.

However, the feature is not yet available in Europe, where rules on deployment of data-heavy AI tools are stricter.

The move marks a significant expansion of ChatGPT's capabilities, blending traditional interactive elements like maps and playlists with conversational AI.

Users could, for example, ask "Spotify, make a playlist for my party this Friday" and have the music streaming app intervene within the chat.

ChatGPT can also suggest apps when relevant to the conversation.

For example, if a user is discussing buying a new home, ChatGPT can turn to the Zillow app to browse listings matching their budget on an interactive map inside ChatGPT.
Members of the European Parliament will discuss the recent incursions by Russia into European Union airspace and critical infrastructure on Wednesday, according to the agenda for the current week, published on the European Parliament website on Monday.

The discussion is planned together with representatives of the European Commission and Denmark, which holds the presidency of the Council of the EU. The vote on the relevant resolution is scheduled for Thursday, October 9.

The European Parliament's agenda for the current week also includes peace efforts for the Gaza Strip, simplified EU rules on agriculture, EU digital sovereignty, and the completion of the single market. Ukraine is not mentioned.
Iran says will not resume nuclear talks with Europeans 'at this stage'



Tehran, Oct 6 (AFP) Oct 06, 2025



Iran does not plan to immediately resume nuclear talks with European nations after they reimposed sanctions, the foreign ministry said on Monday.

Britain, France and Germany, signatories to Iran's 2015 nuclear deal, reimposed sanctions on September 28, triggering in turn the return of UN sanctions under the so-called snapback mechanism.

"We have no plans for negotiations at this stage," ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said, adding that Iran was examining the "consequences and implications" of the restart of sanctions initiated by the countries known as the E3.

"Of course, diplomacy -- in the sense of maintaining contacts and consultations -- will continue," Baqaei said.

"Whenever we feel that diplomacy can be effective, we will certainly make decisions based on the country's interests and priorities," he added.

Western countries, spearheaded by the United States and joined by Israel, accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons and define uranium enrichment as a red line.

Iran categorically rejects the accusations, insisting its nuclear programme is solely for civilian purposes and that it has a right to enrichment under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran is the only country without a nuclear weapons programme to enrich uranium to 60 percent, close to the threshold of 90 percent required for a bomb.

In 2015, the United States, with the three European countries, Russia, and China concluded an agreement with Iran providing for the regulation of Iranian nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.

President Donald Trump decided during his first term in 2018 to withdraw from the deal and reinstate sanctions.

In retaliation, Iran has gradually withdrawn from some commitments, particularly on uranium enrichment.

Iran has repeatedly warned that a return of sanctions would lead to a suspension of cooperation with the IAEA.

On Sunday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that cooperation with the IAEA, the UN's nuclear watchdog, "is no longer relevant" with the reintroduction of UN sanctions, though it was not clear whether Iran intends to completely break with the agency.
Shmyhal: Ukraine will receive five Bozena mine-clearing vehicles and other equipment from Slovakia

Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal and his Slovak counterpart Robert Kalinak signed an agreement on the transfer of non-lethal equipment and technology.

"We have signed an agreement with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Slovakia, Robert Kalinak, on the transfer of non-lethal equipment and technology. Slovakia will provide Ukraine with engineering and construction equipment, including Bozena vehicles, transport, mine-clearing systems, and medical evacuation equipment, free of charge," Shmyhal wrote on Telegram on Monday.

He also thanked the government and people of Slovakia for their support.

"During the meeting, I thanked my Slovak counterpart for their assistance, which is saving Ukrainian lives. We feel Slovakia's support on the path to achieving a just and lasting peace. I also thanked Slovakia for the assistance packages it has already provided. The country is working on a new, fifteenth, assistance package," the Ukrainian defense minister noted.

According to him, the parties also discussed prospects for cooperation between Ukrainian and Slovak companies.

As reported, Kalinak announced the signing of the 14th, new support package for Ukraine, which includes engineering and mine action assistance. He made this statement during his opening remarks at the third Defence Industries Forum (DFNC3) on Monday.
Photo: https://t.me/ermaka2022

Three Ukrainian teenagers were evacuated from the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) to government-controlled territory as part of the Ukrainian President's Bring Kids Back UA initiative, reported Andriy Yermak, Head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine.

"An 8-year-old girl was forced to attend a school saturated with propaganda. The atmosphere of constant pressure and fear left her dreaming of only one thing: the day she could escape. Another 18-year-old girl was living under daily shelling from the first days of the war. Constant stress and fear led to serious heart problems, and there was no proper medical care under occupation. A 19-year-old boy was left alone after the loss of his parents. His friends had already been forcibly mobilized, and he feared daily that he would be next," Yermak wrote in a Telegram post on Monday.

According to him, all three are now safe. "They are receiving assistance in restoring their documents, psychological support, and guidance to begin a new chapter in their lives," the head of the Presidents Office added.

As reported, as of October 1, Ukraine had returned 1,645 children under the president's Bring Kids Back initiative. Yermak subsequently reported 22 more, and Oleksandr Prokudin, head of Kherson Regional Military Administration, reported a group of children aged 10 to 17, without specifying their number.
"So, to younger people, I say: we will get debt off your back. We can and we will. "I want to go further to send an unequivocal message to those young people starting out in life: if you work hard and do the right thing, the Conservative Party is on your side.
We must now draw a line and say that in Britain you can think what you like and, within the bounds of the law you can say what you like, but you have no right to turn our streets into the theatre of intimidation and we will not let you do so anymore.
I am not prepared to suspend the enforcement orders because (he) has given the court no grounds on which to accept any assurances from him that he will pay what he owes unless forced to do so, ruled the judge.
He did a really good job, she said. He had loads of proper quickstep steps and there was no messing about. Id like him to stride more around the floor with bigger steps and keep his eyeline up, but overall, hes definitely one to watch.
A patient arrives at Starr County Memorial Hospital in Rio Grande City in 2020. The largely rural, Hispanic county has one of the nations highest uninsured rates. Concerns are rising that new tax and spending bill and possible expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies mean hospitals and doctors won't be able to keep providing care. Eric Gay/Associated Press file photo

RIO GRANDE CITY  Jake Margo Jr. stood in the triage room at Starr County Memorial Hospital explaining why a person with persistent fever who could be treated with over-the-counter medication didnt need to be admitted to the emergency room.

Were going to take care of the sickest patients first, the family medicine physician said.

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Its not like there was space on that June afternoon anyway. A small monitor on the wall pulsed with the vitals of current patients who filled the ER. An ambulance idled outside in the South Texas heat with another patient waiting for a bed to open up.

Everybody shows up here, Margo said. When youre overwhelmed and youre overrun, theres only so much you can do.

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Starr County, a largely rural, Hispanic community on the southern U.S. border, made headlines in 2024 when it voted Republican in a presidential election for the first time in more than a century. Immigration and the economy drove the flip in this community, where roughly a third of the population falls below the poverty line.

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Now, recent actions by the Trump administration and the GOP-controlled Congress have triggered a new concern: the inability of doctors, hospitals, and other health providers to continue to care for uninsured patients. Its a fear not only in Starr County, which has one of the highest uninsured rates in the nation. Communities across the U.S. with similarly high proportions of uninsured people could struggle as additional residents lose health coverage.

About 14 million fewer Americans are expected to have health insurance in a decade due to President Donald Trumps new tax-and-spending law, which Republicans dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and the pending expiration of enhanced subsidies that slashed the price of Affordable Care Act plans for millions of people. That looming expiration is an issue in the current government shutdown. The new budget law also limits programs that send billions of dollars to help those who care for uninsured people stay afloat.

You cant disinsure this many people and not have, in many communities, just a collapse of the health care system, said Sara Rosenbaum, founding chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management at George Washington Universitys Milken Institute School of Public Health.

The future is South Texas, she said.

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Stressing the system

Though the Trump administration told KFF Health News it is making a historic investment in rural health care, people who treat low-income patients, as well as researchers and consumer advocates, say recent policy decisions will make it harder for people to stay healthy. Doctors, hospitals, and clinics that make up the health care safety net could lose so much money they must close their doors, some of them warn.

Because the patients bill is not going to get paid, said Joseph Alpert, editor-in-chief of The American Journal of Medicine and a professor of medicine at the University of Arizona. Uninsured patients stress the health care system.

Chris Casso grew up in McAllen and now practices family medicine there. Her sister died at age 45 because she couldnt afford health insurance to treat her heart disease and diabetes. Casso worries more in her community could face a similar fate. Sam Whitehead/KFF Health News

Starr County shows how this dynamic unfolds.

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Primary care doctors in the county serve an average of just under 3,900 people each, nearly three times the U.S. average.

Margo, the family physician, said because so many people lack insurance and there are so few places to seek care, many residents treat the ER as their first stop when theyre sick.

In many cases, they have neglected their health, making them sicker and more expensive to treat. And federal law requires ERs at hospitals in the Medicare program to stabilize or transfer patients, regardless of their ability to pay.

That leaves Margo and his team to practice what he described as disaster medicine.

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They come in with chest pain or they stop breathing. They collapse. Theyve never seen a doctor, he said. Theyre literally dying.

The Rio Grande Valley in South Texas has some of the highest rates of uninsured people in the nation, a reality that stresses its health systems. More communities could feel that strain as the number of uninsured residents is expected to swell over the next decade under the Trump administration tax and spending law and possible expiration of health care subsidies. Sam Whitehead/KFF Health News

When people are uninsured or on Medicaid, they tend to rely on a safety net of doctors, hospitals, clinics, and community health centers, which offer services free of charge or absorb getting reimbursed at lower rates than they do treating patients on commercial insurance.

Those providers financial situations can often be precarious, leading them to rely on myriad federal supports. The Trump administrations cuts to health care and Medicaid in the name of eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse have many concerned they wont weather the additional financial strain.

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Trumps priorities

Trumps new law funds his priorities, like extending tax cuts that mainly benefit wealthier Americans and expanding immigration enforcement. Those costs are covered in part by a nearly $1 trillion reduction in federal health spending for Medicaid within the next decade and changes to the ACA, such as requiring additional paperwork and shortening the time for people to sign up.

Many Republicans have argued Medicaid has gotten too large and strayed from the state-federal programs core mission of covering those with low incomes and disabilities. And the GOP has fought to roll back the ACA since its passage.

Kush Desai, a spokesperson for the White House, said projections from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office about how many people could lose health insurance are an overestimate. He did not provide an estimate the administration sees as more accurate.

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Supporters of the One Big Beautiful Bill say those who need health coverage can still get it if they meet new requirements such as working in exchange for Medicaid coverage.

And Michael Cannon, director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, said even with the legislation, Medicaid spending will grow, just not as quickly.

The budget law wont cause the sky to fall, Cannon said. The inefficient providers should be shutting down.

A recent survey from AMGA, formerly the American Medical Group Association, which represents health systems across the country, found nearly half of rural facilities could close or restructure due to Medicaid cuts. Nearly three-quarters of respondents said they anticipated layoffs or furloughs, including of front-line clinicians.

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South Texas cuts

Public health departments, which often fill gaps in care, also face federal funding cuts that have reduced their capacity. In South Texas Cameron County, the health department has eliminated nearly a dozen positions, said agency head Esmer Guajardo. In neighboring Hidalgo County, the health department has laid off more than 30 people, said Ivan Melendez, who helps oversee its operations.

In July, the Texas Department of State Health Services canceled Operation Border Health, a massive annual event that last year provided free health services to nearly 6,000 South Texas residents.

Gateway Community Health Center in Laredo, a border city north of the Rio Grande Valley, is in survival mode, with about a third of patients already lacking insurance and even more who will struggle to afford health care if the ACA subsides arent renewed, said David Vasquez, its director of communications and public affairs. The center is looking for other forms of funding to avoid layoffs or cuts to services, and its expansion and hiring plans are on hold, Vasquez said.

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That downsizing is happening as more people lose health insurance and need free or reduced-cost care.

Chris Casso, a family medicine physician who practices in her hometown of McAllen. Sam Whitehead/KFF Health News

Esther Rodriguez, 39, of McAllen has been out of work for two years and her husband makes $600 a week working in construction. Neither of them has health insurance.

Medicaid covered the bills for the births of her five children. Now, she depends on a mobile health clinic run by a local medical school, where she can pay out-of-pocket for routine checkups and drugs to control her Type 2 diabetes. If she needed more care, Rodriguez said, she would go to the ER.

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You have to adapt, she said in Spanish.

Uncompensated care

Peoples inability to pay results in uncompensated care, or services that hospitals, doctors, and clinics dont get paid for, which, under an earlier version of the megabill, was projected to increase by $204 billion over the next decade, according to the Urban Institute, a nonprofit think tank.

But the Trump administration is also cutting other support that helped offset the cost of care for people who cant pay. The new law caps federal programs that many health providers for low-income people have come to depend on, especially in rural areas, to shore up their budgets. These include taxes on hospitals, health plans, and other providers that states use to help fund their Medicaid programs. Such provider taxes are a financial gimmick, Desai said.

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While the law creates a temporary $50 billion fund to support rural doctors and hospitals, thats a little over a third of estimated Medicaid funding losses in rural areas, according to KFF. Desai called the analysis flawed.

Any loss in revenue could spell financial ruin, especially for small rural hospitals, said Quang Ngo, president of the Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals Foundation.

Its kind of like death by a thousand cuts, he said. Some will probably not make it.

And the hits could keep coming. The Trump administrations budget request for the coming fiscal year calls for cuts to multiple rural health programs operated through the Health Resources and Services Administration. Desai said the spending laws investment in rural health dwarfs the cuts.

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In February, the Trump administration announced funding cuts of 90% to the ACA navigator program, which helps people find health insurance. That program has been historically inefficient, Desai said.

In December 2023, nearly 3 million of Texas uninsured were eligible for ACA subsidies, Medicaid, or the Childrens Health Insurance Program, according to Texas 2036, a public policy think tank.

Left behind

Maria Salgado, a community health worker, or promotora, for the nonprofit MHP Salud, meets with clients at a public library in Roma. She traverses the counties that hug the southern border helping people sign up for Medicaid and Affordable Care Act health coverage. Sam Whitehead/KFF Health News

Maria Salgado spends her workdays tabling at community events, dropping off flyers at doctors offices, and holding one-on-one meetings with clients of MHP Salud, a nonprofit that connects residents to Medicaid and ACA coverage.

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She worried funding cuts would really set the organizations efforts back: A lot of community members here, theyre going to be left behind, said Salgado, a community health worker, or promotora.

Chris Casso, a primary care physician who grew up in McAllen and now practices there, held back tears as she described treating patients who have put off seeing a doctor because of an inability to pay, only to have their preventable conditions deteriorate.

She worries about the future of her community as physician shortages worsen, potentially leaving few providers to treat uninsured people.

Its heartbreaking, she said, sitting in a small back room in her office in a suburban strip mall, wedged between a Kohls and a Shoe Carnival. These are hardworking people, she said. They try their best to take care of themselves.

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Casso said her own sister, who worked as a medical biller in a physicians office, couldnt afford health insurance. She delayed care and died at age 45 of complications from diabetes and heart disease. Casso worries the future will find more people in similar situations.

Our population is going to suffer, she said. Its going to be devastating.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene, who arrived on a visit to Kyiv, and discussed with her, in particular, the issues of joint weapons production and investments in the Ukrainian defense-industrial complex.

"We talked about everything that is critically important now: further defense assistance, joint weapons production and investments in the Ukrainian defense industry. Separately, about energy. Winter is ahead, and Russia is only increasing air terror, strikes against our cities. Therefore, strengthening our air defense is a priority issue. We also discussed Lithuania's participation in the reconstruction of Ukraine and assistance in building shelters in schools and kindergartens," Zelenskyy said in Telegram following the meeting.

He also reported on Lithuania's readiness to contribute to the PURL initiative (priority requirements list for Ukraine), which involves sending American weapons to Ukraine at the expense of European countries, and to join the EU SAFE rearmament initiative.

"This is her first foreign visit, and it is very valuable that it is to Ukraine. A real sign of support," Zelenskyy said.

Earlier, Inga Ruginiene said Ukraine and Lithuania signed an interdepartmental agreement on the protection of critical infrastructure. "We need to learn from your experience and lessons of war as soon as possible, in particular, in protecting against Russian drones, which are increasingly violating the airspace of our NATO allies and threatening the security of our region. The heads of our departments have just signed an interdepartmental agreement on the protection of critical infrastructure, which will allow for even more intensive cooperation in this area," she said at a joint briefing with Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko in Kyiv.

She also said Lithuania's sanctions against Russia and Belarus will remain in force until Ukraine's full territorial integrity is restored and the damage caused by the war is compensated.

Svyrydenko, in turn, said that since February 24, 2022, the volume of Lithuanian assistance to Ukraine has reached almost EUR 1.8 billion, almost EUR 900 million of which was directed to Ukraine's defense needs.

The parties also discussed Ukraine's European integration.
OpenAI, the operator of ChatGPT, and AMD have entered a new partnership to create new data centers powered by AMDs chips. Michael Dwyer/AP

The AI arms race turned a new page Monday as chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and ChatGPT operator OpenAI announced a partnership to collaborate on construction of AI data centers powered by AMD chips.

The deal could also see OpenAI take a roughly 10% stake in AMD, which employs about 3,700 people in Austin. Shares in the California-based chipmaker soared nearly 38%.

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Its a big deal for us, for our shareholders and our teams. AMD CEO Lisa Su, who lives in Austin, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television.

The companies did not provide an estimated total value for the agreement, but Su told The Wall Street Journal the deal will generate tens of billions of dollars in new revenue for AMD over the next five years.

Lisa Su, CEO of Advanced Micro Devices, in 2019. Mark Lennihan/Associated Press file photo

This partnership brings the best of AMD and OpenAI together to create a true win-win enabling the worlds most ambitious AI buildout and advancing the entire AI ecosystem, she said in a statement.

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OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman echoed that.

AMDs leadership in high-performance chips will enable us to accelerate progress and bring the benefits of advanced AI to everyone faster, he said in a statement.

Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, said his companys new partnership with AMD will enable us to accelerate progress and bring the benefits of advanced AI to everyone faster. Jose Luis Magana/AP

The deal calls for OpenAI to buy the latest version of AMDs high performance graphics chips, the Instinct MI450, which is expected to debut next year. It will supply 6 gigawatts of computing power for OpenAIs next generation AI infrastructure, with the first batch of chips worth 1 gigawatt to be deployed in the second half of 2026.

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AMD also issued OpenAI a warrant allowing the AI startup to buy up to 160 million shares of AMDs common stock. That amounts to about 10% of the chipmaker based on AMDs 1.6 billion outstanding shares. The warrant will vest based on two milestones tied to the amount of computing power deployed and unspecified share-price targets.

Mondays deal is about half the size of the one OpenAI reached last month with Nvidia Corp., when the companies announced a $100 billion partnership that will add at least 10 gigawatts of data center computing power. OpenAI and its partners have already installed hundreds of Nvidias GB200, a tall computing rack that contains dozens of specialized AI chips within it, at the flagship Stargate data center campus under construction in Abilene.

An entrance to the Advanced Micro Devices Inc. headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif. Paul Sakuma/AP

Though a clear boost for AMD, the deal hints at OpenAIs desire to diversify its supply chain away from Nvidias dominance. The AI boom has fueled demand for Nvidias graphics processing chips, sending its shares soaring and making it the worlds most valuable company. They fell about 1% Monday, though, the companys dominant position in the ongoing AI infrastructure buildout somewhat undermined by the deal.

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AMD has had a fairly significant presence in Austin since 1979. It has several operations in the city and is currently expanding its Southeast Austin facility.

Barclays analysts said in a note to investors Monday that OpenAIs AMD deal is less about taking share away from Nvidia than it is a sign of how much computing is needed to meet AI demand.

We realize there will be delays with these deals, and that the infrastructure required largely doesnt exist today, but we would again highlight this as a proof point that the ecosystem is desperate for more compute, the Barclays analysts wrote.

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American Airlines planes sit at gate at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) in Charlotte, North Carolina on September 27, 2025. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images) DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images

American Airlines is making some changes that might disappoint some travelers.

A direct flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to a West Coast city will no longer be available.

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Here is what to know.

What Texas flight is American Airlines canceling?

If youre trying to fly to Eugene, Oregon, youll have to find another airline. According to AirlineGeeks, American Airlines recently announced that it will no longer fly the route from DFW to Eugene.

American Airlines has operated this route since 2021. As per AirlineGeeks, this change was initially spotted in Cirium Diio's schedule update. Cirium Diio is an aviation-focused airline analytics platform that gathers data and tracks air travel trends.

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When does the American Airlines flight cancellation go into effect?

Service between Dallas/Fort Worth and Eugene, Oregon, which previously operated year-round, has been discontinued effective immediately. The last flight was on Aug. 5, and these flights will not resume in 2026.

Will travelers get refunds?

For passengers affected by these changes to their flight plans for next year, American Airlines has stated it will contact them directly to provide solutions. These solutions may include booking with an alternative carrier, departing from a different airport, or adjusting to a connecting flight. American Airlines will continue to serve Eugene, with flights available to its Phoenix hub, according to AirlineGeeks.

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A spokesperson for American Airlines urged travelers that the canceled flight was a business decision and that impacted customers could be compensated via refund or rebooking options.
Foxx Long, who is homeless, walks through a camp on Bluff Springs Road Thursday January 9, 2025, when the temperature was in the upper 30s after receiving hot soup from mobile outreach workers with Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center. Jay Janner/American-Statesman

Austin residents who live near a proposed new homeless navigation center are raising concerns about its impact on their neighborhood.

The City of Austin has identified 2401 S. Interstate 35 Frontage Road as the potential site for the new city-run center. The City Council will vote on purchasing the property, a former motorcycle dealership that is currently leased to a gaming lounge, when the council meets this Thursday.

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Council members and David Gray, the city's homeless strategy officer, are holding multiple community meetings with residents in the neighborhood leading up to this week's meeting. The homeless navigation center would be a centralized place for people to receive access to referral services, housing resources and crisis response services.

Some navigation centers in Austin are operated by faith-based groups, including the Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center on Menchaca Road in South Austin. That facility drew controversy last year when Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the center, alleging it operated as a common nuisance tied to drug use and criminal activity.

The demand for navigation services, frankly, is exceeding capacity of our privately funded faith-based organizations here in our community, Gray told residents in a community meeting Thursday night.

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City officials emphasize the proposed center would differ from facilities like Sunrise since it would be operated by the city.

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Gray emphasized the need for services in parts of the city easily accessible to those in need, which led the city to choose the new location in the East Oltorf area.

Theres high rates of evictions in this community and we want to make sure we are able to bring a stabilizing resource so that families are not getting displaced, Gray said as he spoke to concerned residents.

The Austin City Council meets at City Hall on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Some East Oltorf residents say their neighborhood already struggles with slow police response times and ongoing crime, and could face an additional strain if another homeless service moves in.

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We're already a vulnerable neighborhood, said Ashley Pound, who has lived in the East Oltorf neighborhood since 2020. There's already a high concentration of crime. There's a high concentration of drug activity. There are some unhoused people, for sure, but I think that this facility will bring in a lot more unhoused people that might not be in this area.

Mary Fealkoff, president of the South River City Citizens Neighborhood Association, also worries about the centers impact on the neighborhood.

I just think right now we should focus on helping the people that we have in our community instead of overwhelming the community, Fealkoff said.

Pound and Fealkoff also expressed concern over the proposed locations proximity to schools and safety concerns for children who walk to Travis Early College High School.

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I'm hoping that there could be a real conversation over delaying this vote to spend our tax dollars on this property until we can actually determine if it's a suitable location for the facility, Pound added.

Gray said the vote cannot be delayed because the city is in the middle of a good faith purchase agreement deadline this Thursday. He said the city will continue conversations with the community about the vendor and specific site services.

Council member Zohaib "Zo" Qadri, who represents District 9, said his office is still working through their own questions with city staff.

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Tony Plohetski is a national award-winning journalist whose reporting is featured in print, digital and television platforms. He has chronicled some of Texas' most significant stories, and his investigative and accountability reporting has led to indictments and prompted new state laws. He joined the Austin American-Statesman in 2000 and since 2013, he has worked in partnership with KVUE, where he is the stations senior reporter. Plohetski was the lead reporter for the Statesmans groundbreaking coverage of the 2022 Uvalde school shooting that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize Gold Medal for public service. The coverage also received the Taylor Family Award for Fairness in Journalism from the Nieman Foundation at Harvard. Additionally, Plohetski has received more than two dozen national and state journalism prizes for his work with the Statesman and KVUE, including a national Edward R. Murrow Award, four National Headliner awards, the Hillman Prize and the August 2022 Sidney Award. He was the inaugural winner in 2021 of the Dan Rather Medal for News & Guts for journalistic courage and was named Star Reporter of the Year by Texas Managing Editors in 2021 and 2023 and was a key part of two teams that won Sigma Delta Chi Awards in 2019. Plohetski also has received multiple regional Emmy awards and was named Best Television Reporter by the Texas Association of Broadcasters and the Texas Headliners Foundation in 2023.
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? Today is the deadline.

If you're still not registered, here is all you need to know:

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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.

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A number of organizations provide a service that allows you to check voter registration, including Rock the Vote.

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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.

When is early voting in Texas?

Early voting begins Oct. 20.

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When is Election Day in Texas?

Election day is Nov. 4.

Am I eligible to vote by mail in Texas?

To qualify to vote by mail, you must be:

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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.
Austin Police Department cruiser Austin American-Statesman

Austin police said officers are investigating the homicide of a woman in North Austin on Monday morning.

Police were called to the 8100 block of Research Boulevard at 7:40 a.m. after an employee found the woman's body behind their place of work  a German auto repair service center  according to Corporal Jose Mendez. Authorities do not yet know the identity of the victim, but they say she was in her 30s or 40s. She was pronounced dead at 7:53 a.m.

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From interviews conducted near the scene, officers believe that the death happened in the late hours of Sunday or early hours of Monday when a witness said they heard a popping sound. Police believe the unknown suspect shot the woman in the field behind the auto repair center before fleeing.

Otherwise, Mendez said, investigators are currently working off of "very limited information."

To the person responsible for this, plain and simple, we're coming for you, and we will find you," Mendez said.

Police belive this to be an isolated incident, according to Mendez. Authorities are encouraging people to find alternate routes through that area.

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Aidan Villasenor-Walker, 7, touches the door during a quick break from class with the help from special education teacher, Larissa Kaatz, during Aidan's first day of school at Maplewood Elementary in 2016. Maplewood is proposed for closure in 2026. [Rodolfo Gonzalez/AMERICAN-STATESMAN] Austin American-Statesman

Families across Austin mourned the potential closure of or changes to their neighborhood campus over the weekend after the Austin school district released a proposal Friday to shutter 13 campuses, revamp six others as non-zoned special program schools and dramatically redraw attendance boundaries across the entire district.

If approved by trustees in November, the plan will significantly shift boundaries for thousands of students only six years after another emotional school closure process. Roughly one-quarter of all district students could be impacted under the sweeping proposal.

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Although families heard rumors of the changes for weeks, receiving the news of the closure list on Friday was gut wrenching, said Alejandra Maldonado, whose kindergarten daughter attends Becker Elementary School.

I feel like Becker should be a model that other schools follow, Maldonado said. Instead of being disrupted like this  or destroyed like this  it should be like a treasure.

Shes open to Becker potentially moving to a new location but wants the community, especially the families and teachers, to stay together, she said.

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Its like a family, Maldonado said. Its so special.

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The Becker parent worries about the proposal because she doesnt see an option that allows for the entire campus to stay together.

Under the districts proposal, 13 campuses will close: Barrington, Becker, Bryker Woods, Dawson, Maplewood, Oak Springs, Palm, Ridgetop, Sunset Valley and Widen elementary schools, Bedichek and Martin middle schools and Winn Montessori School.

Another six schools  Pickle, Wooten, Odom, Sanchez, Joslin and Govalle  would transition to special program campuses without attendance zones, meaning students wouldnt be automatically assigned to the schools and would instead have to elect to attend.

Govalle would become a Montessori school, and the rest of the six would adopt across-campus dual language programs, meaning every student in the campus is learning academics in both English and another language like Spanish or Mandarin.

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Students who currently attend those schools would be reassigned to a new campus and could apply to the special program campus if they wish to continue their dual language studies.

Ayelet Haimson Lushkov, who has two children attending Bryker Woods Elementary, feels adamant that closing schools is not the answer.

This is not just something we can shove down parents throats and just move on, Haimson Lushkov said.

The Bryker Woods parent knows that the district is in dire financial straights, but she doesnt believe that closing campuses is the lone solution to the districts $19.7 million deficit.

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The Statesman spoke to or reviewed statements from almost all of the Austin school Board of Trustees in the days since the closure plan was released.

Only one trustee  Vice President Kathryn Whitley Chu  came out in opposition to the proposal. She told the Statesman the district needs to collaborate with families to find other solutions.

I dont think this is the best we can do, Whitley Chu said.

She added that the states funding levels are to blame for putting the Austin school district in its current grim financial situation.

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Meanwhile, other trustees said theyre gathering community feedback.

The communities that I represent have been long overlooked, said District 2 Trustee LaRessa Quintana, who represents Southeast Austin. I think they feel like theyve gotten the short end of the stick more than once. Any feelings that they have about this draft is welcomed.

At-large Trustee Arati Singh said this process looks different to her than the 2019 closure process, which controversially shuttered four campuses. At the time, district and community advocates slammed the closures as inequitable.

Singh is the only current board member who served on the board during the 2019 closure process. She supported closing only Sims and Metz elementaries but two others  Pease and Brooke  were also closed in 2019. She voted against the plan.

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We hadnt done the work like we did this time around, Singh said. You cant look at closures without looking at boundary changes and feeder patterns. Its this whole idea of one-off versus systemic change.

Trustees will publicly discuss the proposal for the first time Thursday but arent scheduled to vote on the plan until Nov. 20.
A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration late Sunday from sending hundreds of Texas and other out-of-state National Guard troops to Oregon as part of its crackdown on Democratic-led cities and states.

President Donald Trump had ordered 400 Texas National Guard members and hundreds of California National Guard troops to Portland, Chicago and other locations earlier in the evening after U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, whom he appointed, temporarily forbid him from using Oregon's own troops. Immergut then expanded her order to include any other state troops, saying Trump's pivot was "in direct contravention" of her original order in a hearing late Sunday night.

Police and federal officers throw gas canisters to disperse protesters near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, Ore. on Sunday, October. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Ethan Swope/Associated Press Texas National Guard soldiers install border fencing layered with concertina wire near the Rio Grande river on April 2, 2024, in El Paso, Texas. Last week, hundreds of migrants seeking asylum clashed with Texas national guardsmen while waiting to turn themselves in to border patrol agents for processing. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images/TNS) Brandon Bell/TNS Federal agents on board an armor vehicle ride toward protesters as dozens of protesters clash with federal agents and Illinois State Police troopers near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview, Illinois, on Oct. 3, 2025. Antonio Perez/TNS A protester stands off against police and federal officers at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, Ore. on Sunday, October. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Ethan Swope/Associated Press Law enforcement officers arrest a protester during a protest at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, Ore. on Sunday, October. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Ethan Swope/Associated Press Police and federal officers stand guard on the roof of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, Ore., Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Ethan Swope/Associated Press Protesters gather at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, Ore. on Sunday, October. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Ethan Swope/Associated Press

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had openly supported the move to call up Texas troops, saying they would ensure safety for federal officials.

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You can either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let Texas Guard do it, Abbott wrote in a social media post ahead of Immergut's order. No Guard can match the training, skill, and expertise of the Texas National Guard. They defend our country with pride. One month ago, Abbott's office denied that the Texas National Guard was preparing to deploy to Chicago.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had indicated in a memo that the Texas National Guard would be under orders for an initial period of 60 days, subject to extension, to perform federal protection missions where needed, including in the cities of Portland and Chicago. They would be under the command and control of the U.S. Northern Command, part of the U.S. military. The memo was made public as part of the lawsuit between Oregon and the Trump administration on Sunday.

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The Trump administration has cast cities like Chicago and Portland as crime-ridden and vowed to use the nations military to crack down on criminals and protesters who break the law.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker early Sunday night called on Abbott to withdraw his support, noting that no federal official had called him directly to discuss or coordinate the deployment. A news release from his office stated the Illinois National Guard was informed of the move, rather than the governor.

There is no reason a President should send military troops into a sovereign state without their knowledge, consent, or cooperation, Pritzker wrote in a social media post. The brave men and women who serve in our national guards must not be used as political props. This is a moment where every American must speak up and help stop this madness.

On Monday, Illinois and Chicago both sued the Trump administration to block the impending deployment, arguing the federal government has not met any of the three legal prerequisites for involuntarily sending National Guard troops into the state. The president is only allowed to federalize the National Guard if the country is invaded by a foreign nation, if there is a rebellion or danger of one, or if he cannot enforce the country's laws otherwise.

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The U.S. Department of Justice has argued that the soldiers were needed to respond to protests at Immigration and Customs Enforcement buildings in Portland and suburban Chicago. In her Saturday night order, however, Immergut found that the demonstrations were "not significantly violent or disruptive" and said no evidence justified the deployment. The ruling from the Portland-based judge would keep soldiers out of Oregon at least until October 19 while the parties await a finding from the trial court.

It was not immediately clear if the Justice Department would appeal the order. Another hearing is set for Oct. 17.

This is not the first time Abbott has deployed the state's National Guard in response to protests. In June, the state Military Department pulled thousands of them from that mission into the interior to respond to "No Kings" protests against Trump. In 2020, he sent the Guard to Austin and Dallas after racial justice protests became violent.

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Abbott has also positioned Texas National Guard soldiers to enforce federal immigration law on the border since 2021 as part of his border security crackdown, Operation Lone Star. In a post Sunday night, Stephen Miller, Trump's homeland security advisor, compared the administration's bid to send troops to Chicago and Portland to that mission.
Congressman Wesley Hunt speaks at the Texas Youth Summit on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in The Woodlands, Texas. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt of Houston announced Monday he is jumping into the race for the U.S. Senate, further crowding a Republican primary field that has been dominated by four-term incumbent John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

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All three are actively courting the support of Present Donald Trump, who so far has remained above the fray in what could be the biggest intraparty scramble in Texas since the Republicans locked down their control of all statewide offices nearly 28 years ago.

I will ensure this campaign centers on what truly matters  Texas families, the protection of American energy, the security of our border and the safety of every community across the great state, Hunt said. "I was the first person in the nation to endorse President Trump, and I have remained steadfast in my commitment to the people of Texas."

Hunt, a former Army officer who was elected to Congress in 2022, has been teasing a potential run for weeks  even as national Republicans warned against it. In television ads around the state introducing himself to potential voters, he makes clear hes been an ally to Trump, helping him campaign for reelection and backing his policies.

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Cornyns campaign team was quick to dismiss Hunt, who has limited statewide name recognition.

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Rep. Wesley Hunt is a legend in his own mind, Cornyn senior advisor Matt Mackowiak said.

Paxton, who is foregoing seeking a fourth term as attorney general to run for Senate, took a different tack, welcoming Hunt's entrance.

"Primaries are good for our party and our voters, and Wesley and General Paxton both know that Texans deserve better than the failed, anti-Trump record of John Cornyn," said Paxton adviser Nick Maddux.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is backing Cornyn, blasted Hunt for having "chosen personal ambition over holding President Trump's House Majority." The group has previously projected that reelecting Cornyn will be much cheaper for the party than electing Paxton.

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Jim Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas, said Hunt remains largely unknown to most voters after less than two full terms in the U.S. House, despite blanketing the state with ads in recent months.

"The number one challenge, and they've already been working on this, is to introduce himself to a larger number of Texans," Henson said. He added that Hunt's entrance makes it much more likely that no candidate will get more than 50% of the vote in March, forcing a runoff. "And it's definitely too soon to tell who become the top two players," Henson said.

Cornyn was elected to the Senate to the Senate in 2002 and has had largely only token primary opposition and that election and the three that followed. Four years ago, Paxton was forced into a runoff in his reelection bid by then Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush, the grandson of one former president and the nephew of another. With Trump's endorsement, Paxton trounced by Bush by a more than 36 percentage points.

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Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on the meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Headquarters, at which he heard reports on the situation in the energy sector of Ukraine after the recent strikes by the Russian army.

"I just held a HQ meeting on energy. About what is real in the regions, in communities, at energy facilities. On the situation in cities from Slavutych to Zaporizhia, also Chernihiv region, Sumy region, Kharkiv, Kharkiv region, Donetsk region, Dnipro region, also Poltava region, Zaporizhia region, Central Ukraine, our western regions, regions of the South. Separately, calls for Mykolaiv and Odesa. There were also reports on the deployment of air defense  additional capabilities, comprehensive protection  reports by military commanders, as well as a detailed conversation on the protection of energy facilities themselves, specific communities. In addition, resources are still needed to provide an adequate response to each problem. We have resolved these issues and fulfilled all requests from the leaders, primarily of Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Donetsk regions  requests for finances, for assistance," Zelenskyy reported on the results of the meeting on Monday in Telegram channel.

According to the president, Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko and other government officials visited Sumy and Odesa regions, where they got to see the situation firsthand.

"Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko and other government officials were in Shostka in Sumy region, where it is especially difficult, in other cities of the eastern regions  they reported on decisions to support people. Government officials will be in the regions. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba has already reported on the inspection in Odesa. There were reports from the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Minister of Energy of Ukraine, the heads of Naftogaz and Ukrenergo. He gave clear tasks on electricity  on generation facilities and additional equipment for the winter. We are increasing equipment stocks," Zelenskyy said.

He also said Ukraine's partners have expressed their readiness to provide assistance in supplying natural gas.

"There are clear tasks on gas too  we are talking about it with partners, and the Prime Minister of the Netherlands is already ready to help and support us  I talked about it with him today. Norway is also ready  thank you very much to the partners. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine will gather ambassadors of states that can help," the president said.

As reported, on October 3, Zelensky yheld a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Headquarters, at which he heard reports on the protection of energy facilities from Russian strikes and their restoration.

On Monday, Zelenskyy and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof discussed full compensation for Ukraine's losses from Russian aggression, sanctions, as well as energy challenges due to Russian shelling during a meeting in Kyiv.
The District Court of Warsaw on Monday extended by 40 days the detention of Ukrainian citizen Volodymyr Zhuravliov, who is suspected of involvement in the Nord Stream gas pipeline explosion, for 40 days, the Polsat Polish television has reported.

According to the television channel, the person was detained near Warsaw by Polish special services on the basis of a European arrest warrant issued by a German court.

Initially, the prosecutor's office requested an extension of his detention for seven days, which was granted on October 1. This time, a request was filed to extend this period for 100 days, the lawyer insisted on 40.

In addition, within 100 days, the court, after reviewing the documents, will also make a decision on the possible extradition of the suspect to Germany.

The suspect himself, a 49-year-old Ukrainian citizen, claims that he had nothing to do with the explosion, and at the time of the explosion he was in Ukraine.

The explosion of three of the four strands of the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, designed to transport natural gas from Russia to Germany, occurred on September 26, 2022 at a depth of about 80 meters at the bottom of the Baltic Sea.
The Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF) announced Monday that it has invested in Ukrainian IT holding Fintech-IT Group  the software developer behind monobank, Ukraines largest neobank and the countrys second-largest retail bank by number of customers  and that it plans to take Fintech public on a U.S. stock exchange.

"Propelling the Company to a $1.0bn valuation in this growth equity round, achieving unicorn status and becoming the first FinTech unicorn out of Ukraine. UMAEF joins Fintech-IT Group founders Oleg Gorokhovskyi and Mykhaylo Rogalskyi, as the Companys first financial investor and only non-founding shareholder," the fund said in a statement.

The statement added that, in addition to its direct investment, the Fund leads a consortium of American private investors investing alongside UMAEF. The size of the investment has not been disclosed.

"With this investment, UMAEF is expanding its existing portfolio of FinTech investments made through u.ventures, investing in a local leader launched and grown by best-in-class Ukrainian founders," said Jaroslawa Z. Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer of UMAEF, in the release.

Gorokhovskyi wrote on Telegram that the companys journey to this point took eight years. According to him, Fintech-IT Group has grown into a large IT holding that provides technology solutions for banking, payment processing, e-commerce, restaurants, the financial sector, trade, and services.

UMAEF noted that monobank has been included for two consecutive years among the worlds top 250 FinTech companies and top 35 global neobanks by CNBC. With 9.9 million clients as of September 2025, it consistently maintains the highest NPS rating in the Ukrainian banking sector.

"UMAEF was compelled to invest in Fintech IT-Group based on its strong fundamentals, high growth profile and blending of tech and finance in a sector of high interest to U.S. investors and already partnering with major U.S. companies, including Visa and Mastercard. We believe that UMAEFs investment will provide comfort for other major U.S. investors to enter the Company - potentially at IPO on a leading U.S. stock exchange  and support the opening of a U.S. office," commented Dennis A. Johnson, Chairman of UMAEFs Board of Directors (unrelated to Ms. Johnson).

According to the release, With the funds raised as a result of this growth equity round, Fintech-IT Group intends to continue investing into further developing its solutions and expanding the product suite, including financing and business services for SMEs.

Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF), formerly known as Western NIS Enterprise Fund (WNISEF), was created by the U.S. Congress in 1994. UMAEF is a Delaware corporation governed by experienced American business professionals with initial funding of $150 million provided by the U.S. government. UMAEFs mission focuses primarily on providing loans and equity to enterprises operating in sectors of interest to U.S. investors in the region.

To date, UMAEF has invested $190 million in 143 companies, employing over 27,000 people in Ukraine and Moldova.
An Air Force CV-22 Osprey assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron sits on the flightline at Yokota Air Base, Japan, June 26, 2025. (Spencer Tobler/U.S. Air Force)



A U.S. Air Force tiltrotor aircraft made a precautionary landing at a Japan Air Self-Defense Force base in central Japan last week, according to the service and Japanese officials.

The CV-22 Osprey, assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron at Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo, touched down around noon Thursday at Hamamatsu Air Base in Shizuoka prefecture out of an abundance of caution, said 1st Lt. Cullen Drenkhahn, spokesman for the 353rd Special Operations Wing on Okinawa.

No injuries or damage occurred, and airport operations were not interrupted.

The landing was executed safely and in accordance with policies, Drenkhahn told Stars and Stripes by email Monday. An assessment is ongoing to gather additional information.

He declined to provide additional information, citing operational security.

The aircraft landed in response to an inflight warning indicator, a North Kanto Defense Bureau spokesman said by phone Monday. Official spokespeople in Japan are often required to speak to reporters only on condition of anonymity.

Maintainers were working on the aircraft at noon Monday at the Self-Defense Force Base, he said.

The incident follows two other precautionary landings this summer by the squadrons Ospreys at commercial airports in Japan.

On July 24, a tiltrotor landed at Iwate Hanamaki Airport in Hanamaki city, Drenkhahn said at the time. On July 18, another Osprey landed at Odate Noshiro Airport in Kitaakita city, according to a news release from Akita prefecture. No injuries or damage were reported in either incident.

The Osprey is a twin-engine tiltrotor aircraft that takes off and lands like a helicopter but flies like a fixed-wing plane.

A fatal crash of a Yokota-based CV-22B Osprey on Nov. 29, 2023, prompted the United States and Japan to ground their tiltrotor fleets for three months. The tiltrotor, with Air Force Special Operations Command, crashed into the sea near Yakushima, an island south of Kyushu, killing all eight airmen aboard.

An investigation determined the crash was caused by a catastrophic mechanical failure, compounded by what officials described as a lack of urgency by the crew in addressing an engine issue.

U.S. tiltrotors were briefly grounded again on Dec. 6 after a CV-22B Osprey from Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., lost an engine but landed safely following gearbox-related warning indications.
Vice Adm. George Wikoff addresses sailors and coalition leaders during a change-of-command ceremony in Bahrain on Sunday. Rear Adm. Curt Renshaw succeeded Wikoff as commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and the Combined Maritime Forces. (Shannon Renfroe/Stars and Stripes)



A high-ranking officer who has served more than three decades and has deployed to all Navy theaters of operation worldwide recently took the helm of one of the services most active combat regions.

Vice Adm. Curt Renshaw assumed command of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet from Vice Adm. George Wikoff on Sunday in a ceremony at U.S. Naval Support Activity Bahrain.

Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, presided over the ceremony, the Navy said in an email Monday.

Wikoff took charge of NAVCENT/5th Fleet in February 2024 as attacks on commercial shipping by Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen intensified in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The assignment marks a return to familiar waters for Renshaw, who previously served in Bahrain as deputy commander for NAVCENT from 2019 to 2021. He most recently was director of operations for U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Fla.

Renshaws sea tours included assignments aboard the cruisers USS Shiloh and USS Anzio. He commanded the cruiser USS Robert Smalls, where he also served as air defense commander for Task Force 70. He also previously commanded Carrier Strike Group 8, according to his Navy biography.

In his first address as NAVCENT commander, Renshaw emphasized readiness and unity.

Every drill, every evolution, every moment of preparation is a direct investment in our collective ability to respond, to deter and, if necessary, to win, Renshaw said. Our readiness is the shield that protects our interests.

The command must remain forward-thinking in an era of rapid change, he added.

We will not be ready for the next fight if we prepare for the last one, Renshaw said.

Wikoff, a career fighter pilot, was confirmed in August for promotion to admiral and is slated to assume command of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Allied Joint Force Command Naples.

Before arriving in Bahrain, he served as acting commander of Naval Air Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Wikoff praised sailors at sea and the teams that supported them from headquarters, saying their efforts saved lives even when combat unfolded far from shore.

Together we understand maritime security is not just a task; its our duty, he said. By continuing to work together, regardless of flag, we demonstrate the sum is better than the parts and the consequences of collective failure are catastrophic.
More than half of Ukrainians (54.2%) assessed the state of readiness of educational institutions of all levels for the 2025/2026 academic year as completely or rather positively, 28% assessed it as rather or completely negatively, while last year only 44.5% of citizens gave positive assessments.

This is stated in the results of a survey conducted by the Institute of Social and Political Psychology of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine together with the Association of Political Psychologists of Ukraine on September 12-20, which were presented at a press conference on the topic "Ukrainian Education on the Scales of Public Opinion: Hopes and Doubts" at the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Monday.

At the same time, significantly more teachers (71.3%) believe that educational institutions are generally well prepared for the academic year, while 18.1% disagree with this.

Some 45.6% of respondents positively assess the results of students' education during a full-scale war, 40.1% - rather or completely negatively. In the previous two years, the share of those who were inclined to negative assessments of the results of education during the war significantly outweighed the share of those who held the opposite opinion.

At the same time, only 18.6% of respondents believe that the modern Ukrainian education system provides high quality education. 47.4% of respondents assess the quality of Ukrainian education as average and 20.8% as low.

It is noted that Ukrainian society is generally favorable to educational reforms, but the level of awareness about them remains low. 62.5% of respondents generally support the reform, but this indicator is the lowest since 2020. 9.9% disagree with the need for reforms. At the same time, less than 27% of respondents consider themselves sufficiently informed about the reforms that are planned and implemented today in the field of education, more than 56% do not think so. 35.1% of respondents assess the progress of education reform positively, 27% - negatively.

In 2025, for the first time, the share of supporters of the introduction of 12-year schooling (35.5%) almost equaled the share of its opponents (37.2%), because for a long time it remained an extremely unpopular decision.

Some 27.3% of respondents completely or rather agreed that, thanks to the measures taken by the state, this year has become a year without corruption during enrollment in higher education institutions, and 37.7% rather or not at all agreed with this. This distribution of opinions on corruption in education has remained stable for at least the last ten years.

Public opinion remains unformed regarding measures aimed at those who try to obtain a deferral from mobilization by enrolling in higher education institutions (bachelor's, master's, postgraduate studies): about 15% of respondents consider these measures insufficient, about 30% - sufficient, over 26% - excessive. Currently, the share of respondents who completely and rather trust the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (41.4%) only slightly outweighs the share of those who rather and not at all trust it (37.1%). However, among teaching staff, the positive balance of trust in the ministry is much more pronounced: 59.7% versus 28.7%. At the same time, only 25.5% of respondents trust the head of the ministry, Oksen Lisovyi, to one degree or another, while 28.8% do not trust it. Among educators, the picture is more positive: 46% versus 32.2%.
Deploying Arkansas National Guard members stand at parade rest during a departure ceremony here Oct. 5, 2025. (John Oldham/Arkansas National Guard)



Nearly 120 Arkansas National Guard troops departed Sunday from Camp Joseph T. Robinson in North Little Rock, Ark., for a 13-month deployment to the southern border in Texas to support U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.

The troops departed with four UH-72 Lakota aircraft from 1st Battalion, 114th Security and Support Aviation Regiment, 77th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade.

They will be replacing National Guard units currently serving along the border, and are expected to return home in November 2026, according to a service news release.

I am immensely proud of our ready Arkansas National Guardsmen as they answer the call to serve our state and nation, said Brig. Gen. Chad Bridges, the adjutant general of the Arkansas Guard.

The troops will travel first to their mobilization station at Fort Hood, Texas. From there, they will disperse to various assigned locations along the border with Mexico.

Mobilized troops include UH-72 pilots, crew chiefs, mechanics, flight operations personnel, fuelers and battalion staff from Alpha Company and the Headquarters and Headquarter Company.

Their unwavering dedication, exceptional skills, and profound professionalism are a true testament to the strength and commitment of Arkansas, Bridges said. They embody the very best of our state as they undertake this critical mission.
Carlos de Barron recounts the humiliation, psychological abuse, aggression, and intimidation that he and the rest of the crew suffered during their three-night detention in an Israeli prison

Defining the experience I endured from early Thursday morning to Sunday is very difficult. But inhumane and extreme are two adjectives that fit. Humiliation, psychological abuse, physical aggression, intimidation, and, ultimately, an endless array of actions and behaviors aimed at making us feel extremely vulnerable. So much so that, at any moment, a wrong move or a bad response could lead to a situation where all you knew was that you would come back in a much worse state. This is what I witnessed, suffered, and felt from the moment at least four Israeli military ships intercepted the Captain Nikos  the vessel I was aboard, accredited as a journalist on the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian mission whose main objective was to deliver aid and medicine to the Gaza Strip  until Sunday, when 20 colleagues and I were released and returned to Spain.

The night from Wednesday to Thursday seemed endless. Around 7:00 p.m local time, the Alma, leading the mission, was the first to be attacked by heavily armed soldiers. The alert level was at its highest, and we had all prepared for that moment. Then began an endless stream of information about vessels being attacked. On the Captain Nikos, we suddenly saw a large military vessel approaching and blinding us with a huge spotlight. Everyone on board braced. However, at the last moment, we saw it turn and ram the Spectre, a ship that had been following us at close range. A moment of great confusion ensued, and the ships captain decided to continue onward.

We experienced a similar situation on three other occasions, with military vessels surrounding our ship but failing to intervene. Finally, at 6:30 a.m., with the first rays of light flaring, we saw in the distance what would become the soldiers who would forcefully put an end to Captain Nikoss humanitarian mission.

At least four boats surrounded us and, while pointing their machine guns at us, demanded we come to the deck. About a dozen soldiers boarded the vessel with a clear message in English: Anyone who does not obey our orders will suffer the consequences. They destroyed the cameras, searched the entire ship, and found that even the kitchen knives had been thrown into the sea to demonstrate the nonviolent nature of the mission.

About five hours later, we arrived at the Israeli port of Ashdod. Were the first, the military commander told us, smiling. I began to wonder if this would offer any advantages, but all I could think of were disadvantages. A mass of police officers awaited us, and to one side, I identified Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Israeli minister of national security and the mastermind of the operation.

Fear gripped us. The treatment we received from the military on the boat was acceptable, even better than expected, but we sensed we were about to face a new, completely different scenario. And it didnt take long for this to be confirmed. The moment we stepped onto dry land, two police officers made us walk a few meters with our hands behind our backs and then forced us to our knees. You are terrorists, Ben-Gvir, one of the most extremist members of Benjamin Netanyahus administration, told us, while we werent even allowed to raise our heads.

After kneeling for a time that was difficult to estimate, but long enough to make my joints ache, we were searched and booked by the police. Before reaching the designated warehouse, one of the two officers escorting me saw the press vest I was wearing and, after saying, Press, huh? elbowed me in the back of the head to force my head down, as low as waist level. He kept me in this position for about an hour, the duration of the search process.

Shortly after, we were crammed into a police van in sweltering temperatures for nearly three hours. Our shirts and hair were soaked with sweat. These were moments of great anguish. Almost unable to breathe, the complaints we made in the form of banging on the walls of the vehicle provoked a reaction from the police, who then decided to turn the air conditioning on full blast. They kept us in that cold for five or six hours until we arrived at the prison. The guards laughter as they watched us get out, frozen to the bone, was accompanied by comments like poor terrorists.

There we were taken to an open-air cell, where I reunited with some people from my ship, and we cried together, hugging each other. I also saw how Lionel Simonin and Pascal Andre, also crew members of the Captain Nikos, were transported blindfolded and shackled. I also watched, distressed, as the first of them had a visible mark on his face, the result of an assault.

The cold increased, and I spent several hours in that cage until they dressed me in prison garb and took me to a cell in a nearby unit. More than 12 hours had passed since my arrest, and I was denied access to food or drinking water. Shortly after I fell asleep, prison guards repeatedly burst in. Sometimes to conduct a headcount, on other occasions to add more inmates to the cell.

This pattern was repeated during the three nights I was in the prison in southern Israel. But with several additions. Between six and eight officers, armed with assault rifles, pistols, shotguns, and pepper spray, burst in every two or three hours. Sometimes even with dogs.

They pointed their guns at vital parts of our bodies, like our hearts and heads. The green laser pointer from their weapons could be seen on several prisoners. Completely randomly, they would choose four, five, or even six people and move them to another cell. On two occasions, I was one of those selected. I would enter the new cell completely terrified and hoping to see a familiar face. On one occasion, there were no mattresses left, so I had to make a bed with blankets given to me by other inmates. I asked for a mattress, but the guard responded by bringing me another blanket.

During the day, we were not allowed to leave our cells, a privilege reserved only for those who were authorized to receive consular support. In the case of the Spaniards, there were fewer than 10 people, and most of them were allowed only a one-minute meeting.

Access to medicine was also denied. Two people in the unit where I was held suffered from diabetes and went three days without insulin or medical attention. When a doctor was requested, the initial response was: There are no doctors for animals like you. Another inmate suffered an asthma attack, and it took more than three hours for a medical specialist to arrive. A 70-year-old woman had heart problems and needed some pills. When she asked for them, the response she received was: Itll be a problem when your heart stops.

Maheb, a 29-year-old Tunisian citizen, showed me, when we shared a cell, how bruised his right side was. At the port, I had Palestinian stickers in my pockets and the flag. I shouted Free Palestine before disembarking. When they caught me, they took me to a single room and beat me for 15 minutes while I was on the floor, he told me.

We never had access to drinking water. Every time we asked for it, the guards responded with smiles or a later, later, which never came. The food was in questionable condition most of the time. On other occasions, it was past its expiration date, as could be seen from the shells of the boiled eggs they gave us.

Finally, in every interaction with prison guards, they always sought to provoke a reaction from the prisoners. This gave them carte blanche to isolate them and leave them for hours in the sun, shackled by their hands and feet.

What we experienced in prison led all of us inmates to a shared reflection. If they were capable of treating us like this  many of us Westerners and from countries that maintain relations with Israel  what will they do to the Palestinian prisoners? The sense of total impunity was one of the greatest frustrations for all of us who were imprisoned, but also for those who remain there, estimated to number more than 200. Many of them are on hunger strike.

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On Saturday, while U.S. President Donald Trump stated an agreement to end nearly two years of horror in Gaza was very close, Ali Musa al-Dibs was caring for his teenage son Musab in the besieged capital of the Strip. Musab has been in a coma since May, when an Israeli attack left him with a serious head wound. Musab has necrotic lesions and is severely malnourished, his father says. In the photos, he looks skeletal and has lost a lot of hair, one of the symptoms of starvation.

Until October 7 [2023], we had a more or less happy life. That day, that was cut short. Weve had to move 15 times. Its always about finding a suitable place and finding a way to transport things, which is very expensive. Its like this, over and over again, Al-Dibs explains via audio messages. Its the first morning in months with little in the way of shelling. Last Friday, Hamas responded positively  albeit with reservations  to Trumps peace plan, after which the Republican called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt the attacks.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are already in a defensive position, and negotiations to finalize the details of the agreement are underway. So Al-Dibs, 54, repeats a wish: God willing, the war will end well. We hope to live like everyone else and that our children can play like other children. The life of his son Musab depends on it. He is 14 and cannot walk or open his mouth to eat, and suffers from a constant fever, spasms, difficulty breathing, and severe ulcers all over his body, his father summarizes.

Like many other Gazans, Al-Dibs family eats only once a day, and little. Bread, nothing else. Just ordinary bread. Theres hardly any food in Gaza, and if we find it, its at exorbitant prices. His son, he explains, needs the vitamins and proteins that have become luxuries due to Netanyahus decision to use hunger as collective punishment, which causes daily deaths from starvation  especially among children  and led the UN to declare a famine in Gaza City in August.

Theres no meat, fish, eggs, or anything else my son needs. So we blend whatever we can get and give it to him so he can eat it easily, he continues. Vegetables are available, but their price is far beyond our financial means. Some organizations gave us milk, and we thought Musab could drink it, but it had expired in September.

Food distribution in Gaza City, October 3. Hassan Jedi (Anadolu/Getty Images)

Al-Dibs and his family have ended up sleeping on the floor due to a lack of beds at the Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, after escaping from Gaza City, which  before Trump, obsessed with winning the Nobel Peace Prize, presented his plan  Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz had promised to raze to the ground, like Rafah or Beit Hanoun. This week, in a major statement overshadowed by the assault on the humanitarian aid flotilla, Katz stated that the IDF will consider those who do not take advantage of the last opportunity to escape from the capital  where hundreds of thousands of people are still hungry and unable to afford yet another flight  as terrorists or supporters of terrorism.

Fidaa al-Araj, a 40-year-old psychologist and mother of six children aged four to 16, left Gaza two weeks ago. She is the Food Security, Cash, and Protection Coordinator for the NGO Oxfam in the Strip, and has ended up in central Gaza, displaced once again and with the sensation that time has passed over the last two years in a very particular way. So many things have happened! But I also have the feeling that we are trapped in time, that our lives now come down to one thing: being the subject of genocide.

Al-Arajs words come from her feelings. Like the green towel that a friend gave her during one of the forced displacements she has made, which makes her sad to see now because it reminds her that she had to flee her home without any of her own belongings. Or the inaccessible faucet she has imagined in her dreams. A simple faucet that dispenses water when you turn it on, she describes. She says she also dreamed about a normal door with a wooden frame. I opened and closed it at will, and it wasnt a makeshift door or a curtain made from old fabric.

Its not just dreams. Its also reality, the surprise at everything she never imagined herself doing. Like learning how to light and use a clay oven because theres practically no other way to cook in Gaza. Its one like the ones we saw in museums and our grandmothers used in rural areas. I never thought Id have to use it one day. And there it was, in a neighbors yard. Or learning how to chop wood, light a fire, and keep it burning. Or killing, plucking, and gutting a chicken. You tell yourself its temporary, that it will be a few days, then a few weeks until it turns into more than a year and a half.

Civilian casualties

Their stories illustrate the immeasurable suffering of more than two million Gazans, victims of what a commission of inquiry established by the UN Human Rights Council and a growing number of authoritative academic voices are calling genocide. There are other, more incontrovertible words: massacre (the death toll in Gaza has now exceeded 67,000, mostly women and children), war crimes, crimes against humanity, or collective punishment. And one that has long since ceased to have any meaning: war.

Since June 2024, there has been little fighting between Israeli troops in Gaza and Hamas militants, apart from occasional ambushes and very isolated rocket fire against border towns in Israel, a war crime due to its indiscriminate nature. The vast majority of the few weapons possessed by the Islamist militia come from converting 10,000 tons of unexploded Israeli ammunition into rockets, mortar shells, or explosive devices. This represents between 10% and 15% of the 100,000 tons that Israel is estimated to have dropped on the Gaza Strip, the most densely populated place on the planet.

These are practically unprecedented figures, as is everything that has happened in Gaza in these past two years. And as was the episode that led to this latest offensive: the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, which killed nearly 1,200 people in Israeli territory and in which another 250 were taken hostage. The deadliest day in the history of Israel, which went from surprise, a sense of fragility, and trauma, to a spiral of power and revenge.

A man carries the body of a child on September 27 in Gaza. Hamza Z. H. Qraiqea (Anadolu/ Getty Images)

Just listen to Israeli leaders speaking in Hebrew (when they speak to their audiences, not to the outside world), and in particular to one of the most influential: the ultra-nationalist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. We are disassembling Gaza, and leaving it as piles of rubble, with total destruction [which has] no precedent globally. And the world isnt stopping us, he said at a press conference six months ago.

Over the past two years, certain images seemed to mark the definitive turning point in ending the terror: the death of little Hind Rajab, who was gunned down while pleading for help (portrayed in a docudrama that shocked the Venice Film Festival); the murder of a group of civilians chasing a truck carrying flour, or of paramedics rushing to help the wounded; the bombing of chef Jose Andres NGO convoy; the attacks on hospitals that later became routine; the successive displacements of almost the entire population; the ruins of Rafah, which Joe Biden dismissed as a small, localized operation, the invasion of which he had drawn a supposed red line on that Israel crossed... But these episodes continued to occur, and the turning point never came.

Therese Pettersson is a senior analyst at the Conflict Data Program at Uppsala University in Sweden, which has been tracking global conflicts and their civilian casualties since 1989. They cross-reference sources to try to distinguish them from combatants, using the criterion that a civilian is anyone who does not belong to a militant group or carry weapons, which excludes, for example, Hamas members who held a civilian role in the Gaza government before the war.

With that definition, Pettersson believes that everything points to the fact that the proportion of civilian casualties in Gaza is very high. Around 80%, and probably much higher, she clarifies in a video interview. This is the same percentage (83%) that was revealed in a classified Israeli military intelligence database, brought to light in August via a journalistic investigation.

Acled, an independent organization that also monitors armed conflicts and receives support from the UN and Western governments, goes further. It states that 15 out of every 16 deaths in Gaza since March 18 are civilians (94%), the date when Netanyahu unilaterally broke the truce he had agreed to two months earlier.

Pettersson cites two sieges as the cases closest to Gaza: that of the Russian army on the Ukrainian city of Mariupol (95% civilian deaths), between February and May 2022, and that of the forces of the now-overthrown Bashar al-Assad on the city of Aleppo (59%) during four years of the civil war in Syria.

Besides Mariupol, only two other examples equal or exceed the proportion of civilian deaths in the Palestinian Strip, and both have been declared genocide by the International Court of Justice in The Hague: the massacre by Hutu extremists of around one million Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda in 1994 (99.8% civilians) and the massacre of nearly 8,000 Bosnian men by Bosnian Serb forces a year later in Srebrenica, a UN safe area. Ninety-two percent were civilians.

The Gaza war isnt the bloodiest in modern times, but its certainly one of the most intense, Petterson says. Its uniqueness lies in its high population density. Ukraine, for example, is a vast country, and the front line is very long. Its practically unpopulated, and people have been able to move from the conflict zone.

We see a very different pattern in terms of deaths, the analyst continues. In Ukraine, the number of civilian casualties is quite low, except in the first months of the large-scale invasion in 2022. Currently, there are relatively few, mainly soldiers on both sides, while in Gaza there are indiscriminate aerial bombardments in a densely populated urban area, causing a very high number of civilian casualties. The situation is further aggravated because people have nowhere to go and humanitarian aid is not really reaching the population.

Bread and nothing else

Lets return to the everyday reality of devastated Gaza. Nasser Rabah is a 62-year-old writer, author of two novels and six collections of poetry. He lives in what has always been his home in the Magazi refugee camp, in central Gaza. An Israeli bombardment partially damaged his house and destroyed his library.

Now he doesnt start his days writing, but rather splitting firewood, which he buys for a little over $2 a kilo. This is how almost everyone cooks, given the lack of electricity. I started doing it after using up all the wood in my house: tearing and splitting the doors of the rooms, the tables, and the chairs, he explains. Then he grabs the buckets and waits in a long line to fill them with water. He lights the fire and prepares the meal: Two or three things that are repeated over and over again. One is lentils; we already call them sacred lentils. We save the dirty water to flush down the toilet. We drink little and can only bathe once a week, he explains.

He remembers the last time he ate meat. It was January of this year. I completely understand why our wounds dont heal as quickly as they used to, he says. He also remembers the three months during which Israel blocked all food, water, and electricity supplies to Gaza, just before breaking the ceasefire it had signed and thus preventing the end of the invasion. We ate one loaf of bread per person for the whole day, which we dipped in salt or tea, he recalls. He had to pay about $23 for a kilo of flour, plus another $2 for firewood.

A truck drives through the rubble of Gaza City on Saturday. Amir Cohen (REUTERS)

The yearning for a ceasefire, tinged with skepticism after so many dashed hopes, mingles in Gaza with the desire of many to escape. This has been impossible since Israel took Rafah last year and closed off the only option: paying thousands of dollars to a mafia for a spot on a list to cross into Egypt. And always with the fear of playing into the hands of the Israeli governing coalition, which dreams of the ethnic cleansing of Gaza, although Trumps plan insists that Palestinians who leave will be able to return.

Escape is what two young people in the Nuseirat refugee camp, in the heart of the Palestinian enclave, pray for, without luck. Their stories might seem parallel, but they are not.

One, Hassan Abo Qamar, is at home with his parents, three brothers, and sister-in-law. He is an exception: practically the entire Strip has suffered forced displacement. For many people, more than 10 times. The UN estimates that 92% of residential buildings (some 436,000 homes) have been destroyed or damaged since the start of the invasion. Not only by bombing, but also by bulldozers, controlled explosions, or fires set to make Gaza uninhabitable. Aware of their privilege, the Abo Qamars welcome anyone in need. Up to 16 people have lived in their house, crammed together.

The other, Mohammed, is in Nuseirat as a displaced person after having to flee his home, and is alone, as he repeatedly points out, after his entire family left the Strip in February 2024. He represents a distinct exception: the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics estimated last month that 100,000 Palestinians fled the horror while it was still possible.

Hassan is 18 years old. On the morning of October 7, 2023, just after the massacre perpetrated by Hamas, the first Israeli missiles caught him studying for his upcoming English exam, oblivious to what was unfolding around him. The genocide, he explains over the phone two years later, has paradoxically made me realize how much I still have to gain in this life. It has transformed my dreams. And I am proud of it. The teenager yearns to return to his studies after two lost years. I will be an engineer, because they [Israel] fight us through science, but I will respond with my knowledge.

Their enthusiasm fuels their hopes, but hunger seeps into the familys stomachs. Despite having money that many in Gaza lack, months ago they could only afford a piece of bread a day. Often, not even that. Now things are a little better, but only for some, he notes, referring to the prohibitive prices at the market. In his home, the distribution now provides enough for four slices of bread, sometimes with zaatar (a traditional Middle Eastern condiment) and cheese, plus rice or pasta a few days a week. Im privileged, he concludes.

For Mohammed, a journalist in his thirties, however, the horror has made him realize how much he stands to lose. What he loves most, the family he has built, is far away. His parents, his sisters, his four children, and his wife, who was pregnant when she left Gaza, are in Cairo. He stayed in the Strip because he is one of the few with a job that allows him to support his exiled family, but now he regrets his decision.

Mohamed laments on the phone that he has yet to see his fourth child, born in Egypt, in person. The little boy doesnt react when he sees his distant father on his cell phone screen during video calls, during which his older children criticize him for not being with them. It breaks my heart, he says, his voice cracking. My children and my wife cant afford to lose me. Mohammed has long focused his efforts on staying alive so he can return to them. He stays away from people to avoid the bombings and spends lonely nights in his car near the sea.

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SUR in English Gibraltar Monday, 6 October 2025, 15:06 Share

Dyslexia Gibraltar is set to host a series of events this October aimed at raising awareness, providing support, and strengthening community connections around dyslexia. The initiative runs from Tuesday 7 to Saturday 11 October and includes workshops, an educators gathering, and a parents coffee morning.

Dyslexia in the workplace

From Tuesday 7 to Thursday 9 October, three Dyslexia in the Workplace workshops will be held in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses, with sponsorship from Capurro Insurance. These sessions will be led by Clare Francis, who will also be available for private consultations. Participants are encouraged to sign up and share the opportunity with colleagues.

Educators event

On Thursday 9 October, teachers and educators are invited to attend an informal evening with free drinks and tapas. This event is designed to create a relaxed space to connect with Dyslexia Gibraltar, gain insight into dyslexia, and learn practical classroom strategies.

Parents' coffee morning

The week concludes on Saturday 11 October with a breakfast gathering at Kings Diner. This friendly meet-up will allow parents to connect with each other, speak directly with Dyslexia Gibraltars committee, and share experiences. Children are warmly encouraged to attend, offering them a chance to meet other dyslexic kids and enjoy time together. Weather permitting, the event will take place outdoors, with Kings Bastion as the backup venue.

Contact details

For workshop registration or more information, email Clare Francis: edyoucationclarefrancis@gmail.com

Event details and registration links are available via Dyslexia Gibraltars Facebook page: Workplace Workshops: https://fb.me/e/5uKnt8Qmr

Educators Event: https://fb.me/e/5caM34cw9

Parents Coffee Morning: https://fb.me/e/5e22YE4Jt

Follow Dyslexia Gibraltar online:

Facebook: @dyslexiagibraltar

X/Twitter: @dyslexia_Gib

LinkedIn: @dyslexia-gibraltar

Instagram: @dyslexiagibraltar

YouTube: @dyslexiaGibraltar-
SUR in English Gibraltar Monday, 6 October 2025, 12:46 Share

Gibraltar's deputy chief minister Dr Joseph Garcia has declared the territory's place in the British family of nations as "unshakeable and unbreakable" during a well-attended Gibraltar Government reception at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester.

The event drew significant political support, with shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel delivering a passionate address to the gathering of MPs, Lords, and former UK government ministers. "More than a gathering of friends - it is a gathering of family," Dame Priti told attendees. "And as a Conservative family, let me be crystal clear: every square inch of Gibraltar is British."

Dr Garcia highlighted the Conservative Party's historic defense of Gibraltar's British sovereignty and its rejection of Spanish territorial claims, while championing the Gibraltarian people's right to self-determination. He recalled former prime minister David Cameron's assertion that defending Gibraltar was "in the blood of the Party."

The Deputy Chief Minister emphasised Gibraltar's unique status as the only UK Overseas Territory permitted to participate in the 2016 Brexit referendum. He assured delegates that post-Brexit arrangements with the EU "will have no bearing on our British sovereignty," noting that Gibraltarians remain as proudly British today as ever.

Dr Garcia characterised the event as a celebration of a "partnership that stretches back over three hundred years, as solid and as enduring as the Rock itself and a bond which will never be broken."

He also underscored Gibraltar's strategic importance to UK defence and security interests, citing its role in two World Wars, regional conflicts, and the Falklands campaign. Dr Garcia noted Gibraltar's distinction as the first territory worldwide to implement sanctions against Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, calling it "a badge that Gibraltar wore with pride."
Chris McCann, Senior Partner, Blevins Franks Malaga Monday, 6 October 2025, 10:19 Share

If you are planning on moving to Spain, or have recently done so, you have made an excellent choice. With its rich culture, warm climate and relaxed lifestyle, Spain offers a wonderful quality of life. It can also provide tax planning opportunities.

Take the time to research and understand the tax and wealth management implications of becoming resident in Spain. You can structure your savings, investments and assets for maximum tax efficiency, with no unexpected tax consequences.

1. Where will you need to pay tax?

You will be tax resident in Spain if you are in the country for more than 183 days in a calendar year, but possibly also if your spouse and/or minor dependent children live here or your centre of economic interests is in Spain. Tax residents are liable to Spanish taxation on worldwide income, gains and wealth, and subject to the Spanish succession and gift tax rules.

If you continue to earn income in the UK, the UK/Spain double tax treaty establishes where you must declare the income and pay tax. Other UK taxes will continue to impact you, such as the pension lump sum allowance and overseas transfer charge. UK inheritance tax will apply to your worldwide assets for up to 10 years, while UK assets are always liable.

2. What tax will you pay in Spain?

Income tax rates for general income range from 19% to 47% in Andalucia. Savings income is taxed progressively from 19% for income up to 6,000 to 30% for any earnings over 300,000.

Spain imposes annual wealth taxes, but in Andalucia this only affects those with assets over 4,000,000 per individual.

Tax-efficient investment wrappers offered through a Spanish-compliant bond could legitimately reduce your tax liabilities.

3. How should you hold savings and investments?

A potentially costly mistake is assuming what was tax-efficient in the UK is the same in Spain. ISAs, for example, lose their tax-free status in Spain and the interest, dividends and gains may attract Spanish tax.

Your situation and goals change when you relocate. Take a fresh look at your portfolio to ensure it suits your current circumstances, objectives and risk profile. Besides considering which assets to invest in, consider where to hold your investments. The choice of jurisdiction can impact investment options, taxation and level of investor protection.

Note that UK-based financial advisers and institutions no longer have passporting rights to provide regulated advice and services to EU clients. Retaining UK investments and bank accounts may present challenges.

4. What is the right currency mix for you?

Once you are spending euros daily, keeping savings and investments in sterling makes your income vulnerable to exchange rate fluctuations. Look for structures with currency flexibility.

5. What are your property options?

Consider the tax implications of buying and selling property. When is the best time to sell your UK property or buy a Spanish home to limit capital gains tax and stamp duty? Could owning a high value property affect wealth and succession tax liabilities in Spain? Understanding the answers could save thousands, so take care to establish your best approach.

6. What should you do with your UK pensions?

If you are planning to retire in Spain, explore the options for your UK pension funds and understand the pros, cons and tax implications of each. Weigh them up carefully and analyse the tax consequences in Spain and UK. This now needs to include UK inheritance tax, since pensions funds will form part of your estate from April 2027 and assets in the UK are always liable. Taking regulated, personalised pensions advice is crucial.

7. Is your estate planning suitable?

Spanish succession law has forced heirship rules protecting the direct family, which applies by default. However, you can take steps in advance to override this to distribute your estate under UK law.

Spanish succession and gift tax is determined by who the beneficiary is, where the deceased and beneficiary are resident, and where the assets are located. Rates and allowances vary across regions  Andalucia has virtually eliminated this tax for spouses and children.

British expatriates also remain liable for UK inheritance tax on UK assets, and on worldwide assets for up to 10 years. Your heirs will not pay tax twice but do pay the higher amount.

Integrated planning

The sooner you review your finances, the sooner you can get on with enjoying life in Spain. For the best results, consider all these essentials in conjunction with each other. Often one will impact upon another so working on them in isolation could have unexpected consequences.

Ultimately, you want to achieve peace of mind that all your affairs are in order and designed to achieve your wishes. Taking professional guidance from a locally-based adviser will ensure you have all the facts and understand your options. Blevins Franks specialises in cross-border tax and financial planning for the UK and Spain, with offices in Spain for over 35 years. Get in touch to find out how we can help you plan a smooth, tax-efficient move to Spain. www.blevinsfranks.com

Tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual is advised to seek personalised advice.

Blevins Franks Wealth Management Limited (BFWML) is authorised and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority, registered number C 92917. Authorised to conduct investment services under the Investment Services Act and authorised to carry out insurance intermediary activities under the Insurance Distribution Act. Where advice is provided outside of Malta via the Insurance Distribution Directive or the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II, the applicable regulatory system differs in some respects from that of Malta. BFWML also provides taxation advice; its tax advisers are fully qualified tax specialists. Blevins Franks Trustees Limited is authorised and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority for the administration of trusts, retirement schemes and companies. This promotion has been approved and issued by BFWML.
Javier Almellones Malaga Monday, 6 October 2025, 09:36 Share

A large sign with red letters on a yellow background near Campillos in the north of Malaga province reads: "Attention lynx - 19 km." For a few months now it has been confusing drivers, many of whom believe that it must be a mistake.

The sign is installed on the right-hand side of the A-384 road, which links the town with Antequera, at its junction with the A-357. The possibility of coming across a rare Iberian lynx in the province of Malaga nowadays is very low. The wild cat used to inhabit the Serrania de Ronda, but that was years ago.

So why is the sign there? We have to go back to July 2024, when an Iberian lynx named Tilo was found dead next to the A-384 road. Tilo had come from the Murcia region, where he had been reintroduced, together with 17 other specimens, in May 2023. Unfortunately, at least seven of the animals were found dead within just over a year since their release.

Before his death, Tilo had travelled hundreds of kilometres from Murcia, until he reached Campillos, where there is an abundant population of rabbits - the Iberian lynx's favourite prey. Moreover, there are several small game reserves in the area around the place where Tilo was found.

That said, the sign is precautionary, warning of the possible appearance of lynxes in the 19-kilometre stretch between Campillos and the junction of the A-384 and the A-92 dual carriageway.

Campillos town hall said that the road is the responsibility of the regional Junta de Andalucia government, which is why the municipal team didn't know about the sign, although it believes its installation is justified. Drivers are asked to drive with caution at all times of the day.

Malaga province has not been associated with the Iberian lynx since 2020, when a German tourist apparently spotted and recorded a video of a specimen during a hike in the Serrania de Ronda. However, the location was never verified. Although, historically, there have been precedents in this mountainous area of Malaga, the lynx is a solitary, nomad animal that avoids humans.
Jennie Rhodes Frigiliana Monday, 6 October 2025, 12:40 Share

La Axarca, the beer brand created by the distributor La Domadora y el Leon, which is based in Frigiliana on the eastern side of Malaga province, has won a gold medal in the World Beer Awards 2025, which was held in Norwich in August.

Brotas Beer La Axarca, a session IPA which came about through a collaboration between the Frigiliana company and Brotas Beer, a microbrewery run by Marcio Egea Secafin in Sao Paolo, Brazil, won the gold country winner prize in the IPA session beers category of the awards for its distinctive taste.

Owners of La Domadora y el Leon, Charo Barco and Javier Leon, travelled to the city of Brotas in Sao Paolo state in Brazil in March this year, where they brewed the first Brazilian-style version of their Tropical Pale Ale.

Marcio Egea Secafin has family connections with Frigiliana as his grandmother was born there and he and Javier first met in 2014 through their connections with the brewing industry.

The couple explain that 3,000 litres of 'Made in Brazil' La Axarca beer was brewed using four hops, Citra, Mosaico, Amarillo and Cascade, the same as in the Spanish version, but three new types of barley have been added to maintain "the colour, aroma and alcohol and thus get as close as possible to the original beer".

Charo and Javier were able to bring a limited amount of the beer back to Spain. It was sold as a 'limited edition' both in Frigiliana and at the Sao Paolo brewery. However, for now there are no plans to produce more.

J. Rhodes

The World Beer Awards are the global awards selecting the very best in all the international recognised styles, award and promote the worlds best beers to consumers and trade across the globe.

The winners for the World Beer Awards 2025 were officially announced on Wednesday 13 August and the announcement took place at The Great Hospital in Norwich.
Benalmadena reaffirms its commitment to the Spanish flag Around 300 people reaffirmed their commitment to Spain and symbolised their love for their country during the ceremony in Arroyo de la Miel involving some 200 legionnaires from a Ronda regiment

Tony Bryant Benalmadena Monday, 6 October 2025, 09:13 Share

Plaza Adolfo Suarez in Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmadena, hosted the civil oath of allegiance to the Spanish flag on Saturday 4 October, a ceremony during which around 300 people reaffirmed their commitment to Spain and symbolised their love for their country.

Approximately 200 male and female legionnaires from the Alejandro Farnesio regiment of Ronda, which, in August, was awarded for its work during last year's Dana flooding disaster, took part in the ceremony. It was also attended by numerous civil and military authorities, as well as around 20 social groups and a large crowd of spectators.

The arrival of the Christ of the Redemption accompanied by the legions military band was one of the highlights of the ceremony, while one of the most moving moments of the day was the tribute to the fallen, which was presided over by the towns mayor, Juan Antonio Lara.
Chus Heredia Malaga Monday, 6 October 2025, 11:10 Share

The Junta de Andalucia's drought committee meeting this Monday, 6 October, is being held in a much more favourable context this year. With promising forecasts, it marks the start of the 2025/26 hydrological year and the end of the previous one. This year, Malaga province has three times the water reserves it had last year. Surface reserves amount to 292 million cubic metres, 47% of the total capacity. A year ago, they barely contained 98. Fortunately, successive episodes of heavy rainfall and storms turned the situation around.

The committee is due to analyse the current situation and determine usage prices. What is known is that there will be no restrictions on water supply and the Costa del Sol will continue with 100% of the allocation - 250 litres per inhabitant per day. The Guadalhorce system, which supplies Malaga city, will continue with 225, which easily covers all needs. The same applies to the Axarquia district, which, in this case, is at 90% of the allocated volumes in a normal situation.

The province starts the year in a normal phase, Malaga and the Guadalhorce in pre-alert and the Axarquia in alert. However, none of these phases has practical repercussions, as SUR reported on 1 September.

Reserves

The reservoir that stores the most water is the Guadalteba, with over 80 million cubic metres, followed by the Vinuela, with 70 million cubic metres, the Guadalhorce, with 46, and the Concepcion, with 38. Then comes the Conde de Guadalhorce, with 32, and Casasola and Limonero, with 12 each.

As for the prices of usage, reservoir fees and water use tax for the next hydrological year, the committee has to resolve allegations and publish the final assessment in the official gazette of the regional government (BOJA) in December. To begin with, the costs for users (irrigators and water operators) remain stable, even slightly lower, but experience notable increases in the Axarquia.

Regulation and Tua

Reservoir fees apply to those who benefit from surface or groundwater regulation works that have been financed wholly or partly by the central government. These fees act as a compensatory levy, helping to offset the costs of the investment borne by the State and to cover the operation and maintenance of the associated infrastructure.

The water use tariff (Tua) is the fee charged to users of hydraulic works other than regulation works, which have also been financed wholly or partly by the State. This fee is paid for the right to access and use the water provided by these works.

Prices for 2026

On the western Costa del Sol, the combined total of both fees will fall by 3.51% in 2026, amounting to just over 67 euros per 1,000 cubic metres (one million litres).

In the Guadalhorce, the supply fee drops by 2.57%, reaching 77.38 euros per 1,000 cubic metres. For irrigation, it rises by 0.51%, to 30 euros per 1,000 cubic metres in a normal year. If restrictions are necessary, the fee would drop by 20%, reaching 107 euros per 1,000 cubic metres.

Casasola-Limonero will reach 80 euros per 1,000 cubic metres - a drop of 4% compared to 2025.

In La Vinuela, the irrigation fee is up 18.37%, with 64 euros, and the supply fee is up 19% (200.22 euros).
The scenes are astonishing. Men and women of all ages and physical conditions, zigzagging and crawling across the ground, rifles in hand. Quickly hiding behind mounds to avoid enemy fire. Aiming and firing with the greatest possible precision. Crossing a river, holding onto a rope. Perched on a tree, scanning the horizon with binoculars. The enemy seems to be at the door.

Venezuela is training its civilian population in combat tactics in case the United States  which has deployed forces in the Caribbean Sea and claims that Nicolas Maduro is an illegitimate president  takes the final step and attacks the country. Although a war scenario sounds impossible to many, the Venezuelan government has taken the signals from the White House very seriously, with the U.S. naval detachment having blown up at least five vessels that have left the Venezuelan coast allegedly on drug-smuggling runs and amid Donald Trumps threats about striking targets on land.

Nervousness has soared among Maduro and his Praetorian Guard. Chavismo claims to have several million combatants at the ready  a figure impossible to verify  and hope to add even more with these crash-course exercises. More than one observer has raised an eyebrow. Facing them would be the U.S. military, with the greatest firepower in human history, one capable of subduing Iran in a single night with the most powerful non-nuclear bombs in existence. However, Maduro and the regimes deputy, Diosdado Cabello, and even Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, have shown no sign of submission in the face of Washingtons threat and often cite the war experiences of Vietnam and Afghanistan as examples that resistance is possible.

Members of the Bolivarian militia in Caracas, Venezuela. GABY ORAA

Most of those who have participated in the training are linked in one way or another to the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), the ruling party. They call it a patriotic duty, according to militia members interviewed by this newspaper. The training sessions have been televised. They have been carried out in the areas of Petare and Coche; and in La Guaira and Guarenas, near Caracas. The National Bolivarian Armed Forces have patrolled Caracass highways with their heaviest weapons. It has been stated that the training will include all of the countrys Communal Councils. Civilians are trained in close combat, weapons disassembly, shooting practice, physical exercises, and theoretical work.

Were not here to play games. Were not here to revel. Were preparing, Padrino said at a recent event with civilian volunteers who were enlisting for combat on Caracass central Bolivar Avenue. At the right time, the people would take up armed struggle, inch by inch, to defend the homeland, national honor, and national dignity.

The atmosphere on the streets, however, is still far from conveying the imminence of an international military conflict to the population. Its not easy to go to a poor neighborhood in Caracas and openly recruit volunteers to go to war. The ruling party is satisfied with the response of its militants, but the prevailing sentiment among the majority of the population regarding what is happening is one of distance and expectation. The decline in Chavismos mobilization capacity is being laid bare.

They primarily train what the government considers social movements (Chavista civil society). Alongside them is the Bolivarian Militia of Venezuela, a military component founded by the regime to which many civilians also belong. The so-called social movements are made up of groups like Futuro and Somos Venezuela; the street leaders of each community; the leaders of the UBCH (Bolivar-Chavez Battle Units); the most committed members of the Communal Councils; the armed collectives; the beneficiaries of the Local Supply and Production Committees (CLAP); and cultural groups aligned with the government.

Venezuelan government supporters hold weapons during a civic-military display in the capital. GABY ORAA

Both bodies have served as a natural bridge between the concerns of the civic-military leadership governing Venezuela regarding threats to the nation and the potential interest of ordinary people in hearing them. Beneficiaries of government social programs, holders of the so-called Homeland Card, are currently being asked if they are willing to enlist for national defense.

Although they are in the minority, it is true that citizens emotionally disconnected from the government have also enlisted. A significant number of volunteers have come forward for these military training sessions, a result of the ruling partys total control of the public message and the undeniable organization of its militants, but the overall response of the population is far from being overwhelming.

In Venezuela, we dont recruit people. Weve put out calls, explains Ruben, an activist from the Las Palmas neighborhood of Caracas, who declined to give his last name. You call 100 people, 15 register. We keep track of them. In each area of the city, you recruit volunteers. When you come to see them, from area to area, you have a large group to work with.

Thousands of Bolivarian militia members with Venezuelan flags and images of Hugo Chavez during the march. GABY ORAA

Ready to defend the homeland from traitors, from sellouts, from those who want to violate the sovereignty of this country, which is sacred, stated Lieutenant Sara, on active duty, who also did not want to give her full name, and who did not want to add anything else because we dont have to talk to the international press.

Several militia members and volunteers involved in these activities declined to comment, stating that they needed permission from their superiors. I wouldnt go out into the streets shooting, not even if that were to happen, murmured a resident of the Chapellin neighborhood, formally identified with Chavismos organizational and social programs, who preferred to remain anonymous. His story is a common one in the twists and turns of national society. There are a lot of people who are working with the government out of necessity. You work with them, but nothing more. Its all lip service. No one is going to go out and kill themselves with so many hardships that people in this country are experiencing.

Civilians of various ages and backgrounds hold weapons in support of Nicolas Maduro, on September 23 in Caracas. GABY ORAA

Maduro recently declared a so-called state of external commotion, a constitutional clause invoked for these types of situations, although it seems redundant in a context like Venezuelas, where the government wields complete control. Some observers of Venezuelan politics have been concerned about this measure, which could serve to increase censorship, reduce the limited space enjoyed by the opposition, suspend constitutional guarantees, or militarize daily life in the country.

What the United States wants is to get its hands on our oil, thats clear, says Carlos Jimenez, one of the many leaders of Chavismos social movements in the capital, based in the La Florida neighborhood. And I say there is dignity here; what the United States government says is unacceptable. We have the blood of Bolivar; we are the people who liberated America. We may have differences in the local debate, but the country, Venezuela, comes before all that.

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Ignacio Lillo Malaga Monday, 6 October 2025, 14:48 Share

After more than two months of searching the countryside day and night, the first (officially recorded) nest of Asian hornets has finally been located in Malaga province. A group of volunteers, comprising of residents and experts aware of this problem in the Guadalhorce valley, found it during one of their searches that took place on Friday, 3 October. The nest is in a private plot of land in the Pinos de Alhaurin residential area in Alhaurin de la Torre.

Local resident and biologist Eduardo Saez first raised the alarm this summer, after identifying the first specimens of this invasive species in the province. He saw the Asian hornets drinking from his dogs' water troughs. Since then, residents, beekeepers and hikers, with the support of environmental experts from the regional government, have carried out numerous inspections to find the hornets' nest.

Removal operation

The next challenge now is to remove it, which will not be easy given that the nest is hidden among the branches of a pine tree, at a height of about ten metres. The spot is difficult to access. Moreover, hornets are very aggressive when it comes to defending their colony, which contains more than a thousand specimens. Each one of them can sting the attacker several times.

Experienced experts from Galicia have been asked to cooperate, as they have been fighting this pest for years. The removal will be carried out by a pest control company hired by the town hall. The authorities hope that the operation will be as successful as the one carried out in Los Barrios, where the first nest located in Andalucia was removed, without the subsequent return of specimens.

The volunteers behind the discovery

Mar, Mark and Manuel were the three volunteers that found the nest. Manuel told SUR that they would track hornets on their way back to the nest after visiting cattle feeders, note down when and triangulate the area. Added to this was the difficulty of entering private plots.

The nest was so well hidden that they ended up finding it in an area that had been searched before, without success. Manuel congratulated the numerous residents, beekeepers, pest control experts and environmental officials, including forest rangers from other provinces, for supporting the task.

Thanks to the high temperatures, it is possible that queen dispersal has not yet started and could be stopped in time

According to Eduardo Saez, the nest is located close to his street, about 250 metres from the control point. He believes that it was located in time to prevent the queens from leaving to form new nests.

"We imagine that they haven't started. Maybe it's still a bit early but we don't know how they will behave here either, where the temperature is milder than in the north. We would expect them to delay the dispersal of the queens," he said. Therefore, once this nest is removed, the problem will have been solved, "at least provisionally, until the next one arrives".

Invasive species

President of the Malaga beekeepers' association Juan Molina expressed his relief after two months of search. Asian hornets' main prey are bees and their activity generates an ecological imbalance.

"All the volunteers are very happy to have finally found it, especially the beekeepers. Now we can breathe a little. Even if only for a while, we have had a weight lifted off our shoulders," he said.
Juan Soto Malaga Monday, 6 October 2025, 10:47 Share

After long-running protests from animal welfare groups, Malaga has bid farewell to horse-drawn carriages for tourists in the city. Mayor Francisco De la Torre announced the ban on this type of tourist transport with immediate effect from Monday, 6 October, with a video posted on social media.

De la Torre stated that Malaga is taking this step "with the welfare and safety of the animals in mind". For this reason, the city council has compensated the holders of the 25 licences still active in the city. This measure has been brought forward by a whole decade, as it was initially planned for 2035.

De la Torre ended the video stating that "Malaga has evolved and now there are many sustainable ways of getting around the city: the best of all is to enjoy a stroll through our streets".

Of the 55 horse-drawn carriage licences that existed in 2018, some 30 were already subject to redemption and cancellation, on a voluntary basis and with prior compensation, in the years 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020. The revocation of the remaining 25 licences has been determined by the incompatibility of the horse carriage ride service with the development of the city under conditions of safety and health, both for road users and for the animals themselves.

"Malaga has evolved and now there are many sustainable ways of getting around the city: the best of all is to enjoy a stroll through our streets"

This revocation entails compensation to licence holders, as they will not be able to carry out their activity until the date established by the bylaw. The compensation of each licence amounts to 125,380.48 euros.

This Monday, the city council will remove the signs indicating reserved parking spaces for horse-drawn carriages on Cortina del Muelle, Paseo de los Curas and Avenida de Cervantes, with the latter two now reserved for motorbikes.
Nuria Triguero Malaga Monday, 6 October 2025, 10:13 Share

A second protest against the actions of the Israeli government took over the streets of Malaga city at the weekend, less than 48 hours after the previous demonstration on 1 October. Unlike the impromptu rally on Thursday, the Saturday march for Palestine took place in numerous cities across Spain.

According to SUR sources, more than 4,000 people of all ages marched through the streets of the Costa del Sol capital to demand, for the umpteenth time, an end to the "genocide" in Gaza, a total arms embargo on Israel and the cutting off of all relations with the state and its companies. However, another demand was chanted on Saturday and that was the release of the Freedom Flotilla activists, including Rafael Borrego y Manolo Garci from Malaga, who were imprisoned by the Israeli government on their way to take humanitarian aid to Gaza.

"The world is watching; we must intensify our opposition. Every day counts and Palestine cannot wait another minute. We need to end the complicity of governments and companies with Israel because this is what maintains the impunity of its crimes," said the protest spokespersons, who read out their manifesto in the Plaza de la Constitucion after almost two hours of walking through the historic centre. For the first time, the proclamations included a call for a general strike for Palestine.

The demonstration left the Plaza de la Merceda at midday and went along Calle Alcazabilla, the Pintor Nogales crossing and the Paseo del Parque, which was closed to westbound traffic during its passage. After passing through the Plaza de la Marina, the crowd made its way along Calle Larios, filling the street from bottom to top until it reached the Plaza de la Constitucion around 2pm.

The protesters carried banners signed by different left-wing parties and social collectives, from Amnesty International to Malaga por Palestina, Izquierda Unida, Podemos, Partido Comunista, Izquierda Revolucionaria, Comisiones Obreras, the Movimiento Vecinal Parque del Oeste, the Asociacion Al Quds and the Sindicato de Estudiantes.

Marilu Baez

Among the protesters were spokesperson for the socialist PSOE party in Malaga city council Dani Perez, PSOE councillor Begona Medina, Con Malaga councillor Toni Morillas, IU regional coordinator Toni Valero and Podemos Malaga councillor Nico Sguiglia. Morillas repeated their demands and gave an update on the conditions under which the flotilla activists were being held. "Yesterday we learned that they have been put in an Israeli prison. We also saw a shocking video of one of the Israeli ministers saying that they were going to be treated as terrorists," she said, adding that it is the actions of the Israeli government that are consistent with a terrorist treatment. Morillas stated that the hostages are held illegally. "We therefore demand that Israel complies with international law and immediately releases the hostages," Toni Valero added.

Donald Trump's peace plan

The turn of events taking place under Donald Trump's pressure, with Hamas agreeing to release the hostages and Israel saying it will halt the bombings in Gaza, does not convince the demonstrators. "Palestine doesn't just need peace - it needs justice," they stated with their manifesto.

The one thing they deemed positive was the "resumption of dialogue". However, they insisted that the Israeli army stop the occupation of Palestine and that Benjamin Netanyahu be brought before the International Criminal Court. Given that these two conditions are not fulfilled, the protesters stated that the imposition of the US "does not respect the rights of the Palestinian people, who are absolutely defenceless". The protest spokespersons urged the international community "not to allow the US to provide Netanyahu" with a "bridge to implement his plan to expel the Palestinian people".

The manifesto also criticised mayor of Malaga Francisco de la Torre's silence in the face of the massacre committed in Gaza. "We urge our mayor and the city council to condemn the genocide and break off relations with Israeli funds," said one of the spokespersons. The crowd in the Plaza de la Constitucion shouted: "Paco de la Torre, accomplice."
Europa Press Malaga Monday, 6 October 2025, 14:19 Share

A court in Malaga has convicted a suspect for wounding another man in a shooting that took place in Marbella in 2014. The attack was prompted by an argument the defendant had had with the victim's son at a local club. The shooter was sentenced to two years in prison for bodily and illegal possession of weapons.

The sentence declared the argument in the club proven. After the brawl, the defendant went to the son's address to look for him, accompanied by two other unidentified individuals.

According to the ruling, the defendant got out of the car and saw his target come out of the building together with his father. After rebuking them, the father fled and the defendant "opened fire on him with two weapons, firing numerous shots into the air". Both the father and the son ran inside the building. Two of the bullets hit the father in the left leg.

The inspection carried out by the National Police revealed that more than 25 shots had been fired, most of them from the same weapon, possibly a submachine gun, although three weapons had reportedly been used in the shooting. The victim is also believed to have shot with an unknown weapon at least once.

Conviction and compensation

The court considered it proven that the defendant shot the victim twice. The two wounds on the latter's leg required initial medical assistance and subsequent medical and surgical treatment, which took a total of 220 days to heal.

The defendant was convicted of a crime of aggravated assault and another of illegal possession of weapons, for which he was sentenced to a total of two years in prison and was banned from approaching and communicating with the victim for five years. He was also ordered to pay compensation of 15,000 euros.

The prosecutor handed the court the amended accusation after the defendant had admitted the facts and the victim had testified, stating that the defendant had paid him the compensation. This implied the mitigating circumstance of reparation of the damage and the reduction of the sentence.

In addition, the oral trial was held 11 years after the events, so the circumstance of undue delays was also considered in relation to the commission of both offenses. Likewise, the execution of the sentence is suspended for a period of three years, on the condition that the convicted person does not commit another crime during that time.
Regina Sotorrio Monday, 6 October 2025, 15:56 Share

Far below the Spanish 'pinsapos' (firs) of the Sierra de las Nieves mountain range, near Tolox, lies a labyrinth of underground caves, several hundred metres deep, that stretches for miles. They are known as 'supercaves', a term that reflects the uniqueness of these galleries of previously unknown dimensions. Now, speleologists are gradually beginning to decipher this complex underground world. Members of the underground explorations group, part of Malaga's hiking society, have just confirmed this unknown connection between two large chasms that were already known, but thought to be separate. The discovery of this missing link has now turned this cave system into the largest supercave in the southern Iberian peninsula.

The new Nevero-Aire cave complex is over 26 kilometres long with a vertical drop of 955 metres in total. That is six kilometres more than what was previously thought to be the largest cave in Andalucia, the Sima de la Luz. Moreover, this is just the beginning. Experts know, after years of studies, that this latest cave also connects at some point - as yet undetected - with the previous ones, which would create an underground route of almost 50 kilometres. "It's very impressive, something very exceptional. We're now opening Pandora's box," says Rogelio Ferrer, one of the few professionals capable of delving deep into the bowels of the Earth and still reeling from the excitement of this discovery. He spent five days inside the supercave in June.

M. Benitez

We are talking about authentic underground cathedrals with large vertical shafts hundreds of metres deep, immense chambers of up to 30,000 cubic metres in volume (equivalent to four hot air balloons) and long galleries. All this in what is very much a small karst system in the Sierra de las Nieves, nothing like the much larger karst areas in the Picos de Europa or the Pyrenees in northern Spain. Therein lies part of the wonder that this has inspired among experts: that there are such enormous subterranean systems, previously only seen in the north of Spain, in such a particular and limited area.

Wait, there's more. What lies hidden in the Sierra de las Nieves is a true "geological jewel" that is being investigated by scientists, because its formation alters paradigms that seemed pretty set in stone. Typically, when rainwater infiltrates the ground, it opens up fractures in the rock until it reaches a water table. However, supercaves are not formed that way. There are very vertical chasms with other horizontal networks and galleries have been discovered several hundred metres below the surface of the water table and flooded caves. This indicates, as geologist Juan Jose Duran explained at the time, that there are other hypogenic (crystallisation) mechanisms for the creation of these cavities, such as waters coming from within the massif with different chemical elements and temperatures that generate hyperkarstification processes. An "absolutely atypical" phenomenon.

Years of work

Speleologists and geologists have been working together for decades, both underground and above ground, to decode the system of tunnels, shafts and galleries beneath the Sierra de las Nieves mountain range. They knew that some of the Nevero-Aire galleries were barely 100 metres apart and that somewhere they had to coincide, connect somehow.

It has large vertical shafts, immense chambers and long galleries stretching 26 kilometres and descending 955 metres

"Like a surgeon", they delimited the whole area, following a series of high-quality topographical surveys and numerous team assessments. This has been no easy feat, with expeditions descending to depths of 500 and 600 metres, spending several days without seeing sunlight. By this summer, they had already decided where to venture into this convoluted labyrinth to seek out a possible connection. How right they were. On Saturday 26 September, two members of Malaga hiking society's underground explorations group physically confirmed that the connection between the two chasms was real, deep underground in this national park. This was a milestone achievement for speleology in the province, placing Malaga in the spotlight for underground science and research.
Europa Press Madrid Monday, 6 October 2025, 17:20 Share

A Spanish tourist was injured on Sunday when he was attacked by a bear in southern Japan, authorities in the Asian country said.

The incident happened at around 8.30am local time when the 40-year-old tourist was near a bus stop in the historic village of Shirakawa-go, a World Heritage Site in Gifu prefecture, according to the Japanese daily newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun.

The tourist, whose personal details have not been disclosed, suffered an abrasion caused by a claw to his upper right arm and has already received medical attention.

According to local authorities, this is the first time a bear has attacked a person since 2014.
Isabel Mendez Malaga Monday, 6 October 2025, 12:23 Share

The sale of trips within the government-funded Imserso programme of reduced-price holidays for pensioners in Spain starts today (Monday, 6 October).

This year, those who are eligible for the 2025-2026 season can book their getaways on one of two established dates, depending on the region where they live: 6 October for Asturias, Catalonia, Castilla La Mancha, Valencia, Ceuta, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, La Rioja, Navarre and the Basque Country; and 8 October for Andalucia, Aragon, Cantabria, Castilla y Leon, Extremadura, Galicia, Madrid, Melilla and Murcia.

In addition, the 8th has been reserved for priority-accredited pensioners, while non-priority pensioners have Thursday, 9 October.

A total of 879,213 places are available within the 2025-2026 campaign, divided into three main blocks: 440,284 for the mainland coast, 228,142 for the island coast and 210,787 for short breaks and European destinations.

Bookings will be managed by the Avoris and Mundiplan websites, as well as by some 8,000 authorised agencies throughout Spain.

Equal opportunities

Although two different dates have been set, no regions will have advantage over others. According to Imserso, each region has a quota of reserved places, determined by the number of residents over the age of 65 in each province, according to official statistics.

The new feature this year is the flat rate of 50 euros for people whose income is lower than that of non-contributory pensions. There are 7,447 spots reserved for them. Also for the first time, pensioners will be able to bring a pet, as long as it weighs fewer than 10 kilos with the carrier. The quota for this option is 2% for coastal destinations.

In order to be eligible for these trips, it is necessary to have received an accreditation letter. This year, 2,811,632 letters have been sent to the 4,387,854 people who are eligible to travel. The letter includes the application date.
Elbridge, N.Y.  A Syracuse motorcyclist was critically injured Monday morning in a crash with a SUV in the town of Elbridge, troopers said.

Around 10:52 a.m., State Police went to the crash on Route 5 east of the village of Elbridge, according to Trooper Jeniffer Jiron, a spokesperson for State Police.

Elizabeth R. Shapiro, 32, of Florida, was going east in her Ford Explorer on Route 5 and had come to a stop at the intersection of Kester Road to turn left.

As Shapiro started to turn, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, driven by Mark S. Clements, 60, also traveling east on Route 5, collided with the drivers side front of the car while she was turning, troopers said.

Clements was critically injured and was taken to Upstate University Hospital. He is now in stable condition, troopers said.

Shapiro was not injured in the crash.

The crash remains under investigation.
Twenty-five years ago, her role as Rory Gilmore made her one of the most popular actresses of the early 2000s. After a three-year hiatus following her departure from The Handmaids Tale  the series that earned her an Emmy  she now has two new projects in the works

Actress Alexis Bledel, 44, is much more than the face of a generation. She is a clear example of how to take control of your life, your career, and the narrative that is created around you. Sunday, October 5, marked 25 years since a very young Rory Gilmore first appeared on television, walking the streets of Stars Hollow in Gilmore Girls  the show that made Bledel famous before she even turned 20. But her more than two decades in the film industry have been marked by her discretion and her insistence on keeping the focus on her work.

Bledel was only 17 when she made her film debut with a tiny role  so small that even the characters name is unknown  in Wes Andersons Rushmore. What she could not have imagined at the time was that two years later she would bring to life one of the most popular characters of the 2000s, a role that would make her one of the most in-demand young actresses of the era. Now her name is back in the headlines, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the series, the unofficial special starring its cast, Drink Coffee, Talk Fast  in which neither Bledel nor Lauren Graham, who plays her mother on the show, appear  and the mother-daughter reunion at the Emmy Awards on September 14.

Although she was born in Houston, Bledel has Latino roots: her mother is American but grew up in Mexico, and her father is from Buenos Aires. Thats why Spanish is her first language. Some people go to the United States and dont want to speak to their children in Spanish, but my parents only spoke to me in Spanish. When I went to school, I had to learn English there  I didnt speak a word. I really lived in a kind of Latin bubble, the actress explained in 2015 in an interview with the program Back Home, which took place on the streets of Buenos Aires.

Bledel added that she never felt fully American or fully Latina: That leaves you searching for an identity, and I think thats why I was drawn to acting  because I could create my own identity and character, and explore different aspects of my personality.

It was her parents who enrolled her in acting classes to help her overcome her shyness. The rest is history: she went on to star in a series that continues to captivate new generations, thanks in part to the fact that it was added to streaming platforms like Netflix.

Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham in the second season of 'Gilmore Girls.' Warner Bros/Everett Collection

When she landed the role of Rory Gilmore, Bledel was just starting her studies at New York University, where she earned a degree in film. Years later, in 2017, she recalled on The Late Show with Seth Meyers how she got the part that would change her life: I didnt know the process. I grew a tad bit impatient. I had a little attitude, and our boss [Amy Sherman-Palladino] really liked that a lot. She was like, Thats our girl!

Bledel also found love on set  twice over. She had a brief relationship with Jared Padalecki, her co-star in the first season. A romance, both on-screen and off, that wasnt confirmed until 2021. I dont know if we tried to keep it a secret. I wish it was scandalous or something! I think it was more kind of silly. We were two 17-year-old kids who were like, Hey, you want to go bowling? It wasnt anything super juicy, Padalecki confessed to Glamour.

At the end of 2002, she began dating Milo Ventimiglia, whom she met while filming the second season of Gilmore Girls. In a 2005 interview with People magazine, Bledel even spoke about wedding plans with the actor: I think everybody who has been dating for more than a couple of years probably talks about it at some point. Its a fun thing for us to talk about, but thats it  its down the road." However, the marriage never happened. They broke up a year later, a fact confirmed by Ventimiglias representative.

Elisabeth Moss and Alexis Bledel in a still from 'The Handmaid's Tale', 2017. George Kraychyk (Hulu/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection / Cordon Press)

For seven years and seven seasons, Bledel balanced Gilmore Girls with other successful projects, such as The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, in which she starred alongside Blake Lively, America Ferrera, and Amber Tamblyn. Gilmore Girls concluded in 2007 after 153 episodes, but years later, seeing the nostalgia of fans who longed for a different ending, the cast reunited.

Having the time in between the end of the series and beginning of the revival does give us a lot of perspective on what this show meant to people and what it means for us creatively, Bledel explained in a 2016 interview with Variety. "And coming back to [Rory], its different because shes grown up now. It was interesting to go back to the characters in real time because I had grown up the same amount probably, but in a very different environment. She also acknowledged, however, that it was a challenge to step away from that role.

In 2012, she had a small role on the TV series Mad Men, appearing in three episodes  a project that introduced her to her future husband, Vincent Kartheiser. They married in 2014 in a private ceremony in California. Their relationship has been so private that even the name of their son, born in 2015, remains unknown. After a decade together, Kartheiser filed for divorce. No details about the separation agreement or the reasons for the breakup have been made public.

Alexis Bledel, left, and Lauren Graham present the award for outstanding writing for a comedy series during the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards. Chris Pizzello (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP / Cordon Press)

But, contrary to popular belief, Rory Gilmore is not the most important role of her career. Thanks to her portrayal of Emily Malek in The Handmaids Tale, Bledel was nominated for four Emmy Awards, winning in 2017. Despite the success and recognition, she chose to leave the project in 2022. It was deeply upsetting to even imagine Emily going through something like that  being captured, powerless, with no say over her body, she said in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter. After a three-year hiatus, she now has two projects in post-production: the films Ponderosa and Joy Will Prevail.

Little is known about Bledels private life. She has no social media presence, and her public appearances are rare  the most recent being a small Gilmore Girls tribute at the Emmy Awards. But that has always been her goal: to stay under the radar and maintain as anonymous a life as possible. She has deliberately built a career against the current, making her absence a form of presence.

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Utica, N.Y.  Three New York state corrections officers are set to stand trial Monday in Utica in the fatal beating of an inmate last year at a Central New York prison.

The three officers, Mathew Galliher, Nicholas Kieffer and David Kingsley, each face top charges of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. Galliher and Kieffer face additional charges.

The officers face a maximum penalty of 25 years to life in prison if the jury finds them guilty.

Multiple corrections officers repeatedly punched and kicked the inmate, Robert L. Brooks, in the groin, abdomen and face last December in the infirmary of the Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County. He died hours later at a Utica hospital.

The savage beating  which prosecutors said was the final of three beatings to Brooks  was recorded on video by body cameras worn by four of the prison guards. None had turned on their camera, but 30 minutes of video was passively recorded without audio.

Brooks arrived at the Marcy prison at about 9:07 p.m. on Dec. 9, according to Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, who was appointed to be a special prosecutor in the case. Brooks was clinically dead a half-hour later following the three beatings.

Fitzpatrick has said there was no provocation from Brooks, nor evidence of racial animus from the white corrections officers toward Brooks, who is Black.

I think any sentient human being looking at the tapes naturally comes to the conclusion that he must have said something, he must have spit at the officers, he must have resisted in some way, he said. The fact of the matter is he did absolutely nothing.

The three guards whose trial is beginning Monday are only a few of the people charged in the case.

A fourth guard, Michael Fisher, is set to stand trial on his own in January.

Six other guards indicted in the case have all pleaded guilty.

Three more people are facing charges in the case and have agreed to be cooperating witnesses.

The beating, and the fact it was caught on video, provoked outrage. More than a hundred people flocked to Utica to see the indictment be unsealed. Brooks father testified before state lawmakers in Albany about reforming the state prison system.

Brooks death was ruled a homicide by the Onondaga County Medical Examiners Office. His cause of death was compression of the neck and multiple blunt-impact injuries, according to the autopsy report.

Brooks autopsy showed he suffered extensive bruising, a broken nose bone and bleeding in his genitals and neck.

Brooks arrived at the Marcy prison at about 9 p.m. Dec. 9. Three guards carried him facedown by his hands and feet to an exam table in the prison infirmary.

Guards soon began punching and hitting Brooks, at one point shoving him up against a window. One guard can be seen in body camera footage putting both hands around Brooks neck and yanking him off the exam table.

After the beating, Brooks is seen bloodied and stripped to his underwear.

The Brooks family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court claiming state officials oversee a dangerously broken prison system that brutalizes inmates.

Several of the corrections officers are defendants in lawsuits alleging other cases of abuse against inmates, including one contending the Marcy prison has a beat-up squad.

The union representing corrections officers, the state Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, has denounced the actions of the officers involved in the beating.

Brooks, 43, originally of Greece in Monroe County, was sentenced in 2017 to 12 years in prison on a first-degree assault charge. He was arrested after stabbing his girlfriend multiple times. He had been scheduled for a parole hearing next year.

Brooks had been held in the Mohawk Correctional Facility, records show, but was moved the day of the beating to the Marcy prison. He had been transferred for his safety, a state prison system investigator testified, since he had been involved in altercations with other inmates.

The Marcy prison is a medium-security facility located in Oneida County, about seven miles west of Utica.

An independent monitoring group, the Correctional Association of New York, has identified issues in the past at the prison.

The group interviewed more than 100 inmates in fall 2022 and said inmates reported rampant abuse by employees. A pervasive culture of fear and retaliation was observed, the group wrote in its report.

The Marcy prison is across the street from Mid-State Correctional Facility, where 10 guards have been indicted for fatally beating inmate Messiah Nantwi. Prosecutors have accused the guards of working to cover their tracks after the March 1 beating.
A Central New York film studio is making an ironic change for its newest movie.

American High and Hulu announced Monday that production is beginning in the Syracuse area on Never Change! Contrary to the title, it will represent a departure for the Liverpool-based studio known for teen comedies in a high school setting.

According to the synopsis, Never Change! will follow the 2005 class of North Meadows High School whose senior year was cut short due to a disastrous tornado that wrecked half the school. Now in their mid-30s, theyre being forced to return home and finish high school so they can officially graduate two decades later.

Old flames, second chances, hidden secrets, this is what nightmares are made of, the official logline says.

Marty Schousboe (Joe Pera: Slow & Steady) is directing from a script written by John Reynolds based on a story by Reynolds and Schousboe. Reynolds, who played Officer Callahan on Stranger Things and Drew Gardner on Search Party, is currently the only listed cast member.

So instead of a cast primarily of teenagers (or young adults playing teenagers), Never Change! will center on a group of thirtysomethings like Reynolds, who is 34. Additional stars will be announced at a later date.

John Reynolds attends the "Oh, Hi!" Premiere during the 2025 Sundance Film Festival at Eccles Center Theatre on January 26, 2025 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) Getty Images

American High has produced more than 20 movies in Liverpool and the CNY area since writer-director Jeremy Garelick purchased the former A.V. Zogg Middle School in 2017. The building, now known as Syracuse Studios, is often used as a school setting for teen-centered movies like The Binge, Big Time Adolescence, Prom Dates, The Ultimate Playlist of Noise, Plan B, Crush, Miguel Wants to Fight, Sid is Dead, Empire Waist, and the recent Hulu hit Summer of 69.

The production company also produces digital comedy sketches with the Webby Award-winning American High Shorts, teaches filmmaking courses with The Academy at American High, and is launching an additional film hub in Georgia called American High South. Garelick, whos directing an upcoming film starring Matt Rife and Owen Wilson, said he plans to produce up to four movies a year at each campus.

Never Change! is being produced by Jon Watts for Freshman Year; Nicholas Hatton and Jason Woliner for Swindle; Jeremy Garelick, Will Phelps for American High; Billy Rosenberg for All Things Comedy; and Jason Zaro. Molle Debartolo will executive produce for American High, Axelle Azoulay will co-produce for American High, and Matt Sacca is listed as an associate producer for American High.

The movie will be released on Hulu as part of American Highs first-look deal with the Disney-owned streaming service. A release date has not been announced.
President Donald Trump is talking about sending stimulus checks to Americans that would be funded by revenue from his tariffs.

In an interview with One America News last week, Trump said he is considering sending checks worth $1,000 to $2,000, according to Axios.

Were going to do something, were looking at something. No. 1, were paying down debt. Because people have allowed the debt to go crazy, Trump said, according to Axios. Well pay back debt, but we also might make a distribution to the people, almost like a dividend to the people of America.

Trump has mentioned the idea of rebate checks based on tariff revenue before, including in July.

He and Elon Musk also said earlier this year they were considering the idea of a $5,000 dividend based on savings from the federal cost-cutting effort Musk was leading at the time, according to Axios.

Trump has been imposing tariffs on a range of nations and goods since returning to office in January.

At least some of the new levies are caught up in a Supreme Court case about whether theyre legal. The administration has warned that the U.S. could have to refund some of the tariff revenue if it loses that case.

Tariffs are projected to generate more than $400 billion a year in revenue, according to Axios. Theyre expected to help lower the deficit by about $4 trillion over the next decade.

Any move to send checks to Americans would require approval from Congress, according to the New York Post.

Americans received multiple rounds of stimulus checks during Trumps first term and the Biden administration in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
On stage at Redhouse Arts Center in February, Jeremiah Thompson played the role of Felix Harel in Les Trois Dumas, a comedic figure whose admiration for Alexandre Dumas turns vengeful and stirs chaos within the rest of the cast.

My character creates a whole lot of problems and hes sort of like a farcical element in this historical drama, love story, swashbuckling, everything story, Thompson said.

Now Thompson is stepping onto a different stage: local government. But for him the lessons of the stage arent far from the lessons of politics.

Improv, there is no script. There is no net. And in politics, you have no idea what someones going to ask, Thompson said. But its about being present and being responsive and authentically there.

The 47-year-old Liverpool resident is running as the Democratic candidate for Onondaga County Legislature in the 4th District, which includes the village of Liverpool, town of Salina, town of Geddes and village of Solvay. Hes up against incumbent Republican Colleen Gunnip, who is seeking re-election for a third term. The position pays $38,748.

>>Read more about Colleen Gunnip here

Thompsons priorities, he said, include education, workforce development, transportation, small business support and arts funding.

Thompson currently serves as the chair of the Liverpool Zoning Board of Appeals, which reviews requests from residents and businesses seeking exceptions to village zoning rules.

He is also a professional writing instructor in Syracuse Universitys Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition Department.

Thompsons colleague, Katherine Hanzalik, an associate teaching professor who has worked with him since 2017, praised his approach with students.

In the classroom, he gives students skills for how to think, not what to think. This is especially in his course on ethics and civic discourse where he raises awareness about civic issues and invites students to see how they might have a stake in those issues, Hanzalik said.

Thompson acknowledged that some see his academic background as a barrier to connecting with voters. But he said his interests stretch well beyond the classroom, including Godzilla films, pro wrestling and 80s movies.

Im not just an academic, Thompson said. If anything, I hope that being in that space helps to make me an effective communicator. Helps to make me someone who is thoughtful in the way that I approach problems. Someone who is genuine in the way that I talk about things no matter what vocabulary Im using.

Offstage, Thompson occasionally picks up gigs as a standardized patient, roleplaying medical scenarios for SUNY medical students. He also acts as a concerned parent or faculty member in the Center for Experiential Pedagogy and Practice at Syracuse University. These jobs help him afford life in Liverpool.

Even with steady work, Thompson and his wife are keen to the economic challenges faced by many Central New York families.

Even as we inch forward in our respective jobs, it feels like if were moving forward by inches the housing market is moving forward by feet, he said.

Thompson was born in Buffalo, New York to a blue-collar family. His father was a roofer and his mother was a nurses aide. Neither attended college. Thompson, then, became a first-generation college student, attending SUNY Geneseo, majoring in English with a minor in medieval studies. He obtained his masters in American studies from Purdue University and began, but did not complete, a Ph.D in cultural foundations of education at Syracuse University due to more interest in teaching than producing research.

Thompson says these unique experiences shape how he thinks about politics.

Theres a lot of cynicism in our culture today around government. My view has always been that the government is us.

Thompson has engaged in politics since high school, serving as class president. In college, he worked on his professor, Bill Cooks congressional campaign, gaining experience with door-to-door outreach and strategy. In 2000, he worked on Republican John McCains presidential campaign, before switching to the Democratic Party.

After feeling discouraged following the 2024 presidential election, Thompson wanted to remove himself from politics. He said he was encouraged by local Democrats and friends to consider running for office. He said the opportunity resonated with his teaching philosophy.

I was really apprehensive and some days I still am because this is not an easy time to get into politics. Its kind of scary, Thompson said. But, I asked my students to get involved in uncomfortable conversations in the public interest. Here I am being presented with an opportunity to be involved in those conversations and shape those conversations. It felt right to step up.

Those working closest with Thompson say his commitment is already evident.

From the beginning I thought that he was a great person and great candidate, said Josh Ludden, 26, of North Syracuse, an executive member of the Onondaga County Democratic Committee.

He comes across as very personable. Hes knowledgeable on the issues, but also is willing to have a conversation and listen to what other people are saying.

Ludden said Thompsons work ethic also stood out.

That view of Thompson is echoed by his campaign treasurer, CJ Wadsworth, 46, of Syracuse, who has known him for six years. Wadsworth said that he first asked Thompson if he was serious about running.

Do you really want to do this? he recalled asking. Thompsons answer: he was tired of sitting on the sidelines and complaining. The only way to create impact was to run for office.

Krystal Wadsworth, a close friend of Thompsons since 2019, sees his collaborative approach as his strength.

He really does want to understand where the similarities and the differences are to better bring folks together, she said. You want to talk to somebody whos going to acknowledge that your concerns might not be the same as mine but knowing what your concerns are, we might be able to find a solution here.

The election is Tuesday, Nov. 4. Early voting begins Saturday, Oct. 25.
Two people have been hospitalized after an explosion at a McDonalds restaurant in Upstate New York.

The blast occurred Sunday night around 10:20 p.m. at the McDonalds in Fredonia, according to the Chautauqua County Sheriffs Office. WIVB reports an investigation found an employee was cleaning a grilling unit when a natural gas line became detached; the gas was ignited by another grilling unit, sparking a flash fire.

WGRZ reports a female employee was flown to a Buffalo hospital for her injuries, while another female employee was taken to a local hospital. A male employee was treated at the scene.

One of the workers was listed in critical condition, according to WKBW. Their name has not been released.

The incident has been ruled an accident.

The McDonalds was closed Monday morning and will stay closed until at least later today, according to WKBW. The Fredonia Fire Department said the restaurant sustained about $15,000 in damages.

Fredonia Fire Chief Josh Myers told WKBW that the restaurants safety system helped prevent more injuries and damage.

There was some type of vent, an investigation will tell us what that was, Myers told the Buffalo TV station. The sprinkler system did its job and put the fire out. The fire was out when we arrived and made entry into the structure. We just ensured that, we secured all the utilities and our primary focus shifted to patient care to make sure everyone was taken care of adequately.

The affected McDonalds is located at 500 East Main St. in Fredonia, near the SUNY Fredonia campus. The Western New York village, about 40 miles south of Buffalo, is in Chautauqua County.
Some absentee voters in Upstate New York noticed a big issue when they recently applied for and received absentee ballots: They were already filled out.

WROC reports 33 residents in the Monroe County town of Rush, N.Y., got their absentee ballots in the mail with every bubble already filled in. If sent in as is, their votes would be considered invalid.

Jackie Ortiz, the Democratic Commissioner with the Monroe County Board of Elections, confirmed the issue to WHEC, calling it a printing error by a new, outside vendor. A letter explaining the issue and new ballots will be sent to Rush residents in the coming days, Ortiz said.

David McGlashon, a candidate for Rush Town Council and the Town Leader for the Rush Democratic Party, told WROC that even a small number of invalid ballots can make a big difference in local elections.

It comes down to in the teens sometimes. So 33 votes could make the difference in a town like Rush, McGlashon told the Rochester TV station.

McGlashon encouraged voters to double-check their new ballots for any issues, follow all instructions carefully, and to contact the Monroe County Board of Elections with any questions.

Absentee ballots must be received in the mail by Nov. 12 or submitted in person by Election Day, Nov. 4, at 9 p.m. Voters can find their polling place at voterlookup.elections.ny.gov.

Voters can request early mail and absentee ballots from the New York State Board of Elections online at elections.ny.gov/request-ballot.

Voters qualify for absentee ballots if they will be absent from their county on Election Day, unable to visit the polls due to illness or disability, unable to appear because they a primary caregiver for individual(s) who are ill or physically disabled, a resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital, or in jail or prison for any reason other than a felony conviction.

Rush is a small town located about 12 miles south of Rochester and 80 miles west of Syracuse.
New York  KaVon Wooden loved trains. The 15-year-old had an encyclopedic knowledge of New York Citys subway system and dreamed of becoming a train operator.

Instead, on a December morning in 2022, KaVon died after he climbed to the roof of a moving J train in Brooklyn and then fell onto the tracks as it headed onto the Williamsburg Bridge.

He is one of more than a dozen New Yorkers, many young boys, who have been killed or badly injured after falling off speeding trains. Other risks include being crushed between the train and tunnel walls and being electrocuted by high-voltage subway tracks. Subway surfing dates back a century but it has been fueled by social media.

Two girls found dead Saturday

Early Saturday morning, New York City police found two girls dead  ages 12 and 13  in what apparently was a subway surfing game that turned fatal, authorities said. Metropolitan Transportation Authority President Demetrius Crichlow said in a statement that getting on top of a subway car isnt surfing  its suicide.

Authorities have tried to address the problem with public awareness campaigns  including a new one featuring Grammy Award-winning rapper Cardi B  and by deploying drones to catch thrill-seekers in the act. But for some, a more fundamental question is not being addressed: Why are kids like KaVon able to climb on top of subway cars in the first place?

When KaVon died ... literally two weeks later, another child died. And another one. That makes no sense, his mother, YVonda Maxwell, told The Associated Press, saying transit and law enforcement officials havent done enough. Why should my child have not been the end?

MTA says it is studying the issue

Making trains harder to climb, and train surfers more easy to detect with cameras and sensors, could be part of the solution, some experts say. The MTA, which operates the subway system, has said it is studying the issue. But it has yet to report any broad new rollout of technology or physical barriers that might make it harder for people to get on top of trains.

In June, Crichlow told a news conference to introduce a new public awareness campaign that the MTA was experimenting with pieces of circular rubber tubing designed to prevent a person from being able to climb between two cars to the top of a train.

It was being piloted in between two cars to make sure it would fit into the tight spacing of the tunnels and that it wouldnt break down or harm service or riders, he said.

So far the equipment seems to be holding up, he said.

Six deaths last year from subway surfing

Six people died surfing subway trains in the city last year, up from five in 2023.

Tyesha Elcock, the MTA worker who operated the train KaVon rode the day he died, is among those who thinks more should be done to prevent deaths.

The first sign of trouble that day was when the trains emergency brake kicked in, she said.

Elcock discovered KaVons body between the trains seventh and eighth cars. A group of sad-faced teens on the train made it clear what had happened. Did yall leave your friend back there? she asked them.

Elcock said another operator traveling in the opposite direction saw KaVon on the trains roof and reported it over a radio. Because of patchy radio service, she said, she didnt get the warning.

But she thinks an even simpler solution could have saved KaVons life: locking the doors at the ends of subway cars. That would cut off access to the narrow gaps between train cars where subway surfers use handholds to hoist themselves onto the roof.

Lock it when were in service so people cant climb up and be on top of the train, Elcock said.

The MTAs leaders have said that they looking into possible ways to prevent subway surfing, including engineering solutions, but the agency declined to make any of its safety experts available for an interview.

In 2023, Richard Davey, then the head of buses and subways for the MTA, said officials were weighing the option of locking doors between cars  which is now done only on a handful of 1980s-era trains. But he said that locking doors brings its own risk. Some New Yorkers have complained that locking the passageways between train cars might prevent them from escaping to another part of the train during an emergency.

Under questioning from City Council members and reporters last year, MTA officials ruled out some other physical interventions, including building more barriers to prevent access to tracks, or putting covers over the gaps between train cars to prevent would-be surfers from climbing up.

Listen, you have to be able to do work on top of a train car, MTA CEO Janno Lieber said at a news conference, adding that you cant cover it with barbed wire.

MTA asks social media companies to help stop the trend

The MTA has asked social media companies to take down videos glamorizing subway surfing, and reported in June that, in 2025, more than 1,800 videos had been taken down.

Its also promoted public service announcements telling people to Ride inside, stay alive, in voices of local teens and, with the citys schools, released a comic-book themed campaign this past summer designed to show the dangers of subway surfing and impact on loved ones.

More than 300,000 New York City school children use the subway to get to and from school each day.

The NYPD reported that arrests of alleged subway surfers rose to 229 last year, up from 135 the year before. Most were boys, with an average age of around 14, according to police. The youngest was 9 years old.

Branislav Dimitrijevic, an engineering professor of the New Jersey Institute of Technology, said retrofitting trains to prevent roof access would be expensive.

Theres so many stories in transportation where things can be fixed, but they cost a lot of money. And then you ask the public, Are you willing to (pay) for us to fix this? But your taxes would go up tremendously. And people say no, Dimitrijevic said.

Dimitrijevic suggested the MTA might be able to install cameras and use artificial intelligence to detect riders trying to climb a train. Andrew Albert, a nonvoting member of the MTA board, said he has been asking the agency about the plausibility of physical sensors but hasnt gotten a response.

The NYPD has patrolled popular subway surfing routes with field response teams and drones, reporting in July that it had used them to make 200 rescues, mostly of teens. But the missions cant be everywhere at once. They also say they make home visits to the homes of subway surfers theyve identified.

Trains in some other cities, such as Hong Kong and Dubai, arent easily climbable. They have streamlined bodies, lack handles on the outside and dont open between cars.

Some rail systems have resorted to extreme tactics to keep people from riding on top of trains. In Indonesia, railway officials once installed hanging metal flails to try and deter passengers from riding atop train cars to avoid overcrowding. They also tried spraying riders with red paint and hitting them with brooms.

The MTA purchased a few new subway cars that dont have the outdoor gaps exploited by subway surfers, but they represent just a sliver of the number currently in service, and wont be deployed on lines popular for surfing anytime soon.
Nobel Prize winner in Medicine Svante Paabo, founder of the field of paleogenetics, at the Severo Ochoa Center for Molecular Biology in Madrid.

The Nobel Prize winner in Medicine is investigating genetic changes that could have given our species a competitive advantage, and the possibility of extracting the genome of the Flores hobbit

Geneticist Svante Paabo demonstrated that DNA can be extracted from human fossils that are thousands of years old. His team was the first to sequence the complete genome of Neanderthals, our closest human relatives, and discovered that Homo Sapiens had sex and children with them. He also revealed the existence of a third, previously unknown human lineage, the Denisovans, thanks to genetic material extracted from a tiny bone of a girl who lived in a Siberian cave some 50,000 years ago.

Some physical features of modern Europeans and Asian people, as well as part of our genome, are inherited from those hominids, who disappeared some 40,000 years ago. The difference between a modern human and a Neanderthal is tiny at the genetic level, but Paabo is convinced that these few changes hold the key to Sapiens exceptionality and, perhaps, the explanation for why we are the last human species left on the planet.

Paabo, born in Sweden 70 years ago, recently visited Spain to participate in the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Severo Ochoa Center for Molecular Biology (CSIC-UAM). At the entrance to the modern building, located on the campus outside Madrid, the diploma awarded to Ochoa in 1955 for the Nobel Prize in Medicine is displayed. On it, Paabo found the signature of his own father  Nobel laureate in Medicine Sune Bergstrom  who never publicly acknowledged him as his son.

Little Svante grew up with his mother, Karin Paabo, a chemist of Estonian origin, in a secret family that Bergstrom secretly visited on Saturdays; a family he combined with his official family. In 2022, Paabo  the founder of a whole new scientific field, paleogenetics  won the Nobel Prize in Medicine 40 years after his father. In this exclusive interview with EL PAIS, the scientist speaks with equal ease about his family background and the new discoveries his team is pursuing at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany.

Question. Did your family history influence your career as a scientist?

Answer. Not much. If anything, it convinces me that Nobel Prize winners are not so special. In my case, I could never look up to my father. In his official family, my father had an adopted son with his wife. He and I met when my father was about to die. My relationship with my father was good, but distant. The big influence in my life was my mother. When youre an only child with a single mother, as I am, you develop a very special relationship; you become a kind of adult companion who is consulted about everything.

Q. When you won the Nobel Prize in Medicine, did you feel vindicated?

A. I dont think so. There may be some deeper psychological mechanism that Im not aware of, but thats for others to judge. I dont have my fathers last name, and thats been a very good thing, because Ive never felt like I was starting out with an advantage.

Q. After reconstructing their genome, what is left to learn about other human species such as the Neanderthals?

A. By understanding their genome, we can do two things. The first is to study their population history, which has been a huge success. Weve found evidence that they and the Denisovans mixed with modern humans, and now we know that there were different groups of Neanderthals, and that one replaced the other in the East. The other thing is to try to understand the function of their genome, their physiology, and how it differs from ours. Thats the next frontier.

Q. And what are the latest discoveries in this area?

A. We have a problem because if we analyze modern humans, were looking for genetic traits that we all share. So we have to use stem cells and edit their genome with CRISPR to generate organoids, or create Neanderthalized mice, for example. The other option is to look for traits typical of Neanderthals and Denisovans. There, we can find modern humans who retain those variants. This way, we can use modern humans as models and see how those genetic variants change them.

Q. Do any of these traits influence the physical appearance and mentality of modern humans?

A. Yes. Within the human lineage, weve discovered the role of the TKTL1 gene. Weve seen that the modern human version reduces the enzymes effectiveness, which means that in our brain, we accumulate substrates of the enzyme. When we introduce this variant into mice, we see that they compete more efficiently for water when theyre thirsty than normal mice. Its a genetic change that impacts behavior: competing more efficiently for a resource. We dont know its effect on humans, but its a genetic change that changes behavior and, interestingly, only occurs in females.

Nobel Prize winner in Medicine, Svante Paabo. SAMUEL SANCHEZ

Q. You have created mini-brains with that variant, and they also develop more neurons, what implications does that have?

A. It could be a gene that influences early brain development, but its very difficult to know. There are people who carry the ancestral variant of the gene and who are perfectly normal, as far as we know, although we havent studied them in detail. Its a complicated problem that we encounter frequently in this field.

Q. You maintain that Neanderthals did not become extinct, but that we absorbed them.

A. Weve found several Homo sapiens who, tens of thousands of years ago, had close Neanderthal relatives. This means that the first wave of Homo sapiens that left Africa and arrived in Europe happily mixed with Neanderthals. Then a second wave came and replaced them all, both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. I dont think they came and killed them all. If you think that these modern humans were about 50 times more numerous than Neanderthals, and that they mixed with them, this would give you roughly 2% Neanderthal genetics, which is exactly what humans outside of Africa have today. I dont think it was that simple, but I do think we assimilated them.

Q. What role did technology play?

A. There was very rapid change and specialization on our side, while the Neanderthal technology was more constant over time. Arrowheads begin to appear associated with sapiens. The question is why the Neanderthals didnt pick up this tool for distance killing. Theres also evidence that their groups were smaller, so their societies must have been different.

Q. Why were Homo sapiens more numerous?

A. Thats the big question. We could imagine that, for some reason, they lived a little bit longer than Neanderthals, or that they had one more child per family on average, which would cause an exponential difference. But we dont know.

Q. Why do you think we are the only humans left?

A. For most of the time, this wasnt the case; there were many human species alive at the same time. The fact that were alone is truly unique in the last 40,000 years. Not only did other humans disappear, but sapiens are also the most numerous human species that has ever existed. And I think the answer lies in us as a species, in our behavior and in how numerous weve become. Orangutans are about to become extinct in the wild. Theres no point analyzing their genome to try to explain why; its clearly due to us, because we hunt them and damage their habitat. Its our behavior, so its really understanding our own behavior and genetics that will answer these questions.

Q. You say we inherit physical traits from Neanderthals. Are there people today who look more Neanderthal?

A. In fossils, being a Neanderthal is a combination of traits: more pronounced brow ridges, an occipital bun, an oblong cranium, a barrel-shaped thorax. The same applies to modern humans. I think well soon discover that some of these traits came from Neanderthals and are still present in us, like that occipital bun.

Q. What Neanderthal heritage do you find most surprising?

A. When SARS-CoV-2 emerged, a virus that had never affected humans before, we analyzed why some people suffered severe illness and others didnt. We discovered that a Neanderthal variant plays a huge role, because it makes you two to three times more likely to be severely ill or even die from COVID-19. Suddenly, we saw that a genetic variant from the time of the Neanderthals has a very important effect in present day people.[According to Paabos studies, this variant could have caused an additional million deaths from COVID-19. On the other hand, the same variant reduces the risk of contracting the AIDS virus by 25%.]

Q. Are there similar effects in mental illness?

A. We still know very little. There are hundreds of variants associated with autism, and each one contributes a little to causing it. Some of them come from Neanderthals.

Q. Do you think it is possible to understand the minds of these extinct humans?

A.I doubt it. The mind is the result of many genetic variants plus your environment and upbringing. Well never have that. Its impossible.

Q. Is it possible to recover the genome of any other human species?

A. Yes, from Homo floresiensis, [known as the Flores hobbit]. We believe that, although the climate isnt ideal for preserving DNA, it will be possible to extract it from its fossils. Were working very hard, and I think theres hope of achieving it.

Q. What about Homo erectus or what Chinese scientists have dubbed the dragon man?

A. The key here is to find relatively recent fossils that we can confidently assign to those species. Morphology doesnt tell us that, so we need to extract DNA or proteins. In the case of Homo longi, weve shown that at least the fossil skull from Harbin, China, was actually from a Denisovan. From the oldest fossils, more than a million years old, I dont think its possible to recover DNA.

Q. Do you think it is possible to de-extinct species like the mammoth, or even Neanderthals themselves?

A. Well never bring an extinct species back to life. Its sometimes said that we have a high-quality genome of the mammoth or the Neanderthal. But thats only a qualified truth: we dont know how the repetitive parts of the genome are organized. In reality, we only have accurate access to about two-thirds of the genome  the single-copy parts. But for the rest, we only have a statistical estimate of how many repeats there were, and those regions are also functionally important.

First, we dont have a complete genome to recreate. Second, we also dont have the technology to introduce the hundreds of thousands of genetic changes needed. What youre really doing is recreating individual traits: for example, taking a wolf and making it white because the dire wolf was thought to be that way, or making it bigger. Youre not even introducing the original mutations from dire wolves, but rather others that give it a similar appearance. In the same way, you can make an elephant have hair, with some mutation taken perhaps from a mammoth or maybe another animal. But that wont be a mammoth: itll be an elephant masquerading as a mammoth.

And honestly, I dont know what the purpose of that is. The worst thing is that none of this has been published in a scientific journal. And for humans, theres a whole set of additional ethical problems, like editing germ cells. Perhaps in the future, when its proven safe, it might be allowed to cure some horrible, incurable disease; but it should never be pursued out of simple scientific curiosity.

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The U.S. government shutdown that began on Wednesday has interrupted services across the country and left tens of thousands of federal employees without pay. But it has also been used, Democrats allege, as a pretext to keep its newest member, Adelita Grijalva, Arizonas newly elected representative, in limbo. Once confirmed in her position, she is expected to trigger a political scandal that could shake Donald Trumps administration. Grijalva has pledged to become the crucial 218th signer of a petition that would force a Congressional vote to release federal files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019. The documents are speculated to contain compromising information about President Donald Trump.

Grijalva was elected by nearly 40 points in a special election held on September 23 in Arizona, following the death of her father, Raul, in March, which left his seat in the House of Representatives vacant. More than a week later, the first Latina elected to represent Arizona in Congress has still not been sworn in. Her party colleagues claim that Republicans have used the government shutdown as a maneuver to delay her arrival at the Capitol and, consequently, the release of the Epstein files.

When asked whether she believes Republicans are trying to block her from signing the petition, she only says that it seems suspicious to her. The only difference between me and other recently sworn-in members is that I am the 218th signer of the petition, she told EL PAIS in a phone interview. House Speaker Republican Mike Johnson pledged Thursday to confirm her early next week. Once confirmed, Grijalva would reduce the narrow Republican margin in the House, where they hold 219 seats compared to 213 for the Democrats (with two other vacancies).

Grijalva, 54, is a native of Tucson, close to the border with Sonora, Mexico. Alongside her father, she has always been involved in local politics. The veteran congressman had a long career of fighting for social justice behind him. So when his health began to decline, she did not hesitate to step forward to continue his legacy.

Question. Do you view the fact that you havent been sworn in yet as a political move?

Answer: I dont think theyre afraid of me. Maybe the speaker just wants more time to try to work on getting one of the four Republicans to take their name off [the Epstein files discharge petition]. But whos losing out here are the constituents in Arizona. I cant hire staff. I cant open up an office. We cant get our computer set up. I cant walk into the Capitol without security clearance. Its frustrating. My colleagues treat me like Im already in, but Im not.

Q. Some lawmakers have argued that the government shutdown served as an excuse to delay your swearing-in. How does this affect your ability to represent your constituents in Arizona?

A. Until Im sworn in, I cant do anything at the federal level. Im completely in limbo.

Q. What are your immediate priorities once you are officially sworn in?

A. First, I will sign the discharge petition for the release of the Epstein files and other similar petitions. Im going to co-sponsor legislation, hire staff, open offices, and serve the people of this district. Thats what I was elected to do. Im frustrated that I cant get started yet.

Q. Youre inheriting the seat your father held for 22 years. How do you plan to leave your own mark without being seen in the shadow of your family name?

A. Im proud to be his daughter. People may see me that way, and thats okay. The fights that we have to deal with are different, but if I could do the job the way he did, I think that everyone would be very happy with the kind of constituent service and the kind of representative I would be for southern Arizona.

Q. What do you see as the biggest challenges for Democrats in this administration, especially heading into the midterm elections?

A. We are in the minority. Republicans control the House, the Senate, the White House. It feels like they also control the judiciary depending on the day. Our role is to be the party of the people, fighting for healthcare and other public services. The midterm elections are an important opportunity to get some balance in the House. I am hopeful because my victory shows that voters support progressive candidates when they trust them, with values like Medicare for All, environmental protection, public education, immigrant rights, and comprehensive immigration reform. I am also the first Latina and Chicana from Arizona in Congress. Its important to highlight issues that affect Latinos and encourage others to get involved in the community.

Q. As a representative of a district near the U.S.-Mexico border, what is your opinion of the Trump administrations immigration policies?

A. I think its racist, dangerous, exclusionary. Families are being separated, and people are being detained, having committed no crime. We need comprehensive and humane immigration reform, with a path to legalization. Immigrants contribute to the economy, contrary to what some believe. So, to protect the immigrant community, the first thing I will do is inform people about their rights, speak out publicly about injustices, and highlight cases like those of business owners who have been unjustly detained. Representation is very important, and we must ensure fair treatment for all.

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Year after northern Nigeria floods, survivors left high and dry



Maiduguri, Nigeria, Oct 6 (AFP) Oct 06, 2025



A year after the floodwaters crashed through the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri, the place where Maryam Jidda's house used to stand is still an empty patch of mud.

More than 300,000 residents were displaced and dozens killed when a dam outside the city burst in September 2024, the ageing structure suddenly ripped apart after years of neglect and abnormally heavy rains.

The mass displacement added to the pressure Maiduguri was already under -- a city where tens of thousands of people were already living in camps or on the streets after fleeing militant groups Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province.

Today, many flood victims are little better off than they were a year ago.

Jidda and her nine children now live with a neighbour, crammed into a single room.

"When the flood came, everything we owned was destroyed," Jidda, 75, told AFP.

Her family was already destitute when the flood came, after her son, the main breadwinner, died.

She was eking out a living selling kola nuts, a traditional stimulant, but has been unable to raise the capital to restart her business since the disaster.

She now lives on the "kindness of neighbours".



- Home of the displaced -



Jidda first came to Maiduguri 11 years ago, running from jihadists, who since 2009 have been waging a war against the state in a bid to carve out their own caliphate.

She was among the few fortunate who could avoid the displacement camps. Her family purchased a two-bedroom house in the city's densely populated Gwange neighbourhood.

Aisha Ali Adamu, a 45-year-old widow, and her eight children have also been living on handouts from neighbours and local charities since she lost her home in the flood.

Her children have been out of school since last year.

"I can't afford school uniforms, books and writing materials for my children. We are struggling to find what to eat," said Adamu, who lost her groundnut oil extracting business to the torrent.

Even before the flood, children dropping out or never attending school was a major problem in Borno state, where some 700,000 kids in the state have no access to education.

Half of them have been displaced by jihadist violence, according to official figures.

Over the past decade, more than two million people have fled their homes in northeast Nigeria.

Many have sought refuge in Maiduguri as well as neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

Although Nigerian officials have been closing displaced person's camps and returning people to their deserted villages, Maiduguri is saturated with those unwilling to leave.

A jihadist attack in early September on returned Nigerians in the town of Darul Jamal, near the Cameroonian border, killed at least 63 people, underscoring their fears.



- Climate change -



Last year, Maiduguri recorded rainfall levels 43 percent above the annual average, according to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.

The deluges repeatedly overwhelmed the city's clogged drainage systems and poorly planned neighbourhoods.

Climate change is intensifying extreme weather events across Nigeria and the current rainy season has left Maiduguri -- a city already battered by conflict, poverty and fragile infrastructure -- in "panic mode", said Abubakar Kawu Monguno, a geography professor at University of Maiduguri.

"We are living in constant fear. We hear the thunder and our hearts skip," said Ya-Chilla Mustapha, a 40-year-old mother of eight.

Nigeria's rainy season typically runs from the northern hemisphere spring through to October.

As of mid-September, a total of 232 persons have died across Nigeria from flooding that has displaced more than 121,000, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The official death toll is likely to be an undercount. A massive flood in Niger state in May left hundreds missing whose bodies were never recovered.

To prevent a recurrence of the flooding, NEMA has cleared blocked drainage and intensified information campaigns in Maiduguri, warning residents to stop building homes on waterways.

But for many, building in the wrong area is the least of their worries.

Yusuf Muhammad, a tyre mechanic, was never able to rebuild his home, despite receiving cash donations of 200,000 naira ($130) from the state government and the World Food Programme.

"The money was spent on feeding my family," said the 44-year-old, whose family of two wives and 14 children live in three tents on the land where his home once stood.

"I couldn't even start rebuilding my house."
Last five bodies recovered after landslide at mine in Indonesia's Papua



Jakarta, Oct 6 (AFP) Oct 06, 2025



Rescuers have recovered the bodies of five workers, including two foreigners, who were missing for nearly a month after a landslide trapped seven of them at a mine in Indonesia's Papua region, operator Freeport Indonesia said on Monday.

The bodies of the other two missing workers were recovered in September.

The landslide occurred on September 8 when material from an extraction point flowed at one of five sections of the Grasberg Block Cave underground gold and copper mine in Tembagapura, Central Papua province.

The workers were trapped after the flow closed access and limited evacuation routes, the company said.

Two workers were found dead on September 20, nearly two weeks after the landslide.

The search for the remaining five workers continued for nearly a month.

"On Sunday... after working nonstop for 27 challenging days... (rescuers) found and evacuated five workers from the mud flow site at the Grasberg Block Cave. They were all found dead," the company said in a statement Monday.

A South African and a Chilean were among the victims retrieved, the company said.

"The rescue operation took a long time due to the difficult location" and the huge volume of 800,000 tonnes of material from the mud flow, company president director Tony Wenas said in a statement.

One victim would be buried in Papua, while the rest would be flown to Jakarta and returned to their respective hometowns, the company said.

The company suspended operations at the mine last month to prioritise the rescue.

It said in a statement last week that production would restart early next year.

Grasberg Block Cave is one of three mines at the site operated by Freeport Indonesia, making up one of the largest gold and copper complexes in the world and a frequent flashpoint in Papua's long-running insurgency.
Rescuers scramble to deliver aid after deadly Nepal, India floods



Kathmandu, Oct 6 (AFP) Oct 06, 2025



Rescuers in Nepal and India on Monday scrambled to deliver emergency aid after days of torrential rain triggered landslides and floods that have killed more than 70 people, officials said.

The downpours, which began on October 3, have now eased, but rescue teams are still struggling to reach several cut-off areas with roads blocked and bridges washed away.

Monsoon rains, usually from June to September, bring widespread death and destruction every year across South Asia, but the number of fatal floods and landslides has increased in recent years.

Experts say climate change has worsened their schedule, frequency and intensity.

Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said at least 46 people have died in rain-related incidents -- two more than the previous day -- while six others remain missing.

"We had to walk long distances through the hills, even fixing ropes to cross the swollen river," local district police official Laxmi Bhandari told AFP.

"Now that the rain has stopped, we are more committed to providing relief and carrying out rescue operations for the village."

Security forces have been deployed with helicopters and motorboats to assist the efforts.

Several highways blocked over the weekend slowly opened up Monday to allow movement of stranded travellers -- many returning after celebrating the Hindu festival of Dashain.



- 'House of cards' -



Across the border in eastern India, at least 28 people were killed in the storms, officials said, as rescuers struggled to reach worst hit spots in the Himalayan region.

The tea-growing hills of Darjeeling in West Bengal state were among the hardest hit.

"Landslides have been reported from 35 locations in the hills of Darjeeling and more than 100 houses have been destroyed," Praween Prakash, a West Bengal state police official told AFP, confirming 28 deaths.

"At least 10 people in Darjeeling could not be traced... the death toll could rise once rescuers reach the remote places," he added.

Hundreds of tourists remain stranded in and around Darjeeling, with authorities advising them to stay put until roads can be cleared.

Local officials said some stranded visitors were rescued on elephants.

"When we woke up on Sunday, the road was gone," tourist Saurav Patil, 65, told AFP. "We are counting the days to leave."

Anita Thapa, 35, a Darjeeling local, said her "home on the top of the hill came down like a house of cards".

"Everything is gone," Thapa told AFP.

Downpours also swelled rivers in neighbouring Bhutan, prompting the Indian army to join rescue efforts.
One hiker dead, hundreds rescued after heavy snowfall in China



Beijing, Oct 6 (AFP) Oct 06, 2025



One hiker has died and hundreds of others have been rescued after sudden heavy snowfall in China's northwest and western mountain regions over the weekend, state media reported Monday.

More than 200 hikers trapped by the weather near the eastern face of Mount Everest were expected to be gradually making their way to safety, state broadcaster CCTV said late Sunday.

Outdoor enthusiasts have flocked to the country's famous beauty spots in recent days, taking advantage of an eight-day national holiday, but many have been caught out by unexpected extreme conditions.

A hiker in northwest Qinghai's Tiger Valley died from hypothermia and altitude sickness, CCTV reported Monday.

More than 130 others were retrieved from the same region after hundreds of rescuers and two drones were deployed, it added.

Search efforts were ongoing to locate other hikers in the region, the report said, without specifying how many.

In neighbouring Tibet, 350 walkers trapped by snow in a valley leading to the eastern face of Mount Everest had reached safety in the town of Qudang, CCTV reported Sunday night.

Contact had been made with more than 200 other hikers still on the slopes of Karma Valley, which reaches altitudes of over 4,000 metres (13,000 feet), CCTV said.

The broadcaster cited local authorities saying the walkers were expected to progressively reach Qudang in stages.

There was no update Monday on the situation, and AFP was unable to reach local authorities in the region.

A rescued hiker shared videos on social media of tents almost completely buried in snow, taken overnight Saturday into Sunday.

Contacted by AFP, he said he had safely reached Qudang on Sunday.

Over the border in Nepal and India, landslides and floods triggered by heavy downpours have killed more than 70 people, officials said, as rescue workers struggled Monday to reach cut-off communities in remote mountainous terrain.
Germany's Merz wants EU combustion-engine ban scrapped



Berlin, Oct 6 (AFP) Oct 06, 2025



German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday he wanted the EU to scrap its planned 2035 deadline for ending combustion-engine vehicle sales as the country looks for ways to help its ailing car industry.

The giants of Germany's flagship sector such as Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have cast doubt on the EU target as they struggle to build up competitive electric vehicle businesses against Chinese rivals like BYD.

Ahead of a summit to be held on Thursday with representatives from the automotive sector, Merz told the ntv channel that he thought the EU ban was "wrong".

Last month the EU pledged to fast-track a review of the 2035 target after pressure from carmakers.

"I don't want Germany to be one of the countries supporting this wrong ban," Merz said.

However, he admitted that the issue was "still being discussed" with his junior coalition partners, the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD).

The SPD Environment Minister Carsten Schneider was "not yet convinced" about the need to abandon the target, Merz said, but added that he hoped the government would come to an agreed position before Thursday's summit.

jsk/rlp

Volkswagen

BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG

Mercedes-Benz Group
Like dozens of other migrants whom Cuba has not accepted back, Pedro Lorenzo Concepcion was expelled from the US to Mexico. A community of newly arrived Cubans is taking shape in the state of Quintana Roo

The morning Pedro Lorenzo Concepcion arrived in Cancun turned out to be a hot morning, hotter than any hed experienced in Miami, even hotter than any he remembered from his years in Cuba. He disembarked a bus at the ADO terminal, but unlike the rest of the passengers he was not an enthusiastic vacationer in the tropics. Pedro was here to stay. He had been deported from the United States to Mexico and was completely disoriented. Using the phone hed bought at a gas station, he called his wife in Florida. His voice cracked.

 And what am I going to do here now?

He was wearing black pants, a black sweater, an Adidas cap, and sneakers whose laces had been removed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. Once in Mexico, his belongings were returned to him, and so on September 14, he was wearing exactly the same clothes he had worn when he showed up at the ICE offices in Miramar, Florida, on July 8. He only emerged to become one of the first inmates at the newly opened Alligator Alcatraz detention center, a migrants nightmare.

Not knowing which way to go in Cancun, Pedro set out walking for a few blocks. He walked without realizing where he was going, looking without registering what he saw. He was  or at least thats how he felt  the most lost person in the entire world. Suddenly, a man approached, almost an apparition. I looked at him and said, Gustavo, what are you doing here? And he said, Damn, Pedri, what are you doing here?

They had known each other since 2012, ever since the tough times at the Everglades Correctional Institution, where Pedro, 44, served a three-year sentence after being convicted of guarding a house with marijuana crops. Now they were together: Gustavo had been deported a week earlier, and Pedro had just arrived at the place where almost all Cubans whom the Havana government has rejected on deportation flights from the United States end up.

At the end of his presidency, during the distant days of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations, Barack Obama negotiated with Raul Castro the possibility of admitting flights with deportees. Since then, Cuba has claimed the right to decide who it takes back. The pattern of deportees the Cuban government accepts is unknown, but the majority have been migrants from recent exoduses. Almost a week ago, the Ministry of the Interior reported the last flight to Havana, the ninth from the United States, with 136 migrants on board, bringing the total number of deportees to nearly 1,000 by the end of last September.

For Pedro, it is a relief to be in Mexico and not Cuba. Cuba, never, he says. He even feels fortunate not to have been sent to Africa, where some Cubans have ended up. President Claudia Sheinbaum ruled out a few months ago that Mexico would become a third country to which migrants of other nationalities would be deported, but dozens of Cubans have ended up there since the Trump administration began its expulsion campaign, although there is no official figure.

Pedro Lorenzo Concepcion, in Cancun on October 1. PAOLA CHIOMANTE

In addition to his friend Gustavo, Pedro also ran into Ernesto, whom he met at the Alligator Alcatraz prison. Ernesto reached out to him several times, when he was exhausted and battered from the hunger strike he began in late July. He stopped eating, Pedro says, for himself, for all the Cubans detained there, and because he felt his life no longer belonged to him, but rather that ICE was disposing of it at will. More than once, Ernesto helped him get out of bed or handed him his phone so he could contact his family.

Now theyre back in the same place, but farther from home. Ernesto is living with some friends who took him in, and Gustavo in a space he pays for with the little money he has. They say a woman they call La Madrina offers food and cheap rooms to the deportees, the new people populating Cancun. They sleep cramped together, in spaces where up to eight people stay, the starting point for starting a life from scratch again, to once again be migrants in a place they hadnt planned for.

While they remained detained in Florida, they had the relief of still being in the United States. You always hope something happens and theyll release them, even if its with an ankle monitor, says Daimarys Hernandez, Pedros wife, almost in tears, a 40-year-old manicurist who has lost many clients in recent weeks and suspects the reason is that ICE took her husband.

After nearly 20 years as a couple, confirmation that Pedro would not be returning with her and their three children to the home they had worked so hard to buy came in early September, when officials approached the mans cell at Krome to tell him he was being deported. Pedro had been transferred to that detention center in Miami after authorities sought to shift the focus from his ongoing hunger strike at Alligator Alcatraz, a site plagued by allegations of mistreatment, overcrowding, and almost inhumane living conditions. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) asserted at the time that there was no hunger strike at Alligator Alcatraz.

Pedro abandoned his strike at Krome after officials promised him he wouldnt be on a deportation list. Due to the days of abstinence, his health suffered, and he had to undergo hemorrhoid surgery. On September 7, a guard informed him that he was finally going to be deported to Mexico. I told him I wasnt going to sign any deportation papers, but he said, No, you dont have to sign them. Were here to inform you that were going to take you to Mexico.

The journey to Mexico

Without any explanation as to where they were being taken, the bus departed with five migrants from the Krome center to Opa-locka Airport in Miami. Pedro and the rest boarded an early morning flight to Jacksonville, in northern Florida. There, officers boarded another group and they continued their journey. All were dressed in orange uniforms and handcuffed.

Pedros memories fade, but he doesnt forget the woman who was on the plane with her son. After hours of flying, they landed in Texas, were escorted to another plane, and departed for a prison in San Diego, California. The realization that he was leaving the United States, the country he arrived in as a rafter in 2006, became even more acute. The only thing I thought about was not being with my wife and children, he says.

The next day, they were transported by bus to the Tijuana border. They were a group of 31 Cubans, including five women. The armed ICE officers warned them that if they didnt get off, they would be beaten. Once off the bus, they were handed over to Mexican immigration authorities, who, according to Pedro, treated them in a way ICE never had and welcomed them to their country. Somehow, I felt calmer, he says.

It was there that he met Alberto, a federal immigration agent at the Otay International Port of Entry, who asked to change his name for protection. As he explains, this is how the border process works: ICE gives us a document with their names, nationality, and any medical conditions. We remove their handcuffs, we feed them, we are humane, he says. I told them: You are not prisoners here, you are free here, this is just a protocol. Alberto and other officers departed with 51 migrants on buses to the immigration station in Mexico City.

Along the way, Alberto worried about whether they were getting dizzy or had headaches. He allowed Pedro to get off the bus several times to relieve the pain caused by sitting for hours due to his surgery. Alberto looked at them and, he says, felt very helpless. I have mixed feelings; they made a life there and ended up deported, he maintains. At the end of the day, were all human.

From the Mexican capital, they departed for Tabasco, in the southeast of the country, the final destination for deportees. Authorities informed them they had 30 days to request asylum and warned them they could only remain in southern Mexico, in case they were thinking of attempting to cross the border back into the United States. Pedro listened to the instructions, left the station, called his wife, Daimarys, who was in tears, asked where he could get a taxi, paid $20 to be taken to the ADO bus terminal, booked a ticket for 6 p.m., and arrived in Cancun the next day.

Starting over

The Parador Hotel was where he spent his first nights in Cancun. A hotel maid offered to do his laundry and pick up the money his wife was going to send him. Pedro was bewildered; he rarely left his room, doing so only to dine at a Chinese restaurant across the street. Then he would return to his room and try to sleep. The hardest part of being free, he says, has been getting to sleep. Sometimes I wake up agitated and reach out to my side to look for my wife.

Migrants who were detained at Alligator Alcatraz. Cortesia

Three days later, Pedro had secured his own apartment, a modest space with a terrace, a small kitchen, a bedroom, and a bathroom. He paid 7,000 Mexican pesos, almost $400, for which Daimarys is paying for now with help from family and friends. Until he finds a job, his wife will be responsible for him. Its like maintaining two homes, she says. Im finding it very difficult, and I have to help him keep a roof over his head, eat, until he can get his papers. The couple even considered selling the house in Florida, but agreed not to do so for their children.

A friend of Pedros offered to visit him and bring some of his belongings from Miami. Daimarys, who had her passport made to go see him, cant remember a sadder moment than when she had to start taking his clothes out of the closet. It was proof that her husband no longer lived in the house. All his things were there, along with mine; this was still his place, but once I had to put them in the suitcase, it was very hard. She packed his clothes, some towels, and toiletries, but Pedro asked for one thing in particular: that she not forget to send him the shirt he wore for his oldest sons fourth birthday, which no longer fits him, but which he wants to keep wherever he is.

They spend their time on the phone. Theyre not lying when they say they talk more than 15 times a day. Pedro is always checking the house, checking if everything is in order, if their four French Bulldogs have eaten, or if the children have come home from school. The children still think their father will walk through the door at any moment. They still havent understood that its permanent, says their mother. Recently, one of the three said to her: Mommy, but if theyve already released him, why doesnt Daddy come home? She repeated that his father cant return. The son floated an idea: But he should come and not leave the house.

Pedro lives in the shadows under the blazing Cancun sun. Im like a ghost, he insists. I still havent accepted the reality Im living in. It was 20 years in the United States. Now I have to start from scratch; I dont know how Im going to pay rent next month. I didnt want to be separated from my family. His wife believes that, when the children grow up, she will move to Mexico. My retirement will be in Cancun, she says. They recently celebrated 19 years together, and they have promised, on their reunion day, to open a bottle of tequila and get drunk until dawn in Quintana Roo.

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In the duel of cross-accusations at the heart of the government shutdown that has paralyzed the United States since October 1 and shows no clear end in sight, each side of the political debate fires from the position they find most comfortable. Democrats present themselves as defenders of affordable health care, while Republicans portray them as protectors of undocumented immigrants when they falsely claim that the federal gridlock is due to the Democrats insistence on spending $20 billion on healthcare for migrants. Beyond the facts, the trenches drawn in this dynamic reflect a reality so deeply rooted that Democrats accept it as an immutable truth and cede ground in the public debate on immigration, dismissing it as lost from the outset.

At first glance, this may seem paradoxical. President Donald Trumps immigration agenda, especially his methods, has already been losing popularity in the nine months he has been back in the White House. Polls in recent months show that the majority of Americans disapprove of his policies, from family separations to mass raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This week, The New York Times published a comprehensive survey of the Trump presidency conducted in late September. Among various points ranging from the economy and tariffs to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, 51% of respondents say the immigration actions have gone too far, 35% that they have been adequate, and 12% that they have not been enough.

The Democratic Party, however, in search of a message that could help it recapture the House in the 2026 midterm elections, has remained relatively silent on the issue and has shown no signs of trying to capitalize on one of the current administrations most unpopular policies. According to another poll by The Wall Street Journal, only a third of voters believe Democrats handle immigration better, while nearly half of Americans trust Republicans more on this issue.

This credibility gap has deep roots, notes Muzzafar Chishti, director of the New York-based Migration Policy Institute, an independent think tank focused on migration. For two decades, [Republicans] have completely linked the immigration narrative with border security, basically arguing that as long as the border isnt secured, nothing more can be done on immigration. Whether they truly believed that, or whether it became an excuse for doing nothing, it was accepted as a political reality.

Trump has been repeating it for 10 years as one of his slogans: Without borders, we dont have a country, he often says. Thus, Republicans turned the idea into dogma, while Democrats, even when they held majorities in Congress, were unable to reverse that framework.

Center-left analysts, such as Matthew Yglesias, founder of the digital media outlet Vox, and Jerusalem Demsas, of The Atlantics Good on Paper podcast, point out that the Democrats have failed to articulate a coherent message that combines border control with a positive vision of immigration as an economic and social driver. They have also failed to connect the issue with the concerns of the average voter: jobs, wages, access to basic services. Meanwhile, Trump and the Republicans have fused both into a single, central message: immigration threatens security and peoples pockets.

In the middle, immigration has been caught in a legislative impasse due to the 60-40 Senate majority needed to advance any new, substantive immigration law. The math always favors the Republican position. Democrats cant do anything alone that doesnt also include significant border measures [to enlist some Republicans], but thats where they come into conflict with the partys base, which doesnt like punitive border control. Theyre caught between those two political realities, Chishti explains.

This has translated into a narrative of weakness on migration around the Democrats. Even when former president Joe Biden, in mid-2024, managed to drastically reduce migrant inflows across the southern border with executive actions, the dominant narrative was not one of effectiveness, but of delay. After years of historic migratory flows following the pandemic, and despite the fact that bipartisan immigration legislation was struck down in Congress by Trumps order a few months earlier, Bidens executive orders that rapidly reduced border crossings only cemented the idea that the tools to control the border had always been there, they just hadnt been used.

Against this backdrop, last years presidential election was largely decided by immigration. And now, as masked ICE agents patrol some of the countrys major cities, the Democrats havent forgotten this and have dug into their trenches. In the budget dispute, they have taken up the issue of healthcare, but they havent attacked the unprecedented increase in funding for immigration enforcement, which now far exceeds the funds to combat crime and drug trafficking.

In other settings, such as the surprisingly successful progressive Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdanis campaign for mayor of New York City, one of the most expensive cities in the world, the cost of living has been at the center of the debate. While Mamdani has been forceful in his rejection of Trumps immigration policies and has proposed providing free legal representation to migrants in the citylaying the groundwork for a future confrontation that the president is also fueling with his repeated attacks on the mayoral candidatewhat he can offer in terms of substance regarding migration is limited. Consequently, at the national level, there is a narrative vacuum in this area.

Any shift in the debate will be determined, then, by Trump, Chishti argues. If President Trump decides at some pointand hes right to do sothat the border is now completely under control, which it basically is, with the lowest numbers since the 1960sif he can declare victory and say, Lets shift gears and move on to other things, he has the legitimacy to do so. Unlike many presidents, he has the extraordinary ability to mobilize his party in Congress.

Chishti believes this is likely to happen at some point during Trumps second presidency, as the pressure to find a lasting solution, even if not ideal, is very strong. Trumps base is essentially a MAGA populist base and enormous corporate interests. The MAGA base may not want any entry for immigrants, but the corporate base is enormously dependent on themfrom low-skilled sectors to high-skilled ones, from agriculture to finance. So there are inherent reasons to believe there will be movements toward reform.

In fact, during his first term, Trump proposed a comprehensive reform based on four pillars: a path to citizenship for 1.8 million Dreamersundocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children, have lived in the country most of their lives, and were granted temporary protection from deportation and work authorization under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, established in 2012; $25 billion to secure the border; reductions in family-based immigration; and the elimination of the diversity visa lottery. However, the proposal never reached a vote in the Senate.

So now, unless Trump gives the signal, even bipartisan legislation like the one proposed by Florida Republican Representative Maria Elvira Salazar, which also opens paths to citizenship for Dreamers, is destined to fail. And Democrats, long adrift in the debate, will have to continue trying to focus the discussion on other issues.

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The late Dame Jilly Cooper has been remembered as a literary legend by the cast of Rivals, the award-winning TV series based on her best-selling novel of the same name.

Cooper, who died on Sunday 5 October after a fall aged 88, is one of the UKs most celebrated authors, best known for her risque fiction focusing on the scandalous lives of the British elite in the Eighties and Nineties. She wrote Rivals in 1988, the second book in her Rutshire Chronicles series, which depicts the sordid ongoings in a power struggle between two television companies in the Cotswolds.

Actor Rufus Jones, who plays the scandal-plagued MP Paul Stratton in the Disney+ adaptation of the book, said in a statement that the cast learnt of Coopers death while filming the second season of the show.

He wrote: We are almost exactly halfway through filming series two of Rivals, and have just heard that Dame Jilly has left us. What an extraordinary woman.

Jones said the cast attended Coopers famous summer party just last month, adding: Still giddy at being in the realm of this fantastic person.

Alex Hassell, who plays the central lothario heartthrob Rupert Campbell-Black on the show, shared a photo of himself with the late author, saying that he was incredibly grateful to have known her.

open image in gallery Actor Alex Hassell photographed with late the author ( Instagram/@alexanderhassell )

He wrote: This magical woman changed my life. Quite aside from the great wealth of joy, comfort and excitement her writing has given so many, she was such a generous spirited person to be around.

Hassell added: She was so kind and supportive to me in portraying her hero Rupert. Im so pleased I got to see her on set the other day, and pretty much the last thing she said to me was that she was proud of me. Gorgeous and caring to the last. She shall be greatly missed.

Emily Atack, who portrays Sarah Stratton in the series, praised the authors warmth, writing: Ill never forget the first time we met. Your warmth and kindness soared through me with that first hug, and then every hug since.

She continued: To be taken into your world was the hugest honour and a once in a life time privilege. I cannot begin to explain how much we will miss you. Thank you for letting us into Jilly World, there really is no place like it.

open image in gallery The writer poses with Emily Atack ( Instagram/@emilyatack )

Danny Dyer, who became a fan-favourite for his role as Rivals cockney businessman Freddie Jones, shared a series of love-heart emojis underneath a tribute post.

Actor Gary Lamont, who plays Corinium TV controller Charles Fairburn, said in a tribute: There is nothing like a Dame. A privilege to have been in her orbit.

Meanwhile, Victoria Smurfit, who plays Maud, the wife of TV presenter Declan OHara, said Cooper was like Paddington bear with a naughty twinkle.

open image in gallery Cooper with the Rivals cast in 2024 ( PA )

The actor wrote on Instagram: Our divine Queen has gone to the sky. Her words will live forever but the way she made you feel, when in her company was human sunshine. Jilly was everything that was good about being a person. Paddington bear with a naughty twinkle. All love to her beautiful and loving family and friends. Will miss that Dame so much. She also dubbed Cooper as the Queen of joy.

Jones further added that the Rivals cast loved being in Coopers company when she came to set.

open image in gallery Actor Victoria Smurfit with Cooper at a Rivals-themed event ( Instagram/@victoriasmurfit )

He said: I remember having lunch on set with her two summers ago, and the stories poured out of her. An incredible one about interviewing Thatcher which  like so much of her master storytelling  was surprising, subverting and deeply human. Back to filming a show that was always Hers, but utterly moreso now.

Rivals was turned into a hit show for Disney+ in 2024, starring Dyer, Atack, David Tennant, Katherine Parkinson, Hassell, Nafessa Williams and Aidan Turner.

Dominic Treadwell-Collins, the showrunner behind the series, said in a statement that the production team were broken-hearted by the news.

Jilly was and always will be one of the worlds greatest storytellers, and it has been the most incredible honour to have been able to work with her to adapt her incredible novels for television.

open image in gallery The author died suddenly on Sunday after a fall ( PA )

Crawling around on her sitting room floor with storylines on pieces of paper, sitting up late at her kitchen table holding hands with love and our tummies with laughter, receiving scoldings and heaps of wisdom in equal measure, watching her eyes sparkling as she sat behind the monitor on set watching Rutshire brought to life  every moment spent with Jilly Cooper was bloody marvellous.

He continued: We have been so lucky to be able to call her our friend  and know that her legacy will endure in her writing, her television and the encouragement to have fun that she gave us all.

A public service of thanksgiving will be held in the coming months in Southwark Cathedral to celebrate Coopers life, with a separate announcement made in due course.
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Amazon Prime Video appears to have quietly restored James Bond artwork to its original form, guns and all, following fan outrage.

The streamer, which earlier this year controversially assumed complete control of the iconic spy franchise, recently faced backlash from fans who noticed that special Prime Video artwork had edited out Bonds guns.

In several of the posters, including Sean Connerys Dr. No (1962) and Pierce Brosnans Goldeneye (1995), their weapons were entirely airbrushed out. The former originally showed Connerys 007 with his arms crossed and his finger on the trigger of a small gun. However, in the reworked version, hes simply crossing his arms.

Other posters, like Daniel Craigs Spectre (2015), simply cropped out his hand holding a firearm.

Numerous Bond fans took notice of the censored posters Friday, with one X user arguing that Bond without his gun is like Batman without his cape  youve stripped away the very symbol of who he is.

open image in gallery Pierce Brosnan as James Bond in 'Die Another Day' ( United Artists )

What absolute wet wipes! a second criticized, while a third questioned: Why? Honestly, its so pathetic. May as well censor out the words Gun, Die, Octopussy and Kill.

Amazon removing images of guns from James Bond cover art is the most American approach to gun control imaginable, a fourth added sarcastically. Well done.

Its maddening, another agreed. The logos gun will be altered next. The franchises logo famously depicts the 7 in Bonds nickname, 007, as a gun.

By Monday, the posters had returned to their original form.

open image in gallery Amazon removed the gun from Connerys hand before quietly reverting to the original ( Prime Video )

What if the James Bond  Amazon  gun thing was a cheap deliberate ploy by Amazon to get Bond chatter going online, just as films are back on Prime for free?! someone surmised. Thus having them trending on the home page (which they are). Theyve since changed all artwork back.

The Independent has contacted Amazon Studios for comment.

In February, it was announced that Amazon MGM had taken full creative control of the Bond franchise after striking a deal with long-time producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.

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The duo remain co-owners of the beloved franchise, but the business decision leaves creative control of future James Bond productions in the hands of American-owned Amazon, prompting concern from fans over potential changes to the franchise.

Currently, Oscar-nominated Dune director Denis Villeneuve has been tapped to helm the 26th Bond film for Amazon MGM. While the movie is not expected to be released until 2028, Villeneuve is reportedly on the hunt for an unknown actor to take over as James Bond.
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Acclaimed filmmaker Ridley Scott has offered a withering take on the current state of Hollywood.

The Oscar-nominated Gladiator director, 87, was speaking Sunday at the BFI London Film Festival.

The quantity of movies that are made today, literally globally  millions. Not thousands, millions and most of it is s***, Scott remarked. He lamented about how films nowadays are too often saved by digital effects because they havent had a great thing on paper first.

When asked if he had a go-to comfort movie, the British director admitted: Well, actually, right now, Im finding mediocrity  were drowning in mediocrity. And so what I do  its a horrible thing  but Ive started watching my own movies, and actually theyre pretty good! And also, they dont age.

Noting his recent rewatch of his 2001 war-action drama Black Hawk Down, starring Josh Hartnett, Eric Bana, and Ewan McGregor, Scott remembered thinking, How in the hell did I manage to do that?

Ridley Scott says he's been rewatching his old films to get a fix for well-made movies ( Getty )

But I think occasionally a good one will happen, he added, [and] its like a relief that theres somebody out there whos doing a good movie.

Elsewhere during the panel, he revealed he has no plans to retire anytime soon. To me, the vineyard would be my retirement occupation, he said of his French vineyard, but I aint gonna retire.

In a 2021 interview with The Independent, he opened up about his filmmaking philosophy, saying that to me, my job is not work. Its a passion.

Its just next and I just move on, he said of his nonstop workflow. We tend to work 18 months ahead. Otherwise, you have these horrible gaps. You finish the movie, and if you havent thought what else youre gonna do next  youre hoping something goods gonna land on your desk. It never does.

Scotts latest movie was the long-awaited Gladiator sequel. Released in 2024, more than two decades after the first, Gladiator II saw Paul Mescal lead as Lucius, the son of Russell Crowes slain Roman soldier Maximus. Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Denzel Washington also starred.

Hes since also directed the debut episode of Apple TV+s mini-drama Dope Thief.

As for upcoming releases, he has his Jacob Elordi-led post-apocalyptic drama The Dog Stars, adapted from Peter Hellers 2012 novel of the same name, coming out in 2026.

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Meanwhile, according to IMDb, Scott has seven other directing projects in pre-production and development, including the Western drama Wraiths of the Broken Land, a biopic of wartime photographer Lynsey Addario, Its What I Do, and an adaptation of Paulette Jiless 2009 novel The Color of Lightning.
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Canadian rock band Rush have welcomed a new drummer to replace the late Neil Peart ahead of their newly announced 2026 tour.

Peart, the trios longtime drummer and lyricist, died in January 2020 from brain cancer. He was 67.

Now, more than five years after his tragic passing and a decade since their last tour, bandmates Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson have added 42-year-old German drummer and composer Anika Nilles to their lineup.

Its truly an honor, the award-winning musician wrote Monday on her Instagram Story. Big shoes to fill! Thank you, Geddy and Alex, for trusting me and welcoming me on this incredible journey with you!

Nilles has previously toured with the late Jeff Beck and released four solo instrumental albums, including her most recent record, False Truth, released last month.

Rock band Rush's longtime drummer Neil Peart (middle) died in January 2020 ( Getty Images )

It was a very sad time, and it took time for us to even contemplate, frontman Lee told Variety of Pearts death in a new interview, adding, And how do you replace someone who is irreplaceable?

The Tom Sawyer band are scheduled to kick off their Fifty Something tour next summer in Los Angeles on June 7 and 9, before continuing on to six additional North American cities, including Toronto, Ontario; Mexico City, Mexico; and New York City.

Announced Monday on social media, the tour is described as a celebration of Rushs music, legacy, and the life of late drummer and lyricist Neil Peart.

Rush will perform two nights in each location. Each show will feature a distinct selection of songs and RUSH will build each nights setlist from a catalogue of 35 songs including their greatest hits and fan favorites, they teased on Instagram.

Fans will have until Thursday, October 9, at 11:59 EDT to sign up for pre-sale tickets, which go on sale Monday, October 13.

Rush last performed live in 2015 on their R40 Live Tour, with Peart formally retiring from the band after their final performance that August in Los Angeles.

The next year, he was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Following his death in 2020, Lee and Lifeson called Peart their friend, soul brother and bandmate over 45 years.

Peart first joined Rush in 1974, replacing original drummer John Rutsey. He remained with the band for 40 years, including during its first major four-year hiatus beginning in 1997, which followed a series of personal tragedies  the death of his eldest daughter, Selena, in a car crash, and the loss of his first wife to cancer the following year.

The band later returned in 2001, going on to release their 17th studio album, Vapor Trails, in 2002.

In 2013, the band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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TV producers originally considered Dame Jilly CoopersRivals too silly to adapt into a series, said showrunner Dominic Treadwell-Collins.

Cooper, who has died following a fall aged 88, is one of the UKs most celebrated authors, best known for her steamy fiction focusing on scandal and adultery in upper-class society. She wrote Rivals in 1988, the second book in her Rutshire Chronicles series, which depicts the sordid ongoings in a power struggle between two television companies in the Cotswolds.

Rivals was turned into a hit show for Disney+ in 2024, starring the likes of Danny Dyer, David Tennant, Katherine Parkinson, Alex Hassell, Aidan Turner and Emily Atack. However, Coopers work had previously been dismissed by TV bosses, says producer Mr Treadwell-Collins.

In an interview with The Independent last year, Mr Treadwell-Collins revealed that several TV executives turned their noses up at the thought of turning Coopers books into a show.

Everyone said, Jilly Cooper, oh, its a bit silly, he recalled. But its not silly! Shes an amazing storyteller. Theres a really complicated love story at the heart of it.

She pulls apart Britishness and class and the way we all behave towards each other, the 48-year-old continued. I think it was a group of people who saw Jillys work as naff, but another group who saw it as dangerous and sexy. I knew I wanted to turn it into telly.

open image in gallery The cast of Rivals with Cooper attending the 2025 Bafta Television Awards in May ( PA )

Following Coopers death, Mr Treadwell-Collins and fellow Rivals producer Alex Lamb said: We are broken-hearted. Jilly was and always will be one of the worlds greatest storytellers, and it has been the most incredible honour to have been able to work with her to adapt her incredible novels for television.

Crawling around on her sitting room floor with storylines on pieces of paper, sitting up late at her kitchen table holding hands with love and our tummies with laughter, receiving scoldings and heaps of wisdom in equal measure, watching her eyes sparkling as she sat behind the monitor on set watching Rutshire brought to life  every moment spent with Jilly Cooper was bloody marvellous.

We have been so lucky to be able to call her our friend  and know that her legacy will endure in her writing, her television and the encouragement to have fun that she gave us all.

open image in gallery The author at The Queens Reading Room Festival, a literary event celebrating the power and benefits of reading in September this year ( PA )

Cooper died after a fall on Sunday morning. Her children, Felix and Emily said: Mum was the shining light in all of our lives.

Her love for all of her family and friends knew no bounds. Her unexpected death has come as a complete shock.

We are so proud of everything she achieved in her life and cant begin to imagine life without her infectious smile and laughter all around us.

The Queen has also paid tribute to the author, describing her as a legend and a wonderfully witty and compassionate friend to me and so many.
The U.S. government is entrenched in its defense of attacks against alleged drug boats in international waters in the Caribbean, and has threatened to move to a new phase of the operation. This Sunday, Trump boasted about these operations, spoke without giving details about a new attack that apparently took place on Saturday, and stated that theyre not coming in by sea anymore, so now well have to start looking about the land because theyll be forced to go by land.

In a speech aboard the aircraft carrier Harry Truman at the Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy, Trump boasted that since U.S. forces began their campaign of attacks against alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters in the Caribbean, we cant find any boats in that area. Were so good at it that there are no boats. In fact, even fishing boats: nobody wants to go into the water anymore, he said.

He also stated that we did another one last night, although he did not provide any details about this new attack, or whether there were any casualties. The lack of information may suggest that he was alluding to the incident revealed by his Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth last Friday, in which U.S. forces killed four people when they fired on a boat. On previous occasions, when reporting on such strikes, neither Trump nor his team have provided many details  they have never identified the victims or the type of drugs they were allegedly transporting, for example  but they have disclosed how many people were on board. They have also often released a video with images of the attack.

A few hours earlier, Trump had declared the success of a campaign in which at least 21 people have died in four attacks, and said, Theres no drugs coming into the water. And well look at what phase two is. On board the aircraft carrier, he gave some more clues about what he has in mind, indicating that he is considering bringing the operation against the cartels ashore, a possibility he had already raised in various statements. They (the drug traffickers) wont do so well there either, he said in his speech on Sunday, without referring to the serious international repercussions that such action would likely have. Experts and human rights organizations have expressed serious reservations about the attacks on the boats, or directly consider them illegal.

For his part, Pentagon chief Hegseth assured Fox News, where he was an anchor until taking up his post last January, that his department has all the necessary authorizations to attack the vessels. We have every authorization needed. These are designated as foreign terrorist organizations, Hegseth said. If youre in our hemisphere, if youre in the Caribbean, if youre north of Venezuela and you want to traffic drugs to the United States, you are a legitimate target of the United States military.

Since February, the United States has included several drug cartels, including the Venezuelan Cartel of the Suns and Tren de Aragua, on its list of foreign terrorist organizations, and justifies its attacks on the boats with this argument. When announcing the new attack on social media, the Secretary of Defense did not specify exactly which organization he linked the sunken boat to. In none of the attacks have he or any other member of the Republican administration, including Trump himself, provided evidence of this link or that the boats were transporting drugs.

This week, the U.S. government sent a memorandum to Congress in which Trump determined that the United States is in an armed conflict with drug cartels.

Trump made the remarks to reporters at the White House before attending the event to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy at the Norfolk base, the largest in the world and home to the worlds most modern aircraft carrier, the Gerald Ford. His office described the event as a display of naval might.

Experts and human rights organizations consider these attacks illegal and point out that the correct course of action, if there is suspicion about the boats and their contents, is simply to intercept them and question their occupants, a task that until now has been handled by the Coast Guard.

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Kimberly Hebert Gregory, best known for her starring role as the fiery Dr Belinda Brown in HBO's hit comedy series Vice Principals, has died aged 52.

The actors death was announced by her ex-husband, Chester Gregory, who said in an Instagram post that she lit up every room and carried both fire and grace. He did not disclose the cause of death.

Chester wrote: You taught us lessons in courage, in artistry, in resilience, and in how to keep showing up, even when life demanded more than its share.

He remembered Kimberly as so much more than his ex-wife, reflecting on their bond, which he said no storm could break.

The post continued: Thank you, Kimberly, for every chapter we shared. Your story was never defined by the battle, but by the beauty you carried through it.

Gregorys acting colleagues and friends have remembered her as a ray of light in a series of online tributes.

White Lotus star Walton Goggins, who co-starred in Vice Principals alongside Gregory, said in a tribute: We lost one of the best yesterday one of the best Ive ever worked with. Kimberly Hebert Gregory. I had the honour the good fortune of getting to know, getting to spend months working with this Queen on Vice Principals.

Goggins said Gregory made him laugh like no other and called her a professionals professional.

open image in gallery ( Getty Images )

He added: You will be missed my friend. As much as you know.

Busy Philipps, who played Gale Liptrapp on the dark comedy, also wrote: Oh my god Im devastated to hear this. She was a light and a force. She will be missed.

Communitys Yvette Nicole Brown said: I don't understand this. I'm so sorry for you and your son's loss @chestergregory. And OUR loss as a community.

Broadway actor Leslie Odom Jr said: What a light she shared. I am so sorry to hear.

open image in gallery Kimberly Hebert Gregory as Dr Belinda Brown in HBO's hit comedy series Vice Principals ( HBO )

Jason Ritter, known for roles in Matlock and Parenthood, said: I am so sorry absolutely heartbreaking. She was so brilliant and so kind, she will be so so missed by all of us lucky enough to know her.

Vice Principals, which ran on HBO for two seasons between 2016 and 2017, was co-created by Danny McBride and Jody Hill. It follows McBride and Goggins as two vice principals at a high school, who are in an epic power struggle to become the school principal.

Born in Houston in December 1972, Gregory discovered her love for acting as a child and attended Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts before going on to earn an MFA from DePaul Universitys Theatre School. She launched her career in the Nineties with the Chicago Theatre Company.

She earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for her breakout role in the Lynn Nottage play By the Way, Meet Vera Stark.

Gregorys big screen roles included Spike Lees 2012 film Red Hook Summer, 2019s Five Feet Apart and 2020s John Henry.

Her television work was also expansive, and had guest roles and recurring roles across series including The Chi, Kevin (Probably) Saves the World, Better Call Saul, Red Hook Summer, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Two and a Half Men. She also voiced characters in Craig of the Creek, Jessicas Big Little World and No Activity.

She is survived by one son.
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Victoria Beckham has said she was shocked by the positive response to a viral moment in her husband Davids Netflix documentary.

The 51-year-old former Spice Girl delighted viewers with the now-viral moment in her husband Davids 2023 Netflix documentary, Beckham, in which she claimed to have been raised a working-class girl.

After she says this, David pokes his head around the door and tells her to be honest, before asking her to tell viewers what car her father drove her to school in (a Rolls-Royce).

He was meant to have left for work but was watching the monitor in another room, the fashion designer told The Times of the unrehearsed on-screen interaction between her and her husband of 26 years.

If Im being completely honest, I didnt love me in that documentary, Beckham reflected, adding she was surprised by how positive the feedback was to her appearance in the show.

Davids documentary made me realise how good it feels to be wrong. I like being wrong. I was wrong, and bring it on. I love that, she said.

Following the viral moment, Victoria promptly released merchandise poking fun at herself: a white T-shirt with the words My dad drove a Rolls-Royce was being sold for 110 shortly after the video spread.

In a later interview with Vogue Australia, Beckham clarified that she went to a regular school and didnt live in a big house and was embarrassed by her dads car as she was desperate to fit in.

open image in gallery Davids documentary made me realise how good it feels to be wrong, says Victoria Beckham ( Netflix )

Beckhams surprise at her online popularity comes ahead of the release of her own Netflix documentary this month, following her time in the Spice Girls and her journey to build her own fashion empire.

Im not going to lie, being asked questions about when I was in the Spice Girls was quite triggering. And Id say those were the most difficult moments. It was almost like therapy for me, Beckham said.

I touch on my family, I touch on the Spice Girls, the problems weve had with the business, you know, the money weve lost  there have been lots of triggers. I cried.

Beckham rose to fame as a member of the Spice Girls, alongside Mel B, Mel C, Geri Halliwell and Emma Bunton in the Nineties. She launched her fashion label in 2008  seven years after the band separated.

open image in gallery Beckham becomes emotional in her own Netflix documentary later this month ( Netflix )

The stars eponymous brand has faced its share of financial difficulties and was reported to have debts of 53.9m in 2022.

However, Beckhams beauty brand topped 100m in sales this summer, with revenues for Victoria Beckham Holdings Ltd totalling 112.7m over 2024  27 per cent higher than 2023.

I havent talked before about the struggles that the business has been through, Beckham said. It hasnt all been easy.

Victoria Beckham starts on Netflix on Thursday 9 October.
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Chi-Chis, a Mexican chain restaurant, has reopened its first location since filing for bankruptcy and shutting its doors more than 20 years ago.

Chi-Chis opened its new flagship location in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, on Monday. The return was highly anticipated, with reservations for opening day fully booked as of Monday morning. The brand relaunched under the leadership of Michael McDermott, son of the chains co-founder, Marno McDermott, according to a press release.

"Chi-Chis is back stronger than ever, McDermott said in a statement. "We're bringing back the food, energy, and fun that people love, now with a fresh twist for a whole new generation.

The chain, founded in 1975, originally opened more than 200 locations nationwide and was widely known for its deep-fried ice cream. Now, its new menu features Chi-Chis Original Chimichangas, Quesabirria Tacos and Seafood Enchiladas. Other menu highlights include Manchego Burgers, Original Nachos Grande and El Burro con Queso.

The new location will open its doors daily at 11 a.m.

open image in gallery The Mexican restaurant Chi-Chi's has reopened in Minnesota after closing its last location in 2004 ( Chi-Chi's )

Chi-Chis filed for bankruptcy in 2003 and closed its last location in 2004. Around the time the chain filed for bankruptcy, a Pennsylvania Chi-Chis location was linked to a Hepatitis A outbreak that killed four people and sickened more than 600, the Associated Press reports.

The brands comeback was built hand-in-hand with its fans, the company said in a statement. More than 2,000 people have invested $2.3 million through the restaurants campaign on StartEngine, a platform that allows people to invest in startups and early-stage companies. The campaign is still racking up contributions and will close on November 1.

The chain plans to open a second location in Minnesota, and its franchise model will allow for further expansion, according to the brands StartEngine page.

The reopening was also made possible by a 2024 agreement with Hormel Foods, owner of the Chi-Chis trademarks. The deal allows McDermott to use the brands name on new restaurants.

open image in gallery Chi-Chi's has reopened under the leadership of Michael McDermott (pictured), son of the restaurant's co-founder, Marno McDermott ( Chi-Chi's )

"I still have fond memories of growing up in the Chi-Chis restaurants that my father built throughout their time, instilling in me the passion and determination to pursue my own career in the restaurant industry, McDermott said in a statement late last year, when the deal was first announced.

Social media users have since praised the restaurants reopening.

Cant wait!! I loved Chi Chis and was heartbroken when they closed, one user commented on Facebook, underneath a local news report about the reopening.

If I remember correctly, they had a seafood enchilada that was absolutely delicious, another user wrote. And deep fried ice cream.

The Independent has contacted Chi-Chis for comment.
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The phrases autism spectrum or on the spectrum have become part of everyday language. They are often used as different ways of referring to someone who is neurodivergent.

The term was coined in the 1980s by psychiatrist Dr Lorna Wing, whose work transformed how autism was understood in the UK. At the time, her autism spectrum concept was groundbreaking. Instead of seeing autism as a rare, narrowly defined condition, she recognised a wide range of traits and experiences.

But the idea of a single spectrum, which stretches from mild to severe, may be misleading. And some autism experts, including me, argue the term has outlived its usefulness.

When most people hear the word spectrum, they may picture a straight line, like colours arranged from red to violet. Applied to autism, this suggests autistic people can be ranked from more autistic to less autistic. But thats not how autism works.

Autism is made up of many different traits and needs, which show up in unique combinations. Some autistic people rely heavily on routine, while others find comfort in repetitive movements known as stimming. And some have an intense focus on particular topics, a concept researchers call monotropism.

Autism is made up of many different traits and needs, which show up in unique combinations ( Getty/iStock )

There are also known links with physical conditions such as hypermobility. Because autism is made up of all these different elements, there can be no single line on which every autistic person is placed.

Attempts to draw boundaries still persist, however. The American Psychiatric Associations diagnostic manual divides autism into three levels based on the amount of support a person is judged to need. They run from level 1 requiring support, to level 2 requiring substantial support and level 3 requiring very substantial support.

But there is research that argues these levels are vague and inconsistently applied. They dont always reflect someones real-world experiences.

Life circumstances can also change a persons needs. An autistic person who usually copes well may experience burnout and have an accompanying increase in support needs if their needs have been unmet for a long time.

In a recent research article, my colleagues and I show that life stages such as menopause can increase support needs. A static level cannot capture this evolving nature.

More recently, the label profound autism has been suggested by the Lancet commission  an international group of experts  for autistic people with learning disabilities or high support needs. But other experts say the phrase is unhelpful because it tells us nothing about a persons particular challenges or the type of support they require.

The legacy of Aspergers

Dr Lorna Wing also introduced the term Aspergers syndrome to the UK. Like the concept profound autism, using this term also divided autistic people into those with higher support needs and those with Aspergers syndrome (lower support needs).

However, the label was drawn from the name of Austrian physician Hans Asperger, who in the 1940s identified a subgroup of children he called autistic psychopaths. During the Nazi period, Asperger was associated with the genocide of autistic people with higher support needs. For this reason, many autistic people dont use the term any more, even if that is what they were originally diagnosed with.

Underlying all these debates is a deeper concern that dividing autistic people into categories, or arranging them on a spectrum, can slip into judgments about their value to society. In the most extreme form, such hierarchies risk dehumanising those with higher support needs. Its something some autistic campaigners warn could fuel harmful political agendas.

About the author Aimee Grant is an Associate Professor in Public Health and Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellow at Swansea University. This article was first published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.

In the worst case, those judged as less useful for society become vulnerable to future genocides. This may seem far-fetched, but the political direction in the US, for example, is very worrying to many autistic people.

Recently, US health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Junior, said that he was going to confront the nations (autism) epidemic. So far, this has included strongly refuted claims that paracetamol use in pregnancy is linked to autism in children, urging pregnant women to avoid the painkiller.

Often people use the term autism spectrum or on the spectrum as a way of avoiding saying that somebody is autistic. While this is often well meaning, it is rooted in the idea that to be autistic is a negative thing. Many autistic adults prefer the words autism and autistic directly. Autism is not a scale of severity but a way of being. Its a difference rather than a defect.

Language will never capture every nuance, but words shape how society treats autistic people. Moving away from the idea of a single spectrum could be a step towards recognising autism in all its diversity, and valuing autistic people as they are.
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Despite growing anecdotal evidence and historical claims regarding the health benefits of cold-water immersion, from icy baths to chilly swims, robust scientific confirmation is still lacking.

The practice boasts a long lineage; Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and the third American president, documented his daily cold foot baths over six decades and even possessed a 1706 book on the subject.

Modern proponents, like Dr. Mark Harper, vividly recall the initial shock of their first cold plunge in southern England two decades ago, even in August, describing it as breath-taking.

The shock to his system lasted a minute or two until he was recombobulated and able to think about something other than the cold," Harper says. A surprise sensation soon replaced his discomfort.

I remember getting out of the water the first time and feeling so good," Harper, an anaesthesiologist who has since researched the potential risks and rewards of taking a nippy dunk. "I wasn't expecting that.

But Harper, who became a regular cold-water swimmer after his initiation, said there are strong signs that people can derive mental health benefits from the activity. He mentioned a positive effect on depression and general well-being.

For now, we have a very strong base, but not hard evidence, that cold-water immersion is effective for mental health," Harper told The Associated Press.

open image in gallery Cold-water immersion can bring positive mental health effects ( Justin Tang /The Canadian Press via AP )

Boosting mental health

Harper said his own early experiences with cold-water swimming piqued his professional curiosity. As a physician, he wondered if the brief bodily shock had clinical uses for treating depression. He cited the biological phenomenon of hormesis, in which a stressor introduced at a low dose creates a positive response.

Muscles and bones put under stress for example, with weight-bearing exercise  also respond and grow.

Harper acknowledged that the positive effects he's observed may be the result of the placebo effect, a phenomenon in which people who are given a medicine they think will help them report responding to the treatment even if it had no active ingredients.

In the case of cold-water immersion, the benefits may come from meeting people, the exercise itself, or simply accepting a challenge and accomplishing it, which improves self-confidence, he said.

Personally, I think its all of those things, and the cold has an additive effect, Harper said. I think we have a good physiological basis for that. The basic science tells us the cold has a very strong effect on the body.

What were talking about is an intervention, when it's used clinically, that produces beneficial effects on mental health. So in a way it doesnt matter which aspect is generating the positive effects.

Harper cited what he said was a common reaction among first-timers who have taken the plunge.

They often say the fact that Ive done this means I can do anything, he said. Its quite a confidence builder and its something people stick to because they enjoy it so much.

Know the risks when you start

Dr. Mike Tipton, a physiologist at the University of Portsmouth in England who has studied extreme environments, authored a paper along with Harper and two more researchers several years ago. The title highlighted the potential advantages and dangers of stimulating the body with a sudden drop in temperature: Cold Water Immersion: Kill or Cure.

Like other environmental constituents such as pressure, heat and oxygen, cold water can be either good or bad, threat or treatment depending on circumstance, they wrote after reviewing the research then available on the topic.

One of their findings: The activity presents dangers. Deaths from cold-water immersion are not uncommon. The shock of frigid water can cause people to hyperventilate and drown. But Tipton told The AP the risks can be managed with common sense and precautions.

How cold, how long?

open image in gallery Staying in ice baths for longer than two minutes is not recommended ( Getty/iStock )

You do not need to go to extremes to get a potential payoff. Entering water at a temperature of 20-15 degrees Celsius (68-59F) and staying for only a few minutes is sufficient.

Tipton explained if the water is colder than that, you may get more benefit  but limit your exposure.

If you ask me what protocol you would follow if you thought this was going to be doing you good, I wouldn't go in water much below 12C (54F), and I wouldnt stay in for much more than two minutes, Tipton said.

Tipton and Harper both said that any benefits from cold-water immersion come from the body's cold-shock response: the sudden fall of skin temperature, the release of the stress hormones, the release of endorphins, and the anti-inflammatory effect.

Tipton cautioned against long spells in an ice bath.

Sitting in water for as long as I can fills me with horror, Tipton said. "This could destroy small nerves, blood vessels in extremities and could result in amputation the same way frostbite can."

Harper, who has swum as long as four-hour stretches in open water, advised vigilance.

People think its got to be super cold, super long and the longer the better, Harper said, "and thats wrong.

Be safe. You're a tropical animal

Tipton said he's not trying to be the fun police but suggested caution and a medical screening if you take the plunge. He said humans are considered tropical animals who need to adapt to the cold and are better suited to warm conditions.

A humans resting body temperature is about 36.5 to 37.5 degrees Celsius (97.7 to 99.5F). Because of that, cold-water immersion is stressful and carries risks for the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Not to mention the risk of drowning.

We dont want to stop people doing it, but we want to make sure they do it in a way that maximizes the benefits and minimizes the risks, Tipton said.

He suggested swimming in a life-guarded area, or going with experienced outdoor swimmers. He also suggested knowing the body of water you're swimming in. Hazards, among others, include tides, temperature, depth and pollution.

Understand that taking a tropical animal and putting it in cold water is probably the greatest stress that most people will experience in their life, Tipton said.

He suggested entering the water in a controlled fashion instead of jumping in.

"Be sensible about it, he said. Incremental is the key.
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An NHS nurse whose leg was amputated after an extremely rare cancerous tumour was found in her calf has spoken of entering survival mode to process her diagnosis and stay positive.

Sophie Fay, 26, an intensive care nurse for four years, lives in Merseyside with her father, Paul Fay.

She first noticed an aching pain behind her right knee in March 2024. Having recently enlisted a personal trainer, Ms Fay initially dismissed the pain as a muscle injury.

However, when her calf became swollen and hot to touch, and work colleagues noticed the visible difference, she sought medical help.

After being told her symptoms could be caused by a blood clot or a muscular problem, Ms Fays worsening pains prompted her to push for further answers, especially when she found her right calf was 6cm bigger than the other.

Ms Fay had an MRI scan in November 2024, which revealed a large tumour taking up the entirety of [her] calf, and the mass was diagnosed as spindle cell sarcoma of the bone, an extremely rare soft-tissue tumour.

As her blood vessels and nerves were completely encased by the tumour, Ms Fay was informed the only option was an above-the-knee amputation, which she received in December 2024  and she is now adapting to life with a prosthetic.

Ms Fay is sharing her story as part of the Bone Cancer Research Trusts Bone Cancer Awareness Week, which runs from October 6 to 12, to raise awareness of her symptoms and prevent others from falling through the cracks.

open image in gallery Fay had her leg amputated above the knee in December 2024 ( Collect/PA Real Life )

It was a massive shock but it felt like the best chance of living a normal-ish life afterwards, she told PA Real Life.

Going into survival mode helped me to process the diagnosis and stay so positive in the recovery period.

The only thing I wanted was to not have cancer anymore, and I thought once its gone, I can deal with that.

You do get the realisation with something like this that our days are numbered and were not all invincible.

Ms Fay said she started exercising with a personal trainer in March 2024, but over the subsequent weeks she noticed feeling an aching pain behind the knee of her right leg.

It would just happen when I exercised but I remember going for a walk and I thought the back of my knee was really sore, she said.

She noticed the pain got progressively worse over the next few months, to the point her leg would hurt even with light activity.

At the end of August 2024, Ms Fay was getting ready for a late shift at work when she noticed her leg was swollen and warm to touch.

open image in gallery Fay describes going into survival mode post operation, even though the procedure went as smoothly as possible ( Collect/PA Real Life )

I had a visible limp at this time now as well, because it was hurting whenever I walked, she said.

My colleagues noticed it was swollen, and they suggested it could be a small blood clot in my leg.

Ms Fay explained her intensive care ward contains mini ultrasound machines, and a consultant suggested doing a scan on the back of her leg.

The scan was inconclusive, Ms Fay said, and she was advised to go to her hospitals A&E department.

There, it was thought Ms Fay could be suffering from a muscular injury.

I didnt really know any better at the time, I thought it could probably be muscular  what it ended up being was so far from my mind, it was unreal, she said.

After having a more thorough examination on her leg, Ms Fay was told she could have a Bakers cyst, a fluid-filled lump at the back of the knee that can sometimes get better on its own, according to the NHS.

Ms Fay said she was happy with the diagnosis as the symptoms she felt appeared to be similar.

By November 2024, however, Ms Fay said the pain became constant and she could no longer bend her leg.

open image in gallery Medics told the nurse there was no way her leg could be saved ( Collect/PA Real Life )

My calf was massive, I think it measured six centimetres bigger than my other one, she said.

Ms Fay sought further help from her GP, who recommended she see a physiotherapist, but while waiting for the appointment she felt something was not right.

She instead went to a walk-in health centre, where it was advised she have a full ultrasound scan on her leg.

Following the scan, Ms Fay said she was sent to the urgent care centre at her hospital for further examinations, and a few days later she underwent an MRI scan on 11 November 2024.

The very next morning, on 12 November 2024, Ms Fay was asked to return to receive her results, saying she thought: Oh no, this is soon.

Ms Fay said she was told her scan had revealed a large tumour in her calf, which was thought to be primary bone cancer.

I just lost my head, there were all sorts of mad things going through my mind, Ms Fay said.

I had a bit of knowledge around cancer and cancer care with my work, and I couldnt help but think it was a death sentence.

I was really emotional and the worst part was knowing I had to go home and tell my dad.

She was signed off work and referred to The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Shropshire.

Following a biopsy, Ms Fay was diagnosed on 29 November 2024 with spindle cell sarcoma of the bone  an extremely rare soft-tissue tumour, according to the Bone Cancer Research Trust.

Such tumours most commonly arise in patients over the age of 40 and are extremely rare, making up just 2-5 per cent of all primary bone cancer cases, the charity says.

open image in gallery Fay said it took a long time to get used to walking using a prosthetic leg ( Collect/PA Real Life )

Ms Fay was informed her only viable treatment option would be amputation, as her blood vessels and nerves were completely encased by the tumour.

They showed me a picture of my scan, and the tumour takes up the entirety of my calf, she said.

There wasnt a way they could remove it safely to leave me with a functioning leg.

Ms Fay received an above-the-knee amputation on 17 December 2024, and she said the operation and her healing process was very smooth.

Adapting to using a prosthetic was very difficult, however, and she initially found it exhausting to walk short distances.

Its comforting to know this is the hardest it will ever be, she said.

As time goes on, Ill get better prosthetic parts, a better socket and knee joint, things that will make it easier.

Ms Fay will now have a scan every three months for the next two years to monitor any potential recurrences of cancer.

She has also returned to work, in a non-clinical setting for the time being, where she noticed she feels more emotional following her experience.

Ms Fay is sharing her story to mark Bone Cancer Awareness Week.

If sharing my story means bone cancer is spoken about more within healthcare, thats the main thing, she said.

For more information, visit the website for the Bone Cancer Research Trust
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There are few things as good as sliding into bed at night with time to spare. I know this firsthand, following years without the recommended seven hours of sleep a night.

Doctors say adults need at least that much to stay healthy and keep their cognitive abilities sharp  but more than a third of Americans just arent getting enough.

Even just an hour more can have a massive impact on your health  from lowering blood pressure to strengthening the immune system in the long run.

A relatively minor commitment to get a little more sleep can make a real impact on improving your health, said Anne-Marie Chang, an assistant professor at Penn State University.

Figuring it was worth a shot, I decided I would go to bed 30 minutes early every night for a week.

open image in gallery Not getting the recommended amount of sleep means an increased risk of chronic disease and other health problems. Just minutes can make a difference, according to experts ( Getty Images/iStock )

I was sure it had to help in some way. After all, I only get about six hours of a sleep each night, as do 40 percent of Americans.

Thats the average amount for New Yorkers like me, according to sleep-tech firm Simba, as people in urban environments have to deal with increased levels of noise and light pollution that can keep them awake.

But, sleeping for under seven hours has been shown to harm your mental and physical health, leading an increased risk of chronic disease, anxiety and depression, trouble focusing and an increased risk of accidents.

With that in mind, instead of getting into bed at 10:30 p.m. every night, I made it 10 p.m. sharp. I ate dinner shortly after 7 p.m., instead of 8 p.m. I also made sure to shower earlier and plug in any devices, if need be.

I turned off the overhead lights before getting into bed. Then, I set my alarm for the morning on my alarm clock. I made sure not to look at my phone. If I was still mentally awake, I briefly read a book instead of doomscrolling.

Come morning, I dont know if I felt quite as chipper as I had hoped. I wasnt groggy or sluggish, but I wasnt exactly thrilled to leave my bed. I definitely did need a large cup of coffee, as I normally do to become normal.

But, I did feel as if my cognitive performance had improved at work, on the phone, and while riding the subway. I was able to think things out more and write clearly. I could respond to my parents quicker and with intention. And, I acted decisively when moving around and off the train.

And theres not a lot to lose from heading to dreamland earlier. What do you really lose by going to bed 30 minutes earlier?

I found that the transition wasnt hard. Although, you should note that I am a single, 32-year-old woman without roommates. Others may have additional hurdles to jump on the way to sweet REM sleep, like children or spouses.

open image in gallery Doomscrolling at night can keep your brain awake. Bright screens act as a stimulant ( Getty Images/iStock )

If you want to try this and, to quote my father, put some more sleep in your sleep bank, experts say there are several ways to make it easier.

Being consistent with when you go to sleep and when you wake up is a start. Set a time that you will remember every day. So is limiting when you drink alcohol and coffee and work out. These all have a stimulating effect, and can be counterproductive.

Doing any of that too late can keep you awake and thinking about that embarrassing moment 15 years ago.

Screens are some of biggest sleep-stoppers, too. Bright screens stimulate the part of the brain that is designed to keep us awake, according to Sutter Health.

"I think if you were to actually put [people who sleep six hours a night] to the test and look at how theyre functioning during the day cognitively, you would definitely find deficits," Dr. Andrew Varga, a neuroscientist and physician at the Mount Sinai Integrative Sleep Center, told TODAY.com.

So do any digital activities on those screens, Dr. Lauren Hartstein, an assistant professor at the University of Arizona, told The New York Times.

While you can switch the device off, you cant turn your brain off, she warned.
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Five days before I turned 28, I cut my long hair into a short dark bob. It had been a tumultuous year: A young family member died suddenly. The boyfriend I would have married let me down. Then my body gave out, leaving me in hospital for a week, losing a fallopian tube, and regaining my strength from emergency surgery for many months afterwards. I felt changed  and there was only one place I wanted to commemorate the metamorphosis: behind the curtain of an old-fashioned photo booth. So, I perched on the creaky stool and smiled, having survived it all.

Photo booths were first launched into the world on the streets of New York in 1925 by Russian Jewish immigrant Anatol Josepho. The invention, which turns 100 this year, was immediately a success. Yet, despite its popularity and gorgeous film quality, the analogue booths were replaced by digital alternatives in the late 80s and, gradually, disappeared entirely. Its only through the dedication of fans of the medium that theyve begun to creep back onto the streets of cities including London, Paris, Barcelona and Florence over the past 10 years  much to the delight of millennials and Gen Z, who are embracing the antiques most fervently.

Twenty-six-year-old Ella Hodson was living in Montmartre, Paris when she fell in love with photo booths. There was one near her flat on Rue des Trois-Freres and each time she had a visitor or hung out with her friends in the city, shed pull back the curtain and climb inside. Unlike an edited selfie or filtered Instagram post, she felt the snapshot authentically captured her and her friends as they were on that day, without curation or hundreds of takes. It was just a really nice way to make a memory, she says. It was always dead on that road. Nobody even went down there. Every time Ive gone back since, its had a huge queue outside.

A century ago, photo booths offered everyone the chance to pose without being under the watchful eye of a photographer for the first time. People were very enthusiastic about the idea of being free, Taous Dahmani, curator of The Photographers Gallerys Strike a Pose! 100 Years of the Photobooth exhibition tells me. Thats why, quickly after the launch of Anatol Josephos Photomaton, they added the curtain  that creates privacy. Behind the drawn fabric, queer couples were free to kiss. In the US, before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, photo booths never enforced segregation. It was a truly democratic invention, Dahmani says.

open image in gallery Cheese! An assortment of collection Ella Hodson's many photo booth photos ( Ella Hodson )

Kirsty McKenzie, a 33-year-old writer living in Barcelona, fell for the charm of photo booths after seeing pictures of her grandparents posing in one when they were young. It feels quite raw, she says. Theres something sweet about putting the coin in, waiting a little, the excitement of getting your photos out. That delayed gratification. When McKenzie visited Florence (one of the most TikTok viral booths is on Via Santa Monaca) she suggested to her parents and brother that they follow in her grandparents footsteps: They all laughed at me and said dont you have a phone. [But I] dragged them all over town to find one. Me and my mum got in. Its just the perfect way to capture a moment. Its candid. Freeing.

Like many of the women I speak to, McKenzie has posed in a photo booth by herself multiple times, particularly in San Sebastian when shes taken trips there alone. Its the reverse of sending a postcard. Its something just for me to honour that moment, she reflects. Dahmani notes that younger generations might prefer getting in a photo booth over asking a stranger to take their picture on holiday, because in a way the photo booth was the ancestor of the selfie. She adds: Theres complete agency over whats happening, but theres also a sense of losing control  you might get surprised by the flash, there could be a blur. Thats exciting.

open image in gallery 'It's freeing': Kirsty McKenzie with her mum Wendy in Florence ( Kirsty McKenzie )

Many young people also use photo booths to mark big life events. Thirty-year-old Annabel Nugent pulled her boyfriend of 10 years inside an old-school photo booth when he proposed to her in Sardinia in 2023. The photos show them grinning, kissing, hugging cheek to cheek. Engagement announcements can be quite a lot of pressure, Nugent reflects. How do you choose which perfect picture to post?! This took away some of that choice. It was simple. I love the photos. It takes me back to just being so incredibly happy and in love, which I still am!

Like me, 30-year-old Sawyer Wilson has used photo booths to mark the passing of time. She likes their immediacy, their authenticity, and the thrill you get from the experience. Last year, she was marched to a machine in Barcelona by a friend who wanted her to commemorate her birthday. I thought that was so thoughtful and sweet and now I look back on that strip of photos and am like, oh, thats 2024 she says of the images that see her beaming and sticking her tongue out at the lens That photo strip feels really special, she says. I had a really nice day with my friend. I was really happy to be turning 29. Its nice to look back on that.

open image in gallery Its nice to look back: Sawyer Wilson on her 29th birthday ( Sawyer Wilson )

Hodson accidentally took this cataloguing one step further last year when she visited Berlin alone and realised shed accidentally posed in a booth shed already visited years before. In the first strip from 2018, long messy hair falls over her shoulders, a white T-shirt crinkles over her collarbones. The images are black and white  but you can tell its summer. In the second from late 2024, shes bundled in a dark roll-neck jumper, hair cropped, somehow more at ease in her body. It was a full circle moment six years apart, she says. It makes me feel like Ive grown up so much  but the person who I was when I was younger is still inside of me.

Going in a photo booth used to be cheap. Were talking 25 cents (19 pence) when the invention first launched in the 1920s. Cut to 2025, and a strip from an analogue film machine in London will set you back up to 7. A huge jump. Yet, in a time when the cost of living is crippling, the popularity of photo booths still continues to grow among cash-strapped Gen Zs and Millennials. Even during the Great Depression in the US, people were still going to photo booths, Dahmani says. Its like a history of commerce and capital. Each time the worlds economy has collapsed, the photo booths economy goes up. It goes against all assumptions.

open image in gallery Strike a pose: 2025 marks 100 years since the invention of the photo booth ( The Photographers' Gallery / Raynal Pellicer )

When life is sad or uncertain, we need to feel love. Thats, arguably, the time we crave silliness and joy most. Photo booths, with their antique charm, curtained privacy and non-judgemental gaze, offer us the opportunity to experience delight for just a few pounds. Looking through the images included in Dahmanis exhibition, which tracks back as far as 1927, its affecting to see how those living their lives a century ago behaved just like us. Through the upheaval and the hardship, people are still just people. We still need to kiss, and smile, and wear a funny hat.

Strike a Pose! 100 Years of the Photobooth is at The Photographers Gallery from 10 October until 22 February.
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A woman was arrested at the Salt Lake City International Airport last week for allegedly assaulting an airport employee while intoxicated.

Cody Sierra Marie Bryne, 31, was booked into the Salt Lake County jail on Thursday on several charges, including sexual battery, assault and public intoxication, according to public records.

The 31-year-old was boarding a Delta Air Lines flight to Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday, when she refused to move out of the planes aisle despite being asked multiple times, Fox 13 reports, citing court documents. When she did move, court documents say she pushed an employee into a seat with her shoulder.

Bryne was escorted off the plane, but then attempted to run past Delta employees, the Salt Lake City Police Department confirmed to The Independent.

When staff tried to stop her, Bryne allegedly grabbed one employees neck, hair and breast, according to police.

Cody Sierra Marie Bryne was removed from a Delta Air Lines flight to Portland last week after allegedly pushing an employee with her shoulder ( AFP via Getty Images )

Bryne is also accused of telling that employee, If I ever find you alone b****, Fox 13 reports, citing court records.

The woman ran away and was caught by officers trying to rebook a flight.

"When officers located the passenger in the lobby of the airport, she resisted attempts to take her into handcuffs, the Salt Lake City Police Department said.

She denied assaulting the airline employee or grabbing her breast, but admitted to drinking alcohol earlier, according to Fox 13.

"[Bryne] was unable to hold an intelligible conversation, had the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her person, had difficulty following directions, and needed assistance with walking," the court documents reportedly read.

Information for Brynes attorney was not immediately available.The Independent has contacted Delta Airlines, the Salt Lake City International Airport, and the Salt Lake City Police Department for comment.

A Delta Air Lines spokesperson told The Independent the company has zero tolerance for abusive, disruptive or unlawful behavior on our flights. The airline has also added Bryne to its internal no-fly list, according to the spokesperson.

The safety and security of our customers and crew is our highest priority, and we take all incidents seriously, the spokesperson said. While we do not comment on pending litigation, we are fully cooperating with law enforcement as the investigation proceeds.
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A woman in Chicago was caught on camera smearing dog poop on a Trump-themed Tesla Cybertruck, according to reports.

John Evans said he parked his Tesla, which is decked out in an American flag decal featuring President Donald Trumps gold-leaf signature, in the Windy Citys Northalstead neighborhood on Wednesday while in town for a conference.

Later that day, Evans, who was visiting from Savannah, Georgia, found his patriotic car had been vandalized with feces.

Its crazy that something like this upsets somebody so much that they decided, Oh, Im going to ruin that persons day, Evans told FOX 32. Well, the shoe is on the other foot now.

Footage taken from his Cybertrucks' own security cameras captured a woman wiping the pet poo across the cars exterior, Evans said.

open image in gallery A Tesla Cybertruck owner has publicly shamed a Chicago woman after she was caught on camera smearing dog poop over his Trump-themed car ( Getty Images )

On the tailgate in Gold Leaf, there is a representation of the signature of President Trump, he said. And I think that may have further inflamed the mental illness of the person that decided to do this to my vehicle.

Evans shared the images of the alleged offender on X, and within a day, Internet sleuths claimed to have identified her and her place of work.

After publicly sharing the identity, an online mob then began to leave negative reviews on the business she is associated with.

Evans said he did not file a police report because he felt that after he shared the womans photo online, the amount of backlash she received was punishment enough.

I think that America is happy to help other Americans with accountability for bad actors, he said.

Online trolls claimed in posts that received tens of thousands of likes that the woman pictured is the owner of a local dog daycare business. Soon after, the businesss Instagram account appeared to mock the incident.

open image in gallery Authorities have not charged the woman shown in the video with any crimes, according to the report ( AFP/Getty )

Lets be honest, that could be anyones sh!tty tattoos and saggy t!ts, the business wrote, adding, Also #f***montana #f***trump #f***ice.

I would say, we are Americans, you have an obligation to do better, Evans said. When you do something like this, youre making the problem worse.

Evans and the local dog daycare center did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Independent.

The woman pictured in the video has not been charged with a crime, according to the report.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has sanctioned eight individuals and 12 companies it accuses of being linked to Los Chapitos

The U.S. Treasury Departments crackdown on the financial networks of Mexican cartels continues. On Monday, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against eight individuals and 12 companies accused of being linked to the Sinaloa Cartels Los Chapitos faction. This network supplies illicit fentanyl precursor chemicals to the Sinaloa Cartel, a terrorist organization responsible for a significant portion of the deadly drugs trafficked into the United States, the agency said in a statement.

The main target of the action is the laboratory supply company Sumilab, based in Culiacan, the capital of the Mexican state of Sinaloa. The Treasury Department, which previously sanctioned the company in 2023, maintains that this business participates in the Sinaloa Cartels fentanyl production chain.

The U.S. identified the Favela Lopez family as being behind the Sumilab operation, specifically four siblings (Victor Andres, Francisco, Jorge Luis, and Gabriela) and some of their partners (Jairo Verdugo and Gilberto Gallardo). EL PAIS revealed two years ago that Sumilabs main client was the government of the state of Sinaloa itself: between 2018 and 2022, the state awarded the company public contracts totaling 14.7 million pesos (nearly $800,000).

Departamento del Tesoro

Following OFACs May 2023 sanctions targeting Sumilab, the Favela Lopez family removed signage from Sumilab storefronts and changed tactics, but remained heavily engaged in supplying precursor chemicals for the Sinaloa Cartels fentanyl production, the statement said. The agency maintains that Victor Andres, Francisco, and Jorge Luis distribute both the precursors and laboratory equipment to the criminal organization. Additionally, chemicals are sold to companies in the United States, where they are synthesized into illicit drugs and ultimately sold to U.S.-based customers, the statement added.

The U.S. also outlined a network of seven other companies related to agriculture (Agrolaren, Distribuidora de Productores y Servicios Viand, Favelab, Fagalab, Qui Lab, and Storelab) that work for Sumilab. All of them have also been sanctioned, despite the Favela Lopez familys efforts to distance themselves, at least on paper, from these companies. In the days and weeks following OFACs action, Victor Andres, Francisco, and Jorge Luis each removed themselves and/or other family members from numerous corporate filings  to include Agrolaren, Viand, Favelab, and Fagalab  and installed front persons in their place, the statement noted.

The Treasury Department even identified some of these front people. According to the U.S., one of them is Cesar Elias Lopez Araujo, who also owns the laboratory equipment company Importaciones y Nacional Marcerlab. Both he and the company were sanctioned on Monday.

In addition to the Favela family, OFAC has sanctioned Martha Conde Uraga, known as Martita, described as a longtime Sinaloa Cartel-affiliated chemical broker operating out of multiple warehouses in and around Culiacan. The U.S. claims that she uses fraudulent invoices and other concealment methods to supply chemical precursors to Los Chapitos. Conde Uraga runs four companies with her family: the chemical and industrial cleaning companies Comercial Viosma del Noroeste and Prolimph Quimicos en General; a healthcare company, Proveedora de Servicios de Salud Mental del Pacifico; and a real estate company, Roco del Pacifico Inmobiliaria.

With these sanctions, the United States aims to increase pressure on fentanyl trafficking, which has already caused 500,000 deaths in the country, according to John K. Hurley, under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. President Trump has made clear that stopping the deadly flow of drugs into our country is a top national security priority. Under Secretary Bessents leadership, the Treasury Department is committed to dismantling the complex financial networks that support these terrorist organizations, said the official.

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A two-year-old boy was mauled to death by dogs after he was left unsupervised for hours by his babysitter, who has now been charged with murder.

Authorities said Kaimir Jones, 2, was left unattended for over two hours while in the care of his babysitter, Stacy Wheeler Cobb, at her home in Valdosta, a city in southern Georgia,WSB-TV reported.

Cobb, 48, has been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children, both felony charges.

Police officers, firefighters and paramedics were called to Cobbs home Saturday after the attack, and authorities discovered she had been running an unlicensed daycare out of her residence.

Kaimirs mother, Adrianna Jones, had taken him to Cobbs home earlier Saturday for Cobb to watch the toddler for the day.

open image in gallery Kaimir Jones, two, was killed by two Rottweilers while left unattended at his babysitters house in Georgia over the weekend. ( GoFundMe )

Instead, the toddler was left unattended for over two hours as Cobb took a nap and assumed the boy was asleep as well.

While she was asleep, Kaimir wandered outside into the backyard and opened the kennel for two large Rottweiler dogs, which escaped and attacked him.

Kaimir died at the scene. His mother said that by the time she got to the home, the police were already there.

This was a heartbreaking, devastating and traumatizing scene that I wouldnt wish on anyone. I found my baby like this, the grieving mother wrote on a GoFundMe, which had raised over $18,000 as of Monday.

Kaimir was the only child at Cobbs house on the day of the incident; however, most days she reportedly had about 10 children in her home, KBTX reported.

Police arrested Cobb and took her to the Lowndes County Jail. Police said their investigation is ongoing and more charges are expected.

Lowndes County Animal Control officers took custody of the two Rottweilers involved in the attack, as well as a third dog that was at the home.
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A woman wanted in connection with a fire that left 49 children dead at a daycare center in Mexico, in 2009, has been arrested in the Arizona

U.S. officials confirmed that Sandra Lucia TellezNieves, 51, was deported from the country on 2 October and handed over to Mexican authorities.

TellezNieves, a former coowner of the ABC Daycare Center, in Hermosillo, is accused of negligent injury and homicide in relation to the blaze, in which nearly 150 children were trapped inside the building.

open image in gallery View through a hole in the wall of the interior of the ABC Daycare Center where 49 children died in a fire in Hermosillo, Mexico in 2009 ( AFP/Getty )

On 5 June 2009, the building caught fire while dozens of babies and infants were having their afternoon nap.

According to reports at the time, the blaze started at a car garage next door and spread via the roof to the adjoining nursery.

There were no emergency exits in the nursery, with the only way out through the front door.

There was also no sprinkler system and no fire extinguishers, the BBC reported, and smoke detectors and alarms were faulty.

open image in gallery Relatives of the 49 children who died in a fire at a daycare centre in Hermosillo in 2009 demonstrate with the portrait of the victims to demand justice ( AFP/Getty )

As well as the 49 who died, around 100 more children were injured, many severely. TellezNieves was first sought by prosecutors in the aftermath of the blaze, but the original charges were later dismissed.

More than a decade later, in 2022, Mexican authorities reviewed the case and issued a new arrest warrant.

On 15 January 2025, TellezNieves was stopped by police in Tucson, Arizona, and taken into custody. Officials said she had been residing in the United States on an expired visitor visa at the time of her arrest.

open image in gallery Around 100 more children were injured in the fire, some severely ( AFP/Getty )

Robert CopadoGutierrez, named as a co-defendant in the case was arrested in March by the U.S. Marshals Service, with assistance from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, on charges of negligent injury and homicide linked to the fire. He remains in U.S. custody while awaiting deportation to Mexico.

In 2009, nine of the children injured in the fire were transported to Sacramento and treated at the Shriners Hospitals for Children in northern California.

Then governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mexicos first lady at the time, Margarita Zavala, were among those who visited the children in hospital, all of whom had burns ranging from 20  80 per cent of total body surface area.
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Newly released transcripts have revealed the terror of people trapped inside the Minneapolis Church where a mass shooting took place in August.

Robin Westman opened fire on the church next to Annunciation Catholic School on the morning of August 27, leaving two children dead and 18 injured.

The first 911 calls came at 8.27am, moments after the first gunshots. Inside, the children were just getting ready to pray.

Theres like gunshots all over," one unidentified caller said, in the transcripts obtained by Fox News. "Must have been 20 all together in a bunch of different bursts," the caller continued.

open image in gallery The attack unfolded at the Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Other calls described what Westman was wearing and the gun being used. One described the suspect as being dressed "in head-to-toe camo gear" with "black goggles  standing in place next to the church."

Meanwhile, 911 calls were coming from adults inside the church too.

We need, we need medical assistance ASAP. We got multiple people have been shot," a woman told operators.

One of the callers, fourth-grade teacher Becca Hare, confirmed to responders that people were injured.

I dont know how many people are here, but there are people hurt, Hare said. Stay down, stay down, OK  Im going to go help. Im going to go help.

open image in gallery The city is still reeling from the mass shooting over the summer ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The transcripts also revealed 911 responders telling the terrified callers to remain hidden as adults tried to keep children quiet under church pews, Fox News reports.

Another teacher, which the transcript identified only as Diane, described hiding with children in the basement.

"We were downstairs having crackers, and, all of a sudden, we heard gunshots.  Theres a whole bunch of kids started coming in cause theyre running from everywhere," she said. "Were in the church basement, locked in the classroom right now."

open image in gallery The shooting sparked calls for more to be done than thoughts and prayers ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The murdered children were later identified by their families as 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski. The 15 children injured were aged six to 15 with three parishioners in their 80s also hurt in the attack.

The shooting inevitably sparked political debate in the U.S. with ongoing frustration at the lack of any legislative action to tackle Americas mass shooting and gun violence problem.

At the time, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey told Americans not to call for prayers in the wake of the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School: Dont just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now, these kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school, they were in a church.

And Vice President J.D. Vance was heckled during a visit to church to meet parents of the victims, with protestors calling the vice president a coward and imploring the Trump administration to do better on gun safety.
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An Arizona man was seriously injured after being brutally attacked with a knife aboard a Greyhound bus in southern New Mexico  drawing chilling comparisons to the fatal stabbing of a young woman on a Charlotte light rail train in August.

Jorge Quintanilla was traveling from Alamogordo, New Mexico, to Old Pueblo on September 29 when another passenger suddenly lunged at him with a knife.

According to the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, 29-year-old Ryan Kenny was arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

The bus was between Lordsburg and Deming, in New Mexico, when the attack unfolded.

I had suddenly heard somebody moving quickly on the other side of the aisle from me, Quintanilla told KOLD. When I looked over, it was this guy who was lunging across the aisle with what at the time I thought was a pen. And he stabbed me straight in the neck, and then after that, I was able to grab his wrist and was trying to push him off me, and in that time, he kept stabbing and jabbing, and it was more towards the head.

open image in gallery Ryan Kenny was arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon for allegedly stabbing Jorge Quintanilla on a Greyhound bus last month ( New Mexico Department of Public Safety )

Quintanilla was stabbed six times in the head, neck, and arm before other passengers restrained the attacker. He was airlifted to a hospital in El Paso, Texas, where he underwent emergency treatment.

While doctors expect him to recover, the brutal, unprovoked attack has left his family shaken  especially after a similar tragedy just weeks earlier in North Carolina. In August, 23-year-old Ukrainian immigrant Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed while riding a light rail train in Charlotte.

Her death prompted Irynas Law, which reinstates the death penalty for certain violent crimes in North Carolina.

open image in gallery In August, 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed while riding a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina ( GoFundMe )

All day I was getting compared to her, Quintanilla said.

The paramedics, the cops, the nurses, the doctors, while I was at the hospital, everybody was comparing me to her, and it wasnt until I saw the video the next day that I realized, yeah, thats exactly how it went down, its pretty much exactly how it went down. Somebody just decided to grab a knife and attack me.

Quintanillas sister, Adriana Velasquez, also said the attack reminded her of Zarutskas tragic case.

I had just seen it on TV, and I had seen it all over social media, and that was scary enough, Velasquez told KOLD.

The poor girl. She had no help. Nobody noticed what had happened with her attacker, and they just left her there, and so thats the first thing that came to my mind when I thought about that too.

open image in gallery Decarlos Brown Jr was charged with the fatal stabbing of a Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska ( Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office )

Unlike Zarutska, Velasquezs brother did have someone who jumped into action moments after the attack. And now the family is focused on finding the unidentified woman who stopped the bleeding and helped keep him alive until paramedics arrived.

I keep calling her my guardian angel because she was an absolute commander, Quintanilla said. Without her, I dont believe I would have made it the 20 minutes that it took for the paramedics to get there.

She saved his life. If it wasnt for her, who knows what could have happened to my brother, Velasquez added. (I) am so thankful to her. Thank you so much, whoever you are.

open image in gallery Quintanilla was stabbed six times in the head, neck, and arm before other passengers restrained the attacker. He is recovering and is expected to survive ( KOLD )

Meanwhile, Kenny remains in custody without bond at the Grant County Detention Center.

A Greyhound spokesperson told KOLD that weapons are prohibited on all buses, but declined to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation.

We are unable to comment on the details of this incident as it involves a law enforcement investigation, the company said in a statement. The safety of our passengers and employees is always our top priority, and we are providing all necessary assistance to authorities.

The Independent has also reached out to Greyhound for comment.
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Two separate shootings at South Carolina State University left a 19-year-old woman dead and a man in hospital.

Gunshots were heard on Saturday evening near the Hugine Suites, an on-campus housing facility, prompting authorities to put the area on lockdown.

Jaliyah Butler, 19, was shot dead in one of the two incidents that police currently believe are not connected.

The teens mother Heather Weaver shared an emotional message on social media, asking for people to keep her family in their prayers.

open image in gallery Jaliyah Butler, 19, was shot and killed on Saturday evening at South Carolina State University ( Facebook )

Yes its true my baby Jaliyah Butler is gone! Please dont call or message me if you isnt direct family! Thanks! Keep my family in your prayers, please!, she wrote.

To know Ill never get to hear my baby Jaliyah Butler to tell me she love me again!, she said in another post. I just cant stomach that! Baby girl I wish this was a dream.

Bulter was pronounced dead at MUSC Health Orangeburg with an autopsy to follow later this week.

Both Butler and the unnamed man injured in the other shooting were guests on the SC State University campus, according to Live 5 WCSC. The injured man was taken to hospital for treatment though it is not clear how serious his condition is.

An 18 year-old, Matthew Daniel McCoy, was arrested and charged Sunday with pointing and presenting a firearm at a person and carrying a weapon on school property.

open image in gallery The second person shot at SC State University was rushed to hospital ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

A South Carolina Law Enforcement Division arrest warrant said McCoyhad a loaded Glock handgun in his vehicle, which he allegedly used to shoot at an unidentified male twice.

SC State President Alexander Conyers said in a statement: We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the young woman who lost her life and to all who have been affected.

We are cooperating fully with law enforcement as they investigate these senseless acts of violence. We know this tragedy has shaken our Bulldog Family, and we are providing counseling and support for anyone in need. I ask everyone to continue caring for one another.

One student told Live 5 WCSC that she saw "everybody running after hearing the gunshots.

 I aint about to just stay there while everybody running, so I just took off and then we were running, student Xiyelle Wright said. We heard a gunshot, and we just kept running.

open image in gallery Investigations into the shootings are ongoing ( Google Streetview )

Several events on campus, including the Homecoming concert, have been cancelled following the shootings.

As the investigation continues, Democrat U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn said that the scourge of violence needs to end.

We know something fundamental needs to change to protect South Carolinians from these kinds of tragedies, he said on social media. The scourge of violence must end, and it is incumbent upon all of us to do what is right to safeguard our communities.
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A tense standoff in California ended late Saturday night when police arrested a man accused of threatening TikToks Culver City headquarters.

Joseph Mayuyo, 33, was taken into custody after allegedly posting a series of violent threats online, including a declaration that he would not be taken alive if officers tried to arrest him, according to a statement released by the Culver City Police Department (CCPD).

Employees at the social media platforms office reported receiving the online threats on Friday, which prompted an evacuation of the offices out of what officials said was an abundance of caution.

Investigators traced the threats to Mayuyo and launched an operation at his home in Hawthorne. During the investigation, Mayuyo allegedly continued making additional threatening statements online, according to police.

open image in gallery Employees at TikToks Culver City headquarters reported receiving the online threats on Friday ( Getty )

Detectives quickly obtained search and arrest warrants, and CCPDs Emergency Response Team was called in to assist. Negotiators spent more than 90 minutes communicating with Mayuyo before he eventually peacefully surrendered.

Mayuyo was booked on suspicion of making criminal threats. Detectives recovered items of evidentiary value during a search of his home, according to the release.

Police have not confirmed the nature of the alleged threats or a possible motive, but said that the investigation remains ongoing.

open image in gallery Joseph Mayuyo, 33, was taken into custody after allegedly posting a series of violent threats online ( AFP/Getty )

This incident demonstrates our departments strong commitment to ensuring the safety of our community and local businesses, Chief Jason Sims said in the police release.

We take all threats seriously and investigate them thoroughly. Thanks to the coordinated and swift efforts of our officers, detectives, and partnership with the business, this suspect was taken into custody peacefully, preventing any potential harm.
Aurum Resources is inching closer to production in West Africa after a successful infill drilling program at its Boundiali BMT3 deposit in Cote DIvoire has grown its total Boundiali indicated gold resource by 53% to 0.92Moz gold.

The drilling at BMT3 has enabled the conversion of 320,000 ounces of previously inferred gold to the higher-confidence indicated resource category, leaving the projects total resource unchanged at 2.41 million ounces and the companys group resources, including the Napie project, at 3.28 million ounces.

Aurum Resources field technicians and geologists, compiling core data at its Boundiali BMT3 gold deposit in Cote DIvoire, where its indicated resource has grown by 53% to 920,000 ounces.

The BMT3 deposit now contains an indicated total of 320,000 ounces at 1.1 g/t gold, which lifts the Boundiali projects total indicated resource by 53% to 920,000 ounces of gold. The deposit also retains a remaining inferred 270,000 ounces of gold at a grade of 1g/t gold.

Aurums Managing Director Dr. Caigen Wang said: We are extremely pleased to announce this further increase of more than 50% in Indicated ounces within the Boundiali JORC Mineral Resource Estimate, bringing it to 0.92 million ounces of gold.
The lawyer for Mark Lathams ex-partner Nathalie Matthews has said his client is distraught over her arrest on revenge porn charges, as she spent a night in custody before being granted bail on Monday.

Upon landing in the country from Dubai on Sunday morning, the former girlfriend of one-time federal Labor leader Latham was arrested at Sydney Airport on an outstanding arrest warrant.

Mark Latham and Nathalie Matthews in 2024. Credit: Instagram

The 38-year-old was arrested two days after celebrating her birthday.

Matthews was taken to Mascot police station and charged with accessing or modifying restricted data held in a computer, intentionally recording an intimate image without consent, and intentionally distributing an intimate image without consent, against a person named in court documents as Witness two.
A pro-Palestine demonstration went ahead as planned in Melbourne on Tuesday evening, hours after the graffiti incidents. The Free Palestine Coalition Group had urged people to gather near the National Gallery of Victoria, which was previously targeted by anti-Israel protesters because of its association with the prominent Jewish Gandel family. At 5pm, about 150 people gathered in the Queen Victoria Gardens, opposite the NGV, where 16 police officers were stationed. Although the gatherings organisers asked attendees not to display signage, posters or flags, several Palestinian flags and a sign saying We shall rebuild were on display. After the speeches, several protesters held white bags meant to symbolise dead bodies. The atmosphere remained peaceful as the group began their walk to state parliament, with numbers growing to about 250 people. The pro-Palestinian rally in Queen Victoria Gardens on Tuesday. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui Albanese said on Monday that the anniversary of the Hamas attacks was not a day for demonstrations and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said they were deeply disrespectful.

Speaking at the pro-Palestinian gathering, rally organiser Nour Salman described the prime ministers criticism of the demonstrations as absolutely atrocious. Nour Salman at the vigil honouring those killed in Gaza. Credit: Charlotte Grieve Salman rejected Albaneses characterisation of the gatherings, and said that missing from political statements about the rallies was any acknowledgment of the Palestinian lives lost since the war began. This is exactly why this vigil is taking place, Salman said. On Tuesday morning, a commemoration was held at the Goldstone Gallery in Collingwood, marking the anniversary of the October 7 attacks. The event, which began at 6.29am  the same time sirens were heard at the Nova music festival in southern Israel  was organised by Jewish artists Nina Sanadze and Danny Ben-Moshe, and included an all-day vigil featuring speeches, victim name-readings, poetry and music.

Graffiti painted on the wall of the Officeworks in Fitzroy. Sanadze described her reaction to seeing the words defacing the Fitzroy billboard as just sheer horror. I nearly screamed just seeing it on a day like this, she said. It was up there for a good five hours before it was taken down. I was thinking, how can I get up there and paint over it? Its beyond horrific, upsetting and, unfortunately, while Im surprised every time, its not so surprising any more.

Australian Jewish artists Nina Sanadze (left) and Danny Ben-Moshe have created an exhibition to commemorate the October 7 attacks. Credit: Eddie Jim Sanadze said her exhibition aimed to forensically detail the events of October 7 through witness testimony. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, also the defence minister, labelled the graffiti attack disgraceful and deeply offensive. This day can only be one thing, and that is a day of commemoration and remembrance, Marles told ABC Melbourne. Its a deeply solemn day, and to have that message scrawled in that way is obviously disgraceful, and we need to be a society which is cohesive, which looks out for each other, and that is obviously a message of division. When asked if the graffiti would be treated as an act of terrorism, Marles said he was unsure but added that he had no doubt it would be looked into.

Hamas is a terrorist organisation, he said. Hamas was responsible for the terror attack which occurred two years ago on this day, in which 1200 innocent people lost their lives  a message of that kind scrawled on this day is deeply disgraceful. I certainly think that there are people in our society today who do feel threatened, and I think that  is very much a matter of concern to the government. We are doing everything in our power to stand by the Jewish community as they face acts of antisemitism. We need to be a country which looks out for each other, and part of being a multicultural society, with all the diversity and richness that comes with that, must also be an accompanying care that we have for each other, and this [billboard] is a message of division. This is not a message which is designed to provide for the care of others within our community. And that is in part why this is absolutely a disgraceful message to have at any moment, but particularly on this day. Vandals accused of turning Australians against each other

Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said the graffiti attacks were revealing of a vicious streak running through Australia. Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. Credit: James Brickwood Its as despicable as it is predictable, he said. I believe were overwhelmingly a decent people and a decent country, but there are those among us who revel in bloodshed and who support terrorism, and its something which I think should shock all Australians. It should make us resolute and united in fighting because its just utterly contemptible that theres an element in our society that thinks this way and also acts on it.

Ryvchin said those responsible for the vandalism were intent on dividing society, adding that this sort of behaviour had become normalised. I tend to think that the people who do this know exactly what theyre doing, he said. They want to provoke reaction. They want to turn one group of Australians against another ... this sort of behaviour has become routine, and its become normalised, and to a large extent, theres a great impunity that goes with it. Theres very little legal consequences, theres very little social consequences, and it wont simply evaporate tomorrow. A pro-Palestine protest on August 24. Activists plan to march through Melbourne on Tuesday evening. Credit: Wayne Taylor Allan said the words scrawled on the Fitzroy billboard were hateful and not a representation of the states great multicultural society. It has no place, and its even more hateful on a day where we stand in support of a Jewish community that is grieving the second anniversary of the single biggest loss of Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, Allan said. I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.

Opposition Leader Brad Battin said: Graffiti glorifying a terrorist organisation has no place in our community. On this day especially, its disgraceful. I stand with Victorias Jewish community and remember those who lost their lives in the October 7 attacks. Loading Caulfield MP David Southwick said the words plastered on the billboard were triggering for members of Australias Jewish community. To have people glorifying a terrorist organisation in Melbourne, its just beyond belief, Southwick told ABC Melbourne. Weve got laws  they need to be used. Nobody should be doing this  its shameful in terms of how the Jewish community has been targeted over the last two years. And something needs to be done. Words are not good enough from our leaders. Theyve actually got to get out and do something.

Fitzroy locals disappointed by horrible graffiti People passing the vandalism in Fitzroy said the graffiti was disappointing, and added that vandals had previously targeted the billboard. One person, who didnt want to be named, said: Its just so horrible to see. Police are investigating both Fitzroy incidents, and said in a statement: There is absolutely no place at all in our society for antisemitic or hate-based symbols and behaviour. Yarra City Council workers visited the scene on Tuesday morning and photographed the graffiti.

In a statement on Tuesday, federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the graffiti was deeply disturbing, and called on the AFP and ASIO to help police track down the vandals. Loading Hamas is a listed terrorist organisation in Australia. Supporting them is not free speech, it is a crime, Ley said. Those responsible must face the full force of the law. Victorians deserve to feel safe in their own community. On Monday, Albanese called for decent human behaviour to mark Tuesdays anniversary of the attacks. [Tuesday] is not a day for demonstrations, he said, as the premiers of Victoria and NSW condemned the protests organised in both states to mark the second anniversary of the atrocities.
Victorian students should be banned from using sophisticated calculators and VCE exams flipped to focus on pen and paper maths in a bid to improve understanding and ensure testing is a level playing field.

Thats the call of experts who want Victoria to follow the lead of NSW and Queensland, where super calculators  which can be programmed with shortcuts to complete involved computations faster and provide steps for the procedures  are banned in final-year exams.

Tutor Devang Krishna supports the use of calculators in exams but knows the value of understanding mathematical methods. Credit: Penny Stephens

Leading mathematics teacher John Kermond said the Computer Algebra System (CAS) calculators were the fairy floss of high school mathematics; they looked pretty but didnt give students any substance.

He said it was important to understand the fundamentals of mathematics before using sophisticated calculators, but many students just wanted something that could spit out the answer.
A leading Perth lawyer has backed in WA Polices move to seize more than 100 guns from sovereign citizens across the state, adding he did not believe there would be much sympathy for people who did not acknowledge the law having weapons taken from them.

Police have laid a string of charges stemming from a series of raids conducted last week in an operation sparked by the shooting deaths of two Victorian officers.

This masthead revealed on Saturday police had conducted raids throughout suburban Perth and regional WA for five days, on people who had expressed sovereign citizen ideologies in line with that of Victorian man Dezi Freeman.

A sovereign citizen believes they are not subject to the law or government authority, and Freeman had previously expressed sovereign citizen beliefs before allegedly shooting two police officers dead in August.
Papua New Guinea has likened a formal defence treaty with Australia to a fence protecting two homes and not a shield against Chinese aggression, after prime ministers Anthony Albanese and James Marape signed the agreement on Monday.

The Pukpuk treaty, Australias first formal alliance since the ANZUS treaty was signed in 1951, commits the near neighbours to coming to each others aid and to contributing to regional stability across the South Pacific, which is being targeted by China as part of its efforts to broaden its diplomatic reach.

Prime ministers Anthony Albanese and James Marape sign the Pukpuk treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

The treaty was supposed to be signed in Port Moresby last month when Albanese visited the capital for the 50th anniversary of independence, but the PNG cabinet could not form a quorum in time to ratify the pact until recent days.

Similar to the ANZUS treaty, the agreement with PNG means that an armed attack on either nation in the Pacific is considered an assault on the other country that would be dangerous to each others peace and security and the security of the Pacific.
A developer with a history of non-compliance could be allowed to build a 16-storey high-rise on Brunswicks historic brickworks site under new planning rules, and drive up the land value, which residents say is rewarding bad behaviour.

As part of the Victorian governments major push for higher density in inner Melbourne, mooted changes on building heights in Brunswick would grant a significant advantage to the sites long-time developers, Glenvill Homes and Ninety-Four Feet. They have previously sought approval for eight storeys on the last undeveloped piece of land on the former Hoffman Brickworks precinct.

Residents (from left) Luba Khromchenko, Mark Nelson and Di Bambra at the Brunswick site of the proposed development. Credit: Chris Hopkins

But the same developers have been accused by Brunswick residents, their MP and their council of demolition by neglect that led to the loss of previous heritage buildings on the very plot that could become available for a high-rise tower.

The developers are also yet to repair a crumbling heritage chimney on the site, which was first fitted with scaffolding under emergency orders in 2021 and contributed to extraordinary insurance premiums for existing residents on the brickworks site.
It was beyond what we were expecting. We knew it would be popular, but we werent sure where it would finish price-wise. Volpato said the area was a drawcard. Its quite a secluded little pocket. Youve got Hawksburn Village, cafes and restaurants, everythings literally at your doorstep. The property was one of 1074 scheduled to go to auction in Melbourne last week. By Saturday evening, Domain Group recorded a preliminary auction clearance rate of 70.2 per cent from 811 reported results throughout the week, while 66 auctions were withdrawn. Withdrawn auctions are counted as unsold properties when calculating the clearance rate. Elsewhere, a new four-bedroom house sold for $1,305,000 under the hammer in Coburg.

The house at 37A Autumn Street was listed with a price guide of $1.2 million to $1.3 million and had a reserve of $1.32 million. There is no legal requirement for a vendors reserve to be in line with their propertys price guide. Bidding kicked off at $1.2 million from a young couple, with four bidders in total  three families and the young couple  competing for the property. The auction lasted about 10 minutes. Raphael Calik-Houston from Ray White Coburg said the property attracted interest because its brand new  its good for families  and the position is very good. Youve got cafes and a popular bakery right next door.

Loading He said the successful buyers were a very beautiful family. Houston added: Theyve got two daughters  they didnt want much of a backyard, so its low maintenance. The underbidders were the young couple who put the first bid. Located near Harmony Park, Coburg North Plaza, Coburg Station and Sydney Road, Calik-Houston said the area is very, very sought after. It might get even more popular, because its building up [Theres] more cafes, more restaurants, more apartment buildings near Sydney Road.

A warehouse conversion in Fitzroy passed in at auction and is now on the market for $955,000. The two-bedroom apartment at 15/183 Kerr Street was listed with a price guide of $900,000 to $950,000. The reserve was set at $955,000. One bidder opened the auction at $900,000 before the property was passed in. The young first home buyer later increased their offer to $925,000, which was rejected. The home drew a crowd of about 30 people. Andrew Melilli from Nelson Alexander Fitzroy described the apartment as a really quirky, unique, beautiful apartment that had been featured in design magazines.

Loading But it doesnt have any outdoor area, and the stairs made it a little tricky for downsizers, Melilli said. Melilli said that despite the result, demand across the inner north had been improving, with single-fronted homes priced under $1.4 million performing well. Thats where a lot of young professional couples are looking. Theyve got around a million or a bit more to spend, and theyre re-emerging now that the markets starting to rise again, Melilli said. PRD Real Estate chief economist Dr Diaswati Mardiasmo said the Melbourne market has been completely stable  which is not a surprise at all, given that the RBA just kept the cash rate stable.
Beijing: Hundreds of trekkers were stranded by a blizzard near the eastern face of Mount Everest in Tibet, Chinese state media reported, as unusually heavy snow and rainfall pummelled the Himalayas.

About 350 trekkers had reached the small township of Qudang by Monday afternoon (AEDT) after being guided to safety by rescuers, while contact with more than 200 people still stuck on the lower slopes had been made, CCTV reported.

Tibet media released a video showing trekkers being welcomed with hot soup in a communal hall and then boarding buses that took them away from the area.

Visitors to the remote valley of Karma, which leads to the eastern Kangshung face of Everest, were in the hundreds this week, taking advantage of an eight-day National Day holiday in China.
But how? Whether in a divided and more isolated Israel, or in a devastated Gaza, the future is for now shackled by new levels of distrust and hatred. Although Hamas said on Friday that it had agreed to release the remaining Israeli hostages , living and dead, it did not say that it would accept most aspects of a plan presented by US President Donald Trump , including the demand that it disarm. Trump welcomed the statement , and Israel said it would work with him.

Its a heated debate, he said, sitting in the bright kitchen of his newly constructed house. I say demolish and rebuild. I dont want kids passing incinerated homes. Its time to move forward.

The remains of the interior of a house, destroyed during fighting with Hamas militants, in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Credit: Bloomberg

Her husband, Nir Metzger, whose father was taken hostage by Hamas and killed last year in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, is the general secretary of the kibbutz. A big issue confronting him is whether to demolish burned and shattered houses or to preserve them as a memorial.

Of the 384 residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz at the time of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, a handful have returned, but like Israel as a whole, they find themselves gripped still by a horror that the creation of the Jewish state in 1948 was intended to prevent. Every conversation ends with the 7th of October, said Ola Metzger, who recently came back with her family.

Kibbutz Nir Oz, Israel: At Kibbutz Nir Oz, time is frozen. The tricycles, dollhouses and washing detergent piled outside charred homes testify to lives that stopped two years ago when a Hamas assault left 117 people dead, kidnapped or missing from this small Israeli farming community near the Gaza Strip border. Wind chimes tinkle over the collapsed swings of absent children.

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This plan does not guarantee our rights as human beings with dignity, Riwaa Abu Quta, a young Palestinian woman who has been living in a tent in the coastal area of Muwasi for more than a year, said in a telephone interview. She has lost her home, her job and her hopes since the war began. It gives us the feeling that displacement will be our identity.

But Trumps idea of turning Gaza into a coastal business emporium with preferred tariff and access rates and a marginal Palestinian role in governance seems at once demeaning to the people who live there and unlikely to work.

It is an ambitious plan for a strip of land where destruction has reached apocalyptic proportions. The proposal was seemingly prepared in part to allow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to claim victory over Hamas. If the hostages are freed, it would certainly bolster Netanyahus standing.

Trump, shrugging off more than a century of failed Western interventions in the Middle East, has proposed a form of tutelage over Gaza that posits prosperity crafted by well-meaning international groups as a pathway to peace.

For Palestinians, a statehood that more countries  including Australia  have recognised of late remains a remote aspiration, at best, and that is the immovable issue at the heart of war after war.

The longest war of an endless Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not over yet and has come to challenge Israels image and understanding of itself. Its military has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, raining down such destruction on every aspect of life in Gaza that much of the world accuses it of genocide. Antisemitism is on the rise. The attack this past week on a synagogue on Yom Kippur in Manchester, England, was only the most recent example.

Rather, Israel has found its weakest enemy, Hamas, the most intractable, perhaps because defeating an idea is never easy, and is consumed by doubt. An intensely interconnected society, where the collective, forged in school and through military service, is fundamental, now debates whether it has lost its way and its ideals.

Arab neighbours speak of an imperial Israel after Netanyahus decapitation of Hezbollah in Lebanon and his blow to Irans nuclear program. But in Israel, there is no triumphal sense of regional military ascendancy.

People either compulsively follow the news or, simply spent, do not follow it at all. They speak of being overloaded. Posters and stickers of hostages and fallen soldiers in Gaza fade and peel on walls and benches. Anger flares at the smallest thing. After repeated ugly brawls over lanes, the beachside Gordon swimming pool in Tel Aviv, established in 1956, sent a letter on August 7 urging its members to avoid any expression of physical or verbal aggression.

At the two-year mark of the greatest defeat in the countrys 77-year history, Israelis find themselves mentally and physically exhausted, and not only the 295,000 reservists who have been called up again and again. About 83,000 Israelis emigrated in 2024, 50 per cent more than the previous year. Seven members of the Israeli military died by suicide in July and August alone.

The October 7 slaughter and seizure of hostages reinforced Holocaust associations for Israel, and for many Palestinians in Gaza, the war has been a new Nakba, said Yuval Shany, a professor of international law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. So narratives feed themselves in an endless loop.

Displacement and the quest for a homeland are, of course, intrinsic to the intertwined fates of Israelis and Palestinians. The Holocaust and the 1948 Nakba, or catastrophe, in which some 750,000 Palestinians were driven out during Israels War of Independence, vie for greater weight. By rekindling nightmarish memories of these disasters, the October 7 attack and the retaliatory war in Gaza have pushed the two sides deeper into enmity.

I fought to defend the Jewish, democratic liberal state in the spirit of our Declaration of Independence, he said. What we have now with this government is a tyrannical, racist, hateful and boycotted leadership. That must be the main issue for the next election.

We have lost our way. Eighty years after the Holocaust, we are talking about ethnic cleansing, Jewish supremacy, clearing Gaza City of its inhabitants, Moshe Yaalon said. Are these the values of the state of Israel?

The former defence minister and chief of staff of the Israeli military, a man once close to Netanyahu, was angry. More than angry, he was shaking with indignation.

There is no history, as in America, of the rugged individual in Israel, said Gershom Gorenberg, an Israeli author and historian. The mythology here is of the rugged commune, and it is that sense of shared responsibility that has been shattered.

Most Israeli prime ministers would probably have made the same decisions as Bibi, said Michael Oren, a former Israeli ambassador to the US and deputy minister in Netanyahus office, calling the prime minister by his nickname. He may have no credibility in the world, but he saw October 7 as a summons to history and stepped up.

Not so, say Netanyahus many supporters. They view him as the nations saviour who, through a war of resurrection, as he calls it, has vanquished Hamas and made Israel safer. The jury is likely to be out for a long time, but to suggest that Israels leader, after a total of 18 years in power, has no political future would be rash.

IDF reservists move through an area not far from the Gaza border in 2023. Credit: Getty Images

Worse, in the view of his critics, he placed his own interests above the nations, doing everything to put off a commission of inquiry into the October 7 debacle that stemmed in part from his policy of supporting Hamas to ensure that the Palestinian national movement remained divided and ineffectual.

At the heart of that is the idea that you never leave a soldier on the field. In allowing the hostages agony to persist for two years in Gaza, where at least 41 were killed, Netanyahu transgressed against this core national tenet.

Of course, Israel is still a Middle Eastern country that holds elections  one is due next year  and where it is possible to say such things, at least as an Israeli Jew, without retribution. Still, Yaalons fury reflects the widespread conviction that a fundamental compact of Israels democracy was broken over the past two years and may be hard to repair.

The price has been high. Netanyahu has polarised Israelis and incensed the world.

Largely shielded from the extent of the terrible Palestinian suffering in Gaza, or in some cases untroubled by it, Israelis are consumed by their nations internal fracture. The October 7 attack brought the apotheosis of a long-brewing struggle between two Israels.

The first, a growing Messianic religious movement, now a decisive presence in the government, sees the October 7 massacre of an estimated 1200 people as a miraculous moment that forced the Jewish nation to take another step toward redemption, as Daniella Weiss, a prominent leader of the settler movement, said.

That redemption, for Weiss and her many followers, takes the form of Israeli control of all the land of Eretz Israel, bequeathed  as they see it  by God to the Jews.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Credit: AP

The second Israel  secular, liberal and committed to safeguarding the nations democracy  sees this rightward drift as a mortal threat to the values embodied in the nations founding charter. This calls for complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants, irrespective of religion, race or sex.

That lofty goal has proved unattainable in a Jewish state where 2 million citizens, or 20 per cent of the population, are Arab or Palestinian. But many still believe that abandoning the struggle for its ideals would betray Israels essential promise.

Bibi has done terrible things not only to Palestinians, but to us, said Gadi Shamni, a retired major general and a former Israeli military attache in Washington. He has thrown away our basic values, of sanctifying life and of ethics in war, for which we sometimes paid a heavy price.

Shamni said in this environment, officers confronting a shadowy enemy embedded in Gazas civilian urban fabric had struggled to uphold values considered sacrosanct during his own time in the military.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a man convicted several times of inciting racism, has suggested that not even a gram of food or aid should get into Gaza and he has called for the clearing of 1 million people out of there through voluntary immigration. Hard-line Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for total annihilation in Gaza. They are to be destroyed, destroyed, destroyed, he said last year.

Itamar Ben-Gvir has called for the clearing of 1 million people out of there through voluntary immigration. Credit: AP

Such statements have fed the charges of Israeli genocide against Palestinians.

A dream foreclosed

Smotrich and Ben-Gvir reside in the occupied West Bank, where more than half a million Israelis live. Freed of all constraints since the October 7 attack, the settlers have rapidly stepped up their land grab in an attempt to foreclose the distant possibility of a Palestinian state.

The new Israeli flags that line West Bank highways proclaim a colonisation that, 58 years after the 1967 battlefield victory that extended Israeli authority to the Jordan River, seems irreversible.

Across the biblical land Israelis call Judea and Samaria, earthmovers heave rocks in clouds of dust. They carve dirt roads into terraced hillsides topped by the white caravans of yet another Israeli settlers outpost.

Cameras are ubiquitous; no Palestinian life goes unwatched. Israeli authorities have installed hundreds of automated yellow gates at the entrances to Palestinian towns and villages. They may slam shut, fencing in their populations, at any hint of disturbance.

An Israeli flag flies along a highway near the settlement of Carmel in the West Bank. Credit: Getty Images

Aisha Abu Alia says despite the pressure and humiliation, its impossible to leave. Credit: David Guttenfelder/The New York Times

In Al Mughayir, a hillside village of about 3000 people with a view of ancient olive and almond groves, recent Israeli depredations have been exacting. An incident on August 21 involving an overturned tractor and an injured settler  the circumstances were never clarified  led hundreds of Israeli soldiers to swarm into the village, detaining the mayor for nine days and searching more than 500 homes. At the same time, settlers hacked and bulldozed countless olive trees across the villagers fields.

I felt they were uprooting my own heart, said Aisha Abu Alia, 53, as she stood in the fields gazing at the devastation.

Later, in her house at the centre of the village, wearing a purple headscarf, she sat flanked by several family members, two of them engaged in intricate embroidery. Over the course of her life, Abu Alia said, she had experienced ever greater pressure and humiliation, aimed at throwing out every Palestinian from this land.

Unmarried, because I know many people who got married and regretted it, Abu Alia lives in her parents house. She has one sister and seven brothers, two of them in the US who have constantly urged her to move there.

But its impossible to leave, she said, as if stating an evident truth. Never.

I felt they were uprooting my own heart. Palestinian Aisha Abu Alia

Her house commands a view of the village and the fields beyond it, where settlers bring their sheep to graze, as well as of the main road, and so it has been requisitioned several times by the Israeli military. On June 16, she said, dozens of soldiers burst into her home. An officer explained that she lived in a terrorist neighbourhood.

Why dont you love Israel? he asked, as Abu Alia recalled.

Why dont you love Palestine? she responded.

There is no such thing as Palestine, the officer said.

With Gods will, one day there will be a Palestine and no Israel, she said.

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This enraged the soldiers. Thirteen years ago, Abu Alia had sewn an elaborate tapestry depicting Palestine on all of the land between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River. It gave particular prominence to Al-Aqsa, the sacred mosque compound in Jerusalem that has long been a flash point.

An Israeli soldier hurled the framed tapestry to the floor, breaking the glass, Abu Alia said. She indicated the damage and pointed to slashed couches, a smashed clock and defaced photographs of her nephews.

Asked about the October 7 Hamas attack, she said she did not celebrate, even if we did not feel anything for the Israeli victims because we have had so many dead. I knew our lives would be turned upside down.

Her 17-year-old niece, Sara, interjected: Even if it had not happened, Israel would have done something like this. It just put everything into fast-forward.

Gaza spilled over, said Samar, Abu Alias cousin, pausing in her embroidery. We lost homes, we lost trees, we lost many of our own. There is no law, nothing that stops them any longer. Our children are traumatised.

Her eight-year-old daughter, Nour, wearing a purple T-shirt emblazoned with the words, Be a Younicorn, smiled bravely, a portrait of innocence. I wondered if the cycle of war would sweep away her life one day or if some almost inconceivable act of statesmanship might protect her.

I dont see any possibility whatsoever of a two-state solution, said Shlomo Ben-Ami, a former Israeli foreign minister. There is too much history here now and too little geography.

Protesters in Tel Aviv at the weekend call for an end to the war and the release of all remaining Israeli hostages. Credit: Getty Images

Israel, hostage

Viki Cohen fondled the charred Rubiks cube found in the disabled tank from which, on October 7, 2023, her then-19-year-old son Nimrod was dragged by masked Hamas operatives into Gaza. The other three members of his tank crew were killed.

Nimrod Cohen, along with an estimated 20 hostages  and the corpses of 25 others  has now been held in Gaza for more than 725 days. He recently turned 21. Every few months, Cohen and her husband, Yehuda, have received signs of life communications from the Israeli military. For many other families, a dreaded knock on the door has signalled the slaying of their loved ones.

He loved the Rubiks cube, said Cohen, who used to work for a company providing caregivers for the aged, but quit more than a year ago. All my time goes to bringing Nimrod back home.

Every few months, Viki Cohen and her husband, Yehuda, have received signs of life communications from the Israeli military. Credit: David Guttenfelder/The New York Times

Israel, for two years now, has been taken hostage. Whether this nightmare will end with an exchange of the hostages for Palestinian prisoners in the next few days or weeks remains to be seen.

We hope its a matter of days, Yehuda Cohen said, after hearing that Hamas had agreed to free all of the hostages. His whole family was gathered on Saturday in a state of extreme tension and emotion. He struggled for words, his wife struggled for breath. I cant talk now, I am counting the minutes and even the seconds, he said. I have to take care of my son.

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The nation is on tenterhooks. Turn on the TV, and there is a discussion about the hostages. Look around, and there are the empty plastic yellow chairs or yellow ribbons that have become their symbol. Listen to anyone, and, at the very least, it seems, some personal bond ties them to the hostage nightmare.

There are live hostages and dead hostages because this is a conflict in which even corpses are used to inflict psychological torment on the enemy and are considered tradable assets.

Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets at different times to demand that the government recognise the nations anguish and prioritise the hostages release.

In an earlier interview, Yehuda Cohen, an algorithmic engineer in a tech company, wore a black T-shirt with the words, Ceasefire Hostage Deal Now. said Nimrod was a normal child. Hes special to us because hes our son. Were only talking about him because he had the misfortune to be kidnapped, and were fulfilling our basic responsibility to fight for his release.

His tone was matter of fact. This now needless war has been going on a long time, far too long in his view. His wife cannot sleep thinking of her son, who never sees sunlight.

We are disgusted, we are frustrated, Yehuda Cohen said. We see Netanyahus government as our enemy. Hes only prolonged the war so he can survive.

Everybody is to blame except him, except Caesar, he said. The only way to end the war, he believes, is for Trump to force Netanyahu to do so.

The Cohens think that if their son survives, he will be one of the last ones out. He is young. He is a soldier. Hamas has every reason to hold on to him. Still, they hope, and now that hope is fervid.

Asked how they feel about their nation, two years into its trauma, Yehuda Cohen said:I dont want my country to be a country that rules others. I dont want to live in a country whose international borders are not declared and recognised. I want to live in a normal country.

The place of funerals

The war has taken Riwaa Abu Quta from her home in Rafah, the southern-most city in the Gaza Strip, now largely razed by Israel, to Muwasi, near Khan Younis, where she lives in a tent in a camp with hundreds of other displaced people.

At 30, she has lived through many wars, but none so brutal. She is scared and angry, as any human being would be. She has tried to care for her younger sister, Alaa, who has muscular dystrophy, but the required medicine has long since disappeared.

Her tasks are boring, she said. Finding food of some kind, perhaps canned beans; securing drinkable water; cleaning the tent where her family lives. All the while listening to the hum of Israeli drones or the roar of fighter jets that could deliver more carnage in the rubble.

Riwaa Abu Quta lives in a tent in a camp with hundreds of other displaced people. Credit: Saher Alghorra/The New York Times

Displaced Palestinians in a tent camp in Muwasi, an area that Israel has designated as a safe zone, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. Credit: AP

There is no safe place. Her nightmares begin at daybreak. She feels history is repeating itself. Her forebears were driven out of a village near Jerusalem. In a way, she said, she is losing that village again.

Her voice is always calm. It is also full of pain. She has lost countless friends. Gaza, she said, has become the place of funerals. More than 66,000, according to Gaza health authorities, who do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

She had a world: an online job with an educational company, an application for a scholarship to study in Britain, her gym, her home. That is gone. All she has now is sand.

She blames Israel above all for killing the innocent; Hamas for bringing disaster on the Palestinian people; and a feckless world that chooses this moment to recognise a Palestinian state when the step is too late and so small compared to the destruction we live.

Mutating rage

At Kibbutz Nir Oz, the demolition of charred and damaged houses began on August 31. Backhoes were used to break down the safe rooms, the hardest to tear down, even if in many cases they proved anything but safe. It was grim work, but perhaps a signal of a new beginning.

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Some houses will be left untouched, at least for now, including the remains of the home of the Bibas family, whose suffering was spread over three generations.

Yarden Bibas and his wife, Shiri, and their two young children, ages five and nine months, were taken by Hamas as hostages. Shiri was killed in captivity and her corpse was returned after 505 days, one day after the bodies of her children. Yarden was released alive after 484 days. Shiris parents, Yossi and Margit Silverman, were burned alive in their Nir Oz home.

Yarden, were glad youre back. Sorry, forgive us, says a message on the ruin that was his home.

Such slaughter revived Holocaust memories, mocked the Never Again embodied in Israels very creation, and so roused the country to a deep rage. The lesson of docile death learned over centuries was that Israel hits back, always. If this fury was disturbing to some, it was also understandable to many, at least for a few weeks, when much of the world rallied to Israels side.

That sympathy, after Gazas obliteration, has generally vanished. Israel is isolated, as was illustrated last month when Netanyahu was left to detail what he considers his wars successes to a nearly empty meeting of the UN General Assembly. Representatives from around the world walked out.

In Israel, anger over October 7 persists, redoubled by what is seen as the Hamas attacks rapid relegation to a small detail of the war, and by the conviction that fervid anti-Zionism around the world has crossed a line into resurgent antisemitism.

After the Holocaust, it was unsavoury to hate Jews, said Oren, the former Israeli ambassador. But that period has ended, and the world has reverted to form.

A memorial at the small Israeli farming community of Kibbutz Nir Oz. Credit: David Guttenfelder/The New York Times

Posters of Shiri Bibas and her sons Ariel and Kfir, who were taken hostage by Hamas and whose bodies were returned in February. Credit: AP

There is also a strong feeling, however, that the way Netanyahu prosecuted the war led Israel to a sustained brutality in Gaza that will haunt the nation for many years. Netanyahu denies the charge that he persisted in the war to remain in power and evade taking responsibility for a disaster, but the charge seems unlikely to abate.

Gorenberg, the Israeli historian, rejected the accusation against Israel of genocide, noting that the term was first used in the very early weeks of the war when Hamas missiles were raining down on Tel Aviv, and so was evidently stained from the start with an unjustifiable animus.

However, he said: There have been horrible, reprehensible war crimes in a war that at some point, I would say early 2024, ceased serving the purpose of defending Israel.

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This long war has transformed young Israelis from the TikTok generation to a cohort forged in a crucible of violence that has known few restraints. How the experience will affect them, and what trauma they will carry is as yet unclear, but it will bear heavily on the direction that Israel takes.

The same may be said of the Palestinians, many killed, displaced, wounded, their national aspirations in tatters despite all the pious words of support from an indignant world.

Enough of blood and tears. Enough, then-Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin declared on the White House lawn 32 years ago, in the time of hope that was the close of the 20th century. But this centurys thirst for blood has so far proved unquenchable.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

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CG gets its first National Highway tunnel





The NHAI team posing for a group picture inside the tunnel.

Staff Reporter

RAIPUR

IN a landmark achievement, the State of Chhattisgarh has entered the national infrastructure map with the completion of its first National Highway tunnel in just 12 months. This engineering marvel is set to transform connectivity, boost trade, and open new avenues for socio-economic growth across the region. The 2.79-kilometre tunnel forms part of the RaipurVisakhapatnam Economic Corridor (NH-130CD), executed by the Abhanpur Project Implementation Unit of NHAI. Once the twin-tube tunnel becomes fully operational, travel time between Raipur and Visakhapatnam will reduce considerably, giving a major boost to trade and industry while enhancing connectivity among Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Expressing delight over the achievement, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai described the tunnel as a historic step towards building a prosperous and self-reliant Chhattisgarh.

He emphasised that the development of road and transport infrastructure forms the backbone of progress, and the tunnel will open new avenues for tourism and socio-economic integration across the state. The Chief Minister extended gratitude to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and the NHAI team for the remarkable accomplishment. He said that in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of a Viksit Bharat, the project will pave the path of growth for generations to come.
Cough syrup deaths: Ensure drug manufacturers comply with revised norms: Govt to States





NEW DELHI :

AMID concerns over the quality of cough syrups, the Union Health Ministry on Sunday underlined the need for all drug manufacturers to comply with the Revised Schedule M and said that strict action will be taken against violators. The Ministry convened a high-level meeting under the chairmanship of Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava with all States and Union territories to review compliance with drug quality norms and promote the rational use of cough syrups, especially in paediatric populations.

The meeting comes in the backdrop of recent reports of child deaths in Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan allegedly linked to contaminated cough syrups. During the meeting, States were advised to ensure rational use of cough syrups, particularly among children, as most coughs are self-limiting and do not require pharmacological treatment, the Ministry said in a statement.

he advisory issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on the rational use of cough syrups in paediatric populations was also discussed, it said. The matter was earlier reviewed by Union Health Minister J P Nadda, who had directed that the issue be discussed with States and Union Territories to ensure necessary actions, it added. In the meeting principal secretary (Health), Rajasthan, informed that the States investigation so far indicates that the four deaths were not linked to the quality of cough syrup. It said the discussions in the meeting centred on three key points -- compliance with Schedule M and other GSR provisions relating to quality standards in drug manufacturing units; rational use of cough syrups in children, including the need to avoid irrational combinations and inappropriate formulations; and strengthening regulation of retail pharmacies to prevent sale and misuse of such formulations. The Metropolitan Surveillance Unit (MSU), Nagpur, established under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), had reported a cluster of cases and related deaths to Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) from a block in Chhindwara district, the statement said.

Taking cognisance of the situation, a central team of experts comprising epidemiologists, microbiologists, entomologists and drug inspectors from the NCDC, National Institute of Virology (NIV) and Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) visited Chhindwara and Nagpur and conducted a detailed analysis of the reported cases and deaths in coordination with the Madhya Pradesh authorities, it said. Various clinical, environmental, entomological and drug samples were collected and sent to NIV Pune, Central Drug Laboratory (CDL) Mumbai, and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) Nagpur for laboratory testing. Preliminary findings ruled out common infectious diseases except for one positive case of leptospirosis, according to the statement. It said 19 samples of medicines which were consumed by children were collected from treating private practitioners and nearby retail stores.

The chemical analysis so far indicates that of the 10 samples analysed till date, nine meet quality standards. However, one of them, cough syrup Coldrif, contains DEG beyond the permissible limit. Subsequently, regulatory action has been taken by Tamil Nadu FDA on the medicine manufacturing unit located in Kancheepuram, it said. Cancellation of the manufacturing licence has been recommended by the CDSCO based on the inspection findings. Criminal proceedings have also been initiated, it added. According to the statement, it was also informed that Risk-Based Inspections (RBI) have been initiated across 19 manufacturing units in six States to identify systemic gaps and strengthen quality assurance mechanisms. States and Union Territories were also advised to ensure enhanced surveillance, timely reporting by all health facilities (both Government and private), wider dissemination of the community reporting tool of IDSP-IHIP, and strengthened interstate coordination for early reporting and joint action in the context of outbreak response and unusual health events, the statement said. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Dr Rajiv Bahl said children should not be prescribed cough syrups or any combination of drugs to prevent any side effects. Dr Bahl also highlighted that the National Joint Outbreak Response Team is already functional, ensuring effective coordination between different central organisations like NCDC and ICMR, etc., which can assist States in need. He also advised States to strengthen coordination between their agencies for a rapid response to any calamity. DGHS Sunita Sharma highlighted the need for rational use of cough syrup for the pediatric population.

She informed that cough medications have minimal proven benefit in children but carry significant risks. She underlined the need for checking all medications to avoid combined overdose and checking concentration of drugs. Guidelines in this regard will also be formulated shortly for parents, pharmacists and doctors and shared with the States, she said. Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) Dr Rajeev Raghuvanshi reiterated the need for drug manufacturing units to strictly comply with the Revised Schedule M for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), according to the statement. He noted that certain firms which applied for the Governments infrastructure upgradation scheme have been given an extension till December 2025 and urged States to strictly implement the revised GMP norms.
Dr Paltewar arrested by EoW in Rs 17 crore Meditrina Hospital scam





Staff Reporter :

The Economic Offences Wing (EoW) of Nagpur City Police has arrested Dr Sameer Narayanrao Paltewar in connection with a Rs 17 crore scam involving fake digital advertisement bills of Meditrina Hospital, Ramdaspeth. The EoW, led by Senior Police Inspector Dhnyaneshwar Bhedodkar, arrested Dr Paltewar around 6 pm from his hospital. However, he complained of chest pain, and the police immediately took him to Mayo Hospital for a check-up. He was undergoing treatment at the hospital till late at night. It may be mentioned here that Additional Sessions Judge A V Dhuldhule rejected the ad interim pre-arrest bail of Dr Paltewar and 13 other accused persons on Friday.

The case was registered based on a complaint by Ganesh Ramchandra Chakkarwar (65), a resident of Shubham Regency, Ramdaspeth. According to police, Chakkarwar and Dr Paltewar, along with other partners, established VRG Health Care Private Limited in December 2006 and launched Meditrina Hospital in 2012. Chakkarwar served as Managing Director until 2017. In 2016, other partners sold their shares to Chakkarwar and Dr Paltewar. The two later planned to build a new hospital on a nearby vacant plot. During this period, the accused allegedly created fake digital advertisement bills worth Rs 16.84 crore and transferred the money through fraudulent means.

Once the scam came to light, Chakkarwar approached the EoW, which investigated the matter and registered the case at Sitabuldi Police Station. This is the fifth case against Dr Paltewar. The first, in 2019, involved an Rs 3 crore fraud. Later, two more cheating cases and a fourth case were registered for locking hospital premises and denying access to other directors and patients. The latest case relates to misappropriation of funds through advertisement bills. Sources from the EoW said the investigation is ongoing to trace the money trail and identify other people involved in the scam.
Fraud case against Shriram City Union Housing Finance Ltd, couple for duping Canara Bank





Staff Reporter :

Hudkeshwar Police have registered a case against a couple and a finance company for fraudulently selling a plot that was already mortgaged to Canara Bank. The case was filed based on a complaint by A Prabhu, Assistant General Manager of Canara Bank. The accused have been identified as Rakesh Prasad Udayraj Shahu, a resident of Avdhoot Nagar, Chikhli Khurd; his wife, Soni Rakesh Prasad Shahu; and Shriram City Union Housing Finance Limited, located at Ram Nagar Chowk. Rakesh and Soni are directors of Shri Sai Agency. According to the complaint, in 2014, the couple had taken a loan from the Wardhaman Nagar branch of Canara Bank.

They applied for an open cash credit of Rs 20 lakh and a term loan of Rs 10 lakh. Rakesh was the applicant, and Soni was the guarantor. To secure the loan, they mortgaged a 1,820-square-foot plot located in Asha Amar Co-operative Society, Avdhoot Nagar, Chikhli. The loan of Rs 30 lakh was sanctioned, and the mortgage was duly registered in the land records in January 2015. However, the loan account later turned into a Non-Performing Asset (NPA) on April 14, 2016.

The bank took possession of the mortgaged property in February 2017 and filed a recovery case before the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT), which is still pending. Shockingly, during an inspection in August 2013, the bank found that the same plot had been sold to a man named Praveen Kotekar by Shriram City Union Housing Finance Limited. The plot documents clearly showed that it was already mortgaged with Canara Bank. Despite this, the finance company, in alleged criminal conspiracy with the Shahu couple, sold the plot without verifying the records. Later, when Canara Bank obtained documents from the Registrars office, it was revealed that forged documents were used in the transaction. This fraudulent sale caused a financial loss of Rs 37.63 lakh to the bank. Based on the complaint, Hudkeshwar Police have registered a case against the accused under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy. Further investigation is underway.
India possesses immense traditional knowledge, yet so much unshared, unpreserved: Dr Vaidya





The recipients of Saptarshis Awards - Dr G Madhavi Latha, Dr Ramesh Patange, Dr Ravi Grover, Prof M M Sharma, Prahlada Ramarao, Prof Indranil Biswas and Dr Anil Golhar - with Dr Atul Vaidya and Dr Vedprakash Mishra.

Staff Reporter :

Seven modern Saptarshis honoured in Nagpur by Hindu Research Foundation on Sunday

India possesses an immense storehouse of traditional knowledge, yet so much of it remains unshared and unpreserved, observed Dr Atul Vaidya, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Lakshminarayan Innovation Technology University and Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University, as he addressed a spellbound audience at the Saptarshi Awards 2025. We must digitise this heritage before it is lost, and we must bring the Gurukul system forward into the modern age without losing its essence. His words set the tone for a ceremony that wove together ancient wisdom and contemporary brilliance, as seven eminent figures were honoured by the Hindu Research Foundation (HRF), Mumbai-Nagpur, at the Kavikulaguru Kalidas Auditorium, Persistent Systems, IT Park.

The Saptarshi Awards, a glittering event that celebrates modern achievers through the symbolic blessings of Indias legendary sages, opened with floral tributes to Swami Vivekananda and the chanting of the Vishva Mangal Prarthana. On stage were convenor Dr T S Bhal and dignitaries including Gagan Mehrotra, Raj Shekharan, Bhagwan Raut, Bipin Patel, and Vrushali Joshi, with Dr Vaidya as chief guest and Dr Vedprakash Mishra, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, presiding over the ceremony. The honours began with Padma Vibhushan Prof M M Sharma, recipient of the Nagarjuna Award. My aim was always to develop people better than myself, he reflected. To receive this award after my students is both a pleasure and a privilege. Life is not possible without the chemical industries, and as a teacher my duty has been not only to nurture people but to keep learning the best of my industry too.

Professor Sharmas words echoed his lifelong commitment to chemistry and education, aligning seamlessly with the pioneering spirit of Nagarjuna, the sage who delved into alchemy and material sciences centuries ago. The Acharya Kanad Award was conferred upon Padma Shri Dr Ravi Grover, who has spent more than five decades in atomic research, beginning his career at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. I am overwhelmed with the affection shown towards me after this award was announced, he said. The greatest lesson I have learnt is that cooperation between seniors and juniors will be the true key to progress in the future.

His acknowledgement of teamwork and intergenerational learning paid tribute to Acharya Kanad, the ancient atomist who laid down the earliest theories of matter. Padma Shri Dr Prahlada Ramarao, honoured with the Acharya Bharadwaj Award, found a profound personal connection in his recognition. Every Maharshi is linked to the recipient, and I myself belong to the lineage of Bharadwaj  a happy coincidence, he remarked. India had Vimanashastra a thousand years ago, yet in recent decades we were importing everything. Dr A P J Abdul Kalam always said we must be self-sufficient. Working with him taught me the importance of ensuring that our own nation provides for its own protection. His reflections, drawing from aerospace research and defence development, carried forward Bharadwajs spirit of innovation in technology.

The Maharshi Valmiki Award went to Padma Shri Ramesh Patange, a stalwart thinker and writer. My whole life has been dedicated to the RSS, he said with candour. Swami Vivekananda gave Indian heritage the push it needed to awaken, and today our nation has taken an impressive and important turn towards rediscovering who we truly are. His words captured the moral and cultural underpinnings of Valmiki, the poet-sage whose Ramayana awakened civilisational consciousness in ancient India. Prof Dr G Madhavi Latha, awarded the Vishwakarma Award, spoke with emotion about her journey. To be part of a project of this stature is itself an honour, she said. Being fearless is a big part of the job. I started from rock bottom and became the first engineer of my village. Her story of determination and courage reflected the essence of Vishwakarma, the divine architect, whose creations shaped worlds. Contd to page 2
KC Overseas Education to conduct Europe Admissions Day on Oct 8





Business Reporter :

Grab a chance to meet the representatives of top ranked European universities in Nagpur by attending Europe Admissions Day being organised by KC Overseas Education for free. Aspirants can attend the event on October 8 at KC Head Office in IT Park, Nagpur from 11 am to 2 pm, or KC Sadar, Nagpur from 3 pm to 5 pm. Students can apply for 2025-26 intakes, for either a Bachelors or Masters degree Programme. Participating universities in KCs Europe Admissions Day include Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), University College Dublin (Ireland), University of Europe for Applied Sciences (Germany/Dubai), Arden University (Germany), EBS University (Germany), IU of Applied Sciences (Germany), Omnes Group (France), Instituto Marangoni (Italy) and Global Education. Most popular courses in the above-mentioned European Institutions are  Computer Science and IT, Data Science, Engineering and Technology, Business and Management, Humanities & Law, etc. Aspirants can have one-on-one discussions with the University representatives for in-depth information and resolving all their queries. For details visit KCs Head Office at Plot No 10/2, IT Park Rd., Parsodi, Gayatri Nagar, Pratap Nagar, Nagpur, or call on 7420873991 for Europe and 9075009464 for Germany. One may also visit KCs Sadar Office on the 2nd Floor, Block No. 112, Shriram Tower, Kingsway, Sadar, Nagpur, or call on 8180082636.
Lifestyle Interior Malloffers attractive scheme





Business Reporter :

Lifestyle Interior Mall, one of the renowned furniture stores, has come with a special offer on complete range of furniture for the festive season. The mall is offering 50 per cent discount on its complete range. Lifestyle Interior Mall, Besa, is catering to the complete furniture needs of the people.

The mall is showcasing exclusive range of furniture required for the home. Exclusive sofa set, designer and comfortable double bed, modular kitchen, living room furniture, pooja room furniture and full range is available in the showroom. It also customises the furniture according to the requirement of the client. To view the complete range of furniture, interested persons may visit Lifestyle Interior Mall, Shop No. 3, 4, in front of Central Bank of India, Besa (Mob. 9271089111, 9271089112). The showroom remains open from 10.30 am to 9 pm, says a press release.
New US plan to end the war Israel, Hamas prepare for indirect talks in Egypt today





TEL AVIV :

ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hopes to announce the release of all hostages from Gaza in the coming days, as Israel and Hamas prepare for indirect talks in Egypt on Monday on a new US plan to end the war. In a brief statement, Netanyahu said he has sent a delegation to Egypt to finalise technical details, adding that our goal is to contain these negotiations to a time frame of a few days. But Netanyahu signalled there would not be a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, something Hamas has long demanded. He said Israels military will continue to hold territories it controls in Gaza, and that Hamas will be disarmed in the plans second phase, diplomatically or through a military path by us.

The Prime Minister spoke after Hamas said it has accepted some elements of the US plan. President Donald Trump welcomed the militant groups statement but on Saturday warned that Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off. Trump also ordered Israel to stop bombing Gaza. Some in Gaza City reported a notable easing of Israeli strikes Saturday. Israels army said leaders instructed it to prepare for the US plans first phase. Israel has moved to a defensive-only position in Gaza and will not actively strike, said an official who was not authorised to speak to the media on the record. Trump appears determined to deliver on pledges to end the war and return all hostages ahead of the second anniversary on Tuesday of the Hamas attack that sparked it on October 7, 2023. His proposal unveiled earlier this week has widespread international support. On Friday, Netanyahus office said Israel was committed to ending the war. Mondays indirect talks are meant to prepare the way for the release of hostages from Gaza and Palestinians from Israeli detention, mediator Egypt said.

Under the plan, Hamas would release the remaining 48 hostages  around 20 of them believed to be alive  within three days. It also would give up power and disarm. In return, Israel would halt its offensive and withdraw from much of Gaza, release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and allow an influx of humanitarian aid and eventual reconstruction. A senior Egyptian official said US envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Egypt to head the US negotiating team. The talks also will discuss maps showing the expected withdrawal of Israeli forces from certain areas in Gaza, said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasnt authorised to brief the media. The official also said Arab mediators are preparing for a comprehensive dialogue among Palestinians aimed at unifying their position toward Gazas future. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Gazas second most powerful militant group, said it accepted Hamas response after rejecting the plan days earlier

Israeli strikes kill 70 in Gaza despite Trumps call to immediately stop bombing

TEL AVIV,

Oct 5 (ANI)

AT LEAST 70 Palestinians were killed in Israeli air strikes on Saturday, including seven children between the ages of two months and eight years old, Al Jazeera reported. The strikes came after United States President Donald Trump urged Israel to immediately stop bombing Gaza after Hamas agreed to Trumps Gaza peace plan. Gaza City, which has been at the heart of Israels military campaign, saw the highest number of casualties. Health officials confirmed that 45 people lost their lives there. The Israeli strikes in recent weeks have affected more than one million Gazans, forcing them to vacate the area and move towards southern Gaza. In the Tuffah neighbourhood, an air strike on a residential house killed 18 people and injured several others. Rescue workers said the blast damaged nearby buildings. Israeli forces also carried out strikes on a displacement camp, al-Mawasi, in southern Gaza, where Israeli troops asked Palestinians to evacuate.

Two children died in that attack, while at least eight others were wounded. Meanwhile, Trump appreciated that Israel temporarily stopped the bombing to allow hostage release but warned Hamas not to delay or all else all bets will be off. I appreciate that Israel has temporarily stopped the bombing in order to give the Hostage release and peace deal a chance to be completed. Hamas must move quickly or else all bets will be off. I will not tolerate delay, which many think will happen, or any outcome where Gaza poses a threat again. Lets get this done, FAST. Everyone will be treated fairly, he said. Later, he posted that Israel had already indicated an initial withdrawal line. When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal, Trump wrote. A White House official confirmed that Trump is sending Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Egypt to work out the details of the hostage release and prisoner exchange.

Egypts Ministry of Foreign Affairs said delegations from Hamas and Israel will also join the talks on Monday, Al Jazeera reported. Hamas has signalled agreement to some parts of Trumps plan, such as Israels pullout from Gaza and the exchange of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners for Israeli captives. However, the group has not clarified whether it will accept disarmament, which remains a central demand in the US proposal.
NIA chargesheets 11 accused in terror attack on police station in Punjab





NEW DELHI :

THE National Investigation Agency (NIA) has chargesheeted 11 accused in connection with the terror attack on a police station in Punjab that was orchestrated by a banned Khalistani outfit, officials said. The arrested accused have been charged on Saturday under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act, and Explosive Substances Act.

The chargesheet was filed before an special NIA court in Mohali, Punjab, an official statement said. Another 11 accused identified in the case are absconding. Foreign-based handlers of the proscribed terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) -- Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, Mannu Agwan and Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi Navasherian -- had publicly claimed responsibility for the attack, which took place on April 6 this year, the statement said.

The rocket propelled grenade (RPG) attack on the Qila Lal Singh police station in Batala district was executed by BKI members, with active support from foreign-based operatives, with the intent to spread terror and promote the agenda of anti-India groups, it said. Investigations by the NIA, which took over the case from the State police in May, revealed that the conspiracy was directed by foreign-based terror operatives, who exploited family ties and other vulnerabilities. They used social media platforms to radicalise and recruit vulnerable youth from Punjab to unleash terrorism against India, the probe agency said. The NIA is continuing to investigate the case in an effort to nab the absconders and any other unidentified conspirators involved in the attack, it added.

NIA chargesheets 4 for attack on ex-Punjab Ministers house

NEW DELHI,

Oct 5 (PTI)

THE National Investigation Agency (NIA) has chargesheeted four people, including Khalistani operatives, for their alleged involvement in carrying out a grenade attack at former Punjab minister Manoranjan Kalias house in Jalandhar, officials said. The chargesheet filed in a Chandigarh court on Saturday named two arrested accused -- Saidul Ameen of Amroha in Uttar Pradesh and Abhijot Jangra of Kurukshetra in Haryana -- and two absconders identified as Kulbir Singh Sidhu of Yamunanagar and Manish alias Kaka Rana of Karnal, both in Haryana, they said. The attack on the premises of the former minister and BJP leader was carried out on the night of April 7, 2025. The NIA took over the probe a few days later, on April 12. Sidhu, an operative of the proscribed terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), along with his associate Manish, formed a terror gang to target prominent leaders of Punjab to create a climate of fear among the people and raise funds for the BKI through extortion, a Statement issued by the NIA said. Manish had subsequently recruited Ameen, who had hurled the grenade at the former ministers house, it said. The grenade was supplied to Ameen by Sidhu, while Jangra provided the funds, the probe agency said. Sidhu had circulated a poster after the attack, claiming responsibility for hatching the conspiracy along with Manish, it said. A red corner notice has been issued against Sidhu, who is also carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his arrest. The NIA had earlier chargesheeted Sidhu in a case related to the targeted killing of Punjab-based VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) leader Vikas Prabhakar in April 2024. The anti-terror agency has intensified its efforts to track and arrest the absconders and identify other members of BKI operating in India, the statement said.
CANBERRA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Scientists have described two new deep-sea species, a lanternshark and a porcelain crab, discovered off the coast of the Australian state of Western Australia (WA).

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Australia's national science agency, said in a statement on Monday that both species were described using specimens collected during a CSIRO-led 2022 voyage on the research vessel Investigator.

The West Australian Lanternshark (Etmopterus westraliensis) was found at depths to 610 meters in the Gascoyne Marine Park area off WA, said Will White, an ichthyologist from the CSIRO Australian National Fish Collection.

The small, bioluminescent shark has large eyes for deep-sea vision and glows from light-emitting organs known as photophores on its belly and flanks, which inspired its name, White said.

The second discovery was a new porcelain crab, Porcellanella brevidentata. The tiny crab, opalescent white-yellow in color, lives in symbiosis with soft corals called sea pens along WA's Ningaloo Coast at depths to 122 meters, said Andrew Hosie, curator of aquatic zoology from the Western Australian Museum.

"Porcelain crabs are known as filter feeders, feeding on plankton by using modified mouthparts with long hairs to sweep the water for small pieces of food such as plankton, rather than the typical crab method of grabbing and pinching food with their claws," Hosie said.

Nearly 20 new species have now been identified with the help of specimens collected on the 2022 voyage, and researchers estimate that there are potentially up to 600 new species still waiting to be described from the voyage, the statement said. 
GAZA/CAIRO, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Hamas has asked Egypt to provide guarantees and oversight mechanisms for a proposed Gaza ceasefire under a U.S.-backed 20-point plan, Palestinian sources said Monday.

The sources said a Hamas delegation led by senior official Khalil al-Hayya met with Egypt's General Intelligence Service and voiced concerns about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's commitment to the agreement.

Al-Hayya, head of Hamas's negotiating team, traveled to Egypt for the first time since surviving an assassination attempt in Doha last month to join indirect talks with Israel.

The discussions follow Hamas's announcement that it would release all Israeli hostages taken since Oct. 7, 2023, under the American plan. Israeli officials say the group still holds 48 hostages, including 20 believed to be alive. But Hamas has not addressed other provisions, notably disarmament, which Israel insists is essential for any truce.

An Egyptian security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Hamas requested guarantees for a full halt to the war and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The official said the Israeli delegation had arrived in Egypt, with U.S. mediators expected on Tuesday or Wednesday. Negotiations are scheduled to last three days.

While U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Hamas's announcement and urged Israel to halt airstrikes to allow access to hostages, Israeli attacks continued.

The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that 21 bodies and 96 wounded were brought to Gaza hospitals in the past 24 hours. It said two Palestinians were killed and at least 19 injured while seeking aid, bringing the toll from such incidents to 2,610 dead and more than 19,000 wounded.

As of Monday, one day before the conflict reaches its two-year mark, Gaza's overall death toll has climbed to 67,160, with at least 169,679 others wounded, according to WAFA. 
An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 5, 2025 shows rescuers working with an excavator at the site of a collapsed school building in Sidoarjo district, East Java, Indonesia. The death toll from the collapse of a building of the Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo Regency, East Java, has risen to 60 after search and rescue teams recovered 11 more bodies on Monday, according to Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) (Photo by Sahlan Kurniawan/Xinhua)

JAKARTA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the collapse of a building of the Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo Regency, East Java, has risen to 60 after search and rescue teams recovered 11 more bodies on Monday, according to Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

The victims were found under the rubble between midnight and 6:15 p.m. local time, BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari said in a press statement. Three people remain missing, according to preliminary estimates based on an attendance list issued by the Islamic boarding school.

In addition to intact bodies, the joint search and rescue team also recovered five body parts. All remains have been taken to Bhayangkara Hospital in Surabaya for identification.

BNPB reported that the number of patients under treatment rose to 104, of whom four have been discharged, 99 remain hospitalized, and one does not require treatment.

Rescue operations are continuing in sectors A1 and A2, where collapsed concrete still covers older structures. Authorities said debris removal is being conducted with caution to avoid further damage to nearby buildings.

The school building collapsed on Sept. 29 with dozens of students trapped inside. 

This photo provided by Indonesia's National Search And Rescue Agency (Basarnas) shows emergency workers transferring a body bag at the site of a collapsed school building in Sidoarjo district, East Java, Indonesia, Oct. 6, 2025. The death toll from the collapse of a building of the Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo Regency, East Java, has risen to 60 after search and rescue teams recovered 11 more bodies on Monday, according to Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) (Basarnas/Handout via Xinhua)

(251006) -- SURABAYA, Oct. 6, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Relatives of victims of a school building collapse accident are seen at Bhayangkara Hospital in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, Oct. 5, 2025. The death toll from the collapse of a building of the Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo Regency, East Java, has risen to 60 after search and rescue teams recovered 11 more bodies on Monday, according to Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) (Photo by Sahlan Kurniawan/Xinhua)
JAKARTA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the collapse of a school building in Indonesia's East Java province has climbed to 53, while search operations for trapped victims remain underway, regional rescue authorities said Monday.

A joint rescue team recovered eight bodies on Sunday evening from under the rubble of the Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school compound in Sidoarjo Regency, according to Nanang Sigit, head of the East Java Search and Rescue Office.

As of the eighth day of the operation, a total of 157 victims have been found, including 104 survivors and 53 fatalities.

The evacuation process is still ongoing, with debris removal now focused on the north side of the site, in areas not connected to the main structure. Heavy machinery and electrical equipment have been deployed to support the search.

The building collapsed on Sept. 29, when hundreds of students were reportedly performing prayers inside, leaving many trapped beneath the debris. 
TEHRAN, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry said late on Sunday that the country has always supported any initiative that guarantees an end to "the ethnic cleansing and inhumane war crimes" in Gaza and paves the way for the Palestinians to exercise their right to self-determination.

The ministry made the remarks in a statement slamming the U.S.-proposed truce plan for Gaza, describing it as having "precarious dimensions and aspects."

It warned of Israel's repeated breach of its promises, especially its "expansionist and racist" plans, highlighting the responsibility of other governments to ensure the Palestinians' right to self-determination and freedom from Israeli occupation.

Iran welcomes any effort to "end the ongoing genocide" against the Palestinians in the coastal enclave and to ensure the withdrawal of the Israeli army, the delivery of humanitarian aid and the reconstruction of Gaza, it added.

On Monday, the Trump administration unveiled a 20-point proposal that outlines a ceasefire-for-hostages deal, a phased Israeli withdrawal, a demilitarized Gaza and international oversight of Gaza's reconstruction and governance after the end of the conflict. 
ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have condemned a terrorist attack by the al-Shabab militant group that targeted a prison facility in the Somali capital of Mogadishu.

In a statement issued late Sunday, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf "strongly condemned the terrorist attack carried out by al-Shabab" on Saturday on the Godka Jilicow prison facility in Mogadishu, which resulted in the loss of lives and left several others wounded.

Somali security forces on Saturday thwarted the al-Shabab attack on the country's high-security prison, killing seven militants, the government said Sunday. The attackers, dressed in military-style uniforms and driving a pickup truck painted with security service insignia, launched the assault around 4:40 p.m. local time. They detonated an explosive-laden vehicle at the gate before attempting to storm the facility on foot.

Expressing condolences to the government and people of Somalia, Youssouf emphasized "the full solidarity and the unfaltering commitment of the African Union to neutralize the pervasive threat posed by terrorism and violent extremism in Somalia, the Horn of Africa region and the entire continent."

He said the role of the AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) remains highly pivotal to the counter-terrorism agenda, by working closely with the Somali security forces in joint operations, for the restoration of peace and stability in the country.

The AUC chief called on all African countries, including troop and police contributing countries, and the broader international community to intensify support to Somalia and the AUSSOM to effectively degrade and eliminate al-Shabab and other terrorist groups in Somalia.

In a separate statement issued Sunday, the East African bloc, IGAD, also condemned the attack. Noting that the "swift and decisive" response of Somali security forces prevented further loss of life by neutralizing the assailants, IGAD commended the "professionalism and courage of Somalia's security personnel whose quick response averted greater tragedy."

It said the attack, coming shortly after significant territorial gains by the Somali National Army in the Lower Shabelle region and the elimination of senior al-Shabab operatives through targeted operations, underscores the group's growing desperation and the effectiveness of ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.

Conveying solidarity with Somalia, IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu said the attack "will not shake Somalia's courage or our region's resolve. IGAD stands firmly with the people and government of Somalia in the fight against terror and in pursuit of lasting peace and stability." 
PARIS, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Sunday announced the first part of his cabinet lineup, nearly a month after his appointment.

Among the key appointments, Bruno Le Maire, who served as economy minister from 2017 to 2024, was named defense minister, while Roland Lescure was named the economy minister, tasked with delivering a tight budget plan for next year.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot kept his post. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin also retained their positions. Culture Minister Rachida Dati remained in office.

The presidency unveiled 18 names in total, including 16 ministers and two ministers delegate. Further appointments are expected later.

Following the announcement, Elysee Palace Secretary-General Emmanuel Moulin said President Emmanuel Macron will convene the first cabinet meeting of the Lecornu government on Monday afternoon. 
SINGAPORE, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- In the bustling kitchen of the Coconut Club, a restaurant famed for its rice cooked in coconut milk with crispy fried chicken, the pace quickens as China's "Golden Week" holiday brings a surge of visitors.

During this week, the restaurant needs to fry about 30 percent more chicken legs than usual, as chefs stacked trays of glistening drumsticks. Rice, dried anchovies, and coconut milk are also ordered in extra quantities for nasi lemak, the coconut rice dish beloved across Malaysia and Singapore.

The surge is predictable: during Chinese New Year, and the "Golden Week," which is the early-October holiday marking China's National Day, lines at the door grow longer, said managing partner Daniel Sia.

One of the Coconut Club's branches that draws tourists sits in the Kampong Glam neighborhood, where old shophouses release mingling aromas -- Cantonese dim sum, Indian roti, and Malay curries.

These streets have long been popular with travelers, and increasingly, with Chinese visitors. Since China and Singapore introduced mutual visa-free travel in February 2024, China has emerged as Singapore's largest source of tourists. In the first eight months of this year alone, Singapore recorded 2.3 million Chinese arrivals.

The rush is particularly visible during the "Golden Week," when hundreds of millions of Chinese travel abroad. In Singapore, from small eateries to luxury malls, businesses prepare in advance.

At Takashimaya, one of the major department stores on Singapore's main shopping street, Orchard Road, additional staff and security are deployed to assist customers and manage queues, while inventories of popular products are increased to meet the heightened demand, said Deputy General Manager Takafumi Kanke.

"The department store is noticeably more crowded across all areas, with longer queues at both checkouts and redemption booths. Transaction volumes are also higher compared to regular days," he said.

This year, tourists who follow Takashimaya Singapore's account on Xiaohongshu, a Chinese lifestyle and shopping app, can redeem a reusable bag.

For restaurateurs like Sia, social media has already transformed the business. Sia remembered that before he even knew the restaurant was on Chinese platforms, some Chinese guests came up to him saying they were "on fire" there. Now, many posts on Xiaohongshu describe it as one of the best places in Singapore to try nasi lemak. To keep up, the restaurant has made sure to have enough Chinese-speaking staff and translated menus on hand.

Others are adapting, too. The Fairprice Group, Singapore's largest retailer, recently provided basic Mandarin training for staff at its Cheers convenience stores. Grab, the dominant ride-hailing and delivery app, has made its Chinese interface more comprehensive, improving menu translations, airport maps, and ways to explore local dining and attractions.

"During the 'Golden Week,' Grab typically sees demand grow for ride-hailing services," a Grab spokesperson said. "We look forward to welcoming visitors from China, as travelers are crucial for local communities and businesses on our platform."

Payment systems are following suit. More than 500 Fairprice Group outlets, including supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies, and food courts, now accept Alipay, one of China's biggest mobile payment platforms. In late September, Cheers launched a new Alipay "mini-app." Fairprice Group CEO Vipul Chawla said the group is excited to kick off this partnership "to redefine retail for Chinese tourists."

On the streets, the influx is easy to spot. Crowds gather beneath the iconic Merlion's spray of water, in front of the rainbow-hued Old Hill Street Police Station, or under the tree tunnel at Fort Canning Park. But many are straying beyond the postcard sights. A couple trekked to a lighthouse on Singapore's western edge, with Malaysia's coastline visible across the water at sunset. Others wandered through the woodlands of Pasir Ris Park on the northeastern shore, gazing across the Pacific in rare quiet.

"We see spillover from icons to micro-itineraries," such as bookshops, Nyonya cooking classes, spice markets, street-art walks, and speakeasy suppers, said Subramania Bhatt, founder of China Trading Desk, a Singapore-based marketing and research firm specializing in Chinese consumers.

Travel writer Yap Seow Choong has noticed the same shift. Increasingly, independent Chinese travelers contact him for excursions to Singapore's southern islands, where at low tide they discover sea anemones, starfish, and clownfish.

"Some are surprised that in such a highly urbanized place, there are still wild, untouched experiences," he said.

Some visitors, in fact, are abandoning itineraries altogether. Lu Yujie, a traveler from China's eastern Zhejiang province, stumbled into an independent bookstore while wandering around Chinatown in Singapore. Drawn by a white signboard, she lingered for an hour on a sofa upstairs. She copied a passage from the book she was reading, posted it on the store's wall like other visitors, and shared the experience on social media.

"The space really invites you to sit down with a book," she said. "I just hope this bookstore will still be here the next time I come."

Back in China, those posts ripple outward. Travelers share their discoveries of quirky shops, secret bars, and niche brands on Xiaohongshu or Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. That content, Bhatt said, in turn feeds small-business demand and repeat travel. 
A tourist tries cliff climbing in Gonglang Town in Nanjian Yi Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Oct. 4, 2025. Tourist destinations across China are witnessing a surge in visitors as the country's eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday began on Wednesday. (Photo by Shi Zhihong/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 5, 2025 shows people visiting a seashore park in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province. Tourist destinations across China are witnessing a surge in visitors as the country's eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday began on Wednesday. (Photo by Wang Jianmin/Xinhua)

Tourists visit the city wall museum of Nanjing in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Oct. 5, 2025. Tourist destinations across China are witnessing a surge in visitors as the country's eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday began on Wednesday. (Photo by Yang Suping/Xinhua)

Tourists visit the Kuimen gateway to the magnificent Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, in Fengjie County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Oct. 5, 2025. Tourist destinations across China are witnessing a surge in visitors as the country's eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday began on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

Tourists visit a glass-bottomed bridge at Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon in central China's Hunan Province, Oct. 5, 2025. Tourist destinations across China are witnessing a surge in visitors as the country's eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday began on Wednesday. (Photo by Wu Yongbing/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Oct. 5, 2025 shows tourist boats sailing on a canal in the ancient town of Zhouzhuang in Kunshan, east China's Jiangsu Province. Tourist destinations across China are witnessing a surge in visitors as the country's eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday began on Wednesday. (Photo by Zhou Shegen/Xinhua)

Tourists visit a scenic spot in Three Gorges on the Yangtze River, in Fengjie County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Oct. 5, 2025. Tourist destinations across China are witnessing a surge in visitors as the country's eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday began on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 4, 2025 shows tourists visiting the Xiangyang ancient town in Xiangyang City, central China's Hubei Province. Tourist destinations across China are witnessing a surge in visitors as the country's eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday began on Wednesday. (Photo by Yang Dong/Xinhua)

An aerial photo taken on Oct. 5, 2025 shows people visiting the Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River in Jixian County, north China's Shanxi Province. Tourist destinations across China are witnessing a surge in visitors as the country's eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday began on Wednesday. (Photo by Lyu Guiming/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 5, 2025 shows tourists attending a water-splashing event at a scenic spot in Jinghong City, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Tourist destinations across China are witnessing a surge in visitors as the country's eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday began on Wednesday. (Photo by Li Yunsheng/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 5, 2025 shows people visiting the Drum Tower pedestrian street in Yinchuan, capital city of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Tourist destinations across China are witnessing a surge in visitors as the country's eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday began on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)

A fork artist performs for tourists at an ancient street scenic spot in Luolong District of Luoyang, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 5, 2025. Tourist destinations across China are witnessing a surge in visitors as the country's eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday began on Wednesday. (Photo by Huang Zhengwei/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 5, 2025 shows tourists rowing boats at Luyang Lake wetland park in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Tourist destinations across China are witnessing a surge in visitors as the country's eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday began on Wednesday. (Photo by Meng Delong/Xinhua)
KABUL, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- At least five commuters, including women and children, were injured, some in critical conditions, due to a head-on collision of two cars in northern Afghanistan's Balkh province, said a news release of the provincial police office on Sunday evening.

Without providing more details, the news release blamed reckless driving for the mishap, calling on the drivers to respect traffic rules and regulations while driving on the congested roads.

A similar accident claimed one life and injured five others in the central Daykundi province a day earlier on Saturday. 
Information Week

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IMPHAL, Oct 5: The Manipur Information Commission observed "Right to Information Week" at the premises of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Imphal today.

Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker Th Satyabrata, State Information Commissioner Koijam Radhashyam and AMWJU president Asem Bhakta attended the event.

Speaking at the event, K Radhashyam said the RTI Week is celebrated every year from October 5 to October 12.

The Right to Information Act, 2005 empowers citizens to access information from public authorities, thereby promoting transparency and accountability, Radhashyam said.

AMWJU president Asem Bhakta also spoke about the RTI Act and urged citizens to use it as a tool to empower themselves and ensure they enjoy their rights.

Advocate Dr Ch Narendra and Agriculture Department's Yasser Ahmed Khan spoke as resource persons during a workshop held as a part of the observance.
A full moon is pictured near Jingshan Park in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 6, 2025. Monday marks this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. People across China admire the full moon to celebrate the traditional holiday. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

A drone photo taken on Oct. 6, 2025 shows a full moon over the sky in north China's Tianjin. Monday marks this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. People across China admire the full moon to celebrate the traditional holiday. (Photo by Du Penghui/Xinhua)

A full moon is pictured near the Palace Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 6, 2025. Monday marks this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. People across China admire the full moon to celebrate the traditional holiday. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

A drone photo taken on Oct. 6, 2025 shows a worker against the backdrop of a full moon in Hengyang, central China's Hunan Province. Monday marks this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. People across China admire the full moon to celebrate the traditional holiday. (Photo by Cao Zhengping/Xinhua)

A full moon is pictured in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Oct. 6, 2025. Monday marks this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. People across China admire the full moon to celebrate the traditional holiday. (Photo by Zhang Yanbo/Xinhua)

A full moon is pictured in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Oct. 6, 2025. Monday marks this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. People across China admire the full moon to celebrate the traditional holiday. (Photo by Meng Delong/Xinhua)

A tourist checks photos of the full moon near the West Lake in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 6, 2025. Monday marks this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. People across China admire the full moon to celebrate the traditional holiday. (Photo by Long Wei/Xinhua)

Tourists watch the full moon at a park in Jiamusi, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Oct. 6, 2025. Monday marks this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. People across China admire the full moon to celebrate the traditional holiday. (Photo by Qu Yubao/Xinhua)

Tourists take photos for the full moon in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 6, 2025. Monday marks this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. People across China admire the full moon to celebrate the traditional holiday. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

A drone photo taken on Oct. 6, 2025 shows a full moon over the sky in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Monday marks this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. People across China admire the full moon to celebrate the traditional holiday. (Photo by Zhang Shu/Xinhua)

A full moon is pictured in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 6, 2025. Monday marks this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. People across China admire the full moon to celebrate the traditional holiday. (Xinhua/Xu Hongyan)

A full moon is pictured in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Oct. 6, 2025. Monday marks this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. People across China admire the full moon to celebrate the traditional holiday. (Photo by Meng Delong/Xinhua)

A full moon is pictured in Cangnan County of Wenzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 6, 2025. Monday marks this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. People across China admire the full moon to celebrate the traditional holiday. (Photo by Su Qiaojiang/Xinhua)

A drone photo taken on Oct. 6, 2025 shows a full moon over the sky in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Monday marks this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. People across China admire the full moon to celebrate the traditional holiday. (Photo by Liu Dapeng/Xinhua)

This aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 6, 2025 shows people viewing the moon on a boat in Eryuan West Lake in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Monday marks this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. People across China admire the full moon to celebrate the traditional holiday. (Photo by Luo Xincai/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Oct. 6, 2025 shows a full moon over the sky in Zhangpu County, southeast China's Fujian Province. Monday marks this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. People across China admire the full moon to celebrate the traditional holiday. (Photo by Lin Duhong/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Oct. 6, 2025 shows a full moon over the sky in Shantou, south China's Guangdong Province. Monday marks this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. People across China admire the full moon to celebrate the traditional holiday. (Photo by Yao Jun/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Oct. 6, 2025 shows a full moon over the sky in Kunshan, east China's Jiangsu Province. Monday marks this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. People across China admire the full moon to celebrate the traditional holiday. (Photo by Wang Xuzhong/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Oct. 6, 2025 shows a full moon over the sky in Kunshan, east China's Jiangsu Province. Monday marks this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. People across China admire the full moon to celebrate the traditional holiday. (Photo by Wang Xuzhong/Xinhua)

A full moon is pictured in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Oct. 6, 2025. Monday marks this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. People across China admire the full moon to celebrate the traditional holiday. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

A full moon is pictured in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Oct. 6, 2025. Monday marks this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. People across China admire the full moon to celebrate the traditional holiday. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)
BEIJING, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government plans to hire 7,000 retired teachers to work in compulsory education schools in the country's rural areas this year, said a statement jointly released by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance.

This recruitment drive is part of an action plan the government launched in 2018 to enhance the quality of rural education by employing retired educators to teach in rural areas.

According to the statement, the drive will be aimed mainly at retired principals, teaching research staff and experienced teachers aged up to 65.

Teaching professionals recruited under the plan will work at county, town and village schools located in places that had been lifted out of poverty, underdeveloped ethnic counties, border regions and other areas that lack sufficient education resources. 
KABUL, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Afghan authorities have initiated construction of 14 new water supply networks in drought-stricken northern Sari Pul province, marking a significant step toward improving clean water access for rural communities, the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development announced Monday.

Valued at 58 million afghani (over 862,000 U.S. dollars), the projects will be built in Sancharak, Kosfandi, and Sozma Qala districts. Once completed, the networks are projected to serve 3,500 families in these areas and surrounding regions, providing safe drinking water while supporting agricultural and household needs, according to the ministry.

Afghanistan continues to face severe water shortages due to years of successive droughts, with residents in major cities having limited access to potable water. 
This file photo taken on Oct. 4, 2025 shows Enock Chihana (C) attending the inauguration ceremony of the newly-elected Malawian President Peter Mutharika in Blantyre, Malawi. Malawian President Peter Mutharika appointed Enock Chihana of the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) party as second vice president on Sunday. (Photo by Joseph Mizere/Xinhua)

LILONGWE, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Malawi's new president, Peter Mutharika, has released a partial lineup of his Cabinet.

Mutharika, who won the Sept. 16 presidential election and took office on Saturday, appointed Enock Chihana of the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) party as second vice president on Sunday. His running mate during the election, Jane Ansah, is the first vice president.

Chihana, whose party formed the Blue Alliance with Mutharika's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the election, becomes the second Malawian to hold the position of second vice president in the history of the country, after the position was held by his father, Chakufwa Chihana, who founded AFORD and served as second vice president from 1994 to 1996 and again from 2003 to 2004, both under President Bakili Muluzi.

The constitution of Malawi gives the president the mandate to appoint a second vice president, but other than Bakili Muluzi and Peter Mutharika, no other president had ever appointed a second vice president.

Mutharika also appointed veteran DPP member George Chaponda as foreign minister, and Joseph Mwanamvekha as minister of finance, economic planning and development.

Both Chaponda and Mwanamvekha had served in the same respective ministerial positions before, during Peter Mutharika's first presidency, from 2014 to 2020.

Former defense deputy commander George Jaffu was appointed as chief of the Malawi Defense Force, while retired secretary for information Justin Saidi was appointed as chief secretary, with Stuart Ligomeka, a former secretary for local government, as his deputy.

The new president also appointed DPP Vice President for the Central Region Alfred Gangata as minister of state, a new ministerial portfolio.

Kiswell Dakamau, who served in a number of different senior positions before, including secretary for education and deputy director for local government, was appointed as director of state residences, another new portfolio.

The Malawian leader also appointed police commissioner Richard Luhanga as police inspector general. 

This file photo taken on Oct. 4, 2025 shows Enock Chihana (C) attending the inauguration ceremony of the newly-elected Malawian President Peter Mutharika in Blantyre, Malawi. Malawian President Peter Mutharika appointed Enock Chihana of the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) party as second vice president on Sunday. (Photo by Joseph Mizere/Xinhua)
COLOMBO, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan police have arrested 76,000 individuals who failed to comply with warrants issued against them between Jan. 1 and the end of September, local media reported on Monday.

Police spokesperson F. U. Wootler was quoted by local media as saying that the arrests were made as part of a nationwide initiative to curb crime and drug trafficking.

He said that during the first nine months of 2025, police conducted searches on more than 5.6 million people across the country to detect illegal drugs and weapons.

Sri Lankan police have seized a total of 1,248 kg of heroin and 1,852 kg of crystal methamphetamine during the past nine months, according to police. 
Mumbais wait for a brand new airport is about to get over as the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. With this, Indias financial capital will join the league of global mega cities like New York, London, Moscow and Tokyo, among several others, that have multiple commercial airports.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport will soon be joined by Noida International Airport, the second major commercial airport in Delhi-NCR, which is set to be inaugurated towards the end of October.

Even as PM Modi is set to inaugurate the airport this week, commercial flight operations are expected from early December, once the security arrangements by CISF and other necessary things are in place.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport has been a long time coming. The idea of a new airport for Mumbai was first conceived in the late 1990s. By 2007, the Union cabinet gave its in-principle approval for a new greenfield airport in Navi Mumbai. Over the next few years, feasibility studies, environmental assessments, and master plans followed.

The bidding took place in 2017, and the project was awarded to Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), owned by GVK. Gautam Adanis Adani Airport Holdings took over MIAL in April 2021, thereby taking control of NMIA.

In July 2022, CIDCO (City and Industrial Development Corporation) handed over 2,866 acres of core land to Adani Airport Holdings. Construction has been happening at a rapid pace over the last two to three years, with validation of systems and infrastructure undertaken over the past year.

On October 11, 2024, an Indian Air Force C-295 aircraft made the first landing at the airport. A couple of months later, Indias largest airline, Indigo, conducted a commercial validation flight landing an Airbus A320 there. In September this year, NMIA received the Aerodrome License from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

When it opens, in the first phase, it will handle 20 million passengers annually and 0.5 million tonnes of cargo, through one terminal and one runway. Eventually, when it is fully completed by 2040, the airport will have four passenger terminals and two runways, with a cumulative capacity of 90 million passengers and around 3.2 million tonnes of cargo.

The inside view of Navi Mumbai International Airport

The airport has been built at a cost of around Rs 19,647 crore, which will rise to around Rs 1 lakh crore, by the time construction of all the phases is complete.

Mumbai has grown leaps and bounds over the last few decades, with the citys population estimated to be around 12.6 million. As the city grew, so did its aviation traffic and demand. However, there were limits to the extent the citys current commercial airport  Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA)  could grow, given that it is in the heart of the city and theres hardly any space to expand.

CSMIA has been among the worlds busiest single-runway airports. It has two terminals and two runways, but the two intersect and therefore only one runway can be operated at a time. The airport has already hit its full capacity of 55 million.

India has been among the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world. Yet, given the capacity constraints at CSMIA, airlines struggled with the limited availability of slots. The new airport addresses those concerns.

The existing Mumbai airport has faced capacity constraints, which benefited other airports. Airlines couldnt obtain the slots they needed for additional flights from the city. The new airport will solve such constraints, Jitendra Bhargava, former executive director at Air India, had told THE WEEK in an earlier interaction.

Leading Indian carriersIndigo, Air India, and Akasahave already announced operational plans from NMIA.

Air India Express, for instance, plans to operate 20 daily departures, or 40 Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) from and to NMIA connecting 15 Indian cities. By mid-2026, Air India Group intends to scale up to 55 daily departures (110 ATMs), including up to five daily international flights from that airport.

Indigo will operate 18 daily departures (36 ATMs) from NMIA, which will be increased to 79 daily departures (158 ATMs), including 14 international departures by November 2025 and further to over 100 departures (200 ATMs) by March 2026. By November 2026, the low-cost carrier intends to have 140 daily departures (280 ATMs), including 30 international departures.

Akasa Air plans to operate over 100 weekly domestic departures initially, scaling up to over 300 domestic and more than 50 international departures weekly in the winter schedule. The airline is also set to ramp up to 10 parking bases by the end of the financial year 2027, with a focused international expansion into key markets in West Asia and South East Asia.

NMIA is located near Panvel in Raigad district, east of South Mumbai and around 35 kilometres from CSMIA. A direct metro rail link between CSMIA and NMIA is being planned, but it is still years away. Till then, it is the existing roads from various parts of the city, including the Atal Setu, that will connect people to NMIA. The to be opened Targhar suburban railway station on the Belapur-Uran line will be the closest rail link, about 5 km away from the airport. A quick 40-minute water taxi service from Radio Club near Gateway of India to the new airport has also been planned.

NMIA will also be convenient for people from Pune, considering the distance will be just about 120 kilometers, shorter than the existing CSMIA, which is about 160 km. Upon opening, the airport is expected to be named after the late leader and social activist D.B. Patil.
India is mulling a comprehensive settlement of Vodafone Idea's massive Rs 2 trillion financial dispute just as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer prepares to visit this week, according to Bloomberg.

Government sources told Bloomberg that deepening UK ties has become particularly important for New Delhi after relations with the US soured following Donald Trump's return to the White House.

With efforts to reset China ties only just beginning, India sees value in prioritising relationships that are already working well.

The proposed deal would waive interest and penalties on Vodafone Idea's dues, then offer concessions on the principal amount.

Unfair advantage

Officials are reportedly drafting this framework while trying to ensure other telecom operators like Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio don't challenge any perceived unfair treatment.

Bloomberg reports that one option under discussion involves seeking revival plans from all operators in exchange for concessions, making sure Vodafone Idea doesn't get an unfair advantage over competitors.

Vi shares drop

The settlement discussions come as Vodafone Idea's shares dropped over 4 per cent on Monday ahead of a crucial Supreme Court hearing.

The telecom company challenged the Department of Telecommunications' demand for an additional Rs 9,450 crore in adjusted gross revenue dues.

This fresh dispute centres on whether the government could raise new AGR claims for periods up to 2016-17, which Vodafone Idea argues were already settled by the Supreme Court's March 2020 judgment.

The company maintained that Rs 5,606 crore of the demand relates to financial years that should be off-limits under that earlier ruling.

The government finds itself in a peculiar positionit became Vodafone Idea's largest shareholder earlier this year after converting Rs 53,000 crore of the company's dues into equity, giving it a 49 per cent stake.

During recent court hearings, the government's own counsel acknowledged that "some solution may be required" given public funds are now tied up in the carrier.

Bloomberg highlighted that the latest hearing and the move to settle could shake up India's telecom sector. Vi hasn't posted a quarterly profit since 2016 and desperately needs fresh investment to compete with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel.
Eli Lilly and Company, the Indianapolis-based drugmaker behind weight-loss drug Mounjaro, diabetes treatments like Trulicity, and cancer therapy Verzenio, is deepening its ties with India.

The company began operations in the country in 1993 as a joint venture with Ranbaxy Laboratories. It now operates in the country with a commercial site in Gurugram and specialised sites in Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

On Monday, Eli Lilly said it would invest $1 billion into India over the next few years. It will set up a new hub in Hyderabad to offer advanced technical capabilities and oversight for Lilly's contract manufacturing network across India.

Lillys India link

Eli Lilly and Co said the move aims to tap into Indias skilled workforce and competitive costs, with job openings for engineers, chemists, quality control specialists and managers expected soon.

Patrik Jonsson, Executive Vice President and President, Lilly International, Eli Lilly and Company, praised Indias contract manufacturing networks. He noted that working with local partners helps scale up production with quality always at the core.

Since 2020, Eli Lilly has invested over $55 billion worldwide in new plants and upgrades to support treatments for diabetes, obesity, Alzheimers, cancer and autoimmune diseases.

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy highlighted the citys growing stature after Eli Lilly opened its Innovation and Technology site there and launched earlier manufacturing collaborations.

"Telangana secured a massive investment of $1 billion by US Pharma major Eli Lilly, which will expand its manufacturing and global medicine supply capacity in Hyderabad," according to an official statement.

The $1 billion infusion is expected to help Eli Lilly meet rising demand for medicines and strengthen its global supply chainall while creating thousands of local jobs.
Actor Mohanlal, who hosts Bigg Boss Malayalam, on Monday warned certain online platforms against leaking content as well as speculating about the episodes in Season 7. This comes after eviction details were leaked on social media pages before it was telecast during the weekend.

In a promo video, Mohanlal slammed social media platforms responsible for the content leak and likened it to spoiling the suspense of a thriller movie by revealing its climax.

There are always some who spoil the thrill by revealing the climax of a suspense thriller. Im referring to a few social media spoilers, the actor said.

Mohanlal pointed out that many viewers are eagerly awaiting Bigg Boss episodes with excitement but some social media pages are publishing details before the official telecast to ruin the viewing experience for genuine audiences.

The viewers complaints are genuine. Ironically, some of the people who have made a livelihood through this show are the very ones acting against it, said the actor. In this age of advanced technology, we know exactly how to identify and control such actions  and we will do it. Lets not lose the thrill of anticipation.

In a press release, Asianet revealed that the Bigg Boss Malayalam team is considering strict measures against those involved in leaking information before the episodes are telecast.

This comes after information regarding the eviction of Oneal Sabu and Gizele Thakral were leaked online before the weekend episodes were telecast on Saturday and Sunday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack on Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai on Monday. Modi dialled the chief justice and condemned the incident.

In a post on X, the prime minister said the attack on CJI has angered every Indian. "Spoke to Chief Justice of India, Justice BR Gavai Ji. The attack on him earlier today in the Supreme Court premises has angered every Indian. There is no place for such reprehensible acts in our society," Modi tweeted.

Spoke to Chief Justice of India, Justice BR Gavai Ji. The attack on him earlier today in the Supreme Court premises has angered every Indian. There is no place for such reprehensible acts in our society. It is utterly condemnable.



I appreciated the calm displayed by Justice  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 6, 2025

Condemning the incident, the prime minister appreciated the CJI for his calm response to the attack. "It is utterly condemnable. I appreciated the calm displayed by Justice Gavai in the face of such a situation. It highlights his commitment to values of justice and strengthening the spirit of our Constitution."

An elderly lawyer, Rakesh Kishore (71), tried to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai in his courtroom in the Supreme Court on Monday. Kishore approached the dais on a raised platform, removed his shoe and tried to throw it towards the judges, PTI reported.

However, alert security personnel present inside the courtroom thwarted Kishore's attempt to attack the CJI, and he was immediately escorted out of the court premises. According to police, Kishore was apparently unhappy with Chief Justice Gavai's observations while hearing a plea about the restoration of a seven-foot-tall dilapidated Lord Vishnu idol in the Khajuraho Temple complex in Madhya Pradesh.

Police also recovered a note which read, "Sanatan dharma ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan" (India will not tolerate insults to Sanatan Dharma), from his possession.

However, an unfazed CJI asked lawyers in the room to continue proceedings. "Don't get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me," CJI Gavai said.

Delhi police questioned Kishore for three hours, and he was allowed to go as court officials did not lodge a formal complaint over the attempted attack. His shoe was also returned.
BJP MP Khagen Murmu was attacked by locals at Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, in a stone-throwing incident.

Murmu was at Nagrakata in Jalpaiguris Dooars region to help with relief and rescue operations following the devestating floods and landslides. The party's delegation was distributing relief supplies to flood victims when some locals pelted stones.

Jalpaiguri, West Bengal: A BJP delegation was attacked in Nagrakata. BJP MLA Khagen Murmu was seriously injured after miscreants pelted stones at their vehicle



(Video source: BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh) pic.twitter.com/Xt0lwjGneQ  IANS (@ians_india) October 6, 2025

The MP suffered from a severe head injury and was rushed to the hospital. The vehicle Murmu travelled in was also damaged.

BJP leader Amit Malviya has accused the TMC of instigating the attack. In a post on X, he wrote, "TMC's jungle raj in Bengal!"

"While Mamata Banerjee was dancing at her Kolkata carnival, the TMC and the state administration were missing. Those who were actually helping people, BJP leaders and workers, are being attacked for carrying out relief work. This is TMC Bengal, where cruelty reigns supreme and mercy is punished," he added in the post.

Murmu is a two-time MP from North Malda and is a respected tribal leader.

Siliguri MLA Dr Shankar Ghosh was also injured in the attack.
The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Centre, the Ladakh administration, and the Jodhpur jail authorities on a plea filed by Gitanjali Angmo, wife of Ladakhi education reformer and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, challenging his preventive detention under the National Security Act (NSA).

The bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria heard senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Angmo, who urged the court to direct authorities to furnish the grounds of detention to the detainees family.

Can the grounds of detention be supplied to us as well? Sibal asked, stressing that the family had not been given access to the detention order or its reasoning, despite repeated requests.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Union government, informed the court that the lawyer and brother of the detainee had already met Wangchuk in jail.

Sibal, however, countered, We are only allowed to speak on the intercom. Grounds have to be supplied as per the judgments of this court.

Agreeing with the contention, the bench directed the authorities to supply the grounds of detention to Wangchuk. Yes, then supply, the bench observed.

Sibal insisted that the family, too, must be furnished with the grounds, saying, As per law, the grounds of detention have to be supplied. Please see the section, let it be served to the wife.

At this point, Justice Kumar asked the Solicitor General, Why withhold it from his wife?

Mehta responded that while the law required service on the detainee, the authorities had already complied with that. We will examine it, he said, adding, There are no issues as such, but we dont want them to create a new ground to challenge the detention order.

To this, Justice Kumar remarked, Mr SG, please dont be skeptical. The bench then recorded, The Solicitor General to examine the feasibility of serving the detention order on the wife of Mr Wangchuk. It has already been supplied to the detainee.

Sibal pressed further, saying, How do I challenge the order without knowing the grounds?

Justice Kumar noted, Mr Sibal submits that non-supply of grounds of detention to his wife will not be a ground to challenge the detention order. We have recorded it.

Sibal, however, objected: Please do not record it unless we are supplied with it immediately.

The Solicitor General dismissed reports suggesting Wangchuk was being denied medical care. He has made a statement before the medical officer that he is not on any medication. This is all hype, just to portray in the media that he is deprived of medicines and access to his wife, just to create an emotive atmosphere, Mehta submitted.

Responding to this, the court observed: It is stated that the detainee shall be given medical attention as may be required and the same shall be allowed as per extant prison rules.

During the hearing, Justice Kumar inquired when the last request for a meeting with Wangchuk was made. Sibal replied, Last Friday she did. The bench then said, Just go by prison rules.

The case will be heard next week on October 14.

The petition by Angmo challenges the invocation of the NSA, arguing that Wangchuks detention was illegal, arbitrary, and intended to silence peaceful dissent in Ladakh. It states that neither Wangchuk nor his family had been given the detention order or grounds, violating constitutional safeguards under Article 22 and provisions of the NSA.

The plea highlights that Wangchuks activism has always been non-violent, focused on sustainable development and constitutional protection for Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule.

The 57-year-old reformer, currently lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail, was detained late last month amid ongoing protests demanding Ladakhs statehood and protection of its fragile ecology.
The Lingayat community in Karnataka has renewed their demand for a separate religious status and adopted a resolution in this regard at an event in Bengaluru.

The fresh demand came nearly seven years after the Centre rejected a proposal by the then Congress-led government in the state and maintained that the community is part of Hinduism.

At the valedictory function of 'Basava Culture Campaign-2025' organised by "Lingayat Matadeeshara Okkoota" on Sunday, the community leaders also called for raising awareness about religious recognition for Lingayats.

"All Lingayats are Indians first. Lingayat religion is the religion of Kannada. Country comes before religion. Always strive for the unity of the country with national consciousness," said one of the resolutions adopted at the function.

It noted that Lingayat is the greatest religion founded by Mahatma Basaveshwara and other Sharanas in the 12th century.

"Geographically, we are all Hindus. Continue to raise awareness for religious recognition so that Lingayats get government benefits and reservation facilities like Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs, the resolution said.

The event was attended by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and ministers M.B. Patil, Sharan Prakash Patil and Laxmi Hebbalkar.

A Grand Valedictory of the Basava Samskruthi Abhiyaana



The Basava Samskruthi Abhiyaana, jointly organized by the Federation of Lingayat Mathadhipathis and various Basava-oriented organizations, concluded today with great fervor and devotion. Launched on September 1, the pic.twitter.com/i5yEUmK53p  M B Patil (@MBPatil) October 5, 2025

The resolution further called for embracing the small, backward sub-castes among the Lingayats, striving for their progress, abandoning all the differences between sub-castes, and developing marital relations between the sub-castes.

It may be noted that it 2018, months before the assembly elections, the then Siddaramaiah government accepted the suggestions of the Nagamohan Das committee to recognise Lingayats as a separate religion and forwarded its recommendations to the Centre.

The state governments move, however, resulted in the electoral losses of the Congress party with most of its leaders, who were actively involved in the 'separate Lingayat religion' movement, suffering defeat.

The Centre later rejected the state governments proposal, which had also resulted in a political face-off between the Congress and the BJP. The saffron party had accused Siddaramaiah of trying to divide the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community for electoral gains ahead of the assembly elections.

The Lingayat-Veerashaiva community, which constitutes 17 per cent of the states population, traditionally supports the BJP and has stood by its tallest leader and BJP veteran B.S. Yeddyurappa.

The community is also divided over its demand for religious status. While one section led by Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha had demanded separate religion status, asserting that Veerashaiva and Lingayats are the same, the other group wanted it only for Lingayats as they believe that Veerashaiva is one among the seven sects of Shaivas, which is part of Hinduism.
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan visited Karur on Monday and met victims injured in the tragic stampede in the city recently. Haasan was accompanied by former minister V. Senthil Balaji during the visit. He said steps must be taken to prevent such incidents in future.

The Rajya Sabha MP and Makkal Needhi Maiam leader visited Velusamypuram, the place where Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) conducted the rally. Haasan inquired with the police about the incident and met injured victims undergoing treatment at hospitals in the city.

Haasan said the state police must be thanked instead of being questioned for containing casualties in the tragic incident. The actor-politician also said speculations questioning swift relief measures by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its leader V. Senthil Balaji must be dismissed.

The actor-politician reached Coimbatore and travelled by road to Karur. Haasan said everyone is aware of what happened and nobody should pick sides. He added that everyone should stand by people.

As many as 41 people died during TVK leader Vijay's rally in Karur on September 27. Over 50 people suffered injuries in the incident. The Tamil Nadu government has formed a one-member judicial commission to probe the tragic incident.

Recently, the Madras High Court came down heavily on actor Vijay and other leaders of the party over the incident. The High Court ordered a probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) over the tragic incident. The SIT led by IG Asra Garg visited Karur on Sunday and began its probe.
A member of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has reportedly moved the Madras High Court demanding action against the Karur district administration and senior officials, blaming them for the tragic stampede in Karur. The petitioner accused the government officials of 'dereliction of duty'.

G. Kartheeban, a lawyer and reportedly a member of TVK, has sought action against high-ranking officials in Karur, including the district collector, Superintendent of Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police and police inspector, over the tragic incident on September 27. The petitioner accused the officials of dereliction of duty and blamed them for the tragedy. The petitioner argued in his plea that the tragedy could have been averted had the officials performed their duty.

The officers, who were legally and statutorily bound to ensure proper crowd management, public safety, and preventive measures, failed in discharging their official duties, Live Law reported, quoting the plea.

The petitioner demanded disciplinary action against the officials and claimed the officials will escape accountability if action isn't initiated against them.

The fresh plea come amidst the ongoing probe by the High Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) over the incident. As many as 41 people died in the tragic stampede during actor and TVK leader Vijay's campaign rally in Karur.

Recently, while hearing pleas related to the Karur stampede, the High Court came down heavily on actor Vijay and the party, and observed they lacked remorse. The Court also questioned the state government for not initiating action against Vijay over road accidents en route Vijay's rally.
PHNOM PENH, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's insurance industry registered a gross premium of 275.3 million U.S. dollars in the first eight months of 2025, up 13 percent from 243.5 million dollars over the same period last year, an Insurance Regulator of Cambodia (IRC) report showed on Monday.

The growth was generated from 18 general insurers, 14 life insurers, seven micro-insurance companies, and one reinsurance firm, the report said.

The total amount of claims incurred was 65.9 million dollars during the January-August period this year, up 27.4 percent from 51.7 million dollars over the same period last year.

The Southeast Asian nation's insurance sector currently has more than 1 billion dollars in total assets.

IRC's director general, Bou Chanphirou, said the insurance industry has been playing a vital role in supporting the social security system and proactively contributing to the national economy.

He said the kingdom's insurance penetration was 1.17 percent of gross domestic product in 2024, as the insurance density was 22 dollars per person. 
The allegations of gold theft in the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple have snowballed into a high-voltage political row in Kerala, with Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly V.D. Satheesan on Monday demanding a CBI probe in the case.

He said more than 5kg of gold was missing from the hill shrine and accused the government and the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) of concealing the matter.

#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala | Congress MLA and Kerala Assembly LoP VD Satheesan says, "This is a very serious matter... UB Group and Vijay Mallaya donated more than 30 kg of gold to the Sabarimala Temple for plating various things. Unfortunately, through some middlemen, https://t.co/n1m5gmTicq pic.twitter.com/Tz6MEY23x6  ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2025

"This is a very serious matter. UB Group and Vijay Mallaya donated more than 30 kg of gold to the Sabarimala Temple for plating various things. Unfortunately, through some middlemen, more than 5kg of that gold was robbed," the Congress leader told reporters.

Protest in assembly

Proceedings in the Kerala Assembly were disrupted on Monday with the Congress-led UDF staging a protest, demanding the resignation of Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan.

When their demand for a discussion on the issue was denied by Speaker A.N. Shamseer, the opposition members stormed the well of the House, raising slogans against the government.

VIDEO | Kerala: Opposition parties protest in assembly demanding resignation of Devaswom minister Vasavan over 'gold missing' from Sabarimala; Speaker adjourns session.



(Source: Third Party)



(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/g2HMxHkZva  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 6, 2025

They raised a banner in front of the Speaker's podium, which read "those who have stolen gold of Lord Ayyappa are ambalam vizhungikal (temple thieves)."

HC forms SIT

Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court on Monday constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe alleged irregularities related to the reduced weight of gold-clad copper plates of the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols at Sabarimala.

The SIT will be led by Superintendent of Police S. Sasidharan, and its functioning will be supervised by Crime Branch head, Additional Director General of Police H. Venketesh.

The courts directive came after the TDB Vigilance team submitted an interim report on its preliminary investigation into the matter.

The controversy erupted after it was found that the weight of gold-clad Dwarapalakas had been reduced after they were sent to a Chennai-based firm for electroplating.

Unnikrishnan Potty, a Bengaluru-based businessman who had sponsored the electroplating, is now under the radar and is being interrogated by the TDB Vigilance.

There were also allegations of a decrease in the gold at Sabarimala since 1998, when industrialist Vijay Mallya sponsored the plating of the sanctum sanctorum.

Last week, the high court had ordered a comprehensive inventory of all valuables, including gold, at the Sabarimala temple under the supervision of retired Justice K.T. Sankaran.
A lawmaker from Telangana has sparked outrage after he recently made a controversial remark on 'love jihad, a term coined by the right-wing groups to target the affair between a Muslim man and a Hindu woman.

In a video which has been doing the rounds on social media, T. Raja Singh, the MLA from Hyderabad's Goshamahal, could be seen urging parents to poison their girls if they become victims of love jihad and refuse to re-convert.

Singh, who has a penchant for making controversial comments, made this remark during a Dussehra celebration event in Madhya Pradesh.

According to reports, Singh also allegedly made a defamatory remark against Prophet Mohammad in the same event. A case has been registered against him under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and the IT Act, after a complaint was lodged at Shalibanda Police Station on Saturday.

Another case has been registered against Goshamahal MLA T. Raja Singh in connection with his alleged hate speech in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Authorities have booked him under the IT Act along with multiple sections of the BNS at Shah Ali Banda Police Station. This comes amid pic.twitter.com/7g7IVxRm5X  Deccan Daily (@DailyDeccan) October 5, 2025

According to an NDTV report, the Dussehra event was filled with 'Jai Shri Ram' chants and over 1,100 young people were 'initiated' into the right-wing group, Hindu Yuva Vahini, and presented with symbolic swords.

Singh, known for his strong Hindutva views, had been arrested in 2022 over his alleged remarks against Islam and Prophet Mohammed. He was later granted bail.

Last year, he urged the Christian community to unite with the Hindus to resist the love jihad.

Singh, a former BJP leader, resigned from the primary membership of the party in June this year after the high command chose former MLC N. Ramchander Rao as the Telangana party president.
A Supreme Court lawyer was held on Monday after he tried to throw a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai.

Identified by the Delhi Police as Rakesh Kishore (71), he was quickly stopped by Gavai's Z-plus security team and handed over to the Supreme Court's security unit, as per an Indian Express report.

"Don't get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me," CJI Gavai said, calmly urging that the proceedings continue, as per a Bar and Bench report.

He (Kishore) is a resident of the Mayur Vihar area and a registered member of the Supreme Court Bar Association, a senior police officer said.

VIDEO | Delhi: On the alleged attack on the CJI in the Supreme Court, Senior Advocate Indira Jaisingh says, I am not an eyewitness to the incident; what I know, I know from reading what the press has published. It calls for investigation. I consider it to be an attack on the pic.twitter.com/tyMmdT38kD  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 6, 2025

"I consider it to be an attack on the institution as a whole, not just CJI," Senior Advocate Indira Jaisingh said about the incident, adding that it required a "legal response" from the Supreme Court.

"Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge (Insulting the Sanatan Dharma won't be tolerated)", a furious Kishore was heard saying, as he was led away by security personnel.

In that regard, an initial investigation has pointed out that the CJI's remarks during a recent plea hearing about the restoration of a seven-foot-tall dilapidated Lord Vishnu idol in the Khajuraho Temple complex in Madhya Pradesh might have been a reason for Kishore's shoe-throwing attempt.

Go and ask the deity itself to do something now. You say you are a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. So go and pray now. Its an archaeological site and ASI needs to give permission," he reportedly said at the time, while dismissing the case.

This led to a wave of social media backlash over hurt religious sentiments.

"I respect all religions," the CJI said in open court two days later, pointing out that he meant no disrespect, and that social media had blown the issue out of proportion.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Central government, said that nowadays, "every action has disproportionate social media reaction", echoing CJI Gavai's statements.
After months of debate over the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, the Election Commission has fired the starting gun. The assembly polls are being held after the festive season, Diwali and Chhath puja. The elections will be held in two phases: November 6 and 11, and the results will be declared on November 14.

This round of assembly polls hold significance as these are billed as the last electoral battle of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has defined Bihars politics for two decades.

For years, Nitish has built his reputation on good governance, pitching it as answer to jungle raj of the Lalu Prasad era. But that did not stop him from changing sides when it appealed to him. Now, with the 2025 assembly election schedule announced, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is pitching him as the CM candidate; these polls will be a referendum on his tenure. The Bharatiya Janata Party has thrown its weight behind him again, as they are aware of his importance. Other three allies, Chirag Paswan, Jitan Ram Manjhi and Upendra Kushwaha, too, have supported his candidature after voicing doubts on earlier occasions.

On the ground, the political theatre has been underway for months. Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, buoyed by his 2020 near-miss, has carried his party across districts with the message of jobs for youth. His campaign was aided by Congress 'vote theft' charges. Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, carried out a statewide yatra as the Oppositions main attack on the Election Commission and the BJP.

And then there is Prashant Kishor, the third, most unpredictable figure. Once the backroom strategist who helped craft campaigns for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nitish Kumar, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, he has now stepped out front with his Jan Suraaj party. His critics argue that he has no caste base, no electoral arithmetic, but given his skills as an election strategist, he has been able to build a campaign around his election debut.

Kishor, in the recent weeks, targeted the ruling alliance leaders, pitching himself as Nitish Kumars main opponent. Will he end by dividing the Opposition votes and dent Mahagathbandhan's (grand alliance) chances or win enough seats to emerge as a kingmaker, he will be keenly watched.

For Nitish Kumar, who has built his reputation on work done in the last two decades, he will lead the NDA campaign alongside the BJP, banking on welfare schemes, infrastructure projects, and the promise of continuity. During the past few months, he, along with the Centre, has been on an overdrive to launch new schemes, and increase cash incentives for various segments of the society, fearing anti-incumbency could dent his chances.

But his pitch collides with two forces: Tejashwis charge to lead the state, and Prashant Kishors election management. Tejashwis appeal is rooted in Mandal politics comprising Yadavs and Muslims, but his language is aspirational: jobs, migration, and healthcare.

What gives the 2025 Bihar contest its particular texture is the sense of generational change. At 74, many feel that Nitish Kumar is contesting to become chief minister for the last one time, given concerns regarding his health. Moreover, if his party scores less than a respectable number of seats, his claim for the seat will dwindle further even, if NDA gets the majority. Many cite the Maharashtra example  when incumbent Chhief Minister Eknath Shinde, Shiv Sena leader, was the face during the polls, but after polls, BJP installed its own CM.
Diplomatic efforts to end the Gaza war have entered a crucial phase, with indirect negotiations starting on Monday in Egypt, on the basis of the 20-point peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump.

The plan calls for an end to the hostilities, the release of the remaining 48 Israeli hostagesaround 20 of whom are believed to be alivein exchange for Palestinian prisoners, the disarmament of Hamas, and the eventual establishment of a technocratic Palestinian authority to govern Gaza.

Trump steps up pressure on Israel and Hamas

Trumps involvement has been anything but passive. In recent days, he has exerted considerable pressure on both Israeli and Palestinian sides, urging negotiators to move fast or face what he described as massive bloodshed.

Yesterday, he described the process so far as "very successful", pushing for the first phase to be completed within the week.

His approach has included direct confrontation. Following Hamas response to the peace proposalwhich, while cautiously welcomed, did not resolve all key issuesPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly dismissed it as meaningless.

In a tense exchange, Trump allegedly told Netanyahu he was "always so fu***ng negative", according to Axios. He has also called on Israel to immediately stop the bombing, signalling a more assertive US posture in restraining Israeli military operations during negotiations.

Trump has been extremely hard on Hamas as well, warning that a refusal to disarm and give up power would result in its total obliteration.

The Egypt negotiations

By last evening, preparations were finalised for indirect negotiations in Egypt, set to begin this morning at the resort town of Sharm El Sheikh. A senior Hamas delegation, led by Khalil Al Hayya, arrived last night, while an Israeli delegation under Ron Dermer is arriving today.

US negotiators, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, have also been dispatched to support the talks.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed cautious optimism, stating that Israel was the closest to a hostage deal since January. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed the sentiment, saying this was the closest they had come to getting all of the hostages released.

The immediate priority of the negotiations is the release of hostages in exchange for a phased Israeli withdrawal from certain areas of Gaza. Rubio emphasised that a temporary ceasefire is essential to allow logistical preparations, including Red Cross access to hostages.

Gaza's humanitarian crisis continues

Despite calls for a halt in fighting, Israeli military operations continued over the weekend. Airstrikes and tank fire hit several areas across Gaza, including Gaza City and Rafah.

At least 24 Palestinians were killed yesterday, including four individuals near an aid distribution centre: an incident the Israeli military has denied responsibility for.

The humanitarian crisis remains severe. Explosions rocked the territory throughout Sunday, with displaced families queueing for food at community kitchens in Khan Younis and seeking shelter in overcrowded tent camps in Nuseirat.

According to Gazas Health Ministry, the war has now claimed 67,139 Palestinian lives, with nearly 170,000 injured.

Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip take part in a protest (in Jerusalem) demanding their release from Hamas captivity and calling for an end to the war | AP

While Hamas has expressed willingness to release the hostages, the prospect of long-term peace is still bleak.

Underlying tensions

Israel is unlikely to compromise on its demand that Hamas must be removed from power and disarmed. Hamas, for its part, has shown limited openness to a transitional governance model involving a technocratic Palestinian committee, and has so far resisted full disarmament or withdrawal from future influence.

Rubio acknowledged the depth of the challenge, saying that resolving the governance question cannot be done in a matter of days. The transition, if it occurs, will likely involve complex political manoeuvring and external guarantees.

Domestic Israeli politics further complicate matters. Hard-line ministers in Netanyahus coalition have threatened to bring down the government if Hamas is not completely destroyed.

Defence Minister Israel Katz has stated that Israel will maintain control over parts of Gaza necessary for its security, even after any ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Hamas public statements continue to omit any commitment to disarmament, keeping core issues unresolved.
With US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) justices scheduled to return to the bench on Monday after a summer recess period, there are a number of pressing cases awaiting judgementsome of which involve President Donald Trump.

This follows the Trump administration's record number of emergency appeals in the apex court, just eight months into his second term.

Some issues he has filed emergency appeals over include birthright citizenship, ICE deportations, federal layoffs (amid the government shutdown), and restrictions on certain federal funds like foreign aid.

Here is a look at five of the many cases lying before the apex courtof which two are set to be decided by the Supreme Court in the coming months.

'Conversion therapy' ban

The Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear a challenge to a Colorado law that bans "conversion therapy" for people under the age of 18 (practices that attempt to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity).

The case was brought forth by Kaley Chiles, a talk therapy counsellor, in 2022, who argued that the ban was a violation of her First Amendment rights. Colorado officials argued that the law was necessary to regulate professional healthcare treatment.

Race and congressional map boundaries

On October 15, the apex court willfor the second timemake a ruling on the Louisiana congressional map drawn after the 2020 Census.

The outcome of this case is expected to set a precedent for future cases where race becomes a bias point in redrawing congressional maps.

Trump tariffs

Earlier this year, Trump imposed baseline tariffs on nearly every US trading partner, in order to address a trade deficit that he claimed was a "national emergency" under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

He then imposed product-specific levies on Canada, Mexico, and China, in addition to punitive tariffs of 25 per cent on countries like India that purchase Russian energy.

These tariffs, which were challenged by various businesses and 12 US states, as well as a lower court that declared that Trump had overreached his powers, will be heard in the Supreme Court on November 5.

Campaign finance limits and the First Amendment

The latest campaign finance dispute will yet again consider the constitutionality of campaign finance laws, whichamong other thingsplace limits on "coordinated" political party spending.

In the past rulings of the issue, limiting campaign spending has often been presented as a violation of the First Amendment, which has allowed more money to be used for political spending.

Trump's power to fire executive officers

Since the beginning of Trump's second term in office, he has removed a number of Democrat-appointed federal officers without proper cause, despite federal law safeguards.

The Supreme Court will now decide whether for-cause removal protections violate the separation of powers, in connection with specific cases involving officials from the Federal Reserve and the Federal Trade Commission.
The US police have released chilling details of the shooting death of a 51-year-old Indian origin man in the city of Pittsburgh, on Saturday. Rakesh Ehagaban, a motel owner in the city of Robinson, was shot in the head by a 37-year-old American man while he tried to intervene in a dispute that occurred outside his motel last Friday.

The accused has been identified as Stanley Eugene West, 37, who was staying in the motel with his female companion and a child for about two weeks, according to the Tribune-Review.

The Robinson Police said the woman was attempting to drive away from the motel on Friday when the shootings began. The black sedan she drove was moving toward the exit when West approached the drivers side door and shot at the sedan, shattering the drivers door window. That incident is what drew Ehagaban outside where he was shot, according to police.

The Indian man approached West, who was holding the gun, and asked: Are you alright, bud? West continued to walk toward Ehagaban. As (West) gets within feet of Ehagaban, he raised his firearm and shot him in the head, the police report stated, adding that Ehagaban died at the scene. Police recovered a 9mm Blazer Luger from the sidewalk near Ehagabans body.

The shooter then walked towards the U-Haul moving van parked in the lot and drove away.

Meanwhile, the woman who suffered a bullet injury in her neck drove the vehicle, with the child inside, to a nearby auto service centre. A child  who had been sitting in the rear of the car when the woman was shot  was not injured. She is said to be in critical condition.

West, who drove off in the U-Haul, was tracked an hour later. But when police approached the vehicle, he got out of the van and started shooting. The detectives returned fire, and an officer was injured in the exchange of gunfire. The accused also sustained a bullet injury in the incident.
South Africa is now at the centre of a brewing controversy after a Russian cargo aircraft that was blacklisted by the United States landed in Johannesburg with a heavy load on Thursday. The aircraft offloaded its general cargo, civilian helicopters, and acrobatic aeroplanes in the country according to Johannesburgs report.

The Ilyushin IL-76 cargo plane flew via Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to Upington in South Africas Northern Cape province before refuelling at the Lanseria Airport outside Johannesburg and departing the country. Flight tracking revealed that the aircraft had an extended stay in Iran before it headed for South Africa.

The aircraft belongs to Moscow-based Abakan Air and was blacklisted by the US Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control in June 2024 for transporting Russian military equipment and supporting Russias defence industrial base during its war against Ukraine. It was part of a larger round of sanctions against Russia.

Many international relations experts in the country raised eyebrows at the government's decision to permit the planes landing, as it could strain the countrys already prickly relationship with the US.

According to South Africas Department of Transport, the Akaban Air had applied for and received a foreign operator permit on September 23 after applying for it on September 9, a report by Bloomberg said. Collen Msibi, a spokesperson for Transport, said that the aircrafts purpose was to transport general cargo, civilian helicopters, and acrobatic airplanes.

It must also be noted that the South African government has not blacklisted the operator. Furthermore, we have no knowledge or receipt of any information from any other government that this operator has been blacklisted, he said.

When they were asked if the incident was reported to the Department of International Relations & Cooperation (DIRCO), a spokesperson refused to comment.

Dr Noluthando Phungula, an international relations expert, said that the incident would anger US President Donald Trump, adding that it would most likely take a similar route as the 'Lady R incident'.

In 2022, a diplomatic controversy occurred after a US-sanctioned Russian cargo vessel, Lady R, docked at the South African Naval base. The country was accused of supplying weapons to Russia. However, investigations revealed that no weapons were ever loaded into the Lady R en route to Russia.

Phungula said the timing could work against the countrys attempts to renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which expired in September 2025. The AGOA provides the country with preferential access to the American market. Pretoria and Washington have also been in negotiations to remove the 30% punitive tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

He said that the incident also inadvertently challenges Western dominance and calls for a reformation of international power structures. This is certainly an uncomfortable reality for the Trump administration.

the US has previously criticized the countrys foreign policy, especially its closeness to Russia, China, and Iran. South Africa has remained neutral on the Russia-Ukraine war and critical of Israel's attack on Gaza.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned on Monday, just a day after naming his government and less than a month in office. President Emmanuel Macron has accepted the resignation, the Elysee Palace announced.

In a press statement made at the Hotel Matignon in Paris, Lecornu said, "You can't be Prime Minister when the conditions aren't met."

He denounced the partisan appetites of the factions that forced his resignation. "The very principle of building a compromise between political parties is to be able to combine green lines and take into account a certain number of red lines," he declared. "But we cannot be at both extremes, and certain opposition political parties have understood this," he added.

Lecornu was appointed Prime Minister just 27 days ago.

Just mere hours before his resignation, he named the key members of his cabinet. He faced furious criticism from opposition parties and some of Macron's minority coalition partners after he announced a government full of ministers who were holdovers from the last government and had already served in high-level posts.

The unchanged government, which resembled predecessor Francois Bayrous cabinet, was dominated once again by Macrons allies.

Parties from both the left and far-right were to hold meetings on Monday to decide whether or not to oust Lecornu in a no-confidence vote. Lecornu decided to leave before that happened since the government seemed like it was already on the verge of collapse.

The far-right National Rally party has urged Macron to immediately call snap parliamentary elections. Jordan Bardella, the president of Marine Le Pens NR party, said, There cannot be a return to stability without a return to the ballot box and the national assembly being dissolved.

Marine Le Pen called for Macron to dissolve the assembly, saying "the only wise decision in these circumstances... is to return to the polls and for the French to give direction to the country. " She also added that it would be wise for President Macron to resign.

The left parties have called for Macrons resignation. Mathilde Panot, of the hard left La France Insoumise, said in a post on X, "Lecornu resigns. 3 Prime Ministers defeated in less than a year. The countdown has begun. Macron must go."

Apres la demission de Sebastien Lecornu, nous demandons lexamen immediat de la motion deposee par 104 deputes pour la destitution dEmmanuel Macron.  Jean-Luc Melenchon (@JLMelenchon) October 6, 2025

He is the third French prime minister in a year that was filled with political crisis for the country.

He is also the seventh PM across Macrons term. The French President, who is a centrist, had earlier faced criticism when he opted to pick one of his closest allies as PM, rather than broaden the government's appeal across the political spectrum.

Lecornu demissionne.



3 Premiers ministres defaits en moins dun an.



Le compte a rebours est lance.



Macron doit partir.  Mathilde Panot (@MathildePanot) October 6, 2025

When Lecornu, a former defence minister, was appointed, he was immediately faced with the task of uniting the deeply fractured parliament to pass a budget to rein in the countrys budget deficit.

His predecessors, Bayrou and Michel Barnier, were both ousted over the spending plan.

Lecornu is now the shortest-serving prime minister in the countrys history. The record was previously held by Barnier, who was appointed by the same Macron in 2024. He lasted three months.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) tried to mock former president Barack Obama at the 250th anniversary celebrations of the US Navy in Virginia, but was met with a tough crowdliterally.

Trump tries to goad the Navy into booing "Barack Hussein Obama" but is met mostly with silence pic.twitter.com/RONmjQglzB  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 5, 2025

This comes amid a government shutdown from October 1 that has furloughed thousands of federal workers and forced several military personnel to work without pay. "Dont worry about it. Dont worry about it. Dont worry about it. Do not worry about it, its all coming, Trump said about what he called a "Democrat-induced shutdown".

ALSO READ | US government shutdown: Can 'billions of dollars' be saved? What you need to know about Donald Trump's claim

In a viral video of the incident, Trump is seen speaking about former White House doctor Ronny Jackson's past patients, referring to Obama as "Barack Hussein Obama" to try to get a reaction out of the military personnel gathered.

"Have you heard of him?" he asked the crowd, only to be met with radio silence.

An embarrassed Trump quickly moved on, talking about Jackson's other famous patient, George Bush, before claiming that Jackson had agreed that the current US President was "the best physical specimen of the three".

To prove his point, he danced his signature two-step dance to Village People's 'YMCA', which got the crowd roaring.

President Trump breaks out his signature "YMCA" dance to cheers at a 250th anniversary celebration for the U.S. Navy. pic.twitter.com/BARiRff44n  Fox News (@FoxNews) October 5, 2025

Netizens, however, felt differently.

"The silence wasnt passiveit was principled. In a space governed by duty, discipline, and constitutional neutrality, service members refused to be cast as political props," a user wrote on X.

But the Navy didnt bite. The silence wasnt passiveit was principled. In a space governed by duty, discipline, and constitutional neutrality, service members refused to be cast as political props. Their restraint becomes a quiet rebuke, a reminder that the armed forces are not  SleuthyFella (@SleuthyFella) October 5, 2025

"To boo a current or former C-I-C is a violation of the UCMJ," another user pointed out.

They know better than to do that in uniform. My dad served active and reserve in every administration from Truman to Bush 41 and to boo a current or former C-I-C is a violation of the UCMJ.  Robert C. Lewis (@Robbie347) October 5, 2025

"The fact they didn't take the bait is encouraging," a third user noted.
KABUL, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Police have busted a nine-member gang of armed burglars in eastern Afghanistan's Logar province, provincial police spokesman Mawlawi Ahmadullah Anas said Monday.

The burglars were arrested red-handed when they sneaked into a house in Mohammad Agha district late Sunday to rob valuable appliances, the official said, adding police also recovered some stolen things from their possession.

All the arrested thieves have confessed to their crimes, the official said, noting police would hand them over to the judiciary for further investigation. 
France's newest prime minister, Sebastien Lecornu, and his government, resigned on Monday, hours after his cabinet members were announced.

"I was ready to compromise, but each party wanted the other to adopt its entire program," the outgoing prime minister said during a public address on Monday morning, after announcing his resignation.

The 39-year-old's cabinet, which lasted for just 14 hours, is now the shortest-lived government in French history. Lecornu's tenure as Prime Minister lasted just 27 days.

Annonce de la composition du Gouvernement. pic.twitter.com/qF6cHXj61L  Elysee (@Elysee) October 5, 2025

This comes amid a deepening political crisis in France, which sees no political party attain a clear majority due to stark differences in opinion.

Lecornu, who is France's fifth prime minister in two years (after the resignation of former Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on September 8) had been tasked with resolving the political deadlock in the French parliament.

However, his new cabinet lineup angered both opponents and allies alikewho had earlier threatened to topple the governmentbecause some found it too right-wing, others found too little right-wing presence. A few others also questioned the stability of the new cabinet in a parliament that still had no group with a majority.

The shock resignation led to the far-right National Rally party urging President Emmanuel Macron to call for snap parliamentary elections.

"There can be no return to stability without a return to the polls and the dissolution of the National Assembly," National Rally leader Jordan Bardella said after Lecornu's resignation, as per a Reuters report.

Il ne peut y avoir de stabilite retrouvee sans un retour aux urnes et sans la dissolution de l'Assemblee nationale.



Le Rassemblement National se tiendra pret a assumer ses responsabilites et a gouverner si les Francais lui accordent une majorite. pic.twitter.com/bSkZPLgqdk  Jordan Bardella (@J_Bardella) October 6, 2025

However, far-left party France Unbowed countered them, with party member Mathilde Panot reiterating that "Macron must go", as per the same report.
My wife and I are 80 years old, disabled and not in great health. My daughter is in the process of purchasing a home for her family and us, in order to care for us. She will be the sole owner of the new property.

We have gifted her 150,000 from savings to help her purchase her new home and with the sale of her own home she will be able to put down a large deposit leaving a small mortgage.

My wife and I will put our house on the market and use those proceeds to pay our bills and help financially on the new property and maybe pay off the mortgage for her.

I have heard a lot about inheritance tax but to be honest I don't quite understand it so I hope you can help. C.C, via email

SCROLL DOWN TO ASK YOUR FINANCIAL PLANNING QUESTION

This reader has given their daughter 150,000 to help fund the purchase of a new home

Harvey Dorset, of This is Money, replies: It is good to hear that you are making arrangements to ensure that both you, your wife and your family can be in the best position possible for the coming years.

With your estate large enough to breach the inheritance tax thresholds, there are some things to consider.

This is something that is becoming increasingly important to people, as frozen thresholds drag more into inheritance tax and unspent pension pots will count towards people's estates after April 2027.

The potential tax liabilities you could face are discussed in more detail below.

This is Money spoke to two financial advisers in order to find out how you can avoid falling foul of tax rules, and best set up your daughter and her family for the future.

Andrew Smith says If you plan to use funds from the sale of your own home to help cover costs in the new property, this could be considered a gift

Andrew Smith, independent financial adviser at Flying Colours, replies: I'm sorry to hear about your health challenges. It's clear you're trying to make thoughtful plans for your family's future, and it's wise to consider the implications of Inheritance Tax (IHT) when making large financial gifts.

The 150,000 gift to your daughter will be treated as a 'Potentially Exempt Transfer' (PET). This means that it will be exempt from IHT provided you survive for seven years from the date the gift is made.

If either you or your wife were to pass away within that seven-year window, the gift would fall back into your estate and could become liable for IHT, depending on the total value of your estate at that time.

If death occurs within seven years, the amount may be subject to taper relief if the total value of your other assets exceeds the 325,000 nil rate band (or 650,000 when combined with your spouse's unused allowance).

Tapered relief reduces the IHT rate on the gift the longer you survive after gifting it. However, the full value of the gift is still considered part of your estate if death occurs within three years of making it.

IHT allowances

As a couple, you benefit from a combined nil-rate band of 650,000 (325,000 each). In addition, there is a Residence Nil-Rate Band (RNRB) of up to 175,000 each, which can bring your total combined IHT threshold to 1million. However, this additional residence allowance only applies when a property is left directly to a direct descendant, such as a child or grandchild, in your Will.

In your case, because the new property will be owned solely by your daughter from the outset, you will not qualify for the RNRB on your death. Therefore, only the 650,000 combined allowance may be available when calculating the IHT liability.

However, you may qualify for a 'downsizing' addition when you sell your home. This relief is given by calculating a 'lost' RNRB.

To qualify, all of these conditions must apply;

the person sold, gave away or downsized to a less valuable home, on or after 8 July 2015

the former home would have qualified for the RNRB if they'd kept it until they died

their direct descendants inherit at least some of the estate

The amount of the downsizing addition will usually be the same as the RNRB lost.

It will also depend on the value of the other assets left to direct descendants. The downsizing addition cannot be more than the maximum amount of RNRB available if the sale or downsizing had not happened.

The estate's personal representative must also make a claim for the downsizing addition within two years of the end of the month that the person dies, although HMRC can extend this time limit in some circumstances.

Using proceeds from your own home

If you plan to use funds from the sale of your own home to help cover costs in the new property, this too could be considered a gift, especially if you are contributing toward mortgage payments or helping to pay it off. Again, the seven-year PET rule would apply here.

There's also a potential complication known as a 'gift with reservation of benefit'. This arises if you gift money or assets but continue to benefit from them; for example, by living in the property rent-free. In such cases, HMRC may view the gift as not fully given away, and it could be included in your estate for IHT purposes.

To avoid this, you could either:

Pay market rent to your daughter for your share of the property use, or

Own a share of the property and contribute proportionately to household costs.

It's important to keep clear records of all gifts and financial arrangements, as these may be needed later for IHT assessments. We'd strongly recommend seeking personalised advice from a qualified financial adviser or estate planning solicitor to ensure everything is structured properly and tax-efficient.

Lisa Caplan warns that if the estate is worth over 2million, the RNRB starts to reduce

Lisa Caplan, director of Charles Stanley Direct advice and guidance, replies: Inheritance Tax (IHT) has been making headlines recently, with speculation about possible changes that may be announced in the Autumn Statement on 26 November.

Although IHT is mentioned a lot in debates and news media, only around four per cent of estates currently pay it. This figure is expected to rise to seven per cent from April 2027, when some pensions are set to be included in IHT calculations and more estates meet the threshold for IHT.

Why most estates don't pay IHT

The reason so few estates currently pay IHT is due to two key allowances where no tax is due:

Nil Rate Band (NRB)  325,000

Residence Nil Rate Band (RNRB)  175,000

These allowances transfer between spouses. So, if everything is left to a surviving spouse when the first partner dies, they can use both their own and their late partner's allowances.

This means in your situation, assuming you leave assets in the first instance to one another on first death, and then the estate on second death is less than 1million, there won't be a tax bill to pay. Above 1million and IHT is paid at a rate of 40 per cent above that.

However, if the estate is worth over 2million, the RNRB starts to reduce (known as tapering), which is where things become more complicated, and you should take some qualified financial advice to understand the liability.

Gifts and the seven-year rule

You mentioned giving 150,000 to help your daughter buy a house. Gifts like this are still counted as part of your estate for seven years after they're made. If you pass away within that time, the gift may be counted as part of your estate and subject to IHT.

There is a tapering on the amount you pay from year 3 of the gift being made, but that will only apply if part of the gift exceeds the Nil Rate Band which this does not.

Concerns about losing the RNRB after selling your home

Some people worry that selling their home and giving the proceeds to children might mean losing the RNRB  the extra IHT free allowance relating to the family home. Normally, the RNRB applies when a home is left to a child or grandchild. But there are special rules if the home is sold before death  this is called the downsizing addition.

You can still claim the RNRB if:

The home would have qualified for RNRB if kept until death.

Your direct descendants inherit assets worth at least the RNRB.

Your executor will need to apply for this separately when handling your estate.

Other ways to help your daughter

If you're living in your daughter's home, you could consider paying her market-rate rent. This may not count as a gift for IHT purposes and could help reduce the size of your taxable estate should that be necessary.

What you should do

Make sure you have a valid will in place, and review it regularly, ideally once a year or whenever your personal, financial, or family circumstances change. This helps ensure your wishes are accurately reflected and your estate is distributed as intended.

Work out the size of your estate. If the combined value (including gifts) is under 1million, there's likely no IHT to pay and nothing to worry about under current rules.

Your executor will still need to complete forms for HMRC when administering your estate, and possibly an extra form if claiming the downsizing addition.

To make things easier for your executor, keep clear records of any gifts or payments made to your daughter or others.

If your estate is larger consider some professional inheritance tax planning to avoid or minimise a bill that would need to be settled.
My wife has just received an HMRC letter saying 'Self employed class 2 national insurance contribution due'.

To the unsuspecting it looks like a tax demand and could easily cause concern and some may even pay it.

My wife is 65 years old, has a full 35 years of NI contributions, and does not need to contribute more.

She has checked and has a forecast for the full state pension starting in two years' time.

This is a very confusing demand and I am sure would cause some people to pay up even though it makes no difference to the state pension. Is this newsworthy as it certainly needs highlighting to the unwary?

Ask Steve Webb your question. Email pensionquestions@thisismoney.co.uk

Steve Webb replies: Thank you for sharing this letter with me. I agree that the letter is potentially misleading.

Before dealing with the contents of the letter, its worth a quick recap on how National Insurance (NI) is levied on the self-employed, as the system has changed recently and can be rather confusing.

There are two types of NI applying to the self-employed.

The first is Class 2 contributions, which are a weekly flat rate amount. The second is Class 4 contributions which are an annual profits tax.

Paying (or being credited with) Class 2 contributions helps to build up entitlement to benefits and to the state pension, whilst Class 4 contributions are simply a tax. Details of current and historic rates and thresholds for self-employed NI are here.

There are two key numbers that self-employed people need to be aware of.

Steve Webb: Scroll down to find out how to ask him YOUR pension question

The first is 12,570 per year, which is known as the Lower Profits Limit. (This is also the level of the income tax personal allowance and the starting point for employees to pay National Insurance).

Anyone with profits above this level has to pay Class 4 NI contributions, which are simply a tax on your profits above this level and up to a ceiling.

The second key number is currently 6,845. This is the Small Profits Threshold.

Since April 2024, anyone with profits above the Small Profits Threshold is automatically treated *as if* they had paid Class 2 National Insurance Contributions. As a result, their National Insurance record for the year in question is protected.

However, if  as in your wifes case  you are registered self-employed but have profits below the Small Profits Threshold, you can choose to pay Class 2 NI on a voluntary basis.

Last year the weekly rate was 3.45, and this is where the 179.40 annual figure in your wifes letter comes from.

You will notice that this is entirely optional, but paying NI can, in principle help build up a state pension and also help with entitlement to contributory sickness benefits such as Employment Support Allowance (and also to Maternity Allowance).

Turning now to the letter your wife received, I agree with you that it is potentially misleading.

I think that anyone who gets a letter on HMRC notepaper which says payment due, with an amount and a deadline would reasonably think that they needed to make the payment.

In addition, the letter says that if your wife does not do so she may get a reduced state pension.

However, for the reasons set out above, there is no obligation on your wife to pay these contributions.

In addition, you have told me that your wife has already paid enough NI to qualify for a full state pension, so paying extra NI when she does not have to do so could be a waste of money.

One problem with these letters is that members of the public may assume that the people who keep your NI records (HMRC) would know if you already had enough NI for a full state pension, and wouldnt suggest topping up if it was of no value.

But, unfortunately, state pension calculations are done by another government department (Department for Work and Pensions) and HMRC does not check with DWP before sending out these letters.

I asked HMRC for their response to your concerns and a spokesperson said:

'The letter makes clear this is a request, rather than a demand, and that we wont send any further requests if we dont receive a payment. We keep the wording of our letters under review and encourage customers to check our NICs guidance on Gov.uk before making a payment.'

Whilst it is true that the letter does include the word request, it also says that an amount is due, so this is confusing at the very least. And the line about not sending further requests could equally be read as saying that HMRC will take enforcement action if you dont respond to this letter.

And the line about not sending further requests could equally be read as saying that HMRC will take enforcement action if you dont respond to this letter.

In addition, it is frustrating that text about potentially being short of a full pension is included in letters being sent to people for whom this is not relevant.

Im grateful to you for drawing my attention to this letter and I have fed back to HMRC my suggestions for how it could be improved in future.
ADEN, Yemen, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's government naval forces seized on Sunday a smuggling boat loaded with materials used to manufacture drones, explosives and missiles off the country's southern coast, a security official said.

The boat was intercepted near the southern Lahj province while en route to Houthi-controlled areas, the official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

According to the source, the vessel was carrying "a large quantity of sensitive military components, including batteries and drone operating system parts, which were camouflaged inside plumbing materials in an apparent attempt to evade detection."

Despite limited capabilities, pro-government naval units tracked and stopped the boat after receiving intelligence about its movements, the official said.

The shipment was part of a wider network supplying the Houthis with military components, the source added.

Three suspects were arrested, and the seized materials were transferred to security units in the southern port city of Aden for examination, the official added.

Yemeni officials have repeatedly accused the Houthis of receiving smuggled weapons and drone components through maritime routes along the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis have not commented on the latest accusation. 
GAZA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Residents of the Gaza Strip are watching closely as Palestinian and Israeli delegations arrived in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El Sheikh in a renewed effort to secure a comprehensive ceasefire after nearly two years of war.

On the streets of Gaza, the mood is one of weary anticipation. Many describe the talks as a final chance to end their suffering.

"We are exhausted by a long war that destroyed homes, hospitals and schools, leaving no safe place for anyone," said Ismail Abu Shar, a resident of Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza. "Even children no longer know the meaning of calm or sleeping without fear."

Like others in the enclave, Abu Shar said his community has endured months of bombardment and a collapse of basic services such as electricity, clean water and fuel. "Life has become a daily struggle," he said. "People await any news of an end to the war like a drowning person awaiting a lifebuoy."

Despite the talks, Israeli airstrikes continued in recent hours. Gaza's health authorities said Monday that 21 people had been killed and 96 wounded in the past 24 hours. Many others remain trapped under rubble, unreachable by emergency crews.

According to the authorities, the war has killed 67,160 Palestinians and injured more than 169,000 since it began on Oct. 7, 2023. Since mid-March alone, over 13,500 people have died.

In Gaza City, Ahmed Abdel Aal, now displaced to Deir al-Balah, described the toll. "Almost every family has lost someone. And we all lost a relative or friend," he said. "People are following the news of the Egypt negotiations minute by minute, hoping for real results that end the bloodshed. We want to return to our homes and live in peace so our children can grow up without fear."

In Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, resident Mohammed Rabie voiced a similar demand. "People are united in calling for a permanent ceasefire that restores a minimum of stability and dignity," he said. "Any agreement that does not guarantee reconstruction will not be enough after all this destruction."

The talks, mediated by Egypt with the participation of U.S. and Qatari security officials, began Monday. Palestinian sources said the Hamas delegation, led by senior official Khalil al-Hayya, held preparatory meetings with Egyptian intelligence officials to discuss detailed proposals and mechanisms for implementation.

Hamas, the sources added, has asked Egypt to provide guarantees and monitoring mechanisms to ensure both sides honor any agreement. The group voiced concern that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel might not abide by a deal without clear enforcement measures, particularly on halting military operations, releasing prisoners and allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The negotiations come after Hamas announced Friday that it had accepted a U.S.-backed 20-point plan. The plan includes the release of all Israeli hostages taken since Oct. 7, 2023 -- both living and deceased. Israeli officials estimate Hamas still holds 48 hostages, including 20 believed to be alive.

Diplomatic efforts have gained momentum in recent days, but significant differences remain. Chief among them is Israel's insistence on Hamas's disarmament as a precondition for ending the war and withdrawing its forces from Gaza. 
According to the KCPD blue sheet, this is 2025 homicide #121 and that doesn't give us much progress over last year . . . Even worse . . . This location is a frequent "hot spot" for local confrontations.

Here's what police are sharing with local media long with more reporting . . .

Homicide 7100 blk of Longview LATE DEATH

On 10/04/25, just before 5:30 PM, officers were dispatched to the 7100 block of Longview Road on a reported shooting.



Upon arrival officers located a male victim suffering from gunshot wounds. KCFD EMS responded and transported the victim to a local hospital in critical condition. Crime scene personnel and Assault Squad detectives responded to the scene to begin the investigation.



Just before 9:30 PM, detectives were notified that the victim died of their injuries. Homicide detectives have taken over the investigation and will continue to look for video surveillance and potential witnesses. Investigators will also work to determine what led up to the shooting. The preliminary investigation indicated there was an interaction between multiple individuals in a nearby park just prior to the shots being fired and the victim being struck.



If anyone has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.



We are committed to assisting victims of violent crimes through use of Missouris Protection Program for Victims/Witnesses of Violent Crime. Funding for temporary, or even permanent relocation, may be available but is subject to pre-approval by the States administering agency.



We are working with Partners for Peace in all our homicide investigations to monitor risks for retaliation and provide social services to affected residents.

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Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Teen killed in shooting at Kansas City's Bay Water Park Kansas City police say a teenage boy is dead after a shooting at The Bay Water Park off Longview Road.

Shooting at KC waterpark leaves one with life-threatening injuries One person suffered life-threatening injuries in a shooting at the Kansas City waterpark Saturday afternoon, the Kansas City Police Department says.
The UMKC student guv prez and former candidate shares this note regarding the future of the courthouse and his efforts to address voter demands.

Here's the word . . .

Justice Horn Enters Contest for Interim Jackson County Executive to Restore Stability

With community members calling for an appointment from outside the legislatureand a name without baggage from the pastJustice Horn has stepped up.



KANSAS CITY, MO. (October 5, 2025)  Justice Horn has officially submitted his application to be considered as Interim Jackson County Executive. In a letter to County Clerk Mary Jo Spino, Horn outlined his qualifications, vision, and commitment to leading Jackson County through a time of critical transition and community need. Horn, who has served in nearly every corner of county government, emphasized that this is not a position he originally soughtbut one he feels called to pursue in light of recent events.



With the current state of affairs, I cant sit by while dangerous leadership seeks this role, Horn said. Ive spent years serving this county and its peopleand Im ready to bring stability, experience, and transparency to the Executives office.



As a lifelong public servant, Horn brings unmatched experience across Jackson County government. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Jackson County Plan Commission and is a member of the Board of Zoning Adjustment. He has been a long-serving Board Director for the Jackson County Childrens Services Fund, where he helps oversee a $32 million budget dedicated to supporting the safety, health, and well-being of children across the county. Additionally, he serves on both the Economic Stability and Housing Stability Labs through the Jackson County Health Department, working to address housing insecurity and economic access as key social determinants of health. Horn also sat on the Jackson County Prosecutors Drug Task Force Board and the Prosecutors Community Advisory Board, helping guide the countys public safety and justice strategy.



Beyond his county-level leadership, Horn has held municipal appointments with the City of Kansas Citys LGBTQ Commission, the City of Blue Springs Board of Adjustment, and the City of Independence FIFA Advisory Board. Regionally, he serves on the KC Streetcar Extension Committee, the RideKC Advisory Board, and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Council. At the federal level, he has been appointed to the FBI Kansas City Offices Community Council and serves as an advisor to the White House Office of Public Engagements Black Stakeholders Group, offering local insight on issues of equity, public safety, and economic development.



In addition to his broad government experience, Horn brings academic expertise that directly relates to the County Executives responsibilities. He holds both a Bachelors degree and an MBA with a focus on economics and local taxation, and is currently completing a Master of Public Administration (MPA) at the University of MissouriKansas City. Property taxes are not just technical issuestheyre the issue facing Jackson County right now, said Horn. No one on the current legislature has the academic or practical expertise I bring to this challenge.



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Developing . . .
Once again Angel Elsa inspires a glimpse at pop culture, community reporting and top headlines as we gear up for the end of year fast forward through Hallo-Thanks-Mas.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Baller Suffers Moment Of Doubt

Xavier Worthy listed as questionable for Monday's game in Jacksonville Kansas City's second-year wideout might not be able to play against Jacksonville Monday night.

Tragic Crosstown Crash

Man hit, killed by car while crossing Southwest Trafficway in Kansas City One man is dead after he was hit by a car while crossing Southwest Trafficway in Kansas City late Saturday night, police reported.

Cowtown Greatest Generation Underground

'It's an honor and a privilege': WWII soldier laid to rest more than 80 years after death Gatherers said their tears were of joy, not sadness, as they laid a WWII veteran to rest.

Protesting Housing Hot Mess

Tenants across Kansas City area demand action from landlord over living conditions Hundreds of tenants from Kansas City, Lee's Summit and other parts of the country gathered Saturday to voice complaints about their landlord, Capital Realty Group.

Dream Never Dies In Kansas City

A video series spotlighting local bands started off in a chicken coop Flew The Coop Sessions, a nonprofit video series profiling local bands, is a love letter of sorts to independent, below-the-radar artists.

EPIC Rock Anchors Angel

Elsa Hosk Is Engaged! All of the Details on the Supermodel's $350,000 8-Carat Engagement Ring On September 10, 2025, Elsa Hosk and Tom Daly announced that they were engaged. The supermodel posted photos of the proposal, as well as the showstopping eight-carat ring, on Instagram. Here, we break down everything to know about her engagement ring, including the estimated cost of the sparkler.

MAGA Winning Drug War

Trump appears to reveal another strike on alleged cartel drug boat President Donald Trump appeared to reveal Sunday that the U.S. had carried out another strike on an alleged drug cartel boat from Venezuela.

Court Fight For Portland

Democratic governors vow court fight after Trump sends California National Guard members to Oregon President Donald Trump is sending California National Guard members to Oregon after a judge temporarily blocked his administration from deploying that state's guard to Portland.

MAGA Declares War On Diversity

Pete Hegseth Blasts Woke Diversity at Navy's 250th Anniversary War Secretary Pete Hegseth reiterated President Trump's "America first, and peace through strength" stance and blasted DEI at the Navy's 250th anniversary.

Holy Land Disputes Activist

Greta Thunberg's alleged jail complaints called 'brazen lies' by Israeli government Climate activist Greta Thunberg claimed she faced harsh conditions and bedbug-infested cells during detention, but Israeli officials denied the allegations.

Eastern Europe War Runs On Latin American Imports

Exclusive: Citing Cuban fighters in Ukraine, US urges allies to shun Havana at UN President Donald Trump's administration is mobilizing U.S. diplomats to lobby against a U.N. resolution calling on Washington to lift its decades-long embargo on Cuba, in part by sharing details of Cuba's support for Russia's war in Ukraine, according to an internal State Department cable seen by Reuters.

El Papa Against La Migra?!?

Pope Leo, after Trump critique, urges Catholics to help immigrants Pope Leo urged the world's 1.4 billion Catholics on Sunday to care for immigrants, pressing ahead with a message of welcome for migrants days after criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump's hard-line anti-immigration policies.

From Transit To Toy Train

The Evolution of Kansas City Streetcars At its peak, Kansas City's streetcar system was one of the best in the country

Grigs Starts Pumpkin Spice Season

Kansas City weather: Fall-like temperatures arrive beginning Monday Kansas City's weather turns cooler after a warm, windy Sunday. A cold front brings rain north of I-70 Monday, with highs dropping into the 60s Tuesday.

And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
We're reaching back a bit for this headline but here's a glimpse that legal weed is getting further and further away from reality in the Sunflower State whilst Missouri gains from the biggest cash crop boom in modern history.

Check-it . . .

Kansas authorities raided 10 stores across the state for illegally selling THC-infused products.

The operation focused on retailers due to concerns about highly potent THC products impacting children.

Kansas is one of the few states without legalized, decriminalized, or medical cannabis programs.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Developing . . .
Small biz is one of the toughest roads for local entrepreneurs and the odds are against many merchants.

Like it or not, more and more businesses enduring harsh times are blaming MAGA. Of course the newspaper is "welcoming" to this narrative.

Sadly, this trend only seems to be worsening as many economic indicators seems to be trending downward and the nation struggles against an impending recession.

Accordingly . . . Here's a recent report sharing so many familiar politically charged buzzwords that savvy news readers might recognize . . . Check-it:

"Shes seen firsthand how fashion has impacted customers who are perhaps noticing their own beauty for the first time. Retro Vixens goal is to be a safe space for shoppers.



"But after a major tariff increase on foreign clothes worsened an already slow season, (Owner Melisa) Evans is fearing she may have to close."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. The open court hearing on criminal cases against citizens of the Republic of Armenia, including Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others, accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including the preparation and conduct of aggressive war, genocide, violation of the laws and customs of war, as well as terrorism, financing of terrorism, forcible seizure and retention of power, and numerous other crimes resulting from Armenias military aggression against Azerbaijan, continued on October 6, Trend reports.

The session, held at the Baku Military Court under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Aghayev, with a panel consisting of Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev (reserve judge Gunel Samadova), ensured that each of the accused was provided with an interpreter in their preferred language and defense lawyers.

The hearing was attended by the accused, their defense attorneys, some of the victims, their legal heirs and representatives, as well as prosecutors defending the states accusations.

The court proceedings continued with the announcement of documents related to the criminal cases.

The trial will continue on October 9.

Fifteen defendants of Armenian origin are accused in the criminal case concerning numerous crimes committed during the aggressive war waged by the Armenian state - including the aforementioned criminal association - on the territory of Azerbaijan, in violation of domestic and international legal norms. These crimes were committed for the purpose of military aggression against Azerbaijan and were carried out under the direct leadership and participation of the Armenian state, officials of its state institutions, its armed forces, and illegal armed formations, through their written and verbal orders, instructions, and guidelines; material, technical, and personnel support; centralized management; as well as under strict control and under the leadership and direct or indirect participation of Robert Sedraki Kocharyan, Serzh Azati Sargsyan, Vazgen Mikaeli Manukyan, Vazgen Zaveni Sargsyan, Samvel Andraniki Babayan, Vitali Mikaeli Balasanyan, Zori Hayki Balayan, Seyran Musheghi Ohanyan, Arshavir Surenovich Garamyan, Monte Charles Melkonyan, and others.

The following individuals - Arayik Vladimiri Harutyunyan, Arkadi Arshaviri Ghukasyan, Bako Sahaki Sahakyan, Davit Rubeni Ishkhanyan, David Azatini Manukyan, Davit Klimi Babayan, Levon Henrikovich Mnatsakanyan, Vasili Ivani Beglaryan, Erik Roberti Ghazaryan, Davit Nelsoni Allahverdiyan, Gurgen Homeri Stepanyan, Levon Romiki Balayan, Madat Arakelovich Babayan, Garik Grigori Martirosyan, and Melikset Vladimiri Pashayan - are being charged under the following articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan: Article 100 (planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression); Article 102 (attacking persons or organizations enjoying international protection); Article 103 (genocide); Article 105 (extermination of the population); Article 106 (enslavement); Article 107 (deportation or forced displacement of population); Article 109 (persecution); Article 110 (enforced disappearance of persons); Article 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law); Article 113 (torture); Article 114 (mercenary service); Article 115 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare); Article 116 (violation of international humanitarian law during armed conflict); Article 118 (military robbery); Article 120 (intentional murder); Article 192 (illegal entrepreneurship); Article 214 (terrorism); Article 214-1 (financing terrorism); Article 218 (creation of a criminal organization); Article 228 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of weapons, ammunition, explosives, and devices); Article 270-1 (acts threatening aviation security); Article 277 (assassination of a state official or public figure); Article 278 (forcible seizure and retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state); Article 279 (creation of armed groups not provided for by law); and additional articles.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. Azerbaijan is a key partner along the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said in an exclusive interview with Trend, as she visited Azerbaijan in September.

Key takeaways from visit to Azerbaijan

The Commissioner noted that following the initialling of the peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the South Caucasus region is going through a profound transformation.

"At this historic juncture, I came to Baku with a straightforward message: the EU is ready to support Azerbaijan to seize this historic opportunity to put our relation into new political context. This was my first official visit to Azerbaijan. I met President Ilham Aliyev and expressed my congratulations for his leadership in the peace process. I announced that we want to increase our support for demining efforts  the EU is ready to provide up to EUR 23 million. We discussed a wide range of areas of mutual interest, including transport connectivity, energy cooperation, and demining activities," she said.

Kos pointed out that especially connectivity has gained in existing geopolitical context much more political significance for EU but also for Azerbaijan.

"The full potential of the region can be unleashed by bridging Central Asia and Europe. We also agreed to establish a High-Level Economic Working Group to explore possibilities to strengthen EU-Azerbaijan economic cooperation and boost investments," the EU Commissioner added.

EU's role in Middle Corridor's development

Kos noted that for the first time in generations, the prospect of trade routes from Europe to Central Asia via the South Caucasus is becoming a reality.

"My visit to Azerbaijan was a first step in the broader strategy of connecting EU towards the South Caucasus and further towards Asia via the Black Sea region. We want to reinforce ties with Azerbaijan by advancing mobility, energy and digital links, also looking towards Central Asia. The EU has a positive agenda for Azerbaijan: a concrete offer to boost economic development and sustainable growth. This offers significant economic, political and security benefits for Azerbaijan essential in the development of the Middle Corridor. In this regard, Azerbaijan is a key partner along the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor," she said.

The Commissioner noted that Europe shares an interest with Azerbaijan to make the corridor a success.

"In the upcoming months, we will make these intentions concrete: we will convene the second Global Gateway Forum in Brussels on 9-10 October, and we are hosting a Cross-Regional Security and Connectivity Ministerial on 20 October. Before the end of the year, we will also invite the private sector to explore investments in the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor," Kos added.

Enhancing cooperation in transport within broader regional connectivity

"Our vision is one routed in our own experience in Europe. European cooperation became a success because we started to work in concrete areas of mutual interest between countries that had been historic foes. Transport and logistics could be those ingredients for relations between Azerbaijan and the EU, but also with the wider South Caucasus. Both sectors are crucial economic sectors with great political significance. For our business, but also for our citizens. When we turn our cooperation into a success, I am convinced that it can bring relations between Azerbaijan and Europe to a new positive reality," she said.

The Commissioner pointed out that the EU is ready to work with the government of Azerbaijan on re-building, re-establishing and re-habilitating the routes that bring Europe closer.

EU perspective on Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process

Kos noted that the European Union welcomes the initialling of the peace agreement in Washington.

"This is a major step towards lasting peace and stability in the region. A signed and ratified peace agreement will mark the end of past conflicts and have a major positive impact on regional development. It will open a new chapter of peace and stability. A key element in the agreement is the commitment to enhanced connectivity. It will not only strengthen links within the region but also bring Europe closer to the South Caucasus and Central Asia. Azerbaijan can count on the European Union to further the normalisation process, including initiatives on possible cross-border and regional cooperation, reconciliation efforts and humanitarian issues," she added.

EU's view on Russias actions against Azerbaijani energy infrastructure in Ukraine

The Commissioner noted that EU condemns these attacks in the strongest possible terms.

"These are no coincidence. The EU and Azerbaijan are strong supporters of Ukraines territorial integrity. Russias deliberate targeting of civilian energy infrastructure in Ukraine is unprovoked and lacks any justification. It is completely unacceptable and must be ceased immediately. The targeting of SOCARs assets constitutes yet another step in Russias relentless aggression," Kos noted.

Strengthening EU-Azerbaijan ties through Eastern Partnership

Kos pointed out that the Eastern Partnership remains an important framework for the advancement of the peace process and the broader Cross-Regional Connectivity Agenda.

"It is important to work together with Eastern Partnership countries and across the Caspian Sea with our partners in Central Asia. Azerbaijan is a central partner in these efforts. My visit to Azerbaijan intended to signal the political commitment of the EU to strengthen the position of Azerbaijan in the Eastern Partnership, and value its role as a strategic partner to Europe. I believe that the High-Level Economic Working Group which we launched at the occasion of my visit will contribute to this ambition," she added.

Future EU-Azerbaijan collaboration across key sectors

"We do not start from scratch. Following the priorities agreed in the Memorandum of Understanding between President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President Ilham Aliyev in July 2022, we will continue to work to strengthen regional energy connectivity, renewable energy and energy efficiency," the Commissioner said.

She noted that strengthening the political dialogue and resuming cooperation will now be key to this new page in Azerbaijan-EU relations.

"To advance our partnership, we now need to renew the EU-Azerbaijan Partnership Priorities. Peace building and connectivity are top priorities for our future cooperation with Azerbaijan. I also see great potential to expand and deepen our cooperation with Azerbaijan in areas such as climate and environment, education, and trade," Kos concluded.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. As previously reported, on 6 October President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was interviewed by the Russian "Perviy Kanal" television.

Trend presents the interview.

My name is Yevgeniy, I am a correspondent of "Perviy Kanal". Thank you very much!

President Ilham Aliyev: Very nice to meet you. Thank you!

-Ilham Heydar oglu, you have repeatedly stated that the goal of the current offensive operation is the return of Karabakh. "Karabakh is our land and we will return there"  these are your words. Quite an unequivocal position. But the position of the opposite side is no less unambiguous  "We will not give up an inch of land". This, as it turns out, is a road to nowhere. In your opinion, what should happen for Azerbaijan and Armenia to sit down at the negotiating table?

-First of all, four resolutions of the UN Security Council, which were adopted in 1993, at a time when the Armenian occupying forces were seizing the territories of Azerbaijan, must be implemented. These resolutions send a very clear signal to the aggressor. They state that an immediate, unconditional and full return of the occupied territories must be ensured. Twenty-seven years have passed since then. The Armenian side does not comply with these resolutions, ignores them and tries in every possible way to freeze the conflict as much and as far as possible. All calls from the international community, including the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries, that the status quo is unacceptable and must be changed, remain in the air. Therefore, our position is based on the norms and principles of international law and on historical justice. Meanwhile, the Armenian position is based on historical lies and violation of the norms and principles of international law. As soon as the resolutions of the UN Security Council are implemented by Armenia, as soon as Armenia agrees to the withdrawal of its troops from the occupied territories, I am sure that both sides can come to an agreement that will establish peace in the Caucasus in a short time.

-Fighting has been going on for more than a week now and, judging by the video footage circulated by both sides, it is clear that the fighting is quite intense and involves heavy losses. Can you cite these figures from the Azerbaijani side?

-On our side, as a result of shelling from Armenia and from Nagorno-Karabakh, 27 civilians have been killed and more than 170 civilians have received wounds of varying degree of severity. More than 800 houses have been destroyed. The current escalation of the confrontation began on 27 September, when shelling of Azerbaijani settlements, as well as our combat positions, began from the occupied territories, as a result of which civilians and servicemen were killed in the very first minutes of this attack. We were forced to take adequate action and quickly launched a counteroffensive. As a result of this counteroffensive, we suppressed a large number of firing points and combat positions of the opposing side and liberated a part of the occupied territories in the northern and southern directions. Therefore, many settlements of Azerbaijan, citizens living there, can already live normally there because they are beyond the reach of Armenian artillery. In recent days, however, the shelling of the territory of Azerbaijan is carried out by long-range artillery from the territory of Armenia, using such deadly systems as "Point U" and "Elbrus", which represents a flagrant violation of the Geneva Convention, a crime, a war crime. The shelling of the town of Tartar, which is located in the immediate vicinity of the conflict zone, continues this morning too. The population of Ganja, the second largest city of Azerbaijan, was also shelled. One missile hit the territory of our largest power plant in Mingachevir. More than 10 of our cities and hundreds of villages are subjected to massive artillery bombardment. This is an old tactic of the Armenian side. Every time they suffer defeats on the battlefield, they resort to such ignoble actions, trying to harm the civilian population and thus attempting to stop the counteroffensive of the Azerbaijani army. But they are not succeeding and will not succeed.

-Is it possible to talk about military losses?

-Military losses. To date, the information related to this is confidential. The Azerbaijani public will be informed about this after the end of the active phase of hostilities.

-You are calling on Turkey to participate in the settlement of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. What exactly, in your opinion, should this participation consist in? Should there be a military or political effort?

-I said this yesterday, proceeding from the fact that Armenia's aggressive actions continue, proceeding from the fact that Armenia is trying in every possible way to involve as many countries as possible in this conflict. I spoke in an interview about the inadmissibility of such a policy. The conflict should not go beyond the borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. In fact, the conflict does not even enter the territory of Armenia. Despite the shelling from the Armenian territory, we do not strike any strikes on the territory of Armenia, we do not go into the territory of Armenia although there are all the possibilities to do that. The Armenian side is trying to drag the CSTO into this confrontation, but to no avail. It is trying to involve European countries. In essence, it is trying to internationalize this conflict, and we, accordingly, present our position on the inadmissibility of such an approach. Regarding my statement about Turkey's involvement. I meant, of course, only a political settlement, a post-conflict settlement. At the moment, Turkey is not in any way involved in the conflict, despite all rumors and insinuations in this regard. This is not supported by any facts  for example about the Turkish F-16 fighter shooting down an Armenian SU-25. This news circulated both in Russian and European media. There is no evidence. It turned out that the Armenian pilot, apparently due to a lack of professional training, crashed into the mountain. Such fake news are often thrown into circulation. I don't know for what purpose. I can only guess. But they have no foundation whatsoever. So, when the phase of the military confrontation ends, we will, of course, return to the negotiating table. By the way, from the very beginning of the hostilities, Azerbaijan said that we are not leaving the process of negotiations, we are counting on a political settlement, but there must be a settlement. We cannot sit and wait for another 30 years for pressure to be put on Armenia. Of course, Turkey, as a great country, as our neighbor and neighbor in the South Caucasus, has every right to take part in the mediation mission that will be carried out after the end of hostilities. Given that the current mediation mission has not led to any results for 28 years but led to inaction, to what we are seeing now, we must, of course, proceed from a pragmatic approach  who can really have a positive impact on events in the region, reduce escalation, establish a lasting peace and develop cooperation. Of course, first of all, I think, these are Turkey and Russia.

-You mentioned European countries. You responded quite harshly to the President of France and called on him to apologize for the words about the mercenaries who are fighting on the side of the Azerbaijani army. Can you confirm once again today that the mercenaries do not participate in the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh on the side of Azerbaijan?

-I have been talking about this all these days. I am surprised with such media speculation, and in my telephone conversations with the President of France I defended our position with sufficient reasoning. First, I asked for evidence, and if there is no evidence, then he should apologize to the Azerbaijani people. Secondly, I said we do not need mercenaries. Today Azerbaijan has a powerful army. According to all international ratings, it is among top 50 most powerful armies in the world. We have 100,000 fighters under arms, not counting the reservists and not counting other paramilitary formations ready for battle. Today the Azerbaijani army is liberating our territories. Videos from the scene of hostilities show our artillery and drones in action, they should, Azerbaijani soldiers and officers planting flags in the lands already liberated from occupation. Therefore, these accusations are unfounded, we resolutely reject them and cannot allow such rumors and unverified data to somehow manipulate public opinion. Let them provide evidence. We are in the tenth day of hostilities, but no evidence has been presented to us.

-If we assume that the hostilities are over and Azerbaijan has achieved its goals, what is the future for Karabakh given the number of Armenians living there? What will happen to them?

-I have also repeatedly spoken on this topic before and during the escalation. As recently as yesterday, in an interview with a Turkish TV channel, I said that we consider the Armenians living in the territory of Karabakh our citizens. And we believe that after the settlement of the conflict, after the end of the occupation, the Armenian and Azerbaijani population of Nagorno-Karabakh should live together, as has been the case for many years. When the conflict began in the late 1980s, 75 percent of the population in Nagorno-Karabakh was Armenian and 25 percent Azerbaijani. The city of Shusha, where they held the so-called "inauguration" of the leader of the criminal regime and insulted the Azerbaijani people, consisted of the Azerbaijani population by 98 percent. The city of Shusha was founded by the Azerbaijani Panahali Khan. This is an ancient Azerbaijani city from which all Azerbaijanis were expelled. So after the end of the conflict, after a peaceful settlement, which, by the way, is reflected in the fundamental principles, the so-called Madrid principles, the Azerbaijani population should return to the occupied territories. It is explicitly stated that all displaced persons have the right to return to their places of residence. Thus, after a peace agreement is reached, and I hope that this will happen, the Azerbaijanis will return to Nagorno-Karabakh and will live where they used to live. My position has always been that we must return to the atmosphere that existed before the start of the conflict in the late 1980s. I think it is possible. It will not be easy after what the Armenian executioners did in Khojaly, having exterminated the civilian population, destroyed our historical and religious sites and erased the historical heritage of Azerbaijanis from these territories. It will not be easy. But I believe that we should strive for this. And my appeal to the people of Armenia and to those who live in Nagorno-Karabakh now was repeatedly expressed during the hostilities. I called on the Armenian people to reason their government. I called on Armenian mothers not to send their children to the occupied territories. It is probably no secret for anyone that the so-called army of Nagorno-Karabakh does not exist. What is called the army of Nagorno-Karabakh consists by 90 percent of the citizens of Armenia. I made these calls. I have not heard such calls from the Armenian side these days  apart from hatred, apart from aggression, apart from threats and apart from completely inappropriate actions. Our position is that we are in favor of a peaceful settlement of the conflict. I am confident that if there is political will on the part of Armenia, we will be able to achieve this.

Ilham Heydar oglu, sooner or later, all wars end in peace. How do you imagine this moment?

-You know, it is difficult to talk about this because our people have experienced so much grief, so much suffering has been inflicted on them by Armenian occupiers that it is very difficult to imagine this moment now as a holistic picture. We have not had peace for over 30 years. What we had over the past more than two decades has been a truce. But everyone understood that it was unstable, it was not durable. Therefore, the co-chairs of the Minsk Group represented by the presidents of Russia, the United States and France made statements several years ago, there was more than one statement of this kind, that the status quo is unacceptable and that it must be changed. They perfectly understood and understand that this truce is very fragile and unstable. Today's escalation confirms this once again. Therefore, if we talk about peace, first of all, I see it as a political settlement that would be comprehensive, that would be long-term, that would be eternal with serious guarantees from leading countries of the world, countries that would be acceptable to both Azerbaijan and Armenia. I do not exclude that the composition of these countries may be different from the composition of the Minsk Group and its co-chairs today. Because the Minsk Group was set up in 1992, in completely different geopolitical realities, just after the collapse of the USSR and, to be honest, I don't quite understand the basis on which this group was established. Because there must be some principle on which this or that association or temporary format is created. Therefore, I think that, returning to what we talked about earlier, the active participation of regional powers, guarantees of international organizations and, of course, the return of Azerbaijanis to the lands that rightfully belong to them.

-A clarifying question. What configuration can that be, in your opinion?

-It is probably premature to talk about it. I think I am slightly jumping the gun already. I just want our neighbors and partners to know my position. I think that regional cooperation has already proved its worth in many areas. If we pay attention to recent years, we can see that Azerbaijan, together with its neighbors, has worked very hard to create a strong regional cooperation format  political, economic, transport, energy and any other. Suffice it to look at the achievements we have made after many years by signing the Convention on the Settlement of the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea. Almost from the very beginning of their independence, some of the five Caspian littoral countries could not agree but then, showing good will, we came to agreement and saw the advantages. Today, cooperation between such a great power as Russia and such a great power as Turkey, a NATO member, is much more sincere, durable and effective than cooperation of NATO member Turkey with, say, another NATO country that constantly accuses Turkey of something. These are new geopolitical realities. This was not the case in 1992. The world has changed. It is changing right before our eyes. And we must proceed from this, not from any dogmas, not from any assumptions or established opinions that this or that country has a potential for a solution. Today, when the conflict has entered an active phase and when the Armenian prime minister, as I can see, is annoying world leaders with his phone calls, it is clear who has the potential for settlement. These are the countries that have the potential for a settlement, the countries Azerbaijan respects for dignity, justice and sincerity. They should be the guarantors of long-term peace.

-Thank you very much for the detailed answers and for the interview.

-Thank you!
Lebanese attend the funeral of a Hezbollah member and his wife in Kfarkela, Lebanon, Oct. 7, 2025. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

BEIRUT, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli airstrike on southern Lebanon killed two people and wounded another on Monday, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.

The NNA said Israeli forces fired two guided missiles at a vehicle in Nabatieh, killing Hassan Atwi and his wife, Zeinab Raslan, whom it described as civilians. The couple had lost their two children earlier in the war with Israel.

The strike set the vehicle ablaze. Ambulances transported the remains while firefighters extinguished the fire, NNA said.

In a separate strike, Israeli forces hit targets in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley with no casualties reported, according to the agency.

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on social media platform X that the army struck Hezbollah positions in the Bekaa area, including Radwan Force camps used for training fighters.

Since Nov. 27, 2024, a U.S.- and French-brokered ceasefire has largely held between Israel and Hezbollah, ending months of cross-border clashes linked to the Gaza war. But Israel has continued periodic strikes in Lebanon, saying they target Hezbollah threats. 

Lebanese attend the funeral of a Hezbollah member and his wife in Kfarkela, Lebanon, Oct. 7, 2025. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

Lebanese attend the funeral of a Hezbollah member and his wife in Kfarkela, Lebanon, Oct. 7, 2025. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. Azerbaijan can count on the European Union to further the normalization process with Armenia, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said in an exclusive interview with Trend, as she visited Azerbaijan in September.

Kos noted that the European Union welcomes the initialling of the peace agreement in Washington.

"This is a major step towards lasting peace and stability in the region. A signed and ratified peace agreement will mark the end of past conflicts and have a major positive impact on regional development. It will open a new chapter of peace and stability. A key element in the agreement is the commitment to enhanced connectivity. It will not only strengthen links within the region but also bring Europe closer to the South Caucasus and Central Asia. Azerbaijan can count on the European Union to further the normalization process, including initiatives on possible cross-border and regional cooperation, reconciliation efforts and humanitarian issues," she added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. The 12th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) on "Regional Peace and Security" will be held on October 6-7 in Gabala. Azerbaijans selection as host highlights its strategic importance for the organization and the broader Turkic world. This year, Azerbaijan will also assume the OTS chairmanship from Kyrgyzstan, opening new opportunities to strengthen cooperation and implement ambitious initiatives across the organization.

The summit will take place at the level of heads of state, underscoring its significance. Confirmed attendees include the presidents of Turkiye, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The scale of participation shows that the Gabala meeting draws attention not only from OTS member states but also from international partners interested in regional stability and prosperity.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly emphasized the organizations unique character. According to him, the OTS countries are united not only by a shared language, history, and culture but also by a commitment to joint economic and social development:

"Because if you look at other international organizations, not all - or perhaps only some - are united by a common ethnic group. Yeah, we are different peoples, but we have all common our roots, coming from the Turkic ethnicity, we have growing population, which is also important factor for every country. When it is supported by economic development, it is advantage," President Ilham Aliyev said in a recent interview with Al Arabiya.

Since the OTS was founded, Azerbaijan has been a key participant, actively promoting Turkic integration. The countrys contribution to economic cooperation among member states is significant: in 2024 alone, trade with OTS partners reached nearly $6.9 billion, accounting for 14.5% of Azerbaijans total foreign trade.

Joint economic initiatives are a priority. One example is the Turkic Investment Fund, established in 2024, to which each of the five member states contributed $100 million. Plans are already underway to increase its capital to $600 million. The fund will support projects in infrastructure, energy, sustainable agriculture, and the reconstruction of Karabakh.

Azerbaijan is restoring these areas not only through housing and social infrastructure but also by developing regional projects such as transport and energy corridors that benefit all countries in the region. A key initiative is the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP), which ensures smooth transit through the Zangezur Corridor and strengthens regional links. These projects are driven by the vision and leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, who has in recent years set the OTS strategic agenda and promoted major infrastructure developments.

Azerbaijans role as a transit hub is also vital. Uranium shipments from Kazakhstan, container trains from China, and strategic cargo from Central Asia pass through the country. In 2024 alone, more than 11 million tons of goods were transported via Azerbaijan. The development of the Middle Corridor, linking China to Europe via the Caspian and South Caucasus, is a major focus. Investments in ports, railways, shipbuilding, and airports are already yielding results: the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railways capacity increased from 1 to 5 million tons, Alat port expanded from 15 to 25 million tons, new ships are being built at the Baku Shipyard, the Caspian fleet is growing, and by 2026, the ninth international airport is expected to open in Lachin.

Azerbaijan is also expanding renewable energy exports. In November 2024, during COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan signed a strategic partnership agreement on producing and transmitting green energy. The project integrates the countries energy systems and opens opportunities to export clean energy to Europe, reducing EU dependence on traditional sources.

Amid global challenges such as climate change, energy security, and terrorism, Azerbaijans leadership strengthens the OTS as a key platform for regional stability.

OTS Secretary-General Kubanychbek Omuraliev said Azerbaijans chairmanship will enhance cooperation among member states and make the organization an even more effective platform: "We are confident that Azerbaijan will continue this noble work and further strengthen our cooperation in the coming period," Omuraliev said.

President Ilham Aliyev outlined a broader vision for the OTS: "So, our view is to transform it into a global actor which can play a role on international arena, which not only be preoccupied with our internal issues, but to play a stabilizing role on international arena, positive role, generating opportunities for the neighbors, and demonstrating that on such a huge geographic geography, you can build a strong unity, which is not a threat to anyone, but which is an opportunity to many".

The Gabala summit is set to be a milestone for the OTS, deepening cooperation on regional security, knowledge exchange, and infrastructure. As a founding member and active participant, Azerbaijan continues to play a pivotal role in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the Turkic world. President Ilham Aliyevs vision and leadership have set the organizations priorities, driven major infrastructure projects, strengthened regional integration, and positioned the OTS as an influential global actor, turning ambitious plans into tangible results.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban arrived in Azerbaijan on Monday to participate in the 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), Trend reports.

A guard of honor was lined up for the Hungarian Prime Minister at Gabala International Airport.

At the airport, Viktor Orban was welcomed by Azerbaijani Minister of Culture Adil Karimli and other officials.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 7. 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, Trend reports.

The erupted 44-day Second Karabakh War ended with the liberation of Azerbaijans territories from nearly 30-year Armenian occupation.

Trend presents the chronicle of the 12th day of the Second Karabakh war:

- President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev gave an interview to Euronews and CNN-Turk TV channels.

- Under the leadership of the President of Azerbaijan, the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, an operational meeting was held at the Central Command Post of the Ministry of Defense.

- President Ilham Aliyev addressed the participants of the XXIII Eurasian Economic Summit.

- Armenia bombarded the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline with cluster-type missiles.

- Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said that as a result of artillery strikes on the Armenian Armed Forces, the command and observation post of the defense of the 5th regiment of the Armenian army was disabled, many were killed and wounded. An artillery strike knocked out 1 tank and 3 artillery installations of the Armenian Armed Forces. The ministry also shared a video of the Shukurbayli village of Azerbaijans Jabrayil district, liberated from the Armenian occupation.

- Armenian Armed Forces fired at the villages of Tartar, Barda, Aghdam, Aghjabadi, Fuzuli, and Jabrayil districts.

- Azerbaijani Defense Ministry published a list of the destroyedmilitary equipment of the Armenian Armed Forces, and also shared footage of its destruction.

- Azerbaijani Defense Ministry shared a video of the Shaybay village of Azerbaijans Jabrayil district, liberated from the Armenian occupation.

- Azerbaijani Defense Ministry shared footage of the military equipment abandoned by the Armenian servicemen.

- Another UAV of Armenia was destroyed.

- As a result of fire from Azerbaijani troops, about 10 tanks, six D-20 cannons, one "Akatsiya" self-propelled artillery unit, about 30 vehicles, and a large number of Armenian manpower were destroyed. A group of soldiers from units located in the defensive areas of the 1st and 7th regiments of the Armenian Armed Forces, leaving their combat positions without permission, deserted.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. On October 6, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, held a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Azerbaijan, Fergus Auld, Trend reports.

During the meeting, the Minister of Defense emphasized the importance of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom across various sectors, including the military. He noted that these ties significantly contribute to the advancement of the armies of both nations.

Auld, in his turn, expressed his satisfaction with the current level of cooperation between the two countries and underscored the value of such meetings in fostering further development of bilateral relations.

The meeting, which was also attended by the United Kingdom's defense attache in Azerbaijan, Lieutenant Commander Gavin Tarbard, focused on prospects for enhancing military cooperation, regional security, and other issues of common interest.

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Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. On October 6, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with Ersin Tatar, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), in Gabala, Trend reports.

President Ersin Tatar fondly recalled his previous meetings with President Ilham Aliyev in Azerbaijan and on the sidelines of international events, including his participation in the informal Summit of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Shusha. He expressed his gratitude to the Azerbaijani President for his support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

President Ilham Aliyev reaffirmed that Azerbaijan will continue to support the TRNC.

President Ersin Tatar congratulated President Ilham Aliyev on the progress achieved in advancing the peace agenda between Armenia and Azerbaijan, reached in Washington with the participation of the President of the United States.

The head of state expressed his appreciation for the congratulations.

During the conversation, the importance of the TRNCs participation in the OTS as an observer was underscored.

The role of the Summit held in Gabala in further expanding the partnership among the countries within the OTS framework was also emphasized.

The meeting also discussed cooperation in various areas.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. Holding the 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Azerbaijan's Gabala is a matter of pride, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who is visiting Azerbaijan to participate in the summit, told the media, Trend reports.

"The major geostrategic changes taking place today affect the Turkic world, as they affect all places; however, the increasing institutionalization and more coordinated activities of the OTS make us more resilient to these crises. This is a corporate relationship that we all develop together. On the other hand, the fact that the Turkic world states develop their economies, infrastructure, technology, defense potential, basic services, and further improve their industrial infrastructure actually makes each state stronger," he said.

He noted that whenever strong states unite, even stronger organizations are formed.

"Thats why I hope we will see a Turkic world in the future that is more resilient to global crises. Our leaders will discuss this issue tomorrow in Gabala. It's truly a pleasure to present such a beautiful city of the Turkic world to the leaders and to host them here," the minister emphasized.

Fidan also highlighted that Turkiyes current foreign policy is primarily focused on establishing stability in the region.

"There are several conditions necessary to ensure stability. First, to de-escalate or end wars and conflicts as much as possible. Second, to develop economic cooperation on an equal basis. As a result, everyone can benefit from prosperity. Third, to institutionalize and further revitalize relations and regional structures. We are working in our region with this perspective.

This is always evident in our relations and joint regional efforts with the Turkic world. The foreign policy vision proposed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkiyes efforts are directed toward this goal. Thus, we are using Turkiyes regional power, influence, and leadership to help establish stability in the region," the minister added.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Gabala, Trend reports.

"Pleased to have met my colleague and dear brother, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkiye Hakan Fidan on the sidelines of the Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) held in Gabala, Azerbaijan.

Our fraternal alliance and strategic partnership continues to strengthen across all spheres.

Discussed the current stage and prospects of our multivectoral as well as comprehensive cooperation.

Rooted in common heritage, our cooperation within the OTS is pivotal in terms of deepening our partnership and building a prosperous future together," Jeyhun Bayramov wrote on his page on X.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 7. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Kazakhstani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev on the sidelines of the Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) held in Gabala, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said, Trend reports.

Jeyhun Bayramov once again congratulated Yermek Kosherbayev on his appointment as Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister and wished him success in his tenure.

During the meeting, satisfaction was expressed with the level of strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, emphasizing the exceptional role of high-level contacts between the two countries in developing cooperation.

The parties exchanged views on various aspects of the strategic partnership between the two countries, as well as the current situation in the region.

Prospects for cooperation in political, economic, trade, transport, communications, humanitarian, and other areas were discussed.

The importance of further strengthening cooperation within a number of regional and international organizations of which Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are members, particularly the Joint Territorial Community and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), was noted.

It was emphasized that the historic agreements reached during the meeting of the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington are of vital importance for ensuring peace and stability in the region.

The parties also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. The Baku Network expert platform rolled out the next part of the analytical video series "Dialogue with Tofig Abbasov", Trend reports.

The guest of the program was Honored Artist of Azerbaijan, renowned composer Javanshir Guliyev, who not only shared his creative endeavors but also cast a line into the future of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Guliyev pointed out that Azerbaijan has weathered a stormy sea of war, and now society is up against a fresh set of hurdles.

"We've put end to the war, and now we need to decide on our future. We must develop a standard of communication with the people we recently fought. We are neighbors, and there's no escaping that. Life goes on, new generations are growing up, and we need to pave the way for normal relations," he said.

The composer noted that every war eventually ends, and history confirms this - even the 'Hundred Years' War' (ed.13371453 - between the kingdoms of England and France) ended. Therefore, in his opinion, it's especially important today to look forward, not be shackled by the ghosts of yesterday.

Guliyev mentioned that art and culture are the golden threads that weave together the fabric of humanity.



He was all in, believing this is where the ball can start rolling: through music, cinema, theater productions, literary projects, festivals, and scientific conferences.

"Relationships must begin at the level of art, culture, literature, and cinema. And then, gradually, step by step, after some time, tourist traffic will resume. We have no other option, he emphasized.

In the course of the dialogue, the composer elaborated on his synergistic partnership with the esteemed film director Sergey Parajanov, with whom he engaged in a collaborative endeavor on the cinematic project 'Ashig Garib.'



The composer orchestrated the score for the cinematic piece, which garnered accolades at global film festivals.



Guliyev drove home that Parajanov epitomized a pacifist ethos, eschewing militaristic ideologies and refraining from yielding to ethnonationalist fervor.



I express my profound appreciation to the cosmos for the serendipitous chance to collaborate with this exceptional virtuoso. He administered equitable treatment across the diverse ethnic matrices of Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Georgians, and Russians. For him, the realm of artistic expression was the sole reality, and he epitomized the quintessential global citizen, articulated the composer.

He also recounted how, at the height of the propaganda campaign in Armenia, Parajanov refused to sign an appeal to hand over Karabakh to Armenia, declaring that no one gives away land for nothing.

Guliyev also referenced the sentiments expressed by artist Martiros Saryan, who faced scrutiny during the tumultuous period of World War I for his choice to depict floral subjects amidst the chaos of conflict. In response to the criticism, Saryan articulated, "The war will conclude, and individuals will seek out flowers. I create visual compositions for that specific temporal juncture.



"This is the paradigm through which artistic cognition ought to operate. Today, it is imperative to lay the foundational groundwork for forthcoming endeavors," the composer stressed.



He also noted a strong conviction that the existing hiatus in diplomatic engagement is not sustainable indefinitely.

Besides, Guliyev shared his impressions of the recent premiere of the 'Ashig Garib' film in Tbilisi, organized by international cultural foundations. According to him, third-party venues can currently serve as a point of contact for Azerbaijanis and Armenians until direct cultural ties are restored.

The cinematic presentation was delivered in enhanced resolution, subsequently leading to a dynamic discourse wherein emerging directors from Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia engaged in a robust exchange of perspectives.
This file photo taken on Sept. 4, 2025 shows Sebastien Lecornu arriving at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris, France. French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday morning accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, the presidency announced. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

PARIS, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday morning accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, the presidency announced.

Lecornu, appointed less than a month ago, stepped down after unveiling a largely unchanged cabinet lineup on Sunday that drew sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. 

This file photo taken on Sept. 10, 2025 shows Sebastien Lecornu in Paris, France. French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday morning accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, the presidency announced. (Photo by Aurelien Morissard/Xinhua)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. Azerbaijan will host the Summit of Future Professions, organized by the State Employment Agency under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population for the first time, the agency said, Trend reports.

The event will take place on October 30, 2025, in Nakhchivan under the motto "Towards the Future".

The summit is set to chew the fat about shifts in the labor market, the nuts and bolts of new professions and skills, the ripple effects of technology and innovation on the work scene, and lending a helping hand to participants as they gear up for the future job market, keeping an eye on the new hurdles in education and employment.

The summit will create a platform for the exchange of ideas between employers, government agencies, educational institutions, and professionals. Its objectives include identifying and promoting the professions and skills of the future, sharing current business trends, strengthening cooperation between partners, and providing participants with more flexible, innovative, and competitive career opportunities.

The event will include two panel discussions: "Labor Market Transformation" and "Adapting to Change".

The panels will discuss new approaches and future steps in educational strategies, modern employment strategies, anticipated innovations in future professions and skills and ways to adapt to these innovations, preparation for the future labor market, and the challenges facing the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in this context.

The summit will bring together local and international career consultants, trainers, HR specialists, entrepreneurs, education experts, representatives of the public and private sectors, and development mentors.

Registration for the event will open in the coming days. Information on the registration procedure will be posted on the official website of the State Employment Agency and on its social media pages.

Additional information about the summit can be found at www.geleceyinpesheleri.az.

The Summit of Future Professions is also planned to be held in Baku next month.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. The open court hearing on the criminal cases of citizens of Armenia continued on October 6 at the Baku Military Court with the announcement of documents, Trend reports.

Documents concerning the missile attack on Ganja city during the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020 were read out at the court hearing.

The documents, examined in episodes, noted that the Armenian armed forces, grossly violating the ceasefire regime and international law, including the requirements of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of August 12, 1949, on October 4, 5, 8, 11, and 17, 2020, using 9K58 Smerch (BM-30) and 9K72 Elbrus missiles struck residential areas of the city of Ganja, located far from the front line, as well as clearly visible and distinguishable educational and medical institutions that were non-military targets, as well as the civilian population or civilians not participating in the fighting. Thus, the Armenian armed forces committed acts of terrorism and other crimes that resulted in large-scale destruction not due to military necessity, injuries and deaths of civilians, as well as the destruction of a particularly large amount of property of the civilian population.

During the investigation of each of the aforementioned incidents, the crime scenes were inspected, the bodies of the deceased were examined by a forensic expert, medical reports on the victims' injuries were obtained and added to the case file, the legal heirs of the deceased victims were identified and questioned. Simultaneously, decisions were made to recognize the injured persons as victims and ensure their interrogation in the case, as well as witness interviews and realization of other investigative actions.

The documents indicated that as a result of missile attacks on Ganja city on October 4, 5, 8, 11, and 17, 2020, 26 civilians were deliberately killed and 175 were injured to varying degrees. Of the 26 killed, 10 were men, 10 were women, and 6 were minors. Of the 175 injured, 61 were men, 66 were women, and 48 were minors.

The court proceedings continue against Armenian nationals accused of crimes including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, aggression, terrorism, and violations of the laws of war. The charges also include financing terrorism, the violent seizure and retention of power, and other serious offenses.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. The open court hearing on criminal cases against citizens of the Republic of Armenia, including Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others, accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including the preparation and conduct of aggressive war, genocide, violation of the laws and customs of war, as well as terrorism, financing of terrorism, forcible seizure and retention of power, and numerous other crimes resulting from Armenias military aggression against Azerbaijan, continued on October 6.

Trend reports that the session, held at the Baku Military Court under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Aghayev, with a panel consisting of Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev (reserve judge Gunel Samadova), ensured that each of the accused was provided with an interpreter in their preferred language and defense lawyers.

The hearing was attended by the accused, their defense attorneys, some of the victims, their legal heirs and representatives, as well as prosecutors defending the states accusations.

The court proceedings continued with the announcement of documents related to the criminal cases.

First, documents concerning the missile attack on Ganja city during the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020 were read out at the court hearing.

The documents examined in episodes, noted that the Armenian armed forces, grossly violating the ceasefire regime and international law, including the requirements of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of August 12, 1949, on October 4, 5, 8, 11, and 17, 2020, using 9K58 Smerch (BM-30) and 9K72 Elbrus missiles struck residential areas of the city of Ganja, located far from the front line, non-military facilities, as well as civilians.

Thus, the Armenian armed forces committed acts of terrorism and other crimes that resulted in large-scale destruction not due to military necessity, injuries and deaths of civilians, as well as the destruction of a particularly large amount of property of the civilian population.

During the investigation of each of the aforementioned incidents, the crime scenes were inspected, the bodies of the deceased were examined by a forensic expert, medical reports on the victims' injuries were obtained and added to the case file, the legal heirs of the deceased victims were identified and questioned. Simultaneously, decisions were made to recognize the injured persons as victims and ensure their interrogation in the case, as well as witness interviews and realization of other investigative actions.

The documents indicated that as a result of missile attacks on Ganja city on October 4, 5, 8, 11, and 17, 2020, 26 civilians were deliberately killed and 175 were injured to varying degrees.

Of the 26 killed, 10 were men, 10 were women, and 6 were minors. Of the 175 injured, 61 were men, 66 were women, and 48 were minors.

Civilian infrastructure facilities, vehicles, residential buildings, and other structures in the city sustained extensive damage.

According to the documents and the protocol on the preliminary inspection of the scene dated October 11, 2020, it was determined that the Armenian armed forces struck Ganja using a ballistic missile.

Investigations established that the explosion occurred as a result of the detonation of a 9K72 Elbrus operational-tactical missile (NATO classification SS-1c Scud B) manufactured in the USSR after 1978.

The missile is believed to have been launched from a distance of up to 275 kilometers, from the Vardenis settlement in Armenia toward Ganja. The R-17 single-stage, liquid-fueled ballistic missile was produced in the former USSR and has been out of production since 1987.

Since this type of missile belongs to operational-tactical weapon systemsstrategic assets of the armed forces of the former USSR and the CIS countriesthe right to use it lies with the head of state and, with his consent, the minister of defense.

When such missiles are used not against specific military targets but against populated areas and civilian infrastructure, they cause severe consequences, including mass casualties and widespread destruction.

Later, accused David Manukyan appealed to the court and stated that the leadership and army of the so-called regime were not authorized to issue orders for the deployment or use of the missile installations.

Judge Zeynal Aghayev noted that at this stage, the process of presenting documents is ongoing, and the defense will be given the opportunity to comment once the presentation is completed.

Then, the lawyer of accused Araik Harutyunyan requested to provide copies of the documents examined during the court session.

Zeynal Aghayev, who chaired the meeting, said that copies of the documents would be provided.

Later, documents regarding the missile attacks on the districts of Goygol, Tovuz, Dashkasan, Samukh, Siyazan, Kurdamir, and Gabala districts, as well as Mingachevir city and Goygol National Park during the 44-day Patriotic War were read out.

Accused Levon Mnatsakanyans lawyer requested a confidential meeting with his client.

Judge Zeynal Aghayev granted the request, and the session was adjourned.

Following the adjournment, the court session continued with the publication of documents.

One of the documents concerned the rocket attacks by Armenian armed forces on the city of Barda, located outside the combat zone, during the 44-day Patriotic War.

The documents examined indicate that as a result of rocket attacks on Barda at various times during the Great Patriotic War, 29 people were deliberately killed, including children, women, and the elderly, 112 people were injured, and significant damage was caused to civilian infrastructure, vehicles, residential buildings, and other facilities in the city.

The examination of the documents was accompanied by photographs related to the criminal cases.

The trial will continue on October 9.

Fifteen defendants of Armenian origin are accused in the criminal case concerning numerous crimes committed during the aggressive war waged by the Armenian state - including the aforementioned criminal association, on the territory of Azerbaijan, in violation of domestic and international legal norms. These crimes were committed for the purpose of military aggression against Azerbaijan and were carried out under the direct leadership and participation of the Armenian state, officials of its state institutions, its armed forces, and illegal armed formations, through their written and verbal orders, instructions, and guidelines; material, technical, and personnel support; centralized management; as well as under strict control and under the leadership and direct or indirect participation of Robert Sedraki Kocharyan, Serzh Azati Sargsyan, Vazgen Mikaeli Manukyan, Vazgen Zaveni Sargsyan, Samvel Andraniki Babayan, Vitali Mikaeli Balasanyan, Zori Hayki Balayan, Seyran Musheghi Ohanyan, Arshavir Surenovich Garamyan, Monte Charles Melkonyan, and others.

The following individuals - Arayik Vladimiri Harutyunyan, Arkadi Arshaviri Ghukasyan, Bako Sahaki Sahakyan, Davit Rubeni Ishkhanyan, David Azatini Manukyan, Davit Klimi Babayan, Levon Henrikovich Mnatsakanyan, Vasili Ivani Beglaryan, Erik Roberti Ghazaryan, Davit Nelsoni Allahverdiyan, Gurgen Homeri Stepanyan, Levon Romiki Balayan, Madat Arakelovich Babayan, Garik Grigori Martirosyan, and Melikset Vladimiri Pashayan - are being charged under the following articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan: Article 100 (planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression); Article 102 (attacking persons or organizations enjoying international protection); Article 103 (genocide); Article 105 (extermination of the population); Article 106 (enslavement); Article 107 (deportation or forced displacement of population); Article 109 (persecution); Article 110 (enforced disappearance of persons); Article 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law); Article 113 (torture); Article 114 (mercenary service); Article 115 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare); Article 116 (violation of international humanitarian law during armed conflict); Article 118 (military robbery); Article 120 (intentional murder); Article 192 (illegal entrepreneurship); Article 214 (terrorism); Article 214-1 (financing terrorism); Article 218 (creation of a criminal organization); Article 228 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of weapons, ammunition, explosives, and devices); Article 270-1 (acts threatening aviation security); Article 277 (assassination of a state official or public figure); Article 278 (forcible seizure and retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state); Article 279 (creation of armed groups not provided for by law); and additional articles.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, Georg Georgiev, held a meeting with the Minister of Energy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, as part of Bulgarias top diplomats participation in the Munich Leadership Meeting in Al-Ula, Trend reports.

During the talks, both sides emphasized the traditionally strong relations between Bulgaria and Saudi Arabia in the energy sector and discussed opportunities to further develop them.

Thanks to its strategic location and infrastructure, Bulgaria is a key energy transit hub in Southeastern Europe. Our priority is the diversification of energy sources and routes, and partnership with Saudi Arabia can contribute to greater resilience and energy independence in the region, stated Minister Georgiev.

The existing successful partnership between the Bulgarian gas transmission company and Saudi subcontractors in the construction of strategic pipelines was highlighted, reinforcing Bulgarias role as an important transit player.

Bulgaria and Saudi Arabia have already demonstrated their ability to carry out successful joint initiatives. We have the potential to expand this cooperation with new projects in the gas sector, which will be of strategic importance for our countries and citizens, Georgiev added.

The two ministers also discussed opportunities for partnership in renewable energy and hydrogen.

Bulgaria is firmly committed to the EUs climate neutrality goal by 2050, and it is crucial for us to develop cooperation with partners like Saudi Arabia in green energy and new technologies, said the Bulgarian foreign minister. Combining Saudi Arabias vision with Bulgarias regional expertise can lead to innovation and sustainable development, he added.

The ministers also explored possibilities for expert exchanges and joint training in the energy sector, aimed at preparing specialists and implementing new technological solutions.

In conclusion, Ministers Georgiev and Al Saud expressed confidence that the strategic partnership between Bulgaria and Saudi Arabia in the energy sector will contribute to stability, security, and sustainable development in Southeastern Europe and the Middle East.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. Catalin Predoiu, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs of Romania, held a meeting with Ivica Dacic, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Trend reports.

The meeting provided an opportunity for a thorough exchange of views on issues of mutual interest, including securing the common border, strengthening cooperation between specialized structures in combating cross-border crime, continuing joint access to non-reimbursable external funds, and expanding collaboration in the field of emergency situations through the creation of a bilateral legal framework.

The meeting confirmed the relationship of respect, mutual understanding, and friendship between the two parties, which should be continued and strengthened as neighboring states. The relationship between Romania and Serbia has a special strategic dimension, also reflected in people-to-people ties, Serbian and Romanian communities in both countries, and consistent commercial exchanges.

Thus, cooperation is not only necessary but also a shared responsibility to ensure the safety of citizens and regional stability. The seriousness with which Romania approaches collaboration with Serbia is reflected in the level of the Ministry of Internal Affairs delegation, which included the heads of the Police and Border Police structures.

Discussions highlighted the interest of both parties in intensifying police cooperation to combat cross-border crime, with a focus on human trafficking, migrant trafficking, and drug trafficking. Both ministers agreed to strengthen the exchange of operational information and to establish, based on field needs, various formats of bilateral operational cooperation. They also agreed on an upcoming exchange of best practices regarding new threats in the digital space, crisis negotiation approaches, and collaboration in special operations.

The results of bilateral operational cooperation in investigating and combating international drug trafficking were also emphasized, with substantial high-risk drug seizures achieved in recent years.

To optimally manage illegal migration in the region, the delegations committed to closely monitoring migration flows along the Western Balkans route, ensuring an effective exchange of information between the competent authorities of Romania and Serbia, as well as with other regional partners.

The exemplary cooperation between the border structures of the two countries was also praised, which has led to improved protection of the Romanian-Serbian border. It was agreed to continue joint border patrol missions, monthly territorial-level meetings, and leadership-level discussions on current issues in border management. The Iron Gates I Joint Contact Point was highlighted as a useful tool for bilateral border cooperation, facilitating the rapid exchange of information in specific cases, and full use of this facility was agreed upon.

All these bilateral efforts have significantly contributed to Romanias progress toward full accession to the Schengen Area. In this context, the Romanian Minister of Internal Affairs assured partners that Romanias implementation of new instruments will not affect citizens of the neighboring state.

Minister Dacic emphasized that Romania is a reliable neighbor and an important partner for Serbia in the region. He highlighted the importance of consolidating bilateral operational cooperation to ensure a safe environment for citizens of both countries.

At the end of the discussions, both ministers reiterated the strong cooperative relationship between the two states and the importance of maintaining and developing it to address current challenges in a unified manner.

During the meeting, Minister Predoiu and his Serbian counterpart signed the Agreement between the Government of Romania and the Government of the Republic of Serbia on cooperation in the prevention, mitigation, and elimination of disaster effects. The document establishes the technical modalities for Romanian and Serbian authorities to carry out joint actions to prevent, mitigate, and eliminate disaster effects in a manner aligned with European and international standards and recommendations.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) has released the official exchange rates for foreign currencies as of October 6, Trend reports.

According to the rates announced by the CBI, the value of 44 currencies went up, while 1 currencies dropped compared to October 5.

The official rate for $1 is 588,627 rials, while one euro is valued at 690,982 rials. On October 5, the euro was priced at 688,497 rials.

Currency Rial on October 6 Rial on October 5 1 US dollar USD 588,627 586,466 1 British pound GBP 793,094 790,149 1 Swiss franc CHF 742,124 737,132 1 Swedish krona SEK 62,792 62,562 1 Norwegian krone NOK 59,137 58,833 1 Danish krone DKK 92,547 92,196 1 Indian rupee INR 6,633 6,608 1 UAE Dirham AED 160,280 159,691 1 Kuwaiti dinar KWD 1,922,966 1,918,468 100 Pakistani rupees PKR 209,272 207,742 100 Japanese yen JPY 399,399 397,762 1 Hong Kong dollar HKD 75,647 75,387 1 Omani rial OMR 1,529,674 1,524,317 1 Canadian dollar CAD 422,164 420,024 1 New Zealand dollar NZD 343,186 342,083 1 South African rand ZAR 34,176 34,048 1 Turkish lira TRY 14,124 14,065 1 Russian ruble RUB 7,154 7,151 1 Qatari riyal QAR 161,711 161,117 100 Iraqi dinars IQD 44,921 44,761 1 Syrian pound SYP 45 45 1 Australian dollar AUD 388,860 387,153 1 Saudi riyal SAR 156,967 156,391 1 Bahraini dinar BHD 1,565,497 1,559,750 1 Singapore dollar SGD 456,565 454,863 100 Bangladeshi takas BDT 483,204 480,843 10 Sri Lankan rupees LKR 19,472 19,398 1 Myanmar kyat MMK 280 279 100 Nepalese rupees NPR 414,374 412,810 1 Libyan dinar LYD 108,921 108,407 1 Chinese yuan CNY 82,679 82,367 100 Thai baht THB 1,819,021 1,810,307 1 Malaysian ringgit MYR 139,856 139,319 1,000 South Korean won KRW 419,279 416,929 1 Jordanian dinar JOD 830,221 827,173 1 euro EUR 690,982 688,497 100 Kazakh tenge KZT 107,606 107,144 1 Georgian lari GEL 216,334 215,703 1,000 Indonesian rupiahs IDR 35,475 35,349 1 Afghan afghani AFN 8,796 8,754 1 Belarusian ruble BYN 173,836 173,088 1 Azerbaijani manat AZN 346,069 344,796 100 Philippine pesos PHP 1,016,816 1,012,822 1 Tajik somoni TJS 63,188 63,231 1 Turkmen manat TMT 168,131 167,379 Venezuelan bolivar VES 3,183 3,167

The CBI adopted the SANA system for currency exchange offices, where one euro costs 849,775 rials and $1 costs 723,898 rials.

NIMA is a scheme for selling a percentage of the foreign money earned from exports.

The price of one euro in this system amounted to 825,024 rials, and the price of $1 totaled 702,814 rials.

On the black market, $1 is worth about 1,10 -1,13 million rials, while one euro is worth 1.30-1.33 million rials.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. Digitalization of multimodal transport corridors opens new opportunities for Turkmenistan to strengthen its role in regional connectivity, a source from the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) told Trend.

"Turkmenistan is located at the crossroads of transport corridors running through Central Asia - TRACECA, the North-South International Transport Corridor, and the Lapis Lazuli Corridor. Turkmenistan is undertaking extensive work to develop multimodal transport corridors: over the past decade, the modern Turkmenbashi seaport has been built, high-speed highways including Turkmenbashi-Turkmenabat are under construction, and the volume of international rail transport is increasing, including transit flows along the East-West and North-South routes," the source said.

The source emphasized that these efforts are accompanied by global-level initiatives.

"The development of multimodal transport corridors in the country is accompanied by important international initiatives of Turkmenistan - the adoption, in cooperation with other countries of the world, including the states of Central Asia and the South Caucasus, of UN General Assembly resolutions on sustainable transport and multimodal transport corridors (69/213, 70/197, 72/212, 75/313, 78/148). Resolution 78/148 Strengthening the links between all modes of transport to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted at the initiative of Turkmenistan on 21 December 2023, underlines the importance of using electronic unified transport documents based on the digital transmission of relevant data, as they can minimize human involvement in transportation and border crossing processes and thus increase the resilience of transport and logistics chains," the EDB source noted.

According to the source, the use of modern digital technologies will reduce border crossing times, enhance the security of cargo transportation (including customs security), and lower costs. Ultimately, this will increase the competitiveness not only of Turkmenistan but also of the transport corridors passing through it, especially the East-West corridor connecting Central Asia with Azerbaijan and Turkiye, as well as the North-South corridor linking Central Asia with Iran, Southern Europe, and the Persian Gulf countries.

The source also pointed out that digitalization requires further steps. This includes greater harmonization with international standards, more investment in digital infrastructure and equipment, updates to legislation, and stronger training for transport and customs officials.

"Among the tasks ahead are the transition to the use of digital transport waybills - SMGS and CIM/SMGS (rail transport), CMR (international road transport), digital TIR carnets, as well as the introduction of other advanced digital tools, such as the use of electronic navigation seals for vehicles and containers in transit mode," the source added.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, October 6. Atajan Movlamov, Turkmenistans Ambassador to Pakistan, had a sit-down in Islamabad with Shaheriyar Memon, the fresh face in charge of Foreign Relations, Business, and Trade for Pakistans Prime Ministers Youth Program, where they chewed the fat about bolstering bilateral trade and investment, zeroing in on pushing the TAPI gas pipeline and TAP power transmission line projects down the road, Trend reports via the Turkmen embassy.

During the talks, Ambassador Movlamov outlined the main directions of Turkmenistans foreign policy, which is based on neutrality and mutually beneficial cooperation. The parties also discussed ways to expand broader economic relations and deepen collaboration in sectors of mutual interest.

The TAPI and TAP initiatives were highlighted as strategically important for energy security and regional integration. In addition, the ambassador presented information on the construction of the innovative and environmentally sustainable city of Arkadag, designed as a model of smart urban development in the region.

The meeting further touched on cultural and educational exchanges, as well as wider trade and energy partnerships, with both sides noting that expanding cooperation in these areas could lay the foundation for long-term collaboration.

The TAPI Project denotes the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Natural Gas Pipeline, a significant infrastructural endeavor engineered to facilitate the transit of natural gas from the Galkynysh gas field in Turkmenistan, traversing through Afghanistan and Pakistan, ultimately reaching the Indian market. The conduit, spanning roughly 1,800 kilometers, is designed to bolster regional energy resilience, stimulate economic development, and foster collaborative synergies by delivering a consistent, sustainable supply of natural gas to the involved nations.

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ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, October 6. Rashid Meredov, Turkmenistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Artur Andrysiak, resident mission director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Turkmenistan, Trend reports via Turkmen MFA.

The convening concentrated on enhancing synergies between Turkmenistan and the ADB, with a specific focus on the critical importance of ongoing discourse among Turkmen governmental entities, financial stakeholders, and ADB leadership.



The parties engaged in a dialogue regarding the enhancement of the legal architecture governing bilateral collaboration and conducted a comprehensive assessment of the advancement of initiatives earmarked for execution in Turkmenistan with the involvement of ADB.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) established its operational footprint in Turkmenistan upon the nations accession in August 2000, initiating a collaborative development partnership and operational engagements concurrently within that fiscal year. The ADB's engagement in Turkmenistan is centered around strategic regional frameworks such as the CAREC Program, facilitating economic diversification and enhancing interconnectivity within the region.

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, October 6. President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov met today, October 6, with Rachel Conlan, Global Chief Marketing Officer of Binance, to discuss key aspects of the countrys digital economy and the introduction of modern solutions in the field of virtual assets and blockchain technologies, Trend reports.

During the meeting, President Japarov noted that the Secretariat of the National Council for the Development of Virtual Assets and Blockchain Technologies is working on the issuance of a new digital asset, KGST, which will be pegged to the national currency, the som. He also emphasized that the government, together with the National Bank, is advancing the project of the digital som - a state electronic currency. The demo version of the platform is already operating in a test mode, with real-data trials expected soon. In the future, the integration of the digital som with KGST is planned to expand its domestic use and facilitate international transactions.

Rachel Conlan expressed gratitude to President Japarov for his proactive efforts in developing Kyrgyzstans digital asset ecosystem, noting that the countrys initiatives have attracted significant international attention. She highlighted Binances extensive partner network and large user base, which could support the promotion of the national projects.

Conlan also recalled that Binance founder Changpeng Zhaos visit to Kyrgyzstan had a wide international resonance and reaffirmed the companys readiness to take part in the next stages of cooperation, including long-term promotional, communication, and educational initiatives.

The meeting concluded with both sides confirming their mutual interest in deepening cooperation, sharing expertise, and supporting initiatives aimed at fostering an innovative and secure digital economy.
JAKARTA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- All seven workers trapped in a wet material slide at PT Freeport Indonesia's Grasberg Block Cave Underground Mine in Central Papua province have been confirmed dead, the company said in a statement on Monday.

The incident occurred on Sept. 8 in Mimika Regency. After 27 days of continuous search and rescue operations, a joint team comprising PT Freeport Indonesia, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, local police, the National Search and Rescue Agency, and the Regional Disaster Management Agency recovered the last five bodies on Sunday. Two other victims were found earlier on Sept. 20.

PT Freeport Indonesia said the rescue process was extremely challenging due to the complex location and an estimated 800,000 tons of wet material that buried the site.

Tony Wenas, president director of PT Freeport Indonesia, expressed profound condolences to the families of the victims and paid tribute to the rescue teams for their tireless efforts. He said the company will continue to provide full support to the families and ensure the remains are handled with respect.

An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway, with the company pledging a thorough and transparent process aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future. 
Transit of passenger cars via Irans Lengeh Port sees notable activity in 6M2025

Approximately 110,000 passenger cars were transited through Irans Lenge Port during the first half of the year, mainly heading to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. Overall cargo handling at western Hormuzgan ports reached about 6.7 million tons, marking an 8% increase from last year.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, October 6. At the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Sydney, Australia, a landmark decision was made: the next congress in 2028 will be hosted in Samarkand, Trend reports.

During the Sydney congress, Uzbekistans Ministry of Digital Technologies delegation participated in a comprehensive program showcasing the countrys progress and future plans in space technologies. The delegation delivered detailed presentations highlighting Uzbekistans achievements and prospects in the sector.

Strategic meetings were also held with leading space agencies from Europe, Asia, and the Americas, fostering potential collaborations. Discussions covered joint projects aimed at applying digital technologies in space monitoring, agriculture, and environmental management.

The International Astronautical Federations leadership praised Uzbekistans scientific potential, the growing interest of its youth in space sciences, and the countrys ongoing efforts to develop infrastructure, fully supporting the initiative to host the 2028 congress in Samarkand.

In the grand scheme of things, this event is not just a feather in the cap for science and technology; it's poised to bring home the bacon with some serious economic perks. For reference, the current congress in Sydney generated $27 million for the local economy. The Samarkand IAC is anticipated to attract over 10,000 international visitors, boosting tourism, services, and entrepreneurship through global exhibitions and networking opportunities.

The International Astronautical Congress (IAC) is the foremost annual global event in the space sector, uniting space agencies, industry executives, scholars, and aficionados to exchange knowledge, promote innovation, and establish collaborations in space science and technology. The International Astronautical Congress (IAC), coordinated by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and its affiliates, annually alternates its venue worldwide, including all facets of the space industry, including technical sessions on exploration and technology as well as dialogues on space and society.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. QatarEnergy has signed an agreement with Shell to acquire a 27% participating interest in the North Cleopatra offshore block in Egypt, Trend reports.

The deal is subject to approval by the Egyptian government.

Under the agreement, Shell will retain a 36% stake as operator, while Chevron holds 27% and Tharwa Petroleum Company 10%.

Commenting on the acquisition, H.E. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, QatarEnergys President and CEO, said: We are pleased to secure this additional exploration acreage, which further expands our upstream activities in Egypt. He added that QatarEnergy looks forward to collaborating with the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and partners in the block to achieve exploration objectives.

The North Cleopatra block, located offshore in Egypts frontier Herodotus Basin, lies north of the North El-Dabaa block, where QatarEnergy already holds a 23% stake. The block spans over 3,400 square kilometers in water depths of up to 2,600 meters.

This acquisition further strengthens QatarEnergys presence in Egypt and underscores its commitment to expanding upstream exploration in the region.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, October 6. Uzbekistan has allocated a total of $50 million for the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) projects in the economy and social sectors, Trend reports via Press Service of the President of Uzbekistan.

This was announced during a presentation dedicated to the development and large-scale integration of artificial intelligence technologies across the country, which was attended by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

A portfolio of 86 AI-based projects has been formed, covering healthcare, education, agriculture, energy, transport, ecology, and finance. In parallel, Uzbekistan is establishing a supercomputing cluster to provide the country with advanced computational capacity for AI-driven solutions.

In recent years, Uzbekistan has been carrying out systemic reforms in this area. As a result, the country has risen by 17 positions in the global AI adoption index, ranking 70th among 188 countries and securing first place in Central Asia.

President Mirziyoyev noted that these results mark only the beginning of Uzbekistans progress in this field, emphasizing that much larger-scale work lies ahead. To this end, the government last year approved the Artificial Intelligence Development Strategy until 2030 and established a specialized AI Center under the Ministry of Digital Technologies.

During the discussion, particular attention was given to the creation of modern data processing centers and the formation of favorable conditions for investors interested in supporting AI infrastructure development.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of training qualified personnel, which the President called a key factor for the successful advancement of the industry. He stressed that this effort should begin in schoolsby improving computer science education, updating curricula, retraining teachers, and creating next-generation textbooks.

President Mirziyoyev endorsed the proposed plans and instructed officials to expand and accelerate the implementation of AI technologies, adopt international best practices, and further strengthen human capital in this rapidly evolving field.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, October 6. Uzbekistans Agency for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Sector held a meeting with a delegation from South Koreas Sang-A Pharmaceutical to discuss potential investment and collaboration opportunities, Trend reports.

During the meeting, the Agencys Director, Abdulla Azizov, presented the Tashkent Pharma Park pharmaceutical cluster project, providing detailed information on the favorable conditions for investors, available incentives, and sectoral opportunities.

The Korean delegation had their ears to the ground and showed a strong desire to dive into the possibility of setting up production facilities for biologically active supplements (BAS) in the pharma cluster, with an eye on future exports to Central Asian countries.

In addition, Sang-A representatives delivered a presentation on their business operations and product portfolio. The Agency also recommended exploring the cosmetics manufacturing sector, highlighting that the Uzbek market currently lacks large-scale producers in this segment.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the delegation indicated their plan to construct a modern manufacturing facility comparable to Korean production standards, leveraging the Agencys support and the opportunities offered by the cluster.

In the interim, the bilateral trade volume between Uzbekistan and South Korea escalated to $1.1 billion during the period from January to August 2025, constituting 2.2 percent of Uzbekistan's aggregate foreign trade metrics. South Korea remains a pivotal player in the strategic trade landscape for Uzbekistan. Throughout this timeframe, it positioned itself as the fifth-largest contributor within the nations primary trading partners, highlighting the enduring significance of bilateral economic dynamics between the two countries.

Pharmaceutical firms in Uzbekistan are seeing substantial expansion, propelled by rising local demand, governmental backing via policies and investments in clusters such as the Tashkent Pharma Park, and an emphasis on both generic and creative medicine manufacturing. The sector is appealing for foreign investment, fostering collaborations with global pharmaceutical companies. Initiatives are in progress to conform to WTO criteria for exports and to enhance local capabilities, encompassing clinical trials and API production, to establish Uzbekistan as a pivotal regional center for pharmaceutical products.

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DANDONG, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- During the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, Tianqiaogou forest park in Dandong, northeast China's Liaoning Province, welcomes a brilliant season. Seen from above the clouds, the mountains are bathed in vibrant layers of maple leaves, as if nature has spilled its palette.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. EU is ready to work with the government of Azerbaijan on re-building, re-establishing and re-habilitating the routes that bring Europe closer, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said in an exclusive interview with Trend, as she visited Azerbaijan in September.

"Our vision is one routed in our own experience in Europe. European cooperation became a success because we started to work in concrete areas of mutual interest between countries that had been historic foes. Transport and logistics could be those ingredients for relations between Azerbaijan and the EU, but also with the wider South Caucasus. Both sectors are crucial economic sectors with great political significance. For our business, but also for our citizens. When we turn our cooperation into a success, I am convinced that it can bring relations between Azerbaijan and Europe to a new positive reality," she said.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 6. Kazakhstans low-cost carrier FlyArystan will begin operating flights between Aktau and Dubai on November 29, 2025, Trend reports via FlyArystan.

At the outset, flights will take to the skies once a week on Saturdays. During the winter school holidays from December 16 to January 6 and the spring holidays from March 10 through 24, there will be a few extra flights thrown into the mix on Tuesdays. Daytime departures are set to hit the nail on the head, making the route a walk in the park for families and holiday travelers alike. The average flight time is clocked in at around 3.5 hours.

"The launch of the AktauDubai route reflects FlyArystans strategic focus on expanding affordable routes, including international destinations. Currently, the airline operates flights from Aktau to Kutaisi, Baku, and Istanbul. Dubai remains one of the most sought-after destinations for Kazakh travelers and is a leading center for tourism and business worldwide. We are confident this new route will provide an optimal solution for a wide range of passengers," Richard Ledger, president of FlyArystan, said.

FlyArystan passengers from other regions of Kazakhstan will be able to connect to Aktau via flights from Atyrau, Aktobe, Almaty, Shymkent, Astana, and Uralsk. Kazakh citizens are eligible for a visa-free stay in the UAE for up to 30 days.

FlyArystan operates as a budget carrier, pioneering the low-fare aviation sector in Kazakhstan since its inception in May 2019 under the aegis of its parent entity, Air Astana, with the objective of providing economical travel options for both domestic and international routes. Based in Almaty, the airline boasts a contemporary fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft and adheres to a traditional low-cost carrier framework, offering a spectrum of ancillary services in conjunction with competitive base fares.

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Kazakhstans consolidated budget set to move into deficit, ING Group says

Kazakhstans budget is set to swing into deficit in 2025, with ING Group warning that a high breakeven oil price and widening current account shortfall are fueling pressure on the tenge and underscoring the need for fiscal consolidation

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. Iran considers the conditions set by the European trio (the UK, France, and Germany) regarding the activation of the Snapback mechanism to restore UN Security Council sanctions against Iran to be illogical, said the country's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, Trend reports.

Speaking at a press conference in Tehran, Baghaei emphasized that the three conditions proposed to prevent the activation of the Snapback mechanism, including Iran negotiating with the US, which is not a participant in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), are unjustifiable.

Iran has initiated talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under its safeguards obligations in line with its national interests. The agreement reached represented a new mechanism for cooperation between Iran and the IAEA and was positively received by the agency. Although the European triple initially welcomed this agreement, they later rejected it, he said.

Baghaei added that diplomacy remains open and Iran will continue to use all available means to safeguard its national interests, though experience shows that minimal diplomacy with the European triple in this form is ineffective.

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.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. Iran currently has no plans to engage in negotiations with the European trio (United Kingdom, France, and Germany), said the country's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, Trend reports.

In his speech at a press conference in Tehran, Baghaei stated that Iran is currently putting its nose to the grindstone, sifting through the fallout from the moves made by the European trio and the U.S.

The spokesperson emphasized that while diplomacy continues in the broader sense of consultations, Iran will not refrain from using any diplomatic means to prove its position and convince the international community that the activation of the snapback mechanism against Iran is illegal.

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.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. The agreement reached between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Cairo is no longer feasible under current circumstances, said Esmail Baghaei, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Trend reports.

Speaking at a press conference in Tehran, Baghaei explained that the landscape has turned on its head since the ink dried on the agreement, with Western countries stirring the pot by activating the snapback mechanism.

He added that there are currently no IAEA inspectors in Iran. The last visit occurred roughly ten days ago at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, conducted under a technical framework with Russia as part of the existing contract.

A new agreement to restore cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was signed in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, on September 9.

Iran has significantly curtailed its collaborative engagement with the IAEA, reducing it to a bare minimum subsequent to the military airstrikes targeting its nuclear infrastructure in June.

On July 2, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian approved the implementation of the parliamentary law that effectively suspends IAEA inspections. In accordance with regulatory frameworks, IAEA inspectors are precluded from accessing Iranian territory unless there is an affirmative endorsement from the Supreme National Security Council affirming the integrity and safety of the nations peaceful nuclear operations and installations.

On September 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.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. Iran has called on all countries to refrain from implementing the decision of the European trio regarding the activation of the Snapback mechanism, which envisages the restoration of UN Security Council sanctions against Iran, said the countrys Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, Trend reports.

Speaking at a press conference in Tehran, Baghaei emphasized that Iran is hoping that all nations, especially those close to home and on good terms, will steer clear of taking this unlawful leap.

Responding to a question about Turkiyes recent actions related to UN sanctions on Iran, the Iranian official said that Turkiyes notification to implement provisions of the Security Councils terminated resolutions is unnecessary.

All the grounds for the European trios step to restore the expired resolutions are illegal. None of the institutions or companies named in Turkiyes notice hold property or financial accounts in Turkiye. He also said that Irans Atomic Energy Organization has clearly stated that none of its assets or accounts have been frozen," he added.

Recently, Turkish media reported that after the snapback mechanism was set in motion, the financial noose tightened around Turkiye, targeting 20 Iranian nationals and 18 entities, including the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and Bank Sepah.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. The future of relations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will be determined by the relevant Iranian institutions, including the Supreme National Security Council, said the countrys Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, at a press conference in Tehran on October 6, Trend reports.

According to him, Iran is a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and at the same time has a safeguards agreement.

Baghaei stated that the recent agreement between Iran and the IAEA on the implementation of the Snapback mechanism, which provides for the restoration of UN Security Council sanctions against Iran, cannot be considered a basis for cooperation between the two sides.

The Iranian official said that the Iranian Foreign Ministry would announce its position in the context of national interests, and that the decision on cooperation with the IAEA would be made by the relevant institutions of the country.

On September 9, a new agreement was signed in the Egyptian capital Cairo between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency on the resumption of cooperation.

Iran's cooperation with the IAEA was reduced to a minimum following air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June.

On July 2, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a decree suspending cooperation with the IAEA. According to a law passed by the Iranian parliament, inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are not allowed to enter the country to conduct inspections. The agency's inspectors may only be admitted to the country if Iran's Supreme National Security Council confirms that the country's peaceful nuclear activities and the safety of its nuclear facilities are guaranteed.

On September 26, the UN Security Council held a meeting on a draft resolution submitted by Russia and China to extend Resolution 2231 and prevent the activation of the Snapback mechanism. At the meeting, four countries voted in favor of the resolution, nine countries voted against it, and two countries abstained. Thus, as of September 28, the UN Security Council resolutions against Iran were reinstated.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. The problems between Iran and the US have almost entirely arisen due to miscalculations on the part of the other side, said the countrys Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, at a press conference in Tehran on October 6, Trend reports.

According to him, for example, one of the main problems during the recent negotiations was that the other side insisted on removing enriched uranium from Iran. In response, it was proposed to postpone the reinstatement of the cancelled resolutions for 3-6 months. This proposal clearly shows that the other side miscalculated and did not understand the legal and logical requirements.

Baghaei asserted that in recent months, countries in the region, and even countries beyond it, have been trying in good faith to resolve existing problems and prevent tensions from escalating.

The official added that, in Iran's view, this strategy reflects the goodwill of the countries in the region, and Iran welcomes all these efforts and initiatives.

Meanwhile, on June 22, the US launched airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. It was reported that the airstrikes destroyed Iran's nuclear facilities.

On September 26, the UN Security Council held a meeting on the preliminary text of a resolution submitted by Russia and China to extend the validity of Resolution 2231 and prevent the activation of the snapback mechanism. Four countries voted in favor of the resolution, nine against, and two abstained. Thus, as of September 28, the UN Security Council's anti-Iran resolutions were reinstated.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. Irans Rasht city in northern Gilan Province will host a meeting of the coastal governors of Caspian countries in mid-November, said Hadi Haqshenas, the governor of the province, Trend reports.

Speaking at a coordination meeting for the event, Haqshenas stated that the gathering will take place within the framework of agreements reached among officials of Caspian nations. Representatives from Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan are expected to attend.

He noted that the purpose of the meeting is to enhance cooperation in economics, trade, culture, and sports, as well as to leverage regional opportunities.

The Iranian official emphasized that, given the current economic conditions and international sanctions against Iran, strengthening regional ties with neighboring countries could provide an effective way to boost trade and mitigate the impact of sanctions.

This meeting can open a new chapter in multilateral cooperation among Caspian countries, he said.

To note, the inaugural convening of the Caspian littoral states transpired during the First Caspian Summit, conducted in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on April 23-24, 2002, featuring the engagement of the sovereign leaders from Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan. This summit catalyzed the initiation of a continuous discourse and set a precedent for collaborative synergies among the Caspian littoral states to address multifaceted challenges pertaining to the Caspian Sea.

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COLOMBO, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government has allocated 2.08 billion rupees (about 7 million U.S. dollars) to modernize the country's postal service, a minister said Monday.

Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, speaking at a ceremony in Colombo where 731 individuals were recruited to the postal service, said the funds would be used to upgrade facilities and introduce new technologies.

Of the total allocation, about 200 million rupees (about 670,000 dollars) would be spent on purchasing new trucks, vans, laptops, and desktop computers, he said, adding that another 600 million rupees (about 2 million dollars) would go toward new construction projects.

Jayatissa added that the government plans to recruit an additional 3,000 individuals to the department soon. 
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. Cooperation between Iran and Russia is developing and continuing, said the countrys Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, at a press conference in Tehran on October 6, Trend reports.

According to him, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement between the two countries was signed by the presidents of both countries in January and entered into force on October 2 after passing through the legal protocols in both countries. This process was legal and normal. However, recent developments in New York coincided with the activation of a mechanism related to the reinstatement of expired UN Security Council sanctions against Iran.

Baghaei stated in response to some accusations of Iran's isolation that the country is not a country that should be isolated.

''Sanctions against Iran have a long history. Sanctions against the country have been in place since the 1950s, when the oil industry was nationalized. Sanctions against Iran have been in place ever since,'' he emphasized.

The official stated that over the past 7080 years, Iran has continued to develop with all its might, relying on its own capabilities, local resources, and potential. Bilateral agreements with various countries remain in force. Iran continues to cooperate seriously with neighboring countries and other international partners. Relations with Russia are also based on mutual trust. Both sides are committed to utilizing all available potential within the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement.

Meanwhile, on January 17, 2025, Iran and Russia signed a 47-point Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. A meeting of naval commanders from Caspian littoral states is taking place in Russia's Saint Petersburg, with the participation of Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, Commander of the Iranian Navy, Trend reports.

Rear Admiral Irani arrived in Russia to attend the session of naval leaders from Caspian countries. As part of his visit, the Iranian commander is expected to hold meetings with the heads of the naval forces of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

Additionally, Rear Admiral Irani will visit several military bases across Russia to become acquainted with their operations.
CAIRO, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- A delegation from the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) arrived in Egypt on Sunday to prepare for negotiations with the Egyptian side on Monday in the Red Sea city of Sharm El Sheikh, Egyptian sources told Xinhua.

The two sides will hold talks on implementing the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump's Gaza ceasefire plan, according to the informed sources.

The negotiation will focus on the details of enacting the first phase of the plan, the sources told Xinhua, adding that key points of discussions are expected to include the mechanism for the exchange of prisoners between Hamas and Israel, as well as the process for Hamas to hand over its weapons.

After the Hamas meeting, the Egyptian side will hold a separate meeting with an Israeli delegation. The results from both negotiations will be delivered to U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner upon their arrival in Egypt, the sources said.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Saturday confirmed the negotiation between Israeli and Hamas delegations to be held Monday to discuss "field conditions and details" for the exchange of "all Israeli detainees and Palestinian prisoners" under the U.S.-proposed 20-point plan. 
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Published October 6, 2025

MONROE, La.  The Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup, Louisianas premier business plan competition hosted annually at the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM), has announced an expansion for 2026. For the 5th year of the competition, contestants will be split into undergraduate and graduate categories. The overall prize pool will grow from $96,000 to $157,000. The application period for the 2026 competition begins on December 1, 2025, with the oral finals and awards luncheon taking place on March 25-26, 2026, on the ULM campus.

For the 2026 Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup competition, the graduate category prize amounts will be $50,000 for first place, $25,000 for second place, and $10,000 for third place. For the new undergraduate category, the prize amounts will be $25,000 for first place, $15,000 for second place, and $10,000 for third place. Graduates and undergraduates will compete in separate elevator pitch competitions at the Awards Luncheon, with a $2,000 prize on the line for each winner. Additionally, faculty advisors for the first, second, and third-place teams in each category will receive $3,000 each.

Cathi Hemed, ULM Director of External Initiatives, states that the new undergraduate category was created to allow for wider competition and more incentive for undergraduate students to compete. By increasing the prize pool and separating the two divisions, we are touching more lives and encouraging more entrepreneurial creativity across this great state. Now our undergraduates, who may still be in the conceptual stages, are able to compete in their own division, intended to recognize their hard work and encourage them to keep growing, said Hemed.

Dhu Thompson, founder and premier sponsor of the Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup, believes this new investment in the competition will help grow the entrepreneurial spirit that the competition has been fostering since the beginning. This program has always had its sights on greater impact and more growth. This is a natural step that touches more lives and keeps our momentum going. We set out to change the landscape of entrepreneurship in higher education, and thats what we will always strive to do, said Thompson.

For more information about the Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup, including application and competition dates, please visit ulm.edu/pelicancup.

About The Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup

Open to students in all majors attending any four-year college or university in Louisiana, with cash prizes now totaling $157,000, the Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup is the premier business plan competition for Louisiana. It provides an opportunity for students to develop critical thinking, team building, presentation, and other soft skills, which are all important to career growth. The goal is to inspire participants and the community to think entrepreneurially by rewarding creativity, professionalism, and hard work.

The Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup was founded by distinguished ULM alumnus Dhu Thompson. Thompson is the founder, past owner, and former chairman of the board for Delta Plastics, producer of agricultural irrigation tubing, and the largest recycler of plastics in Arkansas. He is also the former owner and past chairman of the board for Revolution Bag, which manufactures EPA-compliant trashcan liners. Thompsons honors include 2004 Arkansas Business Executive of the Year and SBA Person of the Year. In 2019 he sold the Revolution brands to a New York private equity firm and now focuses on entrepreneurship growth in Arkansas and Louisiana. In 2023, Thompson received the Warhawk Ambassador Award, one of ULMs highest honors. In 2024, Thompson was inducted into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame.
Creating a Path for Human Trafficking Survivors

I am the proved example that you can overcome everything in life. And I will say that Im so thankful and that the SAFE Center saved my life.

The woman who spoke those words is Olga, a survivor of human trafficking in Maryland and one of more than 500 survivors served since the 2016 founding of the University of Maryland SAFE (Support, Advocacy, Freedom, and Empowerment) Center for Human Trafficking Survivors.

Participants in a forum at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) in Rockville, Md., on Sept. 30 heard firsthand about the centers success in combating human trafficking and preparing a pathway for survivors to reclaim their lives.

(l-r) Olga, Susan Esserman, Abbe Horswill, Bruce Jarrell

A family member sells a victim into sexual servitude and forced marriage. Perpetrators traffic clients for sex up and down the I-95 corridor. A pimp posing as a boyfriend sells a teen for sex and then controls her by hooking her on heroin. High-ranking diplomats hold their domestic workers captive, isolated, forcing them to work long, grueling hours with little or no pay, and denying them crucial medical care.

These are some of the all-too-common ways human trafficking is perpetrated in Maryland, according to Susan G. Esserman, JD, founder and director of the SAFE Center.

University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, led the discussion with Esserman and two other panelists before an audience of alumni from four of UMBs professional schools gathered at USG.

The whole idea of it [the SAFE Center] was a one-stop shop to prevent survivors who are suffering from trauma from having to navigate services all over the region, Esserman said. So, we provide at the center legal, social services, mental health, crisis intervention, economic empowerment services, and, with the support of the University, dental services and basic medical. Our multidisciplinary team of lawyers, social workers, mental health clinicians, and housing and workforce experts meet regularly on a clients case to prioritize the highest need for the survivor and his sequence services.

Created in 2016 as a partnership between UMB and the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP), the SAFE Center is the first systematic, university-based program serving victims of human trafficking with comprehensive legal, social, economic, mental health, and medical services. The center operates under the aegis of the University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State, the formal collaboration between the two universities, and has worked with 12 university programs (six at UMB, six at UMCP), drawing on a depth of clinical and educational resources.

In 2018, the SAFE Center began talks with a powerful new partner, Marriott International.

We recognize that the hospitality industry is vulnerable to the issue, as traffickers use hotel rooms to exploit their victims, said Abbe Horswill, director of human rights for Marriott International. At the same time, Horswill explained, Marriott also is positioned perfectly to provide pathways to economic freedom. The industry is great for entry-level roles that really dont require formal education or work experience, she told the audience, adding that Marriott has a long history of providing workforce development and job trainings for people who want to pursue careers in the hospitality industry.

Although full implementation of a new job and skills training program was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Marriott and the SAFE Center were able to launch in 2022, along with three more Marriott centers in New York, Dallas, and Charlotte. With the help of additional funding from the American Hotel and Lodging Association Foundations No Room for Trafficking Survivor Fund, the program has trained over 500 survivors to date.

One of those survivors is Olga, whose story riveted the audience at USG.

As a victim, like everybody calls us that, I dont feel like that anymore because I feel like I have people with me, actually, Olga said. Ive been working with the SAFE Center for about five years now, and I feel that these programs are necessary for our society.

Olga smiled as she recounted the many training and education programs shes participated in at the SAFE Center. First of all, Im Latina, so I didnt know English at all, she said. Ive been through all the programs in the SAFE Center. I was with the program teaching classes, like English class. I was in economic empowerment. I also was able to learn financial and economical skills.

Along the way, she also learned the skill she says was most empowering: solving problems. Now, Olga works for United Airlines as a customer service representative. She says there are lots of situations, but shes not fazed. I learned how to solve problems, how to communicate, how to just find a way to make a difference and create a positive experience for others.

Yeah, I think that from not having hope, Im full of hope now. I am expecting so much from life, and it is because of your people and God. I just would say, Thank you. 

To learn more about the SAFE Center and watch a video about Olgas story, please visit the centers website.
by Xu Yongzheng, Meng Yifei

GEORGETOWN, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- On the first Sunday of October, thousands of Guyanese gathered along the banks of the Demerara River to witness a historic moment -- the opening of the new Demerara River Bridge, officially named the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, constructed by China Railway Construction Corporation International (CRCCI).

As the sun set, the crowns atop the four bridge towers -- inspired by elements on Guyana's national emblem -- glowed in brilliant colors, their reflections shimmering across the water. More than 10,000 residents from both banks turned out to celebrate the long-awaited milestone.

"We won't need to get up at four in the morning anymore," said Masie Barclay, a resident of Georgetown who crosses the river daily for work. Her weekday commute between the two banks often took more than three hours due to heavy congestion on the old floating bridge.

Built in 1978 with a 10-year design life, the old bridge has long outlived its limits. Drivers often waited more than an hour to cross, and each night, a movable span at the bridge's midpoint opened for passing ships, halting road traffic entirely.

"When I heard about the new bridge, I thought it was a wonderful idea," Barclay said. "It is such a relief for us."

Known as "the land of many waters," Guyana is crisscrossed by rivers and swamps. Here, bridges are more than concrete and steel -- they connect lives and dreams.

"With the commissioning of the new Demerara River Crossing, this generation, and generations yet to come, are being handed a gift of reclaimed time from generations past, and with it, the chance to savor life's precious moments in the company of those we cherish most," local media outlet Guyana Chronicle wrote in an editorial on Sunday.

"This is not just about the concrete," said Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill in an interview with Xinhua, emphasizing that the new crossing will cut travel time between new residential communities and downtown Georgetown to about 30 minutes, transforming daily life.

"It is about the opportunities that they bring to Guyana," he added, explaining that by linking to the national road network, the bridge opens broad prospects for trade, industry and agriculture.

Stretching about 2.9 km, the new Demerara River Bridge is the largest and most technically complex transport infrastructure project in Guyana's history. It took nearly a year from geological surveys to the laying of the first foundation pile, said the CRCCI project team.

The construction faced tough challenges. Local fine sand couldn't meet the strength requirements for high-grade concrete, while importing materials was costly. Drawing on the ancient Chinese hydraulic concept of "controlling sand by constraining water," chief engineer Ning Guangwei devised a method to isolate and utilize locally available medium sand, overcoming the material bottleneck.

Built in a tropical river delta characterized by soft soil, strong currents, high humidity and frequent rain, the project demanded precision and endurance. "The most interesting thing about this job is that it pushes you to the limit," said crane operator Rawlelex Taylor. "I get to do a lot of things within my own soil, and I've achieved a lot since working with this company over the past two years."

Along the Demerara River, lush mangroves thrive where scarlet ibises feed and four-eyed fish leap from the water. To minimize the project's ecological footprint, the CRCCI team crossed the mangrove belt while preserving root systems, recycled waste oil, and controlled noise, dust and light pollution, said project manager Wang Zhiliang.

"Three years ago, it was an imagination. Now it's reality," said resident Romel Sookram at the opening ceremony. "Major kudos to the workers -- every single one of them did a good job." 
MELBOURNE, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Consulate-General in Melbourne has issued a safety warning, reminding Chinese citizens to exercise safety precautions while hiking or engaging in other high-risk tourism activities in Australia.

The Chinese Consulate-General on Monday confirmed with Xinhua that the two women found dead on Friday in the Victoria Alpine area were Chinese.

Victoria Police said on Saturday that two female foreigners were found dead on Mount Bogong, the highest mountain in the state of Victoria, about 240 km northeast of Melbourne. They likely succumbed to severe hypothermia amid severe blizzard conditions.

A third Chinese woman died late in September when her group, the other three members of which were rescued, became overwhelmed by extreme weather while hiking in the island state of Tasmania.

Police said at the time that the group was not prepared for the conditions.

The Consulate-General in Melbourne advised visitors to the area to wear warm and weatherproof clothing while hiking to prevent the risk of hypothermia and carry personal locator beacons.

"If the weather is bad or the route is too difficult, you should retreat decisively or change your plans to avoid risking your way forward," it said.

It said that anyone engaging in other high-risk tourism activities, including surfing, paragliding and going out to sea, should evaluate their physical strength and any safety risks. 
MELBOURNE, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- An Australian-led rocket test shows bacteria crucial for human health can survive the extreme forces of space launch and re-entry, offering hope for future Mars missions.

Space agencies are planning to send crews to Mars within decades but sustaining life on the red planet would be more difficult if important bacteria die during the flight.

Researchers sent spores of Bacillus subtilis, a microbe that supports immunity, gut health and circulation, to the edge of space aboard a rocket launched in Sweden, according to a statement released Monday by Australia's Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) which led the study.

The payload endured up to 13 g (g-force) acceleration, more than six minutes of microgravity, and re-entry forces of 30 g while spinning 220 times per second, the statement said.

When recovered, the spores showed no changes in their ability to grow and their structure stayed the same, indicating a key microbe for human health can survive the space journey, it said.

"This means we can design better life support systems for astronauts to keep them healthy during long missions," said Distinguished Professor Elena Ivanova of RMIT, co-author of the study published in the journal npj Microgravity.

Co-author, RMIT space science expert Associate Professor Gail Iles said, "This research enhances our understanding of how life can endure harsh conditions, providing valuable insights for future missions to Mars and beyond."

The study, conducted with space tech firm ResearchSat and drug delivery company Numedico Technologies, also has potential applications in biotechnology and combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. 
ORANGEBURG, S.C.  On the evening of October 4, 2025, South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina, experienced two separate shootings during its Homecoming weekend. The first incident occurred near Hugine Suites, a student residence hall, where 19-year-old Jaliyah Butler was fatally wounded. She was later pronounced dead at MUSC Health Orangeburg. The second shooting took place elsewhere on campus, leaving a male individual injured; he was transported to a local hospital and is in stable condition. While no fatalities were reported, the events highlighted vulnerabilities in campus security and the challenges universities face in protecting students.

In response, the university immediately placed the campus on lockdown and canceled all scheduled Homecoming events for the following day. Enhanced security measures were implemented, including vehicle checks and ID verifications at campus entrances, to ensure the safety of students and staff. Counseling services were also made available for those affected by the incidents.

Students described feelings of fear and uncertainty, as well as a renewed awareness of the importance of community support. Campus counseling services reported a spike in requests for appointments, reflecting the emotional impact of the shootings. Student leaders organized impromptu vigils and peer support groups, emphasizing solidarity and resilience.

Experts note that such incidents underscore the need for robust campus safety protocols and proactive measures to address potential risks. This includes not only physical securitysuch as surveillance and rapid response systemsbut also programs to support mental health, de-escalate conflicts, and build a culture of care.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is leading investigations into both shootings. Authorities have appealed to the public for any information or tips that could assist in identifying suspects. As of now, no arrests have been made, and the motive behind the shootings remains under investigation. The incidents have sparked broader concerns about campus safety and the need for heightened security protocols at universities nationwide.

While law enforcement investigates the incidents, university leaders are also reviewing policies on access, emergency response, and student outreach. The goal, they say, is to strengthen safety infrastructure without creating an atmosphere of fear.

For many students, the events are a stark reminder of the delicate balance universities must maintain: offering a welcoming, open learning environment while protecting against real threats. As the campus community begins to process the events, there is a shared determination to foster resilience, enhance safety, and ensure that students can continue their education in a secure environment.
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.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva urged US President Donald Trump to lift punitive trade tariffs in their first official talks Monday after months of animosity -- with both suggesting an in-person meeting in the near future.

The two leaders spoke for 30 minutes in a "friendly tone" and Lula raised the possibility of a meeting in Malaysia next month, the Brazilian presidency said in a statement.

Lula "requested the removal" of tariffs imposed on his country's products and sanctions against Brazilian officials.

Trump hailed "a very good telephone call" in a post on Truth Social.

"We will be having further discussions, and will get together in the not too distant future, both in Brazil and the United States," he said, without adding details.

Ties have soured between Washington and Brasilia in recent months, with Trump angered over the trial and conviction of his ally, the far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro.

Trump has imposed a 50-percent tariff on Brazilian products and imposed sanctions against several top officials, including a top Supreme Court judge, to punish Brazil for what he termed a "witch hunt" against Bolsonaro.

"We are very optimistic that we will move toward a win-win situation in this relationship," said Brazil's Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, who has been tasked with continuing negotiations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

He noted the call had gone "even better than we expected" and that the two presidents had exchanged personal phone numbers.

- 'Excellent chemistry' -

The phone call came after what first appeared to be a chance encounter on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly last month that led Trump to hail his "excellent chemistry" with Lula.

However the Estadao news site reported the brief run-in, which included a hug, was actually the result of an intensive behind-the-scenes "diplomatic operation."

In a speech to the UN, Lula slammed an "unacceptable" attack on the independence of Brazil's judiciary.

Despite the political and economic pressure, Brazil's Supreme Court sentenced Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison for his role in a botched coup bid after his 2022 election loss to Lula.

Trump, meanwhile, used his UN speech to accuse Brazil of "censorship, repression" and "judicial corruption."

He later switched tack, and recounted his run-in with Lula, describing him as "a very nice man, actually."

The two men stand on polar opposite sides when it comes to issues such as multilateralism, international trade and the fight against climate change.

The Brazilian presidency said that Lula had raised the possibility with Trump of an in-person meeting at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia in October.

He also re-iterated an invitation to Trump to attend the COP-30 climate conference in Brazil's Amazon city of Belem in November, "and also expressed his willingness to travel to the United States."

- 'No one to talk to' -

Lula has repeatedly stated that Brazil was "ready to negotiate" regarding tariffs, but lamented there was "no one to talk to" in Washington.

A Brazilian government source told AFP the private sector played a key role behind the scenes in the rapprochement with Washington, citing a meeting between Trump and Brazil's billionaire beef tycoon Joesley Batista at the White House.

Batista's "JBS played an important role, but it wasn't the only one," said the source.

A European diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity that Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer had also put pressure on the White House.

Trump's tariffs mainly target major Brazilian exports beef, coffee and sugar.

Brazilian trade data for September, released Monday, showed that exports to the United States fell 20.3 percent compared with last year, while imports from the US rose 14.3 percent.

However, Brazil has other major markets, such as Asia, for its beef and coffee, and has been expanding to diversify its exports.

Overall exports grew 7.2 percent in September, with major growth in China, India, Singapore, Argentina, Peru and Panama.

rsr-fb/sla
NEW DELHI, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and two others rescued alive after a portion of a dilapidated building collapsed Monday in the western Indian state of Gujarat, police said.

The building collapsed in Veraval city of Gir Somnath district, about 456 km southwest of Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat.

Immediately, police, fire and emergency personnel and disaster response force teams were rushed to the spot to carry out rescue efforts and pull out survivors.

Police said two people were rescued alive from the debris and removed to the nearest hospital.

Local media reports quoted residents as saying the building was nearly 80 years old.

The cause of the building collapse was not immediately known. Police have registered a case and ordered an investigation to ascertain the reasons that led to the collapse of the structure. 
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg landed in Greece on Monday alongside scores of fellow campaigners expelled from Israel after trying to ship aid to Gaza, AFP journalists saw.

The 22-year-old climate campaigner was one of hundreds of people who had boarded a flotilla that tried to break through an Israeli blockade of the war-stricken territory, with many complaining on their return to Europe of mistreatment at the hands of the Israeli authorities.

Thunberg and 160 others landed at Athens International Airport, where crowds of activists welcomed them.

She called the Global Sumud Flotilla "the biggest ever attempt to break Israel's illegal and inhumane siege by sea".

"That this mission has to exist is a shame," she added, urging the world to act to prevent Israel's "genocide" of the Palestinians.

"We are not even seeing the bare minimum from our governments," Thunberg said.

Activists unfurled a huge Palestinian flag in the arrivals hall and chanted: "Freedom for Palestine" and "Long live the flotilla!"

- Parliamentarian 'beaten' -

One of those landing in Greece, Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament, reported having been hit by Israeli police after the flotilla was intercepted.

"I was beaten by two police officers when they put me in the van," she told AFP.

Hassan said she and other detainees were kept in groups of up to 15 per cell on mattresses in a high-security Israeli prison.

Yasmin Acar, a member of the flotilla's steering committee, said the detainees were "treated like animals" and "terrorists".

"We were physically assaulted, we were deprived of sleep," Acar said.

"We did not have any clean water. The first 48 hours, there was no food, no water at all."

Israel has rejected the accusations of mistreatment as untrue.

The Greek foreign ministry said the "special repatriation flight" that landed in Athens carried 27 Greeks and 134 other nationals from 15 European countries.

Israel's foreign ministry said on Monday it had deported 171 activists overall to Greece and Slovakia.

Bratislava's foreign ministry confirmed that one Slovak had returned to the central European country, along with nine other people from the Netherlands, Canada and the United States.

The flotilla departed from Barcelona in Spain in early September and was intercepted by the Israeli navy off Egypt last week.

Israel has branded the flotilla an offshoot of Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement that it is battling to destroy in Gaza.

It said the boats violated a prohibited zone and that little humanitarian aid was found on board the vessels.

Israeli police said more than 470 people aboard the flotilla boats were arrested.

Israel's foreign ministry told AFP that 138 flotilla participants remained in detention in Israel.

Thirteen Brazilians are among them, including three who are holding a hunger strike, a spokeswoman for the Brazilian delegation in the flotilla, Lara Souza, told AFP.

Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva demanded in a post on X that this "absurd situation end as soon as possible" and the Brazilians be released.

He said that Israel had "violated international law" by intercepting the flotilla "and it continues to commit violations by keeping them detained".

mj-yap/rmb/rlp
I have to refer to the note verbale from the Secretariat of the United Nations DPPA/SCAD/SCA/4/25(1) [1], as well as the notification from the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs to the Security Council, both dated 28 September 2025, regarding the so-called re-application of resolutions 1696 (2006), 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008), 1835 (2008) and 1929 (2010) of the Security Council concerning the Islamic Republic of Iran.

I would also like to draw your attention to the vote on the Security Council draft resolution submitted by the Republic of Korea on extending the regime of termination of the United Nations sanctions against Iran that took place on 19 September 2025, as well as to the vote on 26 September 2025 on the draft presented by China and Russia aimed at the extension of the Security Council resolution 2231 (2015).

During the above-mentioned meetings of the Security Council, the United States, the United Kingdom and France, supported by a number of non-permanent members of the Council, voted against both drafts, thus expressing themselves against giving additional room for negotiations in the context of the Iranian nuclear issue. Regrettably, despite all the energetic diplomatic efforts of the last two weeks and Irans readiness to engage in finding a solution, the above-mentioned States rejected all the compromises and chose an escalatory path.

In parallel, the United Kingdom, France and Germany have continued to insist on the validity of their so-called snapback notification that was circulated in the Security Council on 28 August. The claims by E3 that the snapback mechanism was triggered do not withstand any scrutiny, as these States did not follow the procedures for dispute resolution established by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), being an integral part of resolution 2231 (2015). Moreover, numerous violations of these documents committed by the United Kingdom, France and Germany deprived them of the right to use the instrument prescribed therein. Hence, their notification allegedly having triggered the snapback is legally null and void and it cannot be regarded as a notification submitted pursuant to operative paragraph 11 of Security Council resolution 2231 (2015), as indicated, inter alia, in the letter addressed to you by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Russia, China and Iran dated 28 August. Therefore, the draft resolution put to a vote on 19 September by the President of the Council undoubtedly did not meet the requirements of resolution 2231 (2015), and the outcome of its consideration cannot entail the restoration of the United Nations sanctions against Iran. For that reason, the claimed snapback procedure cannot be considered to be triggered.

The efforts of the Western States to maintain the opposite only demonstrate that they are desperately trying to legitimize their blatant violations of resolution 2231 (2015) committed previously, as well as to compel the rest of the world to side with their confrontational and fundamentally erroneous policy.

Since the Security Council did not adopt a resolution on the technical extension of Security Council resolution 2231 (2015), it will then cease to be in effect in accordance with the established timeline  which is the termination day of JCPOA, namely 18 October 2025. After that, any restrictions and rules provided for therein, including those relating to Irans nuclear programme, will cease to be relevant.

Therefore, the Secretariat has no grounds whatsoever for undertaking any steps aimed at re-application of a number of Council resolutions that were terminated in accordance with resolution 2231 (2015), nor for renewing the relevant mandates. Our country has already warned the Secretary-General accordingly, inter alia, in the letter by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation circulated in the Council on 27 September 2025 (see S/2025/601).

I regret to underline that the actions undertaken by the Secretariat, as indicated in its above-mentioned note verbale, lack any legal or procedural grounds and contradict the Charter of the United Nations, namely its Article 100, as well as consensual decisions of the Security Council, including its resolution 2231 (2015). The references to the process set forth in paragraphs 11 and 12 of this resolution are irrelevant and cannot serve as a basis for any steps by the Secretariat, as the procedures stipulated therein have never been invoked.

However, the Secretariat circulated on 28 September 2025 a notification on re establishment of the sanctions list maintained by the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006) as well as reinstallation of the relevant website. This is a counterproductive and wrongful act that can seriously damage the authority of the Security Council.

We urge the Secretariat to withdraw its notification DPPA/SCAD/SCA/4/25(1), to cancel the re-establishment of the sanctions list maintained by the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006), to terminate the relevant website for the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006) with information concerning the sanctions regime, including the nature and scope of the sanctions measures, relevant resolutions and documents of the Council, and lists of designated individuals, groups and entities, and refrain from any further steps serving the position of a small group of States rather than following decisions of the Security Council.

There is no basis either for the re-establishment of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006) itself, so no step should be taken in this regard (no call for nomination of experts to the Panel nor appointment of the Chair).

I would be grateful if this communication could be circulated as a document of the Security Council.
Israeli negotiators to leave Monday for Gaza ceasefire talks in Egypt: Netanyahu

Xinhua) 09:22, October 06, 2025

JERUSALEM, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a high-level delegation to depart for indirect talks with Hamas in Egypt on Monday, aimed at halting the Gaza war, his office said in a statement on Sunday.

The team, led by Ron Dermer, Israel's minister of strategic affairs and a close associate of Netanyahu, will head to Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula for the negotiations.

Hamas and Israeli officials are set to discuss a U.S. proposal to end the nearly 24-month war, while securing the release of 48 hostages still held in Gaza. The war has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, devastated the enclave and caused famine in the strip.

Israel said Saturday that it had halted all military offensive operations to capture Gaza City, shifting its forces to defensive operations only.

However, earlier on Sunday, Israel's military chief Eyal Zamir toured the northern Gaza Strip and warned that the military operations would resume if the upcoming indirect ceasefire talks fail.

Zamir visited the westernmost point of the Netzarim Corridor, a dividing line established by Israeli forces to separate northern and southern Gaza, the military said.

"There is no ceasefire, but there is a change in the operational situation," Zamir said while speaking with commanders near Gaza's seashore.

"If the political effort does not succeed, we will return to fighting. We will continue to carry out our mission while also protecting the lives of our soldiers," he added.

Meanwhile, Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz also warned that the Israeli assault on Gaza would intensify if Hamas refuses to release hostages held in the enclave. "Should Hamas refuse to release the hostages, the IDF will again increase the intensity of its fire until Hamas is decisively defeated and all the hostages are freed," Katz said at a ceremony in Jerusalem for fallen soldiers.

Israeli forces "are operating in the heart of Gaza City and are prepared for any scenario," Katz added.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Hongyu)
JAKARTA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has ordered law enforcement agencies to step up efforts against illegal mining and smuggling, particularly in tin-rich regions, state news agency Antara reported.

Prabowo on Monday visited Pangkal Pinang, capital of Bangka Belitung Islands Province, to witness the handover of confiscated state assets from illegal mining cases to state-owned tin miner PT Timah.

The Attorney General's Office recently seized six tin smelters in the province in a corruption case with an estimated state loss of 300 trillion Indonesian rupiahs (about 18 billion U.S. dollars).

Calling the seizures "a proud achievement," Prabowo urged the Attorney General's Office, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Customs and Excise Office, and the Maritime Security Agency to sustain joint operations.

"This is proof that the government is serious and determined to eradicate smuggling, eradicate illegal mining, and eradicate all those who violate the law," he said.

Last month, Prabowo instructed the TNI, National Police, and Customs and Excise Office to launch a large-scale operation in Bangka Belitung to close smuggling routes for tin products. He noted that almost 80 percent of the country's tin output is smuggled annually, often via small vessels.

The president estimated that ongoing enforcement could save the state up to 22 trillion rupiahs (around 1.32 billion dollars) by the end of this year. 
Snow Set To Exit; Another On The Way
JAKARTA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has expanded its coffee market with the shipment of 15 tons of Arabica coffee worth 3 billion rupiah (around 180,000 U.S. dollars) from the slopes of Mount Argopuro in East Java to Saudi Arabia on Monday.

Bagus Rachman, deputy for business affairs at the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), said Indonesia is among the world's largest coffee producers, with more than 90 percent of plantations managed by smallholder farmers.

"Today's export of coffee from the slopes of Mount Argopuro proves that our MSMEs are capable of competing in the global market," he said, adding that Argopuro coffee serves as an example of how medium-scale enterprises can become a driving force of the MSME ecosystem.

Indonesia's coffee exports rose from 279.94 million kg in 2023 to 316.72 million kg in 2024, according to Statistics Indonesia. 
Rome appeals to Washington in a bid to avoid 107 per cent pasta tariffs.

Italian pasta exports to the United States face a challenging new trade landscape amid plans by the US to impose an extra duty of more than 91 per cent on pasta products.

If implemented, the additional "anti-dumping" duty of 91.74 per cent would be applied on top of the existing 15 per cent general tariff on European agri-food imports, bringing the tariffs on Italian pasta to 107 per cent.

The 15 per cent tariff on pasta came into effect on 1 August while the planned new 91 per cent tariff on pasta would take effect from January 2026.

The move to introduce the extra tariffs was motivated by "dumping" accusations after an investigation by the US department of commerce found that two major Italian producers, La Molisana and Garofalo, were allegedly selling pasta at below market value between July 2023 and June 2024.

The proposed new tariff has been criticised by the Italian agriculture minister Francesco Lollobrigida who said it "would trigger a hyper-protectionist mechanism against our pasta producers, for which we see neither the need nor any justification".

"The Government and our diplomats are in constant contact with US government offices to address this and other dossierswine, Pecorino Romano, extra virgin olive oilthat are essential to ensuring flourishing and increasingly profitable trade relations", Lollobrigida said in a statement.

The US is one of Italy's top export markets for pasta, with nearly 671 million in exports in 2024, according to agricultural group Coldiretti, which claimed the extra tariffs would deal a "mortal blow" to the Italian pasta sector.

Coldiretti said it considers the dumping accusations "unacceptable and exploitative, linked to Trump's plan to move production to the US", claiming the new tariffs would have "devastating consequences for Made in Italy".

The 107 per cent tariff "would double the cost of a plate of pasta for American families, paving the way for "Italian-sounding" products and severely impacting Italian companies in the sector", Coldiretti said in a statement.

La Molisana CEO Giuseppe Ferro told reporters on Monday that the pasta company was ready to open a factory in the US as it would be "impossible for us to do business with tariffs at 107 per cent".
High Court Reporters

The High Court has awarded 130,000 in damages to the mother of a Dublin man who died after being struck by a vehicle eight years ago.

Stephen Lynch, from Tallaght, was hit by a silver Ford Focus at Brookwood Close in the Dublin suburb on April 13th, 2017, and pronounced dead at the scene.

No one has ever been charged over the 31-year-olds death, and the case remains a live criminal investigation. A jury at an inquest into Lynchs death last year returned a verdict of unlawful killing.

Arising from the incident, Lynchs mother, Vera Lynch (57), brought civil proceedings against the owner of the Ford Focus, Otis Reynolds, and his brother Dean Reynolds, who had taken out a temporary insurance policy on the car with Axa Insurance.

Her case against Axa and the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (MIBI), which compensates victims of uninsured or untraced drivers.

In a recently published judgment, Mr Justice Tony OConnor said Ms Lynch should be awarded 130,000 in general damages, noting her continued suffering with severe post-traumatic stress disorder.

Judgment had already been granted against both Reynolds brothers in favour of Ms Lynch, in January 2022, after neither defended the action.

The case against Axa and MIBI proceeded to trial.

A dispute arose between Axa and the MIBI over who was driving the vehicle at the time of the incident, as this had a bearing on who was liable to discharge damages awarded to Ms Lynch by the court.

Axa and the MIBI denied liability. Axa said an official Garda report said the driver was not known and fled the scene of the incident with a passenger.

The MIBI said the driver was covered by an insurance policy and was not untraced or unidentified.

In his recent decision, Mr Justice OConnor found that, on the balance of probabilities, Dean Reynolds was the driver of the vehicle at the time of the fatal incident.

At the trial hearing, Dean and Otis Reynolds, both of Windmill Road, Crumlin, Dublin, were both subpoenaed and appeared in court.

The court informed them they could refuse to answer questions that could be incriminating.

Mr Justice OConnor said Dean Reynolds largely refused to answer questions put to him in the witness box, including in relation to his insuring of the Ford Focus and whether he was the driver of the vehicle at the time of the incident.

Otis Reynolds also refused to answer questions, including a request to identify the driver of the vehicle on the date of the incident.

Outlining his reasoning for finding Dean Reynolds was likely the driver at the time, the judge said he was the only one insured to drive the car on the date in question.

Mr Justice OConnor said Otis Reynolds was aware of the consequences of being caught driving the vehicle without insurance.

He said the court has discounted any lingering suggestion that the vehicle was stolen.

The judge noted that Dean Reynolds refused to answer basic question about whether he was driving the car on the day of the incident.

Mr Justice OConnor said he would list the case for later this month before making final orders.
By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Key Northern Ireland peace process adviser Martin Mansergh was full of boundless commitment to the very end, his funeral has heard.

Mr Mansergh was a senior civil servant at the Department of Foreign Affairs and was a senior adviser to several taoisigh.

He was a key figure during the Northern Ireland peace process, before joining Fianna Fail and becoming a senator and TD.

In 2008, he was appointed as a junior minister at the Department of Finance and the Department of Arts.

Mr Mansergh was on a trip to Morocco with other retired parliamentarians when he died after suffering heart attacks on September 26th, at the age of 78.

Delivering a tribute at the funeral mass at St Marys Church in Tipperary, his daughter Alice Mansergh said condolences shared by family, friends, neighbours and colleagues had been such a comfort at a sad, sad time.

Micheal Martin arrives for the funeral mass (Niall Carson/PA)

Taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin was among attendees alongside President Michael D Higgins aide Commandant Brian Walsh and Tipperary South TD Michael Murphy, representing Tanaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris.

Acknowledging the intimidating task of writing a speech about a speechwriter, Ms Mansergh outlined her fathers life from his birth on New Years Eve 1946, his marriage to Elizabeth and the birth of his five children and 12 grandchildren.

His passion was his work, often behind the scenes, on steps that would enable peace in Northern Ireland, along with so many across communities who ultimately found a way to work together.

She said others would remember his political work, which was one of the great honours of his life, but added: For me and my siblings, he was Dad.

She recalled how he instilled in them a great love of exploring, and remembered his laugh that was full of joy and the familiar sounds of rustling newspapers and Morning Ireland which signified his love of news and current affairs.

A fellow TD whod had words with him once said, You dont take offence easily, do you? Dad said, I choose not to.

Some of the qualities he had were courage, resilience, integrity, kindness and optimism.

She said his ability to account for different viewpoints and map a way forward was a hallmark of her fathers career.

Dad was always full of energy, full of life, full of boundless commitment to the very end.

Her brother Danny Mansergh expanded on his fathers work during the peace process.

He said his father was put forward to engage in clandestine meetings as an official representative of the Irish government with the republican movement in Northern Ireland, in an effort to persuade them to end the armed struggle and pursue their objectives peacefully.

He was selected instead of a frontbench minister so the talks could be presented as unauthorised should they be exposed at a bad time or painted in the wrong light.

His son said this potential outrage could have ended his fathers career, and the work was an example of his courage.

A lesser person would have struggled to cope with that pressure. Dad was able to deal with it because he had optimism and courage and conviction.

His optimism, which was basically unbounded in every aspect of his life, was critical in the face of the continual loss of life in the 80s and 90s.

He kept going. He didnt know that the efforts of himself and of others would be successful, but he always believed those efforts could be successful.

Martin Mansergh with Albert Reynolds at Stormont (Niall Carson/PA)

His key conviction, in the face of the view that you dont talk to terrorists, was that it was only through talking that a framework could be found within which the Republican movement might decide to pursue its aims peacefully.

Noting that there used to a very strong unionist stream for generations in his family, Danny Mansergh said Dad also played a vital role as a negotiator in dealing with unionists and the British government.

He said the family was enormously proud of him and added: Dad was a huge figure in our lives. We loved him. Well really miss him.

Mr Manserghs daughter Fiona offered mourners a selection of his lighter moments.

She recalled how  despite hard work  he was fond of a practical joke, showed a love for a cupan tae and cake and never left a dull moment.

Dad lived an active life to the end. He loved to be going places, seeing people, reading things and keeping up to date.

She added: He kept his independence, his curiosity and bounce to the last. We are so grateful to everyone who took care of him on his final trip.

The service, which also featured tributes from Mr Manserghs grandchildren, preceded a private burial at St Michaels graveyard.
Councillors on Monday attended a private workshop at City Hall on the future of Waterford Airport.

Workshops are not open to the public, nor are they forums where decisions are made.

The Waterford News and Star understands that councillors were provided with additional details on the airport proposal, and were given the opportunity to direct questions towards the Executive of the Bolster Group, William Bolster.

Councillors, however, were not informed of the identity of the investor.

It is understood to be a red line issue, and there is a non-disclosure agreement in place that prevents the identity of the investor from being revealed to the elected members.

Councillors are to vote on October 20, and 75% councillors present would need to be in agreement.

This paper understands that Monday's meeting was positive and the vote is expected to pass.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE DEAL

In a statement on Thursday morning, The Bolster Group issued a statement saying it had secured a 30 million private funding package that would mean no state money would be needed.

The statement also said that councillors were to be briefed on Monday, October 6, and would vote on whether to approve the deal on October 17 (this date was later changed).

Executive of the Bolster Group, William Bolster, urged the council to approve the deal.

"It is fantastic to have such private funding in place, removing the need for government money and allowing immediate construction to start, said Mr Bolster.

Waterford City and County Council responded that elected members would be briefed last Thursday and would meet for a workshop on Monday (yesterday).

This paper understands that councillors were unaware of the deal until the details were published in the media.

If councillors approved the deal, the Council's ownership in the airport, which currently stands at a 2% share plus the land, would transfer to the new investor.

But the package would fund the much-needed runway extension, terminal upgrades and facilities to support the return of commercial passenger services.

The funding also provides for the retention of existing airport staff and continuation of the Search and Rescue Service (SARS) contract.

Crucially, this package would mean no funding was needed from the government and construction could start imminently.

WASHING HANDS

The Department of Transport told the Waterford News and Star that they have been aware of the potential new investment since August.

But they say that if no Exchequer funding is required, then this is a matter for the stakeholders and nothing to do with the Department of Transport.

The Minister for Transport and his department have maintained over the summer that this is a priority for them as it is part of the Programme for Government, but many have seen the lack of progress as reluctance and feet-dragging, much to the frustration of all involved.

PREVIOUS AGREEMENT

The council also said in their response that the new deal came as Devin Regional Investments pulled out of the airport.

The previous non-binding funding arrangement was between Waterford, Kilkenny and Wexford County councils and Devin Regional Investments (Bolster and Comer Groups) and the airport company.

According to a council proposal outline to councillors in 2024, the cost of the project has risen following the Covid crisis and the war in Ukraine to 27,000.

That money was to be funded primarily from Devin Investments, which was to contribute 12 million, and it was hoped the Government would provide the same amount.

Waterford City and County Council were to provide 3 million and Wexford and Kilkenny 0.4 million each.

Waterford City and County Council is also currently in possession of the land needed to extend the runway, which it acquired by compulsory purchase order in 2022.

Under the previous agreement that land was to be transferred to the investors once the runway extension was completed and IAA accreditation in place.

The local authorities would receive an 18% share in the capital of the company, but there was a six-year buy-back option for the investors.

And investors would be responsible for paying back up to 1.7 million for the cost of acquiring the land. The application to the government was made on this funding arrangement.

Everyone is hoping to see Waterford's airport soon. Picture by Joe Evans.

HOPE

Minister for State John Cummins told the Waterford News and Star that he welcomed the news about the new proposal.

But he said he respected the process and if it is approved and commercial flights are reinstated, he looks forward to ensuring from within government that the airport is provided OPEX (operational) support.

I am very hopeful that a positive outcome can be achieved, which will see the runway project and critical air connectivity for South East passengers restored, said Minister Cummins.

Sinn Fein TD Conor McGuinness said he would not provide a full comment until the full details of the proposal are made to the public.

He did say there was a lot of huge frustration around the governments failure to act.

It is now important that those directly involved are given the space to work through the processes, conduct proper due diligence, and ensure that any arrangement is robust, transparent, and in the best interests of the community and the region, said Deputy McGuinness.

His party colleague David Cullinane indicated in a Facebook post that he was not yet ready to make a comment, while Minister Mary Butler had not provided a comment at time of publishing.

IN THE COUNCILLORS COURT

We will not learn the fate of this deal until October 20 when Waterfords councillors will vote.

If approved, the runway will be extended to 45 metres in width and 200m in length, to accommodate modern commercial 180-seat jet aircraft, which will mean the restoration of regular passenger services to the region.

CEO of Waterford Chamber of Commerce, Gerald Hurley, said that the restoration of flights would be a pivotal moment for the South East region.

The development of Waterford Airport would be a catalyst for growth, enhancing tourism, improving regional connectivity, competitiveness and confidence.

It would also open new opportunities for investment and projects such as offshore wind energy across the region.

The investment shows what is possible when we come together with ambition, passion and focus."

"If we get the go-ahead, it will send a clear message that the South East is ready to grow and lead on a national stage, said Mr Hurley.
Community Gardai will be travelling around County Waterford to meet the public this Wednesday, October 8.

Waterford County Garda Community Engagement members will be out and about Community Van at the following locations and times;

Portlaw 10:00am to 11.00am

Rathgormack 11.30am to 12.30pm

Lemybrien 1.45pm to 2.45pm

Stradbally Village 3.00pm to 4.00pm

Gardai will be at hand to have a chat, sign forms or to answer any questions from the public.
This file photo taken on Sept. 4, 2025 shows Sebastien Lecornu arriving at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris, France. French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday morning accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, the presidency announced. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

PARIS, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned Monday after less than a month in office, making him the shortest-serving prime minister of France's Fifth Republic. President Emmanuel Macron accepted his resignation, the presidency said.

In a statement, Lecornu admitted the formation of his government had not gone smoothly, saying conditions "were no longer met" for him to remain in office.

His decision rattled investors, with the CAC 40 index opening 2 percent lower on Monday following news of his departure.

Lecornu, appointed 27 days ago, quit a day after unveiling a cabinet lineup that was nearly identical to its predecessor and drew sharp criticism across the political spectrum. French media reported the "virtually unchanged" government was expected to face a censure motion in parliament. 

This file photo taken on Sept. 10, 2025 shows Sebastien Lecornu in Paris, France. French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday morning accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, the presidency announced. (Photo by Aurelien Morissard/Xinhua)
At a recent meeting, Councillor Donal Barry (Independent) raised the current situation of a 245-year-old property in Waterford City.

Councillor Barry said: "Prospect Lodge in Gracedieu is one of the historical houses in Waterford, built in 1780."

He referenced the deteriorating wall of the property and asked what steps were being taken to preserve the historical site for "future generations".

He continued: "This is one of our protected structures so I'm asking what are the Council doing or is there any indication for the owners to get this house into repairs for future generations."

A member of Waterford Executive said that the matter would be investigated.

Historical significance

Prospect House was built circa 1780 and was used as an ecclesiastical residence. It is a notable building in Waterford for retaining much of its original architectural and design character.

According to the National Built Heritage Service, the building is in a fairly good condition structurally, describing the Lodge as "a fine and imposing substantial-scale house, composed of irregularly displaced proportions and distinguished by the slate-hanging to all elevations".

The appraisal continued: "The house is an important component of the streetscape and accommodates the topography of the sloping site through the addition of dormer attic accommodation to the section to south-east."
Ardscoil na Mara was delighted to welcome fellow Edmund Rice school leaders, Kristy Kane and Laura Storino, from St. Laurence High School in Chicago, to the school recently. The pair were visiting Ireland as part of a pre-exchange visit ahead of bringing their students here in March.

In October of last year, Ardscoil na Mara Principal Padraig Cawley, Deputy Principal Aoife Denton, and four students travelled to Chicago for the first leg of the exchange programme. They were warmly welcomed by St. Laurence High School and Brother Rice School. During the visit, the students stayed with local host families and attended school for three days.

Pictured are Edmund Rice school leaders, Kristy Kane and Laura Storino with Ardscoil Principal Padraig Cawley, Deputy Principals Ms. Denton and Mr. Cahill, and staff members. Photo: John Power

The group then travelled to New York, where Brother Kevin Cawley led them on a fascinating tour of the United Nations. The exchange continued in New Jersey at the Action Conference, organised by Edmund Rice Christian Brothers North America. This event, attended by Edmund Rice schools from across North America, focused on advocacy projects. Students returned home inspired and motivated to continue their work as Edmund Rice Ambassadors.

The exchange programme has been organised in collaboration with Cormac McArt from the Westcourt Centre Social Justice Desk in Belfast.

The return exchange in March will see students from Brother Rice College, St. Laurence High School (Chicago), and St. Thomas More Collegiate (Canada) travelling to Ireland. The programme will include visits to Edmund Rice schools and outreach projects in Belfast, as well as visits to schools in Kilkenny, Waterford City, and Tramore.

This exciting partnership offers students a unique opportunity to engage with the Edmund Rice ethos on an international level and to develop their leadership and advocacy skills.
The Sliabh gCua community and communities far and wide were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of one of the parishs well-known and popular parishioners, Seamus (Seamie) Skehan, Cahernaleague, Ballinamult.

Seamie passed away suddenly from a rare brain disease, CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease).

In an extraordinary act of generosity and hope, Seamie donated his brain to the Irish National CJD Research Centre in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, in a bid to assist others affected by this rare and unforgiving illness.

A cornerstone of the community, Seamie served as Chairman of the Parish Council for over 30 years.

His tireless work and commitment to the parish was widely recognised and deeply appreciated.

A devoted family man, Seamie also had a lifelong love for the GAA. He was involved with Sliabh gCua/St. Marys GAA Club, as well as Naomh Brid and Na Deise.

Known as the kind of neighbour who was always ready to lend a hand, Seamie was a member of numerous local committees over the years. Right up until his passing, he served on the Sliabh gCua Community Centre Committee.

The large crowds who attended Seamies wake and funeral were a testament to the respect and affection in which he was held by many.

The community extend their sincere sympathies to his wife Breda (nee Moore), daughters Tara, Julie, and Eithne, son Jack, sons-in-law Brendan, Derek, and John, Jacks partner Ella, grandchildren Saoirse, Johnny, Kate, Eirinn, Caoimhe, Willie, Cailin, Sean, and Seanie, brother John, sister Lois (Crotty), siblings-in-law Pat, James, and Linda, as well as his extended family, neighbours and wide circle of friends.

On Sunday last, Seamies funeral cortege departed from his home on its final journey to St. Marys Church, Touraneena, where a guard of honour made up of members from various local clubs and committees stood in solemn tribute.

Following Requiem Mass celebrated by Fr. Denmead, Seamie was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.
Gardai in Waterford have taken a very light-hearted approach to highlighting the dangers of a new prank, with very serious consequences.

In a post on Facebook marked Warning, please read full message, gardai are warning that if you get a message from your home containing the male in the picture, then it isnt real.

Ladies and gentlemen, rest easy, WE GOT HIM.

Gardai attached to Dungarvan Garda Station apprehended this male tonight, wanted for several thousand Burglaries and Trespass incidents all across the country over the past 48 hours. Don't fret, this man won't be seeing the outside of a cell for a long long time.

"Disclaimer: This is the AI male who some of your kids have been pranking you all with. If you happen to get a photo with this male in your house from a naughty relative or child, be warned, it may well be a prank, wrote Waterford Gardai.

While the naughty sender may think this very funny, there is a very serious side.

Gardai nationally are warning that this prank is wasting garda resources that could be used for investigating real crime and keeping people safe.

And it may be confusing and distressing for those who receive such a message.

What might seem like a harmless joke has seen emergency deployments of gardai and they are asking the public not to engage with the trend.

The An Garda Siochana Facebook page says: "Already on a number of occasions this has resulted in the emergency deployment of Gardai to an ultimately hoax report of burglary.

"This represents a waste of valuable Garda resources and diverts from genuine emergency calls which require a response.

"There is a risk that legitimate emergency calls will not receive the necessary urgent attention, which poses serious safety concerns for those who need our immediate assistance.

"We urge everyone not to engage in this prank and to consider the consequences that may result from such activity."
The role of community services can't be understated, from supporting families and children to providing mental health supports.

This week, the Waterford News & Star attended the 40th anniversary celebrations of St. Brigid's Family and Community Centre.

In celebration of the work done by such facilities across Waterford, we asked locals and staff present on the day about the importance of support services.

Helen Walker and Sr. Pat, at St. Brigid's Family and Community Centre's 40th anniversary celebrations. Photo: Joe Evans

Minister Mary Butler said that "family resource centres are extremely important all across Ireland and they do so much wonderful work that needs to be done to support families".

Mary OHalloran, Board member and former Chairperson of St. Brigid's, and a former councillor who previously served as the first female Mayor of Waterford, added, "I feel very privileged to be involved" in St. Brigid's.

Mary O'Keeffe, Sheila Flynn and Josie Daly. Photo: Joe Evans

"My fellow board members are all highly committed and dedicated and we're very grateful for the support we're receiving from the community, who place their trust in St. Brigid's to provide services and programmes."

Dr. Eamon Meaney, coordinator of the counselling service at St. Brigid's, expressed the importance of the availability of mental health facilities.

"We have a fantastic team of about 17 therapists who do a huge amount of work here and they are selfless in their work, dedication and expertise. That service is immense for the community."

Eamon Meaney and Sylvia Walsh. Photo: Joe Evans

Chairperson of St. Brigid's Billy O'Keeffe added that the continued growth of such facilities is vital.

"One of the fantastic things that has happened in the last 12 months is that this building, which has been the property of the Sisters of Mercy since St. Brigids started here 40 years ago, has recently, through their generosity, been handed over to the community and St. Brigids family resource centre now owns this building."
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BusinessThe economyTrump's America Opinion Trumps $15 billion Band-Aid for the problem he created Stephen Bartholomeusz Senior business columnist October 6, 2025  8:58am

October 6, 2025  8:58am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share 232 View all comments

US soybean farmers are in the midst of harvesting what is likely to be a near-record crop. Thanks to Donald Trumps trade wars, much of it may be unsold. Such are the straits the farmers find themselves in that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent  who himself produces soybeans, among other agricultural products  has foreshadowed a $US10 billion-plus ($15 billion-plus) rescue package, perhaps as early as this week, for farmers who have seen demand for their soybeans dive even as their costs have been inflated by US tariffs on fertilisers and tariff-induced price increases for farm machinery. US President Donald Trumps trade war is affecting farmers in the Midwestern states, which tended to be strongly supportive of him and his other policies. AP The US soybean farmers are expected to produce about 4.3 billion bushels in the harvesting season now under way. Their problem is not their bumper crop, but who is going to buy it. Before Trumps first trade war with China in 2018-19, China, the worlds largest consumer of soybeans, bought about 60 per cent of American exports.

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China responded to Trumps first-term tariffs by shifting its purchases to Brazil, where it has invested heavily in ports, rail and storage infrastructure, and the American farmers lost about 20 per cent of their Chinese market, which they havent recovered. Related Article Opinion

Trump's White House Trump spends Americas billions to save a friend in need Stephen Bartholomeusz Senior business columnist During that initial episode of trade friction, the first Trump administration was forced to hand out $US23 billion of assistance to US farmers to keep the sector afloat. When Trump launched his current trade war, with tariffs on everyone but an additional 20 per cent tariff on China for its role in the fentanyl trade, China responded by slapping a 23 per cent tariff on imports of US soybeans, equating to roughly $US2 per bushel. A US production cost advantage of about US90 a bushel over Brazilian farmers was wiped out in an instant, and the American product was made significantly more expensive than the Brazilian alternative.

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Not surprisingly, Brazil has exported more than 66 million tonnes of soybeans to China this year and now accounts for about 70 per cent of Chinas soybean imports. Last year, China imported about $US13 billion worth of soybeans from the US, with almost 1 billion bushels bought in the first eight months. This year, China has bought just over 200 million bushels from the US while buying about 2 billion from Brazil. American soybean farms, such as this one in Minnesota, are producing a record crop. But who can they sell it to? Bloomberg Last year, as American farmers entered their harvesting season, China pre-purchased about 6.5 million tonnes of soybeans. This season? Not a bean. Instead, China has already agreed to buy 12 million tonnes from Brazil and Argentina. The Argentinian tonnes are particular vexatious for the US farmers, given the Trump administration last month announced it would do whatever it takes, including a $US20 billion swap line, to shore up the Argentinian peso and the political fortunes of Trumps friend and ideological ally, Argentinian President Javier Milei.

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An unexpected defeat in elections last month in Argentina triggered US fears that Mileis radical economic reforms  not dissimilar to Trumps assault on the US bureaucracy  could be stalled by a hostile national congress at the midterm elections this month. Related Article Gold Fear factor: Why the world is rushing to buy gold The US announcement briefly halted a plunge in the value of the peso but, with the US intervention yet to occur, the peso has again weakened significantly amid intense speculative activity. What really stirred up American farmers and some legislators was that the US announcement came almost at the same time as Milei announced a brief exemption for soybean and grains exporters from export taxes. For soybeans, it was an exemption from a 25 per cent tax. That raked in about $US7 billion of hard currency within about 48 hours (after which the taxes were reimposed), most of it from soybean shipments to China.

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US soybean production is centred in the Midwestern states, which have tended to be strongly supportive of Trump and his policies, except for tariffs. The farmers know they benefit from free trade and are suffering from Trumps tariffs. Theyd prefer to compete rather than rely on government handouts. Trump blames China and posted on Truth Social last week that the soybean farmers were being hurt because China was for negotiating reasons only, not buying. Americas beleaguered farmers arent concerned about geopolitics. They are facing a glut of soybeans and other soft commodities, thanks to Trumps protectionism. Weve made so much money on Tariffs, Trump wrote, that we are going to take a small portion of that money, and help our Farmers. Trump has promised to discuss the de facto ban on imports of US soybeans by China at a meeting with Xi Jinping scheduled for next month, which is when the latest extension of the truce agreement the countries signed this year expires.

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Beijing knows how economically and politically powerful its tariff on US soybean imports is. Having invested billions to end its dependence on the US for a critical input into its food chain by helping Brazil, Argentina and other South American countries develop their production and the infrastructure to export it, China is unlikely to be a large-scale buyer of US beans even if the tariffs were removed. Soybeans could, however, provide powerful negotiating leverage over more strategics issues, such as access to the most advanced semiconductors, or the US stance on Taiwan. Beijing knows how economically and politically powerful its tariff on US soybean imports is. AP China hawks in the US fear that Trumps love of a deal and admiration for autocrats might create a sea change in the US-China relationship  a shift away from the past two administrations efforts to contain China and its technological development. Americas beleaguered farmers arent concerned about geopolitics. They are facing a glut of soybeans and other soft commodities, thanks to Trumps protectionism.

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At the same time, Trumps tariffs on Canada, which supplies as much as 85 per cent of Americas fertiliser imports, and on metals and machinery, are raising their production costs. Related Article Opinion

US government shutdown Danger man: Trump is the wildcard as America shuts down Stephen Bartholomeusz Senior business columnist Its not just the farmers, but their suppliers. John Deere, the iconic US leading manufacturer of farm machinery, has said the tariffs will cost it $US600 million this year. That has led to job losses in its US business and will inevitably show up in increased prices  even as demand from distressed farmers dries up. Given the structural transformation in the global production base for soybeans, away from the US and towards South America, Trumps financial aid will be a Band-Aid for the stresses his countrys farmers are experiencing. His tariffs will force a rationalisation of large sectors of the US agricultural industry. This years bumper crop of soybeans, the farmers say, will produce a glut. That glut  and the losses the farmers are experiencing  are likely to be permanent features of the sector unless it shrinks to becoming essentially a domestic industry. Farmers, suppliers and Americas agricultural export infrastructure will be affected. Protectionism is a crude, two-edged sword. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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CultureMoviesFilm This new Australian horror movie is a bloody masterpiece Michael Idato October 5, 2025  2:00am 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 2 View all comments

Not long after it starts, as the new Australian film Beast of War starts wrapping you uncomfortably in the quiet, terrifying still of the ocean, trapped in an inescapable fog and stalked by a man-eating shark, you would not be alone if you were wondering why horror films remain so appealing. The brilliance of this one, written and directed by Kiah Roache-Turner, perhaps owes a small debt to The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, by English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who wrote: Day after day, day after day, we stuck, nor breath nor motion; as idle as a painted ship, upon a painted ocean. Fangs for the memories  the new Australian horror film Beast of War has bite. It might owe another small debt to history, as it is set in 1942, and based  very loosely  on the story of a group of young soldiers, led by Leo (Mark Coles Smith), left adrift in the ocean after a Japanese airstrike and who were, in the aftermath, stalked by sharks among the wreckage. And it owes a lot to Jaws, the iconic 1975 horror film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the novel of the same name by Peter Benchley, about a small town terrorised by a shark. That film, notably, left an impression on Lee Tiger Halley, who plays the fresh-faced soldier Teddy in Beast of War.

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Halley, 19, recalls seeing Jaws from the stairs of his family home in Western Australia, while his parents watched it in the living room. It was just thrilling, Halley says. About five minutes in, I remember someone getting eaten. It could have even been the first horror movie that I ever saw. Halley is not a fan of horror, he says, but acknowledges the thrills and chills of the genre. Its almost like an amusement park ride for the people watching, he says. It gets the blood pumping. Lee Tiger Halley (centre) in Beast of War. Halley stepped into the spotlight last year as one of the stars of the Netflix series Boy Swallows Universe, a sort-of-autobiographical coming-of-age comedy drama based on the novel of the same name by Trent Dalton. He played Gus, the gently introspective older brother of the shows protagonist, Eli. The success of the series was astonishing: 7.6 million complete series views on Netflix worldwide, Netflixs most successful Australian-made series and 22 nominations at the AACTA Awards, including best miniseries, which it won. Halley also pocketed the AACTA for best supporting actor in a TV drama.

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When it came out, it was two days of nothing ... and then all of a sudden, it just went hectic, Halley recalls. You have that thing of people coming up to you in the streets, every person you ever talked to in your life, youre getting a message from them about it ... it was so interesting. As a young actor, youre always trying to get your foot in the door, and now I feel like Ive at least got one foot in there, Halley adds. Ive got to meet some great people. Its been a hectic ride, and it is interesting looking back on it. It has all been amazing. Lee Tiger Halley (left) with Bryan Brown and Felix Cameron in Boy Swallows Universe. Though these two cinematic worlds  Boy Swallows Universe and Beast of War  might seem a universe apart, there is a curious parallel in economy of dialogue. In Boy Swallows Universe, Halleys Gus rarely speaks, communicating instead via hand signals. And in Beast of War, the dialogue is tight, and the tension is ramped up by uneasy spells of silence. With Gus, Halley says, that inner monologue gave him a bit of power in a way that the silence was the power. And it was interesting because being taught acting, a lot of it is dialogue-based. So I learnt how much eyes and looks and movement actually make a big difference. Even if you feel its not being expressed in a big way, I feel like the audience can feel it.

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As Teddy in Beast of War, youre working with so many things around you, and when its one or two lines and quick and snappy, you have less control over the rhythm, and youve really got to give yourself up to whats happening to everyone else around you, Halley says. So you just leave it up to whats happening in front of you, and you have less control over it, which can be scary, but I think in the end [it works] because the movies not about you, its about whats happening in it, and you just have to involve yourself, he says. I learnt a lot on this film. I found the thing terrifying, says Lee Tiger Halley of his shark co-star in Beast of War. Steven Siewert When he first picked up the shooting script, Halley says it left some room to move with each of the characters, as it was Roache-Turners intention that each actor have room to bring some of their own individuality to the various roles. Kiah left that open for a reason because he wanted people to be able to develop themselves and make it a bit more truthful, Halley says. Originally, I think Teddy was a bit older, and we decided after a while to make him younger because everyone else on the boat is somewhat around the same age.

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Having someone who is that innocent, younger, almost baby-face-type kid would be a really good dynamic, Halley adds. We played around with that a bit. I felt like I was the little brother on the boat and thats how we developed the character throughout because thats what was going to make a more emotional impact. The film went into pre-production with Malta in mind as a shooting location, largely because it has a large-scale ocean filming tank in Kalkara  where Gladiator, Troy, parts of Game of Thrones and Popeye were filmed  which would have been a natural habitat to house the shark-terrorised survivors in Beast of War. Mark Coles Smith (right) in Beast of War. The project lost the tank to director Gareth Edwards for Jurassic Park Rebirth, which filmed its underwater sequences there. The switch meant Beast of War would instead be filmed in Australia, and lose its outdoor ocean horizon. But that sacrifice forced the film into what might be its most meaningful production design decision: to turn the story from an open-sea horror story into a fog-bound nightmare, saturated in streaks of red light coming through the fog, alternating with a calming green ocean bioluminescence in the night sequences.

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It also meant that the boys  Leo (Mark Coles Smith), Will (Joel Nankervis), Teddy (Lee Tiger Halley), Des (Sam Delich), Thompson (Sam Parsonson) and Stan (Maximillian Johnson)  would spend long stretches on the raft while filming, creating a tighter-than-usual bond between the cast mates. Perhaps the most intriguing piece of the puzzle is the shark itself, a mechanical killing machine built over 4 months by Formation Effects. In an era when many shark horror movies use digital effects  Sharknado, were looking at you  using a Jaws-inspired mechanical prop was ambitious. A scene from Beast of War. It also taps into the mystique that surrounds certain sets and props. In Star Wars films, for example, actors who wield lightsabers select their own hilt. And on some Star Trek projects, there have been taboos around anyone but the actor playing the captain sitting in the captains chair. On Beast of War, the shark prop was not so much out of bounds, as something Halley was just in no rush to go near. I found the thing terrifying, he says. The first time they finally got it on the set, we all had a look, mostly just out of pure amazement. But after that first look we did leave it alone, and it wasnt even, I think, a conscious decision.

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Editor's pick Streaming The best new TV shows to stream in October Individually, and Im just going out on a limb here, it is a subconscious thing where you realise what place it has in the story and also that its just a huge shark, and I dont think it gives you any reason to want to go near it, Halley adds. So I feel like we did keep our distance, but I do think it works [as an approach to working with the prop] because if we were looking at it and having lunch with it every day, it would probably take away some of the reality when were filming those scenes. Its almost an instinct-based thing. Beast of War opens in cinemas on Thursday, October 9. Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.
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CultureMusicStreaming Massive Attack demanded their music be pulled from Spotify. Instead, their listeners grew Michael Dwyer October 4, 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

When Massive Attack declared a fortnight ago that they wanted their music pulled from Spotify, it was a shot across the bow of the worlds biggest streaming service by the highest-profile act so far. The Bristol collective, long defined by political conscience as much as brooding sonics, has aligned with a growing crowd of indie acts  King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Deerhoof, Xiou Xiou  in denouncing chief executive Daniel Eks billion-dollar AI weapons investments. Massive Attack performing in 2024. The legendary band wants its music off Spotify  but they are effectively trapped. In Pictures via Getty Images Its possible that Eks subsequent announcement this week that he would be stepping down as chief executive  hell remain executive chairman  was an attempt to address the brands rapidly declining reputation. Meanwhile though, Massive Attacks Spotify listeners have grown, up from 7.9 to 8 million. Yes, their mega-million-streaming catalogue is still streaming because they dont own it. Their label does. It takes more than a conscience vote to prise corporate product free of a machine that keeps so conveniently coughing up change.

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Related Article Pop music Aussie musicians flee Spotify as ARIA shores up awards partnership Its a depressing symbol of where musicians find themselves in 2025: strapped, more or less starved, to the mast of a gigantic ship they had no say in boarding, and that no single act of mutiny will turn around any time soon. It also prompts more head scratching for conscious consumers looking for lifeboats that might rescue their favourite acts from the icefield of penury and moral compromise. All financial and ethical concerns considered, what are our options? Out of the frying pan ... The answer has little to do with changing deckchairs. Youll pay Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer and Qobuz much the same $13.99$17.99 a month for much the same infinite jukebox. How little of that goes to musicians, as distinct from labels and, say, AI death tech, is much the same too.

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On the best opaque evidence available, for every 5000 streams, Spotify pays an artist around $30  although less than 1000 spins a month gets those losers zero. Amazon is around the same, Deezer about $50, Apple Music a relative bonanza at $77. Tidal nudges the $100 mark if you spring for its hi-fi tier and Qobuz, the boutique French audiophiles darling, pays a still-not-exactly-whopping $145. YouTube Music? A mortifying $5.50 for 5000 streams. Thats three McNuggets, so heres hoping the rest of the band isnt hungry. Melbourne indie outfit Camp Cope, who are breaking up but will deliver their farewell album, Live at the Sydney Opera House as vinyl later this month. Genna Alexopoulos The fine print adds brain injury to insult: different subscription tiers, geography, advertising rates, sound quality options, algorithm promotion opt-ins and more buffet the numbers like an accountants toupee in a gale, but the bottom line is clear: the infinite jukebox spins for shareholders. Musicians pocket bus fare. Some superstars have invested in their own lifeboats. James Blakes Vault subscription service  $7.50 a month for unreleased tracks  was hailed as a bold alternative 18 months ago, but whos ready to fork out $90 a year for the offcuts of every artist on their playlist?

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What does that leave us? None of this is remotely surprising to Sarah Thompson, who works with artists on indie label Poison City Records and, until recently, played drums with Melbourne rock outfit Camp Cope. Related Article Review Streaming as surveillance: How Spotify is poisoning music in the digital age I worked in record stores, then labels, so I saw in real time how bleak the future was going to be, she says. It was obvious from the start that streaming wasnt going to do anything good for anybody. Camp Copes farewell album, Live at the Sydney Opera House, arrives on October 17 as a one-off vinyl pressing, and digitally only on the platform most indie acts cite as the least-worst online option: Bandcamp.

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Bandcamp is not really streaming. Its more like a digital record store where you name your price and 82 per cent of it goes straight to the artist. Once a month, Bandcamp Friday waives its cut entirely which, in a world of fractions of cents, can feel like Christmas. The gulf between indie flexibility and the major label straitjacket is growing more stark. Bandcamp is great for smaller players, but Thompson gets why an act like Massive Attack cant just ditch their 7.9 million streamers and reposition their catalogue overnight. In a perfect world, every artist would just leave Spotify, she says. But why is the onus once again put on artists? We already dont have anything. Get angry at Spotify, not at musicians. Were artists. Theyre a multibillion-dollar corporation run by advertisers and tech guys. At the far organic end of that spectrum, if you squint hard enough, sits a tiny glimmer of light. Formidable Vegetable, a permaculture electro-swing outfit from regional Western Australia looks, from the burning deck of the modern music business, like the green shoots of a new world. Permaculture electro-swing outfit Formidable Vegetable have taken aim at Spotify in one of their songs. Ema Kneblova

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Their song Spotify (Where Music Goes to Die) has had bugger all streams, funnily enough, says mainstay Charlie Mgee, but its clocked up 1.5 million Instagram views since August, and proved a crowd favourite on their recent fifth return to the Glastonbury Festival and other stops around Europe. Related Article Pop music This musician was getting millions of streams. Then fake tracks appeared under his name I have friends who are signed to majors who have thanked us for saying this because theyre on contracts that require them to be on Spotify, he says. But a lot of bands are using their platforms to advocate for what they believe in, he adds, citing King Gizzard, Stella Donnelly, Lime Cordiale and Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers. Were tired of being co-opted into a world-destroying machine. Bring back the punks! Mgee acknowledges that stadiums and concert halls may well remain beyond their grasp. And hes fine with it. Ours is a grassroots, mycelial approach to music, but weve survived and thrived for 12 years so its a model thats really worth exploring for anyone the industry is not working for.

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That arguably describes a greater percentage of musicians today than at any other time in living memory. Thompson knows theres no easy fix, but she believes turning the tide is all about consumer education. Theres no HR department for musicians. No worldwide union. To collect every artist on Earth in a mass exodus [from streaming] would be ideal, but its going to be very difficult. Whats more beneficial is to re-educate people on how it all works, and how to financially support the artists they like. Turns out thats a lot easier that cancelling your streaming subscription. Buy the T-shirt. Buy the album. Go to the show. Must-see movies, interviews and all the latest from the world of film delivered to your inbox. Sign up for our Screening Room newsletter.
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LifestyleHealth & wellnessGender A place of their own: Why women-only environments are thriving Sara Mulcahy October 5, 2025  6:00am 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 9 View all comments

Women-only spaces have always been a thing. Some are so societally entrenched that no one bats an eyelid. Think womens health services, bathrooms, schools and shelters. Others, like gyms and workspaces, are a more recent addition. And then there are events such as the Ladies Lounge at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Hobart, that cause quite a stir. Historically, many cultures have embraced the concept of female seclusion to provide places or activities that are safe, supportive or empowering. When Amy Hart and Crystal Wells decided to start A Place to Pause, a series of Victoria-based women-only reading retreats, in 2024, it was simply something they wanted for themselves: a place to read with no guilt and no pressure. McIvers Ladies Baths in Coogee were rebuilt in the 1920s and have remained a popular spot for swimmers. We were both juggling busy lives, and while we always had great intentions to read during our downtime, the pile of laundry or the demands of work often called louder than our books, says Amy.

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Our focus on women came quite naturally. Mums, professionals or retirees  the common thread was a struggle to give themselves time and permission to read without the distraction of everyday life. The retreats were never designed to exclude men, but rather to respond to what we were hearing most clearly from women in our own lives. While discrimination based on sex is outlawed in Australia under the Sex Discrimination Act, women-only spaces are permitted under certain conditions. Basically, women-only spaces require an exemption from the Sex Discrimination Act and the state law (Equal Opportunity Act in Victoria), which both prohibit discrimination based on sex and gender identity, says Beth Gaze, an expert in anti-discrimination law and professorial fellow at the University of Melbourne law school.

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She cites Fernwood Fitness Studios as a women-only business that is built on an exemption under the Acts. Related Article Women's health Im supposed to be calm and loving: Untangling perimenopausal rage Their argument was that women would not use a mixed-sex gym because of fear of being ogled and excluded from equipment by men. That succeeded in the 1990s, and has carried on ever since. But some groups have not been successful in their applications for women-only events. Its a bit of a mess, opines Gaze. It should be sorted out, but politicians can only see lost votes and trouble, so they are not in a hurry to go there. In the meantime, here are some more places to try if you fancy some she time.

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Where to swim McIvers Ladies Baths at Coogee Beach in Sydney is Australias only ocean rock pool reserved for women and children (boys up to 13) to bathe, relax and learn water safety skills and how to swim. It opened in 1876, when women were barred from using most public pools, except for during short periods of allotted time. For more than a century, things went on just so, until a local man launched proceedings with the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board in 1995, claiming that his exclusion amounted to discrimination. He lost his case, and the pool was granted an exemption under the Anti-Discrimination Act. Coogee womens baths provides a rare sanctuary where women of all ages, cultures and backgrounds can feel safe, welcome, and free to enjoy the ocean without judgement or intrusion, says Randwick and Coogee Ladies Swimming Association president Alex Bowen. For over 150 years, the baths have given women a place to swim with dignity and privacy. Protecting this women-only space ensures future generations inherit the same freedom. McIvers Ladies Baths provide an environment for women and children to swim, cool down and relax in peace.

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Where to dance In November 2022, friends and colleagues Sarah Wills and Lise Carlaw hired a room at a bowls club in Brisbane and danced the night away with 80 BFFs. Since then, Disco Club has expanded into Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and beyond, bringing sell-out pop-up events to women who just want to enjoy a night of dancing and having fun with their mates. We had no idea it would grow and scale to the sellout phenomenon it is now, says Sarah. We even sold out Sydneys Hordern Pavilion. I mean, pinch me! Disco Club is everything we miss about clubbing, and nothing we dont. Weve seen first-hand, over and over again, the collective joy of women of all ages coming together in a happy, safe, judgment-free space. Women continually tell us its not just about the music  its dance floor therapy. Disco Club founded by Sarah Wills and Lise Carlaw has proven popular with women who just want to dance. MARY MILLER MEDIA

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Where to work In her 1929 essay A Room of Ones Own, Virginia Woolf argued that women need a private space to write and express themselves freely. Based in Melbournes Southbank, One Roof is a purpose-built community for women entrepreneurs and business owners. What started life as a women-focused co-working space has now gone online and supports women across every state. Related Article Domestic violence This got me through: A DV survivors guide to being an ally The inspiration was simple, and urgent, say co-founder Frances Goh. Talented women were building great companies without equal access to networks and resources. Women-only spaces create psychological safety and speed. They also reduce the invisible tax of bias, which frees up energy for execution. Members describe One Roof as a place where momentum feels shared rather than solitary and they are supported by an incredible community of awesome women.

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Where to travel Women are estimated to account for two-thirds of the global traveller population, many of them travelling solo or in groups with other women. When Hayley Morris founded Sisterhood Womens Travel 20 years ago, she was a pioneer in the Australian field. Related Article Courts Tickle vs Giggle: The case centred around what a woman means We went to VCAT (Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal) to legally run women-only tours under an exemption from the Equal Opportunity Act, based on a community need. We no longer run under the exemption as there are many companies now promoting women-only, but in the early days, it certainly gave us some credibility, she says. There are many advantages of a women-only travel experience  safety and comfort, a sense of community and belonging, and encouragement to get out of your comfort zone. Over the years, weve had many women from DV backgrounds who have travelled and regained their wings, and Im so proud of this.

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Where to work out Empowa Fitness launched in 2014 in Erskine Park NSW with a vision to create a safe, supportive space for women of diverse cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds. Having a women-only gym removes intimidation and distraction, giving women the freedom to train in a supportive environment, says co-founder Dev (yes, hes a man) Krishna. It also allows us to design programs specifically for women, while fostering real connection and community that would otherwise prove difficult in a traditional male-dominant gym. Members describe Empowa as a second home where theyve gained strength, confidence, and friendships. Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox every Monday.

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Women's health
Chelsea Turn Attention to January Defender Search as Guehi Ruled Out

Maresca Eyes Reinforcements in Defence

Chelsea are preparing to enter the January transfer market with a focus on strengthening their defensive options. As reported by The Express, manager Enzo Maresca is expected to push for a new central defender amid a string of fitness concerns across his back line.

Levi Colwill remains sidelined, while Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo have both faced recurring injury issues. Trevoh Chalobahs red card against Brighton, which brought a one-match suspension, has only highlighted the squads fragility in central defence.

Maresca had sought defensive reinforcements in the summer, with names such as Barcelonas Ronald Araujo and Nottingham Forests Murillo linked, yet no deal materialised. Now, the need appears more pressing.

Guehi Move Off the Table

Despite persistent speculation, a move for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi has been ruled out. The England international, whose contract runs until next summer, remains admired by Maresca but will not be making a Stamford Bridge return. Liverpool and several other European clubs are monitoring his situation, while Real Madrid are believed to be a potential long-term destination should they move for defensive cover.

Liverpool came close to signing Guehi during the summer before Crystal Palace withdrew from talks late in the window. Although Marescas admiration for the player is clear, Chelseas stance appears definitive for now.

Marescas Measured Response

Speaking last season, Maresca addressed speculation surrounding the Palace captain. He said: The only thing I can say is Marc Guehi is a Palace player. I like Marc for sure, but he is not our player. I also like the centre-halves we have and I like different central defenders in Italy, Spain and France but that doesnt mean we are going to buy the player.

The Italians comments underline Chelseas intent to explore other markets and maintain a measured approach to recruitment, particularly given their record spending in recent seasons.

Transfer Strategy Taking Shape

Chelseas January window could see a targeted move for a defender capable of providing stability alongside young talents like Benoit Badiashile and Colwill once fit. The clubs recruitment department remains in close dialogue with Maresca, with several continental names being assessed ahead of a busy winter period.

Our View  EPL Index Analysis

The decision to move away from a Guehi reunion will divide opinion. Many fans remember his composed displays from the academy system and feel his leadership would have added much-needed maturity to a young defensive group.

However, there is also understanding among supporters that the club must be strategic in its January dealings. Given the high investment made under the current ownership, fans want to see smarter spending and clear tactical fits rather than nostalgic signings. Guehis price tag and the interest from Real Madrid and Liverpool make such a deal complex.

Most Chelsea fans will back Marescas pragmatic stance. His faith in existing defenders, coupled with the likelihood of fresh scouting in Spain and Italy, suggests the club will look for a defender who can fit his possession-based system.

If the right player is found, particularly one with experience but room to grow, supporters will see this as a calculated step forward. Patience may be key, but after several chaotic windows, there is optimism that Chelseas recruitment is finally becoming more refined and sustainable under Marescas leadership.
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NationalFive Minutes with Fitz Opinion Morgan Freeman told me: If you dont cast me ... Ill hunt you down Peter FitzSimons Columnist and author October 5, 2025  2:00am

October 5, 2025  2:00am 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 8 View all comments

Bruce Beresford, 85, is one of Australias most iconic film-makers. On Tuesday he spoke at the premiere of his latest film, The Travellers, which he wrote and directed. Fitz: Bruce, well get to The Travellers. But lets have a few war stories first. I see you were at Sydney Uni in the early 60s, and became part of a brilliant rat pack of prodigies, among whom were the likes of Clive James, Germaine Greer, Bob Ellis, Mungo McCallum, Robert Hughes and John Bell? Luke Bracey, Bryan Brown and Susie Porter in Bruce Beresfords The Travellers. David Dare Parker BB: There was a pod of us, yes, who were in acting groups and writing groups, firing off each other creatively. Fitz: Cue: William Wordsworth. Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive, yet to be young was very heaven. Was it like that?

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BB: Yes. And I made a lot of friends that Ive still got now, at least those who have not dropped off the perch. Fitz: Did it feel like, I am surrounded by titans of their age, people that are going to dominate their different fields, some globally? BB: Certainly it felt like that in relation to Bob Hughes, Clive James, Germaine, and John Bell. I realised they were all very gifted, while I always thought I was hopeless in comparison to that lot. Fitz: So, what then? When they go off into various fields, what steered you down the path of filmmaking? BB: Well, from kindergarten onwards, I had thought, All I want to do is make films. And I had already started making amateur films, and got into film festivals. But there was nothing much in Australia, so I went to England, lived with Clive James and two others, and after various labouring jobs, eventually got this job at the British Film Institute making a number of low-budget films. In the six years I was there, we made 86 of them.

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Related Article Cinema Trump has doubled down on his non-US movie tariff threat. Thats a bad thing for cinema Fitz: 86! BB: They were mostly short ones, but it gave me the experience I needed. I used to read all the scripts that came in  hundreds of them  and pick out which ones I thought were technically and economically feasible to finance, before submission to a committee. The scripts that appealed to me were ones where I felt that people werent making other peoples films, they were telling their own stories. I was looking for original films with original ideas, where your first response is: I havent actually seen anything like this before. And then in the early 70s I read in the paper that a government fund had been set up to make films in Australia. I was friends with Barry Humphries in London, And I said, Look, we could do a script for the Barry McKenzie comic strip ...  Fitz: And so the iconic, The Adventures of Barry McKenzie starring Barry Crocker was born, a film about Australians, by Australians, for Australians  which was a stunning success, commercially.

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BB: Yes, but for me it was a big mistake, because I was regarded as Mr Yobbo. The reviews were terrible and I struggled to get more work. Aunt Edna (Barry Humphries) with Barry Crocker in a London taxi in a scene from The Adventures of Barry McKenzie. The reviews were terrible and I struggled to get more work. Fitz: You were having a Barry Crocker  BB: The only work I could get was to do a sequel to Barry McKenzie, with Reg Grundy promising hed finance me doing The Getting of Wisdom, which is what I wanted to make. But there was no written contract, and he never followed through. Fitz: You had every right to have your knickers in a knot, your Reg Grundies in a twist.

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BB: I was, and still am, a hopeless businessman. I should have got all the money up-front from Reg. But Philip Adams saved me in 1976, by sending me the play Dons Party, by David Williamson  which I turned into a film  and I was able to follow up with films like Breaker Morant, Puberty Blues and Tender Mercies. Fitz: And yet even though you received an Academy Award nomination for Tender Mercies, perhaps your signature film was Driving Miss Daisy, in 1989? BB: Yes, the producer Dick Zanuck called me. Hed seen Breaker Morant and Tender Mercies, and he said, Theres a play I want you to make a film of. Its off Broadway, a small play with only three people in it. He flew me to New York, and we saw the production, and it had a fantastic but unknown actor in it, Morgan Freeman. Fitz: You told me that story in London last year! Remind me, what did Freeman say to you when you met him backstage? BB: He said, If you dont cast me in the film, Ill be after you. Ill hunt you down.

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And the other one I cast was Jessica Tandy, the original Blanche in Streetcar Named Desire, but she had been forgotten. Nobody knew her and Morgan. I got most resistance on casting Morgan. They said, You want that old black man?. I remember saying, You should kiss his arse. Youre lucky that an actor that talented wants to be in this film. Anyway, the budget was so tight, we shot the whole thing in 25 days, not the usual 50 to 60 days. Fitz: But even then, you were not set? It was not immediately recognised as a classic? BB: No. Warner Brothers, who had distribution rights, said Its an arthouse film. Its not worth distributing. And they were only going to put it on in an art house in San Francisco. It was devastating. But then I got this call, Have you got that film of the old Jewish lady and the black man? They couldnt remember their names! Fitz: Taxi! BB: So I went over to this big theatre at Warners, that held 600 seats. But there was just one man there, a Warners exec. So we sat down together, and they started playing the film. After 20 minutes, he got up and walked out. I followed him out to the lobby, and I said, You dont like it?

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No, I do like it. Is the rest of it as good as the first 20 minutes? It gets better. Ah, OK. Whats all this about? We havent got a Christmas film. We need a Christmas film. This is it.

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And they put it on in 3000 theatres. And it got nominated for nine Oscars and won four. Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy in Driving Miss Daisy. The budget was so tight, we shot the whole thing in 25 days, not the usual 50 to 60 days. Fitz: Strangely, not including even a nomination for best director for you! And yet, when once asked if you were bitter about that, you said, No, not at all. I didnt think it was that well directed. It was very well written. When the writings that good, youve really just got to set the camera up and photograph it. BB: [Laughing.] Yes, I guess so. But, of course, youve still got to know where to point the camera! Fitz: And another quarter of a century of successful films have followed including Black Robe, Silent Fall, Last Dance, Double Jeopardy, The Contract and, perhaps most famously, Maos Last Dancer. Youve worked with everyone from Richard Gere [King David] to Sharon Stone [Last Dance] to Glenn Close [Paradise Road], Tommy Lee Jones [Double Jeopardy], Robert Duvall [Tender Mercies], and you gave Cate Blanchett her start, in Paradise Road. My question is this. Every director wants to do what you have done, and have a 60-year career of hits. How do you do it? What is your technique for making films that has stood you in such good stead?

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BB: [Thoughtfully.] I mean, I always have the whole film in my head, from pretty early on, after reading the script. I know the way I want it to look, and have each scene put on storyboards. Fitz: Well, how are you so blessed as to have such a clear idea? BB: I dont know. I mean, many actors will tell you that no two directors have the same technique. I know many directors get the script, the actors and the camera-people all on set and work on their own idea from there, after a lot of discussion. But I never do that. I know what I want, how I want it to look. I prepare all the scenes very carefully, as I have a background in very low-budget films, that have to be shot in a given period. I tell them: Heres the shot, this is the angle of the camera, and this is how I want it cut. Fitz: Despite being 85, you told me recently that you still feel as strong as you ever have. What are your plans for the future, and even retirement? Do you want to be making films into your 90s? BB: Ive never given it any thought. But I feel fine. Ridley Scotts about two years older than me, and still going  and Clint [Eastwood] is in his 90s, and doing a new film now.

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Fitz: Cut! All right, present company excepted  as I need to disclose youve written a film script for one of my books  what is the great Australian story yet to be told? BB: There are stories all the time. But I have written another script about these Australians who, 10 years ago, went to Georgia, near the Black Sea, to try and buy the czars wine collection, which has been stored there by Stalin. Fitz: I love it already! But that brings us to your latest opus, The Travellers, which sees you reunite with Bryan Brown for the first time since Breaker Morant, 45 years ago. How did it come about? Bruce Beresford: I wanted a story set in Australia. James Brickwood BB: Well, I actually wrote that script during the COVID lockdown. I wanted a story set in Australia, a modern story. And drawing on my own experience, I remembered what it was like to come back from America, to look after my ailing mother, and to be drawn back into a world I had left, but was still intact  all the friends, former lovers and so forth, still there. I was a fish out of water, but then you get drawn back in. And I also had some friends who had been hugely successful working in opera in Europe, and they had told me stories of having to come back and then deal with family problems. And I thought thats an interesting angle, so I pursued that. I worked up the characters, with Bryan [Brown] playing the elderly father, Luke Bracey in the role of the successful opera set designer returning home, and Susie Porter as his sister.

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Fitz: And I know you shot it in WA late last year. Do you know, as youre shooting it, whether it works or not? BB: Absolutely not. I have an instinct for individual rushes, and know whether or not they work, but as to whether or not it has the magic or not, you cant know until the whole thing is put before the audience and you see how they react. Fitz: So, you and I are talking just hours before you and Bryan and Susie are headlining at the Cremorne Orpheum, for the films premiere, which Ill be attending. Will you tell me, with your usual honesty, afterwards, whether you think it has the magic or not? BB: I will. Fitz: (At the after-party, of the premiere.) Bruce? The cinema was packed, the response seemed strong, but what do you think? Does The Traveller have the magic, or not?

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BB: I thought it was very good! The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here.
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Police have laid a suite of charges against a 60-year-old man who allegedly opened fire on pedestrians, drivers and police on a busy inner west street on Sunday evening. Artemios Mintzas was charged on Monday night at Burwood Police Station with 25 offences after he allegedly fired dozens of bullets with a high-calibre rifle from his Croydon Park apartment, where he lived alone. Artemios Mintzas with police after the Croydon Park rampage. Nine News Of the 25 charges against Mintzas, eighteen are shooting at with intent to murder. Other charges include one count of fire a firearm in or near a public place, possess an unregistered firearm, fire a firearm at house with disregard for safety, and discharge a firearm with intent to resist arrest, in addition to three more. He was released from hospital into police custody on Monday morning and was later charged and refused bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on Tuesday.

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Croydon Park was plunged into lockdown just after 7.45pm on Sunday following reports of an active shooter. Locals ran and ducked for cover as the alleged gunman fired shots from the window of a unit above a business on Georges River Road, with bullets striking vehicles and a nearby bus shelter. During the alleged ordeal, a passenger in a passing car was admitted to hospital after being allegedly struck by bullets in the neck and chest. The person is expected to survive after undergoing surgery on Monday morning. Loading At least one bullet allegedly hit a police car as locals ran for cover while windows shattered around them.

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In dramatic video of the gunmans arrest about 9.30pm, police can be heard yelling at the man not to move and to place his hands out of the shattered glass window. Stay down  hands out the window, police yelled. Numerous victims suffered facial injuries caused by glass broken in the shooting that started about 7.30pm at Croydon Park. A .30-calibre rifle was allegedly seized from the property after tactical police stormed the building and arrested the man two hours after the alleged shooting spree began. Mintzas has two adult children and works as a customer service attendant for Sydney Trains.

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Acting Superintendent Stephen Parry said on Monday police had very few recorded interactions over the past 20 years with the man, whom they allege triggered a highly dangerous operation in which emergency responders were at serious risk of death or injury. One shot was fired through the window [of] one of the police cars  if the police vehicle was occupied, that police officer in all likelihood would have sustained fatal injuries, Parry said. Artemios Mintzas has two adult children and works as a customer service attendant for Sydney Trains. Facebook/Artie Mintzas Its incredible that nobody has died or received significant injuries in relation to this. Parry said that, following initial calls from residents who could hear gun shots, police rushed to the apartment building on Georges River Road, with the gunman continuing to fire.

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The bullets narrowly missed them, but their police car was struck, Parry alleged.



The police were actually outside their vehicle when they were first shot at. Theyve retreated tactically and safely, he said. Parry said there were two active crime scenes, including the apartment and an adjacent business on Georges River Road. He said examination of the crime scenes would determine the number of gunshots, but said an estimated 50 bullets were fired, including those fired by police. Police initially estimated 100 rounds might have been discharged. Artemios Mintzas was charged on Monday night. Nine News Locals said more than 30 police vehicles arrived in the area, and special tactical police were also deployed. Officers developed a plan to storm the building and arrested the man two hours later, seizing the weapon. A long arm, high-calibre rifle has been seized from the scene. At this stage, there are a number of vehicles, a number of premises, which have seen sustained gunshot damage, Parry said.

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A motive for the accused is yet to be determined, though Parry said the alleged attack was not motivated against police. Police have not found any manifestos or documentation that would point to a motive, and Mintzas had no reported mental health history with police. NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said it was a serious and terrifying incident for those involved, and the attack had no known link to terrorism or gang activity. Some guys windshield blew up, then the bus stop glass shattered. Witness Joe Azar Ive seen body-worn footage where police were forced to take cover while trying to assist members of the public, Lanyon told 2GB on Monday morning. To show that sort of bravery, to put their lives in danger to assist members of the public is probably the greatest honour we can do as police officers.

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Lanyon was joined by Premier Chris Minns at Burwood police station on Sunday night. Minns visited the responders after the NRL grand final. Minns praised the police and emergency services who faced the confronting and dangerous situation, saying they responded without hesitation to protect the community. There is no place for this sort of violence in our state, Minns said. A man is taken away from the scene after the Croydon Park shooting. Nine News Acting Assistant Commissioner Trent King said police were investigating how the accused may have procured the firearm and ammunition allegedly used in the shooting, calling it a horrific situation that was almost unprecedented in Sydney.

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Im certainly proud in terms of the police response, King told Nines Today program on Monday. It could have been far worse. NSW Ambulance Superintendent John Millevoi said one alleged victim in their 50s went to Canterbury Hospital with gunshot wounds to their neck and chest, and was then taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. The person underwent surgery on Sunday night. NSW Police Acting Superintendent Stephen Parry speaks outside Burwood police station on Sunday night to give an update on the Croydon Park shooting. Staff From the information I heard, [they were] in a critical condition, Millevoi said. Three patients with less serious injuries went to Campsie police station, he said. Two of those had facial injuries caused by broken glass and were taken to Canterbury Hospital.

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Paramedics treated 20 people at the scene, ranging from minor injuries to shock. Of those, five were taken to hospital for further treatment. Michelle, a local, said she was walking along the street when bullets started flying, hitting concrete within a metre of her. Croydon Park local Michelle said a bullet narrowly missed her. Nine News I saw the bullets had hit, and the cement had actually sprayed out, she said. Office worker Joe Azar said he was working in the Citywide Lending mortgage broker across the road when he heard what he thought were fireworks or rocks being thrown at the windows.

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He said his group tried to leave the building before realising they were gunshots. The window the shots were allegedly fired from. Nine News Some guys windshield blew up, then the bus stop glass shattered, Azar said. The surreal feeling kicked in like, Oh, this is whats happening.  Azar said the group ran back inside, lay on the ground and called police who told them to stay on the floor. It was frantic  it all happened so quick, so I couldnt comprehend what was going on, he said.

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Azar said about one hour after the shooting stopped, police gave them the all-clear to exit the building. Local Matt Iocco said he heard loud bangs on Georges River Road. People ducked behind cars and hid, Iocco said. During the chaos, text messages were sent to residents as a police helicopter circled overhead. The public is urged to shelter in place, the text read. Motorists were also urged to stay away.

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Georges River Road was closed between Croydon Avenue and Seymour Street on Sunday night, and Brighton Avenue was closed between Georges River Road and Queensborough Road. They have since reopened. Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens. Get it here.
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NationalMiddle East tensions Signs that the arrival of women and children fleeing Syria was not a complete surprise Michael Bachelard October 6, 2025  4:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

Victoria Police was informed in advance that two women and four children would be returning to Melbourne from a detention camp in Syria after their families gave notice and promised to co-operate with authorities. Sources who cannot be identified because they are not authorised to speak publicly have said the six family members of former Islamic State fighters returned to Australia after paying people smugglers to escape the lawless al-Hawl camp in north-eastern Syria. Kirsty Rosse-Emile, pictured with son Yahya in al-Hawl camp in 2019. They are now in Roj camp. Kate Geraghty The two women and four children, who have not been identified publicly, travelled to the Lebanese border and then were detained by Lebanese authorities and taken to the Australian embassy in Beirut. There they were screened and issued with Australian passports  which is an obligation on the government when dealing with citizens overseas. The six are the first family members of former IS fighters to return to Victoria.

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Victoria Police did not answer questions about when and how police had become aware of the return, saying through a spokesperson they were aware there are Australian citizens in camps in Syria who may look to return home, including to Victoria. Where required, Victoria Police works closely with state and federal agencies to facilitate the reintegration of women and children who return to Victoria from camps in Syria. Children in the foreign annexe of al-Hawl camp in north-east Syria in 2019. Kate Geraghty The escape of the six leaves 37 Australian citizens, including 25 children in a different, better-regulated camp in Syria called al-Roj. A federal government spokesman has ruled out any planned repatriation of those people, saying they will only be accepted into Australia if they escape and find their own way to return. There has been no confirmation of where the six who did return late last month are living, what services have been offered them or whether they will be charged with any offences. A state government spokesperson said: It would be inappropriate to comment on the private travel arrangements of citizens.

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In 2023, then-home affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo underlined the importance of state governments when speaking about the repatriation of women and children detained in Syria. He told a Senate committee: If a state government chose to say, We dont want to proceed, then I would have thought the Commonwealth would take that pretty seriously. We have to rely on them for schooling, trauma support, counselling, public health support and the like. So its done consensually. Non-Australian children at the al-Hawl camp in 2019 raise their index fingers to the sky in a sign for monotheism adopted by Islamic State followers. Kate Geraghty Government-sponsored repatriations in 2019 and 2022 brought back four women and 21 children, including eight orphans. All were residents of Sydney. The 2022 return led to a brief political backlash, particularly from a group of Sydney mayors. That prompted then-home affairs minister Clare ONeil to say the government had a choice to bring people back to Australia in a managed way, or alternatively, after a bunch of Australian children have grown up in a camp where they are subjected every day to radical ideologies.

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Since then, the Albanese government has ruled out any further managed repatriations. Advocates for the families say a number of Australian boys are at the age  between 13 and 15  when the Kurdish authorities who run the camps will transfer them to adult mens prisons. Related Article Updated

Middle East tensions Women and children return to Australia after years stranded in Syria The irregular return of the six and the reluctance of Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to comment on it has infuriated the federal opposition. Coalition home affairs spokesman James Paterson posed a series of questions on Monday, saying on ABC Radio National: How did these people come home to Australia? Are any of them facing any counter-terrorism charges for their involvement with Islamic State? How will that be monitored? Where will they live? What involvement did the government have in bringing them home? None of these have been answered, and its simply not good enough for the minister of home affairs to refuse to answer about that.

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Describing the women and children as a highly dangerous cohort of individuals, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and then-acting home affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash last week described the return as a dereliction of duty by the government. Editor's pick Investigation

Healthcare Sole destroying: How surgeons wield scalpels without medical degrees But Mat Tinkler, chief executive of Save The Children  which has been trying since the fall of Islamic State in 2019 to convince governments to bring the women and children home  said these were innocent Australian children who have spent years in one of the worst places in the world to be a child, through no fault of their own. All of the people whove come back are Australian citizens, and our strong national security, law enforcement and judicial systems are fully equipped to manage any risks. He called on the Australian government to return the rest of the cohort. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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Exclusive NationalWACrime Their teen son was stabbed to death, now Brett and Belinda are stopping Perth parents from facing the same fate Connor McGoverne October 6, 2025  7:08am 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 parents who spearheaded Western Australias anytime, anywhere knife wanding laws will soon take their message directly to Perth teenagers, as weapons-related crime in the community doubles. Brett and Belinda Beasleys son Jack was stabbed and killed on a night out on the Gold Coast in December 2019, and have since dedicated themselves to tougher knife laws and education campaigns across the country. Loading 9News Perth revealed on Sunday that Western Australia would follow the Queensland and NSW governments leads and fund the couple to present workshops in 20 Perth schools. The messages are simple, and it is to live their life without a knife, Brett Beasley told 9News Perth and WAtoday.

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The feedback we get is amazing. We get to one school, do a presentation, and 10 minutes [later] another one is ringing us, wanting us to come to their school. The teachers love it, the kids end up in tears. We dont mean for that to happen, but because its such a moving presentation and even the teachers, they absolutely love it. The pair is likely to bring their lessons west in Term 2, 2026. At one recent presentation to a Sydney school, Belinda told the teens she wanted to prevent [Jacks death] happening to another family. Our aim is to educate the youth of today about the dangers, the repercussions and the snowball effect a single act of violence can have on so many people, Belinda told the teenage crowd.

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Were not here to tell you whats right and whats wrong, Im sure you already know that. This is about making the right choices to prevent harm and trauma to yourselves and to others. Jack (second from right) with Mitch, mother Belinda and father Brett. Paul Harris 9News Perth and WAtoday first foreshadowed the Cook government would implement tough stop and search laws named Jacks Law, in honour of the Beasley family, last year. Police Commissioner Col Blanch revealed on Sunday that between 150 and 170 knives had been seized from the streets since Jacks Law came into effect last December, and warned more would come during the summer months. Know that if you do bring a knife, you are going to be caught in our entertainment precincts and other places police are conducting these operations, he said.

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Parents have given us strong feedback on letting their kids out to Northbridge at 18 years old, knowing that police are out there doing exactly that. When you take 150 to 170 weapons off the streets on young people, thats 150 or 170 serious deaths or serious injuries that couldve been prevented. Despite the current crackdown, the state has seen weapons-related crime surge in recent years, with the number of incidents where a person is, or pretends to be, armed with a dangerous weapon more than doubling since 2020-21. Police Minister Reece Whitby said overall crime was down 17 per cent since the Labor government came to power in 2017. However, opposition spokesperson Adam Hort hit back to say the state government had its head buried in the sand.

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Violent crime is at an all-time high, he said. People in our streets are twice as likely, compared to just five years ago, to be threatened by a weapon. Now that is a very, very significant issue. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.

Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Crime Connor McGoverne is a reporter for 9 News Perth who specialises in state politics.
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Exclusive PoliticsFederalBabies The baby bonus worked  at $86,000 for each extra child Shane Wright October 5, 2025  9:01pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share 73 View all comments

Peter Costellos baby bonus encouraged Australians to have extra children, particularly among women on low or no incomes, the first research of its kind has confirmed, with each extra child costing taxpayers $86,000. While the research, by the independent e61 think tank, suggests that in its first year of operation the bonus delivered an extra 16,250 babies, those behind the work cautioned such a generous handout may not work as well today given other financial supports in place for families. Former treasurer Peter Costello unveiled the baby bonus in 2004. New research it increased births by 1300 a month. Sandy Scheltema And the research has already come under fire for ignoring long-term demographic trends and the failure of similar and even more generous pro-baby payment policies across the rest of the world. The decade-long bonus started in mid-2004 when Costello famously encouraged Australians to have more children, declaring couples should have one for your husband and one for your wife and one for the country.

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Ever since its introduction, there have been arguments over whether the bonus got Australian couples in the mood for more babies. Related Article Population Ashleigh and Wyatt could help end the baby recession. They have to win the lotto first But research manager with e61, Pelin Akyol, said the baby bonus had lifted fertility among Australian women, with 16,250 additional children born in its first year of operation alone and the policy driving an extra 1300 babies a month. Women exposed to the policy were more likely to end up with three or more children in total, she said. This is the first evidence that the baby bonus increased long-term family size, not just the timing of births.

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The nation recorded 251,161 births in the year before the bonus started. By 2008, births had climbed to 302,272, before peaking at 315,417 in 2018. Since then, births and total fertility rates have fallen, with 286,998 births recorded in 2023. The baby bonus changed during the Howard governments final years. Initially a payment of $3000, it was increased to $4000 and then $5000. The study found the $3000 payment had the largest impact, with much more modest increases at the higher rates. The researchers also found the first child tax refund, worth up to $12,500 and which the bonus replaced, had no detectable effect on fertility. The largest impact was on women who had not finished year 12, with an 8 per cent lift in births among this cohort. There was a 10 per cent lift among women with no taxable income, and an 8 per cent lift among women with below-median incomes. The researchers found a 9 per cent increase in births of a third or a fourth child.

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Every total additional birth attributable to the bonus program cost taxpayers, in todays dollars, $86,000. Akyol and fellow researcher Ali Vergili warned that a repeat of the baby bonus may not be successful today. They noted that prospective families now had access to broader financial supports, such as paid parental leave (which did not exist when the bonus was introduced) and expanded childcare. ANU demographer Liz Allen says demographic destiny rather than the baby bonus accounted for early 2000s lift in fertility. Alex Ellinghausen But Australian National University demographer Liz Allen said there were substantial doubts over the studys findings, which were counter to the muted impact of even more generous policies over recent years.

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Many nations have introduced a suite of pro-baby policies. Hungary, for instance, now offers large interest-free loans to childbearing woman, subsidised minivans and a lifelong exemption from income tax for mothers with at least four children. But its fertility rate continues to fall and is now around just 1.4 children per woman. Related Article Population The mortgage or the baby? Fertility dropping to record low Allen said the research ignored the demographic echoes that had lifted Australias fertility rate in the early 2000s. Australias post-World War Two fertility rate peaked at 3.55 in 1961 and then fell before rallying again in the early 1970s as Baby Boomers started their families. From that point, fertility fell to its lowest level on record in 2001 just as Generation X women moved into their prime child-rearing years. Between 2001 and 2008, Australias fertility rate increased 16 per cent to 2.02. But between 2008 and 2014, even with the bonus continuing, the nations fertility rate dropped by 11 per cent.

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The baby bonus and other programs did not lead to a baby boom. It was demographic destiny that played out, Allen said. Its gob-smacking to think that we in Australia are an outlier to the rest of the world, which is going even further with financial incentives. Allen said a host of issues, from the cost of housing to economic insecurity to climate change, was behind the drop in fertility. She argued for those people who want children, the impediments just continue to grow. The evidence is clear we need a suite of policies if we are going to turn around the train wreck that we have playing out. Its going to be stubbornly difficult to turn around, and we probably cant do that, she said. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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PoliticsFederalRepublic debate Opinion Why it will take a battle royal to revive the Australian republic Nick Bryant Journalist and author October 6, 2025  2:00am

October 6, 2025  2:00am 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 287 View all comments

Anthony Albanese came away from his visit to the Kings Scottish pile at Balmoral conceding he would become the fifth successive republican Labor prime minister who has failed to advance the republican cause. This did not appear to outwardly trouble him. Anthony Albanese shares a joke with King Charles at Parliament House last October. Getty Images Maybe this one-time tribune of the Labor left was seduced by the magic of the monarchy. Or simply cowed by its sheer magnitude, given how it sits at the pinnacle of global celebrity culture. Maybe in King Charles he eyes a left-wing kindred spirit, who, probably like him, would prefer to speak more passionately on progressive issues but opts instead for self-censorship so as not to scare the horses. The joke in royal circles is that King Charles is more radical even than George Monbiot, one of The Guardians more leftist columnists. Almost certainly, the King of Australia is more radical than the prime minister of Australia on issues such as global warming. Rather than mimicking Menzies-style deference, Albaneses shelving of republicanism stems primarily from an understandable aversion to referenda. Losing the Voice referendum marked the low point of his tenure, and one from which he did not fully recover until election day in 2025. In an interview with David Speers on ABCs Insiders, he announced the country would not be asked another referendum question for the duration of his prime ministership. I think Ive made it clear that I wanted to hold one referendum while I was prime minister, and we did that, he said. Then he twice reaffirmed the phrase we did that, to shut down further discussion. In America, the US Senate has long been the graveyard of much-needed reform  a body which up until the mid-1960s killed off civil rights bills aimed at ending Jim Crow segregation and which this century has blocked stricter gun controls. In Australia, referenda have become the burial ground for reformers dreams: the Voice in 2023, a republic in 1999, and a commonsense change urged upon voters by Bob Hawke in 1988 lengthening parliamentary terms to four years rather than three, which would have made politics less of a permanent campaign.

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Of the 45 nationwide referenda, only eight have been carried. No prime minister  even one with a whopping parliamentary majority  wants to suffer back-to-back defeats. So we did that has become his fatalistic mantra. Related Article Opinion

Political leadership Will Albanese be bolder now? Hes five moves away from greatness James Massola Chief political commentator This is the same prime minister, of course, who has championed progressive patriotism as a counterpoint to nationalistic populism. It provided the overarching theme of his speech in June to the National Press Club in which he sought to vest his election victory with larger meaning. In his speech last month to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, he spoke again of embracing patriotism as a truly progressive cause. Thats become a common refrain on the centre-left as it confronts an insurgent far and hard right. Keir Starmer, facing a threat from Nigel Farages Reform UK, has called for patriotic renewal. During his own Labour Party conference speech, he urged compatriots to wave their flags with pride. Beforehand, his audience had been handed national ensigns to create a sea of flags, much like the Last Night of the Proms. Britain would suffer a nervous breakdown without its monarchy. Jeremy Corbyn is the only Labour leader to have been openly republican, making him unelectable. In the Australian context, however, progressive patriotism is intellectually incoherent without republicanism. Albaneses abandonment of republicanism feels more like regressive patriotism. Or maybe we should call it pusillanimous progressive patriotism.

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It is all a far cry from the three Rs of Paul Keatings version of progressive patriotism: republicanism, reconciliation and a reorientation towards Asian neighbours. Under Albanese, it is hard to see a grand gesture of reconciliation equivalent to the Indigenous Voice to parliament. Under Albanese, the 76-year-old monarch will remain head of state. Under Albanese, AUKUS remains the sine qua non of foreign policy  a pact the Chinese deride as an Anglo-Saxon bloc. Related Article Opinion

Republic debate When our King visits Oz, its the monarchy that should go walkabout Malcolm Knox Journalist, author and columnist AUKUS and the monarchy raise obvious questions about Australian sovereignty and independence, while reconciliation goes to the heart of national identity: fertile ground, you would think, for a patriotic progressive. Looking through a narrow aperture solely at these three pillars of national policy, someone unaware of the political backstories of the two prime ministers might struggle to differentiate Albaneseism from Howardism. More than a quarter-century on, the failure of the republican referendum continues to exert a deadening effect on the Republican movement, which was always John Howards intention. The no vote in 1999 can also be seen as the day the reform era came to an end. True, the GST, the last major durable economic reform, came into effect on July 1, 2000. But the legislation passed parliament a year beforehand in June 1999. The Republican referendum came more than four months later. Since then, the failure of Australian republicanism has become more broadly emblematic. The Australian crown has become a symbol of Australias 21st-century inertia; a dormancy when it comes to national renewal.

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So much, then, for the long-awaited Charles moment, when Elizabethan republicans, unwilling to agitate against a popular queen, would push again for a home-grown head of state. If anything, King Charles is enjoying a purple patch. An irony of the rise of authoritarians such as Donald Trump is that a constitutional monarch, with limited symbolic powers, is widely regarded as a safer bet than a kingly president. Likewise, at this time of angry polarisation, a head of state who transcends partisanship becomes a more attractive proposition. At times this year, when mounting a doughty defence of Canadian independence from America and Ukrainian independence from Russia, the King has almost assumed the mantle of leader of the free world. The indifference of the Australian people has long been the monarchys strong point, as Malcolm Knox argued in these pages ahead of last years royal visit. Now its position in Australia looks even stronger because of the seeming indifference of a republican Labor prime minister. Nick Bryant is the author of The Rise and Fall of Australia: How a Great Nation Lost its Way. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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TechnologyTelecommunications New laws aim to rebuild trust in Triple Zero after fatal failures David Swan October 6, 2025  7:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share 15 View all comments

The Albanese government will introduce legislation this week to give the Triple Zero custodian formal powers, more than 18 months after the role was first recommended, as it faces criticism for failing to reinforce the service despite a string of outages. The bill, to be tabled in parliaments final sitting weeks for 2025, will embed the custodian within the Australian Communications and Media Authority, with statutory powers to demand information from telecommunications providers, to monitor performance and to respond to outages. Communications Minister Anika Wells said the move was critical to rebuilding trust in the emergency call system after three deaths were linked to Septembers Optus outage, when at least 600 Triple Zero calls failed in Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. A new minister to the industry: Anika Wells in Sydney on Tuesday after allowing Optus to appoint its own external adviser. Flavio Brancaleone We know Australians confidence in Triple Zero has been shaken, and its vital that its rebuilt, Wells said.

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Related Article Telecommunications Triple Zero was built for 1960s phones. Can it handle 2025? With these new powers for the Triple Zero custodian, Australians can be assured of more active and effective monitoring of this most vital of services. The custodian role was a key recommendation of Richard Beans review into the November 2023 Optus outage, in which more than 2100 Triple Zero calls failed. The government accepted all 18 recommendations in April 2024 but the custodian has operated administratively within the Department of Communications only since March. The legislation will provide end-to-end oversight of the Triple Zero system and it will work alongside new rules beginning November 1, including real-time reporting of outages to ACMA and emergency services, mandatory testing of Triple Zero during network upgrades, and requirements ensuring calls can fall back to alternative networks during outages. Telecommunications providers will also face mandatory improvement plans after Triple Zero failures. Within six months of the laws commencing, the custodian will issue additional performance requirements to telcos.

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Wells said responsibility for ensuring Triple Zero calls connect during outages rested with carriers. The law in Australia is clear: if an outage occurs, telcos must make sure that Triple Zero calls still connect by being redirected to alternate mobile towers, she said. The move comes as pressure mounts on the government ahead of bushfire season. Wells has summoned the heads of Telstra, Optus and TPG to Canberra on Tuesday to explain their preparations for summer and their compliance with the November 1 rules. Opposition communications spokeswoman Melissa McIntosh has called for an independent inquiry into the entire Triple Zero ecosystem, saying ACMA cannot be the investigators as it was part of the failed process. The Coalition is expected this week to target Wells, who became communications minister after the election, over her handling of the Optus outage when federal parliament resumes on Tuesday. Last week Wells described herself as a new minister when asked whether she was listening more to telecommunications companies or to regulators about the deepening Triple Zero crisis.

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Opposition communications spokeswoman Melissa McIntosh. Janie Barrett I am still a new minister to the industry, so I would say Im listening to everybody at the moment, and I would say we are fast-tracking our Triple Zero guardian legislation that will give confidence to Australians about the specific role that Triple Zero plays for us in our country with disaster season ahead, and Ill be doing that as quickly as I can, Wells told reporters last week. Wells, the aged care minister in the first term of the Albanese government, was appointed communications minister on May 12. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has also criticised Wells for travelling to New York following the Optus outage, and said she should have remained in Australia. Industry experts have said the system faces mounting pressures. According to Telstra internal data, calls to Triple Zero surged by 44 per cent over the past decade, from 8.1 million in 2014 to 11.7 million in 2024. The National Emergency Communications Working Groups June white paper said that without urgent reform, the system risks becoming obsolete.

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The legislation represents one of the final pieces of business for parliament this year. Just four sitting weeks remain before the summer break. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.

Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Telecommunications David Swan is the technology editor for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. He was previously technology editor for The Australian newspaper. or email. Connect via Twitter
But how? Whether in a divided and more isolated Israel, or in a devastated Gaza, the future is for now shackled by new levels of distrust and hatred. Although Hamas said on Friday that it had agreed to release the remaining Israeli hostages , living and dead, it did not say that it would accept most aspects of a plan presented by US President Donald Trump , including the demand that it disarm. Trump welcomed the statement , and Israel said it would work with him.

Its a heated debate, he said, sitting in the bright kitchen of his newly constructed house. I say demolish and rebuild. I dont want kids passing incinerated homes. Its time to move forward.

The remains of the interior of a house, destroyed during fighting with Hamas militants, in Kibbutz Nir Oz.

Her husband, Nir Metzger, whose father was taken hostage by Hamas and killed last year in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, is the general secretary of the kibbutz. A big issue confronting him is whether to demolish burned and shattered houses or to preserve them as a memorial.

Of the 384 residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz at the time of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, a handful have returned, but like Israel as a whole, they find themselves gripped still by a horror that the creation of the Jewish state in 1948 was intended to prevent. Every conversation ends with the 7th of October, said Ola Metzger, who recently came back with her family.

Kibbutz Nir Oz, Israel: At Kibbutz Nir Oz, time is frozen. The tricycles, dollhouses and washing detergent piled outside charred homes testify to lives that stopped two years ago when a Hamas assault left 117 people dead, kidnapped or missing from this small Israeli farming community near the Gaza Strip border. Wind chimes tinkle over the collapsed swings of absent children.

This plan does not guarantee our rights as human beings with dignity, Riwaa Abu Quta, a young Palestinian woman who has been living in a tent in the coastal area of Muwasi for more than a year, said in a telephone interview. She has lost her home, her job and her hopes since the war began. It gives us the feeling that displacement will be our identity.

But Trumps idea of turning Gaza into a coastal business emporium with preferred tariff and access rates and a marginal Palestinian role in governance seems at once demeaning to the people who live there and unlikely to work.

It is an ambitious plan for a strip of land where destruction has reached apocalyptic proportions. The proposal was seemingly prepared in part to allow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to claim victory over Hamas. If the hostages are freed, it would certainly bolster Netanyahus standing.

Trump, shrugging off more than a century of failed Western interventions in the Middle East, has proposed a form of tutelage over Gaza that posits prosperity crafted by well-meaning international groups as a pathway to peace.

For Palestinians, a statehood that more countries  including Australia  have recognised of late remains a remote aspiration, at best, and that is the immovable issue at the heart of war after war.

The longest war of an endless Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not over yet and has come to challenge Israels image and understanding of itself. Its military has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, raining down such destruction on every aspect of life in Gaza that much of the world accuses it of genocide. Antisemitism is on the rise. The attack this past week on a synagogue on Yom Kippur in Manchester, England, was only the most recent example.

Rather, Israel has found its weakest enemy, Hamas, the most intractable, perhaps because defeating an idea is never easy, and is consumed by doubt. An intensely interconnected society, where the collective, forged in school and through military service, is fundamental, now debates whether it has lost its way and its ideals.

Arab neighbours speak of an imperial Israel after Netanyahus decapitation of Hezbollah in Lebanon and his blow to Irans nuclear program. But in Israel, there is no triumphal sense of regional military ascendancy.

People either compulsively follow the news or, simply spent, do not follow it at all. They speak of being overloaded. Posters and stickers of hostages and fallen soldiers in Gaza fade and peel on walls and benches. Anger flares at the smallest thing. After repeated ugly brawls over lanes, the beachside Gordon swimming pool in Tel Aviv, established in 1956, sent a letter on August 7 urging its members to avoid any expression of physical or verbal aggression.

At the two-year mark of the greatest defeat in the countrys 77-year history, Israelis find themselves mentally and physically exhausted, and not only the 295,000 reservists who have been called up again and again. About 83,000 Israelis emigrated in 2024, 50 per cent more than the previous year. Seven members of the Israeli military died by suicide in July and August alone.

The October 7 slaughter and seizure of hostages reinforced Holocaust associations for Israel, and for many Palestinians in Gaza, the war has been a new Nakba, said Yuval Shany, a professor of international law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. So narratives feed themselves in an endless loop.

Displacement and the quest for a homeland are, of course, intrinsic to the intertwined fates of Israelis and Palestinians. The Holocaust and the 1948 Nakba, or catastrophe, in which some 750,000 Palestinians were driven out during Israels War of Independence, vie for greater weight. By rekindling nightmarish memories of these disasters, the October 7 attack and the retaliatory war in Gaza have pushed the two sides deeper into enmity.

I fought to defend the Jewish, democratic liberal state in the spirit of our Declaration of Independence, he said. What we have now with this government is a tyrannical, racist, hateful and boycotted leadership. That must be the main issue for the next election.

We have lost our way. Eighty years after the Holocaust, we are talking about ethnic cleansing, Jewish supremacy, clearing Gaza City of its inhabitants, Moshe Yaalon said. Are these the values of the state of Israel?

The former defence minister and chief of staff of the Israeli military, a man once close to Netanyahu, was angry. More than angry, he was shaking with indignation.

There is no history, as in America, of the rugged individual in Israel, said Gershom Gorenberg, an Israeli author and historian. The mythology here is of the rugged commune, and it is that sense of shared responsibility that has been shattered.

Most Israeli prime ministers would probably have made the same decisions as Bibi, said Michael Oren, a former Israeli ambassador to the US and deputy minister in Netanyahus office, calling the prime minister by his nickname. He may have no credibility in the world, but he saw October 7 as a summons to history and stepped up.

Not so, say Netanyahus many supporters. They view him as the nations saviour who, through a war of resurrection, as he calls it, has vanquished Hamas and made Israel safer. The jury is likely to be out for a long time, but to suggest that Israels leader, after a total of 18 years in power, has no political future would be rash.

IDF reservists move through an area not far from the Gaza border in 2023.

Worse, in the view of his critics, he placed his own interests above the nations, doing everything to put off a commission of inquiry into the October 7 debacle that stemmed in part from his policy of supporting Hamas to ensure that the Palestinian national movement remained divided and ineffectual.

At the heart of that is the idea that you never leave a soldier on the field. In allowing the hostages agony to persist for two years in Gaza, where at least 41 were killed, Netanyahu transgressed against this core national tenet.

Of course, Israel is still a Middle Eastern country that holds elections  one is due next year  and where it is possible to say such things, at least as an Israeli Jew, without retribution. Still, Yaalons fury reflects the widespread conviction that a fundamental compact of Israels democracy was broken over the past two years and may be hard to repair.

The price has been high. Netanyahu has polarised Israelis and incensed the world.

Largely shielded from the extent of the terrible Palestinian suffering in Gaza, or in some cases untroubled by it, Israelis are consumed by their nations internal fracture. The October 7 attack brought the apotheosis of a long-brewing struggle between two Israels.

The first, a growing Messianic religious movement, now a decisive presence in the government, sees the October 7 massacre of an estimated 1200 people as a miraculous moment that forced the Jewish nation to take another step toward redemption, as Daniella Weiss, a prominent leader of the settler movement, said.

That redemption, for Weiss and her many followers, takes the form of Israeli control of all the land of Eretz Israel, bequeathed  as they see it  by God to the Jews.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. AP

The second Israel  secular, liberal and committed to safeguarding the nations democracy  sees this rightward drift as a mortal threat to the values embodied in the nations founding charter. This calls for complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants, irrespective of religion, race or sex.

That lofty goal has proved unattainable in a Jewish state where 2 million citizens, or 20 per cent of the population, are Arab or Palestinian. But many still believe that abandoning the struggle for its ideals would betray Israels essential promise.

Bibi has done terrible things not only to Palestinians, but to us, said Gadi Shamni, a retired major general and a former Israeli military attache in Washington. He has thrown away our basic values, of sanctifying life and of ethics in war, for which we sometimes paid a heavy price.

Shamni said in this environment, officers confronting a shadowy enemy embedded in Gazas civilian urban fabric had struggled to uphold values considered sacrosanct during his own time in the military.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a man convicted several times of inciting racism, has suggested that not even a gram of food or aid should get into Gaza and he has called for the clearing of 1 million people out of there through voluntary immigration. Hard-line Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for total annihilation in Gaza. They are to be destroyed, destroyed, destroyed, he said last year.

Itamar Ben-Gvir has called for the clearing of 1 million people out of there through voluntary immigration. AP

Such statements have fed the charges of Israeli genocide against Palestinians.

A dream foreclosed

Smotrich and Ben-Gvir reside in the occupied West Bank, where more than half a million Israelis live. Freed of all constraints since the October 7 attack, the settlers have rapidly stepped up their land grab in an attempt to foreclose the distant possibility of a Palestinian state.

The new Israeli flags that line West Bank highways proclaim a colonisation that, 58 years after the 1967 battlefield victory that extended Israeli authority to the Jordan River, seems irreversible.

Across the biblical land Israelis call Judea and Samaria, earthmovers heave rocks in clouds of dust. They carve dirt roads into terraced hillsides topped by the white caravans of yet another Israeli settlers outpost.

Cameras are ubiquitous; no Palestinian life goes unwatched. Israeli authorities have installed hundreds of automated yellow gates at the entrances to Palestinian towns and villages. They may slam shut, fencing in their populations, at any hint of disturbance.

An Israeli flag flies along a highway near the settlement of Carmel in the West Bank. Getty Images

Aisha Abu Alia says despite the pressure and humiliation, its impossible to leave. David Guttenfelder/The New York Times

In Al Mughayir, a hillside village of about 3000 people with a view of ancient olive and almond groves, recent Israeli depredations have been exacting. An incident on August 21 involving an overturned tractor and an injured settler  the circumstances were never clarified  led hundreds of Israeli soldiers to swarm into the village, detaining the mayor for nine days and searching more than 500 homes. At the same time, settlers hacked and bulldozed countless olive trees across the villagers fields.

I felt they were uprooting my own heart, said Aisha Abu Alia, 53, as she stood in the fields gazing at the devastation.

Later, in her house at the centre of the village, wearing a purple headscarf, she sat flanked by several family members, two of them engaged in intricate embroidery. Over the course of her life, Abu Alia said, she had experienced ever greater pressure and humiliation, aimed at throwing out every Palestinian from this land.

Unmarried, because I know many people who got married and regretted it, Abu Alia lives in her parents house. She has one sister and seven brothers, two of them in the US who have constantly urged her to move there.

But its impossible to leave, she said, as if stating an evident truth. Never.

I felt they were uprooting my own heart. Palestinian Aisha Abu Alia

Her house commands a view of the village and the fields beyond it, where settlers bring their sheep to graze, as well as of the main road, and so it has been requisitioned several times by the Israeli military. On June 16, she said, dozens of soldiers burst into her home. An officer explained that she lived in a terrorist neighbourhood.

Why dont you love Israel? he asked, as Abu Alia recalled.

Why dont you love Palestine? she responded.

There is no such thing as Palestine, the officer said.

With Gods will, one day there will be a Palestine and no Israel, she said.

This enraged the soldiers. Thirteen years ago, Abu Alia had sewn an elaborate tapestry depicting Palestine on all of the land between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River. It gave particular prominence to Al-Aqsa, the sacred mosque compound in Jerusalem that has long been a flash point.

An Israeli soldier hurled the framed tapestry to the floor, breaking the glass, Abu Alia said. She indicated the damage and pointed to slashed couches, a smashed clock and defaced photographs of her nephews.

Asked about the October 7 Hamas attack, she said she did not celebrate, even if we did not feel anything for the Israeli victims because we have had so many dead. I knew our lives would be turned upside down.

Her 17-year-old niece, Sara, interjected: Even if it had not happened, Israel would have done something like this. It just put everything into fast-forward.

Gaza spilled over, said Samar, Abu Alias cousin, pausing in her embroidery. We lost homes, we lost trees, we lost many of our own. There is no law, nothing that stops them any longer. Our children are traumatised.

Her eight-year-old daughter, Nour, wearing a purple T-shirt emblazoned with the words, Be a Younicorn, smiled bravely, a portrait of innocence. I wondered if the cycle of war would sweep away her life one day or if some almost inconceivable act of statesmanship might protect her.

I dont see any possibility whatsoever of a two-state solution, said Shlomo Ben-Ami, a former Israeli foreign minister. There is too much history here now and too little geography.

Protesters in Tel Aviv at the weekend call for an end to the war and the release of all remaining Israeli hostages. Getty Images

Israel, hostage

Viki Cohen fondled the charred Rubiks cube found in the disabled tank from which, on October 7, 2023, her then-19-year-old son Nimrod was dragged by masked Hamas operatives into Gaza. The other three members of his tank crew were killed.

Nimrod Cohen, along with an estimated 20 hostages  and the corpses of 25 others  has now been held in Gaza for more than 725 days. He recently turned 21. Every few months, Cohen and her husband, Yehuda, have received signs of life communications from the Israeli military. For many other families, a dreaded knock on the door has signalled the slaying of their loved ones.

He loved the Rubiks cube, said Cohen, who used to work for a company providing caregivers for the aged, but quit more than a year ago. All my time goes to bringing Nimrod back home.

Every few months, Viki Cohen and her husband, Yehuda, have received signs of life communications from the Israeli military. David Guttenfelder/The New York Times

Israel, for two years now, has been taken hostage. Whether this nightmare will end with an exchange of the hostages for Palestinian prisoners in the next few days or weeks remains to be seen.

We hope its a matter of days, Yehuda Cohen said, after hearing that Hamas had agreed to free all of the hostages. His whole family was gathered on Saturday in a state of extreme tension and emotion. He struggled for words, his wife struggled for breath. I cant talk now, I am counting the minutes and even the seconds, he said. I have to take care of my son.

The nation is on tenterhooks. Turn on the TV, and there is a discussion about the hostages. Look around, and there are the empty plastic yellow chairs or yellow ribbons that have become their symbol. Listen to anyone, and, at the very least, it seems, some personal bond ties them to the hostage nightmare.

There are live hostages and dead hostages because this is a conflict in which even corpses are used to inflict psychological torment on the enemy and are considered tradable assets.

Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets at different times to demand that the government recognise the nations anguish and prioritise the hostages release.

In an earlier interview, Yehuda Cohen, an algorithmic engineer in a tech company, wore a black T-shirt with the words, Ceasefire Hostage Deal Now. said Nimrod was a normal child. Hes special to us because hes our son. Were only talking about him because he had the misfortune to be kidnapped, and were fulfilling our basic responsibility to fight for his release.

His tone was matter of fact. This now needless war has been going on a long time, far too long in his view. His wife cannot sleep thinking of her son, who never sees sunlight.

We are disgusted, we are frustrated, Yehuda Cohen said. We see Netanyahus government as our enemy. Hes only prolonged the war so he can survive.

Everybody is to blame except him, except Caesar, he said. The only way to end the war, he believes, is for Trump to force Netanyahu to do so.

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The Cohens think that if their son survives, he will be one of the last ones out. He is young. He is a soldier. Hamas has every reason to hold on to him. Still, they hope, and now that hope is fervid.

Asked how they feel about their nation, two years into its trauma, Yehuda Cohen said:I dont want my country to be a country that rules others. I dont want to live in a country whose international borders are not declared and recognised. I want to live in a normal country.

The place of funerals

The war has taken Riwaa Abu Quta from her home in Rafah, the southern-most city in the Gaza Strip, now largely razed by Israel, to Muwasi, near Khan Younis, where she lives in a tent in a camp with hundreds of other displaced people.

At 30, she has lived through many wars, but none so brutal. She is scared and angry, as any human being would be. She has tried to care for her younger sister, Alaa, who has muscular dystrophy, but the required medicine has long since disappeared.

Her tasks are boring, she said. Finding food of some kind, perhaps canned beans; securing drinkable water; cleaning the tent where her family lives. All the while listening to the hum of Israeli drones or the roar of fighter jets that could deliver more carnage in the rubble.

Riwaa Abu Quta lives in a tent in a camp with hundreds of other displaced people. Saher Alghorra/The New York Times

Displaced Palestinians in a tent camp in Muwasi, an area that Israel has designated as a safe zone, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. AP

There is no safe place. Her nightmares begin at daybreak. She feels history is repeating itself. Her forebears were driven out of a village near Jerusalem. In a way, she said, she is losing that village again.

Her voice is always calm. It is also full of pain. She has lost countless friends. Gaza, she said, has become the place of funerals. More than 66,000, according to Gaza health authorities, who do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

She had a world: an online job with an educational company, an application for a scholarship to study in Britain, her gym, her home. That is gone. All she has now is sand.

She blames Israel above all for killing the innocent; Hamas for bringing disaster on the Palestinian people; and a feckless world that chooses this moment to recognise a Palestinian state when the step is too late and so small compared to the destruction we live.

Mutating rage

At Kibbutz Nir Oz, the demolition of charred and damaged houses began on August 31. Backhoes were used to break down the safe rooms, the hardest to tear down, even if in many cases they proved anything but safe. It was grim work, but perhaps a signal of a new beginning.

Some houses will be left untouched, at least for now, including the remains of the home of the Bibas family, whose suffering was spread over three generations.

Yarden Bibas and his wife, Shiri, and their two young children, ages five and nine months, were taken by Hamas as hostages. Shiri was killed in captivity and her corpse was returned after 505 days, one day after the bodies of her children. Yarden was released alive after 484 days. Shiris parents, Yossi and Margit Silverman, were burned alive in their Nir Oz home.

Yarden, were glad youre back. Sorry, forgive us, says a message on the ruin that was his home.

Such slaughter revived Holocaust memories, mocked the Never Again embodied in Israels very creation, and so roused the country to a deep rage. The lesson of docile death learned over centuries was that Israel hits back, always. If this fury was disturbing to some, it was also understandable to many, at least for a few weeks, when much of the world rallied to Israels side.

That sympathy, after Gazas obliteration, has generally vanished. Israel is isolated, as was illustrated last month when Netanyahu was left to detail what he considers his wars successes to a nearly empty meeting of the UN General Assembly. Representatives from around the world walked out.

In Israel, anger over October 7 persists, redoubled by what is seen as the Hamas attacks rapid relegation to a small detail of the war, and by the conviction that fervid anti-Zionism around the world has crossed a line into resurgent antisemitism.

After the Holocaust, it was unsavoury to hate Jews, said Oren, the former Israeli ambassador. But that period has ended, and the world has reverted to form.

A memorial at the small Israeli farming community of Kibbutz Nir Oz. David Guttenfelder/The New York Times

Posters of Shiri Bibas and her sons Ariel and Kfir, who were taken hostage by Hamas and whose bodies were returned in February. AP

There is also a strong feeling, however, that the way Netanyahu prosecuted the war led Israel to a sustained brutality in Gaza that will haunt the nation for many years. Netanyahu denies the charge that he persisted in the war to remain in power and evade taking responsibility for a disaster, but the charge seems unlikely to abate.

Gorenberg, the Israeli historian, rejected the accusation against Israel of genocide, noting that the term was first used in the very early weeks of the war when Hamas missiles were raining down on Tel Aviv, and so was evidently stained from the start with an unjustifiable animus.

However, he said: There have been horrible, reprehensible war crimes in a war that at some point, I would say early 2024, ceased serving the purpose of defending Israel.

This long war has transformed young Israelis from the TikTok generation to a cohort forged in a crucible of violence that has known few restraints. How the experience will affect them, and what trauma they will carry is as yet unclear, but it will bear heavily on the direction that Israel takes.

The same may be said of the Palestinians, many killed, displaced, wounded, their national aspirations in tatters despite all the pious words of support from an indignant world.

Enough of blood and tears. Enough, then-Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin declared on the White House lawn 32 years ago, in the time of hope that was the close of the 20th century. But this centurys thirst for blood has so far proved unquenchable.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

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The assistance activities under Phase II of the SECO-WCO Global Trade Facilitation Programme (GTFP) in Moldova are ongoing, with the most recent being a virtual session on consultations with the private sector, held on 23 September 2025 . The session focused on strengthening the capacity of the Customs Service of Moldova (CSM) and provided targeted guidance to design, enhance, and monitor an effective CustomsBusiness partnership.

The virtual session strengthened capacities on Customs-business partnership in line with the WCO Revised Kyoto Convention and the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), while enhancing WCOs understanding of Moldovas practices related to TFA Article 2.2 on consultations. Participants, from both the private sector and the Customs Authorities, agreed that key challenges lie in establishing monitoring and follow-up mechanisms.

The WCO will continue to support Moldova in building capacities for enhancing the CustomsBusiness partnership. The next steps include an in-country mission on CustomsBusiness Partnership, the development of a CustomsBusiness Enhancement Plan, as well as the organization of a workshop aiming to optimize the formal arrangements of Moldovas CustomsBusiness Council

For more information on the SECO-WCO Global Trade Facilitation Programme (GTFP), please contact Capacity.Building@wcoomd.org.
The regional awareness workshop on Rules of Origin under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) took place from 24 to 26 September 2025 in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. The event was organized by the Brazzaville Regional Training Centre (RTC) in partnership with the WCO West and Central Africa (WCA) Region and the Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB), with the WCO Secretariat invited to co-facilitate the sessions.

This workshop brought together representatives from 21 of the 24 Customs administrations in the WCA region, namely: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Cote dIvoire, Gabon, Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Niger, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Chad, and Togo. The workshop also benefited from the participation of experts from the WCO Secretariat, a representative of the ROCB, and representatives from the three Regional Training Centres in the region.

During the opening ceremony, Mr. Guenole Mbongo Koumou, Director General of Customs and Indirect Taxes of the Republic of Congo, highlighted the importance of the workshop, stating: This workshop provides a crucial platform to share experiences, strengthen capacities, and prepare our administrations for the effective implementation of the AfCFTA. The conclusions and recommendations from your work will help accelerate the integration process and build a dynamic and economically united Africa.

Throughout the workshop, participants strengthened their understanding of AfCFTA rules of origin, which are vital for ensuring preferential market access, preventing origin-related irregularities and fraud, and promoting intra-African trade. Sessions covered the criteria for determining origin, certification mechanisms, cumulation, advance rulings, product-specific rules, verification procedures, as well as the technical and digital tools available to both Customs administrations and the private sector.

Using an interactive approach that combined technical presentations, sharing of good practices, case studies, and group work, the workshop facilitated a rich and constructive exchange of experiences. Participants identified key operational challenges and proposed practical solutions. Discussions emphasized the need to simplify Customs procedures, strengthen support for the private sector, and ensure the active engagement of all relevant government stakeholders, thereby fostering trust and enhancing the effective implementation of AfCFTA rules of origin.

The workshop highlighted the impact of the already established strong collaboration between the WCO Secretariat, the AfCFTA Secretariat, and the Regional Economic Communities in driving capacity-building, compliance, and trade facilitation across Africa. Building on this foundation, participants adopted a set of practical operational recommendations aimed at ensuring a smoother and more coherent implementation of AfCFTA rules of origin, paving the way for a more dynamic, inclusive, and sustainable African economic integration.
Two men were arrested by Louisville police for allegedly stealing credit cards from elderly people's wallets and going on shopping sprees.
Connecticut, at No. 3, has the highest average retirement savings. And retirees with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of less than $75,000 are partially exempt from taxes on Social Security. (2)

A higher-than-average household income helps residents build stronger retirement savings than many of their peers, while homeownership rates remain robust. That financial foundation gives Minnesota retirees a solid cushion, though the states higher cost of living can erode some of those advantages. For retirees who have already built up a healthy nest egg, Minnesota offers a stable environment, but it may be less attractive for those who need to make every dollar stretch.

Still, the states higher overall tax burden can offset some of those gains, making Illinois best suited for retirees who value stability over extremes.

The state doesnt top the charts in any single category, but it performs solidly across the board  retirement income, savings, and homeownership rates are all close to national averages. What helps Illinois stand out is its relatively affordable housing market compared with coastal states, which can make fixed retirement budgets stretch further.

Below are the five states that scored highest in the study  and why each one stands out for retirees looking to make their money last.

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The study highlights the top five states for financial readiness, explains why they scored so highly, and offers insight into what retirees should weigh when deciding where to live.

Thats according to a Caring.com study, which analyzed a number of factors  average retirement income, homeownership rates and annual cost of a comfortable retirement  to determine which states best support residents financial preparedness for retirement. (1)

While the size of your nest egg can help determine how comfortable youll be in retirement, so does where you choose to live. And some states do a better job of setting up residents for success in retirement.

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Connecticut is also one of 10 states with active state-sponsored retirement plans, which can make it easier to contribute to savings (since its automatic). Many other states are considering retirement mandates. (3)

But if you live in Alabama, Florida, Montana, South Dakota or Texas, youre out of luck  no steps have been taken toward state-sponsored retirement mandates at this point.

2. Virginia

Retirement Score: 7.20

Virginia, which came in at No. 2, has a high median household income of $89,931, which could explain why Virginians have more retirement savings than many other Americans  averaging $492,965, the sixth-highest amount in the country. (4)

1. Delaware

Retirement Score: 7.45

According to Caring.coms study, Delaware is the state that sets people up for the most success in retirement. This is because in Delaware, the average retirement income is eighth-highest in the country (at $31,300 per household). While its not the highest, residents have a relatively lower cost of living than many other states, spending on average 16% less on groceries than Colorado and California.

But the state has other perks for seniors: their Social Security retirement benefit isnt taxed and theres no shopping tax, either. And, with certain retirement plans like 401(k)s, residents aged 60+ can deduct up to $12,500 from their taxable income. That means they can hold onto more of their money. (5)

Read more: 30% of US drivers switched car insurance in the last five years. Here's how much they saved  and how you can cut your own bills ASAP

Other factors to consider

Of course, the top five arent the only states worth considering. Your personal priorities  from affordability to health care  could matter even more than a high rank in one study.

Cost of living: While retirees in Connecticut might have a larger-than-average nest egg, they still fall short of what they need in retirement by 35%, according to the Caring.com study. In part, thats because the state has a higher cost of living, including the cost of health care. (6)

In states that have a lower cost of living  for housing, health care, transportation and food  seniors can stretch their dollar further.

When thats taken into consideration, West Virginia is considered the most affordable state because of its low property costs and lower-than-average costs for groceries and utilities, which allow retirees to live comfortably on $58,190 a year. Trailing behind West Virginia is Oklahoma and Kansas. (7)

Homeownership: The Caring.com study focuses on monetary assets rather than physical assets like property. But, if you pay off your mortgage before you retire, youll have fewer fixed costs in your golden years  especially if you live in a state that provides property tax relief for seniors.

Almost four in five West Virginians (79.1%) own their homes, followed by Mississippi (75.8%) and Delaware (75.1%), according to Caring.com. While Delaware was the top state for setting up retirees for success, West Virginia and Mississippi didnt crack the top 10  so while homeownership is important, its not the only factor for a successful retirement. (8)

However, owning your own home could potentially serve as a source of passive income as you get older (by renting out a room or basement suite). Or, you could sell and downsize, using the difference to help fund your retirement. And, if necessary, you could access equity in your home.

Taxes: While federal income tax applies no matter where you live  even abroad  some states have no income tax. Some states dont tax Social Security benefits or distributions from retirement accounts.

The most tax-friendly state for retirees is Mississippi, according to Kiplinger data. (9) Social Security benefits, private and public pensions and withdrawals from retirement accounts like 401(k)s are exempt from state taxes. And theres no estate or inheritance tax.

However, while tax breaks may be appealing, its also important to consider the broader picture when deciding where to retire. For example, Mississippi has a high homeownership rate and tax-friendly environment for retirees. But it also consistently ranks low in healthcare access and outcomes.

Retirement readiness depends on more than just your savings balance  where you live can determine how far that money goes. While Delaware, Virginia, Connecticut, Minnesota and Illinois rank as the most supportive states financially, factors like affordability, homeownership, tax structure and even health care access should all be part of the equation.

What to read next

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Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

Caring.com (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8); ADP (3); Kiplinger (9)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Cerebras Systems has withdrawn its planned initial public offering (IPO) in the US, effective immediately, according to a filing made on Friday.

The company, which develops AI chips and competes with established market players such as Nvidia, cited no specific reason for the withdrawal.

It has requested the withdrawal of its registration statement on Form S-1 from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) after deciding not to pursue the planned public offering detailed in the filing.

The S-1 form, originally submitted on 30 September 2024, had not been declared effective and no securities were sold under its terms.

The company has asked that all fees paid for the registration be credited for future use as allowed under SEC rules.

Cerebras also requested that any supplemental materials previously supplied to the SEC be either returned or destroyed, with instructions to direct returns to its legal firm, Latham & Watkins.

In addition, Cerebras has asked the SEC to issue a formal order confirming withdrawal of the registration statement at the earliest opportunity. Copies of the order have been requested for both company headquarters and legal counsel.

The decision comes soon after Cerebras had recently completed a $1.1bn funding round led by Fidelity Management & Research and Atreides Management, which set its valuation at $8.1bn.

Additional investors in the Series G round included Tiger Global, Valor Equity Partners, and 1789 Capital.

Cerebras IPO plans were previously delayed after a national security review of a $335m investment by G42, an AI and cloud firm based in Abu Dhabi, reported Reuters.

The withdrawal coincides with increased US IPO activity after a period of reduced volume linked to trade policy concerns.

Cerebras is based in Sunnyvale, California and designs hardware systems intended to accelerate large-scale machine learning model training and inference.

The company plans to allocate proceeds from the Series G round to advance its AI processor technology, expand US manufacturing capacity, and scale its data centre infrastructure.

"AI chipmaker Cerebras withdraws plans for US stock market debut" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand.




Leesville, LA (71446)

Today

Areas of patchy fog early. Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. High 73F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to considerable cloudiness and fog after midnight. Low around 55F. Winds light and variable.
Fine Gael TD Keira Keogh recently hosted Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke, and Minister of State for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment, Emer Higgins, at the Leeson Enterprise Centre in Westport. The sessions gave SMEs, micro-enterprises and local businesses a direct platform to highlight opportunities and challenges.

Ms 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.

On procurement, Ms Keogh said: Mayo businesses often feel shut out of public contracts because the system can seem over complicated. That must 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, Ms Keogh said: The national enterprise hub established by Minister Burke was well received by attendees. The Hubais a one-stop shop designed for Irish businesses of all sizes. Businesses can easily find and learn about the range of government support programmes."

Ms Keogh concluded: 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.
NORTHAMPTON CO., Pa. - A woman, who did not want to be identified described the moment shots rang out around 4:40 p.m. Saturday in the area of 20th and Ferry streets in Wilson.

Police said there were people outside at the time, including children.

"I was out here with my family members talking and then we heard one shot and another shot," the neighbor said. "Our kid was outside playing with his bike, so we had to yell at him to come inside," the neighbor said.

Police said several shots were fired.

"There was lots of yelling, lots of gunfire," the neighbor said.

Police said Frandy Almanzar, 20, of Wilson, fired at a moving vehicle and was familiar with four people inside it.

Shots hit a parked car and at least two homes with people inside, according to investigators.

The woman we spoke with said her home was one of the ones hit.

"One came inside. That was scary because my mom almost got hit," the neighbor said.

Police said Almanzar fled the area.

Joseph Johnson lives nearby.

"I was looking through my window because there were noises out here and I saw cop cars, a lot of cop cars and I heard their sirens," said Johnson.

Wilson Police said they were called to the 2000 block of Ferry Street earlier in the day for a domestic incident.

Almanzar struck his brother with a hammer, causing non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.

Investigators said officers tried to take Almanzar into custody, but he fled on foot.

Police said nobody was injured when shots were fired later in the day.

"This is a very quiet and safe neighborhood. We rarely have any incidents of violence or cop visits, so it was very unusual and just found it to be a bit shocking," said Johnson.

Police are asking anyone with information on Almanzar's whereabouts to call the Northampton County 911 center at (610) 759-2200.

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Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Partly sunny and continued cold, but less wind compared to Thursday. .

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy and cold overnight.
This story was originally published on Supply Chain Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Supply Chain Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

American Eagle Outfitters expects to reduce the U.S. tariff impact by more than 60% by early 2026 via several mitigation efforts, company executives said in a Sept. 3 earnings call.

The companys strategy involves ongoing price increases, negotiating costs with suppliers, choosing the most cost-effective transport between air and ocean freight, and shifting sourcing away from countries subject to higher U.S. levies, CFO Mike Mathias said.

"We are using all levers to mitigate tariff increases," Executive Chairman and CEO Jay Schottenstein told investors. Early efforts have been successful.

Dive Insight:

American Eagle is one of many retailers and apparel makers employing a multipronged approach to rising duties from the Trump administration. For example, in August, Gap executives said targeted pricing actions and close relationships with suppliers were key to navigating "increased global trade headwinds."

Through its efforts, American Eagle now projects it will incur $70 million in tariff costs during the last half of the current fiscal year ending in late January 2026, Mathias said. Without the mitigation actions, the costs would have been $180 million.

Looking further out, American Eagle estimates that unmitigated tariff costs for the next fiscal year will range from $125 million to $150 million, Mathias said.

The companys ongoing plans to decrease tariff exposure include reducing the percentage of manufacturing from China to the low single digits in the second half of the year, Mathias said. American Eagle also plans to reduce apparel sourcing in Vietnam, another country facing high U.S. import taxes.

"We have taken action to assure manufacturing options are in place in countries that make the most sense for our business moving forward," Schottenstein said, although he did not provide additional details.

American Eagle partners with apparel manufacturers that operate across more than 20 countries, with the highest concentration in China, Vietnam and India, according to the company's website.

Mathias also said the company is in the midst of a longer-term supply chain network optimization plan. In March 2024, the company announced a three-year strategy to accelerate growth, which included a focus on the supply chain.

Recommended Reading
(Reuters) -Algen Biotechnologies said on Monday it has agreed to grant AstraZeneca a license to develop gene therapies the U.S.-based biotech discovers using its artificial intelligence-driven platform, in a deal worth up to $555 million.

Under the deal, AstraZeneca will get exclusive rights to develop therapies that target immune system-related disorders. The Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical major will also get the right to sell the treatments, if they get approved, while Algen will get upfront and milestone payments.

AstraZeneca has been advancing its cell and gene therapy capabilities through acquisitions and partnerships as it works towards its target of $80 billion in sales by 2030. Globally too, drugmakers are increasingly turning to AI for drug development.

The drugmaker in March agreed to buy Belgian biotech EsoBiotec for up to $1 billion, gaining access to technology that modifies immune cells directly inside the body.

Monday's deal, however, does not include AstraZeneca buying a stake in the company, Algen CEO and co-founder Chun-Hao Huang told Reuters in an interview.

"Together with AstraZeneca's deep expertise in translational science and clinical development, we aim to uncover new biological insights to accelerate the development of novel therapies," Huang said.

Algen was spun out from the lab at UC Berkeley, where biochemist Jennifer Doudna pioneered the CRISPR technology that won her the Nobel Prize.

The biotech firm's AI platform, AlgenBrain, can map genes to disease outcomes, helping the companies decide their development focus for therapies.

The Financial Times had first reported the news.

(Reporting by Raechel Thankam Job and Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)
How Trumps Arctic strategy threatens US research funding

Trump Administrations securitisation of Arctic affairs and its implications for US federally funded research.

Over the next four years, the U.S. Government is likely to make significant investments on priority areas for Arctic research that advance the America First Agenda.

However, that will almost certainly come at the expense of areas for Arctic research that advance other policy agendas (e.g. climate change agenda).

The American people should therefore expect the next version of the National Plan for Arctic Research to articulate a very different set of priority areas and underlying principles for U.S. federally funded research related to the Arctic than the current one.

Background Information

On inauguration day, President Donald Trump not only issued an executive order that directed the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations to immediately submit a formal written notification of withdrawal from the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

He issued another executive order that directed federal agencies to fully exploit Alaskan territory purportedly for the benefit of the United States and the people of Alaska.

A few months later, President Trump issued yet another executive order that directed federal agencies to develop a strategic plan to secure arctic waterways and enable American prosperity in the face of evolving Arctic security challenges and associated risks.

The White House then turned to Arctic research. In May, the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC) of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) released a revised Implementation Plan (2025-2026) for the Arctic Research Plan (2022-2026).

Per the IARPC, that revision superseded the Arctic Research Plan (20222026) produced under the Biden Administration.

The U.S. Arctic Research Commission (USARC) took note of the new strategic plan. In July, it responded with a new report that identified the research needs for a secure and prosperous Arctic.

That report not only declared that Alaska is a strategic location with natural resources that advance the national interests of the United States. It specified two of the evolving Arctic security challenges for the United States.

The first is the regional expansion of Russia. The second is the regional engagement of the Peoples Republic of China.

That same month, the National Science Foundation (NSF) published a Request for Comment for the next version of the National Plan for Arctic Research.

Among other things, that document declares that the United States wants to remain a global leader in Arctic research and stewardship for many years to come. Note the "a" instead of "the" before "global leader."

The NSF also chose not to recompete the award for a well-known nonprofit that promotes information sharing and knowledge exchange among U.S. Arctic researchers. As a consequence, the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States (ARCUS) will shut down later this month.

Ironically, one of its last events will be an information session on the National Plan for Arctic Research (2027-2031) for U.S. Arctic researchers.

Securitization Process

The public record clearly shows that the Trump Administration is in the process of transforming Arctic challenges into existential threats to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. Per the new report by USARC, Alaska is not simply a strategic location.

It is a strategic location that could determine which independent state controls the world.

On the basis of that argument, the Trump Administration would probably argue that Arctic affairs should not simply be managed by the U.S. Government within the standard rules of democratic politics. Instead, it should be managed beyond those rules.

That seems to already be happening on the ground. Look at Greenland Affairs.

To be clear, the securitization of Arctic challenges is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the U.S. Government will be able to resort to extraordinary measures to deal with emerging Arctic challenges. On the other hand, it will likely erode the rule of law in the process.

That observation begs a couple of important public policy questions that are not being asked loudly enough by U.S. Members of Congress and the American people.

Specifically, it begs the normative questions of whether any Arctic challenges should be securitized and, if so, which ones should be securitized?

The answers to those questions carry implications for the follow-on normative question of what should be the strategic objectives and key deliverables for Arctic affairs. That includes those related to Arctic research.

Research Implications

The securitization of Arctic affairs will almost certainly have a significant impact on the priority areas and overarching principles for U.S. federally funded research related to the Arctic. That includes research related to area studies, engineering, science, and technology:

Priority Areas: Per the Implementation Plan (2025-2026), there are four priority areas for U.S. federally funded research related to the Arctic.

They include:

Arctic Systems Interactions Community Resilience and Health Risk Management and Hazard Mitigation Sustainable Economies and Livelihoods.

However, those priority areas already appear to be changing. The USARC report introduced a different set of priority areas.

They include:

Community security Economic security Energy security Military security

Interestingly, those priority areas appear to be loosely drawn from the securitization literature that is commonly associated with the Copenhagen School.
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is one of the Best and Cheap Stocks to Buy Right Now. On September 30, Reuters reported that Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and President Donald Trump had announced a deal to lower Medicaid drug prices in the US. The company agreed to match its Medicaid prices to those it charges in other developed countries in exchange for tariff relief on its imports.

President Trump noted that Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) will offer its most favoured nation prices on all new drugs launched in the United States, while the other drug makers are expected to follow the same. Moreover, the company will also invest $70 billion in domestic manufacturing and research. The company will receive a 3-year grace period from tariffs as long as products are made in the United States. The new Medicaid prices will be effective in 2026 and will be based on the lowest prices paid in eight other developed economies.

After the announcement, on October 1, Tim Anderson from Bank of America Securities reiterated a Buy rating on Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE), with a price target of $28.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is a global biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets medicines worldwide.

While we acknowledge the potential of PFE as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle is seen in Washington, DC, on February 22, 2023.
The U.S.-China relationship has entered another high-stakes chapter as the Trump administration seeks to secure a more advantageous trade policy with the country.

In a Sept. 24 Fox Business interview, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. can leverage its strength in aircraft engines and parts and certain chemicals in trade discussions with China. (1)

Must Read

Were not without levers on our side, he told business reporter Maria Bartiromo. We have plenty of products that they depend on us for.

For investors, the implications are clear: Companies tied to critical sectors such as aerospace and chemical manufacturing may see both heightened risks and new opportunities.

The shifting policy environment could reshape balance sheets, valuations and long-term growth paths.

Potential gains in aerospace and semiconductor sectors

The U.S. is at a clear advantage in aerospace. Aircraft engines and parts are not easily substituted, and China depends on U.S. and European manufacturers for aviation technology.

This dynamic could translate into increased support for American aerospace companies through government contracts or preferential trade treatment. Government backing in strategic industries often boosts investor confidence. (2)

Read more: 30% of US drivers switched car insurance in the last five years. Here's how much they saved  and how you can cut your own bills ASAP

Meanwhile, Bessent noted that many of the worlds high-performance semiconductors  used to make microchips  are currently produced in Taiwan, a potential single greatest point of failure for the global economy. (3)

For some time, the U.S. has been trying to increase its own domestic production of semiconductors and encourage production in countries perceived as allies. Under the Biden administration, the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act allocated over $52 billion to strengthen U.S. semiconductor capabilities.

For investors, companies involved in domestic chip production, materials and equipment may stand to benefit from new capital inflows.

Firms with ties to China may present risk

But theres a flipside. Businesses deeply dependent on China  whether as a market for exports or as a source of critical inputs  are vulnerable to disruptions.
Londons Metropolitan Police arrested another 492 people over the weekend after a protest Saturday in Trafalgar Square, as the Starmer government accelerated its crackdown on opposition to the Gaza genocide.

The entirely peaceful protest was held to oppose the proscription of Palestine Action. It was organised by Defend Our Juries and attended by over 1,000 people. Of the arrests, 488 were for holding up signs declaring, I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.

Over a thousand people gathered in London's Trafalgar Square to oppose genocide and the Palestine Action ban, October 4, 2025 [Photo: Defend Our Juries/X]

Police also arrested five members of a group who displayed a massive banner off Westminster Bridge in front of the Houses of Parliament, carrying the same statement.

The youngest arrested was 18 years old, and the eldest 89. The Met have said 297 people remain in custody and the rest have been bailed.

Palestine Action was banned under the Terrorism Act in July, meaning declaring or indicating support for the group is also an offence. Belonging to or advocating support for Palestine Action carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine. Wearing, carrying, or displaying an item that suggests a person is a member or support a proscribed organisation is punishable by a sentence of up to six months or a fine.

Following mass arrests at previous DOJ-organised Lift The Ban protests in July, August and September, including 857 on September 6, the total arrested for challenging the Palestine Action proscription now stands at almost 2,200.

This Saturdays protests took place after the killing of two Jewish worshippers and injuries suffered by three others as the result of a terrorist attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday. The attacker stabbed one of the congregation to death and police killed another by gun shot as they attempted to stop the assailant.

The government is seeking to use the tragedy to intensify its law-and-order agenda, with ministersincluding Prime Minister Keir Starmerand the police calling on protesters not to demonstrate over Gaza out of respect for the dead. This included demands not only that DOJ call off their scheduled Saturday protest, but that the Palestine Coalition call off a national demonstration on October 11 expected to be attended by hundreds of thousands to mark the second anniversary of the genocide and the destruction of Gaza.

Two people lost their lives and three others were seriously injured in the terrible events in Manchester. But no respect or dignity was to be afforded to the 53 people known to have been killed in Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on the same day. They were among a total of 480 deaths listed by the Gaza Health Ministry and compiled by the United Nations just for the week to October 2.

The number of Palestinians killed by the IDF in the last two years likely numbers in the hundreds of thousands. According to a statement last month by Herzi Halevi, who served as chief of the Israeli military during the first 17 months of the Gaza genocide, over 10 percent of what was a population of 2.2 million people in Gaza are either dead or injured.

Moreover, in the 48 hours from the evening of October 1, Israel carried out an act of piracy, illegally boarding more than 40 vessels and detaining around 500 humanitarian activists in the Global Sumud Flotilla. Numerous reports attested to the brutal treatment they suffered at the hands of the IDF, including being forced to drink from toilets. Renowned anti-genocide activist Greta Thunberg was forced to kiss the Israeli flag.

Starmers Labour government refused to condemn Israels latest act of banditry, despite there being several social democratic and centre-left politicians on board with the flotilla.

Moves to force organisers to cancel protests against the genocide are the opening salvo in a broader assault on democratic rights. On Sunday, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that police will be given new powers to impose conditions on protests and, in an unprecedented attack on the freedom of assembly, to ban them outright.

A statement published by the Home Office and Mahmood stated that with the new powers, which will be brought forward as soon as possible, Police forces will be authorised to consider the cumulative impact of protests, assessing previous activity when deciding to impose limits on protesters.

It warned, If a protest has taken place at the same site for weeks on end, and caused repeated disorder, the police will have the authority to, for example, instruct organisers to hold the event somewhere else. Anyone who breaches the conditions will risk arrest and prosecution.

The DOJ protests and national rallies held in London against the Gaza genocideof which there have been more than 30would both fall under the category of frequent protests.

Mahmood, the statement added, would also review existing legislation to ensure that powers are sufficient and being consistently applied, including police powers to ban protests outright.

Provisions making the legislation harsher along these lines are to be included in the Crime and Policing Bill, which is currently going through Parliament.

Replying to the BBCs Laura Kuenssberg asking if this was a dark step to limit the fundamental right to protest, Mahmood replied that having a freedom doesnt mean you have to use it at every moment of every day.

On cue, the chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation Paula Dodds stated after Saturdays mass round-up, Enough is enough. Our concentration should be on keeping people safe at a time when the country is on heightened alert from a terrorist attack. And instead officers are being drawn in to facilitate these relentless protests What are politicians and senior police officers going to do about it?

Standing behind the Starmer government and the Labour Party in seeking to criminalise all opposition to the genocide in Gaza are far-right Zionists and their co-thinkers, such as the fascist Tommy Robinson. On Saturday, Robinson announced that he will travel to Israel later this month at the invite of its Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikliin what amounts to a state visitwhere he will be feted by the Netanyahu government.

The offensive against protesters in Britain by a government up to its neck in Israels genocide and myriad war crimes is part of a global turn to police-state measures. In the United States, the Trump administration has weaponised the killing of the fascist operative Charlie Kirk to ramp up its plans to impose a presidential dictatorship, claiming he was the victim of left-wing violence.

Starmer, the former human rights lawyer turned right-wing law-and-order zealot, is mounting his own offensive against anti-genocide protests and the left.

Writing an opinion piece published in the Jewish Chronicle and Jewish News, he pontificates that whereas Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracyand there is justified concern about the suffering in Gaza, an unspecified minority have used these protests as a pretext for stoking antisemitic tropes and the protests should be called off so as not to stoke tension and cause further pain for Britains Jews.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gather in Rome's San Giovanni Square, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, at the end of a march calling for an end to the war in Gaza. [AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino]

One of the centers of the global protests over Israels seizure of the Sumud flotilla is Italy. On Saturday, October 4, Rome witnessed a one million strong pro-Palestinian demonstration following Fridays nationwide general strike that had already paralyzed much of the country. The back-to-back eruptions mark the most significant wave of working-class and popular opposition in Italy in decadesan unmistakable signal of growing resistance to imperialist war, the genocide in Gaza, and the fascistic policies of Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis government.

The immediate trigger for the strike wave was the Israeli navys violent interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy carrying humanitarian aid and international activists seeking to break the blockade of Gaza. Among those seized were four Italian opposition politiciansfrom the Greens and Left Alliance (AVS) and the Five Star Movementwhose continued detention has provoked outrage across the country.

Israels National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir boasted that flotilla members would be treated like terrorists, a statement that epitomizes the barbarism of the Netanyahu regime and its imperialist backers.

In response, dockworkers in Genoa, Livorno, Ancona, and other ports took direct action, refusing to load or unload ships carrying weapons bound for Israel. Their courageous stand ignited an outpouring of solidarity and forced Italys largest union federations, CGIL and USB, to call the October 3 general strike despite their own efforts to avoid confrontation. It was compelled from below by rank-and-file pressure, revealing a powerful upsurge of anti-war sentiment in the working class.

Fridays strike halted large sections of economic and social life. According to union figures, more than two million workers and youth participated in over 100 cities. Public transport in Milan, Rome, and Naples stopped almost entirely. Flights were grounded in Bari, schools and universities closed nationwide, and hospitals ran with minimal staffing.

In Rome, 300,000 people marched from Piazza Vittorio to Porta Maggiore, their banners demanding Freedom for Gaza and Stop Italys complicity in genocide. In Bologna, 100,000 blocked both the A14 motorway and the citys ring road before police attacked with tear gas, arresting two. Genoa saw 40,000 join demonstrations recalling the militant port strikes of the 1960s and 1970s. Turin, Palermo, and cities across Calabria witnessed tens of thousands more.

Even prisoners in Bolognas Dozza prison symbolically joined the strike by refusing wages and privileges for the day, a striking expression of the movements reach across all layers of society.

Saturdays massive protest in Rome  over one million converging again on the capitals historic center  confirmed that the movement is spreading and deepening.

The eruption of social and political opposition has shaken the Meloni government. Behind the facade of stability and a 30 percent electoral base lies a seething mass of discontent. The general strike and the continuing demonstrations have revealed that Melonis rule, like that of Trump in the US and any other of the imperialist countries, is deeply unpopular and rests on a narrow social foundation.

Transport Minister Matteo Salvini responded to the strike with threats of repression, warning that if violence prevails, the state will react and vowing that organizers would pay personally. Meloni herself sneered that the strike was a long weekend disguised as revolution, exposing both her contempt for democratic rights and the governments nervousness in the face of mass opposition.

These reactions highlight a deep crisis of legitimacy. The ruling elite fears that the anger unleashed over Gaza and the cost-of-living crisis could fuse into a broader movement challenging the entire capitalist order. The scale of police repressionin Bologna, Milan, and Salerno, where water cannon and tear gas were deployedreveals the readiness of the state to resort to violence.

Melonis so-called Gandhi law, passed earlier this year under the guise of non-violence, drastically curtails the right to protest by criminalizing spontaneous demonstrations and granting police wide powers to disperse gatherings. Coupled with the Commission on the Right to Strike, which arbitrarily declares industrial actions illegitimate, these measures have stripped workers of basic democratic rights.

While the general strike expressed the fighting spirit of workers, its organization and outcome were deliberately restricted by the union bureaucracy and its Stalinist and pseudo-left supporters. While the government prepares for war, declaring strikes and protests illegal, the unions are not mobilizing the working class to bring down Meloni, but instead pleading for the right to stage a mere protest. CGIL leader Maurizio Landini invoked Italys 1990 Law 146, claiming the action was justified as an exceptional measure to protect public health and safety.

Pseudo-left parties and opposition figuresElly Schlein of the Democratic Party (PD), Nicola Fratoianni of the Green and Left Alliance (AVS), and Giuseppe Conte of the Five Star Movement (M5S)sought to posture as defenders of democracy and peace. Yet these same forces share political responsibility for Italys participation in NATO wars and for the erosion of social and democratic rights. The PDs Jobs Act gutted labor protections, while M5S endorsed anti-immigrant decrees and austerity budgets when in power.

The Italian strike forms part of a global resurgence of working-class struggle. In the days following the flotilla attack, protests erupted in London, Paris, Madrid, Athens, Amsterdam, New York, and across the Middle East and Asia. Millions worldwide demanded an end to Israels siege of Gaza and the freedom of the detained activists. Internationally opposition to inequality, militarism, and genocide is converging with anger at collapsing living standards and authoritarian rule.

The strikes and protests of October 34 demonstrate that the working class is emerging as the decisive social force against war and reaction. Whatever the unions maneuvers, a general strike involving millions over the Gaza genocide represents a historic turning point. It confirms the analysis advanced by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI): that the fight against imperialist war must be waged through the independent mobilization of the working class on a socialist program.

The task now is to give this movement conscious direction. The Italian and European working class must draw the lessons of the betrayal of the unions and pseudo-left parties and take the struggle into its own hands. This requires the building of rank-and-file committees in every workplace, port, school, and neighborhoodto coordinate actions, link up internationally, and develop a unified political offensive against war, austerity, and dictatorship and for the United Socialist States of Europe.

The same capitalist system that bankrolls Israels genocide and NATOs wars imposes poverty and repression at home. To end war, workers must take power into their own hands, expropriate the banks and corporations, and reorganize society on the basis of social need, not private profit.
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President Donald Trump arrives to speak aboard the USS Harry S. Truman at Naval Station Norfolk, Sunday Oct. 5, 2025 in Norfolk, Virginia,as first lady Melania Trump applauds. [AP Photo/Alex Brandon]

Over the weekend, the Trump administration escalated its war against the American people, launching coordinated military operations in Portland and Chicago.

In Portland, Trump has ordered an extraordinary and unconstitutional invasion, sending hundreds of California National Guard troops, previously federalized for deployment in Los Angeles, into Oregons largest city.

More than 100 California soldiers arrived in Portland Saturday night, and the remainder were in transit Sunday. The Democratic governors of both states, Tina Kotek of Oregon and Gavin Newsom of California, have opposed Trumps action.

Newsom, in a social media post Sunday night, declared the sending of California National Guard to Portland a breathtaking abuse of the law and power by the President of the United States. America is on the brink of martial law.

Governor Kotek had opposed the deployment of Oregon National Guard troops by filing suit in the federal district court in Portland. Judge Karin Immergut, appointed by Trump during his first term, handed down a 31-page order barring the action, ruling that the state of Oregon had sovereign rights under the 10th Amendment to the Constitution.

In remarkably scathing language, the judge wrote that Trumps attempt to federalize the Oregon National Guard with the claim that Portland was under siege by left-wing Antifa terrorists was simply untethered to the facts. She added, This country has a longstanding and foundational tradition of resistance to government overreach, especially in the form of military intrusion into civil affairs. This historical tradition boils down to a simple proposition: this is a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law.

Late Sunday night, Immergut issued an order against California or other troops being brought to Portland, calling it in direct contravention to her previous ruling.

A parallel invasion is taking place in Chicago. On Sunday night, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, with the support of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, ordered the mobilization of 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployment to Illinois, as well as Oregon and other locations throughout the United States. Trump has already federalized 300 soldiers of the Illinois National Guard, ostensibly to protect the ICE detention center in the suburb of Broadview, just outside the city.

On Saturday morning, ICE agents opened fire on demonstrators, claiming they were seeking to block access to the Broadview facility with their cars, wounding one woman, a US citizen, who was then arrested by the FBI. As with every statement by Trump, Stephen Miller, Kristi Noem and ICE, this account of the Chicago incident is undoubtedly a pack of lies. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed that she had been in possession of a firearm, though the criminal charges filed by the government made no such assertion.

The White House is speaking the language of civil war. White House adviser Stephen Millerone of the chief architects of the administrations fascistic programresponded to Immerguts ruling by declaring it legal insurrection. He added, The President is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, not an Oregon judge. Following the Nazi principle of the Big Lie, Miller wrote, Portland and Oregon law enforcement, at the direction of local leaders, have refused to aid ICE officers facing relentless terrorist assault and threats to life.

In a separate post, Miller declared: There is a large and growing movement of left-wing terrorism in this country, shielded by far-left Democrat judges, prosecutors and attorneys general. The only remedy is to use legitimate state power. This is an open threat that Trump could invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 and send federal troops against Portland and other cities across the country.

There are active discussions within the Trump administration over the deployment of active duty military. The Minnesota Star-Tribune reported on leaked messages between Anthony Salisbury, a top aide to Miller, and Patrick Weaver, an adviser to War Secretary Pete Hegseth, on plans to deploy the elite 82nd Airborne Division to Portland. According to the paper, Weaver said Hegseth wants the top cover from the boss if anything goes sideways with the troops there, that is, if people are murdered.

There is a staggering disconnect between the scale of the assault and what is being proposed by the Democratic Party in response. Newsom speaks of imminent martial law, while Pritzker gave a speech on Friday in which he accused Trump of treasonous words that are leading to treasonous actions. But the Democrats propose no action.

The central issue posed by these events is the removal of this criminal administration. But not a single prominent Democrat has even called for the impeachment of Trump and Vice President JD Vance for their assault on the Constitution and democratic rights.

The statements from top Democrats treat the ongoing government shutdown as if all that were involved is a routine conflict over the budget and not part of an effort by the president to establish a military-police dictatorship. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer declared over the weekend, It. Is. Simple. Republicans can reopen the government and make peoples healthcare more affordable at the same time. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries echoed him, declaring, Democrats continue to stand up to protect healthcare for everyday Americans.

Senator Bernie Sanders went so far as to praise January 6 coup conspirator Josh Hawley for calling for some extensions of Obamacare tax credits, tweeting, Republican Sen. Josh Hawley is right.  Lets end the shutdown and save health care for millions. In a separate statement, Sanders said that the country faces the biggest crisis since the Civil War. To make such a statement and then propose nothing in response, which is what Sanders did, is more than complacency. It is collaboration.

It is imperative that the working class intervene in this extraordinary crisis through mass struggle, on the basis of its own program.

There is enormous and growing opposition to the moves to establish a fascistic dictatorship in the United States. Demonstrations under the banner of No Kings are planned for October 18, with more than 2,100 separate actions scheduled in cities and towns across the country. The previous No Kings protests on June 14 involved between 5 and 11 million peopleby some measures, the largest political demonstrations in American history.

These protests express the deep hostility of the working class and youth to dictatorship and oligarchic rule. But what is lacking, and what is most critical, is a conscious political perspective.

It is first of all necessary, as the Socialist Equality Party wrote in its statement of September 19, to put aside all self-deluding hopes that what is unfolding is anything less than a drive to establish a presidential dictatorship, based on the military, police, paramilitary forces and fascist gangs.

The Trump administration is seeking a provocation and a pretext for a vast escalation. The operations in Portland and Chicago are part of the Trump administrations declared war on the enemy within. They come after Trumps September 30 assembly of generals at Quantico, where he told the officer corps that Americas cities must serve as training grounds for domestic warfare.

Trump speaks for and represents the American capitalist oligarchy. The American ruling class has handed power to a political mafia that sees dictatorship as the only means of preserving its wealth and its system.

The government shutdown is being used as a weapon in this social counterrevolutionlaying off hundreds of thousands of federal workers, gutting social programs and concentrating power in the executive. The Washington Post reported Friday that the administration is preparing the most sweeping attack on Social Security disability benefits in US history, eliminating age as a qualifying factor and threatening to cut off payments to some 750,000 older and disabled Americans. Combined with cuts to Medicaid and food assistance, these measures amount to the deliberate impoverishment of millions.

The Democrats represent the same Wall Street and military-intelligence interests that back Trumps economic warfare against the world and his pursuit of open military conflict with Russia and China as well as his attacks on the working class at home.

The Socialist Equality Party calls for the development of rank-and-file committees in every workplace, school and neighborhood as the foundation for coordinated, mass opposition. These committees must unite every section of the working classindustrial, service, public sector, healthcare, logistics, education and technology workers, together with students and youthinto a single movement against Trumps dictatorship, the complicity of the Democrats and trade union apparatus, and the capitalist oligarchy as a whole.

These committees must link the fight against repression and dictatorship to the defense of jobs, wages and social rights, opposing layoffs, budget cuts, and every attack on living standards. In this struggle, the working class in the United States must turn to its most powerful weapon: its international unity.

The SEP is spearheading the building of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC), which is coordinating workers struggles across borders and industries as part of a global movement. There are many expressions of growing opposition throughout the world, including the mass demonstrations in Europe against the ongoing genocide in Gaza as Israels US-backed slaughter approaches its second year, along with the wave of protests by young people that have swept across Africa.

The fight against dictatorship and fascism is inseparable from the fight against capitalism itself. To oppose Trumps drive toward authoritarian rule, workers and young people must take up the struggle for socialism, for the reorganization of society on the basis of human need, not private profit. We urge all those who recognize the gravity of the present situation to join the Socialist Equality Party.
Ridgetop Elementary School in Austin, Texas, one of 13 schools slated for closure, August 19, 2025. [Photo: Ridgetop]

Austin Independent School District (AISD) released a proposal Friday to close 13 schools, causing panic and anger among parents and school teachers. The plan includes 11 elementary schools and two middle schools. The final vote on the school closure plan is set to take place on November 20.

The announcement is part of a wave of school closures across both Texas and the United States. Virtually every major school district in America is operating with significant deficits, with a major factor being the ending of federal funding both under Trump and under Biden, who ended supplemental COVID funding for schools.

In Texas itself, closures are either being planned or are already underway in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and a number of smaller districts in addition to Austin. On a national level, recent school closures have taken place in both large and small districts, including Philadelphia and Chicago. New closures are also being planned in the latter city, with similar closures under discussion in St. Louis, Los Angeles, Boston, Seattle, San Francisco, Norfolk, Virginia and numerous smaller districts throughout the country.

The same week that the Austin closure was announced, the school district in nearby Leander made national and international headlines for its cancellation of 40 books used in high school English classes. The list includes classics such as To Kill a Mockingbird, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Les Miserables, and The Devils Arithmetic, a 1988 novel about the Holocaust. The district used AI software to ban so-called DEI-related school materials in compliance with Texas Senate Bill 12, passed in September.

The Austin closures are expected to save a mere $20 million a year for the district, which will be almost entirely comprised of teacher layoffs. Thus, the closures not only have the effect of slashing expenditures, but serve to intimidate remaining teachers to toe the line and keep silent about low salaries and benefits, or ongoing attacks on civil rights by the Trump administration, supported by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

The district is also seeking to increase revenues through a new name-sponsoring program in which private enterprises may purchase naming rights for district facilities.

Schools in Texas have faced chronic underfunding by the state government. The basic funding allotment for schools in Texas has not been increased since 2019.

In May of this year, the basic funding allotment was increased by only a mere $55 per student per year. To put this miserly funding amount into perspective, utilizing the wealth of the richest person in the state and the world, Elon Musk, Texas schools could quadruple their annual funding from $8.5 billion to $34 billion for the next 15 years.

AISD parents, particularly those affected by the closures, have been shocked and angered by the proposed closures. Interviewed by CBS Austin, Patrick Perez, a parent at Widen Elementary, said, This isnt just taking apart a school, dismantling and saying, oh youre going to go to this campus. Its going to disrupt the patterns, its going to disrupt the teachers who come in. Perez continued, We need the people to fight [the closures].

Another parent, at Bryker Woods Elementary, Bo Mangels, said that the news of the school closures was soul-crushing.

Speaking to local NBC news affiliate KXAN, Becker Elementary School parent Tanner VanEssen said: Watching something we have built over the years that we love, that my kids love, that is a home to them, go away and us be told that it doesnt matter how much our kids love the school, it is heartbreaking.

Becker Elementary, like several others included in the list of closures, has a school-wide Spanish dual language program, which is widely popular with parents and students. This is likely not a coincidence, given the Trump and Abbott administrations racist attacks on immigrants. Many of those parents still wishing to provide their students with dual language education would be forced to pay for private schooling, assuming theyre able to afford the expensive tuition.

In response to the closure announcement, Education Austin, the districts teachers union, released a statement which stated, We are sad that many communities will be impacted, and urged the district to work with us, and with employees and families to make a plan that works for everyone in Austin.

The union has made no efforts to mobilize teachers to stop the closures or the Abbott administrations plans to eviscerate public education more generally. Education Austin president Ken Zarifis shrugged off the ongoing coup by the Trump administration when he declared, Its all about local. Thats all that matters to me. I cant do a damn thing about national stuff.

This sums up the trade union bureaucracys refusal to do anything to mobilize their members against Trump.

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA) together have more than 4.8 million members. But the union heads fear that a mass movement of workers, which could break free of the Democratic Party, would put at risk their comfortable upper-middle-class lifestyles gained from decades of suppressing workers struggles.

This perspective is exemplified by AFT president Randi Weingarten. In a recent tour promoting her new book, she proclaimed that fascism would never arrive in the United States. The best way, according to the AFT head, for teachers to oppose the attack on their livelihoods was to stay in their classrooms and for concerned parents and community members to simply attend school board meetings.

The situation urgently requires that teachers organize to defend public education from being starved of funding and converted to centers of propaganda. This is a critical element in a broader movement of the working class against Trump and the corporate oligarchs he serves.

Teachers, parents and workers must form their own rank-and-file committees to organize such a struggle outside of the trade union bureaucracy. These committees will link up struggles against school closures in Austin with those in Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Boston and around the rest of the country and the rest of the world.
Multiple reports indicate that, after months of closed-door negotiations and Wall Street maneuvering, the newly merged Paramount Skydance, will install Bari Weiss, 41, as its editor-in-chief of CBS News. Weiss is the founder of the right-wing outlet The Free Press.

Bari Weiss [Photo: Bari Weiss]

The August 2025 merger of Paramount Global and Skydance Media was engineered by Larry Ellison, the second-wealthiest person in the world and founder of Oracle, along with his son David Ellison and former Paramount chair Shari Redstone. The merger unites broadcast, film, television and digital platforms under one of the most politically right-wing conglomerates in the world. The Ellisons and Redstone are both major contributors to the Republican Party and pro-Israel organizations.

Following the roughly $8 billion deal in August, David Ellison became the new chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance. The new monopoly controls not only CBS News, but also Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV and Showtime/Paramount+. The merger comes alongside Oracles central role in acquiring TikToks US data operations and the long campaign by Redstone, an ardent supporter of Israel and its ongoing genocide, to bring CBS and its subsidiaries into ideological conformity with the pro-Israel line of American imperialism.

In a comment to the Hollywood Reporter, the billionaire Redstone said she thought Weiss would be a good voice that would bring a different perspective.

The shake-up at CBS, as the corporate press calls it, is not a creative realignment aimed at providing viewers objective reality-based news, but part of a systematic concentration of information power among a tiny layer of the ultra-wealthy.

The CBS logo at the entrance to its headquarters, in New York Dec. 6, 2018. [AP Photo/Mark Lennihan]

As part of the deal to bring Weiss onto CBS, the Hollywood Reporter reported that Weiss The Free Press will be purchased for approximately $150 million, although it is unclear how much of that will be in the form of stock options. Even with generous funding from the rich, including millions from Trumps crypto czar David Sacks and billionaire Marc Andreessen, The Free Press is not a popular website in the US or internationally. The paid membership site has fewer than 1 million subscribers, while The Free Press YouTube channel has fewer than 350,000 subscribers.

As an undergraduate at Columbia University, Weiss helped form a pro-Israel group called Columbia Coalition for a Just Peace. Presaging Turning Point USA and other right-wing groups formed to intimidate and stifle free speech on college campuses, members of the pro-Israel group filed bogus antisemitism charges against Middle East professors who did not toe the official Zionist line.

After graduating from Columbia in 2007, Weisss support for Israel and capitalism landed her a job at the Israeli publication, Haaretz. In 2011, Weiss took on the position of senior editor at Tablet magazine until 2013. She then worked at the Wall Street Journal from 2013 to 2017. Following her stint at the Journal, Weiss was hired by the New York Times in 2017 as an opinion writer, in the aftermath of Trumps first election victory.

At the time, the Times justified hiring Weiss by claiming that it wanted to bring on more diverse, that is, conservative and right-wing, viewpoints. While at the Times, Weiss churned out banal right-wing tripe lamenting alleged cancel culture and free speech violations on campus. In her 2020 resignation letter to the paper, Weiss complained that her colleagues called me a Nazi and a racist.

After leaving the Times, Weiss started the subscription-based The Free Press. On its billionaire-friendly pages, Weiss and the writers she hired called for the ending of COVID-19 mitigation measures and promoted the fascistic COVID-19 lab leak theory, first promulgated by Steve Bannon.

Most importantly for the Ellisons and for US imperialism, for the last two years, Weiss has constantly laundered Israeli government talking points and denied the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

At the onset of the genocide, Weiss promoted right-wing and Zionist views against Palestinian intellectuals, journalists and professors. Among her targets was Dr. Refaat al-Areer, the voice of Gaza. Dr. al-Areer correctly called out the atrocity propaganda that was being used by Israeli and US media to justify the bombing campaign. Roughly two months after Weiss attacked Dr. al-Areer for exposing Israeli propaganda on social media, he and many members of his family were assassinated in an Israeli airstrike.

Just this past May, The Free Press published The Gaza Famine Myth, which claimed against all evidence that there was in fact no deliberate starvation of the Palestinian people being undertaken by the Israeli government.



The installation of Weiss comes as millions of people around the world continue to demonstrate against the genocide in Gaza. In the United States, recent polls show Palestine now enjoys greater sympathy than Israel, particularly among youth and working class Americans. This terrifies the ruling class, which sees the crumbling of its narrative monopoly.

That is the political meaning of the ParamountSkydance merger, the TikTok takeover and now Weisss ascension: the billionaires intend to reestablish ideological control by flooding television and the internet with pro-Israel, pro-imperialist content while silencing anti-genocide and anti-Zionist voices. The American ruling class, confronted by economic crisis, world war and mass opposition to genocide, is moving to regiment information as ruthlessly as it does labor.

Defending the truth about Gazaand about every crime of imperialismrequires breaking the stranglehold of the capitalist press. The installation of Bari Weiss at CBS News is a declaration that the existing media will continue to serve as the ideological arm of war and repression.
Australias National Press Club has cancelled a previously scheduled address by US journalist Chris Hedges, without providing any coherent explanation. The events of the Press Club in Canberra are generally nationally televised weekly by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and attract a large audience.

Its denials notwithstanding, it is clear that the Press Clubs decision constitutes an act of political censorship. In addition to bowing to a campaign by pro-Israel lobbyists, Hedges topic, the betrayal of Palestinian journalists, including by their colleagues in the west, was likely too close to home.

Chris Hedges

Hedges, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, former New York Times correspondent and author, had been set to deliver the speech on October 20, as part of a broader speaking tour in Australia.

Following the cancellation of the talk on Friday and a substantial backlash on social media, the Press Club has tried to limit the damage. In a statement over the weekend, it claimed to have only tentatively agreed to a date for Hedges to speak, given his stature and expertise on Gaza.

The Press Club denied Hedges assertion that the time and date of the address had been published on its website. That would clearly have indicated substantially more than a tentative agreement that he speak.

Sadly for those that issued the statement, people had taken screenshots of a page on the Press Clubs website that did indeed advertise Hedges talk, before it was quietly removed. It was posted on September 8 and even listed the price of admission, making clear that this was far more than a hypothetical proposal.

Given the shakiness of that assertion, one would have to question everything else in the statement. Its insistence that there has been no pressure from anyone outside the board, either directly or indirectly sounds very much like a case of they doth protest too much.

The reference to the absence of indirect pressure is particularly implausible. For the past two years, the entire atmosphere in official political and media circles has been marked by precisely such pressure.

The line, promoted by the Labor government and the corporate media establishment, has been to fraudulently slander as an antisemite anyone who stridently condemns Israels massive war crimes, as Hedges does.

As for more direct forms of pressure, it is well documented that Zionist lobbyists have particularly focused on the media. In June, the federal court ruled that the ABC had illegally sacked Lebanese-Australian journalist Antoinette Lattouf, precisely at the behest of such lobbyists, who had targeted her viciously for criticising Israels human rights violations.

The Press Clubs explanation of its decision consisted solely of a statement that when more details of the address were made available, we decided to pursue other speakers on the matter. According to Hedges, the chief executive of the Press Club, Maurice Reilly, told him that in the interest of balancing out our program, we will withdraw our offer.

If that is the case, the obvious questions are:

What is the balanced assessment of Israels murder of an estimated 278 Palestinian journalists?

What is the balanced take on a war of annihilation characterised by all reputable human rights organisations as a genocide, and for which the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders?

Hedges, in publicly protesting the cancellation, stated that: The Israeli Ambassador, retired Lt. Colonel Amir Maimon, who spent 14 years in the Israeli military, is reportedly being considered to speak.

In response, Hedges wrote: Lt. Colonel Maimon can obviously, if he chooses, enlighten us about the artificial intelligence-based program known as Lavender and how it selects people, along with their families, in Gaza for assassination He can let us know why Israel continues the mass slaughter when an internal Israeli intelligence database indicates that at least 83 percent of Palestinians killed are civilians.

The Press Club statement declared that The inference that Mr Hedges was being cancelled to make way for the Israeli ambassador is also false and without basis. That would appear to be carefully worded. It does not explicitly refute what Hedges raised, i.e., that Maimon was being considered.

Such consideration is far from being beyond the bounds of possibility, given that the Press Club hosted Maimon in late October 2023. As Israel was carrying out its heaviest indiscriminate bombing of the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military man ranted about Hamas and insisted that he and his compatriots were the true victims, as a compliant press corps sat in silence.

There are two other factors that may be at play in the cancellation, beyond the prospect of direct Zionist and Israeli lobbying.

In protesting the cancellation and explaining what he had intended to speak on, Hedges linked back to his September article with the same title as his cancelled address.

It is an excoriating denunciation of embedded reporters, who promote war and cover for imperialist crimes, whom Hedges contrasts with genuine investigative reporters exemplified by those Palestinian journalists who have lost their lives while telling the truth.

An obvious point of contention is that Hedges description of journalists who slavishly disseminate whatever they are fed by officials, much of which is a lie, and pretend it is news applies to the vast majority of the Australian press corps.

While there are honourable exceptions, collectively, they have covered themselves in shame over the past two years, devoting vast resources and limited talents to legitimising the unfolding atrocities and frenetically attacking those that protest them.

The official media has shown a complete incuriosity in Australias active involvement in the genocide. Recent revelations of the scale of ongoing military exports to Israel have been published by Declassified Australia, a small independent outlet, and then blacked out by the official press.

The other issue is the character of the Press Club itself. Notwithstanding its pretensions as a forum of public debate, it is essentially a conglomeration of reactionary political, corporate and media interests.

The Press Clubs principal sponsor is Westpac, one of the countrys four largest banks. Other sponsors include dozens of major corporations, including at least one weapons company, Thales.

The first listed patron of the Press Clubs C.E.W. Bean foundation, purportedly dedicated to Honouring the memory of Australian war correspondents, is former Labor MP Kim Beazley. He was nicknamed bomber Beazley, for his militarist views, and served on the board of arms company Lockheed Martin after exiting politics.

Aside from the character of the Press Club, the censorship of Hedges forms part of a broader assault on democratic rights, targeting mass opposition to the genocide. The New South Wales Labor government, for instance, has once again initiated legal action to try to ban a pro-Palestinian protest, this time over a demonstration next weekend at Sydney Opera House.

Polling commissioned by the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network and conducted last month by the independent YouGov corporation has underscored what such censorship is directed against. 69 percent of respondents agreed that Israel should stop its attack on Gaza. 58 percent agreed there is a genocide happening in Gaza. Just 15 percent disagreed.

Those sentiments are diametrically opposed to what has been pumped out for two years by the Labor governments, the political establishment and their media mouthpieces.
Thousands of people joined protests in New Zealand last week against the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the right-wing coalition governments whitewashing of the Netanyahu regime.

Protesters march in Wellington on October 4, 2025

Demonstrations were held in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin, as the two-year anniversary of Israels criminal onslaught against the Gaza Strip approaches.

Protesters expressed outrage over Foreign Minister Winston Peters speech to the United Nations General Assembly, in which he refused to recognise Palestine and did not condemn Israels mass slaughter and starvation of hundreds of thousands of people.

The recognition announcements by countries such as the UK and Australia were a cynical fraud, made by governments seeking to cover up their ongoing material and political support for the genocide.

Peters rejection of even this phoney step was intended to signal his government's lockstep alignment with US imperialism, which is responding to its historic economic crisis by violently carving up the Middle East, intensifying the NATO war against Russia over Ukraine, and accelerating preparations for war against China.

Peters issued a statement on September 30 hailing the peace plan announced by US President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and urging all parties to implement the terms of the proposal fully. In fact, the agreement is designed to facilitate the ethnic cleansing of the Gaza Strip and to place it under a colonial-style administration in which Palestinians will be completely subjugated.

The NZ rallies last week also voiced solidarity with members of the Global Sumud Flotilla, who were kidnapped by Israel and prevented from delivering aid to Gaza. Among the 500 people detained by Israeli forces are three New Zealand activists, Rana Hamida, Youssef Sammour and 18-year-old Samuel Leason.

In Dunedin on October 3, around 200 people protested at Port Otago where Minister Peters was attending the opening of an infrastructure project. In response, Peters defended Israels criminal interception of the flotilla, telling the New Zealand Herald: We told them not to go. Theyre not being abducted, theyve not been kidnapped, theyll be put on a plane and sent home.

The next day, hundreds gathered at Aotea Square in Auckland, while in Wellington more than 3,000 people marched, despite torrential rain, from the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park to the waterfront.

The World Socialist Web Site spoke with some of those attending the Wellington march.

Casper

Casper, a musician, said: Ive lost count of how many protests Ive been going to. Its mad that it still falls on deaf ears. He was angry about the governments non-recognition of Palestine, when almost every other government in the world is choosing to recognise a Palestinian state. He also denounced the government for refusing to stand up against Israels interception of the Sumud flotilla.

Mike said Peters UN speech was totally embarrassing. It makes me ashamed to be a New Zealander. He described the US-backed peace plan as a joke, adding: You cant take anything Trump says seriously, especially when hes got [former UK Prime Minister] Tony Blair involved. Blair and the Middle East dont have a very good history.

Blairs Labour government played a major role in justifying and supporting the illegal US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. He has been named as part of Trumps Board of Peace to govern Gaza.

Mike and Mila

Mila, who is from Italy, said that behind all governments support for Israel were economic interests. Most world leaders right now are not stopping the genocide, and they havent [opposed the oppression of Palestinians] over the past 80 years, because theyre making money.

She pointed out that many governments were testing military equipment on Palestinians, who had been completely dehumanised.

Asked what needed to be done to stop the killing, Mila said workers around the world had to strike against weapons being sent to Israel, as many have done in Italy, but that such action had to be sustained and coordinated.

It should be full scale, at the same time, for as long as it takes, she said. We said never again, thats what we were taught growing up, in school, learning about genocide, that we would not let this happen again. Now, its in front of our eyes.

Ethan said the demonstration showed that people in New Zealand dont agree with what our government is saying. He said he was disappointed with the inaction by our government, refusing to acknowledge the state of Palestine, but noted that governments such as Britain, which recently recognised Palestine, were still investing in Israel and providing weapons and money.

Speaking about the peace plan, Ethan said: Everything to do with America and Israel and their claims of peace is something you have to take with a grain of salt. The things theyre calling for in terms of Hamas [disarming and surrendering] are just a veil for them to continue their occupation and land settlements. Obviously we hope that peace can be achieved but it needs to be something where all parties can come out with land and safety and the promise that this kind of thing just will not happen.

The opposition parties are continuing their efforts to limit the protest movement to applying pressure to the government. The Wellington protest was addressed by Mayor Tory Whanau, a member of the Green Party, who called for sanctions on Israel and declared, Use your voice, use your vote, encouraging those present to vote for a Labour Party-Greens government in a years time.

The main opposition Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins told Newstalk ZB on September 29 that there was an unfolding genocide in Gaza and the government should impose sanctions and send a very clear message to Israel that this is not acceptable.

Hipkins added, however: I absolutely defended Israels right to defend itself following the Hamas attack in October 2023, and I continue to defend their right to defend themselves, but this is going way too far.

Hipkins was the prime minister in October and November 2023 andlike Labour governments in Australia and the the Labour Party in the UKhis government supported the genocidal assault against Gaza, fraudulently calling it self-defence. He also smeared pro-Palestine protesters as antisemitic.

The popular anger over the Gaza genocide has not abated over the past two years. Yet the mass, worldwide protests have been unable to stop the Zionist regime in Israel and its imperialist backers from carrying out the worst atrocity of the 21st century.

The only way to stop the US-Israeli war machine is through the mobilisation of the international working class, including a campaign of strikes and other actions to shut down weapons production and shipments. This movement must be guided by a socialist program, linking the fight against the genocide and the developing world war with the struggle to end capitalism, which is the root cause of war and colonial oppression.
The Chevron refinery in El Segundo, California, is seen on Friday, October 3, 2025, after a fire broke out the night prior. [AP Photo/Jae C. Hong]

On the night of October 23, 2025, the Chevron refinery in El Segundo exploded in flames that lit up the sky across the South Bay. Residents described the blast as a mini-quake; a vivid red glow bathed the horizon; and the smoke plume could be seen for miles.

Although Chevron claims there were no fatalities, at least one worker was injured. The blaze is now under regulatory and internal scrutiny, with Chevron promising to submit a full failure analysis within 30 days.

Yet this is far from an isolated accident. The fire is the culmination of years of negligence, marked by inadequate oversight and a festering pattern of violations that Chevron has long been allowed to build.

Over the past five years, the El Segundo facility has received 46 notices of violation from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), 13 of them in just the past year. Common violations involve chemical leaks, malfunctioning or degraded equipment, failure to maintain or repair instrumentation, and exceeding permitted emissions limits.

On the labor and workplace safety side, federal OSHA inspections over the last decade have turned up 17 violations at the refinery. Among them: failure to maintain guardrails and ladderway safety, deficient hazard analyses (especially for chemical leaks and explosion risk), and inattention to heat-illness prevention protocols, all basic requirements in a site handling volatile hydrocarbons. In 2022, OSHA issued a serious citation tied to the refinerys failure to maintain safe practices that might have prevented hazardous releases.

Beyond internal violations, the broader environmental footprint of the facility looms large. A 2023 environmental analysis ranked Chevron El Segundo as the worst among some 80 US refineries for its discharges of nitrogen and selenium into surrounding waters (notably Santa Monica Bay). These pollutants pose chronic hazards: endocrine disruption, carcinogenic risk, damage to marine ecosystems, and cumulative exposure burdens on adjacent communities.

Locally, residents have long complained of sulfurous odors, nausea, headaches, eye and throat irritationsymptoms common near refineries and chemical plants. The City of El Segundo maintains an Odor / Environmental Concerns portal, regularly fielding calls from neighbors who contend that monitoring systems underreport real exposures.

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health concedes that while measured hydrogen sulfide levels at present do not appear to be high enough for long-term harm, they acknowledge that these episodic odors can cause shortterm symptoms.

This convergence of environmental and safety failings demonstrates that the October fire was the manifestation of a system that allows the oil and gas industry to defy accountability.

Deregulation, bipartisan attacks, hypocritical green politics

Over recent decades, both parties have contributed to the destruction of federal and state oversight. This includes stripping funding, hamstringing agency enforcement powers and rolling back safety standards.

The ongoing Trump administration shutdown is being used to dismantle social programs, including workplace and environmental safety. With large portions of the federal government paralyzed, agencies such as OSHA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) have been effectively suspended, leaving critical oversight functions unfunded and unstaffed. Inspections are halted, enforcement actions abandoned, and long-standing investigations shelved.

The very agencies responsible for preventing chemical disasters and workplace deaths are being starved into irrelevance. The cynical posturing of both parties (Republicans openly slashing budgets, Democrats mouthing empty green slogans while voting for austerity measures) has produced a system where the institutions charged with protecting human life have been reduced to hollow shells.

California has long been held up as a model of progressive regulation, but this is a mirage. Under successive Democratic administrations, the state has professed climate ambitions and pollution controls while simultaneously starving regulatory agencies of the resources necessary to enforce them.

Cal/OSHA, the states workplace safety body, is chronically underfunded, understaffed, and incapable of fulfilling even its most basic mandate: to inspect worksites, enforce rules, and protect vulnerable workers. This was exposed by a recent state audit that spelled out the agencys state of profound decay and dysfunction.

In its review of just 60 case files between 2019 and 2024, the State Auditor found at least 15 instancesincluding serious injuries and accidentswhere Cal/OSHA failed to perform even an on-site inspection.

In practice, inspections are rare, hazard complaints pile up unaddressed, and penalties (when levied) are puny relative to corporate profits.

Likewise, Californias air quality agencies such as SCAQMD are constrained by limited budgets and political interference. Despite imposing notices of violation, their capacity to compel corrective action or impose meaningful fines is severely limited. Corporate giants like Chevron can exploit legal and administrative delays, appeal processes, and lax enforcement to drag out compliance indefinitely.

The Democratic Partys performative green agenda, featuring cap-and-trade markets, subsidies for corn ethanol, or electric vehicle mandates, masks the fact that in reality regulation to rein in fossil capital has been hollowed out from within.

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed SB 237, granting Kern County authority to rubber-stamp up to 2,000 new oil wells every year until 2036. Cloaked in the language of fuel stability and consumer protection, the legislation is designed to appease corporate energy interests under the guise of environmental pragmatism.

The working class pays the cost

In the calculus of capital, human lives, public health, and the environment are expendable. The working class, especially low-income neighborhoods, are the sacrificial ground.

The conditions in El Segundo are replicated in countless industrial corridors nationwide:

along Louisianas Cancer Alley, with some of the highest cancer rates in the United States due to the dense concentration of petrochemical plants;

in Houstons Ship Channel, where refineries and chemical complexes emit benzene, formaldehyde, and other carcinogens into surrounding working class neighborhoods;

in East Chicago, Indiana, where residents still live amid lead and arsenic contamination from decades of industrial dumping;

in Richmond, California, where Chevrons other massive refinery has repeatedly released toxic smoke and flaring gases over densely populated communities.

Epidemiological studies across the US have shown higher rates of lung, bladder, breast, colon, and lymphatic cancers among residents living within 510 miles of refineries (versus those farther away). Such patterns point to the plausibility that decades of low-level emissions, episodic flares, VOC releases, and odor events contribute to cumulative health burdens.

Now, with this fire, the danger is acute. Toxic plumes, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulfur compounds, particulate matter, spread across neighborhoods. But because monitoring is partial and reporting delayed, the precise exposure pathways will remain murky. Chevron reapplies PR assurances; regulators issue perfunctory statements; and the community is left to bear the risk.

This catastrophe underscores the urgent need to resurrect regulatory authority not as a tool of capitalist consent but as an instrument of workers power and community defense. Only through the independent mobilization of the working class, demanding direct control, transparent enforcement, investigations, and systemic transformation, can tragedies like this be prevented.

The time is more than ripe to build a movement that demands social ownership of energy, environmental protection, and unfettered power for workers and communities to govern the industries that threaten their lives.
The following lecture was delivered by Andrea Peters, a member of the Socialist Equality Party (US), at the SEPs International Summer School, held between August 2-9, 2025. It is the second part of a two-part lecture on how the GPU murdered Trotsky. The first part is available here. To accompany this and upcoming lectures, the WSWS is publishing How the GPU Murdered Trotsky, published in 1981, which contains documents from the first year of the Security and Fourth International investigation.

By July 1938 Stalin had assassinated multiple leading figures within the Fourth International, as part of a political genocide both within and outside the borders of the USSR. The aim was to secure the position of the bureaucracy by eliminating opposition and, above all, forestalling the prospect of world revolutionwiping out the human material that would, under the right historical conditions, make possible the seizure of power by the working class.

Despite Stalins terror, one individual remained whose existence was intolerable to himLeon Trotsky. Co-leader with Lenin of October 1917, Trotsky personified world revolution. With his unyielding commitment to Marxism, egalitarianism, internationalism, and the working class, he embodied all that the bureaucracy opposed.

By the late 1930s, the revolutionary situation Stalin so feared had emerged. The world economy, not recovered from the Great Depression, was marred by conflicts over markets, resources, and colonies, currency and trade wars. The fascists were in power in Germany and Italy, the Stalinists betrayal of the German working class and Popular Front policies having disarmed the workers politically and materially and failed to block the rise of the far-right. Hitlers war-waging intentions were clear. The aim of German policy was, he stated in a 1937 meeting with his top generals, to make secure and to preserve the racial community and to enlarge it. It was therefore a question of space.

Stalin had no answers to the crisis. He careened from one improvisation to the next. In August 1939, the Kremlin turned to a pact with the Nazis in a desperate attempt to shield itself from a war for which it was not prepared due to in large measure its destruction of the countrys revolutionary cadre.

But world war was coming and with it the prospect of the world revolution.

In his 2020 essay Trotskys Last Year, David North notes, Driven into exile, deprived of citizenship by the Soviet Union and living on a planet without a visa, lacking all access to conventional attributes of power, armed only with a pen, and dependent on the support of a relatively small number of persecuted comrades throughout the world, there was no man more feared than Trotsky by the powers that ruled the earth.

In Hitler-Stalin, Twin Stars, written in November 1939, Trotsky related the following event:

On August 25, 1939, just before the break of diplomatic relations between France and Germany, the French ambassador Coulondre reported to G. Bonnet, Minister of Foreign Affairs, his dramatic interview with Adolf Hitler at 5:30 p.m.: If I actually believedCoulondre told Hitlerthat we will be victorious, I also have the fear that as a result of the war there will be only one real victorMr. Trotsky.

Stalin too was terrified. The Soviet dictator, observed Trotskys biographer Isaac Deutscher,

could not bring himself to believe that his violence and terror had indeed accomplished all that he wanted, that the old Bolshevik Atlantis had really vanished. He scrutinized the faces of the multitudes that acclaimed him, and he guessed what terrible hatred might be hidden in their adulation And even if the Fourth International was quite impotent now, who could say how the cataclysms of war might change the political landscape, what mountains they might not flatten and what hillocks they might not raise into mighty peaks?

Despite Stalins capacities for enormous violence, the Kremlin's hold on power was fragile and rooted in a contradiction.

Trotsky explained in 1940, Stalins absolutism does not rest on the traditional authority of divine grace, nor on sacred and inviolable private property but on the idea of communist equality. This deprives the oligarchy of a possibility of justifying its dictatorship with any kind of rational and persuasive arguments.

As inequality worsened in the Soviet Union, so did the gap between the revolutions promises and Stalinist reality. Thus, the bureaucracy bore a sociopathic hatred of Trotsky, his internationalism, and his equality mongering as it was called. They regarded him as a traitor. The Moscow oligarchys hatred of me is engendered by its deep-rooted conviction that I betrayed it, Trotsky observed.

Notwithstanding his isolation in the late 1930s, Trotsky was still at the height of his powers. In Trotskys Last Year, North details the revolutionists astonishing output during the final period of his life. Trotsky intervened decisively against petty-bourgeois revisionist tendencies within the Fourth International, whose theoretical and political conceptions, if they had taken hold, would have paved the way for the liquidation of the movement.

In Defense of Marxism, Trotskys work that emerged from this struggle, clarified and preserved the theoretical and proletarian foundations of the Fourth International. Trotsky simultaneously provided strategic leadership in crucial discussions with the American Socialist Workers Party. He responded to every Stalinist slander. In Their Morals and Ours, he defended the right of the working class to make a revolution and exposed the bankruptcy of bourgeois morality. He returned repeatedly to the question of European and world war. In his unfinished Bonapartism, Fascism, and War, Trotsky analyzed the nature of the epoch, its politics, and its tasks. Above all, he fought to consolidate and build the Fourth International.

An initial attempt to assassinate Trotsky occurred in January 1938, about a month before Mark Zborowski organized Leon Sedovs murder. Trotsky, who regularly received letters from supporters about GPU agents sent to Mexico via France and the United States, reports that an unknown man appeared at his residence with a forged message from a Mexican political figure.

It was precisely after this incident, which alarmed my friends, that more serious defense measures were adopted: the establishment of a 24-hour guard, installment of an alarm system, etc., he explained in Stalin Seeks My Death.

In order for Stalin to kill Trotsky, dispatching assassins was not enough. The ground had to be prepared politically. In this, the Wests liberal friends of the Soviet Union did their part. The lies propagated in the Moscow Trials were lauded not just in presses of the Communist Parties, but in leading liberal American newspapers. The New York Times Pulitzer Prize-winning Russia reporter, Walter Duranty, wrote of the Moscow Trials in 1936, It is inconceivable that a public trial of such men would be held unless the authorities had full proofs of their guilt.

Mexican Communist Party newspapers accused Trotsky of leading an international espionage ring, conspiring to overthrow the government, and colluding with Franco. The following is a quote that Trotsky cites from one such outlet:

... As for the new pontiff, Leon XXX in view of the thirty pieces of silver of the dirtied Judashe has carried out his role in the part elaborated for him by the Dies Committee ... Leon XXX intervenes in the affairs of Latin America on the side of the imperialist powers and completes his work declaring that the oil expropriation was the work of the Communists.

People write like this, observed Trotsky, only when they are ready to change the pen for the machine-gun.

In the spring of 1939, a Soviet agent approached the head of the Mexican Communist Party, Hernan Laborde. He demanded that his organization participate in the plot to eliminate Trotsky. Laborde, in consultation with other leading members of the Mexican Communist Party, determined this was too politically risky and, given Trotskys isolation, unnecessary. The GPU rejected this assessment. Laborde and two other leading figures appealed to Earl Browder, leader of the Communist Party of the United States (CPUSA), for support, but were unsuccessful.

In the fall of 1939, the Mexican CPs National Committee called an extraordinary Congress for March 1940. Soon after the Congress was announced, Comintern delegatesactually GPU agentsarrived from Europe to oversee preparations. The envoys demanded the Congress agenda focus on one essential point so as not to distract the attention of delegates, specifically the struggle against the enemies of the people (with the main theme being the struggle against Trotskyism). They insisted on a rigorous house cleaning. Trotskyists, other opponents, and possible critics of the assassination plot were purged.

During the latter part of the 1930s, the Soviet bureaucracy used Spain as a training ground for GPU assassins. In 1936, a civil war broke out in the country when fascist General Francisco Franco attempted a coup against the republican government. In response, workers in major cities armed themselves, formed defense committees, and appealed to rank-and-file soldiers for support. Through his actions, Franco had managed to provoke a workers uprising that threatened to defeat him and break the power of the Spanish bourgeoisie altogether. The consequences of such a victory would have been shattering for both the capitalists and the Stalinists.

The Kremlin, operating via the Communist Party in Spain, opposed the seizure of power by the working class. They disbanded its organizations, subordinated its militias to the capitalist state, betrayed workers on the battlefield, demanded an alliance with layers of the Spanish bourgeoisie, and killed Trotskyists, anarchists, and others who were not adequately loyal to Stalin.

To do this, the Stalinists cultivated a network of GPU agents in Spain schooled in techniques of political terrorrepression, kidnapping, assassination, and organizational infiltration, which would be used against Trotskyists and ultimately Trotsky himself. Pavel Sudoplatov, the top-ranking Soviet foreign intelligence agent, who oversaw the operation to kill Trotsky, noted in his 1994 memoir, Our subsequent intelligence initiatives all stemmed from contacts that we made and lessons that we learned in Spain. The Spanish republicans lost, but Stalins men and women won. When the Spanish civil war ended, there was no room left in the world for Trotsky.

Around the time Trotsky was arriving in Mexico in January 1937, famous Mexican muralist and diehard Stalinist David Alfaro Siqueiros went to Spain to fight on the Stalinist side. There he was trained in guerrilla tactics and armed assault. Siqueiros returned to Mexico in 1939 as a GPU killer.

On May 24, 1940 at four oclock in the morning, a team of assassins led by Siqueiros burst into Trotskys house in the Mexico City suburb of Coyoacan. They shot up Trotskys room and that of his grandson, nearly killing him, his wife, Natalia Sedova, and the 14-year-old Seva. At least 200 bullets were fired in Trotskys bedroom alone, with 70 holes found in just the walls.

Natalia saved Trotsky by pushing him between the bed and wall. Seva was shot in the foot. When the assassins retreated, the boy went looking someone to help, leaving a trail of blood on the ground where he walked. Trotsky described the most tragic recollection of that night to be when his grandson cried out for him. His fear, when he saw Sevas bloody tracks, that the GPU had abducted the child was, he said, the most painful moment of all.

In addition to trying to kill the Trotsky family, the assassins threw incendiary devices in an effort to burn up the revolutionists papers. They sought, above all, to destroy Trotskys draft of his Stalin biography.

Stalin feared, explains North in Trotskys Last Year, the consequences of Trotskys exposure of his background, his political mediocrity, his minor role in the history of the Bolshevik party prior to 1917 and during the Revolution, his incompetence during the Civil War, and, above all, the pattern of disloyalty and treachery that led Lenin to conclude in early 1923 that Stalin had to be removed from his post as general secretary.

How was it possible that Trotskys home was breached without an alarm being set off, without a shot being fired in return? The buildings structure and location should have made it easy to monitor the grounds inside the compounds thick walls, observe what was going on in the immediate vicinity, prevent raids, and counter any attack.(p. 14).

But the breach was from the inside, not the outside.

Robert Sheldon Harte, an American SWP member and guard who was abducted during the May 24 attack and found weeks afterwards with two bullets in his head, opened the door for the Siqueiros gang.

Harte, it would later be discovered, was a GPU agent. There were some indications of this shortly after the assault. Stalins photo was reportedly found in Hartes New York apartment and a Spanish-English dictionary signed by Siqueiros in his room in Mexico. When the Mexican police finally tracked down the location to which the assassins fled with Harte, eyewitnesses told them that the man was not held under lock and key. In 1995, when a trove of secret Soviet documents, the Venona papers, was released, Harte was confirmed to be a Stalinist agent.

Notably, Hartes father, who arrived in Mexico immediately after his son was taken during the raid, was a friend of FBI head J. Edgar Hoover. The US Consulate in Mexico received instructions to give Harte senior all possible aid in his efforts to locate his son, given his relationship with the leading representative of the American political police.

At the time of the assassination attempt, Trotsky hesitated to conclude that Harte was an agent. But he did note, it is, of course, impossible to consider as absolutely excluded the possibility that an isolated agent of the GPU could worm his way into the guard. However, he added, If contrary to all my suppositions such a participation should be confirmed, then it would change nothing essential in the character of the assault. With the aid of one of the members of the guard or without this aid, the GPU organized a conspiracy to kill me and burn my archives.

The inside job of May 24, 1940 did not end with Harte. Once he opened the door and the Siqueiros team began shooting, Trotskys guards did not return fire. Their guns jammed. They had been loaded with the wrong ammunition by American SWP member Joseph Hansen, who was responsible for security at the house and maintaining the weapons. The Security and the Fourth International investigation would later determine that Hansen, who became a leader of the Pabloite movement, was a GPU agent and later worked with the FBI.

Outside the walls of Coyoacan, other Soviet assets were doing their part. The GPU knew virtually everything about the affairs of the SWP, which was tasked with Trotskys security. The secretary of the partys leader, James Cannon, a woman by the name of Sylvia Caldwell, was one of their own.

When word of the assassination attempt broke, the Communist Party claimed it was a sort of false-flag operation, a self-assault intended to besmirch the Stalinists and glorify Trotsky. The absurdity of this did not stop it from being repeated by the respectable US press. Harry Block, writing in the leading American liberal magazine The Nation, described the attempt as a put-up job. The political attacks continued. The New York Herald Tribune claimed that Trotsky was organizing in collusion with Mexican general a fascist regime south of the Rio Grande.

The Communist Party press filled its pages with the self-assault accusation and its political leaders and representatives broadcast it. The police began putting pressure on Trotskys household. Two women who worked for him were taken to the station and made to sign statements, which the authorities claimed implicated Trotskys guards. Two of the guards were arrested, as well as two of Trotskys friends who had come by Coyoacan after the assault in order to offer support. The police gave them 15 minutes to confess.

In essays and statements written in May, June, and August 1940, including Stalin Seeks My Death, The Comintern and the GPU, a Letter to the Mexican Attorney General, and others, Trotsky explained the political motives behind the attack, exposed the role played by the Mexican Communist Party and the Comintern, and demonstrated the ludicrousness of the self-assault theory. He wrote in Stalin Seeks My Death:

What aim could I pursue in venturing on so monstrous, repugnant and dangerous an enterprise? No one has explained it to this day. It is hinted that I wanted to blacken Stalin and his GPU. But would another assault add anything at all to the reputation of a man who has destroyed an entire old generation of the Bolshevik party? It is said that I want to prove the existence of the Fifth Column. Why? What for? Besides. GPU agents are quite sufficient for the perpetration of an assault, there is no need of the mysterious Fifth Column. It is said that I wanted to create difficulties for the Mexican government. What possible motives could I have for creating difficulties for the only government that has been hospitable to me?

In a statement issued around the same time, Trotsky noted that the aim of the self-assault theory was, first, to stir up police hostility against the victim of the aggression and thus to aid the aggressors and second, to cause, if possible, my expulsion from Mexico; that is to say, my transfer into the hands of the GPU. In short, not having achieved their aims on May 24, the Stalinists hoped to use their failure to force the Mexican state to turn over Trotsky.

Trotsky, in his writings of this period, again took up the question of why Stalin had to try to kill him now, but could not previously. Trotsky wrote:

To the uninitiated, it may seem incomprehensible that Stalins clique should have first exiled me and then should attempt to kill me abroad. Wouldnt it have been simpler to have shot me in Moscow as were so many others? The explanation is this: In 1928 when I was expelled from the party and exiled to Central Asia it was still impossible even to talk not only about shooting but arrest. The generation together with whom I went through the October revolution and the Civil War was then still alive. The Political Bureau felt itself besieged from all sides In these conditions Stalin, after vacillating for one year, decided to resort to exile abroad as the lesser evil. He reasoned that Trotsky, isolated from the USSR, deprived of an apparatus and of material resources, would be powerless to undertake anything Events have shown, however, that it is possible to participate in political life without possessing either an apparatus or material resources.

Trotsky warned another attack was coming. The accidental failure of the assault so carefully and so ably prepared, is a serious blow to Stalin, he explained. The GPU must rehabilitate itself with Stalin. Stalin must demonstrate his power. A repetition of the attempt is inevitable.

Sudoplatov reports in his memoir that Stalin followed all aspects of the efforts to murder his greatest opponent. When Siqueiross effort failed, he demanded the operation continue and viewed it as absolutely critical to the bureaucracys political survival.

Trotsky, following the official investigation into the May 24 assault, was anxious that the GPU network working to eliminate him be exposed. Without this, it could not be stopped.

In a diplomatically written letter to the Mexican attorney general three days after the May attack, Trotsky documented the Stalinists methods to set up networks of GPU agents in different countries. Without question, they existed in Mexico too. It cannot be doubted in the least that the former and present chiefs of the Communist Party know who is the local director of the GPU  and that David Alfaro Siqueiros, who took part in the civil war in Spain as an active Stalinist, may also know who are the most important and active GPU members, Spanish, Mexican, and of other nationalities, who are arriving at different times in Mexico, especially via Paris. He appealed for an interrogation of them.

In his article The Comintern and the GPU, Trotsky explained the relationship between the Stalinization of the workers international and the mortal threat to his movement. Once an organ of world revolution, the Comintern was now an appendage of the GPU. Through violent purges, the Kremlin had filled the internationals branches with loyalists and transformed its budget into a sluice for GPU money to sustain the police states operations, disseminate lies, and form alliances with sections of the bourgeoisie. He wrote:

The intervention of the GPU in the affairs of the Comintern, the system of bribery and corruption of the leaders of the labor movement in countries abroad began to develop systematically at the beginning of 1926 when Stalin placed himself definitively at the head of the Comintern. At the same time, the irreconcilable struggle of the opposition (the Trotskyists) began against the arbitrariness and bribery of the Comintern and its periphery. Thus, for example, the opposition disclosed that Purcell, the well-known leader of the British trade unions, received in return for his friendship to the Soviet Union, i.e., the Kremlin, a secret salary of twenty-five pounds a month. All sorts of material boons were likewise enjoyed by other prominent leaders of the same trade unions. Their wives received inoffensive gifts of gold and platinum. Needless to say, all these gentlemen and ladies, who did not formally belong to the Comintern, considered the Trotskyists as traitors.

In June 1940, as he was elaborating the political perspective and strategy for his defense and security, Trotsky turned again to the question of the world situation, Stalin, and the fate of the Soviet Union. He wrote:

In spite of the Kremlins territorial seizures, the international position of the USSR is worsened in the extreme. The Polish buffer disappeared. The Rumanian buffer will disappear tomorrow. Mighty Germany, the master of Europe, acquires a common frontier with the USSR Her victories in the West are only preparation for a gigantic move toward the East  in his coming march against the USSR, Hitler will find support in Japan. The agents of the Kremlin begin to speak once more about the alliance of the democracies against the fascist aggressors. It is possible that as the cheated cheater, Stalin will be forced to make a new turn in his foreign politics. But woe to the people if they again trust the dishonest agents of the Kremlins chief! Only the overthrow of the Moscow totalitarian clique, only the regeneration of Soviet democracy can unleash the forces of the Soviet peoples for the fight against the inevitable and fast approaching blow from imperialist Germany...

Almost exactly one year after Trotsky wrote these lines, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union. By the end of the war, 27 million Soviet people were dead. With his extraordinary capacity to foresee, to warn, there was no greater danger to Stalin than Trotsky.

On August 20, the GPU tried again.

In 1938, it dispatched an agent who had already infiltrated the American section of the Trotskyist movement to France. There, Sylvia Ageloff inserted herself into the work of the Fourth Internationals French section and struck up a romance with another GPU agent, Jacques Mornard. Creating the fiction of a woman swept off her feet by a dashing, well-to-do European, Ageloff helped Mornard start to orbit around the Trotskyist movement without him ever having to take on the burden of membership and pretending to know anything.

Another lecturer will be going into further details regarding Ageloff, but the central point with regards to Trotskys murder is that Ageloffs lover was the man who would kill Trotsky.

In early 1940, Ageloff and Mornardwho was now using the name Frank Jacsonmade their way, via New York, to Mexico City. There, she got him access to the Trotsky household. Having been active in the efforts of the French section in the late 1930s and with a sister who served as a secretary and translator for Trotsky, Ageloff became a regular visitor to the house in Coyoacan.

While Jacson initially kept his distance, in late May, after the first assassination attempt failed, he began to make occasional appearances at the Trotsky home under the auspices that he was Sylvia Ageloffs fiance/husband. Jacson portrayed himself as a largely apolitical but magnanimous, moneyed man involved in international business. He was happy to do a kindness here and there for members of Trotskys household, thereby ingratiating himself to those who lived with the revolutionary and establishing himself as a visitor to be admitted to the home.

There were signs that Jacson was not who he claimed to be. He could never give a full account of the work he did and for whom, but had money and time. He traveled on a false passport. When asked for the location of his firm, he gave an office number that did not exist. Once, standing in the courtyard with Trotsky and Hansen while they were surveying efforts to fortify the houses walls, Jacson remarked, The GPU will use different methods next time.

But with Ageloff as an alibi, Jacson continued to present himself at the Trotsky home. He was good at name dropping, mentioning this or that Trotskyist when speaking with guards, brought gifts for Natalia, and made casual references to his party donations. He knew the restaurants and bars of Mexico City and invited others to join him, using the pressures that weighed on comrades to deepen his infiltration. Historian Bertrand Patenaude reported in his Trotsky biography that Cannon and Farrell Dobbs had an evening out with Jacson on June 11, 1940.

As the summer unfolded, Trotsky became suspicious of Jacson. He was offput by his boasting of his wealthy boss and stock exchange successes. He told Natalia that Jacsons employer should be looked into, perhaps he was some sort of fascist type. It might be better for us not to receive Sylvias husband anymore, he said.

Eduardo Tellez Vargas, December 1976 [Photo by David North]

Mexican journalist Eduardo Tellez Vargas, who spoke on numerous occasions with Trotsky in the lead-up to his murder, told David North in 1976:

There came a moment when Trotsky trusted absolutely nobody. He trusted in no one. He didnt specify or name names, but he did say to me: I will be killed either by one of them in here or by one of my friends from the outside, by someone who has access to the house. Because Stalin cannot spare my life.

Despite Trotskys concerns about Jacson, he was admitted to the house on August 17. Jacson claimed he had written an article against Burnham and Shachtman and wished for Trotskys input. In reality, this was a dress rehearsal.

Trotsky met with Jacson in his study, but sensed something was wrong. Jacson, allegedly raised in France, did not remove his hat while indoors and crudely positioned himself on the edge of Trotskys desk as the latter was sitting down to review his article, thereby standing over his hosts head. No doubt, this was Mercader trying to figure out the best way to position himself when it came time to strike a blow.

Coming out of this meeting, Trotsky told Natalia that he sensed an impostor and did not wish to see Jacson anymore.

He was right. In reality, Frank Jacson was Ramon Mercader, a Spanish Communist Party member and the son of Caridad Mercader. The mother Mercader, born to a wealthy Cuban family and married to a well-to-do Catalonian, was a fanatical Stalinist and GPU spy who did the Communist Partys dirty work in Spain. She worked closely with the Soviet agent charged with directing the Trotsky kill team. Caridad recruited her son and arranged for him to go to Moscow for training as an assassin in the late 1930s.

On August 20, 1940, Mercader carried out his commission. Around five oclock in the evening, Jacson was admitted to the household, the door opened for him by Joseph Hansen. He was not searched.

Jacson said he had come so that Trotsky could review a second draft of his article. Trotsky was unenthused and took his time making his way to his office from the courtyard where he had been tending to his rabbits. Mercader looked unwell and was, as he had been three days prior, clutching a rain coat on a warm, cloudless day. Trotsky remarked that he ought to look after his health.

Eventually heading to his study with Mercader, Trotsky seated himself at his desk to review the mans article. Mercader then attacked him, plunging an alpenstock into his skull. Trotsky cried out and lunged at his assaulter, throwing whatever objects he could grasp to stop another blow.

Harold Robins, the captain of Trotskys guard, came running. The first to appear at the scene, he pinned down Mercader and began pistol whipping him. Trotsky stumbled towards the doorway, where, after leaning against the frame, he was aided by Natalia to a mat on the floor. He retained consciousness for a couple of hours and spoke in fits in and starts. Trotsky said it was the GPU, possibly aided by the Gestapo. He told Natalia he loved her. He asked that she, not the nurses, undress him in preparation for surgery. He told his guards, He must not be killedhe must be made to talk. The SWP failed to fulfill the second part of this instruction.

Trotsky underwent brain surgery the night of August 20, but died the following day.

Earlier that year, Trotsky had penned his final testament. He requested it be made public upon his death, but the full text was not released for several decades. He wrote:

I have no need to refute here once again the stupid and vile slander of Stalin and his agents: there is not a single spot on my revolutionary honor. I have never entered, either directly or indirectly, into any behind-the-scenes agreements or even negotiations with the enemies of the working class. Thousands of Stalins opponents have fallen victims of similar false accusations. The new revolutionary generations will rehabilitate their political honor and deal with the Kremlin executioners according to their desserts For forty-three years of my conscious life I have remained a revolutionist; for forty-two of them I have fought under the banner of Marxism. If I had to begin all over again, I would of course try to avoid this or that mistake, but the main course of my life would remain unchanged. I shall die a proletarian revolutionist, a Marxist, a dialectical materialist, and consequently, an irreconcilable atheist. My faith in the communist future of mankind is not less ardent, indeed it is firmer today than it was in the days of my youth Life is beautiful. Let the future generations cleanse it of all evil, oppression, and violence, and enjoy it to the full.

The day following his death, Trotskys coffin was borne through the streets of Mexico City. Crowds lined the sidewalks. Three hundred thousand people filed past his body as it lay in state for five days. Cremated on August 27, his remains were buried on the grounds at Coyoacan. The American government refused to grant the SWP a visa for the mans ashes.

What happened to the GPUs assassins?

David Alfaro Siqueiros, the leader of the first assassination attempt, was caught and charged, but served just a few months in prison. Released, he went to Chile to paint murals, invited there by the famous Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, who sponsored his visa and hosted the assassin in his home.

Frank Jacson was arrested, charged, and imprisoned. He never revealed his true name or admitted to being a GPU agent. He claimed that he was a disillusioned Trotskyist, driven to murder Trotsky out of political disappointment because Trotsky demanded he go to Russia to organize there a series of attempts against different persons and in the first place against Stalin.

Trotsky, alleged Jacson, was a man who desired nothing more than to satisfy his needs and who did not utilize the workers struggle for anything more than a means of hiding his own paltriness and despicable calculations. The revolutionists opposition to his marriage to Sylvia Ageloff aggravated his rage, he claimed. Even in his confession, Jacson aimed to use his crime to further Stalins aims.

Jacsons true identity as Ramon Mercader and the son of the GPU agent Caridad Mercader was not established for another 10 years. Spanish Communist Party exiles in Mexico knew who he was, but remained silent.

In 1947, Julian Gorkin, a leader of the Spanish POUM, who was in Mexico when Trotsky was killed, identified Trotskys assassin as the son of Caridad Mercader in the book Murder in Mexico. However, he did not know his name.

It took criminologist Dr. Alfonso Quiroz Cuaron until 1950 to definitively establish who Jacson was, information that he tracked down through discussions with Spanish police officials. When David North asked Cuaron in 1976 why it took so long, he replied, No one was interested in establishing his identity.

Alfonzo Quiroz Cuaron

During this conversation, Cuaron revealed that it was not just Mercaders identity in which no one was interested. They were not interested in him at all. When North asked him, But have the Trotskyists never asked you questions on a purely professional level? About what happened, who Mercader was? He replied: No, never.

Few understood Mercaders psychology better than Cuaron, who had studied him closely for months before assessing his parole eligibility in 1955. Cuaron told North: He was not sick, not abnormal. He was a fanaticideologically in love with the USSR.

Cuarons parole report described Mercader as a mythomaniac, inveterate liar, bourgeois in character with superficial knowledge of communism who was fully conscious of his action and a highly dangerous criminal. Mercader never repented for his crime, he reported.

The criminal psychologist also suspected he had committed other murders. When asked by North if Mercader might have been involved in the killing and dismemberment of Rudolf Klement, Cuaron replied that the man was perfectly capable of such an act.

In 1960, Mercader was released. The Soviet bureaucracy ferried him, via Cuba, to Prague and then arranged for his move to the Soviet Union. Over the course of those years, he worked with the exiled Spanish Communist Party, held a position at a KGB spy-training school, went on vacations in the USSR and beyond, and received the Order of Lenin for his services.

Eventually, Mercader returned to Cuba. When the assassin was in the hospital ill with cancer, Fidel Castro visited him repeatedly. Mercader died in 1978. Joseph Hansens and the Pabloites support for Castro should be considered in light of this fact.

In an interview with David North in 1976, Mercaders Mexican attorney reported that Mercader ultimately regretted his actions for the following reason: [He] saw that the killing of Trotsky hadnt finished off Trotskyism, that he hadnt achieved his objective of making Trotskyism disappear.

The SWP did not conduct a sustained investigation into Trotskys assassination. In late 1940, party attorney and leading member Albert Goldman wrote The Assassination of Leon Trotsky: The Proofs of Stalins Guilt, which dissected Mercaders phony confession and made clear that, politically, it was without question that Stalin ordered the murder. Beyond that, nothing was done.

Sylvia Ageloff, whom the Mexican government jailed as an accomplice in the murder, was let go by the authorities for unclear reasons and traveled back to New York City in December 1940. There she issued a press release asserting her innocence. Apparently, the SWP accepted it. All of the questions related to her and how Jacson carried out one of the worst crimes of the 20th century were unexamined.

In his September 1940 address to the first SWP national plenum after Trotskys assassination, Cannon outlined the revolutionary tasks facing the movement, with world war approaching. He addressed the dangers of adapting to trade unionism. He insisted that the petty bourgeois revisionists, with their howls about the partys bureaucratism, were in reality opposed to democratic centralism and a proletarian orientation. Pointing to the GPUs murderous killing machine, he stated:

[W]e have to check up on carelessness. We want to know who is who in the party. We dont want to have any universal spy hunts, because that is worse than the disease it tries to cure. Comrade Trotsky said many times that mutual suspicion among comrades can greatly demoralize a movement. On the other hand, there is a certain carelessness in the movement as a hangover from the past. We havent probed deeply enough into the past of people even in leading positionswhere they came from, how they live, whom they are married to, etc. Whenever in the past such questionselementary for a revolutionary organizationwere raised, the petty-bourgeois opposition would cry, My God, you are invading the private lives of comrades! Yes, that is precisely what we were doing, or more correctly, threatening to donothing ever came of it in the past. If we had checked up on such matters a little more carefully we might have prevented some bad things in the days gone by.

But the political pressures on the SWP in the early 1940s were immense. In 1941, the American state used the Smith Act to charge the entire leadership of the party, minus Joseph Hansen, with advocating the overthrow of the government. Eighteen SWP members, including Cannon, were given prison terms of between 12 and 16 months. In the aftermath of World War II, as is reviewed in detail in the seminal work on party history, The Heritage We Defend, the SWP began to come under political and class pressures stemming from the restabilization of world capitalism.

Had the party pursued a serious investigation at any point after the assassination, they may have exposed not just the penetration of the US section by the GPU, but the network of agents operating across the Americas and elsewhere, whose dirty work no doubt did not stop in 1940.

The American sections failure to investigate the assassination allowed state agents to continue operating in their midst. Zborowski was one of them.

In 1941, Lola Dallin, the woman who helped Zborowski get close to Sedov and dispel suspicions about him, facilitated Zborowskis move to the US. Lola and her husband David supported him with money and accommodations. Eventually, he lived in the same building. In the early-mid 1940s, Zborowski continued to meet with SWP members, including Jean van Heijenoort, a leading figure within the American section and once Trotskys bodyguard, secretary, and translator.

In 1955, Zborowski was exposed as an agent, a fact revealed not by the SWPs efforts, but by an article in the liberal magazine The New Leader. Zborowski, who was launching a successful career as an anthropologist, was left alone by the US government until 1958, when he was indicted for perjury. During his trial, he acknowledged his GPU spy activity, but not his role in the murder of Sedov. He was sentenced to four years in prison, but did not complete the term and eventually moved to San Francisco, where he secured prestigious academic positions.

Lola Dallin claimed that she did not know Zborowski was an agent until 1955.

The Dallins contact with state agencies, however, did not stop with GPU agent Zborowski. It has now been established that David Dallin, whom we suspected at the time of the Security and the Fourth International investigation of having ties to the US state, was an American asset. After World War II, in collaboration with other former Mensheviks turned anti-Bolsheviks, he went to prisoner of war camps in Europe to recruit anti-Soviet Russian fascists to the OSS, the forerunner of the CIA. US military intelligence suspected at the time that Dallin might also be a Soviet spy.

In 1975, Harold Robins, the captain of Trotskys guard in Mexico, courageously issued an open letter to the SWP, published under the title Security at Coyoacan. Robins enthusiastically supported the Security and the Fourth International investigation, providing key information to the party about what happened at Coyoacan and opposing all those who denounced the investigation.

In his statement, Robins observed that the assassination of Trotsky was an effort to resolve the crisis of leadership in the interests of the Stalinist bureaucracy. Indeed, with the murder of the greatest strategist of world socialist revolution, the forces of reaction delivered a might blow, one that revealed the vulnerabilities of the Fourth International to infiltration, state repression, and internal betrayal.

But Trotskys immense theoretical and political contribution could not be stamped out, and the crisis of leadership could not be solved in the interests of the Stalinists for all time by way of violence and intrigue. The ICFI has preserved the continuity of Marxism, and in this the Security and the Fourth International investigation has played a decisive role.
The premiere of the short film Whispers of Freedom by British writer-director and actor Brandon Ashplant took place at Berlins DDR Museum [a museum devoted to East Germany, the German Democratic RepublicDeutsche Demokratische Republik] on October 2. It tells the tragic story of Chris Gueffroy, the last person to die at the Berlin Wall, shot by East German troops on February 5, 1989 while attempting to escape to West Berlin. His death came only months before the fall of the Wall on November 9. There are plans to permanently incorporate the film into the museums exhibitions.

Film poster

It is no coincidence that this film is being shown so prominently on the eve of the 35th anniversary of the end of the GDR and German reunification. Whispers of Freedom is based on conversations with Gueffroys mother and was made in collaboration with historian Katja Hoyer, born in the GDR and author of the book Beyond the Wall: East Germany, 19491990. Regardless of the directors efforts to ensure authenticity and avoid the usual clicheswith the film even mentioning positive aspects of life in former East GermanyAshplants work ultimately falls into the trap of repeating timeworn lies about socialism.

The films opening sets the general tone. We hear the dramatic commentary of an East German radio announcer in October 1989 on the 40th anniversary of the GDR. He praises the country as an outpost for peace and socialism and predicts a grand future, while Gueffroys mother, slumped in her darkened room, weeps desperately for her dead son. The scene perpetuates the false claim that the Stalinist regime of the GDR represented socialism. This claim remains unchallenged in what follows.

In a flashback, the same radio station is heard announcing Mikhail Gorbachevs coming to power in the Soviet Union on July 18, 1985. The film then cuts to the young Chris and his friend Christian, celebrating their school graduation with two bottles of beer from the West, organised by Christian. He reveals he will start his military service in a month and jeers at the name of the armyNational Peoples Army, declaring Peoples Army, what nonsense. He asks when Chris plans to perform his military service, and the latter explains he will refuse. Christian is sceptical, saying that his friend will be disadvantaged professionally, unable to go to university, not become an actor, not get your pilots licence. Chris smiles, hinting at the figure of Gorbachev: Things are changing.

This is followed by an exchange with his mother and brother. When Chris says he doesnt want to join the army, but plans to leave and travel to America, his mother is horrified. She tells him he has no chance in the West, whereas in the GDR there is social security, no homeless people, work, education and housing for everyone. Chris replies contemptuously that there is more to life than work without money, after which you come back to a shabby flat. His mother stares at him aghastOur home! His brother in military uniform looks through the door and accuses Chris of thinking he is better than everyone else.

Once again, the film cuts to a radio programme his mother is listening to while washing the dishes. A spokesperson for the ruling Stalinist Socialist Unity Party (SED) government attempts to portray Gorbachevs promises of more openness and freedom in the Soviet Union under the slogan of glasnost as irrelevant to the GDR. Here, the spokesman says, there is already enough freedom and, unlike in the West, no poverty, unemployment or homelessness.

Chris turns off the radio, shouting total nonsense. In the meantime, after being denied a place at a drama school, he is working as a waiter in a Berlin restaurant. During a visit by a high-ranking Stasi (East German secret police) official, he overhears the officials conversation with the restaurant manager, in which the latter suggests that the regimes shoot-to-kill policy at the Berlin Wall could be temporarily lifted during the Swedish head of governments visit February 5. For Chris, this amounts to a green light to flee. His friend hesitates, urging caution, saying that it is not so bad in the GDR, and again pointing out the danger of losing career opportunities. Chris insists, however, that freedom is more important. There are no prospects for the future in the GDR except to live in small flats; he wants to travel to other countries, to America.

His friend is ultimately persuaded and the pair attempt to cross the dead mans zone of the Berlin Wall. Chris is shot down while Christian survives. The last images of the film show the injured man being led through a tunnel by two border guards.

Whispers of Freedoms story and dialogue are both realistic and appealing, thanks in part to the convincing performances. This, however, is precisely what makes it suitable for propaganda by the German government and media, which, in the face of a growing radicalisation among young people against war and the threat of fascism, are intent on discrediting the concept of socialism.

The film is not openly anti-communist, but subliminally conveys a familiar message: freedom is incompatible with socialism! Or, in other words: if you take to the streets today to protest against war and dictatorship, best not concern yourself with socialist ideas.

In fact the equation of socialism with Stalinism was the great lie of the 20th century. The GDR was guided by Stalins reactionary, nationalist policy of socialism in one country, which expressed the interests of a privileged bureaucracy, blocking the progress of the 1917 Revolution and its expansion into other countries and eventually leading to the Terror conducted against the Bolshevik old guard in the 1930s.

After the Second World War, Stalin initially sought to establish a bourgeois regime in the Soviet-occupied territory of East Germany on the basis of agreements with Churchill, Roosevelt and de Gaulle. Led by the group of German Stalinists sent from Moscow headed by Walter Ulbricht, all spontaneous attempts by workers to expropriate the factories and drive out and punish the fascist managers were suppressed. It was only after a currency reform and the introduction of the Deutschmark in West Berlin that the GDR was founded and industry and somewhat later agriculture were nationalised.

Matthiue Mayer, Darragh Cowley, and Martin DeVon in Whispers of Freedom

This changed ownership structure in the east of the country was a concession to the working class, with workers gaining a stronger social position through secure jobs, free education, culture, healthcare and childcare. At the same time, however, they were politically oppressed and cut off from any links to the international working class. Such a policy has nothing in common with socialism, which involves workers internationally taking political power, eliminating the capitalist profit system, reorganising society according to the needs of the entire population and ultimately abolishing class differences.

The claim that the SED dictatorship was actually existing socialism served to fuel anti-communist prejudices among the working class in the West during the Cold War. After the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, politicians and the media declared in triumph that socialism was finally dead.

Today, however, the question of an alternative to capitalism is coming back with a vengeance, and with it the prospect of socialism.

The film must be seen in the context of recent discussions and publications about the GDR, and in particular the attempt to use the deaths at the Berlin Wall for propaganda purposes.

One month after the films premiere on October 2, Berlin will host its first Berlin Freedom Week (November 8-15), which is thereafter to be held annually. The events include a Berlin Freedom Conference on November 10 with international representatives from politics, business, culture and the media, hypocritically dedicated, in a hollow fashion, to the themes of freedom, democracy and human rights. This comes after weeks and months of vicious state attacks by the Christian Democratic-led Berlin Senate on young people demonstrating against the genocide in Gaza.

Significantly, the initiators of Freedom Week include various right-wing outfits and individuals, such as the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation and the World Liberty Congress, as well as the Berlin representative of the Federal Foundation for the Reappraisal of the SED Dictatorship. This notoriously right-wing, anti-communist organisation has sponsored not only the DDR Museum, but also the production of the short film Whispers of Freedom. The historical advisory board includes Jorg Baberowski, a professor of Eastern European studies who has been classified as a right-wing extremist, and Claudia Weber, who has sought to reinterpret Hitlers war of extermination against the Soviet Union as a war of aggression by the USSR.

Young people should see the film with a critical eye and ask themselves the following question: what freedom does capitalism offer? If someone expresses their opinion on the genocide in Gaza or demonstrates against it, they must expect censorship and police violence. If Chris were a young man today, he would have similar difficulties with the German army (Bundeswehr) as he did with the NVA in the GDR, following the reintroduction of conscription. If the Bundeswehr were to be involved in direct combat operations against Russiafor which it is currently being armedhe would have to fear forced recruitment and death on the front line, as is already the case in Ukraine today.

The freedom to travel to other countries is also increasingly proving to be an illusion. If you dont have the right passport, you risk imprisonment in camps at the borders or death at the insurmountable walls of Fortress Europe. In the Mediterranean alone, 32,000 refugees have drowned since 2014, compared to just over one hundred people who died during the 28-year existence of the Berlin Wall.

Interestingly, Brandon Ashplants film includes a scene about Cuban contract workers in the GDR. They are undergoing training in the GDR, and although they are sometimes treated with contempt by SED officials, one worker enthuses to Chris that the employment contract allows him to overcome the isolation of the island of Cuba and get to know other countries. Getting to know other countries, Chris murmurs with an ironic undertone.

If he were young today, he would have to regard the promise of freedom at that time as cynical, in view of the thousands of refugees who are being forcibly repelled at the European Unions borders, and in view of the wall and the shoot-to-kill policy at Mexicos border with the US. In Chriss declared land of promise, currently a fascist president is hellbent on destroying democratic rights.
25 years ago: Union bureaucrats sabotage public transit strike in Los Angeles

On October 7, 2000, the Los Angeles transit workers strike entered its fourth week, making it the longest city transit stoppage in more than a decade. The 4,400 striking bus and train operators, members of the United Transportation Union (UTU), were resisting the Metropolitan Transit Authoritys (MTA) push for more part-time workers and privatization of routes. Workers were also trying to reverse over a decades worth of union-backed concessions such as tiered wages, elimination of COLA, and subcontracting.

Four days later, on October 11, some 42,000 Los Angeles County workerslibrary staff, sanitation and maintenance crews, health clinic and jail employees, and othersjoined the wave of labor unrest by launching a strike and picketing at 250 sites across the county. They demanded a 15 percent wage increase over three years to offset the rising cost of living in one of the nations most expensive cities, while the County Board of Supervisors countered with a 9 percent offer coupled with cutbacks to healthcare coverage and higher medical co-pays. In the countrys second largest city, county workers made poverty wages, averaging $32,000 per year and dropping as low as $20,000 per year for some essential government employees.

James Williams [Photo: United Transportation Union]

With the possibility of nearly 50,000 workers shutting down public services that hundreds of thousands of people relied upon, a coordinated effort by the union bureaucracy and the capitalist state sought to undermine their struggle, break the strikes, and shatter crystalizing proletarian solidarity.

On October 12, the leadership of the AFL-CIO and Service Employees International Union ordered Los Angeles county workers to return to work without a contract. This undemocratic strikebreaking was intended to sabotage the public transit strike.

After the back-to-work order, UTU President James Williams immediately moved to bring the MTA's final offer to the membership for a vote. Although Williams recommended a no vote in an effort to protect his own credibility, he had worked closely with the AFL-CIO and Democratic and Republican officials to wear down the public transit strike, leaving workers little alternative but to accept managements terms.

The week before, Williams had backed a brokered proposal between Democratic Governor Gray Davis and the bureaucracy in the Amalgamated Transit Union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees to shut down the strike. In this scabbing maneuver, the union bureaucracy had ordered its members to cross the picket lines. However, the vast majority of rank-and-file workers refused to collaborate in strikebreaking and stood with their fellow transit workers.

50 years ago: John Lennon wins deportation battle to remain in US

On October 7, 1975, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals handed down a major decision granting musician John Lennon of the Beatles the right to permanent residence in the United States. This legal and political victory for Lennon ended a four-year campaign of harassment by the US state apparatus aimed at silencing one of the worlds most prominent anti-war musicians by revoking his immigration status on political grounds.

John Lennon (center), and Yoko Ono (right) [Photo: Courtesy of Wildes & Weinberg P.C.]

Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono had initially moved to New York in 1971. Lennon was a well-known public opponent of the US imperialist war in Vietnam. He utilized his immense platform as a popular musician to promote the anti-war movement, which would put him in the crosshairs of the massive repressive state machinery built up under programs like the FBIs COINTELPRO. His activism included planning a concert tour to coincide with the Republican National Convention in 1972 to mobilize the youth vote against Richard Nixon.

Internal memos later revealed a coordinated effort between the White House, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), and the FBI, which had been tracking Lennon for years. A memo from Senator Strom Thurmond explicitly called for Lennon's deportation as a strategic counter-measure to neutralize a potential leader of the anti-war movement. The INS initiated deportation proceedings against Lennon, citing a minor 1968 marijuana possession conviction from the UK as the pretext.

In court, Lennons attorney, Leon Wildes, argued that the drug conviction was not a valid reason for deportation under U.S. law, as British law at the time did not require a showing of guilty knowledge for a conviction. Furthermore, Wildes argued that the governments pursuit of Lennon was an act of selective prosecution based on his political views.

During his initial deportation hearings before an immigration judge in 1972, Lennon was questioned on his political beliefs and activities. When asked about his association with political figures like Jerry Rubin, a founding member of the Youth International Party (Yippies), Lennon responded simply, I am a musician and I came to America to perform music.

He maintained that his interactions were with individuals, not political organizations, but did not shy away from his anti-war position. Lennons testimony, along with the detailed arguments from his lawyer, made apparent the government's politically motivated repression against the musician.

While Lennon's case established that the direct selective prosecution based on non-threatening political speech is considered an illegal abuse of power, the government maintains it has the power to deport non-citizens on broad national security grounds; including against individuals who have committed no crime if their speech or actions are considered to be aiding terrorism.

75 years ago: Police massacre of civilians begins in South Korea

October 9, 1950, marked the beginning of a three-week-long massacre of civilians which took place in the Gyeonggi-do district of South Korea. By the end of October, at least 150 unarmed civilians were killed by South Korean police.

Prisoners facing execution in South Korea

The massacre took place in and around the Geumjeong Cave, a man-made vertical tunnel which had been dug for gold mining during the Imperial Japanese occupation of Korea. Over a period of three weeks beginning on October 9, officers from the Goyang Police Station rounded up men, women and children and either shot them at the cave, or at a nearby location before discarding their bodies at the cave.

These civilians were killed by police officers merely on the suspicion that they were communists, communist sympathizers, or alleged collaborators with the North Korean army. Individuals suspected of any such disloyal activity were summarily executed by the police along with their families. Among the victims were eight teenagers and seven women.

The massacre began in the immediate aftermath of US-led forces capturing the South Korean capital of Seoul at the end of September. The Battle of Seoul was followed by the reinstallation of Syngman Rhee as President of the Republic of Korea (ROK), the US-backed puppet regime in South Korea. Far from an isolated incident, the massacre at Goyang by South Korean forces was a continuation in practice of the brutal anti-communist repression which Rhees government had overseen even prior to the outbreak of the Korean War.

The crime at Goyang remains one of the lesser-known atrocities of the Korean War, owing to the decades-long cover-up by the ROK government. None of the perpetrators for the Goyang massacre were ever held to account, and the remains of the victims were only discovered and excavated by family members in 1995.

100 years ago: American troops sent to Panama City to suppress strike

On October 12, 1925, at the request of Panamanian president Roberto Chiari, the United States sent 600 troops to Panama City to suppress a general strike. The troops, from Fort Clayton in the Canal Zone, the American-controlled enclave that surrounded the Panama Canal, entered the city with fixed bayonets and orders to disperse gatherings of more than five people and to put out fires. The troops dispersed a crowd of thousands that had come to protest their presence. Three workers were killed and dozens arrested. The Americans then set up machine-gun nests around public buildings.

US troops in Panama

Peaceful demonstrations had been occurring in the city since June, and a renters strike organized by the trade unions had begun to protest rent hikes by landlords. Housing stock was in short supply partly because of the influx of thousands of unemployed former canal workers who had been forced out of the Canal Zone in 1924.

On October 10 Panamanian police fired on an open-air demonstration, killing two protesters. Workers then shut down businesses and transportation in a general strike.

American newspapers portrayed the invasion as necessary to suppress dangerous radicals but in fact the troops were present to protect the wealthy Panamanian elite. The New York Times ran articles that contained the vilest racist and imperialist slurs on the Panamanian people, quoting, for example, an American steamboat captain who witnessed the strike as saying the  nucleus of a revolution is a bottle of rum, two halfbreeds [sic] and a negro armed with rifles and machetes. 

According to one historian, The chief of the Armys Panama Canal Department, General William Lassiter, wanted to go further and remain in Panama City to oversee mass evictions of tenants, but the State Department in Washington overruled him.
Striking postal workers in Edmonton, Alberta [Photo: WSWS]

More than 55,000 Canada Post workers are continuing their nationwide strike, which erupted with rank-and-file walkouts September 25. The urban and rural letter carriers, sorting plant workers, mail delivery truck drivers and post office clerks are challenging the drive of Canada Post, the federal Liberal government and corporate Canada to dismantle postal delivery as a public service and slash tens of thousands of full-time jobs.

Canada Post management claims its transformation plan is necessary to return the Crown Corporation to profitability. Prime Minister and former central banker Mark Carney agrees, having declared the postal service to be unviable in its current form. The governments support for vicious attacks on postal workers goes hand in hand with austerity across the board, increased military spending, and corporate subsidies.

Speaking to World Socialist Web Site reporters from the picket lines in Ontario, Jamie said of the gang-up of the government and Canada Post management against the workers,

They dont want decent jobs and decent hours. They want us all to be gig workers. Carney just wants to eliminate all good jobs for everybody. Lets just call it a third world country now. Well all be starving, but the rich and the big companies will be okay. Anyone else will be working for poverty wages. Thats not right. I was telling my co-worker recently, we need a revolution against this government. Enough is enough! Theyre taking our god damn jobs away.

Striking postal worker Jamie

Liberal Transformation, Public Services and Procurement Minister Joel Lightbound has called for dramatic service cuts that would largely limit the post office to servicing rural and remote areas that private courier and package delivery services deem unprofitable. By mid-November, Canada Post is to begin implementing a strategy that will remove door-to-door delivery from four million households, establish community mailboxes nationwide, end protections against rural post office closures, reduce letter delivery from five to three days weekly, and shift mail transportation from air to ground, slowing service significantly. These measures are to be accompanied with an increase use of hire part-time labour and stamp price increases. As sweeping as these changes are, they are only phase one in a comprehensive plan to abolish postal delivery as the secure job it was traditionally considered and effectively ending Canada Post as a public service.

Jonny, originally from Peru, working part-time at Canada Post rejected the governments framework, which is lifted from plans long developed by Canada Post and big business. I disagree with what the government is doing, said Jonny. They say Canada Post should make money and that it should be a profitable business. But it's a public service!

In its latest contract offers made public on Friday, Canada Post demanded the suspension of existing job security for life provision for the duration of its restructuring, in order to implement the massive destruction of jobs the transformation entails. Reducing the size of the workforce through attrition will always be the first choice, but it cannot be the only option through this transformation, the company declared. In other words, guaranteed permanent employment should be abolished. If they get the power to end it temporarily, any subsequent guarantees for the fraction of the workforce that remains will not be worth the paper they are written on.

Jamie denounced the media-driven campaign to demonize postal workers as overpaid, pointing to the realities of the job:

We get a lot of hate for being supposedly lazy entitled workers, but how much do we actually make? People whove worked here for 30 years are making $30 an hour. When we went through the pandemic, we didnt get anything. We said well wait until the next contract comes up, and now they only want to give us 2 or 3 percent. Its ridiculous. Were not asking for a lot and were not making a lot. We just want a damn job.

A worker in Montreal added

In the media, they say the strike hurts the public and small businesses, but they don't say that we work hard. During COVID, we were called essential workers, we worked all the time. We did home delivery for those who couldnt go out to buy their things.

Another Ontario striker, added,

Canada Post benefits suck. Almost all of the medications arent covered. Our insurance sucks. I worked for a private company before, and their insurance benefits were a lot better than here. People think were like government workers because were under a Crown corporation, but the benefits suck, especially for people who need medications.

The strike represents one of the most significant confrontations between Canadian workers and the ruling class in decades. But while corporate Canada has political parties, the media, and a vast governmental apparatus behind it, the organizations supposedly leading the workers, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), are doing all they can to isolate and demobilize the workers.

The CUPW National Executive was only called the strike after workers in locations across the country began spontaneously walking off the job in response to Lightbounds restructuring announcement. As one postal worker explained to the WSWS, The strike started in the Atlantic, then moved to Vancouver. So the national had no choice but to call a national strike. Because theyll look bad without supporting their workers.

CUPW is doing nothing to broaden the strike and appeal to workers even within the same logistics sector, much less other sections of the working class. This is because the union bureaucracy is more interested in defending its corporatist partnership with management and government, which places it in direct conflict with the workers it claims to represent. CUPW accepts that Canada Post should be run as a profit-making concern and merely wants to be in on the discussions on how to restructure its operations at workers expense.

Jamie criticized the CUPW leaderships refusal to call for workers at Canada Post subsidiary Purolator to join the strike, saying, Purolator workers are the same as us. Its not right. They should be saying look were gonna stand up for Canada Post because its gonna happen to us one day.

Abou, a postal worker picketing the Leo-Blanchette sorting plant in Montreal, told the WSWS: You know why the Purolator trucks come here? Because they dont have our equipment. So they come here to use our equipment, they make profits off our backs.

Abou expressed gratitude to our reporters: What I don't understand is that there are certain journalists, not you, who are polishing the image of Canada Post's management. The problem is they didnt do what you did. You came here. Youre talking with us, but they just stayed in their offices.

Postal workers were on the picket line for a month last November and December. Then, the government ordered them back to work, under a newly reinterpreted clause in Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, unilaterally banning the strike without even the democratic fig-leaf of a parliamentary vote. Support to defy the government was widespread, but the CUPW overrode this sentiment and connived with the government to enforce the back-to-work order.

An Ontario postal worker explained the impact of this betrayal among workers:

You know, I want to strike. I support what the Atlantic CUPW members did in walking out. Otherwise we would just accept whatever Canada Post wants, and they want to privatize us. The sad thing is, that a lot of my coworkers, the day the walkout happened, wanted to stay. They asked management to stay on the job. Which I disagree with. But I understand why they did. If we actually fought the way we should have last November, we would have much higher morale. But right now, morale is quite low. People just want to get back to work. We had so much leverage last year, but now, not so much. We lost an opportunity. Im still willing to stay and fight, even though its hard. Thing is were not just doing it for ourselves. Were doing it for the younger people too. We want them to have a decent job here. Canada Post used to be a quite okay place to work.

Two workers picketing at the Leo-Blanchette plant who wished to remain anonymous added, Last year we were on strike for 5 weeks, we went back to work, and there's been no change since. His colleague recalling the Black Friday strike highlighted that the bosses don't care about such pressure tactics. We're outside again, we're waiting like this, and when they want theyll introduce a special law and well be forced back to work, and that's it.

Countering this demoralization, which is the direct product of the trade unions sabotage of their struggle, requires that postal workers take the fight into their own hands. As Daniel Berkley, a striking postal worker in Ontario, explained recently in an article for the WSWS,

Workers should fight to give their militant hostility to the attacks on us organized expression through the building of rank-and-file strike committees at every depot, sorting facility, and other workplace. The rank and file can in this way unify our struggle with other sections of workers, mobilizing Purolator, Amazon, UPS and even United States Postal Service workers and others on our side. They all face similar attacks on their working and living conditions. We can and must deepen our struggle, positioning ourselves as the lightning rod for a mass political and industrial mobilization of the working class in defense of all public services, the right to strike, and safe, well-paying jobs. Postal workers who agree that a successful struggle can only be accomplished through the independent intervention of rank-and-file workers into this political fight should join and help build the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee (PWRFC). Linking up with other workers throughout Canada and internationally is of decisive importance in the struggle to improve working conditions, which necessarily entails a fight against capitalist austerity, dictatorship and war. This struggle must develop on the international arena, which is why the PWRFC is part of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees. Only an international organization, basing itself on the objective conditions of a globalized economy, and rejecting the subordination of workers lives and livelihoods to capitalist profit, will be able to defend working conditions and implement improvements in line with what new technologies make possible. The IWA-RFC provides the organizing framework and leadership needed to coordinate workers struggles across national borders in a worker-led counteroffensive to put the social needs of the vast majority, including the right to a job, secure public services, and affordable housing and healthcare, before corporate profits.
Loachapoka High School in Loachapoka, Alabama [Photo by Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0

Longtime educator and founding member of the Alabama Rank-and-File Educators Committee Clare sat down with the WSWS to discuss the Trump administrations brutal assault on workers, immigrants, and democratic and social rights.

WSWS: The SEP issued a statement, Trumps fascist conspiracy and how to fight it: A socialist strategy. We warn about the escalation of the conspiracy to establish a presidential dictatorship, based on the military, police, paramilitary forces and fascist gangs. What is your assessment?

Im a veteran, and it is completely against the UCMJ [Uniform Code of Military Justice ] for you to obey the orders of the commander who is going against the Constitution! Our oath is not to the president.

What Hegseth and Trump are doing is 100 percent against the Constitution. The military is not ever supposed to be used against American citizens. Trump is trying to establish control and turn this into a dictatorship, run by the oligarchy.

The Democrats havent done anything this whole time. When this happens, the people need to say no.

If we can fight to get Jimmy Kimmel back on, we could fight for our own rights. If we could show Disney, we can show the president that we arent taking this. Additionally, military members should consider that they are also part of the working class. We are supposed to defend the Constitution of the United States and the lawnot the President.

Referring to the reactionary and misogynistic culture being intensified in the military, Clare added:

This is personal for me because I know many women who have served in the military and while serving, stateside and in the field of combat, were sexually assaulted and received no assistance. Matter of fact, they were vilified and scrutinized while their assailants were given slaps on the wrist or no judgment at all. Look at the cases of women at Fort Hood and other bases who were missing and found murdered. This is what we get with a pedophile and sexual assaulter in the White House; Hegseth was also charged with sexual assault and settled out of court.

WSWS: We say that behind Trump stands a fabulously wealthy elite that, to maintain their profits and their stranglehold on society, is conducting a massive assault on the living standards and lives of workers. They aim to eliminate all the gains established going back to the Progressive era, the New Deal and the Great Society. Could you comment?

They are bankrupting the nation. People are getting distraught, and the services they need are not available. They are robbing the working-class American. They have taken away the pursuit of happiness.

What have the Democrats done to stop anything that Trump is doing? Nothing. They are complicit. There are supposed to be three branches of government, but Trump has taken over the judicial branch by putting his cronies in there. When the Supreme Court decided to break the law, the legislative branch should have been on it. But no. Both parties are allowing this felon to do what he wants when he should be in jail.

The ability to stop the president is the power of our collective. Because again, like I said, if we can get Jimmy Kimmel back on the air, then we fight with our voice, we fight with our feet, our money, our vote, whatever, it all needs to be done because we have shown that history has shown that when the working class comes together, we put the hierarchy to shame.

WSWS: Yes, we must use all our powers, but our main power is our labor. We produce all the wealth of society through our labor. The SEP calls for the establishment of rank-and-file committees in every factory, workplace, school, and neighborhood to organize resistance to Trumps dictatorship. These committees must become centers of resistance, uniting all sections of the working class and preparing for a general strike.

Clare: Yes! Shut it all down. We have the ability to do so. From the trash collectors to the food industry to the hospitals to everything. Were not going to build another car; were not going to build another computerwere not going to build another thing. So it has to be a consensus; it has to be everybody together doing it.

How? Spreading information and organizing independently of the unions, which have also proven themselves to be complicit. How many teachers died during the COVID epidemic with no assistance from the union at all? Not even any lawsuits were filed. We didnt have one lawsuit brought against any district on behalf of people dying in these factories.

Like Trump named it the Department of War, they could call this a state of emergency, and then we cant have an election. That way, Trump stays in control. People are already losing their jobs because they said something against Charlie Kirk. There was a mass shooting the same day of children, but they dont lower flags to half-mast for them, nor did the Minnesota state representative and her husband, who were assassinatednothing was done.

We are facing a military dictatorship. They are deploying military into major American cities, which is against the law. And hes doing it anyway. And nobodys saying, We wont do this, because its against the law.

The Democrats are complicit. Why? Because theyre rich also. Theyre part of the oligarchy. Theyre not going to go against their own interests.

Workers must fight back. We should get together. We should join the rank-and-file committees and stop them. The only way were going to do it is to stop working. Shut them down. We need rank-and-file committees to organize the information, share information that we may or may not have from other places, other groups, and bring us together into a collective so we can fight. They help people be educated on whats really going on.

We have to strike; it has to be on a massive scale. I think workers around the world would stay with us.

WSWS: The SEP statement says, The capitalist oligarchy has declared war on the working class. The necessary response is the declaration of war by the working class on capitalism, which must result in the socialist reorganization of society. What do you think?

The working class is losing money, but all these corporations are making money. What is the problem with capitalism? It kills the working class. And there is no limit. What it will do to continue to stay in power? That includes taking our lives. Absolutely. Our lives dont mean anything. We are expendable to them.

Netanyahu is here, chilling with Trump. He literally said, the Palestinians either accept his demands or hell just finish them.

Here, they say they are sending troops to the cities to fight crime. Yeah, theres crime, but why? Youre not giving people the things that they need. The schools are not getting support. People are poor, people are broken. Yes, that is the wrong thing to do, to steal and to rob and everything else, however. But what do we havemore liquor stores on the corner than schools.

WSWS: The SEP points to the savage attack on immigrants and explains that depriving these workers of their democratic rights was only the first stage in the overthrow of the Constitution. We say, No effective struggle can be waged by workers in the United States unless their actions are coordinated and aligned with the struggle of the global working class. What is your response?

Some people attack the immigrants, saying they should at least be here legally. No, did you forget how America was founded? Did you forget what the Statue of Liberty stood for? The people who can pay get in; they have the ability to pay their way in. Those who cant have to work forever to pay, like $10,000, to get citizenship.

Many of them [ICE agents] are the same criminals involved in the [January 6] insurrection. Many had criminal records before the insurrection, including domestic violence and attacks on others, and should have been in jail. Now they are carrying out kidnappings and running concentration camps used to spread fear [in the population].

Theres power in our collective action, not in our separation. Nationalism is not going to do anything but destroy us, because our best comes from the conglomeration of everyone. It is all people coming together, the melting pot.

We are a global entity. Everything that we do coincides with somebody else. Everything that we do comes from somewhere else. Our power lies in the fact that were the same class everywhere. The working class runs the world. Nationalism is making everybody point to each other when we all should be pointing at them [the oligarchy].

The workers are the real for the people, by the people.

WSWS: How would you sum up what must be done?

First, Democrats have not helped us or used their political power to stop Trump, even when he knowingly and blatantly breaks the law. It is the literal definition of the opposition party to be the check and balance against an out-of-control president.

Look at Chicago. The Liar-in-Chief said he was going to get out the illegal criminals. But hes only gone after hardworking immigrants who contribute to society with taxes (and NO, they dont get Medicare, so JD Vance is a liar-in-training). And now they are going after citizens in Chicago. This is a deliberate and planned attack to turn the country into a war zone and just like in war...WE HAVE TO FIGHT BACK!

Second, we need a new party. The founding fathers didnt even believe in a two-party system. Why are we doing it now?

Third, we must teach everyone that capitalism is the enemy. Why is our government rewarding CEOs who dont contribute to society and vilifying people in need?

Fourth, we must get out of the nationalist mindset because we are a global community.

Fifth, we can only do this together. History has proven that together we can fight AND win! So it is past time to RESIST!!
Crypto asset manager Bitwise has filed an S-1 registration for an Aptos ETF to formalize its proposal, following initial administrative steps to register the trust entity in the state of Delaware.

An S-1 registration is a formal document required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a new security, like a crypto ETF, to be offered to the public.

The Bitwise Aptos ETF filing is just the initial step, and the approval timeline can take several months or longer.

Bitwise Aptos ETF Faces SEC Review: Approval Could Take Months

The SEC will carefully review the application, assessing factors such as market risk, investor protection, and regulatory compliance before making a decision.

Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley confirmed the filing in a recent X post, which revealed that the Aptos Layer-1 blockchain has led development activities among new blockchain entrants by over 897%.

Horsley added that he cant say more about the Aptos ETF during the quiet period, But fired up about the momentum in the Aptos ecosystem.

Within hours of the filing announcement, Aptos surged from $4.63 to a high of $5.65 before settling around $5.52 at press time.

Source: CoinMarketCap

Trading volumes also exceeded $3.98 billion, marking a three-month high for both price and volume.

Recall that Aptos Labs CEO Avery Ching is officially part of the Commodity Futures Trading Commissions (CFTC) Digital Assets Global Markets Advisory Committee (GMAC) subcommittee.

The CFTC specifically pointed out that Ching will collaborate with other leaders from Web3 and financial services to help shape digital asset regulations.

Many believe his appointment could help facilitate internal discussions with regulators on the need for an Aptos ETF.

For European investors, Bitwise already has a similar product listed in Switzerland, on the SIX Swiss Exchange, which shows growing confidence that the U.S. counterpart might see an Aptos ETF go live before the end of 2025.

When asked about the gap that Aptos fills in the Layer-1 blockchain space, where the likes of Ethereum, Solana, BNB Chain, Sui, and Tron have already dominated, Horsley responded that Aptos is favored by institutions because it offers maximum speed and cost efficiency.

The claim of institutional preference for Aptos appears to be genuine.

BlackRocks $2B BUIDL Fund Backs Aptos Ahead of ETF Decision

In November 2024, BlackRock, the worlds largest asset manager, expanded access to its tokenized real-world asset fund, the BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL), to include Aptos.
By Nathan Vifflin

(Reuters) -France's former finance minister Bruno Le Maire is no longer an advisor at ASML, a spokesperson for the Dutch chip equipment maker told Reuters on Monday.

Le Maire, who was poised to become defence minister in the latest French government that collapsed just hours after being appointed on Sunday, had been named as a special advisor to ASML's executive board in 2024.

During his time with the company, Le Maire had advised its executives on investments to reinforce Europe's chips ecosystem. ASML is the world's biggest maker of equipment used by chip manufacturers.

In September, it became the largest shareholder of French startup Mistral AI, investing 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in the AI firm's 1.7 billion euro fundraising round.

ASML declined to comment on whether Le Maire could return after the collapse of the new cabinet.

($1 = 0.8571 euros)

(Reporting by Nathan Vifflin in Gdansk, editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)
Chelsea Financial Services

Staten Island, NY , Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chelsea Financial Services is proud to announce the acquisition of the customer assets & accounts of Kansas City-based General Securities, a brokerage firm that founded an orphanage in Peru, Hogar de Esperanza (House of Hope), continuing to build on a legacy of integrity, service, and compassion that spans nearly three decades.





Chelsea Financial Services Acquires the Customer Accounts and Brokerage Assets of General Securities, a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Brokerage Firm that Sponsors Worldwide Adoptions and an Orphanage in Peru

'House of Hope' (Hogar de Esperanza) Orphanage in Trujillo, Peru

House of Hope is a true beacon of hope, situated in the middle of Perus coastal desert. They received their first resident in early 2002 and have been housing orphans and facilitating adoptions for over 20 years. In total, House of Hope orphanage has a capacity for 4050 children.

The orphanage includes a chapel, a spacious dining room, administrative offices, and second-floor rooms where volunteers and potential adoptive families can stay and spend time with the children. Each of four homes are smartly focused on different age groups: The youngest lodge in Chispas de Amor (Sparks of Love). Older children are housed in Tesoros del Rey (Treasures of the King), followed by Amigos de Jesus (Friends of Jesus). The oldest children are housed in Luces de Esperanza (Lights of Hope).

The idea for an orphanage in Peru started with a simple jog in the desert city of Trujillo. Dave Miller, Founder of General Securities, encountered several children eating from trash bags during a morning jog in the town. Moved with compassion and empathy, Miller and his late wife, Vickie, worked tirelessly with a few fellow believers from the Christian community in Trujillo to form a home for children in need. In 2003, to support this new mission, Miller donated 100% of the stock of his company, General Securities, a 501(c)(3) Not-for-profit Corporation, to Saving Street Children, a foundation which sponsors adoptions all over the world, including Ukraine, China, and Africa, in addition to creating and funding the operations of the Peru orphanage.

When I was thinking about selling my company, I approached our mutual clearing house, Hilltop Securities, for a recommendation. They pointed me toward Chelsea Financial Services. From the first meeting with John Pisapia, President, I knew that my company and my brokers would be in good hands, said Miller. All of my Brokers have chosen to join Chelsea Financial, including one longtime Advisor, now 77, who has been a part of my team for over 40 years.

Miller, at 78, will continue to serve as a dedicated broker with Chelsea Financial Services. Miller will continue to fund the orphanage and other worldwide adoption services via the proceeds of the sale and his continued revenue as an Independent Broker with the firm.
Former Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos and fiance Chock Chapple are soaking up some quality time together after spending more than a month apart.

We are back in New York because its our fun place that we get to go, Vassos, 62, said via Instagram on Saturday, October 4. We havent seen each other in over a month. We did this twice this summer. Its disturbing.

Vassos shared that Chapple, 62, came up with the idea to spend time in New York which included seeing a billboard of Mel Owens for season 2 of The Golden Bachelor.

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A guy that was sitting there goes, Is that you? No, no, Chapple recalled.

Golden Bachelorettes Chock Chapple Gives Update on His and Joan Vassos Wedding Date

Vassos and Chapple met on The Golden Bachelorette season 1 in 2024, where she ultimately accepted his proposal. After the show, the couple exclusively told Us Weekly that they were splitting their time between their hometowns in Maryland and Kansas while also apartment hunting in New York City.

This first year, obviously, we have to kind of figure out life. Chock has a business in Kansas. I have kids and grandkids and Maryland. Im not leaving Maryland, but he does have obligations in Kansas, Vassos told Us in November 2024. We know that were gonna spend time in Maryland and in Kansas, but then we have this really fun plan because both of us have always dreamed  and were finally at this weird stage in life for making this dream come true  that we live in a big city, and, specifically, weve always wanted to live in New York. So Chock surprised me and said, I want us to go find a place.

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The next year, Vassos shared that she and Chapple dont feel in a rush to live together.

Its been crazy. Its totally unexpected. We both thought when we came off the show, wed just live a life as a couple. We didnt realize that the opportunities would continue, which has been such a blessing, she told Us in April. We have lived a little bit of a jet set life and we dont have to plan all of our meetings. When we dont have anything to do for a TV or radio or podcast or whatever, we do have to figure out when were gonna get together, but we have so many of those weaved into him coming to Maryland or me going to Kansas that we actually havent spent a lot of times at either one of each others homes, which is exactly what we thought we would be doing.

As the pair navigates life without the cameras, Vassos explained that she and Chapple are looking forward to tying the knot one day.

Chock and I are in that part of it. Its been great every second of it and its, maybe, solidified our relationship more and more and made that leap of faith seem like we absolutely did the right thing. We will get married, but we are not ready to plan a wedding out, she told Us. Im meeting his friends, hes meeting my friends. Were spending time getting to know each other even more. Theres no rush. I dont have a biological clock. Im over that. I have four kids. It does [add] to the whole element of it. Were not dying to build a house together. We both have homes. We have all those things that were not worried about doing. Were just having fun being together. I want to say, like, Let us be together! Lets just have fun and date! We will get married, I just dont know when.
NEED TO KNOW

Meghan Markle is keeping up with an important streak

The Duchess of Sussex, 44, posted an intimate Instagram Stories from her glam trip to Paris Fashion Week for a Balenciaga show

A spokesperson for Meghan tells PEOPLE she attended the show to support Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli

Meghan Markle revealed a fun and unexpected secret behind her Paris Fashion Week prep: a 100-day streak on Duolingo.

The Duchess of Sussex, 44, shared an Instagram reel on Oct. 5 recapping her weekend in Paris for a series of Balenciaga shows, offering fans a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of her routine  and her commitment to brushing up on French.

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The video opened with a breakfast spread and a graphic celebrating her milestone streak on the popular language-learning app. Meghan previously shared that she uses Duolingo to keep up her French skills, explaining to Variety in 2022, "Once we've gotten the kids to bed, and I've played a little Wordle or done my ten minutes of Duolingo, I really wanted to relearn French, I studied it for the four years of high school and then... and then it just went away."

A spokesperson told PEOPLE she attended the Oct. 4 event to support Pierpaolo Piccioli, the labels newly appointed Creative Director.



The video offered a peek at her whirlwind trip: a view from the plane window, feet up in a car, the Arc de Triomphe, a bouquet with a Balenciaga card and a stunning Eiffel Tower view from a balcony.

"About last night. Thank you @pppiccioli and @balenciaga," the Duchess of Sussex captioned the clip. "Ive missed you  - thanks for the love "



Meghan Markle/Instagram Meghan Markle's Instagram on Oct. 5, 2025. Meghan Markle's Instagram on Oct. 5, 2025.

The video then cut to Meghan getting her hair and makeup done, with Daniel Martin  her longtime friend and the makeup artist behind her 2018 bridal look  on hand. Now Global Director of Artistry for Tatcha, Martin has also appeared in seasons 1 and 2 of Meghans Netflix lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan.

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Close-ups in the reel included a handwritten note reading Knock em dead and Have the best time xxx, the glam setup in a luxe suite, French fries beside a blow dryer, a collection of Tom Ford lipsticks on a vanity and Meghan walking through the lobby en route to the Balenciaga show.

Meghan Markle/Instagram Meghan Markle's Instagram on Oct. 5, 2025. Meghan Markle's Instagram on Oct. 5, 2025.

The camera panned to Meghan giving Piccioli a big hug, and the Duchess of Sussex posing before a Balenciaga backdrop.

Meghan Markle/Instagram Meghan Markle's Instagram on Oct. 5, 2025. Meghan Markle's Instagram on Oct. 5, 2025.

"Over the years, the Duchess has worn a number of designs by Pierpaolo. They have worked closely together, collaborating on design for key moments on the world stage," Meghan's spokesperson said.

"She has long admired his craftsmanship and modern elegance, and tonight was no different. This evening reflects the culmination of many years of artistry and friendship, reflected in her support for his new creative chapter at Balenciaga," they added.

Arnold Jerocki/Getty Meghan Markle attends the Balenciaga Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 show at Paris Fashion Week on Oct. 4, 2025 in Paris, France. Meghan Markle attends the Balenciaga Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 show at Paris Fashion Week on Oct. 4, 2025 in Paris, France.

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!



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While the Duchess of Sussex's weekend in France marked her debut at Paris Fashion Week in the city, she's a pro at the front row.

The former Suits star attended several shows at New York and Toronto Fashion Weeks between 2013 and 2015, before her relationship with Prince Harry began.



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[Source]

Longtime entertainer Huong Giang Nguyen is set to become the first transgender woman to represent Vietnam in the Miss Universe competition this November in Thailand. Miss Universe Vietnam directly appointed her to the role, breaking from the tradition of holding a national contest. Her selection adds Vietnam to the short list of countries that have sent a transgender woman candidate to the global stage.

Nguyens career

Miss Universe Vietnam announced the appointment on Sept. 24, calling Nguyen a living testament to the power of perseverance and talent and praising her feminine beauty, intelligence, confidence, resilience and a strong heart that never stops striving. Nguyen, 32, first gained recognition on Vietnam Idol in 2012 as the shows first transgender contestant. She later released her debut album Mercury in 2013, won The Amazing Race Vietnam season three in 2014 and claimed the Miss International Queen crown in Thailand in 2018. She also served as a producer for Miss Universe Vietnam last year.

A milestone for Asia

Trending on NextShark: Vietnam to be represented by its 1st trans woman candidate at Miss Universe 2025

Nguyens appointment marks the first time an Asian country has sent a transgender woman to Miss Universe, making her only the fourth trans contestant in the pageants history after Angela Ponce of Spain in 2018, Rikkie Kolle of the Netherlands in 2023, and Marina Machete of Portugal in 2023. In her Instagram announcement, Nguyen wrote, This is not just a story about gender. It is a story about people, about faith. Believe that with enough effort, one day, you can all change your own lives. Your starting point does not define your limits.

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This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter  a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices.

Trending on NextShark: 'Project Runway' crowns its 1st trans winner

Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member  your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community.

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Trending on NextShark: Asian authors face growing censorship as book bans surge in US schools

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Next month, the Prince of Wales will travel to Brazil for the 2025 Earthshot Prize, which will hold its first South American ceremony in Rio de Janeiro on Nov. 5. The ceremony will mark the halfway point for the Earthshot Prize, which Prince William founded in 2020 with with the goal of promoting a decade of dedicated work toward solving the biggest environmental challenges facing our planet today through 2030.

The Earthshot Prize is understandably a cause that's especially close to William's heart, but when it comes time to leave for the trip, he will be going solo, as his wife, Kate Middleton, is once again not scheduled to accompany him for the event.

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While the Earthshot Prize and the important work the finalists for the award do are clearly important to Kate, too, her decision to skip the ceremony isn't thought to have anything to do with the Earthshot Prize and everything to do with her and William's dedication to hands-on parenting.

According to Express, Kate's decision to stay at the Wales family's Windsor home while Will travels solo to Brazil for the Earthshot Prize ceremony is believed to be due to the needs of the couple's three children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.

Will and Kate are famously hands-on parents and Express reports that it's believed the couple has a private rule to always try to make sure at least one of them is home with their children to handle parenting duties, like school drop-offs and pick-ups.

And this policy is nothing newthe Prince and Princess of Wales appear to have taken this approach to balancing parenting duties with the demands of being working royals for years now, including last year, when Kate stayed home with the kids rather than traveling with William for the 2024 Earthshot Prize ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa. In fact, Kate hasn't attended the Earthshot Prize ceremony in-person since 2022, when it was held in Boston, according to Express.

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William made sure to pass along his family's regrets over not being able to join him at the ceremony in South Africa.

"I love Cape Town, I've had the most amazing week here, I've really enjoyed it. I don't want to go!" he told the audience at the event. "My children would love to be here, so would Catherine."

The Earthshot Prize was inspired by President John F. Kennedys 1961 Moonshot, in which he challenge the United States to put an American astronaut on the moon by the end of the decadea challenge the nation met in July 1969. Like Kennedy's Moonshot generated excitement and provided motivation about the space program, the Earthshot Prize was created to ignite a decade of urgent action, innovation and global collaboration to repair and regenerate our planet, a spokesman explained to People.

Earthshot was founded because we are in a decisive moment. it's a ten-year window of opportunity where our actions today will shape life on Earth for generations to come," Jason Knauf, CEO of the Earthshot Prize, said, explaining the organization's origins and goals (per People).

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The Earthshot Prize was also founded because Prince William believes that this decade can be a great human success story," he added. "That with urgency and optimism we can make these years count. Today as we stand at the half way mark of our mission, our work feels more important than ever.

William drove that point home personally in a new video shared to The Princess and Princess of Wales Instagram. In it, the future King emphasizes the importance of not just working toward the Earthshot Prize's goals, but doing so immediately, within the organization's crucial 10-year timeline.

Now, more than ever, is the time to fix the planet, Will says in the video. "I sat under this oak tree five years ago, soon after we launched The Earthshot Prize. The planet, the only home we have, needed our help, as scientists made it clear that we had to make significant changes by 2030."

William understands how quickly the Earthshot Prize's decade will pass because he's felt time seem to speed up in his own life amid his work with the organization.

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"Back then, a decade felt a long time. George was seven, Charlotte five and Louis two; the thought of them in 2030 felt a lifetime away. But today, as we stand halfway through this critical decade, 2030 feels very real," he explains in the video. "The Earthshot Prize was founded because this decade matters. "2030 is a threshold by which future generations will judge us; it is the point at which our actions, or lack of them, will have shaped forever the trajectory of our planet."

William also shared the hope the Earthshot Prize and its current finalists give him for our ability to solve the environmental issues facing the planet.

"It is impossible to hear these finalists stories, to see the impact they are already having and not feel encouraged by their energy and momentum," he explains."For me, it is that urgent optimism that has been at the heart of this Prize from the beginning. And it feels unstoppable. The people behind these projects are heroes of our time, so let us back them. Because, if we do, we can make the world cleaner, safer and full of opportunity  not only for future generations, but for the lives we want to lead now."
Located in Phillips County, Arkansas, 70 miles from Memphis and 118 miles from Little Rock, is the sweet, southern town of Helena. This is the perfect place to begin your melodious trail into the heartland of "authentic American music," because Helena is home to a legendary blues music festival. The town is also brimming with historic charm, which is reflected in its delightfully eclectic buildings.

As you stroll towards the corner of York and Columbia, look out for the pointy spire of Centennial Baptist Church, which reflects the Gothic Revival style popular in the late 19th century. Pillow Thompson House, an example of late 19th-century Queen Anne architecture, looks like it fell out of a fairy tale and is well worth a photo op. Cherry Street in downtown Helena has been on the Register of Historic Places since the late '80s and is a lovely place for a stroll through history. And when it's time to relax, stop for a picnic at Helena River Park.

Those looking to really soak up that sweet southern charm should stay at the Edwardian Inn. Built in 1904, this quaint B&B has a range of retro rooms and is lauded as the most unique bed and breakfast in Arkansas, according to Tripadvisor. There are also a couple of other inns and Airbnbs in Helena if you prefer, or sleep on the wild side and stay at a nearby campsite, such as Storm Creek Lake Campground or Mississippi River State Park.

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Read more: Essential Tips To Make A Rocky Mountain National Park Visit Affordable

Paddling through history and nature in Helena

Display at Freedom Park, Helena - ArkansasTourism/Youtube

This city was the site of an important Civil War battle: the Battle of Helena on July 4th, 1863. History buffs shouldn't miss the numerous museums, exhibitions, and historical sites dotted around town dedicated to Civil War history. These include Freedom Park, which explores the African American experience during the Civil War, and The Helena Museum, a free collection of artifacts from the last 200 years. If you want to explore more of Arkansas' history and culture, there's an affordable Arkansas city with a vibrant arts scene and centuries of history 108 miles away.

The majestic Mississippi River has played a large part in shaping Helena's identity, and there are a bunch of fun watery activities near Helena to enjoy. Why not take a day trip to Mississippi River State Park, about a half an hour's drive away from town? This park has four hiking trails to explore, kayaks and canoes available for rent, and opportunities to relax on the sandy shores of the delta. Or take a short boat ride to Buck Island, a nature lover's paradise bobbing on the Mississippi. Here, you can camp, swim, fish, and see a bounty of North America's migratory birds! There are also canoe and kayaking tours to Buck Island if you want to get your paddle on.

Blues music festivals in Helena, Arkansas

Crowd and stage shot of King Biscuit Festival - duglasmuglas/Instagram

Helena is an essential stop on any Blues music tour. Since 1986, Helena has hosted the annual King Biscuit Blues Festival. This festival is a celebration of Mississippi Delta music and works to preserve and contribute to the legacy that the early Delta Blues artists created. The festival is named after the longest-running Blues radio show in the world, King Biscuit Time, which is recorded in Helena's Delta Cultural Center.

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The King Biscuit Blues Festival runs for three days in October and invites Blues fans from all over the world to come and enjoy classic as well as modern takes on the genre. There are five stages to choose from, as well as complementary activities including a 5K run, a BBQ contest, a bike ride, a bunch of stalls to peruse, and various bars and parties to enjoy.

If that's not enough blues for you, Helena also hosts the annual Legendary Blues Festival on Labor Day, where you can pull up a chair, enjoy some local food, and tune into some great music. Need some downtime after the festivals? Head to Arkansas' largest resort, where historic elegance meets classic charm.

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When traveling to Hungary, it may be tempting to spend all your time in the capital city, Budapest.

However, as a local, I think many of the smaller towns have a lot to offer, too.

One of my favorites is Szentendre, home to cobblestone streets, great food, and an open-air museum.

As someone who was born and raised in Hungary, I can understand why so many tourists flock to Budapest.

It's easy to spend a week (or more) in the capital city, doing everything from cruising on the Danube to sipping cocktails in a ruin bar or riding the Ferris wheel.

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However, I think you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't visit some of the country's smaller towns, too. Here are five of my favorites.

I've lived in Szentendre for nearly a decade and still love its charm.

Some of the streets are decorated with whimsical rainbow umbrellas. Emese Maczko

Located less than an hour outside the capital is Szentendre, a town filled with cobblestone streets, colorful houses, Baroque churches, and charming alleys adorned with flower pots and whimsical umbrellas.

While there, I recommend walking through the heart of town or strolling along the Danube River with award-winning ice cream from Teatrum Pizzabar.

I also suggest relaxing in a deck chair at Kacsako Bisztro, a bohemian riverside spot beloved by locals. There, you can watch the Danube drift by or listen to live music while eating a juicy burger or smoky barbecue ribs.

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Before leaving, stop by Skanzen, Hungary's largest open-air ethnographic museum. Here, you can truly feel like you've stepped back in time. Complete with authentic artifacts and relocated homes, this museum is broken up into regions that represent different parts of Hungary.

I think Holloko looks like it belongs on the pages of a storybook.

I recommend visiting Holloko around Easter. Emese Maczko

About an hour and a half outside Budapest lies the village of Holloko, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that beautifully preserves traditional Paloc culture and architecture.

I love the way the whitewashed houses with dark-brown wooden beams line the narrow streets, as if they've been plucked from a fairytale.

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Some of my favorite things to do include wandering around the old village, visiting the Paloc Doll Museum with my kids, and marveling at the intricate lacework displayed at Szatyingos, a museum that hosts demonstrations and craft workshops.

I also recommend buying a local pastry, like a langos (deep-fried flatbread) or a kurtoskalacs (chimney cake), and heading up to Holloko Castle for panoramic views.

Wine lovers should definitely visit Tokaj.

I think Hungary's wine regions are worth exploring. Andocs/Shutterstock

When visiting Hungary, I think every wine lover should know about the Tokaj, Eger, and Villany regions. However, as a fan of white wine, Tokaj is my favorite.

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Within this region lies the town of the same name, which is about two and a half hours east of Budapest.

Although the town's World Heritage Wine Museum is on many travelers' to-do lists, I recommend visiting a family-run cellar instead. In my experience, the owners often have a wealth of knowledge about the region and its wines, as many families have been living here for generations.

Tokaj is also the birthplace of Tokaji Aszu, a sweet white wine that I think every traveler should taste. I also suggest trying different cuvees, too, which are blended wines.

Tihany is a popular summertime destination on Lake Balaton.

My family and I visit Tihany every summer. Emese Maczko

Two hours outside Budapest lies Tihany, an iconic town on Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Central Europe.

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The main attraction is the Benedictine Abbey of Tihany, a church that dates back to the 11th century.

My family and I visit Tihany at least once every summer to marvel at the views, shout at Echo Hill, and wander among the town's thatched-roof cottages, artisan shops, and cafes.

My favorite place in Tihany is an espresso bar called Kotyogos Kaveterasz. Its terrace overlooks the Inner Lake (Belso To) and has a huge grassy area for kids to play. I love ordering the elderflower mead, while my husband almost always chooses the lavender rose spritz.

While you're near Lake Balaton, don't forget to check out the street art in Tapolca.

I love the artwork at Tapolcai Halas Lepcso. csikiphoto/Shutterstock

Tapolca is about an hour west of Tihany and is perhaps best known for the vibrant street art at Tapolcai Halas Lepcso. There, artists showcase the colorful koi fish in Lake Malom.

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Other spots I recommend visiting include Szerelmesek Hidja (Lovers' Bridge), Topart Bisztro, and the Tapolca Lake Cave Visitor Centre, where visitors can take a 10 to 15-minute boat ride underground.

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Ever joke youd like to run away and live on a deserted island somewhere? One couple did just thatsnapping up a private island in Bocas del Toro, Panama, and turning it into their own oasis.

Now, they're ready to pass their tropical utopia on to adventurous new dreamers.

Canadian couple Virginie Levesque and Eric Theriault originally met in the small town of Ojochal in Osa, Costa Rica, where Levesque and her family moved when she was 15, and where Theriault was also living, though he eventually moved back to Canada.

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They reconnected as adults in October 2019, and during one of their conversations, Theriault shared a longtime dream of moving to Bocas del Toro, Panamaespecially on Popa Island.

"One day he asked me, 'If you had to live on a deserted island, what's the one thing you must absolutely have?' and I quickly realized he wasn't joking," says Levesque.

"That question lit a spark."

This private island in Bocas del Toro, Panama, is for sale. Could you be the new owner? (Virginie Levesque)

The Panama island covers almost 2 acres and is surrounded by crystal-clear Caribbean waters. (Virginie Levesque)

Eric Theriault and Virginie Levesque knew each other when they were younger, but reconnected and fell in love later in life before moving to Panama. (Virginie Levesque)

In March 2020, Levesque and Theriault traveled from their respective countries and met in Bocas del Toro for their self-titled "Island Hunt."

With the help of real estate agents and a few ship captains, they started searching for private island properties for sale.

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While they agreed some of the places they viewed were beautiful, none felt quite right.

Then, they got lucky.

"On our very last day before heading back to our countries, sunburned and tired, our captain said he knew of a place the owner might sell," says Levesque. "We almost said no, but thankfully we went."

Unlike other properties, this wasnt just a piece of land attached to a larger island. It was a detached 2-acre private island surrounded by crystal-clear Caribbean waters.

"That felt magical, like a blank canvas waiting for us. We walked around, and ideas started flowing instantly, says Levesque. The water was spectacularclear, shallow, and perfect for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

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"We even imagined creating an underwater treasure hunt."

The moment they set foot on it, "it was love at first sight," adds Levesque.

The couple did not want to disclose how much they paid for the private island, but it was "fair" and they "saw the value right away."

"It was about seizing the opportunity," say the couple.

Imagine owning your own island in Panama! (Virginie Levesque)

It took years to get from dream to destination

However, the COVID-19 pandemic nearly upended their plans.

"Just as I crossed back to Costa Rica, COVID hit hard," says Levesque. "Borders closed within hours, and we were suddenly separated for almost a yearhe quarantined in Canada with friends, and I was in Costa Rica."

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It wasnt until November 2020 that Levesque could travel to Canada, and by early 2021, they were finally living together.

They purchased the private island in July 2021 and started planning their move. That included importing treated wood and the tools they'd need from Canada, which was a massive job.

"Preparing the container took us three months of packing, and they told us it was the fullest container they had ever seenwe even had to get a special license to import the wood, which wasnt simple, but we made it happen," says Levesque. "Then we said goodbye to our families and started this new chapter."

However, when they arrived in Panama in October 2023, there was a massive national strike.

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"Our container with all our belongings was delayed 45 days, and because we couldnt live on the island without our supplies, we had to rent a house on the mainland for a whole year," says Levesque.

In January 2025, the couple finally started to build.

The first step to building an island home is to get the raised stilts in place. (Virginie Levesque)

"Eric is an excellent electrician and worked for big companies around the world. He also has a strong background in construction, which was invaluable when it came to designing and raising the house on stilts with nothing more than determination, sweat, and creativity," says Levesque.

The couple permanently moved onto the island with little more than camping gear in April 2025, living a rustic existence for months while building their home.

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"Camping was fun at first, but after a couple of weeks, it becomes less charming," admits Levesque. They were also doing most of the work themselves: concrete, stilts, wallsit was all lifted and built by hand.

"Most of the time, it was just the two of us plus one, sometimes two, helpers."

That's not counting the work it took to get the components to the island.

"All materials and supplies had to come by boat," says Levesque. "Weather, tides, and transport delays constantly challenged us, but persistence got us through."

The brave couple had to camp for five months while building their island home. (Virginie Levesque)

This island house was built by hand by the owners, with occasional helpers. (Virginie Levesque)

Finally finishedhome, sweet home

By the end of July 2025, Levesque and Theriault were finally able to move into the unfinished structure.

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A sweet two-person dwelling, their handmade island home includes a cozy open-concept living room and kitchen on the first floor, with a bathroom and a mechanical/laundry room tucked in the back. Above it all, a mezzanine opens into a huge bedroom overlooking the water.

The open floor plan makes this island home feel airy and spacious. (Virginie Levesque)

One of the rooms in progress during its DIY construction

"We designed the structure so that the mezzanine could easily be extended into a full second floor, making space for an additional bedroom and even a small office," says Levesque.

Though they are still finessing the interior, all the main pieces are now in place.

The house is fully off-grid and runs on solar power. It is equipped with a rainwater catchment system, a septic system, and a generator.

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"We also have a full-size refrigerator, washing machine, gas dryer, stove, and water heatereverything you need for comfortable living," says Levesque.

The couple also built the landing docks. (Virginie Levesque)

Solar panels supply energy to the home. (Virginie Levesque)

An installed Starlink internet hookup helps keep the island connected to the rest of the world.

However, for actual trips off the island, they have a Princecraft luxury Tritoon pontoon boat. The couple purchased the vessel in Canada and meticulously disassembled it for shipment in the container to Panama. They reassembled it on the island.

"Looking back, its been about four years from purchase to finally living in the home we built with our own hands," says Levesque.

The pontoon boat was purchased in Canada, disassembled for transport, and reassembled in Panama by the couple. (Virginie Levesque)

Sunsets and palm trees (Virginie Levesque)

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The view of Chirriqui Grande from the bedroom balcony (Virginie Levesque)

Ready to step into a different future

Now that their home is finally complete, the couple need to part with it due to health issues and other new priorities.

So, they've listed their fantasy island for sale.

"When we first started, we imagined our kids would visit often, but with their busy lives, jobs, and children of their own, we realized its not so easy for them to come here," says Levesque.

"That made us shift perspectiveinstead of asking them to come to us, we want the freedom to go to them and to help when they need us, to travel more, and to spend time together wherever they are."

But the couple are being very intentional about whom they'll sell to. It's not just available to the highest bidderthey won't even divulge the asking price unless a buyer is serious.

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Anyone interested in owning the island must first supply information about what kind of project they plan to implement on the island, as well as include an idea for an environmental study they'll institute.

They have shared on their listing site initial costs for the concession of the island, which can run up to $12,000. However, the couple claim the island can be developed further for a private or rental home, or even bungalowsas long as Panama is provided with an environmental impact study.

"We envisioned a collection of floating bungalows where guests could watch dolphins at sunset and snorkel right off their deck," says Levesque.

She adds that what excites them most is knowing that whoever buys it next will write their own chapterwhether thats enjoying it as a private retreat, expanding the house into a family escape, or creating a boutique eco-resort.

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"For us, the island represents more than land. Its about possibility, freedom, and living a life most people only daydream about."

While passing the island to new owners will allow Levesque and Theriault to focus on their next chapter, they said they'll take with them many lessons from this experience, including that happiness doesnt come from having moreit comes from needing less.

"We learned that we can live simply, work with our own hands, and still feel richer than ever," says Levesque.

They are proud to have accomplished their dream of building an island home themselves.

"We know very few people could have done what we did, and thats our personal reward. We now feel we can take on anything, anywhere," says Levesque. "Building a home on an island with little more than determination showed us resilience, patience, and the joy of creating something from nothing."
Okay, first we need to address the elephant in the room: Cracker Barrel changed its logo recently, but it was so bad that the chain almost immediately reversed the decision. Everything else has remained the same. You can still get pancakes at 7 p.m., and isn't that really all that matters? If you've never been to a Cracker Barrel, these roadside restaurants are known for the southern-inspired menus that cover breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as the sprawling gift shops, which you'll probably spend as much time browsing in as you do eating.

For many families across America, Cracker Barrel is already the road trip stop. You've got the all-day breakfast, the passive-aggressive matches of that peg game that WILL follow the group into the car, and a whole porch full of rocking chairs to try. The only thing that can make a Cracker Barrel stop better is a great location. This Cracker Barrel's Route 66 location has the perfect road trip energy, situated off of one of the country's most scenic highways.

At this Cracker Barrel in Springfield, Missouri, much of the gift shop's aesthetic is dedicated to Route 66 and the road trip history of the area. In addition to the typical goods you'll find in a Cracker Barrel (grandma-approved knick-knacks, kitschy home decor, and t-shirts), there are also plenty of Route 66-inspired souvenirs, making it not just a dinner stop but a themed experience for your journey. You may need to hit the road after your meal, though, as there are some rules you might not be aware of if you plan to park your RV overnight at a Cracker Barrel restaurant.

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Read more: 5 Of The Best Breweries Across Vermont

Take a ride on iconic Route 66

A biker riding with a view of the mountains on Route 66 - Rosa Pascual Reixach/Shutterstock

Route 66, also called the "Mother Road," was one of the first long stretches of paved highway in the United States, allowing easy travel to the West Coast in the early 20th century. The road also happens to pass through some of the most scenic locations in the country, stretching from Chicago to the New Mexico desert and the Pacific Coast, and making Missouri a great early point to get out and stretch your legs.

So many iconic pieces of media have been shot on this route  the imagery of America's first long highway is a staple of westerns and tragic adventures. "Thelma and Louise" features scenes on Route 66, as do "Easy Rider," "Little Miss Sunshine," "National Lampoon's Vacation," and "Bagdad Cafe." Even the animated movie "Cars" refers to it. While you don't want your road trip to follow the story lines of any of these movies, it is a magnificent stretch of the country to drive, and you may just pass a patch of road that you recognize.

Once you clear Kansas, you're promised stunning views of the wild west just by following Route 66. Driving is the activity, but there are plenty of tourist attractions to stop at and explore at your leisure. The ruins of Route 66's revelrous heyday are found in abandoned California ghost towns and historic sites. For example, if you do get this far and follow the highway to its end, California's "high desert gateway" is a city full of nostalgia, museums, and a unique restaurant row. There's also a Cracker Barrel here, and it's the chain's first California location.

Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter for access to the world's best-kept travel secrets.

Read the original article on Islands.
MUNICH (Reuters) -Blocked from the US market, Chinese self-driving technology firms are accelerating their push into Europe, setting up headquarters, striking data deals, and road-testing - prompting alarm from local rivals over competition concerns.

In China, the world's largest car market, more than half of cars sold - including many entry-level models - now offer autonomous driving technology, sometimes as standard.

Beijing is pushing its companies to dominate autonomous-vehicle development globally while crafting national regulations to provide a clear roadmap at home.

That expansion is already underway. Reuters spoke to a dozen company executives who described how Chinese firms are using Europe as a beachhead for global expansion, mirroring the push with electric vehicles.

"We're focusing on Europe for our global future," said Dong Li, chief technology officer of QCraft, which announced plans for a new German headquarters at last month's Munich auto show, citing a more open environment than in the United States.

"There are barriers in the U.S. market," he said, referring to U.S. national security concerns over the data that autonomous driving systems collect.

Europe offers a more open regulatory environment, the companies said, although driver-assistance systems there are currently limited to a few luxury models and developers complain about patchwork regulation.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on Friday for a continent-wide push to develop self-driving cars, acknowledging they were already a reality in the United States and China.

"The same should be true here in Europe," she said.

CHINESE FIRMS TARGET EUROPE FOR GROWTH

QCraft, a Beijing-based startup that supplies driver-assistance systems, is working with Chinese and European automakers and expects to sell its technology in Europe within two years.

Buses in 26 Chinese cities operate QCraft's Level-4 autonomous technology, meaning they can drive for extended periods without human intervention.

Deeproute.ai, another Chinese firm focused on supplying Level-4 technology to automakers, plans to build a European data center once it secures deals now under discussion with European and Chinese automakers.

Leading Chinese autonomous-tech developer Momenta, which supplies systems to automakers including Toyota (TM, 7203.T) and General Motors (GM), has partnered with Uber to start testing Level-4 technology in Germany next year.

Momenta announced in September it will supply driver-assistance technology for Mercedes-Benz (MBG.DE, MBGAF) in China, starting with the electric CLA sedan. Mercedes has started testing the same technology in Europe, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD)  A staple in movies, music videos and magazines for years, low rider cars and their hyped-up hydraulics are a mainstay in popular culture. The popular low rider show at last months Fiesta Mexicana in Grand Rapids proves the decades-old form of expression has made its way to West Michigan.

Like so many modern American hobbies and traditions, low riding was born as soldiers returned home from World War II. Mexican-American veterans in Southern California equipped with new skills got to work filling their peacetime.

An opportunity to show who we are: Wyoming restaurant serves up Honduran, Mexican dishes

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Its a tradition that has actually been around a long time, Chico Carcini of Carcini Custom Interiors and the Mexican Heritage Association of West Michigan told News 8. It goes back to post-World War II when the car culture was mostly hot rods. A lot of the military guys gained skills in mechanics. For the Mexican community, they wanted something to showcase their cars, so they would lower their cars.

The newfound form bred instant and exhaustive expression.

the car is pretty much your personality, Carcini said.

Sleekly styled, domestic cars were the go-to canvases from the start.

They go back to the early 1960s Chevy Impalas to the mid-1980s G-Bodies, your Cutlass, Monte Carlos and Regals, Carcini said. You pick your favorite car to start. You paint it, customize it to your liking with your own colors. You pick your rim combination and your interior colors and your exterior paint scheme.

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The possibilities with all those customizable parts are endless, and often assembled at Executive Motorsports in Wyoming, off of Clyde Park Avenue.

Low rider car at Executive Motorsports in Wyoming. (Sept. 30, 2025)

Low rider car at Executive Motorsports in Wyoming. (Sept. 30, 2025)

Low rider car at Executive Motorsports in Wyoming. (Sept. 30, 2025)

Low rider car at Executive Motorsports in Wyoming. (Sept. 30, 2025)

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Low rider car at Executive Motorsports in Wyoming. (Sept. 30, 2025)

Thats what is beautiful about low riding. I dare say, it is the most creative sub-culture in the automotive industry. Period. In history, Steven Russo, owner of Executive Motorsports said. Right down to the paint jobs. You have guys gold-leafing and striping, everyone is doing tri-coats. You can have 200, sometimes 300 hours into just the paint job. Its insane. Thats why I say it is art. 110%.

Like many artistic movements before it, the new art form was met with resistance and eventually discriminatory laws in its origin state of California.

ArtPrize installation celebrates Puerto Rican culture

It got to the point where they put laws on that you couldnt have a lowered car, Carcini explained.

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In a tale as old as time, those restrictions bred even more innovation and the art forms most iconic brush stroke.

Thats where the hydraulics came in, Carcini said. To bypass those laws, we put a hydraulic system on our cars to raise it up.

Most of us would agree the hydraulics are the defining component to it being a low rider, Russo added.

With the emphasis on height versatility, those stylish American models were an even better fit.

The Impalas are special because of the structure, Carcini said. The frame is stronger. To build a low rider it takes a lot of reinforcement, a lot of fabrication for the hydraulics, so thats the favorite car because of its strong frame and structure.

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As low riding went more mainstream, it started to inspire Hispanic communities all over the country  even if they werent old enough to get behind the wheel.

Festival celebrates Latino culture amid some fears

I was 8 or 9 years old and my older brother started coming home with Lowrider magazines, Carcini said. I saw all these cool low rider cars and was just, wow. Then, I saw a bike in there. A low rider bike. I thought, Oh wow, I could do one of those. I got one in the backyard.

Now, Chico organizes low rider shows around Grand Rapids, in addition to his custom interior work. The community building at those shows, and the shops and businesses that support the hobby, is second to none.

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Ive never been part of something automotive related that has that level of camaraderie, Russo said. I have worked and done everything, and I love it all from lifted trucks to drag cars  you name it. But, low riding is by far my favorite for sure.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Baa Atoll

Experience Hanifaru Bay where you can see manta rays up closeand even whale sharks, if youre lucky.

Adopt a coral reef and be a part of keeping this unique ecosystem alive.

Stay in an overwater bungalow at Finolhu and learn about the wildlife from the resident marine biologist.

Dine underwater at Sea, where you can view sea animals while dining on a gourmet meal.

Explore beyond your resort and visit the local island of Dharavandhoo.

The Maldives is a popular, must-visit destination, and its easy to see whywith pristine beaches, overwater bungalows, and crystal-clear waters, it's the ultimate island paradise. But did you know that the Maldives is just as incredible underwater as it is on land?

In June 2011, Baa Atoll in the Maldives became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve along with the likes of Komodo Island in Indonesia and the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. The atoll is home to one of the largest groups of coral reefs in the Indian Ocean (it's the seventh largest in the world) and supports over 1,200 species of fish and 250 species of coral.

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"Baa Atoll is an exceptional location for marine biology, largely due to the impact of the monsoon system on the marine food chain," says Ivanna Tobar, the resident marine biologist at Finolhu, a luxury resort in the area. Its a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of ocean systems and the unique role the Maldives plays in supporting marine biodiversity.

Here's what you need to know before planning a trip to Baa Atoll in the Maldives.

Know Before You Go

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure Beach seating at Finolhu. Beach seating at Finolhu.

Baa Atoll is located in the western region of the Maldives and is made up of 75 islands, 13 of which are inhabited. Six of those inhabited islands have resorts on them, and they collectively get around 350,000 visitors per year. It's a good idea to secure bookings early, especially during peak seasons, which span the months between November to late April.

Baa Atoll takes environmental protection very seriously, so it is important to book all activities that involve wildlife with certified operators who follow local guidelines, like never touching wildlife and using reef-safe sunscreens. These guides will help you view wildlife safely and responsibly.



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While getting to the Maldives might be a long journey from most places in the U.S., entering is pretty simple since you can get a tourist visa upon arrival. The islands also have their own language, Dhivehi, though most people also speak English. The local currency is the Maldivian Rufiyaa, but U.S. dollars and credit cards are widely accepted, especially at resorts and tourist areas. It's important to note that Islam is the state religion of the Maldives, so if you explore outside of resort areas, you are encouraged to dress modestly and may notice there's a prohibition of alcohol.



Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Baa Atoll depends on the type of experience you're hoping to have.

There are two distinct seasons in the Maldives: the dry season and the rainy season. The dry season typically extends from November through April, and the rainy season from May to October. While the dry season is, well, dry, with little to no rain and all-around sunny weather, its also peak tourist season, which brings high prices and low availability, especially around the holidays.

Rainy season may sound dreary, but the temperatures are still high, and the showers tend to come in short bursts, rather than lasting all day.

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Not only does this season mean lower prices, but it also brings the wildlife. The rainy season brings an influx of plankton, which draws the Manta Rays to feed in Hanifaru Bay. If you want the full experience of swimming with the mantas, youll want to visit between June and September. The mantas are still spotted in May and October, but in fewer numbers.

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure A shady beach area in Baa Atoll. A shady beach area in Baa Atoll.

How to Get There

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure Sea planes docked at Velana International Airport on Male. Sea planes docked at Velana International Airport on Male.

The main air hub in the Maldives is Velana International Airport (MLE), located on the capital island of Male. It's served by major airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines. There are currently no direct routes from North America to the Maldives, so you will need to take a connecting flight from a city like London, Dubai, or Singapore.

Once you arrive in Male, there are two main ways to reach Baa Atoll. One option is to hop on a seaplanemany guests staying at luxury resorts will arrive this way. For example, Finolhu will not only organize guests seaplane transfer they will also arrange for someone to escort you from the airport to the hotel's private airport lounge and then onto the seaplane.

The other way is to take a 20-minute flight from Male to Dharavandhoo Airport (DRV), located on the island of Dharavandhoo, which is part of the Baa Atoll. From there, you can take a local speedboat to the island or hotel of your choice.

Best Things to Do

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure Close up views of Manta Rays in Hanifaru Bay. Close up views of Manta Rays in Hanifaru Bay.

Visit Hanifaru Bay.

My favorite spot in Baa Atoll would be Hanifaru Bay, where, during the [time between] May and October, you can often see aggregations of manta rays and, if youre lucky, whale sharks," says Tobar.

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This bay is a feeding station for the worlds largest manta ray pod (also known as a "squadron" or a "fever"). During a visit here, travelers can swim with these large, graceful creatures and also see schools of fish and other sea life. However, you can only access Hanifaru Bay through a guided tour, since only five boats are allowed per day to manage crowds and protect marine life.



Go diving.

Baa Atoll has over 40 scenic dive sites that encompass caves, manta "cleaning" stations (where manta rays and other marine animals gather to be cleaned by shrimp and fish), and thilas, submerged coral towers. Horubadhoo Thila is a local favorite with a depth that ranges between 39 to 52 feet. But if you've never dived before, don't worrythere are plenty of beginner-friendly spots all around Baa Atoll. Plus, resorts like Finolhu have dive centers staffed with instructors who are eager to make diving accessible for everyone.

Embark on a wildlife cruise.

One of the things that makes Baa Atoll so special is its variety of wildlife. Taking a cruise tour staffed by local experts is one of the best ways to see all the area has to offer, from spinner dolphins to sea turtles to whale sharks. Cruises can take you to remote locations around the islands where you normally wouldn't be able to go. I recommend reaching out to your hotel concierge to learn about the best options.

Sponsor a coral reef.

Sadly, many coral reefs around the world are dying due to rising ocean temperatures. However, some advocates are working tirelessly to replace the lost coral, which helps restore the natural habitat of the fish that rely on coral. Some resorts in the atoll, such as Finolhu, take an active role in the coral's preservation, and its efforts are led by its resident marine biologist, Ivana Tobar. She encourages guests to "adopt" a coral reef during a stay at the property. Part of the adoption process includes a guided snorkel experience with Tobar, so you can see how coral is transplanted.

Explore the islands.

The Maldives are famous for its iconic island resortsI mean, who doesn't love overwater bungalows? But if you want a taste of what life is really like in the area, I recommend visiting Dharavandhoo, which is home to about 800 people. While you're here, you can explore the small village, try local food, and enjoy the beach.



Best Hotels & Resorts

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure Interior of an overwater bungalow at Finolhu. Interior of an overwater bungalow at Finolhu.

Finolhu

There are many resorts to choose from in Baa Atoll, but one of my favorites is Finolhu, which opened in 2016 with 125 villas. In addition to gorgeous overwater bungalows and incredible on-site restaurants, the resort also has a resident marine biologist, Tobar. If guests wish to participate in a marine biologist-led activity, they can do things like track and identify animals, help rebuild the coral reef, and clean up debris on nearby islands. Finolhu also exclusively sources fish from local fishermen and hires local artists and musicians.



Soneva Fushi

This 71-room resort is located on Kunfunadhoo Island and has a No News, No Shoes motto. Travel + Leisure senior editorial director Nina Ruggiero stayed here recently and says, Soneva Fushi is the definition of barefoot luxurywe actually checked in our shoes at the dock. Soneva is famous for its waterslide villas. Don't miss zip-lining to the treetop restaurant.

Anantara Kihavah

Fresh off a massive renovation, this 80-villa resort has over-the-top amenities like an underwater restaurant as well as an observatory with the largest telescope in the Maldives. Nina Ruggiero got a sneak peek at the new rooms. I was the first journalist to stay in one of Anantara Kihavah's revamped beach villas in May 2025, and I still dream about the massive outdoor bathroomwith a gorgeous soaking tuband the private beachfront pool," she says. "It's easy to see why this resort attracts so many celebrities."



Best Restaurants

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure A close up of a dish served at Kanusan at Finolhu. A close up of a dish served at Kanusan at Finolhu.

Kanusan

This upscale Japanese restaurant is located right over the water at Finolhu Resort, and guests can delight in wildlife spotting (I saw nurse sharks) while enjoying the freshest sushi youll find on the Indian Ocean.

Sea Underwater Restaurant

While many restaurants in the Maldives are on the water, Sea, located at the Anantara Kihavah resort, is actually under the water. While here, you can dine with a 360 view of coral reefs and sea life, and sip on libations from one of the only underwater wine cellars in the world.

Krill

For a taste of local fare, head to Krill on Dharavandhoo. This cozy spot has a lovely terrace and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, serving Asian fusion alongside traditional Maldivian dishes.



Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
My sweet, kind and socially different son fell in love.

Heres why I try to guide my teens and not judge them when they make poor decisions. (Credit: Kiva Schuler)

In his junior year of high school, he attended a semester program on a farm in Vermont. Hed been struggling in high school with several months of intense panic attacks and crippling anxiety.

He didnt have any friends. As a Montessori kid through 8th grade, it was like hed landed on a different planet and didnt understand the language. So, this program was a lifeline. Forty-five kids living together, getting up early each morning to chop wood and milk cows, classes sitting on top of a mountain, and teachers who went by their first names. And Celia.

My son fell in love

Celia was a New York City kid. She read Sylvia Plath and loved Rodin. Myles = smitten.

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They became inseparable, and after the idyllic time in Vermont ended, they tried to keep things going. I wasnt enamored of the idea of my kid driving to New York from New Hampshire so much, but he was enamored, so I breathed trust into the universe.

We know where this is headed, right?

Things started to get shaky. With college applications due and the stress of heavy workloads, Myles and Celia saw less and less of each other. Things grew tense. The writing was on the wall.

One day, I came downstairs after my kids had left for school (yes, parents of littles  the day will come when you get to go to bed earlier and sleep in later than your kids!!). The kitchen was a bit messy, so I started to clean. Picking up what I thought was a glass of water, I took a gulp.

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Vodka. Its Wednesday. What the actual?!?!

I texted both of my kids:

(Photo credit: Kiva Schuler)

(Yes. We curse in my family. And yes, the irony that a book about Awakening The Empowered Parent Within is in this pic is NOT lost on me.)

I was furious. While my kids and I have established boundaries around alcohol use (parent home, parents aware, nobody leaves), THIS was NOT in the agreement.

And someone was lying. Also, NOT in our family agreements.

Ill spare you the ridiculous texts that followed(maybe it was the house cleaners) and my daughter defending her brother (Mom, it definitely wasnt him). (It was him.) (She didnt know.) (Kinda sweet, right??!)

Yelling is not part of our family culture

Anyway, when my son walked into the house after school, Id tire myself into a fury. But I have tools. Thank G-d I have tools. I reminded myself that curiosity is our greatest tool as parents. Ooooh, how I wanted to yell, butnot yelling is ALSO in our family culture. I took a deep breath and looked at him.

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His face.

His body language.

The slight quiver in his lower lip.

Oh, honey, I said. Did you and Celia break up last night?

He crumbled. I held my 6-foot-tall, sweet, kind, socially different child as he sobbed into my shoulder. My heart broke with his.

Did you drink vodka not to feelthis?

MmmMmm hmm.

Then I talked to my son, really talked

And then we talked. Like really talked. I promised him that his heart was strong enough to handle these feelings. That he was strong enough to handle these feelings. Reaching for substances to numb ourselves from them is the worst way to process them and can lead to addiction.

And that if he could give himself the gift of letting this pain in, he and his heart would grow stronger. That his work was to feel this. And that I believed in his ability to handle it. Because if he didnt, hed create defenses not to feel this again. That, my love, is not a great recipe for living a full and expressed life.

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Later that evening, I thought back to being a teen, being screamed at, and having affection and attention withheld. Being made to feel like a complete and utter failure.

What would have happened if that generational gift got loaded up and unleashed on my son when he was the most vulnerable and in so much pain? The rift would have been seismic. His mental health probably would have taken a severe turn for the worse. Self-harm would not have been out of the question, given his history.

Parents need to guide their kids, not judge them

This is why its not about not yelling at our kids. Its about seeing them in all their experiences through a lens of curiosity. Its about not judging them but guiding them and arming them with the life lessons that will help them make a better choice next time.

I know that there are a lot of people who believe that this is how we raise entitled kids. People believe that yelling at teenagers is required for them to hear. That yelling at them and making them feel awful is necessary for their growth and development.

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But what about their humanity? Their self-worth? The safety required to maintain intimacy and connection?

With no equivocations, these matter more.

More Great Reading:

Dr. Lisa Damour: How to Help Your Teen Say No to Risky Behavior

The post How I Reacted to My Sons (Momentarily Bad) Behavior by Guiding, Not Judging appeared first on Grown and Flown.
Quality of life can mean access to culture and restaurants, good public transportation, and affordable home prices, but none of that means much without feeling safe in your own neighborhood.

Personal finance company WalletHub's latest report ranks the safest states in the country, taking into account not just crime rates, but financial, road, and workplace safety, as well as emergency preparedness, something more crucial these days as extreme weather events become more commonplace, affecting people's personal and financial safety.

Selecting the safest states

To identify the safest states, WalletHub analyzed all 50 states using 52 key indicators of safety, both personal and financial, and grouped them into five categories: personal and residential safety, financial safety, road safety, workplace safety, and emergency preparedness.

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Each category contains numerous metrics graded on a 100-point scale, which are then combined to give a total score, with 100 being the highest.

Personal and residential safety weighed not only violent crimes and mass shootings per capita but also metrics such as the number of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMTs per capita. After all, when help is needed, how quickly that help arrives is important.

This category was weighted most heavily, with 20 different key factors accounting for 40% of the total score.

Financial safety looked at metrics such as the state's unemployment, fraud, and poverty rates, as well as adults who had savings or a rainy day fund.

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Road safety took into account traffic, pedestrian, and bicyclist fatalities, the share of uninsured drivers, and road quality.

Workplace safety analyzed the number of workplace deaths, the median days lost to injuries and illness, and the presence of occupational safety laws.

Emergency preparedness looked at only two factors: the number of climate disasters costing $1 billion or more and the loss amount from climate disasters costing $1 billion or more. Both account for natural disasters from 1980 to 2024.

It's no coincidence that the top four states are all in the Northeast: Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. These states tend to be wealthier, have stricter gun control and higher rates of education, and be less prone to extreme weather events.

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"These states pair low crime with strong financial safety," explains WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo to Realtor.com.

"Several Northeast states have some of the strictest gun control laws in the country. As a result, wealth and economic stability reduces risks, from crime to financial stress, making these states safer overall and more attractive places to live."

How safety affects home prices

Safety does not come cheap. Minnesota is the only one of the top 10 safest states with a median home list price below the national average of $425,000.

"Safety is a major factor in home values because it affects both how secure residents feel and their financial stability," says Lupo.

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"Our data makes it clear that states and communities with strong personal, residential, and financial safety profiles tend to support higher home values. In short, safety is a key driver of livability, and livable areas consistently command stronger housing demand."

"Areas perceived as safe tend to attract higher demand, which in turn drives up home prices," adds Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com.

"Factors such as ample street lighting, walkability, neighborhood upkeep, and a strong sense of community all contribute to this perception of safety. Each of these elements can independently enhance property values, as households increasingly seek out walkable, community-oriented neighborhoods that provide both comfort and security."

The top states also tend to be wealthier, with the funds to invest in infrastructure maintenance, emergency services, and health systems, says Jones.

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"The safe areas then attract and retain higher-income residents, which reinforces the cycle. Wealth and safety are mutually reinforcing," she says.

1. Vermont

Total score: 67.22

Median home price: $509,000

Famous for Ben & Jerry's ice cream, maple syrup, and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Green Mountain State undoubtedly has a low crime rate. But it is the state's high rankings in two other categories that vaulted it to the No. 1 spot.

Vermont ranked tops in both financial and road safety. It came in 12th for personal and residential safety, 12th for workplace safety, and 11th for emergency preparedness.

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Additionally, nearly 75% of parents believe they live in a safe neighborhood, which is the fourth highest in the country, according to the report. It also came out tops in financial safety, with an unemployment rate of only 2.3%, one of the lowest in the country.

It boasts the lowest share of underwater mortgages in the country and ranks No. 2 for fewest bankruptcies. It also has the second-best road quality in the U.S. and very few motor fatalities.

Total score: 66.56

Median home list price: $759,999

This New England state isn't just one of the most expensive in the country, but also one of the safest, snagging the second spot on the list.

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Its personal safety ranks higher than Vermont'seven with the presence of much denser cities like Bostonbut the financial safety category is where the state really shines.

Workers have the third-best job security rates in the country, and it has the fourth-best annual growth rate for new jobs. With strict gun control laws, the state saw the eighth-fewest mass shootings between June 2023 and June 2025.

Many people in the state work at its many top-tier health care facilities, giving the state the 24th most EMTs per capita.

Total score: 65.75

Median home list price: $595,000

The Granite State takes the third spot mostly due to its high rankings in two categories: personal and residential safety (No. 2) and financial safety (No. 2). The state has a very low crime rate, with the fewest murders per capita; the second-fewest aggravated assaults; and the second-fewest number of thefts.

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Nearly 79% of residents feel they live in a safe neighborhood, the highest percentage in the country. It also has the highest number of neighborhood watch groups per capita.

Most residents are sound financially, with a median credit score of 749, the second-highest in the country.

Total score: 64.69

Median home list price: $475,000

Maine had the second-highest rank in the emergency preparedness category, with extremely low incidents of climate disasters. It also has high marks for personal and residential safety, ranking No. 5.

Total score: 62.88

Median home list price: $595,000

Utah also ranked very high in emergency preparedness, with very low incidents of expensive natural disasters. It also came out high (No. 5) in workplace safety, shining in areas like having few occupational injuries and illnesses.

Total score: 62.25

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Median home list price: $534,000

Another New England state, Connecticut ranked No. 1 in personal and residential safety, with very low crime rates.

"Beyond neighborhood and school safety, top Connecticut towns also place a strong emphasis on road safety and walkability," Libby McKinney Tritschler of Team AFA/William Raveis, who works in Southport, tells Realtor.com.

She notes town initiatives that added speed bumps to busy roads, expanded bicycle lanes, and made ongoing sidewalk improvements for more and safer walkability.

"These thoughtful upgrades not only protect residents but reflect the community's commitment to maintaining a family-friendly, active, and secure environment," she says.

Total score: 61.52

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Median home list price: $750,000

Known for its awe-inspiring beauty, Hawaii also ranks high in safety, reaching its highest rank (No. 11) in financial safety, which analyzed factors such as the unemployment and foreclosure rate, poverty rates, and residents' median credit score.

Total score: 61.25

Median home list price: $395,000

The state ranks extremely high in road safety (No. 2), which took into account factors like "traffic indiscipline" (such as phone usage while driving and speeding), DUIs per capita, and traffic fatalities.

The Land of 10,000 Lakes also ranked high in financial (No. 5) and workplace (No. 6) safety.

Total score: 60.17

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Median home list price: $583,950

This small state's highest ranking categories were in personal and residential safety and emergency preparedness, both ranked No. 8. The state has low crime rates, and residents have very low chances of being negatively affected by a large natural disaster.

Total score: 59.04

Median home list price: $492,500

This wide-open state, known for its natural beauty and ranch lifestyle, ranks highest (No. 14) in personal and residential safety, meaning it has low crime, fraud, and drug overdose rates, while simultaneously having robust numbers of law enforcement, firefighters, and EMTs.
In the state of Washington, Seattle may carry the title of America's most "outdoor-friendly" city, but even its mountain views and scenic Puget Sound shoreline can't rival the vastness of Okanogan County. Covering just under 5,300 square miles along Washington's northern border with Canada, it's the state's largest county by land area, yet is one of its least populated. Fewer than 45,000 residents are scattered across its high-desert plateaus, pine-draped valleys, and canyons.

Long before its modern-day borders were established, this land was home to the Okanogan and other Colville tribes, who relied on the Columbia River's salmon runs and the mountain valleys' hunting grounds for their way of life. European settlers arrived in the 1800s, first lured by fur trading and then by gold. Visitors can explore the area's history at the Okanogan County Historical Museum, which features a replica of an Old West town from the early 20th century. The county's name itself preserves its Indigenous roots, drawn from a word often translated as "rendezvous" or "meeting place."

The county's remoteness shows in the trip it takes to get there. From Seattle, the drive takes between 4 and 5 hours, depending on your route. Visitors can take the road through Stevens Pass or go via Wenatchee, following U.S. Route 97. Pangborn Memorial Airport in Wenatchee (about 2 hours away) provides regional flights, while Spokane International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport serve as larger gateways.

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Read more: These Are The Most Dangerous Cities In America For 2025 (And Why You Might Want To Avoid Them), According To Research

Okanogan's outdoor adventure and off-grid living

A tranquil stretch of the Methow River near Winthrop, Washington - Gjohnstonphoto/Getty Images

The county's size makes it a natural playground for outdoor travelers. The Methow Valley is one of its best-known corners, framed by rivers and wide meadows. In summer, you can hike along valley trails or saddle up for horseback rides that take you into the backcountry. Winter turns the same area into one of the largest cross-country ski trail networks in the U.S., featuring more than 120 miles of trails.

Beyond the valley, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest covers millions of acres, with elevations climbing from dry steppe hills to jagged peaks. Campsites here are $22 per night, and trails lead to alpine lakes where you can spend an afternoon fishing or picnicking. The Okanogan River itself offers a different way to explore: Calm stretches are well-suited for kayaking or tubing, while tributaries draw anglers for trout and salmon. Driving through Okanogan County can be just as memorable as exploring it on foot. State Route 20, the North Cascades Scenic Highway, is a highlight, threading through some of the Pacific Northwest's most striking mountains, lakes, and island views.

And if you're looking for an off-grid lifestyle, you can't do much better than the isolated natural beauty of Okanogan. In a 2024 nationwide survey of 3,000 participants, Business Electric ranked it 70th among the top 150 most desirable counties for off-grid living.

Art, and history, and tradition in Okanogan County

A street in downtown Winthrop, Washington - Melissa Kopka/Getty Images

Across Okanogan County's vast expanse, several small towns hold on to their distinct individuality. Winthrop is perhaps the most recognizable, having transformed in the 1970s when locals restored its downtown into an Old West-style setting to attract visitors. The town's boardwalks and saloon-style facades hide far more modern comforts. The River's Edge Resort offers cozy cabins right on the Methow River, with cabins starting around $200 per night. It's an ideal base for exploring trails or simply strolling around town.

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Head down the valley and the mood shifts. Twisp has grown into a vibrant mountain town offering riverfront trails and charming markets that capture the valley's agricultural character. The local farmers market offers fresh produce, artisan crafts, music, and fun activities. You can browse it on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until noon. Twispworks, a repurposed ranger station with the U.S. Forest Service, anchors the creative community with studios, galleries, and seasonal events, while the Methow Valley Theater adds cultural variety to the area.

Then there's Omak, the county's largest town. It is known for the Omak Stampede, one of the Pacific Northwest's signature rodeos held every August. Events include bull riding, barrel racing, and the famous Suicide Race, where riders plunge horses down a steep hill into the Okanogan River. The town also serves as a hub for travelers. The Omak Inn, with nightly rates around $140, offers access to both horse-riding facilities and the surrounding countryside.

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Read the original article on Islands.
Two men were killed and two others were injured in a three-vehicle crash north of Georgetown on Oct. 5, Delaware State Police said.

One of the deceased was identified as a 31-year-old Georgetown man, while the other as "an unidentified man." The two were in a Toyota Corolla driven by the unidentified man.

The injured were a 70-year-old man and his 59-year-old passenger. Police said the man and woman are Ocean View residents, who were in a Volkswagen Tiguan. They suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

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A New Jesery woman was not injured during the crash.

More: A Delaware coach, youth leader, now charged with sexually abusing those placed in his trust

What happened

A Hyundai Sonata, driven by a 57-year-old Bloomfield, New Jersey, woman, was stopped at a stop sign on West Robbins Road and Redden Road about 3 p.m. Oct. 5.

At the same time, police said, the Volkswagen was westbound on Redden Road, while the Toyota was eastbound on the same road.

The two were approaching Robbins Road when the Hyundai failed to remain stopped and entered the intersection, striking the Volkswagen, police said.

As a result, police said, the Volkswagen overturned several times, rolling onto the Toyota.

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The men in the Toyota were pronounced dead at the scene.

Police ask that anyone who has information about the crash to contact investigators at (302) 703-3264. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333.

Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: 2 dead, 2 injured in 3-vehicle crash north of Georgetown
Five health insurance carriers will soon return $75.6 million to hundreds of thousands of people in Massachusetts, according to Gov. Maura Healey's office.

Rebates will be issued this year to more than 350,000 people covered by individual and small employer plans, according to state insurance regulators.

When an insurance carrier spends less than 88% of premiums on health care services for individuals and small groups over a three-year period, it must rebate part of the premiums, according to Massachusetts law.

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"The enforcement of this law is part of our larger strategy of protecting Massachusetts health care consumers and encouraging insurers to be more efficient, reduce administrative overhead, and focus on cost-effective ways to deliver care," Division of Insurance Commissioner Michael Caljouw said in a statement.

This requirement, which is stricter than the federal standard, ensures affected policyholders are paid back by check or credit for future premium payments, Healey's office said.

Doctor writing on a document at a desk in the hospital.

Which insurance companies are providing rebates in MA?

Here are the five insurance companies returning money to Massachusetts policyholders this year:

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts HMO Blue, Inc.

Fallon Community Health Plan, Inc.

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Inc.

Mass General Brigham Health Plan, Inc.

UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company

When will money be refunded to policyholders?

Money will be refunded to policyholders beginning in September, either directly as a check or credited on future premium payments, according to Healey's office.

How much money will each policyholder get back?

The exact amounts of the rebates this year depend on the insurance carrier and the premium paid by individual and small group purchasers, Healey's office said.

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The total amount being refunded this year is about $24 million more than last year, the office said.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: MA health insurance rebates 2025: See if your insurer is giving rebates
Modern-day warfare doctrine demands control of the skies, and fighter jets are key to achieving that domination. Honed by decades of trial and error during the Cold War, a period that saw the Soviets field some of the most legendary fighters in aviation history, Russia has a robust aviation industry capable of designing and fielding state-of-the-art fighters at scale. Although the Russian Air Force and naval aviation largely operate Soviet-era machines, some newer members have joined the fleet in recent years, most of which are significant upgrades of already existing designs.

The lion's share of Russia's newest frontline fighters hail from the state-owned Sukhoi Design Bureau, now under the larger United Aircraft Corporation. As expected, many of these aircraft will eventually be replaced by even newer, next-generation platforms. Pending when the latter's designs mature into actual serial models, the Russian Air Force will simply continue with its current inventory.

Read more: 11 Of The Most Iconic Ground Attack Military Planes In History

Sukhoi Su-57 Felon

An Su-47 fighter jet on d - Vladimir Vozdvizhenskiy/Shutterstock

Making its maiden flight in 2010, the Sukhoi Su-57 (code-named "Felon" by NATO) is the youngest class of fighter in the Russian fleet. Nimble, supersonic, and sporting advanced avionics such as the N036 Byelka Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar suite, it is also the country's most advanced. The Su-57 is billed as the answer to America's fifth-generation stealth F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II jets.

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On paper, the Su-57 features similar hallmarks: angled tail fins, a tandem weapons bay, a blended fuselage, and a coat of radar-absorbent material for reduced observability. Unique N036B-1-01 cheek radars grant increased angular coverage. But international experts aren't entirely sold on its capabilities.

While the F-22 and F-35 boast cutting-edge Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 and F135 engines, respectively, the Su-57 still mounts a pair of Saturn AL-41F1 engines from the older Su-35 Flanker, pending the completion of the more capable Izdeliye 30. In addition, its radar cross-section is believed to be larger than that of the F-22 or Chinese Chengdu J-20, partly due to less refined air inlets and exposed exhaust nozzles, raising questions about its stealth performance. Numbers also pose a limitation: only about two dozen serial airframes are in service today. Even with these constraints, the Su-57 represents the newest fighter in the Russian fleet and provides a marked improvement over earlier fourth-generation models.

Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker

A SU-35 "Flanker" taxing off the runway - Sergey Denisenko/Shutterstock

Unveiled in 2007 with the latest "M" and "BM" variants, the Su-35 represents the most modernized derivative of the Su-27 Flanker family. While lacking fifth-generation stealth features, it is classified as a "4++ generation" platform. As with other Flanker variants, the Su-35 is designed to be super maneuverable; it remains among the most agile fighter jets in service. Powered by twin Saturn AL-41F1S turbofans (about 64,000 lbf combined), the Su-35 has excellent acceleration and can reach around Mach 2.25 at altitude. Thrust-vectoring nozzles permit maneuvers like the Pugachev's Cobra, demonstrated in dogfighting scenarios and airshows.

For scanning the skies at long ranges, the Su-35 houses the Irbis-E Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) radar, which has a detection range between 350 km and 400 km. Its under-wing pylons support Russia's full suite of modern air-to-air missiles, including the short-range R-73 (and K-74M successor), the medium-range R-77 series, and ultra-long-range R-37M. Mounted on each wingtip are Khibiny-M electronic warfare pods. When an enemy gets too close for comfort, the Su-35 can engage with a traditional solution: the 30 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-301 autocannon loaded with 150 rounds.

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Over 100 airframes are currently in active service, and more are rolling off the production line. While production of the Su-57 remains limited, the Su-35 continues to form the backbone of Russia's fighter fleet.

Sukhoi Su-30

A Sukhoi Su-30 during a demonstration flight - aarrows/Shutterstock

Although its origin predates the Su-35 by almost two decades (making it one of the earliest Flanker variants), the Su-30 has undergone several modernization programs, resulting in models such as the SM and SM2 in the 2020s. In line with other improved derivatives of the Su-27, the Su-30 bears similar physical traits to the original airframe. But the differences run deeper. It features a distinctive twin-seat cockpit that houses a pilot and a weapons system officer, designed for lengthy missions. Some versions even have canards to compensate for the extra weight and improve pitch control at high angles of attack.

Envisioned as a true multirole fighter, the Su-30 emphasizes mission endurance. Twin AL-31FP engines power it, each generating 27,000 pounds of thrust and propelling it to top speeds of Mach 1.75. Thanks to these engines and a widened fuselage to make way for more fuel, the Su-30 can operate at ranges of 1,864 miles and at altitudes of up to 56,000 ft. A retractable in-flight refueling probe and provision for external tanks further extend this range.

Although the newest SM2 models boast the Irbis-E radar, other models use the less advanced N011 Bars passive electronically scanned array radar. Regardless, this still grants the Su-30 the ability to detect large aerial targets as far as 250 miles (400 km). Russia exports the Su-30 widely, with modifications tailored to different customers.

Su-34 Fullback

Russian Su-34 in the sky - Scaliger/Getty Images

Dubbed the "Fullback" by NATO, the Su-34 is intended to be the mainstay tactical bomber of the Russian Air Force. After decades in development difficulties during the years leading up to and after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the strike-fighter finally welcomed into service in 2014. The Su-34 combines the airframe of the Flanker with the side-by-side cockpit seating of the Su-24 Fencer and Tupolev Tu-22, which it was designed to replace. A duck-bill-shaped nose cone and an extended tail sting housing the auxiliary power unit give the Su-34 a distinctive duck-like profile, earning it the nickname "HellDuck."

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Although capable of engaging in aerial combat with R-77 and R-73 missiles, the Su-34 is primarily assigned to strike missions. Notably, it can carry a diverse suite of weaponry under 12 hardpoints, including Kh-59 air-to-surface missiles, Kh-35 and P-800 Oniks anti-ship missiles, and Kh-31 anti-radiation missiles. Registering 49,604 pounds in empty weight, it is the heaviest Russian fighter, and the added space also allows for a large internal fuel capacity. Powering it are a pair of AL-31FM1 engines that generates roughly 30,000 pounds of thrust each.

In the world of fighter aircraft, where space is a luxury, pilots aboard the Su-34 have room to stand and move, heat food in a galley, and use relief tubes when necessary during long missions.

Mikoyan & Gurevich MiG-35 Fulcrum

A Mikoyan & Gurevich MiG-35 "Fulcrum" in flight - Flight Video and Photo/Shutterstock

A product of the Mikoyan & Gurevich Design Bureau, the MiG-35 was developed to revive international interest in the ageing Cold War-era MiG-29 Fulcrum. Variants like the MiG-29M and the Navy's MiG-29K appeared along the way, but the most modern version to date was unveiled as the MiG-35 at the Moscow Air Show in 2017, about 40 years after the first Fulcrum flew. The MiG-35's similarities with its predecessors end with the airframe design; pretty much everything else is newer technology.

Gone are the N019 Pulse-Doppler radars of the base models. In their place are the Zhuk-ME PESA radars, with the Zhuk-AE AESA radar offered as an optional upgrade  Russia's first AESA radar  and RD-33MK engines. The Zhuk-AE radar can sweep the skies at a 100-mile range and track up to 30 targets simultaneously. The RD-33MK engines generate 19,842 pounds of thrust each, about 7% more than the original RD-33. Together with improved fuel capacity of 4,800 liters, the MiG-35 can reach speeds of Mach 2.25, ranges of 1,242 miles, and altitudes of 52,000 feet.

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Complete with full multirole capability and situational awareness features, including air-to-air sensors, air-to-ground laser targeting pods, Khibiny-M jamming pods, and an improved helmet-mounted sight, the MiG-35 nevertheless failed to fulfill its intended role as an export platform. Hence, only six airframes are in active service, all within Russia.

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Read the original article on SlashGear.
SHERWOOD, Ark.  Three men have been arrested and are facing multiple felony charges after they allegedly kidnapped a man in Sherwood, tied him up at a North Little Rock home, and threatened him at gunpoint over a dating dispute, police said.

Robert Ellerd, 54, Jackson Homan, 23, and Charles Homan, 19, are each charged with aggravated robbery, kidnapping, and terroristic threatening after an incident that began in the early morning hours of Sept. 21.

The victim reported being told to stop dating a certain young woman, Sherwood police said. Investigators said the victim told them he was forced into a vehicle in Sherwood and driven to a residence in North Little Rock, where he was tied to a chair.

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Sherwood police shut down, evacuate Walmart Supercenter Sunday evening

While detained, the victim claims he was threatened at gunpoint and recalled the men spinning the cylinder of a revolver, according to the police report. The men also allegedly destroyed the victims cell phone during the encounter.

Sherwood police stated the victim was eventually released. All three suspects were later taken into custody and are currently being held on a $500,000 bond each, according to jail records.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
Add up the hundreds of millions of solar panels, hundreds of new nuclear reactors, and millions of new electric cars, and it's small wonder that silver prices have surged 60% year to date. And with experts forecasting a supply crunch, it's easy to envision prices climbing still higher.

The turn to clean energy to meet AI's energy needs is a massive boon to silver prices. That's because the average nuclear reactor needs 56,000 ounces of silver, while each solar panel requires about 0.64 ounces. Electric vehicles need about 1.3 ounces of silver, twice as much as the gas-powered cars they're replacing.

In America, President Donald Trump is quadrupling the number of nuclear reactors. Worldwide, the number of solar installations soared by 64% for the first half of 2025, compared to the first six months of last year. And despite the loss of tax credits for American buyers, BloombergNEF expects almost 22 million electric vehicles to be sold in 2025, a new record.

And with governments around the world bent on decarbonization, these energy needs will largely be met by nuclear power and renewables.

AI data centers could consume as much electricity as all of Japan -- a nation of 125 million people -- by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency. This is why OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in 2024 called for an energy breakthrough to meet the surge in demand, while doubling down in June that a "significant fraction" of global electricity should be devoted to AI.

Because just as the picks and shovels merchants made money no matter who found the gold, First Majestic Silver (NYSE: AG), already up 100% in recent months, could keep rising, no matter which tech company wins the AI race.

Chances are that you've heard how the real fortunes from the California gold rush weren't made digging for gold. Instead, they were made by people selling picks and shovels. Today, a similar picks-and-shovels opportunity may be shaping up for the $15.7 trillion artificial intelligence (AI) revolution.

Nuclear reactors, solar panels, and electric vehicles consume millions of ounces of silver, which has supercharged demand and helped mining companies soar in recent months.

With governments committed to decarbonization, much of this new power will come from nuclear energy and renewable sources.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has warned that "an energy breakthrough" is needed to meet the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution's global energy needs.

Story Continues

You can see the AI revolution's impact on silver through the iShares Silver Trust (NYSEMKT: SLV), a fund that buys and stores physical silver. It's returned over 100% since ChatGPT launched in November 2022.

Management touts First Majestic's "best quarter ever"

The silver boom is great news for First Majestic, which is just coming off what CEO Keith Neumeyer calls its "best quarter ever in the company's history," with a 76% jump in silver production year over year, and a 94% jump in revenue.

He also touted the company's record cash flow of $115 million and its total cash of $510 million, calling it "not too bad a place to be." This war chest, against debt of just $235 million, gives First Majestic a debt-to-equity ratio of just 8.08%, which compares favorably to bigger rivals like Pan American Silver (NYSE: PAAS) or Hecla Mining (NYSE: HL), with their respective debt-to-equity ratios of 16.9% and 24.9%.

The Vancouver-based company, valued at roughly $6 billion, is still a mid-cap stock. It has four major silver and gold mines, most notably San Dimas, a mine in Durango, Mexico, which recently saw encouraging exploration results. San Dimas has over 30 million ounces of silver in proven and probable reserves, plus 364,000 ounces of gold in proven and probable reserves, which it costs just $21.06 per ounce to extract. First Majestic can access the 10.5 million ounces of proven and probable silver reserves in its Santa Elena mine even more cheaply, at $14.40 per ounce.

Image source: Getty Images.

But First Majestic isn't content to rest on its laurels. Record spending on exploration is underway, with 255,000 meters expected to be drilled in 2025, compared to 182,909 meters drilled last year.

Clearly, management knows what the ongoing silver boom could mean for the company, and is determined to meet the moment.

And because 55% of First Majestic's revenue comes from silver, compared to 44% for the nearest major miner, it is a compelling opportunity for investors seeking a "pure play" to ride the silver boom.

Can shares keep climbing?

First Majestic shares have soared over 120% year to date, raising questions of whether its rally can continue.

At first glance, shares appear richly valued. First Majestic's price-to-sales ratio of 5.7 is well above the industry average of 2.9. Its forward price-to-earnings ratio stands at 45.3, which is expensive but not prohibitively so.

But investors should keep First Majestic's record cash position in mind. Its $510 million in total cash could allow it to make strategic acquisitions to dramatically grow its mining empire, as it did when it acquired the Los Gatos mine and its 6 million ounces in annual silver production in 2024.

Additionally, a further climb in silver prices would boost First Majestic's earnings and allow it to grow into its valuation.

For investors looking for a way outside of tech to play the global AI revolution, or simply capitalize on an ongoing silver boom, First Majestic could be worth buying.

Should you invest $1,000 in First Majestic Silver right now?

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Could First Majestic Silver's $12 Stock Be a Backdoor AI Play? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Australia and Papua New Guinea have signed a defence pact, widely viewed as an attempt to strengthen regional security against Chinas growing influence in the Pacific.

Under the Pukpuk Treaty  meaning crocodile in pidgin  Papua New Guinea would be legally obliged to deploy up to 10,000 troops to Canberra to assist in the event of a military attack.

The neighbouring nations would also collaborate on cyber and electromagnetic warfare.

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The treaty is meant to prepare our militaries to be battle-ready and for a very bad day, read a Papua New Guinea cabinet submission, seen by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

It has the ability to bite, and like a crocodile, its bite force speaks of the interoperability and preparedness of the military for war.

Anthony Albanese, the Australian prime minister, confirmed the historic agreement in Canberra on Monday alongside James Marape, his Papua New Guinean counterpart, whom he called a brother.

Both of the nations have also agreed not to undertake any activities or enter into any agreements that would compromise the implementation of this treaty, Mr Albanese said.

Weve been transparent with China

Canberra has moved to strengthen ties in the Pacific since 2022, when Beijing signed a secretive security agreement with the Solomon Islands and began pouring money into island infrastructure, prompting fears it was paving the way for a Chinese naval base.

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b'

'

Mr Marape, whose government is also seeking closer economic ties with Beijing, brushed off questions about Chinas military might.

This is not a treaty that sets up enemies, but consolidates friendships, he said. Weve been transparent, we have told them [China] that Australia has become our security partner of choice and they understand our alliances here.

They have relationships elsewhere, including our own relationships. Other aspects of our relationships have never been compromised.

The Australian Navy practise a beach landing in July, as part of an exercise involving 19 nations - Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

The Chinese embassy in Port Moresby had warned Mr Marape to be careful about the terms of a treaty with Australia, writing on social media that it should not be exclusive in nature, nor should it restrict or prevents (sic) a sovereign country from co-operating with a third party for any reason.

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It should also refrain from targeting any third party, the embassy said in September.

Australian soldiers during the Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, its largest iteration, which included Papua New Guinea for the first time - Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

The Pukpuk Treaty is expected to help the Australian Defence Force address its soldier shortages while offering a pathway to employment and citizenship for Papua New Guineans, almost 40 per cent of whom live in poverty.

Australia is also negotiating separate treaties with Fiji and Vanuatu that cover security, economics and agreements to help protect residents of the smaller islands from climate disasters.

At the same time, Beijing has provided resources, including police training, to those two nations and other Pacific islands, including Kiribati, Samoa and the Solomons.

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Washington also has security agreements in place in the region, including a deal with Papua New Guinea, that gives the United States military unimpeded access to its bases.

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If any of them thought they would come here and be greeted with a red carpet and fanfare, they were mistaken, Ben-Gvir said.

Some 137 activists detained by Israel for taking part in a flotilla seeking to deliver aid to Gaza arrived in Turkey on Saturday, with two alleging that Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg was mistreated during her detention. Thunberg herself remains in Israeli custody.

The Foreign Ministry described reports that detainees had been mistreated as complete lies, and added on Sunday afternoon that 29 activists were deported on Sunday to Spain, citizens of Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands.

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Israel is keen to have all the participants of this provocation deported as quickly as possible, but some of them deliberately chose to prolong the legal deportation process, preferring to linger in Israel, said the Foreign Ministry.

The Activists who had landed earlier at Istanbul Airport included 36 Turkish nationals, as well as citizens from the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Morocco, Italy, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Switzerland, Tunisia and Jordan, Turkish foreign ministry sources said.

Two of them, Hazwani Helmi, a Malaysian citizen, and Windfield Beaver, an American citizen, told Reuters at the airport that they had witnessed Thunberg being mistreated, saying she was shoved and forced to wear an Israeli flag.

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and Brazilian activist Thiago Avila sit in a vessel making their way to Israel, after Israel intercepted some of the vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla, in this handout image released on October 2, 2025. (credit: ISRAEL FOREIGN MINSTRY/ Handout via REUTERS)

All the detainees legal rights are fully upheld, the statement said.

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It was a disaster. They treated us like animals, said Helmi, 28, adding that detainees were not provided with clean food or water and that medication and belongings were confiscated.

Beaver, 43, said Thunberg was treated terribly and used as propaganda, describing how she was pushed into a room as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir arrived.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that Thunberg and other flotilla activists detained by Israel deserve to receive the conditions of terrorists in prison because anyone who supports terror is a terrorist, in a Sunday statement.

The statement came after various reports that Thunberg and other activists were subjected to harsh treatment in prison after approximately 450 activists were detained by Israel for taking part in a flotilla seeking to deliver aid to Gaza last week.

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Anyone who supports terror is a terrorist and deserves the conditions of terrorists, Ben-Gvir stated.

If any of them thought they would come here and be greeted with a red carpet and fanfare, they were mistaken, he added.

Ben-Gvir also said that he had visited the Ketziot Prison in the Negev near Beersheba, where many of the activists were being detained.

During the visit, Ben-Gvir said he took pride in the fact that we treat the flotilla activists as terror supporters.

They should feel what the conditions in Ketziot Prison are like, and think twice before approaching Israel again. Thats how it works.

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I am proud of the officers of the Israel Prison Service (IPS) who acted in accordance with the policy set by [IPS Chief Commissioner] Kobi Yaakobi and me, he said.

Ben-Gvir added that he had visited the flotilla and didnt see humanitarian aid or compassion.

I saw one can of baby formula and a whole gang of people pretending to be human rights activists, who in fact came to support terror and celebrate at our expense, he said.

The Foreign Ministry stated that the claims regarding the mistreatment of Thunberg and other detainees from the flotilla are brazen lies, shortly after Ben-Gvir's statement on Sunday.

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All the detainees legal rights are fully upheld, the statement said.

The Ministry later added, All the legal rights of the participants in this PR stunt are fully upheld. Dont believe the fake news they are spreading.

Interestingly enough, Greta herself and other detainees refused to expedite their deportation and insisted on prolonging their stay in custody, the Foreign Ministry said.

Greta also did not complain to the Israeli authorities about any of these ludicrous and baseless allegations - because they never occurred, the statement added.

Cell infested with bedbugs

An official who visited Thunberg in prison claimed that Thunberg was being held in a cell infested with bedbugs, with little food and water, according to a Saturday report by The Guardian.

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Adalah, a legal aid group which is offering legal assistance to flotilla members, said that Ben-Gvirs statements represent a blatant endorsement of inhumane treatment, abuse, and intimidation of the flotilla participants as state policy.

It added, Israel is applying tactics normally reserved for Palestinians in its custody, who are routinely subjected to systemic torture and horrific abuse. The treatment of flotilla participants has been unlawful from the very outset, beginning with the interception of the ships, preventing them from breaking the blockade and delivering humanitarian aid amid an ongoing genocide in Gaza, continuing with Israeli authorities treating them as having illegally entered the country despite being abducted from international waters, and culminating in their detention under harsh and degrading conditions that violate international law.

It further noted, This conduct, explicitly endorsed by [Ben-Gvir] with authority over the IPS, demonstrates a deliberate use of repression against peaceful activists, human rights defenders, and individuals who seek to confront Israels ongoing crimes against Palestinians.

Israel has faced international condemnation after its military intercepted all of about 40 boats in a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza and detained more than 450 activists.

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The Foreign Ministry wrote on X that all detained activists were safe and in good health, adding it was keen to complete the remaining deportations as quickly as possible.

In a separate X post, the ministry accused some flotilla members of deliberately obstructing the deportation process, without providing evidence. Reuters was unable to independently verify the allegation.

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said 26 Italians were on board the Turkish Airlines flight, with another 15 still held in Israel and set to be expelled over the next few days - along with activists from other nations.

I have once again given instructions to the Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv to ensure that the remaining compatriots are treated with respect for their rights, Tajani wrote on X.

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A first group of Italians from the flotilla - four parliamentarians - arrived in Rome on Friday.

Those who were acting legally were the people aboard those boats; those who acted illegally were those who prevented them from reaching Gaza Arturo Scotto, one of the Italian lawmakers who took part in the mission, told a press conference in Rome.

We were brutally stopped... brutally taken hostage, said Benedetta Scuderi, another Italian parliamentarian.

According to Adalah, some detainees were denied access to lawyers, water, medications, and toilets.

They were also forced to kneel with their hands zip-tied for at least five hours, after some participants chanted Free Palestine, Adalah said.

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Israel denied the allegations. All of Adalahs claims are complete lies. Of course, all detainees... were given access to water, food, and restrooms; they were not denied access to legal counsel, and all their legal rights were fully upheld, a foreign ministry spokesperson told Reuters.

The flotilla, which set sail in late August, marked the latest attempt by activists to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of the Palestinian enclave of Gaza. The war on Hamas was started by Israel on October 7, 2023, when the terrorist led a cross-border massacre attack against southern Israeli communities, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage. Hamas is currently holding 48 people hostage as the deadline set by US President Donald Trump to accept his 21-point plan looms.

Israeli officials repeatedly denounced the mission as a stunt and warned it against violating a lawful naval blockade.

Some 137 activists detained by Israel for taking part in a flotilla seeking to deliver aid to Gaza arrived in Turkey on Saturday after being deported, with two alleging that Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg was mistreated during her detention. Thunberg herself remains in Israeli custody.

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Israel did not immediately comment on the new allegations, but its foreign ministry earlier described reports that detainees had been mistreated as complete lies.

The activists who landed at Istanbul Airport included 36 Turkish nationals, as well as citizens from the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Morocco, Italy, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Switzerland, Tunisia and Jordan, Turkish foreign ministry sources said.

Two of them, Hazwani Helmi, a Malaysian citizen, and Windfield Beaver, an American citizen, told Reuters at the airport that they had witnessed Thunberg being mistreated, saying she was shoved and forced to wear an Israeli flag.

It was a disaster. They treated us like animals, said Helmi, 28, adding that detainees were not provided with clean food or water and that medication and belongings were confiscated.

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Beaver, 43, said Thunberg was treated terribly and used as propaganda, describing how she was pushed into a room as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir arrived.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that Thunberg and other flotilla activists detained by Israel deserve to receive the conditions of terrorists in prison because anyone who supports terror is a terrorist, in a Sunday statement.

The statement came after various reports that Thunberg and other activists were subjected to harsh treatment in prison after approximately 450 activists were detained by Israel for taking part in a flotilla seeking to deliver aid to Gaza last week.

Anyone who supports terror is a terrorist and deserves the conditions of terrorists, Ben-Gvir stated.

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If any of them thought they would come here and be greeted with a red carpet and fanfare, they were mistaken, he added.

Ben-Gvir also said that he had visited the Ketziot Prison in the Negev near Beersheba, where many of the activists were being detained.

During the visit, Ben-Gvir said he took pride in the fact that we treat the flotilla activists as terror supporters.

They should feel what the conditions in Ketziot Prison are like, and think twice before approaching Israel again. Thats how it works.

I am proud of the officers of the Israel Prison Service (IPS) who acted in accordance with the policy set by [IPS Chief Commissioner] Kobi Yaakobi and me, he said.

Ben-Gvir added that he had visited the flotilla and didnt see humanitarian aid or compassion.

I saw one can of baby formula and a whole gang of people pretending to be human rights activists, who in fact came to support terror and celebrate at our expense, he said.

The Foreign Ministry stated that the claims regarding the mistreatment of Thunberg and other detainees from the flotilla are brazen lies, shortly after Ben-Gvir's statement on Sunday.

All the detainees legal rights are fully upheld, the statement said.

Interestingly enough, Greta herself and other detainees refused to expedite their deportation and insisted on prolonging their stay in custody, the Foreign Ministry said.

Greta also did not complain to the Israeli authorities about any of these ludicrous and baseless allegations - because they never occurred, the statement added.

An official who visited Thunberg in prison claimed that Thunberg was being held in a cell infested with bedbugs, with little food and water, according to a Saturday report by The Guardian.

Adalah, a legal aid group that is offering legal assistance to flotilla members, said that Ben-Gvirs statements represent a blatant endorsement of inhumane treatment, abuse, and intimidation of the flotilla participants as state policy.

It added, Israel is applying tactics normally reserved for Palestinians in its custody, who are routinely subjected to systemic torture and horrific abuse.

The treatment of flotilla participants has been unlawful from the very outset, beginning with the interception of the ships, preventing them from breaking the blockade and delivering humanitarian aid amid an ongoing genocide in Gaza, continuing with Israeli authorities treating them as having illegally entered the country despite being abducted from international waters, and culminating in their detention under harsh and degrading conditions that violate international law.

It further noted, This conduct, explicitly endorsed by [Ben-Gvir] with authority over the IPS, demonstrates a deliberate use of repression against peaceful activists, human rights defenders, and individuals who seek to confront Israels ongoing crimes against Palestinians.

Israel has faced international condemnation after its military intercepted all of about 40 boats in a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza and detained more than 450 activists.

The Foreign Ministry wrote on X that all detained activists were safe and in good health, adding it was keen to complete the remaining deportations as quickly as possible.

In a separate X post, the ministry accused some flotilla members of deliberately obstructing the deportation process, without providing evidence. Reuters was unable to independently verify the allegation.

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said 26 Italians were on board the Turkish Airlines flight, with another 15 still held in Israel and set to be expelled over the next few days - along with activists from other nations.

I have once again given instructions to the Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv to ensure that the remaining compatriots are treated with respect for their rights, Tajani wrote on X.

A first group of Italians from the flotilla - four parliamentarians - arrived in Rome on Friday.

Those who were acting legally were the people aboard those boats; those who acted illegally were those who prevented them from reaching Gaza Arturo Scotto, one of the Italian lawmakers who took part in the mission, told a press conference in Rome.

We were brutally stopped... brutally taken hostage, said Benedetta Scuderi, another Italian parliamentarian.

According to Adalah, some detainees were denied access to lawyers, water, medications, and toilets.

They were also forced to kneel with their hands zip-tied for at least five hours, after some participants chanted Free Palestine, Adalah said.

Israel denied the allegations. All of Adalahs claims are complete lies. Of course, all detainees... were given access to water, food, and restrooms; they were not denied access to legal counsel, and all their legal rights were fully upheld, a foreign ministry spokesperson told Reuters.

The flotilla, which set sail in late August, marked the latest attempt by activists to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of the Palestinian enclave of Gaza. The war on Hamas was started by Israel on October 7, 2023, when the terrorists led a cross-border massacre attack against southern Israeli communities, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage. Hamas is currently holding 48 people hostage as the deadline set by US President Donald Trump to accept his 21-point plan looms.

Israeli officials repeatedly denounced the mission as a stunt and warned it against violating a lawful naval blockade.
Berlin's Brandenburg Gate is to light up with the words "Bring them home now" on Tuesday to mark the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel led by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The projection on the iconic landmark in the German capital is meant to highlight the fate of the hostages still held by Hamas, amid frantic negotiations to end the war.

Hostages are still being held under inhumane conditions, said Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner.

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"Hamas must finally accept the peace plan in full and release the hostages," said Wegner. "We will never forget the fate of the people who were kidnapped, murdered, brutally tortured and abused by Hamas - and we will continue to stand resolutely against hatred, incitement and anti-Semitism."

On October 7, 2023, Hamas and other Palestinian extremists carried out massacres in Israel, in which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 others were abducted as hostages to the Gaza Strip.

Israel responded with a military offensive. Since the beginning of the war, more than 67,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have been killed, according to the territory's Hamas-run health authority.

The figures are seen as credible by the United Nations and aid organizations.
The closing day of Wilmington Black Restaurant Week 2025 turned The Queen into a showcase of flavor and community as the Black Food Festival celebrated the citys diverse culinary offerings. The food tasting event hosted more than a dozen vendors showcasing cuisines rooted in Haitian, Jamaican and Southern traditions, alongside vegan offerings and herbal brews.

With the price of admission, attendees could sample dishes from restaurateurs offering everything from island-style entrees to plant-based creations and organic herbal teas  each dish reflecting of the creativity and pride fueling Wilmingtons Black-owned food businesses.

The family-friendly event also featured a student cook-off, a panel discussion on the role of food, culture and legacy in Black communities, a book signing and food trucks.

An opportunity to expand one's palate and customer base

April White, founder of Holistic Alchemy Brews Organic Herbal Tea, described participating in Black Restaurant Week as amazing. Originally from Philadelphia and now a Delaware resident, White said the festival offered an opportunity for attendees to connect with local business owners in a way that isnt possible through online shopping or browsing store shelves.

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Having recently secured shelf space at ShopRite stores in Wilmington, Newark and Bear, the first-time participant said many people were unaware her herbal teas were available locally. As attendees stopped by to sample her blends, she was able to share that news directly.

I love engaging with people and without this event, I don't think I would have been able to have this many people at one time, White said.

April White, founder of Holistic Alchemy Brews Organic Herbal Tea, was a vendor at the Black Food Festival during the Wilmington Black Restaurant Week 2025 on October 5, 2025.

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY: Delaware SNAP recipients face new work requirements starting Oct. 1

A panel discussion on food's role in community

The festival opened with a discussion on food, culture and community legacy, followed by a Student Cook-Off Competition judged by Philadelphia chef and community advocate Saudia Shuler. A well-known Philadelphia chef and community advocate, Shuler, widely known as Aunt Saud, is recognized for her soul food, cultural involvement and philanthropic work.

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Hosted by Blake Saunders and featuring music by DJ Kis, the afternoon was filled with energy. Attendees danced near the stage while children weaved through the crowd and adults balanced plates of jerk chicken, cabbage and other favorite dishes.

Celebrating legacy, entrepreneurship and community, the Black Food Festival brought Wilmington Black Restaurant Week to a close with not just full plates, but the talent and supporters of those who are shaping Wilmingtons Black culinary scene.

You can contact staff reporter Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com. To share your community news and activities with our audience, join Delaware Voices Uplifted on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: The Black Food Festival caps Wilmington's Black Restaurant Week
A Boston hiker was rescued off a New Hampshire trail after suffering a leg injury.

According to NH Fish and Game, on October 4th, around 3:20 p.m., conservation officers were made aware of an injured hiker not far from the summit of Mount Osceola in Livermore.

The hiker, identified as 28-year-old Rosalie Doerksen of Boston, had suffered a lower leg injury that prevented her from continuing without assistance.

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Conservation Officers and volunteers from Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team responded to the trailhead on Tripoli Road.

Rescuers reached Doerksen around 6 p.m.

Doerksen was packaged into a rescue litter, and the 2.7-mile carryout commenced at 6:35. The rescue party, consisting of over 20 people reached the trailhead at 10:15 p.m., where they met an ambulance from the Waterville Valley Department of Safety.

Doerksen was transported to Speare Memorial Hospital for treatment and evaluation.

New Hampshire Fish and Game urges hikers to be prepared and to use caution while hiking.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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By Lisandra Paraguassu and Isabel Teles

BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to meet in person soon after a friendly video call on Monday, Brazil's government said, boosting prospects for a thaw in bilateral relations that are at their worst in decades.

During the leaders' 30-minute call, Lula's office said in a statement that he and Trump discussed their positive impressions of a brief encounter at the United Nations last month and exchanged phone numbers to open a direct line of communication.

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Trump said on social media that the call was "very good," with a focus on the countries' economic and trade relations.

"We will be having further discussions, and will get together in the not-too-distant future, both in Brazil and the United States," he wrote.

TARIFFS HIT BRAZIL'S COFFEE AND BEEF EXPORTS TO U.S.

Lula suggested a meeting during this month's summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Malaysia and expressed his willingness to travel to the United States, his office said.

The two leaders have been at odds for months over the trial and conviction of Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro. Trump hiked a tariff on many Brazilian goods from 10% to 50% because of the case, which he called a "witch hunt."

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Lula's office made no reference to Bolsonaro in its summary of the call, but it noted that the Brazilian president had asked Trump to remove the additional 40% tariff.

The tariffs have triggered a drop in Brazilian coffee exports to the U.S. by as much as 70%, while sharply reducing shipments of Brazilian beef.

Coffee prices in the U.S., which has traditionally relied on Brazil for one-third of its supply of coffee beans, have risen sharply due in large part to the tariffs, which have forced roasters to buy more expensive coffee elsewhere.

Trump designated Secretary of State Marco Rubio to continue tariff negotiations with Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and Finance Minister Fernando Haddad, the Brazilian statement added.

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A meeting between the two leaders has been closely watched by Brazilian markets after the country's exports suffered one of the highest tariff rates imposed by the United States.

The Trump administration also sanctioned Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw Bolsonaro's case, under the Magnitsky Act. It also revoked the visas of six high-ranking officials, including Brazilian Solicitor-General Jorge Messias.

Without naming Trump directly, Lula said at the U.N. General Assembly last month that there was no justification for unilateral and arbitrary measures targeting Brazil's institutions and economy.

(Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu in Brasilia and Isabel Teles in Sao Paulo; Additional reporting by Costas Pitas and Marcelo Teixeira; Writing by Isabel Teles; Editing by Brad Haynes, Sharon Singleton, Alison Williams and Edmund Klamann)
Volodymyr Zelensky has called for tougher sanctions for British firms supplying parts for Russian drones being used to bomb Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president criticised allies for supplying components to Russia, claiming hundreds of thousands of foreign-made parts were used in a strike on Sunday morning in which several people died.

Mr Zelensky said in a post on X that microcomputers for flight control produced in the UK were found in drones used in the attack, along with other parts from other allies, including the US.

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Four people, including a 15-year-old, died and six more were injured in Sunday's combined drone and missile strike on Lviv, according to regional officials.

It was the largest aerial assault on the historic western city and surrounding region since Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24 2022, according to Maksym Kozytskyi, head of the local military administration.

A firefighter tackled a blaze on a van at a house damaged during Russian drone and missile strikes in Lviv region, Ukraine, on Sunday, October 5, 2025 (via REUTERS)

Separately, a nighttime assault on Zaporizhzhia killed a civilian woman and wounded nine others, including a 16-year-old girl, while six people, including a child, were injured in Sloviansk, a key city in the eastern Donetsk region.

In a post on X on Monday morning, Mr Zelensky said: "In the fourth year of the full-scale war, Russia continues to obtain components for producing weapons.

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"During the massive combined strike on Ukraine on the night of October 5, Russia used 549 weapon systems containing 102,785 foreign-made components - from companies in the United States, China and Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the Netherlands."

Mr Zelensky said Ukraine is preparing new sanctions against those who help Russia, with proposals to curb the supply schemes.

He added: "Partners already possess the detailed data on each company and each product - they know what to target and how to respond.

"This week, the G7 sanctions coordinators will meet, and we expect a systemic decision to ensure that the sanctions are truly effective.

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"It is crucial to shut down every scheme that circumvents sanctions, because Russia uses each one to keep killing. The world has the power to stop this."

The Ministry of Defence has been contacted for comment.
By Johan Ahlander, Niklas Pollard and Ludwig Burger

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -American scientists Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi from Japan won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on Monday for their discoveries in peripheral immune tolerance, creating openings for possible new autoimmune disease and cancer treatments.

This year's prize "relates to how we keep our immune system under control so we can fight all imaginable microbes and still avoid autoimmune disease", said Marie Wahren-Herlenius, a rheumatology professor at the Karolinska Institute.

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Sakaguchi told reporters outside his university laboratory that "I feel it is a tremendous honour," Kyodo news agency reported.

T-CELLS: THE IMMUNE SYSTEMS 'SECURITY GUARDS'

The winners for medicine are selected by the Nobel Assembly of Sweden's Karolinska Institute medical university and receive a prize sum of 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.2 million), as well as a gold medal presented by Sweden's king.

Brunkow is senior programme manager at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, while Ramsdell is scientific adviser at Sonoma Biotherapeutics in San Francisco, which he co-founded. Sakaguchi is a professor at Osaka University in Japan.

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"Their discoveries have laid the foundation for a new field of research and spurred the development of new treatments, for example for cancer and autoimmune diseases," the prize-awarding body said in a statement.

The laureates identified so-called regulatory T cells, which act as the immune system's security guards that keep immune cells from attacking our own body, it added.

After announcing the winners, the institute's Thomas Perlmann said he had only been able to break the news to one of the three, reaching Sakaguchi by phone at his lab.

"He sounded incredibly grateful, expressed that it was a fantastic honour and he was quite taken by the news," added Perlmann.

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MEDICINE THE FIRST PRIZE OF NOBEL SEASON

The Nobel Prizes were established through the will of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite and a wealthy businessman. They have been awarded since 1901 for outstanding contributions in science, literature, and peace, with interruptions mainly during the World Wars.

The economics prize was added later and is funded by Sweden's central bank, the Riksbank.

Winners are selected by expert committees from various institutions. All prizes are awarded in Stockholm, except for the Peace Prize, which is presented in Oslo  a possible legacy of the political union between Sweden and Norway during Nobels lifetime.

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Past recipients of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine include renowned scientists such as Alexander Fleming, who shared the 1945 award for discovering penicillin. In recent years, the prize has recognized major breakthroughs, including those that enabled the development of COVID-19 vaccines.

Last year's medicine prize was awarded to U.S. scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of microRNA and its key role in how multicellular organisms grow and live, helping explain how cells specialise into different types.

Medicine in accordance with tradition kicks off the annual Nobels, arguably the most prestigious prizes in science, literature, peace and economics, with the remainder set to be announced over the coming days.

More than a century after their inception, the Nobel Prizes remain steeped in tradition. The awards culminate in ceremonies attended by the royal families of Sweden and Norway, followed by lavish banquets held on December 10  the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death.

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($1 = 9.3898 Swedish crowns)

(Reporting by Niklas Pollard, Johan Ahlander in Stockholm; Additional reporting by Terje Solsvik in Oslo and Kiyoshi Takenaka in Tokyo; Writing by Ludwig Burger in Frankfurt; editing by Alex Richardson)
A federal judge late Sunday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deploying any National Guard units to Oregon at all, after a legal whirlwind that began hours earlier when the president mobilized California troops for Portland after the same judge blocked him from using Oregon's National Guard the day before.

During a hastily called evening telephone hearing, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut granted a temporary restraining order sought by California and Oregon.

Immergut, who was appointed by President Donald Trump in his first term, seemed incredulous that the president moved to send National Guard troops to Oregon from neighboring California and then from Texas on Sunday, just hours after she had ruled the first time.

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How could bringing in federalized National Guard from California not be in direct contravention to the temporary restraining order I issued yesterday? she questioned the federal government's attorney, cutting him off.

Arent defendants simply circumventing my order? she said later. Why is this appropriate?

The White House did not immediately comment on the judges decision.

Trump focuses on Oregon after Portland protests

Oregon is fighting to prevent federalized National Guard troops from coming to Oregon's largest city to address ongoing protests at an immigration processing facility there.

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Small protests have been going on outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility since Trumps second term began in January. There have been occasional flare-ups, including in June, but for weeks nightly demonstrations attracted only a few dozen people.

Trump, however, has turned his attention to the city, calling Portland war ravaged, and a war zone that is burning down and like living in hell.

Local officials have pointed out that the protest occupies one city block far from the downtown in a city that covers 145 square miles (376 square kilometers). They also say many of his claims and social media posts appear to rely on images from 2020, when unrest that grew out of the Black Lives Matter protests roiled the city for several months. Trump sent federal law enforcement to the city then, as well.

Under a new mayor and police chief, the city has reduced crime, and the downtown has seen a decrease in homeless encampments and increased foot traffic.

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On Sept. 28, when the Trump administration mobilized the Oregon National Guard over Gov. Tina Kotek's wishes, the protests increased in size. On Saturday about 400 people gathered outside the ICE facility before federal agents shot tear-gas canisters into the crowd.

Trump also authorized the deployment of 300 Illinois National Guard troops to protect federal officers and assets in Chicago on Saturday.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzkers office said the situation in Chicago does not require the use of the military and, as a result, the Governor opposes the deployment of the national guard under any status.

Sending in the National Guard from other states

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This weekend, about 200 federalized members of the California National Guard who had been on duty around Los Angeles were reassigned to Portland, a Pentagon spokesperson said.

Approximately 100 California National Guard troops landed in Portland after midnight Sunday and around 100 more arrived by early evening, Alan Gronewold, commander of Oregons National Guard, said in a court filing before the emergency hearing late Sunday.

The state of Oregon also included in its filing a memo written by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that ordered up to 400 Texas National Guard personnel activated for deployment to Oregon, Illinois and possibly elsewhere.

A hasty court hearing

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At the emergency hearing late Sunday, Immergut grilled the attorney for the federal government and accused them of seeking an end run around her order from the day before that temporarily blocked the deployment of National Guard troops in Oregon.

Scott Kennedy, the attorney representing Oregon, said he learned of the Texas National Guard mobilization just 24 minutes before the emergency hearing on Sunday night.

It feels a little bit like were playing a game of rhetorical whack-a-mole here, he told Immergut.

Lawyers for the federal government tried to argue that Oregon and Portland did not have standing and that California could show no harm by having some of its National Guard dispatched to another state.

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Immergut issued a temporary order that expires in 14 days unless it is extended at a hearing set for Oct. 17. Arguments for a preliminary injunction  a more permanent block on sending federalized National Guard troops to Oregon  are set for Oct. 29.

In a related court filing, an attorney in the California Military Department said the U.S. Army Northern Command advised the department on Sunday that an order will be issued keeping the 300 guard personnel federalized through the end of January.

Oregon and California react to Sunday's ruling

Kotek, the governor of Oregon, applauded Immergut's ruling and said Trump can expect Oregon to stand up to him at every turn.

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President Trumps actions are an effort to occupy and incite cities and states that dont share his politics, and I believe that we should expect him to continue to push the limits of his authority," she said in a statement late Sunday.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Trump's move to deploy the National Guard of one state to another is well outside of the norms or practices of any president.

But this President is determined to take as much power as the courts will give him. This fight isnt over, but todays rebuke of the Presidents illegal actions is a step in the right direction, Bonta said in a statement after Sunday night's ruling.

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said Sunday that he saw federal agents engaged in what he described as unjustified use of force and indiscriminately spraying pepper spray and impact munitions during a protest outside the ICE facility.

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This is an aggressive approach trying to inflame the situation that has otherwise been peaceful, Wilson said, adding that he has alerted the civil rights division of the Department of Justice to the agents actions.

___

Weber reported from Los Angeles and Brook from New Orleans. Associated Press journalists Ethan Swope in Portland, Oregon; Jennifer McDermott in Providence, Rhode Island; and Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.
By Vallari Srivastava

(Reuters) -Shares of Critical Metals surged over 62% on Monday after Reuters reported the U.S. government was in talks to buy a stake in the miner, the latest in Washington's deal-making push to secure the supply of rare earths.

A deal, if successful, would give the U.S. government a direct interest in the largest rare earths project in Greenland, a strategically important and mineral-rich Arctic territory that President Donald Trump has previously suggested the U.S. should take over.

"A U.S. stake in (Tanbreez) would mark a significant step toward building a diversified 'mine-to-magnet' supply chain independent of China," said Neha Mukherjee, a research manager at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence.

Washington has been pushing to secure critical minerals and reduce reliance on China, taking stakes in producers such as Lithium Americas and MP Materials.

The government is not just backing domestic projects, it is also targeting overseas assets in resource-rich but underdeveloped regions, Mukherjee said.

"It also signals that we could see more such deals emerge, particularly in early-stage projects with significant resource potential."

Critical Metals had acquired Greenland's Tanbreez rare earth deposit last year for $5 million in cash and $211 million in stock.

The company applied earlier this year for a $50 million Defense Production Act grant, which Washington has since discussed converting into an equity stake, the Reuters report said, citing four sources.

If finalized, that conversion would equal roughly an 8% stake, though talks remain preliminary, the sources said.

Separately, Critical Metals said it agreed to raise $35 million from an unnamed institutional investor to fund Tanbreez's development.

Shares have gained more than 91% this year, including Monday's gains.

As of last close, the company was valued at $787 million.

On Monday, the firm also said it has restated financial statements for the six months ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, cautioning investors not to rely on the earlier reports.

(Reporting by Vallari Srivastava in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid and Leroy Leo)
One week after 50,000 mail carriers went on strike, troubled Canada Post on Friday presented a new contract offer that rolls back some previously promised benefits and raises the likelihood of job cuts, further inflaming union workers.

Canada Post said its proposed collective bargaining agreement is largely unchanged from its final offer on May 28, but no longer includes a CA$500 to $1,000 signing bonus due to the companys deteriorating financial position. It also plans to eliminate lifetime job security provisions for employees in the urban unit while it undertakes a long-sought transformation and said it will cut jobs.

The company said attrition, voluntary buyouts and early retirement are the preferred methods of downsizing, with layoffs being a last resort. Union officials will receive six months notice before any workforce adjustments go into effect.

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We waited 45 days for offers that are worse than what we rejected in August. Canada Post must have known that there is no way we can accept these and is clearly wasting even more time, Canadian Union of Postal Workers National President Jan Simpson said in a statement.

The national postal operator said the new contract proposal represents all it can afford amid mounting losses and pressure to downsize. It is offering a 13.59% wage increase over four years. Mail carriers are asking for a 19% increase.

Canada Post has lost $2.7 billion since 2018. Letter mail volumes have dropped by 60% since 2006, while delivery points have increased dramatically. Its share of the parcel market has been reduced by more than 50% over the past seven years.

The Corporation is proposing a fair and balanced approach to managing the size of its workforce in the Urban bargaining unit. With these changes, Canada Post will continue to provide good jobs and need a strong workforce  but one that is smaller in size and more flexible in the future. The best job security comes from organizations that are strong and self-sustainable, Canada Post said in a statement.

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CUPW banned overtime work in response to the May offer, then switched to an embargo on delivering bulk advertising mail before calling a strike after the Canadian government on Sept. 25 instructed Canada Post to move ahead with streamlining and modernization initiatives officials say are desperately needed to reduce excess overhead and regain customers. Those events were preceded by a 32-day strike that ended when the government intervened late last year.

The strikes have undermined user confidence in Canada Posts reliability and driven parcel shippers to private sector competitors that provide last-mile delivery service.

Downsizing effort

Canada Post has insisted since talks started 21 months ago that it wants to begin hiring part-time workers to enable weekend parcel deliveries, implement dynamic routing for letter carriers based on changing volumes, and even out work levels by assigning extra mail to carriers who finish their routes early.

The Liberal government last week endorsed those changes and directed Canada Post to reduce delivery frequency, expand the use of community mailboxes instead of delivering to each door and close some post offices in close proximity to each other. The current collective bargaining agreement doesnt allow Canada Post to close post offices.

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Canada Post has 45 days to present a plan on how to move the postal system forward in accordance with the governments instructions for change.

Removing this provision would provide greater flexibility to align the corporations post office network with the modern needs of Canadians, particularly in these overserved communities. It also enables the company to better focus limited resources on protecting services in rural, remote, northern and indigenous communities, Canada Post said.

CUPW argues that closing post offices will actually worsen financial performance.

Doug Ettinger, Canada Posts CEO and president, issued a letter to Canadians explaining the governments announcement and the proposed changes to the mail system.

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To align our operations to the modern needs of the country, well need to be leaner. Serving a country as large as Canada will always be labour-intensive, but were overstaffed. With thousands of employees eligible to retire over the next five years, we can minimize the impact on our people, he wrote.

Canadians have been changing the way they use the postal service, and we must change with them. We also understand the importance of our service to small businesses across the country, and we need to get this right. As we move forward, our commitment to Canadians is to be transparent, fair and respectful. We will be attentive to concerns and responsive to questions.

While our labour situation is extremely challenging, we also remain committed to reaching new agreements at the bargaining table. Its vital these agreements reflect our financial reality and support the changes we need to make  while helping us stand on our own, without taxpayer funding, Ettinger said. Our goal is to provide an affordable, reliable and sustainable service to every Canadian  one that lifts our national pride by strengthening our connections to each other.

Many postal workers question Canada Post claims of financial hardship, pointing to high executive salaries, and hundreds of millions of investment dollars in a modern processing facility and electric vehicles that they suspect are being counted as operating expenses rather than capital expenditures.

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Write to Eric Kulisch at ekulisch@freightwaves.com.

Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch.

RELATED STORIES:

Striking Canada Post workers endanger future parcel business, execs say

Canadian government to force union vote on Canada Post contract offer

The post Canada Post reduces contract offer to striking workers, warns of job cuts appeared first on FreightWaves.
Diplomatic tensions between China and the United States over Panama have flared up once again, with the Chinese embassy in the Central American country accusing Washington's top envoy there of "spreading lies" to undermine Beijing's regional ties.

This comes after the US ambassador to Panama, Kevin Cabrera, said that Washington viewed China's presence in the Panama Canal as "malign".

Beijing was fooling Latin America with its investments, he claimed in an interview with digital media outlet Contrapeso Panama published on Sunday.

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"They come in, give away money and engage in corruption, which the US does not do. American companies cannot participate in those things," Cabrera was quoted as saying.

"Just look at Chile, Peru and Ecuador: the dams they built, the mines they built. It's been a disaster.

"And let's not even talk about the canal they were going to build in Nicaragua. They spent I don't know how much destroying the environment, and nothing happened."

Kevin Cabrera, the US ambassador to Panama, speaks in Panama City in May. Photo: AP alt=Kevin Cabrera, the US ambassador to Panama, speaks in Panama City in May. Photo: AP>

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Hours after the interview was published, the Chinese embassy in Panama issued a statement accusing Cabrera of having "once again spread lies on issues related to China".

"The US ambassador's remarks about China lack factual basis and scientific reasoning, and attempt to sow discord between China and regional countries, deprive them of diplomatic autonomy and serve US geopolitical self-interests," the embassy said in the statement issued on its social media channels on Sunday.

The embassy defended Chinese businesses operating in Latin America, saying Beijing "consistently" required them to comply with local laws and regulations.

"Projects undertaken by Chinese companies in Panama and other Latin American countries have made significant contributions to local economic and social development," it said.

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The statement also described the US ambassador's remarks as "questioning the judgment of regional countries and mocking the intelligence of local populations".

The sharp exchange of accusations marks the latest instance of diplomatic tensions involving Panama, as the strategically located country becomes a focal point of US-China geopolitical competition in the region.

Since his re-election as US president last November, Donald Trump has repeatedly vowed to "take back" the Panama Canal, a key artery of global trade connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans that he claims operates under Chinese influence.

The man-made waterway through which some US$270 billion in cargo flows annually has been under the Panamanian government's control since 1999, when the US formally relinquished joint control.

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Meanwhile, a controversial deal by CK Hutchison Holdings, a Hong Kong conglomerate, to sell its Panama Canal ports to a consortium led by BlackRock, an American multinational investment company, has drawn criticism and scrutiny from Beijing.

In the Contrapeso Panama interview, Cabrera said an audit of CK Hutchison found that it owed Panama more than US$600 million, adding: "I would say that's pretty malignant."

Cabrera said it was "quite worrying" that Jorge Gonzalez, a canal official, reportedly worked as a consultant for the Chinese consortium building the fourth bridge over the waterway.

"I would call it a bribe. He received a bribe from a Chinese Communist Party company," he alleged, saying the action ran afoul of a neutrality pact signed with Washington in 1977.

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"At the end of the day, 70 per cent of what passes through the canal goes to and from the US," Cabrera said. "So, [China's] influence is very worrying to us."

In addition, he warned that Panamanians who dealt "with Chinese companies that sell corrupt and untrustworthy technology" were at risk of having their American visas revoked.

"A visa is a privilege, not a right," he said, repeating a statement he made in May, during his first public appearance as ambassador to Panama.

Last month, the US State Department announced restrictions on visas for some Central American nationals for "intentionally acting on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party".

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The Chinese embassy in turn accused the US of using visas "as a weapon to threaten Panamanian government officials and lawmakers" in their interactions with China.

"China's friends are all over the world and true friends cannot be intimidated," the embassy said in its statement on Sunday.

"While Mickey Mouse closes his doors to them, the panda opens its arms."

The embassy statement also attached an image of a frowning Mickey Mouse alongside a panda wearing traditional Chinese attire and holding its arms open as it stood in front of a map of the Americas.

That exchange followed another public tiff in August, when nine Panamanian lawmakers joined a global parliamentary alliance that Beijing denounced as an anti-China front.

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The move was announced in Panama's National Assembly at a ceremony supported by the US ambassador.

In an apparent response to the alliance, a Sino-Panamanian inter-parliamentary "friendship group" was set up last month.

At the group's inauguration ceremony last week, Xu Xueyuan, China's ambassador to Panama, said it was hoped the entity would serve as "a defender of the one-China principle, a pioneer of China-Panama cooperation and a promoter of bilateral friendship".

In his interview, Cabrera also accused Beijing of carrying out cyberattacks in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Paraguay and other countries in the region, calling the actions another example of China's "malignant presence".

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He also dismissed the 5G technology of Huawei Technologies, a Chinese smartphone and telecoms giant, as "unreliable".

The Chinese embassy responded by describing the US as "the world's most proven hacking and surveillance empire".

"Yet it attempts to pin the label of 'cyber espionage' on China - a classic case of the thief crying 'thief'," the embassy said in its statement, urging the US to "abandon its arrogance and prejudice".

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
An US$80 billion lawsuit filed by Zambian farmers against two Chinese mining companies over a major toxic acid spill has produced a major diplomatic headache for the southern African country as it tries to balance its long-standing relationship with Beijing against the needs of local communities.

For decades, the two countries have maintained strong political and economic ties, and China has funded multibillion-dollar Zambian infrastructure projects ranging from airports and railways to dams.

Zambia relies heavily on this partnership, with Chinese companies playing a dominant role in the production and processing of its copper and cobalt.

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But the lawsuit filed by 176 Zambians against Sino-Metals Leach Zambia and NFC Africa Mining - two local subsidiaries of state-owned Chinese firms - alleges that a tailings dam wall collapse in February released acidic waste into streams, rivers and farms near the town of Kitwe, about 285km (180 miles) north of the capital Lusaka.

The farmers, who have termed the event an "ecological catastrophe", claim the spill violated their constitutional rights and destroyed their livelihoods by contaminating their crops and livestock as well as creating health problems for local residents.

The petitioners further claim they were not immediately warned of the danger, forcing them to live in a contaminated environment for seven months.

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The petitioners have demanded that US$80 billion be deposited into an escrow account to compensate them for the damage, including payments of 8,000 Zambian kwacha (US$336) per month to pay the costs of temporary relocation.

The case has since created a diplomatic flashpoint. While Zambian farmers and US embassy officials have labelled the incident an "ecological catastrophe", China's foreign ministry has rejected accusations of mismanagement on the part of its companies, saying that they had "actively stepped up to their responsibilities" and were cooperating with the authorities.

The residents sued the two firms together. The tailings dam that collapsed is owned by Sino-Metals Leach, a subsidiary of state-owned China Nonferrous Metals Mining, but it was located on NFC Africa Mining Limited's surface area.

According to the ministry's spokesman Lin Jian, the companies have already compensated the affected local residents.

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Lin added that Beijing required its companies overseas to "abide by local laws and regulations" and "strictly protect the environment", but it also supported "Chinese companies in defending their lawful rights and interests in accordance with the law".

Meanwhile, the Zambian government initially tried to downplay the incident before suspending the companies' operations and imposing a fine of 1.5 million kwacha on Sino-Metals.

The government and Sino-Metals claim that pH levels in the area have returned to normal and that compensation totalling 14 million kwacha has been paid to the affected residents.

Minister of Information Cornelius Mweetwa said in August there was "no need to press the 'panic button' to alarm the nation".

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According to Emmanuel Matambo, a research director at the Centre for Africa-China Studies, the lawsuit against the two firms was an "understandable and expected" response to the damage caused by the dam collapse.

He warned that the Zambian government would risk alienating voters ahead of a general election if it were seen to be actively taking Sino-Metals' side, and said the case should end the secrecy surrounding state-level deals between African and Chinese elites.

"There has been speculation about compensation and measures taken to prevent a recurrence of such accidents, but this has not been publicly and widely disclosed," Matambo added.

Iva Pesa, an assistant professor at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, said the demand for US$80 billion was "largely symbolic".

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She said the petitioners knew they were unlikely to be awarded such a sum, adding: "China knows this too, and therefore I do not think this will majorly strain the relationship between China and Zambia in general."

According to Pesa, it may be easier for Zambians to sue Chinese firms than local mining giants such as ZCCM or Mopani, which are seen to provide a wider range of benefits to local communities.

"But then if a disaster happens, communities also don't feel any restraint to sue the Chinese company because it brings them little benefit anyway."

Pesa believes the lawsuit was motivated less by environmental consciousness and more by a desire for benefit-sharing.

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"If the Chinese companies make huge profits, they should at least share part of this with communities whose streams and fields have been devastated by acid," she said.

This is not the first time a major mining company has been accused of environmental destruction in Zambia. In 2015, farmers in the Chingola district sued mining giant Konkola Copper Mines and its majority owner Vedanta at the UK High Court in London over river pollution.

The case went all the way to the UK Supreme Court, where in 2019 the farmers won a landmark ruling that allowed their case to be heard in a British court.

In 2021, the company reached an out-of-court settlement that resulted in 2,500 victims receiving compensation, according to a study produced by Pesa.

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This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
The ceremony with the Jewish Federation of Cleveland saw 1,200 people gather to remember those who lost their lives in the Hamas-led 2023 attack.

Cleveland supporters and members of the Kissufim community commemorated the second anniversary of the October 7 Massacre on Sunday, with some good news shared amid solemnity that almost all of the kibbutz members will return by next summer.

The ceremony with the Jewish Federation of Cleveland saw 1,200 people gather to remember those who lost their lives in the Hamas-led 2023 attack, the federation said on Facebook. The event featured a speech by October 7 Massacre survivor Yahel Lifshitz and Kibbutz Kissufim chairman Lior Carmel.

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"Two years have passed since that horrific Saturday morning, October 7. We are still trying to understand what happened that morning. Thousands of rockets were fired at Israel in one hour, thousands of Hamas terrorists and civilians from Gaza invaded our communities with the aim of murdering, to rape, burn, kidnap, and destroy everything that symbolizes Israeli or Jewish life," Carmel said, according to a representative of the kibbutz.

"350 terrorists approached the Kissufim area. Eighty of them entered our kibbutz, set fire to houses and murdered: parents, grandparents, young people and children."

Carmel memorialized Itai and Etty Zak, and their 14-year-old son Sagi, who were burned to death in their safe room. Noya Dan was named among the fallen, a 12-year-old autistic girl who was at first thought taken hostage, but was found murdered with her grandmother at Nir Oz.

Cleveland honors Kibbutz Kissufim

Other Kissufim residents who were lost in the attack were honored, including Dafna Gercovich, Ivan Saizar, Menuha Hulati, Ofer Ron, Gina Smiatich, Reuven Heinek, and Tom Godo. Yonatan Hajabi, whose father lived in Kissufim, was also memorialized. He was murdered by terrorists in Moshav Yachini. The chairman also honored six Thai workers killed in the attack, Sophakun Anucha, Sanusan Chairat, Klangsuwan Theerapong, Kaison Aranthit, and Phiia-ia Satawat.

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Special mention was made of civilian security officer Saar Margolis, who died fighting to protect the town from invaders. Carmel praised the sacrifices of Margolis and the twenty-eight soldiers who fell trying to save the kibbutz. Among the soldiers was Tomer Nagar. Family members shared with The Jerusalem Post in September how the Golani soldier had held his position while outnumbered so that he could provide cover for his friends.

Former hostage Shlomo Mansour was remembered by participants, with Carmel saying they would not forget how the 86-year-old was murdered and taken to Gaza. His death was only confirmed in February, and his body was returned that month in a ceasefire deal.

Carmel said that the community could also not forget how they were forced to leave their homes, but about 24 families had since returned to the kibbutz to rebuild.

"More than 90% of the members of the Kissufim community will return home by next summer, and within about ten years we will even double our population," said Carmel. "It won't be easy, but we will get through it."

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Since October 7, the Cleveland Jewish community has partnered with Kissufim to provide support. Kibbutz residents were visited by hundreds of people from the Cleveland community, and for the last two years, a summer camp in the American city has hosted people from Kissufim.

"You, our wonderful family from Cleveland, made sure we knew we were not alone. You embraced us in so many ways," said Carmel. "Thanks to your support, we were able to rebuild our social services and education system. Thanks to your professional assistance, our children began to heal."

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland said that the participants also renewed their call for the release of all hostages.

"We continue to keep them and their families in our hearts," wrote the federation. "May we all have good news soon."
Vermillion County, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)  A 20-year-old Clinton man is facing murder charges, Indiana State Police said Monday.

The case began when Vermillion County Sheriff Mike Holtcamp requested detectives from the Indiana State Police to investigate a missing person case reported on October 5 in Clinton.

During the course of the investigation, Putnamville detectives uncovered criminal activity, determining that the missing person had been murdered, officials wrote.

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Greene County man sentenced for murdering ex-wife and son

This led to the arrest of Nicholas Yates, 20, of Clinton, Indiana, police wrote.

Yates was taken into custody without incident and is being held at the Vermilion County Jail.

Currently, the name of the deceased is not being released until a positive identification is made by the Vermillion County Coroners Office, officials wrote. This process may take several weeks.

This is a developing story and WTWO will have more information as it becomes available.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com.
From lions in Kenya to polar bears in Canada, countries across the globe have become tourist destinations not solely for luxury resorts or breathtaking landscapes.

Wildlife travel, or traveling to catch a glimpse of animals in their native habitat, has boomed as nations embrace environmental tourism.

But how do you decide what to see and where to go?

Go2africa, a safari travel agency based in South Africa, used international data to decide which countries were the best stops for wildlife-focused travelers  and the top spot is closer than you think.

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The rating is called the Wildlife Index and reveals the nations leading the way in safeguarding biodiversity, as well as destinations offering the richest opportunities for unforgettable wildlife encounters, according to data published July 25 and shared with McClatchy News on October 2.

The index accounts for seven factors: megafauna conservation, wildlife species richness, endangered wildlife species, prevalence of national parks, extent of protected natural areas, indigenous protected areas and natural environment quality.

Data from reliable third-party sources, including the IUCN, World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA), Yale Environmental Performance Index, UN FAO, and WWF, among others, were used to give each country a score out of 100.

While every recognized country was originally considered, a total of 161 were included in the ranking after eliminating those with insufficient data.

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Here are the top 10:

1. United States  90.5/100

The United States takes the top spot thanks to its expansive protected land and natural areas, according to the index. There are a total of 51,018 protected natural areas, the group said, which is considered the highest globally. Much of this land is concentrated in Alaska and includes 32 game refuges, critical habitat areas and wildlife sanctuaries with more than 3.2 million acres, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Animals like the black-footed ferret, American bison and Hawaiian monk seal are only found in the United States.

2. Brazil  90.2/100

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Brazil comes in a close second to the US, thanks to its immense biodiversity, according to the index. The country has the highest number of endangered and critically endangered species on the planet, hidden in the expansive tropical rainforests, highlands and coastline. Brazil contains about two-thirds of the Amazon rainforest and 20% of the worlds total biodiversity, according to the Rainforest Foundation US. Tapirs, the Amazon river dolphin and the golden lion tamarin exclusively call Brazil home.

3. Colombia  85.5/100

Colombia rounds out the top three, all of which are located in the Americas. More than 14% of the country is protected as national parks, across 60 locations, according to the index. The country has more than 6,000 native species, 432 of which are considered endangered. The Amazon Rainforest also reaches into southeastern Colombia, bringing biodiversity and unique creatures. The Colombian woolly monkey, golden poison frog and blue anole are some of the animals you might spot in Colombia.

4. Australia  82.1/100

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The next country hops across the Pacific Ocean to the nation of Australia. Creatures in Australia are some of the most unique in the world, and the country includes the third-highest number of recorded species on Earth. Many of the species  like the koala, platypus and echidna  arent found anywhere else. Australia has 685 protected areas, according to the index.

5. Tanzania  81.8/100

Tanzania is the top country from the African continent, known for nearly 4,000 wildlife species and 413 animals considered endangered or critically endangered. Iconic species like cheetahs, leopards and the black rhino are found in the plains and forests of Tanzania. The country has a particularly high score in megafauna conservation, 96.69, ranking behind just two other African nations, Namibia and Botswana.

Canada, neighbors to the north of the top destination, came in sixth in the ranking, followed by #7 Peru and #8 Spain, the only country in Europe that made the top 10. Kenya and Panama, with similar attractions as those higher on the list, tied for ninth to make the complete top 10 ranking.

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Broken down by criteria, Botswana was ranked highest for Megafauna Conservation, Sweden led the world in quality of the natural environment, Brazil ranked first in wildlife species, Indonesia ranked highest in endangered wildlife species, Australia had the most national parks, the United States had the most protected wildlife areas, and Papua New Guinea ranked first for protected land managed by indigenous peoples, according to the index.

While our study reveals the top countries to see wildlife and highlights their conservation efforts and the unique ecosystems they support, its important to recognize that there is always more work to be done, Go2Africa said. Despite these countries being great for seeing unique animals out in the wild, the ongoing threat to wildlife and their habitats necessitates a continuous commitment from countries and governments worldwide.

Squirrel monkeys are among countless animals living in Brazil's jungles. The country has the highest number of endangered and critically endangered species on the planet, hidden in the expansive tropical rainforests, highlands and coastline. Fernando Souza/dpa
A voter deposits a mail-in ballot at the drop box outside the Chester County Government Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Capital-Star/Peter Hall)

Pennsylvanias vote-by-mail law has been the subject of a seemingly endless stream of court cases since casting an absentee ballot without an excuse became an option in 2020.

This year is no exception. The state Supreme Court has heard two cases scrutinizing county election officials handling of situations where voters made mistakes on their mail ballots. Voting rights advocates argued they shouldnt be stripped of their constitutional right to vote as a result, while the state and national Republican parties have urged courts to enforce the rule.

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In one case from Washington County, the court ruled last month that election officials violated voters rights by misleading them about the status of their mail-in ballots.

And it heard oral arguments in a case from Philadelphia over whether the most common mistake  omitting the date from a ballot envelope  should result in mail ballots being disqualified.

A decision in that case almost certainly will not be made in time for next months election, voting rights advocates said. But election officials across the commonwealth are operating under guidance from the Department of State that the date on ballot envelopes is not a factor in determining whether they are valid.

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The Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in August writing the date on a mail-in ballot envelope is a minor burden for voters. But the impact of making a mistake or forgetting is too great, rendering it an unjustifiable infringement on the fundamental right to vote.

For the average Pennsylvanian, its a lot to keep track of decisions made by the states highest court, Commonwealth Court, county courts, federal courts, and even the U.S. Supreme Court.

So what has changed with voting by mail since last Novembers presidential election?

Most voters wont notice any difference in the process of requesting, receiving, completing and returning their mail-in ballots, election officials and voting rights watchdogs said.

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But they can vote by mail with the confidence that if they do make mistakes, all is not lost, University of Pennsylvania political science professor Marc Meredith said.

The Supreme Court ruled last month that county election officials must notify voters if an error results in a mail-in ballot being disqualified. That gives voters an opportunity to challenge the decision or go to their polling places on Election Day to cast provisional ballots.

Another high court decision in October 2024 affirmed that voters have the right to cast provisional ballots and have them counted when their mail-in ballots are set aside because of a mistake. In that case, it was voters neglecting to use the secrecy envelopes provided with their ballots.

Those decisions have provided some clarity about how counties should handle ballots that come in with an incomplete affidavit or missing secrecy envelopes, Meredith said.

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The other vote-by-mail case before the commonwealths Supreme Court deals with the most litigated mistake that voters make: Forgetting to date or incorrectly dating the declaration on the outside of the return envelope. Courts have made at least nine different rulings that have changed the rules, but none so far has been definitive.

The Philadelphia-based U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last month that the requirement violates the U.S. Constitutions First Amendment right to vote and the 14th Amendment right to equal treatment under the law. The GOP has asked the court to rehear the case en banc, in hopes that a larger panel of judges would reach the opposite conclusion.

A person drops off a mail-in ballot on October 15, 2024 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hannah Beier/Getty Images)

In oral arguments Sept. 10 before the state Supreme Court, lawyers for the Republican Party of Pennsylvania and the Republican National Committee argued writing the date on a ballot declaration is not such a burden that it unconstitutionally interferes with the right to vote.

The GOP is appealing a Commonwealth Court decision in favor of two Philadelphia voters whose mail ballots were among 69 disqualified in a special election for a state House seat because of missing dates.

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Lawyers representing Susan Kinniry and Brian Baxter argued the date requirement violates the state constitutions guarantee of the right to vote because the date serves no purpose that justifies government interference.

Even if this date requirement was not intended as a disenfranchisement trap, we now know that thats what it has become, American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania lawyer Stephen Loney said during the arguments.

Marian Schneider, formerly senior policy counsel for the ACLU of Pennsylvania, said the Supreme Court stayed the lower courts ruling in the case last year, noting it came too soon before the election to risk confusion by changing the rules. The court is almost certain to follow the same doctrine with its decision this year.



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I cant imagine they would change the rule so close to the election, especially when three of them are on the ballot, Schneider said.

The ruling in the Washington County case could help reduce the number of disenfranchised voters statewide by ensuring they have a chance to vote provisionally, which Schneider noted is a requirement of the federal Help America Vote Act.

That figure was about 22,000 in the 2022 election, when gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races were on the ballot. Revisions to the design of mail-in ballots and the opportunity to fix missing or incorrect dates have reduced the number of disqualified ballots statewide to about 4,500 in last years election.

Washington County Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman said he still disagrees with the state Supreme Courts ruling on notifying voters. While the Statewide Uniform Registry of Voters automatically generates an email to voters who provide an address informing them of their ballot status, Sherman said he believes thats at odds with the law.

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Act 77, which amended the Election Code to allow mail-in voting, allows county election workers to begin precanvassing or preparing ballots only at 7 a.m. on Election Day.

They went a step further in the last election and said we have to review the ballot, Sherman said, adding that it adds cost and additional labor.

Chantell McCurdy, the elections office director in Butler County, said voters there shouldnt notice any changes either. If there is a problem with a mail-in ballot, such as a missing signature, the county gives the voter the option of going to the election office to fix the mistake or going to their polling place to vote provisionally.

Lehigh County Chief Elections Clerk Tim Benyo said the recent decision wont change procedures in his office, which has been notifying voters of mail ballot problems for years.

We have adapted over time to the different court rulings but these dont necessarily change anything for us, Benyo said.
The right-wing billionaire populist Andrej Babis said he would seek to form a minority government led solely by his ANO (Yes) party after emerging as the winner of the Czech parliamentary election on Saturday.

After four years in opposition and a defeat in the 2023 presidential election, Babis, 71, has made a political comeback.

The 71-year-old told supporters in Prague on Saturday night that he would aim for a one-colour government. He said he would look to secure outside support from two smaller parties  the newly formed motorists' party and the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy party (SPD).

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Final results showed ANO winning 34.6% of the vote, up nearly 7.5 percentage points from 2021, giving his party 80 of the 200 seats in the lower house. The centre-right coalition Spolu ("Together") led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala fell to 23.3% from 27.8% in the previous election, while the previously co-governing Mayors' Party took 11.2%.

Czech President Pavel to open coalition talks

President Petr Pavel is set to begin consultations with party leaders on the formation of a new government on Sunday, starting with Babis at Prague Castle. The constitution grants Pavel considerable discretion in deciding whom to task to form a government, though it is usually the faction with the most mandates.

Babis, a former prime minister, campaigned on halting arms supplies to Ukraine, cutting taxes and energy costs and opposing both the EU's asylum and migration pact and its Green Deal.

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When it comes to EU political parties, ANO has shifted and now aligns with Viktor Orban's Fidesz party from Hungary, Austria's Freedom Party (FPO), and Marine Le Pen's National Rally in France.

"Truth has prevailed," Orban wrote on X, calling it a "big step" for the Czech Republic. Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, seen as pro-Russian, congratulated Babis by phone on his election victory.

Babis faces bargaining with smaller parties

It remains unclear what concessions Babis may have to make to potential kingmakers in order to secure tolerance for his future government. The Freedom and Direct Democracy party is demanding not only the option of a referendum on leaving the EU and NATO  which Babis rejects  but also the return of more than 383,000 Ukrainian refugees to their homeland. The party won about 7.8% of the vote.

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The motorists' party, which took 6.8%, is pushing for a rollback of the planned 2035 phase-out of combustion engines.

Every four years, all 200 seats in the Czech Republic's Chamber of Deputies, the more important chamber of the bicameral parliament in Prague, is elected

The Czech Republic has been a NATO partner since 1999 and an EU member since 2004. The country shares a border of more than 800 kilometres with Germany.
The staff member had been escorting the Spanish national as part of a routine medical examination ahead of her deportation on Monday when she was said to have bitten the worker.

A Spanish national detained after travelling on a vessel as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla was accused by Israel Police of biting a female medical staff member at Ketziot Prison on Sunday.

The staff member had been escorting the Spanish national as part of a routine medical examination ahead of her deportation on Monday when she was said to have bitten the worker.

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The medical worker was given treatment onsite for the minor injuries caused by the bite and Israel Police were called to handle the attacker. It is currently unknown if legal action will be pursued.

About the flotilla

Israel faced international condemnation after armed Israeli soldiers boarded around 40 ships that were attempting to break a naval blockade to deliver aid to the Palestinian enclave, arresting more than 400 foreign activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.

The Global Sumud Flotilla claimed to be delivering aid to the Gaza Strip, after refusing offers from both the Pope and Israel to deliver the aid, but Israel reportedly found the vessels empty of any humanitarian support.

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and Brazilian activist Thiago Avila sit in a vessel making their way to Israel, after Israel intercepted some of the vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla, in this handout image released on October 2, 2025. (credit: ISRAEL FOREIGN MINSTRY/ Handout via REUTERS)

Israel also provided documentation which linked the flotilla group with the Hamas terror group.

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One document released last week, a letter from 2021 signed by former Hamas political bureau head Ismail Haniyeh, explicitly endorses the Palestinian Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), an organization founded in 2018 and operating under civilian cover. Israel has designated the PCPA as a terror organization.

The ministry noted that the PCPA functions as Hamass representative abroad, often acting as the movements embassies while mobilizing anti-Israel demonstrations, violent protests, and other provocations. The group was designated a terrorist organization by Israel in 2021.

The second document contains a detailed list of PCPA activists, including senior Hamas figures directly involved in the flotilla operations. Among the names highlighted by the IDF is Zaher Birawi, the head of the PCPAs Hamas sector in Britain, who has reportedly led Gaza-bound protest flotillas for more than 15 years.

Also listed is Saif Abu Kishk, a PCPA operative in Spain, who doubles as CEO of the Spanish cyber company Cyber Neptune, which owns multiple ships participating in the current Samud flotilla.

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Hamas in the Gaza Strip is responsible for activities within the Strip, while Hamas abroad manages operations outside, including mobilization and provocations, the Foreign Ministry said. These documents expose the depth of Hamas international network and its operational control over individuals leading the flotilla.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Individual immigration law enforcement officers and agents in Chicago are being targeted by gangs and cartel members with bounties of up to $10,000 on their heads, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said Sunday.

Protesters in the Windy City have been clashing with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol agents as they conduct sweeping immigration raids at the direction of President Donald Trump, and against the wishes of Chicagos mayor and Illinoiss governor.

Noem has condemned protesters and claimed that DHS intelligence indicates many are part of organized crime groups seeking to kidnap or kill federal immigration law enforcement agents.

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We have specific officers and agents that have bounties that have been put out on their head, Noem told Fox & Friends. Its been $2,000 to kidnap them, $10,000 to kill them, theyve released their pictures, theyve sent them between their networks, and its an extremely dangerous situation.

Noem claimed gangs, cartel members, and known terrorist organizations are the ones behind the bounties but did not identify specific groups.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem insinuated protesters in Chicago were being 'paid' by criminal organizations to push back on immigration law enforcement (Fox News / YouTube)

The Independent has asked the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for more information.

Trump directed DHS to conduct immigration raids in Chicago as part of his campaign promise to deport millions of undocumented immigrants from the United States. Federal agents have used extensive resources, including drones and helicopters, to conduct raids on apartment buildings, sometimes in the middle of the night.

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Trump has specifically targeted Democratic-led Chicago for its sanctuary city policies that prevent local police from assisting federal immigration law enforcement with its efforts.

The administration has justified the aggressive raids by insisting many of the immigrants are violent criminals, with some belonging to cartels, though immigration advocates and lawyers dispute that and say the evidence shows otherwise.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have pushed back on Trumps immigration raids. Protesters have taken to the streets to voice opposition to them as well.

But Noem said that those protests have led to increased violence against agents, which she in part blamed Democrats for.

Anti-immigration protests in Chicago have led to tense exchanges between law enforcement and the public  some of them turning violent (Middle East Images/AFP via Getty)

The Homeland Security secretary cited an example where a group of federal immigration agents were followed and ambushed by people in a caravan of 10 different vehicles over the weekend. A U.S. citizen was shot on Chicagos South Side after Border Patrol agents said they were rammed by 10 cars and became boxed in during a confrontation in the Broadview section of the city.

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Noem then suggested that anti-immigration protesters were being paid by organized crime groups to display opposition.

All the protesters are wearing the same gas masks, carrying the same kind of signs, many of them were printed with the same font, they look like they came from the same company, Noem theorized.

To be that organized and have the same equipment to push back on law and order, you know that somebody is funding them and organizing them and that theyre being paid, Noem added.
(Reuters) -Shares of Critical Metals surged over 75% in premarket trading on Monday after Reuters reported the Trump administration is discussing taking an equity stake in the development-stage mining company, citing four people familiar with the talks.

If completed, the deal would give the U.S. government a direct interest in Greenland's largest rare earths project.

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump had invoked emergency powers to boost domestic production of critical minerals as part of a broad effort to offset China's near-total control of the sector.

President Trump has previously suggested that the United States should take over Greenland given its strategic location and rich mineral resources.

The United States has recently taken stakes in companies mining critical minerals such as Lithium Americas and MP Materials.

Rare earths are a group of 17 metals used in consumer electronics, electric vehicles, aircraft engines and military applications.

Critical Metals, which wants to secure lithium and rare earths for U.S. and European markets, acquired Tanbreez deposit in Greenland last year for $5 million in cash and $211 million in stock.

The New York-based company applied earlier this year for a $50 million grant under the Defense Production Act, and over the past six weeks Washington began talks about converting that grant into an equity stake, three of the sources said.

If the deal proceeds, converting $50 million would equate to roughly an 8% stake, though negotiations are not final, the sources said.

Part of the discussion involves how to structure warrants to give Washington the stake.

As of last close, shares of Critical Metals have gained over 17% so far this year, giving the company a market capitalization of about $786.9 million.

(Reporting by Vallari Srivastava in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)
The end of Daylight Saving Time is now less than a month away. Most of the United States will "fall back" and gain an extra hour of sleep.

Here's what we know from when DST start and ends to why it exists and if President Donald Trump is going to end Daylight Saving Time.

Did the time change last night?

No; the time did not change last night. Daylight Saving Time ends annually in November, not in October.

When does the Daylight Saving time change 2025 occur in U.S.?

Participating states turn clocks forward an hour on the second Sunday in March during the spring. Daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday of November in the fall of each year and that's when states turn clocks back an hour.

When do we fall back an hour? When does DST 2025 end?

In the U.S., clocks will fall back at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025.

When does Daylight Savings 2026's time change spring forward?

Clocks will spring forward on Sunday, March, in 2026.

Why does Daylight Saving Time change at 2 a.m.?

In an interview with Time Magazine, author Michael Downing cited his book, "Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time," to explain how Amtrak and the railroads were the main reason clocks change at 2 a.m. for DST.

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There were no trains leaving the station at 2 a.m. on Sundays in New York City when Daylight Saving Time was established.

"Sunday morning at 2 a.m. was when they would interrupt the least amount of train travel around the country, Downing said.

What states don't have daylight savings?

As of July 25, 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation noted that only Hawaii and parts of Arizona do not participate in daylight saving time. The Navajo Nation is the lone exception in Arizona.

The territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands also do not participate.

According to the website, states may exempt themselves from observing daylight saving time by state law in accordance with the Uniform Time Act, as amended.

What time is it in Indianapolis?

Visit timeanddate.com to see the current time in Indianapolis.

Does Indiana observe 2025 daylight saving time?

Yes; Indiana observes daylight saving time.

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Hawaii and parts of Arizona do not participate in daylight saving time. The territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands also do not participate.

What is the Sunshine Protection Act?

The Sunshine Protection Act of 2021, which was created to make daylight saving time the new, permanent standard time, was unanimously passed by the U.S. Senate in 2022, but it was not passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.

There is currently no news on when it will be readdressed and signed into law.

When is the U.S. getting rid of daylight savings time? When will DST end permanently?

Despite the Sunshine Protection Act being unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate in 2022, there is no permanent end in sight.

Is Donald Trump going to end Daylight Savings Time in 2025?

In December 2024, Trump said he planned to eliminate Daylight Saving Time. He needs the approval of Congress in order to achieve this, and he had been urging them to approve.

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Others hope that instead of eliminating Daylight Saving Time, it will be permanent. 20 states have advocated for this by passing measures in recent years in favor of year-round daylight saving time.

Trump expressed support for such a notion in April 2025, calling it very popular, though he has also referred to the move as a 50-50 issue.

Conversation in Congress about the issue is ongoing.

Did Daylight Saving Time start because of farmers?

No, according to almanac.com.

"Many Americans wrongly point to farmers as the driving force behind Daylight Saving Time. In fact, farmers were its strongest opponents and, as a group, stubbornly resisted the change from the beginning," Catherine Boeckmann wrote for almanac.com.

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"When the war ended, the farmers and working-class people who had held their tongues began speaking out. They demanded an end to Daylight Saving Time, claiming it benefited only office workers and the leisure class. The controversy spotlighted the growing gap between rural and urban dwellers."

When does 2025 daylight saving time spring forward start, DST fall back end?

Daylight saving time began on Sunday, March 9, and ends on Nov. 2 in 2025.

Chris Sims is a digital content producer for Midwest Connect Gannett. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.

Katie Wiseman covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Contact her at klwiseman@gannett.com. Follow her on Bluesky @katiewiseman.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Did the time change last night? When daylight saving time ends in 2025
Screenshot via YouTube

Longtime pro-Trump influencer Dinesh DSouza called out Tucker Carlson over the weekend, accusing the highly controversial pundit of deliberately trying to rip MAGA apart.

DSouza took issue with some of Carlsons most recent content on the Israel-Hamas war and wrote, The problem with Tucker is not that hes bad for Israel. Hes bad for Trump and MAGA. Hes trying to rip MAGA apart ideologically and generationally. I dont know his motives, but who can be blind to the effects of his actions? And who benefits? The Left! The Islamic jihadis!

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Carlson has taken a sharp turn against Israel in recent months and has been accused of promoting anti-Semitic tropes, including during his speech at Charlie Kirks memorial.

America first. My point is not that Tucker is a paid shill. I have never said it, because I have no idea if its true. My point is that when you routinely bash our ally Israel, you help the double-dealing Qataris and the Iranian mullahs and radical jihadis everywhere. pic.twitter.com/GR9yuxLxUQ  Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) October 6, 2025

DSouza followed that post up with another offering some more details to his argument, My point is not that Tucker is a paid shill. I have never said it, because I have no idea if its true. My point is that when you routinely bash our ally Israel, you help the double-dealing Qataris and the Iranian mullahs and radical jihadis everywhere. He later added of Carlson:

I dont want him excommunicated. I am merely pointing out that he and others are subverting MAGA. Just as we are busting these violent Antifa and trans networks, in the context of Charlie Kirks murder, does it help MAGA to scream with zero evidence, The Jews did it?

He also responded to a pro-Palestinian X user who wrote, Jews dont deserve a homeland. DSouza commented on the post, At bottom isnt this what Tucker, Candace and the others are saying? Christians have Europe and America, Muslims have 50 countries, Hindus have a country big enough for a billion people, but Jews dont deserve the tiny ancestral place they inhabited going back 4,000 years. Wow!

At bottom isnt this what Tucker, Candace and the others are saying? Christians have Europe and America, Muslims have 50 countries, Hindus have a country big enough for a billion people, but Jews dont deserve the tiny ancestral place they inhabited going back 4,000 years. Wow! https://t.co/FKIUT8RDaP  Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) October 6, 2025

DSouza followed up that post with another taking aim at Ian Carroll, a far-right influencer and Carlson ally, who claimed over the weekend that Charlie Kirks own organization may have had a hand in his brutal murder.

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Is this how the anti-Israel, anti-Jewish lobby is saving America? I dont think so, DSouza wrote, sharing a post from Carroll.

Is this how the anti-Israel, anti-Jewish lobby is saving America? I dont think so. pic.twitter.com/sRlvppY7vM  Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) October 6, 2025

In recent months, Carlson conducted a friendly interview with the leader of Qatar, which led to accusations of foreign funding from his critics. Qatar has long funded and hosted Hamass leaders. Carlsons interviews and wild claims  including that a demon physically attacked him  have raised eyebrows and sparked questions about his motivations.

Carlson fiercely debated the Israel-Iran conflict with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), which led many observers to wonder why Carlson treated Qatari PM Al Thani and Russian President Vladimir Putin with kid gloves  while being willing to go so far as to call a sitting Republican senator a sleazy feline. Putin famously insulted Carlson after their February 2024 interview, saying he was surprised Carlson didnt ask any tough questions.

Carlson is a leading figure in the widening rift within the GOP between the more hawkish elements, like Cruz, and the rising isolationists like Carlson.

The post Dinesh DSouza Accuses Tucker Carlson of Trying to Rip MAGA Apart first appeared on Mediaite.
BETHALTO, Ill.  The Illinois State Treasurer holds approximately $2.5 billion in unclaimed funds and property belonging to Illinoisians. The treasurers office and State Rep. Amy Elik, R-Alton, are hosting a public event Monday to give residents a chance to see if the state owes them money.

The state treasurer acts as the custodian of all unclaimed property, which includes overlooked bank accounts, insurance policy proceeds, unpaid rebate cards, and the contents of safe deposit boxes. Those items or property is turned over to the states ICASH program.

After five years of failed attempts to locate the owner, items and property are surrendered to the treasurers office.

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Ex-gas station clerk accused of stealing winning lottery ticket

State law requires the treasurer to safeguard unclaimed propertybank accounts, unpaid life insurance benefits, and uncashed rebate checksuntil it can be returned to its rightful owners, no matter how long it takes.

We have heard from people who had no idea that there was unclaimed property waiting for them to claim it, Elik said. Who knows, you may have a chunk of property in the states possession just waiting for you to access it. Come find out!

Mondays in-person ICASH event is being held at the Bethalto Library, located at 321 South Prairie Street, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. If you cant make it there in person, you can check online at icash.illinoistreasurer.gov.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.




WETHERSFIELD - A Springfield, Mass., man accused of drunken driving in connection with a crash late Friday that killed his two passengers was held in lieu of a $300,000 bond after his arraignment Monday.

About two-dozen people attended Alexis Garcia's arraignment at state Superior Court in New Britain Monday, some crying during the proceeding.

Garcia, 22, is suspected of having been under the influence when his car veered off Route 5 and 15 north and tumbled down a steep embankment, Connecticut State Police said.

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The victims who died were identified as Joshua Gonzalez, 25, of Springfield, Mass., and Edwin Abraham Guzman, 21, of Chicopee, Mass.

Garcia is next scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 20. He had no pending court cases and no convictions, according to court staff.

"This was a really bad accident, two people are dead as a result of this crash," said Assistant State's Attorney Alison Kubas as she argued that Garcia should be held on higher bond. The case is still under investigation, she said.

Garcia is charged with operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs in connection with the crash, which happened just before midnight near Exit 85, police said.

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According to police, Garcia's black Infiniti G37 veered across the highway, crashed into a guardrail and rolled down the embankment. Gonzalez and Guzman were seriously hurt in the crash. Firefighters found them outside the vehicle in the woods and removed them using ropes and a rescue basket, officials said. They later died at Hartford Hospital.

Garcia suffered minor injuries and refused medical attention, police said, and failed a sobriety test.

His bond initially was set at $250,000. He will be required to wear electronic monitoring and will be on house arrest if he were to post the $300,000 bond, said Judge Gerald Harmon.

The highway was closed for an "extended period" of time Friday into Saturday as state police and firefighters dealt with the crash.

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Anyone who witnessed or has dash-camera footage of the crash should contact Connecticut State Police at 860-534-1000 or email victor.mejias@ct.gov.

Staff writers Liz Hardaway and Austin Mirmina contributed to this story.

This article originally published at Mass. man faces DUI charge in Wethersfield crash that killed two passengers.
The Government of Ecuador has reportedly withdrawn the environmental licence previously issued to Canadian mining company DPM Metals for the Loma Larga gold project, which is located in an environmentally sensitive region.

The move comes after mounting opposition from local residents and authorities, who warned that the project posed risks to the Quimsacocha water reserve and could threaten community health.

The Quimsacocha reserve, covering more than 3,200 hectares, is part of the Andean "paramo" ecosystem, a crucial highland moor. Its springs are a key water source in the South American country, reported Reuters.

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The Environment and Energy Ministry said that this decision was made after technical reports were submitted by Cuenca and Azuay authorities, which are responsible for managing the regions water systems.

The ministry said: The national government reaffirms its commitment to the rights of nature, the defence of water sources, and, under the precautionary principle, the protection of the health and well-being of the people of Cuenca and Azuay.

Cuenca Mayor Cristian Zamora, a leading opponent of the project, expressed gratitude to national authorities for revoking the licence, calling it the result of a long struggle to safeguard local water resources.

DPM, which acquired Loma Larga in 2021, did not respond to requests for comment, reported the media outlet.

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According to DPM, the Loma Larga project was set to attract $419m (C$584.83m) in investments, with an average annual production of 200,000oz of gold in its initial five years.

In August, Ecuador suspended project activities pending an environmental management plan, despite initially granting a construction licence.

Although known for its gold and copper deposits, Ecuador has stopped mining projects due to local opposition and legal rulings, with only two mining companies currently operating in the country.

"Ecuador halts DPMs gold project over environmental concerns " was originally created and published by Investment Monitor, a GlobalData owned brand.




Vladimir Putins hybrid war is pushing Europe towards a deadly new Pearl Harbor moment, a former Lithuanian foreign minister has warned.

Gabrielius Landsbergis, who stepped down as the Baltic countrys most senior diplomat in November, told The Telegraph Nato was doing nothing in the face of brinkmanship by Russia, allowing Putin to drag the West closer to all-out conflict.

His concern follows a series of intensifying Russian provocations, including MiG-31 fighter jets breaching Estonian airspace and a drone barrage over Poland. As fighting continues in Ukraine, swarms of unidentified drones have caused mayhem at airports and spied on critical infrastructure in what officials fear is a new front in the Kremlins shadow war.

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Late on Saturday, Lithuania was forced to temporarily close its main airport after a series of hot air balloons flew close to the airspace. It is still not clear who launched the balloons.

Mr Landsbergis said: Are we accepting the reality that we might already be at war, or are we still believing we are in control? We are allowing higher and higher levels of escalation with no proper answers.

If that continues, we need to expect a Pearl Harbor day for Europe, when the escalation will be so impossible to ignore that it will bring about a Western reawakening.

The incursion by drones in Poland triggered Natos Article 4, which requires immediate talks between member states. Nato jets were scrambled to shoot them down, in the first direct military engagement between the alliance and Moscow.

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Mr Landsbergis fears that further encounters could trigger Natos Article 5, which treats an armed attack on one member as an attack on all. Then, he said, it will already be too late  the Western alliance would be at war with Russia.

Over the past year, Mr Landsbergis has been increasingly critical of Natos lack of response to Russias hybrid war. In a sarcastic recent post on X, he said: Its reassuring to think that when the first shots of WWIII are fired we will be able to turn to each other and honestly say that we tried, for as long as was humanly possible, to protect Russias money.

Given Lithuanias position on Natos eastern flank, Mr Landsbergis is clear-eyed and pragmatic about the threat Europe has faced since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 when its intelligence services unleashed a campaign of sabotage, including arson attacks, undersea cable cutting, cyber attacks and election interference.

Mr Landsbergis said: I argued then in 2022 that Nato should have reacted, but here we are again. Its a clear escalation and yet we do nothing.

One of three Russian MiG-31 jets that flew into Estonian air space on Sept 19 - AFP

He also questioned the use of terms such as hybrid or grey zone to discuss hostile acts that sit in the murky area between war and peace.

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He said: I use the word operation because it is planned by the Russian military, has clear military and political goals and is part of the overall strategy of a special military operation against the West.

Nato officials and analysts warn that Russias drone tactics are designed to test the alliances resolve  where its red lines stand and how far they can be pushed.

This is exactly why Russia is playing with it and testing the waters, said Mr Landsbergis. Putin now understands that 20 drones flown into Poland amounts to Article 4, 12 minutes in Estonian airspace is still not Article 5. He will keep pushing that line.

In response to the drone incidents, Nato has launched Eastern Sentry, a series of aircraft patrols along its eastern front, and Europe has accelerated plans to fund a drone wall.

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Days of intense discussions in Brussels led to Nato warning Russia that it was prepared to use all military tools to counter invasions of its airspace. Yet it did not set clear red lines for when that might happen.

Mr Landsbergis said: What we are seeing is strategic communication instead of strategic action.

He said there were several ways to enforce a red line, including telling Russia that if it violates Nato airspace again, Ukraine would be given Germanys Taurus missiles or American Tomahawks to destroy drone launch sites. That prospect is likely to rattle Moscow because both types of long-range missile are capable of hitting the Russian capital from Kyiv.

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Even if such a weapons transfer remains unlikely, clearly defined and enforceable red lines were needed to show Russia that Nato is united and there would be a response, Mr Landsbergis said.

The Russian provocations have also exposed a lack of consensus in Europe and Nato on threat perception, raising questions over whether there will be agreement on the exact circumstances that would trigger Article 5.

Mette Frederiksen, the prime minister of Denmark, is one of those expressing concern. After a series of drones buzzed over six Danish airports and military bases, she said at an EU summit that it was the most dangerous time for Europe since the Second World War.

But at the same summit, other European leaders, including Emmanuel Macron and Giorgia Meloni, did not call for action, but for restraint, emphasising the need to avoid escalation.

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Mr Landsbergis sees such apparent passivity as the geopolitical Groundhog Day still stuck on repeat, saying: Instead of asking will we risk starting World War Three, the question is: will we risk stopping it?

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Europe believes Russia is behind a spate of mysterious drone sightings across the continent but "can't prove it," Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof told the Kyiv Independent on Oct. 6.

Speaking during a visit to Kyiv, Schoof was asked if there was a consensus among European countries about who was responsible.

"Yes of course," he said, adding: "Unfortunately, we cannot prove who is behind it, but there's a lot of thinking that maybe it's the Russians, but we cannot prove it."

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Over the last few weeks, drones have violated the airspace of at least eight European countries  Denmark, Lithuania, Finland, Estonia, Romania, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Several airports including the Netherlands' Schiphol Airport have been forced to temporarily halt flights. At Germany's Munich Airport on Oct. 2, when drone sightings grounded 17 flights and affected nearly 3,000 passengers.

Drones have also been sighted over military bases and energy infrastructure including the Karup Air Base in Denmark, and a power plant in Finland.

"I hope that one day we can prove either it's the Russians or it's something else," Schoof said, adding: "But it is really worrying that they are now around our infrastructure, around our airports, and I think we have to step up our security in that respect."

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The wave of sightings has raised concerns amid heightened tensions between Moscow and NATO following a series of Russian airspace violations.

Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, Russia, on Oct. 2, President Vladimir Putin mocked European concern over drone sightings.

When asked by a moderator, "Why have you sent so many drones to Denmark? Putin laughed and replied, "I wont do it anymore." He denied Russian involvement in recent drone activity and likened the sightings to UFO reports.

In September, Polish forces shot down several Russian drones that entered their airspace. Days later, a Russian drone breached Romanian territory, though Bucharest chose not to engage it.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sept. 28 that intelligence reports indicate Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of oil tankers is being used to "launch and control" Russian drones over European cities.

German outlet Spiegel reported on Oct. 2 that investigators are examining potential links between the unidentified drones spotted over northern Germany.

Read also: As mysterious drone sightings increase, this is what Russia has to gain from them

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Since the start of 2025, a video circulated online purportedly showing a stray dog being the first to cross the newly re-opened Hungary-Romania border after Romania became a full Schengen member on the first day of that year. Europe's Schengen area consists of a group of countries that benefit from easier travel between fellow member nations.

The footage appeared on social media platforms such as Reddit (archived) and TikTok (archived) where it received widespread engagement. One X post featuring the video (archived) was captioned: "A stray dog accidentally becomes the first to cross the border between Romania and Hungary after Romania became a full member of the European Union," while the Reddit post added that it was "after Romania became a full member of the European Union's Schengen area."

A stray dog accidentally becomes the first to cross the border between Romania and Hungary after Romania became a full member of the European Union.



pic.twitter.com/uNmMD18iUG  Be Believing (@Be_Believing) September 27, 2025

Multiple news outlets, including Yahoo! News and Australia's SBS News, also reported on the video in early January 2025.

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The owner of the video, the manager of a Facebook page named Plastilina Foto, confirmed via Messenger that the clip was real and was not the product of artificial intelligence. There were also no signs that the footage was AI-generated. However, it was not possible to independently confirm that the dog was the very first to cross the Hungary-Romania border after the latter became a full Schengen member, nor was it possible to independently verify that the dog was a stray.

There were reportedly at least 12 road crossings between the two countries in January 2025 and Snopes could not rule out the possibility of another person or creature crossing one of those points before the dog did. As such, we have not applied a rating to the claim.

What is the Schengen area?

According to the official Council of the European Union website, the Schengen area is the "largest free travel area in the world," named after a village in Luxembourg "where the Schengen Agreement and the Schengen Convention were signed in 1985 and in 1990 respectively."

Citizens of countries in the Schengen area are able to travel to other member countries without going through border control. As of this writing, all members of the European Union, except Ireland and Cyprus, and all members of the European Free Trade Association are part of the Schengen area, with Romania and Bulgaria joining in January 2025.

Source of the video

The manager of the Plastilina Foto Facebook page posted the footage (archived) on Jan. 1, 2025, hours after the border reopening. The fireworks audible off-camera helped authenticate that it was captured on New Year's. He confirmed via Messenger that it was authentic and that he recorded the video "the night when Romania entered the Schengen area." He explained that the dog crossed from Hungary into Romania, which matched up with when the flags visible in the video appeared.

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A nonprofit charity called Save The Dogs and Other Animals published an article in late January claiming that the incident occurred at the Vama Patea border crossing. Details visible in publicly available images of the crossing on Google Street View matched with details in Plastilina Foto's video, as shown below, where the positioning and color of buildings, a sign and a window all corresponded. Therefore it was possible to confirm that this is where the footage was recorded.

(Plastilina Foto / Google Street View)

Snopes contacted spokespeople from the Hungarian and Romanian police forces to ask whether the alleged stray dog was the first to cross the Hungary-Romania border when it reopened Jan. 1. We will update this story if we receive a response.

ATV Hungary, a privately owned news channel, broadcast a follow-up on the dog. The reporters named him Schengen after his border-crossing shenanigans. According to the segment, a former border guard adopted Schengen and he now lives on a farm with other dogs.

For more on dogs in strange scenarios, Snopes investigated the claim that a dog received a medal for defusing a bomb by urinating on it.

Sources:

Bulgaria and Romania Join the Schengen Area - European Commission. https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/bulgaria-and-romania-join-schengen-area-2025-01-03_en.

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Bulgaria and Romania Join the Schengen Area - Migration and Home Affairs. https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/bulgaria-and-romania-join-schengen-area-2025-01-03_en. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

Cyprus  EU Country Profile | European Union. https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/eu-countries/cyprus_en. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

Dapcevich, Madison. "Dog Received WWII-Era Medal for Urinating on and Defusing Bomb?" Snopes, 31 Jan. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/dog-bomb-wwii/.

EU Countries | European Union. https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/eu-countries_en.

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European Council | Council of the European Union, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/.

Homepage | European Free Trade Association. https://www.efta.int/.

Hungary's Very Own Elmer Gantry?  Hungarian Spectrum. 6 Jul. 2020, https://web.archive.org/web/20200706230232/https://hungarianspectrum.org/2020/06/27/hungarys-very-own-elmer-gantry/.

Ireland  EU Country Profile | European Union. https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/eu-countries/ireland_en. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

"Latest News & Headlines from Australia and the World." SBS News, 30 Sep. 2025, https://www.sbs.com.au/news.

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Moment of Relief as Romania and Bulgaria Join EU Border-Free Zone. 12 Dec. 2024, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4xjj4xde3o.

"The Schengen Area Explained." European Council | Council of the European Union, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/schengen-area/#members.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  Somewhat-humid air is present across New Mexico with little to no rainfall. East-gap winds are picking up from eastern areas into parts of the Rio Grande Valley, while the very patchy fog is developing in the northern valley floors to far-eastern parts of the region.

Around-freezing temperatures are confined to the Northern Mountain peaks to the far-northern valley floors, while elsewhere is mostly starting off in the 40s to the 60s.

Lower pressure aloft from the west is moving closer into the Land of Enchantment, and in combination with a drop in the jet stream meeting up with the low-level moisture from the east, more precipitation is ahead. Many areas in the mountains will receive rainfall with wet snowfall in the higher-mountain peaks in Northern New Mexico to Colorado, while thunderstorms will form in parts of the lower elevations.

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Some sunshine before any precipitation will allow afternoon temperatures to reach on either side of normal. High temperatures will mostly range the upper 60s and lower 80s, except for northern highly-elevated areas through the Northeast Highlands which may not get out of the 50s, while far-southern to southwestern areas will be in the low 90s.

Some low-level moisture has arrived at the surface from the east as the pendulum swing pattern of somewhat-muggy mornings out east with breezy easterly winds shifting to southwesterly drier winds in the afternoons forming storms to the east will still continue. The fall system will linger around with some moisture, cooler air, and gustier winds from the west ahead.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
The Czech Republic's far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party is demanding Cabinet posts following elections in which it took 15 of the 200 seats in the Prague parliament.

"We would like to have at least one ministry, rather two," SPD head Tomio Okamura said following talks on Monday with President Petr Pavel. The specific posts were still under discussion, Okamura said.

In its campaign, the SPD called for the introduction of referendums, including on continued Czech membership of NATO and the European Union.

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The right-wing populist ANO headed by former prime minister Andrej Babis emerged the frontrunner with 80 seats in the elections held on Friday and Saturday.

Babis, a billionaire with large media interests, stated that he was aiming for a minority government on the basis of a coalition with the SPD and the newly formed motorists party, which opposes green policies and has won 13 seats.

The three parties would hold a parliamentary majority of 108 seats.

Pavel, a former general who has chaired NATO's Military Committee, is holding talks with all party leaders. He said he would convene parliament at the beginning of November.

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Under the constitution, the president is tasked with naming the new prime minister, who must be confirmed in office by parliament within 30 days.

The Czech Republic has been a NATO partner since 1999 and an EU member since 2004. The country shares a border of more than 800 kilometres with Germany.
Doral Renewables LLC, an independent power producer specializing in utility-scale solar and battery storage projects, has executed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with an unnamed corporate buyer for 75 percent of the energy output from its 430-megawatt alternating current (MWac) Cold Creek Solar Project, the company announced Monday. The PPA also covers 100 percent of the associated Renewable Energy Credits.

The Cold Creek Solar Project is located in Schleicher and Tom Green Counties, Texas. The facility is expected to generate more than one million megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity annually. With this agreement, Doral Renewables stated that its total contracted energy generation across its portfolio has increased to over 1.6 gigawatts (GW). The project represents a significant expansion of the company's contracted capacity, signaling continued growth in the utility-scale solar sector.

The execution of large-scale renewable energy PPAs with corporate entities reflects a broader market trend where commercial and industrial companies are increasingly procuring clean energy to meet sustainability targets and manage long-term energy costs. A 430 MWac project of this scale is among the largest single solar contracts in Texas, a state that leads the nation in green energy development. This PPA contributes to the growing demand for large-scale, long-term power contracts that stabilize the market for solar development. The contracted energy and Renewable Energy Credits will enable the corporate buyer to offset a substantial portion of its carbon footprint.

The development of the Cold Creek Solar Project is projected by Doral Renewables to bring various local benefits to the central Texas region. The company stated the project will support community initiatives, including road improvements and assistance for emergency responders. During the construction phase, the company estimates that the project will create hundreds of jobs for local and regional residents.

Sean Boyle, vice president, Markets of Doral Renewables, provided comment on the new PPA.

"This new relationship is a substantial accomplishment and a foundational agreement as Doral continues to expand its operating portfolio across the country," said Boyle. He added that the ability to secure a contract with the corporate buyer is a "testament to our business plan and commitment to new renewable energy projects across the United States," according to the company's release.

The Cold Creek Solar project is an example of the ongoing transition in the energy generation mix, with utility-scale solar projects playing a larger role in supplying power to the Texas Interconnection, or ERCOT market. Projects like Cold Creek also create new infrastructure and economic activity in rural counties, a key factor in securing local support for renewable developments.
Greta Thunberg landed in Greece on Monday, 6 October, after being deported from Israel alongside 170 other members of the Global Sumud Flotilla.

The Swedish climate activist, 22, was part of an international flotilla of 42 boats that were intercepted by Israel last week. The flotilla was seeking to break Israels naval blockade of Gaza and deliver a symbolic amount of aid to the famine-stricken territory.

Israel said it deported members of the flotilla, sending them to Greece and Slovakia.

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Several activists returning home have alleged abuse and humiliation by Israeli guards. Israels foreign ministry earlier described reports that detainees had been mistreated as "complete lies".

In a statement, they claimed that the only violent incident involved a provocateur who bit a female medical staff member of Ketsiyot Prison.
The Florida Department of Transportation on Sunday evening began removing the pride-themed crosswalk on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach.

The Herald observed workers removing the rainbow pavers from the LGBTQ+ crosswalk at the intersection of Ocean Drive and 12th Street shortly after 6 p.m. The crew was seen operating an excavator, and slamming what appeared to be a sledgehammer, to pull out the colorful sidewalk pavers.

A crowd of onlookers  beachgoers, residents and drag queens  formed as the workers removed the crosswalk.

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Put a mask on so nobody sees who you are! Youre ashamed! one man shouted. You feel good about this?

Workers remove part of the rainbow crosswalk intersection of Ocean Drive and 12th Street in Miami Beach on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025.

Part of 12th Street before the crosswalk was closed to traffic.

Part of 12th Street is closed after workers remove part of the rainbow sidewalk at the intersection of Ocean Drive and 12th Street in Miami Beach on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025.

The crosswalks removal comes after FDOT ordered local governments, including Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Key West, to remove pavement art associated with social, political, or ideological messages  or risk losing state funding.

READ MORE: Floridas rainbow crosswalks are being painted over. Miami Beach could be next

Workers remove part of the rainbow sidewalk at the intersection of Ocean Drive and 12th Street in Miami Beach on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025.

The rainbow crosswalk is steps away from Twist, a well-known gay bar nearby on South Beach.

FDOT didnt respond to the Miami Heralds request for comment as of Sunday evening.

Why waste so many resources?

CC Glitzer, Akasha OHara Lords and TP Lords were getting ready for a show at Palace Bar & Restaurant, a bar on Ocean Drive that hosts drag performances, when they heard about the crosswalk.

From left to right TP Lords, CC Glitzer and Akasha OHara Lords pose for a photo holding Miami Beach Forever Proud signs as FDOT removes a rainbow-themed crosswalk.

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Its very emotional to see that our people and our pride is getting erased just like that. Its very painful, said CC Glitzer, who moved to Miami Beach from Germany. This is where we perform, where we live, where we show our craft and our art.

As the trio chanted Miami Beach Forever Proud, they waved signs with the same slogan.

They can erase the colors out of the street, but they can never remove the colors out of people, CC Glitzer said.

Miami Beach will forever be a proud and inclusive community  despite the states efforts to chip away at [those values] one brick at a time, Commissioner Alex Fernandez said.

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Fernandez added the city didnt get notice that the army of workers and heavy machinery would be on Ocean Drive on Sunday.

The Rainbow Crosswalk designed by Savino Miller studio, is made from terrazzo pavers, arranged in an Art Deco pattern at the intersection of Ocean Drive and 12th Street in the Historic Art Deco District of Miami Beach, Florida and seen here on Friday, September 12, 2025.

Why waste so many resources, so much taxpayer dollars to remove something that is safe, that is beautiful, that is iconic, that is embraced by everyone? the commissioner.

Angelo Lanza, 65, said he feels appalled that the state was removing the crosswalk without residents being informed. Lanza said he found out the decorative crosswalk was being removed as he was walking by.

Its a [beautiful] addition to Ocean Drive, said Lanza, who has lived in Miami Beach for 30 years. Its an Art Deco fixture... Its very upsetting for us that live here.

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John RZasa, 45, was returning from a day lounging on the beach when he and a friend noticed the decorative crosswalk was being removed.

This is the reason I moved to this neighborhood I saw a rainbow flag. I saw the rainbow sidewalk, said RZasa, who moved to South Beach during the COVID-19 pandemic. I felt comfortable. I felt at home.

The Rainbow Crosswalk designed by Savino Miller studio, is made from terrazzo pavers, arranged in an Art Deco pattern at the intersection of Ocean Drive and 12th Street in the Historic Art Deco District of Miami Beach, Florida and seen here on Friday, September 12, 2025.

RZasa added he plans on returning Monday to repaint the crosswalk rainbow.

Theres nobody here that wants it gone. Everyone wants it to stay, he said. This feels like an attack on the gay community right now.

In August, FDOT painted over the rainbow sidewalk located near the site of the 2016 Pulse Nightclub mass shooting in Orlando. The sidewalk was a memorial to the 49 people killed in the mass shooting at the gay nightclub.

READ MORE: Protesters swarm South Beach after state-ordered rainbow sidewalk removal. See photos

In a response days later, hundreds of Miami Beach residents and supporters protested the removal of the pride-themed sidewalks across the state. The Forever Proud March was organized by Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez and the Greater Miami LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
Who are Marwan Barghouti, Ahmad Saadat, Ibrahim Hamed, and Abbas al-Sayed?

As Israel, Hamas, and international mediators convened in Egypt on Monday, four high-profile Palestinian prisoners, Marwan Barghouti, Ahmad Saadat, Ibrahim Hamed, and Abbas al-Sayed, were expected to top Hamass list for release in any exchange for Israeli hostages it holds.

Marwan Barghouti: Fatah leader convicted of five murders

Barghouti, a senior Fatah figure and former head of the Tanzim militia in the West Bank, was a key leader of the Second Intifada. He was arrested in Ramallah during Operation Defensive Shield in April 2002 and later convicted in an Israeli civilian court of five counts of murder and other offenses; he is serving five life sentences, plus additional years.

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In April-May 2017, while leading a large prisoners hunger strike, Israels Prison Service released footage that it said showed Barghouti secretly eating in his cell, a clip his supporters called fabricated.

Barghouti remains one of the most popular Palestinian politicians, according to multiple surveys, and has frequently been mentioned in negotiations as a top Hamas demand.

Jailed Fatah official Marwan Barghouti (credit: REUTERS)

Ahmad Saadat: PFLP chief tied to the Zeevi assassination

Saadat became secretary-general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) in October 2001 after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) killed his predecessor, Abu Ali Mustafa. Israel holds him responsible for planning the 2001 assassination of Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi. After years under Palestinian Authority custody in Jericho, monitored by British and American wardens, the monitors withdrew, and the IDF raided the prison in March 2006, arresting Saadat. In 2008 an Israeli military court sentenced him to 30 years in prison.

Ibrahim Hamed: Hamas operations chief in the West Bank

Hamed served as a senior commander for Hamass Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades in the West Bank during the Second Intifada and was arrested in Ramallah in May 2006. He was convicted of orchestrating a series of major bombings, including the Cafe Moment bombing in Jerusalem (11 killed), the Hebrew University cafeteria bombing (9 killed), and other mass-casualty attacks. He received 54 consecutive life sentences for 46 murders.

Abbas al-Sayed: Mastermind of the 2002 Park Hotel massacre

Sayed, a senior Hamas operative from Tulkarm, helped plan the Passover night suicide bombing at Netanyas Park Hotel in March 2002, which killed 30 people and wounded about 160. He was convicted in the Tel Aviv District Court and sentenced to 35 life sentences; Israel has repeatedly excluded him from previous prisoner swaps.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul aims to deepen cooperation with key Gulf states to secure maritime routes and combat Iran's destabilizing policies.

Yemen's Houthi militia is a "terrorist organization" which threatens not only Israel but also the free movement of goods in the Red Sea, the conservative politician said on Monday on the sidelines of consultations between EU foreign ministers and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the emirate of Kuwait. This affects the Gulf states as well as Europe, Wadephul said.

Therefore, Wadephul called for action to put an end to the Houthis' attacks. During the discussion with GCC representatives on Sunday evening, he said there was a shared understanding of the need not only to address the symptoms but also to tackle the root causes.

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These, he asserted, lie in Iran, as it uses the Houthis to exert a destabilizing influence in the region.

There is an alignment of interests with many states in the region. In this context, "developing joint policy approaches now is of crucial importance," said the minister.

Meeting with foreign minister of Kuwait

On Monday morning, Wadephul first met his counterpart from Kuwait, Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, for a bilateral exchange.

Founded in 1981, the GCC includes the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Its aims include cooperation in foreign and security policy.

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At the first summit of EU and GCC leaders in 2024 in Brussels, a deepening of cooperation was decided.

Kuwait currently holds the GCC chair. The Gulf states have significant influence beyond the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf.
As mediator negotiations over US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan were due to get started on Monday, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is unexpectedly travelling on to Egypt in addition to Israel.

The conservative politician announced his unscheduled trip on the sidelines of a meeting of EU foreign ministers with the Gulf Cooperation Council in the Gulf emirate of Kuwait.

Talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Atty about the current negotiation situation are planned in the Egyptian capital Cairo on Tuesday, Wadephul said.

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"This week is the decisive week for the first phase [of Trump's Gaza peace plan] to succeed, for the hostages to be released, for humanitarian aid to reach the Gaza Strip, and for a ceasefire to truly be agreed upon," said Wadephul, adding: "Every effort is worth it for this."

Wadephul: Now craftsmanship is needed

He said he assumed that all parties involved would support the peace plan; He has only heard corresponding voices from the Gulf region as well, said Wadephul.

"These are good signs, but now craftsmanship must be done. I want to make my contributions to this," he said.

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Wadephul is meeting his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar and, before the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, relatives of hostages. The hostages remain "at the centre" of Germany's foreign policy efforts.

Originally, Wadephul only intended to visit the Gulf emirates of Qatar and Kuwait.

Qatar is considered a key mediator between Israel and the Palestinians due to its contacts with the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.
As mediator negotiations over US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan were due to get started on Monday, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is unexpectedly travelling on to Egypt in addition to Israel.

The conservative politician announced his unscheduled trip on the sidelines of a meeting of EU foreign ministers with the Gulf Cooperation Council in the Gulf emirate of Kuwait.

Talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Atty about the current negotiation situation are planned in the Egyptian capital Cairo on Tuesday, Wadephul said.

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"This week is the decisive week for the first phase [of Trump's Gaza peace plan] to succeed, for the hostages to be released, for humanitarian aid to reach the Gaza Strip, and for a ceasefire to truly be agreed upon," said Wadephul, adding: "Every effort is worth it for this."

Wadephul: Now craftsmanship is needed

He said he assumed that all parties involved would support the peace plan; He has only heard corresponding voices from the Gulf region as well, said Wadephul.

"These are good signs, but now craftsmanship must be done. I want to make my contributions to this," he said.

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Wadephul is meeting his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar and, before the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, relatives of hostages. The hostages remain "at the centre" of Germany's foreign policy efforts.

Originally, Wadephul only intended to visit the Gulf emirates of Qatar and Kuwait.

Qatar is considered a key mediator between Israel and the Palestinians due to its contacts with the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.

Mediator talks in Egypt

In Egypt, mediator talks about Trump's peace plan between representatives of Israel and Hamas are to take place on Monday.

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Hamas has agreed to parts of Trump's peace plan but has not explicitly accepted the laying down of arms included in it.

According to the plan, Hamas members who commit to peaceful coexistence and laying down their arms are to receive amnesty once all hostages have been released.

The trigger for the Gaza war was the massacre on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were abducted as hostages.

Since the beginning of the war, over 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Hamas, including numerous women and children.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he authorizes President Donald Trump to deploy 400 members of the Texas National Guard to Illinois, Oregon and other states to ensure safety for federal officials.

Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from sending National Guard troops to Oregon

Abbotts post is a response to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzkers social media post about the Presidents decision. He called on Abbott to withdraw support for the decision and refuse coordination.

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There is no reason a President should send military troops into a sovereign state without their knowledge, consent, or cooperation, Pritzker said.

Abbott stood by his decision, saying the Texas troops defend our country with pride.

You can either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let Texas Guard do it, Abbott said. No Guard can match the training, skill, and expertise of the Texas National Guard.

Abbott also touted that Texas currently has thousands of National Guard assisting with Border Security.

Along with deploying Texas Troops, the Associated Press said that Trump is also sending at least 300 California National Guard members to Oregon. This comes a day after an Oregon judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deploying members of Oregons guard to Portland, AP said.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
President Donald Trumps administration plans to deploy 300 Illinois National Guard troops to the Chicago region for at least 60 days, according to a memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to Illinois National Guard leadership and obtained by the Tribune.

In addition, likely hundreds of National Guard members from Texas were preparing to be sent to Illinois, Gov. JB Pritzker said late Sunday.

This evening, President Trump is ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States, Pritzker said, adding that the Illinois National Guard was informed of the Texas deployments and that no officials from the federal government had called him directly to discuss or coordinate. We must now start calling this what it is: Trumps Invasion. It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another states military troops.

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The developments capped a weekend of rapid-fire moves by the Trump administration as it escalated its immigration enforcement actions in Illinois and in Oregon, where Trump moved to send National Guard troops from California to evade a federal judges temporary restraining order.

In his memo to the Illinois National Guard issued Saturday, Hegseth informed Guard leadership that up to 300 of its members will be called into federal service effective immediately for a two-month period.

The president called on guard members to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Federal Protective Service and other federal government personnel who are performing Federal functions, including the enforcement of Federal law, and to protect Federal property, at locations where violent demonstrations against these functions are occurring or are likely to occur based on current threat assessments and planned operations, the memo stated.

Much of the historic move to federalize Illinois National Guard troops  over Pritzkers objections  was laid out by Pritzker on Saturday and was soon defended by the White House, while Democrats slammed it as a power grab by the president to sow fear and division.

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Saying the Trump administration issued him an ultimatum to Call up your troops, or we will, Pritzker said on Saturday that he would not deploy the states National Guard and contended a federal deployment over his objection is illegal. He has also vowed to go to court to stop it, previously citing the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which prohibits the military from conducting law enforcement activities on U.S. soil.

A spokesperson for Pritzker said Sunday that the governor has not communicated with Trump administration officials regarding the Illinois deployment.

The Governor did not receive any calls from any federal officials. The Illinois National Guard communicated to the Department of War that the situation in Illinois does not require the use of the military and, as a result, the Governor opposes the deployment of the National Guard under any status, the governors spokesperson said in an emailed response.

The White House said the troops were needed ostensibly to ensure the safety of federal agents and facilities that are part of Trumps immigration enforcement surge that has hit the Chicago area for the past month.

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The Hegseth memo didnt specify exactly where the deployments would take place, but said the chief of the National Guard Bureau, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the commander of U.S. Northern Command would coordinate details about the mobilization with the Illinois National Guard.

The White House confirmed on Sunday evening that the National Guard troops being called up to the Chicago area would be working without pay until the ongoing federal government shutdown, which began on Wednesday, is resolved.

Trumps moves in Illinois occurred while a federal judge who Trump appointed to the bench in Oregon on Saturday night blocked the presidents mobilization of 200 Oregon National Guard members in Portland. On Sunday, Trump sought to circumvent the temporary restraining order in Oregon by federalizing 300 National Guard members from California for deployment in Portland  a move California Gov. Gavin Newsom called a breathtaking abuse of power as he vowed legal action to try to stop it.

The Trump Administration is unapologetically attacking the rule of law itself and putting into action their dangerous words  ignoring court orders and treating judges, even those appointed by the President himself, as political opponents, Newsom said.

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Hours later, Pritzker said Trump was trying to do much of the same by likely sending hundreds of Texas National Guard members to Illinois.

I call on Governor Abbott to immediately withdraw any support for this decision and refuse to coordinate, Pritzker said of Texas Republican governor, who has long bickered with Pritzker. There is no reason a President should send military troops into a sovereign state without their knowledge, consent, or cooperation.

The brave men and women who serve in our national guards must not be used as political props. This is a moment where every American must speak up and help stop this madness, Pritzker said.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul did not have specific plans to file new lawsuits against the Trump administration following news of the Illinois National Guard deployment and the issuance of the Oregon temporary restraining order.

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Annie Thompson, a spokesperson for Raoul, said in a statement Sunday that the attorney general is firmly committed to upholding the Constitution and defending the rule of law.

Our office will not hesitate to take legal action in the event of any unlawful deployment anywhere in Illinois, Thompson said.

A spokesperson for Democratic Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, who filed suit seeking to block the Oregon National Guard deployment, said the office has been in touch and coordinating on legal strategy with Raouls office.

Rayfield spokesperson Jenny Hansson also said Democratic attorneys general have been working closely since January to hold the line on this administration.

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Speaking Sunday outside the White House as he prepared for a naval celebration in Norfolk, Virginia, Trump intimated that Pritzker was opposing efforts to bring in the National Guard to Illinois because it would anger opponents of immigration enforcement efforts, adding that protesters in Chicago and Portland are paid people.

He also said Pritzker was afraid for his life, apparently contending the governor does not want to run afoul of organizations and networks the administration alleges are behind the protests over enhanced immigration enforcement in the Chicago area.

Repeating as he often does basic Chicago police blotter statistics about murders and shootings and lauding his federalization of law enforcement in Washington, D.C., Trump criticized Pritzker, a major critic of the president, for saying what a wonderful place Chicago is when they need help.

I believe the politicians are under threat, because theres no way somebody can say that things are wonderful in Chicago, Trump said. Theres no city in the world like that. Were going to straighten it out. And I think that Pritzker, hes not a stupid person. I think that Pritzker is afraid for his life.

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Pritzker, speaking on CNNs State of the Union, said it was the Trump administration and federal agents participating in the raids who are the ones that are making it a war zone.

They want mayhem on the ground. They want to create the war zone so that they can send in even more troops, Pritzker said.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran who retired as a lieutenant colonel in the Illinois Army National Guard, sought to downplay potential confrontations with the Trump-ordered deployment of Illinois National Guard members.

So theyll be homegrown Illinoisans, and theyre our brothers and sisters, our neighbors. I probably served with quite a number of them, certainly the leadership. And, you know, theyll be home. Well welcome them, Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat, said on CBS News Face the Nation.

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Its a misuse of the National Guard. Theyre not needed, but were going to welcome them, because theyre our brothers and sisters, and were proud of our National Guard, she said.

Trumps National Guard plans also drew opposition from a coalition of business and civic groups.

Troop deployment could harm the meaningful progress being made to make Chicago safer by sowing fear and chaos, according to a statement from the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago and Civic Federation. The statement touted the work already underway to address violence in the city and described Trumps plans as a threat to our businesses bottom lines and our reputation.

In his comments outside the White House, Trump criticized Judge Karin Immergut  whom he appointed to the U.S. District Court in Oregon  for blocking the deployment of Oregon National Guard troops in Portland. Trump did not at that time mention his plans to send California National Guard members to the city.

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Immergut said Trumps basis for deploying the guard in Portland was simply untethered to the facts and that historic tradition boils down to a simple proposition: this is a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law. Allowing the troops to be deployed risk blurring the line between civil and military federal power  to the detriment of this nation, Immergut wrote.

Trump acknowledged appointing the judge but said, I wasnt served well.

Portland is burning to the ground. You have agitators, insurrectionists. All you have to do is look at that, look at the television, Trump said. That judge ought to be ashamed.

Immergut, in the ruling, also noted that state and local law enforcement will need to expend additional resources to quell increased civil unrest that is likely to result from the Guards mobilization.

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In addition to sending guard troops to Washington, Trump previously federalized guard troops in Los Angeles after sporadic anti-ICE protests in June, a move a federal judge said was illegal for domestic law enforcement. That ruling was stayed pending an appeal, and troops have remained deployed in Southern California. Newsom said those are the troops being sent to Oregon. Trump has also announced he was deploying the guard to Memphis with the support of Tennessee GOP Gov. Bill Lee.

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(Tribune reporter Jake Sheridan contributed.)

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The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Commission have announced the signing of a 400 million financing facility with the Palestine Monetary Authority (PMA) at the UN General Assembly in New York, following the approval of the EIBs Board in July.

The facility was designed to support the economic recovery and resilience of the Palestinian private sector, which continues to face significant disruption due to conflict and restrictions on movement and trade.

Structured as an intermediated facility, the operation channels EIB funds through the PMA and local financial institutions to improve access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and mid-cap firms. These enterprises constitute the majority of private sector employment in Palestine and are seen as central to stabilising local economic activity.

The financing forms part of the European Commissions Multiannual and Comprehensive Programme for Palestinian Recovery and Resilience, a 1.6 billion package for 20252027 combining grants, investment, and guarantees. Of this, 620 million has been allocated in direct support to the Palestinian Authority, 580 million to project funding in the West Bank and Gaza (when conditions permit), and 400 million through the EIB facility backed by an EU guarantee.

EIB President Nadia Calvino said the agreement aligned with the European Unions broader objective of supporting Palestines economic and financial stability. EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica described the facility as a step to improve access to affordable financing for local businesses and contribute to employment and resilience.

EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti noted that limited access to finance remained a critical challenge for Palestinian enterprises attempting to sustain operations and retain staff. She said the facility aimed to help revitalise private sector activity through increased lending capacity among local financial institutions.

Palestine Monetary Authority Governor Yahya Jawdat Shunnar said the initiative came at a critical time for local businesses, providing tools to maintain jobs and support growth under difficult conditions.

Since 1995, the EIB has provided around 1 billion in financing in Palestine, including risk-sharing instruments worth a further 120 million. In 2024, the Bank disbursed $192 million to the PMA, 40 million to Bank of Palestine, and signed a 20 million loan for wastewater infrastructure in Ramallah.

The Palestine Monetary Authority is the independent central institution responsible for regulating and supervising the Palestinian banking and financial sector. Established in 1994, the PMA functions as a modern central bank without a national currency, overseeing financial institutions, managing payment systems, and promoting inclusive financial policies. It plays a central role in safeguarding financial stability and supporting economic resilience across the West Bank and Gaza.
The Texas National Guard deployed Monday evening to "safeguard ... federal officials" operating in American cities at direction of President Donald Trump, Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed on Fox News.

Abbott did not say where the 400 guardsmen are being deployed and the Texas Military Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Though, some Texas National Guard members have been sighted in the Chicago area Tuesday morning, according to the Chicago Tribune.

"The president has the authority to call up the National Guard to assist in enforcing those laws, and that's exactly what the president is doing," Abbott told Sean Hannity on his show Monday evening. "What Texas is doing, we're assisting the president in that cause."

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Trump ordered the deployment of 400 members of the Texas National Guard to other states including Oregon and Illinois, according to Sunday social media posts from Abbott and Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who said the deployment targeted "Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States." He called it Trumps invasion, and called on Abbott to withdraw support for the move.

A federal judge temporarily blocked the mobilization of any state national guards to Oregon on Sunday evening. Illinois also sued on Monday to stop the deployment to its state. A federal judge declined to immediately block the deployment to Illinois giving the Trump Administration until Wednesday night to respond to the lawsuit.

Ten Democratic Congress members from Texas also demanded the immediate withdrawal of the state guards, calling the deployment of 200 troops so far to Illinois unlawful.

Our Guard members are citizen-soldiers who serve in disasters, defend our state, and serve overseas when required, the lawmakers said in a Tuesday letter to Abbott. Turning them into a domestic police force in another state  especially over that states objections  erodes public trust and undermines the Guards core mission.

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The deployment follows protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in both Portland and Chicago. Trump on Sunday claimed Portland was "burning to the ground," despite assurances by both the city's mayor and Oregon's governor that federal assistance was unnecessary. The president also threatened Monday to invoke the Insurrection Act in the city, "if it was necessary."

In announcing the guard's deployment Monday evening, Abbott posted a photo on X showing guardsmen wearing full military gear, some carrying riot shields, loading into the back of a military plane. He also posted a meme making fun of Pritzker and the Democratic governors of New York and California for their opposition to the deployment, claiming the Democrats were defending criminals.

Pritzker responded to Abbott's posts Monday, pointing to Abbott's 2024 claims that then-President Joe Biden was attempting a "power grab" of the Texas National Guard through proposals to transfer Air National Guard members to support Space Force without the consent of their governors.

"Illinois will not let the Trump Administration continue on their authoritarian march without resisting," Pritzker wrote. "We will use every lever at our disposal to stop this power grab because military troops should not be used against American communities."

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The mobilization follows protests at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities in these states that have led to arrests.

Texas also saw a shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas late last month, which killed two migrant detainees and injured another.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a memo about the Texas Guards mobilization that the orders will be effective immediately for an initial period of 60 days. They could also be extended where needed, including in Portland and Chicago, but it was unclear how the deployment would proceed.

This is not the first time Abbott has authorized the Texas National Guard in recent years.

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Earlier this year, the governor granted the Texas National Guard the authority to make immigration arrests through an agreement between the state and the Trump administration. The agreement allowed National Guard members to help detain and deport undocumented people in the state.

He also deployed more than 5,000 Texas National Guard troops to the sites of protests and demonstrations against immigration raids and deportations in June.

Anyone engaging in acts of violence or damaging property will be arrested and held accountable to the full extent of the law, Abbott said in a June news release announcing the deployment.

Even before Trump began his second term, Abbott dispatched about 10,000 Texas National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border as part of Operation Lone Star  the governors border security initiative.

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America must also know that Texas still has thousands of National Guard assisting with the Border security, Abbott said in his Sunday post.

Abbotts office has not responded to multiple requests for comment from The Texas Tribune.

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Weakened militarily and facing declining Palestinian support, particularly among residents of Gaza, Hamas was already a shadow of the militant group it once was. And then came President Donald Trumps peace plan.

On Oct. 3, 2025, Hamas said that it accepted some aspects of the 20-point proposal, including handing over administration of the Gaza Strip to a body of independent Palestinian technocrats and releasing all remaining Israeli hostages.

Those hostages are the last of the 252 taken during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack  an event that two years on looks to represent a high point, so to speak, of Hamas power. As an expert on Palestinian political attitudes, I believe the group now has few options to survive.

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Like former resistance groups in past peace processes, it could renounce arms and transform itself into a purely political party. But to do so, it needs to overcome a series of hurdles: confronting other parts of Trumps plan, its unpopularity at home, and its rigid ideology being the three most prominent.

Campaign of assassination

It is worth taking stock of just how degraded Hamas has become as a result of two years of onslaught by Israels vastly superior military.

According to many intelligence reports, Hamas has lost most of its senior command in the Al-Qassam Brigades, its military wing. Izz al-Din al-Haddad, its current commander, survives, having presumably taken over from Mohammed Sinwar  the brother of Yahya Sinwar, mastermind of Oct. 7 attack  who was killed in May 2025. But he presides over a dwindling army.

Trump may not have been exaggerating when he indicated on Truth Social on Oct. 3 that Hamas had lost 25,000 fighters. Estimates regarding the groups losses vary, but it could represent more than half of the fighting force it had at the beginning of the war.

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Hamas has succeeded in recruiting new fighters during that time. But many of these new recruits lack the competence and the experience of the dead ones. And the only motivations the new recruits have are hate and anger toward Israel.

Hamas political leadership has also been decimated. Chief political leaders, including Ismail Haniyeh, Saleh al-Arouri, and Yahya Sinwar, have all been killed.

Iranians walk past a billboard of the slain leaders of anti-Israeli groups, including former Hamas political chief Yahya Sinwar. (Getty Images)

And it could have been worse. Had the Israeli attack on Hamas political leadership in Doha, Qatar, succeeded in September 2025, it could have been a devastating loss for the movement. But the operation missed its primary targets there.

Falling support in Gaza

Palestinian public pressure on Hamas has risen as the miseries of war have mounted.

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According to local health officials, more than 67,000 have been killed and more than 169,000 have been injured. Most of the Gaza Strip has been reduced to rubble, and more than 90 percent of the population has been displaced multiple times, with most residents now living in tents. International organizations have reported famine and starvation in some parts of Gaza.

Hamas has lost its power and influence over many areas now under Israeli control. Israeli military and intelligence have encouraged some members of the local Palestinian clans and militia to offer services in militia-controlled areas.

In such areas, Hamas fighters have often clashed with other Palestinian groups, resulting in many deaths and growing resentment toward Hamas.

Hamas execution and torture of Palestinians suspected of collaboration with Israel has only worsened the situation, leading to chaos and lawlessness in many parts of Gaza.

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It is little wonder, then, that half of Palestinians in Gaza in the latest poll of attitudes  taken in May 2025  say they supported anti-Hamas demonstrations. Indeed, support for the group in both Gaza and the West Bank has continued to decline as the war has progressed.

The push for peace

The ongoing war and the inhumane daily conditions that local Palestinians in Gaza are dealing with have led to exhaustion and fatigue among the public.

On social media, many Palestinians are asking Hamas publicly to endorse the Trump plan and put an end to their misery.

In deciding whether to accept all the plans 20 points, Hamas will, from its perspective, have to weigh whether agreeing to a very bad outcome is better than the alternative. Trump has warned that a failure to get on board will cause Hamas to face all hell.

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Hamas has already agreed to release the remaining Israeli hostages and to relinquish power in Gaza to a technocratic Palestinian committee. If endorsed in full, this would put an end to the war and see the gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and no expulsion of the Palestinians out of Gaza.

Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey have been facilitating Hamas response to the plan. And there is huge regional and international pressure to get the deal over the line.

However, it would force Hamas to disarm itself and allow the entry of an international and regional force into Gaza to oversee the destruction of military infrastructure, including tunnels, weapons manufacturing, and the remaining rockets  points of the latest plan that Hamas appears more unwilling to accept.

What happens to the remaining Hamas fighters is a sticking point that might lead to the collapse of the whole plan.

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And any rejection of the plan that can be blamed on Hamas will no doubt be welcomed by members of the Israeli extreme right. Hard-line factions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus coalition have an alternative plan: to fully occupy Gaza, expel the Palestinians, and reestablish Israeli settlements in Gaza.

Getty

Where next for Hamas?

Perhaps the most viable option for Hamas is to transform itself into a political party. But to do so, the group will need to reform not only its structures but also its ideology.

Political momentum is swinging back to a two-state solution. France and Saudi Arabia recently spearheaded a fresh push to that end at the United Nations, and a host of Western nations recognized Palestinian statehood for the first time. Hamas may feel the pressure to finally accept a two-state solution, something it has long resisted. For its part, Trumps plan only makes vague assertions, noting the Palestinian aspiration for a state.

If transforming into a purely political party is to be the fate of Hamas, it will need to play its cards shrewdly and swiftly. The Palestine Liberation Organization went through this process after its departure from Beirut in 1982, eventually putting politics and diplomacy over armed resistance. And Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt can help Hamas moderate its stances, too.

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The rigid ideology of Hamas remains a hurdle. Since it was formed in 1987, Hamas has tethered itself to a hard-line Islamist ideology that does not allow fundamental compromises on issues such as recognition of Israel and the development of Palestine as a secular state.

But there is the recent example of Syria, where, following the ouster of long-term dictator Bashar Assad, the main Islamist fighting group pivoted to politics  and was lauded in the international community for doing so.

Whether Hamas can succeed in such a transformation  should it even attempt to  remains to be seen. And there is one final snag: Even if Hamas does accept the latest peace proposal, other Palestinian militant groups in Gaza might not  and could attempt to sabotage the whole process.

Mkhaimar Abusada, Visiting Scholar of Global Affairs, Northwestern University

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This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The post Will Hamas Accept Trumps Plan and Political Reform? appeared first on Katie Couric Media.
Hamas is in a muddle. Should it stay or should it go? Can its leadership accept disarmament and exile to save Gaza from further Israeli bombardment, release its remaining hostages, and leave the future enclave to a foreign occupation  in the name of peace?

The Islamic Resistance Movement, as Hamas is strictly known, knows what it is when its fighting. It is a mess when it is not at war.

And now it may be close to irrelevant. For a militant movement that has built its worldview on martyrdom and has been prepared to provoke staggering violence from Israel, Hamas knows that its irrelevance is now existential.

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From its own perspective, the atrocities of October 7 2023 when it killed 1,139 people, including 36 children, 71 foreigners and 373 members of the Israeli security forces, have had the result of provoking a local clash of civilisations.

In the logic of the Islamic Resistance, Israels brutal reaction to the murders and capture of 250 hostages has been so unconscionable that Israel is now facing more international pressure and condemnation than it has since the Seventies and Eighties, when it was the subject of global opprobrium and some sanctions. That is success.

The cost to Palestinians, some 67,000 killed, according to local officials  more than half of them women and children  has perhaps now become too much even for Hamas to bear. Its negotiators in Qatar were reported to have accepted several ceasefire deals that Benjamin Netanyahus government rejected over recent months.

Hamas chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, was one of the targets of Israels bombing raids against his Qatari offices. Still, he has headed to Egypt this week for talks with US mediators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, and Israeli negotiators, who include spy chiefs from Mossad and Shin Bet (who were responsible for targeting him).

Hamas militants secure an area before handing over an Israeli hostage in February (AFP/Getty)

Hamas has indicated that it wants a ceasefire in return for releasing the remaining Israeli hostages  about 20 still alive and 28 bodies. The US proposals, endorsed by Israel but merely welcomed by many others in the region as an effort to achieve peace, require that Hamas disband, disarm, and disappear.

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Hamas could do that. Its own charter is a sufficient muddle to allow for compromise (aside from the hope for personal survival among its less fanatical members).

Article 20 of its 1988 Charter says: Without compromising its rejection of the Zionist entity [Israel] and without relinquishing any Palestinian rights, Hamas considers the establishment of a fully sovereign and independent Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital along the lines of the 4th of June 1967, with the return of the refugees and the displaced to their homes from which they were expelled, to be a formula of national consensus.

This means that Hamas, reluctantly, accepts that Israel exists as such and that a two-state solution is in the interests of Palestinians  because the movement understands most Palestinians would accept such a scenario.

Trumps proposals require both sides to reignite their efforts to pursue a lasting peace through talks intended to establish a viable Palestinian, as well as a safe Israeli, state.

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Article 16 of the same charter is intended to snuff out allegations that Hamas is an antisemitic organisation: Hamas affirms that its conflict is with the Zionist project, not with the Jews because of their religion. Hamas does not wage a struggle against the Jews because they are Jewish, but wages a struggle against the Zionists who occupy Palestine.

So, Hamas doesnt actually have to fight on.

But confusingly, the first part of article 20 appears to demand the destruction of the state of Israel as such: Hamas believes that no part of the land of Palestine shall be compromised or conceded, irrespective of the causes, the circumstances and the pressures and no matter how long the occupation lasts. Hamas rejects any alternative to the full and complete liberation of Palestine, from the [Jordan] river to the [Mediterranean] sea.

So Hamas maybe does have to carry on its campaigns until it controls all of what is now both Palestinian and Israeli territory.

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These tensions are likely to be graphic on the ground. Hamas leadership in Gaza has a very different view of the war from those who enjoy the comforts of exile already.

Khalil al-Hayya, chief negotiator for Hamas in Qatar (AP)

They will also be aware that, as an organisation that is fundamentally all about liberating Palestinian lands from what it considers a Zionist entity, Hamas can either lead grassroots militancy or it can watch from the sidelines.

There are dozens of groups of men and women in Gaza and on the West Bank for whom peace with Israel can only come when they, at least, have forced a viable state of Palestine into existence.

Many take arms, training, and money from Hamas and its Iranian backers. But they are already outside of its command structures. They are a wave that Hamas can ride or drown in its turbulence.

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Israels mass killings, its use of starvation as a tactic of war, and its own claims to the same land from the river to the sea, which is part of Netanyahus Likud Partys charter too, has driven many young people to consider violence the only viable option in a hopeless existence.

Those feelings will deepen and fire more violence unless they can see a near prospect of real emancipation because of a return to genuine peace talks and the close vision of a Palestinian state.

Hamas has always used violence to destroy that hope  and blow up diplomatic advances at the same time.

Hamas has a record of causing chaos and surfing its waves. It is unlikely to give that up  and Israel is just as unlikely to offer the hope to Palestinians to end the occupation that gave rise to the Islamic Resistance Movement in the first place.
The home secretary has refused to describe China as an enemy of the UK as she insisted there was no ministerial interference in the collapse of a Chinese espionage case.

Shabana Mahmood said she was very disappointed that the trial of Christopher Berry, 33, and Chris Cash, 30, a former parliamentary researcher, did not go ahead, as she was grilled over whether there was any influence from government advisers over the decision. Both men had denied the allegations.

The Sunday Times reported that Sir Keir Starmers national security adviser Jonathan Powell met with other senior Whitehall mandarins, including the foreign office's top civil servant Sir Oliver Robbins, to discuss the case early last month, days before the charges against the pair were dropped on 15 September.

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In order to prove the case under the Official Secrets Act, prosecutors would have had to show the defendants were acting for an enemy  but Mr Powell reportedly revealed the governments evidence would be based on the national security strategy, which does not use that term to describe China.

The Sunday Times reported this meant Matthew Collins, the deputy national security adviser due to give evidence for the prosecution, would be unable to say Beijing was an enemy.

Christopher Berry (left) and former parliamentary researcher Christopher Cash (right) who had denied the Chinese spying allegations (PA Archive)

Ms Mahmood said that she was not aware of any Whitehall meeting taking place to discuss the case, and insisted that there was no ministerial involvement, although the Sunday Times report focused on the actions of officials, rather than ministers.

Ms Mahmood told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: I don't recognise that reporting about a meeting, I'm not aware of any such meeting taking place.

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It was a decision of the Crown Prosecution Service, as they have made clear themselves, an independent decision on whether to proceed with that prosecution.

I'm very disappointed that that prosecution has not proceeded. Our understanding is that the evidence that was available to the Crown Prosecution Service when they brought the charges is not materially different to the evidence that they had just before the trial was due to get under way.

So, I think it's a question for the prosecution service to answer, but as the government, the home office, we very much wanted to see that trial proceed."

It has been reported that national security adviser Jonathan Powell met with other senior Whitehall mandarins to discuss the case early last month (PA Archive)

Asked if China was an enemy of the UK, she said: "China is a 'challenge', is, I think, the word that I would use."

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She said Sir Keirs government had a "hard-headed, realistic approach" to the Chinese state.

Stephen Parkinson, chief prosecutor in England and Wales, had said the CPS had determined the proceedings in the China spy case had to be stopped because of an "evidential failure".

Shadow national security minister Alicia Kearns, who had previously employed Mr Cash, said: "There are serious questions about constitutional impropriety.

"Starmer must find some backbone and root out the truth. Either his ministers or his most senior advisers acted to spike the CPS' ability to prosecute with his full knowledge, or in contempt of PM - which is it?"

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Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith pointed to areas such as UK universities' reliance on the income from Chinese students to say "we are now uniquely tied to China and its brutal regime".

"We are seen as the soft underbelly of the Western alliance," he said.

"Small wonder Downing Street does China's bidding in shutting down the spy prosecution."

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick told a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference: I think China is an enemy of this country.

I think its a real, serious threat to our values, our economic and our national security, and all decisions must flow from that.

If someone is spying on our Parliament on behalf of China, lock them up, send them to jail for a long time.
Amid escalating tensions in Chicago over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents on Saturday shot and wounded a woman they alleged was part of a convoy of protesters that rammed their vehicles during an "ambush."

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Border Patrol agents opened fire on the woman in self-defense, alleging she was armed with a semiautomatic weapon and was driving one of three vehicles that "cornered" and rammed the CBP agents' vehicles.

Courtesy of Mai Bee/WLS - PHOTO: Customs and Border Patrol agents clash with protesters in Chicago, Oct. 4, 2025.

Describing the incident as "really strange," Noem alleged that before the shooting, a caravan of 10 vehicles was following the CBP agents and officers through the streets of Chicago.

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"They had followed them and gotten them cornered, pinned them down and then our agents, when getting out of their cars, they tried to run them over and had semiautomatic handguns on them to where our agents had to protect themselves and shots were fired and an individual ended up in the hospital that was attacking these officers," Noem said in a statement on Sunday.



The woman who was shot was identified by the DHS on Sunday as Marimar Martinez. DHS officials referred to Martinez and the other protesters involved in the incident as "domestic terrorists."

WLS - PHOTO: Demonstrators march in Chicago, Oct. 4, 2025, in protest of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

"The scene became increasingly violent as more domestic terrorists gathered and began throwing smoke, gas, rocks, and bottles at DHS law enforcement," the DHS alleged in its statement.

Noem alleged that Martinez had previously threatened the CBP agents, shouting expletives at them and "told them that they all needed to go down."

Scott Olson/Getty Images - PHOTO: A federal law enforcement agents confronts demonstrators from the turret of an armored vehicle during a protest outside an immigrant processing and detention center on Oct. 3, 2025, in Broadview, Illinois.

The DHS alleged in its statement that Martinez also "has a history of doxxing federal agents."



The FBI took Martinez into custody after she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released from a hospital, according to the DHS.

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An alleged driver of a second vehicle in the protest convoy was also accused of ramming the CBP vehicles and taken into custody. He was identified as Anthony Ian Ruiz, according to the DHS.

Courtesy of Mai Bee/WLS - PHOTO: Protesters and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers clash in Chicago, Oct. 4, 2025.

DHS officials also alleged that as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were responding to the Saturday morning shooting, "a domestic terrorist followed them and rammed their vehicle in an attempt to run them off the road."

"An ICE vehicle popped a tire and was subsequently mobbed by domestic terrorists, forcing law enforcement to abandon the vehicle for their own safety. The vehicle was significantly damaged," according to the DHS.

Jim Vondruska/Reuters - PHOTO: USBP Chief Patrol Agent of the El Centro sector, Greg Bovino, stands on a street corner with federal agents after patrolling several tourist districts in the downtown area of Chicago, Sept. 28, 2025.

The name of the suspected driver who allegedly attempted to run the ICE vehicle off the road was not immediately released. Officials said the suspect was arrested and is in the custody of Homeland Security Investigations.

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Several CBP officers were injured during the confrontations on Saturday and taken to hospitals for treatment, according to the DHS.

"We will not allow domestic terrorists to attack our law enforcement. If you lay a hand on law enforcement, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.

Noem said DHS intelligence indicates that the group involved in Saturday's clash with CBP agents are "organized" and are recruiting more people to join them. Noem said the group is "making plans to ambush and to kill" immigration officers.

"We have specific officers and agents that have bounties that have been put on their heads. It's about $2,000 to kidnap them, $10,000 to kill them," Noem said.

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The violent encounters on Saturday came as Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said President Donald Trump will send in 300 National Guard troops despite his repeated rejections of federal mobilization to Chicago.

Erik S Lesser/EPA via Shutterstock - PHOTO: Illinois Governor JB Pritzker speaks at the Georgia Democratic Party's 2025 Carter-Lewis Dinner in Atlanta, Oct. 3, 2025. Pritzker was the keynote speaker at the event.

Pritzker said in social media posts that the Trump administration had given him an ultimatum: "Call up your troops, or we will."

"In the coming hours, the Trump administration intends to federalize 300 members of the Illinois National Guard," the governor said.

Noem confirmed the order during an interview with conservative host Benny Johnson.

Video Protesters clash with federal agents in Chicago as ICE raids continue

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"I sent a request to [Defense] Secretary [Pete] Hegseth. Will be rolling in in the next 24 hours. I put a request in for them to Chicago," Noem said adding that she also put in a request for Portland, Oregon.

Noem said she was sending reinforcements to Chicago.

"I am deploying more special operations to control the scene. Reinforcements are on their way. If you see a law enforcement officer today, thank them," she said in a statement.

As protests broke out in Chicago, armed border patrol agents deployed what appeared to be chemical irritants toward protesters.

"Even with all the masks, it still burns a lot. And a lot of the people actually only had masks and water," Aida Flores, a protester who filmed the confrontation, said during a Facebook livestream.

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Over the last month, Trump has threatened to send the National Guard into cities, particularly Democratic-run ones, to curb crime and bolster immigration enforcement agents.

WLS - PHOTO: Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on the roof of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Ill., Oct. 3, 2025.

He sent the National Guard to Washington, D.C., in August. Service members were sent to transit, parks and other areas.

"This country is a country of laws. If you don't like the laws, go change them. We are enforcing them. That is sending a message to the whole world," Noem told Johnson on Friday.

Pritzker has not been shy about his opposition to Trump and his threats of federal deployment

"They will pull hardworking Americans out of their regular jobs and away from their families all to participate in a manufactured performance -- not a serious effort the protect public safety. For Donald Trump, this has never been about safety. This is about control," the governor said.
Al-Hassan al-Marani is named as the Houthi man weaving a network of militia connections in terrorism." He oversaw the release of al-Qaeda members after subjecting them to military programs.

The Houthis have woven a complex network of connections to other terrorist and militia groups in the Middle Eastern region. A new article at Al-Ain Arabic media, which is usually based on good sources, reveals the role of one of the key figures in the Iranian-backed regime.

Al-Hassan al-Marani is named as the Houthi man weaving a network of militia connections in terrorism. The report says that over the years, the Houthi militia has been weaving a complex network of relationships with terrorist organizations in its regional environment, and Hassan Al-Marani is responsible for this file.

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An article at the Counter Extremism Project, Eyes of the Regime: How the Houthi Security and Intelligence Service Ensures Political Domination in Yemen, described Marani as a key figure in the Houthi intelligence system.

As early as 2017, Hassan al-Marrani was appointed director of the Intelligence Department in the National Security Bureau. In 2018, al-Marrani was also serving in the ostensibly benign role of director general at the Yemeni Economic Corporation. In this capacity, according to a leaked document, he worked to promote Houthi recruitment by calling for the speedy preparation of lists of the names of employees who are ready to participate in the war and submitting them to administrative affairs for qualification, within three days.

Pivotal figure in managing Houthi relations with Al-Qaeda linked orgs.

Al-Ain says also that he serves as the Houthis' deputy security and intelligence chief for the internal security sector and holds the rank of major general, has become a pivotal figure in managing the group's relations with al-Qaeda-linked organizations. The new report says that he has become the mastermind behind terrorist operations that extend beyond domestic operations in Yemen and the Horn of Africa.

Protesters carry Al-Qaeda flags during an anti-government protest after Friday prayers in the town of Marat Numan in Idlib province, Syria (credit: KHALIL ASHAWI / REUTERS)

He was previously involved in economic issues. In 2019, Al-Marani emerged in his true role as an agent of the Security and Intelligence Service (SNS), which the militias had built on the ruins of the former Political Security and National Security intelligence services. He was also a member of the Supreme Council for the Management and Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and International Cooperation (SCMCHA). During his tenure at SCMCHA, Al-Marani used humanitarian aid as a weapon of war, diverting it to the group's fighters rather than those who deserved it. He also engaged in various forms of extortion against local and international aid agencies, the report adds.

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He also has direct oversight of operational and intelligence alliances between the group and terrorist organizations, most notably al-Qaeda. Al-Marani oversaw the release of dozens of al-Qaeda members after subjecting them to sectarian and military programs, in preparation for their re-employment in intelligence and military missions directed at the militias.

The report goes on to say that Khaled Mohammed Hussein Mashhour Qadri, a former al-Qaeda operative, was recruited and linked to al-Marani and placed under the umbrella of security work for the Houthi security and intelligence apparatus. In another example, al-Marani played a mediating role in September 2021 in recruiting al-Qaeda leader Abdullah Abdul-Ilah al-Mandhari, known as Abu Ammar al-Mandhari, who in turn was tasked with convincing al-Qaeda leaders to withdraw from the al-Sawma'a district in al-Bayda and head towards areas liberated by the Yemeni government.

The Al-Ain report quotes a Yemen research center as saying that Marani, along with several other Houthi figures, are responsible for selecting potential terrorist elements, as well as organizing coordination and cooperation programs between the Houthi militias and al-Qaeda.

It is worth noting that al-Qaeda is generally seen as a Sunni Islamist terrorist group with extremist roots that go back to the 1980s and 1990s. The Houthis are linked to Iran and Shiite proxy terrorist groups. In the past, al-Qaeda and other groups similar to it often targeted Shiites. However, over the years, there has been evidence that they worked with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

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In 2021, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that al-Qaeda has a new home base: it is the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Marani is also in touch with others. Along with Houthi leader Brigadier General Abu Haidar al-Qahoum, they were responsible for the terrorism sector, coordination, and communication with the Mujahideen in al-Shabaab, al-Qaeda's branch in Somalia, under the supervision of an officer from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Marani is a central conduit for recruiting al-Qaeda members in Yemen and Somalia and facilitating their movement to Sanaa to coordinate with the leadership of the Houthi security and intelligence apparatus. This makes him part of a broader network of leaders and intermediaries facilitating the transfer of terrorist elements to the heart of the group's areas of control.
ISTANBUL (AP)  Hundreds of thousands of people across several European cities marched Sunday in support of Palestinians and an aid flotilla s attempt to reach Gaza.

Istanbul held the largest of multiple demonstrations being staged in Turkey. Footage showed crowds walking from the iconic Hagia Sophia to the banks of the Golden Horn, where they were greeted by dozens of boats decked in Turkish and Palestinian flags. The marchers called for Muslim solidarity with Palestinians following midday prayers in front of the former Byzantine cathedral, now converted to a mosque.

The protests were among others planned Sunday in European cities to mark the second anniversary of Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that triggered the war in Gaza. Israel's attacks have killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry that is part of the Hamas-run government.

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In the Turkish capital Ankara, protesters held up flags and placards condemning the genocide in Gaza. This oppression, which began in 1948, has been continuing for two years, turning into genocide, Recep Karabal of the Palestine Support Platform told crowds in the northern city of Kirikkale.

Support for Palestinians is widespread in Muslim-majority Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a leading critic of Israel's military operations in Gaza.

The bloodshed must stop

In the Netherlands, an estimated 250,000 people, most dressed in red, gathered in Amsterdam to press the government to take tougher action against Israel.

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Sundays protest and march through the Dutch capital comes less than four weeks before national elections. Two Red Line demonstrations in The Hague earlier this year also drew tens of thousands of people.

After packing the central Museum Square, the protesters walked through the city center, holding Palestinian flags and peace emblems. One placard read, Ashamed of the government.

The Dutch government has long been a staunch supporter of Israel but has in recent months been more critical as international support for Israel has ebbed. On Friday, Foreign Minister David van Weel said it was unlikely he would grant an export license to send parts for F-35 fighter jets to Israel.

The bloodshed must stop. And that we unfortunately have to stand here because we have such an incredibly weak government that doesnt dare to draw a red line. Thats why we are here. In the hope that it helps, protester Marieke van Zijl said.

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Marjon Rozema, a spokesperson for Amnesty International, one of the protest organizers, called for the use of all economic and diplomatic means to increase pressure on Israel.

Mourning the victims of the synagogue attack

In Britain, meanwhile, hundreds of people rallied to mark Hamas 2023 attack and mourn the victims of an attack on a synagogue in Manchester.

A crowd gathered outside Manchester Cathedral, holding Israeli and U.K. flags and signs calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas.

A banner paid tribute to two men who died in the synagogue attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year. It said their bravery will never be forgotten. The attacker was shot dead by police on Thursday outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, after he rammed a car into pedestrians and attacked them with a knife.

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Paris also saw an outpouring of support for the hostages held by Hamas. Hundreds of demonstrators, many waving or draped in Israeli flags, marched through the city's streets shouting Free the hostages," some 20 of whom are believed to be alive.

Marches in Bulgaria and Morocco demand the release of flotilla activists

In the Bulgarian capital Sofia, demonstrators marched with signs including Gaza: Starvation is a Weapon of War and Gaza is the Biggest Graveyard of Children.

Organizers said they wanted to pay tribute to the heroes of the Global Sumud Flotilla, including Bulgarian activist Vasil Dimitrov.

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Our society  and the world  needs to hear that we stand with the Palestinian people, protester Valya Chalamova said.

Moroccans from all walks of life took to the streets of the capital Rabat in support of the Palestinians in Gaza, many wearing Arab keffiyehs. An Israeli flag was burned near the front of the march as people called for a reversal of the kingdoms decision five years ago to normalize relations with Israel.

Protesters demanded the release of the flotilla activists, including Moroccan human rights defender Aziz Ghali, who remains in an Israeli prison.

A weekend of rallies across Europe

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A day after mass demonstrations across Spain, thousands of people held smaller marches in several cities, calling for an end to genocide and trade relations with Israel.

Rallies in Santiago and Gijon, both in the north of Spain, were among the largest, with several thousand attendees. In Gijon, a group of women marched carrying white bundles symbolizing the bodies of children killed in Gaza.

Sunday's demonstrations came a day after hundreds of thousands marched in Rome, Barcelona and Madrid in a show of growing international outrage at Israels two-year military campaign in Gaza. Smaller rallies took place in Paris, Lisbon, Athens and Skopje, North Macedonia, and in London and Manchester.

Hamas said that it has accepted some elements of a plan laid out by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the war, which has left Gazas largest city in famine and stirred accusations of genocide against Israel.

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___

Associated Press writers Mike Corder in The Hague, Netherlands, John Leicester in Paris, Teresa Medrano in Madrid, Jill Lawless in London, Samuel Metz in Rabat, Morocco and Veselin Toshkov in Sofia, Bulgaria, contributed to this report.

____

Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
It has been a season of change for big oil, with headlines swirling around production cuts and mounting layoffs. Just days ago, ExxonMobil (XOM) revealed plans to slash 2,000 jobs worldwide, representing approximately 3 to 4% of its total workforce.

Despite posting $7.1 billion in earnings last quarter and maintaining shareholder returns of $9.2 billion, ExxonMobil is up against falling oil prices and accelerated consolidation across the sector. November WTI crude (CLX25) recently tumbled to a four-month low, while Brent trades below $66 as global supplies continue to climb at a pace. OPEC+ members are now considering a supply hike of 500,000 barrels per day starting next month, adding even greater pressure to an already crowded market.

More News from Barchart

Will this workforce reduction mark smart cost control or a sign of brewing trouble for long-term investors? Lets dive into the stock.

Numbers Behind the Headlines

ExxonMobil refines, explores, and produces oil and gas while investing in energy projects that shape global consumption and supply. The companys dividend remains a critical appeal, with a forward annual payout of $3.96 per share, translating to a 3.47% yield. Its most recent dividend distribution was $0.990 per share, delivered to investors on Aug. 15, 2025.

XOM has posted a 3.71% gain year-to-date (YTD), though the 52-week performance stands at -8.20%, closing at $111.53 on the most recent session.

www.barchart.com

ExxonMobil commands a market value of $480.7 billion, trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 17.06 versus the sector median of 12.72x and a PEG of 2.08 compared to the sectors 1.31x. This suggests investors are paying a substantial premium for ExxonMobils profitability and future growth prospects.

The Aug. 1, 2025, earnings report showed the company delivering second-quarter earnings of $7.1 billion, equal to $1.64 per share on a diluted basis. This figure highlights robust profitability even as energy markets shift. It reported $11.5 billion in cash flow from operating activities over the quarter. This strong inflow demonstrates the firms ability to turn operations into liquid assets. It also generated $5.4 billion in free cash flow, signaling efficiency in covering capital expenses and maintaining shareholder returns.

ExxonMobil returned $9.2 billion to investors in the quarter. This payout included $4.3 billion in dividends and $5.0 billion through share repurchases. The company indicated it is on track to purchase $20 billion in shares within the fiscal year. That renewed discipline was evident as ExxonMobil repurchased approximately 40% of shares issued in last years Pioneer Natural Resources acquisition since May 2024.
Maj.-Gen. Tomer Bar requested to retire after four years as Israel Air Force chief, despite IDF efforts to keep him on amid ongoing operations against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, N12 reported.

The Israel Air Force commander Maj.-Gen. Tomer Bar requested to end his tenure as air force chief after four years, and to not extend his tenure in the role for another year, N12 reported on Sunday.

This would mean that Bar is slated to end his tenure in April, retiring from military service.

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The IDF had urged Bar to remain in his role in light of his achievements during Israel's war with Hamas, as well as actions taken by IAF in striking Iran, Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, and other terror infrastructure and forces since October 7, 2023, the report added.

In addition, the Turgeman Committee, which probed responsibilities for the failures of October 7 found that there was no fault in the IAF.

However, the results of a probe published in February noted that Bar did not participate in a General Staff consultation on October 6, which meant that the IAF was not prepared for a large-scale raid.

Israeli Air Force chief Tomer Bar and IDF chief Eyal Zamir seen in operational assessments during the war with Iran, June 13, 2025 (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Before these probes were published, rumors spread by IAF sources circulated in January that Bar was planning to resign.

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The two officers most likely to replace Bar as IAF chief are current IAF Chief of Staff Brig.-Gen. Omer Tischler and Brig.-Gen. Eyal Greenbaum.

Bar's career in the IDF

Bar enlisted in the IAF pilots course in 1987. He commanded the Hatzerim Flight School between 2010 and 2012, before commanding Tel Nof Airbase for two years.

In 2014, he was appointed as head of the Air Operations Directorate; a role he held for three years. He was then appointed as IAF Chief of Staff, a position he held for two years.

In 2020, he was promoted to Major-General, and joined the IDF's General Staff as head of the Planning Directorate, before being appointed as IAF commander in September 2021, ascending to the position in April 2022.

Yonah Jeremy Bob, Avi Ashkenazi, and Amir Bohbot contributed to this report.
Ian Roberts' career as a professional educator has imploded with his arrest on immigration charges in Iowa, where he had been superintendent of the Des Moines Public Schools but is now in prison awaiting deportation and criminal prosecution.

Before Roberts left for Iowa, he burnished his resume by working as the superintendent of the Millcreek Township School district for nearly three years, ending on June 30, 2023.

He spent much of his tenure in Millcreek setting pandemic-era policies for the 6,500-student district, the second-largest in Erie County. He also restructured the district administration.

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Roberts, 54, the first Black superintendent in the history of the Millcreek School District, also gained notoriety for what happened after he left the district.

McDowell High School cheerleaders greet newly appointed Millcreek Township School District Superintendent Ian Roberts after his swearing-in ceremony at the Erie County Courthouse on August 12, 2020.

Those events include the revelation of legal settlements that occurred under Roberts' watch in Millcreek and, most notably, his immigration-related downfall as superintendent of the 30,000-student Des Moines Public Schools, the largest public school system in Iowa.

Here's a look at Roberts' time in Millcreek:

Roberts takes over as Millcreek schools superintendent in 2020

June 29, 2020  In a 9-0 vote, the Millcreek School Board picks Roberts as the new superintendent to succeed William Hall, who retired from the district in January 2020 after leading it for seven years. Roberts' contract is for five years with a base starting salary of $180,000 with a 2% increase in each subsequent year and the possibility of annual bonus pay. Hall's final base salary was $178,000.

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The School Board selected Roberts from a list of three finalists based on recommendations from the district's search firm, Ray and Associates, with offices in Minneapolis and Iowa. The district paid Ray and Associations $18,500 plus expenses.

Roberts is a native of Guyana, in South America, and said he grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He competed as a middle-distance runner for Guyana in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

He previously was chief schools officer for Aspire Public Schools, a California-based charter school system, and had worked in public school systems in St. Louis, Baltimore and elsewhere.

July 21, 2020  The Millcreek School Board reports at a special meeting that Roberts must wait to be sworn in as superintendent until he receives his certification from the Pennsylvania Department of Education in the form of a letter of eligibility. The letter confirms that a person has the appropriate education and experience required of school superintendents in Pennsylvania.

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Aug. 12, 2020  Roberts is sworn in as superintendent in a ceremony at the courthouse. Cheerleaders from the Millcreek district's McDowell High School greeted him as he leaves the building.

Roberts said his first priority in Millcreek would be continuing work to make sure that students, teachers and staff return to school safely.

Millcreek Township School District Superintendent Ian Roberts speaks during a remote interview at the Millcreek Education Center on Dec. 1, 2020.

Jan. 3, 2021  The Millcreek School Board votes in special session to override Roberts' recommendation to delay students' return to in-person learning by two weeks.

Aug. 23, 2021  The Millcreek School Board awards Roberts a $12,500 bonus for 2020-21, saying he met expectations. His contract includes bonus pay of up to $15,000 annually, based on school rankings, student standardized test scores, student graduation rate, community relations and employee satisfaction, among other criteria.

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Dec. 1, 2021  The Pennsylvania Game Commission cites Roberts for a summary offense for an incident that occurred on state game lands in Greene Township on Nov. 28. The offense was having a loaded firearm in his vehicle. Roberts was not arrested, according to court documents, but pleaded guilty in January 2020 and paid a $100 fine plus costs.

Roberts said he had a hunting rifle. He shared his account of what happened in a statement on Millcreek School District social media sites, on the district website and in emails to staff and families.

Aug. 22, 2022  The Millcreek School Board awards Roberts a $10,000 bonus for 2021-22, saying he met expectations.

"You exude the professionalism, integrity and leadership that are key to guiding our district forward, especially during the many challenges of the last year," School Board President Gary Winschel wrote in Roberts' evaluation letter. "In addition, your devotion and passion for team building and continued learning for all are commendable.

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"The Board of School Directors is excited about your continued work in our District. We look forward to our partnership and express deep gratitude for your commitment."

Roberts resigns from Millcreek, takes position in Des Moines

May 12, 2023  Roberts sends a letter to staff and parents stating that he is resigning as superintendent on June 30, 2023. He does not reveal his destination, though Winschel said Roberts "has a good opportunity, and while it will be bittersweet to see him leave, he will be going to a much larger school district." Roberts has three years left on his contract.

May 16, 2023  The Des Moines School District hires Roberts as its superintendent. The district's former superintendent resigned at the end of the 2021-22 school year. An interim superintendent had led the district since. Roberts' initial contract is for two years, renewable annually. His starting base salary is $270,000. His final salary in Des Moines was $286,716.

"Leadership is about meeting people where they are and helping them to become even better,' Roberts said in a statement, "and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead a strong organization like Des Moines Public Schools, using the boards goals and guardrails to achieve educational and operational excellence."

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May 19, 2023  In an interview with the Erie Times-News, Roberts said he will remain committed to involving staff, students and community in education in Des Moines, as he said he did in Millcreek.

"I remain committed to having the voice of every single person who's impacted by our decisions at the table," Roberts said. "Regardless of where I go, I want to leverage every voice."

July 17, 2023  The Millcreek School Board unanimously votes to hire John Cavanagh as superintendent. Cavanagh had been the district's director of K-12 education. Cavanagh originally was hired as a social studies teacher in the district 1999. He later was principal of J.S. Wilson Middle School and McDowell Intermediate High School and was the district's director of secondary education. Cavanaugh's base starting salary is $170,000.

Settlement agreements after Roberts' tenure in Millcreek

July 24, 2023  The Erie Times-News reports that the Millcreek School Board on June 26, 2023, approved a $250,000 settlement with Melody Ellington, who was head of district's personnel office in Roberts' administration for a year, until September 2022. The newspaper obtained the settlement under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law.

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Ellington never sued, but "alleged unlawful treatment and threatened litigation" when she resigned, according to settlement agreement. The district denied wrongdoing.

Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts talks with students before the first day of school at Samuelson Elementary in Des Moines, Iowa, on Aug. 23, 2023.

April 24, 2024  The Erie Times-News reports that the Millcreek School Board on April 15 voted to have the district pay $87,500 to settle the gender discrimination claims of a former administrator who was demoted and then passed over for two principal positions in a staff restructuring under Roberts. The deal was with Joe Orlando, the Millcreek School District's former director of elementary education.

May 2  The Erie Times-News reports that the Millcreek School Board had agreed to have the district pay $66,000 to settle another sex discrimination claim related to Roberts' administration in Millcreek. The settlement is with Timothy P. Stoops, the district's former director of assessment and alternative learning. Stoops was demoted in an administrative staff restructuring under Roberts in April 2023.

The settlement with Stoops brings to $403,000 the total amount that the district agreed to pay to end the three discrimination cases related to Roberts' tenure.

Roberts' arrest is followed by revelations, resignation, lawsuit

Sept. 26  Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest Roberts in Des Moines on charges that he is in the United States illegally and that he has faced a deportation order since May 2024. Officials later report that Roberts is found with a total of four firearms in his car and house, prompting the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to investigate.

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Sept. 30  The Millcreek School District states that Roberts passed all clearances and submitted all required work authorization documents before he was hired in Millcreek. The district also said that its search firm, Ray and Associates, vetted Roberts and that "no disqualifying events were identified" during the hiring process.

Sept. 30  Roberts resigns as superintendent of the Des Moines Public Schools rather than meet a deadline that the Des Moines School Board set for him to prove that he is United States citizen.

Community members gather to condemn the arrest of Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts during a protest in Des Moines, Iowa, on Sept. 26.

Sept. 30  The Des Moines Register reports that Roberts never had a doctorate in education from Morgan State University in Baltimore. Roberts listed the doctorate on his application for the Millcreek job. The Register later reports that Roberts misrepresented other academic credentials and honors.

Oct. 1  The Millcreek School Board announces that it is considering taking legal action against Roberts and the search firm Ray and Associates. "We were profoundly misled," the district said. The district schedules a special board meeting for 6 p.m. on Oct. 6 to discuss possible litigation.

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Oct. 2  A criminal complaint unsealed in federal court in Iowa charges Roberts with being an "illegal alien" in possession of firearms. The ATF filed the charged over the guns found when Roberts was arrested on the immigration charges. The criminal complaint includes immigration records that show Roberts' legal authorization to work in the United States expired in December 2020  five months into the job that Roberts held in Millcreek.

Oct. 3  The Department of Homeland Security releases detailed information on Roberts' previous criminal charges and his immigration record.

Oct. 3  The Des Moines School Board decides to file a lawsuit against the firm it used to hire Roberts, the Texas-based JG Consulting.

Oct. 6  The Millcreek School Board votes 9-0 at a special meeting to have the school district's solicitors explore suing Roberts and the search firm Ray and Associates. One of the solicitors said at the meeting that the district has also contacted the U.S. Attorney's Office in Erie over Roberts.

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The Des Moines Register contributed to this report. The Register and the Erie Times-News are part of the USA TODAY network.

Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@timesnews.com or 814-870-1813.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Ian Roberts' path from Millcreek to Des Moines to ICE
By Johan Ahlander, Niklas Pollard and Ludwig Burger

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -American scientists Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi from Japan won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on Monday for work shedding light on how the immune system spares healthy cells, creating openings for possible new autoimmune disease and cancer treatments.

Their discoveries relate to peripheral immune tolerance, or "how we keep our immune system under control so we can fight all imaginable microbes and still avoid autoimmune disease", said Marie Wahren-Herlenius, a rheumatology professor at the Karolinska Institute.

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Sakaguchi expressed surprise at a press conference in Osaka, western Japan, because he felt any major recognition would have depended on more development advances.

I used to think that some sort of reward may be forthcoming if what we have been doing will advance a little further and it will become more beneficial to people in clinical settings, he said in a calm voice, cracking a smile now and then.

REGULATORY T CELLS: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM'S 'SECURITY GUARDS'

The press conference was interrupted for Sakaguchi to take a congratulatory phone call from Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who asked him how effective immunotherapy could be for cancer treatment in the future.

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"I believe the time will come when cancer is no longer a scary disease, but a curable one," said Sakaguchi.

The winners for medicine are selected by the Nobel Assembly of Sweden's Karolinska Institute medical university and receive a prize sum of 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.2 million), as well as a gold medal presented by Sweden's king.

The institute said all three laureates brought to the fore so-called regulatory T cells, which act as the immune system's security guards that keep immune cells from attacking our own body.

Brunkow is senior programme manager at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, while Ramsdell is scientific adviser at Sonoma Biotherapeutics in San Francisco. Sakaguchi is a professor at Osaka University in Japan.

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MORE THAN 200 TRIALS ON HUMANS IN PROGRESS

Jeffrey Bluestone, a decades-long friend of Ramsdell and a co-founder with him of Sonoma Biotherapeutics, told Reuters that his associate's extraordinary contribution was finding a gene, initially in mice, that controlled the development of a small group of regulatory T cells.

"Those cells were the master regulators of the tolerance of the immune system," said Bluestone.

Ramsdell could not be reached by Reuters - or by Bluestone, who suggested he may be on a hiking trip in an area without cell phone reception.

After announcing the winners, the Karolinska Institute's Thomas Perlmann said specific therapies had yet to win market clearance but more than 200 trials on humans involving regulatory T cells were ongoing.

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Among companies in the early race, Ramsdell's Sonoma Biotherapeutics is partly funded and supported by U.S. drugmaker Regeneron to work on therapies against diseases including inflammatory bowel disease.

Also targeting that condition, Quell Therapeutics has partnered with AstraZeneca.

Other biotech firms exploring the approach include Bayer's BlueRock.

MEDICINE THE FIRST PRIZE OF NOBEL SEASON

The Nobel Prizes were established through the will of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite and a wealthy businessman. They have been awarded since 1901 for outstanding contributions in science, literature, and peace, with interruptions mainly during the World Wars.

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The economics prize was added later and is funded by Sweden's central bank, the Riksbank.

Winners are selected by expert committees from various institutions. All prizes are awarded in Stockholm, except for the Peace Prize, which is presented in Oslo  a possible legacy of the political union between Sweden and Norway during Nobels lifetime.

Past recipients of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine include renowned scientists such as Alexander Fleming, who shared the 1945 award for discovering penicillin. In recent years, the prize has recognized major breakthroughs, including those that enabled the development of COVID-19 vaccines.

Last year's medicine prize was awarded to U.S. scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of microRNA and its key role in how multicellular organisms grow and live, helping explain how cells specialise into different types.

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Medicine in accordance with tradition kicks off the annual Nobels, arguably the most prestigious prizes in science, literature, peace and economics, with the remainder set to be announced over the coming days.

More than a century after their inception, the Nobel Prizes remain steeped in tradition. The awards culminate in ceremonies attended by the royal families of Sweden and Norway, followed by lavish banquets held on December 10  the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death.

($1 = 9.3898 Swedish crowns)

(Reporting by Niklas Pollard, Johan Ahlander in Stockholm; Additional reporting by Terje Solsvik in Oslo, Kiyoshi Takenaka in Tokyo and Marie Mannes and Greta Fondahn in Stockholm; Writing by Ludwig Burger in Frankfurt; editing by Alex Richardson)
One year after Porter Airlines began flying from Phoenix, the Canadian low-cost carrier is expanding service for winter travel.

Porter announced new seasonal routes to Vancouver, British Columbia, and Ottawa, Ontario, from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, part of an announcement of four new winter routes to warm-weather destinations.

These new destinations follow Porter's inaugural route from Phoenix, which flies to Toronto. Porter's Phoenix-Toronto flights welcomed more than 66,000 passengers from October 2024 to August 2025, according to Sky Harbor's passenger traffic data.

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Porter also shared that it teamed up with American Airlines on a codeshare partnership to connect travelers flying between the U.S. and Canada. Phoenix is one of American's hub airports.

When do Porter Airlines Phoenix-Vancouver flights start?

Porter Airlines' seasonal nonstop flights from Phoenix to Vancouver will begin Feb. 2, 2026, and end April 19, 2026.

Flights will operate once daily with times that vary every other day. Departures from Phoenix are scheduled for either 5:10 p.m. or 9:40 p.m.

Fares for the route are as low as $123 one-way.

When do Porter Airlines Phoenix-Ottawa flights start?

Porter Airlines' seasonal nonstop flights from Phoenix to Ottawa will begin Feb. 7, 2026, and end April 18, 2026.

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Flights will operate three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with times that vary every other day. Departures from Phoenix in February are scheduled for 1:45 or 2:45 p.m.

Fares for the route are as low as $146 one-way.

What kind of airplane does Porter fly?

Porter Airlines flights out of Phoenix will use an Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, a narrow-body, twin-engine plane that can seat up to 132 passengers.

What terminal is Porter Airlines at PHX?

Porter Airlines operates out of Terminal 3 at Sky Harbor.

What is special about Porter Airlines?

Porter Airlines is popular for offering an economy experience with no middle seats, free Wi-Fi, free snacks and free beverages, including beer and wine served in glassware.

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PorterClassic Basic and Standard fares require you to pay for seat selection; Flexible and Freedom fares include seat selection.

Porter Airlines also offers the premium economy PorterReserve, which includes free seat selection, dedicated check-in, extra legroom, up to two checked bags free, in-flight meals (which cost extra for PorterClassic flyers) and the ability to make changes at no additional charge beyond the difference in fare.

Porter Airlines adds routes despite declining Canadian travel

Porter's new Phoenix-Vancouver and Phoenix-Ottawa routes are notable because they buck a trend of Canadian airlines pulling back U.S. service in favor of flights to Mexico and the Caribbean.

About 20.4 million Canadians visited the U.S. in 2024, responsible for $20.5 billion in spending and supporting 140,000 American jobs, according to the U.S. Travel Association. But about 20% fewer Canadians visited in the first six months of 2025, it said.

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Experts say Canadian travelers and snowbirds are choosing not to travel to the U.S. in protest of tariffs on Canadian goods and President Donald Trump's calls to annex Canada as "the 51st state."

Fly to Flavortown: New Guy Fieri restaurant opens at Phoenix Sky Harbor

Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist whos covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republics consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix gets 2 new Porter Airlines routes to Canada for 2026
The Israel Prison Service (IPS) announced its intentions to deport the activists by late Sunday night.

Israel said on Monday that an additional 171 activists from the Gaza aid flotilla, including climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, were deported to Greece and Slovakia.

The Foreign Ministry noted that the activists hold citizenships from Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Denmark, Slovakia, Switzerland, Norway, the UK, Serbia, and the United States.

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The Israel Prison Service (IPS) announced its intentions to deport the activists by late Sunday night. This follows the previous deportation of 170 other activists to Istanbul, though other groups had been deported to Italy and Spain, the legal aid group advising the activists, Adalah, had noted.

The legal aid group added that on Sunday, its attorneys made several visits... but were denied access to all participants.

Two activists had alleged on Sunday that Thunberg was mistreated during her detention. Hazwani Helmi, a Malaysian citizen, and Windfield Beaver, an American citizen, told Reuters on Sunday that they had witnessed Thunberg being mistreated, saying she was shoved and forced to wear an Israeli flag.

Greta Thunberg talks to Reuters aboard a 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)

It was a disaster. They treated us like animals, Helmi, 28, had said, adding that detainees were not provided with clean food or water and that medication and belongings were confiscated.

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Beaver, 43, said Thunberg was treated terribly and used as propaganda, describing how she was pushed into a room as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir arrived.

Adalah said in a Sunday night update that, per information it received, medications were allowed into the prison following Adalahs repeated legal interventions and visits by several foreign embassies, whose representatives met with their nationals and checked on their health conditions inside the prison.

The legal aid group added that when its lawyers were able to meet for the allotted 30-minute meeting with 11 Tunisian activists being held in the Ketziot Prison in the Negev, they confirmed to the lawyers that widespread assaults and violence occurred during their transfer from the port to the prison and in the first days of their detention, and added that conditions inside the prison appear to have stabilized. All 11 activists were on a hunger strike.

Deserving treatment in same matter as Hamas, Ben-Gvir says

On Sunday, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that Thunberg and other flotilla activists detained by Israel deserved to be treated in the same manner as terrorists in prison because anyone who supports terror is a terrorist.

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If any of them thought that they would come here and be greeted with a red carpet and fanfare, they were mistaken, he added at the time.

The national security minister physically visited the prison, and said there that he took pride in the fact that we are treating these flotilla activists as terror supporters.

The Foreign Ministry described on Sunday the allegations as complete lies, and in a Monday announcement said, All the legal rights of the participants in this PR stunt were and will continue to be fully upheld. The lies they are spreading are part of their pre-planned fake news campaign... Dont believe the fake news they are spreading.

Other activists, including those from Switzerland and Spain, also said they were subjected to inhuman conditions during their detention. Among nine members of the flotilla who arrived home in Switzerland, some alleged sleep deprivation, lack of water and food, as well as some being beaten, kicked, and locked in a cage.

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As of Monday, 309 were still in Israeli custody, with 200 set to be deported by the end of Tuesday.

The Foreign Ministry said that a Spanish detainee bit a female medical worker at Ketziot Prison following a routine exam before her deportation, causing minor injuries treated on site.

It added that the legal rights of the activists were being fully upheld and that some had chosen not to sign deportation orders waiving their right to a 72-hour delay, which would have allowed them to be deported sooner.

The flotilla, which set sail in late August, marked the latest attempt by activists to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza, where Israel has been waging a war since Hamas's deadly attack on Israel in October 2023. Israeli officials repeatedly denounced the mission as a stunt and warned it against violating a lawful naval blockade.

A new flotilla comprising 11 vessels is attempting to make its way to Gaza, including a vessel carrying medics and journalists.

Tobias Holcman and Sarah Ben-Nun contributed to this report.
By Olivia Le Poidevin, David Latona and Howard Goller

(Reuters) -Israel said it deported on Monday campaigner Greta Thunberg and another 170 activists from an international flotilla it prevented last week from delivering aid to Gaza, sending them to Greece and Slovakia.

Earlier, Swiss and Spanish activists from the flotilla said they were subjected to inhumane conditions during their detention by Israeli forces. Monday's expulsions brought to 341 the total number deported from 479 detained.

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Israel's foreign ministry issued a statement, accompanied by photos of Thunberg at the airport, saying all participants' legal rights had been upheld and the only violence involved an activist who bit a female medic at Israel's Ketziot prison.

An Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson said Thunberg, a Swedish campaigner primarily for climate change, boarded a plane at Ramon airbase in Israel's Negev Desert. Israel has dismissed the flotilla as a publicity stunt.

The deportees are citizens of Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Denmark, Slovakia, Switzerland, Norway, the UK, Serbia, and the United States, the foreign ministry said.

DEPORTED ACTIVISTS ALLEGE MISTREATMENT

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Among nine members of the flotilla who arrived home in Switzerland, some alleged sleep deprivation, lack of water and food, as well as some being beaten, kicked, and locked in a cage, the group representing them said in a statement.

An Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson rejected the allegations.

Spanish activists also alleged mistreatment on their arrival in Spain late on Sunday after being deported.

"They beat us, dragged us along the ground, blindfolded us, tied our hands and feet, put us in cages and insulted us," lawyer Rafael Borrego told reporters at Madrid's airport.

Swedish activists said on Saturday that Thunberg was shoved and forced to wear an Israeli flag during her detention, while others said they had clean food and water withheld and had their medication and belongings confiscated.

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ISRAEL SAYS CLAIMS ARE COMPLETE LIES

Israel's foreign ministry has described widespread reports of detainees being mistreated after the flotilla was intercepted as "complete lies".

A spokesperson told Reuters over the weekend that all detainees were given access to water, food, and restrooms, adding: "they were not denied access to legal counsel and all their legal rights were fully upheld".

On Sunday, the Swiss Embassy in Tel Aviv visited 10 Swiss nationals and said all were "in relatively good health, given the circumstances."

Former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, who was also on the flotilla, said there had been "mistreatment, but that was nothing compared to what the Palestinian people suffer every day".

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Spanish journalists Carlos de Barron and Nestor Prieto said Israeli authorities signed a statement on the deported activists' behalf claiming they had entered Israel illegally.

"They placed documents in Hebrew in front of us, denying us the right to a translator, and we did not receive consular assistance because they did not allow the (Spanish) consul to enter the port of Ashdod," Prieto said.

Consular staff have visited activists at the prison, according to statements from several countries whose citizens were detained.

(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin, David Latona, Alexander Cornwell and Howard GollerWriting by Charlie Devereux and Howard GollerEditing by Alexandra Hudson)
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg has arrived in Greece along with 160 other campaigners from the Global Sumud Flotilla, having been deported by Israel.

Israels Foreign Ministry announced on X on Monday that it had expelled a total of 171 activists from the flotillas ships, which were intercepted last week while trying to bring aid to blockaded Gaza. This brings the total deported so far up to 341.

The Greek Foreign Ministry confirmed that 161 of the expelled activists  including 27 Greeks and 134 nationals from 15 other countries  arrived on a flight to Athens on Monday, according to news agency AFP.

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Let me be very clear. There is a genocide going on, Thunberg told the crowd at the Athens airport, referring to Israeli military action in Gaza.

Our international systems are betraying Palestinians. They are not even able to prevent the worst war crimes from happening, she said, in comments carried by AFP.

What we aimed to do with the Global Sumud Flotilla was to step up when our governments failed to do their legal obligation, she added.

The 22-year-old was allegedly abused by Israeli forces while in detention. Turkish journalist and Sumud Flotilla participant Ersin Celik earlier told local media how Thunberg was dragged on the ground and forced to kiss the Israeli flag.

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Slovakias Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, confirmed that 10 of the deportees had arrived there, including one of its nationals and nine other people from the Netherlands, Canada and the United States.





Long live the flotilla

Crowds of demonstrators welcomed the activists, unfurling a huge Palestinian flag in the arrivals hall and chanting: Freedom for Palestine and Long live the flotilla!

Among those arriving in Athens, Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament, reported having been hit by Israeli police after the flotilla was intercepted.

I was beaten by two police officers when they put me in the van, she told AFP.

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Hassan said she and other detainees were kept in groups of up to 15 per cell on mattresses in a high-security Israeli prison.

The flotilla departed from Barcelona in Spain in early September and was intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters approaching Gaza.

Israeli police said more than 470 people aboard the flotilla boats were arrested. The Foreign Ministry told AFP that 138 flotilla participants remained in detention in Israel.




CAIRO (AP)  Israeli and Hamas officials launched indirect talks Monday at an Egyptian resort on a U.S.-drafted peace plan to end the ruinous war in Gaza on the eve of its second anniversary.

The talks, which went on for several hours, unfolded amid many questions about the plan presented by U.S. President Donald Trump last week, including the disarmament of the militant group  a key Israeli demand  and the future governance of Gaza. President Donald Trump has indicated that an agreement on Gaza could pave the way for a Middle East peace process that could reshape the region.

Despite Trump ordering Israel to stop the bombing, Israeli forces continued to pound Gaza with airstrikes, killing at least 19 people in the last 24 hours, the territory's Health Ministry said.

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An Egyptian official with knowledge of the talks said the parties wrapped up Mondays round of negotiations at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, and the discussions were set to resume Tuesday afternoon. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks, said the parties have agreed on most of the first-phase terms, which include the release of hostages and establishing a ceasefire.

The Israelis are led by top negotiator Ron Dermer, while Khalil al-Hayyah leads the Hamas delegation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said foreign policy adviser Ophir Falk would be present for Israel.

Egypts state-owned Al-Qahera News television station reported that the talks began with a meeting between Arab mediators and the Hamas delegation. Mediators were to meet later with the Israeli delegation, the station said.

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner were also expected to join the talks, local Egyptian media said.

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Hamas said negotiations will focus on the first stage of a ceasefire, including the partial withdrawal of Israeli forces as well as the release of hostages held by the militants in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention.

This latest push for peace comes after Hamas accepted some elements of the U.S. plan that Israel also said it supported. Under the plan, Hamas would release the remaining 48 hostages  about 20 of whom are believed to be alive  within three days. It would give up power and disarm.

The talks in Egypt are expected to move quickly. Netanyahu said they would be confined to a few days maximum, though some Hamas officials have warned that more time may be needed to locate bodies of hostages buried under rubble.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi hailed Trumps efforts, underscoring the importance of preserving the U.S.-crafted peace system in the Middle East since the 1970s, which he said served as a strategic framework for regional stability.

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El-Sisi spoke in a televised address commemorating the anniversary of the start of the 1973 war with Israel, which created some of the conditions for the return of the Sinai Peninsula  where Sharm el-Sheikh is located  to Egypt in a peace treaty years later.

US wants Israeli bombing to stop

The U.S. has said Israel's heavy bombardment of Gaza would need to stop for the hostages to be released. Israel says it's largely heeding Trump's call. The Israeli military said it is mostly carrying out defensive strikes to protect troops, though dozens of Palestinians have been killed since the military's statement Saturday night.

Gaza's Health Ministry said Monday that the bodies of 19 people, including two aid-seekers killed by Israeli strikes and gunfire, had been brought to hospitals over the past 24 hours. Another 96 were wounded. The deaths brought the Palestinian toll to 67,160 since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, triggered the war, with nearly 170,000 wounded, the ministry said.

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The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but says more than half of the deaths were women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government, and the U.N. and many independent experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.

Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people and killed around 1,200, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7 attack. Most of the largely Israeli hostages have been released in ceasefires or other deals.

Meanwhile, families of Israeli hostages petitioned the Nobel Prize Committee to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Trump for what they called his unprecedented contributions to global peace.

At this very moment, President Trumps comprehensive plan to release all remaining hostages and finally end this terrible war is on the table, the families wrote. For the first time in months, we are hopeful that our nightmare will finally be over.

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In a commemoration ceremony for Israelis killed at the Nir Oz Kibbutz on Oct. 7, Daniel Lifshitz said the primary focus of talks should be the swift release of all remaining hostages.

Israel will pay painful concessions by releasing mass murderers and terrorists that killed many among our friends and families here in Israel, but we cherish life and in Trump we trust to make it happen," said Lifshitz, grandson of slain hostage Oded and released hostage Yocheved Lifshitz.

'Living in fear, war and displacement'

In Gaza, families of Palestinian babies born on the day the war began hoped to celebrate their second birthday with the sound of laughter and cheers instead of the cacophony of bombs and bullets.

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The babies' mothers have been repeatedly displaced and live in constant fear for their safety. They also lack access to health care.

Amal al-Taweel and her husband, Mostafa, had their son, Ali, after three years of trying for a child. They now live in a tent without proper sanitation, food, vaccinations or toys.

I was envisioning a different life for him  He couldnt experience what a safe family life feels like," al-Taweel said.

The Vatican marked the second anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks by condemning the inhuman massacre of innocent people in Israel and calling for the return of hostages. But it also said Israels razing of Gaza is itself a disproportionate massacre, and called on countries to stop supplying Israel weapons to wage the war.

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Those who are attacked have a right to defend themselves, but even legitimate defense must respect the principle of proportionality, Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said on the eve of the anniversary. The perverse chain of hatred can only generate a spiral that leads nowhere good.

___

Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel, and Shurafa from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip. Associated Press Writer Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
(Reuters) - Some non-U.S. companies have said they are looking at expanding their presence or setting up shop in the United States to mitigate the impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs on imported goods.

Below are some of the plans flagged by those companies.

AIR LIQUIDE

The French industrial gases company flagged an up to $200 million investment in Louisiana in June and a more than $50 million investment in the U.S. semiconductor industry in July.

ASTRAZENECA

The drugmaker plans to spend $50 billion to fund a new plant in Virginia and expansion in Maryland, Massachusetts, California, Indiana and Texas, it said on July 21.

HONDA

The Japanese carmaker plans to move some car production from Mexico and Canada into the U.S., aiming to make 90% of cars sold in the country locally, the Nikkei reported in April.

HYUNDAI MOTOR

The South Korean automaker plans to further localize production in the U.S. and make hybrid vehicles at its new factory in Georgia, it said in January.

INVENTEC

The Taiwanese company, which makes AI servers that use Nvidia chips, has agreed to invest up to $85 million to build manufacturing facilities in Texas, it said in April.

LAVAZZA

The Italian coffee maker will press ahead with its U.S. expansion, it said in April. Lavazza, which produces locally around half of what it sells in the U.S., plans to increase this output to 100%.

NISSAN MOTOR

The Japanese automaker weighs moving production of its Sentra automobile from Mexico to the U.S., Automotive News reported on May 14.

The Nikkei relayed in April that Nissan was also considering shifting some domestic production of U.S.-bound vehicles there.

NOVARTIS

The Swiss drugmaker plans to spend $23 billion to build and expand 10 facilities in the U.S., it said in April.

ROCHE

The Swiss pharmaceutical giant will invest $50 billion in the U.S. over the next five years, it said in April. On May 12, it announced an additional $550 million investment to expand its Indianapolis diagnostics manufacturing hub.

ROLLS-ROYCE

The London-listed power and propulsion developer plans a $75 million investment to increase U.S. manufacturing capabilities in South Carolina, it said in July.

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS

The tech giant is considering moving manufacturing of dryers from Mexico to its plant in South Carolina, Korea Economic Daily reported in January.

SANOFI

The French drugmaker plans to invest at least $20 billion in the U.S. through 2030 to boost manufacturing and research, it said in May.

STELLANTIS

The automaker behind brands such as Chrysler, Jeep and Peugeot plans to invest about $10 billion in the United States, Bloomberg News reported on October 4, citing people familiar with the situation.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) accused President Donald Trump of inciting citizens to violence against ICE and border patrol agents due to what he called the presidents unconstitutional invasion of Chicago and surrounding cities.

The governor made the claim during a press conference on Monday afternoon while flanked by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D), who has also spent much of the last two months complaining about the presidents push to crack down on crime and illegal immigration.

Let me be clear: Donald Trump is using our service members as political props and pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nations cities, Pritzker said.

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He then blasted DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino, saying they have brought their militarized CBP and ICE agents to Chicago to cause violence and chaos.

Pritzker added, They need to stop inciting our citys residents.

The governors harsh words for Trump and his officials came soon after he and Johnson sued the administration for deploying hundreds of National Guard troops to Chicago.

Pritzker made similar comments on Sunday, when he told CNNs Jake Tapper that Trump had incited anti-ICE protestors to fight federal officials, merely by having them deployed to The Windy City.

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More than a dozen people were arrested at an anti-ICE protest in Broadview, Illinois on Friday. Fox News reported observing agents firing pepper balls, tear gas, and rubber bullets to clear crowds blocking federal operations at an ICE processing facility.

Things continued to escalate on Saturday, when federal agents were rammed and boxed in by 10 cars, including a woman with a semi-automatic gun who had posted online she wanted to f*ck up ICE, Foxs Bill Melugin reported.

Soon after,White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller called on the full power of the federal government to dismantle leftwing terrorism, saying its the only remedy for what ails the United States.

President Trump vowed last month that he was sending troops into Chicago after being disgusted by how many people were shot over Labor Day Weekend.

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When I watch television last night, and Im watching the news and I see that nine people were killed in Chicago and 54 were badly wounded with bullets, I say, Thats not our country. We have to do something, Trump said in early September.

ABC 7 in Chicago reported 58 people were shot in the city over the holiday weekend, which was an 87% surge from the same time the year before.

Pritzker said he does not buy it. Rather than make Chicago safer, the governor said Trump wants to cause havoc.

The Trump Administration is following a playbook: cause chaos, create fear and confusion, make it seem like peaceful protestors are a mob by firing gas pellets and tear gas canisters at them. Why? To create the pretext for invoking the Insurrection Act, so he can send military troops to our city.

You can watch his comments above, via MSNBC.

The post JB Pritzker Accuses Federal Agents of Inciting Chicagos Residents to Violence first appeared on Mediaite.
National Guard troops will patrol the streets of Chicago after JB Pritzkers legal challenge to the deployment failed.

On Monday, Mr Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, filed a lawsuit to stop Donald Trump mobilising soldiers in his state, accusing the president of an act of occupation by the US military.

However, a judge hours later declined to block the deployment of troops.

Judge April M Berry said she was very troubled by the lack of answers by lawyers acting for the US government, but said she needed time to review the case before ruling on a temporary restraining order.

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The first troops could arrive in Chicago within hours, making their deployment almost inevitable.

Mr Trump has insisted the move is necessary to stop the city being overtaken by lawlessness and rioting, as federal agents launch military-style immigration raids and tensions flare between protesters and authorities.

Around 200 members of Texas National Guard were en route to Chicago as of Monday, and will be deployed on Tuesday or Wednesday, a lawyer for the Trump administration said.

Donald Trump has long threatened to send troops to Chicago, resulting in a standoff with JB Pritzker - Jim Vondruska/Reuters

A demonstration against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement - KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI

In a press conference, Mr Pritzker accused the president of using troops as pawns in his illegal effort to militarise our nations cities.

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Claiming Mr Trump was causing chaos on Chicagos streets as a pretext to send in the military, he vowed to use every lever at our disposal to resist this power grab and throw immigration agents, whom he labelled thugs, the hell out of Chicago.

I am not afraid. And I will not back down, he added.

Mr Pritzker and Kwame Raoul, the Illinois attorney general, applied to an Illinois district court the same day to block the deployment, claiming Mr Trump was endangering the foundational principles of American law .

The American people, regardless of where they reside, should not live under the threat of occupation by the United States military, particularly not simply because their city or state leadership has fallen out of a presidents favour, the legal filing reads.

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The Trump administration has mobilised 300 members of Illinois National Guard while calling up to 400 more from Texas, it said, calling the effort unlawful and dangerous.

The lawsuit accuses Mr Trump of sending Swat-tactic trained agents to Chicago to use brute force, following a controversial raid in which authorities reportedly descended from helicopters to search an apartment building.

A demonstrator is arrested in Chicago - Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP

The Trump administration has mobilised 300 members of Illinois National Guard to quell protests - Anadolu

On Sunday, Mr Pritzker said that he had launched an investigation into the incident, in which he claimed elderly people had been detained for hours while children had their hands zip-tied.

Illinois is taking the Trump administration to court for their unlawful and unconstitutional deployment of military troops to our state, he said on Monday, thanking Mr Raoul for helping defend the rule of law.

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A White House spokeswoman said the governor had refused to quell ongoing violent riots and lawlessness in the city.

President Trump has exercised his lawful authority to protect federal officers and assets. President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities, she continued.

In a separate statement to Fox News, the White House labelled Mr Pritzker a slob who cared more about burnishing his anti-Trump creds... than he does about making his city safe.

Tensions have flared between protesters and authorities - Spencer Platt

Trump mulls Insurrection Act

Judge Karin Immergunt, who was appointed to Oregons district court by Mr Trump in 2019, blocked two attempts by the administration to send National Guard troops to Portland this weekend.

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Mr Trump on Monday threatened to use emergency powers to deploy more troops into Democrat-led cities, openly mulling use of the Insurrection Act,

We have an Insurrection Act for a reason. If I had to enact it I would do that, he told reporters in the Oval Office, adding: If people were being killed and courts were holding us up or governors or mayors were holding us up, sure I would do that.

The government had argued sending troops to Portland was necessary to protect immigration enforcement agents, following inaction by the police, but Judge Immergunt claimed the account was simply untethered to the facts.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, attacked the judges decision on Monday, claiming that her opinion is untethered in reality and in law.

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An immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) facility in the south of the city had been under siege by anarchists for more than 100 days, she said, vowing to appeal the ruling and win on the merits of the law.

On Monday, Brandon Johnson, the Democratic mayor of Chicago, announced he was establishing ICE-free zones on government property to prevent immigration raids.

Any officials who ignored the order would be taken to court, he vowed.

Ms Leavitt at the Monday briefing hit out at mayors who stood in the way of police cooperating with federal agents, claiming they did not care about positive results and simply dont like Donald Trump.

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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Monday challenged Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to a debate about the government shutdown on the floor of the lower chamber.

The request for a prime-time, nationally televised debate comes as the government shutdown approaches a full week, with each side in Congress blaming the other.

Democrats have been clear and consistent in our position, the New York Democrat said in a letter to Johnson. The country needs immediate, bipartisan negotiations between the White House and congressional leadership in order to reach an enlightened spending agreement that reopens the government, improves the lives of hardworking American taxpayers and addresses the Republican healthcare crisis.

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Last month, the House passed a stopgap funding bill that would fund the government through Nov. 21. Only one Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden (Maine), voted for the measure.

The measure, which Johnson called clean and nonpartisan, has repeatedly failed in the Senate, though. Democrats, led by Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), have argued that any stopgap bill must include a permanent extension of subsidies offered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which are slated to expire at the end of the year.

The House is out of session this week on Johnsons directive, with the Senate left to negotiate an end to the first shutdown in more than six years. Just three members of the Senate Democratic Caucus  John Fetterman (Pa.), Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.) and Angus King (Maine), an independent who caucuses with Democrats  have voted in favor of the Republican funding bill.

Given the urgency of the moment and the Republican refusal to negotiate a bipartisan agreement, a debate on the House Floor will provide the American people with the transparency they deserve, Jeffries added. It will also give you an opportunity to explain your my way or the highway approach to shutting the government down, when Democratic votes are needed to resolve the impasse that exists.

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The Speaker on Monday dismissed the possibility of a debate with Jeffries, saying his colleague is making desperate pleases for attention.

The House has done its job, Johnson added. Im not going to let Hakeem try to pretend for these theatrics. This is a Chuck Schumer decision. The ball is in the Senates court now, he said.

Johnson also told MSNBC Monday that the GOP-backed House bill is intended to keep the government open and afford Congress time for a debate on the ACA subsidies. However, with open enrollment set to begin for most states on Nov. 1, premiums for millions could soon increase.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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A South Carolina Judge who recently ruled against the Trump administration had her house go up in a massive cloud of flames on Sunday.

Judge Diane Goodsteins home can be seen in a video engulfed in a gargantuan cloud of smoke and fire. Three people were injured, including Goodsteins son as well her husband, former state Senator Arnold Goodstein, who had to jump out of the window while fleeing to safety. The judge herself was not in the home at the time of the incident. Authorities have yet to determine what the cause of the fire was, and there is currently no evidence of foul play.

BREAKING: South Carolina Judge Diane Goodstein's home is burning to the ground after an apparent explosion.



pic.twitter.com/A18oGnlaXT  Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) October 5, 2025

However, the timing of this accident is rather peculiar. Goodstein recently blocked the Trump administrations attempt to access South Carolinas voter registration database in their effort to exert greater control over elections. Goodsteins decision was later overturned, and she was called out directly on X by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon.

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Goodstein also received death threats for weeks before the fire, according to Time magazine. And just days ago, Trump adviser Stephen Miller wrote that there is a large and growing movement of leftwing terrorism in this country that is shielded by far-left Democrat judges.

Even as police continue to investigate, its hard to ignore that this judges home burned down in the midst of an executive effort to publicly shame and isolate judges the administration disagrees with. Many judges have made it clear that they feel a ruling against Trump, no matter how principled, makes them a target.
Hayya, who lost a son in the current Gaza war and two sons in previous conflicts, has been based with other Hamas leaders in Doha.

Khalil al-Hayya, the senior Hamas official who survived an Israeli raid on Qatar last month, was heading back to indirect talks with Israeli counterparts on Monday over US President Donald Trump's plan to end the Israel-Hamas War.

Hayya, who lost a son in the current Gaza war and two sons in previous conflicts, has been based with other Hamas leaders in Doha.

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The most recent of Hayyas sons to perish in the conflict, Humam al-Hayya, was killed in Doha last month in an Israeli strike in the Qatari capital. Six people were killed in the strike, five of whom, including Humam, were members of Hamas.

Hayya has become increasingly influential in the terror group as other top Hamas officials have been killed in Israeli strikes, among them Ismail Haniyeh on a visit to Iran and Yahya Sinwar in the Gaza Strip.

On Monday, he was in Sharm el-Sheikh for indirect talks with Israel on Trump's 20-point plan that will include exchanging Israeli hostages in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Hamas officials, Khalil Al-Hayya and Osama Hamdan, attend a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon, November 21, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/ESA ALEXANDER)

Hayya has been at the heart of ceasefire talks throughout the Gaza war that erupted when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, prompting a sweeping Israeli offensive that has flattened much of the enclave since then.

Hayya now seen as group's most influential figure abroad

An earlier ceasefire initiative had been on the agenda for discussion between the 64-year-old and other Hamas leaders when they were targeted in Israel's September attack on Doha.

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Hayya, widely seen as the group's most influential figure abroad since Haniyeh was killed by Israel in Iran in July 2024, is part of a five-man leadership council based in Qatar that has led Hamas since Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the October 2023 attacks, was killed last year.

Hailing from the Gaza Strip, Hayya is a veteran member of the Islamist group. Regarded as having good ties with Iran, a vital source of arms and finance for Hamas, he has been closely involved in the group's efforts to broker several truces with Israel, playing a key role in ending a 2014 conflict and again in attempts to secure an end to the current Gaza war.

Hayya has been part of Hamas since its establishment in 1987. In the early 1980s, he joined the Muslim Brotherhood, the Sunni Islamist movement from which Hamas emerged, along with Haniyeh and Sinwar, Hamas sources say.

In Gaza, he was detained several times by Israel.

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In 2007, an Israeli airstrike hit his family home in Gaza City's Shejaia quarter, killing several relatives. In 2008, his son Hamza was killed by an Israeli airstrike.

In the 2014 war between Hamas and Israel, the house of Hayya's eldest son, Osama, was bombed, killing him, his wife, and three of their children.

Ties with Iran, talks with Syria

Hayya left Gaza several years ago, serving as a Hamas point person for ties with the Arab and Islamic worlds and basing himself in Qatar. He accompanied Haniyeh to Tehran for the visit in July, during which he was assassinated.

He has been cited as saying the October 7 attacks had been meant as a limited operation by Hamas to capture "a number of soldiers" to swap for jailed Palestinians.

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"But the Zionist army unit completely collapsed," he said in comments published by the Hamas-linked Palestinian Information Center, referring to Israel's military.

He has said the attack succeeded in bringing the Palestinian issue back into international focus.

Hamas-led terrorists killed some 1,200 people and abducted 251 others in the attacks. More than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's offensive in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.

The ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its toll.

Alongside leading Hamas delegations in mediated talks to secure a ceasefire, he has undertaken a range of other high-profile political activities for the group.

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In 2022, he led a Hamas team to Damascus to mend ties with former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, broken a decade earlier when the movement endorsed the largely Sunni uprising against Assad, a member of the minority Alawite sect.

The breach had strained a regional alliance built by Iran to counter Israel and the United States.

Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this story.
SEOUL, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the country's first 5,000-ton destroyer and called for bolstering naval power to "punish" threats to national sovereignty, state-run media reported Monday.

Kim visited the Choe Hyon destroyer on Sunday with high-ranking party and government officials as part of his tour of a military hardware exhibition, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.

Pyongyang launched the Choe Hyon at the Nampo Shipyard in April. The vessel is armed with a wide range of weapons, including nuclear-capable cruise missiles, according to North Korean reports.

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Kim called the destroyer the "remarkable latest success" of the North's warship-building industry and a symbol of the "rapidly developing naval forces of the DPRK," KCNA reported.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the official name of North Korea.

The North Korean leader added that the country's naval power "should be exercised in the vast ocean to thoroughly deter or counter and punish the enemy's provocations for the sovereignty of the state and its security interests."

The de facto maritime border in the Yellow Sea, known as the Northern Limit Line, has long been a source of tension between the two Koreas. North Korea does not officially recognize the NLL, which was drawn unilaterally by the U.S.-led United Nations Command after the Korean War.

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The boundary area has been the location for a handful of naval skirmishes in the decades after the 1950-53 war, including the North's 2010 torpedo attack on a South Korean warship that left 46 dead.

In January 2024, Kim called the line "illegal" and warned that even the slightest violation of the North's territory would be considered a "war provocation."

He later repeated the threats, saying the boundary was a "ghost ... without any ground in the light of international law or legal justification."

More recently, South Korea's military fired warning shots after a North Korean merchant vessel crossed the border on Sep. 25.

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Pyongyang unveiled a second 5,000-ton warship in May, named the Kang Kon, but the vessel suffered an accident at its launch ceremony that left it listing on its side.

Kim, who was in attendance at the launch, called the mishap a "criminal act" and warned of serious consequences for those found responsible. At least four officials were arrested in the aftermath.

The Kang Kon was repaired and relaunched in June, although analysts have questioned whether it is fully operational.

The North has vowed to build another 5,000-ton destroyer by October 2026.
Access to naloxone, or Narcan, has decreased overdose deaths in Kentucky. But Kentucky's rates of substance use disorder and overdose remain high. Naloxone, in this photo available at the Louisville jail, reverses overdose effects. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

Kentuckians living with addiction can call Kentuckys help line at 833-859-4357. Narcan, which can help reverse overdoses, is available at pharmacies for sale and through some health departments and outreach programs for free.

Citing the need for more collaboration in the treatment of substance use disorder, 10 nonprofit organizations from around Kentucky have banded together to form the Kentucky Nonprofit Recovery Alliance.

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Launched publicly on Oct. 2, the founding members  which span from West Kentucky to Ashland  will advocate for Medicaid reforms that prioritize patient outcomes over quantity of services, as well as establish a memorandum of understanding to easily refer patients within the network for the best care.

This will get recovery advocates out of our organizational silos and into a formal system of warm handoffs and linkages into care between every step in the process, said Jennifer Hancock, the president and CEO of Volunteers of America Mid-States and a founding board member of the new organization.

While overdose deaths in Kentucky have declined in recent years, Kentuckians still suffer from opioid use disorder at one of the nations highest rates.

As of 2022, Kentucky had 70.34 treatment beds per 100,000 people, the highest in the country, according to a study released in 2024 by East Tennessee State Universitys Center for Rural Health Research. Despite that capacity to treat people, the state has high rates of addiction.

Jennifer Hancock is the CEO of Volunteers of America Mid-States.

That dissonance is something that we are deeply concerned about, Hancock said.

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A national report in May showed Kentucky is one of four states where the rate of opioid use disorder is higher than 2.5% of the population aged 12 or older. The others are New Hampshire, Nevada and Massachusetts. Meanwhile, 1,410 Kentuckians died from an overdose in 2024, according to the 2024 Drug Overdose Fatality Report. In 2023, there were 1,984 overdose deaths, which was a decrease from the 2,135 lost in 2022.

Even though deaths are down, the high rate of addiction means the urgency has never waned when it comes to treating it, Hancock said.

Even though fewer people are dying, which is something that we would celebrate, were not really seeing that much of an impact in overdoses, said Abbie Gilbert, the chief policy and external affairs officer with the Kentucky Nonprofit Recovery Alliance. We have to find other things to show that were helping people get healthy (and) move back into the workforce.

Volume over value

One disconnect in resources and effective treatment, Hancock said, is the reimbursement system.

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The current system incentivizes volume over value, Hancock said. Because its a fee-for-service model  Medicaid is paying providers to deliver a health care activity, regardless of whether or not that activity is producing positive results.

Hancocks organization, Volunteers for America, has value-based contracts with Medicaid and its managed care organizations (MCOs), she said: They are paying us for delivering healthy babies not born substance exposed, graduating a mom who has a living wage job and stable housing.

She wants to see other organizations land such contracts. The organization will also advocate for the General Assembly to require demonstrated outcomes in Medicaid contracts, she said.

The Kentucky legislature convenes for the 2026 session on Jan. 6, but its too early to say what bills will be introduced on this, Hancock said. Coalition members are just beginning to have conversations about this with members of the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board, she said.

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Our coalition believes that the system could be redesigned to incentivize quality outcomes, which would change the behaviors of providers in transformational ways, Hancock said. These are significant changes that could be positively disruptive to the system, especially during a time when Medicaid reform is at the top of every policy maker, provider and even citizens minds.

Kentucky Nonprofit Recovery Alliance founding members

Part of the New Vista campus in Lexington, April 12, 2023. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Carter Skaggs).

These nonprofits have signed a memorandum of understanding to refer patients within the 10-member network:
More than 60 people have been killed across India and Nepal after days of relentless monsoon rains triggered landslides, flash floods and infrastructure collapses, authorities said on Sunday.

In Nepal, officials reported that 47 people had died since Friday, with most casualties in Ilam district, which borders Indias West Bengal state.

Thirty-five people were killed in separate landslides in Ilam district in the east bordering India, said Kalidas Dhauboji, a spokesperson for the Armed Police Force. Nine people were missing after being swept away by floods, while three others were killed by lightning in other parts of the country, he added.

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Rescue efforts for the missing persons are going on, said Shanti Mahat, a spokesperson for Nepals National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.

The deluge has blocked major roads and destroyed several bridges, cutting off the capital, Kathmandu, from other parts of the country. The airports domestic flights were largely suspended, though international operations remained unaffected, said Rinji Sherpa, spokesperson for Kathmandu airport.

High tidal waves crashing Koshi Barrage at Bhardaha in Saptari district, Madhesh province after river Koshi overflowed owing to heavy rain showers in Nepal (AFP via Getty)

Authorities said the Koshi River in southeastern Nepal  which often causes deadly flooding in Indias Bihar state  was flowing above danger levels.

All 56 sluice gates of the Koshi Barrage, a dam-like structure regulating water flows, had been opened to release excess water, said Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, district governor of Sunsari. Vehicular movement across the barrage was banned as a precaution.

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Across the border in India at least 17 people were confirmed dead in landslides in the eastern Himalayan region of Darjeeling in West Bengal, where days of heavy rain caused a bridge collapse and widespread destruction.

The Dhudia iron bridge over the Balason River, linking Siliguri and Mirik, was washed away by the swelling waters.

The loss of lives is tragic. As per our reports, 11 people have died in Mirik and six in Darjeeling. But the figure is not yet confirmed, said Udayan Guha, North Bengal Development Minister, describing the situation as alarming.

Army personnel carrying a landslide victim evacuated by a helicoper following heavy rain-triggered landslides and floods in Nepal (AFP via Getty Imag)

Rescue operations have been slowed by continuous rainfall and treacherous terrain. The terrain is slippery, and several houses have been damaged. Earthmovers are finding it extremely difficult to operate on these slopes, a senior police officer told Press Trust of India.

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Local officials said families from several hillside villages, including Bishnulal Gaon and Jasbir Gaon, have been relocated to temporary shelters set up with the help of NGOs and the district administration.

Prime minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the victims families, saying authorities were committed to providing all possible assistance to those affected.

In Mirik, where a landslide struck a house in the early hours of Sunday, four people were killed while sleeping.

They had gone to Dara Gaon from Salbari near Siliguri to celebrate Dasai (Dussehra), the biggest festival of the Gorkhas, said Aditya Pradhan, a local leader, told the Hindustan Times.

The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for extreme rainfall in the sub-Himalayan districts of West Bengal, including Darjeeling and Kalimpong, warning of further landslides and flooding until at least 6 October.
Galaxy Digital is set to compete with the likes of Coinbase, Kraken, and Robinhood following the launch of its crypto trading platform. The service, called GalaxyOne, was unveiled on Monday for individual investors. The newly launched platform comes with several features, including premium yield for accredited investors.

Galaxy Digital Brings Premium Yield to Its Customers

Galaxy Digital is hoping that this platform chips away at an industry largely dominated by a number of firms in the United States.

One of its incentives is the premium yield for accredited investors. This is up to 8% Annualized Percentage Yield (APY). There is also 4% APY through GalaxyOne Cash, which doesnt have the same restrictions as the former. This new outfit could be a strong competitor for Kraken and Robinhood, which already host services like cryptocurrency and equities trading.

The development is a reflection of Galaxys consistent push for a balance between those on different financial strata. It always seeks a middle ground between large financial institutions with billions of dollars in Assets Under Management (AUM) and those individual accounts with less than $1,000.

The GalaxyOne platform is designed to offer trading on only three blue-chip digital assets for now. These are Bitcoin , Ethereum , and Solana . According to Galaxys Managing Director, Zac Prince, we think theres a really interesting opportunity and a compelling product set that we can build for that accredited investor profile.

Kraken Pushes Its Borders Strategically

Beyond Galaxy Digital, its key rivals are also fueling big ambitions in the market.

Earlier this year, Kraken successfully closed a $100 million funding round, according to a Fortune report published on Sept. 25. The new funding accelerates the crypto exchanges push toward an eventual public listing. It could also help the exchange focus more on pro traders and institutions.

Much of Krakens strategy is focused on the integration of Traditional Finance (TradFi) with blockchain technology. At the beginning of this year, it acquired NinjaTrader for $1.5 billion and added two million new users to its platform as a result. Another key milestone for Kraken is the debut of xStocks, which is tokenized shares of companies like Apple and Tesla.

They can be traded on blockchains and outside the Kraken platform.

Read original story Galaxy Launches Crypto Trading Platform to Take on Robinhood by Godfrey Benjamin at Coinspeaker.com
Hundreds marched in Tunis to denounce Israels detention of Global Sumud Flotilla activists, including 25 Tunisians, as released activists began returning home.

Tunisian unions and activists organized a large-scale march and protest in central Tunis on Saturday to denounce the Israeli navy's detention of Global Sumud Flotilla activists, Tunisia's official news agency TAP confirmed.

The protests, held in the evening, were attended by "hundreds," and denounced "Zionist aggression...and the illegal detention by the Zionist entity of participants in the Global Sumud Flotilla to break the Gaza blockade, including 25 Tunisians," the report stated.

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The protests were organized by the National Committee to Support the Resistance in Palestine, the Sumud Flotilla Steering Committee, the Coordination of Joint Action for Palestine, and the National Union of Tunisian Journalists.

Tunisian activists released from Israel, begin journey back to Tunis via Istanbul

Earlier on Saturday, 10 Tunisian flotilla activists arrived in Istanbul, TAP noted.

In addition, nine Tunisian flotilla activists landed in Tunis on Sunday, TAP confirmed, with large crowds to greet them at the airport.

Crowds gather to welcome Tunisian activists who were detained following their participation in the Global Sumud Flotilla upon their return to Tunisia, October 5, 2025. (credit: FETHI BELAID/AFP via Getty Images)

Global Sumud Flotilla activist Greta Thunberg will be deported to Greece on Monday, flotilla activists announced on X/Twitter.

Greece will pay for the flight, with 27 Greek activists also being deported on the same flight, Ynet reported. The activists to be deported on Monday also include 28 French citizens, 15 Italians, and nine Swedes, Agence France-Presse reported.

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A Spanish national detained after travelling on a vessel as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla was accused by Israel Police of biting a female medical staff member at Ketziot Prison on Sunday.

The staff member had been escorting the Spanish national as part of a routine medical examination ahead of her deportation on Monday when she was said to have bitten the worker.

The medical worker was given treatment onsite for the minor injuries caused by the bite, and Israel Police were called to handle the attacker. It is currently unknown if legal action will be pursued.

Tobias Holcman, Danielle Greyman-Kennard, and Pesach Benson/TPS contributed to this report.
JAKARTA (Reuters) -The death toll from the collapse of a school in Indonesia last week has climbed to at least 50 people as rescuers have cleared nearly all of the debris, rescue authorities said on Monday, in the country's deadliest disaster this year.

Piles of concrete caved in on hundreds of mostly teenage boys after the collapse of the Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in the Indonesian town of Sidoarjo, in East Java province, trapping and later killing them.

Using excavators, rescuers late on Sunday cleared 80% of the debris and found bodies and body parts of the mostly teenage victims, the disaster mitigation agency said in a statement.

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Budi Irawan, a deputy at the disaster mitigation agency, said a total of 50 people have died based on the bodies recovered and rescuers were expected to finish their search by the end of Monday for 13 more trapped victims.

"The number of victims is the biggest this year from one building," he told a press conference. "Out of all the disasters in 2025, natural or not, there hasn't been as many dead victims as the ones in Sidoarjo."

Yudhi Bramantyo, a search and rescue agency official, said at the same news conference that five other body parts were found, indicating the death toll is likely at least 54 people.

Rescuers are continuing their search, with footage shared by the search and rescue agency showing recovery workers carrying orange body bags out of the ruins of the school.

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Authorities have said the cause of the collapse was construction work on the upper floors that the school's foundations could not support.

Across Indonesia, there are about 42,000 Islamic school buildings, known locally as a pesantren, data from the country's religious affairs ministry shows.

Only 50 pesantren have building permits, Dody Hanggodo, the country's public works minister, was quoted by local media as saying on Sunday.

It is not immediately clear if Al Khoziny had a building permit. Reuters could not immediately contact school authorities for comment.

(Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
NEED TO KNOW

At least 50 people have been killed in Nepal in a series of floods, landslides, heavy rainfall and lightning, officials said

The country's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority announced the deaths in a daily disaster bulletin on Oct. 5, noting others are missing or injured

Officials in nearby India have offered to provide additional resources

At least 50 people were killed in Nepal in a series of floods, landslides, heavy rainfall and lightning, officials said.

The country's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority announced the deaths in a daily disaster bulletin on Sunday, Oct. 5, noting others are missing or injured.

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The Associated Press reported Nepal began experiencing heavy rainfall on Friday, Oct. 3, and eventually entire village communities were destroyed by landslides. A spokesperson for the Armed Police Force told Reuters that 50 people in Nepal had died in the floods and landslides as of Monday, Oct. 6.

Heavy rains overnight caused the landslides, Ilam authority Sunita Nepal said, according to Al Jazeera. Rescue workers have reached the affected areas. It was difficult because many roads were blocked.

According to another Ilam official, six members of one family died after their residence was decimated by a landslide, the Times of India reported.

"Domestic flights are largely disrupted but international flights are operating normally, said Kathmandu airport spokesperson Rinji Sherpa, according to Reuters.



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Prime Minister Sushila Karki addressed the tragedy in a statement shared on X on Sunday.



"The disaster and loss of life and property in Ilam and other places due to excessive rainfall have deeply saddened me. In this difficult time, I wish to express my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, along with prayers for the eternal peace of the departed souls," the prime minister said in an English translation.

"At this moment, I deeply appreciate the tireless efforts of all those engaged day and night in relief and rescue operations. The patience and cooperation shown by the Nepali people in facing this disaster are commendable, for which I express my heartfelt gratitude," she added in a separate post.

The prime minister of India, which borders Nepal, offered to provide additional resources amid the fatal flooding.

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 loss of lives and damage caused by heavy rains in Nepal is distressing. We stand with the people and Government of Nepal in this difficult time," Prime Minister Narandra Modi wrote on X. "As a friendly neighbour and first responder, India remains committed to providing any assistance that may be required."



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Monsoon season in Nepal typically stretches from June through September. Nepal has recently experienced other severe storms; the AP reported 224 people died and 158 were injured in floods and landslides nationwide last year.



Read the original article on People
Utahs Legislative Redistricting Committee early Monday voted to favorably recommend Map C for consideration by the rest of the Utah Legislature.

Map C will be presented to the rest of the Legislature later in the day for a vote. The state Legislature is holding a special session on Monday which was called by Gov. Spencer Cox.

Following a 10-day public comment period for proposed congressional maps, the redistricting committee held its last public meeting to choose a map.

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Mondays special session will address a variety of issues, including submitting a congressional map for consideration by 3rd District Court Judge Dianna Gibson.

This map redrawing comes after a Utah Supreme Court ruling last year, saying the Utah Legislature shouldnt have been allowed to amend 2018s Proposition 4, also known as the Better Boundaries initiative.

Weve put a lot of consideration in all of these maps, and I think this map best suits the citizens of Utah to put the rural and the one vote per person, said Sen Don Ipson, R-St. George. And I think this is the map that suits the people best.

Better Boundaries Executive Director Elizabeth Rasmussen attended Mondays meeting, and spoke with The Deseret News about the outcome.

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We werent surprised. We thought this would happen. Were disappointed in this outcome, and its just disappointing, she said.

DN-OptionC

Last month, Gibson ruled that with the initiatives standards back in place, the existing congressional map cannot be used in the 2026 election since it does not meet Proposition 4s requirements. The ruling requires the congressional map to be redrawn.

Map C was one of five maps proposed by the committee and there were more than 100 maps that were also submitted by members of the public for consideration.

Last week, the Utah GOP sent an email to donors and delegates urging them to submit comments in support of Option C, one of the six proposed maps that Republicans believe would offer their strongest chance to maintain control of all four of Utahs House seats.

What was said about Option C

Ahead of the committees vote on Option C, Rep. Stephanie Gricius, R-Eagle Mountain spoke in favor of the map highlighting how she appreciates the distribution of the states military installments in the map.

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The eight Republican members of the committee voted in favor of the map, Sen. Luz Escamilla D-Salt Lake City and Rep. Doug Owens, D-Millcreek, voted against it.

Rasmussen also spoke about the Utah GOP asking people to comment on Option C last week: Its frustrating, because weve been very clear that we want full representation for Utahns, and all weve done is help Utahns engage in the process, and yet, were seeing partisanship injected into this process, and its just really disappointing, she said.

What are maps supposed to look like under Proposition 4?

There are eight standards listed by Proposition 4 that should be followed by any proposed congressional map:

Equal population

Minimize municipal splits

Minimize county splits

Compactness

Contiguity and ease of transportation

Preserve traditional neighborhoods and communities of interest

Follow natural and geographic features and boundaries

Maximize boundary agreement among different types of districts

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These standards are also meant to be prioritized in the order listed, per the ruling.

One of the standards that has been discussed multiple times in committee meetings is prioritizing minimizing the amount of municipal and county splits.

Here is a look at the the splits in Option C:

Municipal splits: Millcreek, North Salt Lake, Pleasant Grove

County splits: Davis, Salt Lake, Utah

As a part of Proposition 4 the committee wasnt allowed to consider any partisan data.

We asked, out an abundance of caution that the staff review all of the public comments and make sure that they did not forward to this committee anything that dealt with the partisan numbers data or reference to partisanship, and we still received 1000s of comments. I reviewed hundreds of pages of comments on different maps, said committee chair Scott Sandall, R-Tremonton.

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One question that was asked multiple times online and during committee meetings is why the committee isnt using the maps that were drawn by the Independent Redistricting Commission in 2021.

Committee Chairs Rep. Candice Pierrucci R-Herriman and Sandall shared that Gibsons order said those maps were not allowable in this setting because the IRC was following SB200 and not Prop 4 when drawing the maps.

Another request that was made repeatedly during online public comment is to not split Salt Lake County, Sandall emphasized that this is not possible under federal law.

The ideal population of districts under federal law is the states population divided by the number of districts. Utahs total population is 3,271,616 and divided by four the ideal population in each district is 817,904.

Salt Lake Countys population is 1,185,238, bigger than the ideal population, meaning the county has to be split in order for the states population to be divided evenly between the four congressional districts.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte has said that her country will not lift sanctions on Russia and Belarus until Ukraine's territorial integrity is fully restored and all damages caused by Russia are compensated.

Source: European Pravda citing Ingrida Simonyte at a joint press conference with Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, broadcast by Ukrinform, a Ukrainian news agency

Details: Simonyte, who is in Kyiv on a visit on 6 October, said that those responsible for armed aggression against Ukraine must be held accountable.

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She said Lithuania supports the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression, the operation of the Registry of Damage, and the European Commission's proposal to use frozen Russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine.

Quote: "Our sanctions on Russia and its ally Belarus will remain in place until Ukraine's territorial integrity is restored and the damage caused by the war is compensated."

More details: The Lithuanian prime minister also said that the ultimate goal is "full compensation for all damages inflicted on Ukraine".

Background:

On the same day, Simonyte announced a new initiative to support and rehabilitate Ukrainian children abducted by Russia and later brought back home to Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has recently revealed that he discussed with British Princess Anne the issue of bringing back Ukrainian children taken by Russia.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Madagascars President Andry Rajoelina has appointed Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as prime minister, as anti-government protests once again eruped in the country.

The appointment of Zafisambo, a military general, on Monday comes a week after the government was dissolved in response to the protests.

However, protesters are now calling on Rajoelina himself to resign.

Police fired tear gas at demonstrators on the streets of the capital, Antananarivo, on Monday, the start of a third consecutive week of protests. The unrest began over water and electricity cuts, but has evolved into broader anti-government anger against Rajoelinas administration.

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Protesters have gathered in cities across the country, with local TV stations broadcasting footage of people at rallies being confronted by police in the cities of Toliara and Antsiranana, also known as Diego Suarez.

In Antananarivo, a Reuters reporter said police fired tear gas at the protesters, most of whom were university students.

The United Nations said on Monday that 22 people have been killed since the protests began, and more than 100 people have been injured, figures rejected by the government.

The protests against Rajoelinas government began on September 25 in the capital, with thousands of demonstrators taking to the streets and erecting barricades with rocks and tyres.





They were organised by Gen Z Madagascar, a social media youth group describing itself as a peaceful, civic movement. Organisers say they have taken inspiration from youth-led movements in Nepal and Morocco.

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About a third of Madagascars 30 million people have access to electricity, according to the International Monetary Fund. Daily power cuts often exceed eight hours, and Jirama, the state energy company, has been accused of corruption and mismanagement, fuelling public anger.

People dont have refrigeration for medication, dont have water for basic hygiene, and then theres massive corruption, Ketakandriana Rafitoson, the global vice chair of Transparency International, told Reuters.

These protests were triggered by visceral grievances that go to the heart of daily life.

Though the protests started peacefully on their first day on 25 Septmeber, they turned chaotic as unrest spread through Antananarivo after police employed tear gas and rubber bullets.

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Shops were ransacked, and the homes of some lawmakers were damaged.





In response to the first night of protests, authorities instituted an overnight curfew to prevent people from gathering in the evenings.

That has set a confrontational tone between protesters and police in following rallies.

Several demonstrations have taken place since and have grown into a movement more broadly channeling public discontent with the performance of Rajoelinas government.

Rajoelina, 51, came to power in a 2009 military coup, having himself campaigned for reform. He briefly stepped down in 2014 but was elected in 2018.

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A former DJ and media tycoon, he now faces the biggest challenge to his rule in years, experts say. Rajoelina had sacked his cabinet in an attempt to appease the protesters.

A government spokesperson told Reuters that attempts to engage demonstrators have been repeatedly rebuffed.

Unfortunately, despite our efforts, no clear or structured leadership has emerged to engage in constructive talks, the spokesperson said.

Rajoelina has previously rejected calls for his resignation and accused those calling for him to step down of wanting to destroy our country.
NEW YORK  Mayor Eric Adams is meeting with Albanias prime minister during a trip to the Balkan country this week, marking his first overseas jaunt since he abandoned his bid for a second term in City Hall.

Adams left for Albania on Monday and will stay through Thursday, according to his spokeswoman Kayla Mamelak. New York City is home to a sizable population of Albanians.

He was supposed to meet with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama shortly after arriving Monday and also had plans to visit local businesses and factories, an advisory from the mayors office says. It wasnt immediately clear who else hes expected to meet with on the remaining days of his trip, though the advisory says Adams plans on sitting down with government, business and tech leaders to promote economic activity and tourism to New York City.

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Adams opted to go on the trip after being invited by Rama, whose government is paying for the mayors lodging and ground transportation to the tune of about $290 per day, Mamelak said. City taxpayer dollars are being used to pay for the mayors flights and other expenses.

It is a trip with a city purpose, Mamelak said.

Mamelak said Adams is joined on the trip by a scheduling staffer and members of his NYPD security detail. Their expenses are being covered by the city, she said.

Adams trip, which was announced by his office shortly before midnight Sunday, comes just days after he did an interview with an Albanian television presenter in which he noted that his adult son, rapper Jordan Coleman, performed in the countrys version of Idol in 2022.

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Ive accomplished so many things, but what I have not accomplished  and Im jealous of my son  he went to Albania, he performed there, and you know here in New York, this is the Albania of America, the mayor said in the interview with the TV presenter, Alketa Vejsiu.

Spokespeople for Rama, whos also the chairman of Albanias Socialist Party, didnt immediately return requests for comment on the mayors visit. Rama has drawn international condemnation from free speech advocates for pushing through laws that rolled back press freedoms in Albania.

The mayors trip comes a week after he dropped his independent campaign for reelection.

Adams decision to exit the November race came after President Donald Trumps team and New York business leaders floated the idea of offering him a job in exchange for a commitment to suspend his reelection campaign to help clear the field against Democratic front-runner Zohran Mamdani.

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Adams has yet to say what his next move is professionally, but sources say talks about a position in the Trump administration have cooled off recently.

Adams has said since dropping out said that hes deeply concerned about the direction Mamdani would take the city, citing the democratic socialists platform that includes vows to increase taxes on millionaires in order to fund programs like free public buses.

Adams has for years been known to enjoy traveling across the globe. His federal corruption indictment, which was dismissed by Trumps administration as part of a controversial arrangement this spring, alleged Adams was given discounted flights and hotel stays as bribes from Turkish government officials in exchange for political favors.

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of waging a "hybrid war" on Germany.

"He is waging an information war against us. He is waging a military war against Ukraine and this war is directed against all of us," Merz told German broadcaster ntv on Monday.

Merz charged that the Russian President wants to turn Europe's political order upside down.

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"And that's why we support Ukraine," Merz explained, adding that it is in Germany's interest to defend the political order of open, liberal societies in Europe.

When asked specifically whether Putin was waging war against Germany, Merz said: "He is waging a hybrid war against us."

With regard to an increase in drone incidents in Germany and across Europe, Merz said: "We know the threat," noting that Putin wants to intimidate and instil fear.

"We will not be intimidated and we will also defend ourselves effectively against this threat," Merz asserted.

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When asked whether he had considered calling Putin, Merz said that "of course I am considering it."

He added: "I can only see that every attempt to talk to him at the moment is ending in even tougher attacks on Ukraine."

The German chancellor that he had a rather heated discussion about this with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban at an EU meeting in Copenhagen last week. "He accused us of not wanting to negotiate."

Merz replied by pointing out to Hungarian president that Orban himself had been in Kiev in July of last year as EU Council President and then in Moscow. "And Putin's response was to bomb a children's hospital in Kiev."
Nigeria and Meta look set to settle their data protection dispute.

Both parties informed a court in Abuja that they were at an advanced stage of negotiations to resolve a lawsuit that saw Nigerias data watchdog impose a nearly $33 million fine on the Silicon Valley giant.

Metas WhatsApp, Facebook, and Messenger apps are widely used for communications and commerce in Africa, and as the continents most populous country Nigeria, with its growing smartphone use, is one of Metas most important markets.

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The company also faces a separate case with Nigerias consumer protection agency: It was fined $220 million last year over allegations of multiple and repeated, as well as continuing infringements of the countrys data protection and competition laws. Meta disputed Nigerias findings and decision to fine it, but a tribunal upheld the decision in April.

The clashes with Nigeria are among a string of rows Meta has faced in Africa. Content moderators in Kenya, who worked for Meta contractors, are in a compensation battle with the company for harm allegedly incurred from their work.
Residents and members of the LGBT+ community in Miami Beach, Florida, are reeling after the states Transportation Department removed a rainbow crosswalk in the city.

The Pride-themed crosswalk, which was placed in the heart of Miami Beach, was removed by a crew from the Florida Department of Transportation on Sunday evening. Miami Beach Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, who opposes the decision, told The Independent the removal shocked our community.

To the residents of Miami Beach and our LGBTQ+ tourists from around the world, please know that the removal of this crosswalk was not our decision, it was the State of Floridas, and we will continue to welcome with open arms and inclusion everyone who visits Miami Beach, she said.

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This marks the latest removal of a rainbow crosswalk after the Florida Department of Transportation issued a memo in June prohibiting road art, including anything with social, political, or ideological messages or images and does not serve the purpose of traffic control.

The City Commission unanimously appealed the crosswalks removal, but received notice late Friday night the appeal was denied, Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez told The Independent.

Crews removed a rainbow crosswalk in Miami Beach, Florida, on Sunday (Miami Beach Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez)

This crosswalk, it represented so much to so many people who, over the decades, endured everything from workplace discrimination, to the stigma of HIV and AIDS, expulsion from the military, housing inequality, of course the long fight for marriage equality, he said. These were hard won battles that took us, the gay community, from being marginalized, to being visible, to being included, to being recognized.

To see our own government, our own state government that should be here to protect us, to lift all of its people, to waste the taxpayers money in coming in and ripping out brick by brick our symbols of inclusion, our symbols of progress, our symbols of safety  it was heartbreaking at best, grotesque at worst, he added.

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A drag performer told local outlet WSVN the crosswalk represents blood, sweat and tears.

I literally worked so hard on this sidewalk for many years and struggled to come out here and perform and share art, share my craft, so it tears my heart to see it go away, but were going to fight, were not going anywhere, the performer said.

Governor Ron DeSantis said messages from across the political spectrum has been removed in compliance with the new order against artwork at intersections and crosswalks (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The states order to remove road art is in compliance with a federal directive, Florida Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue said in August, according to Spectrum News 13. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a memo on July 1 telling states to ensure intersections and crosswalks are kept free from distractions, including political messages of any nature.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also said in August that officials have been removing art from across the political spectrum.

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Most of this stuff is, I mean, they had to remove a Back the Blue, they had to remove some of these other things, and so it spans different things, but weve made the policy decision in Florida that were not going to use the roads for that purpose, DeSantis said.

The Independent has contacted the Florida Department of Transportation for comment.

This comes more than a month after officials removed a rainbow crosswalk outside Orlandos Pulse nightclub, where a gunman killed 49 people in 2016 in the deadliest attack on LGBT+ people in U.S. history. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer called the removal of the crosswalk a callous and cruel political act.

We are devastated to learn that overnight the state painted over the Pulse Memorial crosswalk on Orange Avenue, Dyer said in a statement. This callous action of hastily removing part of a memorial to what was at the time our nation's largest mass shooting, without any supporting safety data, or discussion, is a cruel political act.
grenke has reported a 5.8% increase in leasing new business in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025, amounting to 781.2m ($917m), compared to 738.5m in the same quarter of the previous year.

The most leased assets were in the IT equipment category, which includes items such as laptops and software, making up 26.5% of the total contracts signed.

grenke CFO Martin Paal has set a target of 2.4bn of new business for the full year.

The proportion of direct business with customers remained relatively unchanged at 17.9%.

The period also saw a rise in lease applications to about 159,000, which led to the formation of roughly 77,000 new leasing agreements.

grenke noted that the Austria, Switzerland, and Germany (DACH) region was the top performer with new business, amounting to 207.2m, marking a 9.4% increase, with Germany contributing to over 21.7%.

This growth was partly due to a new partnership with Deutsche Telekom, expected to enhance grenke's presence in the German market.

Western Europe, excluding DACH, reported a 12.3% increase to 197.3m while Southern Europe's new business volume grew by 7.9% to 179.7m.

Although Northern/Eastern Europe saw a decrease, the 'Other Regions' category reported a 22.2% increase to 59.1m, with the US market contributing notably to this growth.

The company's deposit business was reported at 2.19bn as of 30 September 2025, a slight decrease from the end of 2024.

grenke Bank's new lending business, predominantly consisting of microcredit, showed a modest increase to 10.2m.

grenke CEO Sebastian Hirsch said: Also the third quarter was generally characterised by a high degree of uncertainty. Against the backdrop of this persistently challenging environment, our focus on the strong core markets in Europe has paid off.

Likewise, the significant growth in our future markets is strategically indicative of the direction we are taking - towards even greater international diversification and independence from individual markets. In short: grenke remains on track.

The companys overall earnings for the first half of 2025 were recorded at 26.2m.

The leasing division's performance was particularly strong in the second quarter, with a 9.8% rise in new business, leading to an increase in lease receivables to 6.9bn.

"grenke leasing new business sees 5.8% uptick in Q3 2025 " was originally created and published by Leasing Life, a GlobalData owned brand.




First day of classes at Montana State University in Bozeman. (Provided by MSU for the Daily Montanan)

Montanas flagship institutions of higher education are both celebrating continued growth reflected in fall enrollment numbers released last month.

In Bozeman, Montana State University saw headcount numbers tick up slightly from last year, marking a second consecutive fall with more than 17,100 students enrolled. MSU is the largest school in a four-state region that includes Wyoming and both Dakotas.

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Its humbling that so many students have chosen to start their futures at Montana State University, MSUs new President Brock Tessman said in a statement. Our mission is to open the door to higher education for as many students as we can and offer them a first-rate education in a wide range of disciplines. And we are committed to helping our students meet their educational and career goals and to providing excellent support and resources for them every step of the way.

To the west, the University of Montana heralded a fifth-straight year of enrollment growth with 11,064 students this semester, fueled by strong growth at Missoula College and UMs graduate school.

Students choose UM because they will succeed here, our Griz community will support them, and we will help them launch a meaningful career and lead a fulfilling life, UM President Seth Bodnar said.

Missoula College, the two-year school embedded within UM, grew by 17% over fall 2024, according to UMs census data. The graduate program counted a record 2,910 students, making it the largest graduate school in the state, while the Alexander Blewett III School of Law grew by 4% to 280 students.

Enrollment trends at schools within the Montana University System through 2024. Fall 2025 headcount reports showed MSU and UM continuing upward growth. (Chart by MUS)

The University of Montana was the states largest school until 2012, according to the Montana University System. UM saw 10 years of falling enrollment until the trend began to reverse in 2021.

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This falls headcount marks the first time UM has surpassed 11,000 students since 2017.

Both of Montanas largest universities welcomed large classes of first-time college students MSU saw 3,743, while UM had 1,214.

Both schools count Montanans as the majority of their students.

Half of all MSU students are from Montana  8,519  while 69% of UMs student body  6,866  are in-state residents.

UM also noted that a third of its student body  3,621 students  are the first of their family to attend college.

Both schools also touted success in meeting the states workforce needs by bolstering offerings at their respective two-year colleges and through non-credit courses and training.

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Gallatin College MSU had an enrollment of 1,078, the second year the college has exceeded 1,000 students.

The growth were seeing this fall reflects the confidence students and families place in Montana State University, said Robert Mokwa, MSUs provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. As the states land-grant university, our mission is to expand access to higher education, prepare graduates for Montanas workforce needs and advance knowledge that benefits communities across the state.

According to UMs press release, the university served 10,387 individuals  not counted in enrollment figures  during the last year through noncredit courses and training, designed to help learners re-skill, upskill or change careers.

In todays rapidly changing labor market, everyone deserves access to education that meets their specific needs and is delivered on their timeline, Bodnar said. UM has made investments to bolster our ability to serve learners beyond the traditional 18- to 22-year-old college student. We are proud that more than 10,000 people have benefited from these courses during the past year, landing jobs in growing fields like health care, construction and technology.

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MSU provided the following figures from fall enrollment:

It brought in 3,743 new first-time college students, including 1,572 Montanans;

A record 15,142 undergraduate students and 2,023 graduate students;

A record 1,124 Hispanic and 153 Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students enrolled, as well as 848 Native American/Alaska Native students enrolled;

A record retention rate of 81.8%, which measures the number of students who return for a second fall; and

A 21% increase in students receiving veteran benefits, at 700.

The university also acknowledged setting four-, five-, and six-year graduation rates last spring.

The University of Montana campus is pictured. (Jordan Hansen / Daily Montanan)

Record headcounts would not be possible if we were not working day in and day out to keep students in school and on track to graduation, said Steve Swinford, MSUs vice president for student success. That plays a direct role in our increases in graduation rates, and that is something we are immensely proud of at MSU.

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Additional highlights from UMs fall census data include:

259 more graduate students this fall compared to last;

A record 77.2% retention rate, up nine points from 2018;

817 Native American students enrolled for fall semester, a number that has increased by more than 40% since 2018;

An increase of 592 UM students who are first in their family to attend college; and

An undergraduate headcount made up of 31% of students who are eligible for Pell Grants, awarded to those whose families earn significantly less income than the states median.

Our No. 1 priority is to place student success at the center of all we do, and these record-breaking student success rates are a testament to the hard work and dedication of UMs talented faculty and staff members, Bodnar said. Given the high number of first-generation college students on our campus, this work is truly changing the economic trajectory for thousands of Montana families.

This article has been updated to clarify the number of first-time incoming students at UM.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  A Montana woman is behind bars after stealing a vehicle and driving impaired.

According to the Rapid City Police Department, officers were dispatched to the Interstate 90 Mile Marker 54 after a report about a woman who was passed out in the drivers seat.

When police got to the scene, they found the car was recently stolen out of Montana. Police identified her as 44-year-old Lila Sheep.

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Snow in the Black Hills this morning; Warmer fall days ahead

After a DUI investigation, Sheep was found to have recently used meth and was too impaired to drive a car. Sheep was arrested for Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Drug DUI, and driving under suspension.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
Montana Sen. Steve Daines recently opined that he believes the drug mifepristone is not safe, while providing nothing but a debunked study.

On Sept. 23, the Helena Independent Record published an opinion piece by Montanas Republican Sen. Steve Daines, The abortion pill is harmful to women.

Mifepristone, nicknamed the abortion pill, is the medicine that Daines is attacking. In the United States and globally, mifepristone is widely used, particularly for medication abortions. Its use has increased steadily through the years, though access and usage statistics differ by country and region. Mifepristone is also used for other medical conditions, like managing miscarriages and treating Cushings syndrome. Mifepristone has been approved for use in nearly 100 countries as of mid-2023.

Correction

The author information about Jim Smith has been updated. There are three different Jim Smiths who submit columns. The incorrect biographical information was included on the original post. The correct one now appears.

On several points Daines is wrong and giving incorrect information about the drug. First, he states, In 2000, the FDA required three in-person doctor appointments for mifepristone. Today none are required. Pills can be dispensed by mail and sold at drugstores lie Walgreens and CVS without any medical oversight. This is blatantly not true. Mifepristone cannot be purchased without a prescription because it is a restricted medication under the FDAs Mifepristone REMS Program, requiring a prescription from a certified healthcare provider or a certified pharmacy to dispense. Although telemedicine and mail-order options are available in some states, a valid prescription is still necessary to obtain the medication safely and legally from these certified providers or pharmacies.

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Daines cites a study created by the Ethics and Public Policy Center as the basis of his criticism of the use of the drug. The studys authors, Jamie Bryan Hall, EPPCs director of data analysis, and Ryan Anderson, the organizations president, are not health experts, and neither seems to have a record of publishing scientific research through peer review. Their methods deviated wildly from what is standard in the world of health research, and so, predictably, did their conclusions: In sharp contrast to dozens of trials conducted around the globe over decades, the EPPC report determined that mifepristone is a danger to women.

The study lacks basic transparency about how that assessment was made. The authors relied on data from an insurance database that, according to the report, included more than 800,000 mifepristone abortions from 2017 to 2023. But the authors dont actually say which database they used, so theres no way for anybody to try to re-create their analysis to see if they receive the same results. The report also took some peculiar methodological steps to arrive at its conclusions.

The authors counted episodes in which a surgical procedure was required to complete the abortion after mifepristonepatients require additional treatment in about 1-in-20 cases, so the FDA considers this a recognized outcome rather than an adverse effect. They counted other life-threatening adverse events, including heart problems and mental-health concerns, that women in the study experienced in the weeks after the abortionwhich may have had nothing to do with mifepristone. The authors did not effectively distinguish between the outcomes of abortions and of miscarriages treated with mifepristone, or between normal amounts of post-abortion bleeding and severe hemorrhage.

In short, the report is not a study in the traditional sense and not conclusive proof of anything. Daines is following the lead of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., in using pseudo-scientific studies and their bogus conclusions to further a political agenda. Once again, the so called smaller government Republican Senator wants to have the government intrude into womens personal moral and medical decisions, to create a situation where, as he puts it, abortion is unthinkable. He also states that he will continue to work with the administration to protect women and fight for the most vulnerable in our society. If youre pre-natal, hes your protector. If youre pre-school, youre on your own.

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Sen. Daines, please explain to us how interfering in the very personal medical and moral decisions that women may have to make protects them? From whom are you protecting them? Big Pharma? Or themselves?

Meanwhile, Daines regularly votes against any legislation that would bring expanded aid or relief to people who are struggling to survive on incomes below the poverty level or expand medical insurance or coverage. He has consistently voted against legislation like the Womens Health Protection Act, and for tax breaks for Big Pharma and other corporations who benefit from our current dysfunctional health system. So much for being a champion of the poor and oppressed, women and children.

Smith is the author of the book, American Insomniac: Reflections on the future of a dying democracy.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  A man has died after he fell off a highway overpass in Providence over the weekend.

Rhode Island State Police troopers responded to Route 6 West near the Route 10 South interchange just after 5:30 p.m. Sunday and found a black Kawasaki motorcycle on its side.

The operator, identified as Cedrix Teixeira, 26, of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, was taken to Rhode Island Hospital with critical injuries and later pronounced dead.

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PREVIOUS: Motorcyclist critically injured after falling off Route 6 overpass in Providence

According to state police, the motorcycle hit the guardrail as Teixeira tried to turn, causing him to be thrown from the bike and land on the dirt embankment below. The guardrail was reportedly around three feet high, making his total fall between 40 and 50 feet or four stories high.

The crash remains under investigation, but state police believe speed was a factor.

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The call to service came later in life for Adam San Miguel, but he said it was impossible to ignore.

I just graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, he said proudly, actually, a month ago, and now Im an officer.

San Miguels parents immigrated to the United States from Cuba during the Freedom Flights of the late 1960s and early 1970s, when roughly 300,000 Cubans fled the country, seeking freedom and opportunity. San Miguel, 40, says he felt a responsibility to give back.

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My family came here with nothing, just looking for freedom, looking for someplace where they can raise their family and not be under communism, said San Miguel of Hudson County. We were given that. Ive been given all these opportunities, and they dont come free.

San Miguel balances a wife, two young daughters and a busy career. He runs his nonprofit, the Cuban American Alliance for Leadership and Education (CAALE), and a half dozen specialty coffee shops with his business partner and fellow Cuban, Andres Carrillo.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, San Miguels story reflects themes of service, leadership, and community that are part of his Cuban American experience.

I was born and raised in Jersey, San Miguel said. My parents, grandparents and my aunt all came from Cuba.

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San Miguel experienced what he calls a duality of cultures.

One is what I would get in school and in the media  English, pop culture, hip hop, he explained. And then the one you got at home  speaking Spanish, talking about Cuba, crying over Cuba, and telling stories from the motherland. That duality of cultures shaped me.

After obtaining a degree in Business Administration at Monmouth University, he pursued an MBA from Fordham University and a second bachelors degree in Spanish from New Jersey City University.

His first jobs were at Microsoft and Google. Now he works on his nonprofit and his chain of coffee shops. A self-described social entrepreneur, San Miguel says its about pairing the risk-taking drive of a business leader with a deeper sense of purpose.

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A social entrepreneur is someone who activates and initiates projects that can then grow and make impact, he said. The social characteristic of it is a mindset and a sense of purpose. Its the why behind entrepreneurship.

The CAALE program

That why has guided him since he launched his first venture, the nonprofit CAALE, more than a decade ago, to support Cuban American youth through scholarships, workshops, and trips.

San Miguel says CAALE is designed to prepare students to succeed in their professions, instill a spirit of service, and ground students in Cubas past and present.

We want them to have the tools and the network to rise to the top of their fields, he said. But we also want them to use that success in service to others. And lastly, we want them to maintain proximity to Cuba  its history, its current reality, and its future. We believe the children of exile will play a role in reshaping and rebuilding a better, free, and prosperous Cuba.

Cuban American Alliance for Leadership and Education

Liz Nayara Fis Frometa, 19, of Union City, is a CAALE program participant who studies marketing at Rider University. Before joining CAALE, she says she knew only a few other Cubans, including her teacher, who introduced her to the program.

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Being part of the Cuban American Alliance for Leadership and Education has been incredibly beneficial, Frometa said. As a first-generation college student from a single-parent household, it gave me the chance to reassure my mom she wouldnt have to worry about the cost of college.

CAALE hosts 40 to 50 students annually, most through its Leadership Development Program. On average, the program grants three to four scholarships of $10,000.

The curriculum begins with leadership workshops in areas such as emotional intelligence, public speaking, and professional preparation. Students learn everything from resume writing, to building LinkedIn profiles, to securing internships and landing jobs.

But the heart of the program lies in the impactful trips and unique experiences it offers.

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The journey starts with an orientation weekend in New Jersey, where students dive into Cuban history and culture.

We have workshops on Cuban history, and students identify their families origins on a 25-foot map of Cuba, San Miguel said. They even do a cook-off, making Cuban dishes like ropa vieja and picadillo.

In their second year, students head to Miami, the heart of the Cuban exile community.

Theyll visit the Bay of Pigs Museum, the University of Miamis Cuban Heritage Collection, and meet former political prisoners and community leaders, San Miguel said.

By the third year, the program shifts to Washington, D.C., for a deep dive into policy and geopolitics.

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Its not about showing a left or right perspective. We try to give a full spectrum, he said. We meet with members of Congress, think tanks, the State Department, and international organizations like the Organization of American States.

Finally, students travel to Cuba, an experience San Miguel describes as life-changing.

They get to meet with the U.S. ambassador in Havana, visit nonprofits like Caritas, and engage with the University of Havanas young entrepreneurship network, he said. Its tough to do, but its critical to their understanding.

Karla Somoano, 27, of Richfield Park, came to the United States in 2017 at 15.

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When I found the Pinos Nuevos Scholarship, I almost didnt apply, said Somoano, a former CAALE participant, who now serves as its program manager. Imposter syndrome kicked in, but I decided to take my shot, and I won. I was the first student to receive it and go through the Leadership Development Program, and it completely changed the trajectory of my life.

Somoano is in her last year of law school and has accepted a position as an associate at a New Jersey-based law firm.

The Leadership Development Program showed me that where I come from is my strength, she said. It gave me the tools to shape a future filled with purpose, service, and pride in my heritage and culture. Thats a big thing for me.

A new partnership

To sustain CAALE, fundraising was essential. So, San Miguel solicited donations from local businesses to support his fundraising events. Thats how he crossed paths with local coffee shop owner Andres Carrillo.

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I offered our pastries and services to make the event feel more Cuban, more authentic, and hopefully help attract people and raise more support, Carrillo said.

That first year we donated pastries for 200300 guests, and by the second year we added an espresso maker, making Cuban coffee on the spot  it became something special.

Cortaditos cafe partners

The two built a friendship over the years as San Miguel worked remotely from Carrillos cafe, Cortaditos.

It really happened naturally, Carrillo said. He was born here and came from the software industry. I, on the other hand, came from Cuba 22 years ago. My father owned a bakery. We had very different upbringings, but together we shared our pasts and our futures.

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Carrillo says San Miguel, who had been looking to start a business, became interested in his Cuban cafes. After many conversations, they saw the potential for expansion and formed a partnership in 2019.

Together, they reimagined the Cortaditos brand. What emerged was a coffee company built on both flavor and values. Today, they have six cafes in New Jersey.

Thoughts about Cuba

San Miguel said he tries to approach Cubas challenges with balance, acknowledging the impact of the U.S. embargo and the failures of Cubas communist economic model.

My hope and dream is to one day participate in a community in Cuba the same way I do here, to contribute positively to the development of a free and open civil society.

Ande Richards

Stories by Ande Richards

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A campsite in Cottonwood Campground in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Medora, North Dakota. (Photo by rruntsch/Getty Images Plus)

Public lands advocate Walt Dabney will participate in three film screenings and discussions across North Dakota in October hosted by North Dakota conservation groups.

Dabney is a former park ranger who supports preserving the National Park System. His areas of expertise include park law enforcement, search and rescue, fire management and public land policy.

Walt Dabney (Photo courtesy of Badlands Conservation Alliance)

These events are an opportunity for North Dakotans to connect with one of the nations foremost voices on the history and future of Americas public lands, Shannon Straight, executive director of the Badlands Conservation Alliance, said in a news release announcing the tour.

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The dates and locations are:

Oct. 14 at Dickinson State Universitys Beck Auditorium

Oct. 15 at the North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck

Oct. 16 at the University of North Dakotas Gorecki Alumni Center in Grand Forks

Each film will start at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by a question-and-answer segment with Dabney. Discussions will be moderated by local conservation leaders.

Dabney worked in parks including Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Yosemite, Grand Teton, Everglades and Mount Rainier, eventually serving as superintendent and chief ranger of the National Park Service.

In the news release announcing the tour, he said hes an admirer of President Theodore Roosevelt, who established the countrys National Park System.

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Much of the land we enjoy today  and that many depend on for their livelihoods  would not exist without Roosevelts actions before he left office in 1909, Dabney said in a statement.

The tour is a joint effort by the Badlands Conservation Alliance, North Dakota Wildlife Federation, North Dakota Natural Resources Trust, North Dakota Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, North Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society, North Dakota Sierra Club and the Dakota Resource Council.

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Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen before his press conference at St. Teresa Catholic School in Lincoln on Sept. 29, 2025. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, like a number of governors nationally, says he would be open to redrawing the states congressional maps in the middle of the decade.

The governor said so during an Examiner interview as White House talk of Nebraska redistricting has cooled  for now. Pillens embrace of the idea appears less bullish than his pushes to alter how the state awards its Electoral College votes for president.

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Im open to all kinds of conversations, Pillen said. Obviously, a couple of states have done redistricting. It was done before I became governor, so that was off my radar  Ive just not paid attention to how all that works.

Nebraska, like other states, typically redistricts once a decade after the U.S. Census has finished providing population estimates. The Legislature is tasked with drawing congressional and legislative maps.

Pillen, like many Republican governors with swing or Democratic districts, faces White House pressure to redistrict the states congressional districts mid-decade to advantage the GOP in the 2026 mid-term races for the U.S. House.

While all five members of Nebraskas federal delegation are Republican, the now-open seat contest in the Omaha areas 2nd Congressional District could prove crucial to national Democrats, who are trying to retake control of the U.S. House. The seat is considered a possible pickup for Democrats after GOP U.S. Rep. Don Bacon retired.

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After the 2020 census, the GOP-led majority in the officially nonpartisan Nebraska Legislature redrew the states congressional maps. It did so in a way that shored up the slight GOP lean of the 2nd District by swapping some Democratic-leaning residents in suburban Sarpy County with more reliably Republican residents of rural Saunders County.

The Nebraska Constitution requires redistricting after each census, but the language doesnt specify whether lawmakers can revisit the maps before the next census. Some have argued the language allows the Legislature to redistrict at different times. Others have argued any effort to redistrict mid-decade would face legal challenges.

President Donald Trump initiated the national redistricting tit for tat when he urged Texas to redraw its map, mainly to give Republicans a better chance of holding onto House control in an off-year election when the party out of power usually fares better. The Texas Legislature approved new maps this summer designed to give the GOP up to five additional House seats in the 2026 elections.

President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the Oval Office on Sept. 2, 2025. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

California and other Democratic-led states have since attempted to redraw their maps to counter the GOPs gains in Texas and to potentially offset other Republican-led states that are also pursuing new maps mid-decade, including Missouri.

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Nebraska has been mentioned as one of the states likely to consider redrawing. Bacon confirmed such talk locally in August. Thirteen Nebraska state lawmakers visited the White House last month for a state leadership conference but said they didnt hear a redistricting pitch from the Trump team. Some with knowledge of the meeting said plans changed because of media attention.

The governors reserved approach to redistricting  at least while the Legislature is out of session  differs from his full-court press for winner-take-all ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Pillen and Trump got personally involved, calling and lobbying lawmakers to shift the state from parceling out some electoral votes to the winner of the presidential popular vote in each congressional district to awarding all five of the states electoral votes to the statewide winner, which is typically a Republican.

Nebraska is one of just two states  Maine is the other  that parcel out some electoral votes by district.

Republican State Sen. Mike McDonnell announces his bid for mayor of Omaha on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

Pillen at the time floated the idea of calling a special session for winner-take-all, but only if he received a clear and public indication that 33 senators are willing to vote. He also held an 11th-hour meeting at the Governors Mansion with at least two dozen GOP state senators about securing support and tried to convince holdouts to support winner-take-all. The 2024 effort died after former Democratic State Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha, who had joined the GOP, opposed the change.

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The governor pushed again during this springs legislative session, despite lacking enough support from GOP state lawmakers to overcome a promised filibuster. The effort fell short.

One possible explanation for the difference in Pillens approach: Redistricting mid-decade appears to have less support. GOP state lawmakers have privately questioned whether such an effort could secure 25 votes, far fewer than the 33 needed to get through a likely filibuster.

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Aryatara Shakya was carried by family members from her home to the temple palace in Kathmandu. | Credit: Safal Prakash Shrestha / NurPhoto / Getty Images

She was just my daughter yesterday, but today she is a goddess. So said the father of Aryatara Shakya, the two-year-old proclaimed Nepals new living goddess. Carried by family members from their home to a temple palace in Kathmandu, the toddler was installed as the latest Kumari last week during the countrys most significant Hindu festival, Dashain.

My wife during pregnancy dreamed that she was a goddess, Ananta Shakya told The Associated Press, and we knew she was going to be someone very special.

The secret life of a Kumari

In a tradition stretching back 300 years, the Kumari is revered by both Hindus and Buddhists in Nepal and parts of India as an embodiment of the divine female energy. Chosen from the Shakya clan, Newari Buddhists indigenous to the Kathmandu valley, the girls are typically aged between two and four, and must meet strict physical criteria: unblemished skin, hair, eyes and teeth, said AP. During festivals, the Kumari is wheeled around on a chariot pulled by devotees, dressed in red and with a third eye painted on her forehead.

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But no one really knows what happens on the induction day, said the ABC  not even the Kumari herself, being too young to remember. The girls spend most of their childhood sequestered within the temple, although traditions have evolved to include some private tutoring. They are rarely allowed outside  beyond the temple walls, their feet are not allowed to touch the ground.

Former Kumari Preeti Shakya held the position for eight years, before returning to an anonymous suburban life at the age of 11. During her time inside the Kumari Ghar, her family visited just once a week; her only friends were the family of the official Kumari caretakers. I remember watching TV and seeing modern dresses and I really wanted to wear them, she told the news site.

During her reign, Preeti blessed the King of Nepal seven times and the prime minister once. They say they feel some kind of fire, a positive energy around me, she said. The people praying to me have actually been blessed, but I dont feel anything.

From goddess to mortal

In recent decades , criticisms of the Kumari tradition have been mounting. The girls are considered to become mortals again when they reach puberty, when they are removed from the temple and replaced. Former Kumari often face difficulties adjusting to normal life, said DW. In her 1990s memoir, From Goddess to Mortal, ex-Kumari Rashmila Shakya described her lack of education and her struggle to re-integrate into society. Since then, the Nepali government has made it mandatory to provide a serving Kumari with an education and introduced a monthly pension of about $165 for former Kumaris, slightly above the minimum wage.

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Their former status can impact their personal lives, too. Nepalese folklore also holds that men who marry a former Kumari will suffer premature death said The Guardian in 2001. Few boys are willing to contemplate such a fate, it seems.

The Kumari is forced to give up her childhood, said one of Nepals leading human rights lawyers, Sapana Pradhan-Malla. She has to be a goddess instead. Her rights are being violated. Nepal is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, she said, which makes it clear that you cant exploit children in the name of culture.
The Netherlands is fuelling Europes child sexual abuse emergency by hosting most of the illegal online content circulating on the continent, research has revealed.

The country is responsible for hosting more than 60 per cent of all online child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in western Europe, according to the report by the Childlight Global Safety Institute, based at Edinburgh University. Across the world, the country accounts for 30 per cent.

The countrys failure to take down the illegal content means that it is undermining efforts by other countries including the UK, France and Germany to protect children by detecting, taking down the material and prosecuting those behind it, says the Institute.

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It means that criminal networks of paedophiles are able to exploit the lax regime in the Netherlands to produce and distribute online child sexual abuse material, further fuelling demand for the content.

The problem echoes the Red Hot Dutch controversy in the 1990s where the UK Government fought a court battle to stop the Netherlands based pornographic satellite station of that name from broadcasting into the UK.

The Government eventually secured victory in the high court that it had the right to block programmes originating from other European Community countries.

Data produced by Childlight showed that Netherlands had the highest rate of child sexual abuse posts per head of population in Western Europe at 880.9 cases per 10,000 people for 2024, up from 172.1 the previous year.

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It was followed by Slovakia on 193.7, Lithuania on 190 and Luxembourg on 186.3. The highest rate in South Asia was in the Maldives, at 94, followed by Bangladesh on 64.1 and Pakistan on 41.3. The UK has the 12th highest rate of 34 Western European countries at 41.8 (up from 27.2), and the lowest is San Marino on 5.4.

The childrens charity, Terre des Hommes, calculated that there would need to be 1.5 million fewer posts in the Netherlands to bring it in line with the western European average.

Worrying and unacceptable

What happens in the Netherlands is not staying in the Netherlands, said Childlight chief executive Paul Stanfield.

Dutch data infrastructure is being used to spread images of child abuse worldwide  including abuse of children in other countries. Every day this material stays online, children are re-victimised, and abusers are emboldened. This is preventable and we need urgent political will to stop it.

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These numbers are worrying and unacceptable, said Grainne Le Fevre, chief executive of Terre des Hommes Netherlands. We urge Dutch politicians to act quickly. Better regulations are needed to stop this scale of abuse.

The time to act is now. Every day CSAM stays online, children are re-victimised. The Netherlands has a unique responsibility, and opportunity, to close these gaps and stop this cycle of harm.

Childlight suspected several factors could explain the Dutch problem including the countrys role as a global hub for data centres and internet exchange points, the scale and openness of its hosting market, and potential differences in hosting business models or takedown procedures.

Legal and regulatory frameworks may also shape both the speed of content removal and the visibility of CSAM in monitoring data, while strong detection partnerships could amplify reporting compared to countries with weaker monitoring capacity.

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However, there are signs of change. In 2022, the Dutch government introduced reforms to strengthen criminal investigations into CSAM, and law enforcement agencies have begun increasing takedown capacity.

At the EU level, proposed regulation  including the EU Child Sexual Abuse Regulation  seeks to require tech companies to proactively detect, report, and remove CSAM.

If passed, this would compel the Netherlands and other member states to take a more interventionist approach to content monitoring, potentially closing long-standing loopholes in digital hosting laws.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom went on a wild posting spree mocking Stephen Miller after a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from deploying out-of-state National Guard troops into Portland.

U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, who was nominated to the bench by President Donald Trump, issued an order preventing the administrations plans to move troops from California and Texas into the Democratic stronghold of Portland, Oregon.

Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, melted down in a lengthy X post over the ruling, calling it one of the most egregious and thunderous violations of constitutional order we have ever seen.

Stephen Miller also warned in his Sunday night meltdown that Donald Trumps hardline immigration laws will be enforced in all fifty states. / Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

A district court judge has no conceivable authority, whatsoever, to restrict the President and Commander-in-Chief from dispatching members of the U.S. military to defend federal lives and property, Miller added.

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Newsom, a rumored Democratic 2028 contender who has taken to trolling MAGA figures online, targeted Miller with a barrage of social media posts.

In response to Millers 219-word X rant, Newsom posted the I aint reading all that memea screenshot of a direct message commonly used to dismiss long online tirades.

The meme was just one of multiple mocking post Gavin Newsom used against Stephen Miller. / X/Gavin Newsom

The Newsoms press office account piled on after the ruling, posting Live look at Stephen Miller tonight alongside a photo of Voldemort, the Harry Potter villaina common nickname for the top Trump ally seen as the architect behind many of the presidents hardline immigration plans.

Elsewhere, Newsoms office mocked Miller after he clashed online with Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz, who asked whether ordering National Guard troops from GOP-led states into Democratic states was a red line for Republicans.

This is not even the first time that Gavin Newsom has compared Stephen Miller to Voldemort. / X/Governor Newsom Press Office

US Senator thinks troops can only serve in one state, Miller wrote. In response, Newsoms press office posted, Stephen Miller thinks governors can ship National Guard troops across state lines to be used AGAINST American citizens. RT if you think Stephen Miller should be FIRED!

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Newsom also hit out at Trumps plan to deploy the Texas National Guard into Chicago, as revealed by Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

This is a breathtaking abuse of the law and power by the President of the United States, Newsom wrote. America is on the brink of martial law. Do not be silent.

In response, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said no one cares what Newsom says on X. However, polls suggest that the governors trolling tactic is seen as more favorable than unfavorable, and is improving Newsoms national profile ahead of a potential White House bid.

On Saturday, Judge Immergut also halted the Trump administrations deployment of Oregons own National Guard into Portland, ruling the presidents claims that it was justified to tackle unrest in the city were untethered to facts.

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This is a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law, Immergut wrote.

Newsom has publicly rebuked Trump for months following the presidents controversial decision in June to deploy the National Guard and Marines into Los Angeles to assist law enforcement during protests against ICE raids.

In September, a federal judge ruled that the deployment was illegal, blasting Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for moving toward creating a national police force with the President as its chief.
Half of adults under 25 said they would be open to investing in crypto ETNs. Credit: Brooke Cagle on Unsplash.

Key Takeaways

An FCA rule change will let retail investors in the U.K. access crypto exchange-traded notes (ETNs).

A recent survey suggests 50% of U.K. investors aged 1824 are interested in crypto ETNs.

Reasons for their interest include being able to gain crypto exposure via tax-efficient ISAs and pension accounts.

From Oct. 8, asset managers will be able to offer exchange-traded notes (ETNs) with crypto exposure to retail investors in the U.K., lifting a ban that has been in place since 2021.

According to research by IG shared with CCN on Monday, Oct. 6, 50% of U.K. investors aged 1824 would consider investing in crypto ETNs, signalling strong demand among the cohort.

Crypto ETNs Arrive in the UK

For asset managers, the lifting of the FCA embargo on crypto ETNs opens up one of the largest securities exchanges in the worldthe London Stock Exchange.

Among potential issuers, Blackrock is at the front of the queue to list a Bitcoin ETN in London. Bitwise, WisdomTree, and 21Shares, which all list equivalent ETNs for qualified investors, are widely expected to follow suit.

In the meantime, 21Shares has partnered with Stratephy to make its existing products available to investors in the U.K.

The company currently offers crypto ETNs spanning Bitcoin, Ether and an array of altcoins. These can be accessed by retail investors on a network of European exchanges.

Significant Interest Among Young Investors

According to the IG survey, 30% of adults in the U.K. are open to investing in crypto ETNs, a figure that rises to 50% among 18-24-year-olds.

Those numbers are considerably higher than current crypto ownership rates in the country. A 2024 FCA survey found that around 12% of the U.K. population owned crypto, with the average value of holdings sitting at 1,842.

The discrepancy suggests British investors are drawn to the enhanced credibility of the ETN wrapper. Meanwhile, the IG report suggests a potential tax advantage may also explain the difference.

Tax Advantages of Regulated Crypto Products

Under U.K. regulation, investors can shelter deposits made into a stocks and shares ISA (interest savings account) from capital gains tax, up to a maximum allowance of 20,000 per year.

Meanwhile, deposits made into a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) account are eligible for government contributions that offset income tax.

However, both schemes are restricted to certain qualifying investments. These include government bonds and securities listed on an approved exchange, but not cryptocurrencies.

Among respondents to the IG survey who said they were likely to invest in crypto ETNs, 19% highlighted the ability to hold crypto within tax-efficient wrappers as a key advantage.
By Johan Ahlander, Niklas Pollard and Ludwig Burger

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -American scientists Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi from Japan won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on Monday for work shedding light on how the immune system spares healthy cells, creating openings for possible new autoimmune disease and cancer treatments.

This year's prize relates to peripheral immune tolerance, or "how we keep our immune system under control so we can fight all imaginable microbes and still avoid autoimmune disease", said Marie Wahren-Herlenius, a rheumatology professor at the Karolinska Institute.

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Sakaguchi told reporters outside his university laboratory that "I feel it is a tremendous honour," Kyodo news agency reported.

REGULATORY T CELLS: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM'S 'SECURITY GUARDS'

The winners for medicine are selected by the Nobel Assembly of Sweden's Karolinska Institute medical university and receive a prize sum of 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.2 million), as well as a gold medal presented by Sweden's king.

Brunkow is senior programme manager at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, while Ramsdell is scientific adviser at Sonoma Biotherapeutics in San Francisco. Sakaguchi is a professor at Osaka University in Japan.

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"Their discoveries have laid the foundation for a new field of research and spurred the development of new treatments, for example for cancer and autoimmune diseases," the prize-awarding body said in a statement.

The laureates identified so-called regulatory T cells, which act as the immune system's security guards that keep immune cells from attacking our own body, it added.

After announcing the winners, the institute's Thomas Perlmann said specific therapies had yet to win market clearance but more than 200 trials on humans involving regulatory T cells were ongoing.

Among companies in the early race, Sonoma Biotherapeutics , which Ramsdell co-founded, is partly funded and supported by U.S. drugmaker Regeneron to work on therapies against diseases including inflammatory bowel disease.

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Also targeting that condition, Quell Therapeutics has partnered with AstraZeneca.

Other biotech firms exploring the approach include Bayer's BlueRock.

MEDICINE THE FIRST PRIZE OF NOBEL SEASON

The Nobel Prizes were established through the will of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite and a wealthy businessman. They have been awarded since 1901 for outstanding contributions in science, literature, and peace, with interruptions mainly during the World Wars.

The economics prize was added later and is funded by Sweden's central bank, the Riksbank.

Winners are selected by expert committees from various institutions. All prizes are awarded in Stockholm, except for the Peace Prize, which is presented in Oslo  a possible legacy of the political union between Sweden and Norway during Nobels lifetime.

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Past recipients of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine include renowned scientists such as Alexander Fleming, who shared the 1945 award for discovering penicillin. In recent years, the prize has recognized major breakthroughs, including those that enabled the development of COVID-19 vaccines.

Last year's medicine prize was awarded to U.S. scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of microRNA and its key role in how multicellular organisms grow and live, helping explain how cells specialise into different types.

Medicine in accordance with tradition kicks off the annual Nobels, arguably the most prestigious prizes in science, literature, peace and economics, with the remainder set to be announced over the coming days.

More than a century after their inception, the Nobel Prizes remain steeped in tradition. The awards culminate in ceremonies attended by the royal families of Sweden and Norway, followed by lavish banquets held on December 10  the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death.

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($1 = 9.3898 Swedish crowns)

(Reporting by Niklas Pollard, Johan Ahlander in Stockholm; Additional reporting by Terje Solsvik in Oslo, Kiyoshi Takenaka in Tokyo and Marie Mannes and Greta Fondahn in Stockholm; Writing by Ludwig Burger in Frankfurt; editing by Alex Richardson)
Displacement has surged in el-Fasher as paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensified attacks on North Darfurs capital, according to a United Nations report.

More than one million people have fled el-Fasher since the start of Sudans civil war, with the exodus dramatically accelerating as the RSF has increased attacks following its loss of control of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, earlier this year, according to data published by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Sunday.

The number of internally displaced people (IDP) sheltering in el-Fasher plummeted 70 percent, from approximately 699,000 to 204,000, between March and September, the IOMs Displacement Tracking Matrix says.

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El-Fashers overall population has now shrunk by 62 percent from its pre-war level of 1.11 million to just 413,454 people.

Sharp decline

The sharp decline follows the recapture of Khartoum by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in late March, after which the RSF pivoted to consolidating control over Darfur. El-Fasher represents the armys last major urban stronghold in the western region.

The Sudanese army has been battling the RSF for control of the country since April 2023, triggering what has widely been described as the worlds largest humanitarian crisis.

April has been one of the most violent months this year, with nearly 500,000 people displaced from Zamzam IDP camp  representing almost all of the camps population  in a single incident.

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Millions have fled to neighbouring countries, with Egypt and Chad absorbing the majority.

Cross-border movement into Chad surged by 45 percent year-on-year in 2025, reaching nearly 1.2 million people.

Those who are unable to leave the country have been internally displaced to surrounding areas. The IDP population in the nearby Tawila locality more than doubled from 238,000 to 576,000 between March and September.





The RSF has maintained a siege of el-Fasher since May 2024, cutting off supply routes and trapping an estimated 260,000 civilians, including 130,000 children, without sustained humanitarian access for more than 16 months.

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The Yale Humanitarian Lab, which has been monitoring the war, published satellite imagery which it said showed earthen berms built by the RSF almost encircling the city, helping to enforce the siege and preventing the movement of supplies and people.

Recent weeks have seen escalating violence. A September drone attack on a mosque during Friday prayers killed more than 70 worshippers, prompting the UN to raise the alarm about the possibility of ethnically motivated killings if the city falls to the RSF.

The RSF has been widely reported to have targeted non-Arab populations across Darfur, with their fighters frequently filming themselves shouting racial slurs at their victims.

In early September, UN investigators accused both sides of committing atrocities. They said the RSF is committing murder, torture, enslavement, rape, sexual slavery, sexual violence, forced displacement and persecution on ethnic, gender and political grounds.

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Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation continues to worsen.

Among households surveyed in August by the UN, 87 percent reported needing healthcare, but 78 percent were unable to access treatment due to destroyed facilities, insecurity, and lack of medicine.

Food security has deteriorated sharply, with 89 percent of households facing poor or borderline food consumption.

Since the siege began, more than 1,100 grave violations against children have been verified in el-Fasher, including over 1,000 children killed or maimed, according to UNICEF.

Key city

The battle for el-Fasher has become central to the broader wars trajectory.

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The RSF controls most of western Sudan, including nearly all of Darfur, while government forces hold the north and the east.

In July, the RSF and its allies announced a widely condemned parallel government in the country, underlining the deep political divide which has become more entrenched in the country.

El-Fashers potential fall would give the paramilitary force control over virtually the entire Darfur region.
[Source]

North Korea used a rare high-level appearance at the United Nations to assert that its nuclear weapons are non-negotiable and central to its sovereignty.

In a strongly worded address at the UN General Assembly on Sept. 29, Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son Gyong said pressure to denuclearize would violate the constitution and threaten the states existence. He emphasized that nuclear armament is codified in North Korean law and justified by what Pyongyang views as ongoing military threats from the U.S. and its allies.

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Kim told the assembly that Western countries, led by the U.S., are misrepresenting North Koreas defense measures while ignoring their own military buildups in the region. The U.S. and its followers are misleading the public opinion by branding our measures to bolster national defense capabilities as provocations, he said. But no one can deny the fact that the U.S. and its vassal forces are posing a constant threat to the security of the DPRK. The speech marked North Koreas most direct rejection of international disarmament appeals since it enshrined its nuclear status in law last year.

Meanwhile, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung announced on Wednesday that his government will raise its 2026 defense budget by 8.2% to 66.3 trillion won ($47.1 billion). Lee said the increase will support next-generation weapons such as autonomous drones and AI-powered combat systems, aiming to strengthen South Koreas self-reliant defense. The South Korea-U.S. alliance is a key pillar of our security, but we must not entrust our fate to others, Lee said.

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Developer Phil Tagami recently won a 10-year legal battle over his right to build a shipping terminal on Oakland's waterfront that could be used to export coal. But how soon and even whether coal cars will travel through West Oakland is still a big question.

Tagami has been working on a plan to redevelop a former U.S. Army base at the foot of the Bay Bridge toll plaza since at least 2009, with a shipping terminal central to the proposal. In 2015, city officials and community and environmental groups began fighting the project when news went public that it involved shipping coal through already polluted West Oakland.

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Here is what we know about potential future transport of coal from Western states by rail to the planned Oakland terminal, where it would be shipped to customers in Asia.

How likely is it that coal will even come through Oakland?

Neither Tagami nor his opponents say it's a foregone conclusion that coal will pass through the planned Oakland Bulk and Oversized Terminal - but for different reasons.

Tagami maintains that it's up to the tenant, Insight Terminal Solutions, and the eventual operator of the terminal to decide whether coal will be one of several commodities it will handle and ship, depending on the market.

"We don't know what commodity is going to come and when," said Tagami, CEO of California Commercial Investment Group.

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Vikas Tandon, a manager at Insight Terminal Solutions, declined to comment on which commodities the terminal will handle.

However, coal has been on the table for many years. In 2015, a Utah newspaper revealed that four coal-producing counties in Utah planned to provide $53 million in loan funding toward the project. The governor of Wyoming, where mining companies are on the lookout for a West Coast port for coal, hosted Tagami and his team at the state capitol in 2021. And, the coal industry has celebrated the recent ruling.

The organization No Coal in Oakland is adamant that its coalition of faith-based, environmental and labor groups will prevent coal from coming because of widespread concern about its health and environmental risks and opposition to building new infrastructure for the fossil fuel industry.

"The perspective of No Coal in Oakland is that a coal terminal will never happen in Oakland," said member Ted Franklin, who has fought the project for a decade.

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San Francisco Baykeeper was among the environmental groups that have legally challenged the proposal since 2015. Executive Director Sejal Choksi-Chugh said the group is still looking for ways to fight coal. "It's bad for public health, it's bad for the bay. It's just not a good idea to keep these coal exports continuing when we've got a climate crisis on our hands that is exacerbated by burning coal," she said.

In a statement, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said she's "extremely disappointed" by the court's recent decision.

How soon could the shipping terminal be in operation?

The first ships could leave the terminal by 2028, Tagami said. But that will depend on the permitting process and which goods Insight Terminal Solutions decides it wants to handle in the coming months, he said.

How will the project be funded?

In 2018, the terminal was estimated to cost between $115 million and $256 million to build, an amount that has certainly grown in the years since, Tagami said. Insight Terminal Solutions is responsible for covering the cost.

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"We are fully confident in our ability to fund the terminal," said Tandon.

Gregory McConnell, a company spokesperson, shared a news report about the U.S. Energy Department providing $625 million to keep coal plants open, which he said "shows there is big investment in coal."

However, No Coal believes that funders will be turned off by the project, Franklin said.

"We think community opposition is so strong we doubt any investors are going to take a strong interest," he said. Over 1,000 people and 90 organizations have signed a letter urging the owner of Insight Terminal Solutions not to ship coal from the terminal.

What other commodities might the terminal handle?

Besides coal, the list of possible commodities includes soda ash, iron ore and copper concentrate, which are also produced in Western mining states, as well as grains and resin pellets, used for producing food-grade plastic, Tagami said.

What other West Coast ports handle coal?

The ports of Richmond, Stockton and Long Beach also ship and store small amounts of coal.

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However, SF Baykeeper and other environmental groups reached a settlement with the city of Richmond and its terminal to phase out coal exports by 2026.

In 2021, the Sierra Club and other opponents celebrated a legal victory against a planned large coal terminal in Washington state, which they said was the last of seven proposed in the Pacific Northwest to connect Western mines to Asia.

Where would coal travel through the Bay Area?

The terminal would connect with the Union Pacific Railroad and Burlington Northern Santa Fe, which run along rail lines from the northern tip of the bay through Richmond, West Berkeley and West Oakland in the Bay Area.

"Union Pacific also has good rail infrastructure going into the Powder River Basin (in Wyoming), Utah, Arizona, Nevada. So a lot of mining states," Tagami's business partner Mark McClure told Wyoming's Cowboy State Daily last month.

What are the known health and environmental risks of coal?

In 2023, UC Davis researchers found that air pollution from coal trains that ran through Richmond to its shipping terminal was greater than the pollution from other types of trains, causing higher rates of heart disease, asthma, hospitalization and death. The university said it was the first study on coal pollution in the world.

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However, Tagami points to an analysis done for his company, using equipment audited by air quality agencies and logs from Union Pacific Railroad, that determined that coal shipped through Oakland in uncovered rail cars between 2013 and 2021 did not present dangers to the community.

In 2018, a federal judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence to support the Oakland City Council's contention that coal operations would "pose a substantial danger to people in Oakland," when the council voted to ban coal and then terminate the city's contract with Tagami.

SF Baykeeper recently petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to require a permit to transport coal on trains, which emits coal dust into waterways and includes toxic metals like lead, mercury and arsenic, which are known to have an impact on fish and wildlife.

Would the coal cars be open or covered? What about the storage facility?

In the United States, coal is generally transported in uncovered cars because it is combustible and often kept in open-air piles at shipyards.

This article originally published at Oakland lost its legal battle against coal. So when could coal trains start running?.
FAIRFAX, Iowa  One person was killed and two others were injured during a house fire in Fairfax early Sunday.

According to the Linn County Sheriffs Office, emergency responders were called to the 200 block of Olson Court around 2:20 a.m. Sunday. Upon arrival, crews found the house consumed in flames. Individuals at the scene told fire crews an elderly male had not escaped the home.

Field fires sparked across Iowa Saturday, fire crews urge caution

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Authorities say four people were able to escape the fire. Two of the individuals, identified as the homeowners Nancy and David Olson, were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation treatment. Fire crews found the body of the elderly male who was killed in the fire.

The victims name is not being released at this time. The State Fire Marshalls Office and Linn County Sheriffs Office have opened an investigation into the cause of the fire.

Metro News:

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Warning: This post discusses sexual abuse.

Recently, Reddit user purplegalaxy86 asked , "Which conspiracy theories were later proven to be true?"

The comments ranged from baffling to concerning. So grab your tin foil hat and flat earth maps because we're about to go on a wild ride together:

Related: "My Alarm Bells Were Going Off": People Are Sharing Their Wildest "I Fing Knew It" Moments That Prove You Should ALWAYS Trust Your Gut

1. "The non-fat/low-fat craze of the '80s and '90s was created and funded by the sugar industry lobby ."

Peter Bischoff / Getty Images

bunkscudda

2. COINTELPRO . The FBI actually ran a secret program to spy on and disrupt civil rights groups, anti-war activists, and other political organizations they didnt like in the 1960s. This wasnt just passive surveillance either  they actively tried to discredit people like Martin Luther King Jr. and infiltrate groups like the Black Panthers. It all came out in the 1970s, when activists broke into an FBI office and leaked the files."

AFP via Getty Images

velvtcake

3. "Tobacco companies knew about the dangers of smoking and withheld and falsified data for decades, probably condemning thousands of people to deaths from cancer and other smoking-related diseases."

Picture Post / Hulton Archive / Getty Images

AtomicMonkeyTheFirst

4. "The Titanic splitting in half before it sank. Although many survivors claimed it did, others claimed it didn't. Nautical engineers denied it, saying there was no way that could've happened. Until the wreck was discovered, there was a lot of debate as to whether it went down in one piece."

Sjoberg Bildbyra / Getty Images

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Tgunner192

Related: "I Still Feel Like A Horrible Person Nearly 20 Years Later": 19 Giant "Dark Secrets" People Kept To Themselves

5. "The #FreeBritney movement all started online as a conspiracy theory of her being held against her will. There were posts with videos of bodyguards watching her every move, and people started to march for her freedom. It all ended up in court and was proven true. She is a free woman now."

Christina Radish / Getty Images

Wouldntbelieveme

6. "A conspiracy theory that South Korea and North Korea worked together to prevent a popular South Korean politician from being elected president was actually proven to be true."

Newsmakers / Getty Images

"In 2000, a left-leaning politician in South Korea named Kim Dae-jung favored a more reconciliatory tone toward North Korea.

South Koreans in charge obviously didn't like that. But, surprisingly to some, neither did the North Koreans in charge. To legitimize their power, North Korea needed a South Korean enemy to fight against. Kim Dae-jung's friendlier approach would threaten that.

So, South Korean and North Korean officials cooked up a scheme. They met secretly in China, where South Korea gave money to North Korea to create border disruptions whenever Kim Dae-jung got too popular during election campaigns."

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buckyhermit

7. MK-ULTRA is my 'favorite' because you sound unhinged anytime you explain it to people who've never heard of it: 'MK-ULTRA was how the CIA used the power of LSD and psychological warfare to control minds.'"

Larry Downing / Getty Images

unusualoppossum

"MK-ULTRA was an illegal mind-control research program that the US Central Intelligence Agency operated between 1953 and 1964. The CIA conducted experiments using high doses of LSD and other drugs, hypnosis, electroshock, and sensory deprivation on subjects who often had no idea that they were part of a covert test. The ultimate goal was to find a way to erase the memory and then control the mind as a tool for fighting in the Cold War."

Britannica

8. "Apple slowing down old phones to encourage more people to buy new models."

Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getty Images

QueenOfDemLizardFolk

Related: 21 Photos From August That Made Me Gasp So Hard I Pulled A Muscle In My Neck And Choked On My Spit

9. "The NSA's mass surveillance program on US citizens and individual heads of friendly states. All while collaborating with big telecom companies to bulk gather data and pass it on to NSA in-house tools."

Stefan Hoederath / Getty Images

Whoswho-95

10. "The first communist government to come to power through democratic voting was overthrown by the CIA in 1959 in Kerala, India."

Photo 12 / Universal Images Group / Getty Images

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agni_puthran

11. "I always think of the Catholic Church covering up sexual abuse when these sorts of questions are asked. People knew about such priests, were aware that they were dangerous, and had those priests shuffled around between parishes when their behavior became known."

Participant Media/First Look Media

DrHugh

12. Lance Armstrong using performance-enhancing drugs. Lots of people believed this conspiracy theory about him, and it turned out that he did actually use drugs."

Jesse Grant / Getty Images

art-is-t

13. "The US government quietly admitted the Gulf of Tonkin incident was exaggerated and a false flag. Not enough people seem to care that the precipitating event of the Vietnam War was a lie."

Pictures From History / Universal Images Group via Getty Images

FluxusFlotsam

Related: 27 Pictures That Literally Never Fail To Make Me Laugh Uncontrollably No Matter How Many Times I've Seen Them

14. "The light bulb cartel . Light bulb manufacturers in the 1900s conspired together and purposely designed their products to fail, so people would need to keep buying more. This included General Electric, Phillips, and other big-name manufacturers."

Sergio Mendoza Hochmann / Getty Images

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Pizza_Guy8084

15. "Modern art was a CIA psy-op . It was proven true in 1995."

Cecil Beaton / Conde Nast via Getty Images

McKoijion

Some replies have been edited for length and/or clarity.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE, which routes the caller to their nearest sexual assault service provider. You can also search for your local center here .

If you are concerned that a child is experiencing or may be in danger of abuse, you can call or text the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453(4.A.CHILD); service can be provided in over 140 languages.

Also in Internet Finds: Literally Just 29 Trashy Texts People Actually Sent Other Human Beings

Also in Internet Finds: Here's EXACTLY What You Would Look Like (And How You Would've Died) In Victorian England

Also in Internet Finds: I Can't Stop Staring At These 99 "One In A Billion" Photos People Were Able To Catch

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Pilot has named Jorge Valdes senior vice president of operations, Valdes said in a LinkedIn post last week.

He initially joined Pilot in October 2023 as VP of operations excellence, according to his LinkedIn bio. He took on his new role in September.

Valdes came to Pilot from appliance and electronics manufacturer Regal Rexnord, where he served as VP and general manager of Americas motors. Prior to that, he spent more than 17 years across a number of roles with marine recreation and boating company Brunswick, where he managed the construction of various boat production facilities in Brazil and developed and expanded its dealer network in the country.

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Valdes notably became president of the Harris and Cypress Cay brands in 2016. He was replaced as managing director for Brunswick Boats Brazil at the time by Brad Anderson, who ended up joining Pilot Company in 2019. Anderson is currently Pilots president of retail.

Representatives from Pilot did not respond by press time to questions about what Valdes priorities would be or who he reports to.

Pilot has made multiple leadership moves this year. The company appointed Kari Irons as vice president of brand marketing in March, shifted Anderson from chief operating officer to president of retail and named Jesus Guerra as the next president of its energy division.

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A pipeline company tasked with supplying natural gas necessary to run a proposed power plant in South Carolinas Lowcountry has sent out letters to 185 potentially impacted landowners as the massive energy project, billed as generational for the state, gets underway. (File photo by Getty Images)

A pipeline company tasked with supplying natural gas necessary to run a proposed power plant in South Carolinas Lowcountry has sent out letters to 185 potentially impacted landowners as the massive energy project, billed as generational for the state, gets underway.

Gov. Henry McMaster, in May, signed into law a sweeping energy package that, among other things, granted permission for Dominion Energy and state-owned utility Santee Cooper to partner on a 2,000-megawatt natural gas-fired plant along the Edisto River in Colleton County.

Utility executives told the SC Daily Gazette they plan to begin the permitting process for that power plant, estimated to cost $2.5 billion, as early as December.

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The facility, they say, is essential to meeting South Carolinas power needs amid rapid industrial and population growth, as well as a proliferation of high-energy data centers that fuel the nations ever advancing technologies.

We need the energy, Dominion Energy South Carolina President Keller Kissam said.

But before the first shovel turns dirt at Canadys, the companies need to know theyll have the fuel to power it.

Thats where another partner  Kinder Morgan  comes in.

The power companies have a standing agreement with the Houston natural gas giant to build a $431 million pipeline, running from the south Georgia border, across Hampton and north Colleton counties, to deliver 325,000 dekatherms of gas per day to the plant site 71 miles to the northeast.

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A number of environmental groups, including Southern Environmental Law Center and Conservation Voters of South Carolina, have already expressed concern over the pipelines proposed route  in particular its proximity to the ACE Basin, a 350,000-acre undeveloped estuary named for the Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto rivers that feed it.

But one organization dedicated to the basins preservation, the ACE Basin Task Force, wont oppose it, according to chairman Charles Lane.

Lane said the proposed route will have far less impact on the sensitive ecosystem and endangered species than if the utilities had chose to run the pipeline beneath the transmission lines Dominion owns closer to the coast.

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The proposed pipeline wont go into the heart of the basin. In all, it will cross just four miles of land thats part of the ACEs larger watershed  where rainfall might eventually drain into the basin  according to Kissam.

Laying plans and laying pipe

The three companies started laying their pipeline plans last year.

As part of that process, Kinder Morgan Vice President of Public Affairs Allen Fore, along with engineers and project managers, took a helicopter flight over the projected route, landing occasionally to see things from the ground.

One of the things I do on every major project we have across the United States is to see with my own eyes the potential route from the air and to go every mile, Fore said. Thats the level of detail that we take on projects, from a very, very high level to an individual conversation with the landowner.

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The company also has met, both publicly and privately, with officials from both counties. Now, theyre asking landowners permission to survey the land under which the pipe could run.

Kinder Morgan plans to hold community meetings with the landowners, who received letters last week.

The company will seek to survey a path 300 feet wide but ultimately will need a 50-foot-wide right-of-way, for which they will pay rent to the landowners. How much is unknown. Amounts will depend on the lands value and negotiations.

An example of a Dominion Energy owned pipeline that runs beneath a peanut field. (Provided by Dominion Energy)

Easements will give Kinder Morgan permanent access to the property. Landowners can still use the land, with limitations. They can plant crops or bushes, but not large trees with deep roots, and they cant build any kind of structure on it in case Kinder Morgan has to come back and dig up the pipe for maintenance. And payments dont transfer if the landowner sells.

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A large portion of the pipelines route will run under existing power lines owned by Santee Cooper so as not to disturb more land than necessary.

Once theyve secured a final path  sometime between April and June of next year  theyll officially begin the permitting process with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

In addition to permission from the presidentially appointed commission, theyll need various approvals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, state Department of Archives and History, and the state Department of Environmental Services.

The partnership

Meanwhile, cleanup and site work at the former gas plant is largely complete, Kissam said.

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The Virginia-headquartered power company has now started placing orders for the plants specialized equipment, including turbines, steam generators and transformers, which take a long time to have built and delivered.

In addition to the Canadys plant, Dominion is eyeing sites for gas plants in its home state and expects to buy in bulk as a way to save on costs.

We need to be ordering the equipment, said Santee Cooper President Jimmy Staton. But were going to wait for the certainty of the certification of the pipeline before we start spending, in my view, major dollars.

The partnership wasnt necessarily easy to secure. Legislators and power customers pushed back, still upset over an earlier failed deal between Santee Cooper and Dominions now defunct predecessor, South Carolina Electric & Gas.

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The two companies mothballed a planned expansion of the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station in Fairfield County in 2017 amid fraud, mismanagement and cost overruns. Customers of both companies are still paying for the nuclear reactors that have never produced a single megawatt.

Now, consumer groups say, customers will be asked to pay for a gas plant on top of it.

Under initial agreements, copies of which Santee Cooper provided to the SC Daily Gazette, the two utility companies plan to each have equal ownership and equal cost sharing in the gas plant.

The companies will split that natural gas supply from the pipeline 45/55, with Dominion taking the larger portion and selling off any excess to its customers.

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While Dominion Energy crews will handle the power plants construction, Santee Coopers chief operating office will oversee it, the executives said.

When its operational, the plant will employ between 40 and 60 full-time workers in rural Colleton County, which struggled economically following Canadys coal closure in 2013.

The access to natural gas the pipeline provides could draw other industry to the area as well, Kissam said.

Everywhere natural gas comes, businesses follow, Staton added. And so, we think its not just a great opportunity for us to get the electricity that the state needs, but its also a great opportunity for economic development for those areas.

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Kinder Morgan will own and operate the pipeline.

And by working with Kinder Morgan, Staton and Kissam said, theyll be able to tap in to its vast system. That includes 80,000 miles of pipe that spans 43 states, drawing from every major gas-producing basin in the country.

That means, if something impacts one pipeline  a natural disaster or a maintenance outage  the utilities can get their gas from another Kinder Morgan line without having to pay a higher price to buy from other providers, Staton said.

In addition, the Canadys pipeline is part of a larger $6 billion proposed expansion by Kinder Morgan across the Southeast, with lines across Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, most of which is following the route of the companys existing pipelines.

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Even without those expanding lines, Fore said, Kinder Morgan already has enough on its existing system to power Canadys.

Environmental protections

To protect the environment, Fore said, Kinder Morgan electronically monitors its pipelines 24/7. With the flip of a switch, and in many cases automatically, the pipeline will shut down if theres any indication of a leak.

(The power) plant is state of the art  so is our pipe, Fore said.

And because the line is carrying natural gas, which is lighter than air, any leak will rise rather than sinking underground or contaminating a water source, he said.

When necessary, the company has the ability to drill down and run lines some 70 or 80 feet underground without disturbing the ground above. It already has pipelines that run beneath the Mississippi River and the San Francisco Bay, for example.

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When it comes to the power plant, Kissam said, the companies plan to use an air cooling system for the turbines, rather than water. The plant will use 1/100th of the water consumed from the Edisto River by its coal-fired predecessor.

Because natural gas plants are easier to fire up and pull back, tracking right along with power demand at any given time, they also work much better alongside solar power than their coal-based counterparts, Staton said.

Until battery technology becomes more developed, power companies cannot rely on renewable energy alone to keep the lights on. When the sun is shining, gas power can easily be dialed back. When its cloudy, the gas takes over.

Thats critical for us if were going to continue to develop renewable resources around South Carolina, Staton said.

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Currently, Dominion Energy South Carolina has 1,000 megawatts of solar capacity on its system, while Santee Cooper and the electric cooperatives collectively have 638 megawatts.

Under Santee Coopers latest long-term plan, the utility company plans to add another 1,500 megawatts of solar power by 2040, largely by purchasing power from solar developers rather than owning and operating its own arrays. One megawatt of solar is enough to power 168 homes, on average, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.

Kinder Morgan hopes to have the necessary approvals in hand to start constructing the pipeline in early 2029, Fore said.

Work on the power plant would follow.
Following his resounding victory in the Czech parliamentary elections over the weekend, right-wing populist billionaire Andrej Babis emphasized his pro-EU stance, but some of his policies could spell danger for the European Union's industrial policy and its support for Ukraine.

Babis is now aiming to form a minority government, after his opposition movement ANO became the strongest force with just over 34.5% of the vote.

Babis said he would seek backing for his government from the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party, which earned 7.8% or 15 seats, and the new right-wing motorists' party AUTO, with 6.8% or 13 seats.

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Having received Babis early on Sunday, President Petr Pavel said he would name the new government in November at the earliest to give politicians room for negotiations.

ANO will hold 80 of the 200 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The centre-right Spolu (Together) alliance led by centre-right Prime Minister Petr Fiala plummeted to 23.4% of the vote (2021: 27.8%).

At 69%, turnout was higher than in the 2021 parliamentary elections.

Another headache for Brussels?

After his election victory, Babis stressed that he was pro-European and wanted "Europe to work well."

But Babis, who had a stint as prime minister from 2017 to 2021, is likely to be a difficult partner for Europe: during the election campaign, he promised to stop arms deliveries to Ukraine, to "destroy" the Green Deal  the programme for a climate-neutral EU  and to end the European migration and asylum package.

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According to ANO's number two, Karel Havlicek, the next government will immediately send a letter to Brussels to inform it that the Czech Republic will not introduce emission quotas for households and intends to reject the migration pact.

Yet, Babis will have problems closer to home when it comes to dealing with the SPD, including for instance the far-right party's push for a referendum on leaving the European Union, said Petr Just, an analyst from Prague's Metropolitan University.

"It is clear that this issue will be on the table and that it will be the subject of some bargaining," he said, adding that it gave the SPD some "blackmailing potential," as Babis will not be able to rule without the party.

But Babis "will obviously not be interested in taking any hasty steps in relation to [membership of] the EU," said Just, pointing to the leader's business interests in western Europe.

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The billionaire owns a network of more than 250 companies and founded Agrofert, an agricultural and chemical holding company that employs almost 31,000 people.

Babis other potential supporters spell trouble for the EU as well: The motorists' party first made a mark on the Czech political map when they earned two European Parliament seats in the 2024 vote.

Slamming the EU's Green Deal, AUTO has advocated for lower taxes and less red tape in business, schools, housing, environmental protection, farming and other areas.

The party wants an exemption from the country's pledge to join the eurozone currency area at some point, and has called for more autonomy within the EU, although it does approve of EU membership.

Friends in interesting places

Babis is considered a friend of the most outspoken critic from within the EU, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and openly admires US President Donald Trump.

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Babis founded the Patriots for Europe (PfE) group in the European Parliament together with Orban.

However, analysts see him as neither an ideologue nor a strongly Eurosceptic strategist, but rather a pragmatic politician.

So there need not be a radical turn in Czech foreign policy, according to Martin Vokalek, from the Brussels branch of the Czech think-tank Europeum, and Belgian analyst Jean-Michel De Waele, from Universite Libre de Bruxelles (ULB).

Vokalek said ANO was able to use frustration to mobilize its voters and to draw in some of the supporters of extremist and protest parties, but Czech society did not want "a complete departure from the democratic framework and the country's European orientation," he pointed out.

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"I do not expect a fundamental or radical change in foreign policy under the baton of the likely future prime minister Babis, although even here, it will depend to some extent on the final form of his government," Vokalek said.

As far as the impact on the EU is concerned, this is definitely not good news, De Waele said. A Babis-led Czech government may complicate the building of a stronger and more united Europe from an economic, social and military point of view, he added.

Slovak political scientist Radoslav Stefancik, from the Bratislava University of Economics and Business, however said Babis does not show as much of a pro-Russian attitude as Orban or Slovak Premier Robert Fico.

He believes that because the Czech Republic has got rid of its dependence on Russian energy imports, Babis will not have protect ties with Russia in the same way as Orban and Fico are doing.

Potential trouble for Kiev

When it comes to the Ukraine war, Babis has cast doubt on continued help for Kiev - in contrast to the outgoing centre-right government, which has backed Ukraine since the full-scale invasion by Russia in 2022.

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He has pledged to review a Czech-led international drive launched by Fiala's government, which has supplied 3.5 million artillery shells to Ukraine since last year. Babis said he was ready to discuss the future of the plan with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Babis has also told Ukrainian media that Ukraine was "not prepared for the EU" and that "we have to end the war first."

He has, however, stressed his support for his Polish neighbours and declared that Poland had "always been the Czech Republic's closest partner."

"If, God forbid, anything were to happen, we will stand by Poland," he said, adding that this support also extends to Poland's eastern border with Ukraine.

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Babis criticized the outgoing government for "burying" the Visegrad Group, a regional cooperation format comprising the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia.

Slovakian premier Fico said on Sunday that he expects Babis' return to power to strengthen the Visegrad Group. Fico is interested in Visegrad as a strong regional player in promoting national interests and hopes to strengthen its role vis-a-vis Brussels.

Congratulations from Budapest, Bratislava and the Patriots for Europe

At the EU level, ANO switched from the liberal Renew Europe group to the right-wing PfE in 2024. There it sits alongside Hungary's Fidesz party, Austria's FPO and Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National (RN) from France.

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"Truth has prevailed," Orban wrote on X after the election, speaking of a big step for the Czech Republic.

PfE colleagues Jordan Bardella from France and Italy's Matteo Salvini have congratulated ANO as well. According to Bardella, the Czech election outcome represents a wave of support "in favour of free enterprise, an end to repressive ecology and against uncontrolled immigration."

Salvini, who is Italy's deputy prime minister, said PfE was gaining further support across Europe.

"Our friend Andrej Babis wins the elections in the Czech Republic, defeats the left and prepares to lead a government that will focus on fighting illegal migration, opposing war and stopping the crazy policies of Brussels," Salvini said on X.

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If ANO is joined by the motorists' party, Prague could become a headache for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Babis could stand in the way on some key issues, such as providing reconstruction money for Kiev using frozen Russian assets or the launch of future phases of Ukraine's EU accession process.

The content of this article is based on reporting by AFP, ANSA, CTK, dpa, PAP, and TASR as part of the European Newsroom (enr) project.
EDISTO BEACH, S.C. (WCBD)  A preliminary investigation into a weekend fire at the home of a Lowcountry judge has not revealed evidence of foul play, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

At this time, there is no evidence to indicate the fire was intentionally set, SLED Chief Mark Keel said in a statement released Monday afternoon. SLED Agents have preliminarily found there is no evidence to support a pre-fire explosion.

Firefighters responded to a fire around 10:40 a.m. Saturday at a home in a gated Edisto Beach neighborhood, belonging to Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein and her husband, former Democratic state Senator Arnold Goodstein.

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The massive blaze prompted a multi-agency response, but the homes remoteness complicated efforts. The house is almost completely surrounded by water on an isolated lot.

Edisto Beach Fire responded with assistance from St. Pauls Fire District and Colleton County EMS.

Given the homes location, some of the victims had to be evacuated by kayak before being transported to the Medical University of South Carolina. Three people were taken to the hospital with injuries, one of whom was airlifted, according to Colleton County Fire-Rescue.

The St. Pauls Fire District wrote in a statement on social media that occupants in the house escaped by jumping from the elevated first floor.

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Edisto Beach Fire crews remained on site Monday, monitoring to make sure no hot spots reignited the flames.

Goodstein has been a judge for over 25 years, and she recently made headlines for a controversial ruling prohibiting South Carolina from sharing voter data with the U.S. Justice Department.

The state Supreme Court later overturned that decision, but it quickly became the center of speculation as word of the fire emerged.

SLED opened its investigation at the request of Goodstein and her husband, and Keel has encouraged the public to exercise good judgment and not share information that has not been verified.

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The investigation into the fire is still active and ongoing, Keel added. Upon the conclusion of the investigation, SLED will issue a follow-up statement with additional information.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
The transaction also underlined Hong Kong's role in the Belt and Road Initiative, providing a direct equity bridge between China and Central Asia that is not available through Shanghai or Shenzhen.

A screen shows Hang Seng Index data at bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing's Connect Hall in Central on May 20, 2025. Photo: Sun Yeung alt=A screen shows Hang Seng Index data at bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing's Connect Hall in Central on May 20, 2025. Photo: Sun Yeung>

The Hong Kong leg was enabled by Chapter 18 of the bourse's listing rules, which permit mineral and petroleum companies to bypass certain financial tests required to raise equity, provided they meet criteria related to resource indication and management experience.

One example is Jiaxin International Resources' dual listing in Hong Kong and Astana in August, the first yuan-denominated deal of its kind on the Kazakh exchange.

Janice Hu, chairwoman of UBS Securities, at the International Commerce Centre in West Kowloon on September 10, 2025. Photo: Sam Tsang alt=Janice Hu, chairwoman of UBS Securities, at the International Commerce Centre in West Kowloon on September 10, 2025. Photo: Sam Tsang>

UBS' China country head said Hong Kong's advantage was in its ability to act as a proving ground for financial innovation.

"China is showing the world it is open for business as it sets conducive, clear and structured policy standards while upholding control protocols," Hu said in an interview with the Post. "We need to be a bridge, an agent to make sure the good intentions are understood, and Hong Kong is the ground to realise some of China's ideas."

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.

A surge in cross-border flows between the city and the mainland this year has underscored Hong Kong's enduring role as China's financial springboard, according to UBS Securities' chairwoman Janice Hu.

As Beijing recalibrates trade and investment away from the US, Hong Kong is being cast once again as the launch pad for China's global ambitions.

In the first instalment of a six-part series about financiers who act as mainland China's Capital Connectors with the world, UBS Securities' chairwoman Janice Hu talks about the opportunities and challenges for Hong Kong in its evolution as an international financial hub.

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The city has also rolled out frameworks for digital assets, from licensing stablecoin issuers to exploring the tokenisation of real-world assets - initiatives closely watched across the border even as Beijing treads cautiously.

Another recent innovation has been Hong Kong's dual-currency counters, which allow investors to trade the same shares in both Hong Kong dollars and yuan. Unlike onshore China's ill-starred A and B shares, these counters are fully fungible, giving investors greater flexibility.

A so-called roll-on/roll-off (roro) vessel for carrying automobiles, the Anji, at Yantai port in eastern China's Shandong province on September 21, 2025. Photo: Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images alt=A so-called roll-on/roll-off (roro) vessel for carrying automobiles, the Anji, at Yantai port in eastern China's Shandong province on September 21, 2025. Photo: Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images>

Together, these mechanisms show how Hong Kong is being positioned not just as a conduit for mainland capital, but as a test bed for financial experiments that may not be feasible onshore.

These fundamental shifts come as China actively diversifies its trade links away from the US and towards Southeast Asia and other emerging markets along the Belt and Road Initiative.

Exports to Asean countries accounted for 17.7 per cent of total foreign trade in August, up 14.6 per cent on the previous year, while exports to the US slid 15.5 per cent to an 11.5 per cent share, official Chinese data showed.

Apple's booth during the third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing on July 18, 2025. Photo: Xinhua alt=Apple's booth during the third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing on July 18, 2025. Photo: Xinhua>

China's supply-chain restructuring was also strengthening intraregional connectivity, Hu said, with China providing capital goods, India offering low-cost labour and Australia supplying commodities.

"They need a common ground in Asia - and Hong Kong is a natural financial hub for these activities," she said.

With capital controls limiting flows on the mainland, Hu described Hong Kong as a "natural outlet" for belt and road-related transactions.

A view of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) during its official inauguration ceremony in Guba on September 9, 2025. Photo: AFP alt=A view of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) during its official inauguration ceremony in Guba on September 9, 2025. Photo: AFP>

For the Swiss banking giant, the recent record-breaking market rally of mainland and Hong Kong stocks - which followed US-China trade and tariff tensions that peaked in April - has shown the benefits of maintaining a long and steadfast presence in China.

Hu, who is based in Beijing, became UBS's China head last year after its takeover of Credit Suisse, where she had spent more than two decades.

"Cross-border connectivity is in our DNA and has been one of our key differentiators," she said. "We've been in mainland China for over 35 years and in Hong Kong for more than 60 years, building up our experience, expertise and trusted relationships with clients, partners and regulators."

Deepseek v3.1 on a smartphone screen in Chania, Greece, on August 24, 2025. Photo: NurPhoto via Getty Images alt=Deepseek v3.1 on a smartphone screen in Chania, Greece, on August 24, 2025. Photo: NurPhoto via Getty Images>

Chinese assets have regained appeal, meanwhile, on the back of Beijing's stimulus measures, the DeepSeek moment of China's AI breakthroughs and growing sentiment around de-dollarisation.

Trading activity under the Stock Connect programme has surged, with northbound turnover tripling and southbound turnover rising more than fivefold in August from a year earlier, according to exchange data.

UBS Securities, the bank's mainland brokerage, reported record volumes last month, more than doubling from a year ago in a rally that has been running hot since June.

The listing ceremony for the first Saudi government sukuk exchange-traded fund (ETF) in Hong Kong on May 29, 2025 at the Connect Hall of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Photo: Enoch Yiu alt=The listing ceremony for the first Saudi government sukuk exchange-traded fund (ETF) in Hong Kong on May 29, 2025 at the Connect Hall of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Photo: Enoch Yiu>

Foreign investors have also been drawn to China's exchange-traded funds (ETFs), driven by diversification strategies and Beijing's continued policy support. UBS said client allocations to Chinese ETFs rose 20 per cent in the first half compared with a year earlier.

Hong Kong's primary and secondary stock markets are reviving as Chinese companies return en masse. Of the almost 60 IPOs in Hong Kong this year, the majority were mainland firms, with around 200 more awaiting approval.

In April 2024, Beijing moved to cement Hong Kong's role as an international finance centre when the China Securities Regulatory Commission unveiled five measures designed to deepen connectivity and broaden the city's product base.

Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission. Photo: SCIO alt=Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission. Photo: SCIO>

The new measures underscored Beijing's commitment to entrenching Hong Kong's unique role: a marketplace that can absorb new products, support renminbi internationalisation and provide mainland champions with an international stage.

"Hong Kong is like a home base away from the mainland for many entrepreneurs," Hu said. Beyond the big cities, however, China's economic vitality was still rooted in its grass roots, with its top 60 counties alone contributing 7.6 per cent of GDP, Hu said.

"The Chinese government and the Hong Kong SAR government will implement conducive policies to foster success and enhance intra- and inter-regional connectivity and growth."

Looking ahead, Hu highlighted wealth management as a focus, particularly in the Greater Bay Area.

"Our goal is to be the go-to bank in the Greater Bay Area for wealth, leveraging our Hong Kong hub," she said. "The city is well positioned in finance, technology and innovation - from blockchain to AI - as well as in talent, to deepen connectivity."

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
President Donald Trump's second term as commander in chief of the United States heads into October, shadowed by the pressure of another government shutdown. The news comes on the heels of a whirlwind of political moves, from budget cuts to the ordering of National Guard deployments to cities such as Chicago and Portland. Meanwhile, Big Pharma is back in the news, with the battle over drug prices landing at the White House, where President Trump struck a deal with Pfizer. Noted as one of the biggest medical announcements that this office has ever made, the deal has also sparked somewhat skeptical interest in TrumpRx, a website where consumers can purchase discounted drugs.

As expected, each move has left the White House under a mix of and criticism and praise across party lines, and the president's approval rating reflects the nation's divide. Like past months, however, the data is still nothing close to a one-sided opinion. After eight months in office, the overall approval ratings range between 40% and 43%, depending on the source.

What is President Donald Trump's approval rating in each state? According to one set of data, here's the updated breakdown in all 50

Alabama

President Trump approval rating: 62%

President Trump approval rating: 62%

Alaska

President Trump approval rating: 49%

President Trump approval rating: 49%

Arizona

President Trump approval rating: 50%

President Trump approval rating: 50%

Arkansas

President Trump approval rating: 61%

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President Trump approval rating: 61%

California

President Trump approval rating: 33%

President Trump approval rating: 33%

Colorado

President Trump approval rating: 39%

President Trump approval rating: 39%

Connecticut

President Trump approval rating: 40%

President Trump approval rating: 40%

Delaware

President Trump approval rating: 36%

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President Trump approval rating: 36%

Florida

President Trump approval rating: 53%

President Trump approval rating: 53%

Georgia

President Trump approval rating: 46%

President Trump approval rating: 46%

Hawaii

President Trump approval rating: 26%

President Trump approval rating: 26%

Idaho

President Trump approval rating: 66%

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President Trump approval rating: 66%

Illinois

President Trump approval rating: 37%

President Trump approval rating: 37%

Indiana

President Trump approval rating: 57%

President Trump approval rating: 57%

Iowa

President Trump approval rating: 49%

President Trump approval rating: 49%

Kansas

President Trump approval rating: 57%

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President Trump approval rating: 57%

Kentucky

President Trump approval rating: 59%

President Trump approval rating: 59%

Louisiana

President Trump approval rating: 56%

President Trump approval rating: 56%

Maine

President Trump approval rating: 40%

President Trump approval rating: 40%

Maryland

President Trump approval rating: 30%

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President Trump approval rating: 30%

Massachusetts

President Trump approval rating: 32%

President Trump approval rating: 32%

Michigan

President Trump approval rating: 47%

President Trump approval rating: 47%

Minnesota

President Trump approval rating: 43%

President Trump approval rating: 43%

Mississippi

President Trump approval rating: 57%

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President Trump approval rating: 57%

Missouri

President Trump approval rating: 54%

President Trump approval rating: 54%

Montana

President Trump approval rating: 56%

President Trump approval rating: 56%

Nebraska

President Trump approval rating: 54%

President Trump approval rating: 54%

Nevada

President Trump approval rating: 47%

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President Trump approval rating: 47%

New Hampshire

President Trump approval rating: 41%

President Trump approval rating: 41%

New Jersey

President Trump approval rating: 40%

President Trump approval rating: 40%

New Mexico

President Trump approval rating: 45%

President Trump approval rating: 45%

New York

President Trump approval rating: 38%

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President Trump approval rating: 38%

North Carolina

President Trump approval rating: 47%

President Trump approval rating: 47%

North Dakota

President Trump approval rating: 67%

President Trump approval rating: 67%

Ohio

President Trump approval rating: 50%

President Trump approval rating: 50%

Oklahoma

President Trump approval rating: 63%

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President Trump approval rating: 63%

Oregon

President Trump approval rating: 37%

President Trump approval rating: 37%

Pennsylvania

President Trump approval rating: 46%

President Trump approval rating: 46%

Rhode Island

President Trump approval rating: 36%

President Trump approval rating: 36%

South Carolina

President Trump approval rating: 55%

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President Trump approval rating: 55%

South Dakota

President Trump approval rating: 58%

President Trump approval rating: 58%

Tennessee

President Trump approval rating: 59%

President Trump approval rating: 59%

Texas

President Trump approval rating: 50%

President Trump approval rating: 50%

Utah

President Trump approval rating: 56%

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President Trump approval rating: 56%

Vermont

President Trump approval rating: 26%

President Trump approval rating: 26%

Virginia

President Trump approval rating: 42%

President Trump approval rating: 42%

Washington

President Trump approval rating: 36%

President Trump approval rating: 36%

West Virginia

President Trump approval rating: 68%

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President Trump approval rating: 68%

Wisconsin

President Trump approval rating: 45%

President Trump approval rating: 45%

Wyoming

President Trump approval rating: 69% (Data courtesy of World Population Review)

President Trump approval rating: 69%

(Data courtesy of World Population Review)

This article originally appeared on The List Wire: See President Donald Trump's approval rating by state as of Oct. 2025
Sentebale, the African charity Prince Harry had co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006, has dropped polo matches from its fundraising activities following the massive scandal that involved the royal.

The organization, originally launched by the Duke of Sussex in honor of his late mother, Princess Diana, appears to be distancing itself from Harry  despite his past efforts to promote the sport through multiple events and a Netflix documentary.

Prior to Harrys shock departure from the charity this March, polo events served as a major source of the charitys income through donations from sponsors, donors and patrons.

Sentebale has dropped polo matches from its fundraising activities following the massive scandal that involved Prince Harry. PA Images via Getty Images

In fact, the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup raised 18% of funds last year.

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However, a new annual report published Friday showed that Sentebale has now cut ties with its polo roots  citing high costs and reasons related to the upkeep of the events.

As a result, the lack of polo donations has resulted in a massive $136,000 drop in donations, also partly due to the last-minute change in venues.

The report underscored a wider cost-cutting initiative, including plans to reduce annual spending by $1.3 million.

The charity also outlined plans to inch away from reliance on high-profile individuals and sporting events to secure long-term stability.

Prince Harry had co-founded the charity with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006. Getty Images for Sentebale

These polo games, which attract great generosity from high-net worth individuals or funds who want to support the charity  those events definitely have their place, Iain Rawlinson, a trustee, told the Telegraph. Were not being critical about that as a concept.

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The reason for [dropping it] is it puts quite a lot of pressure on individuals, and it can mask structural weakness in the financial model of the charity, he added.

Rawlinson highlighted the dukes $1.2 million donation from the proceeds of his protocol-shattering memoir, Spare, which he said concealed fault lines in the charitys finances.

Harry exited the charity following an internal dispute with the chair, Dr. Sophie Chandauka. Getty Images for Sentebale

Those problems can be summarized by saying there was a very narrow but very loyal donor base for the charity, he told the outlet. But it also masked the very high level of cost where those costs could only be borne by the virtue of the generosity of Prince Harry.

He added that the organization now looks to create a a more resilient financial model, which is not dependent on a single patron, for example.

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The report also revealed that Sentebale has already secured 70% of next years funding goals.

The Spare author, 40, sensationally left his role as patron at the African charity back in March. THOMAS CORDY/THE PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK

In a further bid to pinch pennies, the charity has closed its London office, which cost $873,000 annually.

If you have got a $800,000 plus cost in the center of the organization, which is not program specific and cant be recovered through programs, you have to go and do events, Rawlinson added.

You have to lean on the patron to play polo, you have to do all of that type of thing. And then that creates a certain modus operandi in the organization.

The Spare author, 41, sensationally left his role as patron at the African charity back in March following an internal dispute with the charitys chairwoman, Dr. Sophie Chandauka.

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In a further twist to the drama, Sentebale called on the Charity Commission to provide clarity about its recent probe over the summer.

Prince Harry shows children a photograph he has taken as he visited Lesotho to see the work of his charity Sentebale in 2014. Getty Images

The organization asked the investigating body to make it clear that its report did not specifically look into accusations of racism and misogyny directed at the duke, who quit royal life in 2020.

The Invictus Games founders reps have since confirmed to The Post that he is weighing out his options and possibilities following his bitter departure from the organization.




Ballots are arriving in mailboxes across California for the upcoming Nov. 4 special election that has launched the Golden State into the center of a national battle over control of Congress.

The only issue on most Bay Area voters' ballots is Proposition 50, a measure to redraw California's congressional maps.

Here's an explanation of Prop 50, a rundown of who supports and opposes it and what arguments both sides are making to win over voters, along with links to read more about the issue.

What would Prop 50 do?

Prop 50 would replace California's congressional maps, drawn by an independent commission, with new maps drawn by Democrats that aim to flip five seats from Republican to Democratic control. They are designed to help Democrats wrest control of the U.S. House of Representatives to provide a check on President Donald Trump, and to counter moves by Republican-controlled states that are redrawing their own maps to favor Republicans. The maps would be in place for elections in 2026, 2028 and 2030. California's independent redistricting commission would resume drawing congressional maps following the 2030 census.

Why is there a special election for Prop 50?

Prop 50 is one component of a nationwide redistricting battle that began when the Trump administration started pressuring lawmakers in Texas to redraw their maps.

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Mid-decade redistricting is rare. States typically redraw their congressional maps every 10 years after each census. But Republicans are under pressure this year to make maps more favorable to their party in the 2026 midterms.

Republicans hold 219 seats in the House, compared with Democrats' 213. But that majority will be tough for the GOP to hold in the midterms, when a president's party typically loses seats.

Republicans hold 25 of the 38 congressional districts in Texas, the second most populous state. The Republican-controlled Texas Legislature passed new maps this year that are designed to increase the number of Republican districts to 30.

In California, the most populous state, Democrats hold 43 of 52 congressional seats. Democrats also control California's state Legislature. But, unlike Republicans in Texas, California Democrats can't just pass new maps on their own.

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That's because California voters in 2010 gave that power to an independent redistricting commission where Democrats and Republicans are equally represented.

To get around that process, Gov. Gavin Newsom and his allies called a special election to seek voter approval of the new maps.

Who supports Prop 50, and why?

Supporters argue Californians should vote yes to provide a check on Trump's power. With a Republican-controlled House of Representatives and Senate and a Supreme Court dominated by conservatives, Trump has been able to dramatically reshape the federal government without any real pushback from Democrats.

"If we lose here, we are going to have total Republican control in the House, the Senate and the White House for at least two more years," Newsom wrote in a recent fundraising appeal to supporters. "If we win here, we can put a check on Trump for his final two years."

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Newsom is Prop 50's architect and chief supporter. All the other top Democratic officials in the state also support the measure.

Supporters have raised more than $90 million from a base of donors 500 times larger than opponents'. The campaign has reported more than 65,000 individual donors, the vast majority of whom have given less than $150. But the campaign has some ultra-wealthy donors, too. The biggest are the Fund for Policy Reform, an organization founded and funded by Democratic megadonor George Soros, and the House Majority PAC, which works to elect Democrats to Congress. Each has given $10 million. Other top donors to the effort include labor unions. The National Education Association and the California Teachers Association have each contributed $3 million, and the California Nurses Association has kicked in $2.6 million.

Michael Moritz, the 71-year-old billionaire Pacific Heights venture capitalist and publisher of the San Francisco Standard, has contributed $2.5 million.

Newsom's campaign has spent about $7 million on digital advertising and about $18 million on television ads, according to the most recent campaign finance filings.

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The campaign is focused on an anti-Trump message and is running ads featuring national political figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.

That reflects the nationalized nature of the campaign. Almost half of the campaign's donors live outside the state.

Who opposes Prop 50, and why?

Opponents have focused less on national politics. They point out that the measure would take power from the independent commission and put it back in the hands of politicians. They argue that gerrymandering - the process of shaping districts to favor a particular politician or political party - is always wrong and shouldn't be embraced in California. They've pointed out that the proposed districts are designed to dilute the power of rural communities that typically vote for Republicans.

Most of the opponents' cash has come from Charles Munger Jr., who has given $32 million of the total $40 million raised. Munger is a retired Palo Alto physicist and son of billionaire Charles Munger, who served as the vice chairman of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway. More than a decade ago, Munger Jr. bankrolled the campaigns to create the independent redistricting commission and give it power to draw the state's political districts.

Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger expresses his opposition to Proposition 50, a ballot measure to redraw U.S. House maps, at the University of Southern California campus in Los Angeles on Sept. 15, 2025. (Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press)





The Congressional Leadership Fund, a group that works to elect Republicans to Congress, has kicked in $5 million. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has donated $1 million through an old campaign account. Thomas M. Siebel, a longtime Republican donor and distant relative of Newsom's wife, First partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, also gave $1 million.

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Opponents have spent nearly $27 million, mostly on advertising, according to the most recent campaign expenditure reports.

One recent television ad features former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger criticizing the measure.

"That's what they want to do is take us backwards - this is why it is important for you to vote no on Prop 50," Schwarzenegger says. "Democracy - we've got to protect it, and we've got to go and fight for it."

How would California's congressional maps change under Prop 50?

The maps are designed to make it easier for Democrats to win five seats currently under Republican control.

CA-1, currently held by Rep. Doug LaMalfa, would lose the conservative North State counties of Modoc, Siskiyou and Shasta to CA-2, a district currently held by Rep. Jared Huffman that includes Marin. Under the new maps, CA-1 would instead extend south to include parts of more liberal Mendocino, Lake and Sonoma counties, including the North Bay city of Santa Rosa.

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CD-3, currently held by Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, would change dramatically, including by incorporating more of Sacramento County. That would shift that district significantly to the left on the political spectrum.

Swing districts held by Reps. Adam Gray, D-Turlock; Josh Harder, D-Stockton; and George Whitesides, D-Santa Clarita, would gain more voters who lean Democratic, making it easier for those representatives to hold their seats. The maps also pack more liberal voters into the districts of Rep. David Valadao, R-Bakersfield - already a difficult seat for Republicans to hold - and Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Escondido.

What are other states doing?

Missouri: Missouri's governor in late September signed a new map into law designed to flip one seat from Democratic to Republican control. The map is being challenged, and could be overturned - or affirmed - by voters in a referendum.

Ohio: The Buckeye state must redraw its maps for the 2026 election to comply with state laws. That process is ongoing, but Republicans who control the state Legislature may try to further expand their dominance in the state, where the GOP currently hold 10 of 15 congressional seats.

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Utah: A judge is forcing state lawmakers in Utah to draw new maps after they rejected maps from an independent redistricting commission created by voters. That could result in one of Utah's four districts flipping from Republican to Democratic control, but it's unclear at this point how the process will play out.

Leaders in Democratic-leaning Maryland and Illinois, and Republican-leaning Florida, Louisiana, Kansas and Indiana have also discussed the possibility of redrawing their maps ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Read more

This article originally published at Prop 50: What to know about California's 2025 special election.
Russian President Vladimir Putin "lied to Donald Trump" about his intentions to put an end to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Trump's former envoy for Ukraine negotiations told Euronews.

And this is why "it's quite possible that the US will send Tomahawks to Ukraine," Kurt Volker said.

On 19 August, just days after Trump's meeting with Putin in Alaska, the US president hosted Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other EU leaders at the White House.

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Following that meeting, Trump said that he would arrange a meeting between Putin and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Volker says this is what Putin promised Trump in a phone call.

"Trump is frustrated. Putin promised him he would negotiate and meet with Zelenskyy. (Putin) did it when Trump was with European leaders in the White House. He went and made a phone call to Putin who agreed in that moment," said Volker.

Donald Trump with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the European leaders at the White House, Monday, Aug. 18, 2025 - AP Photo

"But Putin lied to him and now Trump is irritated."

Few countries offered to host the historic meeting and even offered not to arrest Putin despite the International Criminal Court arrest warrant over the abduction of Ukrainian children.

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Since then, the Kremlin has repeatedly rejected the possibility of a face-to-face meeting with Zelenskyy with or without the participation of the US president.

"He made Trump look weak and Trump doesn't like looking weak, so this is now a personal issue for him," Volker told Euronews, explaining why the US administration is now considering sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.

Volker also believes that having the discussion about long-range missiles will also "re-engage" Putin and "make him cut a deal and Putin isn't doing that right now."

In addition, Volker believes Trump's linking of business with politics means he is also motivated by selling the long-range missiles.

A Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) launches from the guided missile cruiser USS Cape St. George in the Mediterranean Sea, 23 March, 2003 - Kenneth Moll/Copyright 2003 The AP. All rights reserved.

"Trump is transactional; he's all about money and if somebody is paying what does he care," he said.

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"If the Russian invasion of Ukraine ends then Trump's priority is that he can lift sanctions (on Russia) and make money."

Opposite narrative in Moscow

Putin claimed in an interview published on Sunday that the US supplying Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles would "lead to the destruction" of the "emerging positive trend" in US-Russian relations.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said this way the Kremlin was trying to deter the US from sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine by linking improvements in the bilateral relationship to concessions from the United States.

"ISW continues to assess that Putin has been trying to facilitate US-Russian rapprochement, including by pressuring the Trump administration to engage in arms control talks, to secure Russias desired demands in Ukraine," the think tank said.

Russian military and Security service objects within range of Tomahawk missiles, ISW - ISW

Putin also threatened the US on 2 October, claiming that American military personnel would have to directly participate in Ukrainian Tomahawk strikes.

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Putin claimed that that would mark a "new stage of escalation" but would not change the battlefield situation.

The ISW points out that Putin made similar arguments when the United States was considering sending Ukraine ATACMS missiles, F-16 jets and Abrams tanks.

"Putin appears to be trying different approaches  from threatening worsening bilateral relations to downplaying the missiles' usefulness  to influence US decision-making."

Why Ukraine wants Tomahawks

Tomahawk missiles have been on Kyiv's battlefield wishlist for some time. With an operational range between 1,600 and 2,500 kilometres and a powerful warhead of around 400-450 kilograms, they could reinforce Ukraine's strikes deep into Russia.

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Currently, Ukraine relies on Western-supplied missiles, such as the Storm Shadow, which have a limited range of around 250 kilometres.

For anything further than this, Kyiv is utilising its domestically produced drones and drone-like missiles, such as the Palianytsia, but their warhead payload is limited to 50-100 kilograms.

Rescuers search for victims in the debris of a destroyed house following a Russian rocket strike on the outskirts of Lviv, 5 October, 2025 - AP Photo

This is why Kyiv believes that Tomahawk missiles could fully transform Ukraine's deep strike strategy.

Over the past months, Ukraine has significantly intensified strikes against Russia's energy infrastructure.

According to Kremlin-affiliated media, around 40% of Russia's oil refining capacity for petrol and diesel fuel had been halted by the end of September due to Ukrainian drone attacks.

Ukrainian strikes have targeted at least 16 of Russia's 38 oil refineries since August, causing a domestic fuel shortage across Russia, according to FT reports.
Negotiators for Israel and Hamas were meeting in Egypt Monday to discuss a U.S. proposal for ending the war in Gaza, but there are no guarantees peace will bring the worlds largest ocean container lines back to the Red Sea-Suez Canal route anytime soon.

About 90% of an agreement has been completed, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday, with a phased drawdown and details regarding the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners still to be finalized.

But an end to the war that began in late 2023 holds few guarantees for the worlds leading container lines. Attacks by Yemen-based Houthi militia targeting what they claimed were Israel-linked vessels since early 2024 forced carriers to divert scheduled services from Asia to the Mediterranean, Europe and North America away from the Suez Canal and on longer, costlier routes via the Cape of Good Hope around the Horn of Africa.

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Container revenue for the Suez Canal Authority is down by as much as 60% in recent months, Osama Rabie, chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, said Oct. 2. An average of only 32 ships per day now transit the canal, down from 75 ships per day before the Gaza war.

Liner operators were reluctant to shift operations back to the Red Sea during what they saw as a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in January of this year. The break in hostilities ended in March.

Those diversions produced billions of dollars in windfall profits for carriers in 2024. But the Trump administrations ongoing tariff policy aimed at engineering a global trade reset has undercut business on the benchmark eastbound trans-Pacific and weakened demand to the point that container rates there are testing lows not seen since 2023. Carriers have been shifting tonnage and blanking voyages in an aggressive attempt to rightsize capacity.

While U.S. and European Union naval forces have provided escorts for vessels, intensive sea-based attacks by the U.S. under the Biden and later, Trump administrations, into Yemen failed to neutralize the Houthis. The Navy, in fact, accidentally shot down a U.S. fighter jet in December, and lost two more overboard  one when the aircraft carrier it was launched from made a sudden maneuver to avoid Houthi weaponry, and the other as the result of a failed carrier landing.

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In 2025, the Houthis escalated attacks on shipping, sinking at least two merchant vessels and inflicting casualties among international crews. The recent spike in attacks includes sophisticated coordinated strikes involving missiles, unmanned boats, and armed boarding parties targeting commercial ships from various nations, not only those with direct ties to Israel. The Houthis also continue to target Israel with direct missile attacks.

A report Oct. 3 by the British Royal Navys United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations cited continuing intereference of vessels GPS systems in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the Persian Gulf.

Vincent Clerc, chief executive of A.P. Moller-Maersk (OTC: AMKBY), stated that even after a ceasefire between the United States and the Houthis, shipping firms are unlikely to send vessels through the Red Sea until security is reliably restored, noting that the risks to crew safety and vessels are still unacceptably high.

Soren Toft, CEO of Mediterranean Shipping Co., the worlds largest carrier, also has cautioned against a rapid return to the region until security improves.

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Ocean Network Express Chief Executive Jeremy Nixon said that the alliances full-year forecast faces headwinds due to persistent geopolitical uncertainties, including the continued incidents in the Red Sea. As a result, vessels are expected to keep rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope, he said, which places sustained pressure on the global supply chain.

Insurers and Protection & Indemnity (P&I) clubs which cover ocean shipping responded to shipping executives concerns about Red Sea safety by adjusting coverage terms, raising premiums, and issuing new guidance reflecting heightened geopolitical risks, according to insurer Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC). As attacks persisted, war risk insurers signaled increased caution by imposing exclusionsmost notably the Red Sea war risks exclusion on certain reinsurance programs prior to the 2024 renewal.

Find more articles by Stuart Chirls here.

Related coverage:

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The post Red Sea carriers wait and watch Gaza peace talks appeared first on FreightWaves.
Rep. Robert Craven, a North Kingstown Democrat, is seen on the floor of the Rhode Island House of Representatives on May 9, 2024. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

After dropping out of the race to become Rhode Islands next attorney general late last week, Rep. Robert Craven is ceding his position as chairman of the powerful House Committee on Judiciary and intends to leave politics altogether after his term ends next year.

Craven, a North Kingstown Democrat, said in a statement issued Monday afternoon his decision to step aside was in the best interest of his family. He has led the 15-member panel responsible for shaping the states penal code and judicial system since the start of the 2019 legislative session.

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Through seven years as chair, I was privileged to shepherd issues like womens reproductive health, gun safety and the environment that matter deeply to Rhode Islanders, he said in a statement. While I will continue to serve the people of North Kingstown through the end of my term, I will not seek re-election.

Craven, 69, launched his long-planned campaign for attorney general of Rhode Island on Sept. 29, but ended his run on Thursday, Oct. 2, amid renewed scrutiny of domestic assault charges from two decades ago.

The charges have since been expunged, but Craven in his statement Monday alluded to how the focus on his past has personally affected him.

Many people have reached out to me over the past few days, he said. Some I know from my work as a representative, others are colleagues in the law, friends, and some are strangers who are on their own journey of hope and redemption. I am grateful for their support and understanding as I continue on my own personal journey.

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House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi was alerted to Cravens decision following a conversation earlier Monday, chamber spokesperson Larry Berman said in an emailed statement.

Speaker Shekarchi thanked him for his seven years of service as the committee chair and 13 years as a House member, Berman said.

Craven, who works as an attorney in his private practice in North Kingstown, was first elected to represent House District 32 in 2012.

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Since the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, led by the Palestinian militant organization Hamas and the subsequent Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip, many Jewish people in Germany have been experiencing anti-Semitism.

The Federal Association of Research and Information Centres on Anti-Semitism (RIAS) also perceives an increase in protests with anti-Semitic content, according to a report released on Monday.

"Disturbing normality"

"Calls for the destruction of Israel, endorsement of violence against Jewish people, open support for Hamas terror, and the trivialization of the Shoah [Holocaust]  all of this has become a disturbing normality two years after October 7," said Benjamin Steinitz, managing director of RIAS.

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RIAS documents "anti-Semitic incidents above and below the threshold of criminal liability from the perspective of those affected," the association writes in its newly published report.

In addition to reports from those affected or witnesses, sources such as media reports or, in some cases, crime statistics are also recorded. According to RIAS, the documented anti-Semitic incidents do not constitute a representative sample.

RIAS sees increase in Israel-related anti-Semitism

For the new report, RIAS evaluated 2,225 gatherings from October 7, 2023, to the end of 2024, during which anti-Semitic content was documented.

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With October 7, the number of gatherings with anti-Semitic content reportedly increased from an average of nearly one per day to five per day.

Israel-related anti-Semitism was documented significantly more frequently than before, namely at 89% of the gatherings, often in connection with other forms of hostility towards Jewish people.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas supporters and other Palestinian extremists carried out massacres in Israel, in which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 others were abducted as hostages to the Gaza Strip.

Israel responded with a military offensive. Since the beginning of the war, more than 67,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have been killed, according to the health authority controlled by Hamas.




Sauerkraut fish is having a moment. While it's not necessarily a rarity at Bay Area restaurants - it's on the menus at Taste of Old Street in San Francisco and Wei's Fish in Cupertino, for example - last month, the dish's profile got a big boost with the opening of Tai Er in downtown San Mateo.

At the Sichuan restaurant, sauerkraut fish - or suan cai yu - is a signature. In Mandarin, "suancai" translates to "sour vegetable," commonly referred to as Chinese sauerkraut. Tai Er's sauerkraut fish, comprising sliced snakehead fish and pickled mustard greens in a pork bone broth, is hands-down its bestseller.

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"Pretty much every single table orders it," said Kevin Liu, marketing director for Tai Er's North American operations. "People come here for this. It's the one you come back and order, come back and order, maybe pairing it with other dishes."

A chef works the wok station at Tai Er Sichuan Cuisine in San Mateo, Calif., Sept. 30, 2025. (Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE)





A close-up detail of the signature sauerkraut fish at Tai Er Sichuan Cuisine in San Mateo, Calif., Sept. 30, 2025. (Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE)





Interior of Tai Er Sichuan Cuisine in San Mateo, Calif., Sept. 30, 2025. (Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE)





Globally, Tai Er peddles 20 million bowls of sauerkraut fish annually. The restaurant brand may be new to the Bay Area, but it was founded a decade ago and has more than 600 locations in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Macau, Singapore, Canada, Thailand, Indonesia and New Zealand.

Although New York and Southern California are each home to fast-casual iterations, the 90-seat San Mateo venue marks its first full-service restaurant in the U.S. A larger outpost is expected to open by year's end at Santa Clara's Valley Fair mall.

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"These two locations fit our requirements," Liu said of the decision to double-down in Silicon Valley. Both checked key boxes for the company: good placement on a street corner or in a mall, solid foot traffic, and a well-populated and diverse community.

"We want to test the concept of this more elevated dining experience," Liu continued. "If it's a good model, we can open more." Tai Er has also been looking at locations in San Francisco and the East Bay but has yet to find the right spot in either.

Interior of Tai Er Sichuan Cuisine in San Mateo, Calif., Sept. 30, 2025. (Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE)





An employee places food ready to serve at Tai Er Sichuan Cuisine in San Mateo, Calif., Sept. 30, 2025. (Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE)





Interior of Tai Er Sichuan Cuisine in San Mateo, Calif., Sept. 30, 2025. (Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE)





Since I wasn't previously familiar with sauerkraut fish, I met up with Liu in San Mateo to get a rundown on the iconic Sichuan specialty and, of course, dig in to see what the fuss is about.

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The first thing I discovered: The $39 dish is ample enough to serve two or three people. The main ingredients are imported from China: snakehead fish, small-leaf mustard greens that have been fermented for 23 days, dried chile and Sichuan peppercorn. In fact, Tai Er - which is operated by Jiumaojiu International Holdings and headquartered in the southeast China province of Guangdong - even raises the fish and grows the greens itself.

"We control everything, from the fish to the sauerkraut to the daily-made pork bone soup," Liu said. "The other thing is the process."

Indeed, to further maintain the quality and consistency of the dish, two chefs - 15-year veterans of Jiumaojiu - were brought over from China. They have been training the local crew since July.

At the glassed-in kitchen, Liu and I watched the chefs prepare an order of sauerkraut fish. Pork bone broth - loaded with sauerkraut, pickled radish and sweet potato noodles - is ladled into an enormous bowl. Slices of fish are boiled for 30 seconds and then dropped in the bowl as well. The mild and spicy versions of the dish are finished with hot oil teeming with dried chile, Sichuan peppercorn and sesame, while the non-spicy iteration has only the sesame.

A close-up detail of the signature sauerkraut fish at Tai Er Sichuan Cuisine in San Mateo, Calif., Sept. 30, 2025. (Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE)





An employee prepares the signature sauerkraut fish at Tai Er Sichuan Cuisine in San Mateo, Calif., Sept. 30, 2025. (Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE)





Signature sauerkraut fish at Tai Er Sichuan Cuisine in San Mateo, Calif., Sept. 30, 2025. (Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE)





The interplay of flavors and textures make for a real palate-pleaser: the tenderness of the flaky fish, with just a bit of skin left on; crunch from the greens; chewiness of the thick noodles; tanginess of the broth, thanks to those pickled greens; spiciness from the dried chile; and tingling sensation courtesy of the peppercorn. (Liu noted that sauerkraut fish is traditionally eaten with steamed rice.)

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During my weekday lunch, the dining room was humming. A focal point of the space - appointed in dark wood and red accents - is a custom lantern made of mulberry silk and measuring just over 8 feet in diameter. To get the fixture inside, one of the expansive glass windows along a wall of the restaurant had to be removed.

Although there are plenty of eating establishments in the vicinity, Liu observed that Tai Er fills a previous void in downtown San Mateo. "There was no full-service Chinese restaurant, especially Sichuan food," he said. (On the same stretch of Fourth Avenue as Tai Er, Taste of Sha Xian specializes in street snacks from the Fujian province of China and ordering is done through a QR code.)

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Since my husband is not a soup person, in anticipation of return visits to Tai Er, I was keen to try dishes other than the sauerkraut fish. On the table, a menu is accompanied by a slip of paper that lists the menu items; diners check off their choices. Servers, who are happy to elaborate on the food, review and confirm the orders before submitting them to the kitchen.

Sichuan spicy wontons at Tai Er Sichuan Cuisine in San Mateo, Calif., Sept. 30, 2025. (Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE)





Chongqing spicy crispy chicken at Tai Er Sichuan Cuisine in San Mateo, Calif., Sept. 30, 2025. (Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE)





Golden salted egg yolk tofu at Tai Er Sichuan Cuisine in San Mateo, Calif., Sept. 30, 2025. (Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE)





I would go back for Tai Er's spicy wontons alone: a dozen dumplings - plump with a pork-and-shrimp filling, swimming in a housemade chile oil sauce bolstered by fresh garlic - for a very reasonable $10.

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The beef fried rice ($18) is a house special that I immediately looked forward to enjoying again as a leftover. The rice is one of three Tai Er dishes that incorporates the sauerkraut also used in the sauerkraut fish; the other is the wok-seared spicy beef.

Among Liu's favorites is the Chongqing spicy crispy chicken ($25). Bite-sized chunks of dark meat are coated in seasoning and then wok fried, yielding a wonderful crust. Peanuts add extra crunch. The dried chiles crowding the plate are not for consumption, but are an important component. "That's the joy - not only eating the chicken, but finding the chicken in the chile," Liu explained of the proliferation of peppers that turns the dish into a game of sorts as diners attempt to pluck the poultry pieces from the pile.

Since Sichuan cooking has a reputation for being bold and fiery, it's not surprising that most of the fare I sampled was spicy. Liu estimated that the Tai Er in San Mateo goes through about 22 pounds of dried chiles daily. Still, my lunch did include a few nonspicy items.

The stir-fried seasonal vegetables ($16) revolve around produce delivered every day from farms in Southern California. "If it's not fresh, we don't want it," Liu said. The day of my visit, baby bok choy was tossed in a wok with garlic until just-tender.

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I was intrigued by the golden salted egg yolk tofu ($19), a dish that was new to me and, according to Liu, less prevalent on stateside restaurant menus than Tai Er's other tofu offering, mapo tofu. Salted duck eggs are the basis for a rich and creamy sauce that enrobes silky, lightly steamed tofu cubes and shrimp.

Tai Er Sichuan Cuisine in San Mateo, Calif., Sept. 30, 2025. (Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE)





At the end of a meal, guests are treated to gratis vanilla soft serve in a mini cone. But I was eager to try the fried mochi cubes ($9), a delightful combination of contrasting yet complementary elements: crispy rice cake nuggets, drizzled in brown sugar syrup, surrounding a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

With such a wide range of offerings, Liu is hopeful for repeat diners - and that they partake of dishes beyond the sauerkraut fish. "We're not only focused on this one dish anymore," he said. "We want to put out a larger Sichuan menu. We want to allow local residents to try it because we're proud of it."

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Tai Er, 98 E. 4th Ave., San Mateo. Open Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-9 p.m., and Friday to Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

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This article originally published at Restaurant that sells 20 million bowls of its specialty debuts in the Bay Area.
Germany has seen "increasing hate and violence" against Jewish people since the October 7, 2023, attacks, the country's domestic intelligence service warned on Monday, ahead of the second anniversary of the terrorist assault on Israel.

"We observe how calls are being made in Germany - sometimes covertly, sometimes openly - for attacks on (pro-)Jewish and (pro-)Israeli institutions," said Sinan Selen, the vice president of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV).

"This danger must not be underestimated," he warned. There could also be extremist pro-Palestinian events on the anniversary, Selen suggested.

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Islamist-motivated attacks with knives or vehicles on Israeli or Jewish institutions must be expected at all times, the official said.

Among recent examples are suspected plans to attack the Israeli embassy in Berlin, which were uncovered in February, and a knife attack at the Holocaust memorial.

The number of anti-Semitic posts on the internet has also increased significantly, he said.

"Disturbing normality"

The Federal Association of Research and Information Centres on Anti-Semitism (RIAS) also perceives an increase in protests with anti-Semitic content, according to a report released on Monday.

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"Calls for the destruction of Israel, endorsement of violence against Jewish people, open support for Hamas terror, and the trivialization of the Shoah [Holocaust]  all of this has become a disturbing normality two years after October 7," said Benjamin Steinitz, the organization's managing director.

RIAS documents "anti-Semitic incidents above and below the threshold of criminal liability from the perspective of those affected," the association writes in its newly published report.

In addition to reports from those affected or witnesses, sources such as media reports or, in some cases, crime statistics are also recorded. According to RIAS, the documented anti-Semitic incidents do not constitute a representative sample.

For the new report, RIAS evaluated 2,225 gatherings from October 7, 2023, to the end of 2024, during which anti-Semitic content was documented.

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With October 7, the number of gatherings with anti-Semitic content reportedly increased from an average of nearly one per day to five per day.

Israel-related anti-Semitism was documented significantly more frequently than before, namely at 89% of the gatherings, often in connection with other forms of hostility towards Jewish people.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas and other Palestinian extremists carried out massacres in Israel, in which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 others were abducted as hostages to the Gaza Strip.

Israel responded with a military offensive. Since the beginning of the war, more than 67,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have been killed, according to the health authority controlled by Hamas.
After combining her finances with her husbands, Michelle from Indiana discovered just how deep they are in debt.

Michelle called in to The Ramsey Show seeking help on how to deal with this debt, which includes $50,000 in credit card debt and $12,000 for a personal loan. Most of the credit card debt belongs to her husband, whos been using the cards to pay for groceries, utilities and other household items.

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But their car debt  $45,000 on one car and $65,000 on the other  is upside down, as Michelle explained to hosts Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruze. In total, thats $110,000 in car debt alone, not to mention the $62,000 in credit card debt and personal loans that Michelle and her husband have to deal with as well. (1)

Ramsey was rather blunt when assessing Michelle's problem.

Your cars stole your food money, said Ramsey. And your food was put on a credit card.

'Electric cars suck at holding their value'

This credit card debt is not due to irresponsible spending, said Ramsey. It is due to the irresponsible purchase of vehicles that you cant afford.

Michelle, who used to work as a nurse, receives $21,000 a year from long-term disability insurance. Meanwhile, her husband makes $101,000 a year and, aside from their other debts, the couple owes $315,000 on their mortgage.

Their car debt is an example of how one mistake  in this case, taking out car loans they couldnt afford  can snowball into more debt and make daily essentials unaffordable.

In this case, however, getting rid of their car debt  either through a trade-in or private sale  is still going to leave them with plenty of debt to settle.

Michelle and her husband currently owe $65,000 on a Honda Prologue, an electric SUV, but the market value on Kelley Blue Book is only $30,000 for a trade-in, according to Michelle. On their other car  which still has $45,000 left to pay off  the market value is just $27,000.

Thats because electric cars suck at holding their value, said Ramsey.

And its not just the Honda Prologue. While all cars lose value the moment they're driven off the lot, EVs lose their value faster than gas-powered cars. In fact, EVs depreciate 58.8% over five years, according to iSeeCars, compared to 45.6% for all vehicles (including gas and hybrid cars). (2)
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  A Rochester man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in last summers mass shooting at Maplewood Park, prosecutors announced Monday.

21-year-old Niger Johnson was convicted in August of criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment. In addition to his prison sentence, Johnson will serve five years of post-release supervision.

Prosecutors said Johnson was among several people who fired shots into a crowd gathered for a cookout at Maplewood Park on July 28, 2024.

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Two women, 25-year-old Tyasia Manning and 34-year-old Phylicia Council were killed, and several others were injured in what authorities described as one of the deadliest shootings in Rochester in recent years.

While Johnson was not charged with causing any deaths, investigators said he possessed an illegal firearm and fired into the crowd during the chaos.

Johnson was convicted following a jury trial in August and sentenced Monday afternoon in Monroe County Court.

Anyone with information related to the shooting is asked to contact the Rochester Police Departments Major Crimes Unit or the Monroe County District Attorneys Office.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he believes Russia is responsible for many of the unidentified drones spotted over Germany, Deutsche Welle (DW) reported on Oct. 5.

His remarks come amid a surge of mysterious drone sightings across several European countries.

"Our assumption is that Russia is behind most of these drone flights," Merz said, adding that the only consolation was that none of the drones appeared to be armed and seemed to conduct reconnaissance.

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Unidentified drones were once again seen over European airports late on Oct. 3, disrupting flights.

The latest incidents followed widespread disruption a day earlier, when drone sightings grounded 17 flights and affected nearly 3,000 passengers at Munich Airport.

Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Soder called for police to be authorized to shoot down unidentified drones, saying his state is already drafting legislation to permit it.

Czech police also reported drone activity near Prague's Vaclav Havel Airport on the evening of Oct. 3.

In recent weeks, similar sightings have temporarily shut down Oslo Airport in Norway and Copenhagen Airport in Denmark as a precaution.

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The wave of sightings has raised concerns amid heightened tensions between Moscow and NATO following a series of Russian airspace violations.

In September, Polish forces shot down several Russian drones that entered their airspace. Days later, a Russian drone breached Romanian territory, though Bucharest chose not to engage it.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sept. 28 that intelligence reports indicate Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of oil tankers is being used to "launch and control" Russian drones over European cities.

German outlet Spiegel reported on Oct. 2 that investigators are examining potential links between the unidentified drones spotted over northern Germany.

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Read also: 40,000 Russians without power in Belgorod after Ukrainian attack causes significant damage to energy facilities

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Shut it down. Shut it all down!

Not the government. Im talking about the fake news that spent the past two weeks trying to scare average Americans into thinking that the Trump administration was coming after them - in particular by stripping them of their Obamacare subsidies.

At random, heres a quote to demonstrate, this one from John Berman on CNN:

"This morning with the government shutdown, theres a lot of finger-pointing going on. Democrats want to include an extension of Obamacare subsidies that expire at the end of the year. Republicans have refused to negotiate on subsidies unless Democrats first agree to a short-term resolution that would fund the government for seven weeks."

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In itself the quote is entirely accurate, but without supplying context (which the fake news media never does) it is also entirely misleading.

A casual listener or reader will assume that all Obamacare subsidies that they receive will be going away in 2026. But whats the reality? First of all, most Americans do not get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, and so they wont be affected at all.

Only about 22 million people have health insurance through the Obamacare marketplace. Thats out of a national population of 340 million. So right away, we are talking about only 6.5% of Americans who are affected by the policy change. And only about 2 million would lose their subsidies altogether.

But those 2 million were never supposed to be eligible for subsidies as the program was originally intended. Thats because their income is more than 400% of the federal poverty level. For 2026, thats about $63,000 for an individual, and for a family of four, that would be almost $130,000. In Kalispell, Montana, where I live, lots of people only dream about making that much. The household median income here is about $63,000, including many families of four or more.

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And they arent looking for handouts. Probably almost everyone who makes that much money qualifies for workplace insurance in the first place (though it may not be deemed affordable). So really, we need to ask whether it is justified for the government to kick in money to benefit people who are reasonably well off already, or whether it is just part of a Democratic scheme to make as many people as possible dependent on the government.

But that is not a question the mainstream media would ever ask. They are too busy complaining about Donald Trumps efforts to cut government waste, fraud, and abuse; decrease crime in our cities; stop the flow of fentanyl across our borders; and send illegal immigrants home.

Ultimately, what needs to be remembered, and a fact which the mainstream media rarely discusses (but was detailed at length by RealClearInvestigations),is that the enhanced Obamacare subsidies were passed during the COVID crisis. Whether those increased subsidies were justified at the time is beside the point; what matters is that we are no longer in a COVID crisis. People are no longer sitting at home because their jobs were shut down by government mandates, and so it makes sense that enhanced subsidies are going away just like the crisis did.

And despite blanket statements like the one from John Berman quoted above, and thousands more across the media landscape, tax-credit subsidies will remain in effect for most of the people using the government marketplace as their only alternative. Affordable Care Act customers whose income is less than 400% of the federal poverty level will still get subsidies, though they will be decreased back to their original levels.

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Is that unreasonable? Remember, the enhanced subsidies were intended as an emergency measure during an economic crisis. Most Republicans who voted for those additional subsidies never intended for them to continue indefinitely, and earlier this year a majority in both houses of Congress voted not to continue them past 2025.

Yet just a few months later, the Democrats are already working to turn back the clock. When they say, "never let a crisis go to waste," they mean it, and when they passed those enhanced subsidies in 2021, they never intended for them to expire on schedule. Just like with every government program, they want it to continue forever.

Give them credit. Democrats know that health care is a wedge issue that has always worked for them. So they are using the Obamacare subsidies and Medicaid expansion as weapons against the Trump administration, and it may be working.

According to an Oct. 1 Washington Post survey, 47% of adults surveyed blame Trump and the Republicans for the government shutdown, while only 30% blame the Democrats. That despite the fact that all but one Republican in the Senate voted to fund the government, and only three Democrats did.

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Why the disconnect? The same poll revealed that 71% of adults want to see the health-care subsidies extended, and only 29% want to see them ended. To me, thats proof that the mainstream media has poisoned the well by promoting the narrative that all subsidies will be ending this year. Otherwise, there is no way that average Americans would want to see the government increase the deficit to give a special benefit to just a small class of people.

The Washington Post survey, in particular, told participants that "federal subsidies that reduce the cost of Affordable Care Act health insurance plans are scheduled to end at the end of this year." Yes, those subsidies will end for the least needy among us, those with incomes that exceed 400% of the poverty level. But they wont end for the most needy - they will only be reduced. Provide that information correctly to poll participants, and the result could very well shift dramatically in the other direction.

Come to think of it, isnt informing the public the whole purpose of news media in the first place? Maybe if they got back to their original mission instead of trying to shape public opinion to benefit one party, we wouldnt need to talk about shutting them down.

A guy can dream, cant he?

Frank Miele, retired editor of the Daily Inter Lake in Kalispell, Mont., is a columnist for RealClearPolitics. His book The Media Matrix: What If Everything You Know Is Fake is available from his Amazon author page. Visit him at HeartlandDiaryUSA.com or follow him on Facebook @HeartlandDiaryUSA and on X/Gettr @HeartlandDiary.
Slovakia seeks a swift end to the war in Ukraine rather than Russias defeat, Prime Minister Robert Fico said during a televised debate on Slovak public broadcaster STVR on Oct. 5.

The goal of the foreign policy of the Slovak Republic, of the government of the Slovak Republic, of which I am the prime minister, is not the defeat of the Russian Federation. Our goal is to end the war in Ukraine as soon as possible. These are Slavs killing each other. War is not a solution, Fico said.

Fico criticized the European Unions approach to Russias war against Ukraine and accused the bloc of focusing on military aid instead of peace initiatives.

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If the EU spent as much energy on peace as it does on supporting the war in Ukraine, the war could have been over long ago. I will never be a wartime prime minister, he said.

Since returning to office in 2023, Fico has ended military aid to Ukraine from Slovak army stocks and questioned EU sanctions on Russia. In the past, Fico has also vowed to block Kyiv's entry into NATO  a move that requires the agreement of all 32 members, including Slovakia.

Fico visited Moscow in December 2024 and has been fostering closer ties with Moscow, both diplomatically and economically.

Read also: Hungary, Slovakia push back against EU plan to phase out Russian energy

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Slovakia will provide Ukraine with several Bozena demining systems and other non-lethal equipment.

Source: Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Ukraine will receive five Bozena demining systems from Slovakia under an agreement signed by Shmyhal and Slovak Defence Minister Robert Kalinak.

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Slovakia will also transfer other non-lethal equipment.

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"Slovakia will provide Ukraine free of charge with engineering and construction equipment, including Bozena machines, vehicles, demining systems and medical evacuation equipment," Shmyhal said.

He noted that Slovakia is preparing its 15th package of support for Ukraine.

Bozena is a remotely operated demining vehicle that allows bomb disposal experts to work from a safe distance. It can overcome obstacles and access areas inaccessible to humans.

Background:

On 6 October, the Slovak government announced a new military support package for Ukraine for the first time since Prime Minister Robert Fico returned to power in 2023.

Direct military aid was previously suspended, and investigations were launched into earlier decisions.

However, defence cooperation has continued, as Fico's government argues that banning Slovak companies from selling weapons to Ukraine would be hypocritical.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

Stephen Miller, President Donald Trumps deputy White House chief of staff, sparked a wave of anger over the weekend with his attack on a Trump-appointed judge who blocked the presidents National Guard deployment in Portland.

U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut ruled against Trumps order sending troops into the Oregon city on Saturday in a scathing decision.

This is a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law, Judge Immergut concluded, adding that Trumps orders risk blurring the line between civil and military federal power  to the detriment of this nation.

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Miller soon after replied to the judge, sharing her opinion and writing, Legal insurrection. He continued:

The President is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, not an Oregon judge. Portland and Oregon law enforcement, at the direction of local leaders, have refused to aid ICE officers facing relentless terrorist assault and threats to life. (There are more local law enforcement officers in Oregon than there are guns and badges in the FBI nationwide). This is an organized terrorist attack on the federal government and its officers, and the deployment of troops is an absolute necessity to defend our personnel, our laws, our government, public order and the Republic itself.

Earlier in the day, Miller also posted a wild attack on the left, writing, The issue before is now is very simple and clear. There is a large and growing movement of leftwing terrorism in this country. It is well organized and funded. And it is shielded by far-left Democrat judges, prosecutors and attorneys general. The only remedy is to use legitimate state power to dismantle terrorism and terror networks.

His posts led to widespread condemnation. Conservative columnist David French replied, This kind of rhetoric is incredibly dangerous for the judge. Miller constantly deploys deranged rhetoric, even as he claims the left incites violence with its own language. If Miller believes that rhetoric can lead to violence, then he knows exactly what he is doing.

This kind of rhetoric is incredibly dangerous for the judge. Miller constantly deploys deranged rhetoric, even as he claims the left incites violence with its own language. If Miller believes that rhetoric can lead to violence, then he knows exactly what he is doing. https://t.co/iGNcWYVnMb  David French (@DavidAFrench) October 5, 2025

The Atlantics Derek Thompson replied, This sweaty online lust to obliterate the judicial system and declare martial law is genuinely disgusting stuff. I dont think the word fascism should be thrown around or depreciated through overuse, but if your top advisers are going around calling for an autocratic executive to suspend the judiciary and declare martial law, the whole dont call me a fascist thing loses its punch.

I dont think the word fascism should be thrown around or depreciated through overuse, but if your top advisers are going around calling for an autocratic executive to suspend the judiciary and declare martial law, the whole dont call me a fascist thing loses its punch.  Derek Thompson (@DKThomp) October 5, 2025

California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) called on Trump to fire Miller, writing A senior White House official accusing a federal judge  appointed by his own boss  of insurrection for ruling on a case isnt just reckless. Its authoritarian propaganda, plain and simple. Stephen Miller should be fired.

A senior White House official accusing a federal judge  appointed by his own boss  of insurrection for ruling on a case isnt just reckless. Its authoritarian propaganda, plain and simple. Stephen Miller should be fired. https://t.co/9IsJZoFNb2  Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) October 5, 2025

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Below are some additional reactions:

Normal Saturday night stuff when the top official in the Trump White House calls a decision from a Trump-appointed judge "an organized terrorist attack on the federal government." https://t.co/xwS3Lx3246  Sam Stein (@samstein) October 5, 2025

Im not sure its responsible to ignore this. I understand the need not to overreact and I understand that no one in the media wants to chicken little this thing, but this seems escalatory and also rather emotional. https://t.co/W2gEqc2Fts  Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) October 5, 2025

The President appointed this judge and you dont have a law degree or a basic understanding of the Constitution https://t.co/eDoIjnQyQZ  Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) October 5, 2025

Stephen Miller has now declared this Trump-appointed judge an insurrectionist. To emphasize, the judge painstakingly examined all the protest happening in Portland before Trump activated the Guard. She noted that there hadn't been any violence at a protest since mid-July. https://t.co/kUNOFeAVRn pic.twitter.com/fWEVhw1oOD  Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@ReichlinMelnick) October 5, 2025

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Stephen Miller keeps calling words he dislikes violence and terrorism. Meanwhile, he continues to smear his opponents in the sameor even more inflammatoryways. I dont know how anyone takes this double standard seriously. https://t.co/jtCRuLdE4O  Billy Binion (@billybinion) October 5, 2025

1. Shes a federal judge, not an Oregon judge and Trump appointed her. 2. ICE hasnt called 911 for any threats to federal officers or property since June, per the Oregon Attorney General. 3. Your boss appears to be confused by watching old riot clips on TV. Try again. https://t.co/tn8BPt5JX3  Justin Glawe (@JustinGlawe) October 5, 2025

There are ways, per every court, that a president can overstep his authority to deploy the military. This Trump-appointed judge found that he did so here  in part because DOJ presented no evidence of a threat that cant be managed by regular law enforcement. Millers issue https://t.co/JfdX2NZgz6  Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) October 5, 2025

__

The post Stephen Miller Sparks Fury With Attack on Trump-Appointed Judge: Genuinely Disgusting first appeared on Mediaite.
The first supermoon of 2025 is just hours away, and October's harvest moon will treat Iowans to a brighter and larger-than-usual moon.

Here is what to know about the harvest supermoon of 2025 and when you should go outside and look up in Iowa.

When is the next full moon in 2025?

The next full moon will be the harvest supermoon, set to rise on Monday, Oct. 6, with peak illumination at 10:47 p.m. CT.

It will rise low on the horizon, and unlike other full moons, it will rise at about the same time for several nights.

Why is it called the harvest supermoon?

This year, October is known as the harvest supermoon because it falls on the date closest to the autumn equinox. In 2024, the title of harvest moon went to the September full moon.

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The harvest moon got its name from the abundance of bright moonlight in the early evening hours when farmers harvested their crops. They worked well into the night as autumn began, before electricity.

When it doesn't fall on the date closest to the autumn equinox, the moon is named the Hunter Moon. The Algonquin Native Americans gave it this name because it signaled when it was time to start hunting for Winter, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.

What is the forecast for the harvest supermoon in Des Moines?

Cloud coverage map of Iowa for Monday, Oct. 6, 2025 at 10 p.m.

Skywatchers may have a harder time spotting the harvest moon in Iowa.

Cloud cover across central and eastern Iowa is expected to range from 50% to 80% around 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, according to the National Weather Service.

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In Des Moines, sky cover is forecast at 88% at that time, with showers and thunderstorms likely before 2 a.m. There's a 60% chance of rain overnight, the NWS said.

3 more supermoons to occur in 2025

October will not be the only month with a supermoon this year. Another will occur in November and December before the end of the year.

The supermoons will fall on the following dates, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac:

Harvest Moon - Monday, Oct. 6 at 10:47 p.m. CT.

Beaver Moon - Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 7:19 a.m. CT

Cold Moon- Thursday, Dec. 4, at 5:14 a.m. CT

USA TODAY network reporters Eric Lagatta and Julia Gomez contributed to this report.

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Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: When is the next full moon? How to see October's supermoon in Iowa
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein.

On the first day of their new term, the justices declined to take up a case that would have drawn renewed attention to the sordid sexual-abuse saga after President Donald Trumps administration sought to tamp down criticism over its refusal to publicly release more investigative files from Epsteins case.

Lawyers for Maxwell, a British socialite, argued that she never should have been tried or convicted for her role in luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein, a New York financier. She is serving a 20-year prison term, though she was moved from a low-security federal prison in Florida to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas after she was interviewed in July by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

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As is their custom, the justices did not explain why they turned away the appeal.

Trumps Republican administration had urged the high court to stay out of the case.

Maxwell's lawyers contended that a non-prosecution agreement reached in 2007 by federal prosecutors in Miami and Epsteins lawyers also protected his potential co-conspirators from federal charges anywhere in the country.

Maxwell was prosecuted in Manhattan, and the federal appeals court there ruled that the prosecution was proper. A jury found her guilty of sex trafficking a teenage girl, among other charges.

Maxwells trial featured accounts of the sexual exploitation of girls as young as 14 told by four women who described being abused as teens in the 1990s and early 2000s at Epsteins homes.

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Neither Maxwells lawyers nor the federal Bureau of Prisons has explained the reason for her transfer, but one of her lawyers, David Oscar Markus, has said she is innocent and never should have been tried, much less convicted. Markus also was the lead lawyer on her Supreme Court case.

Maxwell was interviewed by Blanche at a Florida courthouse. She was given limited immunity, allowing her to speak freely without fear of prosecution for anything she said except for in the event of a false statement. She repeatedly denied witnessing any sexually inappropriate interactions involving Trump, according to records released in August meant to distance the president from the disgraced financer.

Epstein was arrested in 2019 on sex trafficking charges and was accused of sexually abusing dozens of teenage girls. A month later, he was found dead in a New York jail cell in what investigators described as a suicide.

The Epstein case had consumed Trumps administration following an announcement from the FBI and the Justice Department in July that Epstein had killed himself despite conspiracy theories to the contrary, that a client list that Attorney General Pam Bondi had intimated was on her desk did not actually exist, and that no additional documents from the high-profile investigation were suitable to be released.

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The announcement produced outrage from conspiracy theorists and Trump supporters who had been hoping to see proof of a government coverup. That expectation was driven in part by comments from officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, who on podcasts before taking their current positions had repeatedly promoted the idea that damaging details about prominent people were being withheld.

Patel, for instance, said in at least one podcast interview before becoming FBI director that Epsteins black book was under the direct control of the director of the FBI.

But the Justice Department said its review of evidence in the governments possession determined that no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted. The department noted that much of the material was placed under seal by a court to protect victims and only a fraction of it would have been aired publicly had Epstein gone to trial.

Faced with fury from his base, Trump sought to quickly turn the page, shutting down questioning of Bondi about Epstein at a White House Cabinet meeting and deriding as weaklings supporters he said were falling for the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax.

___

Follow the APs coverage of Ghislaine Maxwell at https://apnews.com/hub/ghislaine-maxwell.
By Dina Sakr and Mohamed Ezz

CAIRO (Reuters) -Rising Nile waters inundated homes and fields in northern Egypt over the weekend, forcing residents to move by boat and intensifying a war of words between Cairo and Addis Ababa over whether Ethiopia's giant Nile dam has worsened seasonal floods.

In the Nile Delta village of Dalhamo, in Menoufia Governorate, some 50 km (31 miles) northwest of Cairo, men paddled wooden boats through narrow lanes where water lapped at the walls of their homes.

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"We lost everything," said fisherman Saied Gameel, standing knee-deep in his flooded house. "The water level is extremely high, much higher this year ... before it would rise for two days and then recede."

FLOODS IN SUDAN DISPLACE THOUSANDS

The Nile has long been affected by seasonal flooding due to monsoon rainfall in the Ethiopian Highlands that usually peaks in July and August. But this year a late-season surge has pushed north from Ethiopia, through Sudan, and into Egypt.

In Sudan, the U.N. migration agency said floods in Bahri, Khartoum state, displaced about 1,200 families last week and destroyed homes, compounding an 18-month war that has crippled the country's response.

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Egypt's Water Resources and Irrigation Ministry has accused Ethiopia of "reckless unilateral" operation of its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, saying sharp, unannounced swings in water releases after the dam's September 9 inauguration helped trigger a "man-made, late flood".

It said, in a statement on October 3, that discharges jumped to about 485 million cubic metres on September 10 and as high as 780 million on September 27 before easing, straining Sudan's Roseires Dam and pushing excess water through to Egypt.

Ethiopia, which sees the $5 billion dam as central to its development, rejected Cairo's claims, describing Egypt's statement as "malicious and riddled with numerous baseless claims".

In a statement on October 4, its Water and Energy Ministry said regulated releases from the Blue Nile project had reduced flood impacts and that without it heavy rain "would have caused historic destruction in Sudan and Egypt".

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Ethiopia inaugurated the dam on September 9, with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed saying it was built "to prosper, to electrify the entire region, and to change the history of black people", insisting it was "not to harm its brothers".

The dam is designed to generate 5,150 megawatts of power and hold up to 74 billion cubic metres of water in its lake.

Cairo bitterly opposed the dam from the start, arguing that it violated water treaties dating back to the early part of the last century and poses an existential threat.

'NOWHERE ELSE TO GO'

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said in a press conference on October 2 that authorities had anticipated higher-than-normal flows this month and warned that low-lying tracts in Menoufia and neighbouring Beheira, long encroached by informal building and farming on the river's floodplain, were at risk.

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Health teams were deployed to flooded areas over the weekend.

Back in Dalhamo, Gameel said residents were still waiting for help.

"People were warned before the water rose, but there's nowhere else for anyone," he said. "When the water rises, everyone ends up staying on top of their houses."

(Reporting by Dina Sakr and Mohamed Ezz; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Key Points

Taiwan Semiconductor now claims a 70% market share in the foundry industry.

Considering its 40% revenue growth in the first half of the year, its 33 P/E ratio might not deter investors.

10 stocks we like better than Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing 

Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) (NYSE: TSM) will release earnings for the third quarter of 2025 on Oct. 16. The company produces the majority of the world's most advanced semiconductors. Since many of the advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are not possible without its manufacturing capabilities, the stock is likely to remain a market beater over the long term.

Nonetheless, TSMC stock is at an all-time high, and anticipated growth is often not enough of a reason to buy a stock. With an earnings report looming, should investors buy shares of the stock now or stay on the sidelines and hold out for a lower price?

The bull case in TSMC stock

As previously mentioned, TSMC faces a few threats to its long-term bull case. It is the world's largest semiconductor foundry company, and as of the second quarter of 2025, its market share now exceeds 70%, according to TrendForce. This is up from 67% in the previous quarter.

Additionally, Grand View Research forecasts a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for AI of 32% through 2033. These combined factors make it highly likely that TSMC's rapid growth will continue.

For now, it has exceeded that growth rate, and that rapid growth is on track to continue. In the first half of 2025, revenue increased by 40% to $56 billion compared to the same period the previous year. It also stated on its Q2 earnings call that it expects between $31.8 billion and $33 billion in revenue during Q3, representing a 38% rise at the midpoint.

Investors should note that the company beat revenue estimates in each of the previous four reports. Thus, if it beats estimates like it has in previous quarters, the 40% revenue growth rate from the first two quarters of the year could continue into Q3.

Moreover, investors should watch for sales of the most advanced chips, namely those in the 2nm  5nm size range that power the most advanced AI functions. This is the area where TSMC stands out above competing foundries, since Samsung is the only other chip producer that can manufacture these smaller chips.

Areas of danger

Additionally, even if it is likely to beat earnings estimates, TSMC faces significant challenges.

One is simply keeping up with demand. It allocated almost $20 billion to capital expenditures (CapEx) in the first half of the year, and much of that will go to foundries in Arizona, where it plans to allocate $165 billion to building six advanced manufacturing facilities. Even though that is a considerable sum, it will likely have to maintain or increase that spending to match demand.
Despite being a Democrat, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is losing support among voters in his party while GOP voters are increasingly warming up to him, according to a new poll.

The survey from Quinnipiac University, released on Oct. 1, showed Fetterman with an overall approval rating of 46% and an overall disapproval rating of 38% among likely voters in Pennsylvania.

When broken down by party, however, a majority of Republicans (62%) approve of the work Fetterman has done, while only 33% of Democrats shared the same opinion.

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In fact, a majority of Democrats (54%) expressed disapproval of Fettermans work as a senator, compared to 21% of Republicans.

Of the voters who identified as independents, an equal number (43%) said they approved and disapproved of Fetterman.

The numbers in the October poll represent a significant shift from Quinnipiacs August 2024 poll, which also featured Fetterman.

In that poll, 74% of Democrats approved of Fettermans job as senator while 14% did not.

Among Republicans, 25% expressed approval while 59% expressed disapproval.

As for independents, 46% approved Fettermans work while 40% disapproved.

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Elected in 2022, Fetterman has become a frequent critic of his party.

In March, he chastised Democrats for protesting President Donald Trumps joint address to Congress and said the protests only made the 47th president look more presidential.

He has also clashed with the partys progressive wing over the war in Gaza. Several progressive Democrats have called for the blocking of arms sales to Israel, accusing the countrys government and military of committing genocide in Gaza.

A July 2025 Gallup poll found that only 12% of Democrats approved of Israels campaign in Gaza compared to 79% who disapproved.

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Fetterman, however, remains an ardent supporter of Israel and has expressed his support both off and on social media.

He voted against two measures brought forth by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., that would have blocked arms sales to the country and previously criticized Sens. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., after they accused Israel of ethnically cleansing Palestinians.

I reject this in the strongest terms, Fetterman wrote on X on Sept. 5. My partys ongoing and escalating betrayal of Israel is gross and outrageous.

Trump has even praised Fetterman for bucking his party, once calling him the most sensible Democrat.

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Despite the presidents praise and the decay among Democratic voters, Fetterman still considers himself a Democrat  and said he is not planning to switch parties.

No, Im not going to switch, Fetterman said on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures. Im just going to be an independent voice in the Democratic Party. Im not going to be afraid of people.

The latest Quinnipiac poll was conducted between Sept. 25 and Sept. 29 with a sample size of 1,579 registered voters in Pennsylvania. The surveys margin of error was 3.3%.

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Supreme Court justices like to talk about the Constitution's separation of powers and how it limits the exercise of official authority.

But Chief Justice John G. Roberts and his conservative colleagues have given no sign so far they will check President Trump's one-man governance by executive order.

To the contrary, the conservative justices have repeatedly ruled for Trump on fast-track appeals and overturned federal judges who said the president had exceeded his authority.

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The court's new term opens on Monday, and the justices will begin hearing arguments.

But those regularly scheduled cases have been overshadowed by Trump's relentless drive to remake the government, to punish his political enemies, including universities, law firms, TV networks and prominent Democrats, and to send troops to patrol U.S. cities.

The overriding question has become: Are there any legal limits on the president's power? The Supreme Court itself has raised the doubts.

A year ago, as Trump ran to reclaim the White House, the justices blocked a felony criminal indictment against him related to his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, mob attack on the Capitol as Congress met to certify Trump's defeat in the 2020 election, for which Trump was impeached.

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Led by Roberts, the court ruled for Trump and declared for the first time that presidents were immune from being prosecuted for their official actions in the White House.

Not surprisingly, Trump saw this as a "BIG WIN" and proof there is no legal check on his power.

This year, Trump's lawyers have confidently gone to Supreme Court with emergency appeals when lower-court judges have stood in their way. With few exceptions, they have won, often over dissents from the court's three liberal Democrats.

Many court scholars say they are disappointed but not surprised by the court's response so far to Trump's aggressive use of executive power.

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Read more: Trump urges Supreme Court to uphold his worldwide tariffs in a fast-track ruling

The Supreme Court "has been a rubber stamp approving Trump's actions," said UC Berkeley law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky. "I hope very much that the court will be a check on Trump. There isnt any other. But so far, it has not played that role."

Roberts "had been seen as a Republican but not a Trump Republican. But he doesn't seem interested or willing to put any limits on him," said UCLA law professor Adam Winkler. "Maybe they think they're saving their credibility for when it really counts."

Acting on his own, Trump moved quickly to reshape the federal government. He ordered cuts in spending and staffing at federal agencies and fired inspectors general and officials of independent agencies who had fixed terms set by Congress. He stepped up arrests and deportations of immigrants who are here illegally.

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But the court's decisions on those fronts are in keeping with the long-standing views of the conservatives on the bench.

Long before Trump ran for office, Roberts had argued that the Constitution gives the president broad executive authority to control federal agencies, including the power to fire officials who disagree with him.

The court's conservatives also think the president has the authority to enforce  or not enforce  immigration laws.

That's also why many legal experts think the year ahead will provide a better test of the Supreme Court and Trump's challenge to the constitutional order.

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"Overall, my reaction is that it's too soon to tell," said William Baude, a University of Chicago law professor and a former clerk for Roberts. "In the next year, we will likely see decisions about tariffs, birthright citizenship, alien enemies and perhaps more, and we'll know a lot more."

In early September, Trump administration lawyers rushed the tariffs case to the Supreme Court because they believed it was better to lose sooner rather than later.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the government could face up to a $1-trillion problem if the court delayed a decision until next summer and then ruled the tariffs were illegal.

"Unwinding them could cause significant disruption," he told the court.

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The Constitution says tariffs, taxes and raising revenue are matters for Congress to decide. Through most of American history, tariffs funded much of the federal government. That began to change after 1913 when the 16th Amendment was adopted to authorize "taxes on incomes."

Trump has said he would like to return to an earlier era when import taxes funded the government.

"I always say 'tariffs' is the most beautiful word to me in the dictionary," he said at a rally after his inauguration in January. "Because tariffs are going to make us rich as hell. It's going to bring our country's businesses back that left us."

While he could have gone to the Republican-controlled Congress to get approval, he imposed several rounds of large and worldwide tariffs acting on his own.

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Several small businesses sued and described the tariffs as "the largest peacetime tax increase in American history."

As for legal justification, the president's lawyers pointed to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977. It authorizes the president to "deal with any unusual or extraordinary threat ... to the national security, foreign policy or economy of the United States."

The law did not mention tariffs, taxes or duties but said the president could "regulate" the "importation" of products.

Trump administration lawyers argue that the "power to 'regulate importation' plainly encompasses the power to impose tariffs." They also say the court should defer to the president because tariffs involve foreign affairs and national security.

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They said the president invoked the tariffs not to raise revenue but to "rectify America's country-killing trade deficits and to stem the flood of fentanyl and other lethal drugs across our borders."

In response to lawsuits from small businesses and several states, judges who handle international trade cases ruled the tariffs were illegal. However, they agreed to keep them in place to allow for appeals.

Their opinion relied in part on recent Supreme Court's decisions which struck down potentially far-reaching regulations from Democratic presidents on climate change, student loan debt and COVID-19 vaccine requirements. In each of the decisions, Roberts said Congress had not clearly authorized the disputed regulations.

Read more: Supreme Court upholds 'roving patrols' for immigration stops in Los Angeles

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Citing that principle, the federal circuit court said it "seems unlikely that Congress intended to ... grant the president unlimited authority to impose tariffs."

Trump said that decision, if allowed to stand, "could literally destroy the United States of America." The court agreed to hear arguments in the tariffs case on Nov. 5.

A victory for Trump would be "viewed as a dramatic expansion of presidential power," said Washington attorney Stephanie Connor, who works on tariff cases. Trump and future presidents could sidestep Congress to impose tariffs simply by citing an emergency, she said.

But the decision itself may have a limited impact because the administration has announced new tariffs last week that were based on other national security laws.

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Last month, Trump administration lawyers asked the Supreme Court to rule during the upcoming term on the birthright citizenship promised by the 14th Amendment of 1868.

They did not seek a fast-track ruling, however. Instead, they said the court should grant review and hear arguments on the regular schedule early next year. If so, a decision would be handed down by late June.

The amendment says: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States."

And in the past, both Congress and the Supreme Court have agreed that rule applies broadly to all children who are born here, except if their parents are foreign ambassadors or diplomats who are not subject to U.S. laws.

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But Trump Solicitor Gen. D. John Sauer said that interpretation is mistaken. He said the post-Civil War amendment was "adopted to grant citizenship to freed slaves and their children, not to the children of illegal aliens, birth tourists and temporary visitors."

Judges in three regions of the country have rejected Trump's limits on the citizenship rule and blocked it from taking effect nationwide while the litigation continues.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Two teenagers from Rhode Island accused of lighting a Boston police cruiser on fire alongside more than 100 people  in what officials suspect was a string of attacks on police cars on Sunday  appeared in court Monday.

Julian Bowers, 18, of Cumberland, Rhode Island, and William Cantwell, 19, of Warwick, Rhode Island are charged with malicious destruction of property over $1,200, disorderly conduct, assault and battery on a police officer and resisting arrest.

Cantwell was also charged with possession of Class D, marijuana, after police searched his bag and found two packages of cannibis edibles, according to the release.

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The two young men appeared side by side in Roxbury District Court for their arraignments on Monday afternoon. Prosecutors requested a $20,000 cash bail for Cantwell, along with GPS monitoring and a curfew. They requested a $15,000 bail for Bowers, with the same conditions.

The judge listened to a short statement of facts on the case, where prosecutors described how a Boston police officer was inside their cruiser when it was hit with fireworks from all angles and filled with smoke.

... A strong message from criminal justice system is needed, the prosecutor said. The prosecutor added that as both men are from Rhode Island, they have a lack of ties to the community, which contributes to their criminal activity and disregard to local government and city residents.

Cantwell  who also faces charges from an unrelated incident out of Rhode Island  wore a black sweatshirt with a white floral pattern, while Bowers was in a white tank top.

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The young men whispered and looked at each other throughout the proceedings, tossing their heads back at certain points and gesturing with their hands. They did not speak on the record, other than greeting the judge.

Bowers was ordered held on a $500 cash bail, while Cantwell was ordered a $1,000 cash bail. Each were also ordered to sign a waiver of extradition and advised to stay out of Boston except during their criminal proceedings.

The teens charges are in connection with an incident at 2:12 a.m. on Sunday, when police said more than 100 people gathered at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Tremont Street.

They were participating in whats known as a vehicle takeover, police said, which involves a coordinated effort of shutting down streets with personal vehicles and barriers for doughnuts and street racing.

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When officers arrived to break up the crowd, several people started to throw fireworks, cones, poles and other objects at police cruisers.

A Boston police cruiser caught fire after it was surrounded by the crowd, and several members of the crowd jumped on its hood, according to the release. This prevented the officer inside  who was driving in circles, attempting to get away from the crowd  from being able to see, prosecutors said in court.

The officer escaped their cruiser after it began to fill with sparks and smoke, and other officers jumped into help with tasers and unholstered guns, the prosecutor said.

Bowers was arrested after a foot chase from the scene, after police said he was seen throwing objects at the cruiser. Cantwell was also chased on foot by police after he was seen smashing an orange pole off the cruiser several times, police said.

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Boston police sent more units to the scene and were able to disperse the crowd using department-issued equipment. Boston firefighters extinguished the flaming cruiser, which was eventually destroyed.

The next court date for Cantwell and Bowers is Nov. 5.

The attack in Boston was one of several incidents that happened on Sunday in Boston and the surrounding communities. This included large-scale takeover events in both Randolph and Middleborough.

Police in Randolph were also met with a rowdy crowd of more than 100 people who struck cruisers with fists and other objects before setting off fireworks at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning, officials said.

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This was carried out by individuals who were concealing their faces with masks and videotaping themselves, police said. These individuals continued and sat on the hoods of the cruiser and lit fireworks off, placing the officer inside in extreme danger.

Boston officials were quick to denounce the takeover event on Sunday.

The outside individuals who came into our city to cause disorder and brought dangerous behavior here will be prosecuted, Mayor Michelle Wu said during a press conference at the Roslindale Parade. We are asking publics help for any information to be able to do that as quickly as possible.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said the takeover events are dangerous, intolerable assaults on our police officers and our neighborhoods.

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We and our law enforcement partners will do all we can to identify and hold accountable anyone involved. No one should think they can jeopardize public safety in such a brazen manner without consequences, Hayden said.

In April 2024, a large-scale takeover event on Commonwealth Avenue led to a 20-year-old man from West Boylston facing a slew of charges in connection with a drag race.

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About 200 Texas National Guard troops are set to deploy to Chicago on Monday night unless a judge blocks the order, a Pentagon official told Military Times.

Illinois officials sued the Trump administration Monday for its attempt to deploy hundreds of National Guard troops to Chicago for federal protection missions.

According to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, President Donald Trump has activated hundreds of Texas National Guard troops and federalized 300 Illinois National Guard troops for duty in Illinois despite the governors objections.

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Speaking at a press conference Monday, Pritzker said the troops are not needed in Chicago and labeled the order Trumps invasion. He said federal agents were shooting rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at protesters to incite residents and provide Trump the pretext to invoke the Insurrection Act.

There is no invasion here. There is no insurrection here.  The folks in the neighborhoods do not want armed troops marching in their streets, he said at the conference.

Multiple people have been arrested in recent days for ramming vehicles into DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents cars and blocking federal law enforcement officers.

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller called acts like these domestic terrorism.

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ICE officers should not have to live in fear of violence to do their jobs, he told CNN in an interview Monday.

Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling stressed Monday that law enforcement would continue to step in to protect federal officials when citizens break the law, such as when protesters box in ICE officers who are trying to do their jobs.

If you box them in domestically with vehicles, it is reasonable for them to believe that they are being ambushed and that this could end in a deadly situation, and its reasonable for them to use force based on those conditions. Do not box in any law enforcement officer, he said.

Snelling also responded to critics that said officers had either delayed or not deployed police to help federal officials in the city over the weekend, saying that 27 officers who were at the scene of a protest had been affected by chemical agents used by federal officers.

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He said that city police frequently work with federal officers to stop human trafficking, drug smuggling and gun violence, but they are not allowed to help with immigration enforcement due to a local law known as the Trust Act.

The Trust Act prohibits law enforcement in the state of Illinois from engaging in assisting federal agents when it comes to immigration enforcement. We abide by that law, he said.

Protesters have pointed to violent behavior from ICE officials, who have conducted overnight raids in Chicago apartments. One ICE agent shot and killed a Mexican immigrant last month in the Chicago suburb of Franklin Park after he dropped his kids off at daycare.

ICE initially said one officer was seriously injured during the deadly incident, but the Chicago Sun Times has reported the agent said his injuries were nothing major in body camera footage from local police.

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Texas Governor Greg Abbott wrote on X Sunday that he had fully authorized the President to call up 400 members of the Texas National Guard to ensure safety for federal officials.

The administration has teased deploying the National Guard to Chicago for several weeks to help with multiple missions. Last month, the president repeatedly said he would use the Guard to fight crime in the city.

Were going in. I didnt say when. Were going in, Trump said at the White House on Sept. 2.

Chicago is a hellhole right now, he added.

Chicago ranks 13th in total crime rates for American cities with populations of at least 250,000, with Memphis, Cleveland and St. Louis plagued with the highest total crime rates, according to FBI crime data.

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Even as Chicagos crime rates are down across the board this year, dozens of people were shot and at least seven people were killed in the city in a surge of violence over the Labor Day weekend.

Portland orders paused

A federal judge late Sunday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deploying any National Guard units to Oregon, after the administration made multiple attempts to mobilize troops there.

The president had ordered California National Guard troops to Portland on Sunday after the same judge blocked him from using Oregons National Guard the day before.

U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, granted a temporary restraining order sought by California and Oregon.

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How could bringing in federalized National Guard from California not be in direct contravention to the temporary restraining order I issued yesterday? she asked the federal governments attorney.

Stephen Miller called the ruling Legal insurrection on X.

The President is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, not an Oregon judge. Portland and Oregon law enforcement, at the direction of local leaders, have refused to aid ICE officers facing relentless terrorist assault and threats to life, he wrote.

The administrations stance conflicts with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noems comments about federalizing the Guard during the Biden administration.

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In February 2024, while governor of South Dakota, Noem posted on X that it would be a direct attack on states rights if the Biden administration federalized South Dakotas National Guard to stop them from performing duties at the U.S.-Mexico border.

If [Biden] is willing to do that, and to take away my authority as governor as commander in chief of those National Guard, boy, we do have a war on our hands, Noem told Fox News that same month.
By Olivia Le Poidevin, David Latona and Howard Goller

(Reuters) -Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg arrived in Greece to a cheering pro-Palestinian crowd on Monday after she and hundreds of other activists captured by Israel on the high seas were deported following an attempt to bring aid to Gaza.

Israel said it expelled 171 activists on Monday including Thunberg, bringing the total deported over so far to 341, out of 479 people it detained when it captured the flotilla attempting to break its naval blockade of Gaza.

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The Greek Foreign Ministry said 161 of the activists arrived on a flight to Athens on Monday, including Thunberg, 22. They included 27 Greeks, as well as citizens of nearly 20 other countries.

"Let me be very clear. There is a genocide going on," Thumberg told the crowd at the Athens airport referring to Israeli military action in Gaza.

"Our international systems are betraying Palestinians. They are not even able to prevent the worst war crimes from happening," she said. "What we aimed to do with the Global Sumud Flotilla was to step up when our governments failed to do their legal obligation."

The activists attempted to reach Gaza in scores of vessels to bring aid supplies and draw attention to the plight of Gaza, where most of the 2.2 million residents have been driven from their homes and the United Nations says hunger is rampant.

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Israel, which rejects accusations it is carrying out genocide in Gaza and says reports of hunger there are exaggerated, has dismissed the flotilla as a publicity stunt benefitting Hamas. It had previously detained Thunberg at sea in a similar attempt to breach the blockade in June.

Earlier, Swiss and Spanish activists from the flotilla said they were subjected to inhumane conditions during their detention by Israeli forces.

Israel's foreign ministry issued a statement, accompanied by photos of Thunberg at the airport, saying all participants' legal rights had been upheld and the only violence involved an activist who bit a female medic at Israel's Ketziot prison.

DEPORTED ACTIVISTS ALLEGE MISTREATMENT

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Among nine members of the flotilla who arrived home in Switzerland, some alleged sleep deprivation, lack of water and food, as well as some being beaten, kicked, and locked in a cage, the group representing them said in a statement.

An Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson rejected the allegations.

Spanish activists also alleged mistreatment on their arrival in Spain late on Sunday after being deported.

"They beat us, dragged us along the ground, blindfolded us, tied our hands and feet, put us in cages and insulted us," lawyer Rafael Borrego told reporters at Madrid's airport.

Swedish activists said on Saturday that Thunberg was shoved and forced to wear an Israeli flag during her detention, while others said they had clean food and water withheld and had their medication and belongings confiscated.

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After she arrived in Athens, Thunberg said she could "talk for a very, very long time about our mistreatment and abuses in our imprisonment, trust me, but that is not the story".

"What happened here was that Israel, while continuing to worsen and escalate their genocide and mass destruction with genocidal intent, attempting to erase an entire population, an entire nation in front of our very eyes, they once again violated international law by preventing humanitarian aid from getting into Gaza while people are being starved."

ISRAEL SAYS CLAIMS ARE COMPLETE LIES

Israel's foreign ministry has described widespread reports of detainees being mistreated after the flotilla was intercepted as "complete lies".

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A spokesperson told Reuters over the weekend that all detainees were given access to water, food, and restrooms, adding: "they were not denied access to legal counsel and all their legal rights were fully upheld".

On Sunday, the Swiss Embassy in Tel Aviv visited 10 Swiss nationals and said all were "in relatively good health, given the circumstances".

Former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, who was also on the flotilla, said there had been "mistreatment, but that was nothing compared to what the Palestinian people suffer every day".

(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin, David Latona, Alexander Cornwell and Howard GollerWriting by Charlie Devereux and Howard GollerEditing by Alexandra Hudson and Peter Graff)
A Starbucks in Salem, Oregon, in October 2025. (Photo by Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

If you get your coffee at Starbucks, you may want to ask for extra sugar. Thats because recent news about the companys tax avoidance schemes sure leaves a bitter taste.

The worlds largest coffee company has dodged taxes on about $1.3 billion in profits over the past decade through the clever use of a subsidiary in Switzerland, according to a report released earlier this year. These tax shenanigans, the authors explain, deprive governments of revenues to fund essential public services, including education, health care, infrastructure and support for vulnerable people and communities. That may be especially true in the case of Oregon, which reportedly has more Starbucks stores per capita than any other state in the nation.

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Which begs the question, how much is Starbucks paying (or avoiding) in Oregon income taxes? Unfortunately, that information is secret  at least for now. Its high time Oregon lawmakers ended this secrecy by requiring big corporations to disclose key tax information.

Starbucks is far from alone when it comes to tax avoidance. Tax avoidance refers to legal means by which corporations minimize their tax bills, as opposed to tax evasion, which refers to illegal means.

One way corporations are able to avoid taxes is through the use of tax loopholes and subsidies. And how do these tax loopholes come into being? They come into being as a result of corporations pressuring elected officials to create these loopholes by deploying their armies of lobbyists to Congress or state capitols, or by pouring money into elections. Over the past decades, the number of tax loopholes and subsidies has exploded. Today, Oregons tax code has 73 different flavors of tax expenditures, the official name for what are commonly referred to as tax breaks, tax loopholes, or tax subsidies.

Another way corporations avoid taxes is through the use of offshore tax havens. In the case of Starbucks, the company set up a subsidiary in Switzerland, a notorious tax haven offering very low tax rates to multinational corporations. Starbucks uses this Swiss subsidiary to buy its green coffee. The subsidiary then jacks up the price of those coffee beans when it sells them to other Starbucks subsidiaries, those that sell coffee to consumers all around the world. With this trick, Starbucks is able to shift a huge portion of its profits from where they were earned  including the Starbucks in your neighborhood  to Switzerland, where those profits largely escape taxation.

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Aggressive corporate tax avoidance helps explain why corporate income taxes have failed to keep up with corporate profits. From 1980 to 2024, national corporate profits have grown nearly twice as fast as corporate income tax payments to Oregon. Five decades ago, the corporate income tax accounted for 18.5% of all income taxes collected in Oregon. Today, the corporate share is down to about 10%.

While its pretty clear that corporate tax avoidance is common, most of the details are shrouded in secrecy. There is no public information as to how much big corporations pay in Oregon income taxes and how they arrive at that figure. No one knows for sure which corporations benefit from which tax breaks. And we can only guess which hugely profitable multinational corporations pay Oregons meager corporate minimum tax.

That is why enacting corporate tax transparency is a crucial step for increasing accountability and fairness in Oregons tax system. Transparency means requiring corporations to make certain basic information public, including their total sales in Oregon, the income taxes they paid, and the tax breaks they used.

Transparency is right for Oregonians. Enacting it would allow us to understand what, if any, benefit working families get in return for all the corporate tax breaks on the books. It would discourage corporate tax avoidance, as some companies would want to avoid bad publicity. At the very least, it would allow Oregonians to vote with their dollars, choosing to do business with corporations they view as supporting the common good.

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Finally, tax transparency would give policymakers and the public information to assess whether, as corporations like to argue, their taxes are too high or whether a particular change in tax policy would hurt their bottom line.

Corporate tax avoidance and its bitter aftertaste are the house blend right now. Its time for a long-overdue cup of transparency.
Seventeen people died in the Netherlands on Oct. 6, 1981, after a passenger jet flew into a cluster of thunderstorms and encountered a tornado.

The incident is perhaps the only known instance of a commercial flight crashing as a direct result of a twister.

DON'T MISS: Six annoying ways weather forces airlines to cancel your flight

NLM CityHopper Flight 431 took off into stormy skies over Rotterdam, the Netherlands, late on a Tuesday afternoon. The flight had a stopover in the nearby city of Eindhoven before heading off to its destination in Hamburg, Germany.

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A weather briefing about half an hour earlier had alerted the crew to heavy thunderstorms along their flight path south of the airport.

The aircraft violently shook upon entering a thunderstorm eight minutes after departure, according to a report prepared by officials in the wake of the crash.

Flight 431 Crash Site

Instrumentation measured a sharp pressure change as the plane unknowingly flew directly into a tornado within the larger storm. This resulted in large positive and negative loads occurring in quick succession, the report read.

Aircraft are built to withstand a significant amount of turbulence. But the forces involved in the tornado were too great for the airframe to handle.

RELATED: Microbursts can turn a gentle storm into a harrowing ordeal

The planes right wing bent, crumpled, and snapped off mid-flight. Flight 431 crashed near the town of Moerdijk, just south of Rotterdam, killing everyone on board. Crews reportedly found the broken wing 3 kilometres from the crash site.

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Thunderstorms have contributed to dozens of high-profile airliner crashes over the years, though the 1981 incident in the Netherlands is the only known crash directly involving a tornado.

Most thunderstorm-related crashes are due to microbursts, which are strong gusts of wind that push downward out of the base of a thunderstorm.

These winds are a major hazard during takeoff and landing. Airports and airplanes both now have robust safety features to protect against the threat of microbursts.

Header image created using graphics and imagery from Canva.

WATCH: Five annoying ways weather forces airlines to cancel your flight

Click here to view the video
OTTAWA COUNTY, Okla.  A Texas truck driver is charged with manslaughter in the death of an Oklahoma Turnpike Authority worker.

David Carlson, 50, of Whitesboro, Texas, was charged last month with one count of first-degree manslaughter in Ottawa County. Court records show that he is being held in the Ottawa County jail on $50,000 bail.

Carlson appeared in Ottawa County Court on Friday (Oct. 3) and was ordered to return to court with an attorney on Nov. 5.

David Carlson  Ottawa County Sheriff

Hes accused of killing OTA worker Zachary Rhinehart, 36, of Vinita on August 18. Rhinehart was stopped on the side of the Will Rogers Turnpike, picking up trash and debris. Thats when court records say Carlsons semi truck veered off the road, striking the back of Rhineharts truck, pushing it into Rhinehart.

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PREVIOUS: Fatal crash on I-44: Oklahoma volunteer firefighter killed

Oklahoma troopers say that when the crash first happened, Carlson told them he had dropped his cell phone and was reaching for it when he veered off the road. After reviewing video evidence from several sources, the OHP now believes Carlson was watching a television show and was distracted at the time of the crash.

Another OTA worker sitting in the truck at the time, Colton Armstrong, was critically injured, according to the OHP.

PREVIOUS: Fallen OTA worker receives heros escort home in Vinita

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
A federal judge late Sunday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deploying any National Guard units to Oregon, after a legal whirlwind that began hours earlier when the president mobilized California troops for Portland after the same judge blocked him from using Oregon's National Guard the day before.



During a hastily called telephone hearing, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut granted a temporary restraining order sought by California and Oregon.



A day earlier, the same judge temporarily blocked the administration from deploying Oregon National Guard troops to Portland. But on Sunday, the president moved to send National Guard troops to the state from neighboring California and then from Texas.



Immergut, who was appointed by President Trump during his first term, issued her second, more sweeping order late Sunday after she upbraided the federal government's attorney and questioned how the move to send the California and Texas troops to Oregon was not "in direct contravention of the order that was issued yesterday."



The White House didn't immediately comment on the judge's decision.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday issued an administrative stay of the Oregon federal judge's lower court order that blocked Mr. Trump's federalization of the Oregon National Guard. Immergut's order blocking the deployment of federalized troops was still in effect, however, because that order has not been appealed.

"In the circumstances here, granting an administrative stay will best preserve the status quo," the 9th Circuit said Wednesday. "Prior to the October 4 temporary restraining order, Oregon National Guard members had been federalized but not deployed. The Memorandum authorized federalization of the Oregon National Guard members. An administrative stay of the October 4 temporary restraining order will maintain the federalization of Oregon National Guard members, because that order prohibits implementation of the Memorandum. Additionally, the second temporary restraining order has not been challenged or appealed, and it prohibits the deployment of National Guard members in Oregon. Thus, the effect of granting an administrative stay preserves the status quo in which National Guard members have been federalized but not deployed."



Small protests have been going on nightly outside Portland's immigration processing facility since Mr. Trump's second term began in January. There have been occasional flare-ups, including in June, but for weeks the demonstrations attracted only a few dozen people  until the Trump administration mobilized the Oregon National Guard on Sept. 28 against Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek's wishes.

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A small number of demonstrators gathered Sunday evening cheered when they learned about the judge's order.

Immergut issued Saturday's order pending further arguments in a lawsuit brought by the state and city. She said the relatively small protests didn't justify the use of federalized forces and allowing the deployment could harm Oregon's state sovereignty.

Her Saturday ruling came after Mr. Trump called the city "war-ravaged." Oregon officials and Portland residents alike said that description was ludicrous.

A Pentagon spokesperson said in a statement that about 200 federalized members of the California National Guard who had been on duty around Los Angeles were being reassigned to Portland. Kotek said about 100 arrived Saturday and around 100 more were en route Sunday.



The two states originally requested a narrower order that would have blocked only California National Guard troops from being sent to Oregon, but asked for the order to apply to all National Guard troops after a memo written by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was submitted to the court that said up to 400 Texas National Guard personnel were being activated for deployment to Oregon, Illinois and possibly elsewhere.



Immergut grilled lawyers for the federal government, accusing them of seeking an end run around her Saturday order blocking the deployment of National Guard troops in Oregon.



"How could bringing in federalized National Guard from California not be in direct contravention of the TRO I issued yesterday?" she said Sunday.



Immergut told one federal government attorney that he was "missing the point" because conditions on the ground in Oregon hadn't changed and she saw no legal basis and need for the military to assist local law enforcement.



Lawyers for the federal government tried to argue that Oregon and Portland didn't have standing and that California could show no harm by having some of its National Guard dispatched to another state.



Scott Kennedy, the attorney representing Oregon, said he learned of the Texas National Guard mobilization just 24 minutes before the emergency hearing on Sunday night. "It feels a little bit like we're playing a game of rhetorical whack-a-mole here," he told Immergut.



Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a post on X Sunday night that he'd authorized the call-up of guard troops from his state. "You can either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let Texas Guard do it," he wrote.



The events in Oregon come a day after Illinois' governor made a similar announcement about troops in his state being activated.



Kotek said the latest move by federal officials is an attempt to circumvent Saturday's court ruling that blocked deployment of Oregon's guard members.



"The facts on the ground in Oregon haven't changed," Kotek said during a news conference Sunday. "There's no need for military intervention in Oregon. There's no insurrection in Portland, there's no threat to national security."



California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said in a statement that personnel from his state were on their way Sunday and called the deployment "a breathtaking abuse of the law and power." He said these troops were "federalized" and put under the president's control months ago over his objections, in response to unrest in Los Angeles.



"The commander-in-chief is using the U.S. military as a political weapon against American citizens," Newsom said. In a post on X, he said California would sue to try to stop the deployment.

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After Immergut's late Sunday ruling, Newsom said on X, "We just won in court  again. ... Trump's abuse of power won't stand."



In a related court filing, an attorney in the California Military Department said the U.S. Army Northern Command advised the department on Sunday that an order will be issued keeping the 300 guard personnel federalized through the end of January.



California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Mr. Trump's move to deploy the National Guard of one state to another "is well outside of the norms or practices" of any president.



"But this President is determined to take as much power as the courts will give him. This fight isn't over, but today's rebuke of the president's illegal actions is a step in the right direction," Bonta said in a statement after Sunday night's ruling.



Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said Sunday that he saw federal agents engaged in what he described as unjustified use of force and indiscriminately spraying pepper spray and impact munitions during a protest outside the ICE facility.



"This is an aggressive approach trying to inflame the situation that has otherwise been peaceful," Wilson said.



Portland has alerted the civil rights division of the Department of Justice to the agents' actions, Wilson said.



Mr. Trump has characterized both Portland and Chicago as cities rife with crime and unrest. Since the start of his second term, he has sent or talked about sending troops to 10 cities.

Last month, Mr. Trump signed a presidential memorandum mobilizing federal law enforcement agents to Memphis, Tennessee, at the request of the Tennessee governor.

Federal agents, including members of the Department of Homeland Security, the Border Patrol, and police, attempt to keep protesters back outside a downtown U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility on Oct. 4, 2025, in Portland, Oregon. / Credit: Spencer Platt / Getty Images

National Guard troops also deployed to Illinois

The president has also ordered National Guard members from Texas to be deployed to Illinois, Gov. JB Pritzker said Sunday evening.

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In a post on X, Pritzker said 400 members of the Texas National Guard will be deployed to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the U.S.

"No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate. We must now start calling this what it is: Trump's Invasion. It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another state's military troops," Pritzker said, calling Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to immediately withdraw any support for and to refuse to coordinate.

In response, Abbott said he "fully authorized" the deployment of his state's troops "to ensure safety for federal officials."

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Reporter's Notebook: Sending the National Guard into American cities
The ongoing battle between the Trump administration and Democrat-led cities intensified this weekend, with the White House announcing authorization for hundreds of National Guard members to be sent to Chicago and a federal judge in Oregon hitting pause on the presidents plan to deploy federal troops in Portland.

Those developments came against the backdrop of continuing protests in Chicago and Portland against federal law enforcement carrying out President Donald Trumps sweeping immigration enforcement agenda.

Trump and his administration have framed demonstrations in the two cities as violent protests carried out by domestic terrorists, arguing that military deployments are necessary to protect federal immigration personnel and property  despite state and city leaders insistence that the protests have been largely peaceful and any violence has been easily dealt with by local law enforcement.

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Tensions spiked in Chicago on Saturday when a US Customs and Border Protection agent stepped out of his vehicle and shot five times at a woman in another vehicle, according to a charging complaint. The woman  a US citizen, according to the Department of Homeland Security  had rammed her car into a federal law enforcement vehicle, the complaint claims. DHS said the woman is in FBI custody after being discharged from the hospital, and she and another person are now facing federal criminal charges in connection with the incident.

Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin previously said law enforcement was forced to deploy their weapons and fire defensive shots at the woman. No law enforcement officers were seriously injured in the incident, she said.

Video from Friday protests in Chicago and Portland showed heavily armed officers in military-style gear, many of them masked, using tear gas and other deterrents against protesters. In Brighton Park on the southwest side of Chicago Friday, protesters screamed, ran, and tried to shield themselves from tear gas, footage from Reuters shows. This is Brighton Park, this is not a war zone, one woman, visibly distressed, told a journalist.

Masked US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stand behind a police line as residents of Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood confront law enforcement Saturday. - Octavio Jones/AFP/Getty Images

A woman is treated for exposure to tear gas after it was used by federal law enforcement agents in Brighton Park, on the southwest side of Chicago, on Saturday. - Scott Olson/Getty Images

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker accused Trumps administration of escalating tensions and provoking people to react.

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Theyre raiding neighborhoods where, instead of going after the bad guys, theyre just picking up people who are brown and Black and then checking their credentials, Pritzker said on CNNs State of the Union.

They need to get out of Chicago if theyre not going to focus on the worst of the worst, which is what the president said they were going to do, Pritzker said. They need to get the heck out.

Heres the latest:

Illinois governor says he was told to call up your troops or we will

On Saturday, the White House announced the president had authorized 300 members of the Illinois National Guard to protect federal officers and assets in Chicago, a move Trump has been promising for weeks. Its a strategy he first deployed to quell anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles in June  the first time a president had federalized National Guard troops against the wishes of a states governor in over half a century.

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Amidst ongoing violent riots and lawlessness, that local leaders like (Illinois Gov. JB) Pritzker have refused to step in to quell, President Trump has authorized 300 national guardsmen to protect federal officers and assets, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told CNN. President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities.

Hours before the announcement, the Illinois governor said he was dealt an ultimatum.

This morning, the Trump Administrations Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will, Pritzker said on X Saturday. It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to demand a Governor send military troops within our own borders and against our will.

They want mayhem on the ground, Pritzker told CNNs Jake Tapper on Sunday. They want to create the war zone so that they can send in even more troops, he said, referencing last weeks massive ICE raid at a Chicago apartment complex that shattered windows and detained dozens of people overnight.

Debris and personal items belonging to Venezuelan immigrants sit in the hallway of an apartment complex in Chicago on October 2, after an ICE raid days earlier. - Jim Vondruska/Reuters

Now theyre claiming they need 300 of Illinois National Guard. Well, we didnt need them before they showed up, the governor said.

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Tensions around anti-ICE protests in Chicago escalated earlier in the day after a CBP agent shot a driver. Tricia McLaughlin, DHS assistant secretary, described the shots as defensive and claimed the woman was armed with a semi automatic weapon, although the complaint doesnt mention that the woman was armed or used a weapon.

Agents were unable to move their vehicles and exited the car. One of the drivers who rammed the law enforcement vehicle was armed with a semi-automatic weapon, McLaughlin said in a post. Law enforcement was forced to deploy their weapons and fire defensive shots at an armed US citizen who drove herself to the hospital to get care for wounds.

On Sunday, Pritzker told CNN the Trump administration is releasing information before local officials have had a chance to assess.

What happens in these sorts of incidents is typically, ICE puts out a press release before anybody else can speak with the press and then it gets reported on social media and elsewhere, Pritzker said on State of the Union. They are just putting out their propaganda, and then weve got to later determine what actually happened.

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DHS later identified the woman as 30-year-old Marimar Martinez and said she is in FBI custody after being discharged from the hospital. The complaint says she was treated for a gunshot wound. Martinez was named in an intelligence bulletin last week for doxing agents and posting online, McLaughlin said.

Another person, Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz, 21, was involved in the ramming and is in law enforcement custody, DHS said. The two are facing federal charges related to Saturdays incident, authorities said Sunday in a news release.

Court documents say the two forcibly assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, and interfered with an officer of the United States.

CNN is working to determine legal representation for Martinez and Ruiz.

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The National Lawyers Guild Chicago, which sends legal observers to protests, says they witnessed many violent attacks by federal law enforcement on the community at protests over the weekend, both in Brighton Park and at the controversial Broadview Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility near Chicago.

The nonprofit legal group condemned the use of police violence and criminal charges, whether federal, state or local, to suppress the righteous dissent of the people.

The Cook County Sheriffs Office said no arrests had been made as of 10 a.m. on Sunday after six were arrested on Saturday in connection with protests in Broadview around the facility being used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

No danger of rebellion in Portland, judge finds

Federal agents, including members of the Department of Homeland Security, the Border Patrol, and police, attempt to keep protesters back outside a downtown US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday. - Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Three hundred California National Guard members are on their way to Oregon on President Trumps orders after a judge blocked his deployment of federal troops to Portland, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Sunday.

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The California governor is planning to sue over the deployment, Newsom said in a statement.

This is a breathtaking abuse of the law and power, Newsom said.

The state of Oregon likewise plans to return to court to challenge the deployment, the states attorney general said Sunday.

District Judge Karin Immergut had granted a temporary restraining order Saturday blocking Trump from sending the National Guard to Portland, ruling that city and Oregon officials are likely to succeed on their claim that the President exceeded his constitutional authority and violated the Tenth Amendment in ordering the deployment.

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Immergut  a Trump appointee  said the president appeared to have federalized the Oregon National Guard absent constitutional authority and that protests in Portland did not pose a danger of a rebellion. The judge said Oregon attorneys showed substantial evidence that the protests at the Portland ICE facility were not significantly violent leading up to the presidents directive.

The Trump administration swiftly filed a notice that it will appeal the ruling to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Protesters head toward a downtown US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday. - Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The judge did note that recent incidents cited by the Trump administration of protesters clashing with federal officers are inexcusable, but said they are nowhere near the type of incidents that cannot be handled by regular law enforcement forces.

Immergut warned some of the arguments offered by the Trump administration risk blurring the line between civil and military federal power  to the detriment of this nation.

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Roughly 200 National Guard troops were undergoing training in preparation for a potential deployment to Portland, a US Northern Command spokesperson told CNN Friday. The new ruling places the National Guard back under the command of Gov. Tina Kotek for now, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said.

The temporary restraining order expires in 14 days, but the state plans to request an extension, Rayfield said. CNN reached out to the governors office for details on any changes to the Oregon National Guards status.

Amid the legal victory for state leaders, crowds of protesters continued to gather late into the night Saturday outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in South Portland.

Demonstrators both for and against the National Guard deployment rallied outside the building, according to CNN affiliate KATU, whose crews reported seeing federal agents deploying multiple rounds of pepper balls, flash bangs and tear gas to clear streets.

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Portlands police department said its officers did not see any crimes against people or property during Saturdays demonstration and that they made no arrests and did not use munitions. The department referred CNNs questions regarding reports of law enforcements use of munitions to federal authorities.

CNN reached out to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security for further information.

CNNs Whitney Wild contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
By Leah Douglas and Bo Erickson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Trump administration is expected to announce a plan as soon as Tuesday to bail out U.S. farmers stung by trade disputes and big harvests, with the initial outlay potentially totaling up to $15 billion, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The plan, however, could be difficult to roll out as an ongoing government shutdown prevents the kind of Congressional action needed to approve such a large payout, and existing government reserves fall short, the sources said.

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Farmers generally support President Donald Trump but have pressed his administration for trade deals as China continues to spurn U.S. soybean purchases amid tit-for-tat tariffs, and a record corn harvest threatens to sink farmer profits.

Republican lawmakers have warned farmers face "financial calamity" if they do not receive aid by the end of the year. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last week that the White House would announce aid for farmers on Tuesday.

Three sources told Reuters they expected the administration to announce the package this week.

One of those sources said the bailout would total somewhere between $10 billion and $15 billion, and would be a necessary bridge to get farmers through the harvest months and could be followed by additional aid.

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The funds would go to soybean farmers affected by the China trade spat, as well as other types of commodity farmers, though the exact details were not yet determined, that source said.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesperson said farmers are benefiting from lower taxes, trade deals and updates to farm programs included in Trump's July tax-cut and spending bill.

"President Trump has made it clear he will not leave farmers behind, so USDA will continue to assess the farm economy and explore the need for further assistance, however, there is nothing new to share at this time," the spokesperson said.

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett on Monday said the White House had held several meetings on farmer aid in the past two weeks.

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"We're taking big measures and those big measures are going to be public really, really soon," he said on CNBC.

SHUTDOWN COMPLICATES AID PLAN

Trump has said repeatedly that the administration will use tariff income to pay for farmer aid. But such direct payments to farmers are statutorily capped at $350 million, a fraction of the sum being discussed, and can only be adjusted by Congress.

That adjustment is difficult to achieve while the federal government is shut down, two of the sources said.

Another option is to draw down funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation, a financing mechanism at the USDA that is typically refilled each year in autumn, but has not been refilled because of the shutdown, said Jonathan Coppess, associate professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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During Trump's first term, he used the CCC to pay farmers more than $23 billion in trade aid, about a $3 billion overpayment, according to the Government Accountability Office.

The remaining funds currently in the CCC are likely insufficient to pay for the package being discussed, Coppess said.

Farmers are already set to receive near-record government payments of more than $40 billion this year, fueled by disaster and economic aid passed by Congress last year.

(Reporting by Leah Douglas and Bo Erickson in Washington; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
President Donald Trump posted his first TikTok since the 2024 election.

Trump said that he "saved" TikTok, though he once pushed for its ban.

The White House approved a group of US buyers to purchase the app, though the deal isn't complete.

President Donald Trump says TikTok users owe him "big."

In his first TikTok post since the 2024 election, Trump said that he "saved" the popular short-form video platform, though the deal has not yet been finalized.

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"To all of those young people of TikTok, I saved TikTok, so you owe me big," Trump said in a video filmed in the Oval Office. "And now, you're looking at me in the Oval Office, and someday one of you is going to be sitting right at this desk, and you're going to be doing a great job also."

Last week, Trump signed an executive order approving a US group of buyers for a deal valued at around $14 billion. Trump said Oracle and its CEO, Larry Ellison, will be part of the deal. Analysts had previously estimated that TikTok was worth significantly more. China and TikTok have yet to comment on where things stand.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Oracle would "audit" TikTok's algorithm and oversee its retraining. Control of the algorithm has long been a major sticking point in any sale. China previously enacted export controls that prohibited such transfers without government approval.

Trump has repeatedly said that his stance on TikTok helped him improve his standing among young voters. His first videos featured UFC CEO Dana White and Jake Paul. It was a major shift from Trump's first administration, which helped lead the push to ban the app, citing national security concerns.

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During the 2024 campaign, Trump flipped his stance just as a bipartisan bill to effectively ban the app neared passage. Then-President Joe Biden later signed that bill into law, but punted on enforcing it during his final days in the White House.

TikTok briefly went offline on January 18. Trump then issued the first of a series of executive orders delaying the law's requirements, even though the law never provided the president with the power to keep issuing extensions.

Read the original article on Business Insider
President Donald Trump spoke Monday with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, their first substantive conversation since the U.S. imposed 50 percent tariffs on Brazilian goods this summer and a sign that the White House may be looking to de-escalate tensions.

Trump, in a post on Truth Social, described it as a very good telephone call, that covered the economy and trade, among other subjects.

We will be having further discussions, and will get together in the not too distant future, both in Brazil and the United States, Trump said. I enjoyed the call  Our Countries will do very well together!

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The two spoke for 30 minutes via videoconference, discussed meeting in person and exchanged phone numbers, according to a readout from Lulas office. Finance Minister Fernando Haddad, who addressed Brazilian media after the call, characterized it as positive.

The effort to mend fences comes after a friendly but brief conversation nearly two weeks ago backstage at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

At least for about 39 seconds, we had excellent chemistry, Trump said of the September meeting.

The Trump administration levied tariffs and sanctions on Brazil, in retaliation for what Trump saw as unfair treatment of far-right former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. It had little effect on Bolsonaros trial. The former president was convicted and sentenced to 27 years in prison last month in connection with a 2023 insurrection attempt against Lulas government.

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Trump, whose aides worked hard to derail Bolsonaros trial, sees Brazils former leader as a staunch political ally and has likened his prosecution to what he faced after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection in Washington. Lula, in response, criticized Trump for efforts to intervene in his countrys domestic affairs, something most leaders traditionally have avoided.

For months, Brazilian officials lacked a direct contact in the White House and were left reading between the lines of social media posts from Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to divine the U.S.s next steps. They have also at times been confused by the U.S.s rhetoric, with Rubio ramping up attacks on Brazil as Trump himself appeared to be deescalating the situation.

Following Bolsonaros sentencing, the U.S. revoked visas for six additional Brazilian judicial officials and the Treasury department imposed sanctions on the wife of Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who was sanctioned by the U.S. in July. While still an unwelcome move by Brazil, it was a far more targeted reaction than many officials in Brasilia feared.

The relatively muted moves from the U.S. in recent weeks have had Brazilian officials questioning to what extent Trump is personally invested in Brazil and Bolsonaro, who the U.S. president has called a friend, or whether he is being egged on by advisers like Jason Miller and Steve Bannon. Trump only weighed in on Bolsonaros trial after a gathering of so-called BRICS nations, a coalition of emerging economies that has long drawn Trumps ire, in Rio de Janeiro in July.

Even as relations appear to be warming, Trumps appointment of Rubio to lead conversations with Brazil could prove problematic for those hoping for a rapprochement. While Bolsonaro allies initially appealed to Trump to champion their cause, they have since turned to Rubio as he carves out an increasingly hawkish profile in Latin America.
President Donald Trump is willing to attend a summit of Southeast Asian leaders in Malaysia later this month  as long as he gets to showcase his regional peacemaking efforts.

The White House is conditioning Trumps attendance at the Oct. 26-28 ASEAN meeting on the Malaysian government agreeing to allow Trump to preside over a ceremonial signing of a peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand on the summit sidelines, according to three people familiar with those plans who were granted anonymity due the sensitivity of the topic.

Its the kind of high-profile event that would give Trump  who has claimed he played a decisive role in ending a deadly five day cross-border conflict between the two countries in July  an international platform to trumpet his bona fides as peacemaker-in-chief.

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The White House has also specifically requested that summit organizers exclude Chinese officials from the ceremonial event, the people said. Keeping China out would help ensure the spotlight stays on Trump, while also downplaying Beijings efforts to mediate between Bangkok and Phnom Penh.

The White House denied that Trump was hinging his presence at the summit on a peace deal ceremony.

The president is negotiating this peace agreement, but this was not identified as a condition to attend the summit, said a senior administration official granted anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic.

But the White House also said that China wasn't relevant to the ongoing peace negotiations.

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The president negotiated this [peace] deal.  China hasn't played a role in these negotiations, the administration official added.

The Chinese embassy didn't respond to a request for comment.

Talks are ongoing, but the Malaysian government is in a difficult position, said one of the three people familiar with summit plans.

For one, Malaysias Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has already said that Trumps participation was a done deal in July. Moreover, if he accedes to the request, Anwar runs the risk of appearing like he's appeasing an American president whos deeply unpopular in Malaysia.

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The Malaysian embassy didnt respond to a request for comment.

Trumps campaign to be recognized as an international peace broker has become a driver of U.S. foreign policy. Trump has repeatedly claimed to have ended seven un-endable wars, and more recently he played a key role in the latest peace agreement between Hamas and Israel last week. But his actual role in at least two of those conflicts doesnt support his peacemaking claims per an Associated Press analysis last month.

More broadly, Trump has made no secret of his desire to win a Nobel Peace Prize. And so foreign leaders seeking better ties with the White House have helped fuel that ambition. The government of Pakistan, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet have all nominated Trump for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. Trump said last month that it will be a big insult if someone other than him gets the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday.

Trumps demands put Malaysia in a bind. Anwar needs to avoid offending Trump as the Malaysian leader seeks a trade deal that he hopes will lower the current 19 percent U.S. tariffs on Malaysian imports. Analysts say those tariffs will pound electronics and furniture exports and cut annual economic growth by up to one percent over the coming year. But Kuala Lumpur doesnt want to insult Beijing  the countrys biggest trading partner and a major source of foreign investment  at a time when Trumps aggressive trade policy is sending ripples across the global economy.

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And Anwar may be leery of the optics of doing diplomatic favors for a U.S. leader whos widely disliked by the Malaysian public. Anwar has fought off political pressure to disinvite Trump over his support for Israel while public anger over U.S. backing for Israels Gaza offensive has sparked angry protests outside the U.S. embassy in the Malaysian capital.

Both Thai and Cambodian leaders credit Trump for helping to slam the brakes on the border dispute that killed dozens and displaced almost 300,000 civilians. White House intervention included calls to the leaders of both countries threatening steep tariffs if the fighting didnt stop. Trump has declared that pressure vital to getting the two sides to stop fighting. After the involvement of President Donald J. Trump, both Countries have reached a CEASEFIRE and PEACE... I am proud to be the President of PEACE!" Trump said on Truth Social after the two sides agreed to a ceasefire on July 28.

But the durability of that peace is uncertain. Thai and Cambodian forces briefly exchanged gunfire last month and Thailands refusal to reopen border crossings underscores a level of ongoing distrust between the two countries.

The Thai and Cambodian embassies didnt respond to requests for comment.

The Malaysians seem to think Trump will still show up if they can finalize the U.S.Malaysia trade deal, even without the CambodiaThailand piece, said one of the three people with knowledge of the situation. Though White House folks are still saying Malaysia is up in the air, both on account of the trade deal and the peace deal being soft.
(Reuters) -Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said on Sunday that President Donald Trump was "ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States."

In a social media post, Pritzker called on Texas Governor Greg Abbott to "immediately withdraw any support for this decision and refuse to coordinate."

(Reporting by Rami Ayyub)
By Phil Stewart and Leah Douglas

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump is reassigning about 200 federalized California National Guard troops from the Los Angeles area to Portland, Oregon, the Pentagon said on Sunday, even as the two states jointly sued in federal court to block the deployment.

In a ruling late on Saturday, a federal judge temporarily blocked Trump from deploying 200 Oregon National Guard troops to the city of Portland, citing a lack of evidence that recent protests necessitated the move.

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In a brief statement, the Pentagon said the troops would "support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal personnel performing official duties, including the enforcement of federal law, and to protect federal property."

National Guard troops are state-based militia forces that answer to their governors except when called into federal service.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said he would take the Trump administration to court, although the troops "are on their way there now." Late on Sunday, California joined an existing federal lawsuit filed by Oregon as they seek to block deployment of troops from both states.

"This is a breathtaking abuse of the law and power. The Trump Administration is unapologetically attacking the rule of law itself," Newsom said in a post on X, estimating that 300 troops would be sent.

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Contacted by Reuters to clarify the discrepancy between figures from the Pentagon and Newsom, a spokesperson for the California governor's office said 300 are being deployed to Portland with 200 already en route.

A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from using U.S. troops in California to fight crime on September 2, but that ruling is on hold while the administration appeals. As a result, the Guard troops headed to Oregon remain federalized and under Trump's command.

LOCAL OBJECTIONS

The Oregon deployment is the latest example of Trump's expanding use of the U.S. military in his second term, which has included deploying troops along the U.S. border and ordering them to kill suspected drug traffickers on boats off Venezuela.

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National Guard troops have been deployed to police Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and Trump has said he would send troops to several other cities, regardless of objections from local government officials.

Portland challenged Trump's efforts to federalize its National Guard, saying Trump was exaggerating the threat of protests against his immigration policies to justify illegally seizing control of state units.

The state argued that Trump's deployment violated several federal laws and the state's sovereign right to police its own citizens. After joining Oregon's lawsuit, California Attorney General Rob Bonta told reporters they were hoping for a court order as soon as Sunday evening.

Speaking to reporters at the White House earlier on Sunday, Trump repeated his characterization of Portland as a city overrun by lawlessness. "You have agitators, insurrectionists," he said.

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But U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, who was appointed by Trump during his first term, ruled on Saturday that although the president must be given "a great level of deference" in military decisions, Trump cannot ignore the facts on the ground.

Accepting Trump's legal arguments would mean that he could "send military troops virtually anywhere at any time" and "risk blurring the line between civil and military federal power - to the detriment of this nation," she added.

Trump said on Sunday he did not know which judge issued Saturday's ruling, but that was not "served well" by those who advised him to make the appointment in his first term. "That judge ought to be ashamed of himself," Trump said of Immergut, mistaking her gender.

The Trump administration on Sunday appealed Immergut's decision, arguing that the Supreme Court decided 200 years ago that Congress gave the decision on whether to call up National Guard troops to the president.

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On Saturday, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, said in a social media post that Trump was preparing to send 300 National Guard troops to Chicago over his objections.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Leah Douglas in Washington; additional reporting by Brad Brooks and Julia Harte; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Cynthia Osterman, Sergio Non and Richard Chang)
(The Center Square)  President Donald Trump is set to talk trade with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday during a working meeting in Washington D.C.

The two neighboring countries remain at odds over trade policy amid Trump's global effort to make the global economy better for U.S. businesses.

Carney will travel to Washington, D.C., on Monday evening ahead of a working visit and meeting with Trump on Tuesday.

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"Canada and the U.S. each launched consultations last month that will inform preparations for the first joint review of [Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement]," Carney's office said in a statement. "The Prime Minister's working visit will focus on shared priorities in a new economic and security relationship between Canada and the U.S."

Carney's office said the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement comprises the world's second-largest free trade region, jointly accounting for almost a third of gross domestic product, a measure of economic output. Carney's office also said Canada has the lowest average tariff rate of any American trading partner, with 85% of Canada's trade with the U.S. being tariff-free.

"I'm sure trade will be a topic of discussion tomorrow," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a news briefing on Monday at the White House.

The Aluminium Association of Canada told Canadian media outlets that it doesn't expect Carney to return from the meeting with a deal to lower aluminium tariffs.

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The group was frustrated by the 50% tariffs Trump slapped on all U.S. aluminium imports in June. The Aluminium Association of Canada called it a misguided measure that threatens the security of North America's integrated supply chain.

"A 50% tariff on Canadian aluminium will suppress demand across the continent  whether the metal is produced in Canada or the U.S.," Jean Simard, president and CEO of the Aluminium Association of Canada, said at the time. "It will impact workers on both sides of the border and disrupt key sectors including defense, construction and automotive."

The Aluminium Association of Canada said at a rate of $1,349.50 per metric ton, "the tariff effectively makes Canadian exports to the U.S. economically unviable."

"While Canada remains committed to serving its U.S. customers, the industry may be forced to diversify trade toward the European Union," the group noted in June.

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The Virginia-based Aluminum Association also said the U.S. tariffs are too high.

Aluminum Association President & CEO Charles Johnson wants relief from the high tariffs.

"Re-establishing a more level playing field for domestic producers is critical but a Section 232 tariff of 50% threatens to undermine the very industry the administration aims to support," Johnson said in a statement in June. "The Aluminum Association, which represents the full industry supply chain and 70% of domestic production, urges the administration to reconsider today's decision given the negative impact it will have on manufacturers."

The U.S.-based group said in August that it wants "relief from universal 50% aluminum tariffs and secure, reliable access to affordable primary and secondary metal that the industry needs to grow."

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Canadian politician Pierre Poilievre said he wanted to see progress.

"Hoping Prime Minister Carney will keep his promise and 'negotiate a win' with President Trump to end the U.S. tariffs in their Tuesday meeting," Poilievre wrote on X. "U.S. tariffs on Canada have doubled since Mr. Carney took office promising to 'negotiate a win' by July 21st. No word on where the Prime Minister's elbows have gone after he backed down again and again with nothing to show for it."
CAIRO, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said on Monday that securing a Gaza ceasefire, freeing captives and detainees, and launching a political process toward establishing a Palestinian state were steps in the right direction for lasting peace and stability.

In a televised speech marking the 52nd anniversary of Egypt's 1973 war with Israel, Sisi thanked the U.S. side for the latest ceasefire initiative after two years of conflict in Gaza.

His remarks came as a Hamas delegation, led by senior official Khalil al-Hayya, arrived in Egypt on Sunday for talks with Israel. Negotiations are expected to cover the terms of a ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and a prisoner exchange, Hamas said.

"Reconciliation, not confrontation, is the only way to build a secure future for our children," Sisi said. He added that Egypt's 1979 peace treaty with Israel was not just an agreement but a model of "just peace" that cemented stability.

Sisi reiterated that a lasting settlement in the Middle East requires the creation of an independent Palestinian state, saying peace imposed by force breeds resentment, while peace based on justice can lead to true normalization and coexistence. 
The Iranian Offshore Oil Company (IOOC) has reportedly entered into two agreements to acquire advanced offshore drilling rigs as part of efforts to boost production from oil and gas fields.

The agreements received approval from the Board of Directors of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).

They were signed under the special authority of the Oil Ministry, according to a report by Iran's Azad News Agency (ANA), citing IOOC CEO Ahmadreza Rasti.

Rasti noted that technical and engineering preparations have begun for the deployment of 350ft and 400ft drilling rigs.

These rigs are equipped with the latest technology and align with global safety standards, he added.

They are set to be deployed in Iran's offshore joint oil and gas fields in the Persian Gulf, as per a comprehensive deployment strategy.

Rasti told the ANA: This move will accelerate the development of joint oil and gas fields and significantly increase national oil and gas output."

Securing these rigs and providing specialised drilling services in line with the highest safety and technology standards will pave the way for sustainable offshore production growth and help realise Irans urgent production increase programme at sea, he added.

Meanwhile, the latest official data reveals that Iran has achieved a new seven-year high in oil and gas production. The countrys average crude oil production exceeded four million barrels (mbbl) per day in 2024, a level not reached in the past seven years, reported the Wana news agency.

This year, Iran's daily oil production increased by 247,000 barrels compared to the previous year, indicating a recovery in field capacity and enhanced production management by key national companies.

The National Iranian South Oil Company was a major contributor, responsible for nearly 75% of the total output, with more than 914mbbl of crude oil produced throughout the year.

In the gas sector, Irans total production soared to 1.11 trillion cubic metres, said to be equivalent to the yearly consumption of several medium-sized nations.

The Pars Oil and Gas Company led the way, producing 245.9 billion cubic metres.

"Irans IOOC signs two agreements for offshore drilling rigs " was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




A photograph can define an era. The Big Three  Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill  at Yalta in 1945 carving up post-war Europe. The Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin taking his first steps on the Moon in July 1969. The image of our time, encapsulating Britains descent into irrelevance, was taken at Number 10 Downing Street on September 8.

It shows Keir Starmer and Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, shaking hands. Two politicians, unsure of their place in the world, stare at the camera with uncertain smiles. One is accused of tolerating soaring anti-Semitism, a determination to reward Hamas for the October 7 terror attack and warmly hosting a Holocaust-minimiser. But enough about the prime minister. The other has been in power since January 2005, the 89-year-old doddering Brezhnev of the Levant.

Abbas has steadfastly refused to hold further elections. Instead he oversees a swamp of corruption, nepotism and human rights abuses, while he rambles offensive nonsense about why the Nazis killed the Jews. Whatever comes next after the Gaza war, it is clear that for now at least, the old two-state solution is dead. Yet Starmers government and the Foreign Office are incapable of breaking out of a moribund framework. They still believe that the path to peace somehow goes through Ramallah, the de-facto capital of Palestine, where Abbas has his headquarters.

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Ramallah and Abbas are irrelevant. What matters are the policies being crafted and the decisions being taken in Washington DC and New York. Specifically by President Trump, his son-in-law and special adviser Jared Kushner and his envoy Steve Witkoff, with significant input from Tony Blair. In recent weeks the White House has engaged in some of the most dynamic, ambitious and determined diplomacy the Middle East has ever seen.

The 20-point Gaza plan envisages a rebuilt, prosperous land, freed from Hamas and governed by an apolitical Palestinian committee supervised by a new Board of Peace, headed by President Trump, with the support of Tony Blair. Israel will withdraw, the hostages will be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners and Hamas will be disarmed. Hamas terrorists who surrender their weapons and commit to peaceful co-existence will be granted amnesty. A new International Stabilisation Force will oversee security inside Gaza. Remarkably, the Trump plan is supported not just by Israel, but also by Turkey, Egypt, the UAE, Jordan and Qatar. In short, all the regional powers.

Britain, however, has sidelined itself. Unfortunately Britain was at the United Nations recognising a non-existent Palestinian state, and not involved in the high-level substantive meetings between the US and regional partners that brought this deal together, says Victoria Coates of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think-tank close to the Trump administration.

There will be no role for the Palestinian Authority in the new arrangements until it completes a comprehensive reform programme and radical transformation. This includes creating modern, efficient and transparent governance that serves the Palestinian people rather than a clique of cronies, an end to the lawfare that pursues Israel through international courts and full recognition of Israel. Such ambitions are regarded as unlikely, to say the least, in Jerusalem if not Ramallah itself.

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The 2024 Annual Report by AMAN, a courageous Palestinian NGO, highlights the structural and endemic problems that blight Palestinian self-governance even as the West pours billions into its coffers. These include crony appointments to senior positions, restrictions on civil liberties and human rights, lack of transparency and corruption. In addition Mahmoud Abbas has repeatedly got into hot water for his rambling, incoherent Holocaust revisionism.

The Palestinians leader, long-part his sell-by date, will likely step down soon. In public President Trump was polite about Britains decision to follow France and other countries and recognise Palestine. In fact the administration was furious.

It was a bridge-burner with Washington DC. It was a very damaging move and a huge strategic mistake. It will foster a lack of trust in the British government, says Nile Gardiner, also at the Heritage Foundation. British foreign policy is now seen at the White House as driven by party political concerns: the fear of the British Muslim community and their woke progressive allies, whose votes are steadily eating into Labour majorities across the country. Recognising Palestine will do little to stop this process. The five pro-Gaza MPs will likely see their numbers increase by multiples in the next election.

Hamas is now considering its response to the Trump plan. President Trump has made it crystal clear that if it refuses these terms, Israel will have a free hand to pursue the remnants of the terrorist group. With Hamass allies and benefactors such as Qatar and Turkey backing the proposal it seems likely that diplomatic arm-twisting will result in acceptance. All this is a huge missed opportunity for Britain, which could have a lot to offer in stabilising Gaza. Britain sits on the UN Security Council. Britain was the mandatory power in Palestine until 1948. The Foreign Office has a powerful institutional memory. Perhaps Tony Blair will be able to draw on some of this.

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Yet under Labour Britain has marginalised itself into irrelevance. Not through accident or happenstance but as a deliberate policy choice, choosing empty virtue-signalling to its wavering voters rather than the tough work of crafting real-world compromises. Another photograph will also define this long moment in Middle East history, one of just two men: President Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu.

Adam LeBor is currently writing The Promised Land: The History of Modern Israel

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt snapped when asked if President Donald Trump was setting the stage for long-term military deployments to some of Americas biggest cities.

As Trumps plans to send National Guard troops to Chicago and Portland, Oregon, hang in legal limbo, Leavitt told reporters it was ridiculous for Democrats to be worried that the president could be looking to permanently install troops in Democrat-led cities.

Politics: I Am Crying!: AOC Cant Believe Fox Played Her Stephen Miller Takedown Right In His Face

Why should they be concerned about the federal government offering help to make their cities a safer place? she fumed. They should be concerned about ... the fact that people in their cities, right now, are being gunned down every single night, and the president, all hes trying to do is fix it.

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Leavitt continued, You guys are framing this like the president wants to take over American cities with the military. The president wants to help these local leaders who have been completely ineffective in securing their own cities.

Q: Do Democrats not have reason to be concerned that there are long-term plans by this administration to keep troops in American cities?



LEAVITT: Why should they be concerned about the federal govt offering help to make their cities a safer place? pic.twitter.com/wsMQfYW502  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 6, 2025

While Leavitt called the idea of a domestic U.S. military occupation rubbish, Democratic leaders are worried Trumps moves are signaling the start of exactly that.

In a Monday morning X post, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) warned that America is on the brink of martial law if Trumps plans to deploy the National Guard to Illinois are allowed to go through.

Politics: Government Shutdown Enters Week 2 As Democrats Spar With GOP Over Health Care: Live Updates

On Sunday, Illinois Democratic governor, JB Pritzker, accused Trump of turning troops into political props and urged Americans to speak up and help stop this madness.

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Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) tried to turn down the temperature in an official statement on Sunday, saying, Theres no insurrection in Portland. Theres no threat to national security. Oregon is our home. It is not a military target.

Political Updates

Read the original on HuffPost
The state of Illinois and the city of Chicago filed suit against the Trump administration on Monday, arguing that the Defense Department's deployment of both Illinois and Texas National Guard members to Chicago is unlawful and unconstitutional.

The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Illinois, comes after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth federalized 300 members of the Illinois National Guard on Saturday and an additional 400 troops from the state of Texas on Sunday. Both deployments are believed to be going to Chicago and are opposed by Illinois Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

"The Trump Administration's Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will," Pritzer wrote in a statement after learning of the Illinois guard deployment, calling the action "outrageous and un-American." "We must now start calling this what it is: [President Donald] Trump's Invasion," Pritzker wrote in response to the Texas National Guard's preparation for deployment to Illinois.

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Illinois' complaint closely resembles Oregon's lawsuit filed last week, asserting that the Trump administration's action does not meet the prerequisites necessaryincluding foreign invasion, domestic rebellion, and inability to execute federal lawto federalize the National Guard, violates the Posse Comitatus Act, and violates the 10th Amendment by "infring[ing] on Illinois's sovereignty and right to self-governance."

Illinois is also hoping for a similar outcome as Oregon's case. On Saturday, Judge Karin Immergut ruled in favor of the Beaver State, granting a temporary restraining order against the federalization of Oregon National Guard members and holding that plaintiffs were "likely to succeed on their claim that the President's federalization of the Oregon National Guard exceeded his statutory authority" and "that the President exceeded his constitutional authority and violated the Tenth Amendment." "Whether we choose to follow what the Constitution mandates," she continued, "goes to the heart of what it means to live under the rule of law in the United States."

Immergut issued an additional temporary restraining order on Sunday, blocking the federalization of any out-of-state National Guard members from deployment to Oregon.

Now, plaintiffs argue the same rationale articulated by Immergut should apply to circumstances in Illinois, where Trump has signaled interest in sending troops to "crime ridden" Chicago for weeks, despite Pritzker's insistence that no emergency exists. The animus between Trump and Illinois, Chicago, and its leaders, the complaint points out, has a long history, showing that the decision to deploy troops "was made long before recent events, and Trump's true plan is impermissibly to use federalized national guard as a crime-fighting force."

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Just last week, Trump called Pritzker "incompetent" and "stupid" in a speech in front of hundreds of generals and admirals gathered at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, where he proposed using large Democrat-run American citieslike Chicagoas "training grounds" for the military.

Immergut's ruling against the deployment of troops provides a check on Trump's authority over Oregon's affairs. Hopefully, the Illinois court will also initiate another strong check on the president's politically motivated power grab. "The brave men and women who serve in our national guards must not be used as political props," Pritzker wrote in a statement. "This is a moment where every American must speak up and help stop this madness."

The post Trump SuedAgainfor Unlawful and Unconstitutional Deployment of National Guard appeared first on Reason.com.
Donald Trumps administration is surging federal law enforcement across the country to cause chaos and create fear and confusion as a pretext for invoking the Insurrection Act, according to Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.

Donald Trump is using our service members as political props and as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize Americas cities, he said during a press conference Monday.

The Democratic governor, whose administration is suing the president over the deployment of National Guard troops to the state, argued that Trumps deranged depiction of Chicago as a hellhole and a warzone is just complete B.S.

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But Trumps threats to send National Guard troops to the city  following escalating violence from federal agents that includes using chemical agents against protesters and a military-style Border Patrol raid of a Chicago apartment building  suggest that the president has decided to declare war on a great American city, Pritzker said.

Administration officials, including Homeland Security Kristi Noem, have sought to consolidate Trumps power by deploying federalized troops into Democratic-led cities under a crisis of their own making, according to the governor.

Illinois JB Pritzker argues that the Trump administration is escalating violent responses to quell protests as pretext to invoke the Insurrection Acty (REUTERS)

That plan will only work if we let it, he said. The state of Illinois is going to use every lever at its disposal and get Noems thugs the hell out of Chicago.

The political feud between Trump and the governor has been boiling over into a potential constitutional crisis for weeks, but the president has targeted the city of Chicago for years.

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Trump has repeatedly mocked the governors physical appearance and labeled him a slob, but his feud with Chicago spans more than a decade, characterizing Americas third-largest city as the lawless embodiment of violent inner cities.

Last month, he falsely labeled Chicago the murder capital of the world, despite roughly 20 cities in the United States with higher murder rates.

Trump said he would invoke the Insurrection Act if it was necessary but so far it hasnt been necessary.

But we have an Insurrection Act for a reason, he told reporters at the White House Monday.

If I had to enact it, I didn't. I do that if people were being killed ... and courts were holding us up, or governors or mayors were holding us up, sure, I do that, he said. I mean, I want to make sure that people arent killed. We have to make sure that our cities are safe.

Federal law enforcement has surged into Chicago, where Border Patrol agents performed a military-style raid on an apartment building ahead of Trumps threats to deploy the National Guard into Americas third-largest city (REUTERS)

Trump has similarly surged federal law enforcement into several other Democratic-led states and cities, including Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., while Memphis is preparing to see troops on the ground within the coming days.

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Last month, a federal judge in California ordered the withdrawal of military personnel from the Los Angeles area, after the president deployed National Guard troops and Marines to create what the judge called a national police force with the president as its chief.

Lawsuits from officials in Oregon and Illinois have similarly argued that the president is illegally calling up National Guard troops to stir up unrest to justify the military and federal law enforcement occupation of American cities.

The lawsuits also argue that the president is violating the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which prohibits the military from enforcing domestic law, as well as Tenth Amendment protections ensuring that police authority rests with the states, not the federal government.

The federal judge overseeing the Illinois lawsuit asked the Trump administration to pause any potential deployments for at least two days until he can review the case and a response from the defendants.

Trump has not ruled out invoking the Insurrection Act to occupy cities but he says it hasn't been necessary so far (Getty Images)

The National Guard reserve forces are composed of 54 organizations, including one for each state as well as Washington, D.C. and three U.S. territories. Service members may be called to service by a states governor, or the president, to respond to emergencies, though they continue to operate under a states command, and laws such as the Posse Comitatus Act prohibit federal troops from enforcing domestic law.

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Invoking the Insurrection Act, however, would suspend the Posse Comitatus Act.

Without a governors consent, a president may invoke the act to fend off unlawful obstructions, combinations, or assemblages, or rebellion or to quell any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy if the administration determines that federal law enforcement has been obstructed.

The last time the Insurrection Act was invoked was in 1992, when then-President George H.W. Bush sent active-duty troops into Los Angeles after citywide unrest followed the acquittal of four white officers in the assault of Rodney King.

The law is intended to combat a crisis that is beyond the scope of civilian law enforcement; officials in cities that are challenging Trumps troop deployment have argued that state and local police are well-equipped to handle protests, and that the administrations characterization of American cities ripped apart by terrorism is dangerously false.

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The Insurrection Act does not impose martial law, which does not have an established definition under U.S. statute, though is generally understood as the federal takeover of local governments in an explicit breach of state sovereignty. There is no authority under any current law to do so.

There is no invasion here. There is no insurrection here, Pritzker said to open his remarks Monday.

American people, regardless of where they reside, should not live under threat of occupation from the United States military, said Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.

Trumps own statements targeting Pritzker and Chicago officials demonstrate this is not at all about an emergency, he added. This is a political targeting, utilizing our military.
By Julia Harte

(Reuters) -Chad Hill thinks some questions need to be asked about vaccines.

Hill has harbored doubts about the COVID-19 vaccine since it was introduced, due to how quickly it was developed and released. He suspects that medical experts who pushed the vaccine were compromised by ties to drugmakers. And he supported Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to fire a federal vaccine advisory panel.

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When it comes to childhood vaccinations, a mainstay of U.S. public health for decades, Hill's three teenage kids were unharmed by the shots that were required to attend school in their state of Ohio. But he is concerned that combined shots such as the measles-mumps-rubella immunization might be "too much" for young children and he worries about mercury in vaccines. He also takes seriously a friend who believes vaccines may have caused autism in his toddler.

A mercury-containing preservative that is used in some vaccines has not been used in childhood vaccines since 2001, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which also says research has not shown any link between the preservative and autism.

Despite his concerns about childhood vaccines, Hill would not support new restrictions on them while more research is conducted.

If there are people that want it, I think it should be available to them, said Hill, a supervisor at a nuclear power plant. While youre studying [vaccines], let [them] be available.

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Hill is one of 20 Americans who voted for President Donald Trump whom Reuters has interviewed since February. Nearly all 20 voters have doubts about the COVID-19 vaccine and many expressed concerns about vaccinations more broadly. Like Hill, they raised questions about conflicts of interest among those who set vaccine schedules and the amount of research done by the scientific community.

Still, each of these 20 Trump voters said they would only accept a certain amount of change before growing alarmed  and for each, that red line is in a slightly different place. Where Trump and Kennedy, a longtime critic of vaccines, ultimately land on healthcare policy remains to be seen. But dramatic changes to traditional vaccines would prompt pushback from these Trump voters, according to the interviews.

WHITE HOUSE SAYS TRUMP HAS COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN RFK JR

Trump led the initiative to speed COVID vaccine development in his first term. But he has supported Kennedy's leadership of the Health and Human Services Department so far, including the Food and Drug Administration's decision to narrow COVID shot approval for Americans under 65, Kennedy's firing of the vaccine advisory panel, and his claims linking autism to Tylenol and childhood vaccines. A recent poll found that only 1 in 4 Americans believe Kennedys recommendations are based on scientific evidence.

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More than 20 health groups and medical associations have called on Kennedy to resign, saying his "repeated efforts to undermine science and public health" put Americans at risk of needless suffering and death.

A White House spokesperson told Reuters that Trump maintains "complete confidence" in Kennedy and said the new vaccine advisory panel appointed by Kennedy had revised guidance about who should get the COVID vaccine but had not limited access to it. In September, the panel recommended that COVID shots for all Americans only be administered through shared decision-making with a healthcare provider.

An HHS spokesperson said the department was delivering "transparency, accountability, and the restoration of their decision-making power" to the American people.

For now, most of the 20 Trump voters interviewed by Reuters are cautiously supporting Kennedy. Herman Sims, 66, a grandfather of seven in Dallas, Texas, who recently got a COVID booster, said he supported Kennedys approach but trusted the Health Secretary to broaden access to the COVID vaccine again if cases spiked.

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"I do feel that if a pandemic or an outbreak does occur, he's going to change all of that back, Sims said.

ENDING VACCINE MANDATES WOULD BE 'KIND OF SCARY'

Many voters in the group said they had never taken the COVID vaccine, with a few even saying, contrary to scientific consensus, they believed it had caused more harm than good. COVID vaccines in the first year of their use saved some 14.4 million lives globally, according to a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal.

Even among COVID vaccine-skeptical voters, however, many feared that limiting traditional childhood vaccines could hurt public health.

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Nobody in Loretta Torres family has been vaccinated for COVID but she said her three young boys have gotten all the recommended childhood immunizations. Torres, who lives near Houston, Texas, wants parents to have some ability to delay or abstain from vaccinating their children if they fear adverse reactions.

But ending all vaccine mandates, as Florida is attempting to do, is kind of scary, said the 38-year-old Torres. I feel like a lot of people are going to be at risk, and I definitely feel like children should be the number one population that shouldn't be at risk.

Brandon Neumeister, 36, a father of two in central Pennsylvania, said he had gotten the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine even though he was very skeptical of it.

As for standard vaccines, he said: "I don't see any reason or any benefit to making it more difficult to get them. If it has the potential to be a benefit to somebody, it should be made easier to get, if anything.

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Neumeister said he was alarmed by reports that lower vaccination rates had given rise to increasing measles outbreaks around the United States and North America.

TRUMP VOTERS ARE SUSPICIOUS OF MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENT

Many of the voters' concerns over vaccines are rooted in a broader suspicion that the U.S. medical establishment is beholden to drugmakers. Several voters said they thought doctors who advocated COVID shots and other immunizations were financially incentivized to do so.

Some drugmakers, such as Ozempic manufacturer Novo Nordisk, do pay medical professionals who in turn advocate use of their products. But popular claims that doctors have been enriched by the makers of the COVID vaccines have been debunked.

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Kennedy himself has no scientific training. Before joining the Trump administration, Kennedy was a longtime plaintiffs lawyer and played an instrumental role in organizing mass litigation against Merck over its Gardasil vaccine.

When Kennedy in June fired the 17-member expert vaccine advisory panel, comprising doctors and research scientists, he alleged that most of them received money from drugmakers. He provided no specific evidence of industry conflicts of interest among the fired panelists, who are required by law to declare all such potential conflicts of interest.

The perception that the former panelists were compromised stuck with many voters. All those ties to the pharmaceutical companies really throws your impartiality in doubt, said Hill, 49, the Ohio father of three.

We need people in [the advisory panel] that are actually scientists, that aren't corrupted by large pharmaceutical companies, that don't have an agenda, said Jon Webber, 44, who lives in Indiana with his wife and teenage stepdaughter.

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Webber said the barrage of sometimes conflicting guidance that came out during the COVID-19 pandemic had also undermined trust in health experts: Right now everybodys a conspiracy nut. Why? Because the governments gone back and forth with 22 different messages."

(Reporting by Julia Harte; editing by Paul Thomasch and Claudia Parsons; additional reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein)
President Donald Trump reacted to the assassination of Charlie Kirk last month by calling for a new war on terror against left-wing American activist groups  but not everyone in his inner circle was convinced, a new report claims.

Kirk, the influential 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was killed by a snipers bullet while debating students on the campus of the University of Utah Valley in Orem, Utah, on September 10.

According to Rolling Stone, top Trump administration officials responded to the tragedy by setting to work immediately drafting legal memos, writing blueprints for prospective executive orders, gaming likely scenarios and court challenges and drawing up lists of liberal organizations to clamp down on.

President Donald Trump and Stephen Miller, his White House deputy chief of staff, who is said to have spearheaded the plan to target left-wing organizations in response to the killing of Charlie Kirk (AP)

Their efforts, involving pulling all-nighters and moving at an intense pace, were overseen by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who reportedly declared that the administration was now at war with the left.

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Miller brought his message to the national stage when he told Vice President JD Vance, guest host of Kirks podcast, on September 15: The last message that Charlie sent me was that we needed to have an organized strategy to go after the left-wing organizations that are promoting violence in this country.

With God as my witness, we are going to use every resource we have at the Department of Justice, Homeland Security, and throughout this government to identify, disrupt, dismantle, and destroy these networks.

Among the names singled out for targeting, Rolling Stone reports, were Antifa, George Soros, the liberal-donation processor ActBlue, the anti-Trump organizing group Indivisible, the ant-war CodePink group, and a number of pro-immigration and trans rights outfits.

Charlie Kirk was fatally shot at an event on a Utah college campus on September 10 (Andrew Harnik/Getty)

But something felt off for several of Trumps advisers, the magazine writes, with few if any believing that Kirks shooter was part of an organized radical left-wing domestic terror network and many dismissing the enemies identified as a laundry list of nonprofits, liberal institutions, donors, and nonviolent groups that Trump apparatchiks like Miller had wanted to obliterate for years.

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Then came Trumps accidental September 20 post on Truth Social demanding his political opponents be prosecuted.

Reports claim the message - calling out former FBI Director James Comey, Democratic Senator Adam Schiff, and New York Attorney General Letitia James - may have been meant as a private text to Attorney General Pam Bondi and not for public consumption.

Multiple senior officials in the Trump administration told Rolling Stone they were worried posts showing the presidents hand like this were actually making it harder for them to succeed.

Trump said Kirk was an inspiration for millions (Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump subsequently issued a national security presidential memorandum on September 25 that accused liberals of animating violent conduct and hiding a terror agenda behind anti-fascist rhetoric, also calling for federal prosecutions.

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At the presidents direction, the Trump administration will get to the bottom of this vast network inciting violence in American communities, and the presidents executive actions to address left-wing violence will put an end to any illegal activities, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement.

Trump and his ilk would like to see criminal charges, trials, and convictions resulting from their crackdown, Rolling Stone states.

They also reportedly believe that, even if it does not succeed entirely in its aims, it is highly likely to cause their opponents to be encumbered with heavy legal costs, lose funding or endorsements or revert to a defensive posture, inspiring a welcome chilling effect in the process.

Regardless, they need to suffer, a senior Trump official involved with the planning is quoted as saying.
There has been no communication with these groups until now, the source said.

Turkey has made contact with two Hamas groups holding hostages with whom there has been no communication until now, a source told The Jerusalem Post on Monday.

This comes two days after 137 of the flotilla activists were deported from Israel to Turkey.

Earlier this month, Turkey announced the arrest of a suspected Mossad agent and opened a criminal investigation into Israels interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla over Yom Kippur.

Turkey's contact as Trump's Gaza proposal may be implemented

Turkey's contact with Hamas comes a day after US President Donald Trump warned the terrorist organization it would face "complete obliteration" if it refuses to give up power and control of Gaza in order for his proposal to be implemented.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, however, that no part of Trump's plan would be implemented until all 48 hostages are returned to Israeli territory. Netanyahu made these remarks after Trump admitted the day before that he pressured the Israeli leader into accepting his 20-point plan.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters during a meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, September 13, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/UMIT BEKTAS)

On Sunday, a Hamas source told Saudi-owned Al Arabiya that the terror organization had begun collecting the remains of deceased Israeli hostages for the proposal's implementation.

Reuters and Maariv Online contributed to this report. This is a developing story.
Two people were killed in separate vehicle accidents that occurred on Oct. 3 and 4 in northern Somerset County.

Route 56 crash

Adakin Adamczyk, 25, of Windber, died in a two-vehicle accident that occurred about 7:35 p.m. Oct. 3 along Clear Shade Drive (Route 56), near Hayes Street in Paint Township.

Adamczyk was driving west along Route 56 at a high rate of speed when his vehicle failed to negotiate a right-hand curve, left the road, struck an embankment and overturned, according to a Pennsylvania State Police public information release.

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Adamczyk was ejected from the vehicle and sustained life-threatening injuries. He was taken to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown, where he was pronounced dead at 8:18 p.m., the report said.

Cambria County Coroner Jeff Lees did not respond by press time to a request from the Daily American for more information about the accident.

Three people in the second vehicle sustained minor injuries, and Conemaugh Township EMS took one to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center for treatment, the state police report said.

State police in Somerset are still investigating.

Tire Hill Road accident

On Oct. 4, a juvenile driver was killed in a single-vehicle accident that occurred around 8:46 p.m. along the 1100 block of Tire Hill Road (Route 403) in Conemaugh Township, according to Russ Miller, officer in charge of the Conemaugh Township Police Department.

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The juvenile was the only occupant in the vehicle, which was traveling northbound along Route 403 when the vehicle traveled off the road into a wooded area and hit two trees, Miller said.

He would not identify the juvenile's name or gender, and the Somerset County Coroner's office did not return a call for that information by press time.

There were no deer in the area or any roadway conditions present that could have contributed to the accident, Miller said.

The accident remains under investigation by the Conemaugh Township Police Department and the Somerset County Coroner's Office, Miller said.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Two killed in accidents in Paint, Conemaugh townships
On September 27, the U.S. State Department raised its travel advisory for Madagascar to Level 3, encouraging Americans to reconsider travel.

The increased severity of the travel advisory for the southeastern African island nation comes as it faces crime, unrest, and protests. Recent reports note that Madagascars president dissolved the countrys government following pressure from youth-led protests, where 22 people have died.

The State Department didnt update its risk indicators that travelers should be aware of before going to Madagascar. As of this reporting, the American government notes its concerns about crime and unrest in the island country. More specifically, the State Department claims violent protests, including rioting, looting, vandalism, and destruction of property can occur in Madagascar without warning. Also, the source says that, especially at night, violent crime, including robberies and assaults, may occur.

What Else Is There To Know About The Raised Madagascar Travel Advisory?

The State Department pinpointed the south and west areas of Madagascar as specific places where violent crime could occur.

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If travelers still choose to go to Madagascar anytime soon, they should avoid remote areas, crowds, and venturing out alone at night. They should remain mindful of their surroundings at all times. Moreover, they should refrain from flaunting money and expensive valuables.

Travelers are urged to have a backup plan for exiting Madagascar that does not depend on U.S. government help. They are encouraged to review the State Departments guidelines on Crisis and Evacuations while abroad. Additionally, Americans should consider registering their trip via the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

Reuters reported that anti-government protests continued on October 6, extending three weeks of unrest. The source claimed that protesters now demand that President Andry Rajoelina, 51, step down. The United Nations has reportedly shared that 100 protesters were injured during early demonstrations.

A spokesperson for the countrys leader allegedly stated that, President Rajoelina remains committed to dialogue, to accelerating solutions that improve peoples daily lives. The representative is said to have added that Madagascars protesters are being exploited by political actors who are seeking to destabilize the country.







The post U.S. Gov. Says Reconsider Trips To This Scenic Southeast African Country In Updated Travel Advisory appeared first on Travel Noire.
Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) is one of the noteworthy Q3 stocks Jim Cramer was focused on. Cramer noted that he has been watching the company closely for the Charitable Trust. He said:

When you reach number six of the best performers this quarter, you get to a company that Ive had my eye on for the Charitable Trust, and that company is Corning. This is the finest glass maker in the world. I recently spent a nice chunk of time with Wendell Weeks, hes the CEO, at this Harrodsburg, Kentucky facility that we went to, where they make the cover glass for your iPhone and Apple Watch.

Stock market data on a laptop screen. Photo by Alesia Kozik on Pexels

Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) develops optical fiber, cables, and related hardware for telecommunications, and produces glass substrates for displays used in TVs, computers, and mobile devices. Moreover, it supplies specialty materials, emission control products, and laboratory equipment.

While we acknowledge the potential of GLW as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
(The Center Square)  Democratic Rep. Jared Golden has drawn a primary challenger from the party's progressive wing, which could complicate Democrats' efforts to win back the House in next year's midterms.

Maine State Auditor Matthew Dunlap announced Monday that he is challenging Golden in Maine's 2nd Congressional District, vowing to take a harder line against President Donald Trump's policies and legislative agenda.

In his campaign launch, Dunlap said Golden isn't doing enough for the congressional district and has sided with Republicans on key issues, including Goldens recent vote to keep the government open.

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"Mainers are stuck with skyrocketing health care costs, a government shutdown, and a broken Congress," said Dunlap, a former lawmaker and secretary of state who has served as auditor since 2022. "Jared Golden caved to Trump instead of fighting for us. Jared Golden said Trump is OK and that well be just fine but Mainers are being hurt by his policies."

Golden was elected to a fourth term in last year's election, after narrowly beating Republican challenger Austin Theriault in a ranked-choice tabulation. He is considered vulnerable in the right-leaning congressional district, which is one of the most competitive in the nation and carried twice by President Donald Trump. A leaked poll showed him trailing behind former Gov. Paul LePage, a Republican who jumped into the race in May.

In a statement, Golden said he is "focused on doing the job voters sent me to Congress to do" and claimed he's the Democratic party's best shot at holding onto the seat amid a challenge from the firebrand former governor.

If Matt Dunlap thinks this district will choose him over Paul LePage, hes got another thing coming," Golden said in a statement. A 30-year party crony like Matt Dunlap wont cut it  the last time Matt held elected office he was a pro-life Democrat at a time when that unfortunately wasnt unusual. Watching Dunlap try to recreate himself as a progressive would be amusing if it were not so cynical."

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The 2nd District, one of Maines two congressional seats, is considered competitive and closely watched by political observers as Republicans push to retake the House of Representatives in the midterms.

Republican President Donald Trump carried the district handily in the 2020 elections, peeling off one of the state's four electoral votes. Trump also won the district in the Nov. 5 elections. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rated the congressional district a "toss-up" in next year's midterm election.

National Republicans view the race as an opportunity to widen their control of Congress and win down-ballot races in next year's midterm elections. They welcomed Dunlap's entry into the race.

The National Republican Committee posted on social media that Dunlap's challenge is a sign that "Golden must go" in next year's midterms.

"Maine's worst flip-flopper just got primaried from the left by far-left Matt Dunlap, pushing a socialist government takeover of healthcare on his agenda," the NRCC posted on X.
By Emma Farge

GENEVA (Reuters) -The United Nations Human Rights Council will decide on Monday on an EU proposal to set up a U.N. investigation into abuses in Afghanistan, which could enable criminal investigations into suspected violations by both the Taliban and foreign troops.

The European Union motion calls for investigators to prepare evidence for future court proceedings and is among the strongest form of U.N. rights probe, on par with existing investigations into crimes in Syria and Myanmar.

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The United States, which had troops in Afghanistan until 2021 within a NATO coalition, has previously opposed scrutiny of its actions, for example, by the International Criminal Court, but backed research into suspected Taliban violations.

President Donald Trump has disengaged from the council and did not take a stance in these negotiations, diplomats said. However, a State Department spokesperson said: "Under the leadership of President Trump, the United States government will not tolerate international organizations that attempt to exert unlawful jurisdiction over American troops."

Fereshta Abbasi, Afghanistan researcher at Human Rights Watch, called the launch a "significant step that could break a decades-long cycle of impunity".

"If it gives just one regional commander pause for thought on committing violations because he knows there is a case file open, then it's worth it."

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COMPREHENSIVE PROBE

For years, both Afghan and international rights groups have sought such a probe. Calls have become louder as the Taliban tightened restrictions on women and freedom of expression.

The Taliban authorities say they respect rights in line with their interpretation of Islamic law.

The new investigation would cooperate with an existing ICC probe. The ICC has previously indicated it would deprioritise suspected crimes by U.S. forces after Trump imposed sanctions in 2020 over its Afghanistan work.

While the EU proposal does not mention abuses by international troops, it is described as comprehensive and has no time limit, meaning it could address these, diplomats said.

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Investigations launched by the 47-member council can lead to war crimes prosecutions. Some countries which sent troops to Afghanistan, such as Britain and Australia, have initiated inquiries but prosecutions have been rare.

It was not immediately clear if states would vote on the proposal, also backed by Ukraine, Norway and South Korea.

China has raised doubts about the probe's costs and whether it would help improve local rights, diplomats said.

China's diplomatic mission did not respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Emma Farge; Additional reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin in Geneva and Stephanie Van Den Berg in The Hague)
By Emma Farge

GENEVA (Reuters) -The United Nations Human Rights Council is to investigate abuses in Afghanistan, which could eventually enable criminal investigations into suspected violations by both the Taliban and foreign troops, including those from the United States.

The United States, which had troops in Afghanistan until 2021 within a NATO coalition, has previously opposed scrutiny of its actions, for example, by the International Criminal Court, but backed research into suspected Taliban violations.

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President Donald Trump has disengaged from the Geneva rights council and did not take a stance in the negotiations on the EU proposal for the investigation, diplomats said.

However, a State Department spokesperson said late on Sunday, before it was adopted on Monday without a vote: "Under the leadership of President Trump, the United States government will not tolerate international organizations that attempt to exert unlawful jurisdiction over American troops."

NO TIME LIMIT ON PROBE

The European Union motion calls for investigators to prepare evidence for future court proceedings and is among the strongest form of U.N. rights probe, on a par with existing investigations into suspected crimes in Syria and Myanmar.

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For years, both Afghan and international rights groups have sought such a probe. Calls have become louder as the Taliban tightened restrictions on women and freedom of expression.

The Taliban authorities say they respect rights in line with their interpretation of Islamic law.

While the EU proposal for an investigation did not specifically mention abuses by international troops, it is described as "comprehensive" and has no time limit, meaning it could address these, diplomats said. The exact scope will be determined when investigators are appointed.

Investigations launched by the 47-member council can lead to war crimes prosecutions. Some countries which sent troops to Afghanistan, such as Britain and Australia, have initiated inquiries but prosecutions have been rare.

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Fereshta Abbasi, Afghanistan researcher at Human Rights Watch, called the launch a "significant step that could break a decades-long cycle of impunity".

The new investigation would cooperate with an existing ICC probe. The ICC has previously indicated it would deprioritise suspected crimes by U.S. forces after Trump imposed sanctions in 2020 over its Afghanistan work.

China's delegate Wang Nian criticised the proposal's cost of $9.2 million over three years amid a U.N. funding crisis and said it was unbalanced.

(Reporting by Emma Farge; Additional reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin in Geneva and Stephanie Van Den Berg in The Hague; Editing by Alison Williams)
JAMAICA, Queens (PIX11)  An uncle and nephew died in an apparent murder-suicide in a Queens home on Friday night, police said Monday.

The 41-year-old nephew fatally shot his uncle, Prince McFarlane, 37, in the head before turning the gun on himself in the house at 116th Rd. in Jamaica just after 11:45 p.m., according to the NYPD.

More Local News

McFarlane died at the scene. The 41-year-old man was rushed to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the head but could not be saved, cops said.

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Police said the relatives got into a fight before shots rang out.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. It is a free, 24/7 service that offers support, information, and local resources. You can also click here for additional hotlines in your area.

Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She has been with PIX11 News for two years. See more of her work here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Federal Communications Commission will vote this month to tighten restrictions on equipment made by Chinese companies deemed national security risks, the latest in a series of U.S. actions targeting Beijing.

The U.S. telecom regulator previously named companies including Huawei Technologies, ZTE, Hangzhou Hikvision, China Mobile and China Telecom to the so-called "Covered List," which bars the FCC from authorizing for import or sale new equipment from those companies. FCC Chair Brendan Carr said the agency will vote to prohibit authorization of devices containing component parts that are on the Covered List and authorize the FCC to prohibit sale of previously-authorized Covered List equipment in specific cases.

(Reporting by David Shepardson)
By Luc Cohen

(Reuters) -The Supreme Court declined on Monday to hear another bid by Turkey's state-owned lender Halkbank to avoid fraud, money laundering and conspiracy charges in the United States for allegedly helping Iran evade American economic sanctions.

The justices turned away Halkbank's appeal of a lower court's ruling that let the criminal case brought by the U.S. government proceed, allowing that decision to stand. The Supreme Court in 2023 threw out a previous decision by the same lower court that had permitted the case to move forward but at that time rejected a key defense mounted by the bank.

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Brought by U.S. federal prosecutors in 2019, the case has been a thorn in U.S.-Turkey relations, with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan calling it an "unlawful, ugly" step.

Halkbank has pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors with the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office accused Halkbank of using money servicers and front companies in Iran, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates to help Iran evade U.S. sanctions.

The bank secretly transferred $20 billion of restricted funds, converted oil revenue into gold and cash to benefit Iranian interests and documented fake food shipments to justify transfers of oil proceeds, according to prosecutors.

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In asking the Supreme Court to take up the case, Halkbank argued that as a Turkish state-owned entity it should be immune from legal actions in another country's courts.

In 2023, when the Supreme Court rejected Halkbank's contention that it was protected under the federal Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, it directed the Manhattan-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to consider whether common law provided immunity. Common law refers to legal principles developed over centuries by judges, not by specific statutes.

The 2nd Circuit considered that issue and last year rejected Halkbank's argument that common law principles immunized it from prosecution related to commercial, nongovernmental activities.

President Donald Trump's administration asked the Supreme Court to turn away Halkbank's appeal of that 2nd Circuit decision. The Justice Department told the Supreme Court on August 6 that "common law" principles do not shield foreign state-owned companies from criminal prosecution.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Will Dunham)
By Andrew Chung and John Kruzel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court began its new nine-month term on Monday with major cases in store concerning presidential powers as Donald Trump probes the limits of his authority under the U.S. Constitution and federal law, while turning away a high-profile appeal by Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.

Before hearing arguments in its first two cases of the term, the court rebuffed appeals in multiple cases. One of them was a bid by British socialite Maxwell to overturn her conviction for helping Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender, sexually abuse teenage girls, as the justices steered clear of a case that continues to hound Trump and his administration.

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The justices also rejected Missouri's appeal to revive a Republican-backed law intended to prevent enforcement of several federal gun laws in the state and a bid by the conservative activist group Project Veritas to invalidate on constitutional free speech grounds an Oregon law that generally bans unannounced recordings of conversations.

Chief Justice John Roberts, who has now served in the post for two decades, said before arguments commenced in the first case that "I have the honor to announce" that the new term is now convened.

The court takes up its first big case of the term on Tuesday in a dispute over the legality of a Colorado law that bans "conversion therapy" intended to change a minor's sexual orientation or gender identity. That is one of a passel of cases touching on hot-button U.S. culture wars issues, with others due to be argued focusing on transgender student athletes, gun rights and race.

But the major theme of the term promises to be the authority of the president in cases involving Trump, who returned to office in January.

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The court, whose 6-3 conservative majority includes three justices appointed by Trump during his first term in office, already has backed the Republican president in a series of cases decided on an emergency basis this year.

In the one case this year involving Trump in which the justices heard arguments, the conservative majority handed him a major victory that buttressed presidential powers. In that case, which arose from a dispute over Trump's efforts to limit birthright citizenship, the court in June restricted the ability of judges to impede his policies nationwide.

The court has arguments coming in November, December and January in three big cases involving Trump over the legality of his sweeping tariffs and his moves to fire officials from agencies set up by Congress with certain job protections meant to insulate them from presidential interference. The latter two cases are challenges to his actions to oust Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Slaughter.

The first case argued on Monday involved whether a Texas judge violated the rights of David Villarreal under the Constitution's Sixth Amendment to have a lawyer assist in his defense in his murder trial. The judge prohibited Villarreal from discussing his testimony with his attorney during an overnight recess in the trial. Villarreal was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to 60 years in prison.

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The second case concerned whether a federal court must apply state laws requiring plaintiffs suing for medical malpractice to obtain an affidavit from a medical expert stating there are reasonable grounds to believe medical negligence has occurred.

Numerous states have adopted similar laws to tamp down on frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits.

The case was filed by a Florida man who alleges he received improper care for an ankle injury in Delaware, where he owns a home. Federal courts can handle cases when a plaintiff and defendant live in different states.

In other appeals rejected on Monday, the Supreme Court declined to hear a bid by Sberbank, Russia's largest bank, to avoid a lawsuit brought under an American anti-terrorism law alleging that it did business with a group blamed for downing a Malaysia Airlines jetliner over Ukraine in 2014.

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The court also decided not to hear another bid by Turkey's state-owned lender Halkbank to avoid fraud, money laundering and conspiracy charges in the United States for allegedly helping Iran evade American economic sanctions.

(Reporting by Andrew Chung and John Kruzel; Editing by Will Dunham)
If you're considering voting in the 2025 municipal election  the races that decide who controls the government that impacts you most directly  you should know there are some important dates fast approaching.

In less than a month, approximately 480,196 registered voters are set to choose who serves in county row offices, court justices, municipal governments and on school boards across Bucks County.

Whether youre a habitual voter or have never cast a ballot before, here are the important dates you need to know if you think youll be voting in this years election.

An empty table set up for voting on Primary Day at Belmont Hills Elementary School in Bensalem on May 20, 2025.

When is the 2025 election?

The election is Nov. 4.

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Polls are to remain open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Those who are already in line when polls close are still to be given the chance to vote.

The Bucks County Board of Elections website has a list of more than 300 polling places, and it includes links to look up your polling place if youre a registered voter.

When is the last day to register to vote in the election?

Any voter registration applications must be received in the Bucks County Board of Elections office by the close of business on Oct. 20.

You must be a U.S. citizen and a resident of Pennsylvania for at least 30 days before the election to be able to register for the 2025 election. Applications can be filled out and returned in person or by mail at 55 E. Court St. in Doylestown Borough.

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You can look up the status of your voter registration, fill out an online registration form or download a copy of the registration form to return to the county offices online at pavoterservices.pa.gov.

When's the last day to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot?

Applications for mail ballots must be received in the Bucks County Board of Elections office by 5 p.m. Oct. 28.

It's recommended that voters check the status of their voter registration before applying.

Voters may apply for a mail-in ballot in person at the county elections office, online at pavoterservices.pa.gov, or print a copy of the application from the states website to mail back or hand in the form to the county.

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New voters prefer purple: Many new Bucks County voters are spurning both Democrats and Republicans. Inside the data

When will I get my mail-in ballot?

If youve already applied for a mail-in ballot, you should be receiving it soon.

Bucks County spokesman Jim OMalley said that election workers were expected to start sending out ballots as early as the end of the week of Oct. 3.

The Pennsylvania Department of State, which oversees administration of elections, also has an online tool to track the status of your mail-in ballot at pavoterserves.pa.gov.

When does my mail ballot have to be returned?

In order to be counted for the 2025 election, mail ballots must be received by the county offices before polls close at 8 p.m. Nov. 4. Ballots arriving with postmarks before Election Day are not to be counted if they arrive late.

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In addition to the U.S. Postal Service, mail ballots can also be returned directly to the countys office in Doylestown or satellite offices at 7321 New Falls Road in Levittown and 261 California Road in Quakertown.

Starting Oct. 6, the county also has mail ballot drop boxes available outside of its three offices during regular business hours Monday through Friday. The Quakertown office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and the Doylestown and Levittown locations are open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

Drop boxes at all three county offices are also to be available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays on Oct. 25 and Nov. 1.

On Oct. 20, eight more drop boxes are to be added at libraries across the county.

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A full list of drop boxes and their availability may be found on the countys website.

Mail ballot drop boxes are also to be available at any of the three county offices during regular business hours Monday through Friday as of Oct. 6.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Municipal election deadlines to know to vote in Bucks County in 2025
Oct. 5With its monumental peaks and vast valleys, western Montana has long been revered as an Eden for outdoors enthusiasts of all stripes. A patchwork of public forestlands creates a haven for hikers and hunters alike, and cool glacial lakes draw ample beachgoers during the warm summer months.

For thousands of Montanans living with disabilities, though, accessing those treasured landscapes can be a challenge.

Kalispell resident Erin Hoch said she rarely visits state parks. Her son, Jaxen Flores, uses a wheelchair due to complications from a rare genetic disorder called infantile pompe. While the family enjoys time outdoors, Hoch said she struggles to find trails and facilities that accommodate Jaxen's mobility needs. Those limitations have long been a source of frustration, especially as Jaxen has grown into what Hoch described as a bit of a daredevil.

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"Just because we have a different ability doesn't mean we don't want the dirt and don't want the adventure," she said.

This week, Hoch and Flores joined more than a dozen members of Montana's disability community at the Wayfarers Unit of Flathead Lake State Park to kick off the newest chapter in the statewide Park Accessibility Project. Headed by the Montana State Parks Foundation, the project aims to make outdoor recreation safer and more accessible for all residents, including those with disabilities.

In 2022, the project purchased an all-terrain wheelchair for Lone Pine State Park, which visitors can reserve for use, and the next year saw a new accessible boat launch installed at Frenchtown Pond State Park in Missoula.

Flathead Lake State Park sees about 360,000 visitors a year, more than almost any other state park in Montana, making it an ideal candidate for the foundation's next accessibility project. Amy Grout, manager of the Wayfarers Unit, said she was eager to sign on to the project because her own father used a wheelchair late in life.

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"That really changed my life, and my view on just making things accessible," she recalled.

That sort of experiential knowledge is central to the Park Accessibility Project's approach, explained Megan Buecking, executive director of the Montana State Parks Foundation. The Americans with Disabilities Act provides some standards for making public buildings and parks more accessible, but Buecking said the federal guidelines are often insufficient when put into practice.

"You can't have those insights unless you have someone with the lived experience there to show what the reality is," she said.

For help gathering those insights, Buecking contacted Meg Traci, a researcher at the University of Montana's Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities with expertise in a practice called Inclusive Interdisciplinary Walk Move Audits.

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The premise of a walk move audit is simple: Participants move along a pre-determined path while considering aspects of the space like connectivity, site design and safety. At the end of each segment, a facilitator asks the auditors to rate the pathway, provide examples of things they liked and disliked, and propose solutions for any issues they identified.

But Traci said the outcome of a walk move audit is often more than the sum of its parts. Convening people with a spectrum of abilities can foster deeper understandings of the issues at hand and provides an opportunity for collaborative problem-solving.

"It's really about shared discovery," she said. "It's about moving through a space together."

On Sept. 29, Traci led more than a dozen volunteers through a walk move audit at the Wayfarers Unit. Several participants used wheelchairs. Others had hearing or vision impairments. Some were able-bodied, but they cared for or worked closely with people with disabilities.

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Meandering along a dirt trail near the waterfront, the group pointed out major and minor hurdles alike. Roots and rocks occasionally snagged the wheel of a wheelchair. A short but steep downhill section elicited a mixture of fear and excitement. A handful of participants discovered just how mazelike the park's network of social trails could be after they were briefly waylaid by a cool lakeside breeze.

Despite a growing list of practical concerns, one of the most persistent themes of the exercise was the park's natural beauty. With the summer crowds long gone, the shore was nearly empty, and participants lauded the trail's wildness. Buecking emphasized that any future renovations would seek to preserve those assets.

"There are a lot of changes that will make the park more accessible without changing the essence of the park," she said.

Buecking said she plans to work with stakeholders to develop a formal project proposal that uses the results of Monday's walk move audit alongside an accessibility report that Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks interns completed this summer. She hopes the foundation can finalize the proposal and begin implementing improvements within the next few years.

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Reporter Hailey Smalley can be reached at 758-4433 or [email protected].

Participants in a walk move audit navigate a trail in the Wayfarers Unit of Flathead Lake State Park. (Hailey Smalley/Daily Inter Lake)

Participants in a walk move audit navigate a trail in the Wayfarers Unit of Flathead Lake State Park. (Hailey Smalley/Daily Inter Lake)
Listen and subscribe to Opening Bid on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

Nvidia's (NVDA) next decade could make lawyers  and maybe investors  rethink everything.

"Nvidia is going to make a ... chip reasoning platform," CNBC's "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer told Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast (see the video above; listen below). "The next one is going to be, 'Let me tell you what I think,' and it's going to be maybe superior to how you're thinking. That's the big breakout ... the reasoning one."

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Cramer, who was among the earliest to tout Nvidia when it was still dismissed as a gaming chipmaker, said if Nvidia executes, its chips could make judgments with "far fewer mistakes" than humans.

That "chip reasoning" platform could upend industries far beyond tech. He likened it to astronomer Vera Rubin, who pioneered the existence of dark matter. He used law firms as an example, noting that with the system, "you don't need that fourth-year associate anymore."

Cramer's conviction in Nvidia runs so deep that, in 2017, he renamed his dog Nvidia to hammer the point home. At the time, Cramer and Sozzi worked together at TheStreet  the business news publication Cramer founded in 1996.

"I couldn't get people to focus on it," Cramer said. "By the way, no one wanted to believe because it was too crazy."

What he saw during a visit to CEO Jensen Huang's office convinced him that Nvidia was more than just a gaming company. Early demonstrations of artificial intelligence creating art, theater, and even restaurant scenarios were what he described as "inconceivable. At the time, Huang urged him to talk up Nvidia.

"I just saw it with my eyes," Cramer said. "I'm going to tell people they must buy this stock."

Read more: How does Nvidia make money?

Even today, he tells investors to refrain from asking him about Amazon (AMZN) versus Apple (AAPL)  and to heed his advice from 2017.

"Are you an idiot? Buy Nvidia. NVDA," he said.

Still, the question for investors now isn't what Nvidia achieved in the past 10 years, but what comes next. Shares are up more than 1,300% in the past five years.

And Nvidia may also face pressure to strike licensing deals to comply with regulatory rules.

"They [Nvidia] do have to start getting deals with the New York Times," Cramer warned, pointing to the battle over training data. "That's why Cloudflare is such a good stock." Cloudflare (NET) provides web security services.

Cramer's appearance on Opening Bid Unfiltered coincides with the promotion of his eighth book, "How to Make Money in Any Market." Like his Nvidia anecdotes, Cramer said the book blends stock-picking stories with investing lessons  though he admits that calling a company like Nvidia early doesn't happen every cycle.
GOLEM, Albania (AP)  Leaders of the Western Balkan countries on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to a joint European future, pledging to deepen cooperation and accelerate reforms that would bring the region closer to the European Union.

The presidents of the Western Balkan nations gathered in Golem, Albania, 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of the capital of Tirana, in an annual gathering. It is part of a diplomatic initiative launched by EU members Slovenia and Croatia in 2013 to support EU enlargement to the Western Balkans  a region that includes Albania, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Kosovo.

In a joint declaration, the leaders highlighted their shared vision toward the European perspective of our entire region.

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"We reaffirm our commitment to support European integration and inclusive regional cooperation with the objective of a peaceful, strong, stable, prosperous and united Europe," it said.

The countries are working to join the EU but are at different stages in their membership path, with Montenegro and Albania ahead and Serbia, Bosnia, Kosovo and North Macedonia lagging behind.

The EUs openness to accept new members has grown since the all-out war in Ukraine started on Feb. 24, 2022. There are concerns the war in Ukraine and Russias deepening confrontation with the West could spill over into a region still scarred by its own conflicts.

The countries welcomed the role of a 6 billion euro growth plan aimed at advancing reforms in the region.

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But Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar also urged Brussels to speed up the process, adding that security and peace in Europe is at stake.

The largely ceremonial annual gathering was led by Albanian President Bajram Begaj, Pirc Musar and Croatian President Zoran Milanovic. Members of Bosnia's tripartite presidency and the presidents of Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia also attended.

The initiative was named the Brdo-Brijuni Process after two locations  Brdo pri Kranju in Slovenia and the Brijuni Islands in Croatia  that are symbolic of reconciliation and diplomacy.

It seeks to strengthen political dialogue and promote reconciliation after the wars of the 1990s, with tensions still simmering  for instance, between Serbia and Kosovo.

___

Semini reported from Tirana, Albania.
Oct. 6Whitefish is examining whether to shift the tax relief that is distributed from the resort tax it collects on certain goods and services purchased in the city.

City Council has held discussions about changing the structure of the relief that goes to property owners and will continue during a work session on Monday at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 418 E. Second St. Previous talks were put on hold until changes to the state's property tax system were realized following the 2025 Montana Legislature.

Council meets for the regular meeting at 7:10 p.m., which includes two public hearings and a vote on purchasing an aerial ladder fire truck.

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Whitefish provides 25% of resort tax collections to property tax relief for residential and commercial properties. State law requires a minimum of 5%.

All property owners receive the same percentage, but previous discussions by Council have centered on whether there is a more equitable way to provide relief to full-time residents. The system has been in place since the tax was approved in 1995, and at the time was a selling point leading to the tax's approval.

"Circumstances in Whitefish have changed since 1995, such as increased development and growth, more second homeowners, and significant increases in property values," City Manager Dana Smith said in a memo.

Several options are up for consideration.

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One option would be to provide the minimum 5% of relief to all property owners and then take the 20% and refund it to taxpayers whose primary residence is within the city limits in an equal amount for all properties regardless of value.

A second option would be to direct a percentage to primary residence property taxpayers and a percentage to the community housing fund to assist with the workforce rental assistance program.

A third option would be to allocate the 20% of property tax relief on a flat rate basis to all property taxpayers, both residential and commercial.

A fourth option would be to reduce the 25% to a lower percentage and allocate funds to other categories where tax funds are spent, since all residents receive the value through usage of those services.

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The resort tax is a 3% tax collected on "luxury" retail sales, lodging, at restaurants and for prepared food and alcoholic beverages.

Any changes would require voter approval. Unless a special election is held, the next opportunity to put an item on the ballot is November 2026.

FOLLOWING A public hearing at the regular meeting, a resolution establishing a new fee schedule for public records requests is set for a vote. The Montana Legislature in 2025 passed a bill that limits the city to only charging $25 per hour for gathering, reviewing, processing and providing information in response to a public records request.

An update to Whitefish's impact fees is set for a public hearing and subsequent vote by Council to incorporate changes to state law. Impact fees for parks, paved trails and City Hall will be eliminated, as will a 5% administrative fee.

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On Monday, Fire Chief Cole Hadley will present a request to proceed with the purchase of an aerial ladder truck from Pierce Manufacturing. The cost for the truck is $1.8 million with a delivery timeline of about three years.

Whitefish does not have a ladder truck, which limits aerial firefighting and rescue capabilities, according to Hadley. The purchase of such a truck has become a critical infrastructure priority for the department.

"As multi-story commercial and residential development increases, this capability gap poses a growing risk to life safety and property protection," Hadley says in a memo. "Aerial apparatus also provides significant advantages for ventilation, elevated master streams and rescue operations that engines cannot provide."

Deputy Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 758-4421 or [email protected].
A Blairsville woman is facing several charges for a deadly stabbing inside an Indiana County home Sunday evening.

Jessica Lynn Morelli, 36, is charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault and possessing instruments of crime.

State police said troopers, along with Blairsville Borough Police, responded to a home on Pender Avenue in Burrell Township around 7:16 p.m.

When police arrived, they found Morelli and a man who had been stabbed multiple times inside the home. Troopers recovered a knife from the scene.

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The victim was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

On Oct. 9, the Allegheny County Medical Examiners Office identified the victim as 66-year-old William Collins.

State police said the victim lived in the home with Morelli.

Morelli was arrested and taken to the Indiana County Jail.

The Indiana County District Attorneys Office is assisting with the investigation.

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A 77-year-old woman was killed and a 39-year-old woman was seriously injured after they were hit by a motor vehicle in Bostons Jamaica Plain neighborhood Sunday night, according to police.

Officers responded to a report of two pedestrians struck by a vehicle near 101 South Huntington Ave. at around 9:37 p.m. Sunday, police said.

Arriving officers found two women who had been hit. The 77-year-old woman was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The younger woman was taken to a hospital, where she remains in critical condition, police said.

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Police believe the driver involved fled the scene. It was later found unoccupied near Huntington Avenue and secured, police said.

Detectives from the Homicide Unit and members of the Fatal Collision Investigation Team are investigating the collision.

No arrests have been made.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  A man is facing multiple charges after allegedly driving under the influence with a child in the car.

Sergio Lopes, 31, of Woonsocket, was arrested just after midnight Sunday following a crash on Route 146 North in Providence, according to the Rhode Island State Police arrest log.

Lopes was charged with the following:

Child endangerment

Driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor and/or drugs (BAC pending test results)

Driving under the influence with a passenger under 13

Reckless driving

Failure to stop for accident resulting in damage to an attended vehicle

Simple assault

Disorderly conduct

Obstructing an officer in the execution of duty

Weapons other than firearms

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Police said Lopes was treated at Rhode Island Hospital before being arraigned at the Lincoln Woods Barracks. He was released and is expected to appear in court at a later date.

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Seven youths aged between 14 and 17 went on trial in Vienna on Monday charged with the sexual abuse and blackmail of a teacher, as well as starting a fire in her flat, where the crimes are alleged to have occurred.

The prosecution alleges that different members of the gang committed the crimes on different occasions.

The trial, which is expected to last until October 20, is being held amid a public debate on stiffening the law on sex crimes after 10 youths were unexpectedly acquitted of the sexual abuse of a 12-year-old girl at the end of September.

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In the current case, the alleged crimes occurred after the teacher, who is in her late 20s, began a consensual relationship with a former pupil in April 2024, according to the prosecution. As the youth was older than 14 at the time, this was not an offence.

From May 2024, the youth began visiting his former teacher in the company of friends, who are reported by the teacher to have described themselves as members of a criminal gang and to have intimidated her.

The youths are accused of consuming drugs with the teacher and of sexually abusing her while she was under the influence.

According to the prosecution, the gang threatened to inform the teacher's school of the sex and drugs parties, using this to extort food, drink, tobacco and taxi trips. Money was also stolen.

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Her flat was set fire to in January while she was abroad.

The defence has denied abuse and maintains that the sex acts were consensual. The accused have made partial admissions of theft, drug taking and setting the fire.
When Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) shut down its IT systems on 1 September following a cyber attack, the impact was immediate and far-reaching. Production lines across its UK plants were halted, and while the company has begun a gradual restart of its operations this week, the month-long suspension has left lasting financial strain across the countrys automotive supply chain.

The attack, which prompted an unprecedented 1.5bn government-backed loan guarantee to support JLR, exposed vulnerabilities not only in the manufacturers digital infrastructure but also in the financial architecture supporting thousands of smaller suppliers. For many, the disruption revealed just how dependent Britains car industry remains on tightly calibrated, just-in-time (JIT) supply networks that leave little room for error.

Cash flow pressures in a just-in-time system

Under JIT manufacturing, suppliers deliver components only when needed, minimising inventory and costs. While efficient, the model relies on uninterrupted communication and predictable scheduling. When JLRs systems went offline, those processes broke down.

With orders frozen, many smaller suppliers faced immediate cash flow pressures. Michael Beese, managing director of Genex UK, a 17-person metal pressing firm near Walsall, told the BBC that the production halt left him with a finite element of cash. Most of his staff were temporarily laid off without pay, and he said commercial lending rates had proved prohibitive, with one loan offer carrying 16% interest and requiring a 100% personal guarantee.

His case, while singularly reported, illustrates the challenges faced by firms whose operations and finances are closely tied to a single major manufacturer. Industry observers suggest that other small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in similar positions may also be encountering stringent lending conditions as they seek emergency finance to manage cash flow gaps.

According to evidence submitted by Jaguar Land Rover to Parliament, the UK automotive sector remains a significant contributor to the national economy. In 2023, manufacturing and the associated supply chain generated 93 billion in turnover, with JLRs UK-built car revenue accounting for 19.7 billion, or around 21% of that total. JLR alone represents 4% of all UK goods exports and just under 0.5% of GDP, directly employing 34,000 people and supporting almost 200,000 jobs across its supply chain.

The risk of personal guarantees

A personal guarantee is a legal commitment by a company director or business owner to personally repay a business loan if the company cannot do so. In practice, this can mean that homes and savings are at risk if repayments are missed.
Lipton Teas and Infusions has sold two factories in Turkiye to local tea business Oz-Gur Cay.

The Netherlands-based group said the deal was in line with its efforts to focus on our core strengths.

The factories, which dry and cut locally grown tea, are based in Rize in north-east Turkiye. Financial terms have not been disclosed. The deal remains subject to the approval of Turkiyes competition authority.

Istanbul-based Oz-Gur Cay markets a range of teas under the Oz-Gur brand. Just Drinks has asked the company for comment.

In a statement, Lipton said: We have reached an agreement to transfer ownership of these factories to an existing experienced partner Oz-Gur Cay. This is in line with our global approach of focusing on our core strengths: selecting, blending and selling the best tea.

We have recently invested 30m ($35m) into a new blending and packaging facility in the west of the country which is the heart of our ongoing operations in Turkiye, where we continue to proudly operate after 39 years.

Earlier this year, Lipton opened a blending and packing site in Sakarya, a city in western Turkiye. Tea from the factories in Rize will continue to be sent to the facility in Sakarya for blending and packing.

In May, JDE Peets sold its tea business in Turkey to Efor Holding as part of the groups efforts to optimise resource allocation and simplify its operations.

Last week, former Heineken executive Marc Busain officially took the helm at Lipton as CEO.

Busains appointment, announced last month, saw Pierre Laubies will return to the groups supervisory board.

Laubies was named interim CEO last year after the departure of Nathalie Roos.

"Lipton Teas and Infusions offloads Turkiye factories" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand.




The Tourism Summit, an international conference for the tourism industry, will be held in Budapest between October 14 - 15, the organiser Visit Hungary told MTI.

According to their information, in just a few weeks, more than a thousand people have registered for the event, which is hosted by Balna Budapest. The event, which will feature renowned foreign experts, focuses on the future of tourism.



The conference language is English, which is subtitled in Hungarian by artificial intelligence.



Oliver Csendes, CEO of Visit Hungary, highlighted that feedback from participants shows that they managed to find exciting topics and attract engaging international speakers to Hungary.



This attracted the attention of domestic players in the tourism sector: they are curious about foreign ideas, the experiences of other nations in tourism, and the challenges of the future, he added.



They wrote that the future of travel is not just about landscapes, but also about data, responsibility and connected experiences. What will tourism look like in a world where algorithms recommend destinations, data drives developments, and sustainability is no longer an option but a prerequisite? The Tourism Summit seeks practical and inspiring answers to these questions.



More than fifty experts from sixteen countries will seek answers to these and similar questions, with the involvement of the Hungarian profession.



Prominent speakers who accepted Visit Hungary's invitation included NASA AI Director Omar Hatamleh, Nick Hall, founder and CEO of Digital Tourism Think Tank, and Xavier Font, professor at the University of Surrey and a prominent expert on sustainable tourism.



They mentioned that the international presentation of the calculator that measures the ecological footprint of baths, spas and wellness centers, as well as bathers, promises to be a real novelty - in a way already established in aviation - thus helping the maintaining institutions in optimized operation and reducing costs.



A publication summarizing fifty best Hungarian practices in the field of sustainable tourism may also be of great interest: its creators have collected the best examples, from wineries to accommodation and various tourist attractions.



The detailed program of the Tourism Summit and the list of speakers can be found on the conference website: https://tourismsummit.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

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The 14th Szemrevalo-Sehenswert Film Festival is preparing with six audience meetings, at which the audience can see ten recent German-language films between October 9 and 19 in Budapest.

The festival will open on the evening of October 9 at the Puskin Cinema with the film Marielle Knows Everything, which received a special award at the Berlinale.



The film is about a girl who has special telepathic abilities - and thanks to them there are no secrets between her and her parents - reads the information sent to MTI.



After the screening, the audience can meet one of the film's characters, German actor Mehmet Atesci, who studied acting at the Zurich University of the Arts, was a permanent member of the Maxim Gorky Theater in Berlin for a long time, and has been a member of the Burgtheater in Vienna since 2019.



On October 10, the Muvesz Cinema will screen Germany's Oscar nominee and the drama The Sound of Falling, which won the Jury Prize at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. In Mascha Schilinski's work, a Saxon farm is home to a story spanning a hundred years, which unfolds through the fates of four women.



After the screening, there will be a discussion with screenwriter Louise Peter. The German screenwriter studied theater, film and media studies in Vienna, and then acting in Berlin. Later, she studied screenwriting at the Baden-Wurttemberg Film Academy.



Piet Baumgartner's film Dance of the Machines, which won the award for best new director in San Sebastian last year, will be screened on October 11. The Swiss filmmaker's film features people who have difficulty talking about their emotions and "dancing" machines.



After the screening, the audience can meet Phil Hayes, an English-Swiss actor, theater director and musician who plays the father. The adventurous artist - who has worked in restaurants, pubs, factories, radio, television and construction sites - has lived in Zurich since 1998.



On October 16, Austria's Oscar nominee Bernhard Wenger's Peacock - Am I Real? will be screened, in which Matthias works for an agency where clients can hire an escort for a variety of occasions.



After the screening, there will be a discussion with psychologist Krisztian Indries about the psychological and sociological aspects of the Rent a Friend service, which is the basis of the film.



On October 17, the Austrian tragicomic road movie 80 Plusz, which is about euthanasia and freedom at the end of life, and became the most watched film in Austria last year, will be shown.



After the screening, there will be a discussion with bioethicist and philosopher Laszlo Nemes about the philosophical and ethical aspects of end-of-life issues.



Finally, on October 18, those interested will be able to see the opening film of this year's Berlinale, Tom Tykwer's The Light.



According to the information, the German filmmaker said of his new work, "In The Light, the characters argue, struggle and fight, but they also laugh, sing and dance. Although they are separated from each other, they still belong together."



After the screening, the audience will be able to meet actress Thea Ehre, who won the Silver Bear for Best Supporting Actress at the 2023 Berlinale for her performance in the film Bis ans Ende der Nacht, the statement says.



More:

goethe.de/ins/hu



MTI Stock Photo - for illustrative purposes only



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

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The interactive outdoor exhibition "Martians: Hungarian Scientists and Nobel Prize Winners" has been moved from Vorosmarty Square to Szentharomsag Square in Buda Castle. The exhibition will be on display at this location until November 17.

At the opening ceremony held in the Ministry of the Interior building, the Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior said that the exhibition at Szentharomsag Square could reach a large number of tourists, so " many foreigners will be amazed at how much intellectual potential there is in Hungary."



Bence Retvari emphasized that the exhibition has an important message for Hungarian students, that " it is worth studying and being diligent, because many Hungarians have reached the top with their knowledge."



Csilla Fazekas, Deputy Mayor of Budavar, recalled the title of the exhibition: in the 20th century, those Hungarian scientists who, upon arriving in the United States, seemed almost otherworldly with their genius were called Martians.



"The traveling exhibition coming to our district aims to bring these extraordinary personalities closer to us: it shows how the discoveries were made not only with data and dates, but also with stories, comics and short films made with artificial intelligence"- he highlighted, then continued, " we can get to know those scientists who, with their work, have shown the whole world what the Hungarian spirit and creativity are capable of ." The exhibition also reminds us that there are no new ideas without curiosity, perseverance and courage, he added.



Balazs Gulyas, president of the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network, said that it would be difficult to imagine a more appropriate location for this exhibition than Buda Castle, which, as he put it, is one of the most important intellectual and historical centers of the country.



The exhibition, which spans almost two centuries, showcases the defining stages of the work of great Hungarian scientists, and visitors can gain a glimpse behind the scenes of world-changing ideas, he added.



Miklos Szantho, Director General of the Center for Fundamental Rights, said in his opening speech, The Martians exhibition is "perhaps the most Hungarian story: talent, hard work and pride are on display here, and this exhibition is a collection of tangible evidence". Being Hungarian also means that we value achievement, that we are proud of our nation, that we dare to be great - he emphasized.



Most of the more than fifty personalities presented at the exhibition can be classified into the fields of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and economics based on their work, but the "Martians" include key figures in the automotive industry, the most creative inventors, as well as a Nobel Prize winner in literature (Imre Kertesz) and a Nobel Peace Prize winner of Hungarian origin (Elie Wiesel).



The contents of the exhibition can be viewed on a monitor hidden in five man-height books, and at the photo point you can take pictures with life-size caricatures of scientists placed in the space.



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The countdown for the second phase of voting has begun in West Bengal and Assam. A total of 30 assembly seats in Bengal will be voted. Nandigram seat will also go to this stage of the election. On the other hand, in Assam, 39 seats will be voted on Thursday, where there are between 1.5 and 2 lakh voters.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a PIL filed by a Class 12 student seeking the inclusion of transgender-inclusive sexuality education in school curricula across India. A bench led by CJI B.R. Gavai has issued notices to the Centre, NCERT, and several state governments for their response. Scroll down to read more.
US President Donald Trump on Monday called on Israel and Hamas to move fast on the Gaza peace initiative, warning that failure to do so could result in massive bloodshed. His statement comes ahead of expected negotiations between the two sides in Egypt later today, raising hopes for a potential ceasefire.
Nicolas Sarkozy was forced onto the defensive Thursday over his legal woes in the first debate of right-wing rivals for the French presidency, widely expected to be won by the right.
In Pittsburgh, US, a 51-year-old Indian-origin man was shot dead last Friday after he intervened in a dispute in the parking lot of a motel.
Smith shooting the moontwice, potentiallyrepresents a resurgent breed of executive compensation that has captured the imaginations of a growing number of CEOs. Moonshot wanderlust initially kicked into high gear after Elon Musks groundbreaking 2017 award from Tesla, once valued as high as $56 billion before it was twice rescinded owing to a legal challenge. Moonshot grants, not to be confused with an outsize stock grant known as a mega grant for its sheer size, tie CEO compensation almost entirely to aggressive, seemingly impossible performance targets, explained Eric Hoffmann, vice president and chief data officer at comp consulting firm Farient Advisors . CEOs dont get the awards unless they hit specific valuation hurdles and operational goals, he said, and the performance periods are typically five, seven or 10 years, rather than the more standard three-year period.

In full candor, my wife was against me taking on the challenge, as she saw it as just too risky, Smith wrote in a letter to investors in 2023. But Smith blew through all the goals and each of the 12 tranches in five yearshalf the time the board gave himmaking Smith the highest-paid CEO last year with compensation valued at $165 million. The stock price grew more than 600% between 2018 when the board offered him the moonshot and 2023. After he unlocked the 12th tranche, Smith negotiated an $88 million reduction on his next performance plan (which will keep him at Axon until at least 2030 with a goal of driving the stock to $943.75) and directed it be granted to the lowest-paid workers at Axon, showering them with surprise stock grants based on their years of tenure at the company.

Smith thrives in high-risk, high-reward environments, so the Axon board granted Smith a near carbon copy of Tesla CEO Elon Musks moonshot pay plan but on a much smaller scale. The challenge to Smith was to grow the Taser stun gun and body-camera maker 10-fold over a 10-year performance period starting in 2018. From a base of $2.5 billion, Smith had to increase the companys market cap by $1 billion to unlock each new tranche of stock options, for a total of 12 tranches and a market cap of $13.5 billion. In addition, Smith had to hit eight revenue-based operational or eight adjusted-Ebitda-based goals . During the decade he was supposed to work on achieving those goals, he would get almost nothingno bonuses or other incentives, and his salary was about $31,000 a year.

But Smith had started getting antsy around 2016, as he was approaching three decades at the company, Axon compensation committee chair Hadi Partovi told Fortune. Smith was talking more seriously to the board about his succession plan, who was next to lead the company, and what he would do next. Partovi knew Smith could make a lot more money if he launched a startup than if he made Axon worth 10 times as much under his previous comp plan.

Story Continues

It should be difficult to get these awards, said Hoffmann. You have to create a lot of value in order to earn these kinds of awards.

Traditional CEO pay packages include a base salary, an annual cash bonus, and a longer-term equity incentive award often based on time and performance goals. According to compensation data firm Equilar, median compensation among S&P 500 CEOs was $17.1 million in 2024, up nearly 10% over the year prior. Moonshot awards, however, upend the traditional compensation model while also bucking the trend of billionaire tech founders like Amazons Jeff Bezos, Googles Larry Page, and Metas Mark Zuckerberg, who all held large equity stakes and focused on making them more valuable, noted Hoffmann. The key distinction is that those founders built wealth by focusing on increasing the value of their existing equity stakes, while taking minimal or no compensation, rather than seeking massive equity grants on top of their founder stakes, said Hoffmann. The moonshot model is a departureseeking both founder equity upside plus additional compensation awards.

This way of wealth building is different than what was used during the dotcom era, he noted.

The upside to the moonshot is an enormous payout and a growing slice of company ownership if an executive can deliver transformational growth, but investors arent always wild about them, and moonshots dont come without significant risk, said Todd Sirras, a managing director with consulting firm Semler Brossy who has advised clients on these deals. Companies, often founder-led, are building out AI capability and are willing to bet all of these ungodly amounts of money on researches or small teams thinking, Thats the right machine we need for the factory, said Sirras. But theres a fundamental flaw in this approach because people are unpredictableunlike factory equipment.

Human beings can be terrible machines, Sirras told Fortune. Theyre emotional. Their attention gets divided thinking about what airplane theyre going to buy. Its more risky to invest in a human being than it is to invest in a machine because human beings break in different and unpredictable ways.

Until now, the moonshot offers have been almost exclusive to founder-CEOs and almost always established pre-IPO, said Sirras. Semler Brossys database of about 80 moonshot awards includes dozens issued during the SPAC IPO boom of 2020 and 2021 that are now dead in the water because companies failed to meet their valuation targets, he added.

With fewer IPOs in recent years and fewer moonshots, there are about 16 that exist among large publicly traded companiesand even fewer CEOs who have achieved maximum payouts, including Smith and Musk, according to research from Claire Kamas, a senior data analyst at Farient Advisors. Other companies that have awarded the grants include Airbnb, DoorDash, Oracle, ServiceNow, and RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, Kamas found. But the high-profile nature of the awards and the eye-popping figures associated with them are pushing board-level compensation committees that negotiate CEO pay to prepare for conversations about similar packages.

Farient has gotten queries from compensation committee chairs who are already preparing for how they will address the situation when the CEO comes to them about a moonshot plan. In one case, the CEO isnt a founder but a manager hired to run the company, Hoffmann noted. He isnt a fan of moonshot awards, particularly in cases where CEOs already hold significant ownership stakes and control over their companies.

From a firm perspective, it is our view that these plans are generally not in the best interests of the organizations, the stakeholders, and shareholders in these companies, said Hoffmann. To me, a lot of these feel like a lottery ticket, a winner-take-all.

Despite the risk, Sirras sees these awards rising in popularity again, and he sees new trends emerging: Founders are granting moonshots to their anointed successors, he said. Real estate platform Opendoor Technologies this month granted a moonshot potentially worth $2.8 billion and an 11% slice of the company to new CEO Kaz Nejatian. Sirras said that award looks to be the first of its kind, and the board likely offered it to Nejatian because of a blessing from Opendoors cofounders, Eric Wu and Khosla Ventures Keith Rabois. Wu and Rabois returned to the board alongside Nejatians hiring and invested $40 million of equity capital into the company.

The same trend seems to be occurring in private equity. For instance, when founders Henry Kravis and George Roberts of KKR stepped down, the firm in 2021 granted co-CEOs Joe Bae and Scott Nuttall 1.2 million shares of KKR Holdings, valued at about $75 million, as part of their promotions. That same year, Apollo Global Management granted copresidents Jim Zelter and Scott Kleinman the potential to earn more than $860 million in stock. Zelter was promoted to president in 2025, and Marc Rowan remains CEO.

In addition to controlling founders who are planning leadership transitions and founder-anointed successors, the new wave of awards will likely also go to leading-edge executives in scenarios in which founders are making investment decisions, said Sirras. The arms race for talent between OpenAI and Meta and the reported compensation packages Zuckerberg has offered come to mind, he added.

From a design perspective, the magnitude is mind-boggling, said Sirras. He compared it to the Jurassic Park film series. Danger increases exponentially the closer these awards get to the general executive population, Sirras wrote in an email. Alongside moonshots for founder-anointed successors and non-successors with a major capital investment he deems inside the T. rex fence, the rise of awards in non-founder companies means the dinosaurs have escaped and are heading to the mainland, Sirras wrote.

The awards can also prompt investors to revolt. Business payments company Corpay awarded CEO Ronald Clarke 850,000 performance-based stock options valued at $55.6 million in 2021. The award had stock price hurdles of $350 and $400 and Clarke got no long-term equity grants in 2020, 2022, and 2023. In 2024, the comp committee canceled 300,000 stock options subject to the $400 hurdle and modified the criterion for 550,000 stock options subject to the $350 hurdle to require that Corpay hit a closing stock price at or above $350 for at least three trading days by the end of 2024. Clarke achieved the modified hurdle on Oct. 23, 2024. Corpay told investors the change was meant to align Mr. Clarkes realized pay with that of shareholders who benefited from the increased stock level over $350 before the modification, but prior to the modification the stock had not closed above $350 for 10 consecutive days, which was the pre-modification hurdle. In other words, the board made it simpler for Clarke to earn the stock options by reducing the target from 10 consecutive trading days above $350 to just three trading days, a hurdle he cleared shortly after the change.

The stock didnt hit $400 until February 2025 and is currently trading at just under $300. The companys 2025 Say-on-Pay votea thumbs-up, thumbs-down nonbinding vote on executive payonly got support from 53.5% of votes cast. Over the past 14 years, the Russell 3000 index saw average support of about 91% for pay programs.

Corpay did not respond to a request for comment.

Axon Enterprise moonshot

At Axon, Smiths moonshot deal differs from Musks in another key way: Its open to Smiths direct reports on down to line workers at Axon, making employees eligible for a version of Smiths moonshot deal. Workers could give up some salary, put some of their pay at risk, and work to hit revenue targets. Plus, every employee in the U.S. got a grant of 60 performance stock units that vested according to the same milestones in Smiths awarda move almost unheard of in corporate America. No one other than Smith was able to essentially give up all their pay, said Partovi, mostly because Smith was independently successful enough that if he didnt cut it and got nothing, he had enough of a cushion. Roughly $75 million in employee compensation was locked up as at-risk pay so employees could take part in the moonshot.

I really think that was a driver behind why the company grew so fast, said Partovi. Any element of infighting was goneeverybody was suddenly like, Were all in this together.

Smiths 2023 award went through a significant negotiation process where Partovi heard directly from shareholders about everything they didnt like about the first plan so he could debug it. The board also attempted to legal-proof it against the type of challenge that Musks moonshot faced, prompting one of the compensation committee members who had socialized with Smith to resign from the committee. The board also changed the vehicle type from performance options to restricted stock, added in speed brakes that would keep Smith at Axon, and made it more difficult for Smith to hit the last few tranches. Partovi said he addressed every question from shareholders about misalignment in the plan during the boards negotiation process with Smith.

Ultimately, Partovi credits the moonshot deal with transforming the corporate culture around shared risk and high reward with a version of a high-stakes compensation plan rolled out to everyone at the company. In his view, it helped to eliminate dynamics where direct reports and general employees resent outsize pay for the chief executive, he said.

The big thing is, the CEO is taking a risk in giving up his pay, and you dont want it to turn out to be shareholders win and the CEO wins or shareholders lose and the CEO still wins, said Partovi. I dont know if grants like Ricks make sense for everybody, but they strongly make sense for Rick Smith at Axon.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
US President Biden also spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy to receive an update on the fire at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is also Europes largest nuclear plant.
More shoppers are open to using buy now, pay later loans, especially as the holiday gift-buying season approaches and as shoppers are more worried about rising prices and financial stress, according to a new survey by PayPal. USA TODAY got an exclusive first look at the survey.

As the calendar starts to turn to the holidays, 60% of participants said they were feeling more financial stress in a survey by Talker Research for PayPal.

The survey also showed that "about 80% of shoppers who have used or considered using BNPL are open to using it for holiday shopping this year, making it effectively a mainstream choice at this point," Michelle Gill, general manager, small business and financial services at PayPal, told USA TODAY.

What are buy now, pay later loans?

BNPLs offer shoppers the option to pay for purchases in installments, usually with no or minimal interest, no hard credit check and near-instant approval.

Shoppers can use services like Affirm, Klarna, Afterpay and PayPal as options to pay when checking out during an online purchase. Some credit cards also offer similar options, like the Chase Freedom card. Depending on the size of the purchase and the company's product, shoppers can select the number of payments, how frequently they occur and what fees they are willing to pay, if any. The BNPL model also allows shoppers to have multiple loans with the same or different providers open at once.

FICO earlier in 2025 said it would begin factoring in BNPL loans in people's credit scores starting in the fall of 2025. Some BNPL providers, like Affirm and Klarna, report activity to some of the credit bureaus, USA TODAY has previously reported. But not all BNPL providers are required to report activity. PayPal is not reporting BNPL loans to credit bureaus, Gill said.

Nicely wrapped gifts with different colored ribbons.

Younger generations are using BNPL more

Younger generations appear to be the most common adopters of digital BNPL loans, USA TODAY has previously reported.

Gen Z and millennials seem to be using BNPL more, with about 10% of each generation taking advantage of them, according to a Bank of America report in June. That follows a three-year period of slowing use after digital BNPL platforms saw a rise in popularity.

For some people, its because its convenient, but there are some who are reaching for it because theyve perhaps been a bit financially stressed, said David Tinsley, senior economist at the Bank of America Institute, previously told USA TODAY.

BNPL loans help consumers make bigger purchases

Thane Armbruster, 32, of St. Joseph, Missouri, has used a variety of BNPL products to buy both personal and work items for his tutoring business.
Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NU) is one of the best stocks to buy under $20. On September 30, Nubank announced that it had applied for a national bank charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency/OCC of the US. This action is a preparatory stage supporting Nubanks long-term vision of expanding its customer-centric, tech-driven digital banking platform beyond Latin America, with the ultimate goal of evolving its regional platform into a global model.

This pursuit positions the company to unlock new possibilities within the US financial landscape. Founder and CEO of Nu Holdings, David Velez, noted that while the core focus remains on delivering growth in its existing markets, the charter application will help Nubank better serve its existing customers based in the US and, in the future, connect with others who could benefit from its products and services.

Nubank Seeks US National Bank Charter to Launch Global Expansion and Digital Banking in America

A national bank charter from the OCC would support Nubanks ability to innovate responsibly and scale efficiently in the US market, eventually allowing it to offer deposit accounts, credit cards, lending, and digital asset custody. This strategy reflects the compliance-first mindset established in its current operations in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia.

Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NU) provides a digital banking platform in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, the Cayman Islands, and the US.

While we acknowledge the potential of NU as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
By Olesya Astakhova and Dmitry Zhdannikov

LONDON/MOSCOW (Reuters) -Eight OPEC+ countries will increase oil output further from November when the group meets on Sunday, sources close to the talks said, with Saudi Arabia pushing for a larger increase to regain market share and Russia suggesting a more modest rise.

The group comprising the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries plus Russia and some smaller producers has increased its oil output targets by more than 2.6 million barrels per day (bpd) this year, equating to about 2.5% of global demand.

The shift in policy after years of cuts is designed to regain market share from rivals such as U.S. shale producers. Russia and Saudi Arabia, the two biggest producers in the OPEC+ group, have disagreed on the size of increases from time to time but have ultimately reached compromise agreements.

Moscow would prefer the group to raise output by 137,000 bpd from November, the same as in October, to avoid pressuring oil prices and because it would struggle to raise output owing to sanctions over its war in Ukraine, two sources said this week.

OPEC+ has agreed in principle on a 137,000 bpd increase, three OPEC+ sources said ahead of the online meeting scheduled for 1100 GMT on Sunday.

Other options included double, triple or even quadruple that figure - to 274,000 bpd, 411,000 bpd or 548,000 bpd respectively, sources said ahead of the meeting.

Previous OPEC+ output cuts had peaked in March, amounting to 5.85 million bpd in total. The cuts were made up of three elements: voluntary cuts of 2.2 million bpd, 1.65 million bpd by eight members and a further 2 million bpd by the whole group.

The eight producers plan to fully unwind one element of those cuts - 2.2 million bpd - by the end of September. For October, they started removing the second layer of 1.65 million bpd with the increase of 137,000 bpd.

(Reporting by Alex Lawler, Ahmad Ghaddar, Olesya Astakhova and Dmitry Zhdannikov, writing by Alex Lawler, Editing by David Goodman)
Powerful Article III Project helping Trump appointee Jeffrey Clark combat D.C. Bar's 'barfare' By Rachel Alexander

web posted October 6, 2025 Jeffrey Clark, who assisted President Donald Trump with legal work dealing with the 2020 election, is continuing his lengthy battle against the D.C. Bar. Although he is back serving in the second Trump administration as Regulatory Czar, D.C. Bar counsel Hamilton Fox is attempting to disbar him for "dishonesty." The Article III Project (A3P) submitted an amicus curiae brief in the disciplinary proceedings on Friday supporting Clark's appeal of an adverse Report & Recommendation by the Board on Professional Responsibility. The D.C. Bar went after Clark for merely drafting a proposed letter from the DOJ that was never even sent to various Georgia officials, advising them of their options for dealing with the laws that were broken during the election. Clark based it on the Ligon Report , a transcript from a Georgia Senate hearing held on December 3, 2020, named after Judiciary Committee Chairman William Ligon, which cited chain of custody of ballot issues, absentee ballot problems and more. The report concluded that the election should have never been certified. Clark, who was serving as acting head of the DOJ's Civil Division at the time, is being punished for a thought crime, since the letter was never even sent. It was merely a proposal, titled "Pre-Decisional & Deliberative/Attorney-Client or Legal Work Product Georgia Proof of Concept." There was a dispute over it within the top brass at the DOJ, and ultimately Trump was persuaded not to send it. A3P said Clark wasn't dishonest. "He sincerely believed both that election irregularities required further investigation and that his immediate superiors were mistaken in their belief that there was no sufficient evidentiary basis for further investigation despite the President's significant concerns." Clark's views weren't contrary to the DOJ. "The Department did have significant concerns about election irregularities, namely from the ultimate head of the Department of Justice  the President himself," A3P said. "Indeed, the undisputed facts establish that the President went so far as to consider installing Mr. Clark as Acting Attorney General to allow Mr. Clark to further investigate and pursue the letter's contents." Trump aligned far more with Clark than he did with acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and his former deputy Richard Donoghue. He installed Clark as attorney general instead for one day because he was so upset with the stonewalling regarding looking into the irregularities. Trump expressed his concern about the DOJ's inaction, since the "country is up in arms over the corruption." A3P noted, "The President expressly agreed with Mr. Clark that more evidence likely existed and could be uncovered quickly either by the Federal Government or by others.  Attorneys can allege facts on information and belief, to be proven later with sufficient facts and evidence." The Board surprisingly acknowledged that "[t]here is no dispute that many people (including the President) did not trust the results of the 2020 election," yet still concluded that Clark's position was dishonest. Monmouth University, not a conservative pollster, found in numerous surveys that about one-third of voters believe the 2020 presidential election was affected by election wrongdoing. Rasmussen Reports, one of the most accurate pollsters, discovered that over one-fifth of mail-in voters admitted they broke the law in the 2020 election. Considering voters are divided over whether there was election wrongdoing, the D.C. Bar and its disciplinary panels cannot conclusively decide this issue and declare that Clark was dishonest for agreeing with much of the population. A3P said it raises "significant constitutional concerns," because "were this Court to assert power to police the internal operations of a branch of the Federal Government it would effectively preclude the President's closest confidants from providing candid advice for fear of later disbarment." The D.C. Bar applied several vague, broad ethics rules typically used to target conservative attorneys. One was Rule 8.4(c), which makes it professional misconduct to "[e]ngage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation." A3P summarized, "Disciplinary boards must not be free to wield their authority to settle political scores or punish attorneys for advancing disfavored legal positions." The group said "the disciplinary proceedings .. are a classic example of lawfare and threaten the practice of law itself." America First Legal has also submitted an amicus curiae brief. Clark is a defendant in the RICO prosecution initiated by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. That prosecution is likely going nowhere. On Friday, Judge Scott McAfee set a deadline of October 17 for an appointment of a prosecutor to replace Willis, who was disqualified due to her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she hired to lead the case. McAfee said failure to appoint a new prosecutor will result in dismissal for "want of prosecution." Bar associations have targeted numerous conservative attorneys involved with recent election disputes. Trump's former attorney John Eastman is still fighting his disbarment in California. Rudy Giuliani lost his law license in both New York and D.C. Sidney Powell has been successful so far fighting off an attempt to suspend her law license in Texas, but was ordered to pay over $175,000 in legal fees to Detroit and Michigan for an election lawsuit. Kari Lake's attorney Bryan Blehm was suspended for 60 days. There are plenty more. The practice of law attracts leftists, who then become heavily involved in running bar associations. Unlike conservative attorneys, who are more likely to devote their free time to family and church, leftist attorneys enjoy dominating low levels of power. Combined with leftist-dominated courts, it is very difficult for conservative attorneys to obtain fair trials and appeals. The Trump administration has begun investigating the 2020 election, so this issue isn't even settled yet. Trump recently called for the appointment of a special prosecutor, and authorities just launched probes in Arizona, Michigan and Nevada. For the D.C. Bar to discipline Clark over an ongoing dispute of nationwide importance wreaks of barfare, and it's long overdue to start investigating these corrupt bars and their unfair monopolies over the practice of law. Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative. She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications. Home
Pepperdines Graziadio School of Business and Management has released its 2025 Most Fundable Companies list

Pepperdine Universitys Graziadio Business School has announced the 15 winners of its 2025 Most Fundable Companies list, a national competition that recognizes promising U.S.-based startups with strong investment potential. Now in its eighth year, the program evaluated more than 2,300 early-stage companies from all 50 states, analyzing their business models, financial projections, intellectual property, market size, and team strength.

This years winning companies represent a diverse range of industries, from aerospace and medical technology to construction, consumer health, and sustainable packaging. The list includes Avol, a Brooklyn-based firm developing autonomous electric aircraft for goods delivery, and Azure Printed Homes, a Los Angeles company using recycled polymers and 3D printing to reduce the cost and timeline of home construction.

While the program aims to connect startups with investors and highlight business viability, university officials noted that selection to the Most Fundable Companies list does not represent investment advice or a solicitation of capital.

SUSTAINABILITY, TECH & HEALTHCARE TOP THE LIST

Other honorees include Butterfli Technologies, which offers accessible transportation through a software-as-a-service platform; Helix Earth Technologies, which is adapting NASA-inspired HVAC solutions to reduce energy usage; and ECO2MIX, which provides carbonic acid-based pH control services to agriculture and turf clients.

The 2025 cohort also includes several companies focused on healthcare and biotechnology. Siren Biotechnology, based in San Francisco, is building a universal immuno-gene therapy platform for cancer. Somnair, a Baltimore startup and one of three companies named a Fan Favorite, is developing a wearable, noninvasive treatment for sleep apnea. Microvascular Therapeutics of Tucson is working to transform ultrasound from a diagnostic tool into a therapeutic platform.

Consumer-focused ventures also made the list. Scarlet by RedDrop, headquartered in Compton, offers puberty education and personal care products for teens and tweens. Inkd Greetings, a Phoenix-based company and another Fan Favorite, provides on-demand greeting card printing and personalization in retail environments. Mela Vitamins, based in Playa del Rey, develops science-backed supplements for people of color, addressing a historically underserved wellness market.

FROM SOLAR SHIPPING TO SPACE TRAVEL

Additional honorees include PVpallet, which offers reusable shipping platforms for solar panels and other heavy goods; Space Phoenix Systems, a logistics company enabling two-way transport to space; and City Twig, whose AI-powered assistant Hulii helps streamline sales distribution for businesses.
Key Points

Shares of the pharmaceutical giant have been in the red for three consecutive years.

It just reached a deal with the White House that will give it a three-year grace period on tariffs.

Acquisitions might also boost sales, but a loss of patent protections will have the opposite effect.

10 stocks we like better than Pfizer 

Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) is one of the largest healthcare companies in the world. It was founded in 1849 and has since become an iconic name in healthcare.

It has developed many medicines over the years; most recently, it has been known for developing its highly successful COVID vaccine Comirnaty. Growth and innovation have enabled the company to become a household name and a leader in healthcare.

Investors, however, have been having doubts about the business and its ability to grow in the future. In the past three years, the stock has produced negative returns. Since 2022, It has lost more than half its value. Can the stock break its downward streak, and finish this year in positive territory?

Image source: Getty Images.

A recent deal with the White House gives investors hope

For a while, it looked like Pfizer's stock was destined for another year in the red. The U.S. government has been targeting pharma companies with tariffs this year, and tougher vaccine policies have also been weighing on the company's valuation.

But on Sept. 30, Pfizer reached a deal with President Donald Trump that will give it a grace period of three years before tariffs would be applied to its imported pharmaceutical products. The company is voluntarily lowering the price of drugs for Medicaid and will sell some drugs on TrumpRx, a new government-run direct-to-consumer website for pharmaceuticals. In addition, the company also pledged to invest $70 billion on research and manufacturing in the U.S. over the coming years.

This appeared to alleviate at least some concerns for investors because shares of Pfizer jumped on the recent news. On Oct. 1, it closed above $27 for the first time since January. The stock is now in positive territory for 2025, with year-to-date gains around 3%. It's not a huge return, but it is an indication that investors are feeling a bit more bullish about the healthcare stock again and that it might be able to finish the year in the green.

Pfizer still faces a lot of questions

Although the stock has been rallying recently, it's not out of the woods by any means. COVID sales are diminishing for Pfizer, and the company is facing patent cliffs on multiple key drugs.

CEO Albert Bourla has previously said the company could stand to lose between $16 billion and $18 billion in revenue between 2025 and 2030 as it loses patent protection on some of its drugs. However, he's also planning to add $25 billion in new revenue by the end of the decade through acquisitions and research and development.
QatarEnergy has signed an agreement with British oil giant Shell to buy a 27% participating interest in the North Cleopatra exploration block offshore Egypt.

The deal, which requires approval from the Egyptian Government, will see Shell retain a 36% participating interest and operate the block.

Other partners in the project include Chevron with a 27% interest and Tharwa Petroleum Company with a 10% stake.

The North Cleopatra block, part of the frontier Herodotus basin, spans more than 3,400km in water depths of up to 2,600m.

It lies adjacent to the North El-Dabaa block, where QatarEnergy already holds a 23% interest.

Qatars Minister of State for Energy Affairs and QatarEnergy president and CEO, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, said: We are pleased to secure this additional exploration acreage, which further expands our upstream exploration activities in the Arab Republic of Egypt.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, and our partners in the block for their valued support and cooperation.

We look forward to working together and delivering our exploration objectives.

In recent years, QatarEnergy has expanded its portfolio in various oil and gas basins including in Guyana, Lebanon, Namibia and South Africa, reported Reuters.

The two companies have collaborated on various projects in Qatar and around the world, including QatarEnergy LNG ventures, the Pearl GTL plant and other joint investments.

In May, QatarEnergy signed a 25-year condensate supply agreement with Shell International Eastern Trading Company, a subsidiary of Shell, for the delivery of up to 285 million barrels of condensate over the contract's duration.

Last year, the two companies signed a long-term agreement to supply three million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas to China.

"QatarEnergy to acquire 27% interest in North Cleopatra block offshore Egypt " was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Most Americans struggle to invest wisely, but money expert Ramit Sethi said following six simple steps can change your financial future.

Check Out: 5 Key Mindset Shifts To Financially Become the Top 1%, According to Humphrey Yang

Read Next: How Far $750K Plus Social Security Goes in Retirement in Every US Region

Getting investments right is the key to building wealth, he said in a recent YouTube video. If you can follow the playbook, you can set yourself up for financial freedom.

Heres how to invest properly to build wealth.

1. Max Out Your 401(k) Match  Its Free Money

If your employer offers a 401(k) match, you should contribute enough so that you get 100% of the match, Sethi said.

Lets just assume that you make $100,000 for easy math, he said. [If your company offers a] 100% match for up to 5% of your contribution, that means that youll contribute $5,000 every year and your company will match it with $5,000.

Find Out: 10 Genius Things Warren Buffett Says To Do With Your Money

2. Eliminate High-Interest Debt for Instant Returns

If you have credit card debt or other high-interest debt, your next priority should be to pay this off.

Paying off your high-interest debt, like 26.99% [APR] for your worthless Macys card, will give you a significant instant return, Sethi said.

While you work to pay off debt, avoid taking on more debt or opening up new credit cards.

3. Open a Roth IRA To Grow Tax-Free Retirement Savings

Even if you have access to a 401(k), you should also open up a Roth IRA for additional savings opportunities.

Be sure to check the IRA contribution limits and contribute as much as possible, Sethi said.

For 2025, the limit on annual contributions to an IRA is $7,000, with an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution available to individuals ages 50 and over.

4. Boost Your 401(k) Contributions Beyond the Match

If you have money left over after your 401(k) [matching contribution], paying off high-interest debt and your Roth IRA, go back to your 401(k) and contribute as much as possible to it, Sethi said. Go above and beyond your employer match.

For 2025, individuals can contribute up to $23,500 to their 401(k) plans.

5. Use an HSA To Invest With Triple Tax Benefits

If you have access to a health savings account (HSA), Sethi recommended contributing as much as possible to it.

Did you know that an HSA can actually be an investment account? he asked. It has a triple tax advantage that very few people know about, and it can be incredibly profitable for you.

An HSA allows for tax-deductible contributions, tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals, making it a uniquely powerful tool for saving and investing.
The summit kicked off with high energy as Earn Your Leisure Founders and hosts Rashad Bilal and Troy Billings opened with a live podcast featuring Shark Tank OG Robert Herjavec. The conversation centered on the ROI of investing in yourself, and allowed Herjavec to reflect on his own journey and how self-belief wasnt always his strong suit. He realized this during a dinner with fellow Shark Mark Cuban, who revealed he knew at just 12 years old that he would one day be wealthy and own a basketball team.

Shark Tank fanatic Rashawnda Wright was inspired to start a business after years of watching the show. When her daughter struggled to fit her graduation cap over her natural hair, Wright created Cap Creations custom inserts that let people with diverse hair wear caps comfortably and stylishly. Although she hasnt yet landed a spot on Shark Tank, attending the summit gave her a chance to connect with the Sharks and gift Tabitha Brown one of her patented inserts.

Lockett created her haircare line after developing a regrowth oil to treat her postpartum hair loss. Initially targeting moms, she soon discovered a wider market among those with alopecia and others experiencing hair loss. As Zions Crown grows, shes seeking guidance on managing finances and data to sustain momentum.

Attendees listened intently as small business owners from across the country gathered to fill gaps in their business models and connect with fellow founders who understand the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.

Among the featured Sharks were Daymond John, Kevin OLeary, Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Daniel Lubetsky, Robert Herjavek, along with next-gen guest Sharks Allison Ellsworth and Rashuan Williams. They were joined by top business and investment leaders who shared their expertise in in-depth discussions covering everything from branding and marketing to harnessing the industry-shifting power of AI.

Hosted by Clover Chief Empowerment Officer Tabitha Brown at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, the inaugural conference marked the culmination of 17 seasons of Shark Tank, spotlighting the next generation of innovative business leaders. Past and present Sharks took center stage for panels, live pitches, and info sessions designed to equip small business owners with the inspiration and motivation to thrive in todays challenging economy.

Story Continues

I remember how much that affected me because when I was 12 years old, I just didnt want to be poor, Herjavec, a Croatian native, told the crowd. This mindset of fear was what I had to change. If youre going to build a great business, or do anything in life, you have to have the ability to believe in yourself.

That same belief and determination are essential for blocking out fear as an investor. During economic downturns or uncertain times, many people pull back on investing due to reduced purchasing power, heightened risk aversion, and job security concerns. But success ultimately comes down to mindset and the depth of research put into a business or sector when navigating turbulent financial waters, Bilal says.

I think that you really have to focus on whats important right now like you know theres a lot of fear in the economy, theres political uncertainty, theres a lot of unrest in the world that we live in, in our country, but stay focused on whats important stay focused on your goal, Bilal told BLACK ENTERPRISE. Focus on the industry. Focus on the fundamentals of a company. Focus on the leadership of a company and try to block out the outside noise because theres a lot its a lot going on right now.

The Swim With Your Pack panel on Day 2 of the summit brought together Jay Bailey, president and CEO of the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE); Katie Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber; and Dr. Key Hallmon, social entrepreneur, author, and speaker, to highlight the critical role community plays in a businesss strategic vision.

At the Russell Center, community is the foundation. Its model of supporting Black-owned businesses has fueled economic growth in Atlanta through revenue growth, job creation, and wealth-building among its stakeholders. Backed by undeniable data and a global diaspora, Bailey challenges the idea of categorizing Black business owners as a minority.

When you look at a global marketplace, when I go to South America, they look like me. When I go to the Caribbean, they look like me. When I go to Africa, they certainly look like me. A lot of Canada, they look like me, Bailey told BE in an exclusive post-panel chat. When I go to Europe, they look like me. Theyre parts of Asia that look like me. Theres a global diaspora, so you know I tend to say theres nothing minor about us.

Bailey continued. They may say minority, but theres nothing minor about us. Theres this opportunity for upside. If you look at all the data metrics that show the browning of the globe, its just smart business. And I think if you want to look at business over the next 10-20 years, youve got to account for those that used to be called underrepresented. They used to be called minorities because that demographic is changing rapidly.

Rashuan Williams wrapped up Day 2 with a high-energy power session, guiding attendees through startup school with lessons on everything from crafting a first pitch deck to mastering the venture capital landscape. The dynamic guest Shark ended by investing $1 in every attendee as a symbolic reminder that they already hold the tools needed to become self-made multimillionaires like himself.

Speaking with BE after the session, Williams broke down the FITT Test he relies on when deciding where to investan approach that has guided his funding of more than 170 businesses, including early bets on Robinhood, Coinbase, Casper, Ring, PillPack, Lyft, and Dropbox. The FITT Test begins with the Founder (F), ensuring theyre the most qualified person to lead the venture. Next is Integrity (I), confirming hes partnering with the right individual and not a scammer.

A lot of people come up with an idea, raise money, shut it down the next day, and launch another idea, Williams said. Youre seeing that happening a lot, right? So I need somebody with integrity whos going to stick in and then do the hard thing for a long time and not waste my money.

Next is Team (T)the group a founder has built and retained over time. For Williams, if a founder cant keep their team committed, why should he invest? The final T stands for Traction, measuring how much a founder can accomplish with limited resources. During his power session, Williams, a Chicago native, likened it to a single mom on welfare who stretches every small paycheck to provide for her family.

You need to be able to see whether or not a person can get traction based on the very little that they do have, he said.

The three-day Shark Tank Summit wrapped with The Final Pitch, where three small businesses vied for investments from Sharks Daymond John, Kevin OLeary, and Tabitha Brown. Contestants included Sweet Encounter Bakery, known for its gluten- and nut-free cupcakes; Mended Textiles, a social impact brand empowering survivors of modern slavery; and Plant Zaddy, a plant therapy company promoting wellness through greenery.

Each founder had 90 seconds to pitch and faced over eight minutes of Shark scrutiny before a crowd of thousands. In the end, Clover declared all three winners, awarding each a $35,000 check to grow their businesses. Watching 17 seasons of Shark Tank culminate in the first-ever summit was a proud moment for Daymond John, who said he hopes to see a live taping of the show at a future event.

Actually, real-time broadcast of all those that come out in the top, top, top, and get to sit in front of us for real-time action, John told BE. I mean, we did it live before on ABC, but for people to see it in real-time. I want to see an audience of 5,000 people quiet. Hear a pin drop. To see somebody put their absolute dreams right on the line.

RELATED CONTENT: Backtalk with Daymond John
Key Points

Altria Group's efforts to go "smoke-free" have been mixed at best.

A new partnership could change this, paving the way for a return to net sales and earnings growth.

The combination of a high dividend yield and appreciation potential makes Altria an attractive opportunity, but shares could tumble if this latest "smoke-free" gambit fails to pay off.

10 stocks we like better than Altria Group 

Altria Group (NYSE: MO) is not only a Dividend King with over 50 consecutive years of dividend growth. The parent of Marlboro maker Philip Morris USA is currently the highest-yielding Dividend King out there, with a forward yield of 6.45%.

Altria's forward yield has been even higher in the past, prior to the stock's recent surge from around $40 a share at the start of 2024 to around $66 per share this month. Much of this run-up has been due to factors unrelated to the company's smoke-free diversification efforts. In fact, Altria has so far had mixed success capitalizing on the shift to tobacco-free nicotine pouch products like Zyn. Ironically, Zyn is owned by Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM), which, back in 2008, was a spin-off from Altria Group.

Future runup, though, may be directly related to the company's smoke-free diversification efforts. Last week, there was news of a major collaboration with its South Korean counterpart. The deal could help Altria bring to market products that not only help to partially offset declines in traditional tobacco products but also get the company back on track in terms of revenue and earnings growth.

Image source: Getty Images.

Altria, dividend security, and a recent major announcement

Oddly enough, with Altria's shares rising since 2024, it appears that investors have grown more confident that the company's high-yielding dividend is secure. Admittedly, a closer look at Altria Group's financials calls this into question. During Q2 2025, its net revenue fell 3.6% year over year, with GAAP earnings per share falling 36.2%.

Even as the company's On! tobacco pouch product saw a big jump in sales recently, volumes still pale in comparison to those from market leader Zyn. For instance, last quarter, On! reported shipments of 52.1 million cans, whereas Philip Morris International shipped out 190.2 million cans of Zyn during that same time frame.

Yet while On! has so far failed to serve as a silver bullet for Altria's growth issues, a recent development could be the prelude to a much more successful smoke-free strategy. On Sept. 23, Altria announced that it has a memorandum of understanding to enter a non-binding global collaboration with South Korean tobacco giant KT&G.
Stellantis is poised to allocate around $10bn investment into its US operations, Bloomberg reported, citing sources.

The proposed investment is part of a refocus on the US market, which is deemed crucial for the company's profitability.

According to sources, the automotive giant, responsible for the production of Jeep SUVs and Ram pickups, is expected to announce a $5bn investment, supplementing an earlier commitment of a similar amount.

The funds are anticipated to be distributed over several years and may be directed towards plant enhancements, employment opportunities, and the development of new vehicle models in Michigan and Illinois states, the sources added.

According to some people, plans under consideration include revitalising the Jeep brand and potentially investing in the Dodge brand, which could lead to the introduction of a new Dodge V8 muscle car.

Discussions about the investment are ongoing, with no final decisions made, and the details of the investment are subject to change.

According to the report, this initiative reflects the new direction under CEO Antonio Filosa, who assumed his role this May and has been re-evaluating the company's investment strategies across different regions.

The carmaker had previously focused on shifting production to lower-cost countries and investing in the European market under former CEO Carlos Tavares.

The investment strategy aligns with a broader trend of companies investing heavily in the US economy, which may also be a strategic move to navigate tariffs and align with political expectations, the report added.

Chairman John Elkann has previously discussed American investment plans with US President Donald Trump, including a commitment to produce a new midsize pickup truck in Illinois and re-employ around 1,500 workers.

The investment could also be a positive development for the United Auto Workers union, which has engaged in discussions with Stellantis.

The company is said to be concurrently lobbying the US administration to address potential tariffs that could affect its Mexico-produced Ram pickups.

Amidst challenges such as market share losses in the US and Europe and the impact of tariffs, Filosa is said to be working to stabilise the company.

The shift towards the US market has raised concerns among European unions, especially as Stellantis faces overcapacity and competition from Chinese manufacturers.

With a meeting scheduled with Italian labour union representatives and recent production adjustments in France and Italy, Filosa is under pressure to uphold commitments made in a production plan for Italy.
Key Points

The company's partnership with Sydney Sweeney continues to generate attention.

American Eagle expects to return to comparable-store sales growth in the second half of the year.

The company has been aggressively repurchasing stock, lifting earnings per share.

10 stocks we like better than American Eagle Outfitters 

Apparel retailing is a challenging business. There are low barriers to entry, it's highly competitive, and fashion tastes tend to be fickle. What was a hot brand one year can be ice cold just a few years later, and poor inventory management can lead to widespread markdowns, crushing margins.

Just look at Nike or Lululemon. Both of those stocks are among the biggest winners in the history of the apparel sector, but have fallen on tough times lately for a range of reasons, including style misses and new competition, leading to declining sales for both companies in the U.S.

Teen apparel retailer American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE: AEO) has had a volatile history, swinging back and forth between peaks and valleys over the last 20 years, as the chart below shows.

As you can see, American Eagle also appears to be in the middle of an upswing following better-than-expected second-quarter results and a hike in its guidance. Two new celebrity partnerships seem to be driving a recovery.

Image source: Getty Images.

American Eagle's splashy moves

American Eagle launched a controversial ad campaign with the actress Sydney Sweeney in July. The campaign, with the tagline "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans," featured video and photos of her in American Eagle jeans with a voice-over describing genetics.

The ad generated a lot of buzz, not all of it positive, but it did provide a measurable lift to the company's sales and even got a comment from President Donald Trump. Sweeney-branded items like a denim jacket and a wide-leg pair of jeans sold out quickly. According to The Wall Street Journal, the campaign helped bring in 1 million new customers between July and September.

The company plans to continue running those ads at least through the end of the year, and Sweeney has signed on as the brand's ambassador for the rest of the year as well, with her top-selling items set to be restocked ahead of the holiday season.

American Eagle is also collaborating with one of the country's most influential athletes, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who is now engaged to Taylor Swift. The retailer launched a tie-in with Kelce's Tru Kolors clothing brand the day after he and Swift announced their engagement.

According to early press coverage, the collaboration is doing well, leading men's web traffic. And a second collection is set to be released soon, with the campaign including a one-day pop-up store in Kansas City, Missouri. American Eagle also made Kelce creative director of the partnership.
Parcel delivery startup Gofo on Friday opened its first U.S. super hub in Newark, New Jersey. A second large sortation center is scheduled to begin operating later this quarter in Los Angeles marking the companys transition from a regional to a national courier.

Spanning more than 400,000 square feet, Newark is Gofos largest and most advanced U.S. facility. Equipped with cross-belt and narrow-belt sorters, robotic automation, and an intelligent logistics system, the hub processes more than 40,000 parcels per hour and can handle more than 700,000 parcels daily, the company said in a news release on Monday.

Fast-growing Gofo last month announced plans to invest $150 million in the two e-commerce distribution centers, giving it the infrastructure for middle-mile shipping and last-mile delivery of retailers e-commerce orders  and ensuring ample capacity for peak season surges. Funding covers long-term leases and facility upgrades, installation of advanced sorting technology and robotics systems, IT and data infrastructure enhancements, workforce recruitment, partner development and other launch activities, spokesman Tyler Dong said in an email exchange.

Gofo, headquartered in Los Angeles, is among a slew of independent last-mile logistics providers that cropped up after the pandemic e-commerce boom offering lower prices than FedEx and UPS, and powered by technology platforms for easily integrating with customers, dispatching drivers and optimizing route selection.

Gofo was founded in 2023 by Chuan Zheng, a U.S. citizen of Chinese heritage with extensive experience in logistics and cross-border e-commerce, who previously formed a company called Ebisu.

A significant share of historical volume has come from e-commerce merchants linked to China, but the U.S. business is rapidly expanding its presence among North American retailers and smaller online sellers. International parcels are customs cleared by partner companies, but the majority of shipments originate from U.S. domestic warehouses. The couriers operations, leadership and decision-making are centered in the United States, according to the company, Dong said.

Gofo has rapidly expanded its logistics foundation across the United States with nearly 100 hubs and stations supported by more than 30 linehaul routes. It currently has more than 1,000 full-time employees and uses delivery service partners to provide physical last-mile delivery. The company has yet to provide details about its driver pool.

The network now enables Gofo to serve 8,000 zip codes, equivalent to 70% of the U.S. population, including Hawaii and Puerto Rico. By the end of 2025, the company expects to reach 10,000 zip codes, enabling 75% of client parcels to be delivered through its own network.
Starting 8 October 2025, the UK is ready to lift its bank on crypto exchange-traded notes (ETNs) for retail investors. BTC products will return to the UK after two years!

Companies like Bitwise, registered in the UK, took to X on 3 October 2025 to celebrate the opportunity to serve more investors in our home market in Europe at long last.

UKs Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) made the announcement as David Geale, executive director of payments and digital finance at the FCA, said, Since we restricted retail access to cETNs, the market has evolved, and products have become more mainstream and better understood. In light of this, were providing consumers with more choice, while ensuring there are protections in place. This should mean people get the information they need to assess whether the level of risk is right for them.

However, the FCA made clarifications and called for a framework update. ETFs marketed to UK retail investors are unable to invest directly into cryptoassets under our current regulatory framework for funds. This framework would need to be updated before retail investors could access cryptoasset ETFs, the FCA said.

Industry Response: BlackRock, Bitwise, CryptoUK Weigh In

While BlackRock is reportedly exploring how to make its iShares Bitcoin exchange-traded product available to UK retail investors, Bitwise has expressed enthusiasm about finally serving UK investors and expanding its reach in Europe.

Ian Taylor of CryptoUK, a digital assets industry association, commended the move. He pointed out that so far the UK had been an outlier on ETNs.

Speculation is the CoinShares and Bitwise are readying offerings, but retail investos might need to wait at least a week due to the timing of FCAs application review processes.

Meanwhile, the crypto community, specifically UKs, has taken to X to celebrate the ban reversal.

Read More: What Is Crypto Passporting? Adrienne Harris Advocates For US-UK Passporting Scheme

Adrienne Harris Advocates For US-UK Passporting Scheme

A new facet to international financial regulation is crypto passporting. Similar to how European Union (EU) financial services companies can operate across member states under a single license, a US-UK passporting scheme. Crypto companies face significant barriers while expanding internationally. For example  a New York based company trying to expand in London will be impacted by costs and delays. Crypto passporting would allow crypto companies regulated in one country to operate in the other without necessarily undergoing the entire authorization processes.
When equal treatment feels like discrimination By Todd Gregory & Erik Gregory

web posted October 6, 2025 Dr. Thomas Sowell famously and rightly remarked when people get used to preferential treatment, equal treatment seems like discrimination. The counter-programming from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth during his September 30 Quantico speech to top military brass doubtless received a frosty reception from at least some of the high ranking commissioned officers who had grown accustomed to preferential treatment. Consider the psychological mindset of a DEI-privileged general, perhaps someone like Hegseth's predecessor (the race and climate obsessed Gen. Lloyd Austin) or Gen. C.Q. Brown Jr., formerly of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a vocal supporter of Black Lives Matter. Or perhaps a waddling, comically obese officer such as the Sinophilic and melanin crazed Gen. Mark (white rage) Milley. Such officers sitting in the audience listening to Hegseth's scary-sounding speech would feel singled out and offended by Hegseth's demand for rigorous, uniform, meritocratic standards to be enforced. After all, that's not how progressives understand the word equity. The DEI generals and admirals turned pronoun police might think to themselves or zirselves: Hegseth was a mere platoon leader in Iraq, while I'm a two-star general who memorized von Clausewitz and studied military theory in the classroom at West Point. I'm credentialed and I've sat in on important meetings with allied generals throughout the world. I'm far more accomplished than Hegseth, who only attained the rank of major in the military before becoming a right wing pundit on Fox News. Who is Hegseth to lecture me about military readiness, or whether I need to get on Ozempic and commence daily PT (Physical Training)? How dare this administration humiliate me, force me to come to Quantico, and listen to this crap? Why should I take orders from this undeserving upstart trying to force me to abandon my worship of DEI, LGBTQI+ and climate change? Like resistance hero Mark Milley trashing his oath and sidling up to Chinese adversaries during and after the 2020 election, maybe I and others should discreetly oppose this administration at every turn? Similarly, apply Sowell's truism to the recently indicted James Comey, who is accustomed to the preferential treatment afforded him due to his long-established progressive bonafides and well-documented hatred of traditionalists and conservatives (MAGAts). Years ago, as FBI director, Comey gave cooing speeches ("love letters") to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a fake civil rights organization that libels conservatives as terrorists and extremists (just as the Southern Poverty Law Center, the National Lawyers Guild, the ACLU, and other far-left hate groups smear law-abiding conservatives). Comey's FBI chose to rely heavily on empirically debunked statistics provided by the ADL, SPLC, ACLU, and others, all of which maintain that so-called Christian terrorists and white supremacist extremists are by far the greatest threat to America's social fabric, while politically favored left-wing groups like BLM, Antifa, and the Muslim Brotherhood/CAIR all got a free pass on their terror ties and activities. Like Catholics praying the rosary, J6 attendees, and concerned parents at PTA meetings, Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA (TPUSA) found themselves under intensive surveillance and in the investigative crosshairs of the FBI during the Biden administration, merely for opposing censorship and promoting the free exchange of ideas on college campuses. It's easy to connect the dots here, with the Mueller-Comey-Wray FBI working hand in glove with far-left umbrella groups, whether government-adjacent 501(c)(3) NGOs like the ADL or the Tides Foundation, or "philanthropic" organizations like Arabella Advisors. The George Soros-sponsored groups are strongly suspected of providing financial and operational support to domestic terror cutouts like BLM and Antifa, the latter of which the FBI long denied even existed. The sermonizing Comey, whose sociopolitical beliefs are seemingly indistinguishable from your typical Antifa or BLM street thug (even if his tactics differ), must have been genuinely shocked to receive anything other than preferential treatment from the Pam Bondi-led DOJ. But Comey needn't fret too much. He was egregiously undercharged in his indictment (two felony counts, including the predictable and benign-sounding false statement charge), and he can probably expect an acquittal from an Alexandria, Virginia-based jury practically guaranteed to have several government employees as jurors. Plus, conveniently and coincidentally, there is a "randomly assigned" Biden-appointed judge presiding over the Comey case. So the preferential treatment will soon be back on tap for the former FBI choirboy whose face resembles that of an elderly ladyboy after several badly botched surgeries. Thomas Sowell's insight also applies to any federal employees who might be unable to regulate their emotions if they lose their jobs due to the current Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries (D) shutdown. How awesome do federal employees have it in their preferential treatment? These coddled crybabies are on fully paid vacation right now without losing any of their accumulated paid time off (PTO). While furloughed fedtards and corporate/legacy media shills like Martha Raddatz shriek that the sky is falling and fissures are rupturing the earth's crust every time the government shuts down, it's just another taxpayer-funded paid vacation for the feds, as they receive full back-pay while their PTO balance remains unaffected. So imagine the jarring shock and dismay if a handful of these useless federal ninnies experience the Reductions in Force (RIF) tens of millions in the private sector have known? What if the preferential treatment to which they are accustomed suddenly downshifts and becomes equal treatment, courtesy of Russell Vought and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)? Naturally, equal treatment after preferential treatment will make them feel like they are victims of discrimination. But that's another psychological tic of the progressive mindset: An utter disregard for personal accountability coupled with a burning need to perceive themselves as eternal victims. Todd Gregory & Erik Gregory are previous contributors to Enter Stage Right. This article originally appeared in American Thinker. Home
The US Government is reportedly in talks to acquire a stake in Critical Metals Corporation as part of an initiative to enhance its control over critical minerals.

This potential deal would provide Washington with a direct interest in the Tanbreez project in southern Greenland, reported Reuters, citing sources.

The news comes after Critical Metals announced last month an amended agreement with Rimbal to increase its ownership in the Tanbreez project from 42% to 92.5%.

As per this amended agreement, Critical Metals can increase its ownership stake in the project upon the issuance of around 14.5 million ordinary shares to Rimbal.

The original agreement stipulated that the consideration for this increase in ownership was an unspecified number of shares of Critical Metals carrying a value of $116m defined at the time of the increase.

The latest agreement amends the original to specify a fixed issuance of 14.5 million ordinary shares to Rimbal at closing, implying a price of $8 per Critical Metals ordinary share.

The transaction is pending approval from the Greenland Government.

European Lithium will retain its 7.5% minority stake in the Tanbreez project.

The US Governments interest in this deal aligns with recent efforts to secure stakes in companies considered key suppliers of critical minerals for the US market, reported Reuters.

The present government shutdown in the US is not expected to affect the negotiations as key personnel involved are classified as essential workers.

The Tanbreez project is a permitted asset in southern Greenland near the town of Qaqortoq.

Meanwhile, Critical Metals has today announced the signing of a securities purchase agreement with an institutional investor to raise $35m through a private investment in public equity transaction.

The company intends to use the funds to support the development of the 4.7-billion-tonne rare earth deposit at Tanbreez.

Critical Metals CEO and executive chairman Tony Sage said: This financing from a fundamental institutional investor further validates the opportunities ahead for Tanbreez and Critical Metals Corp and underscores the growing need for heavy rare earths in the West.

We look forward to welcoming this new institutional investor as we advance our commercialisation road map for Tanbreez and bring this game-changing rare earth asset closer to production.

"US Government in talks to buy stake in Critical Metals" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




By David Shepardson and Akash Sriram

(Reuters) -Verizon Communications on Monday named former PayPal boss Dan Schulman as its new chief executive officer, replacing Hans Vestberg in a leadership transition aimed at steering the telecom giant through slowing growth in the wireless market.

The move comes as Verizon is battling rising competition against the backdrop of slowing subscriber growth and cautious consumers unwilling to buy premium plans offered by wireless carriers.

Schulman, 67, led PayPal for nearly a decade before stepping down in 2023, steering the payments firm through its split from eBay and a surge in online transactions during the COVID pandemic.

Schulman, who has served on Verizon's board for seven years, is focused on improving the customer experience. He told employees in an email on Monday the lessons from PayPal that "mattered most during that time werent about technology or scale, they were about culture, listening to customers and empowering teams to drive real change."

He added: "We must drive financial results that exceed current market expectations."

Vestberg oversaw the $52 billion purchase and clearing of key wireless C-Band spectrum in a 2021 auction and then negotiated with regulators and airlines over the deployment. He also struck a $20 billion deal to acquire Frontier Communications and a $6 billion acquisition of pre-paid mobile phones provider TracFone Wireless.

Verizon has also held talks about potentially acquiring spectrum from EchoStar.

"Weve made transformational investments in C-Band spectrum that have positioned us to win in the next era of connectivity," Vestberg said in a note to employees on Monday. "Were also on the verge of closing the acquisition of Frontier, which will further expand our broadband footprint and open up even more opportunities for growth."

Verizon shares were down 3% in morning trading.

Vestberg's tenure at Verizon was marked by heavy investments in 5G networks and efforts to diversify revenue through media and enterprise services, though the company later exited most of its media holdings. Verizon has faced mounting pressure from rivals AT&T and T-Mobile US as the U.S. wireless market matures.

Vestberg, who took the helm in 2018, will remain with the company as a special adviser through October 2026.

Verizon's stock has underperformed shares of rival telecom operators in the past few years.

The appointment comes a few weeks after T-Mobile announced a CEO replacement, reflecting a changing U.S. telecom sector with market leaders working to attract consumer dollars amid the fierce competition.

(Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Vijay Kishore, Maju Samuel and Chris Reese)
Vietnam is planning to limit its crypto exchange pilot program to just five licensed operators, pointing to a cautious regulatory approach despite the country's status as a global crypto adoption leader.

The framework would allow for only five licensed exchanges to operate during the pilot as the Ministry of Finance develops detailed regulations for taxation, compliance, and operational standards, Deputy Finance Minister Nguyen Duc Chi said at a government press conference on Monday, according to a VnEconomy report, a local media publication.

Chi revealed the Ministry of Finance has not yet received formal proposals from businesses to participate in the pilot, though several companies are preparing technical systems and conducting preliminary discussions with ministry officials, according to a Vietnam Plus report.

The announcement comes less than a month after the government issued a resolution last month to authorize the pilot implementation of a crypto asset market in Vietnam.

Under the framework, the ministry would finalize licensing procedures through coordination with the Ministry of Public Security and the State Bank of Vietnam, among other agencies, according to Chi.

The Ministry of Finance is establishing regulations covering taxation, accounting policies, and operational frameworks, with Chi expressing hope to license at least one enterprise before 2026, though he cautioned the timeline depends on business readiness.

Vitaliy Shtyrkin, CPO at B2BINPAY, told Decrypt that "the entry bar is so high that most potential applicants can't clear it."

Shtyrkin said the 5-license cap turns the initiative from a sandbox into a closed compound, favoring large financial groups over fintech innovators, and that Vietnam must lower the barriers and be much more open if it hopes to attract crypto liquidity onshore.

Asia-Pacific Leads Worldwide Crypto Adoption: Chainalysis

Otherwise, liquidity and innovation will stay offshore, and the country's 'pilot' will remain a stuck experiment, he noted.

The move comes as Vietnam ranks among the top three countries globally for crypto adoption, according to Chainalysis's 2025 Global Adoption Index, with APAC regional transaction volume growing from $1.4 trillion to $2.36 trillion.

Lionel Iruk, senior advisor to Nav Markets and managing partner at Empire Legal, told Decrypt that "the absence of early applicants doesn't suggest a lack of interest but rather hesitation amid regulatory uncertainty and stringent readiness requirements."
"Mad Money" host Jim Cramer has high praise for Boeing's (BA) newest CEO, Kelly Ortberg.

"Most underrated CEO in the US," Cramer told Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi in a new episode of the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast (video above; listen below).

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Ortberg has a longstanding tenure in the defense and aerospace sectors. Prior to his appointment at troubled Boeing in August 2024, he was president and CEO of Rockwell Collins. This past summer, he wrapped up his first year at the controls with Boeing, following his predecessors, who had faced uphill battles.

In 2019, then-CEO Dennis Muilenburg was ceremoniously fired following the crashes of two of the company's 737 Max 8 planes. His successor, former GE (GE) exec Dave Calhoun, saw issues plague the company in droves, including an Alaska Airlines (ALK) door blowout, an FAA grounding of all 737 Max 9 planes, a cockpit window crack, an engine part detaching from a plane, and a nose and wheel falling off.

Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi chats with Jim Cramer, "Mad Money" host and author of the new book "How to Make Money in Any Market."  Yahoo Finance

Boeing also faced a 53-day machinist strike, followed by layoffs and job cuts. Net losses reached $11.8 billion in 2024, the second-worst in the company's history.

Ortberg had to settle into the top post amid that turbulent backdrop. He has sought to improve Boeing's quality inspection processes, manage costs, and get into the good graces of President Trump. The company has begun to ink new deals for its planes, notably with Korean Air, Turkish Airlines, and Qatar.

Boeing stock is up 22% year to date. The company's first-half sales rose 26% year over year to $42.2 billion. The non-GAAP operating loss shrank to $234 million from $1.78 billion a year earlier.

The slow turnaround at Boeing has caught Cramer's attention.

On Oct. 2, Insider Monkeys Ramish Cheema reported that Cramer claimed his charitable trust was buying Boeing's stock "hand over fist over the last two weeks."

As for Ortberg's leadership style that is driving better performance, Cramer candidly told Sozzi, "[The turnaround for Boeing looks like] living on the factory floor."

StockStory aims to help individual investors beat the market.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the planes involved in the 2018 and 2019 crashes were Boeing 737 Max 9s. They were in fact the 737 Max 8 model. We regret the error.

Grace Williams is a writer for Yahoo Finance.

Each week, Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi fields insight-filled conversations and chats with the biggest names in business and markets on Opening Bid Unfiltered. You can find more episodes on our video hub or watch on your preferred streaming service.

Click here for the latest technology news that will impact the stock market

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The long defeat  Where the Canadian Right went wrong  updated to 2025 (Part Five) By Mark Wegierski

web posted October 6, 2025 Routes to Revival The recent unpleasantness with Donald Trump has unleashed an unexpected tide of Canadian nationalism. However, one must question how authentic this reaction is, especially among leading Liberals, who have earlier said that Canada is a "post-national" state, has no core culture, and is engaged in genocidal policies. Perhaps it is time for a truly Canadian Right to emerge. The Canadian Right will make little headway in the teeth of a hostile social, cultural, and political climate, unless it endeavours to give encouragement to the creation of some kind of infrastructures where more intellectual explorations of right-wing ideas and philosophies can take place in Canada. What is especially needed in Canada for conservatives is a broadly right-of-centre magazine which could serve a mobilizing role similar to the early years of National Review in the United States, as well as an academic outreach body along the lines of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute in the United States (which publishes scholarly quarterlies and books, as well as offering substantial scholarships). The ISI embodies a very reflective and serious conservatism that moves far beyond day-to-day policy issues and merely fiscal and economic conservatism (while not being explicitly tied to any one religion or denomination). Perhaps the social conservative think-tank Cardus could eventually evolve into serving a similar role in Canada. Today in Canada, there are numerous, left-wing, extra-parliamentary infrastructures, whose funding (most of which comes from the federal government) outweighs that of putatively right-wing infrastructures such as the National Citizens' Coalition and the Fraser Institute (who rely strictly on private donations -- and are almost entirely focussed on economic and fiscal issues) by astronomical factors. The effectiveness of these left-wing infrastructures has contributed to the huge intellectual influence of the New Democratic Party (Canada's social democratic party) particularly on the Liberal Party. It may be remembered that Pierre Elliott Trudeau was a former NDP member, and some have indeed suggested that he "hijacked" a somewhat more traditionalist and centrist Liberal Party and moved it in a radical direction. The extent to which large numbers of persons in Canadian society (especially in the intellectual classes) are utterly captivated by and beholden to ideas of left-wing provenance cannot be overestimated. It is only the building up of infrastructures of a serious intellectual Right in Canada that could possibly make a difference in this regard. The starting point of any serious intellectual conservatism in Canada must be the philosophical legacy of George Parkin Grant (1918-1988) and especially his magnificent work, Lament for a Nation: The Defeat of Canadian Nationalism (1965). "Canada Three" It is suggested that the Canadian Right look forward to a so-called "Canada Three", i.e.,

a synthesis of the best aspects of Canada One (traditional Canada), and Canada Two (liberal Canada). Some of the possible contours of "Canada Three" would be a more decentralized federalism  which will also make it easier for Quebec and Alberta to remain in Canada. Balance: Why Canada Needs a Right The current-day Canadian situation -- of near-total left-liberal intellectual hegemony, of very little authentic academic or journalistic debate, and of little hope that a substantively conservative party will ever unseat the Liberals at the federal level -- cannot be described as offering prospects for a truly humane future for Canada. There is certainly no intellectual balancing of Left and Right, and very little possibility of alternation at the federal level between left-leaning and substantively conservative parties, in Canada today. A Conservative electoral triumph  should it ever occur in such a difficult environment  is likely to be overwhelmed by ferocious infrastructural opposition  much in the same way that Mulroney's huge majority in 1984 was sandbagged. The ongoing, decades-long, "prior constraint" against the so-called Centre-Right Opposition coming to or ever exercising any meaningful degree of power in Canada  fundamentally contradicts Canada's parliamentary and democratic ideals, as well as betraying its history. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home
The Book

Novel 'Heroes and Traitors' by B B Elsin

In the final battle of a bloody civil war, Yonnis, the successful General of the Rebel Army of Truth, shocks himself by committing a reckless act of vengeance. Full of repentance, he commits to a quest for peace, and starts with an unlikely marriage.

Resentment and suspicion swirl around him and his new wife. Rich and poor, plotters and spies, idealists and cynics are all jostling for opportunities for gain or for revenge. The prospects for healing are fading.

With old friends and loyalists turning on Yonnis and the new regime losing its way, who will help Yonnis to restore hope?

Inspired by the aftermath of the English Civil War, the story re-invents characters and events from the turmoil of early modern Europe.

About the author

B B Elsin is the pen name of a retired academic and Chair of a historical society who loves to explore the what ifs? of the past. She started writing fiction to help cope with sudden hearing loss and late-diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder. She has had short stories broadcast on BBC Upload and Haiku poems published in anthologies. B B Elsin grew up in the Chilterns, and is now based in Marlow. Some scenes and characters in her novel are inspired by local history. This is her first novel.

Why you should read this book

B B Elsin explains: Creative writing helped me to adjust to changes in my life caused by sudden hearing loss and new understanding of my emotional difficulties from my autism diagnosis. It enabled me to enjoy new relationships with imaginary characters facing extraordinary circumstances. I wanted to explore revolutionary change through the hearts of those swept up in it, those who lose, those who gain and those who are just trying to survive it.

What We Thought

B B Elsin weaves together the story of Yonnis, the General of the victorious Rebel Army of Truth as the guilt ridden General feels he overstepped himself in the final battle and wants to make amends and bring peace. As things deteriorate who can the injured Yonnis turn to save the rapidly failing peace and restore faith in the Republic. While reading I felt every moment of the story. Natalie Key for Female First

RELEASE DATE: 28/10/2025 ISBN: 9781836285038 Price: 9.99

by Natalie key for www.femalefirst.co.uk


" " Many of these places offer gorgeous landscapes but decidedly monochromatic populations. Holly_Powers / Getty Images

If you're looking for diversity in the United States, you're not alone. Researchers, policymakers and businesses alike want to understand how populations vary in terms of race, religion, culture, language, education and more.

A recent WalletHub report, which compared all 50 U.S. states across six key dimensions of diversity, found that some places stand out for their homogeneity. The least diverse states share common threads that help us understand broader demographic trends.
With the fourth-largest population in the world, Indonesia's government has formally prioritized feeding its children and expectant mothers and is counting on dairy to do much of the heavy lifting. A Reuters exclusive article on Sept. 8 recounted the countrys plan to import one million dairy cattle in a five-year period to augment their current 220,000 head nationwide. Today, Indonesia fulfills its dairy demand with milk powder, primarily imported from Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S.

A price tag of $3 billion is only one of the hurdles officials face in acquiring the animals, but right now, its the highest one. In fact, a workaround has been raising eyebrows among Indonesias business leaders, Reuters reported: The government is asking private companies to spring for the imports. The pressure to deliver on a presidential campaign pledge may be driving the urgency, as the plan was one of President Prabowo Subiantos signature promises. USDAs Office of Agricultural Affairs noted that the Free Nutritious Meals Program, will be a large driver of increased demand over the next five years as the program aims to provide milk to over 82 million beneficiaries daily by 2029.

However, the program has gotten off to a slow start, with less than 12,000 dairy cows entering Indonesia in the first seven months of 2025. The nations Deputy Minister of Agriculture said of the private business involvement, There is a significant demand for meat and milk, so we are opening the opportunity for many investors. Reuters reported that more than 200 private businesses have been tapped by the Prabowo administration to voluntarily participate in the program, asking for 20 cows per year, per business through 2029. The request was also sent out to 12 or so multinational enterprises. Most of the companies solicited have little to no experience with live cattle, sources told Reuters, and some companies felt compelled to participate as they feared backlash from the administration if they refused. Indonesian co-ops such as Laras Ati and KAN Jabung that were brought in to collaborate in the plan in March are caring for some of the cattle imported via the programs inexperienced participants, and Reuters noted that under the plan, revenues will be shared between the investors and the cooperatives.

In July, the state-owned news agency Antara News reported that the Indonesian government had opened up import options beyond Australia, including New Zealand, Mexico, the U.S., and Brazil. Government officials said the expanded options would provide more opportunities for local businesses to participate in the cattle purchasing program. However, Reuters quoted industry experts who expressed concern about both the plans soundness and the possibility of overload for Indonesias infrastructure should cattle imports ramp up as promised. An adviser for Indonesias Cattle and Buffalo Breeders Association speculated that turning the program over to entrepreneurs with no track record of success in the dairy industry is a move that wont produce the desired results.
Kyle Welk was named the 21st Merle Howard Award winner at the 58th World Dairy Expo on Friday, Oct. 3. Super polite, super respectful, passionate, driven, and incredibly humble were all thoughts shared by past winners of the Merle Howard who placed Welks name in nomination for the committees consideration.

Like many juniors, he began showing cattle at the local level and eventually began to exhibit at state, regional, and national shows. Along the way, his parents, Matt and Jen Welk of Peach Bottom, Pa., began driving him to state fairs so he could start working for some of the best in the area well before he was old enough to drive. While an extremely talented fitter, what elevates Kyle in the eyes of many is that hes also willing to make pack, wash animals, or do anything else that others ask of him . . . not just the fun and glamorous jobs.

While his family primarily raises dairy heifers, this Pennsylvania native began working for Tom and Mandy Arrowsmith, Hillacres Jerseys, so he could learn more about the dairy business. As others began to recognize his talents, this Pennsylvania youth started working at sales such as the Pennsylvania State Convention Sale and the March Madness Sale Series.

Still a Junior Holstein member, this go-getter began traveling coast to coast working the likes of Pappys Holsteins in Utah, Airoso Dairy and Van Exel Dairy in California, Budjon Farms for both spring and state shows and Oakfield Corners Dairy. Respected for his work ethic, Kyle has even traveled to New Zealand to work on the Tanbark.

While Kyle has worked for many throughout the industry at a rather young age, he has also done well with his homebred project animals and has won such honors as 2022 Junior All-Pennsylvania Winter Calf, Junior Champion at the 2023 Pennsylvania Spring Show, Honorable Mention Junior Champion at the 2022 Pennsylvania Spring Junior Holstein Show, and 2023 Junior Champion at the Premier National Junior Show in Harrisburg, Pa.

A valued contributor to the Oakfield Corners show string, Alicia Lamb shared, Kyle is a really good young man. While he may be quiet and reserved, he is a nice young man who many youth look up too. He is among the hardest working youth that I know and does a great job for us regardless of if its a tiny county show or on the big stage at World Dairy Expo.

When it comes to his fitting skills, Kyle ranks among the best. At the 2024 World Dairy Expo, he topped the Senior Male Division and then was named the Overall Champion Fitter winning the inaugural Michael Heath Overall Fitter Award.

Nearly all the previous award winners of the Merle Howard Award were on hand for the award presentation. They include: 2004, Robert Teixeira, Turlock, Calif.; 2005, Matthew Mitchell, Speedwell, Tenn.; 2006, Greta Koebel, Poplar Grove, Ill.; 2007, Brandon Ferry, Hilbert, Wis.; 2008, Kelly Lee Reynolds, Corfu, N.Y.; 2009, Kyle Natzke, Fond du Lac, Wis.; 2010, Stephanie Aves Schroeder, Lancaster, Wis.; 2011, Karen Anderson Johnson, Litchfield, Minn.; 2012, Cy Conard, Sharon Springs, N.Y.; 2013, Cassy Krull, Lake Mills, Wis.; 2014, Jade Jensen Kruschke, New Richmond, Wis.; 2015, Jared Dueppengiesser, Rush, N.Y.; 2016, Doug Boop, Millmont, Pa.; 2017, Dawson Nickels, Watertown, Wis.; 2018, Kyle Barton, Cecil, Wis.; 2019, Kaleb Kruse, Dyersville, Iowa; Kylie Nickels, Watertown, Wis.; Keenan Thygesen, Tunbridge, Vt., Savannah Crack, Richmond, Quebec, Canada, and Jacob Harbaugh, Marion, Wis.

Merle Howard was a respected dairy industry pioneer. Winner of the 1954 Klussendorf Award, Howard was a herd manager, Holstein classifier, and later a sales and export businessman. Howard also served on the first National Dairy Shrine Board of Directors.

Corey Geiger

The author is a former Hoard's Dairyman managing editor, and currently is the lead dairy economist for CoBank.
GUEST OPINION: Few technologies have captured the imagination of business leaders as quickly as generative artificial intelligence (GenAI).

From automating the drafting of marketing copy to helping developers write code, enterprises are embracing AI at an increasing rate. According to recent research, 78% of organisations now use some form of AI, and for every dollar invested companies report a $3.70 return.

However, alongside the enthusiasm sits a growing unease. Nearly seven in ten enterprises cite AI-powered data leaks as their top security concern, while almost half operate without any AI-specific security controls in place.

This dual reality, with unprecedented potential on one hand and mounting risks on the other, defines the GenAI debate. The challenge for boards and executives is to capture the benefits while managing the dangers, and this is a balancing act that will shape enterprise strategy during the coming decade.

When AI innovation goes wrong

Recent incidents highlight the perils of moving too fast without guardrails. In May this year, researchers uncovered exposed data belonging to 571 customers of data integration specialist JedAI. The breach was traced back to an unsecured public-facing database, revealing both the dangers of shadow AI and poor governance.

Another cautionary tale could be read about technology giant Samsung. In April 2023, the company suffered three separate leaks in a single month, including source code and chip optimisation data.

Some of that material is now suspected to have been ingested into large language models, raising concerns about introspection attacks where sensitive training data can be extracted.

Meanwhile Microsofts Copilot suite has faced a series of vulnerabilities, including so-called zero-click exploits that allowed attackers to access internal systems via email or collaboration tools. In some cases, flaws in the Copilot Studio platform enabled attackers to exfiltrate data or launch further intrusions.

Collectively, these incidents underline a new risk category for the enterprise: data exposure through training, prompt injection attacks, and unmonitored shadow AI use.

It is a known fact that GenAI adoption is accelerating across all markets, with organisations rapidly integrating AI into operations without regional differences in uptake. However, awareness of the risks and challenges associated with this adoption remains relatively immature, as many view AI purely as a business benefit without recognising its impact on security and data integrity.

This widespread reliance on AI increases the attack surface and, without strong data quality controls, can lead to flawed analyses and poor decision-making.

Building security and governance foundations

Experts argue the solution is not to slow AI adoption but to embed risk management from the outset. Having clear guardrails allows companies to innovate quickly while reducing the chance of damaging missteps.

Frameworks are also emerging to provide structure. The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released its AI Risk Management Framework 1.0, which sets out four steps: govern, map, measure, and manage.

This approach includes establishing accountability structures, identifying AI-specific risks, deploying continuous monitoring, and implementing systematic responses.

Meanwhile, the MITRE ATLAS framework maps the adversarial threat landscape, helping organisations to threat-model AI systems, conduct red-team exercises, and build effective detection rules.

Both approaches are designed to integrate with traditional cyber security controls, giving enterprises a starting point for developing AI-specific defences.

Governance in practice

The most effective organisations are moving beyond just having policies to building cross-functional governance structures. Four pillars are emerging as critical: data strategy and leadership, architecture and integration, governance and quality, and culture and literacy.

Enterprises must ensure real-time data integration, deploy bias detection tools, track data lineage, and apply privacy-preserving techniques.

Just as importantly, staff need clarity on what is and isnt allowed. Surveys suggest that employees often turn to consumer AI tools simply because workplace policies are vague. By providing clear frameworks, companies can accelerate adoption while staying within safe boundaries.

The regulatory maze

If technology leaders are grappling with governance, regulators are equally busy. The European Unions AI Act, which came into force in February this year, has already become the de facto global standard.

The Act bans certain high-risk uses outright and imposes strict conformity assessments on others. Since August of this year, all high-risk AI systems have had to undergo detailed risk assessments and mitigation planning.

The United States, by contrast, has taken a fragmented path. After revoking its federal AI Safety Framework, regulation has devolved to the states. By the end of 2024, 45 states had passed laws, with another 250 pieces of legislation expected this year. The result is a complex tangle of obligations for businesses operating nationally.

Australia sits somewhere in between. Canberras current policy framework requires agencies to appoint accountable AI officials and publish transparency statements, while a voluntary AI Safety Standard sets out ten guardrails.

Organisations should begin preparing now for the likely implementation of the EU AI Act or similar regulations in Australia. Many are rushing headlong into AI adoption without governance frameworks, documentation, or clarity on data lineage and access. If organisations do not start documenting and building governance structures todaycovering issues such as anonymisation, data inputs, and regulatory disclosure requirementsthey risk having to unpick and redo their AI initiatives within six to 12 months when regulation arrives, potentially from bodies like APRA. Proactive preparation will not only ease compliance but also mitigate the growing number of breaches and consumer-law issues already emerging from poorly governed AI systems.

Proposed legislation would make these requirements mandatory. The government is aiming for a framework that evolves alongside technology, thus balancing accountability with innovation.

The road ahead

Australian enterprises find themselves at a crossroads. On one side lies the promise of faster innovation, improved productivity and enhanced competitiveness. On the other lies the risk of data leaks, reputational damage and regulatory penalties.

Its clear that the GenAI revolution is no longer theoretical. It is here, its being adopted at scale, and its reshaping how enterprises operate. For Australian business leaders, the question is not whether to use generative AI, but how to harness its benefits responsibly.
Amadeus says that leading travel players from the Asia Pacific region leveraged at least one Amadeus Self-Service API alongside Google Cloud's AI offerings such as Google Gemini Models and Agent Engine on Vertex AI, and Agent Development Kit (ADK), as well as a host of optional tools and the theme of the event was to reimagine the search, book, and service experience for travelers, focusing on travel shopping and reservations with agentic AI as the primary technology framework.

Teams included AsiaOneClick, PKFARE, CIT, Clear Trip, Richmond Tours, Golden Destinations, House of Travel, MakeMyTrip.com, Shindai/BCDTravel, Trip.com, and Travel Cue.

Amadeus notes that ideas ranged from improvements to corporate travel by better predicting travel disruptions, AI powered personalized trip planning for those on tight budgets, and booking flows featuring AI generated imagery depicting the traveler at various stages of their journey.

The top teams, selected based upon a number of criteria including quality of their pitch, were chosen by a panel of judges from Amadeus and Google. The winners included:

Winner - Trip.com (Click & Go - Your personalized travel assistant)

1st Runner up - ClearTrip (MyTravel.ai - Personalized Inspiration)

2nd Runner up - Richmond Travels (RABBIT - Easy Business Travel Assistance)

Hackers' Favorite - AsiaOneClick (FareSmart AI - Autonomous Search Agent)

"We are thrilled that our work in agentic AI has been recognized with the Amadeus Trav-Tech Hackathon award. This win is a testament to our team's commitment to excellence as we continuously enhance the customer journey at Trip.com and look to pioneer the next generation of travel technology through our unique capabilities. We look forward to working with partners across the industry to advance these innovations for travelers worldwide," says Trip.com Flight Business CTO, Coco Shu.

"At Amadeus, we aim to improve journeys for travelers globally, and hosting hackathons supports this goal. We appreciate the participation of travel agencies from throughout Asia Pacific and look forward to future collaboration. Amadeus congratulates all of the talented people who contributed to the success of this hackathon and looks forward to seeing the solutions that were dreamed up at the event put into real world use to transform the experience of travel for the better," says Jerome Daniel, SVP R&D - Head of Search, Travel Shopping and Reservation.
Every October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, it is a reminder about the importance of safeguarding our digital livesat work, in the classroom, and at home.

Ash Diffey, Vice President ANZ, Ping Identity

With 42% of Australians (according to the Ping Identity 2025 global Consumer Survey) citing AI-driven phishing as the modern scam that concerns them most and only 20% feeling very confident in their ability to determine whether something is legitimate or a scam,its clear that people feel increasingly vulnerable online. The rise of AI-powered threats makes it harder than ever for the average person to distinguish fact from fiction, creating a dangerous gap in trust that bad actors are eager to exploit.

To counter this, organisations must move beyond traditional defences and leverage the powerful combination of biometric authentication and verifiable credentials. These technologies give people the tools to quickly and securely prove who they are, while ensuring businesses can validate trust at every interaction. By putting identity at the centre of our digital lives, we can dramatically reduce the success of scams and take meaningful steps toward creating a more secure digital world."

David Rajkovic, Regional Vice President A/NZ, Rubrik

Cyber Security Awareness Month is an ideal time for leaders to review their current strategies in light of evolving attacks. The traditional approach to security has been to build the highest digital walls, but new strategies are seeing attackers routinely undermine these defences.

Chief among these new methods are identity-based attacks. Recent research from Rubrik Zero Labs found almost 80 per cent of all cyberattacks in the past 12 months were identity-driven. These attacks involve exploiting a critical vulnerability in those digital walls  weaponising compromised user credentials to gain unauthorised access to critical systems.

As targeted attacks involving compromised credentials increase, zero trust principles can help to minimise the risk of these attacks. Least privilege, where users have access only to resources they need to work effectively, and just-in-time access, where privileges are granted only for pre-determined durations, are two such principles.

Additionally, AI-powered anomaly detection systems can monitor user behaviour, detect unusual access patterns, and identify potential identity-based threats in real-time to provide critical early warning signals. It's no longer enough to know an identity is compromised; we must understand what that identity has access to. Modern data security platforms now continuously map the relationship between every identity - human and machine - and the sensitive data they can access. Platforms allow organisations to proactively identify high-risk permissions and understand the potential 'blast radius' of a compromised account before an attack even happens. Digital walls might have worked when cyber attackers were breaking in, but a new approach is needed because increasingly theyre simply logging in.

Shain Singh Principal Security Architect at F5

For too many years, application security was considered to be an issue for the IT team. That is no longer the case. The theme for this years Cyber Security Awareness Month is Building our cyber safe culture and its never been clearer that application security, like all elements of cyber security, is a whole-of-business concern. Every line of code, every integration, and every business process carries potential risk. Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a timely reminder that developers, executives, and employees all have a role to play in safeguarding digital trust. That means building trust at every layer. From applications and infrastructure to data. By embedding security into every part of the organisation, businesses can improve their resilience and stay ahead of emerging threats.

As digital transformation accelerates, so do the risks that come with it. Security breaches are becoming a regular feature in the news, and many of them share a common thread, and that thread is gaps in application security. Cybersecurity Awareness Month serves as a useful prompt to re-examine how we approach security so it is viewed not just as a technical issue, but as a shared responsibility across teams. Strong defences rely on more than just tools. They depend on collaboration, a resilient mindset, and making security an integral part of how we build and run systems.

Scott Morris, Managing Director of Infoblox for Australia and New Zealand, Infoblox

This years theme, Building our cyber safe culture, reminds us of the need for Australians to view cybersecurity as a collective effort. Theres a misconception that cybersecurity can be achieved through one product, organisation or platform. But when it comes to cybersecurity, good enough isnt actually good enough. Cyberthreats are now a constant in our lives, and every Australian should be taking steps towards becoming more cyber secure every day.

In April, our government, alongside the United States, Canada and New Zealand, released a joint cybersecurity advisory of the threat of fast flux tactics. In this type of attack, threat actors rapidly change Domain Name Systems (DNS), which allows them to bypass traditional security safeguards.

Threat actors obfuscate their tactics by constructing intricate architectures with thousands of domains, making coordinated communications appear random and unconnected. Monitoring and analysing DNS threat intelligence data, including domain registration details, can unveil details about threat actor campaigns like fast flux.

For years, organisations have only used DNS security as a last line of defence  its role reduced to post-incident investigations. But DNS and IP addresses are the entry-gate to the internet, so in order to build a cyber safe culture, we need to position DNS security as the front line of defence.

This is becoming a common theme for governments around the world  who are rapidly incorporating DNS in regulatory requirements, as well as using it as a security control to protect government, public sector and critical national infrastructure. By elevating their DNS security posture, an organisation can fortify its entire cybersecurity strategy.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is an important reminder for Australians to implement cybersecurity best practices. It might feel overwhelming, but the reality is that small, intentional steps every day can make a difference. Strong passwords, multi-factor authentication (MFA) and software updates  while considering advanced solutions like DNS security  are critical to stay ahead of emerging cyber threats.

Roz Gregory, Regional Vice President A/NZ, Datadog

Cybersecurity Awareness Month provides us with the opportunity to recognise just how different the world is from a year ago. However, it also reminds organisations and individuals of the necessity for safety and resilience in digital environments. Like every year there will be a focus on the usual cybersecurity tropes, but the spotlight should certainly be shining further.

Cybersecurity cannot be allowed to deteriorate into a blame game between developers and operators when incidents arise. A cultural shift must occur, where responsibility for building secure systems from the ground up is shared between developers, operators, and leaders. This accountability guarantees security is built into design, development, and operations from the outset, rather than only being considered at the last minute.

The urgency of this shift is non-negotiable with regulatory frameworks, like the Security of Critical Infrastructure (SOCI) Act, which place sovereignty and resilience at the forefront. Organisations must realise compliance extends beyond meeting bare-minimum requirements and avoiding penalties. Rather its about building operational resilience at a national level across people, processes, and technology.

Integrating security and observability across all roles demonstrates strength and adaptability, satisfies regulatory expectations, and builds confidence in digital systems. When organisations adopt a culture of operational resilience through observability, they shift the focus from reactive compliance reporting to proactive resilience management. This brings traditionally disparate teams  like operations, engineering, security and risk  together to understand and collaborate on overlapping responsibilities in preventing breaches, outages, and vulnerabilities across the entire digital landscape, from soup to nuts.

Kevin Gritsch, Vice President of Partner Services, APAC at Pax8

With every major cyber incident, regulators scrutinise businesses that much more, taking a lens to processes, people, and the tech under the hood. In a relatively short period of time, we now have frameworks like the Essential Eight maturity model, Privacy Act reforms, and ransomware payment reporting obligations, all raising the security bar for every organisation. This might be fine for the larger players, but for small and medium-sized businesses, that bar can sometimes seem a bit out of reach.

Its well known that a third of Australias GDP can be attributed to SMBs, yet they face the same compliance expectations as larger enterprises and often without the same internal resources. Its for this reason Ive seen an increase reliance on managed service providers now not only deploying technology, but guiding SMBs through frameworks, audits, and cultural change needed to meet rising standards. And its also because what were seeing is a convergence of pressures.

Regulators, insurers, and customers are all demanding greater transparency and demonstrable uplift in security maturity. Cyber resilience is becoming less about if you are attacked, and more how you prepare, respond, and recover in a way that withstands inevitable scrutiny. For SMBs, the message hasnt changed. Align to recognised frameworks like the Essential Eight, CIS v8, or SMB1001. What has changed are the consequences. What was once a technical headache is now a compliance fault line, one that can cripple a business even if it survives the attack itself.

Vinayak Sreedhar, Country Head A/NZ at ManageEngine

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and its a chance to reflect on how much the digital landscape has shifted over the past year. It is also a timely reminder for both organisations and individuals to place digital safety and resilience at the forefront. Today, cybersecurity is not just about passwords and patches. With the rise of AI-driven tools and the risks that come with them, from deepfakes to automated attacks, the conversation has moved beyond basic awareness, underscoring that cybersecurity is a moving target that requires constant vigilance.

This year, Cybersecurity Awareness Month comes at a time when AI adoption is accelerating across every sector. From healthcare to finance to education, organisations large and small are racing to implement AI solutions, while simultaneously working to set guardrails on responsible use. With uncertainty around how these technologies will reshape work, security, and trust, the focus has expanded beyond cybersecurity to the broader challenge of ensuring AI is deployed safely, ethically, and transparently.

The rise of AI brings both opportunity and anxiety. For many organisations, the anxiety stems from uncertainty: where do the risks lie, and how can they prepare? The answer is clear. AI innovation cannot outpace security. Responsible governance, clear policies, and proactive defences must anchor adoption so that businesses can embrace AI confidently, without exposing themselves to new classes of cyber threats.

Rob Dooley, Vice President, Asia Pacific and Japan, Rapid7

Cybersecurity Awareness Month presents an opportunity for security leaders to revisit their SecOps strategies, especially in the current environment as AI-driven phishing, ransomware, and social engineering are reshaping the threat landscape.

AI is becoming a powerful tool for both defenders and adversaries. While security teams increasingly use AI to detect anomalies and accelerate incident response, attackers are harnessing generative models to craft highly convincing phishing campaigns, deepfake voice messages, and synthetic identities that evade traditional red flags.

Ransomware campaigns have grown more adaptive too: automated reconnaissance, dynamic exploitation of vulnerabilities, and targeted strikes based on real-time intelligence are becoming the norm. Threat actors exploit weak MFA enforcement, exposed remote access points, and credential-based attacks to gain a foothold.

In this environment, our security awareness must evolve beyond checking emails and texts for spelling mistakes. Every individual, from board executives to frontline staff and family members, has a role in maintaining cyber hygiene. Taking a moments pause before clicking, using multi-factor authentication, verifying unusual requests, and promptly reporting anomalies can disrupt attacker playbooks.

Octobers awareness campaign is a reminder that cybersecurity demands a mindset of foresight, collaboration, and continuous vigilance. As threats evolve, so must our defences.

Erich Kron, CISO Advisor, KnowBe4

If we want to strengthen security, we need to start with the people who keep the organisation running. Security tools continue to improve, but so do the threats that rely on manipulating human behaviour. Attackers count on stress, distraction and misplaced trust, and those tactics are working.

Recent data shows that between 70% and 90% of breaches involve human involvement. Human risk shows up when people are expected to spot threats but have not been set up to succeed. That is where Human Risk Management (HRM) makes a difference.

HRM is not about ticking a box. It is about understanding how people think and work, what gets in their way, and how to build habits that lead to better decisions. Breaches linked to human behaviour are a sign that security culture is not keeping pace with the threat landscape.

The work is not just about raising awareness. It is about making sure people feel supported, know what to watch for and have the confidence to act when it matters. The goal is not perfection. It is resilience, and that comes from people who are prepared to recognise risks and respond with good judgement.

Adhil Badat, Managing Director APJ at Rackspace Technology

The truth is that cyberattacks are inevitable. Ransomware and data breaches are designed to cause maximum disruption, and many businesses still treat recovery as a secondary concern.

Traditional backup and disaster recovery solutions were built for a time when organisations could absorb days or even weeks of downtime. In todays business climate, even short periods of downtime can carry serious consequences. Research in Australia shows the average customer-facing incident takes about 2.5 hours to resolve and costs over a million dollars, confirming that even an hour of disruption is enough to erode revenue, customer trust and brand reputation.

That shift demands a new mindset. Cyber readiness goes beyond storing a copy of your data. It means identifying mission-critical workloads, conducting readiness assessments, mapping dependencies and testing realistic scenarios. It also involves creating clean and isolated environments where recovery can be executed securely, allowing operations to resume in hours rather than weeks.

Resilience should be treated as an ongoing discipline. It requires consistent investment in people, processes and testing so that organisations are able to adapt as threats evolve. By building recovery into the very centre of a cyber strategy, businesses can transform resilience into a competitive strength. This ensures they protect not only their data but also their ability to operate and the trust they hold with customers and partners.

Lincoln Goldsmith, Director of Enterprise Channels & Alliances, APAC at Semperis

The weakest link in an organisations cybersecurity ecosystem is almost always human error. Threat actors routinely weaponise the very traits that make us humantrust, curiosity, and urgency. In fact, 69% of Australian organisations targeted by ransomware in the last 12 months were hit on a weekend or holiday. Cyber criminals know exactly when employees are distracted and their defences are low, so its no coincidence that attacks are timed around this.

Overall, human error accounts for roughly 30% of the data breaches in Australia, according to data from the OAIC. Regardless of how secure an organisations systems are, individuals contribute either intentionally or inadvertently to data breaches. For example, weve seen a significant increase in attackers exploiting Active Directory (AD) weaknesses caused by human error through phishing, weak or stolen credentials, insecure configurations, and excessive privileges. These errors (often enabled by poor security awareness and hygiene) allow attackers to gain network access and escalate privileges.

While large-scale cyberattacks make the headlines, Cyber Security Awareness Month serves as an annual reminder for the little things we can habitualise in our daily lives to help build a cyber-safe culture for all Australians. Most of us dont think twice about taking a few minutes each day to brush our teeth to protect our dental health for the long term. The same applies to building a cyber safe culture. By implementing security behaviours into our daily routines, we can build good cyber hygiene to safeguard our digital lives  from our home to our place of work. The simplest cyber practices are often the most effective at preventing breaches and data loss before they happen. Measures like password protection, multi-factor authentication (MFA) and regular patching dont require technical skills, just consistency, like brushing and flossing.

The everyday habits we build in our personal lives carry over into how resilient organisations are against cyberattacks, especially those with complex identity infrastructure and large networks. While the stakes may differ between personal and organisational cybersecurity, our culture-forming habits remain the same.

Dan McLean, Country Manager, ANZ at Barracuda Networks

For Cyber Security Awareness Month 2025, the Australian Government has highlighted the continued reliance on legacy technology as a pressing issue to resolve. Legacy doesnt have to mean something thats been around for years, it covers anything that hasnt been updated in line with evolving threats. With the current pace of change, the window to update and maintain systems is shrinking fast.

Older or unpatched technologies may contain known and unaddressed security flaws, lack compatibility with modern security tools, and the vendor may have stopped supporting them.

This can leave organisations exposed without updates or assistance, and prime targets for cyber criminals. Reports show that up to 70% of IT teams are spending more than 6 hours a week on security patching alone. Older systems also tend to be harder to manage securely, increasing the likelihood of human error and misconfigurations that can compromise sensitive data.

When systems arent kept up to date, it isnt just inefficient  its dangerous. Building a cyber safe culture means recognising that security is not just about reacting to threats but about proactively strengthening the foundations of our digital environments.
As Halloween approaches and witches return to popular imagination, its worth recalling the real story behind the legend. The witch hunts were a campaign of fear and persecution through which powerful men, from priests to kings, used religion and morality to crush women who refused to conform. For centuries, those who spoke their minds or lived on their own terms were branded heretics, tortured, and executed. The echoes of that fear still linger today in the scrutiny, judgement, and double standards that continue to confront women who dare to stand their ground, argues author and campaigner, Elizabeth G.

Witches many were women unjustly persecuted - image courtesy of Pexels

Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. Exodus 22:18

Sassy and seductive or hideous and terrifying? The witch archetype has taken many forms over the years. And with Halloween fast approaching, my mind has naturally turned to the darker side of life. Specifically, witches. Our history around the subject is a dark one. But what qualified someone to be a witch and what was the punishment if they were found guilty? And what effect did witches have on society as a whole?

Demonology was taught by the church from the very beginning. Thomas of Equinos, a 13th century Friar, believed that the world was full of evil demons and witches were practitioners of malevolent sorcery. This had a profound impact on the churches view of witchcraft. According to Friar Thomas, women in particular, were susceptible to demonic possession. He also believed that women were lining themselves up to have sex with the devil himself. This theory was also supported by Pope John XXII in 1326 and thus, the groundwork was laid for European witch hunts.

From the 15th through to the 18th centuries, the fake news of witchcraft spread, which lead to widespread persecutions and executions that took place in Britain and Europe. It has been suggested that 60,000 to 100,000 people were prosecuted and up to 60,000 were executed. Many of the witch trials that took place during this period, targeted women who dared to live life a little differently. This was during a very strict religious, Catholic and Protestant, era. People literally lived their daily lives in fear of God. So, you can imagine the reaction amongst the public once rumours and fear mongering about witches began to spread. Witches were literally seen as the anti-Christ. As good as the devil himself.

Witchcraft was first made a capital offense, by law under Henry VIIIs reign in England 1542. It then escalated significantly under the reign of Elizabeth I and King James I, who was sure that witches had put a curse on his fleet. The Witchcraft Act of 1563 shifted the treatment of suspected witches from the church to the courts. Those accused were often the poor, the elderly and those who dared to live their lives away from the expectation of societal norms. Accusers ranged from family feuds to personal grudges or complaints from neighbours. 80% of those accused were women. Women who displayed an inner strength and confidence, and perhaps a rebellious nature, may well have been viewed as overstepping their boundaries, forgetting their place in life. So their community felt threatened by them.

It's important to understand that witch hunts were mostly fuelled by societal anxiety, political instability, religion and struggling economies which then led people to blame witches for misfortunes such as a bad harvest or sickness and disease. During a time when there was an even bigger divide between the rich and the poor than there is today, this would have been a huge deal for those who were starving hungry and living in poverty.

Witches were accused of causing changes to the climate, in particular, they were blamed for the Little Ice Age that spread across Europe and destroyed crops during the 14th  19th century. The big chill in northern Europe meant years of crop failure and economic hardship. As well as food shortages, there were also continuous wars breaking out and the spread of diseases including the introductions of syphilis. Witches were blamed for it all. The widespread suffering was all their fault in the eyes of many.

However, much of the speculation was fuelled by the powers above who put the fear of God (literally) into communities in order to cause a divide and gain more even more power. Raising suspicions and spreading malicious gossip amongst the public. Considering the current political climate, has anything really changed? Divide and conquer seems to be a tactic that has been used by those in charge for centuries.

Pushed by radical religion and a political agenda, Europe was having its resilience tested to the maximum during this period and looked for someone to blame. It was all about power, money, envy and resentment. A tactic for leaders both religious and political, to get the public on their side. Someone had to pay the price.

Witch trials were also a lucrative business. Hundred of litres of wine were often hauled up to the execution sites encouraging whole towns and villages to attend. Commissioners, scribes and executioners all made a handsome wage in supporting these barbaric events.

Perhaps the most famous in England were the Pendle witch trials that took place in Lancashire. In March 1612, seventeen-year-old Alison Device, who was from a poor family, was out begging. A travelling pedlar named John Law passed by. Alice asked John for some pins, but he refused knowing that she could not pay. Shortly afterwards he collapsed and was partially paralysed. By todays standards, he most likely suffered from a stroke. Once he had recovered and could speak again, he accused Alice of witchcraft by means of cursing him with a black dog that was stood by her side at the time of the incident. In disbelief of her own power, Alice confessed and implicated other members of her family. Several members of the Device family as well as local rival families, were put on trial at Lancaster castle where they were kept in the most appalling conditions. Eleven women and one man were among the accused, ten of which were found guilty and hanged. The case of the Pendle witch trials was a classic example of targeting women who existed at the lower end of society, impoverished and barely surviving.

Spurred on by the production of the Malleus by Heinrich Kramer; a manual for hunting and persecuting witches, that was published in 1486. The Malleus fuelled speculations and fears surrounding witchcraft. Referred to by some, as a misogynistic text, Kramer believed that women were the weaker sex both physically and morally considering them tools of the devil attempting to lead men astray. Many believed this booked to be responsible for the large number of deaths related to witchcraft.

Punishment for witchcraft came in many forms but the most common was being burned alive at the stake. This was largely due to the Christian faith believing that burning was a way of purifying the soul and cleansing the community of any evil. One haunting account that has remained etched in my mind ever since I read about it a few years ago, is the case of Perotine Massey. Perotine was condemned and to be burned at the stake in Guernsey 1556, however, she was pregnant at the time and did not declare her pregnancy to the court. As the execution took place, she began to give birth through the emerging flames. One of the spectators attempted to rescue the newborn but the local bailiff ordered the baby to be thrown back onto the fire. I find it impossible to comprehend that level of cruelty towards a newborn.

Hanging, strangulation, beheading and drowning were also common forms of punishment. Many accused were given a witch test and thrown into the water. If they floated, they were considered guilty and if they sank, they were considered innocent but most likely drown anyway.

Torture was also a common method of extracting a confession from the accused. The rack involved tying their hands and feet while being slowly stretched, causing their bones to dislocate. Reverse hangings also took place and involved tying the hands behind their back and hoisting them up by a rope and then dropping them suddenly causing their shoulders to dislocate. The iron boot was a device that was placed around the legs and tightened to crush bones. Such agonising pain often resulted in false confessions. Thumbscrews designed to crush fingers or thumbs with increasing pressure, sleep deprivation and the witches bridle; a metal cage put over the head with a spike to hold down the tongue preventing those on trial from speaking, silencing them as a result, were all common forms of torture that I find rather gut wrenching. Those poor souls who were more than likely living in crippling poverty, barely surviving, to be falsely accused and have their communities shame them and turn their backs on them is, I believe, unforgivable.

Witch hunts spread to America during the 1600s. Most famous of all were the Salem witch trials in Massachusetts. By this time, the witch trial mania was dying down in Europe with many beginning to question the theory and doubt if witches even existed at all. Food shortages were on the decline, and the age of enlightenment gave more credit to science and reason than superstition.

The last known execution in England for witchcraft took place in 1682 when Temperance Lloyd, Susannah Edwards and Mary Trembles, also known as the Bideford Witches were hanged in Devon.

I cannot help but feel that the history of the witch hunt was triggered by a collective of middle-aged, possibly sexually frustrated, men of the cloth who were hell bent on slut shaming any woman who dared to be different. It was the churches way of controlling women. The word witch has been used as a way to defame so many strong women over the years. Politicians and public figures included. I myself was once called a white witch for my ability to predict the future via my dreams; car accidents and health concerns to name a few.

It seems that those who were happy to be submissive and didnt have the courage to think differently and challenge authority, were safe. Those who were intelligent enough to question the powers above were seen as a problem, to be eliminated. In my view, witch hunts were used as a way of controlling strong women into submission. Because back then mens language was aggression and war. And because men were, still are, intimidated by women who dare to carve out a life out for themselves. As a strong-willed, independent woman, I find myself asking the question, has anything really changed? Maybe witches were just women who were way ahead of their time. Too much for the narrow-minded societies in which they lived, to handle.

Belief in witchcraft is still widespread today. In Papua New Guinea, the United Nations estimated around 200 people are killed each year on suspicion of witchcraft. Sometimes men but mostly women who have been outcast by the village community. In South Asia, women are still blamed for disease, crop failure and natural disasters. The issue in Africa is rampant with many women being accused of witchcraft by their own families.

The dark past of witch hunts serves as a reminder of what can happen when fear, superstition and authoritarian power join forces. It remains one of Europes darkest chapters and is a warning to us all of the dangers of mass hysteria, scapegoating and abuse of power in the name of religion and morality.

Today, in the Western world, the witch is embraced by feminists and womens rights movements as a symbol of power, of women being free and independent. Of women standing up against the patriarchy with passion and pride.

Long live the witch. And a Happy Halloween!

Author and activist Elizabeth G

Elizabeth G. is a celebrated British author and podcaster who campaigns for, and is a vocal advocate of, equality for sex workers. She is currently leading a national petition calling on the government to introduce a Sex Worker's Discrimination Act  legislation designed to safeguard individuals in the sex industry from discrimination, abuse, and social stigma. Her goal is to create a fairer, safer, and more equal society. Elizabeths candid memoir, Unashamed: Why Do People Pay for Sex?, is out now.
Australian data centre operator NEXTDC has announced the appointment of Jamaludin Ibrahim to its board as non-executive director, effective 1 November 2025.

NEXTDC says Jamaludin has over 40 years of executive experience in the IT and telecommunications sectors, including 27 years as a CEO - and since retiring from executive roles in 2020, he has remained engaged in various industries, including technology, fast food, aviation, and transportation, through multiple non-executive roles.

He has served extensively on corporate boards in Malaysia and internationally, including public-listed companies, private enterprises, and government-linked bodies.

Jamaludin holds an MBA from Portland State University (US) specialising in Operations Research & Quantitative Methods. He also holds a BSc, Business Administration, with a minor in Mathematics from California State University, Chico.

He is currently the Chairman of QSR Brands (Fast Food, ASEAN), Chairman of AirAsia Aviation Group Ltd and a Board Member of SEEK Ltd (Australia) - and was previously Chairman of government owned Prasarana Malaysia Berhard, Malaysia's public transport owner and operator, and a non-executive director of publicly listed Sunway Berhad.

NEXTDC also notes:

Jamaludin has served the Malaysian government in various roles, including being appointed in 2020 by the former Prime Minister of Malaysia as a member of the Economic Action Council and of the Digital Economy Council. He has been a contributor to numerous national initiatives and policy task forces. In addition, he currently serves as the Pro-Chancellor, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).

Jamaludin's commercial experience includes being the Group CEO, Axiata Group (20082020), the CEO of Maxis Communications (1998 - 2007), the Managing Director, DEC Malaysia (19931997) and having acted in a variety of roles at IBM Malaysia (19811993) including in systems engineering, sales, and management. He began his career as a Lecturer at California State University, Chico (1980).

Jamaludin's services to industry have been recognised both in Malaysia and abroad, having received the GSMA (Global Telecom Associations) Chairmans Award (2015) and receiving an Honorary Doctorate in Management, Universiti Sains Malaysia (2024).

NEXTDC's chairman Douglas Flynn said, "We are very pleased to welcome Mr Ibrahiim to NEXTDC. He has a wealth of business and key sector experience highly relevant to our ambitions, and we look forward to learning from and harnessing his insights and skills as we expand our business into Asia."

"I am excited to be joining the NEXTDC Board." commented Mr Jamaludin. "The company is at an exciting stage, both in its growth and that of the digital economy. It has built an enviable reputation for its highly connected network of data centres, and I look forward to working with the Board and the NEXTDC team and hope to contribute to its success."
Russell Cohen, PEXA CEO and Group Managing Director said the new appointees would "underpin long term growth agenda"

Australian technology business and digital property settlement platform operator PEXA has announced the appointment of new executive leaders and the elevation of existing talent to strengthen its leadership team.

PEXA says the refreshed leadership approach brings the companys technology and product functions together and will support the business innovation agenda, focused on enhancing its products and platform and the expansion and scaling of its platform into new markets.

Peter Bonney has been appointed Chief Product and Technology Officer, commencing January 2026. Bonney is currently Executive General Manager, Product Engineering at Xero, where he has demonstrated leadership in scaling platforms that serve millions of customers globally. He also brings extensive technology leadership experience from senior roles at Coles and IAG, equipping him with deep expertise in digital transformation and platform delivery across complex, regulated industries.

Kylie Waldock was appointed Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, in September. Waldock brings significant experience across banking and financial services, having held senior roles at NAB and ME Bank, and most recently serving as Chief Executive Officer of MoneyPlace. She will focus on strengthening PEXAs relationships across our ecosystem, ensuring that customers remain central to PEXAs strategy, drawing on her expertise in partnerships, lending, and commercial leadership.

PEXA has also elevated three key leaders:

Clare Gill has been appointed Chief Regulatory and Corporate Affairs Officer , reflecting her strong leadership in regulatory strategy and engagement.

reflecting her strong leadership in regulatory strategy and engagement. Krystal Kocik has been promoted to Group Chief Product Officer . She will drive global product development and innovation to meet the evolving needs of new and existing markets.

. She will drive global product development and innovation to meet the evolving needs of new and existing markets. Steve Braithwaite has been appointed General Manager, New Markets and Group Strategy. In this newly created role, Steve will drive the development of PEXAs Anti Money Laundering (AML) solution and assess new growth opportunities.

As part of this change, Eglantine Etiemble, Group Chief Technology Officer, will depart the business on 26 November. The company thanks Ms Etiemble for her significant contribution and wishes her every success in the future.

Russell Cohen, PEXA Chief Executive Officer and Group Managing Director said that the appointments all bring specific skills that would underpin the Groups long term growth agenda.

These appointments reflect our commitment to putting the customer at the heart of everything we do, while driving the technology innovation needed to take PEXA into its next phase of growth, he said.

Peters demonstrated leadership in globally scaling technology platforms and Kylies deep Customer and Commercial expertise in banking and finance bring fresh perspective to PEXA, whilst Steves strength in strategy and innovation, Clares regulatory leadership and Krystals product depth will all be pivotal in shaping PEXAs future.

With a strengthened executive team, PEXA is well positioned to pursue future opportunities as a trusted digital partner for secure property transactions worldwide.

About PEXA Group

PEXA Group is a world-leading ASX-listed digital property exchange platform and property insights solutions business. The PEXA Group of companies, including .id (Informed Decisions) and Value Australia, also delivers a new generation of data solutions that empower businesses and governments to make more informed property and place-related decisions.

PEXA Exchange is the leading digital property settlements platform in Australia. PEXA is a licenced operator of Australias largest Electronic Lodgement Network (the PEXA Exchange). Since 2013, PEXA has facilitated more than 20 million property settlements through the PEXA Exchange in Australia, with 89% market reach, and in 2022, PEXA launched in the UK.
His speech to an audience of generals he'd summoned to Washington has mystified and outraged critics who think his obsession with physical fitness is out-of-date at best and ridiculous at worst.

"Frankly, it's tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops," Hegseth told the assembled brass. "Likewise, it's completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon."

"Today, at my direction, every member of the joint force, at every rank, is required to take a PT test twice a year, as well as meet height and weight requirements twice a year, every year of service," he continued.

Cue the eye-rolling.

A piece in The Atlantic observed that Hegseth's "dream world is the world of Ranger school"  an Army training program  "not the actual world of complex military operations involving land, air, sea, space, and cyberspace."

There's no doubt that physical fitness is very personal to Hegseth, who said on the day of his confirmation hearing that he'd done five sets of 47 push-ups that morning.

"If the secretary of war can do regular, hard PT, so can every member of our joint force," he told the generals.

But you know who'd agree with him about the centrality of fitness to the military profession? The great 20th-century statesman George C. Marshall.

In a 1920 letter, Marshall called being "physically strong" one of the foundations of the military profession.

As he said of military leaders in 1940 congressional testimony, they have to inspire their men "when they are hungry and exhausted and desperately uncomfortable and in great danger," and "only a man of positive characteristics of leadership, with the physical stamina that goes with it, can function under those conditions."

Needless to say, combat is an inherently physical activity. It requires incredible exertion for long stretches of time under great stress. It is necessary to carry heavy objects  a wounded comrade, artillery shells  in the worst conditions imaginable.

The age of AI and drones hasn't changed this ineluctable fact of human existence.

It's simply a fact that, as any platoon leader will tell you, out-of-shape infantry aren't as good at their jobs.

The emphasis on fitness is especially important when the recruiting pool, reflecting an American society where 40% of people are obese, is in poorer shape than it used to be.

And troops do notice and resent it when they are meeting height and weight standards and their comrades aren't, or when their superiors are out of shape.

If the colonel who is enforcing disciplinary matters is fat, it is corrosive of his credibility.

Physical-fitness standards were dumbed down over the years, and for DEI reasons.

The Army had been developing a fitness test that was supposed to have gender-neutral standards.

When it emerged, not surprisingly, that women weren't doing as well on the test, the Biden-era Army decided to gender-norm the scores and lower the standards generally.

In a telling exchange with Sen. Tom Cotton, the secretary of the army at the time said that the Army "didn't want to disadvantage any subgroups."

This is why it's so important that Hegseth ordered that the requirement for combat positions "returns to the highest male standard."

Obviously, having a physically fit force doesn't guarantee victory in, say, a war with China, which would require much else besides.

But Hegseth was right to make it as clear as possible to our military leaders that the basics are back.

Making our force more proficient doesn't begin and end with push-ups, but it does start there.

(COMMENT, BELOW)
Eric Dane told Aaron Lazar about his ALS battle months before he went public with his health crisis.

Eric Dane confided in Aaron Lazar about his ALS diagnosis

The Grey's Anatomy star revealed in April that he is battling ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) - also known as motor neurone disease - and now fellow actor Aaron - who also has ALS - has revealed Eric confided in him about his illness while they filming new Amazon thriller series Countdown together.

Broadway star Aaron told Variety: "When I met Eric and he shook my hand, I could see and feel something was off.

"I asked him what was going on. Eric said to me: 'I think I have what you have'."

Aaron filmed a guest spot in the show alongside regular castmember Eric and he revealed the team behind the scenes were incredibly supportive.

He told the publication: "I was in a wheelchair and I was so nervous they werent going to be able to dress me in my suits.

"But it turns out they knew exactly what to do because they had already been working with Eric and what he had been going through."

Aaron was diagnosed with ALS in 2022 and went public with his health battle two years later.

When his guest spot on Countdown was announced, Aaron praised Amazon for their "boldness" in casting him. In a post on Instagram, he wrote: "On June 25, Amazons new thriller series The Countdown premiered, and spoiler alert, this season features two actors with ALS. A first in television history?

"I dont know. But I am honored to be a part of it. Thank you @realericdane youre a bad***.

"Thank you to Amazon, the producers and creators. Your boldness in casting disability friendly is appreciated more than you know ... "

Eric was recently due to make a public appearance at the Emmy Awards to hand out one of the prizes with his former Grey's Anatomy co-star Jesse Williams, but he ended up skipping the event after taking a tumble at home.

Explaining his absence from the event, Eric told the Washington Post newspaper: "ALS is a nasty disease. "So I was in the hospital during the Emmys getting stitches put in my head.

"I missed an opportunity I was really looking forward to. It would have been great to see Jesse and get reunited with some of my peers, and to be able to present in front of my colleagues I thought would have a been special moment.

"I was a really upset about it, but you know, there was nothing I could do about it."

After going public with his diagnosis in April, Eric admitted he felt he "had" to be open about his condition to avoid speculation and he's been blown away by the level of "love and support" he has received.

He said: It wasnt something I ever really wanted to do. It was something I felt like I had to do.

"It was getting increasingly difficult to hide what was going on. And instead of letting people speculate what was happening, I just said it.  And Ive never experienced a bigger outpouring of love and support than I have after I announced that."
China activates emergency response as Typhoon Matmo batters coastal regions

Xinhua) 09:24, October 06, 2025

This photo taken on Oct. 5, 2025 shows high waves in a seashore area of Haikou, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

BEIJING, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- China activated a Level-IV national disaster relief emergency response on Sunday as Typhoon Matmo -- the 21st named storm of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season -- battered the southern provinces of Guangdong and Hainan, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.

The national commission for disaster prevention, reduction and relief has dispatched working groups to the affected areas to guide disaster rescue operations.

The Ministry of Emergency Management, in collaboration with the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, has sent an additional 20,000 items of disaster relief supplies to Guangdong and Hainan, and 10,000 items to Guangxi.

The supplies include folding beds, moisture-proof mats and family emergency kits.

Additionally, the National Development and Reform Commission has urgently allocated 200 million yuan (about 28.15 million U.S. dollars) of central budgetary investment to support Guangdong and Hainan in emergency post-typhoon recovery efforts.

The funds will be primarily used for the restoration and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and public service facilities in the affected areas, including roads, bridges, embankments, schools and hospitals, to accelerate the return to normal production and daily life.

According to local authorities, approximately 347,000 people have been evacuated in Guangdong and Hainan to ensure safety.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Hongyu)
Prince William made a secret visit to the Doctor Who set last month.

Prince William visited the set of Doctor Who (c) Kensington Palace

The 43-year-old royal made a trip to Cardiff's Bad Wolf Studios in his role as president of BAFTA, where he got an in-depth look inside the TARDIS, as well as touring the set of upcoming BBC period drama The Other Bennet Sister.

During the trip, the Prince of Wales also spent time with recipients of the Prince William Bursary, as well as primary school students taking part in a Screen Alliance Wales (SAW) programme.

Bad Wolf Sudios' chief executive Jane Tranter said: "It was a complete joy to show Prince William around Bad Wolf. We are so incredibly proud of the outreach work being done by Allison Dowzell and the team at Screen Alliance Wales, and for Prince William to help highlight the work being done at the studios means a great deal. He was introduced to trainees from a wide range of departments, and it was fantastic to see him take such an interest in the new generation of TV creatives."

Pictures of William's visit were released ahead of the BAFTA Cymru Awards on Sunday (05.10.25), which recognise Welsh talent in the worlds of film and TV.

The prince recorded a message for the ceremony in which he hailed the UK's "world-renowned" talents and highlighted the role of BAFTA's bursaries.

He said: "The screen arts are a vital part of our cultural landscape, enriching both the UK's storytelling heritage and our economy. Our talent pipeline is world-renowned. And, whilst talent is everywhere, all too often opportunity is lacking.

"And that's where BAFTAs bursary programme plays an important role in supporting the next generation of talent, giving young people vital support to get that crucial first step on the career ladder.

"These bursaries are used to pay for training courses, equipment, relocation expenses, and much more - the essentials without which talented people can be locked out of a career in the screen arts.

"Here in Wales, we have more than 50 bursary recipients. As President of BAFTA Id like to say a huge thank you to our partners Ffilm Cymru Wales and Screen Alliance Wales, and to everyone who has so generously supported the BAFTA Bursary programme"

William launched his eponymous bursary in 2022 to support those who wouldn't be able to pursue careers in the industry due to financial reasons.
Caring for someone with Alzheimers is not just exhausting; it is emotionally disorienting. You lose pieces of someone you love, slowly, in a thousand small ways. And while books, doctors, and websites talk about the medical side of Alzheimers, there are things they do not prepare you for like the guilt, the grief, the unexpected laughter, and how much it can break your heart. If you are in this role or about to be, this article is for you. Below are seven things most people do not say out loud, but every Alzheimers caregiver deserves to know.

1. You will grieve while they are still alive. Alzheimers is often called the long goodbye, and for good reason. As the disease progresses, the person you love may still look the same, but their memory, personality, and sense of time begin to fade. This creates something called ambiguous loss, the grief that happens when someone is physically present but psychologically absent. And it is real grief. You might feel sadness, anger, even guilt for mourning someone who is still technically here. That is normal and it is OK to talk about it.

2. You will constantly question yourself. Should I have handled that differently? Am I doing enough? What if they forget me? These questions can haunt caregivers, especially adult children. It is easy to feel like you are doing it all wrong especially when the person you are caring for cannot reassure you. But the very fact that you are showing up, reading this, and trying to do better says a lot. One of the hardest parts of caregiving is the emotional guessing game. Alzheimers does not come with a clear playbook, and every day can feel different. You will make mistakes. Everyone does. Self-compassion is part of survival.

3. The small wins matter more than you would expect. When a loved one remembers your name or smiles at you after a string of hard days, it can feel like a tiny miracle. And it is. These small wins might seem insignificant to others, but to caregivers, they are golden. Holding their hand, helping them dress, getting through dinner without confusion or distress, these are victories. Recognize them. Celebrating small moments keeps you grounded, especially when progress is not part of the journey.

4. You will need to set boundaries, even with family. One of the most invisible stressors for caregivers? The family dynamics. You may feel like you are carrying the emotional and physical load alone, while siblings or other relatives stay on the sidelines. And you may be tempted to take on everything to keep the peace. But you cannot pour from an empty cup. It is OK to say no. It is OK to ask for help. And it is OK to step away when you need to recharge. Boundaries are not just healthy; they are essential for long-term caregiving. If others are not stepping up, have honest conversations or delegate what you can. You deserve support, too.

5. Your loved one might say things that hurt. There may come a day when the person you are caring for does not recognize you, or worse, says something unkind or frightening. This can be one of the most painful parts of the journey. Alzheimers affects the brain in ways that alter behavior and personality. A once-kind parent may become suspicious, withdrawn, or even aggressive. These moments are deeply painful, but they are not personal. Remind yourself: It is the disease, not the person. Create distance when you need to. Talk to a therapist or support group. You are allowed to feel hurt and you are not alone.

6. Caregiving might isolate you, if you let it. The daily responsibilities of caregiving can quietly pull you away from your own life, friends, hobbies, even your job. Before you know it, your world shrinks to one person, one routine, and one endless to-do list. Isolation is a serious risk, both emotionally and mentally. Caregivers are significantly more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and burnout. That is why staying connected even in small ways is vital. Can you schedule one coffee with a friend a week? Join an online support group? Talk to a counselor once a month? These small steps help protect your mental health and remind you: you are still your own person.

7. It is OK to feel relief, and to still love them deeply. If you have been caregiving for months or years, there may come a time especially near the end when you feel a strange, unexpected sense of relief. Not because you did not love them, but because you are exhausted. Because the hard part is over. This feeling often comes with guilt. Do not let it. You are human. Loving someone through Alzheimers is one of the most difficult emotional tasks a person can face. Feeling relief does not mean you did not care; it means you gave everything you had. You can love someone completely and still feel ready to rest.

Final thoughts

Being a caregiver for someone with Alzheimers is a kind of love that most people do not understand until they have lived it. It is not just about keeping someone safe. It is about learning to let go, little by little, while still showing up with patience and compassion. And it is not something anyone should have to do alone. Talk to a therapist. Join a support group. Take the break. Ask for help. You deserve care, too, not just as a caregiver, but as a person navigating deep emotional terrain.

What can you do next?

If you are currently caregiving:

Make a list of people you can reach out to for help even small tasks matter.

Look into local respite care options so you can take a proper break.

Find one resource (a book, podcast, or support group) just for you.

If you are preparing to care for someone:

Start conversations early about medical, legal, and financial planning.

Read firsthand caregiver stories to emotionally prepare.

Get organized: medications, appointments, and emergency contacts in one place.

Andrew Gulbis is a family physician.
Victoria Beckham has "earned her place to show in Paris" after fighting to survive in the fashion industry.

Victoria Beckham has opened up about the troubles her fashion brand faced

The Spice Girls star launched her self-named fashion brand back in 2008 and the business struggled with money issues for years before finally getting back on track - and Victoria now admits the tough times were not "easy" but she's managed to prove her critics wrong.

Her fashion journey is seen onscreen in her new self-titled Netflix documentary and she told The Times newspaper: "[In the documentary] I touch on ... the problems weve had with the business, you know, the money weve lost ... Ive earned my place to show in Paris, Ive earned the respect."

When asked to name the biggest hurdle she's faced, Victoria replied: "That I was just a celebrity brand. But the difference is I wanted to learn the industry, not just throw out something that might promise a return.

"I wanted to understand and learn my trade. I havent talked before about the struggles that the business has been through.

"Weve all seen the headlines, but this is the first time I also talk a lot about the business journey and how it hasnt all been easy."

Victoria went on to admit she also had to earn the respect of renowned fashion editor Anna Wintour, adding: "I had to prove myself to her.

"She didnt come [to my fashion shows] at the beginning. But I have to say, she has been incredibly supportive and kind.

"But did I have to work for her approval? Absolutely. I had to work for a lot of peoples approval."

Victoria has since expanded her fashion brand into beauty - launching make-up, skincare and perfume - and in the interview, she admitted creating a skincare line that's "taken seriously" was incredibly challenging.

She said: "The success has been phenomenal, and thats another thing Im so proud of - for a fashion brand to be taken seriously and have credibility in beauty, thats tough, but then to be taken seriously in skincare, thats even harder."

Victoria's latest big product launch is a new foundation that marries the perfect make-up coverage with a skin-boosting formulation and she recently admitted it was tricky to get right.

She told HarpersBazaar.com: "Some products feel like theyve been a lifetime in the making, and The Foundation Drops are exactly that for me.

"I was looking for something really innovative that hadnt been done before.

"A lot of people claim to have skincare science within their foundation, but I knew that I wanted to do that to another level, and do it in a really meaningful way. So it became very apparent that I actually should pause and really think about it."
Dogs visiting the northern Italian city of Bolzano may soon face a tax of their own, as authorities move to introduce a tourist fee for pets from 2026.

An Italian city could charge tourists who bring their dogs

Under a draft law announced last week, tourists bringing dogs into the South Tyrolean capital would be charged 1.50 (1.31) per animal per night, according to Ansa.

Residents would also face an annual fee of around 100 (87.28) per dog.

Officials say the measure is designed to fund street cleaning and other services linked to dog fouling, with revenues directed to new waste bins, upkeep of green spaces, and the creation of designated dog parks.

The proposal comes as local frustration grows over the impact of pets on public areas in South Tyrol, a region popular with hikers and international tourists. It also follows the failure of a controversial DNA registration scheme brought in last year in a bid to identify owners who failed to clean up after their animals.

Although the database was set up, compliance was low, with just 12,000 of 30,000 dog owners signing up despite the threat of 1,048 (914.54) fines.

Provincial councillor Luis Walcher has defended the new plan, saying: "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."

He added that registered owners would be exempt from the resident tax for two years.

However, animal welfare groups have criticised the proposal.

Carla Rocchi, of the Italian National Animal Protection Agency, said: "After the resounding and costly failure of the absurd dog DNA project, instead of focusing on civic education, targeted checks, and citizen awareness, were 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."

The city's mayor Claudio Corrarati has also voiced opposition, telling RTL radio: "We would be dogs to impose a tax on dogs."
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For seven years, Teresa Cruz and Rita Garcia have fought against an illegal garbage dump located just a few blocks from their homes in the Segunda Ampliacion Santiago Acahualtepec neighborhood of Iztapalapa. Last June, a judge ruled in their favor and ordered the borough government to remove the accumulated waste and implement a formal garbage collection program.

However, the Iztapalapa Mayors Office has filed an appeal against the ruling. In its defense, the local government argues that the dump does not exist and that the plaintiffs failed to provide legal proof that they are residents of the affected street.

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Alfonso Gonzalez May, legal director of the Iztapalapa Mayors Office, confirmed in an interview that they were notified of the lawsuit on May 30, 2024, and that the judge ruled in favor of the residents.

The judge ruled in their favor, but we requested a review of the sentence. The process is ongoing. Its part of the legal procedure, Gonzalez May told La Silla Rota.

According to the official, the boroughs main argument in the appeal is that the complainants did not legally prove their residence on the street in question and therefore lack legal standing to file the lawsuit.

READ ALSO: Adan Augusto violated notary law by working while on leave: lawyers

They did not submit any document proving that they live in or own a property on that street or in that neighborhood, said Gonzalez May. At least not in the original complaint.

In contrast, attorney Alejandro Martinez, from the National Council for Strategic Litigation and legal representative of the residents, rejected that claim, stating that proof of residence was indeed submitted.

We presented two electricity billsone for each complainantto prove that they lived on the street where the illegal dump is located. That evidence is part of the court file, Martinez told La Silla Rota.

Martinez argued that the boroughs strategy aims to plant doubt before higher courts but said the defense remains confident. We refer to this evidence in the statements we filed in response to the boroughs appeal, he said.

Raul Estrella / La Silla Rota

Borough Denies Operating the Garbage Dump

The Iztapalapa Mayors Office also denies that the garbage dump is operated by its personnel. Gonzalez May said that after an internal inspection, the borough determined that its sanitation workers were not the ones using Flor Marina Street as a dumping site.

This claim contrasts with field observations by La Silla Rota, which recorded individuals wearing orange uniforms and burgundy vestscolors typically used by borough sanitation staffhandling waste at the site.

There are many ways people get those uniforms, but we verified that they werent ours, Gonzalez May said. When we see garbage piling up, we collect it, just as we do at other illegal dumping spots.

He attributed the garbage accumulation to local residents who dump waste in the area and to a private truck that picks it up. He added that the borough has taken action to sanction those responsible.

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Were coordinating with the Environmental Secretariat to penalize these unofficial vehicles that collect garbage. Together with the Citizen Security Secretariat, weve also made arrests for illegal dumping in public spaces, he stated.

According to Gonzalez May, over 100 people have been referred to the civic court for this administrative offense during the current administration.

Regarding cleanup efforts, the borough maintains that daily patrols are conducted to keep the streets clean, including in Segunda Ampliacion Santiago Acahualtepec, where the complainants live.

Were carrying out inspections on a daily and permanent basis, as in other areas of the borough, Gonzalez May said.

The Dump Does Exist, Residents Lawyer Insists

Attorney Alejandro Martinez also rejected the boroughs claim that the dump does not exist. He recalled that the court itself conducted a physical inspection of the site, confirmed the presence of the dump, and issued a ruling ordering the borough to:

Guarantee public sanitation and garbage collection services in the area.

Develop a program with defined routes, schedules, and frequencies for garbage pickup.

Remove the accumulated waste at the corner of Flor Marina and Primavera Streets, establish a proper waste disposal and sorting site, and inform local residents about it.

They claim they havent violated the ruling and that there isnt even a dump. But the case file contains over 30 photographs and a judicial inspection proving otherwise, Martinez explained.

According to the lawyer, the appeal was filed three weeks ago and will be reviewed by a federal appellate court composed of three magistrates. The process could take up to six months.

During that time, the situation on the street remains unchanged. The residents continue living with the garbage every single day, he said.

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VILLAHERMOSA.  Senator Adan Augusto Lopez Hernandez violated the Notary Law of the state of Tabasco by receiving payments for his services as a notary while a leave of absence he had requested from notarial duties to work in public service was still in effect, according to lawyers.

Lopez Hernandez said last Friday that he received 79 million pesos in 2023 and 2024 for work carried out as head of Public Notary Office No. 27.

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He had previously also requested a leave of absence as notary when he served as a local and federal deputy, as well as the first time he became senator. He was then granted leave again during later years when he assumed, first, the governorship, and six years later, his current post as senator of the Republic.

In issue No. 7945 of the Official Gazette of Tabasco, published October 27, 2018, an agreement was made public granting him consecutive leave to remain temporarily separated from notarial functions, effective December 1, 2018, through September 30, 2024, as he was to serve as governor.

ALSO READ: Assassin from CCH Sur: homicidal ideas and a life under bullying, the IMSS diagnosis

Six years later, in issue No. 8557 of the Official Gazette, dated September 7, 2024, another agreement was published by substitute governor Carlos Manuel Merino Campos, granting a leave to temporarily separate from the exercise of notarial functions to Adan Augusto Lopez Hernandez, from December 2018 to September 2024, since he would assume the governorship of Tabasco.

Legal experts Francisco Lopez Mendez, Doctor of Law, and Sergio Antonio Reyes, former president of the State Bar Association, agreed that the Morena senator should face an administrative process to have his notarial license revoked, in accordance with the provisions of the Notary Law.

Context: last Friday, in a press conference, Lopez Hernandez, president of the Senates Political Coordination Board, responded to a journalistic investigation by Televisa that revealed transfers from two companies amounting to 79 million pesos that were not included in his asset declaration.

One of those companies was included by the Tax Administration Service (SAT) in the list of firms that simulate operations and are used for money laundering.

Cuartoscuro

The former governor of Tabasco held a press conference after President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that he should explain the inconsistency in his wealth.

What does the law say?

Article 27 of the Notary Law states that notarial duties are incompatible with any job, office, or public commission from the Federation, the State, or municipalities for which a salary or remuneration is received.

They are also incompatible with jobs or commissions from private individuals; with performing judicial mandates; with practicing law when the act or matter is related to contentious cases sponsored or formerly sponsored as attorney or representative; (and) with activities as a stockbroker, commission agent, or commercial broker.

Therefore, Article 28 of the Law allows notaries to hold a position incompatible with notarial duties, but they must first obtain leave from the head of the State Executive Branch, with the respective agreement being issued and published in the Official Gazette.

Since 2007, when Lopez Hernandez first held elected office as a local deputy, he had to request leave from the notarial license granted to him in 1994 by then-governor Manuel Gurria Ordonez, with whom he had worked as deputy secretary of Government.

He later served as federal deputy, senator, governor, Secretary of the Interior, and once again senator.

The most successful notary

Last Friday, September 26, Lopez Hernandez admitted that the millions added to his assets in 2023 corresponded to professional fees for notarial services.

ALSO READ: Fuel theft network in Profeco reached an Interior Ministry official

They hire me because, modesty aside, Im the most successful notary in the history of Tabasco, without disparaging my colleagues, boasted the licensed Notary Public No. 23 of Tabasco.

Jurists Francisco Lopez Mendez and Sergio Antonio Reyes Ramos argue that it is clear Lopez Hernandez broke the Notary Law by receiving millions in income, as he himself confessed, from notarial activities.

Adan vs. Adan

This Tuesday in the Senate, Lopez Hernandez reversed his statements made Friday and Monday. In his first press conference, he acknowledged receiving 79 million pesos from two companies for notarial services and said he paid a little over one million pesos in taxes.

On Monday, he claimed he paid more in taxes, clarifying that the million he referred to was only his latest partial payment.

This Tuesday, he said his income mainly comes from cattle sales, although in none of his conferences did he specify how much money he earned from that activity.

On Monday, he detailed that in 2023 he received:

20,556,000 pesos from business and professional activity

3,103,000 pesos from rentals

1,113,000 pesos from salaries

1,179,000 pesos from interest

Total: 25,951,000 pesos

In 2024, his income was:

54,177,000 pesos from business or professional activity

3,493,000 pesos from rentals

3,131,000 pesos from interest

887,495 pesos from salaries

Total: 61,682,000 pesos

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14:17 France PM Lecornu resigns in less than a month France's Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has resigned, less than a day after his cabinet was unveiled. The Elyse palace made the announcement after Lecornu met President Emmanuel Macron for an hour on Monday morning.The shock move comes only 26 days Lecornu was appointed prime minister following... Read more >

13:42 Stop taking this cough syrup, warns Maharashtra FDA The Maharashtra FDA on Monday appealed to the people to immediately stop the sale or use of a specific batch of Coldrif syrup, following child deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan allegedly linked to the medicine.Earlier, the Tamil Nadu drug control authorities, in their report of October 2,... Read more >

13:19 Lawyer hurls shoe at CJI, says, 'sanatan ka apman...' CJI Gavai Update: A lawyer allegedly tried to hurl a shoe towards Chief Justice of India BR Gavai during proceedings in the Supreme Court on Monday, according to lawyers. The incident occurred when a Bench led by the CJI was hearing the mentioning of cases by lawyers.The lawyer approached the dais,... Read more >

12:55 Hamas denies its agreed to disarm under Gaza peace plan Trump has warned Hamas of complete obliteration Hamas on Sunday strongly rejected claims that it had agreed to disarm under Trump's proposed Gaza peace deal. The group said such claims were false and politically motivated to weaken its position in the region. Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi dismissed the reports on October 5,... Read more >

12:26 Guess how many advertisers wished PM on his birthday? More than 220 advertisers used 108,000 column centimetres across over 400 Indian newspapers to wish Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 75th birthday on September 17.The SRM Group and JK Tyre were among the top advertisers. Add political and social ads wishing him and the total comes to 363,000... Read more >

12:20 Licious Expands 30-Min Delivery Licious, the online meat and seafood retailer, has expanded 30-minute delivery to serve 60 per cent of its 1.2 million customers as it aims to capitalise on India's $55 billion protein market, said sources.In seven cities, more than half of Licious's consumers already avail of the service called... Read more >

12:18 Genomic Testing Gets Affordable Genomic testing, once considered an expensive and niche service, is rapidly becoming more affordable and accessible across India, with prices of routine tests falling by 30 to 40 per cent in the past few years. Prices of routine tests such as BRCA1/2 for cancer risk assessment and... Read more >

11:55 Govt Keen To Retain Say On PSB Independent Directors The central government is not in favour of allowing public sector banks (PSBs) to appoint their own independent directors, said a senior official, arguing that retaining control is essential to ensure consistent oversight and to effectively implement financial inclusion schemes.During the PSB... Read more >

11:53 Fire that killed patients due to short circuit: Hospital The office of the Medical Superintendent of the Sawai Man Singh Hospital, Jaipur, confirmed that the fire at the Neurosurgery ICU of Trauma and Orthopaedic Institute, which claimed six lives, was caused by a short circuit. According to the press note by the SMS Hospital, on the night of... Read more >

11:36 Hundreds of trekkers still awaiting rescue on Everest File pic Hundreds of trekkers stranded by a blizzard near the eastern face of Mount Everest in Tibet had been guided to safety by rescuers, Chinese state media reported on Sunday, as unusually heavy snow and rainfall pummeled the Himalayas.As of Sunday, 350 trekkers had reached the small... Read more >

11:03 'Her Love For Animals Was So Pure' She was an icon, a path-breaker, says Dr Saket Badola, Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve, as he remembers his meeting with Dr Jane Goodall, the legendary conservationist and renowned chimpanzee expert who passed into the ages this week. In conversation with Archana Masih/Rediff.Read it... Read more >

10:58 Wangchuk arrest: SC issues notice to Centre, police, jail Kapil Sibal and his team is handling the case pro bono Supreme Court issues notice to Centre, Union Territory of Ladakh, Superintendent of Police Jodhpur Central jail on a plea of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali Angmo, against his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) and seeking his release. The court posts the... Read more >

10:49 Gains Unlikely For Realty Stocks In Near Term The Nifty Realty has been one of the weakest sectoral performers over the past year. While the benchmark Nifty 50 slipped 6 per cent, the real estate index fell 22 per cent during the same period.Godrej Properties led the decline, losing 40 per cent of its value, followed by Brigade Enterprises,... Read more >

10:46 'Declare Darjeeling landslide national calamity' Arun Sigchi, an Executive Member of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, Darjeeling and Kalimpong, on Monday confirmed 11 dead and at least 9 injured in Mirik, out of the 18 casualties after a massive landslide in West Bengal's Darjeeling. Speaking to ANI, Arun Sigchi demanded that... Read more >

09:58 Bihar poll schedule announcement today The Election Commission will announce the schedule for the Bihar legislative assembly polls on Monday. The poll authority has convened a press conference at 4 pm. The term of the 243-member state assembly ends on November 22. Political parties have urged the EC to hold the polls... Read more >

09:56 Goyal's Qatar Visit Begins Today; Trade Deal In Focus Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will begin his two-day visit to Qatar on Monday, during which he will hold discussions on a proposed comprehensive trade deal between India and the West Asian nation, including steps to finalise the framework of the deal, the commerce department said on... Read more >

09:55 Hospital staff fled first: Kin of patients dead in fire Six critical patients were killed in a blaze at the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur late Sunday, officials said. Trauma centre in-charge Dr Anurag Dhakad said 11 patients were being treated in the Neuro ICU when the fire erupted in the storage area,... Read more >

09:29 I had warned govt of Osama year before 9/11: Trump History will never forget that it were the US Navy Seals that stormed Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's compound and put a bullet in his head, US President Donald Trump said. Trump also repeated his claim that a year before Al Qaeda terrorists attacked the World Trade Centre twin towers in... Read more >

09:24 Syria concludes first election since fall of Assad regime Ballot boxes have closed across Syria after the counting continued late into Sunday evening, as the country conducted its first parliamentary elections since the fall of the Assad regime, CNN reported. According to CNN, election spokesman Nawar Najmeh told Syrian state TV al-Ikhbariya that... Read more >

09:17 Sensex, Nifty Still Chasing Last Year's Peaks A year ago, Indian equities scaled lifetime highs, with the Nifty reaching 26,277 and the Sensex approaching 86,000. Since then, both indices have remained more than 6 per cent below those peaks.The total market capitalisation (mcap) of BSE-listed companies now stands at 450.6 trillion, down from... Read more >

09:15 Rajnath 1st Raksha Mantri to Visit Australia Since 2014 India and Australia are set to further strengthen defence and security cooperation in information sharing, maritime domain, and joint activities, with three agreements expected to be signed during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's two-day official visit to the country beginning Thursday.Singh's... Read more >

09:04 DGCA Steps In To Check Festive Airfare Surge The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked airlines to add flights across key routes to prevent a spike in airfares during the festival season.In a statement issued on Sunday evening, the ministry of civil aviation said, 'DGCA is mandated by the ministry to keep a watch on... Read more >

08:55 SIT to probe cough syrup deaths of 14 children in MP Representational image The Madhya Pradesh police have formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the death of 14 children in Chhindwara due to suspected renal failure, linked to the consumption of a toxic cough syrup, officials said. Dr Praveen Soni from Chhindwara has been arrested for alleged negligence... Read more >

08:40 Around 1,000 climbers stranded on Tibetan side of Mt Everest after blizzard Rescue efforts were underway on Sunday in the remote Tibetan slopes of Mount Everest where a blizzard has trapped nearly 1,000 people in campsites on the eastern side of the world's tallest mountain.Hundreds of local villagers and rescue teams have been deployed to clear out snow blocking access... Read more >
TikTok has been accused of promoting explicit sexual content to underage users, after a new investigation found the app's algorithm was recommending pornographic material to childrens accounts.

Report finds TikTok recommending porn to children

Researchers from the human rights campaign group Global Witness discovered that even with TikToks built-in safety filters switched on, the platform was still suggesting sexualised videos - including explicit clips of penetrative sex - to accounts registered as 13-year-olds.

The team created four fake child profiles in late July and early August, using brand-new phones with no search history, and enabled TikToks Restricted Mode, which is designed to block inappropriate content. Despite this, the accounts were quickly shown sexualised material.

According to the report, the suggested search terms led directly to explicit videos, along with other clips showing women exposing their breasts or flashing underwear in public. In some cases, pornographic footage was hidden within seemingly harmless content, making it harder for moderators to detect.

Ava Lee from Global Witness said the findings came as a major concern.

She said: "TikTok isnt just failing to prevent children from accessing inappropriate content - its suggesting it to them as soon as they create an account."

The researchers say they first stumbled across the problem earlier this year while conducting unrelated research into the platforms recommendation system, prompting a deeper investigation.

TikTok has defended its safety measures, insisting it is committed to providing a safe and age-appropriate experience for all users."

A spokesperson said the company took immediate action once alerted to the issue and stressed that it offers more than 50 safety features to protect teens.

However, campaigners are calling for stronger regulation and tougher age-verification measures, warning that parents cannot rely on in-app filters alone.

Experts say families should monitor their childrens social media use closely, keep communication open and discuss what to do if they see something distressing online.

As Lee added: "Parents assume these platforms are safe for their kids, but our research shows that, right now, theyre anything but."
President Sadat of Egypt has died after being shot by gunmen who opened fire as he watched an aerial display at a military parade.

A number of other dignitaries including foreign diplomats were killed or seriously wounded.

The Egyptian authorities have declared a state of emergency.

President Sadat was attending the eighth anniversary of the Yom Kippur war with Israel as Field Marshal of the armed forces.

He had taken the salute, laid a wreath and was watching a display from the Egyptian Air Force when two grenades exploded.

Gunmen then leapt from a military truck in front of the presidential reviewing stand and ran towards the spectators, raking officials with automatic gunfire.

Despite typically large numbers of security personnel for the ceremonial occasion, eyewitnesses say the attackers were able to keep shooting for well over a minute.

By the time the presidents bodyguards returned fire at least ten people lay seriously injured or dead inside the stand.

Security forces then shot and killed two of the attackers and overpowered the rest, as crowds of military and civilian spectators scrambled for cover.

President Sadat was airlifted by helicopter to a military hospital. He is believed to have died about two hours later.

Reaction to Presidents Sadats death has been mixed.

President Reagan condemned Anwar Sadats death as an act of infamy. Her said: America has lost a great friend, the world has lost a great statesman, and mankind has lost a champion of peace.

But many have been celebrating the news. In Libya, Tripoli radio said every tyrant has an end, as thousands took to the streets of the capital in jubilation.

Neither has the Palestinian Liberation Organisation condemned the assassination. Nabil Ramlawi, a PLO official, said: We were expecting this end of President Sadat because we are sure he was against the interests of his people, the Arab nations and the Palestinian people.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

President Sadat was the first Arab leader to recognise the state of Israel since its creation in 1948.

Although popular in the West for his efforts at rapprochement with Israel, his policies dismayed much of the Arab world.

Under President Sadat, Egypt signed the Camp David accords with Israel in 1978 outlining the framework for peace in the Middle East. This included limited autonomy for Palestinians.

A historic bilateral Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty was signed the following year. Arab states boycotted Egypt for breaking ranks and negotiating a separate treaty with Israel.

Following President Sadats assassination, more than 700 people were rounded up.

Twenty-five faced a secret trial, five of whom were then executed, and 17 others given prison sentences and hard labour.

Vice-President Hosni Mubarak succeeded President Sadat as head of state.

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Beijings top diplomat in Hong Kong met with the citys new U.S. Consul General last week to warn her against interfering in the territorys internal affairs, his office said in a statement late last week.

Cui Jianchun, commissioner of the Hong Kong office of Chinas foreign ministry, met with Julie Eadeh last week to express concerns about her conduct, the statement said.

Eadeh, who took up the new role in August, appeared to have angered Beijing for reportedly inviting pro-democracy figures to events. Beijings office overseeing Hong Kong affairs reposted articles from pro-Beijing media outlets that criticized her moves.

Cui laid out four donts for Eadeh, asking her not to meet people she shouldnt meet with, not to collude with anti-China forces, not to assist or fund activities that might undermine the citys stability and not to interfere with national security cases in Hong Kong.

Cui urged Eadeh to abide by fundamental norms governing international relations including non-interference in domestic affairs and make a clean break with anti-China forces, the statement said.

The U.S. State Department on Thursday said: U.S. diplomats represent our nation and are charged with advancing U.S. interests globally, which is standard practice for diplomats around the world, including in Hong Kong.

Chinas tough stance underlines the ongoing tensions between Beijing and Washington over Hong Kong affairs, in addition to friction over trade, technology and Taiwan.

In the latest article reposted by Beijings office on Hong Kong affairs on Saturday, Eadeh was described as a promoter of a color revolution, a term referring to a mass protest movement seeking regime change.

It mentioned her meeting with pro-democracy activists Joshua Wong and Nathan Law during the protests in 2019, alleging the diplomat had close links to black violence, a term used by pro-Beijing media outlets and officials to refer to the protests.

Another article took issue with her inviting former Hong Kong official Anson Chan and former Democratic Party chairwoman Emily Lau to her events.

The former top official in the city drew criticism from pro-Beijing politicians when she met with then U.S. Vice President Mike Pence in Washington in March 2019, before the mass protests erupted.

Chan has kept a low profile since the national security law was imposed in 2020. KANIS LEUNG, HONG KONG

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Macau Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai said he hopes to visit Portugal in the first half of next year, after several postponements caused by Macau government responsibilities and Portuguese elections.

Speaking on the sidelines of the MSAR Government-hosted National Day reception, Sam emphasized that Portugal remains his priority for an overseas visit, and that planning with Portuguese leaders is ongoing.

He explained to local media on Wednesday that scheduling conflicts, including overseeing his first Policy Address presentation and the recent eighth legislative assembly (AL) elections, as well as the reshuffling of Portugals National Assembly following its elections, had prevented the trip from taking place.

Due to various matters within the Macau SAR Government, it has not yet been possible to carry out this visit, he said.

The official had originally planned to visit Portugal and Spain, with an initial announcement in April 2025 scheduling the trip for the first half of the year. It was later rescheduled for September but ultimately canceled without a new date.

Sam noted that he had also expressed his travel intentions to Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro during Montenegros visit to Macau last month, emphasizing that contact and planning were always upheld.

He reiterated, I maintain that I still wish for Portugal to be my first overseas visit. We are coordinating to hopefully arrange a visit to Portugal in the first half of next year. I am confident that a visit to Portugal could be expected in the first half of next year. Only after completing the Portugal visit will I arrange visits to other countries that are important for Macaus future development.

Alongside the travel update, the CE highlighted Macaus role as a strategic platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs) in economic and trade matters during his National Day speech.

He stated, We will build the China-Portuguese (Spanish) Speaking Countries Economic and Trade Service Centre and establish a China-Portugal Trade and Economic Development Fund with an initial investment of RMB1 billion.

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A 46-year-old Filipina domestic worker has been arrested in Macau for allegedly assisting a fraud syndicate in laundering approximately MOP930,000 since September, earning at least MOP40,000 in profit, the Judiciary Police (PJ) reported.

The suspect was apprehended at her residence in Taipa following an investigation into a case involving an elderly woman who had fallen victim to an online romance scam.

Authorities said the local elderly victim lost nearly MOP1 million after being convinced that her online romance partner had sent a USD1 million gift, which was allegedly held by customs and required clearance fees.

The victim handed over MOP910,000 in cash to the suspect over eight separate occasions, transferred MOP17,000 via local bank accounts, and purchased MOP72,000 in prepaid cards in Hong Kong.

When the victim ran out of funds, she borrowed money from her son, prompting suspicions and leading to the report.

The PJ urged residents not to trust strangers met online, particularly those requesting money transfers.

Citizens are advised to refuse such requests and report suspicious activity immediately to the police or through the Judiciary Polices anti-fraud mobile application to prevent financial loss. LV

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Police have arrested a father and son suspected of repeatedly stealing spare electrical cables from a Cotai hotel, with the stolen goods later sold for about MOP17,000.

The hotel reported total losses of around MOP780,000.

Hotel security discovered the theft on Wednesday, October 1, when a lock on an unused electrical box was found broken and several spare cables had been cut and removed.

Police reviewed surveillance footage and identified the 39-year-old son, employed as a general worker, who was caught attempting another theft near the hotel in the early hours of October 2.

Investigations revealed that since mid-August, the son had carried out at least seven thefts, using cable cutters and riding a motorcycle to the hotel. On two occasions, his 69-year-old retired father assisted in transporting the cables back to their home in the northern district. The pair later sold the stolen cables in separate transactions.

Both suspects have been charged with aggravated theft and handed over to the judiciary for further proceedings. Police continue to investigate the full extent of their activities.

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Macau welcomed more than 783,000 visitors during the mainlands National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, which coincided with the weekend. Authorities say annual visitor arrivals remain on track to hit 39 million.

The mainlands so-called Golden Week break, an eight-day event running through Wednesday, welcomed approximately 139,000 inbound travelers on its first day last Wednesday. Most arrivals came through the Border Gate, followed by Hengqin Port and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge checkpoint.

The Public Security Police Force (PSP) had previously projected that the holiday period would result in 5.6 to 6 million border crossings, averaging 700,000 to 750,000 daily, with around 1.2 million visitors expected in Macau, averaging 150,000 per day.

On the first day of Golden Week, Macau recorded over 673,000 border crossings, with more than 265,000 involving inbound and outbound travelers; however, the visitor count of 139,000 fell short of the authorities projected peak before increasing to approximately 164,000 the following day.

The day after National Day saw a massive influx of tourists, with crowds overwhelming attractions across multiple districts.

For the third consecutive day, police implemented crowd control measures, enforcing one-way flow at the Ruins of St. Pauls area.

Notably, on Saturday  the fourth day of the holiday  crowd control was implemented twice, with officials stating, Rua de S. Paulo is extremely crowded.

Pedestrians were allowed to ascend toward Rua de S. Paulo in one direction only, while exits were directed through surrounding streets and alleys, including Calcada do Amparo, Rua de Nossa Senhora do Amparo, and Rua de D. Belchior Carneiro.

Additionally, vehicles were prohibited from turning left from Rua de D. Belchior Carneiro onto Calcada de S. Francisco Xavier, with these restrictions lasting up to two hours.

According to PSP records, the influx of tourists has been steadily increasing since Tuesday. On the day after National Day, Macau recorded 735,000 border crossings, with approximately 319,000 tourists, including 164,000 inbound visitors.

The third day saw an increase to 787,000 crossings, with tourists accounting for 364,000, including 182,000 inbound. On the fourth day, total crossings reached 821,000, with visitors making up 384,000, of which about 191,000 were inbound tourists, all primarily entering through the Border Gate.

The Gongbei Customs reported that on the first four days of the eight-day holiday period, Gongbei Port recorded over 1.57 million passenger entries and exits. The average daily passenger volume reached 390,000, marking an 8.3% increase compared to the same period last year.

However, possibly due to the impact of the typhoon, passenger numbers declined yesterday. According to PSP figures, as of 9 p.m., there were only 106,650 tourists recorded out of a total of 245,508 inbound arrivals.

Tourist arrivals projected to reach 39 million by year-end

This year, inbound tourist arrivals in Macau have already exceeded 30 million. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), has projected that the total number of visitors could reach 39 million by year-end.

Speaking to the media on Saturday at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, the tourism chief updated reporters on the free bus and ferry ticket offer for foreign visitors arriving in Macau via Hong Kong from May 1 to December 31 this year.

She reported that as of August 31, 150,000 visitors had taken advantage of the offer, with 27% of them being young travelers aged 25 to 34. In terms of regional distribution, over 90%  approximately 137,000  were Asian travelers, while more than 5,000 were from Europe and over 4,000 from North America.

Stating that plans are also underway to explore the Central Asian source market, Senna Fernandes noted that promotional efforts in the Middle East commenced earlier this year.

She remarked, With mainland travelers accelerating their recovery amid various Chinese policy relaxations, we are prioritizing the promotion of international visitors. In addition to collaborating with airlines in Macau and Hong Kong, we are partnering with foreign travel sales platforms to expand our international customer base through diverse channels.

As visitors flock to Macau for the holiday, local residents are also opting to go north. A report by the Macau Daily News last weekrevealed that the reservation system for Macau vehicles heading north during this years National Day Golden Week, from October 1 to 7, has reached full capacity, with all 2,000 daily slots booked.

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India and China plan to resume direct flights between some of their cities after a five-year suspension as the relations between the two countries begin to thaw, Indian authorities announced last week.

Direct flights between the two countries were suspended during the Covid pandemic in 2020 and did not resume as Beijing and New Delhi engaged in prolonged border tensions.

Flights between designated cities will resume by late October subject to commercial carriers decisions, Indias embassy to China said in a post on social media platform WeChat.

The resumption is part of the Indian governments approach towards gradual normalization of relations between India and China, the embassy added.

Indias largest carrier IndiGo announced Thursday it would resume flights from Kolkata, India, to Guangzhou, China, beginning Oct. 26.

The resumption comes after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China last month for the first time in seven years to attend a regional security forum, which was part of efforts by the two countries to normalize ties.

Relations between China and India plummeted in 2020 after security forces clashedalong a disputed border in the Himalayan mountains. Four Chinese soldiers and 20 Indian soldiers were killed in the worst violence in decades, freezing high-level political engagements. MDT/AP

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* Golden Rush

 Golden Week traffic peaks as Macau records over 780,000 tourist arrivals in five days, slightly exceeding govt projections

* Fourth T8 of 2025 | Typhoon Matmo breaks records with gusts surpassing hurricane force

* Governance |CE: Reshuffle of top officials to enhance coordination within govt

* Gaming revenue slows in September amid fewer visitors and typhoon disruptions, while stocks slide ahead of Typhoon Matmo

* Cooperation: CE targets Portugal visit in first half of next year

* A worker was arrested for allegedly assisting a fraud syndicate in laundering approximately MOP930,000, earning at least MOP40,000 in profit

DOWNLOAD PDF

Monday, October 6, 2025  edition no. 4812

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hopes to announce the release of all hostages from Gaza in the coming days, as Israel and Hamas prepare for indirect talks in Egypt today on a new U.S. plan to end the war.

In a brief statement late Saturday, Netanyahu said he has sent a delegation to Egypt to finalize technical details, adding that our goal is to contain these negotiations to a time frame of a few days.

But Netanyahu signaled there would not be a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, something Hamas has long demanded. He said Israels military will continue to hold territories it controls in Gaza, and that Hamas will be disarmed in the plans second phase, diplomatically or through a military path by us.

The prime minister spoke after Hamas said it has accepted some elements of the U.S. plan. President Donald Trump welcomed the militant groups statement but on Saturday warned that Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off.

Trump later said the ceasefire would begin immediately once Hamas confirms the initial withdrawal line in Gaza. A map with his social media post appeared to show much of Gaza still open to Israeli forces.

Trump has also ordered Israel to stop bombing Gaza. Some in Gaza City reported a notable easing of Israeli strikes Saturday, though hospital officials said at least 22 people were killed, including women and children.

Israels army said leaders instructed it to prepare for the U.S. plans first phase. Israel has moved to a defensive-only position in Gaza and will not actively strike, said an official who was not authorized to speak to the media on the record.

Still, an Israeli strike on Gaza Citys Tuffah neighborhood killed at least 17 and injured 25 others, said Al-Ahli hospital director Fadel Naim. The strikes are still ongoing, Naim said. Israels military said it struck a Hamas member and regrets any harm caused to uninvolved civilians.

Shifa Hospital director Mohamed Abu Selmiyah earlier Saturday said Israeli strikes killed five Palestinians across Gaza City.

Momentum ahead of waris anniversary

Trump appears determined to deliver on pledges to end the war and return all hostages ahead of Tuesdays second anniversary of the Hamas attack that sparked it on Oct. 7, 2023. His proposal has widespread international support. On Friday, Netanyahus office said Israel was committed to ending the war.

Mondays indirect talks are meant to prepare the way for the release of hostages from Gaza and Palestinians from Israeli detention, mediator Egypt said.

A senior Egyptian official said U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Egypt to head the U.S. negotiating team. The talks also will discuss maps showing the expected withdrawal of Israeli forces from certain areas in Gaza, said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasnt authorized to brief the media.

The official also said Arab mediators are preparing for a comprehensive dialogue among Palestinians aimed at unifying their position toward Gazas future. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Gazas second most powerful militant group, said it accepted Hamas response after rejecting the plan days earlier.

Progress, but uncertainty ahead

Under the plan, Hamas would release the remaining 48 hostages  around 20 of them believed to be alive  within three days. It would give up power and disarm.

In return, Israel would halt its offensive and withdraw from much of Gaza, release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and allow an influx of humanitarian aid and eventual reconstruction.

Hamas said it was willing to release the hostages and hand over power to other Palestinians, but that other aspects of the plan require further consultations among Palestinians. It didnt address the issue of Hamas demilitarizing.

Amir Avivi, a retired Israeli general and chairman of Israels Defense and Security Forum, said while Israel can afford to stop firing for a few days in Gaza so the hostages can be released, it will resume its offensive if Hamas doesnt lay down its arms.

Others said that Hamas position fundamentally remains unchanged. Its rhetoric simply repackages old demands in softer language, said Oded Ailam, a researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs.

Still, two vocal members of the right-wing bloc of Netanyahus coalition, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, criticized the plans progress but didnt threaten to immediately leave the government.

And some speakers at the large weekly rally in Tel Aviv over the war expressed a cautious hope not heard for months.

A group representing some hostages families said the prospect of seeing loved ones return has never been closer. They appealed to Trump to keep pushing with full force and warned that extremists on both sides will try to sabotage the plan.

Meanwhile, protests have erupted across Europe calling for the wars end. SAM MEDNICK & SAMY MAGDY, TEL AVIV, MDT/AP

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A 40-year-old unemployed man from mainland China is under investigation for using counterfeit Hong Kong dollars while exchanging money with a casino patron. The Judiciary Police (PJ) recovered 80 fake HK$1,000 notes linked to the case. The incident came to light when a casino reported a gambler attempting to exchange HKD80,000 in counterfeit bills for chips, claiming he had received the notes from another person on the street. The suspect was intercepted by Public Security Police on October 2 while trying to flee to mainland China via Gongbei and handed over to the PJ.

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Jenny Eclair says she was snubbed twice from hosting The Great British Bake Off.

Jenny Eclair was rejected twice from hosting The Great British Bake Off

The 65-year-old comedienne was told "next time" by the Channel 4 cookery show's bosses after she lost out on the presenting gig to fellow comic Matt Lucas, 51, in 2020, when he took over from TV host Sandi Toksvig, 67, but instead, This Morning star Alison Hammond eventually replaced him in 2023.

Asked if there are any "big jobs" that Jenny still wishes she got, the novelist told the Sunday Express' S Magazine: "Oh, yes, Bake Off!

"I was second to Matt, you know.

"I was in that audition process, and it came down to me and Matt. I would have loved that gig. I would still be there now if I got it!

"But I auditioned, and then I got a big bouquet of flowers the day before they announced Matt, with a little note saying, 'Next time.'

"I don't know what happened to next time!"

Jenny took part in ITV's I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! with Alison, 50, in 2010.

And Jenny would only do the spin-off version, I'm A Celebrity...South Africa - which sees the most memorable campmates from past series of the main Australian jungle survival show return to test themselves in tougher-than-ever Bushtucker Trials as well as challenges - if she got paid a "life-changing amount of money".

The star said in her interview with the magazine: "Oh, the money would have to be really good for me to consider that. As in, a life-changing amount of money.

"And I don't work Tuesdays, do I? I would need to commute from South Africa or take [three-year-old grandson] Arlo with me."

In early September, ITV announced a second series of Im A Celebrity...South Africa - building on the success of the debut season in 2023.

The first series saw the likes of former professional boxer Amir Khan, 38, TV personality Gillian McKeith, 66, former EastEnders actor Joe Swash, 43, and ex-Countdown star Carol Vorderman, 64, battle it out for survival, with TV presenter Myleene Klass, 47, being crowned the winner and named the first Im A CelebrityLegend.

And the new series will air in 2026 on ITV1, STV and ITVX.

I'm A Celebrity...South Africa host Ant McPartlin, 49, said: "The campmates really brought their A-game to the first series, so we cant wait to be back for more trials, challenges and surprises amongst the beautiful South African landscape."

But an exciting show first for the new series is that the public will have the power to decide which campmate is crowned the ultimate legend in 2026 after weeks of shocks, showdown and survival.

Viewers will be able to have their say and cast the final vote in a live grand final broadcast direct from London.

Ant's co-host Declan Donnelly, 50, said: "Having a live final is an exciting addition to the new series with the viewers choosing their IAC Legend and weve heard some of the new trials are truly epic, even by Im A Celeb standards!"

ITV is yet to announce the celebrities taking part in the second series of I'm A Celebrity...South Africa.
Two mainland female university students studying in Macau narrowly avoided major financial losses in separate suspected fraud cases. One student received a transfer request of RMB800,000 to purchase gold but became suspicious and reported the matter to police. Investigation revealed the remitter was another student who had already fallen victim, losing RMB2.26 million. Authorities successfully froze the RMB800,000 transfer through emergency stop-payment measures. In another case, a student was contacted by a caller claiming to be from Gongbei Immigration, asking her to pay HKD640,000 as a guarantee for an online telecom fraud investigation. Police are investigating.

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Despite Hong Kong affairs being purely Chinas internal affairs, the United States has never ceased trying to interfere in them. It has persistently vilified the Chinese central governments policy toward the special administrative region, provided support to those who seek to destabilize Hong Kong, and made unfounded charges against Hong Kong in an attempt to undermine the SARs stability and prosperity. Such words and deeds of the US run counter to the basic norms governing international relations.

In yet another attempt to discredit and smear Hong Kong, the US State Department, in its 2025 Investment Climate Statements published on Friday, has again made biased assertions regarding the SAR.

By resorting to lies and unfounded accusations, the US report targets the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, enacted under Article 23 of Hong Kongs Basic Law. It falsely claimed they have heightened uncertainty for foreign and local businesses operating in Hong Kong. Its conclusion that rule-of-law risks have become a potential concern in Hong Kong flies in the face of the facts. The report is purely aimed at bad-mouthing the practice of the one country, two systems policy in the SAR.

The report has rightly drawn sharp criticism from the Commissioners Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong SAR as well as the SAR government.

The US interference does not end there. The US consul general in Hong Kong and Macao, Julie Eadeh, triggered strong disapproval in Hong Kong by inviting some major figures who played ugly roles in the 2019 unrest in the SAR to her recent inaugural reception. The move has attracted a barrage of criticism, as people are questioning her motivation and intention.

That the US, a major source of disruptions of international trade nowadays, is making irresponsible judgments on the investment climate in other economies is ironic. As a spokesperson for the commissioners office pointed out, given the US has frequently wielded the stick of tariffs and sanctions and erected systemic barriers to international investment and trade, it is in no position to make such baseless remarks about Hong Kongs business environment.

The implementation of the legal measures to ensure national security in Hong Kong has helped restore a safe and stable environment in the SAR. The move not only safeguards the legal rights and interests of the public, but also makes the SAR a more attractive and secure destination for capital and investment.

Rather than a picture of doom and gloom that the US report has tried to paint for Hong Kong, the SARs business environment remains appealing to enterprises and investors from around the world.

The SAR has been recognized once again as the worlds freest economy, according to the Economic Freedom of the World: 2025 Annual Report released by the Fraser Institute. It is also one of the top three global financial centers, ranking third for global competitiveness, according to the Global Financial Centres Index report.

Furthermore, the World Investment Report 2025 published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development indicates Hong Kong attracted $126 billion in foreign direct investment last year, which ranked third globally.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kongs annual member survey published earlier this year showed that 83 percent of US businesses based in Hong Kong were confident in the SARs rule of law, representing an increase of 10 percentage points compared to 2023.

Editorial, China Daily

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KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6  Malaysian police have arrested seven men in connection with social media posts deemed seditious, threatening, or insulting towards national leaders, authorities confirmed today.

The arrests, carried out by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) through the Classified Criminal Investigation Unit (USJT), Bukit Aman Criminal Investigations Department, followed investigations into videos and posts shared on TikTok and Facebook between September 17 and October 5.

The Royal Malaysia Police has conducted investigations and made arrests in connection with seven cases involving the dissemination of videos on TikTok and Facebook, said Bukit Aman Criminal Investigations Department director Comm Datuk M. Kumar in a press statement.

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The cases involve users allegedly posting content ranging from comments insulting the government and national leaders, to threats and statements capable of causing public alarm.

Among them, one TikTok user allegedly posted material relating to fuel subsidies, while another uploaded a post containing threats directed at national leaders.

These cases are being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, Sections 504 and 505(b) of the Penal Code, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, Kumar said.

He added that police records show that one suspect in his 40s has 19 prior drug-related offences, while another in his 60s had previously been investigated under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

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All seven suspects were placed under remand for one to three days to assist with further investigation.

PDRM issued a stern warning to the public, emphasising that any form of social media misuse or digital content that may incite sedition, threats, insults, or public alarm will not be tolerated.

The force urged citizens to remain courteous, disciplined, and responsible in posting or sharing any statements on social media platforms to avoid legal action and to maintain public harmony.
Shirley Ballas has paid tribute to her "dear friend" Michael Wentink.

Strictly Come Dancing Head Judge Shirley Ballas

The news of the former Strictly Come Dancing South Africa judge's death, following a battle with depression aged 46, was confirmed by his dance partner and good friend Ralf Lepehne on October 4.

And Shirley - who serves as Head Judge on the UK version of the celebrity Latin and ballroom dance show - took to Instagram on Monday (06.10.25) to express her sadness.

Captioning a series of photos and videos of Michael over the years, Shirley wrote: "Feeling very sad this morning, after the loss of our dear friend and true industry legend, Michael Wentink  where do I even begin.

"Michael wasnt just part of my life, he was like family. He wasnt just an incredible dancer, he was a kind, caring soul who brought so much joy, warmth, and laughter into our lives.

"His loyalty and love were unmatched, and his smile was irreplaceable. He spent many days at my house, he loved the children and would forever be checking in.

"One of the kindest souls Ive had the pleasure of crossing paths with."

In the media carousel, Shirley - who has a 39-year-old son, dancer-and-choreographer Mark Ballas, with her 64-year-old ex-husband, ballroom dancer Corky Ballas - included photos of her and Michael, including clips of their dance performances, as well as a solo picture of the Latin dance champion.

And referencing an image Shirley shared to her Instagram account, showing her and Michael in striking aqua blue outfits, the 'Queen of Latin' reminisced in her tribute to Michael: "Ill never forget suggesting this aqua suit to Michael, and he just laughed saying, 'Lets give it a go, Shirls.'

"@alanate11 did hair and as a team we all pulled it together so very beautifully. They danced magnificently and won. Thats a day Ill carry with me forever."

Shirley ended her heartfelt tribute by saying how Michael made a huge impact in the world of dance.

She concluded with: "You touched so many lives, Michael, and Im blessed to have been one of them.

"With a heavy heart, Ill miss you deeply. Rest in peace, my friend, alongside your beautiful Beata.

"Forever in our hearts. X (sic)"

The news of Michael's passing was announced by Ralf Lepehne - Michael's dance partner and good friend - on October 4.

Taking to Instagram and captioning a solo photo of Michael, Ralf wrote: "In Loving Memory of Michael Wentink.

"With the heaviest of hearts, we share the sad news that our beloved Michael Wentink has passed away. He left us far too soon, and the loss is immeasurable.

"To the world, Michael was a true legend of Latin dance - a champion, an artist, and an inspiration to so many.

"He moved with a power and grace that left audiences breathless; a master of his art who commanded the stage with a fiery passion.

"Yet behind the trophies and the spotlight was the man we knew and loved - a dear friend and partner, a kind soul whose light touched our lives deeply.

"For years, he was engaged in a long and deeply private struggle, battling the relentless weight of depression with a quiet courage known only to those closest to him.

"His passing is a painful reminder that the brightest lights often cast the deepest shadows, and that the strongest among us can be fighting battles we cannot see. (sic)"

Ralf continued: "While our world is dimmer without him, Michaels spirit, his laughter, and his profound passion for dance will live on in our hearts forever.

"May you finally find the peace you so deserved, Michael.

"With love and remembrance, Ralf, Hidemi, Haibo, Julie and his beloved Mou Mou and Lou Lou."
What happened in Italy on Friday 3 October has very few precedents. Think about it. A political strike. A political general strike. A political general strike over internationalist solidarity and against imperialism.

Millions participated in industrial action, two million participated in mass demonstrations and hundreds of thousands took direct action under the slogan of lets block everything. The following day, Saturday 4 October, over a million turned out in Rome for a national demonstration against the genocide in Gaza. These events are part of a dramatic turn in the world situation, which is not limited to Italy, but includes the mass movement in France, mass protests in Spain, and the so-called Generation Z revolutions, all together adding to a Red September. It is important to analyse them, understand their main features and implications.

What are the main features of the movement in Italy?

First of all, we need to highlight that this movement has emerged from outside the mass traditional organisations. The leaders of the CGIL, Italy's largest trade union confederation, were forced to call it, after having been outflanked by the mass movement of hundreds of thousands of workers and youth on 22 September during the general strike for Palestine called by the smaller USB union.

The second striking characteristic of the movement is the role of the youth, which were at the forefront of the mobilisation everywhere, present in large numbers (even CGIL general secretary Landini had to mention this fact), coming out together with the rest of the working class and the population in general.

A third dominant feature of the Italian events of the last two weeks is the strong feeling amongst the masses that simply demonstrating is not enough, that something more needs to be done. The slogan of the general strike, Block everything, adopted from the movement in France, represents a healthy instinct, recognising that exercising moral pressure on governments achieves nothing and that direct action is needed. This idea contains, in an embryonic form, the germ of revolution, when the masses take matters into their own hands.

Fourth, and perhaps one of the most important features of the movement is the direct action of dockworkers to refuse to handle cargo going to and from Israel. This has been conducted through strike action by the dockers themselves (in Genoa, Livorno and other ports) backed by the mass mobilisation of outside support. This is extremely significant. There had been other instances of such action (in Marseille, Piraeus) previously, but the Italian dockers have taken this to a higher level.

The initiative of the Italian dockers needs to be spread and coordinated at an international level. The European dockworkers conference in Genoa was an excellent first step forward. A workers boycott of Israel would have a massive impact, both from a practical and a political point of view, as it would severely hinder the Israeli war machine while clearly raising the power of the working class in capitalist society.

Fifth, the huge movement of the Italian workers and youth, in a country ruled by a government of the demagogic reactionary right wing is a slap in the face to all those skeptics, cynics and demoralised elements on the so-called left, who have spent the whole year pathetically whining about the so-called rise of fascism, reaction and Bonapartism.

The collapse of legitimacy of all bourgeois institutions (as a result of the organic crisis of capitalism) has given rise to a deep anti-establishment mood. Because of the bankruptcy of the Left this has expressed itself, in many instances, in the rise of right-wing demagogues, who have channeled this mood of anger in a reactionary direction, scapegoating migrants, etc. The government of Meloni is a case in point.

This is not an inevitable outcome  given half an opportunity, the same mood will be and has been expressed in an explosion of the class struggle. That is the only way to fight the right and reaction: by militant struggle along class lines  not culture wars, not the abstract defence of democracy or the institutions or the Republic  but class struggle against the capitalist establishment as a whole.

Sixth, the Italian eruption has taken place over the question of the Flotilla and in opposition to the genocide in Gaza, but it has deeper roots. Gaza has acted as a catalyst for a mass movement of protest which was long overdue. Years of austerity policies, cuts in social spending, attacks on healthcare and education, the erosion of living standards (particularly marked in Italy since 2008), intensification of the exploitation at work, the casualisation of labour conditions all of these social and economic pressures had accumulated and were desperately looking for a channel of expression.

The leaders of the trade unions  which have, in effect, become completely wedded to the capitalist establishment  were mortally afraid to provide such a channel. The accumulated pressure boiled over on the question of Palestine, but was in reality also a mass protest movement against the right-wing government and the whole system. The movement is unleashing forces the leaders cant hope to control.

In Italy, the movement against the Israeli genocide in Gaza has gone from strength to strength: from the mass movement on 22 September to the general strike on 3 October and the huge national demonstration in Rome. At some point this phase of the movement will inevitably ebb, but its impact will be long-lasting and will reverberate beyond the question of Palestine solidarity, spreading into all aspects of the struggle of workers and youth, including in the industrial struggle for wages and conditions.

The workers and youth have had a taste of their own power vis-a-vis the government and the bosses. They are now confident and this confidence is likely to propel them on the offensive on other fronts. As the Italian comrades of the Partito Comunista Rivoluzionario (PCR) point out, the dam has burst.

Over one million people in Italy joined a nationwide strike and protests in solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla after Israeli raids on all 42 vessels. The strikeorganized by the countrys two largest unions, representing 5.5 million workersbrought the transport system to pic.twitter.com/speAUPrvht  BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) October 3, 2025

Movement spreading across Europe

These are the main features of the movement in Italy, but they are not unique to Italy. Over the weekend, there were unprecedented mass demonstrations in solidarity with Palestine across Spain which involved a total of two million people.

The tendency towards direct action is also present here, though in a weaker form, with attempts to blockade highways and the harbour in Barcelona. The union leaders have been forced to call for limited strike action on 15 October, with some unions calling for a 24 hour strike on the same day in Catalonia, the Basque Country and Galicia.

In France, the lets block everything (bloquons tout) movement led to two massive days of action on 10 and 18 September directed against the government and against Macron, which are attempting to carry out massive austerity cuts. This has now led to the resignation of French prime minister Lecornu after just 27 days in office and 24 hours after forming his cabinet.

In Spain and Italy, the initiative for these massive mobilisations came from below, not from the leaders of the trade unions nor from the left political parties. In both cases, the youth played the most dynamic role.

In several other European countries there were unprecedented mobilisations in solidarity with Palestine and militant demonstrations against the Israeli assault on the Flotilla (Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Portugal, Switzerland, Netherlands etc.). To this we have to add the general strike in Greece (1 October) against the counter-reform of the labour law, which is also the continuation of the explosive mobilisations and general strike over the cover up of the Tempi railway disaster.

250,000 in today's Red Line for Palestine in Amsterdam, the largest ever. A worldwide outpouring of support. Italy shows the way: general strike, workers boycott, mass direct action. Down with the warmongers. Free Palestine. End the genocide. pic.twitter.com/Xhw8fYl37h  Jorge Martin  (@marxistJorge) October 5, 2025

The worldwide current of the Generation Z revolution

These events represent the entry of advanced capitalist countries in Europe and their working class and youth into the worldwide current of the Gen Z revolution, which has rocked country after country over the last month (Indonesia, Nepal, East Timor, Philippines, Madagascar, Morocco, Paraguay, Ecuador, Peru)

Worldwide, there is a generation of youth which came of age after the 2008 capitalist crisis and has grown up in the context of austerity cuts, mass movements and revolutions, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the environmental crisis, the growing gulf between the rich and the poor, wars and militarism. The combination of all of these factors has led to a loss of legitimacy of all bourgeois institutions and parties, the mass capitalist media, parliaments, etc.

The accumulation of anger at the capitalist crisis and its varied manifestations has now exploded into a worldwide chain of mass movements, insurrections, uprisings and revolutions. This represents a dramatic turn in the world situation. The youth is at the forefront of this movement and they have an instinctively internationalist approach, learning from each others movements, drawing inspiration from them. This is reflected in the use of the same slogans and banners, including the pirate flag of the Straw Hat Crew.

Only the complete bankruptcy of the official left prevents these movements from going even further, or else, when they do rise to the level of achieving the revolutionary overthrow of a government or a regime, they are then diverted back into cosmetic changes at the top so that nothing fundamentally changes.

The masses have shown, once and again, enormous determination and courage to struggle, when given the opportunity, sometimes in a completely spontaneous way and against all odds. What has been strikingly lacking everywhere is a revolutionary leadership worthy of the name, able to lead the movement to decisive victory. The task of building such a revolutionary communist leadership is more urgent than ever.

How to free Palestine?

The Italian general strike represents the highest point of the Palestine solidarity movement and an inspiration to workers and youth of the world. In Italy itself, the enormous pressure of mass mobilisation, of the masses of workers and youth in action, has completely transformed the balance of forces. The right-wing government is on the defensive.

The CGIL and PD (Democratic Party) leaders are forced to tack left for fear of being brushed aside. The initiative is on the side of the mass movement. It is the time to push forward and go further. The movement should adopt a series of specific demands (complete embargo of Israel, breaking of diplomatic relations, etc.) and threaten a 48 hour strike if they are not met within a given period of time.

The Italian general strike shows the way forward for the Palestine solidarity movement everywhere: strikes, mass direct action, blocking everything, workers boycott. These are the methods which must be adopted.

The Genoa conference of dockworkers issued a call for a European and Mediterranean-wide dockworkers day of action against the genocide. That is an excellent initiative which should serve as the basis for an international workers boycott of Israel involving dockworkers and other transport workers, as well as workers in the weapons industries.

There are various factors that have led Trump towards attempting to push forward a peace deal in Gaza, against the will of Netanyahu. That is not the subject of this statement. Suffice it to say that the explosion of the mass movement against the genocide and specifically the Italian eruption have clearly played a role.

Both Marco Rubio and Trump himself admitted as much when they said that Israels international isolation was one of the reasons the war in Gaza has to end. US imperialism and Israels allies and sponsors in Europe have a mortal fear of the revolutionary consequences of the massacre in Gaza for the reactionary Arab regimes they back in the region but also the radicalising impact it is having at home.

Lets be clear, Trumps Gaza plan is a trap. What he is offering the Palestinians is a deadly choice between genocide and ethnic cleansing on the one hand and a colonial mandate enclave ruled directly by Trump and Blair. It is a second, even crueller edition of the failed Oslo Accords, the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce.

Palestine can only be freed by revolutionary means, starting with the overthrow of the reactionary Arab and Muslim regimes which act as necessary accomplices of her oppression. The masses of workers, youth and poor people in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Saudi Arabia need to draw inspiration from the Italian general strike and follow its example.

The struggle for Palestine cannot be seen in isolation. In the West, it is first and foremost a struggle against our own imperialist governments, which are complicit with the Israeli genocide in Gaza. These are the same governments which impose brutal austerity measures on workers and youth, while demanding massive increases in military spending. The struggle against the Gaza genocide must be linked to the struggle against austerity at home. The Italian methods of struggle are not just the only way forward for the Palestine solidarity movement, but also for the movement of workers and youth in general, over wages and conditions, over housing, against military spending and for healthcare and education.

The Italian general strike on 3 October, and more generally the whole Red September of 2025, are a source of tremendous inspiration. It is our duty to draw all the necessary lessons and generalise them.

London, 6 October 2025
Negotiators began arriving in Cairo on Sunday, October 5, for crucial discussions aimed at ending nearly two years of the Israeli war on Gaza and securing the release of captives held in the territory.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed optimism that the remaining captives could be freed within days. The diplomatic momentum followed Hamass positive response to former U.S. President Donald Trumps roadmap for post-war Gaza. Netanyahu announced that Israeli negotiators had been instructed to travel to Egypt to finalise technical details, while Cairo confirmed it would host a Hamas delegation to discuss the exchange of Israeli and Palestinian detainees. Trump also dispatched envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to Cairo, warning Hamas against delays in reaching an agreement.

Hamas declared its approval for releasing all Israeli prisoners, including remains, in line with Trumps proposal. The announcement prompted Trump to hail the groups response as a step towards lasting peace and to instruct Israel to halt its bombardment of Gaza. However, Israeli air strikes continued across the Strip on Saturday, with at least 57 people killed, 40 of them in Gaza City, according to civil defence officials. Residents reported intensified attacks despite calls for a ceasefire, with Israeli forces warning civilians not to return to parts of Gaza City. The talks in Cairo come just two days before the second anniversary of the war, underscoring the urgency of diplomatic efforts amid ongoing violence.

Hamas has insisted it must play a role in shaping Gazas future, in contrast to Trumps roadmap, which excludes the group from post-war governance. The plan calls for a halt to Israeli bombing, the release of captives within 72 hours, a gradual Israeli withdrawal, and the disarmament of Hamas, with the territory to be administered by a technocratic body under a transitional authority led by Trump. In Gazas Al-Mawasi area, residents celebrated Hamass announcement, viewing Trumps intervention as a decisive step to pressure Israel into compliance. Since the war began in October 2023, at least 67,074 Palestinians  mostly women and children  have been killed, with more than 166,000 others injured.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Taking a page from the private insurance industry's playbook, the Trump administration will launch a program next year to find out how much money an artificial intelligence algorithm could save the federal government by denying care to Medicare patients.

The pilot program, designed to weed out wasteful, "low-value" services, amounts to a federal expansion of an unpopular process called prior authorization, which requires patients or someone on their medical team to seek insurance approval before proceeding with certain procedures, tests, and prescriptions.

It will affect Medicare patients, and the doctors and hospitals who care for them, in Arizona, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Jersey, Texas, and Washington, starting Jan. 1 and running through 2031.

The move has raised eyebrows among politicians and policy experts. The traditional version of Medicare, which covers adults 65 and older and some people with disabilities, has mostly eschewed prior authorization. Still, it is widely used by private insurers, especially in the Medicare Advantage market.

And the timing was surprising: The pilot was announced in late June, just days after the Trump administration unveiled a voluntary effort by private health insurers to revamp and reduce their own use of prior authorization, which causes care to be "significantly delayed," said Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

"It erodes public trust in the health care system," Oz told the media. "It's something that we can't tolerate in this administration."

But some critics, like Vinay Rathi, an Ohio State University doctor and policy researcher, have accused the Trump administration of sending mixed messages.

On one hand, the federal government wants to borrow cost-cutting measures used by private insurance, he said. "On the other, it slaps them on the wrist."

Administration officials are "talking out of both sides of their mouth," said Rep. Suzan DelBene, a Washington Democrat. "It's hugely concerning."

Patients, doctors, and other lawmakers have also been critical of what they see as delay-or-deny tactics, which can slow down or block access to care, causing irreparable harm and even death.

"Insurance companies have put it in their mantra that they will take patients' money and then do their damnedest to deny giving it to the people who deliver care," said Rep. Greg Murphy, a North Carolina Republican and a urologist. "That goes on in every insurance company boardroom."

Insurers have long argued that prior authorization reduces fraud and wasteful spending, as well as prevents potential harm. Public displeasure with insurance denials dominated the news in December, when the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare's CEO led many to anoint his alleged killer as a folk hero.

And the public broadly dislikes the practice: Nearly three-quarters of respondents thought prior authorization was a "major" problem in a July poll published by KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.

Indeed, Oz said during his June press conference that "violence in the streets" prompted the Trump administration to take on the issue of prior authorization reform in the private insurance industry.

Still, the administration is expanding the use of prior authorization in Medicare. CMS spokesperson Alexx Pons said both initiatives "serve the same goal of protecting patients and Medicare dollars."

Unanswered questions

The pilot program, WISeRshort for "Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction"will test the use of an AI algorithm in making prior authorization decisions for some Medicare services, including skin and tissue substitutes, electrical nerve stimulator implants, and knee arthroscopy.

The federal government says such procedures are particularly vulnerable to "fraud, waste, and abuse" and could be held in check by prior authorization.

Other procedures may be added to the list. But services that are inpatient-only, emergency, or "would pose a substantial risk to patients if significantly delayed" would not be subject to the AI model's assessment, according to the federal announcement.

While the use of AI in health insurance isn't new, Medicare has been slow to adopt the private-sector tools. Medicare has historically used prior authorization in a limited way, with contractors who aren't incentivized to deny services. But experts who have studied the plan believe the federal pilot could change that.

Pons told KFF Health News that no Medicare request will be denied before being reviewed by a "qualified human clinician," and that vendors "are prohibited from compensation arrangements tied to denial rates." While the government says vendors will be rewarded for savings, Pons said multiple safeguards will "remove any incentive to deny medically appropriate care."

"Shared savings arrangements mean that vendors financially benefit when less care is delivered," a structure that can create a powerful incentive for companies to deny medically necessary care, said Jennifer Brackeen, senior director of government affairs for the Washington State Hospital Association.

And doctors and policy experts say that's only one concern.

Rathi said the plan "is not fully fleshed out" and relies on "messy and subjective" measures. The model, he said, ultimately depends on contractors to assess their own results, a choice that makes the results potentially suspect.

"I'm not sure they know, even, how they're going to figure out whether this is helping or hurting patients," he said.

Pons said the use of AI in the Medicare pilot will be "subject to strict oversight to ensure transparency, accountability, and alignment with Medicare rules and patient protection."

"CMS remains committed to ensuring that automated tools support, not replace, clinically sound decision-making," he said.

Experts agree that AI is theoretically capable of expediting what has been a cumbersome process marked by delays and denials that can harm patients' health.

Health insurers have argued that AI eliminates human error and bias and will save the health care system money. These companies have also insisted that humans, not computers, are ultimately reviewing coverage decisions.

But some scholars are doubtful that's routinely happening.

"I think that there's also probably a little bit of ambiguity over what constitutes 'meaningful human review,'" said Amy Killelea, an assistant research professor at the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University.

A 2023 report published by ProPublica found that, over a two-month period, doctors at Cigna who reviewed requests for payment spent an average of only 1.2 seconds on each case.

Cigna spokesperson Justine Sessions told KFF Health News that the company does not use AI to deny care or claims. The ProPublica investigation referenced a "simple software-driven process that helped accelerate payments to clinicians for common, relatively low-cost tests and treatments, and it is not powered by AI," Sessions said. "It was not used for prior authorizations."

And yet class-action lawsuits filed against major health insurers have alleged that flawed AI models undermine doctor recommendations and fail to take patients' unique needs into account, forcing some people to shoulder the financial burden of their care.

Meanwhile, a survey of physicians published by the American Medical Association in February found that 61% think AI is "increasing prior authorization denials, exacerbating avoidable patient harms and escalating unnecessary waste now and into the future."

Chris Bond, a spokesperson for the insurers' trade group AHIP, told KFF Health News that the organization is "zeroed in" on implementing the commitments made to the government. Those include reducing the scope of prior authorization and making sure that communications with patients about denials and appeals are easy to understand.

'This is a pilot'

The Medicare pilot program underscores ongoing concerns about prior authorization and raises new ones.

While private health insurers have been opaque about how they use AI and the extent to which they use prior authorization, policy researchers believe these algorithms are often programmed to automatically deny high-cost care.

"The more expensive it is, the more likely it is to be denied," said Jennifer Oliva, a professor at the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University-Bloomington, whose work focuses on AI regulation and health coverage.

Oliva explained in a recent paper for the Indiana Law Journal that when a patient is expected to die within a few years, health insurers are "motivated to rely on the algorithm." As time passes and the patient or their provider is forced to appeal a denial, the chance of the patient dying during that process increases. The longer an appeal, the less likely the health insurer is to pay the claim, Oliva said.

"The No. 1 thing to do is make it very, very difficult for people to get high-cost services," she said.

As the use of AI by health insurers is poised to grow, insurance company algorithms amount to a "regulatory blind spot" and demand more scrutiny, said Carmel Shachar, a faculty director at Harvard Law School's Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation.

The WISeR pilot is "an interesting step" toward using AI to ensure that Medicare dollars are purchasing high-quality health care, she said. But the lack of details makes it difficult to determine whether it will work.

Politicians are grappling with some of the same questions.

"How is this being tested in the first place? How are you going to make sure that it is working and not denying care or producing higher rates of care denial?" asked DelBene, who signed an August letter to Oz with other Democrats demanding answers about the AI program. But Democrats aren't the only ones worried.

Murphy, who co-chairs the House GOP Doctors Caucus, acknowledged that many physicians are concerned the WISeR pilot could overreach into their practice of medicine if the AI algorithm denies doctor-recommended care.

Meanwhile, House members of both parties recently supported a measure proposed by Rep. Lois Frankel, a Florida Democrat, to block funding for the pilot in the fiscal 2026 budget of the Department of Health and Human Services.

AI in health care is here to stay, Murphy said, but it remains to be seen whether the WISeR pilot will save Medicare money or contribute to the problems already posed by prior authorization.

"This is a pilot, and I'm open to see what's going to happen with this," Murphy said, "but I will always, always err on the side that doctors know what's best for their patients."

2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Credit: beyzahzah from Pexels

As new Statistics Canada data reveals that two-thirds of Canadians are considered overweight or obese, researchers are urging the public and policymakers to rethink how we define and measure healthstarting with one of the most used metricsthe body mass index (BMI).

For decades, BMIa simple ratio of weight to heighthas been treated as a gold standard in public health and medical practice. It influences everything from fitness apps to clinical decisions about surgery eligibility and pain management. But according to a new Waterloo-led study, BMI tells only a fraction of the story about a person's health and does more harm than good when used.

"It is becoming more well-known that BMI doesn't measure what many people think it does," said Dr. Aly Bailey, the lead author of the study and a professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at Waterloo. "It cannot distinguish between muscle and fat, doesn't account for where fat is distributed in the body and overlooks important factors such as age, sex and race. Two people can share the same BMI but have completely different health profiles."

The researchers warn that BMI's limitations have real-world consequences. It can influence access to medical care, reinforce harmful stereotypes about "normal" bodies, and contribute to stigmaparticularly for people in racialized, disabled, older, or larger bodies.

Originally developed in the 19th century to statistically identify the "average man," the BMI is a measure based on height and weight. "However, what many people often don't know is that the BMI was never created with health in mind at all," Bailey said. "Instead, it was a statistical tool used to justify racist and anti-fat ideas and other forms of discrimination. It quickly became a so-called measure of health, beauty, and fitness."

Building on calls made by activists, the study outlines possible paths forward. One approach is to continue using BMI, but only with explicit recognition of its racist and problematic history. Another is to consider more nuanced and valid measures of body size, or include indicators that track actual health outcomes. The other, bolder option, which the authors advocate the most strongly, is to reject BMI altogether.

The study, "The body mass index: What's the use?," was recently published in Body Image.

More information K. Aly Bailey et al, The body mass index: What's the use?, Body Image (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101924
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

In September 2025, the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at the Up Center in Virginia Beach launched a campaign to raise awareness for what it calls an overlooked mental health crisis: the high rate of suicide among women veterans.

Women veterans are dying by suicide at nearly twice the rate of their civilian counterpartsa number that has increased significantly in the post-9/11 era. While all veterans face higher rates of suicide than their civilian peers, women who served face unique challenges, both during their service and in the systemic gaps that follow them home.

During National Suicide Prevention Month, the clinic launched the "Have Her Six" campaign for women veterans.

The name refers to the military term "got your six," meaning to have someone's back. The public awareness campaign highlights the issue of suicide among military women, shares prevention strategies tailored to women veterans and service members and encourages greater support for women who serve.

Women veterans have specific and challenging experiences in military service and beyond, says Tanetta Hassell, the clinic's director. A disproportionate number of women veterans face military sexual trauma or intimate partner violence. For many, these issues go untreated during service, and once they discharge, they may not know where to go or may not find providers who understand their experiences.

Hassell, herself a daughter and sister to military veterans, says it's important to meet their women veteran clients where they are.

"We are who we serve at the clinic," said Hassell. "We have women on staff that are military affiliated or they served themselves to try to reduce some of those barriers that might be there for women at other settings."

Hassell says her clinic offers veterans a chance to be seen within 10 days of initial contact, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. The clinic also provides child care, the lack of which often is another barrier to access.

In addition to campaigns like Have Her Six, Hassell says the clinic works with the Department of Veterans Affairs, United Way and other partners, as well as advertising their services on social media.

Research conducted by the clinic found that there are gendered misconceptions about suicide risk among women veterans, particularly around firearms. According to their study, in 2022, veteran women were over 144% more likely to die by firearm suicide than their non-veteran peers.

The report also notes that many women veterans are ineligible for or not connected to the VA for care.

"I think sometimes that might create an assumption that women are not resilient or that they're not willing to access care," Hassell said.

But she knows that's not the whole story. At the Cohen clinic, which is now in its sixth year in Hampton Roads, 20 percent of its military clients are women, which is nearly double the proportion of women in the U.S. veteran population.

Today, there are over 2 million women veterans in the United States, and women represent the fastest growing segment of the group.

Hassell's message to women veterans? "We are here for you. We know how resilient you are. We know that you've overcome a lot. It's safeyou're eligible for our care, no questions asked."

Key medical concepts Suicide

2025 The Virginian-Pilot. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Credit: Journal of the American Chemical Society (2025). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c11898

In a quest to develop new antiviral drugs for COVID-19 and other diseases, a collaboration led by scientists at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute has identified a potential new drug against the virus that causes COVID-19.

In the process, the team devised a powerful new platform for finding medicines to fight many types of infectious diseases.

Writing in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the scientists explained that they began by seeking "druggable pockets" in the stable structures of viral genetic material. Like keyholes, these pockets offer promising spaces to intervene with a precise medication. The team then used systematic chemistry, computational, and robotic drug discovery methods to find and perfect compounds able to function like the keys.

Their refined and optimized compound, dubbed Compound 6, led SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins to misfold, malfunction, and ultimately be destroyed and removed by cells, in lab tests. Notably, their work could benefit other viral diseases, too, said Matthew D. Disney, Ph.D., Institute Professor and Chair of the chemistry department at The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology.

"The method we have developed can be applied to any number of RNA-based viruses that burden society and have limited treatment options, including influenza, norovirus, MERS, Marburg, Ebola, Zika and more," Disney said. "We have already started work on several of these."

Disney's collaborators included Arnab Chatterjee, Ph.D., senior vice president of medicinal chemistry at the Skaggs-Calibr Institute for Innovative Medicines, in LaJolla, Calif., and Sumit Chanda, Ph.D., who headed the Center for Antiviral Medicines & Pandemic Preparedness at Scripps Research, part of the National Institutes of Health's initiative to rebuild the nation's antiviral medicine cabinet.

"This platform represents a transformative way of thinking about drug discovery," Chatterjee said. "It has given us a roadmap not only to design antivirals for coronaviruses, but to rapidly extend this strategy to other high-priority RNA targets across infectious disease and beyond."

The co-first authors were Sandra Kovachka, Ph.D., and Amirhossein Taghavi, Ph.D., of The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, and Jielei Wang, a graduate student in Disney's lab.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is so tiny it would take 1,000 of them lined end-to-end to equal the width of a typical human hair. Still, its string-like genome packs instructions that trick infected cells into making 27 proteins.

Chemist Matthew Disney, Ph.D., reviews disease-causing RNA structures and possible binding pockets with his lab members at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute in Jupiter, Florida. Credit: Nathaniel Guidry

One of them, a mechanism called a frameshift element, enables efficient use of the tight viral real estate. The frameshifter looks like a lever and functions much like an engine's clutch or a 10-speed bike's derailleur. It causes the cell's protein-building machines to pause while reading the virus's genome. It then forces the machines to shift their protein-construction starting point, thus directing the cell to assemble a brand new protein for viral replication.

Disney reasoned that this frameshift element, conserved across the many variants of SARS-CoV-2, would serve as an ideal target for an RNA-focused drug.

Until recently, RNA structures have been viewed by scientists as especially challenging drug targets. Disney's group has long focused on finding RNA structures that are readily druggable, as well as technologies and compound libraries to accomplish that goal, enabling them to make rapid progress.

In the new paper, Disney's team used both computational and experimental approaches to find the right chemical probes that would allow the team to map the frameshift element's binding pockets and mutations. Those methods included one Disney invented called Chem-CLIP (chemical cross-linking and isolation by pull-down), helpful for mapping drug-binding pockets.

Further analysis and experimentation revealed that a known compound, mirafloxacin, interfered with assembly of the frameshift element, though not optimally. Robotic high-throughput compound discovery revealed eight related chemical scaffolds that could bind to the mapped structures in a similar fashion. Their antiviral activity was confirmed through experiments on live cells infected with SARS-CoV-2. They found that Compound 6 had the optimal impact. Ahead, the team is developing strategies to boost the potency and effectiveness of Compound 6.

Most gratifying about this collaboration, Disney said, is that the team showed how blending expertise and technologies systematically produced a powerful new way to attack viral diseases that have RNA as their genetic basis.

"This strategy offers a directed and unbiased way to rationally design RNA-targeting antiviral small-molecule medications," said Disney, who directs the institute's center of excellence, RNA: From Biology to Drug Discovery. "By linking deep structural biology expertise with drug discovery capabilities, we are accelerating the path from basic RNA biology to potential medicines."

Chanda, whose team conducted the cell-based tests, said this project also demonstrated the rapid, high-impact work accomplished in just the first three years of the NIH's Antiviral Drug Discovery Centers for Pathogens of Pandemic Concern program (AViDD).

"This work illustrates exactly what AViDD was designed to dopush forward innovative strategies that expand the antiviral arsenal," Chanda said. "By showing that RNA can be systematically targeted with drug-like molecules, the team has opened doors for medicines against many viruses, not just SARS-CoV-2."

More information Sandra Kovachka et al, Covalent Probes Reveal Small-Molecule Binding Pockets in Structured RNA and Enable Bioactive Compound Design, Journal of the American Chemical Society (2025). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c11898 Journal information: Journal of the American Chemical Society
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Identification of the CTSs of sepsis. Credit: Nature Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-025-03964-5

In an advance for critical care medicine, two international studies published in parallel in the journal Nature Medicine have established a new unified framework for understanding the biological chaos of sepsis and other life-threatening illnesses. A University of Malta researcher, Dr. Brendon Scicluna of the Department of Applied Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, designed and spearheaded one of the studies and made significant contributions to the second, placing the University at the forefront of the global effort to bring precision medicine to the sickest patients in our hospitals.

For decades, developing new treatments for critical illnesses like sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and trauma has been hampered by a major challenge. That is, although treated as a single condition, every patient's body responds differently. This biological diversity, known as heterogeneity, has been a primary barrier to progress. The two new studies tackle this problem head-on, providing a robust, unified way to classify patients into distinct cellular biological subtypes.

The first study, "A consensus blood transcriptomic framework for sepsis," led by Dr. Scicluna, aggregated data from over 1,800 sepsis patients. Using a technique called blood transcriptomics, which measures the activity of thousands of genes to create a real-time snapshot of a patient's immune response, the team created a single, harmonized classification system. It identifies three "Consensus Transcriptomic Subtypes" (CTSs) of sepsis, each with a unique molecular signature:

CTS1: A classic, strong inflammatory response driven by an aggressive but immature neutrophil attack.

CTS2: Characterized by disturbances in blood clotting and the processing of heme, a key component of red blood cells.

CTS3: Associated with a unique immune state involving antiviral interferon signals and features typically seen in organ transplant rejection.

"Our goal was to create a standardized model for sepsis research," explains Dr. Scicluna, a Principal Investigator and resident academic at UM. "We've unified years of research into one robust molecular framework that everyone can use. This provides the common language we desperately needed to make real progress in the field."

Crucially, the study delivered a stark warning. A reanalysis of a major randomized controlled trial revealed that patients assigned to the CTS2 subtype were actually harmed by corticosteroids, a common anti-inflammatory treatment for sepsis and other immune-related disorders. This finding underscores the urgent need to move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach.

The second study, "A consensus immune dysregulation framework for sepsis and critical illnesses," from the international SUBSPACE consortium to which Dr. Scicluna contributed, complements this work perfectly. Analyzing over 7,000 patient samples from 37 cohorts, this study identified two core patterns of immune dysregulation, one in myeloid cells (the immune system's first responders) and one in lymphoid cells (responsible for targeted immunity). Remarkably, the study found this same fundamental dysregulation was present not only in sepsis but also in patients with ARDS, trauma, and burns, suggesting shared biological mechanisms across multiple forms of critical illness.

"Seeing these two studies published side-by-side is a landmark moment," states Dr. Scicluna. "They are a synergy. Together, they provide undeniable evidence that this multidisciplinary data-driven approach is the future of critical care."

The complementary findings from these two extensive studies offer a powerful new framework for understanding critical illness and, for the first time, provide a clear path forward for designing clinical trials that can finally deliver on the promise of precision medicine for the most vulnerable patients in the Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU).

"These studies are a powerful example of what happens when you combine clinical expertise with immunobiology and molecular profiling," concludes Dr. Scicluna.

Dr. Brendon Scicluna is a Principal Investigator leading the Translational Immunology and Infection lab at the University of Malta.

More information Brendon P. Scicluna et al, A consensus blood transcriptomic framework for sepsis, Nature Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-025-03964-5 Andrew R. Moore et al, A consensus immune dysregulation framework for sepsis and critical illnesses, Nature Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-025-03956-5 Journal information: Nature Medicine

Key medical concepts Sepsis Human ARDS
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reportedly has plans to build a new surveillance team that would explore and monitor the world of social media to hunt for all kinds of information online.

This new dedicated team would focus on social networking websites to get more information as revealed in the latest document acquired from the federal agency. The plan is for ICE's new team to go and scour for any kind of information, including individuals part of its Most Wanted list, on various social media platforms like Facebook, X, and more.

ICE Plans to Add a Social Media Surveillance Team

A new document that was spotted by WIRED has reportedly confirmed that ICE has a new plan to establish a surveillance team that will specifically monitor social media platforms in its quest to get more intel. The team would be comprised of full-time staff members who would monitor various social media platforms for its information needs.

This 24/7 team would be tasked to monitor the platforms for the entire calendar year, making them a non-stop surveillance team that is on the hunt at every second of every day.

According to Engadget's report, ICE has already put in a request for information based on public records, which details its preliminary scope of work. The request also revealed that the work would make use of platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, Reddit, and YouTube to develop leads on cases and search for individuals.

This multiyear surveillance initiative would have two main offices where private analysts would work from, which will be located in both coasts of the US.

For the East Coast, ICE's Williston, Vermont National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center would host the said surveillance team, requiring at least three employees to be on duty at all times. On the other hand, ICE's Santa Ana, California-based Pacific Enforcement Response Center would be its facility to host its new team on the West Coast.

ICE to Hunt For Leads, Wanted Individuals Online

The main focus of the ICE surveillance team on social media would be to hunt for case leads online. First, ICE plans to assign at least 12 full-time staff members to monitor social media at its Vermont facility, while they plan to hire 16 contractors to report to their Santa Ana office.

The staff and contractors would work on different types of cases under this plan. There would be cases labeled as "urgent" and referring to the agency's Top 10 Most Wanted list, where analysts would have to work on a limited 30-minute time frame to search for leads.

On the other hand, the work would also assign them to different cases that range from low-priority individuals with convictions or misdemeanors within an eigh-hour time frame.

Recently, there has been a massive movement from different parts of the country to fight back against the move of the US government under President Donald Trump to hunt for illegal aliens residing in the country.

Because of this, apps like the "ICEBlock" have gained significant attention online as they help identify recent sightings of ICE agents patrolling the area, especially in Los Angeles County.

Originally published on Tech Times
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Using a laser wavelength that matches the collagen absorption peak allowed researchers to selectively ablate pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) without harming healthy tissue. Credit: Houkun Liang, Sichuan University

Researchers have developed a new laser-based technique that targets pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) while leaving healthy tissue intact. PDAC is the most common type of pancreatic cancer and the third leading cause of death related to cancer.

"Our technology, for the first time, utilizes the tumor's molecular fingerprint to achieve selective ablation," said research team leader Houkun Liang from Sichuan University in China. "We found that because PDAC contains substantially more collagen fibers than healthy pancreatic cancer, using a mid-infrared laser at a wavelength strongly absorbed by collagen fibers can ablate the cancerous tissue while preserving the healthy pancreas."

In their paper published in Optica, the researchers describe the new method, which is based on a high-power femtosecond mid-infrared laser they developed. Using PDAC tumors removed from 13 patients, they showed that the new approach was two to three times more efficient at destroying cancerous tissue compared to healthy pancreatic tissue.

"Our work could lead to a new minimally invasive strategy for efficiently ablating PDAC while saving the healthy pancreas," said Liang. "This could largely reduce surgical complications, preserve normal organ function and, more importantly, provide a reference for treating other tumors rich in specific biomolecules that opens a new pathway for future minimally invasive and precision oncology treatments."

Leaving healthy tissue intact

Tumor ablation is a minimally invasive treatment that destroys cancerous tissue without surgically removing it by applying laser light, thermal energy or a chemical agent directly to the tumor. Although various ablation techniques have gained increasing clinical attention for treating pancreatic and other cancers, they have not yet been widely implemented in clinical practice due to concerns about injury to healthy tissue.

"Our broader project aims to develop a laser-based surgical platform that uses molecular fingerprints to reduce collateral damage and guide selective ablation," said Liang. "There is an urgent clinical need for safer and more precise treatment options for various cancers and tumor types, eye diseases and atherosclerosis, and this can be accomplished by using a laser wavelength that precisely matches specific biomolecular absorption features."

To develop a treatment tailored for pancreatic cancer, the researchers first identified the laser wavelength most strongly absorbed by the tumor's abundant collagen molecules6.1 microns. Liang's team collaborated with Wonkeun Chang's team at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, which developed a new anti-resonant hollow-core fiber.

With an outer diameter of less than 400 microns and bending losses below 1 dB/m at radii under 10 cm, the hollow-core fiber enables reliable delivery of laser light deep inside the human body. For enhanced clinical use, it can be equipped with a biocompatible medical-grade polyimide jacket and sapphire endcaps, ensuring durability and minimizing the risk of breakage inside the body.

After establishing that the 6.1micron laser wavelength interacts safely and predictably with tissue, the researchers tested the selective ablation of surgically removed human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumors versus normal pancreatic tissue.

They found that the 6.1-micron wavelength enabled high selectivity for pancreatic tumor tissue, which minimizes damage to normal tissue, while also improving ablation efficiency compared to non-resonant wavelengths like 1 or 3 microns.

Targeting collagen-rich tumors

"This method is particularly suited for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas with high collagen content that are accessible to laser delivery," said Liang. "Clinically, the laser light could be applied during a minimally invasive surgery or endoscopic procedure."

The researchers are now working to optimize the laser parameters and delivery systems to further improve ablation efficiency and system stability. They are also integrating optical coherent tomography into the system with the aim of performing cancer examination and ablation simultaneously. Additionally, they want to explore the applicability of this technology to other tumor types with different molecular signatures.

The researchers point out that a great deal of work is needed before the method can be routinely used in the clinic. This includes comprehensive biological safety assessments and structured clinical trials that assess efficacy and risks. They also plan to refine the integration of the laser source and fiber delivery system to ensure ease and safety in clinical settings.

More information Dunxiang Zhang et al, Selective tumor ablation via femtosecond laser resonant with collagen, Optica (2025). DOI: 10.1364/optica.561337 Journal information: Optica

Key medical concepts Collagen
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Fewer than one percent of people who have changed their legal gender choose to revert to the gender they were assigned at birth. This has been shown in a new study from Uppsala University in which the researchers looked at how stable a gender change is over time in Sweden.

A new study based on national data from Sweden provides strong evidence that legal gender change in people diagnosed with gender dysphoria is stable over time. Reversal occurs in less than one percent of cases.

"We saw that the vast majority of people who go through the process to legally change their gender do not reverse this decision. Of the 2,467 people included in the study who had applied for and obtained a change in their legal gender, only 21 changed it back to the gender they had been assigned at birth. The probability that a legal gender change will remain stable after 10 years is therefore estimated at close to 98%," says Kristen Clark, the study's lead author.

The paper is published in the journal JAMA Network Open.

New knowledge in the detransition debate

The study is based on the Swedish population register and patient register and analyzes data from the period 20132023. The researchers followed all the people during that period who had received a gender dysphoria diagnosis and were able to see who had obtained a legal gender change, and how many eventually reverted to the gender that had been registered for them at birth. During the entire period, only 21 people reversed their legal gender change.

To calculate the probability of a gender change remaining stable, the researchers used a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. This is a statistical method that is often used when not all participants are followed for the same length of time. The analysis of the collected data showed that the probability of a legal gender change remaining stable after 10 years is almost 98%.

"Although public and clinical debate on regret and detransition has grown in recent years, there have not been many studies to show how common that is. Our study contributes high-quality data and a better understanding of how stable a legal gender change actually is. The results suggest that it is unusual at the population level to reverse a legal gender change, and that it hasn't become more common now compared to what was seen in older Swedish studies," says Clark.

More research could capture the reasons why some do regret the change

According to the researchers, more studies are needed to find out more about the experiences of non-binary individuals, since the Swedish population registration system only offers binary gender options, either male or female. Therefore, it is unclear how the results of the study can be applied to the non-binary population. Further research is also needed to investigate the multi-faceted reasons behind the rare cases of reversal.

But the researchers believe that the study can help to provide transgender people with better health care.

"These results can provide valuable guidance for health care, in policy discussions and in conversations with patients, as they are based on reliable data on gender identity stability over time," says Clark.

More information Kristen D. Clark et al, Stability After Legal Gender Change Among Adults With Gender Dysphoria, JAMA Network Open (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.27780 Journal information: JAMA Network Open
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Credit: Pavel Danilyuk from Pexels

A nationwide, longitudinal study characterized how physician attrition rates from clinical practice have changed and the factors associated with a differential likelihood of attrition. The study found that the rate of physicians' attrition from clinical practice has increased from 2013 to 2019.

Female physicians, those practicing in a rural area, and those practicing outside of the Northeast region had a greater risk of clinical attrition. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Researchers from University of California at San Francisco, University of California at Los Angeles, and Yale School of Medicine studied data from 712,395 physicians caring for Medicare beneficiaries across six broad specialty categories described in the Medicare Data on Provider Practice and Specialty documentation: primary care, medical specialty, surgical specialty, obstetrics and gynecology, hospital-based specialty, and psychiatry.

The primary outcome was attrition from clinical practice, defined as exit of a physician without reentry for at least three years. The researchers found that unadjusted rates of attrition increased overall from 3.5% in 2013 to 4.9% in 2019. Attrition rates increased among both male and female physicians, those in urban and rural areas, across all geographic locations, and across all specialties.

Practicing in psychiatry, primary care, and obstetrics and gynecology were associated with greater risk for attrition compared with a hospital-based specialty.

Medicare beneficiary factors associated with a higher risk of attrition included greater average beneficiary risk score, greater average beneficiary age, and a greater percentage of dual-eligible beneficiaries. These findings underscore critical challenges related to sustaining the physician workforce amid known physician shortages and difficulties with access to care.

More information Trends in and Predictors of Physician Attrition from Clinical Practice Across Specialties: A Nationwide, Longitudinal Analysis, Annals of Internal Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.7326/ANNALS-25-00564 Journal information: Annals of Internal Medicine

Key medical concepts Psychiatry Primary Health Care
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Credit: cottonbro studio from Pexels

Autistic children and adults may be experiencing PTSD at higher rates than official diagnoses suggest, with their symptoms misdiagnosed or dismissed as being autism traits because of "diagnostic overshadowing," finds a new analysis by UCL researchers.

The study, published in Clinical Psychology Review, reviewed diagnosed PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) rates in over 190,000 autistic people globally, and compared them with other evidence of PTSD symptoms prevalence.

Autism-specific PTSD symptoms sometimes ignored

The systematic review and meta-analysis pulled together evidence from 30 studies, 17 involving children and 13 involving adults.

It found that among autistic individuals, clinical PTSD was diagnosed at rates similar to those in the general population. However, previous research examining the prevalence of PTSD symptoms independent of diagnosis reported much higher rates among autistic people.

For instance, formal PTSD diagnoses in autistic individuals as part of a clinical assessment are reported at rates similar to non-autistic populations (1.11% for autistic children or young people vs. 0.6 to 3.9% in the general population, and 2.06% for autistic adults vs. 2.8% in the general population). Yet screening-based reviews indicate that "probable PTSD" symptoms might be present in 14% of autistic children or young people and 44% of autistic adults.

The researchers say this indicates that current PTSD diagnostic manuals that are used for formal diagnoses, such as the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) and ICD (The International Classification of Diseases), may not fully account for the kinds of experiences autistic people find traumatic. Such experiences include bullying, physical restraint, sensory overload, and emotional neglect, all of which are excluded from traditional trauma definitions. Thus, using these criteria may miss trauma in autistic people and underestimate how common it is.

A call for autism-sensitive methods

Lead author Dr. Hassan Mansour (UCL Psychology & Language Sciences, now at North London NHS Foundation Trust) said, "Our findings suggest that PTSD in autistic individuals is being missed, not because symptoms are absent, but because current diagnostic criteria may not accurately reflect how trauma is experienced or expressed in this population.

"Future diagnostic manuals and research should include autism-sensitive methods to improve identification, diagnosis, and access to appropriate support."

The study also highlights a problem known as "diagnostic overshadowing," where many PTSD symptoms, including hypervigilance, emotional shutdown, or disrupted sleep, are often misattributed to autism itself. This misinterpretation can mean trauma goes undetected and untreated, leaving people without access to much needed mental health support.

Researchers say the consequences of this underdiagnosis are potentially significant. On an individual level, untreated PTSD can lead to chronic anxiety, depression, or suicidal ideation and harm. Each of these are challenges already disproportionately faced by autistic individuals.

While on a systemic level, misdiagnosed or overlooked trauma can lead to increased strain on mental health services, repeated referrals, and the use of inappropriate interventions that fail to treat the root cause of distress.

These issues may also contribute to higher rates of psychiatric hospitalizations and poorer long-term outcomes for autistic people. An estimated 79% of autistic people will experience at least one mental health difficulty in their lifetime.

Dr. Mansour said, "There is a clear need to update existing diagnostic manuals, which are not currently designed with autistic individuals in mind. Making these manuals more inclusive and establishing autism-specific PTSD guidelines could hopefully improve mental health outcomes and ensure that autistic people receive the support they need more quickly, while also reducing pressure on health care services."

To more accurately diagnose autistic individuals, researchers are calling for:

Autism-informed diagnostic tools that include a broader range of trauma experiences

Clinician training to recognize PTSD symptoms that may overlap with autism traits

Inclusive research that actively involves autistic people of all communication styles and cognitive abilities

More information Hassan Mansour et al, Prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in autistic children or young people (CYP) and adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Clinical Psychology Review (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2025.102621 Journal information: Clinical Psychology Review
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A US-Japanese trio won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for research into how the immune system is kept in check by identifying its 'security guards'

The Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded on Monday to three scientists for discovering how a particular kind of cell can stop the body's immune system from attacking itself.

The discovery of these "regulatory T-cells" has raised hopes of finding new ways to fight autoimmune diseases and cancer, though treatments based on the work have yet to become widely available.

After Americans Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell and Japan's Shimon Sakaguchi were announced new Nobel laureates at a ceremony in Stockholm, here is what you need to know about their work.

What is the immune system?

The immune system is your body's first line of defense against invaders such as microbes that could give you an infection.

Its most powerful weapons are white blood cells called T-cells. They seek out, identify and destroy these invading germsor other unwanted outsiders such as cancerous cellsthroughout the body.

But sometimes these T-cells identify the wrong target and attack healthy cells, which causes a range of autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes and lupus.

Enter regulatory T-cellsalso called Tregswhich the Nobel committee dubbed the body's "security guards".

"They put the brakes on the immune system to prevent it from attacking something that it shouldn't," Jonathan Fisher, head of the innate immune engineering laboratory at University College London, told AFP.

For a long time, it had been thought this crucial regulation role was performed entirely by the thymus, a small gland in the upper chest.

T-cells have things called "receptors" which make sure they can detect the shape of an invading microbesuch as the famously spiky COVID-19 virus.

The immune system's 'security guards'

When T-cells grow in the thymus, the gland has a way to eliminate any that have receptors which match healthy cells, to avoid friendly fire in the future.

But what if some of these rogue T-cells slip through?

What did the Nobel winners do?

Some scientists had once thought there could be some other cell out there, patrolling for escapees.

But by the 1980s, most researchers had abandoned this ideaexcept Sakaguchi.

His team took T-cells from one mouse and injected them into another which had no thymus. The mouse was suddenly protected against autoimmune diseases, showing that something other than the gland must be able to fight off self-attacking T-cells.

A decade later, Brunkow and Ramsdell were investigating why the males of a mutated strain of mice called "scurfy" only lived for a few weeks.

In 2021, they were able to prove that a mutation of the gene FOXP3 caused both scurfy and a rare autoimmune disease in humans called IPEX.

Scientists including Sakaguchi were then able to show that FOXP3 controls the development of regulatory T-cells.

How does this help us?

A new field of research has been probing exactly what this discovery means for human health.

What were Nobel Peace Prize Laureates honored for?

French immunologist Divi Cornec told AFP that "a defect in regulatory T-cells" can make autoimmune diseases more severe.

These cells also play a "crucial role in preventing transplanted organs from being rejected," Cornec said.

Cancer can also "hijack" regulatory T-cells to help it escape the immune system, Fisher said.

When this happens, the cells crack down too hard on the immune systemlike an overzealous security guardand allow the tumor to grow.

What about new drugs?

There are now over 200 clinical trials testing treatments involving regulatory T-cells, according to the Nobel ceremony.

However the breakthroughs which won Monday's Nobel have not yet led to a drug that is currently in wide use.

On Monday, Sakaguchi said he hopes the Nobel spurs the field "in a direction where it can be applied in actual bedside and clinical settings".

Fisher emphasized that a lot of progress had been made over the last five yearsand that these things take a lot of time and money.

"There is a big gap between our scientific understanding of the immune system and our ability to investigate it and manipulate it in a laband our ability to actually deliver a safe-in-humans drug product that will have a consistent and beneficial effect," Fisher said.

 2025 AFP
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Phlebotomist Latasha Hamilton (right) prepares Gabriela Moreno (left) and the equipment for donating plasma, a process that takes less than an hour. Credit: Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association

International Plasma Awareness Week (IPAW) takes place globally from October 610. The week encourages communities around the world to recognize the vital role of plasma in creating lifesaving medicines and honors those who donate. A new survey has found that 72% of respondents agree that plasma-derived medicines can save lives, yet most have not donated plasma.

The survey asked over 1,000 American adults questions about their understanding of plasma donation and lifesaving plasma-derived medicines. Plasma, a component of blood, is essential in producing treatments for a variety of serious health conditions, including immune deficiencies, bleeding disorders, severe burns, and more. It is also used in everyday health care settings, such as during surgeries, childbirth, and organ transplants.

The need for plasma-derived medicines continues to rise as science reveals new uses and indications, as advances in standards of care expand their role in treatment. With hundreds of thousands of patients around the world depending on these unique therapiesand because plasma cannot be recreated in a labthe importance of plasma donation is vital.

The Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) commissioned the poll to better understand Americans' perception of the growing need for plasma-derived medicines.

Notable survey findings include:

Eight in 10 survey respondents have never donated plasma.

About half (49%) of Americans who have never donated plasma feel they do not know enough about the donation process.

The survey also revealed a perceived disparity between blood and plasma donation, with 65% of respondents believing there is a greater need for donated blood than plasma, and 60% feeling that blood donation benefits more people.

During IPAW and beyond, PPTA encourages all healthy adults over the age of 18 to consider giving the gift of life through plasma donation. Credit: Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association

"As the survey results show, there is increasing public awareness of the essential role plasma donation plays in saving lives," stated Anita Brikman, President and CEO of the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association.

"However, understanding must continue to advance in order to meet growing patient needs. During IPAW, it's important to recognize plasma donors as everyday heroes because, as the survey shows, Americans know that plasma donation saves lives."

"As a patient who relies on the generosity of plasma donors, I feel optimistic about the survey results," said Lillie Hunnicut, a Seattle-based plasma advocate and common variable immune deficiency patient.

"Donating plasma helps create medicines that help me and many others thrive! Thanks to my plasma-derived therapy, I can now run, hike, climb, and be active and present in my daily life in a way that I wasn't for several years before my diagnosis and treatment. I am so grateful to the many donors who have given me not just my life backbut have strengthened my sense of hope in humanity."

Before donating plasma, donors have their vitals checked, including blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, hemoglobin and weight as well as fill out a questionnaire to make sure they're fit to donate. Credit: Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association

"An estimated half a million Americans have been diagnosed with a primary immunodeficiency (PI), though the actual number is likely much higher due to widespread underdiagnosis," said Jorey Berry, President and CEO of the Immune Deficiency Foundation.

"Many individuals with PI depend on life-saving plasma-derived medicines that cannot be manufactured synthetically and can only be produced through the generosity of human donors. It is my hope that this survey and International Plasma Awareness Week will shine a much-needed spotlight on the critical, ongoing need for plasma donation and help raise awareness of these often-overlooked immune system disorders."

PPTA encourages all healthy adults over the age of 18 to consider giving the gift of life through plasma donation.

More information Visit www.pptaglobal.org/donate to learn more and find a donation center.

Provided by The Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association
Statement by Sri Lanka as the country concerned during the consideration of draft resolution HRC. 60/L.1/Rev.1 on Sri Lanka at the 60th Session of Human Rights Council on 6th October 2025

Mr. President,

Sri Lanka participated in discussions on this resolution in a spirit of open and constructive engagement, that we have demonstrated throughout in our interactions with this Council.

We appreciate the core groups engagement on language amendments proposed by Sri Lanka. We however regret that we couldnt find agreement on certain key concerns for us.

While we thank all delegations for their constructive participation on the draft text, Sri Lanka particularly wishes to thank very sincerely, those countries which made positive suggestions during informal consultations and bilateral meetings.

As Sri Lanka had indicated from the beginning to the core group, our fundamental issue with the text is the reference to resolution 51/1 of 2022 denoting the external evidence gathering mechanism on Sri Lanka within the OHCHR, which, in our view is an unprecedented and ad hoc expansion of the Councils mandate.

Participating in the Interactive Dialogue on Sri Lanka on 8th September, the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated that Sri Lanka does not accept the external evidence gathering mechanism set up by the OHCHR, which it has labelled as the `Sri Lanka Accountability Project`, at a time when the Government is continuing to strengthen the domestic institutions based on its genuine commitment to reconciliation and human rights in the interests of our own people. The ongoing domestic processes include strengthening the independent Offices on Missing Persons and Reparations, and the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation, as well as the operationalization of a truth and reconciliation commission, and an independent Public Prosecutors Office.

Sri Lanka, as well as many other countries, have repeatedly questioned the credibility and transparency of how this Project within the OHCHR was set up, its work and the budget allocated to it. After 4 years of its existence, this Council is yet to see any benefits of this Project for the people of Sri Lanka. This is clearly evident from the contents of the High Commissioners Report as well. The extension of its mandate will only serve the interests of elements with vested interests seeking to create divisions and polarize the communities in Sri Lanka, and will be counterproductive to the Governments efforts on promoting unity, reconciliation and human rights.

Mr. President,

We firmly believe that genuine nationally owned processes are best placed to address matters relating to human rights. National processes are rooted in the local context, allow for greater ownership, recognize unique sensitivities, and make implementation of action more efficient and effective.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights who visited Sri Lanka in June this year had the opportunity to experience firsthand the momentum of change across all segments of the Sri Lankan society and the genuine openness of the Government to address issues. In his report to this Council too, the High Commissioner highlighted that there is a historic opportunity in Sri Lanka to implement transformative reforms. As set out by the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs in his statement to this Council, within a very short time, the Government has taken a series of tangible and decisive steps on reconciliation and human rights. Therefore, it is only fair that Sri Lanka be allowed to seize this opportunity to advance the rights of its own people through domestic processes.

For these reasons, we do not agree with coercive international action, and we reject resolution 60/L.1/Rev.1 presented to this Council.

Thank you.
The lady who was vomiting money after she was allegedly used for ritual by a Yahoo 'Plus' Boy is not a young girl but a married w...
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday signed a law that aims to prevent people from using powerful artificial intelligence models for potentially catastrophic activities like building a bioweapon or shutting down a bank system.

The move comes as Newsom touted California as a leader in AI regulation and criticized the inaction at the federal level in a recent conversation with former President Bill Clinton. The new law will establish some of the first-in-the-nation regulations on large-scale AI models without hurting the states homegrown industry, Newsom said. Many of the worlds top AI companies are located in California and will have to follow the requirements.

California has proven that we can establish regulations to protect our communities while also ensuring that the growing AI industry continues to thrive. This legislation strikes that balance, Newsom said in a statement.

The legislation requires AI companies to implement and disclose publicly safety protocols to prevent their most advanced models from being used to cause major harm. The rules are designed to cover AI systems if they meet a frontier threshold that signals they run on a huge amount of computing power.

Such thresholds are based on how many calculations the computers are performing. Those who crafted the regulations have acknowledged the numerical thresholds are an imperfect starting point to distinguish todays highest-performing generative AI systems from the next generation that could be even more powerful. The existing systems are largely made by California-based companies like Anthropic, Google, Meta Platforms and OpenAI.

The legislation defines a catastrophic risk as something that would cause at least $1 billion in damage or more than 50 injuries or deaths. Its designed to guard against AI being used for activities that could cause mass disruption, such as hacking into a power grid.

Companies also have to report to the state any critical safety incidents within 15 days. The law creates whistleblower protections for AI workers and establishes a public cloud for researchers. It includes a fine of $1 million per violation.

It drew opposition from some tech companies, which argued that AI legislation should be done at the federal level. But Anthropic said the regulations are practical safeguards that make official the safety practices many companies are already doing voluntarily.

While federal standards remain essential to avoid a patchwork of state regulations, California has created a strong framework that balances public safety with continued innovation, Jack Clark, co-founder and head of policy at Anthropic, said in a statement.

The signing comes after Newsom last year vetoed a broader version of the legislation, siding with tech companies that said the requirements were too rigid and would have hampered innovation. Newsom instead asked a group of several industry experts, including AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li, to develop recommendations on guardrails around powerful AI models.

The new law incorporates recommendations and feedback from Newsoms group of AI experts and the industry, supporters said. The legislation also doesnt put the same level of reporting requirements on startups to avoid hurting innovation, said state Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco, the bills author.

With this law, California is stepping up, once again, as a global leader on both technology innovation and safety, Wiener said in a statement.

Newsoms decision comes as President Donald Trump in July announced a plan to eliminate what his administration sees as onerous regulations to speed up AI innovation and cement the U.S. position as the global AI leader. Republicans in Congress earlier this year unsuccessfully tried to ban states and localities from regulating AI for a decade.

Without stronger federal regulations, states across the country have spent the last few years trying to rein in the technology, tackling everything from deepfakes in elections to AI therapy. In California, the Legislature this year passed a number of bills to address safety concerns around AI chatbots for children and the use of AI in the workplace.

California has also been an early adopter of AI technologies. The state has deployed generative AI tools to spot wildfires and address highway congestion and road safety, among other things.

___

Associated Press reporter Matt OBrien contributed to the report.

By TRAN NGUYEN

Associated Press
An ornate balcony or quirky garage door might be in reach for more Californians as homeowners associations across the state are being forced to govern without the power of exorbitant fees to enforce regulations.

Millions of California residents could get a break if they violate their homeowners association rules due to a new law that caps fines at $100, down from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Amid an affordability crisis, lawmakers and groups that represent homeowners have characterized the cap, which took effect July 1, as protecting the pocketbooks of middle- and low-income residents. However, HOA boards worry the new restriction will limit their authority to enforce rules.

Attorneys for homeowners and HOAs say it will get rid of extreme cases where board members impose unfair and egregious fines to retaliate against homeowners they dislike.

I have seen the worst of the worst and HOAs fine thousands of dollars and foreclose on those homes, said Edward Susolik, CEO and president of Callahan & Blaine, who represents both homeowners and HOAs. Generally speaking, that seems reasonable to bring that down because that is one of the biggest issues living in California, because HOAs have very broad powers to enforce their rules.

The cap on HOA fines was quietly inserted into unrelated major housing reform legislation, Assembly Bill 130, that exempts most new housing from environmental review and was led by Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco. The language of a separate bill by Democratic Sen. Aisha Wahab of Fremont, Senate Bill 681, capping the HOA fee was included in the housing reform bill just days before the governor signed it into law, drawing little attention.

We were in active negotiations with Sen. Wahabs staff and actually provided amendments to the pro tems office as well. What we were promoting was greater transparency and notice when fines take place at associations and avoiding a cap at all, said Louis Brown, an attorney who represents HOAs with the Community Associations Institute. We were very surprised when the language showed up in AB 130.

Sen. Wieners office did not respond to an email requesting comment.

HOAs are proliferating nationwide

HOAs are a nearly inescapable reality for home buyers. Their rise continues to skyrocket as 67% of all new single-family homes built in 2024 nationwide were in communities with HOAs, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, up from 46% in 2009. In California, more than 50,000 HOAs govern around 65% of the states homeowners, according to the California Association of Homeowners Associations. California residents paid a median of $278 in monthly fees  among the steepest in the nation, according to data from the Census Bureau.

They create and enforce rules for home, apartment and condominium owners and are controlled by the residents themselves, who elect and can recall board members. HOAs have faced the ire and frustration of some Californians for decades, and lawmakers have proposed legislation seeking more transparency on governing boards.

Most neighborhood disputes are resolved through casual conversation and end cordially without a fine needing to be imposed, according to David Zepponi, chief executive of the Executive Council of Homeowners and a lobbyist for HOA boards. In cases that require more formality, the board must hold a hearing where residents can explain themselves before a fine is levied. But there are extreme instances where situations escalate and devolve into expensive disputes between residents.

The new state law bans HOAs from charging late fees or interest in addition to the $100 cap, with the exception of rules that affect public health or safety. It also gives residents more leeway to absolve fees after theyve been charged.

Lawmakers said it is a step toward addressing exorbitant fees prevalent in some HOAs.

With nearly 65% of California homeowners living in HOAs, excessive fees have quietly drained family finances for too long, said Wahab, who heralded the effort, in an emailed statement. By capping fines  except for health and safety  we set fair standards, protect generational wealth, and finally put homeowners and HOA boards on equal footing.

Theyre guilty until the homeowner proves their innocence

Some homeowners also see the new restrictions as a necessary check on boards that misuse their power over superfluous violations, such as painting a home a bold color.

Our concern about violation fines in the past are that there has been no procedure for determining if a violation has occurred, said Marjorie Murray, an advocate for homeowners with the Center for California Homeowner Association Law. The board tells the homeowner theyre guilty until the homeowner proves their innocence.

Many board members are fearful of the consequences of their diminished power and worry how it will affect their ability to enforce neighborhood rules, Zepponi said.

You dont have the leverage anymore to get people to change bad behavior, Zepponi said. A neighbor who leaves their RV parked on the driveway in violation of association rules might just eat the $100 rather than pay for RV storage that is more expensive, he said.

It takes a tool away from a board to make behavioral changes that are needed, he said.

Board members have also argued that the lower fine could cost the entire community more if a neighbor continues to break the rules and refuses to pay their fees, forcing boards to pursue the only available alternative  costly litigation  more frequently.

The change is not expected to affect HOAs financially, as fines are not a significant amount of their revenue stream, according to Community Associations Institute lawyer Louis Brown.

The days of homeowners associations telling you that your garage door needs to be painted might be over, said Susolik, the attorney who has represented homeowners and HOA boards. Thats probably a good thing.

___

This story was originally published by CalMatters and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

By NADIA LATHAN/CalMatters

CalMatters
Israeli and Hamas officials are holding indirect talks in an Egyptian coastal resort on Monday on a U.S.-drafted peace plan to end the war in Gaza on the eve of its second anniversary.

The talks focus on the ceasefires first stage, including the partial withdrawal of Israeli forces as well as the release of hostages held by militants in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention, according to a Hamas statement.

U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner are also expected to join the talks, Egypts state-run media outlet Al-Ahram reported.

Many uncertainties remain about some elements of the plan including the disarmament of Hamas and the future governance of Gaza. Israel is still pounding Gaza with deadly airstrikes despite Trumps order to stop. Gazas Health Ministry said the Palestinian death toll in the war reached 67,160 on Monday.

Heres the latest:

Sailor dies a week after Yemens Houthi rebels attack a cargo ship

One of the crew members of a Dutch cargo ship that was attacked last week by Yemens Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden has died of his injuries, the ships owner said Monday.

Earlier today, our colleague passed away in hospital from the critical injuries sustained during the attack on our vessel in the Gulf of Aden on 29 September, the shipping company Spliethoff said in a written statement.

The Amsterdam-based company did not release details of the crewmans injuries.

The Sept. 29 attack wounded two mariners on board the Minervagracht, whose 19-member crew hailed from the Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka and Ukraine. They were forced to evacuate the ship after the strike inflicted substantial damage.

The company said that most of the crew of the Minervagracht have returned home, but one is still being cared for in Djibouti. His condition is described as stable and we expect he will be able to return home later this week.

The Iranian-backed Houthis have launched missile and drone attacks on over 100 ships and against Israel in response to the war in Gaza, saying they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians.

Putin and Netanyahu discuss Gaza peace plan in a phone call

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to discuss the current developments in the Middle East, including in the context of the U.S. presidents plan for normalization in the Gaza Strip, the Kremlin said.

T two leaders spoke about other regional issues, including the situation around the Iranian nuclear program and stabilization in Syria, the Kremlin statement said.

Putin has previously hailed Trumps plan for Gaza and voiced hope that it will be successfully implemented. At the same time, the Russian leader has reaffirmed Moscows support for the creation of an independent Palestinian state as a pivotal component of the Middle East peace settlement.

UN is ready to surge humanitarian aid to Gaza once it gets the green light

United Nations officials are in touch with mediators trying to end the war in Gaza and there are intense discussions taking place, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

We very much hope for a positive outcome of those discussions, he said.

The ceasefire plan calls for a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza, whose more than 2 million Palestinian residents are facing hunger and in some areas famine.

Weve been ready and the machinery is cranked up and ready to go as soon as we get the green light, Dujarric said. There are many thousands of metric tons in the pipeline of goods ready to enter from Jordan, the Israeli port of Ashdod and elsewhere.

US calls on all countries to support peace deal for Gaza and urge Hamas to accept it

U.S. deputy ambassador to the United Nations Dorothy Shea issued the appeal at a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Monday, stressing that President Donald Trumps plan has been accepted by Israel, welcomed by the Palestinian Authority, and has broad support from a number of Arab and Muslim-majority countries from Turkey to Indonesia.

The plans acceptance, she said, will allow Gaza to begin a peaceful and prosperous future, while ensuring Hamas no longer threatens Israel.

We urge Hamas to accept the deal on the table, and we call on all member states to give the plan their full support and demand that Hamas immediately accept it, Shea told the council.

She expressed shock at Palestinian-American human rights lawyer Noura Erakat disparaging the peace deal in an earlier briefing to the council, and calling Israels war against Hamas a genocide against Palestinians.

Erakat urged the Security Council to insist that a solution to the war in Gaza doesnt come at the expense of accountability, and that the U.N.  not Israel and its allies  oversee the end of Israeli occupation.

Arab mediators meet Hamas delegation at the start of talks in Egypt

Egypts state-owned Al-Qahera News television station reported that the talks began with a meeting between Arab mediators and the Hamas delegation.

Mediators will then meet with the Israeli delegation, the station, which is close to Egyptian security agencies, said.

Egyptian and Qatari mediators will discuss the outcome of their meetings with both parties, before U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff joins the talks, it said.

Vatican condemns Hamas Oct. 7 attack and Israels response in Gaza

The Vatican has marked the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by condemning the inhuman massacre of innocent people in Israel and calling for the return of hostages. But it also said Israels razing of Gaza is itself a disproportionate massacre, and called on countries to stop supplying Israel weapons to wage the war.

Vatican Media interviewed Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vaticans secretary of state, on the eve of the anniversary. The Vatican No. 2 sought to strike a balance between condemning the original attacks and Israels response.

Those who are attacked have a right to defend themselves, but even legitimate defense must respect the principle of proportionality, Parolin said. The perverse chain of hatred can only generate a spiral that leads nowhere good.

While calling for the return of hostages taken by Hamas, Parolin said Israel must respect principles of international law.

It seems evident that the war waged by the Israeli army to eliminate Hamas militants disregards the fact that it is targeting a largely defenseless population, already pushed to the brink, in an area where buildings and homes are reduced to rubble, he said.

He lamented that countries that can influence Israel have failed to stop the ongoing massacre.

He said the Holy See welcomed and supported Trumps peace plan.

Talks in Egypt are underway

An Egyptian official said talks involving Israeli and Hamas officials were underway at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh Monday afternoon. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the talks.

The Israelis are headed by top negotiator Ron Dermer while Khalil al-Hayyah leads the Hamas delegation.

 By Sam Magdy in Cairo

Greta Thunberg among flotilla activists deported from Israel

Israeli authorities said Monday that they have deported to Greece and Slovakia another 171 people detained for taking part in a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, including prominent Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.

Israels Foreign Ministry posted on X that the deportees were citizens of Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Denmark, Slovakia, Switzerland, Norway, the UK, Serbia, and the United States. The post included photos of Thunberg and other activists wearing white T-shirts and gray sweatpants.

Israeli authorities again rejected accusations of mistreatment that have emerged in interviews with activists who were deported to Turkey, Spain and Italy over the weekend.

Families of hostages urge Nobel Committee to award Peace Prize to Trump

Families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza urged the Norwegian Nobel Committee to award the Nobel Peace Prize to President Donald Trump for what they say are his unprecedented contributions to world peace.

In a letter to the committee released Monday, family members said Trumps determination to achieve peace made possible what many said was impossible.

They said Trump deserves the prize because of his vow not to rest until every last hostage returns home and because no other leader or organization has contributed more to peace around the world in the last year.

The letter states that thanks to Trumps peace plan thats being negotiated, for the first time in months, we are hopeful that our nightmare will finally be over.

Women in Istanbul form human chain in solidarity with Gaza

Hundreds of women in Istanbul formed a human chain to express solidarity with Palestinian women and children killed in the war in Gaza.

The demonstration  where participants held hands or stood shoulder to shoulder  was organized by President Recep Tayyip Erdogans ruling party. It came on the eve of the second anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas. That assault, carried out by Hamas-led militants, triggered Israels retaliatory offensive in Gaza, which has since claimed more than 67,100 lives.

Similar protests took place simultaneously in Ankara and other cities across Turkey. Many of the women waved Palestinian flags or wore the traditional kaffiyeh scarf.

Israeli attacks in Gaza kill 19 in the last 24 hours, Health Ministry says

The Health Ministry in Gaza said Monday the bodies of 19 people, including two aid-seekers killed by Israeli strikes and gunfire, have been brought to hospitals over the past 24 hours. Another 96 were wounded.

The deaths brought the toll to 67,160 since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, triggered the war, with nearly 170,000 wounded, the ministry said.

Talks take place in Egypt as it marks anniversary of 1973 war with Israel

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi on Monday hailed Trumps efforts to stop the war in Gaza.

A ceasefire, the return of hostages and detainees, the reconstruction of Gaza, and the start of a peaceful political process leading to the establishment and recognition of a Palestinian state mean that we are on the right path toward lasting peace and solid stability, he said.

He underscored the importance of preserving the U.S.-crafted peace system in the Middle East since the 1970s, which he said served as a strategic framework for regional stability.

El-Sisi made the remarks in a televised address commemorating the anniversary of the Oct. 6, 1973, war with Israel that led to Egypt reclaiming the Sinai Peninsula, where Sharm el-Sheikh is located.

A wish for babies born on the day the war started

Palestinians in Gaza hope that babies born on the day the Israel-Hamas war began will be able to celebrate their second birthday to the sound of laughter and cheers instead of the cacophony of bombs, missiles and bullets.

Rola Saqer said the two years since giving birth to her daughter Masa have been full of suffering and misery.

Saqer said she was scared for Maza, who is weak and malnourished. Saqer and her husband, Mohammed Zaqout, live in a sparsely furnished tent in the Nuseirat refugee camp.

Its much the same for Amal al-Taweel and her husband, Mostafa, who had their son Ali after three years of trying for a child. Now living in a tent inside an alley, Amal said Ali is being deprived of proper sanitation, food, vaccinations and even toys.

By The Associated Press
To come from a poor African country where survival is a daily battle, the wealth of the nation is shared among the few rulling class and...
PARIS (AP)  UNESCO is slated to have its first director from the Arab world after an Egyptian former tourism and antiquities minister, Khaled el-Anani, was nominated by the agencys executive board Monday.

If confirmed by UNESCOs general assembly next month, el-Anani will inherit an agency reeling from the Trump administrations recent decision to pull the United States out, portending a budget shortfall at the agency best known for its World Heritage sites around the globe.

El-Anani was seen as the front-runner for the position of director-general and won a vote Monday against his only challenger, Firmin Edouard Matoko, an economist from Republic of Congo who promoted schooling in refugee camps.

The decision by the board, which represents 58 of the agencys 194 member states, is expected to be finalized at a meeting of UNESCOs general assembly in Uzbekistan next month.

Noble ambitions and persistent problems

In addition to choosing and protecting World Heritage sites and traditions, the Paris-based U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization works to ensure education for girls, promotes Holocaust awareness and funds scientific research in developing countries, among other activities. Outgoing UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay notably led a high-profile effort to rebuild the ancient Iraqi city of Mosul after it was devastated under the Islamic State group.

UNESCO has also long been plagued by accusations of mismanagement and waste.

Trump argues that the agency, which voted in 2011 to admit Palestine as a member, is too politicized and anti-Israel. U.S. supporters of UNESCO, meanwhile, say withdrawing Washingtons support allows China to play an outsized role in the world body.

Meanwhile, the vote comes at a time when the whole 80-year-old U.N. system is facing financial challenges and deepening divisions over the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

Nominee will be UNESCOs first Arab leader

El-Anani, 54, worked as a tour guide through ancient Egyptian sites, earned a doctorate in France and became a famed Egyptologist prior to serving in government. He served as minister of antiquities from 2016 to 2019, then led the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities for two years after the two portfolios were merged.

He is now a university professor, teaching Egyptology in a public university in Cairo.

Arab countries have long wanted to lead UNESCO. The African Union and Arab League are among those that expressed support for his bid.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi welcomed the news, calling the nomination a historic achievement that shall be added to Egypts diplomatic and cultural record and to the achievements of the Arab and African peoples.

During his tenure in government, el-Anani oversaw the start of mega-tourism projects including the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo, the Jewish Temple and multiple ancient discoveries that helped revive the countrys battered tourism sector.

El-Anani is expected to focus on UNESCOs cultural programs, and has pledged to continue UNESCOs work to fight antisemitism and religious intolerance. Israel left UNESCO in 2018.

While he has no U.N. experience, his backers say that could help him make tough reform decisions. He has also said he would try to bring the U.S. back into the UNESCO fold.

Challenger is a UNESCO insider

Firmin Matoko, 69, spent most of his career working for UNESCO, including stints in Rwanda soon after the genocide, during peace negotiations in El Salvador and beyond.

He said he wants UNESCO to focus on technical solutions. He described helping train teachers at a refugee camp in Somalia in the 1990s, and meeting one of them years later after she became education minister.

Both candidates pledged to tap more private sector money to make up for the loss of U.S. and other funding, continuing efforts started under Azoulay.

___

Associated Press writers Angela Charlton in Paris and Samy Magdy and Fay Abuelgasim in Cairo contributed to this report.

By MASHA MACPHERSON

Associated Press
OPEC+ to ramp up oil output in November

Xinhua) 09:32, October 06, 2025

Photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows the headquarters of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna, Austria. (Xinhua/He Canling)

The eight countries will convene again on Nov. 2 to decide on further steps.

VIENNA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, known as OPEC+, on Sunday decided to raise oil output by 137,000 barrels per day (bpd) in November, following a similar increase in October.

The decision was announced after a virtual meeting of member countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman, OPEC said in a statement.

"In view of a steady global economic outlook and healthy market fundamentals, as reflected in low oil inventories, the eight countries will implement a production increase of 137,000 barrels per day in November from the previously announced additional voluntary cuts," OPEC said.

The group's additional voluntary production adjustment of 1.65 million bpd was first introduced in April 2023 and later extended until the end of 2026. OPEC noted that these barrels may be returned in part or in full, depending on market conditions and in a gradual manner.

The eight countries will convene again on Nov. 2 to decide on further steps.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Hongyu)
A family was involved in a fatal accident in the early hours of Saturday while travelling to the village. It was gathered that the man who...
New Delhi [India], October 6: In a landmark moment for India's seafood industry, Highland Group, in partnership with global retail giant Lulu Group, has unveiled its exclusive seafood brand Aqua Fair and dispatched the first consignment of premium shrimp to Lulu stores across the Middle East.

The grand launch was held on September 25, 2025, at the World Food Expo in New Delhi, setting a new benchmark for India's seafood exports and reinforcing Odisha's position as a key hub for high-quality aquaculture products.

The event was graced by respected M.A. Yusuff Ali, Chairman of Lulu Group;

M.A. Salim Ali, Group Director - Global Operations, Lulu Group; R.K. Jena, Chairman of Highland Group; Pratik Jena, Managing Director of Highland Group; Anil Kumar, Director - Middle East Operations, Highland Group.

"This collaboration reflects our shared vision to deliver world-class, sustainably sourced seafood to discerning customers in the Middle East and India," said M.A. Yusuff Ali, Chairman of Lulu Group, highlighting the strategic importance of the partnership.

Echoing this sentiment, R.K. Jena remarked, "The launch of Aqua Fair and the first shipment of premium shrimp mark a proud milestone for Highland and for the state of Odisha. This partnership with Lulu Group strengthens our mission to bring the finest Indian seafood to global markets."

The Aqua Fair range will feature premium farm-raised shrimp, meticulously sourced from Highland's advanced aquaculture network and processed at its state-of-the-art facility in Balasore, Odisha. The brand promises freshness, consistent quality, and adherence to international food-safety standards, catering to both Middle Eastern consumers and Indian retail markets.

This milestone follows a strategic sourcing pact signed at Gulfood 2025 in Dubai, under which Highland will supply seafood, rice, fruits, and vegetables to Lulu Group, further boosting trade and investment links between Odisha and the Middle East.

With the launch of Aqua Fair, Highland Group has not only strengthened its global footprint but also showcased India's growing prowess in sustainable aquaculture and world-class seafood exports.

(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.)
PRNewswire Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 6: The Ryan Group of Institutions takes immense pride in announcing that its Managing Director, Dr. Grace Pinto, has been conferred with the Mahatma Award 2025 for Lifetime Achievement and Business Leadership, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field of education and her profound social impact. The prestigious award ceremony was held on 1st October 2025 at the India International Centre, New Delhi, and was jointly organised by the Mahatma Foundation and the Aditya Birla Group. The honour was presented to Dr. Pinto by Dr. Kiran Bedi, India's first woman IPS officer and former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The Guest of Honour included Mr. A. Annamalai, Director of the National Gandhi Museum, and Mr. Santosh Kumar Jha, CMD of Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd. The Mahatma Award celebrates global impact leaders and changemakers--individuals and organisations committed to building a just, compassionate, and sustainable future. Instituted by Gandhian and Indian lawyer, Mr. Amit Sachdeva, and supported by philanthropist, Mrs. Rajashree Birla, Chairperson of the Aditya Birla Centre for Rural Development and Community Initiatives, the award honours those who embody Mahatma Gandhi's enduring legacy of service, sustainability, and social responsibility. The event was attended by several eminent personalities, including: * Dr. Mallika Sarabhai, renowned classical dancer and social activist* Mr. Sandeep Kumar Gupta, Chairman & MD, GAIL (India) Ltd.* Mr. Vishad P. Mafatlal, Executive Chairman, Navin Fluorine International & Mafatlal Group* Mr. Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, Chairperson & MD, NLC India* Mr. Manish Patil, Director, ONGC Dr. Grace Pinto was lauded for her visionary leadership and steadfast dedication to empowering generations through quality education. Under her guidance, the Ryan Group has transformed the educational landscape by nurturing young minds with a blend of academic excellence, character building, and social consciousness. Her consistent efforts towards environmental sustainability and community development have further strengthened her legacy as a transformative leader in education. Expressing her gratitude, Dr. Grace Pinto, said, "I am deeply humbled to receive the Mahatma Award and I am grateful to Lord Jesus Christ for this recognition. This honour belongs to the entire Ryan family -- our students, educators, and parents -- who continue to uphold the values of service, compassion, and excellence inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. Our mission remains to educate, empower, and contribute meaningfully to the progress of our nation." This prestigious recognition is yet another milestone in Dr. Pinto's illustrious journey of nation-building through education and values-driven leadership, reaffirming her enduring impact on India's social and educational fabric. About Ryan Group of Institutions: The Ryan Group is one of India's largest chains of K-12 institutions, committed to delivering holistic education through academic excellence, innovation, and character formation. With over 150 schools across India and abroad, the group continues to empower millions of students to become responsible global citizens. Website: www.ryangroup.org Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2789328/RYAN_GROUP_Mahatma_Award.jpgLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1687598/5546716/Ryan_Group_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
Asia's largest technology event, India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, is all set to open its doors to visitors from around the globe with many exciting attractions and first-ever initiatives. The 9th edition of IMC will be held between October 8-11 at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi. Union Minister of Communications and DoNER, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, while announcing the IMC programme, said that this year's edition will act as a key platform to connect startups with investors and financial institutions. He said, "IMC Aspire Programme, where for the first time we will have close to about 500 startups on one side and 300 venture capitalists, private equity promoters, investment bankers on the other side. And therefore, this summit in a way will become an aggregator between startups and venture capital financing, private equity financing, banking financing." Highlighting the major themes and focus areas of IMC 2025, Scindia said the world is now looking beyond 5G towards 6G, and India is already leading the way. "Standards are being set. Protocols are being worked on. And the Bharat 6G Alliance gets adopted by the Prime Minister in 2022. Way beyond the years where anyone had thought of putting together a medium to look at 6G. The B6G Alliance will be part of this symposium," he said. The minister further added that the event will also host the International AI Summit, where the latest developments and applications in artificial intelligence will be discussed. "We are holding an Artificial Intelligence Summit as part of that," he said. Scindia mentioned that three licenses have already been given out for SATCOM services, and the topic will be discussed at great length during the SATCOM Summit at IMC 2025. "As you are aware, three licenses have already been given out and SATCOM services will be debated and discussed at great length in the SATCOM Summit," he stated. Additionally, a Cyber Security Summit will also be held as part of IMC 2025. The minister emphasised the importance of data protection and user safety. "As important as it is to provide services through telecom and its derivatives on the platform, it is as important to ensure the safety and well-being of our 1.2 billion customers," he said. As a global platform, the India Mobile Congress brings together leaders, startups, investors, and partners to foster collaboration, showcase India's strengths in telecom, electronics, and digital inclusion, and prepare the country to lead in 5G, 6G, AI, satcom, quantum, electronics manufacturing, and cybersecurity, building an inclusive, self-reliant, and globally prominent Bharat. (ANI)
NewsVoir Pune (Maharashtra) [India], October 6: People often prefer immediate rewards over larger benefits in the future, a tendency known as present bias. Even when aware of long-term gains, they may prioritise short-term needs over future goals. This behavioural tendency can lead investors to postpone financial decisions, waiting for what they consider the 'perfect' time to invest. In the process, they risk missing time in the market--time that could have helped their money potentially grow steadily. Understanding how present bias influences decisions may help investors reflect on their financial habits and take more balanced steps towards their goals. What is present bias? Present bias is when an individual is more focused on present rewards rather than potential future outcomes. In investing, present bias means that investors would rather spend money today than invest it for returns that may come over a period. For example, an investor might postpone setting aside Rs. 5,000 per month in a mutual fund because they prefer to spend it on present consumption. Over time, however, this delay may cause them to miss out on the potential growth of their investments. Since investing early allows compounding to work for longer periods, postponing it can have an important effect on long-term outcomes. Why investors delay investing Here are some reasons why some people may put off or delay investing: Preference for immediate gratification Immediate gratification can often feel more rewarding than fulfilling a long-term commitment. For instance, buying new gadgets or spending on new experiences may feel more fulfilling than sticking to a consistent investment plan that may show results over a period. Present bias magnifies this preference, making it harder to start investing. Uncertainty about the future The uncertainty of what may happen in the future may also discourage investors from planning ahead. Some may feel that they can always start investing later when they are more settled. However, this mindset can diminish the potential benefits of investing. Fear of market fluctuations For novice investors, market fluctuations may feel intimidating. Present bias can amplify this fear, as investors give more importance to the possibility of short-term losses than the potential for long-term growth. This may lead to them postponing investing until they feel the market is more suitable for participation. Procrastination and lack of urgency A lack of urgency can push investors to delay their investment decisions. Investing often requires time, attention and making crucial decisions. For many, this may mean that they take longer to make certain decisions. Hence, investment decisions may take a back seat in an investor's mind. Present bias may strengthen this procrastination, leading investors to delay setting up an SIP or a lumpsum investment. The cost of delaying investments Delaying investments means missing out on the potential benefits of compounding. Compounding happens when the returns generated on an investment generate further returns over time. Even a few years' delay may result in a potentially smaller corpus at the end of the investment horizon. For example, if one investor starts contributing Rs. 5,000 per month at age 25 and another begins at age 30, and both invest until age 55, the earlier investor may end up with a larger corpus even though the monthly contribution is the same. The difference is because the one who began investing earlier gave their investments more time to potentially grow through compounding. Ways to overcome present bias in investing Although present bias is natural in an investor's journey, individuals can take certain steps to manage it and begin investing sooner. Starting small with an SIP: A Systematic Investment Plan allows investors to contribute small amounts regularly. Over time, investors may choose to increase their investment amount or step up their SIP as their income increases. Linking investments to goals: When investors link investments to specific goals, they may strengthen their commitment. This is because when they tie their investments to meaningful outcomes, the motivation may increase, potentially reducing the effect of present bias. Automating contributions: Automating contributions can help investors set aside money before they can spend it. For instance, setting up an automatic SIP can help investors remain consistent without having to take a fresh decision every month. Focusing on the long term: While short-term market fluctuations might seem significant, long-term participation in mutual funds may help reduce their impact. Hence, having a long-term perspective may help investors reduce the effects of present bias. Seeking professional guidance: Sometimes, consulting a financial advisor may help investors identify suitable options based on their preferences. With proper guidance, they may feel more confident about taking the first step. Using tools to plan investments Online tools such as compound interest calculators may help investors estimate how their money may potentially grow over time. By seeing the possible difference between starting now and delaying by a few years, investors can gain perspective on the effect of present bias. However, investors must note that the calculator is an aid, not a prediction tool. It may provide only an indicative picture. Applying the InQuBe philosophy Bajaj Finserv AMC's InQuBe philosophy recognises that investor behaviour can influence financial decisions. By combining careful analysis, structured information, and insights into market behaviour, InQuBe aims to provide a framework that supports more thoughtful and disciplined investing. In the context of present bias, this approach can help investors focus on long-term objectives, avoid postponing decisions, and maintain consistency in their investment journey. Conclusion Present bias often makes investors delay investing, as they focus more on immediate needs and less on long-term goals. However, recognising this tendency is the first step toward overcoming it. Starting small, linking investments to personal goals, and using tools like SIPs can help build consistent habits. While the future remains uncertain, early and disciplined investing may create a potentially more stable financial foundation. By becoming aware of behavioural patterns, investors can take more balanced decisions that align with their long-term objectives. 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)
PRNewswire Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], October 6: Baazar Style Retail Limited (BSRL), one of India's leading value fashion retailers, announced its business update for the second quarter of FY 2026. The company's performance reflects not just strong topline growth but also its steady march toward becoming a household name in affordable family fashion. 250 Stores: A constant expansion in Value Fashion Segment. BSRL reported revenue from operations of INR 5319 million, marking a year-on-year growth of 71 % for the quarter ending September 30, 2025. This momentum is backed by continued store expansion and an unwavering focus on delivering stylish yet affordable apparel to a rapidly expanding customer base. Key Operational Highlights - Q2 FY26 * Revenue from Operations: INR 5,319 million (vs INR 3,109 million in Q2 FY25)* Sales per Square Feet (PSF): INR 865/month (vs INR 708/month in Q2 FY25)* Total Store Count: 250 stores (up from 184 in Q2 FY25)* Total Rental Area: 22.96 lakh sq. ft. (vs 16.66 lakh sq. ft. in Q2 FY25)* Net Store Additions: 20 new stores opened, 2 closed* Same Store Sales Growth (SSSG): 22% A Quarter of Growth and Milestones The quarter was marked not only by consistent growth in core operations but also by BSRL's increasing presence in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, where demand for affordable fashion continues to rise. The company has crossed a milestone of 250 outlets across India, a reflection of Style Baazar's strong appeal among value-conscious families. Commenting on the performance, Mr. Shreyans Surana, Managing Director of Baazar Style Retail Limited, said: "We are delighted with the trajectory we are on. The 250-store mark, we see this not just as a milestone but as proof of the trust our customers have placed in us. Our mission remains the same -- to make quality fashion accessible to every household, while keeping pace with evolving consumer aspirations." With affordability and variety as its core value propositions, BSRL continues to consolidate its position as one of India's most resilient value fashion retailers. The company remains focused on enhancing store productivity, strengthening its retail network, and delivering on its promise of stylish, accessible fashion for families nationwide. About Baazar Style Retail Limited Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Kolkata, Baazar Style Retail Limited is a family-focused value fashion retailer offering a wide range of apparel and lifestyle products. The company is known for its combination of affordability, variety, and style, and has become a trusted destination for families across India. With its growing footprint, Style Baazar has crossed a 250-store milestone nationwide. To learn more, visit: www.stylebaazar.in For media inquiries, please contact: Mr. Abinash SinghCCO, CS & Head-Legal & Complianceabinash.singh@stylebaazar.com Cell No.: +91 98832 72045 Kaushiki ChattopadhyayManager - Corporate Communicationskaushiki.c@stylebaazar.com Cell No.: +91- 8334830853 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2726453/BSRL_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
PNN Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 6: KISNA Diamond & Gold Jewellery, the flagship brand of the Hari Krishna Group, celebrated an iconic achievement with the successful launch of its 100th Exclusive Showroom across India. The grand celebration was held at the prestigious Jio Conventional Center, BKC, Bandra, marking a major milestone in the brand's rapid expansion and commitment to making diamond and gold jewellery accessible nationwide. The celebration was graced by an array of esteemed dignitaries, including Mr. Paul Rowley, Executive Vice President, De Beers Group, Mr. Govindbhai Dholakiya, Member of Rajya Sabha and Chairman of Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt Ltd., Mr. Chandubhai Virani, Chairman and Managing Director of Balaji Waffers, Mr. Girish Agarwal, Director, Dainik Bhaskar Group, Mr. Ajay Kumar Tomar, Former Surat Police Commissioner, Padma Shri Mr. Savji Dholakia, Founder & Chairman, Hari Krishna Group, Mr. Ghanshyam Dholakia, Founder & Managing Director, Hari Krishna Group, Mr. Parag Shah, CEO, KISNA Diamond & Gold Jewellery along with Mr. Tulsi Dholakia and Mr. Himmat Dholakia, Founders of the Hari Krishna Group. The ceremony featured the felicitation of franchise partners with special 'Century Club' recognition, and the launch of KISNA's omnichannel platform, marking a new phase of seamless retail integration. The event also witnessed the unveiling of KISNA's latest Trend Book, offering a comprehensive look into Indian and global jewellery trends for 2025-2026. The brand also launched two exquisite diamond jewellery collections -- House of 9 in 9kt and House of 24 in 24kt, marking a blend of innovation and elegance in design. Speaking on the momentous occasion, Mr. Ghanshyam Dholakia, Founder & Managing Director, Hari Krishna Group, said, "Reaching 100 exclusive showrooms is more than a numerical milestone; it is a true testament to the trust our customers and partners place in KISNA. This achievement reinforces our vision of 'Har Ghar KISNA'--making diamond jewellery accessible to every Indian woman. As we celebrate a century of sparkle, we are now ready to step into a new era of growth and possibilities." Mr. Parag Shah, CEO, KISNA Diamond & Gold Jewellery: "Reaching 100 exclusive showrooms is a landmark moment for KISNA. This milestone reflects our relentless focus on delivering exceptional jewellery experiences and our commitment to innovation, design, and customer delight. Each showroom is not just a store, but a celebration of craftsmanship and the trust our customers place in us. This is only the beginning of a much larger journey for KISNA." In line with its commitment to giving back to society, KISNA organizes blood donation camps in local communities where its exclusive showrooms are located, and also carries out food distribution drives for the underprivileged and tree plantation with every purchase made at the store by its valued consumers. (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.)
The India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 aims to project India as a global hub for telecom innovation while strengthening its domestic self-reliance, said Ramakrishna P, CEO of India Mobile Congress. He emphasised that the event will reflect India's growing role in shaping global technology trends and will showcase how indigenous platforms are catering to both national and international needs. "This year's IMC will hold the vision of the Honourable Prime Minister to the level where the international outlook on India is uplifted to the best. We are pretty sure this IMC will show the way how the Indian ecosystem is developing for global needs," Ramakrishna said. Highlighting the theme of Atma Nirbharta (self-reliance), he added that while it is essential to develop India's own technology platforms, the country must also focus on positioning itself globally as a leading telecom hub. "Atma Nirbharta, of course, our Indian needs, self-indigenous platforms are necessary but of course, also we have to position globally as a telecom hub for the global needs. And with that focus, we have curated an extensive expo," he stated. Ramakrishna mentioned that significant efforts have gone into scaling up the event to align with the Prime Minister's vision. "One more exciting year of IMC, and in this year of 2025, we are hoping this will be one of the best. We are honoured to have the Honourable Prime Minister inaugurate this programme on the 8th," he said. The CEO added that IMC 2025 will feature a range of advanced use cases in 5G, AI, and 6G, many of which will demonstrate how technology can benefit even the remotest parts of India. "You will be seeing enormous use cases in 5G, in AI particularly, some visual or some advanced 6G demonstrations. A lot of use cases probably going up to the grassroot level of the Indian villages will be showcased here," he said. He further urged exhibitors and visitors to experience how technology is transforming services and improving citizens' lives. "We instruct most of the audience and exhibitors to experience how technology is shaping up, how it is taking the needs of society and will be valued for the betterment of services," Ramakrishna said. Concluding, he noted that the IMC is increasingly being seen as an essential platform for the Global South. (ANI)
VMPL New Delhi [India], October 6: FICCI is organizing the 19th edition of its annual healthcare conference 'FICCI HEAL 2025', scheduled on 8-9 October 2025 at FICCI, New Delhi. The two-day event, supported by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) and NITI Aayog, will be addressed by Mr J P Nadda, Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India. Prof (Dr) V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog will share his vision on 'Revolutionizing Care through AI'. Mr Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare and Ayush, Govt of India is slated to address as the Chief Guest for 'FICCI Healthcare Excellence Awards 2025' on 8th October along with Mr CK Mishra, Former Secretary to Government of India. The theme of this year is 'Care@25 - Defining Moments in Healthcare', which commemorates 25 years of India's healthcare transformation while envisioning the roadmap for the next 25. The two-day conference will serve as a platform to reflect on key policy milestones, institutional reforms, and innovations that have shaped the sector, while identifying pathways to build a healthcare system that is future-ready, inclusive, and globally benchmarked. Dr Harsh Mahajan, Chair, FICCI Health Services Committee and Founder & Chairman, Mahajan Imaging & Labs, said, "In the past 25 years, India has moved from scarcity to scale in healthcare. Programs such as the National Health Mission, Ayushman Bharat, and the rollout of Health and Wellness Centres have expanded access like never before, while indigenous manufacturing and PLI initiatives have strengthened self-reliance. FICCI HEAL 2025 is an occasion to reflect on these defining moments and to deliberate on how we can build the next 25 years around innovation, equity, and global leadership." Mr Varun Khanna, Chair of FICCI HEAL 2025; Co-Chair, FICCI Health Services Committee and Group Managing Director, Quality Care India Limited (Care, KIMS & Evercare), said, "India's healthcare ecosystem stands at an inflection point. The future lies in accountable, patient-centric care powered by outcome-based frameworks that balance efficiency with quality. Robust digital systems and evidence-driven decisions will be key enablers. At HEAL 2025, discussions will focus on building a resilient, future-ready healthcare architecture aligned with the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat'- delivering not just more care, but better care, accessible to all." Dr Anupam Sibal, Co-Chair, FICCI Health Services Committee and Group Medical Director, Apollo Hospitals Group, noted, "Over the past 25 years, India's healthcare sector has witnessed remarkable expansion -- reaching nearly US$ 372 billion in FY 2023 and projected to cross US$ 638 billion by 2025. The challenge now is to ensure this growth translates into greater efficiency and better outcomes. At HEAL 2025, the spotlight must be on how technology, AI, and digital innovation can drive smarter delivery models, while also expanding the workforce beyond the current 6 million to meet the demands of the future." The conference will start with the plenary - India's Healthcare Odyssey: Legacy, Leadership & the Road to Viksit Bharat, bringing together industry Legends such as Dr Prathap C Reddy, Brig (Hony) Dr Arvind Lal, Dr Azad Moopen, Prof (Dr) SK Sarin, Dr M I Sahadulla, and Dr Narottam Puri. Sessions during the day will highlight reflections on the journey from the pioneers in Indian healthcare- the Torchbearers like Dr Sangita Reddy and Mr Dilip Jose, and the Visionaries of tomorrow like Mr Gautam Khanna and Dr Upasana Arora, who will share perspectives on growth, access, partnerships & equity, youth-led disruption, and deep tech innovations that will define healthcare in 2047. The event will also feature global experts- Mr Dan Vahdat, Founder and CEO, Huma Therapeutics and Ms Rajji Mehdwan, Managing Director & CEO- India & Neighbouring Markets, Roche Pharma, who will share their insights on Digital Health Learnings and Equitable Access to Medicines, respectively. Experts from BRICS nations will share their perspectives on Tackling NCDs in BRICS Economies through Equity and Innovation. The FICCI HEAL Conference will have the following Thematic Sessions: - True Accountable Care- Maximising Healthcare Delivery Impact, Efficiently - From Silver to Strength: Charting India's Path to Active and Healthy Ageing - Transforming Primary Healthcare for Bharat through Bold Best and Collaborations - Revolutionising Care through AI - Therapeutics through Technology - Hospital of the Future- Delivery Mechanisms for next 25 yrs Key Speakers slated to address include: - Dr (Prof) D S Rana, Chairman (Board of Trustees), Sir Ganga Ram Hospital - Dr Raajiv Singhal, Co-Chair, FICCI Medical Value Travel Committee and Founding Member, Managing Director and Group CEO, Marengo Asia Hospitals - Dr Dharminder Nagar, Managing Director, Paras Health - Ms Alisha Moopen, Managing Director and Group CEO, Aster DM Healthcare, GCC; Deputy Managing Director, Aster DM Healthcare, India - Ms Navika Kumar, Group Editor-in-Chief, Times Now & Times Now Navbharat - Mr Shekhar Gupta, Editor-in-Chief and Chairman, ThePrint - Dr Arun Agarwal, Chair- FICCI Task Force on Active & Healthy Ageing; Former Dean- MAMC, Former-Additional DGHS, GoI; Medical Advisor- Innovation, Education & Clinical Excellence, Apollo Hospitals Group - Dr Y P Bhatia, Chairman & Managing Director, Astron Group - Dr Shuchin Bajaj, Founder Director, Ujala Cygnus Healthcare Services - Dr Sanjeev Singh, Medical Director, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre (AIMSRC), Faridabad & Chief Medical Superintendent, AIMSRC Kochi - Dr Girdhar Gyani, Director General, Association of Healthcare Providers (India) - Mr Chakravarthy T Kannan, Secretary General, Quality Council of India (QCI) - Dr Bishnu Panigrahi, Group Head - Medical Strategy and Operations, Fortis Healthcare - Dr Uthappa P M, Group Medical Director, Narayana Health - Mr Himanshu Baid, Managing Director, Poly Medicure (Polymed) - Mr Atul Grover, Managing Director- India & South Asia, BD - Ms Malti Sachdev, Senior Vice President and Head Varian, India - Mr Bharath Sesha, Managing Director, Philips India - Dr Sudhir Srivastava, Founder, Chairman and CEO, SS Innovations - Dr Sameer Gupta, Senior Interventional Cardiologist, MD - Aurum Senior & Assisted Living and Director- Metro Group of Hospitals - Ms Harsimran Kaur, Vice President & Head of Strategy and Innovation, DC, Siemens Healthineers - Mr Shankar Seshadri, Vice President- Indian Subcontinent, Elekta - Mr Abhilash Sarangi, Director, Marketing, Intuitive India - Ms Hema Jagota, Country Director, Clinical Solutions, Elsevier - Mr Vipul Jain, CEO, CK Birla Hospitals - Pawan Kumar, Director and CEO, Livasa Hospitals - Dr Raajeev Virmani, Clinical Head- Ultrasound, Wipro GE HealthCare - Mr Karthik Narayanaswamy, Partner and Head of India, Novo Holdings - Mr Jagjit Singh, Chief Operating Officer, Care24 - Dr Ravi Gaur, Founder, DRG Path Labs and Chairman- Medical Advisory Committee, Oncquest Labs Ltd. - Mr Kabir Mahajan, Chief Operating Officer, Mahajan Imaging & Labs - Dr Suneela Garg, Professor Emeritus, National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) and Former Head, Dept. of Community Medicine, MAMC - Dr Monika Puri, Director- Market Access & Policy, Roche - Mr Jaydeep Biswas, Chair-Policy, Advocacy & Partnerships, UNFPA India - Dr Prasun Chatterjee, Chief-Geriatric Medicine & Longevity Science, Artemis Hospital and TAG Member for the Decade of Healthy Ageing, WHO (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.)
PNN Dubai [UAE], October 6: The UAE, i.e United Arab Emirates, has announced a stop on tourist and work visas for citizens from nine countries. This policy has gained significant attention as travelers and expatriates are closely watching the UAE visa ban updates. For those who are not affected, particularly Indian travelers, applying for a Dubai visa online remains an easy process with Akbar Travels. According to official reports, this move comes in response to rising security concerns and reviews of migration policies. Although the suspension is temporary, it has caused uncertainty for many, especially job seekers and families planning vacations in the Emirates. The UAE Banned Countries ListIn its latest policy move, the UAE has suspended tourist and working visas for nine countries, which include: 1. Nigeria 2. Ghana 3. Sierra Leone 4. Sudan 5. Cameroon 6. Liberia 7. Republic of Benin 8. Congo 9. Burundi The UAE visa ban update today 2025 limits new applications for both tourist and employment visas from these countries. Officials emphasize that this action is temporary and related to security checks, not a permanent blacklist. The Dubai visa ban country list does not affect India, and Dubai continues to remain one of the top preferred destinations for Indians. Travelers from unaffected countries can still plan their trips with ease by booking cheap flights to Dubai from India. Why Has the UAE Suspended Visas?While this decision affects thousands from the nine nations, the UAE has made clear that it is a precautionary measure. It reflects the country's effort to maintain strict border controls and limit fraudulent applications. The government periodically implements such measures. This time, the restrictions are imposed to mitigate migration flows with national security needs. The fact that the UAE suspends tourist and work visa applications only for specific countries indicates that applicants from other nationalities are still welcome. During these uncertain times, having a trustworthy travel partner like Akbar Travels can help, as they have a trusted name for international travel for over 45 years, since 1978. The company offers competitive visa rates for 180+ countries and has a 99.8% visa success rate. It makes the process easier for both first-time applicants and frequent flyers. Their Dubai tourist, visit, and business visa services complete all checkpoints and help travelers avoid unexpected obstacles. Travel Issues and Planning AheadDubai continues to be one of the easiest destinations for Indian citizens, thanks to the streamlined process for obtaining a Dubai visa for Indians. Visitors can expect a wide range of accommodation options, from affordable apartments to the best hotels in Dubai that fit every preference. What sets Akbar Travels apart is its ability to mix convenience with speed. With Visa services for 180+ countries and 100% online application system, travelers receive their Dubai eVisa directly by email, which eliminates paperwork or long lines. For those on tight schedules, the express visa service delivers a Dubai visa in just one day, allowing last-minute travel plans. The UAE can change its policies suddenly, which is why you should be prepared by taking travel insurance with top coverage, which makes sure that delays, medical emergencies, or any cancellations do not turn a holiday into a financial nightmare. Those who intend to travel at the end of this year or at the start of 2026 should keep up with the most recent announcements of the UAE visa ban 2026, as there may be sudden changes in the policy. Effect on Employment Professionals who are on the lookout for jobs in the fields of finance, IT, healthcare, and construction have always had the United Arab Emirates as their first option. Considering the present suspension of tourist and working visas for nine countries, the UAE job market is highly affected. Until more clarity and precise rules are set, employers of UAE are also majorly going to change their hiring practices. For professionals from India and its neighbouring countries, the visa process remains the same as before. The UAE has a constant demand for skilled workers is expected to stay steady. FAQsWhich countries are banned from UAE visa?As of 2025, the suspension of tourist and working visas for nine countries affects Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Cameroon, Liberia, the Republic of Benin, Congo, and Burundi. Which countries are blacklisted by the UAE?Currently, no country has been permanently blacklisted. The suspension is temporary and may be reviewed periodically. Why is the UAE rejecting visas?.The UAE cited reasons related to security and migration control. Such measures are commonly reviewed and updated based on policy needs. Which country is closed to the UAE?No country is "closed" to the UAE. However, citizens from the nine listed countries cannot apply for tourist or work visas at this time. What is the new visa rule in the UAE?The new visa rule in the UAE involves a temporary stop on tourist and work visa for nine specific nations as mentioned above, but depending on the individual criteria, other visa categories may still be accessible. Final ThoughtsThe UAE visa ban on 9 countries has caused uncertainty and restlessness for workers and tourists of those impacted countries. Still majority of tourists from all over the world can visit the UAE. With multiple options for vacation, work, and family travel, applying for a UAE Dubai visa online is still simple for Indians. Travellers get well-curated Dubai tour packages with Akbar Travels. Also, to guarantee a smooth and stress-free trip, it's critical to stay updated on the official announcements about UAE visa information. Notice: UAE Visa policies are subject to sudden changes. For the most recent and accurate information, travellers should check the official UAE immigration portals or approved travel partners. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
PNN New Delhi [India], October 6: Actress and entrepreneur Mouni Roy has been named brand ambassador for Ivana Jewels, a lab-grown diamond jewellery brand. To mark the partnership, Ivana has released its first television commercial with the campaign line "See it. Wear it. Believe it," focusing on style, confidence, and self-expression. The film avoids technical claims around lab-grown diamonds and instead highlights aspects like design, individuality, and the personal joy of jewellery. Shot in a behind-the-scenes format, it shows Mouni Roy rejecting scripted lines and urging viewers to "see for yourself," emphasising Ivana's design approach. Ayushi Jindal, co-founder of Ivana Jewels, said: "MouniRoy represents the modern woman who values authenticity and individuality, which are also the values at the heart of Ivana Jewels. With this campaign, we want to focus on what matters to customers: jewellery that feels personal and is easy to wear. Mouni's journey from television to films reflects the confidence and style our brand stands for, making her the right choice as we expand across India." The association is aimed at younger jewellery buyers who prioritise individuality over tradition. With Mouni as the face of the campaign, Ivana hopes to balance glamour with authenticity and connect with both aspirational and everyday consumers. Ivana Jewels, based in Surat, is expanding its presence across India with a wider product range and more personalised services. The brand is targeting modern consumers adopting lab-grown diamonds as a sustainable, design-driven choice. (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.)
In a major decision, US pharma giant Eli Lilly and Company (India) has said that it plans to invest more than USD1 billion over the next several years into new contract manufacturing in India, expanding patients' access to innovative medicines around the world. This strategic investment will further strengthen manufacturing and supply capabilities to support Lilly's evolving portfolio. In addition, the company will establish a new Manufacturing and Quality presence in Hyderabad. The move is expected to create thousands of job opportunities for the state's youth and further strengthen Hyderabad's position as a global life sciences and pharmaceutical hub. The announcement came after a delegation from Eli Lilly met Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu at the Integrated Command Control Centre on Monday. This latest investment, one of the largest in recent years, comes just months after the inauguration of Eli Lilly's Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Hyderabad on August 4. The new facilities will expand the company's manufacturing capacity and global supply operations, focusing on medicines to treat diabetes, obesity, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and autoimmune conditions. "Telangana means business. Hyderabad is a global city. Our government will support and welcome all industries looking to invest here," said Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, reaffirming the state's commitment to fostering a conducive environment for global investors. The Chief Minister thanked the Eli Lilly leadership for choosing Telangana and assured full government support for future expansions. He also recalled Hyderabad's legacy as a pharma hub since Indira Gandhi established IDPL in 1965, which laid the foundation for the state's thriving pharmaceutical ecosystem. "Indira Gandhi's initiative in 1965 is the reason why Hyderabad stands as a hub of bulk drug manufacturing. Hyderabad was also at the epicentre of the Covid vaccine manufacturing at the global stage." noted chief minister. Highlighting Telangana's vision to become a knowledge hub, the Chief Minister said an Advanced Technology Centre (ATC) is being set up at Genome Valley to offer technical support to companies. He also mentioned that leading pharma industrialists have been inducted into the Board of Governors of the upcoming Young India Skills University, chaired by industrialist Anand Mahindra. Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu said Eli Lilly's decision to expand in Hyderabad underlines the state's dynamic industrial landscape and growing influence in advanced healthcare manufacturing. Eli Lilly's Executive Vice President and President of Lilly International, Patrik Jonsson, said the USD1 billion investment reflects the company's confidence in India's capabilities within its global network. Recruitment for the Hyderabad facility is expected to begin immediately, with openings across engineering, chemistry, analytical sciences, quality assurance, and management roles.(ANI)
Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal, on Monday co-chaired the India-Qatar Ministerial Joint Commission on Economic and Commercial Cooperation with H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Qatar. In a post on social media platform X, the Minister added, "Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the India-Qatar partnership by building on our strong bilateral trade. We also agreed to further intensify cooperation to achieve the trade and investment goals set by our leadership during the visit of His Highness the Amir of Qatar to India in February this year" On his first visit to Qatar, Goyal is also accompanied by senior officials from different Ministries. The two sides are expected to hold wide-ranging discussions reviewing bilateral trade performance, addressing existing trade barriers and non-tariff issues, and exploring avenues to enhance trade and investment flows. According to an official release, the talks are likely to include deliberations on the proposed India-Qatar FTA, with the way forward on finalization of the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) which will further strengthen economic cooperation between both countries. In an another development, during his visit, LuLu Hypermarket Qatar made a strategic move to enhance cross-border digital payments, becoming the first major retail chain in the country to deploy Unified Payments Interface (UPI) acceptance across its stores. The inaugural transaction was conducted at LuLu Hypermarket, Pearl Qatar, during the official visit of India's Union Minister Goyal, in the presence of QNB and NPCI officials. Qatar National Bank (QNB) has enabled QR code-based UPI payments at point-of-sale (POS) terminals for its merchant clients in partnership with NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL). This initiative is powered by NETSTARS' payment solution, ensuring secure and seamless transaction processing. With UPI now accepted across LuLu outlets in Qatar, Indian visitors can enjoy familiar, convenient digital payments, reducing the need to carry cash or manage currency exchange. This integration extends to major tourist destinations, facilitating real-time payments and enhancing the travel experience for India's diaspora and visitors. The rollout of UPI acceptance in Qatar strengthens the global reach and interoperability of India's payment ecosystem. Local merchants, including LuLu stores, stand to benefit from increased transaction volumes as the retail and tourism sectors adapt to growing demand for cashless, real-time payments. The platform is expected to support merchants in scaling operations while delivering convenience to customers. "Looking at the current geopolitical and economic situation of the world, the relationship between Qatar and India is very special. Qatar has created world-class infrastructure -- it has a world-class airport and a free market -- and Indian companies are also welcomed here. India is the fastest-growing economy in the world, and there is great synergy between India and Qatar. This is a traditional, transactional business relationship, and both countries want to take it forward," said Mohamed Altaf, (Group Director, Global Operations & CSO, Lulu Retail. Uttam Singhal, MD, TWI Group of Companies, said, "There are a few selected businessmen here from Qatar, and the Indian delegation is also carefully chosen. They are looking to invest in India. They want to invest in technology and various businesses, and this presents a good opportunity for everyone." A release added that QNB's efforts to implement UPI acceptance across its merchant network underscore its commitment to innovation in the payment landscape. By partnering with NPCI International and leveraging NETSTARS' technology, QNB is helping position Qatar as a pioneer in cross-border digital payment adoption. LuLu Hypermarket Qatar invites customers to take advantage of this new payment option during their next shopping visit. (ANI)
India and Qatar are on track to finalise a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by mid-2026, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced Monday during a business delegation visit aimed at expanding bilateral trade and investment. "I would think that sometime by the middle of next year, or third quarter of next year, we will be able to finalise an FTA, if not earlier," Goyal told reporters in Doha. Qatar ranks among India's key trading partners within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), with bilateral trade totalling over USD 14.15 billion in 2024-25. The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. India has already secured a trade pact with the UAE and is expected to sign a similar agreement with Oman in the near future. Minister Goyal held discussions with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, on launching FTA negotiations. Both ministers agreed to fast-track the process to support their ambitious goal of doubling bilateral trade. "We will fast-track it so that trade and business can double by 2030 from USD 14 billion today to USD 30 billion," Goyal said. Regarding Qatar's USD 10 billion investment commitment to India, Goyal reported significant progress. Qatar has already invested between USD 4-5 billion in India, with an additional USD 1-1.5 billion in the pipeline nearing finalisation. "They are looking at good promoters and good projects in India, and I am hopeful that our associations like CII and FICCI will certainly provide very good opportunities for investment in manufacturing and services sectors like banking, insurance, AI, data centres, and real estate," the minister said. He expressed confidence that Qatar's investments could exceed the USD 10 billion target in the coming years. India faces a substantial trade deficit with Qatar. In the last fiscal year, India's exports to Qatar totalled USD 1.68 billion, while imports surged to USD 12.46 billion, creating a deficit of USD 10.78 billion. Indian exports to Qatar in 2024-25 included iron and steel products, rice, gold and precious metal jewellery, processed minerals, motor vehicles, petroleum products, electrical machinery, electronics, buffalo meat, and sugar. From April 2000 to June 2025, India received USD 1.53 billion in foreign direct investment from Qatar. Co-chairing a meeting with business leaders from both nations, Goyal identified numerous opportunities for enhanced cooperation in agriculture, food products, non-conventional and renewable energy, data centres, tourism, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and artificial intelligence. When asked whether increasing exports to Qatar could help offset high US tariffs on Indian goods, Goyal emphasised the strategic importance of the relationship. "Qatar is India's trusted friend and trading partner. We want to strengthen our trade and mutual relations with Qatar, and we want to strengthen our relations with other countries as well," he said. (ANI)
Celebrated filmmaker Martin Scorsese has shared a surprising chapter from his teenage years when he once wanted to become a priest, before life took a different turn. In Rebecca Miller's new Apple TV+ docuseries Mr. Scorsese, which premiered at the New York Film Festival over the weekend, the director opened up about his early years in a religious environment and his brief time studying for the priesthood. Scorsese recalled that he was deeply moved when he attended Catholic Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City at the age of seven. The experience left such an impression that he later joined a preparatory seminary to study religion. "There was a preparatory seminary, and that was on 85th Street somewhere. I did okay for the first few months, but something happened," Scorsese shares in the new series. "I began to realize the world is changing. It was early rock and roll and the old world was dying out. I became aware of life around me. Falling in love or being attracted to girls; not that you're acting out on it, but there were these feelings, and I suddenly realized it's much more complicated than this. You can't shut yourself off." The Killers of the Flower Moon director added that while the priesthood was about serving others, he eventually realized that it wasn't his true calling. "The idea of priesthood, to devote yourself to others, really, that's what it's about," he added in the documentary. "I realized I don't belong there. And I tried to stay but they got my father in there and they told him, 'Get him out of here.' Because I behaved badly." Mr. Scorsese, a five-part documentary, offers an intimate look at the legendary director's life and career. It includes interviews with Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Daniel Day-Lewis, Mick Jagger, Steven Spielberg, Sharon Stone, Jodie Foster, Margot Robbie, and others who have worked with him over the years. The series will begin streaming on Apple TV+ on October 17. (ANI)
Filmmaker Rob Reiner, who is known for directing the romantic comedy 'The Sure Thing', coming-of-age drama 'Stand by Me', fantasy adventure 'The Princess Bride', and romantic comedy 'When Harry Met Sally...' recalled why it became awkward for him to cast his mother in a key scene in his 1989 classic, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Estelle Reiner famously delivered one of the greatest lines in movie history in her son's 1989 classic. 'When Harry Met Sally...' is a 1989 romantic comedy film directed by Rob Reiner and written by Nora Ephron. Starring Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, and Bruno Kirby. He appeared on CBS' 60 Minutes, where he opened up about his newly released sequel, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, as well as the romantic comedy starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal. The movie's titular characters, Crystal and Ryan, had a pivotal scene in which Sally and Harry are eating lunch in a busy deli. During their talk, Sally tries to persuade a sceptical Harry that at least one of his past sexual partners has more than likely faked orgasm with him. Other diners gaze at Sally as she pretends to be someone else, loudly banging on her table. The scene ends with a line uttered by Estelle Reiner, "I'll have what she's having," according to The Hollywood Reporter. But things got really awkward for Reiner when he had to step in and show Ryan how he wanted her to act out the moment. "First couple of times, she didn't do it full out," he said. "And finally, I sat across from Billy. And I acted it for her. ... And I'm pounding the table, 'Yes! Yes! Yes!' And I'm realising I'm having an orgasm in front of my mother, you know? There's my mother over there," according to The Hollywood Reporter. The movie concludes with longtime friends Harry and Sally getting married and discussing their wedding reception. Reiner actually changed the ending to a happy one after he met his now-wife Michele, who now serves as a producer on his films, including Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Reiner, who also reprises his role in that sequel as the director of a documentary about a hapless rock band, says he realises there was a "high bar" given the reviews on the cult classic original, which was released 41 years ago. "Are we crazy to do another one?" he said. "It's crazy. The bar is just way too high," as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter. (ANI)
It's been 30 years since Bobby Deol first charmed fans with his debut film 'Barsaat' alongside Twinkle Khanna in 1995. Three decades later, the actor is still going strong, and he believes he's "just getting started." On Monday, Bobby took to his Instagram account to celebrate the special day by sharing a video that featured moments from his journey in Hindi cinema, from his early hits to his recent comeback. Along with the video, the actor also added a message thanking fans for their love. "30 years of many emotions on and off screen... all made worthwhile by your love. That fire still burns, and I'm just getting started!" he wrote. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPdQxAIDW_Q/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== From a romantic hero in the '90s to a powerful performer today, Bobby Deol's journey is nothing less than an inspiration. The actor who began his career with 'Barsaat,' went on to deliver hits like 'Gupt: The Hidden Truth,' 'Soldier,' 'Kareeb,' 'Badal,' 'Bichhoo,' 'Ajnabee,' and 'Humraaz'. Though he faced a career slump for some years, he found his footing again with films like 'Apne,' 'Yamla Pagla Deewana,' and 'Housefull 4.' However, it was 2023, when Bobby came back into the spotlight when he made a remarkable comeback with 'Animal' alongside Ranbir Kapoor. Soon after, the actor was seen giving back-to-back powerful performances in 'Aashram,' 'Animal,' and now in 'The Ba***ds of Bollywood, which hit Netflix recently. Speaking to ANI earlier, Bobby opened up about how this second innings in his career feels and mentioned that for an actor, it's always a journey "full of struggles," but they just have to keep working hard. "I just feel very blessed. I feel like I'm living a dream. There are so many actors out there who are struggling, and for an actor, it's always going to be a journey full of struggles. You have to keep working hard, never lose your self-belief, be persistent, and always manifest positivity in your life because you might not get everything, but you will reach somewhere in life that will give you a certain level of satisfaction," Bobby shared. Bobby also spoke about how his fans have always supported him through thick and thin and shared how one shouldn't just "cry about luck." "So I think that's the way I look at life nowadays. And as I said, I've had fans all my life. My fans have always stood by me, supported my father, my brother, me, and my whole family. And I am, you know, what do I say? I am so grateful for their blessings and for their belief in me. So I guess they were all waiting for me to come back with more sincerity and more self-belief. So that's what I'm doing right now. And that's how things change in life, I think," Bobby told ANI. Bobby Deol hasn't just won over his Hindi-speaking fans but also made a mark in other languages. Earlier this year, he took a leap into Telugu cinema with 'Daaku Maharaj,' where he starred alongside Nandamuri Balakrishna, Urvashi Rautela, and Pragya Jaiswal. The film was directed by Bobby Kolli. And just recently, Bobby's film 'Bandar' (or Monkey in a Cage) had the honor of being showcased at the 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in the Special Presentations section. (ANI)
Casually dressed in a black T-shirt and trousers, Salman waved at paps after exiting the hospital premises.

Ever since the arrival of the baby, Salman's mother, Salma, brother Sohail, sisters Alvira and Arpita, and Arbaaz's son Arhaan Khan were spotted visiting the hospital to keep a check on Sshura and her child.

If reports are to be believed, Sshura and Arbaaz were blessed with baby girl on October 5.

Actor and producer Arbaaz Khan married makeup artist Sshura Khan on December 24, 2023. The couple had been dating for over a year before getting married.

Arbaaz was previously married to Malaika Arora. The two tied the knot in 1998 and welcomed their son Arhaan in 2002. After nearly two decades of marriage, they filed for divorce in 2017. (ANI)
Following a clash between two communities during Durga Puja idol immersion, tensions escalated on Sunday when rioters set fire to eight to ten locations on Sunday. Assistant Fire Officer Sanjeeb Kumar Behera reported that rioters were throwing stones. However, police have been deployed to manage the situation. "We received information that near the Gouri Shankar Park, rioters have set fire at eight to ten places. We have extinguished the fire. The rioters are pelting stones at us. Police have been deployed to control the situation," Behera told ANI. Meanwhile, the Odisha government has implemented a 24-hour suspension of internet services from Sunday. Additionally, the use of social media has also been prohibited in the area. According to a Government of Odisha circular, a prohibition has been imposed on the use and access of social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, and X, until 7 PM on Monday in the Cuttack Municipal Corporation, Cuttack Development Authority (CDA), and the 42 Mauza Region. These orders have been issued under Section S(2) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, and Rule 2(1) of the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency/Public Safety) Rules, 2017. Former Odisha Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik appealed to people to maintain peace and harmony in the city. He also expressed deep concern over the law and order situation in the city. Earlier, a heavy police force was deployed after a clash erupted during Durga Puja immersion in Cuttack. Additional Police Commissioner Narsingh Bholo stated that police personnel were deployed on the rooftops of buildings on both sides of the route. "We are providing complete police protection. Police have also been deployed on the rooftops of buildings on both sides of the route. We are fully confident and hopeful that it will reach the Debigada without any problems," said Bholo. (ANI)
Relatives of patients admitted to the ICU recounted harrowing experiences as smoke engulfed the ward, exposing critical lapses in safety measures. Puran Singh, a relative of a patient, said, "When there was a spark, there was a cylinder beside it. The smoke spread throughout the ICU, causing everyone to flee in panic. Some managed to rescue their own patients, but mine was left alone in the room. As the gas spread further, they shut the gates." Narendra Singh, another relative, was initially unaware of the fire. "There was a fire in the ICU, and I didn''t even know. I had come downstairs to have dinner at the time. There wasn''t even any equipment to douse the fire--no facilities were available. My mother was admitted there," he said. Om Prakash, whose 25-year-old maternal aunt''s son was admitted, recounted the tragedy: "Smoke started spreading around 11:20 PM, and I warned the doctors that it could cause discomfort to patients. By the time the smoke intensified, the doctors and compounders had already fled. Only 4 to 5 patients were evacuated. Tragically, my maternal aunt''s son lost his life due to the incident. He was about to recover and was scheduled to be discharged in two-three days." Jogendra Singh, another relative, expressed frustration over the staff''s negligence. "My mother was admitted to the ICU. When the spark occurred, I alerted the doctors four to five times that it was coming from there, but they dismissed it as normal. Suddenly, smoke engulfed the area, and all the staff ran out, leaving no one to help or save my mother. I was outside when I asked the police, and they said everyone had been evacuated. However, my mother and brother were still trapped inside the hospital. Somehow, I managed to rescue my brother, but he is now in critical condition," he said. Ranjit Singh Rathore, whose brother was admitted, received a distressing call at 11:30 PM. "I had just arrived this evening. I rushed to the hospital, but initially, they wouldn''t let me inside. After some time, I managed to enter. When I went in, I found my brother dead," he said. Meanwhile, late at night, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital following the fire outbreak in one of its Intensive Care Units. (ANI)
During the Durga Puja festivities, local authorities received multiple complaints related to assault and teasing. Acting promptly, the police arrested all the accused involved in these incidents. On Sunday, the arrested individuals were produced in court, with some placed under police remand and others under judicial remand. Officials confirmed that all offenders reported to them have been apprehended and handed over to the judicial system for further proceedings. Officer-in-Charge Rana Chatterjee confirmed that all the accused involved in these complaints have been apprehended. "During Durga Puja, we received some complaints regarding assault and teasing. We have arrested all the accused involved in these complaints. Today, we are producing all of them in court, some under police remand and others under judicial remand. All the offenders reported to us have been apprehended and sent to court," said Rana Chatterjee on Sunday. Meanwhile, for the first time in Agartala, the Ravana Dahan ceremony was held on October 2 at BT College ground to mark Vijaya Dashami, drawing a large crowd. Chief Minister Manik Saha inaugurated and led the symbolic burning of Ravana, celebrating Lord Rama's victory over evil. A large number of people gathered to witness the symbolic burning of Ravana, which was inaugurated and led by the Chief Minister Manik Saha. The festival, celebrated across India under different names such as Dussehra or Dashahara, marks the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana and the triumph of good over evil. BJP leader Papia Datta expressed joy at the event, noting its observance in Belonia and Shantir Bazar previously and its debut in Agartala The Mayor and several other dignitaries were present at the event. On the occasion, BJP leader Papia Datta said, "I extend my greetings and best wishes to everyone. For the first time in Agartala, the Ravana Dahan ceremony was organised today at the BT College ground. We are very happy that this symbolic burning of Ravana was inaugurated and carried out by our Hon'ble Chief Minister. As we all know, on this day, Lord Rama defeated Ravana and returned to Ayodhya with Goddess Sita. To commemorate that victory of good over evil, this festival is celebrated across India--from Kashmir to Kanyakumari--under different names such as Dussehra or Dashahara. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condoled the loss of lives due to a fire tragedy at Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan and wished for the recovery of the injured. "The loss of lives due to a fire tragedy at a hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan, is deeply saddening. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon", PM Modi said, according to a post by the Prime Minister's Office on X. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has assured that the injured will be getting proper treatment and care. Sharing an X post after he visits the SMS Hospital in Jaipur, he said that the situation is being continuously monitored. He wrote, "The incident of a fire breaking out at the trauma centre of Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur is extremely unfortunate." "Upon reaching the hospital, I gathered information from the doctors and officials and issued instructions to ensure swift relief efforts. Every possible step is being taken for the safety of patients, their treatment, and the care of those affected, and the situation is being continuously monitored," the Chief Minister added. Mourning the demise of the six people killed in the tragic incident, CM Sharma said that the State government stands with the affected families to provide them with every possible assistance. "May Lord Shri Ram grant place at His divine feet to the departed souls. The state government stands with the affected families and is committed to providing them every possible assistance," the X post read. Deputy CM Prem Chand Bairwa, who accompanied the Chief Minister in his visit to the hospital, expressed condolences to the bereaved families and said that he reviewed the relief and rescue operations with the hospital administration and met with the patients admitted there. In an X post, Bairwa wrote, "The incident of a fire breaking out late tonight at the trauma centre of Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur is extremely heartbreaking. As soon as I received information about the incident, I reached the spot along with Honourable Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma Ji, assessed the situation, reviewed the relief and rescue operations with the hospital administration and doctors, and met with the patients admitted in the hospital and their families to inquire about their well-being." As per the police officials, the incident, attributed to a short circuit, has resulted in the unfortunate loss of six lives. The Rajasthan government has constituted a six-member committee to investigate the incident. (ANI)
Thane rural police in Bhiwandi have booked three persons, including one American national, for practising banned religious activities and illegal conversion, police said.

Thane Rural police stated that Sainath Sarape, James Watson and Manoj Kolha are booked under Various sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (299,302, 3(5),223, 126 (2), Foreign Nationals Act (section 14) and the anti-superstition law of Maharashtra( section 3).

"All three have been arrested. Matter is being investigated further," they added.

Earlier Priyank Kanoongo, a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) raised concerns about Hindu children being enrolled in government-funded madrasas in Morena and Shivpuri districts of Madhya Pradesh.

According to Kanoongo, around 500 Hindu children are allegedly being taught the Quran and other Islamic studies, sparking allegations of a conspiracy to convert them to Islam.

"We received complaints about around 500 Hindu children enrolled in government-funded madrasas in Morena and Shivpuri, MP... The complainant alleges a conspiracy to convert Hindu children to Islam by teaching them the Quran and related topics. We sent this complaint to the Madhya Pradesh government for investigation," Kanoongo earlier told ANI.

"Our main concern: Hindu children should not be in madrasas. Even if Muslim children attend madrasas, they should also go to school for their fundamental education... Therefore, it is essential to clearly understand that madrasas are not places where children are educated. Even if there are Muslim children in the madrasa, they should be enrolled in school while continuing their madrasa education," said Kanoongo earlier. (ANI)
Three police officers, including a Sub-Inspector, have been suspended in connection with the death of a person after allegedly being assaulted by a group of people who "mistook him for a thief" in Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli, according to the police. Assistant Superintendent of Police ASP Sanjeev Kumar Sinha told ANI a day earlier that five people have been arrested and efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining accused. "In the Unchahar police station area, a case has been filed immediately, and five people have been sent to jail in connection with the case of a man being beaten to death by some people who mistook him for a thief. The remaining accused will soon be identified and arrested, and efforts are underway to apprehend them," ASP Sinha told ANI. "Raids are being conducted continuously... A total of three police officers, including a sub-inspector from the area, have been suspended," ASP Sinha said The victim's wife, Pinky, demanded assistance from the government , "...My husband was beaten to death. Whatever happened to my husband, the same should happen to those who beat him to death... I need help from the government. I have a daughter...Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi spoke with my in-laws, not with me," she told reporters (ANI)
Congress MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan on Monday alleged that more than 5 kilograms of gold donated by the UB Group and Vijay Mallya to the Sabarimala temple was misappropriated and demanded a CBI probe under the supervision of the Kerala High Court. "This is a very serious matter... UB Group and Vijay Mallaya donated more than 30 kg of gold to the Sabarimala Temple for plating various things. Unfortunately, through some middlemen, more than 5kg of that gold was robbed," Satheesan told ANI. He alleged that the actual quantity of missing gold could be higher and accused the Travancore Devaswom Board and the state government of concealing the matter. "We think that further investigation will reveal the exact weight of gold lost, which will be much more... Devaswom Board and the government were aware of this, but they have not initiated any criminal proceedings against the concerned persons," he said. The Congress leader further alleged that members of the Devaswom Board and certain individuals in the government were involved in the alleged cover-up."Devaswom Board members and some people in the government are involved in this. They tried to conceal this thing for a long time. Because of the intervention of the High Court, this matter came to light... Our demand is that this case be investigated by the CBI under the supervision of the Kerala High Court," he added. Earlier in the day, the Kerala Legislative Assembly witnessed high drama as the Opposition created an uproar over the alleged disappearance of gold sheets used for plating the sanctum sanctorum of the Sabarimala shrine. The ruckus forced Speaker AN Shamseer to cancel the Question Hour and adjourn the House temporarily. Opposition MLAs, carrying placards and banners with slogans such as "Ayyappan's gold stolen, temple devoured by looters," surrounded the Speaker's podium and staged a protest in the well of the House. Finance Minister KN Balagopal condemned the Opposition's actions, calling the disruption "unprecedented and improper," while Speaker Shamseer said obstructing proceedings amounted to "disrespect towards the people." (ANI)
The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has written to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) seeking a comprehensive investigation of the electric systems of all Boeing 787 aircraft currently operating in India. The president of FIP, Captain CS Randhawa said on Monday that the incident in which an Air India flight from Amritsar to Birmingham had its Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed during its final approach should be investigated properly. RAT is only deployed after "total failure of all three hydraulic systems", said the FIP president. "We have written an email to Manish Kumar, who is in charge of air safety in DGCA, and we have marked the copies to DG DGCA, DG AAIB and the Secretary of Civil Aviation. The incident occurred on the 4th of October on a Boeing 787 aircraft. Registration was Victor Tango Alpha November Oscar (VT-ANO)", Captain CS Randhawa told ANI. He said that the Birmingham-bound flight had everything "running properly", despite that, RAT was deployed while the aircraft was just 500 feet in the air, a thing he has never seen happen in over 5 decades of aviation experience. "The aircraft has been grounded by Air India for further investigations. Now I would just like to put one point across that the Ram Air Turbine mainly deploys when there is a total failure of all three hydraulic systems, total electrical system failure or both engine failures, and there are some other things which can deploy it. This can be deployed only when the aircraft is in the air, not on the ground", he said. Expressing surprise over the incident, he added, "To date, I have never heard of a RAT getting deployed on any aircraft where everything is normal. This is the first time I'm hearing in my 50 years of aviation experience. Now, this incident should be taken very seriously." Captain Randhawa further speculated over the AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad in June this year. He said that he is "quite convinced" that the crash which killed 260 people, including 241 people on the aircraft, and left only 1 survivor, happened due to "electric failures". He however reiterated that the truth will be known only after the report comes out, probably in December, according to him. "We are quite convinced that it could be an electrical problem that has led to the crash of 171. Ultimately, when the report comes, we will come to know. And I have heard that maybe by end of December, the AAIB will come out with the report. We have been requesting that the electrical systems of all Boeing 787s flying in the country be tested", he said. Air India flight AI117, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, landed safely in Birmingham a day earlier after the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) was deployed during its final approach. The flight took off from Amritsar on October 4. According to an Air India spokesperson, the flight landed safely at Birmingham, and no passengers or crew were injured. The aircraft has been grounded for further inspections. The aircraft has been grounded for further checks, and the return flight AI114 from Birmingham to Delhi has been cancelled. Air India is making alternative arrangements to accommodate passengers affected by the incident. (ANI)
Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Rajasthan government on Monday and demanded a judicial enquiry into the Jaipur hospital fire, which claimed the lives of atleast 6 people. "A judicial enquiry into the incident should be conducted, so that we would know if negligence is happening. Before it was said that roof could collapse, they didn't care about it. A different investigation should be carried out on this. People are sitting here, crying about their relatives, someone's mother has gone, someone's brother", Congress leader Ashok Gehlot told reporters outside the hospital. While Gehlot joined the protesters and interacted with the relatives, he decried how not one representative of the government was present at the scene to listen to people's grievances. "What do they want? We have phoned the Chief Minister, written to him too, we want to talk. We are feeling sad that no one is talking about an investigation. We don't even know where the bodies are, that has never happened. Atleast a minister, or someone from the government should come after this incident but there is no government representative here", he said. Gehlot further claimed that the family members of the victims, who are protesting outside the hospital are being threatened by police officials to not protest. The police officials are threatening the family members of the victims not to stage a protest here. They should get justice. Forget compensation, we can keep talking about that, but first they should get justice", he added. A fire broke out at the ICU of a trauma centre at SMS Hospital in Jaipur on late Sunday night. Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph confirmed six deaths after the tragic accident. The Rajasthan government has constituted a 6-member committee to investigate the fire that broke out in the Trauma ICU of the Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur, claiming six lives. The committee will be chaired by Iqbal Khan, Commissioner of the Medical Department, and includes Mukesh Kumar Meena, Additional Director of Hospital Administration in Rajasthan Medical Education Society (RajMES), Chandan Singh Meena, Chief Engineer, RajMES; Ajay Mathur, Chief Engineer, Electrical in PWD; RK Jain, Additional Principal, SMS Medical College, and Chief Fire Officer, Jaipur Municipal Corporation. The office of the Medical Superintendent of the Sawai Man Singh Hospital, Jaipur, confirmed that the fire at the Neurosurgery ICU of Trauma and Orthopaedic Institute was caused by a short circuit. According to the press note by the SMS Hospital, at around 11:20 pm, a fire broke out in Neurosurgery ICU 1 of Trauma and Orthopaedic Institute due to an electric short circuit, due to which the entire ICU was filled with smoke. (ANI)
As Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will inaugurate the first phase of the Patna Metro from ISBT to Bhootnath, State BJP President Dilip Jaiswal hailed the project, saying that the people will be relieved of traffic jams. Speaking to ANI, Dilip Jaiswal said that the inauguration of Patna Metro will be entered in golden letters in the history of the city. He said, "Today will be written in golden letters in the history of Patna that the people of Patna, the people of Bihar, are getting the facility of Metro Rail. Until now, we used to go to Kolkata and Delhi to see the Metro Rail. People will be relieved of the problem of traffic jams. The environmental benefit of this is much greater. This Patna Metro is definitely a huge gift and a day of happiness for the people of Patna." Taking a jibe at the Opposition ahead of the Assembly elections, Jaiswal said that they do not talk about development in the State. "Does the opposition no longer have any development issues? Whatever the people want, whatever the voters need, the NDA government has done everything for that. So, doesn't the opposition want votes based on development and basic amenities? The opposition doesn't talk about development at all," he said. Lauding the metro project, JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said that CM Nitish Kumar has taken "big decisions" for the State. "The long wait of the people of Patna is about to end. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, undoubtedly, big decisions have been taken for the State. The metro is a major link in that series. Today, this dream of the people of Patna is going to be realised. This will also reduce the traffic problem in Patna to a great extent," the JD(U) leader told ANI. According to a press release, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Patna Metro Rail Project, estimated to cost Rs 13,365 crores, in February 2019. While CM Nitish Kumar will inaugurate the first phase of Patna Metro, the project will have two corridors- Danapur to Mithapur and Patna Railway Station to New ISBT. (ANI)
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Monday expressed her condolences to the families affected by the devastating fire at Sawai Man Singh Hospital's Trauma Centre in Jaipur. In a post on X, Priyanka Gandhi appealed to the state government to provide fair compensation to the affected families and conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. "The news of the painful deaths of several patients due to a fire in the trauma centre of a government hospital in Jaipur is extremely heart-wrenching. May God grant peace to the departed souls. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," she posted on X. The Congress leader demanded strict action against those responsible for preventing such incidents in the future. "I appeal to the state government to provide appropriate compensation to the affected families and to conduct a swift investigation into this incident and take strict action so that such an event does not recur," the post read. A fire broke out at the ICU of a trauma centre at SMS Hospital in Jaipur on late Sunday night. Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph confirmed six deaths after the tragic accident. Prima facie, the fire was caused by a short circuit; meanwhile, the forensics team is investigating to determine the cause, the Police Commissioner told ANI. Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasara criticised the government for its negligence, alleging that it was involved in corruption. "The negligence of the system has taken the lives of many people...The state government has completely failed...People are dying after consuming cough syrup, and the Health Minister is giving a clean chit to the pharmaceutical companies...The state government is involved in corruption..." Dotasara told ANI. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Gopal Sharma said that the incident was "unfortunate" and demanded appropriate compensation for the families of the victims. "This incident is extremely unfortunate. Families have lost loved ones. The grieving families should be given appropriate compensation. Action should be taken against those whose negligence led to this incident," the BJP MLA told ANI. (ANI)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday inaugurated and flagged off several development initiatives in Chennai. Stalin flagged off 23 vehicles purchased for Rs 3.62 crore to benefit students in tribal hostels and residential schools, along with three vehicles donated through CSR funds, making a total of 26 vehicles. He also flagged off 25 emergency ambulances worth Rs 5.78 crore for the medical needs of tribal people and 20 mobile medical vehicles costing Rs 4 crore. Under the Public and Rehabilitation Department, the Chief Minister inaugurated 772 new houses built at a cost of Rs 44.48 crore, with basic amenities provided at Rs 6.58 crore, across eight Sri Lankan Tamil rehabilitation camps in Virudhunagar, Tiruvannamalai, Thoothukudi, and Sivagangai districts. Under the Department of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, Stalin inaugurated India's second Elephant Mahout Village with staff quarters for mahouts and elephant caretakers at Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp in Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Coimbatore district. Under the Health and Family Welfare Department, the Chief Minister inaugurated additional hospital blocks in Katpadi Government Hospital, Palani District Headquarters Hospital, Tirupathur District Headquarters Hospital, Gudalur District Headquarters Hospital, Sankarapuram Government Hospital, and Melur Government Hospital, built at a cost of Rs 108.50 crore. He also inaugurated district drug warehouses costing Rs 42 crore in Tenkasi, Tirupathur, Kallakurichi, Mayiladuthurai, Madurai, Tirunelveli, and Thanjavur. Other inaugurations included a new laboratory block at the Food Analysis Laboratory Campus in Madurai, costing Rs 1.49 crore; a new Drug Control Directorate building in Chennai, for Rs 14.85 crore; and an Assistant Drug Controller's Office building in Kanchipuram district, for Rs 75 lakh. Under the Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy, new buildings costing Rs 6.22 crore were inaugurated, and foundationswere laid for projects worth Rs 20.15 crore. Advanced equipment costing Rs 24 crore was also launched in Food Analysis Laboratories at Thanjavur, Salem, and Palayamkottai. Under the Law Department, via video conference, Stalin inaugurated academic and administrative block buildings at Madurai Government Law College constructed at Rs 48.20 crore and a library building at Vellore Government Law College costing Rs 6.46 crore. Under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, he announced an increase in pension for retired temple employees from Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 and family pension from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500. For the first time, EPF pensioners will also receive an ex-gratia pension. Cheques were distributed to 12 beneficiaries representing 3,037 pensioners and 769 family pensioners. In the School Education Department, Stalin released the Hindi translation of the book Sabhyata Ki Yatra: Sindhu Se Vaigai, authored by Thiru R. Balakrishnan, IAS (Retd.), Trustee of Roja Muthiah Research Library Foundation. Under the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, he inaugurated 20 Social Justice Hostels costing Rs 137.31 crore, classroom buildings in 39 Adi Dravidar Welfare Schools built at Rs 39.29 crore, 250 houses for tribal people under the Tholkudi Scheme costing Rs 12.72 crore, 16 Village Knowledge Centres built at Rs 15.93 crore, and nine multipurpose centres costing Rs 5.40 crore. Finally, under the Tamil Nadu Construction Workers Welfare Board, the Chief Minister distributed incentives and certificates to construction workers trained in various trades, and met 40 students from Tamil Nadu who secured first place at the national level in the 2025 All-India Trade Test. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Monday sought a response from the Centre, Union Territory of Ladakh, Superintendent of Police Jodhpur Central jail, on a plea of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali Angmo, against his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) and seeking his release. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria issued notice to the governments and posted the matter for hearing on October 14. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Wangchuk's wife, told the bench that the grounds of detention have not been supplied to the family, and it should be served on her. Sibal stated that the plea challenges the detention as illegal under Article 22, as no grounds for arrest have been provided. He stated that without grounds for detention, the detention order cannot be challenged. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the government, said the grounds of detention already served to detainee (Wangchuk) and there is no legal requirement for the grounds of detention to be communicated to the wife. Mehta agreed to examine the feasibility of serving a copy of the grounds to his wife. During the hearing, Sibal also asked for the interim relief seeking medical support for Wangchuk. To this, Mehta stated that when the activist was produced for a medical examination, he declared that he was not taking any medication. However, the Solicitor General said that if any medical supplies were needed, they would be given. Sibal further asked the bench to allow Wangchuk's wife to meet her husband. Mehta said that Angmo had submitted a request to meet him, and it was being considered. Solicitor General said that Angmo was trying to create a "hype and an emotive issue" that Wangchuk was denied medical relief and meetings with his wife. "This is all just to portray in media and in that region that he is deprived of medicines and access to wife. Just to create an emotive atmosphere. That's all," said Mehta. Along with Sibal, senior advocate Vivek Tankha also appeared for Angmo. Wangchuk's wife was also present in the court during the hearing. Wangchuk was detained on September 26 and shifted to Jodhpur Central Jail in Rajasthan for allegedly inciting a violent protest in Ladakh. He was booked under the NSA after the violence in Leh, in which four people were killed and 80 others were injured. The protesters have been demanding statehood for Ladakh and inclusion of the region in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The habeas corpus plea stated that Wangchuk's detention was not genuinely linked to national security or public order but intended to silence a respected environmentalist and social reformer for espousing democratic and ecological causes. According to the petition, the activist resorted only to peaceful Gandhian protest within Ladakh, an exercise of his constitutional right to speech and assembly. The detention amounts to violation of free speech under Article 19, it stated. It said the charges were "baseless and floated with the sole object of defaming, maligning and discrediting his peaceful Gandhian movement" aimed at protecting the ecology of Ladakh. The plea said that a "systematic campaign" had been "unleashed against" Wangchuk, alleging "links with Pakistan and China." "In particular, a blasphemous narrative suggesting links with Pakistan and China is being intentionally floated in certain quarters with the sole object of defaming, maligning and discrediting a peaceful Gandhian movement for the protection of Ladakh, its fragile ecology, its mountains, glaciers, and the livelihood of its people," stated the plea. Angmo also challenged the transfer of Wangchuk to the Central Jail in Jodhpur over a thousand kilometres from Ladakh, the site of protests. (ANI)
In a major security preparedness move, more than 500 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), comprising over 5,000 personnel, have been earmarked for deployment across Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in the state. The deployment includes 121 companies from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and around 400 from the Border Security Force (BSF), along with contingents from other CAPFs such as the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), sources privy to the development told ANI on Monday. Of the 400 companies, 99 companies of the BSF have already reached Bihar, and the movement of other CAPF contingents is underway. As per sources, the overall number of companies could increase depending on security assessments and further directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The deployment may eventually scale up to nearly 1,600 companies in the run-up to the polls. The 243-member Bihar Assembly, whose term ends on November 22, currently comprises 131 seats held by the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) -- including the BJP (80), JD(U) (45), HAM(S) (4), and two Independents -- while the Mahagathbandhan bloc has 111 seats, consisting of the RJD (77), Congress (19), CPI(ML) (11), CPI(M) (2), and CPI (2). Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is expected to announce the Bihar poll schedule later this evening. He recently stated that the Bihar elections will be conducted before the Assembly's term expires and noted that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise has "purified" the state's voter list for the first time in over two decades. The CAPFs play a crucial role during elections, providing area domination, patrolling, and securing polling booths to ensure a peaceful and fair voting process. Their deployment aims to prevent incidents of booth capturing, intimidation, and electoral violence--issues that have historically plagued several districts in Bihar. (ANI)
The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) Vigilance, which is probing the missing gold plating from Sabarimala temple will submit its preliminary report to the High Court on Tuesday (October 8), Kerala Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan said on Monday. "Today, the opposition staged a big, futile effort to create a controversy. Based on the High Court's directive, the Devaswom Vigilance is conducting an investigation. The preliminary report will be submitted to the court tomorrow (October 6)", the minister said in a press conference here. Reiterating the government's commitment to find the truth in the missing gold plating controversy, the state's minister said that all orders of the court are being followed. "The government has already demanded a comprehensive inquiry. Our stance is clear all matters must come out. Once the preliminary report is submitted, the court will decide further. Only with the court's permission can the Travancore Devaswom Board make decisions regarding gold and silver matters. That is exactly what is being followed", the minister mentioned. "The High Court always monitors the Travancore Devaswom Board, so the government cannot issue any orders beyond that", he added. Notably, the Kerala high Court has ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged theft of gold covering on copper plates which were removed from Sabarimala's Dwarapalaka. "The government is ready to proceed with any investigation as directed by the court. The issue being raised relates to 2019. The gold sheets were given to Unnikrishnan Potty for renovation. Just three days before the Global Ayyappa Convention, he raised an argument through a channel claiming the 'peedam' was missing", the Devaswom minister said. "During the Vigilance investigation, this was traced to Unnikrishnan Potty's sister's house. We must view this with realism. The opposition is attempting a futile exercise to tarnish the grandeur of the Global Ayyappa Convention. They are misinterpreting facts", the minister added. The minister said that government has "no connection" to these issues, as they do not interfere in day to day functioning of the temple. He further claimed that Unnikrishnan Potty is also suspected of being involved in a conspiracy. "Whoever is at fault must be proven. The government has no connection to these issues and cannot interfere in the day to day affairs of Sabarimala. During pilgrimage season, the government's role is only to coordinate and provide assistance. The government does not accept any money from the Devaswom Board; the Devaswom Department handles these matters directly", he said. Earlier on October 5, TDB Vigilance recorded the statement of Unnikrishnan Potty, a former helper and the sponsor of gold-plating works at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple, for the second consecutive day. Unnikrishnan Potty was questioned for nearly three hours at the TDB Vigilance headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram. After the session, he left the premises without responding clearly to the media's questions. When pressed, Potty remarked, "Don't I have freedom as an individual? Everything will be proven before the High Court. Don't I have the right to move freely? The truth will prevail." Earlier today, Congress MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan alleged that more than 5 kilograms of gold donated by the UB Group and Vijay Mallya to the Sabarimala temple was misappropriated and demanded a CBI probe under the supervision of the Kerala High Court. (ANI)
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai paid a courtesy call on Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at his residence in New Delhi today. During the meeting, specific issues related to development in the defence sector in Chhattisgarh were discussed. Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu was also present on the occasion. Earlier on September 24, the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced that the Central Government has sanctioned Rs 8.75 crore for the upgradation of the Keskal city stretch of National Highway-30 in Bastar district. The Chief Minister added that the upgraded road would also enhance access to healthcare and educational services for people in the region. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate a national-level conference on 'Opportunities in Defence Manufacturing in the Country' at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on October 7, 2025, an official press release said. The conference, organised under the aegis of the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence (MoD), will provide a focused platform to strengthen coordination between MoD and State/UT Governments, with the objective of aligning regional industrial policies and infrastructure development with the national goal of achieving self-reliance in defence manufacturing. During the event, the Defence Minister will launch the new 'Defence Exim Portal', designed to streamline the process of issuing export and import authorisations, as well as the Srijan DEEP (Defence Establishments and Entrepreneurs Platform) portal, a digital repository mapping the capabilities and products of Indian defence industries. Two key publications 'Aerospace & Defence Sector Policy Compendium of States and Union Territories' and the iDEX Coffee Table Book 'Shared Horizons of Innovation' will also be released on the occasion. The conference aims to bring together senior officials from the Departments of Industries of all States and Union Territories to discuss their crucial role in advancing India's defence manufacturing ecosystem. It will also highlight ongoing national efforts to boost indigenisation, enhance defence exports, and promote investment in the sector. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held the Janata Darshan on Monday, meeting people from across state and hearing their grievances related to police, revenue, employment, electricity, and financial assistance. He personally received petitions and directed officials to ensure swift and fair resolution of each case within a set timeframe. The Chief Minister reiterated that ensuring happiness and satisfaction on every citizen's face is the top priority of his government. He said, "Bringing a smile to someone's face is equivalent to serving God. The state government is working with full commitment to ease the suffering of every individual. Benefits of government schemes are reaching everyone without any discrimination, and 'Janata Darshan' plays a vital role in resolving people's issues." The Chief Minister also interacted warmly with the children who accompanied their parents. He patted their heads affectionately, offered them chocolates and toffees, and encouraged them to study well and play with enthusiasm, creating a homely and compassionate atmosphere at the event. A day earlier, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched Mission Shakti 5.0, continuing efforts to empower women and daughters across the state, and under the campaign, the Uttar Pradesh Police, led by ADG Padmaja Chauhan, carried out inspections at over 1,08,292 temples and public spaces, checked 9,77,269 individuals, registered more than 2,500 FIRs, and strengthened public trust, said an official statement. According to the ADG Padmaja Chauhan, nodal officer of Mission Shakti, and following the directives of CM Yogi, Anti-Romeo Squads intensified surveillance across public spaces, including temples, markets, malls, and parks. During the campaign, inspections were conducted at 1,08,292 temples and public locations, while 9,77,269 individuals were checked, resulting in the registration of over 2,500 FIRs. The extensive campaign has reinforced Uttar Pradesh's commitment to ensuring safety, respect, and empowerment for women in every sphere of life. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Aparajita Sarangi on Monday said that the Odisha government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, is taking all necessary measures to maintain peace and order after clashes broke out during the Durga Puja immersion procession in Cuttack. She added that the state government is very vigilant and is diligently working to bring the situation under control through its senior police officers and the civic administration. "The incident that occurred during the Durga Puja immersion should not have happened. It was very unfortunate. Under the leadership of CM Mohan Charan Manjhi, all necessary measures are being taken to maintain peace. 36 36-hour curfew is currently in place, and an adequate police force has been deployed. The DCP who was injured is also recovering. The injured were immediately rushed to the hospital and are receiving ongoing treatment...," Sarangi told ANI. Clashes occurred between two groups during the Durga Puja immersion procession, resulting in injuries and property damage. A 36-hour curfew has been imposed, and an adequate police force has been deployed to maintain law and order. The Chief Minister is personally monitoring the situation, and senior police officers are working to bring the situation under control. Internet services have been suspended for 24 hours to prevent the spread of misinformation and maintain peace. A total of 25 people, including eight policemen, were injured in the incident. Meanwhile, the Vishva Hindu Parishad has called for a 12-hour shutdown in protest against the violence, which is expected to impact daily life in Cuttack. "The Vishva Hindu Parishad has called for a shutdown. This is a democratic state, an independent country. People will do as they wish. However, I would like to assure you that the situation is under control, and the state government is making every effort to address it. The Chief Minister himself is monitoring the situation, and all senior civil and police officials are engaged. So, we all hope that peace will prevail and Cuttack will return to what it once was," she further said. A curfew has been imposed in Cuttack under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for 36 hours, until October 7. Speaking about the restrictions imposed under the curfew, Additional Police Commissioner Narasingha Bhola stated that all commercial establishments would remain closed, while hospitals, schools, and colleges would remain open. He further stated that a total of 60 platoons of state police forces have been deployed, apart from the paramilitary forces, including the Rapid Action Force, Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, and the Odisha Swift Action Force. "Following yesterday's incident, a prohibitory order under Section 163 BNSS, commonly known as a curfew, has been passed by the magistrate. This prohibitory order will be in effect from 10 pm last night until 10 am tomorrow (October 7). We will assess the situation further and make a decision accordingly. But as of today, only emergency services are open. Government offices, schools, and colleges are all open. Hospitals, pharmacies, grocery stores, and petrol pumps will remain open. Other than that, all other commercial establishments will remain closed... The situation is peaceful. People are cooperating with us... We have 60 platoons of state police forces. They are already deployed. Today, we have mobilised more forces; eight companies of paramilitary forces have arrived. Paramilitary forces, such as the Rapid Action Force, BSF, CRPF, and Odisha Swift Action Force, have all been mobilised and deployed at important locations and junctions," Bhola told ANI. (ANI)
The Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) for North Gujarat is scheduled to take place on October 9- 10, 2025, at Ganpat University in Mehsana, marking a significant milestone in North Gujarat's journey toward Viksit Gujarat - Viksit Bharat by 2047. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will inaugurate this grand event, a Gujarat CMO release said. During the occasion, Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, Electronics & IT, Government of India, Ashwini Vaishnaw; ISRO Chairman, Dr V Narayanan and Astronaut, Shubhanshu Shukla will be present. Before the inaugural ceremony, the Chief Minister and other dignitaries will visit and experience the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Exhibition, which will showcase cutting-edge innovations, products, and technologies from diverse sectors. The event will bring together innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, MSMEs, startups, Overseas buyers, large companies, Government departments, PSU, and global partners to advance the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Vocal for Local, and sustainable economic growth. VGRC North Gujarat will feature strong international participation, with partner countries including Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam. The Netherlands is also a partner country for agriculture sector-specific seminars. The event will also see the involvement of prominent partner organisations, including the World Bank, Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), Trade representations of the Russian Federation, Indo-Canadian Business Chamber (ICBC), and US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF). Spanning across an expansive 18,000 sq. m. exhibition area, the tradeshow will feature over 400 exhibitors from sectors like Agro & Food processing, Renewable Energy and corporate giants, namely, Torrent, Welspun, NHPC, NTPC, Kosol, Suzlon, Avaada, Nirma, INOX, Adani, Maruti Suzuki, Power grid and ONGC. To highlight emerging opportunities and sustainable innovations, the event will host dedicated pavilions for Agri-Tech, Green Energy, and Food-Tech, including public sector units, MSMEs, cottage industries and rural startups, offering a diverse showcase of India's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Recognising India's growing international engagement, the conference will also include exclusive international pavilions for Japan, South Korea and Vietnam, fostering bilateral trade, investment partnerships, and technological exchange. As part of the Exhibition, the Vendor Development Program (VDP) will be organised with organisations such as Dudhsagar Dairy, ONGC, Western Railway, and McCain Foods, among others, aimed at strengthening industry linkages and promoting local enterprise development. Furthermore, a Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet (RBSM) will bring together 34 International buyers from 17 countries, promoting trade and business opportunities. Additionally, more than 500 meetings are planned between buyers and local sellers to promote exports. Udyami Mela will also be organised to provide valuable networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, mentors, and institutions. The event aims to create awareness among aspiring entrepreneurs about various government schemes, policies, and initiatives, encouraging innovation, enterprise development, and participation in Gujarat's growing startup ecosystem. Further enriching the experience, the Food Court of traditional regional cuisine, millet-based items, will promote North Gujarat's rich culinary heritage, aligning with India's global initiative to popularise Shree Anna (millets) as a symbol of healthy living and sustainable farming. In the spirit of 'Har Ghar Swadeshi, Ghar Ghar Swadeshi', the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference will celebrate local entrepreneurship, rural innovation, and the strength of community-driven growth, reaffirming Gujarat's pivotal role in India's development journey. The event would amplify the regional empowerment, global collaboration, and sustainable progress -- a step closer to realising the vision of Viksit Gujarat to Viksit Bharat. (ANI)
Leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, Umang Singhar, on Monday slammed Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla over the deaths of children in Chhindwara after allegedly consuming a contaminated cough syrup. He demanded an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each for the victims and a job for their families, and questioned CM Mohan Yadav for not taking action against the Drug Controller. Singhar told ANI, "Now, when so many children have died, you have banned that company. But you are filing a case against the doctor. What is the doctor's fault? Thousands of doctors write prescriptions, but the company manufactures the medicine. The government appoints the Drug Controller to deal with the medicine company. Why haven't you held the Drug Controller accountable?" He asked the Chief Minister to take action before the situation further deteriorates and requested that he summon the Health Minister. He said, "And Chief Minister, will you wake up when Madhya Pradesh turns into a graveyard? I believe immediate action is necessary. The Chief Minister should immediately seek answers from the Health Minister. He should summon him. A clean chit was given to the cough syrup company." "I would like to urge the Health Minister and Chief Minister to take immediate action and conduct a judicial inquiry. Victims should be given Rs 10 lakh each. If there is anyone in their family, they should be given a job," Singhar added. At least 14 deaths have been reported due to the alleged consumption of a cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara, while eight children have been admitted to a hospital, said an official. Earlier today, Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath slammed the State government and demanded a Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigation under the monitoring of the Supreme Court. He also requested standardised testing of all suspected cough syrups and immediate compensation for the affected families. In an X post, he wrote, "We demand immediate action: Form an independent SIT (Special Investigation Team) under Supreme Court monitoring to investigate the duties of drug manufacturers, supply chains, and related officials. Conduct immediate and standardised testing of all suspected cough syrups across the state and take the strictest action against the guilty." (ANI)
Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa stated on Monday that the State government will provide all necessary assistance to the affected families of the victims of the Jaipur fire incident in which six people lost their lives. The fire broke out in the Trauma ICU of the Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur on late Sunday night. "We visited the hospital as we received information regarding the incident. A committee has been established to investigate the causes of the incident. We will provide all possible help to the affected families," Bairwa told reporters. A fire broke out at the ICU of a trauma centre at SMS Hospital in Jaipur late Sunday night. Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph confirmed six deaths after the tragic accident. Prima facie, the fire was caused by a short circuit; meanwhile, the forensics team is investigating to determine the cause, the Police Commissioner told ANI. He said, "Our FSL team's investigation will reveal the cause of the fire. At first glance, it appears to be a short circuit, but the final cause will only be determined after the FSL investigation. The death of six people has been confirmed." He added that the bodies of the deceased have been shifted to the mortuary and will be sent for a post-mortem. "The remaining have been shifted to another ward and are under treatment. The bodies of the deceased have been shifted to the mortuary. Once everything is done, the post-mortem of the bodies will be conducted," Commissioner Biju George Joseph said. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Monday demanded a high-level investigation into the matter. The Rajasthan government on Monday constituted a 6-member committee to investigate the incident. The committee will be chaired by Iqbal Khan, Commissioner of the Medical Department, and includes Mukesh Kumar Meena, Additional Director of Hospital Administration in Rajasthan Medical Education Society (RajMES), Chandan Singh Meena, Chief Engineer, RajMES; Ajay Mathur, Chief Engineer, Electrical in PWD; RK Jain, Additional Principal, SMS Medical College, and Chief Fire Officer, Jaipur Municipal Corporation. (ANI)
The Bharatiya Janata Party Nagaland, led by Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, on Monday launched the "Atmanirbhar Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan" - a Flagship 90-day campaign inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to promote self-reliant and indigenous products amongst every citizen, stated a release. Addressing the media today at the BJP headquarters in Kohima, Deputy Chief Minister Y. Patton emphasised the essence of the Swadeshi campaign, urging citizens to embrace locally made products, uphold Indian culture, and strengthen the national economy. He highlighted that the call for "Har Ghar Swadeshi, Ghar-Ghar Swadeshi" is both a mission and a collective strength. Patton reminded that Swadeshi has long been a part of India's cultural spirit and a key pillar of the independence movement led by leaders like Lokmanya Tilak, Aurobindo, and Mahatma Gandhi. He further stated that Swadeshi once focused on khadi and local goods and had evolved into a modern movement encompassing advanced technology, defence production, semiconductors, Indian languages, and world-class crafts. "After independence, while nationalist organisations continued to promote Swadeshi, India's adoption of a Western development model weakened local industries and increased foreign dependence. In 1964, Dattopant Thengadi revived the spirit of Swadeshi, emphasising that true security lies in economic self-reliance and the strength of Indian industries and workers. His ideas later inspired the Atmanirbhar Bharat movement launched in 1991, which has been reinvigorated under Prime Minister Narendra Modi through initiatives like Make in India, Startup India, and Vocal for Local," he said "Today, the three pillars--Swadeshi (Indian goods), Swabhasha (Indian languages and knowledge systems), and Swabhusha (heritage and aesthetics)--form the foundation of Atmanirbhar Bharat, guiding India toward Viksit Bharat. Under Modi's leadership, this vision is being realised through defence indigenisation, ODOP, GeM/ONDC, and pride in India's civilizational heritage," Patton said. The Deputy Chief Minister also mentioned that under this campaign, several programs would be organized nationwide, including online Swadeshi quiz competition, Atmanirbhar Bharat essay competition, conferences for, traders, small industrialists and professionals, college-level Swadeshi Sankalp seminars, and Swadeshi fairs and urged everyone to participate in the activities with pride so that the message of Swadeshi reaches society and our Swadeshi resolve succeeds. Patton further said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the nation was moving forward with the goal of Swadeshi. "The pledge of Swadeshi is our collective responsibility. Each one of us must make it a part of our daily lives. It is not merely a campaign; it is an expression of our love and devotion towards our motherland," he said. He urged the people to spread and resolve to every village, every lane, every home, to kindle the flame of Swadeshi in every heart, Har Ghar Swadeshi, Ghar-Ghar Swadeshi. (ANI)
A meeting was organised at the Medchal BRS district office under the leadership of District President and MLC Shambhipur Raju after the BRS Working President KTR asked to take the "Due Card Movement" across the Medchal district to create awareness among the public about the "empty promises" made by the Congress government. The meeting was attended by the party's public representatives and key leaders. Distinct attendees were Former Minister Malla Reddy, MLAs including Madhavaram Krishna Rao, Vivekanand Goud, Bandari Lakshma Reddy, Marri Rajasekhar Reddy, along with Malkajgiri MP candidate Ragidi Lakshma Reddy. The leaders criticised the Congress government for completely misleading the public with 420 promises given at the time of elections. They stated that the BRS party is taking the "Due Card" to the public to expose the Congress's fraudulent attitude and deception towards the people. Meanwhile, KTR condemned the decision of the Telangana Chief Minister Revnath Reddy-led government to increase the city bus fare in Hyderabad by 10, calling it a "cruel conspiracy" to exploit poor and middle-class commuters. The new fares, which came into effect on October 6, will add an extra burden of at least 500 per month on regular commuters. KTR criticised the decision, stating that the increased fare comes at a time when the general public is already facing rising prices of essential commodities. Speaking on behalf of the economically weaker sections of society, KTR raised a question to the Chief Minister, asking how the underprivileged and daily wage earners would adjust to the hike, which now poses an additional burden of Rs 500 per month. "It wasn't enough that the charges for student bus passes and T-24 tickets were increased -- now, even the basic fare has been hiked by 50% without any compassion. This reflects Revanth Reddy's incompetent and undemocratic governance," KTR said angrily. (ANI)
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu extended greetings to the Indian diaspora in Canada and invited them to visit and invest in the state, read an official statement. The Chief Minister conveyed his message through a special video address during the grand celebration of Kullu Dussehra held at the historic Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada. The event was hosted by Member of Parliament Marie-France Lalonde and organised by the Himachali Pravasi Global Association (HPGA). In his message, Chief Minister Sukhu said, "On this occasion, the vibrant colours of Himachal's rich culture will be on full display, offering a sense of home even while living abroad. All Himachalis residing overseas are the true brand ambassadors of our state. I warmly invite everyone in Canada to visit Himachal Pradesh and explore opportunities for investment here." The celebration showcased Himachal Pradesh's diverse cultural heritage, featuring the world-renowned Himachali folk dance 'Naati', a traditional Ram Leela performance, and the serving of authentic Himachali Dhaam to all the guests. Over 35 regional community organisations participated in the event, reflecting the unity and cultural pride of the Himachali diaspora. On behalf of HPGA, co-founders Bhagya Chander, Arun Chauhan, and Vivek Nazzar expressed their gratitude to Chief Minister Sukhu for his inspiring message and continuous support in promoting Himachali culture on the global stage. The event was attended by the Deputy High Commissioner of India to Canada, senior diplomats, community leaders, and other dignitaries. Meanwhile, Sukhu will organise a special overseas recruitment drive on October 9 at the Government Polytechnic in Hamirpur, to provide international employment opportunities to the state's youth, according to a release. This recruitment drive would be conducted by the Himachal Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (HPSEDC) in collaboration with the Department of Labour & Employment, the Department of Technical Education and a recruitment agency registered with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India. (ANI)
The Election Commission of India, which is supposed to be the umpire conducting free and fair elections has been compromised and is working like an organization of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress leader Manickam Tagore said on Monday. The Congress leader further said that he is confident in the INDIA bloc parties forming the government after the elections, that is, "if a fair election happens". "We all know that the Election Commission of India has lost its credibility. They have started to work like the BJP's organisation itself. Today is 6th of October, and the elections are going to be announced as per the media reports", Tagore told ANI. "INDIA alliance is very confident that if a fair election happens, if the election commission is fair, we are going to form the government in Bihar", he added. Criticising the timing of various schemes and initiative unveiled by the Prime Minister and Bihar government, Tagore said that the NDA has not done anything for the youth or women for the last 2 decades but it announcing schemes in wake of the polls. "Two days ago, the Prime Minister announced a scheme for the youth of Bihar. For 20 years, they have done nothing for the youth of Bihar and the unemployed. And on October 2nd, they announced Rs 10,000 for women. The Election Commission is the umpire, but the umpire is now compromised. And we had seen it in the SIR issue", he said. The Election Commission of India is set to hold a press conference at 4 PM on Monday, where it is likely to announce the schedule for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. A day earlier, in a press conference in Patna, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar said that elections in Bihar will be held before November 22, when the term of the State Assembly ends. Bihar has 243 assembly constituencies, including two reserved for STs and 38 for SCs. The NDA currently holds 131 seats -- BJP 80, JD(U) 45, HAM(S) 4, and two Independents -- while the Mahagathbandhan holds 111 seats, comprising RJD 77, Congress 19, CPI(ML) 11, CPI(M) 2, and CPI 2. Political activity has intensified across the State, with parties trading charges and ramping up campaigns ahead of the high-stakes election. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party's Kerala unit President Rajeev Chandrasekhar hit out at the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led state government for allegedly indulging in "corruption to an unforgiveable level" regarding the gold plating row in Sabarimala temple. The Kerala BJP chief also wondered if smaller temples, which are under various Devaswom boards across the state are also having a similar situation. "The gold of Sabarimala temple has been stolen and has been taken away by the people of the Devaswom Board which is headed by a communist and has been appointed by a Minister in the CPM Government. It is shocking and shameless. It is taking corruption to an unforgivable level, where even temples are not out of reach for those who are corrupt", Chandrasekhar told ANI here. While condemning the alleged theft, he further questioned the state of smaller temples which do not have as many visitors, since a famous temple like Sabarimala could have such an incident. "I never thought we would be discussing how a political party would be involved in the theft of 4.5 kg of gold in Sabarimala. If this can happen to a shrine like Sabarimala, which sees a large number of devotees every year, imagine the condition of smaller temples. Is the same loot going on there?" he questioned. Meanwhile, Kerala Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan also mentioned that the TDB Vigilance will submit its preliminary report to the High Court on October 8. "The opposition staged a big, futile effort to create a controversy. Based on the High Court's directive, the Devaswom Vigilance is conducting an investigation. The preliminary report will be submitted to the court tomorrow (October 6)", the minister said in a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram. On October 5, TDB Vigilance recorded the statement of Unnikrishnan Potty, a former helper and the sponsor of gold-plating works at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple, for the second consecutive day. The issue intensified when Unnikrishnan Potti claimed that two gold-plated panels donated to the temple in 2019 were missing from the strongroom, just ahead of the TDB-sponsored Global Ayyappa Sangamam event. Recently, the TDB vigilance had recovered the "missing" items, but it was alleged that around 5 kg of weight was lost from the plates. Notably, the Kerala High Court has ordered Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged theft of over 4 kg of gold from Sabarimala's premises. The court has ordered the SIT, led by S Sasidharan and overseen by Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) H Venkatesh. The team will consist of three inspectors, including cyber experts. (ANI)
Congress MLA Sofia Firdous on Monday condemned the recent violence in Cuttack and called on authorities to take the strictest action against those responsible. Speaking to ANI, Firdous said the strictest possible action should be taken against antisocial elements. "We all condemn the unfortunate incidents that have occurred in Cuttack city over the last two days. Yesterday, too, the way ordinary shops were vandalised, violence occurred...This kind of scene is very shocking for us...Strictest possible action should be taken against antisocial elements," she added. Firdous reiterated the need for strict action to restore peace quickly. "This is our clear demand, and all those involved should be found and the strictest possible action should be taken against them. They should be punished...We celebrate all the pujas and festivals together in Cuttack...We will bring back peace. Where peace exists, there is progress," she said. Earlier today, Cuttack Additional Deputy General Law and Order, Sanjay Kumar on Monday said that the situation in the city following the clashes that took place during the Durga Puja immersion had returned to normal, further stating that a total of six people had been arrested so far. Additional arrests were expected in separate cases. He further said that the culprits had been identified through CCTV footage and various digital platforms. "We've received reports of some unfortunate incidents here. Essentially, there wasn't a communal issue. It was a group clash in which several police officers were injured. Six people have been arrested so far, and additional arrests are expected in separate cases. They have been identified through CCTV footage and various digital platforms. We will arrest the other culprits very soon... Curfew has been implemented to prevent violence from escalating, and approximately 50 platoons of force have been deployed. Ten platoons of force have been placed on standby. Furthermore, we have deployed CAPF companies here..." Kumar told ANI. Speaking about the internet shutdown, the ADGP stated that the action had been taken due to misuse and to prevent the spread of rumours on social media channels. "The situation remains completely peaceful and is expected to continue in this manner...A handful of people were misusing the internet. They were spreading false rumours on various social media channels. To stop them, the internet has been temporarily shut down, and you may have noticed that the misinformation has stopped..." he further stated. Clashes occurred between two groups during the Durga Puja immersion procession, resulting in injuries and property damage. A 36-hour curfew has been imposed, and an adequate police force has been deployed to maintain law and order. The Chief Minister is personally monitoring the situation, and senior police officers are working to bring the situation under control. (ANI)
Employees, pensioners, and workers of various departments under the Himachal Pradesh government staged a protest in Shimla on Monday, braving heavy rainfall, to demand the timely release of salaries, pensions, and other pending dues. The demonstration was organised under the banner of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), with employees of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) joining in large numbers. Speaking to the media, Raj Kumar Sharma, State Secretary of the HPTDC Employees Federation, stated that the protest aimed to draw attention to the ongoing financial distress faced by tourism corporation employees due to delays in salary disbursements. "Every month, there is a delay in our salary payments," Sharma said. "Although our workload has reduced in some departments, employees are still performing their duties sincerely. We urge the state government to ensure that our salaries are released on time so that we do not feel neglected or betrayed. Timely payment is essential for employees to manage their family responsibilities." He said. He added that the salary delays were causing additional financial strain on employees, many of whom were forced to pay penalties due to delayed loan EMIs and other financial commitments. Employees are being penalised because they cannot pay their EMIs or loan instalments on time. This is unjust," he said, adding that the protest included a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner on behalf of the employees, outlining their demands. Sharma further urged the government to allocate a special financial package for the renovation and revival of HPTDC hotels, many of which are in poor condition due to a lack of maintenance. "Our hotels need urgent renovation, furniture, carpets, crockery, and several other essential items that are outdated or missing. This has led to a decline in tourist arrivals and revenue," he said. "If the government provides special funds, we can restore the hotels to their earlier standards and increase the corporation's income." He also demanded that the pending arrears related to the 2016 pay scale revision be released as soon as possible and that regular medical reimbursements and pension payments be made without delay. The HPTDC Employees Federation emphasised that while corporation staff provide continuous support to VIPs, guests, and official functions, their own legitimate concerns are being ignored. "We have always extended our full cooperation to the government and served all dignitaries and guests through the tourism corporation. Now it's time the government reciprocates by ensuring our financial stability and dignity," Sharma added. The protesters vowed to continue their agitation if their demands were not met soon, warning that delays in payments and neglect of employee welfare could further affect the functioning and reputation of the state's tourism sector. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Laxmikant Bhardwaj on Monday termed the fire at the ICU of SMS Hospital in Jaipur as "extremely unfortunate," expressing grief over the loss of several lives. He further praised Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for his swift action in the aftermath of the incident. Bhardwaj stated that CM Gehlot reached the hospital at 2:30 AM, oversaw the situation, and ensured that timely treatment was provided to the critical patients. He also directed officials to arrange for the immediate transportation of the bodies of the deceased to their families. Speaking to ANI, Bhardwaj said, "This is an extremely unfortunate incident in which some people have lost their loved ones... The CM arrived at the hospital at 2:30 am and took cognisance of the situation and ensured that timely treatment was given to those who needed it the most. He instructed officials at midnight itself to ensure that the bodies of the deceased are sent to their homes..." The fire broke out in the ICU of the trauma centre at SMS Hospital in Jaipur late on Sunday night, leading to the tragic loss of lives. Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph confirmed that six deaths had been reported. Prima facie, the fire was caused by a short circuit; meanwhile, the forensics team is investigating to determine the cause, the Police Commissioner told ANI. "Our FSL team's investigation will reveal the cause of the fire. At first glance, it appears to be a short circuit, but the final cause will only be determined after the FSL investigation. The death of six people has been confirmed," said Commissioner Joseph. He added that the bodies of the deceased had been moved to the mortuary, and post-mortem procedures would follow. "The remaining have been shifted to another ward and are under treatment. The bodies of the deceased have been shifted to the mortuary. Once everything is done, the post-mortem of the bodies will be conducted," Commissioner Joseph added. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Monday demanded a high-level investigation into the incident. In response to the tragedy, the Rajasthan government constituted a six-member committee to probe the matter. The committee will be chaired by Iqbal Khan, Commissioner of the Medical Department, and includes Mukesh Kumar Meena, Additional Director of Hospital Administration in Rajasthan Medical Education Society (RajMES), Chandan Singh Meena, Chief Engineer, RajMES; Ajay Mathur, Chief Engineer, Electrical in PWD; RK Jain, Additional Principal, SMS Medical College, and Chief Fire Officer, Jaipur Municipal Corporation. (ANI)
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Monday condoled the loss of lives in the fire incident at a hospital in Jaipur, and wished speedy recovery of those injured. https://x.com/VPIndia/status/1975111094030221577 In a post on X, VP said, "Deeply saddened by loss of lives due to the tragic fire incident at a hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for strength to those who have lost their loved ones and for the speedy recovery of the injured." A fire broke out at the ICU of a trauma centre at SMS Hospital in Jaipur late Sunday night. Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph confirmed six deaths after the tragic accident. Prima facie, the fire was caused by a short circuit; meanwhile, the forensics team is investigating to determine the cause, Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph told ANI. He said, "Our FSL team's investigation will reveal the cause of the fire. At first glance, it appears to be a short circuit, but the final cause will only be determined after the FSL investigation. The death of six people has been confirmed." He added that the bodies of the deceased have been shifted to the mortuary and will be sent for a post-mortem. "The remaining have been shifted to another ward and are under treatment. The bodies of the deceased have been shifted to the mortuary. Once everything is done, the post-mortem of the bodies will be conducted," the Commissioner further said. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Monday demanded a high-level investigation into the matter. The Rajasthan government on Monday constituted a 6-member committee to investigate the incident. The committee will be chaired by Iqbal Khan, Commissioner of the Medical Department, and includes Mukesh Kumar Meena, Additional Director of Hospital Administration in Rajasthan Medical Education Society (RajMES), Chandan Singh Meena, Chief Engineer, RajMES; Ajay Mathur, Chief Engineer, Electrical in PWD; RK Jain, Additional Principal, SMS Medical College, and Chief Fire Officer, Jaipur Municipal Corporation. (ANI)
The race for one of the most prestigious political battles of the year has begun with the Election Commission announcing the dates for the Assembly Elections in Bihar. The 243 Assembly seats will go to the polls in two phases on November 6 and November 11, and votes will be counted on November 14. It promises to be a keen contest with the NDA alliance consisting of the BJP, Janata Dal (United), Lok Jan Shakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustan Awami Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Shakti Party (RLSP) up against the INDIA bloc of RJD, Congress, CPI (ML), CPI, CPM and Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP). The two alliances will also have to compete with a new player, Prashant Kishor and his party Jan Suraaj, which is expected to eat into the vote share of major parties. To get a closer picture of what the electorate could throw up, here is a look at the data from the last two assembly polls. Bihar politics has seen allies shifting sides with JD-U leader Nitish Kumar also having made famous somersaults in his over two decades as Chief Minister. The 2015 polls, held a year after the BJP-led government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to office at the Centre, were fought together by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Janata Dal-United (JD-U). RJD emerged as the single largest party in 2015 elections winning 80 seats followed by JD(U) with 71. The two parties formed the government along with the Congress and other allies. However, the alliance was short-lived, with Nitish Kumar walking out and joining the NDA and again forming a government with the support of the BJP in 2017. In the 2020 election, NDA got a majority in the assembly and won 125 seats with Nitish Kumar again taking oath as Chief Minister. However, in August 2022, Nitish Kumar broke the alliance with the BJP and resigned as Chief Minister and formed the government with the of RJD-Congress-led Mahagathbandhan. He had emerged as a key figure in the formation of the combined opposition INDIA bloc. However, Kumar's romance with the RJD lasted short of two years and in January 2024 and ahead of the parliamentary polls Kumar walked back to the NDA. BJP improved its position between the 2015 and 2020 polls. It won 53 of 157 seats it contested in 2015 and 74 of 110 seats in 2020. Rashtriya Janata Dal has also shown a strong performance, having won 80 of 101 seats it contested in 2015 and 75 of 144 seats it put up candidates in the 2020 polls. JD-U saw a dip in its performance in the last two polls. It won 71 seats of 101 it contested in 2015 and 43 of 115 in 2020. Congress also saw a decline in performance from 27 seats it won in 2015 to 19 in 2020. In 2015, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) was the dominant party in terms of high-margin victories, having secured 29 seats with a margin greater than 15%. In 2020, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the most high-margin seats, securing 19 seats by a margin greater than 15%. In terms of party Performance in reserved (SC/ST) seat, Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] was the most successful party in 2015, winning 13 of the 40 reserved seats. However, in 2020, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) got the largest number of reserved seats and won 10 of them. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has also been performing well in the reserved seats. In 2015, BJP's strongest performance was in Pashchim Champaran and Patna and won five seats in each district. Pashchim Champaran remained the BJP's stronghold in the 2020 polls, and the party swept the eight seats. BJP has shown consistent performance in Pashchim Champaran and Purba Champaran over the past few elections. RJD has shown a strong influence in some districts of central and northern Bihar. JD-U has been doing well in Nalanda district, the home turf of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. In the 2020 assembly elections, the RJD emerged as the single largest party with 75 seats, while the BJP was a close second with 74 seats. Both parties have a strong and committed voter base. With the entry of a new player in Jan Suraaj , this election promises to be a close contest, with the smaller parties expected to play a crucial role in the formation of the next government. (ANI)
Telangana Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageshwar Rao on Monday held a crucial meeting with the Managing Director (MD) of Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), state government marketing department officials, and ginning millers to discuss cotton procurement in the state. According to the Information and Public Relations (I&PR) Telangana, the meeting, held at the Telangana State Secretariat in Hyderabad, focused on various issues related to the procurement of cotton in the state. The discussions aimed to ensure smooth operations and address any challenges in the cotton procurement process. Meanwhile, a meeting was organised at the Medchal BRS district office under the leadership of District President and MLC Shambhipur Raju, following a request from BRS Working President KTR to take the "Due Card Movement" across the Medchal district to create awareness among the public about the "empty promises" made by the Congress government. During the meeting, the leaders criticised the Congress government for making 420 misleading promises to the public at the time of the elections. They stated that the BRS party is taking the "Due Card" to the public to expose the Congress's fraudulent attitude and deception towards the people. Earlier, the Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, and Rural Development Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, announced the formation of a dedicated team within the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to focus on sugarcane research in India. This announcement was made during a national discussion on the sugarcane economy, which was organised by Rural Voice and the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories in collaboration with ICAR. According to Chouhan, this team will focus on the sugarcane policy of India. During the discussion, the Minister emphasised the importance of bioproducts. He noted that while ethanol and molasses have well-established uses, new value-added products need to be developed to increase farmers' profits. During the event, he also underlined the potential of natural farming to help reduce fertiliser dependency. (ANI)
The Supreme Court of India dismissed a special leave petition (SLP) filed by Dr. Matthew A. Kuzhalnadan, Congress MLA from Muvattupuzha, against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter, and Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd. (CMRL) on Monday. Earlier, Dr Kuzhalnadan had approached the top court challenging the Kerala High Court's order, which upheld the dismissal of his criminal complaint, under Section 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Sections 120B and 34 of the Indian Penal Code. According to his complaint, he claimed that CMRL made payments to the Chief Minister's daughter and her company as a quid pro quo for favourable treatment from the state government. However, both the trial court and the Kerala High Court rejected his allegations, holding that the materials placed on record did not establish the alleged offences. Later, when the matter reached the Chief Justice of India, the court refused to interfere with the High Court's order. During its judgment, the CJI observed that political battles should be fought before the people and during elections, rather than in the courts, and cautioned against using judicial forums to settle political scores. He further remarked that the Kerala floods were a tragedy and should not be exploited for political mileage. Hence, the Supreme Court chose not to entertain the petition and dismissed the Special Leave Petition (SLP). During the proceedings, the petitioner was represented by Senior Advocate S. Gurukrishna Kumar. Respondent No. 2, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), was represented by Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Siddhartha Dave, along with Advocates-on-Record Arshdeep S. Khurana, Sulakshan V.S., and Manohar Pratap. Meanwhile, in another incident, a lawyer entered Court Room 1 of the Supreme Court of India and attempted to throw an object at the Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai with the alleged intent to attack him. As per sources, the attacker, while being escorted out by the security personnel, said "Sanatan ka apman nahi sahega Hindustan". However, the security personnel present at the scene intervened immediately and escorted him out. (ANI)
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has issued a firm resolution condemning the conduct of an advocate who disrupted proceedings in the courtroom of the Chief Justice of India, Justice BR Gavai. The Association described the act as "reprehensible" and expressed deep shock and dismay over what it called a serious breach of courtroom decorum and professional ethics. In its statement, the SCBA asserted that the advocate's behaviour was not only inappropriate for an officer of the Court but also posed a direct challenge to the independence of the judiciary. It emphasised that such actions erode public trust in the justice system and threaten the foundational respect that binds the Bench and the Bar. The incident reportedly stemmed from reactions to Justice Gavai's remarks in the Khajuraho Vishnu Idol Restoration case, where he had called for respect across religious lines while rejecting misinterpretations. The SCBA stated that these remarks were irresponsibly distorted on social media, fueling misinformation and likely contributing to the outburst in the courtroom. Despite the provocation, Justice Gavai maintained composure and continued to perform his duties with dignity. The SCBA commended his restraint and reaffirmed its unwavering support for the Chief Justice and the entire judiciary, reiterating that judicial independence must be preserved at all costs. The Association warned against any attempts to weaken the constitutional bond between the Bench and the Bar, describing both as essential pillars of the justice delivery system. It urged legal professionals to uphold the values of secularism, fraternity, and the rule of law, and to resist efforts that politicise or tarnish the judiciary's image. The SCBA also criticised certain media outlets for sensationalising the incident and distorting judicial statements, particularly those related to the Khajuraho case. It accused such reporting of inciting public outrage and undermining the authority of the Court, labelling it as "predatory journalism" that disregards ethical standards. In closing, the SCBA revealed that the advocate in question holds only temporary membership in the Association and confirmed that disciplinary action is under consideration. It reiterated that while freedom of expression is vital, it must be exercised with responsibility, especially by those who serve as officers of the Court. (ANI)
Following the Election Commission's announcement of the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections dates, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President JP Nadda on Monday extended their greetings to the people of the state, expressing confidence that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would once again receive a decisive mandate under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shah congratulated the people of Bihar on what he described as the "grand festival of democracy." He said that under the leadership of PM Modi, the NDA government has freed Bihar from "Jungle Raj" and placed it firmly on the path of development and good governance. In a post on X, the Union Minister said, "The Election Commission has announced the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections. Congratulations to all the people of Bihar for this grand festival of democracy." Expressing optimism about the upcoming polls, Shah wrote, "I am fully confident that the people of Bihar will once again choose the politics of development this time." https://x.com/amitshah/status/1975162113082679296?s=48 "Under the leadership of Modi Ji, the NDA government has pulled Bihar out of Jungle Raj and given it a new direction of development and good governance. Today, Bihar is witnessing historic changes in every sector, along with poor welfare, infrastructure, health, and education," Shah said. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President JP Nadda also welcomed the announcement of the Bihar elections, calling the elections the "greatest festival of democracy." Nadda noted that elections serve as the foundation of India's democratic process and are key to ensuring the continuity of development and good governance. "I welcome the announcement of the Bihar Legislative Election by the Election Commission of India today. Elections are the greatest festival of democracy. They are the primary means to keep the country and state on the path of development and good governance, Nadda said in a post on X. https://x.com/JPNadda/status/1975164542905712937 "Under the leadership of the honourable Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, the NDA government in Bihar has become synonymous with public welfare and good governance. This election in Bihar is about continuously leading the state on the path of development, making it free from infiltrators, and preventing the return of jungle raj," Nadda further wrote. He further expressed confidence that the people of Bihar, "the cradle of democracy," would once again bless the BJP and the NDA with overwhelming support in the legislative elections. "I have full confidence that the people of the sacred land of Bihar, the cradle of democracy, will bless and support the Bharatiya Janata Party and NDA with overwhelming votes in these legislative elections," Nadda said. Meanwhile, the Election Commission announced the schedule for the Bihar Assembly elections today. The 243 Assembly seats will go to the polls in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with counting of votes to be held on November 14. (ANI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged people not to deteriorate law and order. This comes after BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh alleged that he along with Malda North MP Khagen Murmu were attacked in Nagrakata in North Bengal, while distributing relief materials for people affected by the flood and landslides in the state. "We do not want any deterioration in law and order. We never want any incident. If you go to a flood-affected area with 30-40 vehicles, people would be hurt. Those who lost 'roti-kapda-makaan' need food, clothes and shelter. So, we do not want to go there to do politics. An incident has occurred...So, I asked the DGP to go there. He went there and spoke with everyone there...We do not want any more incidents. Please remain calm..." CM Mamata Banerjee said. Meanwhile, BJP MP and National Spokesperson Sambit Patra slammed the Mamata governmet over the attack on tribal leader and two-time MP Khagen Murmu in Jalpaiguri's Nagrakata, calling it an instance of "jungle raj" in West Bengal. The BJP National Spokesperson alleged that TMC leaders incited party workers to assault Murmu and local MLA Shankar Ghosh during their visit for flood relief, resulting in head injuries for Murmu. Addressing the press conference, BJP National Spokesperson said, "We have once again seen the 'jungle raj' started in West Bengal by the TMC. When Khagen Murmu was going to Nagrakata, Jalpaiguri, for flood relief, local MLA Shankar Ghosh was also with him. At that time, at the behest of TMC leaders, party workers attacked Khagen Murmu and Shankar Ghosh. Entire India saw this. Khagen Murmu has sustained head injuries...Today, a tribal leader and 2-time MP was attacked in an inhuman manner; this is cruelty and barbarism. This should not be tolerated." West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of orchestrating violence by sending her supporters to allegedly attack BJP leaders and workers and obstruct relief work. Adhikari claimed that while BJP MPs and MLAs were targeted for visiting flood-affected areas in North Bengal and distributing relief. He alleged that MP Khagen Murmu sustained injuries and MLA Shankar Ghosh's vehicle was attacked. The BJP leader Adhikari also criticised Mamata Banerjee for attending a carnival with celebrities while flood-hit areas in North Bengal faced severe devastation. In a post on X, Adhikari wrote, "Mamata Banerjee is on full Panic Mode. She has realised it (quite late) that the People of West Bengal have despised her inhuman act of 'Dancing at Carnival with Celebrities' when North Bengal was reeling under floods and landslides, with many People losing their lives and thousands left shelterless. In contrast, BJP Bengal MLAs & MPs were on ground doing their bit to provide relief to the affected People." At least 18 people were reported to be killed in Darjeeling as in incessant rain that wreaked havoc in West Bengal's north on Saturday night and early Sunday, the district authorities confirmed on Monday. The authorities noted that 11 people were killed in heavy rains in the tourist town of Mirik till October 5. In Jorebunglow four people were killed, while in Sukhia Pokhari two people were killed and in Darjeeling Sadar, one person passed away in the heavy rain that battered the state. (ANI)
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will celebrate its 93rd Air Force Day on October 8, where it will highlight the achievements of Operation Sindoor. It will demonstrate the force's operational strength, growing technological capabilities, and humanitarian role that it has played over the years. The Full Dress Rehearsal (FDR) for the parade took place on Monday at Hindon Air Force Station, but rain caused disruptions, postponing the static aircraft display for the main event. This year, the static display line-up also includes platforms that played a part in forcing Islamabad to retreat and seek a ceasefire after its Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) dialled his Indian counterpart. The display will feature fighter jets such as the Rafale, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, and MiG-29, along with India's indigenous Netra AEW&C, the C-17 Globemaster III, the indigenous Akash Surface-to-Air Missile System, the C-130J Hercules, Apache attack helicopters fitted with Longbow radar, and the Advanced Light Helicopter. An S-band Rohini radar will also be part of the display. The recently retired MiG-21 Bison will also be a part of the display as a tribute to its over six decades of service to the IAF. Interestingly, the bison too played an active role in deterring PAF's movement along the western air corridor during Operation Sindoor. "In the latest Operation Sindoor, it was deployed operationally," IAF Spokesperson Wing Commander Jaideep Singh told ANI last month. Certain highlights of the IAF's participation in international exercises, such as Desert Knight, Red Flag Alaska, Udara Dara Shakti in Malaysia, and Bright Star in Egypt, were also highlighted as examples of growing global military cooperation and the emergence of the Indian Air Force as a leading air power in the world. The IAF also highlighted Group Captain Shubhan Shukla's historic mission as the first Indian pilot to board the International Space Station (ISS) in 2025, marking the IAF's role in space exploration. The IAF's capabilities as "first responders" in humanitarian missions were also noted during the FDR, including flood relief and rescue operations from Uttarkashi to Punjab, as well as assistance following the Myanmar earthquake. It was also recalled how the Air Force undertook several casualty evacuations, medical airlifts, and disaster response operations across the country and the globe. This year's parade will take place at Hindon Air Base, one of India's largest and most strategic airbases. The Air Force Day parades were previously held in Chennai in 2024 and Prayagraj in 2023. Although the Air Force Day parade will be held in Hindon, the flypast is likely to take place in Guwahati in mid-November. Meanwhile, on Friday, while addressing the annual press conference in New Delhi ahead of the Air Force's 93rd Day celebration, Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal AP Singh detailed the IAF's achievements during Operation Sindoor, saying the force destroyed 12 to 13 of Pakistan's combat aircraft, including several F-16s and JF-17s, a C-130 strategic transport aircraft and two spy planes, both on the ground and in the air. "As far as Pakistan's losses are concerned...we have struck a large number of their airfields and we struck a large number of installations...Because of these strikes, radars at least four places, command and control centres at two places, runways of course damaged at two places, then three of their hangars in three different stations have been damaged...we have signs of one C-130 class of aircraft...and at least 4 to 5 fighter aircraft, most likely F-16, because that place happened to be F-16 with whatever was under maintenance at that time," the ACM said. The Air Chief said, "Along with that, one SAM system has been destroyed...We have clear evidence of one long-range strike, which I talked about more than 300 km, which happened to be either an AEW&C or a SIGINT aircraft, along with that five high-tech fighters between F-16 and JF-17 class this is what our system tells us." He also confirmed that the IAF's LRSAM S-400 conducted a long-range strike of over 300 kilometres, destroying one of Pakistan's AW&EC (airborne early warning aircraft). "Our long-range SAMs that we had procured recently and operationalised... We could look deep inside their territory. We could make sure that they were not able to operate even within their territory up to a certain distance. It will go down in history as the longest kill that we achieved, of more than 300 kilometres. And it seriously curtailed their activities," the Air Chief said. The CAS also lauded the S-400 Triumf 'Sudarshan Chakra' system as a "good weapon system", adding that India is also moving forward in developing its own LRSAM. "We have our own system developing," he said. The Air Chief also took a jibe at Pakistan's unsubstantiated claims of shooting down IAF jets, saying, "If they think they shot down 15 of my jets, let them think about it. I hope they will cater for 15 fewer aircraft in my inventory when they come to fight again." Further, ACM Singh dismissed the claims as "Manohar Kahaniyan" (fanciful tales), saying Pakistan offered no evidence while India had shared clear proof of damage to its targets. The Air Chief said India entered the May conflict, following provocation by the "barbaric" Pahalgam terror attack that resulted in the loss of lives of 26 innocent souls, with a clear goal and ended it quickly after achieving its objectives. "It stands as a lesson in history that this was one war started with a clear objective and terminated in quick time without prolonging it," the Air Chief said. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav met families of Cough Syrup tragedy victims in Chhindwara on Monday, assuring them of providing the required assistance. "Today, I have come to meet the families who lost their loved ones in a tragic cough syrup incident in Chhindwara district. As soon as we received information about the incident, we took required action into the matter. Today also, I have given orders to suspend the Deputy Drug Controller and Drug Inspector. We have urged the Tamil Nadu government to take action against the company that has produced this cough syrup. Taking cognisance of this incident, the Tamil Nadu government has banned all products of this company," CM Yadav told reporters. The Chief minister also emphasised that the cough syrup was being manufactured not as per the standard methods following which, they informed the Tamil Nadu government about the situation, resulting in all the product of the company being banned. "I have ordered a proper examination of medicine factories and our officials should test the medicine be it from any company or it arrives from anywhere else in the state. I stand by the affected families. It is a sensitive issue and we have been instructed to provide better treatment to the children and the families still affected by this. The administration will provide the required assistance," the CM said. Earlier, CM Yadav said that Madhya Pradesh government took strigent steps and banned the medicines coming from Tamil Nadu factory. "Taking action in the case, we have banned the medicines coming from a Tamil Nadu factory. Information about two more factories has been received, and orders have been given to ban those as well. We have submitted a written complaint to the concerned state government as well as the central government... We have taken action into the matter and more action orders are given today as well. We will not tolerate any kind of carelessness... I am shortly leaving for Chhindwara," he said. "In the hour of grief, I would also like to say to Congress that raising allegations is easy but they should also focus on their past deeds when they didn't use to take actions though our government takes immediate action. We run government with sensitivity and we would take action if any government body found committing negligence," he further said. Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari also met the families of children who lost their lives after consuming cough syrup in Chhindwara district on Monday. He also demanded the removal of the Madhya Pradesh Health Minister Rajendra Shukla, who is also the deputy chief minister of the state and financial assistance of Rs 1 crore to each affected family. "Our Chief Minister is coming here today after eight days. When the first child died, our MLA had written a letter for an investigation. But it (death of children) is an example of complete negligence. I request the Chief Minister to dismiss the Health Minister immediately and then only it will look like you have taken the matter seriously. Financial assistance of Rs 1 crore each should be provided to the affected families," Patwatri told ANI. At least 14 deaths have been reported due to the alleged consumption of a cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara so far, while eight children have been admitted to a hospital, said an official. (ANI)
Following heavy rain and landslides in Darjeeling, Chief Executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), Anit Thapa, said that every area of GTA had been cut off, there was no road connectivity, and a report would be submitted to the government. He visited the landslide-affected areas in Machidhara gaon, Darjeeling, on Monday. Anit Thapa said, "We did not imagine that so many lives would be lost. Every area of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) has been cut off, there is no road connectivity. We are assessing the damage and compiling a report, which we will then submit to the government. We expect help from the governments. We are planning for a temporary Bailey bridge. Incident took place yesterday. It will take time for the assessment." He further said that all the elected members, panchayat members, and opposition leaders are on the field, and it cannot be politicised. "This is a landslide-prone zone. I am thankful to CM Mamata Banerjee for announcing Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia and a Special Homeguard job for a kin of the flood victims. The houses which are completely damaged, we will arrange accommodation for them," he added. At least 18 people were reported to be killed in Darjeeling as in incessant rain that wreaked havoc in West Bengal's north on Saturday night and early Sunday, the district authorities confirmed on Monday. The authorities noted that 11 people were killed in heavy rains in the tourist town of Mirik till October 5. In Jorebunglow, four people were killed, while in Sukhia Pokhari, two people were killed, and in Darjeeling Sadar, one person passed away in the heavy rain that battered the state. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the flood-affected Jalpaiguri in North West Bengal, on Monday. She urged people to show restraint, caution and not lose courage. CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia and a Special Homeguard job for a kin of the flood victims. Sharing an X post, CM Mamata Banerjee wrote, "While death cannot be compensated, we shall give Rs 5 lakh to the families of each deceased, and a Special Homeguard's job to a kin in each such family as a special gesture." She added that the police and administration are conducting rescue operations in the affected areas, and community kitchens have been established to provide support. "Police and administration have been doing rescue and restoration operations in all affected areas. Community kitchens have been opened, distressed people are being given all-out support. Tourists are being safely evacuated, and where hotel accommodation is to be arranged, that will be done at our cost. North Bengal State Transport Corporation and our other transport organisations are mobilising streams of special Volvo and long-distance buses for evacuating the stranded tourists," the Chief Minister wrote. (ANI)
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), and Forest Research Institute (FRI), organised the Wildlife Week 2025 celebrations at the historic Hari Singh Auditorium, IGNFA, FRI Campus, Dehradun, on Monday, said the release. The event was graced by Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav. Senior officers from the Ministry, representatives from State Forest Departments, scientists, academicians, students, and conservation professionals participated in the celebrations. The Wildlife Week Celebrations highlighted the synergy among WII, ICFRE, IGNFA, and FRI, demonstrating a holistic, inter-institutional approach to wildlife conservation, research, and policy integration. This year's theme is 'Human-Wildlife Coexistence,' considering the increasing incidents of close human-wildlife interfaces over the years and aiming to gather community support to facilitate a shift from conflict to coexistence. In his address, taking reference to the various nationally significant announcements made by the Prime Minister during the 7th National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) meeting, the Minister emphasised the Ministry's commitment to conserving its biodiversity while ensuring coexistence between people and wildlife. He also highlighted the growing need for innovative, technology-driven, and community-centric approaches to wildlife management. As per the release, the Minister urged all stakeholders to strengthen partnerships for conservation and emphasised that "Wildlife protection is not just a duty, but a shared responsibility for ensuring harmony between nature and people". During the event, the Minister launched five national-level projects for species conservation and conflict management, advancing the vision and guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as discussed during the 7th Meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) regarding the conservation management of species. The projects include the implementation of the Action Plan for Project Dolphin (Phase II), which aims to strengthen conservation measures for river and marine cetaceans across India. Project Sloth Bear was launched, accompanied by the release of a national implementation framework for the conservation of the Sloth Bear, along with the project brochure. Similarly, Project Gharial saw the launch of its implementation action plan for Gharial conservation, along with the release of the project brochure. The Centre of Excellence for Human-Wildlife Conflict Management (CoE-HWC) at SACON was also established as a dedicated national centre to support policy, research, and field-based mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts in India, with an information booklet released during the event. Additionally, the Tigers Outside Tiger Reserve initiative was introduced to redress conflicts outside protected areas using a landscape approach, technological interventions, capacity building, and community support. The release stated that the Minister also unveiled four national-level action plans and field guides for species population assessments and monitoring programmes. This included the Second Cycle of population estimation for river dolphins and other cetaceans, accompanied by the release of a brochure and field guide. The All India Tiger Estimation Cycle-6 was launched, accompanied by the release of the field guide in eight regional languages. The Action Plan for the Second Cycle of Snow Leopard Population Estimation was also unveiled, along with the progress report on the population estimation of the Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican. The event also included the online inauguration of the SFS Officers' Mess at CASFoS, Coimbatore. A key highlight of the evening was the concluding session of the National Hackathon on Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) Coexistence, which brought together young innovators, students, and technology developers from across India. The Hackathon encouraged creative solutions to mitigate conflicts, promote coexistence and enhance real-time decision-making using advanced tools such as AI, spatial analytics and community engagement models. A total of 120 teams, comprising 420 youths from 75 institutions across 20 States/UTs, participated in the event over the last three weeks. Following the preliminary rounds, the finale was held in Dehradun as part of the event, with the top 6 finalists making presentations in the presence of the Minister and Expert Juries, along with a large number of participants of the celebrations. The top three finalists received a cash prize along with a certificate, while all other finalists received an appreciation prize from the Minister. He also gave away prizes to the winners of the quiz competition conducted by IGNFA. (ANI)
The Indian Medical Association has defended the arrest of a paediatrician amid child deaths from contaminated cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh and called the arrest "a classical example of legal illiteracy" of the police officials. The IMA further requested immediate action against the perpetrators and adequate compensation for the bereaved families. The IMA, in a press release, condemned the arrest and said, "The cough syrup tragedy in Madhya Pradesh and the subsequent arrest of the doctor who prescribed the same is a classical example of legal illiteracy of the officials and the police. IMA demands immediate action on the actual culprits and adequate compensation for the affected families and the doctor who is a victim of defamation." The FIR was lodged at Parasia police station on Saturday on a paediatric specialist posted at the Community Health Centre (CHC) in the town, along with the directors of M/s Sresan Pharmaceuticals, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. They have been booked under BNS sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 276 (adulteration of drugs), as well as section 27(A) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The release further said, "The arrest of the doctor in haste, just after the report of BMO, precisely shows an attempt to divert the attention of the people from the faults of regulatory bodies and the concerned pharmaceutical company." Highlighting the reason behind the use of cheap materials, the press release said that pharmaceutical-grade glycerine and propylene glycol, required for manufacturing cough syrups, are expensive. Toxic substances such as industrial-grade DEG and ethylene glycol (EG) are cheaper and visually indistinguishable. The IMA further criticised the quality control and said that if quality control fails at the level of both the manufacturer and the regulator, cough syrups produced by a few companies may end up containing toxic substances capable of causing kidney failure and death in young children. This has happened several times in the past in multiple countries among children after apparently consuming contaminated cough syrup. The prescribing doctor has no way of knowing whether a medicine is contaminated until adverse outcomes are reported among patients who have taken it. The release further added, "Regulation must therefore be made foolproof to prevent such tragedies. Many people purchase cough syrups over the counter without a doctor's recommendation, resulting in far more children consuming them than medically necessary. In most cases, coughs and colds resolve on their own without any syrup. When a doctor does prescribe one, it is based on clinical assessment of the child." The release cited the Mashelkar Report of 2003. It noted that the problems in the regulatory system in the country were primarily due to inadequate or weak drug control infrastructure at the State and Central level, inadequate testing facilities, shortage of drug inspectors, no uniformity of enforcement, lack of specially trained cadres for specific regulatory areas, non-existence of a data bank and non-availability of accurate Information. In the given case, CDSCO and MPFDA failed to monitor the concentration of DEG in the alleged cough syrup. The responses of both Central and State authorities are creating problems instead of instilling confidence in the minds of the public. Arresting a doctor who has the mandate and privilege to prescribe a drug as approved by competent authorities has sent a wrong message. Doctors across the country are apprehensive after indiscriminate action against a bona fide doctor. This is a clear-cut case of a spurious drug as defined in Section 17 B of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. (Sec 17 B. d: it has been substituted wholly or in part by another drug or substance). Approval of the said cough syrup, monitoring of the quality and the content of the same, squarely fall within the ambit of the Drugs regulatory system. Once the drug has been approved and made available in the market registered medical practitioner is the legitimate authority in prescribing any drug. The Drug Controller issuing directions to the pharmacies not to supply an approved drug falls outside their competency and authority. The controller has issued such advices to the pharmacies earlier as wellas restricting certain drugs to certain specialities. This amounts to a coloured exercise of power outside the boundaries of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, said the release. IMA further highlighted their concern with the incompetence and inadequacy of the drug regulatory system in the country and the mishandling of this unfortunate incident. "The onus of the death of these hapless children falls squarely on the manufacturers and the authorities. Intimidation of the medical profession is uncalled for and will be resisted," the release said. (ANI)
The race for one of the most prestigious political battles of the year has begun after the Election Commission on Monday announced the dates for the Assembly Elections in Bihar. The 243 Assembly seats will go to the polls in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with counting of votes to be held on November 14. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar, also informed that the ECI has decided to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists throughout the country, following the announcement of the schedule for the Bihar Assembly elections. Addressing the press conferences, the Chief Election Commissioner said, "ECI has already taken a decision to conduct SIR throughout the country." Earlier, in its order on June 24, the EC had stated that SIR would be conducted across the country. Reacting to the SIR process in Bihar, the CEC asserted that the electors of Bihar had fully participated in the purification of the voter list in the state. "The final voter's list after SIR has been given to all political parties. Post the date of nomination filing, the Voters' list, which is to be released, will be final. The electors of Bihar fully participated in the purification of the voter list in the state," the CEC said. Following the Election Commission's announcement of election dates, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President JP Nadda also extended their greetings to the people of the state, expressing confidence that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would once again receive a decisive mandate under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shah congratulated the people of Bihar on what he described as the "grand festival of democracy." He said that under the leadership of PM Modi, the NDA government has freed Bihar from "Jungle Raj" and placed it firmly on the path of development and good governance. In a post on X, the Union Minister said, "The Election Commission has announced the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections. Congratulations to all the people of Bihar for this grand festival of democracy." Expressing optimism about the upcoming polls, Shah wrote, "I am fully confident that the people of Bihar will once again choose the politics of development this time." Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President JP Nadda also welcomed the announcement of the Bihar elections, calling the elections the "greatest festival of democracy." Nadda noted that elections serve as the foundation of India's democratic process and are key to ensuring the continuity of development and good governance. "I welcome the announcement of the Bihar Legislative Election by the Election Commission of India today. Elections are the greatest festival of democracy. They are the primary means to keep the country and state on the path of development and good governance, Nadda said in a post on X. Reacting to poll dates, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary also called it the "festival of democracy". "We welcome this. This is the festival of democracy...NDA will go the people on the basis of our work and the development of Bihar...We are prepared..." the Deputy CM said. Expressing confidence that the EC will conduct a fair election, Bihar BJP chief Dilip Jaiswal asserted that the "NDA is prepared and united for this election". "NDA and BJP welcome this...We are confident that the EC will conduct a fair election and ensure that all voters can vote safely...On 14th Nov, people will give their mandate to form an NDA Govt once again...NDA is prepared and united for this election...With the work that we have done, we are confident that people of Bihar will like development and form NDA govt with more than 2/3rd votes..." Dilip Jaiswal said. Hitting out at Rahul Gandhi on Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Union Minister Giriraj Singh asserted that it is the mercy of the Election Commission that they didn't file an FIR against the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha. "I believe that the dates and two-phase polls were announced by the EC after speaking with all parties...Formation of the NDA Government with more than 2/3 votes is certain. Rahul Gandhi executed a hit-and-run on SIR and ran away...It is the mercy of the Election Commission that they didn't file an FIR against him. Otherwise, case should have been registered against some people for spreading rumours..." Giriraj Singh said. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan welcomed the Election Commission's announcement of the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections, expressing optimism about the democratic exercise. "I heartily welcome the announcement of the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections by the Election Commission today. There is tremendous enthusiasm among all workers of the BJP, including the NDA, regarding this festival of democracy," Pradhan wrote in a post on X. He added that the hardworking and dedicated NDA workers will reach every village and home to present the public welfare achievements of the double-engine government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. "The people of Bihar are going to decide in this democratic festival, with full enthusiasm and active participation, to elect the NDA government dedicated to good governance again on November 14 with a massive majority, thereby realising the resolve of 'Developed India - Developed Bihar,'" Pradhan wrote. BJP national spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain also said that the NDA has done excellent work in Bihar. "The Election Commission has announced the long-awaited moment. The NDA has done excellent work in Bihar. Under Nitish Kumar's leadership, Bihar has progressed. PM Modi has given 14 lakh crore rupees to Bihar in 11 years... This time, the NDA will receive the votes of all communities... On November 14, it will be written in history that Bihar voted on the measure of development..." Hussain said. Meanwhile, opposition parties are questioning the credibility of the Election Commission (EC) and asserting that the people of Bihar are yearning for change after two decades of governance under the NDA. The announcement has sparked a sharp political response, as Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera alleged that the Election Commission has not provided satisfactory answers on the issue of voter list revisions, claiming that an unnecessary narrative has been created around "infiltration." "The Election Commission has not answered some very critical questions. They created an atmosphere as though Bihar is infiltrated by people from Bangladesh and Nepal. But when they delete names, they don't come up with a single name of any so-called infiltrator. Why did you create a political narrative around infiltrations? Where are the infiltrators? Now they say they have removed the people who were dead....The credibility of the Election Commission comes under a dark cloud everyday," Khera said in Delhi. Asserting similar concerns, Congress leader Rashid Alvi said that he has "no confidence" that the poll body would conduct free and fair elections. "EC cannot be trusted...I am confident that EC won't conduct fair elections in Bihar. If fair elections are held in Bihar, the BJP-Nitish Kumar government will never come to power," Alvi explained. Congress MP Tariq Anwar also described the mood in Bihar as being "clearly in favour of change," adding that the people have only faced "hopelessness" under the current regime. "The mood in Bihar is of change. The people of Bihar have only got hopelessness from those who have been in power for the last 20 years..SIR was done in haste, and that is why people raised their objections...Our alliance will get a majority and take a decision (on who will be the CM) in a democratic way," Anwar said. From the Shiv Sena (UBT), MP Priyanka Chaturvedi appealed to voters to use this election to usher in a new era of governance. "I hope that Bihar will bring in the politics of change, government of change. People of Bihar have been deceived for years. Bihar has been only towards misery. Voting will be held for a positive change in Bihar. I urge everyone in Bihar to vote for a new government." In Ranchi, JMM MP Mahua Maji also expressed optimism that the INDIA alliance would see a breakthrough in Bihar. "The Bihar election has been announced. The public should take this as an opportunity, as they want change...The way their trust in the INDIA alliance has increased, we have received very positive signals from that...We are fully confident that this time there will be a change...", the JMM MP said. The assembly polls is expected to witness a keen contest with the NDA alliance consisting of the BJP, Janata Dal (United), Lok Jan Shakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustan Awami Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Shakti Party (RLSP) up against the INDIA bloc of RJD, Congress, CPI (ML), CPI, CPM and Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP). The two alliances will also have to compete with a new player, Prashant Kishor and his party Jan Suraaj, which is expected to eat into the vote share of major parties. To get a closer picture of what the electorate could throw up, here is a look at the data from the last two assembly polls. Bihar politics has seen allies shifting sides, with JD-U leader Nitish Kumar also having made famous somersaults in his over two decades as Chief Minister. In the 2020 assembly elections, the RJD emerged as the single largest party with 75 seats, while the BJP was a close second with 74 seats. Both parties have a strong and committed voter base. With the entry of a new player in Jan Suraaj , this election promises to be a close contest, with the smaller parties expected to play a crucial role in the formation of the next government. (ANI)
The attack on Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai inside the Supreme Court premises on Monday has triggered widespread condemnation across the political spectrum, with leaders from various parties calling it an "attack on the judiciary" and "constitution" The incident, in which a lawyer allegedly attempted to throw a shoe at the CJI, has raised serious questions over security within the apex court and sparked a chorus of solidarity with the Chief Justice. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the incident was "an assault on the dignity of our judiciary and the spirit of our Constitution." "Such hatred has no place in our nation and must be condemned," he said in a post on X. His sister and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra termed the attempt "shameful, unfortunate, and alarming." "The attempt to attack the Honorable Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is extremely shameful, unfortunate, and alarming. This is not just an attack on the Chief Justice of the country, but on our Constitution, the entire judicial system, and the rule of law," she wrote. "The Honorable Chief Justice, through their hard work, dedication, and competence, has broken all societal barriers to achieve the highest judicial position. Such an attack on them is fatal to both the judiciary and democracy. No amount of condemnation for this is enough," she added further. Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said, "This is beyond imagination that a crazy lawyer will come to the Apex Court, raise slogans and attempt to hurl something at the Chief Justice of India. It is his bigheartedness that he said the proceedings should continue." "But it is a matter of concern for all of us...Is this happening because he comes from a Dalit community? A Dalit was beaten to death in Raebareli and a Dalit CJI is attacked here...I think this is very concerning; the more it is criticised, the less it is. Such a person should be punished," she added. From Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also condemned the act, demanding strict action. "I strongly condemn the incident in which a lawyer attempted to throw a shoe at the Hon'ble Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice B.R. Gavai. Immediate legal action must be taken against the unruly lawyer who sought to insult both the Chief Justice and the judiciary," he said on X. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin called the incident "shameful" and said it was "an attack on the highest judicial office of our democracy and deserves the strongest condemnation." "The manner in which the Hon'ble CJI responded with grace, calm and magnanimity shows the strength of the institution, but that cannot make us take the incident lightly. The reason revealed by the attacker for his act shows how deeply the oppressive and hierarchical mindset still lingers in our society," it added. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan linked the incident to what he described as a climate of 'growing intolerance'. Strongly condemn the attempted attack on Chief Justice B R Gavai in the Supreme Court. This alarming incident is a reflection of the hatred spread by the Sangh Parivar. To dismiss it as an individual act is to ignore the growing climate of intolerance. When communal fanaticism dares to target even the Chief Justice of India, it exposes the grave danger of this divisive and venomous politics that must be confronted without hesitation," Vijayan said on X. The alleged attempt took place during court proceedings, and security personnel reportedly intervened swiftly. The Supreme Court administration is expected to issue an official statement after reviewing the security lapse. (ANI) Apart from this, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has issued a firm resolution condemning the conduct of the advocate who disrupted proceedings in the courtroom of the Chief Justice of India. The Association described the act as "reprehensible" and expressed deep shock and dismay over what it called a serious breach of courtroom decorum and professional ethics. In its statement, the SCBA asserted that the advocate's behaviour was not only inappropriate for an officer of the Court but also posed a direct challenge to the independence of the judiciary. It emphasised that such actions erode public trust in the justice system and threaten the foundational respect that binds the Bench and the Bar. (ANI)
Union Minister Piyush Goyal stated that India does not encourage cryptocurrencies that lack sovereign or asset backing, such as those not supported by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) or a local currency. He announced that India will introduce a digital currency backed by an RBI guarantee, aimed at simplifying transactions, reducing paper usage, and enabling faster, traceable transactions compared to traditional banking. "We have not been encouraging cryptocurrency, which does not have sovereign backing or which is not backed by assets, say it on the federal bank or local currency. India has also announced that we will be coming out with a digital currency, which will be backed by a Reserve Bank of India guarantee-like currency. Our idea is that this will only make it easier to transact. It will also reduce paper consumption and will be faster to transact than the banking system. But it will also have traceability," he said. Goyal clarified that while there is no outright ban on cryptocurrencies without Central government backing, they are heavily taxed to discourage their use due to the risks associated with their lack of backing and accountability. "As far as cryptocurrency, which is not backed by the Central government [is concerned], while there is no ban as such, we are taxing it very heavily. We don't encourage it because we don't want anybody to be stuck at some point with a cryptocurrency that has no backing and nobody at the backend," he said. On Monday, Goyal announced that a business delegation visit aimed at expanding bilateral trade and investment. "I would think that sometime by the middle of next year, or third quarter of next year, we will be able to finalise an FTA, if not earlier," Goyal told reporters in Doha. Qatar ranks among India's key trading partners within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), with bilateral trade totalling over USD 14.15 billion in 2024-25. The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. India has already secured a trade pact with the UAE and is expected to sign a similar agreement with Oman in the near future. Minister Goyal held discussions with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, on launching FTA negotiations. Both ministers agreed to fast-track the process to support their ambitious goal of doubling bilateral trade. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav held a high-level meeting at the CM residence in Bhopal regarding the Chhindwara incident on Monday and ordered suspension of two drug inspectors, the Deputy Director of Food and Drug Administration, and transfer of a drug controller, according to an official release. CM Yadav emphasised that strict action would be taken against all guilty parties in the Chhindwara case. "The state government is vigilant and sensitive, and no negligence will be tolerated in matters concerning human life. Accordingly, Drug Inspector of Chhindwara Gaurav Sharma, Drug Inspector of Jabalpur Sharad Kumar Jain, and Deputy Director, Food & Drug Administration Shobhit Koshta have been suspended, while Drug Controller Dinesh Maurya has been transferred," said the Chief Minister as stated in the release. The CM also directed that along with banning the sale of Coldrif syrup, the existing stock in shops should be seized. A thorough campaign should be conducted to recover the drug from the households of families who have consumed it in Chhindwara and nearby districts. ASHA workers, along with all government officials and staff, should assist in this operation. The effectiveness of other drugs sold in the area recently should also be assessed. A campaign will be launched to check whether warnings and precautions on drugs are properly indicated. Action will be taken against those who fail to comply. Combination drugs should not be given to children under four years of age; strict action will be taken against doctors violating this guideline, the CM said. He further stated that, with the support of organisations including the Indian Academy of Paediatrics and various chemist associations, necessary precautions and awareness measures should be implemented. Steps must be taken to ensure that such incidents do not recur. Instructions were also given to inform the Tamil Nadu government regarding action against the manufacturer of Coldrif syrup. At least 14 deaths have been reported due to the alleged consumption of a cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara so far, while eight children have been admitted to a hospital. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday stated at the two-day Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) Conclave (October 5-7) organised at the International Rice Research Institute (ISARC) to discuss the 150th anniversary of the Department of Agriculture, that Uttar Pradesh alone contributes 21 percent to the country's food grain production. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath chaired a historic session as the chief guest. Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, "Over the past 11 years, the state's agricultural system has undergone extensive and revolutionary changes. Under the Prime Minister's leadership, facilities such as Soil Health Cards, insurance, and MSP are available, and 100 million farmers receive the Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana annually. Despite its limited area (11 per cent), Uttar Pradesh remains a leading state in agriculture, accounting for 21 per cent of national food production. IRI and IISARC have consistently supported this sector." He added, "These institutes have consistently guided our scientists in developing climate-sensitive rice varieties and modern rice production technologies, promoting a sustainable and profitable agricultural system. Uttar Pradesh currently has four agricultural universities, and a new one is being added. Additionally, global research institutes affiliated with CGIAR, such as IRI and IISARC, are active in the state, playing a vital role in promoting agricultural innovation, sustainable farming, and food security." Highlighting the eternal wisdom embedded in India's agricultural traditions, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, "We must also actively focus on our rich traditional knowledge, which has been passed down through generations and recorded in ancient texts and travellers' accounts, so that we can strengthen both our agricultural heritage and modern innovations. Kalanamak, an iconic One District One Product (ODOP) variety of Uttar Pradesh, holds historical significance as it was offered to Lord Buddha as Mahaprasad. I commend the continuous efforts of ISARC in identifying and promoting such valuable local varieties as well as developing innovative value-added products from these traditional varieties." Highlighting Uttar Pradesh's agricultural progress and future vision, he said, "Uttar Pradesh has immense potential due to favourable agro-environmental conditions. In the past eleven years, the state government's efforts have increased the production capacity of cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and vegetables fivefold. The state government is utilising the expertise of CGIAR centres, such as the International Potato Centre (IPC), through capacity building and knowledge management. I urge the IPC to expedite its work so that our potato farmers can reap the full benefits of advanced global technologies. Agriculture requires high-quality, climate-resilient seeds, and initiatives like the Seed Park in Lucknow play a vital role in ensuring this. By continuing this kind of support for farmers, Uttar Pradesh can achieve its goal of a trillion-dollar economy, with agriculture as a major contributor. We will continue to support CGIAR centres like IPC and IPC so that Uttar Pradesh sets an example for the world and becomes a global food supplier by 2030." The occasion also celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Department. A special session titled "Dialogue to Make Uttar Pradesh a Global Food Supplier by 2030", as stated in the release. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was the chief guest at this session, and State Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, Minister of State Ravindra Jaiswal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dayashankar Mishra 'Dayalu', and Minister of State for Agriculture Baldev Singh Aulakh were present as special guests. Yvonne Pinto, Director General of IRI, Simon Heck, Director General of CIP, Ajit Kumar Sahu, Joint Secretary (Seeds), Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, Ravinder, Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Uttar Pradesh, Sudhanshu Singh, Director of ISARC, and Virendra Kumar, Director of Research, IRI were present. International partners included D.P. Wickramasinghe, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Sri Lanka; Kong Kia, General Directorate of Agriculture, Maaf-Cambodia; and Nguyen Bhan Vo, former Director of the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also honoured approximately 500 sanitation workers, known as "Swachhata Mitras," by showering them with flowers, at the "Swachhata Mitra Samman Samaroh" held at Saroja Palace near Kabirchaura Piplani Katra on Monday. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath presented the sanitation workers, Neelam, Rani Devi, Rupa, Neelam, Malti, Priyanshu, Deepak Kumar, Shatrudra, Tinku, and Suraj Bharatiya, with Angavastram, safety kits, and sweets. The sanitation workers were overjoyed to be honoured by him. Addressing the large gathering, which included sanitation workers, he stated that Lord Valmiki's birth anniversary, celebrated on October 7, has been declared a national holiday. He added that arrangements are being made to transfer between 16,000 and 20,000 rupees per month directly into the bank accounts of the sanitation workers. No one will be able to exploit sanitation workers in any way. Addressing the sanitation workers, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that his government is concerned about the sanitation workers who care for the health of everyone. All sanitation workers will also receive Ayushman cards, providing free medical treatment worth approximately 5 lakh ($500,000). (ANI)
According to the statement, the condition of one of the children is severe. The doctors have confirmed that the victims were suffering from pneumonia, and there were burn marks on their bodies.

The statement said that the Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious concerns about potential human rights violations.

Therefore, it has issued notices to the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police, Jhabua, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks.

On September 25, the parents of the children reportedly took the ailing children to the faith healer. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) said that there is no need to make changes to the Gaza peace plan, as all are on board. During his interaction with reporters before departing the White House, when Trump was asked about the Gaza plan, if there were going to be any changes, he said that the nitty grittys will be fixed in a couple of days. "We have very little, we don't need flexibility because everybody's pretty much agreed to it, but there'll always be some changes. But the Hamas plan, I tell you, it's amazing. You're going to have peace, if you think about it, peace in the Middle East for the first time in, they say really 3,000 years. So, I'm very honored to be a big part of that. They've been fighting for a plan for years. We get the hostages back almost immediately. Negotiations are going on right now. Will probably take a couple of days and people are very happy about it. It's a great deal for Israel and it's a great deal for everybody. It's a great deal for the entire Arab world, Muslim world," he said. In a post on X, the White House said, "There have been very positive discussions with Hamas, and countries from all over the World (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) this weekend, to release the Hostages, end the War in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have long sought PEACE in the Middle East." https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/1974959456745316540 It is not immediately clear what he means by "first phase" and whether he is suggesting that hostages will begin being released this week, as per The Times of Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said over the weekend that he was hopeful that hostages could be released during the Sukkot holiday, which begins on Monday evening and extends for one week, followed immediately by the Simhat Torah holiday, which marks the Hebrew calendar anniversary of Hamas's October 7 attack, The Times of Israel reported. (ANI)
Police in the UK are investigating a suspected arson attack on a mosque in southern England as a "hate crime" as a spate of violent crime against religious sites is reported, as per Al Jazeera. Officers were called to the site of an arson attack on Phyllis Avenue in Peacehaven, East Sussex, just before 10pm (local time) on Saturday, local police said. The fire damaged the front entrance of the mosque and a car, they said, adding that no one was injured. Images and footage shared online show a burned-out car at the entrance of the mosque. Sussex Police also shared images of two masked men dressed in dark clothing, and appealed for help from the public to identify them. According to a report on CNN, which quoted a volunteer mosque manager, two people were inside the building when two people in balaclavas tried to force the mosque door open and poured petrol onto the steps, setting the building alight. A spokesperson for the mosque said in a statement that the community was "deeply saddened" by the "shocking" attack. "While the incident has caused damage to our building and vehicles, we are profoundly grateful that no-one was injured." "This hateful act does not represent our community or our town. Peacehaven has always been a place of kindness, respect, and mutual support, and we will continue to embody those values," the statement continued, as per Al Jazeera. "We ask everyone to reject division and respond to hate with unity and compassion," it added. Detective Superintendent Karrie Bohanna said the attack had caused concerns within the Muslim community. "There is already an increased police presence at the scene, and there are also additional patrols taking place to provide reassurance at other places of worship across the county," Bohanna said, as quoted by Al Jazeera. (ANI)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday (local time) lauded the coalition of the Arab nations strung together by US President Donald Trump for ending the Gaza conflict. Rubio said that this was no political coalition, but they were dealing with terrorists. In a post on X, he said, "We're not dealing with a political movement, we're dealing with killers, savages, and terrorists. But what gives us hope is the coalition US President Donald Trump built that is pushing in the same direction with us to get the hostages released and the conflict resolved." https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1974857310909653073 US President Donald Trump said on Sunday (local time) that negotiations between Hamas and "countries from all over the world" for the release of hostages and to end the war in Gaza have "been very successful, and proceeding rapidly." "There have been very positive discussions with Hamas, and countries from all over the world (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) this weekend, to release the hostages, end the war in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have long sought PEACE in the Middle East," he wrote on Truth Social. He said technical teams will meet Monday in Egypt to work through and clarify final details. "I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST. I will continue to monitor this centuries old 'conflict,'" he wrote. "TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OR, MASSIVE BLOODSHED WILL FOLLOW -- SOMETHING THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE!" Israel will negotiate "with full commitment and determination" to secure the release of all of the hostages, the country's coordinator for hostage affairs told family members Sunday evening, as per CNN. Trump spoke at a gathering of service members and top military brass celebrating the US Navy's 250th anniversary celebration. There, he made a reference to his efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, saying he's working on solving global conflicts, including "one that's taken 3,000 years. And we're pretty close, but I don't want to talk about it until it's done," as per CNN. "We don't want to send you into battle unless it's necessary, right? We're putting out a lot of fires," the president added, addressing the assembled sailors, CNN reported. (ANI)
American forces have struck another vessel allegedly carrying illegal drugs off Venezuela's coast, according to US President Donald Trump, who appeared to threaten further action inside Venezuelan territory, Al Jazeera reported. Speaking at Naval Station Norfolk on Sunday beside the aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman, Trump praised the Navy's efforts to combat what he called "cartel terrorists", noting that another vessel had been hit on Saturday (local time), as per Al Jazeera. "In recent weeks, the Navy has supported our mission to blow the cartel terrorists the hell out of the water we did another one last night. Now we just can't find any," Trump said. While the president referred to a Saturday attack, it remains unclear whether he really meant Friday's attack or an additional one. "They're not coming in by sea any more, so now we'll have to start looking about the land because they'll be forced to go by land," he added in an apparent threat to strike Venezuela, as per Al Jazeera. US claims that it is targeting drug traffickers could not be independently verified. Russia, meanwhile, condemned US strikes on a boat allegedly carrying illegal drugs off the coast of Venezuela that killed four people on Friday and warned of potential escalation in the entire Caribbean region. In a phone call to his Venezuelan counterpart, Yvan Gil, on Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemned the attack, which took place in international waters. "The ministers expressed serious concern about Washington's escalating actions in the Caribbean Sea that are fraught with far-reaching consequences for the region," according to a statement by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs following the conversation. "The Russian side has confirmed its full support and solidarity with the leadership and people of Venezuela in the current context," Al Jazeera quoted. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump has warned Hamas of "complete obliteration" if the group insists on taking control over Gaza and blocks progress on his proposed ceasefire deal, CNN reported. According to CNN, Trump was responding to questions on his 20-point ceasefire plan when he made the remark. When asked directly over text message what would happen if Hamas insisted on staying in power, Trump said, "Complete Obliteration!" This comes as high-stakes negotiations between Israel and Hamas are set to take place on Monday in Egypt. Trump sent his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and top West Asia negotiator Steve Witkoff to Cairo to lead US efforts, while a delegation from Israel is also in Egypt to finish negotiations On being further pressed on Senator Lindsey Graham's claim that Hamas had already rejected the plan by refusing to disarm, seeking full Palestinian control of Gaza, and tying hostage release to broader negotiations, Trump said, "We will find out. Only time will tell!!!" Earlier this week, the president said Israel had agreed to the first withdrawal line under his ceasefire proposal. The plan, he said, includes a phased Israeli pullback, a hostage-prisoner exchange, and the disarmament of Hamas. Trump added that his administration is now awaiting Hamas's confirmation, which would trigger an "immediate" ceasefire. "After negotiations, Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, which we have shown to, and shared with, Hamas," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal, which will bring us close to the end of this 3,000 YEAR CATASTROPHE." Asked if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was aligned with the plan, Trump added, "Yes on Bibi." On Saturday, the president also said Israel had temporarily halted its strikes on Gaza, describing it as a critical step toward finalising the agreement. Al Jazeera reported that at least 70 Palestinians were killed in Israeli air strikes the same day, including seven children between two months and eight years old. The strikes came soon after Trump urged Israel to "immediately stop bombing" Gaza after Hamas gave a positive initial response to his peace plan. In a video posted on Truth Social on Friday, Trump described Hamas's response as "a big day" and called the developments "unprecedented." (ANI)
California Governor Gavin Newsom on Sunday (local time) said a federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump's "unlawful attempt" to deploy 300 members of the California National Guard to Portland. "A federal judge BLOCKED Donald Trump's unlawful attempt to DEPLOY 300 OF OUR NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO PORTLAND. The court granted our request for a Temporary Restraining Order -- HALTING ANY FEDERALIZATION, RELOCATION, OR DEPLOYMENT of ANY GUARD MEMBERS TO OREGON FROM ANY STATE. Trump's abuse of power won't stand," Newsom wrote on X. The latest order came after Trump ordered California Guard personnel into Oregon following an earlier court decision that had prevented him from mobilising Oregon's own Guard troops. "After a federal court blocked his attempt to federalise the Oregon National Guard, Donald Trump is deploying 300 California National Guard personnel into Oregon. They are on their way there now," Newsom said in a separate post. "We are taking this fight back to court. The public cannot stay silent in the face of such reckless and authoritarian conduct by the President of the United States." According to the Pentagon, about 200 Guard members already serving in California were reassigned to Portland, with another 100 expected to follow, CNN reported. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek confirmed that around 100 had arrived on Saturday, with more en route on Sunday. The deployments came a day after Judge Karin Immergut of the US District Court in Oregon issued a temporary restraining order preventing Trump and the Defence Department from mobilising 200 Oregon Guard members for a 60-day mission. The judge wrote that she expected a trial court to find that the president had exceeded his constitutional authority. Trump said that National Guard troops are needed in Portland to respond to protests outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. He has also sought to send Guard units into other Democratic-led cities, including Chicago. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said on Saturday that the White House was preparing to deploy 300 Guard troops there as well, as per CNN. Earlier this year, Trump dispatched nearly 5,000 National Guard soldiers and US Marines to Los Angeles during protests over immigration enforcement. A federal judge later ruled that those forces had been used illegally for domestic law enforcement, though the decision is now under appeal. (ANI)
CM Nayab Saini also extended an invitation to Japan to partner in the upcoming investment Summit "Happening Haryana " in April 2026.

The Chief Minister met Takuma Miyaji, Japan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs. The discussion focused on enhancing investment opportunities in Haryana, strengthening people-to-people ties, and exploring partnerships between Haryana's districts and Japanese prefectures.

"Hon'ble Chief Minister of Haryana, Shri Nayab Singh Saini, met with H.E. Mr Takuma Miyaji, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Japan. Both leaders discussed enhancement of investment opportunities in Haryana, people to people connect and exploring Haryana state and Prefecture partnerships. Hon'ble CM extended invitation to Japan to partner in the upcoming investment Summit 'Happening Haryana 2026' in April 2026," the embassy said.

https://x.com/IndianEmbTokyo/status/1975035080725958744

Later, Saini met Yuichiro Koga, Japan's State Minister for Economy, Trade & Industry. The meeting highlighted Haryana's role as a gateway for Japanese manufacturing in India and explored potential investments in next-generation mobility, green energy, advanced electronics, and precision manufacturing.

"Hon'ble Chief Minister of Haryana, Shri Nayab Singh Saini, met with H.E. Mr Yuichiro Koga, State Minister for Economy, Trade & Industry @METI_JPN. Both leaders appreciated the role of Haryana as a gateway for Japanese manufacturing excellence in India. Discussions were also held on investments in next-generation mobility, green energy, advanced electronics and precision manufacturing in Haryana. Hon'ble CM extended an Invitation to Japan to partner in the upcoming investment Summit 'Happening Haryana 2026' in April 2026," another post from the embassy said.

Alongside the official meetings, Haryana's cultural troupe performed at the India Pavilion in Expo 2025 Osaka. The performance showcased Haryana's rich folk traditions and highlighted India's cultural diversity to international visitors.

"Vibrant cultural performance by the Haryana troupe captivated visitors at the India Pavilion, #Expo2025Osaka. Showcasing the rich folk traditions, music, and dance of Haryana, the event highlighted India's diverse cultural heritage," the embassy said.The Chief Minister's visit is aimed at strengthening economic partnerships, promoting Haryana as an investment hub, and generating momentum for Happening Haryana 2026 in April next year.

On arrival in Tokyo, Saini was welcomed by India's Charge d'Affaires Madhu Sudan. This marks the formal start of his visit and shows India's diplomatic support for the state-level outreach.

"Hon'ble Chief Minister of Haryana Shri Nayab Singh Saini, arrives in Japan. Received by Cd'A Sh R Madhu Sudan," the embassy posted on X. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump noted that "time is of the essence" or "massive bloodshed will flow" as high-stakes negotiations between Israel and Hamas are set to take place on Monday in Egypt. In a post on Truth Social, Trump called on the negotiators to "move fast" to end the two-year-old war in Gaza and stated that he continues to monitor this centuries-old "conflict", referring to the Israel-Palestine conflict. "There have been very positive discussions with Hamas, and Countries from all over the World (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) this weekend, to release the Hostages, end the War in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have long sought PEACE in the Middle East. These talks have been very successful, and proceeding rapidly. The technical teams will again meet Monday, in Egypt, to work through and clarify the final details. I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST. I will continue to monitor this Centuries old "conflict." TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OR, MASSIVE BLOODSHED WILL FOLLOW -- SOMETHING THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE!" Earlier, POTUS had warned Hamas of "complete obliteration" if the group insists on taking control over Gaza and blocks progress on his proposed ceasefire deal, CNN reported. According to CNN, Trump was responding to questions on his 20-point ceasefire plan when he made the remark. When asked directly over text message what would happen if Hamas insisted on staying in power, Trump said, "Complete Obliteration!" Trump sent his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and top West Asia negotiator Steve Witkoff to Cairo to lead US efforts, while a delegation from Israel is also in Egypt to finish negotiations. Earlier this week, the president said Israel had agreed to the first withdrawal line under his ceasefire proposal. The plan, he said, includes a phased Israeli pullback, a hostage-prisoner exchange, and the disarmament of Hamas. (ANI)
North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to counter "real and serious" US threats by bolstering its military and technological development the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said after the exhibition Defence Development-2025 kicked off in Pyongyang on Saturday.

Kim accused South Korea and the US of staging various drills based on a nuclear operation scenario and of expanding defence assets in South Korea and the broader region, the South Korean media reported

"We are closely watching the US.' deployment of its means of strategic strike and reconnaissance ... and the mobilization for hostile acts in connection with a new possible threat to our state's security," the North Korean leader said.

The latest display is being held ahead of the 80th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea next Friday, when Pyongyang is expected to hold a large-scale military parade.

Meanwhile, South Korea's presidential office has called on Pyongyang to make efforts for dialogue and cooperation.

"We hope North Korea will engage in dialogue and cooperation for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and within the international community," the presidential office said in a statement as cited by Yonhap.

In late August this year, North Korea's state media KCNA, the country test fired two types of newly developed air defence missiles under the supervision of Kim Jong-un.

Kim Jong Un visited the Choe Hyon naval destroyer at the military exhibition on Sunday, state media KCNA reported today as cited in a Reuters report.

Kim said the navy should be prepared to "thoroughly deter or counter and punish the enemy's provocations," KCNA said according to Reuters. (ANI)
India's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Suhel Ajaz Khan met with Saudi Arabia's Minister of Investment, Khaild Al Falih and held wide-ranging discussions in the ambit of investment sector and reflected on the opportunities for growth and integration in this area. Sharing the details in a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said on Sunday, "Ambassador Dr. Suhel Khan met with H.E. Eng. Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Investment @MISA, today. The discussions focused on enhancing mutual investments and bilateral collaborations between India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Ambassador also conveyed gratitude for the support extended to various Indian companies establishing their presence in KSA." https://x.com/IndianEmbRiyadh/status/1974845452085334485 Saudi Ministry of Investment wrote on X, "His Excellency @Khalid_AlFalih received at the ministry's headquarters today the Ambassador of the Republic of India to the Kingdom, Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan. During the meeting, they discussed topics of mutual interest in the investment sector, opportunities for growth and integration in investment relations, and pathways for strategic cooperation between the Kingdom and India." https://x.com/MISA/status/1974860324865179739 India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia enjoy close friendly relations reflecting the centuries old economic and socio-cultural ties. The Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) between the two countries has two sub-committees - a Committee on Political, Security, Social and Cultural Cooperation; and a Committee on Economy and Investments. The MEA in a brief noted India is the second largest trade partner of Saudi Arabia whereas Saudi Arabia is the fourth largest trading partner of India. During FY23 bilateral trade was valued at US$ 52.76 billion. During this period, India's imports from Saudi Arabia grew by 23.47% to reach US$ 42.03 billion and exports to Saudi Arabia were worth US$ 10.72 billion registering an increase of 22.48% on yoy basis. Total trade with Saudi Arabia accounted for 4.53% of India's total trade in FY 2022-23 It further mentioned that Saudi direct investments in India amount to US$ 3.15 billion (March 2022). Major Saudi investment groups include ARAMCO, SABIC, ZAMIL, E-holidays, and Al Batterjee Group. Additionally, PIF has also has invested approximately US$4.6 billion in many Indian Start-ups through the Soft Bank's 'Vision Fund'. (ANI)
Women's education in Pakistan has long battled systemic neglect, cultural barriers, and insufficient state support. A stark example of this is unfolding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), where, as Dawn recently reported, a vital stipend programme aimed at encouraging girls' school attendance has been virtually discontinued over the last three years. According to Dawn, the girls' stipend programme was initially launched by the Awami National Party-led provincial government after the 2008 general elections. The initiative provided Rs 200 per month to each girl student from Grade 6 to Grade 10 enrolled in government schools Despite the evident success of the programme, Dawn reported that the stipend has not been paid since the 2022-23 financial year. Dawn reported that while the education department continues to prepare and forward all necessary documentation, the provincial finance department has repeatedly failed to release the required Rs 3.8 billion annually -- the estimated amount needed to support the 600,000 eligible students. Ironically, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led KP government announced an increase in the stipend amount from Rs 200 to Rs 500 per month. Yet, as Dawn highlighted, the increase remained on paper, with no corresponding release of funds, effectively suspending the programme altogether. In interviews conducted by Dawn, school headmistresses expressed their helplessness and frustration. "Students and their parents regularly ask for payment of a stipend, but we have no reply to their queries," said one headmistress. Another noted that families would rush to schools when their daughters missed out due to insufficient attendance, underscoring the programme's perceived value in communities. This situation, as thoroughly reported by Dawn, exposes Pakistan's hollow commitment to girls' education. Despite grand promises and token increases, the government's failure to release critical funds reveals systemic apathy. In a country where millions of girls already struggle for access to education, abandoning such programmes reflects deep-rooted neglect.(ANI)
A delegation from the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) Germany chapter met with several members of the European Parliament in Brussels to discuss the ongoing human rights violations allegedly committed by Pakistan''s military and security agencies against the Pashtun population. According to a post shared by PTM Holland on X, representatives from PTM Germany presented detailed reports and evidence documenting killings, enforced disappearances, and destruction of homes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the former tribal areas. They alleged that military operations by the Pakistan Army have placed civilians under constant threat and created a climate of fear on both sides of the Durand Line. During the meeting, European Parliament members reportedly expressed concern over the situation and assured that the matter would be referred to the relevant human rights committees for further discussion. PTM''s outreach in Brussels follows a series of international activities aimed at raising global awareness about the alleged abuses faced by Pashtuns in Pakistan. Just days earlier, PTM leaders organised a large demonstration in front of the United Nations office in Geneva and held a press conference at the Geneva Press Club to highlight their concerns before the international community, the post stated. Movement representatives emphasised that the Germany branch, along with other European chapters, will continue coordinated efforts to "awaken global conscience" regarding what they describe as systematic oppression and human rights crimes by Pakistani authorities. PTM leaders said their advocacy in Europe aims to bring international scrutiny and accountability to what they call Pakistan''s long-standing disregard for the fundamental rights of its own citizens. Earlier, on the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, observed annually since its official recognition by the United Nations in 2010, the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) raised its voice against the continued plight of thousands of missing Pashtuns in Pakistan. According to a post shared by PTM Holland on X, countless individuals remained either forcibly disappeared or imprisoned without trial, subjected to torture and denial of justice. (ANI)
The Embassy of India in Italy condoled the death of four Indian nationals in a road accident in southern Italy and affirmed that the Embassy would provide all possible consular access to the concerned families. In a post on X on Sunday it said, "Embassy of India deeply condoles the tragic death of four Indian nationals in a road accident in Matera in southern Italy. We are in contact with the local Italian authorities to obtain details. Embassy will provide all possible consular assistance to the concerned families." https://x.com/IndiainItaly/status/1974572020022030358 In another incident, The Indian Embassy in Italy has expressed condolences over the tragic death of two Indian nationals from Nagpur in a road accident near Grosseto. "The Embassy conveys its heartfelt and sincere condolences for the tragic loss of two Indian nationals from Nagpur in an accident near Grosseto. Our prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured family members who are undergoing treatment. The Embassy is in contact with the family and local Italian authorities. We are providing all assistance to the family," the Embassy of India in Italy posted on X. The Embassy confirmed that relatives injured in the same accident are receiving medical treatment, with officials maintaining close coordination with both the family and Italian authorities to ensure necessary support is provided. This latest expression of grief comes months after the Embassy had also issued condolences on June 20, 2024, following the death of another Indian national in Latina. The worker identified as Satnam Singh, had died after sustaining critical injuries in a farm accident. Singh had succumbed on a Wednesday in June after suffering grave injuries earlier that week. His arm was severed in the accident, and reports said he was later abandoned near his residence instead of being given immediate medical help. At the time, the Embassy had stated that it was in touch with local authorities and working to reach Singh's family. In a post shared on X, the mission had written, "The Embassy is deeply saddened by the unfortunate demise of an Indian national in Latina, Italy. We are actively liaising with local authorities. Our immediate priority is to contact the family and offer necessary consular support. "Singh's death had drawn wider attention as he was injured while working on a farm in Latina, a rural region south of Rome where many Indian migrant labourers are employed. (ANI)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said that the country's navy must be ready to "thoroughly deter, counter and punish" enemy provocations in order to defend sovereignty and national security, Yonhap News reported, citing state media. Kim made the remarks during his visit to the Choe Hyon, North Korea's first 5,000-ton multipurpose destroyer, on Sunday at Pyongyang's 2025 Defense Exhibition. He was accompanied by senior party and government officials as part of his schedule for a military hardware exhibition, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The destroyer was first unveiled in April as part of efforts to boost North Korea's naval strength. KCNA quoted Kim as saying that the Workers' Party would continue its struggle without delay to expand and strengthen the naval combat force. North Korea earlier said the Choe Hyon is equipped with supersonic strategic cruise missiles, tactical ballistic missiles and other strike weapons, as per Yonhap News. North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to counter "real and serious" US threats by bolstering its military and technological development, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said after the exhibition Defence Development-2025 kicked off in Pyongyang on Saturday. Kim accused South Korea and the US of staging various drills based on a nuclear operation scenario and of expanding defence assets in South Korea and the broader region, the South Korean media reported. "We are closely watching the US deployment of its means of strategic strike and reconnaissance ... and the mobilisation for hostile acts in connection with a new possible threat to our state's security," the North Korean leader said. The latest display is being held ahead of the 80th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea next Friday, when Pyongyang is expected to hold a large-scale military parade. Meanwhile, South Korea's presidential office has called on Pyongyang to make efforts for dialogue and cooperation. "We hope North Korea will engage in dialogue and cooperation for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and within the international community," the presidential office said in a statement as cited by Yonhap. In late August this year, according to North Korea's state media KCNA, the country test-fired two types of newly developed air defence missiles under the supervision of Kim Jong-un.Kim Jong Un visited the Choe Hyon naval destroyer at the military exhibition on Sunday. In June, the country relaunched another destroyer of the same class, the Kang Kon, after it was damaged when it tipped over during its initial launch in May. North Korea has also announced plans to build another 5,000-ton destroyer of the same class by October 2026. (ANI)
Furthermore, another terrorist cell launched a mortar at IDF forces, resulting in a minor injury to an Israeli soldier who was taken to a hospital for medical treatment.

Air Force fighter jets attacked and eliminated the terrorists who posed an immediate threat to the forces in the area.

Subsequently, IDF forces identified a terrorist squad that fired anti-tank missiles at engineering vehicles of Division 98, without any casualties to our forces.

After the identification, fighter jets attacked and destroyed the structure from which the anti-tank missiles were fired. (ANI/TPS)
A recent flag-raising ceremony at Philadelphia's City Hall has ignited significant backlash after city officials hoisted the flag of the People's Republic of China just ahead of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) National Day. The event, held on September 30, was sharply criticised in a detailed commentary published by The Epoch Times, which highlighted concerns over CCP influence and questioned the wisdom of honouring a regime accused of severe human rights violations. Unlike ceremonies celebrating allies like Ukraine or Taiwan, the Philadelphia event paid tribute to what The Epoch Times described as "a genocidal regime" and "history's greatest threat to the United States and to democracy." The Chinese national flag was raised with the participation of a counsellor from the Chinese Consulate General in New York--an office previously linked to espionage and political influence operations, according to the Epoch Times report. According to The Epoch Times, the event was organised by local groups including the Pennsylvania United Chinese Coalition and the Greater Philadelphia Fujian Hometown Association--both of which, Congressman John Moolenaar (R-Mich) alleges, have connections to the Chinese Communist Party's United Front system. According to the commentary, Moolenaar, who chairs the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the CCP, had sent a formal letter requesting the event's cancellation. He also called for a re-evaluation of Philadelphia's long-standing sister-city relationship with Tianjin, China--a relationship established in 1979 during the early stages of US-China diplomatic Earlier, Rushan Abbas, Founder and Executive Director of the Campaign for Uyghurs, had also sent a letter to Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, urging her to cancel the planned flag-raising ceremony for China set for September 30. In her letter, Abbas had highlighted the severe human rights violations committed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) under the flag that is scheduled to be raised. In the letter Rushan 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 Rushan Abbas's peaceful advocacy work in the United States. (ANI)
Pakistan and the United States are entering a new phase in their economic and strategic partnership as both sides advance towards implementing an agreement for the export of rare earth minerals, Dawn reported. According to the report, US Strategic Metals (USSM), which signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pakistan in September, has sent its first consignment of mineral samples to the United States as part of the deal. The American firm plans to invest nearly USD 500 million to set up mineral processing and development facilities in Pakistan. Sources in Washington told Dawn that the shipment marks a crucial step towards Pakistan's integration into the global critical minerals supply chain, a sector increasingly vital for industrial growth and national security worldwide. The shipment, prepared domestically in coordination with the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), includes antimony, copper concentrate, and rare earth elements such as neodymium and praseodymium. In a statement, USSM described the delivery as "a milestone in the Pakistan-US strategic partnership," adding that the MoU "establishes a roadmap for cooperation across the entire mineral value chain from exploration and processing to the establishment of refineries inside Pakistan." USSM CEO Stacy W. Hastie said the first delivery "opens an exciting chapter of collaboration between USSM and Pakistan's Frontier Works Organisation, aimed at expanding trade and deepening friendship between our two countries." As per Dawn, the agreement could give Pakistan a foothold in the global critical minerals market, potentially generating billions in revenue, creating employment, and enabling technology transfer. The country's untapped mineral reserves are estimated at around USD 6 trillion, placing it among the world's richest in natural resources. For the United States, the collaboration promises greater access to essential raw materials while reducing dependency on dominant external suppliers that currently control the global minerals market. However, Pakistan's opposition party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has voiced strong reservations about the agreement. PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqqas Akram urged the government to release full details of what he called "secret deals" with Washington. Referring to the USSM shipment and a recent Financial Times report alleging a proposal to offer Pasni Port to the US, Akram said such "reckless, lopsided, and secretive agreements would further inflame the already volatile situation in the country." He demanded that parliament and the public be taken into confidence and that "full details of all such deals be made public." Akram said PTI "would never accept agreements struck at the expense of the people and the state's interests." Meanwhile, Dawn reported that military sources have rejected the claims made in the Financial Times report, clarifying that the proposal referred to in the article was "a commercial idea" rather than "official policy." Akram also drew a historical parallel, urging the government to "learn from the disastrous consequences of Mughal Emperor Jahangir's 1615 decision to grant trading rights to the British at Surat Port, which ultimately led to colonial control." Amid growing tensions between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Akram alleged that their public disputes were a "well-thought-out plan" to "divert public attention from chronic national issues," Dawn reported. (ANI)
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has reported that at least 721 families have been impacted by the recent heavy rainfall and flash floods in the Afghan provinces of Kabul, Laghman, and Kapisa, Tolo News reported. According to NDMA spokesperson Mohammad Younus Hamad, several residential houses have been completely or partially destroyed, while over 1,000 acres of agricultural land have been washed away. Fruit farmers have also suffered major losses due to the floods, Tolo News said. Hamad stated that the floods have caused widespread damage to infrastructure and livestock. He added that several kilometres of roads have been damaged and around 3,000 chickens were killed at a poultry farm, further compounding the losses for local communities already struggling with repeated weather-related disasters. He said, "In the past 42 hours, in Kabul, Kapisa, and Laghman provinces, heavy rainfall, hailstorms, and flash floods have destroyed 18 houses either fully or partially, as well as five kilometres of road and 2,400 acres of farmland. In total, 721 families in these provinces have been affected." Meanwhile, residents from the affected regions have appealed for immediate assistance after their crops and farmlands were destroyed by the floods. The damage has particularly affected fruit farmers whose harvests form a vital part of their livelihoods. Shah Lala, a resident of Kapisa, said, "A very strong flood hit this province, destroying all our harvests, including pomegranates and our orchards." Ezatullah, a farmer from Kabul, said, "Heavy hail destroyed all our pomegranate crops." Naveed Kakar, a resident of Laghman, added, "Our pomegranate orchards were destroyed due to hail and flash floods, and our main road was also washed away." The Afghanistan Meteorological Department has issued warnings for 17 provinces across the country, cautioning residents about possible heavy rainfall, strong winds, lightning, and additional floods in the coming days, Tolo News reported. The latest warning comes amid growing concern over the frequency of extreme weather events that have repeatedly hit Afghan provinces in recent months. Similar weather events earlier this year had also caused severe damage. In June, rainfall and flooding in Afghanistan's Maidan Wardak and Logar provinces claimed the lives of four people, including three children, and injured four others, Tolo News reported, underscoring the country's continued vulnerability to recurring floods and extreme weather. (ANI)
Thousands of people, including women and children, took to the streets of Karachi on Sunday to protest against what they called the "genocide in Gaza" by Israeli forces, demanding united action from the Islamic world to support Palestinians, Dawn reported. According to Dawn, the rally, organised by the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), saw participants marching on Sharea Faisal, carrying Palestinian flags and placards with images of Hamas leaders. The protesters also urged the Pakistani government not to endorse any proposal, including the Abraham Accords, which they said went against the will of the Palestinian people. Dozens of caravans from various parts of the city converged near the Nursery bus stop, forming a massive procession addressed by JI leaders. Participants arrived on motorbikes, cars, and buses, chanting slogans in support of Gaza. The party said the demonstration was meant to show solidarity with Palestinians amid Israeli military action against the Freedom Flotilla. Addressing the gathering, JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman warned the government against any shift in Pakistan's long-standing policy on Palestine. "Even decades ago, the All India Muslim League used to protest against Israel," he said. "On March 23, 1940, two resolutions were passed by the Muslim League, one was the Pakistan Resolution and the other was for Palestine. There is only one state, and that is Palestine, and there is only one leadership in Gaza, and that is Hamas," he said, urging Islamabad to recognise Hamas as the legitimate representative of the people of Gaza. "Don't dare to accept Israel or join the Abraham Accords," he warned. Rehman accused the United States of complicity in Gaza, stating, "The United States was directly responsible for the genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza and therefore had no right to deliver lectures on humanity." According to Dawn, the JI chief further claimed that Israel had "failed militarily in Gaza" as it was unable to secure the release of its captured soldiers from Hamas. "Hamas is a resistance movement that represents the people of Gaza. However, the ruling class here is not even willing to mention Hamas by name because they fear any movement that originates from the people. The ruling elite dislikes any movement that opposes the US and Israel," he said. He criticised the United Nations for its inaction, calling it "a total failure and an agent of the US and Israel." "We need another UN," he said, arguing that the organisation had never resolved the issues faced by Muslims. "The massacre in Palestine happened not because of Hamas, but because of the cowardly Muslim rulers," Rehman said, accusing Muslim governments of betraying the Palestinian cause. He also urged Pakistan's political class to take a clear stance. "We want to tell the rulers and opposition parties of Pakistan to abandon hypocrisy and double standards. The people of Gaza and Hamas must be accepted, and Hamas offices must be opened in Pakistan," he said. Calling on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, currently in Adiala Jail, Rehman said he should "express solidarity with Hamas and condemn Israel and the US." "From Karachi's Keamari to the mountains of Chitral, the public is united in one voice: we will not accept slavery to America," the JI chief said, adding, "Greta Thunberg was tortured and forced to kiss the Israeli flag, this is the real face of the Zionist state." Other JI leaders, including Dr Osama Razi, Monem Zafar, and Advocate Saifuddin, also addressed the rally, which concluded peacefully, Dawn reported. (ANI)
Chinese ships are broadcasting false signals in Taiwan's territorial waters as a method of cognitive warfare, assessing Taiwan's reactions to various types of intrusions, Taipei Times reported, citing a report by the Institute for the Study of War published. Earlier, several Chinese fishing vessels emitted counterfeit automatic identification system (AIS) signals in Taiwan's waters, with one imitating a Russian warship and another pretending to be a Chinese law enforcement vessel, the report indicated. The report referenced data from Starboard Maritime Intelligence, revealing that throughout August and the previous month, the Chinese fishing boat Min Shi Yu 06718 navigated through the Taiwan Strait while periodically sending out its own AIS and that of a vessel named Hai Xun 15012, as reported by Taipei Times. Hai Xun vessels are typically operated by the China Maritime Safety Administration (CMSA), a civilian law enforcement body that has not played a significant role in China's coercive actions against Taiwan, the report stated. This makes it more plausible that a fishing vessel was impersonating a CMSA ship, rather than vice versa, the report explained. On September 17, another fishing vessel, Min Shi Yu 07792, sent a counterfeit signal of Russian Warship 532 in Taiwan's northern exclusive economic zone, according to the report. It further detailed that several other Min Shi Yu boats also transmitted false AIS signals in the same timeframe and location, with one masquerading as a tugboat and another as a different fishing vessel, according to the Taipei Times report. China appears to be experimenting with AIS spoofing to "contaminate Taiwan's information environment and assess Taiwan's reactions to different types of perceived intrusions," according to the report. The fact that several fishing vessels with similar names issued various false signals in close temporal and spatial proximity indicates a coordinated strategy, it added. These fishing boats are likely part of the Chinese Maritime Militia, a force that China frequently uses for "conducting deniable 'gray zone' coercion, harassment, and surveillance" in both the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, the report further stated. Additionally, from September 15 to 17, Chinese Coast Guard vessels entered restricted waters around Kinmen County on four occasions, as highlighted by the Taipei Times report. (ANI)
At least four people have died and 28 others were injured in rain-related incidents across Punjab during the past 24 hours as heavy rainfall continued to lash the province, Dawn reported on Monday, citing Rescue 1122 Punjab. According to a weather alert issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) last week, a strong westerly weather system was expected to impact the upper catchments of major rivers, as well as Islamabad, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bringing "heavy to very heavy wind-thunderstorms and rains" from October 5 to October 7, Dawn reported. Punjab Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmed said, "Over the last 24 hours, four people, including two children, were killed in rain-related incidents, while another 28 were left injured." He said that in Faisalabad, a 12-year-old girl and an eight-year-old boy were killed when the roof of their house collapsed due to heavy rains, leaving seven others injured. "A 70-year-old man was killed in Nankana Sahib, while a 65-year-old man died in a similar incident in Kasur," the spokesperson added, according to Dawn. The spokesperson further stated that "at least six people were injured in separate roof collapse incidents in Samundri, Jaranwala, and Kakarwala, four were injured in Chak, three in Manawala, and five people were injured in Faqirwali, Allah Abad, and Sahiwal in separate incidents." He said two more people were injured in roof and wall collapse incidents in Lahore. Separately, the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed that most districts in Punjab had received heavy rainfall in the past 24 hours, with Multan recording the highest level at 113 mm, Dawn reported. The PDMA statement noted that Faisalabad recorded 78 mm of rainfall, Bahawalpur 44 mm, Lahore 40 mm, Khanewal 28 mm, Toba Tek Singh 25 mm, Sialkot 19 mm, and Attock 10 mm. Gujranwala, Murree, and Sahiwal each recorded 8 mm, Okara 7 mm, Narowal 6 mm, Mangla 5 mm, Gujrat and Hafizabad 3 mm, while Layyah and Kasur recorded 1 mm each. According to the PDMA, rainfall is expected to continue in several districts over the next 24 hours, including Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Lahore, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Okara, Sahiwal, Kasur, Jhang, Sargodha, and Mianwali. The PDMA spokesperson cautioned that "the water level in rivers may increase due to the rain, with water in the Chenab River to rise by October 7." The statement added, "While the levels in the rivers Sutlej and Ravi will depend on the release of water. Water level at Indus and Jhelum is expected to rise as well." The PDMA has advised citizens to take precautionary measures and placed relevant authorities on high alert, as per the statement. A rain emergency was declared in Multan after heavy downpours inundated parts of the district on Sunday night and again on Monday afternoon, according to Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Managing Director Khalid Raza Khan. He urged residents to "take necessary precautions, including avoiding electricity poles and staying indoors." Earlier, PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia had warned that the intensity of showers would increase on October 6 and 7, with 50 to 70 mm of rain expected in northern and northeastern Punjab, extending into central districts as well. "Showers were to begin in Punjab from Sunday and continue till October 7 (Tuesday) in the northern parts," he said during a media briefing in Lahore on Saturday, as cited by Dawn. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday addressed the inaugural Aravalli Summit at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), marking the 70th anniversary of the School of International Studies (SIS), where he called India's rise "an exceptional journey unfolding in a turbulent global era." The two-day international conference, themed 'India and the World Order: Preparing for 2047', is being held on October 6 and 7 in New Delhi. Organised in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Chintan Research Foundation, the summit focuses on India's evolving global role as it approaches its centenary of independence. In his address, Jaishankar reflected on his long association with JNU and SIS, recalling his academic years and the university's influence on his diplomatic career. "He recalls how studying international relations at JNU has helped him during his career," he said, acknowledging his teachers and peers. He noted that the School of International Studies "started at a stage of our history when we began re-engaging the world after our independence," and urged the institution to "shift gears and undertake the task of addressing the agenda of Viksit Bharat." Highlighting the scale of geopolitical change, Jaishankar observed, "It appears that it is India's destiny that its rise take place in an exceptionally turbulent era. When I look back at my research on the evolution of a global order in the aftermath of a World War, it seems almost glacial in comparison to the mega changes that we are witnessing today." He detailed how major structural shifts are shaping the world, stating, "A third of global manufacturing has moved to a single geography, with attendant consequences for supply chains. There is rising anti-globalization sentiment in many societies. Trade calculations are being overturned by tariff volatility. The global energy scenario has changed profoundly with the US becoming a major fossil fuel exporter and China a key renewable one." On the evolution of warfare and technology, he remarked, "The quality of weaponry and the nature of war itself has been transformed, making it more stand-off, more impactful and definitely more risk-prone." He cautioned that these developments carry significant strategic consequences, noting, "We see an erosion in sovereignty facilitated by tech penetration and manipulation. Global rules and regimes are being revisited and at times even discarded. Cost is no longer the defining criteria for economic transactions; ownership and security are equally so." Emphasising India's foreign policy approach, Jaishankar defended New Delhi's doctrine of strategic autonomy, saying, "Imagine if you were not today adopting strategic autonomy. Please tell me which country in the world would you like to join up with and put your future in their hands?" He added, "The more turbulent and unpredictable the global order becomes, the stronger the case for multi-alignment or strategic autonomy. It actually becomes stronger, not weaker." Expanding on India's global positioning, Jaishankar said that the world was witnessing "more competition and less compacts," with "the needle shifting towards an intersection of interests and away from the promise of cooperation." He underlined the need for India to keep advancing despite volatility. "While the majority are struggling to cope or busy defending their interests, India has to strategize and continue rising amidst such volatility," he said. Calling for renewed academic engagement, he urged scholars and policymakers to "create the ideas, concepts, terminology, explanations and narratives for the journey towards 2047," noting that institutions like SIS would play a central role in shaping that intellectual foundation. Concluding his remarks, Jaishankar said he was confident that SIS would continue to contribute meaningfully to India's global vision. "I have every confidence that it will grow from strength to strength and live up to the promise of its very distinguished history," he said. (ANI)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that US President Donald Trump would severely damage relations between Washington and Moscow if he approved the delivery of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, RT reported. Late last month, US Vice President JD Vance said the White House was considering providing Kiev with Tomahawk missiles, which reportedly cost about USD 1.3 million each and have a range of 2,500 kilometres (1,550 miles), allowing them to strike Moscow and beyond, RT said. In an interview with Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin on Saturday, Putin said that such a move by Trump would "lead to the destruction of our relations. At least the positive tendencies that have appeared in these relations." Earlier, speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club on Thursday, the Russian President said Ukrainian forces would be unable to operate such complex missile systems without the "direct participation of American military personnel." Putin added that "the deliveries of American Tomahawk cruise missiles will not change the balance of power on the battlefield," noting that Russia's air defence systems had already adapted to similar Western weapon supplies. He referred to the earlier delivery of long-range ATACMS missiles, which he said "caused some damage, but in the end, Russia's air defense systems adapted." According to RT, the debate over Tomahawk deliveries began following a meeting between Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last month. Reports suggested that Zelensky had specifically requested the missiles during that encounter. Appearing on Fox News last Sunday, Vice President Vance said, "We're certainly looking at it." The following day, special envoy Keith Kellogg hinted that Trump might have already authorised Ukrainian long-range strikes inside Russia. Around the same time, the Financial Times quoted an unnamed US official who said that some within Trump's inner circle were sceptical about whether Tomahawks would significantly alter battlefield dynamics, RT reported. (ANI)
As per the NCS, the earthquake occurred at a depth of 180km.

In a post on X, the NCS said, "EQ of M: 4.1, On: 06/10/2025 20:12:21 IST, Lat: 36.64 N, Long: 70.88 E, Depth: 180 Km, Location: Afghanistan."

https://x.com/NCS_Earthquake/status/1975213948027961762

Earlier on September 28, another earthquake of magnitude 3.9 struck the region at a shallow depth of 10km, making is susceptible to aftershocks.

In a post on X, the NCS said, "EQ of M: 3.9, On: 28/09/2025 04:16:13 IST, Lat: 34.62 N, Long: 70.84 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Afghanistan."

https://x.com/NCS_Earthquake/status/1972074828791259643

Shallow earthquakes are generally more dangerous than deep earthquakes. This is because the seismic waves from shallow earthquakes have a shorter distance to travel to the surface, resulting in stronger ground shaking and potentially more damage to structures and greater casualties.

On September 18, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, reaffirmed India's commitment to promote peace, stability and development in the country.

Addressing the UN Security Council quarterly briefing on Afghanistan, Ambassador Parvathaneni emphasised India's priorities to provide humanitarian assistance and implement capacity-building initiatives for the Afghan people.

"We believe in the utmost importance of international and regional consensus and cooperation on key issues concerning Afghanistan and actively engage with all relevant parties to promote peace, stability and development in the country," Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni said.

"India's immediate priorities in Afghanistan include provision of humanitarian assistance and implementation of capacity-building initiatives for the Afghan people," he added.

He also reaffirmed India's commitment to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

Ambassador Parvathaneni expressed gratitude to Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Roza Otunbayeva, for her briefing. (ANI)
The Indian embassy in Doha, in close coordination with the Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF), successfully facilitated the safe repatriation of an elderly Indian national who suffered a stroke mid-flight while transiting through Qatar. The man was travelling from the United Kingdom to India when he had a medical emergency during the flight. After landing in Doha, he was admitted to Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) for treatment. "Embassy of India, Doha, in coordination with ICBF, is happy to report the safe repatriation of an elderly person (who had a mid-flight emergency) back to Bharat. This elderly person had a stroke in flight while he was on transit from the UK to Bharat via Doha, Qatar," the embassy stated. "Due to this emergency situation, he was admitted to Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). Constant care by the Labour Wing of the Indian Embassy and ICBF during his entire stay in Doha made his life easy in a foreign land," the statement added. The Embassy thanked ICBF volunteers, doctors, paramedics and Qatar Airways for their support in this humanitarian mission. "End-to-end care by Embassy and ICBF included coordination with the insurance agency, assurance of immediate financial support if needed, help in getting a fitness certificate to fly back to Bharat and facilitation upto airport immigration. We thank the Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF), Doctors and Paramedics in Hamad and Qatar Airways for their support in this humanitarian mission," the embassy said. Meanwhile, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal is currently in Qatar, holding talks with leaders to boost trade ties between the two countries during his two-day visit to the Gulf country. He will also hold meetings with the industry and business community. "I have scheduled discussions on a wide range of topics with Qatar and meetings with the industry and business community," the Union Minister told reporters. During his visit, Goyal will co-chair a meeting of the Qatar-India Joint Commission on Trade and Commerce. The meeting will also be co-chaired by Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Qatar. (ANI)
KOBE, Oct 06 (News On Japan) - Zines  short for magazines  are small, handmade booklets that allow individuals to express themselves freely without going through traditional publishers. Unlike commercial magazines, zines are self-funded and created entirely by individuals. Across Japan, zine fairs are drawing large crowds and fueling a quiet but powerful publishing trend.

At an event held in Kobe in September, more than 800 people gathered to sell or buy zines of all kinds. The atmosphere resembled a creative bazaar where each booklet reflected its makers imagination. One artist presented a zine focused on a single Japanese character, deliberately written in an unreadable way to spark conversation with readers. The charm of zines lies in their complete freedom  there are no rules for layout, format, or content. Photography, essays, and illustration all coexist under one creative umbrella.

Zines also serve as a haven for enthusiasts of niche interests. Yoshida, one of the creators, compiled matchbox labels distributed at pachinko parlors during the Showa era. Though the designs may appear dated, he regards them as valuable historical artifacts documenting vanished storefronts. I probably have Japans largest collection of pachinko match labels, he said with pride. Such topics would likely never pass a publishers filter, yet in zines, personal passion takes the lead  a key factor behind their appeal to both creators and readers. What makes zines fascinating, said one customer, is that they capture the creators character without being overly polished. It feels like pure self-expression.

Among the many creators was first-class architect Chisato Otake, whose zine features imaginary floor plans. Her inspiration came from frustration in her day job. I often think, If only I could design this kind of house, but clients needs dont always align, she explained. To bring her ideas to life, Otake selects real plots from real estate sites and designs homes according to professional building codes, even when the plans are purely imaginative. If Im going to fantasize, she said, I may as well design a luxury property worth hundreds of millions of yen.

Her next project will focus on rooms, inspired by a period when she was bedridden and unable to work. It wasnt about living a perfectly curated lifestyle, she said, but Id like readers to feel a sense of empathy. Though her architectural drawings are beautiful, Otake emphasizes that zines let her share vulnerability  something professional work rarely allows.

As digital media dominates communication, some wonder why zines continue to thrive. For many, the tactile nature of paper is irreplaceable. You can staple, clip, or decorate it however you want. That physical interaction is part of the fun, said one participant. Because online content is so fleeting, people are rediscovering the appeal of printed matter.

Bookstores, too, are taking notice. One major retailer reported that zine sales now account for about 10 percent of total revenue. At first, it was just a small shelf, said the manager. But sales picked up quickly, so we expanded to three full shelves. In an industry struggling with declining print sales, zines have become a new reason for people to visit bookstores. As readers flip through each handmade page, they find themselves drawn deeper into the creators world  one that cannot be replicated on a screen.

Source: KTV NEWS
OSAKA, Oct 06 (News On Japan) - Reskilling, the process of acquiring new skills to adapt to social and technological changes -- often referred to as relearning -- is attracting growing interest among Japans older population.

A recent survey revealed that more than 70 percent of people aged 50 and over are interested in reskilling after retirement, reflecting a strong desire among seniors to stay active and engaged in society even after leaving the workforce.

To explore this trend, a reporter visited Takatsuki City, where a local initiative known as the Takatsuki Civic College offers learning opportunities specifically for seniors. The atmosphere in the classroom was lively and focused, with most participants being retirees intently listening to lectures. Established five years ago, the program aims to help seniors form friendships and participate in their communities. Enrollment has been increasing annually, and today around 300 students are taking part in its 38 courses, all at an affordable cost.

One student explained, I have two reasons for coming here. First, to prevent dementia, and second, to make new friendsalthough that part is not always easy. Formerly a nurse, she said joining the classes allows her to rediscover herself and learn new things. Theres still so much I dont know. Being among other people helps me see myself from a different perspective, and thats interesting, she added with a smile.

The story of 76-year-old Hiyo Okada in Takarazuka City offers another inspiring example of lifelong learning. Okada is now a second-year student in the Faculty of Psychology at Koshien University, a private four-year institution typically filled with younger students. When Im at school, I feel so young, she laughed. But when I get home and see myself in the mirror, Im surprised.

Okada, who had spent over 50 years working as a hairdresser in Saitama, left her job at 70 and moved to Kansai, where her daughter lives. Feeling a long-held regret about not finishing high school, she enrolled in a correspondence high school before deciding to pursue higher education. Through my work, I realized how much I enjoy interacting with people, she said. When I told my teacher that, they suggested I study psychology, and I thought, why not?

Although Koshien University offers full tuition and admission fee exemptions for adult learners over 35, Okada did not qualify because she entered through a high school recommendation program, meaning she pays all fees herself. Yes, I pay everything out of my own pocket, she said cheerfully, describing the cost as an investment in herself.

At lunchtime, she often eats in the student cafeteria with classmates decades younger than her. They call me A-chan, she said. Thats what my grandchildren call me at home, so it makes me feel comfortable here too. Her younger peers said they were initially surprised to see an older student but quickly grew close. When I first saw her, I thought she might be a staff member, one classmate laughed. But now, shes like a bridge connecting everyone. Without her, I wouldnt have made so many friends.

Far from being isolated, Okada has become an indispensable presence in her department, organizing study sessions and helping younger students prepare for exams. She taught us every day for a week before finals, said another student. I wouldnt have passed without her.

After classes, Okada returns to her apartment, where her desk is covered with psychology textbooks and English materials. English is difficult, she said, but I keep trying. Her grandson often visits, and the two share warm moments together. Shes incredible, he said proudly. Shes living life to the fullest and enjoying every moment.

Okadas next goal is to become a certified psychological counselor. I want to be the kind of grandmother who sits quietly in the corner of an elementary or junior high school, someone children can talk to about anything, she said. Thats my dream.

Experts note that the rise of such learning initiatives highlights a changing role for seniors in Japanese society. In the past, grandparents held important positions within extended families and communities, one commentator said. Now, as families become more nuclear, these new forms of community involvement give seniors a renewed sense of purpose and belonging.

As Japans population continues to age, stories like Okadas suggest that reskilling and lifelong learning may become key not only to personal fulfillment but also to strengthening the fabric of local communities.

Source: KTV NEWS
Nagano, Oct 07 (News On Japan) - A hotel construction plan in the rural wasabi-growing area of Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture, has sparked strong opposition from local residents who fear it will damage the landscape and threaten the regions iconic wasabi fields.

The planned seven-story, 28-meter-tall hotel is to be built along a national highway near JR Hotaka Station, an area famous for its clear spring water and expansive wasabi paddies that draw visitors from across Japan.

While the project complies with the citys landscape guideline limiting building height to 30 meters, some residents are alarmed at the potential impact on the areas rural charm. It will destroy the countryside feel, said a local resident. The view of the mountains will be ruined.

A citizens group called Association to Preserve the Nature and Wasabi Fields of Azumino for Future Generations has gathered over 40,000 signaturesboth online and in personurging the developer to cancel or revise the plan. We were shocked, said the groups chair. Do we really need something that big? With so many tour buses coming and going, it would completely change the atmosphere.

The group has written to the developer, requesting discussions about reducing the scale of the building to something more in line with the surrounding landscape, suggesting a four-story limit as an example.

Some newer residents who moved from Tokyo to enjoy Azuminos natural scenery also expressed mixed feelings. The hotel could bring economic benefits to the area, said one, but its disappointing to think of a large building blocking the view of the Northern Alps.

Concerns have also been raised about the effect on the delicate hydrology supporting the wasabi farms. The regions famous spring water flows from snowmelt in the Northern Alps, feeding fields that produce the high-quality wasabi used nationwide. Farmers worry that construction could disrupt groundwater flow. If the flow changes or the water volume decreases, we wont be able to grow wasabi here, said one farmer. The fields could quickly fall into ruin.

Visitors to local wasabi farmspopular for wasabi-flavored soft-serve ice creamshare similar worries. We came all the way from Gunma for the wasabi ice cream, one tourist said. Its delicious and has that perfect sharp kick.

Yet others see the development as a potential boon. If a hotel is built, it will make the town livelier, said a nearby rental bicycle shop owner. City council member Akihiro Miyashita also supported the project, noting, Stay-based tourism keeps money in the community. I believe the economic effect will be significant.

In response to criticism, the hotel developer said it had already held explanatory meetings for nearby residents and emphasized that no piling work is planned during construction, adding that it would continue efforts to build understanding of the project.

Source: FNN
Xi congratulates Luxembourg's Grand Duke Guillaume on enthronement

Xinhua) 09:48, October 06, 2025

BEIJING, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday sent a congratulatory message to Luxembourg's Grand Duke Guillaume on his enthronement.

In his message, Xi pointed out that China and Luxembourg have always respected and treated each other equally since the establishment of diplomatic ties more than 50 years ago, serving as a model of mutual success and mutual benefit between countries of different sizes, systems and stages of development.

Today, bilateral cooperation has produced fruitful outcomes in sectors including steel, finance and logistics, with the Zhengzhou-Luxembourg "Air Silk Road" contributing to the stable and smooth flow of China-Europe industrial chains, he said.

Xi said that he attaches great importance to the development of bilateral relations and is willing to work with Guillaume to elevate China-Luxembourg ties to new levels so as to bring greater benefit to the people of both countries.

On the same day, Xi also sent a message of greetings and wishes to former Grand Duke of Luxembourg Henri, who has abdicated the throne.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Hongyu)
TOKYO, Oct 07 (News On Japan) - Train services on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line remained suspended throughout the day on October 6th following a derailment the previous night, leaving commuters and students stranded and forcing many to queue for hours for replacement buses. In areas along the line, long lines formed at bus stops, and rental electric kick scooters quickly ran out as residents searched for alternative transport options.

At Shibuya Station before 8 p.m., long queues for buses stretched beyond sight, with staff guiding passengers at the back of the lines. One commuter said, Ive already prepared for remote work tomorrow before heading home, while another added, It usually takes about 10 minutes by train, but it took me nearly an hour.

The accident occurred shortly after 11 p.m. on October 5th, when a local train bound for Shibuya collided with a stationary out-of-service train at Kajigaya Station in Kawasaki City. According to Tokyu Corporation, the out-of-service train was being operated by a trainee driver who exceeded the regulated speed, triggering the automatic braking system designed to prevent overruns. As a result, the train stopped earlier than scheduled, leaving its rear car protruding onto the main track where it was struck by the oncoming train.

No injuries were reported among passengers or crew, but service was suspended between Shibuya and nearby sections, causing severe disruption during the morning rush. At Mizonokuchi Station, located next to Kajigaya, long lines formed for replacement buses and taxis as early as 7:30 a.m. One commuter said, I was supposed to arrive by 8:45, so I probably wont make it on time. Ill have to call my workplace.

The disruption also affected families and travelers. At Saginuma Station, a parent said, Its my daughters birthday, and we were heading to Sanrio Puroland. Since trains are down, were waiting for a taxi to the nearest operating station. Some commuters chose to walk across the suspended section to reach stations where trains were still running.

The suspension also extended to academic institutions. Komazawa University, which operates three campuses in Tokyos Setagaya Ward, canceled all in-person classes for the day. One second-year student who came to campus for club activities said he was planning to attend a live concert near Haneda Airport in the evening. As long as I arrive by around 7 p.m., its fine. Since the trains arent running, I might take a LUUP e-scooter to Haneda, he said. However, rental scooters along the Den-en-toshi Line had become scarce.

After managing to find one, the student said it would take about an hour to reach the venue. With a full day having passed since the accident, there was still no clear timeline for when services on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line would resume.

Source: TBS
Morocco and Jordan signed two agreements Sunday in Amman meant to strengthen judicial and legal cooperation between the two kingdoms. Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi and his Jordanian counterpart Bassam Al-Talhouni formalized the pacts covering criminal matters, judicial assistance, and prisoner transfer procedures.

The agreements seek to open new perspectives for exchanging legal and judicial experiences and information while supporting both countries efforts consolidating rule of law and combating transnational crime.

Implementation will strengthen joint crime-fighting efforts and develop judicial cooperation mechanisms by facilitating investigation procedures, information exchange, and judgment execution. The framework organizes wanted person extradition according to both countries national laws and relevant international regulations, promoting justice, and reinforcing community security.

Ouahbi praised fraternal and historical relations uniting Morocco and Jordan, emphasizing that signing these agreements reflects both countries determination to concretize partnership spirit, strengthen legal and judicial ties, and exchange experiences and expertise. Jordanian Minister Al-Talhouni described bilateral relations as historical and solid, noting deepening cooperation across various domains over recent decades.

The signing of the agreements represents a milestone in judicial cooperation between the two countries, and embodies their political and legal determination to build effective and durable partnerships addressing shared security challenges and legal coordination needs.
The German Federal Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (BVMW) inaugurated its office in Moroccos capital, Rabat.

The office will help support the establishment and growth of German small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Morocco, strengthen ties, and foster industrial and economic cooperation.

BVMW plans to promote lasting partnerships industry, education, vocational training, job creation, and innovation, and expand trade and cultural exchanges while opening opportunities for joint projects in Africa.

Karim Zidane, minister delegate for Investment and Christoph Ahlhaus, BVMWs CEO, attended the office opening ceremony.

Ahlhaus described the opening as a major step in strengthening economic relations between Moroccan and European companies, noting that SMEs represent 34 associations, nearly 2.1 million businesses, and over 20 million employees across the continent.

BVMWs CEO highlighted Moroccos growing appeal to European entrepreneurs, pointing to its 2000 free trade agreement with the European Union and preferential deals with more than 60 countries. These frameworks have attracted major investors such as Renault and Stellantis, making Morocco Europes leading exporter of cars and auto parts in 2024, ahead of China and Japan.

The Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE) and the German International Cooperation agency (GIZ) co-sponsored the opening.

During the inauguration, BVMW signed several agreements with AMDIE and GIZ, confirming a joint commitment to building economic cooperation based on trust, complementarity, and openness to the future.
Moroccan and French armies have launched over the weekend their joint military exercise Chergui 2025 in southern-eastern desert region of the Kingdom to strengthen further interoperability and consolidate strategic cooperation between the two countries against common challenges.

According to French defense ministry, elements from the 5th regiment of combat helicopters, a platoon of the 1st Regiment of Hunters, a section of the 1st Regiment of Trailleurs and a command module of the 4th Aerocombat Brigade are participating with units of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR) in the exercise, taking place near the border with Algeria, which is harboring the Polisario terrorists and jihadists of Al Qaeda branch in the Maghreb.

The exercise, which simulates an aggression against Moroccos territorial integrity, includes joint planning and coordination and combined ground-air tactical maneuvers. It seeks to enhance interoperability, tactical skills, and joint responses to regional security threats, particularly terrorism in the Sahel region.

Moroccan-French military cooperation is based on a longstanding partnership rooted in historical ties, strategic interests, and mutual defense goals.

The two countries have cooperation agreements in military training, intelligence sharing, and counterterrorism. France has supplied Morocco with military hardware, including helicopters and radar systems, and provides technical support for maintenance and upgrades.
The Moroccan government is facing one of its most serious challenges in recent years, as youth-led protests erupt across the country. Sparked by frustration over unequal access to public services, the demonstrations have escalated into violent clashes in marginalized regions that have long been left behind by the rapid development seen in major urban centers.

At the heart of the unrest is a generation demanding better schools, hospitals, and opportunities. The fact that young peopleespecially Gen Ztook to the streets underscores the failure of political parties to engage this demographic segment. Often viewed as elitist and clientelist, these parties have struggled to attract voters under 24, whose participation in elections remains strikingly low.

Youth unemployment paints a grim picture: 35% overall, and 19% among university graduates. These figures reflect deep-rooted frustration and the inadequacy of current public policies.

The protests gained momentum following the deaths of several pregnant women in Agadir last month, highlighting the dire state of healthcare in underserved areas. In a striking example of digital mobilization, Gen Z organizers coordinated through the gaming app Discordbypassing traditional political channels they view with distrust.

For three days, the government remained silent as demonstrators defied protest bans. It wasnt until riots turned deadly that officials responded. In Lqliaa, a densely populated area in the Inzegane-Ait Melloul province, three people were killed by live ammunition while attempting to storm a Royal Gendarmerie headquarters. According to Agadirs prosecutor, protesters set fire to part of the building, injured five officers, and resisted tear gas and warning shotsspreading panic among nearby families.

Despite Gen Z protesters insisting their movement is peaceful, the lack of identifiable leadership has complicated efforts to initiate dialogue. They have issued a document demanding the governments resignation, a crackdown on corruption, and improved public services.

The movement has ignited a nationwide debate among media, political parties, and civil society organizations about the urgent need for youth-inclusive policies. More than just a protest, it has become a wake-up call for Moroccos political class to deliver on promises and address the stark inequalities between regions.
While the Moroccan youth are peacefully rallying in sit in demanding better health and education, Algerian mouthpiece media and officials are inciting for violence, hoping the unrest that rattled many Moroccan towns last week would grow bigger.

The Algerian regimes wishful thinking has no limits. State propagandists attempted to portray the demands for better public services as protests against the countrys constitutional foundations.

While the media indulges in fake news, Algerian political class has been busy inciting on social media for violence. This has drawn attention to the digital interference Moroccos GenZ movement has faced, particularly from Algeria.

The most explicit sign of Algerian involvement came on October 4, when Abdelkader Bengrina, leader of the Islamist El Bina party and close ally of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, issued a public call urging Moroccan protesters to march on the royal palace and end normalization.

Bengrinas rhetoric mirrors distraction tactics, shifting focus from Moroccos internal demands to foreign policy issues such as Palestine and normalization with Israel. Ironically, while Algeria bans pro-Palestinian demonstrations, Morocco has allowed them, underscoring the disconnect between Bengrinas narrative and the realities on the ground.

On October 5, thousands of citizens marched peacefully in solidarity with Palestinians in down town Rabat.

Unlike in Algeria that bans whatsoever protest. The youth in Morocco held sit-ins in different towns in peace and have expressed constructive change within the framework of national unity. Their embrace of civic engagement stands in stark opposition to the Algerian regimes attempts to sow discord.

In contrast, Moroccos youth are demonstrating a commitment to constructive change within the framework of national unity. Their rejection of exile and embrace of civic engagement stand in stark opposition to the Algerian regimes attempts to sow discord.

As Bengrina and his patrons in Algiers continue to fantasize about upheaval across the border, they may be ignoring the deeper truth: Moroccos monarchy, rooted in centuries of history, remains a cornerstone of national identity. Attempts to destabilize itwhether through digital subversion or inflammatory speechesare unlikely to succeed against the enduring strength of Moroccan unity.
Mauritania has signed its first independent power producer contract  a $300 million agreement with Iwa Green Energy  to build a 60-megawatt hybrid solar-wind power plant, Ecofin Agency reported.

The facility, scheduled for commissioning in September 2026, represents a major milestone in the countrys strategy to boost electricity generation through private financing while accelerating its renewable energy transition. Once completed, the project will raise Mauritanias installed capacity to about 450 megawatts. Minister of Economy and Finance SidAhmed Ould Bouh said the agreement reflects investor confidence in the governments commitment to diversifying the energy base and providing sustainable power to support economic growth.

With less than 10% of rural households connected to the national grid, Mauritania still relies heavily on imported fuels despite its vast renewable potential. The project forms part of President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouanis ambitious energy transition plan, which focuses on diversifying energy sources, cutting carbon emissions and increasing generation capacity.

Energy Minister Mohamed Ould Khaled highlighted that the fully private financing model will expand supply without adding to public debt. Daniel Schroth of the African Development Bank commended Mauritania for advancing the Desert to Power Initiative, launched in 2019 to harness solar energy across eleven Sahel countries. The initiative aims to generate 10 gigawatts of solar power to benefit 250 million people without electricity, and Mauritanias project is seen as a significant step toward achieving that goal.
Morocco is advancing plans to launch a central bank digital currency (CBDC), the e-Dirham, as part of a broader push to modernize its financial system and boost financial inclusion.

The central bank governor Abdellatif Jouahri said late September that the project had entered an advanced study phase, positioning Morocco among more than 100 countries exploring digital currencies, including early adopters like China and Nigeria.

Speaking days later at the African Digital Payment Forum in Rabat, Hakima Alami, BAMs head of payment oversight, described the initiative as a strategic priority. This is a long-term reflection that must balance modernization with financial stability and public trust, she said.

Unlike cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, the e-Dirham would be issued and backed by the Moroccan central bank, maintaining a one-to-one parity with the physical dirham.

While Bitcoin operates on a decentralized, anonymous model, the e-Dirham would function as a state-guaranteed digital alternative to cash, offering stability and traceability.

One of the central motivations behind the e-dirham is to expand financial access. Nearly a third of Moroccan adults remain unbanked, relying heavily on cash for daily transactions. A digital currency, accessible via a mobile app, could allow users to send, receive, and store money securely without needing a traditional bank account.

The move also aims to reduce the high costs associated with cash handling, including printing, transportation, and security. Digital payments could help curb fraud and the informal economy, while streamlining financial flows.

The e-Dirham could also modernize Moroccos payment infrastructure. Current interbank transfers can take days and often involve multiple intermediaries and fees. A central bank digital currency would enable near-instant transactions with minimal costs and full interoperability between service providers.

For consumers, this could mean paying for groceries, taxis, or utility bills directly from a smartphone, without cash or cards.
Oil markets are struggling to reconcile geopolitics with fundamentals as headlines push prices one way while physical signals pull in the other direction. The result is a market where Brent spreads and gasoil cracks appear strong on paper, even as North Sea grades compete for premiums and US crude arrives at a discount in Europe.

Markets are operating on a split screen, with futures signalling at least some tightness still, while the physical market has been weakening markedly. The paper structure has solidified, still in backwardation. Traders added a security cushion in some instances after sustained strikes on Russian refineries and export infrastructure. Gasoil and naphtha cracks, as well as EastWest differentials have stretched to levels reminiscent of the immediate post-invasion period. Meanwhile, FOB premiums for light sweet grades in the North Sea are not strong on average. The Forties have been struggling to clear at a premium to Dated, and WTI is again landing in Northwest Europe at attractive economics. One side of the market is pricing disruption; the other is signalling surplus.

Evidence of robust summer runs adds to the confusion. Saudi crude processing increased sharply year on year, channelling significant incremental barrels into gasoil exports. Brazil posted a decade-high throughput in August. OECD Asia utilisations edged higher, and Indias large sites remained busy. Even with that momentum, margins did not collapse, which suggests the ceiling on operable capacity is closer than it looks. When everything goes right, the system holds together; when a single cog slips, the strain becomes visible.

Related: Crude Traders Split on Whether the Glut Has Arrived

Refining flexibility, not crude availability, is the pinch point. Global conversion units are already working near practical limits, and reliability is uneven. The recurring issues at Dangotes RFCC underline how thin that cushion can be. With winter approaching and diesel stocks still lean versus longer-term seasonal norms, the system has little room to absorb fresh shocks. When geopolitical risk collides with tight conversion capacity, product cracks do not need a demand surge to lift; they only need another outage.

Paper vs physical will not diverge forever

The present disconnect cannot persist indefinitely. North Sea physical weakness sits uneasily beside backwardated Brent spreads. Freight has clearly amplified paper moves, VLCC strength and shifting arbitrages have distorted regional clearing prices, and the dated vs futures plumbing can magnify stress in short bursts. Over time, either physical premiums should rebuild as risk materialises in prompt barrels, or paper structure should cool if the feared losses fail to curtail flows. Positioning around that reconciliation demands humility and disciplined risk limits. Meanwhile, global crude exports are averaging at multi-year highs and oil is building up on water. The market sees this and knows we are headed into a better-supplied period in Q4. The question is of timing and how to manage geopolitical risk in the paper market.

What to watch next

Three markers will frame the next leg. First, the durability of Russian product exports after repeated refinery hits will determine whether todays risk premia harden into shortages. Second, the pace and stability of refinery restarts through global turnarounds will signal whether conversion capacity can keep up with winter demand. Third, the behaviour of WTIBrent and North Sea FOB premiums will reveal whether physical barrels validate paper strength or force a rethink.

By Neil Crosby via Sparta

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
The foundation stone for the re-entry of several major Western energy firms into Iraq was the US$27-billion four-pronged mega-project finally ratified by Frances TotalEnergies in 2023. The project was particularly aimed at addressing two critical issues that had dogged Iraqs development for decades and whose resolution had been stymied by bureaucracy and corruption at senior levels across several governments in Baghdad, as analysed in full in my latest book on the new global oil market order. One of these crucial issues was dramatically increasing the amount of gas captured during the process of drilling for oil (associated gas). And the other was stabilising and then boosting the pressure at Iraqs key oil wells through the treatment and redirection of seawater to these sites through the Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP). The two other projects of the four are the full redevelopment of the Ratawi oil field and the construction of a 1.25 gigawatt-peak solar complex. In recent days, TotalEnergies chief executive officer Patrick Pouyanne announced the start of the construction of the CSSP and the Ratawi development. This means that all four major prongs of the US$27 billion project are now in their execution phase and, according to Pouyanne, the mega-project is on track to deliver its first oil, gas and solar output as soon as early 2026.

By far the most geopolitically important of the four projects is that which will capture associated gas. This might sound overblown to some outside the energy sector, or even within it, but because Iraq did not address this issue seriously earlier it was unable to use the gas for its own domestic power generation. This meant that for years that it has relied on neighbouring Iran to bridge that gap, which it did through increasingly large imports of gas and electricity. This reliance on Tehran for its power needs made Baghdad even more willing to cooperate with its neighbour on supporting pro-Shia militia groups across the Middle East and beyond, and in enabling Iran to continue to export its oil despite long-running international sanctions. The former was often focused on an anti-U.S. and anti-West insurgency that claimed dozens of military and related personnel over the years, even after the formal end of Washingtons mission in Iraq in December 2021. The latter has been achieved through a combination of shared oil fields between the two countries, forged documents, and illegal shipping practices. In turn, these elements were also part of the wider Iran-Iraq alliance that drove the influence of the Shia Crescent of Power through the region, as also detailed in my latest book. This alliance held an extraordinary sway up until very recently over the political, economic, and security trajectories of the Middle East. With Iran at its ideological centre, the Crescent comprised key strategic assets in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, with inroads being made in Azerbaijan (75% Shia and a Former Soviet Union state), Turkey (25% Shia and still furious at not being accepted fully into the European Union), Bahrain (75% Shia), and Pakistan (up to 25% Shia and a home to multiple terrorist groups antagonistic to the West). Key elements in this Shia Crescent alliance were also instrumental in Irans plan to build a land bridge that would run via Iraq all the way to the Mediterranean coast, which would then be used by Tehran to increase arms shipments to its militant proxies for use against Israel. The gas capture part of TotalEnergies mega-project is aimed at cutting this particular strand of Iraqi reliance on Iran. It involves collecting and refining gas that is currently burned off during oil drilling at the five southern Iraq oilfields of West Qurna 2, Majnoon, Tuba, Luhais, and Ratawi.

Related: Iran Boosts Natural Gas Reserves with New Discovery

If the gas capture programme is the most geopolitically important of TotalEnergies four projects then the CSSP is the most important for the energy sector. The basic plan was always that the programme would be used initially to supply around six million bpd of water to at least five southern Basra fields and one in Maysan Province and then built out for use in further fields. Both the longstanding stalwart Iraq fields of Kirkuk and Rumaila  the former beginning production in the 1920s and the latter in the 1950s, with both having produced around 80% of Iraqs cumulative oil production  require major ongoing water injection. The reservoir pressure at the former dropped significantly after output of only around 5% of the oil in place (OIP). Rumaila, in the meantime, produced more than 25% of its OIP before water injection was required because its main reservoir formation (at least its southern part) connects to a very large natural aquifer that has helped to push the oil out of the reservoir. Although the water requirements for most of Iraqs oilfields fall between these two cases, the needs for oilfield injection are highest in southern Iraq, in which water resources are also the least available, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). To reach and then sustain Iraqs future crude oil production targets over any meaningful period, the country will have total water injection needs equating to around 2% of the combined average flows of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers or 6% of their combined flow during the low season. These demands might not appear too onerous, but these water sources will also have to continue to satisfy other, much larger, end-use sectors, including agriculture. The first phase of TotalEnergies CSSP programme will be built on the coast near the town of Um Qasr and is set to process and transport 5 million barrels of seawater per day to the main oil fields in southern Iraq, according to the French firm. Treated seawater will replace freshwater withdrawals from the Tigris, Euphrates, and aquifers to maintain pressure in the oil wells, freeing up to 250,000 cubic metres per day of freshwater for irrigation and local agriculture needs in the water-stressed region.

The CSSP is also crucial to ensuring the longevity of additional reserves due to be brought online in the coming years, which could make Iraq the worlds top crude oil producer. Back in 2012, as also examined in full in my latest book on the new global oil market order, then-Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki received a confidential report (the Integrated National Energy Strategy) showing exactly how Iraq could increase its oil output from just over 3 million bpd at that point to a plateau of 13 million bpd in the High Production scenario by 2017. The Medium Production scenario plotted a course to 9 million bpd plateau by 2020, while the Low Production scenario planned for 6 million bpd by 2025. The key to achieving this was a fully functioning CSSP. The output involved might also be sustained and boosted by the programme with the addition of new reserves that remain as yet untapped but have long been thought to dwarf official 145 billion barrels of proved crude oil reserves held by Iraq. In fact, in October 2010, Iraqs Oil Ministry stated that Iraqs undiscovered resources amounted to around 215 billion barrels. However, even this figure did not include the parts of northern Iraq in the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan. As highlighted by the IEA, most of these had been drilled during a period before the 1970s began when technical limits and low oil prices gave a narrower definition of what constituted a commercially successful well than would be the case now. Overall, the IEA projected that the level of ultimately recoverable resources across all of Iraq (including the Kurdistan region) was around 246 billion barrels (crude and natural gas liquids).

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

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Iraqs 11 November parliamentary elections could mark the key turning point in the countrys history since the ousting of former president Saddam Hussein in April 2003. The nationwide ballot of around 21 million registered voters will determine the occupants of its 329-seat Council of Representatives (the de facto parliament), which will then elect a president. He will subsequently nominate a prime minister, who in turn will have to be approved by an absolute majority of the Council. Each step of this process is likely to be complicated by the absence of a clear-cut electoral result, as the system is based on proportional representation spread across 18 governorate-based constituencies designed to produce no outright single-party winner. With Iraqs pivotal geopolitical importance in the centre of the Middle East, together with its massive oil and gas resources, the result of the vote and its subsequent political jostling for the three key roles in the country  president, prime minister, speaker of parliament -- will be crucial not just to Iraq but to all the worlds major powers for years to come. In short, with official campaigning having started on Friday (3 October), everything is to play for.

Working from the outside in, both the U.S. and China have big stakes already on the table, as evidenced in the scale and scope of their investments in the countrys principal economic driver of energy. Broadly speaking, Washington increasingly lost ground in the battle for influence across the country the longer it stayed in Iraq after the removal of Hussein, while China (with the help of Russia and Iran) broadly benefited at its expense, as analysed in full in my latest book on the new global oil market order. This shift in positive engagement by Iraq away from the U.S. and towards Beijing was expedited in 2018 after Washingtons unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran, which took the brakes off Tehrans anti-U.S. insurgency based in Iraq. It was further accelerated after Washingtons end of combat mission in Iraq in December 2021, which  coinciding with heightened Trade War tensions between the U.S. and China  also prompted Beijing to take the brakes off its own investment-led push further across Iraqi territory. This has resulted in the current position in which Chinese companies manage over two-thirds of Iraqs current oil production, and exercise control over more than one-third of its total proven oil reserves. It also holds controlling interest in several of Iraqs key oil and gas infrastructure, including ports and refineries. On the other side of the superpower balance equation, the U.S. and its allies  most notably the U.K., and France  have in recent months begun to meaningfully counter this Chinese advance, investing in massive oil and gas projects after years of eschewing such investment due to corruption concerns. These include TotalEnergies US$27 billion four-pronged project and BPs US$25 billion five field exploration and development commitment. Russia, in the meantime, has continued to play its Beijing-mandated role of sowing discord between the Federal Government of Iraq in the south and the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan in the north.

Related: Pemexs Dos Bocas Turns Into Mexicos Refinery Nightmare

All these competing pressures have fallen on current Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, currently the favourite to retain his position. This is based on the broadly accurate popular perception that he has so far managed to maintain this exceptionally delicate balancing act without upsetting any of the participating powers to a dangerous degree. He has done this by adopting a primarily pragmatic approach, regardless of his being part of the broader Shiite bloc of Iraqi politics, albeit the most moderate of the three main factions in it. And it is from this broad collective that the new prime minister will likely emerge. Sudanis approach has been characterised by small steps of progress in several areas, including the addition of major energy projects spread between the two superpower sides, and the construction of major new road and refinery projects. The same can be seen in countering corruption, the positive effects of which have been seen from the renewed participation of major Western oil and gas firms in the energy sector. Indeed, sources close to Iraqs Oil Ministry have exclusively told OilPrice.com in recent months that Western firms are broadly currently satisfied with those elements of their contracts that have in the past been a source of concern over transparency issues. He [Sudani] is seen by many [Iraqis] as occupying the middle ground in the Shiite grouping  more nationalist than the Iran-leaning al-Itar al-Tanseqi [Coordination Framework] and less religious than the followers of [cleric] Moqtada al-Sadr, one senior source close to the Oil Ministry said last week. The hope of these voters is that his electoral alliance [the Reconstruction and Development Coalition] can win enough extra seats  another 50 might do it in key areas, like Baghdad  to have major influence on the post-election negotiations that determine the presidency and then the prime ministerial selection, he added.

That said, even among his own broad Shiite grouping, Sudanis alliance does not enjoy a clear electoral run. In some ways helpful for him and his coalition, Sadrs Al-Tayyar al-Watani al-Shiite (National Shiite Movement) has announced that it is boycotting the elections, despite being the dominant Shiite force in the 2021 vote, winning 73 seats -- more than any other single bloc. This leaves his entire nationalist Shiite-centric electoral base up for grabs, and even if Sadr makes no electoral recommendation then these voters would more likely side with al-Sudanis moderate nationalist agenda than with the Iran-leaning movement within the broad Shiite Coordination Framework. Several factions in this movement share ideological, financial, and strategic ties with Tehran, and many are linked to the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) run to all intents and purposes by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). To many in the country, especially in the younger generation, the desire to have such deep links continue with Iran has diminished in recent years, said the Oil Ministry source.

However, beneficial to al-Sudani in this regard is potential support from Qais al-Khazali and his Asaib Ahl al-Haqq network, who  although his bloc has links to the PMF  publicly backed al-Sudanis right to pursue re-election at the same time former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki tried to stop this. Malikis criticism of Sudani has been broadly seen as pre-electoral posturing, given his own ambitions to become prime minister again. A frontrunner in the Etihad Dawlat al-Qanun Shiite faction, he is not seen as a credible challenge to Sudani, as his 20062014 premiership has been widely regarded as being responsible for deepening sectarian divides, and in particular marginalising Sunni communities. His policies have also been seen by many Iraqis as being key in the rise of Islamic State in 2014, and he is also associated at home and abroad with a period of profound corruption in many of Iraqs key areas, including oil and gas.

Nonetheless, Khazalis supportive approach to Sudani has been frequently demonstrated since the recent eavesdropping scandal in which members of Sudanis cabinet were implicated in hacking the devices of a number of Coordination Framework politicians, including Khazali himself. This holds out the possibility that Khazali could more definitely align with Sudani in the post-election bartering, if the latters grouping gains a significant number of seats. Khazalis backing would also be useful for Sudani in dealing with the Kurdish bloc, as he is known to have good relationship with Bafel Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), one of the two dominant Kurdish political parties in Iraq. Indeed, the two mens closely coordinated efforts during the 2023 municipal elections were instrumental in boosting the PUKs position in Kirkuk. It is likely, therefore, that a deal will be done to extend this support for Sudani as prime minister, given the continuation of the recent tradition that the presidency of Iraq remains with a Kurdish politician. The same tradition holds that the speaker of parliament role goes to a Sunni bloc politician, and Sudani is best placed to be able to forge a mutual deal of support with the leading candidates  most notably, Mohammed al-Halbousi, the incumbent Speaker and head of the Taqaddum (Progress Party), who is seeking re-election. Habousi recently reaffirmed his partys backing for Sudanis efforts to implement a comprehensive development programme, emphasising reforms that strengthen state institutions and address displacement, compensation for victims of terrorism, and economic recovery.

For the U.S. and its Western allies, the emergence from this process of al-Sudani as prime minister again would be seen as a positive, according to a senior Washington-based legal source connected to the Treasury and exclusively spoken to by OilPrice.com last week. Hes someone we can work with, he underlined.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

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A harsh winter awaits Kyrgyzstan. That was Kyrgyz Energy Minister Taalaibek Ibraevs message to the country, as he recently revealed that the volume of water in the Toktogul Reservoir, which feeds many of the countrys hydroelectric plants, is at its lowest level for this time of year in more than a decade.

With every year, were feeling the water shortage more and more acutely, and this trend is observed around the world, the Ibraev said, adding that in mid-September, there were 10.8 cubic kilometers of water in the reservoir.

Toktogul feeds five major hydroelectric plants that generate about 97 percent of the countrys hydroelectricity. That includes the Toktogul Hydropower Plant, which alone generates up to 40 percent of the countrys power. Over 90 percent of the countrys generation comes from hydro.

In 2008, the only time in recent memory Toktoguls September water level was lower than this year, it triggered an energy crisis. By September of that year, the reservoir had only refilled to 9.6 cubic kilometers of water. The ensuing power shortage plunged Bishkek into darkness up to 10 hours a day that fall.

Ibraev assured that Kyrgyzstan will not experience a repeat of 2008. Regulatory measures, including the use of smart meters that will cut power to major users once they exceed their contracted amount of electricity, will help prevent prolonged blackouts, he said in an interview with local news agency 24KG. The country, which previously subsidized energy, is also raising bills by between 10 percent and 15 percent a year through 2030 to promote more efficient use of electricity.

The low water level will reduce power generation by 1.6 billion kilowatt hours this winter, Ibraev said. To help offset that shortfall, the country has signed contracts with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to supply a little over 4.2 billion kilowatt hours of power this winter, up from 3.8 billion kilowatt hours last winter.

Ibraev attributed the drop in water level to lower-than-average precipitation this year in the 24KG interview.

Kyrgyz reservoirs accumulate water during the spring and summer mainly from snow and glacier melt, and Kyrgyz authorities then release water during the winter to generate power when it is needed most. The reservoirs high water mark usually comes around early fall when glacial melt stops and before power consumption rises.

The Toktogul Reservoir, Kyrgyzstans largest, can hold about 19.5 cubic kilometers of water, but below about 5.5 cubic kilometers, the hydroelectric cascade that depends on it cannot operate. Kyrgyzstan came close to crisis in spring 2024 when the water level almost crossed that threshold.

Toktoguls September level has been on a downward trend in recent years. It filled to its maximum level last in 2017 before falling to 15.2 cubic kilometers in September 2020, 13.5 cubic kilometers in 2022, and 12.9 cubic kilometers in 2024, according to local media outlet Kaktus.

The link between climate change and runoff into Central Asias mountain rivers is complex. In the short-term, accelerated glacial melt and more precipitation may increase or maintain the flow of rivers like the Naryn, on which the Toktogul Reservoir is located. But the science is mixed. Global warming could also accentuate climate extremes in the Tien Shan and bring more boon years like 2017 and more lean years like this one.

Kyrgyzstan is working to increase its generation capacity. Seventeen or 18 small hydroelectric stations will come online this year, and repairs are underway at Bishkeks coal-fired coal plant. Last week, the governments of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan said they would accelerate work on the Kambarata-1 hydroelectric station upstream from Toktogul, which, when completed, could generate more than 5.5 billion kilowatt hours.

Ibraev claimed Kyrgyzstan may get out of this crisis by 2028, but urged people to save energy this winter. We save energy. Our little grandson has learned this too. When he leaves a room, he turns off the light. Hes quite used to it, Ibraev said.

By Eurasianet

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There is serious confusion in the ruling All Progressives Congress in Abuja on Sunday over an audio, where the Minister of Transportation,...
While AI, such as ChatGPT, offers viable and profitable applications and can be useful to experts for routine tasks, it cannot replace human generalized skills, expertise, or the nuanced understanding derived from lived experience and context.

The article argues that current AI approaches, particularly those relying on large language models (LLMs), will never achieve AGI due to the inherent imprecision of language, the lack of lived experience and judgment in machines, and the fact that AI models are merely "maps" not "territory."

Sam Altman is the CEO of the most visible artificial intelligence (AI) organization on the planet, OpenAI, the purveyors of the popular ChatGPT AI interface. His job is to keep the investment dollars flowing into OpenAI, tens of billions of them. So, it's pretty important for Altman to keep investors interested and to promise them breakthroughs...and also, apparently, to reschedule those breakthroughs when they don't occur.

Now, something that most people don't understand about OpenAI is that despite being recently valued at $500 billion, OpenAI loses money, reportedly $5 billion last year on sales of $3.7 billion. Back in 2023 Altman was telling the public that OpenAI had achieved artificial general intelligence (AGI). For those who don't know, AGI means intelligence capable of learning and executing all the tasks that humans can do. No one appears to know how exactly to measure whether a machine can do the totality of things a human can do, but it sounds very cool to talk about it. And, it's the kind of talk that keeps investors excited. The implication, of course, is that the investor class won't have to put up with pesky employees much longer for most jobs.

The moment when this happens, when machines become smarter than humans and start running everything for us as if they don't alreadyis sometimes called the singularity, usually with a capital "S." Now, singularity has a specific meaning in physics. In this context it refers to a nonreligious, tech version of the rapture in which technological advancement becomes very rapid as machines take over and iterate on technical innovation. We know what happens to people in the religious version of the rapturesome ascend to heaven and others are left behind. But we aren't exactly sure what is to become of humans after the so-called singularity version of the rapture since supposedly there won't be much work to do. AI will be doing it.

But we may not have to concern ourselves with such things for the moment. Apparently, Altman's 2023 proclamation that AGI had been achieved didn't stick. But Altman was back in December 2024 telling the public that AGI would be achieved in 2025. Admittedly, 2025 isn't over, so I suppose AGI could be achieved by December 31. But Altman apparently sees the writing on the wall and isn't waiting for the end of the year to move the goalposts once again, this time to 2030. However, 2026 remains a popular prediction among many others.

Just so you know, predictions of this momentous event are all over the place, some reaching out to 2060, and, not surprisingly, the predictions change over time. But I'm willing to make the following outlandish prediction that under current approaches which rely on so-called large language models (LLMs), AGI will happen never.

There are several reasons I say thisapart from the difficulty of defining what "intelligence" means which would require an entire essay by itself. Before getting to those reasons let me say that I believe current AI development will result in some viable and possibly profitable applications. Clearly, people are using AI interfaces such as ChatGPT and gaining some benefit from them. But that is a far cry from LLMs taking on the lion's share of tasks currently performed by humans. I remember when people said the introduction of the automated bank teller would lead to the extinction of tellers. It's been 50 years and I can report that bank tellers are still working in the lobby of my bank. Machines, even machines directed by AI, are good at specific tasks. But they are unlikely anytime soon to replace the generalized skills of humans.

So, here's why the LLMs that power current AI are limited in what they can do. First, they are based on language. Language is an inherently imprecise tool of communication. Words have multiple meanings. Just look in any dictionary. And those meanings drift over time based on actual usage. That's why dictionaries are constantly updated.

And, words are always understood in context. Context means the entire cultural and physical setting to which the words apply. Humans have a natural talent for language and they learn language within specific cultural and physical settings, relating that language to all five senses and placing the meaning of specific words and sets of words in the context of gestures and attitudes which accompany their utterance.

Machines don't have the chance to learn language in this way; nor do they have the full set of senses (and it's not clear what it would mean if they did). In fact, LLMs simply hoover up a lot of text from a so-called "training set" and use that text to predict what the next word will be regarding the subject about which someone requests information.

Humans can put language and other symbols in the context of their own lived experience. Machines by definition are not capable of lived experience in the manner of humans. Humans' lived experience becomes the basis for judgement, something machines cannot develop. Within judgement I include hunches, intuitions and vague remembrances and connections that often inform human decisions and sometimes form the basis for new ideas and discoveries.

Second, the language of computers is code. Code is a seriously pared down version of language and so much more limited in the ways it can represent reality. I can tell from the current discourse that the biggest boosters of AI almost certainly read few novels (except perhaps some science fiction novels). If they did read more serious non-science fiction novels, they would understand what a monumental task it is to try to describe reality to a reader in words and why the attempt will always fail.

Instead, what great authors do is provide enough of just the right details about settings, characters, dialogue and action to ignite the imagination and lived experience of readers who then create in their minds a version of the world that the author is trying to convey. In other words, humans can create models of the world in their minds and consider possible meanings and trajectories that flow from those models. That's a very complex task. Machines, no matter how sophisticated, cannot imagine a world based on such clues as an author might give them because they do not "live" in the world the way humans do.

Related: Middle East Oil Producers Follow Saudi Pricing Lead

Third, there is a very important corollary to points one and two, namely, the map is not the territory. It's a simple concept really. But it is easy to forget when you are a person who is marooned in the land of bits and bytes and computer animation and believe that computers are somehow giving you an accurate representation of the reality we live in. What AI tells us is based on models, not lived reality, models based on imprecise and ever changing language. AI may provide some useful information because of its ability to synthesize huge amounts of text, but it cannot convey understanding. It is merely giving us a map and a very partial and often mistaken one at that.

Fourth, AI is not going to replace human expertise. The idea that AI is going to become expert at every topic is already being shown to be nonsense. Humans embody expertise and share some of that in books, articles, recorded speeches and interviews, and graphics. But we could not produce the next generation of chemists using only books about chemistry.

Knowledge is not just words on a page. Knowledge is something that is embodied in those who have it in the inflections they use in speech, the physical moves they make in the lab, the relationships they develop with their students and colleagues, the ideas they choose to emphasize in their work, and the overall style of their lives. Try learning how to operate in a restaurant kitchen without ever actually going into one. The same goes for a laboratory, both for students and expert researchers. In addition, there are many bits of knowledge that might have been written down but which never make it to the page. Written documents are an outline or prompt to knowledge. They cannot be all-inclusive.

A friend who is a practicing attorney uses AI to compose routine contracts and agreements, models for which abound on the internet and which are therefore available for AI to sweep into its databases. And, of course, the law generally prescribes narrow parameters for such documents. That makes AI less error-prone in composing them. Nevertheless, this attorney has to correct things which are wrong and, of course, modify text where the AI engine has not quite gotten the nuance right. AI is useful to her, but it cannot replace her expertise; and someone who has no expertise and yet uses such raw output, presenting it as authoritative, is a positive danger to society. AI will be useful to experts, but it cannot replace them.

Many investors are betting that Sam Altman will be right about the advent of AGI. When they figure out that he's not, the curtain will come down on the AI stock bubble and probably take the whole economy with it. That's usually what happens when it becomes clear that the new era prophesied by the industry gurus of the latest "big thing" is just like old eras; there may be some genuine progress, but the value of the progress has been poorly understood and greatly overestimated.

"Trees do not grow to the sky" is an old German proverb. Nor do AI stocks rise forever. Every generation must learn the hard way that financial manias always end badly even if the underlying companies provide some value that must be marked down to its actual contribution to society.

By Kurt Cobb via Resource Insights

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The election victory this weekend of right-wing populist Andrej Babis risks turning the Czech Republic into another Central European problem child for Brussels after he campaigned on vows to slash support for Ukraine and confront the EU over immigration and environmental policies.

Babis, a former prime minister and billionaire sometimes referred to in the media as the Czech Donald Trump, easily took the most votes with his ANO (YES) party garnering 35 percent.

A triumphant Babis said after the results came in that he would seek a one-party minority government, though he would hold talks with two small parties including the far-right SPD that could give him a majority in parliament.

There is no panic yet in the corridors of power in Brussels with some officials assessing that Babis is no Robert Fico or Viktor Orban.

That's a reference to the leaders of Slovakia and Hungary, who in recent years have caused the bloc all sorts of headaches by watering down or holding up sanctions on Russia, pausing both military aid, economic support, and EU accession negotiations for Ukraine and undermining the rule of law in the club in general.

Still, Orban was the first leader in Europe to congratulate Babis, who was Czech prime minister from December 2017 to December 2021.

Filip Nerad, who has followed Czech-EU politics for the think-tank Globsec, told RFE/RL that the Babis government will be more critical toward big EU initiatives such as the Green deal that aims to make the bloc climate neutral by 2050.

He also said Babis opposes the migration pact, which enters into force next year and is aimed to create a common EU asylum system.

Still, the 71-year-old leader may not totally align with Budapest and Bratislava, giving some hope Brussels may be able to work with Prague on some level.

Overall the Czech Republic will be less in the mainstream in Brussels and cooperate more with Hungary and Slovakia, but dont expect that Prague will follow Budapest and Bratislava on everything, Nerad said.

The assumption, speaking to both European and Czech officials, that Babis indeed is different from his two Visegrad peers is based on three observations.

Firstly, the nature of his election win.

While his ANO party clearly came out on top, the three other populist parties -- the SPD, Motoriste sobe (Motorists for Themselves) and Stacilo (Enough) -- fared poorer than expected.

Stacilo failed to clear the 5 percent threshold to gain seats in parliament, removing a potential coalition partner for Babis.

While the Slovak-born Babis may aim to form a minority government of just ANO ministers with the political backing of the Motorists and SPD, analysts said talks between the parties are likely to prove difficult.

And his government might end up wobbly and weak. He might even eventually turn to the more mainstream parties in the outgoing government.

Second, while his rhetoric on the campaign trail often was anti-EU, he may be forced to move toward the middle to work along side pro-West President Petr Pavel, who is popular among Czechs and a likely counterbalance to Babis.

Pavel doesn't have many levers of power, but one he does possess is approving cabinet ministers. And he's already said he wont accept any anti-systemic candidates if he is to sign-off on Babis's government.

It is also worth noting that many other senior ANO officials such as Karel Havlicek and Adam Vojtech are considered moderate and even were well-regarded in Brussels during their previous stints as government ministers.

Finally, there is Babis himself, who despite having sharpened his criticism of the European Union in recent years and is in the same European political group that has challenged the mainstream direction of Europes policies, has practical reasons to remain Western-oriented.

His business interests in agriculture and media are linked to both Austria and Germany and dependent on generous EU funds.

He has sought close political ties with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and with France. On top of that, he has promised to honor the Czech Republic's commitment to NATO.

We want to save Europeand we are clearly pro-European and pro-NATO, Babis told reporters after his election win.

Pavel Havlicek, who follows Czech-EU relations for the think tank AMO, notes that Brussels most likely is looking at the Czech vote with skepticism and worry.

But, he adds, it will be important for Brussels to stay merit-based and judge Babis on his deeds and not necessarily his rhetoric" as he could prove to be "more pragmatic and willing to negotiate than Fico and Orban.

One EU official, speaking to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity, said Babis's election is likely to remove the Czechs from their leadership role in some parts of the bloc.

Concretely, the Czechs have spearheaded an ammunition initiative that has been key in getting millions of rounds of mainly desperately needed ammunition to Kyiv as it fights to repel invading Russian forces.

Babis has been a sharp critic of the initiative, though he has left the door open for it to fall under NATO auspices.

Czech soldiers in any possible future peace-keeping mission in Ukraine can likely be ruled out and weapons might not be transferred to the war as readily as before.

There are other projects driven by the Czechs that may quietly might die out too.

The country has been pushing Brussels for over a year to limit the movement of Russian diplomats in EU countries and to impose EU-wide sanctions on the current ruling regime in Georgia as it backslides on democratic reforms and veers toward Moscow.

Prague was also instrumental in creating a new sanctions framework for Russian hybrid action around the globe and encouraging Kosovo to apply for EU membership.

By RFE/RL

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Denmark is intensifying inspections on oil tankers passing through its waters, which are the gateway to and from the Baltic Sea, in a move to counter Russias shadow fleet movements.

The Danish authorities are stepping up environmental checks on older tankers passing through its straits, the Environment Ministry said on Monday.

A growing number of very old vessels have joined the so-called shadow fleet to transport Russian oil out of its Baltic ports, as Moscow pivoted to sell its crude to China and India after shipments to the EU and UK were banned, while sales to third countries cannot use Western insurance and financing unless the oil is priced below a price cap.

As Russia is increasingly using shadow fleet vessels, often old and decrepit tankers, Denmark will now strengthen environmental inspections.

The move is a result of increased activity by older ships that transport sanctioned oil through Danish waters, among other things. These raise the risks for the marine environment, the Danish government said.

We know there is a lot of traffic consisting of older ships passing through Danish waters, and they pose a particular risk to our marine environment,

Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke said.

That is why we are now tightening controls with very basic environmental rules so that we can take more effective and consistent action against tankers and the Russian shadow fleet, the minister added.

Denmarks Industry Minister Morten Bdskov said that We must put an end to Putin's war machine. This also applies to the Russian shadow fleet. We are using all tools.

Despite the fact that the EU, the UK, and the U.S. have blacklisted hundreds of vessels identified as belonging to the Russian shadow fleet, Russias crude oil exports havent tanked. In September, Russias crude oil exports by sea are estimated to have hit their highest level since May 2024.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Italys Eni has restarted drilling operations offshore Libya after a five-year break prompted by the Covid pandemic.

The National Oil Corporation of Libya said that the Italian supermajor had started drilling at Block 16/4 in the northwestern part of the countrys territorial waters and will soon complete work on the exploration well that was started back in 2020.

The return of Eni to Libya follows other Big Oil majors, including Shell and BP, which earlier this year signed new deals with the Libyan government for exploration works in oil and gas. Exxon has also signed its readiness to return to Libya.

In July, NOC signed a memorandum of understanding with BP under which the UK-based supermajor will conduct studies to assess the potential for hydrocarbon exploration and production in the Messla and Sarir fields, as well as in some surrounding exploration areas.

Related: Forget OPEC Warnings the Real Oil Shock Is Happening Inside Russia

Separately, the Libyan oil corporation reached an agreement with Shell for the oil and gas major to evaluate hydrocarbon prospects and conduct a comprehensive technical and economic feasibility study to develop the al-Atshan field and other fields fully owned by the NOC, excluding any areas where third parties, other than the NOC and Shell, have rights.

The agreements suggest that the political situation in Libya is improving, at least to some extent, to motivate Big Oil to resume operations in the country. They are also instrumental for the Libyan governments plans to considerably boost oil and gas production. Per an August update from the National Oil Corporation, the countrys oil production should rise to 2 million barrels daily by 2028. A month later, the National Oil Corporation eyed a hike to 2 million barrels daily by the end of this year. As of late September, Libya was producing close to 1.39 million barrels of crude daily, slightly down on Augusts 1.4 million bpd.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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More crude oil from Russia has become available for Indian refiners as Ukrainian drone attacks have reduced the Russian refining capacity, an Indian government official Reuters on Monday.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India has relied on the discounted Russian crude banned in the West to reduce its crude import bill. Indian refiners have significantly increased their purchases of Russian crude, making India the second-largest buyer of Russias oil, behind only China.

However, the Trump Administration, facing difficult trade negotiations with India and the dragging war in Ukraine, has singled out India as a culprit for buying Russian oil.

Indian officials have repeatedly said the country would continue to buy the cheap Russian oil. Officials are now reportedly telling Trump Administration officials that India could cut crude imports from Russia if the U.S. were to allow flows from Iran and Venezuela.

Indias crude oil imports from Russia are estimated to have dropped by about 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) in September compared to August as Indian refiners expand crude sources amid ongoing U.S.-India trade talks and U.S. pressure on the worlds third-largest crude importer to stop importing Russian oil and prop up the Kremlins energy revenues.

While Indian crude oil imports from Russia slipped last month, they still accounted for about a third of all crude arrivals in the country. Refiners continue to buy the cheaper Russian crude, for economic reasons, Indias top officials say. But some refiners have started to diversify the risk by taking barrels from other sources, including the U.S., Brazil, and West Africa.

Russian barrels remain central to Indias crude slate, but volumes are stabilizing at a lower plateau, Sumit Ritolia, a lead analyst at Kpler, told Bloomberg last week.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that amid rising global energy demand, oil prices could jump above $100 per barrel if Russias oil is pushed out of the market.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Iran claims a new natural gas discovery would add an estimated 10 trillion cubic feet to its gas reserves and could help offset an expected energy imbalance.

Iran has discovered significant gas and oil reserves at the Pazan field in the southern part of the Fars province, Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said on Monday.

Exploration efforts in the Pazan field, in southern Fars Province and extending toward northern Bushehr, have led to this important discovery, Shana, the news service of Irans oil ministry, quoted the minister as saying.

Exploration has resumed at the site after an eight-year hiatus, leading to this significant achievement, Paknejad was quoted as saying.

To put this in perspective, the Pazan fields new 10 trillion cubic feet of gasassuming a 70 percent recovery factorcould yield about 7 trillion cubic feet, equivalent to 7,000 days of production from one phase of the South Pars gas field. Thats roughly 17 to 18 years of output from a single South Pars phasean impressive figure, the minister said.

A development contract has been awarded, with development operations expected to begin soon. The Pazan field is expected to start production within 40 months, or 3 years and 4 months, according to Shana.

Irans biggest operating gas field is South Pars, the worlds largest natural gas discovery, which Iran shares with Qatar in the Persian Gulf.

Earlier this year, Iran said it is boosting natural gas production from Phase 11 of the giant South Pars field after bringing online a key new well.

The eighth well at South Pars 11  the 11th phase of development at the field- will raise output from South Pars by 3 million cubic meters per day (mcm/d).

Thus, the total natural gas output at the giant South Pars field has reached 20 mcm/d.

Iran has had to develop Phase 11 of South Pars, relying on domestic companies and technologies, after French oil and gas major TotalEnergies quit business with Iran in 2018 after the U.S. re-imposed sanctions on Irans oil industry and exports.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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In a new operational blow to Russias refining capacity, the Kirishi complex has reportedly shut down its CDU-6 crude distillation unit, the largest processing block at the plant, following damage from a Ukrainian drone strike.

According to Reuters, the refinerys core capacity is now offline, though this has not been confirmed officially by Moscow.

The CDU-6 unit historically accounts for most of Kirishis processing output, and its halt means a significant drop in daily refined product volumes. Two industry sources cited in the Reuters report estimate the shutdown could last approximately one month.

While exact daily loss estimates remain unconfirmed, the halt could take up to 160,000 barrels per day off the market for a month, considering that Kirishis total crude-processing capacity is around 360,000 bpd, with CDU-6 handling approximately half of that capacity.

That shutdown comes as Russia signals plans to raise output by 137,000 bpd at the upcoming OPEC+ virtual meeting to stabilize prices later this month. The Kirishi cut now undermines that buffer, constraining flexibility in an already volatile market.

European fuel markets are also paying close attention here. The shutdown tightens supplies of diesel and middle distillates, which are already under pressure from sanctions, logistical bottlenecks, and other disruptions. Even if other Kirishi units or nearby refineries partially offset the loss, refiners will face a steeper margin squeeze.

Meanwhile, Ukraine claimed responsibility for a separate strike overnight on the Feodosia oil terminal in Crimea, a key transshipment hub distinct from Kirishi that serves as a rail-sea fuel interchange for Russian military logistics. Kyivs defense forces said the terminals storage infrastructure sustained significant damage.

President Vladimir Putin recently warned that removing Russian crude or curbing its refined output could push prices well above $100 per barrel.

Surgutneftegaz, owner of the KINEF-Kirishi complex, has not yet issued a statement confirming the scope of the outage or estimated repair timeline. Market observers are tracking product flows and satellite imagery for signs of disruption as refiners and trading desks reassess exposure to Russias shrinking refining network.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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On Sunday, OPEC+ agreed to raise oil output by 137,000 barrels per day (bpd) from November. The increase is equal to the one adopted in October, with markets seeing it as a cautious step amid persistent fears of an oversupplied market.

This relatively modest increase came after the group hit back at rumors of a potential 500,000 bpd increase. So far this year, the OPEC+ alliance has increased its output targets by more than 2.7 million bpd, representing approximately 2.5 % of global demand. The group clearly remains intent on reclaiming market share from non-OPEC producers while not pushing prices too low.

Leading up to the meeting, tensions between Russia and Saudi Arabia were widely reported. Russia reportedly favored sticking with a modest increase, citing sanctions-related constraints and a desire to avoid downward pressure on prices. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, is said to have lobbied for a much more aggressive hike. In the end, the modest increase prevailed, reflecting a compromise aimed at stability.

OPEC itself justified the cautious posture by pointing to a steady global economic outlook and current healthy market fundamentals, notably citing relatively low oil inventories.

At the time of writing, Brent crude was trading at $65.45, up by nearly 1.5% on the day, while WTI had climbed to $61.78.

There is also a structural challenge underpinning these moves by OPEC+ as the group is eroding its spare capacity cushion with each increase. Over time, this thinning of slack capacity may reduce the cartels ability to respond flexibly to shocks.

The eight producers will reconvene on November 2 to reassess and potentially adjust further output plans. AP News+2Reuters+2 This meeting will be closely watched for signs of whether the group accelerates rollbacks or adjusts strategy in the face of evolving demand signals and inventory trends.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Ukraine has hit an oil terminal in Crimea, which has been occupied by Russia since 2014, the Ukrainian Army said on Monday.

The Ukrainians also struck an explosives manufacturing plant in Dzerzhinsk, in the Nizhny Novgorod region in Russia.

The Ukrainian army hit the Marine Oil Terminal in Feodosia, Crimea. A massive fire at the terminal erupted as a result of the successful hit, the army said on its Telegram channel.

The Marine Oil Terminal is a trans-shipment complex for oil and oil products from railway tank cars to vessels and vice versa, and provides fuel to Russias army, the Ukrainian army said.

Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian energy infrastructure in recent weeks. Major refineries are out of service due to drone strikes while the Ust-Luga complex and export port on the Russian Baltic Sea, is still recovering from a major strike at the end of August.

Russias government plans to boost fuel imports from Belarus and import gasoline from China, Singapore, and South Korea to address falling domestic output and gasoline shortages in several regions after a wave of drone attacks crippled the Russian refining capacity.

Russias gasoline and diesel supply has been crippled in recent weeks by intensified attacks on refineries with Ukrainian drones, which at one point curtailed 40% of Russias refining capacity.

Russia has not commented on the extent of the damage done by Ukrainian drones, but various reports have said that at least 10 refineries have been targeted with drones by Ukraine, and some of them have sustained damages and had to temporarily halt crude intake.

The Ukrainian attacks could also force Russian oil producers to reduce output. State pipeline firm Transneft, which handles more than 80% of all the crude oil pumped in Russia, has warned producers that it may have to accept lower volumes on its system, industry sources close to Russian oil producers told Reuters in the middle of September.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Communications and Informatics Office participated has in the second ordinary session of the Council of Arab Ministers for Cybersecurity, which aims to strengthen Arab cooperation
By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

By our estimate, around two hundred people rallied during the afternoon at the Oregon State Capital last Saturday. The event was hosted by Salems River Church which has hosted public rallies and worship events around Oregon.

For comparison, there were more people at this Charlie Kirk Salem rally than people who showed up to the ICE protests (which was a nationally talked about news event). This Capitol rally was special and you could feel it.

The Oregon chapter of Turning Point had their representative who spoke by giving a powerful testimony on how he turned his life around with God and began to be a change-agent who dedicated his life to helping others. River Church pastor, Lew Wootan, shared on how we all need to put aside the things that divide us (that ultimately do not matter) because those are the things are blocking us from true unity. State Representative Ed Deihl shared on Governor Kotek is blocking the will of voters by not letting them vote on the massive gas tax she helped pass. Rep. Deihl encouraged people to go to Notaxor.com when the petition to stop the gas tax is ready.


By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

This weekend, the Taxpayers Association of Oregon was monitoring in person the Portland ICE protests which has drawn national news coverage.

Things have changed.

First, there have been noticeably fewer hardcore rioters (Antifa/Anarchists/other Leftists groups) present at the protest. These violent protestors can be seen directly outside the ICE building front gate which is the heart of the protest. There were indeed, way more people who were across the street who were spectators, capturing everything with their cell phones. This crowd dynamic (of more gawkers than rioters) is a nightmare for rioters who depend on large crowds to join them and shield them  not sit back and record every action they do.

Second, on Friday night, during the front gate protest, a group began shouting USA! USA! USA!. About a dozen college-age counter-protestors showed up with a U.S. flag to support ICE. Many were wearing Charlie Kirk T-shirts. Because the dozen, mostly men, matched half the size of the rioters at the ICE front gate, the rioters could not intimidate or isolate them like they have done to other critics in the past. The rioters were helpless. There was nothing they could do outside of screaming all kinds of profanity and insults. The patriotic protestors did not care as they laughed and took selfies. You had to be there to appreciate the utter humiliation this caused.

Honeybadger captured one of these moments where they cheered the ICE agents.

Then they unfurled a banner that thanked ICE.

Also, a young woman standing in the heart of the front gate protest and surrounded by rioters, pulled out her Bible and began sharing the Gospel. We wish we had a picture. This young woman was a fearless angel sharing good news to black-masked rioters who were cursing her continually. You had to be there to appreciate the beauty of the moment.

This is the Charlie Kirk effect in action  young people are not afraid to stand for what they believe. They are tired of living in fear. The Charlie Kirk effect is happening across America.

Despite the fact that the Portland protest was a nationally news-making event, there were more people rallying for Charlie Kirk at the State Capitol last Saturday than people protesting ICE.

In fact, through-out the weekend, various patriotic protestors showed up at various times to support ICE.

Katie Daviscourt captured this one just outside the ICE building.

On Friday, after these patriot counter-protestors left, the entire protest fell dead silent for a long time. You could feel the defeat, confusion and bewilderment in the air. As the Taxpayers Association of Oregon has covered dozens of riots since 2020, we have never seen such an occurrence. Rarely are rioters dumbfounded and silenced as they were that Friday night. And those patriot protestors came back for another night and repeated the humiliation on Saturday and Sunday. Oh my!

The other unique occurrence was the fact that so many of the patriot protesters and conservative live-streamers were ambitious at talking to the protestors. It was a full display of Charlie Kirks famous open debate.

Here is a photo of two different conversations going on outside the ICE building. One is a black man with a MAGA hat and the other is live-streaming conservative reporter both talking to protestors.

The rioters screamed at the black MAGA-hat man, Race traitor! Race traitor! Race traitor! and he just smiled and shared what he believed and even challenged them on what they believed about race (they had no answer). He was like Charlie Kirk who was calm as people berated him. This type of exchange simply did not occur in the past five years.

Conservatives were engaging with protesters so much, that the Leftist rioters from a bullhorn had to beg their comrades to stop talking to them. They screamed Stop talking to the fascists!!!, You are providing content for their videos and paying their salary! and Please waste the time of government employees and not them! You know a movement is dying when they demand you stop talking to people.

Another factor in the protests, is the fact that ICE agents have been arresting rioters. These rioters are used to Portland Police who do the arrests which means rioters often face a quick release within hours. ICE is handling it in the way they see necessary. By ICE arresting violent rioters over the past few weeks, it has drained their movement of their most violent protestors. On the flip side, you may see more rioters flown in from other states to join the protest, something that happened during the Portland Covid-era rioting.

These past three days have been a huge set-back for the rioters, and Charlie Kirk has been a big factor.

PLEASE SUPPORT THOSE WHO REPORT FROM THESE DANGEROUS PLACES  Andy Ngo, Katie Daviscourt, and HoneyBadger mom.

.

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Monique DeSpain Raises Impressive $155,000 in First 48 Hours of Her Campaign to Unseat Val Hoyle

By Monique DeSpain for Congress

Eugene, OR  Today, Oregon Fourth Congressional District candidate Monique DeSpain announced she has raised over $155,000 across all campaign entities in just 48 hours since launching her bid to unseat corrupt incumbent career politician Congresswoman Val Hoyle.

In just 48 hours, our campaign ignited the 4th Districts comeback  $155,000 raised and counting  as supporters from every corner of the District and every party rush to be part of something unstoppable. Momentum is surging, the energy is contagious, and anyone watching from the sidelines can feel it: our movement is taking off, said Monique DeSpain.

The people of this District have endured too much at the hands of Val Hoyle, Oregons political elites, and our failed political system thats delivered rampant homelessness, unsafe streets, rising prices, and declining living standards. Now, Oregons comeback has begun, and I am ready to lead it. Our supporters are responding big time in support of our mission to deliver a brighter, safer, more prosperous future.

DeSpain launched her campaign for Congress in Oregons 4th District last week, setting up a rematch to unseat incumbent Val Hoyle in November 2026 and bring about a safer, more prosperous Oregon. Her announcement featured the following launch video:

Monique DeSpain is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, mother of twin boys, and public policy advocate who resides in Eugene, Oregon. She was the 2024 Republican nominee for Oregons 4th Congressional District, running to unseat incumbent Congresswoman Val Hoyle to bring about a safer, more prosperous Oregon. Her campaign website is www.MoniqueForCongress.com.


By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

Conservative journalist Nick Sortor was in Portland reporting on the ICE riots. He was harassed by rioters and then arrested by Portland Police. This spurned a Civil Rights Investigation by the Trump Justice Department. Just today, those charges were dropped.

See below:

#1. Video of Nick Sortor speakign on his dropped charges

#2. The clear video showing him being harassed.

 BREAKING  ITS OFFICIAL: Just finished up my formal arraignment in Portland, where the DA REFUSED to charge me Heres my message to Chief Braindead Bob of Portland: Instead of slandering me on TV, focus on clearing the ROT from @PortlandPolice. pic.twitter.com/Mk4kYCLnbQ  Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) October 6, 2025

Tomorrow at 2pm PT, I will be arraigned in Portland for Disorderly Conduct II I will NOT take a plea deal of any kind. Because I did NOTHING wrong. I will fight this until the end, and expose Portland Police in the process THIS is the altercation that Im *supposedly* being pic.twitter.com/dzcDWWE3os  Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) October 5, 2025
Benghazi, Libya (PANA) - An international scientific conference on training and sustainable development on the theme: "Current challenges and future aspirations" started at Omar Mokhtar University on Monday
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Image of 3I/ATLAS amongst a sea of stars and in isolation. Credit: NOIRLab/AURA/Gemini North/IfA University of Hawaii

Interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS has been constantly changing as it makes its way through our solar system. That's to be expected, as, for the first time in potentially billions of years, it's getting close to the energy put out by a star.

Scientists have been keeping a close watch on those changes, both to ensure there's nothing unexplainable by our current understanding, but also to compare 3I/ATLAS to both previous interstellar visitors as well as comets in our own solar system.

A recent paper from European researchers posted to the arXiv preprint server describes how the changes in a particular material ratio in 3I/ATLAS' coma fit with our current understanding of cometary geology.

That ratio is the nickel to iron (Ni/Fe) abundance ratio. It has been measured for two decades, including on 20 in-system comets as well as 2I/Borisov, the last known interstellar visitor our solar system had. However, the fact that either of those materials is even present at all in the coma has puzzled scientists, as the temperatures on their surfaces typically aren't enough to sublimate the silicates or sulfides that are thought to hold these metals on cometary surfaces.

The Ni/Fe ratio from studying 2I/Borisov was similar to those of in-system comets. But that ratio is also about 10 times higher than the Ni/Fe of the sun itself. So the fact that one of our interstellar visitors and our in-system comets had the same high ratio pointed to some common process in cometary formation that was agnostic to the materials available in the star it formed around.

3I/ATLAS, though, was different, as it has been in so many ways, from both in-system comets and 2I/Borisov. The researchers used the European Southern Observatory's (ESO's) Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile to watch the comet between August and September, while it was traveling from 3.14 AU to 2.14 AU and started to get increasingly warmed by the sun.

They noted that the spectral absorption line for nickel captured by the VLT's UV-Visual Echelle Spectrograph (UVES) was present the entire time. However, the absorption lines for iron only appeared once 3I/ATLAS got within 2.64 AU of the sun. This discrepancy caused a Ni/Fe ratio much higher than those seen in previous comets, but it was actively changing dramatically as 3I/ATLAS got closer to the sun. No other study had shown that much of a dramatic change.

It also might explain why there is nickel and iron in the comet's coma in the first place. Researchers had previously developed a theory that the metals they were seeing were tied to carbonyl groups, forming high volatile organometallic compounds. In that scenario, the nickel would be tied up as nickel tetracarbonyl (Ni(CO) 4 ), and iron would be tied up as iron pentacarbonyl (Fe(CO) 5 ). Both of those organometallic materials have sublimation points low enough to do so when still far from the sun.

Importantly for this data set, nickel tetracarbonyl has a lower melting point than iron pentacarbonyl, which would explain why there was no iron spectra early in the observational period, but there was later when the comet grew closer to the sun. The temperature gradient over that journey must have crossed the threshold where iron pentacarbonyl started sublimating, causing the dramatic drop in the Ni/Fe ratio seen in the data. The researchers also found that the amount of nickel production in the coma closely matches the theoretical sublimation rate of nickel tetracarbonyl.

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The researchers put forth one other important data point about 3I/ATLASit can be classified as a "C 2 -depleted" comet. That means the ratio of diatomic carbon (C 2 ) compared to the cyanogen radical (CN) in its coma is very small. This classification points to 3I/ATLAS's "primordialness," as it was given that ratio billions of years ago when it was formed, and hints that it was formed in a different part of its home system protoplanetary disk than other, more common comets.

More data is coming out about our third known interstellar visitor on a daily basis. That would likely include more studies of its Ni/Fe ratio as it gets even closer to the sun, and before it moves out of view for a few months. Expect more papers from as many telescopes and research groups as can find observational time to watch this once in a lifetime cometary visitor.

More information: Damien Hutsemekers et al, Extreme NiI/FeI abundance ratio in the coma of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, arXiv (2025). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2509.26053 Journal information: arXiv
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Multiscale simulations for NH 3 decomposition across various catalysts under the conditions of thermal heating only. Credit: Nature Chemical Engineering (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44286-025-00287-7

To increase energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of hydrogen fuel production, Fanglin Che, associate professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, is leveraging the power and potential of machine learning and computational modeling. The multi-university team she leads has completed a study that was just published in Nature Chemical Engineering. The study utilized artificial intelligence to identify catalysts with the potential to facilitate cleaner and more efficient hydrogen production.

In the paper, Che and the team present a new strategy to overcome two challenges:

Production hurdles that prevent greater adoption of hydrogen, a fuel that does not emit carbon dioxide

The length of time it takes to identify materials that are optimal catalysts for cleaner hydrogen production

Efforts to improve environmental sustainability and increase the availability of clean energy have long been focused on hydrogen. However, hydrogen is often produced using fossil fuels, which generate carbon dioxide.

An alternative method to produce hydrogen is to use a catalyst to break down carbon-free ammonia into its elements, which include hydrogen. However, this approach as currently designed requires very high temperatures, which are often achieved by using a lot of energy produced by fossil fuels, as well as ruthenium, an expensive rare metal that is used as a catalyst.

Che's team proposes to reduce the carbon footprint of hydrogen production by decomposing ammonia using plasma technology, which can be done at lower temperatures than traditional chemical reactions. The researchers also propose using more commonly found and affordable metal alloys, such as iron-copper or nickel-molybdenum, as catalysts. Their analysis found this method would use less energy and perform just as well as current approaches to hydrogen production.

Identifying the catalysts

With more than 3,300 bimetallic alloys to consider as possible catalysts, testing each in a laboratory using traditional experiments would take a lengthy trial-and-error period. By leveraging computer models and artificial intelligence, Che's team developed interpretable machine learning algorithms to identify Earth-abundant metal alloys that outperform ruthenium catalysts in plasma-assisted ammonia decomposition.

This combination of simulations and machine learning streamlined the process by quickly eliminating unsuitable materials and identified six candidates from abundant and easily sourced noncritical minerals. Laboratory tests validated the anticipated performance of the metal alloys and ultimately the researchers selected four alloys as the best catalysts.

Potential applications

Che's team believes this new approach to producing hydrogen has the potential to be more affordable and cleaner than current methods. Additionally, because ammonia is easy to store and transport, this process could enable on-site hydrogen production on ships, allowing for maritime vessels to be powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

Che's MAC (Modeling and AI in Catalysis) Lab at WPI combined multi-scale simulations with interpretable machine learning to develop predictions.

"Being published in Nature Chemical Engineering is a milestone for our lab," says Che. "We are making great progress using computational and AI techniques to make chemical processes more energy efficient and environmentally friendly."

Researchers at Dalian University of Technology in China conducted laboratory-based validation experiments. Researchers at Northeastern University conducted economic and environmental analysis that suggests plasma technology reduces costs and carbon emissions in hydrogen production when implemented in small, modular reactors.

More information: Saleh Ahmat Ibrahim et al, Interpretable machine learning-guided plasma catalysis for hydrogen production, Nature Chemical Engineering (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44286-025-00287-7 Journal information: Nature Chemical Engineering
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Student working on a computer. Credit: Photo/Pixabay

Artificial intelligence, for better or for worse, has become an integral part of college students' study habits.

In fact, a September 2025 study by plagiarism detection platform Copyleaks found that almost 90% of students have used AI for academic purposes, with 53% using it at least weekly.

While students are flocking to AI tools, many universities have failed to keep up with the dramatic shift. A January 2025 report from the Digital Education Council revealed that though 61% of college faculty have used AI in teaching, 88% of them have only incorporated it in minimal to moderate amounts.

The University of Cincinnati is at the forefront of shaping AI policy and equipping faculty and students with AI literacy skills. MidwestCon, one of the region's premier tech conferences, recently hosted its 2025 event at UC's 1819 Innovation Hub and discussed the role of AI in higher education. Below are some takeaways from the session titled "Brains, Bots and the Battle for Creativity."

Instant gratification has become easier than ever due to AI. Instead of having to think deeply about a solution to a problem, anyone can prompt generative AI and receive an immediate answer.

Panel moderator Padmini Soni mentioned a recent study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which found that "among students who use ChatGPT to write, their brain connectivity weakens, memory fades and ownership of ideas erode." The session kicked off by asking panelists what this means for the future of learning in an AI-driven world.

James Francis, founder of AI strategy firm Artificial Integrity, responded by noting that, "We have compressed the time between asking and answering  and we have instant information that sometimes can be confused as learning."

In other words, there's a massive difference between giving the correct answer and understanding the why behind it. Authentic learning, the panelists agreed, stems from a trial-and-error exercise that doesn't occur when students copy and paste solutions from generative AI.

"Learning is a process, and this idea of being able to get instant answers is skipping so many vital steps," Francis continues. "Evaluation, judgment, revisions, being able to explain, attribution, things like that  and those are critical skills in learning."

In a higher education environment where ChatGPT can write essays and solve test questions in seconds, evaluation techniques must adapt. The old approach to learningteachers passing knowledge on to students and assessing their comprehension via examsdoesn't align well with a world transformed by AI.

Panelists discussed a necessary shift in higher education from evaluating students' final products to assessing how students arrived at their outcomes. This would mean replacing traditional exams with the following testing methods that emphasize the learning journey:

Presentations

Student-teacher conversations

Debates

Ideation walkthroughs

The goal, according to brand studio Bloomology founder Jeneba Wint, is that soft skills like "communication, adaptability, flexibility, critical thinking, problem-solving and connecting ideas to each other" can be fairly judged with these test methods, since they're "the soft skills already existing before AI even came into the room."

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All panelists agreed that this set of skills will grow in importance, especially considering AI's ability to perform routine tasks. Evaluating the soft skills valued by tomorrow's employers is criticaland as America's fourth-best school for co-ops and internships, UC is leading the way.

Many college students are comfortable providing prompts to AI and copying its outputs into assignments, thereby avoiding the actual learning process. Francis thinks this is a major problem: "Students are blindly putting in AI's ideas, getting high-fives and turning it in," he says. "One, they didn't go through the learning process. And two, [the answer] might not even be good."

What's missing here is basic AI literacy, and the data supports this. An August 2024 report from the Digital Education Council found the following:

58% of college students feel they lack sufficient AI knowledge and skills

48% think they're unprepared for an AI-driven work environment

Students blame higher education institutions for falling short on AI: 80% say their school's integration of AI into teaching, learning and training is insufficient. University of Cincinnati vice president and chief digital officer Bharath Prabhakaran says the school is training Bearcat faculty and students on AI's proper useas a sparring partner for generating novel ideaswhile introducing them to personalized, AI-driven learning tools that help them do so.

"Higher ed really needs to  think about what the student in the future will look like," Prabhakaran says. "How do we equip our students to have the skills to succeed in an AI-first or AI-driven world? And then how do we adapt our sort of pedagogy to achieve that result?"

AI adoption has been a continual learning process for UC's task forces tackling the issue as well. "I don't think anyone's got the answer [for AI in higher education] yet," Prabhakaran states. "Still, we either have to evolve, or the evolution will be done without us."

Used the right way, AI is a brilliant tool for introducing students to perspectives they'd otherwise miss. Since ChatGPT and similar tools can't interpret meaning, the onus is on users to verify whether information is accurate and challenge AI's differing perspectives.

"There's a certain level of self-awareness you can get to with AI," Wint says. "You can challenge your own thinking  you can expand your thinking from using AI as well. It's allowed me to get to levels I wouldn't have been able to get to in my own technique and all my knowledge without it."

This requires an essential ingredient from college students: curiosity. Francis views it as the faculty's job to ignite passions inside students, leading them to use AI as a learning mechanism rather than as an instant-answer machine. "The responsibility is on the teacher," he says. "The accountability is on the student."

"Sparring partner" was a commonly referenced term during this session, and it describes the ideal way for college students to view AI. UC faculty encourage Bearcats to question ChatGPT's answers, leading them to more deeply understand the how and why of their own perspectives. This requires students to look past AI's tendency to excessively agree with and flatter usersa practice known as sycophancy bias.

Incorporating AI into higher education comes with risks, but the potential benefits often outweigh them. Forward-thinking schools like UC have established task forces dedicated to responsibly integrating AI into the college experience, and they're relying on thought leaders in spaces such as UC's 1819 Innovation Hub and the Cincinnati Innovation District for guidance.

One final warning from Francis was that ChatGPT has no inherent values; it simply produces information based on what's already online. That may lead to biases that, if people take AI's answers as facts, could undermine specific groups of people or ideological perspectives.

"Before we start focusing on synthesizing information, we need to get the information right," Francis says. "So unless we have context and unless we have values, then the value of synthesizing that information needs to be questioned."

Basic AI literacy and foundational knowledge are of paramount importance for college students, faculty and staff. That's why the thought leaders at MidwestConand those at UC as a wholeare focused on transforming AI from a work shortcut into a valuable tool for higher education.
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Commander Eugene Cernan retrieves a drive tube from the Lunar Roving Vehicle during an Apollo 17 EVA. Samples from one of the Apollo 17 drive tubes was recently opened and analyzed by Brown University researchers, who found surprising sulfur isotopes signatures inside. Credit: NASA.

When astronauts returned from NASA's final Apollo moon mission in 1972, some of the samples they collected were sealed and carefully stored away in the hope that future researchers using advanced equipment might analyze them and make new discoveries.

Now, a research team led by a Brown University professor has done just that. In a study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, researchers report a sulfuric surprise in rock samples taken from the moon's Taurus Littrow region during Apollo 17. The analysis shows that volcanic material in the sample contains sulfur compounds that are highly depleted of sulfur-33 (or 33S), one of four radioactively stable sulfur isotopes. The depleted 33S samples contrast sharply with sulfur isotope ratios found on Earth, the researchers say.

Certain elements carry distinctive "fingerprints" in the form of isotope ratiossubtle variations in the weight of their atoms. If two rocks share the same isotopic fingerprint, it's a strong clue they came from the same source. In the case of the moon and Earth, researchers have shown broad similarities in the two bodies' oxygen isotopes. It has long been assumed that sulfur isotopes would tell a similar story, according to James Dottin, an assistant professor of Earth, environmental and planetary sciences at Brown who led the new study.

"Before this, it was thought that the lunar mantle had the same sulfur isotope composition as Earth," Dottin said. "That's what I expected to see when analyzing these samples, but instead we saw values that are very different from anything we find on Earth."

The samples Dottin analyzed were taken from a double drive tubea hollow metal cylinder driven some 60 centimeters into the lunar soil by Apollo 17 astronauts Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt. Once returned to Earth, NASA sealed the tube in a helium chamber to keep the sample in pristine condition for future research under a program called Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis or ANGSA.

In the last few years, NASA has begun making the ANGSA samples available to academic researchers through a competitive application process. Dottin proposed to analyze sulfur isotopes using secondary ion mass spectrometry, a highly precise method of isotope analysis that didn't exist in 1972 when the samples were first returned to Earth.

For his work, Dottin sought specific samples from the drive tube that appeared to be mantle-derived volcanic rock: "I was targeting sulfur that had a texture that would suggest it was erupted with the rock and not added through a different process," he said.

He was a bit stunned to see isotope ratios that varied so dramatically from those on Earth.

"My first thought was, 'Holy shmolies, that can't be right,'" Dottin said. "So we went back to make sure we had done everything properly and we had. These are just very surprising results."

There are two potential explanations for the anomalous sulfur, he says.

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They could be a remnant of chemical processes that took place on the moon early in its history. Depleted S33 ratios are found when sulfur interacts with ultraviolet light in an optically thin atmosphere. The moon is thought to have had a short-lived atmosphere early in its history, which could have supported that kind of photochemistry. If that is indeed how the samples were formed, it has some interesting implications for the evolution of the moon.

"That would be evidence of ancient exchange of materials from the lunar surface to the mantle," Dottin said. "On Earth, we have plate tectonics that does that, but the moon doesn't have plate tectonics. So this idea of some kind of exchange mechanism on the early moon is exciting."

The other possibility is that anomalous sulfur is left over from the formation of the moon itself. The leading explanation for the moon's formation is that a Mars-sized object, called Theia, collided with Earth early in its history. Debris from that collision eventually coalesced to form the moon. It's possible that Theia's sulfur signature was far different from that of Earth, and that those differences have been recorded in the lunar mantle.

It's not clear from this research which of those possible explanations is the right one. Dottin is hopeful that more study of sulfur isotopes from Mars and other bodies may one day help scientists find the answer. Ultimately, he says, understanding the distribution of isotope signatures will help scientists better understand how the solar system formed.

More information: J. W. Dottin et al, Endogenous, yet Exotic, Sulfur in the Lunar Mantle, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets (2025). DOI: 10.1029/2024je008834 Journal information: Journal of Geophysical Research
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Westhay Moor National Nature Reserve on the Somerset Levels. Credit: Susan Willis

A group of researchers have published new methods to help the financial sector recognize the importance of nature to economic and financial stability.

Introducing a special issue of journal Ecological Economics, Professor Ben Groom from the University of Exeter Business School said the financial sector largely fails to consider the economic and financial risks posed by biodiversity loss.

Assets including equities, bonds, loans, and other financial instruments, he said, are vulnerable to ecological disruptions that undermine the long-term viability of the underlying economic activities.

He explained that biodiversity risks to finance can be both physicale.g. from degraded ecosystems reducing returns in sectors such as agriculture and tourismand transition risks, as firms have to adjust their operations in response to policy.

The flow of capital can also exacerbate biodiversity loss, whether directly (eg financing deforestation-linked infrastructure) or indirectly (eg insurance underwriting for extractive industries such as oil and gas producers).

But despite this two-way relationship, biodiversity remains marginal in financial decision-making, which reflects structural barriers such as the difficulty of monetizing ecosystem services, the public goods nature of biodiversity as well as misaligned fiduciary incentives.

"We're questioning whether current market practiceswhile often aligned with fiduciary responsibilities such as those defined under Section 172 of the UK Companies Actare sufficient to address the scale of biodiversity-related risks and calling for innovative approaches that recognize nature's critical role in underpinning economic and financial stability and human well-being," said Professor Groom, Dragon Capital Chair in Biodiversity Economics.

In a series of research papers, Professor Groom joined influential financial and environmental economists and sustainable finance experts in critically examining how financial markets measure, price, disclose and manage biodiversity risks.

A study led by Exeter's Dr. Wei Xin alongside co-authors Professor Groom, Dr. Lewis Grant and Professor Chendi Zhang, found that ESG ratings for biodiversity make little difference to investment decisions, financial performance or nature-related risk management.

From analysis of a large ESG dataset spanning 20132020, their study revealed that biodiversity ratings for firms are mostly unrelated to a firm's characteristics (except size), do not predict stock returns and have no effect on profitability, risk or valuation.

Their analysis found that biodiversity ratings are generally ignored by investors and analysts, and as they stand are failing to advance biodiversity and nature recovery goals.

Dr. Xin, a Lecturer in Finance from the University of Exeter Business School, said, "The current metrics of biodiversity in the market are not of a high quality, which may overlook key information in evaluating the biodiversity performance of firms.

"It is necessary to develop high-quality biodiversity tools to enable the financial sector (investors, analysts, fund managers and other market participants) to allocate capital more effectively and internalize external costs. Although the biodiversity ratings performance does not affect a firm's future stock return, it is in principle costless for investors who have a concern about biodiversity to move their investments to those firms that are more friendly to biodiversity."

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But another article in the special issue provides evidence that biodiversity risk may indeed be partially priced in financial markets, with the authors explaining that these contrasting findings underline both the importance of biodiversity in determining financial risks and returns, as well as the ongoing challenges in measuring these risks.

"This diversity of perspectives highlights the value of opening up debate, and the need for more innovative approaches to capture how nature-related risks affect investment and economic outcomes," said Professor Groom.

Other studies in the series include a new approach to mapping the investments of financial portfolios on ecosystem services, which finds that 42% of investment in French financial portfolios is tied to sectors with high risk of biodiversity loss.

One study introduces a breakthrough approach to evaluating the plausibility of nature loss scenarios, providing a structured framework for decision-makers navigating complex and uncertain futures, and while another reveals a fragmented landscape of biodiversity reporting among European financial institutionswith only a handful of firms articulating clear biodiversity or nature strategies.

More information: Wei Xin et al, Noisy biodiversity: The impact of ESG biodiversity ratings on asset prices, Ecological Economics (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2025.108662
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Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for Au-nanoparticles in Norway spruce needle tissue colonized by bacteria. Credit: Environmental Microbiome (2025). DOI: 10.1186/s40793-025-00770-x

A new study has, for the first time, uncovered a connection between bacteria living in Norway spruce needles and gold nanoparticles. This discovery could pave the way for environmentally friendly gold exploration methods, while examining similar processes in mosses may also help remove metals from mining-impacted waters.

The study, "Biomineralized gold nanoparticles along with endophytic bacterial taxa in needles of Norway spruce (Picea abies)," was published in Environmental Microbiome.

"Our results suggest that bacteria and other microbes living inside plants may influence the accumulation of gold in trees," says Postdoctoral Researcher Kaisa Lehosmaa from the University of Oulu, Finland.

It has long been known that mineral deposits release ions through oxidation and bacterial activity. These ions migrate to surface soils, where plants absorb water and nutrients. Because of this, metals can be detected in plantsor even snowusing sensitive instruments.

"Such biogeochemical methods have already been used in mineral exploration, but this new research enhances our understanding of what is actually happening in the process," explains Research Professor Maarit Middleton from the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK).

Plants host a wide range of microbial species in their tissues. "These so-called endophytic microbes may play a role in plants' biomineralization processes," notes Professor Anna Maria Pirttila from the University of Oulu.

In biomineralization, inorganic substances and minerals, such as gold, accumulate and solidify inside plant tissues as part of the plant's defense mechanisms. However, the biomineralization process remains poorly understoodit does not always occur, and when it does, it may be sporadic and localized.

Identifying the mechanisms and factors behind biomineralization is key to understanding elemental sources and developing plant-based applications in biogeochemical research and beyond.

"Our recent study provides preliminary evidence of how gold moves into plant shoots and how gold nanoparticles can form inside needles," Dr. Lehosmaa explains. "In the soil, gold is present in a soluble, liquid form. Carried by water, the gold moves into spruce needles. The tree's microbes can then precipitate this soluble gold back into solid, nanosized particles."

This gold dust, however, cannot be seen with the naked eye, and the nanoparticlesonly a millionth of a millimeter in sizeare far too small to be collected for commercial use.

In the study, researchers from the University of Oulu and Geological Survey Finland collected 138 needle samples from 23 spruce trees on a satellite mineral deposit of the Kittila gold mine in Finland. In four trees, gold nanoparticles were found inside the needles, surrounded by bacterial biofilms. DNA sequencing of these biofilms revealed that certain bacterial groupssuch as P3OB-42, Cutibacterium, and Corynebacteriumwere more common in gold-containing needles.

"This suggests that these specific spruce-associated bacteria can help transform soluble gold into solid particles inside the needles. This insight is useful, since screening for such bacteria in plant leaves may facilitate gold exploration," Dr. Lehosmaa says.

The findings offer a foundation for bio-based and environmentally friendly mineral exploration methods. Similar approaches could also be applied to other minerals and in plants beyond spruce. "Metals can, for example, precipitate within moss tissues. Studying biomineralization also allows us to explore how bacteria and microbes living in aquatic mosses could help remove metals from water," says Dr. Lehosmaa.

More information: Kaisa Lehosmaa et al, Biomineralized gold nanoparticles along with endophytic bacterial taxa in needles of Norway spruce (Picea abies), Environmental Microbiome (2025). DOI: 10.1186/s40793-025-00770-x
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A chain of plasmoids is created on the equatorial plane along the current sheet, where the particle density (left part) is higher. Here, magnetic reconnection takes place, accelerating particles to very high energies (right). Particles also reach relativistic speeds along the spin axis and eventually form the jet powered by the BlandfordZnajek mechanism. Gray: Magnetic field lines. Credit: Meringolo, Camilloni, Rezzolla (2025)

A hundred years before the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration released the first image of a black hole in 2019located at the heart of the galaxy M87astronomer Heber Curtis had already discovered a strange jet protruding from the galaxy's center. Today, we know this to be the jet of the black hole M87*. Such jets are also emitted by other black holes. Theoretical astrophysicists at Goethe University have now developed a numerical code to describe with high mathematical precision how black holes transform their rotational energy into such ultra-fast jets.

The findings are published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

For nearly two centuries, it was unclear that the bright spot in the constellation Virgo, which Charles Messier had described in 1781 as "87: Nebula without stars," was in fact a very large galaxy. As a result, there was initially no explanation for the strange jet discovered in 1918 emerging from the center of this "nebula."

At the heart of the giant galaxy M87 lies the black hole M87*, which contains a staggering six and a half billion solar masses and spins rapidly on its axis. Using the energy from this rotation, M87* powers a particle jet expelled at nearly the speed of light, stretching across an immense 5,000 light-years. Such jets are also generated by other rotating black holes. They contribute to disperse energy and matter throughout the universe and can influence the evolution of entire galaxies.

A team of astrophysicists at Goethe University Frankfurt, led by Prof. Luciano Rezzolla, has developed a numerical code, named the Frankfurt particle-in-cell code for black hole spacetimes (FPIC), which describes with high precision the processes that convert rotational energy into a particle jet.

The result: In addition to the BlandfordZnajek mechanismwhich has so far been considered responsible for the extraction of rotational energy from the black hole via strong magnetic fieldsthe scientists have revealed that another process is involved in the energy extraction, namely, magnetic reconnection. In this process, magnetic field lines break and reassemble, leading to magnetic energy being converted into heat, radiation, and eruptions of plasma.

The FPIC code simulated the evolution of a vast number of charged particles and extreme electromagnetic fields under the influence of the black hole's strong gravity. Dr. Claudio Meringolo, the main developer of the code, explains: "Simulating such processes is crucial for understanding the complex dynamics of relativistic plasmas in curved spacetimes near compact objects, which are governed by the interplay of extreme gravitational and magnetic fields."

The investigations required highly demanding supercomputer simulations that consumed millions of CPU hours on Frankfurt's "Goethe" supercomputer and Stuttgart's "Hawk." This large computing power was essential to solve Maxwell's equations and the equations of motion for electrons and positrons according to Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity.

In the equatorial plane of the black hole, the researchers' calculations revealed intense reconnection activity, leading to the formation of a chain of plasmoidsa condensation of plasma in energetic "bubbles"moving at nearly the speed of light. According to the scientists, this process is accompanied by the generation of particles with negative energy that is used to power extreme astrophysical phenomena like jets and plasma eruptions.

"Our results open up the fascinating possibility that the BlandfordZnajek mechanism is not the only astrophysical process capable of extracting rotational energy from a black hole," says Dr. Filippo Camilloni, who also worked on the FPIC project, "but that magnetic reconnection also contributes."

"With our work, we can demonstrate how energy is efficiently extracted from rotating black holes and channeled into jets," says Rezzolla. "This allows us to help explain the extreme luminosities of active galactic nuclei as well as the acceleration of particles to nearly the speed of light."

He adds that it is incredibly exciting and fascinating to better understand what happens near a black hole using sophisticated numerical codes. "At the same time, it is even more rewarding to be able to explain the results of these complex simulations with a rigorous mathematical treatmentas we have done in our work."

More information: Electromagnetic Energy Extraction from Kerr Black Holes: Ab-Initio Calculations, The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2025). DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ae06a6 Journal information: Astrophysical Journal Letters
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Minimal soil cultivation in the form of direct drilling or strip-till has proven beneficial for winter cereal yields. Credit: Till Seehusen, NIBIO

If we aim to become more self-sufficient in food, we simply need to produce more. That's why there has been a need to find varieties and cultivation strategies that improve the quality of Norwegian winter wheatthat is, wheat sown in the autumn. In the Prohst project, NIBIO and its partners have, over the past four years, explored how to achieve better and more resilient establishment and cultivation of winter wheat under challenging climatic conditions.

Last winter was favorable, resulting in good overwintering for winter wheat across Eastern Norway and Trndelag. Winter wheat has the potential to yield more than spring-sown wheat, especially under optimal and stable growing conditions.

"But that's rarely the case in Norway," says NIBIO researcher Annbjrg Kristoffersen. She leads the Prohst research project, which aims to establish a climate-resilient and market-oriented winter wheat production in Norway. The climateor more precisely, an increasingly unstable climateis just one of several challenges impacting wheat production.

In Norway, wheat plants must survive a long winter and may suffer damage from sudden temperature shifts, which cause the ground to freeze and thaw. Both too much and too little precipitation can also be problematicthis applies in autumn, during winter, when growth resumes in spring, and throughout the growing season.

"The wheat varieties on the market must meet industry quality requirements while also being suitable for Norwegian growing conditions. Since no season is the same, we don't always achieve either the desired quality or successful overwintering. Therefore, part of our work has been to identify and test varieties better adapted to Norwegian conditions," Kristoffersen continues.

"We've also worked on quantifying the probability of achieving food-grade quality for winter wheat in key wheat-growing regions, as well as the likelihood of ending up with feed-grade quality instead."

NIBIO researcher Ingerd Skow Hofgaard explains that periods of low temperatures and good light conditions in autumn increase the plants' chances of surviving winter, but mild spells during winter can ruin this. Snow protects against cold, but if snow remains long on unfrozen ground, the risk of fungal attacks increasesespecially if the plants were large when going into winter.

"However, trials have shown that spraying with a fungicide in the autumn to combat snow mold can improve both the yield and quality of winter wheat," says Skow Hofgaard.

Minimal tillage and good agronomy

Among the trials in Prohst, minimal tillage methods such as "strip till" and direct drilling were tested during the establishment of winter cereals. Strip till involves tilling only a narrow strip of soil, while in direct drilling, seeds are sown directly into the soil surface without any prior tillage such as plowing or harrowing.

"Both methods yielded good results in trials conducted in Romerike and Follo. The method that performed best varied by location, but overall, minimal tillage resulted in higher yields than plowing throughout the project period. The trials confirm that good agronomic practiceslike chopping and spreading straware crucial for success," says NIBIO researcher Till Seehusen.

"In light of the changing climate, it's important to implement efficient measures to take advantage of favorable conditions when they arise. Minimal tillage reduces labor requirements and is therefore an important contribution," Seehusen emphasizes.

Updated sowing time recommendations

Like all crops, food-grade cereals depend on relatively stable climate conditions. Neither prolonged drought nor waterlogged soil is ideal for growth and production. Winter cereals benefit from growth in autumn and early spring, giving them a longer growing season than spring cereals. If establishment and overwintering are successful, winter cereals have higher yield potential.

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"Autumn temperatures have increased in recent years. We've also seen a shift in the timing of when growth ceases in the autumn. Depending on local conditions, new optimal sowing times for winter cereals in Eastern Norway have therefore been established," says Kristoffersen.

"Winter barley should be sown somewhat earlier than other winter cereals, and regional environmental regulations may set deadlines for the last sowing date. For regions with a somewhat shorter growing seasonsuch as Hedmark, Oppland, Buskerud, Telemark, and Trndelag countiesthe recommended sowing period is from September 1st to 5th. For inland areas in stfold, Vestfold, Follo, Romerike, Buskerud, Telemark, Hadeland, the Mjsa region, and areas around the Trondheimsfjord, the recommended period is from September 5th to 15th. For regions with the longest growing season in stfold, Vestfold, and Aust-Agder, the recommended sowing window is from September 15th to 20th," Kristoffersen concludes.

Provided by Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research
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Credit: Timur Weber from Pexels

In highly polarized situations, open communication is the only way to get through to people, including those who believe in conspiracy theories, revealed a new study in the British Journal of Political Science.

Open communication seeks to prompt reflection and can be defined as an "open discussion mode" that is neither debate-style, nor explicitly geared toward finding common ground.

The study found that debate-heavy, challenging ways of communicating did not work in polarized situations. It also found that when societal polarization is not extreme, how people communicate a message does not influence whether they succeed in depolarizing others; rather, exposure to information is all that is needed to move minds.

A study with over 4,000 participants

The researchers behind the study analyzed results from two population-based survey experiments in Germany and Austria surrounding the COVID-19 crisis: one on the prioritization of health or freedom (Germany), and the other on the introduction of mandatory vaccination (Austria). The German survey experiment had 2,132 respondents and the Austrian survey experiment had 2,134 respondents.

The researchers found that in the German survey, when communicating about the polarizing belief that individual freedom ought to be prioritized over public health, respondents made less constructive proposals when speaking from a contestatory position. Moreover, half of the respondents speaking in a collaborative dynamic made a constructive proposal, whereas only 5% in the contestatory dynamic made such a proposal.

The Austrian survey participants were more polarized in their beliefs, with 69.5% of respondents having a strong pre-existing belief about vaccinesas opposed to only 37.3% of Germans having strong pre-existing beliefs about health in contrast with freedom. In this instance, the researchers found that people's beliefs could only be moderated via open communication.

Speaking about these findings from the Austrian survey, lead researcher Simon Stocker, Research Fellow at the University of Stuttgart, Germany said, "These findings suggest that in the context of high polarization, confronting participants with counter-positions as well as asking them to seek out common ground with the other side is counterproductive, and seems to be perceived as a challenge to one's own position.

"Only a minimal intervention in the form of an open-ended question makes a positive contribution under such polarized conditions."

A timely epoch for getting political communication right

Fellow researcher Andre Bachtiger, Managing Director of the Institute of Social Sciences at the University of Stuttgart, emphasized the importance of communicating effectively about political issues in the present era.

"We are witnessing declining levels of argumentative complexity and of people listening respectfully to different sides of an argument, often in combination with a polarization of opinions," said Bachtiger.

"It's essential that people calibrate political communications wellespecially in online spheres, where debate sometimes devolves into unconstructive mudslinging."

The researchers' study also has implications for depolarizing conspiracy theorists. They found that only open questioning had even a small effect on depolarization among people with extreme conspiratorial views. In such instances, communicative "knock-on" techniques in the form of open questioning formed the one mode of communication that helped engender more productive conversations.

More information: Simon Stocker et al, Deepening, Bridging, and Moving Minds in Stressful Times, British Journal of Political Science (2025). DOI: 10.1017/s0007123425100562
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The PLACID instrument. Credit: University of Bern/PLACID.

An instrument is set to improve the detection and direct imaging of planets outside our solar system by harnessing the power of liquid crystals. The Programmable Liquid-crystal Active Coronagraphic Imager for the DAG telescope (PLACID) was installed earlier this year at the 4m-diameter telescope of the newly built Eastern Anatolian Observatory (DAG) observatory in Eastern Turkey. Now in the integration and validation phase, the first on-sky observations of PLACID are expected in the first quarter of 2026.

PLACID, which has been developed by a team of Swiss researchers from the University of Bern in cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland of Yverdon (HEIG-VD), will join the small club of direct high-contrast imaging facilities in the northern hemisphere. The technology and status of the instrument, as well as the science it will enable, were presented at the recent EPSC-DPS2025 Joint Meeting in Helsinki.

Most of the nearly 6,000 exoplanets discovered to date have been found using indirect methods, which focus on periodic changes of the host star's apparent properties to infer the existence of a planet. Direct imaging requires an "eclipse machine," known as a coronagraph, to mask the light of a star and reveal any body orbiting itplanets, disks, or brown dwarfs.

To date, only a few dozen exoplanets have been directly imaged, as it is highly challenging to take an actual picture of a dim planet next to its very bright host star. Nonetheless, direct imaging is infinitely valuable for scientists as it can provide unique insights into how planets form and their composition, particularly their atmosphere.

"With recent developments in technology and the construction of increasingly large telescopes, the future of exoplanet detection lies in direct imaging. PLACID is one of the stepping stones towards this future," said Prof Jonas Kuhn of the University of Bern in Switzerland, who leads the PLACID project. "It will revolutionize our approach to coronagraphs and bring them into the digital domain."

Rather than placing a physical plate very precisely in the light path of a telescope, PLACID uses a Spatial Light Modulator (SLM) that relies on the optical properties of liquid crystals to change the optical path or 'phase' of light waves for each pixel across a screen. This allows very complex masks to be created at the click of a button.

"We use SLM screens all the time in everyday devices, such as our phones, TVs or computers. In PLACID, the liquid crystals influence how the light passes through each pixel, so we can display any mask we want, giving us an extreme adaptability," explained Ruben Tandon, a doctoral candidate at the University of Bern and member of the PLACID team.

PLACID's programming of advanced masks also gives it the exclusive capacity to do direct imaging of so-called circumbinary planets and proto-planetary disksthe cradles for planet formationorbiting binary or multiple stars. With a traditional coronagraph, this is very challenging, since the unique and variable orbital configuration of each star system makes it almost impossible to set up plates that can block the light from the multiple stars. Thus, while such stars represent about 50% of all stars in our galaxy, no exoplanet orbiting more than one star has been directly imaged to date.

"With PLACID, we can simply adapt the mask in real time to perfectly block the light of any star systems we choose to observe through the night," said Tandon, who compiled the catalog of targets for the instrument. "While we will start by targeting the small number of exoplanets that have already been directly imaged to better understand the instrument behavior, our next step will be to try to directly image exoplanets orbiting binary stars, which will be a first."

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The PLACID instrument, which has been almost a decade in development at the University of Bern, was assembled in the laboratory facilities of the HEIG-VD in Switzerland. After comprehensive laboratory testing to ensure it would meet the expected performances, the instrument was shipped to Turkey in early 2024 and delivered to the DAG telescope for installation in January 2025.

For the instrument performance to be fully harnessed, it also needs to be paired with an adaptive optics (AO) system, built by the team of Prof Laurent Jolissaint of HEIG-VD, which will reduce the effects of atmospheric turbulence. The two instruments are in their final stages of installation and will enable PLACID to observe its first targets in the first quarter of 2026.

"We are happy to welcome PLACID. Its capacities, coupled with our 4-meter class telescope, will lead to the first fully European instrument in the northern hemisphere able to directly image exoplanets," concluded Derya Ozturk Cetni, the PLACID instrument scientist from TNO.

More information: Ruben Tandon et al, The Programmable Liquid-crystal Active Coronagraphic Imager for the 4-m DAG telescope (PLACID) instrument: Discovery Space and Status, (2025). DOI: 10.5194/epsc-dps2025-1774

Provided by Europlanet
From Challenge to Change: The Critical Role of Diagnostics in Combating AMR

SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- bioMerieux, a global leader in in vitro diagnostics, and Henry Ford Health partnered to host the Summit, held Sept. 30Oct. 1 at the Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport, focused on promoting practical actions to address the increasing threat posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Henry Ford Health, one of bioMerieux's Antimicrobial Stewardship Centers of Excellence, works closely with stakeholders to advance stewardship, optimize antibiotic use, and improve patient outcomes.

Globally, AMR is escalating as one of the world's most urgent health threats, recognized by global and national authorities as requiring coordinated, multi-sectoral action. In the U.S., antimicrobial-resistant infections are estimated to exceed 2.8 million with 35,000 deaths annually (>3 million/48,000 including C. difficile)1, while direct treatment cost for common resistant pathogen exceed $4.6 billion per year2 and post-pandemic healthcare-associated resistance remains above 2019 baselines3. AMR is projected to surpass cancer as the leading cause of death globally by 2050  if no measures are taken promptly4.

The two-day gathering, brought together leading infectious diseases physicians and pharmacists, microbiologists, public health officials, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. Together, they engaged in candid, cross-disciplinary discussions and networking designed to tackle the complex realities of AMR conversations intended to spark collaborations and concrete actions well beyond the Summit itself. Reflections from participants included:

Jennifer Zinn, bioMerieux Executive Vice President of Clinical Operations. "As a global IVD leader in infectious diseases, our ambition is to demonstrate  through evidence-generation and education  that diagnostics are indispensable to bending the AMR curve and improving clinical outcomes. By joining forces with stakeholders across the healthcare continuum, public health leaders, and policymakers at events like the AMR Summit, we're turning proof into practice and accelerating stewardship where it matters most."





Linoj Samuel, Ph.D., D(ABMM), Division Head of Clinical Microbiology, Henry Ford Health

"At Henry Ford Health, patient safety and well-being are at the heart of everything we do. As national leaders in antimicrobial and diagnostic stewardship and infection prevention, we're honored to share a blueprint that helps health systems advance responsible, evidence-based practices to enhance patient outcomes today and into the future."





Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir, PharmD, MPH, AAHIVP, University of California San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Marginalized individuals are more likely to receive care in outpatient settings, where lack of diagnostic testing can mean missed diagnoses and increased disease resistance that could be more quickly addressed and treated in other settings. When you integrate diagnostics into effective stewardship programs, including in outpatient settings, patients can experience better outcomes, which leads to better overall public health.





Robert J. Tibbetts, Ph.D., D(ABMM), F(CCM), FIDSA, Associate Director of Clinical Microbiology, Henry Ford Health

"The issues with antimicrobial resistance in veterinary medicine are the same as those we face in humans. In fact, 80 percent of antibiotics used in the US are for animal health. If we are to establish successful stewardships programs, we must work together to find solutions."





Amanda Harrington, PhD, D(ABMM), medical director, Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Loyola University Medical Center.

"Today, half of antibiotics in medicine are inappropriately prescribed. We have, however, a powerful solution: diagnostics. This is how we move forward, but we must act now. It's late; the clock is ticking; the countdown has begun. When it comes to the increasing problem of AMR, time is running out."





Geehan Suleyman, MD, MLS (ASCP), FIDSA, Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control and Antimicrobial Stewardship, Henry Ford Health

"Diagnostics stewardship is a strategic approach to improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce unnecessary testing, and optimize treatment. Stewardship interventions include leveraging EHR-integrated clinical decision tools, which reduce hospital-acquired infections and antimicrobial utilization through evidence-based practices. These tools are highly sustainable, resource-efficient, cost-effective, and readily scalable."

ABOUT BIOMERIEUX

Pioneering Diagnostics

A world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics since 1963, bioMerieux is present in 45 countries and serves more than 160 countries with the support of a large network of distributors. In 2024, revenues reached 4 billion, with over 93% of sales outside of France.

bioMerieux provides diagnostic solutions (systems, reagents, software and services) which determine the source of disease and contamination to improve patient health and ensure consumer safety. Its products are mainly used for diagnosing infectious diseases. They are also used for detecting microorganisms in agri-food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.

www.biomerieux.com.



bioMerieux is listed on the Euronext Paris stock market. Symbol: BIM  ISIN Code: FR0013280286 Reuters: BIOX.PA/Bloomberg: BIM.FP

1 2019 Antibiotic Resistance Threats Report | Antimicrobial Resistance | CDC

2 CDC Partners Estimate Healthcare Cost of Antimicrobial-resistant Infections | Antimicrobial Resistance | CDC

3 Antimicrobial Resistance Threats in the United States, 2021-2022 | Antimicrobial Resistance | CDC

4 160525_Final paper_with cover.pdf

SOURCE bioMerieux
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Terrestrial laser scanning in the Amazon. Credit: Eduardo Maeda

Scanning forests with lasers can provide three-dimensional models of forests, creating a unique way to look at these ecosystems. Researchers at the University of Helsinki are pioneers in applying this technical solution to measuring ecosystems.

This technique, referred to as terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), opens up new opportunities in measuring forest structure, monitoring disturbances and simulating ecosystems.

"TLS provides us with a new way of looking at forestsnot just from above, but from within. It helps us understand tree growth, forest responses to disturbances and the effects of forest structure on biodiversity and capacity for recovery," says Associate Professor Eduardo Maeda from the University of Helsinki.

Maeda notes that a deeper understanding helps researchers, decision-makers and communities to make increasingly justified decisionsand, ultimately, to better reconcile human activity with the environment.

The Terrestrial Ecosystem Dynamics Research Group (Tree-D Lab), headed by Associate Professor Maeda, is a pioneer in the study of changes in the ecosystem. In addition to terrestrial laser scanning, the researchers utilize satellite data, sensors installed in drones and field measurements. In an article recently published in Nature Communications, the group describes the potential of terrestrial laser scanning.

The Tree-D Lab researchers have applied the TLS technique across the world in a range of ecosystems. In the tropics, such as Southeast Asia and the Amazon, laser scanning and machine learning have been used to assess the effects of forest fragmentation and logging. These investigations have revealed changes at the edges of clear-cut areas where the conditions are different from those in the middle of large forest areas.

In her doctoral thesis entitled "The influence of forest management on boreal forest structure and microclimate," Postdoctoral Researcher Iris Starck, who recently returned from the Amazon, focused on the boreal forests in Finland. She is now taking her studies to the global level.

In Finland, research has provided new information on the effects of forest management on forest structure and growth, supporting increasingly sustainable practices and national forest monitoring.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Employees often work out special arrangements with their bosses that are tailored to their individual needs or circumstances. For example, in recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in requests for greater schedule flexibility. For those able to work remotely it could be a hybrid schedule or a fully remote one, while for others it could be flexible hours that allow them to arrive to work later or leave earlier to drop off or pick up their kids from daycare.

Flexibility isn't the only thing employees negotiate. Some also negotiate career advancement options such as, for example, having the company pay for classes that will provide the employee with beneficial skills that may lead to a better job in the future. Others may ask to be assigned more interesting or challenging tasks to better use certain competencies. Researchers call these arrangements "idiosyncratic deals" or i-deals, because they aren't included in the companies' standard policies and are worked out between employees and their managers.

"An i-deal is a non-standardized, personalized work arrangement that is open for negotiation to employees, but is not available by default to all employees," explains Assistant Professor Haoying (Howie) Xu who studies organizational behavior and human resource management at Stevens School of Business. "Sometimes it can be written on the job offer and sometimes it's agreed upon with one's manager."

While these arrangements certainly confer advantages to the employees who ask for them, less is known about how they affect their teams' overall performance and ultimately the level of customer service the teams provide. "This is an important question that needs to be addressed to enable team managers to make more informed decisions about the use of i-deals," says Xu.

Motivated by this, Xu and his collaborators, including Sandy Wayne from the University of Illinois Chicago, Eric Michel from Northern Illinois University, and Jingzhou Pan from Tianjin University, wanted to find out how each of the three i-deal typesflexibility, career and taskplay out in the teams' performance and customer service.

For their research, Xu and his team conducted a study of an American delicatessen chain and three companies in China, including two retailers and an HR consultingto investigate varied cultural and business settings. The American deli chain offered flexible hours to the assistant managers and was open to negotiations for career and task options. The Chinese companies offered similar arrangements to their employees. Xu's team conducted surveys of several hundred people in total and analyzed the results.

They found that flexibility i-deals to some employees heightened relationship conflicts within the teams. That's because when employees compare their own work arrangements to the special arrangements some of their colleagues secured, they may feel that the latter negotiated a better deal.

"Consciously or subconsciously, people tend to compare themselves to others, including their coworkers," Xu says. If someone, for example, is allowed to leave early, their colleagues may perceive that as unfair. They may see themselves as having to pick up the slack.

The increased relationship conflicts led to diminished customer service, Xu's research found. "It undermined team coherence by heightening the team conflict." Xu says. "And in turn, the downstream consequence is that the customer service is also undermined. If you're stressed or unhappy because of tensions within your team, that emotional dynamic can trickle down to the service you provide to your customers."

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However, not all types of i-deals have these undesirable effects. Xu's research found that granting task i-deals to some employees have beneficial effects on the teams. Xu attributes that to the fact that people typically ask to be assigned to tasks they enjoy or are good at doing. Their colleagues may not be interested in those tasks or may view them as too difficult or tedious. The results are a better fitting differentiation of roles within teams, tailoring tasks, duties and responsibilities to each member's talents and strengths.

Interestingly, and contrary to expectations, Xu's research found no effects of negotiating and granting career i-deals on teams. However, Xu advises managers to remain cautious about potential fairness concerns, particularly in competitive team climates where employees are highly sensitive to comparisons of career advancement with their colleagues.

The team outlined their findings in the study titled "I-deals for Some Employees May (Not) Be Ideal for the Team: Positive and Negative Relationships Between I-deals Differentiation and Team Effectiveness," published in Human Resource Management on September 25, 2025

Xu cautions that their findings should not be misinterpreted as though flexibility i-deals negotiation is bad for business. "We expect the undesirable effects of negotiating and granting flexibility i-deals to arise mainly in contexts where employees' physical presence is critical for team coordination and performance, such as customer service settings like restaurants, as examined in our studies," Xu explains.

"We don't want to convey wrong information to institutions that flexibility i-deals shouldn't be negotiated. I see a lot of evidence supporting the companies' benefits of flexibility i-deals in various settings, such as attracting and retaining star performers and uniquely skilled workforce. That is particularly true in academic settings, information technology, and other skilled professions when flexibility and autonomy are oftentimes inherent to the work and essential for driving creativity and innovation."

Looking at how their research can be applied, Xu suggests that managers give employees room to negotiate the tasks they take on so that the employees can make the most of their unique strengths for the teams. Xu also offers ways to mediate the negative perspective of employees who feel that i-deals may be unfair. Managers should be transparent with team members as to why some are given greater flexibility or career opportunities, and how these non-standard arrangements may confer advantages to the organization's overall productivity and success.

"Managers can have candid discussions with their teams," Xu says. "Transparency will go a long way and ultimately will benefit the organization as a whole."

More information: Haoying (Howie) Xu et al, IDeals for Some Employees May (Not) Be Ideal for the Team: Positive and Negative Relationships Between IDeals Differentiation and Team Effectiveness, Human Resource Management (2025). DOI: 10.1002/hrm.70022
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

The competition for airspace is just beginning as the space age kicks into high gear on the Space Coast.

At the center of it all is SpaceX, which seeks to bring its game-changing Starship to Florida but with a sobering cost, delaying as many as 12,000 commercial flights each year.

The company's target of as many as 120 Starship launches and landings annually could cause regular conflicts with takeoffs and landings at surrounding airports, according to two recent studies, the FAA's draft Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS, for proposed SpaceX Starship activity from Kennedy Space Center and a similar EIS from the Department of the Air Force for a second Starship launch site at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Elon Musk's rocket company insists the concerns are overblown.

In a missive posted to its website, SpaceX said the so-called aircraft hazard areas defined in the studies "are extremely conservative by nature and are intended to capture a composite of the full range of worst-case outcomes, but not any single real-world operation."

"SpaceX fully anticipates actual, implemented (aircraft hazard areas) will be both far smaller in geographic scope and far shorter in duration, validated by the robust flight data and heritage we are building."

Even so, the Starship plans, along with the expanding calendar for other SpaceX craft and those from its competitors, ensure challenging times ahead as jumbo rockets and jumbo jets seek to share the skies.

"There's a method and a reasoning for what they're asking for," said John Couluris, vice president of Blue Origin's lunar permanence division, referring to SpaceX's plans. "And so we all have to get used to this idea that the 2020s are going to be likeand the 2030s and beyondit's going to be beyond what we've been used to."

Couluris said all commercial launch providers are figuring out how to tackle sharing airspacewhich can top 5,000 flights a day just in Floridafor what he believes will be the inevitable.

"This will be the first great international spaceport of scale," he said.

SpaceX's retort has some experience to support it.

When Falcon 9 began launching, its airspace and maritime closures were much larger, but they have since been reduced based on data from hundreds of launches. SpaceX noted Falcon 9 hazard areas for Starlink missions have shrunk by about 66% since 2022.

"SpaceX and FAA are applying the same proven approach to Starship," SpaceX said, feeding information from each Texas launch that over time reduces the uncertainties.

SpaceX to date has flown 10 suborbital test launches of its massive rocket from its Texas site Starbase with flight No. 11 slated to go up as early as Oct. 13.

The company plans on shifting to two Space Coast launch sites once it begins flying operational missions. To support that, it's building up a rocket manufacturing site at KSC that's part of a $1.8 billion infrastructure investment.

"For the first time in history, there is a concerted effort from several fronts to break the mold of what's considered conventionally possible when it comes to launching rockets," SpaceX said in its post.

"An effort to advance from the staid stance of slow and cumbersome operations when launching people and payloads to outer space into a dynamic future more akin to what hundreds of millions experience every year via the world's airports."

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SpaceX is an order of magnitude ahead of other launch providers, seeking not only the 120 Starship launches from Florida but also planning to up its existing Falcon 9 cadence to as many as 156 missions per year.

Blue Origin for now is cleared to launch 12 times a year from their Cape Canaveral site, but that's a number the company wants to grow while United Launch Alliance, Relativity Space, Stoke Space and other launch providers plan to ramp up as well.

Combined, the Space Coast could be approaching 400 rocket launches a year by the end of the decade.

"So we are going to have to rethink how we do things because it worked, and it worked for so long because the launch rate was so low. It's not going to be that case anymore," Couluris said, during a recent tour of his company's Merritt Island facilities.

Since Starship is so much bigger than other rockets, and features an upper stage that would fly back for landings on the Space Coast, it has a twofold effect on air traffic delays.

Launches would necessitate airspace closures lasting from 40 minutes to two hours that could affect 133 to 400 aircraft during peak travel periods, or 8,800 commercial flights a year, the FAA report stated.

A bigger airspace concern is Starship's return flights, which would force all airplanes heading south into Florida to avoid crossing the landing rocket's flight path. That could mean delays for Orlando, Tampa, Miami, West Palm and Fort Lauderdale.

Starship landings would prompt a minimum of 40 minutes and up to one hour of airspace closure, affecting 400 to 600 commercial aircraft during peak daily travel periods, or from 8,800 to 13,200 per year, the FAA report stated.

Orlando airport officials said they are tracking the issue closely.

"The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is fully supportive of Florida's space program and the Federal Aviation Administration's dual role to regulate and facilitate commercial space operations while providing the safest aerospace system in the world for aircraft to operate," reads a statement from GOAA CEO Lance Lyttle.

"We will continue to work closely with the FAA and commercial space operators to provide input regarding impacts to the National Airspace System, Orlando International Airport and Orlando Executive Airport."

In addition to flight delays, Florida airports endured a complete ground stop after one of two explosive ends to test Starship flights from Texas earlier this year. In the wake of that incident, the Air Line Pilots Association weighed into the FAA with concerns about proximity.

The union, which represents nearly 80,000 pilots from 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines, said FAA Air Traffic Control's ability to respond to such a "rocket anomaly needs to be further evaluated" and asked crews to get more information about launches to make an "informed and timely decision about their need to potentially reject flight plans that route their aircraft underneath space vehicle trajectories."

Already Orlando International Airport deals with airspace headaches. The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics ranked Orlando 26th out of the top 30 U.S. airports for delays, noting its flights were on schedule 74.08% of the time.

"This is a real concern, but I always want to act by fact," said U.S. Rep. Mike Haridopolos, a Republican who represents the Space Coast and is chair of the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee. "I've had long sit-downs with both NASA and the private sector about what will the impact be."

He noted that similar concerns arose during the days of Mercury and Apollo.

"We all know that Starship is a much bigger vessel, and we want to make sure there are safety concerns met," Haridopolos said. "And we're going to make those decisions as they come, but we're going to base it on fact, and that's why we've asked people to come and give their opinion and be very transparent about those issues."

He expects SpaceX to work with federal agencies, including the FAA, to find the right path forward.

"They still have a long way to go before they get here to Florida, and when they do get here to Florida, we're going to do it the smart way and the safe way," Haridopolos said.

2025 Orlando Sentinel. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Previous research has shown that higher education dampens support for capital punishment, but University of Nebraska scholars have discovered those collegiate effects are lessened among conservatives.

A pair of analyses by Philip Schwadel and Amy Anderson show that college-educated Americans are still far less likely than non-college-educated Americans to support the death penalty, but that the effect of higher education is attenuatedand in some cases nonexistentamong both political and religious white conservatives.

Schwadel, Happold Professor of Sociology at the University of NebraskaLincoln, and Anderson, professor of criminology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, used data from the nationally-representative General Social Surveys to examine both religiously conservative and politically conservative Americans in their studies, published in the American Journal of Criminal Justice and Sociology of Religion.

Schwadel said the results among the religiously and politically conservative groups were very similar in that right-leaning individuals were more steadfast in their attitudes toward capital punishment, and support remained high even with a college degree. In contrast, among political moderates/liberals, the religiously unaffiliated, and Catholics, higher education is strongly associated with reduced support for capital punishment.

The studies are a continuation of Schwadel and Anderson's previous work looking at the demographics of Americans who support the death penalty, which found that age and education play a role, and they wanted to know if education was a factor regardless of political and religious beliefs.

"Is this impact of education applying to everyone? And what we found is that it doesn't really apply to either religious or political conservativesor it applies a lot less," Schwadel said. "We see that religious conservative ideals and politically conservative ideals are both strongly supportive of punitiveness, so it made sense to us that education wouldn't have that impact on them."

In contrast to white Americans, non-white Americans' levels of higher education were unrelated to views on capital punishment, and the effects of political orientation and religion were smaller.

"Among white respondents, the highly educated tend to be less punitive, though this association is considerably reduced for conservative whites," Schwadel said. "We don't see the same patterns in the analyses encompassing all non-white respondents.

"While we cannot make distinctions among non-whites due to data limitations, this does align with some of the research on the African American community that suggests that more highly educated African Americans may be more punitive in certain cases."

Support for capital punishment in the United States has remained steady over the last decade with a little over half of Americans in favor (55%), but support has declined precipitously since the 1990s when upwards of 80% said they supported the death penalty. The partisan divide over capital punishment has also widened with 77% of Republicans in support, in contrast to only 35% of Democrats, according to Gallup 2024 surveys.

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The results of the studies examining politically and religiously conservative Americans were very similar likely because of the more robust intersection of politics and religion over the last three or four decades. Schwadel, a researcher of religiosity in the United States, said there has been a shift in how a person's politics and religion interact.

"In the 1990s or early 2000s, it was religion influencing politics, but more recently, we're finding that politics influences religionthat some people's religious beliefs and even their religious identity is influenced by their politics," Schwadel said. "I think that plays a role in explaining why conservative politics seems to be potentially supplanting conservative religion in terms of mediating the effect of education."

There is a lot of positive and negative discourse about how higher education impacts a person's ideological and religious beliefs, Schwadel said, and some might not be based in fact.

"I think it's important that we understand that some of that discourse might be over-emphasizing the impact of college on people's attitudes," he said.

More information: Amy L. Anderson et al, College Education, Politics, and Attitudes Towards Capital Punishment, American Journal of Criminal Justice (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s12103-024-09782-8 Philip Schwadel et al, College-Educated Religious Conservatives' Support for Capital Punishment, Sociology of Religion (2024). DOI: 10.1093/socrel/srae030 Journal information: American Journal of Criminal Justice
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Attitudes toward 16 climate policies. Policies are classified are (B) bans, (R) regulations, (S) subsidies/spending, and (T) taxes. Support is strongest to weakest from top to bottom. Data from four countries combined. Credit: Journal of Public Policy (2025). DOI: 10.1017/s0143814x25100822

How much people trust politicians affects their support for climate policies. The less trust we have in politicians, the less likely we are to accept climate policies that mean paying a price as individuals. And people are especially resistant towards taxes. These are the results of a new survey of over 6,000 respondents in four European countries.

"When people have low political trust, they are more likely to overestimate the costs of climate policies," says Malcolm Fairbrother, professor of sociology, who led the study. "This explains the particularly low support for fossil fuel or carbon taxesa policy that many economists consider the most cost-effective climate policy of all, but which, paradoxically, is least popular with the public."

Tackling climate change requires broad popular support. Although most people think that climate change is a serious problem and want governments to act, many promising policies for addressing it encounter strong public opposition. In a new survey, researchers investigated the views of 6,000 people in Germany, Poland, Spain and Sweden and analyzed their support for a wide range of climate actions. The results, published in the Journal of Public Policy, reveal clear differences in support.

"We found that regulations, such as energy efficiency requirements for cars and buildings and increased nature protection, are relatively popular measures. Subsidies and bans get a more mixed reception. Environmental taxes are generally the least popular type of policy," Fairbrother says.

The study found, consistent with prior research, that people who have the most trust in politicians are more likely to support most climate policies. In the study, the researchers investigated why certain measures meet with such strong resistance.

According to the study, many people want ambitious climate policies, but they are reluctant to pay a high personal cost. They are also willing to support more of some kinds of measures, especially those related to regulations and energy efficiency requirements for buildings and vehicles. Support for these measures is stronger because their costs are less visible. The authors of the study suggest that policymakers should make more use of such measures, though they also stress that politicians should be honest about the costs of different potential climate policies.

"The success of climate policy depends not only on economic efficiency, but also on public support. There are strategies that are more promising for politicians to follow. More could be done simply to communicate that many climate actions, including carbon taxes, have lower costs than many people think, and are more effective. If politicians can communicate that, people will be more favorably inclined," says Fairbrother.

The findings are relevant for several target groups. For politicians and decision makers, they provide guidance on how to design and mainstream climate action more effectively. For public authorities, organizations and opinion-makers, they show how communication can strengthen trust and thus acceptance. For the public, they can provide a better understanding of why some measures are politically feasible while others meet with resistance.

Overall, the study suggests that the path to a more ambitious climate policy depends not only on economic calculations, but also on strengthening the relationship between citizens and decision-makers.

More information: Malcolm Fairbrother et al, How do Europeans want to fight climate change? Comparing and explaining public support for a wide variety of policies, Journal of Public Policy (2025). DOI: 10.1017/s0143814x25100822
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Average predicted probability of caregiver well-being by caregiver location. Credit: Rural Sociology (2025). DOI: 10.1111/ruso.70015

Roughly a quarter of adults in the U.S. are caring for elderly family members or children with an illness or disabilityand sometimes both at the same time. Despite family caregiving consuming time and resources for both individuals and governments, social scientists don't fully understand how it affects the people who do the caregiving, according to a team led by researchers at Penn State.

In collaboration with colleagues at Purdue University and the University of Minnesota, the researchers conducted an expansive study of caregiver well-being, finding that the type of geographic location and individual circumstances can impact a caregiver's health, comfort and happiness even more than their state's family care policies.

In findings recently published in Rural Sociology, the researchers reported that rural and suburban caregivers were more likely to have low or medium well-being, and less likely to have high well-being compared to urban caregivers. And caregivers' personal characteristicssuch as age, income and educationhad a stronger effect on their well-being than the family care policies of the state they live in.

However, the researchers concluded, family-care policies can make a difference in well-being when they take into account the differences among rural, suburban and urban areasespecially in terms of available support and infrastructure.

To understand caregiver well-being more clearly, including how it differs among rural, suburban and urban caregivers, the researchers used two publicly available datasets.

One was the caregiving survey from the North Central Regional Development Center and is a collaboration with the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development, which is based at Penn State. This survey includes survey responses from 4,620 caregivers about their lived realities when looking after either children or adults in the North Central and Northeast regions of the United States.

The other dataset was from a group of researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and it includes information about state-level programs and policies connected to the availability of services such as respite care, daycare, special transportation and state-paid leave from their jobs for caregiving.

By merging these two datasets for the current study, the researchers assessed how caregivers are doing and whether state-level policieslaws and programs related to family careplay a role in caregiver well-being.

First, the team's analysis revealed that caregivers could be grouped by well-being ratings of high, medium or low, based on how they responded to several facets of their well-being: happiness, self-rated health and how caregiving has affected their physical health, mental/emotional health and social life.

Then, the researchers used a statistical technique that predicts the probability of an outcome with more than two categories to analyze how likely people from rural, suburban or urban areas were to fall into each category.

The researchers concluded rural and suburban caregivers were more likely to have lower well-being than urban caregivers, but the overall differences among the three were small. However, Pojman pointed out, the analysis indicated that suburban caregivers were more like rural caregivers than urban oneswhich contradicts previous research by other scientists that grouped suburban and urban caregivers together.

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"Suburban caregivers often face unique challenges stemming from their geographical and social position, which differ from the issues experienced in urban or rural environments," Pojman said, explaining that the study highlighted the need for better-targeted policies and resources.

"Balancing caregiving with work, parenting and personal needs is often compounded by suburban-specific factors such as limited public transit and the isolation that comes from living in more spread-out communities."

The researchers also concluded that support systems are crucialcaregivers who had access to paid help and community support specific to caregiving tended to have higher well-being. Less specific support, like broad federal programs, was more weakly linked to high well-being.

This suggests that policy should focus on making caregiving-specific supports more accessible, explained team leader and senior author, Florence Becot, Nationwide Insurance Early Career Professor of Agricultural Safety and Health Program Lead in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences

"Although caregiving can be an emotionally rewarding and satisfying experience, caregivers often face significant stress and challenges in their roles, and the impacts of caregiving on well-being are often overlooked by researchers and policymakers," she said.

"Caregivers often report a complex range of feelings regarding the care they provide and its impact on their life, ranging from immense financial and emotional burdens, to joy and personal growth. There's a clear need for better family-care policies that reflect the real differences in support needs across rural, suburban and urban areasespecially to help those caregivers who are struggling."

Because caregiving experiences vary so much, it's important to consider caregiver well-being in a nuanced and individualized way, Becot added.

"Understanding the challenges caregivers face in different social, demographic and geographic contexts and circumstances helps researchers, health care providers and policymakers better support caregiversespecially those at risk of burnout or emotional distress," she said.

More information: Elena Maria Pojman et al, Does Caregiver WellBeing Differ by Rurality and State Policy Environment? Identifying a WellBeing Typology for Rural, Suburban, and Urban Caregivers, Rural Sociology (2025). DOI: 10.1111/ruso.70015
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A detail from a folio from the Book of Kells. Credit: The Board of Trinity College Dublin

Writing in the early 20th century, the celebrated author James Joyce noted that the Book of Kellsan illuminated manuscript depicting the four gospels of the New Testament in Latinwas "the most purely Irish thing we have."

By this time, the unique and intricate designs of the approximately 1,200-year-old manuscript were instantly recognizable, having been replicated on everything from embroidered clothing to tea sets coveted by nationalists and the Irish diaspora alike. These designs were deemed symbolic of "pure" Irish visual identity, created before the coming of the Vikings and the Anglo-Normans to Irish shores.

For well over a century, debate has raged as to whether the manuscript was made at Iona on the west coast of Scotland, the northern English monastery of Lindisfarne or indeed a different Columban monastery in Ireland. Now, a new contribution to the debate, "The Book of Kells Unlocking the Enigma," soon to be published by archaeologist and art historian Victoria Whitworth, adds further food for thought on the topic.

The manuscript known as the Book of Kells was first referred to as such by the great biblical scholar Bishop James Ussher (1581-1656) to distinguish between two "gospel books of [St] Columcill," one kept at Kells, county Meath, the other at Durrow in county Offaly.

Land charters transcribed on to the pages of the Kells manuscript prove that it had been there since at least the 11th century, and is therefore likely to be the same "great gospel book of Columcille" recorded as having been stolen and subsequently recovered from the same monastery in 1007.

Although nobody knows exactly when it was made, art historians and paleographers (experts in handwriting and manuscripts) agree that the Book of Kells most likely dates to the late 8th century. And therein lies a problem. The monastery at Kells was not founded until 807, when monks fleeing Viking incursions on the Scottish Hebridean island of Iona were gifted a safer inland site in Ireland to establish a new, ultimately thriving, monastery. So, while we know the manuscript spent at least 650 years at Kells, we do not know where it started its life.

Uncovering new evidence

Between 1994 and 2007, an archaeological excavation at the Pictish monastic site of Portmahomack, Easter Ross in the north-east of Scotland revealed the first-known evidence for the widescale manufacture of parchment in northern Europe.

This was particularly surprising, as no surviving manuscript has previously been identified as coming from this area. In addition to this, Whitworth has identified Pictish stones carved with designs and writing like that found in the Book of Kells. So, does this mean that the most purely Irish thing we have is actually Pictish?

The manuscript was made at a time when Irish churchmen and scholars not only traveled extensively but welcomed people from across Europe to study in its schools. Books also circulated widely at this time, whether as working texts, diplomatic gifts or exemplars distributed to scriptoria (monastery rooms where manuscripts were copied) across Europe.

This cultural mix is evident in the significant range of artistic sources drawn on by the Book of Kells artists. Clearly they had access to designs from contemporary continental gospels, Irish fine metalwork, Byzantine icons and imagery found on Pictish stones. None of the scribes or artists recorded their names, and indeed we don't even know how many there were, such is the relative consistency of the script.

Non-invasive pigment analysis of the manuscript some years ago revealed the use of pigments typical to manuscript production in Scotland and Ireland during the period, some cleverly blended in such a way as to mimic the precious gold and lapis lazuli that lay beyond their reach.

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An estimated 159 calf skins were used to make its surviving pages, some of which were of very poor quality. What we don't know is whether these animals were reared and processed close to the scriptorium where the manuscript was made, whether they might have been collected up from across the territory of a wealthy donor, or whether they were brought in from a single specialist "processor," as for example, at Portmahomack. Ultimately, advances in non-invasive DNA testing may provide scientific answers to these questions and reveal much regarding the economy of the period.

While at present it is impossible to prove beyond doubt, Whitworth's book highlights an important new potential provenance for the Book of Kells. However, it also serves as a timely reminder that our preoccupation with the "nationality" of the manuscript is based on a 19th-century construct, which can distract from other considerations.

Whether based in Pictland, Iona or Ireland, its makers may have come together from a variety of locations, and they certainly had an international outlook. As such, this new research is equally important in considering how these people went about creating an object without borders. In this they were successful, as in 1007 it was deemed the "chief relic of the Western World" and two centuries later as "the Work of Angels."

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Researchers from the Universidad de Costa Ricas Clodomiro Picado Institute milk a coral snake to produce antivenom. The institute produces and distributes antivenoms to treat snakebite across the Americas and in other regions of the world, including Africa, Australia, and Papua New Guinea. Credit: Lily Balloffet

The bite of a black widow spider can initially feel like a sharp stabbing pain, or it can be deceptively subtle, barely registering notice. But as the spider's potent neurotoxin courses through the bloodstream, some unlucky human victims begin to develop severe symptoms. Within about an hour, the venom can cause widespread body pain, stiffness and muscle spasms, or trouble breathing.

While most people recover within a day or two, it can be a harrowing experience. Luckily, antivenom is available to help reverse the effects of the spider's toxin. But that hasn't always been the case.

The first antivenom for black widow spider bites was developed in the United States in 1936. Before that time, serious illness or even death were more common, especially among children and older people, who are especially susceptible to the spider's toxin. And tragically, deaths continued across Latin America for many years more because of lack of access to the new antivenom medications.

Things changed in the mid-1940s in Argentina, when a dedicated rural school teacher and a brave group of women set out on an ambitious two-year campaign to collect 40,000 black widow spiders.

They carefully captured and packed the spiders in test tubes and mailed them off to researchers in the medical school at Universidad de Buenos Aires, who synthesized their own antivenom. As a result, the medicine finally became available in Argentina and served as a model for other laboratories and pharmaceutical operations in Latin America.

The name of the school teacher who helped make it all happen was Jorge Washington Abalos. His often-overlooked story is now being brought to light in a paper by UC Santa Cruz Latin American and Latino Studies Associate Professor Lily Balloffet for the Journal of the History of Biology.

Balloffet has been conducting extensive research on the history of antivenom production in Latin America. She sees Abalos's story as an early example of a developing model for pharmaceutical autonomy that would later become replicated across the region for successfully dealing with snakebites.

Globally, snakebites remain a World Health Organization designated "neglected tropical disease," so lessons from Latin America are crucial for charting the path forward.

Public health advances led by everyday people

The history of black widow antivenom production in Argentina shows how major advances in medicine can come from unlikely places. Beginning in the mid-1930s, Abalos was a school teacher in the Gran Chaco region of Argentina, one of the country's most rural areas.

He had a natural interest in zoology and learned a great deal from the Indigenous families in the region, including traditional ecological knowledge and how to speak the native language of Quechua. He cared deeply about his students and became concerned with their health.

"He saw day-to-day cases where students or their family members got stung by scorpions or bitten by snakes or spiders," Balloffet explained.

"He was someone who was already interested in natural flora and fauna, but above all, he was a concerned teacher, and seeing the effects on his students was a real impetus for him to start to apply those interests from a public health perspective."

Staff at the nearest medical clinic put Abalos in touch with a prominent physician and epidemiologist who was studying diseases caused by insect bites and animal venoms.

From there, he connected with researchers across the country and began providing blood draws, soil samples, and animal specimens from the Gran Chaco region to support public health advances.

To develop black widow antivenom, Abalos recruited local families to the cause, particularly women who were looking to make some extra income. Abalos and his army of spider collectors were essentially doing what's now called "community science," where people without formal scientific training make crucial contributions to scientific data collection efforts.

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The impact of Abalos's work extended beyond antivenom production, too. One of his other major projects was collecting vinchuca, or "kissing bugs" (Triatoma infestans), which transmit a life-threatening infection called Chagas disease that had been discovered in Brazil in 1909.

Vinchuca insects often lived in the thatched roofs, adobe walls, and dirt floors of rural dwellings in the Gran Chaco, so Abalos collected many specimens across the community, along with blood samples from people and animals infected with Chagas disease. Those efforts offered key epidemiological data for researchers who were pathologically profiling Chagas disease and tracking the extent of its reach across Argentina.

"Chagas disease is still a serious public health problem across the Americas, including now in the United States, so this early work to understand the epidemiology was crucial," Balloffet says.

"If Chagas disease is diagnosed early, it can be treated with the right medications, but if it's missed, it can cause catastrophic heart problems later in life, which was a huge problem in Abalos's time and remains a major issue today."

A global model for pharmaceutical autonomy

The successes of Abalos's work demonstrate a unique model for public health research that emerged across Latin America, where regional scientific institutions worked with local community groups to address neglected tropical diseases.

"Neglected tropical diseases are often referred to as 'diseases of poverty' because they are mostly curable, but getting research investment in them from pharmaceutical companies in the Global North or access to existing medications has historically not happened, largely for financial reasons," Balloffet explained.

That's why researchers and communities across Latin America have worked to produce their own antivenom formulations, dating all the way back to the turn of the century. Instead of relying on foreign pharmaceutical companies, they have built locally grown research and development enterprises and production and distribution capacities, which helps keep antivenoms in stock and affordable.

One modern lab in Costa Rica that Balloffet has been studying for several years even does unpatented research work to develop and share insights on venomous animals from other regions of the globe. The lab has been consulting with countries from across the Global South to teach others how to build their own antivenom production facilities.

"Today, Latin America is a region that successfully produces all the antivenom it needs on its own, which is a real outlier in the Global South," Balloffet said. "Latin America is completely pharmaceutically autonomous for antivenom, so it's really important to understand how that came about in order to support other regions that are still struggling to treat snake bites."

Balloffet is currently working on a book that will explore that history in full detail. Abalos's story is a key part of that project and offers a preview of some important takeaways.

"What history shows us is that it's not a top-down public health approach that is the answer to mitigating the impacts of bites from venomous animals," Balloffet said.

"It's about integrating pharmaceutical development, outreach, and education to engage communities. I see that horizontal approach as the core of Abalos's story, and it demonstrates the importance of everyday people who became invested in these public health projects."

More information: Lily Balloffet, Environment, Tropical Disease, and Scientific Networks in Argentina: Folclore and Multiscalar Mobilities, Journal of the History of Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s10739-025-09830-x
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

On a spit of sand 12 miles north of Santa Cruz, a small, emaciated sea lion lay on its side. The only sign of life was the deep press of its flippers against its belly, relaxing for a few seconds, then squeezing again.

"That's a classic sign of lepto," said Giancarlo Rulli, a volunteer and spokesperson with the Marine Mammal Center, pointing to the young animal's wretched self-embrace. The corkscrew-shaped bacteria, leptospirosis, causes severe abdominal pain in sea lions by damaging their kidneys and inflaming their gastrointestinal tracts. "They hold their stomach just like that. Like a sick child with a bellyache," he said.

Since the end of June, officials say nearly 400 animals have been reported stranded or sickened along the Central Coast beaches. More than two-thirds of them have died, Rulli said. Hundreds more probably were washed away before anyone spotted them, or died at sea.

The historically large and long bacterial outbreak is adding to an already devastating death toll for the seals, sea lions, dolphins, otters and whales who live in and migrate through the state's coastal waters.

There are the poisonous algal blooms off the central and southern coasts. There are massive changes in food availability and distribution across the Pacific. And there are growing casualties from ship strikes, record numbers of entanglements in rope and line, and a new heat blob forming in the eastern Pacific.

This year may be remembered as one of the gravest for marine mammals on record. Or, more worryingly, a sign that our ocean environment is changing so drastically that in some places and seasons, it's becoming uninhabitable for the life it holds.

The network of volunteers who tend to stranded marine life is running ragged, said Rulli, answering dozens of rescue calls a day. "It's been a brutal year. ... It's been hard on the animals. It's been traumatic for the volunteers. It's a lot."

Whether all of these pressures and changes are related, or are completely separate phenomena happening at the same time in the same place, scientists don't know.

"We're trying to build our understanding of how ocean conditions relate to the occurrence of disease. But it's a work in progress. And the world is changing quickly underneath our feet," said Jamie Lloyd-Smith, an ecologist and evolutionary biologist at UCLA.

The first outbreak of leptospirosis in sea lions was reported along the West Coast in 1970, said Katie Prager, a disease ecologist at UCLA. By the 1980s, the Marine Mammal Center and others were keeping comprehensive records. They found that the bacterium tended to cause small, annual outbreaks that started in late summer and lasted just a month or two.

Every three to five years, however, they'd see a large outbreak in which scores of animals got sick. In 2011 and 2018, during the last two big outbreaks, roughly 300 animals were rescued, Rulli said.

Lloyd-Smith and others say such leptospira-booms are probably driven by typical population dynamicssuch as when a large enough cohort of never-exposed young animals get it and pass it around on beaches where the highly social animals congregate.

But this year, the outbreak started more than a month earlier than usual, and the number of sickened animals has surpassed any previously recorded outbreak.

This year seems deadlier, too, Rulli said. Leptospirosis typically kills some two-thirds of the animals it sickens. It's only an impression at this point, but this year it seems to him like even more.

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Looking at the sick pup on the Davenport beach, Rulli shook his head and said the animal was about as sick as he'd ever seen.

The little sea lion was humanely put down soon after it was taken to the Marine Mammal Center's Castroville clinic, noted on a white board only as "Nameless Carcass."

Why this year's outbreak has been so devastating is not clear.

Lloyd-Smith and Prager said the leptospira species that affects sea lions is also found in some terrestrial mammalssuch as raccoons, skunks and coyotes. Whether these scavengers are introducing new strains of the bacteria to sea lions on beaches, or the other way around, is not known. Nor is the bacteria's natural reservoiran area of research Lloyd-Smith is actively pursuing.

On a floating dock below the Capitola wharf, two groups of sea lions were lying down in the unusually sticky, humid air of a recent late-September afternoon. Seven were spooning one another in two small clusterstheir flippers outstretched on each other's bodies, their heads resting on their neighbors' tummies or backs.

One rested at a distance from the others. It was the one someone had called in about.

For the rescue team, it was the third stop of the day, and it would be another tough one. A quick scan of the eight sea lions showed that another also looked unwell, her hip bones and vertebrae jutted jarringly underneath her blubberless skin.

The rescuers tried to catch the solo sea lion by nabbing her with a large fishing net, but she managed to squirt out of it. Veteran rescuers Jeremy Alcantara and Patrick McDonald regrouped with the others up on the wharf. They decided they'd try for the bony sea lion sunbathing with her friends.

Since April, the state's stranding network of volunteer rescue crews has been responding daily to calls about sick sea lions, dolphins, whales, sea turtles and birds.

On the Southern California coast, there was a historic domoic acid outbreak that sickened more than 2,100 animals.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, there was a record-breaking number of dead gray whales.

And from San Diego to Crescent City, they saw an off-the-chart number of whale entanglementshumpbacks and gray whales caught in the ropes and lines of the region's commercial fisheries.

Now there's worry that a growing marine heat wave in the Pacific could make things even worsejust as the Trump administration has threatened to pull funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which provides financial help, research and oceanic data for the beleaguered animal crews.

"Fortunately, these volunteers don't give up," Rulli said. "They're completely dedicated."

Alcantara and McDonald descended the stairs from the wharf to the floating dock, taking roughly 10 minutes to quietly approach the sunbathing sea lions. The skinny one they were after had her flippers tucked tight against her belly.

A curious gull watched from the water. Tourists and locals gawked from above.

With a swoop of the net they caught her, carried her up the ramp to the wharf, quickly maneuvered her into a crate and then the back of an air-conditioned van that drove her to Castroville, where she was pumped with antibiotics and fluids.

She's now at the center's headquarters hospital in Sausalito, said Rulli. But "has not been receptive to offers of sustainable ground herring."

Woodrow, as she has been named, is stable and the center's veterinary staff will assess her again in the coming days.

2025 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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The Medicine Prize was awarded for research into how the immune system is kept in check.

A US-Japanese trio on Monday won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for research into how the immune system is kept in check by identifying its "security guards," the Nobel jury said.

The discoveries by Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell of the United States and Japan's Shimon Sakaguchi have been decisive for understanding how the immune system functions and why we do not all develop serious autoimmune diseases.

Sakaguchi, a professor at Osaka University, told a press conference in Japan he hoped the award would "serve as an opportunity for this field to develop further... in a direction where it can be applied in actual bedside and clinical settings."

The Nobel committee was unable to reach the two US-based laureates to break the news to them in person.

"If you hear this, call me," the secretary general of the Nobel committee, Thomas Perlmann, joked at the press conference announcing the winners.

The three won the prize for research that identified the immune system's "security guards," called regulatory T-cells.

Their work concerns "peripheral immune tolerance" that prevents the immune system from harming the body, and has led to a new field of research and the development of potential medical treatments now being evaluated in clinical trials.

"The hope is to be able to treat or cure autoimmune diseases, provide more effective cancer treatments and prevent serious complications after stem cell transplants," the jury said.

Protecting the body

Sakaguchi made the first key discovery in 1995.

At the time, many researchers were convinced that immune tolerance only developed due to potentially harmful immune cells being eliminated in the thymus gland, through a process called "central tolerance."

Sakaguchi, 74, showed that the immune system is more complex and discovered a previously unknown class of immune cells, which protect the body from autoimmune diseases.

Brunkow, born in 1961 and a senior project manager at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, and Ramsdell, a 64-year-old senior advisor at Sonoma Biotherapeutics in San Francisco, made the other key discovery in 2001.

They were able to explain why certain mice were particularly vulnerable to autoimmune diseases.

"They had discovered that mice have a mutation in a gene that they named Foxp3," the jury said.

"They also showed that mutations in the human equivalent of this gene cause a serious autoimmune disease, IPEX."

Two years later, Sakaguchi was able to link these discoveries.

Jonathan Fisher, head of the innate immune engineering laboratory at University College London, said that a lot of progress had been made in the field over the last five years, but had not yet led to a drug in wide use.

"There is a big gap between our scientific understanding of the immune system and our ability to investigate it and manipulate it in a laband our ability to actually deliver a safe-in-humans drug product that will have a consistent and beneficial effect," he said.

The trio will receive their prizea diploma, a gold medal and $1.2 million split three waysat a ceremony in Stockholm on December 10.

Researchers from major US institutions typically dominate the Nobel science prizes, due largely to longstanding US investment in basic science and academic freedoms.

But that could change down the line following massive US budget cuts to science programs announced by President Donald Trump.

Since January, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has terminated 2,100 research grants totaling around $9.5 billion and $2.6 billion in contracts, according to an independent database, Grant Watch.

 2025 AFP
Seventy-seven percent of adults feel nostalgic towards trick-or-treating. 1 Tapping into this beloved Halloween tradition, Chipotle invites Rewards members to "Chip-or-Treat" for offers like free guac, double protein or bonus Rewards points in October 2

Tapping into this beloved Halloween tradition, Chipotle invites Rewards members to "Chip-or-Treat" for offers like free guac, double protein or bonus Rewards points in October Beginning today, October 6, Chipotle Rewards members who purchase an entree each week will unlock a new weekly treat2

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) today announced "Chip-or-Treat," a new exclusive offer for Chipotle Rewards members delivering free treats throughout October to celebrate Halloween. Building on more than two decades of its iconic Boorito tradition, Chipotle is making this Halloween season even bigger with its real food offers. Starting today, October 6, Chipotle Rewards members who purchase an entree each week will receive a new weekly treat from Chipotle, plus an exclusive Rewards badge.2

Chipotle invites Rewards members to Chip-or-Treat for offers like free guac, double protein or bonus Rewards points in October.

Chip-Or-Treat For Real Food

With 77% of adults feeling nostalgic about trick-or-treating, Chipotle is inviting Rewards members to "Chip-or-Treat" to enjoy offers like free guac or chips or bonus Rewards points, up to four times throughout the month,2 making Chipotle's spooky season even more delicious for Rewards members.

How It Works:

Starting today, Monday, October 6 through Thursday, October 30, Chipotle Rewards members can "Chip-or-Treat" at Chipotle by purchasing an entree on the Chipotle app, Chipotle.com or in-restaurant and scanning their Chipotle Rewards member card.

Within a few hours after a purchase, Chipotle Rewards members will receive a "Chip-or-Treat" email providing a treat tailored to their preferences, valid for five days.

Members can "Chip-or-Treat" once per week to earn up to four treats and four exclusive Rewards badges in October.

"For 25 years, Boorito has been the can't miss Halloween tradition for our fans, and this year we're expanding it into a full month of treats," said Chris Brandt, President, Chief Brand Officer, Chipotle. "No tricks, just delicious, real food made fresh every day and weekly rewards that make this October the biggest Halloween season ever at Chipotle."

New Chipotle Rewards members will also receive a free guac offer after signing up and making their first purchase.3 The best way to Chipotle is in the app. Track points, redeem rewards and score free Chipotle. Download in the App Store or on Google Play.

Chipotle U Rewards

Chipotle recently introduced Chipotle U Rewards, a new loyalty program exclusively for college students that celebrates them at various milestones of their higher education journey. Members score 1,000 bonus points upon enrollment, plus earn 20% more points with every purchase to earn free Chipotle faster. College students can learn more and enroll in Chipotle U Rewards at chipotle.com/chipotle-u-rewards.

Boorito Returns On October 31

Chipotle will continue its annual Boorito tradition with an in-restaurant entree offer on Halloween. The brand will share more information on how it is bringing back Boorito for its 25th anniversary later this month.

1  Source: Ferrero North America 2024 Adultoween Survey

2  Rewards members only; promotion runs October 6 to October 30. Regular menu entree purchase required, excluding tax and tip. Weeks consist of Monday through Sunday; limited to one reward per week. For clarity purposes, "regular menu entree item" means a burrito, burrito bowl, single order of three tacos, quesadilla (only available via the Chipotle App or on Chipotle.com), or a salad, subject to availability. A regular menu entree item does not include kids' meals, 3-point meals, or single tacos. Must scan for rewards at time of purchase, or purchase in Rewards account using Chipotle mobile app or Chipotle.com. Purchase must be from participating U.S. restaurants only. Full Chipotle Rewards terms at chipotle.com/rewards-terms.

3  Eligible members receive one free topping or regular side of guac with a purchase of $5.00 or more, excluding tax and tip. One-time use only. Expires if not used within 7 days after it has been added to a participant's account. Valid for orders placed and fulfilled in-restaurant at participating Chipotle restaurants in the United States and Canada, and when ordering via the Chipotle mobile app or online. Redemption is subject to availability at the time of redemption. May not be combined with other coupons, promotions, or special offers. A digital Reward coupon associated with a valid Chipotle Rewards account will be required to redeem any Reward. Presentation of valid account required. Not valid on catering or orders on third party delivery platforms.

About Chipotle

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) is cultivating a better world by serving responsibly sourced, classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. There are over 3,800 restaurants as of June 30, 2025, in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Kuwait, and United Arab Emirates and it is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants in North America and Europe. With over 130,000 employees passionate about providing a great guest experience, Chipotle is a longtime leader and innovator in the food industry. Chipotle is committed to making its food more accessible to everyone while continuing to be a brand with a demonstrated purpose as it leads the way in digital, technology and sustainable business practices. For more information or to place an order online, visit chipotle.com.

SOURCE Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The Colorado River, which provides water across the Southwest, has lost about 20% of its flow in the last quarter-century, and its depleted reservoirs continue to decline. But negotiations aimed at addressing the water shortage are at an impasse, and leaders of environmental groups say the secrecy surrounding the talks is depriving the public of an opportunity to weigh in.

Representatives of the seven states that depend on the river have been meeting regularly over the last two years trying to hash out a plan to address critical shortages after 2026, when the current rules expire. They meet in-person at offices and hotels in different states, never divulging the locations.

The talks have been mired in persistent disagreement over who should have to cut back on water and by how much.

"We need more transparency, and we need more accountability," said Kyle Roerink, executive director of the Great Basin Water Network. "I think if we had more of those things, we wouldn't be in the situation that we are currently in."

Roerink and leaders of five other environmental groups criticized the lack of information about the stalled negotiations, as well as the Trump administration's handling of the situation during a news conference as they released a report with recommendations for solving the river's problems.

Roerink said there is "a failure of leadership" among state and federal officials, and "everybody else is being left in the dark."

Disagreements over how mandatory water cuts should be allotted have created a rift between two camps: the three downstream or lower basin statesCalifornia, Arizona and Nevadaand the four states in the river's upper basinColorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico. State officials have talked publicly about the spat, but much of the debate is happening out of the public eye.

"This process is a backroom negotiation," said Zachary Frankel, executive director of the Utah Rivers Council. "We need to shift the governance of the Colorado River Basin ... back into the halls of democracy so that people can get engaged."

Frankel said the limited details that have filtered out of the negotiators' "secret backrooms" indicate officials are still debating water cuts far smaller than what's really needed to deal with the current shortage.

He said the Southwest could face "serious water crashes" soon if the region's officials don't act faster to take less from the river.

The Colorado River provides water for cities from Denver to Los Angeles, 30 Native tribes and farming communities from the Rocky Mountains to northern Mexico.

It has long been overused, and its reservoirs have declined dramatically amid unrelenting dry conditions since 2000. Research has shown that the warming climate, driven largely by the use of fossil fuels, has intensified the long stretch of mostly dry years.

Near Las Vegas, Lake Mead, the nation's largest reservoir, is now just 32% full.

Upstream from the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, the country's second-largest reservoir, is at 29% of capacity.

"We're using a third too much water. There's no accountability for the fact that the reservoirs are disappearing," Frankel said. "And we're not even looking at what the drop in future flows is going to be from climate change."

California uses more Colorado River water than any other state, and has been reducing water use under a three-year agreement adopted in 2023. As part of the water-saving efforts, Imperial Valley farmers are temporarily leaving some fields dry in exchange for cash payments.

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A large portion of the water is used for agriculture, with much of it going to grow hay for cattle, as well as other crops including cotton, lettuce and broccoli.

The main sticking point in the negotiations is how much and when the upper basin states are willing to share in the cuts, said J.B. Hamby, California's Colorado River commissioner.

"The river is getting smaller. We need to figure out how to live with less, and the upper basin absolutely must be part of that," Hamby said in an interview. "We are running out of time."

The new rules for dealing with shortages must be adopted before the end of 2026, and federal officials have given the states "several milestones" in developing a consensus in the coming months, Hamby said.

"The clock is ticking," he said. "And we're still essentially at square one."

Federal officials have not said what they will do if the states fail to reach consensus. The impasse has raised the possibility that the states could sue each other, a path riddled with uncertainty that water managers in both camps have said they hope to avoid.

Hamby said he believes solutions lie in a compromise between the upper and lower states, but that will require all of them to stop clinging to "their most aggressive and rigid dreamland legal positions."

Experts have called for urgent measures to prevent reservoirs from dropping to critically low levels.

In a study published in the journal Nature Communications, scientists found that if current policies remain unchanged, in the coming decades, both Lake Powell and Lake Mead will be at risk of reaching "dead pool" levelswater so low it doesn't reach the intakes and no longer gets through the dams, meaning it doesn't flow downstream to Nevada, Arizona, California and Mexico.

The researchers said a more "sustainable policy" will require larger water cutbacks throughout the region.

Federal officials have said they recognize the need to move quickly in coming up with solutions. In August, Scott Cameron, the Interior Department's acting assistant secretary for water and science, said "the urgency for the seven Colorado River Basin states to reach a consensus agreement has never been clearer. We cannot afford to delay."

But the coalition of environmental groups raised concerns that federal and state officials are flouting the normal procedures required when making new water rules.

The environmental review began under the Biden administration, which announced several options for long-term river management.

Roerink and other advocates noted the last time the public received any information about that process was in January, as President Joe Biden was leaving office. They said the Interior Department was expected to have released an initial draft plan by now, but that has not happened.

"The Trump administration is absolutely missing an opportunity here to get everybody at the table and to get something meaningful done under the time frame that they are obliged to get it done," Roerink said. "The fact that we've heard nothing from the Trump administration is troubling."

More information: Wang, B., et al. Disentangling climate and policy uncertainties for the Colorado River post-2026 operations. Nature Communications (2025). doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63635-4 Journal information: Nature Communications

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: University of California - Berkeley

"Almost every day [in the hot season] in our factory, five to seven people faint. Five to seven people just fall down."

"Sometimes I feel my hand muscles[s] and my leg muscle[s] [are] cramped. And sometimes I vomit. And sometimes my head spins. And a lot of things. I also [get] colds and fevers."

"I actually avoid drinking more water because of the workload. If I drink too much, I'll need to use the washroom, which takes time. But I have to complete 150 pieces of work within an hour."

These are some of the comments made to Cara Schulte by people working in the stifling hot garment factories of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Schulte, a fourth year doctoral student at UC Berkeley School of Public Health, and researcher at Climate Rights International, has spent the past two summers in southern Bangladesh and, among other projects, has interviewed more than 50 people whose work has gotten more dangerous due to climate change. Most of the individuals Schulte interviewed worked in clothing factories but others worked in transportation and construction.

"These workers are facing the horrors of climate injustice," Schulte said. "They are forced to work long hours in factory infernoswithout safe water or effective cooling systemsto churn out seasonal trends for buyers in the high-income countries that caused this crisis."

There is unequivocal evidence that Earth is warming at an unprecedented rate, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Experts, including those from the United Nations, note that 2024 was the earth's hottest year on recordand the years 2014 to 2024 was its warmest decade.

Within this warming planet, low-income countrieswhere most people cannot afford to take adaptive measures like installing air conditionerssuffer the most. Of those nations, Bangladesh is among the hardest hit. Its capital, Dhaka, is uniquely vulnerable to climate impacts due to a combination of the urban heat island effect and its labor-intensive economy.

In addition to a broad spectrum of acute health impacts, Schulte said, "prolonged heat exposure is now being linked to painful and long-term chronic conditions including cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, decreased kidney function, liver damage, depression and suicidality, violence, some cancers, and death."

A report authored by Schulte, "My Body is Burning: Climate Change, Extreme Heat, and Labor rights in Bangladesh," was published this summer by Climate Rights International. The research was funded in part by the UC Berkeley Human Rights Center and the Chowdhury Center for Bangladesh Studies. Her partners on the ground were local researchers Hannan Biswas and Bejoya Islam, and Garment Workers Diaries, an organization which connects researchers to workers around the world. The group recently changed its name to Global Worker Dialogue.

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Schulte's report highlights the very tough conditions that garment workers face in Dhaka, where the hot season often brings temperatures over 100 degrees and humidity levels above 85%. On a record-breaking day in the summer of 2025, the heat index reached nearly 118.

One woman included in Schulte's report, identified only as Raina, said she worked 10 to 14 hours a day during that summer of record heat, even while seven months pregnant.

"When she fainted," Schulte wrote, "there was nowhere to rest, so she would simply lay behind her desk for a few minutes and get back to work."

Schulte's mentors at Berkeley Public Health include Dr. Ndola Prata, Dr. Rohini Haar, and her advisor, Dr. Laura (Layla) H. Kwong, an assistant professor in Environmental Health Sciences, who has worked in Bangladesh, India, China, Uganda, and other countries. Kwong's work with the Global Environmental Health Solutions Lab focuses on identifying pathways of disease transmission; developing products and services to reduce exposure to climate change, air pollution, pathogens, and irritants; and evaluating intervention impacts on child health.

As part of Schulte's fellowship with the Bixby Center for Population, Health, and Sustainability, and her work with the Global Environmental Health Equity Lab, Schulte is also working with Kwong, Prata, and researchers Sophie Cotton and Blake Erhardt-Ohren on climate change and sexual and reproductive health.

Kwong calls Schulte a dynamo.

"I've never seen a student more focused on a singular goal, with a clear path and a skillset that she is constantly honing to achieve that goal: Using legal and human rights arguments to help improve the environment that we all depend on," Kwong said. "I'm extremely grateful to be able to work with her."

Schulte's dissertation includes a study of associations between extreme heat and stillbirth, preterm birth, and low birth weight in low and middle income countries. Though analyses are still underway, Schulte and her co-authors estimate that workplace exposure to high versus moderate temperatures was associated with a 3% higher risk of stillbirth and a 9% higher risk of preterm birth. The National Institutes of Health notes that babies born prematurely are at greater risk of death than babies born at full term.

In her recent Bangladesh report, Schulte wrote that inside garment factories, people working in extreme heat are fainting, getting sick, and even dying in extreme temperatures, with little protection from the government, employers, or the multinational corporations that profit from their work. In 2022, Bangladesh's fashion exports were valued at over USD $31 billion.

Although the U.S., China, Persian Gulf states, and Europe are primarily responsible for the emissions that fueled the climate crisis, she wrote, Bangladesh is among the countries hurt most by its impact.

But, Schulte noted, most of Dhaka's workforce has little choice but to go along with factory and workplace practiceslong hours, intense quotas, limited break time, poverty wagesno matter how difficult or abusive.

When the human body overheats, blood vessels expand and blood flow to the skin increases in an effort to cool down, reducing blood pressure and blood flow to vital organs, including the brain. Heat exposure also increases the risk of dehydration, which reduces blood volume. In combination, these and other factors can lead to dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting. Most workers Schulte interviewed had either fainted in the heat themselves, or watched a colleague collapse. Several people reported losing consciousness more than once.

Some reported moving and working so slowly that they had to work as much as 50% more time to complete their tasks. And others cut shifts short due to heat-related illness, forfeiting much-needed pay. The average garment worker in Dhaka earns the equivalent of about US $80 per month.

"Many workers lacked access to toilets at their worksites, experienced pressures not to use the bathroom frequently, or feared that the water supply at work was unsafe," Schulte said. "These challenges led some workers to deliberately restrict their water intake so as not to have to use the bathroom as frequently, leading to dehydration and urinary tract infections and increasing their risk of other, more severe heat-related health issues."

Some companiesincluding VF Corporation (home of the North Face, Timberland, Dickies, and Vans) and H&Mhave embedded heat protections into their supplier codes of conduct, Schulte notes, but enforcement is generally not sufficient.

"Businesses and governments have an obligation to protect workers from the growing threat of extreme heat," she said. "Employers and multinational corporations should work in tandem with the Bangladesh government to monitor heat safety, protect workers and uphold their rights. Doing so will be critical to the future of public health, worker well-being and the global economy."

Schulte, 30, obtained her undergraduate degree and a master's degree in environmental health science from Johns Hopkins University. In addition to her work at UC Berkeley and with Climate Rights International, she is also a research assistant for the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Climate Change, a consultant for Human Rights Watch, and a rapporteur at Columbia Law School's Sabin Center, among other posts.

She first became interested in heat research while working at Human Rights Watch in 2017. She thought she could make progress on the issue because it would be easy for people to understand and relate to.

"Everyone has had the experience of being too hot," she said, "so it's a really visceral, descriptive thing to research. And I felt that there were a lot of paths forward for different things we could do to address heat issues."

Schulte had heard about labor rights abuses in Bangladesh for a long time, and was influenced by her mentor and supervisor at Climate Rights International, Brad Adams, who was also the former Asia director of Human Rights Law. She also benefitted from Kwong's network of contacts in Dhaka.

She is pleased that her work straddles the intersection of academia and advocacy.

"Many of my mentors are adjunct professors, where they teach a class or two and then they are also on the board, or directors or have some kind of leadership role at an NGO," she said. "I like that an academic background can bring a very rigorous methodology to NGO-type research. And NGOs can bring to academia the advocacy side of the issues."

She is grateful to the workers who spent time talking to her about their lives, and thinks about them often. Asked about the hardest part of her research, Schulte said, "You leave knowing that progress is a long-term goal. So you hear these terrible really terrible stories and testimony from all of these people, and of course the end goal of the research is to make positive change. But you know there is nothing you can really do right now or overnight. That's challenging. I still think of these people daily."

"It was an eye-opening experience," she said. "It was really unbelievably hot. I was wearing a heart rate monitor to test for another project with Kwong, and my resting heart rate was over 100 sometimes. In New York, it's in the 60s. My body was just fighting to keep up."

She is pleased that the field of climate change has taken off, since she began studying the subject 10 years ago.

"Being at a university as big as UC Berkeley, so well known for its environmental work, is really exciting," Schulte said. "There are so many resources and so many opportunities, and climate change is impacting so many different things.

"I think there's a huge opportunity for young researchers to really make a name for themselvesand having the name Berkeley behind you when you're doing international work is really exciting and can be really helpful early in your career."

Schulte's report comes at a time when municipal governments in the United Statesand national and local governments in southern Europe, Japan, and elsewhere around the globeare enacting laws to protect workers from extreme heat.

Schulte, however, isn't waiting around.

In September, working with Climate Rights International, and 44 labor, climate change, and sustainable fashion organizations, among others, Schulte helped craft a joint letter calling for heat stress to be recognized as a core safety issue.

The coalition addressed its proposal to the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Garment and Textile Industrythe legally binding agreement between garment brands and trade unions.

"Extreme heat is a preventable threat to occupational safety," Schulte said. "As a champion of worker health and safety and well-being, the International Accord has an opportunity to protect workers."

The coalition is pressing the Accord to adopt clear, evidence-based heat protection standards, and has suggested a range of best practices, many of which are included in the World Health Organization guidelines on occupational heat stress.

Proposed measures include maximum heat thresholds above which work must be stopped; return-to-work standards to ensure workers are able to recover following illness; and schedule adjustments to help workers avoid working in peak heat conditions, among other standards. Other important changes would be to include basic human rights provisions, such as better access to bathrooms and potable drinking water.

Climate Rights International is in discussion with affiliates of the Accord.

"People working in occupational health and safety are well-aware that heat is a pressing issue. Brands are the real barrier here. But as the research continues to show how climate change isand will continue toimpact corporate bottom lines, I think we have a real shot at making a change, increasing protections, and making climate adaptation a reality for workers in high-risk communities."

More information: "My Body Is Burning." Climate Change, Extreme Heat, and Labor Rights in Bangladesh, cri.org/reports/my-body-is-bur  ights-in-bangladesh/
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Shining polarized light on microscopic MXene flakes to reveal their optical, structural, and charge transport properties. Credit: Ralfy Kenaz and Andreas Furchner

Researchers have for the first time measured the true properties of individual MXene flakesan exciting new nanomaterial with potential for better batteries, flexible electronics, and clean energy devices.

By using a novel light-based technique called spectroscopic micro-ellipsometry, they discovered how MXenes behave at the single-flake level, revealing changes in conductivity and optical response that were previously hidden when studying only stacked layers. This breakthrough provides the fundamental knowledge and tools needed to design smarter, more efficient technologies powered by MXenes.

MXenes are ultra-thin materials only a few atoms thick, celebrated for their ability to conduct electricity, store energy, and interact with light. Until now, however, most studies examined MXenes in bulk formas thin films made up of many overlapping flakes. That approach, while useful, masked the unique properties of single flakes, leaving unanswered questions about their true potential.

The new study was led by Dr. Andreas Furchner from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), together with Dr. Ralfy Kenaz from the Hebrew University's (HUJI's) Institute of Physicsa strong collaboration between the research groups of Dr. Tristan Petit and Prof. Ronen Rapaport, respectively. It reveals, for the first time, how individual MXene flakes behave when isolated and studied at the nanoscale. The findings were recently published in ACS Nano.

Ellipsometry is one of the most advanced noninvasive optical techniques for material characterization. However, conventional ellipsometers inherently struggle to measure areas smaller than 50 micronsroughly the width of a human hairmaking them unsuitable for analyzing the microscopic structures common in modern technology and research.

As a result, ellipsometry measurements on MXenes have been limited to macroscopic thin films made of stacked, overlapping flakes. This limitation has prevented direct measurements of individual MXene flakes, whose lateral dimensions are much smaller, thereby hindering a true understanding of their intrinsic properties.

To crack the problem, the researchers employed an advanced, patented technique they developed and call spectroscopic micro-ellipsometry (SME)essentially a kind of "optical fingerprinting"which allowed them to measure the optical, structural, and electronic properties of single MXene flakes with high lateral resolution and without damaging them.

In the study, individual MXene flakes of varying thicknesses were synthesized in HZB and sent to HUJI for SME measurements. Complementary nanoscale measurements were performed at HUJI's Nano Center, and all data analyses were carried out collaboratively by both groups.

By shining light with defined polarization states on microscopic flakes as thin as a single molecular layer and analyzing how that light reflected back, the researchers mapped how the material's ability to conduct electricity and interact with light changes depending on thickness and structural properties. They discovered that as MXene flakes become thinner, their electrical resistance increasesa critical insight for building reliable, high-performance devices.

The method was so precise that it matched nanoscale imaging tools like atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), confirming its power as a noninvasive diagnostic tool.

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Dr. Furchner of Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, who brought his extensive expertise in ellipsometry to the MXene field, noted, "Measuring how single MXene flakes depolarize light enabled us to pinpoint structural intra-flake variations in thickness at the nano level. We were excited to see how well the results match destructive techniques like STEM."

Dr. Kenaz of Hebrew University, developer and co-inventor of the SME technique, said, "What is truly outstanding with this work is that in less than one minute, we can directly measure the optical properties, thickness, structural properties, and conductivity of individual MXene flakesall in a nondestructive way. Normally, these measurements require three different instruments, are time-consuming and destructive, and in the end, not as reliable as spectroscopic micro-ellipsometry."

Dr. Petit of Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin explained, "This opens new fields of research for operando characterization, which were previously only possible with synchrotron techniques such as STXM (Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscopy). We now have a novel, high-throughput technique to understand how MXenes evolve in different environmentsa lab-based tool that complements X-ray imaging experiments, for example."

MXenes are being explored for a wide range of applicationsfrom ultrafast batteries and water purification systems to flexible electronics and solar energy harvesting. Understanding how the material behaves at the single-flake level is essential for designing devices that are both efficient and scalable.

Prof. Rapaport of Hebrew University added, "This work provides a roadmap for integrating MXenes into real technologies by offering a direct view of their intrinsic properties, without the interference of stacked layers or impurities. By refining how we study these materials using our SME technique, we are paving the way for their use in optoelectronic devices, energy solutions, and beyond."

The study not only unlocks fundamental knowledge about MXenes but also establishes spectroscopic micro-ellipsometry as a new standard for analyzing 2D materials. With this breakthrough, scientists worldwide may soon gain the ability to probe other emerging nanomaterials in the same way.

As Dr. Petit of Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin concluded, "This is a powerful demonstration of how international collaboration and advanced physics can accelerate materials science. MXenes are just the beginning."

More information: Ralfy Kenaz et al, Optical, Structural, and Charge Transport Properties of Individual Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene Flakes via Micro-Ellipsometry and Beyond, ACS Nano (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5c06938 Journal information: ACS Nano
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On October 6 1995, at a scientific meeting in Florence, Italy, two Swiss astronomers made an announcement that would transform our understanding of the universe beyond our solar system. Michel Mayor and his Ph.D. student Didier Queloz, working at the University of Geneva, announced they had detected a planet orbiting a star other than the sun.

The star in question, 51 Pegasi, lies about 50 light years away in the constellation Pegasus. Its companionchristened 51 Pegasi bwas unlike anything written in textbooks about how we thought planets might look. This was a gas giant with a mass of at least half that of Jupiter, circling its star in just over four days. It was so close to the star (1/20th of Earth's distance from the sun, well inside Mercury's orbit) that the planet's atmosphere would be like a furnace, with temperatures topping 1,000C.

The instrument behind the discovery was Elodie, a spectrograph that had been installed two years earlier at the Haute-Provence observatory in southern France. Designed by a Franco-Swiss team, Elodie split starlight into a spectrum of different colors, revealing a rainbow etched with fine dark lines. These lines can be thought of as a "stellar barcode," providing details on the chemistry of other stars.

What Mayor and Queloz spotted was 51 Pegasi's barcode sliding rhythmically back-and-forth in this spectrum every 4.23 daysa telltale signal that the star was being wobbled back and forth by the gravitational tug of an otherwise unseen companion amid the glare of the star.

After painstakingly ruling out other explanations, the astronomers finally decided that the variations were due to a gas giant in a close-in orbit around this sun-like star. The front page of the Nature journal in which their paper was published carried the headline: "A planet in Pegasus?"

The discovery baffled scientists, and the question-mark on Nature's front cover reflected initial skepticism. Here was a purported giant planet next to its star, with no known mechanism for forming a world like this in such a fiery environment.

While the signal was confirmed by other teams within weeks, reservations about the cause of the signal remained for almost three years before being finally ruled out. Not only did 51 Pegasi b become the first planet discovered orbiting a sun-like star outside our solar system, but it also represented an entirely new type of planet. The term "hot Jupiter" was later coined to describe such planets.

This discovery opened the floodgates. In the 30 years since, more than 6,000 exoplanets (the term for planets outside our solar system) and exoplanet candidates have been cataloged.

Their variety is staggering. Not only hot but ultra-hot Jupiters with a dayside temperature exceeding 2,000 C and orbits of less than a day. Worlds that orbit not one but two stars, like Tatooine from Star Wars. Strange "super-puff" gas giants larger than Jupiter but with a fraction of the mass. Chains of small rocky planets all piled up in tight orbits.

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The discovery of 51 Pegasi b triggered a revolution and, in 2019, landed Mayor and Queloz a Nobel prize. We can now infer that most stars have planetary systems. And yet, of the thousands of exoplanets found, we have yet to find a planetary system that resembles our own.

The quest to find an Earth twina planet that truly resembles Earth in size, mass and temperaturecontinues to drive modern-day explorers like us to search for more undiscovered exoplanets. Our expeditions may not take us on death-defying voyages and treks like the past legendary explorers of Earth, but we do get to visit beautiful, mountain-top observatories often located in remote areas around the world.

We are members of an international consortium of planet hunters that built, operate and maintain the Harps-N spectrograph, mounted on the Telescopio Nazionale de Galileo on the beautiful Canary island of La Palma. This sophisticated instrument allows us to rudely interrupt the journey of starlight which may have been traveling unimpeded at speeds of 670 million miles per hour for decades or even millennia.

Each new signal has the potential to bring us closer to understanding how common planetary systems like our own may (or may not) be. In the background lies the possibility that one day, we may finally detect another planet like Earth.

The origins of exoplanet study

Up until the mid-1990s, our solar system was the only set of planets humanity ever knew. Every theory about how planets formed and evolved stemmed from these nine, incredibly closely spaced data-points (which went down to eight when Pluto was demoted in 2006, after the International Astronomical Union agreed a new definition of a planet).

All of these planets revolve around just one star out of the estimated 10 (roughly 100 billion) in our galaxy, the Milky Waywhich is in turn one of some 10 galaxies throughout the universe. So, trying to draw conclusions from the planets in our solar system alone was a bit like aliens trying to understand human nature by studying students living together in one house. But that didn't stop some of the greatest minds in history speculating on what lay beyond.

The ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus (341270BC) wrote: "There is an infinite number of worldssome like this world, others unlike it." This view was not based on astronomical observation but his atomist theory of philosophy. If the universe was made up of an infinite number of atoms then, he concluded, it was impossible not to have other planets.

Epicurus clearly understood what this meant in terms of the potential for life developing elsewhere: "We must not suppose that the worlds have necessarily one and the same shape. Nobody can prove that in one sort of world there might not be containedwhereas in another sort of world there could not possibly bethe seeds out of which animals and plants arise and all the rest of the things we see."

In contrast, at roughly the same time, fellow Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC) was proposing his geocentric model of the universe, which had Earth immobile at its center with the moon, sun and known planets orbiting around us. In essence, the solar system as Aristotle conceived it was the entire universe. In On the Heavens (350BC), he argued: "It follows that there cannot be more worlds than one."

Such thinking that planets were rare in the universe persisted for 2,000 years. Sir James Jeans, one of the world's top mathematicians and an influential physicist and astronomer at the time, advanced his tidal hypothesis of planet formation in 1916. According to this theory, planets were formed when two stars pass so closely that the encounter pulls streams of gas off the stars into space, which later condense into planets. The rareness of such close cosmic encounters in the vast emptiness of space led Jeans to believe that planets must be rare, oras was reported in his obituary"that the solar system might even be unique in the universe."

But by then, understanding of the scale of the universe was slowly changing. In the "Great Debate" of 1920, held at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington DC, American astronomers Harlow Shapley and Heber Curtis clashed over whether the Milky Way was the entire universe, or just one of many galaxies. The evidence began to point to the latter, as Curtis had argued for. This realizationthat the universe contained not just billions of stars, but billions of galaxies each containing billions of starsbegan to affect even the most pessimistic predictors of planetary prevalence.

In the 1940s, two things caused the scientific consensus to pivot dramatically. First, Jeans' tidal hypothesis did not stand up to scientific scrutiny. The leading theories now had planet formation as a natural byproduct of star formation itself, opening up the potential for all stars to host planets.

Then in 1943, claims emerged of planets orbiting the stars 70 Ophiuchus and 61 Cygni ctwo relatively nearby star systems visible to the naked eye. Both were later shown to be false positives, most likely due to uncertainties in the telescopic observations that were possible at the timebut nonetheless, it greatly influenced planetary thinking. Suddenly, billions of planets in the Milky Way was considered a genuine scientific possibility.

For us, nothing highlights this change in mindset more than an article written for the Scientific American in July 1943 by the influential American astronomer Henry Norris Russell. Whereas two decades earlier, Russell had predicted that planets "should be infrequent among the stars," now the title of his article was: "Anthropocentrism's Demise. New Discoveries Lead to the Probability that There Are Thousands of Inhabited Planets in our Galaxy."

Strikingly, Russell was not merely making a prediction about any old planets, but inhabited ones. The burning question was: where were they? It would take another half-century to begin finding out.

How to detect an exoplanet

When we observe myriad stars through La Palma's Italian-built Galileo telescope using our Harps-N spectrograph, it is amazing to consider how far we have come since Mayor and Queloz announced their discovery of 51 Pegasi b in 1995. These days, we can effectively measure the masses of not just Jupiter-like planets, but even small planets thousands of light years away. As part of the Harps-N collaboration, we have had a front-row seat since 2012 in the science of small exoplanets.

Another milestone in this story came four years after the 51 Pegasi b discovery, when a Canadian Ph.D. student at Harvard University, David Charbonneau, detected the transit of a known exoplanet. This was another hot Jupiter, known as HD209458b, also located in the Pegasus constellation, about 150 light years from Earth.

Transit refers to a planet passing in front of its star, from the perspective of the observer, momentarily making the star appear dimmer. As well as detecting exoplanets, the transit technique enables us to measure the radius of the planet by taking many brightness measurements of a star, then waiting for it to dim due to the passing planet. The extent of blocked starlight depends on the radius of the planet. For example, Jupiter would make the sun 1% dimmer to alien observers, while for Earth, the effect would be a hundred times weaker.

Nasa animation depicting the first 5,000 exoplanets to have been discovered, up to March 2022. Credit: M. Russo and A. Santaguida/Nasa-JPL

In all, four times more exoplanets have now been discovered using this transit technique compared with the "barcode" technique, known as radial velocity, that the Swiss astronomers used to spot the first exoplanet 30 years ago. It is a technique that is still widely used today, including by us, as it can not only find a planet but also measure its mass.

A planet orbiting a star exerts a gravitational pull which causes that star to wobble back and forthmeaning it will periodically change its velocity with respect to observers on Earth. With the radial velocity technique, we take repeated measurements of the velocity of a star, looking to find a stable periodic wobble that indicates the presence of a planet.

These velocity changes are, however, extremely small. To put it in perspective, Earth makes the sun change its velocity by a mere 9cm per secondslower than a tortoise. In order to find planets with the radial velocity technique, we thus need to measure these small velocity changes for stars that are many many trillions of miles away from us.

The state-of-the-art instruments we use are truly an engineering feat. The latest spectrographs, such as Harps-N and also Espresso, can accurately measure velocity shifts of the order of tenths of centimeters per secondalthough still not sensitive enough to detect a true Earth twin.

But whereas this radial velocity technique is, for now, limited to ground-based observatories and can only observe one star at the time, the transit technique can be employed in space telescopes such as the French Corot (2006-14) and NASA's Kepler (2009-18) and Tess (2018-) missions. Between them, space telescopes have detected thousands of exoplanets in all their diversity, taking advantage of the fact we can measure stellar brightness more easily from space, and for many stars at the same time.

Despite the differences in detection success rate, both techniques continue to be developed. Applying both can give the radius and mass of a planet, opening up many more avenues for studying its composition.

To estimate possible compositions of our discovered exoplanets, we start by making the simplified assumption that small planets are, like Earth, made up of a heavy iron-rich core, a lighter rocky mantle, some surface water and a small atmosphere. Using our measurements of mass and radius, we can now model the different possible compositional layers and their respective thickness.

This is still very much a work in progress, but the universe is spoiling us with a wide variety of different planets. We've seen evidence of rocky worlds being torn apart and strange planetary arrangements that hint at past collisions. Planets have been found across our galaxy, from Sweeps-11b in its central regions (at nearly 28,000 light years away, one of the most distant ever discovered) to those orbiting our nearest stellar neighbor, Proxima Centauri, which is "only" 4.2 light years away.

Searching for 'another Earth'

In early July 2013, one of us (Christopher) was flying out to La Palma for my first "go" with the recently commissioned Harps-N spectrograph. Keen not to mess up, my laptop was awash with spreadsheets, charts, manuals, slides and other notes. Also included was a three-page document I had just been sent, entitled: Special Instructions for ToO (Target of Opportunity).

The first paragraph stated: "The Executive Board has decided that we should give highest priority to this object." The object in question was a planetary candidate thought to be orbiting Kepler-78, a star a little cooler and smaller than our sun, located about 125 light years away in the direction of the constellation Cygnus.

A few lines further down read: "July 4-8 run  Chris Watson" with a list of ten times to observe Kepler-78twice per night, each separated by a very specific four hours and 15 minutes. The name above mine was Didier Queloz's (he hadn't been awarded his Nobel prize yet, though).

This planetary candidate had been identified by the Kepler space telescope, which was tasked with searching a portion of the Milky Way to look for exoplanets as small as Earth. In this case, it had identified a transiting planet candidate with an estimated radius of 1.16 ( 0.19) Earth radiian exoplanet not that much larger than Earth had potentially been spotted.

I was in La Palma to attempt to measure its mass which, combined with the radius from Kepler, would allow the density and possible composition to be constrained. I wrote at the time: "Want 10% error on mass, to get a good enough bulk density to distinguish between Earth-like, iron-concentrated (Mercury), or water."

In all, I took ten out of our team's total of 81 exposures of Kepler-78 in an observing campaign lasting 97 days. During that time, we became aware of a US-led team who were also looking for this potential planet. In true scientific spirit, we agreed to submit our independent findings at the same time. On the specified date. Like a prisoner swap, the two teams exchanged resultswhich agreed. We had, within the uncertainties of our data, reached the same conclusion about the planet's mass.

Its most likely mass came out as 1.86 Earth masses. At the time, this made Kepler-78b the smallest extrasolar planet with an accurately measured mass. The density was almost identical to that of Earth.

But that is where the similarities to our planet ended. Kepler-78b has a "year" that lasts only 8.5 hours, which is why I had been instructed to observe it every 4hr 15minwhen the planet was at opposite sides of its orbit, and the induced "wobble" of the star would be at its greatest. We measured the star wobbling back and forth at about two meters per secondno more than a slow jog.

Kepler-78b's short orbit meant its extreme temperature would cause all rock on the planet to melt. It may have been the most Earth-like planet found at the time in terms of its size and density, but otherwise, this hellish lava world was at the very extremes of our known planetary population.

In 2016, the Kepler space telescope made another landmark discovery: a system with at least five transiting planets around a sun-like star, HIP 41378, in the Cancer constellation. What made it particularly exciting was the location of these planets. Where most transiting planets we have spotted are closer to their star than Mercury is to the sun (due to our detection capabilities), this system has at least three planets beyond the orbital radius of Venus.

Having decided to use our Harps-N spectrograph to measure the masses of all five transiting planets, it became clear after more than a year of observing that one instrument would not be enough to analyze this challenging mix of signals. Other international teams came to the same conclusion and, rather than compete, we decided to come together in a global collaboration that holds strong to this day, with hundreds of radial velocities gathered over many years.

We now have firm masses and radii for most of the planets in the system. But studying them is a game of patience. With planets much further away from their host star, it takes much longer before there is a new transit event or the periodic wobble can be fully observed. We thus need to wait multiple years and gather lots of data to gain insight in this system.

The rewards are obvious, though. This is the first system that starts resembling our solar system. While the planets are a bit larger and more massive than our rocky planets, their distances are very similarhelping us to understand how planetary systems form in the universe.

The holy grail for exoplanet explorers

After three decades of observing, a wealth of different planets have emerged. We started with the hot Jupiters, large gas giants close to their star that are among the easiest planets to find due to both deeper transits and larger radial velocity signals. But while the first tens of discovered exoplanets were all hot Jupiters, we now know these planets are actually very rare.

With instrumentation getting better and observations piling up, we have since found a whole new class of planets with sizes and masses between those of Earth and Neptune. But despite our knowledge of thousands of exoplanets, we still have not found systems truly resembling our solar system, nor planets truly resembling Earth.

It is tempting to conclude this means we are a unique planet in a unique system. While this still could be true, it is unlikely. The more reasonable explanation is that, for all our stellar technology, our capabilities of detecting such Earth-like planets are still fairly limited in a universe so mind-bogglingly vast.

The holy grail for many exoplanet explorers, including us, remains to find this true Earth twina planet with a similar mass and radius as Earth's, orbiting a star similar to the sun at a distance similar to how far we are from the sun.

While the universe is rich in diversity and holds many planets unlike our own, discovering a true Earth twin would be the best place to start looking for life as we know it. Currently, the radial velocity methodas used to find the very first exoplanetremains by far the best-placed method to find it.

Thirty years on from that Nobel-winning discovery, pioneering planetary explorer Didier Queloz is taking charge of the very first dedicated radial velocity campaign to go in search of an Earth-like planet.

A major international collaboration is building a dedicated instrument, Harps3, to be installed later this year at the Isaac Newton Telescope on La Palma. Given its capabilities, we believe a decade of data should be enough to finally discover our first Earth twin.

Unless we are unique after all.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Mohammed Hassan, associate professor of physics and optical sciences, is the corresponding author on a paper which explains how researchers captured and controlled quantum uncertainty in real time using ultrafast pulses of light. Credit: University of Arizona

Researchers from the University of Arizona, working with an international team, have captured and controlled quantum uncertainty in real time using ultrafast pulses of light. Their discovery, published in the journal Light: Science & Applications, could lead to more secure communication and the development of ultrafast quantum optics.

At the heart of the breakthrough is "squeezed light," said Mohammed Hassan, the paper's corresponding author and associate professor of physics and optical sciences.

In quantum physics, light is identified by two linked properties that roughly correspond to a particle's position and intensitybut can never be known with perfect precision, a concept known as uncertainty. The product of these two measurements cannot fall below a certain threshold, much like the fixed amount of air in a balloon, with each measurement representing one side of the balloon.

"Ordinary light is like a round balloon, with uncertainty spread evenly between its measurements," Hassan said. "Squeezed lightalso known as quantum lightis stretched into an oval, where one property becomes quieter and more precise, while the other grows noisier."

This squeeze has real-world applications: gravitational-wave detectors already use squeezed light to cut through background noise and detect faint ripples in spacetime caused by distant celestial bodies.

Previous applications of squeezed light relied on laser pulses lasting milliseconds. Hassan wanted to explore whether it was possible to generate squeezed light with ultrafast pulses measured in femtoseconds, or one quadrillionth of a second.

"Creating quantum light with ultrafast laser pulses would be a revolutionary step, and the first real implementation combining quantum optics and ultrafast science," he said. "The main technical challenge was phase-matching between lasers of different colors, which usually requires complex setups. I realized our technology could overcome this problem."

Hassan and his colleagues developed a new method for producing extremely short bursts of light using an existing process called four-wave mixing, in which different light sources interact and combine with one another. Building on Hassan's previous work with ultrafast pulses, the team split a laser into three identical beams and focused them into fused silica, producing ultrafast squeezed light.

Earlier approaches to ultrafast squeezed light reduce uncertainty in a photon's phase, or its position within a waveform relative to its wavelength. Hassan's team instead squeezed a photon's intensity and demonstrated the ability to fluctuate between intensity and phase-squeezing by adjusting the position of the silica relative to the split beam.

If the silica is perpendicular, the photons all arrive together. Adjust the incident angle slightly, and one photon arrives later than the other. That small change is what controls the squeeze.

"This is the first-ever demonstration of ultrafast squeezed light, and the first real-time measurement and control of quantum uncertainty," Hassan said. "By combining ultrafast lasers with quantum optics, we are opening the door to a new field: ultrafast quantum optics."

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The team has already applied their technique to the field of secure communications. While ultrafast and squeezed light pulses have previously been separately used to transmit binary data, combining them enhances both speed and security.

"If someone intercepts data sent with quantum light, the network will immediately detect the intrusionbut the intruder could still acquire some information with a decoding key," Hassan said. "Using our method, an eavesdropper not only disturbs the quantum state but also must know both the key and the exact pulse amplitude. Their interference affects the amplitude squeezing, meaning they cannot determine the correct uncertainty, and any decoded data is inaccurate."

Beyond secure communications, Hassan hopes ultrafast quantum light will advance quantum sensing, chemistry and biology, leading to more precise diagnostics, new drug discovery methods and ultrasensitive detectors for environmental monitoring.

Hassan worked alongside Mohamed Sennary, a graduate student studying optics and physics and the paper's first author; Mohammed ElKabbash, assistant professor of optical science; and collaborators from the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies.

More information: Mohamed Sennary et al, Attosecond quantum uncertainty dynamics and ultrafast squeezed light for quantum communication, Light: Science & Applications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02055-x Journal information: Light: Science & Applications
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Fifteen young New England cottontail rabbits born at a New York City zoo have been released into the wild in Maine as part of an effort to save the only rabbit species native to New England from disappearing.

Six of the rabbits were released at Fort Foster Park in Kittery, while four others were set free at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge nearby. Another five were introduced on Thacher Island, off the coast of Rockport.

Before their release, each rabbit was given flea and tick medicine and implanted with a tiny microchip for tracking in case they're captured.

"This release marks another important step in the ongoing recovery of the New England cottontail," said Donna-Mae Butcher, assistant curator of animals at the Queens Zoo. "By working together with our partners, we are helping to ensure that this native rabbit has a future."

The rabbits were bred behind the scenes at the zoo in a special area designed to mimic natural courtship and nesting conditions. Females were able to choose their mates and raise their young in quiet, low-stress habitats.

The young rabbits were kept away from people to make sure they stayed wild and ready to thrive on their own, researchers explained.

The babies, called kits, were born between May and June. By August, they were old enough to begin life in their new forest homes.

Since joining the New England Cottontail Breeding Program in 2016, the Queens Zoo has contributed 145 rabbits to recovery efforts across the region. Kits raised there have been released in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

"Our effort to breed these rabbits to help ensure they don't go extinct shows the great value of zoos to the conservation of wildlife, especially for species facing extinction," Nicole Schepis, a wild animal keeper at the Queens Zoo, said in a news release.

Once common across New England, the cottontail's range has shrunk by more than 80% since the 1960s. The species has suffered from habitat loss as forests and shrub lands were cleared for development.

It also faces competition from the eastern cottontail, a species that is better at surviving in fragmented or open landscapes, researchers said.

Protecting New England cottontails helps more than just one speciesit supports a whole network of native animals that depend on the same dense forest habitats, including birds, small mammals and reptiles.

The zoo's breeding program is part of a larger regional collaboration that includes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Roger Williams Park Zoo in Rhode Island, state wildlife agencies in New York and New England, universities and private landowners.

The Queens Zoo plans to continue its breeding work next spring when the rabbits' natural mating season begins.

The New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), meaning it faces a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Copyright  2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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Mulching in Bibugn Woreda, Ethiopia. Credit: Negesse Mune

In the upper Abbay basin, cradle of the Blue Nile, a team of researchers have predicted soils of the future: what will happen to soil organic carbon if we bet on regenerative agriculturereturning residues, organic manure, cover crops, agroforestry?

Their 50-year modeling unveils a mixed picture: yes, land can regain fertility and resilience if we feed soils more; but under warming and increasingly erratic rains, these benefits weaken and vary greatly across territories.

The work was published in the journal Environmental and Sustainability Indicators.

Soil carbon: A hidden but decisive wealth

Imagine an invisible treasure lying beneath your feet. This treasure is called soil organic carbon. It retains water, feeds plants, makes the land softer and more resilient. For agropastoral families, this means fewer nasty surprises: fields that withstand a late rain, more stable yields, harvests that feed children even in difficult years.

But this capital is eroding. For decades, forests have been cleared, crop residues diverted to feed livestock or fuel stoves, and rains have stripped away fertile layers. As a result, soils have lost much of their initial carbon stock. And that is not all. Climate projections forecast a hotter (+2.2 C by 2070) and drier future, which accelerates the decomposition of organic matter. In other words: soils lose faster than they recover.

Yet every kilo of carbon that remains in the ground counts twice: it limits global warming and boosts local productivity. It is easy to see why scientists insist that soil is a strategic lever, both for Ethiopia's climate policies and for the survival of farming households.

The dilemma is biomass. Every straw, every branch, every pile of manure is coveted. Should it feed animals, heat the home, or nourish the soil? These are daily trade-offs, made in smoky kitchens or at field edges, by families juggling immediate needs and uncertain futures.

Diving into the future with a 'digital twin' of the soil

Measuring the breath of millions of plots is impossible. So scientists have created a virtual twin: a computer model called RothC. They fed it with data on soils, climates, crops, and simulated 50 years of change. Their method is precise: each "pixel" of the territory has its own trajectory, reflecting the basin's complex mosaic.

They tested eight scenarios. Four levels of farming practices: from business-as-usual up to +50% organic inputs (leaving residues in the field, more manure, cover crops, agroforestry). And two climates: the current one, and the hotter, drier one to come. This combination produced a vast tableau telling the future of soils year by year until 2070.

But these abstract figures translate into very concrete gestures: leaving more straw on the field, building a manure shed to avoid losses, sowing legumes that enrich the soil, planting hedges to curb erosion. Behind every option lies extra workoften shouldered by womenand collective decisions: who decides grazing? Who hauls manure? Who buys cover crop seeds?

The great lesson of this approach is clear: there is no one-size-fits-all solution. In the wetter west, soils can store large amounts of carbon. In the drier east, even ambitious efforts are not enough. This means science does not offer a magic recipe but rather a map: it shows where to invest heavily and where to adapt pragmatically.

Agroforestry efforts in Ethiopia. Credit: Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT

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Promises and limits: When climate reshuffles the cards

The results are both encouraging and alarming. Good news: if practices change, soils do store more carbon. In an unchanged climate, the gains are spectacular: up to 13 tons per hectare over 50 years in the most ambitious scenarios. Bad news: with warming and less rainfall, these gains are cut in half. In some cases, soils even start losing carbon.

Another finding: territorial inequalities widen. The basin's wetter west retains strong storage potential. The drier east sees its hopes dwindle, even with heroic efforts. This means some communities may turn carbon sequestration into income or an agricultural asset, while others must focus on adaptation just to survive.

Beyond maps and numbers, faces appear: those of farmers confronted with impossible trade-offsusing straw to keep a cow alive or to protect the soil from pounding rain? Burning wood to cook dinner or leaving it standing to enrich the land?

These choices reveal a strong political message: regenerative practices are not just a matter of technique. They require enabling conditions: energy alternatives to free up biomass, cooperatives to manage manure, carbon finance to offset labor costs. Without these, the most ambitious scenarios will remain on paper, far from field realities.

What next? A realistic roadmap

The study does not stop at diagnosis; it also proposes solutions. It invites action in stages. Start with what is feasible: secure part of the residues, better conserve manure, establish local grazing rules. These simple, community-driven steps already make a difference.

Then scale up with legumes, cover crops, agroforestry. But these efforts must not rest solely on women's shoulders. Reducing their workload, easing access to inputs, and recognizing their role in farming systems are essential conditions for a just transition.

Local authorities and technical services also play a key role. They must target territories: invest heavily where the potential is high, while helping elsewhere to safeguard fertility with adapted solutions. They must also regulate use: set goals for residue restitution, support manure storage, encourage energy alternatives.

Finally, donors and climate finance mechanisms are central. Without financial incentives, households cannot afford the risk. But if stored carbon tons are rewarded, if bonuses support efforts, then sequestration becomes a source of income, not just a burden.

In short, the message is clear: even though climate change complicates the task, Ethiopian soils can once again become a foundation of resilience. But this requires combining science, social organization, and financing. Soil carbon is not an abstraction: it is the key to a viable agricultural future for millions of families.

More information: Wuletawu Abera et al, Modelling SOC dynamics on cropland under different regenerative agriculture practices and climate change scenario using RothC model in the Abbay basin of Ethiopia, Environmental and Sustainability Indicators (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.indic.2025.100957

Provided by The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture
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Rhogogaster scalaris. Credit: Andreas Taeger

Scientists at Heriot-Watt University have unlocked the secret behind how female sawflies make specific cuts to plantsa discovery that could revolutionize surgical instruments and dramatically reduce the cutting of healthy tissue during operations.

The breakthrough research reveals how these tiny insects use a completely passive cutting system that automatically knows which materials to slice through and which to leave untouched, all without any sensors or computerized controls.

The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, demonstrates how the sawfly's egg-laying organcalled an ovipositoracts like a biological reciprocating saw that instinctively knows when to cut and when to push material aside.

How nature's smart cutting system works

Female sawflies must cut into plants to lay eggs without killing the plant host, which provides food for the developing larvae. The two toothed blades slide against each other but only cut materials below a certain strength threshold. This natural selectivity prevents damage to the vital plant structures while allowing the insect to create precise incisions for egg laying.

Dr. Marti Verdaguer Mallorqui has been leading the study at Heriot-Watt University in partnership with experts from National Museums Scotland and Senckenberg German Entomological Institute in Muncheberg. The team also used facilities from the Faculty of Biology at the University of Freiburg in Germany under the leadership of Professor Thomas Speck, Head of the Plant Biomechanics institute.

Dr. Verdaguer Mallorqui said, "We've discovered something remarkablea cutting mechanism that essentially thinks for itself. The sawfly's egg-laying organ can cut through soft plant tissue but automatically avoids the plant's tough internal 'plumbing' including the tubes that carry water and nutrients. This ensures the plant survives and serves as a food supply for the larvae coming from the eggs.

"This selective cutting happens purely through the tooth geometry and composition interacting with different material properties of the plant. There are no sensors or computers but rather elegant engineering refined by millions of years of evolution."

Scaling up and testing the technique

The research team, led by Professor Marc Desmulliez from the School of Engineering & Physical Sciences at Heriot-Watt University, scaled up the sawfly's cutting mechanism 400 times and tested it on laboratory substrates that mimic human tissue properties. They found the system operates on an ultimate stress thresholdbelow this threshold, materials are cut cleanly, but above it, they are harmlessly displaced out of the cutting zone.

Professor Desmulliez explains, "This discovery has profound potential implications for surgical practice. Current surgical tools often struggle in complex operations. Surgeons frequently work in blood-flooded environments where visibility is poor and the risk of accidentally cutting vital structures is high.

"A surgical instrument based on this natural mechanism could instinctively avoid critical tissues while cutting precisely where it is neededessentially giving surgeons a tool that helps prevent mistakes. Further input is now needed from surgeons but this newly discovered mechanism has tantalizing prospects."

The team studied two sawfly species called Rhogogaster scalaris and Hoplocampa brevis, using advanced electron microscopy and 3D imaging to decode the precise geometry of their cutting teeth. They discovered that small serrations work in concert with larger protrusions to create the selective cutting action, with different tooth designs optimized for cutting different plant tissue layers.

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Solving surgery challenges

When the researchers interviewed and surveyed surgeons about current surgical tool limitations, 86% reported that blood accumulation impairs visibility and increases mistake likelihood. Nearly 80% expressed concerns about accidental tissue damage, while 57% called for better tool designs that could differentiate between target tissues and surrounding structures.

The passive nature of the sawfly's cutting mechanism is particularly valuable for surgical applications. Unlike complex robotic systems that require sensors and computational control, this bio-inspired approach achieves selectivity through pure mechanical design. The research suggests surgical saws and scalpels based on this principle could combine the precision of scissors with the safety benefits of electrosurgical tools, but without the thermal damage risks.

Thousands more species to explore

The study examined only two species out of more than 8,000 sawfly species, representing an enormous reservoir of potential engineering solutions. Different species have evolved distinct tooth geometries optimized for their specific plant hosts, suggesting multiple surgical applications could benefit from this approach.

Dr. Vladimir Blagoderov, principal curator of invertebrates at National Museums Scotland ensured the research team had access to the museum's extensive entomology collections as well as providing expert training. He said, "As a museum taxonomist, I find it immensely gratifying to see that the natural history collections are not just dusty curiosity cabinets but can directly benefit society by inspiring new technologies and materials. Nature's engineering, honed over millions of years, still has much to teach us."

The Heriot-Watt team also partnered with Andrew Liston, a specialist on sawflies from Senckenberg German Entomological Institute in Muncheberg. He supported the team by helping to select suitable species of sawfly for study, specimen support and literature review. He said, "As a taxonomist who has worked on sawflies for many years, examining and comparing their saws has become a routine. Since my involvement in this research project, I have started to think much more about the possible function of the huge variety of structural adaptations found across different species."

Dr. Verdaguer Mallorqui added, "What's particularly exciting is that this mechanism seems to work across multiple sawfly species, each adapted to different plant types. This suggests we could develop a range of surgical tools, each optimized for different tissue types or surgical procedures, all based on these natural cutting systems that have been perfected over millions of years."

What's next?

The team has developed an analytical model of the selective cutting mechanism. The model explains how natural tools achieve such remarkable selectivity through passive discrimination based on mechanical properties rather than active sensing. By understanding how structural features like compliant bands allow the cutting angle to adjust automatically when encountering different materials, the research team has created a framework that could inform the design of next-generation surgical instruments and industrial cutting tools.

The research team is now looking for further funding to translate these findings into prototype surgical instruments. The technology could be particularly valuable in neurosurgery, where precision is critical, and in procedures where surgeons work in challenging visibility conditions.

This work represents a significant advance in biomimetics, the field that develops new technologies by studying natural systems. As surgical procedures become increasingly complex and patients demand better outcomes with minimal complications, nature's own solutions may provide the key to next-generation medical devices.

More information: Marti Verdaguer Mallorqui et al, A novel passive selective cutting mechanism inspired by the ovipositors of sawflies, Bioinspiration & Biomimetics (2025). DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/ae0aa4 Journal information: Bioinspiration and Biomimetics
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 rock hyrax urinating beside an accumulation of droppings on a rock surface. Credit: Ichnos (2025). DOI: 10.1080/10420940.2025.2546373

Rock hyraxes, known in southern Africa more often as "dassies," are furry, thickset creatures with short legs and no discernible tails. They spend much of their time sunning themselves on rocky outcrops.

Another thing they sometimes do is drag their butts along the ground. Dog owners know that this behavior can be a sign of parasitic infections; in hyraxes the reason seems to be less clear, but this action leaves distinctive traces in sandy areas.

Traces and tracksancient, fossilized onesare what we study at the African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience through the Cape south coast ichnology project. Over the past few decades, we have found almost 400 vertebrate tracksites on this coast, some as old as 400,000 years, in cemented dunes known as aeolianites from the Pleistocene epoch. This epoch lasted from about 2.58 million years ago to about 11,700 years ago.

We're building up a picture of the environment during that period and how the animals and plants of that time lived.

Among our latest finds published in Ichnos are two fossilized traces that appear to have been made by rock hyraxes long ago. One is a tracksite and the other is a butt-drag impression with what may be a fossilized dropping in it.

The probable tracksite was brought to our attention from a site near Walker Bay on the Cape south coast by an ardent tracker, Mike Fabricius. It is around 76,000 years old. We found the probable butt-drag impression east of Still Bay on the same coast, and it is most likely around 126,000 years old.

The butt-drag impression is the first fossil of its kind to be described from anywhere in the world. In addition, these are the only possible fossilized hyrax tracks ever to be identified. In the world of paleontology, anything this unusual is important and we feel privileged to be able to interpret them.

Interpreting the drag mark

Dating on our sites has been done through a technique known as optically stimulated luminescence, which works by analyzing when materials like sand were last exposed to light.

The butt-drag impression is 95cm long and 13cm wide. It contains five parallel striations. Its outer margins are slightly raised, and within it there is a 2cm-high raised feature, 10cm by 9cm. Clearly something was dragged across the surface when it consisted of loose sand.

We considered possible causes other than hyrax buttocks. These included a leopard or an ancestral human dragging prey, or perhaps an elephant dragging its trunk. Firstly, however, these would be expected to leave tracks, and secondly, in such interpretations, the raised feature could not be explained.

But if it was a hyrax, it would make sense, because the buttock trace would have come after the tracks and wiped them out. And the raised feature might be a coprolite: a fused fossilized mass of hyrax droppings.

Rock hyrax dragging its buttocks. Credit: Mathilde Stuart

Old dung and urine

Rock hyraxes leave much more than just tracks and butt-drag traces. Because they prefer rocky areas, their tracks are not often found, but they polish rock surfaces to a shiny finish. This is similar to what buffalo on the North American prairie do, creating "buffalo rubbing stones."

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Hyraxes also leave deposits of urine and dung. Urea and electrolytes are concentrated in their urine, and they excrete large amounts of calcium carbonate. This becomes cemented and forms extensive whitish deposits on rock surfaces. Due to their communal habits, hyraxes often urinate in the same preferred localities over multiple generations.

Their urine and dung often mix to form a substance known as hyraceuma rock-like mass that can accumulate into extensive, dark, tarry deposits. Hyraceum has been used as a traditional medication to treat a variety of ailments, including epilepsy, and for gynecological purposes.

Hyraceum may be tens of thousands of years old, and can be regarded as a threatened, non-renewable resource. The middens, being sensitive to environmental changes and containing fossil pollen and other evidence of ancient life, form valuable natural archives for interpreting past climates, vegetation and ecology.

Thinking of hyraceum as a trace fossil, something which apparently has not been done before, can help in the protection of this underappreciated resource.

Although fossilized urine is globally uncommon, there is a word to describe it: "urolite," to distinguish it from "coprolite" (fossilized poop). It seems that hyraxes contribute the lion's share of the world's urolite. At paleontology conferences, students can be seen sporting T-shirts that brazenly state: "coprolite happens." In southern Africa, a more appropriate term might be "urolite happens."

Through appreciating the importance of butt-drag impressions, urolites, coprolites and hyraceum, and learning about the environment of rock hyraxes and other animals during the Pleistocene, we will never view these endearing creatures in the same light again.

Mathilde Stuart contributed to this research.

More information: Charles W. Helm et al, The unusual, unique ichnology of the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) and possible Pleistocene tracks and traces from South Africa, Ichnos (2025). DOI: 10.1080/10420940.2025.2546373 Journal information: Ichnos

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Danville, California  A New Opportunity for Undergraduate Students Pursuing Medical Careers

DANVILLE, Calif., Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dr. Kevin Ciresi Scholarship for Medical Students officially opens its 2026 application cycle, inviting undergraduate students across the United States to contribute bold ideas that could reshape clinical care. Spearheaded by Dr. Ciresi, a nationally recognized plastic surgeon and healthcare leader, the scholarship seeks to identify future physicians who demonstrate both academic excellence and a forward-thinking approach.

Dr. Kevin Ciresi has long championed operational innovation as a cornerstone of effective healthcare delivery. Through this scholarship, he extends his commitment to mentorship by supporting students who are preparing to enter the medical profession.

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

Be currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate program





Maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA (or equivalent)





Demonstrate intent to pursue a medical degree (MD or DO)





Submit all required materials by the deadline

The application includes a required essay responding to the prompt:

"Describe one operational innovation that could significantly improve patient care in clinical settings, and explain how you would implement it."

Essays must be original, between 800 and 1,200 words, and submitted in PDF or Word format. Citations must follow APA guidelines. Plagiarized entries will be disqualified.

The deadline to apply is May 15, 2026. The scholarship recipient will be announced on June 15, 2026.

Dr. Kevin Ciresi brings over two decades of experience in surgical leadership and healthcare systems design. His work has influenced clinical protocols across California and beyond, with measurable improvements in operating room efficiency, documentation accuracy, and patient wait times.

The scholarship reflects Dr. Kevin Ciresi's belief that operational excellence is not just a leadership concernit begins with the mindset of future clinicians.

Dr. Kevin Ciresi continues to serve as a spokesperson and advisor for the scholarship, ensuring that the selection process remains focused on innovation, integrity, and academic rigor. His involvement underscores the scholarship's mission to elevate operational thinking as a vital component of medical education.

Dr. Kevin Ciresi remains committed to advancing healthcare through mentorship, education, and strategic innovation. His ongoing leadership ensures that the scholarship continues to reflect the evolving needs of the medical field and the students preparing to enter it.

SOURCE Dr. Kevin Ciresi Scholarship
Jose Maria Morelos landowners deny sales to Mennonite communities

Jose Maria Morelos, Q.R.  Landowners have denied offers of purchase to Mennonites looking to buy in Jose Maria Morelos. While some of the land simply cannot be sold due to its location in protected areas, others are refusing the offers due to recent illegal logging issues.

Landowners in the community of San Isidro Poniente have rejected a recent offer by a group of Mennonites to purchase land. Landowner Bernardo Paat Canche explained that San Isidro Poiente is located within the Balam Kaax reserve and therefore cannot be sold.

He says they are aware of land being deforested illegally for agro-industrial monocultures by the Mennonite communities, and that while they do not have any record of such forest felling in their area, others ejidos do.

Ejido land in Piedras Negras was one of the Mennonite communities shut down between June and August by federal inspectors from Profepa (Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection). According to Paat Canche, since the discovery of more than 2,500 hectares of illegally cleared land this summer, inspectors are still seen in the area.

He says since the incident in Piedras Negras, the Mexican Army and personnel from the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp), have been conducting inspections.

Following Profepas initial operations in Jose Maria Morelos, Bacalar and the Balaan Kaax this summer, ejidos from San Isidro Poniente have not sold land to Mennonites nor have they recorded any logging on their plots.

In September, federal inspectors said from June 15 to August 31, 2025, they shut down 17 Mennonite properties for illegal land clearing. All 17 land closures, which total over 3,700 hectares, are in the Yucatan Peninsula.

The Procuraduria Federal de Proteccion al Ambiente (Profepa) reported that the forest had been illegally cleared to allow the planting of agro-industrial monocultures, primarily by Mennonite communities.

Criminal complaints have been filed against 13 Mennonite communities for illegal logging.

Of their inspected areas, Quintana Roo had the most devastation in the communities of Jose Maria Morelos, Bacalar and the Balaan Kaax reserve where 2,531.1 hectares had been illegally cleared. Of the 17 area shut down, 13 Mennonite communities are facing criminal complaints by the federal government.
DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Registration for the 2026 Global Insurance Symposium (GIS) in Downtown Des Moines is officially open. The event will take place on Tuesday, April 14, and Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at the Iowa Events Center, bringing together over 500 industry professionals, company executives, entrepreneurs, government representatives, and innovators from around the world.

This year's theme is "Insurance in an ERA of Possibilities," which will guide discussions and presentations that explore the evolving landscape of insurance and the opportunities that shape its future.

GIS is now in its 12th year and continues to provide a global stage for the insurance industry, offering world-class educational and networking opportunities for attendees. Other highlights of GIS include keynote presentations from top global thought leaders, the Future of Insurance Showcase, where emerging companies pitch their innovative solutions, and the Student Case Study Competition, which spotlights the next generation of insurance professionals.

"Des Moines has long established itself as a global hub for insurance, and the Global Insurance Symposium continues to be a cornerstone event for professionals to come together and exchange ideas, right here in Iowa," said Doug Ommen, Iowa Insurance Commissioner. "This year's theme further reflects the opportunities for innovation and impact within the insurance industry."

As one of the largest insurance capitals in the United States, the State of Iowa headquarters more than 210 insurance companies with affiliated companies all over the Globe. Showcasing the State of Iowa and City of Des Moines, downtown Des Moines has been an ideal host for GIS since its inception in 2014.

"Hosting GIS in Greater Des Moines highlights the strength of our insurance community and the spirit of innovation that thrives here," said Tiffany Tauscheck, President & CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. "We're proud that industry leaders from around the world look to Greater Des Moines as a place where they can come together and chart the future of insurance."

The 2026 event is pulled together by a consortium of insurance companies and is led by Julie Pearce, Chief Content Officer, and Cory McAnelly, Co-Chair.

To register for GIS, click here . Save $100 on registration with early bird pricing, available until Jan. 1, 2026.

Additional event details will be released in the months leading up to the symposium.

Media Registration

Media is invited to attend the Global Insurance Symposium. To register, contact Marissa Smith, [email protected].

About the Global Insurance Symposium

Established in 2014, the Global Insurance Symposium is the premier event for insurance professionals and regulatory authorities to hear from the world's most renowned insurance experts and to interact with fellow insurance industry colleagues from around the world. To learn more, visit www.globalinsurancesymposium.com .

Reporters may contact:

Marissa Smith, for the Global Insurance Symposium

(515) 571-0018

[email protected]

SOURCE Global Insurance Symposium
Dear Prudence is Slates advice column. Submit questions here.

Dear Prudence,

I did something so stupid, and I keep reliving it over and over. I am white, and today I hired an Uber, and the driver was a Black man. We were chatting on the ride, and he mentioned that he was from St Louis. I blurted out, Theyve got the best barbecue in St Louis! As soon as I said it, I just cringed inside. I know it sounded racist, shallow, stereotypical, and like a classic microaggression, dressed up in a pitiful attempt to connect with a Black person. But the thing is, my husband and I absolutely love barbecue and soul food. Wherever my husband and I go, we always stop for barbecue (greens, cornbread, okra, peach cobbler, etc.). I grew up in Virginia, and we ate like that frequently, so it holds fond memories for me.

But there were also a lot of racial issues with my family. My first boyfriend was a Black boy, and my parents were not OK with it. Ive spent many years accepting that my family was and is racist. Ive been working as hard as I can to unlearn the things I was conditioned to believe about Black people and to just listen to their experiences. Ive really been trying to understand the criticisms that Black people have about white people, and I was shocked at myself for what I said. It felt like all the things Ive been trying to accomplish were wiped out in one go, and Im grappling with the fact that Black people might be right when they say white people will never be able to get past their internalized racism. Should I reach out and apologize? If the driver didnt take it as a racist comment, then Ive just created a really awkward situation. If I dont reach out but hes angry or upset, then I havent been the ally that I want to be. I want to own my stupid mistake, but I dont want to make things worse.

Ally or Not

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Dear Ally or Not,

I feel for you. There are few things worse than lying in bed at night or standing in the shower, reliving a conversation in which you think you made a misstep and wondering whether theres a stranger out there who might forever be moving through the world while occasionally thinking about how annoying, weird, or tone deaf you were. And I do understand where you think you went wrong. You are afraid that in this backseat conversation, you were perceived as being over the top and trying too hard. Youre worried that, despite your pure intentions, your barbecue comment revealed that the minute you laid eyes on the driver, something inside you was activated, and your unconscious brain and mouth teamed up against you and revealed that all you thought was Black person! Worse, all you thought of when you thought about a Black person was stereotypical Black food. Awkward! Youre worried that you failed to do what I once suggested to a white letter writer grappling with visiting a Black hair salon: Be a low-key white person. Heres how I explained what that means:

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Someone who obviously isnt spewing racism, but beyond that, isnt exhausting everyone around them trying to get attention for their non-racism. They have good politics and hate bigotry, which you know from their actions and things that come up naturally in conversation. But theyre not so insecure that they have to hit you over the head with it constantly. Theyre not trying to be edgy or in on inside jokes. Theyre confident enough that theyre not racist to just be normal and connect with people on topics other than race.

So, how do you behave like a low-key white person? You get your haircut, read your magazine, know that your intentions are pure, and dont seek any validation from your stylist or fellow salon-goers. You chat about the weather and the parking situation. You refrain from making announcements about how coarse your curls are and how it traumatized you as a child so you can really understand what all the other women in the salon are going through, or how you would have voted for Obama a third time, or about how your parents are super racist and you just dont know why but you blame Fox News because theyre really actually good people, or how much you love and appreciate Lizzo. (By the way, you can work on being low-key with respect to any marginalized identity. For example, I aspire to be a low-key straight person by refraining from annoyingly trying to set every gay person I know up with every other gay person I know just because theyre gay. You can be a low-key able-bodied person by not falling over yourself to use a condescending voice to offer help to anyone using a wheelchair, etc.)



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But, good news: I think your concerns are misguided, and you can relax. I suspect you were perceived as a low-key white person making regular small talk. Because guess what? St. Louis has more white people than Black people, and there doesnt appear to be any strong racial divide when it comes to who makes and consumes barbecue. This admittedly was not a peer-reviewed study, but when I searched online for St. Louis BBQ chefs and looked at the images that popped up, I saw quite a diverse (aside from being all male) group. So while this style of cooking might be a Black thing in your mind, I doubt your driver had the same association in his. In fact, Im guessing that he responded to your remarks warmly, and perhaps even with some recommendations. Either way, youre in the clear as far as Im concerned.

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While stressing out over a chat with a rideshare driver doesnt feel great, your sense of distress over the racism you were raised with and how it might inform your worldview or how you are perceived by Black people isnt a bad thing. Its an indication that you care (a lot!) and that youre willing to look critically at your own words and actions. Thats a feat in a society in which powerful people and institutions are increasingly welcoming toand even insistent uponwhite supremacy, and it says a lot about your character. This only becomes a problem if you get stuck second-guessing and beating yourself up after a perceived misstep, which doesnt help anyone.

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So I wonder if theres something you could do to increase your confidence that youre not always going around spewing microaggressions. To get there, Ill give you advice that echoes what I told a recent letter writer who was struggling to feel OK about the size of her body, despite having a deep intellectual understanding of body positivity. (Sorry for quoting myself twice in one response, but it applies!) I said that instead of obsessing about having the wrong thoughts, she should try to offer herself different input (lots of images of fat people enjoying their lives and thriving to encourage herself to feel that being fat isnt horrible, in addition to knowing it) to shift her feelings.

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In your case, maybe it would be good to increase your exposure to Black people, and not just those who are explaining how shitty racism is and how often white people screw up. Aim for just nice and casual interactions. Via social media is fine, so you dont have to worry about making anyone feel weird. Because while understanding racism and wanting to rid yourself of it is good, getting a peek inside of an experience you havent had and exposure to the everyday lives of the very diverse group of people who fall under the label Black will do a lot more than self-flagellation to really unravel the ideas you were raised with. I think ongoing, pressure-free experiences with Black people from all walks of life will gently chip away at your biases and also make you feel more self-assured. You might even get some more barbecue recommendations in the process.

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Get advice from Prudiesubmit a question! Please keep questions short (<150 words), and dont submit the same question to multiple columns. We are unable to edit or remove questions after publication. Use pseudonyms to maintain anonymity. Your submission may be used in other Slate advice columns and may be edited for publication. Thanks! Your question has been submitted. Dear Prudence, * Your letter signoff Your pronouns Your email (optional and confidentialplease include if you're open to Dear Prudence following up) Submit

Dear Prudence,

My parents split up when I was 11 after years of misery. They arent bad people; they simply couldnt get along with each other. After the divorce, each pretended the other never existed. Three weeks ago, my dad lost his battle with cancer, and it has been devastating for me. The thing is that my mother forbade me from ever so much as mentioning him in her presence long ago. I really could use her support right now in the form of being able to talk to her about what Im going through. In light of this, would it be acceptable for me to try broaching the subject with her?

Grieving Daughter

Dear Grieving Daughter,

Thats a pretty aggressive and unreasonable demand on your moms part. You should comply anyway. Because why would you want to subject yourself to whatever reaction she might have when you bring up your dad? She hated him. What does she have to offer? Youd be setting yourself up to be hurt.

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You absolutely deserve to talk about your loss and deserve support. But youll feel a lot better (and preserve your relationship with your living parent, who you also love) if you look for it elsewhere.

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Prudie Wants to Hear From You!

Readers often have great suggestions for our letter writers, occasionally disagree with a point Prudie makes, or simply want to provide some additional advice. Each week, Prudie will be replying to some of these comments and suggestions from readers, which will be featured on the site on Fridays for Slate Plus members. Write to us!

Dear Prudence,

My mother came to live with my husband and me over the summer, as she has some health issues that make living alone no longer tenable for her. Halloween is coming up, and she is demanding that we not pass out candy or even answer the door. Instead, she wants us to set up a table in our driveway and leave Happy Halloween cards for the kids to take along with snack packs of baby carrots. She says that way they can have a nice little note to put in their scrapbooks as a memento. As for the carrots, Maybe they dont get a chance to have fresh vegetables.

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I do not know what planet she is living on or what century she thinks this is. My husband and I look forward to handing out candy and getting to see the neighborhood kids and their parents. This really is becoming a point of contention between us and her, and I have no desire to spend the next five weeks in constant battles. What can I do to get her to shut up?

Harrangued Over Halloween

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Dear Harrangued Over Halloween,

You and your husband should give out candy, like normal people. Then, as your neighbors and their kids get ready to move on to the next house on the street, you can say, Feel free to take a note from my mom and a green bean from the table at the end of the stairs. The kids will get a vegetable, and the adults will probably give you knowing looks and have a good laugh.

Classic Prudie

My husband and I host the weekly family dinner ever since my in-laws sold their house for a retirement community. We are the only ones with the space to entertain since we have a lovely enclosed deck, grill, and fire pit. My sister-in-law is going through a divorce. My sympathy is gone
BOSTON, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Life is Good, the original positive lifestyle brand, is joining forces with S.W.Smiley, the young adult focused lifestyle brand from The Smiley Company, to spread the power of optimism and self-expression through a multi-year partnership featuring fashionable, uplifting graphics. Each drop will champion a global community of optimists through inclusive, purpose-driven design and storytelling.

Life is Good & S.W.Smiley.

The collection will include crusher tees, boxy tees, shrunken tees, and hats, ensuring there's a style for everyone to feel empowered in their expressiveness. The bold visuals and affirming messages of S.W.Smiley, invite people to wear what they believe in; turning optimism into a shared signal  something consumers can live, feel, and wear. The collection represents more than just a style choice; but a part of a growing global community where every design feels like a badge of belonging.

"This collaboration felt like a natural fit from the beginning. Our brands have a mutual goal to spread optimism and reinforce the perspective that positive energy is powerful energy," says Linne Kimball, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Life is Good. "Together with S.W. Smiley, we believe we can create a worldwide, positive lifestyle movement!"

Ross Wilson, Chief Product Officer for The Smiley Company, said, "S.W.Smiley is a brand that allows adults to truly embrace self-expression, and be unapologetic in showcasing who you are and what you wear. The partnership with Life Is Good is a great example of two brands united by authentic positivity to showcase the power of self-expression.".

A percentage of proceeds from this partnership will be donated to The Playmaker Project which provides trauma-informed, optimism-infused training, resources, and ongoing support to a growing community of 25,000 early childhood professionals who reach over one million kids each year. Annually, Life is Good donates over 10% of net profits to the Playmaker Project and the exclusive Life is Good & S.W. Smiley "The Future is Bright" tee, will be donating additional proceeds directly to the Life is Good Playmaker Project.

The first drop will also include three limited-edition, digital exclusive styles with only 100 units of each, available for only the first 72 hours (10/1 - 10/3). Each collection following will include tight, limited-run tees plus evergreen styles that remain on-site until the next drop of the collaboration.

To browse the full capsule collection and learn more about this multi-year partnership, please visit lifeisgood.com/swsmiley.

About Life is Good 

Life is Good, the original positive lifestyle brand, is dedicated to spreading the power of optimism. By creating and selling products featuring positive art and messaging, we inspire optimism as a practice. Both a business and a non-profit, Life is Good donates more than 10 percent of annual net profits to The Life is Good Playmaker Project, which helps over 1 million kids each year to heal from trauma and grow into the next generation of optimists.

Visit a local Life is Good store near you or LifeisGood.com to learn more. You can also follow Life is Good on Instagram , TikTok, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn. Life is Good is a registered trademark of The Life is Good Company.

About S.W.Smiley

Introducing S.W.Smiley, a dynamic fusion of raw attitude and edgy style inspired by the underground subcultures of the global streetwear scene. S.W. Smiley breaks free from conventional norms, embracing the rebellious spirit of emerging tribes and diverse cultural influences.

Step into the world of S.W.Smiley and unleash your inner rebel. From minimalist designs to bold graphics and eclectic prints, S.W.Smiley invites you to defy expectations and stand out from the crowd. It's about pushing boundaries, breaking rules, and embracing the power of self-expression without compromise.

Partnering with S.W.Smiley means embracing the pulse of the underground scene and tapping into a culture where authenticity reigns supreme. Align your brand with the raw edge of S.W. Smiley and elevate your product offerings to new heights of coolness and street cred.

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About The Smiley Company:

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At the age of 16, Gary Tyler was framed for the death of a 13-year-old white student who was shot and killed near a Louisiana high school on Oct. 7, 1974. Tyler had been on a school bus filled with Black students that had come under attack at the time of the shooting from opponents of school desegregation, but there was no evidence linking him to the killing. At 17, an all-white jury made Tyler the youngest person in the U.S. on death row. Despite numerous attempts to have his sentence overturned, Tyler spent more than four decades in Angola State Penitentiary in Louisiana before being released in 2016. The following excerpt is adapted from Chapter 3 of Tylers memoir, Stitching Freedom: A True Story of Injustice, Defiance, and Hope, published by One Signal Publishers and set for release on Tuesday. In it, Tyler tells the story of his trial and conviction for a crime he did not commit.

I knew Deputy Nelson Coleman was not my friend, but when he got up to speak, I was still expecting him to state exactly what happened, how he arrested me for disturbing the peace. But Coleman made it seem as though hed arrested me because he thought I looked suspicious and was trying to leave the vacant lot where Black students were being searched after the shot was fired. Coleman claimed he walked up and called me by name.

No, he did not! I turned to [my attorney, Jack] Williams and jabbed him in the side. Hes lying! That day was the first time we laid eyes on each other!

Eventually Coleman had to admit that, with all the police around, there was nowhere to go and that he had arrested me for disturbing the peace. When Williams asked whose peace I had disturbed, Coleman said, Mine.

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He also acknowledged that he was close to the bus at the time of the shooting and hadnt seen hands with a gun sticking out the window, as there would have been if the states case was correct. If there had been anything like that, he said, Im quite sure I would have seen it.

Before I could let that soak in, I was hit with a triple whammy when my friends from the bus took the stand. First, Loretta London claimed she saw me with a gun on the bus and that I handed it to her. I thought, Who is this person? She looked the samebronze skin, small buildbut what was this coming out of her mouth? The Loretta I knew was smart and concerned about other people, but the girl on the stand was all nervous and couldnt look in my direction. Larry Dabney got up next and said he heard a shot and saw me with a gun right after, saw me hand it to some people, including Loretta, and a few minutes later saw me hide the gun in a hole in the seat. Was this the guy who just the other day had dapped me in the hallway? Then the next morning, I watched Natalie Blanks raise her right hand and say that she and I were sitting in that seat together, by ourselves, that she saw a gun in my hand and watched as I shot it out the window and put it in the seat. She kept her head tilted down and avoided any glance at me, shifting nervously in the witness chair as if she was on Ritalin or something.

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Each time I jumped up. Thats a lie! I told my attorney. Why is she saying that? What is he talking about? I demanded Jack Williams object. It hurt so much, I wanted to cry.

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I felt like Id been punched in the gut. These were Black kids I went to school with, some I grew up withme and Natalie Blanks went back to first grade togetherpeople who knew I was innocent, getting up and lying under oath about what happened. How were these people testifying against me? I couldnt breathe, and I couldnt stop fussing at Jack Williams.

Instead of attacking their credibility, my lawyer just kept telling me to calm down, he was going to deal with it. The judge admonished me. I knew I was reacting emotionally, but I was caught completely off guard. These kids were lying, and my life was on the line.

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I believe my mothers testimony would have helped. She would have spoken the truth, hoping to reach those on the jury. She would have told them about the tight clothes I was wearing that day and how I never could have hidden a gun in them. Shed have said how it felt to be in the lobby of the police station during my interrogation along with the other mothers waiting for their children, how she heard my cries as I was brutally beaten, and how the police refused to talk to her when they were bringing me through to the back, where she heard them keep on with the beating. The jury would have listened to her describe what my body looked like, what my injuries felt like as she held me later that night.

But they never did call my mother to testify.

On Nov. 14, 1975, after closing statements, Judge Ruche Marino gave his instructions to the jury. First-degree murder requires a specific intent to kill or to inflict great bodily harm upon more than one person, he told them. The state had introduced a second person, Roland LaBranche, a white student whod been standing near Timmy Weber, and said hed been injured that day, but he himself described the injury as a nick on the arm. I didnt see how you could call that great bodily harm.

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But the judge didnt stop with the definition of intent. He told the jurors that, even though a person is presumed to be innocent, in this case they could presume that the defendant intended the natural and probable causes of his act. I wasnt sure what all those words meant, but it sounded like he was telling them they could presume I was guilty. I thought thats what the jury was supposed to deliberate about.

While Judge Marino gave those instructions, Jack Williams just sat there. He didnt say, I object. He didnt say anything at all.

The case was now with the jury. I was back in the parish jail waiting with the attorney in a holding room. After only a couple of hours, the police officers who stayed with us received a message that the verdict was in. Immediately the atmosphere in the room shifted. Everyone was tense, stoic. When I saw how fast the jurors had reached agreement, I had a sick feeling. And yet, I felt a glimmer of hope because somebody on the jury might have believed me.

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We entered a courtroom that was already full. Jack Williams was telling me, We gave it our best shot. We got our message across. That gave me no comfort. When I looked back at the faces of Black people in the room, they looked full of dread.

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The judge and jurors came in a few minutes later. We all rose. I heard the judge ask the jury whether they had reached a decision, and the foreman answer, Yes.

I was watching the jurors faces. I didnt feel warmth from anyone. Some gave me a stern look, others avoided my eyes. No one showed any compassion. No juror was weeping. The way the men were sitting, they gave off the impression that theyd done their job, theyd done what was right for the community. Their faces reminded me of photographs Ive seen with white men standing underneath a Black person hanging on a tree like its a trophy. A soulless look. In their eyes, I probably wasnt a human being.

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I had to stand and listen to the judge read this jurys unanimous decision. It wasnt long: Guilty of murder in the first degree. Once he announced that, I became detached from everything. The sentencing would come later, but I knew [the death penalty] was automatic. The state got what they wanted.

Behind me, there was a commotion. From some people, I heard cries of relief, from others, a gasp of surprise and disappointment. I thought at least Id see my family in the courtroom and feel their support. Only then did I realize theyd kept my entire family out of the proceedings. After the verdict was read, they wouldnt let anyone else come near me.

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As the deputies walked me back along the catwalk that connected the courthouse to the jail, no one spoke. I remembered the first time Id been on that covered walkway, when [the jailer] Lockett accompanied me to my initial court hearing. At one point he noticed me looking at a trap door above our head. That was the hanging gallows, he told me. They used to execute people by putting a noose around their neck and dropping the person from the third floor down through that trap door. The practice stopped when Angola got an electric chair and executions were transferred there.

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I knew about the hanging gallows from inside the jail. The room where the executioner stood and placed the noose around the prisoners neck was across the hall from my cell. But the trap door was what made it real for me. Wed pass below it every time they transported me between the jailhouse and the courthouse.

As we made our way beneath it that Friday, I couldnt help wondering how many bodies had dropped in that very spot, how many people they had lynched in this parish jail. I could feel the souls of those men. I was walking in their footsteps.
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A new Supreme Court term officially begins on Monday, but the justices never really took a break: All summer long, theyve used the shadow docket to radically alter the law with little or no explanation, almost always in President Donald Trumps favor. These aggressive interventions have drawn exasperated objections from dissenting justices and lower-court judges, who are left to decipher what the Republican-appointed supermajority is doing. Their pushback has sparked a new debate over just how bluntly sitting jurists should condemn the high courtand what purpose their protests are meant to serve.

On this weeks episode of Amicus, co-hosts Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern discussed this increasingly pointed backlash from within the judiciary with Voxs Ian Millhiser. A preview of their conversation, below, has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Mark Joseph Stern: How much and how often should the dissenting justices and lower-court judges write about the fact that the Supreme Courts Republican appointees seem to be in the tank for Donald Trump? Were seeing astonishing language coming from judges, some of whom have never really used their voices in these ways. Does it embarrass the judiciary? Create a really important record for history? What should we make of it?

Ian Millhiser: I think judges should criticize those justices within the confines of judicial norms. I would not, if I were a lower-court judge, say: The Republican justices are doing this because theyre Republicans. I would say: It is my task to follow the orders of the Supreme Court, and I am incapable of doing so because the court is not explaining itselfand when it does explain itself, the rules it announces are inconsistent and incoherent. And the reason why I think thats valuable is because theres this rare thing in the law called the anti-canon. There are some cases that were overruled in the past that we just dont talk about. And then there are a handful of casesDred Scott, Lochner, Korematsu, Hammer v. Dagenhartthat all of us were taught in law school as examples of how a judge should never behave. Those are the anti-canon. Part of being welcomed into the legal priesthood is that you learn that these cases are embarrassing.

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I think that what we want 30 or 40 years from now is for much of what the Roberts court has done to be viewed as embarrassing. Trump v. United States, the presidential immunity decision, should be anti-canon. The only way that a lawyer should cite Trump v. United States is to compare their opponents argument to it and say: Your argument cannot possibly be correct because if it is, then Trump v. United States was right, and that is untenable. That is a thing that happens in law. Cases become anti-canon. They arent just overruled. They are the exemplars that we hold up as something thats wrong and must never happen again. The way that things become anti-canon is that legal elites just dont drop the subject. They keep coming back to it. The most important thing is that justices themselves keep coming back to it in their dissents.

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So the Democratic justices should keep dissenting and saying: These decisions are wrong. Trump v. United States is wrong. The major-questions doctrine is wrong and should be overruled. Lower-court judges should criticize these decisions because that emboldens people in the academy to write articles saying: Yes, this is very bad. This should be anti-canonized. And then the best-case scenario is not that Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett are going to wake up someday and realize the error of their ways. Its that, at some point in the future, we could have a very different court. And we want that court to feel empowered not just to try to distinguish or limit these cases but to overrule them and say: This decision was so wrong that anything that resembles itanything that has the taint of itis anathema.

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Dahlia Lithwick: Can I push on what the outer limit of that kind of discourse is? Were seeing judges around the country go beyond just saying Im trying to follow the law. Were getting lengthy discursions on: Why does ICE wear masks? The klan wore masks! Were getting way outside the outer bounds of what the case itself is about. Part of what is rattling folks is that it leeches into calling the president an authoritarian. Thats separate and apart from Im just trying to do my job, and the court should help me do my job. So Im just curious if theres some weird middle ground that dissenting justices and lower-court judges need to find so that it doesnt look like name-calling or editorializing?

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Stern: I do want to say that Republican-appointed judges have already shattered all the norms around this with outrageous, openly partisan rhetoric condemning Joe Biden, condemning the Democratic Party, and railing against Bidens policies. There is no limit to what these judges will say in their campaign for a Supreme Court seat. Focusing only on left-leaning judges misses the fact that this Rubicon has been crossed. Weve also seen Republican-appointed judges on the lower courts condemn Supreme Court decisions and essentially refuse to abide by them. They have done all of that already. Those norms are gone.

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So the debate about what left-leaning judges should do strikes me as kind of quaint. But my view is that we should let a thousand flowers bloom. I think that when Justice Todd Eddins of the Hawaii Supreme Court says, in so many words, that John Roberts and his comrades are a bunch of clowns in robes, that makes room for Judge James Wynn on the 4th Circuit to say that the Supreme Court is leaving him flailing in limbo. And that leaves room for Judge Allison Burroughs in Massachusetts to tell the justices that its really not helpful to condemn lower courts when they cant follow shadow docket orders. Justice Ketanji Brown Jacksons scathing opinions leave room for Justice Elena Kagan to write more-targeted dissents. There is a continuum here, and it is good to have all of these voices in the mix. I am not concerned that any of them are taking it too far.

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Millhiser: Ill inject one minor note of caution. I dont really disagree very much with that; I thought Jacksons Calvinball dissent was one of the best dissents weve seen from the court in my lifetime. But the reason Im advocating for some caution in judicial rhetoric is that lawyers are precious little snowflakes. We love our norms so very much. And if judges dont behave in a precious way, there are a lot of lawyers out there who will get up in their feelings and react negatively to it. If the project we want to achieve here is to anti-canonize so much of what the Roberts court has done, the people who control that are legal elites. That is a conversation thats being held among people who all went to law school and were brainwashed to never, ever, ever speak ill of the justicesbecause, my God, then they might rule against your client.

Given that reality, the people who have the most influence in this conversation are those who hew to norms about how were supposed to talk about very powerful government officials who are often wielding power in tyrannical ways. If you read my stuff, you know I am not particularly cautious in how I talk about these particular government officials. But I think the judges who are more likely to have the influence someday are those who operate within the weird norms of the profession.
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On Tuesday, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in Chiles v. Salazar, a case that seeks to undo a major triumph of the LGBTQ+ movement: bans on conversion therapy for gay and transgender minors. These laws, now on the books in more than half the states, prohibit licensed counselors from attempting to change a clients sexual orientation or gender identity if they are under 18. Lawmakers enacted them in response to overwhelming evidence that conversion therapy is both ineffective and dangerous, especially for children and teenagers. Now, however, conservative lawyers are on the verge of undoing these legislative achievements by persuading the Supreme Court that restrictions on this discredited therapy violate the free speech rights of counselors.

Curiously, they have done so by engineering a case riddled with distorted facts, fabricated injuries, and flimsy evidence. For instance, the plaintiff, Kaley Chiles, has disclaimed any desire to change her minor patients sexual orientation or gender identity, so it is unclear why she has standing to challenge the law in question. Her lawyers insist that banning conversion therapy hurts patients who voluntarily seek it out, but their proof for this assertion is anonymous Reddit posts. Chiles attorneys also claim that even LGBTQ+ advocates believe sexual orientation can be alteredbut according to the very researchers cited in their brief, they profoundly misrepresented those findings through deceptive quotations.

On Mondays episode of What Next, Mary Harris spoke with Slate senior writer and Amicus co-host Mark Joseph Stern about the fishy case and its alarming implications for LGBTQ+ equality throughout the country. An excerpt from their conversation, below, has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Mary Harris: Chiles v. Salazar is one of the first cases thats going to be heard thats considered a blockbuster. Its about conversion therapy and whether states are allowed to ban it. This is something thats happening in Colorado. So whats the story behind this case?

Mark Joseph Stern: The story is that its a manufactured case.

Tell me how you really feel.

Well, its a case brought by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a very well-funded group that really engineers these test cases in order to get the Supreme Court to change the law to be more hostile to LGBTQ rights and reproductive rights and women.

Theyve done this before with the cake-baking case.

Right.

And the website designer who wants to be able to turn gay people away.

Exactly right. And I think, in theory, theres nothing wrong with bringing a test case. If someones rights are really at stake and they havent faced punishment yetbut they fear that they willits legitimate for that person to sue. But what ADF does is really finesse the facts, often to the point of fiction, to justify creating a test case that the Supreme Court can use to change the law. That was true, famously, of the wedding website designer who wasnt actually asked to design websites for a gay couple, even though she claimed that she was. And its true in Chiles v. Salazar. The plaintiff here is challenging a Colorado law that prohibits licensed counselors, as a matter of professional conduct, from trying to change a minors sexual orientation or gender identity while on the job.

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And you can see her point of view on YouTube. Theyve done a beautiful, well-produced video with this woman climbing mountains in Colorado or wherever.

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And the mountains are a metaphor. Dont miss that. Shes climbing that mountain all the way to the Supreme Court, baby.

She does not mention religion or gender for a really long time. She says: As a counselor, I help people who come to see me have conversations to clarify what their goals and their values are and to identify the ways in which they would like to live a life that is more fulfilling and more satisfying and more in line with who God created them to be. But whats she really arguing here?

Well, so thats the big question. Because let me be clear: This does not apply to religious figures who are counseling members of a church or members of their community. It does not apply to parents, aunts, uncles, or family members who are talking to a child. It doesnt even apply to licensed counselors who are off the clock. It is exclusively a professional regulation that says: If you are working as a counselor recognized and licensed by the state of Colorado, then during that time, you cannot try to forcibly change a minors sexual orientation or gender identity.

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Has Chiles been in this situation before?

No. She has never said that she wants to actively change the sexual orientation or gender identity of a minor patient. Instead, she claims that she wants to talk about gender identity. She wants to talk about sexuality and sexual orientation. But the law doesnt prohibit that! The law doesnt even prohibit her from saying: I think that kids who believe theyre trans are not actually trans and should try to stop being trans. All the law does is prohibit her from then actively applying that ideology to her patient. Because in the judgment of the state of Colorado, in a law enacted through the democratic process, that is harmful and discredited quackery, and children should not be subjected to it.

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Weird litigant, right? I could imagine a parent whos like: I cant find this service. But this just seems weird.

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Its funny you bring that up, because I agree: A parent or perhaps even a patientthats really the person who is allegedly most harmed by these laws, if you accept the plaintiffs theories here. But it seems like ADF couldnt find those people, and they couldnt even find evidence that those people really exist. And we know that because when it came time for ADF to show that this law was harming children by preventing them from getting the services that they wanted, they had to go to Reddit, and they had to quote anonymous posts on Reddit.com that were allegedly written by minors who sought out conversion therapy and couldnt find it.

Do you have any doubt about how the justices will rule here?

No, not at all. No doubt whatsoever. The justices will strike down the Colorado law under the First Amendment, and in doing so, will effectively overturn the similar or identical laws of another two dozen states.
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Judging from recent statements, actions, and policy directives, President Donald Trump seems set on twisting the law into a weapon against his political criticsand using the military as its chief agent of enforcement.

In short, he is laying the groundwork for a police state, and he is doing so in broad daylight, assuming that our constitutional guardrails will bend and fold, as they often have under more-piecemeal pressures since his second presidency began just nine months ago.

None of his remarks or executive orders create new law on their own; they direct the executive branch, but they can be struck down in court if they lack solid legal footing. The question is whether, faced with such blatant challenges, our institutions will succumb or resist.

The clearest statement of Trumps intentions is a presidential action issued on Sept. 25, Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence, also known as National Security Presidential Memorandum/NSPM-7.

The document begins with a false assertionthat in recent years heinous assassinations and other acts of political violence have dramatically increased, citing the assassination of Charlie Kirk (cheered by some who adhered to the alleged shooters ideology), the killing of a health care executive, and the assassination attempts against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Trump himself.

Notably, it does not mention any right-wing actions, such as the conspiracy to kidnap Michigans Democratic governor or the violent attempt on Jan. 6 to overturn the 2020 presidential election (or Trumps blanket pardoning of everyone who took part).

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But this indicates only the partisan nature of NSPM-7. More troubling are its definitions of domestic terrorism. It claims that the assassination of Kirk and a surge of riots against Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents mark a culmination of sophisticated, organized campaigns  designed to silence opposing speech, limit political activity, change or direct policy, and prevent the functioning of a democratic society. It calls for a new law enforcement strategy that investigates all participants in these criminal and terroristic conspiracies, including funding sources and predicate actions behind them.

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Take a close look at the language buried within those sentences. Its calling on law enforcement to go after those who are trying to change or direct policysomething any political organization does. Which policies? The document makes this clear as well. The common threads of these domestic terrorist groups include anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and anti-Christianity, as well as extremism on migration, race, and gender, and hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on family, religion, and morality.

The document calls for a National Joint Terrorism Task Force and local offices (JTTFs) to investigate and disrupt networks, entities and organizations that foment these ideas before they result in violent political acts.

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Read literally (and why shouldnt it be?), this is a national security memorandumsigned by the president of the United Statesthat essentially outlaws what George Orwell called, in a famous work of speculative fiction, thought crimes.

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Trump elaborated on this on Tuesday, five days after he issued NSPM-7, in a speech to more than 500 generals and admirals at a Marine base in Virginia. Much of his 75-minute oration was campaign-rally boilerplate, railing against Sleepy Joe Biden, the sleazeballs in fake media, and the injustice of his not winning the Nobel Peace Prize. But in between all that was a very clear message about a new priority for the senior officers in the roomthe war at home, waged not only against undocumented migrants (an invasion  no different from a foreign army) but also against American citizens.

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This is going to be a big thing for the people in this room, the commander in chief told the generals and admirals, because its an enemy from within and we have to handle it before it gets out of control. He added, It wont get out of control, once youre involved, at all. The streets of American cities, he said, should be training grounds for the armed forces. And he authorized those troops to take the gloves off. He recalled scenes of protesters spitting at National Guard members, who stood there and took it. No longer, Trump said. From now on, if they spit, you hitis that OK? (The audience properly remained silent.) If someone throws a brick at your car window, you get out of that car, the president told them, and you can do whatever the hell you want to do.

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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had hollered a similar message in a warmup speech to the senior officers. He was overhauling the entire field of military lawyers and inspectors general. No more frivolous complaints  no more smearing reputations  no more legal limbo.  Were done with that shit. Basic training should be scary, tough  and disciplined too, with sergeants allowed to instill healthy fear and put their hands on recruits.

Hegseth had first come to Trumps attention as a Fox News host railing against the prosecution of American officers being tried for war crimes. Trump later pardoned those war criminals and took them out on the campaign trail. This sends a message to officers and enlisted personnel: Go ahead and beat up those who get in the way, whether theyre enemy soldiers on a battlefield, protesters on American streets, or privates in basic training.

There are schisms on these issues within the U.S. military. Most officers and their underlings abide by the Uniform Code of Military Justice and edicts to stay out of politics. But others chafe at the bit to let loose the dogs of their wild-eyed fantasies. Studies have uncovered pockets of right-wing extremism within the military. Several of the Jan. 6 rioters, including those convicted of crimes, were military veterans. An article in the latest New York Times Magazine reported on how an era of vigilante justice on the battlefield has ushered in a disregard for law within the armed forces.

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How the numbers break downhow many officers and enlisted personnel are disturbed by Trumps and Hegseths rhetoric, how many welcome itis unknown. Whatever the balance, it would be a horrible fate for our democracy if we had to find out.

Finally, there is another trend wending its way through all this: Trumps use of armed forces to attack small boats in the Caribbean, allegedly piloted by drug smugglers and carrying narcotics to American shores. There have been four such attacks, killing 21 people. Even if the boats were transporting drugs (no evidence of this has been publicly provided), the attacks were clearly unlawful. Drug smuggling is not a capital crime; at the time of most of the attacks, neither the president nor Congress had declared a war on drug smugglers, who in any case were not attacking Americans in the same way that, say, al-Qaida hijackers and militias attacked U.S. citizens or soldiers.

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The attacks were also both unprecedented and unnecessary. In September, a few days after the first military sinking of a boat, the U.S. Coast Guard announced that it had seized the largest haul of narcotics in its history76,140 pounds worth, with a street value of $473 million, and potent enough to create 23 million lethal doses, in 19 separate interdictions in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific.

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The Coast Guard did this not by killing anyone but rather by stopping the boats, boarding them, and arresting the smugglers. That is how the agency has been interdicting drug traffic for decades. In 2022, the most recent year for which there is complete data, the Coast Guard seized 150 metric tons (about 165 U.S. tons) of illegal narcotics in this way.

It may not be as theatrical as ordering special forces to drop bombs on a boat. As Hegseth bellowed after the first attack, We smoked a drug boat, and theres 11 narco-terrorists at the bottom of the ocean, and when other people try to do that, theyre going to meet the same fate. Indeed, Trump has since determinedthough with no apparent authoritythat the U.S. is now in a war with drug cartels, including those allegedly behind the smuggling boat captains in the Caribbean.

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Trump boasted of this as well in his speech in Virginia, chuckling that no boats were daring to come out into the Caribbean, not even fishing boats. Looking at the straight-faced generals and admiralsthe nations top officers, entrusted with the 2.1 million members of the U.S. armed forces and a nearly $1 trillion budget designed to deter and, if necessary, fight wars against real threats and adversariesone could only wonder what they made of the juvenile fist-bumping by their two highest-ranking civilian overseers, the commander in chief and the secretary of defense. What sorts of orders might they have to carry out? Would those orders be unlawful? If so, would theythe officers who swore an oath to the Constitutionhave the courage to disobey?

Judging from the substantive portions of Trumps speech, his actions in the Caribbean, his attempts to deploy troops to American cities (which he described as more dangerous than anywhere in Afghanistan, to a room of officers who had fought in Afghanistan), and the underlying context of NSPM-7, that day of judgment may come soon.
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There is a long-standing theory among Supreme Court watchers that holds that the reason the six conservatives on the John Roberts court keep giving President Donald Trump big wins is because they are attempting not to provoke a fight with him, and thus not invite a so-called constitutional crisis wherein the executive branch and the high court are in an intractable standoff. On this weeks Amicus podcast, Dahlia Lithwick spoke to Ian Millhiser, senior correspondent at Vox, who writes about the Supreme Court, the Constitution, and the decline of liberal democracy in the United States, and attempted to understand whether this is a logical explanation of the conservatives thinking. A portion of their conversation, which has been edited and condensed for clarity, is below.

Dahlia Lithwick: I wanted to ask about what has come to be named the appeasement theory, the idea being that the Roberts court rolls on pretty much everything for Donald Trump, but its because theyre saving their powdergiving Donald Trump a string of uninterrupted wins, all in the hopes that theyre not going to draw down whatever capital they have with him. The idea being that when the real constitutional crisis is upon us, they will leap out and save democracy. I hear this a lot from people that are very, very smart. I am curious if, in your view, what the KavanaughBarrettchief justice trifecta is really saying, is OK, were going to wait until things get really bad and then were going to stop the juggernaut. Im very curious how thats going to work or if they genuinely dont think theres a juggernaut here to be stopped now.

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Ian Millhiser: I try not to read the minds of the justices in part because I dont know if it really matters that much whether the Neville Chamberlain theory of the Supreme Court is correct or whether the theory that theyre just 100 percent on board with MAGA is correct. Either way, theyre handing down the same decisions and what matters most is the results. I think what potentially supports the Neville Chamberlain theory is that they havent been handing down too many decisions saying: Yes, the Constitution says that Trump can do this tyrannical thing that he wants to do. What theyre doing instead is saying if you file in Court X, [well] say, No, no, noyou had to file in Court Y. If you get an injunction, theyll say, No, you didnt meet the rules for what you need to do to get an injunction. If one plaintiff brings a suit, theyll say, No, someone else had to be the plaintiff. Theyre finding all these procedural ways to hand Trump victories and maybe thats because they dont want to damage the substantive law. And maybe they will turn around eventually when someone finally finds the perfect plaintiff and files in the perfect court [so] that Amy Coney Barrett has to admit, Yes, you are allowed to bring this magical person to this magical court and actually get a magical injunction from it.

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Maybe they will then rule in August of Trumps last year in office that he did something illegal, but who cares? The crisis is now. And if they are letting Trump win because they think they can appease him and find procedural reasons to kick the can down the road for as long as possible, or if they are instead doing it because they think that Stephen Miller is the most awesome person who has ever lived and they wake up every morning asking themselves, What would Stephen Miller do?, were still getting the exact same results.

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Is what youre saying, they just dont care about the carnage as long as they do it on technical grounds? Or are you saying, they just do not see it as carnage?

I mean, its certainly true that a lot of these justices, the Republican justices, have a very strong ideological commitment to a very, very powerful presidency. Thats what this unitary executive theory that theyre all in love with is all about. So maybe theyre doing it just because they are on board with it. I think there is another more cynical explanation for what they are doing, which is that they might think that Trumps politics may not be sustainable. And four years from now, we might have, say, a President Josh Shapiro or someone in office who is trying to use all of these powers that the court has given Trump. And if they definitively rule that Trump has the power to do something, then when President Gretchen Whitmer, President Cory Booker, or President AOC comes in and wants to use these powers, then they could turn around and hand down the decision saying, No, the president is not allowed to do this once a Democrat is doing it. So certainly this tactic that theyre usingof kicking the cans down the road and not handing down any definitive decisionsit leaves open the possibility to manipulate the timing of their decisions as they often do to make sure that they benefit their party and do not benefit the Democratic Party.
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Bari Weiss is having her revenge on the so-called liberal media. On Monday morning, the Wall Street Journal confirmed that the Paramount-Skydance behemoth, headed by tech scion David Ellison, had acquired Weiss Substack-based publication the Free Press for a $150 million valuation, about 10 times the revenue the platform brought in last year. The anti-woke newsletter will now join the suite of brand-name properties under the merged-media umbrella, including BET and MTV, while Weiss herself will become editor in chief of CBS Newswhich is about to lay off 10 percent of its very worried staff.

The appointment gives Weiss, who has zero experience in broadcast television, the extraordinary power to shape coverage at the venerable news institution in her own image. Weiss has built a career railing against wokeness, and her critics fear this could mean a CBS News more sympathetic to her causes: more unconditional support of Israel, more antagonism wielded at the left, and more Crossfire-style debates over common bugbears like Zohran Mamdani and gender-affirming care. (Per the Journal, CBS News plans to launch a debate-style program that Weiss will oversee that is similar to debates the Free Press streams.) Editorial changes wont be felt for a while yet, since much of the networks programming is planned far in advance, but Lachlan Cartwright reports in his Breaker Media newsletter that Weiss may use her role to put increasing pressure on political pieces and to secure more favourable coverage of Israel. She will also remain in charge of the Free Press.

It is, undoubtedly, a remarkable journey for Weiss, and no one can say she hasnt worked for it. Since 2021, Weiss has leaned on a network of wealthy lefty-skeptical Democrats, reactionary venture capitalists, and Trumpworld associates to build the Free Press up from a small newsletter-podcast outfit to that rarest of enterprises: a lucrative text-based outlet with paying customers, a staffed newsroom (including Weiss wife and younger sister), multiple video podcasts, and access to the halls of power.

The Free Press has become the favored read of aggrieved tech moguls like Jeff Bezos, whose latest move as Washington Post owner has been to compromise the independence of its opinion pages and drift them rightward. Weiss website also earned the personal financial backing of President Donald Trumps tech-world advisers, including David Sacks and Marc Andreessen. The acquisition by Paramount-Skydance brings her still closer to another powerful Silicon Valley right-winger: Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle, father of David, source of endless cash whos brokered favorable deals with the Trump administration around A.I. data centers, control of a potentially Americanized TikTok app, and his sons acquisition of Paramount. (As Cartwright points out, the Ellisons are close with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and a major reason for their interest in Weiss platform is its pro-Israeli bent.)

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Its not just the direct White House connections that make this a concerning situation; its the seeming lack of commitment to the very principles that inform the Free Press name. The editors recently devoted two editorials to grudgingly admitting that the government crackdown on Jimmy Kimmel was bad, yet had (and still has) nothing to say about the very government pressures that played a role in Stephen Colberts firingwhich preceded the approval of CBS owner Paramounts merger with David Ellisons Skydance by Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr. Why poke that bear on principle when you can just let the process work and cash that megamerged check?

That would be more understandable as a sheer business move if the Free Press were just any other site. But its not: The newsletter is framed as honest and fearless, even as it carries water for some of the most powerful people in the country. There are few better examples than what occurred late last year, when Ta-Nehisi Coates media tour for his latest book, The Message, led him to a line of aggressive questioning from CBS Mornings co-host Tony Dokoupil. The anchor reportedly bulldozed over his on-screen colleagues to smear Coates dispatches from Palestine as something that would not be out of place in the backpack of an extremist, before accusing the author, baselessly, of being offended by the idea of Israel and not by its documented actions. Weiss and co. rushed to defend Dokoupil and undermine the rest of the CBS News team by reporting that Dokoupil had been chided by network executives for the way hed handled his co-panelists and their guest (which, to be clear, was at the very least visibly unprofessional). Since then, the scolding CBS News leaders have been pushed out of the network, as part of Paramounts overhaul to appease Carr and Trump, while Dokoupil still has his job; last month, now-former Paramount owner Shari Redstone, whod also defended Dokoupil, told reporters that Weiss would be a good voice for CBS.

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Its worth noting that Weiss herself does not appear to be a paragon of newsroom professionalism. In his newsletter, Cartwright noted back in May that the Free Press was experiencing high rates of staff turnover and internal rupture, thanks to plans for a future sale as well as what anonymous sources described as a chaotic and highly disorganized management on Weiss part. One anecdote Cartwright offered in a follow-up report: a complaint from a Free Press contributor about how Weiss had abruptly made changes to their opinion piece late at night and in the process inserted errors that went to print.

Surviving CBS News staffers seem worried about what Weiss will do to their operation, not least because they see her as just one part of an increasingly partisan shift at the revered network. (See also: the installation of a Trump loyalist to review complaints of bias at CBS, as well as the promotion of an executive whos pressured Paramount to cave to Trumps demands.) But perhaps even more alarming to them is the journalistic sloppiness Weiss will bring, because its a particular constant at the Free Press. After columnist Coleman Hughes case for Derek Chauvins innocence was thoroughly debunked, repeatedly, by fellow Substacker Radley Balko, Weiss defended Hughes and merely asked Balko to debate the matter. (Hughes original piece contains no corrections or clarifications.) A July post from Israeli reporter Amit Segal downplaying the mass starvation in Gaza was treated to a similar cross-examination by the New Yorkers Isaac Chotiner, who took apart Segals denials about Israeli troops firing at aid-seeking civilians from Gaza and claims that the New York Times employed Hamas members. That piece also lacks any further notes or clarifications.

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The Free Press has made a habit of publishing such shaky stories. There was the op-ed from a Jewish student who claimed to have been purposefully stabbed in the eye as part of an antisemitic attack, even though video footage from that event shows nothing of the sortno stabbing, no purposeful lunge to her eyes, no targeting. (The mere presence of protesters advocating for Palestine seemed to be what constituted the antisemitism.) Another first-person essaysupposedly written by a whistleblower from Washington Universitys pediatric care centermade allegations about youth gender-affirming care operations that, as my colleague Evan Urquhart explained on his independent Assigned Media blog, fell apart under scrutiny. The site also repeatedly platformed Doomberg, the anonymous pseudoscience peddlers whose whole purpose is to cite professional climate deniers to make the case for more fossil fuels.

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It isnt limited just to simple fact-checking failures either. The Free Press has whitewashed RFK Jr.s medical kookery, laundered by physician Vinay Prasad, who now works for the Trump administration. (Prasad was briefly ousted thanks to a campaign from Trump loyalist Laura Loomer, and was later reinstated thanks to Kennedy himself.) The publication has presented Andy Ngoa documented liar and misinformation peddleras a straightforward journalist who covers far-left extremism. It has also run uncritical messaging on behalf of the Trump administration, which has given the outlet exclusives on canceling green energy grants or finding unaccompanied immigrant children whove been torn from their families by this very administration. (Notably, the Free Press does not appear to have joined organizations like Bloomberg and Newsmax in support of the Associated Press efforts to regain White House access following the Gulf of America brouhaha.)

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Grossest of all, however, may be the continued efforts to deny the famine in Gaza, including through reporting intended to undercut stories of starving children by pointing out that those kids also suffer from other ailmentsas if that at all minimizes the horrific impact of their malnutrition and lack of access to basic supplies as well as income, a horror frequently attested to by on-the-ground medical workers and even American soldiers.

This is not to say the Free Press is a one-note operation; it has run op-eds critical of certain Trump administration moves and even reported on Immigration and Customs Enforcement abuses. But its that broader lack of journalistic ethics, combined with the shake-up of CBS leadership and the accounts of Weiss apparent clumsiness as Free Press chief, that has network staffers most concernedrightly so, as their incoming EIC plans to play a hands-on role with editorial coverage in supposed service of trust and integrity. Bari Weiss has found a profitable niche, but it isnt an honest or fearless one. And CBS viewers will find that out soon enough.
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After complications from a bladder prolapse surgery, a patient named Grace developed a hematoma, or pooling of blood, and she needed pelvic floor physical therapy to help her pelvic muscles relax after holding such a large mass of blood. Without PFPT, Graces pelvic pain could get so severe that it was unbearable to sit down, and even after her hematoma disappeared, Grace still got flares: sudden onsets of pain that she says felt like somebody was literally putting a vise into my vagina.

Even though Grace sometimes rated these flares as high as 9 out of 10 on the pain scale, her insurance company was skeptical about whether her PFPT was medically necessary, constantly demanding reevaluations that forced Grace to temporarily put her treatment on hold. During these breaks, Grace had no way to handle flares aside from making a note to bring them up with a provider later. I think it took me longer to get better because I had to keep taking breaks, she says. I definitely got into very dark places at times. The pain was very triggering.

Grace has also been to physical therapy for a torn rotator cuff in her shouldera much smoother process. I dont even need to get a doctors script for my shoulder, she says, but trying to get pelvic PT, youd think I was asking for a new kidney or something. Because common knowledge about pelvic health is low, with many patients feeling uncomfortable openly discussing this area of the body, the gravity of pelvic issues often goes overlooked. I think people can understand a torn rotator cuff, Grace says, but they cant necessarily understand pelvic hematoma until theyve had one.

Pelvic floor therapy is a form of physical therapy focused on the group of muscles and tissues that support the bladder, bowel, and reproductive organs. When these muscles become overly tight or loose, patients can experience issues like pelvic pain, pelvic organ prolapse, sexual dysfunction, and incontinencewhich all have serious implications if left untreated. Pelvic floor therapy is used to either strengthen or relax these muscles through techniques including physical exercises, lifestyle modifications, and manual therapy, where the provider applies pressure to the pelvic area.

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For some patients, pelvic floor therapy serves a purpose as fundamental as allowing them to sit in a chair without excruciating pain or leave the house without needing to access a bathroom every 15 minutes. Despite this, Graces experience is an extremely common one, since insurance policies that restrict appointment timing and limit the types of covered interventions or diagnoses have forced many pelvic floor therapists in the U.S. to stop accepting health insurance.

Pelvic health disorders can affect patients of any gender, but theyre about twice as common in women, and pelvic floor therapy is often falsely perceived as a womens health treatment. This means not only that awareness about male pelvic health remains extremely low, but also that pelvic floor therapy is undervalued in a way thats typical for female-specific treatments.

Insurance policies also fail to take harder-to-quantify aspects of treatment into account when determining coverage, which is particularly problematic when it comes to pelvic floor therapy. Feelings of trust between patients and providers are especially crucial in a specialty like pelvic floor therapy. Because symptoms are located in an intimate area of the body, patients may feel embarrassed or vulnerable talking about them with providers, especially when symptoms stem from past sexual trauma. Patients may also feel distressed about undressing and undergoing manual therapy with a provider they dont fully trust, which can make it hard to make progress. Plus, patients with pelvic floor issues have often been frequently dismissed by other providers who lack knowledge about their conditions, and they may take longer to trust a new provider after being failed repeatedly in the past.

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Insurance companies dont pay you to talk to patients. They pay you to do things with patients, says Michelle Thibeault, a pelvic floor physical therapist in Meriden, Connecticut. Because most insurance policies reimburse providers with a flat per-service rate, which doesnt increase with longer appointment times, providers like Thibeault have to keep appointments short to cover the costs of keeping their practices running. That means that the crucial conversation it takes to look at a patient holistically, taking individual lifestyle factors into account, is often what gets cut out first.

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Jessie Klein used to be at an in-network practice before opening Willow Pelvic Health, a private PFPT practice based in New York and New Jersey. Though appointments were 60 minutes long at her former practice, Klein saw two patients per hour, working with one at a time while the other did exercises with an assistant. Because Klein values one-on-one time with patients, she decided not to accept insurance at Willow. You can think with better clinical rationale and creatively, as opposed to having to just maximize the time you have, she explains. Klein also recognizes that some in-network providers struggle with burnout because theyre incentivized to see as many patients as possible. The job is nonstop, she says. You sometimes dont have a break to go to the bathroom.

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Other providers add that insurance companies dont always cover all of their necessary interventions. Pelvic floor occupational therapist Marlene Handler, for example, says many insurance companies refuse to cover the relaxation techniques she uses to assuage patients anxiety, overlooking that patients have to be in the right state of mind before other tactics can be applied. If you dont feel safe in your own body, it doesnt matter what kind of skills I have as a clinician, Handler says. Your body will not recover. Since leaving the insurance model to open the Lifted Lotus, a private pelvic floor therapy office in Brooklyn, she notices that her patients are improving fasteroften requiring only about five to seven sessions, while many at her former practice returned for months on end before making progress.

For some patients, challenges with coverage feed into existing apprehension about undergoing such a vulnerable therapy. For me, with this kind of pain, theres an element of always trying to get out of dealing with it, says one patient who asked to remain anonymous. After being forced to quit PFPT due to the cost, she says, It felt like I was able to sneakily, but intentionally, ignore the issue.

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Marlene Berke was first referred to PFPT when she was 21 and found herself unable to have sex. By unable, Berke explains, I mean if I tried, Id get sharp, stinging, burning pain. Berke had to wait three months to see a PFPT who took her insurance, which only prolonged her uncertainty about the cause of her pain.

Related From Slate This Device Helped Fix Her Sleep. Then She Learned It Partnered With the Pentagon. Read More

What Berke didnt know was that those three months were just the beginning of whats now been a seven-year ordeal of switching from PT to PT, with each new practice presenting a brand-new set of obstacles. For a while, Berke drove 40 minutes each way to see the closest provider that took her insurance. Later, she gave in and paid hundreds per session to see a private therapist, because her pain was so severe that she could barely walk. I was so scared that something was seriously damaged or wrong because it was hurting so much, she explains. Berke has a Ph.D. in computational cognitive science from Yale, and she says trying to get effective treatment was more onerous than the six years of getting her degree.

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Many providers are fighting to increase access to pelvic floor therapyfor example, Handler says, she uses her position on the board of the New York State Occupational Therapy Association to build awareness about the essential nature of pelvic health care. Still, theres only so much that can happen without larger-scale changes to the U.S. health insurance system, which fails to recognize the value of treatments requiring high levels of patient-provider interaction. When asked what could make it easier for pelvic floor therapists to work in the insurance network, Klein says, I dont even think its within reality in our current health care system. I couldnt even tell you a tangible solution.
Feature: A Chinese-learning craze is emerging in Kyrgyzstan

Xinhua) 09:57, October 06, 2025

Aidai Kubanychbekova (front, 1st R) and her colleagues celebrate the one-year anniversary of the "Hello, Chinese language!" learning center together with students in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan, on Sept. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Renzi)

BISHKEK/URUMQI, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- Bursts of laughter erupted in a small classroom in Kyrgyzstan's eastern Karakol city as Aidai Kubanychbekova and several children practiced oral Chinese, such as "I'll do my Chinese homework."

Kubanychbekova's dream of teaching Chinese came true last year when she created the "Hello, Chinese language!" learning center, with the support of her family. "I've always wanted to open such a center," she said.

As the Central Asian country deepens its exchanges and cooperation with China, learning Chinese comes at an opportune time.

The increasing exchanges between China and Kyrgyzstan have prompted a trend among Kyrgyz youths to learn Chinese. About 17,000 people have trained at the Osh State University's Confucius Institute since its inception in 2013, with nearly 600 of them receiving scholarships for further studies in China.

But with few Kyrgyz educational institutions offering Chinese language courses, Kubanychbekova's learning center stands out. The center currently enrolls about 40 students, many around the age of 10. The 26-year-old instructor has been fascinated with the Chinese language since childhood: "Every Chinese character is a picture imbued with special meaning." In 10th grade, she began studying Chinese language and culture.

"At first, the language was difficult for me. But one day I spoke to Chinese friends, and they immediately understood my Chinese -- this lifted my confidence," she said.

She studied translation at university, with Chinese as a required course, while also taking online Chinese language courses offered by a Chinese university. In 2023, she joined a university scholarship program for training Chinese language teachers in northeast China.

"That was my first trip to China. Very impressive. The streets there were cleaner, transport was more convenient, and daily life was more modernized than I thought," she said, adding that she wants to help the children in her hometown learn Chinese and experience the real China and Chinese culture.

Kubanychbekova plans to collaborate with Chinese universities to co-organize summer camps in China or arrange visits by Chinese students to Kyrgyzstan.

A junior at Kyrgyzstan's Osh State University, Erbol Keldibaev often sings to the guitar after class at the university's Confucius Institute. "Singing Chinese popular songs brings me great pleasure."

Watching Chinese kung fu films aroused his love for Chinese culture in his childhood. The undergraduate majors in translation and interpretation studies. "I enjoy learning Chinese: writing characters, rewriting phrases, watching films in Chinese."

As a sophomore, Keldibaev spent six months at Hainan Normal University in southern China, where he made Chinese friends, saw the sea for the first time in his life, and won a Chinese song singing competition.

This year, Keldibaev hopes to participate in the "Chinese Bridge" contest of Chinese language proficiency, held throughout the year in various countries.

Meanwhile, Kyrgyz individuals with bilingual capabilities are becoming an important force in deepening trade and economic ties between the two countries.

A fluent Chinese speaker, Bermet Kurmanbaeva was stationed at the Kyrgyz booth during a commodity fair last month in the city of Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

An expert with the Kyrgyz Export Development and Promotion Center, a government agency, her smooth presentation in Chinese of Kyrgyz-produced honey drew visitors.

According to Kurmanbaeva, many people in Kyrgyzstan's business community are learning Chinese to facilitate access to the Chinese market. "The knowledge of Chinese is not just an additional language skill, but also serves to gain trust and seize opportunities," she said.

At the fair, many representatives of Chinese companies were impressed with Kurmanbaeva's professional and detailed presentations in Chinese, leading to the signing of cooperation agreements.

Her success at the fair heightened her awareness of how her work serves as a bridge between the two countries.

"May the friendship between Kyrgyzstan and China and between the two peoples be as sweet as honey," Kurmanbaeva said.

Aidai Kubanychbekova receives an interview at the "Hello, Chinese language!" learning center in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan, on Sept. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Renzi)

This photo taken on Sept. 18, 2025 shows an exterior view of the Osh State University's Confucius Institute in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. (Xinhua/Li Renzi)

Students attend a Chinese language class at the Osh State University's Confucius Institute in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Renzi)

Erbol Keldibaev, a junior at Kyrgyzstan's Osh State University, receives an interview at the university's Confucius Institute in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Renzi)

A teacher gives a Chinese language lesson at the Osh State University's Confucius Institute in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, on Sept. 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Renzi)

A teacher helps her student put on an opera headwear at the Osh State University's Confucius Institute in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Renzi)

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Hongyu)
DALLAS, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The MILITARY STAR card, an exclusive line of credit for the military community, is offering 0% interest and no payments at commissaries worldwide for three months on purchases made during October (Oct. 1 to Oct. 31) to deliver additional financial relief during the government shutdown.

This limited-time offer applies to all new and existing MILITARY STAR cardholders through the Exchange Credit Program, a Department of War credit program established by Congress that provides responsible and affordable credit solutions to the military community. According to Bankrate, the MILITARY STAR card offers the lowest everyday unsecured APR of all store credit cards available today.

Authorized military personnel, including active-duty, Guard, Reserve, retirees and disabled Veterans, can find out more by visiting MyECP.com.

Since 1895, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service has gone where Soldiers, Airmen, Guardians and their families go to improve the quality of their lives by providing valued goods and services at exclusive military pricing. The Exchange is the 51st-largest retailer in the United States. 100% of Exchange earnings support military communities. In the last 10 years, your Exchange benefit has provided $15 billion in earnings that support the military community, including through contributions to critical military Quality-of-Life programs. The Exchange is a non-appropriated fund entity of the Department of War and is directed by a Board of Directors. The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize the service, valor and sacrifice of Vietnam Veterans and their families in conjunction with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our website at http://www.shopmyexchange.com or follow us on X at https://x.com/shopmyexchange.

Media Notes:

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Julie Mitchell, 214-312-3327 or [email protected].

Follow the Exchange:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/shopmyexchange

X: https://twitter.com/shopmyexchange

Instagram: @shopmyexchange

SOURCE Army & Air Force Exchange Service
The RZ/G3E SOM from Virtium Embedded Artists provides dual HD display outputs, 3D graphics and high-speed connectivity backed by two options for local AI processing

MALMO, Sweden, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Virtium Embedded Artists, a trusted designer and manufacturer of industrial and edge AI computing solutions, today released the RZ/G3E SOM, a system-on-module (SOM) based on the Renesas RZ/G3E application processor which provides the compute, connectivity and graphics capabilities required in industrial and medical equipment's sophisticated human-machine interfaces (HMIs).

The new RZ/G3E SOM will be on display at the Virtium Embedded Artists booth 7079 at Embedded World North America (Anaheim, California, 4-6 November 2025).

New SOM based on Renesas RZ/G3E processor offers ready-made platform for industrial systems with advanced HMI

The SOM provides the interfaces, memory and storage required to support the RZ/G3E's compute engine, which features quad Arm Cortex-A55 CPU cores and a single Cortex-M33 CPU. The SOM can control two Full HD displays, and provides the developer with MIPI-DSI, dual LVDS and digital RGB interfaces. Its HMI capabilities also include H.264 and H.265 video codecs and a 3D graphics controller. High-speed connectivity features include a dual-data lane PCIe Gen 3 interface, single USB 3.2 and dual USB 2.0 interfaces, and a dual Gigabit Ethernet controller.

For developers who want to use the RZ/G3E application processor, the RZ/G3E SOM provides a comprehensive, ready-made hardware implementation in an 82mm x 50mm format compatible with an MXM3 connector. Use of the SOM substantially reduces system development time and accelerates OEMs' time to market.

Further design time savings are possible through the use of the RZ/G3E SOM development kit, which enables designers to rapidly develop prototypes based on the RZ/G3E and to validate new designs. OEMs can use the dev kit's carrier board as a reference design, providing a blueprint for the interfaces required in their own system's carrier board.

The design support also extends to embedded software: the RZ/G3E SOM provides three options for the Linux operating system  Linux BSP Plus, the Verified Linux Package, or a Software Development Kit  with varying levels of support for kernel updates and maintenance provided by Renesas.

Anders Rosvall, Managing Director of Virtium Embedded Artists, said: 'This latest SOM from Virtium Embedded Artists offers the fastest way to build the RZ/G3E processor into system designs that need its outstanding HMI capabilities. This SOM will help accelerate time to market for many mid-range industrial or medical products.'

The SOM is available in versions with a commercial (0C to 70C) or industrial (-40C to 85C) temperature range.

Options for implementing AI inference at the edge

The RZ/G3E SOM gives developers two options for edge AI processing. The RZ/G3E processor includes an integrated Arm Ethos-U55 neural processing unit (NPU) core rated for 0.5 TOPS of inference performance, suitable for entry-level vision AI, voice AI and sensor data-based AI applications.

Virtium Embedded Artists also supplies the SOM in a version with a DeepX DX-M1 AI accelerator which offers an impressive 25 TOPS of AI performance, for highly sophisticated inference applications.

Virtium Embedded Artists is accepting orders for the RZ/G3E SOM now via its website at www.embeddedartists.com/products/rz-g3e-som (for the standard RZ/G3E SOM board), or www.embeddedartists.com/products/rz-g3e-dx-m1-som (for the DeepX-enabled RZ/G3E SOM board), and via its distributors, Arrow, Avnet and Future Electronics. Shipments are expected to start in November 2025.

For more information on the RZ/G3E SOM, contact Sales at Embedded Artists or visit Virtium.

About Virtium-Embedded Artists

Embedded Artists has been a part of Virtium since 2024.

Virtium is a trusted leader in the design and manufacturing of high-reliability industrial modular hardware solutions which enable embedded computing system manufacturers to get to market more quickly, with lower development risk, and to benefit from a streamlined supply chain. Virtium's products include industrial-grade SSDs, industrial-grade DDR memory modules, and computer systems-on-module (SOMs), including SOMs with on-board AI accelerator hardware.

The SOM products are marketed by Embedded Artists, a Virtium company. With over 25 years of experience, Virtium has earned a reputation for delivering high-quality products that meet the demanding requirements of global customers in industries such as networking, telecommunications, industrial OEMs, and embedded markets. Virtium's commitment to innovation, long-term product availability, and customer support has made it a preferred partner for companies requiring mission-critical edge AI system solutions.

Social media

X: @virtium

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/virtium

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2788638/Virtium.jpg

SOURCE Virtium
The Allerage Farms Open events on the Kentucky Futurity undercard at The Red Mile on Sunday, Oct. 5 produced a pair of track records by favourites Periculum and Twin B Joe Fresh.

Periculum overpowered stablemate Aetos Kronos S late in a duel to the finish of a track record 1:49.3 mile in the $222,222 Allerage Open Trot (Grade 3) for trainer Marcus Melander.

Leaving from post two, driver Scott Zeron floated Periculum into sixth behind Aetos Kronos S (Dexter Dunn) and French Wine (Jason Bartlett) while Logan Park (Doug McNair) motored off the car for the lead to a :26.4 first quarter. Logan Park muscled up the backstretch under minimal challenge to a :55 half, where Aetos Kronos S pulled off the pegs and committed for an uncovered blitz with French Wine and Periculum following suit on the rim. Aetos Kronos S pushed past tiring Logan Park through three-quarters in 1:23.1 and set down on a straight path for home as French Wine and Periculum fanned off cover. Periculum built momentum to the centre of the track and reached forward in the last eighth to edge a neck in front of Aetos Kronos S at the finish. French Wine settled for third between horses, beaten under a length.

I gave myself a few options heading into the first turn in case Dexter wanted to power-move [Aetos] Kronos and then I had French Wine in front of me, so I just weighed the options and ended up in a good situation," commented Zeron after the race.

The 1:49.3 clocking by Periculum matches his lifetime-best taken at The Meadowlands in the John Cashman Memorial on Hambletonian Day and lowers the track record for aged trotting stallions from 1:50.1, set in early September 2020 by Paul Kelley trainee The Veteran in an overnight race.

The win is his fifth of the year from nine starts and the 16th in his career from 59 starts, pushing his career earnings over $2.4 million. Melander trains the six-year-old stallion by Muscle Hill out of Amour Heiress for owners Brixton Medical Inc. of Matawan, New Jersey and Holly Lane Stud East Ltd. of Vero Beach, Florida. Periculum was bred by Order By Stable AB.

Sent postward as the 3-5 favourite, Periculum paid $3.58 to win.

Twin B Joe Fresh and driver Dexter Dunn led every step in the $88,889 Allerage Mares Open Pace and withstood a late bid from Sylvia Hanover to post a track record win in 1:47.3.

Dunn sent Twin B Joe Fresh to the top and cruised through a clip of :27.1, :54.4 and 1:21.4 while peeling away from Sylvia Hanover (Tim Tetrick) when accelerating through the last turn. She spun for home on a 2-1/2-length lead that gradually diminished as Sylvia Hanover gathered speed in the last eighth. Twin B Joe Fresh held firmly for the win by a half-length with Yankee B Something (Andy McCarthy), the only other starter in the race, well behind in third.

"Good old 'Sylvia,' she made us work for it," said winning trainer Chris Ryder after the race.

Twin B Joe Fresh's 1:47.3 victory lowered the track record for older pacing mares of 1:48 set in October of 2020 by Nancy Takter trainee Kissin In The Sand.

I cant say what shes earned; shes earned a lot of respect," said Ryder. "Occasional people I run across drive three, seven hours to come and watch her race, so what bigger compliment can a horse get than that? Were just thrilled that she came through and put on a show. What can I say? Shes just a fantastic experience.

Last years Dan Patch Horse of the Year, Twin B Joe Fresh notched her sixth win from nine starts this season and her 36th victory from 49 starts in her career, pushing her earnings over $3.4 million. Dunn and Ryder share ownership of the five-year-old mare with Peter Trebotica of Bordentown, New Jersey and Barry Spak of Thornton, Pennsylvania. The daughter of Roll With Joe-Fresh Breeze was bred by Brittany Farms.

Ryder indicted another season of racing could be in store for Twin B Joe Fresh.

As long as she stays as good as she is, I believe well race next year, said Ryder. Its not official, but its looking that way.

Sent off as the 1-9 favourite, Twin B Joe Fresh paid $2.24 to win.

Dunn and Melander teamed up for an Allerage victory, as Date Night Hanover kept her composure chasing Warrawee Michelle in a far-turn sprint and regrouped for a stretch rally to down the favourite in the final strides of a 1:49.2 mile in the $111,111 Mares Open Trot.

Dunn situated Date Night Hanover behind Warrawee Michelle (Ake Svanstedt) to race fourth through a :27.4 first quarter cut by Nelsonbriteagle NO (Todd McCarthy). Svanstedt lifted Warrawee Michelle out of third up the backstretch and brushed to the lead over her stablemate while Date Night Hanover tracked her move but stalled into a :55.4 half. Warrawee Michelle maintained her speed through the turn and a gap developed behind for Dunn to tuck Date Night Hanover into as he held her together in the sprint to three-quarters in 1:22. Dunn then tipped Date Night Hanover outside for a last-ditch charge and sprinted in tandem with Warrawee Michelle through the last eighth before nudging a nose in front at the beam for the win. Nelsonbriteagle NO gave pursuit in third just over two lengths behind.

I was more wondering whether I got up or not, said Dunn when asked about the mile time. It was pretty tight on the finish. Akes mare [Warrawee Michelle] is obviously a great mare and was fighting back really hard at this girl, but this is by far her favourite track. Shes got a great record here and she put in a great effort today.

Melander trains Date Night Hanover, a four-year-old Chapter Seven-Dont Wait Up mare bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, for owners Jeffrey Snyder of New York City, New York and Onda Racing Stable of Jersey City, New Jersey. Date Night Hanover earned her third win from 11 starts this year and her 12th victory from 39 starts in her career, lifting her earnings to $1.16 million.

She was sent off as the 4-1 third choice in the betting and paid $10.64 to win.

Ken Hanover, driven by David Miller, swarmed tiring Captain Albano in the last turn and maintained his speed to the finish of a 1:48 mile to win the $202,083 Allerage Open Pace (Grade 3).

Captain Albano (Todd McCarthy) rolled forward on the outside through a :27.2 first quarter but struggled to clear command from Captain Luke (Dexter Dunn) up the backstretch. McCarthy eventually planted Captain Albano on the point just before a :54 half, where Miller gave Ken Hanover his cue to attack out of fourth. Ken Hanover swooped by Captain Albano past three-quarters in 1:21.3 and paced sturdily to the finish for a half-length win with a :25.4 final kicker. Abuckabett Hanover (Scott Zeron) ripped from last to take second with Admiral Hill (Yannick Gingras) also closing to take third and Muskateer Hanover (Tim Tetrick) pushing between horses for fourth over fading favourite Captain Albano.

Right off the gate there were two or three of them pushing out of there and I was able to catch a seat, said Miller in a post-race interview. But [a quarter] in :27.2, I was like thats not enough. Toddy had to work to get to the lead. My horse, he just felt really good today. Hes been a really good horse since he was two. Hes gotten way better, way stronger the older hes gotten.

Roland Mallar trains Ken Hanover, a five-year-old son of Captaintreacherous out of KJs Justine, and co-owns the stallion with Patrick Leavitt of Buxton, Maine, William Jordan of Fryeberg, Maine and Dennis Osterholt of Boyton Beach, Florida. Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Ken Hanover won for the seventh time from 12 starts this season and picked up his 20th career victory from 55 starts to push past $1.2 million in earnings.

He paid $11.34 to win as the 9-2 second choice.

The Allerage stakes were sponsored by Armitage Farms, Sugar Valley Farms, Wiesman Farms and Jeff & Paula Gural.

(With files from The Red Mile; photo clockwise from top left, 2025 Allerage Farms Open winners Periculum, Twin B Joe Fresh, Ken Hanover and Date Night Hanover)
Fresh off an appearance in the 2025 Little Brown Jug, Lous Starr scored an impressive wire-to-wire win on Sunday, Oct. 5 at Shenandoah Downs to establish a new track record for three-year-old pacers.

Competing in a $12,500 conditioned event, Lous Starr faced a field of older rivals, sent off as the 1-2 betting choice from post eight. The three-year-old Sweet Lou colt surged to the front for driver Fern Paquet Jr. after exiting the first turn, passing Rebellious (William Carter) and Leonards Legacy (Timothy Deaton) and authoring an initial quarter of :27.2. The winner went on to cut additional panels of :55.1 and 1:23.3 before crossing the wire in 1:52, just one fifth of a second off the overall track record of 1:51.4 set by Marco Beach. Leonards Legacy finished second, 1-1/4 lengths behind while Rebellious took third.

Trained by Scott Warnick for owner Dan Chansky of Powhatan, Va., Lous Starr earned his 12th career win and pushed his bankroll to $172,986. The pacer has been based at Shenandoah Downs the past three live meets and has thrived with eight wins in nine starts here. His only blemish was a second-place finish during the 2025 spring meet.

Paquet, who has driven Lous Starr in all eight Woodstock wins, notched his 3,500th career victory with that track record tally. Paquet has made 28,439 starts and has 3,733 seconds, 3,781 third place finishes and career earnings of more than $22 million.

Shenandoah Downs has three weeks remaining in its fall season. Racing continues this coming Saturday & Sunday (Oct. 11 & 12), with cards both days starting at 1:05 p.m.. Virginia Breeders elimination for two-year-olds begin this weekend with trotters on Saturday and pacers on Sunday. The first 500 fans on Saturday will receive a William Carter Bobblehead. The 21-year-old reinsman got his first driving win ever at the Woodstock oval. Details are at shenandoahdowns.com.

(with files from Shenandoah)
United States Standardbred breeding titan Joe Thomson said there is a simple reason hes bullish on producing horses in Ontario.

Ontario has one of the best programs in North America, said Thomson, the owner of Winbak Farm that has breeding operations in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and, yes, Ontario, where Winbak is currently leading the Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) breeders list with more than $1.2 million in earnings  more than double the next closest breeder.

In the last nine years, Winbak  which currently stands nine stallions at the location of the former Armstrong Bros. Farm in Brampton, Ont.  has been the leading breeder in the OSS program eight times, has surpassed $10 million in total progeny earnings in the program and has exceeded $1 million annually eight times.





Joe Thomson, owner of Winbak Farm

Heading into next weeks London Classic Yearling Sale, which takes place on Oct. 14-15 at the J-AAR Expo Centre at Western Fair District, its important to note the OSS program is on solid financial footing for 2026, according to the program's administrator Ontario Racing (OR). In 2019, the provincial government signed an agreement that guarantees $10 million annually in funding directly to the provinces Horse Improvement Program (HIP) that supports the OSS, a program that will feature nearly $14 million worth of purses in 2025. Outside of the program, the horse racing industrys Long Term Funding Agreement (LTFA) with the province, that runs through 2038, injected some $43.5 million, total, into Standardbred purses in Ontario in the most recent fiscal year.

Even factoring in the difference in currency between the U.S. and Canadian dollars, Thomson said the OSS program is excellent and worth the investment in Ontario-sired horses.

If you didn't have the currency problem, then you'd be killer, but I still think [the OSS] is the best, he said. And you know, if you stay in Canada and use Canadian people and use Canadian resources and so forth, then it all works its way out. So, if you win races and you leave the money up there to operate, its good for Canada, it's good for the guy that's doing it, and he's operating in one of the best programs.

There are other reasons Thomson has enjoyed doing business in Ontario for nearly a quarter century.

We've always had good relationships with Canadians, said Thomson. They love to have horses.

Kentucky breeder Avritt loves the OSS

Kentucky-based breeder Jim Avritt Sr. is similarly smitten with Ontario.

Its not just circumstance, I have a definite affinity for the program, said Avritt Sr. I really cant tell you when I first started breeding in Ontario, but it was many, many, many years ago and it has treated me really well.

It doesn't cost an awful lot to race in it for one thing, and, of course, you have the Grassroots and the Prospect and the Gold. To me, its just ideal.

Thirty years ago, Avritt Sr. purchased a Canadian pacing mare named Dominique Semalu as a broodmare prospect and she became the foundation mare of his wildly-successful boutique breeding operation. Dominique Semalu produced Precious Beauty, dam of Pepsi North America Cup winner Sportswriter and $800,000+ winner Precocious Beauty, the dam of $2 million U.S. Horse of the Year and Ontario-sired stallion Tall Dark Stranger. Precocious Beauty also produced Beautyonthebeach, the dam of current OSS star Crack Shot.

If it hadn't been for Dominque Semalu, probably nobody would have ever heard of me, especially through her daughter, Precious Beauty, who not only has a two-year-old daughter racing, but she also has a three-year-old grandson in Set Shot and a three-year-old great grandson in Crack Shot.

Avritt Sr. has also raced in the OSS program, mostly through his long friendship with top Ontario trainer Gregg McNair.

More than 30 years ago, McNair purchased a yearling from Avritt Sr. in Kentucky.

I try to follow up on everything I sell, said Avritt Sr. I followed up on that horse and became acquainted with Gregg. Then, I had an Ontario eligible that I kept and gave to him, and it blossomed from there.

Cattlewash's Bill Donovan highlights two advantages

The Ontario breed has been revitalized in recent years with the addition of several young stallions.

The Swedish owners of Green Manalishi S began standing the trotter at Tara Hills Stud in Port Perry, Ont. in 2021. Green Manalishi S is the leading trotting stallion in the OSS program with nearly $2 million in progeny earnings this year from his first two crops.

Tara Hills is also standing Cattlewash, the leading pacing stallion in the OSS with progeny earnings approaching $1.5 million. Those numbers are sure to increase with the lucrative Super Finals still to come this weekend (Oct. 10 and 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park).

Cattlewash  the sire of undefeated two-year-old millionaire Beau Jangles  is leading the provincial program despite the fact he only has two-year-olds on the ground.

The son of the Ontario-sired legend Somebeachsomewhere, Cattlewash was bred and was originally owned by Boston native Bill Donovan before being syndicated. In 2021, Donovan both raced and bred Cattlewash to a small book of mares in New Jersey while deciding where to stand the winner of more than $1.3 million when the pacers racing career was finished.

I made the decision that Ontario was probably the best place for him, and I absolutely don't regret that decision, said Donovan. I think it's turned out to be the perfect place for him. I'm happy for the breeders and the owners up there that he's there and that he's had the success that he's had. Hopefully, it continues.

Donovan said hes long loved the OSS program.

For years, Ive bought a few Ontario-brads each year, said Donovan. The program has two huge advantages in my view: You don't need to leave the province  there's your proof right there with Beau Jangles [who has never raced outside of Ontario]  and you can race the whole season and you dont get killed with stakes nominations and fees.





Bill Donovan, breeder of stallion Cattlewash

Historically, the OSS has had one of the lowest costs to entry when compared to other jurisdictional programs. It costs $100 to nominate a yearling to the OSS and $600 to sustain a two-year-old to the program. Starting fees are $900 in the Gold Series, $400 in Grassroots and $100 in Prospect and there are no starting fees in year-end finals and consolations.

Bulldog nipping at Cattlewash's heels

Ontario-sired Bulldog Hanover, the fastest Standardbred in history who stands at Seelster Farms in Lucan, Ont., has total progeny earnings just over $1 million despite only having a small first crop racing. Bulldog Hanovers first full commercial crop is selling this year at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, the London Classic Yearling Sale and the Standardbred Horse Sales Company auction in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The results of his first small racing crop have been so successful that Bulldog Hanover offspring were a hot item last week at the Lexington sale. Bulldog Hanover led all pacing sires with gross sales of $4,865,278 for 45 yearlings sold, which means they averaged a price of more than $108,000. Nearly half were purchased by U.S. owners.

Were really super excited, said Karen Favacho, the farm manager at Seelster. I think Bulldog and Cattlewash really set the pace for two-year-olds this year. As far as percentage of starters, they're both fairly equal, though Bulldog had a smaller crop than Cattlewash. So, I think from the quality of mares that [Bulldog Hanover] got his first year, he's really showing that he's going to make a great sire.





Seelster Farms' Karen Favacho and Tina-Marie Howard

The Ontario buyers, of course, will be interested in the Bulldogs, but we're looking to make sure that he is looked at by the U.S. trainers as well. And so, I think if they don't come up to Ontario very often, then I think being dual eligible [in Kentucky as well as Ontario] is good for him.

The sky's the limit for him, as far as the mares that he got last year or that are producing these yearlings this year, so we hope that continues.

The Darling of Ontario

Ontario trainer Jack Darling is the man that plucked Bulldog Hanover out of the 2019 yearling sale in Harrisburg for $28,000 and then campaigned the Ontario-sired son of Shadow Play to earnings of nearly $2.8 million and a breed-leading speed mark of 1:45.4. Darling and Bulldog Hanovers co-owner Brad Grant then decided to stand the horse in Ontario.

It's so exciting for us in little Lucan, Ontario, said Favacho. We are just so happy that we had that connection with Jack [Darling] and with Brad [Grant] and that [Bulldog Hanover] stayed in Ontario. We tout his accomplishments all the time.

Darling said hes really pleased with what Bulldog Hanover has accomplished from a first crop that was around 50 foals. His first commercial crop of foals  the ones selling this year  numbered over 130.

For the mares he bred, he's done a really good job, Darling said of that first select crop currently racing in the OSS program as two-year-olds.

You're always hoping for the best, but you never know for sure whos going to make a sire and who isn't. But he just seems to be throwing all of his good points  the speed, the talent and he is such a smart horse. He had so much try to him and he didn't get tired. He has that great breathing system, his lungs and everything.

In fact, Darling said he is only planning to purchase Bulldog Hanover offspring this year to race.





Jack Darling with Bulldog Hanover

Meanwhile, the trainer said hes not surprised American buyers have taken to Bulldog Hanover.

Hes the fastest horse in the world, said Darling. They want the best, and they're going for it.

(With files from Ontario Racing)
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Credit: Materials & Design (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2025.114598

Imagine a fleet of submarines sitting idle on a military base in the Pacific because they contain malfunctioning or aging parts.

Each submarine needs a unique replacement, available only from a single machinist more than 5,000 miles away. After months of waiting, the parts finally arriveonly for mechanics to discover a defect, and the process has to start over.

This has been the reality for decades. Researchers at Virginia Tech see a more efficient way forward.

A new study led by Prahalada Rao, associate professor in the College of Engineering, could reshape the way submarines and aircraft are built. He recently published research in the journal Materials & Design that shows how using artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor wire-arc additive manufacturingessentially welding in 3Dcan detect flaws as parts are built, correct them in real time, and ensure they're ready to use once the print is completed.

The breakthrough comes at a time when the Navy urgently needs faster, more reliable production to maintain its fleet.

"We've always relied on conventional machining, but it takes months to produce even a single part," Rao said. "Additive manufacturing gives us the ability to make those parts much faster and with less waste, which opens up a new way of thinking about how we build."

Good melt, bad melt

The defense and aerospace supply chains previously relied on mom-and-pop machine shops. These small operations had the expertise to machine, cast, or forge critical components for submarines and aircraft from solid blocks of metal. But their methods were slow, wasteful, resource intensive, and overreliant on a shrinking workforce. Flaws often weren't discovered until a part was finished, wasting weeks of labor and forcing manufacturers to scrap parts.

After the Cold War, many of these shops closed, and the skills retired with them. Additive manufacturing has helped fill that gap, offering a faster way to produce complex components and dramatically shortening the time it takes to get parts into service.

Not all additive manufacturing works the same way. Some methods are slow and suited for small, intricate parts, like laser powder bed fusion. Rao is currently working on faster approaches known as wire-arc printing and laser-wire printing.

"Wire-arc additive manufacturing is basically welding in 3D," Rao said. "If laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing produces a pint of material a day, wire-arc is keg-sized. You can deposit 40 or 50 kilograms of material in just one day. The challenge is making sure that much metal goes down without a single flaw."

That's where AI comes in.

Instead of discovering cracks or pores after a part is finished, Rao's team is training algorithms to spot the warning signs as the metal is being laid down. By studying the "melt pool" of hot metal and comparing what "good" and "bad" prints look like, AI learns to recognize defects in real time and signal adjustments before they spread.

"When the melt pool looked good, the part turned out how we wanted. When it looked bad, we knew what would happen," Rao said. "So we built a machine learning algorithm that was able to predict with about 90% certainty when things were going wrong."

Mom-and-pop turned Industry 4.0

Rao is part of a larger team of researchers in Virginia Tech Made: Center for Advanced Manufacturing. Virginia Tech Made cultivates cross-campus collaborations, expands partnerships with industry and government, and trains students and manufacturing professionals based on the university's expertise in advanced materials, manufacturing technologies, computational design, data analytics, and digital infrastructure.

As part of the Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Rao applies his background in systems thinking to make manufacturing not just faster, but smarter.

"Faster, better, cheaper," Rao said. "I want to make it better through quality control, faster by not wasting time redoing parts, and cheaper by reducing defects. That's something we do very well in process control."

Rao and his team carry out much of their work in his Kelly Hall lab, but they're also making use of the Learning Factory, Virginia Tech's hands-on hub for manufacturing education. A smaller laser powder bed fusion machine and a hybrid laser wire printing machine were recently added to the facilitya resource Rao credits to the foresight of department head Eileen Van Aken. He said her push to secure the equipment was key, both for advancing the research and for giving students the chance to train on the same technology used in industry.

"Giving students access to the same machines they'll see in industry is critical," Rao said. "That's why the laser powder bed fusion and laser wire system in the Learning Factory is so valuable. Additive is something you can train quickly, and it prepares our students to step right into the future of manufacturing."

More information: Andre Ramalho et al, Understanding and detection of process instabilities in wire arc directed energy deposition additive manufacturing using meltpool imaging and machine learning, Materials & Design (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2025.114598
Receive updates on the state of the OZ incentive following permanence and changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act at the Novogradac 2025 Opportunity Zones Summit

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Novogradac will host its single-day Novogradac 2025 Opportunity Zones Summit Dec. 3, 2025, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas. The summit will feature discussions regarding the future of the opportunity zones (OZ) incentive after it was made permanent in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which was signed into law July 4 by President Donald Trump.

"The original OZ incentive was enacted in 2017 and was scheduled to sunset after 2026. We were excited to see that the OBBBA included the permanence of the OZ incentive," said Jason Watkins, CPA, a partner in Novogradac's metro Atlanta office, and chair of the summit. "There are several big changes to the OZ incentive from the new legislation, and we expect to see additional modifications as U.S. Department of the Treasury regulations are proposed over the next few months. It's more important now than ever before to be informed as we navigate the evolving OZ landscape."

The summit will gather qualified opportunity fund managers, investors, developers, attorneys and Novogradac accountants. Attendees will have time allotted to network and learn more about the OZ incentive and the regulatory changes surrounding it.

Sessions on the agenda include a Washington Report, an overview of the types of transactions that will become more attractive under the OZ incentive, a deep dive into the legislation that made OZs a permanent part of the tax code, rural OZ investments and more. The full agenda can be found here.

The Novogradac 2025 Opportunity Zones Summit will be co-hosted by GreenbergTraurig and Sinatra & Co. Argosy Real Estate Partners, Centennial Advisers, CIM, Hogan Lovells, Monllor Capital Partners, Redbrick LMD, Sidley Austin and VF Law are sponsoring the event. Promotional partners are OpportunityZones.com and OZPros.

About Novogradac

Novogradac, which has been in business for more than 35 years, has grown to more than 800 employees and partners with offices in more than 25 cities. Tax, audit and consulting specialty practice areas for Novogradac include affordable housing, community development, historic rehabilitation and renewable energy. For additional information on Novogradac's personnel and areas of expertise, visit www.novoco.com or call (415) 356-8000.

SOURCE Novogradac & Company LLP
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Ramping up its chip industry is a way for Beijing to beat restrictions imposed by Washington on exports of the most advanced chips -- used to power AI systems -- to China.

China's push to develop top-end artificial intelligence microchips is gaining momentum, but analysts say it will struggle to match the technical might of US powerhouse Nvidia within the current decade.

Ramping up its chip industry is a way for Beijing to beat restrictions imposed by Washington on exports of the most advanced chipsused to power AI systemsto China.

The United States cites national security concerns, such as the risk of giving China a military advantage, for the block, a geopolitical bind that shows no sign of easing.

"China wants chips that policy cannot take away," said Stephen Wu, a former AI software engineer and founder of the Carthage Capital investment fund.

However, "full end-to-end parity with Nvidia's best chips, memory packaging, networking and software is not guaranteed" by 2030 or even beyond, Wu told AFP.

Announcements of computing upgrades by Chinese companies and reports of plans to dramatically increase output of advanced semiconductors have driven up chip-related shares in the country.

But to catch up with Nvidia, China needs to make fast progress on high-bandwidth memory and packaging"the hardest and most complex parts of the chip", Wu said.

Other challenges include building the right software to harness the chips' power, and upgrading manufacturing tools.

"These chips are extremely advanced and tiny, so imagine carving a stone sculpture with a hammer instead of a chisel," Wu said.

'Only way' to succeed

"The industry consensus is China at least needs five to ten years to catch up," said George Chen of The Asia Group, a view reflected by Dilin Wu, research strategist at Pepperstone.

"The future is bright, but not yet," she told AFP.

"It's maybe a 2030 story", as "significant gaps remain in terms of performance, and also in terms of energy efficiency and ecosystem maturity".

Public demand for AI services is booming in China, and while government support for new chips is "substantial", the investment required is "immense", she added.

Shares in Alibaba, the e-commerce titan plowing billions of dollars into AI tech, have more than doubled since January.

While China is pushing to develop top-end AI chips, it will take several years to catch up to US tech, analysts say.

And Chinese chip industry leader Huawei will reportedly double output of its top Ascend 910C chip in the next year.

The hype has also sharply driven up stocks in the smaller chipmaker Cambricon, sometimes dubbed "China's Nvidia".

"I think this rally can be sustained", partly because it is driven by Chinese government policy, Pepperstone's Wu said.

Even Xiaomi, whose 2014 venture into chip design was a self-confessed flop, is turning back to semiconductors.

"Chips are the only way for Xiaomi to succeed," the company's CEO Lei Jun said in Beijing last month, referring to the production of high-end smartphone chips.

'Best in China'

China, the world's biggest consumer of semiconductors, is a huge market for California-based Nvidia.

Nvidia chips are still "the best... to train large language models", the systems behind generative AI, said Chen Cheng, general manager for AI translation software at tech firm iFLYTEK.

Faced with US restrictions, "we overcame that difficulty" by shifting to Chinese-made tech, she said in a group interview.

"Now our model is trained on Huawei chips"currently the best in China, Cheng said.

Meanwhile Nvidia, the world's largest company by market capitalization, is under pressure from both sides.

The Financial Times reported last month that Beijing had barred major Chinese firms from buying a state-of-the-art Nvidia processor made especially for the country.

And the company must now pay the US government 15% of revenue from certain AI chip sales in China.

Nvidia boss Jensen Huang has warned that restrictions on exporting his most cutting-edge semiconductors to China will only fuel the country's rise.

"They're nanoseconds behind us," the leather jacket-clad Huang said on a tech business podcast.

"So we've got to go compete."

 2025 AFP
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A federal judge denied the Trump administration's bid to pause Ocean City's lawsuit over offshore wind power due to the federal government shutdown.

Before the government shutdown, Judge Stephanie Gallagher was expected to issue a ruling that would either allow U.S. Wind to move forward or give the U.S. Department of the Interior the ability to pull back its approval.

In August, the Department of the Interior, speaking for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, joined Ocean City in asking the court to send the case back and vacate the prior approval.

The government's filing asked the court to pause the case because the Department of Justice's attorneys are "prohibited from working, even on a voluntary basis, with few exceptions" since the shutdown began on Oct. 1st.

The plaintiffs in the case, Ocean City and other local governments and businesses, agreed to the proposal, according to the government's filing. U.S. Wind, the company that plans to build the wind turbines, did not.

The company wrote that the lack of funding would not necessarily prevent the government from taking "extra-judicial actions" against the project's approval outside the courtroom. The Trump administration is determined to "claw back" the standing Biden-era approval for the project, the company wrote.

In a paperless ruling, Judge Stephanie Gallagher denied the motion, saying she will consider both sides' positions during a teleconference.

The project calls for 114 turbines, each 938 feet tall, to be built 10.7 miles off the resort town's coast. City officials say the turbines would be visible from shore and could harm Ocean City's environment, tourism economy and fishing community. The project's 2024 proposal to BOEM stated it could provide up to 2,200 megawatts of energy.

2025 Baltimore Sun. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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The OpenAI logo appears on a mobile phone in front of a computer screen with random binary data, March 9, 2023, in Boston. Credit: AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File

Semiconductor maker AMD will supply its chips to artificial intelligence company OpenAI as part of an agreement to team up on building AI infrastructure, the companies said Monday.

OpenAI will also get the option to buy as much as a 10% stake in AMD, according to a joint statement announcing the deal. It's the latest deal for the ChatGPT maker as it races to beef up its AI computing resources.

Under the terms of the deal, OpenAI will buy the latest version of the company's high performance graphics chips, the Instinct MI450, which is expected to debut next year.

The agreement calls for supplying 6 gigawatts of computing power for OpenAI's "next generation" AI infrastructure, with the first batch of chips worth 1 gigawatt to be deployed in the second half of 2026.

AMD also issued OpenAI with a warrant allowing the AI company to buy up to 160 million shares of AMD's common stock. That amounts to about 10% of the chipmaker based on AMD's 1.6 billion outstanding shares. The warrant will vest based on two milestones tied to the amount of computing power deployed, as well as unspecified "share-price targets."

Shares of AMD spiked nearly 24% on Monday. Shares of Nvidia, which have repeatedly set new record-highs this year, fell by 1%.

This July 13, 2010, file photo, shows an entrance to the Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif. Credit: AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File

Sam Altman, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, OpenAI, testifies before a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 8, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, file

"This partnership is a major step in building the compute capacity needed to realize AI's full potential," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a news release. "AMD's leadership in high-performance chips will enable us to accelerate progress and bring the benefits of advanced AI to everyone faster."

The deal is a boost for Santa Clara, Calif.-based AMD, which has been left behind by rival Nvidia. But it also hints at OpenAI's desire to diversify its supply chain away from Nvidia's dominance. The AI boom has fueled demand for Nvidia's graphics processing chips, sending its shares soaring and making it the world's most valuable company.

Last month, OpenAI and Nvidia announced a $100 billion partnership that will add at least 10 gigawatts of data center computing power. OpenAI and its partners have already installed hundreds of Nvidia's GB200, a tall computing rack that contains dozens of specialized AI chips within it, at the flagship Stargate data center campus under construction in Abilene, Texas.

Barclays analysts said in a note to investors Monday that OpenAI's AMD deal is less about taking share away from Nvidia than it is a sign of how much computing is needed to meet AI demand.

"We realize there will be delays with these deals, and that the infrastructure required largely doesn't exist today, but we would again highlight this as a proof point that the ecosystem is desperate for more compute," wrote Barclays analyst Tom O'Malley.

 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

By and large, it appears school and work assignments are not being outsourced entirely to ChatGPT. A new working paper by David Deming, Danoff Dean of Harvard College, uncovers the more mundane realities of people's AI habits.

"It's more wholesome and practical than I expected," said Deming, a labor economist who also serves as Harvard Kennedy School's Isabelle and Scott Black Professor of Political Economy. "I think that's a good story. But it's probably a disappointment if you think this thing is taking over the world. It's also not a very good story for those predicting huge productivity gains."

Deming's large-scale study, co-authored with in-house economists at OpenAI, explores both the who and the how of ChatGPT usage worldwide. Key findings show rapid uptake has eased or even erased demographic gaps related to geography and gender. A separate set of analyses drew on a huge sample of anonymized messages to more accurately situate the technology's everyday role as a researcher and gut-check.

"People have found that it's great to have an assistant, an advisor, and a guide," Deming said. "Sure, you can use it to automate things, but the prompting is important, and you really have to go back and forth with it. Whereas there's very low friction in just asking it for advice or feedback."

Deming, who remains bullish on college graduates' career prospects in the 21st century, recently published two high-profile inquiries into AI adoption and labor market disruptions. He was presenting his research last spring at the Bay Area headquarters of OpenAI, the artificial intelligence company that developed ChatGPT, when Ronnie Chatterjee, the firm's chief economist, proposed partnering on a third study based on internal data.

This was before Deming was announced as dean of Harvard College.

"A couple months into the project, I said to the team, 'I decided to take on this new job. But don't worry. I'm still committed to the paper,'" he recalled with a laugh.

Their findings show ChatGPT outpacing Google's historic growth. As Deming noted in a recent Substack, it took Google eight years to reach 1 billion daily messages following its public debut in 1999. ChatGPT, released in November 2022, reached that milestone in less than two years.

As of July 2025, they found approximately 10% of the global adult population is using the technology, with adults ages 18 to 25 responsible for nearly half of the platform's 2.6 billion daily messages.

"I knew young people would be heavier users," offered Deming, noting the analysis excluded minors. "But the scale is surprising. It suggests this generation will be truly AI native."

Deming and colleagues wondered whether the well-documented gender gap in ChatGPT adoption rates were closing with the product's growth. They approached the question by studying whether users had traditionally masculine or feminine names, according to a variety of data sets including the Social Security Administration's annual ranking of popular baby names for boys and girls.

In early 2023, just months after the ChatGPT product launch, the economists found roughly 80% of weekly active users had traditionally male names. As of July 2025, users with traditionally female names constituted just over half of all users.

"That crossover happened in the last few months," Deming noted.

Also surprising was the fact that people in middle-income countries, including South Korea and Chile, are now adopting the technology faster than those in the wealthiest economies.

"There's no longer a big difference in usage between people in Brazil and the U.S.," Deming said.

Other findings concern how people are using the technology and how usage varies across demographics. This part of the research, completed with careful attention to protecting user privacy, meant developing a taxonomy for various kinds of ChatGPT prompts.

The job of categorizing nearly 1 million messages, sent between May 2024 and June 2025, ultimately fell towhat else?ChatGPT-5.

"We asked the large language model whether each message was work-relatedor whether it was asking for tutoring or teaching, whether it was asking about what products to buy, whether it was asking for personal advice," Deming explained.

As of June 2024, the data show an even split between work and personal messages. A year later, personal usage had far outpaced anything work-relatedespecially among young adultsand accounted for nearly three-quarters of all messages sent via ChatGPT's consumer plans.

To verify the accuracy of this research method, results were compared with classifications made by humans. Additional tests showed the technology accurately categorizing submissions drawn from WildChat, a public database of voluntarily submitted ChatGPT messages.

Roughly 80% of messages fell into three categories. Those categorized as "seeking information" grew from 14% to 24% between July 2024 and July 2025.

"This is basically the same thing as Google search," Deming said. "But it's maybe a little bit easier since you don't need to scroll through a bunch of websites. It just gives you the answer."

Another popular category called "practical guidance" held steady, totaling roughly 29% of messages over the same period.

"These messages are a little more customized," Deming explained. "It could be something like: 'I'm a 65-year-old who hurt my left hamstring. Give me some stretches to do.'

"And if you don't like the answer," he added, "you can just say so. You're having a conversation with the chatbot that is adaptive to your request. That's something a traditional web search just can't do."

"Writing," the top use for work-related messages, fell from 36% to 24% of messages over the period studied.

"Actually, most of the 'writing' usage isn't just writing," Deming clarified. "It's summarizing documents, critiquing op-eds, cutting 1,000 words down to 800, or translating a text into Farsi."

Work-related messages, far more common with educated users in highly paid professions, were subjected to additional scrutiny. These inputs were specifically mapped to work activities listed in the U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored Occupational Information Network (O*NET) database, with "documenting/recording information" and "making decisions and solving problems" emerging as top messaging categories by users in nearly every occupation.

As Deming tells it, white-collar professionals across industries are applying ChatGPT to a similar set of tasks.

"If you look at educators, the top use case isn't a category called 'training and teaching others,'" he said. "It's 'documenting/recording information.' And for sales occupations, the top task isn't 'selling or influencing others.' It's 'making decisions and solving problems.'

"The way people are using it is so general that it applies to every job," concluded Deming, who's working with a different set of colleagues to launch an AI tracker, with regular servings of data-backed insights on usage and labor market impacts in the U.S. "It makes me even more skeptical of the narrative that AI is replacing entry-level positions."

More information: Aaron Chatterji et al, How People Use ChatGPT (2025). DOI: 10.3386/w34255

This story is published courtesy of the Harvard Gazette, Harvard University's official newspaper. For additional university news, visit Harvard.edu.
/NOT FOR DISSEMINATION, RELEASE OR PUBLICATION IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES/

TSXV: PGZ | OTCQB: PGZFF | FRA: 2EU

Proceeds to fund expanded exploration programs at Escacena and Carmenes Projects in Spain, including airborne geophysical survey over newly awarded Escacena South mineral rights

VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pan Global Resources Inc. ("Pan Global" or the "Company") (TSXV: PGZ) (OTCQB: PGZFF) (FRA: 2EU) announces today it is arranging a non-brokered private placement financing of up to 18,750,000 Common Shares (the "Shares") of the Company at a price of $0.16 per Share for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $3,000,000 (the "Offering"). All dollar ($) amounts in Canadian dollars.

Pan Global Resources Inc. Logo

"The award of the mineral rights to Escacena South increased Pan Global's property position on the Iberian Pyrite belt by 74% to over 10,000 hectares. The target-rich expansion to the Escacena Project offers an exciting opportunity for an accelerated exploration program. The plan is to build on the discoveries already made at the La Romana and Canada Honda deposits to achieve our copper-equivalent resource target of 100 million tonnes," said Tim Moody, President and CEO.

"An expanded exploration campaign and drill program at the high-grade Providencia gold discovery in northern Spain is also planned to make additional discoveries and add potential mineral resources."

The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to advance the Company's exploration and resource definition programs in Spain and for general corporate purposes.

The Offering is subject to customary closing conditions and TSX Venture Exchange acceptance. The common shares issued pursuant to this private placement will be subject to a four-month hold period and will be subject to U.S. resale restrictions under U.S. securities laws. Finders' fees may be payable on a portion of the Offering.

The securities to be sold in the private placement have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("U.S. Securities Act"), or any state or other applicable jurisdiction's securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state or other jurisdictions' securities laws. This media release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation, or sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About the Escacena Project

The Escacena Project comprises a large, contiguous land package controlled 100% by Pan Global in the east of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. The area has been expanded from 5,760-hectares to more than 10,000-hectares following the award of the Flores, Rosario and Girasoles mineral rights in September 2025. Pan Global has also submitted four additional Investigation Permit applications covering 3,888 hectares (Inmaculada, Santa Isabel, Santa Micaela I and Santa Micaela II) that will increase the total mineral rights holdings in the Iberian Pyrite Belt to approximately 14,000 hectares. Escacena is located near the operating mine at Riotinto and is immediately adjacent to the former Aznalcollar and Los Frailes mines where Minera Los Frailes (Grupo Mexico) is commencing a new underground mine development beneath the former Los Frailes open-pit mine. The Escacena Project hosts Pan Global's La Romana and the Canada Honda copper-gold discoveries, and numerous other prospective targets such as La Pantoja, Bravo, El Pozo, Romana Norte, San Pablo, Zarcita, Hornitos, La Jarosa, Romana Deep, Barbacena, and Cortijo.

About the Carmenes Project

The Carmenes Project is located approx. 55km north of Leon in northern Spain and comprises five Investigation Permits over 5,653 hectares. The Project area is highly prospective for multiple bodies or "clusters" of carbonate-hosted "pipe-like" breccia style copper, nickel, cobalt, and gold mineralization. The area includes the former Profunda and Providencia mines that last operated in the 1930s, producing concentrates of copper and cobalt with nickel. Numerous other smaller historical mine workings in the area highlight the potential for additional breccia pipes. These types of ore deposits can have significant vertical dimensions exceeding 1km. The Company's recent maiden drill program at the Providencia target yielded a new gold discovery.

About Pan Global Resources

Pan Global Resources Inc. is actively exploring for copper-rich mineral deposits along with gold and other metals. Copper has compelling supply-demand fundamentals and outlook for strong long-term prices as a critical metal for global electrification and energy transition. Gold is also attracting record prices.

The Company's flagship Escacena Project is located in the prolific Iberian Pyrite Belt, a tier-one mining jurisdiction in southern Spain, with a favourable permitting regime, excellent infrastructure, and abundant mining and professional expertise. The European Commission has identified copper as a Strategic Raw Material. The Company's second project, Carmenes in northern Spain, is also an area with a long mining history and excellent infrastructure. The Pan Global team has a proven talent in exploration, discovery, development, and mine operations and are committed to operating safely and with utmost respect for the environment and all our stakeholders. The Company is a member, and operates under the principles, of the United Nations Global Compact.

To learn more about Pan Global Resources, please visit the Company's Curation Connect showcase and explore AI-generated responses to your enquiries at https://app.curationconnect.com/company/Pan-Global-Resources-44037?utm_source=pg_mediareleases

Qualified Persons

Alvaro Merino, Vice President Exploration for Pan Global Resources and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical information for this media release. Mr. Merino is not independent of the Company.

Forward-looking statements

Statements which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this media release are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental, environmental, and technological factors that may affect the Company's operations, markets, products, and prices. Readers should refer to the risk disclosures outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis of its audited financial statements filed with the British Columbia Securities Commission.

The forward-looking information contained in this media release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this media release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

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The award presented by Sea-Doo, a division of BRP, recognizes dealerships that excel in training and certification, achieve strong market share in their region, surpass sales goals, and demonstrate steady growth in parts, accessories, and apparel. RideNow Chandler stood out across all categories, setting a high bar for Sea Doo dealerships nationwide.

"This one really feels good because it shows the effort our whole crew puts in," said Jon Lester, General Manager of RideNow Chandler. "We've got a team here that shows up every day ready to take care of people, whether that's helping them pick out their first Sea-Doo or making sure their gear and service are spot-on. Our customers really make it fun for us to do what we do."

As part of RideNow Group, Inc., RideNow Chandler benefits from the strength of the nation's largest powersports dealership network. The US Dealer of the Year selection was influenced by the dealership's customer-first approach and the strong connections it has with boaters in the Phoenix area. These relationships have helped make Sea-Doo products a top choice for families and boating enthusiasts.

"This award is a great example of what happens when a dealership has a strong team and a real focus on its customers," said RideNow Group COO Cam Tkach. "We're incredibly proud of Jon and the entire crew at RideNow Chandler. We strive for high performance at all 52 of our RideNow dealerships, and RideNow Chandler sets a great example for all of our stores."

For more information about RideNow Chandler, visit www.ridenowchandler.com.

About RideNow Group, Inc.

RideNow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RDNW), operates through two operating segments: a powersports dealership group and a vehicle transportation services entity, Wholesale Express, LLC ("Express"). We believe our Powersports group is the largest powersports retail group in the United States offering a wide selection of new and pre-owned motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, utility terrain or side-by-side vehicles, personal watercraft, snowmobiles and other powersports products. We also offer parts, apparel, accessories, finance & insurance products and services, and aftermarket products from a wide range of manufacturers. We are one of the largest purchasers of pre-owned powersports vehicles in the United States and utilize our proprietary RideNow Cash Offer technology to acquire vehicles directly from consumers. Our Express business provides asset-light transportation brokerage services facilitating automobile transportation primarily between and among dealerships and auctions throughout the United States. To learn more, please visit https://www.ridenow.com.

SOURCE RideNow Group Inc.
The Tucson Classics Car Show is a high-performance philanthropic machine, and it is revving its engine to raise funds for three local charities: Pima Community College Center of Opportunity, JobPath, and the Amphi Foundation Educational Community Home Outreach (ECHO) Program.

Tucson Classics Show is the vehicle by which the members of the Rotary Club of Tucson are able to empower these amazing people in Tucson who are making a huge difference in our community, said Dave White, a 13-year Rotarian and chair of the upcoming event.

Recognized as one of the largest classic car shows in Southern Arizona, with a field of more than 420 vehicles, Tucson Classics will celebrate its 19th Annual show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Gregory School Campus, 3231 N. Craycroft Rd.

A self-proclaimed car enthusiast who bought a 41 Packard Convertible Coupe in his teens and restored it with the help of his dad, White is happy to channel his passion into philanthropy for the community.

The car show, which attracts entries from throughout Arizona, has gained popularity amongst both car owners and attendees for showcasing primarily classic cars that have been restored to their authentic glory. The show features 31 different classes of cars and trucks, ranging from Vintage Cars through 1936, to 1931-36 Street Rods to 1950-59 Modified and Stock Cars to 1960 to 1970 Trucks and Jeeps and much more.

Our car show is extremely well-run and people love it, White said. We have more than 20,000 people come on that one Saturday to the show, and it takes about 600 volunteers to pull it off. Our club is about 240 members, so we recruit spouses, friends, neighbors, schools and volunteers from our beneficiaries.

He is particularly excited this year about the Special Display of Cord corporation cars, including a 1933 Auburn Salon Speedster and a 1937 Cord Sportsman, which is an early front wheel drive car.

White said the Salon Boattail Speedster is one of only five left from the 14 originally made.

It won first place at Pebble Beach and Daytona. It is just a beautiful car. . .the coattail design gave it 10 miles per hour more speed because it reduced the drag and eliminated the vacuum behind the car so other cars couldnt drag off of it, said White.

Ultimately, the incredible cars are not the only attraction for the 20,000 people expected to attend on the day of the show, according to White.

What really sets us apart is that it is 100% to benefit local high-impact organizations that provide community development, said White. After 18 years, we have raised almost $3 million, and all of the proceeds go to organizations that we screen as a club and vote on because they are making change in our community.

This marks the third consecutive year that Tucson Classics will support the Pima Community College Center of Opportunity; it has gifted more than $192,000 to the program over the past two years to the Workforce Training Program at the Humberto S. Lopez Family Foundation Center of Opportunity campus.

This is a fantastic partnership between the Pima Community College vocational training division and the Gospel Rescue Mission, which screens people through the Center of Opportunity, and provides vocational training and helps people to find jobs, said White.

The program focuses on training participants in high-demand employment areas, including Information Technology, Culinary Arts, Building and Construction and Commercial Truck Driving.

A second beneficiary, JobPath, supports the success of low-income students pursuing associate degrees and certificates leading to in-demand, high-wage careers in the healthcare, industrial trades, and IT industries.

White said their success is impressive, with an average of 90% of participants completing programs and 85% attaining jobs that earn an average of $50,000 a year plus benefits.

We want to support programs that are making a substantial, foundational difference in the community. We aim at helping people to fish instead of just giving them fish, said White.

That foundational difference is also exhibited by the Amphi Foundation ECHO (Educational Community Home Outreach) Program at Nash and Keeling Elementary Schools. The program, which seeks to tackle barriers to academic and non-academic success through before and after-school programs for elementary school students, offers learning opportunities and health and wellness support for children and their families.

They use the schools as stepping stones to partner with families and find out how to help families be more functional so the kids are successful at home and at school. The idea is to reduce absenteeism and drop out rates and eliminate problems that set kids back in their journeys toward adulthood, said White.

Interestingly, the ECHO Program has found that one contributing factor to absenteeism is a lack of laundry facilities; when children dont have clean clothes, they wont go to school. By providing access to laundry facilities, ECHO helps to reduce absenteeism.

We are constantly looking for complex solutions, and sometimes the solutions are simple, but it takes someone who is dedicated and goes in and listens to the people who are involved, White said. This is an innovative partnership between schools and the community, and they are making significant progress.
PHOENIX  The founders of an Arizona charter school may be able to use secret grand jury transcripts to sue the state Attorney Generals Office, the Court of Appeals has said.

In a new ruling, the three-judge panel acknowledged that such documents normally are kept from the public to protect everyone from witnesses to those named in the indictment.

But appellate Judge David Weinzweig, writing the unanimous decision, said that is not absolute. And in this case, he said there is sufficient reason to allow Amanda Jelleson and April Black to use it in their federal court case claiming the AGs office and two investigators violated their civil rights in how they got the indictment in the first place  an indictment that was subsequently dismissed.

The decision does not mean everyone will get to look at the evidence presented to charge Jelleson, Black and Incito Schools with fraud, theft, forgery and conspiracy.

Instead, Weinzweig said the transcripts should be delivered, under seal, to the federal court handling their case against the prosecutors. And it will be the federal judge who determines whether they have a particularized need for the transcripts that outweighs the state law which actually makes it a crime to knowingly disclose the nature or substance of any grand jury testimony.

At the heart of the case is an indictment brought in 2021 against the school and the founders accusing them of fraud in connection with grant funding. Then-Attorney General Mark Brnovich issued a news release naming the pair and their school, saying the total loss exceeds $567,000.

Attorneys for the defendants said they had given prosecutors an audit that showed there had been no wrongdoing. Prosecutors disclosed that report to the grand jury, but an expert for the state, in his own testimony, discredited it.

The indictment was thrown out when Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Ronee Korbin Steiner called the statements made by the states experts wildly misleading, outright wrong, and troubling, calling the mischaracterizations egregious. The state never sought a new indictment and the charges went away.

Now the two women and the school want a federal court to rule that they were subject to malicious prosecution, defamation, and the victims of intentional infliction of emotional distress.

To do that, however, they say they need to show the federal court what prosecutors said and did inside the grand jury room.

A state trial judge rejected their request for access to the grand jury records. In the new ruling, Weinzweig said that was wrong.

Secrecy is vital to grand jury proceedings, he wrote. Grand jury proceedings must be kept secret to prevent negative publicity for those accused and ultimately exonerated, to diminish the risk of flight, and to safeguard members of the grand jury from influence or retribution.

But given the facts of this case, Weinzweig wrote, society had a diminished interest in grand jury secrecy.

For one, he said, it is the defendants in the criminal case  the ones who were indicted  who want to use the transcripts in their lawsuit.

So we are less concerned about negative publicity for those accused and ultimately exonerated, Weinzweig said.

He also said secrecy is not essential since the indictments already had been made public, meaning there was no way for the defendants to influence the proceedings.

Third, said Weinzweig, the defendants already had the transcripts, which had to be made available to them to defend their case. So he said there was no risk of them using the information in retribution against those who testified.

Weiznweig also said theres the fact that the indictments already had been dismissed and the Attorney Generals Office had decided not to refile the charges.

Finally, he said that the trial judge could have let them use the transcripts in the federal case, but imposed protective orders on how the information can be used.

That, however, still leaves the question of whether the defendants in the criminal case have a particularized need for the transcripts.

Weinzweig said that allows a judge to determine that, absent the transcripts, the defendant will, in some manner, be prejudiced, or his legal rights adversely affected.

And that, he said, is why the material is being turned over to the federal judge, under seal, who will assess and balance the particularized need against societys diminished interest in secrecy.

A spokesman for Kris Mayes, who became attorney general after the original criminal case was dropped, declined to comment on the ruling or whether her office would appeal to the Arizona Supreme Court.

Theres another party, however, to the case: Brnovich not only was attorney general when all this was going on but actually put out a news release about the indictment. He was sued in both his role as attorney general and individually.
NEW YORK, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 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).

If you currently own shares of Edwards stock, please visit the firm's 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 [email protected].

Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.
An architectural legend and his love for Hanoi

Designed by the legend Renzo Piano, Hanoi Opera House is expected to become an iconic project of Vietnam, listed among the world's most famous opera houses. Few know that, despite being renowned for numerous architectural works across the globe, Renzo Piano holds a special affection for the Hanoi Opera House.

Unable to be present at the project's Groundbreaking Ceremony in Hanoi on October 5, Renzo Piano sent a special message for his devoted project:

He said: "Im not with you (today). Im with you in spirit. I wish the best for today. I love this project. This is probably the most loved project in my mind. This is about music. And Im passionate about music. Music is my passion. But its also an island. And islands are always magic. And in the middle of water and water makes things beautiful. So, theres so many things that are good. And Im so happy to create that building, which will be there for centuries. People coming, enjoying music and staying together. All my best to everybody. Thank you!

Driven by his deep feelings for human culture, Renzo Pianos design philosophy ensures that his architectural works consistently pay tribute to the historical and cultural heart of the site.

At over 80 years of age, Renzo Piano holds a special love for the cultural aspects and historical significance of Hanoi, a thousand-year-old city of civilisation. He pours his lifelong career passion, energy, and essence of his career into the project he considers his most beloved work.

Having spent 40-years researching thin-shell structure technology  a complex and intricate field - the architectural legend wishes to apply this cutting-edge technology for the first time to the dome of the Hanoi Opera House. In a form reminiscent of pearls rising from the surface of West Lake, the opera house's dome appears soft and poetic yet distinctly contemporary.

The dome with its pearlescent effect, honours the simple, original and pure beauty of nature. West Lake is associated with moments that have entered poetry and the hearts of Hanoians, and the pearl will reflect that movement of time on the dome. The Hanoi Opera House will thus tell the story of West Lake, with its magical moments: tinged with purple, misty and vague, and reflecting the brilliant orange light of the sun at times.

With the Hanoi Opera House, the legend Renzo Piano will revive a civilised Hanoi, not only with cultural values that have endured through time but also with an advanced culture, approaching the elite values of the world.

A great talent, a great character

In a 2018 interview with architect Renzo Piano, CNN described him as a "charming" Italian. That charm emanates from his warmth, approachability, and notably, he is not one for ostentation or praise. That is the essence of Renzo Piano, working quietly, contributing to humanity with works that can 'change the world'. For his tireless contributions, he is incessantly mentioned by the architectural community and international media as a 'star' of modern architecture.

Born in 1937 in Genoa, Italy, Renzo Piano is known as one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. From a young age, he and his partner, Richard Rogers, excelled by surpassing over 600 competitors worldwide, including many famous architects, to win the right to design the Centre Georges Pompidou - the pet project of former French President Georges Pompidou, a cultural heart in ancient Paris. Later, he contributed many lifetime works such as The Shard in London; the skyscraper headquarters of The New York Times; and the Parco della Musica Auditorium in Italy...

Renzo Piano is not merely a talented architect. Contemporary generations of architects revere him for his design philosophies that always honour cultural, historical values and contribute to humanity. One of the most memorable images of him is his engrossed expression while presenting: "You are not simply a builder, but also a citizen, therefore you need to create shelters for people, for the human community" or "One of the wonderful beauties of architecture is that at the moment of its birth, it seems to start a new life."

The British newspaper, The Financial Times, called Renzo Piano a tireless intellect; even now, in his 80s, behind those blue eyes remains a longing for humanity. In all his works, he expresses his strong connection to nature, culture, and people. The architectural legend once designed a children's hospital in Uganda, using red clay, wood, gravel... The New York Times once called the Kansai Airport, one of his works, "the most spectacular building erected, an impressive engineering work," because the airport has a light, thin structure to cope with the risk of earthquakes.

Even in his homeland of Italy, he was called "a hero" for establishing the group of young architects G124, paying them to build projects aimed at restoring the country's suburbs. Or another time, driven by emotion after the Morandi Bridge collapse, he gifted his hometown with the design for a new bridge spanning the Polcevera River and spent a whole year directly supervising its construction.

Through his contributions, the legend Renzo Piano was the first Italian to be featured in TIME magazine's Top 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2006. Furthermore, he has received many prestigious awards throughout his 60-year career, including the Pritzker Prize, regarded as the Nobel Prize of architecture. Architect Renzo Piano has truly become a monument admired and respected by the global architectural community.
HA NOI  The Department of Forestry and Forest Protection under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has launched WoodID, a mobile AI application that identifies wood species, which can recognise over 260 types of wood so far.

The tool is being used by customs officers, forest rangers, businesses, and researchers to quickly and accurately identify wood species, contributing to enhancing transparency and efficiency in wood supply chain management.

WoodID is among several applications supporting traceability, promoting transparency, and strengthening the reputation of Viet Nams agro-forestry-aquaculture products in global markets.

Nguyen Huu Thien, Deputy Director of the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection, said the app marks a major step in applying technology to forestry management, enhancing monitoring and wood origin verification while underscoring Viet Nams commitment to international obligations and its pursuit of a transparent, sustainable, and responsible forestry sector.

Ensuring wood traceability is also a key requirement for Viet Nam to obtain FLEGT licences  the legal timber certifications under the Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (VPA/FLEGT) signed with the EU. In addition, compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has become mandatory for Viet Nam to maintain its share in the European timber market, one of the worlds largest and most demanding.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed an official dispatch on strengthening traceability to ensure the quality and reputation of agro-forestry-aquaculture exports, which underscores the urgent need to reinforce the traceability system after several Vietnamese shipments were flagged by European authorities for food safety violations. This move signals the Governments strong determination to safeguard the national brand and position Vietnamese agricultural products in the global market.

Insiders said that the key task is to complete an integrated database system to meet EUDR requirements. This system will serve not only as a traceability tool but also as a national information platform, covering forest and plantation data, and product traceability.

The Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) organisation of the Netherlands is funding a pilot of this system on 137,000ha of coffee, with plans to expand to 462,000ha, equivalent to 80 per cent of the countrys key coffee-growing area.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoang Trung instructed specialised units to quickly finalise the software system and update data on cultivated areas, mapping coordinates, growers, traders, and production volumes to enable full traceability.

He said that local authorities, especially in key coffee and rubber regions, must conduct training and communication programmes tailored to local management conditions. Exports of the three main product groups, namely coffee, rubber, and timber, to the EU must proceed smoothly, without disruption, and fully meet requirements on data, documentation, and traceability standards.

For other agricultural products, the establishment and issuance of plantation and packing facility codes have also seen positive results. To date, Viet Nam has over 8,000 plantation codes and around 1,600 packing facility codes approved by importing countries, ready to support exports.

To improve management efficiency, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is drafting a circular on managing plantation and packing facility codes. Huynh Tan at, Director of the Department of Plant Protection and Cultivation, said that completing the legal framework will strengthen state management, ensure process transparency, and facilitate production, processing, and export activities of businesses and farmers.

In the fisheries sector, the electronic catch documentation and traceability system (eCDT) is being widely implemented, helping fishermen and businesses ensure transparency in the origin of seafood.

According to Vu Duyen Hai, Deputy Director of the Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance Department, the software enables state agencies to monitor fleet operations and fishing volumes, while raising compliance among fishermen and businesses in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development will also develop and operate a national traceability system, integrating supply chain databases for ago-forestry-aquaculture products, especially for high-risk product groups. The system will be launched in sync with the revised Law on Product and Goods Quality once it takes effect.

Trung stressed that local authorities must step up inspections and supervision at farming areas, processing facilities, and imported materials; and strictly handle food safety and traceability violations, including publicising information related to violators and temporarily suspending export licenses to the EU, if necessary.  VNS
HA NOI  For digital technology to truly reshape every sector of Viet Nams economy, experts say a Government-led transformation strategy and advanced digital tools alone are not enough. Large enterprises must take the lead, pioneering the spread of technology and knowledge throughout the economy.

Digital technology is driving business transformation across the country, particularly through the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI), experts told saigontimes.vn.

TPBank stands out as a prime example. Once among the weakest banks and forced into mandatory restructuring in 2011, it has since risen into Viet Nams top 10-12 commercial banks, now serving over 14 million customers. Its success is largely credited to bold digital transformation initiatives.

Currently, 98 per cent of TPBanks customer transactions are conducted through digital channels.

General Director of TPBank Nguyen Hung told saigontimes.vn that relying solely on the traditional banking model would have made it almost impossible for the bank to compete with older, more established institutions, especially given State restrictions on branch expansion.

From the start of its restructuring, TPBank deliberately focused on developing digital channels, enabling it to serve customers without the constraints of physical space and operating hours, he added.

Similarly, the humanoid robot VinMotion, developed by Vingroup and capable of moving and interacting with humans, represents a significant advancement for the company in the high-tech sector. This achievement follows nearly a decade of Vingroups strategy to directly engage in industrial applications and adopt Industry 4.0 technologies.

At the same time, other major Vietnamese companies are also taking a proactive role in promoting digital transformation, spreading technology and knowledge to other businesses and economic sectors to accelerate nationwide adoption.

FPT Digital has been actively helping other companies embrace digital transformation. The firm organises training courses on AI and its applications in production and business for EVNCPC.

It also provides guidance and consulting on AI implementation for BIM Group, enabling the company to leverage data and technology to control costs, increase revenue and build sustainable competitive advantages.

Another firm, MISA JSC, organises numerous technology training events and sends staff directly to assist businesses, particularly in adapting to new tax management policies.

The company is also advancing its MISA AMIS OneAI product  a unified platform that integrates the most advanced AI models, replacing the need for separate AI tools. This platform allows small businesses and other enterprises to compare outputs from multiple AI models, select the most suitable results and make informed decisions, thereby improving organisational management and productivity.

Beyond large enterprises, digital technology startups are also becoming increasingly vibrant, with nearly 74,000 companies operating in areas such as hardware, electronics, software and AI, big data and the Internet of Things. With this growth, Viet Nams digital technology industry is projected to generate total revenue of US$152 billion in 2024, up 35.7 per cent from 2019.

Challenges remain

Despite the benefits, most Vietnamese enterprises still operate at a relatively low technological level. In addition, the development of digital technology and infrastructure is uneven across regions, creating significant gaps in access. This disparity affects nationwide connectivity and poses challenges for the sustainable growth of Viet Nams digital technology industry.

According to o Danh Thanh from Deloitte Vietnam, Viet Nams investment in research and development (R&D) remains low, reaching only about 0.42 per cent of GDP in 2022. This falls short of the countrys target of 1.5 per cent of GDP set for the period up to 2020, according to World Bank statistics.

Most R&D resources still come from the public sector, while the private sector  expected to be the main driver of innovation  has contributed only minimally, Thanh said, adding that the challenge does not lie only in technology but also in factors such as strategy, people, data and operating models.

He explained that many businesses lack a clear digital vision, have not developed a digital roadmap and fail to align transformation with growth objectives and core strengths. As a result, digital initiatives often become fragmented and lean more towards technical upgrades than true strategic innovation.

Meanwhile, Chairman and General Director of InfoRe Technology Company Le Cong Thanh noted that the training and application of digital technology in many Vietnamese businesses remain at an early and rudimentary stage, often limited to individual use within organisations.

He added that even many senior leaders are still in the process of learning.

For digital technology to reach every sector of the economy and help businesses and workers move from simply digitalising tools to transforming operating models, Hung from TPBank emphasised the need to focus on peoples needs.

He noted that addressing human factors is the key to ensuring the success of digital transformation initiatives. VNS
HA NOI  Several of Viet Nams largest commercial banks are reinstating cash dividends in October and November, marking a significant shift after years of restraint under tighter regulatory guidance. The move, widely welcomed by investors, reflects improved profitability and financial stability across the sector.

Today (October 6), Vietcombank will close its shareholder list to distribute a cash dividend of 4.5 per cent, equivalent to VN450 per share. The payment, worth about VN3.76 trillion (US$142.5 million), is scheduled for October 24 and will cover nearly 8.4 billion shares. The bank last paid a cash dividend in 2021 at 12 per cent, following a consistent 8 per cent payout ratio between 2016 and 2020.

BIDV and VietinBank will follow on October 15, finalising shareholder lists to distribute dividends at the same 4.5 per cent rate, or VN450 per share, for the 2024 fiscal year. BIDV, with more than 7.02 billion shares outstanding, plans to disburse nearly VN3.2 trillion on 14 November. VietinBank, holding around 5.37 billion shares, will allocate over VN2.4 trillion on 17 November. In addition, VietinBank is preparing to issue nearly 2.4 billion new shares to lift its charter capital above VN77 trillion.

Techcombank finalised its shareholder list on October 1 and will distribute a 10 per cent cash dividend amounting to almost VN7.1 trillion, with payments scheduled for October 22.

HDBank, meanwhile, has yet to set a date for its dividend distribution. According to its 2024 profit plan, the bank expects distributable profit approaching VN10.4 trillion, which could support a maximum payout ratio of 28 per cent. Management has indicated that up to 15 per cent may be paid in cash, subject to shareholder approval.

The simultaneous announcements of cash dividend plans by major banks mark an important return to direct shareholder payouts.

Since 2020, the State Bank of Vietnam had curtailed cash dividends, urging banks to retain earnings to bolster equity, resolve bad debts and provide space for lower lending rates to support businesses and households. During this period, most banks issued stock dividends instead, boosting charter capital but leaving shareholders without immediate cash benefits.

In 2023, the central bank relaxed the rules for institutions with strong credit ratings, while still prioritising stock-based dividends to build capital buffers and lending capacity. The easing has paved the way for cash dividends to resume, underscoring the sectors financial health.

For shareholders, especially retail investors, cash dividends provide a clear and tangible benefit compared with stock dividends, which can dilute value in the short term. Analysts say the return to cash payments is likely to strengthen investor confidence in the growth prospects of Viet Nams leading banks and their willingness to share profits.  BIZHUB/VNS
Company brings all asset management businesses together under one pillar

TORONTO, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sun Life today announced the appointment of Tom Murphy as President, Sun Life Asset Management as it continues to accelerate growth across its global asset management businesses.

"Sun Life is a leading global asset manager, and this new role and structure will bring all of Sun Life's asset management businesses together under one pillar. Sun Life Asset Management will also build new capabilities to better drive synergies between our asset management and insurance businesses," said Kevin Strain, President & CEO, Sun Life.

Sun Life

In addition to MFS, a global provider of equity and fixed income solutions, and SLC Management, a global provider of alternative assets and fixed income, Sun Life Asset Management will include Sun Life's stake in Aditya Birla Sun Life Asset Management, one of the largest asset management businesses in India, as well as Sun Life's pension risk transfer business, currently part of Sun Life's Canadian business. Together these businesses generated over CAD $1.4 billion in earnings for Sun Life in 2024.

"Sun Life is among the largest asset managers and insurance companies in the world, with CAD $1.54 trillion in assets under management," added Mr. Strain. "Tom's leadership and the additional businesses now within our asset management pillar mark an important next step for Sun Life, enabling collaboration and co-creation between our market leading asset management companies and our global insurance and wealth businesses to unlock new growth opportunities and to better serve our Clients."

Effective January 1, 2026, Sun Life's asset management financial results will reflect this new structure. This change will further highlight Sun Life's enterprise-wide asset management capabilities and growth aspirations.

While Sun Life Asset Management will accelerate growth opportunities across its global enterprise, each of its asset management companies will continue to operate under their existing brand names with no impact to their governance structures, leadership teams, or investment philosophy.

"The depth and breadth of our global asset management capabilities is truly impressive," said Mr. Murphy. "Sun Life has an enviable range of public and private asset classes including equities, fixed income, real estate, infrastructure, and private credit. We intend to unlock further growth opportunities between our asset management, insurance and wealth businesses by accelerating the distribution of our asset management solutions through Sun Life's proprietary wealth channels, developing new strategic partnerships, leveraging our global balance sheet, and seeking new sources of permanent capital to drive revenue growth, enhance scale and provide access to seed capital."

Mr. Murphy has more than 25 years of global asset management experience. He joined SLC Management in 2018, where he most recently held the role of President of SLC Fixed Income before being appointed Sun Life Chief Risk Officer in 2022. Before joining SLC Management, Mr. Murphy spent 20 years at Mercer where he built and led the company's investment management businesses in Europe and led Mercer's North American Investments, Retirement and Benefit Administration businesses. Mr. Murphy will remain Sun Life's Chief Risk Officer until a successor is named to ensure a smooth transition.

About Sun Life

Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the U.S., the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of June 30, 2025, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1.54 trillion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.

About MFS

In 1924, MFS launched the US' first open-end mutual fund to give everyday investors access to the markets. More than 100 years later, we are a full-service global investment manager serving financial advisors, intermediaries and institutional clients around the world. Tested and refined across market environments, our active investing approach combines collective expertise, long-term discipline and thoughtful risk management to create value responsibly for clients. Supported by our culture of shared values and collaboration, our teams of diverse thinkers actively debate ideas and assess material risks to uncover what we believe are the best investment opportunities in the public markets. As of August 30, 2025, MFS manages US$644.1 billion in assets on behalf of individual and institutional investors worldwide. Please visit mfs.com for more information.

About SLC Management

SLC Management is a global asset manager that offers institutional investors traditional, alternative and yield-orientated investment solutions across public and private fixed income markets, as well as global real estate equity and debt. SLC Management is the brand name for the institutional asset management business of Sun Life Financial Inc. under which the entities of Sun Life Capital Management (U.S.) LLC in the United States, and Sun Life Capital Management (Canada) Inc. in Canada operate. These entities are also referred to as SLC Fixed Income and represent the investment grade public and private fixed income strategies of SLC Management.

BGO, InfraRed Capital Partners (InfraRed), Crescent Capital Group (Crescent) and Advisors Asset Management (AAM) are also part of SLC Management. BGO is a leading global real estate investment management advisor and a globally recognized provider of real estate services. InfraRed is an international investment manager focused on infrastructure, managing equity capital in multiple private and listed funds, primarily for institutional investors across the globe. Crescent is a global alternative credit investment manager singularly focused on corporate credit through strategies that invest in marketable and privately originated debt securities. AAM is an independent U.S. retail distribution firm that provides a range of solutions and products to financial advisors at wirehouses, registered investment advisors and independent broker-dealers.

As of June 30, 2025, SLC Management has assets under management of C$408 billion (US$300 billion) and AAM represents an additional approximate C$13 billion (US$9 billion) in assets under administration.

For more information, please visit slcmanagement.com.

About Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Limited

Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Limited (ABSLAMC) was incorporated in the year 1994. Aditya Birla Capital Limited and Sun Life (India) AMC Investments Inc. are the promoters and major shareholders of the Company.

ABSLAMC is primarily the investment manager of Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund, a registered trust under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882. ABSLAMC also operates multiple alternate strategies including Portfolio Management Services, Real Estate Investments and Alternative Investment Funds. ABSLAMC is one of the leading asset managers in India, servicing around 10.6 million investor folios with a pan India presence across 300+ locations and overall AUM of Rs. 4,433 billion for the quarter ending June 30, 2025 under its suite of Mutual Fund (excluding domestic FoFs), Portfolio Management Services, Alternative Investment Funds, Offshore and Real Estate offerings.

Forward Looking Statement

From time to time, the Company makes written or oral forward-looking statements within the meaning of certain securities laws, including the "safe harbour" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release include statements (i) relating to our strategies, growth initiatives and other business objectives; (ii) that are predictive in nature or that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions; and (iii) that include words such as "intends", "expects", "will" and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this news release are stated as at the date of this release, represent the Company's current expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events and are not historical facts. These statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve assumptions and risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Some of these assumptions and risks and uncertainties are described further in the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2024 under the heading "Forward-looking Statements", in the risk factors set out in the Company's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2024 under the heading "Risk Factors" and in the Company's interim management's discussion and analysis for the quarter ended June 30, 2025 under the heading "Risk Management", in the other factors detailed in the Company's annual and interim financial statements and in the Company's other filings with Canadian and U.S. securities regulators, which are available for review at www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov, respectively. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking statements.

The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

Note to Editors: All figures in Canadian dollar unless indicated.

Media Relations: [email protected]

Investor Relations: [email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2789490/Sun_Life_Financial_Inc____Financial_News_Sun_Life_announces_the.jpg
HA NOI  Viet Nam is stepping up efforts to boost the export of Halal products to Turkey as part of its broader strategy to tap into the rapidly expanding global Halal market, valued at over US$2.5 trillion.

The Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the Vietnamese Embassy in Turkey and the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK), recently held a hybrid seminar on Halal industry cooperation between Viet Nam and Turkey. The event gathered representatives from government agencies and business communities of both countries.

The seminar aimed to strengthen bilateral trade and investment in Halal products and services, helping Vietnamese firms promote their production capacity and compliance with international Halal standards. It also served as a platform for direct connections among management agencies, certification organisations, and industry associations from both sides.

Ambassador ang Thi Thu Ha said that after nearly 50 years of diplomatic relations, Viet Nam  Turkey ties have developed dynamically, particularly since Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs visit in 2023. She noted that Halal cooperation remains a relatively new but promising field, as both countries possess complementary strengths and share strong government support. She urged stakeholders to seize opportunities to advance mutually beneficial cooperation.

Le Hoang Tai, Deputy Director of VIETRADE, said bilateral trade has maintained steady growth, surpassing $2 billion in 2024. Viet Nam is now Turkeys second-largest trading partner in ASEAN, while Turkey serves as an important gateway for Vietnamese goods to access the Middle East, Europe and North Africa.

He noted that with its large Muslim population, Turkey is both a major consumer market and a regional Halal processing hub, while Viet Nam is emerging as a reliable supplier of Halal-certified goods, particularly in processed food, agriculture, beverages, tourism and logistics.

Halal Accreditation Agency (HAK) Board Chairman Zafer said global demand for certified Halal products and services is rising sharply, with Halal certification increasingly recognised as a standard for safety, hygiene and quality. He also provided details about Turkeys certification requirements for imported Halal goods.

Yunus Ete, President of the World Halal Summit Council, emphasised the strong growth of Halal food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and tourism sectors worldwide. He highlighted Turkeys strategic position bridging Asia and Europe and invited Vietnamese businesses to attend the World Halal Summit and Halal Expo to be held in Istanbul from November 2629.

Ramlan Osman, Director of the National Halal Certification Centre (HALCERT) under the Ministry of Science and Technology, said his organisation has supported several Vietnamese enterprises in exporting to Japan and Malaysia, a model that could be replicated for the Turkish market. HALCERT, he added, also facilitates B2B connections between Vietnamese and Turkish companies to boost trade.

Despite strong potential, participants noted that Vietnamese exporters face challenges in entering the Turkish Halal market, including strict certification requirements covering ingredients, hygiene, humane production, transport and storage. The lack of mutual recognition of Halal certificates among Islamic countries also poses difficulties.

Reha Denemec, member of DEIKs Chairman Board and Chairman of the TurkeyViet Nam Business Council, affirmed that DEIK stands ready to support and connect enterprises of both sides, particularly in Halal cooperation.

Tran Viet Hung, head of Import-Export at Visimex JSC, said Vietnamese Halal goods face strong competition from established suppliers such as India, Brazil, the US, Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as from Turkish producers. High certification costs and complex procedures pose challenges for small and medium-sized firms, while some Turkish importers require locally issued Halal certificates despite recognising foreign accreditations.

With global demand for Halal products growing rapidly, Viet Nam has identified the development of a Halal ecosystem as a strategic path to boost exports and strengthen its position in global value chains. The government has been implementing programmes to help enterprises improve production capacity, product quality and certification, while deepening collaboration with international partners to facilitate access to Islamic markets.

VIETRADE will continue working closely with the Vietnamese Embassy in Turkey, the TurkeyViet Nam Business Council and relevant associations to foster effective and sustainable Halal cooperation, contributing positively to bilateral economic and trade relations, Tai said.  VNS
GIA LAI  Gia Lai Province will invest VN270 billion (US$10.6 million) in building three tourist sites in the island commune of Nhon Chau (in the former province of Binh inh), including a resort complex and a coastal park.

Nguyen Tuan Thanh, deputy chairman of its Peoples Committee, approved the projects on September 9.

The Gieng Tien  Ban Co Tien tourist area, sprawling over 34,600 sq.m and designated as a sightseeing and dining destination, will have restaurants, viewing decks and supporting facilities.

There will also be a glass bridge and walking trails to show off the natural landscape.

The second is a Bai Nam tourist site spanning 24,350 sq.m with a luxury resort with villas, bungalows, restaurants, a spa, and a private beach.

The plan allows up to 50 accommodation clusters, with a maximum total floor area of 12,200 sq.m.

The third site is a coastal park, covering 14,101 sq.m.

According to Nguyen Tuan Thanh, the implementation of the tourism develpment project aims to harness the communes natural landscape potential and advantages.

Nhon Chau Island Commune, also known as Cu Lao Xanh, is located about 24 km off the coast of the erstwhile Quy Nhon City centre. It is regarded as an attractive island destination, featuring pristine beaches and coral reefs near the shore.  VNS
HA NOI  Saigon  Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SHB) is taking the lead in promoting a cashless future as a key sponsor of Vietnam Card Day 2025, offering Gen Z users and customers nationwide a secure, modern and rewarding digital payment experience.

Under the theme 'One Touch  Million Trust,' Vietnam Card Day 2025 continues to spotlight innovation, creativity and breakthrough digital transformation. The annual event aims to make cashless payment more accessible and familiar to the public, promoting safe, convenient and smart spending habits. It also supports the implementation of Government Resolution 57 on accelerating digital payment adoption, laying the foundation for a technology-driven future of finance.

Running from September 26 to October 26, the month-long programme will culminate in 'Song Festival'  a vibrant two-day fair on October 1819 at Bach Khoa Stadium in Ha Noi. The event will feature the debut 'Cham Viet Nam' (Touch Vietnam) music concert, with 5,000 free tickets for students, alongside hundreds of booths from banks, fintech firms and lifestyle brands in technology, fashion, education and F&B, creating an immersive and youthful experience space.

As a key sponsor, SHB will host a series of interactive activities including on-site guidance for customers to open eKYC online accounts, register personalised 'lucky number' accounts and explore the next-generation SHB SAHA digital banking app.

In addition, SHB will offer exclusive promotions for customers opening new accounts or cards during the event  from gift vouchers and merchandise to referral reward programmes. These incentives not only deliver tangible benefits but also encourage safe, smart and cashless spending habits.

Customers who open new eKYC accounts via SHB SAHA will instantly receive mobile top-up discount codes, while those opting for personalised account numbers will enjoy fee waivers or special discounts. The bank also runs periodic 'Golden Day' promotions with phone top-up discounts and referral bonuses for both existing and new users  a fun and practical way to promote digital finance among Gen Z consumers.

SHBs international debit cards also come with a variety of attractive perks including e-vouchers, SHB Rewards points and cashback of up to VN300,000 per month, reinforcing the banks commitment to expanding cashless payment adoption.

Vietnam Card Day 2025 is a great opportunity for SHB to engage with customers, especially Gen Z  a generation that is dynamic, tech-savvy and open to new experiences, said an SHB representative.

We warmly invite everyone in Ha Noi to visit our booth to explore SHBs latest digital banking solutions and enjoy exclusive offers prepared for this event.

With nearly 32 years of growth and innovation, SHB has established itself as one of Viet Nams leading commercial banks, continuously expanding its operations, diversifying services and enhancing efficiency through digital transformation.

In its comprehensive transformation strategy, SHB focuses on four pillars: reforming mechanisms and processes, empowering people, putting customers and the market at the centre, and accelerating IT modernisation and digitalisation.

The bank aims to become Viet Nams top performer in operational efficiency, the most preferred digital bank and a leading retail bank, while remaining a major financial partner for key private and State-owned enterprises with integrated value chains and green growth ambitions.

SHB envisions itself as a modern retail, green and digital bank among the top in the region.  VNS
HCM CITY  For the 14th year in a row, Viet Nam Dairy Products JSC (Vinamilk) has been honoured among the Top 50 Most Effective Companies in Viet Nam (TOP50), reaffirming its resilience, leadership and enduring position as a national brand icon after nearly five decades of development.

The annual TOP50 ranking, jointly conducted by Nhip Cau au Tu magazine and Thien Viet Securities, assesses listed enterprises based on their three-year business performance using key indicators including revenue growth, return on equity and earnings per share (EPS). The methodology aims to objectively evaluate the management efficiency and growth sustainability of Vietnamese enterprises.

Since its launch in 2012, the ranking has become a respected benchmark of corporate excellence. Vinamilks 14 consecutive appearances on the list mark a rare achievement that underscores its consistent strength and adaptability in the face of economic fluctuations over the past two decades.

In the first half of 2025, Vinamilk recorded consolidated net revenue of VN29.7 trillion, fulfilling 46.1 per cent of its annual target, with domestic sales reaching VN23.6 trillion and overseas revenue hitting more than VN6 trillion.

As of Q2 2025, the companys gross profit margin improved to 42 per cent, up 170 basis points from the previous quarter, thanks to scale efficiencies. Consolidated post-tax profit reached VN2.5 trillion in Q2, bringing total profit for the first six months of the year to over VN4 trillion, equivalent to 42.1 per cent of the full-year plan, while EPS stood at VN1,720.

During the same period, Vinamilk continued to accelerate R&D activities, launching or upgrading over 70 products that reflect its ongoing innovation in nutrition and product development. The new portfolio spans high-protein milk, plant-based beverages, immune-boosting products and specialised nutrition for seniors  each designed to capture rising consumer trends and enhance customer experience, particularly for younger demographics.

Vinamilk also continues to expand globally, now present in 65 international markets, with export revenue surpassing 20 per cent of total consolidated revenue for the first time  a major milestone for the Vietnamese dairy industry.

A key characteristic shared by companies in the TOP50 is their ability to sustain strong revenue and profit growth while demonstrating strategic focus and commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. Sustainable development is one of Vinamilk's four strategic pillars under its 20222026 roadmap.

Under the message 'We Change for You', Vinamilk continues to evolve in line with consumer trends, emphasising innovation, product improvement and operational efficiency. New and upgraded products have already contributed around 10 per cent of revenue within their respective categories, underscoring the tangible results of this transformation.

In August, Vinamilk was awarded an AAA+ brand rating by Brand Finance, the highest level of brand strength, and was recognised internationally as the dairy brand with the most potential. It also remains the only Vietnamese dairy enterprise featured in the Fortune 500 Southeast Asia 2025 list, published by Fortune magazine in June.

With Vinamilks growing global presence, Viet Nam has moved into the worlds top five contributors to the global dairy value chain in 2025. Vinamilk also claimed first place in two major categories at the World Dairy Innovation Awards, further cementing its international reputation for quality and innovation.  VNS
HA NOI  The Vietnamese stock market surged on Monday as investors reacted with optimism to the upcoming FTSE Russell market upgrade announcement scheduled for October 8.

The benchmark VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) posted its largest increase in a month, with 259 stocks closing above reference prices, nearly 8.5 per cent hitting their ceiling prices. The index soared nearly 50 points from its reference level to close at 1,695.5 points, just 0.5 points below its session high. Liquidity climbed to over VN32.2 trillion (US$1.2 billion).

The VN30-Index, which tracks large-cap stocks, added 59.46 points, or 3.2 per cent, to reach a record 1,918.97 points. In the large-cap basket, 29 stocks gained, with three hitting ceiling prices, while LPBank (LPB) declined 1.3 per cent.

Securities led the rally, boosted by expectations of direct benefits from the upgrade. SSI Securities Corporation (SSI), Vietcap (VCI), VNDirect Securities Company (VND), VIX Securities JSC (VIX) and Tien Phong Securities Corporation (ORS) all hit ceiling prices and closed with no sellers.

In banking, VPBank (VPB) performed strongly, closing at its 7 per cent daily maximum. TPBank (TPB), Sacombank (STB), Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (ACB), Eximbank (EIB), HDBank (HDB), Sahabank (SHB) and Vietnam International Commercial Joint Stock Bank (VIB) recorded gains above 4 per cent, while BIDV (BID), Vietcombank (VCB) and Vietinbank (CTG) rose between 2.4 per cent and 3.7 per cent.

The real estate sector traded energetically, with Hadoco (HDG), DIC Group (DIG) and Phat Dat Real Estate Development (PDR) reaching ceiling prices, while mid-cap stocks Nam Long Investment Corporation (NLG), Novaland (NVL) and KDH gained 46 per cent. Vin-family stocks also performed well, with Vincom Retail (VRE) at its ceiling, and Vingroup (VIC) and Vinhomes (VHM) rising 1.8 per cent and 2.7 per cent, respectively.

On the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX), the HNX-Index rose 8.94 points, or 3.36 per cent, to 274.69 points.

However, foreign investors continued to sell, offloading nearly VN2 trillion on HoSE and VN38.3 billion on HNX.

Analysts warn the market may remain volatile in the coming session amid positive sentiment, advising investors to avoid chasing prices as technical adjustments occur near previous highs. BIZHUB/VNS
HCM CITY  South Koreas Lotte Group has reversed course on its plan to pull out of the long-stalled Eco Smart City project in HCM City, seeking to revive the US$760 million development less than two months after formally requesting to terminate it.

Jun Sung Ho, CEO of Lotte Properties HCMC, said last Friday that the company wanted to proceed with the high-profile project in the Thu Thiem New Urban Area, following recent meetings with city leaders and a government report to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh pledging to address investor concerns.

The statement marks a sharp shift from August, when Lotte filed documents with the citys Department of Finance to withdraw from the project, citing unresolved legal hurdles and mounting costs.

The company had complained that delayed land appraisals saddled it with late-payment penalties amounting to trillions of Vietnamese ong.

Approved in 2017 and ceremonially launched in 2022, the 7.4-hectare smart city development was envisioned as a landmark mixed-use complex with luxury residences, hotels, retail, and offices.

Yet construction has not started, leaving the site dormant and sparking sharp criticism from National Assembly leaders over waste and investor confidence.

At the meeting last Friday, Jun said Lotte is now seeking approval to restructure its shareholding, bring in outside investors with up to 35 per cent stakes, and secure an exemption from a supplementary 5.4 per cent land-use fee.

Nguyen Van uoc, Chairman of the HCM City Peoples Committee, reiterated the citys support, urging Lotte to work with local departments to resolve bottlenecks.

We hope foreign investors, including Lotte, will keep faith in the business environment in HCMC and Viet Nam, he said.

The Eco Smart City, with plans for five underground and 60 above-ground floors, was initially pitched as a symbol of Lottes Viet Nam expansion and a flagship of South KoreaViet Nam cooperation.

Its reversal of the withdrawal request may offer a reprieve for the city, which has faced scrutiny over protracted approval delays and land-use disputes.

Still, the project remains under legal and financial pressure. Lotte has not yet submitted formal termination documents, leaving the development in limbo.  VNS
Nguyen Hang

HA NOI  A clear legal framework needs to be finalised, incentives introduced to attract investment and an efficient waste management system build transforming cement kilns into 'green factories'.

Experts say this would simultaneously tackle plastic pollution and cut industrial emissions to unlock the potential of waste co-processing in cement plants.

Kare Helge Karstensen, Chief Scientist at SINTEF, one of Europe's largest independent research organisations, said Viet Nam could harness its co-processing potential through three decisive actions.

It should also introduce mandatory regulations, requiring all waste with a calorific value above 1,500 kcal/kg to be directed to cement kilns or waste-to-energy (WtE) plants, with clear timelines and phased targets.

Strengthening waste separation at source to improve the quality of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) and ensure transparency is also necessary.

Viet Nam is advised to enforce QCVN 41:2025 to global standards; update emission limits and align them with the best available techniques and practices (BAT/BEP); implement continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS), require independent audits and make data publicly accessible to ensure reliability.

Suggestions are also needed to encourage infrastructure for waste collection and RDF production, support the development of pre-treatment centres for RDF through publicprivate partnerships (PPPs), adjust waste treatment fees, offer tax exemptions and carbon credits based on the thermal substitution rate (TSR) achieved by enterprises.

Standardising RDF quality is also essential to guarantee a stable and long-term fuel supply for cement kilns.

Karstensen made the recommendations at the workshop 'From Pilot to Policy: Addressing Non-Recyclable Plastic Waste through Co-Processing in the Cement Industry', held in Ha Noi on Friday.

The event was jointly organised by the Norwegian Embassy in Viet Nam, the Viet Nam Cement Association and SINTEF.

Associate Professor Luong uc Long, Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Cement Association, emphasised that the association hopes to work closely with environmental companies to convert waste into alternative fuels.

He also called for concrete Government incentives so that businesses engaged in co-processing can benefit from support policies, and for technical consultancy organisations to assist in transferring co-processing technology.

With shared determination, we can scale up this model, turning waste into black gold, making cement plants ideal co-processing facilities, and contributing to a greener, cleaner, more beautiful Viet Nam in the era of national growth, he said.

Viet Nam Cement Association Chairman, Nguyen Quang Cung, said that waste now exists virtually everywhere, on land, in cities, across the oceans and even on Mount Everest.

Although various technologies are used for waste treatment, many generate secondary pollution during processing.

Co-processing waste in cement clinker kilns is seen as the most complete treatment solution, as it generates no new pollution, he said.

While treating waste, including plastic and marine debris, offers clear environmental benefits, it also requires State mechanisms to provide financial support and guidance on waste collection and pre-treatment by region, prioritising suitable technologies, he added.

Norwegian Ambassador to Viet Nam Hilde Solbakken said that co-processing can be a complementary solution, working alongside other waste management systems.

Dry, burnable materials such as low-value plastics and old textiles are ideal for cement kilns, while mixed household waste can be directed to waste-to-energy plants.

With good planning and coordination, Viet Nam can harmonise different approaches, maximise available waste and expand its treatment capacity, she added.

Scaling up this solution requires more than technical know-how.

It demands supportive policies, reliable financing and active participation from private sector partners.

Inter-ministerial collaboration across the environment, construction, industry and finance sectors is vital, along with a focus on innovation and long-term sustainability.

At the local level, waste systems must be ready to handle and segregate low-value plastics, especially from informal workers and craft villages.

Huge potential but challenges ahead

Talking to Viet Nam News on the sideline of the workshop, Karstensen said while around 10 to 12 cement plants in Viet Nam currently engage in co-processing, the country has nearly 60 plants and 90 kilns, signalling enormous untapped potential.

However, he cautioned that cement plants need reliable waste sources nearby, typically within a 200-kilometre radius, to ensure cost-effective operations.

Karstensen also said that logistics and supply chains are crucial.

Some cement plants are far from waste sources, making transport costs too high.

There needs to be synergy between waste generation, supply and processing, and local authorities must be open to co-processing, he said.

Crucially, there must be a level playing field, he said.

Waste-to-energy incinerators in Viet Nam often receive subsidies or tax breaks, whereas co-processing does not, creating an uneven policy environment. Both options should be treated equally, economically and regulatory.

Long, Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Cement Association also pointed out that the biggest challenge now is the unstable waste supply".

Cement plants were originally designed to use coal and shifting to co-processing requires additional investment.

If plants cannot operate continuously due to insufficient waste, the business case is weak, so many are hesitant to invest, he said.

He added that environmental impact assessment (EIA) requirements are another barrier.

Factories wishing to adopt co-processing must redo their EIAs, which are time-consuming and complicated. Simplifying EIA procedures would greatly encourage investment, he said.

Perfect solution to plastic waste

Karstensen, also Director of the Ocean Plastic Turned into an Opportunity in Circular Economy (OPTOCE) Programme, said co-processing non-recyclable plastics in cement kilns is not only technically feasible and environmentally sound but also capable of delivering rapid, large-scale impact.

Norways assessment shows that Viet Nam faces a 'double challenge', rising plastic waste and increasing carbon emissions.

Rapid urbanisation and consumption have driven a surge in hard-to-recycle plastics, many of which leak into rivers and seas, threatening marine ecosystems and coastal livelihoods.

At the same time, Viet Nam is striving for net-zero emissions by 2050 and implementing its Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) commitments.

Ambassador Solbakken said that in the context, co-processing non-recyclable plastics in cement kilns offers a scientifically proven, practical solution: diverting plastics from landfills and waterways, replacing fossil fuels, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, all in one integrated process.

Cement kilns operate at extremely high temperatures, destroying hazardous compounds completely. Instead of generating ash waste, minerals are absorbed directly into the cement product. Unlike traditional incineration, co-processing prevents methane emissions and produces no toxic fly ash.

She also said, co-processing is also financially compelling.

A study in India found that using co-processing to treat waste costs around US$25 per tonne, less than half $62 per tonne it takes to burn it in traditional incineration.

This makes co-processing a quicker and cheaper way to cut down on coal and reduce plastic pollution, she added.

This is particularly relevant to Viet Nam, where the cement sector emits over 60 million tonnes of CO annually, accounting for more than 15 per cent of national emissions.

Co-processing offers a cleaner, climate-friendly pathway that supports Viet Nams net-zero ambition, she said.

Turning plastic waste into opportunity

Data revealed at the workshop said Viet Nams per capita plastic consumption has risen tenfold, from 4kg in 1990 to 40kg today.

The country produces over 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with 60-70 per cent dumped at 1,180 largely substandard landfill sites.

Only about 20 per cent is recycled, mostly PET and HDPE , while while flexible plastics lack markets .

By 2030, as much as 373,000 tonnes of plastic could leak into waterways, double the 2018 figure.

The Norwegian-funded project OPTOCE, led by SINTEF, has demonstrated the power of large-scale co-processing. The programme was launched in Viet Nam in 2019.

Across eight Asian countries, including Viet Nam, 20 pilot trials have already processed more than one million tonnes of non-recyclable plastic from rivers and landfills, replacing 500,000 tonnes of coal and significantly cutting CO2 emissions.

Scientific assessments confirm that co-processing is environmentally safe and does not increase dioxin or other pollutant emissions.

In Viet Nam, OPTOCE has partnered with major cement producers for pilot projects.

INSEE (formerly Holcim) in Hon Chong Island, southern Viet Nam, has co-processed plastic waste from the countrys largest paper producer and the leather industry.

In the north, Lam Thach Cement Plant has successfully treated non-recyclable plastic waste from Minh Khai craft village in Hung Yen Province and Trang Minh craft village in Hai Phong City.

Both INSEE and Lam Thach have achieve TSR rates of 35-40 per cent.

These results dispel doubts about technical feasibility and environmental safety, proving that with the right policies and cooperation, Viet Nam can rapidly expand co-processing, reducing coal use and cutting plastic leakage.  VNS
VIENTIANE Home to more than 500 Vietnamese-language books, the Vietnamese Bookcase at Phat Tich Pagoda in Vientiane has become a familiar destination for students of the pagodas free Vietnamese classes, serving as a bridge nurturing a love for the Vietnamese language, culture, and knowledge among the Lao community.

Nearly ten years ago, when free Vietnamese classes at Phat Tich Pagoda were first held on a regular basis, learners expressed the need for additional study materials. In response, Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, a Vietnamese expatriate living in Laos, initiated the idea of establishing the Vietnamese Bookcase.

Huyen told the Vietnam News Agency that the collection initially featured fewer than 100 books, mostly contributed by members of the Vietnamese community. Today, it has grown to include over 500 volumes spanning language, culture, history, geography, medicine, and science. Many valuable publications have also been donated by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (SCOVA), further enriching the collections diversity and usefulness for learners.

Among the regular visitors to the bookcase is Lao student Thatdao Santhavai, who has studied Vietnamese at the pagoda for about two years. Working in the healthcare sector, she often reads Vietnamese medical books to improve both her professional knowledge and vocabulary, finding the materials highly beneficial to her work.

Since 2016, with support from the pagoda and efforts of the Vietnamese community, both the free Vietnamese-language classes and the bookcase have been sustained. The two initiatives complement each other, contributing to a growing movement of Vietnamese learning and reading in Laos. SCOVA has repeatedly donated books and plans to provide additional bookcases for the Vietnamese community in Champasak province, helping expand the reading culture and language-learning activities across the country.

The Vietnamese classes at Phat Tich Pagoda are unique in that all teachers are volunteers  Vietnamese nationals living and working in Laos. They not only teach the language but also foster appreciation for Vietnamese culture. The classes attract both Vietnamese expatriates and Lao learners, including government officials seeking to enhance their Vietnamese proficiency for professional and cultural exchange purposes. As such, the classes have become a vivid symbol of Viet NamLaos friendship, connecting people of the two nations through language and shared learning.

Looking ahead, Huyen and her team plan to digitise the bookcase, uploading materials to online platforms so that overseas Vietnamese and Lao readers with an interest in the Vietnamese language can easily access them. If realised, the digital project will extend the reach of Vietnamese-language resources to communities in other provinces of Laos, including those unable to visit Vientiane directly.

More than just a collection of books, the Vietnamese Bookcase at Phat Tich Pagoda stands as a meaningful symbol of cultural preservation and exchange, a testament to the enduring bond between Viet Nam and Laos, and to the belief that as long as the language endures, the nation endures. VNA/VNS




Step Inside Lauren Tsai's Immersive Dreamscape and Rediscover Childhood Wonders

Meet Lauren in Person and Enrich Your Experiences

Renowned figures from the art world, including Japanese artist Takashi Murakami and legendary tattoo artist Dr. Woo, attended the grand opening party.

Event Details

Exclusive Merchandise at the Pop-Up Store

HONG KONG SAR - Media OuReach Newswire - 25 March 2025 - In celebration of Hong Kong Arts Month, LANDMARK proudly presents, the world debut large-scale installation by multifaceted global artist Lauren Tsai. From 25March to 7April, LANDMARK ATRIUM will be transformed into an immersive dreamscape  a realm where nostalgia meets imagination and memory intertwines with reinvention, inviting visitors of all ages to rediscover the wonder of childhood imagination.Drawing inspiration from classical fantasy narratives, the installation reimagines LANDMARK ATRIUM as a whimsical miniature civilisation. Here, visitors become benevolent giants, towering over intricately crafted dwellings that echo forgotten stories, inviting moments of introspection and play.At the heart of this world stands a majestic apple tree, melding with its surroundings and filling its trunk with pieces of the town. More than a symbol of connectedness and growth, the tree evokes a sense of a moment suspended in time, beckoning visitors to explore a landscape that feels both personal and universally resonant. Smaller satellite homes encircle the tree, acting as storytelling portals filled with Lauren's paintings, drawings, and sculptures.exists at the intersection of past and present, conjuring the lingering traces of childhood dreams  those that may fade but never truly vanish.Lauren Tsai's work delves into themes of memory, identity, and fleeting yet profound dreams.extends this vision into an interactive, living space. This hybrid installation characterises Lauren's artistry as part of a broader participatory ecosystem, where animation and illustration are no longer confined to the page but materialise into a tactile, navigable environment. Lauren brings her imaginative, illustrated worlds to life in a fully realised, three-dimensional context, blurring the boundaries between art and experience.is an exploration of the spaces we carry with us  the experiences that shape us, fade from view, yet somehow remain," says. "It is a reflection on memory, home, and how our dreams evolve over time. While deeply personal, I hope this installation allows visitors to step into their own dreamscapes, rediscovering the wonder of childhood imagination." Choosing Hong Kong and LANDMARK for her world premiere, Lauren was drawn to the city's interwoven narratives of history, modernity, and artistic innovation."We are delighted to collaborate with Lauren Tsai on this unique installation," says. "This project aligns perfectly with our vision of bringing transformative artistic experiences to our community  immersive, thought-provoking, and universally resonant."LANDMARK is extending the reach of theinstallation with a dedicated pop-up store offering exclusive merchandise starting 25March. Key items include Lauren's first collaboration with the iconic Japanese streetwear brand HUMAN MADE, which features two styles of limited-edition T-shirts that embody her artistic vision, as well as Lauren's original artworks and printed drawings. The store also includes an exclusive pin design, figurative decoration created with HOW2WORK, and a collection of lifestyle items personally designed by Lauren.Additionally, the Mandarin Cake Shop pop-up located at B1 of LANDMARK ATRIUM presents a culinary complement to the installation, featuring the limited-edition an exquisite apple tart limited to 20 pieces daily.25 March 2025 to 7 April 202510:30am  7:30pmG/F, LANDMARK ATRIUMHashtag: #LANDMARKHK

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About LANDMARK

LANDMARK represents the epitome of top-tier luxury shopping and lifestyle experiences. Drawing from a rich heritage which began in 1904  LANDMARK today is the luxury shopping destination of Hongkong Land's Central portfolio including 4 iconic connected buildings, LANDMARK ATRIUM, LANDMARK ALEXANDRA, LANDMARK CHATER and LANDMARK PRINCE'S. LANDMARK offers approximately 208 of the finest stores and restaurants, all seamlessly linked by pedestrian bridges. From high fashion and accessories to watches and jewellery, from luxury living to beauty and grooming, from international cuisine to authentic gourmet dining, LANDMARK brings the ultimate shopping experience to the discerning customer.

About Hongkong Land

Hongkong Land is a major listed property investment, management and development group. The Group focuses on developing, owning and managing ultra-premium mixed-use real estate in Asian gateway cities, featuring Grade A office, luxury retail, residential and hospitality products. Its mixed-use real estate footprint spans more than 850,000 sq. m., with flagship projects in Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai. Its properties hold industry leading green building certifications and attract the world's foremost companies and luxury brands. The Group's Hong Kong Central portfolio represents some 450,000 sq. m. of prime property. The Group has a further 165,000 sq. m. of prestigious office space in Singapore mainly held through joint ventures and five retail centres on the Chinese mainland, including a luxury retail centre at Wangfujing in Beijing. In Shanghai, the Group owns a 43% interest in a 1.1 million sq. m. mixed-use project in West Bund. Due to be completed in 2028. Hongkong Land Holdings Limited is incorporated in Bermuda and has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange, with secondary listings in Bermuda and Singapore. The Group's assets and investments are managed from Hong Kong by Hongkong Land Limited. Hongkong Land is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.

About Lauren Tsai

Lauren Tsai (b. 1998) is a captivating, multifaceted global artist contributing to contemporary cultural discourse through her world building and character-driven work across medium. Drawing inspiration from her Chinese and American heritage and experiences living between the US and Japan, Tsai crafts a globalised visual language to explore themes of memory, identity, emotion, and the interplay between reality and imagination. Her illustrations, characterised by intricate details and vibrant colours, capture fleeting moments and deep feelings, inviting viewers into a world where fantasy and reality intertwine. Tsai's art flows between digital and traditional mediums, transcending boundaries and captivating audiences worldwide.



About UNVEIL LIMITED

Established in 2019, UNVEIL LIMITED is a multidisciplinary agency based in Hong Kong, providing creative service ranging from brand direction, exhibition curation, graphic / interior design, publication to large-scale art installation. Founded with the vision of cultivating the boundaries between art, design and culture, UNVEIL LIMITED has worked with world renowned to emerging artists.


BOSTON, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The China Fund, Inc. (NYSE: CHN) (the "Fund") announced today that a Special Meeting of Fund stockholders is scheduled to be held virtually at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern time) on October 21, 2025 (the "Special Meeting"), to approve a plan of liquidation and dissolution (the "Plan") for the Fund. More detailed information about the proposed liquidation and Plan is set forth in a proxy statement to be mailed on or around October 9, 2025, to the Fund's stockholders of record. The Board of Directors (the "Board") previously approved the Plan, and recommends that the Fund's stockholders vote for the liquidation of the Fund at the Special Meeting.

The Fund filed a proxy statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") today with respect to the proposal to liquidate the Fund. As noted, copies of the Fund's proxy statement will also be mailed to each stockholder of record of the Fund. The Board has fixed the close of business on September 26, 2025, as the record date for the determination of the stockholders of the Fund entitled to notice of and to vote at the Fund's Special Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof. Upon receipt, stockholders are advised to read the Fund's proxy statement as it will contain important information. The proxy statement is available free of charge on the SEC website, www.sec.gov.

If stockholders approve the Fund's liquidation, the Fund expects to distribute to stockholders the Fund's liquidation proceeds in the form of one or more cash payments in complete cancellation of all outstanding shares of the Fund as soon as practicable after the Special Meeting. The Fund expects to provide further details regarding the liquidation of the Fund following the conclusion of the Special Meeting.

This press release may contain statements regarding plans and expectations for the future that constitute forward-looking statements within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on the Fund's current plans and expectations, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning such risks and uncertainties are contained in the Fund's regulatory filings, which are available free of charge on the SEC's website. An investment in the Fund involves risk, including loss of principal. Investment return and the value of shares will fluctuate. Any data and commentary provided in this press release are for informational purposes only.

The Fund is a closed-end management investment company. The Fund's investment manager is Matthews International Capital Management, LLC. For further information regarding the Fund, please call (888)-446-7616 or visit the Fund's website at www.chinafundinc.com. The information contained on the Fund's website is not part of this press release. Copies of the Fund's complete audited financial statements are available free of charge upon request.

Investments involve risk, including possible loss of principal, and an investment should be made with an understanding of the risks involved with owning a particular security or asset class. Interested parties are strongly encouraged to seek advice from qualified tax and financial experts regarding the best options for your particular circumstances.

SOURCE The China Fund, Inc.
Yuyuan Lantern Festival 2025 Lights Up Bangkok to Celebrate 50 Years of ThaiChinese Diplomatic Ties

BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 1 July 2025 -, the global landmark along the Chao Phraya River, joins hands with, the legendary host of China's most prestigious lantern festival to present theTitledthis spectacular event transforms the banks of the Chao Phraya River into a mythical realm of lights and stories. Held from now until, the festival runs daily fromat, and is open to the publicThis marks theis being held in Thailand. More than a cultural event, it symbolizes the strong bond between Thailand and China and highlights the power of cultural arts to bridge nations and bring people of different backgrounds closer together. It also reinforces ICONSIAM's commitment to its role as a, striving to become a central hub for international artistic collaboration and cultural exchange, offering world-class cultural experiences to every visitor.With a history spanning over 100 years, theis a crown jewel of. Its arrival in Thailand for the first time commemorates the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The festival is themed, drawing inspiration from the ancient Chinese text("Classic of Mountains and Seas") and blending it with the concept of aa magical realm along the river designed to resemble a floating island adorned with contemporary lanterns. These lanterns incorporate light, shadow, and interactive technology, with each installation appearing as a mystical island inhabited by fantastical creatures from the classic novel, celebrating the deep-rooted friendship between Thailand and China in a spectacular and imaginative way.Beyond the breathtaking lantern installations, visitors can enjoy a rich program of cultural activities including. These activities encourage cross-cultural exchange in art, culture, cuisine, and business between the two nationsilluminated under the glow of lanterns that symbolize the light of ThaiChinese friendship shining brightly for the world to see.Theis. The festival runs until, daily from, at. For more information, visit:Hashtag: #YuyuanLanternFestival2025 #YuyuanAtICONSIAM #50YearsOfThaiChineseFriendship #GrandChineseLanternFestivalOnTheChaoPhrayaRiver #ICONSIAM

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Mariam J. Sherman*

Science, technology and innovation will shape Viet Nams future, its standing in the world, and the lives of its people for decades to come. The nation stands at a pivotal moment, armed with landmark reforms and a clear determination to carve out its place as a high-tech powerhouse. The question is no longer if Viet Nam should pursue this path, but how it can win the global race for talent and technology.

Viet Nam enters this race with real advantages: a young, talented workforce eager to learn; hard-won macroeconomic stability; a strategic location in Asias most dynamic growth corridor; and a proven ability to adapt and overcome. What is needed now is not just ambition, but an actionable strategy.

Drawing on global experience, we propose a 'three-plus-one' formula, detailed in the World Banks new report, Forging Viet Nam's Semiconductor Future: Talent and Innovation Leading the Way. This framework rests on three core pillars - talent, an innovation ecosystem and supply chain linkages - bound together by one crucial element: a sharp focus on a few, targeted clusters of innovation excellence.

The first pillar: a deep reservoir of talent

The bedrock of any high-tech ambition is its people: skilled workers, top-tier researchers and visionary technopreneurs. To compete globally, Viet Nam needs not only more graduates but also more technicians, scientists and engineers trained at advanced, world-class levels. This requires building bigger, better talent pipelines. Universities need significant investment to raise both the quantity and quality of undergraduate and postgraduate training, empowering faculty and students to conduct cutting-edge research and gain relevant industry experience.

Vocational colleges are just as crucial. They must be at the center of talent development, co-designing training programmes directly with firms to supply the skilled technicians that high-tech industries depend on.

However, developing talent is only half the battle; attracting and retaining it is the other. Nearly 65 per cent of Viet Nams top tech talent in critical and emerging technologies currently work overseas. This is not a loss, but a latent opportunity. Creating the right conditions for this diaspora to return and thrive can close knowledge and network gaps that might otherwise take decades to fill. Investing in people is the fundamental first step.

The second pillar: a thriving innovation ecosystem

The second pillar is building an ecosystem where research can flourish, ideas can move from the lab to the market, and startups can scale into homegrown unicorns. This requires a 'triple helix' partnership that tightly weaves together academia, government, and industry.

Viet Nam has laid important groundwork. In 2025, it ranks an impressive 44th on the Global Innovation Index, and Ho Chi Minh City is already one of Southeast Asias most dynamic innovation hubs. Yet, higher-value work - like product design, engineering, and commercialising research - is still in its infancy. From 2010 to 2020, Viet Nam filed fewer than 100 patents in the top five international patent offices, with virtually none in semiconductors. This is where the greatest opportunity for growth lies.

Boosting public and private investment in R&D infrastructure is critical. For semiconductors, we call for urgent investment in national semiconductor R&D hubs - world-class facilities where universities, researchers, and startups can share access to high-performance computing, advanced design tools and services to prototype and test chip designs. These hubs accelerate innovation and give students and scientists the hands-on experience needed to turn brilliant designs into reality.

The third pillar: forging deeper supply chain linkages

The third pillar focuses on deepening the ties between Viet Nams domestic companies and major foreign-invested (FDI) firms. The goal is straightforward: help Vietnamese enterprises capture more value by evolving from simple suppliers into trusted co-innovators and long-term partners of multinationals.

To accelerate this, we propose a collaborative partnership model where FDI firms, local companies, and the government co-invest to upgrade the capabilities of local firms. This approach is grounded in proven successes. In Singapore, a government partnership matches multinational spending to lift SME suppliers through joint R&D. In Ireland, a national scheme pairs global buyers with local firms and co-finances upgrades.

In Viet Nam, this could take the form of an FDI firm mentoring local SMEs to meet global standards, with government funding tied to results. It could also back joint projects to test prototypes or localise key components, creating direct entry points into a multinationals production cycle. The payoff is clear: knowledge is anchored in Viet Nam, local companies win more business, and a generation of highly skilled talent is built and retained.

The plus one: the power of focus

Finally, the plus one that ties it all together is a relentless focus on a few well-chosen clusters of innovation excellence. Look at our neighbours: China has the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou corridor, the Republic of Korea has its Daedeok Science Town, and Singapore has dedicated innovation districts. Their common feature is a high concentration of universities, R&D institutes and high-tech firms in one geographic area.

Imagine Saigon High Tech Park and Hoa Lac High Tech Park ten years from now as the heart of an innovation cluster for advanced manufacturing - semiconductors, biomedicine and robotics. These could be ecosystems where the entire journey, from training and R&D to prototyping and full-scale production, happens in one place. Such clusters are powerful magnets for talent and ideas, inspiring young people to pursue careers in science and attracting the global Vietnamese diaspora home.

This journey requires a whole-of-nation effort. The government sets the vision, businesses drive innovation, universities cultivate talent, and international partners like the World Bank can bring global expertise and financing.

Viet Nams development story has always been one of resilience and ambition. The next chapter - a high-tech future built on homegrown innovation - is within reach. This future becomes real when we turn vision into action, starting now. VNS

*Mariam J. Sherman is the World Bank Division Director for Viet Nam, Cambodia and Lao PDR
HA NOI - Cuban media have underscored the significance of President of the National Assembly of Peoples Power and President of the Council of the State of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandezs official visit to Viet Nam from September 30 to October 5.

The coverage stressed the importance of bilateral inter-parliamentary cooperation mechanisms in strengthening the two countries solidarity, special friendship and comprehensive partnership.

As part of the visit, the Cuban leader and Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man co-chaired the second session of the VietnamCuba Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee.

Both sides exchanged experiences, recommendations and proposals to enhance cooperation, particularly in economy, finance, agriculture, renewable energy and biotechnology, alongside other areas of mutual interest. They stressed the role of parliaments as a key driver in promoting and deepening bilateral relations.

In his closing remarks, Cubas top legislator affirmed that the session demonstrated the effectiveness of the working mechanism between the two legislatures, while also reflecting the growing political and multi-faceted cooperation, especially the implementation of agreements reached by high-ranking Party and State leaders during the visit to Cuba by Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam in September 2024.

Cuban media also highlighted the Cuban guests bilateral meetings with General Secretary Lam, State President Luong Cuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, noting their contribution to consolidating the historic fraternal ties between the two countries.

Reports further cited General Secretary Lams affirmation in their meeting that Viet Nam and Cuba are friends, partners, and brothers and will always support each other.

The two sides affirmed that the fraternal ties, special solidarity and cooperation over the past 65 years have become a symbol of pure, faithful and enduring international camaraderie.

Viet Nam and Cuba established diplomatic relations on December 2, 1960, and the year 2025 has been designated as their friendship year to mark the 65th anniversary of such special ties. - VNS
HA NOI  President of the National Assembly of Peoples Power and President of the Council of State of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez left Ha Noi on October 5 night, successfully concluding his six-day official visit to Viet Nam at the invitation of Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

He was seen off at Noi Bai International Airport by Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs ang Hoang Giang, among others.

While in Viet Nam, the Cuban leader laid wreaths at the Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh, the monument to war heroes and martyrs, and the statue of Cuban national hero Jose Marti in Ha Noi. He was received by Party General Secretary To Lam, met with State President Luong Cuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and held talks with NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

General Secretary Lam laid stress on Viet Nam's commitment to consolidating the time-honoured solidarity and all-round cooperation with Cuba, emphasising that the ties between the two Communist Parties form the cornerstone of the bilateral relations. He urged the Cuban parliament to continue facilitating economic, trade, and investment cooperation, particularly in agriculture, renewable energy, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals, serving the development needs in each nation. The Party chief suggested both sides foster the exchange of theories and practical experience as Viet Nam will organise the 14th National Party Congress and Cuba will hold the ninth National Party Congress next year.

For his part, Lazo Hernandez praised Viet Nam's achievements under the leadership of the Communist Party over the recent past, expressing his confidence that the country will deliver on its strategic goals in the new era. He also underlined Cubas interest in drawing lessons from Viet Nam's reform process as the Caribbean country prepares for its ninth National Party Congress in 2026.

In the meetings with State President Cuong and PM Chinh, the leaders of both countries voiced their appreciation for the exemplary Viet NamCuba relationship, founded by President Ho Chi Minh and leader Fidel Castro Ruz and nurtured by successive generations of leaders and people. They praised the state visit to Cuba by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam in September 2024 and the state visit to Viet Nam by First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez in early September 2025 as important milestones that deepened political trust and opened new directions for economic, trade and investment cooperation.

Both sides pledged to closely monitor the implementation of agreements, particularly in food security, energy, and biotechnology, while preparing joint activities to celebrate the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025 as well as creating favourable conditions to encourage broader participation by organisations and enterprises from both countries in each nation's socio-economic development. Besides, they concurred to promote collaboration in economy  trade and investment, especially in the strategic areas that high-ranking leaders of both sides agreed, and expand cooperation in other potential domains.

The talks between NA Chairman Man and his Cuban counterpart Lazo Hernandez took place in an atmosphere of warm friendship. The two leaders shared updates on their respective countries and recent parliamentary activities, exchanging notes on directions and measures to further strengthen the special friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the Parties, States, parliaments and people of Viet Nam and Cuba. They also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Both leaders were unanimous to exchange experience in legislative work, implement major the Party's decisions in the new era, and prepare for and successfully hold the National Party Congresses of the two nations in 2026. They committed to sharing expertise and encouraging enterprise development, attracting foreign investment, managing finance, developing agricultural production, applying science and technology, digital transformation and other areas of common parliamentary interest, thereby contributing to consolidating, diversifying and improving the effectiveness of Viet NamCuba comprehensive cooperation.

At the second session of Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, the two sides discussed ways to improve policy frameworks for enterprise development, foreign investment attraction, application of advanced technology in agricultural production, and biotech and health collaboration. They also evaluated and outlined measures to promote the effective implementation of the signed agreements, while affirming enhanced coordination at international and regional inter-parliamentary forums where both parliaments are members. Both sides pledged to increase consultation on legislative development to facilitate the implementation of bilateral commitments and coordinate in building and perfecting special mechanisms to encourage Vietnamese enterprises to expand investment in Cuba, and bolster cooperation between localities.

The session concluded with a joint communique, announcing that the committees third meeting will be held in Havana.

During his stay in Viet Nam, the Cuban leader paid working trips to HCM City and Hung Yen Province and visited the Viet Nam Military History Museum.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam will pay a state visit to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) from October 9 to 11 at the invitation of Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers Party of Korea (WPK) and President of the State Affairs of the DPRK, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

During the visit, General Secretary To Lam is also expected to attend celebrations marking the 80th founding anniversary of the Workers Party of Korea.

This is the first visit by a Vietnamese leader to the DPRK in nearly 20 years, following Party chief Nong uc Manhs trip to the East Asian country in 2007.

North Korean top leader Kim Jong Uns most recent visit to Viet Nam was in 2019, when he attended the DPRKUS Summit in Ha Noi.

This will be Lams first visit to North Korea as General Secretary, just two months after his state visit to South Korea in August this year.

The visit takes place as Viet Nam and the DPRK mark the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations (January 31, 19502025). Earlier this year, senior leaders of both countries exchanged congratulatory messages to celebrate this milestone.

Viet Nam and DPRK officially established diplomatic relations in January 1950. DPRK was the third country, after China and the Soviet Union, to do so with Viet Nam after it declared independence in 1945.

Over the past 75 years, the traditional friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and DPRK have been consistently valued and nurtured by the Parties, States and peoples of both nations, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the wider world.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Public Security has reported significant progress in safeguarding national security and maintaining social order and safety, with public order-related crimes such as theft, robbery, murder, drug trafficking and online fraud declining sharply by 27.2 per cent compared to the same period in 2024.

The ministry said it would continue to implement strong and comprehensive measures to curb and further reduce public order-related crimes in the final months of 2025, aiming to achieve the target of 20 per cent of communes, wards and special zones being drug-free.

Speaking at a press conference on the ministrys performance in the third quarter and key tasks for the remaining months of the year held on Monday, Major General Nguyen Quoc Toan, Chief of the Office and spokesperson for the ministry, said the ministry had successfully ensured absolute security and safety for more than 1,500 activities involving Party and State leaders, international delegations, major national events and key infrastructure projects, particularly the 80th anniversary celebrations of the August Revolution and National Day (September 2).

Over the past nine months, the public security forces had investigated and solved more than 8,500 criminal cases, arresting and handling over 17,600 offenders, and apprehending or persuading 690 wanted suspects to surrender. They also detected over 7,500 drug-related cases, arrested more than 14,700 suspects and seized over 93kg of heroin, 271kg of cannabis, 776kg and over 293,000 tablets of synthetic drugs.

The ministry also investigated numerous economic and corruption cases across key sectors. These included 141 cases involving 449 individuals charged with corruption or abuse of power and 633 cases involving more than 1,500 suspects accused of economic management violations.

Traffic accidents were kept under control, showing decreases across all three indicators: 18.87 per cent fewer accidents, 6.08 per cent fewer fatalities, and 25.72 per cent fewer injuries. The force mobilised 13,890 officers and 2,318 vehicles to conduct firefighting and rescue operations, saving 569 people and recovering 261 bodies.

On the occasion of National Day (September 2), the ministry consulted the State President to grant amnesty to over 14,000 inmates.

A major milestone during the quarter was the launch of National Data Centre No 1 and the official operation of its database system, contributing to national digital transformation and the development of the digital economy, digital society and digital citizenship. The ministrys online public service portal achieved a 94.16 per cent rate of online application processing.

The public security force also promptly reorganised local police structures to align with new administrative boundaries and actively supported local authorities in operating the two-tier local government model effectively.

Looking ahead, the ministry forecast that global, regional and domestic developments would continue to pose challenges to security and social order in the final months of the year. The force would therefore ensure absolute security for key facilities, major political, cultural and social events, international conferences and activities of Party and State leaders held in Viet Nam.

Preparations were also underway to safeguard the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention on Countering Cybercrime, which would take place in Ha Noi.

The ministry would further promote scientific and technological development, innovation and digital transformation. It would also accelerate the drafting of legal documents for 2025, particularly those to be submitted to the 10th session of the 15th National Assembly.

In addition, the ministry would continue to implement Politburo Resolution No 12, which focuses on building a truly clean, strong, professional, elite and modern Peoples Public Security force, capable of meeting the demands and challenges of the new era.  VNS
HA NOI  The signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, also called "Ha Noi Convention", will be a high-level multilateral diplomatic event of profound political and legal significance, according to Deputy Minister of Public Security Senior Lieutenant General Pham The Tung.

He said the successful organisation of the event on October 2526 will demonstrate Viet Nams proactive and responsible role within the United Nations and the international community in building a safe, healthy, and law-based global cyberspace.

According to the Deputy Minister, this marks a historic milestone as the international community establishes, for the first time, a global legal framework for combatting crimes committed through information technology and cyberspace. The convention provides an important legal foundation for countries to incorporate international standards into domestic law, enhance cooperation in preventing and combating cybercrime, and build a secure, trustworthy, and healthy digital environment that promotes sustainable development.

Hanoi was chosen by the United Nations as the venue for the signing ceremony, underscoring Viet Nams reputation for peace and stability and its growing stature on the global stage. The title Ha Noi Convention marks the first time a Vietnamese city has been associated with a global multilateral treaty in an area of major international concern, reflecting the United Nations and international communitys trust in Viet Nams consistent commitment to international law and its active role in addressing global challenges.

Recognising the importance of the event, since the start of 2025, the Ministry of Public Security (MoPS) has worked closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure comprehensive and professional preparation, Tung said.

He noted that preparations have been largely complete, focusing on three key objectives: success in content; success in ensuring security, safety and protocol; and success in promoting Viet Nams image and culture internationally.

Ensuring absolute security and safety is always a top priority at major political and diplomatic events of the Party and the State. In February, the MoPS convened a meeting to launch security measures for national and international events this year, including the signing of the Ha Noi Convention. In May, it established a sub-committee on security and order, issued a comprehensive security plan, and assigned specific responsibilities to more than 30 police units and local departments to ensure tight coordination.

So far, police units have implemented around 100 security plans and measures to prevent and neutralise risks early and from afar, ensuring absolute safety throughout the preparation and event period, according to the official.

Entrusted by the Party and State to play a core role, the MoPS, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has advised authorities on the ceremony organisation, reflecting the Party and States trust in its capability, mettle, and experience in hosting multilateral activities. With extensive experience in holding the ASEAN ministerial meetings on transnational crime, INTERPOL and ASEANPOL events, along with numerous international specialised conferences, the MoPS is confident in successfully fulfilling this mission, thereby further enhancing Viet Nams international standing, he stated.

The Deputy Minister stressed that the Ha Noi Convention signing ceremony is not only a globally significant political and legal milestone but also a golden opportunity for Viet Nam to attract investment to cybersecurity  a pillar of the security industry and a vital factor of the national digital transformation process.

Over the two days (October 2526), alongside the signing ceremony, Viet Nam and international partners will engage in over 50 side events, including cybersecurity and IT exhibitions featuring leading global technology companies.

Tung expressed his belief that with the prestige gained from hosting the event, its strong market potential, and comprehensive policies, Viet Nam can make breakthrough to become a leading regional hub for cybersecurity investment, research, and development.

The Ha Noi Convention will serve as an important catalyst to realise this strategic objective, he affirmed.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Construction has called for faster disbursement of public investment in major road projects and greater completion of social housing developments to help achieve the 2025 GDP growth target of 8.5 per cent and build momentum for double-digit growth in the years ahead.

According to the ministry, in the first nine months of 2025 Viet Nam completed 455km of expressways, bringing the total length of operational expressways nationwide to about 2,476km.

Nine new projects were launched, including upgrades and expansions of bridges and tunnels on National Highway 1; the widening of the Cao BoMai Son Expressway; the connecting road between the Noi BaiLao Cai Expressway and the Tuyen QuangPhu Tho Expressway; the Cho MoiBac Kan route; National Highway 46 from fromer Vinh City to former Nam an Town (both in Nghe An Province); expansion of the La SonHoa Lien section of the NorthSouth Expressway; the second phase of weak bridge rehabilitation and connection projects on national highways; phase one of the My AnCao Lanh Expressway; and the Dau GiayTan Phu Expressway.

Six projects were completed and put into operation, including the connection of weak bridges on national highways; the Bai VotHam Nghi and Ham NghiVung Ang sections; the Van PhongNha Trang Expressway; the Rach Mieu 2 bridge; and component 1 of the Tan VanNhon Trach Expressway (phase 1). Four other projects, including Vung AngBung, BungVan Ninh, Van NinhCam Lo and Hoa LienTuy Loan routes, have also been partially opened to traffic.

The ministry is also expediting procedures to ensure groundbreaking of the Lao CaiHa NoiHai Phong railway project on December 19, 2025, as well as the NorthSouth high-speed railway. It is working with local authorities on site clearance, resettlement and support measures while ensuring progress across ten projects under the 20212025 medium-term public investment plan, including the Cam Ly railway bridge on the KepHa Long line.

For 2025 the Ministry of Construction has been allocated about VN87.2 trillion (US$3.4 billion) in public investment capital from the central budget. As of now, about VN 38.4 trillion (44 per cent) has been disbursed. The ministry acknowledged the low disbursement rate, citing both objective and subjective reasons, including reduced demand for disbursement in major projects such as sections of the NorthSouth Expressway.

To meet the Prime Ministers directive of 100 per cent disbursement in 2025, the ministry pledged to step up on-site inspections, promptly resolve obstacles and prioritise key national and sectoral projects scheduled for completion this year.

On housing, the ministry reported that 692 social housing projects are underway nationwide, with a planned supply of 633,559 units. Of these, 165 projects have been completed, 147 are under construction and 380 have received investment approval. This represents 59.6 per cent of the target outlined in the Governments programme to build one million affordable housing units for low-income earners and industrial zone workers during 20212030.

From early 2025 to date, 43,681 out of 100,275 planned units, accounting for 43.6 per cent, have been completed. By the end of the year an additional 39,245 units are expected to be finished, raising the total to 82,926, accounting for 83 per cent of the target. Meanwhile, 135,033 units are currently under construction, with 69 projects breaking ground in the first nine months alone.

The ministry said it has dispatched more than 30 working groups to localities to review, guide and address bottlenecks in social housing projects. However, it admitted that the number of completed projects still falls short of targets. Some projects, despite being launched, have yet to begin construction or are progressing slower than planned.

Looking ahead, the ministry will continue deploying inspection missions to accelerate implementation of the Governments programme to build one million affordable housing units for low-income earners and industrial zone workers during 20212030. It will also work closely with the State Bank of Vietnam to ease access to concessional loans for social housing, worker housing and old apartment redevelopment projects, including loans for young buyers under 35 to purchase social housing.  VNS
KHANH HOA  Aside from living happily and healthily, many elderly people in the south-central province of Khanh Hoa believe that at any age, one should maintain passion and creativity to contribute to the provinces socio-economic development.

At the age of 65, Nguyen Van Xuan, from Resa Energy Joint Stock Company in Tay Nha Trang Ward, still devotes himself to waste treatment and environmental protection projects.

He used to work in the field of electricity transmission.

At first, he produced stone benches and paving tiles made from recycled plastic and nylon mixed with cement and additives.

These products, with an estimated durability of over 50 years, have been installed along Nha Trangs beach parks as a way of promoting environmental protection among residents and tourists. However, due to limited market demand, he had to suspend the project.

But Xuan refused to give up. Instead, he moved on to two new initiatives: processing sludge from seafood factories into organic fertilisers and using agricultural waste to produce biological cleaning agents.

Both projects have yielded good results, with products now available on the market.

Xuan said that while most elderly people wish to rest and focus on health after retirement, he finds that creative labour itself is a way to stay healthy and joyful.

Each product he makes gives him a sense of accomplishment and serves as an inspiration for his children and grandchildren.

I believe that at any age, if you work with passion, you can achieve good results. With every product, I hope to leave behind something useful for life, he told Vietnam News Agency.

Similarly, Nguy Nhu Anh, a 69-year-old retired lecturer from Khanh Hoa University, also maintains regular work habits.

Living in Nha Trang, he teaches team etiquette and life skills to students and participates in the provinces stamp club.

After a fall at the age of 65, Anh had to stay home for a long period.

Following his recovery, he became more aware of the importance of maintaining his health.

Along with swimming and hiking, he spends most of his time teaching.

He said working at this age not only helps him avoid dependence on his children, but also nurtures his personal passions and interests.

At an older age, working at a suitable intensity is also a way to exercise. Doing what I love makes me feel more optimistic and healthier. The more I work, the healthier I become, he said.

Khanh Hoa Province now has about 202,000 members in the Association of the Elderly, most of whom pursue positive lifestyles, nurturing health and dedication in various fields and upholding their role as a valuable social force.

Phan Huu uc, vice chairman of the Khanh Hoa Association of the Elderly, said that through accumulated experience in production and business, many old people continue family enterprises, open businesses or run farms. This not only generates income for themselves, but also creates jobs for others, contributing to the provinces socio-economic growth.

In Khanh Hoa, many elderly residents have set examples by donating land, helping build roads, promoting education, supporting their children and grandchildren, and continuing to leverage their credibility in the community.

Many former government officials still play active roles by visiting households to promote Party guidelines and State policies.

To make the activities of the Khanh Hoa Association of the Elderly more effective, uc suggested expanding the inter-generational self-help club model.

He also emphasised the need to change public perceptions so that the elderly are not only seen as people in need of care, but also as an active force, especially in moral education and preserving family traditions. VNS
HA NOI  Early this morning, Typhoon Matmo  the 11th storm to enter Viet Nams East Sea this year  has moved inland over Guangxi Province, China, on Monday morning and weakened to level 8 (6274 km/h) with gusts up to level 10 (89102 km/h), according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

The storm is expected to continue moving further inland and weaken into a tropical depression by this afternoon, before dissipating into a low-pressure area over the northern mountainous region of Viet Nam.

Due to the storms circulation, strong winds will persist today across the northern border provinces of Quang Ninh and Lang Son, with speeds of level 67 and gusts up to level 9. Elsewhere in northern Viet Nam, strong winds are not expected to be significant.

While wind impacts to Viet Nam dwindled as the storm moves northward, Typhoon Matmo continues to bring heavy rainfall to northern provinces and Thanh Hoa from now until the night of October 7.

The heaviest rains are forecast in the northern mountainous and midland areas, with totals ranging from 100200mm and some locations exceeding 300 mm. In the Red River Delta and Thanh Hoa, rainfall is expected at 50150mm, with isolated areas seeing over 200 mm.

Authorities warn of a very high risk of flash floods, landslides in mountainous regions, and flooding in low-lying and urban areas  particularly in Lang Son, Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang and Lao Cai.

Forecasters note that rainfall caused by the storms circulation will occur in intervals. Residents are advised not to let down their guard even if it is not raining at certain times during the day.

Ha Noi is not expected to suffer widespread flooding as seen on September 30 in the wake of Typhoon Bualoi (Storm No.10) but inundation will happen in low-lying areas.

Earlier, Ha Noi authorities have decided to suspend classes for 2.3 million preschool and general education students to ensure safety, after the belated decision to shut schools on September 30.

In coastal and northern provinces, including Hai Phong, Hung Yen, Quang Ninh, and Ninh Binh, local governments have banned vessels from going out to sea and temporarily suspended new departure permits for fishing and transport boats.

Elsewhere, from Nghe An to Lam ong and across the southern region, rainfall is expected to be minimal today. From Quang Tri to a Nang and the eastern parts of Quang Ngai to Lam ong, the weather will remain sunny and relatively hot, with daytime temperatures ranging from 3234 degrees Celsius.

By late afternoon and evening, scattered thunderstorms are likely over the Central Highlands and southern provinces, with some areas experiencing heavy downpours accompanied by lightning.  VNS
KYIV, Ukraine, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF, Fund) announces its investment in Fintech-IT Group, a leading developer of digital banking software in Ukraine, propelling the Company to a $1.0bn valuation in this growth equity round, achieving unicorn status and becoming the first FinTech unicorn out of Ukraine. UMAEF joins Fintech-IT Group founders Oleg Gorokhovskyi and Mykhaylo Rogalskyi, as the Company's first financial investor and only non-founding shareholder. In addition to its direct investment, the Fund leads a consortium of American private investors investing alongside UMAEF.

Fintech-IT Group develops integrated software solutions for digital banking and is the software developer behind monobank - the #1 neobank in Ukraine, #2 retail bank overall, as well as one of the most successful neobanks globally. For two consecutive years, monobank has been listed among the world's top 250 FinTech companies and top 35 global neobanks by CNBC. With 9.9m clients as of September 2025, it consistently maintains the highest NPS rating in the Ukrainian banking sector, receiving multiple awards annually. Fintech-IT Group's technology also empowers tens of thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ukraine to accept digital payments seamlessly, thus supporting the development of the SME ecosystem in the country.

"With this investment, UMAEF is expanding its existing portfolio of FinTech investments made through u.ventures, investing in a local leader launched and grown by best-in-class Ukrainian founders", said Jaroslawa Z. Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer of UMAEF. "Fintech-IT Group is a striking example of this strategy, achieving outstanding results in Ukraine's financial services sector, and leading in technological advancement and customer satisfaction. The Company's success is yet another testament to the strength of the Ukrainian tech ecosystem, depth of its technical talent, know-how and ingenuity. Ms. Johnson ended by stating, "UMAEF has a long-standing history of investing into innovative FinTech companies with world-class ambition, as well as traditional banks, providing us with the capabilities to support Fintech-IT Group's founders as they lead the Company through its next stage of high growth".

UMAEF was created by the U.S. Congress in 1994 and is proud of its over 30-year history investing in enterprises in Ukraine and Moldova. UMAEF is a Delaware corporation governed by experienced American business professionals with initial funding of $150 million provided by the U.S. government.

"For over 30 years, we have prioritized investments to companies and projects in Ukraine that both generate returns for U.S. stakeholders, as well as promote the purchase of U.S. goods and services", continued Dennis A. Johnson, Chairman of UMAEF's Board of Directors (unrelated to Ms. Johnson). "By continuing to invest in Ukraine, despite the full-fledged invasion in February 2022, we are paving the way for U.S. investors to invest in Ukraine's future reconstruction, recovery and renewal. UMAEF was compelled to invest in Fintech IT-Group based on its strong fundamentals, high growth profile and blending of tech and finance in a sector of high interest to U.S. investors and already partnering with major U.S. companies, including Visa and Mastercard. We believe that UMAEF's investment will provide comfort for other major U.S. investors to enter the Company - potentially at IPO on a leading U.S. stock exchange  and support the opening of a U.S. office."

With the funds raised as a result of this growth equity round, Fintech-IT Group intends to continue investing into further developing its solutions and expanding the product suite, including financing and business services for SMEs, for the benefit of nearly 10 million Ukrainians using its products.

About Fintech-IT Group

Fintech-IT Group is a technology company developing integrated software solutions for digital banking and is the software developer behind monobank - the #1 neobank in Ukraine, today serving 9.9 million clients.

About UMAEF

Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF), formerly known as Western NIS Enterprise Fund (WNISEF), was created by the U.S. Congress in 1994, and is a leading regional fund, with over three decades of successful experience in Ukraine and Moldova (the "Region"). UMAEF's mission focuses primarily on providing loans and equity to enterprises operating in sectors of interest to U.S. investors in the Region. UMAEF has invested $190 million in 143 companies, employing over 27,000 people in Ukraine and Moldova. Since inception, UMAEF has received $150 million in U.S. government funding, unlocking an estimated $2.4 billion in total capital for Ukrainian and Moldovan companies.

CONTACT:

Pavla Zahrebelnoho Street, 4,

Kyiv 01042, Ukraine

: +38 044 490 5580

F: +38 044 490 5589

[email protected]

175 West Jackson Blvd, STE 1640

Chicago, IL 60604

Tel: + 1 312 939 7003

Fax: +1 312 939 7004

www.umaef.org
Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Beverage is celebrating 10 years of the 'Mizuiku  I Love Clean Water' programme, a pioneering initiative that has reached nearly one million students and improved access to safe water for millions across Viet Nam. Chief Executive Officer and General Director Ashish Joshi shared with Viet Nam News the companys sustainability journey, achievements in water conservation and long-term commitment to the market.

Congratulations on the 10th anniversary of the 'Mizuiku  I Love Clean Water' programme. How do you reflect on this milestone?

This anniversary is a proud milestone for Suntory PepsiCo. Mizuiku was first launched by Suntory in Japan in 2004 as an education programme designed to nurture awareness of water and its conservation among primary school children.

In 2015, Viet Nam became the first country outside Japan selected to implement the programme, under the name 'Mizuiku  Em yeu nuoc sach.' That decision recognised both Viet Nams importance as a market and the countrys unique challenges in ensuring safe, sustainable water resources.

Over the past 10 years, Mizuiku has reached almost one million students, trained 16,000 teachers to become true 'inspirers' and built or upgraded nearly 200 clean-water facilities.

But beyond the numbers, what makes me proud is the impact on awareness. Mizuiku has introduced children to the value of water and inspired them to care for nature, while empowering teachers as multipliers of this knowledge. That lasting awareness is the foundation of sustainability.

What are the key factors behind Mizuikus success in Viet Nam?

A defining factor has been the publicprivate partnership model. From the beginning, the Ministry of Education and Training has been our critical partner. In 2023, we achieved a major breakthrough when the ministry approved Mizuikus educational content as part of the official primary-school curriculum nationwide.

This gave the programme both impact and scale. In 2025, we also expanded through collaboration with the Vietnam Forestry Administration - Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. Together, we launched 'Nature Expedition with Mizuiku'  the first publicprivate outdoor education programme in Viet Nam linking forest conservation with water education.

The second success factor is the comprehensive education model. Mizuiku combines classroom learning with practical outdoor experiences, encouraging children not just to study about water but to see, feel and experience its importance. It is about awareness, action and access.

The third factor is localisation. While Mizuiku reflects Suntorys global philosophy, it has been tailored to Viet Nams context, from teaching materials to community projects. This makes the programme meaningful and relevant for Vietnamese children and communities.

Mizuiku is described as a flagship model of sustainability. What makes it unique?

What sets Mizuiku apart is its long-term, scalable model. It is not a one-off social responsibility activity, but a programme built with a sustainable model embedded in our business philosophy of 'Growing for Good.'

The model is built on three pillars: Raising awareness  through in-school education to nurture childrens understanding of water conservation; Call to action  through outdoor learning, encouraging students to connect with forests and nature and to act as protectors of the environment; Enhancing access  by improving clean-water facilities for schools and communities in need.

At the same time, we train teachers as 'knowledge multipliers,' ensuring impact continues beyond a single classroom or school year. This creates a ripple effect across generations.

That is why, after a decade, Mizuiku has grown from a humble beginning with some classes in 2015 into a nationwide programme recognised by government ministries. It is a model that delivers not only environmental benefits but also stronger communities and a culture of sustainability.

Looking ahead, what are Suntory PepsiCos priorities for the next phase of Mizuiku in Viet Nam?

Our priorities are both about breadth and depth.

In terms of breadth, we are scaling up significantly. By 2030, Mizuiku aims to educate five million pupils globally, Vietnam continues to be the key contributor to this program reach. It is ambitious but reflects our determination to expand the positive impact of Mizuiku.

In terms of depth, we want to go beyond the classroom. Learning must be experiential to be lasting. That is why we introduced the outdoor education component with support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

I had the opportunity to attend one of the first sessions of Nature Expedition with Mizuiku a few months ago and it was truly inspiring. The park staff had an extraordinary depth of knowledge and the way they engaged the children was remarkable. The students were not only learning about water but experiencing the forest and connecting emotionally with nature. That kind of hands-on learning leaves a profound mark and I believe it will help shape a generation of environmentally responsible citizens.

This immersive approach is crucial because sustainability is not just about knowledge but about shaping values and behaviours. We believe Mizuiku will have a multiplier effect: todays students will grow into tomorrows leaders and custodians of the environment.

The Mizuiku programme helps connect people with forests and change perceptions about learning through nature in Viet Nam. How does Suntory PepsiCo evaluate the return on investment from this programme, particularly in terms of its long-term impact and value?

At Suntory PepsiCo, we do not view Mizuiku through the lens of a traditional return on investment calculation. Led by our vision of 'Growing for Good,' our philosophy has always been to create value not only for the company but also for society and the environment. This has been part of Suntorys DNA since the very beginning in Japan.

Water is at the heart of everything we do  it is the foundation of all our products from tea to soft drinks to spirits. As a business sustained by this gift of nature, we have a deep responsibility to protect and nurture the ecosystems that provide it. Forests, rivers and watersheds are critical for ensuring water security, which is why connecting people, especially children, with nature through Mizuiku is so important.

When we invest in water education and forest conservation, we are contributing directly to society while also safeguarding the future of our own business. The truth is, the financial cost today is very small compared to the long-term value, the societal and environmental values that Mizuiku brought about to the whole society and our company: the assurance that clean, reliable water will be available for generations to come. That is absolutely vital for the survival of our company and for the well-being of communities.

So, for us, the 'return' from Mizuiku is twofold: it reflects our philosophy of growing by doing good and it secures the sustainability of the very resource that sustains us. This is why we consider education and conservation not as expenses but as investments in a resilient future for both Viet Nam and Suntory PepsiCo.  VNS
AN GIANG  Police in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang are working to track down dozens of people who escaped from Drug Rehabilitation Centre No. 2 in My Thuan Commune.

According to local police, the escape took place on Sunday afternoon when a large group of patients fled the facility.

Major General Nguyen Van Han, director of the provincial police, ordered an overnight search involving professional units and local forces. By Monday, more than 250 of over 300 escapees had been found and returned.

Police have directed all local units to remain on high alert, increase patrols and quickly identify the remaining escapees.

The Drug Crime Investigation Division is coordinating with local police to review patient records, while detention centres and police units have been told to tighten security and maintain order.

Authorities have called on residents to report any information about the escapees and urged families to persuade their relatives to return to the centre.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam welcomed over 15.4 million international visitors in the first nine months of 2025, up a significant 21.5 per cent compared to the same period last year, according to the latest report by the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance.

In September alone, around 1.5 million foreign arrivals were recorded, down 9.6 per cent from August but still representing a 19.5 per cent year-on-year, reflecting sustained growth momentum in Viet Nams tourism sector.

Tourism and related services continued to be a bright spot for the economy. Accommodation and food service revenues in the nine-month period were estimated at VN624.4 trillion (nearly US$23.7 billion), an increase of 14.8 per cent year-on-year. The beach city of a Nang led the country with an 18.1 per cent rise, followed by HCM City (up 18 per cent), Can Tho (14.2 per cent), Hai Phong (12 per cent) and Ha Noi (11.9 per cent).

The bustling tourism market also boosted the travel service sector, with revenues reaching an estimated VN69.6 trillion, up 20.5 per cent compared to the same period last year.

This strong growth reflects local authorities efforts to stimulate demand, develop new tourism products and promote Viet Nam as an attractive and safe destination. Eased visa policies, intensified promotion campaigns and celebrations marking major national holidays have further contributed to the rise in foreign arrivals.

Air travel remained the dominant mode of entry, with 13.1 million visitors arriving by air, accounting for 85.2 per cent of the total and rising 21.9 per cent year-on-year. Land arrivals reached 2.1 million (up 19.4 per cent), while 190,600 visitors arrived by sea (up 15.1 per cent).

Asia continued to be Viet Nams largest source market with over 12.2 million arrivals (up 20.9 per cent), followed by Europe with 1.9 million (up 34.9 per cent), the Americas with 800,000 (up 8.5 per cent), Oceania with 445,000 (up 13.7 per cent) and Africa with 40,700 (up 4.7 per cent).

The five largest source markets were China, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan (China), the US and Japan, with China topping the list at nearly 3.9 million visitors. Several other markets posted remarkable growth, including Russia (up 273 per cent), the Philippines (up 192.2 per cent), Cambodia (up 150.4 per cent), Poland (up 146 per cent) and India (up 142.9 per cent).

According to Pham Van Thuy, deputy director-general of the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism, the sector aims to welcome 25 million international visitors this year.

To attract foreign tourists, Viet Nam must develop products that meet their expectations. International visitors coming to Viet Nam are often drawn to the countrys cuisine, natural landscapes, beaches and climate  all of which are existing strengths of Vietnamese tourism, he said.

He stressed that Viet Nam needed to redefine its tourism brand identity to match global market demand. Once new, appealing products are developed, relevant agencies and businesses should work closely to strengthen promotion and marketing activities to draw more visitors.

The peak season for international tourism in Viet Nam typically runs from October to April. From now until the end of 2025, the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism planned to implement a series of promotion programmes in collaboration with local tourism agencies and businesses targeting key markets.

With the support of Vietnamese embassies abroad, promotional campaigns will help build travellers confidence in Viet Nam as a safe, secure and welcoming destination, offering a wide range of authentic experiences, Thuy said.  VNS
HCM CITY  The Tinh hoa Viet awards to honour outstanding individuals, groups and works that have contributed to the development of Vietnamese culture were announced at a conference in HCM City on Saturday.

Given away by ai oan Ket (Great National Unity) newspaper and ZOA Media Creative Co., Ltd, they seek to recognise and promote the countrys unique cultural and artistic values, encourage creativity, inspire and spread positive values in society, and contribute to the development of a national cultural and artistic ecosystem.

They are given in three main categories, Tinh Hoa Am Nhac (Musical Quintessence), Tinh Hoa Nghe Thuat a Linh Vuc (Multi-field Artistic Quintessence) and special award Tinh Hoa Cong Hien (Essence of Dedication).

Winners will be chosen based on four criteria, namely 'Artistic value', 'Vietnamese cultural identity', 'creativity and innovation', and 'social influence'.

The award jury will include selected members, journalists, and the public to determine the winner.

Submissions for the awards will be accepted from October 15 to November 15 through the organisation's social media platform TikTok and website.

No product or project created entirely by AI will be accepted.

Products and projects eligible for nomination must have been released since November 15, 2024.

The nominees will be announced on December 12, public voting will begin until January 1, 2026, and the winners are expected to be announced the same month.  VNS
ONG THAP  Agroecology is not only a method of farming but also a way of listening to and respecting nature, said Le Minh Hoan, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly.

It represents Viet Nams long-term vision to meet global commitments on climate change, to move towards net-zero emissions by 2050, and to sow the future for generations to come, Hoan told the workshop Promoting Agroecology and Food System Transformation to Address Climate Change, Enhance Biodiversity and Improve Livelihoods, held on Monday. The event was co-organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) and the ong Thap Provincial Peoples Committee, with support from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Meanwhile, Nguyen Thanh Dieu, Vice Chairman of the ong Thap Peoples Committee, stressed that agroecology is an inevitable path towards sustainable agriculture, one that harmonises economic growth with environmental protection.

ong Thap Province is currently pioneering a shift to ecological farming, with the goals of achieving net-zero emissions, conserving biodiversity, and improving sustainable livelihoods. The province is moving decisively from agricultural production to an agricultural economy, placing farmers at the centre, with co-operatives and enterprises as key pillars, and science and technology as the driving force. It is promoting circular production models, efficient use of land and water resources, and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

At the same time, the application of digital technologies in irrigation management, zoning, product traceability, and market connectivity is seen as essential for enhancing the value of agricultural products.

According to a 2023 forecast by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), around 40 per cent of the Mekong Delta  the nations rice bowl  could be inundated by a one-metre rise in sea levels, threatening the livelihoods of more than 17 million people.

The complex challenges facing food systems  climate change, biodiversity loss and food insecurity  can only be addressed through multi-stakeholder collaboration.

Agroecology provides a powerful approach, offering a holistic framework that combines indigenous knowledge with modern science and ecological principles to build more resilient, sustainable and equitable food systems.

This conference marked a concrete step in advancing Viet Nams international commitments  from the net-zero target pledged at COP26 to the Statement on Sustainable Agriculture at COP28  underscoring the countrys determination to achieve a transparent, responsible and sustainable transformation of its food system.

A key highlight of the event was the multi-stakeholder dialogue, which brought together representatives from the Government, international organisations, co-operatives, farmers, businesses and associations.

By drawing on diverse and in-depth perspectives from all parties, the platform proved crucial in aligning vision with action and in translating theoretical commitments into practical implementation. The panel discussion is expected to contribute to the accelerated development of transparent, interconnected value chains, ensuring farmers remain at the centre of the transformation process.

Such efforts are instrumental in helping Viet Nams agriculture achieve sustainable development, adapt effectively to climate change and strengthen its value in the global market.

During the event, Vinod Ahuja, FAO Representative in Viet Nam, emphasised: This event marks a significant milestone in our collective journey to build sustainable and resilient food systems in Viet Nam. The multi-stakeholder discussion, in particular, is a clear testament to our commitment to turning policy into tangible action.

By fostering stronger publicprivate partnerships and mobilising resources, we can build on the countrys progress and ensure its agricultural sector is equipped to address the impacts of climate change and secure a better future for its people, he added.

The event served as a vital bridge between policy and practice, and between national capacity and international support. By simultaneously advancing technical solutions, market mechanisms and green finance, the conference is expected to deliver a clear action plan, a portfolio of priority projects and strengthened multilateral partnerships, helping to position Viet Nam as a regional leader in agroecology and sustainable food system transformation. VNS
ONG NAI  The ong Nai Provincial Police held a press conference on Monday afternoon to announce the capturing of a male suspect in a serious murderrobbery case last week in the southern province as well as initial investigation results.

The briefing was chaired by Major General Nguyen uc Hai, Director of the ong Nai Provincial Police, who also directly headed the special investigation team due to the severity of the case.

Earlier, on October 2, three people  .D.Th (47, the homeowner), his granddaughter .T.T (11), and his wife C.H.H (48)  were found dead at the Thien Hanh agricultural production outlet in Village 6, ak Nhau Commune by local residents.

Upon receiving the report, the commune police immediately mobilised all officers and local security forces to secure the crime scene, cordon off the area and report urgently to the provincial police leadership.

Recognising the case as exceptionally serious and brutal, the provincial police reported the incident to the Minister of Public Security, General Luong Tam Quang.

General Quang directed that all available forces and investigative measures be mobilised to swiftly identify and apprehend the suspect. Deputy Minister Long personally arrived at the scene, held two on-site command meetings and instructed an all-out coordinated effort involving the provincial police, the Ministrys investigative departments and HCM Police.

On October 3, the provincial investigative police officially opened a criminal case for Murder and Robbery and established a special task force.

To carry out the investigation, five deputy directors were assigned to lead five working groups, forming 15 field teams with more than 500 officers deployed to collect evidence, trace the suspect and block potential escape routes, including through border areas adjacent to Cambodia.

Thanks to comprehensive measures and extensive coordination with border guards and neighbouring localities, investigators gathered nearly 100 valuable leads that helped identify the suspects direction of travel and movements before and after the crime.

After a 56-hour pursuit, at 3:30pm on October 5, police arrested Le Sy Tung (born 1992, from the central province of Thanh Hoa, residing in Phuoc Long Ward, formerly Binh Phuoc Province  now part of ong Nai Province) under an emergency detention order.

During interrogation, Tung confessed to killing three victims with a military firearm before sawing open a metal cabinet to steal cash. Police seized the weapon, other tools used in the crime and VN52 million (nearly US$2,000) stolen from the victims. His confession matched the evidence collected at the scene.

The man also said he shot at the camera to disable it before carrying out the crimes.

The provincial investigative police have officially charged Le Sy Tung with Murder, Robbery, and Illegal possession of military weapons.

Answering questions over reports that the suspect was addicted to online games, the provincial police chief said there was no confirmation of such addiction, noting that this was only speculation, though the suspect had played games during his high school years.

In recognition of the rapid and coordinated response, the ong Nai Peoples Committee and the Ministry of Public Security presented commendations and cash rewards to individuals and units involved in the investigation.

The ong Nai Peoples Committee awarded VN 500 million to the task force and provincial police units. The Minister of Public Security sent letters of commendation to the Criminal Police Department, the Institute of Criminal Science, the ong Nai Provincial Police and HCM City Police.

On the morning of October 5, the victims families held funeral rites for the deceased. Hundreds of local residents attended to pay their respects and accompany the three victims to their final resting place.  VNS
As of August 20, the city lured in $5.62 billion in domestic investment capital, and attracted $307.3 million in foreign capital, an increase of 4.6 per cent over the same period in 2024. Currently, Danang boasts over 1,260 foreign-invested projects costing almost $11 billion in total.

Danang leading latest wave of industrial real estate funding

Currently, industrial parks (IPs) in Danang are playing a key role in the citys economic development strategy. The locality currently has three new IPs planned and six operating ones, with a total area of over 1,160 hectares.

In the first half of 2025, the locality has recorded 20 licensed foreign-invested industrial production and processing projects, spread across various localities.

A move considered as a driving force to attract investment capital is the newly approved Danang Free Trade Zone (FTZ) with a scale of nearly 1,900ha. It will apply special tax incentives and simplify customs procedures as well as closely integrate with Lien Chieu Seaport and the High-Tech Park, thereby forming an ecosystem for production, exports, and logistics.

In addition, the citys international financial centre (IFC) is also being promoted in three phases. It will contribute to the formation of a modern financial and technological ecosystem, considered a solid foundation for attracting financial institutions, digital asset services, and strategic investors.

In addition, Lien Chieu deepwater port, expected to be completed by the end of 2025, is expected to replace Tien Sa Port, serving the need to transport large volumes of goods from inland to international markets. The seaport will connect the maximum mode of transport with roads, railways, and belt roads that are currently being expanded, contributing to creating a modern logistics platform for the entire region.

With modern transport and logistics infrastructure, three deepwater seaports, two international airports, international border ports, and world cultural heritages and biosphere reserves, Danang is converging many available potentials.

Thomas Rooney, deputy director of Industrial Advisory Services at Savills Hanoi, noted that Danang owns a strategic location on the north-south economic corridor close to international shipping routes, and is also a gateway connecting the Central Highlands provinces with Laos and Northeastern Thailand. This is a solid foundation for logistics and trade development.

The Danang government has made strong moves in investing in infrastructure and offering attractive incentive policies. The synchronous development of key projects shows that Danang is transforming from a tourist city to an integrated economic city, with high-tech industry, finance and innovation as the main pillars, said Rooney.

In particular, after merging with Quang Nam, Danang has become a central city with the largest area, expanding its administrative boundaries and development space.

Along with that, the city is also boosting development of the FTZ and aims to become an IFC thanks to the advantage of the open administrative boundary.

Currently, the Danang High-Tech Park is considered the focal point attracting large technology corporations such as Universal Alloy Corporation of the US, along with many investors from Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.

Besides that, preferential policies such as land lease, corporate income tax exemption, and digital transformation work widely applied by the city are creating a strong momentum for Danang to lead the region in attracting investors.

However, leaders say Danang still has many challenges that need to be resolved: from upgrading logistics capacity and solving slow site clearance to improving the quality of technical and management personnel. Administrative reforms, especially between the provincial and city levels, will also play a key role in improving the investment environment.

Investors outline plans for Danang-Hoi An rail A Danang-Hoi An urban railway is expected to create an important driving force for the citys development, and has already attracted the attention of domestic and foreign developers.

Danang partners with Frankfurt to push financial hub ambition Danang has advanced its ambition of becoming a regional financial hub by signing an MoU with Frankfurt Main Finance to cooperate on establishing an international financial centre (IFC).
Participating in the sale of carbon credits on the international market could bring Vietnam a revenue of $1.9 billion per year, contributing 0.3 per cent to annual GDP growth, a workshop on the topic was told late in September. The event was organised by the Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) in collaboration with the Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership progamme.

Green finance tapped into via carbon arena, Photo: Shutterstock

Ho Cong Hoa, an expert at the Academy of Policy and Development, said the revenue figure was calculated based on a high price scenario, about $47 per carbon credit, assuming an international sales rate of 70 per cent and 56 valid credit-generating measures.

In the case of lower prices, at only $20 or an average of $34 per credit, Vietnams potential revenue could still reach $600 million and $1.2 billion per year, respectively. Notably, transaction fees alone, estimated at 2 per cent of revenue, could contribute over $10 million to the state budget.

These calculations are based on the average carbon credit price of the Corsia programme and trading markets in Singapore, Japan, and South Korea, Hoa said.

In terms of sectors, industry, energy, and waste treatment are considered to be the main beneficiaries due to their much lower emission reduction costs than agriculture and forestry. Participation in the carbon market will help these sectors access carbon credits at a reasonable cost and create more competitive advantages in the international market, he added.

Vietnam approved a resolution to sell an additional one million forest carbon credits to the World Bank in August, earning about $5 million.

Global revenue from the carbon market is forecast by the World Bank to reach $2.7 trillion by 2030. Vietnam, with forest cover exceeding 42 per cent and strong carbon absorption from mangrove ecosystems, has a major opportunity to expand its market participation.

According to data from the MAE, Vietnams forest area currently reaches 14.8 million hectares, with a forest coverage rate of over 42 per cent. With this forest area, Vietnam has the potential to supply about 40 million carbon credits per year to the market, contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and generating significant revenue from international transactions.

In addition to its abundant forest resources, Vietnam also has the potential to develop carbon credits from agricultural sectors such as rice, as well as long-term industrial crops including rubber, cashew, coffee, and coconut. It is estimated that Vietnams agricultural sector has the potential to provide about 57 million carbon credits per year. If each credit is valued at about $5, revenues would come to about $300 million.

To exploit the potential of the market, Vietnam has deployed a carbon market instrument to achieve its emissions reduction target under its Nationally Determined Contribution, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050. Vietnam has sets out a specific roadmap for the development of the carbon market, with a pilot phase until the end of 2028 and official operation from 2029.

According to the MAE, it is expected that all necessary legal corridors and technical infrastructure will be completed so that the carbon market can be put into trial operation by the end of 2025.

Dr. Nguyen Tuan Quang, deputy director of the Department of Climate Change, said that the ministry is developing a decree on international exchange of emission reduction results and carbon credits. The decree will be an important legal basis because when conducting international transactions: if there is no strict management mechanism, the number of emissions reduced by Vietnam will not be counted towards the national target, but instead transferred to the contribution of the buying country.

Carbon credits must be created according to transparent standards and methods, and transactions must be managed and regulated by the state to avoid affecting the commitments of the country and domestic enterprises, Quang said.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Tho, deputy director of the MAEs Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment, assessed that businesses participate in the carbon market wisely to take advantage of climate finance, encourage tech transformation, and reduce emissions.

According to Tho, the current global trend is to connect the voluntary market with the compliance market, and the domestic market with the international market. The former is mainly implemented through the carbon offset mechanism, while the latter is implemented through Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

If we know how to exploit opportunities from the connection between the domestic and international clearing and compliance markets, the financial opportunities for businesses can increase 20-30 times compared to the normal credit selling price, Tho said.
New innovative models aim to build useful datasets suitable for Vietnamese use, Photo: Le Toan

At a forum on innovation and strategic technologies last week in Hanoi, Permanent Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan stated that technology is reshaping national power and global value chains. Therefore, Vietnam needs a new approach if it wants to rise amid intense competition.

He noted that Vietnam has identified key impediments, and declared that Vietnam must master technology to achieve rapid and sustainable development, while also strengthening national defence and security.

The prime minister has already issued a list of nearly a dozen strategic technology groups and 35 key product categories, including AI, semiconductors, blockchain, and robotics, to drive the development of priority sectors.

To implement this effectively and quickly, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MST) is developing strategic technology schemes by standardising foundational pillars, covering core technologies, infrastructure, and personnel. Each pillar clearly defines context and objectives, scope and methodology, expected outcomes, timelines, budgets, and evaluation criteria.

Then, tasks will be converted into research projects and initiatives to call for participation from enterprises, universities, research institutes, ministries, sectors, and localities. Gradually, based on the implementation of these technologies and strategic products, they will build an innovation ecosystem.

The MST invites experts, scientists, businesses, institutions, especially innovation alliances, to advise on this implementation approach, Quan said.

Technology enterprises, networks, and experts at the event shared their strategies to promote innovation and implement strategic technologies in Vietnam. Nguyen Van Khoa, CEO of FPT, emphasised that innovation is not bound by regulations or financial rules. It is the soul of development and an organisations most valuable intangible asset.

In the most critical resolutions today, innovation is positioned as the core, nucleus, driver, not only at the national level but also within enterprises. It will become the DNA of an organisation and transform into a valuable culture, he said.

Khoa noted that over 37 years of growth, FPT has made innovation a core value nurtured as a sustainable culture, starting from the smallest tasks. In 2025, over 5,000 initiatives from FPTs 84,000 employees across 30 countries have helped save nearly VND800 billion ($32 million) in operational costs. Many of these ideas came from operations, design, and sales teams, he added.

To turn innovation into reality, Khoa argued that Vietnam must improve its legal framework for emerging sectors such as high-tech, logistics, and AI. Many resolutions exist, but there is lack of concrete enforcement mechanisms, no specific laws or decrees to drive the vision. The government must act swiftly, Khoa said.

Thieu Phuong Nam, CEO of Qualcomm Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, noted that the group has been in Vietnam for over 20 years and considers it a key hub. In June, the company inaugurated a research and development (R&D) centre in Hanoi, now one of its largest globally. The engineering team, entirely Vietnamese, is involved in cutting-edge projects whose products are used domestically and internationally.

AI will change the way we interact with technology. This is an opportunity for Vietnam to participate more deeply in global value chains, Nam stated.

In the AI field, the ViGen project has been launched through collaboration between Meta, the National Innovation Centre (NIC), and AI for Vietnam. It aims to build a Vietnamese language dataset covering levels from preschool to university.

According to Tran Viet Hung, co-founder of AI for Vietnam, it will generate a 50-billion-parameter dataset and five Vietnamese language evaluation sets to train AI models. The major challenge is that Vietnamese is not naturally supported by international AI models. ViGen aims to fill this gap. It also encourages public data contributions, where each participant earns points that can be converted into tangible rewards, he said.

In cybersecurity, Ngo Tuan Anh, chairman of the ViSecurity Network, introduced the Vietnam Open Cyber Range initiative, an open training platform involving universities, research institutes, and businesses.

It is also open in its operation model, enabling institutions and cybersecurity enthusiasts to easily access and utilise it, he said. Our goal is to create a high-level training platform that addresses Vietnams demand for quality cybersecurity talent.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung said that in the past month alone, Vietnam has launched three innovation networks in quantum technology, cybersecurity, and aerospace. Along with the previously established AI and semiconductor networks, these are hubs of collective intelligence, gathering top Vietnamese minds globally to tackle national, regional, and global challenges.

Meanwhile, Japanese partners, led by the Mitsubishi Research Institute, have pledged cooperation in startup incubation and tech workforce development in Vietnam. Qualcomm and Meta have committed to expanding R&D collaboration and supply chain development in the country.

A Vietnamese chip design startup, Hyphen Deux, incubated by the NIC and supported by the semiconductor innovation network, has gone global, with its control chips now manufactured by TSMC. These are foundational steps and clear evidence of the strong commitment and concrete actions taken by Vietnams innovation ecosystem in recent times, DPM Dung declared.
On October 3, the company broke ground on the Sotrans Ho Nai Chemical Warehouse in Ho Nai Industrial Park. Covering 26,400 square metres, the facility will offer 16,200 sq.m of storage space with a capacity of up to 19,500 pallets, and is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2026.

With a focus on safety and sustainability, the Sotrans Ho Nai Chemical Warehouse will be built according to stringent international standards, blending modern technologies and environmental protection solutions. The facility boasts a trench system for chemical spill collection and treatment and an automatic fire detection and suppression system. In particular, the automatic fire protection system will be installed with sprinkler systems within the racking area to effectively extinguish fires right at high-risk locations.

In parallel, smart inventory management technology helps strictly control the entire process, minimise risks such as chemical leaks or explosions, and protect both employees and communities.

Research by the Vietnam Industry and Trade Information Centre under the Ministry of Industry and Trade indicates that there is a growing demand for specialised logistics in Vietnams chemical sector, especially substances requiring rigorous safety and environmental protocols. The launch of the Sotrans Ho Nai Chemical Warehouse helps businesses to reduce costs and infrastructure investment burdens, as well as ensure full compliance with legal and international standards.

Nguyen Thanh Nam, general director of Sotrans Logistics, said, "This undertaking is more than just about building a modern warehouse; it demonstrates Sotrans Logistics commitment to helping businesses grow safely and efficiently while fostering a sustainable environment for the community."

ITL Corporation completes acquisition of Sotrans Group Indo Trans Logistics (ITL) Corporation today announced the successful acquisition of South Logistics JSC (Sotrans Group), raising its ownership ratio to 97 per cent.

ITLs Simon Thuc honoured among Vietnams top HR Leaders Simon Thuc, deputy general director and HR vice president at ITL Corporation, has been named one of Vietnams top HR leaders for 2025, recognising his role in aligning talent strategy with corporate growth and sustainability.
As organizations navigate AI adoption, tech acceleration, acquisitive growth, and cultural shifts, West Monroe views its inclusion as evidence of its ability to help companies align people, process, and technology for lasting impact

CHICAGO, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- West Monroe, a global business and technology consulting firm, announced it has been named among Notable Vendors in Forrester's report, The Organizational Change Management (OCM) Services Landscape, Q4 2025. The report provides an overview of 26 providers and serves as a resource for decision-makers seeking partners to help them remodel organizations, optimize outcomes in the face of complexity, and sustain stakeholder value.

As AI reshapes how work gets done, West Monroe's Ultimate Guide to AI Workforce Adoption shows that only 16% of U.S. workers currently use AI in their jobs, leaving most organizations unprepared to capture its value. Combined with the fact that only 12% of major change programs produce lasting results, according to Harvard Business Review, it's clear in the age of AI that OCM is essential to equip people with the skills and confidence to thrive in the new ways of working.

"Organizational change management is the foundation for realizing the value of every transformation  especially as AI accelerates workforce disruption," said Dave Hilborn, leader of the Organization & People practice at West Monroe. "We're proud to be recognized by Forrester among notable vendors, which we believe underscores our commitment to helping clients navigate change with confidence. Our goal is simple: help organizations see results faster and make those results last."

West Monroe helps clients strengthen organizational resilience and adoption through:

AI Adoption  Guiding organizations through the nuanced challenges of AI integration, from automation concerns to skill shifts, with training and communications that build confidence and clarity.

 Guiding organizations through the nuanced challenges of AI integration, from automation concerns to skill shifts, with training and communications that build confidence and clarity. Vision & Value Definition  Partnering with leaders to define transformation goals, ensuring measurable outcomes and alignment from the boardroom to the front line.

 Partnering with leaders to define transformation goals, ensuring measurable outcomes and alignment from the boardroom to the front line. Organizational Alignment  Conducting readiness assessments and tailoring strategies to align culture, governance, and structures for success.

 Conducting readiness assessments and tailoring strategies to align culture, governance, and structures for success. Sustained Change Management  Establishing governance and measurement frameworks that maintain adoption and enhance value long after implementation.

West Monroe's client impact is tangible across industries including private equity, healthcare, financial services, and energy and utilities. Examples include:

Helped a mid-market bank drive $100M+ in new deposits, achieve 96% platform adoption, and realize $550K in annual cost savings through a digital overhaul and structured change management.

Advised a large investor-owned utility to create a three-year IT workforce plan projected to save $65M, cut time-to-fill by 80%, and reduce reliance on contingent labor.

Helped a global workforce management provider unlock $75M+ in value by optimizing 10+ processes and deploying 15+ AI-enabled solutions to cut costs, reduce manual effort, and enable scale.

West Monroe's OCM practice has delivered over 500 projects, powered by a team of more than 100 professionals. The firm significantly bolstered its capabilities with the 2022 acquisition of change management consultancy 71&Change, and has been helping clients lead change since 2012.

To build the list, Forrester included providers that support business scenarios such as cultural transformation, mergers and acquisitions, organizational restructure, digital transformation, and workforce transformation.

Learn more about our Organizational Change Management capabilities: https://www.westmonroe.com/services/organizational-change-management

Forrester does not endorse any company, product, brand, or service included in its research publications and does not advise any person to select the products or services of any company or brand based on the ratings included in such publications. Information is based on the best available resources. Opinions reflect judgment at the time and are subject to change. For more information, read about Forrester's objectivity here.

About West Monroe

West Monroe is a global business and technology consulting firm passionate about creating value for our clients. We co-create solutions that accelerate results now and prepare industries to tackle what's next. We're excited by the possibilities that technology creates. We work with our clients to deliver on the possible, building on their goals, generating fresh insights and creating inspiring outcomes.

We excel at the intersection of industry, strategy, people, and technologyalways driving rapid impact. Our all-in approach comes from our unique employee ownership structure. Our clients' success is our success. From the beginning, our growth has come from putting people at the center. Fortune and USA Today consistently celebrate West Monroe as a top workplace, and we're recognized as a leading consultancy by Forbes. Let's find more value for your business.

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On October 1 in Ulsan, South Korea, the Ulsan Centre for Creative Economy and Innovation (UCCEI) and the Vietstar Institute of Management signed an MoU to boost collaboration in education, industrial leadership training, human resource exchange, and startup ecosystem development, establishing a framework for long-term partnership between the two countries.

Heon-sung Kim, CEO of UCCEI and Pham Thi Thu Hang, CEO of Vietstar after signing the MoU

The partnership aims to connect promising Vietnamese talent with South Korean industries, enhancing Vietnamese industrial leadership capability, and facilitating Ulsan startups' entry into the Vietnamese market. Six key areas of cooperation, including education, industrial leadership capability, talent exchange, and startup market entry support, were agreed upon.

"This agreement is a crucial step that merges Ulsan's advanced industrial capabilities with Vietnams young, dynamic talent and market potential," said Heon-sung KIM, CEO of UCCEI. "We look forward to serving as a hub for human and material exchange between the two nations, contributing to sustainable economic growth."

Under the MoU, the two sides will jointly develop leadership and competency-building programmes, combining Vietstars customised training courses for Vietnam with UCCEIs entrepreneurship and innovation content. They will also cooperate on tailored training initiatives for executives and employees of companies and institutions in both countries.

Industrial training and talent exchange will involve the joint planning and operation of activities for Vietnamese professionals  especially young talent  in key South Korean industries such as energy, mobility, and new materials. The initiative will also facilitate internships, exchange programmes, and talent connections for Ulsan-based companies expanding into Vietnam.

The two sides will also co-design and operate a startup leadership training course for aspiring Vietnamese entrepreneurs, supported by a mentoring system that leverages UCCEIs startup expertise and Vietstars local network.

Cooperation on talent attraction will focus on connecting skilled Vietnamese professionals with Korean industries, combining UCCEIs network of high-demand companies with Vietstars talent pool. The partners will also develop information and support schemes to help these professionals secure employment and integrate successfully in South Korea. In supporting startups, the collaboration will assist UCCEI-incubated companies entering the Vietnamese market through local insights, partner matching, market research, and legal and administrative consulting. Meanwhile, promising Vietnamese startups will gain access to opportunities in South Koreas Ulsan market and potential investment, including through a joint investment day or similar events. The two sides will also encourage inter-city ecosystem exchange between Ulsan and major Vietnamese cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Nha Trang, and Haiphong. This includes city-to-city matching initiatives, policy and best practice sharing, and joint project development to strengthen innovation and industrial cooperation. "Our collaboration with UCCEI will open the door for Vietnamese firms to access South Koreas cutting-edge technology and innovation know-how, and enhance industrial leadership capability for key sectors like power, energy, and manufacturing," said Pham Thi Thu Hang, CEO of Vietstar. "We expect significant synergy, particularly in enhancing the qualitative growth and global competitiveness of Vietnamese enterprises and the startup ecosystem."

UCCEI was established by the South Korean government and is located in Ulsan Metropolitan City. Building on the city's robust manufacturing base, which includes shipbuilding, machinery, oil products, and materials, the UCCEI serves as a hub for supporting national manufacturing process innovation, driving startup incubation, investment, technology commercialisation support, and the revitalisation of the regional industrial innovation ecosystem.

Vietstar is a world-class training and consulting brand, trusted by major corporations in Vietnam and the ASEAN region. Vietstar supports the sustainable growth of Vietnamese enterprises by providing leadership training, corporate competency building programmes, and consulting services.
Pham Hong Luong, deputy director of the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment

In August, the government approved the sale of one million forest carbon credits to the World Bank, earning about $5 million. How do you assess the significance of this deal for the economy and position of Vietnams forestry sector?

The sale cements the position and potential of Vietnams forestry sector in the green development process.

Economically, the $5 million represents a significant source of foreign currency for reinvestment in forest protection and development, especially in the context of Vietnams need for more resources for green growth and climate commitments. This transaction demonstrates that forests are not only a source of timber and non-timber forest products, but also create value through their ability to absorb and store carbon.

This is also a driving force to improve sustainable forest management, while providing opportunities to increase income and improve livelihoods for thousands of people who depend on forests.

The deal is seen as an international recognition of Vietnams efforts to reduce emissions under the REDD+ mechanism. The protected forest areas for credit issuance also contribute to maintaining biodiversity, conserving rare flora and fauna species, and raising public awareness of the important role of forests in responding to climate change.

Institutionally, the successful transaction is a testament to the gradual improvement of the legal framework for forest carbon credits in Vietnam. This is a valuable experience for further improving the capacity for measurement, reporting, verification (MRV) and negotiation, moving towards deeper participation in the global carbon market. Vietnams international reputation is also strengthened by affirming its capacity to implement commitments in the Paris Agreement.

Does the $5/tonne CO2 price in the World Bank deal accurately reflect the value of Vietnams forest carbon credits, and what should Vietnam do to increase the value in future deals?

The price that the World Bank pays, via the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, is essentially a results-based payment mechanism. This is not a normal commercial transaction, but this agreement aims to support Vietnam in implementing its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commitment and promoting sustainable forest governance.

Compared to the voluntary market, many high-quality forest credits, linked to community benefits and biodiversity conservation, are being purchased for $10-15, or even higher. However, in the agreement with the World Bank, Vietnam still has a huge advantage because all costs of project establishment, MRV, and recognition of emission reduction results are funded by the World Bank.

At the same time, after the sale, the World Bank agrees to let Vietnam retain up to 95 per cent of the emission reduction results to fulfill its NDC obligations, instead of buying outright and selling in instalments.

To increase the value of credits in upcoming transactions, Vietnam needs to focus on several directions. It needs to improve the quality of credits and ensure transparency, longevity, and community benefits; perfect the MRV system according to international standards; build a clear benefit-sharing mechanism for forest keepers; and approach international buyers who need high-quality credits, instead of relying only on large-volume contracts at low prices.

What is the potential of Vietnams forestry industry on a global scale?

Vietnams forestry sector has many advantages, of which the forest cover of more than 42 per cent is an important basis for creating a large amount of carbon credits. Currently, the country has just over 10 million hectares of natural forest, 4.7 million hectares of planted forest, and great potential from the mangrove ecosystem with outstanding carbon absorption capacity, opening up a huge space for the development of blue carbon.

Vietnam is also preparing to participate in the voluntary carbon market and towards fully operating the domestic carbon market after 2028, opening up opportunities for both domestic and foreign enterprises.

To realise its potential, Vietnam needs to continue to improve its legal framework, promote the application of technology in forest monitoring, and participate in global carbon market mechanisms. This is an opportunity for Vietnams forestry to develop sustainably.

In the context of increasingly vibrant carbon markets, what strategies will the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection prioritise to effectively develop forest carbon credits?

Currently, the department is advising the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment on negotiations for an emission reduction payment agreement for the Central Highlands and south-central region with the Alliance for Forest Finance Enhancement, with the expectation of exchanging and transferring about 5.15 million tonnes of CO2 at a unit price of no less than $10/tonne of CO2, and still retaining the emission reduction results and forest carbon credits to contribute to NDC.

If successfully negotiated, this will be the second emission reduction payment agreement in international transactions in Vietnams forestry sector.

With a view to expand scale, improve quality, and enhance transparency, Vietnams forest carbon credits promise to be more competitive, strongly attract international resources, and bring practical benefits to the forest protection community.
Trinh Thi Huong, deputy director general of the Agency for Private Enterprises and Collective Economy Development

Speaking at the ministrys third-quarter press conference on October 3, Trinh Thi Huong, deputy director general of the Agency for Private Enterprises and Collective Economy Development, said the startup wave continues to rise, driven by recent policy moves including Politburo Resolution No.68-NQ/TW and National Assembly Resolution No.198/2015/QH, both aimed at fostering private sector growth.

Huong noted that in the first nine months, more than 231,000 new and returning businesses were recorded  up over 26 per cent on-year and 1.3 times higher than those exiting the market. Additional registered capital by active enterprises exceeded VND3.3 quadrillion ($132 billion), rising more than 186 per cent on-year.

"This is a very positive signal," she said. "When existing businesses increase their capital, it shows growing confidence in the market."

The over 231,000 businesses joining or rejoining the market represent a strong entrepreneurial wave, especially after the adoption of Resolution 68 of the Politburo and Resolution 198, both aimed at boosting private sector development.

"Since the issuance of Resolution 68, an average of 18,600 new businesses have been registered each month. In June alone, more than 24,000 businesses registered for establishment, a 44.7 per cent increase compared to the average of the first five months of the year, and 1.5 times higher than the monthly average during 2021-2024," Huong said.

However, she acknowledged that domestic firms still face many difficulties and limitations, particularly due to unpredictable global geopolitical and economic fluctuations, which continue to impact business operations.

To address this, the government and the MoF, in collaboration with ministries, agencies, localities, organisations, and associations, are actively implementing supportive policies under the spirit of Resolutions 68 and 198.

"To date, all 34 provinces and cities, and 21 ministries and agencies have approved and issued implementation plans. Many solutions have already been finalised," noted Huong.

The MoF is focusing on two major groups of solutions to support business development, like improving the business and investment environment by streamlining administrative procedures, reducing compliance costs, and removing regulatory impediments. They are bridging capacity gaps by enhancing enterprise capabilities in governance, taxation, and accounting.

Additionally, Huong added that the MoF is currently developing two key support initiatives: The '1,000 Pioneer Enterprises Development Programme', and the 'Training Programme for 10,000 CEOs' aimed at capacity building for business leaders.

Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Chi also voiced optimism about the outlook for business activity, saying, "The ongoing implementation of Resolution 68 and related action plans would continue to offer practical and targeted support, especially for the private sector to grow in line with national development goals."

Vietnam Private Sector Economic Forum makes comeback in Hanoi Vietnam Private Sector Economic Forum (VPSF) 2025 is bringing together leaders from government, business, and academia in Hanoi to reaffirm the private sectors role as a driver of sustainable growth and to generate policy recommendations that strengthen Vietnams institutional framework.

PM calls on young entrepreneurs to lead Vietnams next development era The Vietnam Private Sector Forum (VPSF) 2025 concluded with the prime minister calling on young entrepreneurs to drive innovation and institutional reform.
China provides fertile ground for business expansion: multinational executives

Xinhua) 10:00, October 06, 2025

A staff member works at a workshop of Hyva Mechanics (China) Co., Ltd. in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Jiaqi)

NANJING, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- The cylinder plant of Hyva Mechanics (China) Co., Ltd., located in Yangzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, was bustling with activity when Yin Yan, the company's operations and supply chain director, proudly introduced the company's hydraulic cylinder products to a group of visiting journalists.

Outside the plant, cylinder products were neatly packaged and tagged with client information, including addresses and contact details, waiting to be delivered to various locations across the country. This setup highlighted a strong demand in the Chinese market for Hyva's hydraulic cylinders, which are essential components that provide power for heavy-duty tipping trucks.

As one of the world's leading providers of transport solutions for the commercial vehicle and environmental service industries, the Netherlands-headquartered multinational company established the Hyva Mechanics (China) Co., Ltd. in 2004. Since then, the Chinese subsidiary has witnessed a meteoric rise, enabling the group to gain more than 40 percent of the global market share in front-end tipping cylinders.

This photo taken on Sept. 19, 2025 shows cylinder products at Hyva Mechanics (China) Co., Ltd. in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Liu Jiaqi)

During a press event held at a meeting room of the company recently, Zhang Xingbing, chairman of Hyva Mechanics (China) Co., Ltd., said that Hyva has enjoyed fast business expansion amid China's rapid economic growth. "During our more than 20 years of operations in China, the company has reaped the benefits from the country's infrastructure development boom in real estate as well as in railways and roads construction."

He said that by seizing this opportunity, Hyva's China subsidiary and the group as a whole have achieved robust development.

As the Chinese economy transitions toward high-quality growth, the company's production base in China has also been investing in automation upgrade and digitization in an effort to further enhance the competitiveness and market appeal of its products, according to Yin.

Regarding the company's investment outlook in China, Zhang believes that the Chinese production base will play an increasingly vital role in the group's overall business strategies. This is primarily attributed to China's strong industrial capabilities, supply chain advantages, and a supportive business environment.

"From the strategic corporate planning point of view, I believe the importance of industrial and supply chains in China will only rise rather than shrink in Hyva's business planning in the future," said Zhang.

Hyva is among more than a dozen European firms that have gathered in the Sino-Europe (Yangzhou) Intelligent Manufacturing Park which focuses on three main industries, including high-end equipment manufacturing, new energy industries and new generation information technology.

The Yangzhou-based park also epitomizes the broader international investment and trade cooperation taking place in Jiangsu Province, a major manufacturing hub in the world's second-largest economy.

According to data provided by the provincial commerce department, since the beginning of this year, the actual investment in Jiangsu by countries such as Germany, Japan and Switzerland has all increased by more than 90 percent year on year.

In neighboring Changzhou City, also in Jiangsu Province, Ypsomed, a Switzerland-headquartered developer and manufacturer of injection systems for the self-administration of liquid medication, is banking on the vast Chinese market for its products amid the growing medical needs of people living with chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity.

This photo taken on Sept. 18, 2025 shows the production base of Ypsomed (China) Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Jiaqi)

Ypsomed's Changzhou production base was first established in October 2022. Predicting a rapid market growth in this sector in China, the group further increased its production capacity at the Changzhou production base in July 2024 with more investment in three new production lines.

Following the expansion, the plant now possesses a capacity that can produce up to 100 million injection devices annually, according to Tao Jielin, head of manufacturing at Ypsomed's Changzhou plant.

"You just look at the sheer size of China. It's a big landmass. You have 1.4 billion people here," said Reto Felber, general manager &plant manager of Ypsomed (China) Manufacturing Co., Ltd., explaining the firm's investment decision in China.

A staff member works at the production base of Ypsomed (China) Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Jiaqi)

The decision by Ypsomed to establish a production base in Changzhou is driven by several favorable factors, including its strategic location, efficient logistics, competitive production costs, and strong supply chain advantages. According to Reto, a supportive business environment also plays a key role in the company's investment decision. "The local government understands the needs of companies like us, and it is very supportive."

Reto observed that there is also a trend favoring the development of injected liquid medicine due to its higher efficiency compared to orally taken pills which have to go through the digestive system. In this regard, China represents an emerging consumer market, particularly as the government places increasing emphasis on the management of chronic diseases.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Hongyu)
To advance partnerships with Japanese automakers and accelerate leadership in connected vehicle services, WirelessCar appoints Satoru Abe as Country Manager for Japan.

GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- WirelessCar, a global leader in connected vehicle services headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, announced today that Satoru Abe has been appointed Country Manager for WirelessCar Japan, based in Tokyo.

Satoru Abe, WirelessCar Country Manager for Japan

This appointment follows the establishment of the company's Japan office in late 2024, a milestone that underscored WirelessCar's long-term commitment to supporting Japanese automakers in their digital transformation. Under Abe's leadership, WirelessCar will take the next step: deepening collaboration with Japanese OEMs and driving innovation in Software-Defined Vehicles (SDV), EV solutions, and connected vehicle services.

About Satoru Abe

With more than 35 years of experience in the automotive and high-tech sectors, Abe has held senior leadership roles at MathWorks Japan, AVL, Continental Automotive, Cobra Automotive, and Honda R&D. His career spans business development, technical marketing, and systems engineering, where he has consistently driven revenue growth and built high-performing teams.

Abe comments on his appointment:

"The Japanese automotive industry is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by Software-Defined Vehicles and the evolution of AI. WirelessCar provides a secure, scalable platform that helps Japanese automakers compete globally. Since our founding, we have worked closely with Japan's automotive leaders, and we will continue to deepen those partnerships while pursuing new collaborations. Our goal is to drive innovation and remain a trusted long-term partner to the global automotive industry."

WirelessCar Japan

100-0011 Hibiya Park Front 19F, 2-1-6 Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

WirelessCar turns connected car data into digital services

Global Media Contact:

Hanna Belleus

VP of Marketing & Communications

WirelessCar

+46 428 88 84 66

[email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com.

https://news.cision.com/wirelesscar/r/wirelesscar-strengthens-japanese-presence-with-appointment-of-satoru-abe-as-country-manager,c4244455

The following files are available for download:

https://news.cision.com/wirelesscar/i/satoru-abe-new-country-manager-for-wirelesscar-japan,c3474617 Satoru Abe New Country Manager for WirelessCar Japan

SOURCE WirelessCar
Childrens hospice celebrates 21 years with gala raising 46,000

This article is old - Published: Monday, Oct 6th, 2025

A gala ball has raised 46,000 for North Waless only childrens hospice, Ty Gobaith, as it marked 21 years of care.

The black-tie event was held at Caer Rhun Hall in the Conwy Valley, with 180 guests attending the ball, which was backed by local sponsors.

Comedian Troy Hawke was on hand to greet guests and host the raffle, while auctioneer Melfyn Williams led bidding on lots including childrens artwork and Wrexham AFC tickets.

The three course menu on the night was crafted by Outside Gourmet Catering from a larder full of fine Welsh produce donated at no cost by Harlech Foodservice, Edwards of Conwy, Poyntons Meats, Fresh & Tasty Microherbs, Snowdon Craft Beer, Cariad Gin, Barti Rum Kompass Wines, Heartease Farm and Fentimans.

Guests of honour were Ffion and Barry Evans whose daughter Alaw attends the hospice for respite stays. They shared their story with the audience and explained how the hospice has been a lifeline to them.

Event organisers Vanessa Marubbi and Sian Golding said they were thrilled with the incredible success of the event.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the wonderful businesses and supporters who helped make this event possible, they said in a joint statement.

It was a magical evening filled with heart and hope, we are truly grateful to each and every one of you who played a part.

You are amazing. Diolch o galon.
Investigations under way after drone drop and car fires at HMP Berwyn

This article is old - Published: Monday, Oct 6th, 2025

North Wales Police are investigating two separate incidents reported by HMP Berwyn  one involving a drone carrying contraband into the prison grounds, and another in which vehicles were set alight.

In a statement, police said: On Saturday 27th September 2025, North Wales Police received a report from HMP Berwyn regarding a drone which had been found in the grounds of the prison. The drone had been carrying a large parcel. The parcel was x-rayed and was found to contain a quantity of mobile phones, chargers, and herbal drugs.

The drone and parcel have now been seized by NWP, and an investigation will be carried out, including forensics, to be able to attribute the drone and package to a suspect.

Officers say they are now carrying out forensic examinations to help identify who was responsible for the attempted delivery.

A second incident was reported two days later, On Monday 29th September 2025, North Wales Police received a report from HMP Berwyn that 2 x vehicles had been set on fire in the staff car park. The entire incident was captured on CCTV.

A short while later a vehicle was reported to be on fire in the Caia Park area of Wrexham. This vehicle was believed to be the suspect vehicle from HMP Berwyn which carried the 2 x suspects.

The investigation is ongoing to identify the suspects.

Police say the fires are being treated as linked and are appealing for information from anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity near the prison or in the Caia Park area around the time of the incidents.

HMP Berwyn, which opened in 2017, is the largest prison in the UK, housing more than 2,000 men on Wrexham Industrial Estate.
Moel Famau artwork marks 40 years of Clwydian Range AONB

The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley is celebrating 40 years since becoming an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

To mark the anniversary, the trig point at the summit of Moel Famau has been painted with artwork by David Setter, also known as @doodleplanet.

The design features a black grouse, curlew and skylark, all ground nesting birds that contribute to the soundscape of the Clwydian Range in spring.

Originally erected by Ordnance Survey in 1935, trig points were concrete pillars used to accurately retriangulate Great Britain, forming the basis of modern map-making.

The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley was designated in 1985 by the Secretary of State for Wales under the National Parks and Access to Countryside Act 1949.

Spanning over 390 square kilometres, the protected area brings together the coastal slopes of Prestatyn hillside in the north to the Berwyn mountains and the Pontcysyllte aqueduct and canal in the south.

Councillor Alan James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning at Denbighshire Council, said: The natural beauty of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley is truly astonishing.

Thousands of visitors come to gain a sense of peace and tranquillity while enjoying the scenery and its sheer beauty, and as residents of Denbighshire we are very lucky to be able to have such scenery on our doorstep.
Politicians call for tougher fly-tipping penalties

Senedd members have demanded a crackdown on fly-tipping, with 42,000 incidents last year  a number that is rapidly rising while prosecution rates remain relatively low.

Mick Antoniw led a debate on a cross-party legislative proposal that would see vehicles confiscated for convicted offenders and force polluters to cover the full clean-up costs.

He told the Senedd: In Wales, you are very unlikely to be reported for fly-tipping and almost guaranteed not to be prosecuted  this means fly-tippers act with near impunity.

The Labour politician warned it is open season for fly-tipping, with 115 illegal instances every day during 2023/24  up 20% on pre-pandemic levels and 31% on a decade ago.

Mr Antoniw, a former minister, pointed to the Welsh Governments 2015 fly-tipping strategy promising a future free from such unacceptable social, economic and environmental harm.

Id have had a smack

During the debate on October 1, the former lawyer warned: A decade later, it appears that the number of fly-tipping instances isnt the only metric going in the wrong direction.

The prosecution rate, already minuscule in 2015, has fallen from 0.3% to below 0.25%.

Mr Antoniws proposal received cross-party support from the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and Labour  though ministers abstained in the vote.

Janet Finch-Saunders, the Tory shadow climate secretary, decried the 2m-a-year clean-up costs and described 102 prosecutions for 40,000 incidents as nowhere near enough.

She said: I would have had a smack on my legs if Id dropped an ice lolly wrapper. Society needs to do better than this now. We need to return to that way of discipline.

Epidemic

Plaid Cymrus Delyth Jewell said much of the rubbish dumped in her South Wales East region is commercial, so people are probably being paid to pollute the mountainsides.

She highlighted the industrial scale of waste on Gelligaer and Merthyr common.

Labours Carolyn Thomas warned of fly-tipping reaching epidemic levels in Wales  blighting our communities, destroying wildlife, and harming our health and well-being.

She described the proposal as a real opportunity to clean up our streets, protect our countryside and send a clear message to offenders that fly-tipping will not be tolerated.

Huw Irranca-Davies, Wales climate secretary and deputy first minister, described the Welsh Governments work on fly-tipping as unparalleled compared with other parts of the UK.

Highly unlikely

Mr Irranca-Davies pointed to 1.6m for the Fly-tipping Action Wales scheme which provides practical support for councils including searching through waste and stop checks.

The funding has allowed Fly-tipping Action Wales to employ enforcement officers on the ground in north and south-east Wales, he explained.

He largely supported the proposal, sympathising with frustration aimed at the criminal justice system, but he expressed hesitation about more strident measures like seizing vehicles.

The deputy first minister stressed the need to strike a balance, warning of the potential to undermine the independence of the courts to hand out proportionate sentences.

Mr Irranca-Davies warned it is highly unlikely, in the extreme that the Welsh Government will be able to find time to legislate during this Senedd term which ends in May.

By Ella Groves
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Malibu, CA, Oct 6, 2025 AEST (ABN Newswire) - In this edition of The Ellis Martin Report and Money Talk Radio, Ellis Martin welcomes Roger Rosmus, CEO of Goliath Resources Limited. ( CVE:GOT ) ( GOTRF:OTCMKTS ) ( B4IF:FRA ) - a junior exploration company making major strides in the Golden Triangle region of British Columbia.



Rosmus provides a powerful update on the company's Gold Digger Property, an area long hidden beneath glacial cover that's now emerging as one of the most significant new gold discoveries in Canada. The Sherbet Zone - a 1.8 km2 corridor of stacked, high-grade gold veins-continues to deliver extraordinary results with 64,000 meters drilled in 110 holes and a 100 percent hit rate.



2024 Highlights



- Visible gold (VG) in 94% of holes vs 32% in 2023 - a dramatic leap thanks to enhanced personnel and logging precision.



- Nine rigs on site for a record 64,000-meter campaign.



- 76% of holes show visible gold to the naked eye.



- Largest drill program of its kind in Canada's mountain topography.



- 88 assay results still pending as of October 2025.



Strategic and Financial Strength



- $23 million CAD bought deal led by Stifel Canada - six times oversubscribed, no warrants, north of $4 on a charity flow-through.



- Fully funded through the 2026 season - no financing overhang.



- Strategic shareholders include Eric Sprott, Rob McEwen (McEwen Inc.), Crescat Capital, and Warta Advisors (approx. 5% holding).



- Goliath also owns ~900,000 shares of McEwen Inc. (stock up from CA$11.50 to CA$24.50), adding ~$9 million in non-dilutive value.



Rosmus and Martin discuss the broader gold market context as prices hover around $3,800 USD per ounce, and why Goliath Resources offers an exceptional exploration leverage opportunity for generalists seeking exposure to a potential Tier One discovery in a world-class mining jurisdiction.



Quote from Roger Rosmus:



"If you want exposure to an explorer that's on track for a Tier One discovery that will be a mine one day, Goliath is positioned to deliver that."



To Listen to the Interview, please visit:

https://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/6U6AT8OL





About Goliath Resources Limited





Goliath Resources Limited (CVE:GOT) (OTCMKTS:GOTRF) (FRA:B4IF) is a junior resource exploration company of precious metal projects in the prolific Golden Triangle and north-western areas of British Columbia.

The Company is on track with a new discovery of a large high-grade gold system at its Golddigger property that was never drilled before in the Golden Triangle of B.C.; it remains open. The Surebet discovery was never explored or drilled before due to previous glacier and permanent snowpack covering it. The project is located in a world-class geological setting and mining friendly jurisdiction. The Golddigger property sits on tidewater and has excellent infrastructure with a permitted mill site in Kitsault nearby.

Significant shareholders include Crescat Capital, Mr. Eric Sprott, Mr. Rob McEwen and a Global Commodity Group based in Singapore; Dr. Quinton Hennigh is a technical advisor.

About The Ellis Martin Report

The Ellis Martin Report (TEMR) and Money Talk Radio feature interviews with industry leaders in mining, biotech, energy, and technology. The program is globally syndicated through multiple financial platforms and streaming services.

Related Companies
Sam Bregman

Editors note: The Journal is publishing op-eds from gubernatorial candidates in subsequent Sunday Opinion sections.

When I launched my campaign for governor five months ago, I warned that New Mexico is under attack. I wasnt exaggerating. Donald Trump and his Republican allies in Washington are working to dismantle the very foundations of our way of life. But lets be honest  our challenges didnt begin with them. Long before their assault, New Mexico was already struggling with rising crime, underperforming schools, a housing shortage that locks families out of the dream of homeownership, health care thats too far away and too hard to reach, and an economy that leaves too many people behind.

Now, Trumps so-called Big Beautiful Bill is making things worse  slashing Medicaid, cutting education, gutting food assistance. These arent just numbers on a spreadsheet; these cuts threaten the health, safety and future of real people in every corner of our state.

Ive never been afraid to take on bullies. As Bernalillo County district attorney and throughout my career in the courtroom, Ive stood up for families and fought for everyday New Mexicans. Thats the kind of leadership New Mexico needs today  courageous, proven and determined to deliver change.

Crime and education: Two sides of the same coin

We cant prosecute our way out of crime. What we need is both accountability and opportunity. It starts by updating our Childrens Code to reflect the world our children live in today. When I was growing up, if I crossed the line, there were real consequences  and I learned from them. We dont need to lock children up and throw away the key, but we must ensure there are fair consequences for bad decisions while also giving young people a chance at a better future.

Heres the truth: Being last in the nation in education and first in the nation in crime is not a coincidence. The two are directly connected. If we want safer streets, we need stronger schools. Thats why Ill fight to make New Mexico the best place in the Southwest to be a teacher and expand high-quality public school choices  while rejecting vouchers that siphon resources away from public schools.

Opportunity starts with stability

Every New Mexican deserves the chance to put down roots and build a secure future. But today, homeownership is out of reach for too many. We need to break down barriers to affordable housing, build more homes, and help families build wealth and stability in every ZIP code. There are simply not enough homes being built. Thats why my blueprint sets a bold goal: Build at least 5,000 new homes each year. To make ownership more achievable, well provide down payment assistance so first-time buyers can actually afford a place of their own.

Health care and jobs: A lifeline for families

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Trump is trying to push health care further out of reach. We cannot allow that. Ill fight to protect Medicaid, recruit more doctors and nurses, and bring care closer to home by investing in mobile health units so rural families arent waiting months for basic services.

At the same time, we need to create real pathways to good-paying jobs  through vocational training, apprenticeships and workforce development  so that young people see a future that doesnt involve crime or leaving the state to find opportunity. We will bring high-paying jobs in clean energy, manufacturing, agriculture and national security tech so New Mexicans can build their future here at home. Ill cut red tape and support small businesses. Ill expand apprenticeships so every student graduates with a real path forward. Ill also invest in rural and tribal communities while keeping more of our chile, beef and pecan wealth in New Mexico.

A blueprint for action  not just opposition

Standing up to Trump is critical, but its not enough. New Mexico deserves a governor with a plan to move us forward. Thats why I brought together hundreds of people from every corner of our state to craft my Blueprint for New Mexico  a 190-page action plan to take on our toughest challenges head-on. Read my plan at BregmanforNM.com/issues. New Mexico doesnt just need resistance. We need results. And Im ready to deliver them.

Sam Bregman is the Bernalillo County district attorney and a candidate for governor.
Gregory R.C. Hasman stands inside the Classical Gas Museum in Embudo, which sits between Santa Fe and Taos. Courtesy photo

The New Mexico Department of Transportation is conducting a study addressing traffic and safety concerns for the Interstate 40/Interstate 25 interchange, commonly known as the Big I.

The study focuses specifically on the I-40 eastbound and westbound ramps to northbound I-25, according to NMDOT. Several alternatives are under consideration, including reconfiguring ramp geometry and connection strategies. Potential improvements include adding a second lane to one or both ramps and redesigning merge points to enhance traffic flow and safety.

NMDOT is requesting feedback through an online survey.

We know how critical the Big I is to daily travel in Albuquerque, NMDOT Cabinet Secretary Ricky Serna said in a statement. This study is the first step in finding effective solutions that keep people moving safely and efficiently.

It is unclear when the study will be completed.

In 2022, NMDOT completed an I-40 congestion management study, spanning from the Atrisco Vista Boulevard interchange through to Tramway Boulevard.

Among the issues identified in the study were the eastbound and westbound approaches to the I-40 interchange and their connections to the northbound I-25 ramps. These findings stimulated the need for the Big I study, according to NMDOT.

EXERCISE CAUTION: The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta started on Saturday. Hopefully, everyone is enjoying the event and please, be safe out there.

NMDOT District 3 spokesperson Kim Gallegos said she wanted to remind motorists that I-25 between Comanche Road and Montgomery Boulevard remains an active construction zone as work continues on an improvements project that began last summer.

Given the anticipated influx of visitors, she said, NMDOT encourages drivers to plan, allow additional travel time, and exercise caution when traveling to the Balloon Fiesta or through the Albuquerque area.

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Work is expected to be completed in spring 2027.

For more information, Gallegos said, people can visit i25improved.com, call 505-785-7623 or email info@i25improved.com.

While the I-25 work continues, the city of Albuquerque has halted some road projects due to the event.

The city put a moratorium on projects on streets bounded by (and including) Roy Avenue and Tramway Boulevard to the north, Interstate 25 to the east, Osuna Road to the south and Second Street to the west, plus key arterial and collector routes commonly used by event attendees, Department of Municipal Development spokesperson Dan Mayfield said.

The moratorium, which also applies to the Old Town area, the Uptown area (Winrock and Coronado shopping malls), and the Northwest Area (Cottonwood Shopping Mall), is expected to end on Sunday, he said.

INTERSECTION REOPENS: The city reopened the intersection of Mountain Road and 19th Street on Friday after it put in a new roundabout to improve pedestrian safety.

The project lasted about five months and cost $1.3 million, Mayfield said.

THE AUTOBAHN OF VENTURA RANCH: Speaking of intersections, reader Rebecca Sweet said traveling on Universe Boulevard and Ventana Road is dangerous.

Residents are trying to enter Universe from both the east and west while dodging traffic going north and south on Universe, most of which is speeding, she said. Universe has become the autobahn of Ventana Ranch (in addition to Irving, which is another story). I have seen more than one accident at the Ventana Road/Universe intersection in the (3) years I have lived here. Does someone have to be killed to get a traffic light here?
Adventurers wont have to track and hunt as hard for maps and information about public lands. A new storefront in Albuquerques Old Town is providing a home for information of all sorts on the lands people can visit across New Mexico and the Southwest.

The Public Lands Discovery Center opened Wednesday, at 422 San Felipe St. NW, near The Candy Lady.

The Public Lands Interpretive Association (PLIA) moved from its longtime spot in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque to the more visible location.

The Discovery Center includes an extensive library of maps and products, and workers equipped to answer questions about spots to adventure.

PLIA was first incorporated in 1980 as the Southwest Natural and Cultural History Association. The PLIA website, publiclands.org, offers online maps of recreation sites as well as maps for sale. PLIA operates visitor centers and stores in Arizona and New Mexico in collaboration with government departments including the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service.

Americas public lands are more than just landscapes on a map  they are shared treasures telling a story about who we are, according to a PLIA blog. From the desert canyons, mountains and forests of the Southwest and beyond, these lands are saturated with history, beauty and possibility for everyone who calls this country home  and for those visiting from far away. While public lands belong to all of us, they are unable to speak for themselves.

The group says it speaks up for public lands.

For decades, PLIA has been dedicated to connecting people with the natural and cultural heritage of public lands, ensuring that these spaces are not just protected, but understood, appreciated, and accessible, PLIA said.

Public lands are places of inspiration, but too often they can feel distant, inaccessible or even invisible. Our new Public Lands Discovery Center will help bridge that gap. The Discovery Center will act as a hub of learning, gathering, and conversation  a place where visitors can explore maps, resources and stories that bring public lands to life.

The Discovery Center serves as a gathering place for dialogue about the challenges and opportunities our public lands face today.

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At its heart, the Discovery Center is about access and connection, PLIA said. It reflects a belief that the great outdoors  a cornerstone of the American dream  should remain open, welcoming, and enriching for everyone, regardless of background or political viewpoint. In a time when so much divides us, public lands remain one of the few things that unite us.
Six Dead in Jaipur Hospital Fire; PM Modi, CM Sharma Express Condolences 2

At least six patients died after a devastating fire broke out in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur late on Sunday night. Police officials said a short circuit was the likely cause of the incident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the tragedy and wished a speedy recovery to those injured. The loss of lives due to a fire tragedy at a hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan, is deeply saddening. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon, the Prime Ministers Office posted on X.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma rushed to the hospital to review the situation and assured that all the injured would receive the best possible treatment and care.

The incident of a fire breaking out at the trauma centre of Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur is extremely unfortunate. Upon reaching the hospital, I gathered information from doctors and officials and instructed for immediate relief efforts. Every possible step is being taken for the safety and care of patients, and the situation is being continuously monitored, Sharma said in a post on X.

Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa, who accompanied the Chief Minister during his late-night visit, also expressed sorrow over the loss of lives. The incident of a fire breaking out late tonight at the trauma centre of Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur is extremely heartbreaking. As soon as I received information, I reached the spot with Honble CM Bhajanlal Sharma Ji, reviewed relief and rescue operations, and met the affected patients and their families, Bairwa wrote on X.

The Rajasthan government has set up a six-member committee to investigate the cause of the fire and recommend safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
A former state employee has been sentenced for stealing more than $100,000 in public funds.

Natalie Colette Lewis, 60, of Montgomery, pleaded guilty in August to aggravated theft of property.

Lewis formerly worked at the Alabama Medicaid Agency.

Montgomery County Circuit Judge Brooke Reid sentenced Lewis to 10 years with three to serve, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced Monday.

The sentence will be served in the Montgomery County Detention Facility rather than state prison.

After serving three years, Lewis will be placed on probation for two years, with the remaining seven years suspended.

At a later date, Marshall said, the court will determine whether Lewis may serve the remainder of her three-year sentence in the community corrections program.

Public employees hold a position of trust, and when that trust is violated, particularly when taxpayer dollars are stolen, there must be consequences, Marshall said. This sentence makes clear that abuse of public office will not be tolerated, and the people of Alabama will be made whole.

As required by state law, Lewis will forfeit her state retirement benefits because she used her official position to commit a felony.

While she will not receive her state-funded retirement, she is entitled to the contributions she made to her retirement account with interest.

Lewis has agreed that those funds will be applied toward restitution owed.

She was indicted in March on multiple felony charges including aggravated theft of property, use of office for personal gain, and violation of the Alabama Computer Crimes Act.

Lewis had been employed as a Medical Care Benefits Specialist, assigned to the Medicaid Agencys Non-Emergency Transportation Division, since 2006.

Marshall said she had three prior felony convictions when she went to work for the agency, after lying on her state application for employment by stating that she had no prior convictions.

She subsequently received a restoration of rights pardon in 2017 for those convictions.

While employed at the Agency, Lewis was responsible for processing claims to reimburse Medicaid recipients for expenses incurred for their travel to medical visits.

From December 2019 to November 2024, Lewis entered 1,631 claims for transportation expenses on behalf of her son, a Medicaid recipient, for medical appointments that never took place.

In total, Lewis received $103,413.26 for the fraudulent claims and spent the money on personal expenditures.

The Attorney Generals Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the matter after the theft was discovered by the Medicaid Agency.

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75 percent of its funding$1.2 million in FY2024through an annual grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
Greene County Sheriff Jonathan Benison spent $5 million from bingo operations that he oversees in the county for unauthorized purposes and has been ordered to repay the money.

The findings came in a report released Friday by the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts that covered the sheriffs operations from Oct. 1, 2018 through April 30, 2024.

The audit findings will be sent to the state attorney general and district attorney for collection, the report says.

Benison did not immediately return a phone call from al.com to his office.

The findings included:

Inadequate or no supporting documentation for $3.16 million paid directly to county employees from the bingo fund. The payments were in addition to the employees salaries paid by the county commission and were reported to the IRS on Form 1099 as non-employee compensation.

Inadequate or no supporting documentation for another $2.16 million in spending.

Of that amount, $1.18 million went to consultants and attorneys for professional services. The rest went to merchants, individuals, restaurants, hotels, automotive repair shops, gas stations and grocery stores, the report says.

Inadequate or no supporting documentation for $16,226 in payments to a tire company and a vending and commissary company paid from several other funds under the sheriffs control.

In 2003, the Alabama Legislature and Greene County voters approved a constitutional amendment to allow nonprofit organizations to operate bingo games.

The sheriff oversees those operations.

The money is to be used to benefit the public good and welfare for the citizens of Greene County, to supplement salaries of sheriff department staff and for other law enforcement purposes, the audit report says.

The constitutional amendment does not provide that other law enforcement expenses can be paid from the proceeds of the bingo assessments; therefore, the Sheriff did not comply with the requirements of the (law), the report says.

The audit initially found $5.34 million in unauthorized spending. Benison submitted information that reduced that amount by $370,383.

But Benison failed to show just cause why the remaining $4.97 million should not repaid, Chief Examiner Rachel Riddle wrote in an order on Sept. 12.

In addition to the unauthorized spending, the examiners report said the sheriff failed to reconcile bank accounts and to document and deposit funds received according to state law.

The report says the same problems were identified in audits from 2014 and 2018.

Greene Countys bingo operations have been controversial over the years.

The state attorney generals office has opposed the use of electronic bingo machines, leading to raids and seizure of the machines, including back in 2011 and in 2014.

The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that electronic bingo is illegal.

In 2022, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that owners of Greenetrack owed $76 million in unpaid taxes after an 11-year legal battle.
A Birmingham City Council member who had a highly publicized DUI in a city vehicle last year will battle to keep his seat on Tuesday, Oct. 7, in a runoff election that will settle three city council seats.

District 4 incumbent J.T. Moore, who last year was arrested for driving under the influence in a city vehicle will face a runoff against political newcomer and Birmingham Planning Commission committee member Brian Gunn.

Another incumbent, Public Safety Chair LaTonya Tate, faces a runoff to keep her seat in District 9.

Tate is being challenged by political veteran John Hilliard, who served as the District 9 councilor from 2017 to 2021 and served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1993 to 2003.

The vacant seat left by District 8 council member Carol Clarke, who did not run for re-election, is being contested by Birmingham Board of Education member Sonja Smith and April Myers Williams, a former four-term District 8 Board of Education member.

Here are the vote totals those candidates collected on Aug. 26:

District 4

District 8

District 9

On the Birmingham Board of Education, three seats will be decided in the runoff.

District 2 incumbent Neonta Williams had 642 votes, or 26.2 percent, to challenger Terri Michal, who had 1,177, or 48 percent.

Antwon Womack led the District 8 race after the Aug. 26 election, with 1,910 votes, or 44.8 percent, over Pamela Bass, with 1,865 votes, or 43.8 percent.

Yamika Foy led the District 9 race with 1,781 votes, or 39 percent, over Eric Hall, who had 1,625 votes, or 35.6 percent.

Polls open Tuesday at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Check the citys election website for more details.
CNN political commentator Van Jones speaks during the during the Time 100 Summit, Tuesday, April 23, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) AP

CNN political analyst Van Jones took to X on Sunday to apologize for his comment about children in Gaza made during his Friday appearance on Real Time With Bill Maher.

I made a comment on Real Time With Bill Maher about the war in Gaza that was insensitive and hurtful. I apologize, Jones wrote.

The suffering of the people of Gaza -- especially the children -- is not a punch line. Im deeply sorry it came across that way. Whats happening to children in Gaza is heartbreaking. As a father, I cant begin to imagine the pain their parents are enduring, unable to protect their kids from unimaginable harm.

He continued, Im praying and working for an immediate end to this war -- and for peace and safety for every family caught in its path. Im truly sorry for the pain my words caused to people who are already suffering more than anyone should.

While on Real Time, Jones made a comment about the frequency of horrific images on social media stemming from the conflict between Israel and Palestine that some found highly offensive.

He said, Iran and Qatar have come up with a disinformation campaign that they are running through TikTok and Instagram that is massive. If you are a young person, you are opening up your phone, and all you see is--dead Gaza baby, dead Gaza baby, dead Gaza baby, Diddy, dead Gaza baby, dead Gaza baby.

The war in Gaza has been top of mind for many in Hollywood.

On Sept. 10, over 3,900 industry names, including Emma Stone, Olivia Colman, Ayo Edebiri, Lily Gladstone, Mark Ruffalo, pledged to avoid collaboration with Israeli film companies that are whitewashing or justifying genocide and apartheid, and/or partnering with the government committing them.

Weeks later, 1,200 names from Hollywood, including Liev Schreiber, Mayim Bialik and Debra Messing, signed an open letter denouncing the boycott of Israeli film institutions.

The letter stated that to censor the very voices trying to find common ground and express their humanity, is wrong, ineffective and a form of collective punishment.

 2025 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein.

On the first day of their new term, the justices declined to take up a case that would have drawn renewed attention to the sordid sexual-abuse saga after President Donald Trumps administration sought to tamp down criticism over its refusal to publicly release more investigative files from Epsteins case.

Lawyers for Maxwell, a British socialite, argued that she never should have been tried or convicted for her role in luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein, a New York financier. She is serving a 20-year prison term, though she was moved from a low-security federal prison in Florida to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas after she was interviewed in July by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

As is their custom, the justices did not explain why they turned away the appeal.

Trumps Republican administration had urged the high court to stay out of the case.

Maxwells lawyers contended that a non-prosecution agreement reached in 2007 by federal prosecutors in Miami and Epsteins lawyers also protected his potential co-conspirators from federal charges anywhere in the country.

Maxwell was prosecuted in Manhattan, and the federal appeals court there ruled that the prosecution was proper. A jury found her guilty of sex trafficking a teenage girl, among other charges.

Maxwells trial featured accounts of the sexual exploitation of girls as young as 14 told by four women who described being abused as teens in the 1990s and early 2000s at Epsteins homes.

Neither Maxwells lawyers nor the federal Bureau of Prisons has explained the reason for her transfer, but one of her lawyers, David Oscar Markus, has said she is innocent and never should have been tried, much less convicted. Markus also was the lead lawyer on her Supreme Court case.

Maxwell was interviewed by Blanche at a Florida courthouse. She was given limited immunity, allowing her to speak freely without fear of prosecution for anything she said except for in the event of a false statement. She repeatedly denied witnessing any sexually inappropriate interactions involving Trump, according to records released in August meant to distance the president from the disgraced financer.

Epstein was arrested in 2019 on sex trafficking charges and was accused of sexually abusing dozens of teenage girls. A month later, he was found dead in a New York jail cell in what investigators described as a suicide.

The Epstein case had consumed Trumps administration following an announcement from the FBI and the Justice Department in July that Epstein had killed himself despite conspiracy theories to the contrary, that a client list that Attorney General Pam Bondi had intimated was on her desk did not actually exist, and that no additional documents from the high-profile investigation were suitable to be released.

The announcement produced outrage from conspiracy theorists and Trump supporters who had been hoping to see proof of a government coverup. That expectation was driven in part by comments from officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, who on podcasts before taking their current positions had repeatedly promoted the idea that damaging details about prominent people were being withheld.

Patel, for instance, said in at least one podcast interview before becoming FBI director that Epsteins black book was under the direct control of the director of the FBI.

But the Justice Department said its review of evidence in the governments possession determined that no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted. The department noted that much of the material was placed under seal by a court to protect victims and only a fraction of it would have been aired publicly had Epstein gone to trial.

Faced with fury from his base, Trump sought to quickly turn the page, shutting down questioning of Bondi about Epstein at a White House Cabinet meeting and deriding as weaklings supporters he said were falling for the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax.
Editors note: A previous version of this story didnt group all hospitals owned and operated by UAB into UAB Health Systems numbers, artificially lowering that systems totals.

Alabama is home to multiple major hospital systems, including several with billions of dollars in revenue in the last year.

The states eight largest hospital systems generated an average of $1.65 billion in patient revenue in the year ending July 2025. Combined, those systems employed about 82,000 people and operated nearly 12,000 licensed beds  about one in six of all beds statewide.

At a glance: Alabamas top hospital systems

Top revenue: UAB Health System  $5.8 billion

Total licensed beds (Top 8): 11,500

Most beds: UAB Health System  3,173

Most locations: UAB Health System  133

Largest employer: UAB Health System  30,800 staff

Average revenue (Top 8): $1.65 billion

AL.com analyzed data on eight main categories: Revenue, number of licensed beds, number of staff, number of locations, counties, cities and states with locations, and age of the system.

UAB Health System led in five of the eight categories.

UAB Medicine exists to provide life-changing care, and it is our honor to serve people across Alabama and beyond, said UAB Health System CEO Dawn Bulgarella. Our skilled and compassionate team is dedicated to improving and saving as many lives as possible, whether that is at the eighth largest hospital in the country in Birmingham or in communities throughout the state.

Revenue leaders

UAB Health System had by far the largest net patient revenue in 2025, with nearly $5.8 billion. That includes $820 million reported by UAB St. Vincents, which was acquired by UAB in 2024, and revenue from multiple other hospital systems owned and operated by UAB Health System.

No other system was close, with second-place Huntsville Hospital bringing in $2.6 billion. USA Health in South Alabama ranked a distant third at $1.2 billion. Five systems brought in at least $1 billion in revenue in the 12 months ending July 31, 2025.

Beds and locations

UAB also led in the number of beds and locations, with some 3,173 licensed beds across 133 locations. Huntsville Hospital was second with 2,782 beds and 118 locations. Birmingham-area Baptist Health had 1,700 licensed beds.

USA Health in Mobile had 45 locations, good for third in that category.

[Cant see the list? Click here.]

Employment

UAB was the states largest health care employer with nearly 31,000 workers, ahead of Huntsville Hospitals 20,000. No other systems came close to the big two, with third place USA Health employing just 7,200 workers.

[Cant see the list? Click here.]

These findings were based on information from the hospital systems spokespersons, websites, and reports, including some net patient revenue numbers from Definitive Healthcare, a hospital data company. AL.com compiled the number of counties, cities and states served by each system, with Huntsville Hospital leading Alabama in each of those categories. Finally, AL.com looked at how long each hospital system has served its area, with UAB hospital boasting the oldest roots, starting in 1859.

Overall, UAB ranked first in five of the eight categories that AL.com explored, and Huntsville Hospital led in three.

Rural hospitals struggle

While the states largest systems expand, rural hospitals face mounting challenges. Many are operating at a loss and have cut obstetric services, said Farrell Turner, former president of the Alabama Rural Health Association.

Turner warned that the trend could have long-term consequences for maternal and infant health, particularly in southwest Alabama counties such as Clarke, Marengo and Wilcox.

A lot of small, especially small rural hospitals are no longer offering obstetric services, Turner said. The alternative is they just show up in the ER and thats not a good situation or theyve got to travel a great distance.
A party with several hundred people in attendance at a private event venue in Pike County ended with one man dead.

Authorities on Monday identified the victim as Bobby Lee David Mircle Lucas. He was 23 and lived in Dothan.

The shooting happened just before 12:30 a.m. Sunday Hideaways on Gardner Bassett Road.

We knew there was a huge party being planned, Pike County Sheriff Russell Thomas said. It was well-advertised. We had seen the flyers.

We were very concerned, Thomas said. And what we were afraid of happened.

The sheriff said there were 300 to 350 people inside the venue when shots rang out inside the party.

Lucas made it to the front door where he collapsed and was pronounced dead a short time later.

Two deputies were nearby and were quickly on the scene, Thomas said.

Once the shooting started, it was a mass exodus, he said. Everybody got in their cars and left.

Investigators remained on the scene until about 6 a.m., processing evidence and trying to gather information.

No arrests have been made.

Because the event center is private, the owners are not required to have a business license or a liquor license.

Those running the event are from Birmingham, he said, and attendees were from all over central and south Alabama, including Montgomery, Mobile and Dothan.

Its a really tough deal, he said. Everybody was from out of town.

It is just tragic to see a young man lose his life over something that could have been prevented, Thomas said. When you start mixing marijuana and alcohol and young people, thats a recipe for bad things to happen.

Thomas is calling for regulation on such events or parties at private venues.

We need the legislature to step in, he said, because these things are happening all over the state.

Thomas asked anyone with information to call the sheriffs detectives at 334-566-4347.
This is a guest opinion column

Across the United States, local stations once known for reflecting the concerns of their communities are increasingly echoing a single national script.

Large media ownership groupsmost notably Sinclair Broadcastingrequire affiliates to air corporate-produced must-run segments. These prepackaged stories, commentaries, or editorials reduce airtime for local reporting and insert uniform messaging across dozens of markets.

This is not a trivial shift. When local stations stop telling local stories, citizens lose the ability to see themselves reflected in the media they depend on. The zoning issues, school funding debates, infrastructure needs, and cultural events that define daily life are displaced by talking points written hundreds of miles away.

The First Amendment at Risk

The First Amendment was designed to prevent government censorship, but its spirit is broader than that. A democracy cannot thrive if its citizens hear only one narrative, whether imposed by political power or corporate consolidation. Our founders understood that free speech and a free press were essential not just to check government, but to preserve a culture of open disagreement.

Silencing voiceswhether by law or by corporate decreehas the same chilling effect. It narrows the spectrum of ideas, undermines accountability, and leaves the public less informed.

FCCs Limits and Corporate Choices

It is important to be clear: the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) does not dictate editorial content. It regulates ownership and licensing, not what stations say. The choice to nationalize messaging is corporate.

Sinclair, like other major groups, has determined that centralized content is more efficient and more profitable than maintaining fully independent local newsrooms.

But efficiency comes at a cost. When ownership concentration meets mandatory messaging, the result is a form of censorship by consolidation. The FCC may not order the words, but its ownership rules have allowed the growth of an environment where fewer and fewer voices control more and more of the airwaves.

Why this matters

The First Amendment protects unpopular, inconvenient, and challenging voices. Its power is lost when citizens are fed only a single, uniform perspective. A strong democracy requires that people hear diverse ideaslocal as well as national, dissenting as well as mainstreamand then decide for themselves.

When nationalized corporate messaging drowns out local perspectives, the effect is indistinguishable from censorship. Citizens are denied the robust debate that democracy demands.

A call to action

We must recognize that threats to free speech do not come only from government. They also come from powerful corporations that limit the diversity of voices in pursuit of uniformity and profit. To preserve the promise of the First Amendment, we must demand betterfrom regulators, from media companies, and from ourselves as consumers of news.

Democracy depends on more than the absence of government censorship. It depends on a culture of open, local, and independent voices. When those voices are lost, so too is the foundation of our republic.

Tommy Spina is a Birmingham-based criminal defense lawyer and longtime advocate for local voices. For 13 years, he hosted the community affairs program Our Issues Birmingham, which was cancelled on August 15, 2025, by Sinclair Broadcasting Group.

For its story on the cancellation of the show a station representative told AL.com that the company is in the process of expanding local news coverage across their stations, and as a result are making changes to the programming schedule.
A top adviser to President Donald Trump used an Alabama city as a hypothetical example of how National Guardsmen would be received if they were deployed in red areas.

When I hear comments from Democrat officials saying that this violence from the left is being provoked  their word  by the presence of federal officials. Think about how broken of a sentence that is, right?" Stephen Miller, Trumps deputy chief of staff for policy, told reporters Monday afternoon.

Miller was responding to a question about the National Guard being deployed to several cities across the country when he brought up a predominantly Republican, southeast Alabama city.

In other words, if tomorrow we went to, say, Dothan, Alabama, and there was a federal building there, and we put 100 police officers in front of it, it wouldnt be attacked, Miller said. Nobody would throw rocks at them. Nobody would try to shoot them. Nobody would do anything. They would say, hello, good morning. Maybe theyd get them a cup of coffee  Theyd ask, how are your kids doing?"

And that the Democrats think that their own base cannot contain their desire to inflict violence upon the mere sight  the National Guard is not being sent there proactively, theyre being sent their reactively to defend ICE officers under siege," Miller continued.

He contrasted Dothans hypothetical response to that in larger cities like Portland, Oregon, which Trump described as war-ravaged while announcing the federalization of 200 Oregon National Guard troops to protect federal buildings.

The violence is entirely rioters who show up and wage violence at a specific federal building, Miller said.

A Trump-appointed federal judge temporarily blocked the presidents action.

Oregon officials said that characterization was ludicrous. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in the city has been the site of nightly protests that typically drew a couple dozen people in recent weeks before the deployment was announced, the Associated Press reported.

Trump has deployed or threatened to deploy troops in several U.S. cities, particularly ones led by Democrats, including Los Angeles, Washington, Chicago and Memphis. Speaking to U.S. military leaders in Virginia, he proposed using cities as training grounds for the armed forces.

On Saturday, before the ruling was released, roughly 400 people marched to the ICE facility in Portland. The crowd included people of all ages and races, families with children and older people using walkers, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.

Federal agents responded with chemical crowd control munitions, including tear gas canisters and less-lethal guns that sprayed pepper balls. At least six people were arrested as the protesters reached the ICE facility.

Later in the evening, federal agents again emerged from the facility and deployed tear gas on a crowd of about 100 people.

There has been talk of federal troops being sent to Birmingham and Montgomery, which have struggled with violent crime.

After a weekend mass shooting in Montgomery killed two and injured 12 others, Morgan Murphy, a former Trump official who is also running for an Alabama seat on the U.S. Senate, told 1819 News that we need the National Guard in Montgomery to restore long-awaited law and order.

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, the frontrunner for governor in 2026, has indicated he was open to the idea of federal troops being stationed in Montgomery and Birmingham.

Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed said he was not in favor of any suggestion of using the National Guard to help patrol Montgomerys streets.

Im fervently against that 100%, Reed said. Thats not the place for our National Guard.

The place is with local law enforcement who understand what to do and when to do it and how to do it, the mayor said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This image taken from video provided by WSFA shows the scene after a shooting earlier Saturday in downtown Montgomery, Ala., Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (WSFA via AP) AP

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. has demanded action from Montgomery city leadership following this weekends mass shooting.

The incident left two people dead, and 12 others injured by gunshots, including five with life-threatening injuries.

Seven of the victims are under the age of 20 and the youngest victim is 16, said Montgomery Police Chief Jim Graboys in a Sunday press conference.

I am deeply disturbed by what took place in Alabamas capital city last night, Tuberville said in a post to X.

Crime has become too common in Montgomery, and this cannot continue. Its past time for city leadership to take responsibility and put an end to this.

My prayers are with the victims and their families of last nights horrific shooting, the post concluded.

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala. joined Tuberville on X in offering prayer to the victims and their families, and wrote that everyone responsible for this heinous, senseless violence must be brought to justice.

Tuberville, who is currently the front-runner in Alabamas 2026 gubernatorial race, said a few weeks ago that as governor he would deploy the National Guard to Birmingham and Montgomery to fight rampant crime.

He said last week on the Breitbart Daily News Podcast that he is glad [Trump] sending out National Guard to a lot of these cities and these urban cities that cant control their own people and get some sense of reality back in our country.

In the wake of the shooting, Gov. Kay Ivey said Monday morning that she has asked the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to expand the patrol area for state troopers assigned to the capitol complex to include other parts of downtown Montgomery.

She added that said she will ask the administrator of the Alcoholic Beverage and Control Board, Curtis Stewart, to review laws, expectations and requirements for businesses that sell alcohol in high-traffic areas and at special events after 5 p.m.

Let me be clear: All available state assets are being discussed, and ALL options remain on the table, Ivey said.

Montgomery is a special place filled with history, great potential and a strong community of people. There is too much at stake here, and as a longtime resident of Montgomery myself, I cannot stand by and allow this to continue.
President Donald Trump arrives to speak during a celebration for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Harry S. Truman at Naval Station Norfolk, Sunday Oct. 5, 2025 in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) AP

While celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy on Sunday, President Donald Trump went on a confusing rant involving Osama bin Laden and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Trump appeared to confuse dates while claiming he identified bin Laden as a threat before U.S. intelligence.

Please remember I wrote about Osama bin Laden exactly one year ago, one year before he blew up the World Trade Center. And I said, You gotta watch Osama bin Laden! And the fake news would never let me get away with that statement unless it was true, Trump said during his speech to sailors in Norfolk, Virginia.

But I said one year before to Pete Hegseth ... in the book I wrote, whatever the hell the title, I cant tell you. But I can tell you theres a page in there devoted to the fact that I saw somebody named Osama bin Laden and I didnt like it. And you gotta take care of him. They didnt do it. A year later he blew up the World Trade Center, so gotta take a little credit because nobody else is gonna give it to me, the president continued.

Trump: "Please remember I wrote Osama bin Laden exactly one year ago, one year before he blew up the World Trade Center. And I said, 'You gotta watch Osama bin Laden!' ... I gotta take a little credit." pic.twitter.com/Ck4ODP1xQY  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 5, 2025

CNN journalist Daniel Dale, who writes about Trumps falsehoods, reported the presidents claims about his book are untrue.

The book, titled The America We Deserve, did not tell anyone they needed to watch or take care of bin Laden. That wouldnt have been particularly prescient advice even if Trump had offered it in January 2000  bin Laden was already a well-known threat to Americans at the time  but the book simply did not offer it," Dale wrote.

The book contained just one reference to bin Laden, according to Dale: Instead of one looming crisis hanging over us, we face a bewildering series of smaller crises, flash points, standoffs, and hot spots. Were not playing the chess game to end all chess games anymore. Were playing tournament chess  one master against many rivals. One day were all assured that Iraq is under control, the UN inspectors have done their work, everythings fine, not to worry. The next day the bombing begins. One day were told that a shadowy figure with no fixed address named Osama bin-Laden is public enemy number one, and U.S. jetfighters lay waste to his camp in Afghanistan. He escapes back under some rock, and a few news cycles later its on to a new enemy and new crisis.

Trumps bin Laden remarks raised eyebrows of the presidents critics.

Does Trump even know what year it is? tweeted California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The President is unwell. How is this not breaking news right now?! added Malcolm Kenyatta, a Pennsylvania state representative and vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Popular X account Meacham challenged Trump supporters to justify the presidents conduct.

I defy any MAGAt to watch this and claim hes okay, he tweeted.

Updated 4:05 p.m. to indicate Malcolm Kenyatta is the vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
A tropical wave in the central Atlantic has a high chance of becoming a tropical depression in the next seven days. Forecasters warned those in the Leeward Island to keep an eye on it. There is now also a low chance of a tropical disturbance moving into the southern Gulf. National Hurricane Center

There could be a new tropical storm in the Atlantic before this week is over.

And there could be something to keep an eye on in the Gulf, too.

The National Hurricane Center continued to track a tropical wave (Invest 95) that was expected to become a tropical depression in the next few days.

On Monday the system was in the central Atlantic, far from any land areas.

The hurricane center said the system was gradually becoming organized as of Monday afternoon and was in a good area for it to develop. It could become a tropical depression within the next few days.

The disturbance will track quickly to the west-northwest during that time, forecasters said, and could approach the northern Leeward Islands later this week.

The hurricane center warned those in the islands, which include the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, to keep an eye on the disturbance this week.

Its too soon to say if the system could eventually threaten the United States East Coast.

The next name on the 2025 storm list is Jerry.

EYES ON THE GULF?

The hurricane center on Monday afternoon also added an area to watch that will be in the southern Gulf, or Bay of Campeche.

Right now it has a low chance (10 percent) of becoming a tropical depression in the next week.

Forecasters said there was a trough of low pressure in the northwestern Caribbean that could move across Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula and into the southern Gulf on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Some slow development of the system could be possible when it makes it into the Gulf, the hurricane center said.

It could bring heavy rain to Belize and southern Mexico over the next few days.

Speaking of rain, another weak disturbance in the Gulf moved inland on the northern Gulf Coast over the weekend and has brought some much-needed rain to parts of Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana.

No other systems are expected to develop in the tropical Atlantic in the next few days.

The Atlantic hurricane season will end on Nov. 30.
ComCom rejects call for an inquiry into airport regulation

- Commerce Commission targeted assessment of airport regulation has ruled out section 56 inquiry.

- As previously signalled, Commission to proceed with a review of information disclosure requirements for major airport investment, expected to be carried out next year.

- Government has reconfirmed that changes to Part 4 of the Commerce Act are not currently being considered and wont be a part of the upcoming amendments to the Commerce Act.

Auckland Airport has welcomed the Commerce Commissions decision to rule out the need for an inquiry into airport regulation following another request from Air New Zealand.

The Commission has advised Auckland Airport that it recently undertook a sprint project looking into airport regulation, after Air New Zealand wrote to it in July calling for a section 56G inquiry into airports.

Today the Commission published its report findings, determining an inquiry was not required and would risk leading to greater costs for the sector.

Chief Executive Carrie Hurihanganui said: We are pleased the Commission has rejected calls for a formal inquiry into airport regulation.

Auckland Airport owns and operates one of New Zealands most strategically important infrastructure sites and we are investing to ensure it delivers for the future. These essential upgrades are creating jobs, boosting resilience, improving the customer experience and adding the capacity our national gateway needs for growth. This investment will benefit all airlines and users of the airport.

Effective and stable regulation is essential for ongoing private investment in critical infrastructure, and todays report provides ongoing regulatory certainty for investors. The Commissions report reinforces that the current regime is working for consumers.

With over 1,500 people currently working on site, Auckland Airport is underway with a 10-year $5.7 billion(1) aeronautical infrastructure programme that is adding essential resilience, and capacity while improving the customer experience.

Between 2023 and 2027, AKLs regulated per passenger domestic jet charges are rising by an average of $1.26 a year  a fair and reasonable price for capacity and improvements we are currently delivering that benefit all airport users, including airlines, Ms Hurihanganui said.

In its latest pricing report published in March this year, the Commerce Commission confirmed our capital investment plans are sound: reasonable, fit for purpose, and in the best interests of consumers.

Airline speculation about future airport investment and pricing

Ms Hurihanganui said: Air New Zealands claims about the cost of future infrastructure are speculative. Theyve relied on conjecture to put a cost on our draft master plan - a long-term vision out to 2047 of how the airport might grow depending on demand. It is not a construction or capital works plan, and it remains under consultation with stakeholders in line with the new Civil Aviation Act that took effect in April.

It's a shame Air New Zealand is using our good faith consultation under the new legislation to push for regulatory change before that consultation has even been completed.

As always, our future developments will remain subject to actual and forecast demand, customer needs, formal capital investment consultation and regulatory oversight, she said.

Information disclosure review

Today the Commission advised that it still intends to proceed with a review of information disclosure requirements for major airport investment, in line with expectations following the completion of a recent Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) targeted consultation process.

In July, MBIE completed its targeted consultation on the effectiveness of economic regulation of airport services under Part 4 of the Commerce Act 1986.

In its findings MBIE confirmed no legislative change was required, though it noted that the Commission had the ability to amend the information disclosure regime to provide further insight on major capital investments.

As New Zealands gateway airport Auckland Airport is regulated, as it should be, and we welcome constructive oversight of our activities. We remain committed to working with the Commission through the information disclosure review process to achieve the right outcomes for the end-users, the consumers.

Ms Hurihanganui said Auckland Airport maintained continuous engagement with airlines over its capital plan and draft master plan, both within formal pricing processes and through ongoing dialogue outside of these cycles.

Auckland Airport has 27 airline customers, and its not unusual for there to be differences of opinion on proposed investment. It is an inherent and expected feature of regulated airports around the world, and this doesnt mean the regulatory system isnt working. It reflects the balance that airports must strike between the competing short-term priorities of airlines and whats in the best long-term interests of consumers. They are not always the same.

Todays report from the Commission makes some high-level observations around possible legislative amendments.

The Government has this week reconfirmed its position that no legislative change to Part 4 is being considered at this time, and it will not be part of upcoming changes to the Commerce Act. This message remains unchanged from what was communicated to airports at the conclusion of the MBIE process.

ENDS

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If you purchased a Samsung or Apple smartphone between 2015 and 2024, you could be entitled to a payout, thanks to a class action lawsuit against Qualcomm.

A UK rights group called Which? sued Qualcomm back in 2021. It is alleging that Qualcomm breached competition laws by charging Apple and Samsung higher license rates for its components and technology. Which then resulted in higher device prices for consumers.

The claim was sent ot the Competition Appeal Tribunal, which authorized it to proceed in 2022. Now the case is headed to trial and should last about five weeks. Should the lawsuit be successful, a share of 480 million (or $685 million) will be paid out to UK phone buyers. That would result in 17 or $23 per person.

Qualcomm is used to these types of lawsuits

Unsurprisingly, Qualcomm is used to these types of lawsuits and accusations. In fact, many years ago, Apple withheld payment to Qualcomm because it did not agree with its royalties that it was charging Apple.

Back in 2017, Qualcomm beat a case filed against it, which is unfortunate for Which?.

The FTC has also filed an antitrust case against Qualcomm stating it had used its position to force device manufacturers into paying particular license fees or not be able to use specific components, creating exclusive deals and holding back licenses to competitors.

Should this lawsuit be successful, you wont need to opt-in to get your payout. Essentially, anyone that bought a Samsung Galaxy S4 to the Galaxy S20 Ultra or an iPhone 5s to the iPhone Xs Max, is eligible. Of course, those in the UK wont be fully eligible for every Samsung device since 2015, since some of these were Exynos-powered.

But you can check out Which? website to learn more about whats happening and what devices are eligible.
Samsungs next major software release, One UI 8.5, is still months away. The company is expected to launch it alongside the Galaxy S26 series. That said, early leaks suggest that One UI 8.5 will deliver a much more significant upgrade than its .5 moniker implies. The surprise? Samsung is breaking from traditional OEM practice by embracing Googles latest quarterly update cycle.

Findings on leaked builds confirm that One UI 8.5 is built upon Android 16 QPR2 (Quarterly Platform Release 2). This a choice that signals a massive strategic shift that will bring new features and developer tools to Galaxy users far sooner than ever before.

Traditionally, most Android device manufacturers skip Googles quarterly platform releases (QPRs). These companies wait for the annual major Android version to finalize before spending resources on adapting it to their custom software. While this approach saves them development time, the downside is that users often wait an entire year or more to access platform features Google introduced in those interim quarterly updates.

By basing One UI 8.5 on QPR2, Samsung is choosing to incorporate Googles latest changes immediately. This speed boost means Galaxy users will get their hands on new Android platform features much sooner. The features baked into Android 16 QPR2 are substantial, promising improvements across system function and user experience. Users can expect significant enhancements to customization, like expanded dark theme options and native support for third-party lock screen widgets, as well as utility features like native step tracking integration via Health Connect. The update also boosts media capabilities with support for new audio standards and enhances security with features like the Phone Theft Protection toggle.

Samsung taking the lead over other Android brands

As spotted by Android Authority, this is the clearest indication yet that Samsung intends to align with Googles current rapid update cadence. The company is positioning the Galaxy device lineup to be the fastest way to get the newest Android mobile platform features outside of the Google Pixel series. This strategic move could ensure developers and users get timely access to the latest tools and features. Samsung is clearly looking to aim to fulfill its role as a major swift mover in the Android ecosystem. Making the One UI 8.5 release far more important than just a minor incremental change is a key part of the strategy.
Some of the activists detained while trying to reach Gaza by sea have returned to their home countries to describe abuse and humiliation at the hands of Israeli guards.

Some 450 activists were arrested as Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, a fleet of 42 boats seeking to break Israels naval blockade of Gaza and deliver a symbolic amount of aid to the famine-stricken territory.

Those detained between Wednesday and Friday were brought to Israel, where many remain in prison.

Italian journalist Saverio Tommasi said Israeli soldiers withheld medicines and treated prisoners like monkeys.

This is called torture. Its called torture, a denial of human rights, even the most basic ones, he said on his return at Romes Fiumicino Airport late Saturday.

Israeli navy soldiers sail one of the Gaza-bound civilian flotilla Sumud's boats into the port of Ashdod, Israel (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

They took away everyones medicine: people with heart disease, asthma, even an 86-year-old man they took away his inhaler.

Among those detained were Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandelas grandson Mandla Mandela and several European lawmakers.

Tommasi said Thunberg was singled out by Israeli forces after being arrested.

We also saw Greta Thunberg at the port, in that case with her arms tied and an Israeli flag next to her, just a mockery, he said.

Lets say the mockery was part of the verbal and psychological violence they always carried out, in order to demean, ridicule and laugh in situations where there is nothing to laugh about.

Italian journalist, Lorenzo DAgostino, said detainees were repeatedly woken during the two nights he spent behind bars. They were also intimidated with dogs and by soldiers pointing the laser sights of their guns at prisoners to scare us. (REUTERS)

The interception of the flotilla came as U.S. President Donald Trump was appearing to be brokering a fresh peace initiative in Gaza, including a proposed ceasefire, as he ordered Israel to stop bombing Gaza.

Another Italian journalist, Lorenzo DAgostino, said detainees were repeatedly woken during the two nights he spent behind bars. They were also intimidated with dogs and by soldiers pointing the laser sights of their guns at prisoners to scare us.

ORIENTE MEDIO-GAZA-FLOTILLA (AP)

Overall, I felt I was being held by a terrorist organization, he said after landing at Istanbul Airport, where 137 activists from 13 countries arrived from Israel on Saturday.

DAgostino added that his belongings and money had been stolen by the Israelis.

Activist Paolo De Montis described being crammed into a prison van for hours with his hands secured by zip ties.

Constant stress and humiliation, he said. You werent allowed to look them in the face, always had to keep your head down and when I did look up, a man  came and shook me and slapped me on the back of the head.

Former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau speaks with media as she arrives at the airport in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, after being arrested on the Global Sumud Flotilla and subsequently released by the Israeli authorities (AP)

In a statement, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said he was proud of the way staff behaved at Ketziot prison, a facility in the Negev desert.

I was proud that we treat the flotilla activists as supporters of terrorism. Anyone who supports terrorism is a terrorist and deserves the conditions of terrorists, he said.

If any of them thought they would come here and receive a red carpet and trumpets  they were mistaken. They should get a good feel for the conditions in Ketziot prison and think twice before they approach Israel again.

Israels Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, said the claims of mistreatment were brazen lies.

In a statement on social media, the ministry said all detainees legal rights had been fully upheld, adding that Thunberg had not complained about the ludicrous and baseless allegations  because they never occurred.

The arrests led to criticism from several governments including Turkey, Colombia and Pakistan. Greece, which had 27 of its nationals in Israeli custody, issued a strong written protest to Israel over the unacceptable and inappropriate behavior of an Israeli minister.

The complaint is thought to refer to footage of Ben-Gvir upbraiding the activists for supporting terrorism and mocking their aid initiative after they were brought ashore at the southern port of Ashdod on Friday.

The Swedish Foreign Ministry said it had acted intensively to ensure that the detained Swedes rights are observed.

The interception of the flotilla also led to large-scale demonstrations in cities across the world.
October 6, 2025: China is believed to have developed a plan to eliminate or greatly reduce Western interests in the Middle East and allow China to step in as the new foreign influence. With cooperation from Egypt and Iran, China hopes to gain a stranglehold on the world oil supply. China imports most of its oil from Iran and has strong diplomatic, economic, and military relationships with Iran. At the same time, similar ties with Egypt have improved. This took a decade of effort, and by now Egypt will at least listen to Chinese proposals and give them serious consideration.

While China has the second largest economy on the planet, it is still outmatched by the Western alliance led by the United States. Displacing Western economic, diplomatic, and military influence in the Middle East is a lofty goal that even many Chinese officials see as unattainable. But now this impossible dream is seriously discussed as a possibility. The gap between possibility and reality may be too wide to cross, but current proposals to do just that are the first step in having a go at it.

Over the last decade, China has been seen as a major military and economic threat to the rest of the worldand especially to its neighbors in East Asiaand now the Middle East. There is another important aspect of this threat that is less visible outside China. While the Chinese government backs the aggressive strategy, the Chinese people are not cooperating. The population is shrinking dramatically, which imposes restraints on this new Chinese aggression policy and the ability to use it. The population is shrinking because of the one-child population program of the 1980s. This was not lifted until recently, when it became obvious that just eliminating the one-child rules did not increase the birth rate. The university grads that made the economic growth possible are disillusioned with how this worked out, and the new Chinese army cannot attract enough well-educated recruits to support the new Chinese ambitions.

Chinas explosive economic and military growth was the product of four decades of economic transformation, extraordinary economic growth, and modernization of all aspects of Chinese life. It started with a bold and seemingly desperate move: abandoning the principles the founder of Communist China, Mao Zedong, imposed. Mao defined the Chinese version of communism as different from the form popularized and imposed by the Russians. Maoist communism stressed the rural populationnot the urban workersas the key revolutionaries and that radical change was required to achieve the socialist paradise. Maoism in practice proved disastrous and killed 20-30 million Chinese, mainly from starvation, when imposed during the 1950s. To deal with the negative response to that, Mao launched the Great Cultural Revolution in the early 1960s and, while this phase only killed a few million, it wrecked the economy and educational system. In the 1970s, Mao died, and those who sought to continue his work were killed or jailed. This paved the way for Deng Xiaoping's reforms.

The Deng reforms lasted until 2016, when a new leader, Xi Jinping, decided that collective leadership was unsuitable for dealing with the problems the new affluence had created. Xi Jinping sought to become and remain leader-for-life. To justify this lifetime tenure, he had to reduceor at least make a reasonable try at reducingthe corruption and mismanagement that is endemic within the CCP and several millennia of Chinese governments in general. To make this work, CCP leaders have, since Deng died, turned to nationalism and a buildup of conventional military power to support territorial expansion. If nothing else, this is popular and could eventually mean getting Taiwan back while imposing Chinese rule on the South China Sea and grabbing a few other bits of territory. This only works if China does not trigger a major war. Xi Jinping convinced key members of the CCP to back him on this, and that first became public in late 2016 when senior members of the CCP agreed to grant Xi Jinping special powers and recognition as the paramount leader.

While Mao has become popular with many Chinese, those who lived through the 1960s see Mao as a major failure. That is what led to acceptance by the CCP of the economic reforms that transformed China. Xi Jinping has, as expected, used this Mao-grade power to deal with the corruption that persists in the senior ranks of the government and military. To demonstrate that, as soon as Xi was declared a Mao-caliber leader, the CCP Central Committee announced punishments for many senior party officials for corruption. Since then, there have been an unprecedented number of senior officials being accused of or punished for corruption. One thing these corrupt officials had in common that was not publicized was their opposition to Xi Jinpings political plans and ambitions.

Over a decade ago, it was noted that while China was getting rich, there was much corruption in the government, the military, and even the universities. This created a growing number of unhappy Chinese, and they have a lot of unemployment, often because of corruption. Job seekers are cheated and exploited by corrupt employers and officials on a regular basis. These problems are especially painful for the half of new job seekers who have a university degree.

Difficulty for university grads getting a suitable job is nothing new. In the past, whenever there was an economic downturnlike in 200830 percent of university students could not find a suitable job right away, and this also caused problems later because, to future employers, that meant you were not a prime candidate right out of university.

Despite the tight censorship on Chinese Internet social media, there is an increasing amount of chatter by recent university graduates about the need for change. Attempts to fix the core problem, corruption, are not working for most Chineseespecially new university gradsand that is seen as menacing by Chinese in general. Historically, Chinese dynasties usually fell because they were weakened and torn apart by rebels enraged by corruption. That's one reason why communists gained power in 1949. But their virtuous new government began to show signs of corruption within a decade, and it's gotten much worse since communist economic policies were dumped in the 1980s. What goes around comes around, slowly and inexorably.

Despite the booming economy, its still hard for many college grads to get a job. That means not getting married or even trying to have children. A growing number of Chinese come out of a university already disillusioned and unwilling to make a major effort to change their situation. This was obvious a decade ago when the unemployment rate of university graduates was over 10 percent, compared to 4.1 percent for urban workers in general. The government does not see this as a problem because a high proportion of the population having a university degree provides a reserve of talent for future crises. The less optimisticor more realisticsenior leaders see this surplus of university grads as the organizers of the next revolution. So do Chinese in general.
Asfoora will enjoy a well-earned winter break in England after her Prix de lAbbaye heroics, with a Breeders Cup bid ruled out by connections.

Henry Dwyers star mare has flown the flag for her trainers Australian stable with great success over the past two seasons, spending her summers in Europe and contesting many of the key sprint events.

The seven-year-old took her third Group One in the Northern Hemisphere on Sunday, a victory made all the more remarkable by the fact her participation was in doubt at the 11th hour when connections realised her passport had been left behind at Amy Murphys Chantilly stable  Asfooras base for the French foray.

A heroic Uber driver named Mamadou saved the day by delivering the document with minutes to spare, and Dwyers gratitude was evident even if the driver could not take up his invitation to join the post-race party in Paris.

It was a pretty big celebration last night, were getting the train today back to London and then to Newmarket, Dwyer told the PA news agency.

 that is all pic.twitter.com/GlT9SMWFNZ  Henry Dwyer Racing (@HDwyerRacing) October 5, 2025

I suppose it depends on what your individual idea of a late night is, but we definitely made the most of it!

The opportunities shes given us, you just wouldnt believe it. We came over last year thinking that if she could pay her way itd be great, and that if she could perhaps win a race itd be amazing  but here we are now, three Group Ones and the party rolls on next year.

Asfoora won the Nunthorpe at York in August and earned herself a stall in the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint in November, with her Prix de lAbbaye triumph then securing her another opportunity to contest the same race.

Breeders Cup win and youre in races require a horse to have been nominated for the meeting at a pre-entry stage, however, and as Asfoora was not previously put forward connections will decline to travel to Del Mar.

The Queen herself departs this morning after a superb day for @HDwyerRacing Chenelle and all his team yesterday Heading back to Newmarket, it has been a pleasure having Asfoora stay with us here in France.  pic.twitter.com/aUjN8FISRa  Amy Murphy Racing (@almracing) October 6, 2025

Shes won two win and youre in races, but wed still need to pay a late fee and it is quite pricey, so we wont be going over there, Dwyer explained.

Shell have some time in the paddock now, her owners are very intent on racing her again next year, of course Im not going to say no to that.

She will be with Sara and Luca Cumani, she goes to their property tomorrow in Newmarket and she will have a very well deserved rest with them.
The Queen has paid tribute to the author Dame Jilly Cooper who has died at the age of 88, describing her as a legend and a wonderfully witty and compassionate friend to me and so many.

The writer  known for her bonkbusters including Riders, Rivals and Polo  died unexpectedly on Sunday morning after a fall, with her children Felix and Emily saying it had come as a complete shock.

Camilla said she hoped Dame Jillys hereafter would be filled with impossibly handsome men and devoted dogs.

Dame Jilly was a long-standing friend of Camilla, and the author based her fictional seducer and showjumping lothario Rupert Campbell-Black partly on the Queens ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles.

The Queen and Dame Jilly Cooper during a reception at Clarence House (Chris Jackson/PA)

The Queen, who is is a passionate supporter of literacy charities and set up her own Instagram Reading Room book group, said in a message released by Buckingham Palace: I was so saddened to learn of Dame Jillys death last night.

Very few writers get to be a legend in their own lifetime but Jilly was one, creating a whole new genre of literature and making it her own through a career that spanned over five decades.

Author Jilly Cooper at the Crufts Dog Show (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

In person she was a wonderfully witty and compassionate friend to me and so many  and it was a particular pleasure to see her just a few weeks ago at my Queens Reading Room Festival where she was, as ever, a star of the show.

I join my husband the King in sending our thoughts and sympathies to all her family. And may her hereafter be filled with impossibly handsome men and devoted dogs.

The message was signed Camilla R.

Dame Jilly was known for her steamy fiction focusing on scandal and adultery in upper class society.

The cast of Rivals with author Dame Jilly Cooper attending the 2025 Bafta Television Awards in May (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Her hit titles also Mount! and The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous, along with her most recent work Tackle!

Her work Rivals was recently adapted as a hit television series by Disney+ starring David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Danny Dyer and Katherine Parkinson.

Her children Felix and Emily said in a statement: Mum was the shining light in all of our lives. Her love for all of her family and friends knew no bounds.

Her unexpected death has come as a complete shock. We are so proud of everything she achieved in her life and cant begin to imagine life without her infectious smile and laughter all around us.

Dame Jilly Cooper (2nd left) with her daughter Emily Tarrant (left) and son Felix Cooper and his wife Edwina (right) (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Downing Street said Dame Jilly Coopers wit, warmth and wisdom had delighted readers.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: Dame Jilly Cooper was a literary force whose wit, warmth and wisdom shaped British culture for over half a century and brought joy to millions.

The executive producers of the Rivals series also paid tribute and said they were broken-hearted at the news of her death and that it had been the most incredible honour to work with her.

Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Alex Lamb added: Crawling around on her sitting room floor with storylines on pieces of paper, sitting up late at her kitchen table holding hands with love and our tummies with laughter, receiving scoldings and heaps of wisdom in equal measure, watching her eyes sparkling as she sat behind the monitor on set watching Rutshire brought to life  every moment spent with Jilly Cooper was bloody marvellous.

We have been so lucky to be able to call her our friend  and know that her legacy will endure in her writing, her television and the encouragement to have fun that she gave us all.

Dame Jillys agent Felicity Blunt said it was the privilege of her career to have worked with a woman who has defined culture, writing and conversation since she was first published over 50 years ago.

Author Jilly Cooper at The Queens Reading Room Festival, a literary event celebrating the power and benefits of reading in September this year (Lucy Ray Media Assignments/PA)

Jilly will undoubtedly be best remembered for her chart-topping series The Rutshire Chronicles and its havoc-making and handsome showjumping hero Rupert Campbell-Black, she said.

You wouldnt expect books categorised as bonkbusters to have so emphatically stood the test of time but Jilly wrote with acuity and insight about all things  class, sex, marriage, rivalry, grief and fertility.

Her plots were both intricate and gutsy, spiked with sharp observations and wicked humour. She regularly mined her own life for inspiration and there was something Austenesque about her dissections of society, its many prejudices and norms.

But if you tried to pay her this compliment, or any compliment, she would brush it aside.

She wrote, she said, simply to add to the sum of human happiness. In this regard as a writer she was and remains unbeatable.

Dame Jillys first novel in the Rutshire series, Riders, was published in 1985.

Dame Jilly Cooper with actor Aidan Turner who stars in Rivals (Ian West/PA)

It made the BBC list of 100 important English language novels in the love, sex and romance selection alongside Jane Austens Pride And Prejudice.

One of her literary fans also included former prime minister Rishi Sunak who previously spoke about his favourite books by Dame Jilly, adding that her novels offered a form of escapism.

Paying tribute to the late writer, Mr Sunak said: Sad to hear of the passing of Dame Jilly Cooper, a storyteller whose wit and love of character brought joy to millions.

My thoughts are with her family and fellow readers.

Meanwhile, Penguin Books UK, the publishing house behind many of her novels, shared a statement on X describing the writer as a trailblazer and an inspiration to a generation of women.

The post said: It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to the irreplaceable Jilly Cooper.

A true trailblazer of literature who changed the course of popular fiction forever with Riders and the Rutshire Chronicles, she was an inspiration to a generation of women, writers and more.

Thank you, Jilly, for the immense amount of fun and joy you brought to us all. The world is a drabber, less gorgeous place without you.

Jilly Cooper arriving for the Oldie of the Year awards at Simpsons in the Strand, in London. (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Born in Hornchurch, Essex in 1937, Dame Jilly grew up in Yorkshire and attended the private Godolphin School in Salisbury.

Her father was a brigadier and her family moved to London in the 1950s where she became a reporter on The Middlesex Independent when she was 20.

She has said she moved to public relations and was sacked from 22 jobs before ending up in book publishing.

Her work has been adapted at various points, including an ITV series of The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous with Coronation Street star Stephen Billington and Downton Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville, while Marcus Gilbert starred in a Riders series during the 1990s.

She won the inaugural Comedy Women in Print lifetime achievement award in 2019 and was made a dame for her services to literature and charity in 2024.

A new edition of How To Survive Christmas by Dame Jilly is due to be published through Transworld in November.

The book, first published in 1986, is described as an irreverent and witty guide to surviving the festive season.

Dame Jillys funeral will be private in line with her wishes, according to her agent.

A public service of thanksgiving will be held in the coming months in Southwark Cathedral to celebrate her life, with a separate announcement made in due course.
A cash-strapped London council has renewed warnings over the increasing number of people from the Chagos Islands arriving at Heathrow and needing homelessness services.

Hillingdon town hall has seen 621 individuals (168 families) of Chagossian descent fly into the airport since July 2024 - with 157 more people expected this week alone.

Most have no accommodation planned and the local authority warned it is forcing already strained support services to breaking point.

The town hall predicts it will now spend up to 2 million of council taxpayer cash on the arrivals by the end of the year.

This is on top of the 5 million it already pays out to support asylum seekers who had been placed in the borough by the Home Office.

Councillor Steve Tuckwell, the cabinet member responsible for housing, told the Standard: Its crucifying us. We are at breaking point.

Councils across London and the country are facing problems funding temporary accommodation and social care.

But our pressure is slightly more unique because of Heathrow Airport. We are the local authority, so when these people arrive they become our responsibility.

The sale of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius is causing a lot of anxiety to Chagossians and we are expecting more and more to arrive.

They have British citizenship and we will look to support them in any way we can but we are calling on Government to support us.

This is caused by a national policy and its unfair for this burden to fall on Hillingdon taxpayers.

Councillor Steve Tuckwell (Daniel Hambury/Stella Pictures Ltd)

The Chagossians were expelled from the islands in the Indian Ocean between 1965 and 1973 to make way for a UK/US military base.

The UK launched a British nationality route for individuals of Chagossian descent in 2022.

Under the terms of a treaty signed by the Government in May, Mauritius will gain sovereignty of the islands but allow the US and UK to continue operating a military base on the largest island, Diego Garcia, for an initial period of 99 years.

Under the agreement, Britain is expected to pay an average of 101 million a year to continue operating the base with the US.

The deal has sparked concern among Chagossians, with a UN panel warning that by preventing the people from returning to Diego Garcia "the agreement appears to be at variance with the Chagossians' right to return.

Mr Tuckwell said the council was setting up a processing centre this week in anticipation of the number of families expected to arrive at Heathrow.

Tory-run Hillingdon, which has had to make 34 million of cuts to its budget this year, has a duty to support the majority of households who fly in as they have at least one child, but the town hall says the Government only fund their first 10 days in the country.

We get a bit of a heads up from the charities we work with about the number of people expected, he said.

It takes a lot of officers away from their other jobs.

Council taxpayers have seen bills increase by the maximum were allowed each year.

We have had to start charging for things like green waste services, we are looking at areas where we can drive other efficiencies.

Essentially, weve reached a crisis point. This isnt political, all we are asking for is to be funded fairly.

The Government has previously said it is committed to working in partnership with local authorities to ensure they are able to support arrivals in their area

A spokesman added: Government funding has also been made available to support local authorities, including Hillingdon in circumstances where arrival numbers are creating unmanageable local pressures.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries challenged House Speaker Mike Johnson to debate any day this week on prime time, as the country enters its first full week of a government shutdown.

The Democratic House of Representatives leader from New York sent a letter to the Republican leader on Monday as Democrats dig their heels in during the shutdown, hoping to win an extension of tax credits for the Affordable Care Acts health care marketplace.

I write to challenge you to a debate on the floor of the House of Representatives any day of this week in primetime, broadcast live to the American people, Jeffries said.

Last month, the House passed a clean stopgap spending bill called a continuing resolution, before leaving for the Jewish high holidays. A clean CR is a continuing resolution that allows the government to stay open if Congress fails to finish passing the requisite 12 spending bills for fiscal year beginning on October 1 with no additional riders or policy changes.

The House not returned and on Friday, Johnson declared this week a district work week, which means the House will not return for votes.

But Jeffries urged his colleague on the other side to make the case to the public and said that the country needed bipartisan negotiations between the White House and congressional leadership.

Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat from New York, challenged House Mike Johnson, Republican from Louisiana, amid the government shutdown. (AFP via Getty Images)

Unfortunately, Donald Trump and your party decided to shut down the government because the GOP refuses to provide health care to everyday Americans, Jeffries said. Further, you have kept House Republicans on vacation instead of working with Democrats to reopen the government.

President Donald Trump has resorted to mocking Jeffries, posting numerous racist cartoons of Jeffries dressed in a Mexican sombrero, accusing Democrats of wanting to give health care benefits to undocumented immigrants, despite the fact that immigrants who came to the United States illegally are ineligible for federal benefits.

Given the urgency of the moment and the Republican refusal to negotiate a bipartisan agreement, a debate on the floor will provide the American people with the transparency they deserve, he said.

But Johnson rebuffed Jeffriess overture as performance, saying that polling showed that most people do not approve of Democrats messaging around the shutdown.

Look, my friend, Hakeem had his shot, Johnson said. We debated all this on the House floor, as you know, before he passed our bill, he spoke for seven or eight minutes, he had all of his colleagues lined up. They gave it their best shot, and they argued and they stomped their feet and screamed at us and all that. And still, we passed the bill in bipartisan fashion and sent it over to the Senate.

Johnson accused Jeffries of playing politics.

I'm not going to let Hakeem try to pretend for these theatrics, he said. I mean, this is a Chuck Schumer decision, the ball is in the Senate's court now.

Many Democrats and Republicans agree that they have to find an agreement to keep the premiums on the insurance marketplace from increasing by November 1. But Johnson said in a press conference that the first priority is to reopen the government.

The last time I checked, it's October 6, we have the entire month of October, he said. We'll stay here around the clock to work through all these things, but we have to get government opened again to do it.

But even if the Senate somehow comes to an agreement, Johnson would still need to put the agreement on the House floor, which is not guaranteed.

When the simple truth is on your side, you have nothing to hide from, Johnson said. Im just presenting this to the American people.
Dont worry about it, its all coming: Trump promises pay raises for sailors as he celebrates 250 years of US Navy during shutdown

Donald Trump frequently went off-script and turned a commemoration of the U.S. Navys 250th anniversary into a politicized rally - his own words - on Sunday.

The president was in Virginia speaking to cadets and officers at Naval Station Norfolk where he used the celebration as a means to hammer his foes in Washington over a government shutdown that is approaching its second week, leaving thousands of federal workers and service members without pay. Cadets and other service members at Norfolk are due to stop receiving checks on October 15 if the shutdown endures.

In an address that lasted close to an hour, Trump endorsed pay raises for the military while attacking Democrats for the furloughing of both civilian and enlisted Americans who get their paychecks from the government. He described Democrats as gnats in response to the partys refusal to support reopening the government without Republicans voting to extend health care plan subsidies.

I want you to know that despite the current Democrat induced shutdown, we will get our service members every last penny. Dont worry about it, Trump said.

At one point he even attempted to convince the crowd of mostly cadets to boo Barack Hussein Obama  his derisive way of referring to the 44th president, whose middle name became part of Trumps own efforts to persuade Americans that Obama was not a natural-born citizen.

Donald Trump spoke about how the military supposedly embraced 'political correctness' in a speech to Naval cadets, officers and guests on Sunday in Norfolk (AFP via Getty Images)

President Donald Trump visits the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier which is out at sea near Norfolk, Virginia, October 5, 2025, as he travels to see a Naval demonstration as part of the US Navy's 250th anniversary celebration (AFP via Getty Images)

The effort failed, but Trump did manage to elicit cheers at moments in the speech, while attacking Democrats on issues like immigration and wandering off into unrelated topics, like his proclamation attempting to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

I wouldnt say that Mexico is thrilled with me, Trump sarcastically joked.

One loud cheer came when the president warned Americas perceived enemies to leave America in peace or be blown up in fire and fury never seen before.

The president seemed to be received positively by the crowd, even as he criticized the combined efforts of the U.S. armed forces over the past several decades. Afghanistan and Vietnam, Trump identified, were two conflicts that he blamed U.S. generals and top brass for losing due to their supposed embrace of political correctness.

That term was also deployed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in his speech to generals in Washington this past week, which critics of the administration argue is an attack on women and LGBT members of the armed services.

Trump gestures aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush next to first lady Melania Trump, off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia (REUTERS)

Members of the crowd, mostly cadets, cheered at points in Trump's speech which verged into political subjects (REUTERS)

We won World War I and World War II. We won everything in between. We won everything before. And all of a sudden they decided to change the name. They went woke, then, too, you know. Woke is a long-term word, Trump declared. A handful of shouts were heard from the crowd, turning heads, as the president spoke.

Lets face it: this is a rally, the president admitted at one point.

Trump rambled over a wide range of topics from the stage. He complained about the FBI investigation that followed him through his 2016 election victory, claiming falsely that he caught Obama and his top officials rigging the election. He also snuck in a promotion for the UFC fight he plans to host on the White House lawn in the coming months.

And pointing out the bases comparative proximity to D.C., Trump took the opportunity to boast about his takeover of the nations capital by deploying hundreds of National Guard troops around the District of Columbia and flooding the streets with members of federal law enforcement, including ICE. He vowed imminent deployments of National Guard troops to Memphis and Chicago.

Were doing it like nobodys ever done it before. So I just want to tell you: youre very close to D.C.; the restaurants are thriving. The restaurants were dying. They were closing, one after another. Now theyre opening up, theyre thriving.

Its a safe place now, our nations capital, he added.

The president packed up and returned to the White House after his speech but passed out challenge coins to Navy brass at the event and also met with service members and posed for photos on board the USS George H.W. Bush.

First Lady Melania Trump visits the USS Harry S. Truman during the US Navy's 250th anniversary celebration (AFP via Getty Images)

Donald Trump and Melania Trump spoke Sunday at an event commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Navy and the Marine Corps (Getty Images)

On Monday, the White House is set to decide whether a deal with Democrats is possible to reopen the federal government and end a shutdown that will be entering its sixth day, the presidents economic adviser Kevin Hassett said Sunday. Republicans and Democrats left Washington over the weekend without a deal, and members of the House departed for a district work period set to last the entire coming week.

If a deal is not reached, Trump and other administration officials with the backing of some congressional Republicans have threatened to begin mass federal layoffs.

In the Senate, a handful of Democrats could break ranks to support ending the shutdown but for now, the party is in near-lockstep behind the strategy of withholding the votes necessary to break a filibuster until Republicans agree to extend subsidies for health care plans on the Affordable Care Act public exchanges.

Those subsidies are due to end with the new year and spike premiums for many Americans.
Dubai chocolate is a dessert prepared with milk and dark chocolate, roasted shredded wheat, pistachio paste and tahini. (Getty/iStock)

While many culinary trends prove fleeting, the distinctive 'Dubai chocolate' phenomenon appears to have firmly established itself, rapidly expanding its influence across the confectionery world.

Characterised by its rich sweetness and luxurious, thick texture, this indulgent treat is now inspiring a diverse array of confections beyond its original bar form.

The original and now-iconic Dubai chocolate bar was first conceived by Fix Chocolatier in the United Arab Emirates in 2021, achieving viral status on social media by 2023. Its signature appeal lies in a robust milk chocolate shell encasing a creamy pistachio filling, often blended with tahini, and studded with crispy, shredded kadayif pastry  a phyllo-like confection.

This innovative concept is now being reinterpreted by both major global brands and independent bakers. The distinctive flavour profile is being adapted into new formats, from croissants to milkshakes, with fillings evolving to include everything from peanut butter and jelly to s'mores and matcha.

Pieces of Dubai chocolate bars are displayed in New York on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (Katie Workman via AP)

I dont call this a trend anymore  its a whole new thing, said Din Allall, whose family business, The Nuts Factory, has about 150 U.S. stores featuring nuts, dried fruits and candies.

He carries 12 flavors of Dubai chocolate bar, as well as chocolate- and pistachio-covered Dubai dates, Dubai-coated roasted nuts, a layered Dubai chocolate strawberry parfait, and a Dubai Golden Chocolate bar infused with edible 24-karat gold for $79.99 (their regular 6.5-ounce bars sell for $18.99).

It's not just the flavors that make Dubai chocolate different, Allall says, but the bar's structure too  "huge, thick, with lots of filling."

Trader Joes carries a Dubai chocolate bar made by Patislove. IHOP introduced a limited-time Dubai pancake stack in some locations in August. Baskin-Robbins has some Dubai-inspired ice cream products on its menu, while Costco sells a range of Dubai chocolate confections, including a Dubai chocolate cake. Walmart and QVC also sell Dubai chocolate.

Pieces of Dubai chocolate by Chocolove are displayed in New York. (Katie Workman via AP)

Swiss chocolate giant Lindt has a bar, and drew crowds when it debuted a limited number of them in Europe last fall.

For me, its the crunch," said Erica Lefkowits, who was buying some Dubai chocolate recently in Dublin. "The chocolate is soft and melty, and the filling is creamy, and then the crunch of the kadayif. Its all about the texture. Plus, its sugar.

She was a little annoyed at the price, higher than your average chocolate bar. Part of Dubai chocolate's appeal, though, is the way it feels simultaneously indulgent and worldly. Pistachios, rose, saffron and cardamom bring luxury, travel and exoticism to the chocolate party.

Despite the price, Ive never seen a single item sell like this in my 50 years of retailing, said Stew Leonard, Jr., CEO of Stew Leonard's grocery stores in the New York metropolitan area. The chain introduced the BeeMax Dubai chocolate bar in March, watched it fly out the doors, he said, and then launched their own house-branded version (made by the company Chocopologie).

They've introduced a Dubai chocolate gift box for the holidays, which includes teeny Dubai ice cream cones, Dubai pralines and two bars.

Some other widely distributed brands in the U.S. are Moda, Magno and Leonessa. Other iterations of Dubai chocolate include Chocolove's little candies and Matteo's Coffee Syrups' sugar-free chocolate coffee syrup.
Six days before the EU entry-exit system (EES) begins across Europe, the Czech Republic has confirmed that it will be fully ready from day one.

The long-awaited digital borders project will start to be rolled out on Sunday 12 October. It will connect every frontier in the Schengen area (comprising all EU nations except Ireland and Cyprus, plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland) with a central database.

The aim is to crack down on crime and enforce the limit on stays of 90 days in any 180 days that applies to British travellers and other third-country nationals.

UK passport holders will need to ready to have a digital record created from their fingerprints and facial biometrics when they either enter or leave at an external Schengen border. This includes international airports, sea ports, railway stations and road crossings.

While member states have until 9 April 2026 to be fully EES-compliant, Estonia, Luxembourg and now the Czech Republic say they are ready to check every arriving and departing traveller.

The Czech Embassy in London told The Independent that all the nations international airports will be connected to the central EU database from the start date.

By far the biggest gateway is Prague, which handled more than 16 million passengers in 2024. But the secondary airports of Ostrava, Brno and Pardubice and Ceske Budejovice are also ready for EES.

Capital advantage: Prague has far more airport arrivals than any other Czech city (Simon Calder)

Officials confirmed all relevant travellers will be registered on both arrival at, and departure from, the Czech Republic.

The embassy in London said that existing requirements would continue, including: Verification that the third-country national concerned has sufficient means of subsistence for the duration and purpose of the intended stay.

For each day of a proposed stay, British visitors must have 1,565 Czech crowns (56), comprising cash, credit cards or travellers cheques in the third-country nationals possession.

Despite hopes by ministers that UK visitors will be able to use eGates across Europe, the Czech Embassy said: British passport holders will not be able to use eGates from the date of entry into operation, nevertheless this option will be subject to further discussion and further development of border systems and technical equipment at airports.

The Czech authorities also provided advice for UK visitors ahead of the introduction of EES: Be prepared, be patient, pay attention to signs and information materials at the airports, and complete pre-registration at self-service kiosks.

Other EU nations are taking a much slower approach. The Dutch government said: Not all travellers in the scope of the EES will be recorded from the first day at all border crossing points and not all their data will be recorded right away.

Passport stamping will be maintained for six months and abolished as of 10 April 2026.

Initially Germany will make only Dusseldorf airport compatible with the entry-exit system.
Florida man gives cops bizarre excuse after speeding at more than 100mph

A Florida man gave a bizarre excuse to police officers after he was pulled over for speeding at more than 100mph.

Michael Stanek, 57, of Welaka, was arrested for dangerous excessive speeding. He was taken to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he was later released on a $150 bond.

Flagler County Sheriff's Office said Stanek told traffic unit deputies, "I have an appointment with my barber," after he was pulled over.

"In case you didn't know, driving in excess of the speed limit by 50 mph or driving at 100 mph or more makes you a   in the state of Florida," police wrote.

"So go the speed limit... even if you're late for a haircut."
Sebastien Lecornu delivers a statement at the Hotel Matignon in Paris, following his resignation as the French prime minister - Stephane Mahe/Reuters

Frances prime minister Sebastien Lecornu handed his resignation to Emmanuel Macron on Monday after just 27 days in the role.

His announcement came hours after unveiling his cabinet, plunging the country into fresh political chaos and leaving it without a budget.

Mr Macron accepted the resignation of his seventh prime minister on Monday morning, making Mr Lecornu, 39, the shortest-lived government chief in modern French political history.

French politics has been in disarray since Mr Macrons ill-advised gamble to call a snap poll last year, which ended in a hung parliament.

Pressure is now mounting on the 47-year-old centrist president to call fresh snap elections or step down two years before the end of his second five-year term.

Appointed last month, Mr Lecornu had faced the formidable task of cobbling together a consensus in a deeply divided parliament for an austerity budget for next year.

Two immediate predecessors, Francois Bayrou and Michel Barnier, were ousted by the National Assembly over plans for a cost-cutting budget.

But the largely unchanged cabinet he unveiled late on Sunday sparked fierce criticism across the political spectrum, notably the return to the cabinet of Bruno Lemaire, Mr Macrons long-running finance minister, who rivals dub the man who bankrupted France.

Frances debt-to-GDP ratio is now the European Unions third-highest after Greece and Italy, and is close to twice the 60 per cent permitted under EU rules. Meanwhile, its deficit is heading for 5.4 per cent of GDP this year.

Mr Lecornu had sought to gain the support of the Socialist Party, whose 60 seats would have given the prime ministers centre-right government a majority to push through legislation.

Concessions included a pledge not to circumvent parliament via a nuclear clause that his predecessors had used to push through legislation, as well as some kind of new wealth tax. However, the Socialists said they would only support him if he considered reversing Mr Macrons flagship pension reform, which he refused.

Meanwhile, the Right-wing Republicans, whose leader Bruno Retailleau was due to remain interior minister in the new government, threatened to walk out of it as he felt his party didnt have enough posts.

The conditions were no longer in place for me to carry out my duties, said Mr Lecornu during a speech at Hotel Matignon, the French prime ministerial residence.

0710 Macron is increasingly unpopular

His attempts to revive joint decision-making and build a joint roadmap had foundered, he conceded, accusing opposition groups of failing to put our country before our party.

His pledge not to circumvent parliament over legislation meant there was no longer any excuse for parliamentarians to refuse to do their job, he said.

But parties had failed to rise to the challenge, he said, and had continued to act as if they all had an absolute majority in the National Assembly.

Socialist leader Olivier Faure hailed Mr Lecornus resignation as an act of dignity and honour, proving he was a true Gaullist.

But the response was damning from Marine Le Pens hard-Right National Rally, which is polling well, should Mr Macron call fresh elections.

Resignation would be wise, but fresh legislative elections were unavoidable, said Ms Le Pen.

On the opposite end of the political spectrum, Leftist figurehead Jean-Luc Melenchon and his France Unbowed party, LFI, called on Mr Macron to leave.

On the Right, David Lisnard, Republicans (LR) mayor of Cannes, said: It is in Frances interest that Emmanuel Macron plans his resignation, to preserve the institutions and break the deadlock that has been inevitable since the absurd dissolution.

He is primarily responsible for this situation (...). The Fifth Republic and the future of our country are at stake.

Xavier Bertrand, LR head of the Hauts-de-France region, urged Mr Macron to address the nation.

As he was determined to see out his term of office, he must urgently resume his role as president of our country, said Mr Bertrand. He must speak in the coming hours.

Sebastien Chenu, vice president of the National Assembly, called for Mr Macrons resignation or the dissolution of the National Assembly.

Writing on social media, he said: A state in crisis, successive governments, paralysed institutions, and the French abandoned. The disorder must stop.

France has a semi-presidential system, meaning power is shared between the president and his prime minister.

The prime minister is appointed by the president, and must be politically viable, meaning they must be able to form a government that can survive a vote of confidence in the National Assembly.

Once appointed, the prime minister proposes a list of cabinet ministers, which is approved by the president.
Frances new prime minister resigns after less than a month in the job

Frances new prime minister resigned on Monday after less than one month in the role.

Sebastien Lecornu, 39, met with president Emmanuel Macron, who accepted his resignation, the French presidency said in a statement.

Speaking on the steps of the Hotel de Matignon on Monday, he said: You cannot be prime minister when the conditions are not met.

Mr Lecornus resignation came just a day after naming his ministers, and after only 27 days in the role. His resignation makes it the shortest-lived government of the Fifth Republic.

Mr Lecornu, a former defence minister, was due to deliver his general policy statement to the National Assembly on Tuesday.

He was appointed prime minister on 9 September, a day after a vote of confidence toppled Francois Bayrou as head of the government.

Lecornu handed in his resignation in the early hours of Monday morning, accepted by close ally Macron (Pool/AFP via Getty)

Mr Lecornu, the seventh prime minister of Mr Macrons presidency, announced only on Sunday that he had appointed his ministers and was set to hold their first meeting on Monday afternoon.

Political opponents on the left and right had condemned Mr Lecornus appointments. But his resignation on Monday was unexpected and threatens to add to Frances burgeoning political crisis.

The conditions were no longer met for me to be able to exercise my functions and allow the government to go before the National Assembly tomorrow, the outgoing prime minister said on Monday.

He continued that these political parties sometimes pretended not to see the change, the profound rupture, not to use article 49.3. There was no longer any pretext for parliamentarians to refuse to do their job.

Article 49.3 gives the government the power to pass bills without a vote from parliament.

Days prior, Mr Lecornu had made a significant concession by promising opposition parties that he would not look to force through legislation without a vote.

He branded this a break from the past in an effort to shore up support for a divisive 2026 spending plan, expected to focus on cutting public spending.

Speaking outside the Hotel de Matignon on Monday, Lecornu said: You cannot be prime minister when the conditions are not met (AP)

Mr Macron had named Mr Lecornu  a close ally  as prime minister last month in an effort to defuse political gridlock without diverging too far from his centrist base.

Mr Lecornu was immediately tasked with garnering approval to pass austerity measures and rein in spiralling public spending.

For weeks, he had been consulting with political allies and opponents in an effort to win support for the budget. But French parliament remains divided on the issue.

The government of former prime minister Michel Barnier collapsed last year after he tried to invoke Article 49.3 to force through a budget. Mr Lecornu had hoped diplomacy  and the promise not to force through measures again  would sustain his own government.

Moments after Mr Lecornus resignation was announced, National Rally president Jordan Bardella called on Mr Macron to dissolve the National Assembly.

There can be no restored stability without a return to the polls and without the dissolution of the National Assembly, the leader of the right-wing populist party wrote on X (Twitter).

Macron (right) named his ally, Lecornu (left), as prime minister last month despite growing presslre from the hard Left and hard right to shift policy (AFP/Getty)

Marine Le Pen likewise called to dissolve the National Assembly, describing the resignation as a wise move.

Mathilde Panot, president of the La France Insoumise (LFI) group, wrote on X: Lecornu resigns. 3 Prime Ministers defeated in less than a year. The countdown has begun. Macron must go.

The LFI called on the National Assembly to review Mr Macrons impeachment motion, de facto leader Jean-Luc Melenchon said on Monday.

It was unclear how Mr Macron would proceed. He had previously ruled out resigning before his presidency ends in 2027.

Mr Lecornu had spent weeks trying to form a functioning government against a backdrop of stretched public finances and political instability as the hard left and hard right continue to gain ground.

France has been rocked by a series of anti-government and anti-austerity protests in recent weeks (Reuters)

His choice of ministers had also attracted criticism from across the political spectrum, particularly his decision to bring back former finance minister Bruno Le Maire to serve at the defence ministry.

Other key positions remained largely unchanged from the previous cabinet, with conservative Bruno Retailleau staying on as interior minister, in charge of policing and internal security, Jean-Noel Barrot remaining as foreign minister, and Gerald Darmanin keeping the justice ministry.

Seeking consensus at the deeply fractured National Assembly, Mr Lecornu had announced that he would not employ a special constitutional power his predecessors used to force a budget through parliament without a vote and would instead seek a compromise with lawmakers from the left and the right.

French politics have been embroiled in instability since July 2024, when a snap election produced a hung parliament.

Strikes and protests against the government and cost-cutting measures have added to political turmoil in France (AP)

Prime ministers have since struggled to gain the support to pass bills. Mr Bayrous government was ousted last month after parliament rejected his austerity bill to cut back on spiralling public spending.

Previous governments had forced through annual budgets without consulting parliament. Mr Lecornu had promised last week that lawmakers would be able to vote on the bill.

The Paris Stock Exchange fell by nearly 2 per cent on Monday around 8.00am GMT, following the announcement of Mr Lecornus resignation.
October 6, 2025: The military government is losing the four-year-old civil war. A third of the population is not getting enough food and faces starvation. Over five million children can no longer attend school. The military government is concentrating on staying in power, with assurances that all other problems will be solved once peace is achieved. The problem is that most of the population wants the military government gone, and a growing number of civilians are taking up arms and joining the civil war.

Chinese aid and support is the only thing keeping the multiple rebel groups from taking control. The rebels back an elected government, which China sees as inherently anti-China and pro-West. China has economic interests in Myanmar to protect. The only ones benefiting from the current war are criminal gangs specializing in internet-based fraud. There are also drug gangs that force local farmers to grow poppies, the raw material needed to produce heroin. Gangs also set up laboratories to produce synthetic drugs like fentanyl. The gangs pay protection money to the government or the rebels, depending on where the drug operations are. This drug business is worth an estimated $20 billion a year and pays to keep the civil war going. Myanmar has been mired in chaos for centuries and is considered a failed state.

Recently the ruling military junta was dismayed to realize that they only controlled 21 percent of the country. Thats down from 44 percent four months ago. Year by year junta control over the country declines, with a rebel victory in sight within a year or two. China is reluctant to send in soldiers to prevent this, but might consider organizing and using a force of foreign mercenaries.

The military government still insists that the January 2026 national elections will be held. This is unlikely because the junta rules through fear and intimidation. Even those living in areas under government control were reluctant to participate in elections where popular candidates are intimidated and voters who might vote against the junta are threatened.

Outside Myanmar, few countries support the junta and many openly oppose the military government and its deplorable activities against their citizens. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations/ASEAN member states plus South Korea and India have openly rebuked the juntas election plans and will not provide technical support for a process that simply cannot be credible, free, or fair.

In late 2024 remaining junta control over ever smaller portions of the country declined. While Myanmar became quieter for a while after the military junta allowed democracy to return in 2010, by late 2023 there was a major outbreak of violence by northern rebels against soldiers stationed in the north. This led to chaos in the north where non-tribal residents fled south and large groups of armed and angry tribal rebels moved south along with them. The army never expected this and now fighting continues in the north outside, and sometimes inside, towns where there is an army garrison. With few troops left in the area, the Myanmar military sent its warplanes to bomb towns believed to be occupied by rebels. This was an imprecise operation and many civilians were killed.

Myanmar is still subject to violence from tribal separatist militias in the north plus radical Buddhist groups. There was another military coup in early 2021, a decade after the 1962 military junta finally gave in to demands for freedom and democracy. By 2010 the army had failed at running the economy or dealing with the rebellious northern tribes. The military negotiated a deal with the democrats that left the military with some of their political power as well as immunity from prosecution or retribution for a long list of past crimes. Once elections were held, the generals realized they had underestimated the degree of popular anger at the decades of military misrule. After 2011, with Myanmar governed by a government answerable to the people, not a military caste, there were calls for canceling the political privileges the military had retained as part of their agreement to allow peaceful transfer of power. The late 2020 nationwide elections put into power a government that finally had the votes, and determination to demand democracy.

There was growing armed and unarmed opposition to the military which resulted in over a thousand dead and nearly 12,000 arrested. The economy was in shambles but, despite that, the population resisted, and the survival of the military junta depends on how much China wants to spend saving them. China refused to contribute more than token assistance, while the rebel militias in the north became more powerful and the Myanmar army began to collapse, along with the military junta when there was another major uprising in late 2023 that started in the north and is ongoing.

Then in 2024 rare earth deposits were found in Myanmar. Rare earths are extremely valuable and used for the production of high-end electronics. Myanmar had these materials and China wanted them. The Chin rebels on the border wanted a piece of the action and that held up shipments to China until it was discovered who was blocking the shipments. Chinese border guards were ordered to let the rare earth shipments in and threatened the Chin rebels with loss of access to China and the weapons and other supplies obtained inside China.

Meanwhile, in the northwest, fighting between tribal rebels and the army in Rakhine State has intensified, and because of this several hundred thousand villagers have fled their homes. Many traveled all the way to the state capital, which is seen as the safest spot in Rakhine State. The army also revived internet restrictions which had been lifted earlier. The result was that most cellphone users in Rakhine State get only slow 2G internet speeds. This made it difficult to access pro-rebel websites, and most others as well.

Most of the rebels involved belong to the AA/Arakan Army. Many AA attacks are ambushes or raids on road traffic, outposts or border posts. Control of the roads is essential for the army, which depends on regular deliveries of all sorts of supplies. The army also has some air support, mostly surveillance but also occasional airstrikes. The rebels know the mountains and forests, which the army enters and moves through more slowly. The war up here is about driving away locals who can provide support for the rebels. Most of these civilians have nothing to do with the rebels and see themselves as innocent victims of random military violence. There is some truth to that because troops often loot abandoned villages or rape female refugees they catch up with.

The rebels have another advantage in that their attacks are more precise and involve much less firepower. The soldiers spend most of their time wandering around in the forests seeking rebels who move faster in the bush, and usually detect the troops before the soldiers can spot any rebels. Hiring, or forcing, local hunters to guide the troops rarely works because the local guides hate the troops and know that the rebels wont forget if such guides and trackers cause rebel casualties.

Rebels attack outposts and border posts for loot. These attacks are not just about stealing some weapons and other gear, but also to intimidate border guards and troops into backing off on border security. A major source of income for the AA is getting illegal drugs from nearby Shan State, where most illegal drugs in the country are produced, into Bangladesh. The AA also works with Myanmar Rohingya refugees just across the border in Bangladesh.

The AA has support from one of the rebel coalitions, the NA, or Northern/Brotherhood Alliance tribal rebels, who refuse to attend peace talks unless the junta allows the Arakan Army, or AA, to attend. The AA and the army have been fighting for over seven years with no end in sight. The government, pressured by the army, declared the AA an outlaw organization in early 2020. The other tribal rebels disagreed and saw the army as the true outlaws. No long-term peace deal is possible without the NA and some NA members are still engaged in combat with the army.

All NA members agree that if the AA is not allowed to attend peace conferences, neither will any NA member. The NA consists of four tribal militias: TNLA/Tang National Liberation Army, AA, MNDAA/Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, and KIA/Kachin Independence Army. The NA exists because its members refused to sign the 2015 Myanmar Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement/NCA. Those who did sign the NCA have made progress in working out differences with the junta and military. The army, which tends to do as it likes in the tribal areas of the north, is the primary cause for violence. China is also involved because Northern Alliance members survive via their access to China. The access is tolerated as long as these Myanmar rebels do not let the fighting spread into China or interfere with Chinese commercial operations in Myanmar. This includes the BRI/Belt and Road Initiative project, which NA members object to. So do other tribal rebels while the largest such group, the UWSA/United Wa State Army, boycotts peace and any reconciliation.

Army leaders have become more outspoken about foreign support the tribal rebels are receiving. The generals wont come right out and name China, but it is no secret that China has done little to curb Chinese weapons dealers from selling all manner of military small arms to tribal rebels and getting it across the border into Myanmar. That cannot be done without the acquiescence of the Chinese government. In this way the Chinese are sending a message to the Myanmar generals, who the Chinese see as equally responsible for the violence in the north, sometimes right on the Chinese border. Both the rebels and the army are often using Chinese weapons and ammunition against each other. There are not a lot of casualties and most of them are from army convoys being ambushed or the army firing into pro-rebel villages to drive the civilians, and any rebels, out and into the bush. The army does not have enough troops to occupy all the territory they push tribal rebels and civilians out of. Often the rebels, if not the civilians resist and get killed.

Rebellions in Rakhine and down along the coast are nothing new in this area, which has long been known as the Arakan coast and similar names hinting at an interesting past. In recent years there have even been calls for the restoration of the Arakan Empire, which ceased to exist over 240 years ago. This is a renewal of ancient feuds over who should control the northwest coast of Myanmar, an area with a long history as an independent Arakan state. For example, in late 2017 ARSA/Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, the new Islamic terror group in Myanmar called for Rohingya to join with al Qaeda to fight the Myanmar army and establish Rakhine State as the independent Muslim Arakan. This refers to the Arakan region, which is the coastal area that includes Rakhine State and the coastal area along the Bay of Bengal from eastern Bangladesh down deep into Myanmar. Some 1800 years ago Arakan became an independent Hindu state but 500 years later Islam spread to the area in part because Arakan was one of the many branches.

The Arakan Army had been avoiding soldiers since a series of clashes in late 2015 ended badly for the rebels. Clashes resumed in early 2016 as troops moved into territory where Arakan Army rebels were known to operate. All this was unexpected because the northwest coast has not had as much tribal violence as states to the east. In this case the Arakan Army had help from Kachin State tribal rebels and has become a problem on both sides of the Bangladesh border. The junta ordered the army to increase its efforts to destroy the Arakan Army and the successful clashes in late 2015 led to the military working with police to find and arrest the many Arakan Army supporters in the area. Unlike most tribal militias in the north, the Arakan Army was never given official recognition, in large part because the Arakan Army was more of a gangster operation than tribal rebels. All this police activity was unpopular but at least it was less arbitrary and lawless than in the past when soldiers would torture and kill people the government considered rebellious.
The Supreme Court has denied an appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell after the convicted sex trafficker asked the nations highest court to review whether prosecutors fairly brought a case against her.

Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after she was found guilty of recruiting and grooming young women and girls for sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The justices did not provide a reason for Mondays decision, which was included in a lengthy list of cases that the court has decided to take up or deny as justices begin their new term this month.

Were, of course, deeply disappointed that the Supreme Court declined to hear Ghislaine Maxwells case, her attorney David Oscar Markus said in a statement to The Independent. But this fight isnt over. Serious legal and factual issues remain, and we will continue to pursue every avenue available to ensure that justice is done.

Maxwells lawyers had argued in court documents that Epsteins agreement with federal prosecutors in Florida, which included a pledge not to prosecute him or potential co-conspirators, should apply to one of the counts in Maxwells case.

The Supreme Court denied an appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell October 6 as she serves 20 years in prison for crimes associated with Jeffrey Epsteins decades-long scheme to recruit and abuse young women and girls (AP)

The Department of Justice called on the justices to reject that argument, with Solicitor General D. John Sauer arguing that the U.S. attorney who oversaw that agreement would have needed to obtain permission for the terms to apply outside that district; Maxwell was prosecuted in New York.

Prosecutors in New York ultimately brought federal sex trafficking charges against Epstein in 2019, and he was found dead in his jail cell shortly after his arrest that year.

Maxwell was indicted in 2020 for crimes associated with Epsteins decades-long scheme to recruit young women and girls  some as young as 14 years old  then sexually abuse them.

From 1994 to 2004, Maxwell and Epstein worked together to recruit young girls and entice them to travel to Epsteins properties, according to prosecutors. During a monthlong trial in 2021, survivors testified in federal court in Manhattan that Maxwell had groomed them, taken their passports, and sexually abused them.

President Donald Trumps relationship with Epstein and Maxwell has come under renewed scrutiny after the Justice Department sought to draw investigations to a close despite the presidents pledge to release the so-called Epstein files that critics argue could expose a wider conspiracy implicating powerful figures.

Maxwell was convicted in 2021 for helping the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse underage girls (Reuters)

Maxwell, who is now 63, is not scheduled to be released from prison until 2040. Her best chance of early release is a presidential pardon, though legal experts warn that public statements suggesting that a pardon is even remotely on the table could encourage Maxwell to do anything she can to secure one.

Markus, her attorney, has previously said Maxwell would welcome one, though she has not formally sought a pardon from Trump. The president has acknowledged his pardoning power but has not committed to giving her one.

In July, the Justice Department determined no further disclosure in the Epstein case would be appropriate or warranted.

But in an apparent attempt to suppress criticism surrounding the decision, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche interviewed Maxwell over two days at a Florida courthouse close to the maximum security prison where she was incarcerated.

Maxwell agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, and she was suddenly moved to a minimum security prison in Texas.

In her interview with Blanche, Maxwell said she absolutely never saw Trump behave inappropriately with anyone in Epsteins circle and praised the president for his extraordinary achievement in becoming the president now. She also said she liked him.

Her lawyers have refused the opportunity for her to voluntarily testify to Congress without assurances that she can receive some form of clemency. In a letter to a Republican-led House Oversight Committee this summer, Maxwells attorneys asked for immunity protections  and made another appeal to Trump for clemency.

If Ms. Maxwell were to receive clemency, she would be willing  and eager  to testify openly and honestly, in public, before Congress in Washington, D.C., according to the letter, which Maxwells legal team provided to The Independent. She welcomes the opportunity to share the truth and to dispel the many misconceptions and misstatements that have plagued this case from the beginning.

House Democrats, meanwhile, are pushing for a vote on a measure that would force the Justice Department to release any remaining files that have not yet been made public in the investigations into Epstein and Maxwell.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has effectively closed the lower chamber of Congress this week as the federal government shutdown continues  and he is delaying a ceremony to swear into office a recently elected Democratic representative who has pledged to be a deciding vote on the measure.

What are Republicans so afraid of? Arizona Rep. Adelita Grijalva wrote last week. One more vote for accountability?
Nigel Farage is riding high in the polls with Reform UK, while the Tories languish in third place - Phil Noble/Reuters

Most Conservative members want a pact with Reform UK, a poll has found.

The survey, published on the second day of the Tories annual conference, found the grassroots were significantly more sympathetic to an agreement than Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader.

Mrs Badenoch and Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, have both repeatedly ruled out any arrangement between the two parties.

Reform is currently enjoying a comfortable poll lead while the Conservatives languish in third, which has led some senior Tories to call for a deal between the two.

A slew of defections from the Tories to Reform has not helped, with one Conservative donor who funded Mrs Badenochs leadership campaign changing sides this week.

And on Monday, a shadow minister urged the Tory leader to work together with Reform.

In a further blow for Mrs Badenoch, the poll found that half of Tory members did not think she should lead their party into the next general election.

Asked if she should still be in post then, 46 per cent said she should while 50 per cent said she should not.

Mrs Badenoch became Tory leader last November when the membership chose her over Robert Jenrick in a head-to-head vote.

But the survey revealed that just 39 per cent would vote for Mrs Badenoch if a vote were held tomorrow, against 46 per cent for Mr Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary.

Mr Jenrick is comfortably the members favourite, the poll showed, beating Boris Johnson, Sir James Cleverly and Dame Priti Patel in a series of head-to-head polls.

On Monday, Mr Jenrick dismissed the prospect of a pact with Reform as a fools errand.

He admitted that his party had a mountain to climb to win back voters from Mr Farages party, but added: Im not in the business of doing pacts or coalitions or deals. Kemi has been very clear about that, Nigel has been very clear about that.

I dont think its going to happen, I dont see any sign of that, its a fools errand.

We should be spending every waking hour being the best, better than Reform, better than Labour, better than the Lib Dems.

Robert Jenrick outperformed Kemi Badenoch in the recent poll - Danny Lawson/PA

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, defended Mrs Badenochs record.

Asked about the results of the poll and if Mrs Badenoch should lead the Tories into the next election, he said: Firstly, I think the public are, frankly, not impressed by our habit of sequential regicide.

I dont think repeating that again will endear us to the public. It will make us look disorganised and frankly, rabble, essentially. So I dont think that will help.

We should be aware that leading a party in opposition immediately after a 14-year period in government, following the worst general election defeat in 200 years, is an unbelievably difficult task.

And anyone who says they could have done that, anyone who has done a better job than Kemi I think, frankly, is stretching it a bit.

In the survey between Sep 26 and Oct 2, YouGov asked 652 Tory members whether they would support a pact at the next general election that would mean the two parties did not stand candidates against each other in their target seats.

Sixty-four per cent of Tory members said they would support an electoral pact, while 31 were opposed and 5 per cent did not know.

In the event of a hung parliament, 73 per cent of paid-up supporters would welcome a coalition with Reform, while only a quarter (25 per cent) would be against.

Lord Frost, the former Brexit minister, said the mood of the partys conference in Manchester  which Mrs Badenoch will address this week  was far too positive given the poll ratings.

He said: This is an appalling situation for a mainstream party.

The obvious strategy of trying to recreate a proper strong Conservative Party is now much more difficult, because there already is another one and its doing better than we are in the polls.

No prescription for the party works unless we accept that the situation for the party is extremely bad. Were on the edge of ceasing to exist as a mainstream party.

Mrs Badenoch was already facing a backlash from both Left and Right at the partys conference over her announcement that she would pull out of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), almost a year and a half after Reform made the same vow in its general election manifesto.

Kemi Badenoch has been criticised for taking almost a year to announce firm policies - Eddie Mulholland for The Telegraph

Moderate Tories expressed anger at her decision, with Tobias Ellwood, the former MP, describing the policy as un-Conservative.

The Telegraph can disclose that last week the Society of Conservative Lawyers urged her not to leave the convention, saying it would mean years of EU negotiations and that migration could be reduced without a withdrawal.

On the Right of the party, Andrew Rosindell, the shadow foreign minister, called on Mrs Badenoch to work together with Reform to prevent another Labour government, in a hint that he would support an electoral pact.

Asked if he was thinking of defecting to Reform, Mr Rosindell told GB News: What I want is the Right-of-centre in British politics to come together. Our electoral system cant accommodate two parties that are broadly conservative.

That means a divide in the vote and the calamity of another Labour government for five years, or even worse, a Labour government propped up by Liberal Democrats, Greens, Plaid Cymru, SNP, fruit and nut, and whoever else...

Now, Margaret Thatcher, when she was our leader ... everybody thats in Reform today pretty much would have been part of the Conservative Party. So I think we need to get everyone working together to rescue our country from the disaster of this Left-wing socialist Government.

Other figures on the Right appeared to disagree over policy. Hours after Sir Mel Stride, the shadow chancellor, announced that the party would keep the pensions triple lock, Tom Tugendhat, the former minister, described it as unsustainable.
Zack Polanski delivers his keynote speech to the Green Party conference in Bournemouth - Nicola Tree/Getty Images

There is little doubt that Zack Polanski has had a good few first weeks as leader of the Greens. We know this because of a plethora of similarly-worded tweets on social media over the weekend waxing lyrical about Polanski being a breath of fresh air, a leader who will tell it like it is, who doesnt equivocate or use ambiguous language. And isnt that exactly what we want in our political leaders? Isnt that what is missing from the leadership of the main parties?

Thats the approved line, anyway. Its almost as if the party has a disciplined and effective social media strategy. However, whereas Polanski is a decent media performer (and we shall return in due course to the reasons why hes seen as such), his deputy might be categorised under the heading of Not So Much.

Not because Mothin Ali is a devout Muslim, for we already know that that has not prevented most of the other parties from producing formidable legislators and orators who share that faith. Ali is a vulnerability for Polanskis leadership because of his extreme views and because, despite those views, Polanski has expressed full support for him.

In a video that is no longer publicly available, Ali appeared to justify the pogrom by Hamas terrorists of Jews in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and speculated that Israel would use the pretext of the fightback by Hamas fighters, or supposedly Hamas fighters to launch an attack on Gaza. A day later he took to Facebook to suggest that those who condemned the murder, torture and rape that Hamas perpetrated  as well as the kidnapping of 250 survivors  were guilty of white supremacy.

But Ali will survive as his partys elected deputy because, as well as being acceptable to his leader, these views are entirely shared by most of the Greens middle-class, keffiyeh-wearing membership. Whether such views will raise an eyebrow with the wider electorate is another matter, and Polanski might be advised to reduce the number of opportunities that the media have to quiz his deputy.

The Greens annual conference has just wound up and many activists are excitedly taking to their keyboards to boast about some of the radical measures that delegates approved for the partys next election manifesto. It is generally recognised that, following the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the Soviet Union a couple of years later, Britains disconsolate Marxists looked around for a new political home in which to indulge their ambitions, and settled on the nascent Green Party. It was a wise choice and their efforts have now borne fruit.

This years conference approved a series of madcap policies, the most entertaining of which was the abolition of landlords (answers on a postcard, please). But there were others, including trans healthcare, an anti-racism framework, the proscription of the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) and opposition to President Trumps peace plan for the Middle East. This latter one is particularly notable since Green members are very keen to describe the conflict in Gaza as a genocide perpetrated by Israel. But just because theres a genocide doesnt necessarily mean they want it to end.

Its like looking through a dimensional portal to see how the Labour Party would look today if Jeremy Corbyn had remained as party leader and all his deepest, most treasured policies had been adopted by (Palestinian) flag-waving delegates.

In fact its the demented nature of the Greens policy positions that makes life easier, not more difficult, for the party leader. Realistic, pragmatic policies that try to take account of political and economic realities are difficult to develop and promote. Theyre not what a generation of activists raised on the principle of instant gratification want to hear. Having to cut the nations coat according to its cloth is not something your average impatient Green activist will give any headspace to.

Such an unserious party with no hope of reaching government is easy to defend. Were Polanski about to seize power, he would face some serious scrutiny and have to come up with some uncomfortable answers. That, after all, is the essence of courageous political leadership  to tell an audience what they dont want to hear. Polanski will never have to do that, which is just as well, since his members would never put up with it.

So he can keep spouting his slogans and his sixth form-level solutions, not because he is an intellectual and political powerhouse with the charisma of Winston Churchill, but because he has nothing to lose. And so long as the Greens occupy only a tiny number of Commons seats, the media will probably indulge or even overlook the obnoxious views held by their deputy leader.
Greta Thunberg has been deported from Israel along with a further 170 activists from an international flotilla which was blocked from delivering aid to Gaza last week.

Israel has sent the activists to Greece and Slovakia, with some claiming they faced inhumane conditions and were beaten and locked in a cage while they were being held in detention by Israeli forces.

Mondays expulsions mean that 341 out of 479 activists detained have been deported.

Members of the Global Sumud Flotilla react upon arrival at the airport in Bratislava (AFP via Getty Images)

Israel's foreign ministry issued a statement, accompanied by photos of Swedish campaigner Thunberg at the airport, saying all participants' legal rights had been upheld and the only violence involved an activist who bit a female medic at Israel's Ketziot prison.

An Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson said Thunberg had boarded a plane at Ramon airbase in Israel's Negev Desert. Israel has dismissed the flotilla as a publicity stunt.

The deportees are citizens of Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Denmark, Slovakia, Switzerland, Norway, the UK, Serbia, and the United States, the foreign ministry said.

Among nine members of the flotilla who arrived home in Switzerland, some alleged sleep deprivation, lack of water and food, as well as some being beaten, kicked, and locked in a cage, the group representing them said in a statement.

An Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson rejected the allegations.

Spanish activists also alleged mistreatment on their arrival in Spain late on Sunday after being deported.

"They beat us, dragged us along the ground, blindfolded us, tied our hands and feet, put us in cages and insulted us," lawyer Rafael Borrego told reporters at Madrid's airport.

Swedish activists said on Saturday that Thunberg was shoved and forced to wear an Israeli flag during her detention, while others said they had clean food and water withheld and had their medication and belongings confiscated.

Israel's foreign ministry has described widespread reports of detainees being mistreated after the flotilla was intercepted as "complete lies".

A spokesperson told Reuters over the weekend that all detainees were given access to water, food, and restrooms, adding: "they were not denied access to legal counsel and all their legal rights were fully upheld".

On Sunday, the Swiss Embassy in Tel Aviv visited 10 Swiss nationals and said all were "in relatively good health, given the circumstances."

Former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, who was also on the flotilla, said there had been "mistreatment, but that was nothing compared to what the Palestinian people suffer every day".

Spanish journalists Carlos de Barron and Nestor Prieto said Israeli authorities signed a statement on the deported activists' behalf claiming they had entered Israel illegally.

"They placed documents in Hebrew in front of us, denying us the right to a translator, and we did not receive consular assistance because they did not allow the (Spanish) consul to enter the port of Ashdod," Prieto said.

Consular staff have visited activists at the prison, according to statements from several countries whose citizens were detained.
Hamas is in a muddle. Should it stay or should it go? Can its leadership accept disarmament and exile to save Gaza from further Israeli bombardment, release its remaining hostages, and leave the future enclave to a foreign occupation  in the name of peace?

The Islamic Resistance Movement, as Hamas is strictly known, knows what it is when its fighting. It is a mess when it is not at war.

And now it may be close to irrelevant. For a militant movement that has built its worldview on martyrdom and has been prepared to provoke staggering violence from Israel, Hamas knows that its irrelevance is now existential.

From its own perspective, the atrocities of October 7 2023 when it killed 1,139 people, including 36 children, 71 foreigners and 373 members of the Israeli security forces, have had the result of provoking a local clash of civilisations.

In the logic of the Islamic Resistance, Israels brutal reaction to the murders and capture of 250 hostages has been so unconscionable that Israel is now facing more international pressure and condemnation than it has since the Seventies and Eighties, when it was the subject of global opprobrium and some sanctions. That is success.

The cost to Palestinians, some 67,000 killed, according to local officials  more than half of them women and children  has perhaps now become too much even for Hamas to bear. Its negotiators in Qatar were reported to have accepted several ceasefire deals that Benjamin Netanyahus government rejected over recent months.

Hamas chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, was one of the targets of Israels bombing raids against his Qatari offices. Still, he has headed to Egypt this week for talks with US mediators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, and Israeli negotiators, who include spy chiefs from Mossad and Shin Bet (who were responsible for targeting him).

Hamas militants secure an area before handing over an Israeli hostage in February (AFP/Getty)

Hamas has indicated that it wants a ceasefire in return for releasing the remaining Israeli hostages  about 20 still alive and 28 bodies. The US proposals, endorsed by Israel but merely welcomed by many others in the region as an effort to achieve peace, require that Hamas disband, disarm, and disappear.

Hamas could do that. Its own charter is a sufficient muddle to allow for compromise (aside from the hope for personal survival among its less fanatical members).

Article 20 of its 1988 Charter says: Without compromising its rejection of the Zionist entity [Israel] and without relinquishing any Palestinian rights, Hamas considers the establishment of a fully sovereign and independent Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital along the lines of the 4th of June 1967, with the return of the refugees and the displaced to their homes from which they were expelled, to be a formula of national consensus.

This means that Hamas, reluctantly, accepts that Israel exists as such and that a two-state solution is in the interests of Palestinians  because the movement understands most Palestinians would accept such a scenario.

Trumps proposals require both sides to reignite their efforts to pursue a lasting peace through talks intended to establish a viable Palestinian, as well as a safe Israeli, state.

Article 16 of the same charter is intended to snuff out allegations that Hamas is an antisemitic organisation: Hamas affirms that its conflict is with the Zionist project, not with the Jews because of their religion. Hamas does not wage a struggle against the Jews because they are Jewish, but wages a struggle against the Zionists who occupy Palestine.

So, Hamas doesnt actually have to fight on.

But confusingly, the first part of article 20 appears to demand the destruction of the state of Israel as such: Hamas believes that no part of the land of Palestine shall be compromised or conceded, irrespective of the causes, the circumstances and the pressures and no matter how long the occupation lasts. Hamas rejects any alternative to the full and complete liberation of Palestine, from the [Jordan] river to the [Mediterranean] sea.

So Hamas maybe does have to carry on its campaigns until it controls all of what is now both Palestinian and Israeli territory.

These tensions are likely to be graphic on the ground. Hamas leadership in Gaza has a very different view of the war from those who enjoy the comforts of exile already.

Khalil al-Hayya, chief negotiator for Hamas in Qatar (AP)

They will also be aware that, as an organisation that is fundamentally all about liberating Palestinian lands from what it considers a Zionist entity, Hamas can either lead grassroots militancy or it can watch from the sidelines.

There are dozens of groups of men and women in Gaza and on the West Bank for whom peace with Israel can only come when they, at least, have forced a viable state of Palestine into existence.

Many take arms, training, and money from Hamas and its Iranian backers. But they are already outside of its command structures. They are a wave that Hamas can ride or drown in its turbulence.

Israels mass killings, its use of starvation as a tactic of war, and its own claims to the same land from the river to the sea, which is part of Netanyahus Likud Partys charter too, has driven many young people to consider violence the only viable option in a hopeless existence.

Those feelings will deepen and fire more violence unless they can see a near prospect of real emancipation because of a return to genuine peace talks and the close vision of a Palestinian state.

Hamas has always used violence to destroy that hope  and blow up diplomatic advances at the same time.

Hamas has a record of causing chaos and surfing its waves. It is unlikely to give that up  and Israel is just as unlikely to offer the hope to Palestinians to end the occupation that gave rise to the Islamic Resistance Movement in the first place.
Masked thugs tried to burn down a mosque as the Home Secretary appealed for unity in the aftermath of the Manchester synagogue terror attack.

Police are treating the incident at Peacehaven Community Mosque in East Sussex as a hate crime.

Worshippers, including an imam, escaped as two men in balaclavas set fire to fuel poured on steps.

Images circulating online also show a torched car parked outside on Saturday night.

The pair are seen in CCTV stills approaching the front door, before spraying accelerant at the entrance and then igniting a fire shortly before 10pm.

One male was wearing a distinctive black jacket with a Pre London logo in white on the chest, while the other had bright red gloves.

Detectives are hunting for the suspects as they investigate arson with intent to endanger life.

Second suspect seen at mosque in Peacehaven, East Sussex (Sussex Police/PA Wire)

Shabana Mahmood described the incident as deeply concerning, adding: An investigation is ongoing, but it seems clear that things could easily have been far worse, Ms Mahmood said on Sunday.

At a time like this, we must stand united.

This countrys greatest strength has been its ability to build one nation from many communities.

Attacks against Britains Muslims are attacks against all Britons and this country itself.

Damage outside the front entrance of the mosque in Phyllis Avenue, Peacehaven (Jamie Lashmar/PA Wire)

Tariq Jung, of the Brighton & Hove Muslim Forum, fears people are reacting violently to national or international events beyond anyones control.

He added: This was a deliberate act of terror aimed at spreading fear.

An attack on one community is an attack on all. We will not be divided.

Sussex Police said on Sunday evening it is not currently being treated as terror-related.

Mothin Ali, deputy leader of the Green Party, had pressed officers to seek clarity on the motives of this attack.

People were inside the mosque when it was firebombed and people in this community will be feeling frightened and targeted for their faith, Mr Ali said.

First suspect sought by Sussex Police (Sussex Police/PA Wire)

A spokesman for the mosque said: We are deeply saddened by the shocking arson attack that took place at Peacehaven Community Centre on the evening of Saturday, October 4.

While the incident has caused damage to our building and vehicles, we are profoundly grateful that no one was injured.

This hateful act does not represent our community or our town. Peacehaven has always been a place of kindness, respect, and mutual support, and we will continue to embody those values.

We ask everyone to reject division and respond to hate with unity and compassion.

The mosque will be closed until police have completed their investigations, the spokesperson added.

Chris Ward, the Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter: Appalled by the disgusting arson attack on Peacehaven mosque last night.

That there were no injuries is purely by chance.

This violence and hatred has no place in our peaceful, tolerant local community. We will root it out and we stand in solidarity with all affected.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Court said: This was an appalling and reckless attack which we know will have left many people feeling less safe.

We will continue to have an increased police presence in Peacehaven and there are also additional patrols taking place at places of worship across Sussex.

We will continue to engage with all communities impacted by this incident to support them and ensure their concerns are heard and acted upon.

Let me be clear: There is no place for hate and division in our communities.

Those who are responsible for causing these offences will be dealt with robustly by the police and put before the courts.

Detective Superintendent Karrie Bohanna added: Sussex Police takes a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime and there is no place for hate across the county.

The mosque spokesman thanked emergency services and the local community for their support in the wake of the fire.

We also extend heartfelt thanks to our neighbours, local faith leaders, and all those who have reached out in solidarity, he said.

Your support strengthens us and reminds us that love and understanding will always overcome hate and division.

Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: We utterly condemn what appears to have been an arson attack on a mosque in Peacehaven.

Every faith community has the right to worship free from fear.

On Sunday, the funeral of the first victim of the Manchester terror attack took place.

Mourners paid tribute to Melvin Cravitz, 66, who died after he helped to prevent 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie from entering the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue as the attack unfolded on Thursday.

His family said he was a man who would do anything to help anyone.

Adrian Daulby, 53, also died and is believed to have been shot dead by police while trying to stop Al-Shamie, who was on bail for an alleged rape, from getting inside.
People hold signs during a demonstration against Ice and planned deployment of national guard troops in Chicago, Illinois, on 9 September. Photograph: Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP/Getty Images

National guard troops from Texas are heading to Illinois after a federal judge declined to immediately block them in response to a lawsuit from the state against the Trump administration.

Texas national guard members departed the Fort Bliss military installation in El Paso on a US military transport plane on Monday evening.

Kash Patel, the director of the FBI, said he was heading to Chicago as well. Chicago will be saved, and this FBI will continue to crush violent crime there, and all around the country. Heading to the Windy City now, he wrote on X on Tuesday.

The US district judge April Perry allowed the federal government to continue the deployment in Chicago while it responds to Illinoiss suit. She set a deadline of midnight on Wednesday for the government to reply. A similar effort to deploy troops to Portland was blocked by a judge in Oregon.

Donald Trump is also seeking to federalize the Illinois national guard, which would involve moving them from state to federal jurisdiction.

The Illinois governor, JB Pritzker, said the Trump administration had not discussed plans to federalize the states national guard or to send in troops from other states. We must now start calling this what it is: Trumps invasion, he said in a statement. It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois national guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another states military troops.

Pritzker said 300 of the states guard troops were to be federalized and deployed to Chicago, along with 400 others from Texas.

The Illinois attorney general, Kwame Raoul, filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the president from calling up the states national guard or sending in troops from other states immediately and permanently, after the president ordered national guard troops to deploy in the state against Pritzkers wishes.

The American people, regardless of where they reside, should not live under the threat of occupation by the United States military, particularly not simply because their city or state leadership has fallen out of a presidents favor, the lawsuit says.

Trump has gone after Democratic-led cities, sending in military to clamp down on protests and aid in his deportation agenda. He has declared war on Chicago, threatening for weeks to send in more troops while immigration agents scoured the city for people to deport, and local residents protested against his crackdown.

In Washington on Tuesday, Democratic senators grilled Pam Bondi, the attorney general, over the use of military in US cities, while Republican senators largely cheered the decision. Dick Durbin, who represents Illinois, asked Bondi to explain the rationale for ordering troops from other states to Chicago. Bondi replied: I wish you love Chicago as much as you hate president Trump. She added: If youre not going to protect your citizens, president Trump will.

Raoul argues that these efforts to send in guard troops against a states will infringe on the states sovereignty and self-governance while leading to unrest and harm for the states residents.

It will cause only more unrest, including harming social fabric and community relations and increasing the mistrust of police. It also creates economic harm, depressing business activities and tourism that not only hurt Illinoisians but also hurt Illinoiss tax revenue, Raoul wrote.

Related: Judge blocks deployment of national guard to Oregon as Newsom vows to sue

A Trump-appointed judge in Oregon blocked Trump from sending in troops to Portland. Governor Gavin Newsom of California is also fighting against troops being sent from his state to Oregon. Troops from Texas were going to be sent to Portland and Chicago, with the blessing of Texass Republican governor, Greg Abbott.

Trump administration officials have railed against the Oregon ruling, saying a judge cannot prevent the president from moving troops. Todays judicial ruling is one of the most egregious and thunderous violations of constitutional order we have ever seen  and is yet the latest example of unceasing efforts to nullify the 2024 election by fiat, Stephen Miller, an adviser to Trump, wrote on X.

Chicagos mayor, Brandon Johnson, also signed an executive order to prohibit federal immigration agents from using city-owned property to conduct their operations, which comes after documented use of public school parking lots and a city-owned lot as staging sites, Johnson said in a press release.

We will not tolerate Ice agents violating our residents constitutional rights nor will we allow the federal government to disregard our local authority. Ice agents are detaining elected officials, teargassing protesters, children, and Chicago police officers, and abusing Chicago residents. We will not stand for that in our city, Johnson said in a statement.

At a press briefing on Monday, the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said cities such as Chicago were refusing to cooperate with troops because they did not like the president. She claimed Trump wanted to make cities safer.

You guys are framing this like the president wants to take over the American cities with the military, she said. The president wants to help these local leaders who have been completely ineffective in securing their own cities.
JB Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, launches last-ditch legal challenge to stop deployment of soldiers - ERIK S LESSER/EPA/Shutterstock

National Guard troops will patrol the streets of Chicago after JB Pritzkers legal challenge to the deployment failed.

On Monday, Mr Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, filed a lawsuit to stop Donald Trump mobilising soldiers in his state, accusing the president of an act of occupation by the US military.

However, a judge hours later declined to block the deployment of troops.

Judge April M Berry said she was very troubled by the lack of answers by lawyers acting for the US government, but said she needed time to review the case before ruling on a temporary restraining order.

The first troops could arrive in Chicago within hours, making their deployment almost inevitable.

Mr Trump has insisted the move is necessary to stop the city being overtaken by lawlessness and rioting, as federal agents launch military-style immigration raids and tensions flare between protesters and authorities.

Around 200 members of Texas National Guard were en route to Chicago as of Monday, and will be deployed on Tuesday or Wednesday, a lawyer for the Trump administration said.

Donald Trump has long threatened to send troops to Chicago, resulting in a standoff with JB Pritzker - Jim Vondruska/Reuters

A demonstration against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement - KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI

In a press conference, Mr Pritzker accused the president of using troops as pawns in his illegal effort to militarise our nations cities.

Claiming Mr Trump was causing chaos on Chicagos streets as a pretext to send in the military, he vowed to use every lever at our disposal to resist this power grab and throw immigration agents, whom he labelled thugs, the hell out of Chicago.

I am not afraid. And I will not back down, he added.

Mr Pritzker and Kwame Raoul, the Illinois attorney general, applied to an Illinois district court the same day to block the deployment, claiming Mr Trump was endangering the foundational principles of American law .

The American people, regardless of where they reside, should not live under the threat of occupation by the United States military, particularly not simply because their city or state leadership has fallen out of a presidents favour, the legal filing reads.

The Trump administration has mobilised 300 members of Illinois National Guard while calling up to 400 more from Texas, it said, calling the effort unlawful and dangerous.

The lawsuit accuses Mr Trump of sending Swat-tactic trained agents to Chicago to use brute force, following a controversial raid in which authorities reportedly descended from helicopters to search an apartment building.

A demonstrator is arrested in Chicago - Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP

The Trump administration has mobilised 300 members of Illinois National Guard to quell protests - Anadolu

On Sunday, Mr Pritzker said that he had launched an investigation into the incident, in which he claimed elderly people had been detained for hours while children had their hands zip-tied.

Illinois is taking the Trump administration to court for their unlawful and unconstitutional deployment of military troops to our state, he said on Monday, thanking Mr Raoul for helping defend the rule of law.

A White House spokeswoman said the governor had refused to quell ongoing violent riots and lawlessness in the city.

President Trump has exercised his lawful authority to protect federal officers and assets. President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities, she continued.

In a separate statement to Fox News, the White House labelled Mr Pritzker a slob who cared more about burnishing his anti-Trump creds... than he does about making his city safe.

Tensions have flared between protesters and authorities - Spencer Platt

Trump mulls Insurrection Act

Judge Karin Immergunt, who was appointed to Oregons district court by Mr Trump in 2019, blocked two attempts by the administration to send National Guard troops to Portland this weekend.

Mr Trump on Monday threatened to use emergency powers to deploy more troops into Democrat-led cities, openly mulling use of the Insurrection Act,

We have an Insurrection Act for a reason. If I had to enact it I would do that, he told reporters in the Oval Office, adding: If people were being killed and courts were holding us up or governors or mayors were holding us up, sure I would do that.

The government had argued sending troops to Portland was necessary to protect immigration enforcement agents, following inaction by the police, but Judge Immergunt claimed the account was simply untethered to the facts.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, attacked the judges decision on Monday, claiming that her opinion is untethered in reality and in law.

An immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) facility in the south of the city had been under siege by anarchists for more than 100 days, she said, vowing to appeal the ruling and win on the merits of the law.

On Monday, Brandon Johnson, the Democratic mayor of Chicago, announced he was establishing ICE-free zones on government property to prevent immigration raids.

Any officials who ignored the order would be taken to court, he vowed.

Ms Leavitt at the Monday briefing hit out at mayors who stood in the way of police cooperating with federal agents, claiming they did not care about positive results and simply dont like Donald Trump.
Jonathan Powells appearance before Commons committee will mark the end of a year-long standoff between parliament and ministers. Photograph: Fiona Hanson/PA

Jonathan Powell will appear before parliament for the first time amid questions about his role in the collapse of a trial of two Britons accused of spying for China.

Keir Starmers national security adviser is due to be quizzed by senior parliamentarians at a private hearing of the joint committee on the national security strategy in the coming weeks.

Powells appearance will mark the end of a year-long standoff between the committee and ministers, who refused for months to make him available for scrutiny before parliament. The prime ministers spokesperson said on Monday that Powell takes his accountability responsibilities very seriously.

The committee, chaired by the Labour MP Matt Western, is in discussions with officials over the date of the hearing. It is made up of several select committee chairs such as Emily Thornberry, Sarah Champion and Liam Byrne and peers including the former cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill and former David Cameron adviser Kate Fall.

Powell is likely to face questions about the abandonment of a major Chinese spying case as well as the governments approach to national security more broadly.

Separately the intelligence and security committee, which is chaired by Labour peer Kevan Jones and scrutinises the operation of the UKs security agencies, expects to receive information about the case as part of its regular work and will examine if further investigation is required.

The trial of Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary aide, and Christopher Berry was due to begin this month but was suddenly dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service on 15 September. Both men denied the charges. Prosecutors said they could not proceed because the evidential standard was no longer met.

Downing Street strongly denied suggestions that government interference was behind this move on Monday. The suggestion that the government withheld evidence, withdrew witnesses, or restricted the ability of witnesses to draw on particular bits of evidence are all untrue, the prime ministers political spokesperson said.

Powell is facing questions about his role after the Sunday Times reported that the CPS withdrew charges days after senior Whitehall officials, including Powell and the Foreign Offices top civil servant, Oliver Robbins, met to discuss the trial.

In order to prove the case under the Official Secrets Act, prosecutors would have had to show the defendants were acting for an enemy. Powell reportedly told the meeting that the governments evidence would be based on this years national security strategy, which does not use that term to describe China but instead called it a geo-strategic challenge, so it could not be used in court.

Government sources have pointed out that the Conservatives did not describe China as a threat in their strategy either.

Ministers including Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, have expressed their disappointment at the collapse of the case. Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons speaker, has said the development leaves MPs vulnerable to espionage and is considering bringing a private prosecution.

The government had resisted requests for Powell to appear before parliament for months, arguing it would not be appropriate because he is a special adviser rather than a civil servant.

In response, Western accused ministers of using a quirk of his appointment as a special adviser to erode democratic norms, and said Powell was the first national security adviser not to appear before the committee since the role was created in 2010.

Powell has emerged as one of the most important figures shaping foreign policy under Starmer, and is referred to by some in Whitehall as the de facto foreign secretary. He is heavily involved in managing relations between the UK and US.

Before his appointment as national security adviser, he was tasked with negotiating the sovereignty dispute between the UK and Mauritius over the Chagos Islands. A veteran of the New Labour years, he served as chief of staff for the entirety of Tony Blairs premiership and helped to negotiate the Good Friday agreement.

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Credit: X / @harryjsisson

A South Carolina judge received death threats before her home burnt down in a huge fire, with three members of her family taken to hospital.

Circuit court Judge Diane Goodstein, 69, was out walking her dogs when a blaze broke out at her $1.5m beachfront home in Edisto Beach at around 11.30am on Saturday morning.

Her husband, former state senator Arnold Goodstein, 81, and two other members of her family had to jump out of the upstairs windows to escape the property as it went up in smoke. He is understood to have suffered multiple broken bones.

Footage of the incident shows an inferno engulfing the upper floors of the sprawling house with clouds of black smoke billowing into the air.

All that remained of the property after the blaze were a series of charred wooden beams and a burnt-out car parked next to it.

Huge flames engulf the property

Charred beams and a car appear to be all that was left behind - WCBD NEWS 2

The escaping members of her family were rescued from a marsh by emergency workers in kayaks. Their son is also said to be in hospital, but the extent of his injuries is unknown.

The cause of the fire remains unclear, but local officials reported it began with an explosion and that Judge Goodstein had received death threats in the past month.

Judge Goodstein was walking on the beach when the fire started, South Carolina Chief Justice John Kittredge told FitsNews. Her husband, Arnie, was in the house with children and perhaps grandchildren. The family had to escape by jumping from a window or balcony. Im told there were injuries from the fall, such as broken legs.

Arnies injuries may have been the most serious, for he was airlifted to the hospital.

Mark Keel, the chief of the South Carolina law enforcement division (SLED), said there was no evidence to suggest the fire was caused by arson.

At this time, there is no evidence to indicate the fire was intentionally set, Mr Keel told local media.

SLED agents have preliminarily found there is no evidence to support a pre-fire explosion.

Henry McMaster, the Republican governor of South Carolina, called the fire horrific.

Mr McMaster appealed to the public to exercise good judgment and avoid sharing unverified information while the investigation continues.

Black smoke billows into the air

The fire follows a recent spate of political attacks in the US, including the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and a shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas, Texas.

Judge Goodstein had reportedly been subject to death threats after ruling against the Trump administration on Sept 2 in a case about turning over sensitive voter registration information to the federal government.

The department of justice had requested that South Carolina representatives hand over the private data of more than 3.3 million voters, in order to root out illegal migrants suspected of unlawfully casting their ballots in state elections.

Mr McMaster subsequently said the court was wrong to block the US government and filed a petition to overturn the verdict that was upheld.

Judge Goodstein ruled against the Trump administration in a case about turning over sensitive voter registration information - Jeffrey Collins/Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

The blaze has sparked a war of words after Democratic Representative for New York Daniel Goldman blamed the extreme Right for starting the fire.

Trump, @StephenM and Maga-world have been doxxing and threatening judges who rule against Trump, including Judge Goodstein. Today, someone committed arson on the judges home, severely injuring her husband and son. Will Trump speak out against the extreme right that did this?? Mr Goldman wrote on X.

Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, responded by accusing Mr Goldman of vile behaviour and spreading despicable lies.

There is a large and growing movement of Left-wing terrorism in this country. It is well organised and funded. And it is shielded by far-Left Democrat judges, prosecutors and attorneys general, he wrote on X. The only remedy is to use legitimate state power to dismantle terrorism and terror networks.

He continued: While the Trump administration has launched the first-ever government-wide effort to combat and prosecute illegal doxing, sinister threats and political violence, you continue to push despicable lies, demented smears, malicious defamation and foment unrest.

Mr Goldman said in turn that the Republican was avoiding the question.

If you are trying to combat political violence, why dont you condemn the political violence against a judge who ruled against you and your admin? he said. Its pretty simple: do you condemn all political violence or only that against your supporters?
Cider companies have reported sweeter fruit this summer, which will increase the alcohol content in its products (Getty)

For orchards and vineyards across the UK, the record-hot summer has impacted their alcohol products, which could hit the shelves a little stronger next year.

The long, hot and dry summer period has meant that fruit like apples, grapes and berries were much sweeter when harvested.

As a result, drinks like cider and wine will have a higher alcohol content when first made.

Susan Vaughan, the director of Celtic Marches, which makes cider on a family farm in Herefordshire, said: It's too early to say how this will affect the taste of our ciders, but early pressing is showing richer, bolder flavours than in previous years, with more warmth.

The sugar levels in the apples are really high, which certainly leads to higher alcohol content.

Ms Vaughan said that, due to the warmer weather, they decided to harvest their apples at least a week in advance. She said this year's crops were unlike any they have seen in recent times, with record levels of sugar in the apples and grapes.

Celtic Marches directors Darren Morris and Susan Vaughan (Celtic Marches)

But the alcohol content in next summers product wont be affected, she says, as they plan on mitigating the ABV levels to ensure consistency across their ciders.

This summer was the UKs hottest on record, with back-to-back heatwaves, and a mean temperature of 16.10C  1.51C above the long-term average.

Andrew Paterson, from Lallemand Brewing, said the conditions meant there was more photosynthesis, the process in which plants create sugar using the sunlights energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose.

He said that the lack of rain also helped produce sweeter fruit, as less water in the berries, grapes, and apples meant there was a stronger sugar content. When you have high levels of sugar in apples, that is the food source for fermentationThe yeast will consume sugar, and in doing so, it will create alcohol.

So if you have more sugar there at the start of the fermentation process, the yeast will naturally create more alcohol during the fermentation process.

The hotter and drier summer has meant more sugar in apples (Celtic Marches)

He said the bigger producers will always be standardising the product to a specific alcohol concentration, which is often around 5 per cent.

However, on the other end of the market, smaller craft producers may choose to allow for a natural variation in the alcohol concentration, he added.

Mr Paterson said the fermentation of this summers fruit has just begun, and the earliest the customer might see an impact in cider will be around spring or summer next year, and likely even later for wine.

Interesting, because it was a dry summer, youll get stronger wines or ciders, but youll actually get less of it as well because there's less liquid in the berries or in the apples.

Darryl Hinksman, head of business development at Westons Cider, which is made in the Herefordshire countryside, said: Due to the long hot summer, apples that we have received so far have been high in sugar, and this does help with fermentation.

(Because of) the lack of rain, however, the actual weight of the fruit, so far, is slightly down versus last year, meaning the apples, although very sweet, havent really bulked up.

Mr Hinksman said there will be virtually no difference in their finished products, as they blend their juices to ensure consistency across their ciders.
Love him or hate him, Trump just showed Biden and Democrats how to handle Israels Netanyahu. But can his Gaza peace endure?

As Monday dawned in Doha, where negotiators were set to meet and discuss the beginnings of a peace agreement to end the war in Gaza, prospects for ending a bloody conflict that upended regional stability and threatened to engulf the entire Middle East in war seemed closer than ever.

Back in Washington, Donald Trump similarly looks closer than ever to achieving the peacemaker label hes long sought and often falsely claimed for himself by running around the world and claiming credit for ending multiple wars  the current count stands (allegedly) at seven.

And news coverage in both America and Israel is making the case that the U.S. president did what his predecessor either could not or would not: he strong-armed Benjamin Netanyahu into bringing this conflict to an end.

On the eve of the two-year anniversary of the wars Oct. 7, 2023, onset, Israeli strikes in Gaza were reportedly reduced significantly but still ongoing. In sporadic strikes around the territory on Saturday, according to Reuters, 36 people died, including children.

Then, Donald Trump  in a Truth Social post, naturally  called for Israel to immediately cease attacking the Gaza Strip as negotiations proceed.

Benjamin Netanyahu was strong-armed by Donald Trump, the New York Times declared (AP)

And though it seems Benjamin Netanyahu hasnt fully complied, theres no doubt in the minds of experts on the Israeli and American relationship that Donald Trump has successfully tugged a leash around the prime ministers neck. To bring an end to the war, from this point, would be a massive blow to Joe Bidens legacy and evidence that the presidents brash, demanding approach to foreign affairs was more effective than Bidens hug Bibi closer strategy.

Trump himself on Sunday declared that speed was a necessary component of success in peace talks between Israel and Hamas, likely drawing on his experience trying to negotiate the same between Russia and Ukraine. While Hamas hasnt agreed to the full breadth of the White House 20-point peace plan, the U.S. president is now putting immense pressure  very publicly  on both sides to get both parties to the finish line.

Under Joe Bidens presidency, U.S. officials repeatedly stressed that the president and his top deputies, including Vice President Kamala Harris, were working tirelessly to reach a peace agreement. And while its a certain truth that political dynamics around the war are starkly different now than from what they were in January-November of 2024, enough reporting exists to get a picture of the kind of pressure and leverage that the Biden administration (at the direction of the president) was willing to put on Israel.

It wasnt much.

As one former Biden State Department official (who resigned over the Democratic presidents handling of the war) wrote in a piece for the Quincy Institute: even the Israeli military expected the United States to allow them to carry out the indiscriminate bombing campaign only for a matter of weeks, before reining in the scale of destruction.

Instead, Annelle Rodriguez-Sheline wrote, The Biden administration violated American laws and bypassed Congress to rush an additional $17.9 billion in weapons and security assistance to Israel, all while lying to the American public about tirelessly working for a ceasefire.

Former Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Michael Herzog, had a similar view of the amount of pressure Biden was willing to put on Netanyahu, telling Israeli media: God did the State of Israel a favor that Biden was the president during this periodWe fought for over a year and the [Biden] administration never came to us and said, ceasefire now. It never did.

Joe Biden never did put any meaningful pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire with Hamas, Israels former ambassador said (AP)

No such illusions exist around Trumps style of diplomacy. Israeli correspondent Isabel Kershner wrote for The New York Times after Trump reportedly complained to the Israeli prime minister that he was always so f***ing negative: It was abundantly clear to Israelis, and to Palestinians and others in the region, that the one calling the shots was President Trump.

One Israeli columnist, cited by the Times and Axios, added that Trump doesnt threaten Netanyahu; he orders him.

Its a devastating dynamic, overall, for those few remaining Democrats still willing to defend the Biden administrations handling of the war through late 2023 and the totality of 2024. And there are just a few of them left: even Jake Sullivan, the presidents national security adviser, has evolved to the position now where in August he said that hed reached out to Democratic electeds on the Hill to let them know he thought supporting an arms embargo of Israel was an appropriate position. More Democrats voted for such an embargo against Israel this summer than they did at any point during the Biden administration.

There are no more serious military objectives to achieve. Its just bombing the rubble into rubble, he said on The Bulwark Podcast.

Kamala Harris wrote in her book 107 Days that she pleaded with the president to show more empathy for Palestinian civilians (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Harris, meanwhile, used the issue as a wedge between her and the former president in her book, 107 Days, which released in September. Enraging many progressives who complained that she should have done so when it mattered, the former vice president explained that there was, despite her campaigns denials, daylight between her and Biden on the issue of Gaza, particularly on the issue of showing empathy and remorse for Palestinian civilians killed in the conflict.

"I had pleaded with Joe, when he spoke publicly on this issue, to extend the same empathy he showed to the suffering of Ukrainians to the suffering of innocent Gazan civilians, Harris wrote. "But he couldn't do it: While he could passionately state, 'I am a Zionist,' his remarks about innocent Palestinians came off as inadequate and forced."

Few Democrats (and fewer with future, upwardly-mobile ambitions) are now willing to side against the majority of their base over the former administrations stance of unconditional support for Israel. Biden, by virtue of age and lack of future interest in politics, will quite possibly never face tough questions about the issue from a journalist or a critic ever again.

Progressives are livid with the concept of putting the peace process in Trumps hands, who they argue is putting Palestinians at rhetorical gunpoint to accept a deal.

Trump's plan is a recipe for Israel's permanent military presence within Gaza and for denying Palestinians the right to self-determination by having Gaza run by foreigners, not by Palestinians. And Trump has given Israel the green light to 'finish the job' if Palestinians don't accept this diktat  a potential prelude to the Trump-Netanyahu plan for the ethnic cleansing of all Palestinians from Gaza, IMEU Policy Project executive director Margaret DeReus told The Independent on Monday.

But, she added, Both Presidents Biden and Trump have had all the power to end Israels genocide of Palestinians from Day One. Instead, both chose to send Israel billions of dollars in weapons, paid for by our tax dollars. The devastation in Gaza and the unimaginable loss of Palestinian life are a result of their failure to put real pressure on Israel for two years.

Harris, meanwhile, remains politically tarred by both the conflict and the age-related downward spiral of the Biden campaign.

The prospect of Trump engineering a permanent peace deal would only drive that knife in further for anyone tangibly connected to the 2024 iteration of the party establishment.

Before it picks a nominee in 2028, leading Democrats will still have to answer questions from a very upset base of supporters about why they circled the wagons around this unpopular strategy until it was too late.
Man seriously injured in knife attack on Greyhound bus in New Mexico - weeks after a woman was fatally stabbed on a train

An Arizona man was seriously injured after being brutally attacked with a knife aboard a Greyhound bus in southern New Mexico  drawing chilling comparisons to the fatal stabbing of a young woman on a Charlotte light rail train in August.

Jorge Quintanilla was traveling from Alamogordo, New Mexico, to Old Pueblo on September 29 when another passenger suddenly lunged at him with a knife.

According to the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, 29-year-old Ryan Kenny was arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

The bus was between Lordsburg and Deming, in New Mexico, when the attack unfolded.

I had suddenly heard somebody moving quickly on the other side of the aisle from me, Quintanilla told KOLD. When I looked over, it was this guy who was lunging across the aisle with what at the time I thought was a pen. And he stabbed me straight in the neck, and then after that, I was able to grab his wrist and was trying to push him off me, and in that time, he kept stabbing and jabbing, and it was more towards the head.

Ryan Kenny was arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon for allegedly stabbing Jorge Quintanilla on a Greyhound bus last month (New Mexico Department of Public Safety)

Quintanilla was stabbed six times in the head, neck, and arm before other passengers restrained the attacker. He was airlifted to a hospital in El Paso, Texas, where he underwent emergency treatment.

While doctors expect him to recover, the brutal, unprovoked attack has left his family shaken  especially after a similar tragedy just weeks earlier in North Carolina. In August, 23-year-old Ukrainian immigrant Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed while riding a light rail train in Charlotte.

Her death prompted Irynas Law, which reinstates the death penalty for certain violent crimes in North Carolina.

In August, 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed while riding a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina (GoFundMe)

All day I was getting compared to her, Quintanilla said.

The paramedics, the cops, the nurses, the doctors, while I was at the hospital, everybody was comparing me to her, and it wasnt until I saw the video the next day that I realized, yeah, thats exactly how it went down, its pretty much exactly how it went down. Somebody just decided to grab a knife and attack me.

Quintanillas sister, Adriana Velasquez, also said the attack reminded her of Zarutskas tragic case.

I had just seen it on TV, and I had seen it all over social media, and that was scary enough, Velasquez told KOLD.

The poor girl. She had no help. Nobody noticed what had happened with her attacker, and they just left her there, and so thats the first thing that came to my mind when I thought about that too.

Decarlos Brown Jr was charged with the fatal stabbing of a Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska (Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office)

Unlike Zarutska, Velasquezs brother did have someone who jumped into action moments after the attack. And now the family is focused on finding the unidentified woman who stopped the bleeding and helped keep him alive until paramedics arrived.

I keep calling her my guardian angel because she was an absolute commander, Quintanilla said. Without her, I dont believe I would have made it the 20 minutes that it took for the paramedics to get there.

She saved his life. If it wasnt for her, who knows what could have happened to my brother, Velasquez added. (I) am so thankful to her. Thank you so much, whoever you are.

Quintanilla was stabbed six times in the head, neck, and arm before other passengers restrained the attacker. He is recovering and is expected to survive (KOLD)

Meanwhile, Kenny remains in custody without bond at the Grant County Detention Center.

A Greyhound spokesperson told KOLD that weapons are prohibited on all buses, but declined to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation.

We are unable to comment on the details of this incident as it involves a law enforcement investigation, the company said in a statement. The safety of our passengers and employees is always our top priority, and we are providing all necessary assistance to authorities.

The Independent has also reached out to Greyhound for comment.
Christopher Berry, left, and Christopher Cash were charged with passing intelligence to Beijing but the case was dropped - Jeff Moore/PA Wire

MI5 and Home Office officials were blindsided by the collapse of the Chinese spy case, The Telegraph understands.

Christopher Cash, who worked for Tory MPs, and Christopher Berry, a teacher, were charged with passing intelligence to Beijing after being arrested in March 2023, but the case was dropped last month.

The Telegraph revealed last week that the Labour Governments refusal to declare China an enemy in court led to the collapse of the case.

Before the case was dropped, Jonathan Powell, Sir Keir Starmers top security official, is said to have told a top-secret briefing that the Government would not declare China an enemy in court.

Mr Powell, the national security adviser, is expected to be questioned by senior parliamentarians in the coming weeks about his role in the case, although his status as a special adviser means he cannot be compelled to appear before them.

Minister feels hung out to dry

Multiple political figures who have been briefed on the case have now told this newspaper about tensions between the Home Office and the Foreign Office.

One Westminster source who was personally briefed by Home Office and MI5 figures about why the prosecution was withdrawn said: They were blindsided and pissed off.

Another Westminster source who had spoken with Dan Jarvis, the security minister, about the case being dropped, said: He feels like hes been hung out to dry.

A third source said Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, who is a month into the job, was deeply frustrated by the failure to bring the case to trial.

Chris Philp, the Tory shadow home secretary, told Politico he had been assured by Labour that Home Office ministers were not involved in conversations that led to the case collapsing.

Pressure on Starmer to reveal role

As the Home Office did not approve the decision, Sir Keir will face further pressure to reveal whether he personally signed off the decision not to declare China an enemy, whether other ministers including David Lammy, the then foreign secretary, were involved, or if Mr Powell took the decision independently.

Unlike the Foreign Office, which is charged with maintaining the UKs diplomatic relationships, the role of the Home Office and security services is to keep the UK safe.

The prosecution of the two men, who have denied any wrongdoing, would have been the first court case about alleged spying for China to be heard in the UK.

It is understood that MI5 was keen for the prosecution to go ahead. It is likely that the agency would not want to be drawn into a political row over why the charges were dropped.

It is also understood that senior officials at the Home Office, which represents MI5 within the Government, wanted the prosecution to continue.

One source described the discussions chaired by Mr Powell as a fight between officials concerned about national security and those concerned about Britains diplomatic relationship with China.

Jonathan Powell, the national security adviser, with Wang Yi, Chinas top diplomat. Mr Powell is under pressure over the role he played in the collapse of the spy case - Xinhua

The Foreign Office reportedly opposed the prosecution, believing that a courtroom discussion about Chinas espionage would upset Communist Party officials in Beijing.

The Telegraph also understands that the Home Office under the Tories compiled a detailed document about Chinas malign activity in the UK for the case.

It is said to have included details about Chinas alleged secret police stations in the UK and the beating of a Hong Kong protester who was dragged into the grounds of the Chinese consulate in Manchester.

Whether the Home Office continued to use the evidence in the case after Labour took power is unclear. A Home Office spokesman declined to give clarity when approached on Monday.

A government spokesman said: We do not recognise these claims.

Labour pursuing trade with China

Sources said that, to clear the evidential threshold and secure the conviction of Mr Cash and Mr Berry, the Government would have had to prove that China was at least a potential enemy.

That legal test, which dates from an early version of the Official Secrets Act in 1911, has been satisfied in other cases involving spies for Russia.

The official who had been expected to prove that point was Matthew Collins, the deputy national security adviser, who gave written evidence on the case before Mr Cash and Mr Berry were charged in April 2024.

The arrests and charges were made when Rishi Sunak was prime minister. Sir Keir, since taking office, has pursued an engagement policy with China, talking up the need for joint trade.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dropped the case last month, with Stephen Parkinson, the director of public prosecutions, saying there was no longer enough evidence to proceed.

Speaker considers private prosecution

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker, has previously said he would consider bringing a private prosecution against Mr Cash and Mr Berry, and told The Telegraph he was very angry that the CPS dropped the case.

He is understood to have sought independent legal advice on whether a private prosecution against the two men would have a realistic chance of success.

On Monday, Sir Keirs official spokesman appeared to blame the Conservatives for the failure of the prosecution of Mr Cash and Mr Berry, who were accused of sending more than 30 reports about British politics to China between 2021 and 2023.

Sir Keirs official spokesman said the relevant policy to this case was the previous governments policy on China because the Conservatives were in power when the alleged offences took place.

The spokesman added that the Government was disappointed that the CPS did not proceed with the prosecution, and denied that the decision had been taken by ministers or Mr Powell.

The spokesman did not deny that the CPS had asked the Government to provide evidence to support the enemy test.

It raises the possibility that the CPS could have asked for a similar statement to the one given by a civil servant during the Bulgarian spy ring trial last year, in which Russia was established to be an enemy.

The Downing Street spokesman also refused to deny that MI5 had given evidence against Mr Cash and Mr Berry.
Shares in global paper producer Mondi have plunged to a 12-year low after reporting weak demand and lower prices weighing on trading over recent months.

The company, which is listed on Londons FTSE 100 index, said challenging conditions were set to persist for the rest of the year.

This reflected lower selling prices of paper and pulp dragging on its sales, as well as weaker demand and intense competition affecting the division.

Mondi said it had extended planned maintenance shuts at some of its sites in response to lower levels of demand.

It also told investors it was reorganising the business from three divisions to two in order to cut costs and speed up decision-making.

The tougher conditions were expected to persist for the rest of the year as demand-side confidence remains fragile, key markets remain in oversupply and current selling prices are lower, according to the company.

Trading conditions in the third quarter were challenging, with softer volumes and declining prices across most pulp and paper grades, Mondis chief executive, Andrew King, said.

But he said the company was relentlessly focused on managing what it can control in order to navigate current headwinds.

Shares in Mondi, which employs about 24,000 people globally, tumbled by around 15% on Monday to hit the lowest price since 2013.

Dan Coatsworth, head of markets for AJ Bell, said: Packaging companies are economic bellwethers.

A strong economy normally implies a steady flow of goods around the world; a weakening economy often leads to reduced demand for goods and therefore for the packaging that holds them.

Mondi has issued a shocker of a trading update, causing its share price to slump and hit a 12-year low.

Mondi is well versed to operating in a cyclical market and there are a few levers it can pull, such as extending maintenance shutdowns.

However, investors are clearly worried about the bigger picture and whether were in for a sustained period of weakness.
The killers of a 15-year-old boy in Londons latest bout of knife violence have been jailed, as the tragic victims mother called for an end to the knife crime epidemic.

Daejaun Campbell was ambushed and stabbed with a machete as he walked along a path in Woolwich last September, during a spate of attacks to blight the area of southeast London.

Imri Doue, then 17, inflicted the fatal wound while Mario Balaz, 18, was also involved in the fatal attack - part of a gang feud over drugs.

At the Old Bailey on Monday, Doue, now 18, was sentenced by Judge Sarah Munro KC to life in prison with a 21-year minimum term after being convicted of Daejauns murder.

Balaz, now 19, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for Daejauns manslaughter.

Daejaun Campbell's mother Jodie Taylor (centre) wrote an emotional statement

Daejauns mother Jodie Taylor fought back tears in court as she branded the killers pathetic cowards who had tried to justify their acts with lies during the criminal trial.

I keep asking myself when will the knife crime epidemic end. Enough young lives have been lost already, she said.

The justice system does not seem to deter acts like yours.

The reality is actions like yours tear families and communities apart.

Outside court, she criticised the Prime Minister, the Mayor of London, and Justice Secretary David Lammy directly, accusing political leaders of doing nothing while children are regularly murdered.

Our children no longer have the luxury of sacred lives. As parents, we live and die in fear - fear that our child might be the next, fear that justice will once again look the other way, she said.

Were told to stay calm, trust the system, wait for change. But how many more children must be buried before this country finally admits it has failed them?

How many more mothers must scream into pillows because the streets have become open graves?

The system is not broken, it is functioning exactly as it was built. To protect itself, to preserve appearances, and to silence the truth.

Every time another child dies, we get the same rehearsed apologies, the same reports, the same empty phrase - lessons will be learned. But no lessons ever are, because no one in power pays the price.

Daejaun wasnt the first, and heartbreakingly he will not be the last.

They will sit in their offices, write new talking points, and wait for our pain to fade from the headlines. It never does, it just moves house, from one grieving mother to another.

And to those who lead this country - Keir Starmer, Sadiq Khan, David Lammy - you speak of reform while our children die. You talk about unity while your inaction tears families apart. You issue condolences, then return to comfort. We live with the aftermath, your words build nothing, your silence buries everything.

The court heard Doue had received three convictions and one police caution for carrying knives between October 2020 and October 2023. Balaz also has two convictions for carrying knives in public, as well as convictions for drug offences.

In her statement, Mrs Taylor continued: The authorities knew who these boys were - they always do. They had chances to act and didnt. The system keeps giving second chances to those who destroy lives, and no chances to the lives they destroy.

So no, the system hasnt failed us. It has abandoned us. And until it learns to protect the innocent before it comforts the guilty, more mothers will stand where I stand, and more names like Daejauns will be carved into stone long before their time.

Those who choose violence are given chances. Those who choose love are given graves.

During his trial, Doue admitted arming himself with machete on the day of Daejauns murder, and openly told jurors he had done the same hundreds of times in the past.

Forensics officers at the scene on Paget Terrace, near the scene in Eglinton Road, Woolwich, south-east London, where a teenage boy was stabbed to death on Sunday (Rosie Shead/PA) (PA Wire)

Passing sentence, Judge Munro said: The impact of Daejauns death reaches far and wide, and his death has left behind a huge void.

She accepted Daejauns mothers words, that the sentences she passed today will not stop other teenagers from carrying knives and stabbing others.

Daejaun himself was a victim of local gang culture, who had clearly been groomed and sucked into a life of Class A drug dealing, as so many disaffected youths are, said the judge, adding that he had entered a world where carrying a knife was the norm.

Daejaun was ambushed on September 22 last year when he walked past the house where Doue and Balaz were, in violence believed to stem from drug and gang rivalry.

The judge found Doue and Balaz had wore masks to try to disguise their identities, and set out that day with a plan to confront a gang rival.

Daejaun was himself armed with a knife, but he was quickly disarmed in the ambush before being pursued along a path by Doue, carrying a machete, and Balaz, who was not himself armed.

Daejaun was ultimately stabbed in the head and leg, and cried out Im 15, dont let me die as he was cradled by a member of the public. However his life could not be saved.

His murder came just four months before a close friend, 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa, was also stabbed to death himself on board a bus in Woolwich.

Aspiring rapper Kelyan Bokassa said I want my mum after he was mortally wounded aboard the 472 bus in Woolwich (PA Media)

In her statement, Mrs Taylor paid tribute to her loving, caring, compassionate, and helpful son, and fought back tears as she tried to describe the pain and loss she now endures.

Your actions have inflicted immense pain on me and my family, she told the killers. You chose to destroy everything I and my family cherished.

Mrs Taylor told the court her son had confided in a family member that he was planning to change the direction of his life, returning to school and putting gang involvement behind him.

Kelyan Bokassa was fatally stabbed by two 16-year-old boys with machetes on a bus in Woolwich on January 7 this year.

Before his death, Keylan had appeared in a music video entitled Gotta Eat, in which he was seen crouching beside a floral tribute to Daejaun.

The teenagers behind his murder were sentenced to life, with an order that they must serve at least 15 years and ten months in custody.

Kelyan Bokassa with his mother Marie (Family handout/PA)

Kelyans mother Marie Bokassa made an appeal for authorities to do more to stop the violence, saying: Our streets are bleeding.

The court heard Daejaun had been exploited as a child and groomed by older youths into a gang culture.

It was said he was targeted for a gang check when he was spotted walking along the path in Eglington Road in the minutes before the stabbing.

Doue was caught on camera dropping his machete and leaning down to pick it up after the stabbing.

Police were called at around 6.30pm on Sunday to reports of a disturbance on Eglinton Road, Woolwich (Rosie Shead/PA)

Daejaun fell to his knees in the street having suffered two stab wounds and six superficial cuts.

The exact motive for the stabbing was not determined, but prosecutor Mukul Chawla KC told the court Daejaun had been carrying money and drugs.

He may therefore have been a person exploited, by reason of his age if for no other reason, to be used as carrier and supplier of drugs by organisations that will use younger people and other vulnerable people for those purposes, he said.

That may be or may have been the reason why he was attacked.

Doue pleaded guilty before his trial to possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

He was given a police caution on 28 October 2020 after fleeing from officers and eventually being caught with a kitchen knife in his pocket. Just three days later, Doue was carrying a knife again - on Halloween  and was caught by police in a stop and search operation. That incident led to a referral order from a court.

On June 16, 2021, Doue pulled out a knife when he and friends had been rammed by two males on an e-scooter. He was given a youth rehabilitation order, which included supervision sessions and a four-month curfew on an electronic tag.

On October 2, 2023, Doue was convicted again of possessing a knife as well as affray, after he was one of the main aggressors in a street fight in which a male was stabbed.

After a guilty plea, he was given another youth rehabilitation order with another curfew and further supervision.

Balaz was convicted in April 2023 after he was caught riding around on an e-bike while wearing a balaclava and carrying a folded lock knife.

He claimed he had been carrying a knife to fix his bike when he was caught out once again by police in September 2023.

Balaz - who the judge determined has learning difficulties and a low IQ - was still serving a youth rehabilitation order for that crime when the stabbing of Daejaun happened.

Doue, of Brumwell Avenue, Woolwich, was convicted at trial of murder and admitted knife possession.

Balaz, of Sewell Road, Abbey Wood, was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter.
Ron Dermer and Khalil al-Hayya

Two years on from the Oct 7 attacks, Israel and Hamas could finally be on the brink of peace.

Delegations are meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh to discuss the 20-point plan drafted by Donald Trump to end the war, return the hostages and secure the future governance of Gaza.

The talks will be overseen by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, but will be led by two veterans of the conflict.

Here is everything you need to know about the two negotiators facing off in the desert.

Khalil al-Hayya

Had Benjamin Netanyahus plans not gone awry, Khalil al-Hayya would not be sitting down to crunch talks with Israel in Egypt this week.

Hamass lead negotiator has eluded multiple Israeli attempts to kill him. The latest attempt on his life came just last month when the IDF struck Qatar in a futile attempt to tip the scales in stalled peace talks.

But the Israeli bombs that struck Doha on Sept 9 missed their target. In fact, the attack misfired so spectacularly that it not only failed to kill Hayya or any of his fellow Hamas leaders, but also forced Israels reluctant prime minister to accept the deal Mr Trump furiously imposed on him in the strikes aftermath.

So instead, Hayya finds himself in Sharm el-Sheikh, the resort city of Egypts Red Sea riviera, negotiating the finer details of Mr Trumps 20-point plan to bring eternal peace to the Middle East.

While Hayya has been lucky in avoiding Israels strikes many of his relatives have been less fortunate. Three separate Israeli air strikes since 2007 killed his wife, five of his children and several grandchildren. One of his sons was among the six who died in Qatar.

Khalil al-Hayyas wife, five of his children and several grandchildren were killed in Israeli air strikes - MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images

Given the devastation inflicted on his family, he might be expected to take a hard line as the talks begin.

Yet these are no ordinary negotiations. Hayya has not been invited to Egypt to discuss peace terms, but to deliver Hamass surrender.

It is true that the movement has so far played a weak hand well.

Mr Trump had initially appeared unequivocal in demanding that Hamas accept, without delay, all aspects of a deal that swept away its previously stated red lines  from the unconditional release of all Israeli hostages to full demilitarisation and the abandonment of power. Israel would have my full backing to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas if it rejected the deal, Mr Trump warned.

Despite the severity of the ultimatum, Hamas gambled on equivocation. Last Friday, it agreed to release all hostages  living and dead  once the necessary field conditions for implementing the exchange were in place, without specifying what those were. It also sidestepped the more contentious clauses on disarmament and its political future.

Mr Netanyahu vigorously protested what he characterised as delaying tactics, but failed to persuade the US president that the group was acting in bad faith. The Axios news site, quoting a US official, reported that Mr Trump had rebuked the Israeli leader in a telephone call, saying: Why are you so f---ing negative?

It might appear that, backed into a corner, Hayya had somehow slipped between the legs of his adversaries. Such an interpretation does not appear to withstand scrutiny, however.

Damage from Israels attack on Doha, Qatar. One of Hayyas sons was killed in the assassination attempt - REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Mr Trump has given Hamas until the end of the week to resolve the logistical complications of releasing Israeli hostages held by different cells across Gazas devastated landscape.

Israel, which has mostly defied US demands for a halt to its bombardment, may cavil  but Mr Trumps call for restraint and a moment of patience makes sense. Never has the release of Israels remaining hostages seemed closer.

Once the hostages are freed, Hamas will lose its chief bargaining chip, making it far harder to resist demands for its disarmament. It may extemporise for a while, but it knows the script is written  and that if it deviates, Israel can resume its war of annihilation without concern for the fate of Israeli citizens still in Gaza.

Any moment of triumph the Hamas delegation may feel as it arrives in Sharm el-Sheikh will therefore be fleeting. Last week, Mr Trump effectively presented the group with a binary choice  surrender or die  even as he clipped the wings of Israeli hardliners who hoped to expel Gazas Palestinians and settle the territory themselves.

Khalil al-Hayya (centre) has survived multiple assassination attempts to oversee what is in essence Hamass surrender to Israel in Egypt - APAImages/Shutterstock

Were Hayya a student of history, he might be hoping to emulate the French diplomat Talleyrand, whose skill at the Congress of Vienna spared France from dismemberment after the Napoleonic Wars.

Unlike France, however, Hamas looks beyond salvation. The resorts of Sharm el-Sheikh are less likely to resemble the gilded ballrooms of Vienna than the grey steel of the USS Missouri in 1945, where Gen Douglas MacArthur accepted Japans unconditional surrender.

As in Tokyo Bay, the best Hayya can hope for is not a peace deal that preserves Hamas as a meaningful force but, at best, a face-saving ratification of its defeat.

The surrender terms on the Missouri allowed imperial Japan to limp on in name only under a defanged Emperor Hirohito. Hamas may linger on in a similarly ghostly fashion  disarmed and toothless  and that, perhaps, is the most Hayya can hope for.

Ron Dermer

When Hayya sits down to negotiate in Sharm el-Sheikh on Tuesday he will know that his opposite number, Ron Dermer, to all intents and purposes, is speaking directly for Mr Netanyahu.

Described as Bibis brain, the 54-year-old has been advising the veteran Likud prime minister since 1999 and is generally considered his closest confidant.

Born and raised in Florida, he was Israels ambassador in Washington between 2013 and 2021, and has served as minister for strategic affairs  a ranging and powerful brief  since 2022.

He took over as Israels lead negotiator in February this year, and resumes that role on Tuesday amid a surge in optimism that the hostages can be recovered and the war brought to an end.

For the majority of Israelis seeking an end to the conflict, Mr Dermers involvement is complicated.

Ron Dermer is considered Benjamin Netanyahus closest confidant - Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

He has been accused previously of stalling negotiations to suit Mr Netanyahus political ends, namely to keep Bibis ultra-nationalist coalition partners on board by continuing the war.

The very fact of his appointment as lead negotiator is controversial.

In taking over, he replaced David Barnea, the Mossad director, who led the negotiations that ultimately yielded the January-February ceasefire, in which 25 living hostages were released.

This followed the expulsion of Ronen Bar, the Shin Bet (internal security service) chief, from the negotiating team.

The spy chiefs, as well as being experts on how to deal with Hamas, were considered to be laser-focused on retrieving the hostages and less worried about the politics.

This matters because this deal has the potential to be politically difficult for Mr Netanyahu, even if it would be celebrated as a victory and satisfies Israels war aims.

It promises to leave key Hamas members alive, welcome back the UN for aid purposes, usher in Arab peacekeeping troops in Israels backyard and put Gaza on a path to Palestinian Authority control with the prospect of future statehood.

Hostage families will be watching closely for any suggestion that Mr Dermer is missing the chance to strike a deal at the expense of arguing over the technicalities of IDF withdrawal, or how many Palestinian terrorists are released in return.

It is also expected that Israel will push hard to maintain control over the disarmament process.

They already appear to have secured improvements in that regard, with last-minute alterations having been added to Trumps published peace plan.

On the other hand, the negotiations being led by someone so politically close to the prime minister could make them run more efficiently.

Mr Dermer will know instinctively what his boss can stomach, and will be able to brief him with more political candour than an apolitical spy chief could.

That way of doing business is, after all, squarely in the Donald Trump mould.

And that is the other key point about Mr Dermers involvement. By appointing him chief negotiator, Mr Netanyahu puts the Israel-US relationship at the heart of proceedings.

He only gave up his US citizenship because of an Israeli legal requirement for those undertaking diplomatic work.

He attended the same alma mater as Mr Trump, the Wharton School of finance, and credits reading the presidents book, The Art of the Deal, for his decision to apply.

As ambassador, Mr Dermer played a crucial role in securing the biggest US-Israeli military assistance package in history.

Under his watch in Washington, Mr Trump also moved the US embassy to Jerusalem and recognised Israels annexation of the Golan Heights.

He knows both Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff well, both of whom are arriving in Cairo at the same time to drive the talks along.

Jared Kushner, left, and Steve Witkoff will guide the peace talks. Mr Dermer knows both men well - BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

It is likely Mr Dermer will seek to exploit these relationships to deflect some of the pressure coming from the White House on to Hamas.

Few doubt his political talents in that regard.

Indeed, Frank Luntz, the legendary American pollster who taught Mr Dermer at the University of Pennsylvania, later described him as the most talented student Ive ever had.

He remains Mr Netanyahus man. And we are yet to find out just how much the prime minister wants peace  and the hostages  and how much he is prepared to yield to secure them.
Staff on an NHS hospital ward in London. About one in five NHS staff in England are not British, according to official figures. Photograph: Jeff Moore/PA

The NHS and social care would cease to function under the governments new rules to be imposed on foreign staff, nursing leaders have said, as hundreds of medics condemned the policy as divisive and xenophobic.

In the most explicit attack yet on Labours proposed restrictions on overseas workers, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) described the plan as ignorant and pandering to Nigel Farages Reform UK.

Related: Dismay and anger over Labours visa plans

Prof Nicola Ranger, the RCN general secretary, told the Guardian on Monday: Health and care services would cease to function without migrant nursing staff. While other countries offer immediate paths to settlement for nurses, the UK is going in the opposite direction.

Labour is proposing to double the time that overseas workers will have to wait  from five to 10 years  before they can apply for indefinite leave to remain or claim any kind of benefit, including tax-free childcare, disability living allowance or housing support.

Related: Hundreds of prison officers may have to leave UK after Labours visa rule change

The plans, outlined by the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, at the Labour conference last week, would also mean foreign workers would have to volunteer in their local communities and pass a number of other existing tests to gain British citizenship.

The proposals were first outlined the governments immigration white paper in May and are seen as a direct response to the rising electoral threat of Reform UK.

The RCN, which represents more than 500,000 nurses in the UK and overseas, said the policy would deny people access to vital support for a decade or more, increase poverty and ultimately drive them away when there are already gaping holes in the workforce.

Ranger, who is also the unions chief executive, added: These proposals are no way to treat people who come to the UK to care for patients, become part of our communities and pay tax.

It is pandering of the worst kind, ignorant of the impact on valued migrant staff and their families, but also the patients who need safely staffed services. Yes, ministers need to grow the domestic workforce, but the UK must also be a welcoming, secure place for international nurses.

More than 800 NHS workers criticised the plan on Monday as harmful, divisive and xenophobic and warned that the health service would crumble without them.

Related: Foreign staff have changed our lives: Scottish farmers fear for future after changes to skilled worker visas

The plans have caused concern in several key public services  including the NHS, social care and prisons  which rely heavily on overseas workers. About one in five NHS staff in England are not British, according to official figures.

In a letter coordinated by the groups Praxis and Medact, the 800-plus medics said the already strained NHS would crumble under the pressure of these proposals, potentially triggering a staff exodus and discouraging overseas medics from working in the UK.

A social worker who spoke to the Guardian on condition of anonymity said 25-50% or more of his team would be likely to leave the UK if the government made it harder for them to gain citizenship. The policy is foolish in terms of the impact its going to have on the NHS and [its] cruel on all the people its going to affect, he said.

The letter says nurses, doctors, dentists and other NHS professionals are deeply concerned by Mahmoods plans to impose longer and more precarious routes to settlement.

These extended pathways  often requiring up to 10 years or more of continuous residency  exacerbate instability, making it harder for people to fully participate in society and rebuild their lives, it said.

Praxis, a human rights charity, said 40% of people on the existing 10-year route to settlement were healthcare workers.

Related: I got British citizenship via the five-year route. Labours new 10-year rule will cause untold pain | Nesrine Malik

Cate Bailey, an NHS consultant psychiatrist, said she was outraged by the attacks on migrant workers: The hundreds of signatures on this letter shows that health workers will not stand for these harmful, divisive and xenophobic policies.

An NHS psychologist who moved to the UK nearly a decade ago said it was quite upsetting to be told by the government: you cant be here.

An NHS midwife, who moved to the UK from Nigeria as a child, said she felt dragged through hell battling the complex and expensive immigration system and that many would now simply give up.

The 26-year-old, who works in a London hospital, said the NHS would crumble without foreign-born workers. I think its absolutely ludicrous. Im not sure how the NHS would survive  The message it says is youre not welcome here and all the hard work you put in isnt welcome here.

Government sources have indicated that the tough new measures would not apply to migrants already in the UK. However, it was reported last week that Mahmood was exploring ways to prevent this group from gaining citizenship after five years.

Charities have long called for an end to the protracted and expensive route to settlement, with several studies showing that in-work migrant families are far more likely to suffer poverty and destitution as they are excluded from basic welfare support including universal credit, child benefit and disability living allowance.

Research from the IPPR thinktank estimates that 1.5 million children in families with migrant parents live in poverty  accounting for more than a third of the total despite making up a fraction of the population.

A private briefing to ministers, seen by the Guardian, estimated that between 152,000 and 254,000 children in this cohort were in poverty in 2023, although other research has suggested this is closer to 400,000 children.

The proposals, which are due to be consulted on, do not have to be put to a vote before being introduced.

A government spokesperson said: We are grateful to our overseas frontline healthcare workers, who bring compassion, deliver high-quality care and strengthen our health service, but net migration must come down.

As the home secretary has set out, under our proposed new settlement model, individuals will have the opportunity to reduce the 10-year qualifying period to settlement and citizenship based on contributions to the UK economy and society. These plans are subject to a consultation, which we will launch later this year, and we encourage health and care workers to take part.

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Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman has made an appearance at Paris Fashion Week almost a week after she filed for divorce from her husband Keith Urban.

The Australian-American actress, 58, embraced casual elegance  wearing an oversized white shirt and blue trousers with pointed black heels to the spring/summer 2026 Chanel fashion show on Monday.

Nicole Kidman poses for photographers upon arrival at the Chanel Spring/Summer 2026 collection presented in Paris (Aurelien Morissard/AP)

The Babygirl star posed alongside the two daughters she shares with Urban  Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 14.

Kidman petitioned on September 30 to end the 19-year marriage in a Nashville court in a filing that stated the marriage suffered irreconcilable differences.

The actress and Grammy-winning country musician, 57, both raised in Australia, met in 2005 at a Los Angeles event honouring Australians and were married in Sydney the following year.

Margot Robbie was at the show (Christophe Ena/AP)

Kidman and Urban were red carpet fixtures throughout their two-decade relationship, with Urban joining his wife at the Oscars and Kidman attending music events such as the Academy of Country Music Awards.

The filing includes a childcare plan, agreed on by the couple and submitted for a judges approval, which says Kidman will be the primary residential parent to the couples two daughters, having them for 306 days per year with Urban taking them for the other 59.

The detailed agreements suggest that the divorce had been in the works for well over a month at the least.

The marriage was the first for Urban and the second for Kidman, who shares two children with her ex-husband Tom Cruise.

Actor Pedro Pascal was one of the guests (Christophe Ena/AP)

Australian actress Margot Robbie, The Last Of Us actor Pedro Pascal, Nosferatu star Lily Rose Depp, and US supermodel Kendall Jenner were among the other stars at the fashion show in Paris.

The celebrities posed in a room filled with giant planet-like sculptures, some of which hung from the ceiling and acted like lamps to light up the runway.

Designer Matthieu Blazy said: For this first Chanel show, I wanted to do something quite universal, like a dream, something outside of time, and I was fascinated by the universe of stars, a theme so dear to the House. We all observe the same sky, and I think it provokes the same emotions in us.
Teenager Grace OMalley-Kumar will be posthumously awarded the George Medal for her incredible bravery after she tried to save her friend Barnaby Webber during the Nottingham attacks.

The 19-year-old medical student was walking home with Barnaby, also 19, when both were attacked by Valdo Calocane in Nottingham city centre in June 2023.

After Calocane stabbed Barnaby, Grace rushed to his aid, pushing the assailant away before he turned on her in what prosecutors described as an uncompromisingly brutal assault.

Grace OMalley-Kumar is one of 20 people honoured in the latest Gallantry Awards lis (Nottinghamshire Police)

The George Medal, established in 1940, is awarded for gallantry, typically by civilians, or in circumstances where military honours are not appropriate. Grace is one of 20 people honoured in the latest Gallantry Awards list. Her citation read: Graces exceptional courage in the face of extreme danger serve as an outstanding example of personal bravery.

The medal will be presented to Graces family.

She has been recommended for the honour by the King, in recognition of her actions during the attack that claimed her life. It follows a campaign for Gracee to be awarded the even more prestigious George Cross, the highest gallantry award given for non-operational gallantry or gallantry not in the presence of an enemy  a drive which was backed last year by then-prime minister Rishi Sunak.

Calocane, a paranoid schizophrenic, went on to stab school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, to death shortly after. He was later sentenced to an indefinite hospital order after pleading guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility.

Keir Starmer meets with the families of Ian Coates, Grace OMalley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber to announce a judge chaired, statutory inquiry into the Nottingham attacks (Simon Dawson/No 10 Downing Street)

A family friend told The Sun: Grace was an athlete. She could have easily run away but her instinct was to stand by her friend and she paid the ultimate price for her courage.

The friend added that the family are incredibly grateful for the recognition of this award for their extraordinary, brave and beautiful daughter Grace.

The family are so proud of Grace because this act shows exactly the person they knew her to be  someone who never abandoned a friend, they said.

During Calocanes sentencing at Nottingham Crown Court, Graces father, Dr Sanjoy Kumar, told him: She heroically and valiantly fought you. Like a hero, she put herself in harms way.

Other recipients of the George Medal include Richard OBrien, who was awarded the Kings Gallantry Medal for intervening in an armed attack in Barnet in 2021, and Alicia Richards and Molly Bulmer, who received the Kings Commendation for Bravery for confronting an armed attacker at a school in Sheffield in May last year.

Sir Keir Starmer said: This is what true courage looks like. In moments of unimaginable danger, these extraordinary people acted with selflessness and bravery that speaks to the very best of who we are as a nation.

I want to pay tribute to all of the recipients, including Grace OMalley-Kumar who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect her friend. Her legacy will live on as a powerful example of heroism.
In October 2025, the Trump administration formally rolled out its "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education," a 10-point memo sent to nine prominent universities. The compact offers preferential federal funding in exchange for compliance with new rules governing admissions, faculty hiring, tuition policy, international enrollment, and campus speech. Al Jazeera+2CBS News+2

How the Rules Emerged

This initiative did not arise in a vacuum. Earlier in 2025, the administration had already demonstrated a confrontational approach to higher ed: it paused or threatened freezing billions in research grants to universities like Harvard, Columbia, and Penn, citing alleged failures in handling campus protests and diversity programs.

In August 2025, Trump signed an executive order requiring universities to disclose admissions data, pushing transparency and oversight in university practices. That move laid part of the groundwork for later demands tying compliance to federal funding.

By October 1, 2025, the compact letters were delivered to nine institutions, giving them until Nov. 21, 2025 to agree to the terms or risk being sidelined from premium federal support.

What the Memo Demands

Under the compact, universities must:

Remove race and sex as factors in admissions and hiring

Publicly share anonymized admissions data (GPA, test scores) by demographic group

Require standardized testing (SAT/ACT) for admissions

Limit international undergraduate enrollment to 15%, with no more than 5% from any single country

Freeze tuition for five years

Freeze or waive tuition in "hard science" majors at institutions with large endowments

Eliminate or reshape departments that "belittle, punish or spark violence against conservative ideas"

Ensure the campus remains a "marketplace of ideas" with ideological diversity

Reduce administrative costs and boost transparency of graduate outcomes

Universities that sign the compact are promised "substantial and meaningful federal grants," "priority overhead payments," and federal partnerships. Those that refuse could lose access to such advantages.

Universities Targeted

The nine universities that received the compact are:

University of Arizona

Brown University

Dartmouth College

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

University of Pennsylvania

University of Southern California

University of Texas at Austin

University of Virginia

Vanderbilt University

At least one university  University of Texas  responded publicly, with its Board of Regents describing being selected as "honored" while emphasizing it would review the compact carefully.

What It All Means

The arrival of this compact marks a new era in federal-university relations. By conditioning funding on ideological and administrative conformity, the rules threaten to blur the line between academic autonomy and political mandates. For the nine universities targeted  and many that watch closely  the decision to accept or reject may define not only funding but the very character of institutional identity.
Sir Keir Starmer has urged students not to attend pro-Palestine protests on the second anniversary of the heinous October 7 terror attacks on Israel and just days after two people were killed at a synagogue in Manchester.

Hundreds were arrested at a Palestine Action demonstration in London on Saturday, which went ahead despite calls from Sir Keir and others in the wake of the attack on British soil, leading Amnesty International to say it should not be the job of police to arrest people peacefully sitting down.

Thousands of students are expected to attend rallies on Tuesday on the second anniversary of the atrocity in which 1,200 people were killed.

But the prime ministers official spokesperson said: Just because there is freedom to protest does not mean you should necessarily go ahead with these gatherings, given the context.

A Palestine Action march at the weekend saw hundreds of people arrested in London (Reuters)

They include events at campuses as far apart as Queen Mary University in London and Strathclyde University in Glasgow, according to reports.

Writing in The Times, Sir Keir described protests set to take place at universities on Tuesday as "un-British", claiming they show a lack of respect for others.

He added that the pro-Palestine protests have been used by some as a "despicable excuse to attack British Jews".

Sir Keir wrote in the newspaper: "Today, on the anniversary of the atrocities of October 7, students are once again planning protests.

"This is not who we are as a country. It's un-British to have so little respect for others. And that's before some of them decide to start chanting hatred towards Jewish people all over again."

Asked what Sir Keir meant when he said the planned protests were un-British, education secretary Bridget Phillipson told Sky News: As a country, we've always had a sense of respect responsibility for one another and seeking to understand the deep grief that many people in our country will be experiencing as we remember those who lost their lives in the atrocities of October 7.

But also following the appalling attack we saw on a synagogue and the loss of life last week, I think the way that we do things in this country is that whilst we have a right to protest, we understand our responsibilities to one another and our responsibilities to demonstrate empathy, compassion and respect, given the grief that many, many people in our country will today be experiencing.

Police officers stand guard during a mass demonstration organised by Defend our Juries (Reuters)

Asked if pro-Palestine protests should take place on such a sensitive date, the PMs spokesperson said they were going ahead despite the pleas, grief and fears that have been felt by the Jewish community. I think, as the home secretary said, people should demonstrate humanity.

Just because there is freedom to protest does not mean you should necessarily go ahead with these gatherings, given the context, he added.

People should remember the heinous terrorist attack on Israel on October 7. That should be at the front of all our minds tomorrow.

Tory frontbencher Robert Jenrick went further and branded plans for pro-Gaza protests on October 7 a f***ing disgrace.

Speaking at a Spectator event at the Tory party conference in Manchester, he called for people to show some common decency and think of your fellow citizens, British Jews, people who might be fearful and lonely and afraid right now, and call off those protests.

If they won't, then I do think we should take action, and if that requires a change in the law, then we should consider doing that, and consider the cumulative impact on communities of these protests, he said.

Keir Starmers official spokesperson described the October 7 attacks as heinous (PA Wire)

Earlier, communities minister Miatta Fahnbulleh said regarding Tuesdays protests: "This is a really tough time for the Jewish community. We have had, for the first time in our history, a Jewish person killed because they are Jewish. That is absolutely unacceptable, and we need to stand alongside the Jewish community in solidarity.

"What I would say to people is the Jewish community are our neighbours, they're our community, they're our friends and we should be compassionate and thoughtful and considerate."

Keith Black, the chair of the Jewish Leadership Council, said: Protesting on campuses on 7 October is a disgraceful and deeply upsetting strategy to cause maximum pain to Jewish students.

"The content of these demonstrations is likely to be antisemitic and incite violence."

Louis Danker, the president of the Union of Jewish Students, told The Telegraph there were 365 days in the year, and on one of them - October 7 - Jewish students seek the space to mourn their loved ones murdered in southern Israel.

"No Jewish student should have to stand by as others glorify a day that marks such loss for our community, he added.
Protestors in Portland, Oregon, are organising a naked bike ride to oppose Trumps plan to unleash the National Guard on the city.

Trump has claimed that the city has descended into lawless mayhem and that federal troops are needed to protect ICE agents in Portland.

The World Naked Bike Ride Portland, an offshoot of the official World Naked Bike Ride, has confirmed that plans are being worked on to peacefully resist the National Guards deployment.

A naked bike ride is being planned in Portland to protest the deployment of the National Guard in the city (PA Wire)

"Were meeting and talking with other local protest groups about what we all feel this event should be", said World Naked Bike Ride Portland. "Were watching the weather and expecting the ride to happen in the next couple of weeks on a weekend, mid/late afternoon. We do not collaborate with the police, not for help leading or corking.

"Its your own personal choice how much or little clothing you wear."

Portland first started hosting naked bike rides in 2004, as cyclists protested the high profits enjoyed by oil companies in Oregon. Public nudity is a legal form of protest in Oregon.

Trump has described Portland as a NEVER ENDING DISASTER on Truth Social and has claimed that crime rates have soared in the city.

However, a federal judge has temporarily blocked Trumps order to redeploy troops stationed in Texas and California to Portland. The same court has also blocked Trump from sending Oregons own National Guard to Portland.

Judge Immergut, who was appointed by Trump, has said that there is nothing to suggest that protests in the city warrant the presence of federal troops. Her ruling will remain in place until October 19.

Tina Kotek, Oregons governor, has said that there is no insurrection in the state and that Trumps deployment of the National Guard is unlawful (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Previously, the president had deployed the National Guard in Washington D.C., and in Los Angeles, clashing with California Governor Gavin Newsom in the process. Newsom has announced plans to sue the president over the proposed re-depolyment of his states troops to Oregon.

Portland has long been a target for Trump, with the president claiming in a text message to Oregons governor, Tina Kotek, that the city was an "unmitigated disaster.

In another message, Kotek, a Democrat, replied by saying that the president had broken a promise that he would speak to her before taking further action against Portland.

I just received your notice to mobilize the Oregon National guard outside of my control, she wrote. I believe this is unlawful and unwarranted. You broke your promise to speak with me before taking further action against Portland. I will be in touch later.

In a public statement, Kotek denied that there were any threats to national security in Portland.

The only threat we face is to our Democracy - and that threat is being led by President Trump," she said.
Jonathan Powell (left) told Wang Yi that Britain wanted a stable, practical and long-term partnership with China - Xinhua

Sir Keir Starmers national security adviser told Chinas most senior diplomat that Britain wanted to enhance bilateral relations, weeks before the collapse of the case against two parliamentary aides accused of spying for Beijing.

Jonathan Powell held a low-key meeting with Wang Yi in Beijing in July, during which he said Britain wanted a stable, practical and long-term partnership with China.

Less than two months later, Mr Powell chaired a Whitehall meeting in which it was discussed whether or not Britain could not describe China as an enemy in court.

Prosecutors then decided they could not proceed with the trial of Christopher Cash, 30, and Christopher Berry, 33, the two parliamentary aides accused of spying for China.

The men were accused of passing information about the Governments foreign policy to a high-ranking member of the Chinese government.

Mr Powell is facing demands that he appear before a parliamentary committee to answer questions about whether he had promised the Chinese they would not be classed as an enemy by the Government.

He also faces questions over whether the case of the two alleged spies was raised during the meeting with Mr Wang.

The Telegraph has discovered that Mr Powell also made business trips to China three times in the 15 months before he was hired by Sir Keir, including one trip where he led a discussion about US-China relations that was attended by Chinese security experts.

Senior Tories have claimed it is inconceivable that Mr Powell acted without Sir Keirs sign-off in deciding not to describe China as an enemy, a prerequisite for any criminal case against alleged spies.

Senior Conservatives believe Sir Keir Starmer signed off Jonathan Powells decision not to brand China an enemy - Aurelien Morissard/AP

Labour has embarked on a charm offensive towards China since the party came to power, despite warnings that cosying up to Beijing puts national security at risk.

It was on July 14 that Mr Powell met Mr Wang, a member of the political bureau of the Communist Party of China central committee and director of the office of the central commission for foreign affairs.

The meeting was not briefed to the British press, but Chinas state news agency Xinhua reported at the time that: Wang said that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, China-Britain relations have embarked on a path of improvement and development, fulfilling the aspirations of the people of both countries and aligning with the trend of the times.

Expressing Chinas appreciation of Britains proposal to develop a consistent, lasting and mutually respectful relationship between the two countries, Wang said that China is willing to enhance strategic communication and expand strategic cooperation with Britain from a broader perspective, inject new momentum into bilateral relations and jointly promote world peace, stability and prosperity.

It said that Mr Powell expressed Britains willingness to enhance dialogue and communication with China to build a stable, practical and long-term partnership.

Around six weeks later, in early September, Mr Powell chaired a meeting about the case of alleged spies Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry at which it was discussed that his deputy, Matt Collins, was not prepared to call China an enemy in court.

Christopher Cash, above, and Christopher Berry, below, were accused of passing information to the Chinese government - Paul Grover for The Telegraph

Paul Grover for The Telegraph

The Crown Prosecution Service, which had previously suggested it had a solid case against the two men, then decided it no longer had sufficient evidence to go ahead with a trial that had been due to start this week.

Cash and Berry both denied the charges.

Downing Street categorically denied that Mr Powell had discussed the spying case with Mr Wang or that he had told him China would not be classed as an enemy.

However, MPs insist he must appear before a parliamentary committee to answer questions in person.

Espionage cases  which are rare  rely by definition on the fact that a defendant has been passing secrets to an enemy of the state.

Needs to answer questions

Sir Gavin Williamson, the former defence secretary and a member of the parliamentary national security strategy committee, said: Jonathan Powell needs to come to Parliament and answer questions about what was said or agreed during his meeting with Wang Yi.

Did he, for instance, promise that Britain would not class China as an enemy state? Was that the reason the prosecution of two alleged spies had to be stopped?

Did the Chinese raise the spying case during his visit to Beijing?

I would also like to have the opportunity to ask him whether he had any direct or indirect business dealings with China during his private-sector career before he returned to government.

Sir Keirs official spokesman tried to shift the blame onto the Tories by saying it was Conservative policy on China that had led to the case collapsing.

The spokesman said the relevant policy to this case was the previous governments policy on China because the Conservatives were in power when the alleged offences took place.

Mr Powell, who served as Sir Tony Blairs Downing Street chief of staff for a decade, worked in the private sector from 2007 until he was brought back into Number 10 by Sir Keir last year.

Cosying up to China

He has made at least three further trips to China over the past two years. In September last year Mr Powell chaired a discussion about US-China relations at the Grandview Institution  which describes itself as one of Chinas leading independent think tanks  attended by Chinese security experts, according to Grandviews account of the event.

He also spoke at a panel event about global disorder at Peking Universitys Institute of International and Strategic Studies in Beijing in March 2024.

Mr Powell, who was one of four panel members, attended the event in his capacity as then-chief executive of Inter Mediate, a charity he founded in 2011 focused on international conflict resolution.

In the same month he held in-depth talks on arms control with Chinese academics at the Grandview Institution, according to its social media posts.

He made another visit to Grandview in August 2023 to discuss Inter Mediates work around the world.

A Cabinet Office spokeswoman said: The National Security Adviser did not take any decisions about the content of the witnesss evidence.

Mr Powell is not the only member of the Starmer administration to visit China recently.

David Lammy, the Deputy Prime Minister, met Mr Wang in both London and Beijing when he was foreign secretary and Sir Keir is drawing up plans to visit China in 2026.

Ed Miliband, the Net Zero Secretary, was in Beijing to discuss climate change in March, when he met the Chinese vice premier Ding Xuexiang, who said China was ready to increase cooperation in financial services, trade and investment.

Chinese plans to build a new super-embassy in London on the former site of the Royal Mint have also been given a new lease of life by the Government.

An artists impression of the proposed new Chinese embassy near the Tower of London -  CBRE

Chinas planning application to build the biggest embassy in Europe was rejected by Tower Hamlets council in 2022 on safety and security grounds.

Security experts warned that the embassy would be used to ramp up Chinas spying operations and that its location meant China could potentially tap into fibre optic cables serving the City of London.

After President Xi Jinping raised the issue of the embassy in a phone call with Sir Keir in August last year, Angela Rayner, the then deputy prime minister, called in the planning decision with encouragement from Mr Lammy.

A final decision on whether the embassy can go ahead is expected later this month.
Police investigating the arson attack have issued images of two people they wish to identify (Sussex Police)

The Prime Minister is "appalled" by an arson attack on a mosque in East Sussex, his spokesman said today.

Two people managed to escape the Peacehaven Community Mosque in Phyllis Avenue when the front entrance and a car outside were set alight by masked thugs on Saturday night.

Sussex Police is investigating the blaze as a hate crime.

Sir Keir Starmer's official spokesman said on Monday that the PM "is appalled by the attack".

He added: "As the Home Secretary said, attacks against Britain's Muslims are attacks against all Britons and this country itself.

"He thanks the emergency services for their swift response. Anti-Muslim hatred has no place in Britain."

Damage outside the front entrance of the mosque in Phyllis Avenue (Jamie Lashmar/PA Wire)

It comes as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has appealed for unity in the aftermath of the Manchester synagogue terror attack.

At a time like this, we must stand united," she said.

This countrys greatest strength has been its ability to build one nation from many communities."

Worshippers, including an imam, escaped after two men in balaclavas poured fuel on the steps of the building.

Images circulating online also show a torched car parked outside.

The pair are seen in CCTV stills approaching the front door, before spraying accelerant at the entrance and then igniting a fire shortly before 10pm.

Police are hunting the suspects as they investigate arson with intent to endanger life.

CCTV footage issued by Sussex Police of two people they wish to identify in connection with a suspected arson attack at the mosque (PA)

Detective Inspector Gavin Patch said: "This was an appalling and reckless attack which we know will have left many people feeling less safe.

We are treating this as an arson with intent to endanger life and are continuing to pursue a number of lines of enquiry to identify those responsible.

We are releasing images of two people we wish to speak with [...] wearing distinctive clothing.

We believe there are people in the community who know who these two are. If you have any information, no matter how small you think it might be, we urge you to do the right thing and come forward before any further harm is caused."
Robert Jenrick slammed plans for pro-Palestine protests on October 7 as a "f***ing disgrace."

Tuesday marks the second anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel. It comes days after two people were killed at a synagogue in Manchester.

Speaking at a Spectator event at the Conservative party conference in Manchester on Monday, 6 October, the shadow justice secretary called for people to show some common decency and think of your fellow citizens, British Jews, people who might be fearful and lonely and afraid right now, and call off those protests.

Sir Keir Starmer has urged students not to attend pro-Palestine protests on Tuesday.
Jenrick at the Conservative party conference in Manchester on Monday. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

Robert Jenrick complained about visiting an area of Birmingham where he didnt see another white face and said it was not the kind of country he wanted to live in.

After highlighting the lack of white people, the shadow justice secretary said it was not about the colour of your skin or your faith and he wanted people to live alongside each other.

Related: The irony of Robert Jenricks white face remarks about Handsworth

However, he has been criticised by the areas MP for suggesting he could tell whether Handsworth was properly integrated based on whether there were any white people in the area during a 90-minute period.

Jenrick made the comments, which were recorded, during a dinner at the Aldridge-Brownhills Conservative Association dinner on 14 March after he had recorded a video for GB News about litter in the suburb.

He told the dinner: I went to Handsworth in Birmingham the other day to do a video on litter and it was absolutely appalling. Its as close as Ive come to a slum in this country. But the other thing I noticed there was that it was one of the worst integrated places Ive ever been to. In fact, in the hour and a half I was filming news there I didnt see another white face.

Thats not the kind of country I want to live in. I want to live in a country where people are properly integrated. Its not about the colour of your skin or your faith, of course it isnt. But I want people to be living alongside each other, not parallel lives. Thats not the right way we want to live as a country.

A spokesperson for Jenrick declined to comment initially. But later on Monday, Jenrick defended his comments, saying: Six separate government reports over 20 years have highlighted the problem of parallel communities and called for a frank and honest conversation about the issue.

The situation is no better today. Unlike other politicians, I wont shy away from this issue. We have to integrate communities if we are to be a united country.

Khalid Mahmood, the former Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, which covers Handsworth, said Jenrick was stoking divisions and it was absolutely not possible to say whether an area was integrated by looking at people in the street.

I was immensely privileged for 23 years to serve that area and they are fantastic people of all colours, creeds, religions and no religion at all in Perry Barr and Handsworth, he said.

I think its very, very negative. These people have struggled day in day out to make ends meet under the Conservative government. Weve got a huge amount of HMOs [houses of multiple occupancy] in the area and the bin strike by the local authority hasnt helped either. Hes playing on that. For the comment that hes not seen a white face in Handsworth, thats just ridiculous. There are all sorts of people, white, black, other sorts of people of all heritages and cultures.

The areas independent MP Ayoub Khan said: The claims made by the shadow justice secretary are not only wildly false but also incredibly irresponsible. He has misrepresented a storied and diverse community, awkwardly distorting the product of an all-out bin strike to fit his culture-warrior narrative filled with far-right cliches.

What could be seen on the streets that day  was not the result of some failure of multiculturalism. It is the result of 14 years of sustained austerity measures under the Tory governments that he so loyally served, combined with continued neglect and mismanagement by the Labour-run council.

According to Birmingham city council, the ethnicity of Handsworth is 25% Pakistani, 23% Indian, 10% Bangladeshi, 16% Black African or Black Caribbean, 10% mixed or other ethnic group and 9% white.

Jenrick has spoken previously about the decline of the white British population in some parts of the country. In May, he told Sky News that if you look at parts of Dagenham [in east London], the white British population has reduced by 50% in the last 25 years. When pressed on why this mattered, Jenrick responded: Its not about the colour of someones skin.

When questioned about those white British comments, the Conservative party leader, Kemi Badenoch, said: People will use different words from what I would use. Im not a micro-manager.

Anna Turley, the Labour party chair, challenged Badenoch to explain how Jenricks comments fitted in with her speech saying the party stood against a politics that reduces people to categories and then pits them against each other.

Robert Jenrick in his leaked comments reduces people to the colour of their skin and judges his own level of comfort by whether there are other white faces around, Turley said. His comments clearly cross a red line that his leader has rightly laid down.

A New Statesman profile of Jenrick in July 2025 referred to his visit to Handsworth. It said Jenrick agreed that there was an English ethnicity but suggested he was concerned with Britains cultural identity, not questions of race and religion.

Georgie Laming, the director of campaigns at Hope Not Hate, said: If Robert Jenrick truly wants to see people live alongside each other, he shouldnt make such inflammatory remarks. Talking down communities plays into the hands of far right.

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Water cannons and pepper spray, used during fierce clashes in Rustaveli Avenue on Saturday, left at least six demonstrators injured - GIORGI ARJEVANIDZE/AFP

Moscow has accused the European Union of trying to stage a coup in Georgia.

Protesters attempted to storm the presidential palace in Tbilisi on Saturday and were repelled by police using pepper spray, water cannons and tear gas amid the fierce clashes, which left some 21 members of security forces and six demonstrators injured.

Viktor Voldatsky, a senior Russian politician, claimed that Georgia was under attack from Brussels and Western NGOs, accusing them of engaging in special activities aimed at starting a civil war in Georgia, in quotes cited by state media outlet TASS.

Leonid Slutsky, the head of the state Duma committee on international affairs, accused the West of stubbornly trying to push the Ukrainian scenario in Georgia in a reference to Ukraines 2014 Maidan Revolution, saying: Just like more than ten years ago in Ukraine: riots again, storming of government residences again, bonfires again.

Their claims echoed statements by Irakli Kobakhidze, the Georgian prime minister, who said on Sunday that the attempt to overthrow the constitutional order had been supported by Brussels and pledged to completely neutralise foreign agents.

Credit: Reuters

Georgian Dream has previously been accused of exploiting public fears of a renewed conflict with Moscow by claiming that a pro-Western Global War Party is seeking to incite revolution and open a second front line of the Russia-Ukraine war in Georgia.

Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 and retains troops there, giving it de facto command of approximately 20 per cent of Georgian territory.

Credit: Reuters

As authorities announced plans to crack down further on nightly protests, Georgias State Security Service (SSG) claimed to have found a huge cache of combat materials, including explosives and firearms, which it said protesters had planned to use to overthrow the state.

On Monday, five opposition figures involved in the protests were charged with attempting to overthrow the government.

Organisers had billed the Oct 4 demonstration as a peaceful revolution to end Georgian Dreams 13-year rule, after more than 300 consecutive days of protests which have consistently brought the capitals main thoroughfare, Rustaveli Avenue, to a standstill.

The protest follows 300 consecutive days of demonstrations in the city centre against the pro-Russia party - Zurab Tsertsvadze/The Associated Press

The rallies have persisted despite mass arrests, police violence and a comprehensive crackdown on rights groups, non-governmental organisations, independent media and political opposition by the government. However, turnout has dwindled over the past few months.

Ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili, now an imprisoned reformist, had joined the opposition in urging supporters to take to the streets for what he called the last chance to save Georgian democracy.

Georgias jailed ex-President, Mikheil Saakashvili, has urged the opposition to fight for the countrys last chance at democracy - IRAKLI GEDENIDZE/Reuters

The plans coincided with local elections in which Georgian Dream claimed a landslide victory across every municipality on Sunday, after a boycott by the two main opposition blocs, which have accused the ruling party of trying to steer the country closer to authoritarian Russia.

Over the summer, eight opposition leaders were jailed after refusing to cooperate with a parliamentary inquiry, with two more later arrested on different grounds.

In a statement on Sunday, the EUs top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, along with Marta Kos, the European commissioner for enlargement, underlined that the bloc firmly rejects and condemns the disinformation regarding the EUs role in Georgia.
Tropical Storm Jerry has formed in the Atlantic - could it impact the US?

Tropical Storm Jerry formed Tuesday, becoming the Atlantic hurricane seasons tenth named storm.

Forecasters said the system is expected to pass near or just north of the northern Leeward Islands later by Thursday evening and into Friday.

Models show the storm tracking northwest toward the U.S., although many options for its path remain possible this early.

Interests [in the northern Leeward Islands] should monitor the progress of the storm, as there is a risk of wind, surf and rainfall impacts, the National Hurricane Center advised.

The storm follows increased activity in the Atlantic, with major hurricanes Imelda and Humberto forming over the past few weeks.

A satellite image of Tropical Storm Jerry, churning over the Atlantic Ocean Tuesday (NOAA)

Humberto brought dangerous rip currents and swells to the East Coast and its outer bands swept across Bermuda at the end of last month.

Imelda formed just days later, striking Cuba as a tropical storm and leading to the deaths of two people last week. After passing over Cuba and strengthening into a Category 2 hurricane, it side-swiped Bermuda, causing widespread power outages and downing trees.

Although the hurricanes did not hit the U.S. directly, churning ocean waters sent multiple North Carolina homes tumbling into the surf.

Imelda and Humberto were only separated by 500 miles, leading the storms to become intertwined and yanking Imelda away from the East Coast in a phenomenon known as the Fujiwhara Effect.

Its a very rare phenomenon overall in the Atlantic basin, AccuWeathers Alex DaSilva told The Associated Press.

Several storms this year have veered away from the states this hurricane season. Stronger and taller storms are often pulled away by high-up winds, WRAL meteorologist Chris Michaels explained.

Its happened with Andrea, Chantal, Dexter, Fernand and Erin.

Erin was a major hurricane that stayed 200 miles off the coast of North Carolina in August. The Southeast was spared from major flooding from Hurricane Imelda in September, thanks in part to the rare Fujiwhara Effect, DaSilva noted in a statement shared with The Independent.

A map of the projected path of Tropical Storm Jerry. Many options for its path remain possible this early, the National Hurricane Center reported (NHC)

The last time there were no hurricane landfalls in the U.S. through the month of September was in 2015, AccuWeather noted.

The only named storm to make landfall in the U.S. so far this year was Tropical Storm Chantal, which battered the Carolinas in July, costing between $4-6 billion in damage and economic loss.

But, theres still time for major impacts - the Atlantic hurricane season runs through November 30.
Taylor Swift has said it was the thrill of a lifetime making the music video for her song The Fate Of Ophelia.

The pop superstar assumes the role of a string of different showgirls in the video, which she wrote and directed.

The video takes viewers behind the scenes of the life of a performer in a series of set-pieces and dance numbers, showing her as a platinum starlet reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe, a 1960s-style go-go dancer and a bathing beauty in a Busby Berkeleystyle musical.

It also shows her as the Ophelia of the John Everett Millais painting, which depicts the Shakespearean character from Hamlet.

Sharing a number of photos from the video shoot, Swift wrote on Instagram: Writing, rehearsing, directing and shooting the music video for The Fate of Ophelia was the thrill of a lifetime because I got to be reunited with my Eras Tour family!!

I wanted each one-take scene to feel like a live performance and remind us all of how it felt to be at those shows together. Making every moment count. Its a journey through the chaotic world of show business.

I loved working with @rpstam, @ethantobman and @nopenother to dream up these visuals.

A huge thank you to this massive cast who kept it [100] and also kept the secret of this video even existing. Its out on YouTube NOW!

The video features guest appearances from her background dancers from the Eras Tour.

The Fate Of Ophelia is the first music video from Swifts latest album The Life Of A Showgirl, which she recorded in Sweden during her record-breaking Eras Tour.

The music video was first revealed in Swifts cinematic event The Official Release Party Of A Showgirl, which also featured behind-the-scenes footage and cut-by-cut explanations of what inspired the music.

The 89-minute offering saw Swifties flock to cinemas over the weekend for a first glimpse at the video, as well as an opportunity to gather with other fans.

Swift will make a visit to Jimmy Fallons The Tonight Show in the US on October 6 and will also appear on Late Night With Seth Meyers on October 8, serving as the sole guest in an episode billed as the TAY/kover.
An alarming 100 million people vape around the world, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated.

This includes at least 86 million adults, mostly in high-income countries, and almost 15 million children aged 13 to 15.

The global health body warned that the stop smoking aids are hooking kids on nicotine earlier and risk undermining decades of progress.

The WHOs report on global tobacco trends states that some 1.9 per cent of adults vape.

And 7.2 per cent of teenagers aged 13 to 15 use e-cigarettes, it added, warning that figures on vape use among adolescents are almost certainly an undercount.

It said that based on data available, rates of vaping among 13 to 15-year-olds are on average nine times higher than the prevalence among adults.

The WHOs report on global tobacco trends states that some 1.9 per cent of adults vape worldwide (Alamy/PA)

The authors wrote: Adolescents are generally using the products at a higher rate than adults.

This finding is not surprising considering that the industry is aggressively targeting children and young people, including through new digital channels that are underregulated.

Etienne Krug, director of The WHOs Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention department, said: E-cigarettes are fuelling a new wave of nicotine addiction.

They are marketed as harm reduction but, in reality, are hooking kids on nicotine earlier and risk undermining decades of progress.

The WHO report highlights how fewer people are smoking cigarettes but the tobacco epidemic is far from over.

Global tobacco users dropped from 1.38 billion in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024, The WHO said.

Tobacco control is working.



But we're still 50 million users away from our 2025 target.

That's 50 million too many lives at risk.



Policy works.

Let's not stop now.



Read the report: https://t.co/hQ9qz1Qfln#TobaccoExposed #NoTobacco pic.twitter.com/ceaMNOehmg  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) October 6, 2025

Millions of people are stopping, or not taking up, tobacco use thanks to tobacco control efforts by countries around the world, said The WHOs director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

In response to this strong progress, the tobacco industry is fighting back with new nicotine products, aggressively targeting young people.

Governments must act faster and stronger in implementing proven tobacco control policies.

Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of the charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said: The growth in popularity of vapes in the UK has largely been due to their use as a quit aid in smoking.

But in the last few years vaping has increased among teenagers, and this needs urgent action.

Products that contain addictive substances must be properly regulated.

This is what the Tobacco and Vapes Bill  returning to Parliament later this month  will do, ensuring vapes are not promoted to children, while making sure they remain available for adults who want to stop smoking.